Ann Merchant is the Deputy Executive Director of Communications at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. She leads the institution’s creative engagement activities, including the Science & Entertainment Exchange, a program that connects entertainment industry professionals with top scientists and engineers. Since 2008, these collaborations have borne fruit in hundreds of films and TV series, including many from Marvel Studios and “The Big Bang Theory”. Ann joins the podcast to explain how Dune screenwriter Jon Spaihts and other film creators have integrated scientific inspiration with creative storytelling. 

Want to learn more about the intersection of imagination and science? Check out our story “Where Hollywood Meets The Science Community” by Alene Dawson on Templeton Ideas. 

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Gretchen Rubin is a New York Times bestselling author, podcaster and entrepreneur who is known for her thought-provoking investigations into happiness and human nature.  She began her career in law, even clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, before pivoting to a career as a writer. Some of Gretchen's most popular books include The Happiness Project and Better Than Before. Her newest book is entitled Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World.

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Dr. Shannon Vallor is a professor at the University of Edinburgh, where she serves as chair of the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. Her research explores how new technologies, especially AI, robotics, and data science, reshape human character, habits, and practices. She also advises policymakers and industry on the ethical design and use of AI. Her latest book, The AI Mirror: Reclaiming Our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking, argues that AI can be a tool to enhance our humanity, not replace it.

Shannon joins the podcast to discuss artificial intelligence, both what it is and what it could be if we step back and rethink what technology is for. 

Are you curious about artificial intelligence? Don't miss out on our story "Predicting and Controlling Bad Actor Artificial Intelligence" by Alene Dawson on Templeton Ideas.

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Andy Crouch is a partner for theology and culture at Praxis, a business and non-profit accelerator that supports redemptive entrepreneurs. As the author of five books, he explores culture, power, technology, and the arts. His latest book The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World explores what it means to be a person, and how to flourish in the face of modern challenges. Andy joins the podcast to explain the concept of “effortless power”, and how we can enhance human dignity in the digital age.

Have YOU ever wondered what it means to be human? Check out our story "Humanity 3.0" by Alene Dawson on Templeton Ideas. 

Read more from Andy: “We Don’t Need Superpowers. We Need Instruments.”

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Dr. Seth is a Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. The author of over 200 research papers, Anil integrates psychology, philosophy, computer science, and neuroscience to explore how our brains generate subjective experiences. Outside the laboratory, Anil has a knack for communication, too. His TED Talk has reached nearly 15 million viewers, and his bestselling book Being You: A New Science of Consciousness takes a baffling topic and makes it relatable and engaging for general readers.

Anil joins the podcast to explain why animals may be conscious, but artificial intelligence is not, and why, despite the potential for technological dystopias, he is optimistic about the future.

Are you curious about consciousness? Don't miss out on our intriguing story "Can Digital Computers Ever Achieve Consciousness?" by Marcus Arvan on Templeton Ideas.

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Scott Shigeoka is a fellow at the University of California, Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and a lecturer at the University of Texas, Austin. He is also an international speaker and author whose new book is SEEK: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World. Scott combines social science research and real-world experience into practical strategies to bridge cultural differences, build new relationships, and embark on transformative life experiences.

Scott joins the podcast to explain the difference between deep curiosity and shallow curiosity, how inward curiosity can be a powerful tool for self-discovery, and what the world may look like if we all became a little more curious.

Want to learn more about curiosity? Check out our story “Curiosity Has Two Faces” by Annelise Jolley on Templeton Ideas. 

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Dr. Shep Doeleman is a professor at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard and the Smithsonian, where he studies supermassive black holes. He is the Director of the Event Horizon Telescope, a global array of radio observatories that produced the first-ever image of a black hole. He also leads Harvard’s Black Hole Initiative, which aims to establish black hole science as a new field of study. Shep joins the podcast to discuss his adventures in Antarctica, how you produce an image of an invisible object, and how his international collaboration gives him hope for humanity.

Interested in learning more about black holes? Watch our speaker series, "The Story Behind the First Image of a Black Hole," featuring Dr. Shep Doeleman and Dr. Peter Galison on Templeton Ideas.

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Liane Young is a professor at Boston College, where she directs the Morality Lab, which explores concepts like virtue, social norms, identity, and belief formation. Dr. Young’s current research focuses on theory of mind and emotions in moral judgment and behavior. Her insights and findings have appeared in The New York Times, NPR, and more.

On this episode of the Templeton Ideas podcast, Liane joins Ben Carlson, director of strategic communication at the John Templeton Foundation, to explore why morality can be described as a moving target, the factors that influence moral judgements, and the role of intentions in everyday interactions.

Want to learn more about curiosity? Check out our story Curiosity Has Two Faces by Annelise Jolley on Templeton Ideas. 

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Professor Al-Khalili is a theoretical physicist at the University of Surrey, as well as a prominent author and broadcaster. Jim has written 14 popular books about science translated into 26 different languages. His latest book, The Joy of Science, applies the principles of science to our daily lives. Jim is a regular presenter of science documentaries, and he hosts the long-running weekly BBC Radio 4 programme, The Life Scientific.

On this episode of the Templeton Ideas podcast, Jim explores the intersection of quantum mechanics and biology, the enduring mystery of the origin of life, and reflects on his journey as a science communicator.

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Still curious? https://www.templeton.org/news is where you can find the latest stories from our grantees, our staff, and contributing writers from around the world. 

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Rabbi Held is a theologian, scholar, and educator. Named as one of the most influential rabbis in America, he is the President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at the Hadar Institute, which he co-founded in 2006 in New York City. He is the author of several books, including a biography of Abraham Joshua Heschel; and The Heart of the Torah, a collection of essays on the Hebrew Bible. His newest book is entitled Judaism is about love: Recovering the heart of Jewish life. Shai joins the podcast to discuss his family's complex relationship with Jewish tradition, the centrality of love in Judaism, and his advice for people feeling overwhelmed by societal challenges. 

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Still curious? https://www.templeton.org/news is where you can find the latest stories from our grantees, our staff, and contributing writers from around the world. 

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