Templeton Ideas Podcast

Kwame Appiah (Animism)

Kwame Appiah is a professor of philosophy and law at New York University. Over his long career he has written about topics including political philosophy, ethics, literature, African and African-American studies. As the author of more than 20 books, his notable works include Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers and The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen. His newest book, and the subject of our conversation today, is entitled Captive Gods: Religion and the Rise of Social Science. Kwame was also recently featured in an episode of Wisdom Keepers, a PBS show exploring life’s fundamental questions. How do we express our religious commitments? Some may say faith, but this article proposes another idea. Learn what role hope plays in belief by reading Religious Commitment: A Hopeful Approach by Daniel Speak.   Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

Miroslav Volf (Ambition)

Miroslav Volf is a theology professor and director of the Center for Faith and Culture at Yale University. His writing and teaching explore how Christian theology relates to culture, politics, and world religions. He has written and edited more than 20 books, including Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most. His newest book, which we will be discussing, is entitled The Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse. He joins the podcast to discuss how striving for excellence is better than superiority.  Want to learn more about striving? Listen to our insightful episode with Jennifer Wallace on "toxic achievement culture" from Season 2.  Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

Mark Moffett (Insect Societies)

Mark Moffett is an explorer, naturalist, and photographer who has traveled to more than a hundred countries to document new species in extremely remote places. He takes a special interest in insect societies, especially ants. Affectionately known as Dr. Bugs, Mark has published extensively in outlets like National Geographic and been a frequent guest on TV and Radio, including Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, and RadioLab. Mark has also authored several popular books, including The Human Swarm, which explores what insect societies have in common with primates and humans. Mark joins the podcast to discuss insect and animal societies and how they relate to humans.  "How can we build resilient communities amid myriad risks?" A study on cooperation sheds light on how we can use cooperation to address unavoidable risks. Read Cooperation—The Ancient Technology That Never Goes Obsolete. Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

Kaitlin Yarnall (Storytelling)

Kaitlin Yarnall is the Chief Storytelling Officer at the National Geographic Society, one of the largest funders of individual storytellers and journalists in the world. A cartographer by trade, Kaitlin travels the world helping NatGeo Explorers—exceptional individuals in their fields—share their work in science, exploration, and education with millions of people. She joins the podcast to discuss storytelling with impact, her partnership with the John Templeton Foundation, and the exciting initiatives being covered at the National Geographic Society. Curiosity is a powerful force for exploring and understanding the world, but we also know the old saying, “Curiosity killed the cat.” How do we resolve this paradox? To learn more, read Curiosity Has Two Faces by Annelise Jolley.  Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

Simran Jeet Singh (Sikhism)

Simran Jeet Singh is a professor of religious history at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He is also a senior advisor at the Aspen Institute and host of the podcast Wisdom & Practice. Simran is the author of three books, including  The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life, which introduces readers to the religious tradition of Sikhism and its practical relevance for all of us today. Simran joins the podcast to share the history, beliefs, and practices of the Sikh faith. How do the people of India feel about other faiths? A survey shows interesting findings about the beliefs and perspectives of those who live near each other, yet belong to different religions. Read the survey results in India's Patchwork Pluralism.  Join our growing community of 200,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.