What's coming up...
Prof. Peter Boghossian & Mike Nayna: Revenge of the reformers
As social justice continues to corrupt academic scholarship, what hope is there for the university? Filmmaker Mike Nayna and philosopher Peter Boghossian join UnHerd for a screening of The Reformers – their brand new investigative documentary – followed by Q&A.
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Peter Turchin & Mary Harrington: Elite overproduction
Will elite overproduction end society as we know it? Russian-American complexity scientist Peter Turchin and UnHerd’s Mary Harrington discuss the era of Western decadence and the populist backlash that followed.
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Cleo Watson & Tom McTague: Life inside Westminster – beyond parody
To celebrate the launch of her new novel Whips, join former aide to Boris Johnson Cleo Watson and UnHerd political editor Tom McTague to talk Tory sleaze, SW1 scandal and how to write about a government that is already a satire of itself.
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UnHerd Unleashed
After the success of the first collaboration with Comedy Unleashed, UnHerd presents some of Britain’s best stand-ups for a night of uncensored jokes for a free-thinking audience. With Francis Foster (MC), Jonathan Kogan, Cressida Wetton, Victor Daniels and Lewis Schaffer.
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Tom Holland: Pax
At its peak, the Roman Empire was perhaps the greatest civilisation in history. But like so many cultures before and after it, it declined and finally ended. Chart-topping historian Tom Holland joins UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers to talk about his new book, PAX.
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Paul Kingsnorth: Resisting the machine
How can normal people resist the increasingly technocratic and soulless nature of human life? Watch writer, activist and Orthodox convert Paul Kingsnorth in conversation with UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers for a guide to finding meaning in what he calls the ‘machine’.
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Reconstruction: Paul Kingsnorth & Mary Harrington
Immerse yourself into the mind of luminary writer Paul Kingsnorth, for a Sunday seminar on the theme of reconstruction. In dialogue with UnHerd’s Mary Harrington, we asked: when there’s nothing left to conserve, what is the point of conservatism?
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Prof. David Nutt: The promise of psychedelics
Join world-famous neuropsychopharmacologist Prof. David Nutt of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London for an evening of conversation about the cutting edge frontiers of psychedelic therapy.
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Kathleen Stock: Philosophical knots
Philosopher Kathleen Stock has become one of Britain’s most radical voices of reason, celebrated for her incisive cultural theory. Join her for an evening of conversation about the Western crisis of meaning and how to read the myths we tell ourselves.
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Hadley Freeman & Sarah Ditum: Are teenage girls in trouble?
TikTok-obsessed and swept up in the gender wars, a generation of girls is struggling with mental illness. To explore why, join author Hadley Freeman and journalist Sarah Ditum in conversation with Sally Chatterton.
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UnHerd Unleashed
In our age of censorship, one reason for hope might be that comedy can cut through the culture wars. In UnHerd’s inaugural collaboration with Comedy Unleashed, join comedians Josh Howie, Alistair Williams, Rosie Wilby, Tania Edwards and Leo Kearse.
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Iain McGilchrist: The matter with things
From the left-brain right-brain divide to the metaphysics of magic, Dr Iain McGilchrist addresses the profound questions of living well. The esteemed thinker will be in conversation with Freddie Sayers.
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Nick Cave: In conversation with Freddie Sayers
Faith, Hope & Carnage: Join legendary musician and bestselling writer Nick Cave as he discusses his new book and beyond with UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers.
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The technocrat restoration: Has populism run out of steam?
In what appears to be a new golden age for the technocrat, UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers brings together a panel of political writers, Professor Matthew Goodwin, Baroness Claire Fox and Tom McTague to ask: is the party over for populists?
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UnHerd Lates: Live recording with special guests
A chance to gather with fellow free-thinkers for an evening of open discussion. Freddie Sayers and Florence Read will be joined by three stellar guests, all UnHerd contributors but from very different sides of the political spectrum. They are: fearless Leftist writer Aaron Bastani, radical philosopher Nina Power and firebrand trade unionist Paul Embery.
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Lionel Shriver: Insensitivity reader
If offence is against the rules, what hope is there for radical writing? Join world-famous author Lionel Shriver to discuss the decline of in-your-face fiction and the sinister rise of sensitivity readers.
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Hannah Barnes: The truth about the Tavistock clinic
The 2022 downfall of the Tavistock clinic in London was a decisive turning point in the debate around trans healthcare in the UK. Award-winning Newsnight journalist Hannah Barnes joins UnHerd Editor, Sally Chatterton, to reveal the results of her explosive investigation into the clinic and the medical scandal that followed.
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The Ukraine Debate
A year on from the Russian invasion, we ask if ongoing Western involvement is really the best way to end the war in Ukraine. Does the US and Europe have a moral responsibility to keep sending weapons and training soldiers if the conflict is drawn out?
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UnHerd Lates: Live with Ralph Schoellhammer & Silkie Carlo
A chance to gather with fellow free-thinkers for an evening of open discussion. For the second of our UnHerd Lates Freddie Sayers and Florence Read will be joined by special guests Ralph Schoellhammer, Silkie Carlo alongside other guests to debate and dissect the topics of the week over drinks and music.
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Zoe Strimpel vs Louise Perry: This house is proud to be promiscuous
Has hookup culture left women less happy? Louise Perry, UnHerd contributor and author of The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, goes head-to-head with Zoe Strimpel, historian, author and columnist on the era of casual sex.
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Andrew Doyle: The rise of the new puritans
How did the West get overtaken by social justice zealots? Join Andrew Doyle, political satirist and author of The New Puritans, for a discussion and drinks at UnHerd HQ. Hosted by UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers.
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An evening with Bret Easton Ellis
Is there room for radical art in 2023? Join Bret Easton Ellis, maverick author of American Psycho, to discuss his latest novel The Shards. Hosted by Jacob Furedi.
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Launch of UnHerd Lates
A chance to gather with fellow free thinkers and celebrate the launch of our new Lates programme. Join Freddie Sayers, Florence Read and special guests: Konstantin Kisin, and Izabella Kaminska.
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Mary Harrington & Elise Bohan: The transhumanism debate
Author of Future Superhuman and Oxford University AI ethicist, Elise Bohan, and UnHerd’s Mary Harrington come together to discuss transhumanism – the idea that human limits such as longevity and cognition can be pushed back and back using technology. Is this a utopian vision of a better future or a dystopian nightmare?
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Coleman Hughes: Defeating the race baiters
Join American culture critic and rapper Coleman Hughes and UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers to discuss the combustion of American race politics, the legacy of Black Lives Matter, and how to tackle a race-centred ideology that only furthers divisions.
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Matthew Crawford: Gratitude in a time of apocalypse
Join philosopher and bestselling author Matthew B Crawford for a New Year’s lecture and evening of discussion on how, during a time that seems so apocalyptic, we can still find gratitude. Let the author of The Case for Working with Your Hands persuade you that the Cosmos is fundamentally on our side.
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Helen Joyce & Julie Bindel: Should TERFs unite with the right?
The UK’s ‘gender critical’ feminists have been instrumental in the fight for sex-based rights. But one question risks dividing the movement: should they ally with Right wing forces in pursuit of their objectives? Author of ‘Trans’ Helen Joyce and women’s rights campaigner Julie Bindel hash it out.
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Ariel Pink & Winston Marshall: Freedom of expression in the music industry
Indie legend Ariel Pink became a pariah from the music business after he attended the January 6th rallies in support of Donald Trump. We ask him if there’s a free speech problem in the arts, in conversation with Winston Marshall, who left the band Mumford and Sons after a media storm of his own.
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Adam Curtis: Inside the propaganda machine
His documentaries are enigmatic, macabre and downright mind-bending. Join cult documentary filmmaker Adam Curtis in conversation with UnHerd’s Aris Roussinos alongside an exclusive screening of hand-selected archive clips.
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Andrew Sullivan: In conversation with Freddie Sayers
British then American, conservative Catholic then Obama voter and activist for gay marriage, writer Andrew Sullivan is no stranger to shifting philosophies. We ask him, in an increasingly divided United States, what will become of the American spirit? Stay for drinks and good conversation.
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National Conservatism and the UK: Is now the moment?
Israeli philosopher Yoram Hazony is at the forefront of a new group of conservatives who are trying to bring the nation and religion back to the Right. Do they represent a post-liberal future? Freddie Sayers will attempt to find out, followed by Q&A and drinks.
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