logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2020
44m 49s

Steven Pinker – Talking About Talking

Alan Alda
About this episode

Steven Pinker and Alan explore the words we use that bind us together, even when asking someone to pass the guacamole. A conversation that explores the surprising ways we have of connecting through language – and why, despite our current crises, some things in the world really have become better.

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/clearandvivid

Up next
Aug 19
Kyra Davis Lurie: Reimagining Gatsby
She’s had a love-hate relationship with F. Scott Fitzgerald since she was a teenager. And she’s now written a wonderful new take on The Great Gatsby, reimagining the story with a cast of the Black elite in post-war Los Angeles. 
38m 28s
Aug 12
Robert Sapolsky: Why Do We Do That?
An old friend of Clear and Vivid is back to enlighten Alan on some of the oddities of human behavior – both good and bad – and to talk about his entertaining new podcast, Father Offspring Interviews, hosted by his daughter. 
39m 49s
Aug 5
Bob Odenkirk: Comedy? Action? Drama? Better Call Bob!
From his long running role as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, to his recent Broadway appearance in Glenngary Glen Ross, and his new incarnation as an off-beat action hero in the movies Nobody and Nobody 2, Bob Odenkirk does it all. 
37m 37s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
The Conversations that Bring Us Closer
Last week on the show, we looked at the science of conversation, and how even ordinary chats can involve a delicate dance of coordination. This week, we explore the discussions we all dread: the tough ones. Telling someone they treated us poorly. Demanding a raise. Taking away an ... Show More
49m 17s
Aug 11
How common knowledge shapes the world | Steven Pinker
Common knowledge is the secret engine of social life, letting us coordinate everything from meet-ups to markets to international diplomacy. In this fascinating talk, experimental cognitive scientist Steven Pinker explores its momentous impact, threading together stories of why au ... Show More
15m 20s
Aug 11
How common knowledge shapes the world | Steven Pinker
Common knowledge is the secret engine of social life, letting us coordinate everything from meet-ups to markets to international diplomacy. In this fascinating talk, experimental cognitive scientist Steven Pinker explores its momentous impact, threading together stories of why au ... Show More
15m 20s
Aug 2016
#010: Rappin’ with Rumi: An Interview w/ Baraka Blue in Malaysia
Greetings of Peace loved ones! Apologies for the time between podcasts. I have been on the road for the last 3 months and haven't been able to sit down for another episode. I just finished up a tour in Malaysia and, while there, had the opportunity to do an interview for Malaysia ... Show More
33m 35s
Jul 28
208 - Right Speech
In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Speech. More than just speaking truthfully or avoiding gossip, Right Speech is a mindfulness practice—an invitation to reflect on how, why, and when we communicate. We look at the four types of ... Show More
23m 27s
Jul 2024
Richard Dawkins & Steven Pinker Discuss The Evolution Of Pain, Fear & Language
There’s a kind of conventional wisdom among broadcasters that an interview has to be adversarial. The interviewer must probe in a critical kind of way. You must have arguments. This was brought home to me some years ago when I had a conversation on stage in London, a very large a ... Show More
1h 2m
Nov 2024
Ep. 208 | Funny Business: The Science and Satire of Humor with Ian Brownhill
Science still hasn’t cracked the code on what humor truly is. While we can’t pinpoint exactly what makes something funny or why we laugh at the strangest moments, we do know that humor plays a powerful role in shaping our relationships, communication, and even how attractive we f ... Show More
36m 1s
May 2023
52. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to NOT be boring
We’ve hit the middle of Season 7 and we’re continuing to explore our 6 most listened-to episodes. Each episode has a new introduction in which Jen and Michael reflect on why the topic resonated so much with our listeners and what we’ve learned about the topic in the interim. Comi ... Show More
31m 8s
Jan 2025
The science of better workplace conversations
What can we learn about the way we speak by analysing thousands of everyday conversations? That’s a question that fascinates Alison Wood Brooks. Alison, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, and author of the forthcoming book, Talk: The Science of Conversation and th ... Show More
17m 41s