Why are so many workers—blue-collar, white-collar, contract, freelance, and college-educated alike—feeling like the old bargain has broken down? Today, Paul Osterman, author of Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment, explains how companies increasingly rely on workers without taking responsibility for them. Then New York Times reporter Noam Sch ... Show More
Aug 21
What We Find When We Lose Our Way
What does it mean to find your way—through a city, a life, or a world that refuses to make perfect sense? In The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise, Pico Iyer travels from Iran to North Korea to Japan in search of peace in the middle of uncertainty. In Dark and Magical Plac ... Show More
28m 28s
Aug 20
What Kids Know That Grown-Ups Forget
Growing up is supposed to mean getting wiser. So why does it so often feel like losing something you can’t quite name? Julian Shapiro-Barnum, the creator of Recess Therapy, thinks kids still have some of the answers. In How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up, he asks what hap ... Show More
29m 27s
Aug 19
How to Train Your Imagination
Imagination isn’t just for artists, kids, or daydreamers—it’s one of the brain’s most practical tools. In Imagine That: Transform How You Think, Feel, and Live with the Science of Imagination, Cassandra Vieten shows how imagination helps us solve problems, manage stress, rehearse ... Show More
30m 29s
Jan 2025
Ancient Eroticism, Pagan Workouts & Body Ideals: History of the Gym
It's January and (reluctant) thoughts turn to gym memberships, but what are the ancient origins of this phenomena?From the naked workouts of Ancient Greece to the bodybuilders of the 19th century, a lot has influenced exercise culture over the centuries - and it's always had a he ... Show More
40m 16s
Aug 2025
The golden age of exercise
Americans are flocking to gyms and fitness classes. It wasn't always that way. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy with help from Naureen Khan, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Phot ... Show More
30m 14s
Aug 2025
The golden age of exercise
Americans are flocking to gyms and fitness classes. It wasn't always that way. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Miranda Kennedy with help from Naureen Khan, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Phot ... Show More
30m 59s
Feb 2025
Recap: Why we avoid exercise and how to overcome it | Daniel Lieberman
Today we’re exploring what evolution can teach us about exercise. When it comes to doing exercise, there’s often a tug-of-war between our body and brain. Our body craves movement - it wants to be leaner, fitter, stronger. But our brain? Well, that’s a different story. It often dr ... Show More
11m 24s