566. Matthew Syed - The History of Cousin Marriage & How AI Will Kill Us

What if one forgotten law changed the course of history — and we ignored its lesson?

In this explosive interview, Matthew Syed – bestselling author, Times columnist, BBC broadcaster and former Olympian – joins Andrew Gold on Heretics to uncover the shocking truth about cousin marriage, tribalism, immigration, and the hidden ban that built Britain.

From the 6th-century ban on cousin marriage that forced people to look beyond their tribe, to today’s siloed communities in places like Rochdale and Bradford, Syed argues that ignoring these lessons has left Britain vulnerable. We dive into immigration policy, Labour’s failures, the rise of cultural relativism, and why banning cousin marriage may be the only answer left.

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But that’s just the start. Together, we explore whether we’re heading for World War 3, how Protestantism shaped modern success, the dangers of AI that could wipe out humanity, and what the Fermi Paradox reveals about our future. This is one of the most important, uncomfortable, and eye-opening conversations you’ll hear in 2025.

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🎙️ About Matthew Syed

Matthew Syed is a bestselling author of Rebel Ideas, Black Box Thinking and Bounce, a Times columnist, BBC broadcaster and former Olympian. He writes about decision-making, culture, innovation, and the hidden forces that shape society.

Follow Matthew Syed on X: https://x.com/matthewsyed

Check out his work: https://www.matthewsyed.co.uk

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Chapters:

0:00 Matthew Syed Highlights

1:12 Are We Heading for WW3?

4:22 We Live In Very Strange Times

6:22 How We Lost Wisdom & Community

8:22 England Was BEHIND Islamic Countries

11:22 More social cohesion

13:52 Cousin Marriage

16:22 If Matthew Syed Had Been Made To Marry His Cousin

18:22 How Cousin Marriage Ban Changed England

20:22 Labour Won’t Stop It

22:52 Did Protestantism Make Countries Successful

25:22 We Are More Extreme Than You Realise

28:22 Reduce Immigration NOW! Stop Boats

30:22 Russia Sends Immigrants Here

32:42 Sharia Law Enforcer Job Applicant!

34:22 Trump’s Wall - Why Was It So Bad?

36:22 Liz Truss, the Civil Service, Starmer’s Bad Deal

38:22 We Have Deep Problems

41:22 What To Do About Sensationalism & Clickbait

45:22 Finding New Ways to Delay Gratification

48:52 How AI Will Kill Us Very Soon

51:22 The Fermi Paradox

54:27 Israel - Palestine
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