At a Distance

Artist Sanford Biggers, whose solo exhibition “Codeswitch” opens at the Bronx Museum of the Arts in September, discusses interconnectedness, the importance of “re-righting” history, and why monuments and memorials are dynamic, not static.

Bhuddist monk Gelong Thubten, author of the book “A Monk’s Guide to Happiness: Meditation in the 21st Century,” speaks with us about the real meaning of freedom, attention as a commodity, and how meditation can be a tool for combatting fear, worry, and false sources of happiness.

Meteorologist and climate journalist Eric Holthaus, author of the new book “The Future Earth: A Radical Vision for What’s Possible in the Age of Warming,” talks with us about finding hope in spite of trauma, using language to shift perspectives, and how altruism and collaboration might allow society not only to survive but thrive.

Anthropologist and legal scholar Annelise Riles, the executive director of Northwestern University’s Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Studies, discusses America’s shifting relationship with China amid Covid-19, rethinking how knowledge is made, and how language can be both a barrier to and a means for human connection.

Journalist, author, and broadcaster Peter Laufer, the James Wallace Chair in Journalism at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, speaks with us about the Portland protests, President Trump’s efforts to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, and why we need more opportunities for listening and conversation across political divides.

Buckminster Fuller Institute executive director Amanda Ravenhill talks with us about the importance of multidisciplinary thinking, the power of the individual in today’s globalized society, and the need for a deeper appreciation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Neuroscience-trained psychotherapist Ariel Garten, co-founder of the brain-sensing headband Muse, discusses understanding and identifying helpful and hurtful technologies, ways of addressing our mental health during the pandemic, and various approaches to getting into a healing mindset.

Science journalist Emily Anthes, author of the new book “The Great Indoors: The Surprising Science of How Buildings Shape Our Behavior, Health, and Happiness,” speaks with us about the paradox of indoor spaces during a pandemic, the rich microbial worlds inside our homes, designing interiors with inclusivity in mind, and what makes for resilient architecture.

Sommelier, winemaker, and entrepreneur André Hueston Mack, owner of Maison Noir Wines and the Brooklyn “ham bar” and grocery & Sons, talks with us about producing wine in the face of global warming and climate change, his love of American country hams, Covid-19’s shock to the restaurant industry, and the connection between diversity and empathy.

New York City Cultural Affairs Commissioner Gonzalo Casals discusses his difficult recovery from a Covid-19 infection; the impact of the pandemic on his neighborhood in Jackson Heights, Queens, as well as on the city’s arts and culture organizations; and today’s long-overdue shifts and necessary conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Entrepreneur, analyst, strategist, and investor Azeem Azhar, creator of the Exponential View newsletter and podcast, speaks with us about Covid-19’s impact on surveillance, the role of the smartphone in contemporary society, and the emergence of “climate tech” companies.

Activist, artist, M.C., and music educator Toni Blackman talks with us about establishing a breathwork practice, the links between spirituality and hip-hop, and the healing power of music to shift our hearts and minds.

Futurist, designer, and ethicist Cennydd Bowles discusses why design often creates as many problems as it solves, the failures of “design thinking,” and the importance of bringing a longer-term perspective to addressing systemic changes.

Chef David Zilber, the former head of the fermentation lab at Noma, speaks with us about the symbiosis between microbes and mankind, science as a tool for thinking about food from new perspectives, and his hopes for shaking up our complex, deeply broken global food systems.

Architect and urban designer Mitchell Joachim, co-founder of the firm Terreform One and co-author of the new book “Design with Life: Biotech Architecture and Resilient Cities,” talks with us about the idea of utopia, the future of capitalism, and why, coming out of Covid-19, we’re going to start thinking again of ourselves as citizens instead of consumers.

Margaret Klein Salamon, the founding director of the advocacy organization The Climate Mobilization and author of the new book “Facing the Climate Emergency: How to Transform Yourself with Climate Truth,” discusses the psychological impacts of the climate crisis, the need for a collective awakening, and why we need to be explicit about the policies we advocate for to prevent the collapse of civili...

Jeremy Lent, the founder of the Liology Institute and author of “The Patterning Instinct: A Cultural History of Humanity's Search for Meaning,” speaks with us about how corporations have become the “ruling force” in our world today, the vast impact of the internet on mankind, and why we need to broaden our thinking about the long-term implications of the coronavirus pandemic.

Biologist Rob Dunn, an applied ecology professor at North Carolina State University and the author of several books, including “Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live,” talks with us about his studies into sourdough starters, the impact of fast food and industrial farming on our gut’s “garden,” and the transformative natur...

Economist Matthew E. Kahn, the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Economics and Business at Johns Hopkins University and the director of the university’s 21st Century Cities Initiative, discusses the idea of the American Dream, his support for a per-ton carbon tax, and why, because of the climate crisis, he doesn’t believe in homeownership.

Jennifer Rauch, the author of the book “Slow Media: Why Slow is Satisfying, Sustainable, and Smart,” speaks with us about the benefits of occasionally unplugging from technology and abstaining from the news, the effects of Covid-19 on media consumption, and the joy of boredom.

Integrative nutritionist Daphne Javitch, the founder of Doing Well, talks with us about personal and community health as a marathon, why trying to think positively isn’t necessarily a pragmatic wellness solution, and the importance of monitoring your media diet.

Architect Michel Rojkind discusses designing against fear, why our nature as humans is interconnection, the benefits of moving away from a competitive mindset, and finding balance through running and drumming.

Biologist Merlin Sheldrake, author of the new book “Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures,” speaks with us about fungal networks, lifeforms as ecosystems, and the transformative power of LSD to shift how we think.

Tortoise Media co-founder and former BBC News director James Harding talks with us about journalism as a public conversation, the parallels between Slow News and Slow Food, and the opportunities to be found through a slower, more contextual approach to media making.

London-based Iranian artist Shirazeh Houshiary discusses her deep appreciation of the natural world, the power of embracing uncertainty, transcending the “duality of existence” through multidisciplinary learning, and training ourselves toward long-view thinking.