Decoding the Gurus
Decoding the Gurus

Decoding the Gurus

Christopher Kavanagh and Matthew Browne

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Episodes

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An exiled Northern Irish anthropologist and a hitchhiking Australian psychologist take a close look at the contemporary crop of 'secular gurus', iconoclasts, and other exiles from the mainstream, offering their own brands of unique takes and special insights. Leveraging two of the most diverse accents in modern podcasting, Chris and Matt dig deep into the claims, peek behind the psychological curtains, and try to figure out once and for all... What's it all About? Join us, as we try to puzzle our way through and talk some smart-sounding smack about the intellectual giants of our age, from Jordan Peterson to Robin DiAngelo. Are they revolutionary thinkers or just grifters with delusions of grandeur? Join us and let's find out!

Recent Episodes

Supplementary Material 41: Ironic Nazis, Blustering Tories, and Ol' Squeaky's Lament
DEC 18, 2025
Supplementary Material 41: Ironic Nazis, Blustering Tories, and Ol' Squeaky's Lament
In this tragic episode, we pay tribute to a fallen comrade and honour his memory with a Supplementary Material 4100:00 Introduction and Swimming Update02:34 The Tragic Tale of Old Squeaky09:01 Sam Harris interpersonal bias & Megyn Kelly26:05 Gary Stevenson vs Rory Stewart36:26 Master Certificates and Jaffa Cakes41:59 Dasha's Nick Fuentes Problem50:08 Nick Fuentes' Racist Remarks54:29 Piers Morgan vs. Nick Fuentes59:08 The Two Nick Fuentes Personas01:02:39 Father Issues01:20:51 Nick Fuentes the Racist01:30:36 Piers Lab Leak Ad Break01:32:52 Antisemitism and Holocaust Denialism01:45:25 IDW Style Credulity and Holocaust Denialism01:48:12 Hitler was really f**king cool?01:58:20 Blustering Boomer Outrage vs. Online Groyperism02:02:09 Debating Misogyny and Extremism02:12:54 Piers Take on Fuentes02:17:11 Overall thoughts on Piers Morgan vs Nick Fuentes02:20:15 Infighting on the Conspiratorial Right02:25:13 Bret Weinstein's Powers of Prediction: Trump on Rob Reiner02:30:29 OutroLinksSam Harris AMAMegyn Kelly Talking About the Drug SmugglersThe Rest Is Politics – Zack Polanski: “I Am a Populist, Farage Is Not”Gary Stevenson’s Public Statement on Rory’s CommentsGary Stevenson’s Master’s Thesis & Chocolate BiscuitsRed Scare – “Nuzzi Salute”“What a Crock of S***!” – Piers Morgan vs Nick Fuentes (Full Interview)Jason Calacanis Reacts to Trump’s MessageBret Weinstein Displays His ForesightTrump’s Follow-Up Comments on Rob Reiner
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43 MIN
Stefan Molyneux, Part 2: Back in the Moly Hole
DEC 4, 2025
Stefan Molyneux, Part 2: Back in the Moly Hole
Cult Season continues, and much like Stefan himself, you may have hoped this would go away after Part 1. Unfortunately, like all persistent internet hauntings, Molyneux has returned. And this time, Chris and Matt venture even deeper into the Moly-Hole, a place where truth is redefined, callers are slowly gaslit into existential confusion, and every philosophical insight is served with the overwhelming scent of narcissism and emotional manipulation.We return to the joyful world of Stefan’s caller-domination rituals, courtesy of Twitter Spaces, where he continues his life’s work of berating strangers and stroking his own ego while insisting he alone possesses the True Meaning of Truth.Listeners can thrill to the culmination of the Truth Call™ from Part 1, where the philosophically inclined young father is sucked further into Stefan’s epistemological meat grinder as Stefan tries to uncover the imaginary psychoanalytic roots of the caller’s ongoing defiance. From there, we are introduced to Caller No. 3 for just a sprinkling of the patented victim-blaming and misogyny of the Molyneux Method.Finally, Chris and Matt offer their overall thoughts on Molyneux’s long and illustrious career as an internet arsehole. They conclude that while Stefan has managed to cycle through platforms, ideologies, and degrees of baldness, he has maintained absolute fidelity to the same psychological tactics—gaslighting, projection, undermining, hypocrisy, and the uncanny ability to make even a throwaway joke feel incredibly creepy.So that’s it for now… collectively we can escape the Moly-Hole, carefully sealing the tunnel entrance as we leave. And let’s pray this is the last time anyone has to think about good ol’ Stefan.Aside from that… Cult Season continues. Abandon hope, etc.LinksFreedomain Radio 6162: The Most Frightening Fact! (Twitter/X Space)Philosophy student reviews Molyneux’s The Art of the ArgumentMichael Shermer’s amazing excuse for endorsing MolyneuxFormer guest discusses Molyneux’s descent into racist pseudoscience (2016)Guardian article (2008) on Molyneux’s online cult & “DeFooing”Daily Mail article (2015) on a family impacted by Molyneux’s communityDaily Beast profile on Molyneux during his Trump pivotSPLC profile on Stefan MolyneuxSPLC investigation of Molyneux’s alt-right connections (2018)College of Psychologists of Ontario: Professional reprimand of Molyneux’s wifeDetailed profile of Molyneux’s community (archived anti-cult site)Channel 5 documentary featuring a former member of Molyneux’s communityStefan’s appearance with Joe Rogan (#538)
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91 MIN
Supplementary Material 40: YouTube Builders, the Discourse Grind, and Sam Harris' Dinner Parties
NOV 29, 2025
Supplementary Material 40: YouTube Builders, the Discourse Grind, and Sam Harris' Dinner Parties
We set down the Chardonnay at the latest heterodox dinner party and lean in for some hearty ‘civil discourse’ to once again defend the trembling pillars of Western civilization.The full episode is available to Patreon subscribers (2 hours, 13 minutes).Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurusSupplementary Material 40: YouTube Builders, the Discourse Grind, and Sam Harris' Dinner Parties00:00 Introduction01:15 Feedback on the Molyneux Episode10:26 Jordan Peterson still defeated by toxic demon mould12:16 Steven Pinker's bad takes on Bjorn Lomborg15:49 Chris vs Sabine28:21 Grok's insane sycophantic glazing of Elon Musk33:54 Musk's Psychology40:59 Sam Harris acknowledges his problem?!?47:18 Sam continues to wrestle with the interpersonal ethics of criticism01:05:10 Triggernometry saves Western Civilization01:15:29 The Wisdom of Francis Foster01:28:42 Triggernometry's Partisan Outrage at the BBC01:38:12 Oppressed Men vs. Complaining Women01:46:29 The YouTube Builders of Western Civilization01:56:42 Pageau vs Bret Weinstein02:01:52 Eric Weinstein sensemaking about Cancellation02:09:58 A PSA about THIS podcastLinksStefan Molyneux accidentally posting as a young woman on his main accountChris arguing with Sabine Hossenfelder– Receipts threadSteven Pinker cheering on Bjorn LomborgInsights from the finances of Bjorn Lomborg’s think tankExample video detailing Lomborg’s rhetoricGuardian article on Grok’s glazing of Elon MuskGrok explains Elon is the best piss drinkerSam Harris Podcast #442 — More From SamTriggernometry: Our Thoughts On Interviewing Dave Smith, Hasan Piker, Sam Harris and Ben ShapiroPageau and Bret’s pre-podcast Twitter sparringEric Weinstein sense-making about wordsOur previous episode on Tiggernometry entering the Big Time
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42 MIN