Media

Columns that I have permission to reprint will appear as blog posts, while this page will serve as an (incomplete, especially before 2013) archive of radio and television appearances, as well as public talks.

  • Unisa students and allegations of widespread academic dishonesty involving ChatGPT. (PODCAST – Afternoon Drive with John Maytham.) 04/07/2024
  • A discussion on policy reform in Higher Education, with Mike Wills. (PODCAST – Afternoon Drive with John Maytham.) 28/09/2023
  • “The OpenAI chatbot/GPT and the future of higher education.” (PODCAST – Afternoon Drive with John Maytham.) 31/01/2023
  • “Should you be allowed to tweet what you want?” (PODCAST – In the Ring with Eusebius McKaiser.) 03/04/2022
  • eNCA interview on whether South Africa’s liquor ban/restrictions should stay in place post-Covid. (VIDEO – Interview.) 14/09/2021
  • Interview with Refilwe Moloto (CapeTalk) on euthanasia, and the difficulties of letting loved-ones go. (PODCAST – Interview.) 11/09/2021
  • Interview with John Maytham (CapeTalk) on Piers Morgan, cancel culture and free speech. (PODCAST – Interview.) 07/04/2021
  • Interview with Jeremy Maggs on eNCA, on how to deal with Covid-19 vaccine-hesitancy in South Africa. (VIDEO – Interview.) 13/01/2021
  • A panel discussion on religion and morality hosted by Gareth Cliff, featuring Rabbi Yossy Goldman, Pastor Pushie Watson and me. So What Now? 02/09/2020
  • ABSA #stoptostart panel discussion on gender-based violence, hosted by Gareth Cliff (my segment was pre-recorded, and appears at the end). 19/08/2020
  • Issue 20.3 of Gastronomica was a special issue dedicated to food & COVID-19. This is a reading and discussion of my contribution to that issue, broadcast on the Heritage Radio Network. 09/08/2020
  • On free speech and social justice – the Harper’s letter of July 7 and responses to it. (PODCAST – Interview with John Maytham.) 08/07/2020
  • Regulation inconsistencies – why can churches open, but not restaurants? (PODCAST – Interview with Bruce Whitfield.) 27/05/2020
  • On political leaders making ethical decisions during a pandemic. (VIDEO – Interview with Thulasizwe Simelane on eNCA.) 26/05/2020
  • How should laypeople engage with scientific debates on Covid-19? (PODCAST – Interview with Eusebius McKaiser.) 18/05/2020
  • Covid-19, moral panics, and how laypeople can better reason about science. (PODCAST – Interview with Eusebius McKaiser.) 17/03/2020
  • Eusebius McKaiser and I talk about whether racial discrimination is ever justified. (PODCAST – Interview.) 06/08/2019
  • John Maytham and I talk about the ethics of killing and eating whales, in light of Japan resuming whale-hunting for food. (PODCAST – Interview.) 04/07/2019
  • Eusebius McKaiser and I talk about Sean Davison’s sentence for assisting with 3 deaths, and the question of legal reform with regard to assisted dying in general. (PODCAST – Interview.) 20/06/2019
  • On the decision by New Zealand’s Chief Censor to ban the manifesto of the (alleged) Christchurch gunman. (PODCAST – Interview.) 26/03/2019
  • Eusebius McKaiser  and I talk about whether white South Africans have a greater duty to call out racism than white South Africans do. (PODCAST – Interview.) 14/03/2019
  • Eusebius McKaiser  and I talk about “cancel culture”, and whether one should still listen to Michael Jackson, R Kelly (and others who have been exposed as, or strongly alleged to be, abusers). (PODCAST – Interview.) 14/03/2019
  • On the presumption of innocence in the “court” of public opinion. Radio discussion with John Maytham on CapeTalk. (PODCAST – Interview.)
  • On religion in the workplace. A mediated discussion between Rev Sandisele Xhinti, Father Simanagliso Mkhatshwa, Father Russel Pollitt and me, hosted by Stephen Grootes on SAFM. (PODCAST – Interview).
  • Should we forgive each other for morally dubious views held in the past? With reference to Kevin Hart and the Oscars. Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser. (PODCAST – Interview).
  • On expectations students have on entering university, versus the reality of their experiences. Radio discussion with Melanie Rice. (PODCAST – Interview).
  • My presentation on assisted dying at the World Federation of Right to Die Societies conference, September 2018, Cape Town. (VIDEO – YouTube).
  • On “conscientious objection” on the part of government officials to officiate gay marriages. Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • On truth, lies and bullshit – radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on political lies compared to bullshit. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Does the Christian God exist? Max Jeganathan, Eusebius and me in discussion at the Wits Great Hall. Moderated by Mahlatse Mashua. 20 April 2018 (VIDEO – Debate)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham on restricting speech, with reference to the Australian rugby player Israel Folau and his comment confirming that gay folks go to hell. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on strategies for having more productive conversations, particularly on social media. 5 March 2018. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on how social media can contribute to entrenching polarised views, and compromising nuance. 17 January 2018. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Public distrust of science: The failure of facts in a post-truth world. Presentation at the International Summit on Quackery and Pseudoscience. 5 December 2017.
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on the ethical implications of sexbots. 03 October 2017. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on belief perseverance, and why we find it so difficult to change our minds. 07 September 2017. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • On happiness and what it means. Sunday Times column, 3 September 2017.
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on the value and limits of anecdotes by contrast with objective data, 25 July 2017. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with interview with Koketso Sachane (CapeTalk) on religion in schools, 28 June. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Shafiq Morton (Voice of the Cape) on religion in schools, 28 June. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on analogies in public debate. Are some out of bounds, like rape, or comparing things to Apartheid? (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on whether it matters who speaks (identity politics) and the authenticity and virtue of changing your mind (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham (CapeTalk) on the ethics of using animals in circus shows (PODCAST – Interview)
  • “Does God exist?” Radio panel discussion on the Eusebius McKaiser show, with me and Mahlatse Winston Mashua (PODCAST – Panel)
  • Radio panel discussion on identity politics, hosted by Eusebius McKaiser on CapeTalk/Radio702, featuring me and Dr Danai Mupotsa (Wits) (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on CapeTalk/Radio702 on whether it’s possible to have productive discussions with people you disagree with strongly. 10/01/2017 (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Iman Rappetti on PowerFM 98.7 on the nature and value of religion. Also featuring Prof Jaco Beyers (Dept. of Science of Religion and Missiology, University of Pretoria). 23/11/16 (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on Radio702 & CapeTalk on whether religion should be regulated (following the Pastor of DOOM incident). 22/11/16 (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser on Radio702 & CapeTalk on the role of intentions in determining moral guilt. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • “Judge for Yourself”, on Flemming Rose and UCT’s decision to dis-invite him from presenting the TB Davie Academic Freedom Lecture. (VIDEO – TV Panel parts one, two and three)
  • “Reality Trip” – a conversation with Ben Fama Jr. on critical thinking and pseudoscience. (PODCAST – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham (CapeTalk) on whether we have an obligation to vote in national elections. (RADIO – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham (CapeTalk) on Flemming Rose and the UCT TB Davie Lecture. (RADIO – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham (CapeTalk) on hate speech, in the context of Penny Sparrow’s remarks and other recent examples. (RADIO – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham (CapeTalk567) on the HPCSA hearings regarding Prof. Tim Noakes. (RADIO – Interview)
  • Interview on Newtwerk24 on the HPCSA hearings regarding Prof. Tim Noakes. (VIDEO – Web)
  • BBC World Service discussion on assisted dying legislation in South Africa. (RADIO – Panel)
  • Death and the high cost of living (on assisted dying) (PRINT – Mail&Guardian column)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham (CapeTalk567) on Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) President Mcebo Dlamini, who provoked some outrage after saying he “loved Hitler”. (RADIO – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham (CapeTalk567) on the Rhodes statue at UCT, and the potential hypocrisy of accepting Rhodes scholarships while wanting the statue to fall. (RADIO – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham (CapeTalk567) on the LCHF Summit and Prof. Tim Noakes (RADIO – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser (PowerFM) on secularism and religion in State schools (RADIO – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser (PowerFM) on the principles of good argumentation (RADIO – Interview)
  • TEDx panel appearance on the ethics of eating animals (VIDEO – Panel discussion)
  • Radio discussion with John Maytham (CapeTalk567) on the ethics of eating animals (RADIO – Interview)
  • Presentation at The Amaz!ng Meeting (TAM) 2014 – The Responsible Believer (VIDEO – Presentation)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser (PowerFM) on the meaning of life (RADIO – Interview)
  • Radio discussion with Eusebius McKaiser (PowerFM) on the existence of gods (RADIO – Interview)
  • eNCA News (6 June 2013) – Comment on religious language in fisheries draft policy (VIDEO – Television)
  • A SoundCloud archive of other radio appearances.
  • UCT Student FSI Launch Address (4 March 2013) – Why a secular society? (VIDEO – Public Talk) and the Q&A session afterwards.
  • eNCA (23 January 2013) – On racial tensions and violence in South Africa (VIDEO – Television)
  • Consilience Podcast, Episode 26 (8 September 2011) – Interview (PODCAST)
  • Interview with John Maytham, CapeTalk567, on Jacob Zuma, religion and morality (RADIO – Interview)
  • E-TV Newsnight (2010) – Comment on President Jacob Zuma’s call for discussion on our “moral code” (VIDEO – Television)
  • JoziFM interview on occult crime & Satanism (2010) – (RADIO – Interview).
  • FSI Conference Opening Address (29 August 2009) – Preaching to the converted (VIDEO – Public Talk)
  • Carte Blanche (15 March 2009) – on the ‘blasphemous’ Sax Appeal magazine in 2009 (VIDEO – Television)
  • Believe it or not, Radio702  (26 February 2009) – on launching the FSI (RADIO – Interview)
  • Believe it or not, Radio702 (8 October 2006) – on launching the Brights (RADIO – Interview) & the Dawkins interview that followed mine, for interest.