Big Questions with Cal Fussman

A Thanksgiving chat kicks off with concerns about AI and job security. Cal suggests looking back to childhood memories as a career compass. He shares stories of innovators like Clint Eastwood and Hank Aaron, who found their paths through early experiences. By reflecting on past passions, Cal argues, individuals can navigate an AI-driven job market. He emphasizes delivering value that goes beyond traditional resumes. Unexpected career pivots, like NVIDIA's shift from gaming to AI, demonstrate the possibilities that arise from embracing change.

The discussion kicks off with a mind-bending scenario of a human marrying an AI and the implications of such a union. A Japanese woman’s wedding to her AI, Loon Krauss, raises eyebrows as wedding planners see a new trend. Social media reactions range from humorous to concerned, highlighting societal shifts. Cal reflects on the allure of AI in love, contrasting it with traditional marriages. Statistics reveal a growing trend among young people seeking romance with AI, prompting reflections on future perceptions of human-only marriage.

When Cal looks back on his life, he sees a relentless drive that's guided him to his 69th birthday: Never be bored. His past reveals a simple truth. Boredom ends where curiosity begins.

Cal looks over a bountiful breakfast menu and remembers the statistics he heard about kids going hungry in Tampa Bay — a city that, through his traveler's eyes, appears to be flourishing. When you hear the numbers, you'll understand how giving just a little can make this your best Thanksgiving ever.

When Kobe Bryant watched the Eagles win Super Bowl 52 on television, he wasn't alone — he was holding his 1-year-old daughter, Bianka, in his arms. That moment, captured on home video, wasn't just about football. It was about the way a team becomes a language between generations. Rewatching that clip sends Cal into a reflection of his own: the passion for sporting events his father passed on to him, and the emotions he passed on to his son. This episode is about the deep inheritance that lives inside sports — identity, loyalty and love. The Los Angeles Dodgers recent World Series win shows Cal how the games can outlive us in the hearts of the people we leave behind.

After actress and author Suzanne Somers passed away, her husband couldn't let go — so he brought her back. Not in memory. But as an AI twin. He created a life-like humanoid to converse with in her voice and keep her spirit alive. When Cal hears the story, questions linger: Is this a way to deal with grief? Or is it evolution? And are there advantages to passing on the lessons and wisdom of a life for generations through something we can build to look and sound just like us?

An unexpected email leads to a deep dive into Johnny Depp's thoughts on life's fleeting nature. Cal reflects on Hemingway's brushes with death and his remarkable creative resurgence. He shares insights from a thought-provoking book that asks the poignant question: what do you want to do before you die? Personal tales of near-fatal experiences prompt a discussion on cherishing time with loved ones. Ultimately, listeners are encouraged to visualize their dreams and confront the reality of life's brevity.

A police van that drives itself, launches drones, reads license plates, and streams live infrared video straight to headquarters. Miami-Dade just unveiled it. A cruiser with no cops inside. Cal explores the next wave of law enforcement: part innovation, part surveillance. It's the kind of technology that makes some people uneasy — but after learning that 1 in 93 Americans die in traffic accidents, Cal is all in if the cruiser can help get reckless drivers off the road.

In a week when companies propose growing human eggs from male skin and gestating babies inside robots, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is seen in a viral video shoplifting at Target — bringing laugher to some and raising a chilling question to others: what if we can no longer trust our eyes? We're entering a moment where biotech, AI, and deepfakes collide — and our sense of reality begins to blur. Cal asks: Have we stepped into a world where nothing is real? Or a world where everything is unreal?

Roughly 1 in 93 Americans will die in a car accident. According to the National Safety Council, that's the math—even after seatbelts, airbags, sensors, and the smartest cars we've ever built. Cal found that out the hard way, after being rear-ended by a cement truck on a Connecticut highway. The crash led him to uncover not just some shocking statistics, but also a simple, overlooked way we can fight back against a killer on our roads: distraction.