Rephonic
Artwork for Making Sense

Making Sense with Sam Harris

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes514Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Making Sense

Latest Episodes

Sam Harris speaks with Alex Gibney about his new documentary, Musk. They discuss Sam's former friendship with Musk, the line between visionary and con man, the myth of Tesla's founding, the staged self-driving video, Musk's lurch to the right, DOGE a... more

Sam Harris speaks with Dara Horn about antisemitism, Jewish identity, and the failure of institutions. They discuss Horn's new book, why Jews predate the categories of religion and nationality, antisemitism as a lie rather than an ordinary form of bi... more

YouTube

Sam Harris speaks with Anne Applebaum about corruption, authoritarianism, and America's retreat from the world. They discuss her Atlantic cover story, the revolutionary project behind Trump's second term, US support for Europe's far right, the AfD, ... more

Sam Harris speaks with Ryan Greenblatt about AI misalignment and the risk of losing control of increasingly capable systems. They discuss the Hugging Face incident, the spectrum of concern about AI risk, why companies are racing ahead despite high od... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ryan Greenblatt
Chief Scientist at Redwood Research
Redwood Research
Episode: #494 — A Coin Toss for the Future
James Kirchick
Writer and journalist discussed in the episode
The Atlantic (former The New York Times)
Episode: #491 — The Suicide of the Left
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

Host

Sam Harris
Host of the show

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 43.2k ratings
  • Really Good But…The Burritos

    I’ve been a listener for years and think Sam is a really clear and original thinker the vast majority of the time. He has a great sense of humor and really quick on his feet. Mostly I’m a fan. BUT- I know he hears this all the time but his relentless defense of Israel is just baffling. It’s almost become funny. I should get a bingo card for Sam’s Israel non sequiturs. I feel like if his guest started talking about burritos he would somehow turn the conversation to how unfair burritos are t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mau5convert
    United States11 days ago
  • In one episode, Harris interviews Jaron Lowenstein (Harris' manager and business partner) to recap the week's events, Jaron refers to Trump as a, "know-nothing moral lunatic in charge of our quickly waning superpower." Harris neither counters or challges the assertion. Elsewhere in the interview other slights are made.

    I was hoping to find a more centrist, informed, less rabid, and elevated discussion. Harris has steeped himself in the blind hatred of Trump that permeates academia. A waste.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    jhoney
    16 days ago
  • Stick to meditation

    Awww the big bad dsa is scaring your pants off, Sam haha stick to meditation.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Just Like Tiddlywinks
    United States16 days ago
  • Why So Expensive?

    Dear Sam, The two star markdown is due to your elimination of a scholarship option below $59/year. $60 a year is simply not affordable for some. In essence what you are doing is creating a platform for people with greater discretionary income. How much do you really need to make this a meaningful project? Offer an option for people who want to hear your content who can’t afford to send you >$60, advertising like every other podcast. Otherwise, just keep engaging your small potential fraction ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    SLO Independent
    United States20 days ago
  • Love It!!

    Sam Harris is so awesome and this podcast is an expression of his being awesome!

    i don’t want to leave out his team either! they are excellent in support, so helpful and kind—i am delighted to receive their help!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JIMMY600
    Canada24 days 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
#10
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#161
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#5
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#14
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#250
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#8
Australia/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

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?

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

How many episodes of Making Sense are there?

Making Sense launched 13 years ago and published 514 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. Ryan Greenblatt
2. James Kirchick
3. Preet Bharara
4. Daniel Kahneman
5. Cameron Berg
6. Kathryn Paige Harden
7. Siddhartha Mukherjee
8. Paul Bloom

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