Forbidden Conversations

It's time for the gut microbiome to become a more central part of our conversation about health. That's why today I’m talking with Dr. Joseph Petrosino about the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes living in the gut, and why they reach far beyond digestion: into immunity, metabolism, sleep, and even mental health. We talk about how modern diets and antibiotics have reshaped...

Jay Vidyarthi is a designer, author, entrepreneur, and attention activist working at the intersection of technology, mindfulness, and human wellbeing. He is the founder of Still Ape, a design firm that's focused on creating more mindful and human-centered technology. Jay has contributed to more than 50 wellbeing technologies, including Muse and the Healthy Minds Program, and is the author of &...

Chia Lin Simmons is a former executive at Google, Amazon/Audible, Samsung, Harman/JBL and series A to series D startups in Silicon Valley. She's the CEO of LogicMark, one of the leaders in medical alert, health communication, and personal safety technology. The tech helps empower patients and caregivers by providing better monitoring, predictive analytics, and alerts. In this episode, we discuss t...

This conversation with memory expert Dr. Anthony Metivier explores practical strategies for remembering names, improving focus, and building a sharper memory, while also examining deeper questions about the internet as humanity's external memory, the "vanishing" of online information, and the balance between preserving the past and letting it fade. From ancient memory techniques and...

Mikael Kågebäck is Chief Technology & Product Officer at Sleep Cycle, a company that uses AI and signal processing to help people sleep better. Kågebäck started out as a software developer, then worked as a software architect, before going back to school to do a PhD in machine learning, with a focus on language and NLP.He joined Sleep Cycle around 2019 as a Research Scientist, initially tasked...

Doesn’t everyone deserve an AI companion of their own? It’s always available. It won’t reject or judge you. It will always be on your side. It won’t fight or insult you. It doesn’t have its own problems to deal with, so it can focus on the person who matters most: you. It will always “listen.” It will prioritize your feelings. It is, in many ways, the perfect companion. Or is it? AI companions ten...

In this episode, noted scientist Ilya Kolmanovsky, discusses the evolution of the human brain and its interaction with AI. We explore how our brains have developed over millions of years, the impact of digital technology on cognition, and the potential for brain-machine interfaces. The conversation also touches on memory, sleep, morality in AI, and the future of human-AI symbiosis. Born in Moscow,...

We live in a world where answers arrive instantly and algorithms predict what we want to see. Every spare moment can be filled with information, entertainment, or distraction. But what do we lose when there is no room left for wondering? I often say that curiosity can solve almost anything. Think about it: curiosity pushes us to learn about the world around us. It motivates us to understand why pe...

Interview with Uma Valeti of Upside Foods,  a food technology company that grows sustainable cultured meat.  That is, lab-meat. As seen on Mr. Beast!

David Sutcliffe is a coach, teacher, workshop facilitator, and podcast host. He is a certified Somatic Practitioner, trained in Core Energetics. A former actor, he's best known for his role on the popular TV series Gilmore Girls. Born and raised in Canada, he now lives in Valle de Bravo, Mexico with his wife, Diana.

Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss is a leading scholar in the study of extremism, radicalization, and polarization, whose work bridges academic research and practical interventions. As the director of the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University, her research informs policy, media, and community-based strategies to address pressing global challenges. Her publ...

Zion Lights is an award-winning science communicator and environmental advocate, widely recognised for challenging conventional environmental narratives. She champions a science-led vision of human progress, in which energy poverty is alleviated. Zion is notable particularly for her success with advocating for nuclear energy. With over 10 years of experience in communications, public engagement, p...

Can laughter solve everything? Clifford Myers is a 16-year stand-up comedy veteran, Founder of The Other Comedy Company (theothercomedy.co), and President of The Canadian Association of Stand-up, Sketch and Improv Comedians (CASC).Clifford uses his unique position at the intersection of comedy, education and advocacy to speak on humour and creativity as complex human traits, the importance of comm...

Adam Szetela is a Ph. D. student in the English department at Cornell University, and a former visiting fellow in the history department at Harvard University. His book, "That Book Is Dangerous! How Moral Panic, Social Media, and the Culture Wars Are Remaking Publishing," will be published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press and distributed by Penguin Random House on Augus...

About Paolo Gaudiano:With advanced degrees in aerospace engineering and neuroscience, Paolo jokes that he had already done rocket science and brain surgery before facing a really complex problem: convincing business leaders they can make more money by creating more inclusive organizations. Paolo is founder of DEI tech company Aleria and the research nonprofit ARC. A former tenured professor, he is...

Comedy has two roles: to entertain people and to expose societal absurdities. It can be a tool for critical thinking, encouraging audiences to reconsider and mock ideas that don't deserve their respect. Today's guest is Seth Dillon, the CEO of The Babylon Bee, the world's most trusted, factually accurate news source. Taking on the tone of a traditional news media publication, the Bee s...

Benjamin Ryan is a veteran independent journalist, specializing in science and health care coverage. He contributes to The New York Times, NBC News, the New York Post and The New York Sun and the Washington Post opinion section. He has also written for the The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Nation, New York and many other publications. He publishes the Substack Hazard Ratio, where he focuses on exami...

Join this conversation with Habib Khan Totakhil, founder of Afghan Peace Watch and former Kabul-based reporter with The Wall Street Journal. Previously, he worked for Afghanistan Times daily newspaper. He received Rumi Award for “Best International Journalist in Afghanistan” in 2014.Find him on X at: @HabibKhanT

In this episode, I chat with David Josef Volodzko about good faith discourse, how to deal with those who don’t want to engage honestly, and the nature of debate. How do we have good conversations? What's at the heart of bad faith?

Steven Hassan, PhD is a mental health professional and expert in undue influence tactics used by authoritarian leaders and destructive cults. His expertise includes harmful influence in cases of destructive religious and political cults, human trafficking, extremist and terrorist groups, one-on-one relationships, families, parental alienation, mini-cults, therapy and self-improvement groups, profe...

Welcome to the Forbidden Conversations podcasts, which provides a nuanced and civil approach to difficult subjects. My guest today is Mo Ghaoui, a Palestinian-Lebanese refugee turned American who has spent 25 years in the tech sector, including some involvement with the more shadowy aspects of the political world. Despite his professional background, he remains committed to resolving the right of...

This isn't a debate, but rather a civil conversation that presents two different perspectives on the trans conversation—particularly around children. There's areas of agreement and disagreement, all in good faith. ---- Brianna Wu is an American video game developer and computer programmer. She co-founded Giant Spacekat, an independent video game development studio, with Amanda Warner in Bo...

Warren Smith is a teacher whose video of a conversation with a student went viral back as he challenged the student to think critically about his claim relating to author J.K. Rowling. He has since been laid off from his position and runs Secret Scholars on YouTube.

It's striking how many people believe things that are demonstrably false, even though we live in an era where information is more accessible than ever before. This phenomenon affects everything from personal medical decisions to global policies. In an age brimming with data and facts at our fingertips, do so many of us cling to untruths? And more importantly, how can we counteract this and fos...

This conversation was streamed live on X on February 19, 2024. This episode features and interview between Katherine Brodsky & Elon Musk and a Q&A to follow. Warning: There were significant sound issues due to glitches and Elon doing this interview from an airplane.