Freddie Sayers, Editor-in-Chief of UnHerd, interviews Dr Fiona Hill, renowned Russia expert and former Senior Director for European and Russian Affairs in the first Trump administration (2017–2019). A senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and Chancellor of Durham University, Dr Hill has advised three U.S. presidents (including George W. Bush and Barack Obama) on foreign policy, and recently guided UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, authoring the UK Strategic Defence Review 2025, shaping UK defence policy and supporting NATO’s increased spending commitments.Dr Hill analyses the ‘12-day war’ between Israel and Iran in June 2025, ended by U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, resulting in a fragile ceasefire. She explores the risks of increasing global nuclear proliferation and the defence ties among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and debates NATO’s 2025 Hague Summit pledge to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP and Western military preparedness against these threats.Dr Hill and Freddie Sayers examine whether foreign policy is turning more hawkish and realist, ask whether today’s volatile world of hybrid warfare and global instability brings us closer to World War III. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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47:37
Pentagon insider Dan Caldwell: How the hawks won
UnHerd’s Freddie Sayers interviews Dan Caldwell about the recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites - Dan is the former senior adviser to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Iraq War veteran, and a leading voice in the “restrainer” faction skeptical of U.S. military overreach in the Middle East.Caldwell’s extensive experience in the Trump administration, where he served as a key defense adviser until he was put on leave and then terminated following an investigation into Pentagon leaks after the ‘Signalgate’ scandal. His insights, recently articulated in his UnHerd article “How the War Could Spin Out of Control,” offer a critical lens on the recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and their far-reaching implications.In this in-depth conversation, Caldwell breaks down the motivations behind the U.S. strikes, questions whether they achieved their objectives, and evaluates their alignment with America’s interests. He explores the behind-the-scenes dynamics, the risk of escalation into a regional crisis or even World War III, and what Iran and the U.S. might do next—whether Iran will retaliate or seek de-escalation. Drawing on his Marine Corps service and Trump administration tenure, Caldwell provides a sobering analysis of the Middle East’s volatile trajectory and the potential for catastrophic blowback. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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39:40
Druid John Michael Greer: Trump’s destiny is to die in office
UnHerd’s Florence Read sits down with John Michael Greer, prolific author of over 50 books, including The Druidry Handbook, The Long Descent, and The King in Orange, and former Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America. Greer explains what it means to be a Druid today, detailing the spiritual practices rooted in Celtic traditions, including rituals, meditation, and divination, and their connection to the living Earth.They discuss Greer's perspective on the modern world, blending ecology, spirituality, and societal decline. He describes magic as "the politics of the excluded," revealing its role in history and power dynamics. Greer also shares his provocative views on contemporary politics, including speculation on Donald Trump's destiny, suggesting he might follow the path of other transformative U.S. Presidents who died in office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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48:02
DEBATE: John Mearsheimer & Yoram Hazony on Israel vs. Iran
In this two-part UnHerd TV episode, Editor-in-Chief Freddie Sayers delves into the volatile Iran-Israel crisis, presenting contrasting, thought-provoking analyses from two intellectual heavyweights.In Part 1, American International Relations realist theorist and renowned political scientist John Mearsheimer dissects Israel’s strategy as a risky and flawed endeavor, arguing it’s unlikely to succeed in curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and warning that U.S. military involvement would be catastrophic, inadvertently strengthening Russia and China’s geopolitical positions.In Part 2, Israeli-American philosopher and author of The Virtue of Nationalism Yoram Hazony, speaking from Jerusalem, passionately defends Israel’s imperative to decisively block Iran’s nuclear program, asserting it’s both realistic and essential for national survival, while carefully debating the benefits and risks of U.S. support.Subscribe to UnHerd TV for this nuanced exploration of a deeply sensitive and intricate global issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1:08:49
Iain McGilchrist & Philip Goff: Is the universe conscious?
In this captivating discussion, Iain and Philip ask what makes us who we are? Are we merely our brains, or does science only capture part of the human story? Is the universe conscious?Dr. Iain McGilchrist, renowned psychiatrist, neuroscience researcher, philosopher, and author of the critically acclaimed The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, engages in a thought-provoking event at the UnHerd club with Professor Philip Goff, a leading panpsychist philosopher from Durham University and author of Galileo’s Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness.McGilchrist and Goff dive into the intersections of neuroscience, philosophy, and consciousness, exploring the limits of reductionist science, the nature of the self, and the profound implications of their work for understanding the human mind and its place in the cosmos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Freddie Sayers from online magazine UnHerd seeks out top scientists, writers, politicians and thinkers for in-depth interviews to try and help us work out what’s really going on. What started as an inquiry into the pandemic has broadened into a fascinating look at free speech, science, meaning and the ideas shaping our world.Due to popular demand here is a podcast version of our YouTube — available to watch, for free here or by searching ‘LockdownTV’.Enjoy! And don't forget to rate, like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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