Episode 25

TRANS - Biology or Ideology? with Helen Joyce - The Shape of Dialogue #25

Helen Joyce is a journalist and was a staff writer for The Economist between 2005 and 2022. Helen held various leading positions at The Economist, including education editor, Brazil correspondent, International editor, Finance editor and Britain editor.

Helen's first book, "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality," was published by OneWorld in July 2021. It was reissued in 2023 under the new title "Trans: Gender Identity and the New Battle for Women's Rights."

"Trans" was an immediate bestseller and was named by the Times, Spectator and Observer as one of their books of 2021.

Helen now campaigns for women's rights and works with the start-up human-rights organisation Sex Matters, which campaigns for clarity about the two sexes, male and female, in law and in life.

https://www.thehelenjoyce.com/

https://www.thehelenjoyce.com/trans-news-and-reviews/

https://www.amazon.com.au/TRANS-When-Ideology-Meets-Reality/dp/0861540492

https://sex-matters.org/

Music - Bach Mass in B Minor conducted by John Eliot Gardiner

https://open.spotify.com/album/3HdmIB3Wzcd7bFDdsgaIbp?si=dRMNyRieTLCTHMJfSBZ7mA

About the Podcast

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About your host

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Michael Goldwater

Michael Goldwater is a New Zealand podcaster and host of The Shape of Dialogue, a podcast exploring the foundational principles underpinning well-functioning societies.

Michael's prominent international and New Zealand guests discuss important issues of the day, illuminating what societies require to function effectively and cohesively.

In 2023, Richard Dawkins (the world's most famous scientist) personally asked Michael to host and interview him for his New Zealand speaking tour.

Michael has also interviewed other significant world-renowned thinkers, including Steven Pinker (twice), James Flynn, Lawrence Krauss (twice), Jerry Coyne, Jonathan Rauch, Helen Joyce, Peter Boghossian, Toby Young, Sall Grover, James Lindsay and numerous international and New Zealand scientists and thought leaders.

Michael's interviews are characterised by civil discourse and a genuine curiosity about a diverse range of topics. His podcasts serve as forums for thoughtful explorations of complex societal issues, aiming to inspire listeners to engage in meaningful conversations, consider more than one viewpoint to bridge ideological divides and take a fresh look at subjects that sometimes are not seeing the light of day in other media.

Michael's esteemed guests have discussed a wide range of engaging topics, including science, Indigenous knowledge, education, human rights, women's rights, philosophy, the classics, liberty, free speech, communism, epistemology, trans-ideology, censorship, language and rhetoric. 

Michael is also a musician, educator, businessman and an accomplished photographer. His art photography can be viewed at www.michaelgoldwater.photography

In 2015, Michael founded and led Stop Stealing Our Harbour, an environmental advocacy group dedicated to protecting Auckland's beautiful Waitematā Harbour from continued industrial reclamation. He has been a prominent voice in the national conversation around this issue and has successfully campaigned to stop thousands of tons of concrete from being poured into Auckland's famous harbour.