Algorithms increasingly shape what we see, think, and value—but who gets to decide how that power is used? In Trias Algorithmica: What Code Rules, AI researcher Hamilton Mann argues that algorithms wield a new kind of societal power, and makes the case for checks to keep it from concentrating unchecked. In Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for th ... Show More
Oct 30
Your Brain on Spirituality
Can spiritual practices help us, even if we’re not sure what we believe? In How God Works: The Science Behind the Benefits of Religion, psychologist David DeSteno explores what rituals surrounding gratitude, care, and loss can teach us about living better. And in The Awakened Bra ... Show More
28m 35s
Oct 28
When Your Best Friend Isn't Human
A chatbot is always available, endlessly patient, and happy to hear about your day. But is that connection—or a convincing imitation? In Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines, MIT’s Sherry Turkle asks what we risk when we turn to machines for companionship a ... Show More
17m 45s
Sep 2024
William T. Taylor, "Hoof Beats: How Horses Shaped Human History" (U California Press, 2024)
From the Rockies to the Himalayas, the bond between horses and humans has spanned across time and civilizations. In this archaeological journey, William T. Taylor explores how momentous events in the story of humans and horses helped create the world we live in today. Tracing the ... Show More
1h 1m
Mar 2025
Horses
Horses—majestic, powerful, and deeply woven into the fabric of human history. From wild herds roaming ancient plains to their role in shaping civilizations, horses have carried us through battles, journeys, and everyday life. How did this bond between humans and horses begin, and ... Show More
50m 7s
Oct 2021
Wendy Doniger, "Winged Stallions and Wicked Mares: Horses in Indian Myth and History" (U Virginia Press, 2021)
Raj Balkaran speaks with Wendy Doniger about her new book Winged Stallions and Wicked Mares: Horses in Indian Myth and History (University of Virginia Press, 2021), along with her translation of the final four books of the Mahābhārata's Critical Edition translation project, the p ... Show More
1h 3m
<p>For most of human history, horsepower made the world go. Then came the machines. So why are there still seven million horses in America? (Part one of a series, “<a href="https://freakonomics.com/the-horse-is-us/">The Horse Is Us</a>.”)</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</stro ... Show More