Ellen Langer is an influential American psychologist and social scientist who bridges mindfulness, aging, health, and decision-making. Dr. Langer's insights challenge conventional views on aging, health, and personal capabilities, promoting a more mindful and engaged approach to life & happiness. Ellen emphasises the importance of active engagement and choice, and how our beliefs and perceptions can significantly affect physical health.

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Wayne Hsiung is an animal‑rights and environmental activist. He co‑founded Direct Action Everywhere and focuses on “open rescue” efforts - publicly removing suffering animals from factory farms to provide them medical aid. Wayne recounts various direct action efforts and the legal battles stemming from these actions.

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Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett

Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!

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Dasho Dechen Wangmo is a prominent Bhutanese public health leader and former Minister of Health, she has championed universal health coverage, mental health, and disease prevention, and gained international recognition as President of the 74th World Health Assembly, advocating for vaccine equity and global health solidarity. Dechen played a pivotal role in navigating Bhutan through the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, Bhutan achieved a 94% vaccination rate within four days and maintained one of the world's lowest death rates.

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Dean Spears is an economic demographer and development economist, co-author of After the Spike: Population, Progress, and the Case for People. Dean explores the future of global population trends, noting that depopulation is now the most likely scenario, and the inherent ethical considerations of reducing the population and the practical implications for global challenges like climate change.

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Meg Smaker is an American documentary filmmaker known for her immersive storytelling and exploration of complex global issues. Meg shares the impactful experiences from her life, including being kidnapped in Colombia, interacting with Somali pirates, and exploring motivations behind terrorism. Her most notable work is the 2022 feature documentary The UnRedacted (formerly known as 'Jihad Rehab'), which examines the lives of former Guantánamo Bay detainees undergoing rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia, and the complexities of de-radicalisation programs. Despite facing severe backlash, censorship, and cancellation attempts, Meg remains committed to bringing these human stories to light while upholding her integrity and commitment to the truth.

Read the New York Times cover story on Jihad Rehab & The Shameful Cancellation of Jihad Rehab

Listen to Meg on the Sam Harris Podcast

Get in touch with Meg and support her film https://jihadrehab.com

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Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett

Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!

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Cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot explores the role of optimism in our lives, examining why individuals often maintain personal hope despite collective anxiety. She explains the concept of optimism bias, how anticipation shapes happiness and memory.

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Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!

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Joshua Greene is an experimental psychologist and neuroscientist, and Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. Joshua shares insights into how evolutionary psychology underpins group cooperation and the challenges of expanding moral circles. Josh also reflects on his personal feelings of hope and commitment towards fostering a more unified and cooperative society.

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Cyan Banister is an angel investor and entrepreneur renowned for her early investments in transformative tech companies such as Uber, SpaceX, DeepMind, and Postmates. Banister's path to success was unconventional, she experienced homelessness as a teenager and dropped out of high school.Through self-education and determination, she became a self-taught engineer, holding key roles at a cybersecurity startup acquired by Cisco for $850 million.

Cyan emphasises themes of empathy, love, and personal growth, and the healing power of philosophy in overcoming adversity and trauma.

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Slavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher and cultural theorist known for his provocative blend of Marxism, Hegelian philosophy, and Lacanian psychoanalysis, he remains one of the most influential and polarising intellectuals in contemporary thought.

Slajov gets into several complex and thought-provoking topics including but not limited to; the catastrophe of love, political philosophy, critiques of both historical and contemporary interpretations of communism, and ultimately whether the pursuit of happiness should be the goal in life.

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Cass Sunstein is a prominent American legal scholar, behavioural economist, and professor at Harvard Law School. Cass explores the concept of nudging and libertarian paternalism, addressing ethical concerns around manipulation and autonomy. He reflects on climate justice, the moral duties of high-emission countries, and global accountability in climate policy.

Learn more about Cass and read his books!

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If you would like to support the podcast please consider our Patreon

Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett

Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!

And special thanks to Suzi Jamil!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.