This conversation was recorded prior to the U.S. presidential election. Any references to the election or its potential outcomes reflect the perspectives and context at the time of recording.
Stella and Sasha welcome Winston Marshall, former banjoist for Mumford & Sons, to discuss the personal and professional fallout following his tweet about Andy Ngo's book Unmasked. He opens up about navigating censorship, conformity, and the immense power of social media in shaping public discourse. Winston reflects on the pressure artists face when balancing personal beliefs with industry expectations, and how political events influence cultural movements.
Winston Marshall is host of ‘The Winston Marshall Show’, and a co-founder of ‘Dissident Dialogues’ festival of ideas, where the world's leading intellectuals descend upon NYC for two days of debate, discourse and discovery.
In 2007 Winston co-founded folk-rock band Mumford & Sons. In their fourteen years together the band won 2 Grammy Awards, 2 Brit Awards, an Ivor Novello and performed with the likes of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Elton John.
His written work has been published by The Free Press, The Jewish Chronicle, The Spectator, The Daily Mail. Through 2022 and 2023 he hosted the podcast ‘Marshall Matters’ at The Spectator. He has featured on the BBC, Times Radio, LBC, Fox News, Unherd, Triggernometry, and GB News.
In this conversation, Winston shares his experience being thrust into an online firestorm and the deeply personal decision to step away from the band he cherished for over a decade. His choice emerges as an act of integrity, demonstrating the courage it takes to embrace authenticity and stand against the tide of groupthink.
This is a charming episode exploring the complexities of cancel culture, the emotional toll of public backlash, inspirational personal growth, and the pressures in the entertainment industry. Winston offers his deep reflections on the importance of truth-telling in a polarized world, touching on topics like censorship, faith, cultural shifts, and the transformative power of standing firm in one’s beliefs.
Resources & Links
@winston_marshall on YouTube
@MrWinMarshall on X
"Populism Is Democracy!" Winston Marshall’s Oxford Union Speech vs Nancy Pelosi (Oxford Union Debate)
Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy, by Andy Ngo
Live Not By Lies, from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Mattias Desmet: Are you suffering from mass formation psychosis?
Check out Winston Marshall’s recommendations:
Verdi's operatic music - renowned for its dramatic intensity, powerful melodies, and deep emotional expression.
Kill Tony - a dynamic live podcast that brings together comedy, music, and celebrity interviews in a high-energy setting.
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