In Episode #192, labor journalist Hamilton Nolan sits down with Osi to dive into his book The Hammer: Power, Inequality, and the Struggle for the Soul of Labor. They discus the American labor movement’s vital role in society and why organized labor is key to addressing inequality. They also discuss the nation’s most anti-union states, examine the tactics used to undermine union influence, and much more.

Hamilton Nolan is a labor journalist who writes regularly for In These Times magazine and The Guardian. He has written about labor, politics, and class war for The New York Times, the Washington Post, Gawker, Splinter, and other publications. He was the longest-serving writer in Gawker’s history, and was a leader in unionizing Gawker Media in 2015. Hamilton is a proud member of the Writers Guild of America, East. He lives in Brooklyn.

In Episode #191, author and journalist Kurt Wagner joins Osi to discuss his book Battle for the Bird: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk, and the $44 Billion Fight for Twitter's Soul. They look into the evolution of Twitter (now X) from its original vision to the more contentious changes introduced under Musk’s leadership. The conversation navigates the complex challenges of managing a global social network, touching on issues like content moderation, misinformation, and the internal struggles that have shaped Twitter's path. They also examine Twitter’s significant role in political discourse and its far-reaching impact on global events.

In Episode #190, author and journalist Sarah McCammon joins Osi to discuss her book The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church. They dive into Sarah’s experiences growing up in a strict religious environment, examining how this upbringing led her to grapple with internal conflicts and ultimately reevaluate her beliefs. They also explore the psychological and emotional impacts of being raised in a rigid religious setting and consider the factors driving many to leave evangelical faith, as well as how individuals are reconstructing their belief systems in the process.

Sarah McCammon is an American journalist and a National Correspondent for National Public Radio, covering the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States. Her reporting focuses on political, social and cultural divides in America, including abortion and reproductive rights, the intersections of politics and religion, as well as breaking news. She previously reported for NPR Member stations in Georgia, Iowa and Nebraska.

Lisa Callahan and Kari Morin are the hosts of The Things We Know podcast, where they share real, relatable advice for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond. As professional coaches, both married for over 25 years and mothers, Lisa and Kari bring their candid insights and years of life experience to help listeners find direction, connection, and purpose. With six dogs, two husbands, and at least two glasses of wine, each episode is filled with humor, honesty, and practical wisdom. When they’re not laughing their way through podcast recordings, Lisa and Kari coach clients through an online education platform and in their private practices.

In Episode #188, sociologist Dr. Dinur Blum joins Osi to delve into the social causes behind mass shootings. They discuss the complex role of mental health in these incidents and examine the difficulties in identifying and providing treatment for potential perpetrators. Dr. Blum also sheds light on how America’s distinctive gun culture and the ease of access to firearms contribute to the frequency of mass shootings. Additionally, they explore the effects of social isolation, loneliness, and alienation on individuals who turn to such violent acts.

Dinur Blum is Lecturer in Sociology at California State University, Los Angeles, USA. Beyond his work on student-athletes in college, he studies the social causes of mass shootings in the US with his colleague Christian G. Jaworski. He also co-hosts the Learning Made Easier podcast with Adam G. Sanford.

In Episode #187, philosopher Dr. Holly Lawford-Smith joins Osi to discuss her book Is It Wrong to Buy Sex? (Little Debates about Big Questions). They explore whether purchasing sex is inherently wrong, examining the ethical frameworks that shape differing views on the subject. The discussion also addresses the societal impact of legalizing or prohibiting sex work, weighing how each approach influences individuals and communities. Additionally, they delve into the complexities of consent within commercial sex and whether it reinforces harmful power dynamics.

Holly Lawford-Smith is an Associate Professor in Political Philosophy in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. She is also a Visiting Academic in the School of Law at the University of Reading and a Network Member of the Open University Gender Critical Research Network. Holly serves on the Editorial Boards of Political Philosophy, Journal of Applied Philosophy, and the Journal of Controversial Ideas. She is a member of Genspect’s Killarney Group Think Tank, a monthly columnist at Quillette, and a Featured Author at Fairer Disputations.

In Episode #186, geologist Dr. Paul Bierman joins Osi to discuss his groundbreaking research on Greenland's ice sheet, featured in his new book, When the Ice Is Gone: What a Greenland Ice Core Reveals about Earth's Tumultuous History and Perilous Future. They explore the historical significance of Greenland’s ice sheet melting naturally in the distant past, challenging long-held beliefs about its stability. They dive into new revelations about the ice sheet's vulnerability, even without the influence of modern human activity, and examine how scientists use ice cores to uncover and interpret key events in Earth's history.

Paul Bierman has been a geologist and professor at the University of Vermont since 1993. His research and teaching expertise focus on the interaction of people, climate, and Earth’s dynamic surface. Public science communication, including books, essays, images, and talks is his passion.

Bierman’s research has taken him around the globe. He has studied erosion in Australia, South America, and several countries in Africa and the Middle East. In Greenland, Bierman and his graduate students are tracing the history of the Greenland Ice sheet over the last several million years, an adventure that repeatedly takes them helicoptering over the ice as well as dissecting ice cores, some collected more than half a century ago. In Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York, Bierman and his students created the first record of storminess and erosion that extended back over the last 10,000 years.

In Episode #185, sociologist Dr. Joanna Kempner joins Osi to discuss her groundbreaking book Psychedelic Outlaws: The Movement Revolutionizing Modern Medicine. They explore the use of psilocybin mushrooms as a treatment for severe headaches, examining what this breakthrough means for the future of psychedelic medicine. The conversation covers the regulatory challenges that drive patients to create their own remedies, the broader implications for the healthcare system, and how political and systemic forces shape the development and accessibility of pain treatments.

Joanna Kempner, associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Rutgers University, is an award-winning sociologist of science, medicine, technology, and inequality, and the author of Psychedelic Outlaws: The Movement Revolutionizing Modern Medicine and Not Tonight: Migraine and the Politics of Gender and Health.Kempner’s research explores the social forces that determine which medical issues receive attention and which are systematically overlooked. Kempner’s research is published in top journals across multiple disciplines, including Science, PLoS Medicine, and Social Science & Medicine and is often featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, PBS Newshour, and the BBC. She’s also a West Philly mom with two kids, two cats, and a very small poodle.

In Episode #184, philosopher Dr. Nick Bostrom joins Osi to explore his latest book Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World. Together, they delve into thought-provoking questions about the future of humanity. What new sources of meaning and fulfillment could arise in a world where human labor is no longer necessary? How might superintelligence reshape our self-perception and sense of identity? What shifts could occur in societal norms and relationships in an era of technological abundance? Dr. Bostrom also contemplates the deeper philosophical and spiritual issues that emerge when technology fulfills all practical needs.

Nick Bostrom is a Swedish-born philosopher with a background in theoretical physics, computational neuroscience, logic, and artificial intelligence, along with philosophy. He is one of the most-cited philosophers in the world, and has been referred to as “the Swedish superbrain”. He’s been a Professor at Oxford University, where he served as the founding Director of the Future of Humanity Institute from 2005 until its closure in April 2024. He is currently the founder and Director of Research of the Macrostrategy Research Initiative.

In Episode #183, psychologist Dr. Wendy Grolnick, author of Motivation Myth Busters, joins Osi to discuss the psychology of motivation. They explore common but inaccurate beliefs about motivation, why these myths persist, and how motivation is shaped by interests and environment—not just personality. Wendy also dispels the misconception that competition always enhances motivation, offering insights from her new book throughout the conversation.

Dr. Grolnick is interested in motivational development in children and adolescents. Her research focuses on how social contexts (e.g., homes, schools) facilitate children's autonomous motivation, in which they regulate their own behavior and feel agentic with respect to it. She is currently exploring how parenting, on dimensions of autonomy support to control, involvement, and structure, predicts children's autonomous motivation, competence, and adjustment. She is also focusing on factors (e.g., parent attitudes and beliefs, stress and support, evaluative environments) that help or hinder parents' abilities to provide parenting resources to their children. Dr. Grolnick is currently developing a parenting intervention designed to prevent motivational and behavioral problems in school-age children. Dr. Grolnick's work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the William T. Grant Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation. Dr. Grolnick teaches courses in motivation, child development, and psychopathology.