You know you're stressed. You know you're anxious. Do you have depression? And do you need to know the latest in the biology of how the brain works and depression works or doesn't work and whether the gut is involved in getting meaningful help? That's today's big question. I promise…
This week: There are few problems so simple that a single donation can fix them. Usually, to turn a problem into a realistic opportunity takes many donations. Over time, spread over a large number of donors. But all the work before that is kind of exhausting: you’ve gotta make sure…
The climate clock is ticking faster and faster. How can we use capitalism to undo the bad stuff that capitalism did and maybe even make things better? That's today's big (loaded) question, and my returning guest is Akshat Rathi. Akshat is a London-based senior reporter, newsletter writer, and podcaster for…
This week: Are we in the hardest part of the climate transition? Here's What You Can Do: • 🌎️ Donate to 350.org (https://350.org/?utm_source=importantnotimportant.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=how-to-see-the-forest) , a global movement working towards a fossil fuel-free world. • Volunteer with your local Mothers Out Front (https://www.mothersoutfront.org/?utm_source=importantnotimportant.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=how-to-see-the-forest) chapter to fight for a world that protects…
What are reverse coattails, and how might they slow climate change, prevent the next pandemic, and keep Nazis off of school boards? That's today's big question, and my returning guest is Amanda Litman. Amanda is one of my favorite people. She is the co-founder and co-executive director of Run for…
This week: How are we supposed to navigate this energy transition, AI, and pandemics, if we cannot agree on the most basic, fundamental shit? We argue about tradeoffs or gently suggest expanding the scope of our moral concern to include other people’s air, water, food, shelter, and health, instead of…
This week: Today’s essay is a bit of a departure — I just wanted to make super clear where I stand vis a vis the next eleven months. A MAGA party don't stop unless we stop it. Here's What You Can Do: • Donate to Voters of Tomorrow (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/voters-of-tomorrow-action-1?refcode=website&utm_source=importantnotimportant.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=if-this-then-what-else) to…
This week: Today’s essay is my version of a 2024 preview. Unlike other previews, though, it’s less, “This is what is going to happen” and more “These are the table stakes as far as I can tell.” I think that approach is much more helpful, but you can be the…
This week: I’m back today to share my 2023 wrap-up. It’s a pretty stream-of-consciousness endeavor, but I think it sums up where I was right in my 2023 preview, where I was very wrong, how the world changed — or didn’t — and most importantly, how we responded. Here's What…
How will the universe end? That's today's big question, and my guest is Sarafina El-Badry Nance. Sarafina is an NSF graduate research fellow, astrophysics Ph.D. candidate, and Forbes 30 Under 30 Science 2022 honoree, specializing in supernova and cosmology. She's also the author of the new, honest, and empowering memoir…
Why does it matter who reviews our video games? That's today's big question, and my guest is Swapna Krishna. Swapna and I recorded this conversation in 2022, and as gaming and the entire media ecosystem changes and evolves and is pulled apart and merged, it's more important than ever to…
How do we get our attention back? That's today's big question. I think about it every day, and my guest is Johann Hari. Johann and I recorded this conversation in 2022, and with the Internet in general and social networks of the past fifteen years being straight-up pulled apart, I…
How's your mental health around climate change? That is today's big question, and my guest is Britt Wray. Britt and I recorded this conversation in 2022. It is an all-time favorite of mine and of our listeners. Britt is the author of the fantastic book, Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in…
Has there ever been a more important time, a more consequential time, to lead with ethics? That's today's big question, and my guest is Dr. Susan Liautaud. Susan is the author of The Power of Ethics and of the Little Book of Big Ethical Questions. She teaches cutting-edge ethics courses…
Has there ever been a more important time, a more consequential time, to lead with ethics? That's today's big question, and my guest is Dr. Susan Liautaud. Susan is the author of The Power of Ethics and of the Little Book of Big Ethical Questions. She teaches cutting-edge ethics courses…
What are the best holiday gifts that aren't privacy nightmares? That's today's big question, and my guest is Jen Caltrider. Jen is the lead researcher for Mozilla's Privacy Not Included program where since 2017 Mozilla has published 15 editions of Privacy Not Included, their Consumer Tech Buyer's Guide. They've reviewed…
What are the best holiday gifts that aren't privacy nightmares? That's today's big question, and my guest is Jen Caltrider. Jen is the lead researcher for Mozilla's Privacy Not Included program where since 2017 Mozilla has published 15 editions of Privacy Not Included, their Consumer Tech Buyer's Guide. They've reviewed…
This week: How the hell does the brain work? And what does it have to do with lemonade stands and school supplies? Here's What You Can Do: • Donate to support The Markup’s (https://link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/w3dYILNc3lH6MOK0tu1At4Mdv4ONtzNlKvwBZOiz4z_sLNRL3s8rk1V8aoTniaJ-8Z2U59id7j8MRBrTJfs6nqDoISV-U-kP26pOoGxkV2w8vuhQtqv6t8LoEGrxYSlqZuIXmTPtCG3GJG8Kq2SO_gECwOFjiPlO3ehPSU_za0v6_9PHdFJu_OvxUYu3rcOj/41d/gd10p0QcTVaw38xtacaw3g/h7/-CD08gnfyzAA3JOxnzYLePU2_oEJlb2RUrefksD8zLI) invaluable work examining the ways technology is being used to change society. • Volunteer with your…
I think about time a lot. Some days I feel ancient, some days I can’t believe how old I am. I’ve got kids, too. I can’t believe how fast they’ve grown up already. They love so many things. Swimming. Cooking. Plain pasta. The beach. Vegetables, somehow. Their friends. Their family.…
How did the female body drive 200 million years of human evolution? And why the hell are we just finding out about it now? That's today's big question, and my guest is Cat Bohannon. Cat is the author of the incredible new book, “Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200…
How did the female body drive 200 million years of human evolution? And why the hell are we just finding out about it now? That's today's big question, and my guest is Cat Bohannon. Cat is the author of the incredible new book, “Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200…
This week: Will coffee survive climate change? Here's What You Can Do: • Donate to support African farmers by increasing incomes and improving food security through the Alliance for a Green Africa (https://agra.org/?utm_source=importantnotimportant.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=coffee-back-to-the-future). • Volunteer to join the Coffee & Climate Network (https://coffeeandclimate.org/join-the-network/?utm_source=importantnotimportant.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=coffee-back-to-the-future), an organization that connects stakeholders in coffee…
Can your gut composition predict Alzheimer's? That's today's big question and my returning guest is Gautam Dantas. Gautam heads up the Dantas Lab at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. His lab works at the interface of microbiogenomics, ecology, synthetic biology, and systems biology to understand, harness,…
Can your gut composition predict Alzheimer's? That's today's big question and my returning guest is Gautam Dantas. Gautam heads up the Dantas Lab at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. His lab works at the interface of microbiogenomics, ecology, synthetic biology, and systems biology to understand, harness,…