Are we alone? If alien life exists, why can't we find it? What's "the great filter"? Why is the universe set up the way it is? What are the chances there 's some purpose to it all? And is BBC News correct in reporting that "Scientists find 'strongest evidence yet' of life on distant planet"? What have we actually found? What might it mean? 

Whenever the news turns to alien life, Josh turns to his favourite astrophysicist, Dr. Sara Webb, at the Swinburne Institute of Technology in Melbourne. Light up a reefer, lie on your back, gaze at the stars, and pop this one in your ear holes, humans.

Watch this conversation onYouTube. And you’re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven’t popped over to theUncomfy Convos Substackpage.

𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙 𝕊𝕫𝕖𝕡𝕤 (@joshzepps) on X

Instagram (@joshszeps)

Josh Szeps on TikTok

Are we alone? If alien life exists, why can't we find it? What's "the great filter"? Why is the universe set up the way it is? What are the chances there 's some purpose to it all? And is BBC News correct in reporting that "Scientists find 'strongest evidence yet' of life on distant planet"? What have we actually found? What might it mean?&nbsp;
Whenever the news turns to alien life, Josh turns to his favourite astrophysicist, Dr. Sara Webb, at the Swinburne Institute of Technology in Melbourne. Light up a reefer, lie on your back, gaze at the stars, and pop this one in your ear holes, humans.
Watch this conversation on <a href="http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_" data-testid="link-with-safety" data-renderer-mark="true">YouTube</a>. And you&rsquo;re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven&rsquo;t popped over to the <a href="https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe" data-testid="link-with-safety" data-renderer-mark="true">Uncomfy Convos Substack</a> page.
<a href="http://twitter.com/joshzepps" aria-label="http://twitter.com/joshzepps" data-testid="inline-card-resolved-view">𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙 𝕊𝕫𝕖𝕡𝕤 (@joshzepps) on X</a>
<a href="http://instagram.com/joshszeps/" aria-label="http://instagram.com/joshszeps/" data-testid="inline-card-resolved-view">Instagram (@joshszeps)</a>
<a href="http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations" aria-label="http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations" data-testid="inline-card-resolved-view">Josh Szeps on TikTok</a>

The world has never been more connected. Yet never more divided. We yell at each other from inside our echo chambers. But change doesn’t happen inside an echo chamber. It’s time to get out, to stretch our legs, to step on some land mines. It's time to have an uncomfortable conversation with Josh Szeps.

A DM Podcast

The world has never been more connected. Yet never more divided. We yell at each other from inside our echo chambers. But change doesn’t happen inside an echo chamber. It’s time to get out, to stretch our legs, to step on some land mines. It's time to have an uncomfortable conversation with Josh Szeps.
A DM Podcast

Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps

"Does Alien Life Exist?" with astrophysicist Dr Sara Webb

Are we too spoilt to be creative? Are we succumbing to decadent decline? How do you dissent when the incentives are to conform? How do the French retain the art of disagreement while the Anglosphere gets stuck in predictable squabbles? How can we grow a pair of collective cojones and defiantly create a better future?

Today's episode would normally be paywalled. We're offering it as a free example of the kind of unstructured, unpredictable, unedited, freewheeling, thought-provoking clashes Josh does live on Substack, versus the more buttoned-up, pre-recorded tone of the podcast. 

Sarah Wilson is a former media high-flyer - the editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, host of MasterChef Australia, big-time wellness columnist - who turned her back on her fabulously materialistic life, sold all her possessions, and became a nomadic creator. She doesn't have a home but spends most of her time now in Paris, where she preaches her secular wisdom of sanity to fans around the world. 

Josh and Sarah have a relationship of respectful disagreement and curious admiration. They streamed live this week with no particular agenda (except to save the world). Treat yourself to more conversations like this by registering here and downloading the Substack app.

Watch this conversation onYouTube. And you’re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven’t popped over to theUncomfy Convos Substackpage.

𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙 𝕊𝕫𝕖𝕡𝕤 (@joshzepps) on X

Instagram (@joshszeps)

Josh Szeps on TikTok

Are we too spoilt to be creative? Are we succumbing to decadent decline? How do you dissent when the incentives are to conform? How do the French retain the art of disagreement while the Anglosphere gets stuck in predictable squabbles? How can we grow a pair of collective cojones and defiantly create a better future?
Today's episode would normally be paywalled. We're offering it as a free example of the kind of unstructured, unpredictable, unedited, freewheeling, thought-provoking clashes Josh does live on <a href="https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/">Substack</a>, versus the more buttoned-up, pre-recorded tone of the podcast.&nbsp;
Sarah Wilson is a former media high-flyer - the editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, host of MasterChef Australia, big-time wellness columnist - who turned her back on her fabulously materialistic life, sold all her possessions, and became a nomadic creator. She doesn't have a home but spends most of her time now in Paris, where she preaches her secular wisdom of sanity to fans around the world.&nbsp;
Josh and Sarah have a relationship of respectful disagreement and curious admiration. They streamed live this week with no particular agenda (except to save the world). Treat yourself to more conversations like this by <a href="https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe">registering here</a> and downloading the Substack app.
Watch this conversation on <a href="http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_" data-testid="link-with-safety" data-renderer-mark="true">YouTube</a>. And you&rsquo;re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven&rsquo;t popped over to the <a href="https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe" data-testid="link-with-safety" data-renderer-mark="true">Uncomfy Convos Substack</a> page.
<a href="http://twitter.com/joshzepps" aria-label="http://twitter.com/joshzepps" data-testid="inline-card-resolved-view">𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙 𝕊𝕫𝕖𝕡𝕤 (@joshzepps) on X</a>
<a href="http://instagram.com/joshszeps/" aria-label="http://instagram.com/joshszeps/" data-testid="inline-card-resolved-view">Instagram (@joshszeps)</a>
<a href="http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations" aria-label="http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations" data-testid="inline-card-resolved-view">Josh Szeps on TikTok</a>

"Being Courageous in a Conformist World" with Sarah Wilson

Anti-Zionism, antisemitism, Palestinians, Hamas, Israeli Arabs, diaspora Jews, Gaza, and now an all-out war with Iran. It's head-spinning, trying to make sense of Israel right now. 

Today, Josh comes to you battered and bruised by the slings and arrows of a national pile-on. He wrote the lead opinion piece in the big thumping weekend edition of Sydney's and Melbourne's biggest broadsheet newspapers, in which he argued for diaspora Jews to stop reflexively making excuses for Israel. 

The backlash has been as savage as you'd expect on a topic where nuance goes to die. 
From the fallout, Josh takes a crack at wrestling with tribalism, group-think, moral honesty, and the unfolding Israel-Iran war.

Watch this conversation onYouTube. And you’re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven’t popped over to theUncomfy Convos Substackpage.

𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙 𝕊𝕫𝕖𝕡𝕤 (@joshzepps) on X

Instagram (@joshszeps)

Josh Szeps on TikTok

Anti-Zionism, antisemitism, Palestinians, Hamas, Israeli Arabs, diaspora Jews, Gaza, and now an all-out war with Iran. It's head-spinning, trying to make sense of Israel right now.&nbsp;
Today, Josh comes to you battered and bruised by the slings and arrows of a national pile-on. He wrote the lead opinion piece in the big thumping weekend edition of Sydney's and Melbourne's biggest broadsheet newspapers, in which he argued for diaspora Jews to stop reflexively making excuses for Israel.&nbsp;
The backlash has been as savage as you'd expect on a topic where nuance goes to die.&nbsp; From the fallout, Josh takes a crack at wrestling with tribalism, group-think, moral honesty, and the unfolding Israel-Iran war.
Watch this conversation on <a href="http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_" data-testid="link-with-safety" data-renderer-mark="true">YouTube</a>. And you&rsquo;re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven&rsquo;t popped over to the <a href="https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe" data-testid="link-with-safety" data-renderer-mark="true">Uncomfy Convos Substack</a> page.
<a href="http://twitter.com/joshzepps" aria-label="http://twitter.com/joshzepps" data-testid="inline-card-resolved-view">𝕁𝕠𝕤𝕙 𝕊𝕫𝕖𝕡𝕤 (@joshzepps) on X</a>
<a href="http://instagram.com/joshszeps/" aria-label="http://instagram.com/joshszeps/" data-testid="inline-card-resolved-view">Instagram (@joshszeps)</a>
<a href="http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations" aria-label="http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations" data-testid="inline-card-resolved-view">Josh Szeps on TikTok</a>

JUST JOSH: "Staying Sane on Israel"

Chris Uhlmann is one of the most experienced and well-known journalists Down Under. He worked for decades as either the host or the chief political reporter on many of the country's most respected news shows: The 7.30 Report, ABC News, Nine News, and ABC Radio's flagship current affairs show "A.M."

He's made the leap to Substack, and joined Josh to discuss his regrets as a leading journalist, objectivity, fairness, thought bubbles, the flaws of media (old and new), climate change, immigration, and what it was like to interview Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Watch this conversation onYouTube. And you’re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven’t popped over to theUncomfy Convos Substackpage.

http://twitter.com/joshzepps

http://instagram.com/joshszeps/

http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations

 

Chris Uhlmann is one of the most experienced and well-known journalists Down Under. He worked for decades as either the host or the chief political reporter on many of the country's most respected news shows: The 7.30 Report, ABC News, Nine News, and ABC Radio's flagship current affairs show "A.M."
He's made the leap to <a href="https://chrisuhlmann.substack.com/" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">Substack</a>, and joined Josh to discuss his regrets as a leading journalist, objectivity, fairness, thought bubbles, the flaws of media (old and new), climate change, immigration, and what it was like to interview Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Watch this conversation on <a href="http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">YouTube</a>. And you&rsquo;re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven&rsquo;t popped over to the <a href="https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">Uncomfy Convos Substack</a> page.
<a href="http://twitter.com/joshzepps" data-inline-card="" data-card-data="" data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="inlineCard" data-prosemirror-node-inline="true">http://twitter.com/joshzepps</a>
<a href="http://instagram.com/joshszeps/" data-inline-card="" data-card-data="" data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="inlineCard" data-prosemirror-node-inline="true">http://instagram.com/joshszeps/</a>
<a href="http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations" data-inline-card="" data-card-data="" data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="inlineCard" data-prosemirror-node-inline="true">http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations</a>
&nbsp;

"Does Alien Life Exist?" with astrophysicist Dr Sara Webb

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