A Song Called Life

In Episode #238, comedian and political commentator Davidson Boswell returns to the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Who is Zohran Mamdani, and why does his political ascent matter not just for New Yorkers, but for the nation at large? Why do so many U.S. politicians appear to have an unrelenting appetite for war? And in a time overshadowed by uncertainty, what reasons do we have to hold o...

In Episode #237, award-winning science journalist Chris Berdik joins Osi for a conversation about something we often overlook: noise. They discuss how the sounds that surround us every day, even the ones we barely notice, can disrupt sleep, increase stress, affect heart health, and slow childhood development. They also discuss how noise is transforming ecosystems, from busy city streets to the dep...

In Episode #236, historian Ian Kumekawa joins Osi to trace the hidden history of globalization through an unlikely protagonist: a barge. In his book Empty Vessel , Ian follows a single ship as it morphs from a barracks in the Falklands to a floating jail in New York to worker housing in Germany, changing names and nations with each new economic demand. The ship becomes a powerful symbol of a world...

In Episode #235, journalist and professor Alan Weisman sits down with Osi to talk about why it’s still worth holding on to hope even when the future feels uncertain. They cover issues like mass extinction, climate change, and food insecurity, and take a look at how the oil industry is fueling the crisis. But through it all, they arriive at one central question: Can we innovate our way out of these...

Vauhini Vara began her journalism career as a technology reporter at The Wall Street Journal before helping to launch and lead the business section of The New Yorker ’s website, where she served as editor and writer. Her work has since appeared in The New York Times Magazine , The Atlantic , Businessweek (where she is a contributing writer), and other major publications. Her journalism has receive...

With over 15 years of experience, Hannah Selinger is an accomplished writer whose work spans a wide range of subjects, including food, wine, travel, politics, lifestyle, real estate, and parenting. Her debut memoir, Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly (Little, Brown, 2025), has been praised by The New York Times as “a mix of Joris-Karl Huysmans, M.F.K. Fisher, and Regina George ... a...

Daryl Fairweather is chief economist at Redfin, where she analyzes US housing markets and consumer behavior, and a member of the academic advisory council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. A former senior economist at Amazon, she is a regular contributor to  Forbes , and she has been featured in  60 Minutes, Today,  the  New York Times,  and  Bloomberg , among other outlets.

In Episode #231, philosopher and animal rights activist Dr. Jeff Sebo joins Osi to discuss why we need to expand our moral circle. Are humans truly more important than all other beings? Who deserves moral consideration—and what qualifies a being to "matter"? Jeff and Osi dig into these questions and challenge the way we think about ethics, responsibility, and the future. Jeff Sebo works...

In Episode #230, social psychologist Dr. Kurt Gray joins Osi to unpack the deep divide between liberals and conservatives, and why we so often feel outraged by those who see the world differently. They discuss how our biggest conflicts, whether political, personal, or cultural, stem from one simple question: who do we believe is being harmed? A social psychologist and an award-winning researcher a...

In Episode #229, Dr. Bill von Hippel joins Osi to tackle a big question: Why do so many of us feel unhappy or unfulfilled, even while living in comfort with more freedom, choice, and opportunity than ever before? They discuss the deep evolutionary forces that shape who we are—and how understanding those forces can help us push back against the emptiness and isolation that often come with modern li...

In Episode #228, Dr. Adam Ratner joins Osi to talk about vaccine hesitancy—especially around measles—and how it connects to the recent rise in measles cases in Texas. They dig into the history of measles and how it was once eliminated in the US, why some parents today are choosing not to vaccinate their kids, and the deeper mistrust many Americans feel toward the healthcare system. Adam Ratner is...

In Episode #227, author Mike Pepi joins Osi to talk about the idea that technology is neutral—and why that’s a myth. They dig into the cycle of creating new technologies to solve problems caused by earlier ones, the hidden beliefs built into the platforms we use every day, and how those platforms shape the way we think, act, and connect with others. Mike Pepi writes about art, culture, and technol...

In Episode #226, podcaster and comedian Eddie McGee joins Osi for a wide-ranging conversation covering AI and the potential necessity of Universal Basic Income as millions of jobs face disruption, the recent DEI purge aimed at erasing Black history, the rising cost of living, and more. Comedian and trucker Eddie McGee cohosts A Trucker's Mind Podcast , a show exploring current events and general t...

In Episode #225, humanist and Tech Agnostic author Greg Epstein joins Osi to talk about how we can stay thoughtful and ask the right questions in a world that’s being rapidly shaped by technology. They discuss what it means to think for ourselves instead of blindly trusting every new innovation—asking who really benefits from our faith in tech, how we can hold the industry responsible for its impa...

In Episode #224, writer Adam Chandler joins Osi to dive into some of the most debated questions in American life: Is the belief that "hard work leads to success" a myth? Is success something we earn—or something we’re given? Drawing from his book 99% Perspiration , Adam takes a compelling look at how America’s obsession with hard work is unraveling in the face of growing inequality and e...

In Episode #223, author and Wall Street Journal reporter Mike Colias joins Osi to break down the huge changes happening in the car industry as it shifts from gas-powered engines to electric vehicles (EVs). The question isn’t whether EVs are coming—they’re already here. But how this transition plays out is the real story. They discuss the intense competition among car companies as they race to keep...

In Episode #222, author and professor James Boyle joins Osi to discuss how AI’s growing ability to imitate human intelligence challenges our understanding of what it means to be a "person," pushing us to rethink the legal and moral lines that separate humans and intelligent machines. Free link to The Line: AI and the Future of Personhood: https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent....

In Episode #221, author John A. Powell joins Osi to discuss his new book, Belonging without Othering. They explore how deeply ingrained tendencies to "other" shape societies, why current DEI efforts fall short, and what it truly takes to create inclusive communities where everyone belongs. john a. powell  (who spells his name in lowercase in the belief that we should be "part of the universe, not...

In Episode #220, political scientist Mark Lilla joins Osi to discuss the paradoxical human impulse to seek knowledge while often resisting it at the same time. They examine this phenomenon of willful ignorance through history and examine how it shapes much of today’s American politics. Mark Lilla, Professor of Humanities, specializes in intellectual history, with a particular focus on Western poli...

In Episode #219, journalist and author Alex Cuadros joins Osi to discuss the remarkable story of the Cinta Larga, an Amazonian tribe that remained isolated from the Western world until the 1960s and later became involved in operating an illegal diamond mine in the 2000s—based on six years of immersive reporting and research. Alex Cuadros is the author of When We Sold God's Eye , published in Decem...

In Episode #218, author Patrick Winn joins Osi to discuss Narcotopia , his latest book chronicling the gripping story of the Wa, a 30,000-strong narcotics empire at the heart of Asia’s $60 billion meth trade. Operating out of the infamous Golden Triangle, the Wa have built nation-like infrastructure funded by pink, vanilla-scented speed pills, their rise entangled with CIA operations gone wrong. P...

In Episode #217, clinical psychologist Meg Jay joins Osi to discuss the mental health challenges young adults in their 20s face today, exploring why anxiety and depression have become so prevalent in this generation and examining how societal attitudes and approaches contribute to the issue. Meg Jay, PhD, is a developmental clinical psychologist who specializes in twentysomethings. She is the auth...

In Episode #216, science journalist Sarah Scoles joins Osi to discuss why nuclear weapons are still a big deal today and question whether they really keep us safe or prevent wars. They explore what she learned from visiting U.S. nuclear weapons labs, explaining how modern nuclear technology works, what the people who maintain these weapons think about them, and why the risk of a nuclear disaster i...

In Episode #215, neuroscientist Tony Nader joins Osi to discuss a groundbreaking perspective on consciousness, exploring how it serves as the essence of all existence and offering practical tools and methods to connect with our authentic inner nature. Tony Nader, M.D., Ph. D., MARR, is a medical doctor trained at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Ph. D. in neuroscience)...

In Episode #214, author Ajay Chaudhary join Osi to discuss how our current systems of power and economy are making climate change worse, deepening inequality, and wearing down both people and the planet. They also discuss the current fires happening in Los Angeles and how they connect to these broader issues. Ajay Singh Chaudhary is the executive director of the Brooklyn Institute for Social Resea...