Beauty At Work: Recent Episodes
Brandon Vaidyanathan
Beauty at Work explores how beauty shapes our lives and the work that we do. There's much more to beauty than art or fashion. In this show, sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan explores the role of beauty in domains like science, business, religion, food, justice, and more. In this interview-based podcast, you’ll hear from leaders and experts across many fields and will gain new insights into aspects of your life that you may not have thought about. Subscribe so you'll learn how to harness the power and promise of beauty in our lives and in our work, while also avoiding its pitfalls and perils.
This is the closing panel of our international symposium "Can beauty save the world?" held at McGill University, Oct 24-25, 2025, and focuses on ritual and spirit in the age of disenchantment.
We open with a song from singer-songwriter Tiffany Thompson.
Ayodeji Ogunnaike (McGill), Julian Carrón (Sacro Cuore, Milan), Matt Miller (Dzeici Theater), and Mauro Magatti (Sacro Cuore, Milan) called for the recovery of spirit as essential to beauty’s saving power. Deji drew on Yoruba philosophy, where character is beauty and truth may be transformative rather than pleasant. Fr. Carron asked whether beauty can help us open our whole selves to reality instead. Matt reflected on how beauty matters for change of state vs. change of being. Mauro argued that beauty saves only if we rehabilitate spirit as a structural dimension of human thought— resonant, decentering, transcendent, and mysterious.
The panel was moderated by novelist and theologian Tara Isabella Burton, who also offers closing remarks.
The event was sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation.
Learn more at www.canbeautysavetheworld.com and www.beautyatwork.net
beautyatwork #beauty #music #ritual #spirit #theology #yoruba #transformation
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This is a panel on the transformative power of art and architecture as part of the international symposium "Can beauty save the world?" held at McGill University, Oct 24-25, 2025.
The session begins with poetry from Olivia Wood, who moderated the panel.
Anjan Chatterjee (University of Pennsylvania) examined our vocabularies to express aesthetic experience and the relationship between transformational experience and third-person rendition. Alberto Perez-Gomez (McGill) noted that the value of architecture has always been its beauty, which orients us toward justice, festivity, and the common good. Stephen Legari (MMFA) shared how collective awe, experienced through slow looking and hospitality, can heal and connect. J.F. Martel distinguished between the beauty of the geometers vs. ecstatic beauty, and how art matters for both.
The panel was sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation.
Learn more at www.canbeautysavetheworld.com and www.beautyatwork.net
beauty #art #architecture #museum #arttherapy #philosophy #neuroscience #neuroaesthetics #philosophyofart
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In this panel during the international symposium "Can beauty save the world?" held at McGill University, Oct 24-25 2025, Jean-Sébastien Vallée (McGill), Katie Bank (Birmingham), Rebekah Wallace (Oxford), Ian Corbin (Harvard), and Jonathan Berger (Stanford) explored the transformative power of music. The panel was moderated by Stephen Bullivant (St. Mary's London).
We began with a performance by an acapella quartet from the Schulich School of Music (McGill).
Jean-Sébastien described the conductor’s task as creating a sonic space where sound becomes meaning—a community where difference becomes harmony. One of his singers, who had just lost her husband, came to perform because “singing with my choir is the only way I can breathe right now.” Katie and Rebekah described how early modern thinkers saw music as acting on the whole person, not as external stimulus but as an activity of the soul. Ian reflected on the relevance of music to our longing for wholeness, which passes through failure, undoing, despondence. Jonathan discussed his fascinating research on the sonic signatures of sacred spaces, and how the balance between clarity and blur in sound transforms acoustics into awe.
The event was sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation.
Learn more at www.canbeautysavetheworld.com and www.beautyatwork.net
#beauty#music#transformation#philosophy#musicology#spirituality
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This is the opening panel for the international symposium "Can beauty save the world?" held at McGill University, Montreal, Oct 24-25, 2025.
We begin with introductions from Dan Cere (McGill), Brandon Vaidyanathan (Catholic University of America), Charles Taylor (McGill), and Tara Isabella Burton (Catholic University of America), followed by a panel discussion between Sean Kelly (Harvard), Elaine Scarry (Harvard), and Richard Kearney (Boston College), moderated by Bill Barbieri (Catholic University of America)
Sean Kelly reflected that beauty moves us beyond ourselves. It saves us from the flattening of meaningful differences. To encounter beauty is to order one’s life around the object of love. When we long for others to share in that recognition, we glimpse beauty’s political potential—it calls us into conversation rather than conflict.
Elaine Scarry deepened that insight, reminding us that the opposite of beauty is not ugliness, but injury. Beauty and justice both arise from a sense of fairness and the desire to repair harm. Beauty’s lasting impact, she noted, is generative—it makes us want to create.
Richard Kearney drew on Gerard Manley Hopkins’s image of the “pied” world—speckled, varied, alive with difference. Beauty, he said, is not pure symmetry but aftering: it often arrives through suffering and loss, reconciling the universal and the particular.
And Charles Taylor reminded us that beauty cannot be defined apart from itself. Its relation to truth is reciprocal, not hierarchical. To understand one, we must hold the other in view. “That,” he said, “is how beauty can save the world.”
The symposium was sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation.
Learn more at www.canbeautysavetheworld.com and www.beautyatwork.net
beautyatwork #beauty #aesthetics #philosophy #philosophyofbeauty
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Helen and Dave Edwards are co-founders of the Artificiality Institute, a nonprofit research organization that helps people stay human in the age of AI. They explore how AI changes the way we think, who we become, and what it means to be human. Through story-based research, education, and community, they help people choose the relationship they want with machines, so they remain the authors of their own minds.
Before founding the Artificiality Institute, they co-founded Intelligentsia.ai, an AI-focused research firm acquired by Atlantic Media. Helen previously led large-scale technology and transformation efforts in critical infrastructure, while Dave spent years shaping creative tools at Apple and investing in emerging technologies as a venture capitalist at CRV and an equity research analyst at Morgan Stanley and ThinkEquity.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- Rethinking intelligence as something layered, embodied, and expressed in different forms
- The “SaaSpocalypse” moment on Wall Street
- The “Dust Bowl” metaphor and the risk of automating complex human systems too quickly
- Transition from the attention economy to the intimacy economy
- Dave and Helen’s reflections on what is lost when we use AI
- How AI systems uncover hidden structures in language, science, and the natural world
- Practical ways creators can decide where AI belongs in their creative process
To learn more about Helen and Dave’s work, you can find them at:
https://artificialityinstitute.org/
Books and resources mentioned:
The Artificiality, AI Culture, and Why the Future Will Be Co-Evolution (by Helen Edwards)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
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Artificial intelligence is not only changing what we can do, but may be changing how we think. As AI systems increasingly participate in writing, reasoning, and decision-making, it becomes more urgent to ask what it means to retain human agency and ensure we're not losing our fundamental capabilities.
My guests today, Helen and Dave Edwards, have been working seriously on this question.
Helen and Dave Edwards are co-founders of the Artificiality Institute, a nonprofit research organization that helps people stay human in the age of AI. They explore how AI changes the way we think, who we become, and what it means to be human. Through story-based research, education, and community, they help people choose the relationship they want with machines, so they remain the authors of their own minds.
Before founding the Artificiality Institute, they co-founded Intelligentsia.ai, an AI-focused research firm acquired by Atlantic Media. Helen previously led large-scale technology and transformation efforts in critical infrastructure, while Dave spent years shaping creative tools at Apple and investing in emerging technologies as a venture capitalist at CRV and an equity research analyst at Morgan Stanley and ThinkEquity.
In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:
- Helen and Dave's early childhood experiences of beauty
- The origin of the Artificiality Institute
- How AI is already reshaping the way we reason, write, create, and make decisions
- What happens to human reasoning and decision-making when AI becomes part of our thinking process
- The difference between “drift” and intentional authorship when working with AI
- Cognitive sovereignty as the central challenge of the AI era
- How can people use AI deeply and skillfully
- The concept of symbolic plasticity and how AI can reshape the frameworks we use to understand the world
To learn more about Helen and Dave’s work, you can find them at:
https://artificialityinstitute.org/
Books and resources mentioned:
The Artificiality, AI Culture, and Why the Future Will Be Co-Evolution (by Helen Edwards)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Dr. Marco Ventura is Professor of Law and Religion and Religious Diplomacy at the University of Siena in Italy. Trained in bioethics and biolaw at the University of Strasbourg, he has advised the European Parliament, the OSCE, and various governments on the intersection of religion and rights. He directed the Center for Religious Studies at the Fondazione Bruno Kessler in Trento and chairs the G20 Interfaith Working Group on Religion, Innovation, and Technology and Infrastructures.
Marco is the author of numerous books, including From Your Gods to Our Gods and Nelle mani di Dio, la super religione del mondo che verrà. Over the past decade, he has helped shape the emerging field exploring the encounter between religion and innovation.
In this episode, we explore Marco's work on bioethics and technoscience, their influential position paper mapping out this emerging field of religion and innovation, and what innovation really means in a religious context.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
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The language of innovation
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How do religious communities decide what kind of change is desirable?
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Innovation, markets, and technology as rival meaning systems
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Resistance movements as responses to innovation
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Politicization and polarization in debates about markets and capitalism
To learn more about Marco’s work, you can find him at:
- https://credo.unisi.it/about/secretariat-and-experts/person/marco
Links Mentioned:
- Religion, Innovation, Position paper, FBK 2019 - https://isr.fbk.eu/en/about-us/position-paper/
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler – https://www.fbk.eu/
- G20 Interfaith Forum – https://www.g20interfaith.org/
- Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – https://www.osce.org/
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Dr. Marco Ventura is Professor of Law and Religion and Religious Diplomacy at the University of Siena in Italy. Trained in bioethics and biolaw at the University of Strasbourg, he has advised the European Parliament, the OSCE, and various governments on the intersection of religion and rights. He directed the Center for Religious Studies at the Fondazione Bruno Kessler in Trento and chairs the G20 Interfaith Working Group on Religion, Innovation, and Technology and Infrastructures.
Marco is the author of numerous books, including From Your Gods to Our Gods and Nelle mani di Dio, la super religione del mondo che verrà. Over the past decade, he has helped shape the emerging field exploring the encounter between religion and innovation.
In this episode, we explore Marco's work on bioethics and technoscience, their influential position paper mapping out this emerging field of religion and innovation, and what innovation really means in a religious context.
In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:
- The balance between tradition and contemporary art
- The story of St. Francis and “repair my church” as a metaphor for renewal
- Catholic Church’s response to reproductive technologies
- Why “innovation” was chosen instead of simply “technology.”
- Distinction between technological innovation and social innovation
- Two categories of innovation
- Why religious actors want a voice in innovation-driven global agendas
- The use of innovation in a religious context
To learn more about Marco’s work, you can find him at:
- https://credo.unisi.it/about/secretariat-and-experts/person/marco
Links Mentioned:
- Religion, Innovation, Position paper, FBK 2019 - https://isr.fbk.eu/en/about-us/position-paper/
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler – https://www.fbk.eu/
- G20 Interfaith Forum – https://www.g20interfaith.org/
- Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – https://www.osce.org/
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Dr. Allison Pugh is Professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University and author of The Last Human Job, winner of the 2025 Best Book Award from the American Sociological Association. Her work examines how automation, efficiency, and quantification reshape work that relies on presence, dignity, and visibility. She introduces the concept of connective labor—the mutual, human work of recognizing another person and reflecting that understanding to them.
Louis Kim is a former Vice President at Hewlett-Packard, where he led teams in developing AI-enabled technologies for healthcare and other industries. After decades in corporate leadership, he is now pursuing a Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School, focusing on hospice and palliative care. Alongside his theological training, Louis participates in Vatican-sponsored conversations on principled AI in healthcare, exploring where technology can assist care and where it must not replace human presence.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- Why calling AI “inevitable” can obscure human agency and choice
- The rapid adoption of AI scribes in medicine
- Two aspects of the inevitability of AI
- AI and ethical dilemmas in healthcare ethics
- The limits of “better than nothing” as a moral framework for AI
- The painful beauty of unpredictability in human relationships
- Shame, vulnerability, and why AI feels easier than people
- The risk of bypassing growth through technological shortcuts
- Safeguarding dignity and belonging for the future of work
- To learn more about Allison’s work, you can find her at: https://www.allisonpugh.com/
- To learn more about Louis’s work, you can find him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisjkim/
- Books and Resources Mentioned: The Last Human Job: The Work of Connecting in a Disconnected World (by Allison Pugh)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Dr. Allison Pugh is Professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University and author of The Last Human Job, winner of the 2025 Best Book Award from the American Sociological Association. Her work examines how automation, efficiency, and quantification reshape work that relies on presence, dignity, and visibility. She introduces the concept of connective labor—the mutual, human work of recognizing another person and reflecting that understanding to them.
Louis Kim is a former Vice President at Hewlett-Packard, where he led teams in developing AI-enabled technologies for healthcare and other industries. After decades in corporate leadership, he is now pursuing a Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School, focusing on hospice and palliative care. Alongside his theological training, Louis participates in Vatican-sponsored conversations on principled AI in healthcare, exploring where technology can assist care and where it must not replace human presence.
In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:
- What in-depth interviewing reveals about being truly seen
- How experiences of death shape our understanding of accompaniment
- The difference between emotional labor and connective labor
- How automation and standardization threaten dignity and belonging
- Why institutions rely on checklists, data, and control
- The factors driving institutional challenges to connective labor
- Why human connection is defined by unpredictability
- The role of moral formation in resisting depersonalization
- To learn more about Allison’s work, you can find her at: https://www.allisonpugh.com/
- To learn more about Louis’s work, you can find him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisjkim/
- Books and Resources Mentioned: The Last Human Job: The Work of Connecting in a Disconnected World (by Allison Pugh)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
What does innovation look like in the field of spiritual care, when fewer people belong to congregations, yet more people still need meaning, accompaniment, and spiritual support? My two guests today have been researching this question extensively.
Wendy Cadge is President of Bryn Mawr College and a nationally renowned sociologist of religion and spirituality. She is the founder of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, which brings together chaplains, educators, and social scientists to study and support spiritual care across public institutions and community settings. Her work focuses on religious diversity, spirituality, and the role of chaplaincy in contemporary society.
Michael Skaggs is Director of Programs and Co-Founder of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab. A historian of American religion based at the University of Notre Dame, his research explores interfaith dialogue, maritime and port chaplaincy, American Catholicism, and emerging models of spiritual care. He oversees education, professional development, and public-facing initiatives for the Lab.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The biggest challenges facing chaplaincy and spiritual care today
- Business models and sustainability in spiritual care work
- Barriers faced by spiritual care providers from minority faith traditions
- What the “spiritual infrastructure of the future” really means
- How congregational closures are reshaping where people find meaning and care
- The promises and dangers of AI in spiritual care
To learn more about Wendy and Michael’s work, you can find them at:
- Wendy Cadge: https://www.brynmawr.edu/inside/people/wendy-cadge
- Michael Skaggs: https://chaplaincyinnovation.org/team/michael-skaggs-phd
Links Mentioned:
- Chaplaincy Innovation Lab – https://chaplaincyinnovation.org/
- Templeton Religion Trust – https://templetonreligiontrust.org/
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
What does innovation look like in the field of spiritual care, when fewer people belong to congregations, yet more people still need meaning, accompaniment, and spiritual support? My two guests today have been researching this question extensively.
Wendy Cadge is President of Bryn Mawr College and a nationally renowned sociologist of religion and spirituality. She is the founder of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, which brings together chaplains, educators, and social scientists to study and support spiritual care across public institutions and community settings. Her work focuses on religious diversity, spirituality, and the role of chaplaincy in contemporary society.
Michael Skaggs is Director of Programs and Co-Founder of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab. A historian of American religion based at the University of Notre Dame, his research explores interfaith dialogue, maritime and port chaplaincy, American Catholicism, and emerging models of spiritual care. He oversees education, professional development, and public-facing initiatives for the Lab.
In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:
- The origins and mission of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab
- Traditional and emerging models of chaplaincy and spiritual care
- The blurry boundaries of chaplaincy
- Real applied value of good social, scientific, and historical research
- Public perceptions of chaplains versus how chaplains describe their work
- Chaplaincy as religious leadership in the future
- The role of chaplains in addressing loneliness and isolation
- Spiritual care beyond formal religion
- Community-based and workplace chaplaincy models
To learn more about Wendy and Michael’s work, you can find them at:
- Wendy Cadge: https://www.brynmawr.edu/inside/people/wendy-cadge
- Michael Skaggs: https://chaplaincyinnovation.org/team/michael-skaggs-phd
Links Mentioned:
- Chaplaincy Innovation Lab – https://chaplaincyinnovation.org/
- Templeton Religion Trust – https://templetonreligiontrust.org/
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Scott D. Anthony is a globally recognized expert on navigating disruptive change and a passionate optimist about humanity’s capacity to adapt in a constantly evolving world. He is a Clinical Professor of Strategy at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, where he teaches courses on leading disruptive change, horizon scanning, and AI-enabled decision-making.
Scott’s work builds on more than two decades of field research and close mentorship under Clayton Christensen, spent over 20 years at Innosight, and is the author of several influential books, including his latest, Epic Disruptions.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The three clear patterns of disruption
- What Shiseido’s transformation reveals about balancing heritage and reinvention
- Models of social generativity
- Relationship between change and discomfort
- The invisible “ghosts” that haunt organizations
- Competing against non-consumption and why “something is better than nothing” drives disruption
- The systemic dimension of innovation
- The three shadows of innovation
- What past disruptions can teach us about governing AI responsibly
- What disruptive innovation might look like in religious and spiritual communities
To learn more about Scott’s work, you can find him at:
https://www.innosight.com/
Books and resources mentioned:
- Epic Disruptions (by Scott D. Anthony)
- The Innovator’s Dilemma (by Clayton M. Christensen)
- The First Mile (by Scott D. Anthony)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Scott D. Anthony is a globally recognized expert on navigating disruptive change and a passionate optimist about humanity’s capacity to adapt in a constantly evolving world. He is a Clinical Professor of Strategy at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, where he teaches courses on leading disruptive change, horizon scanning, and AI-enabled decision-making.
Scott’s work builds on more than two decades of field research and close mentorship under Clayton Christensen, spent over 20 years at Innosight, and is the author of several influential books, including his latest, Epic Disruptions.
In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:
- The meaning of innovation: something different that creates value
- How the meaning of “innovation” shifted from something dangerous to something sacred
- Scott’s first encounter with Clayton Christensen
- Clay Christensen’s regret over how the term “disruption” has been misused
- The four big questions Scott poses about innovation
- What Gutenberg’s printing press reveals about collective creativity and unintended consequences
- The predictable and unpredictable nature of innovation
- Lessons from a failed medical tourism venture on testing real demand
To learn more about Scott’s work, you can find him at:
https://tuck.dartmouth.edu/faculty/faculty-directory/scott-d-anthony
https://www.innosight.com/
Books and resources mentioned:
- Epic Disruptions (by Scott D. Anthony)
- The Innovator’s Dilemma (by Clayton M. Christensen)
- The First Mile (by Scott D. Anthony)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Jaron Lanier, E. Glen Weyl, and Taylor Black join Beauty at Work for a wide-ranging conversation on artificial intelligence, innovation, and the deeper questions of meaning, faith, and human flourishing that surround emerging technologies.
Jaron Lanier coined the terms Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality and is widely regarded as a founding figure of the field. He has served as a leading critic of digital culture and social media, and his books include You Are Not a Gadget and Who Owns the Future? In 2018, Wired Magazine named him one of the 25 most influential people in technology of the previous 25 years. Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Jaron is currently the Prime Unifying Scientist at Microsoft’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, which spells out “Octopus”, in reference to his fascination with cephalopod neurology. He is also a musician and composer who has recently performed or recorded with Sara Bareilles, T Bone Burnett, Jon Batiste, Philip Glass, and many others.
E. Glen Weyl is Founder and Research Lead at Microsoft Research’s Plural Technology Collaboratory and Co-Founder of the Plurality Institute and RadicalxChange Foundation. He is the co-author of Radical Markets and Plurality and works at the intersection of economics, technology, democracy, and social institutions.
Taylor Black is Director of AI & Venture Ecosystems in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft and the founding director of the Leonum Institute on Emerging Technologies and AI at The Catholic University of America. His background spans philosophy, law, and technology leadership.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
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The idea that modern technology and AI, in particular, have taken on religious or idolatrous qualities
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Why the Talmud offers a powerful model for collective intelligence without erasing individual voices
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The dangers of excessive anonymity in digital systems and AI training
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The idea of “superintelligences” as collective human systems like corporations, democracies, and religions
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Vatican-led efforts toward algorithmic ethics and the protection of human dignity
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Where Glen and Jaron disagree about human-centered AI
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AI as a tool for metacognition
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How imagination, storytelling, and shared meaning can shape the future of innovation
To learn more about Jaron, Glen and Taylor’s work, you can find them at:
- Jaron Lanier - https://www.jaronlanier.com/
- Glen Weyl - https://glenweyl.com/
- Taylor Black - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blacktaylor/
Books and Resources mentioned:
- You Are Not a Gadget (Jaron Lanier)
- Who Owns the Future? (Jaron Lanier)
- Radical Markets (Eric Posner & E. Glen Weyl)
- Plurality (Audrey Tang & E. Glen Weyl)
- The Human Use of Human Beings (Norbert Wiener)
- The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Jaron Lanier, E. Glen Weyl, and Taylor Black join Beauty at Work for a wide-ranging conversation on artificial intelligence, innovation, and the deeper questions of meaning, faith, and human flourishing that surround emerging technologies.
Jaron Lanier coined the terms Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality and is widely regarded as a founding figure of the field. He has served as a leading critic of digital culture and social media, and his books include You Are Not a Gadget and Who Owns the Future? In 2018, Wired Magazine named him one of the 25 most influential people in technology of the previous 25 years. Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Jaron is currently the Prime Unifying Scientist at Microsoft’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, which spells out “Octopus”, in reference to his fascination with cephalopod neurology. He is also a musician and composer who has recently performed or recorded with Sara Bareilles, T Bone Burnett, Jon Batiste, Philip Glass, and many others.
E. Glen Weyl is Founder and Research Lead at Microsoft Research’s Plural Technology Collaboratory and Co-Founder of the Plurality Institute and RadicalxChange Foundation. He is the co-author of Radical Markets and Plurality and works at the intersection of economics, technology, democracy, and social institutions.
Taylor Black is Director of AI & Venture Ecosystems in the Office of the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft and the founding director of the Leonum Institute on Emerging Technologies and AI at The Catholic University of America. His background spans philosophy, law, and technology leadership.
In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:
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How aesthetic experience shapes worldview, imagination, and intellectual vocation
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The historical rivalry between artificial intelligence and cybernetics
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The danger of treating AI as an object of faith or a replacement for human meaning
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The psychological and spiritual costs of assuming people will become obsolete
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A tension between two different modalities of beauty
To learn more about Jaron, Glen and Taylor’s work, you can find them at:
- Jaron Lanier - https://www.jaronlanier.com/
- Glen Weyl - https://glenweyl.com/
- Taylor Black - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blacktaylor/
Books and Resources mentioned:
- You Are Not a Gadget (Jaron Lanier)
- Who Owns the Future? (Jaron Lanier)
- Radical Markets (Eric Posner & E. Glen Weyl)
- Plurality (Audrey Tang & E. Glen Weyl)
- The Human Use of Human Beings (Norbert Wiener)
- The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Alan Moore is a craftsman of beautiful business. He is a business innovator, author, and global speaker whose life’s work centers on one simple but radical idea: beauty is not a luxury in business, but a necessity.
He has designed everything from books to organizations, working across six continents with artists, entrepreneurs, and leadership teams. He has advised companies including PayPal, Microsoft, and Interface, taught at institutions such as MIT, INSEAD, and the Sloan School of Management, and helped guide some of the world’s most innovative enterprises.
He is the author of four books, including No Straight Lines: Making Sense of Our Nonlinear World and Do Design: Why Beauty Is Key to Everything. His work has been featured in outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and The Huffington Post.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
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Beauty as a quest for truth rather than surface aesthetics
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What it means to create something like a jewel
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Inevitability in design
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Beauty as a metric for innovation
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The distinction between extractive and regenerative approaches
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Beauty as a verb and everyday practices for “doing beauty.”
To learn more about Alan’s work, you can find him at:
https://thebeautifuldesignproject.com/
Books and resources mentioned:
- No Straight Lines: Making Sense of Our Nonlinear World (by Alan Moore)
- Do Design: Why Beauty Is Key to Everything (by Alan Moore)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Alan Moore is a craftsman of beautiful business. He is a business innovator, author, and global speaker whose life’s work centers on one simple but radical idea: beauty is not a luxury in business, but a necessity.
He has designed everything from books to organizations, working across six continents with artists, entrepreneurs, and leadership teams. He has advised companies including PayPal, Microsoft, and Interface, taught at institutions such as MIT, INSEAD, and the Sloan School of Management, and helped guide some of the world’s most innovative enterprises.
He is the author of four books, including No Straight Lines: Making Sense of Our Nonlinear World and Do Design: Why Beauty Is Key to Everything. His work has been featured in outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and The Huffington Post.
In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:
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Beauty as a sense of homecoming to self, family, and the natural world
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Why beauty is felt in the body, not just understood in the mind
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Beauty as something soulful, universal, and deeply human
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Living and working through the transition from analog to digital culture
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Innovation as seeing latent potential and unmet human needs
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The idea of beauty as the “ultimate metric” for decision-making
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How beauty challenges dominant ideas of success, value, and the good life
To learn more about Alan’s work, you can find him at:
https://thebeautifuldesignproject.com/
Books and resources mentioned:
- No Straight Lines: Making Sense of Our Nonlinear World (by Alan Moore)
- Do Design: Why Beauty Is Key to Everything (by Alan Moore)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Lisa Z. Lindahl is an award-winning inventor, artist, author, and entrepreneur best known for transforming women’s sports with her 1977 invention of the first sports bra, the Jogbra. As CEO of JBI Inc. from 1977–1992, she helped shape a global industry, earning ten patents and seeing her invention archived at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and even displayed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art as a “revolutionary piece of women’s undergarments.”
In 1999, she co-founded Bellisse and co-invented the Compressure Comfort® Bra, a breakthrough medical garment now supporting breast cancer survivors worldwide. She has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (2022), received a U.S. Congressional Commendation, and has long served as an advocate for women’s health, most notably through her leadership roles at the Epilepsy Foundation of America.
She is the author of Beauty as Action (2017), her philosophical guide to practicing “True Beauty,” and the acclaimed memoir Unleash the Girls (2019).
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- True beauty is harmony rather than glamour
- The problem of living in a culture rooted in fear, competition, and accumulation
- “Practicing beauty” works through simple, everyday disciplines
- Lisa’s 16 practices of beauty
- The three-legged stool of truth, beauty, and justice
To learn more about Lisa’s work, visit:
- https://www.lisalindahl.com/
- https://beautyinaction.com/
Links Mentioned:
- Beauty as Action by Lisa Z. Lindahl
- Unleash the Girls (Lisa’s memoir on inventing the sports bra)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
Lisa Z. Lindahl is an award-winning inventor, artist, author, and entrepreneur best known for transforming women’s sports with her 1977 invention of the first sports bra, the Jogbra. As CEO of JBI Inc. from 1977–1992, she helped shape a global industry, earning ten patents and seeing her invention archived at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and even displayed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art as a “revolutionary piece of women’s undergarments.”
In 1999, she co-founded Bellisse and co-invented the Compressure Comfort® Bra, a breakthrough medical garment now supporting breast cancer survivors worldwide. She has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (2022), received a U.S. Congressional Commendation, and has long served as an advocate for women’s health, most notably through her leadership roles at the Epilepsy Foundation of America.
She is the author of Beauty as Action (2017), her philosophical guide to practicing “True Beauty,” and the acclaimed memoir Unleash the Girls (2019).
In this first part of our conversation, we talked about:
- Lisa’s earliest encounters with beauty, from frozen rivers to childhood moments of oneness with nature
- The story behind the first Jogbra prototype and why sewing “stretch on stretch” is its own art
- Why the need for the sports bra was far greater than she ever imagined
- The surprising moment when she realized that “beauty is what really matters.”
- What she means by true beauty and why she believes it is eternal
To learn more about Lisa’s work, visit:
- https://www.lisalindahl.com/
- https://beautyinaction.com/
Links Mentioned:
- Beauty as Action by Lisa Z. Lindahl
- Unleash the Girls (Lisa’s memoir on inventing the sports bra)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
John C. Havens has spent years at the heart of the global conversation on AI ethics. As the Founding Executive Director of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, he led the creation of Ethically Aligned Design, a document that went on to influence the United Nations, OECD, IBM, and dozens of organizations shaping the future of AI. He also helped build the IEEE 7000 Standards Series, now one of the largest bodies of international standards on AI and society.
Today, John serves as the Global Staff Director for the IEEE Planet Positive 2030 Program, guiding efforts that prioritize both ecological and human flourishing in technological design. But his perspective on AI doesn’t begin with policy or engineering; it starts with love, vulnerability, and the deep spiritual questions that have shaped his life.
Previously, John was an EVP of Social Media at Porter Novelli and was a professional actor for over 15 years. John has written for Mashable and The Guardian and is author of the books, Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity To Maximize Machines, Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking it Can Change the World, and Tactical Transparency: How Leaders Can Leverage Social Media to Maximize Value and Build their Brand. John is also an expert with AI and Faith.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The core of reality as love
- Dangers of ignoring grief
- Why values must be integrated into AI systems from the very beginning
- How generative AI entered classrooms and workplaces without care, consent, or love
- The seductive danger of simulated relationships
- The role of faith communities in an automated society
- John’s GAP framework: gratitude, altruism, and purpose
- Risks of using AI in religious settings
- How genuine community embodies the kind of love and dignity that technology must never replace
To learn more about John’s work:
- IEEE Planet Positive 2030 Program – https://sagroups.ieee.org/planetpositive
- IEEE 7000 Standards Series – https://standards.ieee.org
Books and resources mentioned:
- Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity to Maximize Machines (John Havens)
- Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking it Can Change the World (John Havens)
- The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power (Shoshana Zuboff)
- Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other (Sherry Turkle)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
John C. Havens has spent years at the heart of the global conversation on AI ethics. As the Founding Executive Director of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, he led the creation of Ethically Aligned Design, a document that went on to influence the United Nations, OECD, IBM, and dozens of organizations shaping the future of AI. He also helped build the IEEE 7000 Standards Series, now one of the largest bodies of international standards on AI and society.
Today, John serves as the Global Staff Director for the IEEE Planet Positive 2030 Program, guiding efforts that prioritize both ecological and human flourishing in technological design. But his perspective on AI doesn’t begin with policy or engineering; it starts with love, vulnerability, and the deep spiritual questions that have shaped his life.
Previously, John was an EVP of Social Media at Porter Novelli and was a professional actor for over 15 years. John has written for Mashable and The Guardian and is author of the books, Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity To Maximize Machines, Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking it Can Change the World, and Tactical Transparency: How Leaders Can Leverage Social Media to Maximize Value and Build their Brand. John is also an expert with AI and Faith.
In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:
- How love reframes “weakness” in both human life and AI ethics
- The impact of generative AI on creativity, intellectual property, and the erosion of human craftsmanship
- The dangers of anthropomorphism in AI design
- Ways AI systems undermine our capacity for conscious choice
- How the surveillance economy and advertising systems shape our habits and decisions
- Positive psychology matters for designing technology that supports well-being
- What dreams, virtual reality, the spatial web, data, and spiritual life have in common
To learn more about John’s work:
- IEEE Planet Positive 2030 Program – https://sagroups.ieee.org/planetpositive
- IEEE 7000 Standards Series – https://standards.ieee.org
Books and resources mentioned:
- Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity to Maximize Machines (John Havens)
- Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking it Can Change the World (John Havens)
- The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power (Shoshana Zuboff)
- Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other (Sherry Turkle)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
In Episode 3 of this season, we explore the evolving landscape of spiritual innovation, what it means to design meaningful spiritual life in a rapidly changing world, with guests Casper Ter Kuile and Angie Thurston from Sacred Design Lab, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the future of spiritual life.
Casper Ter Kuile shares insight and inspiration on the future of community, ritual, and spirituality. He is the author of The Power of Ritual and co-founder of Sacred Design Lab. He also co-created the hit podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, co-founded Nearness, and co-authored the influential paper How We Gather.
Angie Thurston is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Design Lab. She has worked with hundreds of innovative leaders, finding new ways to address spiritual longings amid religious change. Angie has co-written eight widely read reports on the evolving landscape of community and spiritual life, including How We Gather.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- What makes spiritual innovation succeed: how to meet innovators’ practical, relational, and spiritual needs
- How projects endure, and what sustainable models beyond individual founders and short-term funding might look like
- Common pitfalls such as ethical lapses, burnout, and the challenge of translating sacred traditions responsibly
- Gen Z’s openness to religion and search for meaning, purpose, and belonging
- The new Spiritual Innovation Hub and a call for cross-sector collaboration and shared wisdom
To learn more about Casper and Angie’s work, you can find them at: https://www.sacred.design
Books and resources mentioned:
- The Power of Ritual (by Casper Ter Kuile)
- How We Gather (by Casper Ter Kuile & Angie Thurston)
- Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (podcast)
- Illuminating Spiritual Innovation (report by Sacred Design Lab)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
In Episode 3 of this season, we explore the evolving landscape of spiritual innovation, what it means to design meaningful spiritual life in a rapidly changing world, with guests Casper Ter Kuile and Angie Thurston from Sacred Design Lab, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the future of spiritual life.
Casper Ter Kuile shares insight and inspiration on the future of community, ritual, and spirituality. He is the author of The Power of Ritual and co-founder of Sacred Design Lab. He also co-created the hit podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, co-founded Nearness, and co-authored the influential paper How We Gather.
Angie Thurston is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sacred Design Lab. She has worked with hundreds of innovative leaders, finding new ways to address spiritual longings amid religious change. Angie has co-written eight widely read reports on the evolving landscape of community and spiritual life, including How We Gather.
In this first part of our conversation, we discuss:
- The origins of Sacred Design Lab and its mission
- What “spiritual innovation” means and how it appears across traditions
- The story behind Harry Potter and the Sacred Text and how reading can become a spiritual practice
- What it means to design for risk in ritual and liturgy
- Why the term “spiritual innovation” can be both inspiring and controversial
- Real stories of spiritual innovators around the world: Buddhist monks leading meditation in the metaverse to Muslim leaders blending theology with psychology
To learn more about Casper and Angie’s work, you can find them at: https://www.sacred.design
Books and resources mentioned:
- The Power of Ritual (by Casper Ter Kuile)
- How We Gather (by Casper Ter Kuile & Angie Thurston)
- Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (podcast)
- Illuminating Spiritual Innovation (report by Sacred Design Lab)
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
In Episode 2 of this season, we explore the evolution of beauty (especially in birds) and the beauty of innovation, with guest Matt Ridley.
Matt Ridley's books have sold over a million copies, been translated into 31 languages and won several awards. His books include The Red Queen, Genome, The Rational Optimist, The Evolution of Everything, How Innovation Works, and Viral: the search for the origin of covid-19 (co-authored with Alina Chan). His latest book is Birds, Sex, and Beauty.
He served the House of Lords between 2013 and 2021 and served on the science and technology select committee and the artificial intelligence select committee.
He was founding chairman of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle. He created the Mind and Matter column in the Wall Street Journal in 2010 and was a columnist for the Times 2013-2018.
He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He lives in Northumberland.
In this episode, we talk about:
- The myth of “disruptive innovation” and the overlooked beauty of incremental progress
- The real relationship between basic science and technology
- Why Ridley still calls himself a “rational optimist”
- Why freedom, not brilliance, is the secret sauce of innovation
- How universities and industry can collaborate to keep creativity alive
To learn more about Matt’s work, you can find him at: https://www.mattridley.co.uk/
Books and resources mentioned:
- Birds, Sex and Beauty (by Matt Ridley)
- How Innovation Works (by Matt Ridley)
- The Rational Optimist (by Matt Ridley)
- The Mating Mind (by Geoffrey Miller)
- The Descent of Man (by Charles Darwin)
- The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection (by Ronald Fisher)
- Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty (by Nancy Etcoff)
- The Rational Optimist Society – rationaloptimistsociety.com
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
In Episode 2 of this season, we explore the evolution of beauty (especially in birds) and the beauty of innovation, with guest Matt Ridley.
Matt Ridley's books have sold over a million copies, been translated into 31 languages and won several awards. His books include The Red Queen, Genome, The Rational Optimist and The Evolution of Everything. His book on “How Innovation Works” was published in 2020, and "Viral: the search for the origin of covid-19", co-authored with Alina Chan, was published in 2021.
He served the House of Lords between 2013 and 2021 and served on the science and technology select committee and the artificial intelligence select committee.
He was founding chairman of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle. He created the Mind and Matter column in the Wall Street Journal in 2010 and was a columnist for the Times 2013-2018.
He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He lives in Northumberland.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How Ridley’s childhood fascination with birds led him to study evolution
- The courtship rituals of black grouse and the surprising role of female choice
- How Ronald Fisher’s “sexy sons” hypothesis changed everything
- What bowerbirds can teach us about aesthetics and art
- Sexual selection as a driver of creativity, humor, and the human brain
To learn more about Matt’s work, you can find him at: https://www.mattridley.co.uk/
Books and resources mentioned:
- Birds, Sex and Beauty (by Matt Ridley)
- How Innovation Works (by Matt Ridley)
- The Rational Optimist (by Matt Ridley)
- The Mating Mind (by Geoffrey Miller)
- The Descent of Man (by Charles Darwin)
- The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection (by Ronald Fisher)
- Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty (by Nancy Etcoff)
- The Rational Optimist Society – rationaloptimistsociety.com
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust.
Support the show
What really drives human progress? What is innovation, and why is innovation not just a feature of modern society but a law of life? How do energy, cooperation, and culture shape the way we create new ideas?
These are ideal questions with which to launch our new podcast season on the beauty and burdens of innovation, and I can’t think of anyone better suited to address them than my guest today.
Dr. Michael Muthukrishna is joint Professor of Economic Psychology at the London School of Economics and Professor of Psychology at NYU (from January 2026). At LSE, he is also Affiliate of the Data Science Institute and STICERD Developmental Economics Group. Michael is co-founder and Technical Director of The Database of Religious History (religiondatabase.org), founder of the LSE Culturalytik project (culturalytik.com), London School of Artificial Intelligence (lsai.org.uk), and Center for Human Progress (humanprogress.center), Research Lead of Cities, Culture, and Technology at the African School of Economics’ Africa Urban Lab (aul.city), and Scientific Advisor at the AI startup Electric Twin (electrictwin.com). Michael's research applies an evolutionary framework to understand human cooperation, tackling key topics, including: the barriers to cooperation, particularly how different mechanisms of cooperation (such as family ties versus impartial institutions) can potentially undermine each other; the impact of cultural differences on psychology and behavior; the processes of social learning; and how these learning processes drive innovation and cultural change. His research and interviews have appeared in outlets including CNN, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Scientific American, PBS, Vice, Newsweek, Time, New York Magazine, Nature News, Science News, The Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian. Michael’s research is informed by his educational background in engineering and psychology, with graduate training in evolutionary biology, economics, and statistics, and his personal background living in Sri Lanka, Botswana, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Canada, United States, and United Kingdom. He is the author of A Theory of Everyone: The new science of who we are, how we got here, and where we’re going (MIT Press / Basic Books).
In this episode, we talk about:
- Michael's encounter with beauty in Botswana
- The impact of culture on bad foreign policy and global problems
- The “four laws of life” that underlie human progress
- Difference between cooperation and competition
- How innovation really happens through the “collective brain”
- The compass model and the adjacent possible zone
- How to solve the paradox of diversity
- Three ingredients of evolution: Variation, transmission, selection
- The promise and pitfalls of AI - The Second Enlightenment
- The promise of AI to create abundance
- How society is structured through religion
- Innovation in any domain only happens in the free flow of ideas
To learn more about Michael’s work, you can find him at: https://www.michael.muthukrishna.com/
Links Mentioned:A Theory of Everyone by Michael Muthukrishna - https://www.atheoryofeveryone.com/
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust
Support the show
What really drives human progress? What is innovation, and why is innovation not just a feature of modern society but a law of life? How do energy, cooperation, and culture shape the way we create new ideas?
These are ideal questions with which to launch our new podcast season on the beauty and burdens of innovation, and I can’t think of anyone better suited to address them than my guest today.
Dr. Michael Muthukrishna is joint Professor of Economic Psychology at the London School of Economics and Professor of Psychology at NYU (from January 2026). At LSE, he is also Affiliate of the Data Science Institute and STICERD Developmental Economics Group. Michael is co-founder and Technical Director of The Database of Religious History (religiondatabase.org), founder of the LSE Culturalytik project (culturalytik.com), London School of Artificial Intelligence (lsai.org.uk), and Center for Human Progress (humanprogress.center), Research Lead of Cities, Culture, and Technology at the African School of Economics’ Africa Urban Lab (aul.city), and Scientific Advisor at the AI startup Electric Twin (electrictwin.com). Michael's research applies an evolutionary framework to understand human cooperation, tackling key topics, including: the barriers to cooperation, particularly how different mechanisms of cooperation (such as family ties versus impartial institutions) can potentially undermine each other; the impact of cultural differences on psychology and behavior; the processes of social learning; and how these learning processes drive innovation and cultural change. His research and interviews have appeared in outlets including CNN, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Scientific American, PBS, Vice, Newsweek, Time, New York Magazine, Nature News, Science News, The Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian. Michael’s research is informed by his educational background in engineering and psychology, with graduate training in evolutionary biology, economics, and statistics, and his personal background living in Sri Lanka, Botswana, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Canada, United States, and United Kingdom. He is the author of A Theory of Everyone: The new science of who we are, how we got here, and where we’re going (MIT Press / Basic Books).
In this episode, we talk about:
- Michael's encounter with beauty in Botswana
- The impact of culture on bad foreign policy and global problems
- The “four laws of life” that underlie human progress
- Difference between cooperation and competition
- How innovation really happens through the “collective brain”
- The compass model and the adjacent possible zone
- How to solve the paradox of diversity
- Three ingredients of evolution: Variation, transmission, selection
- The promise and pitfalls of AI - The Second Enlightenment
- The promise of AI to create abundance
- How society is structured through religion
- Innovation in any domain only happens in the free flow of ideas
To learn more about Michael’s work, you can find him at: https://www.michael.muthukrishna.com/
Links Mentioned:A Theory of Everyone by Michael Muthukrishna - https://www.atheoryofeveryone.com/
This season of the podcast is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust
Support the show
In this clip from the episode of Beauty at Work, host Brandon Vaidyanathan sits down with Brian Mullins, CEO of Mind Foundry, a pioneering responsible AI company spun out of the University of Oxford.
Brian shares how AI can be built differently—safely, ethically, and in partnership with human insight—for high-stakes, real-world applications. From malaria detection in mosquitoes to the myth of superintelligence, the conversation explores the promises and perils of AI, and how beauty—in simplicity, function, and deep understanding—emerges in the process.
Mullins discusses why we’re a long way away from AI transforming into a super-intelligence that truly rivals human intelligence. And, he shares where he finds beauty in his work.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/14500178For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#BeautyAtWork #BrandonVaidyanathan #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #BrianMullins #MindFoundry #Superintelligence #ScienceAndBeauty #UnderstandingAI #AIInnovation #TechForGood #FutureOfAI #EthicalTech #OxfordAI #HumanCenteredAI #ResponsibleAI
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Is classical music “entertainment”? Timothy Myers, conductor and music director of the Austin Opera, argues that it’s an antidote to entertainment. Here, he shares his story of how he became a conductor and discusses what he finds inspiring about orchestral performance.
In this clip from the Beauty at Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan speaks with Timothy Myers, acclaimed conductor and Music Director of the Austin Opera. Myers shares deeply personal stories—from his early musical memories at a powwow in Oklahoma to the transformative moment of hearing Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade live. He reflects on the collaborative nature of conducting, the aesthetic principles behind orchestral sound, and why live performance is more than entertainment—it's a sacred act of communal enchantment.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/14411268For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#TimothyMyers #BeautyAtWork #ClassicalMusic #OrchestralMusic #AustinOpera #LivePerformance #MusicAndBeauty #Conducting #ArtisticLeadership #MusicPodcast #EnchantmentThroughArt #BrandonVaidyanathan #SacredArt #PowerOfSound #MusicalJourney #ModernClassical
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How can art heal us? Award-winning artist Wayne Brezinka discusses some of the most meaningful responses to his pieces that he’s received. He also talks about the workshops he leads that focus on using art as a tool to respond to trauma.
In this episode of the Beauty at Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan speaks with Wayne about the role of vulnerability in his creative process, how his artwork opens space for healing conversations, and why untrained hands often produce the most powerful pieces. Wayne also shares what he’s learned from working with veterans, healthcare workers, and others processing deep pain through art.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/14296065
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#BeautyAtWork #WayneBrezinka #BrandonVaidyanathan #ArtHealing #ArtAndTrauma #ArtPodcast #TraumaRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #Inspiration #StoryThroughArt #PodcastEpisode #CreativeExpression #HealingThroughArt #MixedMediaArt #ArtWorkshops
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What is digital fashion and why pay attention to it? Philosopher Michael R. Spicher shares how his ongoing research on digital fashion shows that we are “aesthetic beings.” He also discusses the relationship between beauty and politics.
In this clip from the Beauty at Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan speaks with Michael about his new co-edited academic book on digital fashion. They explore the origins of digital garments, the impact of virtual try-ons on sustainability, and the deep human drive for aesthetic expression. Michael explains how digital fashion opens up new possibilities for self-expression, challenges traditional fashion norms, and intersects with issues of equity, decoloniality, and even Supreme Court rulings.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/14217467For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#BeautyAtWork #DigitalFashion #Aesthetics #PhilosophyOfBeauty #MichaelSpicher #VirtualFashion #FashionAndTech #BeautyPolitics #PhilosophyPodcast #BrandonVaidyanathan #SustainabilityInFashion #MetaverseFashion #VirtualTryOn #Neuroaesthetics #BeautyAndJustice
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Why would someone in the finance industry start an independent makeup line then, years later, begin leading nature walks? Jennifer Walsh, biophilia expert and founder of Wellness Walks™, tells the story of the birth of Beauty Bar and why she founded Wellness Walks.
In this clip from the Beauty At Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan welcomes Jennifer to explore her remarkable journey—from working at Merrill Lynch to becoming a beauty industry pioneer and nature wellness advocate. She shares how early TV appearances and entrepreneurial grit helped launch one of the first apothecary-style beauty boutiques in the U.S., and how her personal healing in Central Park sparked a mission to reconnect people with the natural world.
Together, they unpack the science of biophilia, how design impacts well-being, and why walking slowly through nature may be one of the most profound forms of self-care today.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2043099/episodes/14144885For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#JenniferWalsh #Biophilia #NatureHeals #WellnessWalks #BeautyBar #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #MindfulLiving #BeautyIndustry #BiophilicDesign #HealingWithNature #WalkWithWalsh #BrainOnNature #BeautyAndWellness #PodcastInterview #NatureTherapy
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In this clip from the Beauty At Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan talks with fashion designer and DC Fashion Week founder Ean Williams about his unexpected journey from shy, style-conscious teen to fashion model, Air Force intelligence specialist, and eventually a leading force in the fashion world. Ean shares candid reflections on how fashion shaped his identity, the challenges of modeling, his father's lessons on hard work, and how a problem-solving mindset led him to build a platform for emerging designers. He also talks about the dynamics of personal rejection in a modeling career and shares the story of how his fashion career came to be.
This conversation explores the deeper power of fashion—not just as an industry, but as a transformative, expressive force in our lives.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/14060070For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#BeautyAtWork #DCFashionWeek #EanWilliams #CreativeJourneys #FashionJourney #ModelLife #FromRejectionToSuccess #EngineeringMeetsFashion #FashionAndIdentity #ConfidenceThroughStyle #BehindTheScenes #DesignWithPurpose
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How did a barn on a Minnesota farm turn into a space where people from diverse backgrounds could experience beauty? Musician, designer, and arts non-profit co-founder Chris Everett recounts how the artist retreat was born and shares the story of a particularly beautiful moment there.
In this clip from the Beauty At Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan talks with Chris Everett about how he and his husband transformed an old farm into Everwood, an artist retreat rooted in nature, creativity, and community. Chris reflects on the healing power of the arts, his mission to support artists, and how beauty can open hearts—even across ideological divides.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13967102For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#BeautyAtWork #ChrisEverett #ArtsRetreat #CreativeHealing #EverwoodFarm #ArtAndCommunity #BeautyInDiversity #ArtistSupport #MusicForHealing #PodcastClips #TransformThroughArt #BrandonVaidyanathan #SacredSpaces #ArtsNonprofit
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What does it mean for a business to have a beautiful culture? Leadership coach and consultant Esther Blázquez Blanco offers some advice for leaders.
In this clip from the Beauty At Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan is joined by Esther Blásquez Blanco for a profound conversation on what it truly means to create a "beautiful" culture within an organization. Esther challenges the idea of perfection, emphasizing that beauty in culture lies in commitment, honesty, and human connection. From resisting copy-paste culture fixes to nurturing safe mental spaces, she shares real-life insights, practical advice, and a refreshing approach to leadership. A must-listen for leaders, consultants, and anyone passionate about workplace transformation.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2043099/episodes/13877333For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#CompanyCulture #BeautifulLeadership #OrganizationalChange #WorkplaceWellbeing #EstherBlazquezBlanco #BeautyAtWork #LeadershipDevelopment #HumanCenteredWork #CultureConsulting #BrandonVaidyanathan #SafeSpacesAtWork #ConsciousLeadership #WorkplaceTransformation
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What makes a society fragile? Fragile states expert Dr. Seth Kaplan shares the story of why he started researching the relational underpinnings of societies and how they contribute to societies’ fragility and flourishing. He also discusses what a beautiful neighborhood looks like and why they’re so important.
In this clip of Beauty At Work episode, hosted by Brandon Vaidyanathan, Dr. Kaplan reflects on his intellectual journey—from global exploration and entrepreneurship to the study of fragile states and American communities. Drawing from his book Fragile Neighborhoods, he emphasizes the foundational role of social relationships in national stability and personal well-being, and explores how neighborhood-level vitality holds the key to reversing societal decline.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13769256For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#SethKaplan #PoliticalScience #FragileStates #BeautyAtWork #PodcastEpisode #BeautyAtWork #BrandonVaidyanathan #NeighborhoodsMatter #ThrivingCommunities #BeautifulNeighborhoods
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In this inspiring episode of Beauty At Work, host Brandon Vaidyanathan sits down with Sean Vigue, a renowned online yoga and Pilates instructor, to explore his journey from musical theater and opera to becoming a global fitness educator.
What motivates a musical theater professional to become a personal trainer and Pilates instructor? From dancing on stage to teaching at Disney and building a massive online following, Sean reveals what it means to find harmony between art, fitness, and personal growth.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13682599For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#BeautyAtWork #SeanVigue #YogaLife #PilatesInstructor #FromStageToStudio #MovementAsArt #FitnessJourney #TheaterToWellness #MindBodyConnection #PilatesLife #YogaForEveryone #ArtAndDiscipline #WellnessWisdom
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Is there beauty in imperfection? Award-winning Dubai-based architect Pallavi Dean thinks that imperfection, along with homeyness, is a central aspect of beauty. Here, she shares the story of what first inspired her career in architecture and what aesthetic values continue to drive her work. In this episode of Beauty At Work, hosted by Brandon Vaidyanathan, Dean explores how empathy, sensory design, and collaborative problem-solving inform her creative process.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13587754For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#BeautyAtWork #PallaviDean #RoarDesign #DesignWithEmpathy #ArchitectureAndBeauty #ImperfectionInDesign #WomenInArchitecture #CreativeLeadership #HumanCenteredDesign #BuiltEnvironment #Dubai
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Why is the mockingbird’s song so beautiful and yet so challenging to understand? Biologist and integrative scientist Dr. Dave Gammon discusses his research on the “career-killer” animal, sharing where he finds beauty in his research as well as his teaching.
From the musical complexity of mockingbird songs to evolutionary insights about human monogamy to interdisciplinary teaching bridging disciplines, Dr. Gammon reveals how beauty shapes both his research and his classroom.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13501443
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#BeautyAtWork #ScienceAndBeauty #DaveGammon #BrandonVaidyanathan #MockingbirdMindscapes #BeautyInTheWild #VariationOnATheme #SongsOfScience #ScientificStorytelling #InterdisciplinaryImprov #FromBigBangToUs #FearTheMockingbird #ChorusOfCuriosity #BiologyInHarmony
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In this compelling episode of Beauty at Work, host Brandon Vaidyanathan sits down with cultural scholar Sheri Parks to explore how aesthetics—often dismissed as trivial—carry profound power.
How is aesthetics a tool for social justice? Public intellectual Dr. Sheri Parks shares how her projects harness the powerful beauty of dance, art therapy, indigo dye, and more to transform communities.
From healing trauma through art and movement, to restoring economic and cultural dignity through the Indigo Dye Initiative, Parks reveals how beauty functions as a force for resilience, justice, and joy. Learn how aesthetics can reconnect communities, empower Black farmers, and provide meaningful labor for returning citizens.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13387670
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
BeautyAtWork #SheriParks #IndigoDyeInitiative #AestheticHealing #CulturalRevival #BlackFarming #ArtTherapy #SocialImpact #BeautyAndJustice #CreativeEconomy #HealingThroughArt #AestheticsMatter #BaltimoreInitiatives #ReturnToRoots #BeautyForChange
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What does it mean to be a “romantic” in business? Tim Leberecht, entrepreneur and co-founder of the House of Beautiful Business, shares the story of how he came to recognize the Romantic ideals behind beautiful business. In this clip, he explains what Romantic business principles are and the impact they have on workplace experience.
In conversation with Brandon Vaidyanathan, Tim reflects on his early influences, the cultural disillusionment he experienced in Silicon Valley, and the emergence of a countercultural movement rooted in beauty, emotion, and imagination. He introduces the concept of a “life-centered” economy—one that honors all life within and around us—and shares how the House of Beautiful Business is building spaces for meaningful change across the corporate world.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13304558
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
BeautyAtWork #PodcastEpisode #NewEpisode #TimLeberecht #BrandonVaidyanathan #BeautifulBusiness #RomanticBusiness #LifeCenteredEconomy #WorkplaceWellbeing #BusinessWithSoul #FutureOfWork #HumanizingWork #EmotionalIntelligence #BusinessPhilosophy #MeaningfulWork #LeadershipWithHeart #WorkplaceCulture
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How does a nomadic lifestyle inspire beauty in architecture? Architect, TEDx speaker, and Forbes-featured entrepreneur Adi Cohen shares how she became a global citizen who travels the world creating beautiful spaces.
In this episode of Beauty At Work, Adi joins sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan to reflect on her deeply personal journey through architecture, travel, and human connection. From hitchhiking in India to reimagining a hotel in Japan, she explores how spaces shape our emotions, behavior, and sense of belonging. Drawing from universal patterns of human comfort—like refuge, beauty, and interaction—Cohen invites us to see architecture not as static form, but as a living dialogue with place, culture, and the human spirit.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13220549
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Hashtags:
#BeautyAtWork #ArchitectureAndTravel #AdiCohen #DesignForBelonging #NomadicArchitect #HumanCenteredDesign #GlobalArchitecture #CreativeJourneys #SpacesThatInspire #ArchitectureOfConnection #DesigningBeauty #BrandonVaidyanathan #TedxSpeaker #WomenInDesign #ArchitecturePodcast
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How can science speak to our deepest spiritual yearnings? In this captivating panel discussion held at NeueHouse Manhattan, five prominent scientists and thinkers explore how different ways of knowing—from physics to medicine, from spirituality to ethics—can build meaningful bridges between worlds often seen as separate.
The panelists are:
Dr. Alan Lightman (physicist and Professor of the Practice of the humanities at MIT, and author of numerous books including most recently, the The Miraculous from the Material) - he was a guest on Season 3
Dr. Neil Theise (professor of pathology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, pioneer of adult stem stell plasticity and the interstitium, and author of "Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being,”)
Dr. Scarlet Soriano, Executive Director at Duke Health & Well-Being, whose work focuses on the development of equity-based and community-grounded health and well-being interventions;
and Dr. Katy Hinman is the Director of Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion (DoSER) program at the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS),
The panel was moderated by Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, who is the creator, writer, host and executive producer of Closer To Truth, the long-running public television series and leading global resource on Cosmos, Life, Mind, and Meaning.
Together, they discuss: Can spirituality coexist with scientific rationality? How do love, consciousness, and our connection to the universe shape our understanding of life's purpose?
This event, sponsored by The John Templeton Foundation and produced by Rohan Routroy and Thirty Eight, explores and debates diverse approaches to consciousness and spirituality in an age of science.
Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iaUV4QWbZcI
ScienceAndSpirituality #ScienceAndReligion #MeaningOfLife #CloserToTruth #Consciousness #AlanLightman #NeilTheise
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How can artists and scientists collaborate to envision the future? Biologist Dr. Rob Dunn discusses the art-science collaboration projects he’s working on that do just this. Brandon and Rob Dunn explore how blending science with art and storytelling can help us better understand the future — from climate change and food to microbiomes and imagination.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13121277For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#BeautyAtWork #ScienceAndArt #FutureThinking #ClimateChange #SpeculativeFutures #Interdisciplinary #Microbiome #ScienceCommunication #ArtAndScience #RobDunn
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Are architecture, beauty, and spirituality related? Yes, says award-winning architect Rachael Grochowski. In this clip from our podcast conversation, she shares the story of how she became an architect and how her design integrates spirituality. From the influence of her grandparents' cottage to her evolution as a designer, Rachel explores how architecture can shape our relationships, enhance well-being, and connect us to nature. She talks about the ways thoughtful design can create peaceful, harmonious spaces that honor both the material and spiritual worlds.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/13028725For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.netSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#Architecture #BeautyAndSpirituality #ThoughtfulDesign #SpiritualArchitecture #DesignWithPurpose #WellBeing #ArchitecturalDesign #HarmonyInDesign #NatureAndDesign #AwardWinningArchitect #RachaelGrochowski #PeacefulSpaces #SpiritualityInDesign
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How does aesthetic intelligence contribute to success in business? Pauline Brown, leader in luxury goods and Columbia Business School professor, discusses the power and ethics of aesthetic intelligence. Brandon and Pauline discuss how aesthetic intelligence shapes company culture and customer relationships. They explore its impact on branding, hospitality, and ethics, with examples like Starbucks, and highlight the responsibility of businesses to make authentic, meaningful connections.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/episodes/12950416
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
#AestheticIntelligence #CorporateCulture #BusinessSuccess #LuxuryGoods #HospitalityIndustry #Branding #CustomerRelationships #BusinessEthics #AuthenticityInBusiness #MeaningfulConnections #Starbucks #CreativeLeadership #PaulineBrown #BusinessInnovation
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A conversation at the New York Encounter 2025 on loneliness and malaise in today’s society with Robert Putnam, Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University, and Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, moderated by Brandon Vaidyanathan, Professor of Sociology, The Catholic University of America
There is no doubt that loneliness and a widespread malaise characterize the lives of young and not-so-young generations. The speakers have dedicated their professional careers to studying societal changes and will look at the root causes of this unease. They will also discuss the impact of social media on human identity and relationships and reflect on ways to address them.
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A conversation at the New York Encounter 2025 on loneliness and malaise in today’s society with Robert Putnam, Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University, and Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, moderated by Brandon Vaidyanathan, Professor of Sociology, The Catholic University of America
There is no doubt that loneliness and a widespread malaise characterize the lives of young and not-so-young generations. The speakers have dedicated their professional careers to studying societal changes and will look at the root causes of this unease. They will also discuss the impact of social media on human identity and relationships and reflect on ways to address them.
Support the show
A discussion at the New York Encounter 2025 on the role of wonder in scientific research with Martin Nowak, Professor of Mathematics and Biology, Harvard University, and Rob Phillips, Professor of Biophysics, Biology, and Physics at the California Institute of Technology, moderated by Evelyn Tang, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University
It has become increasingly difficult to pay attention to what is in front of us. We have lost the habit of marveling at things and are thus often deprived of a fundamental human experience. The speakers dialogue on the essential role that attentive observation and wonder play in scientific research and education. They also address how the practice of science, starting from the experience of awe and curiosity about nature, can evoke existential questions that lead to ultimate meaning.
This panel is sponsored by the Meaning and Mystery in Science initiative funded by the John Templeton Foundation.
Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iaUV4QWbZcI
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A discussion at the New York Encounter 2025 on the role of wonder in scientific research with Martin Nowak, Professor of Mathematics and Biology, Harvard University, and Rob Phillips, Professor of Biophysics, Biology, and Physics at the California Institute of Technology, moderated by Evelyn Tang, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University
It has become increasingly difficult to pay attention to what is in front of us. We have lost the habit of marveling at things and are thus often deprived of a fundamental human experience. The speakers dialogue on the essential role that attentive observation and wonder play in scientific research and education. They also address how the practice of science, starting from the experience of awe and curiosity about nature, can evoke existential questions that lead to ultimate meaning.
This panel is sponsored by the Meaning and Mystery in Science initiative funded by the John Templeton Foundation.
Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iaUV4QWbZcI
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How do you find true love—within yourself and in your relationships? To answer this question, we’re joined by Francesca Hogi, a love coach, TED speaker, and host of the Dear Franny Podcast. Francesca’s journey from corporate lawyer to internationally recognized dating and relationships expert is nothing short of inspiring. With her upcoming book, How to Find True Love, releasing in April 2025, Francesca shares how self-love, compassion, and humility are essential for attracting the love you deserve.
Francesca’s work has been featured on The Today Show, Marie Claire, and The New York Times, and she’s the founder of The True Love Society—a community for those seeking deeper romantic and self-love. In this episode, Francesca dives into the transformative power of self-love and how it shapes our ability to form healthy relationships.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- Importance of Vulnerability
- Love Confidence
- Breaking Negative Dating Patterns
- Commitment and Cultural Conditioning
- Shifting Negative Beliefs About Love
Tune in for an episode that will empower you to nurture love in every aspect of your life.
To learn more about Franscesca visit these links:
- Francesca on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dearfranny?igsh=bmNqZWNycHh1OThi
- How to Find True Love by Francesca Hogi - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/francesca-hogi/how-to-find-true-love/9781538769577/?lens=balance
- Dear Franny Podcast -https://pod.link/1475127865
- Francesca’s TED Talk - https://www.instagram.com/dearfranny?igsh=bmNqZWNycHh1OThi
This episode is sponsored by:
- John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/ )
- Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Tags:
LoveCoach #FindingLove #TrueLove #SelfLove #DatingTips #RelationshipAdvice #HealthyRelationships #DearFrannyPodcast #SelfCompassion #Confidence #SpiritualConnection #ValentinesDay #Matchmaking #JourneyToLove
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How do you find true love—within yourself and in your relationships? In this Valentine’s Day episode, we’re joined by Francesca Hogi, a love coach, TED speaker, and host of the Dear Franny Podcast. Francesca’s journey from corporate lawyer to internationally recognized dating and relationships expert is nothing short of inspiring. With her upcoming book, How to Find True Love, releasing in April 2025, Francesca shares how self-love, compassion, and humility are essential for attracting the love you deserve.
Francesca’s work has been featured on The Today Show, Marie Claire, and The New York Times, and she’s the founder of The True Love Society—a community for those seeking deeper romantic and self-love. In this episode, Francesca dives into the transformative power of self-love and how it shapes our ability to form healthy relationships.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- Love is an Active Practice, Not Just a Feeling
- The Dangers of the "Fairy Tale" Narrative
- Self-Love as a Foundation for Healthy Relationships
- Rejection and its Impact on Self-Worth
- Attraction Shifts as You Grow in Love
Tune in for an episode that will empower you to nurture love in every aspect of your life.
To learn more about Franscesca visit these links:
- Francesca on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dearfranny?igsh=bmNqZWNycHh1OThi
- How to Find True Love by Francesca Hogi - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/francesca-hogi/how-to-find-true-love/9781538769577/?lens=balance
- Dear Franny Podcast -https://pod.link/1475127865
- Francesca’s TED Talk - https://www.instagram.com/dearfranny?igsh=bmNqZWNycHh1OThi
This episode is sponsored by:
- John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/ )
- Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Tags:
LoveCoach #FindingLove #TrueLove #SelfLove #DatingTips #RelationshipAdvice #HealthyRelationships #DearFrannyPodcast #SelfCompassion #Confidence #SpiritualConnection #ValentinesDay #Matchmaking #JourneyToLove
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How do we foster healing in communities impacted by trauma? And how can leaders and educators adopt a healing-centered approach to their work?
In this episode, we’re joined by Deepa Gulrukh Patel, a creative facilitator blending arts, sciences, and social justice. Her work spans refugee camps, cultural diversity, bereavement support, and contemplative education, collaborating with organizations like the UNHCR, the London College of Fashion, and the Fetzer Institute to build healing-centered, sustainable initiatives.
We’re also joined by Dr. Angel Acosta, a leader in mindfulness, social justice, and healing-centered education. With a doctorate in curriculum and teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, Angel creates transformative frameworks like the Contemplating 400 Years of Inequality Experience to address structural inequities and foster restorative practices.
Together, Deepa and Angel share profound insights on healing trauma, supporting frontline workers, and building resilience through mindful education and community-centered approaches.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- Becoming wounded healers
- The importance of listening and presence
- Resilience for frontline workers
- Burnout in caregiving jobs
- Agency over labels
To learn more about Dr. Angel Acosta and Deepa Gulrukh Patel follow these links:
Deepa:
Jordan Refugee Camps - https://www.dress4ourtime.org/
Center for Sustainable Fashion- https://www.sustainable-fashion.com/vital-signs
Inayitiyya Org - https://inayatiyya.org/
Tamasha Theatre Company - https://tamasha.org.uk/
The Loss Foundation - https://thelossfoundation.org/
Charis Interspirituality Org - https://charisinterspirituality.org/
Dr. Angel:Website - https://www.drangelacosta.com
Podcast - https://www.drangelacosta.com/podcast
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-angel-acosta-1886653b
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/ )
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
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How do we foster healing in communities impacted by trauma? And how can leaders and educators adopt a healing-centered approach to their work?
In this episode, we’re joined by Deepa Gulrukh Patel, a creative facilitator blending arts, sciences, and social justice. Her work spans refugee camps, cultural diversity, bereavement support, and contemplative education, collaborating with organizations like the UNHCR, the London College of Fashion, and the Fetzer Institute to build healing-centered, sustainable initiatives.
We’re also joined by Dr. Angel Acosta, a leader in mindfulness, social justice, and healing-centered education. With a doctorate in curriculum and teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, Angel creates transformative frameworks like the Contemplating 400 Years of Inequality Experience to address structural inequities and foster restorative practices.
Together, Deepa and Angel share profound insights on healing trauma, supporting frontline workers, and building resilience through mindful education and community-centered approaches.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- Healing through stillness
- Beauty as a path to healing
- Healing ourselves to help the world
- Healing-centered education
- Creativity heals
To learn more about Dr. Angel Acosta and Deepa Gulrukh Patel follow these links:
Deepa:
Jordan Refugee Camps - https://www.dress4ourtime.org/
Center for Sustainable Fashion- https://www.sustainable-fashion.com/vital-signs
Inayitiyya Org - https://inayatiyya.org/
Tamasha Theatre Company - https://tamasha.org.uk/
The Loss Foundation - https://thelossfoundation.org/
Charis Interspirituality Org - https://charisinterspirituality.org/
Dr. Angel:Website - https://www.drangelacosta.com
Podcast - https://www.drangelacosta.com/podcast
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-angel-acosta-1886653b
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/ )
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
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What are the barriers to pursuing our spiritual yearnings in a disenchanted age?
Dr. Galen Watts addresses this question in this final presentation from our international symposium held at McGill University in November 2024.
Galen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on cultural and institutional change in liberal democracies, with particular attention to religion, morality, work, and politics. He is the author of The Spiritual Turn: The Religion of the Heart and the Making of Romantic Liberal Modernity (Oxford University Press, 2022), which explores the shift from "religion" to "spirituality" and its social and political implications in the West. Currently, his work investigates the cultural dimensions of the "diploma divide," analyzing how symbolic boundaries and cultural practices shape distinctions between urban university-educated professionals and rural nonuniversity-educated workers in Canada and the U.S. Galen has published extensively in leading academic journals, including American Journal of Cultural Sociology, Sociology of Religion, Civic Sociology, European Journal of Social Theory, and The Sociological Review. He also writes for public audiences, bridging academic insights with broader cultural conversations.
In his talk, Galen addresses the following themes:
- Why cosmic connection may be harder to achieve today
- The impact of cultural and institutional change on spiritual yearning
- The decline of the humanities and the loss of deep formative experiences
- The "secular sacred canopy" and its barriers to transcendence
- The paradox of ethical progress alongside increasing spiritual disorientation
- Can modernity be reconciled with cosmic connection?
To learn more about Dr. Watts, you can find him at:
Website: https://www.galenwatts.com/
Linked: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/galen-watts-a8877a212
Book: The Spiritual Turn Buy here
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
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This episode is the sixth presentation in our series from the international symposium on Spiritual Yearning in a Disenchanted Age.
Dr. William Barbieri teaches in the Religion and Culture and Moral Theology/Ethics programs in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and directs the Peace and Justice Studies Program at The Catholic University of America. He is also a fellow of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies and of the Center for the Study of Culture and Values. In addition to his monographs Ethics of Citizenship: Immigration and Group Rights in Germany (Duke University Press, 1998) and Constitutive Justice (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015), he has edited From Just War to Modern Peace Ethics (with Heinz-Gerhard Justenhoven; De Gruyter, 2012) and At the Limits of the Secular: Reflections on Faith and Public Life (Eerdmans 2104). He has also published articles in the areas of human rights, comparative ethics, peace studies, Catholic social teaching, and German studies. His current research addresses the historicity of morals. A member of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Christian Ethics, he has also served on the boards of the Peace and Justice Studies Association and the Institut für Theologie und Frieden in Germany. Barbieri is a past recipient of an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship and a Fulbright German Studies Fellowship. After studying religion and comparative area studies at Duke University, he received a doctorate in religious studies from Yale University in 1992.
In his talk, Dr. Barbieri talks about:
- How agency is ecological
- Contextualizing agency through social, historical, and material dimensions
- The way values can be mediated visually
- The interconnectedness of people, history, and the earth
- Secularism and excarnation
- How the moral life requires perceiving things beyond ourselves
To learn more about Dr. Barbieri, you can find him at:Website: https://trs.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/barbieri-william/index.html
Email: barbieri@cua.edu
Publications
Constitutive Justice: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137263254
Ethics of Citizenship: Immigration and Group Rights in Germany: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-World-Cannot-Give/Tara-Isabella-Burton/9781982170073
Here in Avalon: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Here-in-Avalon/Tara-Isabella-Burton/9781982170097
Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World: https://a.co/d/gOwySUy
Self-Made: Curating Our Image from Da Vinci to the Kardashians: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tara-isabella-burton/self-made/9781541789012/
This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
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The Lost Word: Magic, Reality-Creation, and the Pursuit of God’s Language
This is the fifth presentation from our international symposium on Spiritual Yearning in a Disenchanted Age, held at McGill University in November 2024.
Dr. Tara Isabella Burton is the author of the novels Social Creature, The World Cannot Give, and Here in Avalon, as well as the nonfiction books Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World and Self-Made: Curating Our Image from Da Vinci to the Kardashians. She is currently working on a history of magic and modernity, to be published by Convergent in 2026.
Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, Granta, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She also co-writes the Substack newsletter "Line of Beauty" with her husband, Dhananjay Jagannathan.
Tara received a doctorate in theology from Oxford in 2017. She is a Visiting Fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center and a Visiting Research Fellow at Catholic University of America's Institutional Flourishing Lab.
In her talk, Tara explores:
- Magic’s influence on modernity, from Hermeticism to transhumanism
- The pursuit of a divine language offering truth and creative power
- Art as relational creation, distinct from manipulative magical thinking
- The Divine Liturgy as model for creative practices rooted in connection and participation
To learn more about Tara, you can find her at:
Website: http://www.taraisabellaburton.com/
Email: taraisabellaburton@gmail.com
X: https://x.com/NotoriousTIB
Books
Social Creature: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564730/social-creature-by-tara-isabella-burton/
The World Cannot Give: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-World-Cannot-Give/Tara-Isabella-Burton/9781982170073
Here in Avalon: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Here-in-Avalon/Tara-Isabella-Burton/9781982170097
Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World: https://a.co/d/gOwySUy
Self-Made: Curating Our Image from Da Vinci to the Kardashians: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tara-isabella-burton/self-made/9781541789012/
This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
Is science a path to cosmic connection?
In this fourth episode of our series from the November 2024 symposium on Spiritual Yearning in a Disenchanted Age held at McGill University, I share results of an ongoing study on Meaning and Mystery in Science, which explores the spiritual experiences of non-religious scientists, and how the practice of science might evoke awe, wonder, and a sense of the transcendent.
We open the episode with a poetry reading from Marie Trotter, and following my presentation is a discussion with Dr. Rob Gilbert, Dr. Rajeev Bhargava, and Dr. Galen Watts.
Here’s a summary of the episode:
- Marie Trotter opens the episode with original poetry, exploring themes of fragility, hope, and beauty, drawing inspiration from Klimt's paintings
- Findings from the Meaning and Mystery in Science study reveal how non-religious scientists experience enchantment and spiritual yearning through their work
- Bhargava notes that spiritual yearning is often disrupted by ideological, social, and political forces, which we need to contend with more seriously
- Watts explores the idea of science as play, contrasting the childlike enchantment of discovery with the institutionalized pressures of professional science
- Gilbert highlights the danger of self-satisfaction in science, arguing that humility and vulnerability are essential for true insight
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
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In this presentation, Prof. Robert Gilbert, Professor of Biophysics in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford, explain how science, for the scientist, is a source of enchantment.
Prof. Gilbert and his team work on molecular mechanisms underlying pathology in humans, specifically cancer and membrane pore formation and cell adhesion. Their work is funded by Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, the Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust.
In this presentation, he talks about:
- Scientific discoveries that have drastically changed the world
- Unpacking the mechanistic lens of science
- How delight and play are crucial for scientists
- The beauty of the form and fit of science
- On aesthetic delight in science
- How enchantment is essential to the scientific process
To learn more about Robert, you can find him at:Website: https://www.strubi.ox.ac.uk/research/professor-robert-gilbert
Email: gilbert@strubi.ox.ac.uk
This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
Naomi Fisher is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago. She earned her Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 2016, and prior to that earned her M.S. in physics from UC Davis.
Her research focuses on Kant and German Idealism and Romanticism, specifically the relationship between nature, freedom, and rationality in Kant and Schelling. Currently, she is working on projects related to the impact of Plato and Neoplatonism on Schelling’s philosophy. She also has interests in the broader history of philosophy, philosophy of science, and philosophy of religion.
In her talk, she discusses:
- The disconnect between epiphanies and everyday thought
- On the function of imagination in philosophy
- The philosophy of art according to Schelling
- Manifesting the divine through the power of imagination
- Comparing Schelling’s work to the Romantics
- On accessing transcendent realities
To learn more about Naomi, you can find her at:
Website: https://naomifisher.weebly.com/
Email: naomi.luce@gmail.com
This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
This episode is the first of a series of presentations from an International Symposium on “Spiritual Yearning in a Disenchanted Age” held at McGill University in Montreal in November 2024.
In this first episode, Dr. Charles Taylor, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at McGill University, shares the motivations and long history behind his new book Cosmic Connections: Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment.
Prof. Taylor is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in political philosophy, social theory, and intellectual history. Over the years, he has received numerous prestigious honors, such as the Kyoto Prize, the Templeton Prize, the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy, and the John W. Kluge Prize. In 2007, together with Gérard Bouchard, he co-led the Bouchard–Taylor Commission, which examined how to accommodate cultural differences in Quebec. Taylor has authored or edited more than thirty books, including Sources of the Self and A Secular Age.
In this episode, Prof. Taylor talks about:
- The origins of humanity’s deeper spiritual search
- Why poetry re-enchanting a disenchanted world
- How the study of comparative religion shaped his own spiritual life
- Cosmic longing explored across diverse cultures
- Beauty unites communities in transformative experiences
- How a secular age can spark religious rediscoveries
To learn more about Dr. Charles Taylor’s work, you can visithttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taylor_(philosopher)
Cosmic Connections: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674296084
Follow us on social media for more updates:
X: https://x.com/brvnathan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brvnathan/
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
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This episode is the second part of my conversation with Dr. Francis Collins, a pioneer physician-scientist who led the Human Genome Project and has been director of the National Institutes of Health during the tenures of three U.S. presidents.
Dr. Collins shares insights from his impressive career: from the discovery of genes linked to many diseases to addressing public health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and his efforts to bring harmony between science and faith. We will also discuss the intersection of beauty and science, public health leadership, and the critical task of bridging societal divides in our polarized times. Dr. Collins’s latest book, The Road to Wisdom, deals with the relationship between truth, science, faith, and trust.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The transformative power of faith in science
- The power of beauty to evoke spiritual longing
- Building bridges through healthy conflict
- The need for faith communities in creation care
- The pursuit of truth amidst uncertainty and misinformation
To learn more about Dr. Francis Collins's work, you can find him at:
Website:https://biologos.org/?campaign=539861
Twitter: https://x.com/BioLogosOrg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/biologosorg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biologosorg
This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
Can science, beauty, and faith converge in our quest for truth? Joining us to discuss this topic is Dr. Francis Collins: a pioneer physician-scientist who led the Human Genome Project and has been director of the National Institutes of Health during the tenures of three U.S. presidents. Dr. Collins shares insights from his impressive career: from the discovery of genes linked to many diseases to addressing public health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and his efforts to bring harmony between science and faith. We will also discuss the intersection of beauty and science, public health leadership, and the critical task of bridging societal divides in our polarized times. Dr. Collins’s latest book, The Road to Wisdom, deals with the relationship between truth, science, faith, and trust.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The transformative power of science
- Why Francis wrote The Road to Wisdom
- How politics has led to misinformation
- The importance of trust in institutions despite failures
- The search for truth in science amidst uncertainty
To learn more about Dr. Francis Collins's work, you can find him at:
Website:https://biologos.org/?campaign=539861
Twitter: https://x.com/BioLogosOrg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/biologosorg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biologosorg
This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
Human beings are meaning-seeking creatures. This search is at the heart of religions all around the world. Over the past century or so, however, religion, especially in the West, has been in decline, and many commentators have marked the rise of the “nones” and “dones”--those who have no religious affiliation and those who have abandoned religion with no intention to return. What factors are behind these shifts? What does the search for meaning in the absence of religion look like? What is spirituality and what is its relevance in our contemporary context? In this episode, I interview a psychologist and philosopher who are trying to make sense of these trends.
Daryl Van Tongeren, PhD, is a professor of psychology at Hope College and the director of the Frost Center for Social Science Research. A social psychologist, he has published more than 200 scholarly articles and chapters, and four books, on topics such as religion, meaning in life, and virtues. Most recently, his work has focused on the psychological and social processes of leaving religion and undergoing religious change, culminating in his newest book, Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion. His research has been covered by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, BBC, Hidden Brain, Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR-affiliated radio stations, Scientific American, and Men’s Health. His work has been supported by numerous grants from the John Templeton Foundation, and he has won national and international awards for his research. He is also an associate editor for The Journal of Positive Psychology. He enjoys running, biking, and hiking near where he lives with his wife, Sara, in Holland, MI.
David McPherson is Professor of Philosophy in the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida as well as Affiliate Professor in the Department of Philosophy. McPherson works in the areas of ethics (especially virtue ethics), political philosophy, meaning in life, and philosophy of religion. He is the author of The Virtues of Limits (Oxford University Press, 2022) and Virtue and Meaning: A Neo-Aristotelian Perspective (Cambridge University Press, 2020), as well as the editor of Spirituality and the Good Life: Philosophical Approaches (Cambridge University Press, 2017). McPherson is currently the project leader for a three-year Templeton-funded grant project on “Spiritual Yearning and the Problem of Spiritual Alienation,” which will result in his third book monograph titled Spiritual Alienation and the Quest for God as well as an edited volume titled Spiritual Yearning in an Age of Secularization: Philosophical, Psychological, and Sociological Perspectives.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The Search for Meaning and Spiritual Yearning
- Spiritual Alienation and the Struggle for Authenticity
- The Role of Yearning in Psychological Growth
- The Existential Challenge of Living Fully
- Spiritual Practices and the Path to Receptivity
- The Future of Spirituality in a Secular Age
To learn more about Daryl and his work, you can find him at:Website: http://darylvantongeren.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/darylvantongeren/
X: https://x.com/drvantongeren
Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion: https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/done
To learn more about David and his work, you can find him at:Website: https://davidmcpherson.weebly.com/
X: https://
Support the show
Human beings are meaning-seeking creatures. This search is at the heart of religions all around the world. Over the past century or so, however, religion, especially in the West, has been in decline, and many commentators have marked the rise of the “nones” and “dones”--those who have no religious affiliation and those who have abandoned religion with no intention to return. What factors are behind these shifts? What does the search for meaning in the absence of religion look like? What is spirituality and what is its relevance in our contemporary context? In this episode, I interview a psychologist and philosopher who are trying to make sense of these trends.
Daryl Van Tongeren, PhD, is a professor of psychology at Hope College and the director of the Frost Center for Social Science Research. A social psychologist, he has published more than 200 scholarly articles and chapters, and four books, on topics such as religion, meaning in life, and virtues. Most recently, his work has focused on the psychological and social processes of leaving religion and undergoing religious change, culminating in his newest book, Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion. His research has been covered by numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, BBC, Hidden Brain, Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR-affiliated radio stations, Scientific American, and Men’s Health. His work has been supported by numerous grants from the John Templeton Foundation, and he has won national and international awards for his research. He is also an associate editor for The Journal of Positive Psychology. He enjoys running, biking, and hiking near where he lives with his wife, Sara, in Holland, MI.
David McPherson is Professor of Philosophy in the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida as well as Affiliate Professor in the Department of Philosophy. McPherson works in the areas of ethics (especially virtue ethics), political philosophy, meaning in life, and philosophy of religion. He is the author of The Virtues of Limits (Oxford University Press, 2022) and Virtue and Meaning: A Neo-Aristotelian Perspective (Cambridge University Press, 2020), as well as the editor of Spirituality and the Good Life: Philosophical Approaches (Cambridge University Press, 2017). McPherson is currently the project leader for a three-year Templeton-funded grant project on “Spiritual Yearning and the Problem of Spiritual Alienation,” which will result in his third book monograph titled Spiritual Alienation and the Quest for God as well as an edited volume titled Spiritual Yearning in an Age of Secularization: Philosophical, Psychological, and Sociological Perspectives.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The four main reasons people leave religion
- Navigating cognitive dissonance and existential anxiety
- Virtue ethics and the good life
- What is spirituality and do we need it?
- Spiritual alienation
To learn more about Daryl and his work, you can find him at:Website: http://darylvantongeren.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/darylvantongeren/
X: https://x.com/drvantongeren
Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion: https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/done
To learn more about David and his work, you can find him at:Website: https://davidmcpherson.weebly.com/
X: https://x.com/davidlmcpherson
Virtue and Meaning: A Neo-Aristotelian Perspective:
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This episode is the second part of the conversation between Brandon Vaidyanathan and Robert Lawrence Kuhn.
Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn is the creator, writer, host and executive producer of Closer To Truth, the long-running PBS/public television series and leading global resource on Cosmos (cosmology/physics, philosophy of science), Life (philosophy of biology), Mind (consciousness, brain/mind, philosophy of mind), and Meaning (theism/atheism/agnosticism, global philosophy of religion, critical thinking).
Kuhn has written or edited over 30 books, including The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All? (with John Leslie); Closer To Truth: Challenging Current Belief; Closer To Truth: Science, Meaning and the Future; The Library of Investment Banking; How China’s Leaders Think (featuring President Xi Jinping); The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin (China’s best-selling book in 2005 and in December 2022); and "The Origin and Significance of Zero: An Interdisciplinary Perspective” (with Peter Gobets).
An international corporate strategist and investment banker, Dr. Kuhn is a recipient of the China Reform Friendship Medal and is a frequent commentator in the international media and Chinese media.
Kuhn’s comprehensive review article on consciousness – “A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a Taxonomy of Explanations and Implications” – is published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology (August 2024), and is considered the most comprehensive article written on the landscape of consciousness theories.
Dr. Kuhn is chairman of The Kuhn Foundation. He has a BA in Human Biology (Johns Hopkins), PhD in Anatomy/Brain Research (UCLA), and SM (MBA) in Management (MIT).
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The Landscape of Consciousness article, which develops a comprehensive taxonomy of theories of consciousness
- The value of loving the questions more than seeking certainty
- The humility of acknowledging the limits of one's own beliefs
- The impact of Closer to Truth
To learn more about Robert, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-lawrence-kuhn-4b893221
Closer to Truth: https://closertotruth.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV/videos
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/closer-to-truth/id411527781
A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a taxonomy of explanations and implications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38281544/
The Mystery of Existence: Why Is There Anything At All?: https://a.co/d/izIoY8I
Why anything? Why this? by Derek Parfit: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v20/n02/derek-parfit/why-anything-why-this
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
What does it look like to live a life in pursuit of understanding? Our guest today exemplifies this quest across a wide range of domains.
Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn is the creator, writer, host and executive producer of Closer To Truth, the long-running PBS/public television series and leading global resource on Cosmos (cosmology/physics, philosophy of science), Life (philosophy of biology), Mind (consciousness, brain/mind, philosophy of mind), and Meaning (theism/atheism/agnosticism, global philosophy of religion, critical thinking).
Kuhn has written or edited over 30 books, including The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All? (with John Leslie); Closer To Truth: Challenging Current Belief; Closer To Truth: Science, Meaning and the Future; The Library of Investment Banking; How China’s Leaders Think (featuring President Xi Jinping); The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin (China’s best-selling book in 2005 and in December 2022); and "The Origin and Significance of Zero: An Interdisciplinary Perspective” (with Peter Gobets).
An international corporate strategist and investment banker, Dr. Kuhn is a recipient of the China Reform Friendship Medal and is a frequent commentator in the international media and Chinese media.
Kuhn’s comprehensive review article on consciousness – “A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a Taxonomy of Explanations and Implications” – is published in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology (August 2024), and is considered the most comprehensive article written on the landscape of consciousness theories.
Dr. Kuhn is chairman of The Kuhn Foundation. He has a BA in Human Biology (Johns Hopkins), PhD in Anatomy/Brain Research (UCLA), and SM (MBA) in Management (MIT).
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The beauty of understanding
- Robert's trajectory from neuroscience to business to China policy
- The drive to explore big existential questions
- The creation of Closer to Truth
To learn more about Robert, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-lawrence-kuhn-4b893221
Closer to Truth: https://closertotruth.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV/videos
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/closer-to-truth/id411527781
A Landscape of Consciousness: Toward a taxonomy of explanations and implications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38281544/
The Mystery of Existence: Why Is There Anything At All?: https://a.co/d/izIoY8I
Why anything? Why this? by Derek Parfit: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v20/n02/derek-parfit/why-anything-why-this
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
Maggie Jackson is an award-winning author and journalist with a global reach. Her new book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, explores why we should seek not-knowing in this era of angst and flux. Nominated for a National Book Award and named to multiple “Best Books of 2023” lists, Uncertain is an official selection of the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Adam Grant, and Susan Cain. Lauded as “incisive and timely” (Dan Pink), “surprising and practical” (Gretchen Rubin), and “remarkable and persuasive” (Library Journal), Uncertain was named a Top 10 Summer Reading pick by Nautilus magazine.
Jackson’s previous book, Distracted, sparked a global conversation on the steep costs of fragmenting our attention. A former longtime columnist for the Boston Globe, Jackson has written for The New York Times and major publications worldwide. Her work has been translated into numerous languages and is widely covered by the press. She lives in New York and Rhode Island and seeks a daily dose of uncertainty by swimming in the sea nearly every day, year-round.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The value of taking time to think before reacting.
- How uncertainty can help us learn and grow.
- The strengths that can come from growing up in tough situations.
- Making AI more adaptable by embracing uncertainty.
- Finding deeper beauty by being open to different perspectives.
To learn more about Maggie Jackson, you can find her at: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggie.jackson.books/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiejackson/
Website: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/
Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maggie-Jackson/author/B001JP8IEA
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
Maggie Jackson is an award-winning author and journalist with a global reach. Her new book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, explores why we should seek not-knowing in this era of angst and flux. Nominated for a National Book Award and named to multiple “Best Books of 2023” lists, Uncertain is an official selection of the Next Big Idea Club curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Pink, Adam Grant, and Susan Cain. Lauded as “incisive and timely” (Dan Pink), “surprising and practical” (Gretchen Rubin), and “remarkable and persuasive” (Library Journal), Uncertain was named a Top 10 Summer Reading pick by Nautilus magazine.
Jackson’s previous book, Distracted, sparked a global conversation on the steep costs of fragmenting our attention. A former longtime columnist for the Boston Globe, Jackson has written for The New York Times and major publications worldwide. Her work has been translated into numerous languages and is widely covered by the press. She lives in New York and Rhode Island and seeks a daily dose of uncertainty by swimming in the sea nearly every day, year-round.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The value of embracing uncertainty as a superpower
- The distinction between aleatory and epistemic uncertainty
- The cultural and psychological effects of our aversion to uncertainty
- The role of adaptive expertise in leadership and problem-solving
- The relationship between humility and uncertainty
To learn more about Maggie Jackson, you can find her at: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggie.jackson.books/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiejackson/
Website: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/
Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maggie-Jackson/author/B001JP8IEA
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
Daniel McInerny is associate professor and chair of the philosophy department at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. He is also a novelist and dramatist. As a scholar, Daniel is foremost interested in reactivating an Aristotelian understanding of mimetic art, long out of favor among philosophers. His latest book is Beauty and Imitation: A Philosophical Reflection on the Arts. At Christendom College Daniel teaches courses on the Philosophy of Art & Beauty, the Philosophy of Technology, the Philosophy of Culture, and Poetic Experience & Truth. In March 2023 Chrism Press published his novel, The Good Death of Kate Montclair. Daniel is also the author of a play, The Actor, which will premiere in November 2024. Daniel also writes the Substack newsletter, The Comic Muse, where he shares stories and sketches from his studio.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The importance of choice over chance in compelling narratives
- The moral dimension of storytelling
- The relationship between subjective and objective beauty in art
- The significance of context in art appreciation
To learn more about Daniel and his work:Newsletter: https://danielmcinerny.substack.com/
Beauty and Imitation: https://a.co/d/cNquN03
The Good Death of Kate Montclair: https://a.co/d/0KKy0PS
Podcast: https://danielmcinerny.substack.com/podcast
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
How is art relevant to our yearning for flourishing? In this episode, I interview philosopher Daniel McInerny about his new book, Beauty and Imitation.
Dr. Daniel McInerny is associate professor and chair of the philosophy department at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. He is also a novelist and dramatist. As a scholar, Daniel is foremost interested in reactivating an Aristotelian understanding of mimetic art, long out of favor among philosophers. His latest book is Beauty and Imitation: A Philosophical Reflection on the Arts. At Christendom College Daniel teaches courses on the Philosophy of Art & Beauty, the Philosophy of Technology, the Philosophy of Culture, and Poetic Experience & Truth. In March 2023 Chrism Press published his novel, The Good Death of Kate Montclair. Daniel is also the author of a play, The Actor, which will premiere in November 2024. Daniel also writes the Substack newsletter, The Comic Muse, where he shares stories and sketches from his studio.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- What is mimetic art?
- Mimetic art as storytelling
- Delighted contemplation as the ultimate goal of art
To learn more about Daniel and his work:Newsletter: https://danielmcinerny.substack.com/
Beauty and Imitation: https://a.co/d/cNquN03
The Good Death of Kate Montclair: https://a.co/d/0KKy0PS
This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
In this episode, sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan interviews MIT Physicist Dr. Alan Lightman about his spiritual materialism.
Alan Lightman is an American physicist, writer, and social entrepreneur. He holds a PhD in physics from Caltech. He has served on the faculties of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and was the first person at MIT to receive dual faculty appointments in science and in the humanities. He is currently professor of the practice of the humanities at MIT. Lightman is the recipient of six honorary doctoral degrees. He is the author of numerous books, both nonfiction and fiction, including Einstein’s Dreams, an international bestseller, and The Diagnosis, a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction. His essays concern the intersection of science, culture, philosophy, and theology. Lightman is the host of the public television series “SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science,” funded by the John Templeton Foundation. In 2005, Lightman founded Harpswell, a nonprofit organization devoted to empowering young women leaders in Southeast Asia, and he has served as chair of its board. In August 2023, Lightman was appointed a member of the United Nations’ Scientific Advisory Board. His latest book is The Transcendent Brain: Spirituality in the Age of Science (2023).
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The limits of scientific inquiry
- How to interpret spiritual experiences
- The concept of creative transcendence
- Why spirituality matters for us all
- Alan's humanitarian work
To learn more about Alan and his work:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-lightman-6bb7191b6
- Website:https://cmsw.mit.edu/alan-lightman/
- Email: lightman@mit.edu
- Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APY6Q4
- Scientific Publications:https://cmsw.mit.edu/alan-lightman/#SCIENTIFIC%20PUBLICATIONS
- Harpswell Organization: https://harpswell.org/
This episode is sponsored by:
- John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and
- Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
In this episode, sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan interviews MIT Physicist Dr. Alan Lightman about his spiritual materialism.
Alan Lightman is an American physicist, writer, and social entrepreneur. He holds a PhD in physics from Caltech. He has served on the faculties of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and was the first person at MIT to receive dual faculty appointments in science and in the humanities. He is currently professor of the practice of the humanities at MIT. Lightman is the recipient of six honorary doctoral degrees. He is the author of numerous books, both nonfiction and fiction, including Einstein’s Dreams, an international bestseller, and The Diagnosis, a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction. His essays concern the intersection of science, culture, philosophy, and theology. Lightman is the host of the public television series “SEARCHING: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science,” funded by the John Templeton Foundation. In 2005, Lightman founded Harpswell, a nonprofit organization devoted to empowering young women leaders in Southeast Asia, and he has served as chair of its board. In August 2023, Lightman was appointed a member of the United Nations’ Scientific Advisory Board. His latest book is The Transcendent Brain: Spirituality in the Age of Science (2023).
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- Balancing interests in art and science from a young age
- The role of beauty in scientific discovery
- Alan's concept of spiritual materialism
- Transcendence and the Hindu concept of "darshan"
To learn more about Alan and his work:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-lightman-6bb7191b6
- Website:https://cmsw.mit.edu/alan-lightman/
- Email: lightman@mit.edu
- Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APY6Q4
- Scientific Publications:https://cmsw.mit.edu/alan-lightman/#SCIENTIFIC%20PUBLICATIONS
- Harpswell Organization: https://harpswell.org/
This episode is sponsored by:
- John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and
- Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
Elizabeth Oldfield is the author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times. She has spent her career trying to lever open space for deeper conversations - about what it means to be a human being, where we can find wisdom and how we build a society where we hate each other a little less. She has worked at BBC Radio 4, led a Westminster think tank, and is now the host of The Sacred podcast, speaking to guests like Nick Cave, Sally Philips, Rabbi Sacks, Rainn Wilson, Sathnam Sanghera and Krista Tippett about their deepest values. She lives with her family in a Christian intentional community in South London.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- Moving beyond individualism
- Moving from wrath to peacemaking
- Moving from greed to generosity and gratitude
- Finding freedom in commitment
- The concept of God
To learn more about Elizabeth and her work:
- LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-oldfield-5a5b6216
- Website: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsaraholdfield/
- X: https://x.com/esoldfield
- Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times: https://a.co/d/4iFq69r
- Substack Newsletter: https://morefullyalive.substack.com/
- Larger Us Organization: https://larger.us/
- The Sacred podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1326888108
This episode is sponsored by:
- John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and
- Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
Elizabeth Oldfield is the author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times. She has spent her career trying to lever open space for deeper conversations - about what it means to be a human being, where we can find wisdom and how we build a society where we hate each other a little less. She has worked at BBC Radio 4, led a Westminster think tank, and is now the host of The Sacred podcast, speaking to guests like Nick Cave, Sally Philips, Rabbi Sacks, Rainn Wilson, Sathnam Sanghera and Krista Tippett about their deepest values. She lives with her family in a Christian intentional community in South London.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- How cultural narratives shape our understanding of the world
- Making sense of our turbulent times
- How religious traditions can be a source of wisdom
- The concept of sin as our tendency to f*** things up
- Our deep need for connection
To learn more about Elizabeth and her work:
- LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-oldfield-5a5b6216
- Website: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsaraholdfield/
- X: https://x.com/esoldfield
- Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times: https://a.co/d/4iFq69r
- Substack Newsletter: https://morefullyalive.substack.com/
- Larger Us Organization: https://larger.us/
- The Sacred podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1326888108
This episode is sponsored by:
- John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and
- Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
This is the second part of our conversation with Andy Youniss, founder and former President and CEO of Rocket Software.
Youniss has been the guiding force behind Rocket’s innovation, acquisitions, partnerships, strategy, culture, and values since the company launched in 1990. Today, Rocket serves a diverse customer community all around the globe and continues to differentiate itself by delivering exceptional customer experiences and living its core values of empathy, humanity, trust, and love.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- Developing Rocket's company culture
- Building trust at work
- The importance of empathy in leadership
- What music can teach us about leadership
- Andy's advice for living a more integrated life
To learn more about Andy and his work at Rocket Software, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-youniss-3093b664
Website: https://www.rocketsoftware.com/
X: https://x.com/Rocket
This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
In this episode, sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan interviews Andy Youniss, founder and former President and CEO of Rocket Software.
Andy has been the guiding force behind Rocket’s innovation, acquisitions, partnerships, strategy, culture, and values since the company launched in 1990. Today, Rocket serves a diverse customer community all around the globe and continues to differentiate itself by delivering exceptional customer experiences and living its core values of empathy, humanity, trust, and love. Andy currently serves as the company's executive chairman.
Andy has been recognized as New England Technology Entrepreneur of the Year (2017) by EY and is one of the world’s foremost experts on making an impact through innovation in, and modernization of, mission-critical legacy technology. He has been a guest lecturer at Babson College, Berklee College of Music, The Catholic University of America, and Tufts University, and has inspired many through his TEDx talk about the meaningful intersection of music and technology throughout his life. In addition to his role as executive chairman at Rocket, Andy is a trustee at Boston Medical Center and at Berklee. He also mentors, coaches, and advises rising leaders and growing organizations such as Spoonfuls, The Record Co. and We Make Noise.
Youniss is also an accomplished pianist and guitarist who has performed on stage in Boston and Las Vegas, solo and with the Rocket Band, and has opened for Aerosmith, Elton John, Maroon 5, Gwen Stefani, Elvis Costello, and others.
In this first part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The impact of Andy's early musical experiences
- How Andy developed a passion for software development
- The role of music in integrating personal and professional life
- The beauty of problem-solving in both music and software
- The transformative power of creativity and personal expression
To learn more about Andy and his work at Rocket Software, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-youniss-3093b664
Website: https://www.rocketsoftware.com/
X: https://x.com/Rocket
This episode is sponsored by:
John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)
Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the show
This episode is a conversation with two experts combating our current loneliness crisis: Ron Ivey and Monika Jiang.
Ron Ivey is a writer, researcher, and strategic advisor to business, governments, and philanthropies with a focus on social trust, belonging, and human flourishing. Ron is currently the Managing Director of the Humanity 2.0 Institute and a Research Fellow at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program where he co-leads the Trust and Belonging Initiative. Ron also currently serves as a Fellow at the Centre for Public Impact, a global think tank seeking to re-imagine government and restore relationships between governments and those they govern. In 2017, Ron established a consultancy, Rembrandt Collective, to shape business strategies for trust, alignment and social impact.
Monika Jiang, a second-generation Chinese immigrant, has always walked the line between feeling estranged and belonging. Her journey, marked by oscillations between aloneness, loneliness, and connection, has profoundly influenced her personal and professional life, shaping her into a visionary who senses what wants to emerge as we move closer to ourselves, each other, and the world. Professionally, Monika has made a significant impact at the House of Beautiful Business. Here, she helped build a global community of 50,000 members dedicated to a life-centered economy. Monika’s deep desire to move from loneliness to oneliness inspired her to found the initiative Sharing Our Loneliness. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the paradoxical power of loneliness to reconnect us with ourselves and others. Through intimate gatherings, writing, and speaking engagements, Monika cultivates spaces for dialogue, connection, and community, addressing loneliness as a personal, collective, and societal challenge. Additionally, she is a teacher in training with Humanize, an evidence-based program focused on fostering emotional and social skills, and she practices these skills based on social neuroscientific research at the Max-Planck Institute in Berlin.
In this second part of our conversation, we talk about:
- The need to create cities with shared spaces
- The stigma of discussing the shame and suffering that comes with loneliness
- Embracing the discomfort of loneliness
- How AI and new technologies are shaping loneliness and belonging
- The connection between awe and loneliness
To learn more about Monika’s work, you can find her at:Website: https://www.monikajiang.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika.jiang/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-jiang/
To learn more about Ron’s work, you can find him at:X: https://x.com/ronivey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika.jiang/
Linkedin: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/ron-ivey-0bb9a33
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and
the Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the Show.
Sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan talks to two experts combating our current loneliness crisis: Ron Ivey and Monika Jiang.
Ron Ivey is a writer, researcher, and strategic advisor to business, governments, and philanthropies with a focus on social trust, belonging, and human flourishing. Ron is currently the Managing Director of the Humanity 2.0 Institute and a Research Fellow at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program where he co-leads the Trust and Belonging Initiative. Ron also currently serves as a Fellow at the Centre for Public Impact, a global think tank seeking to re-imagine government and restore relationships between governments and those they govern. In 2017, Ron established a consultancy, Rembrandt Collective, to shape business strategies for trust, alignment and social impact.
Monika Jiang, a second-generation Chinese immigrant, has always walked the line between feeling estranged and belonging. Her journey, marked by oscillations between aloneness, loneliness, and connection, has profoundly influenced her personal and professional life, shaping her into a visionary who senses what wants to emerge as we move closer to ourselves, each other, and the world. Professionally, Monika has made a significant impact at the House of Beautiful Business. Here, she helped build a global community of 50,000 members dedicated to a life-centered economy. By curating and hosting transformative gatherings, she helped business leaders imagine and transform themselves and their environments. Monika’s deep desire to move from loneliness to oneliness inspired her to found the initiative Sharing Our Loneliness. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the paradoxical power of loneliness to reconnect us with ourselves and others. She is a teacher in training with Humanize, an evidence-based program focused on fostering emotional and social skills, and she practices these skills based on social neuroscientific research at the Max-Planck Institute in Berlin.
In this episode we talk about:
- Loneliness and growing up in a multicultural environment
- How the experience of shared loneliness can actually bring us closer together
- Current research on loneliness and social cohesion and the blind spots in policies
- Cross-cultural differences in loneliness
- The surprising beauty that can be found within our experience of loneliness
To learn more about Monika’s work, you can find her at:Website: https://www.monikajiang.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika.jiang/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-jiang/
To learn more about Ron’s work, you can find him at:X: https://x.com/ronivey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika.jiang/
Linkedin: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/ron-ivey-0bb9a33
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and
the Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)
Support the Show.
Nalini Nadkarni’s unique academic career interweaves her scientific research on rainforest canopy biota with innovative public engagement. She has written 150 scientific papers and books on the composition and ecological roles of canopy-dwelling communities, supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. She also engages with those who do not or cannot gain access to science education, including faith-based groups, artists, corporations, and people who are incarcerated. Her work is featured in journals ranging from Science to Playboy, and in public media such as Science Friday, Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, and RadioLab. In 2023, the National Geographic Society named her as one of their ten “Explorers at Large.” Her awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, the AAAS Award for Public Engagement, the National Science Foundation Award for Public Service, The Rachel Carson Award for Conservation, The Wilson Award for the Advancement of Social Justice, and the Archie Carr Medal for Conservation.
In this second part of our conversation, Nalini discusses:
- Using creative methods to inspire people about trees and science.
- Partnering with faith groups to emphasize trees' spiritual value.
- Involving inmates in meaningful conservation work.
- Leveraging investment for sustainable ecological funding.
To learn more about Nalini’s work:
- https://www.nalininadkarni.com/
- https://explorers.nationalgeographic.org/directory/nalini-m-nadkarni
Follow us on social media for more updates:
- Twitter: @brvnathan
- Instagram: @brvnathan
Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive early access to episodes: www.beautyatwork.net
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/).
Support the Show.
Nalini Nadkarni’s unique academic career interweaves her scientific research on rainforest canopy biota with innovative public engagement. She has written 150 scientific papers and books on the composition and ecological roles of canopy-dwelling communities, supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. She also engages with those who do not or cannot gain access to science education, including faith-based groups, artists, corporations, and people who are incarcerated. Her work is featured in journals ranging from Science to Playboy, and in public media such as Science Friday, Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, and RadioLab. In 2023, the National Geographic Society named her as one of their ten “Explorers at Large.” Her awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, the AAAS Award for Public Engagement, the National Science Foundation Award for Public Service, The Rachel Carson Award for Conservation, The Wilson Award for the Advancement of Social Justice, and the Archie Carr Medal for Conservation.
In this first part of our conversation, Nalini discusses:
- Her childhood love for trees
- Her pioneering research on the forest canopy
- How the discovery of canopy roots reshaped our understanding of tree biology.
- Challenges and risks she encountered in her work
To learn more about Nalini’s work:
- https://www.nalininadkarni.com/
- https://explorers.nationalgeographic.org/directory/nalini-m-nadkarni
Follow us on social media for more updates:
- Twitter: @brvnathan
- Instagram: @brvnathan
Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive early access to episodes: www.beautyatwork.net
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/).
Support the Show.
Existential psychologist Dr. Clay Routledge, Vice President of Research at the Archbridge Institute, discusses the science of nostalgia, and why our yearning for beautiful memories is not simply an escape to the past but a vital resource for innovation.
Clay is a highly cited researcher who has published more than 100 scholarly papers, co-edited three academic books, authored three books, and received numerous awards for his research and mentorship. Clay regularly advises a range of organizations, from small startups to large companies, helping them use existential psychology and behavioral science more broadly to improve their products, services, and workplace culture. His latest book is Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life.
In this second part of our conversation, Clay discusses:
- Nostalgia ties to both good and bad times, making tough moments seem special.
- Childhood memories can become meaningful reflections.
- Nostalgia reflects growth, helps in tough times, and boosts creativity and spirituality.
To learn more about Clay’s work, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayroutledge/
X: https://twitter.com/clayroutledge
Human Flourishing Lab: https://humanflourishinglab.org
Personal Website: https://www.clayroutledge.com
Substack (Flourishing Friday): https://www.flourishingfriday.blog/
His latest book (Past Forward): https://www.amazon.com/Past-Forward-Nostalgia-Help-Meaningful/dp/1683648641/
Follow us on social media for more updates:
- Twitter: @brvnathan
- Instagram: @brvnathan
Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive early access to episodes: www.beautyatwork.net
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/).
Support the Show.
Existential psychologist Dr. Clay Routledge, Vice President of Research at the Archbridge Institute, discusses the science of nostalgia, and why our yearning for beautiful memories is not simply an escape to the past but a vital resource for innovation.
Clay is a highly cited researcher who has published more than 100 scholarly papers, co-edited three academic books, authored three books, and received numerous awards for his research and mentorship. Clay regularly advises a range of organizations, from small startups to large companies, helping them use existential psychology and behavioral science more broadly to improve their products, services, and workplace culture. His latest book is Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life.
In this first part of our conversation, Clay discusses:
- His childhood experiences of profound beauty
- How he came to pursue existential psychology
- Key findings from his research on nostalgia, including its motivating and surprisingly future-oriented nature
To learn more about Clay’s work, you can find him at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayroutledge/
X: https://twitter.com/clayroutledge
Human Flourishing Lab: https://humanflourishinglab.org
Personal Website: https://www.clayroutledge.com
Substack (Flourishing Friday): https://www.flourishingfriday.blog/
His latest book (Past Forward): https://www.amazon.com/Past-Forward-Nostalgia-Help-Meaningful/dp/1683648641/
Follow us on social media for more updates:
- Twitter: @brvnathan
- Instagram: @brvnathan
Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive early access to episodes: www.beautyatwork.net
This episode is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/) and Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/).
Support the Show.
Season 3 of the podcast launches in July. We have a great lineup of guests coming up!
I'd also love to hear your recommendations for guests and topics that you'd like to hear on the show. Please feel free to reach out at beautyatworkpodcast@gmail.com
Support the Show.
What, if anything, is beautiful about democracy? Is it meaningful to talk about beauty when it comes to politics?
These questions were discussed (and even fiercely debated) in our final plenary session of the Beauty at Work international symposium held at The Catholic University of America, May 27, 2023.
This episode is the second part of the discussion. Please listen to the first part here if you haven't already:
Panelists for the session were Hélène Landemore (Yale University), Shadi Hamid (The Atlantic), and Osita Nwanevu (The New Republic)
The panel was moderated by Samuel Kimbriel, The Aspen Institute.
You can find the full video of the discussion on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/9FQPHMRsW1A?si=t7fcKRhfnr4EbL2r
This symposium was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust, the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, Archbridge Institute, and the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America.
Support the Show.
What, if anything, is beautiful about democracy? Is it meaningful to talk about beauty when it comes to politics?
These questions were discussed (and even fiercely debated) in our final plenary session of the Beauty at Work international symposium held at The Catholic University of America, May 27, 2023.
We will share this session with you over the next couple of episodes.
Panelists for the session were Hélène Landemore (Yale University), Shadi Hamid (The Atlantic), and Osita Nwanevu (The New Republic)
The panel was moderated by Samuel Kimbriel, The Aspen Institute.
You can find the full video of the discussion on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/9FQPHMRsW1A?si=t7fcKRhfnr4EbL2r
This symposium was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust, the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, Archbridge Institute, and the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America.
Support the Show.
This is part 2 of a 2-part episode examining how beauty works to shape our brains, the spaces we inhabit, and the communities we build.
Please check out part 1 if you haven't already: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/15078668
These questions were the focus of the second plenary session of our International Symposium on Beauty at Work that we held in Washington DC in May 2023.
Our panelists were:
Anjan Chatterjee, University of Pennsylvania
Julio Bermudez, The Catholic University of America
Pallavi Dean, Roar, Dubai, UAE
Sheri Parks, University of Maryland
The panel was moderated by Christine Emba, Staff Writer at The Atlantic
You can watch the video of the discussion here: https://youtu.be/4VhC7mTxEoQ
This symposium was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust, the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, Archbridge Institute, and the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America.
Support the Show.
How does beauty shape our brains, the spaces we inhabit, and the communities we build?
These questions were the focus of the second plenary session of our International Symposium on Beauty at Work that we held in Washington DC in May 2023.
The panelists in this second session of our Symposium tackle these questions
Anjan Chatterjee, University of Pennsylvania
Julio Bermudez, The Catholic University of America
Pallavi Dean, Roar, Dubai, UAE
Sheri Parks, University of Maryland
The panel was moderated by Christine Emba, Staff Writer at The Atlantic
You can watch the video of the discussion here: https://youtu.be/4VhC7mTxEoQ
This symposium was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust, the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, Archbridge Institute, and the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America.
Support the Show.
Please check out part 1 or the discussion here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/15037678
This episode is the second part of our plenary session on the meaning and value of beauty in science which opened the International Symposium on Beauty at Work that we held in Washington DC in May 2023.
The session was a discussion between four scientists: Dr. Robert Gilbert (Professor of Biochemistry, University of Oxford); Dr. Aaron Dominguez (Professor of Physics and Provost, Catholic University of America); and Dr. Massimo Robberto (Space Telescope Science Institute) and Dr. Maria Teresa Landi (National Cancer Institute at NIH) who moderated the conversation.
There are some beautiful visuals and videos that you can watch on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG_ESu8RPeI
This symposium was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust, the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, the Archbridge Institute, and the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America.
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What does Beauty mean to scientists? Why does it matter for the practice of science?
These questions drive the opening plenary session of the Beauty at Work international symposium held at The Catholic University of America, May 26, 2023.
We’re going to share this session with you over the next couple of episodes.
The session opened with remarks from the President of the Catholic University of America, Dr. Peter Kilpatrick. It was followed by a discussion between four scientists: Dr. Robert Gilbert (Professor of Biochemistry, University of Oxford); Dr. Aaron Dominguez (Professor of Physics and Provost, Catholic University of America); and Dr. Massimo Robberto (Space Telescope Science Institute) and Dr. Maria Teresa Landi (National Cancer Institute at NIH) who moderated the conversation.
There are some beautiful visuals and videos that you can watch on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG_ESu8RPeI
This symposium was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust, the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, the Archbridge Institute, and the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America.
Support the Show.
In July 2022, we held an interdisciplinary panel at the University of Oxford on the role of beauty in science. The event was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust and Magdalen College. The panel represented perspectives from diverse disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, philosophy of science, and sociology.
This is the third episode in the series. In this episode, I present results from the world’s first large-scale survey of beauty in science. You can see the slides from the presentation on the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/t6AQ9O2MLUY?si=VQpoyHYaMSWYpBoN
Following this presentation we’ll have a discussion among panelists and Q&A from the audience.
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In July 2022, we held an interdisciplinary panel at Magdalen College the University of Oxford on the role of beauty in science. The event was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust and Magdalen College. The panel represented perspectives from diverse disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, philosophy of science, and sociology.
You can see the slides from the panelists’ presentations on the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/t6AQ9O2MLUY?si=VQpoyHYaMSWYpBoN
This is the second episode in the series; in our last episode we heard from Dr. Ben MacArthur and Dr. James McAllister. In this clip we’re going to hear from three panelists:
Dr. Milena Ivanova is Bye-Fellow at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge. She is the co-editor of The Aesthetics of Science: Beauty, Imagination and Understanding (Routledge, 2020), author of Duhem and Holism (Cambridge University Press, 2021), The Aesthetic Nature of Scientific Experiments (Routledge).
Dr. Robert Gilbert is Professor of Biophysics in the Nuffield Department of Medicine and Director of the University of Oxford’s Medical Sciences Graduate School. He is the author of Science and the Truthfulness of Beauty (Routledge, 2018).
Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder is the author of Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray (Basic Books, 2018) and Existential Physics: A Scientist’s Guide to Life’s Biggest Questions (Viking and Atlantic Books, 2022) and creative director of the YouTube channel “Science without the gobbledygook.”
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In July 2022, we held an interdisciplinary panel at Magdalen College at the University of Oxford on the role of beauty in science. The event was sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust and Magdalen College. The panel represented perspectives from diverse disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, philosophy of science, and sociology.
We’re going to share this conversation with you over the next few episodes. You can see the slides from the panelists’ presentations on the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/t6AQ9O2MLUY?si=VQpoyHYaMSWYpBoN
In this first clip, we’ll hear from Dr. Ben MacArthur, who is Director of AI for Science and Government and Deputy Programme Director for Health and Medical Sciences at the Alan Turing Institute. He is also Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Southampton.
Following that we’ll hear from Dr. James McAllister, who is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Leiden University. He is the author of Beauty and Revolution in Science (Cornell University Press, 1996). We’ll hear from our other panelists in our next episode.
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Is beauty a reliable guide to truth in science? No, says physicist, author, and science communicator Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder. In this clip, she discusses how the concept of “naturalness” is related to beauty and why it’s misleading
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12833522
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the Show.
Iconographer David Clayton, who was trained in materials science at Oxford, discusses why it seems that there is a gulf between art and science, and shares ideas for how to bring the two closer together.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12739891
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the show
What does math teach us about beauty? In this clip, mathematician Dr. Carlo Lancellotti discusses how the search for an elegant, simple equation is similar to the quest to build a beautiful cathedral. He also discusses the link between math and spirituality.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12648186
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the show
Where do scientists find beauty in their work and why does it matter to them? Immunologist Dr. Mark Painter argues that what’s central here is not simply the visual or sensory beauty he encounters in the phenomena he studies, but the beauty of understanding that science affords.
For the full interview see: ttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12547248
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the show
Why does wonder matter? In this clip, Yale psychologist Dr. Frank Keil discusses the importance of facilitating wonder in education, why we shouldn’t underestimate kids, and why cultivating wonder matters especially for science.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12434669
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the show
When we think of the applied sciences, we usually think they’re important because they are useful. But can they also be beautiful? In this clip, public health expert Dr. Marcia Otto shares what inspired her career path from theoretical physics to epidemiology, and discusses where she finds beauty in her work.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12342419
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the show
Is a “theory of everything” worth pursuing? According to award-winning physicist and author Dr. Marcelo Gleiser the answer is no. In this clip, he explains why the pursuit of unity in science can be misleading.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12246525
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the show
When it comes to science education, why should teachers care about beauty? Award-winning educator and public speaker Dr. Punya Mishra says its because it can help nurture the sense of wonder that’s vital for science. In this clip, he discusses ways to cultivate curiosity through a more aesthetic approach to science education.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12150983
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
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Awe is a universal human emotion. But we often think of it as ineffable. So can it be scientifically studied? Berkeley psychologist and author Dacher Keltner does just this. In this clip, he discusses his research on the nature of awe, how it varies (or doesn’t) between cultures, and how it’s related to both beauty and science.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/12033720
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the show
What is mimetic desire, and what does it have to do with status and success? Entrepreneur and author Luke Burgis talks about René Girard’s theory of mimetic desire and how it illuminates our actions across various contexts, from Silicon Valley to academia, what mimetic desire has to do with beauty.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/11945506
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the show
Does nature have a preference for symmetrical shapes? And if so, does that mean beauty is a reliable guide to scientific truth? Here’s what Oxford physicist Ard Louis has to say about these questions.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/11860976
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
Support the show
Is beauty a matter of nature or nurture? Is it hardwired in the brain or conditioned by culture? Neuroscientist Dr. Anjan Chatterjee challenges this dichotomy. In this clip, he points out that although “beauty is in the brain of the beholder,” our brains are more similar than they are different.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/11785200
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
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How is beauty relevant when it comes to innovation? Cultural historian Dr. Luca Cottini uses examples from Italian culture’s focus on creativity and relationality to explain how beauty promotes innovation and industry.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/11687933
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
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Is there beauty in psychiatry? In this clip, Dr. Eloise Ballou, a Canadian psychiatrist with a special interest in integrating humanities into her work, shares how a key aesthetic principle of claritas—in this case, applied to the clarity of seeing a person as they are—drives her work.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/11576417
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
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What makes beauty relevant to science? In this clip, Cambridge Philosopher Dr. Milena Ivanova shares the story of how she came to study the intersection of aesthetics and science, and what she's learned in the process.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/11497942
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
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Philosophers throughout the centuries have been trying to define beauty. And I’m not sure anyone has succeeded. But we can identify a few essential aspects of it in particular domains. In this clip, astrophysicist and author Dr. Mario Livio explains how these aspects of beauty are especially important in physics.
For the full interview see: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2043099/11403924
For the broader project, visit: https://www.beautyatwork.net
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
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Brian Mullins is the CEO of Mind Foundry, an Oxford University company operating at the intersection of innovation, research, and usability. Brian has been at the forefront of how technology can positively change people’s lives throughout his career. He has over a decade of experience in high-growth technology companies across industries such as Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, and Robotics. He has been awarded over 100 patents, has been asked to testify as an expert before the U.S. Senate, received an Edison award for Industrial Design, was named one of the CNBC Disruptor 50, and was selected as one of Goldman Sachs “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.” The Mind Foundry platform empowers organizations with responsible AI built for high-stakes applications where decisions affect the lives of individuals or are made at the scale of populations.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Brian’s early encounters with beauty
- Being a disruptive innovator
- A quick crash course on AI and machine learning
- Debunking popular superstitions about artificial intelligence gaining consciousness
- Three types of beauty: sensory beauty, beauty as a heuristic, and the beauty of understanding
- How AI can solve real-world problems like addressing malaria in third-world countries
- Potential concerns of artificial intelligence replacing human work
- Creating positive change through AI
To learn more about Brian’s work, you can find him at:
- Website: https://www.mindfoundry.ai/
- Instagram: https://twitter.com/mrlaserbeam/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmullins2/
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/BeautyatWorkPodcast
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Timothy Myers is one of America’s most versatile and innovative conductors. He is a frequent collaborator with leading opera companies and orchestras, and serves as the Sarah and Ernest Butler Music Director at Austin Opera where, in addition to leading performances, he participates in the artistic strategy and development of the Company. He is also the Music Director of the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, one of the world’s most prestigious ensembles for early-career classical musicians. A leading voice on the topics of leadership and innovation, Tim has made recent speaking appearances at the SXSW Festival, Harvard Business School, The University of Texas at Austin, and Miami Dade College. Tim is also the host of the Listening on Purpose podcast.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Growing up as a young musician in Kansas
- Varieties of beauty in classical music
- How live music is the antidote to modern entertainment
- The beauty of a shared experience with others
- Tim’s journey to becoming a professional conductor
- Honoring tradition and embracing innovation in music
- What is the role of a conductor?
- What leadership lessons can we learn from orchestras?
- How to learn to appreciate classical music
To learn more about Tim’s work, you can find him at:
- Website: https://timothymyers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motmyers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timothymyersconductor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@timothymyers
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/motmyers
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Wayne Brezinka is an award-winning artist based in Nashville, Tennessee. Wayne’s signature style of art incorporates detailed mixed media and assemblage techniques applied to discarded and repurposed materials. He has been a contributing artist to numerous publications, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, POLITICO Europe, and others.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Challenging societal expectations of pursuing a career in art
- How creating art facilitates a deeper connection to one’s self
- How Wayne flourished in the world of art Freelancing
- The power of sharing your expertise with others
- Bringing to life the world of Mister Rogers through Wayne’s exhibit
- Hosting workshops to allow people to unlock their most artistic selves
- On channeling your inner fears and letting them guide your art
- The powerful community aspect of creating art
To learn more about Wayne’s work, you can find him at: https://www.waynebrezinka.com/
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Michael R. Spicher, PhD is a public philosopher and creator of Aesthetics Research Lab. He writes and speaks about aesthetics in professional and academic contexts. He is a regular contributor to BeautyMatter, a resource for the beauty industry. Michael lectures at both Boston Architectural College and Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He co-edited a forthcoming volume with Bloomsbury Visual Arts, Digital Fashion: Theory, Practice, Implications. And he is working on another book called Is Your Business Beautiful?
In this episode, we talk about:
- How Michael found his love for aesthetics
- How aesthetic experience is a basic reason for action
- Beauty as a motivator for justice
- Navigating unconscious and conscious beauty standards and biases
- Learning to actively shape our aesthetic tastes
- Objective vs. subjective beauty
- Viewing beauty as an emergent property
- Distinguishing between aesthetics and beauty
- What role does aesthetics play in business
- Appreciating the performative beauty that comes with work
- Appreciating aesthetics in your daily life
To learn more about Michael’s work, you can find him at: https://aestheticsresearch.com/author/aestheticsresearch/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrspicher/
Links Mentioned:Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty by Nancy Etcoff - https://a.co/d/1v95rgn
BEAUTY: A Quick Immersion by Crispin Sartwell - https://a.co/d/3w0iJkM
The Abuse of Beauty: Aesthetics and the Concept of Art - https://a.co/d/2UKWzaF
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Jennifer Walsh is an acclaimed entrepreneur, author, and media figure who has spent over 25 years working at the intersection of beauty, retail, nature, and neuroscience to help people flourish. She pioneered America’s first experiential retail brand, Beauty Bar, in the 1990s, integrating biophilic design long before mainstream. Her trailblazing brand earned her regard as a “Beauty Futurist”. In 2016, Jennifer created her video series Walk with Walsh where she and her guests traversed the Central Park topography while discussing human connections to nature. She then launched her Wellness Walks® in Central Park and beyond which are mindfulness walks sprinkled with biophilic education.
Jennifer has a twin sister who is profoundly disabled and has lived in a group home since they were the age of two. Her sister has been her north star in understanding the beauty in simplicity, in kindness, and the connection to spending time outdoors. Jennifer also spent 4 months living in a tent every summer for the past 34 years which has sculpted how she lives and works and deeply understands the human connection to the beauty all around us in nature's rhythms. As a freelance writer for 27 years, Jennifer continues to cover stories around wellness, travel, fitness, beauty, fashion, and home. She is the author of the popular wellness journal, Walk Your Way Calm and the podcast co-host of Biophilic Solutions, Nature Has the Answers. Jennifer guides organizations globally on biophilic design and the importance of experiencing beauty and nature every day for optimal health.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Jennifer’s natural affinity for the outdoors
- How and why Jennifer built Beauty Bar
- On creating sensorial and accessible experiences
- The power of profound storytelling in business
- The key to experiencing immersive beauty in nature
- Breaking down biophobia and the fear of nature
- Why experiencing sunlight should be a daily priority
- On fostering human and ecological flourishing through Lost Art of Being Human (LABH)
- How beauty is a doorway to feeling good in our bodies
- Why you should be seeking beauty in a chaotic world
To learn more about Jennifer’s work, you can find her:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejenniferwalsh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejenniferwalsh/
Lost Art of Being Human: https://www.lostartofbeinghuman.com/
Walk with Walsh: https://www.walkwithwalsh.com/about-jennifer-walsh
Resource Mentioned:
Thin Place Design: Architecture of the Numinous by Phillip James Tabb - https://a.co/d/0t9ZoGM
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Ean Williams is a former National Security Agency intelligence analyst in the United States Air Force and professional model and actor (America’s Most Wanted, A Man Called Hawk, and Anacostia). He is also a multi-award-winning event producer and fashion designer of two labels, Magnum Underwear and Corjor International. Featured in British Vogue, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Washingtonian Magazine, Time Magazine, The Hilltop, FOX 5, Voice of America, and numerous prestigious publications, his work earns elite respect from the fashion world. He is also the founder and executive director of DC Fashion Week, a non-profit organization with 39 seasons under its belt.
In this episode, we talk about:
- What drew Ean to fashion at a young age
- Navigating familial and societal expectations for young men
- Ean's successful modeling career
- Dealing with rejection in the fashion industry
- What inspired Ean to launch his own fashion line, Corjor International
- The power of fashion to redefine our perceptions of beauty
- Creating impact through DC Fashion Week
- Advice for aspiring models and fashion designers
- The joy of witnessing people’s dreams unfold in fashion
- Beauty vs. ugliness
To learn more about Ean’s work, you can find him at:
Website: https://corjor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr_dcfashionweek/
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Chris Everett is a seasoned facilitator of transformative experiences for individuals and organizations. He is a musician, artist, designer, strategist, coach, farmer, and co-founder of an arts nonprofit in western Wisconsin. With over three decades in brand
expression and strategy, he is a master at using beauty as a powerful medium for transformation. From his early days in graphic design to deep dives into brand strategy and organizational culture, Chris's career reflects a persistent quest to uncover the deeper meanings of the beauty that we encounter in the world around us. He is deeply influenced by the teachings of the Delicate Lodge, a lineage of Medicine Wheel wisdoms that emphasize ceremony and ritual design. Adopting the title of "minister of beauty" in 2020, Chris embodies the belief in the sacredness of deeply human work and the transformative potential of beauty. Through his diverse roles and experiences, Chris also aids others in navigating their unique evolutionary journeys.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How music and art shaped Chris’ childhood
- How spaces can be designed to feel more welcoming
- Chris's journey from advertising to leadership development
- How do you create genuine transformation in design?
- Chris’s quest to understand diverse perspectives on beauty
- How beauty can elevate the way we think and show up our relationship
- What does it mean to be a Minister of Beauty?
- Creating spaces for connection in natural environments
- Chris’ vision for healing broken communities
To learn more about Chris’ work, you can find him at:https://www.chriseverett.world/
Links Mentioned:
Patterns of Transformation - Designing Sex, Death, and Survival in the 21st Century by Ida Benedetto - https://patternsoftransformation.com/
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Esther Blázquez Blanco works with leaders, teams, and organizations crafting businesses that speak human. She does this by revealing the human connection and the emotional intimacy that exists in life. She works as a Company Culture and Leadership Consultant, Speaker, Executive Coach, and systemic Facilitator. Esther helps companies find the truth behind the role and develop the relationship between the human and the company, and grow--or scale--in peace. Her vision is human, spiritual, simple, and direct. Esther is a journalist with a background in Innovation, Project Management, and fast-growing Startups. She has also dedicated part of her life to the study and teaching of meditation, performance, and personal growth.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How Esther’s brother taught her what a true leader is
- Her experience of personal transformation
- Reframing business competitors as sources of wisdom
- What a beautiful workplace culture looks like
- On a beautiful transformation Esther helped facilitate
- How consultants can help create beautiful companies
- How everyone is called to be a leader
To learn more about Esther’s work, you can find her at: https://www.estherblazquez.com/
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Seth D. Kaplan is a leading expert on fragile states. He is a Professorial Lecturer in the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, Senior Adviser for the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), and consultant to multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, and OECD as well as developing country governments and NGOs.
In this episode, we talk about:
- The difference between social life in Western versus non-Western countries
- How Seth was drawn to the study of fragile states
- How strong relationships in a country are correlated with economic development and peace
- Why addressing key social problems requires starting at the neighborhood-level
- The relationship between life expectancy and one’s neighborhood
- The beauty of living in a thriving and close-knit neighborhood
- How modern society’s idea of happiness promotes loneliness
- On boosting the collective self-efficacy in an area
- Five factors that help communities thrive
- How religion can play a role in community building
- The need for translocal organizations
- Cultivating college programs to develop civic leaders
To learn more about Seth’s work, you can find him at: https://sethkaplan.org/
You can order his book Fragile Neighborhoods here: https://www.amazon.com/Fragile-Neighborhoods-Repairing-American-Society/dp/0316521396/
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Sean Vigue is one of the most followed yoga, Pilates, power yoga, flexibility training and performance enhancing instructors in the world with millions of followers in every corner of the world from beginners to elite professional athletes. He is a bestselling author of titles such as “Pilates for Athletes”, “Power Yoga for Athletes”, “Pilates for Men” and enjoys creating books which are accessible to everyone regardless of age and fitness level. Sean has produced thousands of online workout videos, a full DVD line, his own podcast and loves teaching at fitness conferences. Before diving into the world of fitness, he worked as a professional opera/musical theater performer in theaters around the world for over 10 years and over 40 shows. He also won numerous singing competitions for opera and music theater as a dramatic baritone. In his spare time he is an amateur film, opera and classical music historian and MST3k fanatic.
In this episode we talk about:
- On pursuing a career in professional theatre
- The key to discovering the passions that make you come alive
- Sean’s experiences teaching fitness classes at Disney
- Exploring the world of opera
- Diving into the field of publishing fitness books
- Finding beauty in fitness
- Balancing the functional and aesthetic aspects of fitness
- How yoga and pilates can unlock a spiritual and emotional journey
- Sean’s future ventures
- Sean's advice for aspiring fitness instructors and those wanting to get started on their fitness journeys
To learn more about Sean’s work, you can find him at: https://www.seanviguefitness.com/
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Pallavi Dean plays at the intersection of design and entrepreneurship. She founded her design firm Roar in 2013. A trained architect and sustainability specialist, she has won multiple awards for work across a range of sectors including commercial, hospitality, and residential. Recent work includes The Accor House of Original in Dubai, Sensasia Spa at Kempinski Dubai, and Mckinsey HQ in Doha.
She was born in India, raised in Dubai, and spent years working in London; her designs reflect these eclectic influences. A former professor of design, she strives to implement the latest theoretical and practical research into the firm’s designs. As a product designer, Pallavi collaborated with Artemide to launch ‘Interweave’ an interactive lighting system for Euro Luce in Milan 2019. Her work has been profiled in some of the world’s leading international media including the Financial Times, the BBC, Monocle, Wallpaper, and the Architectural Digest. She was named Architectural Digest Middle East Designer of the Year in 2020 and Designer of the Year globally by Interior Design Magazine in 2021.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Growing up as a third-culture kid
- How Pallavi’s upbringing shaped her love for design and creation
- On creating spaces that engage and stimulate all five senses
- Finding the balance between designing poetic and functional spaces
- Highlighting the beauty of imperfection in nature
- The need for pain and suffering in order to appreciate the beauty
- Exploring the vulnerability of artistic pursuits
- How Pallavi launched her own sustainable design firm, Roar
- The importance of empathy-driven design and architecture
- Debunking misconceptions of design innovations in Dubai
To learn more about Pallavi’s work, you can find her on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roar_design_studio/
Website: https://www.designbyroar.com/about
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavidean/
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Dr. Dave Gammon is an integrative scientist who builds bridges beyond traditional scientific communities. Since 2006 he has taught mostly interdisciplinary science and general education courses at Elon University, where he is currently a Professor in Biology. His research projects in birdsong and in SoTL have become increasingly more interdisciplinary. He also performs a lot of science outreach, including running a science café, writing science articles for newspapers and magazines, and creating popular science podcasts.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Dave’s formative experiences that led him toward biology and teaching
- What drew him to study birdsong
- On finding the beauty in research
- On teaching a course on the Journey Through Time
- Dave’s passion to draw connections between science and other disciplines
- The power of collaboration and curiosity among academics
- The need for interdisciplinarity
- On introducing the beauty of science to the public through science cafés
To learn more about Dave’s work, you can find him at: https://facstaff.elon.edu/dgammon/
Sheri Parks, PH.D. is a public intellectual, strategist, senior higher education professor, administrator, and author, working to bridge the wisdom of communities and the academy to address urgent societal challenges. Her positions have included Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Maryland Institute College of Art and Associate Dean for Research, Interdisciplinary Scholarship, and Programing, and Founding Director of the Center for Synergy at the University of Maryland. Her signature public projects include Baltimore Stories: Narrative and the Life of an American City.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Sheri’s love affair with writing from a young age
- The interesting study of nonverbal communication that occurs at home
- Sheri’s inspiration to move beyond the academe
- How beauty is a subset of aesthetics
- The powerful exercise of imagining dream cities
- How the study of aesthetics can be a tool for social justice
- How aesthetics can be manipulated for unethical practices & propaganda
- Using dance to survive traumatic experiences
- The cultural meaning behind her work at Baltimore Stories
To reach Sheri, email her at: slp@umd.edu
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-parks-a8029331/
Resources Mentioned:
Baltimore Stories: Narratives and The Life of an American City: UMD Campuswide Convening - https://vimeo.com/161042379
Tim Leberecht is a German-American author and entrepreneur, and the co-founder and co-CEO of the House of Beautiful Business, a global think tank and community with the mission to make humans more human and business more beautiful.
Previously, Tim served as the chief marketing officer of NBBJ, a global design and architecture firm. From 2006 to 2013, he was the chief marketing officer of product design and innovation consultancy Frog Design.
Tim is the author of the book The Business Romantic (HarperCollins, 2015), which has been translated into nine languages to date. Tim’s writing regularly appears in publications such as Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, Inc, Quartz, Psychology Today, and Wired. His new book, The End of Winning, was released in German in 2020.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How beauty and art ultimately shaped Tim’s childhood
- How he paved a multi-disciplinary career in design and marketing
- Understanding the call for the New Romantic movement in business
- Tim’s notable pursuit to find the soul in business
- How The House of Beautiful Business began and expanded internationally
- Unpacking the industry shift from human-centered to life-centered design
- Re-engineering the traditional way we view business as a way of life
- Navigating the Loneliness Crisis in workplaces
- What does it mean to create hospitable spaces and workplaces
- Practical advice to naturally incorporate beauty within teams
To learn more about his work, visit: http://timleberecht.com/
House of Beautiful Business: https://houseofbeautifulbusiness.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tleberecht/
Resources Mentioned:
The Business Romantic: Give Everything, Quantify Nothing, and Create Something Greater Than Yourself by Tim Leberecht - https://a.co/d/eVPDt6I
Death Over Dinner - https://deathoverdinner.org/
The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work by Simone Stolzoff - https://a.co/d/3BPWRY7
Adi Cohen is the founder of The New Movement, an architecture studio that designs one-of-a-kind projects worldwide. She is the host of the podcast ‘Go Out and Talk to Strangers’, TEDx speaker, Forbes-featured, passionate creator, and free thinker. Adi is on a mission to create ‘the most inspiring places on earth’, with the intention of using the built environment as a tool to help people thrive. Adi is a global citizen, and the first architect to be living a nomadic lifestyle while working. She uses her travels as a source of inspiration, a way to connect to ancient wisdom and learn from local communities.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How Adi’s childhood influenced her desire to explore
- Adi’s life-changing decision to leave behind her stable job to pursue a global education
- How little changes in a space can greatly influence the social behaviors of people
- Understanding the neurobiological pattern of prospects and refuge
- On reimagining offices that are able to genuinely cultivate creativity
- Designing international spaces with remote teams
- On bridging cultural differences among clients and teams
- The beauty of co-living in nomadic communities
- On the absurdity of how humans spend more than 90% of their lives indoors
- On rejecting traditional career paths and notions
- Adi’s commitment to helping others create beautiful lives
To learn more about her work, visit:Website: https://thenewmvt.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/nomad.architect.me/
IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adi-cohen-architect/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/nomad.architect.me
Email: info@thenewmvt.com
Resources Mentioned:Openness to Experience: The Gates of the Mind - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/openness-to-experience-the-gates-of-the-mind/
Accidental Genius: Revolutionize Your Thinking Through Private Writing - https://a.co/d/9wZSJNp
Rob Dunn is the Senior Vice Provost of University Interdisciplinary Programs and a Reynolds Professor in Applied Ecology at North Carolina State University. As Senior Vice Provost he oversees efforts to spur interdisciplinary scholarship, education, and public engagement at NC State. As a scholar, he studies the ecology and evolution of societies and the species with which they interact. This has included projects on the global ecology of sourdough bread, the evolution of sour taste, and the origin of yogurt microbes, among many others.
Dunn has published more than two hundred peer-reviewed articles and more than a hundred magazine and newspaper articles. He has published seven books, including, most recently, A Natural History of the Future and, with Monica Sanchez, Delicious, the Evolution of Flavor and How it Made Us Human
In this episode, we talk about:1. How Rob’s love for art and biology often intersect and interact with each other
2. The distinction between elegance and beauty in ecology
3. How art can disrupt science in a productive and positive way
4. How can we better communicate important scientific discoveries to the general public?
5. Rob’s interest in the interplay between speculative fiction and the future of science
6. On the sublime adaptability of nature
7. Is the scientific pursuit beautiful or violent? Or both?
8. How can we make the funding for science endeavors more just?
9. The surprising lack of research on the development of sour taste
10. On the psychology behind cultural preferences for spicy food
To learn more about his work, visit:https://robdunnlab.com/
Resources Mentioned:Delicious: The Evolution of Flavor and How It Made Us Human by Rob Dunn and Monica Sanchez- https://www.amazon.com/Delicious-Evolution-Flavor-Made-Human/dp/0691199477
Rachael H. Grochowski is an award-winning architect and designer who is leading the conversation of designing what truly matters. She believes that design surpasses simply being beautiful -- design has the power to inspire a sense of calm, interconnectedness, presence, and gratitude, leading to the belief that “Design is Spiritual.”
As an architect and designer, a traveler and seeker, and both a yoga student and teacher, her personal and professional mission has been to guide others toward environments that make them feel grounded in their histories and inspired to grow into their futures. Under Rachael’s stewardship, her firm RHG Architecture + Design has built and designed award-winning residential, commercial, and hospitality projects that are each defined by a spiritual evolution of collective care.
Rachael’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Forbes, Interior Design Magazine, Interiors Magazine, Fast Company, Aspire, MindBodyGreen, Hospitality Design, Sweet Jane, and Open House NYC among others. She lives in Montclair, NJ with her three children.
In this episode, we talk about:1. How Rachael’s passion for architecture began in childhood
2. How architecture can cultivate closeness and community
3. The importance of designing structures that bring out good energy within us
4. How architectural choices are related to spiritual truths
5. How architecture can shape our well-being
6. The role of ugliness in architecture and design
7. The importance of infusing authenticity into design projects
8. How spaces can shape relationships
9. How to build genuine trust with clients
10. Safety and ethics in design
To learn more about her work, visit:
https://www.rhgdesign.com/
Resources Mentioned:
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand - https://a.co/d/8ulmHwb
Pauline Brown is a marketing professor at Columbia Business School, where she teaches a course on ’the Business of Aesthetics.’ Earlier in her career, she held senior executive roles at design-driven companies, including LVMH, and Estée Lauder. She also is the author of a business book, Aesthetic Intelligence, published in 2019 by HarperCollins, and the founder of an e-learning platform Aesthetic Intelligence Labs.
In this episode, we talk about:1.How Pauline Discovered the power of aesthetic genius
2. How did Steve Jobs tap into universal beauty to create the success of Apple?
3. How can we better understand the roots of personal taste and style?
4. How do we distinguish between mimetic desire, trends, and genuine personal styles?
5. Unpacking the limiting nature of the education system in developing our personal identities
6. Can learning to embrace other aesthetics from other people help you become “more yourself”?
7. What is the role of aesthetic intelligence in organizational culture?
8. What does it mean to possess aesthetic empathy?
9. How aesthetics help better communicate and embody company cultures
10. How do we actually measure aesthetic intelligence in businesses?
11. How mood boards can be effective exercises to trigger aesthetic curation and thinking
12. Unpacking the ethics of aesthetic intelligence
13. How can individuals and organizations cultivate aesthetic intelligence?
14. Can artificial intelligence be considered true intelligence?
15. How humans possess an inherent intelligence toward goodness
To learn more about Pauline Brown’s work, visit: https://aestheticintelligence.com/
Resources Mentioned:
Pauline’s book Aesthetic Intelligence: How to Boost It and Use It in Business and Beyond: https://a.co/d/eIUpkEH
Aesthetic Intelligence Labs Course: https://www.aestheticintelligencelabs.com/course/
Season 2 of the Beauty at Work podcast launches on June 1st. What topics and guests would you like to see on the show?
Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder is a physicist, science communicator, author, musician, and YouTuber. She has published more than 80 research papers on topics ranging from quantum gravity to particle physics, cosmology, astrophysics, statistical mechanics, and quantum foundations. She is the author of Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray, and most recently, of Existential Physics: A Scientist’s Guide to Life’s Biggest Questions. She is also the Creative Director of the popular YouTube channel “Science without the gobbledygook”.
In this episode, we talk about:
- What drew Sabine to pursue mathematics and physics
- How mathematics can describe the nature of the universe
- The criteria of beauty (simplicity, elegance, and naturalness) and how they help shape physics
- Why “Naturalness” is a problem in physics
- The problems with the reliance on beauty in physics
- What physics tells us about existential questions such as life after death and free will
- On how her research has affected her life
- Science communication, public support, and the inclusion of non-experts in scientific discourse
- How we can cultivate the beauty of understanding
- On her sense of meaning and her mission, and how they shape her work.
**Resources mentioned:
Sabine's website:
https://sabinehossenfelder.com YouTube Channel, Science without the gobbledygook*:* https://www.youtube.com/c/sabinehossenfelder**
Dr, Hossenfelder’s book Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray:https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Math-Beauty-Physics-Astray/dp/0465094252 Dr. Hossenfelder's book Existential Physicshttps://www.amazon.com/Existential-Physics-Scientists-Biggest-Questions/dp/1984879456/
Born and raised in England, David Clayton is an internationally known artist, teacher, writer, and broadcaster living in Princeton, NJ. He is Provost of online Catholic university www.Pontifex.University where he created their unique Master of Sacred Arts program; and is currently Artist-in-Residence of Scala Foundation, a non-profit based in Princeton, which has a mission of transforming American culture through educational programs that encourage creativity. He has a popular blog at thewayofbeauty.org and writes weekly also for scalafoundation.org; and the newliturgicalmovement.org. He has written several books including: The Little Oratory, A Beginner’s Guide to Praying in the Home; The Way of Beauty, and The Vision for You - How to Discover the Life You Were Made For. As an artist, he has major commissions from churches in the US and the UK. He has also illustrated several books aside from his own.
In this episode, we talk about:
- What drew David to science and then into art.
- How his scientific background influences David’s iconography work.
- How science and mathematics are sources of creativity and inspiration.
- The similarities in the methodical approach of scientists and traditional artists
- Defining beauty in art and science
- How beauty can mislead us
- The beauty of science and how it can build trust in science for people of faith.
- What can mathematical and/or scientific training provide to artists?
**Resources mentioned:
David’s blog:**https://www.thewayofbeauty.org/
David’s book The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home:https://www.amazon.com/Little-Oratory-Beginners-Guide-Praying/dp/1622821769
Carlo Lancellotti is a Professor of Mathematics at the College of Staten Island and a faculty member in the Physics Program at the CUNY Graduate Center. His field of scholarship is mathematical physics, with a special emphasis on the kinetic theory of plasmas and gravitating systems. He has published in a variety of journals, including Physical Review, Physical Review Letters, the Journal of Statistical Physics, Chaos, the Journal of Transport Theory, and Statistical Physics. He has also translated into English and published three volumes of works by the late Italian philosopher Augusto Del Noce. Lancellotti has also written essays of his own on Del Noce and other topics, which have appeared in Communio, Public Discourse, Church Life Journal, First Things, and other outlets.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Beauty, structure, and harmony and their role in the study of mathematics.
- The aesthetic criteria used by some mathematicians.
- The beauty found in the Boltzmann equation.
- Beauty and truth in simplicity and consistency—understanding reality through math.
- The limitations of mathematics in what it can tell us about reality.
- Mathematicians and the Platonic world of ideas.
- Appreciating the beauty in mathematics—how beauty can help encourage the study of math.
- Understanding math is a necessity in learning art.
**Resources mentioned:
David Bohm’s Wholeness and the Implicate Order*:https://www.amazon.com/Wholeness-Implicate-Order-David-Bohm/dp/0415289793*
The Redemption of Scientific Reason by Carlo Lancellotihttps://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/the-redemption-of-scientific-reason/
Dr. Mark Painter graduated from The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota with a B.S. in Biology in 2014, and subsequently entered the Graduate Program in Immunology at the University of Michigan. There, he studied how HIV evades the immune response and establishes a persistent infection, working to develop therapeutic strategies to reverse these processes. He completed his Ph.D. in Immunology in November 2020. He began a postdoctoral research fellowship to study human immunology and vaccination in John Wherry's lab at the University of Pennsylvania in January 2021. His current focus is on immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, and his work has been published in journals including Science Immunology, Immunity, Nature Medicine, Science, and Cell.
In this episode, we talk about:
- What drew Mark Painter into the study of biology and virology?
- Viruses, the elegance in their intricacies, and their place in the process of life.
- The beauty found in Mark’s work in biology and virology.
- The usefulness of beauty in understanding in the realm of science.
- The obstacles in encountering beauty in science, and what can help scientists face those obstacles.
- Mark’s insight into what could be done to establish more public trust in science, especially in the realm of vaccines.
- Cultivating the love of science and reality through deep conversation over simply sharing facts.
**Resources mentioned:
Mark Painter’s body of work and research he was involved in:**https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=mark+painter&btnG=
Sponsors:
This episode is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust as part of a grant on the aesthetic dimensions of science. It is also sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, and you can learn more about them here: www.iacs.usc.edu
Frank C. Keil is Charles C. & Dorathea S. Dilley Professor of Psychology and Linguistics at Yale University, where he is also a member of the Cognition and Development Lab. After his BS in Biology at MIT in 1973, he went on to get his MA in Psychology from Stanford in 1975 and PhD in Psychology from University of Pennsylvania in 1977. Keil has published extensively on topics concerned with many areas in the development of cognition and language. He has written two books on aspects of conceptual development. He has served as president of the Society for Philosophy and Psychology and has received numerous awards for his scholarship, including the Boyd R. McCandless Award from the American Psychological Association (Developmental Psychology), the Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology from the American Psychological Association, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a fellowship at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, a MERIT Award from the National Institutes of Health, and the Ann L. Brown Award for Excellence in Developmental Research. His recent work focuses on how children and adults grasp the causal structure of the world around them and how they cope with explanatory gaps. His latest book is Wonder: Childhood and the Lifelong Love of Science (MIT Press, 2022).
In this episode, we talk about:
- Defining “wonder” and how it differs from curiosity and its importance for children.
- Causal mechanisms and their importance in the realm of science.
- The factors that facilitate wonder and the drive to understand causal mechanisms.
- How the American school system contributes to the repression of wonder.
- How the pressure of chasing grants and the lack of agency is an obstacle to a scientist’s wonder.
- How to sustain the sense of wonder.
- Qualities that one can have that can contribute to the pursuit of scientific inquiry.
- Does learning how something works diminish the wonder we can feel for it?
- On the weaponization of wonder
- How to make assertions with confidence while also saying that it’s fallible.
- Tips for cultivating wonder in (1) children, (2) teachers who feel pressured to produce by the system, and (3) scientists who are losing their sense of wonder.
**Resources mentioned:
Frank Keil’s book, “Wonder: Childhood and the Lifelong Love of Science”:**https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Childhood-Lifelong-Love-Science/dp/0262046490
Dr. Marcia Otto is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Health. Marcia's research focuses on the effects of different aspects of diet on cardiometabolic health and cognition. Marcia received her postdoctoral training in Nutritional and Cardiovascular Epidemiology at Harvard T.C. Chan School of Public Health.
She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health, an M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Sao Paulo, and a B.S. in Physics from the University of Rio de Janeiro State. Marcia’s work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the Department of Defense. Since 2020, Marcia has been serving as the leading investigator of a multi-site collaboration to inform the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Harris County, TX.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why Dr. Marcia Otto became a scientist and her career in public health and epidemiology.
- Her study in metals and their effects on the human body.
- The beauty in Dr. Marcia Otto’s work as a scientist: the wonder in being able to understand the workings of nature.
- The relationship between the beauty of understanding and the usefulness of science.
- Navigating institutional pressures that may become an obstacle in finding beauty in science.
- Dr. Marcia Otto’s advice for other scientists who struggle to find beauty in their work: “Do not forget your passion.”
- How the dedication to contribute and being receptive to discovery opens you to finding beauty in the field of science.
- What makes some scientists be open to being surprised, and why some are locked into a more confined goal?
- Navigating the difficulty of communicating thorough research to the public while maintaining the possibility of expanding or even correcting said research, especially in the field of public health.
- What Dr. Otto wants the public to understand about her work and the field of science in general.
To learn more about Dr. Ottos’s work, visit: www.uth.tmc.edu
Marcelo Gleiser is the Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy at Dartmouth, a world-renowned theoretical physicist and public intellectual. He’s authored hundreds of technical and nontechnical papers and essays, and six books in English translated to 15 languages, the latest being Great Minds Don’t Think Alike. His popular writings explore the historical, religious, and philosophical roots of science.
Marcelo is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a recipient of the Presidential Faculty Fellows Award from the White House, and founder and past director of the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Engagement at Dartmouth. He co-founded NPR’s 13.7 Science and Culture blog, and currently writes weekly for BigThink.com. He is the 2019 Templeton Prize laureate, an honor he shares with Mother Tereza, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, and scientists Freeman Dyson, Jane Goodall, Francis Collins, and Sir Martin Rees.
In this episode we talk about:
- What first drew Marcelo to physics in his childhood
- On his first encounters with beauty in science
- Why Marcelo finds asymmetries in the world beautiful
- Why scientific models can be misleading
- Can we view science as the absolute truth?
- On the problem with ultimate theories of everything
- How can realizing science is limited actually fuel our pursuit for more knowledge?
- How does our lost connection with nature affect us as a society?
- What is the relationship between science and spirituality?
- How can one overcome corrosive institutional pressures in science?
To learn more about Marcelo’s work, visit: https://marcelogleiser.com Resources Mentioned:
The blind spot: https://aeon.co/essays/the-blind-spot-of-science-is-the-neglect-of-lived-experienceThis episode is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust as part of a grant on the aesthetic dimensions of science (TRT0296). To learn more about them, visit www.templetonreligiontrust.org
This episode is also sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, a global research center located at the University of Southern California. IACS works to create dialogue, spark ideas and sustain academic research on Catholic thought, creative imagination and lived experience. Learn more at iacs.usc.edu
Dr. Punya Mishra is Associate Dean of Scholarship & Innovation and Professor in the Division of Educational Leadership & Innovation in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He is internationally recognized for his work in technology integration in teaching; the role of creativity and aesthetics in learning; and the application of design-based approaches to educational innovation. He has received over $7 million in grants, published over 100 articles, and edited 3 books. He is an award-winning teacher, an engaging public speaker, as well as an accomplished visual artist and poet. And like any true Douglas Adams fan, he is interested in life, the universe, and everything.
In this episode we talk about:
- How Dr. Mishra began seeing the beauty of the world through science
- How can we revive the sense of wonder and curiosity in our classrooms?
- How education fails to cultivate the skill of curiosity and perception
- The role of beauty in science
- Dr. Mishra’s framework to better understand aesthetics in science
- Can curiosity be both helpful and harmful?
- Why do the aesthetics of coding matter?
- Can learning about the aesthetics of science help cultivate public trust?
- How can we develop generative curiosity?
- Why are the aesthetic aspects of science important?
To learn more about Dr. Mishra work, visit: https://punyamishra.com/ You can also find him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/punyamishra
**Resources Mentioned:
Dr. Mishra's framework for the role of aesthetics in STEM education:**https://punyamishra.com/2019/02/10/aesthetics-stem-education-introducing-a-new-framework/
Creativity & the Mindful Wanderings of Dr. Jonathan Schooler: https://punyamishra.com/2022/06/22/mindful-wandering-creativity-new-article/This episode is sponsored by Templeton Religion Trust as part of a grant on the aesthetic dimensions of science (TRT0296). To learn more about them, visit www.templetonreligiontrust.org
This episode is also sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, a global research center located at the University of Southern California. IACS works to create dialogue, spark ideas and sustain academic research on Catholic thought, creative imagination and lived experience. Learn more at iacs.usc.edu
Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and the faculty director of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. A renowned expert in the science of human emotion, Dr. Keltner studies compassion and awe, how we express emotion, and how emotions guide our moral identities and search for meaning. His research interests also span issues of power, status, inequality, and social class. He is the author of The Power Paradox and the bestselling book Born to be Good, and the co-editor of The Compassionate Instinct. His latest book is titled Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.
In this episode we talk about:
- What drew Dacher to the scientific study of awe
- How awe differs from wonder and beauty
- What has surprised him the most about what he learned through his research
- What are the causes and triggers of awe, and why it matters for us to experience it
- How might experiences of awe facilitate scientific inquiry? And conversely, can scientific work deepen our sense of awe and mystery?
- Can awe lead us to both action as well as contemplation?
- Are there problems with the structure or culture of science that inhibit experiences of awe?
- How can we nurture awe in research culture?
- What is the relationship between awe and spirituality?
- How can we practically cultivate awe in our daily lives?
To learn more about Dr. Keltner’s work, visit: www.dacherkeltner.com
Resources Mentioned:
- Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
- Edmund Burke on the Sublime and the Beautiful
- Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species
- The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf
Luke Burgis began his career on Wall Street in investment banking and private equity and went on to found multiple companies in technology, consumer products, and wellness. He is Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Director of Programs at the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at The Catholic University of America, where he is also a professor of business. He graduated from New York University’s Stern School of Business with a degree in Finance and Accounting and later studied philosophy and theology at a pontifical university in Rome.
Luke is the co-author of the book Unrepeatable: Cultivating the Unique Calling of Every Person, with Dr. Joshua Miller, and the bestselling book Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life (St. Martin’s Press), inspired by the ideas of the social theorist René Girard on the mimetic or imitative nature of human desire.
In our conversation, we talked about what beauty has to do with mimetic desire and rivalry, especially in the worlds of science and technology.
In this episode, we explore:
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What attracted Luke to pursue finance, entrepreneurship, and then to study philosophy and theology
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What is mimetic desire, and why does it matter?
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The work of Rene Girard on mimetic desire
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How mimetic rivalry relates to unhealthy competition in science
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How to foster healthy competition instead of mimetic rivalry
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Comparing the worlds of technology and academia when it comes to mimetic desire
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Luke’s conceptual framework called The Three-City Problem, examining the relationship between reason, faith, and technology
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How one can focus on deeper beauty rather than mimetic desire
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The scapegoating mechanism and the mimetic crisis
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How to become anti-mimetic
To learn more about his work, visit his website and subscribe to his newsletter
Check out his book:
Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Lifehttps://www.amazon.com/Wanting-Power-Mimetic-Desire-Everyday/dp/1250262488
Ard Louis is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Oxford where he leads an interdisciplinary research group studying problems on the border between chemistry, physics, and biology.
He was born in the Netherlands, was raised in Gabon, and received his first degree from the University of Utrecht and his PhD in theoretical physics from Cornell University. Prior to teaching at Oxford he taught theoretical chemistry at the University of Cambridge.
In this episode we explore:1. What drew Ard to study physics
2. Where he encounters beauty in his work
3. What beauty means to scientists in the fields of biology and physics
4. The role of awe and the sublime in science
5. Ard’s recent research of the frequency of symmetry in nature
6. Is there beauty in asymmetry?
7. The significance of beauty in science
8. Can beauty be misleading—a source of bias?
9. How does beauty in science relate to the beauty we encounter in art?
10. Why should the public care about beauty in science?
Visit Dr. Louis’s research group website:https://www-thphys.physics.ox.ac.uk/people/ArdLouis/
Our guest today is Anjan Chatterjee, MD, FAAN. He is a Professor of Neurology, Psychology, and Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania and has served as the Chair of Neurology at Pennsylvania Hospital. While his clinical work focuses on cognitive disorders, the focal points of his research are in neuroaesthetics, spatial cognition, language, and neuroethics. His multidisciplinary knowledge has won him recognition and awards. It has led him to author his book, The Aesthetic Brain, a study on how art has embedded itself into the human mind as investigated through the lens of neuroscience and evolutionary psychology.
Dr. Chatterjee joins us to discuss the following:
- Dr. Chatterjee’s academic path from philosophy, to neuroscience, to neuroaesthetics.
- Are humans hard-wired for beauty?
- Individuals are influenced by culture, and culture is influenced by the collective.
- The Aesthetic Triad and how it is affected by moral judgments.
- Using beauty as a heuristic.
- Why humans can find beauty in non-sensory subjects.
- The questions asked by neuroaesthetics.
- What can we learn from exploring aesthetics in Science?
Visit Dr. Chatterjee’s blog on Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-behavior-and-beauty
Check out his books:
The Aesthetic Brain: How we evolved to desire beauty and enjoy art and co-edited Brain, Beauty, and Art: Bringing Neuroaesthetics in Focus as well as Neuroethics in Practice: Mind, Medicine, and Society, and The Roots of Cognitive Neuroscience: Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychology.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FHZZYOU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1
Brain, Beauty, and Art: Essays Bringing Neuroaesthetics into Focus (With Eileen Cardillo)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09LVVRY54/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
Neuroethics in Practice (With Martha J. Farah)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CXQ6PSU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i2
The Roots of Cognitive Neuroscience: Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychology (With H. Branch Coslett)https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HFPV4AI/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i3
Today’s guest is Dr. Luca Cottini, a scholar, associate professor at Villanova University, and the host and creator of the YouTube show Italian Innovators. Although trained as a classical philologist and cultural historian, his interests go beyond Italian art throughout history. Through his show, Dr. Cottini explores the present artistic contributions of Italy through entrepreneurship and innovation across multiple disciplines. His books include The Art of Objects: The Birth of Italian Industrial Culture and a monograph on Italo Calvino.
Dr. Cottini joins us to discuss the following:
- What attracted Dr. Cottini to study design and innovation.
- His thoughts on Galileo being the father of modern science.
- How Italy’s humanities-focused education influences science.
- How different ideas contribute to each other and create innovation.
- Some examples of encounters with Beauty that spurred innovation.
- Could aesthetic principles also hinder innovation? How?
- The role of beauty in the future of science.
- How to cultivate intellectual humility and drive in the face of failure.
To learn more about Dr. Cottini’s work, visit https://www.italianinnovators.com/
Check out his book:
The Art of Objects: The Birth of Italian Industrial Culture, 1878-1928https://www.amazon.com/Art-Objects-Italian-Industrial-1878-1928/dp/1487502834
Visit his YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ItalianInnovators
Dr. Eloise Ballou is a psychiatrist specializing in psychotherapy for adolescents and hospital-based emergency psychiatry. She received her medical degree from the University of Ottawa in the French stream and completed her Psychiatry residency at the University of Toronto. She enjoys supervising Psychiatry residents in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the University of Toronto, and also works as a locum psychiatrist in Northern Ontario in acute care and emergency room settings. She studied Art History and Psychology at the University of Toronto prior to starting her medical training and has a particular interest in applying insights from the humanities to her medical practice.
In our interview, we explore:
- What drew Eloise to medicine/psychiatry in the first place
- Where she encounters beauty in her work as a psychotherapist
- The obstacles to encountering beauty in her work and in the medical profession generally
- How beauty might be relevant to mental health
- What it might look like for scientists, physicians, and the healthcare field more generally to take beauty more seriously or to cultivate the conditions for professionals to encounter beauty in their work
To learn more about her work, visithttps://www.drballou.com/
Today’s guest is Dr. Milena Ivanova, a philosopher of science based at Fitzwilliam College where she is a fellow, graduate tutor, and the Director of Studies in Philosophy. Dr. Ivanova’s research involves studying aesthetics in the expansive field of science and publishing numerous articles, papers, and books on the subject. She is the author of Duhem and Holism and The Aesthetics of Science: Beauty, Imagination, and Understanding released in the past two years.
Dr. Ivanova lends us her expertise to explore the following:
- What attracted Dr. Ivanova to studying beauty in science
- The relevance of beauty and its role in understanding science
- Functionality and optimality of purpose contributing to an experiment’s beauty
- The beauty of experiments beyond visual aesthetics through design and significance
- On beauty contributing to bias
- The benefit of learning about beauty in science for scientists and philosophers
- Applying beauty and the awareness of it in other aspects
To learn more about Dr. Ivanova’s work, visithttps://www.milenaivanova.co.uk/
Also, check out her books such as:
Duhem and Holism
https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/abs/duhem-and-holism/0D574554BB82648C0E5E1DFA6C550300
The Aesthetics of Science: Beauty, Imagination, and Understanding
https://www.routledge.com/The-Aesthetics-of-Science-Beauty-Imagination-and-Understanding-1st-Edition/Ivanova-French/p/book/9780367141141
My guest today is the astrophysicist and author Dr. Mario Livio. Dr. Livio is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. For 24 years, Dr. Livio worked with the Hubble Space Telescope. He has published more than 500 scientific articles on topics such as cosmology, supernova explosions, black holes, extrasolar planets, and the emergence of life in the universe. He is the author of seven books including The Golden Ratio, Is God a Mathematician, and Brilliant Blunders. His latest book is Galileo and the Science Deniers.
On today’s podcast, we explore:
- What attracted Mario to astrophysics in the first place
- Mario’s definition of beauty in science consists of three specific criteria
- Mario’s experiences of encountering beauty in science
- How mathematics may be relevant to our understanding of beauty
- Whether the beauty we can encounter in science and art are similar or different
- How beauty may relate to curiosity and wonder
- Whether scientists should care about beauty in their work, and if the public should care about beauty in science
To learn more about Dr. Livio’s work, visit https://www.mario-livio.com
Also, check out his books such as:
Galileo and the Science Deniers
https://www.amazon.com/Galileo-Science-Deniers-Mario-Livio/dp/1501194747/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
The Golden Ratio
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Ratio-Worlds-Astonishing-Number/dp/0767908163/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1660240897&sr=1-1
Is God a Mathematician?
https://www.amazon.com/God-Mathematician-Mario-Livio-ebook/dp/B004NNVFW2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MXORNGPGLQ4C
Why? What Makes Us Curious
https://www.amazon.com/Why-What-Makes-Us-Curious/dp/1476792100/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1660241070&sr=1-1
Beauty at Work explores how beauty shapes our lives and the work that we do. There's much more to beauty than art or fashion.
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