Beauty At Work

John C. Havens has spent years at the heart of the global conversation on AI ethics. As the Founding Executive Director of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, he led the creation of Ethically Aligned Design, a document that went on to influence the United Nations, OECD, IBM, and dozens of organizations shaping the future of AI. He also helped build the IEEE 7000 Standards Series, now one of the largest bodies of international standards on AI and society.Today, John serves as the Global Staff Director for the IEEE Planet Positive 2030 Program, guiding efforts that prioritize both ecological and human flourishing in technological design. But his perspective on AI doesn’t begin with policy or engineering; it starts with love, vulnerability, and the deep spiritual questions that have shaped his life.Previously, John was an EVP of Social Media at Porter Novelli and was a professional actor for over 15 years.  John has written for Mashable and The Guardian and is author of the books, Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity To Maximize Machines, Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking it Can Change the World, and Tactical Transparency: How Leaders Can Leverage Social Media to Maximize Value and Build their Brand.  John is also an expert with AI and Faith. In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:How love reframes “weakness” in both human life and AI ethicsThe impact of generative AI on creativity, intellectual property, and the erosion of human craftsmanshipThe dangers of anthropomorphism in AI designWays AI systems undermine our capacity for conscious choiceHow the surveillance economy and advertising systems shape our habits and decisionsPositive psychology matters for designing technology that supports well-beingWhat dreams, virtual reality, the spatial web, data, and spiritual life have in commonTo learn more about John’s work:IEEE Planet Positive 2030 Program – https://sagroups.ieee.org/planetpositive IEEE 7000 Standards Series – https://standards.ieee.org Books and resources mentioned:Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity to Maximize Machines (John Havens)Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking it Can Change the World (John Havens)The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power (Shoshana Zuboff)Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other (Sherry Turkle)This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.Support the show

In Episode 3 of this season, we explore the evolving landscape of spiritual innovation, what it means to design meaningful spiritual life in a rapidly changing world, with guests Casper Ter Kuile and Angie Thurston from Sacred Design Lab, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the future of spiritual life.Casper Ter Kuile shares insight and inspiration on the future of community, ritual, and spirituality. He is the author of The Power of Ritual and co-founder of Sacred Design Lab. He also co-created the hit podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, co-founded Nearness, and co-authored the influential paper How We Gather.Angie Thurston is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Design Lab. She has worked with hundreds of innovative leaders, finding new ways to address spiritual longings amid religious change. Angie has co-written eight widely read reports on the evolving landscape of community and spiritual life, including How We Gather.In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:What makes spiritual innovation succeed: how to meet innovators’ practical, relational, and spiritual needsHow projects endure, and what sustainable models beyond individual founders and short-term funding might look likeCommon pitfalls such as ethical lapses, burnout, and the challenge of translating sacred traditions responsiblyGen Z’s openness to religion and search for meaning, purpose, and belongingThe new Spiritual Innovation Hub and a call for cross-sector collaboration and shared wisdomTo learn more about Casper and Angie’s work, you can find them at: https://www.sacred.design Books and resources mentioned:The Power of Ritual (by Casper Ter Kuile)How We Gather (by Casper Ter Kuile & Angie Thurston)Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (podcast)Illuminating Spiritual Innovation (report by Sacred Design Lab)This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.Support the show

In Episode 3 of this season, we explore the evolving landscape of spiritual innovation, what it means to design meaningful spiritual life in a rapidly changing world, with guests Casper Ter Kuile and Angie Thurston from Sacred Design Lab, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the future of spiritual life.Casper Ter Kuile shares insight and inspiration on the future of community, ritual, and spirituality. He is the author of The Power of Ritual and co-founder of Sacred Design Lab. He also co-created the hit podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, co-founded Nearness, and co-authored the influential paper How We Gather.Angie Thurston is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Design Lab. She has worked with hundreds of innovative leaders, finding new ways to address spiritual longings amid religious change. Angie has co-written eight widely read reports on the evolving landscape of community and spiritual life, including How We Gather.In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:The origins of Sacred Design Lab and its missionWhat “spiritual innovation” means and how it appears across traditionsThe story behind Harry Potter and the Sacred Text and how reading can become a spiritual practiceWhat it means to design for risk in ritual and liturgyWhy the term “spiritual innovation” can be both inspiring and controversialReal stories of spiritual innovators around the world: Buddhist monks leading meditation in the metaverse to Muslim leaders blending theology with psychologyTo learn more about Casper and Angie’s work, you can find them at: https://www.sacred.design Books and resources mentioned:The Power of Ritual (by Casper Ter Kuile)How We Gather (by Casper Ter Kuile & Angie Thurston)Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (podcast)Illuminating Spiritual Innovation (report by Sacred Design Lab)This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.Support the show

In Episode 2 of this season, we explore the evolution of beauty (especially in birds) and the beauty of innovation, with guest Matt Ridley.Matt Ridley's books have sold over a million copies, been translated into 31 languages and won several awards. His books include The Red Queen, Genome, The Rational Optimist, The Evolution of Everything, How Innovation Works, and Viral: the search for the origin of covid-19 (co-authored with Alina Chan). His latest book is Birds, Sex, and Beauty.He served the House of Lords between 2013 and 2021 and served on the science and technology select committee and the artificial intelligence select committee.He was founding chairman of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle. He created the Mind and Matter column in the Wall Street Journal in 2010 and was a columnist for the Times 2013-2018. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He lives in Northumberland.In this episode, we talk about:The myth of “disruptive innovation” and the overlooked beauty of incremental progressThe real relationship between basic science and technologyWhy Ridley still calls himself a “rational optimist”Why freedom, not brilliance, is the secret sauce of innovationHow universities and industry can collaborate to keep creativity aliveTo learn more about Matt’s work, you can find him at: https://www.mattridley.co.uk/ Books and resources mentioned:Birds, Sex and Beauty (by Matt Ridley) How Innovation Works (by Matt Ridley)The Rational Optimist (by Matt Ridley)The Mating Mind (by Geoffrey Miller)The Descent of Man (by Charles Darwin)The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection (by Ronald Fisher)Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty (by Nancy Etcoff)The Rational Optimist Society – rationaloptimistsociety.com This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.Support the show

In Episode 2 of this season, we explore the evolution of beauty (especially in birds) and the beauty of innovation, with guest Matt Ridley.Matt Ridley's books have sold over a million copies, been translated into 31 languages and won several awards. His books include The Red Queen, Genome, The Rational Optimist and The Evolution of Everything. His book on “How Innovation Works” was published in 2020, and "Viral: the search for the origin of covid-19", co-authored with Alina Chan, was published in 2021.He served the House of Lords between 2013 and 2021 and served on the science and technology select committee and the artificial intelligence select committee.He was founding chairman of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle. He created the Mind and Matter column in the Wall Street Journal in 2010 and was a columnist for the Times 2013-2018. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.He lives in Northumberland.In this episode, we talk about:How Ridley’s childhood fascination with birds led him to study evolutionThe courtship rituals of black grouse and the surprising role of female choiceHow Ronald Fisher’s “sexy sons” hypothesis changed everythingWhat bowerbirds can teach us about aesthetics and artSexual selection as a driver of creativity, humor, and the human brainTo learn more about Matt’s work, you can find him at: https://www.mattridley.co.uk/ Books and resources mentioned:Birds, Sex and Beauty (by Matt Ridley) How Innovation Works (by Matt Ridley)The Rational Optimist (by Matt Ridley)The Mating Mind (by Geoffrey Miller)The Descent of Man (by Charles Darwin)The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection (by Ronald Fisher)Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty (by Nancy Etcoff)The Rational Optimist Society – rationaloptimistsociety.com This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.Support the show

This is part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Michael Muthukrishna. What really drives human progress? What is innovation, and why is innovation not just a feature of modern society but a law of life? How do energy, cooperation, and culture shape the way we create new ideas?These are ideal questions with which to launch our new podcast season on the beauty and burdens of innovation, and I can’t think of anyone better suited to address them than my guest today.Dr. Michael Muthukrishna is joint Professor of Economic Psychology at the London School of Economics and Professor of Psychology at NYU (from January 2026). At LSE, he is also Affiliate of the Data Science Institute and STICERD Developmental Economics Group. Michael is co-founder and Technical Director of The Database of Religious History (religiondatabase.org), founder of the LSE Culturalytik project (culturalytik.com), London School of Artificial Intelligence (lsai.org.uk), and Center for Human Progress (humanprogress.center), Research Lead of Cities, Culture, and Technology at the African School of Economics’ Africa Urban Lab (aul.city), and Scientific Advisor at the AI startup Electric Twin (electrictwin.com). Michael's research applies an evolutionary framework to understand human cooperation, tackling key topics, including: the barriers to cooperation, particularly how different mechanisms of cooperation (such as family ties versus impartial institutions) can potentially undermine each other; the impact of cultural differences on psychology and behavior; the processes of social learning; and how these learning processes drive innovation and cultural change. His research and interviews have appeared in outlets including CNN, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Scientific American, PBS, Vice, Newsweek, Time, New York Magazine, Nature News, Science News, The Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian. Michael’s research is informed by his educational background in engineering and psychology, with graduate training in evolutionary biology, economics, and statistics, and his personal background living in Sri Lanka, Botswana, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Canada, United States, and United Kingdom. He is the author of A Theory of Everyone: The new science of who we are, how we got here, and where we’re going (MIT Press / Basic Books).In this episode, we talk about:1. The compass model and the adjacent possible zone2. How to solve the paradox of diversity3. Three ingredients of evolution: Variation, transmission, selection4. The promise and pitfalls of AI - The Second Enlightenment5. The promise of AI to create abundance6. The relationship between innovation and religionTo learn more about Michael’s work, you can find him at: https://www.michael.muthukrishna.com/ Links Mentioned:A Theory of Everyone by Michael Muthukrishna - https://www.atheoryofeveryone.com/ This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion TrustSupport the show

What really drives human progress? What is innovation, and why is innovation not just a feature of modern society but a law of life? How do energy, cooperation, and culture shape the way we create new ideas?These are ideal questions with which to launch our new podcast season on the beauty and burdens of innovation, and I can’t think of anyone better suited to address them than my guest today.Dr. Michael Muthukrishna is joint Professor of Economic Psychology at the London School of Economics and Professor of Psychology at NYU (from January 2026). At LSE, he is also Affiliate of the Data Science Institute and STICERD Developmental Economics Group. Michael is co-founder and Technical Director of The Database of Religious History (religiondatabase.org), founder of the LSE Culturalytik project (culturalytik.com), London School of Artificial Intelligence (lsai.org.uk), and Center for Human Progress (humanprogress.center), Research Lead of Cities, Culture, and Technology at the African School of Economics’ Africa Urban Lab (aul.city), and Scientific Advisor at the AI startup Electric Twin (electrictwin.com). Michael's research applies an evolutionary framework to understand human cooperation, tackling key topics, including: the barriers to cooperation, particularly how different mechanisms of cooperation (such as family ties versus impartial institutions) can potentially undermine each other; the impact of cultural differences on psychology and behavior; the processes of social learning; and how these learning processes drive innovation and cultural change. His research and interviews have appeared in outlets including CNN, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Scientific American, PBS, Vice, Newsweek, Time, New York Magazine, Nature News, Science News, The Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian. Michael’s research is informed by his educational background in engineering and psychology, with graduate training in evolutionary biology, economics, and statistics, and his personal background living in Sri Lanka, Botswana, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Canada, United States, and United Kingdom. He is the author of A Theory of Everyone: The new science of who we are, how we got here, and where we’re going (MIT Press / Basic Books).In this episode, we talk about:1. Michael's encounter with beauty in Botswana2. The impact of culture on bad foreign policy and global problems3. The “four laws of life” that underlie human progress4. Difference between cooperation and competition5. How innovation really happens through the “collective brain”To learn more about Michael’s work, you can find him at: https://www.michael.muthukrishna.com/ Links Mentioned:A Theory of Everyone by Michael Muthukrishna - https://www.atheoryofeveryone.com/ This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion TrustSupport the show

In this clip from the episode of Beauty at Work, host Brandon Vaidyanathan sits down with Brian Mullins, CEO of Mind Foundry, a pioneering responsible AI company spun out of the University of Oxford. Brian shares how AI can be built differently—safely, ethically, and in partnership with human insight—for high-stakes, real-world applications. From malaria detection in mosquitoes to the myth of superintelligence, the conversation explores the promises and perils of AI, and how beauty—in simplicity, function, and deep understanding—emerges in the process.Mullins discusses why we’re a long way away from AI transforming into a super-intelligence that truly rivals human intelligence. And, he shares where he finds beauty in his work.For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/14500178For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast#BeautyAtWork #BrandonVaidyanathan #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #BrianMullins #MindFoundry #Superintelligence #ScienceAndBeauty #UnderstandingAI #AIInnovation #TechForGood #FutureOfAI #EthicalTech #OxfordAI #HumanCenteredAI #ResponsibleAISupport the show

Is classical music “entertainment”? Timothy Myers, conductor and music director of the Austin Opera, argues that it’s an antidote to entertainment. Here, he shares his story of how he became a conductor and discusses what he finds inspiring about orchestral performance.In this clip from the Beauty at Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan speaks with Timothy Myers, acclaimed conductor and Music Director of the Austin Opera. Myers shares deeply personal stories—from his early musical memories at a powwow in Oklahoma to the transformative moment of hearing Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade live. He reflects on the collaborative nature of conducting, the aesthetic principles behind orchestral sound, and why live performance is more than entertainment—it's a sacred act of communal enchantment.For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/14411268For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast #TimothyMyers #BeautyAtWork #ClassicalMusic #OrchestralMusic #AustinOpera #LivePerformance #MusicAndBeauty #Conducting #ArtisticLeadership #MusicPodcast #EnchantmentThroughArt #BrandonVaidyanathan #SacredArt #PowerOfSound #MusicalJourney #ModernClassicalSupport the show

How can art heal us? Award-winning artist Wayne Brezinka discusses some of the most meaningful responses to his pieces that he’s received. He also talks about the workshops he leads that focus on using art as a tool to respond to trauma.In this episode of the Beauty at Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan speaks with Wayne about the role of vulnerability in his creative process, how his artwork opens space for healing conversations, and why untrained hands often produce the most powerful pieces. Wayne also shares what he’s learned from working with veterans, healthcare workers, and others processing deep pain through art.For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/14296065For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast#BeautyAtWork #WayneBrezinka #BrandonVaidyanathan #ArtHealing #ArtAndTrauma #ArtPodcast #TraumaRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #Inspiration #StoryThroughArt #PodcastEpisode #CreativeExpression #HealingThroughArt #MixedMediaArt #ArtWorkshopsSupport the show