The Ayaan Hirsi Ali Podcast is a home for critical thinking and common sense. Critical thinking, objective truth and free speech have always been under assault. Ayaan will talk to amazing people who have given a lot of thought to these issues. Some of her guests will surprise you. Some of the topics we’ll be covering are ones she's never approached before. What all Ayaan's guests will have in common is a passion for free inquiry and speech. They are not afraid to explore different perspectives, even if it means challenging their own assumptions, or violating cultural taboos. You, the audience, can make up your minds which arguments make most sense to you. We would love to hear your thoughts after each show.
Sylvia Bennett-Stone on Finding Strength after Losing a Child
Ayaan speaks with Sylvia Bennett-Stone about violence in America, the importance of community, the Black Lives Matter movement, and our flawed criminal justice system. Finally, they discuss how to find purpose after losing a child? Sylvia Bennett-Stone serves as the Executive Director of the Voices of Black Mothers United (VBMU) initiative. After losing her daughter to senseless violence in 2004... Source
9/30/2022 • 50 minutes, 2 seconds
Rafael Mangual on Crime in America
Ayaan speaks with Rafael about his childhood, violent crime, the breakdown of family, antisocial behavior, and rehabilitation. They also discuss Rafael’s new book Criminal (In)justice, a critique of our increasingly radical criminal justice reform movement. Finally, how do we remind Americans of the inherent good of America? Rafael Mangual is a senior fellow and head of research for the Policing... Source
7/26/2022 • 57 minutes, 13 seconds
Kmele Foster on the Importance of Positive Role Models
Ayaan speaks with Kmele Foster about family, discrimination, and individualism. They also try to answer the question of what happened to the American man? Our societal evolution to empower women has been an overwhelming good. But have we forgotten what a positive male role model looks like? Kmele Foster is a media entrepreneur, commentator, and civil liberties advocate. He’s co-founder of... Source
6/28/2022 • 59 minutes, 48 seconds
Ian Rowe on the Power of Agency
Ayaan speaks with Ian Rowe about the power of personal agency and how to build it. Ian introduces a new framework to help develop agency in individuals: the FREE framework (family, religion, education, and entrepreneurship). His new book, Agency, is out today. Ian Rowe is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on education and upward mobility, family formation... Source
5/16/2022 • 55 minutes, 9 seconds
Jason Hill on Race in America
Ayaan speaks with Jason Hill about free speech, immigration, and the power of individual agency. While they question the woke’s focus on equity and victimhood, above all, they are optimistic about the resilience of young people and the American determination to solve problems. Jason D. Hill is a professor of Philosophy at DePaul University and an Honors Distinguished Faculty member. Source
4/29/2022 • 58 minutes, 49 seconds
Speaker Newt Gingrich on the Politics of Yesterday and Today
Ayaan speaks with Speaker Newt Gingrich about growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, and how life differs today. They also discuss divisions among both the Democratic and Republican parties, what Biden should do about the situation in Ukraine, and the biggest long-term threat to America. Speaker Newt Gingrich is Chairman of Gingrich 360, a multimedia production and consulting company based in Arlington... Source
1/28/2022 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 51 seconds
Megan Phelps-Roper on the Value of Empathy
Ayaan speaks with Megan Phelps-Roper about leaving the Westboro Baptist Church. They discuss how we can bridge the divide and have empathetic conversations across ideological lines. Megan Phelps-Roper was raised in the Westboro Baptist Church, the Topeka, Kansas church known internationally for its daily public protests against members of the LGBTQ community, Jews, other Christians, the military... Source
12/2/2021 • 1 hour, 15 minutes, 54 seconds
Paulina Neuding on Crime in Sweden
Ayaan speaks with Paulina Neuding about rising crime rates in Sweden, humiliation robberies against children, and what Swedish identity looks like today. They consider the social cost of speaking up, and how not saying anything is far more harmful. Paulina Neuding is a journalist based in Stockholm, Sweden. Ms. Neuding’s work, which focuses mainly on immigration and integration... Source
11/18/2021 • 48 minutes, 36 seconds
Michael Shellenberger on the Political Realignment
Ayaan speaks with Michael Shellenberger about the drug addiction crisis taking over major U.S. cities. They also discuss the results of the Virginia elections, the potential of a political realignment and the COP26 conference. Michael Shellenberger is the founder and president of Environmental Progress and is the author of Apocalypse Never and San Fransicko. He has been working as a climate... Source
11/4/2021 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 5 seconds
Lawrence Krauss on The New Religion
Ayaan speaks with Lawrence Krauss about the new religion of wokeism and how it spread throughout academia. They discuss the impacts that political correctness and cancel culture have on science, and what it means for the future. Lawrence Krauss is an internationally known theoretical physicist. He is President of The Origins Project Foundation and host of The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss. Source
10/14/2021 • 1 hour, 22 minutes, 46 seconds
Katharine Birbalsingh on Belonging
Ayaan speaks with Katharine Birbalsingh about the importance of schools providing both a classical education and a place of belonging for children. Katharine explains how and why she established Michaela Community School. They also discuss the American obsession with race and how that is affecting education. Katharine Birbalsingh is Headmistress and co-founder of Michaela Community School in... Source
9/30/2021 • 48 minutes, 11 seconds
LTG H.R. McMaster on Foreign Policy Challenges
Ayaan speaks with LTG H.R. McMaster about foreign policy challenges and threats, the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the recent purging of members from military boards. LTG H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s... Source
9/19/2021 • 29 minutes, 1 second
William McGurn on the Afghanistan Exit
Ayaan speaks with William McGurn about President Biden’s disastrous policy in Afghanistan. They discuss Biden’s speech declaring the end of the war, who really made the decision to leave Afghanistan, and the consequences that the U.S. faces from a botched withdrawal. William McGurn is a writes the weekly “Main Street” column each Tuesday for The Wall Street Journal, is a member of the paper’s... Source
9/1/2021 • 52 minutes, 24 seconds
Joe Lonsdale on Rebuilding or Reforming Failing Institutions
Ayaan asks Joe Lonsdale if we should rebuild or reform failing institutions. They also discuss Joe growing up in Silicon Valley, tech and the media, and whether or not the word “nerd” is still a derogatory term. Joe Lonsdale is the managing partner at 8VC, a US-based venture capital firm which manages several billion dollars in committed capital. He was an early institutional investor in many... Source
8/28/2021 • 38 minutes, 35 seconds
Valerie Hudson on The First Political Order
Ayaan speaks with Valerie Hudson about patriarchy and its expressions throughout history. They also discuss dangerous practices that hold women back, such as child marriage, polygamy, and exclusion from inheritance. Valerie M. Hudson is a University Distinguished Professor and holds the George H.W. Bush Chair in the Department of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public... Source
8/12/2021 • 56 minutes, 40 seconds
Yasmine Mohammed on Divorcing a Terrorist [Part II]
Ayaan invites Yasmine Mohammed back on to discuss why the Canadian authorities would not help her escape her forced marriage to an Al-Qaeda terrorist. They discuss other examples of governments failing young, vulnerable girls. Yasmine Mohammed is a Canadian human rights activist who fights for the rights of women living within Muslim-majority countries, as well as those who struggle under... Source
8/5/2021 • 45 minutes, 41 seconds
Yasmine Mohammed on Divorcing a Terrorist
Ayaan speaks with Yasmine Mohammed about her marriage and escape from a man in Al-Qaeda. Yasmine Mohammed is a Canadian human rights activist who fights for the rights of women living within Muslim-majority countries, as well as those who struggle under religious fundamentalism, in general. She founded the nonprofit, Free Hearts Free Minds, which provides mental health support for members of the... Source
7/29/2021 • 51 minutes, 13 seconds
Nicholas Kristof on Child Marriage in the US
Ayaan speaks with Nicholas Kristof about human rights abuses against women and girls around the world. They discuss his recent article, “ A 14-Year-Old Bride, Wed to Her Rapist, Playing on a Jungle Gym,” and dive into the subjects of child marriage, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation. Nicholas Kristof has been a columnist for the New York Times since 2001. He graduated from Harvard... Source
7/22/2021 • 50 minutes, 50 seconds
Helen Joyce on Gender-Identity Ideology
Ayaan speaks with Helen Joyce about her new book, Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality. They discuss the rapid rise of gender-identity ideology, the differences between the US and UK, and much more. Helen Joyce is The Economist’s Britain editor. She joined the paper in 2005 as an education correspondent, and between 2010 and 2013 was the Brazil correspondent, based in São Paulo. Since then she has... Source
7/16/2021 • 1 hour, 10 seconds
Winston Marshall on Speaking Up
Ayaan speaks with Winston Marshall soon after he left the band, Mumford & Sons. They discuss his work helping Hong Kongers integrate into the UK, his interest in speaking up for the Uighurs in China, and much more. This episode was recorded on June 28th, 2021. Winston Marshall was the banjo player in the popular rock band, Mumford & Sons, from 2007-2021. In March, Winston tweeted “Congratulations... Source
7/9/2021 • 1 hour, 4 minutes, 56 seconds
Flemming Rose on the Danish Cartoons
Ayaan talks with Flemming Rose about publishing the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in the Danish publication, Jyllands-Posten, in 2005. Flemming and Ayaan cover the series of events, including a debate over self-censorship and freedom of speech in Denmark that later exploded into international protests, demonstrations, and hysteria abroad. Flemming Rose is a Danish journalist... Source
7/1/2021 • 57 minutes, 39 seconds
Christopher Rufo on Critical Race Theory
Ayaan speaks with Christopher Rufo about his first encounter with critical race theory (CRT), why it is so dangerous, and what is really going on in American schools. They also discuss Christopher’s experience as a documentary film maker, homelessness in San Francisco, and the decline of cities in America. Christopher Rufo is a senior fellow and director of the initiative on critical race theory... Source
6/26/2021 • 57 minutes, 37 seconds
Amy Chua on Tribalism in America
Ayaan talks with Amy Chua about how America has always demonstrated a poor understanding of tribal relations in other cultures, a weakness that makes the country ill-prepared to navigate the increasing tribalism of its own domestic politics. Amy shares her work on ‘market dominant minorities’ and ‘super-groups,’ as both women express concern about the growing political “us vs them” mentality in... Source
6/17/2021 • 47 minutes, 41 seconds
Andrew Doyle on Social Justice
Ayaan talks with Andrew Doyle about the need for comedy in today’s world, how the culture wars affect politics, and the dangers of the social justice movement. Andrew Doyle is a writer, broadcaster and comedian. He is the author of the new book Free Speech and Why It Matters published this year by Constable. He has also written two books under his satirical persona Titania McGrath – Woke: A Guide... Source
6/10/2021 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 36 seconds
Megyn Kelly on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Ayaan talks with Megyn Kelly about sexual harassment in the workplace, critical race theory being taught in schools, and media biases. Megyn Kelly is the founder of Devil May Care Media and currently hosts the podcast The Megyn Kelly Show. As a world-renowned journalist, Kelly rose to prominence reporting on some of the most consequential U.S. and international news events of the past decade. Source
6/3/2021 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 48 seconds
Michael Shermer on the Hijacking of Science
Ayaan talks with Michael Shermer about the hijacking of the scientific method, science being used as a political tool, vaccine hesitancy, and more. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the host of The Michael Shermer Show, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University where he teaches Skepticism 101. For 18 years, he was a columnist for Scientific American. Source
5/28/2021 • 31 minutes, 23 seconds
Michael Shermer on Science, Reason, and Skepticism
Ayaan talks with Michael Shermer about his journey in and out of religion, the ten commandments of freedom of speech, and the concept of moral politics. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the host of The Michael Shermer Show, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University where he teaches Skepticism 101. For 18 years, he was a columnist for Scientific American. Source
5/20/2021 • 55 minutes, 9 seconds
Dana Perino on Positivity
Ayaan talks with Dana Perino about career advice for young women and how she always remains positive. Dana shares stories about growing up in Wyoming, her career choices throughout her life, and her latest book, Everything Will Be Okay: Life Lessons from Young Women (from a Former Young Woman). Dana Perino is co-host of one of the most popular shows on cable television, Fox News’ The Five... Source
5/10/2021 • 46 minutes, 52 seconds
Dambisa Moyo on Growing up in Zambia
Ayaan talks with Dambisa Moyo about growing up in Zambia, the ideas and reception behind her first book, Dead Aid, and her new book, How Boards Work. Dambisa Moyo is a co-principal of Versaca Investments – a family office, focused on growth investing globally. She serves on a number of global corporate boards including: 3M Corporation, Chevron, and Conde Nast, as well as... Source
5/6/2021 • 51 minutes, 17 seconds
Christina Hoff Sommers on Freedom Feminism
Ayaan talks with Christina Hoff Sommers about an alternative to radical feminism: freedom feminism. Christina shares her experiences with radical feminists and how she pushes back against the hysteria. Christina Hoff Sommers is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she studies the politics of gender and feminism, as well as free expression, due process... Source
4/29/2021 • 58 minutes, 1 second
Detective Chris Boughey on Honor Violence
Ayaan talks with Detective Chris Boughey about honor killings in the United States. Detective Boughey describes the 2009 killing of Noor Almaleki by her father. He explains the role the family plays during honor violence cases and the reasons behind honor killings. Detective Boughey is currently assigned as a Detective in the Major Crimes Unit in the criminal investigation sector of the Peoria PD. Source
4/22/2021 • 1 hour, 47 seconds
Dave Rubin on The Future of Liberalism
Ayaan speaks with Dave Rubin about the future of liberalism. Can it be saved and if so, how? They discuss faith, religion, and the pseudo-religion of wokeism. Plus, they explore whether or not we still have a free press. Dave Rubin is an author, comedian, and TV personality best known for his political commentary. He is the host of The Rubin Report, a top-ranking talk show recognized as one of the... Source
4/14/2021 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 24 seconds
Dan Seligson on Polygamy and the Marriage Market
Ayaan speaks with Dan Seligson about polygamy and the marriage market. They explore the question: does polygamy breed poverty or does poverty breed polygamy? Dan also explains where polygamy still exists, the chronic scarcity it creates, and the commodification of women. Dan received his PhD in physics from Berkeley. From 1984 until 2001, he worked at Intel Corp. in Santa Clara and Jerusalem where... Source
4/7/2021 • 1 hour, 32 minutes, 18 seconds
Secretary Mike Pompeo on American Values
Ayaan speaks with Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about American values. They discuss extremist ideologies, competing world powers, the future of the Iran nuclear deal, and our relationship with China. They also discuss the Report of the Commission on Unalienable Rights. Secretary Mike Pompeo served as the 70th Secretary of State of the United States, the Director of the Central Intelligence... Source
4/1/2021 • 33 minutes, 36 seconds
Mustafa Panshiri on Social Attitudes
Ayaan talks with Mustafa Panshiri about how to successfully integrate migrants from countries like Afghanistan and Somalia into Western cultures. They discuss clan systems, differences between cultures, and the juggling of multiple identities that immigrants handle when integrating into a new society. Mustafa Panshiri is a former police officer, writer and lecturer. He was born in Afghanistan and... Source
3/24/2021 • 50 minutes, 58 seconds
Abigail Shrier on Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria
Ayaan speaks with Abigail Shrier about transgenderism and the sudden demographic shift in cases of gender dysphoria. Abigail explains the process of transitioning and the risks of irreversible damage. Abigail Shrier is author of IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College; a Bachelor of Philosophy from the University of... Source
3/17/2021 • 49 minutes, 22 seconds
Hamed Abdel-Samad on Cultural Identities
Ayaan talks with Hamed Abdel-Samad about the Islamization of Egypt, his personal journey from Cairo to Germany, and the struggle of balancing multiple cultural identities. He recounts the memory of his sister undergoing female genital mutilation and the suffering of women in oppressive societies. Hamed Abdel-Samad is an Egyptian-German political scientist and author of several books such as... Source
3/11/2021 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 19 seconds
Vivek Ramaswamy on Stakeholder vs. Shareholder Capitalism
Ayaan talks with Vivek Ramaswamy about essentialism, stakeholder vs. shareholder capitalism, and American freedom. They dive into Vivek’s background, discuss the dangers of wokeism and idea fixing, and explore ways of addressing inequality. Vivek Ramaswamy is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roivant Sciences and the author of the forthcoming book “Woke Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s... Source
3/3/2021 • 45 minutes, 10 seconds
Michael Shellenberger on Climate Change
In this episode, Ayaan talks with Michael Shellenberger about climate change, nuclear energy, and climate apocalypse. Michael shares with Ayaan how the general public can approach climate change issues with common sense. Michael Shellenberger is the founder and president of Environmental Progress and is the author of Apocalypse Never. He has been working as a climate activist for 20 years and an... Source
2/23/2021 • 49 minutes, 3 seconds
Tino Sanandaji on Swedish Immigration & Integration
Ayaan talks with Tino Sanandaji about his experiences immigrating to Sweden. Tino gives a crash course on the history of Swedish immigration. And they discuss the challenges and future of integration in Sweden. Tino Sanandaji is a Kurdish-Swedish economist. Born in Iran, he moved to Sweden as a young boy. He has degrees from Stockholm School of Economics and the University of Chicago. He is now a... Source
2/19/2021 • 1 hour, 54 seconds
Ambassador Nikki Haley on Life and Politics
On this episode, Ayaan talks with Ambassador Nikki Haley about her experiences in life and politics. They discuss the mass shooting at the Mother Emanuel Church, taking down the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House, and much more. Subscribe to support this podcast at ayaanhirsiali.com. Follow Ayaan on Twitter @ayaan. Source
2/16/2021 • 52 minutes, 52 seconds
Ruud Koopmans on Majority and Minority Rights
Ayaan talks with Ruud Koopmans about the relationship between majority and minority groups, as well as issues surrounding integration and assimilation. They also discuss the impacts and dangers of religious fundamentalism, both Christian and Islamic. Subscribe to support this podcast at ayaanhirsiali.com and follow Ayaan on Twitter @ Source
2/11/2021 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 33 seconds
Sam Harris on Threats to Freedom of Speech
On this episode, Ayaan talks with Sam Harris about threats to freedom of speech from internal, external, and religious sources. They reflect on their 15-year friendship and review what has happened to free speech during this time. They also discuss the spread of woke ideology, why Muslim-majority countries have not condemned China for their mistreatment of the Uyghurs, and more. Source
2/8/2021 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 36 seconds
The Ayaan Hirsi Ali Podcast
I’m excited to share with you that I’m starting a new podcast – one that will be a home for critical thinking and common sense. Source
