Walk-Ins Welcome with Bridget Phetasy: Recent Episodes
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Bridget Phetasy admires grit and authenticity. On Walk-Ins Welcome, she talks about the beautiful failures and frightening successes of her own life and the lives of her guests. She doesn’t conduct interviews—she has conversations. Conversations with real people about the real struggle and will remind you that we can laugh in pain and cry in joy but there’s no greater mistake than hiding from it all. By embracing it all, and celebrating it with the stories she’ll bring listeners, she believes that our lowest moments can be the building blocks for our eventual fulfillment.
Yasmine Mohammed, author of Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam , shares her story of growing up in a fundamentalist Islamic home in Canada. At 13, when she tried to report the abuse she suffered at the hands of her step-father, she was told by a judge “you come from a different culture, and that’s how your family chooses to discipline you, so we just have to accept that.”
And here lies the inherent contradiction in the way in which the West views fundamentalist Islam versus other fundamentalist religions, and turns a blind eye to the abuse and suffering of millions of girls and women. She and Bridget discuss how alienating that is, the message those girls receive is “we don’t care about you, you are ‘other.'”
They cover the escalation of rape culture, sexual harassment, the problems with celebrating the hijab, the indoctrination of attitudes towards girls and women in Muslim culture, and being called Islamophobic for criticizing a tool and system of oppression. They bond over shared traumatic experiences and discuss their belief that if you can use your own trauma to help others, it has not happened in vain. If you only ever listen to one episode of Walk-Ins Welcome, this is the episode.
[Note: This is a previously broadcast episode that we decided to rebroadcast in light of the events transpiring in Iran]
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The Jordan Harbinger Show - https://spoti.fi/3LhJBTP
Progressive Insurance - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Rina Raphael is a journalist and author who covers health, wellness, and women's issues. She sits down with Bridget to discuss her new book The Gospel of Wellness , where she looks at the recent explosion of the wellness industry, the fads, the gimmicks, the marketing strategies, and what lies underneath it all. Rina is a reformed wellness addict herself, and became aware of the dark side of an industry that's constantly telling you what to buy next in order to feel better. They cover how liberal, affluent women in coastal cities and big cities have really adopted the aspirational reinterpretation of wellness, why they might turn to alternatives out of desperation because the healthcare industry is not working for them, how control is a huge part of the wellness industry, how wellness culture is driving people to extremes and making them more stressed, what overidentifying with your choices means about you as a person or a parent, and how aware Gwyneth Paltrow is of the Goop grift.
Sponsor Links:
Storyworth - https://bit.ly/storyworth-wiw
Vegamour - https://bit.ly/vegamour-walkins
FIRE.org - https://bit.ly/thefire-wiw
AG1 - https://bit.ly/AG1-WiW
JustWorks - https://bit.ly/justworkswiw
Progressive - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Tara Henley, journalist and author of Lean Out: A Meditation on the Madness of Modern Life , joins Bridget for a free ranging conversation about starting her career as a hip-hop critic, the transcendence of music and live music in particular, how quickly humans can adapt to anything, and how having colon cancer in her 20s taught her at a fundamental level that life is out of our control. They discuss how the pandemic made us reevaluate our priorities in the age of hyper capitalism, their experiences working in restaurants, how journalism used to be a working class profession, and why she left mainstream media when she saw things becoming more extreme and the woke point of view became the only voice in the room which meant only telling one small part of every story all the time. They also cover how her letter of resignation went viral, why being critical of our institutions is the job of journalists and this has gotten lost, how Twitter plays an outsized role in group think, and why ultimately, journalism is about being willing to change your mind. Check out Tara's substack at tarahenley.substack.com.
Sponsor Links:
Lomi: https://bit.ly/lomiWiW
The Jordan Harbinger Show: https://spoti.fi/3LhJBTP
Progressive Insurance: https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Jennifer Briney, host of the Congressional Dish podcast, sits down with Bridget to talk about her mission to read the bills and laws passed by Congress, to find out what is being done with our taxes, explain what is hidden in bills over 1000 pages long, and to create a community of people who were interested in Congress’s effect on our lives. They cover how living abroad during the US invasion of Iraq got Jen interested in how the media was covering the war, how she started looking for media that would tell her the truth but couldn't find it so she started watching CSPAN, and her shock at hearing things discussed on the House floor that she thought would be massive scandals but weren’t even being discussed in blogs, all of which led her to starting the podcast. They discuss how the "bosses" for both parties are really multi-national corporations, how in lockstep both parties are when it comes to war, the impossibility of leaving your bias at the door and how she deals with it, and why she's enthusiastic because independents like herself are making a living in media and not toeing the corporate line.
Sponsor Links:
Progressive Insurance - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Chris Williamson, host of the Modern Wisdom podcast, sits down with Bridget to talk about how he got where he is. They cover his start as a nightclub owner, model, and reality TV star, why he always tried to get himself into a position where people needed him for something, how he didn't think he was worth that much unless he was offering people something else in return, and the existential crisis that led him to realize he wasn't the person he was pretending to be. They also discuss doing something that you genuinely believe in, why it's very difficult to not feel like your self worth is gauged by the way that people respond to your work, the danger of audience capture, the state of today's man, why we should be pedestalizing motherhood, the UK's particular culture around success and people that do different things, and why you should always ask the question, "Why am I doing this?"
Sponsor Links:
Vegamour - https://bit.ly/vegamour-walkins
The Jordan Harbinger Show - https://spoti.fi/3LhJBTP
Progressive - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Bridget sits down with Sarah Haider, writer, activist and podcaster, for a wide ranging conversation covering Sarah's thoughts as an ex-Muslim on the reaction of the Progressive left when you criticize Islam, how little the lived experiences of those who disagree with the woke orthodoxy matters, why she thinks Western feminism died a while back, her experience immigrating from Pakistan as a child, what she observed growing up in a lower class neighborhood, and how her activism and speaking out against Islam was a form of social death for her parents. They also discuss Sarah's ambivalence about the value of putting yourself in a group, why it affects your intellectual honesty, whether we can claim any kind of community outside of religion and faith, the unraveling of community in America, and why supporting young, working mothers should be a priority in our society. Check out Sarah's writing on her substack Hold That Thought . And don't miss her podcast with Meghan Daum, A Special Place in Hell.
Sponsor Links:
JustWorks - https://bit.ly/justworkswiw
Progressive - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Ariel Pink is an American musician, singer, songwriter and indie rock icon. However, his attendance at the January 6th Trump rally at the White House - an event he would like made very clear in its distinction from the violence at the Capitol hours later - led to his subsequent cancellation among fellow musicians and fans alike, being dropped from his music label, and left him looking around bewildered, wondering what happened. He and Bridget talk about how the rules have changed on everyone, why you should have to be pro United States to be eligible for President, why he believes he's more liberal than anyone that cancelled him, his theory about the last election, what keeps him grounded, what his plans for the furture are, and why he'd rather be put in jail and serve some time than be cancelled, because there's no expiration date to it.
Sponsor Links:
Athletic Greens - https://bit.ly/AG1-WiW
Vegamour - https://bit.ly/vegamour-walkins
The Jordan Harbinger Show - https://spoti.fi/3LhJBTP
Progressive - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Mediated Series - Part 4:
Published in 2005, Mediated: How the Media Shapes Your World and the Way You Live In It , became Bridget's bible for understanding the changing media landscape and how it is affecting our society and behavior. Now she sits down with author Thomas de Zengotita for a multi-part series discussing the book chapter by chapter.
In Part 4 Bridget and Thomas discuss the extent to which children are fluent in mediated culture, the speed with which slang spreads, how the process of curating their social media profiles is kind of publicly inventing who they are, and how people can feel a kind of nostalgia for times they never lived in because they've lived in it representationally. They also cover the verbing of words, like "adulting," and how when you verb a word you're displaying the fact that you are aware of yourself as playing the role, how we've moved from risk-averse to risk-less world and there's an entire economy around taking away all risk, the value of psychobabble, when you need to watch out for the curmudgeon factor, how misery is enhanced by online comparisons of your own life with other lives, and why Thomas is more optimistic now than he was 20 years ago.
Sponsor links:
Helix - https://helixsleep.com/?walkin
Progressive Insurance - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Bridget and Cousin Maggie sit down to celebrate the 200th episode of Walk-Ins Welcome. They marvel at the fact that they've been consistent with a project for 4 years, take stock and look back on how far they've come, reminisce about the Days of Soup and Toast and why turning down $10k at her brokest was a good lesson for Bridget, and ponder the invisibility cloak that seems to surround all things Phetasy (though it's probably a blessing in disguise). They also discuss Bridget's upcoming sober anniversary, new projects that were recently launched, all the projects still to come if they ever find time, the original Phetasy website and why they might have missed out on the chance to make billions, the "Why" behind Phetasy that keeps it all going, and what Bridget's superpower would be if she had to pick just one.
Join the Phetasy Pham at https://phetasy.com/ or sign up for the newsletter and check out the latest projects on Substack - https://bridgetphetasy.substack.com/
Sponsor links:
The Jordan Harbinger Show - https://spoti.fi/3LhJBTP
Progressive Insurance - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Comedian and political commentator Lee Camp drops in for a conversation about his political awakening, why we should turn off all mainstream corporate media, working for RT America before it was shut down, seeing independent media and voices being purged from the internet, and what we do when the culture has lost faith in all news outlets. They also discuss where Lee gets his news, America's prison state, the real reason behind the war on drugs, whether Congress is owned by corporations, how the Democrats are not really a left-wing party outside the US, and his views on capitalism. For more information on his comedy, show and podcasts, check out him out here: https://leecamp.locals.com/.
Sponsor Links:
Justworks - https://bit.ly/justworkswiw
Progressive Insurance - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Comedian Nimesh Patel sits down with Bridget to talk about his new comedy special Thank You China , how he got started in comedy, how TikTok was vital to his career, how everyone's selling out everywhere they go, why a degree in finance did him no good, and his writing gig for Chris Rock at the Oscars. They also cover the grind of feeding the algorithm, learning to step away, why you have to be Zen about social media, why healthcare jokes are so universal and popular, the travesty of the health care system in this country, his many cousins who are doctors, growing up with a big family, surviving cousin roast battles, comedians complaining they can't talk about anything anymore, and how for better or for worse, China knows all about you.
Sponsor Links:
AG1 - https://bit.ly/AG1-WiW
The Jordan Harbinger Show - https://spoti.fi/3LhJBTP
Progressive Insurance - https://pgrs.in/3Dp5ZIW
Greg Lukianoff (The Coddling of the American Mind , Unlearning Liberty ) sits down with Bridget for a conversation about free speech on college campuses, how social media sped everything up and created the trend of cancel culture, how much worse things have gotten since Coddling was published, and how people just lost their minds since Covid hit. They discuss how deeply messed up it is to tell people they're more fragile than they are, how the victimhood mentality is undermining cognitive behavioral therapy, the decline in college attendance, Greg's work with FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) and why they're seeing an uptick in their caseload, how people are always talking about a "pendulum swing" but that's not how history works, and why you have to care about what's going on at elite colleges because it's going to mess up the rest of society downstream.
Mediated Series - Part 3:
Published in 2005, Mediated: How the Media Shapes Your World and the Way You Live in It, became Bridget's bible for understanding the changing media landscape and how it is affecting our society and behavior. Now she sits down with author Thomas de Zengotita for a multi-part series discussing the book chapter by chapter.
In Part 3 Bridget and Thomas discuss how the intrinsic human desire for recognition and acknowledgement translates into seeking fame, when the notion of adolescence evolved in our society and how teenage girls essentially run the world, the use of the words "like" and "literally," what "dialectic" actually means and how it applies to celebrity culture and their audience, why the only heroes that can exist in a mediated world are the "everyday heroes," whether it's possible to be truly authentic anymore, the overuse of therapeutic language everywhere now, Thomas's Holocaust thought experiment, and why Bridget would be valuable to people in media studies.
James Kirchick stops in to talk about his new book Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington. He and Bridget discuss his fascinating deep dive into the history of homosexuality in Washington D.C., his process for writing the book, how he researched it, what he uncovered, and which US President he considers the most homophobic. They also cover the Lavender Scare, writing a narrative history in an engaging way, the important role World War II played on gay consciousness in America, the dramatic transformation in public attitudes on homosexuality in the last few decades and what James attributes that to, and how he developed a real sense of gratitude as a gay man living today during the course of writing the book.
Louise Perry, author of The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, sits down with Bridget to talk about the repercussions of the sexual revolution and why the claim that sex doesn't have a special status does not serve anyone's interests, particularly women's. They discuss how the people who are winning from this kind of culture are men who can get laid consequence free, sexual trauma and using hypersexuality as a weapon, sexual disenchantment, the idea that sex must be taken seriously, and why Mother Nature is the biggest misogynist out there. They also cover the expectation of women to work, what Louise's idea of feminism looks like, how the increasingly aggressive nature of sexual norms are being normalized due to porn, Playboy, Kim Kardashian, having kids, division of labor between the sexes, and how the world that liberal feminists have constructed is a fragile one that's built on technology.
Francis Foster and Konstantin Kisin of the Triggernometry Podcast stop in for a wide ranging and hilarious conversation with Bridget about their tour of America. They discuss why the doomsday narrative is very appealing to people, the risk they face as content creators of caving to audience capture, the importance of having integrity and not just doing what is easy, and the vanishing ability to have arguments with other people and still remain friends. They also cover the reality of America's gun culture, the arrogance of thinking you're on the right side of history, how comedy has gotten boring because of the threat of being cancelled - particularly in the UK, the inadvertent racism that comes from trying very hard not to be offensive to anyone, and how the moment you're not brave in this life is the moment you let yourself down.
Colin Wright is an evolutionary biologist and Founding Editor of Reality's Last Stand, a publication and newsletter exploring the biology of sex and gender ideology. In grad school he started noticing a lot of ideas about biological sex going heywire, in 2018 he wrote an article for Quillette called The New Evolution Deniers, and people went mad. He and Bridget discuss the fact that if we can't agree that sex is a biological reality we're all screwed, the reaction Colin's colleagues had to his articles, why people in academia are so scared, and the student activists who were trying to get him cancelled. They also cover Colin's recent bans from Etsy and Paypal for no clear reason, losing friends, losing jobs, being called a bigot, how he deals with it all from a mental health perspective, and what this all means for the rest of us, particularly, how powerless you are when financial institutions decide to just unperson you, the risks and rewards of going independent, and why it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
Comedian Brittany Schmitt returns for a talk with Bridget about her new comedy special, From Ho To Housewife, what it actually takes to produce a comedy special, why being an artist means having to let go of the results, and how stand-up is essentially a solitary activity - it's just you and a mic, you don't need anyone's permission to do it. They also cover the letdown that can occur after completeing such a huge project and long-term goal, being selective about the opportunities that come your way because time is finite, her experience with Ayahuasca and what it revealed to her, their odd psychic abilites, how no amount of money is ever enough, why she tells everyone she loves them, and the idea of going to small claims court for a fart in a jar.
Comedian Dusty Slay stops in for a fun and freewheeling conversation with Bridget about the joys of new parenthood, being a road comedian during Covid, how people forgot how to act and travel in public during the pandemic, the worst spots they've ever done comedy, their issues with the term "geriatric pregnancy", and what they won't take advice about from rich people. They also cover Dusty's roots in a trailer park in Alabama, how he met his wife, the difficulty of being a woman in comedy, why he quit drinking, why it's okay to have content that doesn't address all the issues, and how many rats he's caught in a single trap at once. Check out Dusty's comedy special on Season 3 of Netflix's The Standups.
Mediated Series - Part 2:
Published in 2005, Mediated: How the Media Shapes Your World and the Way You Live in It, became Bridget's bible for understanding the changing media landscape and how it is affecting our society and behavior. Now she sits down with author Thomas de Zengotita for a multi-part series discussing the book chapter by chapter.
In Part 2 Thomas explains Justin's Helmet Principle and how it contributes to the evolution of the nanny state, how we're all finding ways to hold all the media noise at bay, why both indifference and intense ideological commitment are actually defense mechanisms against the incomprehensible flood of mediation that we're all living in, and why saying that the mediation of today is the same as TV when it came along is like saying a hurricane is just more breeze. They also cover why it isn't "either, or" anymore, it's almost always "both, and," how the slang that pops up among kids is like a canary in the coal mine, why confused people need a confused person to express the confusion that we're all feeling, how mediation is facilitated by the simple fact that a lot of it is good for us, and how being politically homeless, by definition, means not relying on preconceived filters that tell you what's happening before you even look at what's happening.
Noah Rothman returns to discuss his new book, The Rise of the New Puritans: Fighting Back Against Progressives' War on Fun . He and Bridget discuss the cultural role reversal that he's documenting which is very new and still evolving, how being charitable to the other side doesn't sell anymore and you have to be totally convinced of the righteousness of your views, and why trying to create an intellectual monoculture is the pathway to destruction. They also cover how the rules around sex have become so fraught and complicated that younger generations are just not having sex, how politically we're left with a band of fanatics who doesn't understand how politics works, why SJWs' primary targets are people who agree with them, and how whimsy and irreverance are the only answer to this tone of self-seriousness.
Inez Stepman is a senior policy analyst at Independent Women's Forum, has over a decade of experience in education policy, and also handles issues related to the definition of sex in law and culture. She sits down with Bridget to discuss why you can't sit out the culture war in this day and age because it will come through your door, how we get a false sense of security from people who are defecting from the hard, woke Left, when in fact their ideals are being insitutionalized at a rapid pace, why it's going to get worse before it gets better, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade which happened the day they sat down to talk. They cover the legal ground the case was based on, the complexities and nuances of the abortion debate, and where both sides of the debate run into trouble. Check out Inez's podcast High Noon , featuring conversations that make possible a free society.
Blaire White is a popular YouTuber and media personality. She sits down with Bridget for a frank conversation about being a transgender woman and the problems with the trans movement today. They discuss her personal transition journey and how different it is now than it was in 2014, why she's too Right for the Left and too trans for the Right, why she wouldn't wish gender dysphoria on her worst enemy, how the idea that you must let your child transition or face their suicide is emotional blackmail, how having a transgender child is now becoming a dangerous part of some parents' emotional identities, and the insanity of allowing children to take sterilizing drugs for mostly aesthetic reasons. They also cover how two things can be true at once, why everyone's wrong about all the same shit, they're just wrong in different ways, the women's sports issue, and how a movement that's a threat to women and children is not going to survive in a healthy society. To learn more about Blaire, check out her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/BlaireWhiteX.
Mediated Series - Part 1:
Published in 2005, Mediated: How the Media Shapes Your World and the Way You Live in It , became Bridget's bible for understanding the changing media landscape and how it is affecting our society and behavior. Now she sits down with author Thomas de Zengotita for a multi-part series discussing the book chapter by chapter. In Part 1 they cover the introduction to the book, how Thomas wound up writing it, his unique JFK assassination story and the insight it gave him into the role public emoting plays in media, the concept of "The Blob", and why the closed loop of being both the celebrity and your own audience in daily life is unprecedented in its power. They also examine the difference between attention and recognition, the realities of QAnon, Princess Diana's funeral, and how fanaticism flourishes in a world of unlimited choices.
Lacey McLaughlin is an executive coach who has guided top leaders through challenging workplace scenarios across the aerospace, automotive, entertainment, and technology sectors. She and Bridget discuss how she wound up in her field, the temperament in the corporate world right now, how Covid caused leaders to show up in a new way that's much more human, how norms and expectations have changed around leadership, and what advice she gives now that she wouldn't have given ten years ago. They also cover the Great Resignation, how changing behavior is hard and changing a workplace culture is even harder, how to practice being a good leader, why accountability can be confused with being a bad boss and it shouldn't be, why we're never as smart as we think we are and we have to be okay with getting it wrong, and why Lacey loves coaching boys sports teams. Don't miss her new podcast Unfolding Leadership, where she talks with leaders about how they got to where they are today and the mistakes they made along the way.
Konstantin Kisin (Triggernometry) sits down with Bridget to discuss his new book, An Immigrant's Love Letter To The West . They have a fascinating conversation about their jobs as culture war commentators, how it affects them, how to push back thoughtfully and not wind up in a crazy place, how he processes Ukraine since he has family both there and in Russia, trying to explain to people in the West how people not in the West are thinking, and how to communicate a message that's easier for people to hear. They also cover the best way to be productive, the joys of Substack, where distrust of mainstream media can lead people, why real privilege is 21st century privilege, and countering narratives that are fundamentally destructive to Western civilization.
Bridget sits down with Grace Lidinsky-Smith, a detransitioned woman, to talk about her experience getting top surgery and then regretting it, the danger of always thinking about everything through the lens of gender, how knitting saved her, and her hard won knowledge that with time and patience things can actually improve. They discuss Grace's wish that therapy had advocated for her to slow down and do some more assessment of her situation, how people with gender dysphoria are being sold a bill of false goods that extreme measures are the solution to complex issues, the huge marketing machine around trans surgeries, and how you can't escape awkwardness when it comes to sex and sexuality no matter how hard you might try. Read Grace's writing on her substack Hormone Hangover.
Lenore Skenazy, co-founder and president of the Let Grow Project, joins Bridget to talk about the crisis of anxiety, depression, and passivity in kids today. Let Grow is devoted to giving kids back the independence they used to have before we had the ability to track their every move via an app. They discuss today's trend of rewriting all of childhood as if the kid is in extreme danger, why we have to recalibrate what we think kids can do, how the milk carton kids of the 80s warped the vision of childhood in America, and the incorrect idea that if you're always with your children or always supervising them then nothing bad can happen to them. They also cover the importance of free play in a child's development, kids feeling insulted, fragile, hurt and unsafe when they are simply uncomfortable and unused to dealing with these feelings, magical thinking vs. tragical thinking, the weird paradox of being entitled and infantalized at the same time, and the fact that when adults step back, kids step up. To learn more about the Let Grow homework projects, if you would like your school to implement the Let Grow Project or Play Club, and to find out about their speaking engagements, click the links below:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHqU9r3f4NE&t=4s
- https://letgrow.org/program/educational-resources/
- https://letgrow.org/program/have-us-speak/
Rikki Schlott, co-host of the Lost Debate podcast, joins Bridget as a representative of Gen Z. They discuss coming of age during the Trump years - a time when political polarization reached a fever pitch - and then how a pandemic changed the established norms on them. They cover Rikki's path after leaving college due to the pandemic, how she wants to bring a voice to the centrist Gen-Z perspective that exists but isn't reflected at all in media or social media, her worries about her generation's hostility to different vantage points and opinions, how her dad keeps her connected to a broader sense of history, her disillusionment with both the left and the right, and how the pandemic liberated a lot of young people from the achievement loop that they were stuck in, but also robbed them of very formative experiences in their lives.
Arielle Isaac Norman is a comic and podcaster who sits down with Bridget to talk about what being a "gold star" lesbian means in today's shifting landscape of gender fluidity. They discuss feeling like males in female bodies, how prioritizing the concept of gender identity over biological reality in women's sports doesn't make sense, why we should all be taking lessons from birds, and how Arielle has been threatened with ostracization from the queer community for voicing her opinions. They also cover Joe Rogan as a force of nature, cancelling the word "gypsy," how certain people learn the new rules of language before everyone else, Arielle being told she should be okay with dick, and why baby headbands might be the downfall of Bridget's marriage. Check out Arielle's podcast Politically Non-Binary .
Douglas Murray, author and associate editor of The Spectator, sits down with Bridget to talk about his latest book The War on The West. He and Bridget discuss how we're basically living through an assault on the principles of the Western tradition of the Enlightenment that were fundamental in our society, how our media landscape rewards the highly ignorant, the incredibly ugly race debate we're being lured into, why resentment doesn't get us anywhere, the difference between resentment and injustice, and how to stay off the crazy bus. They also cover the race debate around math, science and tests, why they dislike identity politics, permissable bigotries, why the unknowability of other people is a very important thing to keep in mind, how the answer to resentment is gratitude, and everything we have to be grateful for in our modern world.
Jessica Keenan is a stand-up comic who's pregnant with identical twins. She and Bridget sit down to discuss their shared breathing problems, Jessica's concern that she won't be able to tell her sons apart, being pregnant "old ladies" and what that means for raising their kids, the realization that worrying about the baby is never going away, the lifelong commitment of parenthood, and how feeling at war with themselves is one of the the hardest parts of pregnancy. They also cover Jessica's experience growing up in Vegas, how she got into comedy, how people who become comics obviously don't think that decision through, being desperate to be one of the "cool kids," their own expectations for their lives and how they both had to come to terms with settling down and stability after being so free. Check out Jessica's comedy special on HBO Max, Entre Nos: What She Said .
Bridget sits down with Dr. Sally Satel for a conversation about political correctness in medicine and what it's doing to doctors and patient care. They discuss the premise that a doctor of a different race can't understand you, what it means in medicine when every difference in outcome is inevitably attributed to systemic racism, how implicit bias does not translate into how people interact with each other, and how political correctness as an orthodoxy is intended to maintain a victim status. They cover the opioid crisis, addiction, recovery, how it's a miracle anyone ever gets sober, categorizing addiction as a disease, focusing on stupid cosmetic stuff in the face of overwhelming problems, why addict patients must take an active role in their own care and recovery, and what information and knowledge is being displaced by CRT training in medical schools. Learn more about Sally here.
The Lost Debate team, Ravi Gupta, Cory Bradford & Rikki Schlott, sit down with Bridget to discuss the mission behind The Lost Debate podcast program and the intention to create a space and media company that brings different people together to have conversations. They discuss how they all wound up working together, why they try not to speak to their audience's biases, the rise of the phrase "I don't agree with everything you say," reaching people outside of their silos, trying to present nuance while trying to be real at the same time, going international, and taking their responsibility to sift through the evidence and give as accurate a report as possible seriously. They also cover sticking to satire and not insult, how intolerant people are becoming of differing views, how the duopoly does not represent the younger generation of Americans who are increasingly very purple, their rule about the "both sides" argument, and trying to capture the youth before they get radicalized.
Clifton Duncan (actor, writer & podcaster) stops in to discuss his path to culture war commentator, much the same as Bridget's. They discuss why you have to be kind of crazy to be an actor, the problems within the entertainment industry, how artists seem to be more worried about appeasing their peers than reaching broader audience, and why people shouldn't be condescended to and called bigots and Nazis simply because they have different opinions. They also cover the arrogance of our society and its reliance on the technology we wield, how art can serve the same role as God - nourishing the spirit and touching the soul, how there's nothing beautiful or aspirational about the culture wars, why he doesn't need white progressives to be offended on his behalf, and how so many people shit on the working class and regular working people. Check out The Clifton Duncan Podcast or Clifton's substack Musings From The Apocalypse.
Mahri Irvine and Lauren Adams work for the Women's Liberation Front (WoLF). And they join Bridget to discuss their lawsuit against the state of California to protect single sex prisons and fight Senate Bill 132 which allows incarcerated men to be housed in women’s correctional facilities based on self-declared “gender identity.” They cover why women deserve and need single-sex spaces, the cultural ideology that got us here, why there's a disproportionate amount of anger being directed at women for trying to defend the legal definition of "women," how we're being asked to participate in a mass delusion in our society right now because people are worried about what other people will think of them, what the term "cotton ceiling" means, and the insanity that male sex offenders are currently eligible to transfer into women's prisons. To learn more about the lawsuit or to donate go here: https://www.womensliberationfront.org/chandler-v-cdcr
Michael Shellenberger, author of San Fransicko & Apocalypse Never, stops in to discuss the humanitarian crisis of addiction, mental illness, and homelessness happening in California right now. He and Bridget talk about how state-facilitated addiction camps are destroying the fabric of our cities, how supervised drug consumption sites work in other countries, how Fentanyl is crucifying a generation, what harm reduction actually means, why some people need to face jail time in order to get the help and independence they need, Michael's plan for policing, psychiatry & probation as an alternative to massive incarceration and massive homelessness, and why there's no reason California couldn't be a model for the world in terms of rehab programs and centers. Between the initial interview and its release Michael has announced that he is running for Governor of California to address these problems, and returns for a quick follow-up interview about his strategies to address the multitude of issues facing the state. Learn more about Michael's campaign here: https://www.shellenbergerforgovernor.com/join-now/
Mónica Guzmán stops in to discuss her new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times . She and Bridget discuss how whenever there are lots of people who stand on opposite sides of an issue that division has a reason for being there and we should strive to understand it, why belonging is the number one concern for most people, the tension between understanding and judgment, and why we should all just start with the baseline assumption of, "I'm probably wrong." They also cover finding common ground with people on a personal level, how severing ties amongst family members has a societal cost, how changing our mind about something big is almost like a death, therefore it can take a long time for our opinions to change about something big, learning how to be wrong, and small steps that people can take in their everyday lives to start having their own fearlessly curious conversations.
Corinne Fisher & Krystyna Hutchinson (Guys We Fcked: The Anti Slut-Shaming podcast ) drop in to discuss what they've learned about women and sexuality in the last 8 years doing their show. They share how Corinne's on a hunt for the truth, whether it will hurt her or not, and Krystyna's on the hunt for aliens and ghosts, why women are constantly throwing away their lives and acting like dumb bitches for trashy men, and how they deal with the second-hand trauma of reading countless sexual assault stories from their audience. They also cover the emergence of cancel culture, comedians being held to higher standards than politicians, a culture of fake apologies, how labels can be both freeing and prisons, and how feminism was sorely missing a sense of humor. Check out their debut special Our Special Day* on their YouTube channel.
Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention, is back to discuss the collapse of our ability to pay attention and the 12 factors that are causing it. He and Bridget discuss how being chronically distracted is twice as bad for your intelligence than being stoned, living in a perfect storm of cognitive degradation, the loss of our ability to focus on deep things, the privilege of being able to disconnect, and why it's not a coincidence that our attention has collapsed at the same time we're finding it impossible to solve our problems as a society. They also cover how to get into a flow state, what's going to happen 20 or 30 years from now if we don't restore children's attention, the pleasures of reconnecting, how social media was designed to destroy your attention and why it does not have to work the way it does right now, the way the incentives change when the business model changes, and why Johann thinks Bridget owes Brad Pitt an apology. Learn more about Johann at johannhari.com.
Ian Higgins, comedian, television host, one half of The Grade Cricketer, and representativ e of Australia, joins Bridget to discuss the severity of Australia's lockdowns and mandates. They cover the "island mentality," Australia's isolationist tendencies, the succession movement in Western Australia, why Australians are much more trusting of their government than Americans, and why most of the population supports the Covid measures put in place. They also discuss the politicization of the vaccine, the long term effects of the lockdowns on people and kids in particular, missing crucial years of your life when transitioning into adulthood, Novak Djokovic being kicked out of Australia, and why Aussies are mentally ill.
Meghan Murphy, journalist, and founder of Feminist Current, a feminist web site and podcast, sits down with Bridget to discuss the real world consequences of speaking out about gender identity, ideology & legislation, specifically as they pertain to women's rights, and the loss of safe spaces for women in our society. Meghan talks about being deplatformed, receiving death threats, not being published, losing friends, and ultimately moving to Mexico from Canada as a result of her public stance on this issue. They cover why gender roles and stereotypes do matter, taking feminism for granted, defending women's basic sex-based rights and protections, how women are being silenced and shunned for speaking up and men are being lauded and building audiences discussing the same topic, and how many feminists have been tricked into believing "women" is a dirty word.
Jenn Lyon (Claws, Justified) sits down with Bridget to discuss her path to acting, how being a preacher's daughter always made her feel like public property, getting kicked out of the first college she went to, her battle with an eating disorder, why she finally sought treatment, and her fear that being healthy would impede her ability to ever book another job. They discuss her role on Claws, why it's the best job she's ever had, why she embraces body neutrality over body positivity, their issues with intimacy, anxiety as a habit, how social media engenders despair, womens' universal struggle with shame and their bodies, and why we are terrible predictors of our own happiness and success.
Amanda Knox (exoneree, journalist & podcaster) is on a mission to reclaim her identity. She sits down with Bridget for a thoughtful and introspective conversation about how her identity, face, and name have come to define her in ways that were not in her control, and how she's defining her own world moving forward. They discuss how embracing complicated emotions allows you to have a better perspective, how she dealt with the stress and waiting during her trial process and jail time, what we do to cope, being turned into a symbol, and why we as a society should be better about allowing people to admit that they're wrong. They cover how entitled people feel to judge when they see someone going through something bad, the loss of the sense of humor and the ability to laugh at terrible things, returning to reality and getting reacclimated after prison, the absolute loss of control of being pregnant, and feeling like everything could be taken from her again. Check out her podcast Labyrinths with husband Christopher Robinson.
Kathleen Madigan has been a comic for more than 30 years. She takes a break from her Do You Have Any Ranch tour to sit down with Bridget and discuss their similar upbringings in large Irish Catholic families - which is basically like growing up in a roast battle - wondering what was wrong with small families and people who don't have cousins in every city, the fine art of speed eating, and why Kathleen is the expendable one in her family because she doesn't have kids. They cover when your Twitter account renders you unemployable, why TikTok feels like a bunch of coke heads, why you shouldn't be getting medical advice from comedians, and at what age you should kill your parents. For more information about Kathleen's tour schedule and her podcast, Madigans Pubcast, visit her website - kathleenmadigan.com.
Aymann Ismail (Slate Magazine staff writer) sat down with Bridget for an interview on January 6th 2022, coincidentally, Ismail had been in D.C. on January 6th, 2021, so inevitably their conversation covers the events of that day, including Aymann's sense of the mood of the crowd, what made it different from other Trump rallies, and why many different things can all be true at once about the Capitol riot. They also discuss Aymann's trip to Egypt during the Arab Spring and his coverage of the riots in Minneapolis in 2020, amidst a broader conversation about platforming dangerous ideas & ideologies, 9/11, the Patriot Act and the repercussions within the Muslim community in New York City, the polarization of our two political parties, people who view political violence as an acceptable means of affecting change, Gerrymandering, voter's rights, and they wrap it all up with the biggest mistakes Aymann made as a new father. Be sure to check out Aymann's podcast Scoot Over, a series of conversations about how to build a more inclusive world and what is standing in our way.
Adam Carolla (The Adam Carolla Show) stops in to talk about his new comedy special Truth Yeller. He and Bridget discuss is wandering career trajectory from stand-up to sketch comedy, radio, television, podcasting, and back to stand-up. They cover why people are scared to talk about sex these days, how Adam keeps his job separate from his personal identity, why he feels bad for the Alyssa Milanos of the world, how he wound up on some sort of no-fly list for Netflix & HBO, the importance of keeping hold of your common sense in this day and age, how to avoid falling into the trap of narcissism, and why he does not wear a beret.
Story Hour with Bridget Phetasy is a segment where Bridget reminisces with cousin Maggie and tells stories explaining who she is and how she got here.
Bridget and Maggie tell tales of their individual and shared experiences with the holidays growing up. They cover their childhood traditions at their grandparents' house and then the diverging of their holiday celebrations as they grew up. Bridget talks about the stress of her parents' divorce, the annual meltdowns, the traveling and general chaos, why she hated the holidays for years, and how she reclaimed them as something to be enjoyed and celebrated as an adult.
Rabbi David Wolpe, the Max Webb Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple, sits down with Bridget to discuss the complexity of human beings, learning how to be okay with people being upset with you, the advantage of getting older, how social media is turning adults back into teenagers, the difficulty of staying away from politics at the pulpit in today's social climate, and why we need more windows and fewer mirrors. They also discuss Rabbi Wolpe's strategies for tolerance and listening to someone he disagrees with, his belief that this extreme political polarization will not last forever, the importance of being authentic and connecting with people, how to make your losses and struggles matter in your life, the seduction of the instantaneous, how we're a lot more resilient than we give ourselves credit for, and why the conviction that you're 100% right makes you wrong.
Briahna Joy Gray is the former National Press Secretary for the Bernie Sanders campaign, and the host of Bad Faith podcast. She and Bridget cover Briahna's background as a corporate lawyer, the truth about the way most corporate laws are written and the system we've inherited, how she became interested in politics, and how she wound up working for the Bernie Sanders campaign. They also discuss their willingness to have their minds changed, the importance of making your point in a way that can be heard by people who don't agree with you, the wealth disparity that most people don't understand, how class is weaponized against poor people, the basics of democratic socialism, and the reality of sensitivity training in corporate culture.
Former US Presidential Candidate, Andrew Yang, sits down with Bridget to discuss his decision to leave the Democratic Party, the unexpected reaction and fallout as a result, his founding of the Forward Party, why a two party system doesn't work at all, and the importance of ending the duopoly if we have any hope of solving the problems this country faces. They cover the importance of an independent media, the difficulties of galvanizing the "mushy middle" into action, why Americans should travel more, restructuring unemployment benefits, Universal Basic Income, the decline of the labor rate, and building a new tribe to give people who feel disenfranchised a place to belong. Learn more about the Forward Party here .
Jesse Morton was once an American born, jihadist propagandist who ran Revolution Muslim, a New York City-based organization active in the 2000s and connected to a number of terrorism cases. He and Bridget talk about his upbringing, how he discovered Islam and the process of his radicalization, and then the slow evolution of nuance creeping back into his life and what eventually caused him to reexamine his belief system and deradicalize. They cover the work he's doing now with his organization Parallel Networks to intervene with jihadist, far-right and far-left extremism and prevent reciprocal radicalization. They discuss the role the NYPD police officer who incarcerated him played in his deradicalization, whether censorship on social media platforms is effective in combatting terrorism, why differentiating between hate and violent extremism is so important, and Jesse's work trying to create a national program that has a public health, trauma-informed design that would not only help prevent terrorism, but get to the root of the hyper-polarization dividing our society. For more resources check out lightuponlight.online.
Comedian Drew Lynch drops in to talk about his latest stand-up special, Concussed. He and Bridget discuss overcoming life's adversities including the head injury he suffered a decade ago, how it led him to comedy, what it taught him, and how at the end of the day it's how you respond to life's adversities that determines your character. They cover the grind of feeding the algorithm, how social media can rob you of things that used to be fulfilling, boxing yourself into your own brand and getting stuck there, addictive personalities, the ins and outs of running your own business, struggling with imposter syndrome, and why Drew's mom and Bridget think Yellowstone is so good.
Comedian, writer & actor Aida Rodriguez stops in to discuss Fighting Words her new special streaming on HBO Max and her desire to give people perspective on what's going on in the world. It's easy to talk to people who think like you and talk like you, Aida hopes to push people outside the bounds of their own experiences and perhaps connect them to others in a new way. She and Bridget discuss the weird time we live in where comedians are held to a higher standard than public officials, why it's impossible and toxic to try to please everyone, why comedians should defend their right to be hyperbolic, and how stand-up saved them both. They also cover how political divisions merely get in the way of actually making changes, why artists can't possible be held responsible for all the different interpretations of their work, the fact that we're so busy policing each other that nothing is getting resolved, and what has helped Aida through the darkest times in her life.
Katherine Brodsky was doxxed, harrassed and threatened because of a job posting on Facebook. She and Bridget discuss what happened, why she refuses to apologize, how it shifted the way she interacts with the world, and the private messages of support she received from people who were too scared to say anything publicly. They cover the toxicity of cancel culture, the long term effects in can have in your life, how other people's silence makes you feel even more isolated and alone, and how the incident gave Katherine the ability to be honest about where she was politically. They also discuss the importance of primary sources, how difficult it is for an institution to regain trust once it's been lost, the job of comedy in this day and age, Rogan as a gateway podcast, and the etiquette of heckling at a comedy show. Check out Katherine's substack Random Minds .
Ben Shapiro is back and he and Bridget cover a range of topics including his move out of California to Florida, what the breaking point was that made his family leave the state, the massive divide right now between the red states and the blue states, how to restore the credibility and moral authority of public health officials, the long-term effects of masks on children, why risk is unavoidable, and why we're all susceptible to being mini petty tyrants. They also discuss how corporate heads are not true believers when it comes to the woke agenda - they're just afraid, the activists who want to tell you what to do in the most private spheres of your life, making decisions with your feet, and why you should try to treat people who are on the other side with a baseline level of respect, but politicians don't count. Be sure to check out Ben's latest book, The Authoritarian Moment.
Batya Ungar-Sargon stops in to discuss her new book, Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy . She and Bridget discuss the history of American journalism and how it was once a crusader for the poor and the working class, when and how that changed, and the vast disparity that exists between the classes now. They explore how Liberals who see themselves on the right side of history are divorced from the working class, but that does not mean that Conservatives are speaking for them either. They also cover why AOC's Met Gala dress is the perfect encapsulation of wokeness as a smokescreen that perpetuates inequality, the mistake in measuring economic health in terms of purchasing power rather than the dignity of labor, and why having an under class who's underemployed while the people in power spend all day sneering at their values is dangerous.
Coleman Hughes sits down with Bridget for a conversation about why Critical Race Theory is an interesting but misguided philosophy, where it came from, what it's doing to our society, and why he's an advocate of color-blindness. They discuss the importance of viewing people as individuals rather than as groups, how efforts to fight racism often wind up treating black people like children rather than adults, and why it's good that a conversation about race has been started, but that there's a different, healthier message that needs to happen. They also cover why Hollywood execs don't want the black characters in comedies to have any flaws, why Joe Rogan isn't as famous as he should be, how the Occupy Wall Street movement was redirected into the race debates, why human flaws and human selfishness should be accounted for the the systems we build, and why you kind of sound like an asshole if you're an optimist. Check out Coleman's podcast Conversations with Coleman.
Kat Rosenfield, author of the new book No One Will Miss Her , shares her writing process with Bridget, and talks about her transition from YA to Adult Thriller novels. They talk about why the YA community is so susceptible to moral panic, when grown women turn back into teenage girls online, what the culture wars are doing to the art world and art itself, how you can feel it when an artist feels pressured to conform to a certain set of ideals, and why she finds the idea of sensitivity readers fundamentally ridiculous. The discuss the odd paradox that authors are being told that they're required to disclose trauma in order to be allowed to write about it and how invasive and damaging that can be, why sensitivity readers tend to traffic in stereotypes, and how the end game for all of it is to narrow the playing field and get people to self-exclude.
Megyn Kelly (The Megyn Kelly Show) sits down with Bridget to talk about taking control of her own career and destiny. They cover what led her to journalism from law, why the constant focus on identity doesn't lead us to anyplace good in our society, how feeling sorry for yourself causes depression, the ability to withstand public pressure as a politician in this day and age, and what will happen if Trump runs again. They also discuss the importance of being able to laugh at yourself, how avoiding controversy and protecting yourself in a "safe space" is the worst possible approach to dealing with life's troubles, why kids have to put themselves out there, take risks and fall on their faces, and Megyn shares the best thing her therapist ever said to her. Check out The Megyn Kelly Show 12 - 2pm EST daily, on Sirius XM Triumph Channel 11.
Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying join Bridget to discuss their latest book A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century . They have a fascinating conversation covering how so much in evolutionary biology is obvious in retrospect, why an explicitly scientific and evolutionary understanding of who we are as humans doesn't take away the sense of awe or miraculousness of our humanity, and how the rate of change we are living through now is so great that there's really no comparison to any other point in human history. They discuss the Precautionary Principle, the function of religion, the fourth frontier, organic food, hyper-novelty, banishing your fear, what makes a good partner, and the Omega Principle. Be sure to check out their DarkHorse Podcast for more in-dept h conversations with them both.
Jillian Hamilton drops in to talk about her new podcast Cheating: When Love Lies. She and Bridget have a refreshingly honest conversation about the taboo subject of affairs, cheating, why people do it, what they're looking for, what it can lead to, the effect the pandemic had on relationships, and the "monogamy myth." Jillian talks about what led her to this topic and why she finds it so fascinating, Bridget shares stories she's never talked about publicly before. They cover how men cheat to stay while women cheat to leave, how women are held to a different standard than men, how many people don't qualify their behavior as cheating, living out your personal issues in your relationships, why sometimes honesty isn't always the best policy, and what you should never give your mistress for her birthday.
Helena identified as trans from the ages of 15 to 19. She was on testosterone for 17 months before realizing she'd made a huge mistake. She and Bridget have a frank and compassionate conversation about her journey, how body image issues and social media led her to identify as trans, the ease with which she was presribed testosterone, her parents' reaction to her transition, what led her to the realization that she was not trans, and the response she received from her community when she detransitioned. She shares her own story to raise awareness of a growing problem among girls and young women who are not being given adequate information or tools before they are given access to treatments and surgeries that can change their lives forever. Follow her on Twitter @lacroicsz to learn more.
Stand-up comic, Sam Morril, drops in to talk about his upcoming documentary Full Capacity, chronicling the reopening of comedy clubs in New York. He and Bridget discuss why they're both in no place to judge the strange habits of other people, the utter absurdity of podcasts, the value of being a whore in the Wild West, why women are so obsessed with true crime, trying to get something made in Hollywood, and why comics are like cockroaches. They also cover how people in red and blue states agree on more than we think they do, the mental illness of comedians not being able to work, the obliviousness of men, and why black people don't want to hear white people talk about 12 Years A Slave.
Reed Coverdale is a trucker and host of the podcast The Naturalist Capitalist, which he often podcasts from the cab of his truck. Reed believes that if you can connect people who understand what isn't working to the root cause of why it isn't working in an effective way, you can create a movement. He and Bridget discuss the gap between the people having "the conversation" in media and politics vs. the real people on the ground in America. They cover libertarianism, why overzealous corporate safety measures can often become the very reason for accidents and injuries, the disconnect between the culture war and politics, why honest discourse has become increasingly more difficult as most people wind up arguing about the definitions of words, practicing what you preach, and why being a trucker gives you a healthy perspective of humanity. He also shares his scariest moments working on power lines and as a trucker, as well as the recent car accident that left him grateful to be alive.
Rosebud Baker stops in to talk about her new comedy special Whiskey Fists , and she and Bridget discuss making jokes about traumatic experiences, toxic positivity, the way you're supposed to perceive things versus the way that you actually do, being addicted to doomscrolling, and why they're both terrible at adulting. They compare notes on being Covid newlyweds, the exes they've left behind, how the definition of being a "grownup" has kind of changed, the importance of duality and nuance, the mystery of the male species's obsession with big screen TVs, and Rosebud reveals that while she advocates freeing Britney, she also thinks a conservatorship might be the solution to her own problems.
Michael Malice (Your Welcome) returns for another fun episode where he and Bridget discuss the definition of anarchy, the random reason he finally decided to leave NYC, his hoarding tendencies, the Russian attitude towards therapy, suicidal thoughts, and how many pairs of jeans he owns. They cover the idea that progressivism is domesticated imperialism, giving people the benefit of the doubt, the importance of boundaries to mental health, being a light bringer, how people take as much space as you give them, and Bridget's ability to read the health of a marriage from the trajectory of a person's social media profile pictures.
Matt Taibbi, author and journalist, drops in to discuss the state of modern journalism, why it's increasingly difficult to source news you trust, "soft" censorship, link rot and stories that disappear, the instinct to conformity that is an epidemic in newsrooms right now, and why eventually the mob will always come for you. They cover Matt's background, how he comes from a family of reporters, what he learned from his dad about how to treat sources, his 10 years in Russia running his own newspaper, how Americans don't have any sense of what it means to lose their ability to speak openly, the evolution of Substack, when the "subscriber bubble" will burst, the disincentives to doing in-depth, long form reporting these days, an audience's ability to parse nuance, their willingness to question their own motives, and why the problem with the rhino is the problem with everything. Check out Matt's Substack here.
Sarah Shahi returns to the podcast to talk about her newest show Sex/Life on Netflix. She and Bridget discuss the cultural impact of the show, the resonance it's had with women, sex as a character on the show, female sexuality, how little room there is for women to be messy in our society, the importance of sex, trust and devotion in a relationship, and taking a chance on yourself. They cover the trials and tribulations of breastfeeding, the difficulties of shooting nude scenes, why women are so hard on each other, Kim Kardashian's support of the show, and Sarah's story of tanking the initial audition for the role of Billie.
Jordan Harbinger, host of The Jordan Harbinger Show podcast, talks about being one of the first people in the podcasting space way back in 2006. He shares how he went from a law firm intern, to a networking coach/body language expert, to a dating guru, which led to accidentally starting a company. He and Bridget discuss the art of interviewing, their relationship with their listeners, the desire to build something big and impact people, where he turns when he's struggling, the good and bad of working for yourself, and why you should always keep moving forward and maintain your momentum no matter what kind of drama people try to pull you into. They also cover faith & spirituality, why you should always work with people whose strengths complement your weaknesses, the importance of long form podcasts for getting to the truth beneath the sound bites, and why podcasts will save the world.
Antonio García Martínez, author of Chaos Monkeys, stops in to talk about the ever-evolving role of social media and technology in our lives. He and Bridget discuss how everyone in media is basically a lunatic, the dangers of kids knowing tech better than their parents, the days when the internet wasn't an all-consuming thing, the effect Sex/Life has had on marriages, tech billionaires and San Francisco school board recalls, the art of sitting down and reading a book, what TikTok is doing to kids, oral culture vs visual culture, and why Bridget hated Clubhouse. They also cover being addicted to fear, your brain on tribalism, the real life impact that Twitter has on the culture, Bridget's latest moment of shame, and they nerd out together over their love of the book Mediated. Keep up with Antonio on his substack.
Jimbo Williams and Aristotle Sanchez are the founders and creators of La Ropa, one of the most popular streetwear brands in the US. They sit down with Bridget to tell their story, from an art collective in Toronto, to couch surfing in New York, to the Great American Road Trip that brought them to LA. They describe operating a business while they were homeless, their lack of a Plan B, their endless ambition, and the their vision for the future of the company. They cover what older people get wrong about their generation, their desire to stay independent, how they learned to prioritize, the art of the hustle, Ralph Lauren, American stereotypes, the value of taking martial arts as children, breaking the 4th wall of fashion, and why La Ropa is always going to be an illustration of their lives.
John McWhorter, author of Nine Nasty Words: English In The Gutter - Then, Now and Forever , sits down for a fascinating and fun conversation with Bridget. They discuss the appeal of swear words, the evolution of language, the rise of "like" and "literally," the arc of curse words from blasphemy, to the body, to slurs, and evaluate Critical Race Theory from both sides of the argument. They examine the difference between teaching people to think and telling them what to think, how the term "racist" is now being used as a bludgeon to enforce a kind of ideological lockstep, why the victimization mindset has become so popular, share their stories of their first curse words, and discuss why you can't get what you want by calling people white supremacists on Twitter. Check out John's writing at johnmcwhorter.substack.com.
Carol Roth is a leading business advisor, 'recovering' investment banker, and author of bestselling book The Entrepreneur Equation. She stops by to discuss her latest book, The War on Small Business: How the Government Used the Pandemic to Crush the Backbone of America . She and Bridget cover the effect of the pandemic on small businesses and what that means for our economy, what happens when you have such a consolidation of power, the nationalization of school debt, our economic relationship with China, inequality by government mandate, how the regulation on businesses is killing savers and retirees, when people are punished for being poor, and why the only people who have ever gotten rich off the government dole are politicians. Carol explains why good intentions don't always lead to good outcomes, why the legal system might be our saving grace, the interconnectedness within our systems, and that if you want to continue enjoying your freedoms, then it's your responsibility to protect them.
Former US Congressman, Justin Amash, gives us an inside look on the inner workings of Congress and the fact that people in Washington aren't actively trying to harm people, it's just that they mostly don't care. He and Bridget discuss the difficulty of having a free society when everyone's angry and hostile with each other, why the use of the word "defend" is problematic, the importance of focusing on process in government, why fixing the process is only going to happen from external pressure because all internal attempts to effect change have failed or fallen apart, why most politicians have no interest in upending the system so they just follow the leader, and why the Speaker of the House basically operates like a dictator. They cover term limits, decentralization, Libertarianism, how each side of the aisle has used their power in a dictatorial fashion, how media outlets continue to fail us, the credibility crisis in America, the insanity of spending bill votes, why government functionality depends on independent media, and why Washington is basically Hollywood for ugly people.
Jonathan Haidt (The Coddling of the American Mind , The Righteous Mind ) is a social psychologist who believes that we're currently suffering from Wisdom Deprivation Disorder. He and Bridget analyze how the "like" and "retweet" functions changed the face of social media - and eventually the mainstream media, why wokeness makes it impossible to do anything, the costs of speaking up with common sense, the warping of our entire information ecosystem, and why so many businesses are really leaving Silicon Valley. They discuss the difference between resilience and anti-fragility, the victimhood economy, why everyone should read the Stoics before they get on Twitter, the skyrocketing rates of depression and anxiety in Gen Z, what the loss of unsupervised free play does to children, why this is an incredibly interesting time to be a social scientist, and Jonathan's plan to help people flourish in an age of anxiety.
Bari Weiss is a journalist (New York Times, Wall Street Journal) and author of How to Fight Antisemitism. She and Bridget have an in-depth conversation about how full personhood is not possible on the internet, faux outrage and what it's doing to us, the explosion of independent media, the dangers of exploring TikTok, and why the end of Trump's presidency means you're suddenly you're allowed to say things that have never stopped being true. They discuss what to do when you notice you're self-censoring, the potential for being de-platformed, how quickly our brains deny the reality of something terrible happening, how Jews are the obvious victims of antisemitism but the wider victim is the society infected by it, intersectionality, race, the dangers of focusing on whiteness, and why Bari believes that the fight of our lifetimes is the fight against illiberalism. Don't miss Bari's new podcast Honestly .
Glenn Greenwald (No Place To Hide, Securing Democracy ) shares the journey that led him to Brazil, how he met his husband, what led him to the path he's on, and why tries to make sure he's always open to people who challenge his convictions. He and Bridget discuss their shared mistrust of authority, why the acceptance of gay marriage accelerated so rapidly, living outside of America and how it influenced his perspective & writing, the dangers of going against your audience's tastes, and why the impulse to appeal to an authority figure to fix everything is a bad thing. They cover Operation Car Wash, how not being wedded to an ideological dogma engenders trust, why the length of Joe Rogan's podcasts is important, when you don't even realize you're self-censoring, the mental health crisis in the West, the differences between the way China flexes and the US flexes, the joylessness that has arisen on the left, and where to find independant journalism these days.
Eliza Bleu is a survivor advocate for those affected by human trafficking, she’s also a survivor of human trafficking. She and Bridget discuss the red flags both parents and youths should be aware of, grooming tactics and how insidious they can be – especially from someone you’re supposed to be able to trust, the fraught conversation around personal responsibility in the survivor space, and the role advancing technology and social media platforms play. They share personal stories of their own experiences, how the most innocuous things can be triggers, how trauma never fully heals, but it can be integrated, why you have to take care of yourself when you’re trying to serve others, trying not to let the darkness overwhelm you, hanging onto hope, and why you should never ugly-cry on Rogan.
Mitchell Jackson stops by and talks about his beloved friend and surrogate mother, Sandie Crisp, aka The Goddess Bunny, a disabled trans icon. She died in January of Covid, after surviving polio and HIV. Mitchell discusses the ups and downs of her life, stints of homelessness, having her picture hanging in the Louvre, why she’s huge in South America, her hatred of identity politics, the surrogate family she built for herself, and the tragedy of her passing in isolation (due to Covid restrictions) in an assisted living facility. He and Bridget discuss the massive flaws in our system regarding the health and care of the homeless, disabled, mentally ill, and people struggling with addiction. They cover the battle to hold a funeral that did Sandie proud, how she raged against the idea that anyone would ever perceive her as a victim, and why Mitchell is optimistic about the future.
Candice Thompson is a comedian, writer, actor and host of the podcast Nosy Neighbors which breaks down the most absurd neighborhood app posts of the week. She and Bridget discuss how everybody wants to label you so they know what to think about you, why they don’t trust groups, their paths to stand-up comedy, their worst comedy bomb experiences, why hemp is the buffalo of plants, normalizing knife fights, and why people are so staunch in their defense a celebrity they’ve never met. Candice shares her experience being a light skinned black girl, and the complexities of being mixed race in a country obsessed with race, her exploration of nutrition and spirituality, and why she got kicked out of a wedding for a stand-up set. It’s a hilarious conversation that goes from lentils to racism to fat shaming, why our bodies are miracles, people who take pride in their victimhood, and the etiquette of throwing away dog poop.
Sarah Rose Siskind is a science comedy writer, psychedelic educator, comedian, and co-founder of Hello SciCom, a company that combines science communication and comedy to help scientists and tech companies revamp their content. She and Bridget discuss homelessness, how little we knew in our 20s, sobriety & pharmaceuticals, why D.A.R.E. is a terrible program, pandemic-induced anxiety, why mental health issues are like spousal abuse, and why people shouldn’t treat weed as a cure-all. They swap crazy Burning Man stories, discuss classism, agree that art is one of the things humans do right, commiserate over comedian-brain, and highlight the importance of knowing your audience in any given situation.
Julian Walker is a yoga instructor, writer, and co-host of the podcast Conspirituality. He and Bridget discuss the growing overlap between new age spirituality and conspiracy theory culture in the last few years, how QAnon-influenced ideas started to take hold in the yoga space, the growing trend of anti-intellectualism and shying away from science, the difference between freshman skepticism and healthy skepticism, and why he’s committed to the principle that politics should be boring. Julian talks about growing up in South Africa amid the dismantling of apartheid and the perspective it gave him about reality bubbles, authoritarianism, propaganda, and what a charismatic candidate that arouses a passionate response in their followers means in a society. They talk empathy, morality, purity, cults, gurus, political stability, and why we should give people the benefit of the doubt in conversation rather than going from zero to calling them a Nazi in two seconds.
Angel Eduardo is a writer, musician, photographer and artist. He and Bridget discuss the discipline of being a professional artist, the moral panic around art these days, self-censorship and the fear of being cancelled, victimhood culture, exercise & discipline, Bridget's ideal super power, why mistakes are like wrapping paper, what to do when you're lost, and the ground we're losing in the equality movement. Angel explains his concept of "star-manning" a way of engaging in discourse with each other that acknowledges a person's point of view and their intentions in a conversation as a means of finding common ground, making them feel heard, and making them more likely to listen to you in return. He believes that most people mean well, and we often lose sight of that fact and depersonalize them in a disagreement, particularly over social media. Learn more about Angel on his website, angeleduardo.com.
Stand-up comic, Erica Rhodes, stops in to trade stories with Bridget about their various adventures that always seemed to start with “there was a boy…”. They discuss the winding roads that brought them to comedy, why spoken word poetry is a lot harder than you might think, acting as a gateway drug, the joys of creativity, the embarrassment of journals full of men, and their struggles with love and commitment. They also cover therapists who flirt with you, the nightmare of online dating, Bridget’s “one headshot per couple” rule, Erica’s tactic of playing dumb which allows her to see who people really are, losing people close to you, searching for validation, and why what you think you want in a relationship is very different from what you actually need in a relationship. Don’t miss Erica’s new comedy special La Vie En Rhodes.
Heather Heying is a scientist, educator and author. She and Bridget discuss the possibility of a vaccine passport and why they’re so unsettled by the idea. They reflect that nothing good comes from being told that in order to do something you have to show your papers, that once you give up a certain amount of liberty or power, it’s much more difficult to get it back, how being against the idea of a vaccine passport does not make you an anti-vaxxer, and the dangers of being called a conspiracy theorist when you dare to ask questions. They also cover the death of credibility, why you should spend time in nature moving fast, how it’s easy to radicalize people when they’re lost, why Joe Rogan is so awesome, and why we should all remember that on some level, we’re all self-righteous hypocrites. Be sure to check out Heather’s podcast with her husband Bret Weinstein, DarkHorse Podcast.
Nick Gillespie is the host of The Reason Interview podcast and editor-at-large at Reason Magazine. He and Bridget discuss the need to create meaning in our lives and why this has driven a lot of American culture insane, how he became a libertarian, Burning Man, his time working for a teen magazine, and why we need a government that does fewer things, but does them well. He shares how attending high school graduations and zoning board meetings radicalized him, the difference between liberals and progressives, how we can build a robust culture by having more arguments, and how he learned almost anything is possible. He and Bridget cover their hope for the future, why Walter Kronkite sucked, the consequences of growing up comfortable, and the truth behind our political parties’ ideologies.
Nancy Rommelman, journalist & author, sits down with Bridget for an in-depth conversation about her feature for Reason Magazine The Dream of The 90’s Dies in Portland, covering the Portland protests. They discuss what the endgame is for people whose skill set only involves destruction, how people are starting to behave in real life the way they do online, how people can become addicted to their “quest for justice,” the reality of what happens when you’ve been cancelled, and why your attitude after experiencing adversity is everything. They also cover the danger of a subscriber model when saying outrageous things and playing the victim gets you attention and an audience, the disconcerting current attitude of trying to pull everybody down rather than lifting them up, how when you weaponize terms you shut down the ability to have conversations, and their hope that the woke will go to sleep eventually. Subscribe to Nancy’s substack Make More Pie.
Cherie DeVille is an adult film star who offers Bridget an inside look at today’s porn industry. They cover how Cherie got into porn, how her parents reacted, why she loves it, the secret to her decade-long career, the perception versus the reality of the industry, the social stigma that comes with it, how it’s changed in the last 10 years, and how women have more power and control in the industry than ever before. They also discuss having an emotionally monogamous relationship, shame, boundaries, the struggle of kids today, how damaging porn addiction can be, the fact that conservatives and pornstars are on the same side when it comes to the arbitrary control and restrictions that financial institutions have over one’s ability to sell a product, and why we should all be terrified of what this means for the future.
Jeff Charles is a political commentator, podcast host, and freelance writer. He and Bridget discuss a variety of issues including why Republicans seem more interested in making it more difficult to vote than winning over hearts & minds, how even though most conservatives aren’t racist, they fall into a trap that lets the left paint them as racist, why the far left doesn’t really care about black people, and why you’re not that likely to be killed by a black person. They cover hot topics like Dr. Seuss and Gina Carano, along with more nuanced topics like why most black people don’t want to defund the police – they want the police to be held accountable, why Jeff believes conservatives will come around to the idea of black outreach, why Republicans should be advocating for reparations when Democrats will never do it, and wonder how many black farmers there actually are in America. Check out Jeff’s YouTube channel Breaking Conservatarian.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a research fellow, former member of the Dutch parliament, and author of the new book Prey: Immigration, Islam and the Erosion of Women’s Rights. She shares her story with Bridget and discusses fleeing an arranged marriage, seeking asylum in the Netherlands, the methods women in oppressive countries have developed to cope with or avoid being harassed, and the failure that occurs in our society when women don’t feel safe. She and Bridget have a fascinating conversation ranging from the homelessness problem in the US, to the effect the failure to assimilate the refugees in European countries is having on public safety – especially for women, and the fact that any conversation about these topics is considered taboo and likely to get you slapped with the label of classist, racist, or Islamophobic. They cover why critical race theory is a toxic ideology, how individuals are no longer being held responsible for their own actions, “white flight,” how men don’t have the same experience of feeling like prey, where feminists have gone wrong, and why America has done more things right than wrong.
Bridget and Jeren sit down to discuss their recent trip to South Africa. They discuss traveling during Covid, the importance of leaving the United States on a regular basis, what you learn when you travel internationally, their families’ attitudes towards traveling growing up, and their adventures in the wildlife parks they visited. They also get into the differences for traveling between men and women, an emotional helicopter ride, saving the rhinos, and trying to devise ways to protect themselves in the event of a lion attack.
Story Hour with Bridget Phetasy is a segment where Bridget reminisces with cousin Maggie and tells stories explaining who she is and how she got here. Bridget’s globe trotting tales really kick off with the first leg of her months-long journey. Hear how a spontaneous opportunity to go to Burning Man, led to a weed farm in Oregon, to an ashram in Australia, and wwoofing on a horse farm in New Zealand. The many adventures and mishaps along the way include knowing her way around Sydney exclusively via boat, accidentally joining a sex cult in the Australian bush, crashing a party of entrepreneurs in New Zealand, and why a backpack full of mini-dresses and the gift of gab will get you far on your travels.
Mark Normand, stand-up comedian and podcast host, connects with Bridget to make fun of Gwyneth Paltrow’s vagina candles, the absurdity of people on Twitter telling you to reach out if you’re feeling depressed or suicidal when they’re the ones calling you Nazis, political hypocrisy and posturing, and people wielding the word “complicit” as a weapon. They cover why doing stand-up seemed like becoming an astronaut, how weird it is to see the mob mentality go viral, how not being able to ask questions about something is always a bad sign, why Mark should consider trying heroin, and why Bridget would make a terrible drug mule. They also get deep with discussions of mortality, the uncomfortableness of sitting with joy, the warrior ethos, how everyone has demons, and how the stories we tell ourselves keep us stuck. Check out Mark’s stand-up special Out To Lunch.
Yannis Pappas (stand-up comic) stops by to mock everyone and everything with Bridget, including: Bill Gates, white people presenting as POC, China, Tom Cruise, the two cults running this country, Scandinavians, and comedians being taken seriously as political pundits. He and Bridget also cover how things have changed since he became a dad, what Kurt Cobain would be like if he were still alive today, their ideas for reality shows, the ability of the Irish to repress their emotions, Joe Rogan’s stamina, why oxy is a man’s drug, and why everyone should drop out of college and start a podcast. Special guest appearance by Tim Dillon.
Sarah Tollemache, stand-up comic and podcast host, joins Bridget for a hilarious conversation about anything and everything, including what they miss about live stand up, defending their right to be hyperbolic, worrying about being caught in the background of a viral video that would get them cancelled, and their shared fascination of black market arms dealing and money laundering. They discuss their ability to create for themselves rather than the gatekeepers, why corporations that stand up to woke public pressure tend to be European, the stereotypes of traveling, why Bridget should go into PR to advised celebrities who are being cancelled, and swap restaurant industry horror stories. Check out Sarah’s podcast Vadge here.
Kmele Foster is a partner at Free Think, a media company that tells stories about the people and ideas that are changing the world, he’s also a co-host of The Fifth Column podcast. He and Bridget discuss the weirdness of signs like “Black People Welcome Here,” and how they give him a Get Out sort of feeling, what he would teach kids about media literacy right now, why he prefers lukewarm takes over hot takes, and the worrying trend that violence has become a clear attribute of our politics recently, that it isn’t going away, and isn’t only coming from one side. They cover using ridicule as an effective weapon, how easy it is to become what you hate, encouraging people to be brave, and wonder happens in a society when people don’t trust each other and are being trained to hate each other. Check out The Fifth Column podcast here.
Ryan Long, comedian and filmmaker, connects with Bridget from New York and they discuss his move from Canada five months before the pandemic hit, why NYC is a sadboy town, the challenges of being a self-starter and your own boss, the outrage economy, why good editors are so hard to find, and why Canada is dead to him. In the middle of their conversation Bridget receives breaking news of the lockdown at the Capitol on January 6th but that doesn’t derail the conversation. They delve into how Hollywood woke culture feels like a last ditch attempt to maintain their status as gatekeepers, why Millennials are really just young Boomers in disguise, the difference between British comedy, American comedy, and Australian comedy, and how finding a way to turn something you might get mad about into something funny is a means of undermining your anger.
Adrienne Iapalucci is a stand-up comic, podcast host, and Bridget’s “spirit human.” She and Bridget discuss how their dysfunctional childhoods are probably what led them to stand-up in the first place and what keeps them grinding long after most normal people would quit. They talk addiction, the stand-up scene in NYC vs LA, their shared belief that things will always get worse, and why they both default to dark comedy the darker things get. Adrienne tells stories about working for a collections agency, Bridget shares how she learned the lesson you should never read someone else’s journal the hard way. They discuss how comedy has changed in today’s political climate and wonder if it’s better to achieve massive success with the wealth that comes with it only to watch it all slip away, or to live a moderately successful life being able to do what you love, but never “making it.” Stream or buy Adrienne’s latest album Baby Skeletons.
W. Keith Campbell is a nationally recognized expert on narcissism, society and generational change. He and Bridget discuss social media and narcissism, whether everyone with a big platform is inherently a narcissist, why Keith thinks Kylie Jenner is a genius, how technology always leads to status inversions where the wisdom of age gets crushed by youth’s expertise in tech, and why narcissism is essentially America’s brand. They also cover the evolution of individuals identifying themselves as “brands,” how geek culture and the great fantasy migration relates to self-esteem, the inevitability of the tribalism and polarization of social media, manufactured authenticity, the elite wars, and the first word that came into his head when he met Joe Rogan. Be sure to check out Keith’s latest book The New Science of Narcissism.
Harleen Kaur is a former NASA space engineer and current CEO and founder of Ground News, the world’s first news comparison platform. Ground News aggregates news stories from around the world, shows you how they are being covered by different media outlets, and helps you identify the media bias on the different coverage. Harleen founded the company to solve a problem she herself had, when it came to identifying media bias and putting news stories within a larger global perspective. She and Bridget discuss how revenue models are ruining journalism, the advantages of traveling and living in several different countries, the perspective working on a probe to Pluto can give you on the achievements of humankind, and how challenging yourself with information that competes with your world view teaches intellectual resilience.
Johann Hari (Chasing the Scream, Lost Connections) sits down with Bridget to discuss the rise in depression, anxiety and addiction in society, particularly during Covid, and what that means about their underlying causes. Through extensive traveling and research for his books, Johann has explored the idea that the roots of all three are not just biological, but also psychological and social, and that we need a more complex approach to treatment in order to address all three aspects of these ailments. In a deep and wide-ranging conversation, they discuss loneliness, tribalism, how Portugal solved its heroin crisis, how Cambodians treat depression, the rising wealth disparity in our society, how junk values have taken over our lives, homelessness, competitive victimhood, and why social media is to having a social life what porn is to having sex.
Desi-Rae is a sociopolitical commentator, crypto enthusiast, and artist who started her talk show Just Thinking Out Loud, after she realized she felt conflicted about honestly speaking her mind. Originally from Jamaica, she offers her perspective on US politics, how you used to be able to disagree with someone and still be friends with them, why she hates identity politics, and how people were always assuming what she thought because she’s black. She and Bridget discuss whether being racist or sexist is the worst vice a person can have, the cost of cutting family members out of your life, how victimhood requires constantly looking for oppressors, why we should ask people to learn about the parts of themselves they don’t like, and how everyone in America is rich compared to the rest of the world.
Tori Perrotti, aka “Target Tori,” talks with Bridget about her experience going viral, cyber-bullying, cancel culture, and the amazing positive support she received that inspired her to found the Pause. Be Kind platform. They discuss what they’ve each learned in the service industry, being an only child vs. the oldest of five, trade stories about being bullied in high school and how those experiences shaped them, and notice why it’s so hard to think of others in any given situation. Tori shares her desire to take what happened to her and use the opportunity to create something bigger, to spread a positive message, and to do something that would make her feel more fulfilled and contribute to society. It’s a refreshing and uplifting conversation in the midst of these darkly cynical times.
Cydnee Black uploaded her first makeup tutorial to YouTube in 2013, at that time, she was one of the few African Americans doing makeup tutorials. She now has over 1 million subscribers and is considered an “influencer” even though she despises that term. She has since transitioned into researching moments in history that interest her and creating informational videos about topics such as the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings, JFK’s affairs, and the life of Coco Chanel, while still doing makeup applications. She talks to Bridget being a black girl with blue eyes, how she was bullied for “speaking white,” and how she and her sister were the only black kids at their school. They cover why you should never idolize anyone on the internet, why women hate their bodies so much, keeping themselves small to make others feel more comfortable, BLM, cancel culture, psychics, colorism, and being your own brand.
Corey DeAngelis is the director of School Choice at Reason Foundation and the Executive Director at Educational Freedom Institute. Corey and Bridget discuss school choice, which would mean allowing a tax payer’s education dollars to follow their child to wherever they’re getting their education – public school, private school, or charter school – rather than automatically being paid to their local school district. They delve into the effects of Covid and how families are seeing their school system leaving them high and dry while still getting their children’s education dollars, why school choice would be good for individual teachers, and where the money being poured into the school system is actually going. They also cover why this shouldn’t be a partisan issue since it’s a market-based reform in education and an equalizer in society, and they explore some of the arguments against school choice. Don’t miss Corey’s book School Choice Myths: Setting the Record Straight on Education Freedom.
Doug Schoen (author & campaign consultant) drops in to discuss his most recent book The End of Democracy?: Russia and China on the Rise, America in Retreat. He and Bridget have a frank conversation about the fact that we are so divided in this country we are failing to pay attention to the larger threats of Russian and Chinese influence in the world. They cover how a lack of common purpose and a failure to recognize the challenges we face in America puts us at risk, the damage caused by putting politics ahead of the greater good of the country, and the fact that if the US abandons the global stage, other countries will turn to Russia and China who are only too happy to intervene in ways that put our country’s interests at risk. They acknowledge how helpless individuals can feel in the face of such large-scale problems and how we must unite as a country behind some of our core principles, such as liberty and freedom of speech, if we are to have a hope of maintaining national resilience and international influence.
Karol Markowicz (New York Post, Spectator USA, Time) and Bridget discuss the effect of the pandemic in NYC, how nobody in California seems to be able to connect policies they hate and the people they’re voting for, why large portions of immigrant communities love Trump, looking back and seeing their own blindspots going into 2016, and the best and worst case scenarios for how the 2020 election might go. They cover the future of the Democratic party, why Karol tries to bring up the fact that she’s a conservative very early in a conversation with a new person, whether she fears for her safety being an outspoken conservative in a liberal place, and why she doesn’t worry about what she’s going to tell her grandchildren about who she voted for.
Bridget & Maggie reminisce about 100 episodes of Walk-Ins Welcome. What they love, what they’ve learned, favorite episodes, and they marvel at their unprecedented consistency. They explore Bridget’s gift of gab and her genuine love for talking to people (inherited from their grandmother), discuss the need for a Hero’s Journey and how lost we can become without one, and plan for the future and what they’d like to see happen for the podcast and Phetasy. Become a subscriber at phetasy.com or make a donation and support another 100 episodes!
David French (The Dispatch, Time) stops in to talk about his latest book Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. He and Bridget cover how he sources his news, the liberation of shedding the partisan mindset and meeting in the wasteland of the center, the rise of journavism, being expelled from your tribe, taking precautions against being “swatted” by online trolls, and the times they wonder if it’s worth it. They discuss the differences between this election and 2016, take issue with the idea of voting for “the lesser of two evils” when the response should be “don’t vote for evil,” examine how our rage and hatred are what will destroy our country, and ask the question, what kind of country do we aspire to and how should I behave as a human being to try and reach this aspiration?
Colin Quinn (stand-up comic, actor, writer, Saturday Night Live alum) stops in to talk about his book Overstated – A Coast-to-Coast Roast of All 50 States, and he and Bridget manage to cover, the election, why Bridget should be a criminal profiler and write a book about U-Haul rentals, Colin’s plans for modern-day Constitutional Conventions, the fact that everybody’s crazy now and nobody seems to notice, and they compare psychic experiences (Colin’s involves OJ Simpson). They discuss how odd it is that our society has reached a place where people on the extreme left and right give people in the middle sh*t rather than vice versa, Colin’s elaborate plan to become best friends with Jeff Bezos, how he almost starred in Crocodile Dundee 2, why giving your opinion can be very expensive, and learning the meaning of the word “consequences.”
Felecia Killings is the founder and visionary of the Conscious Conservative Movement which wants to empower people who are looking to expand the authentic conservative space, and to go back to the principles of conservatism and spiritual understanding. She and Bridget delve into the complex topic of Black Conservatism, what it looks like today, why Felecia was primarily getting attacked by black conservative influencers, the fact that the black community is not a monolith, and that a lot of people in that community are politically homeless at the moment. They discuss the history of the Republican Party and black voters, where Felecia thinks opportunities are being missed to reach black communities, why fellowship, knowing history, and asking questions that leave aside the talking points is a better way to do things than the current strategies, and why people on the fringes of both parties are the ones that get the attention and the platforms. Learn more about the movement and Felecia’s body of work at feleciakillings.org.
In some sense the United States was an innovation, a bold experiment that turned into a spectacular success. According to Bret Weinstein, this success is proof of concept, and the system devised has been wildly successful at producing well-being, though unfairly distributed to certain population groups. The solution is not to un-invent the system, it’s to figure out how to correct the unfairness. The system needs an adjustment. Bret believes that Unity 2020 is our way to break the corrupt duopoly holding this country in gridlock and sowing division between Democrats and Republicans. A biologist and evolutionary theorist, Bret’s background is in studying complex systems and the evolution of humans in particular. He outlines his innovative and bold plan to galvanize disaffected voters, force both parties to meet in the middle and affect a lasting change in the way this country is governed. Will it work in 2020? Is there time? If not, what can we hope for in the future?
Katie Herzog (podcast host Blocked and Reported) and Bridget have a hilarious conversation that covers everything from Katie’s multiple drunken bicycle accidents, to Bridget’s being put on male-restriction when she was in rehab for heroin. They talk addiction, alcoholism, their first exposure to gender pronouns, teaching yoga in Sri Lanka, The Babes of NPR, and how your darkest moments can lead to new opportunities. Katie shares her many failures in holding down a job before working her way into freelance writing, and how an article on Detransitioning in The Stranger made her one of the most hated people in Seattle.
Ben Shapiro (editor-in-chief for The Daily Wire, host of The Ben Shapiro Show) and Bridget discuss going viral for stupid reasons, how Republicans don’t fight on a cultural level and Democrats do, their impressions of Hamilton, why the book White Fragility is biggest load of horsesh*t in the history of the world, why you should never cross Beyoncé fans, and what led him to write his latest book How to Destroy America In Three Easy Steps. They cover who his pick for president would be if Trump wasn’t running, the dangers inherent in the fact that people think the status quo will never change, why being too secure in your career is a big mistake, Ben’s predictions for what will happen if Trump wins or loses, and his burgeoning career as rap artist B. Shap.
Buck Angel is a 58 year-old trans man who is speaking out against the mob mentality that has taken over the trans community. He and Bridget discuss his life before his transition, how he was essentially a human “guinea pig” in the early days of his transition, the long road and struggle for acceptance, and how the trans movement of today has developed something of a “cult-like” ideology where if you don’t speak and think in a specific way, they don’t want you as a member. He and Bridget discuss the “trans trenders,” the rewriting of factual information, why the label “cis” feels derogatory, how there’s no oversight and no system in allowing young people to self-diagnose as “trans,” being attacked by his own community, and why we should follow the money on the sudden push to enable sexual reassignment surgeries. As an elderly trans person whose own transition saved his life, Buck is passionate about the dangers he sees in the community today, and the fact that this push to transition will kill people.
Allie Beth Stuckey stops in to talk about her book, You’re Not Enough (& That’s Okay) – Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love. She and Bridget have a frank conversation about God, Christianity, and why she believes that the idea you have to love yourself in order to love other people is a fallacy infecting people’s minds. They discuss the tough road through college, the partying, the unhealthy lifestyle, and the struggle with an eating disorder that forced her to the realization that she would die if she didn’t change things. She and Bridget discuss their personal faith and beliefs, where they are similar, and where they differ. It’s an incredibly warm and open conversation between two women who don’t necessarily agree on everything, but respect each other’s beliefs and opinions, and are willing to share and learn from each other.
Joe List, standup comedian and podcast host, stops by for a chat about what he loves about podcasts, how Bruce Springsteen played a role in shaping his life, and the fact that he chose to go into standup because all the adults around him when he was a kid seemed extremely unhappy about their jobs, so he decided not to have one. He and Bridget cover imposter syndrome, hypochondria, anxiety, and their love for Sam Harris’s meditation app. They discuss sobriety, how they’re staying busy during quarantine, the grind of standup, and why you should never go to the bar Coyote Ugly if you’re newly sober. Be sure to catch Joe’s comedy special I Hate Myself, on Comedy Central’s YouTube channel – premiering August 6th, 2020.
John Wood Jr. comes by to talk about Braver Angels, the largest grassroots bipartisan organization in America, focused on the work of political de-polarization. Along the way he and Bridget have a fascinating conversation about his experience being raised by a mother who’s a liberal black Democrat from inner city LA and father who’s a conservative white Republican from Tennessee, and how his white father emphasized the greatness of black culture in the context of the greatness of America and made him proud of being a black man. He and Bridget bond over their similar experiences dealing with their parents’ divorces. They cover how you can engage conflict without suffering the debilitating impact of hatred in your own psychology, being chameleons growing up and learning to integrate all the different parts of themselves as they grew older, how important it is to see the human behind the opinion – especially when it’s one you don’t agree with, what’s truly noble and redeemable in all of our American traditions, and whether Trump is actually racist.
Yascha Mounk is the founder of Persuasion, an online community and publication for people who believe in the importance of the social practice of persuasion, and are determined to defend free speech and free inquiry against all its enemies. They seek to persuade people who disagree with them, rather than to mock or troll them. He and Bridget discuss the rise of the populism, why status anxiety is the strongest predictor of populist movement in society, the idea of white fragility, and why exhorting whites in the US to take on a strong collective racial identity is not the way to build a fair, multi-ethnic democracy in this country. They look at how many authoritarian leaders have come to power in the last 20 years, share their hope for the future, and examine the idea that many Americans don’t want to win the culture war, they want the culture war to go away.
Thomas Chatterton Williams (Losing My Cool, Self-Portrait In Black and White) talks with Bridget from France and discusses the view of America from another country, the European response to Covid-19 vs. the US’s, and why the Unites States plays a central role in the imagination of the whole world. Thomas explains how he wound up “accidentally” writing a memoir about the difference between the black culture his dad grew up in from the one he grew up in, America’s historic attitude about race, and how his having his daughter who “looks like a Swedish child” led him to reassess what he’d previously written and his thoughts about the “construct” of race. He and Bridget cover why the hyper focus on racial difference is not the way to get past our divisions, the narcissism in the idea that whiteness in itself is responsible for all that’s wrong, why emigrating to another country was the hardest thing he’s ever done, and what he misses most about America. Full transcript available here: WiW88-ThomasChattertonWilliams-Transcript
Chloé Valdary (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic) returns to discuss her new course Theory of Enchantment an innovative social-emotional, learning course that teaches character development, resilience and love. Her background in international diplomacy and conflict resolution led her to want to create a framework that teaches people how to love each other. The aspirational course blends pop culture and ancient wisdom to teach social and emotional learning and Chloé felt it was necessary as an antidote to the deconstructive ideology that’s permeating our culture right now. She and Bridget discuss why having no reverence for the past leaves us with no way to measure our progress, why we should see suffering as a gift, how people stereotyping others means they also stereotype themselves, and why the world is ending when people no longer dance with each other. Full transcript available here: WiW87-ChloeValdary-Transcript
Abigail Shrier, author of Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, sits down with Bridget for a fascinating, in-depth and controversial conversation about the wave of transgender-identifying females sweeping various countries around the world. For the first time in history the predominant demographic of people identifying as “transgender” is teenage girls with no childhood history of gender dysphoria. Abigail and Bridget discuss how we got here, where this came from, and the social, educational and cultural influences playing a part in this unprecedented trend. They cover the role of teachers, therapists, social media influencers and activists, as well as the dynamics of teenage girl friend groups that make them particularly susceptible to the unconscious pressures and social rewards of coming out as “trans.” They discuss the long-term physical and mental damage that can result from a system that demands immediate affirmation from professionals, rather than a careful and considered approach to a complicated topic which can have permanent consequences. Full transcript available here: WiW86-AbigailShrier-Transcript
In 2018 Nikki Mark’s 12-year old son, Tommy, went to sleep one night and never woke up. In an inspiring and heartbreaking conversation with Bridget shares her immediate reaction, what she’s learned, why she said yes to everything that came her way, the project she channeled her grief into, her family’s bond, and the incredible outpouring of support they received from their community. She and Bridget discuss how we’re not taught to deal with death or support someone who is struggling with tragedy, and how if we learned a little bit more about death we’d learn how to live. Her fierce determination to share the lessons her son taught her, her belief that she can turn the pain into something else and rise up to live in a way that honors her son, the knowledge that we should all be playing more and that life is supposed to be fun, and her ability to see the beauty in overwhelming tragedy, is an inspiration and motivation for anyone struggling through darkness. Support the TM23 Foundation to honor Tommy’s memory & legacy. Full transcript available here: WiW85-NikkiMark-Transcript
Yesha Callahan (Essence Magazine) and Bridget bond over their shared fear of being trampled in a crowd, their mutual disdain for agents, and marvel at the spectacular idiocy of people behaving badly in public in the age of camera phones. Yesha covers growing up poor in a house full of extended family, what led her to a career in HR, and how she jumped into a career as a writer on a late night talk show. She shares her darkest moments after being laid off and struggling to support her son, working as a freelance writer, and taking the advice of a best friend to “act like a white lady” and ask for a job at The Root. She and Bridget discuss Black Lives Matter, why she loves TikTok, why she doesn’t believe that struggle makes you stronger, how white people are afraid of saying anything wrong, and the least racist country she’s ever traveled to. Full transcript available here: WiW84-YeshaCallahan-Transcript
Andrew Heaton (comedian, author, political satirist, podcast host) drops by for a fun and wide-ranging conversation covering everything from dogs vs. cats, why he wants to live on a compound, why comics make the worst audience members, the over-sensitization of language, and the thankless task of being a voice of reason in a tribal world. He and Bridget discuss their fear of living alone for too long and the worry that their weird habits will calcify, why living in New York City only works if you’re really hot, really young, or really rich, how humans are evolutionarily designed to be members of a tribe, the difference between thinking someone is wrong and thinking someone is evil, the death of nuance, the outrage economy, the decline of mainstream media, and why people are less concerned about what you think than about the wording you use to communicate it. Keep up with Andrew on his website MightyHeaton.com Full transcript available here: WiW83-AndrewHeaton-Transcript
Coach Tea is back for a frank conversation with Bridget about George Floyd, the protests, the riots, the looting, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the concept of white privilege. They discuss the frustration that a real issue has become a Trojan horse for all sorts of other agendas, how the movement has been co-opted, why solutions need to be personal and not legislated, and the problem with the argument “if you’re silent, you’re part of the problem.” They cover how capitalism fights racism, why the phrase “for the greater good” is so terrifying, how insanity is always louder than sanity, and the underlying insult inherent in white people apologizing for their privilege. Warning This episode is not for the easily offended and is more explicit than usual. Full transcript available here: WiW82-CoachTea-Transcript
Nathan Edmondson is a writer and President of EDGE, an ambitious counter-poaching and conservation organization devoted to the innovative preservation of African wildlife. They bring new technologies and US special operations tactics and expertise to develop counter-poaching initiatives. He returns to the podcast to discuss the impact of the global pandemic on rhino poaching, what it will mean for the immediate future, and how you can help support their efforts to protect African wildlife. They cover the way poaching operates, the growing influence of poaching syndicates in Africa, the increasing sophistication of poachers’ gear and weapons, how they work with locals to deliver the support that is needed, what success looks like, and the legacy Nathan hopes to leave for his children. You can support EDGE here. Full transcript available here: WiW81-NathanEdmondson-Transcript
Sam Harris (author, philosopher, neuroscientist) has a fascinating conversation with Bridget about meditation, consciousness, mindfulness, and awareness. They discuss what brought Sam to meditation (drugs, initially), and the decade he spent traveling and diving into Eastern philosophy, mindfulness practices, and silent retreats, until ultimately he went back to college and eventually got a PhD in cognitive neuroscience. He and Bridget cover mediation and psychological resilience, being a hostage to your own thoughts, the search for a durable state of well being, the casualties of the spiritual path and the people who follow it, the illusion of self, and how close we are to being psychotic so much of the time. Full transcript available here: WiW80-SamHarris-Transcript
Jeren Montgomery recently completed an MA in clinical psychology and is working towards becoming a marriage and family therapist. He is also working on the “front lines” of the pandemic in a nautical-themed grocery store. He talks about the adjustments everyone had to make to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak and why he’s uncomfortable with people thanking him for “his service.” He and Bridget discuss his long journey towards psychology, overcoming addiction, becoming sober, and how often their brains try to lie to them and tell them they’re not really addicts. They cover the lack of men entering the field of psychology, some of his weirder experiences at a ultra-progressive school when getting his degree, the need for resilience, and how therapeutic coaching might help a whole generation of men who are struggling to find their voice. Check out Jeren’s website at justjeren.com Full transcript available here: WiW79-JerenMontgomery-Transcript
Story Hour with Bridget Phetasy is a segment where Bridget reminisces with cousin Maggie and tells stories explaining who she is and how she got here. Full transcript available here: WiW78-StoryHour5-Transcript Because Bridget’s globe-trotting wanderings are too much to cover in just one Story Hour, here’s part 1 of her international travels. Covering the first time she ever left the country and why she had to spend the whole trip with Desitin all over her face, traveling through Canada in the trunk of a car as a teenager, almost getting stranded in Mexico, and how she wound up in Tokyo and Barcelona. Frankly, it’s a miracle she’s still alive and she credits an acutely developed “spidey sense” for narrowly avoiding several dangerous situations.
Dave Rubin joins Bridget for his second appearance on the podcast. They talk the long-term effects and changes brought about by social distancing, staying in touch with friends and family now more than ever, no longer looking at the world through a political party lens, how to support small businesses during the shut down, and wonder if the government can’t help people in a time like this, what’s the point of government. They share their small successes, like Dave’s new garden and Bridget’s perfect loaf of sourdough, discuss how irrelevant things like the NBA and celebrities have become, and offer show and movie recommendations. They also cover the future of the Democratic party, how government is all about solving another problem it created and discuss Dave’s new book Don’t Burn This Book. Full transcript available here: WiW77-DaveRubin-Transcript
Samantha Shahi (aka Sammy Flap-n-Folds to the Dumpster Fire crowd) finally, finally sits down with Bridget to discuss her journey from Texas to LA, being a marching band nerd, how she fell in love with producing, and the shocking secret reason she minored in Women’s Studies. They cover the litany of jobs Sam’s had since she moved here, what she’s learned along the way, where her true passion lies, and Bridget makes Sam tell the story that demonstrates how Type A she actually is. What do you do when your brain commits hate crimes against you? Did Bridget actually rescue Sam from a cult? Was Sam a sacrificial virgin thrown into a volcano in a past life? It’s all covered in this week’s episode. Full transcript available here: WiW76-SamanthaShahi-Transcript
Misty M (If They Have to Behave for You To Be Okay, You’re Screwed) and Bridget discuss the pros and cons of virtual 12 Step meetings in the time of quarantine. They cover why people in recovery might be uniquely qualified to handle the ongoing global crisis, avoiding using the pandemic as an excuse to relapse, trying to feel sane in insane times, and Misty’s optimistic prediction about when we will get back to normal. They talk about everything from practicing intimacy with yourself without running away, to dystopian YA novels, why reality is a simulation, their favorite conspiracy theories, and why neither one of them is looking forward to the flood of books and movies about the pandemic that will be showing up about a year from now. Full transcript available here: WiW75-MistyM-Transcript
Michael Shermer (Skeptic Magazine, Science Salon Podcast, Scientific American) dropped by before quarantine went into effect to discuss skepticism, religion, debunking conspiracy theories, scientific attempts to achieve immortality, and why “I don’t know” are the three most powerful words you can utter. He and Bridget cover everything from why neither one of them would want to live forever, to why Heaven sounds really boring, how liberals used to be the defenders of free speech and when it all changed, pluralistic ignorance, censorship, hate speech, thought crimes, and why open debate is the only way to find out what’s actually true. Don’t miss Michael’s new book Giving the Devil His Due, available now! Full transcript available here: WiW74-MichaelShermer-Transcript
Paul Shirley (former NBA player, published author, and founder of Writers Blok) is back to discuss the human condition in this time of social distancing, quarantine, and uncertainty. He and Bridget talk about making deals with your brain, being disconnected from our purpose, how easy it is to forget that life is fragile in modern society, and having to face ourselves when all the things we have been chasing lead us nowhere. They share tips for discipline and productivity as professional authors, why having “oceans of time” is a problem, being of service, gutting it out when it comes to forming new habits, and why you must enjoy the process of writing itself if you ever hope to find success with it. Be sure to check out the Writer’s Blok digital platform to join in writer’s sprints and meet a community of authors who can help you meet your goals. Sorry, no check-in this week! Bridget and Maggie couldn’t get together in time. Full transcript available here: WiW73-PaulShirley-Transcript
Bridget and Cousin Maggie share their tips for working from home, and for dealing with the depression and anxiety that might be ratcheting up as we face the unknowns Covid-19 is bringing to our lives and society. They discuss why you should be choosy about the media you consume, how sharing your emotional load with friends can help and allow other people to be of service to you, finding the small silver linings and bright sides of this situation, and why you shouldn’t be like Jared Leto. Ever. The Walk-Ins Welcome format might change for a while as having guests on the podcast will be more difficult, but for now, enjoy this extended check-in.
Gigi Levangie, author and screenwriter, drops by for a chat that covers everything, including Swedish Death Cleaning, the Erehwon Phenomenon, aging in LA, the difference between a collector and a hoarder, and growing up “the crazy white b*tch down the street.” She and Bridget discuss why participation trophies are detrimental to children’s progress into adulthood, the impracticalities of college, why you shouldn’t give all your energy to who is in the White House, and how being a blank slate allows you to learn. Bridget tells the not-to-be-missed story of the Poodle Skirt Incident of 1992. Gigi talks about her career as a writer and how she’s managed to crank out 7 books. It’s a fun, fast and loose conversation between two kindred spirits. Be sure to check out Gigi’s latest book Been There, Married That. Full transcript available here: WiW71-GigiLevangie-Transcript
Mark Halperin, author of How to Beat Trump: America’s Top Political Strategists on What it Will Take, stops in to discuss the pool of Democratic candidates running for President and whether any of them have what it takes to beat Trump in November. He and Bridget discuss how the media bias against Trump will help him win, what makes Trump so compelling, and why he’s great business for the liberal media outlets who revile him. They cover the tactics that the Democratic candidates should be deploying but aren’t, the deafening silence of the Obamas when it comes to endorsing a candidate, who Bridget thinks could win against Trump, and the difficulty of appealing to both the center and the far left in an increasingly polarized political climate. They discuss anger, resentment, acceptance, humility, redemption, forgiveness, and Mark’s concern about the mental health of a lot of people in this country if Trump is reelected. Full transcript available here: WiW70-MarkHalperin-Transcript
Andrew Doyle is the man behind satirical Twitter account Titania McGrath - a radical intersectionalist, feminist, and slam poet, who is constantly telling people how oppressed she is - and author of Woke: A Guide to Social Justice. He’s back for round two where he and Bridget cover the insanity of attempting to subvert democracy in order to preserve it, the humorlessness of passionate protestors (and how hilarious Andrew finds them), infantalizing women while claiming to advocate for them, and the problem with the use of the word “privilege.” They dive into the difference between being aware of racism and calling everyone racist, how whiteness has become the original sin in the Church of Woke, why Andrew mistrusts the phrase “male feminist” and they worry about Greta Thunberg’s future, what will happen to her if one day she decides to change her mind, or her stance?
Full transcript available here: WiW69-AndrewDoyle-Transcript
From the ages of 11 to 16 Jacob Bresler survived five years of ghettos and concentration camps during World War II. He credits his inventiveness, his stubbornness, his resilience, and his will to survive as the reasons he made it through the war and created a new life for himself in America. He is a humanist. He does not hate. He has no enemies. He remains optimistic about the future, and believes that communication is the only way to combat ignorance and pierce the ideological bubbles we’ve segregated ourselves into. He and Bridget cover a variety of topics including the many different paths he’s traveled in his life, how he feels about the phrase “Trump is Hitler,” when we should teach children about the Holocaust, how best to counter hate, and the idea that the potential for brutality lies within all of us. Don’t miss Jacob’s autobiography: You Shall Not Be Called Jacob Anymore. Full transcript available here: WiW68-JacobBresler-Transcript
Jonah Goldberg is a syndicated conservative columnist, political analyst, commentator, podcast host, and author of Bridget’s Bible: Suicide of the West. Jonah shares how his upbringing in a media and politics-heavy household shaped his future, and gave him a realistic perspective about politics and the media that most people don’t have. He and Bridget discuss the dangers a generation of children pose when they’ve been raised to believe that their feelings are the only source of authority they need, why middle-aged managers are terrified of their “woke” 20-something staffers, and how fragility is being taught rather than mental toughness. They cover young conservatives being led to believe that it’s cool to be a**holes, why not allowing people to grow or change their positions is not a good practice, how Americans are much richer than they realize, and why Twitter makes you feel like you’re living in a small town where everyone’s in your business. Check out his podcast The Remnant. Full transcript available here: WiW67-JonahGoldberg-Transcript
Meghan Daum is the author of The Problem with Everything: My Journey Through the New Culture Wars, in which she examines her own cognitive dissonance as a liberal and a feminist, and her feeling of alienation in today's cultural climate. She and Bridget discuss how society has changed dramatically in the last 10 years, the gulf between Gen X and Millennials, coming of age in a culture where there's a conversational chokehold happening and what the effects might be, and the death of cultural gatekeepers. They dive into the minefield of being writers in the age of social media when a provocative piece can get you cancelled, reminisce about growing up reaping the benefits of the feminist movement that came before them, explore why learning to stick up yourself is such an important skill for a woman to have, and wonder what happened to the "life isn't fair" philosophy that they were raised with. It's a fascinating conversation between two women on the front lines of the culture war who still believe that nuance is something that should not be vilified. Full transcript available here: WiW66-MeghanDaum-Transcript
Scott Zakarin, writer, director and producer, stops by to discuss his new project Digital Sky, a fictional anthology podcast series about our social media obsession and the apps that run our lives. He and Bridget cover a wide array of topics from dad bods, to beauty standards, the freedom which new media offers to creators, the best shows they've ever binged, and the last time they cried. Bridget opens up about her love for Michael Bay movies, Scott discusses capturing inspiration via different mediums, be it writing, directing, or editing. They talk the origins of Walk-Ins Welcome, carrying the heaviness of the news around with you during the day, being open-minded to someone you disagree with, and Fat Thor. Check out Digital Sky and don't miss Bridget's performance in Episode 1: Ride Share. Full transcript available here: WiW65-ScottZakarin-Transcript
Zuby, rapper, musician, podcaster and author, stops by during his whirlwind tour of the United States. Son of Nigerian immigrants, he talks about his upbringing in Saudi Arabia and the UK, and the perspective on the world it offered him. He and Bridget cover the role of masculinity in today’s society, why the concept of “thought crimes” is so chilling, the rise of secular religions like “wokism” and climate change activism, and the idea of a moral panic void that must always be filled. They discuss the biggest issue of political polarization: that it shuts down the conversation, how if they were both actually grifters they’d be killin’ it right now, and the importance of having perspective and gratitude. Check out Zuby’s website here. Full transcript available here: WiW64-Zuby-Transcript
Jessica Michelle Singleton, stand-up comedian, bonds with Bridget over their mutually dysfunctional upbringings. They compare notes about raised by parents with borderline or narcissistic personalities, processing trauma with dark humor, overcoming abandonment issues, and the disassociation that makes them feel like robots or aliens – observing people who miss their families is very odd to them. In a frank and hilarious conversation, Jessica shares her story of moving to Alaska from Mississippi as a child, being left at a Waffle Hut by her dad, being raised by an alcoholic mother, and discovering a hidden family secret at 19. They talk the struggles and joys of stand-up comedy, living with a scarcity mindset, the terror of accepting love and not running from intimacy, and how we all struggle with some form of mental illness. Check out Jessica’s podcast, Ignorance is #Blessed. Full transcript available here: WiW62-JessicaMichelleSingleton-Transcript
Michael Malice, author of The New Right, returns for a wild discussion covering everything from Americans’ naive ideas about people in power, why he blocks his fans on Twitter, his vision of the future, and the etymology of the term “c*m gutters”. He and Bridget debate whether Trump radiates BDE or suffers from a SDE inferiority complex, marvel at how many people have jumped on the “burn it all down” train, share their addiction to watching people get outraged, and muse about whether they are insufferable or endearing. You decide, in this episode that covers everything from Albert Camus’ Absurdist philosophy, to Bridget’s life philosophy that she’s just another soon-to-be-dead Bridget, how trying to position someone as “beyond criticism” is a domination tactic, and why the sanctity of life is a relatively new idea. Full transcript available here: WiW61-MichaelMalice-Transcript
Helen Dale is a columnist and commentator who also writes novels. Her first novel, The Hand That Signed the Paper, won the Miles Franklin award in Australia and also exposed Helen to cancel culture in 1995, long before it became what it is today. She and Bridget discuss the impossibility of proving you didn't do something, the fact that all press is no longer good press, how most lobbyists are morally feral, and why most valuable thing about free speech is not what people say, it’s the fact that people can speak. They cover how to react when the mob comes for you, the importance of the secret ballot, the fact that stereotypes don’t exist in a void, and how part of being a grown up is accepting that people will laugh at you. Full transcript available here: WiW61-HelenDale-Transcript
Coach Tea is a DJ, producer, podcast personality, and sound engineer for Comedy Central’s Roast Battle. He is also a counselor focusing on the rehabilitation and treatment of young men who have committed crimes. He and Bridget have a fascinating conversation about anarchy, “wokeism,” how unpopular a message of personal responsibility is in 2019, why happiness doesn’t exist without accountability, and how careful you need to be about creating the values systems by which you structure your life. They cover how religion has been hijacked, why trying to impose your moral authority on someone never works, living in a culture that rewards being a victim, how sometimes of “acts of service” are actually self-serving, and have an honest conversation about race, the criminal justice system, interactions with police, and freedom of speech. Full transcript available here: WiW60-CoachTea-Transcript
Bret Stephens, op-ed columnist for The New York Times, sits down with Bridget to discuss Trump’s effect on the Republican Party, feeling out of place in your own country, the dangers of a culture that’s so sure of its convictions, mob politics, and how Trump’s behavior is both a symptom and a cause of a form of cultural corrosion. Bret talks growing up in Mexico and the perspective it gave him on the US that most Americans don’t have, and why what we have in the US is relatively rare, difficult to achieve, and extraordinarily easy to lose. He and Bridget cover tolerating behavior you find morally offensive because you realize that the price of intolerance is worse than whatever offense is being perpetrated, the unforgiving nature of writing a weekly column, maintaining the understanding you don’t possess a lock on truth, how antisemitism is like a society’s immune system, the emerging attitude of a hatred of excellence, and his experience of being in Jerusalem on 9/11. Full transcript available here: WiW59-BretStephens-Transcript
Dana Goldberg, stand-up comedian, stops by to talk how she got into comedy, bombing in front of Gloria Steinem, the fact that European audiences don’t laugh, and her talent for bonding people with humor. She shares coming out to her parents when she was 18, how they made it an easy experience, and offers her best advice for parents who have children struggling with their sexual identities. She believes you haven’t failed your child until you turn your back on them. She and Bridget discuss Dana’s ability to raise money for worthy causes, their encounters with Rihanna and Meryl Streep in real life, and using comedy as a means to protect yourself. Full transcript available here: WiW58-DanaGoldberg-Transcript
Faisal Saeed Al Mutar’s first experience with Americans was during the second Iraq war when a US tank rolled up in front of his house. He shares his incredible story of growing up under Saddam Hussein’s regime, the vaccuum in his neighborhood that was filled by members of Al-Qaeda, blogging against extremism and receiving death threats as a teenager, escaping Iraq, and the ten year journey to becoming an America citizen. He discusses being taken in by a family in Virginia, why he thinks Americans are amazing people, his appreciation of the values America was founded upon – free speech, civil liberties, and freedom of religion – and the importance of the separation of powers. His is the founder of Ideas Beyond Borders, a non-profit that seeks to prevent extremism before it takes root by translating and creating content related to the values that make people less likely to be recruited by extremist organizations. And he shares stories of the heroes he works with across the Middle East who are risking their freedom and lives to help translate content covering controversial or banned ideas, from civil rights, to women’s rights, to evolution, and critical thinking. Full transcript available here: WiW57-FaisalSaeedAlMutar-Transcript
Ryan Stout, stand-up comic extraordinaire, shares how he got into stand-up, parsing his college courses for material, the joys of being a stay-at-home husband, and the changing effect of wearing a suit when doing a comedy show. He and Bridget discuss how liberal people used to view artists as a minority community that needed to be protected and now they view them as oppressors, the future of advertising with deep fakes, and how to support comics you like (hint: don’t just tell them they’re going to be famous and walk away). They talk comedy as an art form with an extremely short shelf life, “post comedy,” rape jokes, suicide jokes, laughter as medicine, and how the victimhood mentality is so damaging psychologically that therapy doesn’t work. Learn the truth about “making it” in Hollywood, and why intersectionality is like trying to win in a small d*ck contest. Be sure to check out Ryan’s latest comedy album Man in the Suit. Full transcript available here: WiW56-RyanStout-Transcript
Melissa Chen (NY Editor, Spectator US) stops by for a brilliant chat that covers a lot of ground. She describes growing up in Singapore in a “benevolent authoritarian state,” feeling liberated in the US, the fact that most Americans take the first amendment for granted, being on the forefront of human genome research, the Pandora’s Box that is CRISPR, and points out that whatever moral concerns we have about gene editing technology, China does not have them. She is currently the Managing Director of Ideas Beyond Borders, a foundation aimed at translating online content into Arabic and making ideas accessible that can challenge extremism before it takes root. They cover tribalism, intuition vs instinct, post-colonial theory, Bridget’s recurring dream, free speech, self-censorship, and designer babies, among other things. Full transcript available here: WiW55-MelissaChen-Transcript
Adam Alter, author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked, stops by to talk about screen and tech addiction. He and Bridget discuss the billions of dollars that go into keeping us looking at our screens, from game app design to, story formatting, to rolling from one episode into the next. They talk the evolution of binging, the fragmentation of our attention spans, the dopamine overloads we’re being doused with, and the difference between wanting and liking. If you’ve ever been stuck down a YouTube rabbit hole at 3:00am wondering why you didn’t go to bed hours ago, Adam offers some answers and some tips for setting boundaries and breaking unhealthy habits. Full transcript available here: WiW54-AdamAlter-Transcript
Yasmine Mohammed, author of Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam, shares her story of growing up in a fundamentalist Islamic home in Canada. At 13, when she tried to report the abuse she suffered at the hands of her step-father, she was told by a judge “you come from a different culture, and that’s how your family chooses to discipline you, so we just have to accept that.” And here lies the inherent contradiction in the way in which the West views fundamentalist Islam versus other fundamentalist religions, and turns a blind eye to the abuse and suffering of millions of girls and women. She and Bridget discuss how alienating that is, the message those girls receive is “we don’t care about you, you are ‘other.'” They cover the escalation of rape culture, sexual harassment, the problems with celebrating the hijab, the indoctrination of attitudes towards girls and women in Muslim culture, and being called Islamophobic for criticizing a tool and system of oppression. They bond over shared traumatic experiences and discuss their belief that if you can use your own trauma to help others, it has not happened in vain. If you only ever listen to one episode of Walk-Ins Welcome, this is the episode. Full transcript available here: WiW53-YasmineMohammed-Transcript
Bridget finally convinced Cousin Maggie to share her story, from a rather idyllic childhood in a small town in Rhode Island, to being raised in a stable environment with active, involved parents, to having a certain expectation about the track her life would follow, until she was completely derailed by depression in college. They discuss the little known realities of suicidal depression, picking up the pieces, the journey back to “normal” and how falling apart wound up being completely freeing. Maggie talks about the warning signs she has to be aware of when she’s sliding into a dark place, how to counteract the slow creep of depression, and how she found her way to LA. They also cover the importance of setting boundaries in your life, the value of life coaches (even though the name is ridiculous), the battle against laziness, and the absolute necessity of maintaining a sense of humor about it all. Full transcript available here: WiW52-CousinMaggie-Transcript
Jamie Kilstein, stand-up comic and podcast host, sits down with Bridget to discuss his conversion from a woke, SJW, male feminist to a humbler and healthier version of himself. He shares the scars of being falsely accused of sexual misconduct, the fallout to his career and life, being suicidally depressed, and why he was basically taken down for being a self-righteous a**hole who everyone was willing to turn on. They cover being addicted to validation, being crazy in relationships, people who have teams and not principles, the importance of healthy male role models, and the struggles of losing friends to suicide. Jamie wonders when Republicans became funnier than Liberals, examines why he stays in toxic relationships so long, credits his improved mental health to no longer fighting with strangers online, and points out when you don’t offer people a path to redemption, you offer them a path to radicalization. Full transcript available here: WiW51-JamieKilstein-Transcript
Helen Pluckrose, one of the three authors of the Grievance Studies and editor-in-chief of Aero magazine, sits with Bridget to discuss the much richer role for women in history than the lenses by which we’re viewing them today, the contradictions in feminism and social justice activism, the argument against post-modernism, and the inherent problems with intersectionality. Helen talks about her own journey from a care assistant in hospitals, to getting a Masters in Early Modern Literature with a focus on religious writing by and about women, her conversion from a Christian to an atheist, and how she met James Lindsay and became involved in the Grievance Studies. It’s a fascinating conversation covering complex topics with a true master of critical theory. Helen helps breakdown the fundamental contradictions within intersectionality and offers Bridget a way to formulate a compassionate and rational response to the intersectional argument. Full transcript available here: WiW50-HelenPluckrose-Transcript
Comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan stops by to discuss the long and painful journey to a career in the entertainment industry, from studying finance at Georgetown, to taking improv classes so he can overcome his fear of speaking in meetings at the advertising agency where he worked, to falling in love with stand-up and watching everyone else in his comedy class find success before he did. Jim talks why failure is such a great teacher, getting lost in other people’s expectations, the creepy thing about doing press, and why he doesn’t want power. In his new movie, American Dreamer, he gets the chance to play against type with a complex character in a disturbing thriller, and he shares how he could relate to the delusions of his character, the American fantasy of the “quick fix,” and the rewards of being able to explore a dark character. He and Bridget marvel at Joe Rogan’s abilities, commiserate over the repressed rage of comedians, and reflect that more dangerous than cancel culture, is the growing trend of leaving people out of the discussion altogether. Full transcript available here: WiW49-JimGaffigan-Transcript
Bridget and Peter Boghossian have a conversation under the Colorado stars about the search for ultimate meaning in life, the denigration of reason, the loss of being able to wonder publicly, figuring out the best type of life to lead, and teaching people how to value the right things. Peter explains how bales of hay, lifting weights, and prison inmates got him started on his career path and led him to question whether you can fundamentally change the way people think about problems and the way they view morality. They cover street epistemology, the truth about “pecking orders,” the difference between rationalizing and reasoning, and the glorification of violence in our society. His book, How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide, co-written with James Lindsay, is a distillation of decades of study and offers the best ways to approach and have conversations with people who have different opinions and foster a climate of civility. Full transcript available here: WiW-PeterBoghossian-Transcript
Story Hour with Bridget Phetasy is a segment where Bridget reminisces with cousin Maggie and tells stories explaining who she is and how she got here. Full transcript available here: WiW47-AccidentalPundit-Transcript This week Bridget covers how she went from being the Playboy Advisor to an accidental pundit on Ben Shapiro’s Election Special. She can trace every opportunity she’s had since leaving waitressing behind to one thing – Twitter. The realization that Twitter is just like high school, with its cool kids and its cliques helped her understand it and how to use it to her advantage. She discusses using it to hone her writing and her wit, being blocked by Demi Moore, the wrath of Dane Cook and her first mobbing (you can read the essay here), and how Twitter helped her get sober. Hear about her first taste of virality with her essay Bill Cosby Raped Me… Kind Of, how she built her following and created her own community of people who offer support in some of her darkest moments. Her journey from Playboy to the Federalist was a direct result of the paradigm shift that occurred after Trump won the election. She honestly had no idea what she was getting into when it came to political commentary and being caught in the crossfire of the culture war. She wonders as much as anyone “How did I get here?”
Glenn Beck is a conservative political commentator, radio host and television producer. He and Bridget discuss the early evolution of his career, his love affair with radio, the transition from CNN to Fox News, attending Yale at age 30, and mistakes he’s made along the way. They delve into the value of struggle and overcoming hardship, the cultural celebration of “victimhood,” how tribalism and the culture wars trick people into thinking that the problem is outside themselves, and the dangers of buying into your own fame. They explore the importance of being able to say “I don’t know,” the loss of compassion that occurs when we stop seeing the humanity of the people we disagree with, Glenn’s surprising conversion to Mormonism, and what he found in the depths of his most recent dark night of the soul. Full transcript available here: WiW46-GlennBeck-Transcript
Noah Rothman is an MSNBC and NBC New contributor, Associate Editor of Commentary Magazine, and author of the book Unjust: Social Justice and the Unmaking of America. He and Bridget have a fascinating conversation about the origins of the social justice movement, the fact that “social justice” as a term defies definition, the paradox of treating individuals unequally in order to achieve equality, and whether or not it’s just tribalism with a fancy name. They cover Noah’s early career in radio, how he got started as a writer, advice to writers seeking to make a career for themselves, dealing with imposter syndrome, and the ridiculousness of the office air conditioning sexism debate. They discuss the “outrage economy” cultural politics, bad faith interpretations of common idioms like “real man,” and how a self-destructive movement can do a lot of damage before it self-destructs. Full transcript available here: WiW45-NoahRothman-Transcript
Corinne Fisher is a stand-up comedian, co-host of popular podcast Guys We F@#ked, and co-author of the book F*cked: Being Sexually Explorative and Self-Confident in a World That’s Screwed, with creative partner, Krystyna Hutchinson. She and Bridget have a conversation that is surprisingly not all about sex, though that’s certainly covered. They also talk the small world of stand-up comedy, the joys of bombing during a stand-up set and the hidden skill involved, the impetus for the podcast and how it evolved into its anti slut-shaming message, what Donald Trump’s podcast would be like if he had one, the lunacy of “post-comedy”, and Corinne’s rule about cutting any joke from a set that gets more “clappter” than actual laughs. They delve into body dysmorphia, shame, society’s view of women in their 40s, experiencing second-hand trauma, and the dangers of the body positivity movement. Find out why Corinne is the Jane Curtain of sexuality and how the words “I’ll try anything once…” have led Bridget astray.
Ethan Nicolle, Creative Director at the Babylon Bee, stops by to talk the pros and cons of going viral, how virality does not automatically equal dollars, the never-endingness of being a parent, the bubble within a bubble within a bubble that is LA, and Ethan’s theory that fighting with bears is the struggle for manliness. They discuss the comic Axe Cop which Ethan created with his 5 year old brother, Malachai. Malachi provided the ideas and story, Ethan illustrated. He delves into finding success and moderate fame with Axe Cop, and what happens after the fame. They theorize on why dogs choose to poo where they do and the fact that it might be responsible for keeping the Earth on its axis, why Bridget wants to get milkshaked, and why Ethan had trouble talking to strangers after his band broke up. Don’t miss Ethan’s new book, Bears Want to Kill You.
Marshall Herskovitz, writer, director and producer (thirtysomething, My So-Called Life, Dangerous Beauty), drops by to talk about how he got his start in Hollywood, when he decided he’d rather fail and leave the business than keep writing things that didn’t feel like him, the TV movie that kick-started his and partner Ed Zwick’s careers into high gear, and what kind of reboot he would do for thirtysomething if the opportunity arose. Learn why he, Ed, and Winnie Holzman wound up sobbing when they had to do the DVD commentary for the My So-Called Life pilot, why they were terrified of Claire Danes, and why the way we define risk is so destructive in our society. Marshall shares how making Dangerous Beauty (one of Bridget’s all-time favorite films) was his all-time favorite experience in the business, what the film meant to him, and the reason for its incredible longevity after initially bombing at the box office. They discuss everything from the extreme the changes in the movie and television industry in the last 10 years, to the truth about climate change, how Democrats are getting the messaging wrong, the difference between investment and cost, and how the economy is like a bottle of wine. Don’t miss Bridget’s story about Jared Leto and Marshall’s story about Brad Pitt.
Andy Levy, American commentator and humorist, is a former panelist on S.E. Cupp’s Unfiltered and Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. He drops in for a conversation with Bridget about why Twitter is like Soylent Green, hanging out in LA waiting to be discovered, Bridget’s secret desire to knock popcorn out of people’s hands at the movies, their shared dream of becoming private island owners, and what to do if you’re having a bad drug trip. They discuss why Andy would make a great serial killer, why men roll their eyes when it comes to astrology, and why therapy is great for people who don’t like talking about themselves. Bridget gives Andy some career advice and suggests WWOOFing on a horse farm in New Zealand, Andy analyzes Bridget’s vision board and marvels at the 5 year old child that lives inside her who she’s constantly struggling to keep in check.
Sarah Solomon, author of Guac is Extra But So Am I: The Reluctant Adult’s Handbook, stops by to talk why life gets better as you get older, getting to the point where you get over your jealousy of other women, struggling with depression and anxiety in the age of social media, and how parenting seems like the hardest job in the world. She tells the story of being evicted from her apartment, losing her job, and getting her book deal all within a two week period. She and Bridget dissect why they both hate being in relationships, how a bagel broke up Bridget’s latest relationship, why men in their 20s need to get “slapped in the face by the dick of life a little bit,” and how a picture with Chris Christie got Sarah a lot of concerned texts from her male friends.
Kira Davis (Editor-at-Large for redstate.com) drops by for a frank conversation about the hole that fatherlessness leaves in society, “benevolent” government, the destruction of the term “racism”, and extending grace to each other in our most challenging moments. She shares stories about growing up on Prince Edward Island, having a conversion experience during childhood, becoming a conservative, and the audacity of youth. She and Bridget talk tips for dealing with depression, God & meditation, the cult of self, and why white people need to be more honest about their desperation not to be perceived as racist.
Mitchell Sunderland is a freelance writer (Vice, Adult, Penthouse) known for his nuanced profiles on everyone from Stormy Daniels to Mike Tyson, Anne Coulter, Nick Jonas and more. His stories are insane, from growing up the son of one of the largest dog breeders in Florida and dealing with protestors for most of his childhood, to being banned from a gay safe space in college (he’s gay), to being the first American named to the 50 most hated people at Oxford list. He has profiled eclectic groups of people living at the Sausage Castle in Florida and the Bunny Ranch in Vegas. He and Bridget discuss why marketing something as only “representation matters” in the media can turn people off, why a lot of dog breeders don’t like Trump, how you can’t control what people think about you, and how you choose whether or not you’re a victim. It’s a wild ride. Warning This episode is not for the easily offended and more explicit than usual
Tim Dillon is a stand-up comedian and host of the popular podcast Tim Dillon is Going to Hell. He and Bridget lament the absence of humor in today’s political climate, how rich white people have culturally appropriated oppression, death by selfies, and the terrifying nature of Pokémon Go. Tim talks about how being a juror on a murder trial changed his life, coming out, getting sober, and doing stand-up for the first time all within a three month period, and why he hates the demonization of liars. Tim shares the secret to being popular, Bridget discloses the sexist advice she gives to women, they wonder how long you’re supposed to carry grudges, and reveal why you should never buy a used tissue online to build up your immune system.
Robby Soave is an associate editor and writer for Reason magazine and author of Panic Attack: Young Radicals in the Age of Trump which investigates the shift in activist culture on college campuses since Trump’s election in 2016. He and Bridget discuss why everyone hates libertarians, the spectrum of libertarianism, how both the Left and the Right see the other side’s extreme radicalism as a reason to up their own, and the unfortunate reality that tiny fringes on both side are so loud they drown out the majority of moderates. They talk consent culture, when speech became violence, weighing the positive gains from activism versus taking it too far, and the truth about hate crime statistics.
According to Michael Malice, The New Right is a loosely connected group of individuals united by their opposition to progressivism, which they perceive to be a thinly veiled fundamentalist religion based on egalitarian principles dedicated to world domination via globalist hegemony. He wrote the book on it, because he watch it develop. He and Bridget discuss the push-back against progressivism and the four different tactics the New Right is considering in response, the audacity of the word “should,” how the tide is turning and the Right is starting to win the culture war, and the actual definition of the term “red-pilled.” They also cover Michael’s affinity for anarchy, the reality of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” how conservatism is just progressivism driving the speed limit, and why public figures who aren’t informed about specific topics should shut their mouths when asked about them. Click the links to find Michael’s books The New Right and Dear Reader: The Unauthorized Autobiography of Kim Jong Il.
Dave Rubin, stand up comic and political commentator, created The Rubin Report to “to talk to people and try to find out what they think about things.” In this week’s episode he shares his thoughts with Bridget on a variety of topics including leaving the Left, Thomas Jefferson, the bravery deficit in our culture, the Intellectual Dark Web, and classical liberalism. They unpack the term “white privilege,” discuss how intersectionality is the essence of bigotry, and expound on the trend of journalism becoming activism. Dave also shares the story of coming out on 9/11, how “woke” comedy is wrecking comedy, and the dangers of the “cancel culture” we are now living in.
Nathan Edmondson is a writer and President of EDGE, an ambitious counter-poaching and conservation organization devoted to the innovative preservation of African wildlife. They bring new technologies and US special operations tactics and expertise to develop counter-poaching initiatives. Bridget and Nathan discuss media coverage of extinction events, how he became involved in the conservation movement, and why increased cancer rates in south-east Asia have led to an explosion in rhino horn poaching. He explains that there’s a ticking clock on rhino extinction, which is absurd because it’s a solvable problem, how EDGE is involving local communities on the ground, and what you can do to help. Nathan describes bringing African rangers to train in the US for the first time in history, how they were able to see their actions through the eyes of the world and experience people looking at them as heroes. He talks getting the next generation into a conservationist mindset, making animals ambassadors for their species, and tells the story of his most terrifying moment in Africa. You can support EDGE here.
Christina Hoff Sommers is a former philosophy professor and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. She’s one of the Femsplainers on the podcast Femsplainers and has a series called the Factual Feminist on YouTube in which she corrects feminist myths within women’s and gender studies with truth and solid research. She and Bridget cover the disturbing rise of contempt within contemporary feminism, the appeal of Jordan Peterson, the erosion of Americans’ desire to protect free speech and democratic processes, why lack of gratitude is such a problem in our society, and the perceived sense of persecution and contagion of hysteria that is being taught in liberal educational systems. They discuss the infantalization of college students, going from common humanity (humanism) to common enemy (tribalism), the attack on centrists, and the fact that history is one long lesson in the dangers of dogma mixed with moral zealotry, distortion and bad information – it leads to fanaticism. They also cover the gender debate, the power dynamics between girls and boys, and why Harvard should have known better. It’s a fascinating conversation and definitely one you shouldn’t miss!
Kassy Dillon is a staff writer for the Daily Wire and founder of Lone Conservative a small organization that teaches college students how to become writers and funnels them to media outlets. She discusses being one of two known Republicans at her small all-girls, liberal arts college, how she got into politics, and recording the infamous “Trigglypuff” video which created the face of the “campus crazy” movement. She talks about her trip to Iraq last year with a group including an Orthodox Jew and an Israeli Jew (who proceeded to pass out Israeli flags, which is illegal in Iraq), and she and Bridget compare their travel experiences in legitimate patriarchal societies and how oppressive they are to women. They cover Gen Z’s obsession with Ben Shapiro, how learning other languages forces you to think in different ways, and Kassy’s experience winning the ACU’s Ronald Reagan Award.
Andrew Doyle is the man behind satirical Twitter account Titania McGrath – a radical intersectionalist, feminist, and slam poet, who is constantly telling people how oppressed she is – and author of Woke: A Guide to Social Justice. He and Bridget have a fascinating and important conversation about the dangers of taking art and comedy literally, how smart people are becoming stupid because of woke ideology, why self-censorship is a slippery slope, and they wonder when the left became such pearl-clutchers. They discuss winning the culture war by winning people over, rather than locking them up or making certain types of speech illegal, the fact that there’s nothing more likely to help the far right to grow than the way the far left are behaving, the dangers of eroding the distinction between right wing and alt right, and the problems with The Faith of Intersectionality. Should the word “douchebag” be considered ableist? Where did the idea that “speech is violence” come from? What is it like being tribeless in an increasingly tribal world? What is the path forward? Find out on this not-to-be-missed episode.
Aaron Schmidt grew up a military brat and met his wife, Kara Dawn, freshman year of high school when they were assigned to be lab partners. He talks wanting to be a college football coach but being the student manager of the UVA football team cured him of that desire, being raised Catholic, becoming a 7th grade English teacher, and then getting married, selling everything and hightailing it to LA because he and Kara could see the next 10 years of their lives mapped out before them. A series of odd jobs and a series of personal losses left him at loose ends until he found a passion to pursue in Gorucks that ultimately led him to join the Army Reserves as a psychological operations specialist two years before the cutoff for enlistment. He and Bridget have an honest and revealing discussion about being mission-oriented, the hard work of a successful marriage, overcoming loss and aimlessness, and the 4 tenets of his personal ethos.
With the Woo Review, Bridget introduces her audience to all things New Age. From astrology, to tarot, to sound baths, to reiki, Bridget shares her hippie side with her listeners. This week’s guest, Anne, discusses her addiction to psychics and how over the course of two and a half years she spent an estimated $60,000 on psychic readings. Anne covers how she got started, why being in love with a musician kept her going back, how her psychic was a force for positive change, but ultimately how her addiction to psychics became a replacement for a higher power in her life. Bridget shares her own psychic abilities, how she learned to hide them young, the time she realized she was being haunted by a ghost dog, and her own spiritual journey of finding God when she went off Twitter for Lent. Both recovering alcoholics, they delve into a deep discussion about addiction in general, the bravery of people in 12 step programs who must confront harsh truths about themselves every day, self-actualization, owning your own story, and wrestling with the fact that even if you come from privilege it does not mean you’re not entitled to your pain – everyone’s pain is relevant and unique.
Story Hour with Bridget Phetasy is a segment where Bridget reminisces with cousin Maggie and tells stories explaining who she is and how she got here. Full transcript available here: WiW27-StoryHour3-Transcript This story hour comes as a result of several requests. Bridget covers her history with the restaurant industry – across the country, in small towns and big cities. Find out why being a hostess isn’t as easy as one might think, why you should never go out to eat when you’re starving, and why Bridget loved being a busser (hint: you don’t have to talk to the customers). Tales told also include, losing her virginity to someone inappropriate, her brilliant strategy for skipping school and how it all came crashing down, which famous singer grabbed her ass at Sundance, and Bridget’s secret true passion in life.
Scotty Landes – TV comedy writer (Workaholics), horror movie writer (Ma), man about town – trades stories with Bridget about travel, odd jobs, and writing something weird enough to get a job offer out of it. They discuss the privilege of doing what you love for a living but the downside is that your muse becomes a mule, how to take notes on your writing, the escape of making up a world, and how Scotty’s retirement plan is to be an old man bartender with a Golden Girls kind of living situation. They cover how to talk about travel without sounding like a dick, Bridget’s moments of deep existential loneliness that always appear on the heels of unique moments of spectacular awe, recognizing the pivot points in life, the joys of road-tripping solo, and putting career before relationships. Chock full of inspiration for people following unconventional paths, Scotty offers advice, and encouragement, but is also realistic about the importance of setting deadlines when it comes to making dreams come true.
Josh Schollmeyer, co-founder, and editor of MEL magazine, talks with Bridget about the meaning of modern masculinity in a changing world, constructively channeling your rage, and how kids movies are more traumatizing for children than adult movies. They also cover Josh’s years working in a lumber yard to learn the value of hard work, how he got access to Hugh Hefner’s private scrapbook collection when he was in college, and how learning to be fine with being humiliated is a crucial part of success. Josh covers his years working for Playboy, how he tried to be an agent for change but was also complicit at a time when the brand was giving in to its worst impulses, and how the chip on his shoulder over the events that forced him out of Playboy became fuel for his drive to succeed. Now with MEL, Josh discusses figuring out how to talk to men in the wake of #metoo and that one of the big problems he sees is not just a battle of the sexes, but that men are not talking to each other.
Amy Alkon, Advice Goddess and author of “science-help book” Unf*ckology, drops in for a fascinating conversation with Bridget about living in the modern age with Stone Age brains, the evolutionary importance of social status and why “thirstiness” is such a turn-off, and how her career giving advice began as a joke when she stood on a street corner in New York holding a “Free Advice” sign and people began to line up. They cover the social importance of guilt and shame, getting comfortable with discomfort, that self-esteem is a monitoring system to help you figure out where you stand socially, and the fact that we’re living under mob rule and we don’t even realize it. Finally, don’t miss Amy’s theory that if you imagine the worst thing that can happen to you is your kitchen appliances coming to life at night and hacking you to death, you should be able to put small things like feeling awkward and looking stupid in social situations into perspective.
Liz Wolfe, managing editor for The Federalist and part-time editor for Reason, has an in-depth discussion with Bridget about why she thought college was a huge waste of money and wanted to drop out, how she managed to get her degree in two years, and the fact that most people have no understanding of the debt they are taking on when they take out student loans. They bond over being self-starters and hustlers and how it’s a skill that helps them find ways around the “gatekeepers” in life, how being from big families teaches you that life isn’t fair at an early age, and discuss why sometimes having low expectations about an experience is the best way to approach it. They coin the phrase “weaponized fragility,” lament over how being patriotic has somehow become a bad thing, and note that you’ll never change someone’s mind by calling them names. Liz offers fascinating insight into being raised in a home where her parents fostered children, and the hidden costs of that experience, and Bridget shares the name of the self-help book she wants to write, Laziness Motivates Me.
Rachel “Wolfie” Wolfson, comedian, writer, producer, and advocate for cannabis, sits down with Bridget to discuss her disdain for bitcoin, their shared desire to do VR stand-up shows, and why she believes colleges are like engagement rings – expensive and unnecessary. They cover everything from why machines will eventually wipe out humans because of our extreme inefficiency, to a belief that mental health will be the biggest problem this country faces in the near future, to the fact that the dangers of weed should be taught the same way as the dangers of alcohol, to what it takes to create change in the world and in society. Rachel is an advocate for cannabis, but doesn’t necessarily recommend it for everyone and believes that having a healthy relationship with weed requires approaching it as a medicine first. Meanwhile, Bridget hopes she’ll live long enough to see the first sex robot kill a human. You can find Rachel on Twitter and Instagram @wolfiecomedy. For questions, comments or topic requests contact us at: walkinswelcomequestions@gmail.com
Sydney Benner is the creator of the revolutionary new fitness program, FLIGHT! She has devoted her life to connecting people together through movement. Sydney explains her calling to create spaces and places for people to gather that feel inclusive, supportive, and where they can be authentically themselves. Sydney and Bridget discuss finding the balance in all the imbalance, the grind of being a personal trainer, overcoming injuries, magic, and why you must choose your mindset every day. Syndey shares how loss of her father and step-brother within 3 years of each other helped teach her the preciousness of every moment, how she manages to rally and motivate others when she’s in a tough place, the importance of showing up – no excuses – no matter what’s going on in your life, and why you should never put your happiness in someone else’s hands. It’s the motivational podcast we all need right now.
Brittany Schmitt, stand-up comedian and entrepreneur, talks with Bridget about filling the void within yourself, the dark side of comedy, getting a DUI and how it changed her life, and the decision behind getting sober – realizing she was wasting her life. Don’t miss their worst stand-up bomb stories, why giving in to the desire to do nothing can sometimes be healthy, how sitting in sadness and defeat can allow you to build grit and resilience, and why you should never doubt your ability to make huge changes in your life. They discuss the fact that enough is never enough and the desire to always want more is evolutionary, but if you start your day asking what you can give rather than wondering what you can get, you will change your life. Be sure to check out Ho2Go, Brittany’s new company, a kit for when you go hard, but don’t go home – taking the shame out of the walk of shame. For questions, comments or topic requests contact us at: walkinswelcomequestions@gmail.com
Art Tavana is a conservative, libertarian columnist at Playboy and contributor at National Review. An Armenian refugee from Iran, Art talks about how Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties indoctrinated him as a conservative early in life and why being a conservative writing for Playboy is only okay because he’s a person of color and not a white MAGA bro. He and Bridget discuss the strange fad of corporations caving to the mob and apologizing every time someone gets “offended”, his perspective on gratitude as an immigrant living in America, the freedom of having nothing to lose, and why they both hate being branded as activists. The conversation ranges from mourning the death of contrarians, to dissecting why populism needs to go, to predicting that our totalitarian leader is going to come from the left, to why you shouldn’t ever join a group to solve your problems. Finally, don’t miss Art’s explanation of why Atlas Shrugged is the most feminist thing he’s ever read. For questions, comments or topic requests contact us at: walkinswelcomequestions@gmail.com
Melissa Monte is a mindfulness coach, certified yoga teacher and reiki healer. She and Bridget reminisce about how they met on a party bus of 40 women heading to Vegas and reflect on surviving a series of rock bottoms from sexual assaults to eating disorders, to the loss of loved ones. Melissa shares her insights into why trying to fix a terrible relationship was a way of trying to prove her own self-worth, the felony charge that path led her to, and the fact that you can’t cushion somebody’s rock bottom without going down with them. Melissa and Bridget discuss why they’re both so grateful for the twists and turns in their lives that knocked them off their straight & narrow paths in their youths, how it led them to the journeys of self-discovery they’ve been on, the amazing things that life experience can teach you, and retraining negative thought loops. Melissa explains the importance of understanding that the message you’re bringing to the world is not going to be for everybody and that what matters is the people you’re connecting with. Check out her podcast Mind Love, in which she discusses mindset shifts, energy frequencies and modern mindfulness. She pursues her passion of helping people become their best selves on her website mindlove.com. For questions, comments or topic requests contact us at: walkinswelcomequestions@gmail.com
James A. Lindsay is a co-author of the Grievance Studies, a project designed to expose the politicized corruption within social justice geared humanities scholarship by creating bogus academic papers and submitting them to academic journals in the areas of cultural, queer, race, gender, fat, and sexuality studies. He and Bridget have a fascinating discussion about the dogmatism of atheists, the Feminist Glaciology paper that radicalized him, the assault on science, the fascism creeping in from both sides – the left and the right, and why everything we think we know about reality might be wrong. James explains post-modernism and why fitting in matters ten times more to people than being right. Bridget expounds upon why the idea that language is violence and a tool of oppression that must be regulated, strikes terror into her heart. And together they lament the isolation and loneliness of thinking for yourself in today’s culture of ideological tribalism. This is a brilliant deep dive into why intersectional social politics are a toxic way to look at the world and lead to competitive victimhood, the corruption in scholarship that’s fueling the whole social justice, progressive, activist universe, and the doomsday cults of the far left and the far right. For questions, comments or topic requests contact us at: walkinswelcomequestions@gmail.com
Story Hour with Bridget Phetasy is a segment where Bridget reminisces with cousin Maggie and tells stories explaining who she is and how she got here. Full transcript available here: WiW16-StoryHour2-Transcript This week Bridget delves into her long history with addiction and her 20 year journey to sobriety. Learn how Bridget went from being a straight A student on the path to an Ivy League school, to a heroin addict in rehab at age 19. She talks about hitting rock bottom on a trip to LA, kicking heroin in a mental ward, and seven months in “boot camp” rehab in downtown Minneapolis. Hear about the mental back-flips she performed to convince herself that she wasn’t an addict as long as she stayed away from heroin, because she didn’t want to give up her one true love – marijuana. She discusses her resistance to AA, going sober for a year to prove she didn’t have a problem, a second emotional rock bottom and her eventual surrender to the idea that she’s an alcoholic two years into her five years of sobriety. If you’ve ever wrestled with addiction, sobriety, or loved someone who has, Bridget’s take on 12 step programs, struggling with the “God stuff”, dogs as a higher power, and having an open-minded view of sobriety, might help. It’s a long one, but it’s worth it!
Bridget’s youngest sister Vanessa reveals what your wedding photos predict about your marriage, the joys and challenges of working with children, and why hedgehogs make terrible pets. She and Bridget discuss the trials and tribulations of dating millennial men, her 3 basic requirements a guy should have and why it’s harder to find than it should be, and her theory that feminism is making men lazier. Don’t miss their insightful conversation about unlearning unhealthy behaviors that were modeled for them in childhood, taking responsibility for your own life as an adult, no matter what kind of circumstances you come from, and the danger of waiting to be rescued. Vanessa shares her belief that therapy is like getting an education about yourself, the process of breaking the habit of losing yourself in a relationship, and the importance of practicing gratitude every day.
Carol Roth is a recovering investment banker, entrepreneur and author of The Entrepreneur Equation, the anti-motivational, motivational book about entrepreneurship and a realistic take on starting a small business. She and Bridget discuss the factor that jealousy plays in the tragic loss of the American Dream, being spoiled and ungrateful in a capitalist society, the math and ROI of going to college, and the danger in allowing political correctness to rob us of using laughter as a healing method. Carol talks about how she kept moving forward in the wake of a series of devastating personal losses, her approach to a successful marriage, her horror of emojis, how to combat imposter syndrome and tips on overcoming procrastination. Also, don’t miss Bridget’s unscientific theory that the reason women are more detail oriented than men comes from our hunter gatherer days and her plans for faking her own death. Check out Carol’s podcast, also on Ricochet, here: The Roth Effect with Carol Roth.
Ben Howe, author of The Immoral Majority: Christian Evangelicals and the Role they Play in the Era of Trump (due out this year) discusses his journey from the Tea Party to the Center, his favorite Marvel character, and why he doesn’t trust anyone who isn’t honest about their failures – especially politicians. Ben takes issue with using the Bible to pretend that you are pursuing your self-interests nobly and explains the problem with combining ideology with partisanship. Don’t miss a fascinating breakdown of how evangelical leaders have recast all of Trump’s sins as virtues and the danger of convincing a narcissist that his narcissism is virtuous. And stick around for Ben’s epic Christian Retreat Dad joke.
Kimberly Resnick Anderson, licensed sex therapist, and Bridget get real about the many issues facing couples in today’s modern world, from how common sexless marriages are, to power dynamics the #metoo movement and exploitation, to the impact of porn on men’s sexual function – particularly the neurological impact it can have on young men. Nothing is taboo in this conversation. Bridget discusses her brief flirtation with becoming a stripper, Kimberly reveals the astonishing number of married couples who have never had a conversation about sex and the fact that a large number of men are willing to risk death over loss of sexual function. Warning: This is a frank and adult conversation about sexual topics
Melanie Notkin, founder of Savvy Auntie, the first community for cool aunts, great aunts, godmothers and all women who love kids (but might not have them) discusses her book Otherhood and women who are childless, not by choice, but by circumstance. She and Bridget cover the assumptions people make about childless women, being told that they should have settled if they wanted kids, and how Bridget feels like she kept hitting snooze on her biological clock. Find out how feminism made men lazy, why you’re only as loyal as your options in the age of social media, and how in the battle of the sexes everyone seems to be more confused than anything. Don’t miss an incredibly honest conversation about Melanie’s ability to take the source of her greatest pain – not having children – and turn it into something that helps countless people – women and men.
Brian Moses, stand-up comic, creator and co-producer of Comedy Central’s Roast Battle, defender of un-politically correct speech and hilarious individual, talks with Bridget about getting started in stand-up in San Diego, the period when he was living out of his car, the reality of white privilege, and why humanity might not be old enough to believe in God. He and Bridget cover the cultural appropriation of Jesus, that Bridget believes in past lives, ghosts and aliens because they make life more interesting, and how trying to make it in LA is almost like being in an abusive relationship and/or living with a disease. Don’t miss their definition of “making it,” Moses’s ambition to continue progressing and raising the bar in the comedy genre, and why as a black man, he loves the Orwellian surveillance in the UK. Warning This episode is not for the easily offended.
Jesse Kelly, former Marine, contributor to The Federalist, and Twitter star, talks with Bridget about why Twitter needs him more than he needs Twitter, his conspiracy theory on why his account was banned (it has since been reinstated), and his zero tolerance policy on whining and excuses. They delve into how the country as a whole used to be tougher, leaving behind a piece of yourself in a combat zone, his bumpy reintegration into society after his service was over and the role returning to church played in finding his way. Listen as they discuss the growing culture of victimhood in today’s society, how you can’t out think human nature, why allowing a kid to punch a bully in the face might prevent so many school shootings, and find out Jesse’s strongest asset (other than his chin).
Sarah Shahi (The L Word, Person of Interest, Reverie) actress, producer, former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, and mother of three, talks about choosing between being an actor and a neurosurgeon, why happiness can only exist in the present moment, and how Robert Altman convinced her to move to Los Angeles. Listen as she and Bridget discuss the mentality of trust-fund babies, believing that if you leap the net will appear – even if it takes years – and how being the daughter of an Iranian immigrant helped shape her discipline, attitude and femininity. Don’t miss her stories about getting rescued from a trailer by Quentin Tarantino, getting cast on The L Word and thinking “L” stood for “Love”, and how a baby chimpanzee kick-started her biological clock.
James Breakwell, Twitter celebrity, Indiana father of four daughters, and author of Bare Minimum Parenting – The Ultimate Guide to Not Quite Ruining Your Child, discusses raising children in today’s world. He and Bridget cover “drone parenting”, screen time and social media, keeping your perspective on parenting and ignoring the shamers, and why wanting your kid to go to Harvard is basically a euphemism for wanting them to make the most money. They also discuss treating Twitter like a job, how “overnight success” is really the result of at least ten years of slogging, and why saying “let’s cut parents some slack,” is a radical message in this day and age, but it shouldn’t be. You can find James on Twitter @XplodingUnicorn.
Story Hour with Bridget Phetasy is a segment where Bridget reminisces with cousin Maggie and tells stories explaining who she is and how she got here. Full transcript available here: WiW6-PhetasyOriginStory-Transcript Bridget Phetasy shares the definition of the word Phetasy (a word she made up). The origin of the company, taking it on tour across country for 6 months, the eventual downfall of phetasy.com and the hope for its future resurrection. Along the way hear stories about a crazy ex-neighbor who thought Bridget was spying on her for Oliver Stone, how Bridget met her (now ex) husband from Belarus when he was working as a busboy, the “days of soup and toast”, and why attempting to cross the border into Canada with bundles of t-shirts wrapped in white plastic bags and duct tape is a bad idea.
This week Bridget welcomes Paul Shirley, former NBA player, published author, and founder of Writers Blok, a communal workspace for writers in Los Angeles. Paul talks about the role sports play in helping us learn to fail, operating at peak capacity, how having too much free time can be paralyzing and why being a people-pleaser is both his biggest asset and greatest weakness. Paul and Bridget debate whether cavemen had more free time than we think they did, discuss overcoming internal resistance and agree that setting constraints on your life is helpful. Be sure to check out Paul’s podcast Stories I Tell On Dates.
Chloé Valdary, (The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Atlantic) freelance writer and deep thinker, talks with Bridget about dealing with Imposter Syndrome, the death of art, why revolution is easier than governance and the three things she learned from Bret Stephens. Chloé and Bridget discuss their shared desire to see all humans flourish while they analyze the joy that being snarky can bring. Don’t miss their fascinating takes on intersectionality, astrology and why dudes want to fight – always. Be sure to read Chloé’s fabulous piece on intersectionality – Whiteness is Blackness and Blackness is Whiteness.
Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development) talks with Bridget Phetasy about his early job selling graves over the phone, their morning routines, embracing the uncomfortable, dark nights of the soul, trusting in your skill as an artist and how the key to life is to keep moving forward. Listen in as Jeff discusses why he’s so supportive of other artists in the industry, marvel that neither one of them knows Ariana Grande’s real name, and hear them almost decide to become roommates in the latest episode of Walk-Ins Welcome.
This week Bridget Phetasy interviews Rosie Moss, actress, waitress, Bar/Bat Mitzvah coach, Hebrew school teacher, very busy human. Rosie shares her first experience on a network show in an episode of The Connors. She and Bridget discuss traversing the chasm between your dreams and reality, the curse of always wanting more, why the people you surround yourself with are what make you successful, and how touch football saved her.
Learn about Steve Howey’s (Shameless) journey into acting and how getting a national Coca-Cola commercial right out of the gates was the worst thing that could have happened. He talks marathons, triathlons, how he pushes himself beyond his perceived limits and why the mind is a dangerous place.
Bridget Phetasy admires grit and authenticity. On Walk-Ins Welcome, she talks about the beautiful failures and frightening successes of her own life and the lives of her guests. She doesn't conduct interviews-she has conversations. Conversations with real people about the real struggle and will remind you that we can laugh in pain and cry in joy but there's no greater mistake than hiding from it all. She believes that our lowest moments can be the building blocks for our eventual fulfillment. Embracing it all, and celebrating it with the stories she'll bring listeners.