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Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps

Josh Szeps
Donald Trump
Food Safety
Australia
Temperature Rules
Four-Hour Rule
Two-Hour Rule
2024 Presidential Election
Social Media
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Free Will
Food Poisoning
Elie Honig
Leftovers
Organized Crime
Hush Money Payments
January 6th Insurrection
Bitcoin
Determinism
Neuroscience
Christmas

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes433Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Comedy InterviewsSociety & CultureComedy

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Artwork for Uncomfortable Conversations

Latest Episodes

Bluffing, double-crossing, predicting, testing your enemy. The mind games of international relations are wildly complex. And at the end of the day, the outcome of the next major conflict will be decided not by military questions but by psychological ... more

Josh takes a look at the week’s news, and tries to make sense of it. A

Is faith in our economic system cracking up?

From Mayor Mamdani's win to Elon's trillion-dollar payday, from Instagram infuluencers embracing communism to Bernie and AOC, from Trump's tariffs to Chinese communism. Critiques abound of the neoliberal ... more

YouTube

Tony Abbott was the 28th Prime Minister of Australia. Here, he visits Josh for an Uncomfortable Conversation about his government’s policy of “turning back” asylum-seeker boats; about climate change (as PM, he abolished Australia’s short-lived tax on... more

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Recent Guests

Paul Starr
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author
Princeton University, The American Prospect
Episode: "Obama, Trump & the Great American Contradiction" with Pulitzer-Prize-winner Paul Starr
Shadi Hamid
Columnist at The Washington Post and author of "The Case for American Power"
The Washington Post
Episode: "The Case for American Power" with Shadi Hamid
Bo Winegard
PhD in social psychology, interested in human evolution and social psychology.
Episode: “Have We Got Morality Backwards? The Case Against Utilitarianism” with Bo Winegard
Jeffrey Kluger
Editor at large of Time Magazine and author of 13 books including Lost Moon, The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13.
Time Magazine
Episode: “The New Race to the Moon: China, MAGA, SpaceX & Mars” with Jeffrey Kluger
Robert Wintemute
Professor of human rights law at King's College London, gay rights advocate
King's College London
Episode: "Trans Rights, Women's Rights, Gay Rights, Oh My!” with Professor Robert Wintemute
Mo Edjlali
Founder and CEO of Mindful Leader, author of 'Open MBSR Reimagining the Future of Mindfulness'
Mindful Leader
Episode: "Mindfulness, Science, Buddhism & Bullsh*t"? with Mo Edjlali
Wil Anderson
Australia's most successful and best-known stand-up comic
Gruen
Episode: “What’s Comedy For, Anymore?” with Wil Anderson
Dr. Matthew Boedy
Assistant Professor at the University of North Georgia
University of North Georgia
Episode: “Charlie Kirk’s Secret Plan to Take Over America” with Dr Matthew Boedy
Cameron Murray
Economist and real estate developer
Fresh Economic Thinking
Episode: "There IS no Housing Crisis, Akshually ☝️" with economist Cameron Murray

Host

Josh Szeps
Host of engaging and thought-provoking conversations that tackle contemporary societal challenges, often pushing guests and audiences to explore uncomfortable truths.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • Shut up and listen

    Josh Szeps is the worst interviewer - talks over the interviewee, doesn’t listen, interjects with trite nonsense. Slugged through this episode loving Cameron Murray but hating Josh Szeps.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bhhhhhii
    Australiaa month ago
  • You’re feeling chipper, are you?

    What drivel. Oh yes the woke left caused this but we’ll be okay because I, Josh, am cushioned by money and status. Experts need to explain better, eh? (Maybe it’s just that almost half the population is incredibly stupid) Oh and this - whoever this dude is feels an “ennui” that his grandfather somehow didn’t feel when he was sent to war? What on earth are you talking about? Ugh.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Mrsbrownie53
    United States2 months ago
  • Far left pretending to be neutral.

    Mate it comes out in spades which side on the spectrum you sit on. Clearly a Trump hater and also dispose Charlie Kirk and anyone right leaning but try and disguise it with a hint of neutrality.

    It didn’t take me long to work that out.

    Not interested anymore.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    benniross
    Australia3 months ago
  • Have recently unsubscribed

    Will always appreciate your intellect Josh but the podcast keeps rehashing the same topics with the same takes, which don’t feel contemporary. Your recent ‘world tour’ is an example of talking to the same people about the same things. There is so much happening in the world and it feels like you are the last person still trying to talk about culture wars, wokeness and ‘censoriousness’. I’d personally love a bit more variety of guests and ideas.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mark_3839
    Australia4 months ago
  • Can’t listen any more

    Like like like like like - 5 times in a short sentence!! You AND your guests! I just can’t listen any more. I’m done.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MareeGallagher
    New Zealand4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the thoughtful discussions and variety of topics but some find repetitiveness in certain themes, particularly around political issues.
Overall, the interactions are generally well-received, with many highlighting the bravery in facing 'uncomfortable' discussions, while others express a need for more engagement with less familiar viewpoints.
There is recognition of the quality of guests and their insights, though critiques arise regarding the balance of voices in discussions, with some desiring more diversity in guest selection.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#235
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#40
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#110
New Zealand/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#243
Israel/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#245
Finland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"Obama, Trump & the Great American Contradiction" with Pulitzer-Prize-winner Paul Starr
Q: What were your experiences of Bill Clinton when you first met him?
Starr found Clinton unusually knowledgeable and insightful during their working relationship in health care reform.
"Obama, Trump & the Great American Contradiction" with Pulitzer-Prize-winner Paul Starr
Q: How did you win a Pulitzer?
Paul Starr recounts being shocked by the news of his Pulitzer win, which came unexpectedly through a call from the Associated Press.
“The New Race to the Moon: China, MAGA, SpaceX & Mars” with Jeffrey Kluger
Q: Are we going to the moon again?
Yes, as early as February with Artemis 2 flying circumlunar, but further goals like landing will take more time.
LIVE PANEL: "Who Really Influences Our Politicians?" with Senators Bridget McKenzie & David Pocock, and MP's Allegra Spender & Helen Haines
Q: Will Australia ever see the protection of animals and the environment as at the heart of national policy?
Yes, there is a growing recognition that animal and environmental protection should be part of national policy, but it requires ongoing advocacy.
LIVE PANEL: "Who Really Influences Our Politicians?" with Senators Bridget McKenzie & David Pocock, and MP's Allegra Spender & Helen Haines
Q: What do you see as the most viable political route to securing greater transparency from this future government?
Political pressure through raising voter awareness and opting for candidates committed to transparency.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Interests
Professions
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Uncomfortable Conversations

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

This podcast engages in thought-provoking discourse surrounding contemporary societal issues, exploring the chasms of political and cultural divides. Across episodes, conversations cover an array of topics, including gun culture, climate change, far-right extremism, and the nuances of identity politics. The approach is characterized by robust discussions that challenge listeners to confront their own beliefs while engaging deeply with perspectives that might differ from their own. Unique highlights include interviews with a diverse range of guests, from comedians to economists, providing multifaceted insights into urgent matters of our times. Such rich dialogues likely resonate with audiences seeking to engage thoughtfully with the world's ... 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. Quillette Podcast
3. Blocked and Reported
4. The Unspeakeasy With Meghan Daum
5. The Glenn Show

How many episodes of Uncomfortable Conversations are there?

Uncomfortable Conversations launched 10 years ago and published 433 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. Paul Starr
2. Shadi Hamid
3. Bo Winegard
4. Jeffrey Kluger
5. Robert Wintemute
6. Mo Edjlali
7. Wil Anderson
8. Dr. Matthew Boedy

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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