Steve Paulson
@atomseden.bsky.social
Journalist and radio producer. Executive Producer, To the Best of Our Knowledge. Host, Luminous. Author, Atoms and Eden.
@bymarkriechers.com That’s an incredibly lovely thing for you to say! But that’s only half the story. You always brought so much to everything we did on TTBOOK. You were endlessly creative, constantly expanding our reach and finding (and even inventing) new platforms for us to use.
And finally, Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson. I can't believe I got to work with such brilliant and decorated interviewers and producers. I didn't just learn how to produce better audio from them — I learned how to be a better listener, and a better human being. madison.com/life-enterta...
Wisconsin Public Radio's 'To the Best of Our Knowledge' and Zorba Paster sign off
One listener said that TTBOOK, as it’s called for short, is "one of the most brilliant radio programs out there on the radio today."
madison.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:14 AM
@bymarkriechers.com That’s an incredibly lovely thing for you to say! But that’s only half the story. You always brought so much to everything we did on TTBOOK. You were endlessly creative, constantly expanding our reach and finding (and even inventing) new platforms for us to use.
What can a small group of scientists, philosophers and writers tell us about the future of our planet? I went to this gathering in Italy to find out and brought back hours of recorded interviews to describe an emerging scientific paradigm.
Welcome to the Island of Knowledge
In a 16th century chapel on an Italian hillside, a new scientific worldview is taking shape. It’s a new way of thinking about planetary intelligence and the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.
www.ttbook.org
April 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
What can a small group of scientists, philosophers and writers tell us about the future of our planet? I went to this gathering in Italy to find out and brought back hours of recorded interviews to describe an emerging scientific paradigm.
How do you reconcile Buddhist meditation with psychedelic practice, given the Buddhist prohibition against intoxicants? Spring Washam has worked as both a Buddhist teacher and psychedelic healer. In my Luminous podcast, she describes her own fascinating journey. www.ttbook.org/show/luminou...
Luminous: Spring Washam, the Buddhist Shaman
Many Buddhists say psychedelics violate the prohibition against intoxicants. Spring Washam straddles this divide as both a Buddhist teacher and founder of an ayahuasca church.
www.ttbook.org
January 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
How do you reconcile Buddhist meditation with psychedelic practice, given the Buddhist prohibition against intoxicants? Spring Washam has worked as both a Buddhist teacher and psychedelic healer. In my Luminous podcast, she describes her own fascinating journey. www.ttbook.org/show/luminou...
In her new book, philosopher Agnes Callard asks, what it would take to live like Socrates? So much of what she says is provocative and fascinating, especially when she talks about "rational love" and the virtues of "philosophical dissatisfaction" in a marriage. Here's my interview in @nautil.us.
Argue Your Way to a Fuller Life
Refute your friends and family, never be satisfied. Philosopher Agnes Callard on life lessons from Socrates.
nautil.us
January 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
In her new book, philosopher Agnes Callard asks, what it would take to live like Socrates? So much of what she says is provocative and fascinating, especially when she talks about "rational love" and the virtues of "philosophical dissatisfaction" in a marriage. Here's my interview in @nautil.us.
David Sloan Wilson helped formulate a theory of altruism. He also wrote the novel "Atlas Hugged," a takeoff on Ayn Rand's book. I had a great time talking with David at the Morgan Library. For this series, @ttbook.bsky.social is partnering with the Nour Foundation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeQN...
From Biology to Culture: The Evolution of Goodness
YouTube video by NourFoundation
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2024 at 6:18 PM
David Sloan Wilson helped formulate a theory of altruism. He also wrote the novel "Atlas Hugged," a takeoff on Ayn Rand's book. I had a great time talking with David at the Morgan Library. For this series, @ttbook.bsky.social is partnering with the Nour Foundation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeQN...
Reposted by Steve Paulson
Presenting @smithsonianmag.bsky.social's top science books of 2024. By @ferrisjabr.bsky.social @zoeschlanger.bsky.social @adamhigginbotham.bsky.social @rboyle31.bsky.social @charan-neuro.bsky.social @ayanaeliza.bsky.social and more... www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/t...
The Ten Best Science Books of 2024
From a deep dive on a fatal space shuttle disaster to a study of a dozen iconic trees, these are our favorite titles this year
www.smithsonianmag.com
December 9, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Presenting @smithsonianmag.bsky.social's top science books of 2024. By @ferrisjabr.bsky.social @zoeschlanger.bsky.social @adamhigginbotham.bsky.social @rboyle31.bsky.social @charan-neuro.bsky.social @ayanaeliza.bsky.social and more... www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/t...
I knew plants were smart but I had no idea just how intelligent they are until I talked with Zoe Schlanger, author of the amazing book “The Light Eaters.”
www.ttbook.org/show/plant-i...
www.ttbook.org/show/plant-i...
Plant Intelligence
Have you ever wondered how plants find enough light and water? How they ward off attacks from predators? It turns out they’re a lot smarter than you realize. Plants can send out distress signals. They...
www.ttbook.org
December 8, 2024 at 11:39 PM
I knew plants were smart but I had no idea just how intelligent they are until I talked with Zoe Schlanger, author of the amazing book “The Light Eaters.”
www.ttbook.org/show/plant-i...
www.ttbook.org/show/plant-i...
Plant Intelligence
Have you ever wondered how plants find enough light and water? How they ward off attacks from predators? It turns out they’re a lot smarter than you realize. Plants can send out distress signals. They...
www.ttbook.org
December 8, 2024 at 11:38 PM
I knew plants were smart but I had no idea just how intelligent they are until I talked with Zoe Schlanger, author of the amazing book “The Light Eaters.”
www.ttbook.org/show/plant-i...
www.ttbook.org/show/plant-i...
I’m reading the new Murakami novel - not his best - but there are lines I really like. Like this one: “I’d say it was a concept existing on the periphery of reality.”
November 30, 2024 at 11:53 PM
I’m reading the new Murakami novel - not his best - but there are lines I really like. Like this one: “I’d say it was a concept existing on the periphery of reality.”
What can philosophy tell us about psychedelic experiences? Are they just hallucinations, or do they reveal some deeper dimension of reality? Philosopher @petersjostedth.bsky.social
says we need a metaphysics of psychedelics to help sort out the truth claims. Here’s my new Luminous episode.
says we need a metaphysics of psychedelics to help sort out the truth claims. Here’s my new Luminous episode.
Luminous: Do psychedelics reveal a deeper dimension of reality?
Are the really big psychedelic experiences just hallucinations, or do they crack open some transpersonal dimension of consciousness? Philosopher Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes believes we need a metaphysics of...
www.ttbook.org
November 30, 2024 at 11:10 PM
What can philosophy tell us about psychedelic experiences? Are they just hallucinations, or do they reveal some deeper dimension of reality? Philosopher @petersjostedth.bsky.social
says we need a metaphysics of psychedelics to help sort out the truth claims. Here’s my new Luminous episode.
says we need a metaphysics of psychedelics to help sort out the truth claims. Here’s my new Luminous episode.