Podcast Episodes
Back to Search152. Hunting for the Origins of Life
Episode 152
Chemist Jack Szostak wants to understand how the first life forms came into being on Earth. He and Steve discuss the danger of "mirror bacteria," the origin of biology in poisonous chemicals, and the…
Published on 5 months, 4 weeks ago
151. Neurobiologist, Philosopher, and Addict
Episode 151
Owen Flanagan's newest book details his 20-year dependence on alcohol and pills — and outlines his research on what addiction can tell us about the nature of consciousness.
SOURCES:Owen Flanagan, phi…
Published on 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Jane Goodall Changed the Way We See Animals. She’s Not Done. (Replay)
Episode 91
The primatologist discusses the thrill of observing chimpanzees in the wild, the value of challenging orthodoxy, and why dying is her next great adventure.
SOURCES:Dr. Jane Goodall, GBE, founder of t…
Published on 6 months, 3 weeks ago
150. His Brilliant Videos Get Millions of Views. Why Don’t They Make Money?
Episode 150
Hank Green is an internet phenomenon and a master communicator, with a plan to reform higher education. He and Steve talk about the video blog that launched Hank’s career, the economics of the intern…
Published on 6 months, 4 weeks ago
149. Stanford’s President Knows He Can’t Make Everyone Happy
Episode 149
Jonathan Levin is an academic economist who now runs one of the most influential universities in the world. He tells Steve how he saved Comcast a billion dollars, why he turned down Steve’s unusual p…
Published on 7 months, 1 week ago
Why Numbers are Music to Our Ears (Update)
Episode 104
Sarah Hart investigates the mathematical structures underlying musical compositions and literature. Using examples from Monteverdi to Lewis Carroll, Sarah explains to Steve how math affects how we he…
Published on 7 months, 2 weeks ago
148. How to Have Good Ideas
Episode 148
Sarah Stein Greenberg runs Stanford’s d.school, which teaches design as a mode of problem solving. She and Steve talk about what makes her field different from other academic disciplines, how to appr…
Published on 7 months, 3 weeks ago
147. Is Your Gut a Second Brain?
Episode 147
In her book, Rumbles, medical historian Elsa Richardson explores the history of the human gut. She talks with Steve about dubious medical practices, gruesome tales of survival, and the things that me…
Published on 8 months, 1 week ago
Turning Work into Play (Update)
Episode 73
How psychologist Dan Gilbert went from high school dropout to Harvard professor, found the secret of joy, and inspired Steve Levitt's divorce.
SOURCE:Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvar…
Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago
146. Is There a Fair Way to Divide Us?
Episode 146
Moon Duchin is a math professor at Cornell University whose theoretical work has practical applications for voting and democracy. Why is striving for fair elections so difficult?
SOURCE:Moon Duchin,…
Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago