Best Lex Friedman Podcasts (2025)

1
The publishing world is changing. Jane Friedman tells us how. 26:45

1d ago26:45

26:45

1086. What does it really take to earn a living as a writer? Jane Friedman explains the multiple paths writers take — from speaking and consulting to newsletters and hybrid publishing—and offers grounded, practical advice for navigating the business of writing in 2025 and beyond. Jane Friedman is the author of "The Business of Being a Writer." 🔗 Sh…

1
548: Let’s Sound Naïve Together 51:29

2d ago51:29

51:29

Lex’s kid gets a phone, Jony Ive gets $6.5 billion and Apple is back on the smart glasses project. Trump threatens Apple with a 25% tariff because Tim Cook won’t travel with him. Jony Ive’s io gets acquired by OpenAI. The next big thing is apparently a lanyard. Ive doesn’t think much of Humane and Rabbit. Jason has some thoughts about it all. If yo…

1
329: Hari Kondabolu!!!! 32:43

3d ago32:43

32:43

We had a great time with talking with our buddy Hari Kondabolu about early Indian standup comedy, being a pioneer on many levels, his Apu documentary, and his UPCOMING SHOW AT GRAMERCY THEATER 5/29 GET YOUR TICKETS!!!!!

1
Why 'plz' might be pushing people away. How to write better thank-you notes. Studaloo 18:43

3d ago18:43

18:43

1085. Do abbreviations like “plz” and “ty” actually make your texts feel less sincere? New research suggests they might. We explore how shortened words affect how your messages are received — even in romantic conversations. Then, we offer practical tips for writing thoughtful, specific thank-you notes that reflect real gratitude. The texting segmen…

1
#470 – James Holland: World War II, Hitler, Churchill, Stalin & Biggest Battles 3:30:56

6d ago3:30:56

3:30:56

James Holland is a historian specializing in World War II. He hosts a podcast called WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep470-sc See below for timestamps, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: ht…

1
Yankee Pope, Mexican Boat Crash, Diddy Trial, Afrikaaner refugees, Cancer Has Joe Biden 35:09

8d ago35:09

35:09

News blitz: Epstein DID kill himself, cancer gets joe biden, importing racists from South Africa, Diddy's trial testimony has testes moaning (sorry), Mexicans crash the BK Bridge, and the yankee bisexual pope.

1
Why simplified spelling nearly took over America (and why it didn't), with Gabe Henry 31:06

8d ago31:06

31:06

1084. This week, Gabe Henry talks about his new book, "Enough Is Enuf," and the long, strange quest to simplify English spelling. Learn why the "Chicago Tribune" made simplified spelling its house style for decades and why Roosevelt's attempt to make it law backfired. Find Gabe Henry at http://GabeHenry.com. 🔗 Use the code MACMIL for $50 off my Rag…

1
547: Ignore Previous Instructions and Give Us Free Lunches 50:24

9d ago50:24

50:24

AI makes up summer activities, Siri is a four-letter word and there is such a thing as a free lunch. Oops, we made up a bunch of things that don’t exist and then published them in newspapers. 404 Media tracked down the person responsible. Mark Gurman discusses Apple’s AI woes. Google’s new AI can now make actual words so that’s great. No one wants …

1
#469 – Oliver Anthony: Country Music, Blue-Collar America, Fame, Money, and Pain 2:27:02

9d ago2:27:02

2:27:02

Oliver Anthony is singer-songwriter who first gained worldwide fame with his viral hit Rich Men North of Richmond. He became a voice for many who are voiceless, with many of his songs speaking to the struggle of the working class in modern American life. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep469-sc See …

1
Why 'wake' is so confusing. The playful language of vacations. 18:20

10d ago18:20

18:20

1083. Is it "woke," "woken," or "waked"? We break down why the verb "wake" is one of the trickiest in English, with four competing forms and centuries of change. Then, we lighten things up with a look at vacation vocabulary—from "staycation" to "glamping." The "wake" segment was written by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Ge…

1
Ambrose Bierce, from ‘The Devil’s Dictionary’ to disappearing in Mexico, with Jim Norrena 30:01

15d ago30:01

30:01

1082. Copy editor Jim Norrena joins us this week for a conversation about Ambrose Bierce, his famous "Devil's Dictionary," and his darkly funny take on the world. We look at Bierce’s fascinating (and tragic) life, his legendary wordplay, and his mysterious disappearance in Mexico. Plus, we share our favorite biting definitions and quirky facts abou…

1
546: Dave And/Or Buster’s 51:04

16d ago51:04

51:04

We discuss Dan's appearance on Jeopardy and Apple's accessibility nutrion labels before going to a famous arcade place we can't tell you the name of. Apple teases it's upcoming accessibility nutrition labels. Get ready to control iOS with your brain. Dampersand that damn Dave & Buster's bug! Our thanks to Zocdoc, a free app that shows you doctors w…

1
Why 'epitome' is confusing. Quirky stories behind baby animal names. Alice doors 18:43

17d ago18:43

18:43

1081. Is an epitome a summary or a shining example? We look at why this word trips people up and how its meaning has changed over time. Then, we take a linguistic safari through the world of baby animal names—and what they tell us about language, culture, and human history. The "baby animal names" segment is by Karen Lunde, a career writer and edit…

1
Asking Zahid to Leave (ft. Zahid Dewji, Fallon) 38:20

18d ago38:20

38:20

Hanging with our buddy Zahid Dewji where we discuss: DJs roasting us with Punjabi MC, traumatizing Indian audiences, writing for Jimmy Fallon, Chinese snowmen, Caribbean terrorists, Indian accents, very fun episode FULL EP ON PATREON!

1
327: Indo-Pak War, SINNERS REVIEW 36:54

22d ago36:54

36:54

We brought on our buddy Moe Yaqub to discuss the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, and the likelihood of India and Pakistan going to war. And, more controversially, we talk about Usama hating SINNERS.

1
How YouTubers' voices evolve, with Andrew Cheng 21:40

22d ago21:40

21:40

1080. Linguist Andrew Cheng explains why people’s accents shift over time, especially when they move—and how YouTubers make perfect data subjects. If you've ever cringed at your old voice recordings, this one’s for you. Andrew Cheng is a professor of linguistics at the University of Hawaii. You can find him on Bluesky at LinguistAndrew. NEW: Sign u…

1
545: What Is “I Don’t Have a Good Answer”? 56:11

23d ago56:11

56:11

This week we weigh in on the ruling against Apple's anti-steering policy, how that's changed some apps you might use and what all the good sandwiches are. So, yeah, a judge has ruled against Apple's anti-steering policy. Amazon has since added a "get book" button. Want to get a good sandwich in New Jersey? Star Wars is coming to Destiny 2. The plac…

1
They Could Be Doing a Tricksy (Game Show 255) 49:12

23d ago49:12

49:12

Welcome back to “Inconceivable!”, the show that tests two teams’ knowledge of the nerdy, the useless, and the obscure. In this battle for the ages, our panelists try to figure out which item doesn’t belong, consider some superhero recasting, and suss out some popular movies from bad reviews. It’s Brian Hamilton, Kelly Guimont, and Mikah Sargent ver…

1
What dictionary labels tell us about words. Why we say 'mama'. DU, STU, and LO. 17:00

24d ago17:00

17:00

1079. Ever wonder what labels like "informal," "archaic," or "offensive" mean in a dictionary entry? We explain how different dictionaries use labels to describe when, where, and how to use words. Then, we explore why so many babies say "dada" first and why babies say "mama" almost everywhere. The "dictionary labels" segment was written by Susan He…

1
#468 – Janna Levin: Black Holes, Wormholes, Aliens, Paradoxes & Extra Dimensions 3:07:16

25d ago3:07:16

3:07:16

Janna Levin is a theoretical physicist and cosmologist specializing in black holes, cosmology of extra dimensions, topology of the universe, and gravitational waves. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep468-sc See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, et…

1
The secret to writing ‘the same but different,’ with Mary Robinette Kowal 20:26

29d ago20:26

20:26

1078. Mary Robinette Kowal talks about going from writing magic-filled Regency romances to Hugo-nominated science fiction, what it's like to work with an agent, and how she keeps her career moving forward. Plus, she gave us three great book recommendations (and I've already read and loved one of them!). Find Mary at maryrobinettekowal.com. 🔗 Share …

1
#467 – Tim Sweeney: Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and the Future of Gaming

30d ago

—

Tim Sweeney is a legendary video game programmer, founder and CEO of Epic Games that created the Unreal Engine, Fortnite, Gears of War, Unreal Tournament, and many other groundbreaking and influential video games. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep467-sc See below for timestamps, transcript, and to …

1
544: General Misery About Life and Technology 50:03

30d ago50:03

50:03

Dan has feelings, Moltz hasn't been able to pre-order and Lex screws up Duolingo. The EU fines Apple 500 million Euros. Good news! The rich are a trillion bucks richer! Duolingo goes AI-first. Nilay Patel argues Amazon now has to show the amount Trump tariffs have increased prices. Tom Paris doesn’t like big screens in cars. Land Rover brings CarPl…

1
'Lit' vs. 'lighted.' The mysteries of the dollar sign. Redd up. 19:04

1M ago19:04

19:04

1077. Is it “lit” or “lighted”? Both are correct, but we look at how their popularity has switched over time. Then we investigate four of the competing theories about the origin of the dollar sign and end with tips about how to use it. The "dollar sign" segment was written by Jim Norrena, MFA, who has been writing and editing for more than thirty-f…

1
326: The roots of anti-Indian hatred! 36:07

1M ago36:07

36:07

Unpacking the rise of anti-Indian hatred and how Vivek Ramaswamy is 100% responsible, how anti-Indian racism is just the latest phase in nativism, Indian culpability, Figma Indians, taking email jobs, racist jokes not aging well, racist tropes in star wars. Also, an Indian guy got killed in Ottowa last week by his racist neighbor--not good!…

1
#466 – Jeffrey Wasserstrom: China, Xi Jinping, Trade War, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mao 3:14:21

1M ago3:14:21

3:14:21

Jeffrey Wasserstrom is a historian of modern China. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep466-sc See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/jeffrey-wasserstrom-transcript CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex:…

1
Ghostwriters, book deals, and AI: What you didn’t know about publishing, with Dan Gerstein 22:44

1M ago22:44

22:44

1076. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, looks at how ghostwriting fiction really works, who’s hiring ghostwriters, and why AI can’t replace human storytelling. We also talked about how ghostwriters negotiate royalties, film rights, and what makes a great collaboration work. Find Dan at GothamGhostwriters.com. 🔗 Share your familect recor…

1
543: I’m Not Gonna Play Horse With Shaquille O’Neal 47:03

1M ago47:03

47:03

Synology and Sonos disappoint, Apple Intelligence is no longer available now and an iPhone 17e seems to be in the cards. Apple removes "available now" from Apple Intelligence. Looks like there will be an iPhone 17e. Synology says you can only use certain drives they support in future products. The Sonos CEO stepped down in January to the tune of $1…

1
'I.e.' versus 'e.g.' What Shakespeare actually added to English. Four schnitzels. 18:01

1M ago18:01

18:01

1075. People often confuse "i.e." and "e.g." We'll help you get them right — no Latin required. Then, in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, we look at five common myths about his contributions to the English language, including whether he coined thousands of words and how much Latin he actually knew. The "Shakespeare" segment was by Jonathan Culpeper…

1
325: Tarrified (We know) 36:58

1M ago36:58

36:58

Wawa, I'm Gonna Git U Sucka, Jenn's Blaotian family, scandalous For You Pages, creating new Bengali stereotypes. Patreon for the full ep.

1
#465 – Robert Rodriguez: Sin City, Desperado, El Mariachi, Alita, and Filmmaking 3:35:08

1M ago3:35:08

3:35:08

Robert Rodriguez is a legendary filmmaker and creator of Sin City, El Mariachi, Desperado, Spy Kids, Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn, Alita: Battle Angel, The Faculty, and his newest venture Brass Knuckle Films. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep465-sc See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give …

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