Let Comedians Say Anything: Why Comedy Is Society’s Last Honest Mirror
At a time when public discourse is increasingly constrained by political polarization, fragile egos, and manufactured outrage, comedy remains one of the few spaces where truth can slip past our defenses. Yet comedians are increasingly pressured to self-censor, tiptoe around power, or soften the sharp edges that make humor transformative. Martina Moneke argues that comedy is democracy’s last honest mirror—an unruly, necessary force that challenges authority, punctures hypocrisy, and reminds us who we really are
Why Many of Us Have Problems Facing Death—and How to Get Through It
Responding to a population seeking practical knowledge and tools, the death literacy movement is filling a much-needed void by offering clarity, comfort, and confidence.
The Happiness Trap: Cultivating Contentment and Wonder as a Radical Path Forward
Happiness can isolate; contentment connects. Martina Moneke explores why steadiness and wonder, not peaks of joy, are the truest path to fulfillment.
Walk, Talk, and Think: How Walking Conversations Can Restore Authentic Learning in the Age of AI
As AI takes over essay writing, one-hour walk-and-talk conversations with instructors allow students to demonstrate a proper understanding through reflection, dialogue, and engagement with nature.
A Scholar’s Quest to Find the Ancestral People of the Most Influential Language on Earth
Who and where were the Proto-Indo-Europeans? Almost 450 languages spoken by 4 billion people descend from their tongue—and J.P. Mallory has been on a life-long journey to reconstruct their world
“The Intricate Connection of Birdsongs to Human Language”
Listening to birds benefits our mental health, leading to less stress and paranoia.
The New Grand Tour
By Jan Ritch-Frel Author Bio: Jan Ritch-Frel is the executive director of the Independent Media Institute and a co-founder of the Human Bridges project. Source: Independent Media Institute Credit Line: This article was produced by Human Bridges, a project of…
