Ted Hesser Podcast

Chris Burkard: Faith, Family & Mindset. Living with Purpose in the Modern World

Chris Burkard is a close friend, a mentor, and a legendary adventure photographer. He is also a devout latter-day saint. This episode is an exercise in podcast portraiture, a deep and insightful look into Chris's inner life. 
 
01:33 Past Adventures. Journey to the Kurils. 
10:44 Faith
21:26 Psilocybin. Protector and Caretaker Psychology. 
45:06 Capitalism & Mormonism
50:30 Faith & Daily Life
54:50 Navigating Social Media
01:03:47 Open Net Salmon Advocacy Iceland
01:20:21 Raising Children in a Digital Age:
01:28:39 Relocating to Iceland for Family and Growth

David Quammen: Viruses, Cancer, Conservation & CRISPR

In this episode, I sit down with renowned science writer David Quammen. We discuss the age of synthetic biology, tempered by ethical and practical considerations, and what it may mean for viruses, cancer & species conservation.
David’s insightful, measured outlook is grounded in five decades of science writing, across dozens of books and hundreds of feature magazine stories. 
Show Notes:
00:18 Introduction.
02:00 Contagious Cancer and Evolution
02:32 Virus Hunters & Zoonotic Spillover.
08:05 Bats: The Reservoir Hosts
12:30 Ethics & Engineering Viruses.
19:54 Viruses as Evolutionary Feature, not Bug.
25:29 Engineering Immunology
36:53 COVID-19 Origins and Vaccine Development
46:46 Individual Liberty vs Public Health
54:20 EV batteries & Congo Mining
57:12 Elephants Don’t Get Cancer
59:24 De-Extinction and Genetic Preservation
01:01:19 Conservation and Genetic Engineering
01:19:44 David’s Career

Mark Jacobson: Climate Crusader

This episode delves into the complex interplay of skepticism and conviction in modern science, a theme vividly illustrated by Jacobson's career. Check out the podcast as we explore the dynamic and often contentious world of climate policy through the lens of Mark Jacobson's remarkable life.
Mark Jacobson is a towering figure in the realm of climate policy. Jacobson's early work led to California's unique exemption from the EPA, allowing the state to set its own stringent CO2 standards for vehicles, which led to the progressive ratcheting up of standards across the US and the world.
His groundbreaking research on Black Carbon, identifying it as the second most significant contributor to climate change, has shaped environmental strategies worldwide. Jacobson is also the intellectual force behind the Solutions Project, a popular initiative that united a diverse group of scientists, filmmakers, and actors to advocate for a future powered entirely by renewable energy.
However, Jacobson's path has not been without its challenges. His approach, blending public education with science, has sparked debate within the scientific community. This tension climaxed when his work faced critical scrutiny from other academics in the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, leading to a controversial defamation lawsuit against the Academy.

Wade Davis: Ethnobotany, Psychedelic History, & Vanishing Cultures.

Ted Hesser sits down with Wade Davis, a luminary in the world of ethnobotany, exploration, and cultural preservation. Wade shares his captivating journey from his early days at Harvard amidst the giants of botanical and psychedelic discovery to his deep dives into the Amazon and the mysteries of ancient plants. They discuss the profound impact of psychedelics, the importance of preserving vanishing cultures, and the serendipitous moments that have shaped Wade's life and career. From the tales of magic mushrooms to the intricacies of human-plant interactions, this conversation offers a deep reflection on the interconnectedness of humanity, nature, and the stories that bind us.

Mike Finkel: Art Heists, Identity Theft & Journalism, Inside the Mind of a NYT Best-Selling Author

Mike Finkel is one of the most successful contemporary authors in the non-fiction genre. He has written three books, all of them New York Times Best Sellers, with two being sold as movie rights to big Hollywood studios and one made into a major motion picture by Brad Pitt's Production company.Mike is a raconteur who has worked for the world's top journalistic outlets. Mike was fired from the New York Times Magazine for creating a composite character of child cocoa plantation workers in West Africa. That event, and subsequent social opprobrium, almost ended his career. But Mike's persistence led him through a dark time and into a new life trajectory as a highly successful author. His latest book, The Art Thief, is the story of Stephan Brietweiser, who stole up to $2 bn, with a capital B, of art throughout Europe in the early 2000s. Like all his true crime subjects, Mike befriended Stephan and wrote the definitive work on the greatest art thief ever to have lived. His stories span the globe, with fascinating insights into human nature and the creative act balancing act of the non-fiction Novel.
 
🔥 HIGHLIGHTS 🔥:
📜 Mustang Memories: Relive Mike & Ted's captivating expedition in Mustang, Nepal.
💥 Adventures at the Edge: Whether it's confronting a tank in Afghanistan or threading the thin lines of conflict zones, Mike knows danger firsthand.
📓 Craft of Narratives: Dive into Mike's approach to storytelling for the crests of journalism.
😲 NYT & New Beginnings: The whirlwind journey from Mike's NYT exit to the allure of true crime.
📚 Tales That Push Boundaries 📚:

Victor Vescovo: Deep Sea Titan Talks Submersibles, Climate, Space, Asteroids, and More!

Victor Vescovo is an extraordinary explorer and former Navy intelligence officer. He's the only human in the history of our civilization to go to the bottom of every ocean (in a custom-made submersible), to the top of the tallest peaks on each continent, to the poles, and into Outer Space. He is, arguably, the most prolific explorer of our age.
🌍 His unique perspective on our world through exploring the tallest peaks, deepest oceans, and outer space.
🚀 His time serving as a Navy intelligence officer, where he specialized in the Pacific theater. His views on nuclear submarines, deterrence, and Chinese tensions with Taiwan are filled with insight.
💡 His advisory position and investment in Colossal, a genetics engineering company aiming to revive extinct species.
🌊 Asteroid mining versus deep sea mining.
💔 His personal experience with the Titan submersible tragedy and the lessons learned.