Big Think

Expert Louise Perry discusses the idea of sexual disenchantment, the commodification of sex, and the impact of the online porn industry on society. Should we treat “big porn” in the same way we treat industries like “big tobacco”? Journalist Louise Perry thinks so. In her book, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, Perry discusses the idea of sexual disenchantment, the commodification of sex, and the impact of the online porn industry on society. She argues that the multibillion-dollar global industry is qualitatively different from past exposure to porn, as it normalizes extreme content and affects the sexual culture of an entire generation. Perry likens porn to "super stimuli" that tap into the natural drive for reproduction but exaggerate it in a maladaptive way, similar to fast food. She also critiques platforms like OnlyFans, noting that while it may appear to cut out the middleman, the platform itself still profits from sexual exploitation. Perry expresses concern that despite many people having a robust critique of capitalism in other industries like gambling or junk food, they hesitate to apply the same scrutiny to the porn industry. But that may be changing. 0:00 Sexual disenchantment 0:29 Sex: It’s not private, it’s networked 1:06 A different beast: Digital porn 2:03 The rise of strangulation 3:07 Limbic capitalism & “super stimuli” 4:21 OnlyFans 4:52 The porn industry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Louise Perry: Louise Perry is a writer and campaigner based in London, UK. She is a columnist at the New Statesman and a features writer for the Daily Mail. Her debut book, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution: A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century, is published by Polity. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why friendships are becoming rarer in America, explained by author Richard Reeves. Richard Reeves, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, discusses the importance of friendships and the potential “friendship recession.” He notes that loneliness can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes per day, but measuring and quantifying friendships is difficult. According to Reeves, an ideal number of close friends is around three or four. But alarmingly, 15% of young men today report having no close friends, compared to 3% in the 1990s. The COVID pandemic has further tested friendship networks, with women being the most affected due to their friendships' reliance on physical contact. Other factors likely have contributed to the decline in friendships in the 21st-century U.S., including geographical mobility, parenting demands, workism, and relationship breakdowns. Reeves emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and nurturing friendships as they don't form spontaneously. Admitting the desire for friends requires vulnerability and openness, which may be difficult for some individuals. 0:00 A friendship recession 1:20 4 friendship formations 1:54 How many friends do people need? 2:21 The ideal relationship 3:03 Why are we losing friends? 4:20 Friendship & your health 5:07 Male friendships 5:43 Female friendships 6:27 The dystopia we must avoid 7:20 The hardest thing to admit ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Richard Reeves: Richard V. Reeves is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where he directs the Future of the Middle Class Initiative and co-directs the Center on Children and Families. His Brookings research focuses on the middle class, inequality and social mobility. Richard writes for a wide range of publications, including the New York Times, Guardian, National Affairs, The Atlantic, Democracy Journal, and Wall Street Journal. He is the author of Dream Hoarders (Brookings Institution Press, 2017), and John Stuart Mill – Victorian Firebrand (Atlantic Books, 2007), an intellectual biography of the British liberal philosopher and politician. Dream Hoarders was named a Book of the Year by The Economist, a Political Book of the Year by The Observer, and was shortlisted for the Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice. In September 2017, Politico magazine named Richard one of the top 50 thinkers in the U.S. For his work on class and inequality. A Brit-American, Richard was director of strategy to the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2012. Other previous roles include director of Demos, the London-based political think-tank; social affairs editor of the Observer; principal policy advisor to the Minister for Welfare Reform, and research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research. Richard is also a former European Business Speaker of the Year and has a BA from Oxford University and a PhD from Warwick University. -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 7 things I wish I knew about sales when I was 30, explained by bestselling author Aaron Ross. Sales and revenue executives often feel overwhelmed and uncertain about driving revenue to meet their goals, facing fluctuating success. Aaron Ross, author of From Impossible to Inevitable: How Hypergrowth Companies Create Predictable Revenue, outlines seven ingredients for creating hypergrowth.  First, companies should identify a niche, finding the perfect balance between market problems, ideal customers, and effective communication. Second, they must create a predictable pipeline for generating leads and opportunities. Third, sales should be scalable, with the sales team designed for easy growth. Fourth, companies should focus on fewer, bigger, and better deals. Fifth, it's important to accept that achieving goals takes longer than desired, so patience is key. Sixth, embracing employee ownership encourages a more invested workforce. Lastly, defining destiny empowers individuals within a company, leading to a more united vision for growth. 0:00 The revenue struggle (That time my business tanked) 0:50 The 7 keys to hypergrowth 1:25 1. Nail a niche 2:04 2. Create predictable pipeline 2:41 3. Make sales scalable 3:20 4. Double your deal size 3:45 5. Do the time 4:27 6. Embrace employee ownership 4:56 7. Define your destiny ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Aaron Ross: Aaron Ross is an executive sales advisor, board member/NED, and keynote speaker. He’s the co-author of From Impossible To Inevitable (with Jason Lemkin) and Predictable Revenue. Ross is married with 10 children (half through adoption) and lives in Edinburgh, UK. He can be found at www.FromImpossible.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 health experts, including Harvard professor Daniel Lieberman, share the exact ways exercise can lead to a healthier lifespan. In this interview, health experts Eric Kandel, Daniel Lieberman, Morgan Levine, Jillian Michaels, and Wendy Suzuki discuss the controllable nature of aging, citing how exercise can lead to a healthier lifespan. They highlight the specific ways exercise can reduce memory loss, prevent diseases, and maintain overall health. ------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when everything you’ve built your identity around seems to disappear in a single moment? Paralympian Alana Nichols explains. At 17, Alana Nichols was paralyzed in a snowboarding accident, but the athlete in her refused to disappear. After discovering adaptive sports, she found not just new ways to move, but a new understanding of strength, identity, and worth. Her journey to Paralympic gold became a powerful act of redefining strength, capability, and success. -------------------------------------------------------------------- About Alana Nichols: Alana Nichols is a five-time Paralympian and the first American woman to win gold medals in both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. After a snowboarding accident at age 17 left her paralyzed, she went on to compete in wheelchair basketball, alpine skiing, and paracanoe. Nichols has earned six Paralympic medals—three gold, two silver, and one bronze—and continues to advocate for adaptive sports and increased access for athletes with disabilities. -------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Physicist Janna Levin discusses the boundaries of reality and experimentation. Theoretical cosmologist Janna Levin discusses the dynamic interplay between theoretical and experimental physics. She highlights how physicists navigate the tension between imaginative theorizing and strict adherence to observed reality — leading to both confining approaches within known laws, and explosive creativity that has transformed our understanding of the Universe. Levin explores questions about the nature of the cosmos, such as the possibility of multiple universes and the enigma of dark matter. She acknowledges the criticism that theoretical work on unobservable phenomena like the multiverse might not fit traditional scientific criteria, but argues that nature may not conform to human definitions. Levin emphasizes the significance of experimental discoveries, like dark matter’s indirect detection through gravitational effects, in shaping our understanding. Ultimately, she asserts that scientific exploration challenges societal limitations, reshaping values and perspectives while underscoring the profound impact of gazing into the cosmos. ------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Freethink Interview, a interview series from our sister channel @freethink where we talk to the new generation of builders, leaders and thinkers shaping technological progress. Join us for thought-provoking conversations with some of the world’s most interesting and ambitious technologists. What if the world's most critical technology isn't software, but the tiny pieces of silicon that power it? In an age where chips are everywhere, from smartphones to coffee makers, their manufacturing complexity might surprise you. It's harder to make a modern semiconductor than a nuclear weapon.Inside Taiwan's cutting-edge fabrication plants, machines worth $350 million each orchestrate an atomic ballet. These marvels of engineering use the flattest mirrors ever made and lasers that create temperatures 40 times hotter than the sun's surface – all to carve transistors smaller than a coronavirus.From Silicon Valley to Taiwan, from the Netherlands to Japan, making modern chips is a global dance of unprecedented complexity. Each processor requires ultra-purified materials, billion-dollar machines, and a supply chain spanning multiple continents. But this intricate network faces its greatest challenge yet.As artificial intelligence reshapes our world, the demand for advanced chips is skyrocketing. Tech giants are pouring billions into new semiconductor designs, while startups race to create specialized AI chips that could make artificial intelligence as accessible as a Google search. Join us as we explore how these tiny silicon marvels are shaping humanity's future. This episode delves into the fascinating and high-stakes world of semiconductors, exploring their critical role in modern technology and geopolitics. Author and professor Chris Miller discusses the complexity of chip manufacturing, the global supply chain's vulnerabilities, and the strategic importance of Taiwan in the semiconductor industry. He explains how advancements in chip technology have far outpaced other fields, how AI demand is driving innovation, and how tensions between the U.S. And China over chip production could reshape the global economy. The episode highlights the crucial role chips play in everything from smartphones to AI development, and the potential risks if supply chains are disrupted. Chapters For easier Navigation: 0:00: The Freethink Interview: Chris Miller00:39: A single factory in Taiwan02:31: The first transistor 03:31: The first chip04:50: Moore’s Law 07:40: A global industry10:01: The most important company in the world12:08: Why chips are central to US and China13:45: AI and chips About Chris Miller: He is an American historian, professor, and author specializing in international affairs, economics, and technology. He teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and is best known for his book Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology, which explores the geopolitical significance of semiconductors. His research focuses on global power struggles, particularly between the U.S. And China, and his work has appeared in major publications like The New York Times and Foreign Affairs. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes --------------------------------------06:30-19 ------------------------------ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, burnout: there are a ton of buzzwords to describe how modern work culture is broken. Now that we know what the problems are, how do we fix them? Tiffani Bova shares how companies can repair their relationship with their employees. Modern American working culture is broken — and has been for a long time. The coronavirus pandemic only magnified festering wounds that have adversely impacted employers and employees for far too long. Tiffani Bova, named among the Top 50 Business Thinkers in the world by Thinkers50 for six years running, explores what needs to happen to repair it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor explains the 4 key ”characters” of the brain, and how understanding each can expand your perception of yourself, and the world, forever. At age 37, neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor suffered a stroke that would take her eight years to fully recover from. This is how it changed her understanding of the brain. In this interview, Dr. Jill draws a map of the human brain, explaining how it is comprised of four distinct modules, each serving a unique role in function and personality. This combination of cognitive and emotional components gives rise to the multidimensional characters within each of us. Are you looking to be more rational, more creative, more forgiving, or perhaps less rigid in your thinking? Dr. Jill suggests that by becoming aware of the four modules of our brains, we can consciously choose to engage specific parts. This awareness allows us to harness the true power of our brains and shape who we want to become, ultimately fostering less anxiety, more inner peace, and a vastly more purposeful life. -------------------------- About Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor: Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard-trained and published neuroscientist. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage (AVM) in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery, spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and is still routinely the #1 book in the category Stroke in the Amazon marketplace. Dr. Jill is a dynamic teacher and public speaker who loves educating all age groups, academic levels, as well as corporations and not-for-profit organizations about the beauty of our human brain. She focuses on how we can activate the power of our neuroplasticity to not only recover from neurological trauma, but how we can purposely choose to live a more flexible, resilient, and satisfying life. In 2008 Dr. Jill gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 27.5 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Jill was chosen as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” webcast. Her new book, Whole Brain Living – the Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life is a #1 release on Amazon in categories ranging from Neuroscience to Nervous System Diseases and Stroke. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s information saturated digital landscape, discerning the truth has become an increasingly complex challenge. While many assert that science holds the factual truth, the line between science as a methodology and scientism — which asserts that scientific knowledge is more reliable and valuable than all other forms of knowledge — often blurs. When scientists exceed the boundaries of testable hypotheses, personal belief systems intermingle with empirical evidence, complicating our understanding of truth. Anthropologist Agustín Fuentes contends that human experiences are inherently messy and influenced by factors like racism, sexism, and historical contexts. He argues that a comprehensive understanding of human biology, history, culture, and evolution demands grappling with these complexities, the intricate dynamics of which often extend beyond the assertions of science. Fuentes’ vision for the future of scientific practice centers around diversifying voices, experiences, and methodologies. A more diverse group of individuals contributes to a richer understanding of the world, offering different perspectives and insights; no one scientist is the same. Embracing the complexity and messiness of the human experience fosters collaboration, creativity, and a holistic approach to knowledge. After all, science is conducted by humans — complex beings inextricably intertwined with their own biases and cultural narratives. 0:00 Scientism as another belief system 1:23 The problem with reductive science 3:19 More diversity, more complexity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Agustín Fuentes: Agustín Fuentes, a Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University, focuses on the biosocial, delving into the entanglement of biological systems with the social and cultural lives of humans, our ancestors, and a few of the other animals with whom humanity shares close relations. Earning his BA/BS in Anthropology and Zoology and his MA and PhD in Anthropology from UC Berkeley, he has conducted research across four continents, multiple species, and two-million years of human history. His current projects include exploring cooperation, creativity, and belief in human evolution, multispecies anthropologies, evolutionary theory and processes, and engaging race and racism. Fuentes’ books include Race, Monogamy, and other lies they told you: busting myths about human nature (U of California), The Creative Spark: how imagination made humans exceptional (Dutton), and Why We Believe: evolution and the human way of being (Yale). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The way my mind works is just out of anxiety and catastrophization.” Anxiety doesn’t vanish with practice. In fact, in actor Jesse Eisenberg’s experience, it can grow even sharper even after repetition. Eisenberg’s stories from stage and film sets reveal what performance anxiety teaches us about how the brain works, and how we can rewire it to work better for us. Rather than treating panic as a flaw, the actor argues it can be redirected into focus and authenticity. Chapters:- 0:00 Performance anxiety 0:32 Recognize catastrophic thinking 3:57 Normalize your panic 6:24 Reframe negative feelings as motivation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Jesse Eisenberg: Jesse Eisenberg is an Academy Award nominated actor and an acclaimed playwright and author. Eisenberg’s film credits include Roger Dodger, The Squid and the Whale, Adventureland, Zombieland, The Social Network, Now You See Me, The Double, Night Moves, The End of Tour, American Ultra, Louder Than Bombs, Batman v. Superman, Now You See Me 2, Café Society, Justice League, The Hummingbird Project, The Art of Self Defense, Zombieland: Double Tap, Resistance, Vivarium,Wild Indian, Manodrome, and Sasquatch Sunset which sees him play the urban legend Sasquatch. On the small screen, Eisenberg was recently seen playing the titular character of ‘Toby Fleishman’ in the FX limited series Fleishman Is in Trouble based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s best-selling novel of the same name. Eisenberg made his directorial debut with A24’s When You Finish Saving the World, which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival to glowing reviews and screened as a part of Critics Week at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. The film is based on the Audible Original of the same name, both of which were written by Eisenberg. Eisenberg’s second directorial effort, A Real Pain, recently had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film, which Eisenberg stars alongside Kieran Culkin, tells the story of two estranged cousins who travel to Poland after their grandmother dies to see where she came from and end up joining a Holocaust tour, won Eisenberg the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for his screenplay The film was bought at the festival by Searchlight Pictures for a release later in the year. Eisenberg has written four plays, including “The Spoils,” which had a box-office record-breaking run-on West End. He also wrote and starred alongside Vanessa Redgrave in his play “The Revisionist,” and “Asuncion.” His play, “Happy Talk” starring Susan Sarandon and Marin Ireland opened April 2019 at the Signature Theater in New York. Born in New York, Eisenberg is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, the author of the collection, Bream Gives Me Hiccups from Grove Press and the Audible Original When You Finish Saving the World, which won “Best Original Work” at the 2021 Audie Awards. --------------------------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‪@JimLee‬, President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer of ‪@dcofficial‬ tells us how his childhood obsession with Superman changed his life. Jim Lee is synonymous with DC Comics now, but when he was first charting his path, his family pushed him towards medical school. In this interview, Jim shares how he reasoned with his parents and bought time to pursue his dream of being a comic book artist over the span of a gap year. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ---------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

### **Humanity’s Cosmic Future: Opportunities & Challenges** #### **The New Space Age** - **Reusable Rockets**: SpaceX and Blue Origin have revolutionized access to orbit, making space industrialization inevitable. - **Orbital Expansion**: Multiple space stations, commercial research, and tourism are coming. Starlink-like constellations will globalize connectivity. - **Asteroid Mining**: Near-Earth asteroids offer *unlimited resources*, potentially ending terrestrial resource conflicts. #### **Governance Challenges** - **Space Traffic Control**: Satellites now cross national borders in seconds—urgent need for international orbital management (like air traffic control). - **Global Collaboration**: Humanity struggles with planet-scale coordination (climate, AI). Space demands we overcome this to avoid chaos. #### **Our Cosmic Significance** - **Rare Thinkers**: Even if physically tiny, we may be the only conscious beings in the Milky Way—making us *uniquely valuable* to the universe. - **Future Potential**: Advanced civilizations could terraform planets, harness stars, and even manipulate the universe’s fate (*Omega Point* theory). **Why Listen?** Brian Cox bridges visionary optimism with hard science—from SpaceX’s rockets to humanity’s potential to *reshape reality itself*. A masterclass in cosmic-scale thinking. 🎧 Listen to the full discussion Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes --------------------------------------06:30-19 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Defending free speech, even for your enemies, is essential for minorities, and for freedom and equality to thrive.” Jacob Mchangama, founder of The Future of Free Speech, explains how free speech has shaped America, from Frederick Douglass fighting slavery to Supreme Court cases protecting voices that promote hate. He argues that today, tech platforms twist our view by promoting extremists for clicks, making it feel like free speech is the problem. But free speech only works if all voices are allowed. According to Mchangama, it is silence that truly damages equality and democracy. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Jacob Mchangama: Jacob Mchangama founded and leads The Future of Free Speech, is a research professor at Vanderbilt, and a Senior Fellow at The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). A prolific commentator and author on free speech and human rights, he created the podcast “Clear and Present Danger” and wrote the 2022 book “Free Speech: A History From Socrates to Social Media.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About The Well Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds. Together, let's learn from them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------11:10-18 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The public really doesn't realize that they are much closer to CIA spies than they think they are.” Most people think CIA agents are born extraordinary. Charming, genius, and ready to win every fight, gliding through danger like James Bond. But the reality isn’t so glamorous, reveals former spy Andrew Bustamante. Real spies aren’t superheroes; they’re invisible. They’re the people you’d never remember seeing in line for coffee, the ones who thrive on being overlooked. From the grueling 18‑month recruitment process to the moral flexibility required to operate in gray zones, Bustamante explains how the CIA builds operatives who can disappear, adapt, and serve missions above everything else. 00:00:00 Part 1: Becoming a spy 00:00:19 What do people get wrong about being a spy? 00:01:29 What are the qualities of a potential spy? 00:04:56 What is the process for becoming a CIA operative? 00:09:10 What did you learn while becoming a CIA operative? 00:11:05 How does becoming a CIA agent impact your personal life? 00:13:48 What is CIA training like? 00:16:48 What did the CIA teach you about ethics and morals? 00:19:21 How do I know if I have what it takes to be a CIA operative? 00:20:47 Part 2: Is there a difference between manipulation and motivation? 00:22:57 How can you take control of a conversation? 00:24:16 What is the R.I.C.E. Method? 00:26:43 What is sensemaking? 00:33:11 How should we use these psychological tools? 00:34:29 Part 3: The economy of secrets. What is the economy of secrets? 00:36:15 Do all secrets hold equal value? 00:38:17 Why is it beneficial to know that everyone keeps secrets? 00:42:25 How do we identify the most valuable secrets? 00:44:21 Are there any tricks to keeping a secret? 00:46:57 How can we extract secrets from others? 00:49:57 Part 4: How to multitask like a spy. What is task saturation? 00:51:49 How can I manage my task saturation? 00:59:09 How do emotions sometimes get in our way? ------------------------------------------------------------------ About Andrew Bustamante: Andrew Bustamante is a former covert CIA intelligence officer and decorated US Air Force combat veteran. In 2017, he founded EverydaySpy.com, the first digital platform teaching real-world intelligence techniques to everyday people. Drawing from his 20 years running human and technical operations globally, Bustamante empowers individuals to break social, financial, and cultural barriers using proven spy skills. He's a Fortune 10 corporate advisor, cybersecurity expert, and author of "Everyday Espionage: Winning the Workplace and Social Game." Together with his wife Jihi, also a former CIA officer, Andrew hosts the EverydaySpy Podcast. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ---------------------------------------------------------------11:10-18 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The sexual excitation system is the accelerator or the gas pedal, and it notices all the sex-related information in the environment.” Past decades of sex research have focused mainly on mechanics, overlooking the concept of desire. Now, we’re understanding how vital environment, emotion, and perception are in the science of sex. Sex educator Emily Nagoski emphasizes how critical context can be in amplifying or killing sexual desire. 0:38 The role of desire in orgasm 2:15 The gas pedal vs. The brakes 4:15 Why people struggle with sex 5:15 How to apply neuroscience in the bedroom 7:02 The power of context ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Emily Nagoski: Emily Nagoski is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling Come As You Are and The Come As You Are Workbook, and coauthor, with her sister, Amelia, of New York Times bestseller Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. She earned an M.S. In counseling and a Ph.D. In health behavior, both from Indiana University, with clinical and research training at the Kinsey Institute. Now she combines sex education and stress education to teach women to live with confidence and joy inside their bodies. She lives in Massachusetts with two dogs, a cat, and a cartoonist. -------------------------------------------------------------11:10-18 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The best orgasms come when you learn how to unlock a sexual “flow state.” Emily Nagoski, a sex educator, shares a meditation to help you get started. When you see an orgasm depicted in TV, film, or even porn, you can be virtually certain it was faked. This can feed misconceptions about there being a “correct” way to orgasm. In reality, orgasms are complex phenomena that can result from a wide range of stimuli, and they are orchestrated primarily by the brain, not only the genitals. Sex educator Emily Nagoski emphasizes the importance of familiarizing yourself with the full spectrum of pleasurable and arousing experiences, not just orgasms. Shifting focus from orgasms to overall pleasure can alleviate pressure, potentially leading to improved sexual experiences and, paradoxically, better orgasms. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Emily Nagoski: Emily Nagoski is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling Come As You Are and The Come As You Are Workbook, and coauthor, with her sister, Amelia, of New York Times bestseller Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. She earned an M.S. In counseling and a Ph.D. In health behavior, both from Indiana University, with clinical and research training at the Kinsey Institute. Now she combines sex education and stress education to teach women to live with confidence and joy inside their bodies. She lives in Massachusetts with two dogs, a cat, and a cartoonist. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------11:10-18 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Slow Down to Speed Up: The Power of Constructive Friction** We often rush to solve problems—whether planning a trip, fixing a Lego model, or leading a company. But sometimes, slowing down is the smarter move. Think of a race car: winners don’t go full throttle the entire time; they brake at corners, stop for pit stops, and pull over when the car is on fire. In organizations, obstacles can be frustrating, but they can also be useful. Good friction makes the right things easier and the wrong things harder. For example, Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes tried to bypass regulations to get faulty blood-testing devices into military helicopters. Thankfully, a rule requiring FDA approval blocked her. Meanwhile, Sequel, a company reinventing the tampon, embraced the long, rigorous process of obtaining FDA approval, ensuring a quality product. The best leaders act as "friction fixers," trustees of others' time. They eliminate pointless delays—like the DMV employee who turned a dreaded experience into a smooth, efficient process. They also ask two key questions: 1. **Do I know what I'm doing?** Sergey Brin rushed Google Glass to market despite warnings that it wasn’t ready. The result? A high-profile flop. 2. **Is this decision reversible?** When IDEO grew too big, founder David Kelly proposed a reorganization, comparing it to shaving his mustache—something reversible. Had he cut off his finger instead, there’d be no going back. Smart leaders embrace friction where it matters and remove it where it doesn’t. So before racing ahead, ask yourself: Should I hit the gas—or the brakes? The ability to create and destroy friction in different circumstances is what defines an organizational genius. When a customer, an employee, or a senior leader has set their sights on a certain course of action and then runs into obstacles that make it slower, harder, more frustrating, we call this organizational friction. Many times, that can be a bad thing, but best-selling author and organizational psychologist Bob Sutton argues that we can actually harness it to benefit us. One thing that Sutton emphasizes in his book The Friction Project is that you should first ask yourself if your course of action is the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ thing to do. If it's the right thing to do, it should happen fast and be relatively frictionless. The ‘wrong’ thing to do is often full of friction, but the right thing, although it may have some ‘constructive friction,’ is often able to push forward and make progress without harsh obstacles. Here are 2 easy tricks to solve any problem and make friction your secret weapon ------------------------------ Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes -------------------------------------------------------11:10-18 ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We can have that fight for a 1,000 years, but we could have a shot at figuring out what we both need and noticing when there's opportunities to make that happen.” Conflict can be constructive, inspiring learning, growth, and vulnerability when well-managed. But when it spirals into what Amanda Ripley calls high conflict, it becomes corrosive. Instead of solving problems, high conflict traps us in a cycle where arguments feed on themselves, eroding trust and entire relationships. So, why are we so susceptible to it? Ripley explains, sharing our psychological tripwires and how to avoid them. Chapters:- 0:00 The paradox of high conflict 0:30 Breaking the cycle 2:50 How to get to the understory 5:00 High conflict is a tar pit 6:30 The idiot driver reflex (why we don’t give people benefit of the doubt) 7:50 Fear leads to a desire for simplicity 8:20 The saturation point 10:50 Good, healthy conflict 11:15 Looping (how to prove you are listening) 14:00 The most common understories 17:30 Practice under stress 20:00 How to keep conflict healthy 21:00 The magic ratio of positive interactions to conflict 21:55 Who high conflict benefits 22:55 There’s no winning a marriage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Amanda Ripley: Amanda Ripley is a New York Times bestselling author, Washington Post contributor, and co-founder of consultancy firm, Good Conflict. Her books include The Smartest Kids in the World, High Conflict, and The Unthinkable. -------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------11:10-18 --------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**Living Between Understanding and Loneliness** Since gaining consciousness, Kaelynn Partlow has felt disconnected—spending more time analyzing human interactions than experiencing them. As an author, autism advocate, and content creator, she channels her thoughts into her work, finding solace in the movement of fidget toys and the rhythm of words. Growing up, Kaelynn struggled with self-perception, feeling "stupid" after failing third grade. A string of diagnoses—autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more—gave her new labels to hold onto, but they didn’t erase the weight of being misunderstood. Conversations often felt like puzzles where others simply stopped engaging instead of saying, "I don’t understand." Loneliness lingers, especially on nights, weekends, and holidays, when she is no longer needed in a professional capacity. She retreats into her closet—a quiet space filled only with her thoughts—writing until the emotions drain away. And yet, within the struggle, she has discovered resilience. At Project Hope, she was given tasks she could succeed at, reshaping the belief that she couldn’t achieve. ---------------------- Her defining moment of celebration? A Netflix feature that brought together coworkers, friends, and acquaintances in a room full of support. She embraced fear, realizing she thrives under pressure. Now, she sees public speaking not as an impossible challenge, but as something she can not only endure—but master. Kaelynn Partlow shares her story about life with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, and how finding the right diagnosis helped her embrace her neurodivergent identity. Kaelynn Partlow, an author, autism advocate, and registered behavior technician, shares her own experiences living with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. She talks about how these diagnoses shifted her self-perception from feeling "stupid" to understanding her unique challenges and strengths.Kaelynn opens up about the misunderstandings neurodivergent people face and the difficulty of connecting in a world that often doesn't accommodate different ways of thinking. She also shares her fears—like wondering if her social difficulties will ever improve—and how she copes with loneliness, especially when not focused on work.Through it all, Kaelynn emphasizes the value of recognizing your own strengths, even when it’s hard. By taking on challenges and thriving under pressure, she found new opportunities, from public speaking to creative writing. Her story shows that growth often comes from facing fears and redefining success on your own terms. About Kaelynn Partlow: In 2015, Kaelynn Partlow joined Project Hope Foundation as a Registered Behavior Technician. She is now a Lead Technician, providing services to middle and high-school-aged clients and contributing to staff training development.In 2021, Kaelynn was featured on the Netflix series Love On The Spectrum. She has also been a guest on numerous national podcasts and has published several articles, offering insights from an autistic perspective.With a large following on various social media platforms, Kaelynn uses her reach for autism advocacy, connecting with millions globally. In addition to her online work and role at Project Hope, she is an international public speaker, passionate about sharing tangible strategies for best practices when interacting with individuals on the autism spectrm Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes -------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------11:10-18 ----------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices