thinkspot Presents

Follow thinkspot Presents
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

"thinkspot presents" is a weekly podcast that explores bold new ideas, challenges assumptions, and experiments with new lines of thought across a wide variety of topics. 

support@thinkspot.com


    • Aug 8, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 4m AVG DURATION
    • 72 EPISODES


    Latest episodes from thinkspot Presents

    S2#26 - Independent Outlook: CRT, Vaccines, and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2021 64:14


    Join the Independent Institute as Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers, and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker discuss Critical Race Theory, Vaccines and more.

    S2#25 - Better Left Unsaid

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021 104:59


    Join the filmmakers behind Better Left Unsaid. Curt Jaimungal and Desh Amila are joined by a host of special guests, including Michael Shermer, Rick Smith, Vesper Stamper, and Marshall Herskovitz.

    S2#24 - Independent Outlook: Newsom Recall, Woke Educators and more

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 65:50


    Join Independent Institute Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker for this week's Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A. Our special focus will be on the recall Newsom efforts, woke educators, anti-racism and more.

    S2#23 - Child Sexual Abuse Witchhunts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 51:21


    In this week's episode, Bettina Arndt and Professor Mark Smith discuss the current panic over assumed endemic child sexual abuse in residential care. How and why the moral crusade against child abuse took hold, from the McMartin preschool investigations through to Satanic Ritual Abuse scandals in the UK, to more recent events involving Jimmy Savile, and Carl Beech, who falsely accused members of the British elite of being part of a paedophile ring.

    S2#22 - Independent Outlook: July 4th Aflame, Post-Covid Education and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2021 70:54


    Join the Independent Institute's Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers (Director of our Center on Educational Excellence), and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker for this week's Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A.

    S2#21 - Bettina Arndt and Parents of Trans-identifying Sons

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 61:42


    Join Bettina Arndt as she speaks with two parents of young teenage sons who suddenly announced they were transgender.

    S2#20 - Vaccine Passports, Corporations in Politics, Biden and More

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2021 69:19


    In this week's Independent Outlook, Author and Research Fellow William J. Watkins, Jr., Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker discuss vaccine passports, corporations involving themselves in politics, educating children during the pandemic, Biden and more.

    S2#19 - Woke Women and Their Poisonous Friends

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2021 50:33


    Join Bettina Arndt and marriage coach Suzanne Venker as they talk about how dangerous women's friends can be in undermining their relationships. Friends often contribute to women's sense of entitlement and inflated expectations regarding the men in their lives, creating instability and destroying new relationships.

    S2#18 - Newsom Recall, Woke Educators, Anti-Racism and More

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 65:50


    In this week's episode of the Independent Outlook, join Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers, and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker as they discuss the recall Newsom efforts, woke educators, anti-racism and more.

    S2#17 - The filmmakers behind Better Left Unsaid

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 104:59


    Join the filmmakers behind Better Left Unsaid for a Q&A session on thinkspot. Curt Jaimungal and Desh Amila will be joined by Michael Shermer, Rick Smith, Vesper Stamper, and Marshall Herskovitz.

    S2#16 - A Conversation with Nadine Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 57:35


    Join Bettina Arndt and Nadine Taylor as they discuss father's rights. Nadine is a former International Campaign Director for the controversial father's rights group, Fathers4Justice (F4J) known for taking direct action to draw attention to their cause. She continues to be an outspoken advocate for fathers, speaking on TV and radio about shared parenting and family law reform.

    S2#15 - The Independent Outlook - Biden's Border Crisis, Ethnic Studies in California, China and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 77:33


    Join The Independent Institute Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers (Director of our Center on Educational Excellence), and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker as they discuss Biden's border crisis, ethnic studies in California, China and more.

    S2#14 - The State of American Liberal Arts Curriculum

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2021 79:28


    Join Dr. Stephen Blackwood and Erich Prince as they discuss proposed alternatives to higher education, the state of American liberal arts curriculum, and Stephen's burgeoning university project - Ralston College.

    S2#13 - The Rick Smith Show with Marshall Herskovitz

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 49:09


    Join Rick Smith and Marshall Herskovitz for a Q&A with our thinkspot members.

    S2#12 - Bettina Arndt and Cynthia Garrett

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2021 40:27


    Cynthia Garrett, co-president of Families Advocating for Campus Equality, returns to thinkspot for her second live chat with Bettina Arndt to discuss the developments by the Biden/Harris administration which are making it clear that their gender policies will be all about advantaging women at the expense of men.

    S2#11 - Black History Month and Race and Liberty in America

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 72:12


    Join Author, Professor, and Independent Institute Research Fellow Jonathan J. Bean, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers (Director of our Center on Educational Excellence), and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker for this week's Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A. Our special focus will be on Black History Month and Jonathan Bean's book Race and Liberty in America.

    S2#10 - Rick Smith and Joe Walsh

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 44:30


    Join Rick Smith and former Congressman/conservative talk show host Joe Walsh for a live Q&A. Rick and Joe will be discussing the first 100 days of the Biden Presidency, the GOP's reality post-Trump, and the state of American governance.

    S2#9 - What Actually Happened with GameStop

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2021 49:13


    Join our thinkspot Contributor Jeremy from The Aworkening as he dissects what really happened with GameStop, WallStreetBets and Robinhood.

    S2#8 - Executive Orders, Border Confusion, and California's Errors Go National

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2021 69:47


    Join The Independent Institute for this week's Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A. This week's special focus will be on Biden's executive orders, border confusion, and California errors going national.

    S2#7 - Merion West Writer's Room

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2021 64:30


    Join Merion West editor-in-chief Erich Prince and musician/journalist Tony Senatore for a look inside the Merion West writer's room.

    S2#6 - Mud Sticks Falsely

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2021 69:22


    Join Bettina Arndt, Janice Fiamengo and Diana Davison to discuss Woody Allen's innocence and how mud sticks to falsely accused men. The endless persecution of Woody Allen is a fable for our times, with many in the film world and mainstream media still supporting Mia Farrow's version of events in relation to the sexual abuse allegations – despite all the evidence to the contrary. Please submit your questions prior to the event.

    S2#5 - Critical Race Theory and Diversity Equity & Inclusion

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 70:33


    Join James Lindsay and Chloe Valdary as they cover a range of material, from America's DEI/CRT moment to these program's philosophical underpinnings.

    S2#4 - Capitol Fallout, Censorship, and the Unfettered Biden Agenda

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 66:54


    Join Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers, and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker of the Independent Institute for this week's Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A. This week's focus is on capitol fallout, censorship, the unfettered Biden agenda, and more. Learn more about their unique Outlook—informed by the principles of liberty and human dignity, and based on scholarly integrity and respect for the facts.

    S2#3 - Rick Smith and the Capitol Riots

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2021 51:57


    Join Rick Smith for his first thinkspot Q&A of the New Year. On the heals of the riots at the Capitol, hear Rick's responses to the many questions posed by our members.

    S2#2 - War on Cops

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2021 39:51


    Merion West editor-in-chief Erich Prince hosts author Heather Mac Donald for a retrospective discussion on the latter's 2016 book The War on Cops. With renewed contextual relevance, Heather will revisit her work and the research that supports her push back against the swelling tide of anti-police rhetoric.

    S2#1 - Independent Conversation: New Way to Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 50:28


    Join us for an Independent Conversation with Dr. Graham H. Walker and Dr. John C. Goodman on Independent Institute's newest book by Dr. John C. Goodman, New Way to Care: Social Protections that Put Families First.John C. Goodman is Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute, President of the Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research, and author of the widely acclaimed, Independent books, A Better Choice: Healthcare Solutions for America, and the award-winning, Priceless: Curing the Healthcare Crisis. The Wall Street Journal and the National Journal, among other media, have called him the “Father of Health Savings Accounts.”

    Ep. #45 - Woke Women are Killing Dating

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2020 52:18


    When marriage coach Suzanne Venker posted an article suggesting women needed to lower their unrealistic expectations of marriage, she was swamped with angry abuse. Join Bettina Arndt and Suzanne in what promises to be a lively discussion of this issue.

    Ep. #44 - Big Tech Censorship

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2020 58:04


    Join Erich Prince of Merion West and Seth Dillon of The Babylon Bee for a discussion about Big Tech censorship.

    Ep. #43 - The Independent Outlook

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2020 48:30


    Join us for an Independent Conversation on overcoming the ACA healthcare mess. The Independent Institute discussed Christopher Briggs's recent opinion piece, "My kid has cancer and ObamaCare is making everything worse," published by the New York Post.

    Ep. #42 - Jonathan Pageau and Carl Benjamin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 70:14


    Carl Benjamin and artist/symbologist Jonathan Pageau chat for the first time in this featured thinkspot event.

    Ep. #41 - Art and Truth

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 99:17


    Cellist Justin Hall and author/illustrator Vesper Stamper learn that they have much in common, namely - a love for the classics and an interest in how literature intersects with music/composition. In this episode of thinkspot presents, you can find them unpacking the artistic implications of mastery and interrogating the nature of truth in the context of art and artistic pursuits.

    Ep. #40 - Rick Smith Joins Thinkspot

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 50:14


    Join Rick Smith for a special pre-election livestream Q&A. Rick will be taking questions and comments from the thinkspot community throughout the duration of the event, as he offers analysis from the perspective of the number one working people's podcast and radio show - The Rick Smith Show.

    Ep. #39 - The 490 B.C. Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2020 56:53


    In response to the New York Times' controversial 1619 Project, Bill Evers and Graham Walker propose their own history curriculum centered around the classics in an effort to revitalize an era that they allege has been neglected by primary schools across the nation. With an eye towards mythology and Grecian philosophy, the pair make a compelling case for the urgency of a return to the classics.

    Ep. #38 - Rust Belt Realism

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 63:46


    Everything is fair game in this exchange between Merion West editor Erich Prince and film director Spencer T. Folmar, as the two Pennsylvania natives task themselves with confronting a wide breadth of topics, from the soul of the rust belt to the distinctly self-isolating malaise of Gen Z.

    Ep. #37 - The Seeds of Our Divide

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2020 55:07


    Marshall Herskovitz and Graham Walker return for the second edition of their conversation series, this time tackling the seeds of the American political divide and how they have been sown by institutional failure and media narratives. Herskovitz's perspective and analysis on the Democrats' abandonment of the working class is particularly insightful.

    Ep. #36 - Inside Hollywood

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2020 51:27


    Film director Spencer T. Folmar provides the thinkspot community with a penetrating view into the filmmaking profession and the environs of the industry in LA. His poignant remarks provide fascinating insight into everything from filmmaking techniques to the new Academy Awards' diversity standards for potential contenders.

    Ep. #35 - Cynical Theories Book Launch

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2020 129:51


    Professor Stephen Blackwood plays host to filmmaker Mike Nayna and co-authors James Lindsay and Helen Pluckrose for the launch of their essential new book Cynical Theories. This discussion traverses the likes of woke ideology, postmodern philosophy, and the politics of academia to form a compelling rebuke of contemporary critical theory and its influence on the public sphere.

    Ep. #34 - The Psychology of Trauma and Woke Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2020 55:54


    Writer and film producer Marshall Herskovitz is joined by the Independent Institute's Graham Walker for a discussion on the psychology of trauma and its relationship to the left's current strain of woke-ism. Herskovitz draws on his experience as an artist and political consultant to theorize on the dynamics that underpin this ideology, offering an insightful and compassionate approach to interpreting this phenomenon.

    Ep. #33 - Covid-19 Intelligence Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2020 59:05


    Former Canadian intelligence officer Tom Quiggin answers the thinkspot community's questions and offers his analysis on the origins of Covid-19 and the early days that led to its spread. His take on contemporary geopolitics also does well to shed light on the world's most precarious hot spots and international relationships.

    Ep. #32 - So Much Things to Say

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2020 43:38


    Join Chloé Valdary (NYT, Theory of Enchantment) and Jamie Kilstein (The Joe Rogan Experience, Conan) as they explore, well, just about everything. From hip hop and comedy to spirituality and politics, So much Things to say aims to help you figure out this f*cked up crazy world and discover the redemption in it -- and in yourself.

    Ep. #31 - California Burning

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2020 61:05


    Dr. Lawrence J. McQuillan joins Mary L.G. Theroux, of the Independent Institute, for a discussion and Q&A on the California Wildfires. In 2019, the California Golden Fleece® Award was given to Cal Fire. The report offered solutions to prevent future disasters, yet here we are again with the state burning, and people losing their homes and lives.

    Ep. #30 - Jordan Peterson - Savage Messiah

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2020 75:08


    Award winning and best selling author Jim Proser connects with writer Kevin Turner for a retrospective on Proser's January 2020 release of Savage Messiah: How Jordan Peterson is Saving Western Civilization. The duo re-contextualize the book within the frame of the current political and social moment, providing a newfound urgency to the controversial philosopher's work.

    Ep. #29 - The Postmodern Polity

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2020 65:15


    Merion West editor-in-chief, Erich Prince, joins Professor Stephen Hicks for a critical discussion on society and culture, interweaving the latter's expertise on matters of philosophy and history to compose an analysis that respects the complexity of our particularly historic summer.

    Ep. #28 - The Independent Outlook

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2020 51:11


    Policy luminaries Bill Evers, Graham Walker, and David Theroux gather for the debut edition of the Independent Institute's bi-monthly Outlook show. The trio cover a wide range of material, from the school-opening conundrum facing America's education system to America's continued civil unrest.

    Ep. #27 - So You Think You Can Think

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2020 61:02


    University of Toronto professor Chris DiCarlo joins Merion West's Kevin Turner to chat about the cognition behind critical thinking, particularly within the context of our contemporary world's information media deluge. Drawing on his 2020 book So You Think You Can Think, DiCarlo provides a range of analytical tools to navigate the muddy waters of personal and media bias.

    Ep. #26 - Transcendent Art and Political Polarization

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2020 62:01


    Artist Vesper Stamper takes on questions from the thinkspot community, as she makes the case for art as an antidote to our current political and social division. At what point does politically minded art become propaganda? Does New York still do justice to its reputation as the premier ecosystem for creativity and artistic innovation? Tune in to hear Vesper confront these questions head on.

    Ep. #25 - Calling All Carnivores

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2020 38:35


    Join us for a ts Exclusive as Mikhaila Peterson sat down to answer thinkspot members' questions. In this lively and informative event, Mikhaila answered user questions about the Lion Diet, her coaching program, and her new podcast.

    Ep. #24 - Nizar Zakka and Kambiz Tavana

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2020 67:47


    Merion West writer Kambiz Tavana hosts former Iranian political prisoner Nizar Zakka for a thinkspot exclusive on the one year anniversary of the latter's release and return to the United States. Fielding questions from the thinkspot community, Zakka elaborates on his experience as a political prisoner from 2015-2019 and the current geopolitical posture of the Iranian regime.

    Ep. #23 - The Post Millennial Writer's Room

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2020 56:34


    The Post Millennial writing trio of Nico Johnson, Roberto Wakerell-Cruz, and Libby Emmons address questions from the thinkspot community, providing a look into the Canadian publication's ideas and processes while discussing a range of topics, from the decline of neoliberalism to the state of policing in 2020.

    Ep. #22: Vesper Stamper and Jonathan Pageau

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2020 78:43


    The artists pair presses pause on the social chaos of the moment to examine the protests in a way that refreshingly privileges people over politics. Vesper's eye for narrative and Jonathan's expert grasp on symbology combine for a compelling and nuanced exploration of this historical hour.

    Ep. #21 - The Respondent - Greg Ellis interviews Stephen Fry

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2020 219:43


    Who is The Respondent? Over the last year, Greg Ellis set out on a journey to explore the condition of the male experience via his new video podcast, The Respondent. Enjoy the debut of this new series with Stephen Fry, and a post-podcast Q&A session with Benjamin Boyce, Gregg Hurwitz, and Dr. Gary David.

    Claim thinkspot Presents

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel