Robert Wright's Nonzero

Did Jeffrey Epstein die by conspiracy or by incompetence? ... Epstein and the corrupting influence of money in academia ... What drove Epstein to suicide? ... Is there such a thing as a true friend? ... Are all mass shooters mentally ill? ... Paul: Video games do not cause violence ... Would it be better not to care what others think about you? ... Paul’s New Yorker piece on why we do perverse things ... Is Biden losing his wits? ...

Ron's new book, McMindfulness: How Mindfulness Became the New Capitalist Spirituality ... A brief history of mindfulness in America ... Ron's critique of the corporate teaching of mindfulness ... A tool vs. a path ... Ron: The mindfulness industry individualizes social problems ... A call for civic mindfulness ... Can capitalism and spirituality be reconciled? ...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

Ron's new book, McMindfulness: How Mindfulness Became the New Capitalist Spirituality ... A brief history of mindfulness in America ... Ron's critique of the corporate teaching of mindfulness ... A tool vs. a path ... Ron: The mindfulness industry individualizes social problems ... A call for civic mindfulness ... Can capitalism and spirituality be reconciled? ...

Yael’s new book, Why Nationalism ... What is nationalism? ... Yael: US liberals need to focus their messaging on the social contract ... How to demilitarize the language of nationalism ... Will the workers of the world ever unite? ... Is Israel an avowedly ethno-nationalist state? ... Yael: The lines between right and left are blurring ...

Is Boris Johnson like Trump but in on the joke? ... Eli says it was dumb for Trump to pick a fight with the Squad ... The Mueller report and liberal xenophobia ... Was Ilhan Omar’s "Benjamins" comment anti-Semitic? ... Is the left unduly obsessed with Israel? ... Eli: The MAGA people who hate Omar probably hate Jews too ... Bob worries about the weakness of the Democratic presidential field ... Bob vs. Eli on America vs. Iran ... Eli: Dictatorships are inherently unstable ...

Should Democrats be freaking out about their presidential field? ... The base activation strategy vs. the swing voter strategy ... Who are the top tier candidates, and who could still enter the top tier? ... How would a Trump-leaning swing voter view the Biden-Harris dustup? ... Why Warren may have the winning message ... Has Warren put the "Native American thing" to bed? ... Who would do best against Trump on the debate stage? ... Trump's "go back" tweet as a new low ... By attacking Biden now, is Trump being crazy or crazy like a fox? ...

Common misconceptions about meditation retreats ... Hitting the bliss button ... Scheduled vs. unscheduled retreats ... How austere does it have to be to be effective? ... Process vs. outcomes ... Bob's mini-epiphany about his dripping sink ... Is meditation "for" something? ... Pitfalls after leaving a retreat ... Tips for first-timers ...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

Common misconceptions about meditation retreats ... Hitting the bliss button ... Scheduled vs. unscheduled retreats ... How austere does it have to be to be effective? ... Process vs. outcomes ... Bob's mini-epiphany about his dripping sink ... Is meditation "for" something? ... Pitfalls after leaving a retreat ... Tips for first-timers ...

Serene’s new book, Call It Grace: Finding Meaning in a Fractured World ... Serene’s theological upbringing and early encounters with Calvin’s writings ... What a romantic tragedy early in life taught Serene about God’s grace ... A revelatory brush with death in rural India ... Timothy McVeigh and the challenge of forgiveness ... How Serene’s father met an epic challenge to his faith and his charity ...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

Serene’s new book, Call It Grace: Finding Meaning in a Fractured World ... Serene’s theological upbringing and early encounters with Calvin’s writings ... What a romantic tragedy early in life taught Serene about God’s grace ... A revelatory brush with death in rural India ... Timothy McVeigh and the challenge of forgiveness ... How Serene’s father met an epic challenge to his faith and his charity ...