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PODCAST

On Wisdom

Charles Cassidy and Igor Grossmann

What does it actually take to think wisely? On Wisdom digs into the empirical science of wisdom, judgment, and decision-making, and what it means for how we live. Igor Grossmann runs the Wisdom & Culture Lab at the University of Waterloo. Charles Cassidy runs the Evidence-Based Wisdom project in London. Each episode pairs freewheeling conversation with guest spots from leading behavioural scientists working on reasoning, wellbeing, culture, and society. Past guests include Adam Grant, Jonathan

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All Episodes

39:10

70: Special Series Episode 2: Metacognition and Judgment

On Wisdom ·

2026/10/05

Welcome to a five-episode special series built around the first Annual Review of Psychology chapter on wisdom since 2011.Episode 2: Metacognition and Judgment (with Gord Pennycook, Steve Fleming, and Thomas Costello) Is thinking harder always the key to making better decisions, or can it sometimes make things worse? Gord Pennycook, Steve Fleming, and Thomas Costello join Igor and Charles to explore what happens when we start thinking about our own thinking. Gord reveals why intelligence

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41:07

69: Special Series Episode 1: Exemplars and Narratives

On Wisdom ·

2026/09/28

Welcome to a five-episode special series built around the first Annual Review of Psychology chapter on wisdom since 2011.Episode 1: Exemplars and Narratives (with Cristine Legare, Dan McAdams, and L.A. Paul) When we face life challenges, where do our ideas about wise judgment, or even wisdom writ large come from, and how do they shape the way we work through such challenges and live thereafter? Cristine Legare, Dan McAdams, and L.A. Paul join Igor and Charles to explore the stories,

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2:04

68: Special Series Trailer: 5 Episodes on the Science...

On Wisdom ·

2026/09/16

From 28th SeptemberHosted by Igor Grossmann and Charles Cassidy 01 - EXEMPLARS AND NARRATIVES Cristine Legare - Dan McAdams - Laurie Paul 02 - METACOGNITION AND JUDGMENT Gordon Pennycook - Tom Costello - Steven Fleming 03 - MEASURING WISDOM Judith Glück - Monika Ardelt - Eranda Jayawickreme 04 - INTERVENTIONS AND TRAINING Judith Glück - Ethan Kross - Kristján Kristjánsson 05 - WISDOM FRONTIERS Dilip Jeste - Barry Schwartz - Justin Brienza

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49:58

67: The Wisdom Turing Test - Part Two (with Steve...

On Wisdom ·

2025/11/16

What can insights from the psychology of technology teach us about wisdom in the age of AI? In this special follow-up episode, Igor and Charles are joined by Steve Rathje to explore how classic ideas like the Turing Test hold up now that AI can talk compellingly about human wisdom. Steve unpacks what today’s generative models are actually capable of, Igor is intrigued by how quickly the line between human and machine reasoning seems to be blurring, and Charles realises that telling human insight

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40:42

66: The Wisdom Turing Test - Part One

On Wisdom ·

2025/10/26

What happens when we ask our own fantastic listeners — and AI — what it means to live wisely? In this episode, Igor and Charles hand the mic to members of the On Wisdom audience to hear their answers to the big questions usually reserved for scientists and philosophers. But there’s a twist: one set of responses was provided by AI. We invite you to vote on who gave the wisest answers — and to guess which one wasn’t human. Igor is surprised by just how insightful the answers from the regular folk

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58:14

65: Religion as Make-Believe (with Neil Van Leeuwen)

On Wisdom ·

2025/05/08

Is religious belief a form of make-believe — and if so, what deeper truths might we be acting out? Neil Van Leeuwen joins Igor and Charles to explore the psychological roots of religion, the nature of belief, and how sacred values shape group identity. Igor reflects on the blurring line between religious and political convictions, Neil argues that religious credence operates more like imaginative play than factual belief, and Charles considers whether conspiracy theories might be filling the same

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59:14

64: The Potency and Potential of Social Networks...

On Wisdom ·

2025/03/12

Are your choices really your own — or are they quietly shaped by the people around you? Nicholas Christakis joins Igor and Charles to reveal the hidden power of social networks, from the surprising spread of kindness and cooperation to the ripple effects that shape our health, decisions, and even our wisdom. Igor uncovers the invisible social forces influencing our daily lives, Nicholas shares how our deep-rooted instincts for love, friendship, and teaching have shaped human civilization, and

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44:30

63: The AI Mirror: Why Machines Reflect Us More Than...

On Wisdom ·

2025/02/23

Can AI ever be truly wise, or are we just seeing reflections of ourselves? Philosophy Professor Shannon Vallor joins Igor and Charles to explore how technology shapes human wisdom, why we’ve been thinking about AI all wrong, and what it really means to align machines with our values. Shannon unpacks the AI Mirror metaphor, suggesting that today’s AI isn’t a thinking mind but a reflection of human data, Igor considers whether technology could ever help us become wiser rather than just more efficient,

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57:10

62: Experimental Philosophy: Testing the Limits of...

On Wisdom ·

2024/12/09

What happens when philosophers start running experiments? Edouard Machery joins Igor and Charles to explain the principles of experimental philosophy, the surprising geography of wisdom, and why we should be skeptical about trusting science too much. Igor digs into what's universal vs what's local about how we think, Edouard explains why bad habits keep creeping into research, and Charles wonders if philosophy can support wise decisions around ordering another glass of wine when out with friends

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1:08:36

61: Beyond Bias: Group Identity, Wisdom, and the...

On Wisdom ·

2024/11/10

Can our political identities get in the way of wise action, even on existential issues like climate change? Leaf Van Boven and David Sherman join Igor and Charles to unpack how we perceive environmental policy through the lenses of group identity and social norms, revealing how misperceptions fuel inaction. Igor considers how group beliefs can override personal values, Leaf explores the power of asking, “What if I’m wrong?”, David suggests we may be following louder voices over wiser ones, and

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1:13:00

60: Wisdom, Love, and the Lexical Fallacy (with Alan...

On Wisdom ·

2024/10/20

Why do we have such a hard time figuring out what we’re feeling? Alan Fiske joins Igor and Charles to unravel the mystery of emotions, revealing why your gut feeling might not be as clear-cut as you think. Drawing from his research into Kama Muta—a heartwarming rush of connection—and his critiques of how we label emotions, Alan sheds light on why most of us are pretty terrible at naming what we feel. Igor tackles the complexities of universal emotions, Alan shares why cultural differences make this

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49:40

59: Shaping Reality and Relationships: The Science of...

On Wisdom ·

2024/09/23

Can our expectations about ourselves and others reshape our lives? Science writer David Robson returns to explore how our expectations don’t just change personal outcomes—they influence how we connect with others. Drawing from his books The Laws of Connection and The Expectation Effect, David reveals the hidden psychology behind social interactions and how our misconceptions about what others think can hold us back. Igor delves into how expectations can foster or hinder meaningful relationships,

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