2015 Global Thinkers Miguel Nicolelis and Anthony Zador discuss the importance of funding creative neuroscience experiments when — and especially when — the outcome is unknown.

Why Brain Scientists Should Fail

News & Politics

2015 Global Thinker Hanya Yanagihara and writer Meghan O'Rourke debate the limits of pain, empathy, and romance.

Why the ‘Five Stages of Grief’ Theory Is a Sham

2015 Global Thinker Chigozie Obioma and novelist Taiye Selasi discuss whether the narrative of nationhood is the greatest story ever told.

Does the World Really Need Nation-States?

2015 Global Thinker Marjan Minnesma and Gasland director Josh Fox debate the best—and perhaps only—way to spurn action on climate change: Terrify people.

The Green Movement and its Inconvenient Truths

From telenovelas to Sesame Street, 2013 Global Thinkers Noura al Kaabi and Saad Mohseni debate the importance of cultural imports in a localized entertainment industry.

How to Build a Media Industry from Scratch

2015 Global Thinker Tobias Zielony and writer Anna Badkhen debate how the West stereotypes—to dangerous effect—the Global South.

Why Brain Scientists Should Fail

Download our free app to listen on your phone