Interview Highlights
Sometimes the questions you ask can be just as revealing as the answers you give. For our hosts here at QDT, who run educational podcasts on subjects that range from grammar to gravity, questions are an essential part of the gig. Their research demands it.
And sometimes–when the questions pile up, when we know there are super smart and interesting people out there with troves of knowledge–we turn to interviews for answers.
Over the years QDT has bent the ears of scientists, best-selling authors, TV anchors, fitness gurus, and more. The interviews below are some of our favorites, running on enough intellectual and creative kilowatts to power the electric grid of a mid-sized city.
Learn why Dan Harris became today’s leading meditation evangelist, or how emojis are defined at Dictionary.com, or what Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton does to get strangers to talk to him.
And if you like what you hear, consider subscribing.
An Interview with Dan Harris, ABC News Anchor, on Meditation
It’s hard to learn how to meditate. Many of us have a hard time dedicating time and mental energy to a task that goes against what we’ve trained our brains to do. Dan Harris sits down for a conversation with the Savvy Psychologist to explain why it’s worth the effort and how you can make time in your life to tune out the noise for a minute or two.
Brandon Stanton has approached more than 10,000 strangers in New York and around the world to ask for their story and take a photograph. In this exclusive interview with Savvy Psychologist, learn how he pushes past his inner critic to start those first conversations.
An Interview with Charles Duhigg, NYT Columnist and Author, on Productivity
Charles Duhigg, the Pulitzer-winning journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller Smarter, Faster, Better, will be the first to tell you that business is about results — not simply looking busy. In this chat with Get-it-Done Guy, he talks about his workflow process and the habits of a successful innovator.
An Interview with Nigella Lawson, Cookbook Writer, on Food Philosophy
Renowned cookbook author Nigella Lawson has already done so much to change people’s relationships with food. In this chat with Clever Cookstr, she talks about her own food philosophy, covering everything from her love of bowlfood to the importance of cooking for yourself.
An Interview with Rebecca Stritchfield, Nutritionist, on Body Kindness
If you don’t love the food you eat, your diet isn’t working. Listen to this chat between Nutrition Diva and Rebecca Stritchfield, a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist and the author of Body Kindness, as they discuss the only three nutrition rules you absolutely need to follow.
An Interview with Jan Solomon, Dictionary.com Lexicographer, on Emojis
Ever wondered what that upside-down smiley face emoji means? Or the emoji that looks like a goat? Well, as of March 2018, you can find out the meanings of those emojis and more on Dictionary.com. In this interview with Grammar Girl, you can hear directly from Dictionary.com lexicographer Jane Solomon about why they made this change.
An Interview with Dr. Carl Safina, Beyond Words Author, on Animal Empathy
If you’ve ever wondered whether your cat can tell when you’re in pain, you’re not alone. Dr. Carl Safina has the answers, and in this conversation with Everyday Einstein, he explains how we know that different animals have different degrees of empathy, and what it is about humans that sets us apart.
An Interview with Mike Lewis, CEO of When to Jump, on Careers
Mike Lewis was twenty-four and working in venture capital when he decided it was time to leave his job and chase the dream he’d had all his life–to play professional squash in the world tour. Now, he’s the founder and CEO of When to Jump, an online community for people who are also ready to leave the job they have for the life they want. In this interview with Money Girl, he offers practical advice for jump-seekers as they’re budgeting, planning and getting ready to make the change.