Modes of Inquiry with Mathew Giagnorio

In the season 7 finale, Mathew speaks with Will Kingston about the current state of the West and the crises it faces from internal threats that desire to 'deconstruct' and tear down the very institutions and values that created the West and have subsequently freed countless numbers of individuals - and countries - internationally. We discuss how we got here, where we might be going, and what things we need to change and retain to ensure a bright future ahead.Thanks, Will!

What is Athiestism? How is it misunderstood and misrepresented? Thomas Sheedy of atheists for Liberty and I discuss all this and more!

What is leadership? And how do diverse life and job experiences help make you a leader in your field? Hi and I discuss these questions and more! 

Welcome to season 7. I am joined by Negar Zarassi a Swedish-Iranian professional opera singer. She is extensively trained in classical music, holding two bachelor's degrees: from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the Academy for Music and Drama in Gothenburg, both in Sweden. We discuss classical music, what is it? Why does it matter? And where's its place in modern society? All this and more!

In this episode, I speak with Mubin Shaikh. We discuss his journey into and out of Islamist #extremism, his work as an undercover operative in taking down the Toronto 18, and the evolution and growing influence of online extremism and radicalization. We focus on religious and political tribalism as barriers to critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and relationships, and how these issues are made worse with the viral amount of misinformation and disinformation online.Thanks, Mubin!

I'm joined by Khadija Khan for a thought-provoking discussion on Islamism in the UK and France and compare it to Canada and Quebec, and the current Israel—Palestine conflict. All this and more on MOI!Thanks, Khadija!

I am joined for a conversation with Francesca Luberti. We discuss #testosterone levels, their function in men and women, their role in parenting, their impact on attractiveness, and their significance in mating practices and relationships. All this and more on MOI!Grazie, Francesca!

Season 6 Episode 1 welcomes back fellow Canadian Terry Glavin, writer and journalist. We examine the history, culture, society, and politics of British Columbia and Québec and their distinction between how they fit or do not fit into the larger Canadian framework. We also discuss current and ongoing issues in Canada and Canadian politics, the importing of American issues and perspectives, and how Canada is something worth understanding and defending.

This week I speak with Brian Peckford. We discuss the Canadian Constitution, his contribution to it, and why Canadians are under-informed about and take little to no pride in it. We emphasize the importance of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the particular structure of a constitution with respect to the country and the people that create it. We also talk about the importance of understanding the specific nature of Canadian Federalism. All this and more!Thanks, Brian!

Season 5 resumes with returning guest Phil Gurski. We discuss ongoing issues and debates around the repatriation of foreign fighters who left their countries to join ISIS, the laws broken and crimes committed, and the gender question: were women only victims? Or willing participants as well? And touch on the very serious matter of what is to happen with Camp Al-Hawl. Thanks, Phil!

This week welcomes Nathan Romas, host of the podcast The Quiet Professional. We discuss the largely standardized approach to policing in Canada in contrast to the US, the conflicts officers face, changes in policing over the decades, and how off-duty doesn't automatically imply leaving on-duty experiences behind. All this and more on MOI ! Thanks, Nathan!

This week welcomes Matt Johnson to the podcast. We discuss his book How Hitchens Can Save The Left: Rediscovering Fearless Liberalism in the Age of Counter-Enlightenment, the noise and nonsense of the political left and right today, the universal values and writing style of Christopher Hitchens, and the importance of knowing friends from foes in context, and much more on MOI!  Thanks, Matt!

This week welcomes William Costello to the podcast. We discuss the world of modern dating, wants and expectations, the growing educational disparities between men and women, dating apps, the skill of flirting, traditional masculinity vs modern masculinity, modern independent women and new needs,  the importance of communication, the difference of communication between men and women, and ability of men to think like women and the ability of women to think like men. All this and more on MOI! Thanks, William 

In the season 5 opener, I speak with Iman. We discuss spirituality, authenticity, deep connections, her journey away from radical Islam and towards spirituality, and her work on healing, understanding, and trauma. We also discuss the importance of negating hate and embracing love and peace. All this and more on MOI! Thanks, Iman!  

This week welcomes Terry Glavin. We discuss the current state of the Liberal Party of Canada, the illiberal policies and politics of Justin Trudeau, how and why the Left has become incoherent, eerie similarities between Trump and Trudeau, and the media frenzy and political opportunity that got it wrong regarding the coverage of supposed mass graves of residential school children that were never found. All this and more on MOI! Thanks, Terry! 

This week welcomes Elisa Nardi. We discuss the wines and wine estates of Tuscany, Italy, the typical grapes of the region, and the styles and methods found there. The value and gems of local family-owned and operated wineries, ideal pairings of food and ambiance, and wine tour musts when in Tuscany. All this and more on MOI! 

This week welcomes Rana Ahmad to the podcast. She talks about her life in Saudi Arabia and her intellectual journey of thoughts, questions, and curiosities that lead her away from Islam and to atheism. She also describes her escape from Saudi Arabia and her daring journey to Germany. We discuss her love of science and philosophy and her passion and activism for women's rights globally. All this and more on MOI! Danke/thanks/shkran, Rana!

This week welcomes Lawrence Krauss to the podcast. We discuss the importance of science in education, the skill of good science communication and its role, why the knowledge of astrological signs appears more common than a basic knowledge of science, the purpose of common sense, and the relationship between public policy and science. All this and more on MOI!Thanks, Lawrence! 

This week welcomes Hugo Mercier to the podcast. We discuss his work and research with a particular focus on his book Not Born Yesterday in which he argues with data that we are not as gullible as we may believe but rather we are very good a using reason and decision-making. We discuss real-world issues such as politics, society, individuals and groups, and learning, and the application of his research in evolution and social cognition in those areas. All this and more on MOI Merci, Hugo! 

The season 3 finale welcomes Dr. Erec Smith, an associate professor of rhetoric at York College of Pennsylvania to the podcast. We discuss the new discourse of Anti-Racism and its negative effects on education and course materials, the importance of individualism and why it tends to be feared, erroneous and limited narratives of Black communities in America and the individuals they comprise, Social Justice and the Civil Rights Movement, and significance of Bayard Rustin, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X as representing free, open, and diverse Black thought. All this and more on #MOI! Thanks, Erec!

This week on the podcast I'm joined by Tina Christensen, a Danish model, and actress. We discuss ageism in the film and modeling industries, how she came to embrace and love her silver hair, her approach to health and beauty, and how a positive mindset in life is essential like a little black dress in your wardrobe. All this and more on MOI. Thanks, Tina!

This week welcomes Gregory Johnsen to the podcast. We discuss the intricacies of the ongoing Saudi Arabia-Yemen conflict, the U.S. Government element, Gregory's research, the civilian casualties, the lack of news coverage, and pondering about what should happen and what may happen next. All this and more!Thanks, Gregory!

This week welcomes Nicolò Scremin, founder and CEO of SecuritHub and founder of NextGen50. We discuss youth involvement and engagement in issues about security/national security/counterterrorism, what new perspectives youth bring to the issues in these areas, how to get youth more involved with and interested in pursuing a career in security, Nicolò current projects and research, and more! Grazie mile, Nicolò 

This week welcomes Dr. Marilyn Simon, a Shakspeare scholar, university instructor, and writer to the podcast. We discuss beauty what is it? And why it's important, the vital energies of femininity and masculinity, the value of romance and poetry, sensuality as essential to our individuality,  sex and trust and love and risk, and more!  Thanks, Marilyn!

This week on the podcast is Dr. Iona Italia, editor-in-chief of Areo magazine. We discuss the role of Areo, the challenges and pressure encountered, calls for censorship, the importance of dialogue and understanding the issues and good argumentation, keeping true to founding principles, the need to hone your skills of articulating ideas, and more! Thanks, Iona!

This Thursday on the pod  I'm joined by Jonathan Kay, a Quillette editor, and writer. We discuss the challenges and changing the face of journalism, the importance of journalists and journalistic integrity, differences between the online and offline media landscape, and more! Thanks, Jon!

This Thursday MOI welcomes Dalal Mawad to the pod. We discuss the style and structure of the body politic in Lebanon, how this affects the style of Lebanese journalism, its history and civil war, sectarian politics, society, the Beirut Explosion, and the current state and future of Lebanon. All this and more this Thursday on MOI! Merci beaucoup, Dalal!

Season 3 welcomes Dr. Vian Aziz on the podcast. We discuss the importance of sexual education and its absence in Arab and Muslim majority countries, the difference between sex and sexuality, the subject of shame and the role religion plays, how this impacts women particularly and shapes society, and the severe effects of male sexual repression on women and society. All this and more on MOI! 

Season 3 officially kicks off this Thursday with returning guest, Phil Gurski. As the first inquiry of the season, we discuss the recent attempted murder of Salman Rushdie and the historic series of events surrounding Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989 calling for Rushdie's death following the publication of The Satanic Verses. We look at these events and discuss them through the lens of national security, terrorism, and counterterrorism. Thanks, Phil!

In this pre-season special which will also act as S3E1, Daniel Sharp of Areo Magazine and I discuss the recent attack and attempted murder of Salman Rushdie and the importance and value of free speech in a free and open society, the current attempts once again to censor free speech, the voices of dissent within groups and society,  progress and free expression, and the racism of low expectations. All this and more on MOI !  Thanks, Daniel!

For the season 2 final, I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Anna Sergi, professor of criminology and organized #crime studies at the University of Essex, UK. We discussed Italian organized crime, specifically Ndrangheta and its origin, development and global expansion. How does differ from other Mafia organizations in Italy? What is Ndrangheta's organizational structure? How does it maintain its existence domestically and internationally? What are some legal and grassroots initiatives in Italy and abroad to stop it? Ex. Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsalino and anti-mafia sentiments in Italy? In addition to laws, how has policing adapted and evolved to counteract the mafia? What is the power and what role do they play in drug trafficking? And what are the differences in perspectives on the la mafia in Italy( Nord e Sud) compared to Canada and USA? We also talked about the mythology of mafias and how that impairs effective comprehension of the phenomenon.  Thanks, Anna! Stay curious, my friends! Mathew J. J. Giagnorio 

In the first of a two-part episode, I speak with India Donisi, creator and founder of Winespicegirl. We discuss wine and its richer, deep elements. The philosophical,  cultural and mythology (Dionysus) components of this salubrious, seductive and sacred nectar. How it has impacted and been ever-present through recorded history and civilization. We also talk about the sensuality and sexuality that wine emanates, and the emotions it accompanies and represents for us all. All this and more on MOI! Thanks, India!  Staycurious, my friends! 

For S2E16,  in the first of a two-part episode, I speak with Ahmed Patel. We discuss his early years growing up in the UK, in the 1970s and 1980s, the political and cultural changes that began in the 1990s, and the stark contrast between British Muslim youth then and now, identity, group-oriented and individual. All this and much more! On MOI! Thanks, Ahmed

For S2E15 I speak with Colin Wright. We discuss transgender issues, what is biological sex? Is gender fluid? The expression of individual human sexuality, the generational divide in perspectives in the transgender community, the question of fairness in sports, and feminine and masculine as aspects each of us has and outwardly express differently in various ways. All this and much more on MOI Thanks, Colin.

For this episode, I speak with Kaveh Shahrooz. We discuss the Iranian diaspora, Persian culture, and the gangster regime of Iran as separate from and oppressive to the Iranian people. We also human rights violations, the downing of Ukraine Flight PS752 on January 8th, 2021, the Iran lobby, sloppy foreign policy and the religious factor, how to support the Iranian people and what else can Western governments do, and why Canadian governments and others are delivering great lip service. All this and much more on #MOI!! Thank you, Kaveh! Staycurious, my friends! 

In episode 13 of season 2,  I speak with Prof. Feiner of Bar-Ilan University, Isreal. We discussed a range of important and not too well known or understand topics pertaining to the European Jewry and Jewish history of the 18th and 19th centuries, what the main focus or concern of Jews during that period, what significant event(s) impacted European Jewry during the 18th century that had positive or negative ripple effects that are still felt today? How did the Haskalah come about? Who was Mendelssohn and what was his role in Haskalah? What were the arguments of the intellectuals and the State who discussed the present and the future of the Jews in Europe?  What were the origins of Jewish secularization? What did the beginning of the Jewish Kulturkampf mean for Jews? Thank you, Prof. Feiner. Shalom.

For S2E12, I speak with William Baldét in the first of a special two-part episode. We discuss the origin and development of the Prevent strategy UK, its focus and community impact, what methods it employs and how have these methods been innovative in CVE work on the local,  national, and regional levels. We also discuss the important insights into radicalization gathered through Prevent's work. All this and more on MOI! Thanks, Will! Stay curious, my friends!

In this episode, I speak with Terry Newman,  lecturer at McGill University and a contributing writer to Quillette. We discuss eclectic issues from Joe Rogan, policing speech, the importance of meaning in our lives, misunderstandings of politics in Canada, the crisis within journalism, geographical representation/diversity on college and university campuses and government, the distinction between urban and rural thinking, Heterodox Academy, the work and views of Jordan Peterson, critical thinking and problem-solving, problems in modern dating/relationships, men's and women's issues, and the "tall poppy syndrome" and Canadian insecurities. All this and much more on MOI! Thanks, Terry!

This Thursday I speak with Prof. Massimo Pigliucci. We discuss stoicism and its important role in a person's life, what is stoic philosophy? How do ancient teachings continue to be relevant for us today? What are stoic principles? How do you become a stoic? When is the right age to begin teaching and developing stoicism? Can anyone truly be a stoic? All this a more on MOI Thanks, Massimo!

For this Thursday I speak with Razib Khan. We discussed the science of genetics and how an increase in data over the past 20 years has enhanced our understanding of, among other things, the human species. We also delve into the race, whether it's a social construct or a scientific classification? What will be achieved or possibly solved in the decade ahead? The role of population genetics and much more! Thanks, Razib!

In this episode, I spoke with Jamie Woodhouse of Sentientism. We discussed and fruitfully debated sentience, the difference between vegan and vegetarian, what changes can a person make in their food consumption? Do #ethical food choices/options necessarily correlate with what is healthy? What methods of analysis should be used and understood when determining sentience and making food choices? Dietary diversity, and what are misconceptions about vegetarianism and misconception about veganism? All this and more on MOI! 

In this episode, I speak with Dan Stanton. We discuss traditional and modern means of counter-intelligence, CSIS mandate and should it be updated, what is foreign intelligence? And how is it collected? What are and what should be considered threats to national security? What should be the focus of CSIS and intelligence agencies as we move forward? And are traditional threats still significant? All this and more on MOIStay curious, my friends!

 In this episode, I  speak with Candice Malcolm, founder and editor-in-chief of True North. We discuss  Canadian conservativism and what makes it distinct, the state of conservativism in Canada, its past and future, what the current divides within the Canadian conservative movement are, why Erin O'Toole? And the differences between conservativism on the federal and provincial level and between east, west and central Canada. All this and more on MOI Thanks, Candice! Stay curious, my friends! 

In S2E5,  I speak with Jeff Schoep, founder of Beyond Barriers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to a new approach of countering and preventing extremism. From 1994 until early 2019, Jeff was the leader of the largest neo-Nazi organization in the United States, the National Socialist Movement (NSM). Jeff now works as an International Extremism Consultant helping to educate communities and policymakers on the threat of white supremacy and how to effectively counter and prevent violent extremism.  We discuss, among others things related to extremism,  pathways in and out, an insider's understanding, the role of hate and love, and much more!

I speak with Archie Alafriz on terrorism financing, money-laundering, the crime/terror nexus, new frontiers for law enforcement agencies and new opportunities for criminal organizations, domestic in Canada and international law, new and traditional methods for tracking and stopping these activities, the role of the internet for practitioner and perpetrators, public awareness and prevention through purchasing choices, and much more!Stay curious, my friends!

S2E3:  I speak with Andy Sellwood, moderator for the Heterodox Academy group hxa Canada about the differences and similarities of the challenges faced in academia and society in Canada in comparison to the USA, what is the mission of HXA Canada? What does it mean to be heterodox in thinking and teaching? What legal action and legal rights do teachers and academics have in Canada? What is freedom of speech for educators and students in Canada? and how to ensure diversity of thought on campus. All this and more!!

I speak with Dr. Ashley Frawley of Swansea University on the state of the political Left today and the absence of its former critical style. We also discuss the socialization of medicine, the development of language and culture comprising the wellness/wellbeing and mental health industry, understanding the 'why' of student and youth protests and oppositions today, parents knowing what's best for their children and child separation, indigenous communities in Canada, the historic wrongs, and understanding over fascination and the path forward together. All this and more on Modes of Inquiry!

S2E1 begins with Dr. Nicole Barbaro and our discussion on higher education from the perspective of evolutionary psychology, and how to apply and improve the methods of edtech and e-learning,  what barriers exist for students and professors and why genuine improvements in teaching and learning gave what has changed over the decades. Nicole discusses her research and approach to teaching with MOI, what we know about education and learning from evolutionary psychology, and what we have learned and the misconceptions about edtech and e-learning during this pandemic. All this and more on MOI!! You can keep up with Dr. Barbaro's work and projects at https://nicolebarbaro.com and on Twitter @NicoleBarbaro. Thanks, Nicole! It was great talking with you. 

S1E14: In the season1 finale I speak with Jake Hanrahan of the grassroots conflict media platform Popular Front. We discuss his approach and methods as an independent journalist, important stories not covered by major media outlets, the importance of maintaining neutrality as a journalist and not pushing an agenda or narrative, social, cultural, and political events taking place in the U.K., U.S., Armenia, and Turkey. We also discuss the absence of real, meaningful resistance to new laws in the UK and the culture wars, an American original, affecting both countries. All this and much more. Thank you, Jake!