Conversations with Peter Boghossian

Is it possible to objectively assess the value of art? Robert Mckenzie, an expert with the Cayre Art Group, says yes. In our lively discussion, we explored whether art's worth can be quantified, diving into the objectivity of valuation, the art-buying process, and what makes a piece "good." Does your perception of a work need to align with the artist's intent?

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Psychedelic historian Tom Hatsis was an atheist until he tried psychedelics. Then he went from atheist to theist. Psychedelic encounters reshaped his understanding of the divine.

In our conversation, Hatsis and I dove into the enigmatic world of psychedelics, exploring their history, safety, and transformative potential. Hatsis, a meticulous researcher, unpacked the distinctions between DMT, Ayahuasca, psilocybin mushrooms, and 5-MeO-DMT, each offering unique pathways to altered states of consciousness.

Tom's new book, "Psychedelic Injustice"

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I spoke with Dane Jacob Mchangama, founder of The Future of Free Speech, research professor at Vanderbilt, and Senior Fellow at FIRE. While we're both staunch free speech advocates, we debated its best "branding." I argued for framing free speech less as a moral absolute—how I once described it as cognitive liberty—and more as a practical tool for error correction, challenging bad ideas and refining truth. Jacob countered, emphasizing its moral weight as a cornerstone of human dignity. I don't disagree, but I believe the moral framing is too abstract for broad appeal.

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My guest for this episode was Jamie Roberts, author of the excellent Intellectual Dark Web: A History (and Possible Future). We traced the IDW's rise, fragmentation, and legacy. The Intellectual Dark Web (IDW) emerged as a loose alliance of heterodox thinkers—figures like Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and the Weinstein brothers—who challenged mainstream narratives on free speech, identity politics, and meritocracy.

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My friend Tim Urban, author of one of the most important books of the last 50 years, What's Our Problem? We dove straight into the deep end—discussing the three existential threats facing the West.

From there we segued into the urgency of clear writing and habits of thought to the role of reasoning and truth-seeking in the age of AI. Then we explored the question on everyone's mind: Is Western society collapsing before our eyes?

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In this conversation with Adam Elmasri, we talk about Islam, immigration in Europe, and more.

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Is the world overcrowded? My guest, Brett Hall, Public educator, technical advisor and host of ToKCast, argues that the world is not overpopulated—more people fuel creativity, spark innovative solutions, strengthen economies, and pave the way for progress. He sees a growing population as humanity's greatest asset.

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In Part 2 of my deep dive with Mia Hughes, we explore the history of the "Transgender Child." How did a new category of human being emerge?Why did the culture, medical fields, and schools not only accept but promote it? Mia takes us through the shift from understanding transvestite adults to transitioning children.

Watch Part 1 of the conversation ICYMI.

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Warning: Spoilers!

I spent a week at The University of Austin (UATX) talking to students, administrators, and professors. From the instant I walked in the door, to the moment I left, it was nonstop intellectual engagement. Paradise! One of the professors I spoke with was Isabella Reinhardt, who is an Assistant Professor of Classics. We discussed the show Severance.

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How did a group of fringe activists at WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) manage to dupe the entire international medical establishment? That's the question I posed to Mia Hughes, an Ottawa-based British journalist and director of Genspect Canada.

Mia is also the world's leading expert in this subject and author of The WPATH Files report. The report exposed widespread, ghastly medical mistreatment of children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults in the ideologically captured field of "gender-affirming care".

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