Conversations with Great Minds - Tim Noah, Journalist & Senior Editor-The New Republic / Author of the new book "The Great Divergence" / Contributing editor to The Washington Monthly and a frequent commentator on CBS News' Sunday Morning. America has become a nation of the haves - and the have nots - with a higher income inequality than the likes of Venezuela, Kenya and even Yemen. So what's brought us to this defining moment in American history - and how do we close the gap between the wealthy elite and everyone else?

There's a new search engine on the web - and it's not afraid to stand up to the government and corporations - in order to protect your privacy rights For tonight's Conversations with Great Minds Thom is joined by Gabriel Weinberg - the CEO and founder of Duck Duck Go - a search engine that keeps its users' data personal and private.

Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, George Washington University / Nasr Foundation joins Thom Hartmann. Islam - the world's second-biggest religion - is as diverse as the almost 1 point 6 billion people that comprise it. So why do so many Americans only see it as a vehicle for extremism and terrorism?

For tonight's Conversations with Great Minds - we're going to take a closer look at the modern Republican Party and where it's going with one of the foremost experts on the topic. John Kenneth White is a Professor of Politics at the Catholic University of America here in Washington, D.C. - where he specializes in political parties and the U.S. presidency. Professor White is also the author of numerous books - including his latest - "What Happened to the Republican Party?: And What It Means for American Presidential Politics."

For more information on the stories we've covered visit our websites at thomhartmann.com - freespeech.org - and RT.com. You can also watch tonight's show on Hulu - at Hulu.com/THE BIG PICTURE and over at The Big Picture YouTube page. And - be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Is there a common thread running through all religions? Thom Hartmann guest, Bian C. Muraresku has taken a close look at the history of religion and the search for immortality and shares his experience in the extended video.

Brian C. Muraresku joined Thom for our Conversations with Great Minds series.

Brian C. Muraresku is an Alum of Brown University with a degree in Latin, Greek & Sanskrit. Alum of Georgetown Law practicing international law for 15 years. The Immortality Key is his debut book.

In Conversation with Great Minds, Thom Hartmann is joined by a renowned ecologist and paleoclimatolgist whose work is featured in dozens of scientific journals and periodicals including National Geographic with an interesting new perspective on climate change and the future of our planet. Climate Whiplash - Global warming to Global cooling?

Brian Miller, Executive Director - United for a Fair Economy (UFE) & co-author of the new book The Self-Made Myth: And the Truth about How Government Helps Individuals and Businesses Succeed. Donald Trump and other 1 percenters will tell you they succeeded without help from the government - but our Great Mind for tonight will say that's not true. How has the self-made myth taken over American society - and how can we challenge it?