At a Distance is a podcast where leading minds discuss the bigger picture on topics that are shaping today's world.

At a Distance

The Fund for Global Human Rights' CEO on what social-change organisations can learn from local activists.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Regan Ralph, founding president and CEO of the Fund for Global Human Rights, discusses the importance of “trust-based philanthropy,” funding decentralised movements. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Regan Ralph on the global impact of local human rights activists

How do we explain and unpack extreme weather events?

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Physicist and climate researcher Dr. Friederike Otto, author of the new book “Angry Weather: Heat Waves, Floods, Storms, and the New Science of Climate Change,” speaks with us about the nuances of understanding real-time weather data, why climate change is a social issue, and how suing fossil fuel companies can help change their business models, regardless of the legal outcome. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Dr. Friederike Otto on making sense of extreme weather

The British author contemplates the fine line between what is logical and what isn't.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Writer and journalist Hari Kunzru, author of the new novel Red Pill and host of the Into the Zone podcast, talks about the unsettling concept of 'hyperstition', how isolation exacerbates feelings of unreality, and the fine line between the logical and the illogical. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Hari Kunzru on why people find comfort in conspiracy theories

The journalist and author contemplates the missed opportunities of political conventions.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Erin Geiger Smith, author of the book Thank You for Voting: The Maddening, Enlightening, Inspiring Truth About Voting in America, discusses the fallacy of voter fraud, analysing how the complications of voting by mail differ from state to state. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Erin Geiger Smith on the complexities of voting in the United States

The fashion journalist on how the pandemic promotes a more conscious approach to dressing.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

The author of the book Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes, also explores why overproduction remains the clothing industry's biggest problem, and the environmental damage caused by the binge-and-purge cycle of "fashion bulimia." To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Dana Thomas on how COVID-19 Is transforming the fashion industry

The artist explains the importance of 're-thinking' history.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Sanford Biggers discusses interconnectedness and why monuments and memorials are dynamic, not static. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Sanford Biggers on art as a change agent

How can altruism allow society to survive? The meteorologist and climate journalist explores.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Meteorologist and climate journalist Eric Holthaus, author of the new book The Future Earth: A Radical Vision for What's Possible in the Age of Warming, talks about finding hope in spite of trauma, using language to shift perspectives, and how altruism and collaboration are the way for society to thrive. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Eric Holthaus on combating the climate emergency with cooperation

The psychotherapist explains the most important mental benefits of meditation.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Neuroscience-trained psychotherapist Ariel Garten, co-founder of the brain-sensing headband Muse, discusses understanding and identifying helpful and hurtful technologies, ways of addressing our mental health during the pandemic, and various approaches to getting into a healing mindset. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Ariel Garten on harnessing technology to help humanity

The architect and urban designer on thinking of ourselves as citizens instead of consumers in the post-COVID world.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Architect and urban designer Mitchell Joachim, co-founder of the firm Terreform One and co-author of the new book Design with Life: Biotech Architecture and Resilient Cities, talks about the idea of utopia and the future of capitalism. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Mitchell Joachim on what civilization 2.0 looks like

The activist and artist explores the many benefits of breathing.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Activist, artist, M.C., and music educator Toni Blackman talks about establishing breathwork practise, the links between spirituality and hip-hop, and the healing power of music to shift our hearts and minds. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Toni Blackman on hip-hop meditation and music as medicine

The acclaimed chef analyses the symbiosis between microbes and humankind.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Chef David Zilber, the former head of the fermentation lab at Noma, speaks about the symbiosis between microbes and humankind, science as a tool for thinking about food from new perspectives, and his hopes for shaking up our complex, deeply broken global food systems. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

David Zilber on fermentation as a commitment to your future

The entrepreneur, analyst and investor discusses surveillance, smartphones and 'climate tech'.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Entrepreneur, analyst, strategist, and investor Azeem Azhar, creator of the Exponential View newsletter and podcast, speaks about COVID-19's impact on surveillance, smartphones in contemporary society, and the emergence of 'climate tech' companies. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Azeem Azhar on the collision course of tech, politics, and the climate crisis

The biologist and author explains the impact of fast food and industrial farming on our gut's 'garden'.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Biologist Rob Dunn, an applied ecology professor at North Carolina State University and the author of several books, including Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live, discusses his studies into sourdough starters, the impact of fast food and industrial farming on our gut's "garden," and the transformative nature of embracing global networks and communication. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Rob Dunn on the wonders of the microbial world around us

The integrative nutritionist on why trying to think positively isn’t necessarily a pragmatic wellness solution.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Integrative nutritionist Daphne Javitch, the founder of Doing Well, talks with us about personal and community health as a marathon, why trying to think positively, and the importance of monitoring your media diet. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Daphne Javitch on the cumulative health benefits of daily routines

The food artist on food as a medium and learning to be together in difficult times.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Food artist Laila Gohar speaks with us about togetherness in a time of crisis; food as a medium for comfort, healing, and pleasure; how a culture of convenience has dumbed down our senses; and why living a responsible life means not throwing out any food. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Laila Gohar on society moving from apathy to empathy

The artist comments on the power of reflection and why racism is also a virus.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Artist Shantell Martin talks with us about the racial and economic inequality of COVID-19, the virus of racism, the power of reflection, and the importance of fighting against institutional memory loss. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Shantell Martin on getting to the core of who you are

The former Google design ethicist on why Silicon Valley is vital in engaging climate action.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Tristan Harris, president and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology and co-host of the Your Undivided Attention podcast, discusses the speed blindness caused by our technology systems and how Silicon Valley could effectively engage in climate action. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Tristan Harris on how Big Tech is distorting our world

The Nobel laureate economist on the significant difficulties of restarting an economy.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Economist, Nobel laureate and Harvard University professor Eric Maskin discusses the supply-chain challenges in restarting the economy, the issues he foresees with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and why he thinks America will remain a centre for global innovation. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Eric Maskin on the quandary of reopening

Editor-at-large of The Daily Beast on the current struggles of both the left and the right in politics.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Molly Jong-Fast, editor-at-large of The Daily Beast and co-host of the podcast The New Abnormal, discusses the White House’s response to COVID-19, what’s ailing both the left and right in American politics right now and her hopes for the November 2020 election. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Molly Jong-Fast on the bewildering U.S. election-year political landscape

The author delves into the meaning of positive surroundings in the way we perceive our world.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Sarah Williams Goldhagen, author of the book "Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives," speaks about how the pandemic may lead to a greater localisation of place and the profound psychological and emotional effects of the built world. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Sarah Williams Goldhagen on building better, healthier environments

The Financial Times' Chair of Editorial Board analyses the true meaning of globalisation in a pandemic world.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Financial Times editor-at-large Gillian Tett talks about the urgent need to question how we construct our societies, interact with technology, the true meaning of globalisation and why the pandemic may lead to wiser, humbler, more open ways of being. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Gillian Tett on the risk of pandemics as an incredible blind spot

The yoga teacher and author discussess positivity, reality and our connection to our planet.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

Ashtanga yoga teacher and author Eddie Stern speaks with the podcast's hosts about the nature of self, the need to balance positivity with realism and how we're all "appendages of the Earth." To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Eddie Stern on our bodies as an extension of the world

The director of the Institute for New Economic Thinking on the wealth disparity fracturing America.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

In this episode, economist and executive director of the Institute for New Economic Thinking, Rob Johnson, speaks with the hosts about the massive wealth disparity that's fracturing America, blind spots in its political and economic systems, and finding a way out of the "extreme disrepair" produced by the ongoing crises. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Rob Johnson on the COVID-19 pandemic as a necessary awakening

The American writer and interviewer on the philosophical aspect of COVID-19, and human kindness.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

In this episode, Paul Holdengräber, the host of the podcast The Quarantine Tapes and the founding executive director of the Onassis Foundation L.A., discusses his hope for humanity to return to a kinder way of being and why the COVID-19 pandemic is a "very philosophical moment." To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Paul Holdengräber on the transformative nature of asking good questions

Entrepreneur, designer and actor on our complex relationship with nature.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

In this episode, the hosts speak with the founder of House of Waris Botanicals, discussing how cultural and societal obsessions with productivity are destroying the planet and why our relationship to nature is broken. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Waris Ahluwalia on why we shouldn’t want to return to “normal”

The Harvard School of Design architect on the key links between architecture and public health.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

In this episode, Michael Murphy, the founding principal and executive director of MASS Design Group, discusses the links between architecture, design, and public health; how Slow Food has helped pave the way for a "Slow Space" movement; and his diplomatic approach to memorial making. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Michael Murphy on designing a healthier built environment

The writer and activist discusses what's wrong with healthcare and housing in America.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

In this episode, writer, editor, activist and politician Nikil Saval, who's currently running as a Democrat for Pennsylvania State Senate, discusses the urgent need to build a society that cares for itself and the deeply entrenched problems he sees with healthcare, housing, and prisons in the U.S. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Nikil Saval on coming to terms with our failures as a society

The Reid Hoffman Professor at the New School for Social Research on philosophy, art and technology.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

In this episode, Tobias Rees, the Reid Hoffman Professor at the New School for Social Research and a director of the Los Angeles-based Berggruen Institute, talks about the importance of bridging philosophy and art with engineering and science to better understand ourselves and our world. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Tobias Rees on rethinking the future of education

NEW: The journalist and Trumpcast co-host sits down to discuss online choices in our culture today.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

In this episode, journalist and Trumpcast co-host Virginia Heffernan speaks with Bailey and Zuckerman about the perils of President Trump's response to COVID-19, why she views Fox News as "a snuff-and-porn channel passing as news," and her fascination with microbiology. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Virginia Heffernan on Donald Trump and “Tiger King” in the time of COVID-19

The economist asks whether the golden age of human sciences is still before us.

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

In this episode, economist Chris Canavan discusses the challenges of rebuilding the economy after the pandemic, why he believes the golden age of the humanities is before us, and the need to think more about our relationship to time. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.

Chris Canavan on why an economic slowdown isn’t necessarily a bad thing

The philosopher and New School professor on anxiety and uncertainty.  

Spencer Bailey and Andrew Zuckerman, The Slowdown's co-founders and this podcast's hosts, discuss the COVID-19 crisis featuring long-view conversations with philosophers, psychologists, writers, artists, and other leading minds.

In this episode, philosopher and New School professor Simon Critchley talks about the ways in which the COVID-19 virus may be rewiring our very being, the need to better understand our anxiety, and how the pandemic is revealing how much we don’t know. To find more episodes from At a Distance, head to the provider page in 'Discover'.