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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.

Inquiring Minds

Robert Sapolsky is a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University, and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. 

We talked to Sapolsky about what it means to be human, what we humans can learn from other species, and why he—despite being a self-described pessimist—feels optimistic about our prospects as a species. 

This week’s episode was recorded live in San Francisco for the 2015 Bay Area Science Festival and was produced in collaboration with The Leakey Foundation and their podcast Origin Stories.

http://leakeyfoundation.org/
http://leakeyfoundation.org/originstories

http://patreon.com/inquiringminds

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

113 Robert Sapolsky - Being Human

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Adam Bristol sits down with Silicon Valley tech expert, philosopher, and acclaimed science fiction author Gary Bengier to discuss his new novel, Journey to 2125: One Century, One Family, Rising to Challenges. As a prequel to his celebrated book Unfettered Journey, this latest work delves into the pivotal technological, political, and societal challenges humanity may face in the next century, all framed through the lens of a multi-generational family saga.

Bengier’s unique background—spanning a career as eBay’s Chief Financial Officer to his roles in astrophysics and philosophy—brings an unparalleled depth of realism and foresight to his writing. In Journey to 2125, he explores themes like climate change, robotics, AI, biotechnology, and the shifting labor landscape. The book blends hard science fiction with philosophical reflections, offering both a sobering view of the obstacles ahead and an optimistic call to action for addressing humanity’s most pressing issues.

They discuss:

 • The challenges of automation and labor displacement in a rapidly advancing technological landscape.
 • The integration of cutting-edge biotechnology and its societal implications.
 • The global energy crisis and the pivotal role of nuclear fission in the future.
 • The philosophical and economic systems required to navigate an increasingly automated world.

Bengier shares insights from his career in Silicon Valley, his work with the Santa Fe Institute, and his early life experiences that shaped his empathetic approach to storytelling. This episode offers a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to thrive in an era of exponential technological change.

Listen in to uncover actionable insights and a hopeful vision for building a sustainable and equitable future. 

Journey to 2125 is available everywhere books are sold.

 

Links:

Get Gary’s new Book at Amazon
 

Follow Gary on Facebook @garybengierauthor, 

Good Reads @Gary_F_Bengier 

and Twitter (X): @GaryFBengier

and visit his website: GaryfBengier.com/journey-to-2125/

 

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

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Journey to 2125: One Century, One Family, Rising to Challenges with Gary F. Bengier

In the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles where people have lost their homes and all their worldly possessions and when many are questioning their purpose it was a timely moment for host Indre Viskontas to sit with hospice physician, financial independence expert, and author Jordan Grumet to discuss his transformative new book, The Purpose Code: How to Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, and Leave a Lasting Legacy. Drawing from his experience at the bedsides of terminally ill patients and his financial acumen Grumet explores how understanding purpose can help us navigate life’s challenges, overcome loss, and build a meaningful legacy.

Grumet shares his insights on:

 • The difference between "big P-purpose," which often leads to anxiety, and "little p-purpose," a path to happiness and fulfillment.
 • How reframing our approach to purpose can help us build lives filled with enriching activities that connect us to others.
 • Strategies for identifying purpose anchors, drawing from childhood joys, regrets, or incremental changes in daily life.
 • The impact of social media on purpose anxiety and how to counter its influence with genuine, personal goals.

Jordan’s work weaves together medicine, finance, and the significance of purpose, profoundly impacting those seeking a meaningful life.

Listen in for practical advice on aligning your actions with your values, finding joy in small, meaningful pursuits, and creating a legacy that lasts beyond your lifetime. 

The Purpose Code is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Links:

Get Jordan’s new Book at Amazon

and visit his website: https://jordangrumet.com/

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

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The Purpose Code: How To Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, and Leave A Lasting Legacy with Jordan Grumet

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas speaks with Kurt Gray, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and director of the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding. 

Gray’s groundbreaking new book, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality in Politics and How to Find Common Ground, delves into the psychological roots of moral outrage and the societal divisions it fuels. Through scientific insights and engaging anecdotes, Gray explains how our deeply ingrained perceptions of harm shape our moral convictions and why bridging moral divides is both critical and possible.

They discuss:

 • The psychological basis of moral outrage and why it’s driven by differing perceptions of harm.
 • How disgust and fear influence our moral judgments and why facts alone rarely resolve disagreements.
 • The role of social media in amplifying moral panics and polarizing society.
 • Why shared stories and genuine listening are more effective than statistics in fostering understanding.

Gray also explores myths about morality, including the false belief that humans evolved as apex predators, and provides evidence for how our evolutionary history as prey shaped the cooperative moral frameworks we rely on today. Despite the challenges of polarization, Gray offers hope for bridging divides through empathy, understanding, and open dialogue.

Listen in to gain a deeper understanding of how morality drives human behavior, divides societies, and offers pathways for reconciliation. 

Outraged is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Links:

Get Kurt’s new Book “Outrage” on Amazon

and visit his website: kurtjgray.com

And connect with Kurt on X and Linkedin

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information

Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground with Kurt Gray

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas speaks with investigative journalist Charles Piller about his explosive new book, Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's. Piller unearths the troubling reality behind decades of Alzheimer's research, exposing how fraudulent data, unchecked ambition, and institutional failures have shaped the field—and wasted billions of dollars—while millions of patients and families await real solutions.

Piller shares:

 • How a single falsified study published in 
Nature • helped cement the amyloid hypothesis as the dominant theory of Alzheimer’s, despite mounting evidence against it.
 • The role of NIH funding incentives in steering researchers toward confirming flawed findings instead of exploring alternative approaches.
 • The rise of scientific sleuths and whistleblowers like Matthew Schrag, who uncovered image manipulation in key Alzheimer’s studies.
 • The institutional failures of major scientific journals, regulatory agencies, and funding bodies that allowed bad science to shape drug development for decades.
 • Why Alzheimer’s patients and their families are still waiting for effective treatments, and what promising new directions could finally lead to breakthroughs.

Despite the troubling revelations, Piller also highlights reasons for optimism, including emerging research into alternative causes of Alzheimer’s, such as viral infections and neuroinflammation, and promising clinical trials involving GLP-1 inhibitors.

Listen in for a gripping and eye-opening discussion about how scientific fraud derailed progress in Alzheimer’s research—and how we can chart a new path forward. Doctored is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Links:

Get Charles Piller’s new book on Amazon: Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's

Connect with Charles on LinkedIn and X

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's with Charles Piller

In this powerful episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas reconnects with her longtime mentor, Dr. Bruce L. Miller—one of the world’s foremost authorities on dementia, empathy, and the neuroscience of human behavior. Dr. Miller is a Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he founded both the UCSF Memory and Aging Center—the world’s largest research group dedicated to neurodegenerative diseases—and the Global Brain Health Institute, a pioneering global initiative training future leaders in brain health from over 50 countries.

As a clinician and researcher, Dr. Miller has spent decades at the forefront of understanding how aging and neurodegenerative conditions alter not only memory, but emotion, identity, and creativity. His forthcoming book, Mysteries of the Social Brain: Understanding Human Behavior Through Science (co-authored with neuroscientist Virginia Sturm), brings together compelling case studies and cutting-edge science to explore how changes in brain function can reveal surprising truths about what makes us human.

In their conversation, Indre and Dr. Miller explore:

 • Why do some individuals with dementia develop new depths of empathy or even unlock hidden artistic talents?

 • 
 • How the brain's social networks shape morality, altruism, creativity, and respect—and what happens when these networks deteriorate.

 • 
 • The paradoxes of frontotemporal dementia and how it differs from Alzheimer’s disease in profound and unexpected ways.

 • 
 • How caregiving not only strengthens emotional circuits in the brain but may be one of the most meaningful human endeavors.

 • 
 • Why openness and interpersonal connection are essential to healthy aging and resilient societies.

They also discuss the promising future of neurodegenerative disease treatment—from CRISPR-based gene therapies for inherited forms of dementia to new clinical trials exploring the effects of social engagement, exercise, and lifestyle on brain health.

With warmth, insight, and deeply human stories, Dr. Miller challenges the traditional view of dementia as a simple unraveling, revealing instead the complexity—and at times, the unexpected beauty—of the aging brain.

Mysteries of the Social Brain is available now wherever books are sold.

 

Resources:

Get Dr. Bruce Miller’s new book Mysteries of the Social Brain on Amazon and Routledge

Connect with Indre on LinkedIn

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Social Brain with Dr. Bruce Miller

There aren't many people on Earth who have spent more of their life in space than Marsha Ivins.

A veteran of five space shuttle missions, Ivins has spent a total of 55 days in orbit, on missions devoted to such diverse tasks as deploying satellites, conducting scientific research, and docking with Mir and the International Space Station.

This episode features an interview with Ivins, where she relates some of her in-orbit experiences—such as how your body and brain slowly adapt to the fact that no single direction is up or down. Plus, for the benefit of geeks across the universe, she also explains why the Borg cube from Star Trek can maneuver just as well in space as any starfighter that Hollywood has dreamed up.

She discusses why publicly supported space missions are still vital, what it will take to get us to Mars and beyond, and why solving advanced space travel problems (energy, propulsion) might simultaneously help us solve many of our problems on Earth—perhaps including global warming.

This episode also features a discussion about new developments in science, including research suggesting that political biases are so pervasive that they can interfere with your ability to do math, and mounting evidence of the dangers of head injuries received from playing football.

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

1 Marsha Ivins - What It's Like To Spend 55 Days in Space

This week, Chris Mooney talks to environmental journalist Alan Weisman, who explains why, following on his 2007 New York Times bestseller The World Without Us, he decided to centrally take on the issue of human population.
For his just-published book Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?, Weisman traveled to 21 countries—from Israel to Mexico, and from Pakistan to Niger—to report on how different cultures are responding to booming populations and the strain this is putting on their governments and resources.
Importantly, Weisman is no supporter of coercive population control measures such as China's infamous one-child policy. Rather, he makes a powerful case that the best way to manage the global population is by empowering women, through both education and access to contraception.
This episode of Inquiring Minds also features a discussion of the latest myths circulating on global warming, and the brave new world of gene therapy that we're entering—where being rich might be your key ticket to the finest health care.
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2 Alan Weisman - Can We Finally Have a Serious Talk About Population?

This week we talk to scientist and explorer Sylvia Earle, a woman who has spent almost a year of her life under water. She explains why the oceans are "not too big to fail." But she also says that just maybe, we're growing wise enough to save them.
Earle is the National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence, and former chief scientist at NOAA—plus she's a TED Prize winner who used that award to form Mission Blue, an ocean conservation initiative. Her unofficial titles go further: Time called her "Hero of the Planet," and many others call her "Her Deepness." She has set several underwater depth records, including diving to 1,250 feet, without a tether, in 1979.
Back in 1970, when some institutions of higher education were still refusing to admit women, Earle was leading female aquanauts on expeditions to the sea floor. The Tektite Program featured a team of women who lived in an undersea laboratory off the Virgin Islands for two weeks, conducting research.
This episode also features a discussion of the the latest research on how conspiracy theories fuel the denial of science on issues ranging from climate change to vaccinations, and on how scientists are reconsidering the origins of life and, yes, bringing Mars into the picture.
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3 Sylvia Earle - Why the Oceans Are Not Too Big to Fail

This week we talk to Randy Schekman, the University of California-Berkeley cell biologist who was just awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in medicine for his work on how cells regulate the protein “traffic” that is at the core of their communication with other cells.
In the interview with co-host Indre Viskontas, Schekman not only explains his scientific breakthroughs—he also tells us why he wants to take a stand about the steeply rising cost of public higher education, which is driving huge student debt loads and rendering college simply too expensive for some. Affordable higher education, says Schekman, is “really in peril all over the country."
In addition to being a Nobel laureate, Schekman is also a winner of the coveted Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and the former editor-in-chief of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
This episode also features a (spoiler free) discussion of the science behind the hit sci-fi movie Gravity, and the controversy this year over the Nobel Prize in physics.
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4 Randy Schekman - This 2013 Nobel Laureate Says College Is Way Too Expensive

We talk to award winning writer and director Jonathan Lynn about his latest novel, Samaritans, which is a satirical look at the US healthcare system. His films as director include Clue, Nuns on the Run (both of which he wrote), My Cousin Vinny, The Distinguished Gentleman and The Whole Nine Yards. 

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Jonathan Lynn on Why US Healthcare Is Worthy of Ridicule

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