Among his many achievements, the esteemed Venki Ramakrishnan has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth, served as the President of the Royal Society, and shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Today, he adds being a special guest on the Inquiring Minds podcast to this impressive list of accomplishments as he joins Indre to tackle the age-old question: Is there a biological limit to human lifespan? Drawing upon information from his latest book, Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality, Venki provides valuable insights on this topic, including the intricate dynamics of aging, DNA damage, stress, and so much more, as he unravels the underlying factors that shape human longevity. 

Links:

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information

Discover even more about Why We Die:

https://www.amazon.ca/Why-We-Die-Science-Immortality/dp/0063113279

Join Indre and guest Kurt Wagner, renowned business and technology journalist and author of Battle for the Bird: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk, and the $44 Billion Fight for Twitter's Soul, as they embark on an insightful exploration of Twitter's evolution. From Jack Dorsey's humble beginnings to the platform's global prominence, pivotal themes of visionary leadership and the balance between profit and purpose emerge, offering invaluable insights into the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. As they delve into the transformative journey of social media, themes of algorithm-driven dynamics, the influence of key figures like Elon Musk, and the ethical considerations of moderation and misinformation take center stage. This episode offers a tantalizing glimpse into Kurt's compelling narrative, reflecting the ever-shifting landscape of digital innovation and the future of social media governance.

Show Links:

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information

Uncover more about the Battle for the Bird: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Battle-for-the-Bird/Kurt-Wagner/9781668017357

Welcome back to Inquiring Minds, where, after a brief hiatus, host Indre Viskontas returns with

yet another memorable episode, this time featuring Charan Ranganath, Director of the Memory

and Plasticity Program and a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of

California at Davis. Over his illustrious career, Dr. Ranganath has received innumerable

distinguished awards, edited major neuroscience journals, consulted for neuroscience research

funding agencies across the world, and has served on several review panels. In celebration of his

50th birthday, he has written a book for the masses, Why We Remember, which examines ‘the

powerful role memory plays in nearly every aspect of our lives’, and which also provides the

springboard for today’s lively discussion about the fascinating journey of memory in the human

experience. Be sure to download and enjoy this highly anticipated return of Indre’s Inquiring

Minds, and revel in the unforgettable insights into memory's intricate interplay with cognition

and society offered here today, courtesy of these two giants in the field.

Show Links:

Inquiring Minds Homepage: https://inquiring.show/

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds

The Cadence Podcast: https://cadence.show/

Learn more about Charan and Why We Remember: https://charanranganath.com/

This week we talk to Robert Sapolsky—MacArthur “Genius” Fellow and professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford—about his new book Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will.

This week we talk to medical anthropologist and science writer Theresa MacPhail about her new book Allergic: Our Irritated Bodies in a Changing World.

This week we talk to journalist and sustainable fashion expert Alden Wicker about her book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick—and How We Can Fight Back.

This week we talk to writer Cody Cassidy about his new book How to Survive History: How to Outrun a Tyrannosaurus, Escape Pompeii, Get Off the Titanic, and Survive the Rest of History's Deadliest Catastrophes.

This week we talk to psychologists Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris about their new book Nobody's Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It.