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
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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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
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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!
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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.
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Safeena Husain is the founder of Educate Girls – a non-profit organisation that is focussed on mobilising communities for girls’ education in India’s rural areas.
Safeena discusses the critical importance of combating deep-rooted cultural and patriarchal biases in favour of girls' educations, and the widespread issue of 122 million girls globally not in school and the dire consequences this has, including early marriag...
Adam McCurdie and Josh Ross, founders of Humanitix, and Alex Amouyel, CEO of Newman's Own Foundation talk about whether the example their companies set can transform capitalism.
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Executive Producer: Rachel Barrett
Thanks to our volunteer researchers Hendrik Dahlmeier and Mihika Chechi
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