Templeton Ideas Podcast

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.   

Brian Greene is a Professor of Physics and Mathematics at Columbia University. His research has significantly contributed to the advancement of string theory, and he is widely regarded as one of the world's leading science communicators. As a best-selling author, co-founder of the World Science Festival, and frequent guest on prominent television programs and films, Brian has a remarkable ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible to audiences across the globe. His latest book, Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe, is a fresh look at the cosmos. Brian joins the podcast to explore the fundamental nature of reality. What is “Nature”? Is it an idea, a force, a physical reality, or a god? How does a universe come to exist in the first place? To explore this mystery, check out our essay by Manil Suri, entitled “Mathematics Can Do Anything But This.” Join our growing community of 45,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Tanya Luhrmann is a professor of anthropology at Stanford University. Her work focuses on the edge of experience: voices, visions, and the world of the supernatural. From Chicago to London, and from India to Ghana, she has studied Zoroastrians, Evangelical Christians, Orthodox Jews, and people who practice magic. Two of her notable books include When God Talks Back and How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others. Tanya joins the podcast to discuss how people cultivate relationships with the divine in their everyday lives. Why is God imperceptible to some people, but not others? Could God really be speaking to some, but remain silent to others? To explore this mystery, check out our essay by Joshua Moritz, entitled “Waiting on the Invisible God.” Join our growing community of 45,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

David Goyer is a screenwriter, director, and producer best known for his role in films like Blade, Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight trilogy, in which he redefined superhero storytelling. Goyer has also brought Isaac Asimov’s iconic Foundation novels to television and introduced science-infused, thought-provoking narratives to the big screen. With decades of experience in Hollywood, he continues to push the boundaries of storytelling. Goyer joins the podcast to discuss the fine line between being a hero and being a villain.  Through books and film, we hear the stories of fascinating characters whose lives take many twists and turns. But if you were the subject of a film, how would you narrate your life? To find out more, check out our essay: “Your Hero’s Journey: The Key to Unlocking Meaning in Your Life” Join our growing community of 45,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Dr. Meghan Sullivan, an ethics professor at the University of Notre Dame, shares insights from her latest book, The Good Life Method. She discusses how studying philosophy can shape better moral choices and foster a meaningful life. Meghan reflects on her path from aspiring lawyer to philosopher, emphasizing the relevance of Aristotle's ideas today. The conversation also highlights the contributions of women in philosophy and the importance of virtue ethics, such as love and courage, in navigating modern happiness and resilience.

Dr. Larry Temkin is a moral philosopher at Rutgers University. His four-decade career in ethics, social, and political philosophy has regularly focused on questions of human inequality. His newest book, Being Good in a World of Need, reveals that many of our efforts to help the world’s neediest people fall woefully short of our expectations. Larry joins the podcast to explain why we may need to rethink how to do good in the world. To build a better society, what are the best opportunities and respective roles for the non-profit, for-profit, and government sectors? Find out in our new story by Alene Dawson, entitled “Pursuing the Good.” Join our growing community of 45,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.   

Dr. Michael Muthukrishna is a professor of Economic Psychology at the London School of Economics. His research explores the processes that underlie culture and social change, as well as what makes humans so distinctive from other animals. Michael’s latest book is entitled A Theory of Everyone: The New Science of Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going. Michael joins the podcast to discuss the four fundamental laws of life that govern every human society and form of life. Have you ever grown weary of the status quo and wondered what it might be like to live in a different era or place in human history? If this is you, check out our story: Çatalhöyük: A City of Gardeners, Hippies, and Home Decorators, Circa 7000 BC Join our growing community of 45,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.   

In this engaging discussion, Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, a professor and former member of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, shares her groundbreaking insights into trauma and forgiveness. She elaborates on the power of empathy through personal stories, including her profound encounters with apartheid figure Eugene de Kock. Pumla emphasizes that forgiveness isn’t about forgetting but understanding the humanity in others. The concept of the 'reparative quest' emerges as essential to post-apartheid healing, encouraging ongoing dialogue among communities.

Dr. Reich is a Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. His lab analyzes the DNA of ancient human remains to better understand major human migration patterns, adaptations, and population mixing throughout prehistoric and more recent eras. David’s book, Who We Are and How We Got Here, explores the deep history of humanity and how the discoveries of ancient DNA challenge the popular stories we tell about the past. David joins the podcast to explain why every human outside of Africa has some Neanderthal ancestry and how human migration patterns for tens of thousands of years have reshuffled populations and cultures over millennia.  Did you know that no two people will ever develop the same way? Find out why in our story: The Trillion Terrible—or Terrific—Typos in Your Brain Join our growing community of 45,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.