In an angry, polarized world, it’s good to remember the many benefits of a good laugh. Chris Duffy is a comedian and host of TED’s podcast “How to Be a Better Human,” and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the link between humor and innovation, how social bonds are formed over jokes and chuckles, and why humor is a key to a happy, healthy life. His book is “Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy.”

A.I. is changing the way business is done in every industry — including the business of sex. Avantika Chilkoti, Global Business Correspondent for The Economist, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how A.I. is affecting the pornography industry, which brings in billions of dollars annually, and to ponder whether computer-generated content will put human sex workers out of a job. Her article is “A.I. is upending the porn industry.”

There’s a fine line between a voracious hobby and an out-and-out obsession. David Greene, journalist, author and former host of NPR's Morning Edition, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his dive into people’s personal obsessions, what drives us to latch on and grow certain fascinations and why so often these have nothing to do with the ways we make a living. His podcast is “David Greene is Obsessed” from Campside Media.

Binary thinking is black or white, on or off, good or bad – and our modern world requires a more nuanced approach. New York Times opinion columnist Thomas L. Friedman joins host Krys Boyd to discuss our modern age of global multipolarity and how we can start thinking in terms of “poly.” His article is “Welcome to Our New Era. What Do We Call It?”

One way to understand the intelligence of a species is if they can feel pain. Marina Bolotnikova, Deputy Editor for Vox’s Future Perfect, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how scientists are coming to the conclusion that fish feel pain, why it’s so difficult to observe them in their natural environment and compare their nervous systems to that of a human’s, and why this study new information has deep ethical implications. Her article is “The surprisingly profound debate over whether fish feel pain.”

Of all the renewable energy sources, the one most overlooked might be the one to save us all. New Yorker staff writer Rivka Galchen joins host Krys Boyd to discuss geothermal energy, which pulls energy from the ground. And while it’s been used successfully in volcanic hotspots, we’ll consider why, as of yet, the U.S. has declined to invest or even encourage its development. Her article is “Why the Time Has Finally Come for Geothermal Energy.”

Neuroscientists have successfully altered memories in a lab, and yours could be next. Steve Ramirez, neuroscientist and associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how certain memories might be edited with pulses of light, what this means for people dealing with life-altering trauma, and how we figured out how to manipulate the mind. His book is “How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist’s Quest to Alter the Past.“

If the 9-to-5 grind gets you down, maybe it’s time to do more with your life. Rutger Bregman, historian and co-founder of The School for Moral Ambition, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why so many people feel like their jobs don’t make a difference in the world and how we can instead use our talent and education to focus on the world’s biggest problems. His book is “Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference.”