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The best podcasts to understand the world around us.

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Who am I?

From my early years as a refugee fleeing the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to my experiences as a soldier, humanitarian, fitness coach, and academic, my life has been a tapestry of roles that have given me a unique perspective on the complexities of the human condition. This journey began when I was just ten years old, forced to leave my homeland due to the ravages of war. This seminal experience ignited a lifelong quest to comprehend the underlying factors that prevent humanity from coexisting harmoniously. Now, as the host of the podcast 'The Voices Of War,' I delve into the multifaceted narratives that surround conflict and peace. After more than 100 published interviews with soldiers, refugees, peace negotiators, generals, military ethicists, technologists and others, one thing has become abundantly clear: neither war nor peace is a foregone conclusion. Both are a product of upstream causes that make one or the other more likely. Understanding and embracing this fact is critical when trying to find moral and ethical solutions to our many local, regional, and global challenges. Certainly, here's a crafted response to the question: The subject of war and peace has been an inescapable part of my life narrative, beginning with my forced departure from Bosnia and Herzegovina at the tender age of ten. The experience of being a refugee was a crucible that shaped my early understanding of the world, instilling in me a profound desire to comprehend why conflict arises and how it can be mitigated. As I navigated through various roles—migrant, soldier, humanitarian, fitness coach, and academic—I found that each experience added a new layer of complexity to my understanding of human interactions and the conditions that lead to conflict or peace. Serving as a soldier gave me firsthand insight into the mechanics and psychology of warfare, while my work as a humanitarian and academic allowed me to explore the social, economic, and political factors that either fuel or quell hostilities. My diverse background has not only deepened my interest in the subject but has also equipped me with a multifaceted understanding that I believe is crucial for dissecting the intricate realities of war and peace. It's this comprehensive perspective that I bring to my podcast, 'The Voices Of War,' where I engage with a wide range of individuals—from refugees and soldiers to negotiators and academics—to unravel the complexities that underlie the simple narratives often associated with war. In essence, my life experiences have not just made me interested in the subject; they have rendered me a student and an observer with a rich tapestry of perspectives. I consider myself not so much an expert, but rather a perpetual learner, striving to contribute to moral and ethical solutions to the challenges that plague humanity.

What is my podcast playlist about?

My curated podcast playlist is a carefully selected compilation that serves as a toolkit for living an examined life in an era rife with misinformation and divisive rhetoric. In today's landscape, where we are incessantly inundated with misleading or false information, the ability to think critically is not just a skill but a necessity. The podcasts I've chosen feature speakers and topics that do more than just broaden one's intellectual horizons; they actively encourage listeners to engage with perspectives that may be different from their own. These podcasts serve as a vital counterpoint to the echo chambers that so often constrain our understanding of the world, inviting us to consider the 'other' in a way that fosters empathy, nuance, and ultimately, unity.

The podcasts I picked and why

1. Making Sense with Sam Harris

Why this podcast?

I love the way Sam allows his guests the time to express their views without chasing soundbites. I also appreciate Sam's own philosophical background.

Making Sense with Sam Harris
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4.9

Join neuroscientist, philosopher, and five-time New York Times best-selling author Sam Harris as he explores important and controversial questions about the mind, society, current events, moral philosophy, religion, and rationality—with an overarching focus on how a growing understanding of ourselves and the world is changing our sense of how we should live. Sam is also the creator of the Waking Up app. Combining Sam’s decades of mindfulness practice, profound wisdom from varied philosophical and contemplative traditions, and a commitment to a secular, scientific worldview, Waking Up is a resource for anyone interested in living a more examined, fulfilling life—and a new operating system for the mind. Waking Up offers free subscriptions to anyone who can’t afford one, and donates a minimum of 10% of profits to the most effective charities around the world. To learn more, please go to WakingUp.com. Sam Harris received a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA.

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86 Listeners

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2. Your Undivided Attention

Why this podcast?

This podcast is critical for understanding the dangers associated with the ongoing tech revolution, including AI.

Your Undivided Attention

Your Undivided Attention

Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin, The Center for Humane Technology

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5.0

In our podcast, Your Undivided Attention, co-hosts Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin explore the unprecedented power of emerging technologies: how they fit into our lives, and how they fit into a humane future. Join us every other Thursday as we confront challenges and explore solutions with a wide range of thought leaders and change-makers — like Audrey Tang on digital democracy, neurotechnology with Nita Farahany, getting beyond dystopia with Yuval Noah Harari, and Esther Perel on Artificial Intimacy: the other AI. Your Undivided Attention is produced by Executive Editor Sasha Fegan and Senior Producer Julia Scott. Our Associate Producers are Sara McCrea and Kirsten McMurray. We are a top tech podcast worldwide with more than 20 million downloads and a member of the TED Audio Collective.

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15 Listeners

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3. Lex Fridman Podcast

Why this podcast?

I appreciate the quality of guests Lex interviews as well as his humble and humane approach to them (and life in general).

Lex Fridman Podcast
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4.8

Conversations about science, technology, history, philosophy and the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power. Lex is an AI researcher at MIT and beyond.

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97 Listeners

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2 Comments

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4. Intelligence Squared

Why this podcast?

This podcast presents a great list of guests and deeply insightful conversations. It is also hosted by accomplished individuals who add value through their own insights during interviews.

Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

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4.4

Intelligence Squared is the home of lively debate and deep-dive discussion. Follow Intelligence Squared wherever you get your podcasts and enjoy four regular episodes per week taking you to the heart of the issues that matter in the company of the world’s great minds. We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be. Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to [email protected] or Tweet us @intelligence2. And if you’d like to support our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations, as well as ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared today. Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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12 Listeners

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5. Huberman Lab

Why this podcast?

Huberman Lab is great for self-improvement and general advice about how to live a more examined and healthier life.

Huberman Lab

Huberman Lab

Scicomm Media

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4.8

Huberman Lab discusses neuroscience — how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. He has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills and cognitive functioning. Huberman is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision, in 2017. His lab’s most recent work focuses on the influence of vision and respiration on human performance and brain states such as fear and courage. He also works on neural regeneration and directs a clinical trial to promote visual restoration in diseases that cause blindness. Huberman is also actively involved in developing tools now in use by the elite military in the U.S. and Canada, athletes, and technology industries to optimize performance in high stress environments, enhance neural plasticity, mitigate stress and optimize sleep. Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals including Nature, Science and Cell and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover and other top media outlets. In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 5 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.

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118 Listeners

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3 Comments

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