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The Next Big Idea

Next Big Idea Club
Artificial Intelligence
Mental Health
Psychology
Consciousness
Education
Climate Change
Happiness
Creativity
Technology
Neuroscience
Social Media
Personal Development
Nutrition
Memory
Storytelling
Benjamin Franklin
Anxiety
Uncertainty
Relationships
Democracy

The Next Big Idea is a weekly series of in-depth interviews with the world’s leading thinkers. Join hosts Rufus Griscom and Caleb Bissinger — along with our curators, Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink — for conversations that might just change the way you see the world. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. For ad inquiries, please reach out to: Network+NBI@yapmedia.com

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes372Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Next Big Idea

Latest Episodes

Will Storr is the author of the dazzling books The Science of Storytelling and A Story Is a Deal, and in this episode, he tells us everything he knows about humanity’s greatest invention: story. More than just entertainment, Will argues, story is wha... more

Henry David Thoreau was a philosopher, poet, and pencil-maker. He was a great resigner and, above all, a superb writer whose masterpiece, "Walden," is considered by many to be America's first environmentalist manifesto.

But John Kaag has a different... more

How did a group of notoriously difficult French philosophers become intellectual rock stars on American college campuses — and how much do their ideas matter today?

In The Frenchmen, writer and editor Emily Eakin traces the unlikely rise of French t... more

Democracy is in the dumps. OK, that's a bit dramatic. But it's definitely not working as well as it used to. Good thing Daron Acemoglu — Nobel laureate, MIT Institute Professor, and one of the world's most-cited economists — has a plan to fix it.

To... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

John Kaag
Professor of Philosophy at University of Massachusetts Lowell; author of Henry at Work
University of Massachusetts Lowell; Henry at Work
Episode: What Can Henry David Thoreau Teach Us About Work?
Emily Eakin
Editor at the New York Times Book Review
New York Times Book Review
Episode: How French Philosophy Wired Modern Thinking
Daron Acemoglu
Institute Professor of Economics, MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Episode: A Nobel Prize Winner’s Plan to Save Democracy
Mallory May
Vice President at Sotheby's (former), co-author
Stelland Ott (co-founded)
Episode: How to Unlock the Creativity You Already Have
Blythe Harris
Co-founder, Chief Creative Officer (past)
Stelland Ott
Episode: How to Unlock the Creativity You Already Have
Caroline Webb
Author of Leadership Intelligence, leadership coach
Author, Leadership Intelligence
Episode: Caroline Webb on the Leadership Skills AI Can’t Replace
Yuval Noah Harari
Author and historian notable for Sapiens, Homo Deus, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century; author of Nexus
Havard/Various publishers
Episode: Can Democracy Survive the AI Revolution?
Owen Fitzpatrick
Author of Inner Propaganda, psychologist and therapist
Episode: Your Mind Is a Propagandist
Ian Bogost
Author of The Small Stuff, professor, writer for The Atlantic
The Atlantic; Washington University in St. Louis
Episode: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life

Hosts

Rufus Griscom
Host of The Next Big Idea; Executive producer; frequent presence across episodes
Caleb Bissinger
Co-host and producer; host on select episodes; part of the core team

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 2k ratings
  • My Go To Podcast

    I love this podcast and its companion Next Big Idea Daily. I am a naturally curious person and find the range of topics to be pretty broad and a good match for my interests. Rufus and Caleb are engaging interviewers and each has a calm but energetic “radio” persona. I like both the long interview format and also the book bite format of the Next Big Idea Daily (I also like Michael Cavnat’s style).

    On several occasions I have checked the featured books out of the library and found that I got 80%... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mxlplz
    United States2 months ago
  • Favourite podcast

    It’s really my favourite podcast; very well produced and they thrive to cycle through different topics (not just AI). They started to bring in opposing views and mention them more clearly, but in general they could do better critically comparing and contrasting. For instance, broscience by Peter Attia. When it come out, they gave Attia 2 episodes as one of the most important things; however, since Attia published his book, it became clear that it was debunked in so many ways and highly unscienti... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ddddddddddaniel
    Germany4 months ago
  • Great Episode on John & Paul’s Creative Partnership

    I’ve been a fan of this podcast for years, it’s always great, but the episode about Ian Leslie’s book on John and Paul’s creative relationship finally compelled me to leave a review. I’m a huge Beatles fan.

    Ian’s deep dive into their creative symbiosis was fascinating, and Caleb, who hosted this one, asked super thoughtful questions that made the conversation really warm and engaging.

    Highly recommend this episode for music and pop culture fans. I ordered the book right after listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wfox454
    United States6 months ago
  • Ironic

    I find it ironic you interrupt the show to mention about Peter Attia yet don’t mention Ari Emmanuel, zeke’s brother, involvement with Epstein

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bruindude88
    United States7 months ago
  • I just found and started listening, right now.

    Did I just find my people? As I listen to commercials. I’m hopeful. In my simple description of “people” that are okay with enough for you less for me are “Sheep in Wolf clothing”. They know. But not enough for their “Golden Calf’s”; will allow solutions. When any money is involved.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JollyGee33
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews note perceived bias or strong host perspectives in AI discussions.
Audience frequently mentions transformative ideas and actionable guidance from episodes.
Sponsorships and ads are integrated in a way that doesn't overpower conversations.
Listeners praise the thoughtful, deep-dive interviews and broad book-focused topics.
Many comment on high-quality guests and practical takeaways.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#197
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#173
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#105
Australia/Education
Apple Podcasts
#122
India/Education
Apple Podcasts
#124
South Africa/Education
Apple Podcasts
#219
Singapore/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Can Henry David Thoreau Teach Us About Work?
Q: Do you think Thoreau anticipated the rise of meaningless work or 'bullshit jobs,' and could this get worse with AI?
Thoreau certainly worried about sleepwalking through life and the drudgery of work; Kaag argues that there is potential for a shift toward meaningful work, with younger generations seeking purpose and authenticity despite automation, not necessarily worsening but changing the nature of work.
What Can Henry David Thoreau Teach Us About Work?
Q: What does meaningful work look like and what are its hallmarks?
Meaningful work involves aligning with one's values, being morally conscious about the impact on others, and finding work that fits who you are, even if that means pivoting or changing paths when it ceases to be meaningful.
A Nobel Prize Winner’s Plan to Save Democracy
Q: How should AI be governed to support liberal democracy?
Move toward pro-worker AI, with regulatory frameworks that encourage job creation, fair data economies, and a possible federal AI agency to guide standards and public understanding.
A Nobel Prize Winner’s Plan to Save Democracy
Q: What is Working Class Liberalism?
A reimagined liberalism focused on shared prosperity, local participatory governance, tolerance for cultural differences, and stronger community structures to broaden the center-left coalition.
A Nobel Prize Winner’s Plan to Save Democracy
Q: What caused liberalism to falter and polarization to rise?
A combination of rising inequality, a cultural split between highly educated urban elites and working-class communities, and the disconnection from shared moral values and public participation.

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 The Next Big Idea

What is The Next Big Idea about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program features in-depth conversations with leading thinkers across science, technology, psychology, business, and culture. Episodes typically center on books, big ideas, and practical frameworks for living better, with guests ranging from researchers and authors to entrepreneurs and physicians. The show leans toward rigorous, evidence-based discussions and often threads in actionable takeaways, sponsorship messages, and real-world applications. Noteworthy is its ability to pair high-profile authors with seasoned hosts for thoughtful, long-form interviews that explore future-oriented topics while remaining accessible to curious, educated listeners. Potential listeners can expect a steady stream of intellectually engaging content that ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Next Big Idea?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Next Big Idea:

1. The Next Big Idea Daily
2. Hidden Brain
3. Choiceology with Katy Milkman
4. People I (Mostly) Admire
5. Worklife with Molly Graham

How many episodes of The Next Big Idea are there?

The Next Big Idea launched 7 years ago and published 372 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 The Next Big Idea?

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What guests have appeared on The Next Big Idea?

Recent guests on The Next Big Idea include:

1. John Kaag
2. Emily Eakin
3. Daron Acemoglu
4. Mallory May
5. Blythe Harris
6. Caroline Webb
7. Yuval Noah Harari
8. Owen Fitzpatrick

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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