Regular listeners may remember that last year Will interviewed the wonderful documentarian, podcaster and YouTuber Andrew Gold. Andrew recently returned the favour and invited Will onto his wildly successful YouTube show, Heretics. 

Will and Andrew discussed how the woke mind virus has infiltrated Australia, the parallels between the grooming gangs scandal and child sexual abuse in remote Indigenous communities, the problems of mass migration in Australia, and the corruption of Australia's educational institutions.

Australia is uniquely susceptible to the woke mind virus, with Andrew Gold on Heretics

If there’s one theme that cuts across Western politics in 2025, it is the rise of right-wing populist parties and politicians, tapping into a well of resentment towards establishment politics. Trump, Farage, Le Pen, and Wilders, to name a few. Some would argue they were all late to the game, trailing an unlikely figure; a female fish and chip show owner from the Queensland town of Ipswich. 
After first entering the Federal Australian parliament in 1996, Pauline Hanson has been one of the most consequential and enduring political figures in modern Australian political history. And to pinch a quote from her one-time nemesis John Howard, in 2025, the times may just suit her.  

Please explain, with Pauline Hanson

It says something about the surreal times in which we live that the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom found it necessary to confirm something that everyone with an ounce of sense already knew. Men cannot be women. Unfortunately, in Australia gender ideology is still enshrined law. Sall Grover is Australia’s leading advocate for sex-based rights, and she is trying to change that.

Trans women are not women (except in Australia), with Sall Grover

Before he became Australia’s second-longest serving Prime Minister, then Opposition Leader John Howard famously stated that his ambition was for a country in which people should feel comfortable and relaxed about the past, present and future. 

Many would argue he achieved that ambition, but Australia feels like a less comfortable and relaxed place in 2025. In this very special episode, Will chats to John about the state of modern Australia, and the upcoming federal election.

Relaxed and comfortable, with John Howard

One of the tragedies of modernity is how it has stripped away the time (or if we’re being honest, the inclination) to think about the big questions. Most of us no longer spend much time reflecting on the big questions. Which is why it was such a privilege for Will to speak to someone who does.

Sebastian Junger is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker, and a celebrated war correspondent. His books, which include 'The Perfect Storm' (later adapted into a blockbuster Hollywood film), 'Freedom', 'Tribe', 'War', and 'In My Time of Dying', are bracing reminders to reflect on what it means to be human.

Pondering the big questions, with Sebastian Junger

Australia has often been called the ‘lucky country’. Today, it faces a series of economic, cultural, and geopolitical challenges, seemingly without a political class that is equipped to address them. Has Australia’s luck run out?

Will ponders this question with the Chief Economist at the Institute of Public Affairs, and columnist for The Australian, Adam Creighton.

The (not so) lucky country, with Adam Creighton

When classical liberals and conservatives took the fight to the ‘woke left’, many made the mistake of thinking that victory would automatically mark a return to classical liberal and conservative principles. Whilst the battle is not over, it is now clear that it won’t be that simple. In fact, perhaps the greatest achievement of the ‘woke left’ has been its role in the creation of a ‘woke right’.

To discuss the troubling phenomenon that has been the talk of Twitter in recent months, Will is joined by author, podcaster, and professional troublemaker, James Lindsay.

The rise of the woke right, with James Lindsay

Greg Sheridan wrote recently that Australia is a nation in decline. Across every indicator you can imagine – economy, living standards, social cohesion, crime, health, military capability, the creativity and virtuosity of the arts – we’re in serious decline.

He's one of many Australian media and political figures worried about the future of the once lucky country. Are they right, and if so what can be done? Will discusses these questions (with the odd detour into Roman history) with journalist Joe Hildebrand.

The decline and fall of Australia(?), with Joe Hildebrand

The nanny state is on the march across the West, propped up by weak leaders taking their cues from a small group of tedious, moralising activists. It's time they were exposed. Enter the '25 Nanny State Index, compiled by the Institute of Economic Affairs' Chris Snowdon.

Will and Chris discuss why 'nanny-stateism' is on the rise, how the UK compares to Europe, and which country wins the ignominious award for Europe's most miserable nanny state.

Raging against the nanny state, with Chris Snowdon

Keir Starmer's latest U-turn may be his most consequential. Last Saturday, he announced a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal. Will it be a vehicle for justice, and a long overdue reckoning for multiculturalism and mass-migration? Or will it be just another pointless political excuse-fest? 

To help Will understand the latest developments in this shocking story, he is joined by the editor of Spiked, Tom Slater.

All aboard the far-right bandwagon, with Tom Slater

The UK government is "going for growth" whilst pursuing an aggressive net zero energy policy. Are the two goals compatible? Spoiler alert: No.

In this conversation with Will, philosopher and energy expert Alex Epstein dismantles the accepted climate science narrative, and advocates for a world with more fossil fuels, not less. Alex's most recent book is titled, 'Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas - Not Less'.

Australia is uniquely susceptible to the woke mind virus, with Andrew Gold on Heretics

Spectator Australia

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