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Making Sense with Sam Harris

Sam Harris
Ukraine
Russia
Effective Altruism
Israel
Misinformation
Sam Bankman-Fried
Hamas
Gaza
Social Media
Volodymyr Zelensky
Free Will
Moral Landscape
Islamophobia
Moral Philosophy
Orthodox Church
NATO
War Crimes
Political Polarization
Habituation
Neuroscience

Join neuroscientist, philosopher, and five-time New York Times best-selling author Sam Harris as he explores important and controversial questions about the mind, society, current events, moral philosophy, religion, and rationality—with an overarching focus on how a growing understanding of ourselves and the world is changing our sense of how we should live. Sam is also the creator of the Waking U... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes485Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureScience

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Artwork for Making Sense

Latest Episodes

Sam Harris speaks with Tristan Harris about the dangers of AI and the race to build it. They discuss the new documentary The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, the lessons of The Social Dilemma, the arms race dynamics between AI labs, the "in... more

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss how to cultivate gratitude and navigate anxiety in uncertain times, the role of mindfulness in coping with AI-driven job displacement, the slowi... more

Sam Harris speaks with William MacAskill about effective altruism, AI, and the future of humanity. They discuss the post-FTX recovery of the EA movement, global health and pandemic preparedness, the limits of quantifiable ethics, the intelligence exp... more

Sam Harris speaks with Nicholas Christakis about technology, society, and human nature. They discuss the harms of modern communication technology, polarization and anomie, how AI agents can improve human cooperation, the social implications of humano... more

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Recent Guests

Tristan Harris
Co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology
Center for Humane Technology
Episode: #469 — Escaping an Anti-Human Future
Nicholas Christakis
Director of the Human Nature Lab at Yale; MD and sociologist
Yale University
Episode: #466 — What Is Technology Doing to Us?
Matt Mahan
Mayor of San Jose, California; gubernatorial candidate
Mayor of San Jose; Democratic candidate for Governor of California
Episode: #464 — The Politics of Pragmatism and the Future of California
Rob Reid
Guest discussing Deep Vision and biosecurity issues
venture capitalist focused on biosecurity and resilience
Episode: #463 — Privatizing the Apocalypse
Garry Kasparov
One of the greatest chess masters and world champion, currently chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative.
Renew Democracy Initiative
Episode: #461 — Dictators Always Tell You What They'll Do
Jonah Goldberg
Political commentator and author
National Review
Episode: #460 — When the Center Cannot Hold
Jonathan Rauch
Journalist and author, contributing writer for The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: #456 — American Fascism
Judea Pearl
Renowned computer scientist and author known for his work on causality and machine learning.
UCLA
Episode: #453 — AI and the New Face of Antisemitism
Ross Douthat
Author and commentator known for his focus on religious and cultural issues
The New York Times
Episode: #449 — Dogma, Tribe, and Truth

Hosts

Sam Harris
Host of the podcast, neuroscientist and philosopher with a secular, scientific worldview; creator of the Waking Up app.
Sarah Longwell
Political commentator known for insights into conservative politics and Trumpism, frequently appearing to discuss party dynamics and civil discourse.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 51.4k ratings
  • Gross Islamophobia

    Not muslim or religious but i am disgusted by the islamophobia of the most recent podcast. Saying all orthodox muslims are jihadists and inherently violent is simply wrong and shows how deeply intolerant this pod is striving to be. Used to be interested in Harris’s intellectual thoughts, but no longer. See ya

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mrchicobico
    Canada19 days ago
  • Great Podcast

    My favorite podcast for many years! I really enjoy the deep conversation with his guest. I also like to hear his thoughts on current events. Thank you for all that you do and keep it up Sam.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Patman.3
    United States23 days ago
  • A big blind spot

    In many domains Sam Harris is an interesting thinker. Unfortunately he is oblivious to his considerable bias when it comes to Israel and the Middle East. For a man who rails against identity politics this is a significant blind spot.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    ElmondoRay
    United States23 days ago
  • Sam’s lost it

    Sam used to be authentic, transparent and true to his north. I believe he has lost that, I.e. he now constantly critiques and insults Trump just like any other critic, using the same “moral compass” of any anti-Trump; he argued in favor of boots in the ground in Iran based on the argument that one “has to understand what jihadism means”, which clearly he doesn’t as Iran and The jihadists (i.e. IISIS, Al- Qaeda) are virtual enemies. Sam’s lost it, in my opinion.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Zlukacmu
    Germany23 days ago
  • What happened?

    I’m not sure how but Mr. Harris has turned into the embodiment of the toxic rot that’s infected today’s Democratic Party.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jslberto
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes are valued for deep dives into democracy, AI, and ethics, though some reviews note sensational or polarizing takes.
Positive feedback often highlights thoughtful, well-reasoned discussions and guests who challenge conventional views.
Critiques frequently focus on perceived arrogance or bias, with some listeners requesting more opposing viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#16
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#13
United States/Science
Spotify
#13
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#7
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#18
United Kingdom/Science
Spotify
#10
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#462 — More From Sam: The Iran War, American Amorality, Addressing Hopelessness, Tucker, and More
Q: What is the point of the norms and international laws if presidents ignore them for pragmatic reasons?
He argues that liberal international order existed for a reason—to coordinate problem solving and uphold multilateralism—but acknowledges the norms have been eroded and the situation calls for reassessing how to restore trust and institutions without romanticizing the past.
#462 — More From Sam: The Iran War, American Amorality, Addressing Hopelessness, Tucker, and More
Q: Are you worried about your hawkish stance giving cover to naked aggression without a plan, and do you have regrets about that stance?
He responds that the underlying facts about Iran and human rights remain true to him, and that his core view won't change despite the war's conduct; he believes in supporting Iranian civil rights while criticizing the execution and planning of the war by the current administration.
#462 — More From Sam: The Iran War, American Amorality, Addressing Hopelessness, Tucker, and More
Q: Okay, on to our first topic. Sam, should the US have taken military action against Iran?
Sam lays out two simultaneous lines of reasoning: historically, unseating the Iranian regime would have been beneficial given past provocations and human rights concerns, but there is also a critical critique of the current administration and the way a potential action is handled, emphasizing concerns about planning, legitimacy, and consequences for ordinary Iranians.
#461 — Dictators Always Tell You What They'll Do
Q: What do you think new members of Congress should do if Democrats win both houses?
They should use their power wisely, emphasize impeachment for those who abused power, but focus on limiting Trumpism as an overarching threat.
#461 — Dictators Always Tell You What They'll Do
Q: Is there anything that has surprised you about Trump's second term?
The greatest surprise was the total capitalization and moral collapse of the GOP, with no substantial resistance to Trump's most aggressive steps.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Making Sense

What is Making Sense about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently probes big questions at the intersection of mind, society, and morality, often weaving philosophy with current events and public policy. Episodes frequently feature high-profile guests—from political commentators and historians to AI researchers and democracy advocates—discussing democracy, liberal norms, technology's impact on society, and ethical questions in today's geopolitical climate. The host's approach tends toward rational scrutiny and a secular, scientific worldview, with a penchant for challenging assumptions while exploring decency, epistemic humility, and the costs of political polarization. A standout trait is the willingness to tackle controversial topics head-on, including foreign policy, AI ethics, and... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Making Sense?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Making Sense:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
3. Conversations with Coleman
4. The Last Invention
5. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

How many episodes of Making Sense are there?

Making Sense launched 12 years ago and published 485 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Making Sense?

Recent guests on Making Sense include:

1. Tristan Harris
2. Nicholas Christakis
3. Matt Mahan
4. Rob Reid
5. Garry Kasparov
6. Jonah Goldberg
7. Jonathan Rauch
8. Judea Pearl

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