The Garden of Earthly Delights

Charles Olney - Diapers, Democracy, and Digital Delusions

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:37:23 GMT

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

Chris Lakin - The Incentives Behind Your Mind

Alex Kaschuta — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:18:01 GMT

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

Jordan Call - Traditional Values, Modern Dad

Alex Kaschuta — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:03:34 GMT

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).

Jeremiah Johnson - Paying the Toll of the Infinite Scroll

Alex Kaschuta — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:28:02 GMT

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.

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

Rewriting Work, Status, and Ambition

Alex Kaschuta — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 17:58:08 GMT

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

How much of yourself will you give?

Alex Kaschuta — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:00:58 GMT

Lately, I’ve been thinking less about what I post and more about what I don’t. Not because I’m trying to be mysterious, but because I’m starting to feel the cost of being open online. It’s not just trolls or critics. It’s the way every piece of you that becomes content stops belonging to you. I’ve had moments where I felt like I was writing in my voice,…

Lane Scott: Building Community in Strange Times

Alex Kaschuta — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 13:03:00 GMT

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

Nicholas Gruen - Wish-Casting Meets Reality

Alex Kaschuta — Thu, 08 May 2025 16:48:33 GMT

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:

The vibes-BASED international order

Alex Kaschuta — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 19:54:37 GMT

The online right is one of the most creative and potent vibe-crafting machines in history, but its real-world powers are limited, and many of its strengths have curdled into liabilities. That’s the conclusion I’ve come to after years of interviewing its thinkers, platforming its ideas, and believing it could be a vessel for renewal. Instead, it has drif…

Dean Abbott - The Secret Emotional War

Alex Kaschuta — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 18:26:22 GMT

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

Men, women, and other aliens

Alex Kaschuta — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 17:01:00 GMT

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

Stella Tsantekidou - Anti-Woke Davos Meets Techno-Pagans

Alex Kaschuta — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:00:48 GMT

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…

The Business of Being Against

Alex Kaschuta — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 13:02:30 GMT

I was 15 when I figured out how to order books from England. The first book I ordered was The God Delusion, and I got three copies because I knew I'd want to gift it. The content was incidental—I was already sold. These books were tokens of my allegiance to the growing community of "New Atheism," the leading strand of contrarianism of the 2010s.

I was primed for this world by the convergence between the stormy revelations of puberty and my parents' dubious religious affiliation. As far as I can tell, my dad was agnostic, not out of the ordinary for someone steeped in Soviet-era religious ambiguity, very much a STEM type, and who was burned by the chaotic spirit of the age. After communism, he adopted a bourgeois position towards religion. He went to church but endured it. It was yet another price to pay to be an upstanding member of the community.

My mother had an intuitive grasp of Pascal's wager. She took it to staggering new heights, covering every religion she was even vaguely aware of with a bit of precautionary belief. Our home was covered in exotic symbols, amulets, crystals, and icons from every denomination. The tension between my father's instrumental view of religion and my mother's precautionary pantheon made it clear that this was rich soil for digging. By the time confirmation rolled around, I was already firmly checked out.

There's always been something tantalizing about the idea that the world is not how it is presented to you. A frontier opens up. You, the explorer, bravely unshackled from the pressures and expectations of those around you, at great cost (or at least that's what you tell yourself), get to define a new idea space. This revelation creates a special thrill: you've seen behind the curtain while others remain blind. Whatever the circumstances of your life, knowing the truth is a form of deliverance. Even if you think you're the only one, this hidden status is a flame that warms your wise soul. Others may have other forms of status, but their success is in the shadows because they are not lit up by the truth.

Early as I might have been, I was not the only one. Contrarianism is big in the Internet economy. The recipe for success online is simple: be interesting. Few things capture attention more effectively than dismantling conventional wisdom. There are much more sophisticated avenues for contrarianism than "5 Surprising Foods That Can Melt Belly Fat," but the psychology of why it fascinates is the same. Secret knowledge awaits, and with it, the possibility that it may give you an edge.

As someone who has run a podcast called Subversive for a few years, I've made it my job to unearth the counter-intuitive. However, there are some systematic issues with the contrarian economy.

The reality of professional contrarianism is that the demand for hidden knowledge outstrips the supply. Similar to the diversity and inclusion industry, where the job depends on a steady supply of bigotry to justify its existence, the contrarian needs a constant inflow of counterintuitive revelations. The set of potential hidden truths is naturally limited, though. Inevitably, a lot of things really are the way they seem.

If you're naturally drawn to the arcane, and especially if you've built an audience of novelty seekers on that basis, the incentive is to continue down the path. If the foundation of our shared beliefs is so fractured and the old heuristics of what is true are so broken, the heuristics themselves start to flip. New truth is prioritized, and the esoteric seems, by default, true. The pattern-matching mind begins to see hidden agendas everywhere.

The unstable nature of contrarianism creates several potential paths:

Ed West - Reflections on the Revolution in America

Alex Kaschuta — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:03:34 GMT

Today, we dissect the multicultural experiment's spectacular implosion across the British Isles – from grooming gang revelations finally piercing mainstream consciousness to Reform's meteoric rise as the Tories self-immolate. Has Boris Johnson's immigration Ponzi scheme permanently fractured English society? Are we witnessing the last gasps of bland liberal democracy or merely the beginning of sectarian politics with a British accent?

Subscribe now

Our conversation references Louise Perry’s interview with David Betz on the Civil War in the UK.

My returning guest today is Ed West, author of "The Diversity Illusion" and “Small Men on the Wrong Side of History” and a very engaging Substack.

Chapters

00:00 The Shifting Discourse on Immigration in the UK

10:12 The Impact of Immigration on British Politics

14:15 Grooming Gangs and Public Awareness

24:43 The Possibility of Civil Unrest in Britain

30:50 Political Landscape and Public Sentiment

33:02 The Right's Internal Struggles and Extremism

35:52 Competence vs. Chaos in Governance

40:01 Cultural Shifts and the Left's Dominance

44:50 Democracy vs. Liberalism: A Fractured Relationship

49:01 The Future of Right-Wing Politics and Inclusion

Steve Hsu: AI Arms Race - China & US

Alex Kaschuta — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:05:07 GMT

The story about AI in the West is escalating —breakthrough after breakthrough, each more hyped than the last. But across the globe, China works in parallel, under different politics, with different intentions. Today, I'm speaking with Steve Hsu about this mysterious counterpart in the AI race. How real is America's technological edge? Is China's authoritarian approach hampering innovation or accelerating it? As Western researchers obsess over the AGI apocalypse, are their Chinese counterparts free from such existential handwringing?

is a physicist, an academic serial deep tech founder - Genomic Prediction, Othram, and SuperFocus - and a 21st-century Rennaisance man. You can find him on X @hsu_steve and on Substack here:

Chapters

00:00 The State of AI in China vs. the West

04:52 Cultural Perspectives on AI Ethics

07:48 The Nature of AI and Superintelligence

11:28 Collaboration and Competition in AI Research

19:15 The Future of Quantum Computing and AI

24:57 The Potential for Global AI Hegemony

30:02 Human Adaptation to AI Technology

34:33 Navigating the Trough of Technology and Mental Health

35:44 Generational Perspectives on Technology and Parenting

39:52 AI Innovations in Child Development

43:01 Fertility Crisis: Global Implications and Trends

47:56 Cultural Shifts and Modern Relationships

51:46 Parenting in a Changing World

59:03 Underrated Thinkers and Their Impact

Notes from Baby Jail

Alex Kaschuta — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:43:46 GMT

original image by Jonathan Borba

"Should we go out?" we look at each other with a deep, guilty hope that the other feels the same. The question hangs in the air like a soap bubble – entrancing, fragile, and destined to pop.

My day started at 4:30 AM when my youngest decided he'd had enough sleep, and it was officially playtime. It is now 8:00 PM, the kids…

Prester John Andrews - Between Bugmen and Theorycels

Alex Kaschuta — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:02:19 GMT

In today's conversation, I sit down with Prester John Andrews, whose journey from professional kitchens to the digital frontier offers a rare lens into America's shifting cultural landscape. A writer of remarkable clarity, Prester traverses the territory between theoretical abstractions and lived experience, having inhabited both leftist organizing spaces and traditional institutions. His work excavates the paradoxes of modern masculinity and examines the subtle tyranny of online political discourse. What emerges is a meditation on finding authentic meaning in an age where digital rage threatens to eclipse tangible action and where the path between radical theory and practical wisdom grows increasingly narrow.

is a writer, commentator, and podcast host on Substack.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Modern Masculinity and the Bug Man Meme

04:39 Navigating Online Spaces and Tribalism

10:20 Political Awakening and Ideological Shifts

16:27 The Impact of Technology on Global Politics

21:42 Cultural Influence of American Ideology

27:07 The Future of Political Change and Ideological Framing

37:02 Navigating a Multipolar World

39:56 The Shifting Ideological Landscape

44:34 Cultural Aspirations and American Influence

51:10 Masculinity in Modern Society

01:01:32 Engagement Beyond Ideology

We Learned About Sex Differences. Then We Lost Our Minds.

Alex Kaschuta — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 15:03:09 GMT

Image by Samuel Regan-Asante

As a Blank Slate-pilled biology enthusiast who cut her teeth in the Soviet-era coded high school biology Olympics in Romania, I found myself adrift in the corporate feminist literature of my early 2000s undergrad education. The curriculum was a parade of case studies featuring Carly Fiorina breaking glass ceilings, researcher…

Jonathan Anomaly - Enlightened Tribalism

Alex Kaschuta — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:02:51 GMT

While our liberal elites keep preaching about "global citizenship" and "universal values," the West's foundations are crumbling beneath our feet. Low birth rates, eroded social cohesion, and a loss of cultural confidence – these seem to be the fruits of radical individualism and unthinking cosmopolitanism.

Today, I'm joined by Jonathan Anomaly to explore a compelling alternative: enlightened tribalism. We'll discuss why the conservative instinct to preserve distinct cultures and communities isn't just natural – it might be essential for civilization's survival. Jonathan brings both philosophical rigor and entrepreneurial insight to explain why some form of tribalism isn't just inevitable, it's desirable.

From the failures of liberal democracy to the promise of reproductive technology, we cover the uncomfortable truths that mainstream discourse refuses to acknowledge. This is a conversation about saving Western civilization by embracing, rather than denying, human nature.

Jonathan Anomaly is an academic, a writer, and author of Creating Future People: The Ethics of Genetic Enhancement. He is also a partner in a yet-to-be-disclosed venture in the reproductive technology space, which will undoubtedly be interesting to observe once it becomes public.

The papers we reference are: Enlightened Tribalism and Can Liberalism Last?

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Enlightened Tribalism

06:00 Defining Tribalism and Its Implications

11:56 The Layers of Enlightenment in Tribalism

15:58 Democracy and Enlightened Tribalism

24:04 The Future of Tribalism in a Fragmented World

26:45 Reproductive Technology and the Future of Liberalism

34:24 Prolonging Fertility and Family Dynamics

37:00 The Role of Tribalism in Society

40:20 The Impact of Western Influence on Developing Countries

43:34 Cultural Aspirations and Economic Dependencies

46:19 Navigating Liberalism and Tribalism

51:11 Reflections on Western Civilization and Future Directions

55:06 Recommended Thinkers and Closing Thoughts

Erika Bachiochi - Family, Faith & Feminism.

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:02:29 GMT

In my conversation with Erika, we dove into how the modern feminist movement has become almost unrecognizable - more focused on commodifying women's bodies through practices like surrogacy or sex work than protecting their dignity. But rather than simply critiquing modern feminism, we examined what a meaningful alternative might look like: one that honors both women's capabilities and their unique role in creating life. The conversation challenged the false choice between career-woman feminism and "make me a sandwich" traditionalism, suggesting that real strength might actually lie in embracing vulnerability rather than running from it.

Erika Bachiochi is a legal scholar and a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. She is also the director of the Wollstonecraft Project at the Abigail Adams Institute, the author of The Rights of Women, and editor-in-chief of Fairer Disputations.

A primer on her recent work can be read at Heritage.org.

Chapters

00:00 The Conservative Lens on Feminism

03:00 Defining Feminism and Conservatism

06:00 The Concept of Complementarity

08:59 Integral vs. Fractional Complementarity

11:47 The Role of Men in Family Dynamics

15:05 Trust and Vulnerability in Relationships

17:59 The Impact of Technology and Media

20:47 The Future of Marriage and Divorce Laws

38:57 Cultural Context of Abortion Laws

40:23 Historical Compromises and Human Dignity

41:44 The Sexual Revolution's Impact

43:39 Germany's Approach to Abortion

45:33 Legal Aspirations vs. Human Weakness

48:28 Surrogacy and Feminism's Failures

50:10 The Complexity of Pregnancy

54:56 The Role of Fathers and Family Dynamics

58:18 The Need for a New Feminism

01:01:06 Heroism and Masculinity in Modern Society

01:07:37 Underrated Thinkers and Historical Perspectives