Moral Consensus

A special bonus episode, recorded with a live audience at the 92nd Street Y in New York City: Simon Sinek talks to Arthur about his book Love Your Enemies.

When people say they love God, what do they actually mean? Are they merely describing a feeling? A physiological experience? Or something more? Arthur seeks answers to what’s happening in our hearts and in our brains when people express love for the divine. Featuring conversations with Bishop Robert Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, and Curt Thompson, psychiatrist and expert on neuroscience and spiritual practice.

Though seemingly straightforward, the question, “Do you love your country?” has taken on added significance in recent years. So what does it mean to love one’s country? And how should we love our country? Arthur takes a closer look at the debate over the appropriate places of patriotism and nationalism, and the virtues and vices of each. Featuring conversations with Brown University political science professor Prerna Singh, Georgetown University international affairs professor Paul Miller, and National Review editor Rich Lowry.

It’s easy to love people who see the world in the same way that we do. But loving our enemies? That’s easier said than done. Arthur examines how former enemies learned to reconcile with one another, and how we can apply the lessons of love and reconciliation to modern political conflicts.

By many measures, Americans have fewer friends and feel lonelier than ever before. Arthur explores the decline of intimate friendship in the U.S., the consequences of loneliness, and how we can build the kinds of friendships that we most deeply desire. Featuring conversations with Doug Nemecek, Chief Medical Officer for Behavioral Health at Cigna, Julia Bainbridge, host of The Lonely Hour podcast, and Vivek Murthy, former surgeon general of the United States.

Do you love your job? Many of us don’t – and it’s beginning to show. Arthur looks at why many Americans are disengaged at work, why our jobs often leave us dissatisfied, and how a different approach to work and success can give us a greater sense of purpose and life satisfaction. Featuring conversations with organizational psychologist and host of the TED WorkLife podcast Adam Grant, Gallup Chairman and CEO Jim Clifton, bestselling author William Deresiewicz, and Arthur’s son Carlos Brooks.

Taking a risk for love - this is ‘romantic entrepreneurship’. And these days, there’s a lot less of it. Arthur talks about generational differences in romantic risk-taking, our preoccupation with emotional safety, and the benefits of taking risks with your heart, even when things don’t work out. Featuring conversations with Arthur’s wife Ester Munt-Brooks, Romel Nicholas, and San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge.

Arthur Brooks is back this Valentine's Day with a new season on love: why you need it and how to get it. But not just romantic love – love for all of the other important areas of our lives, too. Arthur explores what it means to find meaning in our work, the significance of loving one's country, our longing for better friendships in an age of loneliness and how to love your enemies.

The last episode of the season looks at moral consensus, the necessity of a moral core around which our debates must revolve. Arthur talks to John Powell, who leads the UC Berkeley Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, and to John Tomasi, professor of political science at Brown University, and founder of the Political Theory Project. To get in touch with the show, email [email protected]

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number and scope of crises we constantly see flashing across our phones and television screens. In fact, our brains – and our hearts – aren’t built to process conflicts on such a massive scale. In this episode, Arthur looks at ‘thinking small,’ the notion that by focusing on what is individual, local, and within our sphere of influence, we can paradoxically bring about more change, disagree more productively, and become happier people. Hear conversations with Paul Slovic, Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon, and James and Deborah Fallows, who share stories from their journey across the country for their book “Our Towns.”