Big Think

Explore the future with visionaries Kevin Kelly, Peter Schwartz, Ari Wallach, and Tyler Cowen. While each is looking into the future through a different lens, they all share a belief in the power of optimism and proactive engagement as essential tools for overcoming today's challenges. Wallach introduces "Longpath," urging long-term thinking, while Kelly advocates for "Protopia," emphasizing gradual progress. Schwartz highlights scenario planning's importance, emphasizing curiosity and collaboration. Cowen reflects on America's progress and calls for urgency. Together, they stress empathy, transgenerational thinking, and diverse futures to collectively build a better tomorrow. The message: the future is a continuous creation requiring proactive, collective action. ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

### 😊 Happiness Isn’t a Feeling—It’s a Formula (Backed by Science!) We think happiness = joy, love, laughter. But what if we’ve been chasing the *wrong thing*? 🎯 **Happiness is *not* a feeling**—it’s the **cause** of feelings. Think of happiness like Thanksgiving dinner, and feelings as the delicious smell. Smells come and go. The feast is deeper. **Lasts longer.** That’s *good news.* Because if you’re sad, tired, or frustrated sometimes… 👏 **You’re normal. You’re human.** Negative emotions are survival tools. Without them, you’d be dead in a week. ## 🧠 Emotion ≠ Good or Bad All emotions are **information** from your brain. - 😡 Fear, anger, sadness? Signals of danger—crucial for survival. - 😄 Joy, surprise, curiosity? Clues that something’s good for you. They're all helpful. Just like hunger reminds you to eat, **feelings guide your actions**. ## 💛 What Actually Makes Us Happy? Arthur Brooks has studied **millions of people**, and found 3 key ingredients that define lasting happiness: ### 1️⃣ **Enjoyment** ≠ Pleasure 🍕 Pleasure is basic—like eating pizza. 👫 Enjoyment = pleasure + people + memory. Think *beer with friends,* not chugging alone. ### 2️⃣ **Satisfaction** Comes **after struggle**. The “I earned this” feeling after hard work. Cheating might get you the prize, but never the pride. ### 3️⃣ **Meaning** We *need* it constantly. Go even one hour without it, and you’ll feel empty. **Meaning =** - **Coherence:** Why do things happen? - **Significance:** Why do *I* matter? - **Purpose:** Where am I going? Find answers, and you find **fulfillment.** ## 🧘‍♂️ So... How Do We Find Real Happiness? Not through **money, power, pleasure, or fame**—those are *traps.* Instead, pursue the **4 Pillars of Happiness:** ### 🌌 1. Faith (or Awe) Not just religion. It’s about **connecting to something bigger**—nature, music, philosophy, silence. ### 👨‍👩‍👧 2. Family You don’t have to love every relative, but **you do have to show up**. Family bonds = long-term emotional security. ### 🤝 3. Friendship Not followers. **Real friends.** You need more than just your partner. Old friends are like emotional vitamins—**don’t skip the dose.** ### 💼 4. Work (That Serves Others) Work brings joy **only** when you: - Create value (💪 *earned success*) - Help others (❤️ *service*) You don’t have to save the world. Just lighten someone else’s load. ## 🛤️ Happiness = Direction, Not Destination You *don’t find* happiness. You **build it**, by changing habits, seeking meaning, and serving others. And yes—you *can* get better at it. That’s the best part. ### 🔑 Keywords: Happiness science, Arthur Brooks, emotional intelligence, meaning of life, faith and awe, real happiness vs pleasure, satisfaction and struggle, prefrontal cortex joy, happiness vs feelings, happiness habits, emotional survival, friendship and connection, happiness pillars, positive psychology, work-life fulfillment, happiness and purpose, slow living, service and meaning, family values, faith alternatives, direction not destination, how to be happy, happiness research Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ideas that seem wildly controversial today may move humanity towards progress. Philosopher Peter Singer asks —how do we keep them from being stifled? Peter Singer explains why he helped create the “Journal of Controversial Ideas,” a platform for discussing and examining controversial topics without fear of backlash or censorship. According to Singer, history is rife with examples of people challenging beliefs that were once considered certain but were later proven false. Persecuting those people who challenged those prevailing notions, Singer says, stifled progress. Singer underscores the importance of protecting academic freedom and freedom of thought and expression as fundamental to societal progress and knowledge advancement. ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor Brian Klass unpacks the truth behind history’s evil leaders, explaining how they so easily acquire power, and how we can change the pattern. How people choose to wield their power affects our daily lives, whether it’s a dictator or simply an obnoxiously officious member of a homeowner’s association. Brian Klaas, a political scientist and author of "Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How it Changes Us,” joins Big Think to talk about the nature of power, the people who are drawn to it, and the ways we can improve how power is wielded within institutions. So, what’s one way to ensure that reasonable people rise to positions of power? Klaas proposes the strategy of asking politicians a fairly straightforward question before they take office: What would it take for you to think that you are no longer necessary in power? Answers to questions like these can reveal deep insights into what kind of a leader a person is likely to be. An intro to power 0:00 Meet Brian Klaas 0:21 Why is it important to understand power? 1:55 Why did you start studying power? 3:12 Who is Lord Acton and how does he relate to power? 5:43 What are your 4 main arguments about power? Who gains power and why? 6:18 Why do bad people often end up in positions of power? 11:12 Should we only give power to those who don't seek it? 14:04 What is self-selection bias? 15:21 What is survivorship bias? 18:12 Does evolution play a role in survivorship bias? Psychopathy and the ‘dark triad’ 20:43 Why are we drawn to bad leaders? 25:23 Why do certain demographic groups often end up in power? 33:51 How can physical appearance affect our preference for leaders? 38:53 Who is Steve Raucci and what are the dark triad traits? 53:20 Can psychopathy ever be a beneficial trait? 55:04 Why might some psychopathy be beneficial to leaders? 58:32 Do the dark triad traits always occur together in individuals? 1:02:02 How common are the dark triad traits amongst dictators? Stopping the “worst person in the world” 1:05:52 How can systems help us select better leaders? 1:10:34 Why are systems so important when it comes to power? 1:14:43 What real-world systems have you observed to learn about power? 1:19:02 Why does society often fail to screen out bad leaders? 1:21:18 How can we rethink democracy to help us choose better leaders? 1:27:17 Does policing attract people who are more likely to abuse power? 1:33:35 How do you believe we can improve policing? 1:37:12 How can thought experiments help us evaluate the decisions of our leaders? 1:41:30 Who is Abhisit Vejjajiva and what do his decisions teach us about power? 1:49:33 How can being thrust into power affect our decision-making? 1:53:45 How can we evaluate the decisions of individuals in power? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- About Brian Klaas: Associate Professor of Global Politics at University College London, Contributing Writer for The Atlantic, author of Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us, and Creator/Host of the award-winning Power Corrupts podcast. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Because of the efficiency worship that we have developed in our industrial age, we are now seeing procrastination as a character flaw rather than what it is, a signal that is worth listening to.” For centuries, we’ve treated procrastination as proof of personal weakness. A defect to be optimized, to be fixed. But what if we thought of procrastination as a signal, rather than a flaw, suggests neuroscientist and author Anne-Laure Le Cunff. To decode these signals, Le Cunff introduces ‘The Triple Check Method,’ a diagnostic tool to understand the root cause of the delay. She also reveals how to identify your personal “magic window,” a tool for effortless concentration that can help you rewire against procrastination. 0:00 The moralization of procrastination 1:47 The Triple Check Method 2:29 Using the method to take action 3:24 Looking for systemic barriers 3:55 Finding your ‘Magic Windows’ 5:56 Using procrastination to connect with our emotions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Anne-Laure Le Cunff: Anne-Laure Le Cunff is an award-winning neuroscientist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Ness Labs, where her weekly newsletter is read by more than 100,000 curious minds. Her research at King’s College London focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of lifelong learning, curiosity, and adaptability. Her book, Tiny Experiments, is a transformative guide for living a more experimental life, turning uncertainty into curiosity, and carving a path of self-discovery. Previously, she worked at Google as an executive on digital health projects. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, Financial Times, WIRED, and more. ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accountant, shares a simple test that puts your ethics under the spotlight. What would you be willing to do if you thought you’d get away with it? Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accountant, delves into how we often unintentionally ignore our moral compasses and veer into unethical behavior when possible consequences are intangible. Kelly says we do this mainly by convincing ourselves that everyone else behaves similarly. But is that true? She shares the results of an ethics survey she uses in her class, where her students found themselves divided about whether a social lunch with a colleague, discussing personal and work matters, should be expensed as a work-related activity. She also shares her experience of accidentally receiving an extra handbag and how different people advised her to proceed. Maybe we’re all a little unethical. But Kelly assures that there’s no need to panic. She believes that acknowledging these vulnerabilities and implementing internal controls can help us prevent unethical behavior. Fostering an environment of self-awareness and accountability can help us all make better decisions in the future. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Kelly Richmond Pope: Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope is the Dr. Barry Jay Epstein Endowed Professor of Accounting at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Pope is a nationally recognized expert in risk, forensic accounting, and white-collar crime research, and an award-winning educator, researcher, author, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. She’s the author of Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion Dollar Fraud Industry (Harvard Business Review Press, March 2023). Pope teaches managerial and forensic accounting both at the undergraduate and graduate level. ------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Philosopher Meghan Sullivan is asking us to rethink how we give to others. Instead of relying solely on logic and efficiency, she argues for a love ethic rooted in emotional connection, moral character, and deep respect for human dignity. Giving, she says, shouldn't be reduced to numbers and outcomes but should reflect genuine care for both present and future people. Even those we haven’t met (especially including future generations) deserve to be seen as individuals with value and potential. In a world that often prizes calculation, Sullivan reminds us that love might be the most ethical response of all. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Meghan Sullivan: Meghan Sullivan is the Wilsey Family College Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, where she leads the Ethics Initiative and founded the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. With support from the John Templeton Foundation, the Institute advances research and teaching on human flourishing. Sullivan’s work spans ethics, metaphysics, and religion. She’s the author of Time Biases and co-author of The Good Life Method, based on her acclaimed course “God and the Good Life.” Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humanity is a type 0 civilization. Here’s what types 1, 2, and 3 look like, according to physicist Michio Kaku. Is anybody out there? Renowned physicist Michio Kaku discusses we could identify and categorize advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. According to Kaku, while recognizing intelligence in space is challenging, Quantum computers may be able to help sift through data for signals of intelligence, similarly to how we analyze patterns in dolphin communication. ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Gary Vaynerchuk on Marketing & Business Strategy** 📈 - **Missing the mark**: Many businesses fail because they fail to connect with the right audience. 🚫 - **Marketing should care**: Companies often neglect to respect consumers' time. Good marketing connects with the audience by being enjoyable. 🎯 - **Empathy-driven advertising**: When brands show empathy, they create better ads that resonate. 🤝 - **Strategy 101**: Listen first, then act. Social media provides unparalleled insights into consumer needs. 🧠 - **Innovation in simplicity**: Great businesses solve problems people are already complaining about (like drive-throughs in fast food). 🍔 - **Storytelling evolution**: Storytelling today is fast and personal. Everyone can now share their stories, thanks to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. 📱 - **The patience paradox**: Patience is crucial for long-term success. It's not complacency but strategic pacing to avoid failure. ⏳ - **Brand success measured by results**: Brands should focus on long-term results—spending less on ads and seeing higher sales as the brand grows. 📊 - **Legacy mindset**: Think long-term. Building a meaningful brand leads to sustained success and legacy, rather than quick wins. 🌱 Key takeaway: **Patience + Empathy = Sustainable Success** 🏆 Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Asking the question of, "Where did the entire universe come from?" is no longer a question for poets and theologians and philosophers. This is a question for scientists, and we have some amazing scientific answers to this question." Chapters For Easier Navigation:- 00:00:00 The origins of the universe 00:00:19 Why did you become a science communicator? 00:05:39 What are the origins of the Big Bang theory? 00:23:13 What is the difference between, “Singularity” and “Hot Big Bang’? 00:27:38 What are the three big predictions of the Hot Big Bang? 00:35:41 How was the cosmic inflation theory discovered? 00:40:09 What is cosmic inflation? 00:51:09 How can we test cosmic inflation? 01:08:34 Is there a multiverse? 01:37:56 How will the universe end? 01:52:56 What was it like when the first stars began to shine? 01:55:51 What was it like when life first became possible? 01:58:22 How are super massive black holes formed? 02:01:00 When will the last star die? 02:06:14 How does the James Webb Space Telescope change our understanding of space? 02:15:56 When will the next generation of telescopes be built? About Ethan Siegel: Ethan Siegel is a Ph.D. Astrophysicist and author of "Starts with a Bang!" He is a science communicator, who professes physics and astronomy at various colleges. He has won numerous awards for science writing since 2008 for his blog, including the award for best science blog by the Institute of Physics. His three books "Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive," "Beyond the Galaxy: How humanity looked beyond our Milky Way and discovered the entire Universe," and "Infinite Cosmos: Visions From the James Webb Space Telescope" are available for purchase at Amazon. Follow him on X @startswithabang. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“There's a very pervasive belief that human nature is fundamentally selfish, but I know for a fact that that can't be true in part because my life was saved by a stranger a long time ago when I was 19.” Is it possible that kindness and cruelty aren’t opposites, but points along the same spectrum of human nature? Neuroscientist Abigail Marsh has spent decades studying what she calls the “caring continuum:” A range that runs from extreme altruists to individuals with psychopathy who feel little or no concern for others. Marsh challenges the widespread belief that humans are fundamentally selfish, showing instead how neuroscience, psychology, and everyday observation tell a more complex story. 00:00:00 What draws you to this field of research?   00:00:31 Are humans fundamentally selfish?  00:03:06 How do you define psychopathy? 00:04:13 What does research reveal about psychopathy?  00:18:05 What distinguishes sociopaths from psychopaths?  00:23:23 What myths surround psychopathy?  00:25:29 What are some treatments for psychopathy? 00:28:35 What is “The Mask of Sanity”?  00:29:30 What behaviors signal potential psychopathy?   00:36:36 Why are people drawn in by those with psychopathy?  00:39:12 What traits are common among those with psychopathy?  00:47:57 Is psychopathy genetic?  00:59:35 What traits characterize altruistic individuals?  01:00:21 What defines extreme altruism?  01:03:06 Are humans an altruistic species?  01:07:59 What are pop culture examples of altruism? 01:11:05 Is genuine altruism possible?  01:15:06 What’s your take on effective altruism?  01:16:51 Can I assess my spot on the psychopathy-altruism spectrum? 01:22:32 What does research say about boosting altruism? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Abigail Marsh: Abigail Marsh is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program at Georgetown University. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from Harvard University in 2004. ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Key Insights from Coleman Hughes on Race, Colorblindness, and Public Policy:** 🌍 **Philosophy of Colorblindness** Colorblindness, often misunderstood, isn’t about ignoring race or pretending it doesn’t exist. According to Coleman Hughes, it’s a philosophy of treating people without regard to race, advocating for equality in both personal lives and public policy. He argues that it’s a truce where race isn't directly selected for, but instead, more meaningful proxies like class and socioeconomics are prioritized. 👁 **The Danger of Racial Essentialism** Hughes warns against viewing race as a deep, intrinsic part of one’s identity, as seen in certain educational philosophies. For instance, some programs push kids to view themselves primarily through the lens of race. Hughes sees this as harmful and believes it undermines the dream of a society where race isn't central to our identities, as emphasized by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. 💭 **Race as a Social Construct** Race, as we commonly understand it, is a social construct inspired by biological differences but doesn't track tightly with them. The categories we use (Black, white, Hispanic, etc.) were created in a political context, not based on science. Hughes highlights how these categories are arbitrary and should be treated with less seriousness, as they were invented to meet bureaucratic needs. 📚 **History of Colorblindness** The term "colorblindness" originates from the radical wing of the anti-slavery movement, notably used by abolitionists like Wendell Phillips. Hughes emphasizes that the modern conception of colorblindness isn’t rooted in racism but is a philosophy for creating a fairer, more just society in which race isn’t a deciding factor in opportunities or treatment. 🚫 **Racism Defined** Hughes defines racism as the belief in the congenital inferiority of any group of people, aligning with Dr. King’s perspective. He argues that discriminatory policies—whether historical Jim Crow laws or modern racial quotas—are a form of racism, regardless of the group targeted. His stance is that policies should focus on socioeconomic factors rather than racial categories to truly level the playing field. ⚖️ **The Dangers of Race-Based Policies** Hughes critiques race-based policies, citing examples like the Restaurant Revitalization Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic, where policies discriminated based on race and ended up causing chaos. He advocates for evidence-based policies that focus on financial need instead of race, as they would be more effective and just. Hughes defends the idea that addressing disadvantage through the lens of class and economics is the way forward—without reinforcing racial divisions. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**🔥 “I’ve Been in Pain for a Living” — Steve-O’s Brutally Honest Truth 🎭** From sixth-grade outcast to stuntman legend, Steve-O has lived a life built on chaos—and deep inner wounds. 👶 As a kid, he craved attention so badly, it pushed people away. His report card said it all: *"Steve desperately wants praise… but the way he seeks it backfires."* 🎬 Fast forward to *Jackass* fame, where he found a twisted kind of acceptance—by turning pain into performance. *“I document myself being in pain, and I’ve become successful as a result.”* But the spotlight didn’t fix the hurt. He dropped out of college, convinced he’d die young, and filmed his stunts *just to prove he existed.* All he wanted was to be seen. To be liked. To feel *enough.* 🍾 Alcoholism deepened the cracks—but recovery opened the door to honesty. He once wrote a secret list titled **“To the grave.”** But sharing it with someone he trusted… helped free him. Still, he’s *not* sharing it with the world. Some scars stay sacred. 🧠 And deep down? He *still* doesn’t feel good enough. But here’s the twist: > “If I felt I was good enough, I’d probably be content. > And if I was content, I’d probably be lazy. > So maybe I don’t want to feel good enough.” Steve-O turned pain into purpose—but the hustle? That’s fueled by never feeling *done.* 💔🔥 Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Success in the art world can mean different things to different artists. While some artists work solely for the pleasure of producing art, others seek external recognition, such as being shown in prestigious galleries or museums, and selling their craft. The latter — profitability, recognition, demand — is how success is traditionally defined in the field. But out of all the emerging artists across the world, only a select few will make it to international recognition in their careers. Network physicist Albert-László Barabási believes he can predict who it’s going to be. And he doesn’t even need to look at the artist’s artwork. While talent is essential for an artist's success, understanding the networks in which their work is embedded is perhaps even more important. Access to these networks is determined by complex dependencies, with gatekeepers, such as institutions and galleries, playing a crucial role in an artist's access to the market. Through mapping out these networks, Barabási has been able to predict artistic success with impressive accuracy. With an acute understanding of the various institutions and galleries that routinely lead to the center of the network, an artist can increase their chances of success and longevity in the art world. 0:00 The key measures of success in art 0:48 Whose job is it to discover artists? 1:16 Mapping the value of art through network science 2:53 “Incredibly accurate” predictions 4:47 Talent matters 5:22 The challenge for young artists ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Albert-László Barabási: Albert-László Barabási is a network scientist, fascinated with a wide range of topics, from unveiling the structure of the brain and treating diseases using network medicine to the emergence of success in art and how science really works. His research has helped unveil the hidden order behind various complex systems using the quantitative tools of network science, a research field that he pioneered, and has led to the discovery of scale-free networks, helping explain the emergence of many natural, technological, and social networks. Barabási is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He is the author of The Formula (Little Brown), Network Science (Cambridge), Bursts (Dutton), and Linked (Penguin). He co-edited Network Medicine (Harvard, 2017) and The Structure and Dynamics of Networks (Princeton, 2005). His books have been translated into over twenty languages. ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wharton professor Ethan Mollick explains why “co-intelligence” may be the future of AI. Ethan Mollick, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of "Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI," explores the impact of AI on our work, creative endeavors, and overall lives. AI is reshaping our understanding of humanity and intelligence, evolving from simple prediction tools to sophisticated large language models, but how do we keep it from dooming us all? Should we be more afraid of it, or are we actually in control? Mollick proposes four most likely predictions of our future with AI – As Good As It Gets, Slow Growth, Exponential Growth, and The Machine God – and explains the likelihood and potential results of each one. Mollick stresses the importance of using AI as a supplemental tool to enhance your performance, not as something that will replace you entirely. According to Mollick, AI is here to stay, and it’s up to us to decide how it is used now, and in generations to come. Our choices today will shape the trajectory of AI and determine whether it becomes a force for good or a source of existential risk. About Ethan Mollick: Ethan Mollick is a professor of management at Wharton, specializing in entrepreneurship and innovation. His research has been featured in various publications, including Forbes, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He is the creator of numerous educational games on a variety of topics. He lives and teaches in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. -------------------------------- Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our perception of reality is not an exact representation of the objective truth but rather a combination of sensory inputs and the brain’s interpretation of these signals. This interpretation is influenced by past experiences and is often predictive, with the brain creating categories of similar instances to anticipate future events. The brain’s categorization process extends beyond physical characteristics to include abstract, functional features. This ability allows humans to create “social reality,” where we collectively assign functions or meanings to objects or concepts that don’t inherently possess them, such as the value of money or the concept of borders and citizenship. The brain’s capacity for imagination, drawing from past experiences to create something entirely new, is a double-edged sword. While it allows for creativity and innovation, it can also lead to difficulties in staying present. 0:00 The debate over reality 0:57 Objective reality 3:54 Social reality ------------------------------------------------------------------ About Lisa Feldman Barrett: Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is among the top 1% most-cited scientists in the world, having published over 250 peer-reviewed scientific papers. Dr. Barrett is a University Distinguished Professor of psychology at Northeastern University with appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior. She is the recipient of a NIH Director’s Pioneer Award for transformative research, a Guggenheim Fellowship in neuroscience, the Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Association for Psychological Science (APS) and from the Society for Affect Science (SAS), and the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the American Psychological Association (APA). She is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of Canada, and a number of other honorific societies. She is the author of How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, and more recently, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain. ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**💸 The Genius Myth: Why Billionaires Aren’t Always Brilliant** We’ve been sold a lie — that extreme wealth is the mark of genius. But when you peel back the layers, you find that **luck, not talent**, is often the true engine behind billionaire success. While talent follows a normal curve — nobody is *a billion times more talented* than anyone else — **wealth doesn’t follow the same rules**. It’s wildly uneven, with a few sitting on astronomical fortunes and many scraping by. This disconnect points to something else at play: **luck striking in the middle of the talent curve**, not at the extremes. A striking study simulating a world with randomly distributed talent and random events found that the **richest individuals weren’t the most talented** — just marginally above average people who got lucky again and again. Real-world outcomes echo this. **Enter Elon Musk.** Sure, he has some talent — but he's also a prime example of someone who mistook wealth for genius. His Twitter/X debacle revealed that success in one domain doesn’t guarantee competence elsewhere. The myth of his infallible intellect unraveled when **his “genius” failed to translate across industries**. But there’s another trait common to billionaires: **greed**. Unlike most people who might be content with enough, many billionaires obsessively chase more. It’s not just brilliance or even luck — it’s an insatiable hunger that propels them to hoard wealth, not distribute it. So the next time someone equates riches with brilliance, remember: **lightning didn’t strike them because they were the tallest tree — it struck where there were just more trees.** Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Welcome to the multiverse. Or should I say our one universe within a multiverse of possibilities?" Do we have proof of a multiverse? Our idea of the multiverse stems from the notion of quantum mechanics: The idea that every time we enter a situation there are potentially infinite possibilities to arise as the outcome. But when we make a decision, we only get one of these outcomes. Science fiction as well as our media and films are bewitched by the concept of the multiverse. But what can science tell us about its legitimacy? Dr. Ethan Siegel explores. Chapters for easier navigation:- 0:00 Is there a multiverse? 3:32 The “many worlds” interpretation 4:43 The notion of infinity 8:45 Types of infinity 10:16 Degrees of freedom 17:01 Quantum mechanical spreading 19:22 The universe beyond our universe 21:46 How fast do universes get created? 27:15 The hope of the multiverse The idea of the Multiverse suggests that every quantum possibility—every outcome that could happen—does happen, in a different universe. From choices we make to random atomic events, reality may split endlessly. Cosmic inflation—a rapid expansion after the Big Bang—might have created countless "bubble universes." Each one with different physical laws or histories. These bubbles never touch, separated by ever-expanding space. But here's the twist: Quantum mechanics produces a combinatoric explosion of outcomes—far more than the exponential growth from cosmic inflation. So, can the inflationary Multiverse actually contain all quantum possibilities? Only if inflation has been going on forever, into the infinite past and future. Otherwise, the full-blown sci-fi-style Multiverse? It's just in our minds. About Ethan Siegel: Ethan Siegel is a Ph.D. Astrophysicist and author of "Starts with a Bang!" He is a science communicator, who professes physics and astronomy at various colleges. He has won numerous awards for science writing since 2008 for his blog, including the award for best science blog by the Institute of Physics. His two books "Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive" and "Beyond the Galaxy: How humanity looked beyond our Milky Way and discovered the entire Universe" are available for purchase at Amazon. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eastern religion meets Western psychology: meet the Harvard professor who’s also a Zen priest as he explains how to relieve suffering using both faith and neuroscience. Delve into the teachings of Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and Zen priest, as he explores the essence of Zen Buddhism. Waldinger, who directs the long-running Harvard Study of Adult Development, discusses how Zen can help people discover the transformative power of impermanence, mindfulness, and the art of relieving suffering. He shares practical wisdom on cultivating loving-kindness, maintaining a beginner’s mind, and fostering fulfilling relationships. Whether you’re seeking inner peace or navigating relationships, Waldinger offers practical guidance for a more fulfilling existence. ----------------------------------------------------------------- About Robert Waldinger: Dr. Robert Waldinger is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Center for Psychodynamic Therapy and Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. He is a practicing psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, he teaches Harvard medical students and psychiatry residents, and he is on the faculty of the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute. He is also a Zen priest. Dr. Waldinger earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and his MD from Harvard Medical School. ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices