In this final episode of the first season of Lives Well Lived, Peter & Kasia interview acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates about her prolific career and perspectives on writing and life. Joyce Carol Oates was born during the Depression in Lockport, New York. Oates published her first book in 1963 as a teen, and has since published 58 novels, many of them portraying the darkness of American society. Her writing has earned her virtually every major American literary prize, and she has been a...

Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD, is among the top 0.1% most cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University. She also holds appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behaviour. In addition to academic work, Barrett has written two science books for the public, How...

Murali Doraiswamy is Professor of Psychiatry and Professor in Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine where he is a physician scientist at the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. This conversation explores the complex definitions and criteria for diagnosing mental illness and its prevalence worldwide. Prof Doraiswamy discusses contributing factors such as economic instability, cultural differences, and the impact of social media on mental health. Peter & Kasia discuss the role of...

Sam Harris is an American philosopher, neuroscientist, author, and host of Making Sense. Peter and Kasia are in-conversation with Sam on spirituality, consciousness, ethical living, and the fear of death. Sam begins by examining his profound ethical realisations under the effects of MDMA, leading to a pursuit of understanding consciousness via meditation and philosophy. The dialogue covers the contrasts between psychedelic experiences and meditation, the illusion of self, and the ethical...

Paul Bloom is Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, and Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale University. Paul Bloom studies how children and adults make sense of the world. Paul Bloom delves into the intricacies of morality, debates the importance of reason over emotion in making moral decisions, and argues for the power of reason to help distinguish between rational and irrational reactions. Along with Peter and Kasia, Paul explores the...

Ximena Abogabir is a Chilean journalist, environmentalist, and social activist who co-founded the organisation Casa de la Paz (House of Peace) in 1983. Ximena is known for her work in sustainable development and environmental awareness in Chile, and has become a prominent figure in environmental activism, advocating for policies that address climate change and promote sustainability throughout the world. Ximena discusses the importance of living well into old age, and how society needs to...

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and author of New York Times bestsellers 'The Righteous Mind', and 'The Coddling of the American Mind'. His latest book 'The Anxious Generation', argues that the rise of smartphones and overprotective parenting have led to a "rewiring" of childhood and a rise in mental illness. Jon discusses the intricate dynamics of political behaviour in America, highlighting the psychological differences, and intensified political extremes between liberals and...

A.J. Jacobs is an author, humourist and journalist, who has written four New York Times bestsellers, including 'The Year of Living Biblically' , 'The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, and 'Drop Dead Healthy'.   Jacobs discusses his unique life as a 'human guinea pig,' exploring different ways of living through immersive year-long experiments such as living according to all biblical rules, striving for physical perfection, and living like America's...

Matthieu Ricard is a French-Nepalese author, photographer, and Buddhist monk who resides at a Monastery in Nepal. Matthieu received a PhD degree in molecular genetics in 1972. He then decided to forsake his scientific career and instead practice Tibetan Buddhism, living mainly in the Himalayas. Since 1989, he has acted as the French interpreter for the 14th Dalai Lama. Matthieu Ricard is often referred to as the "world's happiest man. In this episode Ricard shares with Peter & Kasia...

Frances Kissling is a prominent advocate in the fields of religion, reproductive health and ethics. Kissling served as the president of Catholics for Choice for 25 years, where she worked to promote a progressive understanding of reproductive rights within the Catholic community, and has significantly contributed to discussions on abortion rights and women's health issues. In this episode Frances reflects on her life journey, discussing her Polish heritage, childhood experiences, and early...

Tyler Cowen is an American economist, columnist, and blogger, He was ranked at number 72 among the "Top 100 Global Thinkers" and he is here with Peter & Kasia to discuss wide ranging diverse topics! This episode delves into the speculation around the existence and visitation of aliens to Earth, and exploring the implications of such visits on human behaviour and society. AI's impact on future technology and economics, as well as climate change, deregulation, and animal welfare. Cowen...

Dui Toledo is in conversation with Peter & Kasia to discuss his personal philosophy on living a good life, which includes balancing health, skill development, meaningful relationships, and service to others. Dui highlights his 105-hour rule to manage time efficiently, the importance of deliberate learning, and his perspectives on ethics, morality, and living a life well-lived. Learn more about Dui If you are enjoying this podcast, consider supporting us over at PATREON Keep up to date...

Peter & Kasia are in-conversation with Kate Grant, a leading figure in the fight against obstetric fistula. This episode explores Kate's transition from a successful advertising career to working in international development and eventually leading the Fistula Foundation as CEO. Kate explains what obstetric fistula is, its impact on women in low-resource settings, and the challenges in addressing it due to socioeconomic and gender inequalities. Kate talks about her personal motivations,...

Peter & Kasia are joined by author and journalist Robert Wright. Robert Wright is the New York Times bestselling author of The Evolution of God (a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), Nonzero, The Moral Animal, Three Scientists and their Gods, and Why Buddhism Is True.  The discussion delves into the evolutionary explanations for altruism and sympathy, and how human sexual psychology impacts societal norms. The role of technology and non-zero-sum interactions in human history is explored,...

Jane Goodall DBE is an ethologist and conservationist, the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, and a UN Messenger of Peace. Peter and Kasia have joined Jane in her family home to record this conversation. In this dialogue, Jane Goodall reflects on the powerful influence of her mother, her passion for animals that began in childhood, and her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees. She recounts her journey from a curious child to an eminent ethologist and activist, reshaping scientific views...

Peter & Kasia are joined by astrophysicist, author, and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson. They discuss Tyson's journey in becoming an astrophysicist and the public's fascination with space, and explore the impact of seeing the night sky and how it inspired Neil's life and career. The power of images like the Voyager 1 photo of Earth and the Pale Blue Dot photo in shaping the perspective of ourselves in the universe are considered. The conversation explores the limitations of human...

Judy Collins is a singer-songwriter with a musical career spanning seven decades. Judy is known for the outstanding clarity and beauty of her voice. Judy is a Grammy Award winning artist, whose musical catalogue of work includes 36 studio albums. Judy joins Peter & Kasia to discuss her singing career, activism, and the importance of music and art. She reflects on the 1960s, the current political climate and the need for change. Collins shares her approach to performing and the impact it...

Professor. Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher, and the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and the forthcoming NEXUS: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. His books have sold over 45 Million copies in 65 languages, and he is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today. Peter and Kasia interviewed Yuval in person in London, this conversation covers; the the...

Ingrid Newkirk is an author, activist, and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal rights organisation. PETA famously proclaims that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any way. In this episode Peter & Kasia speak to Ingrid and explore PETA's achievements, and the compromises Ingrid has had to make in order to reduce the vast universe of suffering that humans inflict on animals, and how if...

Join Kasia & Peter as they explore the profound impact of Daniel Kahneman, the Israeli-American psychologist, and author who revolutionised our understanding of human decision-making. Awarded the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, Kahneman’s groundbreaking work, alongside Amos Tversky, unveiled the cognitive biases and heuristics that shape our judgments. Kasia & Peter delve into his influential theories, including prospect theory, ask Daniel how he finds objective...

Aristotle said; in order to know what it is to live well, we should study the lives of those who do live well, and that is what our two resident philosophers are here to uncover.   What is it to live a good life?   Peter & Kasia are in-conversation in this episode on what it is to live a good life on their terms. We hope this podcast will inform, motivate and inspire you, but most of all being hedonists, we hope that you will find listening to it a pleasure.   Keep up to date with...

Welcome to Lives Well Lived with Kasia de Lazari Radek & Peter Singer. The podcast will consist of interviews with remarkable guests who have lived well, both in the sense of living an ethical life, but also in that they are fulfilled and happy with what they have achieved in their lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.