Making Sense with Sam Harris
Sam Harris
Join neuroscientist, philosopher, and five-time New York Times best-selling author Sam Harris as he explores important and controversial questions about the mind, society, current events, moral philosophy, religion, and rationality—with an overarching focus on how a growing understanding of ourselves and the world is changing our sense of how we should live.
Sam is also the creator of the Waking Up app. Combining Sam’s decades of mindfulness practice, profound wisdom from varied philosophical and contemplative traditions, and a commitment to a secular, scientific worldview, Waking Up is a resource for anyone interested in living a more examined, fulfilling life—and a new operating system for the mind.
Waking Up offers free subscriptions to anyone who can’t afford one, and donates a minimum of 10% of profits to the most effective charities around the world. To learn more, please go to WakingUp.com.
Sam Harris received a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA.
Sam is also the creator of the Waking Up app. Combining Sam’s decades of mindfulness practice, profound wisdom from varied philosophical and contemplative traditions, and a commitment to a secular, scientific worldview, Waking Up is a resource for anyone interested in living a more examined, fulfilling life—and a new operating system for the mind.
Waking Up offers free subscriptions to anyone who can’t afford one, and donates a minimum of 10% of profits to the most effective charities around the world. To learn more, please go to WakingUp.com.
Sam Harris received a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA.
Episodes
Mentioned books
57 snips
Apr 29, 2019 • 49min
#155 — Mental Models
In this engaging dialogue, Shane Parrish, a blogger and podcaster known for his insights on mental models, joins the discussion. They explore decision-making frameworks, diving into cognitive biases and the perils of impulsive choices. Parrish shares his cybersecurity journey, emphasizing online privacy challenges and the risks tied to foreign dependence in critical infrastructure. The two also tackle the impact of optimism bias on rational thought and the complexities of ethical dilemmas in today's polarized discourse.
Apr 25, 2019 • 54min
#154 — What Do Jihadists Really Want? (2019)
Exploring the motivations behind jihadist beliefs reveals their deep-rooted religious convictions, challenging the notion that hatred of the West is the sole driver. The allure of extremism is dissected, highlighting how spirituality and the thrill of violence give recruits a sense of purpose and identity. The intricate relationship between religion and conflict is examined, illustrating how extreme interpretations can lead to aggression. Finally, the importance of confronting divisive ideologies through proactive measures is emphasized for fostering peace.
Apr 15, 2019 • 1h 39min
#153 — Possible Minds
Guests George Dyson, a historian of technology, and Alison Gopnik, a developmental psychologist from UC Berkeley, dive into the fascinating intersections of AI and human cognition. They discuss how insights from child development can inform AI research, exploring the importance of curiosity and creativity. The conversation further probes the ethical complexities surrounding advanced AI technologies while reflecting on the historical figures like Turing and von Neumann, whose legacies continue to shape our technological landscape.
10 snips
Mar 27, 2019 • 50min
#152 — The Trouble with Facebook
Roger McNamee, a Silicon Valley investor and early advisor to Facebook, discusses his book, 'Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe.' He delves into the negative impact of social media on democracy, highlighting unethical business practices and the role of misinformation. McNamee reflects on his early interactions with Mark Zuckerberg, expressing concerns about Facebook's influence on public health and election security. He emphasizes the urgent need for accountability in tech and critiques the troubling data collection and manipulation practices that drive societal division.
Mar 18, 2019 • 33min
#151 — Will We Destroy the Future?
In this engaging discussion, Nick Bostrom, a renowned philosopher from Oxford and head of the Future of Humanity Institute, tackles the pressing issue of existential risk. He shares insights on the vulnerable world hypothesis, questioning whether technological advancements could spell doom for humanity. Bostrom highlights the ethical quandaries we face with AI, biotechnology, and nuclear threats. He also explores the influence of moral frameworks on our decisions about the future, pondering if we’re navigating a simulated reality as we confront these challenges.
5 snips
Mar 12, 2019 • 50min
#150 — The Map of Misunderstanding
Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel laureate and psychology professor at Princeton, dives into the fascinating complexities of human decision-making. He addresses the replication crisis in science and the pitfalls of cognitive biases, emphasizing how framing affects moral dilemmas. Kahneman also explores the paradox of worry in motivating action against climate change and the asymmetry between pleasure and pain in our reactions to gains and losses. Their conversation reveals how storytelling influences beliefs and policymaking, offering profound insights into human behavior.
Mar 4, 2019 • 41min
#149 — The Problem of Addiction
Sam Harris speaks with Sally Satel about addiction. They discuss whether addiction should be considered a disease, the opiate epidemic in the U.S., the unique danger of fentanyl, the politicization of medicine, PTSD, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.
Feb 5, 2019 • 34min
#148 — Jack Dorsey
Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter and Square, dives into the complexities of managing two influential tech companies. He discusses Twitter's unique role in journalism and the challenges of combating toxicity online. Dorsey emphasizes the importance of healthy conversations and transparency, sharing insights on how to improve user engagement and manage diverse perspectives. He also reflects on the decision to suspend controversial figures, like Trump, and the impact of meditation on his leadership style.
Jan 28, 2019 • 46min
#147 — Stephen Fry
Sam Harris speaks with Stephen Fry about comedy, atheism, political correctness, meditation, ambition, empathy, psychedelics, Christopher Hitchens, Stephen's experience of manic depression, and much else. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.
Jan 16, 2019 • 45min
#146 — Digital Capitalism
Sam Harris speaks with Douglas Rushkoff about the state of the digital economy. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.
