Templeton Ideas Podcast

Rabbi Held is a theologian, scholar, and educator. Named as one of the most influential rabbis in America, he is the President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at the Hadar Institute, which he co-founded in 2006 in New York City. He is the author of several books, including a biography of Abraham Joshua Heschel; and The Heart of the Torah, a collection of essays on the Hebrew Bible. His newest book is entitled Judaism is about love: Recovering the heart of Jewish life. Shai joins the podcast to discuss his family's complex relationship with Jewish tradition, the centrality of love in Judaism, and his advice for people feeling overwhelmed by societal challenges.  What did you think of this episode? Let us know with a rating and a review! Still curious? https://www.templeton.org/news is where you can find the latest stories from our grantees, our staff, and contributing writers from around the world.  Join the conversation on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Nick Holton, Co-Founder of The Anti-fragile Academy, discusses the importance of facing challenges for personal growth. He explores societal pressures, education paradigm shifts, resilience through mythical figures, and embracing discomfort for growth. The conversation delves into the impact of emotional contagion, social networks, and rituals for well-being.

Tyler Cowen, a professor of economics, discusses education, progress, and AI. He explores the impact of artificial intelligence on society and the importance of humility in politics. The podcast delves into his intellectual journey, the transformative power of AI, and the challenges of building a sustainable civilization.

Jeffrey Rosen, CEO of National Constitution Center, discusses classical writers' influence on Founding Fathers, importance of virtue for republic survival, and resurgence of Stoic philosophy during crises like COVID. Podcast explores self-mastery, virtue, and political self-government, emphasizing character development and societal responsibilities. Rosen also delves into career journey, leadership role, and the pursuit of moral perfection amidst challenges.

Dr. Murtazashvili is the founding director of the Center for Governance and Markets and a professor at the University of Pittsburgh in the school of public and international affairs. As the author of notable books about the political order of Afghanistan and economic development more generally, Jennifer studies communities, power, conflict and how they all intertwine. On this episode of the Templeton Ideas podcast, Jen joins Ben Carlson, director of strategic communication at the John Templeton Foundation, to discuss common misconceptions about Central Asia, the strength of bottom-up approaches to building democracies, and practical advice to employ in your own communities. What did you think of this episode? Let us know with a rating and a review! Still curious? https://www.templeton.org/news is where you can find the latest stories from our grantees, our staff, and contributing writers from around the world.  Join the conversation on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Science writer Philip Ball joins the podcast to discuss his 30-year journey of science writing and his new book 'How Life Works.' He challenges popular metaphors in science, like DNA as a blueprint, and explores the complexity of biology. They also touch on the guest's childhood, passion for writing, and the role of metaphors in understanding biology.

Dr. Talithia Williams is a mathematics professor at Harvey Mudd College, where she develops statistical models and applies them to environmental and social problems. Author of the book, Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics, Williams is known for taking sophisticated quantitative concepts and making them relatable to everyone, a skill which she illustrates in her TED Talk, “Own Your Body’s Data.” Talithia joins the podcast to talk about the rebel women of mathematics, the relevance of statistics in everyday life, and her view that God is a mathematician.  What did you think of this episode? Let us know with a rating and a review! Still curious? https://www.templeton.org/news is where you can find the latest stories from our grantees, our staff, and contributing writers from around the world.  Join the conversation on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Dr. Michael Levin is a Distinguished Professor in the Biology department at Tufts University, where he serves as director of the Allen Discovery Center and the Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology. He works at the intersection of biology, computer science, and cognitive science, uncovering the latent intelligence of individual cells and tissues. Among other topics, his lab explores how organisms repair and regenerate entire body parts, a capacity with tantalizing potential for human medicine.  Michael joins the podcast to discuss common misconceptions of biology, building biological robots, and the potential of regenerative medicine to revolutionize human health. What did you think of this episode? Let us know with a rating and a review! Still curious? https://www.templeton.org/news is where you can find the latest stories from our grantees, our staff, and contributing writers from around the world.  Join the conversation on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Bruce Feiler is a bestselling author known for living the experiences he writes about. He is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including Life in the Transitions, The Secrets of Happy Families, Council of Dads, and Walking the Bible. His three TED Talks have been viewed more than four million times, and he also writes the popular newsletter “The Nonlinear Life” for the New York Times. His latest book, The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World, lays out a roadmap for finding purpose and meaning at work. Bruce joins the podcast to discuss why we should reimagine how we think about work, what makes a meaningful life, and how all of us can be the author of our own story.

Dr. Kevin Mitchell is an Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College in Dublin. His research focuses on understanding the wiring of the brain and how it relates to variation in human faculties, especially to psychiatric and neurological disease. Kevin’s latest book tackles a longstanding philosophical debate and makes bold new claims. It is entitled Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will. Kevin joins the podcast to discuss how natural selection could have favored the development of agency and free will in humans and other complex organisms, and how consciousness provides major advantages in the natural world.