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№476
№476May 20, 20261h 20m

The Bittersweet Age

with Susan Cain

Sam Harris speaks with Susan Cain about writing, creativity, and what AI means for human culture. They discuss the future of books and reading, the tells AI inherits from good writers, why the advent of AI may spark a revival of the humanities, following your bliss, the ethics of curing sadness, the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, and other topics. Susan Cain is the author of the global sensation and #1 New York Times Bestseller Quiet , and the instant #1 New York Times bestseller Bittersweet , an Oprah Book Club Selection. Susan's new children's book Lucky & Norman will be published on June 2, 2026. She has spent the last twenty years exploring a particular realm of human nature: the quiet, the sensitive, the thoughtful, the bittersweet. It has always seemed clear to her—and to her millions of readers—that this way of being can lead to a richer, deeper form of happiness. Susan is the host of The Quiet Life Substack community, and her newsletter is read by people in all 193 countries and all 50 American states. Join her at TheQuietLife.net ! Website: https://thequietlife.net/welcome X: @susancain Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/476-the-bittersweet-age

№475
№475May 12, 20261h 18m

The Hard Problem of Consciousness

with Michael Pollan

Sam Harris speaks with Michael Pollan about consciousness, the mind, and the self. They discuss Pollan’s new book, the relationship between consciousness and intelligence, whether consciousness is a product of evolution, the role of psychedelics in consciousness research, AI and the question of machine consciousness, the illusion of the self, and other topics. Michael Pollan is the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Journalism at UC Berkeley and the author of eight books, including How to Change Your Mind , his 2018 account of the renaissance of scientific research into psychedelics. In July 2022, Netflix released a docuseries based on How to Change Your Mind , exploring the history and uses of substances including LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and mescaline. His latest, A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness , explores consciousness—what it is, who has it, and why. Website: https://michaelpollan.com/ X: @michaelpollan Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/475-the-hard-problem-of-consciousness

№474
№474May 7, 20261h 02mMore From Sam

More From Sam: Hasan Piker, Islamism, Making Sense Community, and More

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the launch of Making Sense Community, Sam’s Ben Shapiro conversation, the New York Times ’s embrace of Hasan Piker, Zohran Mamdani’s approach to Islamism, the misuse of the word “genocide,” AI-driven job displacement, and other topics. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/474-hasan-piker-islamism-making-sense-community-and-more

№473
№473Apr 29, 20261h 15m

Money, Power, and Moral Failure

with Lloyd Blankfein

Sam Harris speaks with Lloyd Blankfein about finance, politics, and the state of American society. They discuss Blankfein’s memoir, Goldman Sachs and its role as a market maker, the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the AI investment bubble, wealth inequality and the rise of trillionaires, the crisis of antisemitism on the left and right, Trump-era corruption and the post-truth political environment, the national debt, and other topics. Lloyd Blankfein was chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs from 2006 to 2018. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/473-money-power-and-moral-failure

№472
№472Apr 24, 20261h 01m

Strange Days on the Right

with Ben Shapiro

Sam Harris speaks with Ben Shapiro about their pre-election debate and the fractures on the right. They discuss Trump's second term surprises, familial corruption, tariff policy, the ideological world of Tucker Carlson, the spread of conspiracism on the right, antisemitism as the ur-conspiracy theory, JD Vance's political calculations, the future of Israel and the Palestinian question, and other topics. Ben Shapiro is Co-Founder of The Daily Wire and host of The Ben Shapiro Show, which has ranked among the top ten podcasts globally since 2018 and is the leading conservative podcast in the United States. Shapiro is the author of 17 books, including his latest New York Times bestseller, Lions and Scavengers: The True Story of America (and Her Critics) . At age 17, Shapiro became the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the U.S. when hired by Creators Syndicate. Shapiro graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 2004 and earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2007. In 2015, Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing launched The Daily Wire, which rapidly rose to become one of the most influential news outlets in America. Website: https://www.dailywire.com X: @Benshapiro Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/472-strange-days-on-the-right

№471
№471Apr 16, 20261h 05m

The End of History, Revisited

with Francis Fukuyama

Sam Harris speaks with Francis Fukuyama about liberal democracy, American politics, and global order. They discuss the misunderstood thesis of "The End of History," how conservatism has mutated into ethno-nationalism, the self-defeating extremes of both identity politics and neoliberalism, the damage of Trump's second term, the war in Iran, the future of Israel, antisemitism on the left and right, and other topics. Francis Fukuyama is the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Director of Stanford's Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy. One of the most influential political thinkers of his generation, he is best known for his 1992 book The End of History and the Last Man . His forthcoming memoir is In the Realm of the Last Man . Dr. Fukuyama has held distinguished appointments at Johns Hopkins, George Mason University, the RAND Corporation, and the U.S. Department of State's Policy Planning Staff. His articles can be read at Persuasion , and his podcast is Frankly Fukuyama. Website: francisfukuyama.com X: @FukuyamaFrancis Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/471-the-end-of-history-revisited

№470
№470Apr 13, 20261h 16m

Democrats at a Crossroads

with Rahm Emanuel

Sam Harris speaks with Rahm Emanuel about American politics, the state of the Democratic Party, and the 2028 presidential race. They discuss Emanuel’s possible presidential run, identity politics and the left’s cultural cul-de-sac, the Mississippi reading miracle, antisemitism on the left and right, the Gaza war, Netanyahu’s failures, U.S. policy toward China, wealth inequality, and other topics. Rahm I. Emanuel most recently served as the United States Ambassador to Japan. Previously, he was the 55th Mayor of the City of Chicago, a position he held until May 2019. Prior to becoming Mayor, from November 2008 until October 2010, Emanuel served as President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff. Before serving as Chief of Staff, Emanuel was elected four times as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois’s 5th Congressional District (2002-2008). From 1993 to 1998, Ambassador Emanuel was a key member of President Bill Clinton’s administration, rising to serve as Senior Advisor to the President for Policy and Politics. X: @RahmEmanuel Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/470-democrats-at-a-crossroads

№469
№469Apr 10, 20261h 49m

Escaping an Anti-Human Future

with Tristan Harris

Sam Harris speaks with Tristan Harris about the dangers of AI and the race to build it. They discuss the new documentary The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist , the lessons of The Social Dilemma , the arms race dynamics between AI labs, the "intelligence curse" and its implications for human political power, the psychology of tech CEOs indifferent to extinction risk, the possibilities of US-China coordination on AI safety, and other topics. Tristan Harris , described by The Atlantic as “the closest thing Silicon Valley has to a conscience,” is a technology ethicist and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, a nonprofit dedicated to aligning technology with humanity’s best interests. Tristan gained international recognition when he was featured in the Emmy-winning Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma , seen by over 150 million people in 190 countries and 30 languages. Named to the TIME100 AI list in 2023, Tristan is “a tech leader committed to ensuring that we get this generation of AI right, because we simply can’t afford to get it wrong.” Most recently, Tristan is featured in The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist , a new documentary from Focus Features in theaters March 27, 2026. Website: humanetech.com X: @tristanharris Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/469-escaping-an-anti-human-future

№468
№468Apr 7, 20261h 24mMore From Sam

More From Sam: Gratitude, Bad Conversations, Conspiracy Addiction, Waffle House Teleportation, and More

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss how to cultivate gratitude and navigate anxiety in uncertain times, the role of mindfulness in coping with AI-driven job displacement, the slowing of religious decline in America, a FEMA official's claim that he teleported to a Waffle House, the irresponsibility of conspiracy-fueled podcasting, Sam on which conversations are worth having, and other topics. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/468-more-from-sam-gratitude-bad-conversations-conspiracy-addiction-waffle-house-teleportation-and-more

№467
№467Mar 30, 20261h 43m

EA, AI, and the End of Work

with William MacAskill

Sam Harris speaks with William MacAskill about effective altruism, AI, and the future of humanity. They discuss the post-FTX recovery of the EA movement, global health and pandemic preparedness, the limits of quantifiable ethics, the intelligence explosion, risks of concentrated AI power, what a post-scarcity world might look like, and other topics. Will MacAskill is an associate professor of moral philosophy at Oxford University, and author of Doing Good Better , Moral Uncertainty and What We Owe The Future . He cofounded the nonprofits 80,000 Hours, Centre for Effective Altruism, and Giving What We Can, and helped to launch the effective altruism movement, which encourages people to use their time and money to support the projects that are most effectively making the world a better place. Website: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/ X: @willmacaskill Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/467-ea-ai-and-the-end-of-work

№466
№466Mar 24, 20261h 06m

What Is Technology Doing to Us?

with Nicholas Christakis

Sam Harris speaks with Nicholas Christakis about technology, society, and human nature. They discuss the harms of modern communication technology, polarization and anomie, how AI agents can improve human cooperation, the social implications of humanoid robots, Christakis’s experience at the center of the woke moral panic at Yale, the Trump administration’s assault on American universities and science, the collapse of public trust in institutions, and other topics. Nicholas A. Christakis , MD, PhD, MPH, is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale University. His work is in the fields of network science and biosocial science. He directs the Human Nature Lab and is the Co-Director of the Yale Institute for Network Science. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2006; the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2010; the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2017; and the National Academy of Sciences in 2024. Website: https://humannaturelab.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NAChristakis X: @NAChristakis Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/466-what-is-technology-doing-to-us

№465
№465Mar 18, 20261h 29mMore From Sam

More From Sam: Iran, Jihadism, Conspiracism, AI Disruption, the Manosphere, and More

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the Iran war and the Trump administration’s shambolic messaging, antisemitism and moral confusion on the left and right, the spread of conspiracism, finding contentment in uncertain times, AI’s looming disruption of white-collar work, wealth inequality and the ultra-rich’s failures of philanthropy, Louis Theroux’s documentary on the manosphere, and other topics. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/465-more-from-sam-iran-jihadism-conspiracism-ai-disruption-the-manosphere-and-more

№464
№464Mar 16, 20261h 22m

The Politics of Pragmatism and the Future of California

with Matt Mahan

Sam Harris speaks with Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose and Democratic candidate for governor of California, about governance, pragmatism, and California's policy failures. They discuss the dysfunction of progressive governance, the homelessness crisis and what San Jose has done to reduce it, the proposed wealth tax and its likely backfire, why California can't build housing affordably, rent control, mandatory psychiatric holds, the influence of special interests in Sacramento, and other topics. Matt Mahan is the Mayor of San Jose and a candidate for Governor of California. Raised in Watsonville and a Harvard graduate, he began his career in the Peace Corps before teaching on San Jose's East Side. He went on to lead two civic tech startups, Causes and Brigade, focused on civic engagement and nonprofit support. Elected Mayor in 2022, Mahan has made homelessness and public safety his central priorities. Under his leadership, San Jose reduced unsheltered homelessness by nearly a third through the largest expansion of emergency shelter on the West Coast, and earned recognition as the safest big city in America. He has also worked to accelerate housing development by cutting permitting costs and timelines, and took on utility companies to lower energy costs for residents. In 2024, he was re-elected with 87% of the vote and helped lead the passage of Proposition 36, a statewide ballot measure enabling mandated treatment for repeat offenders in cases involving retail theft, homelessness, and addiction. He announced his run for California governor in January 2026. Website: https://mahanforcalifornia.com X: https://x.com/MattMahanSJ Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/464-the-politics-of-pragmatism-and-the-future-of-california

№463
№463Mar 11, 20261h 22m

Privatizing the Apocalypse

with Rob Reid

Sam Harris speaks with Rob Reid about biosecurity, pandemic risk, and the alarming fragility of our defenses against biological catastrophe. They discuss the controversial USAID program DEEP VZN, the dangers of gain-of-function research, open science norms that could arm bad actors, the role of AI in accelerating bioweapon development, biosurveillance tools, lone wolf bioterrorists, chaos agents, and other topics. Rob Reid is a venture capitalist, sci-fi author, science writer, and podcaster; he was also a long-time tech entrepreneur. Rob is the Managing Director at Resilience Reserve , a venture fund he runs with Chris Anderson of the TED Conference. Resilience backs companies that are making the world more resilient in some important way. Rob’s After On podcast features conversations with world-class thinkers, founders, and scientists on subjects including synthetic biology, generative and super AI, neuroscience, astrophysics, and oceanography. His science fiction novels include the New York Times bestseller Year Zero and After On . As an entrepreneur, Rob founded and ran Listen.com, which created the Rhapsody music service. He speaks solid Arabic with a thick Egyptian accent. Website: https://after-on.com/ X: https://x.com/Rob_Reid Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/463-privatizing-the-apocalypse

№462
№462Mar 6, 202659:56More From Sam

More From Sam: The Iran War, American Amorality, Addressing Hopelessness, Tucker, and More

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss whether the U.S. was right to take military action against Iran, the new era of American amorality, antisemitism on the left and right, Tucker Carlson's provocative interview with Mike Huckabee, navigating feelings of hopelessness and dread, the dangers and promise of psychedelics, the corrosive effects of social media on culture and politics, and other topics. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/462-more-from-sam-the-iran-war-american-amorality-tucker-carlson-and-more

№461
№461Feb 25, 20261h 38m

Dictators Always Tell You What They'll Do

with Garry Kasparov

Sam Harris speaks with Garry Kasparov about the erosion of American democracy and the global authoritarian threat. They discuss Trump's systematic corruption, the GOP's moral collapse, the 2026 midterms as a decisive moment for democracy, Trump's entanglement with Russia and Putin, what a Ukrainian victory would mean for the free world, why Putin's nuclear threats are a bluff, and other topics. Garry Kasparov is the founder and chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative, which publishes The Next Move on Substack. He became the youngest World Chess Champion in 1985. He is a pro-democracy activist and among Vladimir Putin's most prominent opponents. The Russian regime has designated Garry as a terrorist and issued a warrant for his arrest. Website: thenextmove.org X: @Kasparov63 Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/461-dictators-always-tell-you-what-theyll-do

№460
№460Feb 20, 20261h 13m

When the Center Cannot Hold

with Jonah Goldberg

Sam Harris speaks with Jonah Goldberg about the state of American conservatism and the Trump presidency. They discuss the politicization of federal institutions, the erosion of legal norms, the schism between Never Trump conservatives and the nationalist right, infighting over figures like Nick Fuentes, J.D. Vance's political future, a theory of mind for Tucker Carlson, the prospects for regime change in Iran, and other topics. Jonah Goldberg is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Dispatch . A Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Goldberg is also a Los Angeles Times columnist, CNN contributor, and three-time bestselling author. Website: TheDispatch.com X: @JonahDispatch Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/460-when-the-center-cannot-hold

№459
№459Feb 13, 202622:30More From Sam

More From Sam: Corruption, Immigration, The End of White-Collar Work, and More

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss Trump’s cryptocurrency dealings with the UAE and their national security implications, AI timelines and the looming end of white-collar work, the impact of Trump’s immigration crackdown on U.S. population decline, potential U.S. military action in Iran, the end of the Minnesota ICE surge, the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime controversy, and other topics. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/459-more-from-sam-corruption-immigration-the-end-of-white-collar-work-and-more

№458
№458Feb 11, 20261h 37m

The Bulwark Against MAGA

with Sarah Longwell

Sam Harris speaks with Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller about Trump and the future of American politics. They discuss the origins of The Bulwark , the bewildering psychology of Trump’s base, the new era of authenticity, memory-holing January 6th, how media broke politics, why Kamala Harris should never run again, the difference between America First and MAGA, potential 2028 Democratic candidates, and other topics. Sarah Longwell is the publisher of The Bulwark , which she helped found in 2019, and hosts the podcast The Focus Group , which is in its sixth season. She is a recognized expert in qualitative research, having hosted hundreds of focus groups and talked to thousands of voters from across the country and the political spectrum. In addition to The Bulwark , Sarah’s work has been featured on PBS NewsHour, CNN, MSNBC, and elsewhere. Tim Miller is the host of The Bulwark Podcast and an MSNBC political analyst. He is the author of Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell . Tim has worked on campaigns for John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Jeb Bush. X: @SarahLongwell25 @Timodc Website: https://www.thebulwark.com/ Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/458-the-bulwark-against-maga

№457
№457Feb 5, 202644:32More From Sam

More From Sam: The Epstein Files, The Newsom Factor, Don Lemon’s Arrest, AI Market Disruption, and More

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss Sam’s unexpected appearance in the Epstein files, the revolting behavior of various public figures named, the political viability of Gavin Newsom in 2028, the wisdom of celebrity political statements, the societal implications of AI-driven job displacement, what makes Sam and his family laugh, and other topics. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/457-more-from-sam-the-epstein-files-the-newsom-factor-don-lemons-arrest-ai-market-disruption-and-more

№456
№456Feb 4, 20261h 26m

American Fascism

with Jonathan Rauch

Sam Harris speaks with Jonathan Rauch about the emergence of fascism in American politics. They discuss Rauch’s article, “Yes, It’s Fascism,” the 18 criteria of fascism, the glorification and unapologetic use of state violence, “might is right” foreign policy, the politicization of law enforcement, the complicity of the rich and powerful, blood and soil nationalism, the influence of Carl Schmitt, the resilience of American institutions, and other topics. Jonathan Rauch , a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, is the author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 National Magazine Award, the magazine industry’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book, published in 2021 by the Brookings Press, is The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Trut h , a spirited and deep-diving account of how to push back against disinformation, canceling, and other new threats to our fact-based epistemic order. Jonathan’s Atlantic article, “ Yes, It’s Fascism ” This poll, Beyond MAGA: A Profile of the Trump Coalition , is mentioned in the conversation Website: https://www.brookings.edu/people/jonathan-rauch/ X: @jon_rauch Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/456-american-fascism

№455
№455Jan 30, 202636:11More From Sam

More From Sam: Guns, Propaganda, AI, and Power Unbound

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, the lack of outrage from gun culture, the escalating humanitarian crisis in Iran, Melania Trump’s pay-to-play documentary deal, the societal implications of AI-driven job displacement, the fascistic social media imagery of the Trump administration, Sam’s youthful misadventures with psychedelics in Muir Woods, and other topics. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/455-more-from-sam-guns-propaganda-ai-and-power-unbound

№454
№454Jan 21, 202659:08More From Sam

More From Sam: Minnesota, Greenland, Iran, S**thole Countries, and More

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron dive into the chaotic start to 2026. They discuss the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, the Trump administration’s response and rhetoric, the “evil Chauncey Gardiner” approach to acquiring Greenland, the potential fracture of NATO, the humanitarian crisis in Iran, Sam’s upcoming conversation with Ben Shapiro, the radicalization of Scott Adams, and the unrecoverable error Democrats are making regarding trans activism. Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/454-more-from-sam-minnesota-greenland-iran-s-thole-countries-and-more

№453
№453Jan 16, 20261h 21m

AI and the New Face of Antisemitism

with Judea Pearl

Sam Harris speaks with Judea Pearl about causality, AI, and antisemitism. They discuss why LLMs won’t spawn AGI, alignment concerns in the race for AGI, Pearl’s public life after the murder of his son Daniel, the post-October 7th shift toward open anti-Zionism, the overlap between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, the misuse of “Islamophobia,” Israel’s fracture under Netanyahu, confronting anti-Zionism in universities, and other topics. Judea Pearl is the Chancellor's professor of computer science and statistics at UCLA and Director of the UCLA Cognitive Systems Laboratory. He is known internationally for his contributions to artificial intelligence, human reasoning, and philosophy of science. He has received numerous scientific awards, including the 2012 ACM A.M. Turing Award (often described as the "Nobel Prize of computing"). Judea is the father of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and president of the Daniel Pearl Foundation . He also writes and lectures on Jewish identity and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Coexistence and Other Fighting Words: Selected Writings of Judea Pearl, 2002-2025 collects his essays on these topics. Website: https://bayes.cs.ucla.edu/jp_home.html X: @yudapearl Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/453-ai-and-the-new-face-of-antisemitism

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