
271 episodes

Robert Wright's Nonzero Nonzero
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- Society & Culture
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4.7 • 535 Ratings
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Conversations with a series of people who have nothing in common except that program host Robert Wright is curious about what they’re thinking.
nonzero.substack.com
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A Palestinian-American Looks at Gaza (Robert Wright & Omar Baddar)
1:23 Biden’s vexing political calculus on Israel-Palestine 10:13 Israel-Palestine compared to Russia-Ukraine 13:56 If Israel eliminates Hamas, what happens next? 23:14 Can anything good come out of the present crisis? 29:53 The meaning of “From the river to the sea…” 37:47 Why the 2000 Camp David Summit failed 44:19 Where is Palestine's Nelson Mandela? 54:45 Assessing US media coverage of the Gaza war
Robert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Omar Baddar (Arab American Institute, Public Citizen). Recorded November 28, 2023.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nonzero.substack.com/subscribe -
Is AI Evolving into an Existential Threat? (Robert Wright & Dan Hendrycks)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com
0:34 Preamble: The OpenAI drama and this conversation 3:46 Where Dan falls on the AI doomer spectrum 6:42 Is safe AI possible without international cooperation? 12:38 Are we selecting AI for truth or engagement? 25:53 Using “psychology” to understand—and control—AI 31:08 The worrisome Darwinian dynamics of AI development 40:37 Life after an AI takeover 51:52 How structural incentives make AI safety harder
Robert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Dan Hendrycks (The Center for AI Safety). Recorded October 10, 2023.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods -
Getting Russia Right (Robert Wright & Thomas Graham)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com
0:33 Tom’s new book, Getting Russia Right 2:13 Does Putin want to take more territory before talking peace? 12:35 Putin’s "messianic" transformation 22:41 America’s failed effort to Americanize Russia 32:46 Does the US focus too much on other nations’ internal affairs? 41:10 The 2004 event that sunk US-Russia relations 49:16 Why Tom supports a diplomatic reset
Robert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Thomas Graham (Council on Foreign Relations, Getting Russia Right). Recorded November 09, 2023.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods -
China’s Overreach, America’s Overreaction (Robert Wright & Susan Shirk)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com
1:51 Susan’s new book, Overreach: How China Derailed Its Peaceful Rise 7:28 China’s turn to more assertive policies in 2007 15:30 The well-intentioned reform that produced big authoritarian consequences 25:20 How public opinion influences autocratic leaders 31:53 Xi Jinping’s purge of suspect officials 41:52 Does Beijing feel threatened by America? 48:20 Heading to Overtime
Robert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Susan Shirk (University of California San Diego, Overreach). Recorded October 23, 2023.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods -
Israel-Palestine and Ethnic Identity (Robert Wright & Matthew Yglesias)
3:07 Will Israel-Palestine cost Biden the election? 12:20 What Hamas hoped to accomplish on October 7 24:30 The surprising origins of cancel culture 32:00 Matt defends his ratioed tweet 44:41 The persistent psychological impact of the Holocaust 55:53 Is a one-state solution realistic? 1:16:50 What Ukrainians and Palestinians have in common 1:26:43 Anti-Palestine sentiment and Christian Zionism in America 1:36:09 How the current crisis could lead to war with Iran 1:45:35 Bob gives Matt podcasting advice
Robert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True) and Matthew Yglesias (slowboring.com). Recorded November 14, 2023.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nonzero.substack.com/subscribe -
Israel-Palestine and Tribal Biases (Earthling Unplugged)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nonzero.substack.com
Robert Wright and Andrew Day discuss items from The Earthling.
Read this edition of the Earthling at: https://nonzero.substack.com/p/the-river-to-the-sea-rorschach-test
Recorded November 10, 2023.
Customer Reviews
parrot room day 1
I’ve been listening for years. Since the lockdown started and dragged on, Mickey’s regular Friday night spot with Bob has been something I really look forward to.
Thoughtful and Honest
As always, Bob provides honest, thoughtful, insightful content on everything from philosophy and psychology to politics.
Suavita Maloney
Robert Wright shown is the opportunity to get unbiased info. Its my goto for honest opinions.