Podcast

The 80,000 Hours Podcast is the flagship audio program of 80,000 Hours, a UK-based nonprofit that helps people identify and pursue high-impact careers. Launched in 2017, the podcast quickly became one of the most influential shows in the effective altruism and AI safety communities, known for its exceptionally long and substantive interview format.

The show is hosted primarily by Rob Wiblin, Head of Research at 80,000 Hours, who studied genetics and economics at the Australian National University. Luisa Rodriguez, who previously served as Chief of Staff at the Forethought Foundation, serves as a second host. Keiran Harris is the long-serving producer. The podcast features guests from a wide range of backgrounds including AI researchers, policymakers, economists, philosophers, biosecurity experts, and activists.

In 2022, 80,000 Hours launched a sister show, 80k After Hours, to accommodate more eclectic and experimental formats that fell outside the main podcast's scope. The main podcast remained focused on in-depth career and cause-area interviews.

In early 2025, 80,000 Hours shifted its strategic focus to concentrate on helping people work on safely navigating the transition to a world with powerful AGI. The podcast has followed suit, with new episodes primarily examining AI safety debates, misconceptions about advanced AI, and careers that contribute to beneficial AI outcomes. The podcast released 45 interviews in 2024, accumulating approximately 374,880 listening hours that year.

80,000 Hours as an organization has a team of over 30 full-time staff and spent approximately $10.38 million in 2024. The podcast is one of the organization's core programs alongside its website, job board, and one-on-one advising service. The organization completed a spinout from the Effective Ventures group on April 1, 2025, becoming two independent UK entities: 80,000 Hours Limited and 80,000 Hours Foundation.