The Shape of Dialogue

About The Shape of Dialogue

The Shape of Dialogue podcast focuses on the foundational principles that make societies function at their best. It initially started with an investigation into free speech, it continues to discuss relevant and interesting topics about our world and how best to navigate through it.

Publisher

Michael Goldwater

Category

education · society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Sept 2020

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

55 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026

   The Shape of Knowledge with Brett Hall - The Shape of Dialogue #50

   About Brett Hall Brett Hall is an expert in epistemology (the theory of knowledge) and the philosophy of science. From childhood, Brett was motivated by the big questions about the universe. He studied an unconventional Bachelor of Science in astronomy, quantum theory, general relativity, mathematics, logic, and, in particular, the philosophy of science at the University of New South Wales. His degree introduced him to Karl Popper and David Deutsch, whose ideas on knowledge, science, physics, ethics, and philosophy shaped his thinking. Subsequently, Brett gained a Bachelor of Teaching (Mathematics and Science) from the University of Western Sydney, a Postgraduate Certificate in TESOL from Macquarie University, a Postgraduate Certificate from the Australian Catholic University, focusing on further mathematics and a Master of Science in Astronomy from Swinburne University, which he regards as his most rigorous and satisfying qualification. This fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming an astronomer, though he never pursued it professionally. He also briefly started a Diploma of Geoscience (Geophysics). Brett worked as a security guard while studying and later as a science communicator at the University of New South Wales’ Outreach Centre, running planetarium shows and science demonstrations. Read Brett’s writings on the physics, epistemology, the philosophy of science and more at www.bretthall.org Follow Brett’s Theory Of Knowledge (TOK) podcast on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmP5H2rF-ER33a58ZD5jCig X - https://x.com/ToKTeacher Also mentioned: David Deutsch - https://www.daviddeutsch.org.uk

2. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Where do ideas come from? with Peter Boghossian - The Shape of Dialogue #50

   https://peterboghossian.com https://www.youtube.com/@drpeterboghossian https://x.com/peterboghossian?s=20 Dr. Peter Boghossian's main focus is bringing the tools of professional philosophers to people in a wide variety of contexts. Peter has a teaching pedigree spanning more than 25 years and 30 thousand students - in prisons, hospitals, public and private schools, seminaries, universities, Fortune 100 companies, and small businesses. His fundamental objective is to teach people how to think through what often seem to be intractable problems. Peter's primary research areas are critical thinking and moral reasoning. His doctoral research studies, funded by the State of Oregon and supported by the Oregon Department of Corrections, consisted of using the Socratic method to help prison inmates to increase their critical thinking and moral reasoning abilities and to increase their desistance to criminal behavior. Music: Bach B Minor Mass Performed by John Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir and The English Baroque Soloists https://music.apple.com/nz/album/j-s-bach-mass-in-b-minor-bwv-232/1053521016 https://open.spotify.com/album/3ELfX4GIPcYOTJBl8PdoKi?si=I8bz8nhaTyK3Qq4E5-ZtXg

3. 

   29 Mar 2026

   What are the pillars of our civilisation? with Rafe Champion - The Shape of Dialogue #48

   Australian Popperian philosopher, Rafe Champion, outlines the five pillars of peace, freedom and prosperity that are the foundations for our Western civilisation. About Rafe Champion: http://www.the-rathouse.com/aboutRafe.html (http://www.the-rathouse.com/aboutRafe.html) The Philosophy Site of Rafe Champion - The Rat House http://www.the-rathouse.com/index.html Five pillars of peace freedom and prosperity https://rafechampion.substack.com/p/five-pillars-of-peace-freedom-and?utm_source=publication-search (https://rafechampion.substack.com/p/five-pillars-of-peace-freedom-and?utm_source=publication-search) Critical rationalism as articulated by Karl Popper The principles of classical or non-collectivist liberalism in politics In economics, the importance Free trade, entrepreneurialism and a market underpinned by the rule of law A moral framework founded on honesty, compassion, civility, personal responsibility, community service, and enterprise. Energy - abundant, reliable, and cheap energy. I, Pencil About I, Pencil: https://fee.org/ebooks/i-pencil/ Read I, Pencil here: https://dn790006.ca.archive.org/0/items/i-pencil-pdf-2019/I%2C%20Pencil%20%28PDF%202019%29.pdf (https://dn790006.ca.archive.org/0/items/i-pencil-pdf-2019/I%2C%20Pencil%20%28PDF%202019%29.pdf) Music: Bach B Minor Mass Performed by John Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir and The English Baroque Soloists https://music.apple.com/nz/album/j-s-bach-mass-in-b-minor-bwv-232/1053521016 https://open.spotify.com/album/3ELfX4GIPcYOTJBl8PdoKi?si=I8bz8nhaTyK3Qq4E5-ZtXg

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

47,971

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

26

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

32

Contact The Shape of Dialogue

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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