Aiming for the Moon

Send a text This interview is a bit different from other episodes. I sit down with Dr. Jennifer A. Frey, the former Dean of the University of Tulsa’s Honors College. If you’ve been following the Lessons for Interesting People podcast on Substack, you will know I wrote an article about Tulsa’s honors college recently. I committed to UTulsa because the university seemed to have accomplished the impo...

Send a text What happens when your world crumbles? When all the things you hold dear are snatched away from you? Most of us would give up and despair. And, yet, though he awaited an unjust execution, Roman senator and philosopher Boethius penned these hopeful words: “The world in constant change maintains a harmony. And elements keep peace whose nature is to war.” Faced with his coming death, Boet...

Send a text With the development of artificial intelligence on the rise, we are at a crossroads. How will we continue our innovations and regulations of this new technology? But, this is more than a technological question. As my guest, Verity Harding states, “AI needs you.” In this episode, I sit down with Verity Harding to discuss her book, AI Needs You: How We Can Change AI’s Future and Save Our...

Send a text What's the meaning of life? Why is there pain and suffering? How do you balance justice and love? These "accursed questions" have haunted humanity for centuries. Fyodor Dostoevsky sought to answer these questions through his characters' lives. His answers are prophetic for our time. In this episode, I sit down with Northwestern University professor of Russian litera...

Send a text As we enter a world of artificial intelligence, the question of what should be automated looms before us. Models need clear, objective metrics to train on. But, can jobs really be distilled to data points?  In her book, The Last Human Job: The Work of Connecting in a Disconnected World , Prof. Allison Pugh asserts many jobs have a relational component that can’t be caught in the metric...

Send a text When we think of history of books, we often neglect the people who created them. We think of history as a figment of facts, connected together by time and advances in technology. But sometimes we overlook the humanity, the souls, the fingerprints in the ink-stained margins of long-forgotten tomes. In this episode, I sit down with Oxford's Prof. Adam Smyth to discuss his The Book-M...

Send a text For the past few centuries, we have philosophically operated under Newtonian physics where questions of experience and of the soul were seen as subjective , with no connection to the numerical certainty of science . However, then came quantum physics. In his new book, Light of the Mind, Light of the World: Illuminating Science Through Faith , classicist Dr. Spencer Klavan retells the h...

Send a text A multifaceted understanding of wisdom is essential for a functioning society.  Only with this broad understanding can we humbly dialogue with those who disagree with us and piece by piece build a culture of conversation. In this episode, I sit down with geneticist and physician Dr. Francis Collins to discuss his latest book, The Road to Wisdom . Dr. Collins argues that we must return...

Send a text In his book, The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers , award-winning journalist Eric Weiner describes how to live well. He argues that our technologically advanced societies have mistaken knowledge for wisdom. In this episode, we discuss how philosophy affects our every action, whether we recognize it or not. Philosophy allows us to make sense of our live...

Send a text The Internet has become an integral part of our world. It connects all kinds of technologies from sports streaming to stock trading to selfie posting. But, in the grand history of technology, it’s not all that old. How did the Internet become so expansive in so little time? There are two major components in the rise of the Internet. 1) The creation of modular networking that allowed fo...

Send a text A rich understanding of history allows us to recognize patterns and the possible trajectory of the present. But sometimes, this analysis provides sobering prophecies. In this episode, renowned classicist and military historian, Dr. Victor Davis Hanson discusses his 2024 book, The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation . In it, he outlines the common factors in the downfa...

Send a text “Authenticity” has become an economic token on social media. And, not in a metaphorical way. This has led to people becoming brands. The so-called “influencer” is an icon of an industry not yet recognized or respected by society at large. This new industry is composed of a digital labor force whose livelihoods are at the whims of all-powerful, ever-changing algorithms. In this episode,...

Send a text Throughout the 21st century, mistrust in our societal institutions has become commonplace. Regardless of your political leanings, we’ve become skeptical and suspicious of the governmental, educational, and religious institutions meant to support and protect us. How did this happen? What should we do about it? Perhaps, this mistrust is the very catalyst for reform? In today's episo...

Send a text University of San Diego Fletcher Jones professor of applied mathematics, Dr. Satyan Devadoss , questions whether mathematics should be learned merely for the sake of utility and efficiency . Throughout high school, we are taught mathematics because it is useful in STEM fields. It is for the sake of new technologies that you learn about percentages, Pythagoras, and polynomials. But perh...

Send a text Dr. Annie Duke is a former professional poker player, an author, speaker, and consultant in the decision-making space. She is the author of the national bestseller, Thinking in Bets , and, the topic of today’s interview, 2022’s Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away . “Quitting’s for the weak” reverberates through today’s culture. Of course, quitting just because something is har...

Send a text In this episode, professor of Marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business and the Robert Stansky Teaching Excellence Faculty Fellow, Dr. Adam Alter , returns to the podcast. Today, we’ll discuss his new book, Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most .   Whether you’ve had a great year, a downright awful year or a lukewarm, we’re-making-it year,...

Send a text In this episode, USA Today bestselling author, Noelle Salazar , returns to the pod to discuss her second book, Angels of the Resistance . Longtime listeners might recall our previous chat with Ms. Salazar in episode 24 way back in 2020.  In today’s conversation, Ms. Salazar recounts the inspiration for her Angels of the Resistance as well as how her writing process has evolved and matu...

Send a text In our culture, perfectionism is considered a valiant weakness. And, it is worn as a badge of honor. Saying that you are a perfectionist implies that you are constantly working to better yourself and your project. You unrelentingly strive for the best possible result. You work so hard that it might require others to step in and say, “This is good enough.” It’s a valuable vice in the wo...

Send a text Have you ever wondered if the ancient tales of legendary creatures might have a hint of scientific truth? Dr. Adrienne Mayor , a renowned historian and folklorist, takes us on a riveting journey to uncover the possible inspirations for these mythical beasts . But the adventure doesn't stop there. We venture further down the rabbit hole, examining how the tales we tell today predic...

Send a text What if the very structure of American politics is threatening democracy itself? Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Dr. Jacob "Jake" Grumbach , author of " Laboratories Against Democracy" , as we uncover the collision between national political parties and state-level governments in the United States. Learn how technology, changes in media, and fundraising...

Send a text How do we truly know what we know? Are we relying on the right sources of knowledge in our lives? Join us in this thought-provoking episode with our special guest, philosopher, and author, Dr. Esther Lightcap Meek , as we tackle these fascinating questions and unravel the complex nature of knowing. Together, we'll explore the concept of subsidiary-focal integration, which proposes...

Send a text What hidden truths can an artist's perspective reveal about our world? And how can beauty often emerge from the depths of brokenness? Join us as we dive into a captivating conversation with renowned artist Makoto Fujimura , delving into the significance of art in capturing the essence of who we are. We also ponder the role of art in providing hope during bleak and uncertain times,...

Send a text On this podcast, we strive to connect fascinating and successful people to the next generation. But today, I’d like to change it up a bit and, in partnership with the Rise initiative , highlight some of the fascinating and successful people of my generation. Throughout the past few weeks, I’ve been talking with winners of the Rise Challenge from various years. For the finale of this tr...

Send a text On this podcast, we strive to connect fascinating and successful people to the next generation. But today and throughout March, I’d like to change it up a bit and, in partnership with the Rise initiative , highlight some of the fascinating and successful people of my generation. Throughout this month, I’ll be talking with three of the winners of the Rise Challenge from various years. F...

Send a text On this podcast, we strive to connect fascinating and successful people to the next generation. But today and throughout March, I’d like to change it up a bit and, in partnership with the Rise initiative , highlight some of the fascinating and successful people of my generation. Throughout this month, I’ll be talking with three of the winners of the Rise Challenge from various years. T...