Templeton Ideas Podcast

Kaitlin Yarnall is the Chief Storytelling Officer at the National Geographic Society, one of the largest funders of individual storytellers and journalists in the world. A cartographer by trade, Kaitlin travels the world helping NatGeo Explorers—exceptional individuals in their fields—share their work in science, exploration, and education with millions of people. She joins the podcast to discuss storytelling with impact, her partnership with the John Templeton Foundation, and the exciting initiatives being covered at the National Geographic Society. Curiosity is a powerful force for exploring and understanding the world, but we also know the old saying, “Curiosity killed the cat.” How do we resolve this paradox? To learn more, read Curiosity Has Two Faces by Annelise Jolley.  Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

Simran Jeet Singh is a professor of religious history at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He is also a senior advisor at the Aspen Institute and host of the podcast Wisdom & Practice. Simran is the author of three books, including  The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life, which introduces readers to the religious tradition of Sikhism and its practical relevance for all of us today. Simran joins the podcast to share the history, beliefs, and practices of the Sikh faith. How do the people of India feel about other faiths? A survey shows interesting findings about the beliefs and perspectives of those who live near each other, yet belong to different religions. Read the survey results in India's Patchwork Pluralism.  Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

David Bentley Hart is a scholar with wide-ranging interests in philosophy, theology, religions, and culture. He is the author of hundreds of literary essays and more than twenty books. Our conversation today focuses on two in particular; the first is The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, and Bliss; and the second is David’s most recent work entitled All Things Are Full of Gods: The Mysteries of Mind and Life. This book is playfully written in the form of a Platonic dialogue in which the characters explore questions of ultimate reality. David is also an avid fan of baseball, a subject that he eloquently praises in his popular essay “A Perfect Game”.  Can we actually see the divine in nature? Or do we project meaning onto reality? Learn how to tell the difference in On Seeing Divinity in The World: Ultrasound Scans and The Canals of Mars  by Stephen Law.  Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.   

Heather Templeton Dill is the President and CEO of the John Templeton Foundation and the granddaughter of Sir John Templeton. In this engaging discussion, she reflects on a decade of leadership that expanded the Foundation's global reach. Dill emphasizes the significance of intellectual humility and the psychology of purpose. She shares insights on adapting funding strategies, the importance of co-funding innovative research, and the Foundation's vision for a spiritual renaissance that marries science and faith, aiming to inspire meaningful societal transformation.

Agnes is a philosophy professor at the University of Chicago, where she specializes in ancient philosophy and ethics. Her early studies instilled in her a deep fascination with Socrates, which ultimately led to the publication of her newest book, Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life. In addition to her scholarly work, she also writes for popular outlets like The New Yorker, the Atlantic, New York Times, and Harpers. How can we "navigate a technical revolution" in an ever-evolving world? Read A Meaningful Life in the Age of AI by Richard Lopez to learn how to balance appreciation and practice of AI.  Join our growing community of 140,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

Robin is a British anthropologist and professor with a special interest in primate behavior and evolution. He is perhaps best known for formulating “Dunbar’s Number”, which states that among humans, there is an upper limit of about 150 people with whom we can maintain stable social relationships. Among his many books, he recently published How Religion Evolved And Why It Endures, in which he explores the deep history of human spirituality and its expression in both small-scale and large-scale societies. He joins the podcast to discuss the origins of religion and religion's purpose in our societies.  "Science is known for progress and change; religion is less so." Learn how science and fascination are being used to teach monks and nuns in An Experiment to Enhance the Tibetan Monastic Tradition by Drew Rick-Miller.  Join our growing community of 140,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

Dr. Centola is a professor of communication, sociology, and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on how ideas transmit and transform societies through network theory and behavior change. He has explored these ideas in two popular books: How Behavior Spreads: The Science of Complex Contagions and Change: How to Make Big Things Happen. Damon joins the podcast to discuss the most effective approaches to social and behavior change.  Why is it so difficult to make meaningful, positive changes in our personal lives that last more than a few weeks? Explore this question in our essay by Alene Dawson, “Can people really change? Yes. Here’s how.” Join our growing community of 140,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

David Brooks is a political and cultural commentator who has written an Opinion column for the New York Times for two decades. His essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and more. He is also the author of several books, including The Social Animal, The Road to Character, and The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life. David’s newest book, How to Know a Person is a practical guide to fostering deeper connections at home, work, and throughout our lives. David joins the podcast to discuss the social and relational crisis in our society, why it’s better to be an illuminator than a diminisher, and his practical advice on how we can become better people. Producer’s note: This special episode was originally published in the early days of the Templeton Ideas podcast in November 2023. We hope you enjoy it. Join our growing community of 140,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Olga Khazan is an author and staff writer at The Atlantic, where she publishes stories on health, social science, psychology, and other thought-provoking topics. In 2020, she published her first book, Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World, which draws on her experiences as both an immigrant and a natural introvert. Olga’s latest book, Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change, chronicles her year-long personal experiment to reshape her personality. Olga joins the podcast to discuss how she intentionally became more extroverted and how becoming a parent can change our personalities.  Does being a parent make you miserable, happy, or is that the wrong question entirely? Explore these ideas and more in an essay by psychologist Kendra Thomas entitled “Parenting is About Hope, Not Happiness.” Join our growing community of 140,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Ross Douthat is a New York Times columnist who writes about religion, society, and moral values. He is also the author of several thought-provoking books, including Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics, and a memoir of his personal struggle with a debilitating sickness, The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery. His latest book is Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. Ross joins the podcast to discuss how decadence is shaping society and whether religion has a vibrant future. Why do so many people pray? Does it really work? And if so, in what way? Explore these questions and more in an essay by psychologist Frank Fincham, “What Can Science Say About the Study of Prayer?” Join our growing community of 140,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.