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Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps

Josh Szeps
Donald Trump
Australia
Artificial Intelligence
Climate Change
Israel
Democracy
Free Speech
Social Media
Social Justice
Mental Health
Australian Politics
Iran
Cancel Culture
Education
China
Food Safety
Immigration
Zionism
Covid-19
Identity Politics

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes538Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Comedy InterviewsSociety & CultureComedy

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Artwork for Uncomfortable Conversations

Latest Episodes

What’s up with boys? Or, more importantly, what’s up with the men who use “what’s up with boys?” to crush women?

It’s not just a rag-tag fringe of young male influencers who are reviving sexism. There’s a professional movement of influential Christi... more

The way culture-war ideologues have hijacked The Odyssey reveals how social media ruins everything. As go the arguments about the film, so go our conversations about fairness, gender, race and immigration. And so go our elections.

Josh recounts the ... more

Dr Jillian Spencer is a senior child and adolescent psychiatrist who was fired three years ago after publicly criticising how puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones were being prescribed to kids.

Now, her employer, one of the biggest health care pr... more

Are men innately more violent? Are women innately more people-focused? What explains gay people, campness, transgenderism? How much of the sex differences are cultural, and how much is hardwired by our evolutionary psychology?

The science of the sex... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Steve Stewart Williams
Professor of psychology, evolutionary psychologist
University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus / University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
Episode: How Evolution Shaped Men vs Women
Ryan Martin
Educator, speaker, parent; author of Little Effers
Author of Little Effers
Episode: Have Kids Become Little Shits?
David Volodzko
Journalist and free speech advocate; editor at FIRE
Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)
Episode: Race, ICE & the "Woke Right"
David Enoch
Ethicist and philosopher of law; professor at Oxford University
Oxford University
Episode: Is Morality Made Up?
Harry James
Survivor of child sexual abuse; author of Transform Your Pain Into Purpose
Author, Advocate
Episode: Why We Don’t Believe Boys: Female Grooming & the Male Teen
Karl Stefanovic
Australian television presenter, host of the Karl Stefanovic Show on a major network
Nine Network (Nine)
Episode: Josh vs the News: The TODAY Show, Cancel Culture, and Karl's Free Speech
Haviv Rettig Gur
Israeli journalist and Middle East analyst
The Times of Israel, The Free Press
Episode: Why don't Palestinians have a state? Haviv Rettig Gur on the True Tale of Palestinian Resistance
Ed Coper
Australian progressive activist who built digital political campaigning
GetUp and related campaigns
Episode: Angertainment: How Online Outrage Ruined Everything
Ben Appel
Author of Cis White Gay, The Makings of a Gender Heretic
Author/Commentator
Episode: The Gays Who Reject "LGBTQ+"

Host

Josh Szeps
Host of Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 3.1k ratings
  • Josh versus The News 📰

    💯 accurate!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TeresaMcg8
    Australia2 months ago
  • Josh, can you please have a specialist in abortion on to counter act the misinformation Joanna Howe spat out in her interview. You are generally so well informed, however, there were countless holes in her argument medically speaking. Orherwise, love the podcast.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    emilyaustralia
    3 months ago
  • Annoying

    The sound of his voice is grating after a minute of two, his opinions of no importance. I feel sorry for this wanna be.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    seesaw70
    United States4 months ago
  • Excellent

    Always interesting and balanced. Thanks Josh for making having uncomfortable conversations possible with the interviews you do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FrenchHeather
    France5 months ago
  • AI with Joel

    Josh, This was a sensational episode that i have been motivated to share with 20 or so family and friends. A seminal piece raising concerns and provoking thought into profound change that is upon us.

    My discussion points with family; Yes agree, its going to be one of the biggest challenges, probably the biggest educational challenge in human history when you think about it. It will be the first time that humans have not got full controll over education of younger generations. You will be able t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Riveting Stu
    Australia5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners criticize pacing or interruptions in certain episodes.
Occasionally polarizing but thought-provoking and well-researched.
Balanced, thoughtful discussions with challenging guests.
Audiences appreciate candid questions and deep dives into complex topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#91
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#206
New Zealand/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#243
Spain/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why We Don’t Believe Boys: Female Grooming & the Male Teen
Q: I mean, at what point were you actually having sex, and was that a-
The guest explains it began within weeks after the relationship started, describing coercion and the sense of being on top of the world while misperceiving it as love, and later recognizing the abuse.
"Smile! Civilisation is Collapsing" with Sarah Wilson
Q: What's your take on how to address polarization in a way that doesn't demonize opposing viewpoints?
By fostering genuine dialogue, emphasizing shared human needs, and modeling compassionate, curious engagement—while recognizing that disagreement is normal and can co-exist with public progress.
"Smile! Civilisation is Collapsing" with Sarah Wilson
Q: You describe collapse in terms of gradual systemic failure rather than a single apocalyptic moment. How should listeners interpret this in their own lives?
Accepting gradual collapse means acknowledging interdependence of climate, economy, technology, and social systems, then focusing on practical resilience: communities, critical thinking, and humane actions rather than fatalism.
"Smile! Civilisation is Collapsing" with Sarah Wilson
Q: Let's start with aesthetics: which appeals to you more, the Eiffel Tower or a colossal UFC arena being built at the White House?
Aesthetics aside, the deeper point is how grand symbols reflect societal narratives; the discussion uses the arena as a metaphor for spectacle, risk, and distraction in modern politics and culture.
What Australia's Covid Frontman Regrets
Q: Looking back, what do you think about vaccine mandates?
Mandates were a difficult policy choice; I now recognize they caused real harm to some individuals and should be replaced with policies that prioritize voluntary uptake with robust education and support, while ensuring healthcare workers remain protected.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Uncomfortable Conversations

What is Uncomfortable Conversations about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A provocative interview show that tackles big-picture politics, policy, culture, and technology through long-form conversations with leading thinkers, journalists, and policymakers. Episodes frequently explore democracy, media truth, free speech, nationalism, global geopolitics, and the ethical dimensions of policy decisions, often provoking challenging questions and civil debate. Notable is a willingness to mix hard-edged analysis with wit and cultural references, inviting guests from academia, government, media, and activism to unpack how ideas shape public life. The format tends to center the host's perspective on uncomfortable conversations and not-so-simple answers, making it appealing to listeners who want clarity amid complex, conten... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Uncomfortable Conversations?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Uncomfortable Conversations:

1. Conversations with Coleman
2. The Unspeakeasy With Meghan Daum
3. Quillette Podcast
4. TRIGGERnometry
5. Making Sense with Sam Harris

How many episodes of Uncomfortable Conversations are there?

Uncomfortable Conversations launched 11 years ago and published 538 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Uncomfortable Conversations?

Recent guests on Uncomfortable Conversations include:

1. Steve Stewart Williams
2. Ryan Martin
3. David Volodzko
4. David Enoch
5. Harry James
6. Karl Stefanovic
7. Haviv Rettig Gur
8. Ed Coper

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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