https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/making-sense-with-sam-harris-subscriber-content--6178255enScienceCopyright Michał Czhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/4b011e845006efaa165b75f3602bd970.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/making-sense-with-sam-harris-subscriber-content--6178255Thu, 19 Jun 2025 19:39:28 +0000Michał CzMichał Czfeeds@spreaker.comJoin neuroscientist, philosopher, and best-selling author Sam Harris as he explores important and controversial questions about the human mind, society, and current events. Sam Harris is the author of five New York Times bestsellers. His books include...false68c07244-ee05-561d-8746-b4329de78dabepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/422-zionism-jihadism--66634289@havivrettiggur Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/422-zionism-jihadism]]>1580275Thu, 19 Jun 2025 19:10:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Haviv Rettig Gur about Israel and her enemies. They discuss Israel’s war with Iran and America’s role in the conflict, Israel’s military capabilities, Iran’s nuclear program, what a ground invasion of Iran could look like, how...@havivrettiggur Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/422-zionism-jihadism]]>7451falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/421-more-from-sam-political-violence-iran-deportations-protests-rapid-fire-questions--66592734hhttps://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/421-more-from-sam-political-violence-iran-deportations-protests-rapid-fire-questions]]>1580274Tue, 17 Jun 2025 06:45:00 +0000Michał CzIn this latest episode of the “More From Sam” series, Sam hopped back on with his manager and business partner, Jaron Lowenstein, to talk about current events and answer some of the questions you all submitted on Substack. They discuss the...hhttps://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/421-more-from-sam-political-violence-iran-deportations-protests-rapid-fire-questions]]>3506falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/420-countdown-to-superintelligence--66535556https://ai-2027.com/ X: @DKokotajlo Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/420-countdown-to-superintelligence   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580273Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:30:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Daniel Kokotaljo about the potential impacts of superintelligent AI over the next decade. They discuss Daniel’s predictions in his essay “AI 2027,” the alignment problem, what an intelligence explosion might look like, the...https://ai-2027.com/ X: @DKokotajlo Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/420-countdown-to-superintelligence   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4449falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/419-more-from-sam-elon-vs-trump-religion-jordan-peterson-rapid-fire-questions--66414557 Produced by Griffin Katz Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/419-more-from-sam-elon-vs-trump-religion-jordan-peterson-rapid-fire-questions]]>1580272Fri, 06 Jun 2025 02:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam hopped back on with his manager and business partner, Jaron Lowenstein, to talk about current events and answer some of the questions you all submitted on Substack. This episode was originally recorded on June 4th, but in light of today's events,... Produced by Griffin Katz Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/419-more-from-sam-elon-vs-trump-religion-jordan-peterson-rapid-fire-questions]]>2910falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/418-a-future-for-democrats--66370734https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/418-a-future-for-democrats Website: https://ritchietorres.house.gov/ X: @RitchieTorres, @RepRitchie]]>1580271Mon, 02 Jun 2025 16:30:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Congressman Ritchie Torres about the future of American politics. They discuss how growing up in public housing inspired Ritchie to pursue a career in politics, how the Biden administration became ideologically captured by the...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/418-a-future-for-democrats Website: https://ritchietorres.house.gov/ X: @RitchieTorres, @RepRitchie]]>2742falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/417-philosophy-for-life--66316689How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, and his latest, How to Think Like Socrates, both from St. Martin's Press. He is one of the founders of the Modern Stoicism nonprofit and the founder and president of the Plato's Academy Centre, based in Athens. He was born in Scotland but now lives in Canada and Greece. Website: https://donaldrobertson.substack.com/ X: @DonJRobertson Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/417-philosophy-for-life    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580269Wed, 28 May 2025 17:50:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Donald Robertson about Stoicism and the good life. They discuss the relationship between wisdom and virtue, ancient versions of psychotherapy, parallels between Stoicism and Buddhism, practical vs. analytical styles of...How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, and his latest, How to Think Like Socrates, both from St. Martin's Press. He is one of the founders of the Modern Stoicism nonprofit and the founder and president of the Plato's Academy Centre, based in Athens. He was born in Scotland but now lives in Canada and Greece. Website: https://donaldrobertson.substack.com/ X: @DonJRobertson Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/417-philosophy-for-life    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3777falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/416-more-from-sam-biden-s-big-lie-review-of-tapper-interview-trump-a-case-against-israel-s-actions-in-gaza--662367111580268Fri, 23 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam hopped back on with his manager and business partner, Jaron Lowenstein, to talk about current events and answer some of the questions you all submitted on Substack. They discuss the Biden cover-up and how it compares to Trump’s transgressions,...2828falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/415-the-cover-up--66187821Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. They discuss how the mainstream media failed to cover the issue of Biden’s health, how Biden shielded himself from criticism, the false notion that Biden was simply a bad speaker, the audio released from Biden’s 2023 interview with special counsel Robert Hur, Jake’s experience moderating Biden’s disastrous debate against Trump, Jill and Hunter Biden’s influence on former President Biden’s decision to run again, the Hunter Biden laptop story, anti-democratic processes in the Democratic Party, and other topics. Jake Tapper is a CNN anchor and the network's chief Washington correspondent. He currently anchors an award-winning two-hour weekday program, The Lead with Jake Tapper, which debuted in March 2013. He has hosted CNN’s Sunday morning show, State of the Union, since June 2015. In April 2021, he became the lead anchor for CNN for Washington, D.C. events. Tapper is also the author of several New York Times bestselling books, including Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War and The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, as well as the novels The Hellfire Club, The Devil May Dance, and All the Demons Are Here. Website: simonandschuster.com/p/jake-tapper-books X: @jaketapper Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/415-the-cover-up   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580267Wed, 21 May 2025 16:50:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Jake Tapper about Jake’s new book (with Alex Thompson), https://amzn.to/3Fe9kOw. They discuss how the mainstream media failed to cover the issue of Biden’s health, how Biden shielded himself from criticism, the false notion that...Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. They discuss how the mainstream media failed to cover the issue of Biden’s health, how Biden shielded himself from criticism, the false notion that Biden was simply a bad speaker, the audio released from Biden’s 2023 interview with special counsel Robert Hur, Jake’s experience moderating Biden’s disastrous debate against Trump, Jill and Hunter Biden’s influence on former President Biden’s decision to run again, the Hunter Biden laptop story, anti-democratic processes in the Democratic Party, and other topics. Jake Tapper is a CNN anchor and the network's chief Washington correspondent. He currently anchors an award-winning two-hour weekday program, The Lead with Jake Tapper, which debuted in March 2013. He has hosted CNN’s Sunday morning show, State of the Union, since June 2015. In April 2021, he became the lead anchor for CNN for Washington, D.C. events. Tapper is also the author of several New York Times bestselling books, including Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War and The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, as well as the novels The Hellfire Club, The Devil May Dance, and All the Demons Are Here. Website: simonandschuster.com/p/jake-tapper-books X: @jaketapper Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/415-the-cover-up   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3859falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/414-strange-truths--66059990The Fabric of Reality and The Beginning of Infinity, aimed at the general reader. Website: daviddeutsch.org.uk X: @DavidDeutschOxf Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/strange-truths   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580266Mon, 12 May 2025 19:30:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with David Deutsch about quantum physics and current events. They discuss the “many-worlds” interpretation of QM, Schrödinger’s cat, constructor theory,  quantum computing and whether it will ever be practically possible, recent...The Fabric of Reality and The Beginning of Infinity, aimed at the general reader. Website: daviddeutsch.org.uk X: @DavidDeutschOxf Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/strange-truths   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>8315falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/413-more-from-sam-trump-israel-corruption-free-speech-violations-the-democrats-ezra-klein--65953180https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/413-more-from-sam-trump-israel-corruption-free-speech-violations-the-democrats-ezra-klein   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580265Tue, 06 May 2025 21:33:00 +0000Michał CzSam hopped back on with his manager and business partner, Jaron Lowenstein, to talk about current events and answer some of the questions you all submitted on Substack. They discuss whether Jews in the U.S. are safer under Trump, due process rights...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/413-more-from-sam-trump-israel-corruption-free-speech-violations-the-democrats-ezra-klein   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>2414falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/412-better-things-better-people--65863761Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference. They discuss why it seems like we are at the hinge of human history, wealth inequality, how altruism should be rewarded, how we should think about philanthropic billionaires, effective altruism, why empathy is overrated, moral entrepreneurship, universal basic income, work and meaning, existential risk, and other topics. Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian and author. His books Utopia for Realists (2017) and Humankind (2020) have sold over 2 million copies and have been translated into 46 languages. In 2024, he co-founded The School for Moral Ambition, a non-profit inspired by his book Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference (Dutch edition 2024), which helps ambitious people tackle the world’s most pressing problems. The English edition of Moral Ambition will be released on May 6, 2025. Website: rutgerbregman.com X: @rcbregman Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/412-better-things-better-people   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580264Fri, 02 May 2025 20:40:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Rutger Bregman about Rutger’s new book, https://amzn.to/4jCwmNN. They discuss why it seems like we are at the hinge of human history, wealth inequality, how altruism should be rewarded, how we should think about philanthropic...Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference. They discuss why it seems like we are at the hinge of human history, wealth inequality, how altruism should be rewarded, how we should think about philanthropic billionaires, effective altruism, why empathy is overrated, moral entrepreneurship, universal basic income, work and meaning, existential risk, and other topics. Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian and author. His books Utopia for Realists (2017) and Humankind (2020) have sold over 2 million copies and have been translated into 46 languages. In 2024, he co-founded The School for Moral Ambition, a non-profit inspired by his book Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference (Dutch edition 2024), which helps ambitious people tackle the world’s most pressing problems. The English edition of Moral Ambition will be released on May 6, 2025. Website: rutgerbregman.com X: @rcbregman Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/412-better-things-better-people   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>4334falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/411-the-victimhood-pandemic--65729707Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential. They discuss victimhood culture, narcissism and psychopathy, the personality traits of successful individuals, the dark triad of personality traits, how victimhood culture presents on the Left vs. the Right, free speech, self-esteem and meaning in the age of AI, the replication crisis, the personality traits of MAGA conservatives, IQ, psychedelics, and other topics. Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., is among the top 1 percent of the most cited scientists in the world for his groundbreaking research on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. He is a professor at Columbia University and the director of the Center for Human Potential. He has authored eleven books, including Rise Above, Choose Growth, Transcend, Wired to Create, and Ungifted. Dr. Kaufman hosts The Psychology Podcast, which is widely considered one of the top psychology podcasts in the world. Dr. Kaufman received his Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Yale University. In 2015, he was named one of “50 groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world” by Business Insider. Website: scottbarrykaufman.com X: @sbkaufman Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/411-the-victimhood-pandemic   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580239Fri, 25 Apr 2025 21:10:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Scott Barry Kaufman about Scott’s new book, https://amzn.to/42Is3JI. They discuss victimhood culture, narcissism and psychopathy, the personality traits of successful individuals, the dark triad of personality traits, how...Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential. They discuss victimhood culture, narcissism and psychopathy, the personality traits of successful individuals, the dark triad of personality traits, how victimhood culture presents on the Left vs. the Right, free speech, self-esteem and meaning in the age of AI, the replication crisis, the personality traits of MAGA conservatives, IQ, psychedelics, and other topics. Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., is among the top 1 percent of the most cited scientists in the world for his groundbreaking research on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. He is a professor at Columbia University and the director of the Center for Human Potential. He has authored eleven books, including Rise Above, Choose Growth, Transcend, Wired to Create, and Ungifted. Dr. Kaufman hosts The Psychology Podcast, which is widely considered one of the top psychology podcasts in the world. Dr. Kaufman received his Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Yale University. In 2015, he was named one of “50 groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world” by Business Insider. Website: scottbarrykaufman.com X: @sbkaufman Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/411-the-victimhood-pandemic   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>3948falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/410-the-whole-catastrophe--65644716On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization. They discuss Douglas’s recent experience on Joe Rogan’s podcast, the need for experts, conspiracy theories, the origins and aims of Hamas, the moral asymmetries between Israel and Hamas, what makes jihadism a uniquely dangerous ideology, Hamas’s attack on the Nova music festival, Douglas’s associations with Trump and Trumpism, Elon Musk and X, antisemitism on the Right, and other topics. Douglas Murray is a journalist and bestselling author of 8 books, including On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization (2025), The War on the West (2022), The Madness of Crowds (2019), and The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam (2017). He has been a contributor to Spectator since 2000 and an associate editor since 2012. He is a columnist at the New York Post and regularly writes for The Telegraph and The Sun. He is also a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal.  Website: douglasmurray.net X: @DouglasKMurray Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/410-the-whole-catastrophe   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580238Sun, 20 Apr 2025 20:30:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Douglas Murray about Douglas’s new book, https://amzn.to/443qloy. They discuss Douglas’s recent experience on Joe Rogan’s podcast, the need for experts, conspiracy theories, the origins and aims of Hamas, the moral asymmetries...On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization. They discuss Douglas’s recent experience on Joe Rogan’s podcast, the need for experts, conspiracy theories, the origins and aims of Hamas, the moral asymmetries between Israel and Hamas, what makes jihadism a uniquely dangerous ideology, Hamas’s attack on the Nova music festival, Douglas’s associations with Trump and Trumpism, Elon Musk and X, antisemitism on the Right, and other topics. Douglas Murray is a journalist and bestselling author of 8 books, including On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization (2025), The War on the West (2022), The Madness of Crowds (2019), and The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam (2017). He has been a contributor to Spectator since 2000 and an associate editor since 2012. He is a columnist at the New York Post and regularly writes for The Telegraph and The Sun. He is also a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal.  Website: douglasmurray.net X: @DouglasKMurray Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/410-the-whole-catastrophe   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6585falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/409-more-from-sam-religion-deportations-douglas-murray-vs-rogan-bill-maher-s-dinner-with-trump--65597148https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/409-more-from-sam-religion-deportations-douglas-murray-vs-rogan-bill-mahers-dinner-with-trump   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580237Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:46:00 +0000Michał CzSam hopped back on with his manager and business partner, Jaron Lowenstein, to discuss current events and answer some of the questions you all submitted on Substack. By far the most common feedback we hear from you guys is the following: “We want more...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/409-more-from-sam-religion-deportations-douglas-murray-vs-rogan-bill-mahers-dinner-with-trump   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4138falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/408-finding-equanimity-in-chaos--6556993310% Happier, about a fidgety, skeptical news anchor who finds meditation. He’s also the host of the 10% Happier podcast, where he interviews celebrities, entrepreneurs, authors, scientists, and meditation teachers about how to do life better. For 21 years, he worked at ABC News, where he anchored such shows as Nightline and the weekend editions of Good Morning America. Go to wakingup.com/tenpercent for a 30-day free trial of the Waking Up app.
Website: www.danharris.com/ X: @danbharris Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/408-finding-equanimity-in-chaos   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580235Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:36:00 +0000Michał CzDan Harris interviews Sam Harris for Dan’s podcast, 10% Happier. They discuss how meditation helped Sam after evacuating his home during the LA fires, why Sam owns a gun, the ethics of violence, how to feel compassion for your political opponents, why...10% Happier, about a fidgety, skeptical news anchor who finds meditation. He’s also the host of the 10% Happier podcast, where he interviews celebrities, entrepreneurs, authors, scientists, and meditation teachers about how to do life better. For 21 years, he worked at ABC News, where he anchored such shows as Nightline and the weekend editions of Good Morning America. Go to wakingup.com/tenpercent for a 30-day free trial of the Waking Up app.
Website: www.danharris.com/ X: @danbharris Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/408-finding-equanimity-in-chaos   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>6604falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/407-can-we-ever-return-to-normal-politics--65487841Democracy or Else, which he co-authored alongside his Crooked Media co-founders, is now a New York Times best-seller. Jon lives in Los Angeles with his wife Emily, their sons, Charlie and Teddy, and their dog, Leo. Website: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/ X: @jonfavs Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/407-can-we-ever-return-to-normal-politics   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580234Wed, 09 Apr 2025 20:47:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Jon Favreau about the state of American politics. They discuss the Trump administration’s wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, tariffs, why Trump’s supporters don’t care about his corruption, the next steps for...Democracy or Else, which he co-authored alongside his Crooked Media co-founders, is now a New York Times best-seller. Jon lives in Los Angeles with his wife Emily, their sons, Charlie and Teddy, and their dog, Leo. Website: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/ X: @jonfavs Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/407-can-we-ever-return-to-normal-politics   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3797falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/406-the-legacy-of-christianity--65408550Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World. They discuss the enduring influence of Christianity on the modern world, historical interpretations of crucifixion, the moral systems of ancient societies, Paul's letters, the impact of the parable of the Good Samaritan, Islam and how it relates to Christian notions of morality, secular sources of morality, the collision between Western norms and traditional Islam, how Western societies take their values for granted, the relevance of the Roman Republic and the French Revolution, and other topics. Tom Holland is an award-winning historian, translator, and broadcaster. His most recent book, Pax, covers the heyday of the Roman Empire. He has translated Herodotus and Suetonius for Penguin Classics. He is a co-presenter of the world’s most popular history podcast, The Rest Is History. He has written and presented several TV documentaries on subjects ranging from the Islamic State to dinosaurs. He is a trustee of the British Library, an honorary fellow of Queens’ College, Cambridge, and has been described in The Times as “a leading English cricketer.” He caught his first salmon last October. X: @holland_tom Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/406-the-legacy-of-christianity   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580233Mon, 07 Apr 2025 17:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Tom Holland about his book, https://amzn.to/4i9eokyhttps://amzn.to/4i9eokyhttps://amzn.to/4i9eoky. They discuss the enduring influence of Christianity on the modern world, historical interpretations of crucifixion, the moral...Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World. They discuss the enduring influence of Christianity on the modern world, historical interpretations of crucifixion, the moral systems of ancient societies, Paul's letters, the impact of the parable of the Good Samaritan, Islam and how it relates to Christian notions of morality, secular sources of morality, the collision between Western norms and traditional Islam, how Western societies take their values for granted, the relevance of the Roman Republic and the French Revolution, and other topics. Tom Holland is an award-winning historian, translator, and broadcaster. His most recent book, Pax, covers the heyday of the Roman Empire. He has translated Herodotus and Suetonius for Penguin Classics. He is a co-presenter of the world’s most popular history podcast, The Rest Is History. He has written and presented several TV documentaries on subjects ranging from the Islamic State to dinosaurs. He is a trustee of the British Library, an honorary fellow of Queens’ College, Cambridge, and has been described in The Times as “a leading English cricketer.” He caught his first salmon last October. X: @holland_tom Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/406-the-legacy-of-christianity   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>4802falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/405-more-from-sam-tariffs-signalgate-trump-elon-douglas-murray-joe-rogan--65355433here. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/405-more-from-sam-tariffs-signal-gate-trump-elon-douglas-murray-joe-rogan   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580232Fri, 04 Apr 2025 23:47:00 +0000Michał CzBy far the most common feedback we hear from you guys is the following: “We want more from Sam.” More of his thoughts on current events, more frequently. So that’s what we’re trying here, with this new exploratory series we've creatively titled “More...here. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/405-more-from-sam-tariffs-signal-gate-trump-elon-douglas-murray-joe-rogan   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>2392falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/404-what-if-consciousness-is-fundamental--65109241Chapter 8: Space and Time features author and science writer George Musser, as well as physicists Lee Smolin and Carlo Rovelli. Annaka draws on their noted expertise to explore some of the most mystifying conclusions in quantum theory, how they may validate certain meditative insights, and the ways in which they challenge our basic understanding of reality. Everyday experience tells us that space fills the universe; that causes have effects across time; that the future exists only as potential; that consciousness is confined to intelligent creatures, rather than fundamental to the very structure of being. These bedrock assumptions, when examined through both modern physics and contemplative practices, prove surprisingly fragile—and the fabric of existence profoundly counterintuitive. Annaka Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind and writer and producer of the audio documentary series, LIGHTS ON. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Nautilus Magazine, the Journal of Consciousness Studies, and IAI Magazine. She is also an editor and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics. Annaka is the author of the children’s book I Wonder, coauthor of the Mindful Games Activity Cards, and a volunteer mindfulness teacher for the organization Inner Kids. Website: https://annakaharris.com/ X: @annakaharris Episode References:

• A Solution to the Combination Problem and the Future of Panpsychism by Annaka Harris
• Consciousness Isn’t Self-Centered by Annaka Harris

  Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/404-what-if-consciousness-is-fundamental   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580230Tue, 25 Mar 2025 16:37:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with his wife, Annaka Harris, about LIGHTS ON, her ten-part audio documentary exploring the perplexities of consciousness and the cosmos. They discuss the hard problem of consciousness, whether consciousness is fundamental, what...Chapter 8: Space and Time features author and science writer George Musser, as well as physicists Lee Smolin and Carlo Rovelli. Annaka draws on their noted expertise to explore some of the most mystifying conclusions in quantum theory, how they may validate certain meditative insights, and the ways in which they challenge our basic understanding of reality. Everyday experience tells us that space fills the universe; that causes have effects across time; that the future exists only as potential; that consciousness is confined to intelligent creatures, rather than fundamental to the very structure of being. These bedrock assumptions, when examined through both modern physics and contemplative practices, prove surprisingly fragile—and the fabric of existence profoundly counterintuitive. Annaka Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind and writer and producer of the audio documentary series, LIGHTS ON. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Nautilus Magazine, the Journal of Consciousness Studies, and IAI Magazine. She is also an editor and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics. Annaka is the author of the children’s book I Wonder, coauthor of the Mindful Games Activity Cards, and a volunteer mindfulness teacher for the organization Inner Kids. Website: https://annakaharris.com/ X: @annakaharris Episode References:

• A Solution to the Combination Problem and the Future of Panpsychism by Annaka Harris
• Consciousness Isn’t Self-Centered by Annaka Harris

  Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/404-what-if-consciousness-is-fundamental   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>8436falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/403-sanity-check-on-trump-2-0--64793141TheDispatch.com X: @JonahDispatch Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/403-sanity-check-on-trump-2-0   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580229Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:35:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Jonah Goldberg about the damage Trump is doing domestically and abroad. They discuss Trump’s tariffs, Curtis Yarvin and the Tech Right, threats against Republicans who criticize Trump, why the arguments Republicans are using to...TheDispatch.com X: @JonahDispatch Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/403-sanity-check-on-trump-2-0   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5429falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/402-the-geopolitics-of-trump-2-0--64636468https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/402-the-geopolitics-of-trump-2-0 Sam Harris speaks with Niall Ferguson about the current geopolitical situation. They discuss how Trump is handling the war in Ukraine, Europe’s changing relationship to the U.S., security concerns around Trump’s appointees, the economic impacts of Trump’s policies, how China views political turmoil in the U.S., whether democracy can withstand Trump 2.0, Elon Musk and X, free speech in the United Kingdom, Trump’s plan for Gaza, and other topics. Sir Niall Ferguson, MA, DPhil, FRSE, is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and a senior faculty fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard. He is the author of 16 books, including The Pity of War, The House of Rothschild, and Kissinger: 1923-1968: The Idealist, which won the Council on Foreign Relations’ Arthur Ross Prize. He is a columnist with The Free Press and The Times. He is also the founder and managing director of Greenmantle, a New York-based advisory firm, a co-founder of the Latin American fintech company Ualá, and a co-founding trustee of the new University of Austin. Website: niallferguson.com Twitter: @nfergus   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580228Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:15:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/402-the-geopolitics-of-trump-2-0 Sam Harris speaks with Niall Ferguson about the current geopolitical situation. They discuss how Trump is handling the war in Ukraine,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/402-the-geopolitics-of-trump-2-0 Sam Harris speaks with Niall Ferguson about the current geopolitical situation. They discuss how Trump is handling the war in Ukraine, Europe’s changing relationship to the U.S., security concerns around Trump’s appointees, the economic impacts of Trump’s policies, how China views political turmoil in the U.S., whether democracy can withstand Trump 2.0, Elon Musk and X, free speech in the United Kingdom, Trump’s plan for Gaza, and other topics. Sir Niall Ferguson, MA, DPhil, FRSE, is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and a senior faculty fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard. He is the author of 16 books, including The Pity of War, The House of Rothschild, and Kissinger: 1923-1968: The Idealist, which won the Council on Foreign Relations’ Arthur Ross Prize. He is a columnist with The Free Press and The Times. He is also the founder and managing director of Greenmantle, a New York-based advisory firm, a co-founder of the Latin American fintech company Ualá, and a co-founding trustee of the new University of Austin. Website: niallferguson.com Twitter: @nfergus   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5430falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/401-christian-nationalism-and-the-new-right--64435089https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/401-christian-nationalism-and-the-new-right Sam Harris speaks with Katherine Stewart about her new book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. They discuss Project 2025, Christian nationalism, white supremacy, whether the backlash against wokeness has been overblown, the asymmetric standards between right-wing and left-wing media, Trump’s appeal to evangelicals, wealth inequality, political ideology in public schools, and other topics. Katherine Stewart is the award-winning author of Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (Bloomsbury, 2025). Her previous book, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, formed the basis of the documentary feature God & Country, produced by Rob Reiner. Stewart's work appears in The New York Times opinion section, The New Republic, Religion News Service, and others.  Website: katherinestewart.me Twitter: @kathsstewart Bluesky: @katherinestewart.bsky.social   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580227Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:15:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/401-christian-nationalism-and-the-new-right Sam Harris speaks with Katherine Stewart about her new book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/401-christian-nationalism-and-the-new-right Sam Harris speaks with Katherine Stewart about her new book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. They discuss Project 2025, Christian nationalism, white supremacy, whether the backlash against wokeness has been overblown, the asymmetric standards between right-wing and left-wing media, Trump’s appeal to evangelicals, wealth inequality, political ideology in public schools, and other topics. Katherine Stewart is the award-winning author of Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (Bloomsbury, 2025). Her previous book, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, formed the basis of the documentary feature God & Country, produced by Rob Reiner. Stewart's work appears in The New York Times opinion section, The New Republic, Religion News Service, and others.  Website: katherinestewart.me Twitter: @kathsstewart Bluesky: @katherinestewart.bsky.social   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4349falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/400-the-politics-of-information--64233311https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/400-the-politics-of-information Sam Harris speaks with Helen Lewis about the culture wars. They discuss the role of journalists, DEI, political polarization, feminism, transgender activism, gender roles, the Rotherham scandal, Islam and jihadism, Elon Musk and X, the future of the Democratic Party, and other topics. Helen Lewis is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she writes about politics and culture. Last year, she traveled to Austin to explore what Joe Rogan has done to the city, profiled the controversial American literacy guru Lucy Calkins, and spent the election campaign season in Pennsylvania. Helen is also the host of the BBC's Strong Message Here and Helen Lewis Has Left The Chat. Her first book, Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights, was a Sunday Times bestseller. Her second book, The Genius Myth, explores how the modern idea of genius―a class of special people―is distorting our view of the world. It will be published in the summer by Jonathan Cape (UK) and Thesis (US). She writes a weekly Substack, The Bluestocking. Website: helenlewis.substack.com Twitter: @helenlewis   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580226Thu, 06 Feb 2025 18:26:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/400-the-politics-of-information Sam Harris speaks with Helen Lewis about the culture wars. They discuss the role of journalists, DEI, political polarization, feminism,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/400-the-politics-of-information Sam Harris speaks with Helen Lewis about the culture wars. They discuss the role of journalists, DEI, political polarization, feminism, transgender activism, gender roles, the Rotherham scandal, Islam and jihadism, Elon Musk and X, the future of the Democratic Party, and other topics. Helen Lewis is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she writes about politics and culture. Last year, she traveled to Austin to explore what Joe Rogan has done to the city, profiled the controversial American literacy guru Lucy Calkins, and spent the election campaign season in Pennsylvania. Helen is also the host of the BBC's Strong Message Here and Helen Lewis Has Left The Chat. Her first book, Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights, was a Sunday Times bestseller. Her second book, The Genius Myth, explores how the modern idea of genius―a class of special people―is distorting our view of the world. It will be published in the summer by Jonathan Cape (UK) and Thesis (US). She writes a weekly Substack, The Bluestocking. Website: helenlewis.substack.com Twitter: @helenlewis   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5862falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/399-the-politics-of-catastrophe--63941117https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/399-the-politics-of-catastrophe Sam Harris speaks with Rick Caruso about the Los Angeles fires. They discuss how mismanagement may have contributed to the severity of the fires, who’s to blame, the practice of private firefighting, rebuilding and the future of L.A., how DEI fueled public cynicism toward government, the ethics of having immense wealth, philanthropy, and other topics. Rick Caruso is a philanthropist and the founder and executive chairman of Caruso, one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the U.S. Early in his career, he served as Commissioner for the L.A. Department of Water and Power, before being selected to be President of the L.A. Police Commission. He also served as the chair of the board of trustees at the University of Southern California, and is on the boards of St. John’s Hospital and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation. Website: https://caruso.com/about/rick-caruso/ Twitter: @RickCarusoLA  ]]>1580224Mon, 27 Jan 2025 21:38:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/399-the-politics-of-catastrophe Sam Harris speaks with Rick Caruso about the Los Angeles fires. They discuss how mismanagement may have contributed to the severity of the...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/399-the-politics-of-catastrophe Sam Harris speaks with Rick Caruso about the Los Angeles fires. They discuss how mismanagement may have contributed to the severity of the fires, who’s to blame, the practice of private firefighting, rebuilding and the future of L.A., how DEI fueled public cynicism toward government, the ethics of having immense wealth, philanthropy, and other topics. Rick Caruso is a philanthropist and the founder and executive chairman of Caruso, one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the U.S. Early in his career, he served as Commissioner for the L.A. Department of Water and Power, before being selected to be President of the L.A. Police Commission. He also served as the chair of the board of trustees at the University of Southern California, and is on the boards of St. John’s Hospital and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation. Website: https://caruso.com/about/rick-caruso/ Twitter: @RickCarusoLA  ]]>4549falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/398-thoughts-without-a-thinker--63790231https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/398-thoughts-without-a-thinker Sam provides an update about his experience of the LA fires and shares a few selections from the Waking Up app.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580223Tue, 21 Jan 2025 19:45:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/398-thoughts-without-a-thinker Sam provides an update about his experience of the LA fires and shares a few selections from the Waking Up app.   Learning how to train your...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/398-thoughts-without-a-thinker Sam provides an update about his experience of the LA fires and shares a few selections from the Waking Up app.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1497falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/397-a-new-year-s-message-from-sam--63535119https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/397-a-new-years-message-from-sam   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580222Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:27:21 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/397-a-new-years-message-from-sam   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/397-a-new-years-message-from-sam   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1085falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/396-the-way-forward--63422755https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/396-the-way-forward Sam Harris speaks with Matthew Yglesias about the future of Democratic politics. They discuss where the Democrats went wrong, the failure of identity politics, the Left’s reaction to the Daniel Penny case, what a second Trump term might look like, immigration and the border, gender and racial disparities in crime, wealth inequality, Matthew’s “nine principles for a common sense Democrat comeback,” and other topics. Matthew Yglesias is a columnist for Bloomberg and author of the newsletter Slow Boring. He has also written for The American Prospect, The Atlantic, and Slate. He co-founded Vox in 2014. Website: www.slowboring.com Twitter: @mattyglesias   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580221Fri, 20 Dec 2024 22:10:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/396-the-way-forward Sam Harris speaks with Matthew Yglesias about the future of Democratic politics. They discuss where the Democrats went wrong, the failure of identity...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/396-the-way-forward Sam Harris speaks with Matthew Yglesias about the future of Democratic politics. They discuss where the Democrats went wrong, the failure of identity politics, the Left’s reaction to the Daniel Penny case, what a second Trump term might look like, immigration and the border, gender and racial disparities in crime, wealth inequality, Matthew’s “nine principles for a common sense Democrat comeback,” and other topics. Matthew Yglesias is a columnist for Bloomberg and author of the newsletter Slow Boring. He has also written for The American Prospect, The Atlantic, and Slate. He co-founded Vox in 2014. Website: www.slowboring.com Twitter: @mattyglesias   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5558falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/395-intellectual-authority-and-its-discontents--63272489https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/395-intellectual-authority-and-its-discontents Sam Harris discusses the breakdown of trust in institutions, the nature of intellectual authority, the danger of bad incentives, the epidemic of conspiracy thinking and misinformation, Trump and Elon, and other topics.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580220Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:15:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/395-intellectual-authority-and-its-discontents Sam Harris discusses the breakdown of trust in institutions, the nature of intellectual authority, the danger of bad...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/395-intellectual-authority-and-its-discontents Sam Harris discusses the breakdown of trust in institutions, the nature of intellectual authority, the danger of bad incentives, the epidemic of conspiracy thinking and misinformation, Trump and Elon, and other topics.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1890falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/394-bringing-back-the-mammoth--63131446https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/394-bringing-back-the-mammoth Sam Harris speaks with Ben Lamm about his work at Colossal Biosciences. They discuss his efforts to de-extinct the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo; the difference between Colossal’s approach and Jurassic Park; the details of resurrecting the mammoth; the relevance of this work to human health; the role of artificial intelligence; reintroducing mammoths, Tasmanian tigers, and dodos back into the wild; the environmental and business case for de-extinction; and other topics. Ben Lamm is a technology and software entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Colossal Biosciences, which he co-founded alongside biologist George Church with the goal of resurrecting extinct species. Ben is also a fellow of The Explorer’s Club, and he serves on the scientific advisory board of The Planetary Society. Website: https://colossal.com/ Twitter: @BenLamm   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580218Tue, 03 Dec 2024 18:18:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/394-bringing-back-the-mammoth Sam Harris speaks with Ben Lamm about his work at Colossal Biosciences. They discuss his efforts to de-extinct the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/394-bringing-back-the-mammoth Sam Harris speaks with Ben Lamm about his work at Colossal Biosciences. They discuss his efforts to de-extinct the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo; the difference between Colossal’s approach and Jurassic Park; the details of resurrecting the mammoth; the relevance of this work to human health; the role of artificial intelligence; reintroducing mammoths, Tasmanian tigers, and dodos back into the wild; the environmental and business case for de-extinction; and other topics. Ben Lamm is a technology and software entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Colossal Biosciences, which he co-founded alongside biologist George Church with the goal of resurrecting extinct species. Ben is also a fellow of The Explorer’s Club, and he serves on the scientific advisory board of The Planetary Society. Website: https://colossal.com/ Twitter: @BenLamm   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>2821falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/393-is-history-repeating-itself--63015569https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/393-is-history-repeating-itself Sam Harris speaks with Simon Sebag Montefiore about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the history of the Jews, and the rise of global antisemitism. Simon Sebag Montefiore is an internationally bestselling author and historian. His books include Catherine the Great and Potemkin, Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar, Young Stalin, Jerusalem: The Biography - A History of the Middle East, The Romanovs: 1613–1918, The World: A Family History of Humanity, and The Moscow Trilogy of novels: Sashenka, Red Sky at Noon and One Night in Winter. They have been published in forty-eight languages and have won many prizes, such as the Samuel Johnson Prize, the British Book Awards History Book of the Year Prize, the LA Times Book Prize for Biography (USA), and the Costa Biography Award (UK). He is the presenter of five history series for the BBC, and many of his books are being developed for movies or drama series. He studied history at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University where he received his Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD). Website: simonsebagmontefiore.com Twitter: @simonmontefiore   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580216Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:10:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/393-is-history-repeating-itself Sam Harris speaks with Simon Sebag Montefiore about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the history of the Jews, and the rise of global...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/393-is-history-repeating-itself Sam Harris speaks with Simon Sebag Montefiore about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the history of the Jews, and the rise of global antisemitism. Simon Sebag Montefiore is an internationally bestselling author and historian. His books include Catherine the Great and Potemkin, Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar, Young Stalin, Jerusalem: The Biography - A History of the Middle East, The Romanovs: 1613–1918, The World: A Family History of Humanity, and The Moscow Trilogy of novels: Sashenka, Red Sky at Noon and One Night in Winter. They have been published in forty-eight languages and have won many prizes, such as the Samuel Johnson Prize, the British Book Awards History Book of the Year Prize, the LA Times Book Prize for Biography (USA), and the Costa Biography Award (UK). He is the presenter of five history series for the BBC, and many of his books are being developed for movies or drama series. He studied history at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University where he received his Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD). Website: simonsebagmontefiore.com Twitter: @simonmontefiore   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5619falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/392-technology-culture--62820408https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/392-technology-culture Sam Harris speaks with Christine Rosen about how technology is changing our culture. They discuss the courage of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, lost practices like handwriting, tradeoffs in our use of technology, social media, conspiracy thinking, X as a platform for breaking news, the future of journalism, the importance of local news, the asymmetry right and left politically, the strange case of Tucker Carlson, the antisemitic hallucinations of Dan Bilzerian, expectations for a second Trump presidency, antisemitism in America, and other topics. Christine Rosen is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a columnist for Commentary magazine, and a fellow at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. She is the author of several books, and her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the New York Post, Politico, The Washington Post, National Review, and MIT Technology Review, among other outlets. Rosen has a PhD in history from Emory University and a BA in history from the University of South Florida. She also teaches martial arts and holds a third-degree black belt in aikido. Her most recent book is The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World.
Website: https://www.aei.org/profile/christine-rosen/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580215Tue, 19 Nov 2024 21:03:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/392-technology-culture Sam Harris speaks with Christine Rosen about how technology is changing our culture. They discuss the courage of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, lost practices like...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/392-technology-culture Sam Harris speaks with Christine Rosen about how technology is changing our culture. They discuss the courage of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, lost practices like handwriting, tradeoffs in our use of technology, social media, conspiracy thinking, X as a platform for breaking news, the future of journalism, the importance of local news, the asymmetry right and left politically, the strange case of Tucker Carlson, the antisemitic hallucinations of Dan Bilzerian, expectations for a second Trump presidency, antisemitism in America, and other topics. Christine Rosen is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a columnist for Commentary magazine, and a fellow at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. She is the author of several books, and her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the New York Post, Politico, The Washington Post, National Review, and MIT Technology Review, among other outlets. Rosen has a PhD in history from Emory University and a BA in history from the University of South Florida. She also teaches martial arts and holds a third-degree black belt in aikido. Her most recent book is The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World.
Website: https://www.aei.org/profile/christine-rosen/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4966falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/391-the-reckoning--62693721https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/391-the-reckoning Sam Harris discusses the result of the 2024 presidential election, the lessons that the Democratic Party should draw from it, and the implications of a second Trump term.]]>1580214Mon, 11 Nov 2024 17:18:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/391-the-reckoning Sam Harris discusses the result of the 2024 presidential election, the lessons that the Democratic Party should draw from it, and the implications of a...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/391-the-reckoning Sam Harris discusses the result of the 2024 presidential election, the lessons that the Democratic Party should draw from it, and the implications of a second Trump term.]]>2392falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/390-final-thoughts-on-the-2024-presidential-election--62586075https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/390-final-thoughts-on-the-2024-presidential-election Sam Harris speaks with Mark Cuban about the 2024 presidential election. They discuss Trump’s ethics, his apparent political indestructibility, election denialism, the influence of Elon Musk, the strengths and weaknesses of the Harris campaign, the mystery of the southern border, Trump’s immigration and deportation policies, Elon’s trafficking in the “great replacement theory,” Trump’s economic policy, Harris’s tax and healthcare proposals, the effect of tariffs, the US supply chain, the problem of wealth inequality, a proposed tax on unrealized capital gains, support for Israel, a return to normal politics, and other topics. Mark Cuban is an entrepreneur and investor. He is also known for his role in the television series Shark Tank and his ownership of the Dallas Mavericks. He has been an outspoken supporter of the Harris campaign. Twitter: @mcuban   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580212Fri, 01 Nov 2024 22:12:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/390-final-thoughts-on-the-2024-presidential-election Sam Harris speaks with Mark Cuban about the 2024 presidential election. They discuss Trump’s ethics, his apparent...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/390-final-thoughts-on-the-2024-presidential-election Sam Harris speaks with Mark Cuban about the 2024 presidential election. They discuss Trump’s ethics, his apparent political indestructibility, election denialism, the influence of Elon Musk, the strengths and weaknesses of the Harris campaign, the mystery of the southern border, Trump’s immigration and deportation policies, Elon’s trafficking in the “great replacement theory,” Trump’s economic policy, Harris’s tax and healthcare proposals, the effect of tariffs, the US supply chain, the problem of wealth inequality, a proposed tax on unrealized capital gains, support for Israel, a return to normal politics, and other topics. Mark Cuban is an entrepreneur and investor. He is also known for his role in the television series Shark Tank and his ownership of the Dallas Mavericks. He has been an outspoken supporter of the Harris campaign. Twitter: @mcuban   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4440falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/389-the-politics-of-risk--62505430https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/389-the-politics-of-risk Sam Harris speaks with Nate Silver about cultural attitudes toward risk and the state of American politics. They discuss the erosion of trust in liberal institutions, polling and political narratives, different camps of cultural elites, the influence of Silicon Valley, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Sam Bankman-Fried and the fall of FTX, Gell-Mann amnesia, Christopher Rufo, why Kamala Harris can’t admit to having changed her views, a problem with strict utilitarianism, AI and existential risk, what people misunderstand about election forecasting, which news events have affected the 2024 race, how current polls might be misleading, public vs. private polling, undecided and marginal voters, Gen Z, the gender divide, the likelihood that Trump won’t accept the election results if he loses, election integrity in the swing states, the chance of a landslide, the prospect of public unrest, and other topics. Nate Silver is a statistician, writer, and poker player. He is the founder of FiveThirtyEight and author of the New York Times best sellers The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail—but Some Don't and On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything. He writes the Substack Silver Bulletin. Twitter: @NateSilver538   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580211Fri, 25 Oct 2024 17:50:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/389-the-politics-of-risk Sam Harris speaks with Nate Silver about cultural attitudes toward risk and the state of American politics. They discuss the erosion of trust in...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/389-the-politics-of-risk Sam Harris speaks with Nate Silver about cultural attitudes toward risk and the state of American politics. They discuss the erosion of trust in liberal institutions, polling and political narratives, different camps of cultural elites, the influence of Silicon Valley, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Sam Bankman-Fried and the fall of FTX, Gell-Mann amnesia, Christopher Rufo, why Kamala Harris can’t admit to having changed her views, a problem with strict utilitarianism, AI and existential risk, what people misunderstand about election forecasting, which news events have affected the 2024 race, how current polls might be misleading, public vs. private polling, undecided and marginal voters, Gen Z, the gender divide, the likelihood that Trump won’t accept the election results if he loses, election integrity in the swing states, the chance of a landslide, the prospect of public unrest, and other topics. Nate Silver is a statistician, writer, and poker player. He is the founder of FiveThirtyEight and author of the New York Times best sellers The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail—but Some Don't and On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything. He writes the Substack Silver Bulletin. Twitter: @NateSilver538   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5693falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/388-what-is-life--62450974https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/388-what-is-life Sam Harris speaks with Sara Imari Walker about a scientific understanding of life. They discuss the contributions of physics to this topic, Erwin Schrödinger, the inadequacy of standard definitions of life, the prospect of "artificial" life, the role of information, constructor theory, assembly theory, the space of all possible structures, a "block universe," the existence of abstract objects like numbers, the Fermi paradox, the likelihood of life elsewhere in the universe, experiments that decide how likely life is to emerge, the possibility of a Great Filter, the number of Earth-like worlds, and other topics. Sara Imari Walker is an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist. She is deputy director of the Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science and a professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. She is also a fellow of the Berggruen Institute and a member of the external faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. She is a recipient of the Stanley L. Miller Early-Career Award for her research on the origin of life, and her research team at ASU is internationally regarded as being among the leading labs aiming to build a fundamental theory for understanding what life is. Her research has been featured in Scientific American, Quanta Magazine, and a variety of other international outlets. Her book, Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life's Emergence, is available now. Website: https://search.asu.edu/profile/1731899 Twitter: @Sara_Imari   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580210Mon, 21 Oct 2024 21:35:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/388-what-is-life Sam Harris speaks with Sara Imari Walker about a scientific understanding of life. They discuss the contributions of physics to this topic, Erwin...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/388-what-is-life Sam Harris speaks with Sara Imari Walker about a scientific understanding of life. They discuss the contributions of physics to this topic, Erwin Schrödinger, the inadequacy of standard definitions of life, the prospect of "artificial" life, the role of information, constructor theory, assembly theory, the space of all possible structures, a "block universe," the existence of abstract objects like numbers, the Fermi paradox, the likelihood of life elsewhere in the universe, experiments that decide how likely life is to emerge, the possibility of a Great Filter, the number of Earth-like worlds, and other topics. Sara Imari Walker is an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist. She is deputy director of the Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science and a professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. She is also a fellow of the Berggruen Institute and a member of the external faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. She is a recipient of the Stanley L. Miller Early-Career Award for her research on the origin of life, and her research team at ASU is internationally regarded as being among the leading labs aiming to build a fundamental theory for understanding what life is. Her research has been featured in Scientific American, Quanta Magazine, and a variety of other international outlets. Her book, Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life's Emergence, is available now. Website: https://search.asu.edu/profile/1731899 Twitter: @Sara_Imari   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4416falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/387-politics-power--62376876https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/387-politics-power Sam Harris speaks with Ambassador Rahm Emanuel about the state of world order and American politics. They discuss the mystery of Japan’s economic health, U.S. competition with China, possible conflict over Taiwan and the Philippines, the significance of the South China Sea, the history of the Japan-U.S. friendship, how the Democratic Party lost its way, immigration, whether Vice President Harris needs a “Sister Souljah moment,” whether she should explain her changes of position better than she has, the standing of Israel in the eyes of the world, antisemitism, the Abraham Accords, Hamas, the West Bank, the influence of the religious right in Israel, a possible war with Iran, Netanyahu and Israeli security, a two-state solution, whether a Harris administration would reliably support Israel, and other topics. Rahm Emanuel is currently the U.S. ambassador to Japan. He was a senior advisor to President Bill Clinton before being elected to represent Illinois in the House of Representatives in 2003. He was also President Barack Obama’s chief of staff from 2009 to 2010. In 2011, he was elected mayor of Chicago, where he served until 2019. Twitter: @RahmEmanuel    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580209Tue, 15 Oct 2024 18:10:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/387-politics-power Sam Harris speaks with Ambassador Rahm Emanuel about the state of world order and American politics. They discuss the mystery of Japan’s economic health,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/387-politics-power Sam Harris speaks with Ambassador Rahm Emanuel about the state of world order and American politics. They discuss the mystery of Japan’s economic health, U.S. competition with China, possible conflict over Taiwan and the Philippines, the significance of the South China Sea, the history of the Japan-U.S. friendship, how the Democratic Party lost its way, immigration, whether Vice President Harris needs a “Sister Souljah moment,” whether she should explain her changes of position better than she has, the standing of Israel in the eyes of the world, antisemitism, the Abraham Accords, Hamas, the West Bank, the influence of the religious right in Israel, a possible war with Iran, Netanyahu and Israeli security, a two-state solution, whether a Harris administration would reliably support Israel, and other topics. Rahm Emanuel is currently the U.S. ambassador to Japan. He was a senior advisor to President Bill Clinton before being elected to represent Illinois in the House of Representatives in 2003. He was also President Barack Obama’s chief of staff from 2009 to 2010. In 2011, he was elected mayor of Chicago, where he served until 2019. Twitter: @RahmEmanuel    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4197falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/386-information-social-order--62271806https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/386-information-social-order Sam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about his new book, Nexus, and its application to current crises. They discuss humanity’s capacity for self-destruction, democracy and dictatorship as information networks, the “naive view of information,” the advantages of fiction over truth, trust in institutions, self-correction in a democracy, truth vs. power, truth vs. order, the suicide of conservatism, fixing social media, algorithms as editorial choices, efficiency vs. inefficiency, threats to democracy, the authoritarian character of Trump’s candidacy, the need for patriotism and nationalism, Israeli politics, the peaceful transfer of power, Putin and the war in Ukraine, the vulnerability of world order, the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, antisemitism and anti-colonialism, religious fanaticism among Israelis, the status of Arabs in Israeli society, biblical and post-biblical Judaism, whether a wider war in the Middle East is necessary, the danger of spirituality without ethics, and other topics.
Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher, and the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, the series Sapiens: A Graphic History and Unstoppable Us, and, most recently, Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. His books have sold over 45 million copies in 65 languages, and he is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today. Website: https://www.ynharari.com/ Twitter: @harari_yuval   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580208Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:36:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/386-information-social-order Sam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about his new book, Nexus, and its application to current crises. They discuss humanity’s capacity for...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/386-information-social-order Sam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about his new book, Nexus, and its application to current crises. They discuss humanity’s capacity for self-destruction, democracy and dictatorship as information networks, the “naive view of information,” the advantages of fiction over truth, trust in institutions, self-correction in a democracy, truth vs. power, truth vs. order, the suicide of conservatism, fixing social media, algorithms as editorial choices, efficiency vs. inefficiency, threats to democracy, the authoritarian character of Trump’s candidacy, the need for patriotism and nationalism, Israeli politics, the peaceful transfer of power, Putin and the war in Ukraine, the vulnerability of world order, the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, antisemitism and anti-colonialism, religious fanaticism among Israelis, the status of Arabs in Israeli society, biblical and post-biblical Judaism, whether a wider war in the Middle East is necessary, the danger of spirituality without ethics, and other topics.
Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher, and the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, the series Sapiens: A Graphic History and Unstoppable Us, and, most recently, Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. His books have sold over 45 million copies in 65 languages, and he is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today. Website: https://www.ynharari.com/ Twitter: @harari_yuval   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>7487falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/385-ai-utopia--62167133https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/385-ai-utopia Sam Harris speaks with Nick Bostrom about ongoing progress in artificial intelligence. They discuss the twin concerns about the failure of alignment and the failure to make progress, why smart people don’t perceive the risk of superintelligent AI, the governance risk, path dependence and "knotty problems," the idea of a solved world, Keynes’s predictions about human productivity, the uncanny valley of utopia, the replacement of human labor and other activities, meaning and purpose, digital isolation and plugging into something like the Matrix, pure hedonism, the asymmetry between pleasure and pain, increasingly subtle distinctions in experience, artificial purpose, altering human values at the level of the brain, ethical changes in the absence of extreme suffering, our cosmic endowment, longtermism, problems with consequentialism, the ethical conundrum of dealing with small probabilities of large outcomes, and other topics. Nick Bostrom is a professor at Oxford University, where he is the founding director of the Future of Humanity Institute. He is the author of more than 200 publications, including Anthropic Bias (2002), Global Catastrophic Risks (2008), Human Enhancement (2009), and Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies (2014), a New York Times bestseller which sparked the global conversation about the future of AI. His work has framed much of the current thinking around humanity’s future (such as the concept of existential risk, the simulation argument, the vulnerable world hypothesis, astronomical waste, and the unilateralist’s curse). He has been on Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers list twice, and was the youngest person to rank among the top 15 in Prospect’s World Thinkers list. He has an academic background in theoretical physics, AI, computational neuroscience, and philosophy. His most recent book is Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World. Website: https://nickbostrom.com/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580207Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:46:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/385-ai-utopia Sam Harris speaks with Nick Bostrom about ongoing progress in artificial intelligence. They discuss the twin concerns about the failure of alignment and the...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/385-ai-utopia Sam Harris speaks with Nick Bostrom about ongoing progress in artificial intelligence. They discuss the twin concerns about the failure of alignment and the failure to make progress, why smart people don’t perceive the risk of superintelligent AI, the governance risk, path dependence and "knotty problems," the idea of a solved world, Keynes’s predictions about human productivity, the uncanny valley of utopia, the replacement of human labor and other activities, meaning and purpose, digital isolation and plugging into something like the Matrix, pure hedonism, the asymmetry between pleasure and pain, increasingly subtle distinctions in experience, artificial purpose, altering human values at the level of the brain, ethical changes in the absence of extreme suffering, our cosmic endowment, longtermism, problems with consequentialism, the ethical conundrum of dealing with small probabilities of large outcomes, and other topics. Nick Bostrom is a professor at Oxford University, where he is the founding director of the Future of Humanity Institute. He is the author of more than 200 publications, including Anthropic Bias (2002), Global Catastrophic Risks (2008), Human Enhancement (2009), and Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies (2014), a New York Times bestseller which sparked the global conversation about the future of AI. His work has framed much of the current thinking around humanity’s future (such as the concept of existential risk, the simulation argument, the vulnerable world hypothesis, astronomical waste, and the unilateralist’s curse). He has been on Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers list twice, and was the youngest person to rank among the top 15 in Prospect’s World Thinkers list. He has an academic background in theoretical physics, AI, computational neuroscience, and philosophy. His most recent book is Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World. Website: https://nickbostrom.com/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>5277falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/384-stress-testing-our-democracy--62081157https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/384-stress-testing-our-democracy Sam Harris speaks with Barton Gellman about election integrity and the safeguarding of American democracy. They discuss the war games he's run to test our response to an authoritarian president, using federal troops against American citizens, the difference between laws and norms, state powers to resist the federal government, voter identification and election integrity, political control over election certifications, the Bush-Gore election, the Electoral Count Reform Act, the prospect of public unrest after the November election, January 6th, George Soros, the "good people on both sides" calumny against Trump, what happens to Trump and Trumpism if Harris wins in November, the presidential debate with Harris, the authoritarian potential of a second Trump term, Project 2025, and other topics. Barton Gellman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author. He currently serves as Senior Advisor at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. Previously, he was a staff writer at The Atlantic and The Washington Post. He is the author of Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the American Surveillance State and Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency, for which he won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.  Website: bartongellman.com Twitter: @bartongellman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580205Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/384-stress-testing-our-democracy Sam Harris speaks with Barton Gellman about election integrity and the safeguarding of American democracy. They discuss the war games he's...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/384-stress-testing-our-democracy Sam Harris speaks with Barton Gellman about election integrity and the safeguarding of American democracy. They discuss the war games he's run to test our response to an authoritarian president, using federal troops against American citizens, the difference between laws and norms, state powers to resist the federal government, voter identification and election integrity, political control over election certifications, the Bush-Gore election, the Electoral Count Reform Act, the prospect of public unrest after the November election, January 6th, George Soros, the "good people on both sides" calumny against Trump, what happens to Trump and Trumpism if Harris wins in November, the presidential debate with Harris, the authoritarian potential of a second Trump term, Project 2025, and other topics. Barton Gellman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author. He currently serves as Senior Advisor at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. Previously, he was a staff writer at The Atlantic and The Washington Post. He is the author of Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the American Surveillance State and Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency, for which he won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.  Website: bartongellman.com Twitter: @bartongellman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5227falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/383-where-are-the-grown-ups--62014583https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/383-where-are-the-grown-ups Sam Harris talks about the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the cesspool of X, Tucker Carlson’s conversation with Darryl Cooper, freedom of speech, and other topics.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580204Tue, 17 Sep 2024 21:27:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/383-where-are-the-grown-ups Sam Harris talks about the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the cesspool of X, Tucker Carlson’s conversation with Darryl Cooper,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/383-where-are-the-grown-ups Sam Harris talks about the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the cesspool of X, Tucker Carlson’s conversation with Darryl Cooper, freedom of speech, and other topics.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>2092falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/your-subscription-may-have-expired--61842867lapsed-episode-01Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:28:20 +0000Michał CzPardon the interruption. You’re seeing this message because your subscription may have expired, and you’ll need to renew it at https://samharris.org/subscribe. If you feel your account has been deactivated in error, please visit...29falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/382-the-eye-of-nature--61286872https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/382-the-eye-of-nature Sam Harris speaks with Richard Dawkins about his new book The Genetic Book of the Dead, the genome as a palimpsest, what scientists of the future may do with genetic information, genotypes and phenotypes, embryology and epigenetics, why the Lamarckian theory of acquired characteristics couldn't be true, how environmental selection pressure works, why evolution is hard to think about, human dependence on material culture, the future of genetic enhancement of human beings, viral DNA, symbiotic bacteria, AI and the future of scholarship, resurrecting extinct species, the problem of free speech in the UK, the problem of political Islam and antisemitism in the UK, reflections on Dan Dennett, and other topics. Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist and a best-selling author. He is celebrated globally for his unwavering critique of religion and his commitment to critical thinking. His books include The Ancestor’s Tale, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, A Devil’s Chaplain, The God Delusion, The Greatest Show on Earth, The Magic of Reality, his two-part autobiography An Appetite for Wonder and A Brief Candle in the Dark, and Outgrowing God: A Beginner’s Guide. His final book tour, “An Evening with Richard Dawkins,” is currently underway. Website: https://richarddawkinstour.com Twitter: @RichardDawkins   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580203Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:25:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/382-the-eye-of-nature Sam Harris speaks with Richard Dawkins about his new book https://amzn.to/3X7oYQE, the genome as a palimpsest, what scientists of the future may do with...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/382-the-eye-of-nature Sam Harris speaks with Richard Dawkins about his new book The Genetic Book of the Dead, the genome as a palimpsest, what scientists of the future may do with genetic information, genotypes and phenotypes, embryology and epigenetics, why the Lamarckian theory of acquired characteristics couldn't be true, how environmental selection pressure works, why evolution is hard to think about, human dependence on material culture, the future of genetic enhancement of human beings, viral DNA, symbiotic bacteria, AI and the future of scholarship, resurrecting extinct species, the problem of free speech in the UK, the problem of political Islam and antisemitism in the UK, reflections on Dan Dennett, and other topics. Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist and a best-selling author. He is celebrated globally for his unwavering critique of religion and his commitment to critical thinking. His books include The Ancestor’s Tale, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, A Devil’s Chaplain, The God Delusion, The Greatest Show on Earth, The Magic of Reality, his two-part autobiography An Appetite for Wonder and A Brief Candle in the Dark, and Outgrowing God: A Beginner’s Guide. His final book tour, “An Evening with Richard Dawkins,” is currently underway. Website: https://richarddawkinstour.com Twitter: @RichardDawkins   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4290falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/381-delusions-right-and-left--61164341https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/381-delusions-right-and-left Sam Harris speaks with “Destiny” (Steven Bonnell) about politics and public debate. They discuss how he approaches debate, “Trump derangement syndrome,” January 6th, why Trump’s norm violations don’t matter to many people, misadventures on the information landscape, social media and the problem of being too online, Islam and conflict in the Middle East, the difference between the far left and the far right, the lack of sane conservative policies to counterbalance the left, whether the pendulum is swinging back on the left, the ethics and politics of apology, private friendships and public disagreements, and other topics. Steven Bonnell, otherwise known as Destiny, is a YouTuber and political streamer. His commentary on politics and culture has made him almost ubiquitous online, where he stirs up controversy on both the right and the left. He grew up in a conservative Catholic household, and now spends much of his time arguing against American conservatism. He’s debated many controversial figures, such as Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes.
Website: www.destiny.gg Twitter: @TheOmniLiberal   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580202Mon, 26 Aug 2024 21:30:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/381-delusions-right-and-left Sam Harris speaks with “Destiny” (Steven Bonnell) about politics and public debate. They discuss how he approaches debate, “Trump derangement...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/381-delusions-right-and-left Sam Harris speaks with “Destiny” (Steven Bonnell) about politics and public debate. They discuss how he approaches debate, “Trump derangement syndrome,” January 6th, why Trump’s norm violations don’t matter to many people, misadventures on the information landscape, social media and the problem of being too online, Islam and conflict in the Middle East, the difference between the far left and the far right, the lack of sane conservative policies to counterbalance the left, whether the pendulum is swinging back on the left, the ethics and politics of apology, private friendships and public disagreements, and other topics. Steven Bonnell, otherwise known as Destiny, is a YouTuber and political streamer. His commentary on politics and culture has made him almost ubiquitous online, where he stirs up controversy on both the right and the left. He grew up in a conservative Catholic household, and now spends much of his time arguing against American conservatism. He’s debated many controversial figures, such as Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes.
Website: www.destiny.gg Twitter: @TheOmniLiberal   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6364falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/380-the-roots-of-attention--61128005https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/380-the-roots-of-attention Sam Harris speaks with Amishi Jha about attention and the brain. They discuss how attention is studied, the failure of brain-training games, the relationship between attention and awareness, mindfulness as an intrinsic mental capacity, the neurological implications of different types of meditation, the neural correlates of attention and distraction, the prospects of self-transcendence, the link between thought and emotion, the difference between dualistic and nondualistic mindfulness, studying nondual awareness in the lab, the influence of smartphones, the value of mind wandering, and other topics. Dr. Amishi Jha, PhD, is a professor of psychology at the University of Miami. She serves as the Director of Contemplative Neuroscience for the Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative, which she cofounded in 2010. She received her PhD from the University of California, Davis, and did postdoctoral training at the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University. Her work has been featured at NATO, the World Economic Forum, and the Pentagon, and she’s been covered in The New York Times, NPR, Time magazine, and Forbes. With grants from the Department of Defense and several private foundations, she leads research on the neural bases of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion, resilience, and performance. Dr. Jha’s national bestseller, Peak Mind, describes her work with a variety of high-demand groups, from special forces, elite athletes, and first responders, to teachers, business and medical professionals, and students. Her forthcoming app, Pushups for the Mind, will be available to U.S. military service members in the fall of 2024, and for public release in early 2025. Website: https://amishi.com/ Twitter: @amishijha   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580200Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:20:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/380-the-roots-of-attention Sam Harris speaks with Amishi Jha about attention and the brain. They discuss how attention is studied, the failure of brain-training games, the...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/380-the-roots-of-attention Sam Harris speaks with Amishi Jha about attention and the brain. They discuss how attention is studied, the failure of brain-training games, the relationship between attention and awareness, mindfulness as an intrinsic mental capacity, the neurological implications of different types of meditation, the neural correlates of attention and distraction, the prospects of self-transcendence, the link between thought and emotion, the difference between dualistic and nondualistic mindfulness, studying nondual awareness in the lab, the influence of smartphones, the value of mind wandering, and other topics. Dr. Amishi Jha, PhD, is a professor of psychology at the University of Miami. She serves as the Director of Contemplative Neuroscience for the Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative, which she cofounded in 2010. She received her PhD from the University of California, Davis, and did postdoctoral training at the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University. Her work has been featured at NATO, the World Economic Forum, and the Pentagon, and she’s been covered in The New York Times, NPR, Time magazine, and Forbes. With grants from the Department of Defense and several private foundations, she leads research on the neural bases of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion, resilience, and performance. Dr. Jha’s national bestseller, Peak Mind, describes her work with a variety of high-demand groups, from special forces, elite athletes, and first responders, to teachers, business and medical professionals, and students. Her forthcoming app, Pushups for the Mind, will be available to U.S. military service members in the fall of 2024, and for public release in early 2025. Website: https://amishi.com/ Twitter: @amishijha   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5939falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/379-regulating-artificial-intelligence--61002511https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/379-regulating-artificial-intelligence Sam Harris speaks with Yoshua Bengio and Scott Wiener about AI risk and the new bill introduced in California intended to mitigate it. They discuss the controversy over regulating AI and the assumptions that lead people to discount the danger of an AI arms race. Yoshua Bengio is full professor at Université de Montréal and the Founder and Scientific Director of Mila - Quebec AI Institute. Considered one of the world’s leaders in artificial intelligence and deep learning, he is the recipient of the 2018 A.M. Turing Award with Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun, known as the Nobel prize of computing. He is a Canada CIFAR AI Chair, a member of the UN’s Scientific Advisory Board for Independent Advice on Breakthroughs in Science and Technology, and Chair of the International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI. Website: https://yoshuabengio.org/   Scott Wiener has represented San Francisco in the California Senate since 2016. He recently introduced SB 1047, a bill aiming to reduce the risks of frontier models of AI. He has also authored landmark laws to, among other things, streamline the permitting of new homes, require insurance plans to cover mental healthcare, guarantee net neutrality, eliminate mandatory minimums in sentencing, require billion-dollar corporations to disclose their climate emissions, and declare California a sanctuary state for LGBTQ youth. He has lived in San Francisco's historically LGBTQ Castro neighborhood since 1997. Twitter: @Scott_Wiener   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580199Mon, 12 Aug 2024 16:55:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/379-regulating-artificial-intelligence Sam Harris speaks with Yoshua Bengio and Scott Wiener about AI risk and the new bill introduced in California intended to mitigate it....https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/379-regulating-artificial-intelligence Sam Harris speaks with Yoshua Bengio and Scott Wiener about AI risk and the new bill introduced in California intended to mitigate it. They discuss the controversy over regulating AI and the assumptions that lead people to discount the danger of an AI arms race. Yoshua Bengio is full professor at Université de Montréal and the Founder and Scientific Director of Mila - Quebec AI Institute. Considered one of the world’s leaders in artificial intelligence and deep learning, he is the recipient of the 2018 A.M. Turing Award with Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun, known as the Nobel prize of computing. He is a Canada CIFAR AI Chair, a member of the UN’s Scientific Advisory Board for Independent Advice on Breakthroughs in Science and Technology, and Chair of the International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI. Website: https://yoshuabengio.org/   Scott Wiener has represented San Francisco in the California Senate since 2016. He recently introduced SB 1047, a bill aiming to reduce the risks of frontier models of AI. He has also authored landmark laws to, among other things, streamline the permitting of new homes, require insurance plans to cover mental healthcare, guarantee net neutrality, eliminate mandatory minimums in sentencing, require billion-dollar corporations to disclose their climate emissions, and declare California a sanctuary state for LGBTQ youth. He has lived in San Francisco's historically LGBTQ Castro neighborhood since 1997. Twitter: @Scott_Wiener   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>2911falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/378-digital-delusions--60904168https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/378-digital-delusions Sam Harris speaks with Renée DiResta about the state of our information landscape. They discuss the difference between influence and propaganda, shifts in communication technology, influencers and closed communities, the asymmetry of passion online and the illusion of consensus, the unwillingness to criticize one's own side, audience capture, what we should have learned from the Covid pandemic, what is unique about vaccines, Renée's work at the Stanford Internet Observatory, her experience of being smeared by Michael Shellenberger and Matt Taibbi, Elon Musk and the Twitter files, the false analogy of social media as a digital public square, the imagined "censorship-industrial complex," the 2024 presidential election, and other topics. Renée DiResta is a social media researcher and the author of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality. Her work focuses on adversarial abuse online, including child safety issues, spammers and scammers, and influence campaigns run by state actors. From 2019 to 2023, she was the Technical Research Manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory, a cross-disciplinary program of research, teaching, and policy engagement for the study of abuse in current information technologies. Renée has advised Congress and the executive branch, as well as academic, civic, and business organizations on technology policy and trust & safety topics, including information operations, generative AI, election security, data transparency, and child safety. Website: reneediresta.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580198Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:38:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/378-digital-delusions Sam Harris speaks with Renée DiResta about the state of our information landscape. They discuss the difference between influence and propaganda, shifts...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/378-digital-delusions Sam Harris speaks with Renée DiResta about the state of our information landscape. They discuss the difference between influence and propaganda, shifts in communication technology, influencers and closed communities, the asymmetry of passion online and the illusion of consensus, the unwillingness to criticize one's own side, audience capture, what we should have learned from the Covid pandemic, what is unique about vaccines, Renée's work at the Stanford Internet Observatory, her experience of being smeared by Michael Shellenberger and Matt Taibbi, Elon Musk and the Twitter files, the false analogy of social media as a digital public square, the imagined "censorship-industrial complex," the 2024 presidential election, and other topics. Renée DiResta is a social media researcher and the author of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality. Her work focuses on adversarial abuse online, including child safety issues, spammers and scammers, and influence campaigns run by state actors. From 2019 to 2023, she was the Technical Research Manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory, a cross-disciplinary program of research, teaching, and policy engagement for the study of abuse in current information technologies. Renée has advised Congress and the executive branch, as well as academic, civic, and business organizations on technology policy and trust & safety topics, including information operations, generative AI, election security, data transparency, and child safety. Website: reneediresta.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>5117falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/377-the-future-of-psychedelic-medicine--60815410https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/377-the-future-of-psychedelic-medicine Sam Harris speaks with Dr. Jennifer Mitchell and Dr. Sarah Abedi about recent developments in research on psychedelics. They discuss the history of this research and the war on drugs, recent setbacks in the FDA approval process, MDMA as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the challenges of conducting this research, allegations of therapist misconduct, new therapeutic models for mental health treatment, psychoneuroimmunology, "non-psychedelic" psychedelics, good and bad trips, the FDA's coming decision on MDMA-assisted therapy, "right-to-try" policies for pharmaceuticals, the role of psychedelic therapists, the problem of having all this therapeutic work being done underground, and other topics. Petition to approve MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD: https://www.approvemdmatherapy.com/ Dr. Jennifer Mitchell is a professor in the UCSF Department of Neurology and Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development at the San Francisco VA. Her research is focused on identifying and developing novel therapeutics for drug and alcohol abuse, PTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression and on understanding the neural mechanisms responsible for these disorders. Dr. Mitchell has extensive and diverse experience with human and animal pharmacology, hypothesis-driven neuroscience, human proof-of-concept studies, and clinical trials. For the past few years, her work has centered around the development of psychedelic medicines for a broad range of mental health conditions, including PTSD. Website: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/jennifer.mitchell   Dr. Sarah Abedi is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and psychedelic facilitator for clinical trials. She has worked as a psychedelic facilitator at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute and is set to join the psilocybin and mindfulness study at the USC Center for Mindfulness Science. She works on policy change to expand funding for mental health research. She served as Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Campaign Manager for TREAT California, a citizen-driven ballot initiative aimed at establishing a $5 billion funding agency to explore novel therapeutics, including psychedelics. Currently, Dr. Abedi is the Chief Medical Officer of TREAT Humanity, an organization dedicated to advancing the research of mental health therapeutics, including psychedelics, through enhanced funding mechanisms. Website: www.sarahabedimd.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580196Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:55:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/377-the-future-of-psychedelic-medicine Sam Harris speaks with Dr. Jennifer Mitchell and Dr. Sarah Abedi about recent developments in research on psychedelics. They discuss...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/377-the-future-of-psychedelic-medicine Sam Harris speaks with Dr. Jennifer Mitchell and Dr. Sarah Abedi about recent developments in research on psychedelics. They discuss the history of this research and the war on drugs, recent setbacks in the FDA approval process, MDMA as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the challenges of conducting this research, allegations of therapist misconduct, new therapeutic models for mental health treatment, psychoneuroimmunology, "non-psychedelic" psychedelics, good and bad trips, the FDA's coming decision on MDMA-assisted therapy, "right-to-try" policies for pharmaceuticals, the role of psychedelic therapists, the problem of having all this therapeutic work being done underground, and other topics. Petition to approve MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD: https://www.approvemdmatherapy.com/ Dr. Jennifer Mitchell is a professor in the UCSF Department of Neurology and Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development at the San Francisco VA. Her research is focused on identifying and developing novel therapeutics for drug and alcohol abuse, PTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression and on understanding the neural mechanisms responsible for these disorders. Dr. Mitchell has extensive and diverse experience with human and animal pharmacology, hypothesis-driven neuroscience, human proof-of-concept studies, and clinical trials. For the past few years, her work has centered around the development of psychedelic medicines for a broad range of mental health conditions, including PTSD. Website: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/jennifer.mitchell   Dr. Sarah Abedi is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and psychedelic facilitator for clinical trials. She has worked as a psychedelic facilitator at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute and is set to join the psilocybin and mindfulness study at the USC Center for Mindfulness Science. She works on policy change to expand funding for mental health research. She served as Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Campaign Manager for TREAT California, a citizen-driven ballot initiative aimed at establishing a $5 billion funding agency to explore novel therapeutics, including psychedelics. Currently, Dr. Abedi is the Chief Medical Officer of TREAT Humanity, an organization dedicated to advancing the research of mental health therapeutics, including psychedelics, through enhanced funding mechanisms. Website: www.sarahabedimd.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>4579falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/376-how-democracies-fail--60746705https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/376-how-democracies-fail Sam Harris and Anne Applebaum discuss the nature of modern autocracies and how democracies fail. They discuss the power of ideas, why autocracies seek to undermine democracies, cooperation among dictators, how Western financial experts and investors have enabled autocracies, how Putin came to power, the failure of engagement and investment to create political change, what’s at stake in the war in Ukraine, Trump’s charisma, the current symptoms of American democratic decline, the ideologues around Trump, the hollowing out of institutions, how things might unravel in America, anti-liberal tendencies in American politics, the role of social media, the different pathologies on the Left and Right, analogies to Vichy France, the weakness of the Democrats, the political effects of the assassination attempt on former President Trump, and other topics. Anne Applebaum is a historian, journalist, and staff writer at The Atlantic. She was a columnist for The Washington Post for 17 years. She is the author of five critically acclaimed books: Twilight of Democracy, Red Famine, Iron Curtain, Between East and West, and Gulag, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize. She divides her time between Poland, where her husband is foreign minister, and Washington D.C. Her newest book is Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World.  Website: anneapplebaum.com Twitter: @anneapplebaum]]>1580195Fri, 19 Jul 2024 23:05:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/376-how-democracies-fail Sam Harris and Anne Applebaum discuss the nature of modern autocracies and how democracies fail. They discuss the power of ideas, why autocracies...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/376-how-democracies-fail Sam Harris and Anne Applebaum discuss the nature of modern autocracies and how democracies fail. They discuss the power of ideas, why autocracies seek to undermine democracies, cooperation among dictators, how Western financial experts and investors have enabled autocracies, how Putin came to power, the failure of engagement and investment to create political change, what’s at stake in the war in Ukraine, Trump’s charisma, the current symptoms of American democratic decline, the ideologues around Trump, the hollowing out of institutions, how things might unravel in America, anti-liberal tendencies in American politics, the role of social media, the different pathologies on the Left and Right, analogies to Vichy France, the weakness of the Democrats, the political effects of the assassination attempt on former President Trump, and other topics. Anne Applebaum is a historian, journalist, and staff writer at The Atlantic. She was a columnist for The Washington Post for 17 years. She is the author of five critically acclaimed books: Twilight of Democracy, Red Famine, Iron Curtain, Between East and West, and Gulag, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize. She divides her time between Poland, where her husband is foreign minister, and Washington D.C. Her newest book is Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World.  Website: anneapplebaum.com Twitter: @anneapplebaum]]>5969falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/375-on-the-attempted-assassination-of-president-trump--60710081https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/375-on-the-attempted-assassination-of-president-trump]]>1580194Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:04:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/375-on-the-attempted-assassination-of-president-trumphttps://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/375-on-the-attempted-assassination-of-president-trump]]>845falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/374-consciousness-and-the-physical-world--60643547https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/374-consciousness-and-the-physical-world Sam Harris speaks with Christof Koch about the nature of consciousness. They discuss Christof’s development as a neuroscientist, his collaboration with Francis Crick, change blindness and binocular rivalry, sleep and anesthesia, the limits of physicalism, non-locality, brains as classical systems, conscious AI, idealism and panpsychism, Integrated Information Theory (IIT), what it means to say something “exists,” the illusion of the self, brain bridging, Christof’s experience with psychedelics, and other topics. Christof Koch is a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute and the Chief Scientist of the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation. He is the former president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science and a former professor at the California Institute of Technology. He writes regularly for Scientific American and is the author of five books, most recently Then I Am Myself the World: What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It. Website: https://christofkoch.com/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580191Tue, 09 Jul 2024 14:42:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/374-consciousness-and-the-physical-world Sam Harris speaks with Christof Koch about the nature of consciousness. They discuss Christof’s development as a neuroscientist, his...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/374-consciousness-and-the-physical-world Sam Harris speaks with Christof Koch about the nature of consciousness. They discuss Christof’s development as a neuroscientist, his collaboration with Francis Crick, change blindness and binocular rivalry, sleep and anesthesia, the limits of physicalism, non-locality, brains as classical systems, conscious AI, idealism and panpsychism, Integrated Information Theory (IIT), what it means to say something “exists,” the illusion of the self, brain bridging, Christof’s experience with psychedelics, and other topics. Christof Koch is a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute and the Chief Scientist of the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation. He is the former president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science and a former professor at the California Institute of Technology. He writes regularly for Scientific American and is the author of five books, most recently Then I Am Myself the World: What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It. Website: https://christofkoch.com/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>5444falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/373-anti-zionism-is-antisemitism--60580337https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/373-anti-zionism-is-antisemitism Sam Harris speaks with Michal Cotler-Wunsh about the global rise of antisemitism. They discuss the bias against Israel at the United Nations, the nature of double standards, the precedent set by Israel in its conduct in the war in Gaza, the shapeshifting quality of antisemitism, anti-Zionism as the newest strain of Jew hatred, the “Zionism is racism” resolution at the U.N., the lie that Israel is an apartheid state, the notion that Israel is perpetrating a “genocide” against the Palestinians, the Marxist oppressed-oppressor narrative, the false moral equivalence between the atrocities committed by Hamas and the deaths of noncombatants in Gaza, the failure of the social justice movement to respond appropriately to events in Israel, what universities should have done after October 7th, reclaiming the meanings of words, extremism vs civilization, and other topics. Michal Cotler-Wunsh is Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism. She is a prominent public speaker, author, researcher, and independent policy and strategy advisor on intersecting issues of antisemitism, law, human rights, and Zionism. Michal was a member of Israel’s 23rd Knesset, where she chaired the Addictions Committee & Subcommittee for Israel-Diaspora Relations, was a member of the Foreign Affairs & Security, Constitution, and Law & Justice committees, and co-founded the Interparliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism. Michal is a Trustee in the Rabbi Sacks Legacy. Twitter: @cotlerwunsh]]>1580190Tue, 02 Jul 2024 16:44:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/373-anti-zionism-is-antisemitism Sam Harris speaks with Michal Cotler-Wunsh about the global rise of antisemitism. They discuss the bias against Israel at the United Nations,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/373-anti-zionism-is-antisemitism Sam Harris speaks with Michal Cotler-Wunsh about the global rise of antisemitism. They discuss the bias against Israel at the United Nations, the nature of double standards, the precedent set by Israel in its conduct in the war in Gaza, the shapeshifting quality of antisemitism, anti-Zionism as the newest strain of Jew hatred, the “Zionism is racism” resolution at the U.N., the lie that Israel is an apartheid state, the notion that Israel is perpetrating a “genocide” against the Palestinians, the Marxist oppressed-oppressor narrative, the false moral equivalence between the atrocities committed by Hamas and the deaths of noncombatants in Gaza, the failure of the social justice movement to respond appropriately to events in Israel, what universities should have done after October 7th, reclaiming the meanings of words, extremism vs civilization, and other topics. Michal Cotler-Wunsh is Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism. She is a prominent public speaker, author, researcher, and independent policy and strategy advisor on intersecting issues of antisemitism, law, human rights, and Zionism. Michal was a member of Israel’s 23rd Knesset, where she chaired the Addictions Committee & Subcommittee for Israel-Diaspora Relations, was a member of the Foreign Affairs & Security, Constitution, and Law & Justice committees, and co-founded the Interparliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism. Michal is a Trustee in the Rabbi Sacks Legacy. Twitter: @cotlerwunsh]]>6112falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/372-life-work--60493860https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/372-life-work Sam Harris speaks with George Saunders about his creative process. They discuss George’s involvement with Buddhism, the importance of kindness, psychedelics, writing as a practice, the work of Raymond Carver, the problem of social media, our current political moment, the role of fame in American culture, Wendell Berry, fiction as way of exploring good and evil, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, missed opportunities in ordinary life, what it means to be a more loving person, his article “The Incredible Buddha Boy,” the prison of reputation, Tolstoy, and other topics. George Saunders was born in Amarillo, Texas, and raised in Chicago. He is the author of twelve books, including Lincoln in the Bardo, which won the 2017 Booker Prize for the best work of fiction in English, and Tenth of December, a finalist for the National Book Award. He is also the author of A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, a book about the Russian short story. In 2013, he was named one of the world’s 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. He has taught in the Creative Writing Program at Syracuse University since 1997. Website: https://georgesaundersbooks.com/about-george-saunders   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580188Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:45:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/372-life-work Sam Harris speaks with George Saunders about his creative process. They discuss George’s involvement with Buddhism, the importance of kindness, psychedelics,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/372-life-work Sam Harris speaks with George Saunders about his creative process. They discuss George’s involvement with Buddhism, the importance of kindness, psychedelics, writing as a practice, the work of Raymond Carver, the problem of social media, our current political moment, the role of fame in American culture, Wendell Berry, fiction as way of exploring good and evil, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, missed opportunities in ordinary life, what it means to be a more loving person, his article “The Incredible Buddha Boy,” the prison of reputation, Tolstoy, and other topics. George Saunders was born in Amarillo, Texas, and raised in Chicago. He is the author of twelve books, including Lincoln in the Bardo, which won the 2017 Booker Prize for the best work of fiction in English, and Tenth of December, a finalist for the National Book Award. He is also the author of A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, a book about the Russian short story. In 2013, he was named one of the world’s 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. He has taught in the Creative Writing Program at Syracuse University since 1997. Website: https://georgesaundersbooks.com/about-george-saunders   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4675falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/371-what-the-hell-is-happening--60388291https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/371-what-the-hell-is-happening Sam Harris speaks to Bill Maher about the state of the world. They discuss the aftermath of October 7th, the cowardice and confusion of many celebrities, gender apartheid, the failures of the Biden campaign, Bill’s relationship to his audience, the differences between the left and right, Megyn Kelly, loss of confidence in the media, expectations for the 2024 election, the security concerns of old-school Republicans, the prospect of a second Trump term, totalitarian regimes, functioning under medical uncertainty, Bill’s plan to stop doing stand-up (maybe), looking back on his career, his experience of fame, Jerry Seinfeld, and other topics. Bill Maher has been on TV for 30 years. His new book What This Comedian Said Will Shock You reached number one on the NYT bestseller list. Watch his podcast Club Random on Youtube or listen everywhere. Website: billmaher.com Twitter: @billmaher   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580187Fri, 14 Jun 2024 18:00:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/371-what-the-hell-is-happening Sam Harris speaks to Bill Maher about the state of the world. They discuss the aftermath of October 7th, the cowardice and confusion of many...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/371-what-the-hell-is-happening Sam Harris speaks to Bill Maher about the state of the world. They discuss the aftermath of October 7th, the cowardice and confusion of many celebrities, gender apartheid, the failures of the Biden campaign, Bill’s relationship to his audience, the differences between the left and right, Megyn Kelly, loss of confidence in the media, expectations for the 2024 election, the security concerns of old-school Republicans, the prospect of a second Trump term, totalitarian regimes, functioning under medical uncertainty, Bill’s plan to stop doing stand-up (maybe), looking back on his career, his experience of fame, Jerry Seinfeld, and other topics. Bill Maher has been on TV for 30 years. His new book What This Comedian Said Will Shock You reached number one on the NYT bestseller list. Watch his podcast Club Random on Youtube or listen everywhere. Website: billmaher.com Twitter: @billmaher   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5341falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/370-gender-apartheid-and-the-future-of-iran--60304546https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/370-gender-apartheid-and-the-future-of-iran In today’s housekeeping, Sam explains his digital business model. He and Yasmine Mohammed (co-host) then speak with Masih Alinejad about gender apartheid in Iran. They discuss the Iranian revolution, the hypocrisy of Western feminists, the morality police and the significance of the hijab, the My Stealthy Freedom campaign, kidnapping and assassination plots against Masih, lack of action from the U.S. government, the effect of sanctions, the cowardice of Western journalists, the difference between the Iranian population and the Arab street, the unique perspective of Persian Jews, Islamism and immigration, the infiltration of universities, and other topics. Yasmine Mohammed is the founder and President of Free Hearts Free Minds, a nonprofit charity that provides mental health support for freethinkers living within Muslim majority countries—where the 'crime' of renouncing religion can be punished by execution. ​Her book, Unveiled, is a memoir that recalls her experiences growing up in a fundamentalist Islamic household and her arranged marriage to a member of Al-Qaeda. In it, she sheds light on the religious trauma that so many women still today are unable to discuss. Unveiled has been translated into fifteen languages so far, including German, Finnish, Catalan, Swedish, French, Farsi, Arabic, Indonesian, Urdu, Spanish, and Italian. Copies of her book in Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, and Indonesian can be accessed here for free courtesy of The Richard Dawkins Foundation. She is also the host of the Yasmine Mohammed Podcast where she has conversations with inspirational people from restrictive religious or cult backgrounds who have fought and who have overcome. Website: www.yasminemohammed.com Twitter: @yasmohammedxx   Masih Alinejad is an Iranian-American journalist, a women’s rights campaigner, and the author of the best-selling memoir The Wind in My Hair. In 2023, TIME named Alinejad as one of the women of the year and she was elected President of the World Liberty Congress. She is one of the most prominent and vocal figures challenging the Islamic Republic of Iran. In 2014, she launched the My Stealthy Freedom campaign against compulsory hijab, which became the largest civil disobedience movement in the history of the Islamic Republic. Today, Masih continues to write and host Tablet, a satirical weekly show on VOA, and is campaigning to #EndGenderApartheid in Iran and Afghanistan. Website: https://worldlibertycongress.org/ Twitter: @AlinejadMasih]]>1580186Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:44:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/370-gender-apartheid-and-the-future-of-iran In today’s housekeeping, Sam explains his digital business model. He and Yasmine Mohammed (co-host) then speak with Masih Alinejad...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/370-gender-apartheid-and-the-future-of-iran In today’s housekeeping, Sam explains his digital business model. He and Yasmine Mohammed (co-host) then speak with Masih Alinejad about gender apartheid in Iran. They discuss the Iranian revolution, the hypocrisy of Western feminists, the morality police and the significance of the hijab, the My Stealthy Freedom campaign, kidnapping and assassination plots against Masih, lack of action from the U.S. government, the effect of sanctions, the cowardice of Western journalists, the difference between the Iranian population and the Arab street, the unique perspective of Persian Jews, Islamism and immigration, the infiltration of universities, and other topics. Yasmine Mohammed is the founder and President of Free Hearts Free Minds, a nonprofit charity that provides mental health support for freethinkers living within Muslim majority countries—where the 'crime' of renouncing religion can be punished by execution. ​Her book, Unveiled, is a memoir that recalls her experiences growing up in a fundamentalist Islamic household and her arranged marriage to a member of Al-Qaeda. In it, she sheds light on the religious trauma that so many women still today are unable to discuss. Unveiled has been translated into fifteen languages so far, including German, Finnish, Catalan, Swedish, French, Farsi, Arabic, Indonesian, Urdu, Spanish, and Italian. Copies of her book in Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, and Indonesian can be accessed here for free courtesy of The Richard Dawkins Foundation. She is also the host of the Yasmine Mohammed Podcast where she has conversations with inspirational people from restrictive religious or cult backgrounds who have fought and who have overcome. Website: www.yasminemohammed.com Twitter: @yasmohammedxx   Masih Alinejad is an Iranian-American journalist, a women’s rights campaigner, and the author of the best-selling memoir The Wind in My Hair. In 2023, TIME named Alinejad as one of the women of the year and she was elected President of the World Liberty Congress. She is one of the most prominent and vocal figures challenging the Islamic Republic of Iran. In 2014, she launched the My Stealthy Freedom campaign against compulsory hijab, which became the largest civil disobedience movement in the history of the Islamic Republic. Today, Masih continues to write and host Tablet, a satirical weekly show on VOA, and is campaigning to #EndGenderApartheid in Iran and Afghanistan. Website: https://worldlibertycongress.org/ Twitter: @AlinejadMasih]]>4870falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/369-escaping-death--60223442https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/369-escaping-death Sam Harris speaks with Sebastian Junger about danger and death. They discuss Sebastian's career as a journalist in war zones, the connection between danger and meaning, his experience of nearly dying from a burst aneurysm in his abdomen, his lingering trauma, the concept of "awe," psychedelics, near-death experiences, atheism, psychic phenomena, consciousness and the brain, and other topics. Sebastian Junger is The New York Times bestselling author of Tribe, War, Freedom, A Death in Belmont, Fire, and The Perfect Storm, and co-director of the documentary film Restrepo, which was nominated for an Academy Award. He is also the winner of a Peabody Award and the National Magazine Award for Reporting. His most recent book is In My Time Of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife. Website: https://www.sebastianjunger.com/ Twitter: @sebastianjunger   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580185Thu, 30 May 2024 17:20:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/369-escaping-death Sam Harris speaks with Sebastian Junger about danger and death. They discuss Sebastian's career as a journalist in war zones, the connection between danger...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/369-escaping-death Sam Harris speaks with Sebastian Junger about danger and death. They discuss Sebastian's career as a journalist in war zones, the connection between danger and meaning, his experience of nearly dying from a burst aneurysm in his abdomen, his lingering trauma, the concept of "awe," psychedelics, near-death experiences, atheism, psychic phenomena, consciousness and the brain, and other topics. Sebastian Junger is The New York Times bestselling author of Tribe, War, Freedom, A Death in Belmont, Fire, and The Perfect Storm, and co-director of the documentary film Restrepo, which was nominated for an Academy Award. He is also the winner of a Peabody Award and the National Magazine Award for Reporting. His most recent book is In My Time Of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife. Website: https://www.sebastianjunger.com/ Twitter: @sebastianjunger   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4632falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/368-freedom-censorship--60105980https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/368-freedom-censorship Sam Harris speaks with Greg Lukianoff about free speech and cancel culture. They discuss the origins of political correctness, free speech and its boundaries, the bedrock principle of the First Amendment, technology and the marketplace of ideas, epistemic anarchy, social media and cancellation, comparisons to McCarthyism, self-censorship by professors, cancellation from the Left and Right, justified cancellations, the Hunter Biden laptop story, how to deal with Trump in the media, the state of higher education in America, and other topics. Greg Lukianoff is the President & CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). He earned his undergraduate degree from American University and his law degree from Stanford, and he worked for the ACLU of Northern California and other organizations before joining FIRE in 2001. He is one of America’s most passionate defenders of free speech. He has written about the issue in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He also co-wrote The Coddling of the American Mind with Jonathan Haidt and, most recently, The Canceling of the American Mind with Rikki Schlott. Website: http://thefire.org, https://greglukianoff.substack.com/ Twitter: @glukianoff   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580184Tue, 21 May 2024 00:23:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/368-freedom-censorship Sam Harris speaks with Greg Lukianoff about free speech and cancel culture. They discuss the origins of political correctness, free speech and its...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/368-freedom-censorship Sam Harris speaks with Greg Lukianoff about free speech and cancel culture. They discuss the origins of political correctness, free speech and its boundaries, the bedrock principle of the First Amendment, technology and the marketplace of ideas, epistemic anarchy, social media and cancellation, comparisons to McCarthyism, self-censorship by professors, cancellation from the Left and Right, justified cancellations, the Hunter Biden laptop story, how to deal with Trump in the media, the state of higher education in America, and other topics. Greg Lukianoff is the President & CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). He earned his undergraduate degree from American University and his law degree from Stanford, and he worked for the ACLU of Northern California and other organizations before joining FIRE in 2001. He is one of America’s most passionate defenders of free speech. He has written about the issue in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He also co-wrote The Coddling of the American Mind with Jonathan Haidt and, most recently, The Canceling of the American Mind with Rikki Schlott. Website: http://thefire.org, https://greglukianoff.substack.com/ Twitter: @glukianoff   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5988falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/367-campus-protests-antisemitism-and-western-values--60047339https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/367-campus-protests-antisemitism-and-western-values Sam Harris discusses the recent protests on college campuses, why focusing narrowly on the problem of "antisemitism" will be counterproductive, widespread confusion about the threat of Islamic extremism, and the necessary defense of Western values.]]>1580183Mon, 13 May 2024 21:25:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/367-campus-protests-antisemitism-and-western-values Sam Harris discusses the recent protests on college campuses, why focusing narrowly on the problem of "antisemitism" will...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/367-campus-protests-antisemitism-and-western-values Sam Harris discusses the recent protests on college campuses, why focusing narrowly on the problem of "antisemitism" will be counterproductive, widespread confusion about the threat of Islamic extremism, and the necessary defense of Western values.]]>3230falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/366-urban-warfare-2-0--60047383https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/366-urban-warfare-2-0 Sam Harris speaks with John Spencer about the reality of urban warfare and Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza. They discuss the nature of the Hamas attacks on October 7th, what was most surprising about the Hamas videos, the difficulty in distinguishing Hamas from the rest of the population, combatants as a reflection of a society's values, how many people have been killed in Gaza, the proportion of combatants and noncombatants, the double standards to which the IDF is held, the worst criticism that can be made of Israel and the IDF, intentions vs results, what is unique about the war in Gaza, Hamas's use of human shields, what it would mean to defeat Hamas, what the IDF has accomplished so far, the destruction of the Gaza tunnel system, the details of underground warfare, the rescue of hostages, how noncombatants become combatants, how difficult it is to interpret videos of combat, what victory would look like, the likely aftermath of the war, war with Hezbollah, Iran's attack on Israel, what to do about Iran, and other topics.
John Spencer is an award-winning scholar, professor, author, and combat veteran. He currently serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, Co-Director of the Urban Warfare Project, and host of the Urban Warfare Project podcast. He is also a founding member of the International Working Group on Subterranean Warfare. John served 25 years in the U.S. Army, having held ranks from Private to Sergeant First Class and Second Lieutenant to Major. He was an active duty Army officer during two combat tours in Iraq.  His research focuses on military operations in dense urban areas, megacities, and urban and subterranean warfare. Spencer holds a Master of Policy Management from Georgetown University, and his writings have appeared in the Time magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and many other publications. He is considered one of the world’s leading experts on urban warfare and has served as an advisor to everyone from top four-star generals to world leaders. He is the coauthor of Understanding Urban Warfare. Website: www.johnspenceronline.com Twitter: @SpencerGuard   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580182Tue, 07 May 2024 21:50:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/366-urban-warfare-2-0 Sam Harris speaks with John Spencer about the reality of urban warfare and Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza. They discuss the nature of the Hamas...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/366-urban-warfare-2-0 Sam Harris speaks with John Spencer about the reality of urban warfare and Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza. They discuss the nature of the Hamas attacks on October 7th, what was most surprising about the Hamas videos, the difficulty in distinguishing Hamas from the rest of the population, combatants as a reflection of a society's values, how many people have been killed in Gaza, the proportion of combatants and noncombatants, the double standards to which the IDF is held, the worst criticism that can be made of Israel and the IDF, intentions vs results, what is unique about the war in Gaza, Hamas's use of human shields, what it would mean to defeat Hamas, what the IDF has accomplished so far, the destruction of the Gaza tunnel system, the details of underground warfare, the rescue of hostages, how noncombatants become combatants, how difficult it is to interpret videos of combat, what victory would look like, the likely aftermath of the war, war with Hezbollah, Iran's attack on Israel, what to do about Iran, and other topics.
John Spencer is an award-winning scholar, professor, author, and combat veteran. He currently serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, Co-Director of the Urban Warfare Project, and host of the Urban Warfare Project podcast. He is also a founding member of the International Working Group on Subterranean Warfare. John served 25 years in the U.S. Army, having held ranks from Private to Sergeant First Class and Second Lieutenant to Major. He was an active duty Army officer during two combat tours in Iraq.  His research focuses on military operations in dense urban areas, megacities, and urban and subterranean warfare. Spencer holds a Master of Policy Management from Georgetown University, and his writings have appeared in the Time magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and many other publications. He is considered one of the world’s leading experts on urban warfare and has served as an advisor to everyone from top four-star generals to world leaders. He is the coauthor of Understanding Urban Warfare. Website: www.johnspenceronline.com Twitter: @SpencerGuard   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5976falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/365-reality-check--60047343https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/365-reality-check Sam Harris begins by remembering his friendship with Dan Dennett. He then speaks with David Wallace-Wells about the shattering of our information landscape. They discuss the false picture of reality produced during Covid, the success of the vaccines, how various countries fared during the pandemic, our preparation for a future pandemic, how we normalize danger and death, the current global consensus on climate change, the amount of warming we can expect, the consequence of a 2-degree Celsius warming, the effects of air pollution, global vs local considerations, Greta Thunberg and climate catastrophism, growth vs degrowth, market forces, carbon taxes, the consequences of political stagnation, the US national debt, the best way to attack the candidacy of Donald Trump, and other topics. David Wallace-Wells is a best-selling science writer and essayist who focuses on climate change, technology, and the future of the planet and how we live on it. David has been a National Fellow with the New America Foundation, a columnist and deputy editor of the New York Magazine, and was previously at The Paris Review. Currently, David is a writer for The New York Times and a columnist for the New York Times Magazine. He is the author of The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming. Twitter: @dwallacewells   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580180Wed, 01 May 2024 17:20:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/365-reality-check Sam Harris begins by remembering his friendship with Dan Dennett. He then speaks with David Wallace-Wells about the shattering of our information landscape....https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/365-reality-check Sam Harris begins by remembering his friendship with Dan Dennett. He then speaks with David Wallace-Wells about the shattering of our information landscape. They discuss the false picture of reality produced during Covid, the success of the vaccines, how various countries fared during the pandemic, our preparation for a future pandemic, how we normalize danger and death, the current global consensus on climate change, the amount of warming we can expect, the consequence of a 2-degree Celsius warming, the effects of air pollution, global vs local considerations, Greta Thunberg and climate catastrophism, growth vs degrowth, market forces, carbon taxes, the consequences of political stagnation, the US national debt, the best way to attack the candidacy of Donald Trump, and other topics. David Wallace-Wells is a best-selling science writer and essayist who focuses on climate change, technology, and the future of the planet and how we live on it. David has been a National Fellow with the New America Foundation, a columnist and deputy editor of the New York Magazine, and was previously at The Paris Review. Currently, David is a writer for The New York Times and a columnist for the New York Times Magazine. He is the author of The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming. Twitter: @dwallacewells   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>6508falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/364-facts-values--60047347https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/364-facts-values Sam Harris revisits the central argument he made in his book, The Moral Landscape, about the reality of moral truth. He discusses the way concepts like “good” and “evil” can be thought about objectively, the primacy of our intuitions of truth and falsity, and the unity of knowledge. A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580179Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:55:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/364-facts-values Sam Harris revisits the central argument he made in his book, https://amzn.to/3WjfT8m, about the reality of moral truth. He discusses the way concepts like...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/364-facts-values Sam Harris revisits the central argument he made in his book, The Moral Landscape, about the reality of moral truth. He discusses the way concepts like “good” and “evil” can be thought about objectively, the primacy of our intuitions of truth and falsity, and the unity of knowledge. A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3954falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/363-knowledge-work--60047352https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/363-knowledge-work Sam Harris speaks with Cal Newport about our use of information technology and the cult of productivity. They discuss the state of social media, the "academic-in-exile effect," free speech and moderation, the effect of the pandemic on knowledge work, slow productivity, the example of Jane Austen, managing up in an organization, defragmenting one's work life, doing fewer things, reasonable deadlines, trading money for time, finding meaning in a post-scarcity world, the anti-work movement, the effects of artificial intelligence on knowledge work, and other topics. Cal Newport is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University where he is also a founding member of the Center for Digital Ethics. In addition to his academic work, Newport is a New York Times bestselling author who writes for a general audience about the intersection of technology, productivity, and culture. His most recent book is called Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout. His books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over forty languages. He is also a contributor to The New Yorker and hosts the popular Deep Questions podcast. Newport lives with his wife and three sons in Takoma Park, Maryland. Website: https://calnewport.com/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580176Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:20:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/363-knowledge-work Sam Harris speaks with Cal Newport about our use of information technology and the cult of productivity. They discuss the state of social media, the...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/363-knowledge-work Sam Harris speaks with Cal Newport about our use of information technology and the cult of productivity. They discuss the state of social media, the "academic-in-exile effect," free speech and moderation, the effect of the pandemic on knowledge work, slow productivity, the example of Jane Austen, managing up in an organization, defragmenting one's work life, doing fewer things, reasonable deadlines, trading money for time, finding meaning in a post-scarcity world, the anti-work movement, the effects of artificial intelligence on knowledge work, and other topics. Cal Newport is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University where he is also a founding member of the Center for Digital Ethics. In addition to his academic work, Newport is a New York Times bestselling author who writes for a general audience about the intersection of technology, productivity, and culture. His most recent book is called Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout. His books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over forty languages. He is also a contributor to The New Yorker and hosts the popular Deep Questions podcast. Newport lives with his wife and three sons in Takoma Park, Maryland. Website: https://calnewport.com/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5594falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/362-six-months-of-war--60047351https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/362-six-months-of-war Sam Harris and Josh Szeps (episode co-host) speak with Douglas Murray about the ongoing war in Gaza. They discuss public opinion about the war, the prospect of a widening conflict with Hezbollah and Iran, whether the Iron Dome was a mistake, the sentiments of Israeli Arabs, the global problem of Islamism, the risk of a resurgent right-wing in Europe, the crisis at the southern border in the US, and other topics. Douglas Murray is the associate editor of The Spectator and writes frequently for a variety of other publications, including The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and The Sun. He has also given talks at both the British and European Parliaments and at the White House. He is the author of several books including The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam, The Madness of Crowds, and most recently, The War on the West. Website: https://douglasmurray.net/ Twitter: @DouglasKMurray   Josh Szeps is an independent journalist. In New York City he was a founding host of HuffPost Live, the multi-award-winning streaming talk network, where he hosted thousands of hours of live TV with the world’s biggest names. In his native Australia, he hosted a national morning television show and had a talk radio show on the public broadcaster, ABC Radio. Josh left legacy media to focus on having bullshit-free conversations about provocative issues on his own platform, Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps, a podcast, live events operation, and YouTube channel. Website: https://bit.ly/UC_substack Twitter: @joshzepps   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580175Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:30:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/362-six-months-of-war Sam Harris and Josh Szeps (episode co-host) speak with Douglas Murray about the ongoing war in Gaza. They discuss public opinion about the war, the...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/362-six-months-of-war Sam Harris and Josh Szeps (episode co-host) speak with Douglas Murray about the ongoing war in Gaza. They discuss public opinion about the war, the prospect of a widening conflict with Hezbollah and Iran, whether the Iron Dome was a mistake, the sentiments of Israeli Arabs, the global problem of Islamism, the risk of a resurgent right-wing in Europe, the crisis at the southern border in the US, and other topics. Douglas Murray is the associate editor of The Spectator and writes frequently for a variety of other publications, including The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and The Sun. He has also given talks at both the British and European Parliaments and at the White House. He is the author of several books including The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam, The Madness of Crowds, and most recently, The War on the West. Website: https://douglasmurray.net/ Twitter: @DouglasKMurray   Josh Szeps is an independent journalist. In New York City he was a founding host of HuffPost Live, the multi-award-winning streaming talk network, where he hosted thousands of hours of live TV with the world’s biggest names. In his native Australia, he hosted a national morning television show and had a talk radio show on the public broadcaster, ABC Radio. Josh left legacy media to focus on having bullshit-free conversations about provocative issues on his own platform, Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps, a podcast, live events operation, and YouTube channel. Website: https://bit.ly/UC_substack Twitter: @joshzepps   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>5581falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/361-sam-bankman-fried-effective-altruism--60047353https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/361-sam-bankman-fried-effective-altruism Sam Harris speaks with William MacAskill about the implosion of FTX and the effect that it has had on the Effective Altruism movement. They discuss the logic of “earning to give,” the mind of SBF, his philanthropy, the character of the EA community, potential problems with focusing on long-term outcomes, AI risk, the effects of the FTX collapse on Will personally, and other topics. William MacAskill is an associate professor of moral philosophy at Oxford University, and author of Doing Good Better, Moral Uncertainty, and What We Owe The Future. He cofounded the nonprofits 80,000 Hours, Centre for Effective Altruism, and Giving What We Can, and helped to launch the effective altruism movement, which encourages people to use their time and money to support the projects that are most effectively making the world a better place.  Website: ​​www.williammacaskill.com Twitter: @willmacaskill   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580174Mon, 01 Apr 2024 18:00:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/361-sam-bankman-fried-effective-altruism Sam Harris speaks with William MacAskill about the implosion of FTX and the effect that it has had on the Effective Altruism...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/361-sam-bankman-fried-effective-altruism Sam Harris speaks with William MacAskill about the implosion of FTX and the effect that it has had on the Effective Altruism movement. They discuss the logic of “earning to give,” the mind of SBF, his philanthropy, the character of the EA community, potential problems with focusing on long-term outcomes, AI risk, the effects of the FTX collapse on Will personally, and other topics. William MacAskill is an associate professor of moral philosophy at Oxford University, and author of Doing Good Better, Moral Uncertainty, and What We Owe The Future. He cofounded the nonprofits 80,000 Hours, Centre for Effective Altruism, and Giving What We Can, and helped to launch the effective altruism movement, which encourages people to use their time and money to support the projects that are most effectively making the world a better place.  Website: ​​www.williammacaskill.com Twitter: @willmacaskill   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5125falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/360-we-really-don-t-have-free-will--60047341https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/360-we-really-dont-have-free-will Sam Harris speaks with Robert Sapolsky about the widespread belief in free will. They discuss the limits of intuition, the views of Dan Dennett, complexity and emergence, downward causation, abstraction, epigenetics, predictability, fatalism, Benjamin Libet, the primacy of luck, historical change in attitudes about free will, implications for ethics and criminal justice, the psychological satisfaction of punishing bad people, understanding evil, punishment and reward as tools, meritocracy, the consequences of physical beauty, the logic of reasoning, and other topics. Robert M. Sapolsky is the author of several works of nonfiction, including A Primate’s Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, and most recently, Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will. His book titled Behave was a New York Times bestseller and named a best book of the year by The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. He is the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford University and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant.” He and his wife live in San Francisco.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580173Wed, 27 Mar 2024 22:05:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/360-we-really-dont-have-free-will Sam Harris speaks with Robert Sapolsky about the widespread belief in free will. They discuss the limits of intuition, the views of Dan...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/360-we-really-dont-have-free-will Sam Harris speaks with Robert Sapolsky about the widespread belief in free will. They discuss the limits of intuition, the views of Dan Dennett, complexity and emergence, downward causation, abstraction, epigenetics, predictability, fatalism, Benjamin Libet, the primacy of luck, historical change in attitudes about free will, implications for ethics and criminal justice, the psychological satisfaction of punishing bad people, understanding evil, punishment and reward as tools, meritocracy, the consequences of physical beauty, the logic of reasoning, and other topics. Robert M. Sapolsky is the author of several works of nonfiction, including A Primate’s Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, and most recently, Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will. His book titled Behave was a New York Times bestseller and named a best book of the year by The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. He is the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford University and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant.” He and his wife live in San Francisco.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>7256falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/359-getting-used-to-it--60047392https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/359-getting-used-to-it Sam Harris speaks with Cass Sunstein about habituation and its consequences. They discuss habituation to positive and negative experiences, marriage, happiness, meaning, variety, doing good vs feeling good, midlife crises, kids, wealth and happiness, things vs experience, the “illusory truth effect,” misinformation and social media, echo chambers and extremism, what governments can do to respond to misinformation, free speech on college campuses, the 2024 Presidential election, and other topics. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School, where he is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy. He is the most cited law professor in the United States. From 2009 to 2012 he served in the Obama administration as Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. He has testified before congressional committees, been involved in constitution-making and law reform activities in a number of nations, and written many articles and books, including Nudge (with Richard Thaler), #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media, Impeachment: A Citizen’s Guide, Too Much Information, Noise (with Daniel Kahneman and Olivier Sibony), and most recently Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There (with Tali Sharot). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, fake news, and freedom of speech. Website: https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/cass-r-sunstein/ Twitter: @CassSunstein   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580172Tue, 19 Mar 2024 21:50:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/359-getting-used-to-it Sam Harris speaks with Cass Sunstein about habituation and its consequences. They discuss habituation to positive and negative experiences, marriage,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/359-getting-used-to-it Sam Harris speaks with Cass Sunstein about habituation and its consequences. They discuss habituation to positive and negative experiences, marriage, happiness, meaning, variety, doing good vs feeling good, midlife crises, kids, wealth and happiness, things vs experience, the “illusory truth effect,” misinformation and social media, echo chambers and extremism, what governments can do to respond to misinformation, free speech on college campuses, the 2024 Presidential election, and other topics. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School, where he is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy. He is the most cited law professor in the United States. From 2009 to 2012 he served in the Obama administration as Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. He has testified before congressional committees, been involved in constitution-making and law reform activities in a number of nations, and written many articles and books, including Nudge (with Richard Thaler), #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media, Impeachment: A Citizen’s Guide, Too Much Information, Noise (with Daniel Kahneman and Olivier Sibony), and most recently Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There (with Tali Sharot). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, fake news, and freedom of speech. Website: https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/cass-r-sunstein/ Twitter: @CassSunstein   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3917falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/358-the-war-in-ukraine--60047361https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/358-the-war-in-ukraine Sam Harris speaks with Yaroslav Trofimov about the War in Ukraine. They discuss the widespread false assumptions that Russia would win a swift victory, Ukrainian attitudes toward Russia, the transformation of the Ukrainian military, Russian incompetence, Russian public opinion, the Azov Battalion and the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, the role of the Orthodox Church, conspiracy thinking and Russian propaganda, Putin’s popularity on the Right, NATO membership, the Minsk 2 agreement, alleged failures of Western diplomacy, Zelensky’s leadership, the moral clarity of the war, Russian war crimes, the new cult of WW2 victory in Russia, the numbers of casualties and displaced people in Ukraine, delays in US aid to Ukraine, nuclear blackmail, long-range weaponry, the weakness of western sanctions, the sabotage of the Nordstream pipeline, how the war might end, the complicated prospects of a Trump presidency, and other topics. Yaroslav Trofimov is the chief foreign-affairs correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and the author of several books including Faith at War, Siege of Mecca, and most recently, Our Enemies Will Vanish. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and educated at New York University, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in international reporting in 2023, for his work on Ukraine, and in 2022, for his work on Afghanistan. His honors include an Overseas Press Club award for coverage of India as well as the Washington Institute gold medal for the best book on the Middle East. Website: www.yarotrof.com Twitter: @yarotrof]]>1580171Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:50:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/358-the-war-in-ukraine Sam Harris speaks with Yaroslav Trofimov about the War in Ukraine. They discuss the widespread false assumptions that Russia would win a swift victory,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/358-the-war-in-ukraine Sam Harris speaks with Yaroslav Trofimov about the War in Ukraine. They discuss the widespread false assumptions that Russia would win a swift victory, Ukrainian attitudes toward Russia, the transformation of the Ukrainian military, Russian incompetence, Russian public opinion, the Azov Battalion and the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, the role of the Orthodox Church, conspiracy thinking and Russian propaganda, Putin’s popularity on the Right, NATO membership, the Minsk 2 agreement, alleged failures of Western diplomacy, Zelensky’s leadership, the moral clarity of the war, Russian war crimes, the new cult of WW2 victory in Russia, the numbers of casualties and displaced people in Ukraine, delays in US aid to Ukraine, nuclear blackmail, long-range weaponry, the weakness of western sanctions, the sabotage of the Nordstream pipeline, how the war might end, the complicated prospects of a Trump presidency, and other topics. Yaroslav Trofimov is the chief foreign-affairs correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and the author of several books including Faith at War, Siege of Mecca, and most recently, Our Enemies Will Vanish. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and educated at New York University, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in international reporting in 2023, for his work on Ukraine, and in 2022, for his work on Afghanistan. His honors include an Overseas Press Club award for coverage of India as well as the Washington Institute gold medal for the best book on the Middle East. Website: www.yarotrof.com Twitter: @yarotrof]]>3986falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/357-america-world-order--60047355https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/357-america-world-order Sam Harris speaks with Bret Stephens about America’s place in the world. They discuss the waning Pax Americana, American isolationism, Republican fondness for Putin, Tucker Carlson, why America should support Ukraine, the significance of Alexei Navalny, what it would mean to properly hold Putin responsible for his death, nuclear blackmail, valid criticisms of Israel, the war in Gaza, Palestinian public opinion, the need for total military defeat, a two-state solution, the isolation of Israel at the UN and the International Criminal Court of Justice, waning support for the war in the Biden Administration, Hezbollah and war with Iran, Israeli politics and the settlements in the West Bank, charges of “settler colonialism,” antisemitism as a series of double standards, the prospect of a Trump victory in 2024, Biden’s age problem, the crisis at the southern border, U.S. immigration policy, and other topics. Bret Stephens is an opinion columnist with The New York Times and editor-in-chief of Sapir, a new Jewish quarterly. He has previously served as editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post and as foreign affairs columnist for The Wall Street Journal, for which he won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Stephens was raised in Mexico City and studied political philosophy at the University of Chicago and comparative politics at the London School of Economics. In 2022 he was banned for life by the government of Russia from ever visiting that country. Website: https://www.nytimes.com/column/bret-stephens   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580170Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:15:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/357-america-world-order Sam Harris speaks with Bret Stephens about America’s place in the world. They discuss the waning Pax Americana, American isolationism, Republican...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/357-america-world-order Sam Harris speaks with Bret Stephens about America’s place in the world. They discuss the waning Pax Americana, American isolationism, Republican fondness for Putin, Tucker Carlson, why America should support Ukraine, the significance of Alexei Navalny, what it would mean to properly hold Putin responsible for his death, nuclear blackmail, valid criticisms of Israel, the war in Gaza, Palestinian public opinion, the need for total military defeat, a two-state solution, the isolation of Israel at the UN and the International Criminal Court of Justice, waning support for the war in the Biden Administration, Hezbollah and war with Iran, Israeli politics and the settlements in the West Bank, charges of “settler colonialism,” antisemitism as a series of double standards, the prospect of a Trump victory in 2024, Biden’s age problem, the crisis at the southern border, U.S. immigration policy, and other topics. Bret Stephens is an opinion columnist with The New York Times and editor-in-chief of Sapir, a new Jewish quarterly. He has previously served as editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post and as foreign affairs columnist for The Wall Street Journal, for which he won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Stephens was raised in Mexico City and studied political philosophy at the University of Chicago and comparative politics at the London School of Economics. In 2022 he was banned for life by the government of Russia from ever visiting that country. Website: https://www.nytimes.com/column/bret-stephens   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5318falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/356-islam-freedom--60047358https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/356-islam-freedom Sam Harris and Rory Stewart debate whether Islam poses a unique threat to open societies. Rory Stewart is a leading thinker on international affairs and development currently serving as Special Advisor to GiveDirectly, which delivers cash directly to the world’s poorest households. Stewart was a member of the British Parliament for almost a decade, where he served as secretary of state for international development, prisons minister, minister for Africa, development minister for the Middle East and Asia, and minister for the environment. In addition to his work with GiveDirectly, Rory Stewart is also the co-host of The Rest is Politics podcast and author of How Not to Be a Politician. Website: https://www.givedirectly.org/ Twitter: @RoryStewartUK   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580169Wed, 28 Feb 2024 16:30:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/356-islam-freedom Sam Harris and Rory Stewart debate whether Islam poses a unique threat to open societies. Rory Stewart is a leading thinker on international affairs and...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/356-islam-freedom Sam Harris and Rory Stewart debate whether Islam poses a unique threat to open societies. Rory Stewart is a leading thinker on international affairs and development currently serving as Special Advisor to GiveDirectly, which delivers cash directly to the world’s poorest households. Stewart was a member of the British Parliament for almost a decade, where he served as secretary of state for international development, prisons minister, minister for Africa, development minister for the Middle East and Asia, and minister for the environment. In addition to his work with GiveDirectly, Rory Stewart is also the co-host of The Rest is Politics podcast and author of How Not to Be a Politician. Website: https://www.givedirectly.org/ Twitter: @RoryStewartUK   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5654falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/355-a-falling-world--60047395https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/355-a-falling-world Sam Harris speaks with Peter Zeihan about the unraveling world order. They discuss the Bretton Woods system, America’s role in securing the global supply chain, the coming end of American security guarantees, the shrinking of the US Navy, Houthi terrorism, deterring Iran, conflict in the Middle East, the future of Israel, the limits of immigration, the demographic pyramid, the demise of Europe, the war in Ukraine, the prospect of nuclear war, demographic collapse in China, loose nukes, America’s relative immunity to the world’s chaos, U.S. debt, the U.S. Southern border and immigration policy, why Trump will not win the 2024 election, and other topics. Peter Zeihan is a geopolitical strategist and a global energy demographic and security expert. Over the course of his career, Peter has worked for the US State Department in Australia, the DC think tank community, and helped develop the analytical models for Stratfor, one of the world’s premier private intelligence companies. In 2012, Peter founded his own firm, Zeihan on Geopolitics, in order to provide a select group of clients with direct, custom analytical products. Today those clients represent a vast array of sectors including energy majors, financial institutions, business associations, agricultural interests, universities, and the U.S. military. Peter is a critically acclaimed author whose first two books—The Accidental Superpower and The Absent Superpower—have been recommended by Mitt Romney, Fareed Zakaria, and Ian Bremmer. His other books include Disunited Nations: The Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned World and The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization. Website: https://zeihan.com/ Twitter: @PeterZeihan YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZeihanonGeopolitics   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580167Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:05:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/355-a-falling-world Sam Harris speaks with Peter Zeihan about the unraveling world order. They discuss the Bretton Woods system, America’s role in securing the global supply...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/355-a-falling-world Sam Harris speaks with Peter Zeihan about the unraveling world order. They discuss the Bretton Woods system, America’s role in securing the global supply chain, the coming end of American security guarantees, the shrinking of the US Navy, Houthi terrorism, deterring Iran, conflict in the Middle East, the future of Israel, the limits of immigration, the demographic pyramid, the demise of Europe, the war in Ukraine, the prospect of nuclear war, demographic collapse in China, loose nukes, America’s relative immunity to the world’s chaos, U.S. debt, the U.S. Southern border and immigration policy, why Trump will not win the 2024 election, and other topics. Peter Zeihan is a geopolitical strategist and a global energy demographic and security expert. Over the course of his career, Peter has worked for the US State Department in Australia, the DC think tank community, and helped develop the analytical models for Stratfor, one of the world’s premier private intelligence companies. In 2012, Peter founded his own firm, Zeihan on Geopolitics, in order to provide a select group of clients with direct, custom analytical products. Today those clients represent a vast array of sectors including energy majors, financial institutions, business associations, agricultural interests, universities, and the U.S. military. Peter is a critically acclaimed author whose first two books—The Accidental Superpower and The Absent Superpower—have been recommended by Mitt Romney, Fareed Zakaria, and Ian Bremmer. His other books include Disunited Nations: The Scramble for Power in an Ungoverned World and The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization. Website: https://zeihan.com/ Twitter: @PeterZeihan YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZeihanonGeopolitics   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5907falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/354-is-moral-progress-a-fantasy--60047398https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/354-is-moral-progress-a-fantasy Sam Harris speaks with John Gray about the possibility of moral and political progress. They discuss historical and current threats to freedom of thought, the limits of law, the spread of dangerous technology, failures of convergence on norms and values, Arthur Koestler, de-industrialization in Europe, fellow travelers and the progressive embrace of barbarism, Bertrand Russell, the absurdity of pacifism, utilitarianism, the moral landscape, George Santayana, moral and scientific realism, pragmatism, atheism, Schopenhauer, liberalism as an historical accident, and other topics. John Gray is the author of many critically acclaimed books, including The Silence of Animals, The Immortalization Commission, Black Mass, and Straw Dogs. His latest book is The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism. He is a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books, and he has been a professor of politics at Oxford, a visiting professor at Harvard and Yale, and a professor of European thought at the London School of Economics. He now writes full-time. Website: https://www.newstatesman.com/author/john-gray   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580166Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:20:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/354-is-moral-progress-a-fantasy Sam Harris speaks with John Gray about the possibility of moral and political progress. They discuss historical and current threats to freedom...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/354-is-moral-progress-a-fantasy Sam Harris speaks with John Gray about the possibility of moral and political progress. They discuss historical and current threats to freedom of thought, the limits of law, the spread of dangerous technology, failures of convergence on norms and values, Arthur Koestler, de-industrialization in Europe, fellow travelers and the progressive embrace of barbarism, Bertrand Russell, the absurdity of pacifism, utilitarianism, the moral landscape, George Santayana, moral and scientific realism, pragmatism, atheism, Schopenhauer, liberalism as an historical accident, and other topics. John Gray is the author of many critically acclaimed books, including The Silence of Animals, The Immortalization Commission, Black Mass, and Straw Dogs. His latest book is The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism. He is a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books, and he has been a professor of politics at Oxford, a visiting professor at Harvard and Yale, and a professor of European thought at the London School of Economics. He now writes full-time. Website: https://www.newstatesman.com/author/john-gray   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>6875falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/353-race-reason--60047363https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/353-race-reason Sam Harris speaks with Coleman Hughes about race, racism, and social justice. They discuss the ideal of "color blindness," race and crime, Coleman's experience at TED, LatinX, the confusion of the elites, Ibram X. Kendi, affirmative action, class differences, poverty, single-parent families, the death of George Floyd and the trial of Derek Chauvin, mob rule, Candace Owens, Christopher Rufo, guilt by association, John McWhorter, Glenn Loury, reparations for slavery and Jim Crow, immigrant communities, evidence of discrimination, Martin Luther King Jr., and other topics. Coleman Hughes is a writer, podcast host, and musician. He has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Review, Quillette, The Spectator, and the City Journal. Currently, he is a contributing writer at The Free Press and an analyst for CNN. His latest book is The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America. Website: https://colemanhughes.substack.com/ Twitter: @coldxman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580165Sun, 11 Feb 2024 16:29:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/353-race-reason Sam Harris speaks with Coleman Hughes about race, racism, and social justice. They discuss the ideal of "color blindness," race and crime, Coleman's...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/353-race-reason Sam Harris speaks with Coleman Hughes about race, racism, and social justice. They discuss the ideal of "color blindness," race and crime, Coleman's experience at TED, LatinX, the confusion of the elites, Ibram X. Kendi, affirmative action, class differences, poverty, single-parent families, the death of George Floyd and the trial of Derek Chauvin, mob rule, Candace Owens, Christopher Rufo, guilt by association, John McWhorter, Glenn Loury, reparations for slavery and Jim Crow, immigrant communities, evidence of discrimination, Martin Luther King Jr., and other topics. Coleman Hughes is a writer, podcast host, and musician. He has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Review, Quillette, The Spectator, and the City Journal. Currently, he is a contributing writer at The Free Press and an analyst for CNN. His latest book is The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America. Website: https://colemanhughes.substack.com/ Twitter: @coldxman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>6087falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/352-hubris-chaos--60047354https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/352-hubris-chaos Sam Harris speaks with Rory Stewart about the fraying world order. They discuss the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the problems with nation building, cultural ignorance, tolerance for corruption, our catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the role that Islam played in our failures in Afghanistan and Iraq, conspiracy theories, the influence of social media, cults of martyrdom, the war in Ukraine, the age of populism, Trump and the future of NATO, Brexit, the current state of politics, GiveDirectly, and other topics. Rory Stewart is a leading thinker on international affairs and development currently serving as Special Advisor to GiveDirectly, which delivers cash directly to the world’s poorest households. Stewart was a member of the British Parliament for almost a decade, where he served as secretary of state for international development, prisons minister, minister for Africa, development minister for the Middle East and Asia, and minister for the environment. In addition to his work with GiveDirectly, Rory Stewart is also the co-host of The Rest is Politics podcast and author of How Not to Be a Politician. Website: https://www.givedirectly.org/ Twitter: @RoryStewartUK   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580163Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:05:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/352-hubris-chaos Sam Harris speaks with Rory Stewart about the fraying world order. They discuss the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the problems with nation building, cultural...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/352-hubris-chaos Sam Harris speaks with Rory Stewart about the fraying world order. They discuss the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the problems with nation building, cultural ignorance, tolerance for corruption, our catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the role that Islam played in our failures in Afghanistan and Iraq, conspiracy theories, the influence of social media, cults of martyrdom, the war in Ukraine, the age of populism, Trump and the future of NATO, Brexit, the current state of politics, GiveDirectly, and other topics. Rory Stewart is a leading thinker on international affairs and development currently serving as Special Advisor to GiveDirectly, which delivers cash directly to the world’s poorest households. Stewart was a member of the British Parliament for almost a decade, where he served as secretary of state for international development, prisons minister, minister for Africa, development minister for the Middle East and Asia, and minister for the environment. In addition to his work with GiveDirectly, Rory Stewart is also the co-host of The Rest is Politics podcast and author of How Not to Be a Politician. Website: https://www.givedirectly.org/ Twitter: @RoryStewartUK   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5074falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/351-5-myths-about-israel-and-the-war-in-gaza--60047356https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/351-5-myths-about-israel-and-the-war-in-gaza A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.]]>1580161Mon, 29 Jan 2024 23:05:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/351-5-myths-about-israel-and-the-war-in-gaza A transcript of this podcast is available on https://www.samharris.org/blog/5-myths-about-israel-and-the-war-in-gaza.https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/351-5-myths-about-israel-and-the-war-in-gaza A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.]]>2576falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/350-sharing-reality--60047366https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/350-sharing-reality Sam Harris speaks with Jonathan Rauch and Josh Szeps about the foundations of knowledge and the fragmentation of society. They discuss the state of the mainstream media, diversity of viewpoints, the "reality-based" community, what Covid did to our information landscape, the Overton window and the news value of controversial stories, the unique challenge of Trump and Trumpism, the dangers of a second Trump term, the problem of immigration and controlling the southern border of the U.S., and other topics. Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, is the author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 National Magazine Award, the magazine industry’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book, published in 2021 by the Brookings Press, is The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, a spirited and deep-diving account of how to push back against disinformation, canceling, and other new threats to our fact-based epistemic order. Website: www.jonathanrauch.com Twitter: @jon_rauch Related Link: Trump’s Second Term Would Look Like This   Josh Szeps is an independent journalist. In New York City he was a founding host of HuffPost Live, the multi-award-winning streaming talk network, where he hosted thousands of hours of live TV with the world’s biggest names. In his native Australia, he hosted a national morning television show and had a talk radio show on the public broadcaster, ABC Radio. Josh left legacy media to focus on having bullshit-free conversations about provocative issues on his own platform, Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps, a podcast, live events operation, and YouTube channel. Website: https://bit.ly/UC_substack Twitter: @joshzepps   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580160Tue, 23 Jan 2024 17:15:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/350-sharing-reality Sam Harris speaks with Jonathan Rauch and Josh Szeps about the foundations of knowledge and the fragmentation of society. They discuss the state of the...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/350-sharing-reality Sam Harris speaks with Jonathan Rauch and Josh Szeps about the foundations of knowledge and the fragmentation of society. They discuss the state of the mainstream media, diversity of viewpoints, the "reality-based" community, what Covid did to our information landscape, the Overton window and the news value of controversial stories, the unique challenge of Trump and Trumpism, the dangers of a second Trump term, the problem of immigration and controlling the southern border of the U.S., and other topics. Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, is the author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 National Magazine Award, the magazine industry’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book, published in 2021 by the Brookings Press, is The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, a spirited and deep-diving account of how to push back against disinformation, canceling, and other new threats to our fact-based epistemic order. Website: www.jonathanrauch.com Twitter: @jon_rauch Related Link: Trump’s Second Term Would Look Like This   Josh Szeps is an independent journalist. In New York City he was a founding host of HuffPost Live, the multi-award-winning streaming talk network, where he hosted thousands of hours of live TV with the world’s biggest names. In his native Australia, he hosted a national morning television show and had a talk radio show on the public broadcaster, ABC Radio. Josh left legacy media to focus on having bullshit-free conversations about provocative issues on his own platform, Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps, a podcast, live events operation, and YouTube channel. Website: https://bit.ly/UC_substack Twitter: @joshzepps   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6491falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/349-generosity-cynicism-and-the-future-of-doing-good--60047396https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/349-generosity-cynicism-and-the-future-of-doing-good Sam Harris speaks with Chris Anderson about generosity in the age of the Internet. They talk about the new spirit of cynicism in tech and finance, the problems with DEI, the Coleman Hughes controversy at TED, the norm of color blindness, the science of generosity, the leverage of the Internet, the false opposition between selfishness and selflessness, mixed motives in giving, results vs reward, the importance of intentions, looking for the good in people, digital business models, the economics of TED, TEDx, wealth inequality, the ethics of billionaires, philanthropy at scale, the power of pledges, the arguments of Peter Singer, the Sam Bankman-Fried scandal, problems with Effective Altruism, how to improve our digital lives, and other topics. Chris Anderson is the curator of TED. Trained as a journalist after graduating Oxford University, he launched more than 100 magazines and websites before acquiring TED through his nonprofit foundation in 2001. His TED mantra—"ideas worth spreading"—continues to blossom on an international scale, with over 3,600 videos free on TED.com and 100,000 more on YouTube. He is the author of The New York Times bestseller TED Talks and has overseen the introduction of, among others, the TEDx program, the TED-Ed initiative, and the Audacious Project, a bold new philanthropic model to inspire change at scale. His latest book is Infectious Generosity. Website: https://www.infectiousgenerosity.org/ Twitter: @TEDchris Related Link: Both the income pledge and the 2.5% wealth pledge can be signed at givingwhatwecan.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580159Tue, 16 Jan 2024 20:18:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/349-generosity-cynicism-and-the-future-of-doing-good Sam Harris speaks with Chris Anderson about generosity in the age of the Internet. They talk about the new spirit of...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/349-generosity-cynicism-and-the-future-of-doing-good Sam Harris speaks with Chris Anderson about generosity in the age of the Internet. They talk about the new spirit of cynicism in tech and finance, the problems with DEI, the Coleman Hughes controversy at TED, the norm of color blindness, the science of generosity, the leverage of the Internet, the false opposition between selfishness and selflessness, mixed motives in giving, results vs reward, the importance of intentions, looking for the good in people, digital business models, the economics of TED, TEDx, wealth inequality, the ethics of billionaires, philanthropy at scale, the power of pledges, the arguments of Peter Singer, the Sam Bankman-Fried scandal, problems with Effective Altruism, how to improve our digital lives, and other topics. Chris Anderson is the curator of TED. Trained as a journalist after graduating Oxford University, he launched more than 100 magazines and websites before acquiring TED through his nonprofit foundation in 2001. His TED mantra—"ideas worth spreading"—continues to blossom on an international scale, with over 3,600 videos free on TED.com and 100,000 more on YouTube. He is the author of The New York Times bestseller TED Talks and has overseen the introduction of, among others, the TEDx program, the TED-Ed initiative, and the Audacious Project, a bold new philanthropic model to inspire change at scale. His latest book is Infectious Generosity. Website: https://www.infectiousgenerosity.org/ Twitter: @TEDchris Related Link: Both the income pledge and the 2.5% wealth pledge can be signed at givingwhatwecan.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6642falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/348-the-politics-of-antisemitism--60047369https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/348-the-politics-of-antisemitism Sam Harris speaks with Rabbi David Wolpe about the global response to the atrocities of October 7th, 2023. They discuss the difference between Israeli and diaspora Jews, the history and logic of antisemitism, the role of conspiracy theories, Great Replacement Theory, reasons for Jewish success, right-wing antisemitism, left-wing antisemitism, the response of Harvard to October 7th, the college presidents’ testimony before Congress, the future of DEI and civil discourse, the BDS movement, antisemitism vs anti-Zionism, Jewish acceptance at Ivy League universities, the antisemitism endemic to Islam, foreign funding of US universities, and other topics. David Wolpe is a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School, a Rabbinic Fellow at The Anti-Defamation League, a Senior Advisor to the Maimonides Fund, and the Emeritus Rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. He is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times and  David, the Divided Heart. Website: www.facebook.com/RabbiWolpe Twitter: @rabbiwolpe  ]]>1580158Fri, 05 Jan 2024 23:22:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/348-the-politics-of-antisemitism Sam Harris speaks with Rabbi David Wolpe about the global response to the atrocities of October 7th, 2023. They discuss the difference...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/348-the-politics-of-antisemitism Sam Harris speaks with Rabbi David Wolpe about the global response to the atrocities of October 7th, 2023. They discuss the difference between Israeli and diaspora Jews, the history and logic of antisemitism, the role of conspiracy theories, Great Replacement Theory, reasons for Jewish success, right-wing antisemitism, left-wing antisemitism, the response of Harvard to October 7th, the college presidents’ testimony before Congress, the future of DEI and civil discourse, the BDS movement, antisemitism vs anti-Zionism, Jewish acceptance at Ivy League universities, the antisemitism endemic to Islam, foreign funding of US universities, and other topics. David Wolpe is a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School, a Rabbinic Fellow at The Anti-Defamation League, a Senior Advisor to the Maimonides Fund, and the Emeritus Rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. He is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times and  David, the Divided Heart. Website: www.facebook.com/RabbiWolpe Twitter: @rabbiwolpe  ]]>4661falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/347-finding-sanity-in-2024--60047378https://samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/347-finding-sanity-in-2024   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. Get 30 days free - https://www.wakingup.com/makingsense.]]>1580157Mon, 01 Jan 2024 16:15:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/347-finding-sanity-in-2024   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam created the http://wakingup.com/ app. From...https://samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/347-finding-sanity-in-2024   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. Get 30 days free - https://www.wakingup.com/makingsense.]]>539falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/346-the-best-kept-secret-in-history--60047401https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/the-best-kept-secret-in-history Sam Harris speaks with Brian Muraresku about ancient mystery religions and the possible psychedelic roots of Christianity. They discuss the Mysteries of Eleusis, the “pagan continuity hypothesis,” the cult of Dionysius, the Dead Sea scrolls and the Gnostic Gospels, Christianity as a cult of human sacrifice, the evidence for the use of psychedelics in ancient rites, the chemical analysis of ancient wine and beer, why Brian hasn’t tried psychedelics, the need for a modern Mysteries of Eleusis, and other topics. Brian Muraresku graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University with a degree in Latin, Greek and Sanskrit. As an alumnus of Georgetown Law and a member of the Bars of both New York and Washington D.C., he has been practicing law internationally for over fifteen years. He lives outside Washington D.C. with his wife and two daughters. The Immortality Key is Muraresku's debut book. Website: https://www.brianmuraresku.com/ Twitter: @BrianMuraresku Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580156Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/the-best-kept-secret-in-history Sam Harris speaks with Brian Muraresku about ancient mystery religions and the possible psychedelic roots of Christianity. They discuss the...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/the-best-kept-secret-in-history Sam Harris speaks with Brian Muraresku about ancient mystery religions and the possible psychedelic roots of Christianity. They discuss the Mysteries of Eleusis, the “pagan continuity hypothesis,” the cult of Dionysius, the Dead Sea scrolls and the Gnostic Gospels, Christianity as a cult of human sacrifice, the evidence for the use of psychedelics in ancient rites, the chemical analysis of ancient wine and beer, why Brian hasn’t tried psychedelics, the need for a modern Mysteries of Eleusis, and other topics. Brian Muraresku graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University with a degree in Latin, Greek and Sanskrit. As an alumnus of Georgetown Law and a member of the Bars of both New York and Washington D.C., he has been practicing law internationally for over fifteen years. He lives outside Washington D.C. with his wife and two daughters. The Immortality Key is Muraresku's debut book. Website: https://www.brianmuraresku.com/ Twitter: @BrianMuraresku Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>4201falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/345-resilience--60047403https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/345-resilience Sam Harris speaks with Amanda Knox about her experience of having been falsely convicted and imprisoned for murder in Italy. Amanda Knox is an exoneree, journalist, public speaker, and author of The New York Times best-selling memoir Waiting to Be Heard. She is the co-host, with her husband Christopher Robinson, of the podcast Labyrinths. Between 2007 and 2015, she spent nearly four years in an Italian prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit. She has since become an advocate for criminal justice reform and media ethics. She sits on the board of the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice.  Website: www.knoxrobinson.com Twitter: @amandaknox Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580155Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:25:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/345-resilience Sam Harris speaks with Amanda Knox about her experience of having been falsely convicted and imprisoned for murder in Italy. Amanda Knox is an exoneree,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/345-resilience Sam Harris speaks with Amanda Knox about her experience of having been falsely convicted and imprisoned for murder in Italy. Amanda Knox is an exoneree, journalist, public speaker, and author of The New York Times best-selling memoir Waiting to Be Heard. She is the co-host, with her husband Christopher Robinson, of the podcast Labyrinths. Between 2007 and 2015, she spent nearly four years in an Italian prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit. She has since become an advocate for criminal justice reform and media ethics. She sits on the board of the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice.  Website: www.knoxrobinson.com Twitter: @amandaknox Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>7467falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/344-the-war-in-gaza--60047400https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/344-the-war-in-gaza Sam Harris comments on the recent testimony of university presidents before Congress, along with Elon Musk's reinstating of Alex Jones on X. He then introduces a recent episode of the Call Me Back podcast about the war in Gaza, hosted by Dan Senor. Sam really enjoyed listening to this conversation and we’re delighted to be able to share it with the Making Sense community. Dan Senor is co-author of a new book, The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World, which is a New York Times bestseller. This book on the origins of Israeli resilience—and what the U.S. can learn from Israeli society—is especially relevant since October 7. He is also co-author of Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle, which has been translated into more than 30 languages. Dan is the host of the Call Me Back podcast, which has been focused exclusively on Israel and the Middle East since October 7, with most of the episodes built around conversations with Israeli journalists, officials and other experts on the ground in Israel. Previously, Dan served in various foreign policy positions in the U.S. Government—including in Iraq for over a year during the George W. Bush administration—and as an advisor to Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and others. Website: https://www.dansenor.com/ Twitter: @dansenor   Douglas Murray is the associate editor of The Spectator and writes frequently for a variety of other publications, including The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and The Sun. He has also given talks at both the British and European Parliaments and at the White House. He is the author of several books including The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam, The Madness of Crowds, and most recently, The War on the West.
Website: https://douglasmurray.net/ Twitter: @DouglasKMurray   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580154Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:50:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/344-the-war-in-gaza Sam Harris comments on the recent testimony of university presidents before Congress, along with Elon Musk's reinstating of Alex Jones on X. He then...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/344-the-war-in-gaza Sam Harris comments on the recent testimony of university presidents before Congress, along with Elon Musk's reinstating of Alex Jones on X. He then introduces a recent episode of the Call Me Back podcast about the war in Gaza, hosted by Dan Senor. Sam really enjoyed listening to this conversation and we’re delighted to be able to share it with the Making Sense community. Dan Senor is co-author of a new book, The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World, which is a New York Times bestseller. This book on the origins of Israeli resilience—and what the U.S. can learn from Israeli society—is especially relevant since October 7. He is also co-author of Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle, which has been translated into more than 30 languages. Dan is the host of the Call Me Back podcast, which has been focused exclusively on Israel and the Middle East since October 7, with most of the episodes built around conversations with Israeli journalists, officials and other experts on the ground in Israel. Previously, Dan served in various foreign policy positions in the U.S. Government—including in Iraq for over a year during the George W. Bush administration—and as an advisor to Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and others. Website: https://www.dansenor.com/ Twitter: @dansenor   Douglas Murray is the associate editor of The Spectator and writes frequently for a variety of other publications, including The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and The Sun. He has also given talks at both the British and European Parliaments and at the White House. He is the author of several books including The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam, The Madness of Crowds, and most recently, The War on the West.
Website: https://douglasmurray.net/ Twitter: @DouglasKMurray   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>3537falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/343-what-is-islamophobia--60047426https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/343-what-is-islamophobia Sam Harris discusses the social and political consequences of a weaponized term. A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.]]>1580152Wed, 06 Dec 2023 17:45:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/343-what-is-islamophobia Sam Harris discusses the social and political consequences of a weaponized term. A transcript of this podcast is available on...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/343-what-is-islamophobia Sam Harris discusses the social and political consequences of a weaponized term. A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.]]>711falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/342-animal-minds-moral-truths--60047429https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/342-animal-minds-moral-truths Sam Harris speaks with Peter Singer about important problems in ethics. They discuss his career as a philosopher, the moral status of non-human animals, the ethics of moral hierarchies, speciesism, the scale of animal suffering, conscientious omnivores, animal experimentation, the tragic case of Sam Bankman-Fried, concerns about Effective Altruism, the problems with focusing on existential risk, the comparative nature of human suffering, the work of Derek Parfit, objective morality, and other topics. Peter Singer, dubbed “the world’s most influential living philosopher” by The New Yorker, has written, co-authored, edited, or co-edited more than 50 books in over 25 languages, including Practical Ethics, Writings on an Ethical Life, The Life You Can Save, and more. His 1975 book Animal Liberation is often credited with starting the modern animal rights movement. His TED Talk has over 2.25 million views. Singer was educated at the University of Melbourne and the University of Oxford and is currently the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University's Center for Human Values. When not teaching at Princeton, he lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his wife, Renata, with whom he enjoys hiking. He is also the author of Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed (Harper; May 23, 2023) and The Buddhist and the Ethicist: Conversations on Effective Altruism, Engaged Buddhism, and How to Build a Better World (Shambhala; December 12, 2023). Website: https://petersinger.info/ Twitter: @PeterSinger   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>1580151Mon, 27 Nov 2023 23:45:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/342-animal-minds-moral-truths Sam Harris speaks with Peter Singer about important problems in ethics. They discuss his career as a philosopher, the moral status of non-human...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/342-animal-minds-moral-truths Sam Harris speaks with Peter Singer about important problems in ethics. They discuss his career as a philosopher, the moral status of non-human animals, the ethics of moral hierarchies, speciesism, the scale of animal suffering, conscientious omnivores, animal experimentation, the tragic case of Sam Bankman-Fried, concerns about Effective Altruism, the problems with focusing on existential risk, the comparative nature of human suffering, the work of Derek Parfit, objective morality, and other topics. Peter Singer, dubbed “the world’s most influential living philosopher” by The New Yorker, has written, co-authored, edited, or co-edited more than 50 books in over 25 languages, including Practical Ethics, Writings on an Ethical Life, The Life You Can Save, and more. His 1975 book Animal Liberation is often credited with starting the modern animal rights movement. His TED Talk has over 2.25 million views. Singer was educated at the University of Melbourne and the University of Oxford and is currently the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University's Center for Human Values. When not teaching at Princeton, he lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his wife, Renata, with whom he enjoys hiking. He is also the author of Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed (Harper; May 23, 2023) and The Buddhist and the Ethicist: Conversations on Effective Altruism, Engaged Buddhism, and How to Build a Better World (Shambhala; December 12, 2023). Website: https://petersinger.info/ Twitter: @PeterSinger   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  ]]>6337falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/341-gaza-global-order--60047430https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/341-gaza-global-order Sam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about the events of October 7th and the resulting war in Gaza. They discuss the unraveling of global order, the failure of the IDF, the incompetence of the Netanyahu government, the goals of Hamas, the Saudi peace treaty, the right of Israel to exist, the status of Palestinian and Jewish refugees, victim and perpetrator narratives, compromise vs justice, the Palestinian citizens of Israel, lessons from WW2, the danger of focusing on the past, the perverse significance of the al-Aqsa Mosque, the double standards to which Israel is held, false analogies to European colonialism, the rise of antisemitism, the future of politics in Israel, America’s role in preserving global order, the war in Ukraine, and other topics. Yuval Noah Harari, PhD, is a historian, philosopher and bestselling author, who is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today. His books have sold 45 million copies in 65 languages. In 2019, Harari and his husband Itzik co-founded Sapienship, a social impact company specializing in content and production, with projects in the fields of education and entertainment. Sapienship’s main goal is to focus the public conversation on the most important global challenges facing the world today. Website: ynharari.com Twitter: @harari_yuval]]>1580150Thu, 16 Nov 2023 18:40:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/341-gaza-global-order Sam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about the events of October 7th and the resulting war in Gaza. They discuss the unraveling of global order, the...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/341-gaza-global-order Sam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about the events of October 7th and the resulting war in Gaza. They discuss the unraveling of global order, the failure of the IDF, the incompetence of the Netanyahu government, the goals of Hamas, the Saudi peace treaty, the right of Israel to exist, the status of Palestinian and Jewish refugees, victim and perpetrator narratives, compromise vs justice, the Palestinian citizens of Israel, lessons from WW2, the danger of focusing on the past, the perverse significance of the al-Aqsa Mosque, the double standards to which Israel is held, false analogies to European colonialism, the rise of antisemitism, the future of politics in Israel, America’s role in preserving global order, the war in Ukraine, and other topics. Yuval Noah Harari, PhD, is a historian, philosopher and bestselling author, who is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today. His books have sold 45 million copies in 65 languages. In 2019, Harari and his husband Itzik co-founded Sapienship, a social impact company specializing in content and production, with projects in the fields of education and entertainment. Sapienship’s main goal is to focus the public conversation on the most important global challenges facing the world today. Website: ynharari.com Twitter: @harari_yuval]]>5742falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/340-the-bright-line-between-good-and-evil--60047374https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/340-the-bright-line-between-good-and-evil Sam Harris speaks about the ongoing war in Gaza, the global rise of antisemitism, and the enduring problem of jihadism. A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.  ]]>1580149Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:30:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/340-the-bright-line-between-good-and-evil Sam Harris speaks about the ongoing war in Gaza, the global rise of antisemitism, and the enduring problem of jihadism. A transcript...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/340-the-bright-line-between-good-and-evil Sam Harris speaks about the ongoing war in Gaza, the global rise of antisemitism, and the enduring problem of jihadism. A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.  ]]>3570falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/339-the-infernal-logic-of-jihad--60047440https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/339-the-infernal-logic-of-jihad Sam Harris speaks with Graeme Wood about the October 7th atrocities in Israel, the unfolding war in Gaza, and the ongoing problem of global jihadism. Graeme Wood is a national correspondent for The Atlantic. He has written for The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many other publications. He was the 2014–2015 Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and he teaches in the political science department at Yale University. He is the author of The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Website: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/graeme-wood/ Twitter: @gcaw]]>1580148Fri, 03 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/339-the-infernal-logic-of-jihad Sam Harris speaks with Graeme Wood about the October 7th atrocities in Israel, the unfolding war in Gaza, and the ongoing problem of global...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/339-the-infernal-logic-of-jihad Sam Harris speaks with Graeme Wood about the October 7th atrocities in Israel, the unfolding war in Gaza, and the ongoing problem of global jihadism. Graeme Wood is a national correspondent for The Atlantic. He has written for The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many other publications. He was the 2014–2015 Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and he teaches in the political science department at Yale University. He is the author of The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Website: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/graeme-wood/ Twitter: @gcaw]]>5523falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/338-the-sin-of-moral-equivalence--60047399https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/338-the-sin-of-moral-equivalence A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.]]>1580146Thu, 12 Oct 2023 15:35:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/338-the-sin-of-moral-equivalence A transcript of this podcast is available on https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-sin-of-moral-equivalence.https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/338-the-sin-of-moral-equivalence A transcript of this podcast is available on Sam’s blog.]]>863falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/337-the-future-of-psychedelic-medicine--60047456TREAT Initiative in California and the growing promise of psychedelics for mental health care. Jeannie Fontana, MD, PhD, is a multifaceted leader in healthcare, specializing in Internal Medicine, Environmental Toxicology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. She initiated an ALS-focused research team at Sanford Burnham Prebys and established the Cedars-Sinai ALS Center of Excellence, driving policy change and boosting federal funding for ALS research. As a founding trustee of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), she played a pivotal role in creating the world's largest stem cell granting agency with an $8.5 billion budget. Under her influence, the agency has achieved FDA approvals, fast-track designations, and launched groundbreaking clinical trials. Additionally, CIRM catalyzed the creation of over 55,000 jobs, 50 new companies, and $10 billion in added state revenue. Now, Jeannie is poised to address California's urgent mental health crisis through her role in the TREAT California Initiative. Website: treatcalifornia.org
  Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD, moved to Imperial College London in 2008 after obtaining a PhD in Psychopharmacology from the University of Bristol. He has designed human brain imaging studies with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA and DMT, and several clinical trials of psilocybin therapy for severe mental illnesses, including 3 key trials in depression plus 2 further trials in anorexia and fibromyalgia syndrome. Dr Carhart-Harris founded the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London in April 2019, the first of its kind in the world. In 2020, he was named among the top 31 medical scientists by The Times newspaper. Dr Carhart-Harris became the inaugural Ralph Metzner Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco in 2021, and in the same year, was listed in TIME magazine’s ‘100 Next’ - a list of emerging leaders from around the world who are shaping the future. Website: carhartharrislab.com Twitter: @RCarhartHarris   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580144Wed, 04 Oct 2023 09:35:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/337-the-future-of-psychedelic-medicine Sam Harris speaks with Jeannie Fontana and Robin Carhart-Harris about the http://www.treatcalifornia.org in California and the growing...TREAT Initiative in California and the growing promise of psychedelics for mental health care. Jeannie Fontana, MD, PhD, is a multifaceted leader in healthcare, specializing in Internal Medicine, Environmental Toxicology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. She initiated an ALS-focused research team at Sanford Burnham Prebys and established the Cedars-Sinai ALS Center of Excellence, driving policy change and boosting federal funding for ALS research. As a founding trustee of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), she played a pivotal role in creating the world's largest stem cell granting agency with an $8.5 billion budget. Under her influence, the agency has achieved FDA approvals, fast-track designations, and launched groundbreaking clinical trials. Additionally, CIRM catalyzed the creation of over 55,000 jobs, 50 new companies, and $10 billion in added state revenue. Now, Jeannie is poised to address California's urgent mental health crisis through her role in the TREAT California Initiative. Website: treatcalifornia.org
  Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD, moved to Imperial College London in 2008 after obtaining a PhD in Psychopharmacology from the University of Bristol. He has designed human brain imaging studies with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA and DMT, and several clinical trials of psilocybin therapy for severe mental illnesses, including 3 key trials in depression plus 2 further trials in anorexia and fibromyalgia syndrome. Dr Carhart-Harris founded the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London in April 2019, the first of its kind in the world. In 2020, he was named among the top 31 medical scientists by The Times newspaper. Dr Carhart-Harris became the inaugural Ralph Metzner Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco in 2021, and in the same year, was listed in TIME magazine’s ‘100 Next’ - a list of emerging leaders from around the world who are shaping the future. Website: carhartharrislab.com Twitter: @RCarhartHarris   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6110falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/336-the-roots-of-identity-politics--60047432https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/336-the-roots-of-identity-politics Sam Harris speaks with Yascha Mounk about identity politics. They discuss Yascha’s concept of the “identity synthesis,” skepticism about “cancel culture,” racial segregation in schools, the ideological change on college campuses, Michel Foucault and postmodernism, the rejection of universalism, Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, the “permanence of racism,” the indoctrination of children, intersectionality, white privilege, institutional racism, equity vs equality, racial preferences during the Covid pandemic, the asymmetric advantage of authoritarianism, class and elitism, affirmative action, media coverage of crime and violence, social media and the business model of mainstream journalism, and other topics. Yascha Mounk is the author of The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time. He is also a Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University, the founder of Persuasion, and the host of The Good Fight podcast. Website: www.yaschamounk.com Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580142Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:45:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/336-the-roots-of-identity-politics Sam Harris speaks with Yascha Mounk about identity politics. They discuss Yascha’s concept of the “identity synthesis,” skepticism about...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/336-the-roots-of-identity-politics Sam Harris speaks with Yascha Mounk about identity politics. They discuss Yascha’s concept of the “identity synthesis,” skepticism about “cancel culture,” racial segregation in schools, the ideological change on college campuses, Michel Foucault and postmodernism, the rejection of universalism, Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, the “permanence of racism,” the indoctrination of children, intersectionality, white privilege, institutional racism, equity vs equality, racial preferences during the Covid pandemic, the asymmetric advantage of authoritarianism, class and elitism, affirmative action, media coverage of crime and violence, social media and the business model of mainstream journalism, and other topics. Yascha Mounk is the author of The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time. He is also a Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University, the founder of Persuasion, and the host of The Good Fight podcast. Website: www.yaschamounk.com Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>7776falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/335-a-postmortem-on-my-response-to-covid--600474051580141Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:24:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/335-a-postmortem-on-my-response-to-covid4250falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/334-the-low-trust-society--60047433How To Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen will be published in October. His previous three books were The Second Mountain, The Road to Character, and The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, all #1 New York Times bestsellers. Mr. Brooks has taught at Yale and Duke and now teaches at the University of Chicago. He has received over 30 honorary degrees from American universities and is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.  Twitter: @nytdavidbrooks
Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580140Mon, 18 Sep 2023 21:15:00 +0000Michał Czhttps://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/334-the-low-trust-society Sam Harris speaks with David Brooks about the state of American democracy and the liberal world order. They discuss the weakness of moral individualism, the loss of...How To Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen will be published in October. His previous three books were The Second Mountain, The Road to Character, and The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, all #1 New York Times bestsellers. Mr. Brooks has taught at Yale and Duke and now teaches at the University of Chicago. He has received over 30 honorary degrees from American universities and is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.  Twitter: @nytdavidbrooks
Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5368falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/333-sanity-check-on-climate-change--60047404https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/333-sanity-check-on-climate-change   Sam Harris speaks with Chris Field about climate change and its consequences. They discuss skepticism about climate change, the accuracy of climate models, the magnitude of temperature increases, how global temperatures are measured, the historical record of climate variation, the range of possibilities in the coming decades, feedback mechanisms, wildfires, water vapor, air pollution, solar geo-engineering, the biggest challenge to taking action on climate change, the costs of transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy, renewable sources of energy, nuclear power, carbon capture, hydrogen, the developing world, China and India, carbon taxes and other incentives, and other topics. Chris Field is the Perry L. McCarty Director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies. His research focuses on climate change, especially solutions that improve lives now, decrease the amount of future warming, and support vibrant economies. Recent projects emphasize decreasing risks from coastal flooding and wildfires. Field was co-chair of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change from 2008-2015. His widely cited work has earned many recognitions, including election to the US National Academy of Sciences, the Roger Revelle Medal, and the Japan Prize. Website: https://fieldlab.stanford.edu/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580139Tue, 05 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/333-sanity-check-on-climate-change   Sam Harris speaks with Chris Field about climate change and its consequences. They discuss skepticism about climate change, the accuracy...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/333-sanity-check-on-climate-change   Sam Harris speaks with Chris Field about climate change and its consequences. They discuss skepticism about climate change, the accuracy of climate models, the magnitude of temperature increases, how global temperatures are measured, the historical record of climate variation, the range of possibilities in the coming decades, feedback mechanisms, wildfires, water vapor, air pollution, solar geo-engineering, the biggest challenge to taking action on climate change, the costs of transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy, renewable sources of energy, nuclear power, carbon capture, hydrogen, the developing world, China and India, carbon taxes and other incentives, and other topics. Chris Field is the Perry L. McCarty Director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies. His research focuses on climate change, especially solutions that improve lives now, decrease the amount of future warming, and support vibrant economies. Recent projects emphasize decreasing risks from coastal flooding and wildfires. Field was co-chair of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change from 2008-2015. His widely cited work has earned many recognitions, including election to the US National Academy of Sciences, the Roger Revelle Medal, and the Japan Prize. Website: https://fieldlab.stanford.edu/   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4059falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/332-can-we-contain-artificial-intelligence--60047459https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/332-can-we-contain-artificial-intelligence   Sam Harris speaks with Mustafa Suleyman about his new book, “The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma.” They discuss the progress in artificial intelligence made at his company DeepMind, the acquisition of DeepMind by Google, Atari DQN, AlphaGo, AlphaZero, AlphaFold, the invention of new knowledge, the risks of our making progress in AI, “superintelligence” as a distraction from more pressing problems, the inevitable spread of general-purpose technology, the nature of intelligence, productivity growth and labor disruptions, “the containment problem,” the importance of scale, Moore’s law, Inflection AI, open-source LLMs, changing the norms of work and leisure, the redistribution of value, introducing friction into the deployment of AI, regulatory capture, a misinformation apocalypse, digital watermarks, asymmetric threats, conflict and cooperation with China, supply-chain monopolies, and other topics. Mustafa Suleyman is the co-founder and CEO of Inflection AI. Previously he co-founded DeepMind, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies. After a decade at DeepMind, Suleyman became vice president of AI product management and AI policy at Google. When he was an undergraduate at Oxford, Suleyman dropped out to help start a non-profit telephone counseling service. He lives in Palo Alto, California. Website:  https://www.the-coming-wave.com/ Twitter: @mustafasuleyman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580137Mon, 28 Aug 2023 16:58:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/332-can-we-contain-artificial-intelligence   Sam Harris speaks with Mustafa Suleyman about his new book, “https://amzn.to/3KZmVsw.” They discuss the progress in artificial...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/332-can-we-contain-artificial-intelligence   Sam Harris speaks with Mustafa Suleyman about his new book, “The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma.” They discuss the progress in artificial intelligence made at his company DeepMind, the acquisition of DeepMind by Google, Atari DQN, AlphaGo, AlphaZero, AlphaFold, the invention of new knowledge, the risks of our making progress in AI, “superintelligence” as a distraction from more pressing problems, the inevitable spread of general-purpose technology, the nature of intelligence, productivity growth and labor disruptions, “the containment problem,” the importance of scale, Moore’s law, Inflection AI, open-source LLMs, changing the norms of work and leisure, the redistribution of value, introducing friction into the deployment of AI, regulatory capture, a misinformation apocalypse, digital watermarks, asymmetric threats, conflict and cooperation with China, supply-chain monopolies, and other topics. Mustafa Suleyman is the co-founder and CEO of Inflection AI. Previously he co-founded DeepMind, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies. After a decade at DeepMind, Suleyman became vice president of AI product management and AI policy at Google. When he was an undergraduate at Oxford, Suleyman dropped out to help start a non-profit telephone counseling service. He lives in Palo Alto, California. Website:  https://www.the-coming-wave.com/ Twitter: @mustafasuleyman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5736falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/331-a-golden-age-for-assholes--60047437https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/331-a-golden-age-for-assholes  ]]>1580136Sun, 20 Aug 2023 20:55:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/331-a-golden-age-for-assholes  https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/331-a-golden-age-for-assholes  ]]>754falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/330-the-doomsday-machine--60047450https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/330-the-doomsday-machine Sam Harris speaks with Carl Robichaud about the ongoing threat of nuclear war. They discuss the film "Oppenheimer," the ethics of dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the false lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the history and future of nuclear proliferation, the logic of deterrence, cyber vulnerabilities, the history of de-escalation, the war in Ukraine, war games, the nuclear taboo, growing tensions between the U.S. and China, artificial intelligence, getting to nuclear zero, the role for private citizens in mitigating nuclear risk, the Longview Nuclear Risk Policy Fund (https://www.longview.org/fund/nuclear-weapons-policy-fund/), and other topics. Carl Robichaud co-leads Longview’s program on nuclear weapons policy. For more than a decade, Carl led grantmaking in nuclear security at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a philanthropic fund which grants over $30 million annually to strengthen international peace and security. Previously, Carl worked with The Century Foundation and the Global Security Institute, where his research spanned arms control, international security policy, and nonproliferation. Robichaud holds an MPA in public policy and international affairs from Princeton University and a BA from Wesleyan University. He is a 1999 Thomas J. Watson fellow and a 2003 Harold W. Rosenthal fellow for international affairs and security at the Stimson Center and the Council on Foreign Relations. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Elsie Kagan, a painter. Website: https://www.longview.org/fund/nuclear-weapons-policy-fund/ Twitter: @carlrobichaud   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.    ]]>1580135Wed, 16 Aug 2023 22:15:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/330-the-doomsday-machine Sam Harris speaks with Carl Robichaud about the ongoing threat of nuclear war. They discuss the film "Oppenheimer," the ethics of dropping atomic...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/330-the-doomsday-machine Sam Harris speaks with Carl Robichaud about the ongoing threat of nuclear war. They discuss the film "Oppenheimer," the ethics of dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the false lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the history and future of nuclear proliferation, the logic of deterrence, cyber vulnerabilities, the history of de-escalation, the war in Ukraine, war games, the nuclear taboo, growing tensions between the U.S. and China, artificial intelligence, getting to nuclear zero, the role for private citizens in mitigating nuclear risk, the Longview Nuclear Risk Policy Fund (https://www.longview.org/fund/nuclear-weapons-policy-fund/), and other topics. Carl Robichaud co-leads Longview’s program on nuclear weapons policy. For more than a decade, Carl led grantmaking in nuclear security at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a philanthropic fund which grants over $30 million annually to strengthen international peace and security. Previously, Carl worked with The Century Foundation and the Global Security Institute, where his research spanned arms control, international security policy, and nonproliferation. Robichaud holds an MPA in public policy and international affairs from Princeton University and a BA from Wesleyan University. He is a 1999 Thomas J. Watson fellow and a 2003 Harold W. Rosenthal fellow for international affairs and security at the Stimson Center and the Council on Foreign Relations. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Elsie Kagan, a painter. Website: https://www.longview.org/fund/nuclear-weapons-policy-fund/ Twitter: @carlrobichaud   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.    ]]>5744falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/329-what-happened-to-the-republican-party--60047438https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/329-what-happened-to-the-republican-party Sam Harris speaks with Bret Stephens about the current state of the Republican Party. They discuss the strange change in Republican attitudes toward Putin, the character of Tucker Carlson, the war in Ukraine, the failures of elites and experts, the tension between concerns about misinformation and free speech, the Hunter Biden laptop, the 2024 Presidential election, how Trump captured the Republican Party, the criminal charges against Trump, the future of conservatism, and other topics. Bret Stephens is an opinion columnist with The New York Times and editor-in-chief of Sapir, a new Jewish quarterly. He has previously served as editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post and as foreign-affairs columnist for The Wall Street Journal, for which he won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He was raised in Mexico City, educated at the University of Chicago, and was a NeverTrumper from Day One. In 2022 he was banned for life by the government of Russia from ever visiting that country. Website: https://www.nytimes.com/column/bret-stephens   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580134Sat, 12 Aug 2023 00:20:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/329-what-happened-to-the-republican-party Sam Harris speaks with Bret Stephens about the current state of the Republican Party. They discuss the strange change in Republican...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/329-what-happened-to-the-republican-party Sam Harris speaks with Bret Stephens about the current state of the Republican Party. They discuss the strange change in Republican attitudes toward Putin, the character of Tucker Carlson, the war in Ukraine, the failures of elites and experts, the tension between concerns about misinformation and free speech, the Hunter Biden laptop, the 2024 Presidential election, how Trump captured the Republican Party, the criminal charges against Trump, the future of conservatism, and other topics. Bret Stephens is an opinion columnist with The New York Times and editor-in-chief of Sapir, a new Jewish quarterly. He has previously served as editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post and as foreign-affairs columnist for The Wall Street Journal, for which he won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He was raised in Mexico City, educated at the University of Chicago, and was a NeverTrumper from Day One. In 2022 he was banned for life by the government of Russia from ever visiting that country. Website: https://www.nytimes.com/column/bret-stephens   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5789falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/328-health-longevity--60047390https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/328-health-longevity Sam Harris speaks with Peter Attia about his book, “Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity.” They discuss "healthspan," centenarians, diet and nutrition, sugar, macronutrients, alcohol, fasting and time-restricted eating, exercise, Zone 2 training, heart disease, blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer, brain health, metabolic disorders, proactive medical testing, medication side effects, Rapamycin, emotional health, and other topics. Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan. He is the host of The Drive, one of the most popular podcasts covering the topics of health and medicine. Website: https://peterattiamd.com/ Twitter: @peterattiamd   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580132Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:49:00 +0000Michał CzShare this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/328-health-longevity Sam Harris speaks with Peter Attia about his book, “https://amzn.to/479BIdN.” They discuss "healthspan," centenarians, diet and nutrition, sugar,...https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/328-health-longevity Sam Harris speaks with Peter Attia about his book, “Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity.” They discuss "healthspan," centenarians, diet and nutrition, sugar, macronutrients, alcohol, fasting and time-restricted eating, exercise, Zone 2 training, heart disease, blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer, brain health, metabolic disorders, proactive medical testing, medication side effects, Rapamycin, emotional health, and other topics. Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan. He is the host of The Drive, one of the most popular podcasts covering the topics of health and medicine. Website: https://peterattiamd.com/ Twitter: @peterattiamd   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>10997falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/327-transformative-experiences--60047434Transformative Experience, and Causation: A User’s Guide, which was awarded the American Philosophical Association Sanders Book Prize. Website: www.lapaul.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580130Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with L.A. Paul about the nature of transformative experiences. They discuss how certain experiences change the self, the nature of regret, changing belief systems, conspiracy thinking, empathy, doing good in the world, our...Transformative Experience, and Causation: A User’s Guide, which was awarded the American Philosophical Association Sanders Book Prize. Website: www.lapaul.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5198falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/326-ai-information-integrity--60047446The Era of Generative AI, a 100K+ strong GenAI community featuring the weekly EGAI newsletter, exclusive content, and interviews with the pioneers of this space.  Website: ninaschick.org Twitter: @NinaDSchick   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580128Thu, 06 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Nina Schick about generative AI and information integrity. They discuss the challenges of regulating AI, authentication vs detection, fake video, hyper-personalization of information, the promise of generative design,...The Era of Generative AI, a 100K+ strong GenAI community featuring the weekly EGAI newsletter, exclusive content, and interviews with the pioneers of this space.  Website: ninaschick.org Twitter: @NinaDSchick   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5064falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/325-a-few-thoughts-about-rfk-jr--60047439Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580127Mon, 03 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris discusses Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent appearances on other podcasts.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the http://wakingup.com/ app. From rational...Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1608falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/324-debating-the-future-of-ai--60047467@pmarca Website: https://a16z.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580126Wed, 28 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Marc Andreessen about the future of artificial intelligence (AI). They discuss the primary importance of intelligence, possible good outcomes for AI, the problem of alienation, the significance of evolution, the Alignment...@pmarca Website: https://a16z.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>7288falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/323-science-survival--60047448On the Future: Prospects for Humanity, The End of Astronauts, and If Science is to Save Us. Twitter: @lordmartinrees Website: www.martinrees.uk   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580125Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Martin Rees about the importance of science and scientific institutions. They discuss the provisionality of science, the paradox of authority, genius, civilizational risks, pandemic preparedness, artificial intelligence, nuclear...On the Future: Prospects for Humanity, The End of Astronauts, and If Science is to Save Us. Twitter: @lordmartinrees Website: www.martinrees.uk   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6474falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-meditation--600474581580122Sun, 18 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, we traverse a decade of Sam’s conversations on the topic of meditation.  We start with the very first recorded episode from the archives: a conversation with Sam’s meditation teacher and friend, Joseph Goldstein. Goldstein recalls how...7328falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/322-predicting-reality--60047385Surfing Uncertainty, Mindware, Supersizing the Mind, Being There, and most recently, The Experience Machine. His academic interests include artificial intelligence, embodied and extended cognition, robotics, and computational neuroscience.  Twitter: @CogsAndy Website: https://profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p493-andy-clark   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580121Mon, 12 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Andy Clark about the predictive brain, embodied cognition, and the extended mind. They discuss the structure of perception, novelty, precision, pain, psychedelics, emotion, ways to hack our predictions, hypnosis, meditation,...Surfing Uncertainty, Mindware, Supersizing the Mind, Being There, and most recently, The Experience Machine. His academic interests include artificial intelligence, embodied and extended cognition, robotics, and computational neuroscience.  Twitter: @CogsAndy Website: https://profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p493-andy-clark   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5534falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/321-reckoning-with-parfit--60047408Wittgenstein’s Poker and, most recently, a biography, Parfit: A Philosopher and his Mission to Save Morality. David is also the host of a couple of philosophy podcasts including Philosophy Bites, which he creates with Nigel Warburton. Twitter: @DavidEdmonds100 Website: www.davidedmonds.info   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580120Mon, 05 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with David Edmonds about the life and philosophy of Derek Parfit. They discuss Parfit’s work on identity, time bias, the “non-identity problem,” population ethics and “the Repugnant Conclusion,” the ethical importance of future...Wittgenstein’s Poker and, most recently, a biography, Parfit: A Philosopher and his Mission to Save Morality. David is also the host of a couple of philosophy podcasts including Philosophy Bites, which he creates with Nigel Warburton. Twitter: @DavidEdmonds100 Website: www.davidedmonds.info   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5675falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-death--60047464   About the Series Filmmaker Jay Shapiro has produced The Essential Sam Harris, a new series of audio documentaries exploring the major topics that Sam has focused on over the course of his career. Each episode weaves together original analysis, critical perspective, and novel thought experiments with some of the most compelling exchanges from the Making Sense archive. Whether you are new to a particular topic, or think you have your mind made up about it, we think you’ll find this series fascinating.  ]]>1580118Fri, 26 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, we explore Sam’s conversations about the phenomenon of death. We begin with an introduction from Sam as he urges us to use our awareness of death to become more present in our day-to-day lives. We then hear a conversation between Sam...   About the Series Filmmaker Jay Shapiro has produced The Essential Sam Harris, a new series of audio documentaries exploring the major topics that Sam has focused on over the course of his career. Each episode weaves together original analysis, critical perspective, and novel thought experiments with some of the most compelling exchanges from the Making Sense archive. Whether you are new to a particular topic, or think you have your mind made up about it, we think you’ll find this series fascinating.  ]]>6490falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/320-constructing-self-and-world--60047454@shamilch YouTube: @ShamilChandaria   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580117Mon, 22 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Shamil Chandaria about how the brain constructs a vision of the self and the world. They discuss the brain from first principles; Bayesian inference; hierarchical predictive processing; the construction of vision; psychedelics...@shamilch YouTube: @ShamilChandaria   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>7098falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/319-the-digital-multiverse--60047461MEGANETS: How Digital Forces Beyond Our Control Commandeer Our Lives and Inner Realities and BITWISE: A Life in Code. Website: https://auerstack.substack.com/ Twitter: @AuerbachKeller   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580116Mon, 15 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with David Auerbach about the problematic structure of online networks. They discuss the tradeoffs between liberty and cooperation, the impossibility of fighting misinformation, bottom-up vs top-down influences, recent developments...MEGANETS: How Digital Forces Beyond Our Control Commandeer Our Lives and Inner Realities and BITWISE: A Life in Code. Website: https://auerstack.substack.com/ Twitter: @AuerbachKeller   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4218falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-social-media--600474771580115Fri, 05 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, we examine a series of Sam’s conversations centered around social media’s impact on the information landscape. We begin with Sam’s second conversation with Tristan Harris, which was conducted shortly after the release of Tristan’s...7887falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/318-physics-philosophy--60047407Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity, Truth and Paradox, The Metaphysics Within Physics, Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time, and Philosophy of Physics: Quantum Theory.
Website: www.JohnBellInstitute.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580114Mon, 01 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Tim Maudlin about the foundations of physics and metaphysics. They talk about the nature of scientific reductionism, emergence, functionalism, the nature of time, presentism vs eternalism, causation, the nature of possibility,...Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity, Truth and Paradox, The Metaphysics Within Physics, Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time, and Philosophy of Physics: Quantum Theory.
Website: www.JohnBellInstitute.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>9959falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/317-what-do-we-know-about-our-minds--60047475Psych: The Story of the Human Mind. Website: paulbloom.net Twitter: @paulbloomatyale   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580112Thu, 20 Apr 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Paul Bloom about the state of psychological science. They discuss fiction as a window onto the mind, recent developments in AI, the tension between misinformation and free speech, bullshitting vs lying, truth vs belonging,...Psych: The Story of the Human Mind. Website: paulbloom.net Twitter: @paulbloomatyale   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>7138falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/316-self-defense-reality-and-fantasy--60047409The Gift of Violence: Practical Knowledge for Surviving and Thriving in a Dangerous World. They discuss his background in martial arts, the reasons to train in combat sports, the UFC and the evolution of mixed martial arts, the fundamental principles of effective martial arts, the "street" vs "sport" fallacy, grappling vs striking, the persistence of fake martial arts, Bruce Lee’s legacy, male violence and emotional maturity, the male fear of humiliation, violence against women, the validity of instinct, the behavior of predators, weapons, avoiding violence, and other topics. Matt Thornton has been teaching functional martial arts for more than thirty years and holds a 5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His organization, Straight Blast Gym, has more than seventy locations worldwide and has produced champion MMA fighters as well as world-class self-defense and law enforcement instructors. He lives with his wife Salome and their five children in Portland, Oregon. Website: mattthornton.org Twitter: @aliveness_ape   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580111Fri, 14 Apr 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Matt Thornton about his new book, https://amzn.to/4143rZQ. They discuss his background in martial arts, the reasons to train in combat sports, the UFC and the evolution of mixed martial arts, the fundamental principles of...The Gift of Violence: Practical Knowledge for Surviving and Thriving in a Dangerous World. They discuss his background in martial arts, the reasons to train in combat sports, the UFC and the evolution of mixed martial arts, the fundamental principles of effective martial arts, the "street" vs "sport" fallacy, grappling vs striking, the persistence of fake martial arts, Bruce Lee’s legacy, male violence and emotional maturity, the male fear of humiliation, violence against women, the validity of instinct, the behavior of predators, weapons, avoiding violence, and other topics. Matt Thornton has been teaching functional martial arts for more than thirty years and holds a 5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His organization, Straight Blast Gym, has more than seventy locations worldwide and has produced champion MMA fighters as well as world-class self-defense and law enforcement instructors. He lives with his wife Salome and their five children in Portland, Oregon. Website: mattthornton.org Twitter: @aliveness_ape   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5391falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-existential-threat-nuclear-war--600474811580109Wed, 12 Apr 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, we examine the topic of existential threat, focusing in particular on the subject of nuclear war. Sam opens the discussion by emphasizing the gravity of our ability to destroy life as we know it at any moment, and how shocking it is...7267falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/315-the-great-derangement--60047413What’s Our Problem: A Self-Help Book for Societies. They discuss Tim’s unusual career, the finitude of life, existential risk, exponential technological change, political tribalism, the corruption of the media, how one thinks vs what one thinks, trust in institutions, the firing of James Bennet at the New York Times, digital mobs, the mechanics of cancellation, Alex Jones, election integrity, and other topics. Tim Urban is a writer, illustrator, and co-founder of the blog Wait But Why, best known for its long-form articles on a wide range of topics, many of which have gone viral. His TED Talk “Inside the mind of a master procrastinator” is the third most viewed talk of all time. Website: waitbutwhy.com Twitter: @waitbutwhy   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580110Fri, 07 Apr 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Tim Urban about his new book, https://waitbutwhy.com/whatsourproblem. They discuss Tim’s unusual career, the finitude of life, existential risk, exponential technological change, political tribalism, the corruption of the media,...What’s Our Problem: A Self-Help Book for Societies. They discuss Tim’s unusual career, the finitude of life, existential risk, exponential technological change, political tribalism, the corruption of the media, how one thinks vs what one thinks, trust in institutions, the firing of James Bennet at the New York Times, digital mobs, the mechanics of cancellation, Alex Jones, election integrity, and other topics. Tim Urban is a writer, illustrator, and co-founder of the blog Wait But Why, best known for its long-form articles on a wide range of topics, many of which have gone viral. His TED Talk “Inside the mind of a master procrastinator” is the third most viewed talk of all time. Website: waitbutwhy.com Twitter: @waitbutwhy   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5921falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/314-the-cancellation-of-j-k-rowling--60047510The Witch Trials of J. K. Rowling.” The series is also produced by Andy Mills and Matt Boll for The Free Press.  Born and raised in the Westboro Baptist Church, Megan Phelps-Roper left a life of religious extremism in 2012. She has spent the past decade using her experiences to work with schools on anti-bullying campaigns, with law enforcement organizations investigating deradicalization, and with tech companies on the intersection of safety, free speech, and the value of dialogue across ideological divides. Her journey has been chronicled in a trio of BBC documentaries, a TED talk, and her memoir Unfollow. Podcast: The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling Twitter: @meganphelps   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580108Fri, 31 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Megan Phelps-Roper about the new podcast series she hosts and produced, “https://www.thefp.com/witchtrials.” The series is also produced by Andy Mills and Matt Boll for https://www.thefp.com/.  Born and raised in the Westboro...The Witch Trials of J. K. Rowling.” The series is also produced by Andy Mills and Matt Boll for The Free Press.  Born and raised in the Westboro Baptist Church, Megan Phelps-Roper left a life of religious extremism in 2012. She has spent the past decade using her experiences to work with schools on anti-bullying campaigns, with law enforcement organizations investigating deradicalization, and with tech companies on the intersection of safety, free speech, and the value of dialogue across ideological divides. Her journey has been chronicled in a trio of BBC documentaries, a TED talk, and her memoir Unfollow. Podcast: The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling Twitter: @meganphelps   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4914falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/313-apocalypse--60047482Armageddon, and widespread Christian beliefs about the coming end of the world. Bart D. Ehrman is a leading authority on the New Testament and the history of early Christianity and a Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The author of six New York Times bestsellers, he has written or edited more than thirty books, including Misquoting Jesus, How Jesus Became God, The Triumph of Christianity, and Heaven and Hell. Ehrman has also created nine popular audio and video courses for The Great Courses. His books have been translated into twenty-seven languages, with over two million copies and courses sold.  Website: https://ehrmanblog.org/ Twitter: @BartEhrman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580107Sat, 25 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Bart D. Ehrman about the prophecies contained in the book of Revelation. They discuss his latest book, https://amzn.to/3FRSNNi, and widespread Christian beliefs about the coming end of the world. Bart D. Ehrman is a leading...Armageddon, and widespread Christian beliefs about the coming end of the world. Bart D. Ehrman is a leading authority on the New Testament and the history of early Christianity and a Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The author of six New York Times bestsellers, he has written or edited more than thirty books, including Misquoting Jesus, How Jesus Became God, The Triumph of Christianity, and Heaven and Hell. Ehrman has also created nine popular audio and video courses for The Great Courses. His books have been translated into twenty-seven languages, with over two million copies and courses sold.  Website: https://ehrmanblog.org/ Twitter: @BartEhrman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4281falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-belief-and-unbelief--600474141580106Fri, 17 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, we examine a series of Sam’s conversations centered around religion, atheism, and the power of belief.  First, we hear the stories of three guests who have fled their respective oppressive religious organizations. We begin with Sarah...7466falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/312-the-trouble-with-ai--60047509Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, co-authored with Peter Norvig, is the standard text in AI, used in 1500 universities in 135 countries. Russell is also the author of Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control. His research covers a wide range of topics in artificial intelligence, with a current emphasis on the long-term future of artificial intelligence and its relation to humanity. He has developed a new global seismic monitoring system for the nuclear-test-ban treaty and is currently working to ban lethal autonomous weapons. Website: https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~russell/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stuartjonathanrussell/   Gary Marcus is a scientist, best-selling author, and entrepreneur. He is well-known for his challenges to contemporary AI, anticipating many of the current limitations decades in advance, and for his research in human language development and cognitive neuroscience. He was Founder and CEO of Geometric Intelligence, a machine-learning company acquired by Uber in 2016. His most recent book, Rebooting AI, co-authored with Ernest Davis, is one of Forbes’s 7 Must Read Books in AI. His podcast Humans versus Machines, will come later this spring. Website: garymarcus.com Twitter: @GaryMarcus   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580105Tue, 07 Mar 2023 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Stuart Russell and Gary Marcus about recent developments in artificial intelligence and the long-term risks of producing artificial general intelligence (AGI). They discuss the limitations of Deep Learning, the surprising power...Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, co-authored with Peter Norvig, is the standard text in AI, used in 1500 universities in 135 countries. Russell is also the author of Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control. His research covers a wide range of topics in artificial intelligence, with a current emphasis on the long-term future of artificial intelligence and its relation to humanity. He has developed a new global seismic monitoring system for the nuclear-test-ban treaty and is currently working to ban lethal autonomous weapons. Website: https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~russell/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stuartjonathanrussell/   Gary Marcus is a scientist, best-selling author, and entrepreneur. He is well-known for his challenges to contemporary AI, anticipating many of the current limitations decades in advance, and for his research in human language development and cognitive neuroscience. He was Founder and CEO of Geometric Intelligence, a machine-learning company acquired by Uber in 2016. His most recent book, Rebooting AI, co-authored with Ernest Davis, is one of Forbes’s 7 Must Read Books in AI. His podcast Humans versus Machines, will come later this spring. Website: garymarcus.com Twitter: @GaryMarcus   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>8847falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/311-did-sars-cov-2-escape-from-a-lab--60047504The Red Queen, Genome, The Rational Optimist, and The Evolution of Everything. His new book Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19, co-authored with Alina Chan, was published in 2021. Matt sat in the House of Lords between 2013 and 2021 and served on the science and technology select committee and the artificial intelligence select committee. He was founding chairman of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle. He created the Mind and Matter column in the Wall Street Journal in 2010, and was a columnist for the Times 2013-2018. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Website: mattridley.co.uk Twitter: @mattwridley   Alina Chan, Ph.D., is a scientific advisor and viral vector engineer at the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard. She is a recent Broad Ignite fellow and Human Frontier Science Program fellow with a background in medical genetics, synthetic biology, and genetic engineering. During the pandemic, Dr. Chan investigated problems relevant to finding the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and co-authored Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19 with Matt Ridley. In 2022, she joined the Pathogens Project Taskforce organized by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to generate new thinking on responsible high-risk pathogen research. Website: harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/alina-chan Twitter: @Ayjchan   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580104Mon, 20 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Matt Ridley and Alina Chan about the origins of the COVID pandemic. They discuss the evidence of a lab leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, media and academic censorship of this topic, the history of collaboration between...The Red Queen, Genome, The Rational Optimist, and The Evolution of Everything. His new book Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19, co-authored with Alina Chan, was published in 2021. Matt sat in the House of Lords between 2013 and 2021 and served on the science and technology select committee and the artificial intelligence select committee. He was founding chairman of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle. He created the Mind and Matter column in the Wall Street Journal in 2010, and was a columnist for the Times 2013-2018. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Website: mattridley.co.uk Twitter: @mattwridley   Alina Chan, Ph.D., is a scientific advisor and viral vector engineer at the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard. She is a recent Broad Ignite fellow and Human Frontier Science Program fellow with a background in medical genetics, synthetic biology, and genetic engineering. During the pandemic, Dr. Chan investigated problems relevant to finding the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and co-authored Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19 with Matt Ridley. In 2022, she joined the Pathogens Project Taskforce organized by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to generate new thinking on responsible high-risk pathogen research. Website: harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/alina-chan Twitter: @Ayjchan   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6279falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-free-will--600474521580102Tue, 14 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, we examine the timeless question of “free will”: what constitutes it, what is meant by it, what ought to be meant by it, and, of course, whether we have it at all. We start with the neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky who begins to deflate...8309falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/310-social-media-public-trust--60047470The Free Press and host of the podcast Honestly. From 2017 to 2020, Weiss was an opinion writer and editor at The New York Times. Before that, she was an op-ed and book review editor at The Wall Street Journal and a senior editor at Tablet Magazine. Weiss is the winner of the LA Press Club's 2021 Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism. She is also the winner of the Reason Foundation’s 2018 Bastiat Prize, which honors writing that “best demonstrates the importance of freedom with originality, wit, and eloquence.” In 2019, Vanity Fair called Weiss the Times's "star opinion writer." Weiss is a proud Pittsburgh native. Her first book, How to Fight Anti-Semitism, was the winner of a 2019 National Jewish Book Award. She lives with her wife and daughter in Los Angeles. Website: thefp.com Twitter: @bariweiss   Michael Shellenberger is the author of two best-selling books, San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities and Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All. He’s been called an “environmental guru,” a “climate guru,” “North America’s leading public intellectual on clean energy,” and a “high priest” of the pro-human environmental movement. Michael is the founder and president of Environmental Progress, an independent non-profit research organization that incubates ideas, leaders, and movements. He is also a co-founder of the California Peace Coalition, an alliance of parents of children killed by fentanyl, parents of homeless addicts, and recovering addicts.  He also has a newsletter on Substack titled Public.  Website: public.substack.com Twitter: @ShellenbergerMD   Renée DiResta is the Technical Research Manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory, a cross-disciplinary program of research, teaching, and policy engagement for the study of abuse in current information technologies. Her work examines the spread of narratives across social and media networks, how state and non-state actors leverage the information ecosystem to exert influence, and how policy, education, and design can mitigate manipulative dynamics. She is currently working on a book about propaganda and influence. Website: reneediresta.com, io.stanford.edu Twitter: @noUpside
Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580101Tue, 31 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Bari Weiss, Michael Shellenberger, and Renee DiResta about the release of “the Twitter files” and the loss of trust in the institutions of media and government. They discuss Bari and Michael’s experience of participating in the...The Free Press and host of the podcast Honestly. From 2017 to 2020, Weiss was an opinion writer and editor at The New York Times. Before that, she was an op-ed and book review editor at The Wall Street Journal and a senior editor at Tablet Magazine. Weiss is the winner of the LA Press Club's 2021 Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism. She is also the winner of the Reason Foundation’s 2018 Bastiat Prize, which honors writing that “best demonstrates the importance of freedom with originality, wit, and eloquence.” In 2019, Vanity Fair called Weiss the Times's "star opinion writer." Weiss is a proud Pittsburgh native. Her first book, How to Fight Anti-Semitism, was the winner of a 2019 National Jewish Book Award. She lives with her wife and daughter in Los Angeles. Website: thefp.com Twitter: @bariweiss   Michael Shellenberger is the author of two best-selling books, San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities and Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All. He’s been called an “environmental guru,” a “climate guru,” “North America’s leading public intellectual on clean energy,” and a “high priest” of the pro-human environmental movement. Michael is the founder and president of Environmental Progress, an independent non-profit research organization that incubates ideas, leaders, and movements. He is also a co-founder of the California Peace Coalition, an alliance of parents of children killed by fentanyl,...]]>7245falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-encounters-with-violence--60047444The Gift of Fear, which recasts this unfairly maligned emotion as an important attention-demanding, evolved signal. We then spend time with Sam’s position on “profiling” and the moral and political complexities woven into it. This careful consideration leads to a conversation with author and firearms instructor Scotty Reitz, as they paint a stark picture of certain extremes of violence and consider what responsible gun ownership might look like. Sam then answers questions directly on his often criticized and often misunderstood position on gun ownership before we turn to author and former Navy Seal Jocko Willink to apply pressure on the philosophical stance of pacifism. We conclude with the philosopher Tamler Sommers, who ponders the idea of “honor” in society and inspects how third-party delegation of violence might generate an illusive sense of justice.   About the Series Filmmaker Jay Shapiro has produced The Essential Sam Harris, a new series of audio documentaries exploring the major topics that Sam has focused on over the course of his career. Each episode weaves together original analysis, critical perspective, and novel thought experiments with some of the most compelling exchanges from the Making Sense archive. Whether you are new to a particular topic, or think you have your mind made up about it, we think you’ll find this series fascinating.]]>1580100Thu, 26 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzThis episode centers around the specter of violence and surfaces some of Sam’s most controversial positions and difficult conversations. We begin with author and former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss, who delivers some potentially life-saving...The Gift of Fear, which recasts this unfairly maligned emotion as an important attention-demanding, evolved signal. We then spend time with Sam’s position on “profiling” and the moral and political complexities woven into it. This careful consideration leads to a conversation with author and firearms instructor Scotty Reitz, as they paint a stark picture of certain extremes of violence and consider what responsible gun ownership might look like. Sam then answers questions directly on his often criticized and often misunderstood position on gun ownership before we turn to author and former Navy Seal Jocko Willink to apply pressure on the philosophical stance of pacifism. We conclude with the philosopher Tamler Sommers, who ponders the idea of “honor” in society and inspects how third-party delegation of violence might generate an illusive sense of justice.   About the Series Filmmaker Jay Shapiro has produced The Essential Sam Harris, a new series of audio documentaries exploring the major topics that Sam has focused on over the course of his career. Each episode weaves together original analysis, critical perspective, and novel thought experiments with some of the most compelling exchanges from the Making Sense archive. Whether you are new to a particular topic, or think you have your mind made up about it, we think you’ll find this series fascinating.]]>6735falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/309-vulnerability-politics-and-moral-worth--60047387Upheavals of Thought: The Intelligence of Emotions; Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice; Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities; and The Monarchy of Fear. Website: simonandschuster.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580099Thu, 19 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Martha C. Nussbaum about her philosophical work. They discuss the relevance of philosophy to personal and political problems, the influence of religion, the problem of dogmatism, the importance of Greek and Roman philosophy for...Upheavals of Thought: The Intelligence of Emotions; Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice; Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities; and The Monarchy of Fear. Website: simonandschuster.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5698falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/308-the-long-game--60047468The Good Life: Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study on Happiness (Simon and Schuster; January 10, 2023). Website: robertwaldinger.com Twitter: @robertwaldinger   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580096Wed, 11 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Robert Waldinger about the Harvard Study of Adult Development. They discuss the limitations of relying on self-report to assess a person’s well-being; Daniel Kahneman’s remembering and experiencing selves; why it can be hard to...The Good Life: Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study on Happiness (Simon and Schuster; January 10, 2023). Website: robertwaldinger.com Twitter: @robertwaldinger   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6596falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-foundations-of-morality--600474171580095Thu, 05 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, we try to trace morality to its elusive foundations. Throughout the compilation we take a look at Sam’s “Moral Landscape” and his effort to defend an objective path towards moral evaluation. We begin with the moral philosopher Peter...8785falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/307-twitter-elon-free-speech--60047463Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580094Fri, 30 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris discusses Elon Musk's behavior on Twitter and the illusion of "free-speech absolutism." Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the http://wakingup.com/ app. From...Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>2232falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-consciousness--600474281580092Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzFilmmaker Jay Shapiro has produced a new series of audio documentaries, exploring the major topics that Sam has focused on over the course of his career. Each episode weaves together original analysis, critical perspective, and novel thought...7276falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/306-psychedelics-mortality--60047478Griffithsfund.org, Endowment Funding Letter, hopkinspsychedelic.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580091Tue, 13 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Roland Griffiths about psychedelics and mortality. They discuss the current state of psychedelic research, the timeline for FDA approvals, the risks to mental health posed by psychedelics in vulnerable populations, the use of...Griffithsfund.org, Endowment Funding Letter, hopkinspsychedelic.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6329falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/305-moral-knowledge--60047483The Revelations was published last year. Erik recently left his professorship to write on his Substack, The Intrinsic Perspective, full-time. He lives on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Website: https://erikhoel.substack.com/about Twitter: @erikphoel   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580090Wed, 07 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Erik Hoel about the nature of moral truth. They discuss the connection between consequentialism and Effective Altruism, the problems with implementing academic moral philosophy, bad arguments against consequentialism, the...The Revelations was published last year. Erik recently left his professorship to write on his Substack, The Intrinsic Perspective, full-time. He lives on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Website: https://erikhoel.substack.com/about Twitter: @erikphoel   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>7727falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/304-why-i-left-twitter--60047500here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris explains why he deleted his Twitter account. He then speaks with Cal Newport about the fragmentation of modern life. They discuss the history of computer science, how information technology has changed our lives, the effects of social media, the business model of the Internet, the power of TikTok, the future of Twitter, winner-take-all dynamics in podcasting, conspiracy thinking, the way technology drives cultural change, email and the loss of productivity, the cognitive cost of context switching, deep work, the benefits of controlling one's time, the problem with the advice to "follow your passion," and other topics. Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University. His scholarship focuses on the theory of distributed systems, while his general-audience writing explores intersections of culture and technology. He is the author of seven books, including, most recently, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. These titles include multiple New York Times bestsellers and have been translated into over 40 languages. Newport is also a contributing writer for the New Yorker and the host of the Deep Questions podcast. Website: calnewport.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580089Mon, 28 Nov 2022 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 1 hour and 9 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 2 hours and 34 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris explains why he deleted his Twitter account. He then speaks with Cal Newport about the fragmentation of modern life. They discuss the history of computer science, how information technology has changed our lives, the effects of social media, the business model of the Internet, the power of TikTok, the future of Twitter, winner-take-all dynamics in podcasting, conspiracy thinking, the way technology drives cultural change, email and the loss of productivity, the cognitive cost of context switching, deep work, the benefits of controlling one's time, the problem with the advice to "follow your passion," and other topics. Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University. His scholarship focuses on the theory of distributed systems, while his general-audience writing explores intersections of culture and technology. He is the author of seven books, including, most recently, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. These titles include multiple New York Times bestsellers and have been translated into over 40 languages. Newport is also a contributing writer for the New Yorker and the host of the Deep Questions podcast. Website: calnewport.com   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>9305falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-sense-of-artificial-intelligence--600475251580088Tue, 22 Nov 2022 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzFilmmaker Jay Shapiro has produced a new series of audio documentaries, exploring the major topics that Sam has focused on over the course of his career. Each episode weaves together original analysis, critical perspective, and novel thought...7928falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/303-the-fall-of-sam-bankman-fried--60047436samharris.org/subscribe. Sam Harris discusses the recent Sam Bankman-Fried fiasco, the collapse of FTX, and the future of Effective Altruism. Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.
If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580087Tue, 15 Nov 2022 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzTo gain access to ALL full-length episodes, you'll need to subscribe. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain...samharris.org/subscribe. Sam Harris discusses the recent Sam Bankman-Fried fiasco, the collapse of FTX, and the future of Effective Altruism. Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.
If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1234falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/302-science-civilization--60047522here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Neil deGrasse Tyson about his new book, Starry Messenger. They discuss what makes science a unique human endeavor, the tension between respecting scientific consensus and overturning it, confusion about paradigm shifts and scientific controversies, the social importance of probability and statistics, climate change, the consequences of exponential cultural change, social media, social inequality and affirmative action, identity politics and a post-racial future, the wisdom of focusing on class rather than race, and other topics. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist and the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at New York’s American Museum of Natural History. He is the author of fifteen books—many of them international bestsellers—and numerous articles, both scholarly and for the general public. He is the host of StarTalk, a podcast, and two seasons of Cosmos, televised by Fox and National Geographic. He has received 21 honorary doctorates as well as NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal. He and his wife live in New York City.   Website: https://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/ Twitter: @neiltyson    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580086Thu, 10 Nov 2022 08:00:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 49 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 1 hour and 39 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Neil deGrasse Tyson about his new book, Starry Messenger. They discuss what makes science a unique human endeavor, the tension between respecting scientific consensus and overturning it, confusion about paradigm shifts and scientific controversies, the social importance of probability and statistics, climate change, the consequences of exponential cultural change, social media, social inequality and affirmative action, identity politics and a post-racial future, the wisdom of focusing on class rather than race, and other topics. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist and the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at New York’s American Museum of Natural History. He is the author of fifteen books—many of them international bestsellers—and numerous articles, both scholarly and for the general public. He is the host of StarTalk, a podcast, and two seasons of Cosmos, televised by Fox and National Geographic. He has received 21 honorary doctorates as well as NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal. He and his wife live in New York City.   Website: https://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/ Twitter: @neiltyson    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>5989falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/301-the-politics-of-unreality-ukraine-and-nuclear-risk--60047523here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Timothy Snyder about the ongoing war in Ukraine. They discuss the effect of Russian propaganda, Putin’s motives, whether the US and NATO bear some responsibility for the war, widespread calls for de-escalation, nuclear blackmail and nuclear risk, and other topics. Timothy Snyder is the Levin Professor of History and Global Affairs at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He is the author of a dozen books, including the bestsellers On Tyranny, Our Malady, The Road to Unfreedom, Black Earth, and Bloodlands. His work has been translated into forty languages and received a number of prizes, including the literature award of the American Academy of Art and Letters, the Hannah Arendt Prize, and the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding. Website: https://snyder.substack.com/ Twitter: @TimothyDSnyder   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580085Tue, 25 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first hour of this episode is available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 1 hour and 39 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll need to...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Timothy Snyder about the ongoing war in Ukraine. They discuss the effect of Russian propaganda, Putin’s motives, whether the US and NATO bear some responsibility for the war, widespread calls for de-escalation, nuclear blackmail and nuclear risk, and other topics. Timothy Snyder is the Levin Professor of History and Global Affairs at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He is the author of a dozen books, including the bestsellers On Tyranny, Our Malady, The Road to Unfreedom, Black Earth, and Bloodlands. His work has been translated into forty languages and received a number of prizes, including the literature award of the American Academy of Art and Letters, the Hannah Arendt Prize, and the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding. Website: https://snyder.substack.com/ Twitter: @TimothyDSnyder   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>5961falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/300-a-tale-of-cancellation--60047394samharris.org/subscribe.   Sam Harris speaks with Meg Smaker about the controversy around her documentary, "The Unredacted (Jihad Rehab)." They discuss her background as a firefighter; the effect that 9/11 had on the firefighting community; her subsequent adventures in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia; the deprogramming of jihadists; the organized campaign to silence her film; the capitulations Sundance, SXSW, and other festivals; and other topics. Before becoming a filmmaker, Meg Smaker served as a firefighter for over a half-decade. She spent almost 10 years living and working in the Middle East, five of them in Yemen, where she learned Arabic and studied Islam while teaching firefighting to Yemeni men. As a filmmaker, Meg explores controversial subjects from unorthodox viewpoints. Her films have won numerous awards, including Best Short Documentary at SXSW (South By Southwest) and a Student Academy Award. Her film, Boxeadora, received critical acclaim as “one of the best boxing films of all time” by Paste Magazine. Meg was also featured in the Hollywood Reporter’s “Next Gen” issue as one of the film industry's most promising new nonfiction filmmakers, and just this year Filmmaker Magazine named her one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film.” Meg’s most recent film, Jihad Rehab—her début feature-length documentary—premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Meg received an MFA in Documentary Film from Stanford University, Graduate Certificate from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a BA with honors in Political, Legal, and Economic Analysis (PLEA) from Mills College.   Websites: jihadrehab.com, gofundme.com/f/the-unredacted-jihad-rehab, Fairforall.org Twitter: @Meighon   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580084Wed, 12 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000Michał CzTo gain access to ALL full-length episodes, you'll need to subscribe. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain...samharris.org/subscribe.   Sam Harris speaks with Meg Smaker about the controversy around her documentary, "The Unredacted (Jihad Rehab)." They discuss her background as a firefighter; the effect that 9/11 had on the firefighting community; her subsequent adventures in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia; the deprogramming of jihadists; the organized campaign to silence her film; the capitulations Sundance, SXSW, and other festivals; and other topics. Before becoming a filmmaker, Meg Smaker served as a firefighter for over a half-decade. She spent almost 10 years living and working in the Middle East, five of them in Yemen, where she learned Arabic and studied Islam while teaching firefighting to Yemeni men. As a filmmaker, Meg explores controversial subjects from unorthodox viewpoints. Her films have won numerous awards, including Best Short Documentary at SXSW (South By Southwest) and a Student Academy Award. Her film, Boxeadora, received critical acclaim as “one of the best boxing films of all time” by Paste Magazine. Meg was also featured in the Hollywood Reporter’s “Next Gen” issue as one of the film industry's most promising new nonfiction filmmakers, and just this year Filmmaker Magazine named her one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film.” Meg’s most recent film, Jihad Rehab—her début feature-length documentary—premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Meg received an MFA in Documentary Film from Stanford University, Graduate Certificate from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a BA with honors in Political, Legal, and Economic Analysis (PLEA) from Mills College.   Websites: jihadrehab.com, gofundme.com/f/the-unredacted-jihad-rehab, Fairforall.org Twitter: @Meighon   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>11335falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/299-steps-in-the-right-direction--60047451here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Russ Roberts about decision-making and the nature of moral progress. They discuss the shortcomings of economics as a science, the power of books, the difference between "wild" and "tame" problems, Darwin’s embarrassing thoughts about the value of marriage, the utility of decision of analysis, incommensurate goods, free riding, counterfactuals, how the decisions we make change us, the difficulty of predicting future experience, changing moral norms, Effective Altruism, free speech, whether we are making moral progress, social media, truth vs comfort, problems with consequentialism, rule-based consequentialism, free will, meditation, and other topics. Russ Roberts is president of Shalem College in Jerusalem and the John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. He is the host of EconTalk: Conversations for the Curious and the co-creator of the Keynes-Hayek rap videos. He started EconTalk in 2006—past guests include Christopher Hitchens, Angela Duckworth, Milton Friedman, Martha Nussbaum, Thomas Piketty, Emily Oster, and Michael Lewis. His books include How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness, and his latest—Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us. Website: russroberts.info Twitter: @econtalker   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.  ]]>1580082Mon, 03 Oct 2022 20:47:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 40 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 2 hours and 3 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Russ Roberts about decision-making and the nature of moral progress. They discuss the shortcomings of economics as a science, the power of books, the difference between "wild" and "tame" problems, Darwin’s embarrassing thoughts about the value of marriage, the utility of decision of analysis, incommensurate goods, free riding, counterfactuals, how the decisions we make change us, the difficulty of predicting future experience, changing moral norms, Effective Altruism, free speech, whether we are making moral progress, social media, truth vs comfort, problems with consequentialism, rule-based consequentialism, free will, meditation, and other topics. Russ Roberts is president of Shalem College in Jerusalem and the John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. He is the host of EconTalk: Conversations for the Curious and the co-creator of the Keynes-Hayek rap videos. He started EconTalk in 2006—past guests include Christopher Hitchens, Angela Duckworth, Milton Friedman, Martha Nussbaum, Thomas Piketty, Emily Oster, and Michael Lewis. His books include How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness, and his latest—Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us. Website: russroberts.info Twitter: @econtalker   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.  ]]>7404falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/298-leaving-the-faith-rebroadcast--60047471samharris.org/subscribe.  Sam Harris speaks with Yasmine Mohammed about her book Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam. They discuss her family background and indoctrination into conservative Islam, the double standard that Western liberals use when thinking about women in the Muslim community, the state of feminism in general, honor violence, the validity of criticizing other cultures, and many other topics. Yasmine Mohammed is a human rights activist and writer. She advocates for the rights of women living within Islamic majority countries, as well as those who struggle under religious fundamentalism. She is the founder of Free Hearts Free Minds, an organization that provides psychological support for ex-Muslims living within Muslim majority countries. Website: YasmineMohammed.com Twitter: @YasMohammedxx


Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580081Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:33:00 +0000Michał CzTo gain access to ALL full-length episodes, you'll need to subscribe. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain...samharris.org/subscribe.  Sam Harris speaks with Yasmine Mohammed about her book Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam. They discuss her family background and indoctrination into conservative Islam, the double standard that Western liberals use when thinking about women in the Muslim community, the state of feminism in general, honor violence, the validity of criticizing other cultures, and many other topics. Yasmine Mohammed is a human rights activist and writer. She advocates for the rights of women living within Islamic majority countries, as well as those who struggle under religious fundamentalism. She is the founder of Free Hearts Free Minds, an organization that provides psychological support for ex-Muslims living within Muslim majority countries. Website: YasmineMohammed.com Twitter: @YasMohammedxx


Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>4860falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/297-preparing-for-the-end--60047457here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger about preparing for death. They discuss the difference between palliative care and hospice, the tension between getting the most out of life and not clinging to experience, planning for death while still healthy, the importance of an advance directive, navigating the healthcare system, pain control at the end of life, assisted suicide, psychedelic therapy for end-of-life anxiety, and other topics. BJ Miller, MD, is a longtime hospice and palliative medicine physician and educator. He currently sees patients and families via telehealth through Mettle Health, a company he co-founded with the aim to provide personalized, holistic consultations for any patient or caregiver who needs help navigating the practical, emotional and existential issues that come with serious illness and disability. BJ has worked in all settings of care: hospital, clinic, residential facility, and home. Led by his own experiences as a patient, BJ advocates for the roles of our senses, community and presence in designing a better ending. His TED Talk has been viewed over 15 Million times and he speaks internationally on themes of illness, death and loss. Website: www.mettlehealth.com Twitter: @bjmillermd Shoshana Berger is the Global Executive Editor of IDEO, where she has worked on projects related to organization transformation, the end of life, modern Judaism, and school lunch. Before joining IDEO, she was a Senior Editor at WIRED, where she launched WIRED Design, and prior to that, founder of the DIY magazine, ReadyMade, later turning it into a book, Ready Made: How to Make (Almost) Everything. She is the coauthor, with Dr. BJ Miller, of A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death. She has written for The New York Times, TIME, WIRED, and Fast Company. Website: linkedin.com/in/shoshanaberger Twitter: @shoshanaberger   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580079Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:45:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 1 hour and 4 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 2 hours and 13 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger about preparing for death. They discuss the difference between palliative care and hospice, the tension between getting the most out of life and not clinging to experience, planning for death while still healthy, the importance of an advance directive, navigating the healthcare system, pain control at the end of life, assisted suicide, psychedelic therapy for end-of-life anxiety, and other topics. BJ Miller, MD, is a longtime hospice and palliative medicine physician and educator. He currently sees patients and families via telehealth through Mettle Health, a company he co-founded with the aim to provide personalized, holistic consultations for any patient or caregiver who needs help navigating the practical, emotional and existential issues that come with serious illness and disability. BJ has worked in all settings of care: hospital, clinic, residential facility, and home. Led by his own experiences as a patient, BJ advocates for the roles of our senses, community and presence in designing a better ending. His TED Talk has been viewed over 15 Million times and he speaks internationally on themes of illness, death and loss. Website: www.mettlehealth.com Twitter: @bjmillermd Shoshana Berger is the Global Executive Editor of IDEO, where she has worked on projects related to organization transformation, the end of life, modern Judaism, and school lunch. Before joining IDEO, she was a Senior Editor at WIRED, where she launched WIRED Design, and prior to that, founder of the DIY magazine, ReadyMade, later turning it into a book, Ready Made: How to Make (Almost) Everything. She is the coauthor, with Dr. BJ Miller, of A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death. She has written for The New York Times, TIME, WIRED, and Fast Company. Website: linkedin.com/in/shoshanaberger Twitter: @shoshanaberger   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>8012falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/296-repairing-our-country--60047516here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear red. Sam Harris speaks with Jonah Goldberg about the state of American politics and civil society. They discuss the hyperpartisanship of the Left and Right, what Trump has done to the Republican party, the breakdown of trust in institutions, the “new catastrophism” enabled by social media, the problem of populism, and other topics. Jonah Goldberg is the editor-in-chief of The Dispatch. He holds the Asness Chair in Applied Liberty at the American Enterprise Institute and was previously a senior editor at National Review, where he worked for two decades. He is also the host of the podcast The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg, a weekly columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and a CNN commentator. His nationally syndicated column appears regularly in over a hundred newspapers across the United States. He was the founding editor of National Review Online and appears regularly on NPR's Morning Edition. The Atlantic magazine has identified Goldberg as one of the top 50 political commentators in America, and he is the author of three New York Times bestsellers. Website: thedispatch.com Twitter: @JonahDispatch   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580076Tue, 13 Sep 2022 18:10:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 42 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the black podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 1 hour 42 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll need...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear red. Sam Harris speaks with Jonah Goldberg about the state of American politics and civil society. They discuss the hyperpartisanship of the Left and Right, what Trump has done to the Republican party, the breakdown of trust in institutions, the “new catastrophism” enabled by social media, the problem of populism, and other topics. Jonah Goldberg is the editor-in-chief of The Dispatch. He holds the Asness Chair in Applied Liberty at the American Enterprise Institute and was previously a senior editor at National Review, where he worked for two decades. He is also the host of the podcast The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg, a weekly columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and a CNN commentator. His nationally syndicated column appears regularly in over a hundred newspapers across the United States. He was the founding editor of National Review Online and appears regularly on NPR's Morning Edition. The Atlantic magazine has identified Goldberg as one of the top 50 political commentators in America, and he is the author of three New York Times bestsellers. Website: thedispatch.com Twitter: @JonahDispatch   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>6142falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/295-philosophy-and-the-good-life--60047567here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear red. Sam Harris speaks to Kieran Setiya about the relevance of philosophy to living a good life. They discuss the existence of objective moral truths, being happy vs living well, our response to grief, the difference between "telic" and "atelic" activities, the power of reframing, FOMO, bias toward the future, regret, the asymmetry between pain and pleasure, and other topics. Kieran Setiya is a professor of philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His new book, Life is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way, comes out October 2022. He is the author of Midlife: A Philosophical Guide, and his writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books, the Times Literary Supplement, the London Review of Books, The New York Times, Aeon, and The Yale Review. Website: www.ksetiya.net  Twitter: @KieranSetiya   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580075Fri, 09 Sep 2022 15:12:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 44 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the black podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 1 hour 56 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll need...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear red. Sam Harris speaks to Kieran Setiya about the relevance of philosophy to living a good life. They discuss the existence of objective moral truths, being happy vs living well, our response to grief, the difference between "telic" and "atelic" activities, the power of reframing, FOMO, bias toward the future, regret, the asymmetry between pain and pleasure, and other topics. Kieran Setiya is a professor of philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His new book, Life is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way, comes out October 2022. He is the author of Midlife: A Philosophical Guide, and his writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books, the Times Literary Supplement, the London Review of Books, The New York Times, Aeon, and The Yale Review. Website: www.ksetiya.net  Twitter: @KieranSetiya   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>7013falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/294-status-games--60047514here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear red. Sam Harris speaks with Will Storr about the role that status plays in human life and culture. They talk about the taboo around caring about status, egalitarianism, the perpetual insecurity of status, how we play multiple status games simultaneously, identity, social connection, dominance, virtue, success, status as an evolved mechanism, gossip, status and health, the consequences of humiliation, the role of social media, status and politics, conspiracy thinking, moral panics, status and philanthropy, and other topics. Will Storr is an award-winning writer. He's the author of six critically acclaimed books, including the Sunday Times bestseller The Science of Storytelling. His journalism has appeared in titles such as The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. His work on sexual violence against men earned the Amnesty International Award and a One World Press Award. Website: willstorr.com  Twitter: @wstorr   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580074Wed, 31 Aug 2022 16:16:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 40 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the black podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 1 hour 25 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll need...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear red. Sam Harris speaks with Will Storr about the role that status plays in human life and culture. They talk about the taboo around caring about status, egalitarianism, the perpetual insecurity of status, how we play multiple status games simultaneously, identity, social connection, dominance, virtue, success, status as an evolved mechanism, gossip, status and health, the consequences of humiliation, the role of social media, status and politics, conspiracy thinking, moral panics, status and philanthropy, and other topics. Will Storr is an award-winning writer. He's the author of six critically acclaimed books, including the Sunday Times bestseller The Science of Storytelling. His journalism has appeared in titles such as The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. His work on sexual violence against men earned the Amnesty International Award and a One World Press Award. Website: willstorr.com  Twitter: @wstorr   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>5143falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/293-what-i-really-think-about-trump-and-media-bias--60047419samharris.org/subscribe. Sam Harris responds to a controversy over a recent podcast appearance.   If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580073Thu, 25 Aug 2022 20:07:31 +0000Michał CzTo gain access to ALL full-length episodes, you'll need to subscribe. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain...samharris.org/subscribe. Sam Harris responds to a controversy over a recent podcast appearance.   If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>2622falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/292-how-much-does-the-future-matter--60047484samharris.org/subscribe. Sam Harris speaks with William MacAskill about his new book, What We Owe the Future. They discuss the philosophy of effective altruism (EA), longtermism, existential risk, criticism of EA, problems with expected-value reasoning, doing good vs feeling good, why it's hard to care about future people, how the future gives meaning to the present, why this moment in history is unusual, the pace of economic and technological growth, bad political incentives, value lock-in, the well-being of conscious creatures as the foundation of ethics, the risk of unaligned AI, how bad we are at predicting technological change, and other topics. William MacAskill is an Associate Professor in Philosophy and Research Fellow at the Global Priorities Institute, University of Oxford. He is one of the primary voices in a philanthropic movement known as “effective altruism” and the co-founder of three non-profits based on effective altruist principles: Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours, and the Centre for Effective Altruism. He is also the Director of the Forethought Foundation for Global Priorities Research and the author of Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference. Website: williammacaskill.com Twitter: @willmacaskill   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580072Sun, 14 Aug 2022 16:33:00 +0000Michał CzTo gain access to ALL full-length episodes, you'll need to subscribe. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain...samharris.org/subscribe. Sam Harris speaks with William MacAskill about his new book, What We Owe the Future. They discuss the philosophy of effective altruism (EA), longtermism, existential risk, criticism of EA, problems with expected-value reasoning, doing good vs feeling good, why it's hard to care about future people, how the future gives meaning to the present, why this moment in history is unusual, the pace of economic and technological growth, bad political incentives, value lock-in, the well-being of conscious creatures as the foundation of ethics, the risk of unaligned AI, how bad we are at predicting technological change, and other topics. William MacAskill is an Associate Professor in Philosophy and Research Fellow at the Global Priorities Institute, University of Oxford. He is one of the primary voices in a philanthropic movement known as “effective altruism” and the co-founder of three non-profits based on effective altruist principles: Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours, and the Centre for Effective Altruism. He is also the Director of the Forethought Foundation for Global Priorities Research and the author of Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference. Website: williammacaskill.com Twitter: @willmacaskill   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>7238falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/291-where-is-happiness--60047389here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Arthur C. Brooks about what it takes to build a good life. They discuss the power of social comparison, the intelligence taboo, political dignity and ethical hierarchy, the Dalai Lama, the nature of love, fluid and crystallized intelligences, the strange case of Linus Pauling, the limits of identity, atheism and religious faith, fear of death, psychedelics, existentialism, St. Thomas Aquinas, and other topics. Arthur C. Brooks is a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on leadership and happiness. He is also a columnist at The Atlantic, where he writes the popular “How to Build a Life” column. Brooks is the author of 12 books, including the 2022 #1 New York Times bestseller From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. He speaks all around the world about love and happiness, giving more than 150 speeches and lectures per year in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.  Brooks began his career as a classical musician, leaving college at 19, and performing with ensembles in the United States and Spain. In his late twenties, while still performing, he returned to school, earning a BA in economics through distance learning. At 31, he left music and earned an MPhil and PhD in public policy analysis, during which time he worked as a military analyst for the Rand Corporation. Brooks then spent the next 10 years as a university professor at Syracuse University, where he taught economics and nonprofit management. In 2009, Brooks became the president of the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC, one of the world’s most influential think tanks, which he led for a decade. During this period, he was selected as one of Fortune Magazine’s “50 World’s Greatest Leaders” and was awarded seven honorary doctorates.  Originally from Seattle, Brooks currently lives outside Boston, with his wife Ester Munt-Brooks, who is a native of Barcelona. They have three adult children. Website: arthurbrooks.com  Twitter: @arthurbrooks   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.  ]]>1580071Thu, 28 Jul 2022 17:01:10 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 1 hour and 4 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 1 hour and 43 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Arthur C. Brooks about what it takes to build a good life. They discuss the power of social comparison, the intelligence taboo, political dignity and ethical hierarchy, the Dalai Lama, the nature of love, fluid and crystallized intelligences, the strange case of Linus Pauling, the limits of identity, atheism and religious faith, fear of death, psychedelics, existentialism, St. Thomas Aquinas, and other topics. Arthur C. Brooks is a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on leadership and happiness. He is also a columnist at The Atlantic, where he writes the popular “How to Build a Life” column. Brooks is the author of 12 books, including the 2022 #1 New York Times bestseller From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. He speaks all around the world about love and happiness, giving more than 150 speeches and lectures per year in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.  Brooks began his career as a classical musician, leaving college at 19, and performing with ensembles in the United States and Spain. In his late twenties, while still performing, he returned to school, earning a BA in economics through distance learning. At 31, he left music and earned an MPhil and PhD in public policy analysis, during which time he worked as a military analyst for the Rand Corporation. Brooks then spent the next 10 years as a university professor at Syracuse University, where he taught economics and nonprofit management. In 2009, Brooks became the president of the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC, one of the world’s most influential think tanks, which he led for a decade. During this period, he was selected as one of Fortune Magazine’s “50 World’s Greatest Leaders” and was awarded seven honorary doctorates.  Originally from Seattle, Brooks currently lives outside Boston, with his wife Ester Munt-Brooks, who is a native of Barcelona. They have three adult children. Website: arthurbrooks.com  Twitter: @arthurbrooks   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.  ]]>6224falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/290-what-went-wrong--60047424here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Marc Andreessen about the current state of Internet technology and culture. They discuss Marc's background in tech, the birth of the Internet, how advertising became the business model for digital media, the three stages of the Web, the blockchain, how successful technology reorders status and power in society, the Bitcoin white paper, the mystery surrounding the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the importance of distributed consensus, Bitcoin as digital gold, how society has performed during Covid, James Burnham and managerial capitalism, the principal-agent problem, negative externalities, risk and regulation, trust in institutions, WTF happened in 1971, regulatory capture, banning Trump and Alex Jones from social media, perverse incentives in philanthropy, and other topics. Marc Andreessen is a co-founder and general partner at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. He is an innovator and creator, one of the few to pioneer a software category used by more than a billion people and one of the few to establish multiple billion-dollar companies. Marc co-created the highly influential Mosaic internet browser and co-founded Netscape, which later sold to AOL for $4.2 billion. He also co-founded Loudcloud, which as Opsware, sold to Hewlett-Packard for $1.6 billion. He later served on the board of Hewlett-Packard from 2008 to 2018. Marc holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Marc serves on the board of the following Andreessen Horowitz portfolio companies: Applied Intuition, Carta, Dialpad, Honor, OpenGov, and Samsara Networks. He is also on the board of Meta. Website: a16z.com Twitter: @pmarca   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580069Thu, 21 Jul 2022 21:24:12 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 48 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 1 hour and 53 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Marc Andreessen about the current state of Internet technology and culture. They discuss Marc's background in tech, the birth of the Internet, how advertising became the business model for digital media, the three stages of the Web, the blockchain, how successful technology reorders status and power in society, the Bitcoin white paper, the mystery surrounding the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the importance of distributed consensus, Bitcoin as digital gold, how society has performed during Covid, James Burnham and managerial capitalism, the principal-agent problem, negative externalities, risk and regulation, trust in institutions, WTF happened in 1971, regulatory capture, banning Trump and Alex Jones from social media, perverse incentives in philanthropy, and other topics. Marc Andreessen is a co-founder and general partner at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. He is an innovator and creator, one of the few to pioneer a software category used by more than a billion people and one of the few to establish multiple billion-dollar companies. Marc co-created the highly influential Mosaic internet browser and co-founded Netscape, which later sold to AOL for $4.2 billion. He also co-founded Loudcloud, which as Opsware, sold to Hewlett-Packard for $1.6 billion. He later served on the board of Hewlett-Packard from 2008 to 2018. Marc holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Marc serves on the board of the following Andreessen Horowitz portfolio companies: Applied Intuition, Carta, Dialpad, Honor, OpenGov, and Samsara Networks. He is also on the board of Meta. Website: a16z.com Twitter: @pmarca   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6798falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/289-time-management-for-mortals--60047466here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris presents an unconventional perspective on time management from Oliver Burkeman. Rather than focusing on rote efficiency or productivity, Burkeman calls on us to embrace our finitude and surrender to the rhythms of life, so that we may “end our struggle with time”—and live with “more accomplishment, more success, and more time spent on what matters most.” Oliver Burkeman is the author of the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, about embracing limitation and finally getting round to what counts, along with The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and Help!: How to Be Slightly Happier, Slightly More Successful and Get a Bit More Done. For many years he wrote a popular column on psychology for The Guardian, This Column Will Change Your Life, and has reported from London, New York, and Washington, D.C. In his email newsletter, The Imperfectionist, he writes about productivity, mortality, and building a meaningful life in an age of distraction. Website: oliverburkeman.com  Twitter: @oliverburkeman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580068Mon, 18 Jul 2022 19:43:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 38 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 1 hour and 28 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris presents an unconventional perspective on time management from Oliver Burkeman. Rather than focusing on rote efficiency or productivity, Burkeman calls on us to embrace our finitude and surrender to the rhythms of life, so that we may “end our struggle with time”—and live with “more accomplishment, more success, and more time spent on what matters most.” Oliver Burkeman is the author of the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, about embracing limitation and finally getting round to what counts, along with The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and Help!: How to Be Slightly Happier, Slightly More Successful and Get a Bit More Done. For many years he wrote a popular column on psychology for The Guardian, This Column Will Change Your Life, and has reported from London, New York, and Washington, D.C. In his email newsletter, The Imperfectionist, he writes about productivity, mortality, and building a meaningful life in an age of distraction. Website: oliverburkeman.com  Twitter: @oliverburkeman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>5317falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/288-the-end-of-global-order--60047524here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Peter Zeihan and Ian Bremmer about Peter's new book, The End of the World is Just the Beginning. They discuss a wide range of issues related to the deglobalization and demographic collapse, the differing fates of China and America, climate change, the war in Ukraine, and other topics. Peter Zeihan is a geopolitical strategist, speaker, and author. Peter founded his own firm, Zeihan on Geopolitics, in 2012 in order to provide a select group of clients with direct, custom analytical products. Today those clients represent a vast array of sectors including energy majors, financial institutions, business associations, agricultural interests, universities, and the U.S. military. He is the author of The Accidental Superpower, The Absent Superpower, Disunited Nations, and most recently, The End of the World is Just the Beginning. Website: https://zeihan.com/ Twitter: @PeterZeihan   Ian Bremmer is a political scientist who helps business leaders, policymakers, and the general public make sense of the world around them. He is president and founder of Eurasia Group, the world’s leading political risk research and consulting firm, and GZERO Media, a company dedicated to providing intelligent and engaging coverage of international affairs. Ian is an independent voice on critical issues around the globe, offering clearheaded insights through speeches, written commentary, and even satirical puppets (really!). He is the host of GZERO World on US public television and is the author of eleven books including his latest, The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats—and Our Response—Will Change the World. Ian also serves as the foreign affairs columnist and editor at large for Time magazine and teaches at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Website: ianbremmer.bulletin.com  Twitter: @ianbremmer   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.
If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580066Thu, 14 Jul 2022 19:34:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 54 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 1 hour and 50 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Peter Zeihan and Ian Bremmer about Peter's new book, The End of the World is Just the Beginning. They discuss a wide range of issues related to the deglobalization and demographic collapse, the differing fates of China and America, climate change, the war in Ukraine, and other topics. Peter Zeihan is a geopolitical strategist, speaker, and author. Peter founded his own firm, Zeihan on Geopolitics, in 2012 in order to provide a select group of clients with direct, custom analytical products. Today those clients represent a vast array of sectors including energy majors, financial institutions, business associations, agricultural interests, universities, and the U.S. military. He is the author of The Accidental Superpower, The Absent Superpower, Disunited Nations, and most recently, The End of the World is Just the Beginning. Website: https://zeihan.com/ Twitter: @PeterZeihan   Ian Bremmer is a political scientist who helps business leaders, policymakers, and the general public make sense of the world around them. He is president and founder of Eurasia Group, the world’s leading political risk research and consulting firm, and GZERO Media, a company dedicated to providing intelligent and engaging coverage of international affairs. Ian is an independent voice on critical issues around the globe, offering clearheaded insights through speeches, written commentary, and even satirical puppets (really!). He is the host of GZERO World on US public television and is the author of eleven books including his latest, 6667falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/287-why-wealth-matters--60047506here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Morgan Housel about the psychology of money and investing. They discuss how personal history shapes one’s view of economic risk, the implications of not understanding the future, being rich vs being wealthy, how we measure success, the problem of social comparison, happiness vs life satisfaction, saving and investing, Warren Buffett and the power of compounding, rational vs reasonable decisions, the role of luck, optimism vs pessimism, dollar-cost averaging, and other topics. Morgan Housel is a partner at The Collaborative Fund. His book The Psychology of Money has sold over 1.9 million copies and has been translated into 46 languages. He is a two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, winner of the New York Times Sidney Award, and a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism. He serves on the board of directors at Markel and has presented at more than 100 conferences in a dozen countries. Website: morganhousel.com Twitter: @morganhousel   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>1580036Tue, 05 Jul 2022 16:51:00 +0000Michał CzOnly the first 50 minutes of this episode are available on the paywalled podcast version (the BLACK podcast logo). If you’d like to hear the full 2 hours and 7 minutes of this episode and gain access to all full-length episodes of the podcast, you’ll...here. If you’re already subscribed and on the private RSS feed, the podcast logo should appear RED. Sam Harris speaks with Morgan Housel about the psychology of money and investing. They discuss how personal history shapes one’s view of economic risk, the implications of not understanding the future, being rich vs being wealthy, how we measure success, the problem of social comparison, happiness vs life satisfaction, saving and investing, Warren Buffett and the power of compounding, rational vs reasonable decisions, the role of luck, optimism vs pessimism, dollar-cost averaging, and other topics. Morgan Housel is a partner at The Collaborative Fund. His book The Psychology of Money has sold over 1.9 million copies and has been translated into 46 languages. He is a two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, winner of the New York Times Sidney Award, and a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism. He serves on the board of directors at Markel and has presented at more than 100 conferences in a dozen countries. Website: morganhousel.com Twitter: @morganhousel   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.]]>7669falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/286-the-paradox-of-psychedelics--60047423http://wakingup.com/makingsense]]>1580035Tue, 28 Jun 2022 16:54:26 +0000Michał CzSam Harris shares an audio essay exploring how psychedelics are, for many, the only way to glimpse "the vast firmament beyond the prison walls” of the “conceptual mind”—and often serve as the gateway to meditation. He also discusses how the very...http://wakingup.com/makingsense]]>2497falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/285-american-division--60047492Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation, was released last September. David is a former major in the United States Army Reserve and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was awarded the Bronze Star.  Website: https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/ Twitter: @DavidAFrench   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580034Fri, 24 Jun 2022 21:03:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with David French about forces that are pulling American society apart. They discuss David’s experience as a JAG officer in Iraq, his experience of harassment for coming out against Trump, the way real grievances drive political...Divided We Fall: America’s Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation, was released last September. David is a former major in the United States Army Reserve and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was awarded the Bronze Star.  Website: https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/ Twitter: @DavidAFrench   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6771falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/284-the-funny-business--60047473Sicker in the Head, an all-new collection of honest, hilarious, and enlightening conversations with some of the most exciting names in comedy, a follow-up to his New York Times best-seller Sick in the Head. Upcoming, he produced the romantic comedy, BROS, for Universal starring, and co-written by, Billy Eichner, set for release on September 30, 2022.  The film follows two gay men with commitment problems attempting a relationship and is the first major studio film to feature an all LGBTQ+ principal cast.   Website: juddapatow.com Twitter: @JuddApatow]]>1580026Tue, 07 Jun 2022 14:45:50 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Judd Apatow about his career in comedy. They discuss his new documentary on George Carlin, why so much comedy ages badly, Carlin’s drug use, how Judd structures his work, using improv in his...Sicker in the Head, an all-new collection of honest, hilarious, and enlightening conversations with some of the most exciting names in comedy, a follow-up to his New York Times best-seller Sick in the Head. Upcoming, he produced the romantic comedy, BROS, for Universal starring, and co-written by, Billy Eichner, set for release on September 30, 2022.  The film follows two gay men with commitment problems attempting a relationship and is the first major studio film to feature an all LGBTQ+ principal cast.   Website: juddapatow.com Twitter: @JuddApatow]]>5374falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/283-gun-violence-in-america--60047540The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Website: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/graeme-wood/  Twitter: @gcaw]]>1580025Mon, 30 May 2022 21:21:11 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Graeme Wood about the problem of gun violence in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Graeme Wood is a national correspondent for The Atlantic. He has written for The New Yorker,...The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Website: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/graeme-wood/  Twitter: @gcaw]]>5683falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/282-do-you-really-have-a-self--60047562Academicinfluence.com has identified him as one of the 50 most influential philosophers in the world over the past decade. Garfield’s research addresses topics in cognitive science, modern Indian philosophy, ethics, epistemology, logic, the Scottish enlightenment, and Buddhist philosophy—particularly Indo-Tibetan Madhyamaka and Yogācāra. He is the author or editor of over 30 books and nearly 200 articles, chapters, and reviews. Website: jaygarfield.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580023Mon, 23 May 2022 16:50:18 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jay Garfield about the illusion of the self. They discuss the default sense of subjectivity, the difference between absolute and conventional truth, interdependence, free will, subject-object...Academicinfluence.com has identified him as one of the 50 most influential philosophers in the world over the past decade. Garfield’s research addresses topics in cognitive science, modern Indian philosophy, ethics, epistemology, logic, the Scottish enlightenment, and Buddhist philosophy—particularly Indo-Tibetan Madhyamaka and Yogācāra. He is the author or editor of over 30 books and nearly 200 articles, chapters, and reviews. Website: jaygarfield.org   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5479falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/281-western-culture-and-its-discontents--60047411The War on the West. They discuss the problem of hyper partisanship on the Left and Right, the primacy of culture, Hunter Biden’s laptop, the de-platforming of Trump and Alex Jones, the new religion of anti-racism, the problem of inequality, the 1619 Project, history of slavery, moral panics, the strange case of Michel Foucault, and other topics. Douglas Murray is the associate editor of The Spectator and writes frequently for a variety of other publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and The Sun. He has also given talks at both the British and European Parliaments and at the White House. He is the author of several books including The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam and most recently, The War on the West. Website: douglasmurray.net Twitter: @DouglasKMurray   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580021Mon, 02 May 2022 20:53:32 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Douglas Murray about his new book, https://amzn.to/3yavonm. They discuss the problem of hyper partisanship on the Left and Right, the primacy of culture, Hunter Biden’s laptop, the de-platforming...The War on the West. They discuss the problem of hyper partisanship on the Left and Right, the primacy of culture, Hunter Biden’s laptop, the de-platforming of Trump and Alex Jones, the new religion of anti-racism, the problem of inequality, the 1619 Project, history of slavery, moral panics, the strange case of Michel Foucault, and other topics. Douglas Murray is the associate editor of The Spectator and writes frequently for a variety of other publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and The Sun. He has also given talks at both the British and European Parliaments and at the White House. He is the author of several books including The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam and most recently, The War on the West. Website: douglasmurray.net Twitter: @DouglasKMurray   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>7558falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/280-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence--60047508Reimagine with Eric Schmidt, a podcast exploring how society can build a brighter future after the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, he is the co-author of The Age of AI: And Our Human Future.  Website: https://ericschmidt.com/ Twitter: @ericschmidt   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580020Fri, 22 Apr 2022 16:50:07 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Eric Schmidt about the ways artificial intelligence is shifting the foundations of human knowledge and posing questions of existential risk. Eric Schmidt is a technologist, entrepreneur, and...Reimagine with Eric Schmidt, a podcast exploring how society can build a brighter future after the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, he is the co-author of The Age of AI: And Our Human Future.  Website: https://ericschmidt.com/ Twitter: @ericschmidt   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3485falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/279-the-rules-of-the-stage--60047402Absolutely Mental app. This bonus episode is listed in Season 3. Note: If you’ve previously purchased any Absolutely Mental content on the website, you will be able to access it in the app. Please check the FAQ for more info.]]>1580019Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:01:57 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and Ricky Gervais discuss the infamous Oscar slap. We’re excited to announce the launch of the Absolutely Mental app for iOS users. All three seasons of Absolutely Mental are available for purchase on the...Absolutely Mental app. This bonus episode is listed in Season 3. Note: If you’ve previously purchased any Absolutely Mental content on the website, you will be able to access it in the app. Please check the FAQ for more info.]]>3173falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/278-the-man-who-will-be-king--60047486The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Website: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/graeme-wood/  Twitter: @gcaw   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580018Wed, 13 Apr 2022 00:10:46 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks to Graeme Wood about Muhammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. They discuss the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the imprisonment of Saudi elites in the Ritz Carlton, the Vision 2030 campaign,...The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Website: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/graeme-wood/  Twitter: @gcaw   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4693falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/277-how-does-the-war-in-ukraine-end--60047472Eurasia Group, the world’s leading political risk research and consulting firm, and GZERO Media, a company dedicated to providing intelligent and engaging coverage of international affairs. Ian is an independent voice on critical issues around the globe, offering clearheaded insights through speeches, written commentary, and even satirical puppets (really!). He is the host of GZERO World and is the author of eleven books including the New York Times bestseller Us vs Them: The Failure of Globalism. His forthcoming book The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats—and Our Response—Will Change the World will be published on May 17, 2022 and is available for preorder now. Ian also serves as the foreign affairs columnist and editor at large for Time magazine and teaches at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Website: ianbremmer.bulletin.com Twitter: @ianbremmer]]>1580016Sun, 03 Apr 2022 18:52:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Ian Bremmer about the ongoing war in Ukraine. They discuss the current state of the war, the power of sanctions, Biden's "gaffe" about regime change, fear of nuclear war, the logic of mutually...Eurasia Group, the world’s leading political risk research and consulting firm, and GZERO Media, a company dedicated to providing intelligent and engaging coverage of international affairs. Ian is an independent voice on critical issues around the globe, offering clearheaded insights through speeches, written commentary, and even satirical puppets (really!). He is the host of GZERO World and is the author of eleven books including the New York Times bestseller Us vs Them: The Failure of Globalism. His forthcoming book The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats—and Our Response—Will Change the World will be published on May 17, 2022 and is available for preorder now. Ian also serves as the foreign affairs columnist and editor at large for Time magazine and teaches at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Website: ianbremmer.bulletin.com Twitter: @ianbremmer]]>4008falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/276-defending-the-global-order--60047489Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind  looked deep into our past, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow considered far-future scenarios, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century focuses on the biggest questions of the present moment.   Website: www.ynharari.com Twitter: @harari_yuval]]>1580015Tue, 22 Mar 2022 23:28:46 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about the wider implications of Russia’s war of conquest in Ukraine. They discuss different forms of war, Putin’s miscalculation regarding the internal divisions of America and...Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind  looked deep into our past, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow considered far-future scenarios, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century focuses on the biggest questions of the present moment.   Website: www.ynharari.com Twitter: @harari_yuval]]>4284falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/275-the-russian-war-in-ukraine--60047528Human Rights Foundation, business speaker and author, and former world chess champion. He has been a contributing editor to The Wall Street Journal since 1991 and in 2013 he was named a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Oxford-Martin School. He is the author of several books including How Life Imitates Chess, and his most recent book, Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped.   This Saturday (March 12, 2022), Garry will be sharing more information about these topics in an upcoming Briefing with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba & Soldiers from the Frontlines. The event is hosted by Renew Democracy Initiative, a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to defending liberal democracy at home and abroad.   Twitter: @Kasparov63 Website: kasparov.com, rdi.org]]>1580014Thu, 10 Mar 2022 20:32:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Garry Kasparov about Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine. They discuss Putin’s larger objectives, the perception of the war inside Russia, whether US and EU foreign policy is to blame, the...Human Rights Foundation, business speaker and author, and former world chess champion. He has been a contributing editor to The Wall Street Journal since 1991 and in 2013 he was named a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Oxford-Martin School. He is the author of several books including How Life Imitates Chess, and his most recent book, Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped.   This Saturday (March 12, 2022), Garry will be sharing more information about these topics in an upcoming Briefing with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba & Soldiers from the Frontlines. The event is hosted by Renew Democracy Initiative, a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to defending liberal democracy at home and abroad.   Twitter: @Kasparov63 Website: kasparov.com, rdi.org]]>4551falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/absolutely-mental-season-3--60047527AbsolutelyMental.com.]]>1580013Wed, 02 Mar 2022 18:10:00 +0000Michał CzSam shares an episode from the third season of Absolutely Mental, his audio series with Ricky Gervais. All 10 episodes have been released today (Wednesday, March 2, 2022) and are available for purchase now at http://absolutelymental.com/.AbsolutelyMental.com.]]>2951falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/special-episode-recipes-for-future-plagues--60047513After On podcast features conversations with world-class thinkers, founders, and scientists on topics including synthetic biology, super-AI risk, Fermi’s paradox, robotics, archaeology, and lone-wolf terrorism. Science fiction novels that Rob has written for Random House include The New York Times bestseller Year Zero, and the AI thriller After On. As an investor, Rob is Managing Director at Resilience Reserve, a multi-phase venture capital fund. He co-founded Resilience with Chris Anderson, who runs the TED Conference and has a long track record as both an entrepreneur and an investor. In his own entrepreneurial career, Rob founded and ran Listen.com, the company that created the Rhapsody music service. Earlier, Rob studied Arabic and geopolitics at both undergraduate and graduate levels at Stanford, and was a Fulbright Fellow in Cairo. You can find him at www.after-on.com, or on Twitter at @Rob_Reid.   Kevin M. Esvelt is an assistant professor of the MIT Media Lab, where he leads the Sculpting Evolution Group in advancing biotechnology safely. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University for inventing a synthetic microbial ecosystem to rapidly evolve useful biomolecules, and subsequently helped pioneer the development of CRISPR, a powerful new method of genome engineering. In 2013, Esvelt was the first to identify the potential for CRISPR “gene drive” systems to alter wild populations of organisms. Recognizing the implications of an advance that could enable individual scientists to alter the shared environment, he and his colleagues chose to break with scientific tradition by revealing their findings and calling for open discussion and safeguards before they tested it and demonstrated reversibility in the laboratory. An outspoken advocate of sharing research plans to accelerate discovery and improve safety, Esvelt's lab at MIT seeks to accelerate beneficial advances while safeguarding biotechnology against mistrust and misuse. Projects include building catalytic platforms for directed evolution, pioneering new ways of developing ecotechnologies with the guidance of local communities, developing early-warning systems to reliably detect any catastrophic biological threat, applying cryptographic methods to enable secure and universal DNA synthesis screening, and advising policymakers on how best to mitigate global catastrophic biorisks. His work has been published in Nature and Science, covered by the New York Times and Washington Post, and featured on Last Week Tonight and the Netflix special Unnatural Selection. You can find him at https://www.sculptingevolution.org/kevin-m-esvelt, or on Twitter at @kesvelt.

Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580012Mon, 28 Feb 2022 17:52:02 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Rob Reid and Kevin Esvelt discuss USAID’s new “Deep VZN” program, which aims to discover new pandemic-grade viruses and publish their genomes to the world. Esvelt estimates that there are currently around 30,000 people...After On podcast features conversations with world-class thinkers, founders, and scientists on topics including synthetic biology, super-AI risk, Fermi’s paradox, robotics, archaeology, and lone-wolf terrorism. Science fiction novels that Rob has written for Random House include The New York Times bestseller Year Zero, and the AI thriller After On. As an investor, Rob is Managing Director at Resilience Reserve, a multi-phase venture capital fund. He co-founded Resilience with Chris Anderson, who runs the TED Conference and has a long track record as both an entrepreneur and an investor. In his own entrepreneurial career, Rob founded and ran Listen.com, the company that created the Rhapsody music service. Earlier, Rob studied Arabic and geopolitics at both undergraduate and graduate levels at Stanford, and was a Fulbright Fellow in Cairo. You can find him at www.after-on.com, or on Twitter at @Rob_Reid.   Kevin M. Esvelt is an assistant professor of the MIT Media Lab, where he leads the Sculpting Evolution Group in advancing biotechnology safely. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University for inventing a synthetic microbial ecosystem to rapidly evolve useful biomolecules, and subsequently helped pioneer the development of CRISPR, a powerful new method of genome engineering. In 2013, Esvelt was the first to identify the potential for CRISPR “gene drive” systems to alter wild populations of organisms. Recognizing the implications of an advance that could enable individual scientists to alter the shared environment, he and his colleagues chose to break with scientific tradition by revealing their findings and calling for open discussion and safeguards before they tested it and demonstrated reversibility in the laboratory. An outspoken advocate of sharing research plans to accelerate discovery and improve safety, Esvelt's lab at MIT seeks to accelerate beneficial advances while safeguarding biotechnology against mistrust and misuse. Projects include building catalytic platforms for directed evolution, pioneering new ways of developing ecotechnologies with the guidance of local communities, developing early-warning systems to reliably detect any catastrophic biological threat, applying cryptographic methods to enable secure and universal DNA synthesis screening, and advising policymakers on how best to mitigate global catastrophic biorisks. His work has been published in Nature and Science, covered by the New York Times and Washington Post, and featured on Last Week Tonight and the Netflix special Unnatural Selection. You can find him at https://www.sculptingevolution.org/kevin-m-esvelt, or on Twitter at @kesvelt.

Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of...]]>7066falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/274-the-future-of-american-democracy--60047519Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine; Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe 1944-1956; and Gulag: A History, which won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction. Her most recent book is The New York Times bestseller, Twilight of Democracy, an essay on democracy and authoritarianism. She was a Washington Post columnist for fifteen years and a member of the editorial board; she has also been the deputy editor of The Spectator and a columnist for several British newspapers. Her writing has appeared in The New York Review of Books, The New Republic, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Policy, among many other publications. Website: anneapplebaum.com Twitter: @anneapplebaum    David Frum is a senior editor at The Atlantic and the author of Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy, his tenth book. Frum spent most of his career in conservative media and research institutions, including the Manhattan Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is a past chairman of Policy Exchange, the leading center-right think tank in the United Kingdom, and a former director of the Republican Jewish Coalition. In 2001-2002, he served as a speechwriter and special assistant to President George W. Bush. Frum holds a B.A. and M.A. in history from Yale and a law degree from Harvard. Website: davidfrum.com Twitter: @davidfrum   George Packer is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he writes about American politics, culture, and foreign affairs. He is the author, most recently, of Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal. He is also the author of The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America (winner of the National Book Award), Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century (winner of The Los Angeles Times Book Award and the Hitchens Prize), and seven other books.   Barton Gellman, a critically honored author and journalist, is a staff writer at The Atlantic and senior fellow at the Century Foundation in New York. He is the author, most recently, of Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the American Surveillance State and Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency. His awards include The Pulitzer Prize, an Emmy for documentary filmmaking, and The Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Website: bartongellman.com Twitter: @bartongellman   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580010Fri, 11 Feb 2022 18:16:33 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Anne Applebaum, David Frum, Barton Gellman, and George Packer about the ongoing threat to American democracy posed by Republican misinformation and disinformation regarding the 2020 Presidential...Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine; Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe 1944-1956; and Gulag: A History, which won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction. Her most recent book is The New York Times bestseller, Twilight of Democracy, an essay on democracy and authoritarianism. She was a Washington Post columnist for fifteen years and a member of the editorial board; she has also been the deputy editor of The Spectator and a columnist for several British newspapers. Her writing has appeared in The New York Review of Books, The New Republic, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Policy, among many other publications. Website: anneapplebaum.com Twitter: @anneapplebaum    David Frum is a senior editor at The Atlantic and the author of Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy, his tenth book. Frum spent most of his career in conservative media and research institutions, including the Manhattan Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is a past chairman of Policy Exchange, the leading center-right think tank in the United Kingdom, and a former director of the Republican Jewish Coalition. In 2001-2002, he served as a speechwriter and special assistant to President George W. Bush. Frum holds a B.A. and M.A. in history from Yale and a law degree from Harvard. Website: davidfrum.com Twitter: @davidfrum   George Packer is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he writes about American politics, culture, and foreign affairs. He is the author, most recently, of Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal. He is also the author of The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America (winner of the National Book Award), Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century (winner of The Los Angeles Times Book Award and the Hitchens Prize), and seven other books.   Barton Gellman, a critically honored author and journalist, is a staff writer at The Atlantic and senior fellow at the Century Foundation in New York. He is the author, most recently, of Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the American Surveillance State and Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency. His awards include The Pulitzer Prize, an Emmy for documentary filmmaking, and The Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Website: 8431falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/273-joe-rogan-and-the-ethics-of-apology--600475601580009Mon, 07 Feb 2022 20:19:49 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam responds to the controversy over his friend Joe Rogan's use of the N-word and his subsequent public apology.  1230falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vaccine-mandates-transgender-athletes-billionaires-ama-19--600474411580008Mon, 31 Jan 2022 20:29:00 +0000Michał CzIn this Ask Me Anything session, Sam answers the following questions:What is your position on vaccine mandates, school closures, etc.?Do you think painful memories remain painful because there is something left unresolved?How can you forgive a...3329falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/272-on-disappointing-my-audience--60047496Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580006Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:44:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, Sam discusses some of the topics he has and hasn't covered, to the disappointment of many Making Sense listeners.   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created...Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>2811falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/271-earning-to-give--60047415http://ftx.com Twitter: @SBF_FTX
Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580005Fri, 24 Dec 2021 19:09:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Sam Bankman-Fried about effective altruism. They discuss how he became the wealthiest self-made billionaire under 30, what might go wrong with cryptocurrency, the Giving What We Can pledge, how...http://ftx.com Twitter: @SBF_FTX
Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4534falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/270-what-have-we-learned-from-the-pandemic--60047572Connected: The Amazing Power of Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, and most recently Apollo’s Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live. Website: www.humannaturelab.net  Twitter: @NAChristakis    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580004Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:26:58 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, Sam Harris speaks with Nicholas Christakis about the lessons of the COVID pandemic. They discuss our failures to coordinate an effective response, the politics surrounding vaccination, vaccine efficacy, vaccine safety, how to think...Connected: The Amazing Power of Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, and most recently Apollo’s Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live. Website: www.humannaturelab.net  Twitter: @NAChristakis    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>10312falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/269-deep-time--60047445Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, about embracing limitation and finally getting round to what counts, along with The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done. For many years he wrote a popular column on psychology for the Guardian, 'This Column Will Change Your Life', and has reported from London, New York, and Washington, DC. In his email newsletter, The Imperfectionist, he writes about productivity, mortality, and building a meaningful life in an age of distraction. Twitter: @oliverburkeman Web: www.oliverburkeman.com    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580003Fri, 03 Dec 2021 18:18:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Oliver Burkeman about our relationship to time. They discuss the perils of efficiency, being vs becoming, the illusion of time as a resource, parenting and childhood, work-life balance, the loss...Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, about embracing limitation and finally getting round to what counts, along with The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done. For many years he wrote a popular column on psychology for the Guardian, 'This Column Will Change Your Life', and has reported from London, New York, and Washington, DC. In his email newsletter, The Imperfectionist, he writes about productivity, mortality, and building a meaningful life in an age of distraction. Twitter: @oliverburkeman Web: www.oliverburkeman.com    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3635falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/268-the-limits-of-self-knowledge--60047420Know Thyself: The Science of Self-awareness was published by Basic Books in 2021.   Twitter: @smfleming Web: metacoglab.org 
Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1580001Wed, 24 Nov 2021 17:55:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Stephen Fleming about the neuroscience of self-awareness. They discuss the nature and limits of metacognition, the relationship between self-knowledge and intelligence, error monitoring, theory of...Know Thyself: The Science of Self-awareness was published by Basic Books in 2021.   Twitter: @smfleming Web: metacoglab.org 
Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>4118falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/267-the-kingdom-of-sleep--60047587Center for Human Sleep Science. Matt’s research focuses on the effect of sleep on human health and disease, brain, and body. Walker has published more than 100 scientific research studies and has received numerous funding awards from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, and is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. He was recently awarded the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. Matt has given a main-stage TED Talk that has been viewed over 13 million times, has also created several TED Miniseries on sleep, a MasterClass series on sleep, and is author of the New York Times bestseller, Why We Sleep. Matt is also host of the 5-star-rated, The Matt Walker Podcast. Twitter: @sleepdiplomat Web: www.sleepdiplomat.com    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572808Wed, 10 Nov 2021 06:39:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Matthew Walker about the nature and importance of sleep. They discuss sleep and consciousness, the stages of sleep, sleep regularity, light and temperature, the evolutionary origins of sleep,...Center for Human Sleep Science. Matt’s research focuses on the effect of sleep on human health and disease, brain, and body. Walker has published more than 100 scientific research studies and has received numerous funding awards from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, and is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. He was recently awarded the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. Matt has given a main-stage TED Talk that has been viewed over 13 million times, has also created several TED Miniseries on sleep, a MasterClass series on sleep, and is author of the New York Times bestseller, Why We Sleep. Matt is also host of the 5-star-rated, The Matt Walker Podcast. Twitter: @sleepdiplomat Web: www.sleepdiplomat.com    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>13553falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/266-the-limits-of-pleasure--60047529The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning. Website: https://paulbloom.net/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572798Tue, 02 Nov 2021 10:22:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Paul Bloom about the role that pain and suffering play in living a good life. They discuss the limitations of hedonism, the connection between chosen suffering and meaning, the research of Daniel...The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning. Website: https://paulbloom.net/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6024falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/265-the-religion-of-anti-racism--60047447Lexicon Valley. He is the author of over twenty books, including Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter—Then, Now and Forever and Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America. Twitter: @JohnHMcWhorter Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572787Wed, 27 Oct 2021 09:16:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with John McWhorter about his new book “Woke Racism: How a New Religion has Betrayed Black America.” They discuss how the “social justice” narrative of the Left has become a religion, how this new...Lexicon Valley. He is the author of over twenty books, including Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter—Then, Now and Forever and Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America. Twitter: @JohnHMcWhorter Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3455falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/264-consciousness-and-self-rebroadcast--60047580Being You: A New Science of Consciousness—explores what it means to “be you”—that is, to have a specific, conscious experience of the world around you and yourself within it. Website: www.anilseth.com Twitter: @anilkseth  Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572778Thu, 21 Oct 2021 08:52:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Anil Seth about the scientific study of consciousness, where consciousness emerges in nature, levels of consciousness, perception as a “controlled hallucination,” emotion, the...Being You: A New Science of Consciousness—explores what it means to “be you”—that is, to have a specific, conscious experience of the world around you and yourself within it. Website: www.anilseth.com Twitter: @anilkseth  Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>11132falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/263-the-paradox-of-death--60047442Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572684Mon, 18 Oct 2021 11:32:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris reflects on the subjective continuity of consciousness, the nature of identity, and the possibility that death isn’t the end of experience. Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment...Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>2052falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/262-the-future-of-american-democracy--60047435The War on Normal People helped introduce the idea of universal basic income into the political mainstream. Yang is a graduate of Brown University, where he graduated with degrees in economics and political science, and Columbia Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review. Andrew’s newest book, Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy, outlines the problems in our broken system and a way forward to prevent the decline of American Democracy. Website: movehumanityforward.com Twitter: @AndrewYang Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572663Tue, 05 Oct 2021 19:33:42 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Andrew Yang about the state of American democracy. They discuss Andrew’s run for the Presidency, the humiliations of campaigning, the manipulation of politics by the media, Andrew’s run for the...The War on Normal People helped introduce the idea of universal basic income into the political mainstream. Yang is a graduate of Brown University, where he graduated with degrees in economics and political science, and Columbia Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review. Andrew’s newest book, Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy, outlines the problems in our broken system and a way forward to prevent the decline of American Democracy. Website: movehumanityforward.com Twitter: @AndrewYang Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3640falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/261-belief-identity--60047507www.jonaskaplan.com Twitter: @Jonas_Kaplan   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572646Thu, 30 Sep 2021 19:34:17 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jonas Kaplan about the neuroscience of belief change. They discuss the illusory truth effect, the backfire effect, failures of replication, “The Fireplace Delusion,” the connection between reason...www.jonaskaplan.com Twitter: @Jonas_Kaplan   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3935falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/absolutely-mental-season-two--60047476AbsolutelyMental.com.  ]]>1572635Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:32:15 +0000Michał CzIn this episode, Sam shares a clip from the second season of Absolutely Mental, his audio series with Ricky Gervais. All 10 episodes have been released today (Friday September 24th, 2021) and are available for purchase at http://absolutelymental.com/.  AbsolutelyMental.com.  ]]>998falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-18--600475021572616Mon, 20 Sep 2021 12:58:52 +0000Michał CzIn this Ask Me Anything session, Sam answers the following questions:Why won’t you discuss COVID vaccines and Ivermectin with Bret Weinstein on the podcast?What do you think about the recent prosecution of a 100-year-old Nazi in Germany?How can we...3067falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/260-the-second-plane--600474691572601Thu, 09 Sep 2021 17:52:46 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris recalls his experience of September 11th, 2001, and considers the future of American foreign policy.1876falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/259-the-reckoning-to-come--60047539Balajis.com Twitter: @balajis   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572580Tue, 31 Aug 2021 21:20:25 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Balaji Srinivasan about several civilizational challenges and possible paths forward. They discuss the evidence of American decline, the rise of India and China, centralizing and decentralizing...Balajis.com Twitter: @balajis   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>14599falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-17--60047479a recent podcast episode on “vaccine hesitancy” with Eric Topol and then answers the following questions:How can I inoculate my biracial children against identity politics?In what way is journalism broken, and how can we fix it?Have you read the research suggesting that the effects of microdosing psychedelics are indistinguishable from taking placebos?Can you comment on the degree to which Leftist political ideas have captured the Buddhist community?What should Democrats do to prevent a resurgence of Trumpism?What are the ingredients for a good life?Is it ever ethical for governments to lie to their citizens?If the present moment is all that matters, how can we plan for the future?]]>1572554Mon, 30 Aug 2021 18:54:18 +0000Michał CzIn this Ask Me Anything session, Sam begins by addressing the blowback that followed https://samharris-develop.go-vip.co/podcasts/256-contagion-bad-ideas/ on “vaccine hesitancy” with Eric Topol and then answers the following questions:How can I...a recent podcast episode on “vaccine hesitancy” with Eric Topol and then answers the following questions:How can I inoculate my biracial children against identity politics?In what way is journalism broken, and how can we fix it?Have you read the research suggesting that the effects of microdosing psychedelics are indistinguishable from taking placebos?Can you comment on the degree to which Leftist political ideas have captured the Buddhist community?What should Democrats do to prevent a resurgence of Trumpism?What are the ingredients for a good life?Is it ever ethical for governments to lie to their citizens?If the present moment is all that matters, how can we plan for the future?]]>3282falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/258-the-fall-of-afghanistan--60047584The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden. Bergen is a Vice President at New America, a professor at Arizona State University, and a national security analyst for CNN. He has testified before congressional committees eighteen times about national security issues and has held teaching positions at Harvard and Johns Hopkins University. Website: peterbergen.com Twitter: @peterbergencnn Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572548Sun, 22 Aug 2021 21:21:59 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Peter Bergen about the US exit from Afghanistan, the resurgence of the Taliban, and his new book, “The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden.” They discuss the Neo-isolationist consensus on the Right...The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden. Bergen is a Vice President at New America, a professor at Arizona State University, and a national security analyst for CNN. He has testified before congressional committees eighteen times about national security issues and has held teaching positions at Harvard and Johns Hopkins University. Website: peterbergen.com Twitter: @peterbergencnn Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5244falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/257-the-state-of-the-world--60047460Edge of Chaos, Winner Take All, Dead Aid, and How Boards Work. Born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia, Moyo holds a Ph.D. in economics from Oxford University and a master’s degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She worked for the World Bank as a consultant, at Goldman Sachs, and serves on a variety of corporate boards. She regularly contributes to the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times and was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine. She lives in New York City and London. Website: dambisamoyo.com Twitter: @damibisamoyo   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572532Fri, 13 Aug 2021 18:23:04 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Dambisa Moyo about the state of the world. They discuss public goods, economic growth, capitalism, American economic history, bad public-policy choices, inequality, tax avoidance among the...Edge of Chaos, Winner Take All, Dead Aid, and How Boards Work. Born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia, Moyo holds a Ph.D. in economics from Oxford University and a master’s degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She worked for the World Bank as a consultant, at Goldman Sachs, and serves on a variety of corporate boards. She regularly contributes to the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times and was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine. She lives in New York City and London. Website: dambisamoyo.com Twitter: @damibisamoyo   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6139falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/256-a-contagion-of-bad-ideas--60047553Scripps Research Translational Institute, Professor of Molecular Medicine, and Executive Vice-President of Scripps Research. As a researcher, he has published over 1200 peer-reviewed articles, with more than 290,000 citations, elected to the National Academy of Medicine, and is one of the top 10 most cited researchers in medicine. His principal scientific focus has been on the genomic and digital tools to individualize medicine—and the power that brings to individuals to drive the future of medicine. In 2016, Topol was awarded a $207M grant from the NIH to lead a significant part of the Precision Medicine (All of Us) Initiative, a prospective research program enrolling 1 million participants in the US. Prior to coming to lead the Scripps Research Translational Institute in 2007, for which he is the principal investigator of a flagship $35M NIH grant, he led the Cleveland Clinic to become the #1 center for heart care and was the founder of a new medical school there. He has been voted as the #1 most Influential physician leader in the United States in a national poll conducted by Modern Healthcare. Besides editing several textbooks, he has published 3 bestseller books on the future of medicine: The Creative Destruction of Medicine and The Patient Will See You Now. His latest book Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again came out in 2019. Topol was commissioned by the UK 2018-2019 to lead planning for the National Health Service’s integration of AI and new technologies. Recently, he has been reporting insights and research findings for COVID-19 on his popular Twitter feed. Website: drerictopol.com  Twitter: @EricTopol  Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572504Fri, 23 Jul 2021 12:47:22 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Eric Topol about vaccine hesitancy and related misinformation. They discuss the problem of political and social siloing, concerns about mRNA vaccines, the Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA,...Scripps Research Translational Institute, Professor of Molecular Medicine, and Executive Vice-President of Scripps Research. As a researcher, he has published over 1200 peer-reviewed articles, with more than 290,000 citations, elected to the National Academy of Medicine, and is one of the top 10 most cited researchers in medicine. His principal scientific focus has been on the genomic and digital tools to individualize medicine—and the power that brings to individuals to drive the future of medicine. In 2016, Topol was awarded a $207M grant from the NIH to lead a significant part of the Precision Medicine (All of Us) Initiative, a prospective research program enrolling 1 million participants in the US. Prior to coming to lead the Scripps Research Translational Institute in 2007, for which he is the principal investigator of a flagship $35M NIH grant, he led the Cleveland Clinic to become the #1 center for heart care and was the founder of a new medical school there. He has been voted as the #1 most Influential physician leader in the United States in a national poll conducted by Modern Healthcare. Besides editing several textbooks, he has published 3 bestseller books on the future of medicine: The Creative Destruction of Medicine and The Patient Will See You Now. His latest book Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again came out in 2019. Topol was commissioned by the UK 2018-2019 to lead planning for the National Health Service’s integration of AI and new technologies. Recently, he has been reporting insights and research findings for COVID-19 on his popular Twitter feed. Website: drerictopol.com  Twitter: @EricTopol  Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5227falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/255-the-future-of-intelligence--60047501On Intelligence (2004 with Sandra Blakeslee) and A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence (2021). Jeff earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 1979. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2003. Website: numenta.com Twitter: @Numenta Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572491Fri, 09 Jul 2021 13:47:03 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jeff Hawkins about the nature of intelligence. They discuss how the neocortex creates models of the world, the role of prediction in sensory-motor experience, cortical columns, reference frames,...On Intelligence (2004 with Sandra Blakeslee) and A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence (2021). Jeff earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 1979. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2003. Website: numenta.com Twitter: @Numenta Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5800falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/254-the-mating-strategies-of-earthlings--60047565The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating; Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind, The Dangerous Passion: Why Jealousy is as Necessary as Love and Sex, The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill, and Why Women Have Sex (with Cindy Meston). His new book When Men Behave Badly: The Hidden Roots of Sexual Deception, Harassment, and Assault uncovers the evolutionary roots of conflict between the sexes. Buss has more than 300 scientific publications. In 2019, he was cited as one of the 50 most influential living psychologists in the world. Website: davidbuss.com Twitter: @ProfDavidBuss    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1572460Fri, 25 Jun 2021 16:33:38 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with David Buss about the differential mating strategies of men and women. They discuss the controversy that surrounds evolutionary psychology, the denial of sex differences, cross-cultural findings in...The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating; Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind, The Dangerous Passion: Why Jealousy is as Necessary as Love and Sex, The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill, and Why Women Have Sex (with Cindy Meston). His new book When Men Behave Badly: The Hidden Roots of Sexual Deception, Harassment, and Assault uncovers the evolutionary roots of conflict between the sexes. Buss has more than 300 scientific publications. In 2019, he was cited as one of the 50 most influential living psychologists in the world. Website: davidbuss.com Twitter: @ProfDavidBuss    Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6605falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/253-corporate-courage--60047541Basecamp, makers of Basecamp and HEY.com. He’s also the co-author of a number of unusual business books, including New York Times Bestseller REWORK, REMOTE, Getting Real, and his latest It Doesn’t Have to be Crazy at Work which The Economist called “funny, well-written and iconoclastic and by far the best thing on management published this year.” Website: world.hey.com/jason Twitter: @jasonfried Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572447Thu, 17 Jun 2021 16:06:42 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jason Fried about the recent controversy over the “no politics” policy at his company Basecamp. They discuss his business philosophy, the surrender of institutions to “social-justice” activism,...Basecamp, makers of Basecamp and HEY.com. He’s also the co-author of a number of unusual business books, including New York Times Bestseller REWORK, REMOTE, Getting Real, and his latest It Doesn’t Have to be Crazy at Work which The Economist called “funny, well-written and iconoclastic and by far the best thing on management published this year.” Website: world.hey.com/jason Twitter: @jasonfried Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5779falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/252-are-we-alone-in-the-universe--60047449StarTalk, a podcast, and two seasons of Cosmos, televised by Fox and National Geographic. He has received 21 honorary doctorates as well as NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal. He and his wife live in New York City.   Website: https://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/ Twitter: @neiltyson  Essay: Reflections on the Color of My Skin by Neil deGrasse Tyson   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572433Thu, 10 Jun 2021 15:48:38 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Neil deGrasse Tyson about our place in the universe. They discuss our current understanding of extra-solar planets, the prospect that there is complex life elsewhere in the galaxy, the Fermi...StarTalk, a podcast, and two seasons of Cosmos, televised by Fox and National Geographic. He has received 21 honorary doctorates as well as NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal. He and his wife live in New York City.   Website: https://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/ Twitter: @neiltyson  Essay: Reflections on the Color of My Skin by Neil deGrasse Tyson   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>6781falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/251-corporate-cowardice--60047485Chaos Monkeys: Obscene Fortune and Random Failure was on The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestseller lists, as well as NPR’s Best Books of 2016, and still somehow manages to be a subject of debate five years later. Website: https://www.thepullrequest.com/ Twitter: @antoniogm   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572376Wed, 26 May 2021 18:56:43 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Antonio García-Martínez about his recent firing at Apple. They discuss his experience in tech, his book “Chaos Monkeys,” the controversy at Apple, cancel culture, and other topics. Antonio García...Chaos Monkeys: Obscene Fortune and Random Failure was on The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestseller lists, as well as NPR’s Best Books of 2016, and still somehow manages to be a subject of debate five years later. Website: https://www.thepullrequest.com/ Twitter: @antoniogm   Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>3352falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/250-broken-conversations--60047579Blocked and Reported and the author of The Quick Fix: Why Fad Psychology Can’t Cure Our Social Ills. A contributing writer and former senior editor at New York Magazine, his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and other outlets. He has a master’s in public affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. Website: https://jessesingal.substack.com/ Twitter: @jessesingal Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>1572354Fri, 21 May 2021 13:21:01 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jesse Singal about a variety of controversial topics. They discuss fragmentation in the media, bad incentives in journalism, Jesse’s encounters with cancel culture, transgender activism, the case...Blocked and Reported and the author of The Quick Fix: Why Fad Psychology Can’t Cure Our Social Ills. A contributing writer and former senior editor at New York Magazine, his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and other outlets. He has a master’s in public affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. Website: https://jessesingal.substack.com/ Twitter: @jessesingal Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.]]>5436falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/249-distance-arrival--60047552Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. David Whyte is a poet and the author of 11 books of poetry along with four books of prose, including Still Possible, David Whyte: Essentials and The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self and Relationships. David holds a degree in Marine Zoology, honorary degrees from Neumann College and Royal Roads University, and has traveled extensively, including living and working as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leading anthropological and natural history expeditions in the Andes, Amazon, and Himalaya. He brings this wealth of experience to his poetry, lectures, and workshops. Website: davidwhyte.com  Twitter: @whytedw]]>1572339Fri, 14 May 2021 10:42:24 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and David Whyte further explore his work in his book https://amzn.to/2RTUbIW. David Whyte is a poet and the author of 11 books of poetry along with four books of prose, including https://amzn.to/3aofyvs,...Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. David Whyte is a poet and the author of 11 books of poetry along with four books of prose, including Still Possible, David Whyte: Essentials and The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self and Relationships. David holds a degree in Marine Zoology, honorary degrees from Neumann College and Royal Roads University, and has traveled extensively, including living and working as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leading anthropological and natural history expeditions in the Andes, Amazon, and Himalaya. He brings this wealth of experience to his poetry, lectures, and workshops. Website: davidwhyte.com  Twitter: @whytedw]]>4196falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/248-order-freedom--60047521Advances in Culture and Psychology series (Oxford University Press). Her book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire the World was published by Scribner in 2018. She is the past President of the International Association for Conflict Management and co-founder of the Society for the Study of Cultural Evolution. Gelfand was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019.  Website: https://www.michelegelfand.com/ Twitter: @MicheleJGelfand]]>1572323Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:21:24 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Michele Gelfand about the difference between tight and loose cultures. They discuss the primacy of cultural norms in governing human behavior, the trade-offs between order and freedom,...Advances in Culture and Psychology series (Oxford University Press). Her book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire the World was published by Scribner in 2018. She is the past President of the International Association for Conflict Management and co-founder of the Society for the Study of Cultural Evolution. Gelfand was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019.  Website: https://www.michelegelfand.com/ Twitter: @MicheleJGelfand]]>5038falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/special-episode-engineering-the-apocalypse--60047585After On podcast features conversations with world-class thinkers, founders, and scientists on topics including synthetic biology, super-AI risk, Fermi’s paradox, robotics, archaeology, and lone-wolf terrorism. Science fiction novels that Rob has written for Random House include The New York Times bestseller Year Zero, and the AI thriller After On. As an investor, Rob is Managing Director at Resilience Reserve, a multi-phase venture capital fund. He co-founded Resilience with Chris Anderson, who runs the TED Conference and has a long track record as both an entrepreneur and an investor. In his own entrepreneurial career, Rob founded and ran Listen.com, the company that created the Rhapsody music service. Earlier, Rob studied Arabic and geopolitics at both undergraduate and graduate levels at Stanford, and was a Fulbright Fellow in Cairo. You can find him at www.after-on.com, or on Twitter at @Rob_Reid.   Organizations Supported by this Podcast:

• Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics: https://ccdd.hsph.harvard.edu/
• The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations: https://cepi.net/

]]>1572308Fri, 23 Apr 2021 20:38:19 +0000Michał CzIn this nearly 4-hour SPECIAL EPISODE, Rob Reid delivers a 100-minute monologue (broken up into 4 segments, and interleaved with discussions with Sam) about the looming danger of a man-made pandemic, caused by an artificially-modified pathogen. The...After On podcast features conversations with world-class thinkers, founders, and scientists on topics including synthetic biology, super-AI risk, Fermi’s paradox, robotics, archaeology, and lone-wolf terrorism. Science fiction novels that Rob has written for Random House include The New York Times bestseller Year Zero, and the AI thriller After On. As an investor, Rob is Managing Director at Resilience Reserve, a multi-phase venture capital fund. He co-founded Resilience with Chris Anderson, who runs the TED Conference and has a long track record as both an entrepreneur and an investor. In his own entrepreneurial career, Rob founded and ran Listen.com, the company that created the Rhapsody music service. Earlier, Rob studied Arabic and geopolitics at both undergraduate and graduate levels at Stanford, and was a Fulbright Fellow in Cairo. You can find him at www.after-on.com, or on Twitter at @Rob_Reid.   Organizations Supported by this Podcast:

• Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics: https://ccdd.hsph.harvard.edu/
• The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations: https://cepi.net/

]]>13312falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/247-constructing-minds--60047583How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, and more recently, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain.   Website: https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com, https://affective-science.org Twitter: @LFeldmanBarrett]]>1572294Wed, 21 Apr 2021 21:38:49 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Lisa Feldman Barrett about the origins and function of the human brain. They discuss how brains evolved, the myth of the “triune brain,” the brain’s network organization, the predictive nature of...How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, and more recently, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain.   Website: https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com, https://affective-science.org Twitter: @LFeldmanBarrett]]>7638falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/246-police-training-police-misconduct--60047535GracieUniversity.com), Rener has dedicated his life to sharing jiu-jitsu with the world.  In recent years, Rener has become a central figure in the discussion surrounding police use of force in the United States. With over 20 years of experience teaching law enforcement professionals, he presents compelling data that substantiates the need for more training for police officers at a time when many are fighting to “defund the police,” which would accomplish the exact opposite.  Website: https://www.gracieuniversity.com/ Twitter: @RenerGracie Instagram: @renergracie YouTube: @GracieBreakdown McDonald’s Taser Incident: https://youtu.be/F4VeHOkt_o8 Jiu-Jitsu Cop Breaks Down His Own Encounter: https://youtu.be/BOBsTJdr0Oo 2 Cops vs. 1 Huge Guy: https://youtu.be/FFTJHu4b4Sw Marietta Police Department Jiu-Jitsu Study: https://youtu.be/pDIG_SKhjUw Gracie University—Police Training Reimagined: GracieUniversity.com/Reform ]]>1572270Fri, 16 Apr 2021 11:34:06 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Rener Gracie about police procedure and about the special relevance of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for safely controlling resisting suspects. Rener Gracie is a third-generation member of the legendary...GracieUniversity.com), Rener has dedicated his life to sharing jiu-jitsu with the world.  In recent years, Rener has become a central figure in the discussion surrounding police use of force in the United States. With over 20 years of experience teaching law enforcement professionals, he presents compelling data that substantiates the need for more training for police officers at a time when many are fighting to “defund the police,” which would accomplish the exact opposite.  Website: https://www.gracieuniversity.com/ Twitter: @RenerGracie Instagram: @renergracie YouTube: @GracieBreakdown McDonald’s Taser Incident: https://youtu.be/F4VeHOkt_o8 Jiu-Jitsu Cop Breaks Down His Own Encounter: https://youtu.be/BOBsTJdr0Oo 2 Cops vs. 1 Huge Guy: https://youtu.be/FFTJHu4b4Sw Marietta Police Department Jiu-Jitsu Study: https://youtu.be/pDIG_SKhjUw Gracie University—Police Training Reimagined: GracieUniversity.com/Reform ]]>6129falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/245-can-we-talk-about-scary-ideas--60047537Journal of Controversial Ideas. They discuss the ethics of discussing dangerous ideas, the possibility of having a market in vaccines, the taboo around the topic of race and IQ, the relationship between activism and academia, the shallow-pond argument for doing good, and other topics. Peter Singer is a professor of bioethics at Princeton University. He focuses on practical ethics, and is best known for his book Animal Liberation and for his writings about global poverty. Francesca Minerva is a research fellow at the University of Milan and a co-founder and co-editor of the Journal of Controversial Ideas. Her research focuses on applied ethics, medical and bioethics, discrimination, and academic freedom. Jeff McMahan is a professor of Moral Philosophy at Oxford University. He focuses on a range of issues related to harm and benefit—including war, self- and other-defense, abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, personal identity, the moral status of animals, causing people to exist, disability, philanthropy, and other topics. Website: https://petersinger.info/, http://francescaminerva.com/, http://jeffersonmcmahan.com/ Twitter: @PeterSinger, @FranciMinerva, @JConIdeas]]>1572242Mon, 12 Apr 2021 19:53:02 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Peter Singer, Francesca Minerva, and Jeff McMahan about the newly launched http://journalofcontroversialideas.org. They discuss the ethics of discussing dangerous ideas, the possibility of having...Journal of Controversial Ideas. They discuss the ethics of discussing dangerous ideas, the possibility of having a market in vaccines, the taboo around the topic of race and IQ, the relationship between activism and academia, the shallow-pond argument for doing good, and other topics. Peter Singer is a professor of bioethics at Princeton University. He focuses on practical ethics, and is best known for his book Animal Liberation and for his writings about global poverty. Francesca Minerva is a research fellow at the University of Milan and a co-founder and co-editor of the Journal of Controversial Ideas. Her research focuses on applied ethics, medical and bioethics, discrimination, and academic freedom. Jeff McMahan is a professor of Moral Philosophy at Oxford University. He focuses on a range of issues related to harm and benefit—including war, self- and other-defense, abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, personal identity, the moral status of animals, causing people to exist, disability, philanthropy, and other topics. Website: https://petersinger.info/, http://francescaminerva.com/, http://jeffersonmcmahan.com/ Twitter: @PeterSinger, @FranciMinerva, @JConIdeas]]>5120falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/244-food-climate-and-pandemic-risk--60047536Good Food Institute about the way the problems of climate change and pandemic risk are directly connected to animal agriculture. The Good Food Institute is an international nonprofit reimagining protein production. Bruce Friedrich oversees GFI’s global strategy, working with the U.S. leadership team and international managing directors to ensure that GFI is maximally effective at implementing programs that deliver mission-focused results. Bruce is a TED Fellow, Y Combinator alum, and popular speaker on food innovation. He has penned op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Wired, and many other publications. Bruce’s 2019 TED talk has been viewed two million times and translated into dozens of languages. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown Law and also holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University and the London School of Economics. Liz Specht works to identify and forecast areas of technological need within the alternative protein field. Her efforts also catalyze research to address these needs while supporting researchers in academia and industry to move the field forward. Liz has a bachelor’s degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Johns Hopkins University, a doctorate in biological sciences from the University of California San Diego, and postdoctoral research experience from the University of Colorado Boulder. Prior to joining GFI in 2016, Liz had accumulated a decade of academic research experience in synthetic biology, recombinant protein expression, and development of genetic tools. Website: gfi.org Twitter: @GoodFoodInst, @BruceGFriedrich, @LizSpecht]]>1572225Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:01:10 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast Sam Harris speaks with Bruce Friedrich and Liz Specht from the https://gfi.org/ about the way the problems of climate change and pandemic risk are directly connected to animal agriculture. The Good Food Institute is an...Good Food Institute about the way the problems of climate change and pandemic risk are directly connected to animal agriculture. The Good Food Institute is an international nonprofit reimagining protein production. Bruce Friedrich oversees GFI’s global strategy, working with the U.S. leadership team and international managing directors to ensure that GFI is maximally effective at implementing programs that deliver mission-focused results. Bruce is a TED Fellow, Y Combinator alum, and popular speaker on food innovation. He has penned op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Wired, and many other publications. Bruce’s 2019 TED talk has been viewed two million times and translated into dozens of languages. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown Law and also holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University and the London School of Economics. Liz Specht works to identify and forecast areas of technological need within the alternative protein field. Her efforts also catalyze research to address these needs while supporting researchers in academia and industry to move the field forward. Liz has a bachelor’s degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Johns Hopkins University, a doctorate in biological sciences from the University of California San Diego, and postdoctoral research experience from the University of Colorado Boulder. Prior to joining GFI in 2016, Liz had accumulated a decade of academic research experience in synthetic biology, recombinant protein expression, and development of genetic tools. Website: gfi.org Twitter: @GoodFoodInst, @BruceGFriedrich, @LizSpecht]]>4388falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/243-a-few-points-of-confusion--600475481572206Sun, 28 Mar 2021 11:11:49 +0000Michał Cz   583falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/242-psychedelics-and-the-self--60047554The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide and Your Symphony of Selves: Discover and Understand More of Who We Are (with Jordan Gruber). Website:  https://www.jamesfadiman.commicrodosingpsychedelics.com Twitter: @Jfadiman]]>1572192Tue, 23 Mar 2021 20:10:40 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with James Fadiman about the psychedelic experience. They discuss who should and shouldn’t take psychedelics, set and setting, the role of a guide, the effects of microdosing, the difference between...The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide and Your Symphony of Selves: Discover and Understand More of Who We Are (with Jordan Gruber). Website:  https://www.jamesfadiman.commicrodosingpsychedelics.com Twitter: @Jfadiman]]>7821falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/241-final-thoughts-on-free-will--600475151572178Fri, 12 Mar 2021 18:51:39 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris presents his full argument on the illusoriness of free will—and explores its ethical and psychological implications.5407falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/240-the-boundaries-of-self--60047511Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. With the imagery of a poet and the reflection of a philosopher, David turns his attention to ordinary words, each a doorway into the underlying currents of human life. They discuss 4 tracks from the first installment—Friendship, Honesty, Ambition, and Alone. David Whyte is a poet and the author of 11 books of poetry along with four books of prose, including Still Possible, David Whyte: Essentials and The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self and Relationships. David holds a degree in Marine Zoology, honorary degrees from Neumann College and Royal Roads University, and has traveled extensively, including living and working as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leading anthropological and natural history expeditions in the Andes, Amazon, and Himalaya. He brings this wealth of experience to his poetry, lectures, and workshops. Website: davidwhyte.com  Twitter: @whytedw]]>1572151Sun, 07 Mar 2021 18:38:44 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam speaks with poet David Whyte about his new and on-going series for the Waking Up app, based on his book, https://amzn.to/3t0pn6W. With the imagery of a poet and the reflection of a philosopher, David turns his...Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. With the imagery of a poet and the reflection of a philosopher, David turns his attention to ordinary words, each a doorway into the underlying currents of human life. They discuss 4 tracks from the first installment—Friendship, Honesty, Ambition, and Alone. David Whyte is a poet and the author of 11 books of poetry along with four books of prose, including Still Possible, David Whyte: Essentials and The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self and Relationships. David holds a degree in Marine Zoology, honorary degrees from Neumann College and Royal Roads University, and has traveled extensively, including living and working as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leading anthropological and natural history expeditions in the Andes, Amazon, and Himalaya. He brings this wealth of experience to his poetry, lectures, and workshops. Website: davidwhyte.com  Twitter: @whytedw]]>4929falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/239-yet-another-call-from-ricky-gervais--600475121572125Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:37:44 +0000Michał CzRicky Gervais calls Sam to ask if AI will replace comedians. They also discuss the implications of not having free will and if a chimp has ever asked, “what does it all mean?” They agree that bears are dangerous.1300falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/238-how-to-build-a-universe--60047549A Beautiful Question, The Lightness of Being, Fantastic Realities, Longing for the Harmonies, Fundamentals: Ten Keys to Reality, and hundreds of articles in leading scientific journals. His “Wilczek’s Universe” column appears regularly in the Wall Street Journal. Wilczek is the Herman Feshbach Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founding director of the T. D. Lee Institute and chief scientist at the Wilczek Quantum Center in Shanghai, China, and a distinguished professor at Arizona State University and Stockholm University. Website: https://www.frankawilczek.com/ Twitter: @FrankWilczek   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1572104Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:56:38 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Frank Wilczek about the fundamental nature of reality. They discuss the difference between science and non-science, the role of intuition in science, the nature of time, the prospect that...A Beautiful Question, The Lightness of Being, Fantastic Realities, Longing for the Harmonies, Fundamentals: Ten Keys to Reality, and hundreds of articles in leading scientific journals. His “Wilczek’s Universe” column appears regularly in the Wall Street Journal. Wilczek is the Herman Feshbach Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founding director of the T. D. Lee Institute and chief scientist at the Wilczek Quantum Center in Shanghai, China, and a distinguished professor at Arizona State University and Stockholm University. Website: https://www.frankawilczek.com/ Twitter: @FrankWilczek   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6351falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/237-another-call-from-ricky-gervais--600475551572082Tue, 16 Feb 2021 19:04:32 +0000Michał CzRicky Gervais calls to discuss Sam’s monster joke from their last conversation and then other things happen…2547falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/236-rebooting-new-york-city--60047453Yang Speaks podcast. Andrew also recently ran as a democratic candidate in the 2020 Presidential primary election. In his early career, Andrew served as the CEO, co-founder or executive at a number of technology and education companies including the well-known test preparation company, Manhattan Prep. In 2011, he founded Venture for America, a non-profit which connects recent college graduates with start-ups. His book, The War on Normal People: The Truth About America’s Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future was published in 2018, shortly after announcing his run for presidency. He is now focused on his mayoral campaign, but also leads Humanity Forward, a non-profit organization dedicated to continuing the movements inspired by his campaigns for public office. Websites: https://www.yangforny.com/https://movehumanityforward.com/ Twitter: @AndrewYang]]>1572045Thu, 11 Feb 2021 17:50:49 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with mayoral candidate, Andrew Yang, about the future of New York City. Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur, founder of Humanity Forward, and host of the weekly https://yangspeaks.com/ podcast. Andrew also...Yang Speaks podcast. Andrew also recently ran as a democratic candidate in the 2020 Presidential primary election. In his early career, Andrew served as the CEO, co-founder or executive at a number of technology and education companies including the well-known test preparation company, Manhattan Prep. In 2011, he founded Venture for America, a non-profit which connects recent college graduates with start-ups. His book, The War on Normal People: The Truth About America’s Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future was published in 2018, shortly after announcing his run for presidency. He is now focused on his mayoral campaign, but also leads Humanity Forward, a non-profit organization dedicated to continuing the movements inspired by his campaigns for public office. Websites: https://www.yangforny.com/https://movehumanityforward.com/ Twitter: @AndrewYang]]>2905falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/235-a-call-from-ricky-gervais--600474991572032Wed, 10 Feb 2021 13:26:02 +0000Michał CzRicky Gervais calls Sam to ask why we dream? They discuss why puns are terrible and breakdown some of the mechanics of comedy.1763falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/234-the-divided-mind--60047582The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World. He is a former Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford University, a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and a former research Fellow in Neuroimaging at Johns Hopkins University Medical School. His work on hemispheric specialization inspired the The Divided Brain, a documentary produced for the CBC featuring McGilchrist and other scientists. Website: https://channelmcgilchrist.com]]>1572018Fri, 05 Feb 2021 18:55:41 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Iain McGilchrist about the differences between the right and left hemispheres of the human brain. They discuss the evolutionary history of the divided brain, research on surgically divided brains,...The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World. He is a former Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford University, a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and a former research Fellow in Neuroimaging at Johns Hopkins University Medical School. His work on hemispheric specialization inspired the The Divided Brain, a documentary produced for the CBC featuring McGilchrist and other scientists. Website: https://channelmcgilchrist.com]]>9066falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/233-in-the-groves-of-misinformation--60047571@zeynep Website: https://zeynep.substack.com/]]>1571979Mon, 01 Feb 2021 20:44:05 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Zeynep Tufekci about the problem of misinformation and group-think. They discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, the early failures of journalists and public health professionals to make sense of it, the...@zeynep Website: https://zeynep.substack.com/]]>6008falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/232-inequality-revolution--60047493The New Population Bomb, analyzed the impact of aging and youth bulges on the global economy and international security, and was one of the most downloaded and viewed essays in recent years. His latest book is Revolutions: A Very Short Introduction for Oxford’s widely-read Very Short Introductions series and his latest article, Welcome To The ‘Turbulent Twenties’, was published by Noema Magazine. Twitter: @jgoldsto]]>1571894Tue, 26 Jan 2021 22:34:14 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jack Goldstone about the rise in social inequality and political instability in the United States. They discuss how wealth is deployed, the loss of social mobility, comparative judgments of...The New Population Bomb, analyzed the impact of aging and youth bulges on the global economy and international security, and was one of the most downloaded and viewed essays in recent years. His latest book is Revolutions: A Very Short Introduction for Oxford’s widely-read Very Short Introductions series and his latest article, Welcome To The ‘Turbulent Twenties’, was published by Noema Magazine. Twitter: @jgoldsto]]>5108falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/231-crossing-the-abyss--60047495My Share of the Task, which was a New York Times bestseller. Stanley is a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, and he is the founder of the McChrystal Group leadership institute. Chris Fussell is a Partner at the McChrystal Group and the co-author (with Stanley McChrystal) of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, which was also a New York Times bestseller. Chris was a commissioned naval officer and he spent 15 years in the Navy SEALs in various points around the globe. He served as the aide-de-camp to General McChrystal during his final year commanding the joint special operations task force fighting Al Qaeda. Chris is on the board of directors of the Navy SEAL Foundation and is a lifetime member of The Council on Foreign Relations. Chris also teaches at the Jackson Institute at Yale University.  Together, Stanley and Chris host No Turning Back—a podcast that explores the future of leadership and teams with the world’s most consequential leaders.   Website: www.McChrystalGroup.com Twitter: @McChrystalGroup, @StanMcChrystal, @FussellChris]]>1571886Sun, 17 Jan 2021 14:25:55 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with General Stanley McChrystal and Chris Fussell about the radicalization of the far Right under Trump. They discuss the events of January 6, 2021, the behavior of the Capitol police, the history of...My Share of the Task, which was a New York Times bestseller. Stanley is a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, and he is the founder of the McChrystal Group leadership institute. Chris Fussell is a Partner at the McChrystal Group and the co-author (with Stanley McChrystal) of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, which was also a New York Times bestseller. Chris was a commissioned naval officer and he spent 15 years in the Navy SEALs in various points around the globe. He served as the aide-de-camp to General McChrystal during his final year commanding the joint special operations task force fighting Al Qaeda. Chris is on the board of directors of the Navy SEAL Foundation and is a lifetime member of The Council on Foreign Relations. Chris also teaches at the Jackson Institute at Yale University.  Together, Stanley and Chris host No Turning Back—a podcast that explores the future of leadership and teams with the world’s most consequential leaders.   Website: www.McChrystalGroup.com Twitter: @McChrystalGroup, @StanMcChrystal, @FussellChris]]>4458falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/230-an-insurrection-of-lies--600474801571866Mon, 11 Jan 2021 15:08:02 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris discusses two dangerous misconceptions about the siege of the Capitol.2483falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/229-a-few-thoughts-for-a-new-year--600475581571863Tue, 05 Jan 2021 19:47:49 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris analyzes a few disturbing trends and shares his hopes for 2021.1786falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/228-doing-good--60047581Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours, and the Centre for Effective Altruism. He is also the Director of the Forethought Foundation for Global Priorities Research and the author of Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference. Website: williammacaskill.com Twitter: @willmacaskill]]>1571825Mon, 14 Dec 2020 15:44:49 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with William MacAskill about how to do the most good in the world. They discuss the “effective altruism” movement, choosing causes to support, the apparent tension between wealth and altruism, how best...Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours, and the Centre for Effective Altruism. He is also the Director of the Forethought Foundation for Global Priorities Research and the author of Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference. Website: williammacaskill.com Twitter: @willmacaskill]]>8102falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/227-knowing-the-mind--60047543The Neurology of Consciousness: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropathology and the well-received La Méditation, c’est bon pour le cerveau, which will be published in English as The No-Nonsense Meditation Book in April 2021 (UK) and June 2021 (US). Dr. Laureys also maintains a clinical practice at the University Hospital of Liège where his research focuses on understanding consciousness, meditation, and the mind. Website: drstevenlaureys.org Twitter: @drstevenlaureys Email address mentioned in the podcast for the purpose of sharing information about an NDE (Near Death Experience): NDE@uliege.be]]>1571785Mon, 07 Dec 2020 16:37:02 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Stephen Laureys interviews Sam Harris about meditation practice and the scientific study of the mind. They discuss why Sam began to practice meditation, the difference between dualistic and nondualistic mindfulness, the...The Neurology of Consciousness: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropathology and the well-received La Méditation, c’est bon pour le cerveau, which will be published in English as The No-Nonsense Meditation Book in April 2021 (UK) and June 2021 (US). Dr. Laureys also maintains a clinical practice at the University Hospital of Liège where his research focuses on understanding consciousness, meditation, and the mind. Website: drstevenlaureys.org Twitter: @drstevenlaureys Email address mentioned in the podcast for the purpose of sharing information about an NDE (Near Death Experience): NDE@uliege.be]]>6377falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/226-the-price-of-distraction--60047546The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World with Dr. Larry Rosen. Website: gazzaley.com Twitter: @adamgazz   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1571768Fri, 27 Nov 2020 18:13:29 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Adam Gazzaley about the way our technology is changing us. They discuss our limited ability to process information, our failures of multitasking, “top-down” vs “bottom-up” attention,...The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World with Dr. Larry Rosen. Website: gazzaley.com Twitter: @adamgazz   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>4643falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/225-republic-of-lies--600474971571736Wed, 18 Nov 2020 18:02:25 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris discusses President Trump’s failure to concede the 2020 presidential election.1899falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/224-the-key-to-trump-s-appeal--600475451571722Mon, 02 Nov 2020 21:24:52 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris describes his new understanding of why people support President Trump.504falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/223-a-conversation-with-andrew-sullivan--60047518The Conservative Soul and Virtually Normal. Sullivan’s blog, The Daily Dish, pioneered online journalism from 2000 to 2015, and he recently revived it as a Substack newsletter, The Weekly Dish. He is writing a book on the future of Christianity, and his collection of essays will be published in 2021. Website: andrewsullivan.substack.com Twitter: @sullydish]]>1571701Fri, 30 Oct 2020 17:37:41 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and Andrew Sullivan sing the praises of President Trump. Andrew Sullivan edited The New Republic from 1991 – 1996 and was an intellectual architect of the campaign for marriage equality. He is the author of...The Conservative Soul and Virtually Normal. Sullivan’s blog, The Daily Dish, pioneered online journalism from 2000 to 2015, and he recently revived it as a Substack newsletter, The Weekly Dish. He is writing a book on the future of Christianity, and his collection of essays will be published in 2021. Website: andrewsullivan.substack.com Twitter: @sullydish]]>5748falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/222-a-pandemic-of-incompetence--60047551Connected: The Amazing Power of Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, and most recently Apollo’s Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live. Website: www.humannaturelab.net Twitter: @NAChristakis]]>1571683Tue, 27 Oct 2020 20:23:46 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Nicholas Christakis about the Covid-19 pandemic. They discuss the breakdown of trust in institutions and experts, the corruption of science by politics, the ineptitude of the Trump administration...Connected: The Amazing Power of Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, and most recently Apollo’s Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live. Website: www.humannaturelab.net Twitter: @NAChristakis]]>6004falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/221-success-failure-the-common-good--60047564The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good? Website: http://justiceharvard.org/    Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1571654Thu, 22 Oct 2020 17:19:28 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Michael Sandel about the problem with meritocracy. They discuss the dark side of the concept of merit, the pernicious myth of the self-made man, the moral significance of luck, the backlash...The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good? Website: http://justiceharvard.org/    Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>3984falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/220-the-information-apocalypse--60047491Deepfakes: The Coming Infocalypse explores the corrosion of our information ecosystem. Website: ninaschick.org Twitter: @NinaDSchick]]>1571636Sat, 17 Oct 2020 12:18:55 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Nina Schick about the growing epidemic of misinformation and disinformation. They discuss the coming problem of “deep fakes,” the history of Russian “active measures” against the West, the...Deepfakes: The Coming Infocalypse explores the corrosion of our information ecosystem. Website: ninaschick.org Twitter: @NinaDSchick]]>4556falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/219-the-power-of-compassion--60047462Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart. They discuss the significance of childhood stress, the possibility of changing one’s core beliefs about oneself, the relationship between surgeons and their patients, the nature of compassion, the Dalai Lama, the relationship between wealth and empathy, the worsening problem of social inequality, the physiology of compassion, the broken healthcare system in the U.S., and other topics. James R. Doty is a clinical professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University and the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University School of Medicine.  As director of CCARE, Dr. Doty has collaborated on a number of research projects focused on compassion and altruism including the use of neuro-economic models to assess altruism, use of the CCARE-developed compassion cultivation training in individuals and its effect, assessment of compassionate and altruistic judgment utilizing implanted brain electrodes and the use of optogenetic techniques to assess nurturing pathways in rodents. Presently, he is developing collaborative research projects to assess the effect of compassion training on immunologic and other physiologic determinants of health, the use of mentoring as a method of instilling compassion in students and the use of compassion training to decrease pain. Dr. Doty is also an inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist having given support to a number of charitable organizations including Children as the Peacemakers, Global Healing, the Pachamama Alliance and Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley. He is on the Board of Directors of a number of non-profit foundations including the Dalai Lama Foundation, of which he is chairman and the Charter for Compassion International of which he is vice-chair. He is also on the International Advisory Board of the Council for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. He also writes for The Huffington Post. Twitter: @jamesrdotymd   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1571607Thu, 08 Oct 2020 19:23:59 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with James R. Doty about his memoir https://amzn.to/3iFBOzf. They discuss the significance of childhood stress, the possibility of changing one’s core beliefs about oneself, the relationship between surgeons and their patients, the...Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart. They discuss the significance of childhood stress, the possibility of changing one’s core beliefs about oneself, the relationship between surgeons and their patients, the nature of compassion, the Dalai Lama, the relationship between wealth and empathy, the worsening problem of social inequality, the physiology of compassion, the broken healthcare system in the U.S., and other topics. James R. Doty is a clinical professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University and the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University School of Medicine.  As director of CCARE, Dr. Doty has collaborated on a number of research projects focused on compassion and altruism including the use of neuro-economic models to assess altruism, use of the CCARE-developed compassion cultivation training in individuals and its effect, assessment of compassionate and altruistic judgment utilizing implanted brain electrodes and the use of optogenetic techniques to assess nurturing pathways in rodents. Presently, he is developing collaborative research projects to assess the effect of compassion training on immunologic and other physiologic determinants of health, the use of mentoring as a method of instilling compassion in students and the use of compassion training to decrease pain. Dr. Doty is also an inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist having given support to a number of charitable organizations including Children as the Peacemakers, Global Healing, the Pachamama Alliance and Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley. He is on the Board of Directors of a number of non-profit foundations including the Dalai Lama Foundation, of which he is chairman and the Charter for Compassion International of which he is vice-chair. He is also on the International Advisory Board of the Council for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. He also writes for The Huffington Post. Twitter: @jamesrdotymd   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>5471falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/218-welcome-to-the-cult-factory--60047542Center for Humane Technology, whose mission is to reverse ‘human downgrading’ and re-align technology with humanity. Additionally, he is co-host of the Center for Humane Technology’s Your Undivided Attention podcast with co-founder Aza Raskin. He also recently appeared as a central figure in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. Twitter: @tristanharris]]>1571503Thu, 24 Sep 2020 21:20:13 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Tristan Harris about the ways in which social media is fracturing society. They discuss the rise in teen depression and suicide, political polarization, conspiracy theories, information warfare,...Center for Humane Technology, whose mission is to reverse ‘human downgrading’ and re-align technology with humanity. Additionally, he is co-host of the Center for Humane Technology’s Your Undivided Attention podcast with co-founder Aza Raskin. He also recently appeared as a central figure in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. Twitter: @tristanharris]]>4454falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/217-the-new-religion-of-anti-racism--60047578Lexicon Valley at Slate. He most recently wrote Talking Back Talking Black: Truths About America’s Lingua Franca. Twitter: @JohnHMcWhorter]]>1571493Thu, 17 Sep 2020 18:33:37 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with John McWhorter about race, racism, and “anti-racism” in America. They discuss how conceptions of racism have changed, the ubiquitous threat of being branded a “racist,” the contradictions within...Lexicon Valley at Slate. He most recently wrote Talking Back Talking Black: Truths About America’s Lingua Franca. Twitter: @JohnHMcWhorter]]>6546falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/216-a-conversation-with-graeme-wood--60047517The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Twitter: @gcaw]]>1571476Thu, 03 Sep 2020 18:21:58 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Graeme Wood about the breakdown of social order in the U.S. They discuss the recent eruptions of violence, the loss of trust in the media, the cases of Jacob Blake and Kyle Rittenhouse, how to...The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Twitter: @gcaw]]>5126falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/215-a-conversation-with-david-miliband--60047474Rescue: Refugees and the Political Crisis of our Time, was published by TED Books in November 2017. Website: Rescue.org Twitter: @DMiliband  @RESCUEorg]]>1571426Fri, 21 Aug 2020 18:10:21 +0000Michał CzIn this episode the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with David Miliband about his work with the International Rescue Committee. They discuss the crisis of internally displaced peoples and refugees, the problem with open borders, the vetting of refugees,...Rescue: Refugees and the Political Crisis of our Time, was published by TED Books in November 2017. Website: Rescue.org Twitter: @DMiliband  @RESCUEorg]]>4768falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/214-a-conversation-with-siddhartha-mukherjee--60047566The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. His most recent book is The Gene: An Intimate History. Twitter: @DrSidMukherjee]]>1571414Thu, 13 Aug 2020 17:14:47 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Siddhartha Mukherjee about our ongoing failure to adequately respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. They discuss the significance of asymptomatic spread, the lack of Chinese cooperation, the failures...The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. His most recent book is The Gene: An Intimate History. Twitter: @DrSidMukherjee]]>4047falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/213-the-worst-epidemic--60047563https://www.nytimes.com/by/gabriel-dance Twitter:  @gabrieldance]]>1571389Mon, 03 Aug 2020 21:27:47 +0000Michał CzIn this episode the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Gabriel Dance about the global epidemic of child sexual abuse. They discuss how misleading the concept of “child pornography” is, the failure of governments and tech companies to grapple with the...https://www.nytimes.com/by/gabriel-dance Twitter:  @gabrieldance]]>8061falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/212-a-conversation-with-kathryn-paige-harden--60047577https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/prc/directory/faculty/kh24738 Twitter: @kph3k]]>1571335Wed, 29 Jul 2020 19:08:27 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Kathryn Paige Harden about the public controversy over group differences in traits like intelligence and ongoing research in behavioral genetics. They discuss Harden’s criticism of the Making...https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/prc/directory/faculty/kh24738 Twitter: @kph3k]]>7340falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-robert-plomin--60047503Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are, makes the case that DNA inherited from our parents at the moment of conception can predict our psychological strengths and weaknesses. Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/robert-plomin]]>1571313Thu, 23 Jul 2020 18:50:45 +0000Michał CzRobert Plomin is MRC Research Professor in Behavioral Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London and has previously taught at the University of Colorado Boulder and at Pennsylvania State University. He...Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are, makes the case that DNA inherited from our parents at the moment of conception can predict our psychological strengths and weaknesses. Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/robert-plomin]]>527falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/211-the-nature-of-human-nature--60047530Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are, makes the case that DNA inherited from our parents at the moment of conception can predict our psychological strengths and weaknesses. Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/robert-plomin   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1571309Fri, 17 Jul 2020 14:04:06 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Robert Plomin about the role that DNA plays in determining who we are. They discuss the birth of behavioral genetics, the taboo around studying the influence of genes on human psychology, controversies surrounding the topic of...Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are, makes the case that DNA inherited from our parents at the moment of conception can predict our psychological strengths and weaknesses. Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/robert-plomin   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6807falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/210-the-logic-of-doomsday--60047538THE BUTTON: The New Nuclear Arms Race and Presidential Power from Truman to Trump—which recounts the terrifying history of nuclear launch authority, with firsthand testimonies from the front lines of our nation’s nuclear history. He is the Michael and Barbara Berberian Professor (emeritus) at Stanford University. At 92 years old, he continues to travel the world in pursuit of his goal of reducing the threat from nuclear weapons. Lisa Perry is the Communications Director for The William J. Perry Project. The granddaughter of Secretary Perry, she has dedicated her career to sounding the alarm about the modern threat of nuclear weapons for the post cold war generations. Lisa is committed to empowering the public by breaking down the complex issues surrounding these weapons. At the Brink is a new podcast about humanity’s most terrifying weapon and the stories of those who have shaped its history. When former Secretary of Defense William Perry declared he believed that the danger of a nuclear catastrophe was greater today than any time in history, his granddaughter, Lisa Perry, set out to discover why. Featuring the personal stories of presidents, cabinet members, congressmen, nuclear physicists, atomic bomb survivors, military officials, and activists, At The Brink is a primer for every world citizen to learn how close we’ve come to disaster, and how we can still step back from the nuclear brink. William Perry’s Nuclear Terrorism Scenario: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUuOskX3z7U Website: www.wjperryproject.org Twitter: @SecDef19 and @LisaAtTheBrink]]>1571275Thu, 09 Jul 2020 14:26:37 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with William J. Perry and Lisa Perry about the ever-present threat of nuclear war. They discuss the history of nuclear weapons, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the...THE BUTTON: The New Nuclear Arms Race and Presidential Power from Truman to Trump—which recounts the terrifying history of nuclear launch authority, with firsthand testimonies from the front lines of our nation’s nuclear history. He is the Michael and Barbara Berberian Professor (emeritus) at Stanford University. At 92 years old, he continues to travel the world in pursuit of his goal of reducing the threat from nuclear weapons. Lisa Perry is the Communications Director for The William J. Perry Project. The granddaughter of Secretary Perry, she has dedicated her career to sounding the alarm about the modern threat of nuclear weapons for the post cold war generations. Lisa is committed to empowering the public by breaking down the complex issues surrounding these weapons. At the Brink is a new podcast about humanity’s most terrifying weapon and the stories of those who have shaped its history. When former Secretary of Defense William Perry declared he believed that the danger of a nuclear catastrophe was greater today than any time in history, his granddaughter, Lisa Perry, set out to discover why. Featuring the personal stories of presidents, cabinet members, congressmen, nuclear physicists, atomic bomb survivors, military officials, and activists, At The Brink is a primer for every world citizen to learn how close we’ve come to disaster, and how we can still step back from the nuclear brink. William Perry’s Nuclear Terrorism Scenario: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUuOskX3z7U Website: www.wjperryproject.org Twitter: @SecDef19 and @LisaAtTheBrink]]>6379falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/209-a-good-life--60047588Beautiful Minds for Scientific American and hosts The Psychology Podcast, which discusses insights into the mind, brain, behavior, and creativity. He has also written for The Atlantic and Harvard Business Review. Scott’s latest book Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization is a reimagining of Maslow’s famous hierarchy of needs. It provides new insights for realizing one’s full potential and living a creative, fulfilled, and connected life. His previous books include Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined, Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind, and Twice Exceptional: Supporting and Educating Bright and Creative Students with Learning Difficulties. Scott is also credited for editing The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence. Website: scottbarrykaufman.com Twitter: @sbkaufman Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1571249Fri, 03 Jul 2020 21:01:41 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Scott Barry Kaufman about human well-being. They discuss intelligence and creativity, wisdom and transcendence, the history of humanistic psychology, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the connection between well-being and ethics,...Beautiful Minds for Scientific American and hosts The Psychology Podcast, which discusses insights into the mind, brain, behavior, and creativity. He has also written for The Atlantic and Harvard Business Review. Scott’s latest book Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization is a reimagining of Maslow’s famous hierarchy of needs. It provides new insights for realizing one’s full potential and living a creative, fulfilled, and connected life. His previous books include Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined, Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind, and Twice Exceptional: Supporting and Educating Bright and Creative Students with Learning Difficulties. Scott is also credited for editing The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence. Website: scottbarrykaufman.com Twitter: @sbkaufman Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>7550falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/208-existential-risk--60047569Effective Altruism movement in which thousands of people are using reason and evidence to help the lives of others. Along with William MacAskill, Toby created the online society, Giving What We Can, for people to join this mission, and together its members have pledged over $1.5 billion to the most effective charities. His current research is on the risks that threaten human extinction or the permanent collapse of civilization, otherwise known as existential risk. Toby has advised the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the US National Intelligence Council, and the UK Prime Minister’s Office. Toby’s new book The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity explores the cutting-edge science behind the risks we face. He puts risks in the context of the greater story of humanity, showing how ending these risks is among the most pressing moral issues of our time. Toby also points the way forward to the actions and strategies that can safeguard humanity. Website: http://www.tobyord.com/ Twitter: @tobyordoxford]]>1571201Tue, 23 Jun 2020 16:28:58 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Toby Ord about preserving the long term future of humanity. They discuss moral biases with respect to distance in space and time, the psychology of effective altruism, feeling good vs. doing good,...Effective Altruism movement in which thousands of people are using reason and evidence to help the lives of others. Along with William MacAskill, Toby created the online society, Giving What We Can, for people to join this mission, and together its members have pledged over $1.5 billion to the most effective charities. His current research is on the risks that threaten human extinction or the permanent collapse of civilization, otherwise known as existential risk. Toby has advised the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the US National Intelligence Council, and the UK Prime Minister’s Office. Toby’s new book The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity explores the cutting-edge science behind the risks we face. He puts risks in the context of the greater story of humanity, showing how ending these risks is among the most pressing moral issues of our time. Toby also points the way forward to the actions and strategies that can safeguard humanity. Website: http://www.tobyord.com/ Twitter: @tobyordoxford]]>7598falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/207-can-we-pull-back-from-the-brink--60047487available on Sam’s blog.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1571031Fri, 12 Jun 2020 20:18:23 +0000Michał CzSam discusses the recent social protests and civil unrest, in light of what we know about racism and police violence in America. An annotated transcript of this podcast, complete with links to relevant videos, data, etc. is...available on Sam’s blog.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6780falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/206-a-conversation-with-david-frum--60047490Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy, his tenth book. Frum spent most of his career in conservative media and research institutions, including the Manhattan Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is a past chairman of Policy Exchange, the leading center-right think tank in the United Kingdom, and a former director of the Republican Jewish Coalition. In 2001-2002, he served as a speechwriter and special assistant to President George W. Bush. Frum holds a B.A. and M.A. in history from Yale and a law degree from Harvard. Website: https://davidfrum.com/ Twitter: @davidfrum]]>1571000Tue, 26 May 2020 17:28:29 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with David Frum about the shifting political landscape. They discuss the secularization of politics, distrust of the media and other institutions, voter suppression, the 2020 elections, what happens if...Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy, his tenth book. Frum spent most of his career in conservative media and research institutions, including the Manhattan Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is a past chairman of Policy Exchange, the leading center-right think tank in the United Kingdom, and a former director of the Republican Jewish Coalition. In 2001-2002, he served as a speechwriter and special assistant to President George W. Bush. Frum holds a B.A. and M.A. in history from Yale and a law degree from Harvard. Website: https://davidfrum.com/ Twitter: @davidfrum]]>5416falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/205-the-failure-of-meritocracy--60047505The Meritocracy Trap: How America’s Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles The Middle Class, and Devours The Elite, places meritocracy at the center of rising economic inequality and social and political dysfunction. The book takes up the law, economics, and politics of human capital to identify the mechanisms through which meritocracy breeds inequality and to expose the burdens that meritocratic inequality imposes on all who fall within meritocracy’s orbit.  Website: https://law.yale.edu/daniel-markovits Twitter: @DSMarkovits Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570982Fri, 22 May 2020 15:57:48 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Daniel Markovits about the problems with meritocracy. They discuss the nature of inequality in the United States, the disappearance of the leisure class, the difference between labor and capital as sources of inequality, the way...The Meritocracy Trap: How America’s Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles The Middle Class, and Devours The Elite, places meritocracy at the center of rising economic inequality and social and political dysfunction. The book takes up the law, economics, and politics of human capital to identify the mechanisms through which meritocracy breeds inequality and to expose the burdens that meritocratic inequality imposes on all who fall within meritocracy’s orbit.  Website: https://law.yale.edu/daniel-markovits Twitter: @DSMarkovits Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>7217falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/204-a-conversation-with-jonathan-haidt--60047575YourMorals.org. He also co-founded Ethical Systems to help companies improve their ethical cultures, Heterodox Academy to help universities improve their ability to pursue truth, and the OpenMind Platform to help all groups function better in an era of rampant and destructive political polarization. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom and The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion. His latest book (with Greg Lukianoff) is The Coddling of the American Mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting a generation up for failure. Website: jonathanhaidt.com Twitter: @JonHaidt]]>1570954Mon, 18 May 2020 10:44:22 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jonathan Haidt about the maintenance of a healthy society. They discuss the problem of orthodoxy, the history of political polarization in the US, the breakdown of public conversation, remaining...YourMorals.org. He also co-founded Ethical Systems to help companies improve their ethical cultures, Heterodox Academy to help universities improve their ability to pursue truth, and the OpenMind Platform to help all groups function better in an era of rampant and destructive political polarization. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom and The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion. His latest book (with Greg Lukianoff) is The Coddling of the American Mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting a generation up for failure. Website: jonathanhaidt.com Twitter: @JonHaidt]]>6101falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/203-a-conversation-with-caitlin-flanagan--60047561To Hell with All That and Girl Land. Twitter: @CaitlinPacific]]>1570935Wed, 13 May 2020 19:50:33 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Caitlin Flanagan about her cancer recurrence and the response to her recent article in The Atlantic discussing it. They discuss the dynamics of apologies and forgiveness, the #MeToo movement and...To Hell with All That and Girl Land. Twitter: @CaitlinPacific]]>6415falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/202-a-conversation-with-andrew-yang--60047498Yang Speaks podcast. Andrew also recently ran as a democratic candidate in the 2020 Presidential primary election. In his early career, Andrew served as the CEO, co-founder or executive at a number of technology and education companies including the well-known test preparation company, Manhattan Prep. In 2011, he founded Venture for America, a non-profit which connects recent college graduates with start-ups. His book, The War on Normal People: The Truth About America’s Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future was published in 2018, shortly after announcing his run for presidency. He is now focusing on his podcast and Humanity Forward, a non-profit organization dedicated to continuing the movement inspired by his presidential campaign. Website: movehumanityforward.com Twitter: @AndrewYang]]>1570912Mon, 11 May 2020 13:20:11 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Andrew Yang about the Covid-19 pandemic. They discuss the future of the middle class, Andrew’s experience campaigning for President, the need to build new digital infrastructure, universal basic...Yang Speaks podcast. Andrew also recently ran as a democratic candidate in the 2020 Presidential primary election. In his early career, Andrew served as the CEO, co-founder or executive at a number of technology and education companies including the well-known test preparation company, Manhattan Prep. In 2011, he founded Venture for America, a non-profit which connects recent college graduates with start-ups. His book, The War on Normal People: The Truth About America’s Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future was published in 2018, shortly after announcing his run for presidency. He is now focusing on his podcast and Humanity Forward, a non-profit organization dedicated to continuing the movement inspired by his presidential campaign. Website: movehumanityforward.com Twitter: @AndrewYang]]>4916falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-yuval-noah-harari--60047488Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind looked deep into our past, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow considered far-future scenarios, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century focuses on the biggest questions of the present moment. Website: https://www.ynharari.com/ Twitter: @harari_yuval Instagram: @yuval_noah_harari]]>1571228Fri, 01 May 2020 17:27:29 +0000Michał CzYuval Noah Harari has a PhD in History from the University of Oxford and lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specializing in world history. His books have been translated into 50+ languages, with 25+ million copies sold worldwide....Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind looked deep into our past, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow considered far-future scenarios, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century focuses on the biggest questions of the present moment. Website: https://www.ynharari.com/ Twitter: @harari_yuval Instagram: @yuval_noah_harari]]>509falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/201-a-conversation-with-yuval-noah-harari--60047550Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind looked deep into our past, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow considered far-future scenarios, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century focuses on the biggest questions of the present moment. Website: https://www.ynharari.com/ Twitter: @harari_yuval Instagram: @yuval_noah_harari]]>1570791Fri, 01 May 2020 16:32:46 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about the Covid-19 pandemic and its future implications. They discuss the failures of global leadership, the widespread distrust of institutions, the benefits of nationalism and...Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind looked deep into our past, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow considered far-future scenarios, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century focuses on the biggest questions of the present moment. Website: https://www.ynharari.com/ Twitter: @harari_yuval Instagram: @yuval_noah_harari]]>4146falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/200-creatures-of-habit--60047534Atomic Habits is a New York Times bestseller and has sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. Website: www.jamesclear.com Twitter: @jamesclear  Instagram: @jamesclear   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570765Wed, 29 Apr 2020 18:24:33 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with James Clear about habit formation. They discuss the difference between creating good habits and discontinuing bad ones, the role of the environment, the misalignment between immediate and long term outcomes, the remembering self...Atomic Habits is a New York Times bestseller and has sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. Website: www.jamesclear.com Twitter: @jamesclear  Instagram: @jamesclear   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>4074falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/199-a-conversation-with-caitlin-flanagan--60047520To Hell with All That and Girl Land. Twitter: @CaitlinPacific]]>1570738Thu, 23 Apr 2020 20:30:57 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and Caitlin Flanagan discuss the ethics of abortion, the fact that universities with immense endowments are laying off staff during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Woody Allen autobiography, the moral hypocrisy of...To Hell with All That and Girl Land. Twitter: @CaitlinPacific]]>5633falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/198-a-conversation-with-paul-bloom--60047531http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>1570721Thu, 16 Apr 2020 19:16:23 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and Paul Bloom discuss the false tradeoff between the economy and public health, putting a price on human life, framing effects for moral questions, how Covid-19 may change human behavior, “turn-key...http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>5103falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/197-a-conversation-with-caitlin-flanagan--60047533To Hell with All That and Girl Land. Twitter: @CaitlinPacific]]>1570434Sun, 12 Apr 2020 19:38:48 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Caitlin Flanagan. They discuss the different sorts of experiences people are having during the Covid-19 pandemic, what it has exposed about our education system, the 2020 election and the many...To Hell with All That and Girl Land. Twitter: @CaitlinPacific]]>3428falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/196-the-science-of-happiness--60047568The Happiness Lab and she teaches the most popular course offered at Yale to date, titled The Science of Well-Being. Laurie is also the director of the Comparative Cognition Laboratory and the Canine Cognition Center at Yale. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Biology from Harvard University in 1997 and her Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard in 2003. Twitter:@lauriesantos Website: https://caplab.yale.edu/   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570420Fri, 10 Apr 2020 16:07:21 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Laurie Santos about the scientific study of happiness. They discuss people’s expectations about happiness, the experiencing self vs the remembered self, framing effects, the importance of social...The Happiness Lab and she teaches the most popular course offered at Yale to date, titled The Science of Well-Being. Laurie is also the director of the Comparative Cognition Laboratory and the Canine Cognition Center at Yale. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Biology from Harvard University in 1997 and her Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard in 2003. Twitter:@lauriesantos Website: https://caplab.yale.edu/   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>5060falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/195-social-cohesion-is-everything--60047570My Share of the Task, which was a New York Times bestseller. Stanley is a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, and he is the founder of the McChrystal Group leadership institute. Twitter: @StanMcChrystal Chris Fussell is a Partner at the McChrystal Group and the co-author (with Stanley McChrystal) of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, which was also a New York Times bestseller. Chris was a commissioned naval officer and he spent 15 years in the Navy SEALs in various points around the globe. He served as the aide-de-camp to General McChrystal during his final year commanding the joint special operations task force fighting Al Qaeda. Chris is on the board of directors of the Navy SEAL Foundation and is a lifetime member of The Council on Foreign Relations. Chris also teaches at the Jackson Institute at Yale University.  Twitter: @FussellChris   Website: www.McChrystalGroup.com Twitter: @McChrystalGroup]]>1570350Mon, 06 Apr 2020 15:49:01 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with General Stanley McChrystal and Chris Fussell about the Covid-19 pandemic. They discuss the nature of the ongoing crisis, the threat of a breakdown in social order, the problem of misinformation,...My Share of the Task, which was a New York Times bestseller. Stanley is a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, and he is the founder of the McChrystal Group leadership institute. Twitter: @StanMcChrystal Chris Fussell is a Partner at the McChrystal Group and the co-author (with Stanley McChrystal) of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, which was also a New York Times bestseller. Chris was a commissioned naval officer and he spent 15 years in the Navy SEALs in various points around the globe. He served as the aide-de-camp to General McChrystal during his final year commanding the joint special operations task force fighting Al Qaeda. Chris is on the board of directors of the Navy SEAL Foundation and is a lifetime member of The Council on Foreign Relations. Chris also teaches at the Jackson Institute at Yale University.  Twitter: @FussellChris   Website: www.McChrystalGroup.com Twitter: @McChrystalGroup]]>4101falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/194-the-new-future-of-work--60047559https://ma.tt/ Twitter: @photomatt]]>1570318Tue, 24 Mar 2020 21:31:55 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Matt Mullenweg about the evolution of distributed work. They discuss the benefits of working from home, the new norms of knowledge work, relevant tools and security concerns, the challenges for...https://ma.tt/ Twitter: @photomatt]]>6304falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/193-meditation-in-an-emergency--600475561570305Fri, 20 Mar 2020 14:12:21 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks about social contagion and about the importance of understanding one’s own mind in an emergency.1295falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/192-a-conversation-with-paul-bloom--60047557http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>1570295Tue, 17 Mar 2020 18:04:55 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and Paul Bloom speak about the psychology of adapting to the coronavirus pandemic, the disastrous analogy between coronavirus and flu, the political siloing of information, true and false concerns over...http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>4183falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/191-early-thoughts-on-a-pandemic--60047547www.trackingzebra.com Twitter: @AmeshAA]]>1570276Wed, 11 Mar 2020 13:00:30 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Amesh Adalja about the spreading coronavirus pandemic. They discuss the contagiousness of the virus and the severity of the resultant illness, the mortality rate and risk factors, vectors of...www.trackingzebra.com Twitter: @AmeshAA]]>3982falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/190-how-should-we-respond-to-coronavirus--60047576Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, and known for his research in the areas of social networks, biosocial science, behavior genetics, and public health. Website: www.humannaturelab.net Twitter: @NAChristakis]]>1570265Tue, 10 Mar 2020 09:29:03 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Nicholas Christakis about the coronavirus pandemic. They discuss the likely effects on society, proactive vs reactive school closures, community transmission, false comparisons between coronavirus...Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, and known for his research in the areas of social networks, biosocial science, behavior genetics, and public health. Website: www.humannaturelab.net Twitter: @NAChristakis]]>4728falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/189-wealth-happiness--60047544The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning. Website: www.profgalloway.com Twitter: @profgalloway]]>1570255Mon, 02 Mar 2020 15:45:13 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Scott Galloway about the connection between wealth and happiness. They discuss the problem of wealth inequality, the transfer of wealth from the young to the old, class warfare in Democratic...The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning. Website: www.profgalloway.com Twitter: @profgalloway]]>7010falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/188-a-conversation-with-paul-bloom--60047573http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>1570236Fri, 28 Feb 2020 09:46:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and Paul Bloom speak about the virtues of President Trump, the campaign prospects of Bloomberg and Sanders, the asymmetrical norms of the Democratic and Republican parties, the marginal role that parents play...http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>3751falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/187-a-conversation-with-paul-bloom--60047574Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil and Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion. Website: http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>1559380Thu, 20 Feb 2020 19:42:19 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and Paul Bloom speak about the epidemic of child sexual abuse, the ethics of loyalty, eugenics, existential risk, the Bloomberg and Sanders campaigns, and other topics. Paul Bloom is the Brooks and Suzanne...Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil and Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion. Website: http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>3777falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/186-the-bomb--60048234Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War, The Insurgents: David Petraeus and the Plot to Change the American Way of War (a Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestseller), 1959, Daydream Believers, and The Wizards of Armageddon. His latest book is The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War. Website: http://www.fredkaplan.info/ Twitter: @fmkaplan]]>1549301Mon, 17 Feb 2020 19:52:28 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Fred Kaplan about the ever-present threat of nuclear war. They discuss the history of nuclear deterrence, U.S. first-strike policy, preventive war, limited nuclear war, tactical vs. strategic...Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War, The Insurgents: David Petraeus and the Plot to Change the American Way of War (a Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestseller), 1959, Daydream Believers, and The Wizards of Armageddon. His latest book is The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War. Website: http://www.fredkaplan.info/ Twitter: @fmkaplan]]>4786falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/185-a-conversation-with-paul-bloom--60048237Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil and Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion. Website: http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>1521089Fri, 07 Feb 2020 15:19:43 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris and Paul Bloom speak about “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” inequality, the relationship between wealth and happiness, the downside of fame, psychological impediments to noticing progress, and other topics. Paul...Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil and Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion. Website: http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>3507falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/184-the-conversational-nature-of-reality--60048249Still Possible, David Whyte: Essentials and The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self and Relationships. David holds a degree in Marine Zoology, honorary degrees from Neumann College and Royal Roads University, and has traveled extensively, including living and working as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leading anthropological and natural history expeditions in the Andes, Amazon, and Himalaya. He brings this wealth of experience to his poetry, lectures, and workshops. Website: davidwhyte.com Twitter: @whytedw]]>1514149Mon, 03 Feb 2020 17:26:55 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with poet David Whyte about the importance of work and relationships, the balance between training and expressing of one’s talents, the lessons of mortality, and other topics. David Whyte...Still Possible, David Whyte: Essentials and The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self and Relationships. David holds a degree in Marine Zoology, honorary degrees from Neumann College and Royal Roads University, and has traveled extensively, including living and working as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leading anthropological and natural history expeditions in the Andes, Amazon, and Himalaya. He brings this wealth of experience to his poetry, lectures, and workshops. Website: davidwhyte.com Twitter: @whytedw]]>3943falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/183-a-conversation-with-paul-bloom--60048243Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil and Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion. Website: http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>1499669Tue, 28 Jan 2020 16:59:46 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris and Paul Bloom discuss topics in the news including the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. They also explore the paradoxes of moral responsibility. Paul Bloom is the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor...Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil and Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion. Website: http://campuspress.yale.edu/paulbloom/ Twitter: @paulbloomatyale]]>4674falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/182-unlearning-race--60048241Self Portrait in Black and White, race as a social and biological construct, the prospects of achieving a “post-racial” society, interracial marriage, and other topics. Thomas Chatterton Williams is the author of Losing My Cool and Self-Portrait in Black and White. He is a contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine and American Scholar, and a 2019 New America Fellow. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, the London Review of Books, Harper’s, and other journals. Website: www.thomaschattertonwilliams.com Twitter: @thomaschattwill]]>1490806Thu, 23 Jan 2020 17:37:37 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast Sam Harris speaks with Thomas Chatterton Williams about the reality and politics of race. They discuss his book...Self Portrait in Black and White, race as a social and biological construct, the prospects of achieving a “post-racial” society, interracial marriage, and other topics. Thomas Chatterton Williams is the author of Losing My Cool and Self-Portrait in Black and White. He is a contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine and American Scholar, and a 2019 New America Fellow. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, the London Review of Books, Harper’s, and other journals. Website: www.thomaschattertonwilliams.com Twitter: @thomaschattwill]]>5615falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/181-the-illusory-self--60048247On Having No Head, among other books. Richard has written several books, including Seeing Who You Really Are, The Man with No Head, and Open to the Source: Selected Teachings of Douglas Harding. In 1996, Richard co-founded Shollond Trust, a charity created to help share Harding’s vision as widely as possible.  Website: www.headless.org Twitter: @headexchange]]>1468078Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:19:32 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Richard Lang about how to experience the world beyond the illusion of the self. Richard Lang is a meditation teacher and writer. He was a longtime student of Douglas Harding, the...On Having No Head, among other books. Richard has written several books, including Seeing Who You Really Are, The Man with No Head, and Open to the Source: Selected Teachings of Douglas Harding. In 1996, Richard co-founded Shollond Trust, a charity created to help share Harding’s vision as widely as possible.  Website: www.headless.org Twitter: @headexchange]]>5558falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/180-sex-power--60048269The Problem with Everything. They discuss contemporary feminism, violence against women, campus sexual assault, moral panics, new norms of conversation, the 2020 Presidential campaign, and other topics. Meghan Daum is the author of five books, including My Misspent Youth, The Quality of Life Report, Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived in That House, The Unspeakable, and Selfish, Shallow & Self-Absorbed. Meghan also writes a biweekly column about culture and politics for Medium. She was an opinion columnist for The Los Angeles Times from 2005 to 2016 and has written for numerous journals and magazines, including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, and Vogue. Website: www.meghandaum.com Twitter: @meghan_daum]]>1431951Sun, 29 Dec 2019 20:00:03 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Meghan Daum about her book...The Problem with Everything. They discuss contemporary feminism, violence against women, campus sexual assault, moral panics, new norms of conversation, the 2020 Presidential campaign, and other topics. Meghan Daum is the author of five books, including My Misspent Youth, The Quality of Life Report, Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived in That House, The Unspeakable, and Selfish, Shallow & Self-Absorbed. Meghan also writes a biweekly column about culture and politics for Medium. She was an opinion columnist for The Los Angeles Times from 2005 to 2016 and has written for numerous journals and magazines, including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, and Vogue. Website: www.meghandaum.com Twitter: @meghan_daum]]>4949falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/179-the-unquiet-mind--60048271The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love—why we get hooked and how we can break bad habits. Website: DrJud.com Twitter: @judbrewer]]>1404663Tue, 17 Dec 2019 09:44:42 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Judson Brewer about addiction, craving, and mindfulness. They discuss the nature of reward-based learning, the role of subjective bias in addiction, the neuroscience of craving, the...The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love—why we get hooked and how we can break bad habits. Website: DrJud.com Twitter: @judbrewer]]>3918falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-donald-hoffman--600482531571092Wed, 11 Dec 2019 18:21:07 +0000Michał CzDonald Hoffman is a professor of cognitive science at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author of more than 90 scientific papers and his writing has appeared in Scientific American, Edge.org, The Atlantic, WIRED, and Quanta. In 2015, he...489falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/178-the-reality-illusion--60048284The Case Against Reality. They discuss how evolution has failed to select for true perceptions of the world, his “interface theory” of perception, the primacy of math and logic, how space and time cannot be fundamental, the threat of epistemological skepticism, causality as a useful fiction, the hard problem of consciousness, agency, free will, panpsychism, a mathematics of conscious agents, philosophical idealism, death, psychedelics, the relationship between consciousness and mathematics, and many other topics. Donald Hoffman is a professor of cognitive science at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author of more than 90 scientific papers and his writing has appeared in Scientific American, Edge.org, The Atlantic, WIRED, and Quanta. In 2015, he gave a mind-bending TED Talk titled, “Do we see reality as it is?” Twitter: @donalddhoffman Annaka Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind. She is an editor and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics, and her work has appeared in The New York Times. Annaka is the author of the children’s book I Wonder, a collaborator on the Mindful Games Activity Cards, by Susan Kaiser Greenland, and a volunteer mindfulness teacher for the Inner Kids organization. All of her guided meditations and lessons for children are available on the Waking Up app. Website: annakaharris.com Twitter: @annakaharris]]>1385143Wed, 11 Dec 2019 17:21:09 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast Sam and Annaka Harris speak with Donald Hoffman about his book...The Case Against Reality. They discuss how evolution has failed to select for true perceptions of the world, his “interface theory” of perception, the primacy of math and logic, how space and time cannot be fundamental, the threat of epistemological skepticism, causality as a useful fiction, the hard problem of consciousness, agency, free will, panpsychism, a mathematics of conscious agents, philosophical idealism, death, psychedelics, the relationship between consciousness and mathematics, and many other topics. Donald Hoffman is a professor of cognitive science at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author of more than 90 scientific papers and his writing has appeared in Scientific American, Edge.org, The Atlantic, WIRED, and Quanta. In 2015, he gave a mind-bending TED Talk titled, “Do we see reality as it is?” Twitter: @donalddhoffman Annaka Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind. She is an editor and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics, and her work has appeared in The New York Times. Annaka is the author of the children’s book I Wonder, a collaborator on the Mindful Games Activity Cards, by Susan Kaiser Greenland, and a volunteer mindfulness teacher for the Inner Kids organization. All of her guided meditations and lessons for children are available on the Waking Up app. Website: annakaharris.com Twitter: @annakaharris]]>10111falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/177-psychedelic-science--600483141354885Mon, 02 Dec 2019 13:21:04 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Roland Griffiths about the current state of research on psychedelics. They discuss the historical prohibition against their use; the clinical and scientific promise of psilocybin,...7422falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/176-knowledge-redemption--60048242skiffmountainfilms.com Twitter: @LynnNovick]]>1342060Sat, 23 Nov 2019 15:39:42 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Lynn Novick about her four-part documentary College Behind Bars. The film follows the progress of students in the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) as they pursue their undergraduate...skiffmountainfilms.com Twitter: @LynnNovick]]>3844falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/175-leaving-the-faith--60048322Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam. They discuss her family background and indoctrination into conservative Islam, the double standard that Western liberals use when thinking about women in the Muslim community, the state of feminism in general, honor violence, the validity of criticizing other cultures, and many other topics. Yasmine Mohammed is a human rights activist and writer. She advocates for the rights of women living within Islamic majority countries, as well as those who struggle under religious fundamentalism. She is the founder of Free Hearts Free Minds, an organization that provides psychological support for ex-Muslims living within Muslim majority countries.  Website: YasmineMohammed.com Twitter: @YasMohammedxx   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1321500Mon, 11 Nov 2019 13:54:38 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Yasmine Mohammed about her book...Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam. They discuss her family background and indoctrination into conservative Islam, the double standard that Western liberals use when thinking about women in the Muslim community, the state of feminism in general, honor violence, the validity of criticizing other cultures, and many other topics. Yasmine Mohammed is a human rights activist and writer. She advocates for the rights of women living within Islamic majority countries, as well as those who struggle under religious fundamentalism. She is the founder of Free Hearts Free Minds, an organization that provides psychological support for ex-Muslims living within Muslim majority countries.  Website: YasmineMohammed.com Twitter: @YasMohammedxx   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>4856falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/174-life-mind--60048262Outgrowing God: A Beginner’s Guide. Website: richarddawkins.net Twitter: @RichardDawkins]]>1311104Mon, 04 Nov 2019 12:16:57 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Richard Dawkins. They discuss the strangeness of the “gene’s-eye view” of the world, the limits of Darwinian thinking when applied to human life, the concept of the extended...Outgrowing God: A Beginner’s Guide. Website: richarddawkins.net Twitter: @RichardDawkins]]>7000falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/173-anti-semitism-and-its-discontents--60048294How to Fight anti-Semitism. They discuss the three different strands of anti-Semitism (rightwing, leftwing, and Islamic), the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, the difference between anti-Semitism and other forms of racism, “Great Replacement Theory,” the populist response to globalization, the history of anti-Semitism in the U.S., criticisms of Israel, the fate of Jews in Western Europe, and other topics. Bari Weiss is a writer and editor of the opinion section of The New York Times. She was also a book review editor at The Wall Street Journal and an editor at Tablet, the online magazine of Jewish news, politics, and culture. Bari is a native of Pittsburg, attended Tree of Life Synagogue, and had her Bat Mitzvah ceremony there. Website: BariWeiss.com Twitter: @bariweiss   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1299875Mon, 28 Oct 2019 13:30:34 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Bari Weiss about her book...How to Fight anti-Semitism. They discuss the three different strands of anti-Semitism (rightwing, leftwing, and Islamic), the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, the difference between anti-Semitism and other forms of racism, “Great Replacement Theory,” the populist response to globalization, the history of anti-Semitism in the U.S., criticisms of Israel, the fate of Jews in Western Europe, and other topics. Bari Weiss is a writer and editor of the opinion section of The New York Times. She was also a book review editor at The Wall Street Journal and an editor at Tablet, the online magazine of Jewish news, politics, and culture. Bari is a native of Pittsburg, attended Tree of Life Synagogue, and had her Bat Mitzvah ceremony there. Website: BariWeiss.com Twitter: @bariweiss   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>4465falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/172-among-the-deplorables--60048244Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation. They discuss the effect of social media on politics, the distinction between publishers and platforms, the problem of guilt by association, getting too close to interview subjects, the confusing nature of troll culture, the notion of “dog whistles,” how to respond to the current reality of racism, and other topics. Andrew Marantz is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he has worked since 2011. His work has also appeared in Harper’s, New York, Mother Jones, the New York Times, and many other publications. A contributor to Radiolab and The New Yorker Radio Hour, he has spoken at TED and has been interviewed on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and many other outlets.  Website: andrewmarantz.com  Twitter: @andrewmarantz]]>1285206Mon, 21 Oct 2019 16:12:44 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Andrew Marantz about his book...Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation. They discuss the effect of social media on politics, the distinction between publishers and platforms, the problem of guilt by association, getting too close to interview subjects, the confusing nature of troll culture, the notion of “dog whistles,” how to respond to the current reality of racism, and other topics. Andrew Marantz is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he has worked since 2011. His work has also appeared in Harper’s, New York, Mother Jones, the New York Times, and many other publications. A contributor to Radiolab and The New Yorker Radio Hour, he has spoken at TED and has been interviewed on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and many other outlets.  Website: andrewmarantz.com  Twitter: @andrewmarantz]]>7311falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/white-privilege--60048264chelseahandler.com Twitter: @chelseahandler]]>1270956Tue, 15 Oct 2019 01:08:56 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris is interviewed by Chelsea Handler for her Netflix documentary, Hello Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea. They discuss racism, “white privilege,” the #MeToo movement, and other topics. Chelsea Handler is...chelseahandler.com Twitter: @chelseahandler]]>4904falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/171-escaping-a-christian-cult--60048245Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church. Megan Phelps-Roper is a writer, educator, and former member of the Westboro Baptist Church. After leaving the church in 2012, Megan began writing and speaking about her experience within the church and decision to defect. As an educator, she covers topics related to extremism and communication across ideological lines. Website: meganphelpsroper.com Twitter: @meganphelps]]>1260948Tue, 08 Oct 2019 17:56:00 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Megan Phelps-Roper about her book...Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church. Megan Phelps-Roper is a writer, educator, and former member of the Westboro Baptist Church. After leaving the church in 2012, Megan began writing and speaking about her experience within the church and decision to defect. As an educator, she covers topics related to extremism and communication across ideological lines. Website: meganphelpsroper.com Twitter: @meganphelps]]>5805falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/170-the-great-uncoupling--60048251The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies, and Machine, Platform, Crowd: Harnessing our Digital Future, both coauthored with Erik Brynjolfsson. His latest book is titled More From Less: The Surprising Story of How We Learned to Prosper Using Fewer Resources – and What Happens Next. Website: andrewmcafee.org Twitter: @amcafee]]>1250815Wed, 02 Oct 2019 13:49:46 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Andrew McAfee about the history of human progress and the modern uncoupling of our prosperity from resource consumption. They discuss the pitfalls and hidden virtues of capitalism, technological progress, environmental policy,...The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies, and Machine, Platform, Crowd: Harnessing our Digital Future, both coauthored with Erik Brynjolfsson. His latest book is titled More From Less: The Surprising Story of How We Learned to Prosper Using Fewer Resources – and What Happens Next. Website: andrewmcafee.org Twitter: @amcafee]]>5501falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/169-omens-of-a-race-war--60048263Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America. She is currently an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Chicago and a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University. Kathleen specializes in the recent history of the United States, examining the long aftermath of warfare. Website: www.kathleenbelew.com Twitter: @kathleen_belew]]>1233277Fri, 20 Sep 2019 09:24:27 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Kathleen Belew about the white power movement in the United States. They discuss white supremacy, white nationalism, white separatism, the militia movement, “The Turner Diaries,” the connection between the white power movement...Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America. She is currently an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Chicago and a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University. Kathleen specializes in the recent history of the United States, examining the long aftermath of warfare. Website: www.kathleenbelew.com Twitter: @kathleen_belew]]>5555falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/168-mind-space-motion--60048268Mind in Motion: How Action Shapes Thought.]]>1218165Tue, 10 Sep 2019 23:07:01 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Barbara Tversky about how our senses of space and motion underlie our capacity for thought. They discuss the evolution of mind prior to language, the importance of imitation and gesture, the sensory and motor homunculi, the...Mind in Motion: How Action Shapes Thought.]]>5189falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/167-a-few-thoughts-on-white-supremacy--600482481196084Mon, 26 Aug 2019 12:41:24 +0000Michał CzSam Harris addresses listener concerns that he uses a “double standard” to evaluate the relative threats of white supremacy and jihadism.2478falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/166-the-plague-years--60048252Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic, The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly, and Odd Man Out. Website: drmattmccarthy.com Twitter: @DrMattMcCarthy]]>1188932Wed, 21 Aug 2019 01:59:53 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Matt McCarthy about his book Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic. They discuss the problem of drug resistant bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, and the failure of the pharmaceutical industry to keep pace with...Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic, The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly, and Odd Man Out. Website: drmattmccarthy.com Twitter: @DrMattMcCarthy]]>3848falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/165-journey-into-wokeness--60048280To Hell with All That and Girl Land. Twitter: @CaitlinPacific]]>1177447Tue, 13 Aug 2019 21:34:35 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Caitlin Flanagan about her work as a writer. They discuss controversies on social media, the contradictions within feminism, media bias, #MeToo, the new norms of sexuality, the wokeness of academia, affirmative action, college...To Hell with All That and Girl Land. Twitter: @CaitlinPacific]]>8118falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/164-cause-effect--60048258The Book of Why: The New Science of Cause and Effect (coauthored with Dana McKenzie) among other titles. Twitter: @yudapearl]]>1165974Mon, 05 Aug 2019 09:20:44 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Judea Pearl about his work on the mathematics of causality and artificial intelligence. They discuss how science has generally failed to understand causation, different levels of causal inference, counterfactuals, the...The Book of Why: The New Science of Cause and Effect (coauthored with Dana McKenzie) among other titles. Twitter: @yudapearl]]>6853falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/163-ricky-gervais--60048302After Life and the stand-up comedy special Humanity, both released on Netflix. He is currently working on another comedy special for Netflix called Supernature. Website: rickygervais.com Twitter: @rickygervais]]>1132093Fri, 12 Jul 2019 12:21:41 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Ricky Gervais. They discuss fame, the effect of social media, the changing state of comedy, offensive jokes, Louis CK, political hypocrisy, Brexit and Trump, the state of journalism, and other topics. Ricky Gervais is a stand-up...After Life and the stand-up comedy special Humanity, both released on Netflix. He is currently working on another comedy special for Netflix called Supernature. Website: rickygervais.com Twitter: @rickygervais]]>7883falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/162-medical-intelligence--60048291The Patient Will See You Now, The Creative Destruction of Medicine, and Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again. Website: drerictopol.com Twitter: @EricTopol]]>1118617Wed, 03 Jul 2019 11:36:50 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Eric Topol about the way artificial intelligence can improve medicine. They talk about soaring medical costs and declining health outcomes in the U.S., the problems of too little and too much medicine, the culture of medicine,...The Patient Will See You Now, The Creative Destruction of Medicine, and Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again. Website: drerictopol.com Twitter: @EricTopol]]>4809falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/161-rise-fall--60048275Guns, Germs, and Steel; Collapse; Why Is Sex Fun?; The World until Yesterday, and The Third Chimpanzee. He is also the presenter of a TV documentary series based on three of those books. His newest book is Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis. Website: jareddiamond.org]]>1106467Mon, 24 Jun 2019 11:20:19 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Jared Diamond about the rise and fall of civilizations. They discuss political polarization, disparities in civilizational progress, the prospect that there may be biological differences between populations, the precariousness...Guns, Germs, and Steel; Collapse; Why Is Sex Fun?; The World until Yesterday, and The Third Chimpanzee. He is also the presenter of a TV documentary series based on three of those books. His newest book is Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis. Website: jareddiamond.org]]>5308falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/160-the-revenge-of-history--60048301ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror (co-written with Hassan Hassan), was a New York Times bestseller and named one of the Top Ten Books on Terrorism by the Wall Street Journal as well as one of the Best Books of 2015 by The Times of London. Weiss is a regular guest on CNN, MSNBC, the BBC and Real Time with Bill Maher. He writes a column for The Daily Beast. Website: michaelweissjournalist.com Twitter: @michaeldweiss Yascha Mounk is a writer, academic, and public speaker known for his work on the rise of populism and the crisis of liberal democracy. He is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, and a senior advisor at Protect Democracy. A frequent contributor to The Atlantic, the New York Times, and Die Zeit, Mounk is the host of Slate’s The Good Fight Podcast. He has written three books: Stranger in My Own Country, The Age of Responsibility, and The People versus Democracy, which explains the causes of the populist rise and investigates how to renew liberal democracy. Website: yaschamounk.com Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk]]>1095430Mon, 17 Jun 2019 11:45:25 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Michael Weiss and Yascha Mounk about the state of global politics. They discuss the rise of right-wing populism in Europe, the prospect that democracy could fail in the US, Trump’s political instincts, the political liability of...ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror (co-written with Hassan Hassan), was a New York Times bestseller and named one of the Top Ten Books on Terrorism by the Wall Street Journal as well as one of the Best Books of 2015 by The Times of London. Weiss is a regular guest on CNN, MSNBC, the BBC and Real Time with Bill Maher. He writes a column for The Daily Beast. Website: michaelweissjournalist.com Twitter: @michaeldweiss Yascha Mounk is a writer, academic, and public speaker known for his work on the rise of populism and the crisis of liberal democracy. He is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, and a senior advisor at Protect Democracy. A frequent contributor to The Atlantic, the New York Times, and Die Zeit, Mounk is the host of Slate’s The Good Fight Podcast. He has written three books: Stranger in My Own Country, The Age of Responsibility, and The People versus Democracy, which explains the causes of the populist rise and investigates how to renew liberal democracy. Website: yaschamounk.com Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk]]>7392falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/159-conscious--60048259CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind. Annaka Harris is an author, editor, and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics. Annaka is also the author of the children’s book I Wonder, a collaborator on the Mindful Games Activity Cards, by Susan Kaiser Greenland, and a volunteer mindfulness teacher for the Inner Kids organization. All of her guided meditations and lessons for children are available on the Waking Up app. Website: annakaharris.com Twitter: @annakaharris   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1079166Wed, 05 Jun 2019 23:29:01 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with his wife, Annaka Harris, about her new book,...CONSCIOUS: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind. Annaka Harris is an author, editor, and consultant for science writers, specializing in neuroscience and physics. Annaka is also the author of the children’s book I Wonder, a collaborator on the Mindful Games Activity Cards, by Susan Kaiser Greenland, and a volunteer mindfulness teacher for the Inner Kids organization. All of her guided meditations and lessons for children are available on the Waking Up app. Website: annakaharris.com Twitter: @annakaharris   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>4339falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/158-understanding-humans-in-the-wild--60048363WorkLife, a TED original podcast, and writes on work and psychology for the New York Times. He is the author of Give and Take, Originals, Option B (coauthored with Sheryl Sandberg), and Power Moves.   Website: adamgrant.net Twitter: @AdamMGrant]]>1067151Thu, 30 May 2019 00:45:11 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Adam Grant about the social science of the workplace. They discuss how teams work effectively, the nature of power, personality types and fundamental styles of interaction, the critical skill of saying “no,” creativity,...WorkLife, a TED original podcast, and writes on work and psychology for the New York Times. He is the author of Give and Take, Originals, Option B (coauthored with Sheryl Sandberg), and Power Moves.   Website: adamgrant.net Twitter: @AdamMGrant]]>7348falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/157-what-does-the-mueller-report-really-say--60048255The Future of Violence: Robots and Germs, Hackers and Drones—Confronting A New Age of Threat (coauthored with Gabriella Blum), Detention and Denial: The Case for Candor after Guantánamo,  and Law and the Long War: The Future of Justice in the Age of Terror. Website: benjaminwittes.com Twitter: @benjaminwittes]]>1055929Mon, 20 May 2019 11:47:39 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Benjamin Wittes about both volumes of the Mueller Report. Benjamin Wittes is a legal journalist who focuses on issues of national security and law. He is a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, where...The Future of Violence: Robots and Germs, Hackers and Drones—Confronting A New Age of Threat (coauthored with Gabriella Blum), Detention and Denial: The Case for Candor after Guantánamo,  and Law and the Long War: The Future of Justice in the Age of Terror. Website: benjaminwittes.com Twitter: @benjaminwittes]]>4587falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-nicholas-christakis--60048369Death Foretold: Prophecy and Prognosis in Medical Care and Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives (coauthored with James H. Fowler). He was on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2009.]]>1571096Tue, 14 May 2019 12:55:04 +0000Michał CzNicholas Christakis is a sociologist and physician known for his research in the areas of social networks and biosocial science. He is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale University, where he directs the Human Nature Lab. His...Death Foretold: Prophecy and Prognosis in Medical Care and Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives (coauthored with James H. Fowler). He was on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2009.]]>627falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/156-the-evolution-of-culture--60048313Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society. Nicholas Christakis is a sociologist and physician known for his research in the areas of social networks and biosocial science. He is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale University, where he directs the Human Nature Lab. His books include Death Foretold: Prophecy and Prognosis in Medical Care and Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives (coauthored with James H. Fowler). He was on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2009. Website: humannaturelab.net Twitter: @NAChristakis]]>1043654Mon, 13 May 2019 12:55:09 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Nicholas Christakis about his new book,...Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society. Nicholas Christakis is a sociologist and physician known for his research in the areas of social networks and biosocial science. He is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale University, where he directs the Human Nature Lab. His books include Death Foretold: Prophecy and Prognosis in Medical Care and Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives (coauthored with James H. Fowler). He was on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2009. Website: humannaturelab.net Twitter: @NAChristakis]]>5886falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/155-mental-models--60048286The Knowledge Project podcast and the founder of Farnam Street blog, which aims to help others develop an understanding of how the world works, make better decisions, and live a better life. Shane was previously a cybersecurity expert at Canada’s top intelligence agency, Communications Security Establishment, a division of Canada’s Defense Department. Website: fs.blog Twitter: @farnamstreet]]>1013805Mon, 29 Apr 2019 18:23:50 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Shane Parrish about some of the mental models that should guide our thinking and behavior. Shane Parrish is the host of https://fs.blog/the-knowledge-project/ podcast and the founder of https://fs.blog/ blog, which aims to help...The Knowledge Project podcast and the founder of Farnam Street blog, which aims to help others develop an understanding of how the world works, make better decisions, and live a better life. Shane was previously a cybersecurity expert at Canada’s top intelligence agency, Communications Security Establishment, a division of Canada’s Defense Department. Website: fs.blog Twitter: @farnamstreet]]>7311falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/154-what-do-jihadists-really-want-2019--600482851008829Wed, 24 Apr 2019 21:51:41 +0000Michał CzSam Harris reads from an issue of Dabiq, the magazine of ISIS, and discusses the beliefs and goals of jihadists worldwide.3266falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/153-possible-minds--60048335Possible Minds: 25 Ways of Looking at AI,” in conversation with three of its authors: George Dyson, Alison Gopnik, and Stuart Russell. George Dyson is a historian of technology. He is also the author of Darwin Among the Machines and Turing’s Cathedral. Alison Gopnik is a developmental psychologist at UC Berkeley and a leader in the field of children’s learning and development. Her books include The Philosophical Baby. Stuart Russell is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at UC Berkeley. He is the author of (with Peter Norvig) of Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, the most widely used textbook on AI.]]>992619Mon, 15 Apr 2019 11:05:27 +0000Michał CzSam Harris introduces John Brockman’s new anthology,...Possible Minds: 25 Ways of Looking at AI,” in conversation with three of its authors: George Dyson, Alison Gopnik, and Stuart Russell. George Dyson is a historian of technology. He is also the author of Darwin Among the Machines and Turing’s Cathedral. Alison Gopnik is a developmental psychologist at UC Berkeley and a leader in the field of children’s learning and development. Her books include The Philosophical Baby. Stuart Russell is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at UC Berkeley. He is the author of (with Peter Norvig) of Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, the most widely used textbook on AI.]]>13775falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/152-the-trouble-with-facebook--60048325Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe. Roger McNamee has been a Silicon Valley investor for thirty-five years. He has cofounded successful venture funds including Elevation with U2’s Bono. He was a former mentor to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and helped recruit COO Sheryl Sandberg to the company. He holds a B.A. from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Twitter: @Moonalice]]>969542Wed, 27 Mar 2019 17:11:06 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Roger McNamee about his book...Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe. Roger McNamee has been a Silicon Valley investor for thirty-five years. He has cofounded successful venture funds including Elevation with U2’s Bono. He was a former mentor to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and helped recruit COO Sheryl Sandberg to the company. He holds a B.A. from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Twitter: @Moonalice]]>6824falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-nick-bostrom--60048289nickbostrom.com]]>1571100Tue, 19 Mar 2019 14:03:47 +0000Michał CzNick Bostrom is a Swedish-born philosopher with a background in theoretical physics, computational neuroscience, logic, and artificial intelligence. He is Professor at Oxford University, where he leads the Future of Humanity Institute as its founding...nickbostrom.com]]>582falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/151-will-we-destroy-the-future--60048400nickbostrom.com Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>955449Mon, 18 Mar 2019 14:03:03 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Nick Bostrom about the problem of existential risk. They discuss public goods, moral illusions, the asymmetry between happiness and suffering, utilitarianism, “the vulnerable world hypothesis,” the history of nuclear deterrence,...nickbostrom.com Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>5578falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/150-the-map-of-misunderstanding--60048326Thinking Fast and Slow.]]>945839Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:43:56 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Daniel Kahneman at the Beacon Theatre in NYC. They discuss the replication crisis in science, System 1 and System 2, where intuitions reliably fail, expert intuitions, the power of framing, moral illusions, anticipated regret,...Thinking Fast and Slow.]]>7305falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/149-the-problem-of-addiction--60048324PC, M.D.: How Political Correctness Is Corrupting Medicine; When Altruism Isn’t Enough: The Case for Compensating Organ Donors; One Nation Under Therapy (coauthored with Christina Hoff Sommers); and Brainwashed: The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience (coauthored with Scott Lilienfeld), which was a 2014 finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science. Website: sallysatelmd.com Twitter: @slsatel]]>934920Mon, 04 Mar 2019 11:42:53 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Sally Satel about addiction. They discuss whether addiction should be considered a disease, the opiate epidemic in the U.S., the unique danger of fentanyl, the politicization of medicine, PTSD, and other topics. Sally Satel,...PC, M.D.: How Political Correctness Is Corrupting Medicine; When Altruism Isn’t Enough: The Case for Compensating Organ Donors; One Nation Under Therapy (coauthored with Christina Hoff Sommers); and Brainwashed: The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience (coauthored with Scott Lilienfeld), which was a 2014 finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science. Website: sallysatelmd.com Twitter: @slsatel]]>5528falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-16--60048316911964Tue, 19 Feb 2019 09:33:40 +0000Michał CzWhat are your thoughts about picking a career, or about picking areas of academic study that lead to viable careers?Recently you mentioned that Noam Chomsky had expressed interest in coming on the podcast. Can you provide an update on whether this is...2979falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-jack-dorsey--60048312twitter.com and squareup.com Twitter: @jack]]>1571106Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:27:34 +0000Michał CzJack Dorsey is a tech entrepreneur and CEO of Twitter and Square, which he cofounded. He was recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people, was named an “outstanding innovator under the age of 35” by MIT Technology Review and named...twitter.com and squareup.com Twitter: @jack]]>629falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/148-jack-dorsey--60048261twitter.com and squareup.com Twitter: @jack]]>888037Tue, 05 Feb 2019 11:27:22 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Jack Dorsey about how he manages his dual CEO roles at Square and Twitter, the role that Twitter plays in journalism, how it’s different from other social media, what makes a conversation healthy, the logic by which Twitter...twitter.com and squareup.com Twitter: @jack]]>5006falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-stephen-fry--60048266stephenfry.com Twitter: @stephenfry]]>1571111Tue, 29 Jan 2019 13:17:21 +0000Michał CzStephen Fry is a comedian, actor, writer, presenter, voiceover artist and activist. Some of Stephen’s most well-known acting work includes A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster, Blackadder, Kingdom, QI, and V for Vendetta. He has also written...stephenfry.com Twitter: @stephenfry]]>613falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/147-stephen-fry--60048265stephenfry.com Twitter: @stephenfry]]>877479Mon, 28 Jan 2019 13:17:34 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Stephen Fry about comedy, atheism, political correctness, meditation, ambition, empathy, psychedelics, Christopher Hitchens, Stephen’s experience of manic depression, and much else. Stephen Fry is a comedian, actor, writer,...stephenfry.com Twitter: @stephenfry]]>6944falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/146-digital-capitalism--60048374Team Human as well as a dozen other bestselling books on media, technology, and culture. He is a research fellow of the Institute for the Future, and founder of the Laboratory for Digital Humanism at CUNY/Queens, where he is a Professor of Media Theory and Digital Economics. He made the PBS Frontline documentaries Generation Like, The Persuaders, and Merchants of Cool. His book Coercion won the Marshall McLuhan Award, and the Media Ecology Association honored him with the first Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity. Website: rushkoff.com Twitter: @rushkoff]]>855467Wed, 16 Jan 2019 17:51:45 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Douglas Rushkoff about the state of the digital economy. Douglas Rushkoff is the host of the Team Human podcast and author...Team Human as well as a dozen other bestselling books on media, technology, and culture. He is a research fellow of the Institute for the Future, and founder of the Laboratory for Digital Humanism at CUNY/Queens, where he is a Professor of Media Theory and Digital Economics. He made the PBS Frontline documentaries Generation Like, The Persuaders, and Merchants of Cool. His book Coercion won the Marshall McLuhan Award, and the Media Ecology Association honored him with the first Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity. Website: rushkoff.com Twitter: @rushkoff]]>5946falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/145-the-information-war--60048328Russia’s “Internet Research Agency” and its efforts to amplify conspiracy thinking and partisan conflict in the United States. Renée DiResta is the Director of Research at New Knowledge and Head of Policy at the nonprofit organization Data for Democracy where she investigates the spread of malignant narratives across social networks. She regularly writes and speaks about the role that tech platforms and curatorial algorithms play in the proliferation of disinformation and conspiracy theories. She is the author of The Hardware Startup: Building your Product, Business, and Brand. Website: www.reneediresta.com Twitter: @noUpside]]>826110Wed, 02 Jan 2019 14:25:50 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Renée DiResta about https://www.newknowledge.com/articles/the-disinformation-report/ and its efforts to amplify conspiracy thinking and partisan conflict in the United States. Renée DiResta is the Director of Research at New...Russia’s “Internet Research Agency” and its efforts to amplify conspiracy thinking and partisan conflict in the United States. Renée DiResta is the Director of Research at New Knowledge and Head of Policy at the nonprofit organization Data for Democracy where she investigates the spread of malignant narratives across social networks. She regularly writes and speaks about the role that tech platforms and curatorial algorithms play in the proliferation of disinformation and conspiracy theories. She is the author of The Hardware Startup: Building your Product, Business, and Brand. Website: www.reneediresta.com Twitter: @noUpside]]>4207falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/144-conquering-hate--60048288Fuuse, a media and arts company that puts women and minority communities at the heart of telling their own stories. In 2016, she became the first UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for artistic freedom and creativity. Her 2012 film, “Banaz: A Love Story,” which earned Deeyah her first Emmy Award, chronicled the life and death of Banaz Mahmod, a young British Kurdish woman murdered by her family in a so-called honour killing. Her second film, “Jihad,” was nominated for a BAFTA; it involved two years of interviews and filming with Islamic extremists, convicted terrorists and former jihadis; and “White Right: Meeting the Enemy,” in which Deeyah travelled to the United States to filmed with neo-Nazis, including attending the now-infamous Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, won her a second Emmy Award and a second BAFTA nomination. Twitter: @Deeyah_Khan]]>738683Fri, 07 Dec 2018 15:46:52 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Deeyah Khan about her groundbreaking films “Jihad” and “White Right.” They discuss her history as a target of religious intolerance, her adventures with neo-Nazis and other white supremacists, the similarities between extremist...Fuuse, a media and arts company that puts women and minority communities at the heart of telling their own stories. In 2016, she became the first UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for artistic freedom and creativity. Her 2012 film, “Banaz: A Love Story,” which earned Deeyah her first Emmy Award, chronicled the life and death of Banaz Mahmod, a young British Kurdish woman murdered by her family in a so-called honour killing. Her second film, “Jihad,” was nominated for a BAFTA; it involved two years of interviews and filming with Islamic extremists, convicted terrorists and former jihadis; and “White Right: Meeting the Enemy,” in which Deeyah travelled to the United States to filmed with neo-Nazis, including attending the now-infamous Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, won her a second Emmy Award and a second BAFTA nomination. Twitter: @Deeyah_Khan]]>8925falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-15--60048330719596Fri, 30 Nov 2018 10:12:00 +0000Michał CzIf you had to rewrite The Moral Landscape, would you change or expand on anything?If you designed a school for kids, what would be in the curriculum?Do you think white men really have too much power?What is your relationship to money? How important is...6298falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/143-the-keys-to-the-mind--60048300books and – a first in the history of magic – has toured with eight sell-out one-man stage shows. The shows have garnered a record-breaking five Olivier Award nominations for Best Entertainment, and won twice. This means Derren has had the largest number of nominations and wins for one-person shows in the history of the Awards. His 2017 US debut show SECRET won the New York Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical experience and is planning a Broadway return in 2019. His Latest book is Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine. Website: http://derrenbrown.co.uk Twitter: @DerrenBrown Instagram: @derrenbrown   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>693614Wed, 21 Nov 2018 10:29:57 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Derren Brown about his work as a “psychological illusionist.” They discuss the power of hypnosis, the power of expectations, the usefulness of Stoic philosophy, and other topics. Derren Brown began his UK television career in...books and – a first in the history of magic – has toured with eight sell-out one-man stage shows. The shows have garnered a record-breaking five Olivier Award nominations for Best Entertainment, and won twice. This means Derren has had the largest number of nominations and wins for one-person shows in the history of the Awards. His 2017 US debut show SECRET won the New York Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical experience and is planning a Broadway return in 2019. His Latest book is Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine. Website: http://derrenbrown.co.uk Twitter: @DerrenBrown Instagram: @derrenbrown   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6121falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-johann-hari--60048282Chasing the Scream, which is being adapted into a feature film. He was twice named “Newspaper Journalist of the Year” by Amnesty International UK. He has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and others. His TED talk, “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong,” has more than 20 million views. His most recent book is Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions. Website: johannhari.com Twitter: @johannhari101]]>1571116Tue, 13 Nov 2018 23:07:35 +0000Michał CzJohann Hari is the New York Times bestselling author of...Chasing the Scream, which is being adapted into a feature film. He was twice named “Newspaper Journalist of the Year” by Amnesty International UK. He has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and others. His TED talk, “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong,” has more than 20 million views. His most recent book is Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions. Website: johannhari.com Twitter: @johannhari101]]>618falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/142-addiction-depression-and-a-meaningful-life--60048327Chasing the Scream and Lost Connections. Johann Hari is the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Scream, which is being adapted into a feature film. He was twice named “Newspaper Journalist of the Year” by Amnesty International UK. He has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and others. His TED talk, “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong,” has more than 20 million views. His most recent book is Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions. Website: johannhari.com Twitter: @johannhari101   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>666796Mon, 12 Nov 2018 21:07:06 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Johann Hari about his books...Chasing the Scream and Lost Connections. Johann Hari is the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Scream, which is being adapted into a feature film. He was twice named “Newspaper Journalist of the Year” by Amnesty International UK. He has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and others. His TED talk, “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong,” has more than 20 million views. His most recent book is Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions. Website: johannhari.com Twitter: @johannhari101   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6387falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/141-is-metoo-going-too-far--60048299Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger. Rebecca Traister is writer at large for New York magazine and a contributing editor at Elle. A National Magazine Award finalist, she has written about women in politics, media, and entertainment from a feminist perspective for The New Republic and Salon and has also contributed to The Nation, The New York Observer, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vogue, Glamour and Marie Claire. She is the author of All the Single Ladies and the award-winning Big Girls Don’t Cry. Website: http://www.rebeccatraister.com/ Twitter: @rtraister]]>647105Mon, 05 Nov 2018 10:33:59 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Rebecca Traister about her new book...Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger. Rebecca Traister is writer at large for New York magazine and a contributing editor at Elle. A National Magazine Award finalist, she has written about women in politics, media, and entertainment from a feminist perspective for The New Republic and Salon and has also contributed to The Nation, The New York Observer, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vogue, Glamour and Marie Claire. She is the author of All the Single Ladies and the award-winning Big Girls Don’t Cry. Website: http://www.rebeccatraister.com/ Twitter: @rtraister]]>6020metoofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-matt-taibbi--60048297The Great Derangement, Griftopia, and The Divide. He is currently working on serial book about the failings of the media, titled The Fairway: Thirty Years After Manufacturing Consent, How Mass Media Still Keeps Thought Inbounds. Twitter: @mtaibbi Website: https://taibbi.substack.com]]>1571121Thu, 18 Oct 2018 12:54:36 +0000Michał CzMatt Taibbi is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone and winner of the 2008 National Magazine Award for columns and commentary. He is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestsellers...The Great Derangement, Griftopia, and The Divide. He is currently working on serial book about the failings of the media, titled The Fairway: Thirty Years After Manufacturing Consent, How Mass Media Still Keeps Thought Inbounds. Twitter: @mtaibbi Website: https://taibbi.substack.com]]>385falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/140-burning-down-the-fourth-estate--60048354The Great Derangement, Griftopia, and The Divide. He is currently working on serial book about the failings of the media, titled The Fairway: Thirty Years After Manufacturing Consent, How Mass Media Still Keeps Thought Inbounds. Twitter: @mtaibbi Website: https://taibbi.substack.com]]>594223Wed, 17 Oct 2018 12:54:09 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Matt Taibbi about the state journalism and the polarization of our politics. They discuss the controversy over Steve Bannon at the New Yorker Festival, monetizing the Trump phenomenon, the Jamal Kashoggi murder, the Kavanaugh...The Great Derangement, Griftopia, and The Divide. He is currently working on serial book about the failings of the media, titled The Fairway: Thirty Years After Manufacturing Consent, How Mass Media Still Keeps Thought Inbounds. Twitter: @mtaibbi Website: https://taibbi.substack.com]]>6371falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/139-sacred-profane--600483531485948Wed, 03 Oct 2018 13:36:25 +0000Michał CzSam Harris gets together with Bill Maher and Larry Charles to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their film “Religulous.” They discuss religion, politics, comedy, and other dangerous topics. Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political...6163falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/138-the-edge-of-humanity--6004828721 Lessons for the 21st Century. They discuss the importance of meditation for his intellectual life, the primacy of stories, the need to revise our fundamental assumptions about human civilization, the threats to liberal democracy, a world without work, universal basic income, the virtues of nationalism, the implications of AI and automation, and other topics. Yuval Noah Harari has a PhD in History from the University of Oxford and lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specializing in world history. His books have been translated into 50+ languages, with 12+ million copies sold worldwide. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind   looked deep into our past, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow  considered far-future scenarios, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century  focuses on the biggest questions of the present moment. Twitter: @harari_yuval]]>1485971Wed, 19 Sep 2018 22:48:56 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about his new book...21 Lessons for the 21st Century. They discuss the importance of meditation for his intellectual life, the primacy of stories, the need to revise our fundamental assumptions about human civilization, the threats to liberal democracy, a world without work, universal basic income, the virtues of nationalism, the implications of AI and automation, and other topics. Yuval Noah Harari has a PhD in History from the University of Oxford and lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specializing in world history. His books have been translated into 50+ languages, with 12+ million copies sold worldwide. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind   looked deep into our past, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow  considered far-future scenarios, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century  focuses on the biggest questions of the present moment. Twitter: @harari_yuval]]>6962falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-jonathan-haidt--60048290YourMorals.org. He is a co-founder of HeterodoxAcademy.org, which advocates for viewpoint diversity in higher education. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom and The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion. His latest book (with Greg Lukianoff) is The Coddling of the American Mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting a generation up for failure. Website: jonathanhaidt.com Twitter: @JonHaidt]]>1571127Mon, 10 Sep 2018 23:06:13 +0000Michał CzJonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He received his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and then did post-doctoral research at the...YourMorals.org. He is a co-founder of HeterodoxAcademy.org, which advocates for viewpoint diversity in higher education. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom and The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion. His latest book (with Greg Lukianoff) is The Coddling of the American Mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting a generation up for failure. Website: jonathanhaidt.com Twitter: @JonHaidt]]>494falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/137-safe-space--60048368The Coddling of the American Mind. They discuss the hostility to free speech that has grown more common among young adults, recent moral panics on campus, the role of intentions in ethical life, the economy of prestige in “call out” culture, how we should define bigotry, systemic racism, the paradox of progress, and other topics. Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He received his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and then did post-doctoral research at the University of Chicago and in Orissa, India. He taught at the University of Virginia for 16 years before moving to NYU-Stern in 2011. He was named one of the “top global thinkers” by Foreign Policy magazine, and one of the “top world thinkers” by Prospect magazine. He is the co-developer of Moral Foundations theory, and of the research site YourMorals.org. He is a co-founder of HeterodoxAcademy.org, which advocates for viewpoint diversity in higher education. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom and The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion. His latest book (with Greg Lukianoff) is The Coddling of the American Mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting a generation up for failure.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1485990Sun, 09 Sep 2018 23:06:38 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Jonathan Haidt about his new book...The Coddling of the American Mind. They discuss the hostility to free speech that has grown more common among young adults, recent moral panics on campus, the role of intentions in ethical life, the economy of prestige in “call out” culture, how we should define bigotry, systemic racism, the paradox of progress, and other topics. Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He received his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and then did post-doctoral research at the University of Chicago and in Orissa, India. He taught at the University of Virginia for 16 years before moving to NYU-Stern in 2011. He was named one of the “top global thinkers” by Foreign Policy magazine, and one of the “top world thinkers” by Prospect magazine. He is the co-developer of Moral Foundations theory, and of the research site YourMorals.org. He is a co-founder of HeterodoxAcademy.org, which advocates for viewpoint diversity in higher education. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom and The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion. His latest book (with Greg Lukianoff) is The Coddling of the American Mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting a generation up for failure.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>5200falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-jaron-lanier--60048342Who Owns the Future? and You Are Not a Gadget were international bestsellers, and Dawn of the New Everything was named a 2017 best book of the year by The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Vox. His most recent book is 10 Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now.]]>1571132Fri, 31 Aug 2018 00:07:42 +0000Michał CzJaron Lanier is a scientist, musician, and writer best known for his work in virtual reality and his advocacy of humanism and sustainable economics in a digital context. His 1980s start-up VPL Research created the first commercial VR products and...Who Owns the Future? and You Are Not a Gadget were international bestsellers, and Dawn of the New Everything was named a 2017 best book of the year by The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Vox. His most recent book is 10 Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now.]]>496falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/136-digital-humanism--60048295Who Owns the Future? and You Are Not a Gadget were international bestsellers, and Dawn of the New Everything was named a 2017 best book of the year by The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Vox. His most recent book is 10 Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1486013Thu, 30 Aug 2018 00:07:35 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Jaron Lanier about the economics, politics, and psychology of our digital lives. They discuss the insidious idea that information should be free, what we should want from an advanced economy, the role of advertising,...Who Owns the Future? and You Are Not a Gadget were international bestsellers, and Dawn of the New Everything was named a 2017 best book of the year by The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Vox. His most recent book is 10 Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>3722falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/135-navigating-sex-and-gender--60048298Hormonal: The Hidden Intelligence of Hormones – How They Drive Desire, Shape Relationships, Influence Our Choices, and Make Us Wiser. Twitter: @haselton]]>1486125Mon, 20 Aug 2018 11:42:15 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Martie Haselton about sex and gender, the role of hormones in human psychology, “Darwinian feminism,” the unique hormonal experience of women, transgenderism, the Google Memo, and other topics. Martie Haselton is an...Hormonal: The Hidden Intelligence of Hormones – How They Drive Desire, Shape Relationships, Influence Our Choices, and Make Us Wiser. Twitter: @haselton]]>5327falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-14--60048306418787Mon, 13 Aug 2018 12:27:11 +0000Michał CzQ&A with Joseph GoldsteinHow should people with a history of trauma practice meditation?How do meditation teachers recognize progress in their students?How can a person’s claims to freedom and "enlightenment" be evaluated?What are further...6051falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/134-beyond-the-politics-of-race--60048347@coldxman]]>1486139Sun, 29 Jul 2018 11:10:42 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Coleman Hughes about race, racism, and identity politics. Coleman Hughes is an undergraduate philosophy major at Columbia University. His writing has been featured in Quillette, Heterodox Academy, and in the Columbia Daily...@coldxman]]>6400falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-13--60048304361025Wed, 25 Jul 2018 12:31:11 +0000Michał CzWhat are your thoughts on suicide?What do you know about hypnosis?Do you see any value in being lost in thought, or is it always harmful?If you could acquire PhD-level knowledge of any subject other than neuroscience what would it be?My friend’s...3835falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/133-globalism-on-the-brink--60048292Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World and The End of the Free Market: Who Wins the War Between States and Corporations? Bremmer is a contributor to the Financial Times A-List and Reuters.com. He has written hundreds of articles for publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, Harvard Business Review, and Foreign Affairs. He appears regularly on CNBC, Fox News Channel, Bloomberg Television, National Public Radio, the BBC, and other networks. Bremmer earned a PhD in political science from Stanford University in 1994 and was the youngest-ever national fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is a global research professor at New York University and has held faculty positions at Columbia University, the EastWest Institute, and the World Policy Institute. In 2007, Bremmer was named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. His analysis focuses on global macro political trends and emerging markets, which he defines as “those countries where politics matter at least as much as economics for market outcomes.” His most recent book is Us vs. Them: The Failure of Globalism. Twitter: @ianbremmer]]>1486161Wed, 18 Jul 2018 18:50:10 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Ian Bremmer about the failure of globalism and the rise of populism. They discuss immigration, trade, automation, wealth inequality, Trump, identity politics and other topics. Ian Bremmer is the president and founder of Eurasia...Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World and The End of the Free Market: Who Wins the War Between States and Corporations? Bremmer is a contributor to the Financial Times A-List and Reuters.com. He has written hundreds of articles for publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, Harvard Business Review, and Foreign Affairs. He appears regularly on CNBC, Fox News Channel, Bloomberg Television, National Public Radio, the BBC, and other networks. Bremmer earned a PhD in political science from Stanford University in 1994 and was the youngest-ever national fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is a global research professor at New York University and has held faculty positions at Columbia University, the EastWest Institute, and the World Policy Institute. In 2007, Bremmer was named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. His analysis focuses on global macro political trends and emerging markets, which he defines as “those countries where politics matter at least as much as economics for market outcomes.” His most recent book is Us vs. Them: The Failure of Globalism. Twitter: @ianbremmer]]>3869falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/132-freeing-the-hostages--60048303Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On it.]]>1486173Mon, 09 Jul 2018 13:09:14 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Chris Voss about his experience as a hostage negotiator for the FBI. They discuss different types of hostage crises, along with many of the lessons that apply to negotiating in normal life. Chris Voss is a 24-year veteran of the...Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On it.]]>4059falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/131-dictators-immigration-metoo-and-other-imponderables--60048309The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia, which won the National Book Award in 2017; and The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. Gessen has written about Russia, autocracy, L.G.B.T. rights, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump, among others, for The New York Review of Books and The New York Times. On a parallel track, Gessen has been a science journalist, writing about aids, medical genetics, and mathematics; famously, Gessen was dismissed as editor of the Russian popular-science magazine Vokrug Sveta for refusing to send a reporter to observe Putin hang-gliding with the Siberian cranes. Gessen is a visiting professor at Amherst College and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, a Nieman Fellowship, and the Overseas Press Club Award for Best Commentary. After more than twenty years as a journalist and editor in Moscow, Gessen has been living in New York since 2013. Twitter:@mashagessen  ]]>1486182Mon, 02 Jul 2018 23:45:58 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Masha Gessen about Vladimir Putin, the problem of gauging public opinion in Russia, Trump’s fondness for dictators, the challenges of immigration, comparisons between Christian and Muslim intolerance, “fake news” and the health...The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia, which won the National Book Award in 2017; and The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin. Gessen has written about Russia, autocracy, L.G.B.T. rights, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump, among others, for The New York Review of Books and The New York Times. On a parallel track, Gessen has been a science journalist, writing about aids, medical genetics, and mathematics; famously, Gessen was dismissed as editor of the Russian popular-science magazine Vokrug Sveta for refusing to send a reporter to observe Putin hang-gliding with the Siberian cranes. Gessen is a visiting professor at Amherst College and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, a Nieman Fellowship, and the Overseas Press Club Award for Best Commentary. After more than twenty years as a journalist and editor in Moscow, Gessen has been living in New York since 2013. Twitter:@mashagessen  ]]>4952metoofalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/130-universal-basic-income--60048331The War on Normal People: The Truth About America’s Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future. Website: https://www.yang2020.com/ Twitter: @AndrewYangVFA]]>1486193Mon, 18 Jun 2018 21:36:16 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with presidential candidate Andrew Yang about “universal basic income” (UBI). They discuss the state of the economy, the rise of automation and AI, the arguments for and against UBI, and other topics. Andrew Yang is the founder of...The War on Normal People: The Truth About America’s Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future. Website: https://www.yang2020.com/ Twitter: @AndrewYangVFA]]>3925falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/129-an-insider-s-view-of-medicine--60048332Hype: A Doctor’s Guide to Medical Myths, Exaggerated Claims, and Bad Advice – How to Tell What’s Real and What’s Not.]]>1486206Tue, 12 Jun 2018 12:14:06 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Dr. Nina Shapiro about the practice of medicine. They discuss the unique resiliency of children, the importance of second opinions, bad doctors, how medical training has changed in recent years, medical uncertainty, risk...Hype: A Doctor’s Guide to Medical Myths, Exaggerated Claims, and Bad Advice – How to Tell What’s Real and What’s Not.]]>4405falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-geoffrey-miller--60048293The Mating Mind (2001), Mating Intelligence (2008), Spent (2009), and Mate (2015). He has a B.A. in Biology and Psychology from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Stanford University, and is a tenured associate professor at University of New Mexico. He has over 110 academic publications addressing sexual selection, mate choice, signaling theory, fitness indicators, consumer behavior, marketing, intelligence, creativity, language, art, music, humor, emotions, personality, psychopathology, and behavior genetics. He has also given 180 talks in 15 countries, reviewed papers for over 50 journals, and also worked at NYU Stern Business School, UCLA, and the London School of Economics. He is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and his research has been featured in Nature, Science, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New Scientist, and The Economist, on NPR and BBC radio, and in documentaries on CNN, PBS, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, and BBC. He has consulted for a variety of Fortune 500 companies, governments, NGOs, advertising agencies, market research companies, and social media companies.]]>1571137Tue, 05 Jun 2018 18:36:31 +0000Michał CzGeoffrey Miller is an evolutionary psychologist best known for his books...The Mating Mind (2001), Mating Intelligence (2008), Spent (2009), and Mate (2015). He has a B.A. in Biology and Psychology from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Stanford University, and is a tenured associate professor at University of New Mexico. He has over 110 academic publications addressing sexual selection, mate choice, signaling theory, fitness indicators, consumer behavior, marketing, intelligence, creativity, language, art, music, humor, emotions, personality, psychopathology, and behavior genetics. He has also given 180 talks in 15 countries, reviewed papers for over 50 journals, and also worked at NYU Stern Business School, UCLA, and the London School of Economics. He is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and his research has been featured in Nature, Science, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New Scientist, and The Economist, on NPR and BBC radio, and in documentaries on CNN, PBS, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, and BBC. He has consulted for a variety of Fortune 500 companies, governments, NGOs, advertising agencies, market research companies, and social media companies.]]>465falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/128-transformations-of-mind--60048356The Mating Mind (2001), Mating Intelligence (2008), Spent (2009), and Mate (2015). He has a B.A. in Biology and Psychology from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Stanford University, and is a tenured associate professor at University of New Mexico. He has over 110 academic publications addressing sexual selection, mate choice, signaling theory, fitness indicators, consumer behavior, marketing, intelligence, creativity, language, art, music, humor, emotions, personality, psychopathology, and behavior genetics. He has also given 180 talks in 15 countries, reviewed papers for over 50 journals, and also worked at NYU Stern Business School, UCLA, and the London School of Economics. He is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and his research has been featured in Nature, Science, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New Scientist, and The Economist, on NPR and BBC radio, and in documentaries on CNN, PBS, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, and BBC. He has consulted for a variety of Fortune 500 companies, governments, NGOs, advertising agencies, market research companies, and social media companies. Twitter: @primalpoly]]>1486217Mon, 04 Jun 2018 18:36:08 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Geoffrey Miller about evolutionary psychology. They discuss sexual selection, virtue signaling, social media, public shaming, monogamy and polyamory, taboo topics in science, genetic engineering, gender differences and the...The Mating Mind (2001), Mating Intelligence (2008), Spent (2009), and Mate (2015). He has a B.A. in Biology and Psychology from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Stanford University, and is a tenured associate professor at University of New Mexico. He has over 110 academic publications addressing sexual selection, mate choice, signaling theory, fitness indicators, consumer behavior, marketing, intelligence, creativity, language, art, music, humor, emotions, personality, psychopathology, and behavior genetics. He has also given 180 talks in 15 countries, reviewed papers for over 50 journals, and also worked at NYU Stern Business School, UCLA, and the London School of Economics. He is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and his research has been featured in Nature, Science, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New Scientist, and The Economist, on NPR and BBC radio, and in documentaries on CNN, PBS, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, and BBC. He has consulted for a variety of Fortune 500 companies, governments, NGOs, advertising agencies, market research companies, and social media companies. Twitter: @primalpoly]]>9413falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/127-freedom-from-the-known--60048310How to Change Your Mind. They cover the resurgence of interest in psychedelics in clinical practice and end-of-life care, the “betterment of well people,” the relationship between thinking and mental suffering, the differences between psychedelics and meditation, the non-duality of consciousness, the brain’s “default mode network,” their experiences with various psychedelics, and other topics. Michael Pollan is the author of seven previous books, including Cooked, Food Rules, In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. A longtime contributor to the New York Times Magazine, he also teaches writing at Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley. In 2010, TIME magazine named him one of the one hundred most influential people in the world. His most recent book is How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. Twitter: @michaelpollan   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1486236Mon, 28 May 2018 10:03:31 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Michael Pollan about his new book...How to Change Your Mind. They cover the resurgence of interest in psychedelics in clinical practice and end-of-life care, the “betterment of well people,” the relationship between thinking and mental suffering, the differences between psychedelics and meditation, the non-duality of consciousness, the brain’s “default mode network,” their experiences with various psychedelics, and other topics. Michael Pollan is the author of seven previous books, including Cooked, Food Rules, In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. A longtime contributor to the New York Times Magazine, he also teaches writing at Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley. In 2010, TIME magazine named him one of the one hundred most influential people in the world. His most recent book is How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. Twitter: @michaelpollan   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>4796falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-12--60048345228716Fri, 25 May 2018 11:35:10 +0000Michał CzWhat have been intellectually honest and fair criticisms of your views?What is the most consequential false belief you've ever held, and how did you shake it?What is the distinction between merely consuming the ideas of others and thinking things...5202falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/126-in-defense-of-honor--60048384Why Honor Matters. Twitter: @tamler   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1486279Tue, 08 May 2018 11:49:45 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Tamler Sommers about cultures of honor. They discuss the difference between honor and dignity, “justice porn,” honor killings, honor and interpersonal violence, prison and gang culture, collective responsibility and collective...Why Honor Matters. Twitter: @tamler   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>7305falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/125-what-is-christianity--60048357Misquoting Jesus and How Jesus Became God. Ehrman is a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a leading authority on the New Testament and the history of early Christianity. He has been featured in Time, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post, and has appeared on NBC, CNN, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The History Channel, National Geographic, BBC, major NPR shows, and other top print and broadcast media outlets. His most recent book is The Triumph of Christianity. Twitter: @BartEhrman Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1486286Tue, 01 May 2018 19:20:51 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks to Bart Ehrman about his experience of being a born-again Christian, his academic training in New Testament scholarship, his loss of faith, the most convincing argument in defense of Christianity, the status of miracles, the...Misquoting Jesus and How Jesus Became God. Ehrman is a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a leading authority on the New Testament and the history of early Christianity. He has been featured in Time, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post, and has appeared on NBC, CNN, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The History Channel, National Geographic, BBC, major NPR shows, and other top print and broadcast media outlets. His most recent book is The Triumph of Christianity. Twitter: @BartEhrman Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6606falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/124-in-search-of-reality--60048305The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself. Twitter: @seanmcarroll   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1486300Sat, 21 Apr 2018 10:20:18 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Sean Carroll about our understanding of reality. They discuss consciousness, the many worlds view of quantum mechanics, the arrow of time, free will, facts and values, and other topics. Sean Carroll is a theoretical physicist at...The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself. Twitter: @seanmcarroll   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6402falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/123-identity-honesty--60048321Making Sense #73). Ezra Klein is the editor-at-large and founder of Vox. Before that, he was columnist and editor at the Washington Post, a policy analyst at MSNBC, and a contributor to Bloomberg. Twitter: @ezraklein]]>1486310Mon, 09 Apr 2018 06:02:35 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Ezra Klein, Editor-at-Large for Vox Media, about racism, identity politics, intellectual honesty, and the controversy over his podcast with Charles Murray (https://samharris-develop.go-vip.co/podcasts/forbidden-knowledge/). Ezra...Making Sense #73). Ezra Klein is the editor-at-large and founder of Vox. Before that, he was columnist and editor at the Washington Post, a policy analyst at MSNBC, and a contributor to Bloomberg. Twitter: @ezraklein]]>7558falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/122-extreme-housekeeping-edition--600483081486323Tue, 03 Apr 2018 12:32:15 +0000Michał CzSam Harris responds to the ongoing controversy over his interview with Charles Murray and discusses his upcoming conversation with Ezra Klein. He also announces a change he will be making to the format of the podcast.2589falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/121-white-power--60048365White American Youth: My Descent in America’s Most Violent Hate Movement—And How I Got Out. Twitter: @cpicciolini]]>1486334Sun, 25 Mar 2018 15:01:47 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Christian Picciolini about his experience as a neo-Nazi skinhead. They discuss how Christian got out of the movement, the limits of shame and forgiveness, the cult-like dynamics of white supremacy, the alt-Right, Russian support...White American Youth: My Descent in America’s Most Violent Hate Movement—And How I Got Out. Twitter: @cpicciolini]]>8459falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/120-what-is-and-what-matters--60048315Plato at The Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won’t Go Away. Twitter: @platobooktour Max Tegmark is a professor of physics at MIT and the co-founder of the Future of Life Institute. Tegmark has been featured in dozens of science documentaries. He is the author of Our Mathematical Universe and Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Twitter: @Tegmark]]>1486344Mon, 19 Mar 2018 11:27:06 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Rebecca Goldstein and Max Tegmark about the foundations of human knowledge and morality. Rebecca Goldstein is a MacArthur Fellow, a professor of philosophy, and the author of five novels and a collection of short stories. She...Plato at The Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won’t Go Away. Twitter: @platobooktour Max Tegmark is a professor of physics at MIT and the co-founder of the Future of Life Institute. Tegmark has been featured in dozens of science documentaries. He is the author of Our Mathematical Universe and Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Twitter: @Tegmark]]>6863falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/119-hidden-motives--60048376The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life. Twitter: @robinhanson]]>1486357Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:58:39 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Robin Hanson about our hidden motives in everyday life. They discuss selfishness, hypocrisy, norms and meta-norms, cheating, deception, self-deception, education, the evolutionary logic of conversation, social status, signaling...The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life. Twitter: @robinhanson]]>8290falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-11--6004831882597Wed, 07 Mar 2018 20:16:56 +0000Michał CzWhat are your thoughts on the Lawrence Krauss situation?Will you create a way for listeners to nominate and vote on podcast guests?Who are the philosophers that have most inspired you?My experience in meditation seems to increase my feeling of self....3303falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-preet-bharara--60048319@preetbharara]]>1571142Wed, 28 Feb 2018 18:44:11 +0000Michał CzPreet Bharara is an American lawyer who served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017. His office prosecuted cases involving terrorism, narcotics and arms trafficking, financial and healthcare fraud, cybercrime,...@preetbharara]]>527falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/118-the-view-from-trumpistan--60048329@preetbharara]]>1486377Tue, 27 Feb 2018 18:44:50 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Preet Bharara about President Trump and the Russia investigation. Preet Bharara is an American lawyer who served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017. His office prosecuted cases involving...@preetbharara]]>4024falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-niall-ferguson--60048360The Square and the Tower. He is Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing. His many awards include the Benjamin Franklin Prize for Public Service (2010), the Hayek Prize for Lifetime Achievement (2012), and the Ludwig Erhard Prize for Economic Journalism (2013). Twitter: @nfergus]]>1571147Mon, 19 Feb 2018 19:35:14 +0000Michał CzNiall Ferguson is one of the world’s most renowned historians. He is the author of Paper and Iron, The House of Rothschild, The Pity of War, The Cash Nexus, Empire, Colossus, The War of the World, The Ascent of Money, High Financier, Civilization, The...The Square and the Tower. He is Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing. His many awards include the Benjamin Franklin Prize for Public Service (2010), the Hayek Prize for Lifetime Achievement (2012), and the Ludwig Erhard Prize for Economic Journalism (2013). Twitter: @nfergus]]>201falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/117-networks-power-and-chaos--60048394The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook . They discuss his career as a writer, networks and hierarchies, how history gets written, the similarity between the 16th century and the 21st, the role of social media in the 2016 Presidential election, the influence of advertising on the public sphere, Trump, the Russian investigation, Islamic extremism, counterfactuals, what would have happened if Clinton had won the presidency, immigration in Europe, conspiracy theories, capitalism, globalization, communism, wealth inequality, universal basic income, Henry Kissinger, the prospect of a US war with China, cyberwar, and other topics. Niall Ferguson is one of the world’s most renowned historians. He is the author of Paper and Iron, The House of Rothschild, The Pity of War, The Cash Nexus, Empire, Colossus, The War of the World, The Ascent of Money, High Financier, Civilization, The Great Degeneration, Kissinger, 1923-1968: The Idealist, and The Square and the Tower. He is Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing. His many awards include the Benjamin Franklin Prize for Public Service (2010), the Hayek Prize for Lifetime Achievement (2012), and the Ludwig Erhard Prize for Economic Journalism (2013). Twitter: @nfergus]]>1486383Sun, 18 Feb 2018 19:35:40 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Niall Ferguson about his new book...The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook . They discuss his career as a writer, networks and hierarchies, how history gets written, the similarity between the 16th century and the 21st, the role of social media in the 2016 Presidential election, the influence of advertising on the public sphere, Trump, the Russian investigation, Islamic extremism, counterfactuals, what would have happened if Clinton had won the presidency, immigration in Europe, conspiracy theories, capitalism, globalization, communism, wealth inequality, universal basic income, Henry Kissinger, the prospect of a US war with China, cyberwar, and other topics. Niall Ferguson is one of the world’s most renowned historians. He is the author of Paper and Iron, The House of Rothschild, The Pity of War, The Cash Nexus, Empire, Colossus, The War of the World, The Ascent of Money, High Financier, Civilization, The Great Degeneration, Kissinger, 1923-1968: The Idealist, and The Square and the Tower. He is Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing. His many awards include the Benjamin Franklin Prize for Public Service (2010), the Hayek Prize for Lifetime Achievement (2012), and the Ludwig Erhard Prize for Economic Journalism (2013). Twitter: @nfergus]]>6828falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-10--6004834642980Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:19:35 +0000Michał CzIn his book "God is Not Great", Christopher Hitchens wrote very critically of meditation. Did you ever try to convince him that he was wrong? What is the ethical response to homeless people asking for money?What is your view of prostitution and...3486falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bonus-questions-eliezer-yudkowsky--60048323Inadequate Equilibria: Where and How Civilizations Get Stuck. Twitter: @ESYudkowsky]]>1571152Wed, 07 Feb 2018 09:03:58 +0000Michał CzEliezer Yudkowsky is a decision theorist and computer scientist at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute in Berkeley, California who is known for his work in technological forecasting. His publications include the Cambridge Handbook of...Inadequate Equilibria: Where and How Civilizations Get Stuck. Twitter: @ESYudkowsky]]>501falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/116-ai-racing-toward-the-brink--60048355Inadequate Equilibria: Where and How Civilizations Get Stuck. Twitter: @ESYudkowsky Facebook: facebook.com/yudkowsky   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1486398Tue, 06 Feb 2018 09:03:58 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Eliezer Yudkowsky about the nature of intelligence, different types of AI, the “alignment problem,” IS vs OUGHT, the possibility that future AI might deceive us, the AI arms race, conscious AI, coordination problems, and other...Inadequate Equilibria: Where and How Civilizations Get Stuck. Twitter: @ESYudkowsky Facebook: facebook.com/yudkowsky   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>7660falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/115-sam-harris-lawrence-krauss-and-matt-dillahunty-1--600483331486416Mon, 29 Jan 2018 00:00:26 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Lawrence Krauss and Matt Dillahunty about the threat of nuclear war, science and a universal conception of morality, the role of intuition in science, the primacy of consciousness, the nature of time, free will, the self,...5524falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/114-politics-and-sanity--60048377Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic, his ninth book. Frum spent most of his career in conservative media and research institutions, including the Manhattan Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is a past chairman of Policy Exchange, the leading center-right think tank in the United Kingdom, and a former director of the Republican Jewish Coalition. In 2001-2002, he served as a speechwriter and special assistant to President George W. Bush. Frum holds a BA and MA in history from Yale and a law degree from Harvard. Andrew Sullivan is a writer at large for New York Magazine. He holds a BA from Oxford University in Modern History and Modern Languages and a PhD in government at Harvard University. He was editor of The New Republic from 1991 – 1996, and the creator of The Daily Dish, one of the first political blogs, from 2000 – 2015. A winner of three National Magazine Awards, he was also the weekly American columnist for the Sunday Times of London from 1996 – 2014. He wrote the first cover story and first book in favor of marriage equality in 1989 and 1995, an AIDS memoir, Love Undetectable, in 1998, and The Conservative Soul in 2006.]]>1486423Mon, 22 Jan 2018 11:57:53 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with David Frum and Andrew Sullivan about the Trump presidency, hyper-partisanship, how democracies fail, immigration, the lowering life expectancy in the U.S., racism, social media, the opioid crisis, marijuana legalization,...Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic, his ninth book. Frum spent most of his career in conservative media and research institutions, including the Manhattan Institute and the American Enterprise Institute. He is a past chairman of Policy Exchange, the leading center-right think tank in the United Kingdom, and a former director of the Republican Jewish Coalition. In 2001-2002, he served as a speechwriter and special assistant to President George W. Bush. Frum holds a BA and MA in history from Yale and a law degree from Harvard. Andrew Sullivan is a writer at large for New York Magazine. He holds a BA from Oxford University in Modern History and Modern Languages and a PhD in government at Harvard University. He was editor of The New Republic from 1991 – 1996, and the creator of The Daily Dish, one of the first political blogs, from 2000 – 2015. A winner of three National Magazine Awards, he was also the weekly American columnist for the Sunday Times of London from 1996 – 2014. He wrote the first cover story and first book in favor of marriage equality in 1989 and 1995, an AIDS memoir, Love Undetectable, in 1998, and The Conservative Soul in 2006.]]>8066falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/113-consciousness-and-the-self--60048434Being You: A New Science of Consciousness—explores what it means to “be you”—that is, to have a specific, conscious experience of the world around you and yourself within it. Website: www.anilseth.com Twitter: @anilkseth  Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1486506Tue, 09 Jan 2018 12:46:11 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Anil Seth about the scientific study of consciousness, where consciousness emerges in nature, levels of consciousness, perception as a “controlled hallucination,” emotion, the experience of “pure...Being You: A New Science of Consciousness—explores what it means to “be you”—that is, to have a specific, conscious experience of the world around you and yourself within it. Website: www.anilseth.com Twitter: @anilkseth  Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>11129falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/112-the-intellectual-dark-web--60048411Bullies: How the Left’s Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences America. He has also been a nationally syndicated columnist since age 17. He’s a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School. Twitter:
@EricRWeinstein
@BenShapiro]]>1486520Fri, 05 Jan 2018 14:30:50 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Eric Weinstein and Ben Shapiro about the breakdown of shared values, the problem with identity politics, religion, free will, the primacy of reason, and many other topics. Eric Weinstein is a managing director of Thiel Capital...Bullies: How the Left’s Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences America. He has also been a nationally syndicated columnist since age 17. He’s a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School. Twitter:
@EricRWeinstein
@BenShapiro]]>7855falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/111-the-science-of-meditation--60048334Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body.]]>1486542Thu, 28 Dec 2017 14:26:16 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson about the current scientific understanding of meditation practice. They speak about the original stigma associated with meditation, the history of introspection in eastern and western...Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body.]]>5151falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/110-the-change-artist--60048339It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree. He lives in New York City with his wife and kids. Visit him at AJJacobs.com.]]>1486568Sat, 23 Dec 2017 14:23:17 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with A.J. Jacobs about religion, gossip, polyamory, health advice, our past and future selves, “radical honesty,” human genealogy, tribalism, and other topics. A.J. Jacobs is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The...It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree. He lives in New York City with his wife and kids. Visit him at AJJacobs.com.]]>6560falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/109-biology-and-culture--60048378@BretWeinstein]]>1486580Tue, 19 Dec 2017 14:15:20 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Bret Weinstein about the moral panic at Evergreen State College, the concept of race, genetic differences between human populations, intersectionality, sex and gender, “metaphorical truth,” religion and “group selection,”...@BretWeinstein]]>7707falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/108-defending-the-experts--60048398The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters. Twitter: @RadioFreeTom]]>1487831Thu, 14 Dec 2017 18:03:36 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Tom Nichols about his book The Death of Expertise. They discuss the “Dunning-Kruger Effect,” the growth of knowledge and reliance on authority, when experts fail, the repudiation of expertise in politics, conspiracy thinking,...The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters. Twitter: @RadioFreeTom]]>5426falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/107-is-life-actually-worth-living--60048404Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming Into Existence and The Human Predicament: A Candid Guide to Life’s Biggest Questions. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1487839Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:53:38 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with David Benatar about his philosophy of “anti-natalism.” They discuss the asymmetry between the good and bad things in life, the ethics of existential risk, the moral landscape, the limits and paradoxes of introspection, the...Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming Into Existence and The Human Predicament: A Candid Guide to Life’s Biggest Questions. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6838falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-9--600483854305Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:10:33 +0000Michał CzDid the Vegas shooting change your position on guns in any way?Do you ever have arguments with your wife that result in total failures of communication?What is your opinion of Dave Rubin's approach to interviewing?What have you changed your mind about...7205falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-8--600483404287Mon, 04 Dec 2017 17:16:25 +0000Michał CzWhen you talk about creatitivity, what kind of art, music, and fiction do you like? Do you think creativity has as important of a role to play as reason in helping to maintain a civil and flourishing society?What one piece of advice would you give...4291falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/106-humanity-2-0--60048367A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution.]]>1487845Wed, 29 Nov 2017 16:54:04 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Jennifer Doudna about the gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9. They talk about the biology of gene editing, how specific tissues in the body can be targeted, the ethical implications of changing the human genome, the importance...A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution.]]>2695falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/105-richard-dawkins-sam-harris-and-matt-dillahunty--600483381487853Mon, 20 Nov 2017 16:52:58 +0000Michał CzThe following conversation between Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Matt Dillahunty was recorded for the Making Sense podcast at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver on November 2, 2017.5870falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/104-the-lessons-of-death--60048336The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully. More info:
mettainstitute.org
fiveinvitations.com Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1487859Wed, 15 Nov 2017 16:49:00 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Frank Ostaseski about death and dying—and about how the awareness of death can improve our lives in each moment. Frank Ostaseski is a Buddhist teacher, international lecturer and a leading voice in end-of-life care. In 1987, he...The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully. More info:
mettainstitute.org
fiveinvitations.com Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>4075falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/103-american-fantasies--60048395Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire, A 500-Year History. Twitter: @KBAndersen]]>1487866Thu, 09 Nov 2017 16:40:59 +0000Michał CzKurt Andersen is the bestselling author of the novels Heyday, Turn of the Century, and True Believers. He contributes to Vanity Fair and The New York Times, and is host and co-creator of Studio 360, the Peabody Award–winning public radio show and...Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire, A 500-Year History. Twitter: @KBAndersen]]>4024falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/102-is-buddhism-true--60048358@robertwrighter]]>1487872Mon, 30 Oct 2017 11:06:56 +0000Michał CzRobert Wright is the New York Times bestselling author of The Evolution of God (a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), Nonzero, The Moral Animal, Three Scientists and their Gods (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award). He is the...@robertwrighter]]>7350falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/101-defending-the-republic--60048307#Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media, and Impeachment: A Citizen’s Guide.]]>1487884Tue, 17 Oct 2017 07:58:30 +0000Michał CzCass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School, where he is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy. He is the most cited law professor in the United States. From 2009 to...#Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media, and Impeachment: A Citizen’s Guide.]]>4659falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/100-facing-the-crowd--60048415Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. Twitter: @NAChristakis  ]]>1487890Mon, 09 Oct 2017 16:33:06 +0000Michał CzNicholas A. Christakis is a sociologist and physician who conducts research in the area of biosocial science, investigating the biological predicates and consequences of social phenomena. He directs the Human Nature Lab at Yale University, where he is...Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. Twitter: @NAChristakis  ]]>5953falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/99-what-happened-to-liberalism--60048399The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics.]]>1570365Wed, 27 Sep 2017 23:31:44 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Mark Lilla about the fate of political liberalism in the United States, the emergence of a new identity politics, the role of class in American society, wealth inequality, and other topics. Mark Lilla is Professor of the...The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics.]]>4418falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/98-into-the-dark-land--60048337The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. His most recent book is The Gene: An Intimate History. Twitter: @DrSidMukherjee]]>1570370Wed, 20 Sep 2017 19:21:11 +0000Michał CzSiddhartha Mukherjee is a cancer physician and researcher. He is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and a staff cancer physician at the CU/NYU Presbyterian Hospital. A former Rhodes scholar, he graduated from Stanford...The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. His most recent book is The Gene: An Intimate History. Twitter: @DrSidMukherjee]]>4072falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/97-the-impossible-war--60048311www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-vietnam-war/home/]]>1570374Thu, 14 Sep 2017 17:07:12 +0000Michał CzKen Burns and Lynn Novick are two of the most accomplished documentary filmmakers of our time. Their work includes The Civil War, Jazz, Baseball, The War, along with many other acclaimed films. Their most recent project is the ten-part, 18-hour...www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-vietnam-war/home/]]>3685falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/96-the-nature-of-consciousness--60048349The Ego Tunnel.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570378Sun, 10 Sep 2017 15:18:21 +0000Michał CzThomas K. Metzinger is full professor and director of the theoretical philosophy group and the research group on neuroethics/neurophilosophy at the department of philosophy, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany. He is the founder and...The Ego Tunnel.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6755falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/95-what-you-need-to-know-about-climate-change--60048418Climate Progress, which Tom Friedman of the New York Times called “the indispensable blog.” In 2009, Time named him one of its “Heroes of the Environment,” and Rolling Stone put him on its list of 100 “people who are reinventing America.” Romm was acting assistant secretary of energy in 1997, where he oversaw $1 billion in low-carbon technology development and deployment. He is a Senior Fellow at American Progress and holds a Ph.D. in physics from MIT. He is the author of Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know.]]>1570382Tue, 05 Sep 2017 13:32:17 +0000Michał CzJoseph Romm is one of the country’s leading communicators on climate science and solutions. He was Chief Science Advisor for “Years of Living Dangerously,” which won the 2014 Emmy Award for Outstanding Nonfiction Series. He is the founding editor of...Climate Progress, which Tom Friedman of the New York Times called “the indispensable blog.” In 2009, Time named him one of its “Heroes of the Environment,” and Rolling Stone put him on its list of 100 “people who are reinventing America.” Romm was acting assistant secretary of energy in 1997, where he oversaw $1 billion in low-carbon technology development and deployment. He is a Senior Fellow at American Progress and holds a Ph.D. in physics from MIT. He is the author of Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know.]]>7470falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/94-frontiers-of-intelligence--60048370Future of Life Institute. Tegmark has been featured in dozens of science documentaries. He is the author of Our Mathematical Universe and Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Twitter: @Tegmark]]>1570386Tue, 29 Aug 2017 09:19:39 +0000Michał CzMax Tegmark is a professor of physics at MIT and the co-founder of the https://futureoflife.org/. Tegmark has been featured in dozens of science documentaries. He is the author of Our Mathematical Universe and...Future of Life Institute. Tegmark has been featured in dozens of science documentaries. He is the author of Our Mathematical Universe and Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Twitter: @Tegmark]]>5137falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/93-identity-terror--60048350The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam.]]>1570390Mon, 21 Aug 2017 15:13:33 +0000Michał CzDouglas Murray is Associate Editor of the Spectator and writes frequently for a variety of other publications, including the Sunday Times, Standpoint and the Wall Street Journal. He has also given talks at both the British and European Parliaments and...The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam.]]>5241falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/92-the-limits-of-persuasion--60048317Very Bad Wizards Podcast.]]>1570394Wed, 16 Aug 2017 09:48:13 +0000Michał CzDavid Pizarro is an associate professor in the department of psychology at Cornell University. His research focuses on how and why humans make moral judgments (such as what makes us think certain actions are wrong, or that some people deserve blame or...Very Bad Wizards Podcast.]]>8457falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/91-the-biology-of-good-and-evil--60048320Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570398Wed, 09 Aug 2017 08:42:28 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Robert Sapolsky about the brain and human behavior. They discuss the relationship between reason and emotion, the role of the frontal cortex, the illusion of free will, punishment and retributive justice, neurological disorders...Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>5896falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/90-living-with-violence--60048341Gavin de Becker and Associates, advises many of the world’s most prominent media figures, corporations, and law enforcement agencies on predicting violence, and it also serves regular citizens who are victims of domestic abuse and stalking. Gavin is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Gift of Fear. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570402Sun, 06 Aug 2017 09:13:32 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Gavin de Becker about the primacy of human intuition in the prediction and prevention of violence, the value of crime statistics, self-defense, stalkers and assassinations, guns, and other topics. Gavin de Becker is a three-time...Gavin de Becker and Associates, advises many of the world’s most prominent media figures, corporations, and law enforcement agencies on predicting violence, and it also serves regular citizens who are victims of domestic abuse and stalking. Gavin is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Gift of Fear. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>8071falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/89-on-becoming-a-better-person--60048343The Road to Character. Twitter: @nytdavidbrooks]]>1570406Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:42:04 +0000Michał CzDavid Brooks is one of the nation’s leading writers and commentators. He is an op-ed columnist for The New York Times and appears regularly on the PBS NewsHour and Meet the Press. He is the bestselling author of The Social Animal,  Bobos in Paradise,...The Road to Character. Twitter: @nytdavidbrooks]]>3159falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/88-must-we-accept-a-nuclear-north-korea--60048393Black Hawk Down. He reported at the Philadelphia Inquirer for twenty years and now writes for the Atlantic, Vanity Fair, and other magazines. He is also the writer in residence at the University of Delaware. His most recent book is Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam. Article: “How to Deal with North Korea.” The Atlantic. (July/August, 2017).]]>1570453Fri, 21 Jul 2017 10:11:05 +0000Michał CzMark Bowden is the author of thirteen books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080214473X?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwsamharris03-20&camp=1789&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=080214473X. He reported at the...Black Hawk Down. He reported at the Philadelphia Inquirer for twenty years and now writes for the Atlantic, Vanity Fair, and other magazines. He is also the writer in residence at the University of Delaware. His most recent book is Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam. Article: “How to Deal with North Korea.” The Atlantic. (July/August, 2017).]]>4087falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/87-triggered--60048344How To Fail At Almost Everything And Still Win Big. His forthcoming book is Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don’t Matter.]]>1570457Tue, 18 Jul 2017 23:40:23 +0000Michał CzScott Adams is the creator of Dilbert, one of the most popular comic strips of all time. He has been a full-time cartoonist since 1995, after 16 years as a technology worker for companies like Crocker National Bank and Pacific Bell. His many...How To Fail At Almost Everything And Still Win Big. His forthcoming book is Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don’t Matter.]]>8248falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/86-from-cells-to-cities--60048366Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth, Innovation, Sustainability, and the Pace of Life in Organisms, Cities, Economies, and Companies.]]>1570461Fri, 14 Jul 2017 08:29:06 +0000Michał CzGeoffrey West is a theoretical physicist whose primary interests have been in fundamental questions in physics and biology. He is a Senior Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a distinguished professor at the Sante Fe Institute, where he...Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth, Innovation, Sustainability, and the Pace of Life in Organisms, Cities, Economies, and Companies.]]>7464falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/85-is-this-the-end-of-europe--60048403The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam.]]>1570465Fri, 07 Jul 2017 10:15:47 +0000Michał CzDouglas Murray is Associate Editor of the Spectator and writes frequently for a variety of other publications, including the Sunday Times, Standpoint and the Wall Street Journal. He has also given talks at both the British and European Parliaments and...The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam.]]>5308falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/84-landscapes-of-mind--60048375 The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future. ]]>1570469Fri, 30 Jun 2017 23:10:07 +0000Michał CzKevin Kelly helped launch Wired magazine and was its executive editor for its first seven years. He has written for The New York Times, The Economist, Science, Time, and The Wall Street Journal among many other publications. His previous books include... The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future. ]]>5978falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/83-the-politics-of-emergency--60048396In Defense of a Liberal Education. Twitter: @FareedZakaria]]>1570473Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:19:46 +0000Michał CzFareed Zakaria is host of CNN’s flagship international affairs program — Fareed Zakaria GPS — a Washington Post columnist, a contributing editor at The Atlantic and a New York Times bestselling author. He was described in 1999 by Esquire Magazine as...In Defense of a Liberal Education. Twitter: @FareedZakaria]]>5090falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/82-the-end-of-the-world-according-to-isis--60048406The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Twitter: @gcaw]]>1570477Thu, 15 Jun 2017 09:21:34 +0000Michał CzGraeme Wood is a national correspondent for The Atlantic. He has written for The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many other publications. He was the 2014–2015 Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow at the Council on Foreign...The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Twitter: @gcaw]]>5848falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/81-leaving-islam--60048351Ex-Muslims of North America. Twitter: @SarahTheHaider]]>1570481Fri, 09 Jun 2017 16:57:14 +0000Michał CzSarah Haider is the co-founder of the https://www.exmna.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahTheHaiderEx-Muslims of North America. Twitter: @SarahTheHaider]]>6325falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/80-the-unraveling--60048364@davidfrum]]>1570485Sat, 03 Jun 2017 23:30:45 +0000Michał CzDavid Frum is a senior editor at The Atlantic. In 2001–02, he was a speechwriter for President George W. Bush. Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidfrum@davidfrum]]>3418falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/79-the-road-to-tyranny--60048352On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list for nonfiction.]]>1570489Mon, 29 May 2017 16:46:33 +0000Michał CzTimothy Snyder is a professor of history at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He received his doctorate from the University of Oxford in 1997, where he was a British Marshall Scholar. Before joining...On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list for nonfiction.]]>4535falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/78-persuasion-and-control--60048452Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest. Twitter: @zeynep]]>1570493Fri, 26 May 2017 10:51:18 +0000Michał CzZeynep Tufekci is a contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, associate professor at the University of North Carolina School of Information and Library Science, and a faculty associate at the Harvard Berkman Center for Internet and Society....Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest. Twitter: @zeynep]]>5379falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/77-the-moral-complexity-of-genetics--60048381The Gene: An Intimate History.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570497Mon, 22 May 2017 10:45:23 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Siddhartha Mukherjee about the human desire to understand and manipulate heredity, the genius of Gregor Mendel, the ethics of altering our genes, the future of genetic medicine, patent issues in genetic research, and other...The Gene: An Intimate History.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6102falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/76-the-path-to-impeachment--600484171570501Thu, 18 May 2017 14:30:37 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Anne Applebaum and Juliette Kayyem about the unfolding Russia scandal in the White House.4790falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-7--600483722748Fri, 12 May 2017 13:41:00 +0000Michał CzIs it possible that the mindfulness notion of the self being an illusion is itself an illusion?Tell me some real life examples that are good for society and that are informed by Charles Murray's research in the bell curve.Do you think reducing animal...3484falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/74-what-should-we-eat--600483621570508Sat, 06 May 2017 13:33:30 +0000Michał CzGary Taubes is the author of Why We Get Fat; Good Calories, Bad Calories; and The Case Against Sugar. He is a former staff writer for Discover and a correspondent for the journal Science. His writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The...7214falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/73-forbidden-knowledge--60048387 The Bell Curve (coauthored with the late Richard J. Herrnstein), sparked heated controversy for its analysis of the role of IQ in shaping America’s class structure. Murray’s other books include What It Means to Be a Libertarian, Human Accomplishment, and In Our Hands. His 2012 book, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010 describes an unprecedented divergence in American classes over the last half century. Twitter: @charlesmurray]]>1570509Sat, 22 Apr 2017 23:35:02 +0000Michał CzCharles Murray is a political scientist and author. His 1994 New York Times bestseller, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0684824299?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwsamharris03-20&camp=1789&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=0684824299 (coauthored with the late... The Bell Curve (coauthored with the late Richard J. Herrnstein), sparked heated controversy for its analysis of the role of IQ in shaping America’s class structure. Murray’s other books include What It Means to Be a Libertarian, Human Accomplishment, and In Our Hands. His 2012 book, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010 describes an unprecedented divergence in American classes over the last half century. Twitter: @charlesmurray]]>8273falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/72-privacy-and-security--60048405Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror. ]]>1570516Mon, 17 Apr 2017 16:39:54 +0000Michał CzMichael Hayden is a retired United States Air Force four-star general and former Director of the National Security Agency, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He is currently a principal...Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror. ]]>2301falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/71-what-is-technology-doing-to-us--60048389Time Well Spent, where he focuses on how better incentives and design practices can create a world that helps us spend our time well. Harris’s work has been featured on 60 Minutes and the PBS NewsHour, and in many journals, websites, and conferences, including: The Atlantic, ReCode, TED, the Economist, Wired, the New York Times, Der Spiegel, and the New York Review of Books. He was rated #16 in Inc Magazine’s “Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30” in 2009 and holds several patents from his work at Apple, Wikia, Apture and Google. Harris graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Computer Science.]]>1570520Fri, 14 Apr 2017 14:32:13 +0000Michał CzTristan Harris has been called the “closest thing Silicon Valley has to a conscience,” by The Atlantic magazine. He was the Design Ethicist at Google and left the company to lead http://www.timewellspent.io/, where he focuses on how better incentives...Time Well Spent, where he focuses on how better incentives and design practices can create a world that helps us spend our time well. Harris’s work has been featured on 60 Minutes and the PBS NewsHour, and in many journals, websites, and conferences, including: The Atlantic, ReCode, TED, the Economist, Wired, the New York Times, Der Spiegel, and the New York Review of Books. He was rated #16 in Inc Magazine’s “Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30” in 2009 and holds several patents from his work at Apple, Wikia, Apture and Google. Harris graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Computer Science.]]>6356falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/70-beauty-and-terror--60048361The Greatest Story Ever Told—So Far: Why Are We Here?]]>1570531Mon, 10 Apr 2017 00:28:29 +0000Michał CzLawrence Krauss is a theoretical physicist and the director of the Origins Project at Arizona State University. He is the author of more than 300 scientific publications and nine books, including the international bestsellers, A Universe from Nothing...The Greatest Story Ever Told—So Far: Why Are We Here?]]>7990falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/69-the-russia-connection--60048435Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944-1956, which describes the imposition of Soviet totalitarianism in Central Europe after the Second World War. Her previous book, Gulag: A History, won the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction in 2004. Twitter: @anneapplebaum]]>1570535Thu, 23 Mar 2017 22:59:59 +0000Michał CzAnne Applebaum is a columnist for the Washington Post and a Pulitzer-prize winning historian. She is also a visiting Professor at the London School of Economics where she runs Arena, a program on disinformation and 21st century propaganda. Formerly a...Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944-1956, which describes the imposition of Soviet totalitarianism in Central Europe after the Second World War. Her previous book, Gulag: A History, won the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction in 2004. Twitter: @anneapplebaum]]>4879falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/68-reality-and-the-imagination--60048380Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570539Sun, 19 Mar 2017 09:30:15 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Yuval Noah Harari about meditation, the need for stories, the power of technology to erase the boundary between fact and fiction, wealth inequality, the problem of finding meaning in a world without work, religion as a virtual...Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>4801falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/67-meaning-and-chaos--600483861570543Mon, 13 Mar 2017 12:22:59 +0000Michał CzSam Harris and Jordan Peterson discuss science, religion, archetypes, mythology, and the perennial problem of finding meaning in life.6597falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/66-living-with-robots--60048390@grok_]]>1570547Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:13:12 +0000Michał CzKate Darling is a leading expert in robot ethics. She’s a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, where she investigates social robotics and conducts experimental studies on human-robot interaction. Kate is also a...@grok_]]>3862falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/65-we-re-all-cucks-now--60048455@davidfrum]]>1570551Mon, 20 Feb 2017 08:29:45 +0000Michał CzDavid Frum is a senior editor at The Atlantic. In 2001–02, he was a speechwriter for President George W. Bush. Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidfrum@davidfrum]]>4202falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-6--600483482749Wed, 15 Feb 2017 20:31:00 +0000Michał CzAny update on the project manager position?Sam addresses questions about conversation with Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist who was a guest on the podcast.What are your views on the so-called Muslim ban?Sam addresses questions about Milo...5184falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/63-why-meditate--600484191570555Tue, 31 Jan 2017 09:17:12 +0000Michał CzSam Harris and Joseph Goldstein answer questions about the practice of mindfulness. They discuss negative emotions, the importance of ethics, the concept of enlightenment, and other topics.6372falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/62-what-is-true--60048457Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief.]]>1570559Sat, 21 Jan 2017 07:57:59 +0000Michał CzJordan B. Peterson is a clinical psychologist and Professor at the University of Toronto. He formerly taught at Harvard University and has published numerous articles on drug abuse, alcoholism and aggression. He is the author of...Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief.]]>8151falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/61-the-power-of-belief--60048458The Looming Tower. His most recent book is The Terror Years: From al-Qaeda to the Islamic State.]]>1570563Sun, 15 Jan 2017 09:04:47 +0000Michał CzLawrence Wright is an author, screenwriter, playwright, and a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine. His works of nonfiction include In the New World, Remembering Satan, The Looming Tower, Going Clear, and Thirteen Days in September. He has also...The Looming Tower. His most recent book is The Terror Years: From al-Qaeda to the Islamic State.]]>7562falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/60-an-evening-with-richard-dawkins-and-sam-harris-2--600484081570567Tue, 10 Jan 2017 00:01:16 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Richard Dawkins at a live event in Los Angeles (second of two). They discuss Richard’s experience of having a stroke, the genetic future of humanity, the analogy between genes and memes, the “extended phenotype,” Islam and...4993falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/59-friend-foe--60048423Quilliam – a globally active organization focusing on matters of integration, citizenship & identity, religious freedom, immigration, extremism, and terrorism. Maajid’s work is informed by years spent in his youth as a leadership member of a global Islamist group, and his gradual transformation towards liberal democratic values. Having served four years as an Amnesty International adopted “prisoner of conscience” in Egypt, Maajid is now a leading critic of Islamism, while remaining a secular liberal Muslim. Maajid is an Honorary Associate of the UK’s National Secular Society, a weekly columnist for the Daily Beast, a monthly columnist for the liberal UK paper the ‘Jewish News’ and LBC radio’s weekend afternoon radio host. He also provides occasional columns for the London Times, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, among others. Maajid was the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate in London’s Hampstead & Kilburn for the May 2015 British General Election. A British-Pakistani born in Essex, Maajid speaks English, Arabic, and Urdu, holds a BA (Hons) from SOAS in Arabic and Law and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics (LSE). Maajid relates his life story in his first book, Radical. He co-authored his second book, Islam and the Future of Tolerance, with Sam Harris. Twitter: @maajidnawaz]]>1570571Thu, 05 Jan 2017 00:24:53 +0000Michał CzMaajid Nawaz is a counter-extremist, author, columnist, broadcaster and Founding Chairman of http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/ – a globally active organization focusing on matters of integration, citizenship & identity, religious freedom,...Quilliam – a globally active organization focusing on matters of integration, citizenship & identity, religious freedom, immigration, extremism, and terrorism. Maajid’s work is informed by years spent in his youth as a leadership member of a global Islamist group, and his gradual transformation towards liberal democratic values. Having served four years as an Amnesty International adopted “prisoner of conscience” in Egypt, Maajid is now a leading critic of Islamism, while remaining a secular liberal Muslim. Maajid is an Honorary Associate of the UK’s National Secular Society, a weekly columnist for the Daily Beast, a monthly columnist for the liberal UK paper the ‘Jewish News’ and LBC radio’s weekend afternoon radio host. He also provides occasional columns for the London Times, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, among others. Maajid was the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate in London’s Hampstead & Kilburn for the May 2015 British General Election. A British-Pakistani born in Essex, Maajid speaks English, Arabic, and Urdu, holds a BA (Hons) from SOAS in Arabic and Law and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics (LSE). Maajid relates his life story in his first book, Radical. He co-authored his second book, Islam and the Future of Tolerance, with Sam Harris. Twitter: @maajidnawaz]]>6991falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/58-the-putin-question--60048413Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped. ]]>1570575Tue, 27 Dec 2016 09:28:23 +0000Michał CzGarry Kasparov spent twenty years as the world’s number one ranked chess player. In 2005, he retired from professional chess to lead the pro-democracy opposition against Vladimir Putin, from street protests to coalition building. In 2012, he was named...Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped. ]]>5431falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/57-an-evening-with-richard-dawkins-and-sam-harris-1--600484311570579Sun, 18 Dec 2016 17:48:12 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Richard Dawkins at a live event in Los Angeles (first of two). They cover religion, Jurassic Park, artificial intelligence, elitism, continuing human evolution, and other topics.5531falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/56-abusing-dolores--60048448Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil and Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion.]]>1570583Mon, 12 Dec 2016 08:36:50 +0000Michał CzPaul Bloom is the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology at Yale University. His research explores how children and adults understand the physical and social world, with special focus on morality, religion, fiction, and art. He has won...Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil and Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion.]]>8385falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/55-islamism-vs-secularism--60048450Brookings Institution in the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World in the Center for Middle East Policy and the author of the new book Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam is Reshaping the World. His previous book, Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East, was named a Foreign Affairs “Best Book of 2014.” Hamid served as director of research at the Brookings Doha Center until January 2014. Prior to joining Brookings, he was director of research at the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and a Hewlett Fellow at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. Hamid is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and the vice-chair of POMED’s board of directors.]]>1570587Mon, 05 Dec 2016 21:01:48 +0000Michał CzShadi Hamid is a senior fellow at the https://www.brookings.edu/experts/shadi-hamid/ in the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World in the Center for Middle East Policy and the author of the new book...Brookings Institution in the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World in the Center for Middle East Policy and the author of the new book Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam is Reshaping the World. His previous book, Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East, was named a Foreign Affairs “Best Book of 2014.” Hamid served as director of research at the Brookings Doha Center until January 2014. Prior to joining Brookings, he was director of research at the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and a Hewlett Fellow at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. Hamid is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and the vice-chair of POMED’s board of directors.]]>9393falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/54-trumping-the-world--600484251570588Thu, 01 Dec 2016 12:15:36 +0000Michał CzJames Kirchick is a journalist and foreign correspondent currently based in Washington. He has reported from Southern and North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, across the European continent, and the Caucasus. Kirchick’s writing has appeared in...4896falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/53-the-dawn-of-artificial-intelligence--60048424Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Personal website: https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~russell/ Story discussed in this podcast: E.M. Forster. 1909. “The Machine Stops.”]]>1570595Wed, 23 Nov 2016 16:32:21 +0000Michał CzStuart Russell is a Professor of Computer Science and Smith-Zadeh Professor in Engineering, University of California, Berkeley and Adjunct Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco. He is the author (with Peter Norvig)...Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Personal website: https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~russell/ Story discussed in this podcast: E.M. Forster. 1909. “The Machine Stops.”]]>4539falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/52-finding-our-way-in-the-cosmos--60048401David Deutsch is best known as the founding father of the quantum theory of computation, and for his work on Everettian (multiverse) quantum theory. He is a Visiting Professor of Physics at Oxford University, where he works on “anything fundamental.” At present, that mainly means his proposed constructor theory. He has written two books – The Fabric of Reality and The Beginning of Infinity – aimed at the general reader.]]>1570599Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:12:55 +0000Michał Czhttp://www.daviddeutsch.org.uk is best known as the founding father of the quantum theory of computation, and for his work on Everettian (multiverse) quantum theory. He is a Visiting Professor of Physics at Oxford University, where he works on...David Deutsch is best known as the founding father of the quantum theory of computation, and for his work on Everettian (multiverse) quantum theory. He is a Visiting Professor of Physics at Oxford University, where he works on “anything fundamental.” At present, that mainly means his proposed constructor theory. He has written two books – The Fabric of Reality and The Beginning of Infinity – aimed at the general reader.]]>6446falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/51-the-most-powerful-clown--600484161570603Thu, 10 Nov 2016 13:26:13 +0000Michał CzSam Harris talks about the results of the 2016 presidential election and the prospects of a President Trump.1796falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/50-the-borders-of-tolerance--60048456Infidel (2007) and Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now (2015). She runs the AHA Foundation which seeks to elevate the status of women and girls globally. Lifting the Veil on “Islamophobia]]>1570607Wed, 02 Nov 2016 12:12:56 +0000Michał CzAyaan Hirsi Ali is a Senior Fellow with the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at The Harvard Kennedy School, a Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, and a member of the Council on...Infidel (2007) and Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now (2015). She runs the AHA Foundation which seeks to elevate the status of women and girls globally. Lifting the Veil on “Islamophobia]]>3522falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/49-the-lesser-evil--60048427The Conservative Soul and Virtually Normal. Sullivan’s blog, The Dish, pioneered online journalism from 2000 – 2015. He is at work on a collection of essays and a book on the future of Christianity. Andrew Sullivan. “I Used to Be a Human Being.” New York Magazine. September 18, 2016.]]>1570615Wed, 26 Oct 2016 12:06:47 +0000Michał CzAndrew Sullivan edited The New Republic from 1991 – 1996 and was an intellectual architect of the campaign for marriage equality. He is the author of...The Conservative Soul and Virtually Normal. Sullivan’s blog, The Dish, pioneered online journalism from 2000 – 2015. He is at work on a collection of essays and a book on the future of Christianity. Andrew Sullivan. “I Used to Be a Human Being.” New York Magazine. September 18, 2016.]]>8280falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/48-what-is-moral-progress--60048433Animal Liberation, The Most Good You Can Do, and many other books. His most recent book is Ethics in the Real World. He is also the co-founder of The Life You Can Save, a nonprofit devoted to spreading his ideas about why we should be doing much more to improve the lives of people living in extreme poverty. Website: www.petersinger.info
Twitter: @PeterSinger   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570624Fri, 21 Oct 2016 13:58:08 +0000Michał CzPeter Singer is Professor of Bioethics in the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University. He’s the author of...Animal Liberation, The Most Good You Can Do, and many other books. His most recent book is Ethics in the Real World. He is also the co-founder of The Life You Can Save, a nonprofit devoted to spreading his ideas about why we should be doing much more to improve the lives of people living in extreme poverty. Website: www.petersinger.info
Twitter: @PeterSinger   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>7053falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/47-the-frontiers-of-political-correctness--60048373The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature; The Evolutionary Bases of Consumption; Evolutionary Psychology in the Business Sciences, along with 75+ scientific papers, many at the intersection of evolutionary psychology and a broad range of disciplines including consumer behavior, marketing, advertising, psychology, medicine, and economics. He received a B.Sc. (1988) and an M.B.A. (1990) both from McGill University, and his M.S. (1993) and Ph.D. (1994) from Cornell University. YouTube Channel: The Saad Truth Twitter: @GadSaad]]>1570628Thu, 06 Oct 2016 11:17:27 +0000Michał CzGad Saad is Professor of Marketing at Concordia University (Montreal, Canada) and the holder of the Concordia University Research Chair in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences and Darwinian Consumption. He has held Visiting Associate Professorships at...The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature; The Evolutionary Bases of Consumption; Evolutionary Psychology in the Business Sciences, along with 75+ scientific papers, many at the intersection of evolutionary psychology and a broad range of disciplines including consumer behavior, marketing, advertising, psychology, medicine, and economics. He received a B.Sc. (1988) and an M.B.A. (1990) both from McGill University, and his M.S. (1993) and Ph.D. (1994) from Cornell University. YouTube Channel: The Saad Truth Twitter: @GadSaad]]>6489falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/46-the-end-of-faith-sessions-3--600484221570632Tue, 27 Sep 2016 23:56:52 +0000Michał CzSam Harris reads and discusses the third chapter of “The End of Faith.” Topics include: Christianity, Judaism, the Inquisition, witchcraft, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust.3933falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-5--600483822750Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:53:00 +0000Michał CzSam address questions regarding his Brazilian jiu-jitsu practice: Do I still train? What belt do I have? Why do I think the sport is so addictive?Can you expand on the topic of free will?What is the difference between Eckhart Tolle and Osho? According...4832falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/44-being-good-and-doing-good--60048371Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours, and the Centre for Effective Altruism. William is the author of Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference.]]>1571218Mon, 29 Aug 2016 11:52:44 +0000Michał CzWilliam MacAskill is an Associate Professor in Philosophy at Lincoln College, Oxford. He was educated at Cambridge, Princeton, and Oxford. He is one of the primary voices in a movement in philanthropy known as “effective altruism” and the cofounder of...Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours, and the Centre for Effective Altruism. William is the author of Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference.]]>7819falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/43-what-do-jihadists-really-want--600483831570637Wed, 17 Aug 2016 09:13:25 +0000Michał CzSam Harris reads from an issue of Dabiq, the magazine of ISIS, and discusses the beliefs and goals of jihadists worldwide.2909falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/42-racism-and-violence-in-america--60048388One by One, From the Inside Out: Essays and Reviews on Race and Responsibility in America (The Free Press, 1995 – winner of the American Book Award and the Christianity Today Book Award); The Anatomy of Racial Inequality (Harvard University Press, 2002); Ethnicity, Social Mobility and Public Policy: Comparing the US and the UK (ed., Cambridge University Press, 2005); and, Race, Incarceration and American Values (M.I.T. Press, 2008). Glenn Loury hosts The Glenn Show on Bloggingheads.tv, and he can be reached on Twitter at @GlennLoury. Books and articles discussed in this podcast: Ta-Nehisi Coates. “The Case for Reparations.” The Atlantic. June, 2014. Thomas Chatterton Williams. “Loaded Dice.” The London Review of Books. December, 2015. Benjamin Wallace-Wells. “The Hard Truths of Ta-Nehisi Coates.” New York Magazine. July, 2015. Jill Leovy. Ghettoside. Spiegel & Grau. 2015. Roland G. Fryer, Jr. “An Empirical Analysis of Racial Differences in Police Use of Force.” National Bureau of Economic Research working paper. July, 2016. Glenn C. Loury. “Ferguson Won’t Change Anything. What Will?” The Boston Review. January, 2015.]]>1570641Mon, 08 Aug 2016 20:21:51 +0000Michał CzGlenn C. Loury is the Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences and Professor of Economics at Brown University. He has taught previously at Boston, Harvard and Northwestern Universities, and the University of Michigan. He holds a B.A. in...One by One, From the Inside Out: Essays and Reviews on Race and Responsibility in America (The Free Press, 1995 – winner of the American Book Award and the Christianity Today Book Award); The Anatomy of Racial Inequality (Harvard University Press, 2002); Ethnicity, Social Mobility and Public Policy: Comparing the US and the UK (ed., Cambridge University Press, 2005); and, Race, Incarceration and American Values (M.I.T. Press, 2008). Glenn Loury hosts The Glenn Show on Bloggingheads.tv, and he can be reached on Twitter at @GlennLoury. Books and articles discussed in this podcast: Ta-Nehisi Coates. “The Case for Reparations.” The Atlantic. June, 2014. Thomas Chatterton Williams. “Loaded Dice.” The London Review of Books. December, 2015. Benjamin Wallace-Wells. “The Hard Truths of Ta-Nehisi Coates.” New York Magazine. July, 2015. Jill Leovy. Ghettoside. Spiegel & Grau. 2015. Roland G. Fryer, Jr. “An Empirical Analysis of Racial Differences in Police Use of Force.” National Bureau of Economic Research working paper. July, 2016. Glenn C. Loury. “Ferguson Won’t Change Anything....]]>7592falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/41-faith-in-reason--60048440@EricRWeinstein. Articles mentioned in this podcast:
A. Koestler. “The Nightmare That Is a Reality” The New York Times Magazine. January 9, 1944. S. Harris. “Islam and the Misuses of Ecstasy” Visual aid:  ]]>1570645Mon, 01 Aug 2016 11:43:35 +0000Michał CzEric R. Weinstein is a managing director of Thiel Capital in San Francisco. He is also a research fellow at the Mathematical Institute of Oxford University. Weinstein speaks and publishes on a variety of topics including, gauge theory, immigration,...@EricRWeinstein. Articles mentioned in this podcast:
A. Koestler. “The Nightmare That Is a Reality” The New York Times Magazine. January 9, 1944. S. Harris. “Islam and the Misuses of Ecstasy” Visual aid:  ]]>8536falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/40-complexity-stupidity--60048438 www.santafe.edu The article discussed in this podcast: The Empty Brain Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570649Mon, 11 Jul 2016 23:51:57 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with biologist David Krakauer about information, intelligence, the role of IQ, complex systems, technological advancement, the future of humanity, and other topics. David Krakauer is President and William H. Miller Professor of... www.santafe.edu The article discussed in this podcast: The Empty Brain Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6176falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/39-free-will-revisited--60048437Reflections on “Free Will”
by Daniel C. Dennett The Marionette’s Lament
by Sam Harris]]>1570653Sun, 03 Jul 2016 21:13:55 +0000Michał CzEssays mentioned in this podcast: https://www.samharris.org/blog/reflections-on-free-will by Daniel C. Dennett https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-marionettes-lament by Sam HarrisReflections on “Free Will”
by Daniel C. Dennett The Marionette’s Lament
by Sam Harris]]>6199falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/38-the-end-of-faith-sessions-2--600484281570657Wed, 15 Jun 2016 12:21:21 +0000Michał CzSam Harris reads and discusses the second chapter of “The End of Faith.” However, the first hour of this podcast focuses on Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and the political implications of the recent terrorist attack in Orlando. Discussion of The End...5731falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/37-thinking-in-public--60048391The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist and Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, and Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier. Recently, Tyson served as executive editor, host, and narrator for Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey, the 21st century continuation of Carl Sagan’s landmark television series. The show began in March 2014 and ran thirteen episodes in Primetime on the FOX network, and appeared in 181 countries in 45 languages around the world on the National Geographic Channels. Cosmos won four Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, two Critics Choice awards, as well as a dozen other industry recognitions.]]>1570661Tue, 31 May 2016 15:19:11 +0000Michał CzNeil deGrasse Tyson is the head of Hayden Planetarium in New York City and the first occupant of its Frederick P. Rose Directorship. He is also a research associate of the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. His...The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist and Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, and Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier. Recently, Tyson served as executive editor, host, and narrator for Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey, the 21st century continuation of Carl Sagan’s landmark television series. The show began in March 2014 and ran thirteen episodes in Primetime on the FOX network, and appeared in 181 countries in 45 languages around the world on the National Geographic Channels. Cosmos won four Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, two Critics Choice awards, as well as a dozen other industry recognitions.]]>6265falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/36-what-makes-us-safer--60048439Security Mom: An Unclassified Guide to Protecting Our Homeland and Your Home.]]>1570665Mon, 02 May 2016 10:44:20 +0000Michał CzJuliette Kayyem is one of the nation’s leading experts in homeland security. A former member of the National Commission on Terrorism, and the state of Massachusetts’ first homeland security advisor, Kayyem served as President Obama’s Assistant...Security Mom: An Unclassified Guide to Protecting Our Homeland and Your Home.]]>4934falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/35-the-end-of-faith-sessions-1--600484071570669Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:43:55 +0000Michał CzIn this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris reads and discusses the first chapter of The End of Faith.7225falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/34-the-light-of-the-mind--60048445The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory was successful with both popular and academic audiences. Chalmers co-founded the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness and has organized some of the most important conferences in the field. He also works on many other issues in philosophy and cognitive science, and has articles on the possibility of a “singularity” in artificial intelligence and on philosophical issues arising from the movie The Matrix. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570673Mon, 18 Apr 2016 09:43:37 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with philosopher David Chalmers about the nature of consciousness, the challenges of understanding it scientifically, and the prospect that we will one day build it into our machines. David Chalmers is Professor of Philosophy and...The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory was successful with both popular and academic audiences. Chalmers co-founded the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness and has organized some of the most important conferences in the field. He also works on many other issues in philosophy and cognitive science, and has articles on the possibility of a “singularity” in artificial intelligence and on philosophical issues arising from the movie The Matrix. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6256falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-4--600484362751Sat, 26 Mar 2016 00:22:00 +0000Michał CzAnxiety is a monster that is crippling and paralyzed and keeps you in a loop of debiliating negative emotions even when one desperately wants out. What are the causes? What can one do to help themselves? What steps big or small do you suggest?What are...3454falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/32-the-best-podcast-ever--600484441570677Sat, 12 Mar 2016 11:25:38 +0000Michał CzSam Harris talks to Omer Aziz about Islam, Islamism, free speech, and related topics.12677falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/31-evolving-minds--60048409The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion.]]>1570681Wed, 09 Mar 2016 00:25:03 +0000Michał CzJonathan Haidt is a social psychologist at the NYU-Stern School of Business. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992, and spent most of his career (1995-2011) at the University of Virginia. Haidt’s research examines the...The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion.]]>5483falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/30-inside-the-crucible-syria-and-the-islamic-state--60048392ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror. He also edits The Interpreter, an online translation and analysis journal devoted to all things Russian and Ukrainian. To support the Making Sense podcast, please visit: https://www.samharris.org/support]]>1570685Sun, 06 Mar 2016 08:54:04 +0000Michał CzMichael Weiss is a Senior Editor at The Daily Beast and co-author of the New York Times bestseller http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1941393578?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1941393578&linkCode=xm2&tag=wwwsamharris03-20. He also edits...ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror. He also edits The Interpreter, an online translation and analysis journal devoted to all things Russian and Ukrainian. To support the Making Sense podcast, please visit: https://www.samharris.org/support]]>5926falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/29-throw-open-the-gates--60048443Fitnah (a movement for women’s liberation), Equal Rights Now, One Law for All (against Sharia Law in Britain), and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. She hosts a weekly television program in Persian and English called Bread and Roses, which is broadcast in Iran and the Middle East via New Channel TV. Website: maryamnamazie.com Twitter: @MaryamNamazie]]>1570689Wed, 24 Feb 2016 13:08:36 +0000Michał CzSam Harris responds to criticism of his views on the Apple-FBI controversy and then speaks with Maryam Namazie about friendly fire among secularists, profiling, the immigration crisis in Europe, and other topics. Maryam Namazie is an Iranian-born...Fitnah (a movement for women’s liberation), Equal Rights Now, One Law for All (against Sharia Law in Britain), and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. She hosts a weekly television program in Persian and English called Bread and Roses, which is broadcast in Iran and the Middle East via New Channel TV. Website: maryamnamazie.com Twitter: @MaryamNamazie]]>7191falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/28-meat-without-misery--60048421Memphis Meats, about the future of food production.]]>1570693Sat, 20 Feb 2016 07:35:23 +0000Michał CzSam Harris offers a few more thoughts on Clinton vs Sanders, as well as on the ethics of strong encryption. He then speaks with Uma Valeti, cardiologist and CEO of http://www.memphismeats.com, about the future of food production.Memphis Meats, about the future of food production.]]>2888falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-3--600484422752Fri, 12 Feb 2016 17:33:00 +0000Michał CzSam shares his thoughts on Eiynah Nice Mango's "Open Letter to Sam Harris" alleging that Douglas Murray is a bigot.How should we differentiate labels used for clarity and labels used in a way that encourages tribalism?What about the idea of "free...4180falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/26-the-logic-of-violence--60048420Echelon Front, where he is a leadership instructor, speaker, and executive coach. Jocko spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising through the ranks to become an officer. As commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the battle of Ramadi, he orchestrated SEAL operations that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the US Army’s First Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city. Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the Iraq War. Jocko returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams. There, he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders who have continued to perform with great success on the battlefield. During his career, Jocko was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and numerous other personal and unit awards. Jocko is the author (along with Leif Babin) of Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win.  ]]>1570697Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:03:33 +0000Michał CzJocko Willink is a retired Navy SEAL officer, and co-founder of http://www.echelonfront.com, where he is a leadership instructor, speaker, and executive coach. Jocko spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising...Echelon Front, where he is a leadership instructor, speaker, and executive coach. Jocko spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising through the ranks to become an officer. As commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the battle of Ramadi, he orchestrated SEAL operations that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the US Army’s First Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city. Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the Iraq War. Jocko returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams. There, he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders who have continued to perform with great success on the battlefield. During his career, Jocko was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and numerous other personal and unit awards. Jocko is the author (along with Leif Babin) of Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win.  ]]>6299falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/25-behind-the-gun--60048397The Art of Modern Gunfighting: The Pistol (Volume 1). For more information please visit his website: www.internationaltactical.com Videos mentioned in this podcast:
1. Police Taser Man on Drugs at McDonald’s
2. Police Release Webcam Video of Walmart Brawl]]>1570698Thu, 14 Jan 2016 09:19:47 +0000Michał CzScott Reitz is a thirty-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police department. He worked in the elite Metropolitan Division and finally as a member of ‘D’ platoon (SWAT). He remained there for ten years until he became the primary firearms and tactics...The Art of Modern Gunfighting: The Pistol (Volume 1). For more information please visit his website: www.internationaltactical.com Videos mentioned in this podcast:
1. Police Taser Man on Drugs at McDonald’s
2. Police Release Webcam Video of Walmart Brawl]]>6206falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-2--600484142753Mon, 04 Jan 2016 08:24:00 +0000Michał CzSam addresses Twitter controversy regarding Fareed Zakaria, Dalia Mogahed, and John Esposito.What progress have you made toward becoming vegetarian or vegan?If the Islamic reformation/modernization movement doesn't succeed, what do you think should be...5546falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/23-islam-and-the-future-of-tolerance-a-dialogue--600484411570799Mon, 21 Dec 2015 14:33:12 +0000Michał Cz   4189falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/22-surviving-the-cosmos--60048447constructor theory. He has written two books – The Fabric of Reality and The Beginning of Infinity – aimed at the general reader. Website: www.daviddeutsch.org.uk   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570803Wed, 16 Dec 2015 07:06:50 +0000Michał CzSam Harris talks to physicist David Deutsch about the reach and power of human knowledge, the future of artificial intelligence, and the survival of civilization. David Deutsch is best known as the founding father of the quantum theory of computation,...constructor theory. He has written two books – The Fabric of Reality and The Beginning of Infinity – aimed at the general reader. Website: www.daviddeutsch.org.uk   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>6776falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/21-on-the-maintenance-of-civilization--60048454Migrant Crisis? Europe Hasn’t Seen Anything Yet
by Douglas Murray]]>1570807Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:24:19 +0000Michał CzFurther reading: http://standpointmag.co.uk/features-october-2015-douglas-murray-migrant-crisi-we-aint-seen-nothing-yet?page=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1by Douglas MurrayMigrant Crisis? Europe Hasn’t Seen Anything Yet
by Douglas Murray]]>7883falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/20-still-sleepwalking-toward-armageddon--600484021570811Sun, 15 Nov 2015 15:48:08 +0000Michał Cz  1378falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/19-the-riddle-of-the-gun-revisited--600484491570815Thu, 08 Oct 2015 11:50:55 +0000Michał Cz  5721falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/18-the-multiverse-you-you-you-you--60048426Our Mathematical Universe. For more information about his work, please visit his MIT website and the Future of Life Institute. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570819Wed, 23 Sep 2015 12:43:17 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with MIT cosmologist Max Tegmark about the foundations of science, our current understanding of the universe, the risks of future breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, and other topics. Max Tegmark is a professor of physics who...Our Mathematical Universe. For more information about his work, please visit his MIT website and the Future of Life Institute. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>5160falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/17-what-i-really-think-about-profiling--600484101570824Wed, 16 Sep 2015 16:48:40 +0000Michał CzSam Harris responds to misrepresentations of his views (again).741falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/16-the-dark-side--60048412Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil.]]>1570829Tue, 25 Aug 2015 23:05:45 +0000Michał CzPaul Bloom is the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology at Yale University. His research explores how children and adults understand the physical and social world, with special focus on morality, religion, fiction, and art. He has won...Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil.]]>5645falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/15-questions-along-the-path--60048453The Path and the Goal. Joseph Goldstein has been leading meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society, the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, and the Forest Refuge. Since 1967, he has practiced different forms of Buddhist meditation under eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet. His books include The Experience of Insight, A Heart Full of Peace, One Dharma, and Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening. For those interested in practicing mindfulness, Joseph and Dan Harris have developed a short meditation course as an app, 10% Happier: Meditation for Skeptics. You can begin the course for free, and if you choose to purchase the full course, you will receive a 20 percent discount by using the code: WAKINGUP (all caps required).]]>1570834Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:51:00 +0000Michał CzSam and Joseph discuss the practice of meditation and answer questions that came from listeners in response to their first conversation, http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the-path-and-the-goal Joseph Goldstein has been leading meditation retreats...The Path and the Goal. Joseph Goldstein has been leading meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society, the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, and the Forest Refuge. Since 1967, he has practiced different forms of Buddhist meditation under eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet. His books include The Experience of Insight, A Heart Full of Peace, One Dharma, and Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening. For those interested in practicing mindfulness, Joseph and Dan Harris have developed a short meditation course as an app, 10% Happier: Meditation for Skeptics. You can begin the course for free, and if you choose to purchase the full course, you will receive a 20 percent discount by using the code: WAKINGUP (all caps required).]]>5942falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/14-the-virtues-of-cold-blood--60048430The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>1570839Wed, 29 Jul 2015 09:51:24 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with psychologist Paul Bloom about the limitations of empathy as a guide to moral reasoning, why empathy is a bad metric for measuring one’s character, cognitive biases, and other topics. Paul Bloom is Professor of Psychology at the...The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning. Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.]]>5398falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/13-the-moral-gaze--600484511570844Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:11:36 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with the filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer about his remarkable documentaries, The Act of Killing and The Look of Silence.4226falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/12-leaving-the-church--600484461570848Fri, 03 Jul 2015 14:19:30 +0000Michał CzSam Harris speaks with Megan Phelps-Roper, granddaughter of Fred Phelps of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church.4428falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/11-shouldering-the-burden-of-history--60048459transcript.]]>1570852Sat, 27 Jun 2015 09:00:38 +0000Michał CzSam Harris and Dan Carlin (host of the Hardcore History and Common Sense podcasts) discuss American interventionism, the war on terror, and related topics. Read the https://samharris.org/blog/shouldering-the-burden-of-history-podcast-transcripttranscript.]]>7628falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/10-faith-vs-fact--60048429Faith vs. Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible. Coyne is a contributor The New York Times, The New Republic, The Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, The Nation, USA Today, and other popular periodicals.Many people are confused about science—about what it is, how it is practiced, and why it is the most powerful method for understanding ourselves and the universe that our species has ever devised. In Faith vs. Fact, Coyne has written a wonderful primer on what it means to think scientifically, showing that the honest doubts of science are better—and more noble—than the false certainties of religion. This is a profound and lovely book. It should be required reading at every college on earth.
—Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith, The Moral Landscape, and Waking Up The distinguished geneticist Jerry Coyne trains his formidable intellectual firepower on religious faith, and it’s hard to see how any reasonable person can resist the conclusions of his superbly argued book. Though religion will live on in the minds of the unlettered, in educated circles faith is entering its death throes. Symptomatic of its terminal desperation are the ‘apophatic’ pretensions of ‘sophisticated theologians,’ for whose empty obscurantism Coyne reserves his most devastating sallies. Read this book and recommend it to two friends.
—Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion The truth is not always halfway between two extremes: some propositions are flat wrong. In this timely and important book, Jerry Coyne expertly exposes the incoherence of the increasingly popular belief that you can have it both ways: that God (or something God-ish, God-like, or God-oid) sort-of exists;  that miracles kind-of happen; and that the truthiness of dogma is somewhat-a-little-bit-more-or-less-who’s-to-say-it-isn’t like the truths of science and reason.
—Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology, Harvard University; author of The Better Angels of Our Nature]]>1570856Tue, 19 May 2015 14:39:04 +0000Michał CzJerry A. Coyne is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago. He received a B.S. in Biology from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology at Harvard University. After a postdoctoral...Faith vs. Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible. Coyne is a contributor The New York Times, The New Republic, The Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, The Nation, USA Today, and other popular periodicals.Many people are confused about science—about what it is, how it is practiced, and why it is the most powerful method for understanding ourselves and the universe that our species has ever devised. In Faith vs. Fact, Coyne has written a wonderful primer on what it means to think scientifically, showing that the honest doubts of science are better—and more noble—than the false certainties of religion. This is a profound and lovely book. It should be required reading at every college on earth.
—Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith, The Moral Landscape, and Waking Up The distinguished geneticist Jerry Coyne trains his formidable intellectual firepower on religious faith, and it’s hard to see how any reasonable person can resist the conclusions of his superbly argued book. Though religion will live on in the minds of the unlettered, in educated circles faith is entering its death throes. Symptomatic of its terminal desperation are the ‘apophatic’ pretensions of ‘sophisticated theologians,’ for whose empty obscurantism Coyne reserves his most devastating sallies. Read this book and recommend it to two friends.
—Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion The truth is not always halfway between two extremes: some propositions are flat wrong. In this timely and important book, Jerry Coyne expertly exposes the incoherence of the increasingly popular belief that you can have it both ways: that God (or something God-ish, God-like, or God-oid) sort-of exists;  that miracles kind-of happen; and that the truthiness of dogma is somewhat-a-little-bit-more-or-less-who’s-to-say-it-isn’t like the truths of science and reason.
—Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology, Harvard University; author of The Better Angels of Our Nature]]>3950falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/9-final-thoughts-on-chomsky--60049044my conversation with Noam Chomsky, so in order to inoculate us all against that—or, at least, to make those questions more informed by my view of what happened—I wanted to do a short podcast dealing with the larger problem, as I see it, of having conversations of this kind. More and more, I find myself attempting to have difficult conversations with people who hold very different points of view. And I consider our general failure to have these conversations well—so as to produce an actual convergence of opinion and a general increase in goodwill between the participants—to be the most consequential problem that exists. Apart from violence and other forms of coercion, all we have is conversation with which to influence one another. The fact that it is so difficult for people to have civil and productive conversations about things like U.S. foreign policy, or racial inequality, or religious tolerance and free speech, is profoundly disorienting. And it’s also dangerous. If we fail to do this, we will fail to do everything else of value. Conversation is our only tool for collaborating in a truly open-ended way. So I’ve been experimenting by reaching out to people to have difficult conversations. I recently did this with the Muslim reformer Maajid Nawaz, which resulted in a short book, Islam and the Future of Tolerance, that will be published in the fall. As you’ll read in that book, this was not at all guaranteed to work—Maajid and I had a very inauspicious first meeting—but when I later saw the work he was doing, I reached out to him, and the resulting conversation is one in which we made genuine progress. He opened my mind on several important points and, most important, it was a genuine pleasure to show readers that conversation, even on genuinely polarizing topics, can occasionally serve its intended purpose, which is to change minds—even one’s own. Here, I would draw a distinction between a conversation and a debate. They’re superficially similar when the parties disagree, but to have one’s mind changed in a debate is to lose the debate and, very likely, to lose face before one’s audience. This is an incredibly counterproductive way to frame any inquiry into what is true. Occasionally, I engage in public debates, but I’ve never approached them like a high school exercise where one is committed to not changing one’s view. I don’t want to be wrong for a moment longer than I need to be, and if my opponent is right about something, and I can see that, then I will be very quick to admit it. So my dialogue with Maajid was not really a debate, even though at times we were pushing rather hard against one another. It was, rather, a conversation. On the heels of that success, I decided to attempt a similar project with Noam Chomsky, and the results of my failure are on my blog for all to see. Of course, many people understood exactly what I was trying to do and why I published the exchange, and they apparently appreciated my efforts. I tried to have a civil conversation on an important topic with a very influential thinker, and I failed. I published the result because I thought the failure was instructive—the whole purpose was to extract something of value from what seemed like a truly pointless exercise. But that’s not the lesson many readers took away from it. Many of you seem to think that the conversation failed because I arrogantly challenged Chomsky to a debate—probably because I was trying to steal some measure of his fame—and that I immediately found myself out of my depth. And when he devastated me with the evidence of my own intellectual misconduct, and my ignorance of history, and my blind faith in the goodness of the U.S. government, I complained about his being “mean” to me, and I ran away. Well, I must say, I find this view of the situation genuinely flabbergasting. Many of you seem to forget that I published the exchange—you must think I’m a total masochist, or just delusional. Now, I know that some of you think the latter. I heard from one person, I think it was on Twitter, who said, “Sam Harris reminds me of a little kid who thinks he’s playing a video game, and thinks he’s winning, but his controller isn’t actually plugged in.” I happen to love that metaphor. I’m just not so happy to have it applied to me. Anyone who thinks I’ve lost a debate here just doesn’t understand what I was trying to do or why, upon seeing that my attempt at dialogue was a total failure, I bailed out. I really was trying to have a productive conversation with Chomsky, and I encountered little more than contempt, false accusations, and highly moralizing language—accusing me of apologizing for atrocities—and weird evasions, and silly tricks. It was a horror show. I concede that I made a few missteps: I should have dealt with Chomsky’s charges that I misrepresented him immediately and very directly. They are, in fact, tissue-thin. I did not misrepresent his views at all. I simply said that he had not thought about certain questions when I should have said he had thought about them badly. Those of you who have written to tell me that what I did to Chomsky is analogous to what has been done to me by people who actually lie about my views are just not interacting honestly with what happened here: I did not misrepresent Chomsky’s position on anything. And, insults aside, he was doing everything in his power to derail the conversation. The amazing thing is that highly moralizing accusations work for people who think they’re watching a debate. They convince most of the audience that where there’s smoke there must be fire. For instance, when Ben Affleck called me and Bill Maher “racist,” that was all he had to do to convince 50% of the audience. I’m sorry to say that it was the same with Chomsky. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve heard from who think that he showed how ludicrous and unethical my concern about intentions was, for instance—he’s dealing in the “real world,” but all my talk about intentions was just a bizarre and useless bit of philosophizing. But think about that for a second: our legal system depends upon weighing intentions in precisely the way I describe. How else do we differentiate between premeditated murders, crimes of passion, manslaughter, criminal negligence, and terrible accidents for which no one is to blame? Imagine your neighbor’s house burns down and yours with it—what the hell happened? What happened has a lot to do with your neighbor’s intentions. If he had a cooking fire that got out of control, that’s one thing. If he tried to burn down his own house to collect the insurance payment, that’s another. If he tried to burn down the whole neighborhood, because he just hates everyone, that’s another. Intentions matter because they contain all of the information about what your neighbor is likely to do next. There’s a spectrum of culpability here and intention is its very substance. Chomsky seems to think that he has made a great moral discovery in this area and that not intending a harm can sometimes be morally worse than intending one. Now I’m pretty sure that I disagree, but I would have loved to discuss it. I wasn’t debating him about anything, I was trying to figure out what the man actually believes. It’s still not clear to me, because he appeared to be contradicting himself in our exchange. But in response to my questions and the thought experiments I was marshaling in an attempt to get to first principles, all I got back were insults. But worse, many people seem to think that these insults were a sign of the man’s moral seriousness. Many seem to think that belligerence and an unwillingness to have a civil dialogue is a virtue in any encounter like this, and that simply vilifying one’s opponent as a moral monster, by merely declaring him to be one, is a clever thing to do. Now, despite what every Chomsky fan seems to think, there was nowhere in that exchange where I signaled my unwillingness to acknowledge or to discuss specific crimes for which for the U.S. government might be responsible. The United States, and the West generally, has a history of colonialism, slavery, collusion with dictators, and of imposing its will on people all over the world. I have never denied this. But I’m now hearing from people who say things like, “well of course ISIS and al-Qaeda are terrible, but we’re just as bad, worse even, because we created them—literally. And through our selfishness and ineptitude, we created millions of other victims who sympathize with them for obvious reasons. We are, in every morally relevant sense, getting exactly what we deserve.” This kind of masochism and misreading of both ourselves and of our enemies has become a kind of religious precept on the Left. I don’t think an inability to distinguish George Bush or Bill Clinton from Saddam Hussein or Hitler is philosophically or politically interesting, much less wise. And many people, most even, who are this morally confused consider Chomsky their patriarch—and I suspect that’s not an accident. But I wanted to talk to him to see if there was some way to build a bridge off of this island of masochism so that these sorts of people, who I’ve been hearing from for years, could cross over to something more reasonable. And it didn’t work out. The conversation, as I said, was a total failure. But I thought it was an instructive one. So, I don’t know if that answers all of the questions I’m going to get about the Chomsky affair, but when I put out a call for an AMA later this week, forgive me for moving on to other topics, because I]]>1570860Thu, 14 May 2015 19:36:42 +0000Michał CzSam Harris reflects on his failure to have a productive conversation with Noam Chomsky. Audio Transcipt: I wanted to do another “Ask me Anything” podcast, but I know I’m going to get inundated with questions about...my conversation with Noam Chomsky, so in order to inoculate us all against that—or, at least, to make those questions more informed by my view of what happened—I wanted to do a short podcast dealing with the larger problem, as I see it, of having conversations of this kind. More and more, I find myself attempting to have difficult conversations with people who hold very different points of view. And I consider our general failure to have these conversations well—so as to produce an actual convergence of opinion and a general increase in goodwill between the participants—to be the most consequential problem that exists. Apart from violence and other forms of coercion, all we have is conversation with which to influence one another. The fact that it is so difficult for people to have civil and productive conversations about things like U.S. foreign policy, or racial inequality, or religious tolerance and free speech, is profoundly disorienting. And it’s also dangerous. If we fail to do this, we will fail to do everything else of value. Conversation is our only tool for collaborating in a truly open-ended way. So I’ve been experimenting by reaching out to people to have difficult conversations. I recently did this with the Muslim reformer Maajid Nawaz, which resulted in a short book, Islam and the Future of Tolerance, that will be published in the fall. As you’ll read in that book, this was not at all guaranteed to work—Maajid and I had a very inauspicious first meeting—but when I later saw the work he was doing, I reached out to him, and the resulting conversation is one in which we made genuine progress. He opened my mind on several important points and, most important, it was a genuine pleasure to show readers that conversation, even on genuinely polarizing topics, can occasionally serve its intended purpose, which is to change minds—even one’s own. Here, I would draw a distinction between a conversation and a debate. They’re superficially similar when the parties disagree, but to have one’s mind changed in a debate is to lose the debate and, very likely, to lose face before one’s audience. This is an incredibly counterproductive way to frame any inquiry into what is true. Occasionally, I engage in public debates, but I’ve never approached them like a high school exercise where one is committed to not changing one’s view. I don’t want to be wrong for a moment longer than I need to be, and if my opponent is right about something, and I can see that, then I will be very quick to admit it. So my dialogue with Maajid was not really a debate, even though at times we were pushing rather hard against one another. It was, rather, a conversation. On the heels of that success, I decided to attempt a similar project with Noam Chomsky, and the results of my failure are on my blog for all to see. Of course, many people understood exactly what I was trying to do and why I published the exchange, and they apparently appreciated my efforts. I tried to have a civil conversation on an important topic with a very influential thinker, and I failed. I published the result because I thought the failure was instructive—the whole purpose was to extract something of value from what seemed like a truly pointless exercise. But that’s not the lesson many readers took away from it. Many of you seem to think that the conversation failed because I arrogantly challenged Chomsky to a debate—probably because I was trying to steal some measure of his fame—and that I immediately found myself out of my depth. And when he devastated me with the evidence of my own intellectual misconduct, and my ignorance of history, and my blind faith in the...]]>637falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ask-me-anything-1--600490472754Sat, 25 Apr 2015 08:59:00 +0000Michał CzHow does the struggle of atheists for acceptance compare with that of women, blacks, gays, etc? How long until true equality arrives?What is your view on laws that prevent people from not hiring on the basis of religion?Can you say something about...4065falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/7-through-the-eyes-of-a-cult--60049058The book is well worth-reading, and the film is really a devastating takedown of Scientology. I can’t imagine it won’t do the organization lasting harm if enough people see it. It exposes how goofy L. Ron Hubbard was and how sinister his organization soon became under him and his successors. So, do see that film. It’s playing on HBO and had a theatrical release, as well. But I’ve mostly been thinking about the Heaven’s Gate cult which, as you might recall, about 18 years ago came to the world’s attention because 39 members—including the chief member, a man named Marshall Applewhite who was known as “Doe” to his devotees—all took their lives in a mansion near San Diego. They all donned identical pairs of Nikes and drank a cocktail of phenobarbital and vodka, I believe, and then got in their bunk beds and covered themselves with purple shrouds and departed, they imagined, for a spaceship that was following in the tail of the comet Hale-Bopp. So this was a rather horrifying and peculiar news item. I think it remains the largest mass-suicide in US history, although I recall that my reaction at the time was a little less than reverential. I remember sitting on my couch watching this first footage that came out of this house, with everyone on their bunk beds with their Nikes, and hearing the voiceover announcer say, “And in their freezer, they had nothing but quart after quart of Starbuck’s Java Chip ice cream.” I remember sitting on my couch alone and saying, out loud, to myself, “Wait a minute. Starbucks makes ice cream?” And then I leapt to my feet and drove straight to the supermarket and bought some Java Chip ice cream. So I guess we all draw from these tragedies the lessons we need at the time. Obviously I’ve become more sympathetic to the plight of these people in the intervening years, and more interested in the phenomenon of cults, and have drawn other lessons from this one. In any case, the most fascinating thing about Heaven’s Gate is that the members of this “class,” as they called it, left final video testimonies as to why they were doing what they were doing, and how satisfied they were to be doing it. And this is, of course, analogous to the video testimonies one often finds from Jihadist suicide bombers. But these people were very aware of how inscrutable their behavior was going to seem to their loved ones, and to the rest of the society in which they were living, and they really made their best effort to defend their actions if not explain them, and to simply bear witness—and demand that the world bear witness—to the psychological fact that they were absolutely unconflicted in doing what they were doing. They felt immense gratitude for the experience of living for decades with their fellow cult members with whom they’d formed an obvious bond, and for the guidance of Doe and Ti—the woman who had been his partner and died a decade earlier. These were people who, for the most part, were clearly happy and approaching their deaths with genuine enthusiasm. They were gleeful about the prospect of departing this world and arriving elsewhere in the galaxy. So these videos are an amazing document, and I was tempted to put some audio in this podcast, but there really is no substitute for seeing the video themselves, so I will embed those on my blog. There’s about 2 hours of video—there’s additional hours of Doe himself giving his final testimony, and that’s also fascinating to watch. But the videos of the cult members are really profoundly strange and unnerving when you see just how sanguine they are about their whole project—which is, on its face, the most profligate misuse of human life imaginable. These are people who lived in total isolation, for decades, under the sway of obviously crazy ideas, depriving themselves of most of life’s experience. These are people who’d abandoned children. They’d abandoned the rest of their families, and abandoned every other human project that we might deem worthy of a person’s attention and energy, and then killed themselves in the most carefree state of mind. And it was entirely the result of what they believed about the nature of the soul, about the kingdom of heaven, about the hideous condition of this world, and about the coming apocalypse that Doe assured them was imminent and that this represented the last chance to migrate to the kingdom of heaven. If they didn’t seize it now, everything would be lost. So these videos really are quite unique and, above all, they offer an insight into just what it is like to be totally convinced of paradise. The most shocking thing about this—well there are a few things. One is the undeniable fact that most of these people were clearly happy. You struggle to detect in their faces and in their speech some clue to their deeper psychopathology. And in many cases, I think you will come up entirely empty. Now, these people bear all the signs of having spent, as most of them had, twenty plus years living in total isolation from the world. Most of them had been part of this cult since the mid-Seventies—and this was in 1997 that they killed themselves. They all wore identical terrible haircuts and all had androgynous clothing that they buttoned up to the neck. I believe they shared all of their clothing in common, including underwear—so they had a dogma of non-attachment that was operating here that led to a kind of self-effacement at the level of their presentation. They all wore equally terrible eyeglasses, those who needed them—like they all wandered into a Lenscrafters and asked for the worst pair of glasses that could possibly be pulled out of the box. So there’s something about these people, they are misfits of a sort, and it’s tempting to imagine that they were socially marginalized to a degree that somehow explains how they were recruited into this circumstance and, therefore, how they met their end. But that’s not to say that these aren’t happy, intelligent, relatively high-functioning people who could have succeeded in other contexts in life. And I think that’s obviously true of some of them. One thing that’s clear is that many of these people were parents who entirely abandoned their children to join Doe and Ti and submit their lives to this experiment which, when you look at the details, is rather shocking to consider. It’s shocking especially because when you listen to the teachings of Doe (you can also watch hours of video where he describes all that he knows about the workings of the universe), some of this video, at least an hour of it, is his final testament given with the full knowledge that they’re going to commit suicide in the coming days. And in watching Do’s performance here, I think you’ll also look in vain for an obvious reason why people would give their lives over to this man. A few things are conspicuous. One is the total absence of compelling intellectual content. This is not a brilliant person. He is not bowling you over with his ability to connect ideas or to turn phrases. The only clue to his powers of mesmerism is his quality of eye contact, which, as I discuss at one point in my book Waking Up, is a feature you find in gurus in general and in people who are making heroic efforts to persuade. And in Doe, this is conspicuous. The man rarely blinks. He’s looking at a camera lens for this video, but one can well imagine that this is the style of eye contact he used when talking to people directly. Maybe I’ll offer a brief digression on this topic, there’s actually a section in my book Waking Up where I talk about eye contact and I’ll just read it to you: A person’s eyes convey a powerful illusion of inner life. The illusion is true, but it is an illusion all the same. When we look into the eyes of another human being, we seem to see the light of consciousness radiating from the eyes themselves—there is a glint of joy or judgment, perhaps. But every inflection of mood or personality—even the most basic indication that the person is alive—comes not from the eyes but from the surrounding muscles of the face. If a person’s eyes look clouded by madness or fatigue, the muscles orbicularis oculi are to blame. And if a person appears to radiate the wisdom of the ages, the effect comes not from the eyes but from what he or she is doing with them. Nevertheless, the illusion is a powerful one, and there is no question that the subjective experience of inner radiance can be communicated with the gaze. It is not an accident, therefore, that gurus often show an unusual commitment to maintaining eye contact. In the best case, this behavior emerges from a genuine comfort in the presence of other people and deep interest in their well-being. Given such a frame of mind, there may simply be no reason to look away. But maintaining eye contact can also become a way of “acting spiritual” and, therefore, an intrusive affectation. There are also people who maintain rigid eye lock not from an attitude of openness and interest or from any attempt to appear open and interested but as an aggressive and narcissistic show of dominance. Psychopaths tend to make exceptionally good e]]>1570864Tue, 24 Mar 2015 20:49:50 +0000Michał CzSam Harris discusses the Heaven’s Gate suicide cult and argues that we all have something important to learn from them about the power of belief. The following videos are discussed: Audio Transcript: Welcome to the Making Sense podcast. This is Sam...The book is well worth-reading, and the film is really a devastating takedown of Scientology. I can’t imagine it won’t do the organization lasting harm if enough people see it. It exposes how goofy L. Ron Hubbard was and how sinister his organization soon became under him and his successors. So, do see that film. It’s playing on HBO and had a theatrical release, as well. But I’ve mostly been thinking about the Heaven’s Gate cult which, as you might recall, about 18 years ago came to the world’s attention because 39 members—including the chief member, a man named Marshall Applewhite who was known as “Doe” to his devotees—all took their lives in a mansion near San Diego. They all donned identical pairs of Nikes and drank a cocktail of phenobarbital and vodka, I believe, and then got in their bunk beds and covered themselves with purple shrouds and departed, they imagined, for a spaceship that was following in the tail of the comet Hale-Bopp. So this was a rather horrifying and peculiar news item. I think it remains the largest mass-suicide in US history, although I recall that my reaction at the time was a little less than reverential. I remember sitting on my couch watching this first footage that came out of this house, with everyone on their bunk beds with their Nikes, and hearing the voiceover announcer say, “And in their freezer, they had nothing but quart after quart of Starbuck’s Java Chip ice cream.” I remember sitting on my couch alone and saying, out loud, to myself, “Wait a minute. Starbucks makes ice cream?” And then I leapt to my feet and drove straight to the supermarket and bought some Java Chip ice cream. So I guess we all draw from these tragedies the lessons we need at the time. Obviously I’ve become more sympathetic to the plight of these people in the intervening years, and more interested in the phenomenon of cults, and have drawn other lessons from this one. In any case, the most fascinating thing about Heaven’s Gate is that the members of this “class,” as they called it, left final video testimonies as to why they were doing what they were doing, and how satisfied they were to be doing it. And this is, of course, analogous to the video testimonies one often finds from Jihadist suicide bombers. But these people were very aware of how inscrutable their behavior was going to seem to their loved ones, and to the rest of the society in which they were living, and they really made their best effort to defend their actions if not explain them, and to simply bear witness—and demand that the world bear witness—to the psychological fact that they were absolutely unconflicted in doing what they were doing. They felt immense gratitude for the experience of living for decades with their fellow cult members with whom they’d formed an obvious bond, and for the guidance of Doe and Ti—the woman who had been his partner and died a decade earlier. These were people who, for the most part, were clearly happy and approaching their deaths with genuine enthusiasm. They were gleeful about the prospect of departing this world and arriving elsewhere in the galaxy. So...]]>1692falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/6-the-chapel-hill-murders-and-militant-atheism--60049061@ggreenwald -as tho we’ve given him a 2nd thought http://t.co/RSbvjck96Q — Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) February 18, 2015   @neiltwit @ggreenwald @SamHarrisOrg oh no was I mean to your Sam? did I hurt your feelings? — Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) February 18, 2015   Very interesting. Aslan writes articles about me, hires people to write even longer ones (Nathan Lean is the editor-in-chief of Aslan Media), continually mentions me and distorts my views in his press appearances, and tweets about me with abandon—and he believes that I’m obsessed with him. It is safe to say that I would never mention Aslan again if he stopped spreading lies about me.—SH Audio Transcript: As many of you know, there was recently a triple-murder in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, committed by a person named Craig Stephen Hicks. He is still alive—this was not a suicide-murder—so, undoubtedly, we’ll one day hear what his conscious motives were. He killed three young people, apparently over a parking space. That was the subject of their dispute. But he also happens to be a person who identifies as an atheist on his Facebook page, and he has expressed admiration for people like Richard Dawkins. He might have said something about me, I’m actually not sure—but he was identified as an atheist and appear to be critical of all religion, according to his Facebook page. And because his victims were Muslim, this is now being widely described as a “hate crime” and as a symptom of a problem we have in the Atheist community—a problem of “militancy” and of anti-Muslim “bigotry.” And many people are saying that I am somehow responsible for this—both for the background problem and for the murders themselves, which is quite an amazing thing to be accused of. It seems to me that there’s a fair amount of moral confusion here—and also just factual confusion about the reality of violence in the U.S. and elsewhere. But the first thing to say is that I feel nothing but horror over this crime. These people were killed in the very prime of their lives—at the beginning of their adult lives—and they were, by all accounts, marvelous people. I can only imagine—in fact, I can’t imagine—the grief of their parents and loved ones. So there’s absolutely nothing in my work—or in my mind—that is supportive of a crime like this. And I would have hoped that could go without saying—but I think in this context, it probably can’t. Nevertheless, the deluge of claims of equivalence between this crime and the Charlie Hebdo atrocity, or the daily savagery of a group like ISIS, has been astonishing to witness. You can sense that people have just been waiting for a crime like this that could conceivably be pinned on atheism. Of course, the analogy between “militant” atheism and militant Islam is a terrible one—it is an anti-analogy, being false in every respect. Atheists simply are not out there harming people on the basis of their atheism. There may be atheists who do terrible things, but there is no atheist doctrine or scripture, and insofar as any of us have written books or created arguments that have persuaded people, these books and arguments—insofar as they’re atheistic—only relate to the bad evidence put forward in defense of a belief in God. There’s no argument in atheism that suggests that you should hate, or victimize, or stigmatize whole groups of people, as there often is in revealed religion. And yet people like Glenn Greenwald and Reza Aslan, the usual suspects—the bevy of apologists for theocracy in the Muslim world—are using this very real tragedy in Chapel Hill to try to stoke a kind of mob mentality around an imagined atheist campaign of bigotry against Muslims. It’s an incredibly cynical, tendentious, and ultimately dangerous thing to do. Of course, people like Glenn Greenwald and Reza Aslan are alleging that there’s some sort of double-standard here: atheists are quick to detect a religious motivation in the misbehavior of Muslims worldwide, but when it comes to their own, they discount the role played by atheism. But this is just a total misrepresentation of how an atheist like myself thinks about human violence. It is simply obvious that some instances of Muslim violence have nothing whatsoever to do with Islam—and I would never dream of assigning blame to the religion of Islam for that behavior. And, to my knowledge, I never have. Insofar as I’m confused as to the source of Muslim violence—well, then, I apologize in advance for that confusion. But the problem, of course, is that there are teachings within Islam that explicitly recommend, in fact, demand violence in certain circumstances—circumstances that we in the 21st century, if we’re decent human beings, will recognize as being morally insane. Blasphemy, apostasy, adultery, merely holding hands with a man who is not your blood relative or husband if you are a woman unlucky enough to be born in a country like Afghanistan—these are often killing offenses. And the link between the doctrine—as it is understood by Islamists and jihadists—and the behavior is explicit, logical, and absolutely unambiguous. And yet this doesn’t prevent people from denying it at every turn. There is no such link between atheism and violence of any kind, in any circumstance. There is nothing about rejecting the truth claims of religious dogmatists, or about doubting that the universe has a creator, that suggests that violence in certain circumstance is necessary or even acceptable. And all the people who are comparing these murders to Charlie Hebdo or to those committed by ISIS, as insane as that sounds, are trivializing a form of violence that threatens to destabilize much of the world. And, ironically, it is violence whose principal victims are Muslim. I should also point out that the notion that there is some kind of epidemic of intolerance against Muslims in the United States is totally at odds with the facts. You need only check the FBI website and you’ll see that there is no such wave of religious bigotry directed against Muslims, or against anyone at all. Hate crime is a very rare offense—five people were murdered due to hate crime in 2013. And when you look at the hate crimes directed at people based on religion, the crimes against Jews based on anti-Semitism outnumber the crimes against Muslims five-to-one—and this is every year, even in 2002 in the immediate aftermath of 9-11. So, if we’re going to be concerned about hate crimes in the U.S., we should worry about anti-Semitism before we worry about anti-Muslim hate crime—and yet anti-Semitism is a miniscule source of violence here. I wouldn’t necessarily say the same thing of France, but in the U.S. it is virtually a non-problem—especially when you compare it to the tens of thousands of ordinary murders and rapes and aggravated assaults that are not ideologically motivated. Many people are saying that these murders in Chapel Hill could not have possibly have been inspired by a dispute over something so trivial as a parking space. But this is the most common form of interpersonal violence—it never makes sense “on paper.” We’re talking about people who fail to regulate their emotions and who have, in the U.S., ready access to weapons that makes it incredibly easy to kill other people impulsively. Hate crime per se is simply not a major problem, and those who are trying to whip-up a frenzy of concern over the ambient level of bigotry and violence against Muslims in the U.S. are trying to engineer a kind of moral panic, designed to distract people from the real problem that Muslims face—and that we all face, frankly—which is this basic incompatibility between 7th century theocracy and our collective aspiration to build a truly pluralistic and global civil society. You can view all of this through the lens of free speech. All you need to consider is a phenomenon like Charlie Hebdo or The Satanic Verses. And, for some reason, people on the left have aligned themselves with theocrats and those who are truly intolerant of the very liberal values that apologists for Islam think they are enunciating. As I’ve said before, tolerance of intolerance is just cowardice. And it’s a form of cowardice that is increasingly consequential. So the analogy between so called “militant” atheism and militant Islam is nothing more than a moral hoax. The thing that very few people seem able to distinguish, and the distinction that Greenwald and Aslan obfuscate at every opportunity, is the difference between criticizing ideas]]>1570870Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:00:58 +0000Michał CzSam Harris responds to the charge that “militant” atheism is responsible for the murder of three Muslim students in North Carolina. Note 2/18/15: Here was Reza Aslan’s response to this podcast: Starting to get creeped out by how obsessed Sam Harris...@ggreenwald -as tho we’ve given him a 2nd thought http://t.co/RSbvjck96Q — Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) February 18, 2015   @neiltwit @ggreenwald @SamHarrisOrg oh no was I mean to your Sam? did I hurt your feelings? — Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) February 18, 2015   Very interesting. Aslan writes articles about me, hires people to write even longer ones (Nathan Lean is the editor-in-chief of Aslan Media), continually mentions me and distorts my views in his press appearances, and tweets about me with abandon—and he believes that I’m obsessed with him. It is safe to say that I would never mention Aslan again if he stopped spreading lies about me.—SH Audio Transcript: As many of you know, there was recently a triple-murder in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, committed by a person named Craig Stephen Hicks. He is still alive—this was not a suicide-murder—so, undoubtedly, we’ll one day hear what his conscious motives were. He killed three young people, apparently over a parking space. That was the subject of their dispute. But he also happens to be a person who identifies as an atheist on his Facebook page, and he has expressed admiration for people like Richard Dawkins. He might have said something about me, I’m actually not sure—but he was identified as an atheist and appear to be critical of all religion, according to his Facebook page. And because his victims were Muslim, this is now being widely described as a “hate crime” and as a symptom of a problem we have in the Atheist community—a problem of “militancy” and of anti-Muslim “bigotry.” And many people are saying that I am somehow responsible for this—both for the background problem and for the murders themselves, which is quite an amazing thing to be accused of. It seems to me that there’s a fair amount of moral confusion here—and also just factual confusion about the reality of violence in the U.S. and elsewhere. But the first thing to say is that I feel nothing but horror over this crime. These people were killed in the very prime of their lives—at the beginning of their adult lives—and they were, by all accounts, marvelous people. I can only imagine—in fact, I can’t imagine—the grief of their parents and loved ones. So there’s absolutely nothing in my work—or in my mind—that is supportive of a crime like this. And I would have hoped that could go without saying—but I think in this context, it probably can’t. Nevertheless, the deluge of claims of equivalence between this crime and the Charlie...]]>1456falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/5-after-charlie-hebdo-and-other-thoughts--600490531570874Wed, 21 Jan 2015 20:46:38 +0000Michał Cz   2376falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/4-the-path-and-the-goal--60049062Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening. For more information about Joseph, please visit www.dharma.org. Joseph has been a close friend for more than 20 years. He was one of my first meditation teachers and remains one of the wisest people I have ever met. In this two-hour conversation, we discuss how he came to devote his life to the study of meditation. We also debate some of the finer points of the practice. Although parts of this discussion are accessible, much of it is quite esoteric. I suspect that only experienced meditators will find the second half interesting, or even intelligible. My latest book, Waking Up, provides some necessary context, but there is no substitute for time spent engaging these practices on retreat.—SH  ]]>1570878Tue, 28 Oct 2014 09:10:11 +0000Michał CzJoseph Goldstein has been leading meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society, the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, and the Forest Refuge. Since 1967, he has practiced different forms of Buddhist...Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening. For more information about Joseph, please visit www.dharma.org. Joseph has been a close friend for more than 20 years. He was one of my first meditation teachers and remains one of the wisest people I have ever met. In this two-hour conversation, we discuss how he came to devote his life to the study of meditation. We also debate some of the finer points of the practice. Although parts of this discussion are accessible, much of it is quite esoteric. I suspect that only experienced meditators will find the second half interesting, or even intelligible. My latest book, Waking Up, provides some necessary context, but there is no substitute for time spent engaging these practices on retreat.—SH  ]]>7455falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/3-waking-up-chapter-one--60049051The word spirit comes from the Latin spiritus, which is a translation of the Greek pneuma, meaning “breath.” Around the thirteenth century, the term became entangled with beliefs about immaterial souls, supernatural beings, ghosts, and so forth. It acquired other meanings as well: We speak of the spirit of a thing as its most essential principle or of certain volatile substances and liquors as spirits. Nevertheless,]]>1570882Wed, 20 Aug 2014 08:12:19 +0000Michał CzI once participated in a twenty-three-day wilderness program in the mountains of Colorado. If the purpose of this course was to expose students to dangerous lightning and half the world’s mosquitoes, it was fulfilled on the first day. What was in...5236falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/2-why-don-t-i-criticize-israel--60049060points out, Israel is actually less religious than the U.S., and it guarantees freedom of religion to its citizens. Israel is not a theocracy, and one could easily argue that its Jewish identity is more cultural than religious. However, if we ask why the Jews wouldn’t move to British Columbia if offered a home there, we can see the role that religion still plays in their thinking.] Needless to say, in defending its territory as a Jewish state, the Israeli government and Israelis themselves have had to do terrible things. They have, as they are now, fought wars against the Palestinians that have caused massive losses of innocent life. More civilians have been killed in Gaza in the last few weeks than militants. That’s not a surprise because Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on Earth. Occupying it, fighting wars in it, is guaranteed to get women and children and other noncombatants killed. And there’s probably little question over the course of fighting multiple wars that the Israelis have done things that amount to war crimes. They have been brutalized by this process—that is, made brutal by it. But that is largely the due to the character of their enemies. [Note: I was not giving Israel a pass to commit war crimes. I was making a point about the realities of living under the continuous threat of terrorism and of fighting multiple wars in a confined space.] Whatever terrible things the Israelis have done, it is also true to say that they have used more restraint in their fighting against the Palestinians than we—the Americans, or Western Europeans—have used in any of our wars. They have endured more worldwide public scrutiny than any other society has ever had to while defending itself against aggressors. The Israelis simply are held to a different standard. And the condemnation leveled at them by the rest of the world is completely out of proportion to what they have actually done. [Note: I was not saying that because they are more careful than we have been at our most careless, the Israelis are above criticism. War crimes are war crimes.] It is clear that Israel is losing the PR war and has been for years now.  One of the most galling things for outside observers about the current war in Gaza is the disproportionate loss of life on the Palestinian side. This doesn’t make a lot of moral sense. Israel built bomb shelters to protect its citizens. The Palestinians built tunnels through which they could carry out terror attacks and kidnap Israelis. Should Israel be blamed for successfully protecting its population in a defensive war? I don’t think so. [Note: I was not suggesting that the deaths of Palestinian noncombatants are anything less than tragic. But if retaliating against Hamas is bound to get innocents killed, and the Israelis manage to protect their own civilians in the meantime, the loss of innocent life on the Palestinian side is guaranteed to be disproportionate.] But there is no way to look at the images coming out of Gaza—especially of infants and toddlers riddled by shrapnel—and think that this is anything other than a monstrous evil. Insofar as the Israelis are the agents of this evil, it seems impossible to support them. And there is no question that the Palestinians have suffered terribly for decades under the occupation. This is where most critics of Israel appear to be stuck. They see these images, and they blame Israel for killing and maiming babies. They see the occupation, and they blame Israel for making Gaza a prison camp. I would argue that this is a kind of moral illusion, borne of a failure to look at the actual causes of this conflict, as well as of a failure to understand the intentions of the people on either side of it. [Note: I was not saying that the horror of slain children is a moral illusion; nor was I minimizing the suffering of the Palestinians under the occupation. I was claiming that Israel is not primarily to blame for all this suffering.] The truth is that there is an obvious, undeniable, and hugely consequential moral difference between Israel and her enemies. The Israelis are surrounded by people who have explicitly genocidal intentions towards them. The charter of Hamas is explicitly genocidal. It looks forward to a time, based on Koranic prophesy, when the earth itself will cry out for Jewish blood, where the trees and the stones will say “O Muslim, there’s a Jew hiding behind me. Come and kill him.” This is a political document. We are talking about a government that was voted into power by a majority of Palestinians. [Note: Yes, I know that not every Palestinian supports Hamas, but enough do to have brought them to power. Hamas is not a fringe group.] The discourse in the Muslim world about Jews is utterly shocking. Not only is there Holocaust denial—there’s Holocaust denial that then asserts that we will do it for real if given the chance. The only thing more obnoxious than denying the Holocaust is to say that it should have happened; it didn’t happen, but if we get the chance, we will accomplish it. There are children’s shows in the Palestinian territories and elsewhere that teach five-year-olds about the glories of martyrdom and about the necessity of killing Jews. And this gets to the heart of the moral difference between Israel and her enemies. And this is something I discussed in The End of Faith. To see this moral difference, you have to ask what each side would do if they had the power to do it. What would the Jews do to the Palestinians if they could do anything they wanted? Well, we know the answer to that question, because they can do more or less anything they want. The Israeli army could kill everyone in Gaza tomorrow. So what does that mean? Well, it means that, when they drop a bo]]>1570887Sun, 27 Jul 2014 09:37:39 +0000Michał CzAUDIO TRANSCRIPT [Note: This is a verbatim transcript of a spoken podcast. However, I have added notes like this one to clarify controversial points.—SH] I was going to do a podcast on a series of questions, but I got so many questions on the same...981falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/morality-and-the-christian-god--600490551570896Wed, 06 Nov 2013 20:16:24 +0000Michał CzI’ve noticed a happy trend in online video: People have begun to produce animations and mashups of public lectures that add considerable value to the spoken words. If you are unfamiliar with these visual essays, watch any of the RSA Animate videos,...470falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/1-drugs-and-the-meaning-of-life--60049054a neuroimaging study of psilocybin suggests that the drug primarily reduces activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region involved in a wide variety of tasks related to self-monitoring. However, other studies have found that psychedelics increase activity throughout the brain. Whatever the case, the action of these drugs does not rule out dualism, or the existence of realms of mind beyond the brain—but then, nothing does. That is one of the problems with views of this kind: They appear to be unfalsifiable.[3] We have reason to be skeptical of the brain-as-barrier thesis. If the brain were merely a filter on the mind, damaging it should increase cognition. In fact, strategically damaging the brain should be the most reliable method of spiritual practice available to anyone. In almost every case, loss of brain should yield more mind. But that is not how the mind works. Some people try to get around this by suggesting that the brain may function more like a radio, a receiver of conscious states rather than a barrier to them. At first glance, this would appear to account for the deleterious effects of neurological injury and disease, for if one smashes a radio with a hammer, it will no longer function properly. There is a problem with this metaphor, however. Those who employ it invariably forget that we are the music, not the radio. If the brain were nothing more than a receiver of conscious states, it should be impossible to diminish a person’s experience of the cosmos by damaging her brain. She might seem unconscious from the outside—like a broken radio—but, subjectively speaking, the music would play on. Specific reductions in brain activity might benefit people in certain ways, unmasking memories or abilities that are being actively inhibited by the regions in question. But there is no reason to think that the pervasive destruction of the central nervous system would leave the mind unaffected (much less improved). Medications that reduc]]>1570891Mon, 04 Jul 2011 10:07:10 +0000Michał CzDrugs are another means toward this end. Some are illegal; some are stigmatized; some are dangerous—though, perversely, these sets only partially intersect. Some drugs of extraordinary power and utility, such as psilocybin (the active compound in...1241falsefull