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666. This Is How Progress Happens
Economists don’t usually talk about “culture.” But Joel Mokyr argues that it’s the engine of innovation — and the Nobel Prize committee agreed. Stephen Dubner sits down for a thousand-year conversation (including advice!) with the new Nobel laureate. SOURCES: Joel Mokyr, economic ... Show More
53m 8s
Mar 4
The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update)
Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of c ... Show More
1h 6m
Feb 27
665. Werner Herzog Isn’t Afraid ...
... of bad reviews, meager financing, or artificial intelligence. But he is worried that the world is full of sloppy thinkers who mistake facts for the truth. SOURCES: Werner Herzog, writer, filmmaker, and actor. RESOURCES: The Future of Truth, by Werner Herzog (2025). Every Man ... Show More
49m 8s
Feb 2025
A Germ of Truth: The 263rd Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
<p>In this week’s episode, we discuss the relationship between infectious and chronic disease, and between germ theory and terrain theory of disease. Pathogens are real, and exogenous treatments like antibiotics can kill them. The health of the body is affected by diet, exercise, ... Show More
1h 56m
Nov 2024
221. Why Are We So Pessimistic?
39m 8s
Sep 2025
167. The Secret of Humanity? It’s Common Knowledge.
<p>Steven Pinker’s new book argues that all our relationships depend on shared assumptions and “recursive mentalizing” — our constant efforts to understand what other people are thinking. He and Steve talk about the psychology of eye contact, the particular value of Super Bowl ad ... Show More
58m 45s
Sep 2024
209. Why Do We Settle?
35m 2s
Aug 2013
Michael Pollan - On How To Eat
For over two decades, Michael Pollan has been opening our eyes to what we put in our body through books like 'Food Rules,' 'In Defense of Food,' and 'The Omnivore's Dilemma.' In this conversation with Rebecca Huntley, Pollan explores the ethical bonds that connect our bodies, far ... Show More
1h 16m
Aug 2025
Sydney Sweeney and the Outrage Machine
Sydney Sweeney is Hollywood’s most-discussed starlet, often for confusing reasons. Her existence as a visible woman with a human body made her the target of widespread male adoration, ridicule, and political projection. How she navigates being the new Miss American Dream is yield ... Show More
1h 10m
Feb 2025
Can You Inherit Trauma - And If So, Can You Inherit Healing?
JVN sits down with journalist and author James Longman to explore one of the most fascinating questions in mental health: can you inherit trauma? Drawing from his deeply personal journey and his new book The Inherited Mind, James unpacks the science behind genetic predisposition, ... Show More
55m 47s
Oct 2024
We Know What Your House Really Looks Like
Subscribe to Mamamia Britney’s Spears' latest wedding and the rise of ‘sologamy’. Confused? Don't worry, we explain. Plus, has the US exported it's abortion politics all the way to Australia? This week, it seems yes. We unpack why the conversation about abortion laws is ramping ... Show More
40m 37s
Jul 2024
There’s Just Too Many People!
Why should I have to change my lifestyle when there’s all those poor people over there we can blame?!?BONUS EPISODES available on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/deniersplaybook) SOCIALS & MORE (https://linktr.ee/deniersplaybook) CREDITS Created by: Rollie Williams, Nicole Conla ... Show More
1h 17m
Feb 2025
Behavioural Psychologist: We're Not Having Enough Sex! Fat Makes You Attractive & The Poorer You Are The Friendlier You Are!
Are we fighting against our own biology? Dr Bill von Hippel reveals how evolutionary psychology impacts love, success, and happiness.
Dr Bill von Hippel is a renowned social psychologist, evolutionary specialist, and Professor of Psychology at the University of Queensland. He ... Show More
1h 56m
It’s a powerful biological response that has preserved our species for millennia. But now it may be keeping us from pursuing strategies that would improve the environment, the economy, even our own health. So is it time to dial down our disgust reflex? You can help fix things — as Stephen Dubner does in this 2021 episode — by chowing down on some delicious ... Show More
<p>Are things really as bad as they seem? Has Gen Z given up hope for the world? And why was the father of positive psychology a lifelong pessimist?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/29/science/albert-bandura-dead.html">A ... Show More
<p>Why does the U.S. use Fahrenheit when Celsius is better? Would you quit your job if a coin flip told you to? And how do you get an entire country to drive on the other side of the road?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://psychology.ku.edu/peop ... Show More
