Best Ted Leo Podcasts (2025)

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The Best Quotes in Dune ft. Alt Shift X 1:09:20

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2d ago1:09:20

1:09:20

Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Alt Shift X to share and discuss some of their favorite quotes in the Dune series– Spoiler, it's NOT "Fear is the Mind Killer". This episode contains SPOILERS for all six of Frank's books! Follow Alt Shift X on ⁠Youtube⁠ and ⁠BlueSky⁠ Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreo…

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#55 Paige MacPherson: Smartphones, Canadian Education Performance, and School Choice 1:06:48

17m ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Canada is libertarian on cell phones in classrooms and statist on school choice (in most provinces). We get a poor return on investment when it comes to education in Canada. Our math and reading scores are several years behind (even before Covid). Students are distracted by over 100 messages on their cellphones each day. And teachers cannot control…

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#54 Étienne-Alexander Beauregard - Gen-Z Conservatism & Anti Civilization: Why Our Societies Collapse From Within 57:41

1d ago57:41

57:41

Gen Z sits at the cusp of major change in conservatism. Young people do not feel a warmth and longing for Reagan or Thatcher. Sure, they value freedom, but they also what to know where the guardrails stand. Étienne-Alexandre speaks clearly for a new generation of non-left thinkers. He asks what might be the role of conservatism in the near future. …

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The Lost Entries: History of Old Terra 1:07:50

9d ago1:07:50

1:07:50

Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ dive into the unpublished Dune Encyclopedia manuscript, THE HISTORY OF OLD TERRA by Wesley D Ives, which served as the foundation for the Timeline at the beginning of the Dune universe. This episode contains LIGHT SPOILERS for the first four Dune books. Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreo…

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#53 Tristin Hopper: Extremism in Canadian Universities and review of his book, "Don't be Canada" 48:17

6d ago48:17

48:17

Once again, Canadian university professors show their extremism in response to Charlie Kirk, a mirror of their praise for Oct 7. Professors shape opinion; they shape culture. Do we want the kind of culture they promote? Turning to his book, Tristin argues that Canada's world-famous policy failures are self-inflicted. He believes we could recover, i…

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#52 Josh Lewis: Conservatism, Saving Elephants, Populism, Donald Trump, and Economic Morality 1:09:50

8d ago1:09:50

1:09:50

Josh Lewis is a traditional conservative who has worked in 'government' in America, has served in retail politics, and has interviewed hundreds of leading thinkers in American conservatism. Josh has a unique ability to bridge the gap between politics and life, philosophy and culture. His developed his skill comes from a deep discomfort with what he…

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The 7 Deadly Sins of Brian Herbert 1:14:40

16d ago1:14:40

1:14:40

Abu⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠ break down the seven most egregious sins committed by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in their Dune novels. They discuss the lack of depth in characters, the absence of subtlety in storytelling, and the overall boring and predictable nature of the plots. They also highlight the stark contrast between Brian Herbert's writing…

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#51 Reflecting on Charlie Kirk. Are we tired of being bullied? 22:53

13d ago22:53

22:53

I couldn't stay silent and sane. Once again, the AI summary is scarily accurate, so I will let is stand. Let me know what you think. Shawn AI Summary: Responding to Tragedy: Honouring Charlie Kirk & Challenging Silence In this deeply reflective episode of Concepts, host Shawn Whatley breaks from his usual avoidance of current events to address a tu…

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#50 George Nash: The Conservative Intellectual Movement 1:09:54

15d ago1:09:54

1:09:54

If you find conservatism confusing, you are not alone! Dr. George Nash has spent 50 years explaining all the strands that weave together into the collection of ideas we call conservatism. The AI summary is surprisingly good, so I will simply point out the book links below: The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America since 1945 Russel Kirk's C…

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The Fullerton Archives: Rejecting Frank Herbert 1:03:06

23d ago1:03:06

1:03:06

⁠⁠Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ begin their coverage of the Frank Herbert Papers collection at Cal State Fullerton, bringing you Leo's in-the-moment reactions along with a thorough look at Dune's road to publication through the lens of the many rejection letters Frank and his literary agent received. This episode contains LIGHT SPOILERS for Dune, D…

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#49 Yuval Levin: Unity, Citizenship, and American Constitutionalism 1:03:00

22d ago1:03:00

1:03:00

How can we live together when we don't t all think alike? Are there nothing but power struggles, or is there a better way? Dr. Yuval Levin explains that we don't need to disagree less; we need to learn to disagree better. Unity does not mean unanimity. We should be hopeful, not simply optimistic. Yuval has spent several decades trying to persuade c…

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Are the Bene Gesserit the Villains of Dune? 1:03:25

30d ago1:03:25

1:03:25

Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ take the Bene Gesserit to court– the charges? More than ANY OTHER party in Dune, the Bene Gesserit are the greatest risk to humanity. This is a courthouse drama for the history books! This episode contains SPOILERS for all six of Frank's books! Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/Go…

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#48 Nico Lagan: Political Orphans, Masculinity, and Faith 1:08:01

29d ago1:08:01

1:08:01

The non-left in Canada includes an interesting and often overlooked group. They promote a mix of exercise, martial arts, masculinity, self defence, freedom, self sufficiency, honour, Christianity, and more. This group baffles academics and exasperates leftists. Both left and right seeks to dismiss and minimize their impact. But they represent a lar…

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AUDIO DRAMA: Duncan Idaho Meets the God Emperor 9:18

1M ago9:18

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Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠ present an audio drama adaptation of one of their favorite chapters in God Emperor of Dune. Listen with headphones for the best experience. Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/GomJabbar⁠⁠⁠⁠ Say thank you with a tip: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://buymeacoffee.com/gomjabbar⁠⁠⁠⁠ Directed & Edited by Abu Zafar Writt…

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#47 Andy Crooks: Moral Courage and the Heart of Conservatism 1:10:51

1M ago1:10:51

1:10:51

Andy captures the heart of conservatism unlike anything I've found elsewhere. He has lived it. He embodies it. And he welcomes others to enjoy it. Andy Crooks spelled out what's at stake for Canada, and he explained what we must do to save it. Stark, fun, inspirational, and tragic. I can't think of a better embodiment of the heart an soul of conser…

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What Dune Can Teach Us About Artificial Intelligence (Part 2) 1:18:50

1M ago1:18:50

1:18:50

⁠⁠Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ explore modern conversations about artificial intelligence through the ideas presented in Frank Herbert's Dune novels. They discuss the limitations of AI in generating new ideas, and how artificial intelligence lacks the emotional depth inherent in human artistry, raising ethical concerns about the use of artis…

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#46 Marco Navarro-Genie: Red Toryism, Canadian Identity, and the Role of Conservatism 1:08:19

1M ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Marco packages powerful barbs in (slightly) softened academic polish. It makes his writing and speaking fun to consume and hard to forget. Do check out his Substack https://substack.com/@navarrogenie Looking forward to hearing what you think! Thanks again! AI summary: Special guest Dr. Marco Navarro-Genie, VP of Research at Frontier Center for Publ…

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Exhalation by Ted Chiang 2:18:01

2M ago2:18:01

2:18:01

Abu and Leo bring their Dune obsession through the alchemist's portal to Ted Chiang's incredible short story collection, Exhalation, examining the common themes in Ted's writing along side Frank's. You be good. We love you. This episode contains SPOILERS through God Emperor of Dune, and of course, for the nine stories featured in Exhalation. Get ad…

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#45 Sean Walsh: The Hard Problem of Consciousness, AI, and Conservatism 53:48

2M ago53:48

53:48

Sean has a PhD in the philosophy of artificial intelligence. He writes well and thinks deeply. He's also experienced more grit than the average academic. This was not a light discussion, but I think you will find it well worth your time. Articles mentioned: Wandering Thoughts Artificial, human and angelic intelligence Sean is Associate Editor of Co…

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What Dune Can Teach Us About Artificial Intelligence (Part 1) 1:00:47

2M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

⁠⁠Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ explore the themes of technology in the Dune Saga in order to and break down what lessons we can learn from Frank Herbert about our relationship with artificial intelligence today. This episode contains LIGHT SPOILERS for God Emperor of Dune Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/Gom…

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#44 Tristan Rogers: Conservatism Past and Present--A Philosophical Introduction 1:06:32

2M ago1:06:32

1:06:32

Tristan and I discuss his new book on conservatism. It is fun and deep and convoluted...you will love it. The AI summary (below) chunks out the main sections. Books and articles mentioned: Conservatism Past and Present: A philosophical introduction, by Tristan Rogers https://amzn.to/4lYHPbC England: An Elegy, by Roger Scruton https://amzn.to/4lMKkO…

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Taraza's Plans in Heretics of Dune 1:17:46

2M ago1:17:46

1:17:46

Abu and Leo dive deep into the complex web of Taraza's plans within plans that stretch across all of Heretics of Dune. This episode contains HEAVY SPOILERS for the end of Heretics of Dune! Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/GomJabbar Say thank you with a tip: http://buymeacoffee.com/gomjabbar Watch video versions of sel…

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#43 Brian Day: The Fight for Canadian Healthcare | A 30-Year Battle for Patient Rights 1:07:55

2M ago1:07:55

1:07:55

Dr. Brian Day has spent decades fighting for patients' rights. He trained during an era of no wait times and doctors competing to provide care for patients. People find this hard to believe, and system planners find it horrifying. Canadian medicare was once the envy of the world. Today, countries try to avoid creating 'Canada-like' results. Dr. Day…

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Stilgar ben Fifrawi (Part 2) 1:11:03

2M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

⁠Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ continue their deep dive into the life of the most legendary Naib in Fremen history, Stilgar. From his fierce dedication to the desert way in Dune, to his uneasy role as a commander in Dune Messiah, and finally his ideological crisis in Children of Dune, we track Stilgar’s evolution through the trilogy—and what it say…

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#42 Nathan Pinkoski: Actually Existing Postliberalism 1:01:22

2M ago1:01:22

1:01:22

A quiet revolution occurred in the 1990s. Our institutions shifted. The global war on terror solidified the shift and obliterated the distinction between public and private, which was once a feature of liberalism. The fusion of public and private represents a new era of actually existing postliberalism. https://firstthings.com/actually-existing-pos…

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Heretics of Dune Q&A 1:16:41

3M ago1:16:41

1:16:41

Having completed their read-through of Heretics of Dune, Abu and Leo answer your lingering questions about this excellent and dense novel. This episode contains NO SPOILERS beyond the books and pages covered thus far Read along with us by following the Heretics of Dune book club schedule Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.c…

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#41 Rebecca Vachon: Canada's Rapid Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)/Euthanasia 50:44

3M ago50:44

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Canada has the fastest growing assisted dying program in the world. Medical Assistance in Dying (passive and active euthanasia) is now tied as Canada's 5th leading cause of death. We tackle loneliness and social isolation, individualism, and (briefly) social response to suffering. Not a light episode, but a crucial topic to discuss. Thanks for chec…

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Stilgar ben Fifrawi (Part 1) 1:00:17

3M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

⁠Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ unpack the life of the most legendary Naib in Fremen history, Stilgar, from his arrival at Sietch Tabr and life-changing connection with the Kynes famly to his rise to leadership. This episode contains SPOILERS for Dune Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/GomJabbar⁠ Say thank you with a tip…

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#40 Happy Canada Day! What is Canada? What are we celebrating? 6:19

3M ago6:19

6:19

Short recording for Canada Day. I hope you find (or found) time to enjoy the day and reflect on what we are celebrating. Canada is young: many Canadians alive now are more than 1/2 as old as Canada itself. Given its youth, what exactly is Canada? What aspects do we hope to pass on to our children and grandchildren? Whatever Canada is it must be "pl…

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#39 Adam Swart: CEO Crowds on Demand. Paid Protesters a Moral and Political Dilemma? 54:10

3M ago54:10

54:10

I had a friendly debate with Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, the largest protest company in America. He ran circles around me having clearly argued almost all my points many times before. He called out my hypocrisy at being intolerant of paying protesters while being ok with all the other money that flows around inside politics. Adam forced me…

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Book Club: Heretics of Dune (Part 16) 1:15:07

3M ago1:15:07

1:15:07

Abu and Leo complete their read-through of Heretics of Dune and break down the impactful and thematically resonant last will and testament of Miles Teg. This episode contains NO SPOILERS beyond the books and pages covered thus far Read along with us by following the Heretics of Dune book club schedule Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: https:/…

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#38 Ryan Alford: Seven Absolute Rights and necessary limits on government 1:00:29

3M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Our legal history will shock you. It has more tradition than libertarians can stomach and more anti-government sentiment than conservatives can tolerate. Dr. Alford explains why we need both more history and more enthusiasm to put government in its place. He ends with a message of hope for rescuing Canada. Seven Absolute Rights: Recovering the Hist…

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Dune: Awakening Review and Impressions 1:31:12

3M ago1:31:12

1:31:12

⁠Abu⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠⁠ have been playing the new Dune MMO game Dune: Awakening, and bring you their thoughts, impressions, and lore details you may have missed while adventuring in the heat of the Hagga Basin. Want to play along with us? See details below. World: North America Server: Junction Sietch: Jacurutu Friend Codes: Abu#44687 and faustzan…

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#37 Daniel Pitt: The essence of conservatism from Burke to Scruton. 1:00:22

3M ago1:00:22

1:00:22

I got a chance to visit with Dr. Dan Pitt, co-author of Intellectual Conservatism: From Burke to Scruton. We focussed on a chapter he wrote which offers a brilliant rubric for understanding conservatism -- one of the best I've seen. Dr. Pitt offers an attractive view beyond the status-quo liberalism in which all political parties operate, for the m…

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Book Club: Heretics of Dune (Part 15) 1:28:35

4M ago1:28:35

1:28:35

Abu and Leo continue their read-through of Heretics of Dune by diving deep into chapters 43-45. They explore the theme of sexual energies throughout the Dune Saga, and why it takes center stage in this novel. This episode contains NO SPOILERS beyond the books and pages covered thus far Read along with us by following the Heretics of Dune book club …

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Creative Director of Dune: Awakening Joel Bylos 59:08

4M ago59:08

59:08

Abu⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Joel Bylos, Creative Director of Dune: Awakening, to chat about the newly-released survival MMO set in the Dune universe. This episode contains LIGHT SPOILERS for God Emperor of Dune Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/GomJabbar⁠⁠⁠ Say thank you with a tip: ⁠⁠⁠http://buymeacoffee.com…

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#36 Ferenc Hörcher (Hungary) on Intellectual Conservatism from Burke to Scruton 53:21

4M ago53:21

53:21

Conservatives are often suspicious of intellectuals and for good reason. Novel ideas dreamt up by radical intellectuals have caused enormous suffering over the past 200 years. But Conservative parties cannot survive without intellectual substance. European conservatism doesn't suffer from the North American tendency to confuse conservatism with cla…

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Dungeons of Dune (Act 4) 1:35:47

4M ago1:35:47

1:35:47

Abu⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Leo⁠⁠ are joined by dungeon master Noah to complete their first ever Dune-themed Dungeons & Dragons adventure. In this episode, our heroes confront the legendary sandwort of Arrakis and must capture it before time runs out. This episode contains SPOILERS for Dune and Dune Messiah Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: ⁠⁠https://www.pat…

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#35 Peter Copeland: The politics of Pope Leo XIV. What can we expect from the new pope? 51:27

4M ago51:27

51:27

Pope Leo's election garnered far more interest than usual. We are in a time of great change. People are paying attention. The Pope shapes public opinion, and people are eager to know what Pope Leo might say. I asked Peter all the most provocative political questions I could imagine. What might the Pope think about resource development, immigration,…

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Book Club: Heretics of Dune (Part 14) 1:25:33

4M ago1:25:33

1:25:33

Abu and Leo continue their read-through of Heretics of Dune and dive deep into chapters 40-42. They explore Duncan's new awakened memories, and the horniness of this book (or lack thereof). This episode contains NO SPOILERS beyond the books and pages covered thus far Read along with us by following the Heretics of Dune book club schedule Get ad-fre…

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#34 David Livingstone: Radical Conservatives, postmodernism, and D'Arcy McGee on Canada's Founding 1:03:35

4M ago1:03:35

1:03:35

Dr. Livingstone worries about postmodernism destroying Truth. I worry about about postmodernism destroying history as a way to understand the present. David says we need universals to resist postmoderns. I say we should fear universals lest the postmoderns inflict us with their 'values'. In this episode we resolve the debate (sort of). Thanks for w…

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Dungeons of Dune (Act 3) 1:13:33

4M ago1:13:33

1:13:33

Abu⁠ and ⁠Leo⁠ are joined by dungeon master Noah to continue their first ever Dune-themed Dungeons & Dragons adventure. In this action-packed episode, Ziggy and Rozhok battle the legendary Fedaykin warriors of Muad'dib. This episode contains SPOILERS for Dune and Dune Messiah Listen to Act 4 early on Noah's podcast Try Not to Die: ⁠https://pod.link…

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#33 John von Heyking on political friendship, pro-Hamas protests, and the future of Canada. 53:27

4M ago53:27

53:27

Can a country survive if we aren't united about common fundamental matters? Pro-Hamas protests block streets in Toronto. They have even forced ambulances to turn around. This has really bothered me. Aside from basic procedural solutions -- keeping a lane open for emergency vehicles or having police enforce the law -- can we solve the deeper, existe…

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Book Club: Heretics of Dune (Part 13) 1:23:12

4M ago1:23:12

1:23:12

Abu and Leo continue their read through of Heretics of Dune and dive deep into chapters 37-39. This episode contains NO SPOILERS beyond the books and pages covered thus far Read along with us by following the Heretics of Dune book club schedule Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/GomJabbar Say thank you with a tip: http:…

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#32 Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau are universalists. Donald Trump is not. What is universalism? 19:12

4M ago19:12

19:12

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau are universalists. Donald Trump is a (rare) politician who, for the most part, doesn't seem to be a universalist. Universalism is an essential concept to help us understand modern politics. It's a core pillar of liberalism, but many 'conservatives' are universalists also. AI Summary Understanding Univer…

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#31 Simplifying liberalism. Start with individuals. 17:24

4M ago17:24

17:24

Go ask a professor for a simple definition of liberalism or conservatism. If they are honest, they won't give you a short answer. These terms are super complex. But we need somewhere to start. In this short segment, I offer a place to start talking about liberalism: a theory with 4 pillars. The first pillar we discuss is individualism. We will disc…

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Dungeons of Dune (Act 2) 1:12:59

5M ago1:12:59

1:12:59

Abu and Leo are joined by dungeon master Noah to continue their first ever Dune-themed Dungeons & Dragons adventure. In this episode, Ziggy and Rozhok must brave the harsh desert while trying to keep the young Lord Benedict alive. This episode contains SPOILERS for Dune and Dune Messiah Listen to Act 3 early on Noah's podcast Try Not to Die: https:…

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#30 Geoff Russ -- Hope for Canada vs progressive internationalism 46:27

5M ago46:27

46:27

Geoff stands out as a new kind of writer on the non-left. He offers hope that embraces Canada's past without repudiation -- truly rare these days Thanks for listening! AI Summary Shawn interviews Geoff Russ, a Vancouver-based writer, about the evolving concept of Canadian nationalism and identity. They discuss the need for newcomers to understand t…

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#29 Grant Havers on Leo Strauss, Conservatism, and Modern Political Issues 1:02:08

5M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

This episode goes deep into the philosophy of Leo Strauss and the modern Conservative movement by looking at Professor Haver's book on Strauss and Ango-American democracy. I got too excited with the discussion and stopped paying attention to the recording quality. It's less than I would have hoped, but the content Grant shares is excellent. I offer…

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Book Club: Heretics of Dune (Part 12) 1:24:54

5M ago1:24:54

1:24:54

Abu and Leo continue their read through of Heretics of Dune and dive deep into chapters 34-36. This episode contains NO SPOILERS beyond the books and pages covered thus far Read along with us by following the Heretics of Dune book club schedule Get ad-free episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/GomJabbar Say thank you with a tip: http:…