Interview with a Contrarian

What makes for a thriving civilization? How do we distinguish between progress and decline? This episode we interview Michael Bonner about his latest book, In Defense of Civilization. Michael makes the case for why clarity, beauty, and order have played a key role in the progress of civilizations throughout history.

When are conspiracies real and when are they just conspiracy theories? This episode we interview Michel Jacques Gagné to discuss why most conspiracy theories are the product of faulty reasoning. We also discuss how movies like Oliver Stone’s JFK mix-up critical facts about John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and delve into more details about that tragic November day, like the psychological makeup of Lee Harvey Oswald and other “lone wolves.”

Did the Protestant religion influence liberalism in Canada? In this episode we interview James M. Forbes, author of a new book, Protestant Liberty: Religion and the Making of Canadian Liberalism 1828-1878. James makes the case that Protestantism had a major influence on Canada's foundations, including its concept of liberty. We also discuss the parallels between the 19th century and today on issues of individual rights, the power of the collective, and what anchors a classically liberal country.

What does it mean to be a citizen in Canada? Are Canadians losing their shared sense of citizenship? In this episode we interview Dr. Peter MacKinnon, author of a new book, Canada in Question: Exploring Our Citizenship in the Twenty-First Century. Dr. Mackinnon talks about about the loss of a shared sense of citizenship in Canada, including shared ideals and a shared humanity. We also talk about the emergence of identity politics, universities that have lost their Enlightenment ideals, and much more.

Some people say that poverty and economic downturns cause crime, but our guest today argues that this may not be the case. In this episode, we interview Barry Latzer, an American criminologist and emeritus professor of criminal justice at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Dr. Latzer argues that crime is a cultural problem, and that punishment plays an important social role in reducing disorder in society.

Be sure to check out Barry Latzer's Books:

We often look at the problem of tyranny through a liberal democratic lens, but what if modern tyrants are motivated by something other than economic self-interest? Our guest today is Professor Waller Newell, author of Tyranny and Revolution: From Rousseau to Heidegger. Newell argues that the modern form of tyranny represents a radical ideological shift in how tyrants behave, which was informed by Jean Jacque Rousseau's detestation of liberalism and the enlightenment.

Be sure to check out Waller Newell's books: