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Artwork for The Permanent Questions With David Brooks

The Permanent Questions With David Brooks

The Atlantic
Atlantic
Soul
The Permanent Questions
Black Holes
Cosmology
Universe
Mystical Experience
Consciousness
Spirituality
David Brooks
Dark Matter
Interstellar
The Radiance
Kant
Autonomy

What makes us human? How can I find purpose in life? How can my relationship survive a rough patch? What do I say to a friend who’s suffering? Does any of this mean anything at all? It’s easy to lose sight of fundamental human concerns amid the churn of the news cycle and the demands of every day. Each week on The Permanent Questions, host David Brooks seeks to return them to our attention throug... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes6Founded2 months ago
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Society & Culture

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Artwork for The Permanent Questions With David Brooks

Latest Episodes

The majority of Americans believe that every human being has an immaterial soul, and they tend to base their sense of human dignity and equality on this belief. Yet the culture at large often operates under the assumption that physical reality is all... more

Long before he became famous as the author of The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt was a social psychologist whose work revolutionized the field. In this episode of The Permanent Questions, taped in front of a live audience at last month’s Atlantic... more

What would it be like to wake up one day with the ability to greet the world with warmth, patience, grace, and affection? This is what happens to the main character in the Pulitzer Prize–winner Ayad Akhtar's magnificent new novel, The Radiance. It is... more

For all of history, humans have been fascinated by the heavens above us. We’ve used the stars to navigate Earth, to predict the future, and to understand our place in the larger scheme of things. Changes in our view of the cosmos—from the Copernican ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Shelly Kagan
Clark Professor of Philosophy at Yale University
Yale University
Episode: Do Human Beings Have Souls?
Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist at New York University
New York University
Episode: Should We Ban AI for Kids?
Ayad Akhtar
Playwright and novelist, author of The Disgraced and The Radiance
Author
Episode: What Is the Meaning of Mystical Experience?
Priyamvada Natarajan
Astrophysicist, focuses on black holes and cosmology
Yale University (as described in context)
Episode: What Is Humanity’s Place in the Cosmos?
Meghan Sullivan
Professor of Philosophy at University of Notre Dame, co-author of The Good Life Method
University of Notre Dame
Episode: What Is the Good Life?

Host

David Brooks
Host of The Permanent Questions

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 327 ratings
  • Moving

    The first episode was so enlightening and moving that I’m making notes throughout. Thank you professor Sullivan and David

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JLi621
    Francea month ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality guests and deep, nuanced conversations.
Engaging mix of philosophy, science, and culture that stays accessible.
Thoughtful, moving discussions that illuminate big questions.
Audience insights suggest meaningful, well-posed inquiries that respect complexity.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#35
United States/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#45
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#145
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#124
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#229
Philippines/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#241
Finland/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Do Human Beings Have Souls?
Q: Why is rape considered worse than a punch in the nose?
Because it directly targets core aspects of autonomy and the ability to self-determine one's life, making it an especially horrific violation of a person's dignity.
What Is the Meaning of Mystical Experience?
Q: What is the stance on language and memory in relation to mysticism and inner experiences?
Language is necessary to convey and continue inquiry, but it can also fix or distort experience. The guest emphasizes maintaining continuity of the interior experience beyond linguistic description and using sentences to move inquiry rather than settle it, allowing the reader to participate in the mystery.
What Is the Meaning of Mystical Experience?
Q: How does the conversation address the role of the soul and religious tradition in modern spirituality?
They discuss the soul as a central, sometimes ineffable experience that does not fit neatly into dogma. The dialogue includes Bloom's scene about soul as the first mover and explores how secular or non-institutional paths can provide meaningful access to inner life, while acknowledging the benefits and limits of religious frameworks.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers across philosophy, psychology, science, and the humanities explore big questions about meaning, morality, technology, and human flourishing. Episodes commonly center on the nature of the self, how to live a good life in a tech-driven world, the impact of AI and science on society, and the tension between secular and spiritual language in explaining human experience. The show tends to pair rigorous intellectual inquiry with personal storytelling, offering practical takeaways for listeners seeking deeper purpose, better relationships, and a humane approach to contemporary culture. A notable strength is the breadth of disciplines represented, from ethical philosophy to cosmology, always anchored i... more

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1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. Radio Atlantic
3. The Opinions
4. The David Frum Show
5. Interesting Times

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this podcast launched 2 months ago and published 6 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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Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Shelly Kagan
2. Jonathan Haidt
3. Ayad Akhtar
4. Priyamvada Natarajan
5. Meghan Sullivan

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