Best Mankoff Podcasts (2026)

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What happens in your brain when you pay attention? w/ Dr. Sasha Hamdani | from TED Health 35:18

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6m ago35:18

35:18

Attention isn't just about what we focus on -- it's also about what our brains filter out. By investigating patterns in the brain as people try to focus, computational neuroscientist Mehdi Ordikhani-Seyedlar hopes to build computer models that can be used to treat ADHD and help those who have lost the ability to communicate. Hear more about this ex…

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2025: A Year in Review 24:42

3h ago24:42

24:42

Before we pop the champagne and count down to 2026, let’s take one last look back at 2025 through our favorite moments in nuclear medicine. Join host Ken Herrmann and his group of “JNM All-Stars:” Tom A. Hope, MD, Irene Buvat, PhD, and Jason S. Lewis, PhD, as they reminisce on their favorite parts of 2025. Tune in before the ball drops!…

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What 2025 Taught Us—And Where 2026 Is Taking Us 55:34

18m ago55:34

55:34

What do foot massage parties, otters, and AI robot tutors have in common? To find out, tune into our special end-of-year conversation featuring the hosts from TED Talks Daily, TED Radio Hour, TED Business, and TED Tech! Elise Hu, Manoush Zomorodi, Modupe Akinola and Sherrell Dorsey got together to share the biggest ideas dominating their industry a…

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Dr. Joy Buolamwini | from Design Matters 1:03:29

6d ago1:03:29

1:03:29

Dr. Joy Buolamwini is a computer scientist and a poet of code who uses art and research to illuminate the social implications of artificial intelligence. She joins to discuss her career as the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, her best-selling book Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines, and her featured r…

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Sergey Radchenko on Ukraine Peace Negotiations 47:49

13d ago47:49

47:49

Max and Maria spoke with Sergey Radchenko about the state of affairs in peace negotiations over Ukraine as we come to the close of 2025. They discuss the different parties' goals and positions, and how this current round of negotiations compares to the talks in Istanbul at the start of the full-scale invasion back in 2022. This conversation was rec…

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SPARC: Overarching Framework for PSMA PET Reporting 21:46

10d ago21:46

21:46

Data tells us that nuclear medicine has made extraordinary strides in curing prostate cancer, especially with the use of PSMA PET. But how are we reporting on PSMA, and how can this data be standardized globally? SPARC could be the answer! SPARC stands for "Standardized PSMA Reporting Criteria," and it's been initiated because of the widespread use…

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The multidimensional magic of modern maps | Peter Wilczynski 8:26

13d ago8:26

8:26

Maps have long helped us understand the world — now, they can help us shape it. Digital cartographer Peter Wilczynski introduces the Living Globe: a real-time, data-rich digital twin of Earth that fuses satellite imagery, sensor data and AI. Watch for a glimpse of the future of maps — and learn how these new tools can help us build the future witho…

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Is AI ruining music? | Dustin Ballard 13:08

20d ago13:08

13:08

What makes music “real” — is it the instruments, the voice, the creator’s intention or something else entirely? Dustin Ballard, the creative force behind the viral channel “There I Ruined It,” explores the weird, wonderful and sometimes unsettling ways AI is reshaping music. With fiddle solos and AI-powered mashups of your favorite songs, he invite…

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The Latest 28-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine 26:01

24d ago26:01

26:01

Max speaks with Michael Kimmage about his immediate reactions to the new 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, and the rapid-fire diplomacy taking place in response to its release. This conversation was recorded on November 24, 2025.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Tech Solutions (#4): How organizations can grow in a post-aid world (with Jacqueline Novogratz) 29:16

27d ago29:16

29:16

When the Trump administration dismantled USAID, it was the beginning of a post-aid era, says philanthropist and social entrepreneur Jacqueline Novogratz. Aid may not be coming back but in its place Jacqueline hopes creative solutions will emerge to provide independence and dignity at the community level. Jacqueline is the CEO of Acumen and has help…

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Tech Solutions (#3): How one of China’s biggest tech companies is tackling carbon removal (with Xu Hao) 22:28

1M ago22:28

22:28

Tencent is one of China’s biggest tech companies, running the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat and the world’s largest video game vendor. Now, it’s also an up-and-coming force in the field of carbon removal. Xu Hao, the vice president of Sustainable Social Value at Tencent, oversees two of those initiatives: the Carbon Neutrality Lab and Carbon…

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PET-Guided Radiotherapy: Reflections? 23:06

1M ago23:06

23:06

Being able to personalize a patient's treatment is one of the cornerstones of nuclear medicine, but how are we able to do that? PET-Guided radiotherapy is one answer. In addition to staging and defining a disease, PET imaging can also give providers important information about what's going on in the body while a patient is undergoing their treatmen…

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The Increased Level of Repressions Within the Russian Elite 45:48

1M ago45:48

45:48

Max and Maria spoke with Nikolay Petrov and Mikhail Troitskiy, two leading experts on the contemporary Russian elite, to discuss the current status of this ruling group inside Russia today, and why it finds itself increasingly under pressure from state security organs. This conversation was recorded on November 13, 2025. "Отцы и дѣти: Генеалогическ…

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Tech Solutions (#2): How to balance the AI boom and environmental responsibility (with Juan M. Lavista Ferres) 18:55

1M ago18:55

18:55

The environmental impact of AI is a growing concern. In this episode, Sherrell sits down with Juan M. Lavista Ferres, the Chief Scientist and Lab Director of Microsoft’s AI for Good Research Lab, to discuss his work in using AI for conservation and sustainability. Whether it’s using AI to measure methane gas leaks or allowing AI to optimize healthc…

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Russian and Ukrainian Battlefield Adaptations with Dara Massicot and Kateryna Bondar 1:04:23

1M ago1:04:23

1:04:23

Max and Maria had a livestreamed conversation in the CSIS Brack Studio with Dara Massicot and Kateryna Bondar to discuss Russian and Ukrainian battlefield adaptations and technological innovations. This conversation took place on November 5, 2025. A video recording is available at CSIS.org. "How Russia Recovered: What the Kremlin Is Learning From t…

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Tech Solutions (#1): The affordable tech that will revolutionize farming (with Samir Ibrahim and Josephine Waweru) 23:42

2M ago23:42

23:42

When entrepreneur Samir Ibrahim asked farmers in Kenya what problem they most needed solved, the answer was simple: reliable access to water to irrigate their farms year-round. Samir is the CEO of SunCulture, a company replacing diesel- and petrol-powered water pumps with more affordable solar-powered ones. He sits down with Sherrell Dorsey, host o…

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When AI Cannibalizes Its Data | NPR's Short Wave 14:12

2M ago14:12

14:12

Today, we’re featuring an episode from NPR’s science podcast Short Wave. In it, host Regina G. Barber talks to computer scientist Ilia Shumailov about maybe the buzziest topic around: AI. I’m sure you know AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT are trained on millions of examples of human-written text. Nowadays, a lot of content on the Internet is written…

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The Impact of New Sanctions and Ukrainian Deep Strikes on the Russian Energy Industry with Clayton Seigle 43:04

2M ago43:04

43:04

Max and Maria spoke with Clayton Seigle about how new sanctions from the Trump administration could potentially impact Russian energy revenues. Additionally, they discussed the effects of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries. This conversation was recorded on October 23, 2025.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

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The inside story of Notre-Dame's incredible reconstruction | Philippe Villeneuve 15:02

2M ago15:02

15:02

In a moment that stunned the world in 2019, the famed Notre-Dame in Paris went up in flames, threatening the future of the centuries-old Gothic treasure. Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of the cathedral’s restoration, recounts the collective effort to bring the building back to life while honoring its history. Listen for a story of craftsm…

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The 2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections 50:51

2M ago50:51

50:51

Max and Maria spoke with Leah Kieff and Vlad Lupan about the outcomes of the recent Moldovan parliamentary elections at the end of September, and why they're significant for both Moldova, and the broader region. This conversation was recorded on October 14, 2025.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

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I’ll probably lose my job to AI. Here’s why that’s OK | Megan J. McArdle 14:11

2M ago14:11

14:11

Artificial intelligence could cost many of us our careers — but that doesn’t mean we should stop its development, says journalist Megan J. McArdle. As she watches AI encroach on her own craft, she shares a fresh take on the 19th-century Luddites, who tried to destroy machines that would upend their trade. Looking back, McArdle reframes today’s fear…

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How Texas became America’s biggest producer of wind energy 26:59

3M ago26:59

26:59

This is the surprising story of how Texas – rich in oil and gas – became America's biggest producer of wind energy. For our first episode, Ryan and Anjali talk with Pat Wood, once George W. Bush’s right hand man and head of Texas's Public Utility Commission, to uncover the innovative approach that turned Texas into a renewable energy powerhouse. It…

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The Russia-India Relationship with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee 46:21

3M ago46:21

46:21

By Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Inside a dark web kill list | Carl Miller 16:25

3M ago16:25

16:25

Who pays for an assassin on the internet? Dark web researcher Carl Miller spent years tracking down the answer to this question. In this chilling talk, he shares how he uncovered real kill orders placed online by seemingly ordinary individuals — and gives an unsettling look at what drives people to the brink. (Note: This talk contains descriptions …

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Interview: The plant-based coating that is eliminating food spoilage | Jenny Du 20:51

3M ago20:51

20:51

If food waste were a country, it’d be the third highest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions after China and the US, says Apeel Senior VP of Operations Jenny Du. Following her talk at TED2025, Du sits down for a conversation with host Sherrell Dorsey on how her lab is creating plant-based coating that can help reduce food spoilage. From combating fo…

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Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer: What's in the Blood? 29:52

3M ago29:52

29:52

Biomarkers: what are they and how are they useful in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer? On this episode of the JNM Podcast, our panel of experts explores what they call a "liquid biopsy:" using biomarkers shed by cancer cells into the bloodstream to gain vital insights about the disease and its progression, identify candidates who woul…

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Michael McFaul on Trump, Putin, and Autocrats vs. Democrats 1:00:02

3M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

Max and Maria spoke with Stanford professor and former ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul to talk about his latest book, and where things stand today in U.S.-Russia relations. Pre-order Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder by Michael McFaul (HarperCollins, October 2025) "The Real Meaning of Putin's Middle E…

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How to build in space for life on Earth | Ariel Ekblaw 13:01

3M ago13:01

13:01

Is space the “final frontier” — or the perfect place to revolutionize life on Earth? Space architect Ariel Ekblaw reveals how self-assembling structures could build orbiting real estate in space dedicated to solving humanity’s greatest dilemmas on Earth, leading to scientific and medical breakthroughs only possible in zero gravity. Hosted on Acast.…

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The AI revolution is underhyped | Eric Schmidt 29:51

3M ago29:51

29:51

The arrival of non-human intelligence is a very big deal, says former Google CEO and chairman Eric Schmidt. In a wide-ranging interview with technologist Bilawal Sidhu, Schmidt makes the case that AI is wildly underhyped, as near-constant breakthroughs give rise to systems capable of doing even the most complex tasks on their own. He explores the s…

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The future of finding love with Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd | ReThinking with Adam Grant 36:29

4M ago36:29

36:29

What will dating look like in the age of AI? Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder and CEO of Bumble, the popular dating app that has helped millions of people meet their match. In this episode, Whitney chats with Adam about her vision for the future of dating online and offline, her decision to take a break from leading Bumble, and the importance of p…

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Jade McGlynn with an Update from Ukraine 45:01

4M ago45:01

45:01

Max had wide-ranging conversation with Jade McGlynn while she was traveling in Ukraine. Topics covered include the Ukrainian war effort, the situation behind the lines in the Russian-occupied territories, and the recent protests in Ukraine against perceived efforts by the Zelenskyy administration to limit the independence of domestic anti-corruptio…

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A concrete plan for sustainable cement | Ryan Gilliam 10:43

4M ago10:43

10:43

Cement is one of the most-consumed materials on Earth — second only to water — and it accounts for a whopping eight percent of the world's carbon pollution. What if we could turn this climate villain into a hero? Clean tech innovator and serial entrepreneur Ryan Gilliam reveals his company's surprisingly simple process for transforming waste from t…

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From Isotope to Impact: 211At 28:32

4M ago28:32

28:32

Is it really happening? Astatine-211 is a promising new radionuclide being further developed and researched for the treatment of cancer. It is a short half-life alpha-emitter that's attracting more interest from the nuclear medicine community as investors take notice of its potential and production capacity improves. So where will 211At be by 2030?…

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A survival guide for musicians in the age of AI | Harvey Mason jr. 15:36

4M ago15:36

15:36

Artificial intelligence can write a song in seconds, but does that mean human songwriters will become obsolete? Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. doesn’t think so. A songwriter himself, he offers a four-step “survival guide” for human creators to endure the age of AI, urging musicians to embrace technology while preserving the emotional essenc…

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Max and Maria on the Alaska and White House Peace Summits 27:20

5M ago27:20

27:20

Max and Maria give their takes on the recent efforts to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. They analyze the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, and then the meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders at the White House. This episode was recorded on August 20, 2025.…

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Why your phone battery gets worse over time | George Zaidan 9:47

4M ago9:47

9:47

Almost all batteries, even single-use batteries, are theoretically rechargeable. That's because the metals and other chemicals are still there in the battery. So chemically speaking, a dead battery is actually not that different from a fresh one. Then why do batteries die in the first place? And what should you do with them once they're spent? Geor…

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Will AI make humans extinct? | Yoshua Bengio 15:42

5M ago15:42

15:42

Yoshua Bengio — the world's most-cited computer scientist and a "godfather" of artificial intelligence — is deadly concerned about the current trajectory of the technology. As AI models race toward full-blown agency, Bengio warns that they've already learned to deceive, cheat, self-preserve and slip out of our control. Drawing on his groundbreaking…

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Has Putinism Failed? A Conversation with Harley Balzer and Sergei Guriev 45:42

5M ago45:42

45:42

Max and Maria spoke with Harley Balzer and Sergei Guriev about the recently released volume, Failure. Russia Under Putin. This conversation was recorded on July 17, 2025. Failure. Russia Under Putin is available now from Bloomsbury Publishing.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Live from New Orleans: JNM Podcast with Johannes Czernin and Anna Karmann 25:20

5M ago25:20

25:20

In this live episode of The JNM Podcast, Johannes Czernin interviews Anna Karmann to talk about the various career trajectories available in nuclear medicine.By JNM