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Robert Wright's Nonzero

Nonzero
Artificial Intelligence
China
Iran
Donald Trump
Israel
United States
Ukraine
Trump Administration
Gaza
Trump
U.S. Foreign Policy
Elon Musk
Russia
Middle East
Consciousness
Openai
Jeffrey Epstein
American Foreign Policy
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Us-China Relations

Conversations with a series of people who have nothing in common except that program host Robert Wright is curious about what they’re thinking. www.nonzero.org

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes610Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophyNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Robert Wright's Nonzero

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org

0:28 Alex’s new documentary about Elon 3:05 How Alex’s film turned epic 7:08 Simulation theory + social Darwinism = Elon? 13:33 Inside the mind of Musk 23:44 Elon’s daddy ... more

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org

0:28 Garrison’s background and his new book, Obsolete 5:48 Is the left dangerously downplaying AI? 12:55 What is the “obsoleting project”? 17:45 Inside the minds of Altman... more

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Robert Wright (Nonzero, The Evolution of God, Why Buddhism Is True) and Liron Shapira (Pause AI, Doom Debates). Recorded October 01, 2026. Twitter: twitter.com/NonzeroPods

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other s... more

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nonzero.org

0:28 Paul’s impeccable timing 2:12 Is Dario’s AI slowdown proposal for real? 10:44 Can AI companies police themselves? 15:26 How chip controls can undermine AI safety 25:0... more

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Recent Guests

Paul Triolo
Long-time Chinese tech watcher; partner and technology policy lead for Asia and the Americas at Albright Stonebridge Group (DGAASG)
Albright Stonebridge Group
Episode: Dario’s China Syndrome (Robert Wright & Paul Triolo)
Jill Filipovic
Author of OK Boomer, Let's Talk; Through Line columnist
Author / Journalist
Episode: Did Boomers Ruin Everything? (Robert Wright & Jill Filipovic)
Nick Bostrom
Philosopher and AI thinker; author of Superintelligence
University of Oxford (philosopher) / AI ethics researcher
Episode: Superintelligence, the Singularity, and the Singleton (Robert Wright & Nick Bostrom)
Zvi Mowshowitz
AI researcher and commentator, long-time member of the AI discourse community
Independent AI researcher / writer
Episode: Is the AI "Slowdown" for Real? (Robert Wright & Zvi Mowshowitz)
Ian Lustick
Co-author of Israel's Lobby
University affiliations mentioned (Penn)
Episode: Israel’s Lobby (Robert Wright, Eli Clifton, and Ian Lustick)
Eli Clifton
Co-author of Israel's Lobby
The Quincy Institute
Episode: Israel’s Lobby (Robert Wright, Eli Clifton, and Ian Lustick)
Paul Scharre
Executive vice president at the Center for a New American Security; author of Four Battlegrounds, Army of None
Center for a New American Security
Episode: Iran, Ukraine, and the Future of War (Robert Wright & Paul Scharre)
Stephen Casper
Computer scientist, Harvard Kennedy School; AI safeguards and governance
Harvard Kennedy School / MIT background
Episode: The OpenAI Breakout and Other AI Spookiness (Robert Wright & Stephen Casper)
Sebastian Mallaby
Journalist and author, The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind and the Quest for Superintelligence
Financial Times, Washington Post (past)
Episode: Demis Hassabis and the Quest for AGI (Robert Wright & Sebastian Mallaby)

Host

Robert Wright
Host and investigator of broad, policy-relevant questions; publisher and public thinker with a focus on AI, geopolitics, and philosophy.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 925 ratings
  • Fantastic

    It’s hard to argue with anything Robert Wright says. Just a well balanced point of view.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Digiddy Doooo
    Canada2 months ago
  • Wildly variable

    Bob misunderstands China’s intentions and indulges Iran. While I consider his motivations well-intentioned, if naive, the unfortunate downstream effects remain.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nico de Piemonte
    United States3 months ago
  • Wildly variable

    Bob misunderstands both China and Iran (discrete issues) which has gotten tedious. He welcomed Dr Annelle Shelline who seems highly qualified to speak to today’s key issues, but then monologued interminably before giving her a chance to speak. Still a fan. Many episodes can be enjoyable, even a revelation. Bought his last book and I’m confident I will buy his next on AI. Self aware enough to note his own interviewing weaknesses but frustratingly, fails to rein them in.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nico de Piemonte
    United States4 months ago
  • Wildly variable

    Bob misunderstands both China and Iran (discrete issues) which has gotten tedious. He welcomed Dr Annelle Shelline who seems highly qualified to speak to today’s key issues, but then monologued interminably before giving her a chance to speak. Still a fan. Many episodes can be enjoyable, even a revelation. Bought his last book and I’m confident I will buy his next on AI.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Nico de Piemonte
    United States5 months ago
  • Apologist for terrorists

    Bob: terrorists are bad. Quit the whataboutism. You sound like Alex Jones.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    burqas4ninjas
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging host with a knack for drawing out complex ideas; informative for policy minds and AI researchers alike.
High-quality guests and rigorous, thoughtful questions from the host.
Insightful and nuanced discussions that connect AI, policy, and geopolitics.
Listeners value the diversity of perspectives and the depth of analysis, though some episodes can be densely technical.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Did Boomers Ruin Everything? (Robert Wright & Jill Filipovic)
Q: Well, can I just interrupt you and say then what is the plan? Who is going to pay for it? If not the old people?
The discussion centers on reforming the tax system to fund social programs more equitably, including means-testing and ensuring corporations and the ultra-wealthy contribute more, while acknowledging the political complexity of retirement and entitlement funding.
Iran, Ukraine, and the Future of War (Robert Wright & Paul Scharre)
Q: Is there a fundamental overlap between the Iran conflict and the Ukraine war in terms of what is driving success for the smaller, less powerful actor?
Yes, despite different objectives and contexts, both conflicts show how technology—especially cheap, accessible drones and missiles—can offset material advantages and change the calculus of how wars are fought and won.
The AI Safety Vibe Shift (Robert Wright & David Krueger)
Q: What is your main message?
The main message is that AI risks under the current trajectory are unacceptable and could lead to catastrophic outcomes, so urgent steps like a global, indefinite pause on frontier AI are necessary to avert disaster.
Fasten Your Bot-belts (Robert Wright & Samuel Hammond)
Q: How do you view open-source AI in the context of safety and national security?
Open-source AI can democratize innovation and counter centralization, but it also raises safety concerns; advances like gradient routing offer a path to safer open models by enabling safe open weights while removing dangerous capabilities.
Fasten Your Bot-belts (Robert Wright & Samuel Hammond)
Q: Do you think we need to slow down AI development globally, or focus on building domestic and international governance first?
Both are important: there should be practical, verifiable steps to pace development where possible, while simultaneously developing governance frameworks and collaboration with other nations to manage risks before they escalate.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Robert Wright's Nonzero

What is Robert Wright's Nonzero about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show features long-form conversations that explore big-picture topics at the intersection of policy, technology, and global affairs. Episodes frequently center on AI governance and ethics, international security, and shifts in geopolitical power, often grounded in current events and long-term strategic thinking. The host steers debates with guests from diverse think tanks, academia, and tech culture, yielding nuanced discussions that blend analytical rigor with accessible storytelling. Listeners can expect thoughtful, sometimes provocative takes on how technology and politics shape the future, with an emphasis on global coordination, risk assessment, and moral considerations. A standout trait is the host's ability to pull together exper... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Robert Wright's Nonzero:

1. Very Bad Wizards
2. The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan
3. The Glenn Show
4. Decoding the Gurus
5. The Good Fight

How many episodes of Robert Wright's Nonzero are there?

Robert Wright's Nonzero launched 15 years ago and published 610 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 Robert Wright's Nonzero?

Recent guests on Robert Wright's Nonzero include:

1. Paul Triolo
2. Jill Filipovic
3. Nick Bostrom
4. Zvi Mowshowitz
5. Ian Lustick
6. Eli Clifton
7. Paul Scharre
8. Stephen Casper

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