2021 Wrap-Up

2021 Wrap-Up

Author: Indre Viskontas December 28, 2021 Duration: 27:02
In this last episode of 2021, Adam Bristol joins Indre to talk about the major highlights of 2021, one being the journey through COVID.  They map out the key episodes of Inquiring Minds throughout 2021, talk through their personal highlights, and recommend books to read. Recapping episodes touching on the history of quarantine, food and science, the interaction between nature and humans, and quantitative approaches to human dating, today’s episode wraps up 2021 in a neat bow, providing an excellent springboard to even more entertaining and informative shows in the coming year.   Show Links: Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes: Science-Based Strategies for Better Parenting--from Tots to Teens Project Hail Mary: A Novel  A (Very) Short History of Life On EarthSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

Hosted by neuroscientist and communicator Indre Viskontas, Inquiring Minds digs into the questions that shape our lives, where hard data meets human experience. This isn't just about lab results or abstract theories; it's about how scientific thinking directly influences our culture, our social structures, and the daily choices we all face. Every episode is a deep, thoughtful conversation that starts with curiosity and follows the evidence wherever it leads. You'll hear from researchers, thinkers, and sometimes skeptics, all in service of untangling complex issues with clarity and nuance. The goal is to move beyond headlines and hype to examine what we really know, what remains a mystery, and how that knowledge empowers us. Tuning into this podcast means joining a community that values rigor and open-minded inquiry, recognizing that understanding the mechanisms of our world is the first step toward navigating it more thoughtfully. It's for anyone who has ever wondered how science actually informs policy, art, relationships, and our sense of self, presented not as a lecture but as an engaging, ongoing exploration.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Inquiring Minds
Podcast Episodes
What is the future of human work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:07
We talk to president and CEO of Lumina Foundation Jamie Merisotis about his new book Human Work in the Age of Smart Machines.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:08
We talk to neuroscientist and computer pioneer Jeff Hawkins about his new book A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Where did artificial intelligence come from? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:51
We talk to New York Times reporter and author Cade Metz about his new book Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
What does it mean to be alive? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:53
We talk to acclaimed science writer and return guest Carl Zimmer about his new book Life's Edge: The Search for What It Means to Be Alive.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Literature may be the most powerful technology we’ve invented [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:22
On the show this week we talk to professor of story science Angus Fletcher about his new book Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringm…
Why almost everything we’ve been told about food is wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:53
On the show this week we talk to professor of genetic epidemiology Tim Spector about his new book Spoon-Fed: Why almost everything we’ve been told about food is wrong.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringmi…
A behavioral scientist explains dating [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:20
We talk to behavioral scientist and former lead researcher at Google's behavioral economics unit Logan Ury about her new book How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love.Support the show: ht…
The science behind your voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:27
Your voice is much more than just the medium by which your thoughts can be heard—it's as fundamental to who you are as your face or your fingerprints. This week we talk to journalist John Colapinto about his new book Thi…