Beauty At Work
Beauty at Work expands our understanding of beauty: what it is, how it works, and why it matters. Sociologist Brandon Vaidyanathan interviews scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders across diverse fields to reveal new insights into how beauty shapes our brains, behaviors, organizations, and societies--for good and for ill. Learn how to harness the power of beauty in your life and work, while avoiding its pitfalls.
Episodes
127 episodes
Beauty as Action with Lisa Lindahl - S4E5 (Part 1 of 2)
Lisa Z. Lindahl is an award-winning inventor, artist, author, and entrepreneur best known for transforming women’s sports with her 1977 invention of the first sports bra, the Jogbra. As CEO of JBI Inc. from 1977–1992, she helped shape a global ...
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25:33
Faith, Love, and AI with John Havens - S4E4 (Part 2 of 2)
John C. Havens has spent years at the heart of the global conversation on AI ethics. As the Founding Executive Director of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, he led the creation of Ethically Aligned Desi...
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32:46
Faith, Love, and AI with John Havens - S4E4 (Part 1 of 2)
John C. Havens has spent years at the heart of the global conversation on AI ethics. As the Founding Executive Director of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, he led the creation of Ethically Aligned Desi...
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38:32
Spiritual Innovation with Casper Ter Kuile & Angie Thurston - S4E3 (Part 2 of 2)
In Episode 3 of this season, we explore the evolving landscape of spiritual innovation, what it means to design meaningful spiritual life in a rapidly changing world, with guests Casper Ter Kuile and Angie Thurston from Sacred Design Lab, a non...
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25:36
Spiritual Innovation with Casper Ter Kuile & Angie Thurston - S4E3 (Part 1 of 2)
In Episode 3 of this season, we explore the evolving landscape of spiritual innovation, what it means to design meaningful spiritual life in a rapidly changing world, with guests Casper Ter Kuile and Angie Thurston from Sacred Design Lab, a non...
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34:52
The Evolution of Beauty and the Beauty of Innovation with Matt Ridley - S4 E2 (Part 2 of 2)
In Episode 2 of this season, we explore the evolution of beauty (especially in birds) and the beauty of innovation, with guest Matt Ridley.Matt Ridley's books have sold over a million copies, been translated into 31 languages and won sev...
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28:02
The Evolution of Beauty and the Beauty of Innovation with Matt Ridley - S4 E2 (Part 1 of 2)
In Episode 2 of this season, we explore the evolution of beauty (especially in birds) and the beauty of innovation, with guest Matt Ridley.Matt Ridley's books have sold over a million copies, been translated into 31 languages and won sev...
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30:49
The Laws of Life with Michael Muthukrishna - S4 E1 (Part 2 of 2)
This is part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Michael Muthukrishna. What really drives human progress? What is innovation, and why is innovation not just a feature of modern society but a law of life? How do energy, cooperation, and cu...
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35:48
The Laws of Life with Michael Muthukrishna - S4 E1 (Part 1 of 2)
What really drives human progress? What is innovation, and why is innovation not just a feature of modern society but a law of life? How do energy, cooperation, and culture shape the way we create new ideas?These are ideal questions with...
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34:11
Beauty, Responsibility, and the Future of AI: A Conversation with Brian Mullins of Mind Foundry - Clip From S2E18
In this clip from the episode of Beauty at Work, host Brandon Vaidyanathan sits down with Brian Mullins, CEO of Mind Foundry, a pioneering responsible AI company spun out of the University of Oxford. Brian shares how AI can...
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19:51
The Sacred Power of Sound: Timothy Myers on Beauty, Community, and the Art of Conducting - Clip From S2E17
Is classical music “entertainment”? Timothy Myers, conductor and music director of the Austin Opera, argues that it’s an antidote to entertainment. Here, he shares his story of how he became a conductor and discusses what he finds inspiring abo...
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20:51
Art, Trauma, and the Power of Vulnerability – A Conversation with Wayne Brezinka - Clip From S2E16
How can art heal us? Award-winning artist Wayne Brezinka discusses some of the most meaningful responses to his pieces that he’s received. He also talks about the workshops he leads that focus on using art as a tool to respond to trauma....
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20:08
Digital Fashion, Aesthetics, and the Politics of Beauty: Philosopher Michael R. Spicher - Clip From S2E15
What is digital fashion and why pay attention to it? Philosopher Michael R. Spicher shares how his ongoing research on digital fashion shows that we are “aesthetic beings.” He also discusses the relationship between beauty and politics.I...
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11:39
From Beauty to Biophilia: Jennifer Walsh’s Journey from Finance to Wellness Walks™ - Clip From S2E14
Why would someone in the finance industry start an independent makeup line then, years later, begin leading nature walks? Jennifer Walsh, biophilia expert and founder of Wellness Walks™, tells the story of the birth of Beauty Bar and why she fo...
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18:13
How Fashion Changed My Life: Ean Williams on Identity, Rejection, and Founding DC Fashion Week - Clip From S2E13
In this clip from the Beauty At Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan talks with fashion designer and DC Fashion Week founder Ean Williams about his unexpected journey from shy, style-conscious teen to fashion model, Air Force intelligence sp...
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17:16
Reweaving Community Through Beauty: Chris Everett on Art, Healing, and Sacred Space - Clip From S2E12
How did a barn on a Minnesota farm turn into a space where people from diverse backgrounds could experience beauty? Musician, designer, and arts non-profit co-founder Chris Everett recounts how the artist retreat was born and shares the story o...
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12:38
Building a Beautiful Workplace Culture (Esther Blázquez Blanco) - Clip From S2E11
What does it mean for a business to have a beautiful culture? Leadership coach and consultant Esther Blázquez Blanco offers some advice for leaders.In this clip from the Beauty At Work podcast, host Brandon Vaidyanathan is joine...
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16:15
From Fragility to Flourishing: Social Cohesion and Joyful Communities (Dr. Seth Kaplan) - Clip From S2E10
What makes a society fragile? Fragile states expert Dr. Seth Kaplan shares the story of why he started researching the relational underpinnings of societies and how they contribute to societies’ fragility and flourishing. He also discusses what...
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21:22
From Opera to Asanas: Sean Vigue on the Beauty of Movement (Sean Vigue) - Clip Fro S2E9
In this inspiring episode of Beauty At Work, host Brandon Vaidyanathan sits down with Sean Vigue, a renowned online yoga and Pilates instructor, to explore his journey from musical theater and opera to becoming a global fitness educato...
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14:32
Beauty, Imperfection, and Belonging (Pallavi Dean) - Clip From S2E8
Is there beauty in imperfection? Award-winning Dubai-based architect Pallavi Dean thinks that imperfection, along with homeyness, is a central aspect of beauty. Here, she shares the story of what first inspired her career in architecture and wh...
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16:46
From Birdsong to Big Bang: A Scientist’s Journey Through Beauty (Dr. Dave Gammon) - Clip From S2E7
Why is the mockingbird’s song so beautiful and yet so challenging to understand? Biologist and integrative scientist Dr. Dave Gammon discusses his research on the “career-killer” animal, sharing where he finds beauty in his research as well as ...
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16:12
The Healing Power of Beauty: Aesthetics as a Tool for Justice (Sheri Parks) - Clips from S2E6
In this compelling episode of Beauty at Work, host Brandon Vaidyanathan sits down with cultural scholar Sheri Parks to explore how aesthetics—often dismissed as trivial—carry profound power.How is aesthetics a tool for social ju...
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19:14
Beautiful Business: Romance, Resistance, and the Life-Centered Future (Tim Leberecht) - Clip From S2E5
What does it mean to be a “romantic” in business? Tim Leberecht, entrepreneur and co-founder of the House of Beautiful Business, shares the story of how he came to recognize the Romantic ideals behind beautiful business. In this clip, he explai...
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20:48
Becoming a Nomadic Architect: Designing for Belonging with (Adi Cohen) - Clip From S2E4
How does a nomadic lifestyle inspire beauty in architecture? Architect, TEDx speaker, and Forbes-featured entrepreneur Adi Cohen shares how she became a global citizen who travels the world creating beautiful spaces.In this episode of
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21:05
Science Meets Spirituality: Bridging Worlds in the Search for Meaning
How can science speak to our deepest spiritual yearnings? In this captivating panel discussion held at NeueHouse Manhattan, five prominent scientists and thinkers explore how different ways of knowing—from physics to medicine, from spirituality...
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1:01:02
