About

What happens when life and society hit their darkest points?

Suffering and Social Change explores the worst that can happen—to individuals and to societies—and what it would take to prevent or reduce it.

It is both a podcast and a publication. The podcast is built around in-depth conversations with experts across philosophy, the cognitive sciences and AI, the social sciences, and philanthropic and political practice. Together we examine severe suffering—its nature, its causes, its far-reaching consequences—and the concrete ways it might be averted or relieved. The publication adds complementary essays and writing that extend the conversations.

We aim to stare into the abyss—and emerge with hope.

Suffering and Social Change is hosted by Adriano Mannino and Nils Althaus. Adriano Mannino is a philosopher at UC Berkeley, policy consultant, and social entrepreneur. Nils Althaus is a writer, journalist, and (originally) a biochemist.

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