Rephonic
Artwork for Making Sense

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
Consciousness
Moral Philosophy
Islamophobia
War Crimes
Orthodox Church
NATO
Habituation
Political Polarization

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes477Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Making Sense

Latest Episodes

As digital distraction increasingly fragments our attention, Sam explains why mindfulness is a practical skill for reclaiming clarity and presence. Begin a mindfulness practice using the Waking Up app, and make training your mind the foundation for e... more

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss Sam's 2025 New Year's resolutions, the benefits of meditation, Sam's conversation with Ross Douthat, AI risks, Tucker Carlson's midnight encount... more

Sam Harris speaks with Ross Douthat about religion, modernity, and what can steady a culture that feels increasingly unmoored. They discuss the case for faith in an age of digital disembodiment, declining birthrates, and looming AI-driven upheaval. T... more

Sam Harris speaks with David Edmonds about moral philosophy and effective altruism. They discuss Edmonds's book Death in a Shallow Pond, Peter Singer's famous drowning child thought experiment, arguments for and against thought experiments, "trolleyo... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
The Prof G Pod with Scott GallowayVox Media Podcast Network

Recent Guests

Ross Douthat
Author and commentator known for his focus on religious and cultural issues
The New York Times
Episode: #449 — Dogma, Tribe, and Truth
David Edmonds
Philosopher and author
Episode: #448 — The Philosophy of Good and Evil
Peter Zeihan
A geoeconomic strategist who specializes in demography and geopolitics.
Episode: #447 — The Unraveling of American Power
Michael Plant
Philosopher and global happiness researcher, former student of Peter Singer
Episode: #446 — How to Do the Most Good
George Packer
Author, journalist, and contributing writer for The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: #444 — America's Zombie Democracy
Stephen Marsh
Journalist and author, known for his latest book about civil conflict in America.
Episode: #441 — The Threat of Civil War
Robert Kaplan
Author and journalist known for his insights on geopolitics and global issues
Episode: #440 — A World in Crisis
Damon Linker
Political commentator and author of 'Notes from the Middle Ground', senior lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania.
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: #439 — How to Lose a Democracy
Michael Osterholm
Epidemiologist and author of The Big One, How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics
Episode: #436 — A Crisis of Trust

Host

Sam Harris
Neuroscientist, philosopher, and best-selling author, Sam Harris engages with complex questions related to the mind, society, and morality, integrating insights from various philosophical and scientific disciplines.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 51.1k ratings
  • A must listen.

    The one podcast I follow 'religiously' and even pay a price for. Probably that I am little biased towards SH, but I find it to be a reliable source of modal clarify in a world punctuated with confusion.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Avijh
    Indiaa month ago
  • If that blue water in the portaloo talked

    This fellow is insufferable to the highest order, don’t know how I stumbled across this but I do wish I could get those 20 mins back. It’s like listening to a punchable face.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    HurricaneBrax
    United Statesa month ago
  • CULT like and makes no sense

    Super cult-like. You sound just as dumb as Jazzy Crockett. 😂

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BraeBrae22
    United Statesa month ago
  • TDS

    Sam Harris has drank the Lefty Lunacy Kool-Aid

    Unfounded bias talk based on fake news.

    Wake up America.

    Stop listening to this B. S.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SSSlartibartfast
    Australia2 months ago
  • To White Christians I say

    “Many people in this world are always looking to science to save them from something. But just as many, or more, prefer old and reputable belief systems and their sectarian offshoots for salvation. So they trust in the deity of the Old Testament, an incontinent dotard who soiled Himself and the universe with His corruption, a low-budget divinity passing itself off as the genuine article. (Ask the Gnostics.) They trust in Jesus Christ, a historical cipher stitched together like Frankenstein’s mon... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Prometheus---
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the intellectual rigor and diverse perspectives provided, often highlighting the depth and complexity of discussions.
The podcast is lauded for its thought-provoking content and capacity to simplify complex issues into understandable discussions.
There are mixed reviews with some expressing discontent with perceived biases and a lack of balance on certain topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#12
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#7
United States/Science
Spotify
#15
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#202
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#8
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#12
United Kingdom/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#449 — Dogma, Tribe, and Truth
Q: How do you see the future of AI affecting work and purpose in human lives?
Douthat articulates skepticism about a UBI-driven society avoiding human debasement and insists that humans will require a new form of societal restraint.
#449 — Dogma, Tribe, and Truth
Q: What most concerns you at this moment?
Douthat expresses concern about a sense of human obsolescence linked to trends in digital culture and mental health issues in society.
#446 — How to Do the Most Good
Q: What do you think about the comparisons of suffering in more affluent societies versus those in extreme poverty?
It's plausible that the mental suffering of the homeless in San Francisco may be worse than that of the extremely poor elsewhere due to contextual comparisons.
#446 — How to Do the Most Good
Q: How do you define utilitarianism, and do you differentiate it from consequentialism?
Classical utilitarianism views maximizing happiness as the ethical goal, while consequentialism allows for other definitions of 'good' beyond happiness and takes the outcomes of actions into account.
#443 — What Is Christian Nationalism?
Q: How do you see Christian Nationalism fitting into the current religious-political landscape?
Wilson suggests Christian Nationalism reflects a desire for a collective moral direction in society, responding to perceived failures of secularism.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Making Sense

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

This podcast offers thought-provoking discussions that intersect philosophy, neuroscience, and critical analysis of contemporary issues. It frequently navigates complex themes such as moral philosophy, geopolitics, and societal challenges, making use of various expert guest perspectives from diverse disciplines. Episodes engage in deep examinations of topics like effective altruism, American democracy, public health, and the implications of artificial intelligence, often culminating in debates around ethics and the human condition. The format engages listeners with intellectual rigor while aiming to reflect on how understanding these multifaceted issues could influence personal and collective values. Unique to this offering is an emphasis o... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Making Sense?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Making Sense. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Making Sense and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Making Sense get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Making Sense, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Making Sense?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Making Sense, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Making Sense have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Making Sense 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 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. Honestly with Bari Weiss
4. Conversations With Coleman
5. The Last Invention

How many episodes of Making Sense are there?

Making Sense launched 12 years ago and published 477 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?

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 Making Sense?

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

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Making Sense?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Making Sense. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Making Sense?

Recent guests on Making Sense include:

1. Ross Douthat
2. David Edmonds
3. Peter Zeihan
4. Michael Plant
5. George Packer
6. Stephen Marsh
7. Robert Kaplan
8. Damon Linker

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days