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Making Sense with Sam Harris

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes483Founded12 years ago
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ScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Making Sense

Latest Episodes

Sam Harris speaks with Garry Kasparov about the erosion of American democracy and the global authoritarian threat. They discuss Trump's systematic corruption, the GOP's moral collapse, the 2026 midterms as a decisive moment for democracy, Trump's ent... more

Sam Harris speaks with Jonah Goldberg about the state of American conservatism and the Trump presidency. They discuss the politicization of federal institutions, the erosion of legal norms, the schism between Never Trump conservatives and the nationa... more

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss Trump's cryptocurrency dealings with the UAE and their national security implications, AI timelines and the looming end of white-collar work, th... more

Sam Harris speaks with Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller about Trump and the future of American politics. They discuss the origins of The Bulwark, the bewildering psychology of Trump's base, the new era of authenticity, memory-holing January 6th, how med... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
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

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 51.2k ratings
  • Why is this guy popular

    He’s not as smart as he thinks he is

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    nbsfmc
    United States16 days ago
  • Epstein files

    I found Sam’s comments about the Epstein files extremely uneducated, can’t believe he didn’t take a few hours to deep dive the topic before hitting record for this episode. Irresponsible take.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Dreamsmadeof
    United Kingdom18 days ago
  • No to Jaron

    I skip all of those episodes which is annoying bc it would be nice to hear what Sam thinks. I was a listener since pre-pandemic and will likely not subscribe next year for the first time in a long while. There is too much other content to listen to someone who always annoys me

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Pregood
    United States20 days ago
  • Independent

    I don’t buy into either side of the 2-dimensional political paradigm, but this show clearly does. Fuel for the lefts—typically narrow minded and focused on blaming the other side. Only in the 3rd dimension will any of us see the Truth. If you’re looking for that here, you won’t find it.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    drewbee
    United States23 days ago
  • A complaint

    Sam, so do you believe in opposition? Reason I asks is you never have an opposing viewed guest , it's just people licking you in the right spot .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Andrew40001
    United Statesa month 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
#9
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#15
United States/Science
Spotify
#12
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#10
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#23
United Kingdom/Science
Spotify
#8
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#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.
#461 — Dictators Always Tell You What They'll Do
Q: What would you say to someone who doesn't really feel that much out of the ordinary has happened?
Many people still don't see the reality of the threats posed by Trumpism and authoritarianism, despite evident erosion of democratic norms.
#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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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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

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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. Honestly with Bari Weiss
3. The Last Invention
4. Conversations with Coleman
5. The Michael Shermer Show

How many episodes of Making Sense are there?

Making Sense launched 12 years ago and published 483 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. Garry Kasparov
2. Jonah Goldberg
3. Jonathan Rauch
4. Judea Pearl
5. Ross Douthat
6. David Edmonds
7. Peter Zeihan
8. Michael Plant

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.

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