We dive deep into the science, tech, and social issues explored in the novel "After On." It's  NOT necessary to be an "After On" reader to listen, learn & enjoy this podcast!

Quantitative Psychologist Don Hoffman has a head-spinning take on the true nature of reality vs. what our senses report to us. This is a revisitation of our original interview, expanded with lots of new material recorded last week.

53: The Case Against Reality | Don Hoffman (classic + updated)

Quantum mechanics – and its eerie "Many Worlds" interpretation – are explored in terms that both poets & physicists can appreciate.

52: Many Quantum Worlds | Sean Carroll

The baffling and fascinating mysteries connected to the phenomenon of consciousness are explored in this conversation with the deeply thoughtful science writer, Annaka Harris.

51: On Consciousness | Annaka Harris

This morning, TED posted a talk I just gave at their annual conference (on 11 days notice!). Kevin Rose interviewed me about my talk for his podcast. I’m posting his interview here as well.

50: About that TED Talk | Kevin Rose

The drug known as Molly, Ecstasy and MDMA may soon get regulatory approved for therapeutic use, thanks to a 34-year campaign waged by Rick Doblin. Rick and I discuss all of this, plus his own unique story.

49: Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 2) | Rick Doblin

48: Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 1) | Rick Doblin

47. AI Boom, or Doom? | Stuart Russell

The food allergy epidemic is mysterious, volatile, and growing fast. Kari Nadeau and her Stanford team are trying to halt it.

46: Defeating Food Allergies | Kari Nadeau

A rampage killer with a knife can kill a few. With a gun, dozens. With a jetliner, way more. What might future tech enable? In Part Two of our conversation, Naval and I discuss "The Ender."And how to preclude this monstrosity.

45: End Games (part 2) | Naval Ravikant

Naval & I discuss a horrifying risk. We questioned whether to post this. Might it give someone ideas? Well, the bad guys already HAVE ideas. And cataclysms are only averted if we face them. There’s still time.

44: End Games (part 1) | Naval Ravikant

Not yet 40, Ed Boyden has already concocted a panoply of tools, which are revolutionizing neuroscience research. He tells us all about optogenetics, expansion microscopy, and more.

43: Synthetic Neurobiology | Ed Boyden

We start with a review of this podcast's 2019 roadmap. Then – recorded before a live audience in Gainesville, Florida – I'M the interviewee for once!

42: Live from Gainesville + the 2019 Plan

Both a recap and extensive update of last summer's conversation about neuroscience, consciousness, and the medical potential of video games.

41: The Medical Potential of Video Games | Adam Gazzaley

Did the product of an alien intelligence make a near-Earth approach last fall? Harvard Astronomy Department Chair Avi Loeb believes this is possible.

40: Our Interstellar Visitor | Avi Loeb

Amazing work at Stanford could restore vision to the blind. Then later become a gateway some mind-blowing neural augmentation! We discuss the astounding neuroscience and engineering behind all this, with the professor who's making it happen.

39: Restoring Sight to the Blind | EJ Chichinilsky

This spring, Yale evolutionary psychologist Laurie Santos debuted a course about happiness, almost as an experiment. It became the most popular course in the university's 300+ year history. Listen carefully, because this episode could make you happier!

38:  The Science & Practice of Happiness | Laurie Santos

Can humankind survive this century? Great Britain’s Astronomer Royal Martin Rees shares some of his profoundly original thinking on this fraught question.

37. On the Future | Astronomer Royal Martin Rees

Dark matter, dark energy, and black holes are the universe's three most massive mysteries. Literally! Yale astrophysicist Priya Natarajan takes us on a fascinating tour of them all.

36. Mapping the Heavens | Priya Natarajan

Andrew Youn's One Acre Found is bringing food security to hundreds of thousands of families throughout Central Africa. Now THAT'S an inspiring startup!

35: Empowering the Acre | Andrew Youn

The genetic code of Neanderthals, archaic humans, and other elders is reconfiguring much of our understanding of human history. And it could just save hundreds of thousands of modern human lives per year.

34: Ancient DNA | David Reich

A bold and brilliant refutation of the common wisdom about sexual attraction, aesthetics, and more. Rick Prum is an evolutionary heretic. And the wellspring of his unorthodox ideas is ... Charles Darwin himself.

33: The Evolution of Beauty | Richard Prum

The full lowdown on where this podcast is going from here.

Announcement | On the Future of this Podcast

Floyd Romesberg added two letters to DNA's ancient four-letter alphabet. He got this running in cells. And coding proteins. His cell lines have passed it down hundreds of generations. Now what?

31: Expanding DNA's Alphabet (by half!) | Floyd Romesberg

Over six consecutive decades, Stewart Brand has impacted society, tech and science in outlandishly diverse ways. This truly unhurried conversation explores the scope of his intensely original American life.

30. De-extinction, The Whole Earth, and Way More|Stewart Brand

An examination of the science of psychopathy from my buddy Jordan Harbinger’s terrific podcast. This bonus episode is in addition to the two new original episodes I’m creating this month.