Making Sense with Sam Harris #468 — More From Sam: Gratitude, Bad Conversations, Conspiracy Addiction, Waffle House Teleportation, and More
114 snips
Apr 7, 2026 Gratitude and anxiety get a sharp, timely look. There is talk about mindfulness in an AI-shaken job market, religion’s changing grip in America, and a wild claim about teleporting to Waffle House. The conversation also turns to social media, conspiracy-fueled broadcasting, and why some public arguments are not worth having.
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Mindfulness Cuts Anxiety Without Ignoring Reality
- Use mindfulness to separate paying attention to real risks from becoming scared and depressed by them.
- Sam Harris asks, “How unhappy do I have to be in the meantime?” and recommends withdrawing attention when it serves no useful purpose.
Use AI Early And Treat Worry As Extra
- Make AI your friend now, because desk jobs and information work will increasingly depend on it.
- Sam Harris says mindfulness still matters when jobs vanish because either action is required now or misery is merely extra.
Churches May Be Filling A Community Vacuum
- Slowing religious decline may reflect demand for community and familiar real-world rituals more than renewed belief.
- Sam Harris notes secularization remains the larger trend, while churches still offer comfort and atmosphere even for nonbelievers.