Best Uncommon Knowledge Podcasts (2024)

1
The Magician’s Twin, with David Berlinski, Stephen Meyer, and James Orr | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:11:59

1h ago1:11:59

1:11:59

In his 1943 book The Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis wrote: “The serious magical endeavor and the serious scientific endeavor are twins: One was sickly and died, the other strong and throve. But they were twins. They were born of the same impulse.” In this Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson, mathematician and philosopher David Berlinski, intellig…

1
Coming Soon! 0:16

23d ago0:16

0:16

By Jim Moran

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Doing “The Best Things First,” with Bjorn Lomborg | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 43:46

18d ago43:46

43:46

Bjorn Lomborg is president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, a think tank dedicated to applying economic analysis, including cost-benefit analysis, to proposed policies around the issues of the day. He’s also a visiting professor at Copenhagen Business School and visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He's the author of…

1
Adhesive History 4:10

1M ago4:10

4:10

Check out the finale of Season 1! This episode covers the history of three tools that have been used to bind things, one of which has reportedly been used for tens of thousands of years! We look forward to releasing Season 2 in the fall! The transcript for this episode is available on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fm…

1
A Dangerous Moment, with Douglas Murray | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 58:33

1M ago58:33

58:33

Author and columnist Douglas Murray has spent much of the past few years reporting from battlefields in Ukraine and Gaza. His reporting on the harrowing conditions in those wartorn locations make his journalism a must-read. In this wide-ranging conversation, Murray describes what he has witnessed, why the West must ensure victories in both wars, an…

1
The Magnificent Maize 2:43

1M ago2:43

2:43

Check out this week's episode of Becoming Sage, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary! This episode is trying something new. A shorter episode with an even shorter history component that donates its time to a section that explains applications and fun facts about our topic! Just like always, the transcript for this episode is available on our we…

1
Keys of the Past and Present 3:36

2M ago3:36

3:36

Tune in to the fourteenth episode of Becoming Sage! We take a look at the history of the keyboard and how it ties into specific inventions throughout the last 150-odd years. The transcript for this episode is available on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

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“The End of Everything,” with Victor Davis Hanson | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:05:46

2M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

Classicist Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the author of hundreds of articles, book reviews, and newspaper editorials on Greek, agrarian, and military history and essays on contemporary culture. He has written or edited twenty-four books, the latest of which is The End of Everything: …

1
Listen to a History about Listening 3:52

2M ago3:52

3:52

Check out the thirteenth episode of Becoming Sage! If you are listening to this episode with headphones, it might be even more interesting! The transcript for this episode can be found on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

1
Rowing Into A Healthier Future 4:02

3M ago4:02

4:02

Listen in to hear about the ergometer (rowing machine). How it was invented, and some of the benefits that using one can bring. Just like always, the transcript for this episode is available on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

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Paul Wolfowitz on the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars and a Life in Foreign Policy | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:01:52

3M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Currently a fellow at the Hoover Institution, Paul Wolfowitz previously served as director of policy planning at the State Department, as US ambassador to Indonesia, as under secretary of defense for policy, as dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, as deputy secretary of defense, and as president of the W…

1
The Shining Origin of Medals 2:56

3M ago2:56

2:56

Listen to this week's episode of Becoming Sage where we will delve into the history of medals and awards. Their original purpose(s) and how they are viewed in the modern day. You can find the transcript for this episode on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

1
Seeing Glasses 5:04

3M ago5:04

5:04

Welcome to Becoming Sage! Join us for this week's episode where we uncover the history of glasses. You can find the transcript for this episode on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

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The Rise of the Machines: John Etchemendy and Fei-Fei Li on Our AI Future | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:00:29

3M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

John Etchemendy and Fei-Fei Li are the codirectors of Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), founded in 2019 to “advance AI research, education, policy and practice to improve the human condition.” In this interview, they delve into the origins of the technology, its promise, and its potential threats. They also disc…

1
The Spread of Mustard 2:46

3M ago2:46

2:46

Listen in to this week's episode of Becoming Sage. One of the oldest condiments still used in the modern day, join us as we go back into the history of Mustard.By KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

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Andrew Roberts on “Conflict: The Evolution of War from 1945 to Ukraine” | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:03:42

4M ago1:03:42

1:03:42

Historian Andrew Roberts is the author of more than a dozen major works of history, including Napoleon: A Life, Churchill: Walking with Destiny, and The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III. His latest book, coauthored with General David Petraeus, is Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, which provides the …

1
Scripting the History of the Pen 4:01

4M ago4:01

4:01

Listen in to this week's episode to hear the ordinary become extraordinary! Not only do we go over the history of the pen, but also what allowed its ancestors to stay relevant, sometimes even in the modern world! Find the transcript for this episode on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

1
Unpacking the History of Cardboard 4:27

4M ago4:27

4:27

Listen to Becoming Sage to hear the ordinary become extraordinary! Join us to unpack the history of a shipping and packaging staple. You can find the transcript for this episode on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

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Why Bitcoin Will Take Over The World: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:05:12

4M ago1:05:12

1:05:12

Despite a tumultuous and volatile marketplace; scandals, arrests, and bankruptcies at rival digital exchanges; and social issues disrupting his own company, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is a devout believer in digital currencies and the power of the blockchain. In this interview, Armstrong describes how he co-founded Coinbase, explains the basics o…

1
Writing the History of the Chalkboard 4:01

4M ago4:01

4:01

Listen in to this week's episode of Becoming Sage to learn about the master of captivating attention in education, the chalkboard! Learn of its roots and origins. You can find the transcript for this episode on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

1
The First Treads of Footwear 4:47

4M ago4:47

4:47

Listen in on Becoming Sage to hear the ordinary become extraordinary. This week's episode follows the evolution of footwear and their impacts on the environment! You can find the transcript for this episode on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

1
Flushing out the History of Hand Sanitizer 3:45

5M ago3:45

3:45

Listen in to learn about the ordinary, and watch them become truly extraordinary! In this episode, we present the different histories of hand sanitizer. Feel free to email us your thoughts at sagebecoming@gmail.com What do you think? Who really invented hand sanitizer, or was it both? Let us know! You can find the transcript for this episode on our…

1
Discovering the Security Camera 4:24

5M ago4:24

4:24

Listen in to learn about the evolution of the security camera. You can find the transcript for this episode on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

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Growing Up Segregated: Three Witnesses To The Struggle For Civil Rights, Part 2 | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson, Condoleezza Rice, Mary Bush, and Freeman Hrabowski| Hoover Institution 56:55

5M ago56:55

56:55

Mary Bush, Freeman Hrabowski, and Condoleezza Rice grew up and were classmates together in segregated Birmingham, Alabama, in the late 1950s and early ’60s. After taking a brief visit with Rice to her childhood home, we gather them again for a second conversation in Birmingham’s Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Rice’s father was pastor during…

1
Inventing the Swivel Chair 3:33

5M ago3:33

3:33

Listen in to learn about the history of the swivel chair, also known as the revolving chair!By KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

1
The Origin of T-Shirts 2:11

5M ago2:11

2:11

Welcome to Becoming Sage where the ordinary becomes extraordinary! This week's episode is the very first! Listen to discover the origin of one of the modern world's most important garments, the T-shirt! The transcript for this episode can be found on our website: becomingsage.transistor.fmBy KMIH 88.9 The Bridge

1
Birmingham, 1963: Three Witnesses to the Struggle for Civil Rights | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson, Condoleezza Rice, Mary Bush, and Freeman Hrabowski| Hoover Institution 1:02:19

5M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Mary Bush, Freeman Hrabowski, and Condoleezza Rice grew up and were classmates together in segregated Birmingham, Alabama, in the late 1950s and early ’60s. We reunited them for a conversation in Birmingham’s Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Rice’s father was pastor during that period. The three lifelong friends recount what life was like for…

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Uncommon Knowledge Archive: Oppenheimer’s Edward Teller and Sid Drell on ICBM Defense Systems | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 28:08

6M ago28:08

28:08

With the recent announcement that Oppenheimer, the film directed by Christopher Nolan, had garnered 11 Academy Award nominations, it seemed timely to pull from the archives this rarely seen episode of Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson from 1996 (the third episode ever shot), featuring nuclear physicists and Hoover senior fellows Edward Teller …

1
“The Treason Of The Intellectuals,” With Niall Ferguson | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 48:19

6M ago48:19

48:19

Niall Ferguson is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a senior faculty fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University. In this interview, Ferguson discusses his stunning essay “The Treason of the Intellectuals,” published in December 2023 in the Free Press. The …

1
Donald Trump and The Supreme Court | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson, Richard Epstein, and John Yoo | Hoover Institution 54:28

6M ago54:28

54:28

Between now and the spring, the Supreme Court will rule on at least three cases involving Donald Trump. Two questions: What should the Court’s rulings be? What will they be? To answer those questions and more, we turn to our in-house legal experts: NYU Law School’s Richard Epstein and Berkeley Law School’s John Yoo.…

1
100% Cotton: The Senator from Arkansas On Issues Domestic And Foreign | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 57:44

7M ago57:44

57:44

Tom Cotton has been a US Senator since 2015. Before that he served for two years in the US House of Representatives from the Arkansas Fourth District, after defeating a two-term Democratic incumbent. Cotton served in the US Army, where he was stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. In this wide-…

1
The Most Dangerous Moment: A Debate on America’s Role in the Pacific | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:09:57

8M ago1:09:57

1:09:57

Dan Blumenthal is the director of Asian studies at the American Enterprise Institute. During the administration of President George W. Bush, he served in the Department of Defense. Blumenthal’s most recent book is The China Nightmare: The Grand Ambitions of a Decaying State. Elbridge Colby is a founder of the new think tank the Marathon Initiative.…

1
Breaking China: Congressman Mike Gallagher on Asian Geopolitics and Beyond | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:00:21

8M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

Not yet 40 years old, Republican congressman Mike Gallagher has been elected four times to the House of Representatives from Wisconsin’s eighth district, which includes Green Bay and, more importantly, Lambeau Field, home of the Packers. He’s currently serving as the chair of the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. He joins in…

1
The Long Game: Andrew Luck & Condoleezza Rice on the Future of College Sports | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:00:17

8M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

The past several years have seen consequential changes for NCAA schools and their athletes: the introduction of name, image, and likeness rules; the establishment of the transfer portal; and the realignment of the conferences in which all major college teams and athletes compete—and critically, the distribution of the TV monies the conferences gene…

1
The World According to China with Elizabeth Economy | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 49:07

9M ago49:07

49:07

Elizabeth Economy did her undergraduate work at Swarthmore, earned a master’s at Stanford, and holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan. She served at the Council on Foreign Relations and the World Economic Forum before coming to the Hoover Institution in 2020. Dr. Economy is the author of half a dozen books, including her most recent volu…

1
Episode 137 Recast: Conversation with Chris Morse 47:47

9M ago47:47

47:47

A different take.

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Episode 136 Recast: Conversation with Ellis Menchaca 1:05:54

9M ago1:05:54

1:05:54

Oldie but a Goodie.

1
Episode 135 Recast: Thomas Sowell on Uncommon Knowledge 53:08

10M ago53:08

53:08

a recording of Thomas Sowell's discussion on the Myths of Inequality.

1
More “Social Justice Fallacies,” With Thomas Sowell | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 37:30

10M ago37:30

37:30

Thomas Sowell, age 93, is the Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution. With his usual fierceness and feistiness intact, Dr. Sowell returns to Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson for a second round of discussion on his latest book (he’s published over 40 titles over his career), Social Justice Fallacies. …

1
Episode 134: Say the things 32:47

10M ago32:47

32:47

Supreme Court cases, news, opinions, and sports.

1
Episode 133: Missouri v Biden 1:12:38

10M ago1:12:38

1:12:38

News and Opinions, Sports, and I read 30 Pages of a fifth circuit opinion!

1
Consequences Matter: Thomas Sowell on “Social Justice Fallacies” | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 42:30

10M ago42:30

42:30

Thomas Sowell, age 93, is the Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution. With his usual fierceness and feistiness intact, Dr. Sowell returns to Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson to discuss his latest book (he’s published over 40 titles over his career), Social Justice Fallacies. In this wide-ranging inte…

1
Episode 132: Frolicking in the park 41:55

10M ago41:55

41:55

A Poker Story, Sports, Courts, and Opinions.

1
Episode 131: Draftopalooza 2023 46:50

11M ago46:50

46:50

News and Opinions, Court Cases, Sports, and three fantasy drafts. Oh my stars and garters…

1
Episode 130: P01135809 53:09

11M ago53:09

53:09

News, Opinion, Courts, Sports!

1
Hot Or Not: Steven Koonin Questions Conventional Climate Science And Methodology | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 54:43

11M ago54:43

54:43

Steven Koonin is one of America's most distinguished scientists, with decades of experience, including a stint as undersecretary of science at the Department of Energy in the Obama administration. In this wide-ranging discussion, based in part on his 2021 book, Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn't, and Why It Matters, Koonin gi…