Lives Well Lived

Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin Roth explains how innovative market designs can reduce exploitation and save lives. Drawing on his pioneering work in kidney exchanges, Roth explores some of society’s most contentious moral dilemmas involving organ markets, surrogacy, and unpacks the ethical tensions surrounding what he calls “repugnant transactions.”

read Alvin's new book MORAL ECONOMICS

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Producer: Rachel Barrett

Thanks to our researcher Chris van Ryn!
And thanks to Maia Iva!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter & Kasia speak with leading happiness researcher John Helliwell about the findings of the 2026 World Happiness Report, exploring why countries like Finland consistently rank among the world's happiest. John reveals how life satisfaction is measured, why happiness is declining among young people in many Western nations, and how factors such as social connections and institutional trust can sustain well-being even during periods of conflict or uncertainty.

Read the 2026 World Happiness Report

Keep up to date with Peter on Substack
Keep up to date with Kasia!

watch this episode on YouTube!

Producer: Rachel Barrett

Thanks to our researcher Chris van Ryn! And thanks to Maia Iva!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good Food Institute founder Bruce Friedrich joins the podcast to discuss the revolutionary changes unfolding in food technology and the mission behind the Good Food Institute’s work to reduce reliance on animal agriculture through plant-based and cultivated meat. Bruce presents the key arguments driving the shift toward alternative proteins, including climate change, food security, antibiotic resistance, and pandemic prevention.

Read Bruce's book 'Meat: How the Next Agricultural Revolution Will Transform Humanity's Favorite Food, and Our Future'

Keep up to date with Peter on Substack
Keep up to date with Kasia!

watch this episode on YouTube!

Producer: Rachel Barrett

Thanks to our researcher Chris van Ryn! And thanks to Maia Iva!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Metzl is an American author, geopolitical analyst, and technology futurist who focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, genetics, biotechnology, and global politics. He is known for writing and speaking about how emerging technologies could reshape society, healthcare, and human evolution.

Metzl shares his insights on the importance of responsible governance, cautious optimism, and global cooperation in the face of rapid technological advancement. As we move forward, it will be crucial to balance innovation with ethical considerations to ensure a positive impact on humanity.

Learn more about Jamie Metzl and read his new book The AI Ten Commandments

Keep up to date with Peter on Substack
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watch this episode on YouTube!

Producer: Rachel Barrett

Thanks to our researcher Chris van Ryn! And thanks to Maia Iva!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

sadly, Edith Eger passed away this week. To honour her we have decided to re-release our episode because we think that there are important lessons to be learned about how to live one's life well from Edith.

Holocaust survivor Edith Eger shares her emotional journey of surviving Auschwitz, her encounter with Josef Mengele, and how she became known as the 'Ballerina of Auschwitz.' Edith highlights the slow, evolving process of coming to terms with her past, influenced by Viktor Frankl's work, and how she uses her traumatic experiences to help others as a psychologist, transforming trauma into a source of strength, healing, and forgiveness.

Learn more about Edith Eger!
Read Edith's books! The Choice (Memoir) The Gift The Ballerina of Auschwitz
Make Edith's Hungarian Szekely Goulash!

Keep up to date with Peter on Substack
Keep up to date with Kasia!

Producer: Rachel Barrett
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.