Best Philip Thompson Podcasts (2025)

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Kenneth Stanley on the Disruptive Power of Open-Endedness 50:28

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3d ago50:28

50:28

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Kenneth Stanley, a renowned computer scientist and AI researcher whose career spans academia, industry, and startup innovation. Stanley has been a professor, a cofounder of multiple companies, and a researcher at both OpenAI and Uber. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Open-Endedness at …

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Space Man (Stephen Hawking) 1:00:43

3d ago1:00:43

1:00:43

This person died in 2018, age 76. He published a non-fiction book in 1988 that has sold more than 10 million copies and inspired a documentary film by Errol Morris. He married twice; fathered three children; and was not above appearing on “The Simpsons,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” or “The Big Bang Theory.” In 1963 he was diagnosed with Lou Ge…

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Communal Splits Put Britain on the Edge of Violent Uprising: Tom Jones 39:36

4d ago39:36

39:36

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with writer and Conservative councilor Tom Jones, who says the weakening of British identity and mass immigration are causing communal splits in the UK. Jones says this is causing increases in sectarian voting, ethnonationalism, and disillusionment with what Britain has to offer.…

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Western Media Don't Understand the Machinations of the CCP: Allen Zeng 32:30

9d ago32:30

32:30

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Allen Zeng, journalist, commentator, and presenter of podcasts Fang Wei Time and Good Morning China. Zeng says commentators in the West struggle to understand the machinations of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He also talks more broadly about the future of China and how the CCP has hoodwinked the world with its app…

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Clive Thompson on the Ramifications of “Vibe Coding” 52:19

10d ago52:19

52:19

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with journalist and author Clive Thompson. Known for his thoughtful writing on science and technology—particularly in the realms of computing and programming—Clive contributes to Wired, The New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, and more. He is also the author of Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remak…

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Mamba Mentality (Kobe Bryant) 59:12

10d ago59:12

59:12

This person died 2020, age 41. He won an Academy Award in 2018 – the first African American to win for best animated short. He was fueled by a seemingly endless reservoir of self-confidence. He gave himself the nickname Black Mamba. Today’s dead celebrity is Kobe Bryant. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Episode 49 “Hammer Time” (Ha…

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The Equality Act Is Damaging Our Culture and Is Not Fit for Purpose: Alka Sehgal Cuthbert 27:19

11d ago27:19

27:19

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, the director of Don’t Divide Us, to talk about the Equality Act. Sehgal Cuthbert says this law is breaking down Britain’s workplace civility and creating a grievance culture, resulting in a big rise in tribunals—most of which are rejected. She says the Act is used to police our relationships in th…

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Human Rights NGOs Are Facing an Existential Crisis of Trust: Helena Ivanov 32:27

16d ago32:27

32:27

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Helena Ivanov, an associate fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, to talk about the deepening crisis of trust in nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Ivanov says that erosion of trust threatens their ability to operate effectively and help the people they are supposed to serve. She also talks about how authoritarian re…

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Alec Nevala-Lee on Buckminster Fuller 48:24

17d ago48:24

48:24

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman sits down with Alec Nevala-Lee, author of numerous books, including Inventor of the Future, a definitive biography of Buckminster Fuller. Buckminster Fuller was an architect, designer, and public intellectual whose influence stretched far beyond blueprints and prototypes. Later in life, he became a lodestar for the …

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Script Doctor (Michael Crichton) 1:00:39

17d ago1:00:39

1:00:39

This person died in 2008, age 66. He changed his major from English to anthropology after a professor’s harsh critique, graduating summa cum laude from Harvard in 1964. He earned a medical degree five years later, then walked away from clinical science altogether. He used fiction to explore the moral and political problems posed by modern technolog…

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Progressive Ideology Has Infiltrated All Aspects of Our Society: Ben Cobley 36:05

18d ago36:05

36:05

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with author Ben Cobley to talk about progressive ideology and how it has infiltrated Western society, from government and business to the arts.By British Thought Leaders

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Eddie Chapman | From Career Criminal to Agent Zigzag 31:18

22d ago31:18

31:18

Ways to support the podcast: Buy Me a Coffee: ☕ https://bmc.link/philipthompsonDonate via PayPal: 💸 paypal.me/PhilipT284Imagine a professional criminal who became one of Britain's most valuable spies, a safecracker deemed so dangerous by police that his photograph hung in just about every station across the United Kingdom. This man, who some said c…

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Children Have Stopped Reading–It's Terrible for Our Future: Philip Womack 27:23

23d ago27:23

27:23

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with author Philip Womack to discuss his recent piece on a study that yielded concerning results regarding the cognitive abilities of young people. Womack talks about why reading is important for youngsters and the stark consequences of a post-literate generation ruled by technology.…

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Episode 104: Katherine's Top 10 Takeaways 37:18

23d ago37:18

37:18

This season of The GoodHard Story Podcast has been rich beyond belief. Every episode was inspired by a question or suggestion YOU sent to me, so thank you! Because of your thoughtful contributions and vulnerability, we’ve had dozens of life-giving and heart-changing conversations with people who are living their good/hard lives with clarity, intent…

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Eliot Peper on developing lore around AI agents 54:27

24d ago54:27

54:27

In this episode of The Orthogonal Bet, host Samuel Arbesman welcomes back return guest Eliot Peper. Eliot is a science fiction writer and the author of numerous books, and is currently collaborating with the tech company Portola, which is developing Tolans — AI friends and companions that blur the line between lore and code. Samuel and Eliot delve …

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Puberty Philosopher (John Hughes) 59:17

24d ago59:17

59:17

This person died in 2009, age 59. He began his career as an advertising copywriter in Chicago. While visiting New York during his advertising days, he hung around the offices of National Lampoon magazine and was published when he showed a gift for comedy. As a writer, he occasionally wrote under his pen name, Edmond Dantès, the real name of the Dum…

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China's AI Development Is a Danger to the Free World: M. Dane Waters 28:46

25d ago28:46

28:46

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with political strategist, author, and filmmaker M. Dane Waters to talk about his report on China’s development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its negative impact on the world. Waters explains the many areas affected—from warfare and finance to social media and international organizations such as the United Nations. He…

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Episode 103: Tell Your Story, Heal Your Heart with Dr. Curt Thompson 59:44

1M ago59:44

59:44

What story do you believe you’re living in? Friend, your answer to that question could not be more important. Learning to tell the truest version of my story to empathetic listeners has healed my heart after so much breaking. A decade and a half of this work has helped me integrate the hurt with the hope, and God’s goodness with his mystery. Today …

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Anna Gat on Building Interintellect’s Global Agora 46:17

1M ago46:17

46:17

In this episode, host Samuel Arbesman speaks with Anna Gat, founder and CEO of Interintellect. Described as “a curated marketplace of high-quality events hosted by intellectual seekers from all walks of life,” Interintellect is reimagining the salon for the digital age. Arbesman and Gat discuss the origins and evolution of Interintellect, as well a…

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Late Bloomer (Betty Ford) 1:00:17

1M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

This person died in 2011, age 93. She spoke openly in support of the Equal Rights Amendment, endorsed legalized abortion, and discussed premarital sex. Her dependency on pills began in 1964 after a neck injury, and her drinking worsened as her husband’s political career advanced. When Gerald Ford lost the 1976 election, it was she who read the offi…

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Plastic Pollution Is Everywhere—We Need International, Innovative Solutions: Richard Thompson 49:44

1M ago49:44

49:44

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with "godfather of microplastics" professor Richard Thompson OBE to talk about the massive amounts of plastic in our oceans, how product design changes could make a significant difference to plastic pollution, and the importance of cooperation between policymakers, profit-seekers, and scientists to protect our environment.…

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Samuel Arbesman on The Magic of Code 41:36

1M ago41:36

41:36

It’s not every day that we get to fete the launch of a new book by one of our colleagues at Lux Capital, so today is a very special day. Lux’s scientist-in-residence, ⁠Samuel Arbesman⁠, just published his new book,⁠ “The Magic of Code: How Digital Language Created and Connects Our World―and Shapes Our Future.”⁠ It’s a deep dive into the wonderful c…

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Episode 102: Imagining a Good Future with Amy Julia Becker 1:04:51

1M ago1:04:51

1:04:51

Seasons of suffering can take so much from us—our health, a loved one, our sense of security. There’s a more expansive loss that runs through all those other kinds of loss: we lose our ability to imagine a good future. We only remember pain and hurt, which means we anticipate a future filled with more pain and hurt. I don’t think it has to be this …

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Medical Research Is Grossly Distorted by Money and Confirmation Bias: Dr. Malcolm Kendrick 38:55

1M ago38:55

38:55

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with Dr. Malcolm Kendrick for the second half of his interview. Kendrick says the world of medical research can no longer be trusted, a view echoed by editors of some of the world’s leading medical journals. He discusses how money distorts medicine, and what steps can be taken to see through the hype.…

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Michael Rosen on Golems, Dybbuks & the Four Quadrants of AI 49:10

1M ago49:10

49:10

In this episode, host Samuel Arbesman speaks with Michael Rosen, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a lawyer focused on technology and intellectual property. Rosen is the author of Like Silicon From Clay: What Ancient Jewish Wisdom Can Teach Us About AI, a provocative new book that offers a framework for understand…

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Gonzo Troubadour (Hunter S Thompson) 1:02:31

1M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

This person died 2005, age 67. At his peak, he reached out in his writing to a generation made cynical by the Vietnam War and Watergate, and that was prepared to respond to his visceral honesty. His early work presaged some of the fundamental changes that rocked journalism today. His approach mirrors the style of modern-day bloggers and social comm…

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Statins and Lowering Cholesterol Do Not Stop Heart Disease: Dr. Malcolm Kendrick 35:51

1M ago35:51

35:51

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with author Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, a general practitioner who has spent decades speaking out against the idea that high cholesterol causes heart disease. Kendrick says we have been misled about the effect that eating saturated fat has on heart health. He also talks about statins, the most widely prescribed and profitable dru…

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Ana Montes Pt. 2 | The Debrief 36:21

1M ago36:21

36:21

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Dumb and Christendumber - Part II: Christian Nationalism 57:11

1M ago57:11

57:11

Send us a text In Part II of our "Dumb and Christendumber" mini series, we look at the origins of Christian Nationalism, the connection between Christian obedience cults and Christian Nationalism, and what Christian Nationalists ignore from the Bible. For our Bible passage we wish literalists would take literally we discuss Genesis 17: 15-22 where,…

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Episode 101: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn with Megan Fate Marshman 1:03:15

1M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Blessed are those who mourn. Most of us have heard it over and over…but I know I’m not the only one wondering how this could be true in God’s kingdom. Megan Fate Marshman will give you imagination for how the mourning and meek and poor in spirit might be called blessed…and might actually believe they’re blessed. This friend of mine has navigated th…

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Nick Bowden on Building a Real World SimCity 53:44

2M ago53:44

53:44

In this episode of The Orthogonal Bet, host Samuel Arbesman speaks with Nick Bowden, CEO of Replica—a company that models mobility in urban environments through a blend of data and simulation. Think of it as a real-world version of SimCity. Arbesman and Bowden explore Nick’s journey from urban planning into the world of public-sector technology. Th…

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Corgi Whisperer (Queen Elizabeth II) 1:05:00

2M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

This person died 2022, age 96. She worked to be a rare bastion of permanence in a world of shifting values. During the Covid pandemic, she said, “Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe,” and, “I am certain that we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family …

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The People Smugglers Are Winning, We Need to Break Their Business Model: Tony Smith 44:54

2M ago44:54

44:54

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with former head of UK Border Force Tony Smith to talk about enforcing our borders. Smith says the people-smuggling criminal gangs are currently winning the battle and talks about how their business model could be broken. He says those who enter illegally are not subject to the same thorough checks as legal migrants, and di…

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Episode 100: How to Heal in Your Home with Phylicia Masonheimer 51:05

2M ago51:05

51:05

From the early days of my stroke recovery, home—and all the rituals of home—have been a major part of my healing. Home has looked a lot of ways over the years, but my family and I have always tried to make it a place of comfort, rest, and connection. If you’re on a journey to finding a “new normal,” I cannot overstate the importance of making your …

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Lu Wilson on Art of Creative Coding 42:44

2M ago42:44

42:44

In this episode of The Orthogonal Bet, host Samuel Arbesman speaks with Lu Wilson, a programmer and creative coder who also works as a software engineer at tldraw, a Lux Capital portfolio company. Lu’s creative work is broad, strange, and delightful in all the best ways—perhaps best exemplified by the Todepond videos, a mindbending series that reim…

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Raspy Maniac (Randy Savage) 1:00:02

2M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

This person died in 2011, age 58. His colleagues said he had charisma and a knack for spontaneity. In the mid-1970s, he played minor-league baseball for about four years in the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds organizations. He acted in the 2002 movie “Spider-Man,” appeared on sitcoms like “Mad About You,” and lent his scratchy baritone to v…

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Rapidly Declining Testosterone and Fertility Are a Threat to Our Existence: Charles Cornish-Dale 1:03:41

2M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with anthropologist, historian, and author Charles Cornish-Dale, also known as Raw Egg Nationalist to talk about his new book 'The Last Men: Liberalism and the Death of Masculinity'. Cornish-Dale says a rapid decline in testosterone is causing existential harm to male fertility and leaving men with serious health and social…

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We Spent £220 Billion on Decarbonisation and Saw Zero Financial Benefits: Kathryn Porter 54:31

2M ago54:31

54:31

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with independent energy consultant Kathryn Porter who says Britain is at severe risk of blackouts. Porter explains how the move to more and more renewables is behind this risk, as they are unstable and not as compatible with our current grid as traditional power sources. She also explains why renewable energy is the most ex…

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Ana Montes Pt. 1 | The Queen of Cuba 35:47

2M ago35:47

35:47

Ways to support the podcast: Buy Me a Coffee: ☕ https://bmc.link/philipthompsonDonate via PayPal: 💸 paypal.me/PhilipT284On the morning of Friday, 21 September 2001, Ana Montes began her day with her usual routine. She arrived punctually at her sixth-floor cubicle preparing for another day working as an intelligence analyst for the US Defence Intell…

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Episode 99: How to Live A Life That Doesn't Feel Like Mine with Susan Robinson 34:51

2M ago34:51

34:51

At some point, you’ve probably felt like you were living in some strange alternate version of your life. Maybe it was after a tragedy as dramatic as a stroke. Perhaps it was something as mundane as realizing you’re middle aged. We desperately want to find our way back to the way life used to be, but it turns out that version of life is beyond our r…

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Sara Walker on "Life As No One Knows It" 50:02

2M ago50:02

50:02

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Sara Imari Walker, a theoretical physicist and astrobiologist at Arizona State University. Walker is the author of Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life’s Emergence, a book that explores the nature of life through the lens of physics and highlights her pioneering contributions at the frontier of t…

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Indecent Exposure (Jerry Springer) 1:05:46

2M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

This person died 2023, age 79. He earned a law degree from Northwestern University in 1968 and started on a political career. In the 1980s he won or shared multiple Emmy Awards for local news coverage. In 1974 he was embroiled in a personal scandal after he was found to have written a check for prostitution services at a Kentucky massage parlor. He…

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We Need Profound Change to Stop Britain’s Catastrophic Decline: Douglas Carswell 52:48

2M ago52:48

52:48

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with former member of Parliament Douglas Carswell to discuss his recently published set of milestones to restore Britain. Carswell talks about taking control of the machinery of state, fixing a broken legal system, securing borders, stopping mass immigration, and reducing public spending.…

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We Need to Talk About Britain’s Biggest Killer of Men Under 50: Susie Bennett 38:24

2M ago38:24

38:24

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with male suicide researcher Dr. Susie Bennett, who says we need to pay more attention to Britain’s biggest killer of men under 50. Bennett talks about the drivers behind Britain’s suicide figures, the conversations she’s had with men who have contemplated ending their lives, and the importance of building empathy for men a…

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Episode 98: Receiving the Gift You Didn't Want with Philip Yancey 1:00:43

2M ago1:00:43

1:00:43

“Hope is believing in advance what can only be understood in reverse.” These words have been the rally cry of my soul for over a decade now, but I didn’t come up with them myself. Philip Yancey did. This gentle, thoughtful writer has spent his career exploring the topic of suffering which, as you can imagine, has meant so much to me. Today I have t…

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Peter Bebergal on the Roots of Dungeons & Dragons 38:46

2M ago38:46

38:46

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Peter Bebergal. Peter is a writer and the author of numerous books, and the editor, most recently, of Appendix N: Weird Tales From the Roots of Dungeons & Dragons. Dungeons and Dragons was created by Gary Gygax and draws from numerous sources, which Gygax listed in Appendix N of his Dungeon Master’s Guid…

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Community Gardener (Penny Marshall) 1:01:06

2M ago1:01:06

1:01:06

This person died in 2018, age 75. She had a self-effacing personality, which colleagues and interviewers often commented on. She was the first woman to direct a feature film that grossed more than $100 million. She also directed “Awakenings” (1990), a medical drama starring Robert De Niro. She got into directing the ‘easy’ way — by becoming a telev…

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We Need to Stop Identity Politics From Destroying Our Society: Rick Bradford (William Collins) 1:02:00

2M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

NTD’s Lee Hall sits down with men’s rights expert Rick Bradford, who writes under the pen name William Collins. Bradford says identity politics has infiltrated many aspects of British life and is destroying the very fabric of our society. He talks about his research into the disadvantages faced by men and boys amid the "acceptable prejudice" of ins…

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Episode 97: Having It Out with God with Erin Moon 1:00:53

2M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Some of you will want to turn this episode off about three minutes in because we’re talking about deconstruction. I say this with love: skipping this episode would be a mistake! Whether you’ve never doubted your faith for a moment or you’re ready to burn it all down, today’s conversation has something so good for you. I guarantee it. Having an out-…

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Samantha John on Hopscotch the easy bake oven of code 37:41

2M ago37:41

37:41

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Samantha John, co-founder of Hopscotch—a delightful programming environment designed for children. Samuel wanted to explore the origins of Hopscotch, its underlying philosophy, and how we might think more broadly about teaching programming to young people. Their conversation spans the history of programm…