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Making Sense with Sam Harris

Sam Harris
Artificial Intelligence
Donald Trump
Social Media
Israel
Trump Administration
Consciousness
Misinformation
Democracy
Iran
Covid-19
Ukraine
Hamas
Anti-Semitism
Trump
Republican Party
Trumpism
Mindfulness
Political Violence
Neuroscience
Elon Musk

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 weeklyEpisodes508Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Making Sense

Latest Episodes

Sam Harris speaks with James Kirchick about the far left's growing influence over Democratic politics. They discuss Kirchick's article "The DSA Is a Parasite," the group's platform and foreign policy, entryism, the alliance between Islamists and the ... more

Sam Harris speaks with Preet Bharara about the collapse of good faith debate in American politics. They discuss the fragmentation of media, the treatment of Anthony Fauci, the rush to prosecute political opponents, Trump's self-dealing, why indictmen... more

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the death of Cambridge professor Jason Arday and the institutions that promoted him, America's deteriorating position in the war with Iran, the ... more

From the archive: In this 2019 episode, Sam Harris speaks with Daniel Kahneman at the Beacon Theatre in NYC. They discuss the replication crisis in science, System 1 and System 2, where intuitions reliably fail, expert intuitions, the power of framin... more

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Recent Guests

Preet Bharara
Former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
Episode: #490 — Lies, Bulls**t, and the Rule of Law
Daniel Kahneman
Nobel Prize–winning psychologist, author
Princeton University (emeritus)
Episode: #150 — The Map of Misunderstanding (From the Archive)
Cameron Berg
Researcher, Reciprocal Research
Reciprocal Research
Episode: #487 — Is AI Already Conscious?
Kathryn Paige Harden
Behavioral geneticist and author
University of Texas at Austin (as context from discussion)
Episode: #486 — Luck All the Way Down
Siddhartha Mukherjee
Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies, physician-scientist
Columbia University/author
Episode: #485 — The New Science of Cancer
Paul Bloom
Professor of psychology, guest on the episode
Yale University
Episode: #484 — Artificial Intimacy
Alain de Botton
Author, founder of The School of Life
The School of Life
Episode: #483 — The Knots We Tie Ourselves Into
Sam Harris
Neuroscientist, philosopher, author
Episode: #481 — Sam Harris Receives the 2026 Richard Dawkins Award
Richard Dawkins
Evolutionary biologist, author
Episode: #481 — Sam Harris Receives the 2026 Richard Dawkins Award

Host

Sam Harris
Host of the show

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 51.6k ratings
  • AI job loss

    The explicit and implicit objective of AI is to replace costly and pesky human labor, not create more of it.

    The horse population dropped with the more efficient and productive steam and gasoline engines. Horses had fewer jobs.

    So either the workers or the CEOs are being hoodwinked here. My money is on the workers having to assume the position.

    Of course there are jobs that AI can't replace. AI doesn't kill all the jobs, but an unemployment level of 10% and the people will be in t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Prometheus---
    United Statesa month ago
  • Pseudo

    Hard to fathom the martyrdom y self aggrandizement against golden maternal entitlement. So much to potentially add to the conversation, but falling continually into why me.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nico de Piemonte
    United Statesa month ago
  • Cancer episode- false data found.

    At the end some statistics shared are 100% TDS infected. The spent 4.5 billion of China drugs in 2020, that number is now 5.5 billion, the doctor and Sam endorsed a complete on shoring failure by Trump stating that the mumber is 60-70 billion. This data has been widely shared among the TDS infected. Funny because this podcast talked a lot about vaccines and prevention.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MJByfz450
    United Statesa month ago
  • Elite Hack

    Like many others, I was taken by Harris's entertaining debates and provocative articles in the post-9/11 theocracy panic. But in the last decade, his total failure to correctly analyze both American fascism and Israel's murderous theocracy have revealed how shallow and reactionary his mind truly is. He is now a sort of intellectual It-girl, famous because he's famous, repeating the same falsehoods that more intelligent people have debunked repeatedly.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Frfhn
    United States2 months ago
  • Disappointing

    I’ve listened to numerous episodes of this podcast and have gleaned some interesting viewpoints of him and his guests. however, I recently came across some statements of his that are definitely suggestive of Islamophobic takes on the current mayor of New York, and this is truly disappointing. Apparently he used words such as ‘sinister’ to describe Mamdani, yet lacks the critical, deep evidence for such remarks. As an atheist myself, I am all for limiting religious influence in government, yet ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Queen Tar-zjay
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the depth and breadth of guests, and the quality of long-form conversations.
Many reviewers highlight thought-provoking insights that challenge conventional thinking.
A few comments note a shift toward higher-profile guests and more opinionated takes.
Some listeners criticize perceived bias or controversy around topics like politics or religion.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#24
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#27
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#26
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#132
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#220
France/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#150 — The Map of Misunderstanding (From the Archive)
Q: What are the liabilities of the research process that can lead to non-replicable results?
Biases from researchers' desires to see positive outcomes, p-hacking practices, and selective reporting can undermine credibility and replication in science.
#150 — The Map of Misunderstanding (From the Archive)
Q: What is the worst thing about winning the Nobel Prize?
Kahneman suggests there are limited downsides, but the question invites reflection on expectations, responsibility, and the way public perception can shift once you receive such an accolade.
#486 — Luck All the Way Down
Q: Could you summarize why behavioral genetics remains controversial, even with the growth of the field over the past decade?
The controversy stems from the potential implications of genetic differences for behavior and social outcomes, historical misuses like eugenics, and the fear that scientific findings could be used to justify inequality or discriminatory policies; yet the science also shows inheritance plays a role without determining fate, which makes clear communication crucial.
#481 — Sam Harris Receives the 2026 Richard Dawkins Award
Q: Andrew Gregory asked about Sagan's Demon-Haunted World and how we defend reason at scale with AI and misinformation; what replaces the baloney detection kit in the age of algorithmic reality?
The guests emphasized the enduring importance of skepticism, credible institutions, and critical thinking, noting that as information ecosystems become more complex, the messenger and public commitment to evidence become even more crucial in countering misinformation.
#481 — Sam Harris Receives the 2026 Richard Dawkins Award
Q: Peter Walsh asked about the authorship and their favorite fiction; how would you describe Sam Harris's novel-writing interests and Sam Harris's views on fiction in relation to his scientific work?
The guest explained that he's interested in speculative fiction connected to scientific ideas and human evolution, and that Harris enjoys exploring how narrative can illuminate philosophical questions, while maintaining a commitment to clear, evidence-based discussion.

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?

Thoughtful, science-leaning conversations that explore psychology, philosophy, technology, and modern culture through deep, evidence-based dialogue. Episodes often feature renowned researchers and public intellectuals discussing judgment, consciousness, AI ethics, psychedelics, behavioral genetics, cancer biology, and the societal implications of rapid technological change. A standout trait is the willingness to tackle controversial topics with nuance and intellectual honesty, often bridging rigorous science with secular ethics and everyday life. The show is likely to appeal to listeners who value critical thinking, long-form interviews, and ideas about how to live a more examined life in a complex world.

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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. Conversations with Coleman
3. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
4. Conversations with Tyler
5. The Michael Shermer Show

How many episodes of Making Sense are there?

Making Sense launched 13 years ago and published 508 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. Preet Bharara
2. Daniel Kahneman
3. Cameron Berg
4. Kathryn Paige Harden
5. Siddhartha Mukherjee
6. Paul Bloom
7. Alain de Botton
8. Sam Harris

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