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Robert Wright's Nonzero

Nonzero

Conversations with a series of people who have nothing in common except that program host Robert Wright is curious about what they’re thinking.

www.nonzero.org
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  • 586 episodes
  • Updated Friday

Episodes586

Newest first
  • Aug 5, 2025 · 51 min

    Must We Discuss Sydney Sweeney? (Robert Wright & Paul Bloom)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Substack glory and livestream anxiety 02:58 Reading eugenics into a dopey jeans ad 11:37 Does Sydney Sweeney spell the end of “inclusive marketing”? 15:25 Bob vs. Paul on IQ and “general intelligence” 22:10 Paul reviews the new Billy Joel documentary 28:07 The Epstein prison video snafu: a Bayesian take 37:19 Ghislaine gets a free upgrade Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toronto, The Sweet Spot, Against Empathy). Recorded August 04, 2025. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Aug 2, 2025 · 40 min

    Anatomy of a Man-Made Famine | NonZero World feat. Alex de Waal

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Why Gaza’s famine is the "most intense" in decades 4:00 From food secure to starvation: How Gaza unraveled 7:26 Blinken's willful blindness to Israel's obstruction of aid 11:33 How the US muzzled its own famine warning system 15:05 The political power of the term "famine" 19:54 What starvation does to the body—and to society 24:38 The perverse logic of starvation as warfare 26:3 How the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation puts aid in Hamas's hands 29:33 Evaluating Israel's accusation against UNRWA 32:52 How many Gazans are dying of starvation? 36:19 What a real aid response would take now Recorded August 1, 2025. https://twitter.com/NonzeroNews https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Aug 1, 2025 · 41 min

    Gaza Awareness Week (Robert Wright, Derek Davison, and Daniel Bessner)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Derek and Danny plug their new Crusades series 3:19 This week’s shift in Gaza discourse 12:20 The real danger Gaza poses for Israel 22:05 Does the left’s rhetoric on Israel miss the mark? 32:24 Elite media’s think tank problem 36:27 Is American imperialism really the problem? 40:04 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True), Derek Davison (Foreign Exchanges, American Prestige, Discontents), and Daniel Bessner (American Prestige, University of Washington). Recorded July 31, 2025. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Jul 30, 2025 · 37 min

    Are We Taking AI Seriously Enough? (Robert Wright & Michael Walker)

    On this crossover edition of the NonZero podcast, Bob is interviewed by Michael Walker of Novara Media on artificial intelligence. Video on Novara’s YouTube channel: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

  • Jul 26, 2025 · 45 min

    Trump's Plan for Global AI Dominance | NonZero World feat. Robert Wright

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Trump’s AI Action plan 4:00 The contradictions inherent to Trump's plan 6:25 How Trump’s anti-globalism undermines his AI goals 10:52 Anthropic’s leaked memo: Ideals vs Persian Gulf cash 13:06 Bob: Dario Amodei is the true AI ideologue 17:17 How AI “safety” became a hawkish movement 18:18 Why true objectivity in LLMs is a fantasy 22:58 A Palantir exec dives into the movie business 25:16 Is AI surgery around the corner? 33:06 Why the Gaza ceasefire talks are collapsing—again 35:36 Biden and Trump's allergy to using US leverage Recorded July 25, 2025. https://twitter.com/NonzeroNews https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Jul 24, 2025 · 56 min

    Is the New Syria Unravelling? (Robert Wright & Joshua Landis)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Josh’s hopes for post-Assad Syria—revisited 4:12 The challenge(s) facing the Syrian government 8:58 What’s driving Syria’s sectarian violence? 19:44 Josh’s personal window into the al-Sharaa regime’s brutality 22:51 The new regime’s church vs state problem 29:44 How the Druze became central to Israeli-Syrian hostilities 43:05 Why did Israel escalate with Syria, really? 50:35 Josh’s current outlook on Syria's future 55:32 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Joshua Landis (University of Oklahoma, SyriaComment.com). Recorded July 23, 2025.

  • Jul 23, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min

    Jeffrey Epstein, MechaHitler, and Other Ills (Robert Wright & Paul Bloom)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 The full reason for Bob’s absence—revealed 6:41 What’s the real story with Trump and Epstein? 15:02 A peek down the Epstein rabbit hole 31:18 Grok goes full Nazi-pornbot 40:15 The promise and perils of AI companions 47:55 Bob on dealing with cancer in the age of AI 1:10:39 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Paul Bloom (https://smallpotatoes.paulbloom.net, University of Toronto, The Sweet Spot, Against Empathy). Recorded July 22, 2025. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Jul 19, 2025 · 40 min

    Why China Won't Invade Taiwan | NonZero World feat. Dan Grazier

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is so unlikely 4:01 Taiwan’s terrain: A defender’s dream, an invader’s nightmare 10:55 Why Taipei might be the hardest city in the world to conquer 12:45 Dan: China would need nearly 5 million soldiers to have a chance 14:18 The 2027 invasion theory—and why it doesn’t hold up 16:37 Is China trying to bankrupt the US military? 19:23 A cheaper, smarter way to defend Taiwan 22:42 Submarines: A deterrent with a message 27:47 Comparing a Taiwan invasion to D-Day 31:27 China's long game 35:32 Why a blockade might be worse than an invasion Recorded July 18, 2025. https://twitter.com/NonzeroNewshttps://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Jul 17, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min

    Golden Oldie: Do We Live in a Simulation (Robert Wright & Preston Greene)

    0:00 A brief message from Bob 1:45 Why many intelligent people think we’re living in a simulation 12:44 The philosophical argument that you’re probably not real 28:24 How cosmic rays might (and might not) reveal that reality is fake 36:18 Preston’s dire warning against trying to determine if we’re in a simulation 50:06 Is the simulation hypothesis non-falsifiable? 56:40 Is “the simulation” just religion for atheists? Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Preston Greene (NTU Singapore). Recorded October 8, 2019. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

  • Jul 15, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min

    Golden Oldie: The Nature of Time (Robert Wright & Lee Smolin)

    0:00 A brief message from Bob 1:55 What Lee means when he says "time is fundamental" 11:40 Understanding the universe as a network 25:59 A (very) tentative theory of consciousness 37:42 Did the laws of physics evolve? 45:23 Is the universe fine-tuned for the emergence of life? 57:21 Applying Lee's theories of time to everyday life Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Lee Smolin (Perimeter Institute, leesmolin.com). Recorded October 12, 2015. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

  • Jul 12, 2025 · 40 min

    A Journey Into the New Cold War | NonZero World feat. Neysun Mahboubi

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Why Neysun brings American students and scholars to China 3:05 Visiting China after Covid 5:17 Balancing US and Chinese red lines 11:03 When Neysun's students pushed Chinese officials on human rights 14:09 Do US students fear career risks for going to China? 16:08 Cultivating cognitive empathy 18:51 China's obsession with US politics 20:54 Trump's surprisingly consistent approach to Beijing 26:46 Are Chinese students really spies? 31:46 Is China studies becoming the next Kremlinology? 35:37 How Neysun navigates US fears about exchange with China Recorded July 11, 2025. https://twitter.com/NonzeroNews https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Jul 10, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

    Golden Oldie: Obama, Trump, and Tribalism (Robert Wright & Greg Gutfeld)

    0:00 A brief message from Bob 1:51 Greg’s new book, The Gutfeld Monologues 10:49 How going to Berkeley pushed Greg toward conservatism 17:03 Trumpism creates strange ideological bedfellows 26:10 Bob offers a magic solution to the freedom vs. security dilemma 32:19 Was Obama right to avoid the phrase “Islamic radicalism”? 47:56 Trump’s savvy use of identity politics 55:48 The secret ingredient to Greg’s meditation practice Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Greg Gutfeld (Fox News). Recorded September 25, 2018. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

  • Jul 8, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

    Golden Oldie: What is consciousness for? (Robert Wright & David Chalmers)

    0:00 A brief message from Bob 1:49 Why consciousness is so weird 11:29 Is consciousness like your brain’s shadow? 19:10 If David was a zombie, would anyone know? 23:21 Bob’s wacky theory about consciousness 44:49 Is consciousness what collapses the quantum wave function? 1:02:59 Can there be a true science of consciousness? Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and David Chalmers (New York University, The Australian National University). Recorded October 24, 2016. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

  • Jul 4, 2025 · 40 min

    Is diplomacy with Iran dead? | NonZero World feat. Alan Eyre

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Are US-Iran talks dead? 4:24 Do normal Iranians care about the nuclear program? 6:40 Understanding Iran’s enrichment red line 9:42 Assessing the damage to Iran's nuclear facilities 12:25 Iran's decision to kick out inspectors 15:38 Could Iran build a bomb in secret? 17:52 Trump's "desultory" approach to talks with Iran 21:16 Alan's experience negotiating with the Iranians 24:33 How Obama managed to get a deal 29:34 Iran's focus on projecting strength 32:23 Does Iran really want a bomb? 34:57 Iran's dim view of international law Recorded July 3, 2025. https://twitter.com/NonzeroNewshttps://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Jul 3, 2025 · 1 hr 42 min

    Golden Oldie: Russia Hawks and China Hawks (Robert Wright & John Mearsheimer)

    0:00 A brief message from Bob 1:40 John’s upcoming book, How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy 4:31 Is the US to blame for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? 11:40 Is Putin less rational than John assumes? 24:00 Why John is a Russia dove and a China hawk 31:30 Does China pose a threat to freedom around the world? 38:33 Why John thinks China’s rise threatens American security 49:32 Has globalization made great-power peace possible? 57:54 Should the US defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion? Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and John Mearsheimer (University of Chicago, The Great Delusion). Recorded April 19, 2023. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

  • Jul 1, 2025 · 56 min

    Golden Oldie: Iran, Hamas, and the China Problem (Robert Wright & Francis Fukuyama)

    0:00 A brief message from Bob 1:53 Why neocons like enemies 19:09 How to use power deftly 25:59 Is a nuclear Iran really all that scary? 31:31 Bob's arms-control dreams dashed again 41:18 China problem solved in under three minutes 44:03 Some cheerful thoughts about Hamas Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Francis Fukuyama (Stanford University, The End of History and the Last Man, Liberalism and Its Discontents). Recorded April 21, 2006. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nonzero.org/subscribe

  • Jun 28, 2025 · 47 min

    How America's 'System' Shuts Down Dissent | NonZero World feat. Barry Eisler

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Barry’s new novel, ‘The System’ 2:33 CIA lessons & seeing like a Martian 7:17 Fiction, empathy, and geopolitics 9:55 No cartoon villains 10:58 How power really works in DC 15:25 Feinstein vs. Brennan: the 'sit down' 18:32 Why we excuse ourselves 20:05 Jobs, jets & hidden threats 21:28 The problem with the House 26:15 Valeria’s dilemma: bend or break 30:10 How power corrupts 37:35 Humiliation and geopolitics Recorded June 27, 2025. https://twitter.com/NonzeroNews https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Jun 26, 2025 · 48 min

    The Truth about Sam Altman (Robert Wright & Timothy B. Lee)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 The dueling Sam Altman biographies 4:36 Who is the real Sam Altman? 16:06 OpenAI’s origin—did Sam scam Elon? 20:50 Why the OpenAI board coup failed 35:27 Good and bad critiques of OpenAI 47:14 Heading to Overtime Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Timothy B. Lee (Full Stack Economics, Understanding AI, AI Summer). Recorded June 16, 2025. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Jun 24, 2025 · 45 min

    The Eternal Causes of War (Robert Wright, Alex Jordan, and Courtney Rawlings)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:28 Courtney’s and Alex’s Always at War podcast 2:54 Have restrainers given up on Trump? 11:10 The legacies of Hamilton Jordan 16:31 Courtney: Money drives war 25:40 Palantir cashes in 32:45 Alex: Blame American exceptionalism first Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True), Alex Jordan (The Quincy Institute, Always at War), and Courtney Rawlings (The Quincy Institute, Always at War). Recorded June 23, 2025. Twitter: https://twitter.com/NonzeroPods

  • Jun 21, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min

    Is Israel dragging the US to disaster in Iran? | NonZero World feat. Robert Wright

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org 0:30 Headlines 1:27 - Washington 2:08 - Silicon Valley 2:47 - China 3:31 - Africa 4:10 - Europe 5:01 Bob joins to discuss the Israel-Iran war 08:51 Has Trump had a change of heart? 13:44 The Pandora's Box of a US attack 18:21 Connor makes the pro-bombing-Iran argument 22:09 Bob: A diplomatic solution would have been 'trivially easy' 28:09 Trump's missed opportunity for a win 32:11 Where Israeli and American interests diverge 34:45 Israel’s risky calculus: Escalation over negotiation 40:53 Why won't Trump use his leverage to rein in Israel? Recorded June 20, 2025. https://twitter.com/NonzeroNewshttps://twitter.com/NonzeroPods