Back to the future #634

September 25, 2023

We all know that climate change is coming for us. It's already here. But it's really, really hard to change people's actions, especially when those actions don't benefit the here and now, but matter most for the future. They require long views of time, the ability to not just imagine, but to care about people in the future. Why don't we do that now, and how do we get there? We're talking with Richard Fisher, author of The Long View: Why We Need to Transform How the World Sees Time.

Guests:

  • Richard Fisher
Listen Now

Featured Book

The Long View: Why We Need to Transform How the World Sees Time

Written by Richard Fisher

Book Blurb Find On Amazon

Guest Bios

Richard Fisher

Richard Fisher is a senior journalist at the BBC, an honorary research associate at University College London, and the author of The Long View: Why We Need to Transform How the World Sees Time. From 2019-2020, he was a fellow on the Knight Science Journalism programme at MIT. He lives in London, UK.

Other Episodes About Altruism

The Altruism Equation

This week. we’re looking at what science has to say about the origins of selfless – and even self-sacrificing – behavior. We’ll speak to biology professor Lee Alan Dugatkin, about his book The... Read More

March 01, 2013

Practical Wisdom

What exactly is “wisdom,” and how can we apply it in our daily lives? We’re joined by Barry Schwartz,  Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College, and Kenneth Sharpe,... Read More

May 27, 2011

Effective Altruism

This week, we're learning how science can boost the effectiveness of philanthropy. We'll talk to philosophy professor William MacAskill about his book "Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and How You Can Make a Difference." And... Read More

November 20, 2015

Other Episodes About Anthropology & Archaeology

Peopling the Americas

Thousands of years ago, people crossed a land bridge from Siberia to Western Alaska and dispersed southward into what we now call the Americas. The story of exactly when that was, how... Read More

April 11, 2023

Ancient Migrations

Humans are a roaming species. We've been traveling from continent to continent since our very earliest evolution. In fact, we've been doing it even before we were humans. This week, we're talking... Read More

June 05, 2023

We are what we eat

You are what you eat, right? Well then, who were the ancient Romans, and who were the people they colonized? And who are we? And why do we eat so much chicken?... Read More

August 28, 2023

Other Episodes About Climate Change

Climate Doomsday

Have you heard? Climate change. We did it. And it's bad. It's going to be worse. We are already suffering the effects of it in many ways. How should we TALK about... Read More

November 30, 2019

2019, But Make It Science

It's 2020, but we're looking back. What were the biggest science stories of 2019? Well, it was a big year for lots of things. Black hole pictures, vaping illnesses... and lots and... Read More

January 04, 2020

So Long 2020, We Won't Miss You

2020 is over, and honestly? Good riddance. But before we go, let's take a look back. Because 2020 was tough, but it was also a year that science played a bigger role... Read More

January 07, 2021