3 Takeaways

Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law professor and former head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, explores the nuances of presidential power. He discusses why presidents often test constitutional limits, drawing on historical figures like FDR and Trump. Goldsmith explains the concept of departmentalism and its implications for the separation of powers. He raises pivotal questions about the legality of military actions, like the Venezuela invasion, and critiques Congress's failure to assert its war powers, emphasizing that politics, not just law, shapes presidential authority.

Most people quit their New Year's resolutions by March. The reason why might surprise you.University of Chicago professor Ayelet Fishbach has spent decades studying why we fail at goals. Her finding: willpower is overrated. What matters is something entirely different.In this episode, Fishbach reveals what actually separates those who succeed from those who quit and the strategies that make goals stick.

Admiral James Stavridis, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, discusses a balanced approach to U.S.-China relations, advocating for confrontation where necessary but cooperation on global issues. Physicist Mark Buchanan reveals stunning insights on how hidden patterns predict disasters like wildfires and market crashes. Jake Sullivan offers a fresh take on Xi and Putin's contrasting leadership styles. Together, these conversations shed light on pressing global challenges and the intricate dynamics shaping our world.

Dr. David Agus, a renowned physician and author, dives into the science of longevity and prevention. He reveals that a mere 4% of our lifespan is genetic—96% is within our control! Discover how elephants avoid cancer and the importance of habits like regular movement and good nutrition. Agus emphasizes the critical role of inflammation and innovative AI methods in healthcare. He shares practical advice to enhance health, highlighting that optimism and personal responsibility can lead to a longer, healthier life.

Nicholas Burns, former U.S. Ambassador to China and seasoned diplomat, shares chilling insights from his time in Beijing from 2021 to 2025. He discusses the outdated American perceptions of China and highlights its rapid innovation and work ethic. Burns reveals how Chinese leaders misinterpret U.S. political struggles and points out their regime's greatest weakness: a lack of freedoms. The danger of accidental military escalations, especially over Taiwan, is alarming. Ultimately, he underscores the need to compete, cooperate, and preserve peace in the fragile global landscape.

In this enlightening discussion, Dr. Elizabeth Klerman, a sleep scientist from Harvard Medical School, highlights the crucial role of sleep in our overall health. She shares three simple changes to enhance sleep quality, like avoiding caffeine before bed and creating a relaxing environment. Dr. Klerman debunks prevalent myths about sleep adaptation and explains the detrimental effects of chronic sleep loss on cognition and health. With insights on how circadian rhythms influence our sleep patterns, she offers valuable strategies to combat insomnia and improve overall well-being.

In a Paris hospital delivery room, Thomas Chatterton Williams, writer for The Atlantic and author of Self-Portrait in Black and White, held his newborn daughter for the first time. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. And in that instant, everything he thought he knew about race shattered.Thomas lives the questions about race and identity that most of us only debate. The son of a Black father who grew up under Jim Crow and a white mother, he had accepted America's racial categories without question. Until he couldn't.What he decided is radical. Controversial. And will challenge how you think about identity, George Floyd, and the categories we use to define ourselves.

What if fatigue, fear, and even failure aren’t real limits, but signals from the brain trying to protect us?Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and former Editor-in-Chief of Wired reveals the surprising psychology behind fatigue, focus, and fear and how our biggest limits often come from within.Nick isn’t just one of the most thoughtful leaders in media, he’s also a record-breaking ultramarathoner who’s learned that endurance begins in the mind.This conversation will change how you think about performance, aging, and the power of effort itself.Nick's wonderful new book is The Running Ground. 

We’re told youth is life’s peak — but what if that story is wrong?Stanford psychologist Laura Carstensen reveals how time itself reshapes what we value and how we find meaning. Her research offers profound lessons for living well at every age — and for finding more meaning in the moments we have. It’s a conversation that will change how you think about time, happiness, and life itself.

We’ve entered a new age. Where nature once took a million years to make a few genetic changes, scientists can now make billions in an afternoon — and even imagine adapting humans for life beyond Earth.George Church, a Harvard geneticist, pioneer of the Human Genome Project, and founder of more than 50 biotech companies, helped lay the foundation for CRISPR, personal genomics, and even de-extinction.In this episode, he explains how biotechnology, AI, and materials science are converging to transform life itself -  from reversing aging and curing disease to resurrecting lost species like the woolly mammoth, and one day, helping humanity thrive among the stars.