Robert Wright's Nonzero
Nonzero
Conversations with a series of people who have nothing in common except that program host Robert Wright is curious about what they’re thinking. www.nonzero.org
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 28, 2024 • 1h 9min
China Viewed from China (Robert Wright & Peter Hessler)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org0:28 Peter’s new book, Other Rivers: A Chinese Education 3:24 Have Chinese people become less hostile to America? 13:12 What Americans get wrong about China 17:38 Why Peter thinks Covid didn’t come from a lab 20:59 China’s transformative recent decades 31:10 Respect for authority in Chinese culture 40:26 Change in China between Peter’s two teaching stints there 54:41 Why the Chinese political system may change dramaticallyRobert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Peter Hessler (River Town, Other Rivers). Recorded September 17, 2024.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods
Oct 26, 2024 • 52min
Ukraine War Escalates, Kamala Goes Full Cheney (Earthling Unplugged)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.orgAndrew Day, Connor Echols, and a SPECIAL MYSTERY GUEST discuss items from this week’s Earthling. Read it here: https://nonzero.substack.com/p/are-we-inching-toward-world-war-iii
Oct 23, 2024 • 45min
Elon, Trump, and Other Enigmas (Robert Wright & Paul Bloom)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org0:28 Bob: The oligarchy has arrived 8:24 What do the odd 2024 betting markets mean for the race? 17:51 Trump on Palmer’s manhood: a closer look 25:24 The Elon empathy enigma 34:51 Coates’s controversial cognitive-empathizing 43:06 Heading to OvertimeRobert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toronto, The Sweet Spot, Against Empathy). Recorded October 22, 2024.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods
Oct 19, 2024 • 33min
The Middle East After Sinwar (Earthling Unplugged)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.orgRobert Wright, Andrew Day, and Connor Echols discuss items from this week’s Earthling. Read it here: https://nonzero.substack.com/p/why-israel-wont-take-the-winRecorded October 18, 2024.
Oct 15, 2024 • 1h 2min
Is the Chip War against China Backfiring? (Robert Wright & Paul Triolo)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org0:28 What is the chip war intended to accomplish? 11:44 How China sees the chip war 19:02 Is Huawei a threat to US national security? 30:21 Paul: The chip restrictions on China are unprecedented 39:39 How Biden boosted China’s chip industry 52:40 Clear costs and unclear benefits of the chip warRobert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Triolo (Albright Stonebridge Group). Recorded October 02, 2024.
Oct 11, 2024 • 34min
Israel's Looming Attack on Iran (Earthling Unplugged)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.orgAndrew Day and Connor Echols discuss items from this week’s Earthling. Read it here: https://nonzero.substack.com/p/israel-assassination-backfires-andRecorded October 11, 2024.
Oct 10, 2024 • 56min
October 7th: One Year Later (Robert Wright & Ron Kampeas)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org0:00 The time Ron helped un-cancel Jimmy Carter 3:36 How has 10/7 affected American Jews? 15:38 Israel’s place in US politics post-10/7 21:59 What a second Trump term could mean for Israel-Palestine 28:31 Could the current trauma in the Middle East eventually revive the two-state solution? 39:05 Making sense of Israel’s military strategy 45:39 Criticism of Israel, left vs right 50:58 Heading to OvertimeRobert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Ron Kampeas (Jewish Telegraphic Agency).Recorded October 09, 2024.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods
Oct 9, 2024 • 56min
Elon Goes Full-on Trump (Robert Wright & Paul Bloom)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org0:28 Elon takes the stage with Trump 5:025 The logic behind Elon’s Trump gamble 11:21 Who won the Vance-Walz vibe war? 14:56 A few kind words about Elon from Paul 27:50 Bob and Paul debate the CBS Coates controversy 48:06 Paul gets philosophical about Mission: Impossible 51:54 Heading to OvertimeRobert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toronto, The Sweet Spot, Against Empathy). Recorded October 08, 2024.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods
Oct 5, 2024 • 55min
Israel's Plan for Wider War (Earthling Unplugged)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.orgRobert Wright, Andrew Day, and Connor Echols discuss items from this week’s Earthling. Read it here: https://nonzero.substack.com/p/bibis-plan-for-peace-through-widerRecorded October 04, 2024.
Oct 2, 2024 • 55min
AI Snake Oil (Robert Wright & Arvind Narayanan)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org0:28 Arvind’s book and newsletter: AI Snake Oil 3:02 A taxonomy of AI observers 7:41 The impact of generative AI 20:21 Why predictive AI sometimes fails 25:03 Uses and misuses of AI in law and healthcare 41:22 Can social media be saved? 52:25 Heading to OvertimeRobert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Arvind Narayanan (Princeton University, AI Snake Oil). Recorded September 11, 2024.Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods
