Episode 577 - Interview with James Kierstead (Research Fellow - New Zealand Initiative)
Originally Recorded September 11th, 2025
About Dr. James Kierstead: https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/about-us/our-people/james-kierstead?start=45
https://owlofathena.substack.com/
Check out Dr. Kierstead's article in Quillette, titled Monogamy and the Making of Western Civilisation: https://quille...
Dr James Kierstead on Different Matters, Grade Inflation and its links
Dr James Kierstead is a Research Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative focusing on higher education policy, including academic freedom.
James holds a BA in Classics from Oxford, an MA in Ancient History from the University of London, an MA in Political Science from Stanford and a PhD in Classics ...
Kerre Woodham: More MPs? I don't think so
I thought I'd start with the idea, the initiative, if you will, coming out of the think tank, the New Zealand Initiative. I love generally the work that they produce because even though you might not agree with the ideas that they put forward, there's generally a good discussion to be had. You he...
Dr James Kierstead: NZ Initiative research fellow on the new reports claiming universities are handing out more 'A' grades
There's revelations a rise in top grades at universities may not be down to New Zealanders getting smarter.
Analysis by the New Zealand Initiative reveals 'A ' grades have increased from 22 percent to 36 percent of all grades since 2006.
B grades have fallen from 47 percent to 38, while C grade...
Universities, democracy and cultural shifts: A farewell to Dr James Kierstead
In this episode, Oliver talks to James Kierstead and Damien Grant about James's departure from New Zealand after 12 years, reflecting on his journey from academia to policy research and his observations of New Zealand's cultural and political shifts since 2013. They discuss the challenges facing ...
Morality of the West with James Kierstead
What is the underpinning of the modern world? Where do we get our morals from? Have we forgotten our past?
James Kierstead co-hosts Free Kiwis!, a podcast dedicated to free speech in New Zealand, and previously was a Research Fellow with the New Zealand Initiative, focussing on higher education p...
Academic freedom and institutional neutrality in New Zealand’s universities
In this episode, Michael talks with Dr James Kierstead about the pressures on academics to align with universities’ institutional priorities, including expectations to incorporate Māori and Pasifika perspectives in all teaching programmes. The discussion raises questions about academic freedom, i...
Does Western Civilisation Exist? James Kierstead on Ancient Greece, Christianity, and the West
Does Western civilisation actually exist — or is it just a modern political myth?
In this episode of the Quillette Cetera podcast, Zoe Booth speaks with classicist James Kierstead about the origins of the West, the “Greek miracle,” Christianity, monogamy, democracy, and the cultural foundations ...
