80,000 Hours Podcast

212

Unusually in-depth conversations about the world's most pressing problems and what you can do to solve them. Subscribe by searching for '80000 Hours' wherever you get podcasts.Hosted by Rob Wiblin and Luisa Rodriguez.

Recent Episodes
  • Serendipity, weird bets, & cold emails that actually work: Career advice from 16 former guests
    Apr 24, 2025 – 02:18:41
  • #215 – Tom Davidson on how AI-enabled coups could allow a tiny group to seize power
    Apr 16, 2025 – 03:22:44
  • Guilt, imposter syndrome & doing good: 16 past guests share their mental health journeys
    Apr 11, 2025 – 01:47:10
  • #214 – Buck Shlegeris on controlling AI that wants to take over – so we can use it anyway
    Apr 4, 2025 – 02:16:03
  • 15 expert takes on infosec in the age of AI
    Mar 28, 2025 – 02:35:54
  • #213 – Will MacAskill on AI causing a “century in a decade” – and how we're completely unprepared
    Mar 11, 2025 – 03:57:36
  • Emergency pod: Judge plants a legal time bomb under OpenAI (with Rose Chan Loui)
    Mar 7, 2025 – 36:50
  • #139 Classic episode – Alan Hájek on puzzles and paradoxes in probability and expected value
    Feb 25, 2025 – 03:41:31
  • #143 Classic episode – Jeffrey Lewis on the most common misconceptions about nuclear weapons
    Feb 19, 2025 – 02:40:52
  • #212 – Allan Dafoe on why technology is unstoppable & how to shape AI development anyway
    Feb 14, 2025 – 02:44:07
  • Emergency pod: Elon tries to crash OpenAI's party (with Rose Chan Loui)
    Feb 12, 2025 – 57:29
  • AGI disagreements and misconceptions: Rob, Luisa, & past guests hash it out
    Feb 10, 2025 – 03:12:24
  • #124 Classic episode – Karen Levy on fads and misaligned incentives in global development, and scaling deworming to reach hundreds of millions
    Feb 7, 2025 – 03:10:21
  • If digital minds could suffer, how would we ever know? (Article)
    Feb 4, 2025 – 01:14:30
  • #132 Classic episode – Nova DasSarma on why information security may be critical to the safe development of AI systems
    Jan 31, 2025 – 02:41:11
  • #138 Classic episode – Sharon Hewitt Rawlette on why pleasure and pain are the only things that intrinsically matter
    Jan 22, 2025 – 02:25:43
  • #134 Classic episode – Ian Morris on what big-picture history teaches us
    Jan 15, 2025 – 03:40:53
  • #140 Classic episode – Bear Braumoeller on the case that war isn’t in decline
    Jan 8, 2025 – 02:48:03
  • 2024 Highlightapalooza! (The best of The 80,000 Hours Podcast this year)
    Dec 27, 2024 – 02:50:02
  • #211 – Sam Bowman on why housing still isn't fixed and what would actually work
    Dec 19, 2024 – 03:25:46
  • #210 – Cameron Meyer Shorb on dismantling the myth that we can’t do anything to help wild animals
    Nov 29, 2024 – 03:21:03
  • #209 – Rose Chan Loui on OpenAI’s gambit to ditch its nonprofit
    Nov 27, 2024 – 01:22:08
  • #208 – Elizabeth Cox on the case that TV shows, movies, and novels can improve the world
    Nov 21, 2024 – 02:22:03
  • #207 – Sarah Eustis-Guthrie on why she shut down her charity, and why more founders should follow her lead
    Nov 14, 2024 – 02:58:39
  • Parenting insights from Rob and 8 past guests
    Nov 8, 2024 – 01:35:39
  • #206 – Anil Seth on the predictive brain and how to study consciousness
    Nov 1, 2024 – 02:33:50
  • How much does a vote matter? (Article)
    Oct 28, 2024 – 32:32
  • #205 – Sébastien Moro on the most insane things fish can do
    Oct 23, 2024 – 03:11:05
  • #204 – Nate Silver on making sense of SBF, and his biggest critiques of effective altruism
    Oct 16, 2024 – 01:57:48
  • #203 – Peter Godfrey-Smith on interfering with wild nature, accepting death, and the origin of complex civilisation
    Oct 3, 2024 – 01:25:09
  • Luisa and Keiran on free will, and the consequences of never feeling enduring guilt or shame
    Sep 27, 2024 – 01:36:00
  • #202 – Venki Ramakrishnan on the cutting edge of anti-ageing science
    Sep 19, 2024 – 02:20:26
  • #201 – Ken Goldberg on why your robot butler isn’t here yet
    Sep 13, 2024 – 02:01:43
  • #200 – Ezra Karger on what superforecasters and experts think about existential risks
    Sep 4, 2024 – 02:49:24
  • #199 – Nathan Calvin on California’s AI bill SB 1047 and its potential to shape US AI policy
    Aug 29, 2024 – 01:12:37
  • #198 – Meghan Barrett on challenging our assumptions about insects
    Aug 26, 2024 – 03:48:12
  • #197 – Nick Joseph on whether Anthropic's AI safety policy is up to the task
    Aug 22, 2024 – 02:29:26
  • #196 – Jonathan Birch on the edge cases of sentience and why they matter
    Aug 15, 2024 – 02:01:50
  • #195 – Sella Nevo on who's trying to steal frontier AI models, and what they could do with them
    Aug 1, 2024 – 02:08:29
  • #194 – Vitalik Buterin on defensive acceleration and how to regulate AI when you fear government
    Jul 26, 2024 – 03:04:18
  • #193 – Sihao Huang on the risk that US–China AI competition leads to war
    Jul 18, 2024 – 02:23:34
  • #192 – Annie Jacobsen on what would happen if North Korea launched a nuclear weapon at the US
    Jul 12, 2024 – 01:54:24
  • #191 (Part 2) – Carl Shulman on government and society after AGI
    Jul 5, 2024 – 02:20:32
  • #191 (Part 1) – Carl Shulman on the economy and national security after AGI
    Jun 27, 2024 – 04:14:58
  • #190 – Eric Schwitzgebel on whether the US is conscious
    Jun 7, 2024 – 02:00:46
  • #189 – Rachel Glennerster on how “market shaping” could help solve climate change, pandemics, and other global problems
    May 29, 2024 – 02:48:51
  • #188 – Matt Clancy on whether science is good
    May 23, 2024 – 02:40:15
  • #187 – Zach Weinersmith on how researching his book turned him from a space optimist into a "space bastard"
    May 14, 2024 – 03:06:47
  • #186 – Dean Spears on why babies are born small in Uttar Pradesh, and how to save their lives
    May 1, 2024 – 01:18:58
  • #185 – Lewis Bollard on the 7 most promising ways to end factory farming, and whether AI is going to be good or bad for animals
    Apr 18, 2024 – 02:33:12
Recent Reviews
  • FamilymanSD
    Mostly 4 hr discussions about AI
    They started off talking about choosing impactful careers but now now they are just 4 hour discussions about AI where’s they rehash the same topic
  • lost toget
    Practical listener
    Found on you tube and was excited to try podcast. 2+ hours is way too much for me😖
  • 93105
    Love the depth and guests
    Rob is a great interviewer, BUT would be so much more effective if he slowed his speech down to about .75x. He talks so fast as to have a material impact on the pod. Compare his rate of speech to the guests and try to match it. Thanks.
  • Guylwheeler
    Another One Bites the Dust
    Rob was way better. I listened even though I am an EA skeptic because the topics were interesting and Rob is an excellent interviewer. Luisa’s interview style is unbearable. I can’t make it through more than 10 minutes anymore, even though the topics still look interesting at first glance. Gonna have to unsubscribe at this point. Why does this happen to so many great podcasts? Radiolab and Reply All, among many others.
  • LongAudioFileHaver
    Too many bangers 😩
    I can’t keep up
  • Garden Perfect
    Lies
    This is a podcast dedicated to , ‘The Spirit of the Age’, meaning the global elites agenda.
  • Billybill1984
    Nina
    Is Nina AI? Is that accent Dublin, Berlin, Kansas City?
  • Bex222Bex
    Essential listening for all
    Delightful podcast - very educational for anyone interested in the world, not just people interested in effective altruism. The hosts are incredibly well prepared and have a lot to add to the conversation without making it about them. While the long (many hour) nature of the conversations allows you to really get a deep understanding of the guests views, something that is rare for interviewees of this caliber.
  • joyinecuador
    Always thoughtful discussions with experts in unexpected fields
    This podcast does a great job at taking complex topics and breaking them down into understandable concepts - all without dumbing it down for its audience. Without getting caught up in the typical conversations/debates dominating the news cycle, Rob and his guests discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the world (and adding in Some good career tips for anyone in that phase of life). Also love their afterhours sister podcast for extra content.
  • getanewhost
    Great podcast but…
    Luisa Rodriguez is almost unlistenable. Her constant “like, wow!” drunk teenager way of speaking is SO annoying. It’s a shame because the guests and other hosts have been wonderful
  • M_Friend
    Substantively good but so many „likes“ and „yeah yeah yeah“ s
    Couldn’t the host have some coaching so she doesn’t say „like“ so often? It is a waste of time and males her seem childish / uninformed. It was difficult to listen even though the topic was interesting and her interview style otherwise fine. Thanks.
  • obacker19
    Humbling, inspiring and energizing! 👏
    Regardless of where you are in your journey towards defining the best place to apply your head, hands, and heart in your career - this is a must listen! Rob and the entire 80,000 Hours team do such a great job stringing together conversations that cover critical concepts for living a life of authentic impact, with the energy and clarity of someone who’s walking the walk. Highly recommend listening and subscribing!
  • dyrbrm1
    Great podcast
    Great podcast and super informative!
  • ashkonj
    Must listen for the future of humanity
    Terrific guests, great host, and very fascinating for anyone interested in the well-being of humanity and creating a positive future.
  • elliotBillingsley
    Career advice for the rational amongst us
    This podcast has changed my life. The 80,000 Hours Podcast offers great discussions on the world’s most pressing issues. Each episode offers philosophical arguments, practical advice, philosophical advice, and practical arguments. The 80k website has a complete transcript, extensive links and references, relevant blog posts and useful articles matched to the content of each podcast episode, so all their content works together to be a multimedia career guide. Wiblin’s well-researched interviews and well-argued consequentialism are great intellectual stimulation. I’d recommend this podcast in particular to people aged 14-30, since it keeps a focus on how to craft your career. Excellent production value.
  • Will Janzen
    Fantastic 80,000 Hours Podcasts
    Consistently incredible podcast. The 80000 Hours podcasts always offer novel, informative, and evidence-based views on a huge variety of topics. Rob’s preparation and wit are evident in his incisive questions, and the guests are experts who deserve more attention from the mainstream. Also just a super high quality show, with great audio, seamless editing, and sensational big ideas. There is no better podcast than this that I have found. The high standard that this shows has set makes me cringe at most other podcasts. This is a must listen for those in the EA or rationalist communities. But I also highly recommend it for anyone into philosophy, current affairs, contrarian thinking, or understanding important real world questions. Thank you for your awesome work 80k!
  • Jaiehdhdksnahah
    So often perspective-enhancing!
    Rob and his guests are often so insightful
  • Senessence
    80,000 Stars
    The key points, links and transcript on the website are great.
  • Gusbehid
    Amazing
    This show does a tour de force through the world’s most pressing problems. Every episode is packed with super interesting and useful information on issues related to nuclear catastrophe, artificial intelligence, climate change, animal welfare, global poverty, and more. Absolutely phenomenal interviewing!
  • PM-TX
    Super interesting and Rob Wiblin is a great host
    Every episode is incredibly informative. I learn a lot about the world and I’ve really expanded my perspective through this podcast. Also Rob Wiblin is fantastic at engaging with the guests on the show.
  • Blaine Dillingham
    Engaging and inspiring
    I’m not a podcast person, but WOW these are enjoyable to listen to. Wiblin asks insightful questions, and I come away from every episode wishing I could use my career to help solve ALL of these problems because the subject matter the guests work on is so interesting.
  • _saac_
    Life changing
    This podcast has changed the way I think about the world. Absolutely worth a listen—don’t let the long episode lengths deter you. Even if you only listen to the first 20 minutes of an episode, you’ll come away with plenty of new perspectives on how to do the most good for other people.
  • Shelunda1234
    Good contact but host talks too fast
    The host of this podcast sounds like playback is at 1.5 speed.
  • Connie 11
    A Feast for your Brain!
    I’ve been introduced to so many new ways of looking at the world and my own potential impact on it from this podcast. I love that there is always room for uncertainty and other points of views as long as they make rational sense. Sometimes it gets a bit intellectual for me, but for the most part it helps me to be more thoughtful about my life.
  • Phoenixβ2
    The most fascinating podcast on the Internet
    It seems like it would be dry and preachy but this show manages not to be either. Rob has a way of highlighting the fascinating aspects of complex topics that could otherwise be boring, and of highlighting their importance in a way that makes you feel motivated to be more competent at being a better person without ever feeling judged. I never rate anything but more people should know about this.
  • Mike_Bishop
    Caring and very smart!
    I’m a podcast addict, but this is my absolute favourite. Incredibly high quality guests and interviews. Offers insight into the world, and just might make you a better person!
  • CapitalOne Rating Bot
    80,000 Hours
    Expected impact and unexpected opportunities
  • TroubleAheadTroubleBehind
    Patient Philanthropy <> Philanthrophy
    Someone happens upon a pile of cash through happenstance, ingenuity, or hard work. They decide to give the money away in 120 or 200 years. That makes them an investor but not a philanthropist. They can boast and proclaim and be feted and targeted by markets, governments, or thieves, but I repeat. Enjoy ignoring immediate needs, not lifting anybody in the world up today. What ever gets them through the day.
  • SantaCruzII
    Please stop saying “like” ALL THE TIME
    I love 99.9% of the idea of 80,000 hours and all it entails. It is almost impossible to listen to some of these podcasts as like saying like can like take people like out of the like discussion like almost like always. It’s called editing and practice...like.
  • Otterkit
    A Fascinating Trip Through Professional Possibilities
    You know those days when you wonder what it might have been like if you'd taken this or that job? This is the podcast for you. With fascinating guests and interesting insights, it takes you on a journey into the many paths our careers can carry us along. I thouroghly enjoy it.
  • hahn bananach
    at least a 60% reduction of existential malaise
    mind-embiggening 5 stars
  • Limma voom
    fantastic, thought-provoking podcast
    More than just a podcast to discuss careers -- contains some of the most intellectual discussions I've come across on everything from cultured meat to AI to human happiness. Guests are all intelligent, clear and consider issues from many sides. Rob Wilbin is such a thoughtful host and makes it accessible for everyone. Great work!
  • bartacbb
    Plenty of idea fodder
    The questions are well-curated and bring out the best in top thinkers. The conversation is authentic, intimate, and informative - a refreshing departure from performative discourse. Couldn’t ask for much better!
  • 2xthink
    Essential listening for big-thinking do-gooders
    In turns challenging and inspiring. Doesn’t dumb things down. High-level, rigorous thinking with plain, practical implications for anyone interested in leaving the world a better place.
  • Luhami
    My new favorite podcast
    This is a very, very good podcast. Rob does interviews with some of the smartest, most effective people you can find and asks them useful, thoughtful, interesting questions. The long form is perfect. After listening to maybe eight episodes, I feel like I understand the world so much more.
  • sitefeng
    One of the Best Poscasts
    The show dives deep into many interesting topics and arguments while keeping things fun and light. An interesting mix of sociology, economics, and technology that would captivate any thinker. Worth listening from the start to the end.
  • Andy (MIT alum)
    Most intellectually stimulating audio I have ever heard.
    I listened to #25 on a flight and it was the best 2.5 hours of my ear's life. Hugely informative and highly stimulating. I have actually re-listened to the same episode a few months later, and now I'm working through #32 before moving on to others. I cannot recommend this podcast highly enough. Give it a listen! Love that it's free. Particularly awesome is how well-informed the interviewer is regarding the guest's thought space and body of work. The questions range broadly yet the timeframe allows more than adequate depth in the response and follow-up conversation. The podcast is absolutely fantastic as a model for thoughtful discussion, keen listening, and thorough preparation. They ask the right questions, while keeping everything easily accessible. Sent an email to the podcast folks, and they replied within minutes. Great team, great guests, great podcast. Thanks so much!
  • Iross13
    One of my favorite new podcasts
    Great guests and conversations. The episode with Professor Tetlock is essential listening.
  • lukeprog
    Long, detailed, relevant conversations with knoweldgeable experts
    One of my favorite podcasts, lots of information in each episode.
  • Forthetokens10286299727
    Very important conversations
    The podcast does a great job of taking complicated issues and presenting them in a simple way. 80,000 Hours is the best
  • realPlayaBoi
    Good content, but waaaay too long
    Whenever I open my podcast app, I skim through podcasts, and hesitate to click on any 80000 hour podcasts because they range in 100-200 minutes! I wonder how many people effectively listen even 25% of a podcast. Anyway, I prefer shorter segment, weekly, up to 30 minutes, and concise. I want to listen to other podcasts too - listening to one 80000 hours podcast will take a whole week!
  • mhowley02
    In depth discussion of meaningful content
    The 80,000 hours podcast delves into meaningful topic with a commitment to rational inquiry. It's no exaggeration that this podcast can change the manner in which you conduct your life.
  • Grace & Sophia
    absolutely wonderful
    80,000 Hours is one of the most amazing organizations and movements I have come across. I accidentally found their website early in 2017, in the midst of researching what coding language I should learn. Their advice is practical and incredibly relevant; it's been comforting to use their podcasts and articles as resources for shaping the rest of my future. If you want to know how to mold your life so you can reach your most productive and helpful potential, keep listening to and reading what 80,000 Hours has to say.
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