The Point of Inquiry podcast is especially good this week. It features Susan Blackmore, who has done work in the field of memetics, which was essentially invented by Richard Dawkins. She began her career as a staunch believer in the paranormal and set about to find scientific evidence to support it. When she found none, she had to change her views dramatically. Listen to her talk about the dangers of religion, why there is no free will, and why she doesn't consider herself a Buddhist, even though she admires much about Zen Buddhism.
Susan Blackmore - In Search of the Light
It's funny. S.R. Sidarth is also my choice for person of the year. I've been planning to write a note to that effect towards the end of the year, but Salon beat me to it! What I like about Sidarth's story is that it shows that one person truly can make a very big difference in this world. Just think, if Sidarth had not been behind the camera on that August day, the Senate would still effectively be in the GOP's control.
Salon Person of the Year: S.R. Sidarth