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
#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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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
#456 — American Fascism
Feb 04, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Jonathan Rauch about the emergence of fascism in American politics. They discuss Rauch's article, "Yes, It's Fascism," the 18 criteria of fascism, the glorification and unapolog...
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Jonathan Rauch joins Sam Harris to discuss his recent Atlantic article titled 'Yes, It's Fascism,' explaining why he has overcome his previous resistance to applying the term fascism to Trump's administration. Rauch initially characterized Trump as a patrimonialist rather than a fascist, but recent developments have led him to identify 18 characteristics of fascism now present in the current administration. The conversation explores the distinction between patrimonialism and fascism, examines specific fascist characteristics including norm demolition and glorification of violence, and discusses the implications of the administration's actions, particularly regarding the killing of a protester and the response from Second Amendment advocates.
- From Patrimonialism to Fascism: A Painful Shift
- The Damage of Patrimonialism Alone
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, the lack of outrage from gun culture, the escalatin...
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Sam Harris and his co-host discuss several pressing issues including the killing of Alex Preddy by ICE officers in Minneapolis, the lack of response from Second Amendment advocates, the ongoing crisis in Iran with rising death tolls, and lighter moments including Candace Owens' confusion about ice melting at 30 degrees and Nicki Minaj appearing with President Trump.
- The Alex Preddy Killing and Second Amendment Hypocrisy
- The Video Evidence and Unjustified Use of Force
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron dive into the chaotic start to 2026. They discuss the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, the Trump administration's response and rh...
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This episode focuses on the Trump administration's controversial ICE operations and immigration enforcement, particularly the killing of Renee Good and the broader implications for civil liberties and democratic norms. Sam Harris discusses the unprecedented nature of federal overreach, compares current Republican reactions to historical ones, and examines other Trump policies including Greenland and NATO. The conversation analyzes what constitutes effective protest and the erosion of institutional norms.
- The ICE Crisis and Renee Good Killing
- The Unjustifiable Use of Force
#453 — AI and the New Face of Antisemitism
Jan 16, 2026Sam Harris speaks with Judea Pearl about causality, AI, and antisemitism. They discuss why LLMs won't spawn AGI, alignment concerns in the race for AGI, Pearl's public life after the murder of his son...
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Judea Pearl, pioneering AI researcher and father of journalist Daniel Pearl who was killed by Al Qaeda in 2002, discusses the limitations of current AI systems in achieving AGI, the need for causal reasoning beyond pattern recognition, and his journey into understanding cultural barriers between East and West following his son's death. Pearl explains why LLMs cannot cross fundamental mathematical barriers to reach true intelligence and shares his sobering experience at a 2005 conference in Doha that revealed deep-seated resistance to coexistence.
- Early Life and Immigration to Israel
- Limitations of LLMs and the Path to AGI
#452 — Is Wokeness Finally Dead?
Jan 07, 2026Sam Harris speaks with John McWhorter about language, ideology, and moral certainty. They discuss the rise and persistence of "wokeness" and DEI, the legacy of George Floyd's death, the role of social...
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John McWhorter returns to discuss the state of 'woke' ideology four years after his book 'Woke Racism.' While mainstream political support has waned, he argues the ideology remains deeply embedded in academia, journalism, and the arts. The conversation explores how DEI initiatives may simply rebrand, the viral spread of problematic academic theories, and what went wrong in America's response to George Floyd's death. McWhorter and his longtime collaborator Glenn Loury now find themselves at odds over Israel-Palestine issues, marking a rare point of disagreement in their partnership.
- The Entrenchment of Woke Ideology in Academia
- The Case of Philip Ewell: Music Theory as Racist
#451 — The One Resolution That Matters Most
Dec 31, 2025As digital distraction increasingly fragments our attention, Sam explains why mindfulness is a practical skill for reclaiming clarity and presence. Begin a mindfulness practice using the Waking Up app...
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Sam Harris delivers a New Year's message focused on mindfulness as the foundational practice that enables all other life improvements. He argues that our modern digital environment has created an epidemic of distraction and fragmentation, making mindfulness not just another task to add to our list, but the core skill that helps us reorganize our priorities and reconnect with what truly matters in the present moment.
- The War for Our Attention
- What Mindfulness Actually Is
In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss Sam's 2025 New Year's resolutions, the benefits of meditation, Sam's conversation with Ross Do...
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Sam Harris reflects on his 2025 resolution to 'live as though it were his last year,' discussing how the LA fires disrupted his plans. The conversation explores meditation and mindfulness practice, the existential risks of AI development in an arms race context, and concerns about America's political retreat from global cooperation. Harris emphasizes the difficulty of maintaining focus on long-term threats and critiques the current political environment's inability to address civilizational challenges.
- Living Like You're Dying: A Year in Review
- The Smartphone Paradox and Meditation
#449 — Dogma, Tribe, and Truth
Dec 22, 2025Sam Harris speaks with Ross Douthat about religion, modernity, and what can steady a culture that feels increasingly unmoored. They discuss the case for faith in an age of digital disembodiment, decli...
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Sam Harris and Ross Douthat engage in a wide-ranging discussion about modern challenges facing humanity, particularly focusing on the cultural and existential threats posed by AI, digital culture, and declining social cohesion. They explore concerns about human obsolescence, the potential impacts of abundant AI-driven societies, and the role of work in providing meaning and purpose. While acknowledging shared concerns about cultural alienation, they hint at divergent views on whether religion offers solutions or compounds problems, setting up a nuanced exploration of faith, reason, and human flourishing in the 21st century.
- The Human Obsolescence Problem
- AI Abundance and the Problem of Purpose
#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