Lives Well Lived
Lives Well Lived is hosted by Peter Singer & Kasia de Lazari Radek. Episodes 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. Some of these guests will be well-known figures, but others who are doing extraordinary things will be unfamiliar to almost all of our listeners. The conversations will often cover ground that involves ethics, how to live well, and how to make a positive difference in the world. It will inspire and empower its audience to change their own lives for the better. Executive Producer - Rachel Barrett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Wayne Hsiung is an animal‑rights and environmental activist. He co‑founded Direct Action Everywhere and focuses on “open rescue” efforts - publicly removing suffering animals from factory farms to provide them medical aid. Wayne recounts various direct action efforts and the legal battles stemming from these actions.
Learn more about Wayne subscribe to his substack
Learn more about Anima International as mentioned in this episode
...Dasho Dechen Wangmo is a prominent Bhutanese public health leader and former Minister of Health, she has championed universal health coverage, mental health, and disease prevention, and gained international recognition as President of the 74th World Health Assembly, advocating for vaccine equity and global health solidarity. Dechen played a pivotal role in navigating Bhutan through the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, Bhu...
Dean Spears is an economic demographer and development economist, co-author of After the Spike: Population, Progress, and the Case for People. Dean explores the future of global population trends, noting that depopulation is now the most likely scenario, and the inherent ethical considerations of reducing the population and the practical implications for global challenges like climate change.
Learn more about Dean and read his b...
Meg Smaker is an American documentary filmmaker known for her immersive storytelling and exploration of complex global issues. Meg shares the impactful experiences from her life, including being kidnapped in Colombia, interacting with Somali pirates, and exploring motivations behind terrorism. Her most notable work is the 2022 feature documentary The UnRedacted (formerly known as 'Jihad Rehab'), which examines the lives of former G...
Cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot explores the role of optimism in our lives, examining why individuals often maintain personal hope despite collective anxiety. She explains the concept of optimism bias, how anticipation shapes happiness and memory.
Learn more about the Digital Diet and download the chrome plug-in
Keep up to date with Peter on Substack
Keep up to date with Kasia!
Joshua Greene is an experimental psychologist and neuroscientist, and Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. Joshua shares insights into how evolutionary psychology underpins group cooperation and the challenges of expanding moral circles. Josh also reflects on his personal feelings of hope and commitment towards fostering a more unified and cooperative society.
Learn more about Josh and read his books!
Learn more about G...
Cyan Banister is an angel investor and entrepreneur renowned for her early investments in transformative tech companies such as Uber, SpaceX, DeepMind, and Postmates. Banister's path to success was unconventional, she experienced homelessness as a teenager and dropped out of high school.Through self-education and determination, she became a self-taught engineer, holding key roles at a cybersecurity startup acquired by Cisco for $85...
Slavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher and cultural theorist known for his provocative blend of Marxism, Hegelian philosophy, and Lacanian psychoanalysis, he remains one of the most influential and polarising intellectuals in contemporary thought.
Slajov gets into several complex and thought-provoking topics including but not limited to; the catastrophe of love, political philosophy, critiques of both historical and contemporar...
Cass Sunstein is a prominent American legal scholar, behavioural economist, and professor at Harvard Law School. Cass explores the concept of nudging and libertarian paternalism, addressing ethical concerns around manipulation and autonomy. He reflects on climate justice, the moral duties of high-emission countries, and global accountability in climate policy.
Learn more about Cass and read his books!
Keep up to date with Pe...
Lawrence Krauss is a theoretical physicist and cosmologist renowned for his work in particle physics, cosmology, and science communication. Krauss explores the idea of cosmic insignificance and the absence of inherent meaning in the universe, emphasising the importance of appreciating the rarity of life, whilst exploring fundamental questions about the universe and human existence.
Learn more about Lawrence and listen to The Ori...
Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian, author, and public intellectual renowned for his progressive ideas on social and economic reform.
Rutger emphasises that living well means taking meaningful, practical action to address global issues—not just raising awareness. Drawing from his books Humankind and his initiative The School for Moral Ambition, he advocates for channeling ambition into social impact, encouraging career shifts t...
Elizabeth Barnes is an author and Professor of philosophy at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, she reflects on her unconventional journey into philosophy, and her experience living with disabilities. Elizabeth questions conventional views on disability, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of wellbeing, and shares how philosophy helps her find comfort and meaning in life’s challenges.
Learn more about Elizabe...
Thomas Nagel is an American philosopher known for exploring consciousness, ethics, and the limits of scientific explanation. He is best known for his essay "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" and his critique of materialism in Mind and Cosmos.
Thomas discusses how he was drawn to philosophy, he elaborates on the major themes of his work, especially the challenge of understanding the subjective experience, and calls for a broader view...
Arthur C. Brooks is an author and academic, he has written 13 books and is a columnist for the Atlantic with 'How to Build a Life'
Arthur leads this discussion exploring the concept of happiness from interdisciplinary perspectives, bridging philosophy, neuroscience, and behavioural science. Happiness is defined through the components of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning. Arthur address the dilemma of constantly chasing goals ...
Antonio Damasio is a neuroscientist renowned for his extensive research into the neural underpinnings of emotions, decision-making, and consciousness
Antonio reflects on his groundbreaking work on the brain, the impact of brain injuries on behaviour, and the connection between physical states and mental processes. Antonio speaks on the ethical implications of neuroscience, the future of artificial intelligence, and the importanc...
Sigal Samuel is a writer, editor, and journalist known for her work on religion, technology, and ethics. Sigal shares her value-driven approach to life, offering insights into moral decision-making, ethical giving, and the complexities of modern ethical dilemmas. Through her work in philosophical ethics and her advice column at Vox 'Your Mileage May Vary' Sigal offers a thoughtful perspective on navigating life’s biggest questions ...
David Duchovny is an actor, writer, director, and musician, best known for his iconic role as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder in The X-Files, a sci-fi series that became a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s.
David explores the fine line between conspiracy and reality, the ethics of innovation, and the spiritual dimensions of human existence. How do we balance pleasure and meaning in a fulfilled life? What role do failure, empathy, an...
Michael Plant is the founding director of the Happier Lives Institute, he discusses the concept of happiness, its definitions, and global wellbeing. Michael shares insights from the newly released 2025 World Happiness Report, highlighting effective charities and the role of global happiness in public policy.
Read the 2025 World Happiness Report
Learn more about the Happier Lives Institute
Learn about Action for Happiness
Dr. Anna Lembke is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and author of Dopamine Nation.
Anna explores the intricacies of addiction, compulsive overconsumption, the role of dopamine in pleasure and motivation, and the ethical considerations surrounding free will and responsibility in addiction.
Learn more about Anna Lembke and read her books!
Keep up to date with Peter on Substack
Keep up to date with Kasia!
Exe...
Robert Sapolsky is an academic, author, neuroscientist, and primatologist, who has studied wild baboons in Kenya over a 25 year period. Robert explores how stress and social hierarchies affect baboon health and behaviour and how these findings parallel human experiences in societal structures. Sapolsky discusses the philosophical implications of biological determinism, free will, and moral responsibility.
Keep up to date with Pe...
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The Megyn Kelly Show is your home for open, honest and provocative conversations with the most interesting and important political, legal and cultural figures today. No BS. No agenda. And no fear.