Templeton Ideas Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Vera is a professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southern California. As a cosmologist, she studies the entire universe as a physical system. In doing so, she explores the nature of dark matter, dark energy, and the birth of the universe. Vera is the project leader of a new $4M grant from the John Templeton Foundation that will bring together astrophysicists, computer scientists, artists, and philosophers in a new research hub to explore the nature of dark matter and the early universe. She joins the podcast to discuss dark matter, collaboration among scientists, observatories, and more. 

What are the strangest objects in the universe? It's almost certainly black holes, objects that are so powerful that even light cannot escape them.  To learn more, check out our podcast episode with Shep Doelman, whose team produced the first-ever images of a black hole.

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Timothy Dalrymple is the new president of the John Templeton Foundation. Before assuming this role, he served as CEO of Christianity Today. Tim has led several innovative media ventures and worked closely with writers, scholars, and philanthropists to elevate ideas that enrich public life. A former national champion gymnast turned philosopher of religion, he holds degrees from Stanford, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Harvard, where his doctoral work focused on the nature of suffering and religious knowledge. He joins to podcast to discuss his history, transition to the role as president, and hopes for the future. 

What inspires you to travel? Could you design a journey around the experience of awe? To learn more, we invite you to read Alene Dawson's Templeton Ideas essay, The Awe-Seeker's Guide to Travel.

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Heather is the President and CEO of the John Templeton Foundation, one of the world's largest funders of research at the intersection of science, philosophy, and faith. Over the past decade, she has helped broaden the Foundation's global reach while championing topics such as intellectual humility, the psychology of purpose, and human flourishing. She is also the granddaughter of Sir John Templeton, whose legacy continues to shape the Foundation's mission.

Learn more about Heather's key takeaways and initiatives in her article A Reflection on My Presidency of the John Templeton Foundation.

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Agnes is a philosophy professor at the University of Chicago, where she specializes in ancient philosophy and ethics. Her early studies instilled in her a deep fascination with Socrates, which ultimately led to the publication of her newest book, Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life. In addition to her scholarly work, she also writes for popular outlets like The New Yorker, the Atlantic, New York Times, and Harpers.

How can we "navigate a technical revolution" in an ever-evolving world? Read A Meaningful Life in the Age of AI by Richard Lopez to learn how to balance appreciation and practice of AI. 

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Robin is a British anthropologist and professor with a special interest in primate behavior and evolution. He is perhaps best known for formulating "Dunbar's Number", which states that among humans, there is an upper limit of about 150 people with whom we can maintain stable social relationships.

Among his many books, he recently published How Religion Evolved And Why It Endures, in which he explores the deep history of human spirituality and its expression in both small-scale and large-scale societies. He joins the podcast to discuss the origins of religion and religion's purpose in our societies. 

"Science is known for progress and change; religion is less so." Learn how science and fascination are being used to teach monks and nuns in An Experiment to Enhance the Tibetan Monastic Tradition by Drew Rick-Miller. 

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Dr. Centola is a professor of communication, sociology, and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on how ideas transmit and transform societies through network theory and behavior change. He has explored these ideas in two popular books: How Behavior Spreads: The Science of Complex Contagions and Change: How to Make Big Things Happen. Damon joins the podcast to discuss the most effective approaches to social and behavior change. 

Why is it so difficult to make meaningful, positive changes in our personal lives that last more than a few weeks? Explore this question in our essay by Alene Dawson, "Can people really change? Yes. Here's how."

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David Brooks is a political and cultural commentator who has written an Opinion column for the New York Times for two decades. His essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and more. He is also the author of several books, including The Social Animal, The Road to Character, and The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life. David's newest book, How to Know a Person is a practical guide to fostering deeper connections at home, work, and throughout our lives. David joins the podcast to discuss the social and relational crisis in our society, why it's better to be an illuminator than a diminisher, and his practical advice on how we can become better people.

Producer's note: This special episode was originally published in the early days of the Templeton Ideas podcast in November 2023. We hope you enjoy it.

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Olga Khazan is an author and staff writer at The Atlantic, where she publishes stories on health, social science, psychology, and other thought-provoking topics. In 2020, she published her first book, Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World, which draws on her experiences as both an immigrant and a natural introvert. Olga's latest book, Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change, chronicles her year-long personal experiment to reshape her personality. Olga joins the podcast to discuss how she intentionally became more extroverted and how becoming a parent can change our personalities. 

Does being a parent make you miserable, happy, or is that the wrong question entirely? Explore these ideas and more in an essay by psychologist Kendra Thomas entitled "Parenting is About Hope, Not Happiness."

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Ross Douthat is a New York Times columnist who writes about religion, society, and moral values. He is also the author of several thought-provoking books, including Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics, and a memoir of his personal struggle with a debilitating sickness, The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery. His latest book is Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. Ross joins the podcast to discuss how decadence is shaping society and whether religion has a vibrant future.

Why do so many people pray? Does it really work? And if so, in what way?

Explore these questions and more in an essay by psychologist Frank Fincham, "What Can Science Say About the Study of Prayer?"

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Brian Greene is a Professor of Physics and Mathematics at Columbia University. His research has significantly contributed to the advancement of string theory, and he is widely regarded as one of the world's leading science communicators. As a best-selling author, co-founder of the World Science Festival, and frequent guest on prominent television programs and films, Brian has a remarkable ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible to audiences across the globe. His latest book, Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe, is a fresh look at the cosmos. Brian joins the podcast to explore the fundamental nature of reality.

What is "Nature"? Is it an idea, a force, a physical reality, or a god? How does a universe come to exist in the first place? To explore this mystery, check out our essay by Manil Suri, entitled "Mathematics Can Do Anything But This."

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