Shows
Stories of ImpactDr. Adam Cohen, Aliza Kline and Dr. Arielle Levites: Gathering at the Table for Connection and BelongingToday we’re back in conversation with Dr. Adam Cohen, social psychologist and psychologist of religion at Arizona State University, who shares another research project that explores the way religious ritual connects participants more deeply not only with faith, but with community — this time, not through the practice of abstaining from food, but from breaking bread together. Dr. Arielle Levites, Managing Director of the Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education and a Research Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University had the same idea — that observing Shabbat wasn’t just a...2025-03-0424 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Adam Cohen & Dr. Kathryn A. Johnson: Flourishing in the Yom Kippur Fast In today's episode, we continue the discussion about fasting, as we hear from two scholars about research focusing on what is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism: Yom Kippur. During the 25-hour Day of Atonement, observant Jews focus on deepening their relationship with God through prayer, community connection, and by fasting. Over the last three years, two Arizona State University researchers, professor of psychology Dr. Adam Cohen and associate research professor Dr. Kathryn A. Johnson, have been on a scientific mission to understand the universal impact of the fasting ritual, asking whether abstaining from food and...2025-02-1817 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Santiago Tobón — From Gangs to Growth: Fighting for the Future of Medellín's TeensMeet Dr. Santiago Tobón. Born and raised in Medellin, Colombia, Dr. Tobón grew up in the 80's and 90's while the country surged with gang violence. As a kid, young Santiago was lucky to have enough privilege to keep himself safe and to give him a promising future of education and employment. But there was no denying the impact that gang violence was having on kids — kids his own age. When he graduated from college with a degree in computer science, and got a job working in rural economic development, it was the firs...2025-01-2124 min
Stories of ImpactSeason 8 full length trailer: Stories of Impact This season on Stories of Impact, we look through a new lens at old traditions, see new generations explore new solutions, and search for new ways to help kids make sense of modern life. Over the last seven seasons, Stories of Impact has brought listeners conversations about the art and science of human flourishing. We've met luminary artists like dancer Judith Jamison, pioneering researchers like Dr. Jane Goodall, and national leaders like Freddy Mutanguha. In this year's programming, we bring you a whole new series of inspiring stories, like our conversation on how ancient practices c...2025-01-0704 min
Stories of ImpactProfs. Guy Itzchakov & Netta Weinstein: The Science of ListeningPlease take our listener survey: https://bit.ly/3YxfDm2 THANK YOU! Today, we’re in conversation about the act of listening. Our guests are researchers Netta Weinstein, Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Reading, and Guy Itzchakov, an assistant professor in the Department of Human Services at the University of Haifa. Profs. Weinstein and Itzhchakov are part of a research team working to develop a scientific understanding of what listening is, what its benefits are, and why it matters so much to our well-being. Learn more: Guy Itzchakov Netta Weinstein The Powe...2024-12-1739 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Sue Fletcher-Watson & Dr. Catherine Crompton: Autism Belonging & Connection Please take our listener survey: https://bit.ly/3YxfDm2 THANK YOU! In today’s episode, we explore the social cognition found within our own species, and what the benefit to every person might be if we deepen our understanding of the wide variety of intelligences of human beings. We hear from two researchers at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Sue Fletcher-Watson, and her colleague, Dr. Catherine Crompton, about their study examining the social cognition of autism, which shines new light on the comfort and confidence that autistic people can experience in communication and community wit...2024-12-0343 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Everett Worthington: The REACH Method of Forgiveness Please take our listener survey: https://bit.ly/3YxfDm2 THANK YOU! Today’s episode highlights Richard’s conversation with Dr. Everett Worthington. Dr. Worthington is Commonwealth Professor Emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University. For the last 30 years, Dr. Worthington has been studying forgiveness, and he has written more than a dozen books on the subject. In 2001, he developed the pioneering REACH Forgiveness method, which has helped thousands of people—including himself—reap the mental and physical benefits of forgiveness. Learn more about Dr. Everett Worthington and the REACH Forgiveness method. Subscribe to Stories of Impact w...2024-11-1946 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Nap Hosang: Pregnancy by Choice & a Vision for Modern Healthcare Please take our listener survey: https://bit.ly/3YxfDm2 THANK YOU! Today, we meet Dr. Nap Hosang, a Jamaican-born obstetrician and gynecologist with a long, distinguished career focused on preventing unintended pregnancies in the United States and globally. After decades of service in healthcare, Dr. Hosang has begun a new chapter of his career as the co-founder and CEO of Cadence Health, whose mission is to give people who don't want to become pregnant access to safe, effective, affordable contraceptives, without a prescription, wherever those people are located. Listen in to learn why Dr. Hosang...2024-11-0528 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Hafsat Abiola: Rebuilding Africa One Woman at a TimeToday, we hear from Dr. Hafsat Abiola, native of Nigeria, President of the Women in Africa Initiative, Harvard-educated economist, expert in sustainable development, and civil rights and Democracy advocate. Dr. Abiola’s father, M.K.O. Abiola, was imprisoned after decisively winning the presidency in an election determined to be fair and free by Nigerian and international observers. Meanwhile her mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, fought publicly for his release and for her husband’s freedom, until she was murdered in retaliation. Dr. Abiola has carried on her parents’ legacy in her pro-democracy activism and her work in the Women in Afr...2024-10-1533 min
Stories of ImpactDr. David Addiss: Fighting Diseases Beyond BordersIn today’s episode, we welcome Dr. David Addiss, an expert in public health and preventive medicine. Dr. Addiss has spent his career thinking not only about science, but about service. In his early career, he cared for the health of migrants in the San Joaquin Valley of California, then later worked for nearly two decades the Centers for Disease Control in the Division of Parasitic Diseases, where he focused on controlling and eliminating diseases found not in the United States, but in communities of neglected people largely in the tropics. Hear what inspired him to spend his career car...2024-10-0133 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Laurance Doyle & Dr. Fred Sharpe: Whales Sing, Do Aliens Listen?Today’s episode features the collaborative exploration of Dr. Fred Sharpe, an expert in humpback whales and the Principal Investigator with the Alaska Whale Foundation, and Dr. Laurance Doyle, astrophysicist and Principal Investigator of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute. Drs. Sharpe and Doyle are investigating humpback whales’ complex, long-distance communication with the aim of learning about how alien intelligences, if they exist, might attempt to transmit their messages through the cosmos. Learn more about Dr. Fred Sharpe and the Alaska Whale Foundation, and Dr. Laurance Doyle and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute Mentioned...2024-09-1736 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Mark Jordans: Healing in the Midst of WarOver our last couple of episodes, we’ve told the inspiring story of decades of positive transformation the nation of Rwanda has sustained since the catastrophic 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. We learned that Rwanda’s peacemakers have for decades nurtured a culture of reconciliation and resilience, cultivating communities where citizens flourish. Deep healing and renewal like that can come only after conflict ends — it can’t happen in the midst of war. In order for children, families, and elders to have a real chance to recover from trauma in body and soul, violence has to cease. But the reali...2024-09-0327 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Miller, Dr. Muth, Dr. Falótico, & Dr. Cantor: Intelligence Across Species In our last episode, we spent time with the extraordinary Dr. Jane Goodall, primatologist, writer, speaker, and conservationist. Dr. Goodall previewed today's episode, featuring the three recipients of the Wildlife Intelligence Project, a $2.7 million joint initiative between National Geographic Society and Templeton World Charity Foundation designed to support "three early-career scientists…whose passion for and discoveries in wildlife field research have the potential to illuminate unknown wonders of our world.” We're proud to be in conversation with cognitive ecologist and bee researcher Dr. Felicity Muth, primatologist Dr. Tiago Falótico, and behavioral ecologist and biologist Dr. Mauricio Cantor. 2024-06-1835 minStories of ImpactDr. Jane Goodall: The Wild Fight for Our PlanetIn today’s episode, we hear from leader and luminary Dr. Jane Goodall, who has, for decades, made significant contributions to not only the scientific world, but to, arguably, the entire planet. When 26-year-old, British-born Jane Goodall began field studies of primates in Tanzania in July 1960, she was the first researcher to observe chimpanzees in the wild, and she remains the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees. Her rigorous and creative approach quickly gained the attention of the National Geographic Society, which awarded her first grant, and has passionately championed her work in the decades since. Despite never...2024-06-0422 minStories of ImpactEmma Black, Calum Irvine, Sean Spillane, & Students: Teaching Connection with DifferencesToday we bring you a follow-up story about revolutionary education in Northern Ireland, this time exploring the impact of teaching young children to not just tolerate difference and diversity, but to seek it out, embrace it, and celebrate it. Our episode explores the history and legacy of Lough View Integrated Primary and Nursery School, a school founded 30 years ago to intentionally create a space where diverse points of view and religious and social practices could come together, and what’s remarkable is that this vision came to life fully five years before the Good Friday Accords birthed a...2024-05-2131 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Calvo, Dr. Magnasco, & Dr. Reiss: Listening to Minds Beyond Our OwnToday we're back for another exploration of the magnificence and mystery of the universe — talking with three researchers who share not only a passion, but a respect for the species in their decidedly non-human, wildly intelligent subjects of research. First we meet Dr. Paco Calvo, a renowned cognitive scientist and professor of philosophy of science at the University of Murcia in Spain. Dr. Calvo has been called a philosopher of biology, who believes that by studying plant cognition, humans might be able to learn a little bit more about ourselves. And we hear from neuroscientist Marcelo Magnasco, a biophysicist pr...2024-05-0728 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Frans de Waal & Dr. Michael Levin: Surprising Minds & the Nature of IntelligenceIn today's episode, we meet Dr. Frans de Waal, Emory University and Utrecht University primatologist Dr. Frans de Waal, a trailblazer in the science of animal cognition, and Dr. Michael Levin, distinguished professor of biology at Tufts University and associate faculty member at Harvard's Wyss Institute. Both researchers’ work roots them deeply in the curiosity about the wonder of the natural world of animals, organisms, and plants that make up the diverse intelligences of the universe. They've each spent decades asking questions about the minds of a variety of species and furthering the science of cognition. Read the tr...2024-04-1729 minStories of ImpactDr. Erica Cartmill: How to Laugh Like an ApeAny sentient, soulful being paying attention to the way humans are treating other humans has been feeling these hard times. But sometimes, amidst all this darkness, humor can offer a little bit of hope. Today we're back with a friend of the podcast, Dr. Erica Cartmill. You might remember her from past episodes as a leader in the science of diverse intelligences, the multi-disciplinary, open science study of cognition, whether it's found in humans, animals, plants, machines, or anywhere else. This time, we’re talking with Dr. Cartmill about the violation of expectations as a feature of pr...2024-04-0223 minStories of ImpactDr. Sinnott-Armstrong, Dr. Borg, & Dr. Conitzer: Can Machines Make Ethical Decisions in Healthcare?Artificial intelligence is proliferating and entering new industries every day. And while it’s been used in healthcare for 50 years, researchers continue to look for new ways to use it to improve care. Today, we’re back in conversation with a team of researchers, including a philosopher, a neuroscientist, and a computer scientist. This trio might be familiar to long-time listeners from an episode a few years ago, when we explored the question of whether artificial intelligence could be programmed to be moral. Over the last five years, this research team has been studying how to use AI as...2024-03-1928 minStories of ImpactVirginia Cooper, Dr. Fiske, Dr. Kahneman, Dr. Koch, & Dr. Melloni: How Rival Collaborations Improve ScienceIn the dozens of episodes we’ve shared with you over the last four years, you’ve heard stories of experts examining the science behind everything from bees to whales, video games to dance, education systems to communication networks. Today, we're zooming out further, speaking with researchers who are exploring ways to improve how we do science and how we cultivate and educate better scientists. When you think of a scientist, what image comes to mind? Do you imagine a genius laboring solo in a lab, displaying little emotion as they logically analyze data? Let’s challenge that s...2024-03-0537 minStories of ImpactNina Callaghan: The Ubuntu Spirit in Youth RadioThis week we're bringing back one of our favorite ever episodes. Today, we hear a fascinating and inspiring conversation having to do with the flourishing of young South Africans. Today’s episode features Richard’s conversation with Nina Callaghan, former Associate Director and current South African Chair of Children’s Radio Foundation. In a post-apartheid country still suffering the social, psychic, and economic wounds of decades of institutionalized racial segregation, the very act of teaching these youth basic journalism 101, including ethics, consent, and truth-telling, is a powerful healing act. Callaghan discusses her work with the youth reporters and th...2024-02-2050 minStories of ImpactDr. Jocelyn Dautel & Team: Reshaping the Legacy of Northern IrelandWar and conflict is raging across the globe. From Europe and the Middle East to Africa and the Americas, divisions between and within nations are leaving civilians dead and displaced. Northern Ireland has seen its fair share of violence and bloodshed since its founding in 1921. Although the Good Friday peace agreement was signed more than 25 years ago, the peace process is still a work in progress. This week, however, we explore a ground-breaking research project led by Dr. Jocelyn Dautel, an American researcher and senior lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, into how Northern Ireland’s past contin...2024-02-0641 minStories of ImpactDr. Wendy Cadge: Chaplains at the Heart of Human SupportBefore we ended 2023 we met two researchers, Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas and Dr. Timothy Lomas, who shared their research on human flourishing, and each touched on the importance of human connection and relationship as an antidote to loneliness. In our first episode of this new year, we continue that conversation, this time by exploring the unique role of chaplains, and how their purpose is to keep the people they serve from going through painful times, alone. To guide us on this journey, we are joined by Dr. Wendy Cadge, the Barbara Mandell professor of Humanistic Social Sciences at B...2024-01-1621 minStories of ImpactDr. William Powell & Rex Mann: Bringing Back the American Chestnut TreeWe’re celebrating the life of our friend Dr. William Powell, who passed away just before Thanksgiving. Dr. Powell’s American Chestnut Tree episode was one of our favorites of last year. This episode is an inspiring story about how bringing together vision, community, and cutting-edge science can make the impossible possible. It’s a story about American history, climate, globalization, and hope. It’s the story of the American Chestnut Foundation’s efforts to do something never before done: To restore a tree that is functionally extinct — the American Chestnut tree. You’ll hear from Rex Mann, retired f...2023-12-1930 minStories of ImpactDr. Timothy Lomas: Whole-Person Paths to FlourishingLast time you heard from us, Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas shared her research on the complexity of the loneliness epidemic in America today, and what we all can do to feel less lonely. Something she said — “Everyone's happiness matters to my happiness” — stuck with us, and became the springboard for this episode. Today, together with psychology researcher Dr. Timothy Lomas at Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program, we dive deep into the question of the interdependent nature of happiness and flourishing. Not only that, Dr. Lomas also invites us to ask who — and what — deserves to flourish. We’re also celebrati...2023-12-0524 minStories of ImpactDr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas: What Can Heal Widespread LonelinessIt’s Thanksgiving week in the United States, and this Thursday, many of us will be with friends and family for the kick-off to six weeks of holiday cheer. But for so many people in America, the holidays can be a very lonely time. Loneliness and disconnection have consequences not only for individual health, but for the health of the nation. Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas is the Science Director at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which tracks cutting edge research studies that focus on how important our relationships, our tendency towards generosity and cooperation, and our sense of...2023-11-2127 minStories of ImpactDr. Nap Hosang: Making Birth Control Accessible for AllToday, we meet Dr. Nap Hosang, a Jamaican-born obstetrician and gynecologist with a long, distinguished career focused on preventing unintended pregnancies in the United States and globally. After decades of service in healthcare, Dr. Hosang has begun a new chapter of his career as the co-founder and CEO of Cadence Health, whose mission is to give people who don't want to become pregnant access to safe, effective, affordable contraceptives, without a prescription, wherever those people are located. Listen in to learn why Dr. Hosang believes Cadence’s success in the US will make a global impact. Rea...2023-11-0726 minStories of ImpactDr. Ahmad, Fr. Benanti, Rt Rev Dr. Croft, Rev Dr. Harris, Dr. Kalman, Fr. Larrey, R. Mitelman, Dr. Qadir, & Rinpoche: The Risks & Rewards of AIIn our last episode, we learned about the Rome Call for AI Ethics, which asked representatives from world business, educational institutions, governments, and religions to support ethical principles around artificial intelligence, including transparency, fairness, inclusivity, impartiality, reliability, and security and privacy. We are back with the same guests again today: scientists and technology experts, aligned with Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist faith traditions. They’ll tell us more about what they have learned in the years since they first responded to that global call from the Vatican. They’ll also share what not only what concerns them about AI, but...2023-10-1736 minStories of ImpactDr. Ahmad, Fr. Benanti, Rt Rev Dr. Croft, Rev Dr. Harris, Dr. Kalman, Fr. Larrey, R. Mitelman, Dr. Qadir, & Rinpoche: What Makes AI EthicalArtificial intelligence is the ability of machines to perform tasks, such as learning and problem-solving, that are typically associated with human intelligence. And every single aspect of how we live our lives may ultimately be transformed by this technology. At the start of this year, it seemed as though AI shifted from a relatively niche technology known to industry insiders, into a subject that had suddenly captured broad public consciousness. Especially as ChatGPT burst on the scene as a tool available to virtually anyone, AI became a source of fascination, anxiety, and confusion. It’s happening fast. It’...2023-10-0333 minStories of ImpactDr. Addiss, Buesseler, Dr. Grant, & Dr. Reid: Compassion at the Heart of Systems In our last episode with Dr. David Addiss, Heather Buesseler, Dr. Liz Grant, and Dr. Corinne Reid, we explored the role of compassion in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and learned that the SDG’s were motivated by a compassionate desire to end global human suffering across a variety of sectors. This week we’re back with these four researchers, as they offer more personal insight about what draws them to study the science of compassion. This week the researchers’ objective is to encourage all of us to think about where we can make greater space for compassion in our o...2023-09-1925 min
Stories of ImpactDr. Addiss, Buesseler, Dr. Grant, & Dr. Reid: Why Compassion Belongs in Global DevelopmentWe begin Season 7 with a friend of the podcast — Dr. David Addiss, who listeners will remember from an emotional episode last year about the role of compassion in healthcare. Dr. Addiss is back for another evocative discussion about compassion, and he’s joined by his research colleagues Heather Buesseler, Dr. Liz Grant, and Dr. Corinne Reid. In this conversation, these four public health experts discuss their research findings around the role of compassion in the international effort to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen...2023-09-0539 minStories of ImpactDr. Andrew Serazin: Reflections on the Past & Possibilities AheadToday is our final episode of the sixth season of Stories of Impact, and Richard Sergay is back in conversation with Templeton World Charity Foundation President Dr. Andrew Serazin, looking back over the year of stories we’re just wrapping up, and looking a little bit ahead at what’s to come. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Share your comments, questions and suggestions at info@storiesofimpact.org Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation 2023-08-0128 minStories of ImpactDr. Leandro Chernicoff & Dr. Mariana Gil-Veloz: Why Calm Matters in Medical CareToday’s episode is all about medical professionals — the hardship, overwhelm, and burnout that pre-existed the pandemic and only got worse when it started. It's about research measuring the effectiveness of a program that offers healthcare workers the support they need to flourish, even in the midst of intensely stressful circumstances. And it’s about the positive impact the programs’ simple tools have made, not only in the lives of those first responders, but in the lives of their patients. This is a hopeful story, led by Dr. Leandro Chernicoff, co-founder and Academic and Research Director of AtentaMe...2023-07-1840 minStories of ImpactDr. Sibel Erduran: Where Science and Religion Meet in LearningIf you’ve been a long-time listener to the Stories of Impact podcast, you’ll expect by now to be surprised by the kinds of studies Templeton World Charity Foundation invests in. TWCF-funded projects are not only ground-breaking — they’re often “rule-breaking,” asking challenging questions often left untouched by other funders. Today’s story is about one of those cutting-edge scientific studies, one that explores the possibility of a paradigm shift in how educators not only educate students, but each other. The study we hear about in this episode is the kind of research project that Sir John Templeton himself would...2023-06-2024 minStories of ImpactDr. Christopher Hays: How Faith Can Sustain Displaced CommunitiesToday, we’re speaking with Dr. Christopher Hays, the president of ScholarLeaders International and director of the Faith and Displacement Project at the Fundación Universitaria Seminario Biblio de Colombia. Dr. Hays explains how the Faith and Displacement Project is working with an established network of churches in Colombia to train people to help their fellow citizens who have been displaced from their homes due to political violence. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube S...2023-05-1645 minStories of ImpactForgiveness Part 2Today is the second in a two-part series that explores the subject of forgiveness. We hear more about the ground-breaking, six-site, five-country, four-continent study of Dr. Everett Worthington’s REACH forgiveness method’s effectiveness. We’re joined in conversation with Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, project Research Director; Principal Investigator Dr. Man Yee Ho; and site directors Andrea Ortega Bechara (Columbia) and Dr. Shaun Joynt (South Africa). They describe the impact of the study on individual participants and their communities, how they hope to scale the study, and who they consider an exemplar of forgiveness. Read the transcript of this episode...2023-05-0245 minStories of ImpactForgiveness Part 1Today we bring you the first of a special two-part series that dives deep into the subject of forgiveness. Our guests include Dr. Everett Worthington, Science Director in a worldwide research project studying the REACH forgiveness method’s effectiveness in facilitating not only individual forgiveness, but community forgiveness, a study that he and several colleagues conducted across six sites, five countries, and four continents. We’ll also hear from two of those research collaborators today: Ukrainian citizens Dr. Liudmyla Shtanko and Dr. Sergiy Tymchenko, who were in the midst of the forgiveness research project when Russia began to wage war...2023-04-2543 minStories of ImpactA Preview of Our Special Series on ForgivenessThe Stories of Impact podcast is coming to you for the next two weeks for a special exploration of forgiveness. Long-time listeners to the podcast may recognize Dr. Everett Worthington, who returns to discuss the largest-ever scientific study of forgiveness in the world. He joins Ukrainian citizens and fellow researchers Dr. Liudmyla Shtanko and Dr. Sergiy Tymchenko, for these important and timely conversations. We will be honored to bring you these three courageous and thoughtful experts, and introduce you to their colleagues, as they discuss applying the science of forgiveness to their own pain and heartache, and share the fin...2023-04-1804 minStories of ImpactFinding Beauty and Purpose to FlourishIn this episode of Stories of Impact, we’re listening to a session from the Templeton World Charity Foundation’s Global Scientific Conference on Human Flourishing, which took place last fall. The conference aimed to showcase the latest and most meaningful scientific advances in understanding how humans flourish across cultures and alongside innovative new tools and strategies. Today’s session is a remarkable discussion on the human need for beauty and purpose in order to flourish, featuring a presentation by Dr. Dacher Keltner, musician ELEW discussing his approach to his art and performing for us on piano, and a panel...2023-04-0450 minStories of ImpactClimate Change and Other Global Challenges to Human FlourishingIn this episode of Stories of Impact, we’re listening to a session from the Templeton World Charity Foundation’s Global Scientific Conference on Human Flourishing, which took place last fall. The conference aimed to showcase the latest and most meaningful scientific advances in understanding how humans flourish across cultures and alongside innovative new tools and strategies. Today’s session is a discussion on climate change and other global challenges to human flourishing, featuring moderator Philip Ball, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, Dr. David DeSteno, and Dekila Chungyalpa. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you list...2023-03-2139 minStories of ImpactPolarization Part 3 with Dr. Andrew Serazin, Dr. Eric Marshall, and Virginia CooperThis the conclusion of a special three-part series on polarization. In today’s episode, we hear some good news from three leaders of Templeton World Charity Foundation’s Listening and Learning in a Polarized World Initiative. Dr. Andrew Serazin, president of TWCF; Virginia Cooper, project lead; and Dr. Eric Marshall, Principal Advisor, celebrate the $20 million investment in exploring polarization, and share what innovative tools and solutions will be discovered during the five year open-science, interdisciplinary study. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTub...2023-03-0727 minStories of ImpactPolarization Part 2 with Dr. Dominic J. Packer, Dr. Jay J. Van Bavel, Dr. Hahrie Han, Evan Mawarire, Uriel Epshein & Joshua FrydayThis the second of a special three-part series on polarization. In today’s episode, we consider what writers, researchers, and scholars say we can learn from the history of polarization in other countries and learn about some of their potential solutions for polarization. Today’s episode features researchers Jay J. Van Bavel and Dominic J. Packer, co-authors of The Power of Us: Harnessing Our Shared Identities to Improve Performance, Increase Cooperation, and Promote Social Harmony. We also hear from Dr. Hahrie Han, Professor of Political Science and the Director of the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins Univ...2023-02-2139 min
Stories of ImpactCollective Effervescence with Or Taicher, Michal Shahaf, Ben Yaffet and Dr. Shira GabrielHave you ever been in a group of people, everyone focused on the same thing — a sports competition or a sermon or a performance — and you’ve had a feeling that you’re being transported or transformed by what you’re experiencing? It’s when you’re been a part of a collective moment of being that is so powerful and so meaningful that you forget about any self-consciousness or shyness or hesitation, and you feel swept up in what might be called celebration or rapture, or joy, or love.There’s actually a term for those beautiful, resonan...2023-01-1743 minStories of ImpactHuman Flourishing Conference Wrap-up with Dr. Andrew Serazin, Heather Templeton Dill, Dr. Duncan Astle & Maritza TrejoToday’s episode features Templeton World Charity Foundation President Dr. Andrew Serazin and John Templeton Foundation President Heather Templeton Dill, as they discuss Sir John Templeton’s legacy while considering human flourishing at TWCF’s first-annual Global Scientific Conference on Human Flourishing. We also hear from conference participants Maritza Trejo, Regional Director for Education Programs for Glasswing International in Central America, and Dr. Duncan Astle, a Programme Leader at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Find us on...2022-12-1337 minStories of ImpactHuman Flourishing Conference Wrap-up Preview with Sir Richard BransonWe’re excited to report that the first-annual global Human Flourishing Conference was a tremendous success, with over 4,000 people attending sessions with luminaries like author Cheryl Strayed, social scientist Arthur Brooks, and more. We’re going to bring you a more in-depth exploration next week of the conference, including remarks from Templeton World Charity Foundation President Dr. Andrew Serazin, as President of the John Templeton Foundation, Heather Templeton Dill. In the meantime, we’ll share the brief welcome message to the conference, delivered by Sir Richard Branson, before we return with a full-length special Human Flourishing Conference episode...2022-12-0602 minStories of ImpactHuman Flourishing Conference with Dr. Andrew Serazin & Dr. Brie LinkenhokerToday’s episode features TWCF President Dr. Andrew Serazin and Dr. Brie Linkenhoker, founder of Worldview Studio, discussing another collective celebration and exploration of human flourishing — TWCF’s Global Scientific Conference on Human Flourishing. This first annual world-wide conference will take place on November 28 - 29, and will include dynamic dialogues with leading scientists, policymakers, practitioners, influencers, and advocates working on the scientific frontiers of human flourishing. It’s free for any attendee and open to the public. This virtual event will feature the latest scientific advances in understanding human flourishing across cultures, and showcase innovative new tools and strategies to promote...2022-11-1531 minStories of ImpactEthical Apparel with Dr. Robert Handfield and Dr. MD Rejaul HasanToday’s episode is all about the impact we can have when we make informed, ethical choices. It can be nearly impossible as a consumer to know where your clothes are coming from and to ensure that they were ethically and sustainably produced, from the spinner of the cloth to the dyer of the fabric to the person sewing the garment together. This is why Dr. Robert Handfield and Dr. MD Rejaul Hasan of North Carolina State University Poole College of Management are creating an Ethical Apparel Index, which will create transparency around apparel manufacturing for both consumers and in...2022-11-0139 minStories of ImpactMental Health and Human Flourishing with Tom OsbornThis week’s episode takes us to Kenya, where we meet Tom Osborn, community mobilizer, entrepreneur and research scientist, and Harvard psychology graduate. In his long list of accolades and successes, he is most recently co-founder and executive director of the Shamiri Institute. Shamiri’s innovative, interdisciplinary, youth-led caregiving model is increasing student levels of success and student mental health in schools in Kibera, the urban slums of Nairobi. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Comments, questions and suggestions info@storiesofimpact.org Supported by Temp...2022-10-2033 minStories of ImpactTreating Youth Anxiety Through Gaming with Dr. Isabela Granic, Dr. Hanneke Scholten, and Ken KoontzWhat if we told you that by the end of this unusual episode, you could find yourself thinking completely differently about the role of video games in the lives of children and teens, and that you might actually look forward to playing video games yourself, as a way to become a healthier, happier, and more resilient human being? Today, we’ll meet a team of researchers and video game makers from the Games for Emotional and Mental Health (GEMH) Lab — Director Dr. Isabela Granic, Co-Director Dr. Hanneke Scholten, and Creative Director Ken Koontz — who will change your perspective on gaming...2022-10-0431 minStories of ImpactDiverse Intelligences Summer Institute with Dr. Amanda Seed, Dr. Cat Hobaiter, Dr. Dora Biro, Dr. Michael Muthukrishna, Dr. Kristin Andrews, and Dr. Tom GriffithsToday we bring you the voices of more members of the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (DISI) community — Dr. Amanda Seed, Dr. Cat Hobaiter, Dr. Dora Biro, Dr. Michael Muthukrishna, Dr. Kristin Andrews, and Dr. Tom Griffiths. They share some of their fascinating research that has been funded by Templeton World Charity Foundation grants. They talk about why they love what we affectionately call “adult summer science camp,” and why interdisciplinary conversations and collaborations about diverse intelligences are more important now than ever. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Facebo...2022-09-2041 minStories of ImpactDiverse Intelligences Summer Institute with Dr. Andrew Serazin, Dr. Erica Cartmill, Dr. Pranab Das and Dr. Jacob FosterToday’s episode is our version of a back to school episode celebrating one of the coolest schools on the planet — the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (DISI). We’re back with four friends from Season 2 of the podcast to further explore Diverse Intelligences: Drs. Andrew Serazin, Erica Cartmill, Pranab Das, and Jacob Foster. These researchers tell us about their work to build a community of scientists who have come together every summer for the last five years to explore together different kinds of cognition, whether their specialty is plant, animal, human, or machine. Read the transcript of this episode...2022-09-0638 min
Stories of ImpactHuman Flourishing: A Look Back & Looking Forward with Dr. Andrew SerazinToday is our 20th and final episode of the Luminaries of Human Flourishing season on the Stories of Impact podcast. All season, we’ve been in conversation with artists, politicians, technologists, environmentalists, doctors, faith leaders, educators, sociologists, and other luminaries. And today we circle back to the beginning, in conversation with President of Templeton World Charity Foundation, biomedical scientist Andrew Serazin, whose focus on human flourishing opened the door for us to create this special series. We’re going to take a summer break before we return in the fall with a new year of programming, but before we leav...2022-07-2633 minStories of ImpactRestoring the American Chestnut Tree with Dr. William Powell and Rex MannThis episode is an inspiring story about how bringing together vision, community, and cutting-edge science can make the impossible possible. It’s a story about American history, climate, globalization, and hope. It’s the story of the American Chestnut Foundation’s efforts to do something never before done: To restore a tree that is functionally extinct — the American Chestnut tree. You’ll hear from Rex Mann, retired from the U.S. Forest Service and now a chestnut evangelist, and ACF’s lead collaborating scientist, Dr. William A. Powell, professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science in Forestry. Read the transcr...2022-07-1227 minStories of ImpactCreating a Culture of Flourishing with Cristine LegareWhat is culture? How is culture transmitted? And what is unique about human culture, compared to our closest animal species relatives? Today’s conversation with Dr. Cristine Legare, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin whose research focuses on the foundations of cultural intelligence, answers all these questions. Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Comments, questions and suggestions info@storiesofimpact.org Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation 2022-06-2836 min
Stories of ImpactDemocracy, Resilience and Human Flourishing with Dr. Hafsat AbiolaToday, we hear from Dr. Hafsat Abiola, native of Nigeria, President of the Women in Africa Initiative, Harvard-educated economist, expert in sustainable development, and civil rights and Democracy advocate. Dr. Abiola’s father, M.K.O. Abiola, was imprisoned after decisively winning the presidency in an election determined to be fair and free by Nigerian and international observers. Meanwhile her mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, fought publicly for his release and for her husband’s freedom, until she was murdered in retaliation. Dr. Abiola has carried on her parents’ legacy in her pro-democracy activism and her work in the Women in Afr...2022-06-0732 minStories of ImpactThe Stories We Tell Ourselves with Dr. Brie LinkenhokerIn today’s episode, we welcome Dr. Brie Linkenhoker, founder of Worldview Studio, a collective of brain and behavioral scientists, human-centered designers, and multimedia producers who create innovative learning experiences. Dr. Linkenhoker is the recipient of grant funding from Templeton World Charity Foundation’s Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing program. Her ground-breaking research is centered on the stories we tell ourselves. Through the scientific research of personal narratives, Dr. Linkenhoker explores the influence of our personal story-telling on our behavior, well-being and achievement; how stories differ across cultures and generations; and how they change with meaningful intervention from families, mento...2022-05-1732 minStories of ImpactCompassion in Healthcare & Flourishing with Dr. David AddissIn today’s episode, we welcome Dr. David Addiss, an expert in public health and preventive medicine. Dr. Addiss has spent his career thinking not only about science, but about service. In his early career, he cared for the health of migrants in the San Joaquin Valley of California, then later worked for nearly two decades the Centers for Disease Control in the Division of Parasitic Diseases, where he focused on controlling and eliminating diseases found not in the United States, but in communities of neglected people largely in the tropics. Hear what inspired him to spend his career ca...2022-05-0331 minStories of ImpactScience, Religion & Spirituality with Professor Kenneth PargamentToday’s episode is a discussion of the intersections of religion, spirituality, and science, with Dr. Kenneth Pargament, Professor Emeritus at Bowling Green State University. Dr. Pargament was named in 2022 one of the 50 Most Influential Living Psychologists in the World, and his internationally-acclaimed research addresses the relationship between health and spirituality and religious faith. More about this episode Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Comments, questions and suggestions info@storiesofimpact.org Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation 2022-04-1930 minStories of ImpactFaith & Human Flourishing with Bishop Steven CroftThis week’s episode highlights the relationship between religion, faith, and human flourishing. Our conversation today is with Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, Church of England, for whom a belief in God and human flourishing — both individual and societal — are inextricably linked. More about this episode Read the transcript of this episode Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Comments, questions and suggestions info@storiesofimpact.org Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation 2022-04-0517 min
Stories of ImpactFood, Agriculture & Human Flourishing with Agnes KalibataThis week we hear from Dr. Agnes Kalibata, a Rwandan agricultural scientist and policymaker. Dr. Kalibata draws on her personal history growing up in a refugee camp to shape her work as both UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy focusing on international food systems and the president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. This leader uniquely offers her deep personal understanding of how communities and individuals can flourish when two of their essential needs — nourishing food and quality education — are met. Learn more: Dr. Agnes Kalibata Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa Value4Her ...2022-03-1521 min
Stories of ImpactHuman Flourishing & Grit with Angela DuckworthThis week we bring you a conversation with Dr. Angela Duckworth, pioneering professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and the CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit that advances science to help children thrive. She was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2013, and in 2016 published Grit, a book that explores what elements lead to success. She makes the case that achievement is not dependent on genius, but instead, on The Power of Passion and Perseverance: grit. Dr. Duckworth believes that grit is part of what allows humans to flourish. Learn more: Angela Duckworth Grit: The Power o...2022-02-2820 min
Stories of ImpactThe Digital Age & Human Flourishing with Vint CerfThis week we’re bringing you a conversation about human flourishing with Vint Cerf, a man globally recognized as one of the “fathers of the Internet.” In recognition for his extraordinary contributions to the creation of Internet technology, Cerf has been awarded a U.S. National Medal of Technology, the Turing Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And, drawing on his own experience with being hearing impaired, he’s also known as a leading advocate for technology to be made accessible to people with a variety of abilities. Cerf’s consideration of how humans can use digital technology to flouris...2022-02-1520 min
Stories of ImpactWellness & Human Flourishing with Deepak ChopraOur guest today is Dr. Deepak Chopra, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality. He is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, and the author of over 90 books translated into over forty languages. In addition to holding a number of positions at medical schools across the US, Dr. Chopra has been at the forefront of the meditation revolution for the last thirty years. Today’s conversation explores the link between our minds and our physical hea...2022-02-0120 min
Stories of ImpactListening and Human Flourishing with Profs. Guy Itzchakov and Netta WeinsteinToday, we’re in conversation about the act of listening. Our guests are researchers Netta Weinstein, Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Reading, and Guy Itzchakov, an assistant professor in the Department of Human Services at the University of Haifa. Profs. Weinstein and Itzhchakov are part of a research team working to develop a scientific understanding of what listening is, what its benefits are, and why it matters so much to our well-being. Learn more: Guy Itzchakov Netta Weinstein The Power of Listening in a Polarized World with Netta Weinstein and Guy Itzchakov (video by Richard Ser...2022-01-1937 min
Stories of ImpactClimate and Human Flourishing with Mary RobinsonToday, we’re talking about a pursuit of well-being that impacts us all — climate health. Today’s guest is Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and the first woman to hold that elected office and former United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights. Since Robinson’s tenure as Ireland’s President ended in 1997, she has continued to work tirelessly to promote gender equity, human rights, and, most recently and most intensively, climate justice. Robinson speaks about the interdependence of people, animals, and the environment, and the imperative that we safeguard the health of each in order to ensure a sustainable future for w...2021-11-3028 min
Stories of ImpactDance and Human Flourishing with Judith JamisonToday’s guest is international superstar dancer/choreographer Judith Jamison. In 1964, at just 21 years old, Jamison made her dance debut in New York with the American Ballet Theater. She soon joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, eventually becoming the company’s principal dancer, then its artistic director, and, since 2011, she’s been artistic director emerita. Learn more: Judith Jamison Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Alvin Ailey Video: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing Revelations Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts More about this episode Read the transcript of this episode...2021-11-1624 min
Stories of ImpactMusic, Listening, and Human Flourishing with Wynton MarsalisIn today’s episode, we delve into how humans flourish through music and listening with internationally acclaimed musician, composer, and bandleader Wynton Marsalis. At the age of 60, after a long, international career, Marsalis identifies not only as a solo artist and a group leader, but as an educator and a leading advocate of American culture. Learn more: Wynton Marsalis Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts More about this episode Read the transcript of this episode Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Comments, questions and suggestions info@storiesofimpact.org Supported by Templeton World Cha...2021-11-0221 min
Stories of ImpactHappiness and Human Flourishing with Laurie Santos and Arthur C. BrooksToday, we hear about human happiness from two of the world’s foremost researchers on the subject: Dr. Laurie Santos and Dr. Arthur Brooks. Dr. Santos hosts The Happiness Lab, a podcast “that will forever alter the way you think about happiness.” She’s also a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and teacher of one of the most popular classes ever in Yale history: The Happiness Class, which tries to give students the keys to happiness and satisfaction. Dr. Brooks is a Harvard professor, social scientist, prolific bestselling author, and columnist at The Atlantic. Learn more: Laur...2021-10-1924 min
Stories of ImpactThe Role of Education in Human Flourishing with The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson and Andreas SchleicherIn today’s episode, we hear from The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, the first African-American woman to lead a top-ranked research university — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — and Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, an intergovernmental economic organisation with 38 member countries who stimulate economic progress and world trade. These two global leaders in education speak of nuanced, experiential, community-centered learning opportunities offered within a moral and ethical framework as a key component of human flourishing. Our guests offer their insights on how educ...2021-10-0540 min
Stories of ImpactThe Science of Spiritual Exercises with Rev. Sue Phillips and Casper ter KuileToday, we’re delving into a discussion with Casper ter Kuile and Reverend Sue Phillips, two of the co-founders of Sacred Design Lab, which describes itself as a “soul-centered research and development lab.” If you’re thinking, “Wait, how can you do R&D on the soul?!”, you’ll want to hear what ter Kuile and Rev. Phillips have to say. Rev. Sue Phillips is a graduate of Colgate University and the Episcopal Divinity School, and she has served as a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School. Casper ter Kuile holds a Masters of Divinity and Public Policy d...2021-09-2143 min
Stories of ImpactInnovations for Human Flourishing with Dr. Andrew SerazinOur new season begins with scientist, entrepreneur, and philanthropy leader Dr. Andrew Serazin, President of Templeton World Charity Foundation. Dr. Serazin discusses TWCF's latest initiative, the Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing, which will enable researchers to discover new knowledge, develop new tools, and launch new practices or interventions that make a lasting impact on human flourishing. Learn more about the Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing initiative. Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts More about this episode Read the transcript of this episode Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Comments, questions and suggestions info@storiesofimpact...2021-09-0728 minStories of ImpactBeginning September 7: Stories of Impact Season 5The birthright of every human being is not just to survive, but to thrive. This year on the Stories of Impact Podcast, we bring you conversations about the science behind innovative tools that help human beings flourish. Join host Tavia Gilbert and journalist Richard Sergay to hear about the intersection of the science and spiritual practices that give life the deepest meaning and fulfillment. Every first and third Tuesday, you’ll hear from global luminaries with expertise in psychology, art, theology, and more: the frontline workers of flourishing who are driving the achievement of a new...2021-08-2701 min
Stories of ImpactThe Power and Meaning of Forgiveness with Dr. Everett WorthingtonToday’s episode highlights Richard’s conversation with Dr. Everett Worthington. Dr. Worthington is Commonwealth Professor Emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University. For the last 30 years, Dr. Worthington has been studying forgiveness, and he has written more than a dozen books on the subject. In 2001, he developed the pioneering REACH Forgiveness method, which has helped thousands of people—including himself—reap the mental and physical benefits of forgiveness. Learn more about Dr. Everett Worthington and the REACH Forgiveness method. Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts More about this episode Read the transcript of this epi...2021-03-0945 min
Stories of ImpactUbuntu & Youth Radio Reporters with Nina CallaghanToday, we hear a fascinating and inspiring conversation having to do with the flourishing of young South Africans. Today’s episode features Richard’s conversation with Nina Callaghan, former Associate Director and current South African Chair of Children’s Radio Foundation. In a post-apartheid country still suffering the social, psychic, and economic wounds of decades of institutionalized racial segregation, the very act of teaching these youth basic journalism 101, including ethics, consent, and truth-telling, is a powerful healing act. Callaghan discusses her work with the youth reporters and their two-year exploration of the concept of Ubuntu—a Nguni Bantu term often tr...2021-02-2350 min
Stories of ImpactA Case for Spiritually Informed Democratic Capitalism with Dr. Arthur C. BrooksToday we hear from Dr. Arthur C. Brooks, Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. He’s also the former president of the American Enterprise Institute, a leading public policy think tank. You may be familiar with Brooks from his work as a writer — he’s the author of eleven books, including the national bestsellers Love Your Enemies and The Conservative Heart, a columnist for The Atlantic, host of the podcast “The Art of Happiness with Arthur Brooks,” and the subject of a 2019 documentary “The Pursuit.”2021-02-0952 min
Stories of ImpactInvesting in Human Flourishing with Dr. Andrew SerazinTempleton World Charity Foundation President, Dr. Andrew Serazin, is back for another conversation with podcast host Richard Sergay. Dr. Serazin talks about human flourishing — what it is, and how TWCF hopes to spur discovery about it. Dr. Serazin shares his excitement about the foundation’s Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing program, born out of a specific strategy to discover new knowledge, develop new tools, and launch new innovations that make a lasting impact on human flourishing. Discover how to be a part of the Grand Challenges for Human Flourishing. Learn more about Dr. Andrew Serazin. Su...2021-01-2634 min
Stories of ImpactBeginning Next Week: Stories of Impact Season 4Imagine a state of being in which all the many dimensions of your life are good. Imagine health that goes beyond typical measures of physical and mental well-being, but expands to include life satisfaction, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and thriving social relationships. This spring, join producer Tavia Gilbert and journalist Richard Sergay for the fourth season of the award-winning Stories of Impact podcast. This season, we bring you explorations of how people throughout the world promote human flourishing; stories of human generativity, positivity, growth, and resilience. Supported by Templeton World Charity Foundation.2021-01-1901 min
Stories of ImpactListening as an Antidote to a Zero-Sum Outlook with Dr. Filippo TrevisanToday, Richard is in conversation with Dr. Filippo Trevisan, assistant professor at the School of Communication and Deputy Director at the Institute on Disability and Public Policy at American University. Dr. Trevisan talks about our evolving views on social media and offers insight on how we can use — and how we are already using — the Internet as a tool to improve representation in our democratic process. More about Filippo Trevisan Mentioned in this episode: Citizenship in a Networked Age “From Facebook, answering privacy concerns with new settings,” Washington Post, May 24, 2010 “Mark Zuckerberg has been tal...2021-01-0535 min
Stories of ImpactUpholding Democratic Values in the Internet Age with Dr. David O’BrienToday’s conversation is with David O’Brien, Assistant Research Director at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. Prof. O’Brien talks to Richard about how we as citizens can bring our democratic values to bear on social media platforms; the role privacy plays online in allowing democracy and democratic citizenship to flourish; and more. More about David O’Brien and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society Mentioned in this episode: Citizenship in a Networked Age How to Watch TV News Subscribe to Stories of Impact whe...2020-12-2236 min
Stories of ImpactThe Ethics of Communication with Dr. Onora O’NeillToday, host Richard Sergay speaks with Baroness Onora O’Neill, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Cambridge University. Prof. O’Neill, whose work has focused on international justice and the roles of trust and accountability in public life, discusses the value of privacy in a time of surveillance capitalism, human rights after the digital revolution, and the importance of listening as a civic virtue. Mentioned in this episode: Citizenship in a Networked Age Internment of Uighurs in China Plato’s Phaedrus Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts More about this episode Read the...2020-11-2435 min
Stories of ImpactBuilding Common Purpose with Sir Paul CollierAs we explore our season focusing on citizenship in the networked age, journalist Richard Sergay explores the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen in the digital era, the individual and community strengths inherent in healthy citizenship, and the threats to our future without it. Today’s conversation is with Sir Paul Collier, a professor of economics and public policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. Professor Collier is a world-renowned economist and a best-selling author, including The Future of Capitalism: Facing the New Anxieties, and his latest release, with John Kay, Greed is Dead: Politics Af...2020-11-1036 min
Stories of ImpactCitizenship in a Networked Age with Vint Cerf, Nuala O’Connor, & Michael WearToday’s conversation features three intersecting perspectives on the topic of citizenship in a networked age. We’ll hear from Vint Cerf, Google's vice president and chief Internet evangelist, and one of the world’s recognized “fathers of the Internet”; Nuala O’Connor, former president and CEO at the Center for Democracy and Technology; and Michael Wear, a strategist, speaker, and practitioner at the intersection of faith, politics, and public life. Each of them adds dimension to our podcast’s ongoing discussion of the direction of developing technologies, governmental policy and online engagement, and the moral facets of civic participation...2020-10-2751 min
Stories of ImpactAn Agenda for Rebuilding Our Civic Ideals with Dr. Andrew Briggs and Dr. Dominic BurbidgeIn this episode, we hear from Dr. Andrew Briggs, a professor of nanomaterials at the University of Oxford, and Dr. Dominic Burbidge, a lecturer in politics at the University of Oxford and director of the Canterbury Institute. Along with a team of scholars, their study of citizenship in a networked age has led to a carefully crafted report, including seven recommendations in support of their Agenda for Rebuilding Our Civic Ideals. Learn more about Citizenship in a Networked Age and the Agenda for Rebuilding Our Civic Ideals. Mentioned in this episode: Shoshanna Zuboff and...2020-10-1352 min
Stories of ImpactBeginning Next Week: Stories of Impact Season 3How can we listen to people we don’t agree with? Rebuild trust in an era of “fake news” and “alternative facts”? Create social cohesion, cooperation, and healthy, safe, inclusive societies? If you find yourself asking, “What are our rights as citizens, and what are our responsibilities?,” you’ll want to join journalist Richard Sergay and producer Tavia Gilbert for Season 3 of the Stories of Impact podcast, which explores the timely and vital question of what it means to be a citizen in a networked age. In our third season, we are in conversation with some of the world’s leadi...2020-10-0601 min
Stories of ImpactDiverse Intelligences Summer Institute with Dr. Erica Cartmill, Dr. Jacob Foster, and Dr. Kensy CooperriderIn the final episode of our second season, we meet three scientists who are creating a community of people who see the world differently, bringing together scholars from around the globe who are passionate about collaboration and exploration of the myriad intelligences throughout the planet and the cosmos. Richard Sergay speaks with Drs. Erica Cartmill and Jacob Foster, co-directors of the Templeton World Charity Foundation Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute (DISI), and DISI associate director Dr. Kensy Cooperrider. They discuss the Diverse Intelligences initiative, their efforts to build community with today’s young, emerging scientists and scholars, and wh...2020-09-2940 min
Stories of ImpactMachine Morality with Dr. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Dr. Jana Schaich Borg & Dr. Vincent ConitzerToday, we speak with an ethicist, a computer scientist, and a neuroscientist who have teamed together at Duke University to research how we might build human morality into an artificially intelligent machine. Drs. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Jana Schaich Borg, and Vincent Conitzer also tell us about a surprising outcome of their research: that imbuing machines with the ability to act in accordance with moral principles can actually help us deepen our understanding of our own moral philosophy and behavior. Learn more about Dr. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Dr. Jana Schaich Borg, and Dr. Vincent Conitzer. Subscribe to Stories of...2020-09-2331 min
Stories of ImpactCracking the Code: Searching for Language in Dolphins with Dr. Denise HerzingIn this episode, we hear from Dr. Denise Herzing, Research Director and Founder of the Wild Dolphin Project and Affiliate Assistant Professor at Florida Atlantic University in biological sciences. For the last 25 years, Dr. Herzing has been on a quest to crack the code — to discover the keys to the secret language of dolphins. Today she talks about what she’s learned so far about dolphin “language,” what’s surprised her about wild dolphins’ interactions with each other and the researchers, and the possibility of humans someday communicating directly with dolphins. Learn more about Dr. Denise Herzing and the Wild...2020-09-1631 min
Stories of ImpactSocial Cognition in Autism with Dr. Sue Fletcher-Watson and Dr. Catherine CromptonIn today’s episode, we explore the social cognition found within our own species, and what the benefit to every person might be if we deepen our understanding of the wide variety of intelligences of human beings. We hear from two researchers at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Sue Fletcher-Watson, and her colleague, Dr. Catherine Crompton, about their study examining the social cognition of autism, which shines new light on the comfort and confidence that autistic people can experience in communication and community with other neurodivergent people, and how everyone benefits when autistic people’s needs are suppo...2020-09-0842 min
Stories of ImpactAnimal Cognition with Dr. Brian HareDr. Brian Hare is a core member of the Center of Cognitive Neuroscience and Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology and Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. In today’s episode, Dr. Hare shares how investigating diverse intelligences offers human beings insight into our own psychology. He’ll also describe the powerful new online tool he’s building to spark the acceleration of our understanding about animal — and human — cognition. Learn more about Dr. Brian Hare and Dognition: animal cognition games you can play with your dog! Mentioned in this episode: The Genius of Dogs Survival of the Frie...2020-09-0129 min
Stories of ImpactThe Honeybee Brain with Dr. Andrew Barron and Dr. James MarshallToday’s episode features the work of two scientists in seemingly unconnected fields of study: Dr. Andrew Barron, Associate Professor of Cognitive Neuroethology at Macquarie University in Sydney specializing in the honeybee brain; and his colleague, Dr. James Marshall, Professor of Theoretical Computation and Biology at the University of Sheffield, who studies robotics and artificial intelligence. Richard Sergay spoke with this pair of scientists to find out how their unique areas of expertise came together to apply discoveries about the intelligence of honeybees to the development of smarter, more capable artificially intelligent robots — machines like drones, which migh...2020-08-2535 min
Stories of ImpactWhale Song & Alien Intelligence with Dr. Laurance Doyle and Dr. Fred SharpeToday’s episode features the collaborative exploration of Dr. Fred Sharpe, an expert in humpback whales and the Principal Investigator with the Alaska Whale Foundation, and Dr. Laurance Doyle, astrophysicist and Principal Investigator of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute. Drs. Sharpe and Doyle are investigating humpback whales’ complex, long-distance communication with the aim of learning about how alien intelligences, if they exist, might attempt to transmit their messages through the cosmos. Learn more about Dr. Fred Sharpe and the Alaska Whale Foundation, and Dr. Laurance Doyle and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute Men...2020-08-1834 min
Stories of ImpactWhat are Diverse Intelligences? with Dr. Pranab DasHost Richard Sergay speaks with Pranab Das, professor of physics at Elon University and Principal Advisor to the Diverse Intelligences Initiative from Templeton World Charity Foundation. Richard and Professor Das discuss the definition of intelligence and look at some of the DI projects we’ll hear more about this season. Learn more about Pranab Das and the Diverse Intelligences Initiative Mentioned in this episode: Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts. More ab...2020-08-1136 min
Stories of ImpactBeginning Next Week: Stories of Impact Season 2The Stories of Impact Podcast presents stories of the scientific breakthroughs that fuel the human search for meaning, purpose, and truth — how lives are transformed by science. Season 2 focuses on Diverse Intelligences. This project was made possible through the generous support of a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation.2020-08-0401 min
Stories of ImpactThe Core Principles of Cooperation with Dr. David Sloan WilsonToday, host Richard Sergay is in conversation with David Sloan Wilson, professor of biological sciences at Binghamton University and president of the Evolution Institute. Prof. Wilson describes the core principles of human groups that allow successful cooperation, and discusses how we can implement these principles to alleviate the negative effects of the current pandemic and stop its spread. The fifth and final episode in a special, five-part Covid-19 conversation series. Learn more about David Sloan Wilson and the Evolution Institute. Mentioned in this episode: Elinor Ostrom Michelle Gelfand’s Tight and Loose Cu...2020-07-2829 min
Stories of ImpactSpirituality, Belonging, & the Pandemic Response with Dr. Joseph BulbuliaIn this episode, host Richard Sergay speaks to Joseph Bulbulia, professor at the University of Auckland and the MacLaurin Goodfellow Chair in Theological and Religious Studies. Professor Bulbulia discusses how religious interaction, worship, and teaching come together in different ways to facilitate group cooperation, and what we can learn from that to support us during the pandemic. This is the fourth episode in a special, five-part Covid-19 conversation series. Learn more about Joseph Bulbulia. Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts. More about this episode Read the transcript of this episode Face...2020-07-2129 min
Stories of ImpactCooperation Amidst Catastrophe with Dr. Athena AktipisHost Richard Sergay speaks to Athena Aktipis, co-director of the Human Generosity Project, about the current results of her study of cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Aktipis discusses the insights both past and current research offer about the extent and the limits of human generosity during catastrophic events. This is the third episode in a special, five-part Covid-19 conversation series. Learn more about Athena Aktipis and The Human Generosity Project Mentioned in this episode: A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you list...2020-07-1426 min
Stories of ImpactEncouraging Altruism During a Pandemic with Dr. Erez YoeliIn today’s episode, host Richard Sergay speaks with Erez Yoeli, director of the Applied Cooperation Team at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, about how to motivate people to cooperate and behave altruistically during a pandemic. Dr. Yoeli discusses how we can harness the power of reputation to encourage prosocial behavior, and suggests ways to make the message of altruism appeal to everyone in a time when people are receiving conflicting messages about what is right. This is the second episode in a special, five-part Covid-19 conversation series. Learn more about Erez Yoeli Me...2020-07-0733 min
Stories of ImpactThe Power of Positivity in a Pandemic with Dr. Barbara Fredrickson The first episode of the Stories of Impact podcast special, five-part Covid-19 conversation series features Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Host Richard Sergay speaks with Dr. Fredrickson about why her work in positive psychology is more relevant than ever during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr. Fredrickson offers tips on how to nurture our positive emotions and resilience amid the stress and anxiety we are all experiencing, as well as how to foster strong social connections going forward post-Covid. Learn more about Dr. Barbara Fredrickson and the P...2020-06-3027 min
Stories of ImpactPodcast Launch: Stories of Impact - The Impact-Driven Mission in Sparking Curiosity In this introductory episode, producer Tavia Gilbert and host Richard Sergay discuss what’s coming up in this season of the podcast and beyond. In conversation with Dr. Andrew Serazin, President of Templeton World Charity Foundation, they explore the history and mission of Stories of Impact’s unique and inspiring founder, Sir John Templeton. Learn more about Richard Sergay, Tavia Gilbert, and Andrew Serazin Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you listen to podcasts. More about this episode Read the transcript of this episode Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Comments, questions and suggestions info@storiesofimpact.org Supported by the Templeton World Char2020-06-3025 min
Stories of ImpactIntroducing Stories of ImpactThe Stories of Impact Podcast presents stories of the scientific breakthroughs that fuel the human search for meaning, purpose, and truth — how lives are transformed by science. This project was made possible through the support of a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation.2020-06-1801 min