Episodes

  • MEG SMAKER: artistic integrity & cancellation
    Jul 3 2025

    Meg Smaker is an American documentary filmmaker known for her immersive storytelling and exploration of complex global issues. Meg shares the impactful experiences from her life, including being kidnapped in Colombia, interacting with Somali pirates, and exploring motivations behind terrorism. Her most notable work is the 2022 feature documentary The UnRedacted (formerly known as 'Jihad Rehab'), which examines the lives of former Guantánamo Bay detainees undergoing rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia, and the complexities of de-radicalisation programs. Despite facing severe backlash, censorship, and cancellation attempts, Meg remains committed to bringing these human stories to light while upholding her integrity and commitment to the truth.


    Read the New York Times cover story on Jihad Rehab & The Shameful Cancellation of Jihad Rehab

    Listen to Meg on the Sam Harris Podcast

    Support Meg's Film https://jihadrehab.com & GoFundMe

    Get in touch with Meg The UnRedacted Facebook Group


    Keep up to date with Peter on Substack

    Keep up to date with Kasia!


    If you would like to support the podcast please consider our Patreon


    Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett


    Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!


    And special thanks to Suzi Jamil!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • TALI SHAROT: the optimism bias
    Jun 26 2025

    Cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot explores the role of optimism in our lives, examining why individuals often maintain personal hope despite collective anxiety. She explains the concept of optimism bias, how anticipation shapes happiness and memory.


    Learn more about the Digital Diet and download the chrome plug-in


    Keep up to date with Peter on Substack

    Keep up to date with Kasia!


    If you would like to support the podcast please consider our Patreon


    Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett


    Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!


    And special thanks to Suzi Jamil!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • JOSHUA GREENE: uniting moral tribes
    Jun 19 2025

    Joshua Greene is an experimental psychologist and neuroscientist, and Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. Joshua shares insights into how evolutionary psychology underpins group cooperation and the challenges of expanding moral circles. Josh also reflects on his personal feelings of hope and commitment towards fostering a more unified and cooperative society.


    Learn more about Josh and read his books!

    Learn more about Giving Multiplier (code LIVESWELLLIVED)

    Learn more about Tango & sign up for The Game


    Keep up to date with Peter on Substack

    Keep up to date with Kasia!


    If you would like to support the podcast please consider our Patreon


    Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett


    Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!


    And special thanks to Suzi Jamil!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • CYAN BANISTER: from homelessness to angel investor
    Jun 5 2025

    Cyan Banister is an angel investor and entrepreneur renowned for her early investments in transformative tech companies such as Uber, SpaceX, DeepMind, and Postmates. Banister's path to success was unconventional, she experienced homelessness as a teenager and dropped out of high school.Through self-education and determination, she became a self-taught engineer, holding key roles at a cybersecurity startup acquired by Cisco for $850 million.


    Cyan emphasises themes of empathy, love, and personal growth, and the healing power of philosophy in overcoming adversity and trauma.


    Learn more about Cyan


    Keep up to date with Peter on Substack

    Keep up to date with Kasia!


    If you would like to support the podcast please consider our Patreon


    Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett


    Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!


    And special thanks to Suzi Jamil!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • SLAVOJ ZIZEK: unleashed
    May 29 2025

    Slavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher and cultural theorist known for his provocative blend of Marxism, Hegelian philosophy, and Lacanian psychoanalysis, he remains one of the most influential and polarising intellectuals in contemporary thought.


    Slajov gets into several complex and thought-provoking topics including but not limited to; the catastrophe of love, political philosophy, critiques of both historical and contemporary interpretations of communism, and ultimately whether the pursuit of happiness should be the goal in life.


    Keep up to date with Peter on Substack

    Keep up to date with Kasia!


    If you would like to support the podcast please consider our Patreon


    Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett


    Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!


    And special thanks to Suzi Jamil!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • CASS SUNSTEIN: the nudge towards a better future
    May 22 2025

    Cass Sunstein is a prominent American legal scholar, behavioural economist, and professor at Harvard Law School. Cass explores the concept of nudging and libertarian paternalism, addressing ethical concerns around manipulation and autonomy. He reflects on climate justice, the moral duties of high-emission countries, and global accountability in climate policy.


    Learn more about Cass and read his books!


    Keep up to date with Peter on Substack

    Keep up to date with Kasia!


    If you would like to support the podcast please consider our Patreon


    Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett


    Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!


    And special thanks to Suzi Jamil!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • LAWRENCE KRAUSS: our cosmic significance in an indifferent universe
    May 15 2025

    Lawrence Krauss is a theoretical physicist and cosmologist renowned for his work in particle physics, cosmology, and science communication. Krauss explores the idea of cosmic insignificance and the absence of inherent meaning in the universe, emphasising the importance of appreciating the rarity of life, whilst exploring fundamental questions about the universe and human existence.


    Learn more about Lawrence and listen to The Origins Podcast


    Keep up to date with Peter on Substack

    Keep up to date with Kasia!


    If you would like to support the podcast please consider our Patreon


    Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett


    Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!


    And special thanks to Suzi Jamil!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • RUTGER BREGMAN: the pursuit of moral ambition
    May 8 2025

    Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian, author, and public intellectual renowned for his progressive ideas on social and economic reform.


    Rutger emphasises that living well means taking meaningful, practical action to address global issues—not just raising awareness. Drawing from his books Humankind and his initiative The School for Moral Ambition, he advocates for channeling ambition into social impact, encouraging career shifts toward solving major problems. He promotes ideas like universal basic income, effective altruism, and combating factory farming, while exploring how power dynamics influence moral choices.


    Watch the Profit For Good conference live stream from Amsterdam on June 11


    Learn more about Rutger and read his books!


    Keep up to date with Peter on Substack

    Keep up to date with Kasia!


    If you would like to support the podcast please consider our Patreon


    Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett


    Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi, and Chris van Ryn!


    And special thanks to Suzi Jamil!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 10 mins