Best The Humanist Report Podcasts (2025)

Sam Arbesman, complexity scientist, author of "The Magic of Code," and scientist in residence at Lux Capital, joins me for a wide-ranging exploration of how we navigate an increasingly complex world that often exceeds human comprehension. We dive into the oral traditions that preserve crucial scientific knowledge, why cognitive diversity trumps dem…

1
The Daily: A ‘Dagger in the Heart’ of Climate Change Regulation 25:07

Play Pause

2h ago25:07

25:07

After rolling back a slew of regulations aimed at reversing climate change, and pulling funding for the scientists who monitor it, the Trump administration is now taking its boldest action yet. It’s eliminating the scientific finding at the heart of the government’s ability to fight climate change in the first place. Lisa Friedman, who covers clima…

1
"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg: Making Sense of Milei, AI & Employment, and America's Future 54:15

1h ago54:15

54:15

In this episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg explore Argentina's economic reforms under President Milei, development models in emerging economies like Vietnam and Malaysia, effective crime reduction strategies, and how AI might reshape our workforce and population dynamics in the coming decades. – SPONSORS: Carta Carta is offering up to 40% off a…

1
Future of Life Institute Podcast: From Peak Horse to Peak Human: How AI Could Replace Us (with Calum Chace) 1:37:20

1h ago1:37:20

1:37:20

On this episode, Calum Chace joins me to discuss the transformative impact of AI on employment, comparing the current wave of cognitive automation to historical technological revolutions. We talk about "universal generous income", fully-automated luxury capitalism, and redefining education with AI tutors. We end by examining verification of artific…

1
The Nation Podcasts: Trump’s Crypto Profiteering Is Worse Than You Think | Tech Won't Save Us 1:00:12

1h ago1:00:12

1:00:12

Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire’s Islamophobic attack on Zohran Mamdani, what it tells us about the state of tech’s politics, and how Donald Trump is enriching himself through crypto scams. Jacob Silverman is a journalist and the author of the forthcoming book Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicaliz…

1
NPR News Now: NPR News: 07-31-2025 5AM EDT 4:40

1h ago4:40

4:40

NPR News: 07-31-2025 5AM EDT Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

1
Interesting Times with Ross Douthat: The DOGE Alum Asking if Foreign Aid Is America’s Problem 47:33

1h ago47:33

47:33

Does America have a moral obligation to the world? The former Department of Government Efficiency staffer Jeremy Lewin, now deputy administrator for the United States Agency for International Development, explains how he is implementing President Trump’s foreign aid philosophy and what it means for humanitarian assistance going forward. 01:59 - Fro…

1
Decoder with Nilay Patel: How AI researchers are getting paid like NBA All-Stars 43:44

1h ago43:44

43:44

This is Alex Heath, your Thursday episode guest host and deputy editor at The Verge. Today I'm joined by Hayden Field, The Verge’s new senior AI reporter to talk about the AI talent wars and why some researchers are suddenly getting traded like their NBA superstars. Both Hayden and I have been reporting on this for the past several weeks to get a s…

1
Otherppl with Brad Listi: It's Hot Down Here, Brother 1:33:59

1h ago1:33:59

1:33:59

Volume 53 of Brad & Mira For the Culture...Brad approaches 50...the Tesla Diner attacks a woman...the obsession with tall...the triumph of Billy Joel, short king and musical savant...Sydney Sweeney's eugenics commercial...the roasting of Hulk Hogan, an American embarrassment...the Justin Trudeau / Fidel Castro conspiracy theory...and more... *** ⁠⁠…

1
NPR News Now: NPR News: 07-31-2025 4AM EDT 4:40

1h ago4:40

4:40

NPR News: 07-31-2025 4AM EDT Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

1
Odd Lots: Circle's CEO on the Booming Business of Stablecoins 49:26

1h ago49:26

49:26

Stablecoins are emerging as one of the most active areas of cryptocurrencies. The idea of using blockchain rails to transmit money has captured the attention of legacy financial institutions as well as policymakers, as evidenced by the recent passage of the GENIUS Act, which builds out a regulatory framework for that business. But what are the oppo…

1
The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart: Debating Reality with Mehdi Hasan 1:23:49

1h ago1:23:49

1:23:49

As mainstream media finds itself outplayed by Trump, Jon is joined by Mehdi Hasan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Zeteo. Together, they discuss his experience debating far-right conservatives, explore how Democrats could match Republican ruthlessness and tactics, and examine how America’s failure to stop the crisis in Gaza has undermined both U.S. …

1
Tech Won't Save Us: Trump’s Crypto Profiteering Is Worse Than You Think w/ Jacob Silverman 1:00:12

2h ago1:00:12

1:00:12

Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire’s Islamophobic attack on Zohran Mamdani, what it tells us about the state of tech’s politics, and how Donald Trump is enriching himself through crypto scams. Jacob Silverman is a journalist and the author of the forthcoming book Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicaliz…

1
Flux Podcasts (Formerly Theory of Change): Are Governors The New Power Players in U.S. Politics? A Conversation with Ofirah Yheskel 20:09

2h ago20:09

20:09

In this episode of The Electorette, I’m joined by Ofirah Yheskel, Director of External Affairs for the Democratic Governors Association, to unpack the growing national influence of Democratic governors—especially in the face of Republican extremism and Trump-aligned policymaking. We discuss two high-stakes gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Je…

1
The Rachman Review: Can Israel translate power into peace? 28:25

43m ago28:25

28:25

Israel has demonstrated its capacity to strike at its enemies far and wide since the Hamas attacks of October 7 2023. But what will it do with this military dominance? The FT’s Charles Clover puts this question to Palestinian historian Yezid Sayigh. They discuss the weakness and instability of neighbouring Arab states and how the Netanyahu governme…

1
Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg: AI: Autonomous or controllable? Pick one (with Anthony Aguirre) 1:31:28

2h ago1:31:28

1:31:28

Read the full transcript here. Is AI that's both superintelligent and aligned even possible? Does increased intelligence necessarily entail decreased controllability? What's the difference between "safe" and "under control"? There seems to be a fundamental tension between autonomy and control, so is it conceivable that we could create superintellig…

1
The Rest Is Money: 194. How A £600bn 'Ghost Market’ Is Being Neglected 38:20

3h ago38:20

38:20

Why is the fastest growing demographic of shoppers not being properly catered for? What can retailers do to change that and make more money? And why is this important for the whole economy, not just the 15 million people in the UK directly affected by it? Steph speaks to Heather Jackson CEO of GenM about the economics of the menopause. We appreciat…

1
Bannon`s War Room: WarRoom Battleground Ep 818: Our New Overlords — UK Government Website Carries Job Advertisement For “Sharia Law Administrator”

32m ago

—

WarRoom Battleground Ep 818: Our New Overlords — UK Government Website Carries Job Advertisement For “Sharia Law Administrator”By WarRoom.org

1
Bannon`s War Room: Episode 4671: Making America Healthy Again; Chinese Surveillance In America

32m ago

—

Episode 4671: Making America Healthy Again; Chinese Surveillance In AmericaBy WarRoom.org

1
The Gist: How to Make Crime Feel Weird 36:08

1h ago36:08

36:08

Criminologist Nick Cowen joins to explore how drunk driving transformed from a tolerated norm to a societal taboo, and how deterrence works best when paired with norm-shaping—catching people before tragedy and using lighter sanctions to nudge behavior. He argues that even violent crime clusters could be tackled through community-level norm shifts. …

1
The Majority Report with Sam Seder: 3549 - Can Minneapolis Elect A Socialist Mayor & Gaza Doctor Returns w/ Omar Fateh, Dr. Ambereen Sleemi (M) 1:19:50

2h ago1:19:50

1:19:50

It’s Hump Day at the Majority Report! On today’s show: Donald Trump freely admits that he was aware that young girls trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell were "taken" from the spa at Mar-a-Lago—and even claims to remember their names. We’re joined by Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh, the DFL-endorsed candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis, to discuss th…

1
The Bulwark Podcast: Franklin Foer: Elon, the Man Who Ate NASA 46:24

2h ago46:24

46:24

The rise of Elon—and why he is still involved with our government—has everything to do with the dimming of America's one-time crown jewel, NASA. We are now dependent on his rockets and his satellites because Obama and the U.S. government saved SpaceX. Of course, Elon's hypocrisy knows no bounds, because when he had the power, he quickly worked to d…

1
Bannon`s War Room: Episode 4669: GDP Up 3% And Private Sector Growth

3h ago

—

Episode 4669: GDP Up 3% And Private Sector GrowthBy WarRoom.org

1
Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar: 7/30/25: Trump Says Epstein 'Stole' Girls From Him, Publisher Of Black Book Speaks Out, Jon Stewart Rips Israel Gaslighting 1:27:15

3h ago1:27:15

1:27:15

Krystal and Emily discuss Trump says Epstein stole women from Mar a Lago, publisher of Epstein black book reveals coverup, Jon Stewart loses it on Gaza gaslighting. To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show AD FREE, uncut and 1 hour early visit: www.breakingpoints.com Merch Store: https://shop.breakingpoints.com/ See o…

1
Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar: 7/30/25: Mayor Pete Refuses To Accept Zohran Win, Crypto Dire Warning, Sydney Sweeney Jeans Ad 53:07

3h ago53:07

53:07

Krystal and Emily discuss Mayor Pete refuses to accept Zohran win, crypto whistleblower dire warning on crash, Sydney Sweeney 'jeans' ad. To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show AD FREE, uncut and 1 hour early visit: www.breakingpoints.com Merch Store: https://shop.breakingpoints.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for …

1
Volts: US transit costs and how to tame them 1:36:33

4h ago1:36:33

1:36:33

I'm joined by Alon Levy of NYU's Transit Costs Project, whose work documents how expensive it is to build transit in the US relative to the rest of the world. We discuss how countries like Spain and Italy build cheaply by relying on in-house public expertise and standardized designs, while the Anglosphere is captured by a costly ideology of privati…

1
Normal Men: Episode 17: Ordering In, Hulking Out ft. Josie Riesman 1:19:29

4h ago1:19:29

1:19:29

This week the boys dive deep into food delivery and the political, economic, and technological forces that drive it…and the discourse around it. We’re also lucky to be joined by Josie Riesman, the author of the definitive book on wrestling promoter Vince McMahon. She helps us understand the role that Hulk Hogan specifically and wrestling played in …

1
The Good Fight: Jesse Singal on Crises in Politics and Social Science 1:04:42

18h ago1:04:42

1:04:42

Jesse Singal is cohost of the podcast Blocked and Reported, author of the newsletter Singal-Minded, and a contributing writer at The Dispatch. His first book is The Quick Fix: Why Fad Psychology Can’t Cure Our Social Ills, and he is working on his second, which is about the American debate over youth gender medicine. In this week’s episode, Yascha …

1
Sharp Tech with Ben Thompson: Intel and the US Semi Future, Will Any Big Tech Incumbents Lose in an AI World?, Questions on Tea, Grok, and The Ringer 1:33:12

7h ago1:33:12

1:33:12

Intel's future in leading edge manufacturing looks more uncertain, while prospects for the US semiconductor supply chain are beginning to look more promising. Then: Google's earnings inspire a question about Big Tech in AI, who will win the entertainment space in AI, thoughts on doomerism and marketing, Apple's App store promises and a very bad wee…

1
Big Technology Podcast: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei: AI's Potential, OpenAI Rivalry, GenAI Business, Doomerism 1:08:49

8h ago1:08:49

1:08:49

Dario Amodei is the CEO of Anthropic. He joins Big Technology Podcast for a raw, unfiltered conversation about AI's potential, its stakes, and the source of his outspokenness. The interview is part of a major Big Technology profile about Amodei, ft. interviews with more than two dozen of his colleagues, friends, and critics. You can read that story…

1
The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens: Nothing Can Stop This Train: Our Financial Predicament From a Systems Perspective with Lyn Alden 1:39:48

9h ago1:39:48

1:39:48

Money, debt, and finance shape the lives of everyone globally, including through the policies and actions of national central banks – yet even those who are well-versed in these subjects often miss the full scope of these intricate relationships. For the average person, headlines about mounting government debt and surging interest rates often feel …

1
War on the Rocks: Drones, Discord, and the Shifting Front in Ukraine 27:09

9h ago27:09

27:09

Fresh from his latest research trip to Ukraine's battlefields, Michael Kofman joins Ryan for an insightful discussion on the shifting dynamics at the front, the role of drones in Ukraine's defensive strategy, and the adaptation of Ukrainian military command structures in real time. They explore the political turmoil gripping Ukraine, including cont…

1
Bankless: The Dollar Kill-Switch: Edward Fishman on How The U.S. Controls The Global Economy

9h ago

—

Can a country wage war without ever firing a bullet? In this episode of Bankless, we uncover the surprising truth: America’s most powerful weapon isn’t its military - it’s the dollar. Joining us is Edward Fishman, a former State Department official and the author of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare. He explains how U.S. sa…

1
Plain English with Derek Thompson: The New Geography of Housing in America 44:23

17h ago44:23

44:23

Subscribe to Derek’s new Substack. In 1991, the median age of first-time homebuyers was 28. Now it’s 38, an all-time high. In 1981, the median age of all homebuyers was 36. Today, it’s 56—another all-time high. This is the hardest time for young people (defined, generously, up to 40!) to buy their first home in modern history. Derek talks about the…

1
Twenty Thousand Hertz: Sound Off: Pinball Pings, Borrowed Melodies & Airport Acoustics 33:20

14h ago33:20

33:20

Presenting the second short story collection from our Sound Off competition, featuring five pieces written and produced entirely by our listeners. From the sonic evolution of pinball to reused classical melodies to the battle against airport noise, this Silver Collection is a diverse and enlightening set of snackable stories. Find local showtimes t…

1
Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning: David Van Ofwegen: a peripatetic philosopher across Eurasia's antipodes 1:18:54

10h ago1:18:54

1:18:54

Today on Unsupervised Learning Razib talks to David van Ofwegen, a philosophy teacher based in Thailand. Razib and Ofwegen first met by chance while he was traveling in the US in 2003. A Dutch national, educated at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands and then the University of Hawaii, specializing in the philosophical underpinnings of Socia…

1
Jacobin Radio: Confronting Capitalism: Why the Democrats Can’t Fight for Anything 47:53

10h ago47:53

47:53

Democratic voters are enraged by their party’s spineless “resistance” to the Trump administration’s draconian agenda. But the party’s dysfunction goes far deeper than just cowardly, uninspiring leaders. On this episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber speaks with Philip Rocco about how the Democrats’ abandonment of organized labor has resul…

1
The Daily: Close Calls and Skipped Lines: The Fraught State of Organ Donation 30:00

10h ago30:00

30:00

A major investigation from The Times has found that government pressure to perform more organ transplants is creating greater risk for donors and threatening the overall fairness of the system. Brian M. Rosenthal, an investigative reporter at The Times, explains what he’s uncovered. Guest: Brian M. Rosenthal, an investigative reporter at The New Yo…

1
The Nation Podcasts: Dems Who Didn’t Vote In 2024—Plus, Mussolini and Trump | Start Making Sense 40:36

12h ago40:36

40:36

Six million Democrats who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 did not vote in 2024. What’s wrong with them? Pollster and strategist Celinda Lake explains who they are, and what it would take to get them back to the polls in the 2026 midterms – and in 2028. Also: a suggestion for summer reading: M: Son of the Century is a 750-page historical novel about the…

1
How to Fix the Internet: Smashing the Tech Oligarchy 29:36

12h ago29:36

29:36

Many of the internet’s thorniest problems can be attributed to the concentration of power in a few corporate hands: the surveillance capitalism that makes it profitable to invade our privacy, the lack of algorithmic transparency that turns artificial intelligence and other tech into impenetrable black boxes, the rent-seeking behavior that seeks to …

1
Pod Save the World: Netanyahu Gaslights While Gaza Starves 1:52:12

12h ago1:52:12

1:52:12

Tommy and Ben start by breaking down the devastating scale of the famine in Gaza, how Israeli policy drove Gaza to this point, and how the world is responding. They also discuss Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu’s denial and gaslighting about the starvation, whether Trump is buying it, whether there’s hope in this moment to build a coalition to pressure Is…

1
Factually! with Adam Conover: Spotify Is Even Worse Than You Think with Liz Pelly 1:24:00

12h ago1:24:00

1:24:00

It’s no secret that Spotify pays artists extremely poorly, but it turns out they don’t treat their customers much better. Author and journalist Liz Pelly’s new book, Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, investigates how Spotify has accelerated the collapse of the music industry, along with their shady practices s…

1
Amarica's Constitution: Geduldigging Your Grave at Oral Argument - Special Guest Vikram D. Amar 1:45:15

15h ago1:45:15

1:45:15

The Supreme Court’s term is long since complete, but we turn back the clock and take a deep dive into one of the major cases of the term, United States v. Skrmetti. This case addressed questions of gender dysphoria treatment and transgender rights, but fundamentally, it was a case about the law of equality, say the brothers Amar. Yes, Vik Amar is b…

1
Better Offline: Radio Better Offline: Mia Sato & Dave Lee 1:08:56

16h ago1:08:56

1:08:56

Welcome to Radio Better Offline, a tech talk radio show recorded out of iHeartRadio's studio in New York City. Ed Zitron is joined in studio by Mia Sato of The Verge and Dave Lee of Bloomberg to talk how companies like TikTok and Google change the web with their incentives, the nihilism of Pop Mart's viral Labubus, and why people are more game to p…

1
Bannon`s War Room: WarRoom Battleground EP 817: Suspicion Of Central Banks: A Review With Judy Shelton

21h ago

—

WarRoom Battleground EP 817: Suspicion Of Central Banks: A Review With Judy SheltonBy WarRoom.org

1
Bannon`s War Room: Episode 4668: How Do You Truly Fix Corruption

22h ago

—

Episode 4668: How Do You Truly Fix CorruptionBy WarRoom.org

1
The Gist: The Algorithm Is Hollywood’s New God 32:52

22h ago32:52

32:52

Filmmaker Justine Bateman argues that Hollywood’s creative spark has been smothered by fear, corporate consolidation, and algorithmic decision-making. In her view, true artistry requires fearlessness—and God, or something like it—but today’s studios follow data, not inspiration. Also in the episode: Trump’s presidential library fund keeps growing t…

1
Letters from an American: July 28, 2025 11:16

23h ago11:16

11:16

Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeBy Heather Cox Richardson

1
Serious Trouble: Ghislaine Looks for a Deal 21:47

23h ago21:47

21:47

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.show Ghislaine Maxwell has sat for a meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who not very long ago was serving as President Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney. The idea seems to be that Maxwell could offer some “help” getting to the bottom of the Jef…