Best Kieran Setiya Podcasts (2025)

1
547. Exploring Midlife and Living Well Through Philosophy feat. Kieran Setiya 54:50

Play Pause

6d ago54:50

54:50

What is the intrinsic link between philosophical inquiry and personal development? How can academic thought and theory be applied well to practical living in the real world? Kieran Setiya is a professor of philosophy at MIT and also the author of a number of books, including Knowing Right From Wrong, Life Is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Ou…

1
549. Leadership Dynamics: Perspectives on Power and Ethics feat. Adam Galinsky 52:24

24h ago52:24

52:24

How can the leadership power be wielded for both good and ill? How can leaders use their influence more ethically and effectively, and why is that important for the growth of the whole superorganism? Adam Galinsky is a professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia Business School, and also the author of the books Inspire: The Universal Path for Le…

1
548. The Language of Painting with Martin Gayford 45:29

3d ago45:29

45:29

There have been periods throughout history when cultural aficionados of the time proclaimed that painting was dead! Yet, the artform has risen over and over again. What is it about painting that makes it so timeless and gives it the ability to continuously evolve? Why, after centuries, can we still be awestruck by the right combination of brushstok…

1
546. The Intersection of Historical Consciousness and Strategic Thinking feat. John Lewis Gaddis 52:37

8d ago52:37

52:37

How does strategy factor into the mindsets of presidents like Lincoln and Reagan on both a micro and macro level? What parts of grand strategy are at play when new countries enter NATO due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict? John Lewis Gaddis is a professor of history at Yale University and also the author of several books on history and strategy. His …

1
545. The Psychological Impact of Living With Social Inequality with Keith Payne 50:37

10d ago50:37

50:37

Contrary to popular belief – making more money doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be happier in life. The same can be said for societies as a whole, especially when it comes to countries with lopsided wealth distribution leading to high levels of inequality. So what are the connections between that inequality,people’s general wellbeing, and politics? …

1
544. A Philosophical Approach to the Question of Childbearing with Anastasia Berg 55:36

13d ago55:36

55:36

When did the idea of parenthood become less of a certainty and more of a choice? How have anxieties about the modern world impacted our desire to procreate and thus impacted the world’s population? Is that impact even a big deal? Anastasia Berg is an assistant professor of philosophy at UC Irvine and co-author of the new book What Are Children For?…

1
The Real Cost of Dismantling Public Eduction with former U.S. Secretary of Education, John B. King 50:08

13d ago50:08

50:08

What if the federal government walked away from public education? That’s not a hypothetical—it’s part of a real plan gaining traction right now. In this episode, we break down what it actually means to defund and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, and why it could upend the future for millions of students. Former Secretary of Education Joh…

1
543. The Freedom of an Uncertain World with Margaret Heffernan 52:44

15d ago52:44

52:44

How is our fear of uncertainty holding us back? Could an acceptance and willingness to embrace the unknown unlock new potential and innovation? Margaret Heffernan is a professor of Practice at the University of Bath, an entrepreneur, and a mentor to CEOs. Her books include Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril, Uncharted: How to…

1
542. The Modern Challenges of Aerospace, Automation, and Enlightenment feat. David A. Mindell 54:13

17d ago54:13

54:13

Why is there a need for a cultural and educational shift towards appreciating, building, and maintaining industrial systems? What would a rebirth of manufacturing look like in 2025? How would we go about setting up a new Industrial Enlightenment? David A. Mindell is a professor of aerospace engineering and the history of engineering and manufacturi…

1
541. The Ingredients That Make Up Human and Artificial Educability with Leslie Valiant 42:01

20d ago42:01

42:01

What does it mean to learn something? While many living things have the capacity for learning, humans have taken this ability to unmatched levels. Our ability to learn and apply knowledge sets us apart from most other species, and now we’re passing that ability on to AI. Leslie Valiant is a professor of computer science and applied mathematics at H…

1
540. How Originalism and Libertarianism Changed the Legal Landscape with Randy E. Barnett 57:28

22d ago57:28

57:28

What does it take to go from a criminal prosecutor to a pioneer of the “originalism” movement and one of the top constitutional law scholars in America? Randy Barnett is a professor of law at Georgetown University and the director of Georgetown Center for the Constitution. He has written numerous books including, Our Republican Constitution: Securi…

1
539. Contemporary Culture and the Battle with the Past feat. Frank Furedi 49:37

24d ago49:37

49:37

Why is historical awareness so important in order to form a strong personal identity? What are the risks of a culture overly centered on safety and fragility? Frank Furedi is an emeritus professor at the University of Kent and director of the think tank MCC Brussels. Frank is also the author of several books. His latest work is titled The War Again…

1
538. Bankruptcy, Inequality, and the Quest for Fairness feat. Melissa B. Jacoby 58:59

27d ago58:59

58:59

What are the broader implications of specialized bankruptcy courts on the U.S. legal system? How are bankruptcies being used and misused by debtors and creditors today? Melissa B. Jacoby is a professor of law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She’s also the author of the book Unjust Debts: How Our Bankruptcy System Makes America M…

1
537. Breaking Down Feminism: A Critique of The Movement's Impact on Women feat. Carrie Gress 53:27

29d ago53:27

53:27

What are the consequences of feminist ideals on modern women? How have they affected the work-life balance, the denigration of motherhood, and the quest for female autonomy? Carrie Gress is a fellow at the Ethics & Public Policy Center and at Catholic University. She is also the author of several books. Her latest is titled, The End of Woman: How S…

1
Rethinking Purpose: Why Chasing Big Goals Might Be Making You Miserable with Jordan Grumet 1:05:13

1M ago1:05:13

1:05:13

What if the relentless chase for big goals is actually what’s making you feel unfulfilled? In this episode, hospice physician and author Jordan Grumet shares what he’s learned from those at the end of life—and why our culture’s definition of purpose may be all wrong. Instead of striving for impact, Jordan invites us to focus on the simple, joyful a…

1
536. The Role of Judgment in Literature and Aesthetic Education feat. Michael W. Clune 57:32

1M ago57:32

57:32

What have we lost when the expert aesthetic judgement of professors and literary critics is replaced by the marketplace and bestseller lists? How can someone be both a critic and a creator, and do those identities improve or detract from each other? Michael W. Clune is a professor at Case Western Reserve University and the author of several books, …

1
535. How Evolutionary Psychology Can Inform Marketing, the Social Sciences, and the Denial of Science with Dr. Gad Saad 51:59

1M ago51:59

51:59

According to today’s guest, “ You can't study anything involving any creature, let alone human beings, let alone human beings in a business setting, whilst pretending that the biological forces that shape our behavior are somehow non-existent.” Dr. Gad Saad is a professor of marketing at Concordia University and the author of the books, The Consumi…

1
534. The Evolving Role of Christianity in American Democracy feat. Jonathan Rauch 53:48

1M ago53:48

53:48

Why would religion be necessary for a liberal democracy to function fully as intended? What benefits does Christianity provide to society in tandem with democracy that would collapse if either of those pillars failed? Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and also the author of several books and articles across various publ…

1
533. A Behind-the-Curtain Peek at the AI Revolution with Gary Rivlin 51:49

1M ago51:49

51:49

The AI transformation of our world has already begun, and Silicon Valley has positioned itself to be home base. But how did the AI takeover happen so rapidly there? Who were the founders and investors who opened the floodgates? Investigative journalist Gary Rivlin has more than two decades of experience writing about the tech industry. In his new b…

1
532. Beyond Happiness: Delving into Psychological Richness feat. Shigehiro Oishi 48:20

1M ago48:20

48:20

What is the benefit of adventure, the role of adversity, and the importance of narrative in shaping one’s experience of happiness? What are the larger areas of fulfillment that round out one’s well-being and shape one’s life experience? Shigehiro (Shige) Oishi is a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago and the author of the books Lif…

1
531. Cultural Engineering: Reclaiming Tribalism for Collective Growth feat. Michael Morris 54:50

1M ago54:50

54:50

What does it mean to belong to a tribe? How does cultural psychology offer insight into politics, organizational behavior, and leadership? How does tribalism distinguish humans from other animals? Michael Morris is the Chavkin-Chang Professor of Leadership at Columbia Business School and also serves as Professor in the Psychology Department of Colu…

1
530. The Roots of An ‘Awokening’ with Musa al-Gharbi 1:18:52

1M ago1:18:52

1:18:52

The term “woke” might be modern, but woke movements have been going on throughout history. And while an “awokening” is meant to further equality among systemically marginalized groups, they often can exacerbate existing social inequalities. Musa al-Gharbi is a sociology and assistant professor of communication and journalism at Stony Brook Universi…

1
529. Fixing Systems, Not People: What Works With Equality feat. Iris Bohnet 59:12

2M ago59:12

59:12

What does a workplace look like where everyone can thrive and flourish? Once we know the makeup of that space, how can companies work to achieve it? When is it smart to rely on numbers and when will strict adherence to data lead you astray in the quest for equality? Iris Bohnet is a professor at the Kennedy School at Harvard and the author of the b…

1
528. How Big Data Has Transformed Personalization with Sandra Matz 55:12

2M ago55:12

55:12

Are the algorithms that exist in our daily lives getting so smart that they know us better than our parents or our spouses? How do we balance the convenience and efficiency of this technology with privacy and consumer protections? Sandra Matz is a professor at Columbia Business School and the director of the Center for Advanced Technology and Human…

1
Agnes Callard on Lessons from Socrates 22:14

2M ago22:14

22:14

Does Socrates still have something to teach us? Agnes Callard thinks he has. Here she discusses the great Athenian and his continuing relevance with David Edmonds.

1
527. Inoculating Yourself Against Misinformation with Sander van der Linden 43:40

2M ago43:40

43:40

If critical thinking is the equivalent to daily exercise and eating a good diet, then today’s guest has the vaccine for misinformation viruses. Sander van der Linden is a professor of Social Psychology in Society at Cambridge University. His books, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity and The Psychology of Misin…

1
526. Beyond Problem Solving: Philosophy and the Quest for Understanding feat. Agnes Callard 1:12:13

2M ago1:12:13

1:12:13

What are ‘untimely questions’ and why do they become common blind spots in philosophy? Why is philosophy a team sport?? How does Moore’s paradox highlight the differences between truth and belief? Agnes Callard is a professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago and the author of the books Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life, Asp…

1
525. ‘Design Thinking’ As The Ultimate Integrator with Barry Katz 56:29

2M ago56:29

56:29

Behind every great invention is an engineer who figured out how to make it work. But how do you take an extremely technical, cutting-edge innovation and make it easy to understand and use for the public? That’s where designers come in. Barry Katz is a professor emeritus of industrial design at California College of the Arts and a consulting profess…

1
What AI Can’t Replace - and Why That Matters with WSJ Bestselling Author, Faisal Hoque 1:02:10

2M ago1:02:10

1:02:10

This isn’t another hype-filled tech episode or a doomsday warning about robots taking over. It’s a grounded, human conversation about what we lose when we hand over too much to AI—and how to hold onto what matters most. In this episode, author and technologist Faisal Hoque blends decades of innovation experience with Eastern philosophy to explore s…

1
524. Business Strategy: Beyond the Numbers feat. Freek Vermeulen 57:50

2M ago57:50

57:50

What can shake organizations out of the cycle of doing things the way they have always been done because that’s the way they have always been done? Will a shift within an organization be more likely to stick with a top-down approach or a bottom-up approach? How can organizations allow freedom for their employees, but still be in control of the dire…

1
523. AI as a Colleague, Not a Replacement with Ethan Mollick 39:41

2M ago39:41

39:41

It’s official: AI has arrived and, from here on out, will be a part of our world. So how do we begin to learn how to coexist with our new artificial coworkers? Ethan Mollick is an associate professor at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and the author of Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI. The book acts as a guide to readers navi…

1
522. How The Invention of Choice Unlocked Freedom with Sophia Rosenfeld 49:33

2M ago49:33

49:33

How much has our understanding of choice evolved throughout history? And what has that invention meant to how we experience and acknowledge freedom? Sophia Rosenfeld is a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert on the history of things taken for granted. Her books, Common Sense: A Political History, Democracy and Truth:…

1
521. The Vital Role of Talent Development in Business with Bill Conaty 1:01:33

2M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

How important is it for business leaders to not only identify talent within their organization, but to take meaningful action to actually develop that talent? On the flip side, how handicapping can it be for an organization to keep employees who are holding the company back from success? Bill Conaty is a top former HR executive at GE and co-author …

1
Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion with Harvard Professor, Rebecca Lemov 38:24

2M ago38:24

38:24

What if brainwashing isn’t just a Cold War relic, but something we’re all quietly experiencing every day? In this episode, Harvard professor and author Rebecca Lemov joins us to unpack the hidden mechanics of mind control—from historical POW camps to the subtle pull of your social media feed. We talk about the concept of “ungrounding,” how it sets …

1
520. Debunking The Biggest Migration Myths with Hein de Haas 59:03

2M ago59:03

59:03

Contrary to popular belief, global migration levels have remained relatively stable. So why has it become such a hot button issue on the political world stage? Hein de Haas is a professor of sociology at the University of Amsterdam and an expert in migration. His book, How Migration Really Works: The Facts About the Most Divisive Issue in Politics …

1
519. Why Some Public Debt Is Good for the Economy with Barry Eichengreen 53:17

3M ago53:17

53:17

As conversation swirls around how the U.S. is going to pay back its $30 trillion debt, old concerns about public debt have been raised once again. Barry Eichengreen is a professor of economics at UC Berkeley and one of the leading experts on international currency markets and their history. His books include Globalizing Capital: A History of the In…

1
Feed Drop! Money For Couples - 192- We spend 98% of what we make—Where is it all going 18:09

3M ago18:09

18:09

We're sharing a new show we think you'll enjoy! If you ever wonder, “Where is all our money going?”—you’re not alone. In episode 192 of Money For Couples titled, “We spend 98% of what we make—Where is it all going?”, you’ll hear real stories and practical strategies to help you align on finances, stop money fights, and build a shared financial visi…

1
518. Nurturing a Growth Mindset to Transform Individuals and Organizations feat. Mary C. Murphy 57:46

3M ago57:46

57:46

What are the ramifications of holding a fixed mindset over a growth mindset? How does it alter the mechanics of the people within a company and what can be done to shift an entrenched culture mindset? Mary C. Murphy is a Professor of Psychology and Brain Science at the University of Indiana, and the author of the book Cultures of Growth: How the Ne…

1
517. Exploring the Intersection of Media and Science feat. Faye Flam 52:05

3M ago52:05

52:05

What are the problems facing academic journals today? What changes to the system could be made to address them? How could being more open about studies that aren’t successful actually be a success strategy overall? Faye Flam is a science and medical journalist, a columnist for Bloomberg, host of the podcast Follow the Science, and the author of The…

1
Don't Let Your Doctor Kill You: How to Beat Physician Arrogance, Corporate Greed and a Broken System with Dr. Erika Schwartz 56:45

3M ago56:45

56:45

Ever wonder why a routine checkup can leave you more anxious than assured? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Erika Schwartz—author of Don’t Let Your Doctor Kill You—who’s on a mission to dismantle the fear culture in modern medicine. If you’re tired of endless tests and pill-pushing, get ready for real talk about where to draw the line.Think yo…

1
Emily Herring on Henri Bergson 18:00

3M ago18:00

18:00

Henri Bergson was once one of the most living famous philosophers. Now he is less well known. Emily Herring, his biographer, discusses this and some of his key ideas in this episode of the Philosophy Bites podcast. Nigel Warburton is the interviewer.

1
516. Demystifying The Origins of Language with Steven Mithen 1:03:37

3M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

When did humans learn to communicate through language? Did it coincide with the invention of fire? Or was it more a gradual process that involved much more than just making sounds with our mouths? Steven Mithen is a professor of prehistory at the University of Reading and the author of numerous books on human evolution including, The Singing Neande…

1
515. Reinventing Legacy Companies and Navigating Tech's Impact feat. Vivek Wadhwa 45:58

3M ago45:58

45:58

How can Legacy companies transform themselves to compete with Startups? What lessons can be learned from the different ways legacy companies Microsoft and IBM navigated the new business landscape. What can we expect from the new tech hubs popping up around the world that aim to be a recreation of what makes Silicon Valley work? Vivek Wadhwa is an a…

1
Reflections - The Truth About The Nature of Sex and Gender 14:41

3M ago14:41

14:41

Introducing 'Reflections,' a new twist on our classic podcast format. In this special new series, I'm flipping the script - instead of interviewing an expert, I'm sharing my personal takeaways, insights, and action items from our previous conversation. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at how our expert's wisdom is impacting my life, and discove…

1
514. Embracing and Growing Through Failure with John Danner 52:09

3M ago52:09

52:09

Is it time to drastically change the way we think about failure? What if failure is the key to success? John Danner is a faculty member at UC Berkeley and Princeton University and the author of Built for Growth and The Other “F” Word. His research focuses on leadership, strategy, and innovation. He regularly consults with Fortune 500 companies, off…

1
513. Harnessing AI and Experimentation in Startups feat. Jeffrey J. Bussgang 53:49

3M ago53:49

53:49

What are the ways founders are using AI to experiment and optimize their start-ups faster than ever before? How does this shift affect the various makeups of different companies and industries, and who will be the winners and losers in the new age of AI? Jeff Bussgang is the GP and Founder of Flybridge Capital, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business…

1
The Truth About Sex and Gender: What Nature Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are with Dr. Nathan Lents 1:12:28

3M ago1:12:28

1:12:28

Sex and gender are at the center of heated debates—but what if much of what we believe isn’t rooted in biological truth? In this episode, Dr. Nathan Lents, author of The Sexual Evolution, reveals what nature and evolution really tell us about sex, gender, and human relationships. You’ll discover why diversity in biology—whether in sex, gender, or m…

1
512. Anthropomorphizing in the Age of AI with Webb Keane 51:36

3M ago51:36

51:36

Given the advancements in technology and AI, how have humans learned to navigate the ever-shifting boundaries of morality in an increasingly complex world? Webb Keane is a professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan. Through his books like, Ethical Life: Its Natural and Social Histories and most recently Animals, Robots, Gods: Adventure…

1
511. The Impact of Digital Platforms on Work feat. Hatim Rahman 52:33

3M ago52:33

52:33

Why are external accountability and thoughtful integration of algorithms necessary now to ensure fairer labor dynamics across work environments? What’s the puzzling problem that comes with increasing the level of transparency of these algorithms? Hatim Rahman is an Associate Professor of Management & Organizations at Northwestern University in the …

1
510. Redefining Personhood in the Age of AI feat. James Boyle 59:15

4M ago59:15

59:15

With AI becoming more advanced every day, what are the ethical considerations of such emerging technologies? How can the way we treat animals and other species of intelligence inform the way we can and should think of personhood in the realm of increasingly advanced artificial intelligence models? James Boyle is a professor of law at Duke Universit…