Merit – Michael Sandel & Elif Shafak

“Incredibly online” Ph.D. researcher, and activist Rianna Walcott spoke at Libreria during U.K. Black History Month on “Tech Bias and Digital Communities and muses on the nuances of tech and anti-racism with a sharp critique of woke-washing by blue-chip brands.

Could antipathy to hard work be humankind's greatest salvation? We consider this in the latest episode of Creative Collisions. Our guest is Oxford Professor Marcus du Sautoy, one of the world's leading mathematical communicators in conversation with Second Home founder Rohan Silva to discuss du Sautoy's latest book "Thinking Better: The Art Of the Shortcut" and according to him, math is central to the shortcut. In this spirited discussion they examine how circumventing obstruction in problem solving has underpinned humanity's greatest achievements and against all odds--driven some of civilization's greatest progress. Plus: how we can use them to solve complex challenges in everyday life.

In this episode iconic art curator Hans Ulrich Obrist shares new imaginative ways from the art world for us to engage with the climate emergency in our daily lives, in our homes and communities, as well as public spaces. He's joined by artist & filmmaker Lynn Hershman and the youngest ever architect to be commissioned for the Serpentine Pavilion Sumayya Vally to discuss 140 Artists' Ideas for Planet Earth – a publication dedicated to the environment and the climate emergency.

BAFTA nominated producer Faye Ward and award-winning casting director Kharmel Cochrane of the groundbreaking female-led production 'Anne Boleyn' in conversation with Professor of History of Slavery Olivette Otele, discuss this empowering period drama, and revisit history from a different perspective.

Theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, in conversation with Second Home co-founder Rohan Silva, discusses his radical approach to quantum physics, and its profound implications for contemporary culture.

Award-winning author and professor James Shapiro in conversation with Second Home co-founder Rohan Silva to discuss his latest book Shakespeare in a Divided America, and explore the nation’s fault lines around race, gender, immigration and free speech.

In the aftermath of Trump's historic second impeachment trial, director and comedian Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up) and President Obama's former solicitor general Neal Katyal catch up for a frank conversation about what the future holds for Donald Trump and his followers. All donations raised from this event go to 826LA - a non-profit organisation based at Second Home Hollywood that supports young students with their creative and expository writing skills. Donate via https://826la.org/donate/.

Academy award-winning director Kevin Macdonald and ACLU SoCal senior staff attorney Mohammad Tajsar discuss The Mauritanian - his new film based on the true story of a man imprisoned without charge in Guantanamo for 14 years.

The rock star Harvard political philosopher Michael Sandel joins award winning Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak to discuss meritocracy, inequality and the ideas raised in Sandel’s new book The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good? This episode is part of a new series presented by Second Home and Berggruen Institute – free public events that bring together the most inspiring and celebrated figures of our time to exchange and discuss groundbreaking cultural, social and political ideas.

Award-winning Wall Street Journal writer Lee Hawkins and acclaimed historian and outspoken activist Blair Imani join Second Home's Magdalena Moursy and Dow Jones' Chief Innovation Officer Edward Roussel to discuss August 28 – a date that resonates throughout black history and the civil rights movement in America. This episode is part of a new series presented by Second Home and Berggruen Institute – free public events that bring together the most inspiring and celebrated figures of our time to exchange and discuss groundbreaking cultural, social and political ideas.