The Garden of Earthly Delights: Subversive

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:

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?

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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

Mark Nelson - The Nuclear Option

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:01:24 GMT

We chat about the legitimate criticisms of nuclear energy: non-issues, real problems that can be seen as positives, and genuine challenges that cannot be quickly resolved.

We also discuss the public perception of nuclear energy, particularly the influence of memes and cultural narratives, and the complexities and challenges of building nuclear power plants, highlighting the potential benefits despite the hurdles.

is the founder of radiantenergygroup.com, an energy consultancy providing leaders with the data-driven insights and roadmaps they need to bring about a low-carbon, high-energy future.

You can also find him on X.com at @energybants

Chapters

00:00 Critiquing Nuclear Energy: A Balanced Perspective

11:26 The Meme of Nuclear Energy: Perception vs. Reality

27:39 Building Nuclear Power: Challenges and Opportunities

32:46 Financing Nuclear Energy Projects

34:11 The Viability of Nuclear Energy

35:36 Nuclear vs. Renewable Energy

39:09 Challenges of Solar Energy in Europe

39:59 Political Implications of Energy Policy

42:37 Hydro Energy and Its Role

44:39 Left-Wing Perspectives on Nuclear Energy

50:21 Cynicism in Anti-Nuclear Sentiments

54:05 Underrated Thinkers

Helen Roy - Tradwife Unplugged

Alex Kaschuta — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:01:53 GMT

This is a conversation about motherhood, parenting between the US and Hungary, the impact of societal expectations on women and men, the wifejak meme and its potential to heal the gender divide (or not), internet ideology and the cracked people it attracts, and meme culture's influence on our relationships and how we feel about them. We also discuss the implications of gender roles in marriage and our experiences.

Helen Roy is a writer and mother of many. You can find her work here:

JayMan - Reflections on over a decade of HBD

Alex Kaschuta — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 18:42:51 GMT

Our chat explores the evolution of Human Biodiversity (HBD) discourse and the challenges of understanding complex data related to cognitive stratification and social mobility. We also discuss the impact of genetic technologies on future societal structures and the cultural perspectives surrounding fertility technologies, particularly in Eastern Europe. We also discuss the complexities of the economic viability of modern society, the challenges of immigration and integration, the rise of woke culture, the fragility of liberalism, the dynamics of gender, financial status, and relationships, particularly in the context of the baby boom and modern dating challenges. Our conversation also touches on parenting, emphasizing the limited impact of parenting styles on child development and the importance of understanding the realities of modern relationships.

JayMan is a pseudonymous blogger: unz.com/author/jayman/ and can be found on X.com @JayMan471

Chapters

00:00 The Evolution of Human Biodiversity Discourse

04:00 The Impact of HBD on Society

08:01 Understanding Averages and Cognitive Stratification

09:50 Social Mobility and Assortative Mating

13:58 The Future of Genetic Technologies

17:51 Cultural Perspectives on Fertility Technologies

21:54 The Role of Scientific Discovery in Progress

29:02 The Economic Viability of Society

30:42 Immigration and Integration Challenges

32:52 Experiencing Dystopia: A Personal Account

36:43 The Rise of Woke Culture and Backlash

40:20 The Right's Response to Woke Culture

44:57 The Future of Immigration Policy

49:50 Global Voices and Cultural Shifts

53:41 The Fragility of Liberalism and Future Prospects

58:32 The Baby Boom and Gender Dynamics

01:01:04 The Impact of Economic Status on Relationships

01:04:01 Navigating Modern Dating Challenges

01:10:01 Expectations and Realities in Relationships

01:18:06 The Role of Parenting in Child Development

Noah Carl - Immigration: Culture & Crime

Alex Kaschuta — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:01:51 GMT

This conversation delves into the complex issues surrounding immigration, crime rates, and social trust, focusing on Britain. We explore the misconceptions about crime rates among different ethnic groups, the nuances of immigration's economic impact, and the importance of understanding social trust dynamics. Our discussion also touches on the brain drain phenomenon and the challenges of political discourse in addressing these issues.

Noah Carl is a sociologist and intelligence researcher, a writer, and editor of Aporia magazine:

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Immigration Perspectives

05:36 Crime Rates and Misconceptions

12:41 Understanding Crime Data in Britain

17:32 Social Trust and Its Implications

28:27 The Economic Impact of Immigration

39:05 Persuasion and Political Discourse

49:47 The Brain Drain Phenomenon

Erik Hoel - The Tao of having babies

Alex Kaschuta — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:56:53 GMT

Our conversation explores the concept of pronatalism, the role of parents in shaping the values and behaviors of their children, the influence of genetics and culture, the limitations of heritability studies, and the challenges of navigating the complex nature vs. nurture debate. We also talk about the complexity of personality traits, the challenges of measuring and understanding them, the different flavors of traits, and the role of parenting in shaping them. The discussion also touches on the search for meaning in life, the impact of career choices, the importance of parenting styles, and the need for pro-natalist policies.

Erik Hoel is an essayist, a neuroscientist, a novelist, and the author of one of my favorite Substacks:

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pronatalism and the Repugnant Conclusion

09:17 The Role of Parents in Shaping Values and Behaviors

18:59 Genetics, Heritability, and the Nature vs. Nurture Debate

40:22 The Complexity of Personality Traits

42:07 The Challenges of Measurement

46:12 Finding Meaning in Life

51:04 The Experience of Parenthood

56:49 Pronatalist Policies

Sebastian Jensen - It's heritability all the way down

Alex Kaschuta — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:00:49 GMT

Our conversation explores the topic of the heritability of IQ and personality, as well as the relationship between intelligence and fertility. It also touches on the differences between men and women in terms of intelligence and achievement.

We also discuss various topics related to gender norms, masculinity, Jewish over-representation, and the relationship between cognitive ability and political views. We also touch

Radfem Hitler - Who Wins The Sex Wars

Alex Kaschuta — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:01:25 GMT

My guest today is Radfem Hitler, she is an anonymous poster on X, formerly Twitter, and she’s spearheading a radfem revolution. She runs an extremely entertaining, semi-serious account @hollowearthterf and is becoming quite influential.

We speak about her journey from 2016 trad Trumpian to becoming a dissident to the dissidents, her disillusionment with liberal feminism and the traditional space, the current degradation of both men and women, gender-segregated spaces, what makes for a good marriage, and avoiding divorce.

00:00 Background and Journey

03:02 Attraction to Traditional Values and Marriage

14:37 Disillusionment with Liberal Feminism and the Traditionalist Sphere

38:16 The Negative Traits Adopted by Men and Women

44:02 Can Men and Women Coexist Happily in Close Quarters?

50:03 The Potential of Gender-Segregated Schools

56:33 The Importance of Waiting to Get Married

01:02:50 Preventing Divorce Through Better Marriages

Anatoly Karlin - How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the GAE

Alex Kaschuta — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 16:23:23 GMT

This is Anatoly’s second appearance on the podcast, and represents quite a clear departure from his Russian Nationalist stance from 2022.

We discuss the following:

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:09 Anatoly's Shift in Perspective

07:08 Disillusionment with Right-Wing Politics

10:26 Positive Developments in Russia

12:43 Putinism and Political Degradation

15:19 The Decline of the Intellectual Space

22:12 Creating a Counter Elite

25:32 Hostile Sexism and Decline of the Space

30:50 The Decline of the Manosphere

37:12 The Idea of Immigration and Open Borders

46:00 The Potential of Network States

51:26 Challenges and Concerns with Network States

57:38 The Rise of Digital Nomadism and Network States

01:01:18 The Impact of Network States on Natalism

01:02:40 The Importance of Natalism and AI

01:03:37 The Need for Genetic Technologies

01:04:11 Reversing Dysgenic Trends

01:06:03 The Future of Reproductive Technologies

01:07:01 The Role of Natalism in Economic Growth

01:08:29 Practical Solutions for Natalism

01:10:48 The Ineffectiveness of Traditionalist Solutions

01:11:17 The Potential of Reproductive Genetic Technologies

01:12:44 The Political Landscape of HBD

01:13:14 The Commercial Availability of Reproductive Genetic Technologies

01:16:27 The Future of Family Structures

01:17:47 The Spiritual Experience of Pregnancy and Childbirth

01:18:55 The Delegation of Biological Functions

01:19:26 The Weight of Femininity and Delegating Biological Functions

01:21:28 The Relationship Between HBD and Wokeness

01:22:38 The Reckoning with HBD

01:25:17 The Increasing Evidence for HBD

01:27:13 The Impact of Reproductive Genetic Technologies on HBD

01:29:37 The Importance of Normalizing HBD

01:30:06 The Relationship Between Intelligence and Solving Other Problems

01:33:08 Recommended Thinkers

Anatoly Karlin is a writer and technologist who writes at

Niccolo Soldo - Imperial Turmoil from Washington to Moscow

Alex Kaschuta — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:00:41 GMT

We speak about:

Very tangentially, AIDS. This very popular subject has been covered extensively on ’s substack in his series that starts here;
Fisted by Foucault
The Early Days of HIV/AIDS - Introduction
“I have this belief, or theory, not that there’s a big difference between those two, that AIDS is what caused gay marriage. You know, that all these astonishing changes in society’s idea of being gay. I don’t think they would have happened without AIDS…
Read more
4 years ago · 128 likes · 33 comments · Niccolo Soldo
You can also listen to Nic’s extensive coverage of the AIDS epidemic on my friend ’s podcast:
Maiden Mother Matriarch
The Early History of HIV in America - Niccolo Soldo | Maiden Mother Matriarch 26
My guest this week is Niccolo Soldo, a writer who has authored a series on the early history of HIV/AIDs in America. This podcast is audio-only and behind a paywall due to the explicit nature of the discussion. To listen to episode in full you can find it on my Substack - louiseperry.substack.com…
Listen now
3 years ago · 23 likes · 20 comments · Louise Perry
Turboamerica - Never more united, never more powerful than it is today.
Anatoly Karlin’s “Wokeness is the tribute that meritocracy pays to human dignity” as a replacement for noblesse oblige.
What we can learn from the Ukraine war about current empire(s).
“Fighting for a better past” in the Balkans.
Why does Boris Berezovsky deserve infamy?
Tucker/Putin Interview - a landmark event or non-event?
Outlook for Ukraine and maybe, more interestingly, Poland, as US interest in the war wanes.

J Burden - New Blood on Old Paths

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:00:38 GMT

We speak about getting married young, stepping into an uncertain world, chaotic, nihilistic energy versus more rooted ways, the exhaustion of politics, especially the electoral kind, technology, modern media and much more.

J Burden is the host of the J Burden Show, a podcaster and chronicler of the dissident right, he has on many up-and-coming influencers, from what I would describe as of one layer deeper into the ranks of the DR than my show. I love his show, it’s well worth a listen - especially liked the George Bagby and Thomas777 episodes.

Carl Benjamin aka Sargon of Akkad - Liberalism, an Autopsy

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:00:33 GMT

We speak about the evolution of online ideologies, the increasingly unavoidable confrontation with post-liberalism, democracy, the individual, ideology itself as a child of the Enlightenment, Christianity as a necessary but eroding substructure of Western culture, and much more.

Carl Benjamin aka Sargon of Akkad is a legendary YouTuber, writer and podcaster, former politician, and a true renaissance man of the Internet age. You can find all his newest videos and essays at https://www.lotuseaters.com/

Philippe Lemoine - The Renaissance of War

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 17:00:38 GMT

We speak about the case against Western intervention in Ukraine and Russia as a looming presence in Eastern Europe. We also speak about liberal imperialism, political pragmatism, France today, and much more.

Philippe is a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy at Cornell and a research fellow at the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology.

Bennett's Phylactery - Finding our Way Back to Children

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 16:00:54 GMT

We speak about the problem of demographic collapse, what it could look like, and how both individuals and policy can address it. We also speak about the importance of religion, secular alternatives to religious natalism culture, government policy that works and doesn’t, testosterone and sperm count decline, fertility technology like IVF and embryo selection, surrogacy, exo wombs, and more.

Kevin is the organizer of the Natalism conference held in Austin Texas, in December 2023 and the Founder of Exit Group - a fraternal organization dedicated to ending our reliance on corporate employment, so that you can’t be threatened by a politicized HR department or an “employer mandate”.

Matt Goodwin - Who Rules Britain?

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 16:00:24 GMT

We speak about what the ruling class of Britain looks like today and how it has changed in the last 50 years. We also speak about what the Tory party represents, the global elite and the status that comes with membership in it, immigration to the UK and what, if anything can be done about it, right-wing politics and the class divide and much more.

Matt Goodwin is a Professor of Politics at Rutherford College, University of Kent, and the author of many fine books including his latest, “Values, Voice and Virtue: The New British Politics”. You can find his latest work on his excellent Substack.

J.D. Haltigan - Nature & Nurture in our First Years

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:00:15 GMT

We speak about what matters in the early years of children’s lives: caregiving and social experiences, daycare, bullying, divorce, and sex differences in early childhood psychopathology. We also speak about long covid and its strange link with bisexuality, the difference between destigmatizing and normalizing, DEI in universities and more.

JD Haltigan studies Developmental & Evolutionary Psychopathology and specializes in Early Experience & Life History. You can find him on Twitter at @JDHaltigan

Open Thread: Who would you like to hear on the podcast?

Alex Kaschuta — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 16:00:11 GMT

John O'Sullivan - The New "New Right" and its Future

Alex Kaschuta — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:00:14 GMT

We speak about the three eras of the “New Right”: from William F. Buckley and James Burnham to the second “New Right” under Reagan and Thatcher and now the third “New Right” that is taking shape in the wake of the populist revolutions of Trump and Brexit. We also speak about immigration, liberalism as a self-liquefying force, Thatcher’s legacy, Brexit, Orban, and much more.

John O’Sullivan is a political commentator and journalist. He was the senior policy writer and speechwriter in 10 Downing Street for Margaret Thatcher when she was British prime minister. He is also the former editor of National Review in the years 1988-1997 and is now an editor at large. Since 2017, he has been president of the Danube Institute in Budapest.