Psychologist Adam Mastroianni discusses the role of 'vibes' in knowledge acquisition and how our brains retain emotions, meanings, and values. The podcast explores the challenges of forgetting in formal education and the significance of realizing our smallness in the vastness of the universe. It also delves into the concept of 'vibes' and memorable moments from school, the indelible nature of certain memories, perceptions on economic views, and the power of storytelling in education.

Elie Hassenfeld, Co-founder and CEO of GiveWell, discusses the challenges of evaluating charities and balancing quantitative and qualitative factors. They also explore the concepts of crowding out and crowding in, and the importance of maintaining good judgment alongside quantification.

Peter Attia, author of Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, discusses the importance of healthspan over lifespan. Topics include the evolution of medicine, cancer screening, skepticism in nutritional epidemiology, vitamin D deficiency, tracking blood test results, the value of exercise, and mindfulness in reducing suffering.

Michael Munger, Professor of Political Science at Duke University, joins EconTalk's Russ Roberts to discuss the trolley problem, effective altruism, the moral claims of Peter Singer, and Adam Smith's perspective on moral decision-making.

Anupam Bapu Jena, Harvard University, explores hidden forces shaping health and the impact of doctors on patients. Topics include: natural experiments in medical care and policy, negative effects of marathons, optimizing medical decisions, learning from traumatic experiences, the Hawthorne effect in medicine, the challenge of devotion in healthcare organizations, and identifying the best teachers and doctors.

Economist Roland Fryer discusses discrimination, disparity, and measuring intangible skills in labor markets and education. They share personal anecdotes about dining preferences and racial discrimination, reflect on the influence of their grandmother, and explore game theory and statistical discrimination. The challenges of accurately measuring discrimination, overstating research findings, and addressing bias in hiring practices are also discussed.

Oncologist and epidemiologist Vinay Prasad discusses the complexities of cancer screening, exploring the limitations of current tests and the controversy surrounding mammography. The podcast also delves into the dilemmas of medical treatment for the elderly and emphasizes the importance of informed discussions and larger studies in settling debates on screening test efficacy.

Walter Russell Mead discusses the impact of technology and potential singularities, the relationship between technological progress and social development, the influence of Abrahamic religions on society, the intensity of global capitalism and technological change, the role of social media in the decline of expertise, and the dangers of utopian thinking and the lessons to be learned from the tragedies of the 20th century.

Psychologist and writer Adam Mastroianni says our minds are like the keep of a castle protecting our deepest held values and beliefs from even the most skilled attacks. The only problem with this design for self-preservation is that it also can keep out wisdom that might be both useful and true. Mastroianni's summary of the problem is "you can't reach the brain through the ears." Listen as Mastroianni talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the implication of this view of mind for teaching, learning, and our daily interactions with the people around us.

The future of AI keeps Zvi Mowshowitz up at night. He also wonders why so many smart people seem to think that AI is more likely to save humanity than destroy it. Listen as Mowshowitz talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the current state of AI, the pace of AI's development, and where--unless we take serious action--the technology is likely to end up (and that end is not pretty). They also discuss Mowshowitz's theory that the shallowness of the AI extinction-risk discourse results from the assumption that you have to be either pro-technological progress or against it.