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Making Sense with Sam Harris

Sam Harris
Donald Trump
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Israel
Trump Administration
Consciousness
Misinformation
Iran
Ukraine
Democracy
Covid-19
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 weeklyEpisodes496Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureScience

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Artwork for Making Sense

Latest Episodes

Sam Harris speaks with economist and Substack writer Noah Smith about the U.S. national debt, wealth inequality, and the economic consequences of AI. They discuss the mechanics of debt and inflation, the case for fiscal austerity, why the U.S. squand... more

Sam Harris speaks with Vinod Khosla about AI, economic disruption, and political risk. They discuss the prospect of mass job displacement, a trillion-dollar policy framework to redistribute AI's gains, the failure of the California wealth tax, the co... more

Sam Harris speaks with Robin Carhart-Harris about psychedelic research and its therapeutic potential. They discuss the current state of the field, the FDA denial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, the critical role of set and setting, risks for vulne... more

Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence against civilians during the October 7 attacks (33:49 - 34:35). Listener discretion is advised.

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current eve... more

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Recent Guests

Susan Cain
Author of Quiet; advocate on introversion
Author and speaker
Episode: #476 — The Bittersweet Age
Michael Pollan
Author of A World Appears and How to Change Your Mind; explorer of consciousness
Author; Journalist
Episode: #475 — The Hard Problem of Consciousness
Hasan Piker
Guest referenced as a prominent political commentator and online figure
Media/Political Commentary
Episode: #474 — More From Sam: Hasan Piker, Islamism, Making Sense Community, and More
Lloyd Blankfein
CEO of Goldman Sachs during the crisis era, author of Streetwise
Goldman Sachs
Episode: #473 — Money, Power, and Moral Failure
Ben Shapiro
Conservative commentator
The Daily Wire (not explicitly stated)
Episode: #472 — Strange Days on the Right
Francis Fukuyama
Political scientist and author known for liberalism and End of History discourse
Stanford/ Johns Hopkins? (context suggests academic position)
Episode: #471 — The End of History, Revisited
Rahm Emanuel
Former Chief of Staff to President Obama, former Mayor of Chicago, former Ambassador to Japan
Former U.S. Government official and public servant
Episode: #470 — Democrats at a Crossroads
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?

Host

Sam Harris
Host of Making Sense; neuroscientist, philosopher, and public intellectual

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 51.5k ratings
  • Zionist propaganda

    Spreading lies about what is happening in Palestine.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    HS4352
    Canada22 days ago
  • Show Fell Off

    Sad to see what happened to Sam. I used to listen to him back during lockdowns and he had many interesting guests on. Now he’s got Benny Shapiro on his show and is hand waving away ethnic cleansing. I’m a Jew and what Israel is doing is disgusting. Sam will never get another dollar from me

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jay1928474
    United States24 days ago
  • Committed Zionist

    I used to be inspired by you, Sam, but I just can’t continue listening. Your perspective on Palestine - totally deranged. I struggle with your Israel elitist commentary. I respected your intellect… but you are a racist thru and thru. You don’t care though because you’re always right. Far right.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bunjil Bunny
    Australia25 days ago
  • Wishcasting

    You said it yourself, you’re wish-casting, along side all the other people who claim to have the high ground while supporting murder. As a modern philosopher- what did Epstein and you talk about years ago? Was he terribly philosophical?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    OriGamei
    United Statesa month ago
  • Used to be excellent.

    An intelligent man, who lost touch with common sense in many cases. When his mind is set on a topic, there’s nothing in the world that can change it. Completely biased when it comes to a certain country and a certain group of people. Still relevant when it comes to Islam and meditation, I guess.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nik_Stalvind
    Swedena month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners feel the show still sharpens critique on complex issues.
A notable portion criticizes guest diversity and perceived bias on certain topics.
Some comments reflect strong disagreements with positions defended on-air.
Many praise the intellectual rigor and willingness to tackle difficult questions.
Listeners appreciate deep, rigorous discussions and thoughtful guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#20
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#19
United States/Science
Spotify
#18
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#10
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#18
United Kingdom/Science
Spotify
#12
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#477 — More From Sam: Iran's Unraveling, The Gaza Information War, AI-Generated Music, and More
Q: What would count as a 'victory' in the Iran situation given the current state of affairs?
A regime change in Iran is described as the only viable path to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran, though this stance reflects a strong belief in the necessity of structural change rather than incremental gains.
#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.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Making Sense

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

A thought-provoking, in-depth discussion show that tackles a wide range of topics at the intersection of science, philosophy, technology, and current events. Episodes frequently explore consciousness, human cognition, AI and future tech, moral philosophy, and controversial political topics through long-form conversations with guests who bring expertise from academia, business, and public life. Notable strengths include rigorous analysis, a willingness to challenge dominant narratives, and a focus on practical implications for society and personal conduct. The format often blends philosophy with real-world issues, making it appealing to curious, educated listeners interested in how ideas translate into policy, culture, and daily living.

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How many subscribers and views does Making Sense have?

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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 13 years ago and published 496 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 Making Sense?

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What guests have appeared on Making Sense?

Recent guests on Making Sense include:

1. Susan Cain
2. Michael Pollan
3. Hasan Piker
4. Lloyd Blankfein
5. Ben Shapiro
6. Francis Fukuyama
7. Rahm Emanuel
8. Tristan Harris

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