Inquiring Minds – Details, episodes & analysis

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Inquiring Minds

Indre Viskontas

Science

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/9d. Total Eps: 461

Each week we bring you a new, in-depth exploration of the space where science and society collide. We’re committed to the idea that making an effort to understand the world around you though science and critical thinking can benefit everyone—and lead to better decisions. We want to find out what’s true, what’s left to discover, and why it all matters.

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Unlocking the Mysteries of the Social Brain with Dr. Bruce Miller

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 • Duration 38:36

In this powerful episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas reconnects with her longtime mentor, Dr. Bruce L. Miller—one of the world’s foremost authorities on dementia, empathy, and the neuroscience of human behavior. Dr. Miller is a Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he founded both the UCSF Memory and Aging Center—the world’s largest research group dedicated to neurodegenerative diseases—and the Global Brain Health Institute, a pioneering global initiative training future leaders in brain health from over 50 countries.

As a clinician and researcher, Dr. Miller has spent decades at the forefront of understanding how aging and neurodegenerative conditions alter not only memory, but emotion, identity, and creativity. His forthcoming book, Mysteries of the Social Brain: Understanding Human Behavior Through Science (co-authored with neuroscientist Virginia Sturm), brings together compelling case studies and cutting-edge science to explore how changes in brain function can reveal surprising truths about what makes us human.

In their conversation, Indre and Dr. Miller explore:

Why do some individuals with dementia develop new depths of empathy or even unlock hidden artistic talents?
How the brain's social networks shape morality, altruism, creativity, and respect—and what happens when these networks deteriorate.
The paradoxes of frontotemporal dementia and how it differs from Alzheimer’s disease in profound and unexpected ways.
How caregiving not only strengthens emotional circuits in the brain but may be one of the most meaningful human endeavors.
Why openness and interpersonal connection are essential to healthy aging and resilient societies.

They also discuss the promising future of neurodegenerative disease treatment—from CRISPR-based gene therapies for inherited forms of dementia to new clinical trials exploring the effects of social engagement, exercise, and lifestyle on brain health.

With warmth, insight, and deeply human stories, Dr. Miller challenges the traditional view of dementia as a simple unraveling, revealing instead the complexity—and at times, the unexpected beauty—of the aging brain.

Mysteries of the Social Brain is available now wherever books are sold.

Resources:

Get Dr. Bruce Miller’s new book Mysteries of the Social Brain on Amazon and Routledge

Connect with Indre on LinkedIn

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

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Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's with Charles Piller

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 • Duration 51:34

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas speaks with investigative journalist Charles Piller about his explosive new book, Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's. Piller unearths the troubling reality behind decades of Alzheimer's research, exposing how fraudulent data, unchecked ambition, and institutional failures have shaped the field—and wasted billions of dollars—while millions of patients and families await real solutions.

Piller shares:

How a single falsified study published in Nature helped cement the amyloid hypothesis as the dominant theory of Alzheimer’s, despite mounting evidence against it.
The role of NIH funding incentives in steering researchers toward confirming flawed findings instead of exploring alternative approaches.
The rise of scientific sleuths and whistleblowers like Matthew Schrag, who uncovered image manipulation in key Alzheimer’s studies.
The institutional failures of major scientific journals, regulatory agencies, and funding bodies that allowed bad science to shape drug development for decades.
Why Alzheimer’s patients and their families are still waiting for effective treatments, and what promising new directions could finally lead to breakthroughs.

Despite the troubling revelations, Piller also highlights reasons for optimism, including emerging research into alternative causes of Alzheimer’s, such as viral infections and neuroinflammation, and promising clinical trials involving GLP-1 inhibitors.

Listen in for a gripping and eye-opening discussion about how scientific fraud derailed progress in Alzheimer’s research—and how we can chart a new path forward. Doctored is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Links:

Get Charles Piller’s new book on Amazon: Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's

Connect with Charles on LinkedIn and X

Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground with Kurt Gray

Tuesday, January 21, 2025 • Duration 48:04

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas speaks with Kurt Gray, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and director of the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding.

Gray’s groundbreaking new book, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality in Politics and How to Find Common Ground, delves into the psychological roots of moral outrage and the societal divisions it fuels. Through scientific insights and engaging anecdotes, Gray explains how our deeply ingrained perceptions of harm shape our moral convictions and why bridging moral divides is both critical and possible.

They discuss:

The psychological basis of moral outrage and why it’s driven by differing perceptions of harm.
How disgust and fear influence our moral judgments and why facts alone rarely resolve disagreements.
The role of social media in amplifying moral panics and polarizing society.
Why shared stories and genuine listening are more effective than statistics in fostering understanding.

Gray also explores myths about morality, including the false belief that humans evolved as apex predators, and provides evidence for how our evolutionary history as prey shaped the cooperative moral frameworks we rely on today. Despite the challenges of polarization, Gray offers hope for bridging divides through empathy, understanding, and open dialogue.

Listen in to gain a deeper understanding of how morality drives human behavior, divides societies, and offers pathways for reconciliation.

Outraged is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Links:

Get Kurt’s new Book “Outrage” on Amazon

and visit his website:

The Purpose Code: How To Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, and Leave A Lasting Legacy with Jordan Grumet

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 • Duration 42:00

In the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles where people have lost their homes and all their worldly possessions and when many are questioning their purpose it was a timely moment for host Indre Viskontas to sit with hospice physician, financial independence expert, and author Jordan Grumet to discuss his transformative new book, The Purpose Code: How to Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, and Leave a Lasting Legacy. Drawing from his experience at the bedsides of terminally ill patients and his financial acumen Grumet explores how understanding purpose can help us navigate life’s challenges, overcome loss, and build a meaningful legacy.

Grumet shares his insights on:

The difference between "big P-purpose," which often leads to anxiety, and "little p-purpose," a path to happiness and fulfillment.
How reframing our approach to purpose can help us build lives filled with enriching activities that connect us to others.
Strategies for identifying purpose anchors, drawing from childhood joys, regrets, or incremental changes in daily life.
The impact of social media on purpose anxiety and how to counter its influence with genuine, personal goals.

Jordan’s work weaves together medicine, finance, and the significance of purpose, profoundly impacting those seeking a meaningful life.

Listen in for practical advice on aligning your actions with your values, finding joy in small, meaningful pursuits, and creating a legacy that lasts beyond your lifetime.

The Purpose Code is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Links:

Get Jordan’s new Book at Amazon

and visit his website: https://jordangrumet.com/

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show:

Journey to 2125: One Century, One Family, Rising to Challenges with Gary F. Bengier

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 • Duration 57:12

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Adam Bristol sits down with Silicon Valley tech expert, philosopher, and acclaimed science fiction author Gary Bengier to discuss his new novel, Journey to 2125: One Century, One Family, Rising to Challenges. As a prequel to his celebrated book Unfettered Journey, this latest work delves into the pivotal technological, political, and societal challenges humanity may face in the next century, all framed through the lens of a multi-generational family saga.

Bengier’s unique background—spanning a career as eBay’s Chief Financial Officer to his roles in astrophysics and philosophy—brings an unparalleled depth of realism and foresight to his writing. In Journey to 2125, he explores themes like climate change, robotics, AI, biotechnology, and the shifting labor landscape. The book blends hard science fiction with philosophical reflections, offering both a sobering view of the obstacles ahead and an optimistic call to action for addressing humanity’s most pressing issues.

They discuss:

The challenges of automation and labor displacement in a rapidly advancing technological landscape.
The integration of cutting-edge biotechnology and its societal implications.
The global energy crisis and the pivotal role of nuclear fission in the future.
The philosophical and economic systems required to navigate an increasingly automated world.

Bengier shares insights from his career in Silicon Valley, his work with the Santa Fe Institute, and his early life experiences that shaped his empathetic approach to storytelling. This episode offers a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to thrive in an era of exponential technological change.

Listen in to uncover actionable insights and a hopeful vision for building a sustainable and equitable future.

Journey to 2125 is available everywhere books are sold.

Links:

Get Gary’s new Book at Amazon

Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future with Vince Beiser

Tuesday, November 26, 2024 • Duration 44:26

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, Indre Viskontas sits down with award-winning journalist and author Vince Beiser to delve into the environmental, social, and ethical implications of our growing reliance on electronics and artificial intelligence. Drawing from his new book, Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future, Vince sheds light on the often-overlooked competition and global race for the critical metals essential for renewable energy, digital technology, and the foundation of the future. Together, they explore the environmental havoc and political upheaval these resources are already causing—such as unsustainable mining practices and the limitations of recycling—the ways the situation could worsen, the steps we can take to minimize the damage, and the hidden human cost behind the gadgets we use every day.

The result is a gripping and sobering account of the battle between what civilization demands and what the planet can withstand.

They also discuss:

The trade-offs between recycling and reducing consumption.
How mining for essential metals like cobalt and lithium impacts the environment and marginalized communities.
Promising innovations in resource extraction and sustainable practices.
The importance of reducing reliance on cars and investing in bike-friendly, walkable cities.

This conversation highlights practical steps individuals and corporations can take to align their values with their actions, from supporting right-to-repair legislation to embracing reuse over constant upgrades.

Listen in to uncover actionable insights and hope for building a more sustainable technological future.

Links:

Read Vince Beiser's book Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future

Connect with Vince Beiser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vince-beiser/

Inquiring Minds Homepage:

Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI with Ravi Bapna

Thursday, October 10, 2024 • Duration 42:25

Indre sits to chat with co-author of "Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI" and chair of business analytics at the University of Minnesota, Ravi Bapna, to explore the complex relationship between artificial intelligence and society.

They talk about the potential benefits and risks of AI and how we need to be aware and balance both narratives, how we need to understand the various types of AI out there (descriptive, predictive, prescriptive, and generative), the importance of data engineering in today's data economy, and how to protect our personal data in the age of AI.

The conversation also covers topics such as job displacement, governance and ethical considerations, and AI's role in enhancing human interactions, especially in healthcare and customer services, and storytelling.

Listen in to learn the different techniques to thrive in this new technological era.

Links:

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information

Connect with Ravi Bapna on LinkedIn

Ravi Bapna’s Book: Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI

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Living on Earth: Forests, Corals, Consciousness, and the Making of the World with Peter Godfrey-Smith

Thursday, September 12, 2024 • Duration 48:45

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, Indre Viskontas sits down with Peter Godfrey-Smith, Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Sydney and author of Living on Earth: Forests, Corals, Consciousness, and the Making of the World.

Peter takes us on an enthralling journey through the evolution of culture and its impact on consciousness and society.

Together they explore the crucial role culture plays in human development, especially how children absorb behaviors from their communities, the intriguing culture-like behaviors of non-human animals such as bowerbirds creating elaborate displays, and how various species, especially human behavior, shape their environments.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about how living beings influence the Earth's evolutionary history and how our evolutionary standing as humans should not dictate specific choices for the future.

Links:

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information

Peter Godfrey-Smith Website: https://petergodfreysmith.com/

Peter Godfrey-Smith Book Living on Earth

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Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves with Nicola Twilley

Wednesday, September 4, 2024 • Duration 44:27

Did you know that many apples sold in stores are nearly a year old by the time you get to buy them?

Indre sits down once again to talk with science journalist and non-fiction author and co-host of the award-winning Gastropod podcast, Nicola Twilley, about a project she has been passionately working on for the last 15 years, her new book “Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves”.

Her latest book covers the effect of the less well-known process of the food’s farm-to-table journey: refrigeration. Together they explore the unknown data, effects, and consequences of it.

From the challenges of working in a cold storage warehouse, such as its negative effects on cognitive function and physical performance, the complexities and technologies of food preservation, to the environmental impact of refrigeration and alternatives to this energy-intensive process.

Listen in to dive into a hidden in plain sight but crucial pillar of our modern society.

Links:

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information

Nicola’s Website: https://www.nicolatwilley.com/

Nicola’s New Book: Frostbite

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The Most Delicious Poison with Noah Whiteman

Wednesday, August 14, 2024 • Duration 39:04

Indre welcomes evolutionary biologist and UC Berkeley professor, Noah Whiteman unto the Inquiring Minds Show to delve into the world of nature’s toxins and Whiteman’s new book.

"Most Delicious Poison: The Story of Nature's Toxins from Spices to Vices.” explores the adaptations that have enabled various organisms to not only survive but thrive in environments laden with toxic substances, such as the monarch butterfly's resistance to milkweed toxins, and the broader and intricate relationships between plants and animals, focusing on how certain organisms have evolved to resist or utilize toxins for survival.

Their discussion highlights the potential medical benefits of plant-derived compounds, the importance of biodiversity, and how nature’s poisons aren’t all harmful but can be extremely beneficial to human health in the right contexts to be harnessed for therapeutic purposes. This duality underscores the importance of a nuanced understanding of toxins and their roles in nature.

Listen in to get a rich insight into the intersection of science and society, as Whiteman articulates the broader implications of his research, the case studies mentioned in his new book, and an overall appreciation for the deep complexity of nature’s toxins and how they affect life on Earth for all living things.

Links:

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information

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