An Interview with Rav Arora
A discussion of Race, Religion & Free Speech.
This week's guest is Canadian Journalist Rav Arora.
Rav Arora is not afraid to traverse complex, highly political topics. Regardless of whether you agree with his perspectives, the fact he is willing to research nuanced issues and discuss them in the public square is brave.
Rav Arora rose to prominence with an article titled “The fallacy of white privilege — and how it’s corroding society” back in July of 2020. As you might imagine, it was received with a mix of reviews with some praising it as refreshing and others disagreeing with the premise of the argument.
In September 2021, Rav Arora wrote “What it’s really like to be canceled — and how I overcame it” where he talked about the backlash he had received from his piece. In this, he elegantly highlights the price ordinary people face for sharing unorthodox opinions publicly and the dangers of cancel culture.
In the span of a year, Rav Arora managed to tackle two difficult topics thoughtfully with research and statistics and this was just beginning for the young journalist.
From here he would speak to prominent intellectuals like Saagar Enjeti, Adam Carolla, Ben Shapiro, Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster, Glenn Loury, Dr. Drew, Dave Rubin, and Russell Brand. Rav Arora even spoke with the Canadian Psychologist Jordan Peterson. A dream guest of mine, if I’m being honest.
In our increasingly polarized world, it's vital that we maintain the public square as a place for respectful discussion and debate. Rav Arora is someone I resonate with deeply; neither of us is content with the simplicity of orthodox viewpoints. Instead, we strive for nuanced and sophisticated dialogues on critical issues.
Our conversation begins by tracing Rav's roots—his family's background and the origins of his inclination toward deep philosophical discussions—and the foundational principles that inform his stance on contemporary matters.
We delve into Rav's foray into public writing, the genesis of his viewpoints, and the personal impact of the public's reactions to his work.
A significant milestone we touch upon is his interview with Jordan Peterson, a monumental moment for any creator or journalist, given Peterson's influential status.
Rav's engagement in a Twitter debate with Mark Cuban over COVID-19 and myocarditis comes up, highlighting his approach to public discourse, bolstered by a nod from Joe Rogan to present evidence-based arguments.
The conversation doesn't shy away from complex topics such as skepticism, free speech, the pursuit of truth, and the critical need for nuanced discussions.
I inquire about the intricacies of reporting on contentious subjects like COVID-19, vaccines, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and cancel culture. We tackle the duties of a journalist, the pitfalls of audience capture, and the accountability mechanisms when errors are made.
Spanning nearly three hours, our extensive discussion crosses a myriad of subjects. For those interested in the full depth and breadth of our talk, it's available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.