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Unpacking the Woke Right, White Identity Politics & The Equality Fight

In Episode 264 of Derate The Hate, host Wilk Wilkinson welcomes Hunter Ash and returning guest Julian Adorney for a bold, honest, and highly relevant conversation on the rise of woke right identity politics, the pitfalls of anti-racism orthodoxy, and how we might build a more unified, equitable society without falling into the traps of division and fear.

🔥 What we cover:

• The rise of white identity politics and the “woke right”
• How anti-racism initiatives can backfire on the goal of true equality
• The dangerous cycle of reifying group divisions in the name of justice
• DEI, critical race theory, and the real-world consequences of policy
• Building bridges beyond the binaries of left vs. right

👥 Julian Adorney, writer and contributor to Reality’s Last Stand, shares key insights from his article, “Why Christians Must Reject the Woke Right’s Answer to Racism,” offering a hopeful path forward grounded in empathy, faith, and individual dignity.

🎯 Hunter Ash, a bold new voice from the dissident right, challenges mainstream narratives and presents the uncomfortable truths behind many rising sentiments in post-woke conservatism.

✅ Subscribe, rate, and share if you find value in this conversation. We’re here to learn, not just to argue.

🎧 Tune in now and check out previous conversations with Julian Adorney in earlier episodes of Derate The Hate!

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Episode 263: How Contempt Fuels Division and What We Can Do About It – with Zachary Elwood

What’s truly tearing us apart isn’t disagreement—it’s contempt. In Episode 263 of the Derate The Hate podcast, Wilk Wilkinson is joined once again by Zachary Elwood, author of the new book How Contempt Destroys Democracy: An American Liberal’s Guide to Toxic Polarization.

Zach shares powerful insights into how confirmation bias, emotional thinking, and our grievance culture feed political division. Wilk and Zach dive deep into why curiosity is a critical tool for unity, how media and social platforms fuel outrage, and why focusing on local community action can help us escape the national polarization trap.

🎧 Tune in and learn:

• ✅ Why contempt, not disagreement, is one of our biggest societal threats
• ✅ How online behavior fuels tribal thinking
• ✅ The power of emotional intelligence and curiosity in bridging divides
• ✅ What you can do to depolarize conversations in your own life

If you're ready to understand the emotional roots of toxic polarization and what we can do about it, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

🔗 Previous Episode with Zachary Elwood: Check out our earlier conversation in Episode 170 for even more insight into Zach’s powerful work in the depolarization space. Link can be found in the full show notes at DerateTheHate.com

📘 Learn more about Zach’s new book: www.american-anger.com
🎙️ Explore Zach’s podcast: People Who Read People

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Send Wilk a text with your feedback!

Exposing the Cost of Fear: School Closures, Media Failures, and COVID Truths

In DTH Episode 262, Wilk Wilkinson sits down with investigative journalist and author David Zweig to explore the pandemic-era decisions that reshaped American education. David, widely known for his work on the Twitter Files and now his explosive new book, An Abundance of Caution, unpacks how fear, flawed media narratives, and political tribalism drove the closure of schools—with devastating consequences for children and society.

From misinformed public health messaging to the silencing of dissenting voices, this episode pulls back the curtain on what really happened during COVID—and how we can make sure it never happens again.

🔎 Topics include:

✅ Why school closures were more harmful than helpful
✅ How fear-mongering in the media shaped destructive policies
✅ The lasting impact on student learning, development, and mental health
✅ The dangers of manufactured consensus and silence among experts
✅ How political polarization endangered education

Don't miss this powerful conversation with one of today’s most courageous investigative voices.

If you’ve heard my conversations with Dr. Francis Collins (former NIH Director) and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya (current NIH Director), this episode is an essential follow-up. Where they explored restoring trust in science and medicine, David shines a light on some of the how and why that trust was lost in the first place.

What have you done today to make your life a better life? What have you done today to make the world a better place? The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for everything you’ve got. Make each and every day the day that you want it to be!

Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) , YouTube

Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or directly from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. Not on social media? You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our site’s contact page: DerateTheHate.com/Contact

If you would like to support the show, you’re welcome to DONATE or shop our Derate The Hate Merchandise store by clicking here!

I look forward to hearing from you!