The Unspeakeasy with Meghan Daum: The Unspeakeasy LIVE

Whats Wrong? With Meghan Daum

Meghan Daum — Sat, 09 May 2026 17:46:14 GMT

As if this guy doesn’t already have enough on his plate, he’s now doing a daily livestream.

That means he’ll take any guest he can get, but I was still honored to be the first official guest after his initial test episodes, which are already collector’s items. We kicked off the conversation with Richard telling me he’d just been to a dinner party where the question was asked, “what’s going on with Meghan Daum?” (As in “is she okay?”) That remains unanswered, but we did have a lively conversation about my current obsession, the mayoral campaign of Spencer Pratt, who went to the same high school as Richard, but otherwise seems eminently qualified to run the city of Los Angeles.

Thanks to all who joined, including possibly LA city councilwoman and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman.

Housekeeping

Don’t miss my interview with Spencer Pratt. The first time (and possibly last time) doing an on-location video shoot.

Here’s my extraordinary conversation with Estela Lopez, who works with business owners on L.A.’s Skid Row.

And here’s my conversation about the homelessness crisis and the new “super meth,” with investigative journalist Sam Quinones.

Available for iOS and Android

GenX Social Hour: Deconstructing Lena Dunham

Meghan Daum — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:56:55 GMT

Full video of this livestream is available to paying subscribers. Upgrade your membership here.

So much fun to talk with about our favorite girl, Lena Dunham! We discussed Lena’s new memoir FAMESICK and our enduring love for GIRLS. This is a truly great conversation. Thanks to Jenny and all who joined us.

Housekeeping

📝 I’ve got Personal Essay and Memo…

Premium: Jury awards gender detransitioner $2M in first ever medical malpractice case

Meghan Daum — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 01:21:05 GMT

Recorded live February 2 at 6pm ET

Thanks to everyone who joined and me for a conversation about his coverage of this landmark trial and his article for The Free Press.

The Free Press

A Legal First That Could Change Gender Medicine

Fox Varian had a turbulent childhood. Her parents split when she was 7, triggering a three-year custody battle that ultimately saw her estranged from her father. She suffered from a constellation of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and social phobia. She was diagnosed with autism and bounced around various schools. Her first period sent her into a meltdown, and she battled disordered eating and body-image issues. By mid-adolescence, she was completely lost…

3 months ago · 283 likes · 597 comments · Benjamin Ryan

Housekeeping

The Unspeakeasy is now officially coed and will focus on in-person events going forward. But don’t worry, we’re offering three women’s retreats this year. The first is in L.A…

What Drove Charlie Kirk's Killer? Ideology or Incoherence?

Meghan Daum — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 23:16:03 GMT

My last-minute livestream this morning with photojournalist Jeremy Lee Quinn covered the developing story of the political and ideological leanings of Tyler Robinson, the alleged perpetrator of last Wednesday’s assassination of Charlie Kirk. Public speculation about Robinson’s motives is shaping up to a massive Rorshach test.

If you’re an anti-Trump pro…

Minneapolis shooting and the trans connection: with Ben Appel

Meghan Daum — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:32:57 GMT

The best laid plans. When the news broke about the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis and the trans (and possibly detrans) identity of the shooter, I asked writer to join me for a livestream conversation at 8pm ET and 5pm my time in Los Angeles.

What I did not anticipate was that my appointment across town would take forev…

Tarot Truth Bomb: Penelope Reads Luba

Meghan Daum — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:01:19 GMT

This one was intense. Penelope counseled Unspeakeasy team member, who recently received some surprising news about her future from a tarot card reader. Should she take the advice seriously? If not, how can she take charge of her destiny and find the life she seeks?

Though Penelope did not mince words with Luba, she had kind words about my book The Catast…

Penelope Trunk Is Back!

Meghan Daum — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:59:33 GMT

Penelope Trunk bathroom selfie/official headshot

The enfant terrible of life coaching is back for another round of harsh yet indispensable advisories. Join us on the livestream this Thursday August 7 at 3pm ET.

You’ll get a notification on your phone when we’re live, but here’s the link just in case.

If you have questions for Penelope, put them in a comm…

From legacy media bores to independent media whores

Meghan Daum — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:43:48 GMT

GenX media professionals reaped the benefits of the last gasps of the golden age of broadcasting and publishing. Today they’re scrambling to make assets and hoping they can eke out a living for another 15 years before they drop dead in the middle of a livestream. Is there any hope for them?

Maybe not for me. But Mike Pesca seems to know what he’s doing.

D…

The gender movement is not gay rights 2.0. It's a new homophobia.

Meghan Daum — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:08:34 GMT

Incredible energy in the room! Thanks to everyone who joined me and the always-captivating yesterday for an overview on last week’s SCOTUS decision prohibiting medical gender transition in kids (at least in Tennessee), thoughts about Andrew Sullivan’s barnburner on Wednesday in The New York Times and Ben’s recent writings on his Substack and elsewhere.

Should humans go extinct? Or just Meghan's abusive internal voice?

Meghan Daum — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 12:16:24 GMT

Another stellar (and occasionally headspinning) conversation with the internet’s preeminent ethnographer,. We talked about her recent article for Pirate Wires on antinatalism, caught up on the latest incel news, and figured out whether I could use an AI friend. I got Radically Honest™ about my struggles with intrusive thoughts and abusive internal mono…

Katherine Dee on Anti-Natalism, Incel Slang, and WHOTO's Afraid of AI

Meghan Daum — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 01:20:55 GMT

Tomorrow, I’m going live with fan favorite, Katherine Dee. A self-defined “internet ethnographer,” Katherine is well-versed in all aspects of the internet. We’ll be talking about AI, anti-natalism, incels and more.

Add it to your calendar here:

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Guest Bio:

Katherine Dee is an internet culture blogger. Everything else is secondary. You can find her at default.blog.

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Also, check out Katherine’s most recent Unspeakable appearance:

Unspeakeasy in New York City: A Small Gathering for Big Ideas

Peter will be one of the guest speakers at my co-ed retreat in NYC, October 11-12, 2025. It will include two days of off-the-record conversations. This coed event will have the same lively discussions and eclectic participants you’ve come to expect from Unspeakeasy retreats. But it will have multiple speakers, more attendees, and more opportunities to meet and interact with your favorite independent thinkers as guest speakers.

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Does Los Angeles need the National Guard?

Meghan Daum — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:08:13 GMT

Great talk yesterday with about the situation in Los Angeles, local law enforcement’s relationship with federal troops, and how to control a crowd versus how to stop a mob. Thanks to all who joined in the chat and to for joining us on the video. (More of you should do that!)

Guest Bio:

Peter Moskos teaches in the Department of Law, Police Science, and …

Does local law enforcement need the National Guard?

Meghan Daum — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 22:14:00 GMT

Over the weekend, President Trump announced that he was going to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to quell the protests and riots happening downtown despite Gov. Gavin Newsom not asking for the help. This sparked a national conversation about whether local law enforcement needs militarized force to manage large-scale upheaval, such as this.

Does it need help? Even as I sit here in L.A., where I can hear fireworks coming from downtown every night, I honestly have no idea. That’s why I’m going live with Peter, who was recently on the podcast and who will be a speaker at our big coed retreat in New York City this October, to discuss the situation.

Add it to your calendar here:

Add to calendar

Guest Bio:

Peter Moskos teaches in the Department of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Moskos, a Princeton and Harvard-trained sociologist, is a former Baltimore City Police Officer and is the director of John Jay College’s NYPD Executive Master’s Leadership Program.

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Also, check out Peter’s most recent Unspeakable interview:

Unspeakeasy in New York City: A Small Gathering for Big Ideas

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Has Kink Positivity Set Back Gay Rights?

Meghan Daum — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 22:02:48 GMT

Thanks to all who joined yesterday’s livestream with journalist . We discussed Glenn Greenwald’s sex tape, whether culturally sanctioned kinkiness is setting back gay acceptance, how you can get monkey pox from your dog, and what’s going on with the New York Times’ long-awaited podcast on medical treatment for trans identified youth.

Stay til the end an…

Livestream with Neal Pollack, Part 1

Meghan Daum — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:10:06 GMT

We had a technical glitch and the video cut off in the middle, so this livestream is in two parts. Here is part 1, which includes Neal riffing about (and with!) his dog in the last several minutes after I disappear. I’ll post part 2 as soon as I can locate it. It has to be here somewhere.

Thanks for your ongoing patience with my ongoing audio issues. I’m…

Kat Rosenfield on immigration reality TV. Chloé Valdary on erotic desire.

Meghan Daum — Fri, 23 May 2025 12:03:06 GMT

Recording of May 22 livestream

This one covered a lot of ground. First, writer joined me to discuss her brand new Unherd article about a proposed reality television show wherein immigrants compete for citizenship. Is it appalling or brilliant? (As ever, there’s a fine line between clever and stupid.)

Next, writer, musician, and now-underemployed DEI entrepreneur came in to talk about writing, concentration, and the eroticism of moving into a new apartment (okay, maybe that was me).

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Has Michelle Obama changed? Or is it us?

Meghan Daum — Sun, 18 May 2025 15:51:09 GMT

Recording of May 15, 2025 livestream

This episode of The Unspeakeasy Live is for paid subscribers. If you want to listen to the full conversation, become a paid subscriber today.

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My recent X post about Michelle Obama, who has a new podcast (of course!), generated a lot of discussion. As a longtime fan, I was confused about her vibe, which seemed somewhat …

Penelope Trunk Answers Your Questions

Meghan Daum — Mon, 12 May 2025 13:05:15 GMT

Thanks to all who joined me for last Thursday’s livestream. Here’s the recording for paying subscribers.

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Last Thursday’s livestream guest was tough love advice goddess . You may know her from her many appearances on the late, great A Special Place In Hell. Penelope prefers Sarah to me, but nonetheless joined me to answer audience questions about finding …

Writer Thomas Beller on "rich times" in a bankrupt city

Meghan Daum — Sat, 10 May 2025 23:27:04 GMT

Thanks to all who joined me for last Tuesday’s livestream. Here’s the recording for paying subscribers.

Tom couldn’t figure out how to get his camera to work, so this is me having a conversation with his profile picture. Next time it’ll be the other way around!

Writer is one of my oldest (as in longest-known) colleagues in the writing world. He is a co…

Coast to Coast with Katherine Dee

Meghan Daum — Tue, 06 May 2025 14:37:43 GMT

Recording of May 1 livestream

This conversation with the unparalleled was so wide-ranging I can’t possible sum it all up here. So you’ll just have to see for yourself. We had a full house. Thanks to all who came!

Most importantly, please check out Kat and co-host Taylor McMahon’s fantastic call-in podcast (titled, appropriately, Call-In Show) and especi…