The Annual Guru Quiz Returns with Helen Lewis (Youtube) (Patreon)

The Annual Guru Quiz Returns with Helen Lewis

Helen Lewis returns for a special festive episode of Decoding the Gurus, bringing back her now-traditional Guru Quiz — a lightly sadistic test of knowledge, foresight, and Matt’s total lack of preparation. This year’s quiz is dusted with Trumpworld, podcast tours, and the unsettling realisation that the Guru-sphere and the MAGA-sphere have quietly fused into a single, monetised, vibes-based organism. Points are awarded, dignity is lost, and Matt briefly considers revising before remembering that revision has never helped him before. Along the way, we discuss Helen's book on Geniuses, the movers and shakers of the Gurusphere heading into 2025, MAGA and UK political manoeuvres, authoritarian comedy festivals, and the collapse of the ancient boundary between editorial content and aggressively hawking pants. Expect festive cheer, sharp analysis, brutal predictions about who will be unbearable next year, and a general lament for the slow erosion of shame. Support the Show: If you enjoy the show and want to support us, you can find us on Patreon, where we have a bunch of extra stuff. ► Patreon: / decodingthegurus Find Us Elsewhere: ► Twitter: @GurusPod ► The Podcast: https://decoding-the-gurus.captivate.fm/ ► Patreon: / decodingthegurus ► Reddit: / decodingthegurus Links - Helen Lewis on Substack https://helenlewis.substack.com/ - Helen's Article on the Riyadh Comedy Festival https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/10/fear-laughing-riyadh-comedy-louis-ck/684527/ - Helen's Article on Olivia Nuzzi's Book https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/12/olivia-nuzzi-memoir/685106/ - The Genius Myth https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Myth-Curious-History-Dangerous/dp/B0DX9W74SZ - That Dave Chappelle picture https://www.instagram.com/reels/DPT-VPbjggk/ 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:30 Book Club Discussion: The Genius Myth 06:02 AI and Creativity: The Role of Technology in Art 19:24 Gurusphere Predictions and Year in Review 32:19 Cult Leaders and Manipulation Tactics 36:32 Hyper Capitalism in Podcasting 44:25 UK Political Landscape and Reform Party 50:26 Japan's Political Climate 54:23 Helen's Trip to the Riyadh Comedy Festival 55:30 The Quiz Begins 01:10:48 Manosphere Content and Gender Issues