Episodes

Nov. 2, 2021

Music, Listening, and Human Flourishing with Wynton Marsalis

In today’s episode, we delve into how humans flourish through music and listening with internationally acclaimed musician, composer, and bandleader Wynton Marsalis. At the age of 60, after a long, international career, Marsalis identifies not only...

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Oct. 19, 2021

Happiness and Human Flourishing with Laurie Santos and Arthur C. Broo…

Today, we hear about human happiness from two of the world’s foremost researchers on the subject: Dr. Laurie Santos and Dr. Arthur Brooks. Dr. Santos hosts The Happiness Lab, a podcast “that will forever alter the way you think about happiness.”...

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Oct. 5, 2021

The Role of Education in Human Flourishing with The Honorable Shirley…

In today’s episode, we hear from The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, the first African-American woman to lead a top-ranked research university — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — and Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills and...

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Sept. 20, 2021

The Science of Spiritual Exercises with Rev. Sue Phillips and Casper …

Today, we’re delving into a discussion with Casper ter Kuile and Reverend Sue Phillips, two of the co-founders of Sacred Design Lab, which describes itself as a “soul-centered research and development lab.” If you’re thinking, “Wait, how can...

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Sept. 6, 2021

Innovations for Human Flourishing with Dr. Andrew Serazin

Our new season begins with scientist, entrepreneur, and philanthropy leader Dr. Andrew Serazin, President of Templeton World Charity Foundation. Dr. Serazin discusses TWCF's latest initiative, the Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing, which will...

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Aug. 26, 2021

Beginning September 7: Stories of Impact Season 5

The birthright of every human being is not just to survive, but to thrive. This year on the Stories of Impact Podcast, we bring you conversations about the science behind innovative tools that help human beings flourish.  Join host Tavia Gilbert...

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March 9, 2021

The Power and Meaning of Forgiveness with Dr. Everett Worthington

Today’s episode highlights Richard’s conversation with Dr. Everett Worthington. Dr. Worthington is Commonwealth Professor Emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University. For the last 30 years, Dr. Worthington has been studying forgiveness, and he...

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Feb. 22, 2021

Ubuntu & Youth Radio Reporters with Nina Callaghan

Today, we hear a fascinating and inspiring conversation having to do with the flourishing of young South Africans. Today’s episode features Richard’s conversation with Nina Callaghan, former Associate Director and current South African Chair of...

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Feb. 9, 2021

A Case for Spiritually Informed Democratic Capitalism with Dr. Arthur…

Today we hear from Dr. Arthur C. Brooks, Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. He’s also the former president of the American Enterprise...

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Jan. 26, 2021

Investing in Human Flourishing with Dr. Andrew Serazin

Templeton World Charity Foundation President, Dr. Andrew Serazin, is back for another conversation with podcast host Richard Sergay. Dr. Serazin talks about human flourishing — what it is, and how TWCF hopes to spur discovery about it. Dr. Serazin...

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Jan. 18, 2021

Beginning Next Week: Stories of Impact Season 4

Imagine a state of being in which all the many dimensions of your life are good. Imagine health that goes beyond typical measures of physical and mental well-being, but expands to include life satisfaction, meaning and purpose, character and virtue,...

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Jan. 5, 2021

Listening as an Antidote to a Zero-Sum Outlook with Dr. Filippo Trevi…

Today, Richard is in conversation with Dr. Filippo Trevisan, assistant professor at the School of Communication and Deputy Director at the Institute on Disability and Public Policy at American University. Dr. Trevisan talks about our evolving views on...

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Dec. 22, 2020

Upholding Democratic Values in the Internet Age with Dr. David O’Brien

Today’s conversation is with David O’Brien, Assistant Research Director at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. Prof. O’Brien talks to Richard about how we as citizens can bring our democratic values to bear...

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Dec. 8, 2020

The Politics of Social Cohesion with Dr. Colin Mayer

Today’s episode features a conversation with Colin Mayer, Peter Moores Professor of Management Studies and the former dean at the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. Prof. Mayer speaks to host Richard Sergay about the role of business...

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Nov. 24, 2020

The Ethics of Communication with Dr. Onora O’Neill

Today, host Richard Sergay speaks with Baroness Onora O’Neill, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Cambridge University. Prof. O’Neill, whose work has focused on international justice and the roles of trust and accountability in public life,...

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Nov. 10, 2020

Building Common Purpose with Sir Paul Collier

As we explore our season focusing on citizenship in the networked age, journalist Richard Sergay explores the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen in the digital era, the individual and community strengths inherent in healthy citizenship,...

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Oct. 27, 2020

Citizenship in a Networked Age with Vint Cerf, Nuala O’Connor, & Mich…

Today’s conversation features three intersecting perspectives on the topic of citizenship in a networked age. We’ll hear from Vint Cerf, Google's vice president and chief Internet evangelist, and one of the world’s recognized “fathers of the...

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Oct. 13, 2020

An Agenda for Rebuilding Our Civic Ideals with Dr. Andrew Briggs and…

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Andrew Briggs, a professor of nanomaterials at the University of Oxford, and Dr. Dominic Burbidge, a lecturer in politics at the University of Oxford and director of the Canterbury Institute. Along with a team of...

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Oct. 6, 2020

Beginning Next Week: Stories of Impact Season 3

How can we listen to people we don’t agree with? Rebuild trust in an era of “fake news” and “alternative facts”? Create social cohesion, cooperation, and healthy, safe, inclusive societies?  If you find yourself asking, “What are our...

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Sept. 29, 2020

Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute with Dr. Erica Cartmill, Dr. J…

In the final episode of our second season, we meet three scientists who are creating a community of people who see the world differently, bringing together scholars from around the globe who are passionate about collaboration and exploration of the...

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Sept. 22, 2020

Machine Morality with Dr. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Dr. Jana Schaich…

Today, we speak with an ethicist, a computer scientist, and a neuroscientist who have teamed together at Duke University to research how we might build human morality into an artificially intelligent machine. Drs. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Jana...

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Sept. 16, 2020

Cracking the Code: Searching for Language in Dolphins with Dr. Denise…

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Denise Herzing, Research Director and Founder of the Wild Dolphin Project and Affiliate Assistant Professor at Florida Atlantic University in biological sciences. For the last 25 years, Dr. Herzing has been on a quest...

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Sept. 7, 2020

Social Cognition in Autism with Dr. Sue Fletcher-Watson and Dr. Cathe…

In today’s episode, we explore the social cognition found within our own species, and what the benefit to every person might be if we deepen our understanding of the wide variety of intelligences of human beings.  We hear from two researchers...

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Sept. 1, 2020

Animal Cognition with Dr. Brian Hare

Dr. Brian Hare is a core member of the Center of Cognitive Neuroscience and Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology and Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. In today’s episode, Dr. Hare shares how investigating diverse intelligences offers...

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