216: Rebecca Newberger Goldstein KNOWS Philosophy, Emotion, Education, Humanities & What it Means to Truly Matter
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
Release Date: 02/19/2026
216: Rebecca Newberger Goldstein KNOWS Philosophy, Emotion, Education, Humanities & What it Means to Truly Matter
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
What does it mean to matter? Why do humans seek meaning, purpose, and recognition? Award-winning philosopher, public intellectual, and bestselling author Rebecca Newberger Goldstein joins ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones to explore the psychology and philosophy of mattering, human identity, morality, and the search for meaning. Goldstein is the author of ten acclaimed books blending philosophy, science, literature, and human psychology, including: 36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity The Mattering Instinct:...
info_outline
215: Patrick Ryan KNOWS Fiction, Wordplay, the Human Condition, Literary Success, Jenna Bush Hager and BUCKEYE
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
Listening to the ON THE KNOWS podcast with master interviewer Randall Kenneth Jones as he sits down with acclaimed author Patrick Ryan is a must for fans of literary fiction, family sagas, and deep-dive storytelling. This 2026 interview explores the creative process behind Ryan's expansive 2025 novel, Buckeye, a "Read With Jenna" book club pick that spent multiple weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Patrick Ryan's book "Buckeye" was named the #1 Best Book of the Year for 2025 by Amazon editors. This top honor recognizes his novel as the leading title on their annual list...
info_outline
214: Scott Eyman KNOWS Hollywood, Perception, Reality, Film History, and Joan Crawford
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
Film historian and acclaimed New York Times bestselling biographer Scott Eyman has written the definitive biography of Hollywood icon Joan Crawford, drawing on never-before-seen documents and photos from the Crawford estate. Joan Crawford flourished for decades, working for multiple studios in every genre from romance to westerns ("Mildred Pierce," "Johnny Guitar"), musicals to noir ("Torch Song," "A Woman's Face"), and being directed by a young Steven Spielberg in one of her last appearances. Along the way, she accumulated four husbands, an Academy Award for Best Actress, and the...
info_outline
213: John Abendshien KNOWS Movies, Healthcare, Curiosity Gone Wild, Human Nature, Kevin McCallister & Home Alone Home Ownership
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
Imagine your home suddenly transformed into a Hollywood icon. That's precisely what happened to John Abendshien, whose real-life house became the star of "Home Alone." More than just a film set, it turned into a character of its own, filled with traps and slapstick chaos that helped make the movie a global hit. Decades later, the house remains legendary. Tourists visit, merchandise abounds—even gingerbread replicas exist. In his new book, "Home But Alone No More," Abendshien shares the fascinating behind-the-scenes story: how the location was chosen, what filming was like, and...
info_outline
212: Mark Malkoff KNOWS Entertainment, Comedy, Late Night TV, Obsessive Behavior & Johnny Carson
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
Mark Malkoff is a comedian, writer, and podcast host. He has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, CNN, NPR's Weekend Edition, and for eight years hosted the popular podcast The Carson Podcast. His new book, "Love Johnny Carson," is a wildly entertaining account by one of the world's most obsessed and informed fans of TV icon Johnny Carson, setting the record straight on Carson's legacy and shining a light on the personality behind the legendary comedian and talk show host. Carson aficionado Mark Malkoff has amassed more Carson stories from original sources than anyone in...
info_outline
211: Robin Hauser KNOWS Documentaries, Egg Freezing, Human Nature & Courageous Women
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
Once a niche medical procedure, egg freezing is now a billion-dollar industry that promises women the ability to pause their biological clocks and extend their reproductive choices. For some, it’s a path to empowerment; for others, it’s a costly gamble in an unregulated system with no guarantees. Through the experiences of three American women navigating the process, this documentary examines the realities behind the growing trend—who has access, who profits, and what’s at stake. With insights from medical experts, ethicists, and industry leaders, the film...
info_outline
210: Kevin Goetz and Bob Levin KNOW Movies, Storytelling, Creative Instinct, Audience Insight & Box Office Success
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
Dive into the behind-the-scenes world of the movie business, where entertainment strategist Kevin Goetz reveals the pivotal intersection of creative instinct and audience insight. This is the sweet spot where the business of film meets the art of storytelling. When it comes to cinematic success, every detail matters—from early concept to the final marketing push. "How to Score in Hollywood" is a playbook for guiding movie-making decisions at every turn. Drawing from nearly four decades of experience, Goetz shows how films can be made and marketed to turn a profit by aligning creative...
info_outline
209: B.A Crisp KNOWS Empathy, Resilience, Spirituality, Cognition & Ghost Management
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
This episode will help you start to understand how to embrace your emotional ghosts and transform them into catalysts for healing and growth. Her third appearance with Randall Kenneth Jones, B. A. Crisp is a strategist at Crisp Concepts, Inc., in Herndon, VA. Her professional portfolio ranges from psychiatric assessment specialist to adviser with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate, where she collaborated on anti-human trafficking research. She also lent her expertise to Homeland Security Investigations on Illicit Finance Crimes and Gangs. ...
info_outline
208: David M. Lubin KNOWS Art, Film, Subtext, Motivation, Education, Human Nature & Sunset Boulevard
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
This episode will help you understand how art—specifically cinema—can grow in importance over time, and our ongoing exploration of art continues to shed valuable light on the human condition. #ArtIsLife Today, more than 70 years after it premiered, "Sunset Boulevard" remains the finest ever movie made about the pathology of fame: those who lose it, those who abuse it, and those who never attain it at all. Great films are born of great collaborations, and "Sunset Boulevard" represents one of the most extraordinary confluences of cinematic talent in film history. Still,...
info_outline
207: Brian Edwards KNOWS Friendship, Loyalty, Entertainment, Media & Brian Edwards
ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
This episode will help you KNOW more about the value of thoughtfully capturing and sharing one's legacy, accepting your past, including the highs and the lows, and giving credit where credit is due. In the mid-1980s, LGBTQ+ trailblazer Edwards carved his path alongside icons like Donna Summer and Joan Rivers. Over the decades, he built a reputation as a multi-award-winning talent executive, client relations rep, producer, writer, and occasional performer – working with some of the most recognizable names in show business: Cindy Crawford, Susan Sarandon, Melissa Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg,...
info_outlineWhat does it mean to matter? Why do humans seek meaning, purpose, and recognition?
Award-winning philosopher, public intellectual, and bestselling author Rebecca Newberger Goldstein joins ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones to explore the psychology and philosophy of mattering, human identity, morality, and the search for meaning.
Goldstein is the author of ten acclaimed books blending philosophy, science, literature, and human psychology, including:
36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction
Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity
The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us
In this fascinating conversation, Goldstein and Jones examine why humans are driven by the need to matter—and how that instinct influences everything from personal relationships and self-worth to politics, prejudice, and cultural identity.
Goldstein earned her Ph.D. in philosophy of science from Princeton University and has taught at Yale, Columbia, NYU, Dartmouth, and Harvard. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, and has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, Radcliffe Institute, Whiting Foundation, and the National Science Foundation.
In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded her the National Humanities Medal for her contributions to philosophy and literature.
This episode explores big questions about human nature, purpose, philosophy, personal identity, and how the need to matter shapes our lives and societies.
About ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones
Called “the best podcast and host ever” by recurring guest Erin Brockovich, ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones is a dynamic Society & Culture, Personal Growth, and Arts podcast exploring success, creativity, leadership, books, and human potential.
Across 200+ energetic interviews, host Randall Kenneth Jones speaks with celebrity guests, bestselling authors, artists, innovators, and cultural thought leaders about their journeys, insights, and lessons learned.
With a frequent focus on authors, books, philosophy, and the humanities, the podcast blends intellectual curiosity, humor, storytelling, and practical wisdom—creating engaging conversations about creativity, purpose, legacy, lifelong learning, and personal growth.
Often described as an antidote to today’s anxiety-driven media landscape, the show celebrates conversation, curiosity, kindness, laughter, and connection.
Host Randall Kenneth Jones is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and communications consultant. The show’s announcer is celebrated voice actor Susan Bennett, best known as the original voice of Apple’s Siri. The podcast is produced and edited by Kevin Randall Jones.
Memorable Quotes from the Interview
• “Every living thing is organically driven by a mandate that ensures it matters to itself—which is to say that it prioritizes its own surviving and thriving.”—Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
• “Do I matter? This is the mother of our mattering questions.”—Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
• “I used to think I wanted to be famous, but now I know I just want to matter.” — Randall Kenneth Jones
• “When it comes to our own mattering, we are staunch realists. We don't want feelings. We want the facts.”—Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
• “Some seek to demonstrate their mattering by diminishing the mattering of others—racism, sexism, classism, jingoism, elitism, and other forms of mattering diminishment.”—Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
• “There just doesn't seem to be enough mattering to go around, and we scramble like children beneath a piñata.”—Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
Learn More
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein www.RebeccaGoldstein.com
Randall Kenneth Jones: www.RandallKennethJones.com
Susan Bennett: www.SusanCBennett.com
Kevin Randall Jones: www.KevinRandallJones.com