S1E62 - Jason Snell - AI, Digital Divides, and Apple's Challenges
In this engaging conversation with tech expert Jason Snell, the dialogue covered diverse AI-related topics. From the challenges of regulation to biases in machine learning models, the conversation explored societal impacts, education, and the digital divide. Jason also shared insights on the transformative nature of the Internet and discussed Apple's corporate culture amid regulatory concerns. The discourse highlighted the need to reframe AI discussions positively. Aspiring journalists received advice from Jason stressing passion, consistency, and genuine interest in the subject for success in the evolving industry. The conversation provided a rich exploration of AI's potential and its complex implications.
- Title and Summary generated by AI
S1E61 - Cuong Do - Slowing Cognitive Decline
In this enlightening episode of Gray Matter, Michael Krasny explores the life and work of accomplished entrepreneur and CEO of BioVie, Cuong Do. Starting from his humble beginnings as an immigrant from Vietnam, Cuong details his extensive contributions in the fields of business strategy and bio-medical research, from discovering a potential Alzheimer’s treatment to his work in helping autistic individuals. He shares insights from his extensive career on overcoming challenges and how his humanitarian efforts, including teacher training in Cambodia and work with autistic children, are close to his heart. Join us as Cuong offers his perspective on a diverse range of issues including longevity, health, and the American dream.
S1E60 - Dr. Laura Esserman - Aspiring to Better
We recently spoke with Dr. Laura Esserman, a leading internationally recognized surgeon and breast cancer oncologist at the University of California, San Francisco where she serves as director of the UCSF Breast Care Center. We discussed the need to redefine cancer and the need for personalized patient centered care in health care, as well as a range of other issues related to public policy and their impact on the delivery of clinical care. Join us!
S1E59 - Abraham Verghese - Humanizing Healthcare
Best-selling author and Stanford Professor of Medicine Abraham Verghese joined us to talk about his widely acclaimed and best-selling memoirs and novels, and look at the ways medicine can be practiced as a more patient centered, empathic and caring two way relationship. We discussed, too, the value of bedside medicine and the physical exam. Join us.
S1E58 - Tenshin Reb Anderson - The Power of Conversation
Our conversation with Tenshin Reb Anderson, one of the most prominent contemporary Zen Buddhist teachers and scholars, author, dharma leader and former abbot, included a deep dive into the belief and practice of Buddhism, with a focus on the wisdom in it for us all, along with your questions and comments.
S1E57 - Larry Smith & Melanie Abrams - Inhibitions Down. Connections Up.
Our interview with Larry Smith and Melanie Abrams challenged our assumptions as we explored the many conceptions and misconceptions of cannabis use. Their new book, The Joy of Cannabis, is an attempt to clear up misunderstanding and describe the how and why of safely availing ourselves of the benefits. In the 1930s with the wane of Prohibition the commissioner of the Federal Bureau Narcotics, Harry Anslinger, attempted to retain personal relevance with racist and xenophobic fear mongering and criminalizing marijuana. Now, with no personal financial interests in a dispensary, Smith and Abrams hope to reset perceptions and normalize the discussion by reassessing the merits. They know the research and call for more. They discourage use before the age of 25 to allow full development of our frontal lobes. Not all weed is created equal, so they are pragmatic about finding what’s right for you. With much greater safety and effectiveness than alcohol, most importantly they point to how small amounts responsibly administered deliver outsized benefits of pain management, focus, flow, creativity, connection and even orgasm. The tidal wave of legalization is based on reclaiming the virtues. Join us to find out what you might not know.
S1E56 - Lee Child - The Business of Revenge
We met with Lee Child on the eve of his retirement as the author of the Jack Reacher book series. The premier proxy for millions of readers who yearn for revenge in lives where revenge is impractical or out of reach, the character of Jack Reacher is a figure who metes out justice against bullies in a way that ironically is equitable and fair. We reflect on Child’s illustrious career, the Reacher movie and TV franchises, the handoff to his younger brother, his “one-draft” writing and research process, his love of guitars and cannabis, and what he thinks he might miss in retirement. Whether you’re curious about Jack Reacher’s motivations and worries, want to know about the inspiration behind the villains in The Secret, are curious about writing in general, or simply wonder what the future holds for storytelling in a world with AI, this conversation holds something for you. Join us for a thoroughly entertaining hour.
S1E55 - Amichai Magen - Defeating an Ideology
In the wake of Hamas’ unprecedented attack across Israel’s southern border with Gaza, we met with Amichai Magen, Visiting Fellow in Israeli Studies at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies to take stock of the humanitarian and geopolitical dynamics in Israel, Gaza, the Middle East, and the globe writ large. As the chess pieces of this conflict continue to move, the central question is whether pragmatic Islamic states can establish stability by resisting the seeds of chaos sewn by the “Axis of Resistance.” The irony of jihadist terrorism is that Muslims disproportionately bear the brunt. Tectonic plates are shifting. Will Hatikva (The Hope) prevail? Listen for what phoenix might rise from these ashes. Magen quotes Israel’s first prime minister David Ben Guron to say, “If you don’t believe in miracles, you’re not a realist.” Join us.
S1E54 - Iain McCaig - Storytelling from the Chocolate Box
Why are some of us drawn to scary stories? “Because we want to believe that we are strong enough to survive being scared.” In peeking into that dark side, we cultivate empathy. Few have had a bigger role in constructing imaginary worlds than renowned concept artist Iain McCaig. His work is truly the stuff of legend. We found his zest for illustration, telling stories, the creative process and living a creative life to be nothing short of infectious. Accountable only to his own validation, McCaig is an exemplar of living fully and illuminating a path for the rest of us to follow. We spoke of his illustrious career and his esteemed colleagues, as well as his myriad creative projects past, present and future. Unencumbered by a quest for truth, McCaig cannot NOT tell stories that make people smile. Despite, or perhaps because of, being left to live alone at 14 and surviving a heart attack, he is only afraid of being afraid. He left us with an irrepressible urge to draw our own stories - a skill, he insists, that we all possess. Join us to catch that itch.
S1E53 - Norman Solomon - Shining Light on Inconvenient Truths
We met with Norman Solomon, co-founder of RootsAction.org and executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, to shed light on what we are NOT told about our military involvement around the globe. One cannot fathom the human toll of 4.5 million lives lost directly and indirectly from US military action since 9/11. Solomon implicates corporate media and Hollywood in obfuscating the real human cost, especially of innocent non-combatants. To illustrate this point, he explains that for every innocent US life lost in the World Trade Center attack, the US killed 100 innocents in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. Why do we value one human life more than another? While hopeful of a time when humanity can rise above violent conflict, Solomon principally advocates for more truthful and accurate disclosure in place of the terrifyingly efficient propaganda machine that erases this awareness from the public consciousness. The glorification of war and the absence of rigorous discourse before military action all contribute to this. Decentralized non-corporate journalism may hold a key. Newsrooms themselves have become an endangered species. Can we build movements and sensibilities that say “war first” is unacceptable? To quote Antonio Gramsci, “It is time for pessimism of the intellect, and optimism of the will.” Join us.
S1E52 - Geraldo Rivera - For the Record
We talked to Geraldo Rivera about a range of topics, including much that is in the news and on Fox News, where he was for twenty-three years until recently. Leadership there is soon to change from Rupert Murdoch to his son Lachlan. What does Geraldo think about that shift and what are his thoughts on the so-called "fair and balanced" news network? We talked to him about his career and his politics and his long-time friendship with Donald Trump. All of that and more were up for discussion as were his many feuds and controversies. Join us!
S1E51 - Avi Loeb - The Infinite Sum Game
In the same week that NASA announced Mark McInerney as its new Director of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Research - known to the rest of us as UFOs - we met with Harvard Professor of Science Avi Loeb, dubbed one of the 25 most influential people on the topic of Space. We discuss his recent expedition to the ocean near Papua New Guinea where their team collected and analyzed material from an interstellar “package” that could provide physical evidence of intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe. While Loeb points out that the ocean is an “excellent museum” where we can conduct cost-effective research, he is under fire for his engagement of the public and for proposals that some think are outlandish. In his own defense, he is collecting the physical evidence, using the scientific process to validate his claims, and staying true to the spirit of academia. Tenure was designed to encourage researchers and thinkers to deviate from the beaten path in order to achieve breakthroughs. Loeb believes that finding an intergalactic “partner” would give humanity vast inspiration and greater purpose than the common cross-border squabbles that currently consume most of our resources in defense spending. Listen for a glimpse into how we all can contribute to the “Infinite Sum Game” that is the nature of science. Join us.
S1E50 - Sean Walsh - We Must Do Better
We met with Sean Walsh, premier political analysts and former advisor to Presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Regan, to glean his perspectives on the GOP, its future, pressing political issues, and what is unfolding in the run up to the 2024 elections. A classical conservative and a leading thinker, Walsh shined piercing light on the challenges for both parties and the country as a whole. Geopolitically he views the U.S. as very vulnerable. He sounded a clarion call for taking a sober look in the mirror. We should be preparing for an emboldened China, and tackling the collapse of manufacturing, its workforce, and its supply chains. The American Dream appears to have changed, and seemingly not for the better. Mourning the loss of serious discourse in an age of soundbites and the rise of government and prosecutorial overreach, Walsh sees that we have much catching up to do to become commercially and militarily competitive again. Irrespective of your politics, we think you’ll find that our conversation was the “serious discourse” of which we need more. Join us.
S1E49 - Andy Ihnatko - The Balance of Technology
We met with tech journalist and commentator Andy Ihnatko for a big picture assessment on technology’s influence on society. Ihnatko is riveted by this moment — when the precedents of our society’s origins and founding documents failed to envision the questions and ethical quandaries posed by Artificial Intelligence. We must balance the opposing forces. Privacy, accuracy and data usage are challenged in unforeseen ways. We cannot deny that more work will be done better as AI gets layered into the existing tools that we already use to further boost our productivity and creative expression. Regulation too soon can crush new industries, but internal industry researchers who inform voluntary guidelines can be influenced or silenced. Giants like Apple, Google and Microsoft can bring an ever-improving experience to the consumer, but when do they cross the line and hurt the consumer through their market power? Kids can discover a vast world beyond their borders, but tech can also negatively impact their brain development. The Internet brings us more ways to live and work, but the Digital Divide and surveillance makes the powerless even more powerless. Ihnatko echoes a sentiment we often hear on Grey Matter, that we must practice deep interest and care for our fellow humans. Let us remain vigilant that we’re using tech to solve a problem or create an opportunity. Join us.
S1E48 - Tiffany Shlain - Lead Not by Fear
In troubling times, the voice of articulate optimists can lift the spirit and light a way forward. To this end, we met with feminist, movie maker, artist, thinker and founder of the Webby Awards, Tiffany Shlain. As one who made her own documentary film, “The Tribe,” on Barbie and Jewish Identity 18 years ago, we began with her reflections on the recently released Barbie movie. We transitioned into several of her creative projects, including Dendrofemonology, a Feminist History Tree Ring that recounts the “herstory” of women who initially enjoyed 10,000 years of power and goddess culture. The intersectionality of her activism seeks rights for all humans because, in the end, Shlain believes in humans and in our ability to find the good in an ever-changing world. Shlain recommends navigating this unfamiliar territory with science, collaboration and grace. Technology is an extension of us, and while it can be used for ill, its powers for good emerge from pushing past our fear and engaging with it. The Webby Awards highlight this positive dimension. Her inspiration comes from ideas that stand the test of time — like a day of rest. Already we find that kids are smarter, and discovering new ways to become themselves. Her next project on neurology will debunk many common metaphors about teenagers, who she sees as “emotionally brilliant.” We reassert that children are our legacy. In closing, we remember her father, Leonard Shlain, who encouraged us to think big and be present. Join us.
S1E47 - Alice Waters - Nourishing All
When we think of reconnecting to ourselves and to our society, the answers may lie in the simplest of things. To that end, we met with food revolutionary and founder of Chez Panisse - Alice Waters, to return to our roots. At the start of her journey, Waters embarked on an improbable quest to reconnect us to ourselves through delicious food and the organic and regenerative husbandry of the earth. Moving from her kitchen table, to the restaurant, to prison gardens, to gardens for the homeless and on to a national network of Edible Schoolyards, Waters found nourishment for our bodies, our spirit, our society and our planet. Listen in to hear how “we are what we eat” might make us the best we can be. Join us.
S1E46 - Jason Del Rey - Winner Sells All
The migration to eCommerce took a massive leap forward during the COVID pandemic. Few benefited as much as Amazon and Walmart. To get a handle on this phenomenon, we met with Jason Del Rey who chronicled the rise, challenges and impact of these two behemoths on global retail. Drawing from the reporting for his recent book, Winner Sells All: Amazon, Walmart and the Battle for our Wallets, Jason Del Rey is uniquely qualified to comment. Walmart is doing about as well online as Amazon is doing in brick and mortar retail, but these two titans are in pitched, existential competition. On the one hand, the consumer gets greater choice at lower prices. On the other, mom and pops across the country have shuttered and both giants get low marks for their labor practices. How did they get here? What are their struggles and opportunities? What are the implications for us all? Join us.
S1E45 - Bruce Cain - Back to Compromise
At the time of our recording, Trump had just received his third indictment for his role in the January 6th insurrection. To give us some greater perspective on the state of politics in our fragile democracy, we turned to Stanford political science professor Bruce Cain who is one of our nation's great political analysts. Cain reflected on Trump’s many self-made challenges, the options before the Republican and Democratic parties, the relevance of polling, the vulnerabilities of our democratic system, and ideas to help us get our system of governance back on track. On top of all that impedes our politics, reacting to changes in the climate heightens our need for timely action. We are in a perfect storm. And yet, there is hope. Cain’s latest book reflects on how we will likely find ways to decarbonize in the long run, even if we don’t move fast enough to avoid the inevitable disruption that climate change will bring in the short run. Cain argues that deniers change their tune when they experience extreme weather effects first hand. He adds that, “...ultimately it is a cultural thing.” Our education, our religions and our journalism will be where we find ways to combat the forces that manipulate us. We’ll have to find our way back to political compromise, for that is how James Madison envisioned our system must function. Join us.
S1E44 - David Rubenstein - History Through Icons
We met with business magnate and patriotic philanthropist, David Rubenstein, to discuss his new PBS series - Iconic America. This entertaining and informative eight-part series is an exploration of our glorious and inglorious history as symbolized by eight key American icons. For students of history, our conversation illuminates some of the key stories revealed in the series, as well as some of their backstories and a little inside baseball. For fans of David Rubenstein himself, our conversation dipped into his origins, his motivations, his successes and his aspirations. Rubenstein is a believer and a beneficiary of the “American Dream,” and his philanthropy supports this country’s further perfection of the dream. Convinced that we ignored George Santayana’s advice and are making some of the same mistakes of our past, Iconic America is an enticing invitation to dig deeper and learn more. Join us.
S1E43 - Brian Lowery - Your Chameleon “You”
We met with social psychologist and business school professor Brian Lowery to explore the foundations of the self - nothing short of what makes us who we are. Lowery argues that our social communities construct us, but that there isn’t a single “genuine self.” Rather, we are the composite of all the masks we wear. This paradox reveals a deep tension between the structure we seek because we like to think the world is stable and coherent, and the complete freedom of becoming our more expansive selves through broader relationships. Lowery challenges Maslow to say that meaning is a fundamental human need as critical as basic safety. We want to be seen, and we want to have what is reflected back by others match how we see ourselves. When we talk about the self, are we talking about the physical self of cells, hormones and DNA, or are we actually talking about the meaning attached to those things? If the latter, those exist in our social relationships. Prepare to question your assumptions. Join us.
