Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

Spencer Greenberg

Artificial Intelligence

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Nuclear Weapons

Imagination

Societal Collapse

Covid-19

Pandemic

International Relations

Risk Management

Control

Alignment

Financial Collapse

Charitable Giving

Critical Thinking

Psychotherapy Outcomes

Stoicism

Political Polarization

Conspiracy Theories

Therapist Effectiveness

Client Relationships

Clearer Thinking is a podcast about ideas that truly matter. If you enjoy learning about powerful, practical concepts and frameworks, wish you had more deep, intellectual conversations in your life, or are looking for non-BS self-improvement, then we think you'll love this podcast! Each week we invite a brilliant guest to bring four important ideas to discuss for an in-depth conversation. Topics i... more

484 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	306	Founded	5 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Social SciencesScience

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Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

The seductiveness of secular gurus (with Christopher Kavanagh)

Read the full transcript here.

What makes broad, all-encompassing worldviews so attractive in periods of institutional distrust? Why do charismatic figures become especially persuasive when they present themselves as suppressed truth tellers? How mu... more

3 Apr 2026 • 2 hrs

What beats intuition when it comes to doing good? (with Marcus Davis)

Read the full transcript here.

If you enjoy our podcast, we have some exciting news – we’ve just launched a new membership called Clearer Thinking Plus.

Members get this podcast completely ad-free, as well as two professional coaching sessions eve... more

27 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 16 min

Can averages explain a human life? (with Steven C. Hayes)

Read the full transcript here.

If you enjoy our podcast, we have some exciting news – we’ve just launched a new membership called Clearer Thinking Plus.

Members get this podcast completely ad-free, as well as two professional coaching sessions eve... more

19 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 21 min

Should science stop worshiping statistical significance? (with Andrew Gelman)

Read the full transcript here.

If you enjoy our podcast, we have some exciting news – we’ve just launched a new membership called Clearer Thinking Plus.

Members get this podcast completely ad-free, as well as two professional coaching sessions eve... more

5 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 19 min

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Recent Guests

Christopher Kavanagh

Scholar analyzing gurus and skeptic movements

Decoding The Gurus (podcast)

Episode: The seductiveness of secular gurus (with Christopher Kavanagh)

Marcus Davis

Director/Researcher at Rethink Priorities

Rethink Priorities

Episode: What beats intuition when it comes to doing good? (with Marcus Davis)

Steven C. Hayes

Originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

University/Academia (ACT founder)

Episode: Can averages explain a human life? (with Steven C. Hayes)

Andrew Gelman

Statistician and professor

Columbia University

Episode: Should science stop worshiping statistical significance? (with Andrew Gelman)

Evan Ratliff

Journalist and creator of Shell Game, exploring AI tech and its implications

Shell Game (podcast)

Episode: What happens when your co-workers are AIs? (with Evan Ratliff)

Carmen Scheibenbogen

Expert in long COVID and ME-CFS

Episode: Long COVID: what are the scientific facts? (with Carmen Scheibenbogen)

Colin DeYoung

A personality psychologist and researcher who discusses the nature of personality and its implications for mental health.

Episode: Are personality types a statistical mirage? (with Colin DeYoung)

Jeff Sebo

A philosopher and advocate for animal welfare and environmental ethics, known for his work on the ethics of animal agriculture.

NYU

Episode: Ambitious goals for reducing animal suffering (with Jeff Sebo)

Shireen Rizvi

Expert in cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies

Episode: Improving your skill of emotional regulation (with Shireen Rizvi)

Host

Spencer Greenberg

Host and creator of insightful discussions focused on practical ideas and frameworks for self-improvement and understanding complex societal issues.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 484 ratings

Spencer gives very unique and insightful interviews of his guests. Topics vary, but are always fascinating.
Podcast Addict
5
chiefthe
2 months ago
Many interesting guests with different backgrounds and ideas, with an intelligent host that asks smart questions!
Podcast Addict
5
Kevin Lalumiere
3 months ago
New Listener
I’m a new listener but so far so good. I appreciate discussions where the purpose is to communicate ideas and generate understanding and that is what I’m seeing here so far. I do feel like a little bit of background or context at the opening would be useful. Just listened to an entire episode without knowing who the guest was (I wasn’t able to read the title as I was driving). Other than that, and the dash of pretentiousness from the host, I found it enjoyable and informative. Thank you for prov... more
Apple Podcasts
4
Who Writes Reviews, Anyway?
United States3 months ago
Interesting idea for a podcast, but the first episode I listened to involved pretending to solve pretend problems. Sadly, a waste of time, unfortunately. (Climate change)
Podcast Addict
2
Whitaker
7 months ago
Illuminating, insightful, incisive, inspiring!
Clearer Thinking is one of the most consistently valuable podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Spencer Greenberg is a masterful host — thoughtful, respectful, and endlessly curious. He asks questions that cut right to the heart of the topic, and his guests always bring fresh, evidence-based ideas that make me really hopeful about the growth of human knowledge and understanding wide ranges of the human experience.
Apple Podcasts
5
SydneyApted
Canada7 months ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the host's interviewing style, noting it often leads to engaging and illuminating discussions.

Feedback highlights the podcast's contributions to personal growth and intellectual stimulation, with many citing its practical advice.

Overall, the podcast is regarded as a valuable resource for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of important ideas.

Some listeners express a desire for more balance in conversation dynamics, suggesting occasional overemphasis by the host on his views.

Listeners praise the podcast for its thought-provoking content and the high quality of guest insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#22	United States/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#158	United States/Science
Apple Podcasts	#23	United Kingdom/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#24	Canada/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#148	United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts	#214	Canada/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The seductiveness of secular gurus (with Christopher Kavanagh)

Q: Why are secular gurus so appealing and influential today?

They combine charisma, storytelling, and a sense of exclusivity—presenting themselves as renegades who offer a deeper, more nuanced understanding than mainstream sources, which resonates with people seeking meaning and certainty.

Should science stop worshiping statistical significance? (with Andrew Gelman)

Q: Why is there value in publishing data or registering reports even if results aren't significant?

Publishing data and registering reports helps prevent selective reporting and allows others to learn from raw results, regardless of whether they confirm prior beliefs; it also enables meta-analytic synthesis and a clearer understanding of uncertainty.

Our 300th episode! - How to have better intellectual conversations (with Uri Bram)

Q: What makes for a good group conversation?

Good group conversations require careful moderation, clear topic framing, and a willingness among participants to shift focus and move the conversation forward collectively.

Our 300th episode! - How to have better intellectual conversations (with Uri Bram)

Q: What should people focus on to have better intellectual conversations?

Having the desire to engage in intellectual discussions, adopting a scout mindset, finding someone you enjoy conversing with, and reflecting on conversations afterward are key suggestions.

Live at EA Global - The future of U.S. foreign aid (with Dean Karlan)

Q: When you have to make these big decisions, but there's just not evidence available, how do you approach that?

In a sense, my answer goes to what I was referring to earlier as cost-effectiveness thinking. You're still going to spend a certain amount of money, and you should be able to, in some sense, write down what's your theory as to what's going to happen.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Clearer Thinking

What is Clearer Thinking about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast explores profound and practical ideas that seek to improve listeners' understanding of themselves and the world. It features in-depth conversations with experts across a range of fields, including psychology, philosophy, economics, and technology. The discussions aim to provide actionable insights on various topics, such as mental health, behavior change, societal structures, and ethical dilemmas, all designed to enhance critical thinking and decision-making. Notably, the podcast encourages listeners to engage with complex, sometimes thorny questions about life and society, making it a valuable resource for those interested in deep intellectual conversations and self-improvement.

Where can I find podcast stats for Clearer Thinking?

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How many listeners does Clearer Thinking get?

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What are the audience demographics for Clearer Thinking?

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How many subscribers and views does Clearer Thinking have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Clearer Thinking has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Clearer Thinking?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Clearer Thinking:

1. Conversations with Tyler
2. Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)
3. Dwarkesh Podcast
4. EconTalk
5. "Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg

How many episodes of Clearer Thinking are there?

Clearer Thinking launched 5 years ago and published 306 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Clearer Thinking?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Clearer Thinking?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Clearer Thinking from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Clearer Thinking?

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What guests have appeared on Clearer Thinking?

Recent guests on Clearer Thinking include:

1. Christopher Kavanagh
2. Marcus Davis
3. Steven C. Hayes
4. Andrew Gelman
5. Evan Ratliff
6. Carmen Scheibenbogen
7. Colin DeYoung
8. Jeff Sebo

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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