Polite Conversations

Join me for an in depth look at some of the excuses that were made by the comedians who went to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

Was this festival an indication of progress in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or was it put on to create the illusion of progress?

Comedian Andy Kindler (from Bob’s Burgers) joins me to discuss in pt 2

[The extended episode is available via the Premium tiers on patreon.com/nicemangos] https://www.patreon.com/posts/premium-bonus-ft-145704973?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Subscribe today to support the show or you can purchase the episode individually too! 

———

Featured Clips from: Chris Tucker, NBC News, Bill Maher, Louis CK, Tim Dillon, Aziz Ansari, Whitney Cummings, Bill Burr & Joe Rogan

Links:

A Saudi journalist tweeted against the government – and was executed for ‘high treason’: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/18/saudi-arabia-turki-al-jasser-executed

Producer/Animator receives prison sentence for Netflix Comedy series https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/04/world/middleeast/netflix-masameer-saudi-arabia-prison.html

Archived version of NYT article: https://archive.ph/QqSR8

Saudi cartoonist sentenced to 23 years https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-cartoonist-sentenced-crackdown-0fbb4a3d9532a363ea6f014bdab53876

Human Rights Watch: Riyadh Comedy Festival Whitewashes Abuses https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/09/23/saudi-arabia-riyadh-comedy-festival-whitewashes-abuses

Human Rights Watch ‘Cannot Accept’ Donations From Aziz Ansari and Other Comedians Who Performed at Riyadh Comedy Festival https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/human-rights-watch-refuses-aziz-ansari-riyadh-donation-1236544862/

Tim Dillon Fired from Riyadh Comedy Festival https://www.billboard.com/pro/tim-dillon-fired-riyadh-comedy-festival-saudi-slavery/

Dave Chapelle says its easier to talk in Saudi Arabia than the US https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/dave-chappelle-saudi-arabia-free-speech-1235439890/

82% of Jewish Israelis Back Forcibly Expelling Gazans https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-05-28/ty-article-magazine/.premium/yes-to-transfer-82-of-jewish-israelis-back-expelling-gazans/00000197-12a4-df22-a9d7-9ef6af930000

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Aired originally Aug 13 2025 via patreon.com/nicemangos]

If you’d like to access extended episodes and unlock miniseries early please consider subscribing via patreon.com/nicemangos and supporting this small show!

Finnish expert on far-right extremism Sami Eerola [https://bsky.app/profile/eerolasami.bsky.social] joins me for a conversation about the far-right in Finland. We discuss the sharp swing from Sanna Marin’s progressive govt to the most rightwing government Finland has had since the 1930’s, neo-nazi groups & festivals like ‘white boy summer’, the various racism related scandals coming from far right govt officials and more.

Links:

Find Sami’s Finnish language newsletter here  https://laitaoikeistonviikko.substack.com/

The Finnish government attempts to overcome the overt racism of its minister

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/08/20/the-finnish-government-attempts-to-overcome-the-overt-racism-of-its-ministers_6099989_4.html

Far-right Finnish leader Riikka Purra sorry in racist posts uproar

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66166795

Finland economy minister resigns over Nazi comments

https://www.dw.com/en/finland-economy-minister-resigns-over-nazi-comments/a-66084409

Many Finns Party ministers have pointed to replacement theory

https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/politics/23836-many-finns-party-ministers-have-pointed-to-replacement-theory.html

Chet Hanks says Social Justice Warriors can kick rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgN1Lc5USOI

Tom Hanks’ son shares anti-vaccine videos, claims there’s more evidence for UFOs than for COVID shot safety

https://www.news10.com/news/tom-hanks-son-shares-anti-vaccine-videos-claims-theres-more-evidence-for-ufos-than-for-covid-shot-safety/

White Boy Summer: Investigating the Finnish Far Right https://youtu.be/3CXRZKihkUw?si=3ehv9c99jiEr-EEM

The Palestine Laboratory

pt 1 https://youtu.be/1GvkFwpzDhI?si=ljpWs3vOjiUJQcYy

Pt 2 https://youtu.be/5pPQydBGwQY?si=Mc-9moAZWMOylkU2

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[This is Part 2 of a 2 Part episode]

Find Pt 1 here: 

Public release: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZBEPd76w5QBkc0ZiBaypd?si=LoZ5DP9FQI6Y-nkvj7W8sw

Extended Patreon version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-102-pt-1-sam-143732568?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Fin the extended version of pt 2 here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/144454350

——

I spoke to a former friend of Sam Harris’ who fell out with Sam and others in the heterodox-sphere after Oct 7th, and their insistence on defending Israel no matter what.

My guest for this episode is filmmaker Jay Shapiro who made a documentary featuring Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz in 2018. He has also collaborated with Sam and his wife, Annaka on other projects. 

Jay Shapiro has a book coming out in May, ‘Insufficient Rewards: How we Traded Integrity for Comfort and Outsourced Morality to History’.

Links:

Find more of Jay’s work here: https://whatjaythinks.com

My patreon post breaking down Sam’s ‘preemptive nuking’ takes -

Sam Harris Nuke Freak: 

https://www.patreon.com/posts/sam-harris-nuke-136580589?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Yasmine justifying h8 crimes https://x.com/nicemangos/status/980853645519605761?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

In the extended version we also discuss:

Betar’s horrid tweet https://bsky.app/profile/nicemangos.bsky.social/post/3m6fwfptcxc2o

Sarah Hurwitz takes: https://bsky.app/profile/dropsitenews.com/post/3m67zwqvttc23

https://www.reddit.com/r/JewsOfConscience/s/uBUyT68DfG

If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting it via patreon.com/nicemangos and/or by leaving a podcast review. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I spoke to a former friend of Sam Harris’ who fell out with Sam and others in the heterodox-sphere after Oct 7th, and their insistence on defending Israel no matter what. My guest for this episode is filmmaker Jay Shapiro who made a documentary featuring Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz in 2018. He has also collaborated with Sam and his wife, Annaka on other projects.

Jay Shapiro has a book coming out in May, ‘Insufficient Rewards: How we Traded Integrity for Comfort and Outsourced Morality to History’.

Links:

This is the Documentary we reference in the episode https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8257128/

Find more of Jay’s work here: https://whatjaythinks.com

Here’s the conversation with Coleman Hughes that came up on my feed: https://youtu.be/SIouIY1TGr4?si=cwYpNdt3wWCt7uwf

Sarah Haider promoting eugenics conference: https://bsky.app/profile/nicemangos.bsky.social/post/3ljzlffucx227

Read more about the Ex Mus to TradFash pipeline in my multi-part series here (you can purchase it via patreon or become a subscriber and unlock all exclusive posts -

Pt 1: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106445369?utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=android_share

Pt 2: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106501752?utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=android_share

Pt 3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106529773?utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=android_share

If you enjoy the show and would like to support it pls consider subscribing via patreon.com/nicemangos (& unlock extended episodes!)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Find the extended version of the episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/143081308?pr=true&forSale=true

If you enjoy the show please consider subscribing via patreon.com/nicemangos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[This is a Reupload of a previous Twitter Space.]

Recent stories discussed in the intro: 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/border-patrol-agents-fire-allegedly-disrupting-childrens-halloween/story?id=126900354

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-nazi-uniform-assaulted-georgia-student-was-denied-entry-bar-offici-rcna239893

This Space was recorded on Oct 27th 2023, with friends of the show Jack Graham of the IDSG podcast and Linguist Dr. Caitlin Green.

Join us for a chat about Heterodox Horror Stories!

[This is a live event on a broken hellsite, so pls excuse the sound quality not being to usual podcast standards.]

We discuss Bill Maher, Steven Crowder, Yale professors Nicholas & Erika Christakis & their calls for students to ‘look away’ from ‘offensive Halloween costumes’, U of Oregon Professor Nancy Shurtz who wore blackface at a party that students attended ….all this and more.

Enjoy!

——

If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Hexes, Heroes & Hypocrisy’

Join me for the final pt of this Charlie Kirk series, where I go through his abhorrent views, the extreme free speech hypocrisies from certain free speech warriors… & the bizarre beliefs in witches/curses cropping up on the right. We also discuss the normalization of extreme racism in western societies.

Support via patreon.com/nicemangos & unlock extended eps

—

Links:

Taxpayers shelled out $2.6 million in security costs for Charlie Kirk’s memorial https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/other/taxpayers-shelled-out-26-million-in-security-costs-for-charlie-kirk-s-memorial/ar-AA1OTR6A

US strips visas from six foreigners over Charlie Kirk remarks https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/15/us-visas-charlie-kirk-reaction

Kirk fan Hit and Run https://youtu.be/KdcRHDMChIk?si=nmeQeifiU7lX4Dxe

Xavier Conley Ilhan Omar CNN clip https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO_Op1KDWX1/?igsh=ZHNrc3ZlaWN4Z3Z3

New Atheists & Great Replacement fearmongering https://www.patreon.com/posts/112243637

https://onlys.ky/the-great-replacement-how-new-atheists-legitimized-and-spread-a-white-nationalist-conspiracy-theory/

Unhinged transphobe threatens to shoot up LGBTQ+ bar to become a “martyr for Charlie Kirk” https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/09/unhinged-transphobe-threatens-to-shoot-up-lgbtq-bar-to-become-a-for-charlie-kirk/

Man charged w killing 3 at waterfront North Carolina bar is decorated Marine vet & Purple Heart recipient https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nigel-edge-north-carolina-bar-shooting-suspect-marine-veteran/

Mormon church shooting suspect had Trump sign outside home https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/29/mormon-church-shooting-trump-sign

Re: Sam Harris & Black brain surgeons: https://x.com/nicemangos/status/1511339657396690944?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Polite Conversations Race ‘Science’ episodes:

Pt 1 https://spotify.link/otjmpUOgOXb

Pt 2 https://spotify.link/7l3SgcUgOXb

Pt 3 https://spotify.link/Jqw8rqWgOXb

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[This is Pt 2 of 3]

Pt 2 explores the use of state power to police speech & expression around Charlie Kirk.

I discuss the difference between ‘cancel culture’ & the govt policing people’s views. We talk about the forced writing of Kirk’s name on Starbucks cups, the forced lowering of flags, the doxxing database and more.

Subscribe via patreon.com/nicemangos for the extended ep!

Links

The Man Doxxing Americans for Not Mourning Kirk was Accused of Pistol-whipping a Womanhttps://x.com/jason_paladino/status/1968077852068520071?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Pride & trans flags lowered to half-staff https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/national/a-pride-flag-at-half-staff-to-honor-charlie-kirk-trump-order-to-lower-flags/article_c9f8fd72-7fde-5b60-be81-4a923021f452.html

Starbucks employees pressured to write Kirks name on cups https://x.com/lippyaddiction/status/1969414107510997413?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50Lqw

Insurrectionists using Kirk’s death to call for civil war https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/09/pardoned-insurrectionists-are-using-charlie-kirks-death-to-call-for-civil-war/

The Full Weight of the Federal Govt Is Being Used to Memorialize Kirk https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/09/the-full-weight-of-the-federal-government-is-being-used-to-memorialize-charlie-kirk/

FBI cuts ties with ADL https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-cuts-ties-with-anti-defamation-league-2025-10-01/

Website ID-ing people as Charlie Kirk’s Murderers’ Rebrands, Then Vanishes https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/charlie-kirk-murderers-site-defamation-1235429785/

GOP lawmakers push for Kirk likeness on US coins. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article312245756.html

Jack Posobiec at Trump's roundtable on antifa https://bsky.app/profile/paleofuture.bsky.social/post/3m2pho6dcwk2k

Democratic lawmakers put aggressive pressure on the former Columbia U president to crush the protests. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/26/universities-columbia-trump

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lately, the Cult of MAGA has been very open & enthusiastic about their desires for a ‘Holy War’. They have now found a MAGA Martyr in Charlie Kirk — and are doing everything possible to use the assassination of this far-right influencer to accelerate the pace of authoritarianism.

In this part of the episode, I’ll explore the absurdity around the climate of ‘mandatory grieving’ in the aftermath of this shooting.

The deification, the glorification and the liberal whitewashing of who Charlie Kirk truly was — we’ll cover all that and more.

——

Links:

How British Arms & Intelligence fueled Israel’s genocide. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/factbox-how-british-arms-and-intelligence-fueled-israel-s-gaza-genocide/3620091

A timeline of Canada’s exports to Israel & the Liberal govt’s attempts to make the scandal disappear. https://www.readthemaple.com/canadas-arms-to-israel-scandal-explained/

UK: nearly 900 arrests at Palestine protest shows Govt's disregard for protest rights https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/uk-nearly-900-arrests-palestine-protest-shows-governments-disregard-our-protest

Available via Patreon: Boghossian Goes full Fash https://www.patreon.com/posts/137585027

School shooting suspect was fascinated w/ mass shootings & expressed neo-Nazi views https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/report-says-school-shooting-suspect-was-fascinated-with-mass-shootings-and-expressed-neo-nazi-views/

US justice dept removes study finding far-right extremists commit ‘far more’ violence https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/17/justice-department-study-far-right-extremist-violence

UN says Trump's team to blame for nonworking escalator/teleprompter https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/after-mechanical-challenges-trumps-team-blame-nonworking-escalator-125877886

Cato institute conservative concludes RW views are the second most common motivating ideology for murders in politically motivated terrorist attacks, after islamists if u count 9-11. If you exclude 9-11, RWers are ahead of all others -by a lot. (Islamism is also a rightwing ideology fwiw) https://www.alexnowrasteh.com/p/politically-motivated-violence-is

'Charlie Kirk Square': Traffic Circle named in Honor of Kirk https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-09-11/ty-article/.premium/charlie-kirk-square-israeli-mayor-names-traffic-circle-in-honor-of-our-great-friend/00000199-38f5-d704-a9d9-faff486a0000

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.