Introducing ‘Interesting Times'
There's a saying that comes to mind these days: May you live in interesting times. It's understood to be a curse, even though it sounds like a blessing.
'Interesting Times With Ross Douthat' is a new weekly podcast from New York Times Opinion. Every Thursday, he will map the new world order through interviews and conversations. Answering questions like: What does our new political era really look like? What is the future of democracy around the world, with American empire in retreat? What happens to movies and books — all of culture — in our digital and A.I.-dominated age?
Meet the Host Image
Ross Douthat joined The New York Times as an Opinion columnist in April 2009. His column appears every Sunday and his newsletter on Friday. He hosts the weekly Opinion podcast 'Interesting Times With Ross Douthat.' Previously he was a senior editor at The Atlantic.
He is the author of 'Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious,' which was published in February 2025. His other books include 'The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery' (2021), 'The Decadent Society' (2020), 'To Change the Church: Pope Francis and the Future of Catholicism' (2018), 'Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics' (2012), 'Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class' (2005) and, with Reihan Salam, 'Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream' (2008). He is the film critic for National Review.
He lives with his wife and five children in New Haven, Conn.
Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com.
'Interesting Times' is produced by Andrea Betanzos, Sophia Alvarez Boyd, Elisa Gutierrez and Katherine Sullivan. It's edited by Jordana Hochman and Annie-Rose Strasser. Mixing by Pat McCusker. Original music by Isaac Jones and Pat McCusker. Fact-checking by Kate Sinclair and Mary Marge Locker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The director of Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We'd like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here's our email: letters@nytimes.com .
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