Best Humanists Work Podcasts (2025)

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Cycles and Seeds: A Fall Equinox Celebration 21:27

Play Pause

22h ago21:27

21:27

Fall Equinox is about balance in the duality of life: light and dark, growth and release, joy and sorrow. Celebrate the season with a fun original play, “Humdrum and the Last Apple Tree.” The post Cycles and Seeds: A Fall Equinox Celebration appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis.By First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

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Gabrielle Durepos and Amy Thurlow, "Archival Research in Historical Organisation Studies: Theorising Silences" (Emerald Publishing, 2025) 1:08:59

6d ago1:08:59

1:08:59

Archival Research in Historical Organisation Studies: Theorising Silences offers an accessible account of theorising the archive, contesting the narrow definitions of the archive with a view beyond a mere repository of documents. Scholars Gabrielle Durepos and Amy Thurlow discuss the ways that business archives have marginalized various populations…

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All Together Now 13:03

7d ago13:03

13:03

As we adjust to the arrival of fall and all the changes it brings, we take intentional time to appreciate the many gifts we receive from one another in community (aka volunteer appreciation!) Connection and belonging doesn’t just happen; everything we offer in service to one another matters deeply. The post All Together Now appeared first on First …

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Samuel Arbesman, "The Magic of Code: How Digital Language Created and Connects Our World—and Shapes Our Future" (PublicAffairs, 2025) 1:10:54

14d ago1:10:54

1:10:54

In the tradition of classics such as The Lives of a Cell, a bold reframing of our relationship with technology that argues code is "a universal force--swirling through disciplines, absorbing ideas, and connecting worlds" (Linda Liukas). In the digital world, code is the essential primary building block, the equivalent of the cell or DNA in the biol…

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Asked & Answered: Jennifer Lo on Bringing Futuring into Your Organization 49:24

13d ago49:24

49:24

In this Asked & Answered episode, Jennifer Lo, IDEO's Senior Director of Design Futures, responds to community questions about how leaders can bring futuring into their organizations. From making the case for ROI, to balancing visionary leadership with grounded operators, to practical ways to get started, Jennifer shares insights on how to use futu…

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Podcast: A Good Reason to Show Up 6:05

16d ago6:05

6:05

It’s September, and today we renew our commitment to gathering in beloved community in common dedication to love and justice. A reflection from Rev. Jullan Stoneberg. The post Podcast: A Good Reason to Show Up appeared first on First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis.By First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

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Human Leadership for Humane Technology 46:16

15d ago46:16

46:16

In this episode, we spoke with Cornelia C. Walther about her three books examining technology's role in society. Walther, who spent nearly two decades with UNICEF and the World Food Program before joining Wharton's AI & Analytics Initiative, brings field experience from West Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean to her analysis of how human choices shape…

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What I have learned working with survivors 11:26

21d ago11:26

11:26

Pamela Zeller, director of WISE — which works to self-empower immigrant and refugee women and girls — will talk about the life lessons she has learned from her 38 years of working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These lessons reinforce the strength, resilience, and creativity of survivors. The post What I have learned workin…

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Anthony Bonato, "Dots and Lines: Hidden Networks in Social Media, AI, and Nature" (Johns Hopkins UP, 2025) 1:05:42

21d ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Can networks unlock secrets of AI or make sense of a social media mess? A behind-the-scenes look at how networks reveal reality. According to mathematician Anthony Bonato, the hidden world of networks permeates our lives in astounding ways. From Bitcoin transactions to neural connections, Dots and Lines: Hidden Networks in Social Media, AI, and Nat…

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Andrew Fialka, "Hope Never to See It: A Graphic History of Guerrilla Violence during the American Civil War" (U Georgia Press, 2025) 56:18

28d ago56:18

56:18

Hope Never to See It: A Graphic History of Guerrilla Violence during the American Civil War (U Georgia Press, 2025) by Dr. Andrew Fialka illustrates two exceptional incidents of occupational and guerrilla violence in Missouri during the American Civil War. The first is a Union spy's two-week-long murder spree targeting civilians, and the second is …

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How to Think Like a Futurist: Jennifer Lo 41:08

28d ago41:08

41:08

What does it mean to think like a futurist—and why should every leader learn how? In this episode of the Creative Confidence Podcast, Jennifer Lo, Senior Director of Design Futures at IDEO, shares how futuring can help leaders navigate uncertainty, build resilient strategies, and shape the future they want to see. Learn how to spot signals, expand …

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George Musser, "Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation: Why Physicists Are Studying Human Consciousness and AI to Unravel the Mysteries of the Universe" (Picador, 2024) 1:02:10

1M ago1:02:10

1:02:10

A revelatory exploration of how a “theory of everything” depends upon our understanding of the human mind. The whole goal of physics is to explain what we observe. For centuries, physicists believed that observations yielded faithful representations of what is out there. But when they began to study the subatomic realm, they found that observation …

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Critical Historicity; an Alternative to Ideology? 27:08

1M ago27:08

27:08

Hey everyone, I found myself in the rare position of having a little extra time and some prior research that felt particularly relevant to the current moment. Wait, which current moment you ask? Good question! The firehose of crises vomiting from the White House and far right governments across the world have produced no shortage of current moments…

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Podcast: Listen Carefully 30:28

1M ago30:28

30:28

Almost every person will tell you that they are good drivers, have a great sense of humor, and that they’re excellent listeners. Many of us have been taught the basic skills of how to be a good communicator. It can be a lot of work. Join us this Sunday as we play with a new… Read More »Podcast: Listen Carefully The post Podcast: Listen Carefully ap…

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Jimi Jones and Marek Jancovic, "The Future of Memory: Jimi Jones and Marek Jancovic" (U of Illinois Press, 2025) 59:00

1M ago59:00

59:00

We're pleased to welcome Dr. Jimi Jones and Dr. Marek Jancovic, authors of The Future of Memory: A History of Lossless Format Standards in the Moving Image Archive (U of Illinois Press, 2025), to the New Books Network. In this book, Jimi Jones and Marek Jancovic document the development and adoption of JPEG 2000, FFV1, MXF, and Matroska while inves…

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Noah Giansiracusa, "Robin Hood Math: Take Control of the Algorithms That Run Your Life" (Penguin, 2025) 1:02:25

1M ago1:02:25

1:02:25

Everything we do today is recorded as data that’s sold to the highest bidder. Plugging our personal data into impersonal algorithms has made government agencies more efficient and tech companies more profitable. But all this comes at a price. It’s easy to feel like an insignificant number in a world of number crunchers who care more about their bot…

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What We Refuse to Buy: Choosing Justice in a Culture of Convenience 10:23

1M ago10:23

10:23

Boycotts are more than withdrawals—they are declarations. In this talk, Nekima Levy Armstrong reflects on how we, as conscious consumers and community members, can reclaim our power by refusing to fund injustice. Together, we’ll explore how discernment, protest, and hope can shape a more just and accountable world. The post What We Refuse to Buy: C…

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Liz Fischer, "Network Analysis for Book Historians: Digital Labour and Data Visualization Techniques" (Arc Humanities Press, 2025) 46:54

1M ago46:54

46:54

Researchers and archivists have spent decades digitizing and cataloguing, but what does the future hold for book history? Network Analysis for Book Historians: Digital Labour and Data Visualization Techniques (ARC Humanities Press, 2025) explores the potential of network analysis as a method for medieval and early modern book history. Through case …

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Liz Fischer, "Network Analysis for Book Historians: Digital Labour and Data Visualization Techniques" (Arc Humanities Press, 2025) 46:54

1M ago46:54

46:54

Researchers and archivists have spent decades digitizing and cataloguing, but what does the future hold for book history? Network Analysis for Book Historians: Digital Labour and Data Visualization Techniques (ARC Humanities Press, 2025) explores the potential of network analysis as a method for medieval and early modern book history. Through case …

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Asked & Answered: Catherine Connors on Storytelling for Leaders, Scale, and the Future of Narrative 38:19

1M ago38:19

38:19

In this bonus episode of the Creative Confidence Podcast, storyteller and strategist Catherine Connors returns to answer top questions from our IDEO U community. We explore what it really means to lead with story—beyond frameworks and formats—and how storytelling can be used to build culture, scale ideas, and drive meaningful change.Catherine share…

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Petter Törnberg and Justus Uitermark, "Seeing Like a Platform: An Inquiry into the Condition of Digital Modernity" (Taylor & Francis, 2025) 58:40

2M ago58:40

58:40

'Seeing Like a Platform: An Inquiry into the Condition of Digital Modernity (Taylor & Francis, 2025)' by Petter Törnberg & Justus Uitermark In my conversation with Petter Törnberg about Seeing Like a Platform, we kept returning to a simple but unsettling point: platforms don't just carry our messages or connect us to information. They've created an…

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Socialist Humanism; the Humanist Side of Marx and the Old/New Left 56:19

1M ago56:19

56:19

Hello again, been a minute. In this episode, following along with Weeks' argument in The Problem with Work, we take a look at Socialist Humanism, the ties to productivism Weeks (and I) have issues with, we get a bit into psychologist-philosopher Erich Fromm, the (old) New Left, and humanism in Marx' early works. Hope you're up for a long episode! J…

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Podcast: Love at the Center 23:50

2M ago23:50

23:50

Martin Luther King said, “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.” Unitarian Universalists recently affirmed a new covenant among congregations which puts love at the center of our values. How do we ensure that our love is not sentimental and anemic, in a time when love with… Read More »Podcast:…

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Podcast: Lammas and the Larger Narrative 25:48

2M ago25:48

25:48

Each of us is cradled in an invisible web of stories we tell, or are told, about ourselves, our world, and the cosmos. Finding ourselves in these larger narratives can help craft our individual and communal identities, reinforce the meaning we see in our lives, and provide a broader context in which to see our daily… Read More »Podcast: Lammas and …

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Anil Ananthaswamy, "Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Maths Behind Modern AI" (Dutton, 2024) 1:07:21

2M ago1:07:21

1:07:21

Machine learning systems are making life-altering decisions for us: approving mortgage loans, determining whether a tumor is cancerous, or deciding if someone gets bail. They now influence developments and discoveries in chemistry, biology, and physics—the study of genomes, extrasolar planets, even the intricacies of quantum systems. And all this b…

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Creative Collaboration with IDEO CEO Mike Peng (Replay) 37:20

2M ago37:20

37:20

In this conversation, IDEO CEO Mike Peng shares what it really takes to foster creative collaboration on teams. From designing for trust and tension to navigating ambiguity and divergent thinking, Mike offers a clear-eyed look at how leaders can create the conditions for breakthrough ideas. Originally aired on August 8, 2019, this episode is full o…

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On the Power of Remembering Safe Spaces 20:50

2M ago20:50

20:50

Join us to reflect on the profound power of memory—specifically, the memories of the safe spaces we’ve encountered throughout our lives. Memory is not just a mental exercise; it is deeply embedded in our biology. Our muscles, our nervous system, even our heartbeats are attuned to our experiences, and they carry the imprint of the… Read More »On the…

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Robyn Arianrhod, "Vector: A Surprising Story of Space, Time, and Mathematical Transformation" (U of Chicago Press, 2024) 1:07:46

2M ago1:07:46

1:07:46

A celebration of the seemingly simple idea that allowed us to imagine the world in new dimensions--sparking both controversy and discovery. The stars of this book, vectors and tensors, are unlikely celebrities. If you ever took a physics course, the word "vector" might remind you of the mathematics needed to determine forces on an amusement park ri…

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Paul A. Thomas, "Inside Wikipedia: How It Works and How You Can Be an Editor" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022) 55:42

2M ago55:42

55:42

In this book, Paul A. Thomas—a seasoned Wikipedia contributor who has accrued about 60,000 edits since he started editing in 2007—breaks down the history of the free encyclopedia and explains the process of becoming an editor. Now a newly minted Ph.D. and a library specialist at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, he outlines the many roles a Wik…

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Paul A. Thomas, "Inside Wikipedia: How It Works and How You Can Be an Editor" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022) 55:42

2M ago55:42

55:42

In this book, Paul A. Thomas—a seasoned Wikipedia contributor who has accrued about 60,000 edits since he started editing in 2007—breaks down the history of the free encyclopedia and explains the process of becoming an editor. Now a newly minted Ph.D. and a library specialist at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, he outlines the many roles a Wik…

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A New Track for Humanism 20:17

2M ago20:17

20:17

The world needs to be reminded of humanism more than ever, as the anti-human policies of the current administration assault our dignity and intelligence. What will it take for us to engage the historical aspirations of classical American Humanism with the emerging movements that have similar goals for beloved communities? What will it take to… Read…

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How ClioVis is Transforming Education and Historical Research 22:14

2M ago22:14

22:14

Today I’m speaking with Marcus Golding, historian and Director of Educational Operations at ClioVis. ClioVis is an incredible software and learning tool that allows educators and studies to create digital timelines, network visualizations, and interactive presentations. Founded by UT Austin history professor Erika Bsumek, ClioVis is made for profes…

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Storytelling for Change with a Former Disney Exec: Catherine Connors 36:25

2M ago36:25

36:25

What makes a story powerful enough to shift culture?In this episode of the Creative Confidence Podcast, Catherine Connors—former Head of Content at Disney Interactive and founder of storytelling consultancy StoryQuo—shares five key shifts that can help leaders use story as a tool for transformation.From rethinking traditional formats to embracing p…

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Chris Bernhardt, "Beautiful Math: The Surprisingly Simple Ideas behind the Digital Revolution in How We Live, Work, and Communicate" (MIT Press, 2024) 49:16

3M ago49:16

49:16

Most of us know something about the grand theories of physics that transformed our views of the universe at the start of the twentieth century: quantum mechanics and general relativity. But we are much less familiar with the brilliant theories that make up the backbone of the digital revolution. In Beautiful Math: The Surprisingly Simple Ideas behi…

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Asked & Answered: Matthieu Lorrain & Savannah Kunovsky 26:42

3M ago26:42

26:42

How are creative professionals actually using AI today? In this Asked and Answered follow-up episode, Google DeepMind’s Matthieu Lorrain and IDEO’s Savannah Kunovsky respond to questions from the IDEO U community. They cover real-world examples of AI-powered co-design, how to maintain creative control with liquid content, designing for neurodiverge…

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Art, Power, and Strange Economies 47:39

3M ago47:39

47:39

Yet another delay on getting to Week's "Refusal of Work," but I'm going to blame this one on current affairs and the drinking-from-the-fire-hose that is the Trump news cycle. Following the massive No Kings protests, I thought it best to address the outpouring of frustration, righteous indignation, anger, outrage, and fear (not to mention the stark …

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The Truth About Bullshit: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary Edition of On Bullshit with Pamela Hieronymi 36:52

3M ago36:52

36:52

Today I’m thrilled to launch a brand new series for the Princeton UP Ideas Podcast. 20 years ago, Princeton University Press published a short volume with an excellent title: On Bullshit (Princeton UP, 2025). Written by philosopher Harry Frankfurt, On Bullshit was adapted from an essay that explored the meaning, uses, and consequences of bullshit. …

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AI x Creativity: Matthieu Lorrain & Savannah Kunovsky 46:34

4M ago46:34

46:34

Google DeepMind’s Matthieu Lorrain and IDEO’s Savannah Kunovsky on how AI is reshaping creative work.By IDEO U

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Women's Liberation Is Not a Diversion! 42:31

4M ago42:31

42:31

Terry Moon speaks about her involvement in late-1960s "small groups" advocating for women's rights, her introduction to Marxist-Humanism, and the continuing task of highlighting the indispensability of women's liberation as integral to the Idea of human freedom.By lanewsandletters

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Socialism's Failures: Modernization and Productivist Marxism 56:38

4M ago56:38

56:38

Okay, so this episode was initially going to cover an area Weeks identifies as failures of Productivist Marxism; Socialist Modernization and Socialist Humanism, but we're going to be addressing the latter in the next episode. This one ran long enough as is. We're also going to be taking a minute to address, and correct, a mistake I made in the last…