Drowning in Decisions: Do We Have Too Many Choices?
In this episode, Michael Shermer speaks with historian Sophia Rosenfeld about how modern notions of personal choice—from Amazon shopping to Tinder swipes—emerged from centuries of cultural, religious,...
29 Jul 20251h 26min
Are We Alone? Martin Rees on Aliens, The Fermi Paradox & The Fate of Humanity
What can a lifetime of scientific discovery teach us about the universe—and ourselves? In this wide-ranging conversation, Michael Shermer sits down with Lord Martin Rees, renowned cosmologist, astroph...
22 Jul 20251h 5min
The True Cost of Conviction
When you are faced with a decision, do you consider the best outcome, or do you consider your deepest values about which actions are appropriate? Steven Sloman contrasts these two primary strategies f...
15 Jul 20251h 18min
Debra Soh and Michael Shermer at FreedomFest 2025
Michael Shermer in conversation with Debra Soh at FreedomFest 2025 in Palm Springs, CA. Video courtesy of FreedomFest. Additional FreedomFest videos can be viewed on CiVL.
14 Jul 202519min
Douglas Murray on Hamas, Iran, and the Collapse of the Two-State Solution
Drawing from intensive on-the-ground reporting in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon, Douglas Murray places the latest violence in its proper historical context. He takes listeners on a harrowing journey throu...
8 Jul 20251h 11min
Can Politics and Truth Coexist?
Do any of us really care about truth when it comes to politics? Should we? In a world of big lies, denialism, and conspiracy theories, democracies are experiencing two interlocked crises: a loss of co...
1 Jul 20251h 8min
Michael Egnor X Christof Koch X Michael Shermer | A Debate on the Mind, Soul, and the Afterlife
A debate on the mind, soul, consciousness, and the afterlife. Michael Egnor, MD, is Professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. He receive...
25 Jun 20251h 48min
The Science Behind Menopause
When award-winning science writer Amy Alkon was blindsided by her first hot flash, it kicked off a cascade of symptoms—drenching night sweats, insomnia, and a rage she couldn't explain. But what shock...
17 Jun 20251h 19min
