118 - Meghan Daum - The Problem With Everything

Two for Tea Podcast

General Find out more about Meghan, her books, and articles, on her website: https://www.meghandaum.com/ Follow Meghan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/meghan_daum Buy Meghan’s book ‘The Problem With Everything: My Journey Through The New Culture Wars’: https://www.meghandaum.com/the-problem-with-everything Buy Meghan’s book ‘The Unspeakable: And Other Subjects Of Discussion’: https://www.meghandaum.com/the-unspeakable Listen to Meghan’s ‘The Unspeakable Podcast’: https://www.theunspeakablepodcast.com/ References Meghan’s novel ‘The Quality of Life Report’: https://www.meghandaum.com/the-quality-of-life-report The volume Meghan edited, ‘Selfish, Shallow & Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers On The Decision Not To Have Kids’: https://www.meghandaum.com/selfish-shallow-self-absorbed Timestamps 0:58 Opening and introduction 1:55 Iona reads a passage from an essay in Meghan’s ‘The Unspeakable’ in aid of reflection upon the choice of subjects in non-fiction and the freedoms (and limits) the genre of the personal essay gives authors as opposed to memoirs and non-fiction. Including further discussion on Meghan’s experience with fiction-writing. 16:51 Meghan’s lack of fear in addressing difficult topics. Today’s atmosphere for public thinking compared to earlier in Meghan’s career. The very different reception accorded her most recent book ‘The Problem With Everything’ compared to her previous writings. The radical cultural shift since 2014/15/16: the rise of ‘social justice’ and the casting out of ‘the problematic.’ 23:42 The origins of ‘The Problem With Everything’: the problem with contemporary feminism and the rise of the ‘badass’ trope. The “commodification of grievance” in recent years. How Meghan’s book expanded from a discussion of feminism to become a much broader study of the culture wars. 29:42 The rise of the race discourse to prominence in the culture wars. Are there unspoken tensions between modern feminism and anti-racism? Has race superseded gender/feminism as a culture war flashpoint? The rise of the ‘Karen.’ Where have all the thoughtful people gone? The hijacking of big issues by the least thoughtful among us. 35:05 Reflections on #MeToo. Has there been a “valorisation of victimhood”? Further reflections on the reception of ‘The Problem With Everything’ and the radical culture shift since c. 2014. 52:37 Where are the ‘edgy’ woke folk? Is there a risk of becoming obsessive about all of the woke inanity? 1:00:27 The politicisation of everything. The struggle not to constantly ‘harrumph.’ Can we avoid being angry with people rather than ideas? How much certainty should we have in our beliefs? How do we find a balance between being unapologetic and being epistemically humble? Why is it so difficult to say “I don’t know”? 1:08:10 The generational divide between those who grew up online and those who didn’t. Meghan’s view that hers is the last generation to have experienced an analogue world; her generation has gotten old/obsolete without being old; she sometimes feels closer to boomers decades older than her than millennials much closer to her age. 1:15:35 Iona reads from ‘The Problem With Everything’; a discussion on the role of women, childhood, and moral panics (child abductions, the Satanic panic, ‘the latchkey kid’) ensues. The tension between safety and freedom in our personal lives (particularly in women’s personal lives). 1:23:42 Iona’s feelings about Meghan’s ‘The Unspeakable’ book: how it affected her more personally than Meghan’s other books; the similarities she felt to Meghan’s description of being involved as a volunteer in foster care. Iona’s childhood relationship with her sister, who was a parent figure, growing up. Why Meghan and Iona couldn’t wait to be done with childhood. Plus: on not wanting to have kids. 1:37:22 How did Meghan’s serious freak illness and miraculous survival some years ago affect her views on life? 1:40:08 Last words and outro.