Warning: People are out to manipulate you. How? With very sophisticated, deceptive PR techniques. Here, one of Washington?s most wily manipulators of news, Phil Elwood, reveals tricks of his trade ? like astroturfing and detonating bombs in a safe location. The more you know about these tricks, the less likely you?ll be conned by them.

What happens when there?s no one in charge? You?d think chaos would reign?but in reality, leaderless organizations are thriving, disrupting industries, and shaping the future. In this episode of 3 Takeaways, New York Times bestselling author Ori Brafman explains why decentralized networks?from Wikipedia to Bitcoin to social movements?are more resilient, adaptable, and powerful than we might expect.

Food. People are demanding more from it these days than taste. They want food to meet their personal health needs. They want it produced using methods that improve the health of the planet, respect the people who grow it, and more. Here, the visionary CEO of Whole Foods Market, Jason Buechel, shares his thoughts on the food of the future and how to satisfy peoples? appetite for it.

NBCUniversal Vice-Chair Bonnie Hammer didn?t climb to the top by following the rules?she rewrote them. In this conversation, she dismantles the biggest career myths, reveals what really drives success, and shares why sweating the small stuff can make or break you. Packed with no-nonsense advice, game-changing insights, and hard-earned wisdom, this episode is a masterclass in ambition, leadership, and career strategy?without the clichés.

The CIA may not be thrilled with this conversation. Here, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and highly regarded CIA expert Tim Weiner reveals stunning details about the agency?s  espionage and covert activities. Learn about the CIA?s greatest successes and failures, its best weapon, how China and Russia are spying on the U.S., and much more.

Energy is complicated. As global demand continues to grow, so does the need for realistic, climate-friendly solutions. Are renewables the answer? How about nuclear power? What is China?s role? Listen, as former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz provides smart answers to daunting questions about energy, and examines the threat of nuclear war.

When Admiral James Stavridis (Ret) talks, everyone from Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump listens. Here, the brilliant former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO shares his thoughts on the U.S. relationship with China; how to fundamentally remake the Middle East; why the U.S. buying Greenland isn?t as crazy as it sounds; the impact of AI on the power of nations; and more.

The episode you?ve been waiting for is here: our Top Takeaways of 2024. Listen to some of the world?s smartest, most influential thinkers, business leaders, innovators, technologists, and other newsmakers ? including Eric Schmidt, Mellody Hobson, Atul Gawande, Fareed Zakaria, Jill Abramson, Stephen Breyer, Niall Ferguson and others. You don?t want to miss this episode.

If you'd like to listen to any of the full episodes: 

Historian Niall Ferguson is episode 199.

Mellody Hobson is episode 184. 

Former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson is episode 206. 

Norway's Ine Eriksen Søreide is episode 213.

Former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is episode 220. 

Extraordinary food expert Barb Stuckey is episode 183.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is episode 225.

Negotiation expert William Ury is episode 193.

Global health surgeon Dr. Atul Gawande is episode 182. 

Bioethicist Peter Singer is episode 224.

Former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is episode 227. 

Journalist Fareed Zakaria is episode 209. 

And, executive coach Marshall Goldsmith is episode 221.

There?s a lot being said about AI these days that?s science fiction. One person who knows the facts is David Schmaier, President and Chief Product Officer of Salesforce. Here, he talks in detail about the many unseen ways AI is being used now, how it will profoundly stimulate innovation and benefit humanity, the rise of robots, and more.

Imagine how much better your decision making would be if you could better predict the future. It?s possible, with superforecasting. In fact, a team of superforecasters won a forecasting tournament conducted by the U.S. intelligence community. What do superforecasters actually do, and how can you become a better forecaster? Don?t miss this talk with superforecaster, and CEO of Good Judgement Inc, Warren Hatch.

Is there another planet in the universe like Earth? Is there life elsewhere? And if so, how advanced is it? Join us as Sara Seager ? astronomer, planet hunter, MIT professor, and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient ? presents a mind-blowing progress report on the rigorous search for Earth?s planetary twin and other life in the universe.

Our cities need to be revitalized to make them more appealing. But how? Seth Pinsky, CEO of 92NY and former CEO of New York City's Economic Development Corporation, has answers. Here, he talks knowingly about creative ways to stimulate growth; how to combat the skepticism that government can deliver on its promises; the importance of what he calls magnetic infrastructure; and more.

China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are all determined to subvert America. Nobody knows more about this than former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who has worked for three presidents and five secretaries of state. Hear what this foreign policy expert says America must do to remain dominant, how AI will impact the world order, and much more.

Ever wonder why some movies and TV shows are so powerful and gripping? What makes for a deeply compelling story? Why George Clooney is so popular? Listen as Neal Baer, Hollywood TV writer and producer extraordinaire, talks about the craft and magic of storytelling in a way that will benefit almost everyone ? including you.

Eric Schmidt is astonishing. Here, the former CEO of Google and one of the world?s most brilliant technologists talks with visionary wisdom about Artificial Intelligence and its impact on business, healthcare, warfare, climate change, human survival and more. Don?t miss this chance to learn how AI powers we have not yet imagined will affect our daily lives.

Eric?s new book, which is fascinating, is Genesis.

Chew on this: Approximately 200 billion animals are raised for food each year, often in horrific conditions. The contribution of these animals to climate change is greater than the emissions of all the cars being driven around the world. There is a solution. Listen, as Princeton bioethicist Peter Singer explains both the problem and a simple answer.

For better and for worse, artificially intelligent communication is inexorably making its way into medical care. How will this affect the doctor-patient relationship? Can AI convey human empathy and emotion? What will the impact be on your health? According to Dr. Jon Reisman, there?s no turning back. Listen, and learn what the future will hold.

It?s not easy for huge, breakthrough ideas ? the kind that truly change the world ? to see the light of day. Here, physicist, entrepreneur and author Safi Bahcall talks in detail about the creativity and determination required, plus the obstacles to overcome, and cites fascinating examples including James Bond, Lipitor, Apple, Airbnb and others. 

If there?s such a thing as a secret to success, Marshall Goldsmith knows it. Known as the world?s top executive leadership coach, he?s worked with many CEOs, founders and billionaires and has a deep understanding of how to change behaviors, how to lead, and ultimately, how to succeed in both your career and life. Listen and benefit from what he knows. 

Rarely does a former Supreme Court justice reveal what?s on their mind like Stephen Breyer. Listen to what this wise man says about the tug of war between constitutional originalism and contextualism, political partisanship on the court, structural reforms such as term limits, the invaluable lesson he learned from Senator Ted Kennedy, and more.

Warren Buffett doesn?t need investment advice. But he does listen to fellow billionaire and co-founder of Oaktree Capital Howard Marks. Here, the legendary investor shares his insights on the market, the psychology of investing, why low interest rates can lead to unwise behavior, and why ?always good, sometimes great, never terrible? describes his remarkable career.

Serious doubts about capitalism are being raised these days, and for good reason. Too many people are being left behind. But is capitalism really failing? Is socialism the answer? Ruchir Sharma, Chairman of Rockefeller International, says capitalism is being ruined by the expanding role of government. Is he correct? Listen and decide for yourself.

Sam Hazen has seen the future of healthcare, and it works. The CEO of one of the world?s largest healthcare providers, HCA, is using artificial intelligence and robotics to improve patient health and hospital services, make healthcare more affordable, and more. Don?t miss this dose of good news about healthcare.

Election fever is heating up, and no matter how you plan on voting, these 3 Takeaways excerpts provide valuable insight into our political challenges, plus thoughts on how to resolve them. Guests include Yale Law School Professor Amy Chua; former political consultant and presidential advisor Karl Rove; White House advisor to four U.S. presidents David Gergen; political commentator and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will; and journalist extraordinaire Fareed Zakaria.

The story of Whole Foods is the story of its founder, John Mackey, and it?s nothing short of astonishing. Here, this charismatic entrepreneur talks about the fundamentals of success, his own superpowers, why capitalism is a powerful force for progress, and what he believes is the most important thing in life. (It?s not money.) Feast on this conversation.

With no exaggeration, Wilbur Ross is brilliant, successful, blunt, compelling, and completely devoid of baloney. Here, he reveals his thoughts on investing, China, entrepreneurship, serving as U.S. Commerce Secretary, the greatest threat to America, working for Donald Trump, and more. When Wilbur Ross talks, be sure to listen.

The world is on a wild ride ? two wars, massive immigration, fractured political parties. Are chaos and upheaval the new normal? Norway?s former Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ine Eriksen Søreide, shares her wise perspective on the threat of Russia, the critical role of the U.S., coping with immigration and more.

Authentic political leadership is in short supply these days. There?s no better person on the topic than the first female President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet. Elected to office twice, she achieved remarkable reforms and had a stunning approval rating of 84%. Here, she talks about the need to tell the truth, defend democracy, be empathetic, and more.

With an election coming up, crime and punishment are a hot topic. Listen to this specially curated episode of 3 Takeaways as some of the sharpest minds on the subject share their insight. Guests include top legal reform expert, Christina Swarns; former Harvard Law School Dean, Martha Minow; Judge Jed Rakoff; founder of the Innocence Project, Barry Scheck; former New York City Police Commissioner, Bill Bratton; and Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security.

How would a nuclear war start and unfold? How close are we to thermonuclear annihilation? Annie Jacobsen, a weapons expert and Pulitzer Prize finalist, knows. Here, using insider information, she dramatically outlines how close we?ve come to Armageddon, what nuclear winter would entail, and much more. Don?t miss this chilling but necessary episode.

Massive, mind scrambling changes are taking place in society and politics these days. Nobody makes more sense of it than Fareed Zakaria. Listen, as he talks with his typical brilliance about the problems with our political parties, the need for open markets, how to fix the U.S. Supreme Court ? and why he believes enormous optimism is justified. 

It?s a story that seems unimaginable. Fifty years after the end of our brutal war with Vietnam, the two countries are now good friends, close trading partners, allies in many important ways. How did this remarkable reconciliation occur? What does it mean for the future? Don?t miss this engrossing talk with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc Knapper.

?Our current friendship with Vietnam reflects a journey that a Hollywood scriptwriter could not have written.?

What do Einstein, Mozart, Walt Disney, Brie Larson and many other talented and successful people have in common? The experience of being stuck ? of being mired in a rut and struggling to accomplish. Here, NYU professor Adam Alter provides a detailed, actionable, and fascinating blueprint for how to get out of the rut. Be sure to listen and learn.

?Colossal talents have experienced the same kinds of procrastination and productivity issues the rest of us do.?

The news media?s coverage of Joe Biden?s mental fitness is itself a major news story. Here, Jill Abramson, a former Executive Editor of the NY Times, provides fresh insight on the failures of the media, the White House?s aggressive cover-up, what it all means for journalism in general, and more. Don?t miss one of our most important conversations ever. 

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has a special perspective and wise insights into the battle against Hamas. Here, he shares his thoughts and suggestions on ending the war, securing the future for Israel, dealing with Iran, the need for a Palestinian state, and more. There?s reason to be both hopeful and concerned. 

?To eliminate Hamas as if it didn't exist is impossible. ? It is an ideology, and no military action can remove ideology from the face of the earth.? 

?I am more worried about the solidarity of Israeli society than I am about the enmity of our outside enemies.?

Slowly but surely, AI is taking over. What does it mean to live in an age where we can outsource our thinking to machines? According to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, it's no less than a fundamental restructuring of what it means to be human and a questioning of our essence. Learn how to future-proof yourself and maintain what makes us human. 

?If you want to future-proof yourself in the age of AI ? the worst thing you can do is be lazy.?

?If we are at the mercy of AI, free will isn't even an illusion anymore. It?s just completely gone.?

Want to get smarter about education? Listen to this specially curated episode of 3 Takeaways ? with former Presidents of Harvard University, Larry Summers and Larry Bacow; former Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan; former head of Oxford University, Dame Louise Richardson; former Academic Dean of the Kennedy School, Iris Bohnet; Nobel Prize laureate, Joshua Angrist; and founder of online Khan Academy, Sal Khan.

Pandemics are on the rise. Will bird flu be next? The government says it?s monitoring the situation, but should we worry? According to former National Security Council Director for Medical and Biodefense Preparedness and expert on emerging infectious diseases, Luciana Borio, the answer is yes. Not only because bird flu is dangerous, but because the government may be giving us happy talk. The more you know, the better. So join us.

Want to become a super communicator? You can, according to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Charles Duhigg. Here, the author of Supercommmunicators shares the neuroscience and key principles everyone can use in their daily life. One example: Ask others how they feel about their life, rather than about the facts of their life.

?Being charismatic or clever or smart is not an ingredient of being a super communicator.?

?People who are good at connecting ask questions ? 10 to 20 times as many questions.?

As war rages in Ukraine and Gaza, these questions are being asked: Are wars inevitable? Where will the next major conflict break out? Are the U.S. and China headed for war? Are women leaders less warlike than men? Can wars be avoided? Listen, as Margaret MacMillan, one of the world?s leading war historians, provides answers. Don?t miss this one.

The decline of America and Western civilization is being discussed more loudly these days. But is it true or inevitable? Is the U.S. a waning influence, unraveling from within mainly due to extreme divisiveness? Niall Ferguson, one of the world?s most renowned historians, shares his well-informed perspective. It?s a convo that demands attention.

Kara Swisher is Silicon Valley?s premiere chronicler, filled with wisdom and insight on tech companies and the out-sized egos who found and run them. Here, she shares her take on the industry and on Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, the Google co-founders and others, who she?s known since their companies were mere start-ups.

The world is filled with talented, amazing people, but only a few find fame and success. What?s the essential magic behind Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Steve Jobs and others? Here, Cass Sunstein, author of ?How to Become Famous,? shares his keen insights into the essential attributes of hugely successful people. Want to join them? Join us.

?There are plenty of Steve Jobs out there. We tend to think he's unique. But there are Steve Jobs, parallel amazing people, who never made it.?

A.J. Jacobs spent an entire year living as America?s Founding Fathers did 200 years ago. Really. He learned they envisioned a very different balance of power than exists in Washington today. How out of whack are things? How should the Constitution be interpreted? Is there too much free speech? Don?t miss this remarkable conversation.

Terrorism is roiling the Middle East and is a fact of life in many places around the world. How should civilized societies respond? What is an effective approach? Dame Louise Richardson, an Irish expert on the topic, has some surprising and insightful answers. The topic is timely and affects us all. Don?t miss this very necessary conversation.

We live in an age of hyper-marketing, when the marketing of events like Taylor Swift and the ?Barbie? movie overwhelm the offering itself and takes on a life of its own. Here, Natasha Degen, marketing and cultural analyst extraordinaire, dissects how marketing is blurring the lines between movies, music, art and fashion and reveals the secrets behind today?s most talked about cultural events and personalities.

People and countries are at each other?s throats these days. How can some of this conflict be resolved? Here, world-class negotiator William Ury reveals the innovative  techniques that have helped him resolve some of the world?s most malignant conflicts. You?ll almost certainly be able to put these techniques to use in your own life. 

According to Janna Levin, ?the chillest astrophysicist alive? (says Wired Magazine), there?s a great probability that other life exists in the universe. But what form might this life take? What the heck are black holes? How many planets are out there? And why should we give a hoot about all this? Be sure to listen to this other-worldly conversation.

?I find it impossible to believe we're magically the only experiment in life when we look at our own galaxy, which is a collection of 300 billion stars.?

?We have this notion that we have more control than ever, but I think we have it less and less,? says the brilliant Brian Klaas. Don?t miss this mind-bending chat about flukes, chance and random events. Also, how seemingly inconsequential actions have life-changing consequences, the eternal clash between chaos and order, and how to live successfully in a world on the edge of chaos.

Brain sensors embedded in watches. Earbuds that decode our brainwaves. Neurotechnology that reads our emotions and thoughts, and can be used to manipulate them. It sounds like science fiction, but it?s science fact. Don?t miss this chilling and cautionary talk with Duke professor Nita Farahany, author of The Battle for Your Brain.