The Podcast Browser

Harry Reis – How to Feel Loved

The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most

Interview with Harry Reis about his book How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most, co-authored with Sonja Lyubomirsky. Discusses what love is, and what it is like to feel loved; the consequences of not feeling loved; whether there really is a loneliness epidemic, and what constitutes real connection; five misconceptions about what makes one feel loved; what it means to “be yourself”, and the importance of reciprocity; the five mindsets to help us get the love we crave; opening, undersharing, and oversharing; the influence of culture and gender differences; whether we can find real connection with AI chatbots; polyamory and other consensual non-monogamous relationships.

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Dwight Macdonald – Atrocities of the Mind

Essays on Violence and Politics in the American Century

Interview with John Summers about his edited collection of Dwight Macdonald essays, Atrocities of the Mind: Essays on Violence and Politics in the American Century. Discusses Dwight Macdonald’s incisive mid-20th-century critiques of American society, politics, and culture. Details Macdonald’s intellectual journey from Trotskyist to conservative anarchist, his views on the permanent war economy, societal automatism, and the erosion of individual agency. Highlights Macdonald’s prescient insights into mass poverty, war’s brutality – even within democracies – and the critical role of independent intellectual inquiry in shaping public discourse.

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Andrew C. McKevitt – Gun Country

Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America

Interview with Andrew C. McKevitt about his book Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America. Argues that the choice to have so many guns is not so much determined by Constitution as it is the unavoidable consequence of politicians allowing a consumer culture, where guns are seen as a lifestyle product, to run relatively unfettered. Explores how capitalism following World War II allowed guns to be seen and sold as an accessory to everyday life, and how that culture brought deadly consequences to millions of people.

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Think of this as a warm-up for the forthcoming Malcolm Gladwell book, The American Way of Killing: The Invention of an Epidemic.

Renée M. Jones – Untamed Unicorns

Why Startup Finance Is Broken and How to Fix It

Interview with Renée M. Jones about her book Untamed Unicorns: Why Startup Finance Is Broken and How to Fix It. Argues that the current dysfunction in startup finance stems primarily from the deregulation of private markets, not over-regulation of public markets. This deregulation allows companies like Theranos and FTX to grow privately for extended periods, operating without transparency and avoiding mandatory disclosure. Such secrecy enables founders to accumulate power, engage in anti-competitive or unethical practices, and extract value through wasteful spending and self-dealing, all while remaining unaccountable. These changes weaken corporate governance, encouraging fraud and inefficient capital allocation, ultimately transferring risk to ordinary investors as private market assets seek liquidity in 401(k) plans.

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Stuart Firestein – It Could Be Otherwise

Science In the Age of Uncertainty

Interview with Stuart Firestein about his book It Could Be Otherwise: Science In the Age of Uncertainty. Explores how science education often misrepresents the scientific process by prioritising facts over the crucial role of ignorance, failure, and uncertainty. Argues for teaching science as a dynamic process of discovery, where acknowledging the unknown and learning from mistakes are central. Critiques the oversimplified scientific method, advocating instead for structured ignorance and counter-intuitive thinking to foster a deeper public understanding and trust in science. Also touches on pluralism – the existence of multiple, sometimes incompatible, truths – and the importance of philosophical optimism in scientific endeavour.

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Tyler Austin Harper – Confessions of a Token Black Professor

Interview with Tyler Austin Harper about his Atlantic essay Confessions of a Token Black Professor. Explores how ‘wokeness’ and diversity politics in higher education serve as a defence mechanism against mounting economic pressures and student debt, rather than addressing fundamental systemic issues. Recounts instances of ‘racial paranoia’ at Bates College and mandatory ‘racism self-audits’ which infringe academic freedom. Argues that this ‘elite diversification’ is a cheaper, performative response to declining public trust, driven by what he terms ‘repacious corporate capitalism’, leading to casualised faculty labour and ideological conformity. Highlights how external funding can also dictate research focus, diverting attention from deeper structural failures.

Owen Fitzpatrick – Inner Propaganda

Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times

Interview with Owen Fitzpatrick about his book Inner Propaganda: Leading Hearts and Minds Through Turbulent Times. Argues that we decide what feels true, then search for evidence that proves us right, rather than building our beliefs on facts, logic, and careful reasoning. This can reinforce limiting beliefs, fuel political polarization, and make us susceptible to propaganda. Explores how narratives shape our confidence, identity, and decisions – and what it takes to change them.

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Kiri Allan – Go Hard or Go Home

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin | 09 August 2026 | 0h 16m | Listen Later | Podcasts

Interview with Kiri Allan about her book Go Hard or Go Home: My Story. Discusses hitting rock bottom after her car crash and subsequent resignation from parliament, attributing it to burnout and a deep sense of responsibility. Emphasises the isolating nature of leadership and the intense demands of political life – long hours, constant advocacy, and unseen work – to foster a healthier society. Expresses pride in legislating Matariki and her youth justice initiatives, but regrets having to advocate for a policy she opposed. Highlights public misconceptions about politicians’ genuine intent and the arduous nature of their work.

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For a more in-depth interview, I recommend the Dom Harvey podcast episode.

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