Beauty At Work

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...

This is part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Michael Muthukrishna.  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 thi...

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...

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 su...

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...

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 artwor...

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...

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 worki...

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,...

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 h...

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...

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 reflec...

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 ma...

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 desig...

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 discipl...

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...

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 ea...

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 hitch...

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...

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.buzzsp...

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...

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,...

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 lonelin...

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 lonelin...

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...