
3 Takeaways
3 Takeaways features insights from the world’s best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, scientists and other newsmakers. Each episode ends with 3 key takeaways to help you understand the world in new ways that can benefit your life and career. Hosted by Lynn Thoman.
Latest episodes

Sep 10, 2024 • 23min
Former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Investing, Entrepreneurship, and Trump (#214)
With no exaggeration, Wilbur Ross is brilliant, successful, blunt, compelling, and completely devoid of baloney. Here, he reveals his thoughts on investing, China, entrepreneurship, serving as U.S. Commerce Secretary, the greatest threat to America, working for Donald Trump, and more. When Wilbur Ross talks, be sure to listen.

Sep 3, 2024 • 22min
Norway’s Former Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs: Are Chaos and Upheaval the New Norm? (#213)
The world is on a wild ride — two wars, massive immigration, fractured political parties. Are chaos and upheaval the new normal? Norway’s former Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ine Eriksen Søreide, shares her wise perspective on the threat of Russia, the critical role of the U.S., coping with immigration and more.

Aug 30, 2024 • 18min
Former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet: Leading with Integrity, Truth, and Empathy (#212)
Authentic political leadership is in short supply these days. There’s no better person on the topic than the first female President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet. Elected to office twice, she achieved remarkable reforms and had a stunning approval rating of 84%. Here, she talks about the need to tell the truth, defend democracy, be empathetic, and more.

Aug 20, 2024 • 22min
Highlight on Law & Justice: Six Experts Share Powerful Ideas on Crime and Punishment (#211)
With an election coming up, crime and punishment are a hot topic. Listen to this specially curated episode of 3 Takeaways as some of the sharpest minds on the subject share their insight. Guests include top legal reform expert, Christina Swarns; former Harvard Law School Dean, Martha Minow; Judge Jed Rakoff; founder of the Innocence Project, Barry Scheck; former New York City Police Commissioner, Bill Bratton; and Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security.

Aug 13, 2024 • 23min
Close Calls: The Terrifying Threat of Nuclear War (#210)
How would a nuclear war start and unfold? How close are we to thermonuclear annihilation? Annie Jacobsen, a weapons expert and Pulitzer Prize finalist, knows. Here, using insider information, she dramatically outlines how close we’ve come to Armageddon, what nuclear winter would entail, and much more. Don’t miss this chilling but necessary episode.

Aug 6, 2024 • 28min
Fareed Zakaria Makes Sense of a Crazy World (#209)
Massive, mind scrambling changes are taking place in society and politics these days. Nobody makes more sense of it than Fareed Zakaria. Listen, as he talks with his typical brilliance about the problems with our political parties, the need for open markets, how to fix the U.S. Supreme Court — and why he believes enormous optimism is justified.

Jul 30, 2024 • 18min
Vietnam: From Great Foe to Great Friend (#208)
It’s a story that seems unimaginable. Fifty years after the end of our brutal war with Vietnam, the two countries are now good friends, close trading partners, allies in many important ways. How did this remarkable reconciliation occur? What does it mean for the future? Don’t miss this engrossing talk with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc Knapper.“Our current friendship with Vietnam reflects a journey that a Hollywood scriptwriter could not have written.”

Jul 23, 2024 • 20min
What Einstein and Brie Larson Have in Common (#207)
What do Einstein, Mozart, Walt Disney, Brie Larson and many other talented and successful people have in common? The experience of being stuck — of being mired in a rut and struggling to accomplish. Here, NYU professor Adam Alter provides a detailed, actionable, and fascinating blueprint for how to get out of the rut. Be sure to listen and learn.“Colossal talents have experienced the same kinds of procrastination and productivity issues the rest of us do.”

Jul 16, 2024 • 20min
Hear, Here. A Fresh Take on the News Media’s Flawed Coverage of Joe Biden with a Former NY Times Executive Editor (#206)
The news media’s coverage of Joe Biden’s mental fitness is itself a major news story. Here, Jill Abramson, a former Executive Editor of the NY Times, provides fresh insight on the failures of the media, the White House’s aggressive cover-up, what it all means for journalism in general, and more. Don’t miss one of our most important conversations ever.

Jul 9, 2024 • 26min
A Former Prime Minister of Israel Speaks Bluntly (#205)
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has a special perspective and wise insights into the battle against Hamas. Here, he shares his thoughts and suggestions on ending the war, securing the future for Israel, dealing with Iran, the need for a Palestinian state, and more. There’s reason to be both hopeful and concerned. “To eliminate Hamas as if it didn't exist is impossible. … It is an ideology, and no military action can remove ideology from the face of the earth.” “I am more worried about the solidarity of Israeli society than I am about the enmity of our outside enemies.”