Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps

Josh Szeps

The world has never been more connected. Yet never more divided. We yell at each other from inside our echo chambers. But change doesn’t happen inside an echo chamber. It’s time to get out, to stretch our legs, to step on some land mines. It's time to have an uncomfortable conversation with Josh Szeps.

A DM Podcast

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Our Editor's Take

The Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps podcast makes listeners question their beliefs. Not many people like to hear things they disagree with or get told they're wrong. But hearing other opinions is how people grow. This podcast is here to expose listeners to the other side of the debate.

On every episode, Josh has a guest on to talk about something divisive. Past guests on the show include Dr. Eric Weinstein and comedian Tom Ballard. Topics on the podcast range from free speech and gender to capitalism and the dark web. While listeners may have preconceptions, they should keep an open mind. On Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps, some of the commentaries may change opinions. This podcast is ideal for listeners ready to question what they know.

Unlike other shows that deal with political topics, this podcast doesn't push an agenda. In the age of the internet, people face challenges like misinformation and propaganda. These problems aren't new, but in some ways, they're worse than ever. Josh keeps listeners informed so they can develop beliefs based on fact, not fiction. Despite some bleak topics, his dry humor and wit keep the show entertaining. Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps is fun, despite the serious topics.

Josh is an Australian TV presenter known for hosting several popular shows. He went on to become a newscaster and political satirist. Weekend Breakfast and Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps expands on his skills.

Anyone interested in hearing opinions that differ from their own may enjoy this podcast. Listeners of cultural and political podcasts should try Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture
ComedyComedy
EducationEducation
Comedy InterviewsComedy Interviews
Self-ImprovementSelf-Improvement

Episodes

“The Elite 'Social Justice’ Scam” with Musa al-Gharbi
3d ago
“The Elite 'Social Justice’ Scam” with Musa al-Gharbi
The full conversation is almost two hours long and sbolitely fascinating. Enjoy this free preview or, to hear the whole shebang, subscribe at Uncomfortableconversations.substack.com   "Woke” is such a tired word. Yet there remains a cultural elite which uses the language of social justice to gain power and status, without helping the disadvantaged. What’s going on?   Musa al-Gharbi is an assistant professor of sociology who studies how knowledge workers have improved their cultural power by deploying the language of social justice to justify their own influence -- and to portray the losers in the knowledge economy as deserving their lot because they think or say the “wrong” things about race, gender, and sexuality.   Far from being a right-wing anti-woke crusader, Musa is a Black Muslim academic who explores how we think about about social phenomena. His new book is “We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite”.   Here, Musa and Josh wrestle with what the “Great Awokening” was really all about, how ideas are the currency of the knowledge economy, and how we can actually help the marginalised and disadvantaged. This episode is part of Permission to Think, a collaboration with the University of Technology, thanks to Professor Alan Davison.   As always, you should do yourself a favour and get all of Josh’s shows in full, ad-free, via Substack. You can also watch this interview on YouTube. Follow Josh here: http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations
URGENT "AUSTRALIA: Banning Misinformation... or Suppressing Speech?" with Professor Daniel Angus
Nov 14 2024
URGENT "AUSTRALIA: Banning Misinformation... or Suppressing Speech?" with Professor Daniel Angus
It's crunch time for the Australian government's Orwellian-sounding "Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation" legislation.    The bill was passed last Thursday by Australia's House of Representatives and is currently stalled in the Senate. Right-wing populists are spreading hysteria that it would let the government throw you in jail for speaking your mind on social media.    The bill would not, in fact, punish you for posting on social media. But it could give government officials the power to make social media companies suppress opinions the Australian government deems "harmful". Josh opposes giving such power to the state. By contrast, Professor Daniel Angus is broadly supportive of the bill. He's one of Australia's leading researchers into technology, social media, fake news and misinformation, and he advised the government on the legislation.    At this crucial moment, with only two weeks remaining before parliament shuts down for the year -- and as the Senate deliberates on this hugely important law -- please listen to this conversation and get informed. Wherever you are, enjoy this friendly clash of perspectives about algorithms and free speech on the web.   To subscribe to Josh’s premium podcast feed. Hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_ http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations
STEPHEN FRY Visits Josh
Nov 11 2024
STEPHEN FRY Visits Josh
Few Britons are as iconic as Stephen Fry.   On TV, he's an Emmy-winning comedy legend immortalised in shows like A Bit of Fry & Laurie, Jeeves & Wooster, and Blackadder. He has hosted the British Academy Film Awards twelve times and won six BAFTAs as the host of the smash-hit BBC television quiz show Q.I.    On stage, Stephen's adaptation of Me and My Girl won two Olivier Awards. He was nominated for a Tony for his performance in The Globe's production of Twelfth Night on Broadway.   On the big screen, he's starred in Wilde (as Oscar Wilde, a performance nominated for a Golden Globe), Gosford Park, Chariots of Fire, A Fish Called Wanda, V for Vendetta and The Hobbit.   Stephen is the voice of all the Harry Potter audiobooks. His eloquence infuses his countless essays, comedy sketches, articles, novels, and books about Greek mythology.   His autobiography, Moab is My Washpot, with its raw honesty about his screwed-up teenage years, was transformational for a young Josh Szeps.    On a recent trip to Sydney, Stephen swung by the Uncomfortable Conversations studios to visit with Josh. Enjoy this sparkling conversation about the cycle of life, the richness of being human, finding creative authenticity, and ignoring Donald Trump.   And if you haven't jumped over to Substack to get free updates on what we're up to, you're a duffer. There's more great stuff coming. Go to uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe. It's not hard -- we promise.      http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_ http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations
"Escape the Echo Chamber" with Stephanie Lepp
Oct 31 2024
"Escape the Echo Chamber" with Stephanie Lepp
You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code UNCOMFORTABLE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/UNCOMFORTABLE20 The full premium version of this episode is available as a free gift to you. This version here is just a teaser, but ALL ELECTION-RELATED CONTENT WILL NOT BE PAYWALLED if you access it on Substack. To hear this episode in its entirety, as well as all upcoming election episodes in full, you need to leave this app – you will NOT need to pay anything – and listen on Substack here:     https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe   What would it look like if we could escape the phony choice between strident positions and find a third way? Not a "compromise". Not a squishy midpoint betweren any two extremes. But a genuinely new way of looking at an issue, informed by the best of all sides? Instead of hunting for the worst in our opponents' positions, what if we could harness the best?That's the mission of the journalist Stephanie Lepp, a producer whose new series of short videos, Faces of X, demonstrates what she's up to. She and Josh wrestle with partisanship, social media, both-sidesism, ideological capture, and how we all might think more freely in this toxic election cycle.   Check out Faces of X here   http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_ http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations