Your Brain, For Sale: The Hidden Ways AI Can Manipulate You with Cass Sunstein
Business, Self Lynn Thoman Business, Self Lynn Thoman

Your Brain, For Sale: The Hidden Ways AI Can Manipulate You with Cass Sunstein

AI doesn’t just predict our behavior — it can shape it.

Cass Sunstein, Harvard professor and co-author of Nudge, reveals how artificial intelligence uses classic tools of manipulation — from scarcity and social proof to fear and pleasure — to steer what we buy, believe, and even feel.

Its influence is so seamless, we may not even notice it.

The battle for the future isn’t for our data — it’s for our minds.

In a world this personalized, how do we keep control of our own minds?.

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What Putin Really Wants — with Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul
Politics & Government, International Lynn Thoman Politics & Government, International Lynn Thoman

What Putin Really Wants — with Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul

When Vladimir Putin first rose to power, few expected him to become the world’s most confrontational autocrat. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who has studied and worked with Putin for decades, explains what changed — and why.

From paranoia about democracy to the drive to rebuild Russia’s sphere of influence, McFaul shows how personal power and national destiny became one and the same. His insights reveal not just who Putin is, but what he wants next.

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Our Dollar, Your Problem: How U.S. Power Shapes — and Shakes — the World

Our Dollar, Your Problem: How U.S. Power Shapes — and Shakes — the World

The dollar has been one of America’s most powerful weapons and a major source of global influence, in ways few fully realize. It doesn’t just shape trade and finance; it also gives the U.S. a unique window into the world’s financial flows.

But what if that power is beginning to slip? Harvard’s Ken Rogoff examines the mounting pressures that could threaten the dollar’s supremacy — and reveals how a cornerstone of U.S. power could also become its Achilles’ heel.

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AI Will Transform the World—But Who Decides How?

AI Will Transform the World—But Who Decides How?

Artificial intelligence isn’t just another invention — it may be humanity’s first non-biological species. Craig Mundie, former Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer and co-author of Genesis with Henry Kissinger and Eric Schmidt, explores what happens as AI begins to make decisions once made by humans.

Who decides what AI should do? Who makes it obey? And what if it doesn’t?

The stakes? Nothing less than the future of human civilization.

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Why 199 of 200 Projects Fail: The Iron Law That Dooms Even the Smartest Ideas
Self, Business, Politics & Government Lynn Thoman Self, Business, Politics & Government Lynn Thoman

Why 199 of 200 Projects Fail: The Iron Law That Dooms Even the Smartest Ideas

What do kitchen renovations, Olympic Games, and nuclear power plants have in common? Most of them fail — spectacularly. World-renowned expert Bent Flyvbjerg explains why 199 out of 200 big projects go over budget, over time, and under expectations — and what the rare successful ones do differently. From Pixar films to the Empire State Building, learn the principles that separate disasters from triumphs.

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America’s Edge: More Barriers or More Innovation?
Politics & Government, Business Lynn Thoman Politics & Government, Business Lynn Thoman

America’s Edge: More Barriers or More Innovation?

Every country wants strong industries and good jobs. But do tariffs actually deliver?

Few people have been closer to the frontlines of global trade, tariffs, and innovation than America’s former chief trade negotiator Mike Froman. He takes us inside the myths, the hidden costs, and the bigger choices ahead. The question: what will truly define America’s edge in the global economy?

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Inside the Hook Model: Secrets Companies Use to Keep You Scrolling and How to Break Free
Self, Business Lynn Thoman Self, Business Lynn Thoman

Inside the Hook Model: Secrets Companies Use to Keep You Scrolling and How to Break Free

Variable rewards once powered slot machines; now they’re inside your pocket. Behavior-design expert Nir Eyal shows how modern apps turned casino psychology into daily routine. He unpacks the psychological levers hidden in everyday products.

Hear the science and the clever design tricks that turn a few minutes into far more time than you intended.

If knowledge is power, this episode hands you the switch.

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Hype vs. Reality: Crypto and Stablecoins
Business, Investments Lynn Thoman Business, Investments Lynn Thoman

Hype vs. Reality: Crypto and Stablecoins

Crypto runs on stablecoins — and they’re far less stable than they sound. Award-winning Bloomberg investigative journalist Zeke Faux followed the money behind the scenes.

What he uncovered will change the way you see digital money — and the trust it’s built on.

Listen to understand the hidden forces shaping the future of money.

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The Long Game: How to Build Wealth in Turbulent Times with Blackstone President Jon Gray
Business, Investments Lynn Thoman Business, Investments Lynn Thoman

The Long Game: How to Build Wealth in Turbulent Times with Blackstone President Jon Gray

How do the savviest investors navigate today’s uncertainty? Jon Gray, President of Blackstone, one of the world’s most successful asset management firms, shares the timeless principles that helped grow the firm from under $1B to over $1T in assets.

He reveals how to spot great businesses, invest with conviction, and think decades ahead. This episode is a masterclass in building lasting wealth—especially in turbulent and uncertain times.

This is a rare window into the mindset of someone who’s helped shape a trillion-dollar investing firm.

Whether you’re new to investing or a seasoned pro, this conversation will sharpen how you think.

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Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on What Xi and Putin Are Really Like Behind Closed Doors

Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on What Xi and Putin Are Really Like Behind Closed Doors

Jake Sullivan spent four years at the highest level of U.S. foreign policy—sitting across the table from Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and leading the national response to crises like Ukraine, Taiwan, cyberattacks, and AI risks.

He shares a rare look behind the scenes of global power, including: what intelligence gets wrong (and why); how AI, drones & disinformation are reshaping war; why the U.S. is more vulnerable than it seems and what a China-Taiwan conflict might actually look like.

His insights are sharp, urgent—and surprisingly personal.

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The U.S. Alone Can’t Compete with China. Here’s What Absolutely Can.
Politics & Government, International Lynn Thoman Politics & Government, International Lynn Thoman

The U.S. Alone Can’t Compete with China. Here’s What Absolutely Can.

China is on the march, is very determined, and has some significant advantages over the U.S. What are they and how should we respond?

Two esteemed China experts, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and National Security Council Deputy Senior Director for China Rush Doshi, say the key is to counter China’s enormous scale by finding common cause with allies. Listen, and learn a lot.

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Don’t Believe the Doom: American Workers Are Moving Up
Politics & Government, Business, Society Lynn Thoman Politics & Government, Business, Society Lynn Thoman

Don’t Believe the Doom: American Workers Are Moving Up

Is today's economy delivering for American workers? According to Georgetown University professor Michael Strain, the answer is absolutely “yes,” despite populist rhetoric… and there’s convincing data to back that up. Why is the American Dream in doubt? How can it be strengthened? Listen to this inspiring conversation for answers.

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The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars
Society, Science & Tech, Business, Investments Lynn Thoman Society, Science & Tech, Business, Investments Lynn Thoman

The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars

Catastrophes seem to be the new normal. There’s a stunning new scientific belief that although catastrophes are unpredictable, there’s a hidden pattern that explains them all. In other words, fires, avalanches, wars and even stock market crashes aren’t a glitch in the system, they are the system itself. Listen as noted physicist Mark Buchanan reveals more.

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How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade
Business, Self Lynn Thoman Business, Self Lynn Thoman

How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade

Warning: People are out to manipulate you. How? With very sophisticated, deceptive PR techniques. Here, one of Washington’s most wily manipulators of news, Phil Elwood, reveals tricks of his trade — like astroturfing and detonating bombs in a safe location. The more you know about these tricks, the less likely you’ll be conned by them.

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The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World
Society, Business, Leadership Lynn Thoman Society, Business, Leadership Lynn Thoman

The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World

What happens when there’s no one in charge? You’d think chaos would reign—but in reality, leaderless organizations are thriving, disrupting industries, and shaping the future. In this episode of 3 Takeaways, New York Times bestselling author Ori Brafman explains why decentralized networks—from Wikipedia to Bitcoin to social movements—are more resilient, adaptable, and powerful than we might expect.

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Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste
Business, Society Lynn Thoman Business, Society Lynn Thoman

Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste

Food. People are demanding more from it these days than taste. They want food to meet their personal health needs. They want it produced using methods that improve the health of the planet, respect the people who grow it, and more. Here, the visionary CEO of Whole Foods Market, Jason Buechel, shares his thoughts on the food of the future and how to satisfy peoples’ appetite for it.

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NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead
Self, Leadership, Business Lynn Thoman Self, Leadership, Business Lynn Thoman

NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead

NBCUniversal Vice-Chair Bonnie Hammer didn’t climb to the top by following the rules—she rewrote them. In this conversation, she dismantles the biggest career myths, reveals what really drives success, and shares why sweating the small stuff can make or break you. Packed with no-nonsense advice, game-changing insights, and hard-earned wisdom, this episode is a masterclass in ambition, leadership, and career strategy—without the clichés.

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Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO James Stavridis Does Not Mince Words

Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO James Stavridis Does Not Mince Words

When Admiral James Stavridis (Ret) talks, everyone from Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump listens. Here, the brilliant former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO shares his thoughts on the U.S. relationship with China; how to fundamentally remake the Middle East; why the U.S. buying Greenland isn’t as crazy as it sounds; the impact of AI on the power of nations; and more.

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