Rutger Bregman: What are we actually doing with our lives?

Rutger Bregman: What are we actually doing with our lives?

From calling out billionaires at Davos to challenging institutions that would rather stay comfortable, Rutger Bregman has built a career around one simple question: what are we actually doing with our lives?

In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the historian and author of Moral Ambition to talk about purpose, power and the quiet pressure to go along with things we know are wrong. Bregman reflects on his upbringing, his loss of religious faith, and how that search for meaning became a drive to make ideas matter in the real world.

They discuss why small groups of people have always been the engine of change, how ego and idealism often overlap, and why so many smart, capable people feel stuck doing work that doesn’t align with their values. From abolitionists and resistance movements to modern politics, media cowardice and the rise of authoritarianism, Bregman argues that change usually starts when someone simply asks others to step up.

Thoughtful, accessible and quietly challenging, this conversation is about agency, responsibility and the uncomfortable idea that waiting for someone else to act is itself a choice.

Find out more about Moral Ambition: How to Find Your Purpose by Rutger Bregman here

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Episoder(315)

Mark Constantine: Homeless at 16 to Founding LUSH

Mark Constantine: Homeless at 16 to Founding LUSH

From a fractured childhood in Weymouth to the creation of one of Britain’s most distinctive ethical brands, Mark Constantine’s life has been shaped by loss, sensitivity and an intense drive to make se...

6 Feb 1h 3min

Jonathan Pryce: I was told for years that I was worthless

Jonathan Pryce: I was told for years that I was worthless

From a small village in North Wales to some of the most iconic stages and screens in the world, Jonathan Pryce’s career has been shaped as much by doubt and accident as by talent and ambition.In this ...

30 Jan 59min

From The Vault: Daniel Radcliffe

From The Vault: Daniel Radcliffe

From the intensity of life as one of the most recognisable children on the planet to the creative freedom he has carved out as an adult, Daniel Radcliffe’s story is one of curiosity, discipline and qu...

9 Jan 37min

From The Vault: Dawn French

From The Vault: Dawn French

From the dislocated, sun soaked childhood of an RAF family to a life spent shaping British comedy, Dawn French’s story is one of resilience, warmth and hard won self knowledge. In this generous conver...

2 Jan 47min

Full Disclosure 2025: The Year Reviewed

Full Disclosure 2025: The Year Reviewed

A Boxing Day reflection on a standout year of Full Disclosure. James O’Brien revisits key guests and conversations from 2025, offering perspective on the ideas, stories and people that shaped the podc...

26 Des 20256min

Martin Shaw: The Professionals was a monster that swallowed my career

Martin Shaw: The Professionals was a monster that swallowed my career

From bomb sites in postwar Birmingham to the centre of British stage and screen, Martin Shaw’s life has been shaped by curiosity, kindness and a refusal to play the part he was expected to play.In thi...

19 Des 20251h 1min

Sir Gareth Southgate: There were days I didn’t want to get out from under the duvet

Sir Gareth Southgate: There were days I didn’t want to get out from under the duvet

From missing the most famous penalty in English football to leading the national team into a new era, Gareth Southgate’s story is one of quiet resilience, modern leadership and emotional intelligence ...

12 Des 202557min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
alt-fortalt
aftenpodden-usa
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
popradet
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
fladseth
min-barneoppdragelse
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
synnve-og-vanessa
rss-frekvens-med-anine-olsen
krisemoter
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem