Thinking Class

Nuriyah Khan is the host of the YouTube channel Holy Humanist and is a prominent ex-Muslim and women's rights campaigner, known for her fearless advocacy and outspoken views. 

In this episode, Nuriyah and I think out loud about her experiences as an ex Muslim and her views on women's rights and human rights. We also talk about the changing landscape of Islam in Britain, the perception of institutional preference for Muslims over other religious adherents, the potential for an Islamic reformation led by Saudi Arabia and particularly Mohammed bin Salman, the role of British Muslims in public discourse, the media's treatment of Islam, and the cultural expressions of Englishness that Nuriyah think are so important to retain, and why patriotism needs to make a comeback. Nuriyah also shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities for integration and the future of a multi ethnic Britain, which she wants to be optimistic about, but feels like she leans towards realism, which others might read as Not good,  and you can expect much, much more. 

In the exclusive Substack Q&A, we also discuss Nuriyah's views on how to contain extremism in Britain, and much besides.

You can find Nuriyah’s work here:

• Youtube
• X/Twitter

You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

You can watch the full show on YouTube or you can watch it here on Substack.

Niall Gooch is a writer and has appeared in The Spectator, Unheard, and The Catholic Herald. 

In this episode, Niall and I think out loud about the unique aspects of British identity, the impact of political ideologies on historical narratives, and why we need to strike a balance between kindness and justice in public policy. We also talk about why each of us need a deeper understanding of the cultural values we hold, why we must preserve historical context when engaging in discussions about contemporary issues, the evolution of the Catholic Church, the tension between tradition and modernity, and much, much more. 

And in the exclusive Substack Q& A for paid subscribers, we discuss Niall's personal transformations, including his shift in perspective regarding war and intervention, the future of the monarchy in relation to its Christian roots.

Enjoy the show, Classmates.

You can find Niall’s work here:

• UnHerd
• The Spectator
• The Catholic Herald
• X/Twitter
• Book
• Substack

You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

You can watch the show on YouTube

Lorenzo Warby writes the Substack Lorenzo from Oz and he contributes regularly to Helen Dale's Substack, Not on your team, but always fair. He needs little introduction to long time classmates because this is the third time he has appeared on the show. Check out the archives for the other two. 

In this episode, Lorenzo and I think out loud about why the term capitalism is misleading and why we should speak about living in a mercantile society instead, the many complexities of commerce and the cultural influences on economic growth, the prevalence of activism in the modern world and its impact on social capital, the implications of bureaucratic moral projects, the challenges of accountability within bureaucracies, the impact of migration policies on democratic processes, the historical context of the fall of empires, particularly the Roman Empire, why effective institutions are more valuable than empires, the importance of local governance and trade in fostering prosperity, and much, much more.

Enjoy the show, Classmates.

You can also check Lorenzo out on:

• Substack

You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

You can watch the show on YouTube

Alan McFarlane is an anthropologist, historian, and Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at King’s College, Cambridge. He is the author or editor of 20 books and numerous articles covering the anthropology and history of England, Nepal, Japan, and China. A fellow of both the British Academy and the Royal Historical Society, Alan has dedicated much of his work to the comparative study of the origins and nature of the modern world. 

In this episode, Alan and I think out loud about how we don't understand what modernity actually is when we talk about it, how understanding modernity helps us understand capitalism and individualism, the unique trajectory of English capitalism, the influence of the Celtic nations on England, and the legacy of the British Empire in shaping national identity, the misunderstanding and reframing of historical narratives, particularly in relation to Marxist interpretations of history, the complexities of British identity, the challenges of cultural integration in an era of mass immigration, the historical significance of the English Reformation, what Alan thinks is the elusive nature of national character, the coexistence of multiple identities, whether Alan subscribes to the notion of a clash of civilizations, the importance of cultural rules and the historical context of Protestantism in shaping English society and much, much more.

Let's grow Thinking Class together.

Enjoy the show, Classmates.

You can find Alan's work here:

• Alanmacfarlane.com
• Ayabaya - YouTube
• Books

You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

You can watch the show on YouTube 

Today, I’m speaking with Dr Anthony Daniels, better known by his pen name, Theodore Dalrymple. He is an English cultural critic, prison physician, and psychiatrist who has worked in several sub-Saharan African countries and London’s East End.

**Please excuse the audio issues on my side. This problem was caused by my audio interface. Anthony's audio is clear and that is the main thing**

Before retiring in 2005, he practised at City Hospital and Winson Green Prison in Birmingham. He is a contributing editor at City Journal, published by the Manhattan Institute, where he is the Dietrich Weismann Fellow. His writing has also appeared in The British Medical Journal, The Times, New Statesman, The Observer, The Daily Telegraph, The Spectator, The Salisbury Review, National Review, The New English Review, and The Wall Street Journal. Theodore has authored numerous books, including Life at the Bottom, The Worldview That Makes the Underclass, Our Culture, What's Left of It, and Spoilt Rotten: The Toxic Cult of Sentimentality.

In this episode, Theodore and I think out loud about the state of Britain, the influences that have led to increased crime and moral degradation in the country, the impact of widespread skepticism on our culture, why non-judgmentalism is not a worthy moral position to take and how it has become so prevalent, why we should beware of promoting pauperism in society, the importance of emphasizing moral agency in people's lives and why each of us needs to take responsibility for our actions and avoid adopting a victim mentality, why poverty is not an unbreakable state, and much, much more.

To get access to the exclusive paid subscriber Q&A become a paid subscriber to Thinking Class on Substack in the links below.

You can find Anthony’s work here:

• Theodore Dalrymple’s books
• Law & Liberty

You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

You can watch the show on YouTube or you can watch it here:

Neema Parvini is the author of eight books including The Prophets of Doom, The Populist Delusion, The Defenders of Liberty, Shakespeare's Moral Compass. He has also written dozens of chapters and articles in scholarly publications and the media. Neema is the Director of Academic Agency, which he set up to focus on core academic skills and knowledge areas which can help students and learners of all ages to achieve both academic excellence and improve communication and research skills in the workplace. He runs the YouTube channel Academic Agent and the Substack of the same name.

**Please excuse the audio issues on my side. This problem was caused by my audio interface. This has also affected the next episode. Audio is clean from thereafter. Neema's audio is clear and that is the main thing**

In this episode, Neema and I think out loud about the cyclical and linear views of history, why progress isn't real, how civilizations rise and fall, what elite theory means and what it means for societal change, the felt decline in modern Britain, what Trump's US 'vibe shift' really is and whether the United Kingdom will experience a vibe-shift of its own, why he thinks the West faces insurmountable problems, why countries and civilisations can only be young once, why we should avoid creating and consuming 'slop' and 'cringe lords' in content creation, and how Neema's worldview began to shift after voting remain in the United Kingdom's Brexit Vote in 2016 and much, much more.

To get access to the exclusive paid subscriber Q&A become a paid subscriber to Thinking Class on Substack in the links below.

You can find Neema's work here:

• Neema’s YouTube channel
• Neema’s books
• X/Twitter

You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

You can watch the show on YouTube 

Lord Nigel Biggar CBE is Emeritus Regis Professor of Moral Theology at Oxford and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Pusey House. Nigel holds a BA in Modern History from Oxford and a PhD in Christian Theology and Ethics from the University of Chicago. In 2021, he was appointed CBE for services to higher education. His books include Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning and What's Wrong With Rights?. He has written for publications such as the Financial Times, The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Spectator, The Irish Times, and Quillette.

In this episode, Nigel and I think out aloud about why there was no essential motivation for British Empire, its legacy - good, bad, and ugly, the meaning of colonialism, how the British governed, the role of biblical tradition in governance, the British Raj, whether Britain is experiencing colonisation in an era of mass immigration, finding patriotism, the legacy of slavery and its abolition in Britain, and which cultural narratives may take hold in Britain and much, much more. 

Enjoy the show, Classmates, and don't forget to subscribe.

You can find Nigel's work here:

• Nigel’s Website
• Nigel’s Books
• X/Twitter

You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

You can watch the show on YouTube 

David Starkey is a historian, broadcaster, and bestselling author. Known for The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Monarchy, David now runs the popular YouTube channel David Starkey Talks and has written extensively on the British monarchy, including Monarchy, Crown and Country, and Henry, a Virtuous Prince.

In this episode David and I think out loud about why history, properly taught, is the basis of our civilisation, why we should be terrified of the current political class for their lack of historical awareness, his thoughts on what drover Axel Radakubana to commit the terrorist atrocities at Southport, what the decline of historical education means for governors and the governed, how the emergence of modernism saw the disintegration of cultural heritage, why any proper study of history requires cultivating a profound awareness of mortality, why David does not like revolutions, the future of the British monarchy and its diminishing role in British identity, David's political evolution from libertarianism to conservatism, why ritual is a necessity for proper governance, why we return to traditional values and much, much more.

Enjoy the show, Classmates and don't forget to subscribe.

You can find David’s work here:

• David’s Website
• David’s Books

You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

You can watch the show on YouTube

Dr. Roy Baumeister is one of the world's most prolific and influential psychologists. He has published over 700 scientific works, including over 40 books. In 2013 he received the highest award given by the Association for Psychological Science, the William James Fellow Award in recognition of his lifetime achievements. As of 2023, Roy holds affiliations with Harvard University in the USA, Constructor University Bremen in Germany, Florida State University, also in the U. S., Better Up, Inc., U. S., and the University of Bamberg in Germany. His 2011 book, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength with John Tierney, was a New York Times bestseller. He has appeared on television shows such as Dateline NBC and ABC's 2020, as well as on PBS, National Public Radio, and countless local news shows. His work has been covered or quoted in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, The Economist, Newsweek, Times, Psychology Today, Self, Men's Health, Businessweek and many other outlets.

In this episode, Roy and I think out loud about his book The Cultural Animal, why culture is a fundamental aspect of human existence, how it shapes individual identity, social structures, and helps our understanding of mortality, the role of language in culture, whether the cultural homogenization of the internet and the modern world is causing people to feel disoriented,  why self esteem is driven by cultural belonging, how culture provides a defence against death, and the shifting role of religion in contemporary society. We also talk about the evolution of self control, how technology impacts behaviour, how the academy has overseen a lowering of standards in education, how cultural shifts affect self regulation and the implications for future generations, and how Roy's own beliefs have changed over time, particularly regarding feminism, his faith, and universities and much, much more. 

Enjoy the show, Classmates, and don't forget to subscribe.

You can find Roy's work here:

• Roy’s website

Follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

Dr. Mark Dooley is an Irish philosopher, author and journalist who has taught at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and at University College Dublin where he was John Henry Newman Scholar in Theology. He has been a columnist for both the Sunday Independent and the Irish Daily Mail, and is currently a Contributing Editor to The European Conservative magazine. His many books include The Roger Scruton Reader, Why Be a Catholic?, Moral Matters: A Philosophy of Homecoming, and Conversations with Roger Scruton, all published by Bloomsbury. In 2022, he edited and published Against the Tide: The Best of Roger Scruton's Columns, Commentaries and Criticism. He is Sir Roger Scruton's literary executor.

In this episode, Mark & I think out loud about about the philosophical legacy of Roger Scruton, why it is truer to say that the culture war is a spiritual war, whether politicians in Western nations love or hate their nations, why home and belonging is important, and the impact of immigration on national identity, the future of British and Irish relations, the tension between traditional values and modern ideologies, whether there is a space for conservatism in revolutionary times, whether Roger Scruton would support r a counter-revolution against progressive ideologies, the significance of the West's cultural inheritance from Christian civilization, and its impact on modern society, why human life is sacred, the need for a connection to the past, and the dangers to societies that disregard their cultural heritage and much, much more.

Enjoy the show, Classmates, and don't forget to subscribe.

You can find Mark’s work here:

• Mark’s Website
• Mark’s Books

You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:

• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• Substack

You can watch the show on YouTube