Making Sense with Sam Harris
Join neuroscientist, philosopher, and five-time New York Times best-selling author Sam Harris as he explores important and controversial questions about the mind, society, current events, moral philosophy, religion, and rationality—with an overarching focus on how a growing understanding of ourselves and the world is changing our sense of how we should live. Sam is also the creator of the Waking Up app. Combining Sam's decades of mindfulness practice, profound wisdom from varied philosophical and contemplative traditions, and a commitment to a secular, scientific worldview, Waking Up is a resource for anyone interested in living a more examined, fulfilling life—and a new operating system for the mind. Waking Up offers free subscriptions to anyone who can't afford one, and donates a minimum of 10% of profits to the most effective charities around the world. To learn more, please go to WakingUp.com. Sam Harris received a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA.
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Recent Episodes
#448 — The Philosophy of Good and Evil
Dec 08, 2025Sam Harris speaks with David Edmonds about moral philosophy and effective altruism. They discuss Edmonds's book Death in a Shallow Pond, Peter Singer's famous drowning child thought experiment, argume...
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This philosophical discussion examines moral thought experiments through the lens of consequentialism and effective altruism. David Edmonds discusses his biographical work on Peter Singer and Derek Parfit, exploring how famous thought experiments like the trolley problem reveal deep tensions between our moral intuitions and rational analysis. The conversation probes whether consequentialism can adequately account for our moral reactions when we consider all consequences, including psychological and societal impacts, challenging the listener to question everyday ethical complacency.
- Introduction and Background on Philosophical Work
- The Nature and Controversy of Thought Experiments
#447 — The Unraveling of American Power
Dec 04, 2025Sam Harris speaks with Peter Zeihan about Trump's second term and its economic and geopolitical consequences. They discuss Zeihan's failed 2024 election prediction, the unprecedented unraveling of Ame...
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Peter Zeihan, geopolitical strategist specializing in demography and global forecasting, delivers a stark assessment of Trump's second term thus far. He argues that the administration's tariff policies and governance approach are causing unprecedented damage to American industrial capacity and economic stability. Zeihan analyzes the deindustrialization of high-value manufacturing, chaotic policy implementation, military actions in Latin America, and the evolving cartel landscape. His central thesis is that rather than strengthening American manufacturing and national security, current policies are creating shortages, inflation, and potentially the worst unraveling of national power since the Soviet collapse.
- Trump's Second Term Assessment: Unprecedented Damage
- The Tariff Trap: Simple vs Complex Manufacturing
#446 — How to Do the Most Good
Dec 01, 2025Sam Harris speaks with Michael Plant about the philosophy of happiness and effective altruism. They discuss the nature of well-being, Nozick's "Experience Machine" thought experiment, the validity of ...
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This episode explores utilitarianism, consequentialism, and the philosophy of happiness and well-being with a focus on ethical frameworks and their practical applications. The conversation delves into how we should define and maximize human flourishing, examining competing theories of well-being, the experience machine thought experiment, and how comparative thinking shapes our happiness. The discussion bridges abstract philosophical concepts with real-world questions about suffering, prosperity, and moral priorities.
- Introduction to Utilitarianism and Philosophical Awakening
- Defining Utilitarianism, Consequentialism, and Deontology
#445 — More From Sam: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Billionaires, Thanksgiving Political Debates, & Rapid Fire Questions
Nov 26, 2025In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events and answer some of the questions you all submitted on Substack. They discuss Marjorie Taylor Greene's recent...
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Sam Harris and his co-host discuss various political and cultural topics in this Thanksgiving week episode, including reactions to controversial political figures, the nature of public personas versus private character, the disconnect from social media, and philosophical questions about luck, compassion, and societal responsibility. The conversation covers figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Elon Musk, and Tucker Carlson, examining their public behaviors and potential character defects.
- Live Show Updates and Portland Ticket Sales
- Marjorie Taylor Greene's Apology and Political Character
#444 — America's Zombie Democracy
Nov 17, 2025Sam Harris speaks with George Packer about American democracy and authoritarianism. They discuss Packer's article "America's Zombie Democracy," the erosion of democratic institutions, the Justice Depa...
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George Packer joins Sam Harris to discuss his Atlantic article 'America's Zombie Democracy,' arguing that the United States has effectively slid into authoritarianism. They explore how democratic institutions have become hollow shells persisting in name only, the unprecedented corruption of the Trump administration, and why so many Americans fail to recognize the severity of these changes. The conversation examines the erosion of the rule of law, congressional power, military independence, and the cultural dynamics that enable shameless corruption to flourish unchecked.
- The Erosion of the Rule of Law
- Zombie Institutions: Congress, Justice, and Military
#443 — What Is Christian Nationalism?
Nov 10, 2025Sam Harris speaks with Douglas Wilson about his book Frequently Shouted Questions about Christian Nationalism. They discuss Wilson's debates with Christopher Hitchens, the landscape of American evange...
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Sam Harris interviews Doug Wilson, a Reformed Presbyterian pastor and Christian nationalist, exploring his theological positions, biblical interpretation, and vision for Christian nationalism in America. Wilson differentiates himself from mainstream evangelicalism as a young-earth creationist and post-millennialist who believes Christians should work to establish God's kingdom on earth over centuries through peaceful means, ultimately leading to Christ's return after a golden age. The conversation covers Wilson's interpretation of biblical prophecy, his critique of secularism as a failed project, and his views on the role of religion in public life.
- Wilson's Background and Theological Position
- Biblical Interpretation and Young Earth Creationism
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events and answer some of the questions you all submitted on Substack. They discuss how Sam overcame his fear of pu...
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Sam Harris discusses his journey overcoming public speaking anxiety, reflects on the terrifying realism of Netflix's nuclear war film 'House of Dynamite' (directed by Catherine Bigelow), examines the moral insanity of nuclear deterrence doctrine, and touches on the phenomenon of prominent atheists converting to Christianity for cultural reasons.
- Upcoming Tour Dates and Show Announcements
- Overcoming Stage Fright: From Anxiety to Empowerment
#441 — The Threat of Civil War
Oct 31, 2025Sam Harris speaks with Stephen Marche about his book The Next Civil War: Dispatches from the American Future. They discuss tensions between the United States and Canada, what a modern American civil w...
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Author and journalist Stephen Marsh, speaking from Canada, discusses his book 'The Next Civil War' with the host, examining America's fragmentation through hyper-partisanship, institutional collapse, and rising political violence. Marsh argues that Trump is merely a symptom of deeper systemic breakdowns including eroding social trust, extreme inequality, and demographic shifts. From Canada's perspective, America appears increasingly chaotic and unreliable, prompting serious discussions about defense strategies including potential nuclear capabilities. The conversation explores civil war risk factors, the mechanics of modern political violence, and why both left and right recognize America's constitutional order is collapsing.
- Canadian Perspective on Trump's America
- America's Brand Damage and Collapsing Power
#440 — A World in Crisis
Oct 24, 2025Sam Harris speaks with Robert D. Kaplan about his new book, Waste Land: A World in Permanent Crisis. They discuss climate change, demographics, the primacy of order over freedom, why Russia is a count...
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Robert Kaplan, journalist and author of 'Wasteland: A World in Permanent Crisis,' discusses his decades-long career analyzing global disorder, from his prescient 1994 'Coming Anarchy' article through today's geopolitical challenges. He introduces his concept of a 'global Weimar' to describe our current era of permanent crisis, explaining how technology has shrunk geography while creating a world that's interconnected yet ungovernable. The conversation covers environmental concerns, demographic pressures, institutional fragility, and the dangerous dynamics in Russia, Africa, and beyond.
- Career Origins and Journalistic Philosophy
- The Coming Anarchy and Predictions Vindicated