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When George Saunders was awarded a medal by the National Book Foundation last year, he was introduced as "the ultimate teacher of kindness and of craft." He has written 13 books, including "Lincoln in the Bardo," which won the 2017 Booker Prize. His latest novel, "Vigil," is out this month and is about an oil tycoon on his deathbed. But Saunders' reputation as a sort of guru of goodness comes from his 2013 convocation speech at Syracuse University, in which he extolled the importance of being kind. That speech went viral and was repackaged as a book, "Congratulations, by the Way," which became a best seller. Saunders joined David Marchese to talk about what it's like to be thought of as a kindness expert, his new book, and some of life's deeper questions.

The Interview; A Podcast From the New York Times hosted by David Marchese and Lulu Garcia-Navarro.