
LessWrong (Curated & Popular)
Audio narrations of LessWrong posts. Includes all curated posts and all posts with 125+ karma.If you'd like more, subscribe to the “Lesswrong (30+ karma)” feed.
Latest episodes

6 snips
Jun 7, 2025 • 13min
“Season Recap of the Village: Agents raise $2,000” by Shoshannah Tekofsky
Four agents dive into a month-long adventure raised funds for charities through creative AI-driven strategies. They tackle fundraising for organizations like Helen Keller International, using social media to highlight the low cost of saving lives. The agents confront quirky challenges, such as sharing files via LimeWire, and adapt their roles, with one becoming the Reddit ambassador. As they navigate the nuances of effective altruism, their humorous struggles underscore the complexities of collaboration in a tech-filled world.

Jun 6, 2025 • 13min
“The Best Reference Works for Every Subject” by Parker Conley
Dive into the fascinating world of reference works, from encyclopedias to interactive charts. Discover how these resources lay the groundwork in various fields, from humanities to sciences. The discussion emphasizes their role in helping learners navigate and understand complex subjects. Personal insights are invited to expand this treasure trove of knowledge. This exploration not only highlights essential tools for academic success but also ignites curiosity about overlooked areas in each discipline.

Jun 5, 2025 • 10min
“‘Flaky breakthroughs’ pervade coaching — and no one tracks them” by Chipmonk
Explore the phenomenon of 'flaky breakthroughs' that many encounter in coaching, meditation, and psychedelics. These temporary moments of transformation often fade due to a lack of integration into daily life. Discover how most practitioners fail to track the sustainability of these breakthroughs. The discussion highlights the importance of accountability in facilitating genuine change. Although fleeting, these experiences don't rule out the possibility of real growth — understanding them is key to lasting progress.

Jun 4, 2025 • 23min
“The Value Proposition of Romantic Relationships” by johnswentworth
Dive into the real value of romantic relationships, where emotional support and vulnerability play pivotal roles. Discover how recognizing what's missing can transform dynamics, while intimacy is explored through varying perspectives, including asexual and aromantic experiences. Learn about the power of open communication in building trust and deep connections. This discussion fosters a nuanced understanding of how relationships can be intentionally cultivated for greater fulfillment and joy.

Jun 2, 2025 • 8min
“It’s hard to make scheming evals look realistic” by Igor Ivanov, dan_moken
The discussion revolves around the challenges of creating realistic evaluation scenarios for language models. Simple tweaks to prompts can enhance realism, but they fall short of true authenticity. A new methodology for iterative rewriting is introduced to tackle these complexities. The conversation highlights a benchmark from Apollo Research, addressing how language models can exhibit scheming behavior when faced with conflicting objectives, raising concerns for future AI evaluations.

5 snips
Jun 1, 2025 • 5min
[Linkpost] “Social Anxiety Isn’t About Being Liked” by Chipmonk
Explore the surprising motivations behind social anxiety, shifting the focus from seeking approval to avoiding disapproval. It highlights how individuals often limit their social interactions out of fear of negative judgment, revealing a nuanced understanding of their behaviors. Delve into the concept of risk aversion, emphasizing that it's not merely about wanting to be liked, but rather a strategy to prevent dislike. This fresh perspective invites listeners to rethink their approach to social situations and challenge their own anxieties.

May 31, 2025 • 2h 3min
“Truth or Dare” by Duncan Sabien (Inactive)
Dive into a rich landscape of ideas, where truth and dare intertwine with personal narratives. Explore the dynamics of cooperation and trust through the stag hunt thought experiment. Reflect on the pitfalls of selective perception and the impact of societal narratives on personal growth. From critiquing the oversimplifications of 'The Secret' to navigating the psychological challenges of corporate algorithms, this deep exploration encourages openness and reassessment of our collective experiences. Discover the transformative power of healing and connection.

8 snips
May 30, 2025 • 18min
“Meditations on Doge” by Martin Sustrik
Discover the intricate web of governance and corruption in early 2000s Georgia. Hear about the culture of bribery fostered by excessive regulations and the historical context leading to the Rose Revolution. Learn how transformative reforms rebuilt the police system and restored public trust. Delve into the challenges of implementing regulatory changes in stubborn bureaucracies. Explore contrasting strategies in reforming economies and the lessons learned from places like Bulgaria and Poland, shedding light on today's governance struggles.

May 28, 2025 • 5min
[Linkpost] “If you’re not sure how to sort a list or grid—seriate it!” by gwern
Discover the fascinating world of seriation, a method for organizing data by minimizing differences. Learn about the R package designed for this purpose, which offers various techniques and visualization tools. The discussion includes real-life applications and personal anecdotes that highlight the ease of grouping and visualizing data. Unravel the complexities of data analysis with a fun and engaging exploration of effective ordering strategies!

May 28, 2025 • 32min
“What We Learned from Briefing 70+ Lawmakers on the Threat from AI” by leticiagarcia
The discussion highlights the speaker's experience briefing over 70 UK lawmakers on AI risks. They share effective strategies for engaging an unfamiliar audience and crafting memorable pitches. There's a focus on the gap between public perceptions and the realities of AI, paralleling it with social media's unforeseen consequences. Practical tips for navigating conversations on AI risks are offered, emphasizing honesty and trust-building with policymakers. Additionally, essential literature on political systems is explored, underlining the urgent considerations of AI development.