How do you persuade an audience? What is ethos, and why is it so important? And what connects ancient philosophers like Aristotle with modern politicians like Donald Trump?

Rhetoric is the answer — at least to many of the questions that arise when taking a closer look at the workings of public discourse. Invented in antiquity, rhetoric still shapes our present and future, and is therefore placed in the spotlight in this episode of In a Nutshell.

Together with her guest Bé Breij, Jara explores the power of rhetoric, its somewhat negative reputation, and how one can analyze the art of persuasion.

Bé is a professor of Latin language and literature, a specialist in ancient rhetoric, and the founder of Peitho, the Radboud knowledge center for rhetoric and persuasion.

Do you want to delve deeper into the world of rhetoric? Follow Bé's tip and read "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith, "Thank You for Arguing" by Jay Heinrichs, and/or "You Are Not Human: How Words Kill" by Simon Lancaster.

And be sure to check out Peitho's website at https://www.ru.nl/en/departments/faculty-of-arts/peitho.

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise

Where did AI come from? How is it changing society? And why do we need a European approach to Artificial Intelligence?

In today’s episode, we are tackling the most discussed topic in recent weeks: Artificial Intelligence. Whether people are remaking The Lord of the Rings entirely in the style of Studio Ghibli, power self-driving cars or ask ChatGPT to write their uni assignments, AI seems to be everywhere. But where did it come from? And how is it affecting society right now?

Together with professor of Artificial Intelligence and principal investigator at the Donders Institute Pim Haselager, Antonia talks about the power and the dangers of AI, what human rights respecting AI can look like – and why universities have a more important role to play than they might think.

This episode is part of a two-part special on Artificial Intelligence. Stay tuned for the second part, where we talk about the future of AI – and the next Vox magazine on Artificial Intelligence, featuring an interview with Pim Haselager.

What makes and breaks a good romantic relationship? Why can’t our relationships be perfect? And how can mindfulness help us make better connections?

Ah, romantic relationships. They make us see the world through rose-colored glasses and let us feel thousands of butterflies in our tummies, don’t they? Yet, many people would likely agree that having a romantic relationship can be quite a challenge. So, how to do them right?

In this episode of In a Nutshell, Jara explores the science behind romantic relationships. Her guest, Johan Karremans, offers intriguing insights into the world of interpersonal connections and explains how mindfulness can help us in our relationships with others.

Johan is a Professor at the Behavioural Science Institute. In his research, he investigates what determines the failure and success of social relationships and what role mindfulness can play in our relationships.

Do you want to know more about mindfulness and social relationships? Follow Johan’s tip and read “Buddha’s Brain” by Rick Hanson. And for those who want to start practicing mindfulness themselves, Johan suggests the meditation app “InsightTimer”.

Edit: Jara Majerus

Cover: Antonia Leise