Podcast Appearances

  • The Race to Cooperation with David Sloan Wilson

    It’s easy to tell ourselves we’re living in the world we want – one where Darwinian evolution drives competing technology platforms and capitalism pushes nations to maximize GDP regardless of externalities like carbon emissions. It can feel like evolution and competition are all there is. But what if that’s not the whole story of evolution?

    Episode Title
    Your Undivided Attention

    Podcast Date
    February 2, 2023

    Podcast Source
    Center for Human Technology  

    Podcast Host
    Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin

  • Archipelagos of knowledge, commons, and the science of cooperation

    A retrospective of the last 50 years of scientific history, through the lens of my career, that also looks forward into the future.

    Episode Title
    David Sloan Wilson - Archipelagos of knowledge, commons, and the science of cooperation

    Podcast Date
    Dec 6, 2022

    Podcast Source
    Origins Podcast  

    Podcast Host
    Ryan McGranaghan

  • The Wright Show

    Episode Title
    Robert Wright & David Sloan Wilson

    Podcast Date
    May 28, 2015

    Podcast Source
    The Wright Show  

    Podcast Host
    Robert Wright

  • The Wright Show

    Episode Title
    Completing the Darwinian Revolution

    Podcast Date
    May 15, 2019

    Podcast Source
    The Wright Show  

    Podcast Host
    Robert Wright

  • Frontiers of Commoning, with David Bollier

    David Bollier is one of the foremost writers and thinkers on the concept of commoning, centered on the work of Elinor Ostrom.

    Episode Title
    What Evolutionary Science Says about Prosocial Groups

    Podcast Date
    Nov 1, 2022

    Podcast Source
    Frontiers of Commoning  

    Podcast Host
    David Bollier

  • Hunger for Wholeness, with Ilia Delio and Gabby Sloan

    In this two part series, we take a deep dive into a form of religion and spirituality that is fully compatible with science, which was pioneered by the paleontologist and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

    Episode Title
    The Puzzle of Altruism  Where does Power Reside in Unity? 

    Podcast Date
    Sept 26 & Oct 3 2022

    Podcast Source
    Hunger for Wholeness  

    Podcast Host
    Ilia Delio and Gabi Sloan

  • The Dissenter, with Ricardo Lopes

    This is my second podcast with Ricardo (the first was on July 25 2019) and provides a broad overview of my work.

    Episode Title
    Religion, Multilevel Selection, Group Selection, and Designing Society

    Podcast Date
    Sept 8, 2022

    Podcast Source
    The Dissenter  

    Podcast Host
    Ricardo Lopes

  • The Conscious Capitalist podcast, with Timothy Henry and Raj Sidodia

    I met Raj Sosocia, co-founder of the Conscious Capitalism movement, earlier in 2012 and this podcast conveys our excitement about working with each other.

    Episode Title
     The Scientific Basis for Conscious Capitaliism

    Podcast Date
    Sept 6, 2022

    Podcast Source
    The Conscious Capitalist podcast  

    Podcast Host
    Timothy Henry and Raj Sidodia

  • The Problem with Superchickens

    For decades, I have used a certain experiment on chickens to illustrate multilevel selection theory. This National Geographic podcast brings the chicken experiment to life and weaves several other captivating stories around it. Superb and entertaining!

    Episode Title
    The problem with superchickens

    Podcast Date
    Aug 23, 2022

    Podcast Source
    Overheard at National Geographic  

    Podcast Host
    Ilana Strauss

  • An Evolutionary Economic Paradigm

    This podcast provides an accessible and highly informed introduction to my recent article with Dennis Snower titled "Rethinking the Theoretical Foundation of Economics". Highly recommended as a prelude to tackling the article.

    Episode Title
    An Evolutionary Economic Paradigm

    Podcast Date
    Aug 22, 2022

    Podcast Source
    Musing Mind  

    Podcast Host
    Oshan Jarow

  • Mystics and Skeptics Podcast

    Episode Title
    Altruism: Evolve to a more ProSocial World

    Podcast Date
    May 15, 2022

    Podcast Source
    Mystics and Skeptics Podcast  

    Podcast Host
    Sybil

  • Curious Capitalist with Gavin Watson (2022)

    We explore how evolutionary science provides a theoretical foundation for the Conscious Capitalism movement.

    Episode Title
    The Curious Capitalist – Special Edition

    Podcast Date
    April 30, 2022

    Podcast Source
    Curious Capitalist with Gavin Watson (2022)  

    Podcast Host
    Gavin Watson

  • Jonathan Ellerby Podcast

    Episode Title
    A Sustainable Way Forward for All People

    Podcast Date
    March 30, 2022

    Podcast Source
    Jonathan Ellerby Podcast  

    Podcast Host
    Jonathan Ellerby

  • Underground Antics with Shane Pokroy

    David Sloan Wilson is president of Prosocial World and SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life, through Prosocial World and in his own research and writing. A complete archive of his work is available at www.David SloanWilson.world. His most recent books include his first novel, Atlas Hugged: The Autobiography of John Galt III, and a memoir, A Life Informed by Evolution. “Selfishness beats altruism within groups. Altruistic groups beat selfish groups. Everything else is commentary.” ― David Sloan Wilson & Edward O. Wilson In this episode, David and I explore the explanatory power of evolution. Traditionally, the theory of evolution has been confined to the biological sciences; however, David has spent considerable amounts of time researching and arguing for the necessity and importance of incorporating an evolutionary theory into the social sciences. Cultural evolution, David argues, is an essential component in understanding how we evolve and adapt as human beings. Human beings possess a remarkable capacity for adapting to change. All living creatures have the capacity to adapt to a changing environment, but the human being’s capacity for symbolic thought introduces a new contributive factor: the symbotype. Symbotypes are cognitive processes (thoughts) that work in congruence with other phenotypic manifestations to support us in our change processes. This can be seen both at the individual level and at the group level. As we move towards a more globalized society, it is important for us to use conscious evolutionary paradigms to direct our evolution towards the highest good - a situation whereby altruism and cooperation are central ideals. David’s Research: Wilson is a prominent proponent of the concept of group selection (also known as multi-level selection) in evolution. He and Elliott Sober proposed a framework called multilevel selection theory, which challenges the more orthodox approach of gene-level selection and individual selection, in their book Unto Others. This framework argues that natural selection operates on a nested hierarchy of units, such as between genes within individuals, between individuals within groups, between groups within a multi-group population, and even between ecosystems (such as microbiomes) in multi-ecosystem populations. Each level of selection results in adaptations at that level and tends to be undermined by selection at lower levels. Hence the notion of multilevel selection. Wilson has also coined the concept of a trait-group, a group of organisms linked not permanently as a group but having a shared fate due to interactions that they have. Wilson has described himself as an “enthusiastic proponent” of the extended evolutionary synthesis. Support Prosocial Commons: https://thisviewoflife.com/introducing-the-prosocial-commons/  

    Episode Title
    The Explanatory Power of Evolution

    Podcast Date
    March 28, 2022

    Podcast Source
    Underground Antics with Shane Pokroy  

    Podcast Host
    Shane Pokroy

  • Evolution's Key Practices and Design Patterns

    This episode of State of Emergence, features an additional conversation with last week’s featured guest, the evolutionary biologist and important social theorist David Sloan Wilson. If you haven’t already listened to last week’s episode with David — episode 069, titled “A Human Superorganism — The Higher Potentials of Cooperation” — we encourage you to begin there for a more concise and concentrated overview of his ideas. In this separate unedited conversation (which took place beforehand) David and Terry go into the practical application of his ideas at greater length and explored many nuanced distinctions, principles, and practices — it gives us valuable insight into some of the design principles and practices that can enable social experiments and cooperative communities to succeed and grow. They consider the virtues and exploitations of competition, multiple layers of competition, genetic vs. cultural steams of evolution, the role of symbols in evolving our cultural narratives, and the Nobel laureate and political economist Elinor Ostrom’s eight principles for “managing a commons.”) If you belong to and participate in a community of any kind, we hope this deep dive into the dynamics of cooperation serves you and inspires a new level of practice and efficacy in your group’s efforts. For more information on David Sloan Wilson and Terry Patten, check out the following resources: • David’s new novel, Atlas Hugged is gifted, not sold, for whatever the reader wishes to give in return, with all proceeds going to Prosocial World. For this reason, it is available only on its website: www.AtlasHugged.world. • David’s nonprofit organization, Prosocial World • David’s book, This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution • David’s book, Does Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes and the Welfare of Others • David’s book, Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion and the Nature of Society • Terry Patten’s nonprofit, A New Republic of the Heart • Terry Patten’s personal website Join us as a Friend of State of Emergence We will be exploring this episode in greater depth during our next State of Emergence live Q&A (date and time to be announced soon). If you haven’t already joined us, we invite you to become a Friend of State of Emergence and join these monthly Q&A sessions with me and other listeners episodes, as well as help the podcast become financially sustainable. A vibrant, intelligent, and caring community is already gathering around State of Emergence and we’d love for you to be part of it.

    Episode Title
    Evolution's Key Practices and Design Principles

    Podcast Date
    Jun 1, 2021

    Podcast Source
    State of Emergence  

    Podcast Host
    Terry Patten

  • Evolution, Contextual Behavioral Science, Religion, and Group Selection

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenter PayPal: paypal.me/thedissenter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDissenterYT Dr. David Sloan Wilson is SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life, both in his own research and as director of the Evolution Institute, a unique campus-wide evolutionary studies program that recently received NSF funding to expand into a nationwide consortium. His books include Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society; Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives; The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time and Does Altruism Exist? Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others; and a recently edited book, Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science. In this episode, our conversation we focused initially on Evolutionary and Contextual Behavioral Science, the recently published book edited by Dr. David Sloan Wilson and Dr. Steven C. Hayes. We discuss what evolutionary theory brings to the table, and its shortcomings in dealing with behavior (human and non-human), and the contributions of Skinner, behaviorism and contextual science that have been mostly ignored by mainstream Psychology. We then talk about the extended evolutionary synthesis, and how Lamarckism might still have a saying in how evolution by natural selection works. Finally, we briefly talk about religion as a human construct, and what the New Atheist get wrong about it; and about group selection included in a multilevel selection process. Time Links: 01:05 Evolutionary and Contextual Behavioral Science 06:26 The work of B. F. Skinner 12:32 What contextual behavioral science adds to the cognitive picture of the human mind 20:51 Modularity of the human mind, innate and environmental mechanisms 31:24 Environment, development, and phenotypic plasticity 36:58 The extended evolutionary synthesis 43:36 Lamarckism, Darwinism, and the new synthesis 49:27 Religion as a human construct 1:01:01 About group selection 1:03:50 Follow Dr. Sloan Wilson’s work! -- Follow Dr. Sloan Wilson’s work: Faculty page: https://tinyurl.com/yadbq9sw The Evolution Institute: https://tinyurl.com/ycyo8d7w The View of Life Magazine: https://tinyurl.com/ybnrencj Evonomics: https://tinyurl.com/yaoayddq Twitter handle: @David_S_Wilson Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: https://tinyurl.com/y9pypu7w Darwin’s Cathedral: https://tinyurl.com/y8rhbbw5 Upcoming book, This View of Life: https://tinyurl.com/y9lh54ct Other relevant links: Tinbergen’s 4 Questions: https://tinyurl.com/y9ge5984 Skinner’s Selection by Consequences: https://tinyurl.com/ybzetc3a The Adapted Mind: https://tinyurl.com/yay653pf

    Episode Title
    Evolution, Contextual Behavioral Science, Religion, and Group Selection

    Podcast Date
    Jul 25, 2019

    Podcast Source
    The Dissenter  

    Podcast Host
    Ricardo Lopez

  • David Sloan Wilson Interview on Group Selection, Memes, and Western Values

    YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3fG96gvgLU David Sloan Wilson is an American evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University. https://twitter.com/David_S_Wilson Curt Jaimungal is directing / writing an imminent documentary Better Left Unsaid http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com on the topic of "when does the left go too far?" Visit that site if you'd like to contribute to getting the film distributed (early-2021). Patreon for conversations on Theories of Everything, Consciousness, Free Will, and God: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal Help support conversations like this via PayPal: https://bit.ly/2EOR0M4 Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802 Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Id3k7k7mfzahfx2fjqmw3vufb44 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802 * * * 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:54 Is "the West" losing its values? What are those values? 00:05:24 Multi-level selection vs. Group Selection 00:11:10 The political right vs left in terms of level of evolutionary selection 00:12:51 Identity Politics framed in terms of group selection (plus a definition of Identity Politics) 00:15:04 Why can't a propitious argument made FOR Identity Politics? 00:20:05 How can we adopt a "whole Earth ethic" as a country, when others don't adopt it? 00:23:47 What do humans need to behave "selflessly" when animals get along with doing so? 00:28:16 Link between evolutionary theory and Buddhism 00:30:00 Humans are built to cooperate in small groups (not large) 00:32:49 We've selected ourselves for timidity 00:38:03 A synoptic view of "This View of Life" and the need for encompassing values 00:38:32 Classical economics (and some contemporary) is wrong and unadaptive 00:40:44 If we've been selected for altruism, why is it difficult? 00:44:54 Carl Jung and selfish acts being unselfish (because they harm you in the long-run) 00:50:24 A $1000 suit isn't to look good, but to look BETTER than the guy with a $500 suit 00:53:00 How good is altruism as a motivational agent for behavior?  00:55:54 Tribalism is the answer, not the problem 00:57:05 Problems with Social Constructionism 00:59:18 Postmodernism and David Sloan Wilson's issues with it 01:03:28 Women's studies / LGBTQ studies / etc. utilizing "tribal circuitry" 01:06:53 The "Ultimatum Game" in evolutionary psychology 01:09:55 On this "tribal circuitry" again 01:17:40 On the Nordic countries and the "homogeneity" argument 01:23:58 Is communism more adaptive than capitalism? 01:28:31 "Tight and loose" compared to totalitarian systems (existential security) 01:31:38 Which memes are prius to liberalism? 01:36:28 Are the Inuit less adapted than the White Europeans who invented centralized heating? 01:42:37 Is virtue as "honesty / forthrightness / generosity" a human universal given most studies are done on Westerners? 01:45:10 Is David Sloan Wilson a moral relativist? 01:47:38 The effects of arcane disciplines in Universities spreading outward to the culture 01:49:47 Evolutionary theory as a unifying language for the disparate fields of science 01:54:05 "When does the left go too far?" 01:56:18 Memes that last so long they affect our evolution 01:57:26 Dawkin's concept of "gene" was problematic, and thus so is "meme" 02:00:06 Jordan Peterson vs Susan Blackmore on memes and Jung 02:02:10 Chomskyan grammar and Pinker's language instinct is wrong 02:04:06 On Victor Huang's "innovation oasis" 02:08:58 Applying Victor's Huang's concept to Curt's non-profit indiefilmTO 02:14:46 Is there such a thing as biological sex? 02:16:08

    Episode Title
    Interview on Group Selection, Memes, and Western Values

    Podcast Date
    Dec 14, 2020

    Podcast Source
    Theories of Everything  

    Podcast Host
    Curt Jaimungal

  • [Unedited] Evolving a City - David and Krista Tippett

    David Sloan Wilson believes that evolution is not just a description of how we got here. He says it can also be a tool kit for improving how we live together. He’s taken what he’s learned in studying evolution in animals and is now applying it to the behavior of groups in his hometown of Binghamton, New York. His goal is to help people behave pro-socially — at their best, and for the good of the whole. This is Krista Tippett’s complete, unabridged conversation with David Sloan Wilson that’s included in the show “Evolving a City.” See more at onbeing.org/program/evolving-city/4720

    Episode Title
    David Sloan Wilson with Krista Tippett

    Podcast Date
    Oct 17, 2013

    Podcast Source
    On Being  

    Podcast Host
    Krista Tippett

  • Evolving a Multi-Cellular Society

    David Sloan Wilson is SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He is widely known for his fundamental contributions to evolutionary science and for explaining evolution to the general public. Listen as David talks to Ken Wilber about his recent book, This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution, in this fascinating discussion of conscious, cultural, and biological evolution — and how we can use the fundamental patterns running through all three in order to create a more adaptable and sustainable future. It is often said that humanity represents the process of evolution becoming self-aware. We are a universe awakening to itself — and part of that awakening is a capacity to reflect upon the various core design principles and strategies that have been guiding our evolutionary emergence ever since the Big Bang, and to then consciously employ these same strategies in order to create a genuinely multi-cellular society for the human superorganism.

    Episode Title
    Evolving a Multi-Cellular Society

    Podcast Date
    Jun 13, 2019

    Podcast Source
    Everyone is Right  

    Podcast Host
    Ken Wilber

  • David's Chat with Dr. Gad Saad

    Topics covered include social constructivism, the empty slate premise, cultural evolution, multilevel selection/group selection, evolutionary psychology, religion, and atheism. This chat was originally posted on November 12, 2019 on my YouTube channel as THE SAAD TRUTH_978: https://youtu.be/zXcU6qPcVvE Please visit my new website gadsaad.com, and sign up for alerts. If you appreciate my content, click on the "Support My Work" button. I count on my fans to support my efforts.

    Episode Title
    The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad

    Podcast Date
    Jul 2, 2020

    Podcast Source
    The Saad Truth  

    Podcast Host
    Dr Gad Saad

  • Does Altruism Exist

    In 1759, while working as a tutor, Adam Smith wrote a book called The Theory of Moral Sentiments that begins as follows: "How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortunes of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it. Of this kind is pity or compassion, the emotion we feel for the misery of others, when we either see it, or are made to conceive it in a very lively manner. That we often derive sorrow from the sorrows of others, is a matter of fact too obvious to require any instances to prove it; for this sentiment, like all the other original passions of human nature, is by no means confined to the virtuous or the humane, though they perhaps may feel it with the most exquisite sensibility. The greatest ruffian, the most hardened violator of the laws of society, is not altogether without it." In 1776, that same Adam Smith would write The Wealth of Nations, the book that would establish capitalism. To a modern audience, for whom the idea of selfishness is synonymous with capitalism, this seems incredibly strange. However, it wasn't strange at all. Smith was primarily interested in improving the well-being of humanity. To him, it was clear that market forces were one of the great tools for doing this. However, this does not mean that Smith believed that humanity was entirely selfish.  Wilson Sensei will be on the podcast again in the near future. Tweet him @David_S_Wilson

    Episode Title
    Does Altruism Exist? David Sloan Wilson Enters The Dojo

    Podcast Date
    Dec 11, 2017

    Podcast Source
    Mixed Mental Arts  

    Podcast Host
    Bryan Callen and Hunter Maats

  • A Human Superorganism: The Higher Potentials of Cooperation

    Brilliant evolutionary biologist and important social theorist David Sloan Wilson joins Terry to clarify the real implications of what we know about evolution, focusing on how “multi-level selection,” interpersonal cooperation and altruism are no less central to evolution than is competition. Groups of “prosocial” individuals, under the right conditions, robustly outcompete groups of self-interested individuals. David shares important concrete principles that can be applied by small and medium-sized groups who are attempting prosocial experiments of their own. He gets specific about which special conditions and shared agreements are required to nurture prosocial behaviors — and, very importantly, protect them. We ask: Is rapid social transformation possible? What kinds of behavior would qualify human beings as a “superorganism” that prioritizes the wellbeing of the whole and responds collectively and effectively to its existential crises? In the coming week, we will release a second “bonus” conversation I had with David. In it, he goes into much greater detail about the core design principles that enable prosocial cooperation to succeed, and the practices of acceptance and commitment that make them possible. David Sloan Wilson is a "hard" evolutionary scientist who also champions Conscious Evolution. He is the author of books such as Darwin's Cathedral, Does Altruism Exist? and This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution. His new book is a novel: Atlas Hugged: The Autobiography of John Galt III — a critique of Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism and its impact on the world. In addition to his writing and university teaching, David is President of the nonprofit organization Prosocial World, whose mission is to accomplish rapid positive multilevel cultural evolution in the real world. Here are some of the questions we explore in the episode: • How is the latest evolutionary science now contradicting past misunderstandings, and actually validating spiritual and evolutionary perspectives? • How do groups of altruistic or “prosocial” individuals outcompete groups of self-interested individuals? What makes individuals & groups “prosocial?” • How can groups of prosocial individuals protect their cultures and ways of cooperating from selfish or predatory individuals and groups? • Can groups reach a critical level of efficacy or creativity that catalyzes rapid transformation? What agreements, design principles & mechanisms are required? For more information on David Sloan Wilson and Terry Patten, check out the following resources: • David’s new novel, Atlas Hugged is gifted, not sold, for whatever the reader wishes to give in return, with all proceeds going to Prosocial World. For this reason, it is available only on its website: www.AtlasHugged.world. • David’s nonprofit organization, Prosocial World • David’s book, This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution • David’s book,

    Episode Title
    A Human Superorganism: The Higher Potentials of Cooperation

    Podcast Date
    May 22, 2021

    Podcast Source
    State of Emergence  

    Podcast Host
    Terry Patten

  • Conscious Evolution

    In this bonus episode, Wendy speaks with evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson. This episode is being released in conjunction with Mind & Life's new film, Evolution of the Heart — a short documentary covering conversations between the Dalai Lama, David Sloan Wilson, and social scientist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela from a 2019 Mind & Life event in Dharamsala, India. The theme of that gathering was Compassion, Interconnection, and Transformation; please check out the film here! In this bonus episode, Wendy speaks with evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson. David’s work extends beyond genetics to include personal and cultural evolution, and sheds light on how we can move forward as a global community. In this conversation, they discuss many topics, including: • the role of competition, cooperation, and prosocial behavior in human evolution; • how evolutionary pressure operates at both individual and group levels (multilevel selection); • the possibility of conscious evolution; • what it means to be part of a group; • expanding the notion of the self; • becoming "bilingual" in scientific and spiritual perspectives; • the need to create a system of ethics for the whole world; • and core design principles for creating more egalitarian and compassionate communities.

    Episode Title
    David Sloan Wilson – Conscious Evolution

    Podcast Date
    Jul 9, 2021

    Podcast Source
    Mind and Life Podcast  

    Podcast Host
    Wendy Hasenkamp

  • Homo Socialis: Talking Humans with David Sloan Wilson

    If you haven’t heard the name David Sloan Wilson, then you’re definitely new to Mixed Mental Arts. David Sloan Wilson has pioneered Multi-Level Selection which is one of the cornerstones of the Mixed Mental Arts worldview. It’s how he earned his place in the Holy Trinity of Cultural Evolution and why his book, Does Altruism Exist?, is one of the Four Gospels of the Scientific New Testament. You can find more of the work of the community David has created at Evonomics.com.

    Episode Title
    Homo Socialis

    Podcast Date
    Jan 23, 2018

    Podcast Source
    Mixed Mental Arts  

    Podcast Host
    Bryan Callen and Hunter Maats

  • Ursula King, Andrew Revkin, and David Sloan Wilson

    The coming stage of evolution, Teilhard de Chardin said, won’t be driven by physical adaptation but by human consciousness, creativity, and spirit. We visit with his biographer Ursula King, and we experience his ideas energizing New York Times Dot Earth blogger Andrew Revkin and evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson.

    Episode Title
    Teilhard de Chardin's Planetary Mind and Our Spiritual Evolution

    Podcast Date
    Jan 23, 2014

    Podcast Source
    On Being  

    Podcast Host
    Krista Tippett

  • David with Michael Shermer - This View of Life

    In this dialogue Dr. Shermer speaks with Dr. David Sloan Wilson, the renowned evolutionary biologist and Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. His previous books include Evolution for Everyone, The Neighborhood Project, Does Altruism Exist? and Darwin’s Cathedral. He is the president of the Evolution Institute and editor in chief of its online magazine, This View of Life. His new book, out this week, is This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution. He and Shermer discuss… • what it means to complete the Darwinian Revolution • solving the “is-ought” and “naturalistic fallacy” through proper science and philosophy • why evolutionary psychology is an equal opportunity offender for liberals and conservatives • why both laissez faire and command economies fail • what is morality? • dispelling the myth of social darwinism • policy as a branch of biology • solving the tragedy of the commons through game theory • the evolutionary origins of good and evil • natural selection, group selection, multi-level selection and the debate with Steven Pinker and Richard Dawkins over selfish genes • why nationalism is like religion • how a biologist thinks about immigration, nuclear deterrence and other policy issues • the rise of nationalism and what to do about it. Listen to Science Salon via iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Soundcloud. This Science Salon was recorded on February 1, 2019. We apologize for the quality of this episode; it was recorded before Michael moved to the new recording studio. We still have a couple episodes to release from the old studio. Quality of subsequent episodes will be better. You play a vital part in our commitment to promote science and reason. If you enjoy the Science Salon Podcast, please show your support by making a donation, or by becoming a patron.

    Episode Title
    This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution

    Podcast Date
    Feb 26, 2019

    Podcast Source
    The Michael Shermer Show  

    Podcast Host
    Michael Shermer

  • David and Steven Hayes - Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science

    Today we have David Sloan Wilson and Steven Hayes on the podcast. David Sloan Wilson is president of The Evolution Institute and a SUNY distinguished professor of biology and anthropology at Binghamton University. Sloan Wilson applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the biological world. His books include Darwin’s Cathedral, Evolution for Everyone, The Neighborhood Project, and Does Altruism Exist? Steven C. Hayes is foundation professor in the department of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. An author of forty-four books and over 600 scientific articles, his career has focused on an analysis of the nature of human language and cognition, and the application of this to the understanding and alleviation of human suffering and the promotion of human prosperity. Hayes has received several awards, including the Impact of Science on Application Award from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). Together, they edited the recent book, “Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Predicting, and Influencing Human Behavior.” In this episode we cover a lot of ground, including: • Steven’s perspective on language and cognition • The difference between evolutionary science and evolutionary psychology • How Skinner thought of himself as an evolutionary psychologist • How evolutionary theory needs to take a step back and taken into account variation selection • How evolutionary science need to be an applied discipline • How evolutionary psychology done right acknowledges both an innate and adaptive component • Why Steven Hayes thinks that 98% of the research we’re doing in psychology might be wrong • Steven’s criticism of psychometric research (he thinks it’s “going down”!) • The first time Steven encountered David’s work and how it made him cry • Steven’s criticism of how the term “genetic” is used in the psychological literature • Separating “pop evolutionary psychology” from good evolutionary science • Renee Duckworth’s skeleton metaphor • The tension between evolutionary change and stability • Why we need to look at function, context, and longitudinal development in order to really balance flexibility and structure, • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as managing the evolutionary process • How multidimensionality and multi-level thinking allows us to manage evolutionary processes like never before • Their upcoming book on prosociality --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

    Episode Title
    Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science

    Podcast Date
    May 30, 2019

    Podcast Source
    The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman  

    Podcast Host
    Barry Kaufman

  • David with Jim Coan

    Welcome to Episode 10, where I talk to DAVID SLOAN WILSON, Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University, about, well, a lot of stuff, from Skinnerian behaviorism to multilevel selection theory, to the behaviors that impede and facilitate scientific progress and even to what Wilson calls “the science to narrative chain,” which is the process by which scientists might most effectively engage with the general public. Wilson is the author of numerous classic papers in the field of evolutionary biology and several books, including Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society, Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives, The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time, Does Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others, and others. And as if that weren’t enough, Wilson also founded Binghamton University’s Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) program, as well as the Evolution Institute, which sets as its goal the application of evolutionary science to the solving of pressing social issues, and, ultimately, to improve quality of life around the globe. The Evolution Institute in turn publishes a fascinating online magazine called This View of Life, “an online general interest magazine in which all of the content is from an evolutionary perspective.” I was a little starstruck during our conversation, but David was an amazing sport about it, generously engaging with each topic and happily spending time with me. I’m extremely grateful for this. My advice for listening is to keep a notepad handy. David Sloan Wilson is almost perpetually quotable! Enjoy! * * * As always, remember that this podcast is brought to you by VQR and the Center for Media and Citizenship. Plus, we're a member of the TEEJ.FM podcast network. AND... The music of CIRCLE OF WILLIS was composed and performed by Tom Stauffer, Gene Ruley and their band THE NEW DRAKES. You can purchase this music at their Amazon page.

    Episode Title
    Human stories of the science that shapes our world

    Podcast Date
    Feb 21, 2018

    Podcast Source
    Circle of Willis  

    Podcast Host
    Jim Coan

  • A conversation with Rory Sutherland on his podcast O Behave!

    Episode Title
    Dr David Sloan Wilson

    Podcast Date
    Feb 26, 2021

    Podcast Source
    O Behave!  

    Podcast Host
    Rory Sutherland

  • The Evolution Of A Renegade — David Sloan Wilson

    This marathon podcast (over three hours!) provides an overview of my life and work.

    Episode Title
    The Evolution Of A Renegade

    Podcast Date
    Feb 17, 2020

    Podcast Source
    The Jolly Swagman Podcast  

    Podcast Host
    Joe Walker

  • David and Iona Italia

    Episode Title
    Against Individualism

    Podcast Date
    Mar 7, 2021

    Podcast Source
    Two for Tea Podcast  

    Podcast Host
    Iona Italia

  • Atlas Hugged and Our Moment of Choice

    Episode Title
    Atlas Hugged and Our Moment of Choice

    Podcast Date
    Jan 19, 2021

    Podcast Source
    This View of Life  

    Podcast Host
    Kurt Johnson

  • David with Pitchfork Economics

    If you’re one of the many people who have asked us to take down the concepts in Atlas Shrugged, which argues that we’re a fundamentally selfish species, this episode is for you! If you’re not one of those people, well, this episode is ALSO for you! Evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson has infused the idea of prosociality (the desire to help others) into his new book, Atlas Hugged, and he joins us to explain why Atlas Hugged is a better predictor of how people act than Atlas Shrugged. David Sloan Wilson is an evolutionary biologist and SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. His books include This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution and the recently published Atlas Hugged. Twitter: @David_S_Wilson Show us some love by leaving a rating or a review! RateThisPodcast.com/pitchforkeconomics Ayn Rand Meets Her Match: David Sloan Wilson Fights Fiction with Fiction: https://evonomics.com/rand-meets-david-sloan-wilson-atlas-hugged/ Get Atlas Hugged for free: https://atlashugged.world/ Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com/ Twitter: @PitchforkEcon Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics Nick’s twitter: @NickHanauer

    Episode Title
    Atlas Hugged

    Podcast Date
    Mar 23, 2021

    Podcast Source
    Pitchfork Economics  

    Podcast Host
    Nick Hanauer

  • David with Michael Shermer - Atlas Hugged

    In episode 154, Michael speaks with renowned evolutionary theorist David Sloan Wilson about his new novel Atlas Hugged: The Autobiography of John Galt III, a devastating critique of Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism and its impact on the world. Shermer and Wilson discuss: the role of fiction and film in spreading ideas, good and bad; empirical/pragmatic/mythic truths; individualism vs. collectivism; why liberals/progressives/feminists don‘t like Rand; the nature of human nature; how small groups best operate and how to scale that up to whole societies; capitalism: good and bad; income inequality; Objectivism and Christianity; and more…

    Episode Title
    Atlas Hugged: The Autobiography of John Galt III

    Podcast Date
    Jan 26, 2021

    Podcast Source
    The Michael Shermer Show  

    Podcast Host
    Michael Shermer

  • David on Simpol Insights with Rob Cobbold

    Episode Title
    David Sloan Wilson

    Podcast Date
    Nov 25, 2020

    Podcast Source
    Simpol Insights  

    Podcast Host
    Rob Cobbold