Ever feel something's missing in life? Discover how pausing can reveal a sense of wonder. Explore the delightful tale of Inky the octopus and the magic of storytelling. Dive into the science of awe and its surprising impact on happiness. Reflect on how cultivating awe can enrich lives, especially in tough times. Unpack the role of poetry in navigating existential questions and finding meaning beyond traditional beliefs. Embrace the beauty in everyday moments and reconnect with your inner child.

For all the talk about how psychedelics might transform psychiatric care, there's still a fascinating question at the heart of psychedelic science. Is it the mind-blowing experience that fundamentally changes a person’s outlook on life? Or is it the powerful molecules that rewire the brain? Check out the full series: ttbook.org/luminous Original Air Date: December 16, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: Does psychedelic therapy need the trip? — Will psychedelics replace antidepressants? — Spiritual warriors in the psychedelic underground Guests: David Olson, Charles Raison, Rachel Harris Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

Maps, whether drawn by hand or by satellite, reflect the time they were drawn for. How will the next generation of cartographers deal with challenges like a world being reshaped by climate change? Original Air Date: December 09, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: Why are islands in the South Pacific disappearing? — Cartography in the age of Google Maps — This is your brain on maps — The mysterious music of the 'phantom islands' Guests: Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, Mamata Akella, Bill Limpisathian, Andrew Pekler Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

The podcast explores the heated debates on how to tell American history, including critical race theory and public monuments. It discusses the importance of challenging skewed narratives, revisiting stories from different perspectives, evaluating the complex legacy of Thomas Jefferson, preserving African American history through praise houses, and restoring mistreated burial sites. It emphasizes the role of public historians in reshaping national narratives and the power of preserving cultural traditions.

There are old folktales and legends of people who can become animals. Animals who can become people. And there’s a lesson for our own time in those shapeshifting stories — a recognition that the membrane between what's human and more-than-human is razor thin. Human identity cannot be separated from our nonhuman kin. From forest ecology to the human microbiome, emerging research suggests that being human is a complicated journey made possible only by the good graces of our many companions. In partnership with the Center for Humans and Nature and with support from the Kalliopeia Foundation, To The Best Of Our Knowledge is exploring this theme of "kinship" in a special radio series. To learn more about the Kinship series, head to ttbook.org/kinship. Original Air Date: November 20, 2021 Interviews In This Hour: Reclaiming the fierce women who are shapeshifters — How a man turned into a raven — Shapeshifters, shamans and the 'New Animism' — Horror author Stephen Graham Jones on what our monsters say about us Guests: Sharon Blackie, David Abram, Chris Gosden, Stephen Graham Jones Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

This intriguing discussion features Marcelo Gleiser, an astrophysicist who merges science and philosophy, poet Marjolijn van Heemstra, and theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, known for his insights on time and quantum gravity. They delve into what time really is, exploring its personal and cosmic dimensions. The conversation touches on the emotional layers of time shaped by grief and memory, the mysteries of the universe from the Big Bang to black holes, and how a cosmic perspective can inspire unity amid human struggles.

Explore the ethical implications of land ownership and the Land Back movement. Learn about living sustainable lifestyles on homesteads, the back-to-the-land movement, and the complexities of self-reliance. Reflect on raising and slaughtering animals for food and the moral complexities involved. Delve into the concept of shame, motherhood, and nature. Discuss land ownership, concepts of trespass, and the theft and destruction of Indigenous land and communities. Discover an indigenous perspective on land and hope for restoration.

This podcast discusses the rise of radical politics and movements against various issues like racial violence and climate change, all of which may be seen as rebellions against capitalism. It explores the interconnectedness of these crises and their opposition to capitalism, advocating for the overthrow of the system. Personal experiences, the urgency of crisis, and the need for radicalism are also discussed, along with the complexities of capitalism, feminism, and making radical change.

We've always told ghost stories, huddling around campfires, scaring ourselves silly. Today there’s a new venue for spooky stories – YouTube, where creators are turning cobwebby VHS video tapes and other relics of the early internet into a new genre – analog horror. In this hour, we celebrate weird fiction in all its forms, going back to the original eldritch being himself, H.P. Lovecraft. Original Air Date: October 28, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: When dreams escape sleep: the analog horror of 'Somnium DreamViewer' — Kelly Link on 'Pretty Monsters' — The Ecology of Noise in Lovecraft's Fiction — The Magickal Realism and Continuing Influence of H.P. Lovecraft Here's the original broadcast from 2015 that featured more on Lovecraft, including reckoning with his racist views.  Guests: Holly Fernwright, Kelly Link, Dean Lockwood, Erik Davis Check out our previous episode on H.P. Lovecraft. Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

Explore the ethical concerns and potential for exploitation and cultural appropriation in the psychedelic industry. Learn about the tragic story of Maria Sabina and the impact of the hippie movement on indigenous communities in Mexico. Discover the importance of reclaiming indigeneity, healing trauma, and reconnecting with indigenous roots. Discuss the historical exploitation of indigenous communities by the pharmaceutical industry and the ethical concerns surrounding bioprospecting and biocolonialism.