Episodit
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This episode is the second part of the conversation between Brandon Vaidyanathan and Robert Lawrence Kuhn.
Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn is the creator, writer, host and executive producer of Closer To Truth, the long-running PBS/public television series and leading global resource on Cosmos (cosmology/physics, philosophy of science), Life (philosophy of biology), Mind (consciousness, brain/mind, philosophy of mind), and Meaning (theism/atheism/agnosticism, global philosophy of religion, critical thinking).Kuhn has written or edited over 30 books, including The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All? (with John Leslie); Closer To Truth: Challenging Current Belief; Closer To Truth: Science, Meaning and the Future; The Library of Investment Banking; How China’s Leaders Think (featuring President Xi Jinping); The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin (China’s best-selling book in 2005 and in December 2022); and "The Origin and Significance of Zero: An Interdisciplinary Perspective” (with Peter Gobets).
An international corporate strategist and investment banker, Dr. Kuhn is a recipient of the China Reform Friendship Medal and is a frequent commentator in the international media and Chinese media.
Kuhn’s comprehensive review article on consciousness – “A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a Taxonomy of Explanations and Implications” – is published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology (August 2024), and is considered the most comprehensive article written on the landscape of consciousness theories.
Dr. Kuhn is chairman of The Kuhn Foundation. He has a BA in Human Biology (Johns Hopkins), PhD in Anatomy/Brain Research (UCLA), and SM (MBA) in Management (MIT).
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
The Landscape of Consciousness article, which develops a comprehensive taxonomy of theories of consciousnessThe value of loving the questions more than seeking certaintyThe humility of acknowledging the limits of one's own beliefsThe impact of Closer to Truth
To learn more about Robert, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-lawrence-kuhn-4b893221
Closer to Truth: https://closertotruth.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV/videos
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/closer-to-truth/id411527781
A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a taxonomy of explanations and implications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38281544/
The Mystery of Existence: Why Is There Anything At All?: https://a.co/d/izIoY8I
Why anything? Why this? by Derek Parfit: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v20/n02/derek-parfit/why-anything-why-thisThis episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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What does it look like to live a life in pursuit of understanding? Our guest today exemplifies this quest across a wide range of domains.
Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn is the creator, writer, host and executive producer of Closer To Truth, the long-running PBS/public television series and leading global resource on Cosmos (cosmology/physics, philosophy of science), Life (philosophy of biology), Mind (consciousness, brain/mind, philosophy of mind), and Meaning (theism/atheism/agnosticism, global philosophy of religion, critical thinking).Kuhn has written or edited over 30 books, including The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All? (with John Leslie); Closer To Truth: Challenging Current Belief; Closer To Truth: Science, Meaning and the Future; The Library of Investment Banking; How China’s Leaders Think (featuring President Xi Jinping); The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin (China’s best-selling book in 2005 and in December 2022); and "The Origin and Significance of Zero: An Interdisciplinary Perspective” (with Peter Gobets).
An international corporate strategist and investment banker, Dr. Kuhn is a recipient of the China Reform Friendship Medal and is a frequent commentator in the international media and Chinese media.
Kuhn’s comprehensive review article on consciousness – “A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a Taxonomy of Explanations and Implications” – is published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology (August 2024), and is considered the most comprehensive article written on the landscape of consciousness theories.
Dr. Kuhn is chairman of The Kuhn Foundation. He has a BA in Human Biology (Johns Hopkins), PhD in Anatomy/Brain Research (UCLA), and SM (MBA) in Management (MIT).
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
The beauty of understandingRobert's trajectory from neuroscience to business to China policyThe drive to explore big existential questionsThe creation of Closer to Truth
To learn more about Robert, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-lawrence-kuhn-4b893221
Closer to Truth: https://closertotruth.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV/videos
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/closer-to-truth/id411527781
A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a taxonomy of explanations and implications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38281544/
The Mystery of Existence: Why Is There Anything At All?: https://a.co/d/izIoY8I
Why anything? Why this? by Derek Parfit: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v20/n02/derek-parfit/why-anything-why-thisThis episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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Puuttuva jakso?
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Maggie Jackson is an award-winning author and journalist with a global reach. Her new book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, explores why we should seek not-knowing in this era of angst and flux. Nominated for a National Book Award and named to multiple “Best Books of 2023” lists, Uncertain is an official selection of the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Adam Grant, and Susan Cain. Lauded as “incisive and timely” (Dan Pink), “surprising and practical” (Gretchen Rubin), and “remarkable and persuasive” (Library Journal), Uncertain was named a Top 10 Summer Reading pick by Nautilus magazine.
Jackson’s previous book, Distracted, sparked a global conversation on the steep costs of fragmenting our attention. A former longtime columnist for the Boston Globe, Jackson has written for The New York Times and major publications worldwide. Her work has been translated into numerous languages and is widely covered by the press. She lives in New York and Rhode Island and seeks a daily dose of uncertainty by swimming in the sea nearly every day, year-round.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
The value of taking time to think before reacting.How uncertainty can help us learn and grow.The strengths that can come from growing up in tough situations.Making AI more adaptable by embracing uncertainty.Finding deeper beauty by being open to different perspectives.To learn more about Maggie Jackson, you can find her at: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggie.jackson.books/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiejackson/
Website: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/
Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maggie-Jackson/author/B001JP8IEAThis episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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Maggie Jackson is an award-winning author and journalist with a global reach. Her new book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, explores why we should seek not-knowing in this era of angst and flux. Nominated for a National Book Award and named to multiple “Best Books of 2023” lists, Uncertain is an official selection of the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Adam Grant, and Susan Cain. Lauded as “incisive and timely” (Dan Pink), “surprising and practical” (Gretchen Rubin), and “remarkable and persuasive” (Library Journal), Uncertain was named a Top 10 Summer Reading pick by Nautilus magazine.
Jackson’s previous book, Distracted, sparked a global conversation on the steep costs of fragmenting our attention. A former longtime columnist for the Boston Globe, Jackson has written for The New York Times and major publications worldwide. Her work has been translated into numerous languages and is widely covered by the press. She lives in New York and Rhode Island and seeks a daily dose of uncertainty by swimming in the sea nearly every day, year-round.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
The value of embracing uncertainty as a superpowerThe distinction between aleatory and epistemic uncertaintyThe cultural and psychological effects of our aversion to uncertaintyThe role of adaptive expertise in leadership and problem-solvingThe relationship between humility and uncertaintyTo learn more about Maggie Jackson, you can find her at: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggie.jackson.books/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiejackson/
Website: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/
Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maggie-Jackson/author/B001JP8IEAThis episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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Daniel McInerny is associate professor and chair of the philosophy department at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. He is also a novelist and dramatist. As a scholar, Daniel is foremost interested in reactivating an Aristotelian understanding of mimetic art, long out of favor among philosophers. His latest book is Beauty and Imitation: A Philosophical Reflection on the Arts. At Christendom College Daniel teaches courses on the Philosophy of Art & Beauty, the Philosophy of Technology, the Philosophy of Culture, and Poetic Experience & Truth. In March 2023 Chrism Press published his novel, The Good Death of Kate Montclair. Daniel is also the author of a play, The Actor, which will premiere in November 2024. Daniel also writes the Substack newsletter, The Comic Muse, where he shares stories and sketches from his studio.
The importance of choice over chance in compelling narrativesThe moral dimension of storytellingThe relationship between subjective and objective beauty in artThe significance of context in art appreciation
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
To learn more about Daniel and his work:
Newsletter: https://danielmcinerny.substack.com/
Beauty and Imitation: https://a.co/d/cNquN03
The Good Death of Kate Montclair: https://a.co/d/0KKy0PS
Podcast: https://danielmcinerny.substack.com/podcastThis episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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How is art relevant to our yearning for flourishing? In this episode, I interview philosopher Daniel McInerny about his new book, Beauty and Imitation.
What is mimetic art?Mimetic art as storytellingDelighted contemplation as the ultimate goal of art
Dr. Daniel McInerny is associate professor and chair of the philosophy department at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. He is also a novelist and dramatist. As a scholar, Daniel is foremost interested in reactivating an Aristotelian understanding of mimetic art, long out of favor among philosophers. His latest book is Beauty and Imitation: A Philosophical Reflection on the Arts. At Christendom College Daniel teaches courses on the Philosophy of Art & Beauty, the Philosophy of Technology, the Philosophy of Culture, and Poetic Experience & Truth. In March 2023 Chrism Press published his novel, The Good Death of Kate Montclair. Daniel is also the author of a play, The Actor, which will premiere in November 2024. Daniel also writes the Substack newsletter, The Comic Muse, where he shares stories and sketches from his studio.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
To learn more about Daniel and his work:
Newsletter: https://danielmcinerny.substack.com/
Beauty and Imitation: https://a.co/d/cNquN03
The Good Death of Kate Montclair: https://a.co/d/0KKy0PSThis episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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In this episode, sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan interviews MIT Physicist Dr. Alan Lightman about his spiritual materialism.
Alan Lightman is an American physicist, writer, and social entrepreneur. He holds a PhD in physics from Caltech. He has served on the faculties of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and was the first person at MIT to receive dual faculty appointments in science and in the humanities. He is currently professor of the practice of the humanities at MIT. Lightman is the recipient of six honorary doctoral degrees. He is the author of numerous books, both nonfiction and fiction, including Einstein’s Dreams, an international bestseller, and The Diagnosis, a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction. His essays concern the intersection of science, culture, philosophy, and theology. Lightman is the host of the public television series “SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science,” funded by the John Templeton Foundation. In 2005, Lightman founded Harpswell, a nonprofit organization devoted to empowering young women leaders in Southeast Asia, and he has served as chair of its board. In August 2023, Lightman was appointed a member of the United Nations’ Scientific Advisory Board. His latest book is The Transcendent Brain: Spirituality in the Age of Science (2023).
The limits of scientific inquiryHow to interpret spiritual experiencesThe concept of creative transcendenceWhy spirituality matters for us allAlan's humanitarian work
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:To learn more about Alan and his work:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-lightman-6bb7191b6Website: https://cmsw.mit.edu/alan-lightman/Email: [email protected]: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APY6Q4Scientific Publications: https://cmsw.mit.edu/alan-lightman/#SCIENTIFIC%20PUBLICATIONSHarpswell Organization: https://harpswell.org/This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) andTempleton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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In this episode, sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan interviews MIT Physicist Dr. Alan Lightman about his spiritual materialism.
Alan Lightman is an American physicist, writer, and social entrepreneur. He holds a PhD in physics from Caltech. He has served on the faculties of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and was the first person at MIT to receive dual faculty appointments in science and in the humanities. He is currently professor of the practice of the humanities at MIT. Lightman is the recipient of six honorary doctoral degrees. He is the author of numerous books, both nonfiction and fiction, including Einstein’s Dreams, an international bestseller, and The Diagnosis, a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction. His essays concern the intersection of science, culture, philosophy, and theology. Lightman is the host of the public television series “SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science,” funded by the John Templeton Foundation. In 2005, Lightman founded Harpswell, a nonprofit organization devoted to empowering young women leaders in Southeast Asia, and he has served as chair of its board. In August 2023, Lightman was appointed a member of the United Nations’ Scientific Advisory Board. His latest book is The Transcendent Brain: Spirituality in the Age of Science (2023).
Balancing interests in art and science from a young ageThe role of beauty in scientific discoveryAlan's concept of spiritual materialismTranscendence and the Hindu concept of "darshan"
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:To learn more about Alan and his work:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-lightman-6bb7191b6Website: https://cmsw.mit.edu/alan-lightman/Email: [email protected]: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APY6Q4Scientific Publications: https://cmsw.mit.edu/alan-lightman/#SCIENTIFIC%20PUBLICATIONSHarpswell Organization: https://harpswell.org/This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) andTempleton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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Elizabeth Oldfield is the author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times. She has spent her career trying to lever open space for deeper conversations - about what it means to be a human being, where we can find wisdom and how we build a society where we hate each other a little less. She has worked at BBC Radio 4, led a Westminster think tank, and is now the host of The Sacred podcast, speaking to guests like Nick Cave, Sally Philips, Rabbi Sacks, Rainn Wilson, Sathnam Sanghera and Krista Tippett about their deepest values. She lives with her family in a Christian intentional community in South London.
Moving beyond individualismMoving from wrath to peacemakingMoving from greed to generosity and gratitudeFinding freedom in commitmentThe concept of God
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:To learn more about Elizabeth and her work:
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-oldfield-5a5b6216 Website: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsaraholdfield/ X: https://x.com/esoldfield Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times: https://a.co/d/4iFq69r Substack Newsletter: https://morefullyalive.substack.com/ Larger Us Organization: https://larger.us/ The Sacred podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1326888108This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) andTempleton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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Elizabeth Oldfield is the author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times. She has spent her career trying to lever open space for deeper conversations - about what it means to be a human being, where we can find wisdom and how we build a society where we hate each other a little less. She has worked at BBC Radio 4, led a Westminster think tank, and is now the host of The Sacred podcast, speaking to guests like Nick Cave, Sally Philips, Rabbi Sacks, Rainn Wilson, Sathnam Sanghera and Krista Tippett about their deepest values. She lives with her family in a Christian intentional community in South London.
How cultural narratives shape our understanding of the worldMaking sense of our turbulent timesHow religious traditions can be a source of wisdom The concept of sin as our tendency to f*** things upOur deep need for connection
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:To learn more about Elizabeth and her work:
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-oldfield-5a5b6216 Website: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsaraholdfield/ X: https://x.com/esoldfield Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times: https://a.co/d/4iFq69r Substack Newsletter: https://morefullyalive.substack.com/ Larger Us Organization: https://larger.us/ The Sacred podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1326888108This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) andTempleton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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This is the second part of our conversation with Andy Youniss, founder and former President and CEO of Rocket Software.
Youniss has been the guiding force behind Rocket’s innovation, acquisitions, partnerships, strategy, culture, and values since the company launched in 1990. Today, Rocket serves a diverse customer community all around the globe and continues to differentiate itself by delivering exceptional customer experiences and living its core values of empathy, humanity, trust, and love.In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
Developing Rocket's company cultureBuilding trust at workThe importance of empathy in leadershipWhat music can teach us about leadershipAndy's advice for living a more integrated lifeTo learn more about Andy and his work at Rocket Software, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-youniss-3093b664
Website: https://www.rocketsoftware.com/
X: https://x.com/RocketThis episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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In this episode, sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan interviews Andy Youniss, founder and former President and CEO of Rocket Software.
Andy has been the guiding force behind Rocket’s innovation, acquisitions, partnerships, strategy, culture, and values since the company launched in 1990. Today, Rocket serves a diverse customer community all around the globe and continues to differentiate itself by delivering exceptional customer experiences and living its core values of empathy, humanity, trust, and love. Andy currently serves as the company's executive chairman.Andy has been recognized as New England Technology Entrepreneur of the Year (2017) by EY and is one of the world’s foremost experts on making an impact through innovation in, and modernization of, mission-critical legacy technology. He has been a guest lecturer at Babson College, Berklee College of Music, The Catholic University of America, and Tufts University, and has inspired many through his TEDx talk about the meaningful intersection of music and technology throughout his life. In addition to his role as executive chairman at Rocket, Andy is a trustee at Boston Medical Center and at Berklee. He also mentors, coaches, and advises rising leaders and growing organizations such as Spoonfuls, The Record Co. and We Make Noise.
Youniss is also an accomplished pianist and guitarist who has performed on stage in Boston and Las Vegas, solo and with the Rocket Band, and has opened for Aerosmith, Elton John, Maroon 5, Gwen Stefani, Elvis Costello, and others.In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
The impact of Andy's early musical experiencesHow Andy developed a passion for software developmentThe role of music in integrating personal and professional lifeThe beauty of problem-solving in both music and softwareThe transformative power of creativity and personal expressionTo learn more about Andy and his work at Rocket Software, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-youniss-3093b664
Website: https://www.rocketsoftware.com/
X: https://x.com/RocketThis episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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This episode is a conversation with two experts combating our current loneliness crisis: Ron Ivey and Monika Jiang.
Ron Ivey is a writer, researcher, and strategic advisor to business, governments, and philanthropies with a focus on social trust, belonging, and human flourishing. Ron is currently the Managing Director of the Humanity 2.0 Institute and a Research Fellow at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program where he co-leads the Trust and Belonging Initiative. Ron also currently serves as a Fellow at the Centre for Public Impact, a global think tank seeking to re-imagine government and restore relationships between governments and those they govern. In 2017, Ron established a consultancy, Rembrandt Collective, to shape business strategies for trust, alignment and social impact.
Monika Jiang, a second-generation Chinese immigrant, has always walked the line between feeling estranged and belonging. Her journey, marked by oscillations between aloneness, loneliness, and connection, has profoundly influenced her personal and professional life, shaping her into a visionary who senses what wants to emerge as we move closer to ourselves, each other, and the world. Professionally, Monika has made a significant impact at the House of Beautiful Business. Here, she helped build a global community of 50,000 members dedicated to a life-centered economy. Monika’s deep desire to move from loneliness to oneliness inspired her to found the initiative Sharing Our Loneliness. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the paradoxical power of loneliness to reconnect us with ourselves and others. Through intimate gatherings, writing, and speaking engagements, Monika cultivates spaces for dialogue, connection, and community, addressing loneliness as a personal, collective, and societal challenge. Additionally, she is a teacher in training with Humanize, an evidence-based program focused on fostering emotional and social skills, and she practices these skills based on social neuroscientific research at the Max-Planck Institute in Berlin.
The need to create cities with shared spaces The stigma of discussing the shame and suffering that comes with lonelinessEmbracing the discomfort of lonelinessHow AI and new technologies are shaping loneliness and belonging The connection between awe and loneliness
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:To learn more about Monika’s work, you can find her at:
Website: https://www.monikajiang.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika.jiang/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-jiang/
To learn more about Ron’s work, you can find him at:
X: https://x.com/ronivey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika.jiang/
Linkedin: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/ron-ivey-0bb9a33
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and
the Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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Sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan talks to two experts combating our current loneliness crisis: Ron Ivey and Monika Jiang.
Ron Ivey is a writer, researcher, and strategic advisor to business, governments, and philanthropies with a focus on social trust, belonging, and human flourishing. Ron is currently the Managing Director of the Humanity 2.0 Institute and a Research Fellow at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program where he co-leads the Trust and Belonging Initiative. Ron also currently serves as a Fellow at the Centre for Public Impact, a global think tank seeking to re-imagine government and restore relationships between governments and those they govern. In 2017, Ron established a consultancy, Rembrandt Collective, to shape business strategies for trust, alignment and social impact.Monika Jiang, a second-generation Chinese immigrant, has always walked the line between feeling estranged and belonging. Her journey, marked by oscillations between aloneness, loneliness, and connection, has profoundly influenced her personal and professional life, shaping her into a visionary who senses what wants to emerge as we move closer to ourselves, each other, and the world. Professionally, Monika has made a significant impact at the House of Beautiful Business. Here, she helped build a global community of 50,000 members dedicated to a life-centered economy. By curating and hosting transformative gatherings, she helped business leaders imagine and transform themselves and their environments. Monika’s deep desire to move from loneliness to oneliness inspired her to found the initiative Sharing Our Loneliness. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the paradoxical power of loneliness to reconnect us with ourselves and others. She is a teacher in training with Humanize, an evidence-based program focused on fostering emotional and social skills, and she practices these skills based on social neuroscientific research at the Max-Planck Institute in Berlin.
Loneliness and growing up in a multicultural environment How the experience of shared loneliness can actually bring us closer togetherCurrent research on loneliness and social cohesion and the blind spots in policiesCross-cultural differences in lonelinessThe surprising beauty that can be found within our experience of loneliness
In this episode we talk about:
To learn more about Monika’s work, you can find her at:
Website: https://www.monikajiang.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika.jiang/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-jiang/
To learn more about Ron’s work, you can find him at:
X: https://x.com/ronivey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika.jiang/
Linkedin: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/ron-ivey-0bb9a33
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and
the Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
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Nalini Nadkarni’s unique academic career interweaves her scientific research on rainforest canopy biota with innovative public engagement. She has written 150 scientific papers and books on the composition and ecological roles of canopy-dwelling communities, supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. She also engages with those who do not or cannot gain access to science education, including faith-based groups, artists, corporations, and people who are incarcerated. Her work is featured in journals ranging from Science to Playboy, and in public media such as Science Friday, Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, and RadioLab. In 2023, the National Geographic Society named her as one of their ten “Explorers at Large.” Her awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, the AAAS Award for Public Engagement, the National Science Foundation Award for Public Service, The Rachel Carson Award for Conservation, The Wilson Award for the Advancement of Social Justice, and the Archie Carr Medal for Conservation.
How she created "Treetop Barbie" and overcame Mattel's attempts to stop herPartnering with faith groups to emphasize the spiritual value of treesInvolving inmates in meaningful conservation workLeveraging impact investment for sustainable ecological funding
In this second part of our conversation, Nalini discusses:To learn more about Nalini’s work:
https://www.nalininadkarni.com/ https://explorers.nationalgeographic.org/directory/nalini-m-nadkarni
Twitter: @brvnathanInstagram: @brvnathan
Follow us on social media for more updates:Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive early access to episodes: www.beautyatwork.net
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/).Support the show
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Nalini Nadkarni’s unique academic career interweaves her scientific research on rainforest canopy biota with innovative public engagement. She has written 150 scientific papers and books on the composition and ecological roles of canopy-dwelling communities, supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. She also engages with those who do not or cannot gain access to science education, including faith-based groups, artists, corporations, and people who are incarcerated. Her work is featured in journals ranging from Science to Playboy, and in public media such as Science Friday, Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, and RadioLab. In 2023, the National Geographic Society named her as one of their ten “Explorers at Large.” Her awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, the AAAS Award for Public Engagement, the National Science Foundation Award for Public Service, The Rachel Carson Award for Conservation, The Wilson Award for the Advancement of Social Justice, and the Archie Carr Medal for Conservation.
Her childhood love for treesHer pioneering research on the forest canopyHow the discovery of canopy roots reshaped our understanding of tree biology.Challenges and risks she encountered in her work
In this first part of our conversation, Nalini discusses:To learn more about Nalini’s work:
https://www.nalininadkarni.com/ https://explorers.nationalgeographic.org/directory/nalini-m-nadkarni
Twitter: @brvnathanInstagram: @brvnathan
Follow us on social media for more updates:Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive early access to episodes: www.beautyatwork.net
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/).Support the show
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Existential psychologist Dr. Clay Routledge, Vice President of Research at the Archbridge Institute, discusses the science of nostalgia, and why our yearning for beautiful memories is not simply an escape to the past but a vital resource for innovation.
Why we are nostalgic for both good and bad timesHow nostalgia is a resource for innovation and spiritualityReflection exercises to harness nostalgia for personal growth
Clay is a highly cited researcher who has published more than 100 scholarly papers, co-edited three academic books, authored three books, and received numerous awards for his research and mentorship. Clay regularly advises a range of organizations, from small startups to large companies, helping them use existential psychology and behavioral science more broadly to improve their products, services, and workplace culture. His latest book is Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life.
In this second part of our conversation, Clay discusses:To learn more about Clay’s work, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayroutledge/
X: https://twitter.com/clayroutledge
Human Flourishing Lab: https://humanflourishinglab.org
Personal Website: https://www.clayroutledge.com
Substack (Flourishing Friday): https://www.flourishingfriday.blog/
His latest book (Past Forward): https://www.amazon.com/Past-Forward-Nostalgia-Help-Meaningful/dp/1683648641/Follow us on social media for more updates:
Twitter: @brvnathanInstagram: @brvnathanSubscribe to our newsletter for exclusive early access to episodes: www.beautyatwork.net
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/).Support the show
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Existential psychologist Dr. Clay Routledge, Vice President of Research at the Archbridge Institute, discusses the science of nostalgia, and why our yearning for beautiful memories is not simply an escape to the past but a vital resource for innovation.
His childhood experiences of profound beautyHow he came to pursue existential psychologyKey findings from his research on nostalgia, including its motivating and surprisingly future-oriented nature
Clay is a highly cited researcher who has published more than 100 scholarly papers, co-edited three academic books, authored three books, and received numerous awards for his research and mentorship. Clay regularly advises a range of organizations, from small startups to large companies, helping them use existential psychology and behavioral science more broadly to improve their products, services, and workplace culture. His latest book is Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life.
In this first part of our conversation, Clay discusses:To learn more about Clay’s work, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayroutledge/
X: https://twitter.com/clayroutledge
Human Flourishing Lab: https://humanflourishinglab.org
Personal Website: https://www.clayroutledge.com
Substack (Flourishing Friday): https://www.flourishingfriday.blog/
His latest book (Past Forward): https://www.amazon.com/Past-Forward-Nostalgia-Help-Meaningful/dp/1683648641/Follow us on social media for more updates:
Twitter: @brvnathanInstagram: @brvnathanSubscribe to our newsletter for exclusive early access to episodes: www.beautyatwork.net
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/).Support the show
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Season 3 of the podcast launches in July. We have a great lineup of guests coming up!
I'd also love to hear your recommendations for guests and topics that you'd like to hear on the show. Please feel free to reach out at [email protected]
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What, if anything, is beautiful about democracy? Is it meaningful to talk about beauty when it comes to politics?
These questions were discussed (and even fiercely debated) in our final plenary session of the Beauty at Work international symposium held at The Catholic University of America, May 27, 2023.
This episode is the second part of the discussion. Please listen to the first part here if you haven't already: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/15128215
Panelists for the session were Hélène Landemore (Yale University), Shadi Hamid (The Atlantic), and Osita Nwanevu (The New Republic)
The panel was moderated by Samuel Kimbriel, The Aspen Institute.
You can find the full video of the discussion on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/9FQPHMRsW1A?si=t7fcKRhfnr4EbL2r
This symposium was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust, the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, Archbridge Institute, and the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America.
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