Inquiring Minds
Inquiring Minds
Indre Viskontas
Each week we bring you a new, in-depth exploration of the space where science and society collide. We’re committed to the idea that making an effort to understand the world around you though science and critical thinking can benefit everyone—and lead to better decisions. We want to find out what’s true, what’s left to discover, and why it all matters.
Why We Die with Venki Ramakrishnan
Among his many achievements, the esteemed Venki Ramakrishnan has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth, served as the President of the Royal Society, and shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Today, he adds being a special guest on the Inquiring Minds podcast to this impressive list of accomplishments as he joins Indre to tackle the age-old question: Is there a biological limit to human lifespan? Drawing upon information from his latest book, Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality, Venki provides valuable insights on this topic, including the intricate dynamics of aging, DNA damage, stress, and so much more, as he unravels the underlying factors that shape human longevity. Links:Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringmindsSee https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy informationDiscover even more about Why We Die:https://www.amazon.ca/Why-We-Die-Science-Immortality/dp/0063113279 
Mar 12
43 min
“X”-amining the Battle for the Bird with Kurt Wagner
Join Indre and guest Kurt Wagner, renowned business and technology journalist and author of Battle for the Bird: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk, and the $44 Billion Fight for Twitter's Soul, as they embark on an insightful exploration of Twitter's evolution. From Jack Dorsey's humble beginnings to the platform's global prominence, pivotal themes of visionary leadership and the balance between profit and purpose emerge, offering invaluable insights into the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. As they delve into the transformative journey of social media, themes of algorithm-driven dynamics, the influence of key figures like Elon Musk, and the ethical considerations of moderation and misinformation take center stage. This episode offers a tantalizing glimpse into Kurt's compelling narrative, reflecting the ever-shifting landscape of digital innovation and the future of social media governance.Show Links:Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringmindsSee https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy informationUncover more about the Battle for the Bird: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Battle-for-the-Bird/Kurt-Wagner/9781668017357 
Mar 4
39 min
Revealing Why We Remember with Charan Ranganath
Welcome back to Inquiring Minds, where, after a brief hiatus, host Indre Viskontas returns withyet another memorable episode, this time featuring Charan Ranganath, Director of the Memoryand Plasticity Program and a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University ofCalifornia at Davis. Over his illustrious career, Dr. Ranganath has received innumerabledistinguished awards, edited major neuroscience journals, consulted for neuroscience researchfunding agencies across the world, and has served on several review panels. In celebration of his50th birthday, he has written a book for the masses, Why We Remember, which examines ‘thepowerful role memory plays in nearly every aspect of our lives’, and which also provides thespringboard for today’s lively discussion about the fascinating journey of memory in the humanexperience. Be sure to download and enjoy this highly anticipated return of Indre’s InquiringMinds, and revel in the unforgettable insights into memory's intricate interplay with cognitionand society offered here today, courtesy of these two giants in the field.Show Links:Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringmindsThe Cadence Podcast: https://cadence.show/Learn more about Charan and Why We Remember: https://charanranganath.com/
Feb 20
48 min
Don’t Panic, but Robert Sapolsky Says There’s No Free Will
This week we talk to Robert Sapolsky—MacArthur “Genius” Fellow and professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford—about his new book Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will.
Oct 17, 2023
48 min
The Science of Allergies and Why We Have Them
This week we talk to medical anthropologist and science writer Theresa MacPhail about her new book Allergic: Our Irritated Bodies in a Changing World.
Oct 11, 2023
44 min
Why It’s Important to Know What’s Actually in Your Clothes
This week we talk to journalist and sustainable fashion expert Alden Wicker about her book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick—and How We Can Fight Back.
Sep 26, 2023
36 min
How You Could Have Survived History’s Disasters
This week we talk to writer Cody Cassidy about his new book How to Survive History: How to Outrun a Tyrannosaurus, Escape Pompeii, Get Off the Titanic, and Survive the Rest of History's Deadliest Catastrophes.
Aug 10, 2023
30 min
How to Stop Your Brain from Falling for Lies
This week we talk to psychologists Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris about their new book Nobody's Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It.
Jul 21, 2023
45 min
How Society Created “You”
This week we talk to social psychologist and Stanford professor Brian Lowery about his new book Selfless: The Social Creation of “You”. In it, he proposes that what you think of as “you” is actually a social construct created by your relationships and affected by every interaction you have.
Jun 21, 2023
45 min
The Science of Silo with Hugh Howey
This week we talk to Hugh Howey, author of the bestselling Silo series of books and executive producer of the new Apple TV+ series of the same name.
Jun 2, 2023
37 min
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