Before today's episode, I have a message for our listeners. If you're listening to this podcast,

you probably care about reason and evidence. If you also care about helping the world,

I recommend checking out give well.org. They do rigorous research on which charities are actually

effective. So they're not just looking at what does this charity say they do or what's this

charity's budget. They're looking at, okay, can we be confident that this charity's work is improving

people's health or bringing them out of poverty and by how much? If you're curious, you can read

their explanations of how they reach their conclusions at give well.org. Or if you just want a few

recommended charities to give to that you can be

confident to actually work, Givewell's got your back. Check them out at give well.org.

Welcome to Rationally Speaking, the podcast where we explore the borderlands between reason and nonsense.

I'm your host, Julia Galef, and I'm delighted to introduce today's guest, Tim Urban.

Tim is the author of the long-form, figure illustrated blog, Wait But Why, that covers,

oh, God, life, the universe and everything.

Tim's posts range from the future of artificial intelligence to how to choose a life partner,

to philosophy of personal identity and happiness and rationality.

It's a huge spectrum.

And I'm a big fan.

Tim, welcome to the show.

Thank you, Julia.

Thanks for having me.

Yeah.

Before we jump into the wide range of topics that I am excited to talk to you about, I just

...