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.
Get AI-powered summaries of Making Sense with Sam Harris
Never miss key insights. Receive episode summaries straight to your inbox.
Recent Episodes
#476 — The Bittersweet Age
May 20, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Susan Cain about writing, creativity, and what AI means for human culture. They discuss the future of books and reading, the tells AI inherits from good writers, why the advent ...
Summary Preview
Susan Cain, author of 'Quiet' and 'Bittersweet', discusses the evolution of reading culture, the impact of AI on creative work, and the irreplaceable human element in art and music. She explores her Substack community 'The Quiet Life', shares insights on attention spans in the digital age, and reflects deeply on why human authorship matters, even when AI can produce indistinguishable results. The conversation delves into the psychology of authenticity, the value of the humanities in an AI-dominated future, and what it means to connect with art knowing a human soul created it.
- The Digital Attention Crisis and Reading Culture
- Substack as Community Rather Than Just Writing
#475 — The Hard Problem of Consciousness
May 12, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Michael Pollan about consciousness, the mind, and the self. They discuss Pollan's new book, the relationship between sentience and intelligence, the evolutionary case for consci...
Summary Preview
Sam Harris and Michael Pollan reunite for the first time since 2018 to explore consciousness, building on Pollan's new book 'A World Appears.' Their wide-ranging conversation examines fundamental questions about the nature of consciousness, the hard problem of explaining subjective experience, the role of psychedelics in consciousness research, and concerns about AI. They discuss how meditation and psychedelics offer complementary approaches to understanding consciousness—not just through intellectual analysis but through direct experience. The conversation blends rigorous philosophical inquiry with practical insights from neuroscience and contemplative traditions.
- Defining Consciousness and Related Concepts
- The Hard Problem of Consciousness
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the launch of Making Sense Community, Sam's Ben Shapiro conversation, the New York Times's emb...
Summary Preview
This AMA episode covers Sam Harris's reflections on recent podcast conversations and dives deep into controversial political topics, particularly focusing on anti-Semitism, the Israel-Gaza conflict, and concerning trends in progressive politics. Harris critiques his conversation with Ben Shapiro, discusses the launch of a new community platform, and delivers a scathing analysis of progressive figures like Hassan Piker who he believes are spreading dangerous moral confusion about genocide and Hamas.
- New Community Platform Launch and Reddit Alternative
- Reflecting on the Ben Shapiro Conversation
#473 — Money, Power, and Moral Failure
Apr 29, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Lloyd Blankfein about finance, politics, and the state of American society. They discuss Blankfein's memoir, Goldman Sachs and its role as a market maker, the 2007-2008 financia...
Summary Preview
Sam Harris interviews Lloyd Blankfein, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, about his memoir 'Streetwise' and discusses the 2008 financial crisis, current economic challenges, wealth inequality, and the disconnect between markets and the real economy. Blankfein shares insights from steering Goldman through the financial crisis, explains how financial markets work, and offers perspective on current economic risks including Middle East tensions, market volatility, and the challenges of wealth distribution.
- Understanding Goldman Sachs and Its Role in Finance
- The John Paulson Trade and Market-Making Controversy
#472 — Strange Days on the Right
Apr 24, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Ben Shapiro about their pre-election debate and the fractures on the right. They discuss Trump's second term surprises, familial corruption, tariff policy, the ideological world...
Summary Preview
Sam Harris and Ben Shapiro engage in a detailed postmortem discussion about Trump's second term, examining predictions made before the election and how they've played out. The conversation covers Trump's tariff policies, personnel decisions, family corruption concerns, the reframing of January 6th, and their fundamental disagreement about what makes Trump 'disqualifying.' They also touch on foreign policy and the situation in Iran, revealing deep philosophical differences about presidential character versus policy outcomes.
- Opening and Setting the Stage
- Tariffs and Economic Policy Predictions
#471 — The End of History, Revisited
Apr 16, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Francis Fukuyama about liberal democracy, American politics, and global order. They discuss the misunderstood thesis of "The End of History," how conservatism has mutated into e...
Summary Preview
Francis Fukuyama joins Sam Harris to discuss the state of liberal democracy, examining his famous 'End of History' thesis and its relevance today. They explore how liberalism can become self-defeating when taken to extremes, the challenges facing American democracy, the rise of authoritarian alternatives like China, and the problems with identity politics on both left and right. Fukuyama reflects on how conservatism has transformed from Reagan-era classical liberalism into ethno-nationalism, and warns about threats to democratic norms both domestically and in Israel.
- The End of History Thesis Explained
- Liberal Democracy vs Chinese Authoritarianism
#470 — Democrats at a Crossroads
Apr 13, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Rahm Emanuel about American politics, the state of the Democratic Party, and the 2028 presidential race. They discuss Emanuel's possible presidential run, identity politics and ...
Summary Preview
Former Chicago Mayor and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel discusses his potential 2028 presidential run, addressing critical challenges facing America including declining education standards, the Democratic Party's cultural missteps, anti-Semitism, and foreign policy concerns. Emanuel emphasizes the need to focus on future-oriented solutions rather than nostalgic politics, advocating for accountability in education through proven models like Mississippi's reading reforms, and critiques both domestic political direction and international strategy, particularly regarding Israel and China.
- Foreign Policy Challenges: China and the Indo-Pacific
- Rahm Emanuel's Political Experience and Potential 2028 Run
#469 — Escaping an Anti-Human Future
Apr 10, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Tristan Harris about the dangers of AI and the race to build it. They discuss the new documentary The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, the lessons of The Social Dilemm...
Processing failed
#468 — More From Sam: Gratitude, Bad Conversations, Conspiracy Addiction, Waffle House Teleportation, and More
Apr 07, 2026In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss how to cultivate gratitude and navigate anxiety in uncertain times, the role of mindfulness in...
Summary Preview
Sam Harris and his team conduct a live Q&A session with subscribers, covering topics ranging from mindfulness practices and AI anxiety to social media toxicity, religious trends, and the responsibilities of large-platform podcasters. Harris emphasizes the importance of mental training for navigating uncertain times, critiques conspiracy-driven content creation, and discusses his selective approach to adversarial conversations.
- Gratitude and Mindfulness in Uncertain Times
- Navigating AI Disruption and Job Anxiety
#467 — EA, AI, and the End of Work
Mar 30, 2026Sam Harris speaks with William MacAskill about effective altruism, AI, and the future of humanity. They discuss the post-FTX recovery of the EA movement, global health and pandemic preparedness, the l...
Summary Preview
In this conversation marking the 10-year anniversary of the second edition of 'Doing Good Better,' Will MacAskill and Sam Harris explore the evolution of effective altruism, its core principles, and current challenges. They discuss the movement's resilience after controversies, the philosophical foundations of cause prioritization, tensions between quantifiable impact and harder-to-measure opportunities, and concerns about political tribalism affecting philanthropic priorities. The dialogue touches on global health, animal welfare, pandemic preparedness, and AI risk, while wrestling with questions about moral progress, the boundaries of ethical concern, and the opportunity costs of current political dysfunction.
- EA's Resilience and Growth After FTX Collapse
- Core EA Cause Areas: Global Health and Development
#466 — What Is Technology Doing to Us?
Mar 24, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Nicholas Christakis about technology, society, and human nature. They discuss the harms of modern communication technology, polarization and anomie, how AI agents can improve hu...
Summary Preview
Nicholas Christakis and Sam Harris discuss the profound impacts of social media and AI on human behavior and society. They explore the toxicity of platforms like Twitter, the deteriorating quality of online discourse, and the mental health crisis linked to social media use. The conversation examines potential remedies including changing norms around anonymity, the future of AI in human interactions, and the philosophical implications of humanoid robots. Christakis shares insights from his research on how AI can enhance human cooperation and warns about the behavioral changes that may result from our interactions with machines.
- The Technology Crisis of the Last Decade
- Personal Disillusionment with Twitter and Social Media Migration
#465 — More From Sam: Iran, Jihadism, Conspiracism, AI Disruption, the Manosphere, and More
Mar 18, 2026In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the Iran war and the Trump administration's shambolic messaging, antisemitism and moral confus...
Summary Preview
In this episode, Sam Harris discusses the complexities of the Iran conflict, examining both the Trump administration's mismanagement and the necessity of opposing the Iranian regime. He addresses the fundamental problem of jihadism having access to nuclear weapons, critiques both progressive and conservative responses to the war, and explores the deeper theological issues within Islam that enable extremism. Harris also defends his position against accusations of Islamophobia while acknowledging legitimate concerns about civilian casualties and the chaotic execution of U.S. foreign policy.
- The Iran War: Dual Concerns of Justification and Incompetence
- The Non-Negotiable Principle: Jihadists Cannot Have Nuclear Weapons
Sam Harris speaks with Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose and Democratic candidate for governor of California, about governance, pragmatism, and California's policy failures. They discuss the dysfunction o...
Summary Preview
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan discusses his campaign for California governor, offering a pragmatic Democratic vision focused on delivering measurable outcomes rather than performative progressivism. He addresses California's most pressing challenges including homelessness, housing affordability, education failures, and government inefficiency, while explaining how his track record in San Jose demonstrates a different approach to governance that prioritizes execution and accountability over ideology.
- From Watsonville to San Jose: A Mayor's Journey
- The Performance Management Deficit in California Government
#463 — Privatizing the Apocalypse
Mar 11, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Rob Reid about biosecurity, pandemic risk, and the alarming fragility of our defenses against biological catastrophe. They discuss the controversial USAID program DEEP VZN, the ...
Summary Preview
Rob Reid discusses the successful effort to shut down USAID's Deep Vision program, a $125 million project that threatened to hunt for thousands of unknown viruses, characterize their pandemic potential, and publish their genomes publicly. The episode traces Reid's journey from writing about synthetic biology risks to collaborating with Sam Harris and ultimately mobilizing a bipartisan coalition that led to the program's termination in September 2023. The conversation highlights how well-intentioned actors can create existential risks and explores the evolving landscape of biological threats in an era of advancing AI capabilities.
- Rob Reid's Path to Bio-Risk Advocacy
- Deep Vision's Three Dangerous Components
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss whether the U.S. was right to take military action against Iran, the new era of American amora...
Summary Preview
Sam Harris and his co-host discuss urgent geopolitical questions in a live subscriber Q&A format, focusing on the Trump administration's military action against Iran, rising anti-Semitism, and the Ukraine conflict. Harris navigates the tension between believing Iran's regime should have been unseated decades ago and his concerns about Trump's corrupt, incompetent handling of the war. The conversation explores the erosion of democratic norms, America's damaged international standing, and the alarming normalization of anti-Semitic rhetoric across the political spectrum.
- The Iran Dilemma: Necessary Regime Change, Terrible Execution
- Jihadism and Nuclear Weapons: An Intolerable Combination
#461 — Dictators Always Tell You What They'll Do
Feb 25, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Garry Kasparov about the erosion of American democracy and the global authoritarian threat. They discuss Trump's systematic corruption, the GOP's moral collapse, the 2026 midter...
Summary Preview
In this conversation, chess grandmaster and democracy advocate Garry Kasparov discusses the threats facing American democracy under Trump's second term, drawing on his experience with authoritarianism in Russia. He warns about the normalization of abnormal behavior, the GOP's moral collapse, systematic corruption, and the critical importance of the 2026 midterm elections in determining whether American democracy can be preserved.
- The Warning Signs: Pattern Recognition from Russia to America
- The Greatest Surprise: GOP's Total Moral Collapse
#460 — When the Center Cannot Hold
Feb 20, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Jonah Goldberg about the state of American conservatism and the Trump presidency. They discuss the politicization of federal institutions, the erosion of legal norms, the schism...
Summary Preview
Jonah Goldberg discusses his concerns about the Trump administration's politicization of institutions, erosion of democratic norms, and the breakdown of the traditional political system. He analyzes structural problems in both parties caused by primary systems, explains the asymmetric threats posed by Republicans versus Democrats, and examines the emerging schism on the right between those who reject versus tolerate extremist elements. Goldberg offers both pessimistic and optimistic scenarios for how American democracy might recover its sanity.
- Erosion of Democratic Institutions Under Trump
- The Structural Crisis: How Primaries Destroyed Bipartisanship
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss Trump's cryptocurrency dealings with the UAE and their national security implications, AI time...
Summary Preview
In this episode, Sam Harris and his co-host discuss their recent Substack Live event, the ongoing corruption concerns surrounding Trump's business dealings with the UAE, and alarming predictions from Microsoft's AI CEO about the imminent automation of white-collar work. The conversation highlights the contrast between past political scandals and current ethical breaches, while exploring the rapidly approaching timeline for AI to replace professional-level human cognition across most white-collar industries.
- Reflections on Substack Live Experience
- The Appeal of Cross-Partisan Conversations
#458 — The Bulwark Against MAGA
Feb 11, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller about Trump and the future of American politics. They discuss the origins of The Bulwark, the bewildering psychology of Trump's base, the new era o...
Summary Preview
Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller of The Bulwark join Sam Harris to dissect the transformation of the Republican Party under Trump. They explore how smart people rationalized supporting Trump, the rise of conspiracy-driven content creators like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, and the toxic relationship between voters, right-wing media, and elected officials. The conversation examines the 'Republican Triangle of Doom,' post-January 6th normalization, and concerns about figures like JD Vance potentially representing the future of American conservatism.
- Origins of The Bulwark and Never Trump Movement
- The Psychology of Trump Enablers
#457 — More From Sam: The Epstein Files, The Newsom Factor, Don Lemon's Arrest, AI Market Disruption, and More
Feb 05, 2026In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss Sam's unexpected appearance in the Epstein files, the revolting behavior of various public fig...
Summary Preview
Sam Harris and his team address the postponement of live shows due to a family medical emergency and discuss the release of the Epstein files. The episode centers on Harris's unexpected inclusion in the documents, his sole encounter with Epstein at a TED lunch, and a broader examination of how to differentiate degrees of culpability in the scandal. Harris emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between Epstein's actual crimes, enabling behavior, poor judgment, and peripheral associations while acknowledging the serious nature of the case.
- Show Postponements and Personal Update
- The Epstein Files Release and Harris's Inclusion