3 Takeaways

Warren Buffett doesn’t need investment advice. But he does listen to fellow billionaire and co-founder of Oaktree Capital Howard Marks. Here, the legendary investor shares his insights on the market, the psychology of investing, why low interest rates can lead to unwise behavior, and why “always good, sometimes great, never terrible” describes his remarkable career.

Serious doubts about capitalism are being raised these days, and for good reason. Too many people are being left behind. But is capitalism really failing? Is socialism the answer? Ruchir Sharma, Chairman of Rockefeller International, says capitalism is being ruined by the expanding role of government. Is he correct? Listen and decide for yourself.

Sam Hazen has seen the future of healthcare, and it works. The CEO of one of the world’s largest healthcare providers, HCA, is using artificial intelligence and robotics to improve patient health and hospital services, make healthcare more affordable, and more. Don’t miss this dose of good news about healthcare.

Election fever is heating up, and no matter how you plan on voting, these 3 Takeaways excerpts provide valuable insight into our political challenges, plus thoughts on how to resolve them. Guests include Yale Law School Professor Amy Chua; former political consultant and presidential advisor Karl Rove; White House advisor to four U.S. presidents David Gergen; political commentator and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will; and journalist extraordinaire Fareed Zakaria.

The story of Whole Foods is the story of its founder, John Mackey, and it’s nothing short of astonishing. Here, this charismatic entrepreneur talks about the fundamentals of success, his own superpowers, why capitalism is a powerful force for progress, and what he believes is the most important thing in life. (It’s not money.) Feast on this conversation.

With no exaggeration, Wilbur Ross is brilliant, successful, blunt, compelling, and completely devoid of baloney. Here, he reveals his thoughts on investing, China, entrepreneurship, serving as U.S. Commerce Secretary, the greatest threat to America, working for Donald Trump, and more. When Wilbur Ross talks, be sure to listen.

The world is on a wild ride — two wars, massive immigration, fractured political parties. Are chaos and upheaval the new normal? Norway’s former Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ine Eriksen Søreide, shares her wise perspective on the threat of Russia, the critical role of the U.S., coping with immigration and more.

Authentic political leadership is in short supply these days. There’s no better person on the topic than the first female President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet. Elected to office twice, she achieved remarkable reforms and had a stunning approval rating of 84%. Here, she talks about the need to tell the truth, defend democracy, be empathetic, and more.

With an election coming up, crime and punishment are a hot topic. Listen to this specially curated episode of 3 Takeaways as some of the sharpest minds on the subject share their insight. Guests include top legal reform expert, Christina Swarns; former Harvard Law School Dean, Martha Minow; Judge Jed Rakoff; founder of the Innocence Project, Barry Scheck; former New York City Police Commissioner, Bill Bratton; and Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Homeland Security.

How would a nuclear war start and unfold? How close are we to thermonuclear annihilation? Annie Jacobsen, a weapons expert and Pulitzer Prize finalist, knows. Here, using insider information, she dramatically outlines how close we’ve come to Armageddon, what nuclear winter would entail, and much more. Don’t miss this chilling but necessary episode.

Massive, mind scrambling changes are taking place in society and politics these days. Nobody makes more sense of it than Fareed Zakaria. Listen, as he talks with his typical brilliance about the problems with our political parties, the need for open markets, how to fix the U.S. Supreme Court — and why he believes enormous optimism is justified. 

It’s a story that seems unimaginable. Fifty years after the end of our brutal war with Vietnam, the two countries are now good friends, close trading partners, allies in many important ways. How did this remarkable reconciliation occur? What does it mean for the future? Don’t miss this engrossing talk with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc Knapper.

“Our current friendship with Vietnam reflects a journey that a Hollywood scriptwriter could not have written.”

What do Einstein, Mozart, Walt Disney, Brie Larson and many other talented and successful people have in common? The experience of being stuck — of being mired in a rut and struggling to accomplish. Here, NYU professor Adam Alter provides a detailed, actionable, and fascinating blueprint for how to get out of the rut. Be sure to listen and learn.

“Colossal talents have experienced the same kinds of procrastination and productivity issues the rest of us do.”

The news media’s coverage of Joe Biden’s mental fitness is itself a major news story. Here, Jill Abramson, a former Executive Editor of the NY Times, provides fresh insight on the failures of the media, the White House’s aggressive cover-up, what it all means for journalism in general, and more. Don’t miss one of our most important conversations ever. 

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has a special perspective and wise insights into the battle against Hamas. Here, he shares his thoughts and suggestions on ending the war, securing the future for Israel, dealing with Iran, the need for a Palestinian state, and more. There’s reason to be both hopeful and concerned. 

“To eliminate Hamas as if it didn't exist is impossible. … It is an ideology, and no military action can remove ideology from the face of the earth.” 

“I am more worried about the solidarity of Israeli society than I am about the enmity of our outside enemies.”

Slowly but surely, AI is taking over. What does it mean to live in an age where we can outsource our thinking to machines? According to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, it's no less than a fundamental restructuring of what it means to be human and a questioning of our essence. Learn how to future-proof yourself and maintain what makes us human. 

“If you want to future-proof yourself in the age of AI … the worst thing you can do is be lazy.”

“If we are at the mercy of AI, free will isn't even an illusion anymore. It’s just completely gone.”

Want to get smarter about education? Listen to this specially curated episode of 3 Takeaways — with former Presidents of Harvard University, Larry Summers and Larry Bacow; former Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan; former head of Oxford University, Dame Louise Richardson; former Academic Dean of the Kennedy School, Iris Bohnet; Nobel Prize laureate, Joshua Angrist; and founder of online Khan Academy, Sal Khan.

Pandemics are on the rise. Will bird flu be next? The government says it’s monitoring the situation, but should we worry? According to former National Security Council Director for Medical and Biodefense Preparedness and expert on emerging infectious diseases, Luciana Borio, the answer is yes. Not only because bird flu is dangerous, but because the government may be giving us happy talk. The more you know, the better. So join us.

Want to become a super communicator? You can, according to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Charles Duhigg. Here, the author of Supercommmunicators shares the neuroscience and key principles everyone can use in their daily life. One example: Ask others how they feel about their life, rather than about the facts of their life.

“Being charismatic or clever or smart is not an ingredient of being a super communicator.”

“People who are good at connecting ask questions … 10 to 20 times as many questions.”

As war rages in Ukraine and Gaza, these questions are being asked: Are wars inevitable? Where will the next major conflict break out? Are the U.S. and China headed for war? Are women leaders less warlike than men? Can wars be avoided? Listen, as Margaret MacMillan, one of the world’s leading war historians, provides answers. Don’t miss this one.

The decline of America and Western civilization is being discussed more loudly these days. But is it true or inevitable? Is the U.S. a waning influence, unraveling from within mainly due to extreme divisiveness? Niall Ferguson, one of the world’s most renowned historians, shares his well-informed perspective. It’s a convo that demands attention.

Kara Swisher is Silicon Valley’s premiere chronicler, filled with wisdom and insight on tech companies and the out-sized egos who found and run them. Here, she shares her take on the industry and on Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, the Google co-founders and others, who she’s known since their companies were mere start-ups.

The world is filled with talented, amazing people, but only a few find fame and success. What’s the essential magic behind Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Steve Jobs and others? Here, Cass Sunstein, author of “How to Become Famous,” shares his keen insights into the essential attributes of hugely successful people. Want to join them? Join us.

“There are plenty of Steve Jobs out there. We tend to think he's unique. But there are Steve Jobs, parallel amazing people, who never made it.”

A.J. Jacobs spent an entire year living as America’s Founding Fathers did 200 years ago. Really. He learned they envisioned a very different balance of power than exists in Washington today. How out of whack are things? How should the Constitution be interpreted? Is there too much free speech? Don’t miss this remarkable conversation.

Terrorism is roiling the Middle East and is a fact of life in many places around the world. How should civilized societies respond? What is an effective approach? Dame Louise Richardson, an Irish expert on the topic, has some surprising and insightful answers. The topic is timely and affects us all. Don’t miss this very necessary conversation.

We live in an age of hyper-marketing, when the marketing of events like Taylor Swift and the “Barbie” movie overwhelm the offering itself and takes on a life of its own. Here, Natasha Degen, marketing and cultural analyst extraordinaire, dissects how marketing is blurring the lines between movies, music, art and fashion and reveals the secrets behind today’s most talked about cultural events and personalities.

People and countries are at each other’s throats these days. How can some of this conflict be resolved? Here, world-class negotiator William Ury reveals the innovative  techniques that have helped him resolve some of the world’s most malignant conflicts. You’ll almost certainly be able to put these techniques to use in your own life. 

According to Janna Levin, “the chillest astrophysicist alive” (says Wired Magazine), there’s a great probability that other life exists in the universe. But what form might this life take? What the heck are black holes? How many planets are out there? And why should we give a hoot about all this? Be sure to listen to this other-worldly conversation.

“I find it impossible to believe we're magically the only experiment in life when we look at our own galaxy, which is a collection of 300 billion stars.”

“We have this notion that we have more control than ever, but I think we have it less and less,” says the brilliant Brian Klaas. Don’t miss this mind-bending chat about flukes, chance and random events. Also, how seemingly inconsequential actions have life-changing consequences, the eternal clash between chaos and order, and how to live successfully in a world on the edge of chaos.

Brain sensors embedded in watches. Earbuds that decode our brainwaves. Neurotechnology that reads our emotions and thoughts, and can be used to manipulate them. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s science fact. Don’t miss this chilling and cautionary talk with Duke professor Nita Farahany, author of The Battle for Your Brain.

Current debates over climate change are focused almost entirely on reducing emissions - which is something we should do - but we also need to answer the question, how should we be adapting?  MIT’s Robert Pindyck shares what we know and don’t know and how we can adapt given the enormous climate uncertainty.

“Let’s suppose we do have an increase in temperature of 3 degrees. What would happen?”

There’s an epidemic of deception taking place, and while some lying has a valid function, it helps to know when you’re being deceived. Expert Pamela Meyer reveals why we lie, how to spot deception in work and life situations, and how she knew Bill Clinton’s claim that he “never had sex with that woman” was bs.

Super intelligent AI is coming that will make today’s AI seem primitive. It will be vastly more powerful than humans, have access to extensive real-time data about almost everyone, and be able to control our lives. A world-leading authority on the topic, Stuart Russell, reveals what must be done for humanity to get the best from AI and avoid the worst.

“The arrival of super intelligent AI is like the arrival of a superior alien civilization…”

Our lives are filled with joyful, positive experiences — a beautiful sunset, a good meal, laughter with someone we love — but we tend to forget them quickly. Here, a groundbreaking neuroscientist, Tali Sharot, explains how we can make the feeling of joy linger, the phenomenon of habituation and why we should “break up the good experiences, but swallow the bad ones whole.” 

With political contentiousness now at a fever pitch and with Presidents Day in mind, there’s much to be gained by learning about the savvy genius and deep kindness of Abraham Lincoln. Here, acclaimed author Ed Achorn provides a fascinating, warts-and-all look at how this brilliant and inspiring man helped keep America one country. 

Mellody Hobson’s life—from her tough Chicago childhood to becoming Starbucks board chair to her marriage to George Lucas — has shattered stereotypes. Here, the president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments talks about pursuing excellence, how to become indispensable, tricks for managing time, the need to take risks, and much more.

Chew on this: The way food looks, smells, and even sounds affects how much we like it. We have taste buds in our stomach. Adding salt to grapefruit makes it sweeter. There’s an amazing story behind why we love some foods and not others. Everyone who eats should listen to this conversation with food expert extraordinaire, Barbara Stuckey.

Surgeon, professor, public health leader, bestselling author, global healthcare legend. Listen as Dr. Atul Gawande talks about the astonishing success of modern medicine, how countries that spend far less on healthcare than the U.S. achieve similar outcomes, the global effort to increase lifespan, the future of healthcare, and much more.

3 Takeaways brings you conversations with people who are changing the world.  The world’s foremost thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, scientists and other newsmakers share three key insights to help you understand the world in new ways that can benefit your life and career. In this special year-end episode, we present the most powerful and compelling takeaways of 2023. 

Can you guess which takeaway is from each guest before we tell you who it is? The guests include former Director of the CIA, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, CEO of Chevron, former Foreign Minister of Israel and other amazing guests.

Top Takeaways of 2023 include excerpts from the following episodes: 

• Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar on Previously Unknown Reasons For The Stunning Success of Operation Warp Speed (#174)
• Former Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami on the Hamas Israel War (#171)
• Yale Professor Zoe Chance Reveals Smart, Simple Ways To Influence People To Get What You Want (#156)
• Chevron CEO Mike Wirth On The Race To Meet The World’s Energy Needs With Lower Carbon Solutions (#170)
• Innocence Project Head Christina Swarns on The Horrors Of Our Criminal Justice System And How To Improve It (#176)
• Former Ford and Boeing CEO Alan Mulally On Love By Design, The Secret Behind Two Remarkable Turnarounds (#152)
• A Chilling, Mind-Blowing Talk about War In The Age of AI With Pentagon Defense Expert Paul Scharre (#151)
• Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked With NYU’s Adam Alter (#150)
• Karl Rove Takes A Riveting No-Holds Barred Look At The Frightening State Of American Politics (#168)
• Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Bill Owens on Our Critical Need To See “The Other Side of The Story” (#157)
• Former CIA Director David Petraeus on The Russia Ukraine war (#128)
• The Complex and Bizarre World of Government-Imposed Racial Classification With Law Professor David Bernstein (#130)
• President and CEO Dan Weiss of NY’s Metropolitan Museum On Its Critical Role In Modern Life (#148)
• The Good Life Unpacked: Discovering What Makes Us Thrive with the Head of Harvard's 80-Year Study Robert Waldinger (#127)

Four index funds are now so large they have unprecedented, concentrated power in public companies, enabling them to exert enormous influence over our politics and economy. While the cause for concern is clear, the solution is not. Join us, as Harvard law professor John Coates shines a bright light on this serious and growing problem.

“Two companies control 10 to 15 to maybe 20% of all of the stock of all the companies on all the U.S. stock exchanges.”

Credible journalism is crucial for democracy, and trust in our news media is alarmingly low. The CEO of U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, explains why and talks bluntly about the dramatic rise of opinionated and fake news, the impact of a generation getting its news from social media, transitioning from analog dollars to digital dimes, and more.

Many people have important personal goals they want to achieve, but come up short. Here, behavioral change expert and Wharton professor Katy Milkman shares scientifically proven strategies for affecting deep personal change. Two key insights: Willpower alone usually isn’t enough. It helps to make difficult tasks enjoyable.

Katy Milkman is the author of the bestselling book How To Change.

Ashley Merryman is an expert on the science of winning and has helped Olympic and professional athletes, Fortune 100 execs, and military leaders compete more successfully. Here, she reveals strategies that have transformed the world of elite performance — including how to thrive under pressure, benefit from a loss, and more.

She is the co-author of Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing.

It’s no secret the U.S. criminal justice system is failing people of color. But the issue is bigger and more horrific than people think. Here, Christina Swarns, a top criminal legal reform expert, discusses wrongful convictions, false confessions, plea deals, the critical role of DNA — and most important, what can be done to improve the system.

Christina Swarns has argued and won before the U.S. Supreme Court. She is the Executive Director of the Innocence Project, which gets wrongfully convicted people out of prison.

The birth rate in many countries is plummeting below what’s needed to maintain the population. In China, it’s estimated the population will shrink by 50%. In the U.S., by about 20%. Should we hit the panic button? According to American Enterprise Institute scholar, Nick Eberstadt, the answer is a thoughtful “no.” Listen and find out why.

Operation Warp Speed achieved in 7 months what normally takes 8–12 years. Former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, reveals in fascinating detail how it was done — the key people involved, how it was influenced by the Manhattan Project, the government’s critical, groundbreaking partnership with the drug industry, and more.

News flash: By every measure that matters, the U.S. economy is dramatically outperforming the industrialized world. The Provost of King's College at Cambridge University, Gillian Tett, explains why. She also shares brilliant insights on the enormous volatility in the world, the future of globalization, why Brexit is a disaster, and more.

There’s great debate these days about the merits of a college education. Here, an expert on the topic, Harvard’s David Deming, weighs in with facts and insights on how colleges fail and succeed, the essential skills universities need to teach, how a college education fights inequality, the true usefulness of college, and more.

As war rages between Israel and Hamas, former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami shares some remarkable insights about the encirclement of Israel by well-armed Iranian proxies; the possibility the war will spread; the rise of antisemitism in America and Europe; and a possible path to peace. Don’t miss this important conversation.

Can the world make an orderly transition from fossil fuels to lower carbon solutions? Chevron CEO, Mike Wirth, believes we can, but there are major challenges ahead. Join us as he shares his thoughts on EVs, fusion, carbon capture, geothermal, and other technologies. The future is coming. Will the world be ready? Listen to find out.