Stories of Impact Podcast

Launched in 2020, the Stories of Impact podcast features weekly stories of new scientific research on human flourishing that translate these basic discoveries into practical tools. With a mix of curiosity, compassion, and creativity that will appeal to all ages, host Richard Sergay and producer Tavia Gilbert shine a spotlight on the human impact of a cutting-edge social and scientific research project.

Listen to the episodes below or subscribe on the Stories of Impact Libsyn page.

Stories of Impact Video Series

Since 2016, Richard Sergay has interviewed researchers around the world for the captivating Stories of Impact documentary series. The series has earned three Telly Awards, two Jackson Wild Media Awards, and a Sharecare Award in Health/Science, among other honors.

For more on the series, subscribe to the Templeton World Charity Foundation YouTube channel and follow Stories of Impact on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The Foundations of Cultural Intelligence

Are humans unique among primates and other animals? Cristine Legare examines the building blocks of culture and cultural learning from developmental and evolutionary perspectives.


Examining the Foundations of Cultural Intelligence through Behavioral Flexibility​

Accelerating Research on Consciousness

Consciousness is one of the least understood aspects of human nature. Lucia Melloni’s groundbreaking project will test prominent theories of consciousness against each other.


Accelerating research on Consciousness: An adversarial collaboration to test contradictory predictions of Global Neuronal Workspace and Integrated Information Theory​

Searching for Language in Dolphins

Do other species besides humans have language? Dr. Denise Herzing's research—which explores linguistic richness in the vocalizations of dolphins—seeks to shift our understanding of diverse intelligences.


Why Listening to Dolphins Matters: Looking for Language and Universal Patterns of Communication in Nonhuman Animals

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

What does it mean to be human? How can we promote human flourishing in a digital world? Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft’s research tackles artificial intelligence, technology, and ethics.


Research, Engagement and Parliamentary Assistant to the Bishop of Oxford

Understanding Everyday Love

Barbara Lee Fredrickson’s research on positivity resonance seeks to understand how day-to-day connections with people can affect virtues in everyday life.


Understanding Everyday Love: Do Increases in Positivity Resonance Increase Virtuous Behavior?

Building Forgiveness Around the World

Forgiveness can transform your life. Everett Worthington’s pioneering REACH method has helped thousands of people—including himself—reap the mental and physical benefits of forgiveness. 


Building More Forgiving Communities around the Globe through Engagement to Complete Do-It-Yourself REACH Forgiveness Workbooks​​

 

The Chestnut Tree: Bringing Back an American Icon

In this groundbreaking project, William Powell aims to restore the iconic American chestnut tree to its former glory by engineering a blight-resistant chestnut.


Restoration of the American Chestnut Tree

 

Understanding Social Cognition in Autism

Sue Fletcher-Watson’s inspiring project aims to challenge how we think about autism, reframing it not as a disability but a difference.


Neurodiverse Intelligence? An examination of culturally-specific social intelligence among people on the autism spectrum.

 

The Honeybee Brain

Andrew Barron, a leading expert on animal cognition, discusses how the brains of honeybees can provide a model for studying diverse intelligence


An analysis of the distribution of degrees of intelligence across animal groups​

Citizenship in a Networked Age

Featuring Dr. Vint Cerf, Michael Wear, and Nuala O'Connor, this video explores what “good” citizenship means in the twenty-first century.


Citizenship in a Networked Age | A Report on Civic Ideals

Humpback Whale Songs & the Search for Alien Intelligence

By studying the songs of humpback whales, Laurance Doyle (SETI Institute) aims to uncover the vast wellsprings of communications that exist throughout Planet Earth—and beyond


Humpback Whales: Quantifying and Interacting With Their Global Intelligence

How Does Altruism Develop?

Where does altruism come from? Andrew Meltzoff, an expert on child development at the University of Washington, investigates how childhood experiences shape human values


​Promoting Altruism in Children

Can Artificial Intelligence Help Us Be More Moral?

By pairing the power of AI systems and human wisdom, scientists at Duke University hope to offer a tool for strengthening our moral capacities.


How to Use Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Human Moral Intelligence​​

 

Putting Our Heads Together | A Global Community to Study Animal Cognition

A game-changing tool developed by evolutionary anthropologist Brian Hare lets scientists collaborate on questions of animal cognition not possible in the past.


Creating an Online Tool for Large-Scale Comparative Cognition Collaborations​​​

 

Program on Human Flourishing

Arthur C. Brooks discusses AEI’s Program on Human Flourishing, an effort to foster a deeper understanding of the cultural underpinnings of free enterprise and entrepreneurship.


AEI's Program on Human Flourishing

The Search for Mathematical Genius: The Spirit of Ramanujan

The Spirit of Ramanujan STEM Talent Initiative finds and fosters the mathematical talents of promising young geniuses who, like Srinivasa Ramanujan, lack traditional resources. 


Spirit of Ramanujan Math Talent Initiative

 

Youth Radio Dialogues on Ubuntu in South Africa

Based in Cape Town, the Youth Radio Dialogues on Ubuntu program trained a new generation of radio reporters.


Youth Radio Dialogues on Ubuntu in South Africa

Managing Extreme Technological Risk

Could AI and biotechnology wipe out humanity? At the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Existential Risk, scientists are exploring ways to manage such threats.


Managing Extreme Technological Risk

Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans 15 Years On

This video explores the relationship between Hurricane Katrina survivors and their faith. Their determination enabled them to rebuild their community in the wake of devastation.


The Science of Human Flourishing

 

Being Human: How Do Students View Science and Religion?

Berry Billingsley’s project at Canterbury Christ Church University explores the intersection of science and religion, and how students tackle the big questions in both fields.


Being Human: Discovering and Advancing Schools Students' Perceptions of the Relationships between Science and Religion

and follow on project

The Epistemic Insight Initiative

 

Human Flourishing: Religion & Scientists

Elaine Ecklund (Rice University) explores how scientists in eight countries view the relationship between science and religion.


Religion Among Scientists in International Context

 

Philanthropy’s Impact | Templeton World Charity Foundation

Andrew Serazin, the president of Templeton World Charity Foundation, discusses how philanthropy can inspire a new generation of innovators and impact lives around the globe