Podcast Episodes

PSYCH: The Story of the Human Mind

In his expansive new book, "Psych: The Story of the Human Mind," Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, lays out, in his…

2 years, 11 months ago

PREPPY: The Surprising Origins of American Style

How did Oxford shirts, cashmere sweaters, and chinos become staples of American fashion? How did a style born on Ivy League campuses make its way int…

3 years ago

SUCCESSION: The True Story Behind the Hit Show

So "Succession" is back.

The Emmy Award-winning series returned to HBO for its fourth and final season last Sunday. The show, if you haven't seen it, …

3 years ago

ABOLISH POVERTY: Matthew Desmond on How We Can Do It

RUFUS GRISCOM: Could you share with us your broader mission and how your new book, “Poverty, by America,” supports that mission?

MATTHEW DESMOND: I wa…

3 years ago

READING: Are We Forgetting How To Do It?

Maryanne Wolf is a professor at UCLA and the renowned author of "Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain" and "Reader, Come …

3 years ago

David Chalmers Thinks We May Be Living in a Simulation (and He’s OK With It)

Last year, Rufus sat down with philosopher David Chalmers to talk about the allure of virtual reality, whether robots will ever achieve consciousness…

3 years ago

Is AI Moving Too Fast? A Conversation With Kevin Roose

When Kevin Roose, a tech columnist at the New York Times, demoed an AI-powered version of Microsoft's search engine last month, he was blown away. "I…

3 years, 1 month ago

LIFE IS SHORT: The Upside of Death

Life without death, says philosopher Dean Rickles, is like playing tennis without a net. In his new book, “Life Is Short: An Appropriately Brief Guid…

3 years, 1 month ago

MUSIC: What the Songs You Love Say About You

In this special episode, Susan Rogers, a record producer turned cognitive neuroscientist, and Daniel Levitin, author of “This Is Your Brain on Music,…

3 years, 1 month ago

AI: The Origin Story

Imagine a world where AI is everywhere — where self-driving cars roam the streets and chatbots can do your homework. Oh, wait. That world already exi…

3 years, 1 month ago