Will the glittering dawn of the genai era be accompanied by a dark tsunami of pixel-perfect deep fakes? I discuss this prospect with Sam Harris, as well as the CEO of synthetic audio pioneer Resemble.ai.

Generative AI | What’s New & What’s Next

Mar 8th, 2023 32m 41s

My thoughts on what's happening in the mad world of generative AI, announcing my new home online at robreid.substack.com, and more.

Recipes for Future Plagues | Kevin Esvelt

Feb 28th, 2022 1h 55m

USAID’s new “DEEP VZN” program aims to discover new pandemic-grade viruses, then broadcast their genomes to the world, according to MIT evolutionary engineer Kevin Esvelt. He estimates that 30,000 people in dozens of countries could then easily

Octopus Intelligence (and more!) | Roger Hanlon

Oct 8th, 2021 1h 59m

A wide-ranging discussion of cognition in octopuses & cuttlefish, plus many, many other topics with globally renowned sensory ecologist Roger Hanlon.

A Massive Future for an Old Vaccine? | Megan Murray

Jun 19th, 2021 1h 13m

Harvard epidemiologist Megan Murray tells us all about the anti-tuberculosis vaccine “BCG,” and the astonishing protection it may provide against Covid -- as well as looming future pandemics.

Detecting Disease Outbreaks from Internet Traffic | Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

Apr 23rd, 2021 1h 42m

This is closely tied to a 4-hour collaboration between Sam Harris and me, which Sam is posting to his podcast's feed. I strongly recommend that episode too! But it's not "required" for you to get everything out of this fascinating conversation

Announcing a New Season

Feb 2nd, 2021 2m 47s

This "episode" is just a quick new announcement of a new season of the podcast (finally)! And also of something very cool that I'm working on with fellow podcaster Sam Harris.

The Case Against Reality | Don Hoffman (classic + updated)

Jul 30th, 2019 1h 41m

Quantitative Psychologist Don Hoffman has a head-spinning take on the true nature of reality vs. what our senses report to us. This is a revisitation of our original interview, expanded with lots of new material recorded last week.

Many Quantum Worlds | Sean Carroll

Jul 15th, 2019 1h 37m

Quantum mechanics – and its eerie "Many Worlds" interpretation – are explored in terms that both poets & physicists can appreciate.

On Consciousness | Annaka Harris

Jun 25th, 2019 1h 20m

The baffling and fascinating mysteries connected to the phenomenon of consciousness are explored in this conversation with the deeply thoughtful science writer, Annaka Harris.

About that TED Talk | Kevin Rose

Jun 18th, 2019 1h 21m

This morning, TED posted a talk I just gave at their annual conference (on 11 days notice!). Kevin Rose interviewed me about my talk for his podcast. I’m posting his interview here as well.

Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 2) | Rick Doblin

May 28th, 2019 1h

The drug known as Molly, Ecstasy and MDMA may soon get regulatory approved for therapeutic use, thanks to a 34-year campaign waged by Rick Doblin. Rick and I discuss all of this, plus his own unique story.

Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 1) | Rick Doblin

May 21st, 2019 1h 6m

AI Boom, or Doom? | Stuart Russell

Apr 30th, 2019 1h 30m

Stuart Russell’s textbook is used to teach AI in over 1,400 universities and 120 countries. If AI scares him, it should scare you too.

Defeating Food Allergies | Kari Nadeau

Apr 9th, 2019 1h 47m

The food allergy epidemic is mysterious, volatile, and growing fast. Kari Nadeau and her Stanford team are trying to halt it.

End Games (part 2) | Naval Ravikant

Mar 21st, 2019 1h 6m

A rampage killer with a knife can kill a few. With a gun, dozens. With a jetliner, way more. What might future tech enable? In Part Two of our conversation, Naval and I discuss "The Ender."And how to preclude this monstrosity.

End Games (part 1) | Naval Ravikant

Mar 19th, 2019 1h 13m

Naval & I discuss a horrifying risk. We questioned whether to post this. Might it give someone ideas? Well, the bad guys already HAVE ideas. And cataclysms are only averted if we face them. There’s still time.

Synthetic Neurobiology | Ed Boyden

Mar 1st, 2019 1h 22m

Not yet 40, Ed Boyden has already concocted a panoply of tools, which are revolutionizing neuroscience research. He tells us all about optogenetics, expansion microscopy, and more.

Live from Gainesville + the 2019 Plan

Dec 30th, 2018 56m 7s

We start with a review of this podcast's 2019 roadmap. Then – recorded before a live audience in Gainesville, Florida – I'M the interviewee for once!

The Medical Potential of Video Games | Adam Gazzaley

Dec 19th, 2018 1h 29m

Both a recap and extensive update of last summer's conversation about neuroscience, consciousness, and the medical potential of video games.

Our Interstellar Visitor | Avi Loeb

Nov 28th, 2018 1h 10m

Did the product of an alien intelligence make a near-Earth approach last fall? Harvard Astronomy Department Chair Avi Loeb believes this is possible.

Restoring Sight to the Blind | EJ Chichinilsky

Nov 14th, 2018 1h 24m

Amazing work at Stanford could restore vision to the blind. Then later become a gateway some mind-blowing neural augmentation! We discuss the astounding neuroscience and engineering behind all this, with the professor who's making it happen.

The Science & Practice of Happiness | Laurie Santos

Oct 24th, 2018 1h 25m

This spring, Yale evolutionary psychologist Laurie Santos debuted a course about happiness, almost as an experiment. It became the most popular course in the university's 300+ year history. Listen carefully, because this episode could make you

On the Future | Astronomer Royal Martin Rees

Oct 1st, 2018 1h 20m

Can humankind survive this century? Great Britain’s Astronomer Royal Martin Rees shares some of his profoundly original thinking on this fraught question.

Mapping the Heavens | Priya Natarajan

Sep 13th, 2018 1h 23m

Dark matter, dark energy, and black holes are the universe's three most massive mysteries. Literally! Yale astrophysicist Priya Natarajan takes us on a fascinating tour of them all.