Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda

Gary Marcus, cognitive scientist and author who critiqued modern AI, offers a skeptical take on large language models. He discusses where LLMs fall short, the need for neurosymbolic approaches and durable world models, economic and security risks of unchecked AI access, and concerns about funding and long-term research. Short, pointed reflections on AI’s future and pitfalls.

Shermin Kruse, a law professor and author with roots in neuropsychology and philosophy, shares stories shaped by growing up in Iran. She explores stoic empathy, distinguishing cognitive and emotional empathy. She reveals tactics like silence, affect labeling, accusation positioning, and practices to build calm under threat. The conversation mixes personal anecdotes with practical exercises.

Gary Marcus, cognitive scientist warning that current chatbots lack true understanding. Valerie Fridland, linguist who studies accents as social signals. Etta Fields Black, historian recounting Harriet Tubman’s role in the Combahee River Raid. John LePook, physician teaching empathy to clinicians. Sherman Cruz, author sharing stoic empathy techniques from Tehran. They preview conversations on AI limits, accents, rescue history, and empathy in tense moments.

Carol Burnett, comedian and television legend known for The Carol Burnett Show, reflects on a lifetime in comedy. She revisits building a supportive ensemble, iconic onstage moments like the drapery gag, and the art of improvisation that made live TV unpredictable. They also reminisce about performing together and the bonds formed offstage.

Adam Frank, astrophysicist and author who studies astrobiology, explores whether life is common in the cosmos. He traces past Mars and UFO fever, explains three revolutions reshaping life studies, and lays out modern searches for technosignatures like industrial gases and city lights. He weighs the challenges of communicating with alien minds and separates scientific expectations from UFO publicity.

David Baron, a journalist and author of The Martians, explores the turn-of-the-century craze over life on Mars. He traces how a mistranslation sparked the canal craze and how perceptual errors and publicity sustained it. Stories range from Lowell’s photographs to Tesla’s signal claims and how the Martian myth evolved into modern UFO culture.

Rebecca Goldstein, philosopher and novelist who explores morality, meaning, and consciousness. She defines the longing to matter and describes four ways people seek it. Stories range from transformation after hate to a woman who raised discarded girls. She explains relationships, life projects, and how people adapt when what makes them matter ends.

Steve Ramirez, a memory researcher and Boston University professor who studies how memories form and change. He talks about experiments that manipulate memories in rodents. He explains how memories are spread across the brain. He explores separating emotional charge from factual recall, therapeutic approaches for traumatic memories, and the ethical risks of erasing pain.

Michael Shermer, science writer and founder of Skeptic Magazine, explores truth, reasoning, and misinformation. He discusses why truth feels under attack and defines truth as provisional, evidence-based assent. He shares tools like Bayesian thinking, steelmanning, and respectful conversation to navigate consensus, conspiracy spread, and changing minds.

Loretta Ross, a longtime activist and educator focused on racial, gender, and sexual violence justice, shares her journey of moving from anger to empathy. She discusses the pitfalls of 'calling out' for public shaming, advocating for 'calling in' through curiosity and dialogue. Ross reflects on her personal trauma and experiences founding a rape crisis center. She emphasizes the importance of human connections and addresses how to support individuals leaving hate movements, all while maintaining hope and joy through challenging conversations.