Polite Conversations

A clip from the episode ‘Hating Bill Maher’ with Will Weldon, host of the I Hate Bill Maher Podcast.Find the full public episodes here:Pt 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/30CfS6AdYhwbgyOzc7KCih?si=_naBOjzjSiOk2Hr1oTDdsAPt 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cLMgUfHSqa46cbZ6cFxJU?si=AE22AAXcRhuseiqibOzLDQExtended Patreon episodes:Pt 1: https://www.patreon.com/posts/148728952Pt 2: https://www.patreon.com/posts/148729202

This episode has now been unlocked, as promised!My guest for this episode is William Gillis (@rechelon.bsky.social), an anarchist author with a background in physics. We covered a broad range of topics in this conversation; From postmodernism vs realism to Alan Sokal, to disturbing undercurrents in segments of the radical/subcultural left, to how different parts of academia have been perceived in different times…. & more!Links:Here’s a thread about William’s book:https://bsky.app/profile/rechelon.bsky.social/post/3lvqqiylehk2fOrder the Book here: https://store.c4ss.org/index.php/product/did-the-science-wars-take-place-the-political-ethical-stakes-of-radical-realism-preorder/French petitions against age of consent laws: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_petitions_against_age-of-consent_laws#:~:text=The%20May%201977%20petition%20was,Paul%20Sartre%2C%20Félix%20Guattari%2C%20MichelThe German Experiment That Placed Foster Children with Pedophiles https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/07/26/the-german-experiment-that-placed-foster-children-with-pedophiles?mbid=social_twitterNAMBLA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Man/Boy_Love_AssociationPeter Lamborn Wilson (‘Hakim Bey’) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Lamborn_WilsonSokal Affair https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokal_affair

Australian journalist (@mckinnon_a) Alex McKinnon (from Deepcut News) joins me to discuss the excessive ‘cancellations’ and speech restrictions in Australia, around the topic of Palestine. We also talk about the asymmetry between the warm welcome genocide supporters and Israeli propagandists receive vs. The hostility that is directed towards anyone holding an anti-genocide view. We discuss the downfall of Adelaide Writers Week, the Israeli Ambassador’s horrifying speech at The National Press Club & more. Find Deepcut News here: https://www.deepcutnews.comAdelaide Festival apologizes to Dr. Randa Abdul-Fattah for writers week decision https://youtu.be/T3k6l8emzf4?si=610pZxFUaNVDFOv7Author of ECAJ antisemitism report shared content calling Palestinians “bloodthirsty hyenas”https://www.deepcutnews.com/p/author-of-ecaj-antisemitism-reportLibrary mascot Pip the Watermelon caught in censorship row:https://www.deepcutnews.com/p/library-mascot-pip-the-watermelonMelbourne council scrubs teenage volunteer from website over Palestine necklace https://www.deepcutnews.com/p/melbourne-council-scrubs-teenageNational Press Club Disgracefully Platforms Israeli Ambassador https://apan.org.au/national-press-club-disgracefully-platforms-israeli-ambassador/ABC spent more than $2.5m defending legal action from Antoinette Lattouf https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-08/abc-senate-estimates-hears-cost-of-antoinette-lattouf-case/105868832

Good friends of the show Daniel and Jack from the I Don’t Speak German podcast, join me for an important conversation about the state of the world, western anti-fascists, hierarchies of taking bigotry seriously, Israel committing G3n 0Cide, Iran, America, Harry Potter & more.Links:Find the Extended version of this episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/155535014My previous conversation with Daniel on this subject: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MnmuYJ0U3eBkmganRchMF?si=VPDpgo91TZGmGkJy15yi-wThe New Year’s ep that was mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YBopN5nTYlEpLPxsTsyeo?si=2GuVRoLgREC2v78ZMKLQCAThe recent IDSG episode on Iran: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JztEiyGJ9wkTfnguyueJs?si=qLUwcpURRwunGthyPMiOlwAnti-woke Death & Destruction Brought to you by USrael (extended version): https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-anti-to-152314703?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkLA’s Holocaust Museum Walks Back “Never Again” Statement https://hyperallergic.com/los-angeles-holocaust-museum-walks-back-never-again-statement-sparking-outcry/Sarah Hurwitz’ comments https://youtu.be/BcRk3sQJbbA?si=IoWeyou9WMPGuTNqUS-Israeli Attacks Have Damaged or Destroyed 600 Schools in Iran, Plus hundreds of medical centres, hospitals and pharmacies. https://novaramedia.com/2026/03/25/us-israeli-attacks-have-damaged-or-destroyed-600-schools-in-iran/Gen 0cidal board member of US Holocaust Museum https://bsky.app/profile/nicemangos.bsky.social/post/3lheydhnu6s24Confronting Fascism in it’s Philosemitic form - Em Cohen https://emcohen.medium.com/the-only-way-out-is-through-e9f209d05338Funding Islamophobia in Europe: University of Bristol https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/192414854/Aked_Jones_Miller_Counterjihad_report_2019.pdfTwitter Space on Barbie: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Gl481q1JB8qGV0u2xDkQc?si=vxqqlX3QSm6jx7rTAgyD0ATwitter Space on Halloween: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6IZAGE7R0vE4iYsZvBHD3V?si=zEmP6JLeS1ejwB9OTvZIfw

My guest for this episode is William Gillis (@rechelon.bsky.social), an anarchist author with a background in physics. We covered a broad range of topics in this conversation; From postmodernism vs realism to Alan Sokal, to disturbing undercurrents in segments of the radical/subcultural left, to how different parts of academia have been perceived in different times…. & more!Links:Here’s a thread about William’s book:https://bsky.app/profile/rechelon.bsky.social/post/3lvqqiylehk2fOrder the Book here: https://store.c4ss.org/index.php/product/did-the-science-wars-take-place-the-political-ethical-stakes-of-radical-realism-preorder/French petitions against age of consent laws: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_petitions_against_age-of-consent_laws#:~:text=The%20May%201977%20petition%20was,Paul%20Sartre%2C%20Félix%20Guattari%2C%20MichelThe German Experiment That Placed Foster Children with Pedophiles https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/07/26/the-german-experiment-that-placed-foster-children-with-pedophiles?mbid=social_twitterNAMBLA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Man/Boy_Love_AssociationPeter Lamborn Wilson (‘Hakim Bey’)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Lamborn_WilsonSokal Affair https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokal_affair

This episode has been unlocked, as promised!This is pt 2 of a 2-part Episode, pls check out pt 1 first.———Linguist Dr. Caitlin Green joins me to explore the views and positions of one Jonathan Haidt. We talk IDW/Heterodox stuff, anti-anti racism, transphobia, reactionary centrism, race ‘science’ and mentions in the Epstein files.If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via patreon.com/nicemangos and unlock ad-free extended episodes! ***Polite Conversations is a member of Harbinger Media - subscribe to their weekly newsletter for the latest in new episodes from left & progressive Canadian podcasts via harbingermedianetwork.com ***LinksFind Caitlin & Trent’s podcast, ‘Half the Answer’ here:  https://youtu.be/LFeIRhvEZns?si=L7aDdg4sMGjZ5rKJHaidt stands with Israel: https://x.com/jonhaidt/status/1711051817499472328?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50LqwHaidt blames intersectionality for anti-Israel sentiment: https://x.com/jonhaidt/status/1712641827528909266?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50LqwUsing Grok CSAM scandal to push for more social media bans instead of accountability: https://x.com/jonhaidt/status/2010345277564334482?s=61&t=w7q_ejvwZ_gCFj9WV50LqwHaidt’ S Edge.org piece from 2009: Faster Evolution Means More Ethnic Differences https://www.edge.org/response-detail/10376Kristen Bell Says She and Dax Shepard Let Their Daughters Roam a Danish Amusement Park Alone: 'Didn't See Them for 7 Hours' https://people.com/kristen-bell-says-she-let-kids-roam-danish-amusement-park-alone-8716121Ezra Klein interview with Haidt: https://youtu.be/RN2GhPal4qA?si=7XY7TFNrf3EAzArdHaidt Crimes: On Moral Foundations Theory and the Normalization of Fascismhttps://www.theflytrapmedia.com/haidt-crimes-on-moral-foundations-theory-and-the-normalization-of-fascism-christian-nationalism/Thread re: Greenblatt’s awkward intvw with a white identitarian https://bsky.app/profile/nicemangos.bsky.social/post/3m23otynuc22nIf you enjoyed this episode, check out the 2-Part ep on Pinker: Pt 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UMuX2BkACiuPIhsPKIB5a?si=Ty4Wcd25RQG0hydlTsjR6g(Ad free Patreon version):https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-81-pinkers-pt-107973413?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkPt 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4LmIYPtWutuaAkD57GCxy7?si=-64nSgmQS-O6tvZMH4c4qg(Ad free Patreon version):https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-81-pinkers-pt-107973853?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkAnd the episode on Richard Dawkins: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uSIJRoF9LxkkNtRYBZvRV?si=sOxTysnMSnWYcPGbz-UHGw(Ad free Patreon version):https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-76-dawkins-101893054?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link