Best Criticalthinking Podcasts (2025)

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CEO of FCLT Global and Former Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company on Turning Investor Dialogue into Strategy 50:55

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2h ago50:55

50:55

Sarah Keohane Williamson, CEO of FCLT Global and coauthor of The CEO’s Guide to the Investment Galaxy, offers a disciplined primer for executives operating at the intersection of corporate strategy and capital markets. Drawing from her background in investment banking, government, consulting, and asset management, she explains why “investors are no…

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Slavery, Misogyny, and Racism: It's All In The Bible (with David Johnson) 1:19:45

4h ago1:19:45

1:19:45

This week's episode features a wide-ranging and informative conversation with my good friend and returning guest, David Johnson, host of the Skeptics and Seekers Podcast. I've done a number of shows with David, both here and on his show, and we've teamed up a lot this year for his "Summer of Morality" series he's been doing on his platform. Speakin…

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Justin Ling on the right wing media ecosystem 1:05:07

3h ago1:05:07

1:05:07

Justin Ling (@justinling.ca) is an investigative journalist who writes the Bug-eyed and Shameless newsletter and recently published the book The 51st State Votes. The conversation begins with the right wing media ecosystem, and its effect particularly on US politics. Justin explains why there isn’t really a counterpart on the left, and what makes C…

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A Conversation With Jersey Banks, Co-Founder, Urban Cowboy 38:46

1d ago38:46

38:46

At Karrikins Group, we work alongside leaders to close the gap between great ideas and real results by combining business expertise with social science to help teams align on how to deliver together - driving better outcomes and stronger connections. In this episode of The Failure Gap, Julie Williamson, Ph.D. speaks with Jersey Banks, Co-Founder of…

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588: Former CEO of Jamba Juice on Leading with Culture 42:57

2d ago42:57

42:57

James D. White, former CEO of Jamba Juice, current board chair, and coauthor of Culture Design, shares how culture becomes a management discipline rather than a slogan. Drawing on his eight-year turnaround of Jamba, service on more than 15 boards, and leadership toolkit, he explains how listening, rituals, and disciplined systems embed values into …

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S04E45 - Resurrecting Dire Wolves and Moa Bad Ideas 47:29

3d ago47:29

47:29

We discuss the sketchy "science by press release" of Colossal Biosciences and the controversies lurking in the history of its lead scientist. Have they resurrected dire wolves? No. Definitely not. If only overblown celebrity endorsed hype was the only problem… Did they make a Dire Wolf? (Spoiler: NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE) George Church's explanation…

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Skeptics Guide #1054 1:37:02

4d ago1:37:02

1:37:02

News Items: Conspiracy Physics, Cancer Misinformation, Improved Nuclear Thermal Propulsion, Oldest Mummies, Not The Screwworms; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Ethics in Research; Name That Logical Fallacy; Science or FictionBy SGU Productions, LLC

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587: Globally Recognized Marketing Strategist on How to Build Brands That Dominate 45:32

7d ago45:32

45:32

Laura Ries, globally recognized marketing strategist and author of The Strategic Enemy, outlines a category-first approach to brand building. As she explains, “while people talk in brands, they really think in categories. The category is king.” Her core message: focus, contrast, and clarity determine whether a brand leads or disappears. The convers…

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586: Father of the Cable Modem Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard on Innovation and the Global Broadband Transformation 55:55

10d ago55:55

55:55

Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard, founder of LANcity, author of The Accidental Network, and widely known as the “father of the cable modem”, shares the story of how broadband was built and the lessons it offers for today’s leaders navigating AI and emerging technologies. Arriving in the U.S. with $750 in savings, Yassini-Fard envisioned carrying “voice, data a…

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S04E44 Ghost Hunting 1975 57:05

10d ago57:05

57:05

We take a look at a fascinating slice of paranormal history in the form of a 1975 BBC documentary The Ghost Hunters. How much has changed in paranormal research since 1975? Not much, after a fashion… Anybody know something about these plastic pub barrels from the 1970s? Show Notes: Benson Herbert - ghost hunter Andrew Green - the Spectre Inspector …

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Skeptics Guide #1053 1:44:54

11d ago1:44:54

1:44:54

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1053 September 10th 2025 Segment #1. Quickie with Evan Earth Quasi-moon https://earthsky.org/space/earth-quasi-moon-2025-pn7/ Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Guiding Tiny Robots https://www.science.org/content/article/microscopic-robots-navigate-artificial-spacetimes News Item #2 – Tylenol and A…

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The Examined Run with Sabrina Little 1:06:45

13d ago1:06:45

1:06:45

Sabrina Little is a philosopher, ultra-runner, and the author of The Examined Run: Why Good People Make Better Runners. She is a five-time U.S. National Champion in trail and ultrarunning, a former American Record Holder, and World Silver Medalist. In today’s episode, Sabrina answers the question: Why do good people make better runners? What are th…

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A Conversation With Liza Adams, GrowthPath Partners, CEO & Founder 40:05

15d ago40:05

40:05

At Karrikins Group, we work alongside leaders to close the gap between great ideas and real results by combining business expertise with social science to help teams align on how to deliver together - driving better outcomes and stronger connections. In this conversation, Lisa Adams, an AI advisor and strategist, discusses the transformative potent…

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585: Former Goldman Sachs Executive, Erin Coupe, on Rituals for Success, Meditation, and Self-Leadership 53:43

14d ago53:43

53:43

Former Goldman Sachs executive Erin Coupe shares how she transformed her life and career by replacing routines with rituals, practicing meditation, and stepping into self-leadership. In this episode of the Strategy Skills Podcast, Kris Safarova and Erin dive deep into practical lessons for entrepreneurs, consultants, and online business owners who …

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From Christian Rocker to Losing Jesus (with Mikee Bridges) 1:08:27

14d ago1:08:27

1:08:27

This week's episode features new friend Mikee Bridges, a former Christian rocker/grunge/punk musician who is also known for putting on the Tom Fest, an alternative Christian music festival that ran for 14 years. He also ran a Christian rock venue in Portland, OR, for many years. After getting out of the Christian music game, Mikee went on to help f…

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584: ESSEC Business School Professor on How Geopolitics Shapes Corporate Strategy 46:01

16d ago46:01

46:01

Srividya Jandhyala, professor of management at ESSEC Business School and author of The Great Disruption, offers a clear framework for how geopolitics is reshaping corporate strategy. Her central thesis is direct: “The fundamental idea, ‘Where are you from?’—the nationality of the company—is the defining feature of the type of reactions you face fro…

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S04E43 - Big Foot and Van Meter 43:21

16d ago43:21

43:21

Blake catches Karen up on his current research projects: The four-wall tour dates of the PGF, and a contextual look at the Van Meter Visitor. Neither of these projects are finished but he is excited to share what he's been working on. Dolemite is mentioned favorably. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--…

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Skeptics Guide #1052 1:53:25

18d ago1:53:25

1:53:25

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1052 September 3rd 2025 Segment #1. Quickie with Bob Real Interstellar Technosignatures https://phys.org/news/2025-09-technosignatures-interstellar.html Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Sexless Seeds https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02753-x News Item #2 – Spouses Share Psychiatric Disor…

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583: The Four Pillars of Elite Teams (with Colin M. Fisher) 57:31

21d ago57:31

57:31

In this rigorous and insight-rich episode, Dr. Colin Fisher, author of The Collective Edge, deconstructs high-performing teams using decades of organizational research and field-tested frameworks. If you lead, manage, or influence teams, the insights here can recalibrate how you build and guide collaboration. We explore four foundational elements (…

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582: McKinsey's Venkat Atluri, How to thrive in the ecosystem economy (Strategy Skills classics) 58:18

23d ago58:18

58:18

Venkat Atluri, McKinsey senior partner and coauthor of The Ecosystem Economy: How to Lead in the New Age of Sectors Without Borders, explains how value creation is shifting from stand-alone enterprises to coordinated networks of collaborators. Drawing on two decades advising leaders in technology, media, and telecom, he outlines what makes ecosyste…

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S04E42 You Don't Know Jackalopes 34:41

24d ago34:41

34:41

Blake is joined by regular contributor Matt Baxter, and special guest Kara Van Hoose from the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife to discuss the (not that mysterious) outbreak of "tentacle bunnies" in Colorado this summer. News reports of "rabbits with tentacles" Deer wasting disease (zombie deer) "Colorado Cannibal" Alfred Packer Colorado Pa…

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Skeptics Guide #1051 1:50:32

25d ago1:50:32

1:50:32

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1051 August 27th 2025 Segment #1. Why Didn’t I Know This First Portable Computer https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/the-worlds-first-laptop-weighed-24-pounds-and-had-a-five-inch-screen-but-it-changed-computers-forever/ Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Brightest Fast Radio Burst https…

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581: President of the Sy Syms Foundation on Legacy, Leadership, and Family Enterprise 55:39

28d ago55:39

55:39

Marcy Syms, former CEO of Syms Corporation and president of the Sy Syms Foundation, reflects on leadership, governance, and the responsibilities of stewarding a family-founded, publicly traded business. Her perspective blends the operational discipline of retail with long-term thinking shaped by philanthropy and board service. Syms underscores that…

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ENCORE: Gretchen Morgenson on her book These are the Plunderers: How Private Equity Runs -- and Wrecks -- America 1:04:03

28d ago1:04:03

1:04:03

What is Private Equity, and how does it work? Gretchen Morgenson (@gmorgenson) is a Pulitzer-winning journalist whose latest book is These are the Plunderers. Gretchen exposes the bad and often illegal activities of Private Equity firms, and tries to explain why they have been allowed to get away with it for so long. She explains how Private Equity…

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A Conversation With Mandy Morris Co-Founder of SoFree 45:30

30d ago45:30

45:30

At Karrikins Group, we work alongside leaders to close the gap between great ideas and real results by combining business expertise with social science to help teams align on how to deliver together - driving better outcomes and stronger connections. In this episode, Mandy Morris discusses the importance of emotional intelligence and mental health …

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580: The Hidden Belief Blocking High Performers: “I’m Not Good Enough” 54:56

1M ago54:56

54:56

Why do even the most successful executives and management consultants secretly struggle with the belief that they’re not good enough? In this conversation with Josh Davis, PhD (psychology & neuroscience, Columbia University, NLP trainer) and Greg Prosmushkin (trial lawyer turned entrepreneur), we unpack: Why top leaders and consultants battle with …

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S04E41 Karen and Matt in Scotland 58:46

1M ago58:46

58:46

Karen and Matt are back from their book tour in the UK and they got to have some real MonsterTalk moments! Loch Ness, Boleskine House and more plus Blake wrestles with gremlins! More photos will be available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/137274189?pr=true&cr=true Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monst…

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Bonus Episode: Not So Shiny Not So Happy People Chapter 3 Book Promo! 18:24

1M ago18:24

18:24

In honor of my presentation at the Houston Oasis gathering on Sunday, the 24th of August, we are running a special promo sale that day on my book, Not So Shiny Not So Happy People: How Bill Gothard, Church, and Family Taught Me Christianity Doesn't Work. This weekend you'll be able to purchase the book on Amazon.com for just 99 cents! Also, if you'…

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Skeptics Guide #1050 1:49:35

1M ago1:49:35

1:49:35

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1050 August 20th 2025 Segment #1. Quickie with Steve Fusion to Make Gold https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.13461 Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Older Americans Using AI https://theconversation.com/older-americans-are-using-ai-study-shows-how-and-what-they-think-of-it-262411 News Item #2 – Semi-Solid S…

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579: Former Accenture Partner Brad Englert on Career Growth Through Relationships 52:24

1M ago52:24

52:24

Brad Englert, former Accenture partner, IT strategist, CIO, and author, shares how building genuine relationships has been the cornerstone of his career success. From his early days in technology consulting to leading large-scale initiatives, Brad reveals the mindset and habits that helped him grow, earn trust, and thrive in a competitive corporate…

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America: Fed Into Trump's MAGA Woodchipper (with Frank Schaeffer) 52:34

1M ago52:34

52:34

Once again I'm joined by my good friend Frank Schaeffer to discuss all things politics, religion, Christian nationalism, and the effect Trump is having on both the evangelical church and America overall. As a passionate observer of what's going on in terms of current events--not just in America but indeed the world--Frank always has a unique take o…

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578: Stanford’s Robert E. Siegel on Navigating the Toughest Leadership Trade-Offs 51:29

1M ago51:29

51:29

Robert E. Siegel, Stanford Graduate School of Business professor, venture capitalist, and former executive, shares the leadership lessons he learned working with Intel’s legendary CEO, Andy Grove, and other amazing leaders, and how to thrive in today’s era of conflicting pressures. In this in-depth conversation, we explore the concept of the system…

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Flashback: Shaver Mystery Super-cut 2:50:11

1M ago2:50:11

2:50:11

It's Hollow Earth, UFOs, the birth of Sci-Fi, and more wierdshit than you can believe as we present a super-cut of our 2-part interview with Jerry Drake and Jeb Card about one of the foundational stories of "weirdshitology" in a new ginormous single episode. And there's a little bit of reading if you want to follow us down the rabbit hole... EXTENS…

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Skeptics Guide #1049 2:00:18

1M ago2:00:18

2:00:18

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1049 August 13th 2025 Segment #1. News Items News Item #1 – Jim Lovell Dies at 97 https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/acting-nasa-administrator-reflects-on-legacy-of-astronaut-jim-lovell/ News Item #2 – Music Anhedonia https://neurosciencenews.com/music-anhedonia-auditory-neuroscience-29546/ News Item #…

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577: Former Submarine Commander L. David Marquet on How Leaders Make Better Decisions 55:31

1M ago55:31

55:31

L. David Marquet, former nuclear submarine commander and author of Leadership Is Language, shares a precise, operational approach to leadership, one that replaces command-and-control with a language designed for clarity, ownership, and adaptability. Drawing on his experience turning the USS Santa Fe from one of the worst-performing submarines in th…

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ENCORE - The Christian Destruction of the Classical World with Catherine Nixey 1:05:57

1M ago1:05:57

1:05:57

Catherine Nixey is the author of The Darkening Age, which documents how early Christians burned texts, defaced or demolished statues, and became increasingly intolerant of any thought or behaviour that deviated from their interpretation of Scripture. Catherine and Leslie discuss religious pluralism in the Roman Empire and how it changed after the E…

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A Conversation With Matt Leta, Future Works CEO, Founder 43:04

1M ago43:04

43:04

At Karrikins Group, we work alongside leaders to close the gap between great ideas and real results by combining business expertise with social science to help teams align on how to deliver together - driving better outcomes and stronger connections. In this episode of the Failure Gap, Julie Williamson, Ph.D. speaks with Matt Leta, CEO of Future Wo…

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576: Bain Senior Partner Sarah Elk on Doing Agile Right (Strategy Skills classics) 1:01:38

1M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Sarah Elk, Senior Partner at Bain & Company and global leader of its operating model work, brings a clear, pragmatic lens to why so many large-scale change efforts fail to stick. Drawing on decades of advising multinational organizations, she diagnoses the structural and behavioral traps that cause transformations to stall, and shares the disciplin…

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S04E40 - Catching Up: UK Edition 43:00

2M ago43:00

43:00

Karen and Matt check in from the UK! Karen is on tour promoting her new book Bitch: The Journey of a Word. (affiliate link) Islands are engines of language diversity Borley Rectory Mentioned for future coverage (but touched on before): The Black Monk of Pontefract Episodes covering Enfield and Poltergeists Boleskine House Some Nessie & Scotland cov…

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Skeptics Guide #1048 1:35:53

2M ago1:35:53

1:35:53

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe Skepticast #1048 August 6th 2025 Segment #1. Quickie with Bob Drinking Water from Air https://news.mit.edu/2025/window-sized-device-taps-air-safe-drinking-water-0611 Segment #2. News Items News Item #1 – Depleted Uranium Batteries https://theness.com/neurologicablog/depleted-uranium-batteries/ News Item #2 – Russ…

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575: Ex McKinsey Expert on War Games, John Horn: How to Read Your Competitors (Strategy Skills classics) 1:00:42

2M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

John Horn, professor of economics at Washington University's Olin Business School and former McKinsey strategist, shares a disciplined framework for understanding competitive behavior by applying game theory and structured simulations. In this episode, he explains how companies can elevate competitor analysis from basic intelligence gathering to ac…

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574: McKinsey Senior Partner, Kate Smaje: Winning in the Age of Digital and AI (Strategy Skills classics) 48:06

2M ago48:06

48:06

For this episode, let's revisit one of Strategy Skills classics, where we interviewed Kate Smaje, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and Global Leader of McKinsey Digital. In this episode, Kate offers a clear-eyed and disciplined perspective on what it takes for organizations to succeed in digital transformation. Drawing from deep client work acr…

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S04E39 - Are Magpies Monsters? 50:44

2M ago50:44

50:44

A fascinating chat about Australian Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) with Dr. Grainne Cleary in which we talk about the role of stories in creating monsters, the role of citizen science, and lots of cool biology facts about these birds. Not everything about Magpies is black and white, it turns out. Why do birds do that? (affiliate link) Your Backyard B…