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
117 episodes
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
Imagining Future Worlds: Where Science Meets Art (Dr. Rob Dunn) - Clip From S2E3
How can artists and scientists collaborate to envision the future? Biologist Dr. Rob Dunn discusses the art-science collaboration projects he’s working on that do just this. Brandon and Rob Dunn explore how blending science with art and storyte...
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17:36
The Intersection of Architecture, Beauty, and Spirituality (Rachael Grochowski) - Clip from S2E2
Are architecture, beauty, and spirituality related? Yes, says award-winning architect Rachael Grochowski. In this clip from our podcast conversation, she shares the story of how she became an architect and how her design integrates spirituality...
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17:14
The Power of Aesthetic Intelligence in Corporate Culture and Hospitality (Pauline Brown) - Clip from S2E1
How does aesthetic intelligence contribute to success in business? Pauline Brown, leader in luxury goods and Columbia Business School professor, discusses the power and ethics of aesthetic intelligence. Brandon and Pauline discuss how aesthetic...
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17:56
A Feeling of Precariousness | Putnam, Turkle, Vaidyanathan | New York Encounter 2025 (Part 2 of 2)
A conversation at the New York Encounter 2025 on loneliness and malaise in today’s society with Robert Putnam, Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University, and Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology, Massach...
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34:45
A Feeling of Precariousness | Putnam, Turkle, Vaidyanathan | New York Encounter 2025 (Part 1 of 2)
A conversation at the New York Encounter 2025 on loneliness and malaise in today’s society with Robert Putnam, Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University, and Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology, Massach...
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28:24
All That Is Needed Is Attention | Nowak, Phillips, Tang | New York Encounter 2025 (Part 2 of 2)
A discussion at the New York Encounter 2025 on the role of wonder in scientific research with Martin Nowak, Professor of Mathematics and Biology, Harvard University, and Rob Phillips, Professor of Biophysics, Biology, and Physics at the Califor...
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24:59
All That Is Needed Is Attention | Nowak, Phillips, Tang | New York Encounter 2025 (Part 1 of 2)
A discussion at the New York Encounter 2025 on the role of wonder in scientific research with Martin Nowak, Professor of Mathematics and Biology, Harvard University, and Rob Phillips, Professor of Biophysics, Biology, and Physics at the Califor...
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23:09
Yearning for True Love with Francesca Hogi (Part 2 of 2)
How do you find true love—within yourself and in your relationships? To answer this question, we’re joined by Francesca Hogi, a love coach, TED speaker, and host of the Dear Franny Podcast. Francesca’s journey from corporate lawyer to ...
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36:27
Yearning for True Love with Francesca Hogi (Part 1 of 2)
How do you find true love—within yourself and in your relationships? In this Valentine’s Day episode, we’re joined by Francesca Hogi, a love coach, TED speaker, and host of the Dear Franny Podcast. Francesca’s journey from corporate la...
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40:59
Yearning for Healing with Deepa Patel and Dr. Angel Acosta (part 2 of 2)
How do we foster healing in communities impacted by trauma? And how can leaders and educators adopt a healing-centered approach to their work? In this episode, we’re joined by Deepa Gulrukh Patel, a creative facilitator bl...
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28:16
