Nicholas Christakis

Nicholas Christakis, a Sterling Professor at Yale and Director of the Yale Institute for Network Science, dives into the fascinating world of social networks and their impact on societies. He shares his unique journey from aspiring surgeon to a focus on palliative care shaped by personal experiences. The conversation also explores social contagion in Honduras and the dynamics of grief within networks. Christakis highlights the interplay between genetics and social behavior, and discusses the implications of AI on morality, urging listeners to consider the profound effects of technology on human relationships.

Elemental human capacities like friendship and love, teaching and learning, have tremendous, constant, practical force. We don’t think of these in terms of what has given our species the grit to endure through hard times and even evolve in the long run. They’re lived social intelligence, part of the everyday, and so can be hard to see as serious amidst the high tumult of our age. But these kinds of human qualities are what sociologist Nicholas Christakis studies from his Human Nature Lab at Yale and his life generously lived. He offers a wide lens, a broad perspective, that deepens and refreshes.Nicholas Christakis is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale University, where he’s also the director of the Human Nature Lab and co-director of the Institute for Network Science. He’s the author of Connected: How Your Friends’ Friends’ Friends Affect Everything You Feel, Think, and Do and Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society. In October 2020, he published Apollo's Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.This show originally aired on March 5, 2020.

Nicholas Christakis, a sociologist and physician from Yale, dives into the intriguing world of gut microbiomes and their unexpected ties to our social lives. He reveals how researchers studied isolated communities in Honduras to uncover the surprising ways our friendships shape our microbiome. Christakis explains how our gut bacteria can reflect our social connections, possibly influencing our health outcomes. Discover the concept of a ‘social microbiome’ and the implications of microbial sharing in modern society!

Nicholas Christakis, a Yale professor, discusses genes' influence on social networks, pandemic preparation, and human evolution towards goodness. They explore social contagion dynamics, the impact of genes on group behavior, and the intersection of social networks and genetics.

Elemental human capacities like friendship and love, teaching and learning, have tremendous, constant, practical force. We don’t think of these in terms of what has given our species the grit to endure through hard times and even evolve in the long run. They’re lived social intelligence, part of the everyday, and so can be hard to see as serious amidst the high tumult of our age. But these kinds of human qualities are what sociologist Nicholas Christakis studies from his Human Nature Lab at Yale and his life generously lived. He offers a wide lens, a broad perspective, that deepens and refreshes.Nicholas Christakis — is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale University, where he’s also the director of the Human Nature Lab and co-director of the Institute for Network Science. He’s the author of Connected: How Your Friends’ Friends’ Friends Affect Everything You Feel, Think, and Do and Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society. In October 2020, he published Apollo's Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live.This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode "Nicholas Christakis — How We’re Wired for Goodness." Find the transcript for that show at onbeing.org.This show originally aired on March 5, 2020.

Nicholas Christakis, a Sterling Professor at Yale and author of 'Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society,' explores the complexities of human nature. He discusses how despite our flaws, we're biologically wired to cooperate and empathize. The conversation covers fascinating social experiments, contrasting shipwreck survival strategies, and the significance of mild hierarchies in promoting social order. Christakis emphasizes the importance of love and inclusivity, offering an optimistic view of humanity's potential to evolve positively.

Nicholas Christakis, a Yale professor and expert in sociology and medicine, dives into the fascinating interplay of social networks and disease spread. He discusses the historical context of pandemics, revealing how misinformation can ripple through communities. Christakis shares insights from his book 'Apollo's Arrow', reflecting on COVID-19's societal impact. The conversation explores innovative public health strategies, predicting a cultural resurgence post-pandemic, and emphasizes the need to combat misinformation with understanding.

Nicholas Christakis, a physician, sociologist, and professor at Yale University, discusses the impact of polarized media on our ability to deal with COVID, the end goal of herd immunity, the suspicious speed of the vaccine rollout, the ethics of vaccine requirements and booster shots, and the controversy surrounding Ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.

Yale coronavirus expert Dr. Nicholas Christakis returns for a discussion on the COVID vaccines, booster shots, and where we are headed as a society with COVID now that we are a year and a half into the pandemic. He explains why we are at "the end of the beginning" of the pandemic (2:58), how many deaths we are likely to experience in America (5:30), why it's likely that the vast majority of unvaccinated people will be infected eventually (8:04), the spread of misinformation (12:20), booster shots (17:26), vaccine induced immunity vs. natural immunity (22:12), the "Swiss Cheese" model for pandemic defense (31:43), denial during plagues (40:08), the origin of the outbreak (54:28), and the concern about new variants (56:55). Support the showFollow WHOOPwww.whoop.comTrial WHOOP for FreeInstagramTikTokXFacebookLinkedIn Follow Will AhmedInstagramXLinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo LinkedIn

Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a physician and sociologist from Yale, offers deep insights into the COVID-19 pandemic and human nature. He discusses how the crisis reveals our inherent goodness, which the virus exploits. Christakis explores the phases of the pandemic, emphasizing collective responsibility and the challenges of recovery. He also delves into ethical dilemmas we face and the dual nature of humanity, highlighting the importance of cooperation and social behavior. His books, 'Apollo's Arrow' and 'Blueprint', frame the conversation around our resilience and the potential for positive evolution in society.