Part 2! In which we get into the conversations currently happening on HeadOn, such as Jerusalem Days on Wednesdays, how the most productive role of AI is definitely not as an arbiter of truth, and more.

Oh man, this one covered a lot of ground. Adam Boaz Becker and I talk about his company HeadOn, and how he's using modern technology to get people to have difficult, but critical, conversations. Along the way, we talk about AI and its possible applications for good, how conflict in conversation can be a good thing, and the destructive pressures you can face while growing a company. 

This conversation was a fascinating, in-depth look from an expert, on a critical subject -- which of course means that it's pretty bleak right now. Neal Desai is currently the head of HR for the State of Maryland, a job he has taken after being at the federal Office of Personnel Management. Neal has a unique front-row seat to the importance, challenges, and modern-day assaults on government workers, and our conversation is a great way to understand what's really at stake. 

In this first half, we talk about what drove him specialize in government workers, the kinds of problems he solves, and how DOGE is actually *costing* us hundreds of billions dollars.

Anna Goldfarb has been called "the New York Times Friendship correspondent," and with a title like that how could I resist? We talk about her great new book Modern Friendship, which is an extremely practical approach to building and keeping friendships, but above all to seeing their value, and making intentional choices about them. We talk about the fact that there's only one source of good data on international friendship (but plenty of data on 5,000 other things), the dangers of friendship Cheetos, and the social foibles of squid.

Anna Goldfarb has been called "the New York Times Friendship correspondent," and with a title like that how could I resist? We talk about her great new book Modern Friendship, which is an extremely practical approach to building and keeping friendships, but above all to seeing their value, and making intentional choices about them. We talk about the fact that there's only one source of good data on international friendship (but plenty of data on 5,000 other things), the dangers of friendship Cheetos, and the social foibles of squid.

(Part 2) Finally, some rock and roll! I talk to my old friend and ex-roommate Rosie Cima about her band, her songs, and her love of songwriting workshops. We learn about whether you should tell your band about your breakups, and I get some of the best advice about metaphors I've ever received.

Finally, some rock and roll! I talk to my old friend and ex-roommate Rosie Cima about her band, her songs, and her love of songwriting workshops. We learn about whether you should tell your band about your breakups, and I get some of the best advice about metaphors I've ever received.

Listen to Part 1 of this interview, here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2241474/episodes/16716288

Pete Davis made an awesome movie about Robert Putnam (Join or Die, now available on Netflix); and I made a podcast about Pete Davis. In it we talk about his mentor, professor, friend, Harvard Professor and National Humanities Medal winner Bob Putnam, who I also credit as the man who first made me want to become a social scientist. A terrific conversation about the importance of friends to not just the individual, but the nation. And watch the movie!

https://www.joinordiefilm.com/

Pete Davis made an awesome movie about Robert Putnam (Join or Die, now available on Netflix); and I made a podcast about Pete Davis. In it we talk about his mentor, professor, friend, Harvard Professor and National Humanities Medal winner Bob Putnam, who I also credit as the man who first made me want to become a social scientist. A terrific conversation about the importance of friends to not just the individual, but the nation. And watch the movie!

https://www.joinordiefilm.com/

In this second half our conversation, Prof. Carnes and I talk about his experience running a candidate training workshop, and what people say they want in a politician. We also talk about my research, which begins to points the way towards identifying the kinds of politicians we need if we (or any other country) are going to meaningfully increase national satisfaction.