In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, cognitive psychologist and bestselling author Steven Pinker explores why, despite massive gains in human progress, many people remain pessimistic about the future—and why that matters for shaping what comes next.

Steven argues that while progress isn’t automatic, it is real. By tracking long-term trends in violence, poverty, democracy, and innovation, we can see how human effort—driven by reason, science, and cooperation—has repeatedly pushed civilization forward. Yet, media narratives and cognitive biases often make us blind to these achievements, reinforcing a sense of stagnation or decline.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The hidden progress shaping our world today—from rising literacy rates to declining poverty, and why these trends rarely make the news.
• Why pessimism can be self-defeating—and how a more accurate understanding of history can help us build a better future.
• The role of AI, biotech, and clean energy—and why they might unlock transformative improvements, if used wisely.
• How to communicate ideas that inspire hope—including Steven’s advice on cutting through jargon and tribalism to make ideas stick.

If you’ve ever wondered whether humanity is on the right track—or how to ensure we stay on it—this episode is for you. Listen now to hear how we can move from existential dread to existential hope. 🚀

Full transcript, list of resources, and art piece: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcasts

Existential Hope was created to collect positive and possible scenarios for the future so that we can have more people commit to creating a brighter future, and to begin mapping out the main developments and challenges that need to be navigated to reach it. Existential Hope is a Foresight Institute project.

Hosted by Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers

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