Utopia or dystopia? It’s up to us.In the 21st century, powerful technologies have been appearing at a breathtaking pace—related to the internet, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and more. They have amazing potential upsides, but we can’t ignore the serious risks that come with them.Brave New Planet is a podcast that delves deep into the most exciting and challenging scientific frontiers, helping us understand them and grapple with their implications. Dr. Eric Lander, president and founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, is a geneticist, molecular biologist, and mathematician who was a leader of the...
Latest episodes
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28 min
Introducing Drilled: Carbon Cowboys
Drilled is a true-crime climate change podcast exposing how corporate corruption and political operatives built decades of climate denial and delay. Hosted and reported by award-wi…
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31 min
The Surprising Science of Creativity (with Dr. George Newman) from The Happiness Lab
We often think creativity comes from sudden flashes of genius within us. But what if ideas actually exist in the world around us — waiting to be discovered and shaped by anyone pay…
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32 min
From The Kink Machine: The Hidden Business of Pleasure
Streamed by millions every day, porn is everywhere. It shapes our culture, our relationships, and even technology. Yet, nobody seems to know who really controls the business. The p…
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45 min
Decoding Exercise Physiology with Robert Brace from Decoding Women's Health
What if we reframed the way we approach exercise? On today’s show, Dr. Elizabeth Poynor is joined by Robert Brace - founder of Brace Life Studios. He’s also Elizabeth’s trainer. Th…
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42 min
Sneak Preview: The Other Side of Change by Maya Shankar
Maya Shankar, host of Pushkin's A Slight Change of Plans podcast, just released a new book, "The Other Side of Change". To celebrate, we're sharing an exclusive excerpt with the Pu…
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52 min
IBM CEO Arvind Krishna: Creating Smarter Business with AI and Quantum
Malcolm Gladwell sits down with IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna in a special live episode of Smart Talks with IBM. They discuss the groundbreaking potential of quantum computin…
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48 min
How to Experience the Joy of Giving Right Now: A Giving Tuesday Special from The Happiness Lab
According to the science, it really is better to give than receive. Donating a dollar; sharing a kind word or lending someone a hand changes lives, but can also hugely boost your h…
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50 min
The Edison Invention People Don't Talk About from Business History
Thomas Alva Edison helped transform America and the world. He registered over one thousand patents before he died in 1931 - and we can thank him for advances in electric power, com…
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46 min
From Against The Rules: The Big Short Companion | Lender of Last Resort
When Michael Lewis wrote The Big Short, there was an extra character in the story: The Federal Reserve System, the central bank of the US, which bought up bad debt on the balance s…
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51 min
Decoding Brain Fog with Dr. Caroline Gurvich from Decoding Women's Health
Many women experience brain fog, forgetfulness, and sudden mood changes during midlife. Are these symptoms signs of dementia, ADHD, or are they simply our hormones at work? Dr. Eli…
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44 min
From College Matters: Mr. Varsity Blues Claps Back
We're sharing a preview of College Matters from The Chronicle, a podcast from The Chronicle of Higher Education. After 16 months in a federal prison camp, William (Rick) Singer has…
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25 min
China’s Race to Dominate: Listen to Global Tech Wars
Here’s a preview of a new audiobook, Global Tech Wars: China’s Race to Dominate. For decades, China’s economic rise has been symbolized by its unstoppable force of low-cost manufac…
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3 min
Preview: Into the Scatterbrained Minds of Team Revisionist History
Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell's podcast about the overlooked and misunderstood, returns with investigations on everything from PAW Patrol to the secret behind English muffi…
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37 min
The Harms of Eating Alone: An International Day of Happiness Special from The Happiness Lab
For the International Day of Happiness, we're sharing a special episode from The Happiness Lab. It's a chance to talk about happiness and what we can all do to be happier. March 20…
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28 min
Rabies: When Monsters are Real
Why has rabies invaded our nightmares for centuries? Author and veterinarian Monica Murphy tells us about the cultural history of rabies (which involves vampires and werewolves!) a…
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28 min
Pushkin Honors Juneteenth
At Pushkin, we think of Juneteenth as an opportunity to reflect on the past and think about the future: How do we build a more just and equitable society? We strive to make podcast…
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28 min
What Will It Take?
How can we come together to tackle big challenges in science and society? Dr. Eric Lander and Niala Boodhoo, veteran journalist and Axios Today host, talk about the importance of t…
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1 h 10
Reshaping Nature Through Gene Drives
A new technology, called gene drives, has the power to spread any genetic instructions you wish across an entire animal or plant species in the wild. It might let us restore ecosys…
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1 h 10
What Algorithms Say About You
Artificial intelligence is letting us make predictive algorithms that translate languages and spot diseases as well or better than humans. But these systems are also being used to…
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1 h 03
Killer Robots and the Future of War
Fully autonomous lethal weapons—robots that can select and engage targets without human intervention—are fast becoming possible. They might minimize casualties and protect civilian…