I sit down (virtually) with writer and political theorist Charles Olney for a wide-ranging conversation that braids together parenthood, gender debates, pronatalism, internet incentives, democracy’s information plumbing, and the curious afterlife of “influencer” authority. From diapers to democracy, they map how online culture shapes private life—and how families push back.

Chapters

00:00 Intro & why Charles’ essays resonate

01:40 How parenting rewires identity (and happiness)

05:50 Involved fatherhood, trade-offs, and desired family size

10:25 Sweden’s family policy vs. small family norms

12:20 Eastern Europe’s rising living standards & falling fertility

13:36 Gender essentialism: what’s innate, what’s social

20:14 “Feminization” discourse, failure modes, and institutions

27:53 Nostalgia, decline narratives, and why “going back” fails

35:29 Algorithms, conspiracy funnels, and democratic strain

43:16 Politics as fandom; nationalizing local skirmishes

47:47 Parenting in the internet’s culture stream

49:48 The influencer’s legacy: curation, expertise, responsibility

58:00 Relationship advice online: help vs. harmful heuristics

1:03:20 Optimization culture meets messy human bonds

1:06:27 Recommendations: Beatles & Hannah Arendt

1:11:41 Wrap-up & where to find Charles’ work

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

In this episode, I speak with writer and coach Chris Lakin about a deceptively simple idea that has reshaped my perspective on human behavior: locally optimal psychology. Chris explains why so many of us cling to patterns like anxiety, self-rejection, or certain life narratives: not because they’re good, but because they’re the best solutions we’ve found so far for our current incentive landscape. We dig into why “just understanding” your problems intellectually rarely works, the role of feeling your feelings, and how hidden incentives keep us stuck. We also touch on boundaries, the pitfalls of trauma culture, and the subtle traps of self-improvement trends. It’s a conversation about unlearning, clarity, and seeing your mind’s strategies for what they are.

Chris is a coach and writes here on Substack and on Twitter @chrischipmonk

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

When I first stumbled onto Jordan Call’s Substack, I felt like I was reading my own husband’s internal monologue. Jordan walked away from an accelerating career in the higher echelons of Law, chose diapers over depositions, and started writing candidly about the daily vertigo of being a full‑time, faith‑anchored dad chasing creativity on crumbs of nap‑time energy. We speak about trading anxiety for the slightly adrift day-to-day of parenting, gentle‑ish limits, toddler ferality, masculinity jitters at Sam’s Club, parasocial weirdness, and how to keep ambition alive until the kids finally sleep through the night.

Jordan Call is a writer, and his Substack is:

Chapters

* 00:01 Why Jordan’s writing hit home for Alex.

* 02:02 Leaving law: expectations vs. reality; anxiety relief; creative trade-offs.

* 04:19 Invisible job costs; status, collaboration, & Substack as replacement community.

* 11:18 LDS framing; “trad” motives/role reversal; masculinity moments; “Mr. Mom.”

* 16:48 How men & women react to his role, generational differences.

* 18:24 Parenting tactics: Manuals vs. Improvisation: Sleep, Solids, Systems.

* 22:15 Gentle parenting—useful, overextended?

* 27:05 Independence, boredom, “Anxious Generation” vibes.

* 32:07 Splitting labor with multiple kids; couple time scarcity.

* 37:30 Dearth of “daddy blogs”; mommy status economy.

* 50:12 Writing about kids: privacy, consent, future selves.

* 58:17 Parasocial relationships; scaling audiences; burnout.

* 01:08:52 Building an audience with small kids; long game.

* 01:18:08 Jordan’s rec: Tim Rogers (maximalist game critic/storyteller).

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

Ever since Jeremiah Johnson’s Substack Infinite Scroll began dissecting the digital landscape, I’ve wanted to sit him down and share notes on our adventures on the feed. I asked what would happen if Twitter were to disappear tomorrow, would the memes finally loosen their grip on power, or merely migrate elsewhere? Our conversation ranges from Kristi Noem’s “Hype‑House” politics to alligator‑guarded borders, from algorithmic masculinity to the quiet salvation of congestion pricing. Johnson argues that our infinite scroll extracts a significant but finite toll, but he remains unexpectedly hopeful.

Jeremiah Johnson is a cofounder of the Center for New Liberalism and the author of the Substack Infinite Scroll.

Chapters

00:00 The Impact of Twitter on Politics

03:04 The Evolution of Online Discourse

05:48 Status and Resentment in Society

08:52 The Role of Extremism in Politics

11:53 The Media's Influence on Political Perception

15:01 Populism and Political Promises

17:51 The Dynamics of Right-Wing Politics

20:51 The Challenge of Expertise in Politics

23:34 The Future of Political Communication

26:36 The Intersection of Loyalty and Ideology

29:35 The Role of Social Media in Modern Politics

32:26 The Long-Term Effects of Political Policies

35:50 Navigating the Future of Political Engagement

42:11 The Evolution of Public Opinion on Policy Changes

44:36 Navigating the Complexities of Internet Regulation

47:38 The Role of AI in Shaping Online Discourse

50:29 Understanding the Dynamics of Masculinity and Society

56:16 The Impact of Education and Status on Gender Relations

01:01:29 The Search for Truth in a Sea of Misinformation

01:16:03 Strategies for Staying Grounded in a Digital World

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Uncertainty Principle. I’m, as always, recording from my only slightly soundproofed annex in Transylvania, where we are having the mother of all booming roadworks at the moment, so excuse the potential sound of demolition in the background.

Today, we’re cracking open the myth that the safest road is the one everybody else walks. We explore what happens when you trade the bird in your hand for the potential two in the bush, and the well-trodden path of prestige for genuine curiosity. Spoiler: the world (usually) doesn’t end. We also talk about being parents with strange jobs, the creator economy, money, feeling “safe”, and much more.

Paul Millerd is a former McKinsey-trained consultant who traded strategy decks for independent writing, podcasting, and (most recently) hands-on fatherhood. His self-published book The Pathless Path has become a cult guide to defying default scripts around career, money, and status.

00:00 Why “default” feels broken

09:30 Status games & the Moat of Low Status

18:45 Ambition, authenticity, and inner fire

28:10 Parenting on the pathless path (a.k.a. Baby Jail

)37:20 Money, frugality, and owning less stuff

46:55 Caregiving scripts vs. creative work

54:40 Tiny experiments: learning to just do things

01:00:20 Book recs, role models, and closing thoughts

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

In this conversation, I sit down with Lane, a mother of five, community builder, and thoughtful convert to Catholicism, to explore how personal journeys shape our broader political and social landscapes.

Lane’s reflections show the resilience required in modern parenting, the subtle yet profound influence of women in communities, and how tradition intersects with today's complex realities. We dive into the struggles facing American manufacturing post-COVID, the nuanced role tariffs play, and the often-overlooked connections between family life and political power. Lane offers a deeply insightful perspective on balancing timeless values with the practical demands of modern life.

Lane Scott is a writer, a mother, a rancher, and the owner/operator of

Chapters

00:00 From Youth to Motherhood: A Journey of Transformation

07:52 Finding Faith: The Role of Catholicism in Personal Growth

16:06 Building Resilience: Parenting in Modernity

24:07 Creating Community: The Importance of Connection

32:01 Navigating Modern Challenges: The Search for Meaning

37:10 Navigating Change: Dismantling the Old Order

40:09 The Illusion of Political Power

43:01 Community and Political Action

47:53 The Right's Identity Crisis

53:54 Economic Realities and Political Solutions

59:56 The Role of Women in Politics and Society

01:03:31 The Reality of Parenting and Politics

01:06:20 Women as Political Movers and Shakers

01:11:06 Hidden Power of Women in Communities

01:14:53 The Disconnect in Political Offerings

01:18:42 Navigating the Right's Ideological Landscape

01:21:59 Building Community and Agency

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

Today, I’m joined by economist and lateral-thinker Nicholas Gruen to probe the fault lines yawning beneath liberal democracy. Together, we examine how the internet’s kerosene amplifies wish-casting, why monarchic fantasies seduce tech elites, and what bottom-up meritocracy - citizen juries, sortition, and ‘small-scale hacks’ - might offer a polity that feels increasingly unmoored. We grapple with Burnham, Yarvin, and the uneasy marriage between markets, monopolies, and truth-telling institutions, asking whether stability can be coaxed from competitive chaos.

Nicholas Gruen is an economist and commentator on economic reform and innovation. He is the CEO of Lateral Economics and a visiting professor at King's College London's Policy Institute. You can find his work on X and Substack:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

Today, I sit down with Dean Abbott to tackle the uncomfortable truths beneath modern relationships. In an era dominated by gender wars, red-pill narratives, and rising divorce statistics, Dean’s extensive counseling experience sheds rare clarity on what's really undermining marriages: toxic shame, unspoken desires, and the emotional stagnation silently sabotaging both men and women. Our conversation dives deep into the hidden forces fueling resentment, victimhood, and mutual contempt and explores why authentic emotional development isn't weakness; it's freedom. If you're tired of superficial dating discourse and ready to confront what truly makes relationships flourish or fail, this one's for you.

Dean Abbott is a certified pastoral counselor and coach, a communication expert, a theologian, and an author. He is on X at DeanAbbott and on Substack

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Modern Relationships

07:07 The Impact of Shame on Men

11:59 Dynamics of Marriage and Emotional Disconnect

15:58 Men's Perception of Women and Marriage

20:08 The Role of Masculinity in Relationships

26:11 The Influence of Online Culture on Men

32:05 Education and the Development of Boys

38:07 The Effects of Pornography on Young Men

42:07 The Impact of Pornography on Gender Identity

45:08 Decentralized Identity in Modern Relationships

46:11 Women and Relationship Dynamics

52:10 Resentment and Martyrdom in Relationships

01:00:34 Communication Breakdown in Marriage

01:04:25 Masculinity and Emotional Development

01:09:55 The Changing Landscape of Masculinity

01:16:39 Recommended Thinkers and Resources

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

In today’s conversation, we’re diving into the treacherous waters of modern masculinity, emotional maturity, and why men and women often feel like aliens to each other—topics I've been mulling over as a mom raising two young boys. Joining me is Jacob Falkovich, the razor-sharp thinker behind Second Person Substack, who has a refreshingly nuanced take on dating dynamics, parenting taboos, and why online discourse around gender often leads us astray. Together we poke at the awkward truths, and ask: Can men safely express emotions? Is masculinity a checklist? And what happens when ambiguity becomes unbearable?

Jacob Falkovich writes on X at @yashkaf and on Substack at

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Modern Masculinity

06:38 The Impact of Parenting on Masculinity

12:21 Cultural Influences on Parenting Styles

18:35 The Role of Community in Child Development

26:31 Understanding Gender Dynamics in Relationships

33:08 The Alien Nature of Gender Differences

45:23 The Beauty Standards Debate

48:02 Emotional Maturity in Men

52:28 Navigating Conflict in Relationships

54:55 The Role of Communication in Marriage

01:00:08 Exploring Masculinity and Emotional Processing

01:02:52 The Search for Meaning in Modern Relationships

01:10:29 Polyamory and Parenting Dynamics

01:16:05 Balancing Individuality and Partnership

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.alexkaschuta.com/subscribe

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A look behind the scenes at the anti-woke Davos—the ARC Forum. Lords, trad Catholics, crypto bros, Nazis, and Jordan Peterson himself, all on one bizarre ark. Stella, my brilliant spy, joins me to unpack the weird collisions between family values and techno-pagans, dissecting how idealism turns into irony and revenge politics. Is this coalition of chaos…