Best Converging Dialogues Podcasts (2025)

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#442 - The Future of the Euro: A Dialogue with John Cochrane 58:34

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3d ago58:34

58:34

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with John Cochrane about the Euro. They talk about the Euro, European Central Bank (ECB), inflation and price stability, and the differences between the US Federal Reserve and the ECB. They talked about the creation of the Euro, joining the EU, debates about “end the Fed,” Greek crisis, covid-19 pandem…

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#60: Building Momentum: Convergence 2026 and the Future of Finance in Ending GBV 23:07

9h ago23:07

23:07

In this episode, Joy reflects on Criterion's ongoing work to leverage finance as a tool to reduce Gender-Based Violence (GBV). She discusses the progress made in building evidence, creating tools, and training thousands of investors and social change leaders worldwide. She emphasizes that reducing GBV is complex and requires deep, collaborative str…

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#441 - What is Ancient History?: A Dialogue with Walter Scheidel 1:01:10

10d ago1:01:10

1:01:10

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Walter Scheidel about ancient history. They ask what is ancient history, why Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome are heavily emphasized, globalism, and classicism. They discuss some of the evolutionary history of humans, nomadic to stationary, human writing, The West, future of the classics, and many …

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#59: The Art of Dialogue: Transforming Conferences into Conversations 20:02

15d ago20:02

20:02

In this episode, Joy discusses the often-overlooked potential of conference panels and networking. She reflects on how panels can be transformed from mundane presentations into engaging dialogues that prioritize audience interaction. Joy also recounts some memorable advice she got from Van Jones over 20 years ago about the importance of genuine net…

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#440 -Ancient Mesopotamia: A Dialogue with Moudhy Al-Rashid 1:21:08

18d ago1:21:08

1:21:08

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Moudhy Al-Rashid about ancient Mesopotamia. They discuss the uniqueness of Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent, importance of cuneiform, Sumerian to Akkadian writing, importance of clay for writing, ancient astronomy, and many more topics. Moudhy Al-Rashid is an Assyriologist and Honorary Fellow …

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#439 - The Imperfection of Evolution: A Dialogue with Laurence Hurst 1:34:47

25d ago1:34:47

1:34:47

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Laurence Hurst about the imperfection of evolution. They discuss mutation, selection, and adaptation, DNA and waste, larger and smaller populations, sickle cell anemia, embryology, gene editing and CRISPR, and many more topics. Laurence Hurst is Professor of Evolutionary Genetics in The Milner Cen…

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#58: Check List or Trust List: Power, Performance, and the Politics of Procedure 21:56

29d ago21:56

21:56

In this episode, Joy explores the complexities and paradoxes surrounding checklists in the context of gender lens investing and systems change. She highlights their limitations in fostering understanding and meaningful action, but also discusses how checklists can serve as tools for compliance and control. Joy advocates for a shift from traditional…

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#438 - Truth In Politics: A Dialogue with Michael P. Lynch 1:13:49

1M ago1:13:49

1:13:49

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Michael P. Lynch about truth and politics. They discuss local and national politics, defining truth, “Twitbookians,” liberal pluralism, role of institutions, Rawls and morals, truth in politics, and many more topics. Michael P. Lynch is Provost Professor of the Humanities and Board of Trustees Dis…

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#437 - How We Got "The West:" A Dialogue with Georgios Varouxakis 1:29:25

1M ago1:29:25

1:29:25

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Georgios Varouxakis about “the West.” They define the west, discuss different meanings and ideas about the west, and how western ideas came from the east. They also talk about “L’Occident,” impact of Christendom, separating Russia from the West, and Comte. They talk about whether Western values ca…

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#57: Investable Hope: A Conversation with Susie Pan on Financing the Future 22:33

1M ago22:33

22:33

In this episode, Joy and the Vice President of the Criterion Institute, Susie Pan, explore the concept of 'investable hope' - a compelling idea that combines finance with the notion of hope for a better future. They discuss the importance of hope in times of crisis, the shift from individual to collective hope, and how investments can be a pathway …

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#436 - All About Inflation: A Dialogue with Mark Blyth and Nicolò Fraccaroli 1:22:08

2M ago1:22:08

1:22:08

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Mark Blyth and Nicolò Fraccaroli on inflation. They define inflation, provide positive and negative of inflation, and how prices are measured. They talk about housing interest rates, Federal Reserve, inflation in the 70s, Biden stimulus, Hyperinflation in Turkey and Argentina, Trump’s tariffs, and…

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#435 - The Ballistic Movement Within Sports Medicine: A Dialogue with Henry Abbott 1:13:03

2M ago1:13:03

1:13:03

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Henry Abbott on the Peak Performance Project (P3) within sports medicine. They discuss the landscape of injuries in the U.S., P3, chronic injuries, healthy movement and hip rotation, landing and ACL injuries, prevention and recovery, mental endurance, and many more topics. Henry Abbott is an award…

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#434 - Shifting Sands of the Sahara: A Dialogue with Judith Scheele 58:59

2M ago58:59

58:59

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Judith Scheele about the human history of the Sahara. They discuss the perceptions of the Sahara, landscape of the Sahara, sand and freshwater, multiple uses of camels, peoples of the Sahara, Slavery and race in the Sahara, Islam, contemporary Sahara, and many more topics. Judith Scheele is profes…

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#56: Maybe I’m Just Cranky: Burnout, Autonomy, and the Cost of Leadership 19:48

2M ago19:48

19:48

In this episode, Joy explores the complexities of existential crises, burnout, and the importance of self-reflection. She discusses the challenges of feeling overwhelmed in today's world, the difference between self-diagnosis and honest reflection, and the significance of autonomy and control in one's work life. Joy emphasizes the need for structur…

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#433 - Empire of AI: A Dialogue with Karen Hao 52:16

2M ago52:16

52:16

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Karen Hao about OpenAI and the current landscape about AI. They discuss the origins of OpenAI, Sam Altman and his motivations, his relationships with Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, using cheap labor in Venezuela and Kenya for AI, supercomputers and mega campuses for data centers, and many more topics.…

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#432 - American Authoritarianism and Erosion of Democracy: A Dialogue with Katherine Stewart 59:17

2M ago59:17

59:17

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Katherine Stewart about democracy and American authoritarianism. They discuss the evolution of conservatives to the Far Right, critiques of the Far Right, reactionary nihilism and the anti-woke. They discuss issues such as abortion, conservative conventions, religion, and many more topics. Katheri…

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#431 - Western Meddling and Betrayal in the Middle East: A Dialogue with Fawaz Gerges 1:05:41

2M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Fawaz Gerges about continuous Western involvement in the Middle East. They discuss misconceptions of the Middle East, role of colonialism, Iran and Turkey being exceptions to foreign colonial involvement, Arab Nationalism, Civilizations and colonialism, political Islam, and many more topics. Fawaz…

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#55: If You’re Here, You Must Be Fine: Watching HBO's Hit Show 'The Rehearsal' with Power in Mind 25:14

2M ago25:14

25:14

In this episode, Joy discusses the HBO show 'The Rehearsal' and its parallels to power dynamics in finance and aviation. The conversation explores themes of communication, vulnerability, authority, and the importance of diversity in decision-making environments. Through the lens of the show, Joy highlights how rehearsing new scripts and norms can l…

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#430 - The Rise and Spread of Mass Education: A Dialogue with Agustina Paglayan 1:44:28

2M ago1:44:28

1:44:28

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Agustina Paglayan about mass education around the world. They discuss education as a tool for political and social order, theories of education, and explicit aims of government education. They also talk about early critical thinking, nationalism, and education worldwide. They discuss mass educatio…

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#429 - Translation Multiples: A Dialogue with Kasia Szymanska 1:16:12

3M ago1:16:12

1:16:12

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Kasia Szymanska about translation of texts. They discuss how many translations can diverge from one source, translating into English, post-1989 Poland and translation, ethics of translation, the poem VIA, A Clockwork Orange translations, and many more topics. Kasia Szymanska is Lecturer in transla…

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#428 - Iran's Grand Political Strategy: A Dialogue with Vali Nasr 1:43:55

3M ago1:43:55

1:43:55

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Vali Nasr about the recent political history of Iran. They give an overview of Iran’s political motives and strategy, impact of the Persian empire and Shia Islam, and Reza Khan and Iranian nationalism. They talk about the impact of “Kemalism,” the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Iran-Iraq war, rise o…

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#427 - A History of the Irish Famine: A Dialogue with Padraic Scanlan 1:12:32

3M ago1:12:32

1:12:32

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Padraic Scanlan about the Irish famine. They provide an overview of the Irish famine, discuss the relationship between Ireland and Britain and how British colonialism impacted the Irish famine. They talk about potatoes in Ireland, formation of the United Kingdom, variables leading up to the Irish …

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#54: Parallel Lives Born Q4 1967: A Conversation with Joyce-Ann Wainaina on Purpose, Family, and Finance 44:47

3M ago44:47

44:47

In this episode, Joy engages in a rich conversation with Joyce-Ann Wainaina, founder of Chui Ventures. They explore their personal journeys, the impact of their backgrounds, and the role of finance in transformative systems change. The discussion delves into the importance of confidence, the challenges of navigating career transitions, and the need…

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#426 - A History of Free Speech: A Dialogue with Jacob Mchangama 1:42:19

3M ago1:42:19

1:42:19

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jacob Mchangama about the history of free speech. They discuss free speech in Europe, defining free speech, limits of free speech and ethics of free speech. They also talk about the free speech recession, origins of free speech, Athenian and Roman empires, Abbasid Caliphate, ancient India, printin…

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#425 - What Russians Believe About Russia: A Dialogue with Paul Chaisty & Stephen Whitefield 1:30:35

3M ago1:30:35

1:30:35

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Paul Chaisty and Stephen Whitefield about public opinion in Russia. They discuss Russia’s transformation since the fall of the Soviet Union, Consolidation and contestation within Russia’s hybrid political economy, and generational changes under Putin. They talk about authoritarianism, collecting p…

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#424 - Reforming Our Institutions: A Dialogue with Yuval Levin 1:10:13

3M ago1:10:13

1:10:13

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Yuval Levin about the importance of reforming our institutions. They discuss why institutions are important, individuals and institutions, slow change with institutions, and the mistrust and dislike of institutions. They also make the case for elites, building broad political coalitions, Trump’s 2…

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#53: Looking at Costs: Why Gender Isn’t Expensive—But Resistance Is 12:05

3M ago12:05

12:05

In this episode, Joy explores the perceived costs associated with integrating gender into investments and the expenses related to control in community building. She argues that gender integration can be cost-neutral in the long run, emphasizing that the real costs arise from resistance and bias. Additionally, Joy discusses how control can be expens…

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#423 - Changing Personality: A Dialogue with Olga Khazan 59:46

3M ago59:46

59:46

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Olga Khazan on whether one could change their personality. They discuss why someone would want to change their personality, constancy over the lifespan, and why she used the BIG-5. They talk about extroversion and connection, neuroticism and mindfulness, openness to experience, conscientiousness, …

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#422 - The Power of Behavioral Genetics: A Dialogue with Robert Plomin 1:45:08

3M ago1:45:08

1:45:08

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Robert Plomin on behavioral genetics. They discuss why behavioral genetics has explanatory power, heritability, genetics and psychological research, SNPs, GWAS, and epigenetics. They also talk about shared and non-shared environments, twin models and adoption models, heritability and cognitive abi…

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#421 - Beauty and the gods: A Dialogue with Hugo Shakeshaft 1:04:36

4M ago1:04:36

1:04:36

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Hugo Shakeshaft about ancient greeks ideas about beauty and the gods. They discuss beauty in ancient Greece and its impact on modern times, architecture and beauty, beauty and aesthetics, and the gods and beauty. They talk about the relationship between humans and the gods, superficial and deeper …

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#420 - Translating Homer's The Odyssey: A Dialogue with Daniel Mendelsohn 1:20:52

4M ago1:20:52

1:20:52

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Daniel Mendelsohn on his new English translation of Homer’s The Odyssey. They discuss the massive impact of The Odyssey, major themes in the Odyssey, authorship, and translation for our time. They talk about the lines and meter of the Odyssey in English, oral to written form, adapting the Odyssey,…

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#52: Reimagining Resourcing for Social Transformation - Part Two 51:54

4M ago51:54

51:54

In this episode, Joy engages in a deep conversation with Katharine Im-Jenkins, managing director of the Equality Fund. They explore the innovative financing strategies behind the Equality Fund, the power dynamics within endowments, and the importance of sustainable funding for grassroots organizations working on gender equality. The discussion high…

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#419 - Resisting Groupthink, Embracing Nuance: A Dialogue with Jenara Nerenberg 1:23:04

4M ago1:23:04

1:23:04

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jenara Nerenberg about the importance of nuance thinking and healthy dialogue with others. They discuss self-censoring, groupthink, rise of gurus, podcasters, and influencer culture. They also talk about heterodox thinking, ethics of speaking to a larger audience, healthy dialogue with others, and…

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#418 - Sex Is A Spectrum: A Dialogue with Agustín Fuentes 1:26:36

4M ago1:26:36

1:26:36

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Agustín Fuentes about biological sex. They talk about the history of sex evolution, the importance of gametes, intersex individuals, and history of sex binary. They talk about gonads and hormones, sex variation in the animal kingdom, spectrum question, gender, gender and sports, gender and bathroo…

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#417 - The Golden Road: Ancient India and the World: A Dialogue with William Dalrymple 58:56

4M ago58:56

58:56

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with William Dalrymple about India and the Golden Road. They define the Golden Road of ancient India, discuss evidence other cultures interacted with India, and discuss the spread of Buddhism out of India. They talk about similarities and differences with the Silk Road, Kushans and Scythians, Hinduism,…

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#51: Reimagining Resourcing for Social Transformation - Part One 42:43

4M ago42:43

42:43

In this episode - part one in a two-part series on this topic - Joy and Yifat Susskind (Executive Director of MADRE) discuss the importance of a feminist financial imagination in the context of social transformation and funding for women's rights organizations. Joy then reimagines and explores the challenges faced by current funding systems, the ro…

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#416 - A New History of the Americas: A Dialogue with Greg Grandin 1:20:49

4M ago1:20:49

1:20:49

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Greg Grandin about a new history of the Americas. They discuss the term “American,” landscape of the Americas in pre-colonial years, Spanish colonialism, British colonialism, and the American and French Revolutions. They talk about Bolívar and Gran Colombia, the Monroe Doctrine, FDR’s new deal in …

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#415 - Off The Spectrum: Autism and Females: A Dialogue with Gina Rippon 1:30:47

4M ago1:30:47

1:30:47

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Gina Rippon about autism in females. They discuss the increase in autism cases, defining autism, and origins of autism. They also talk about the history of the autism diagnosis, identity, current diagnostic criteria, specific presentations in females, neurological features, eating disorders, futur…

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#414 - Death and the Afterlife in the Ancient World: A Dialogue with Robert Garland 1:25:13

5M ago1:25:13

1:25:13

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Robert Garland about death in the ancient world. They talk about how ancient cultures considered death, beginnings of understanding death, process of dying, funerals, different cultural beliefs about the afterlife, caring for the bodies of the deceased, afterlife for non-believers, and many more t…

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#50: Celebrating 50 Episodes: Joy & David Bank on Impact, Media, and the Future 21:39

5M ago21:39

21:39

In this celebratory 50th episode of the Criterion Institute podcast, Joy engages in a heartfelt conversation with David Bank, CEO of Impact Alpha. They reflect on the power of voice in impact investing, the importance of language, and the role of media in shaping community narratives. Joy then shares her personal journey of finding her voice and in…

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#413 - Single Motherhood Since 1980: A Dialogue with Nicholas Wolfinger & Matthew McKeever 1:26:43

5M ago1:26:43

1:26:43

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Nicholas Wolfinger and Matthew McKeever about single motherhood since 1980. They discuss major causes of single motherhood, income, workforce change, teenage mothers, and low fertility rates. They also talk about the differences between divorced vs. non-married mothers, income and family size, rac…

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#412 - The Neuroscience of Choice and Change: A Dialogue with Emily Falk 58:06

5M ago58:06

58:06

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Emily Falk about the neuroscience of choice and change. They discuss studying values, strengths and limits of fMRIs, value system in the brain, reward system, making choices, the self, making future choices, values with others, and many more topics. Emily Falk is professor of Communication, Psycho…

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#411 - A History of the Female Body: A Dialogue with Helen King 1:16:05

5M ago1:16:05

1:16:05

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Helen King about the history of the female body. The give an overview of the four parts (breasts, clitoris, hymen, womb) of the female body and discuss how medicine shaped positive and negative ideas about the female body. They talk about breasts, clitoris, female genital mutilation, hymen, womb, …

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#410 - The Social Genome: A Dialogue with Dalton Conley 1:24:58

5M ago1:24:58

1:24:58

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Dalton Conley about the social genome. They discuss the nature/nurture debate, polygenic index (PGI), and ethics of PGI and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) studies. They give some critiques of The Bell Curve, three major Gene-Environmental interactions (active, passive, reactive), epigeneti…

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#49: When Optimism Meets Uncertainty: Finding Grace on a Monday Morning 13:45

5M ago13:45

13:45

In this episode, Joy reflects on the role of hope in times of uncertainty. She shares how the practice of acknowledgment at the recent Convergence conference created space for courageous conversations about power, privilege, and resilience. Joy also recounts a candid exchange that reminded her of the importance of showing up, even when hope feels d…

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#409 - Animals as Doctors of Nature: A Dialogue with Jaap de Roode 1:15:16

5M ago1:15:16

1:15:16

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Jaap de Roode about how animals heal themselves. They discuss whether animals intentionally or unintentionally seek out medicinal plants, four ways animals fight infection, Monarch butterflies and treating against parasites, chimps and their gut health. They also talk about birds using cigarettes …

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#408 - The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire: A Dialogue with Henry Gee 1:57:05

5M ago1:57:05

1:57:05

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Henry Gee about the decline and fall of the human species. They discuss the lifetime and decline of a species, when humans began to decline, what does it mean to be human, bipedalism, Homo Erectus, and slow human growth. They also talk about domestication and disease impacting humans, overpopulati…

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#48: The Future We Demand: Organizing, Mobilizing, and Resisting Together 16:05

6M ago16:05

16:05

In this episode, Joy discusses the critical role of organizing and mobilizing in creating transformative change within finance. She reflects on insights gained from recent conversations and emphasizes the need for collective action, particularly in the context of sustainable finance. The discussion covers various strategies, including shareholder a…

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#407 - Baddeley's Model of Working Memory: A Dialogue with Alan Baddeley 1:48:56

6M ago1:48:56

1:48:56

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Alan Baddeley about his model of working memory. They define short-term memory, metacognition, overview of memory, memory loss and self-identity, and chunking in working memory. They talk about the levels of processing model, attention and working memory, overview of his multi-component model of w…

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#406 - Polar Science in the Arctic and Antarctica: A Dialogue with Neil Shubin 58:59

6M ago58:59

58:59

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Neil Shubin about polar science in the arctic and Antarctica. They discuss polar science, Arctic and Antarctica, hot ice, blue ice, life under the Antarctic ice, fossil discoveries, meteorites, climate change, and many other topics. Neil Shubin is a Paleontologist and Evolutionary Biologist. He is…