The Political Animals

Welcome to the relaunch of The Political Animals Podcast! A show where two political philosophers, one a right-wing radical, the other a left-wing heretic, come together to discuss the social, political and cultural issues of our day. The Political Animals is co-hosted by: Jonathan Cole, an academic interested in conservatism, libertarianism, political ideology and political theology; and Holly Lawford-Smith, an academic working in moral and political philosophy, with a particular interest in feminist theory and movement. You can find Holly on Twitter and YouTube. Want to see our faces? Check out our YouTube channel. Want to suggest a topic for a show, provide feedback or say hello? Email us at [email protected].

Jonathan chats to Mark Hornshaw, a libertarian and Austrian economist who is also socially conservative and a Christian. You can check out some of the articles Mark mentions in the show here: Australia’s Violent Enforcement of Lockdowns Sparks Memories of the Eureka Rebellion. Isaiah’s Job. Jeremiah’s Job.

Jonathan talks to Jack Jacobs about the influence of Burke on his political thought and why he describes himself as an old whig in the mould of Burke.

Jonathan talks to Dr Luke Torrisi about living through the demographic and cultural transformation of southwestern Sydney in the 1980s, his involvement on the right of the NSW Liberal Party in the 1990s and 2000s, and finding his spiritual home in traditionalist conservatism.

The second in a series exploring the political ideas of the Right through intellectual biography. Terrain covered in this episode: Libertarianism Anarcho-capitalism Traditionalist Conservatism Conservative Liberalism Ordoliberalism

A new series profiling interesting personalities and thinkers on the Aussie Right (conservatives, libertarians, liberals and populists). Jordan Dittloff is the lead Senate candidate for the Libertarian Party in Victoria.

Intellectual historian Prof Wayne Hudson returns to the show for a discussion about his latest research project: Australian political thought. The Political Animals is hosted by Dr ⁠Jonathan Cole⁠, an academic, writer, speaker and translator specialising in political theology: the intersection of religion and politics. Jonathan was a senior terrorism analyst at Australian intelligence agency the Office of National Assessments where he worked on Islamist terrorism and the global jihadist movement. He is the author of ⁠The Reign of God: A Critical Engagement with Oliver O'Donovan's Theology of Political Authority⁠ and ⁠Christian Political Theology in an Age of Discontent: Mediating Scripture, Doctrine, and Political Reality⁠.

Simon Kennedy joins Jonathan for a conversation about twentieth century American conservative intellectual Peter Viereck and his critique of so-called new conservatism in America. Simon Kennedy has a PhD in history from the University of Queensland (UQ). He is currently Associate Editor of ⁠Quadrant Magazine⁠ and a Research Fellow in the Law School at UQ. His academic research is in the area of law and politics and their interaction with Christianity. The Political Animals is hosted by Dr ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Cole⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a scholar, writer and translator specialising in political theology: the intersection of religion and politics. Jonathan was a senior terrorism analyst at Australian intelligence agency the Office of National Assessments where he worked on Islamist terrorism and the global jihadist movement.  You can contact Jonathan at [email protected].

Simon Kennedy joins Jonathan for a conversation about conservative philosophy Eric Voegelin’s essay Politics, Science, and Gnosticism, and in particular his thesis that major 20th century political and intellectual movements are modern manifestations of gnosticism. Simon Kennedy has a PhD in history from the University of Queensland (UQ). He is currently Associate Editor of Quadrant Magazine and a Research Fellow in the Law School at UQ. His academic research is in the area of law and politics and their interaction with Christianity. The Political Animals is hosted by Dr ⁠⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Cole⁠⁠⁠⁠, a scholar, writer and translator specialising in political theology: the intersection of religion and politics. Jonathan was a senior terrorism analyst at Australian intelligence agency the Office of National Assessments where he worked on Islamist terrorism and the global jihadist movement.  You can contact Jonathan at [email protected].

Ian Tregenza joins Jonathan for a conversation about the history of Quadrant Magazine and its cultural impact in Australia, and particularly on the nature of conservatism in Australia. Ian is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Sciences at Macquarie University. He works in the areas of political theory, the history of political thought and religion and politics. The Political Animals is hosted by Dr ⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Cole⁠⁠⁠, a scholar, writer and translator specialising in political theology: the intersection of religion and politics. Jonathan was a senior terrorism analyst at Australian intelligence agency the Office of National Assessments where he worked on Islamist terrorism and the global jihadist movement. You can contact Jonathan at [email protected].