The Next Big Idea Daily

Meganets and Megatrends

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

David Auerbach kicks things off by explaining how massive digital systems he calls "meganets" have grown beyond anyone's control, reshaping our realities in ways we barely understand. Then trend analyst Marian Salzman zooms out to map the megatrends — from work to identity — that are emerging from all this disruption.

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Why Your Life Feels Empty (And the Neuroscience Fix You Haven't Tried)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Most of us are too busy making a living and amusing ourselves to ask the one question that matters most — what actually gives your life meaning? First, Arthur Brooks brings the science of happiness to bear on our modern emptiness crisis. Then Constantine Andriopoulos offers a tactical field guide for turning curiosity into real momentum — because finding meaning is one thing, but knowing which questions to ask next is another.

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Why Your Doctor Gets It Wrong (and a Simple Shift That Would Fix It)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Almost all of us will be misdiagnosed at some point—a terrifying stat in an age of high-tech medicine. First, Alexandra Sifferlin digs into why doctors get it wrong so often and what her reporting for The Elusive Body reveals about the diagnosis crisis. Then, oncologist Ilana Yurkiewicz takes us inside the invisible handoff failures and systemic cracks that make American health care feel impossible to navigate.

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Your Brain Wants You to Be Happy

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:45:00 -0000

Happiness isn't just something you feel — it's a skill you can practice. Neuroscientist Richard Davidson kicks things off with research showing that flourishing can be trained in as little as five minutes a day. Then, in the second half, psychologist Dacher Keltner explores how everyday moments of awe can quietly transform your well-being from the inside out.

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Secrets of the Starving Artist

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

"Do what you love and the money will follow" is a nice bumper sticker — but how have real artists actually paid the bills? Mason Currey kicks things off with surprising stories of how creative legends funded their work, from day jobs to unlikely windfalls. Then Will Cady shares a framework for turning creative anxiety into your greatest asset.

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Get Along, Get Ahead

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:45:00 -0000

The moment "I" becomes "we," something shifts—in our brains, our decisions, and our potential. First, Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer reveal how group identity shapes everything from performance to polarization. Then, evolutionary biologist Nichola Raihani zooms out to show why cooperation—not competition—may be the real engine of human success.

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Pain Isn't Just Physical. Here's the Neuroscience That Proves It.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

You've been told pain is "all in your head" — but what if that's not dismissive, it's actually the key to healing? First, Rachel Zoffness breaks down the new neuroscience showing why the brain constructs pain and how that gives us more power over it than we ever realized. Then, Abdul-Ghaaliq Lalkhen takes us deeper into the anatomy of physical suffering — and what it really means to endure it.

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AI Is Coming for Your Tasks, Not Your Job

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

The robots aren't replacing you — they're reshaping what you actually do all day. First, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky and Chief Economic Opportunity Officer Aneesh Raman explain why the age of AI is less about survival and more about agency. Then, Eric Siegel breaks down The AI Playbook for making machine learning actually work inside your organization.

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The Emotion You're Most Ashamed of Is the One Worth Listening To

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Most of us treat envy, rage, and shame like problems to fix — but psychotherapist Daniel Smith argues those "hard feelings" carry wisdom we can't afford to ignore. Then, in the second half, Harvard psychiatrist Christopher Palmer makes a bold case in Brain Energy that many mental health disorders are actually metabolic disorders of the brain — and that reframing could change everything about how we treat them.

You're Not the Problem. Work Is.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

That Sunday-night dread before the workweek isn't a personal failing—it might be a design flaw. First, Amy Leneker shares her surprisingly simple framework for leading and living with less stress and more joy. Then, in the second half, Michael Amster and Jake Eagle reveal how a few seconds of awe can calm your nervous system and completely reset your mind.

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The Art of Managing Risk

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Retired general Stanley McChrystal and former media executive Michele Wucker share what they've learned about navigating an uncertain world.

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You're Not Experiencing Time. You're Building It.

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

What we call "now" might be less a moment we experience and more a story our brains construct. Jo Marchant kicks things off by exploring the surprising science of the present moment and why it's far stranger than we assume. Then Nobel Prize–winning physicist Frank Wilczek takes us deeper still, into the quarks, photons, and weird elegance that make up the fabric of reality itself.

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Before You Quit, Listen to This

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Something in your life isn't working — but should you push through or walk away? First, Anthony Klotz, the researcher who predicted the Great Resignation, explains what really drives us to quit and when staying put is the smarter bet. Then former pro poker player Annie Duke makes the case that the best move is often folding before you've lost everything.

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How to Disagree Without Turning It Into a Fight

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0000

We live in a world where you can argue with anyone, anytime, for any reason — but are we actually any good at it? Harvard behavioral scientist Julia Minson kicks things off with a science-backed framework for disagreeing without making everyone miserable. Then Columbia psychologist Peter T. Coleman offers a bigger-picture look at how we break free from the toxic polarization trapping us in the first place.

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Parenting in the Age of Infinite Temptation

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Our civilization is running a massive, unplanned experiment on developing brains. Fortunately, Michaeleen Doucleff has a science-based plan to rewire kids' relationships with screens and ultraprocessed foods before it's too late. Then, Harvard psychologists Emily Weinstein and Carrie James reveal what's really happening in teens' digital lives, and what most adults are completely missing.

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When Did Everyone Become an Influener?

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

The people behind your favorite feeds aren't just posting. They're performing, hustling, and building empires out of everyday life. First, Stephanie McNeal pulls back the curtain on the unfiltered reality of being an influencer. Then Sarah Frier takes us inside the origin story of the platform that made it all possible with No Filter.

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Why It’s Dangerous to Be Right Too Soon

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Matt Kaplan kicks things off with stories of scientists who were ridiculed, exiled, and even imprisoned for discoveries the world wasn't ready to accept. Then physicist Alan Lightman pulls back the curtain on how discovery actually happens and what it feels like from the inside, revealing science in all its messy, human glory.

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Sweat More, Live Longer? The Case for Heat.

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:30:00 -0000

Your body's relationship with heat goes way deeper than a good sauna session — it might be the key to longevity, emotional bonding, and even what made us human in the first place. ⁠Bill Gifford⁠ makes the case for heat as a fitness tool, while ⁠Hans Rocha IJzerman⁠ reveals how our inner thermostat shaped everything from our relationships to our evolution — two books that together redefine what warmth really does for us.

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Most People Are Good. A Few Are Dangerous.

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Most people are genuinely good, but the small percentage who aren't can do outsized damage to your life, your work, and your sanity. Leanne ten Brinke and Tessa West offer a masterclass in identifying and neutralizing the toxic people you're almost certainly going to encounter.

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The Protein Myth: Why Our Favorite Nutrient Is Overhyped

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Protein is everywhere — in our shakes, our snack bars, our cultural obsession with optimization — but the story of how it became nutrition's golden child has more to do with marketing than science. Today, we unpack the hype machine behind our favorite macronutrient and the hidden bodily process that might matter far more for our health. Big ideas from Gavin Weedon and Samantha King alongside gastroenterologist Shilpa Ravella.

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More Energy and How to Get It

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:30:00 -0000

Up first, Stanford medical professor Daria Mochly-Rosen argues that the tiny machines inside our cells — mitochondria — are quietly running the show, and that taking care of them can change how we feel, age, and function. Her book is The Life Machines: How Taking Care of Your Mitochondria Can Transform Your Health. And later, surgeon general nominee Casey Means connects metabolism to almost everything we care about—from mood to chronic disease—by sharing big ideas from her 2024 book Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health.

Why Smart People Stay Stuck (And How to Break Free)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

You've probably been told to think bigger, try harder, or just believe in yourself — but what if the real thing keeping you stuck is a set of invisible limits you didn't even choose? Nir Eyal reveals the inherited beliefs that quietly cap our potential, while Tony Wagner makes the case that breaking free also means relearning how to go deep in a world designed to keep us skimming the surface.

How Energy Built Civilization, and Could Destroy It

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

We've never had more power at our fingertips, yet we're constantly anxious about running out of it — in our phones, our grids, our planet. From the first fires that built civilization to the mineral supply chains fueling the next industrial era, Roland Ennos and Vince Beiser reveal that the story of human progress has always been a story about energy and the staggering costs of controlling it.

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The 5 Habits That Keep Your Brain Young

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Brain fog, forgetfulness, and aging aren’t destiny. Majid Fotuhi shares a science-backed plan to fight back.

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We're Living Through a Storytelling Revolution

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

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What the Music You Love Says About You

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:15:00 -0000

First up, record producer turned neuroscientist Susan Rogers on This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You. And stick around because later in the show, IDEO's Michael Hendrix will reveal what musical minds can teach all of us about innovation, collaboration, and creative reinvention.

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The Science of Defiance (and Why You Need It)

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

1️⃣ Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes by Sunita Sah

2️⃣ The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women's Dead-End Work by Linda Babcock, Brenda Peyser, Lise Vesterlund, and Laurie Weingart

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Can a Text Message Reduce Crime?

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:15:00 -0000

First, economist Jennifer Doleac shares five key insights from her new book, The Science of Second Chances: A Revolution in Criminal Justice. Later, sociologist and former police officer Neil Gross will join us to tell the remarkable story of three police departments that defied the odds and actually changed cop culture from the inside.

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Creativity Is a Habit, Not a Talent

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:30:00 -0000

Up first, Blythe Harris and Mallory May show how just five minutes of daily creativity can rewire your brain, reduce stress, and make you feel more alive. Their new book is Daily Creative: The 5-Minute Habit to Rewire Your Brain. And later in the show, YouTuber Andrew Huang offers up some hard-won advice on building a creative career in the digital age without losing yourself in the process.

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The Myth of the Picky Child

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

1️⃣ Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History by Helen Zoe Veit

2️⃣ Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith

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What Can Animals Teach Us About Longevity?

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

1️⃣ Jellyfish Age Backwards by Nicklas Brendborg

2️⃣ Methuselah’s Zoo by Steven Austad

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The Surprising Power of Big Mistakes

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

1️⃣ Mistakes to Meaning: Owning Your Past So It Doesn’t Own You by Joshua Steiner and Michael Lynton

2️⃣ Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well by Amy Edmondson

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What Pain Can Teach Us

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

We begin with Darcey Steinke, who shares five key insights from her new book, This Is the Door: The Body, Pain, and Faith. And then in the second half of the show, we hear from Anushay Hossain about her 2021 book, The Pain Gap.

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Why the Universe Keeps Getting More Interesting

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

First, Michael Wong and Robert Hazen propose a new scientific theory that suggests complexity — from life to technology — emerges through a universal evolutionary process. Their new book is Time’s Second Arrow: Evolution, Order, and a New Law of Nature. In the second half of the show, physicist Suzie Sheehy will share ideas from her 2023 book The Matter of Everything, which pulls back the curtain on the wild, improbable experiments that actually built our understanding of the physical world — and changed everyday life in the process.

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The Science of Oversharing: Why Revealing More Builds Trust

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

We worry constantly about saying too much. But Leslie John says the bigger problem in our lives isn’t oversharing — it’s undersharing. When we default to silence instead of thoughtful honesty, we miss opportunities for connection, trust, and influence.

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Was the War on Drugs the Worst Policy Failure in American History?

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

First, Akwasi Owusu-Bempah and Tahira Rehmatullah share big idea from their 2023 book, Waiting to Inhale: Cannabis Legalization and the Fight for Racial Justice. In the second half of the show, we’ll hear from Columbia neuroscientist Carl Hart, who argues that the pursuit of happiness, including responsible drug use, is a fundamental American liberty.

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After Atheism: One Writer’s Search for Faith

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Christopher Beha on why evidence alone can’t answer life’s biggest questions — and why skepticism may be the first step toward belief. His new book is Why I Am Not an Atheist. And in the second half of the show, we hear from Simon Critchley about his book On Mysticism: The Experience of Ecstasy.

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The Hard Work of Loving Well

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

• Love’s Labor by Stephen Grosz

• Finding the Words by Colin Campbell

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Space Babies and Martian Bones: How Leaving Earth Will Change Our Bodies

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

We're closer than ever to living on Mars — but evolution won't wait for us to get there.

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Your Relationship Habits Are Broken. The Fix Is Counterintuitive.

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Nedra Glover Tawwab says the advice that actually works is the advice you least want to take.

Cade Metz and Kevin Roose on the Rise of AI

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

• Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World by Cade Metz

• Futureproof: 9 Rules for Surviving in the Age of AI by Kevin Roose

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What If We Fired All the Politicians?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

First up, Hélène Landemore shares five insights from Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule. And then we hear from Senator Amy Klobuchar about her 2023 book, The Joy of Politics.

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How to Feel Loved: 5 Research-Based Mindsets That Work

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0000

• How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most by Harry Reis and Sonja Lyubomirsky

• The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen.

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What AI Can Teach You About Your Brain

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

A Princeton cognitive scientist traces the centuries-long quest to discover the mathematical laws of thought.

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You Don’t Find Meaning. You Design It.

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Dave Evans and Bill Burnett on flow, wonder, and building a life that feels fully alive.

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To Sleep, Perchance To Dream

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

• The Oracle of Night by Sidarta Ribeiro

• When Brains Dream by Antonio Zadra and Robert Stickgold

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When You Were Born Matters More Than You Think

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Marked by Time: How Social Change Has Transformed Crime and the Life Trajectories of Young Americans by Robert Sampson
Correction: Parole, Prison, and the Possibility of Change by Ben Austen

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Your Relationship Isn't a Product. It's a Project.

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Bonded By Evolution by Paul Eastwick
Between Us by Batja Mesquita

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Agile Is the New Smart

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

As AI transforms the economy, adaptability will be more predictive of success than raw brainpower.

AQ: A New Kind of Intelligence for a World That’s Always Changing by Liz Tran
Tomorrowmind: Thriving at Work with Resilience, Creativity, and Connection―Now and in an Uncertain Future by Gabriella Rosen Kellerman and Martin Seligman

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Your Meetings Suck. Here's How to Fix Them.

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Rebecca Hinds is an organizational behavior expert who studies how collaboration breaks down in modern workplaces — and how to fix it. Her new book is Your Best Meeting Ever: 7 Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done. And in the second half of the show, we’ll focus in on a particular meeting format that deserves its own attention. We’ll get big ideas from the 2024 book Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings.

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Finding Love (and Losing It)

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Today, we’re going to hear some big ideas from the 2022 book Speaking in Thumbs: A Psychiatrist Decodes Your Relationship Texts So You Don't Have To by Mimi Winsberg. And if you're nursing a broken heart this Valentine's Day, stay tuned. In the second half of the show, we’re bringing you ideas from Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams.

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The Neuroscience of Romantic Obsession

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Tom Bellamy's new book, Smitten: Romantic Obsession, the Neuroscience of Limerence, and How to Make Love Last, is out now.

You Could Be Having Better Sex. Here’s How.

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Nicole McNichols is a psychology professor at the University of Washington, where her course on human sexuality attracts more than 4,000 students each year. Her new book is called You Could Be Having Better Sex, and it offers a roadmap for building a more fulfilling intimate life. And later in the show, we’ll hear from activist Chanel Contos, whose book Consent Laid Bare examines the cultural forces that enable sexual harm, and how we can create positive change.

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Your Guilt Isn’t a Personal Failure. It’s a System Problem.

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Today, big ideas come from the books Guilt Free: Reclaiming Your Life from Unreasonable Expectations by Jennifer Reid and Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab.

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The Case Against Personal Responsibility

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Nick Chater and George Loewenstein are behavioral scientists who've spent decades studying decision-making, and their new book is called It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We’re to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems. Nick joins us to explain why blaming individuals for society's problems is not just wrong — it's exactly what powerful interests want us to believe.

And stick around, because later in the show we'll hear from Stanford professor Brian Lowery, whose book Selfless makes a fascinating companion argument: that the whole idea of the independent, self-contained individual might be a myth in the first place.

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Two Takes on Entrepreneurship

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Business historian John Landry and entrepreneur Howard Wolk argue that America really is different when it comes to fostering new ventures. Then we'll hear from journalist David Sax about what it actually means to build a business and a life.

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How to Have the Hard Conversations Before It’s Too Late

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Colette Jane Fehr is a psychologist who specializes in couples therapy, and she argues that the conversations we avoid are often the ones that matter most. Her new book is called The Cost of Quiet. Then later in the show, we'll hear from psychologist Ashley Pallathra, whose 2021 book Missing Each Other explores what it really takes to connect.

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Art Is Not a Luxury. It’s Medicine.

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

The science showing how music, dance, and creativity improve mental health, physical health, and longevity.

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Five Simple Ways to Build a Flourishing Life

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

It's a Daniel Coyle doubleheader! First up, Daniel shares five big ideas from his brand new book, Flourish. And later in the show, we revisit The Culture Playbook.

How Great Ideas Happen

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Great ideas aren’t invented from scratch—they’re discovered through small, often overlooked adjustments.

How Great Ideas Happen by George Newman
Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution by Uri Levine

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Why Bookstores Still Matter

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Think bookstores are an anachronism? Think again. Evan Friss, author of The Bookshop, says they remain a cornerstone of American cultural life and are just as vibrant as ever. And later in the show, David Damrosch, a comparative literature professor at Harvard, takes us on a journey through 80 books from around the world—and shows us why we're lost without our storytellers.

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Why You’ll Never Rise Above Your Self-Image

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Shadé Zahrai is a peak performance educator who has spent a decade training leaders at Microsoft, Deloitte, and JPMorgan. She argues that self-doubt plagues even the smartest people, and she offers a way out. Her new book is called Big Trust: Rewire Self-Doubt, Find Your Confidence, and Fuel Success. And later in the show, we hear from Kelli Thompson, author of the 2022 book Closing the Confidence Gap, on how your insecurities can bring you down in the workplace, and what you can do about it.

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The Secret to a Life of Connection and Purpose

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Today, Jennifer Wallace shares a blueprint for living a meaningful life and creating a world we so urgently need. Her new book is Mattering. And later in the show, you'll hear from Zach Mercurio.

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Why We Click: The Surprising Science of Human Connection

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Kate Murphy explores how and why our bodies, brains, and emotions fall into rhythm with others.

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Excellence Starts With Curiosity

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Brad Stulberg is a bestselling author and performance coach whose new book, The Way of Excellence, offers a practical guide to achieving mastery in whatever personal or professional domains you care to focus on. And later in the show, we hear from Karen Doll.

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Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

1️⃣ Both/And Thinking by Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis

2️⃣ Black-and-White Thinking by Kevin Dutton

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We’re Teaching American History All Wrong

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

James Traub is a journalist and educator who spent a year visiting public schools across the country to understand what’s going wrong and what’s going right. His new book is The Cradle of Citizenship: How Schools Can Help Save Our Democracy. And in the second half of the show, you'll hear from Alexandra Robbins, whose book The Teachers goes behind the scenes of America's most vulnerable profession to show why supporting educators is the key to fixing everything else.

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How Not to Die (According to an ER Doctor)

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Ashely Alker MD is an emergency medicine doctor and medical consultant who has seen it all — from freak accidents to horror-movie-worthy diseases. Her new book is 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them, and she joins us below with her potentially life-saving tips.

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Life Changes You. The Question Is How.

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

First up, Maya Shankar (The Other Side of Change) on uncertainty, resilience, and becoming someone new on the other side of disruption. Then John Kaag shares five key insights from Robert Richardson's 2023 book Three Roads Back.

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Why the Five-Day Workweek No Longer Makes Sense

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Chances are, you work five days a week. Monday through Friday. And you probably don’t think much about it, because that’s just how work works, right? But who decided that five days was the right number in the first place? As it turns out, the modern workweek wasn’t thoughtfully designed for focus, creativity, or even productivity. It was inherited from the Industrial Age, built for factory floors and time clocks, not knowledge workers and digital tools. So maybe it’s time for a rethink. In Do More in Four: Why It’s Time for a Shorter Workweek, researcher and work redesign strategist Joe O’Connor and journalist Jared Lindzon make the case that working less can actually help us do better work.

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How to Solve Problems Before They Happen

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

First, Dan Heath reveals how the most effective leaders don't just solve problems — they prevent them from happening in the first place. Then Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg shares research that shows reframing problems is the real key to breakthrough solutions.

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Your Self-Discipline Isn’t the Problem

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Productivity expert Chris Bailey explains why follow-through fails — and how aligning your values, intentions, and friction levels makes action feel natural. And later in the show, we hear from Becky Blades, author of Start More Than You Can Finish.

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What If Laughing More Made You Better at Everything?

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Most of us think of humor as something that happens at comedy clubs or in group texts with friends. But what if laughter could actually make you better at your job, more creative, and more connected to the people around you? Chris Duffy is a comedian, TV writer, and host of TED’s award-winning How to Be a Better Human podcast. In the first half of today's show, he shares five big ideas from his new book Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy. Later, we hear from Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas about their book Humor, Seriously.

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The One Human Need That Explains (Almost) Everything

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

First up, Philosopher and novelist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein argues that the mattering instinct is the hidden engine behind nearly everything we do. Then we hear from rabbi Sharon Brous, author of the 2022 book The Amen Effect.

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Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

First up, Ezekiel ("Zeke") Emanuel, one of America's leading physicians, makes the case that enjoying life — cheesecake included — might be the healthiest choice of all. His new book is Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life. He's here to make the case that enjoying life, cheesecake included, might be the healthiest choice of all. Then, in the second half of the show, journalist Cole Kazdin shares some big ideas from her 2023 book What's Eating Us: Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety.

How to Navigate Your Career in Uncertain Times

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Whether you're plotting a job change or just trying to survive another uncertain year at work, the truth is most of us spend 90,000 hours of our lives working. That's too much time to spend feeling stuck, stressed, or unfulfilled.

Journalists Lisa Leong and Monique Ross are here to help. Their 2023 book This Working Life: How to Navigate Your Career in Uncertain Times is packed with practical wisdom for building a career that actually brings you joy. We’ll hear from them in just a moment.

And in the second half of the show, we’ll tackle one of the most challenging experiences in anyone’s career — losing a job. Jessica Bacal spent years collecting rejection stories from powerful women and gathered them in the 2021 book The Rejection That Changed My Life.

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The Impact of Alcohol on Our Bodies and Culture

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Some of us may have overindulged during the holidays, and some of us may be trying a Dry January — or at least rethinking our relationship with booze. This is the time of year when we might notice how much alcohol has woven itself into our social lives, our stress management, our celebrations. Charles Knowles is a Professor of Surgery at Queen Mary University of London and Chief Academic Officer at the Cleveland Clinic London, and his new book is called Why We Drink Too Much: The Impact of Alcohol on Our Bodies and Culture. He joins us today to explain why problematic drinking isn't defined by how much we consume, and what we really need to know if we want to change our relationship with alcohol. And then in the second half of the show, we’ll hear from philosophy professor Edward Slingerland, who will share ideas from his 2021 book Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization.

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Forget Self-Improvement. Try This Instead in 2026.

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Maybe you’ve already set some resolutions for 2026 — exercise more, eat better, be more patient. But here’s the problem: We make these promises to improve ourselves as if our selves are solid, fixed entities that just need a little tweaking. But there might be a wiser approach. J. Eric Oliver is a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, and his new book is called How To Know Your Self: The Art & Science of Discovering Who You Really Are. He joins us today to explain why seeing yourself as a process rather than a fixed thing might be the most powerful resolution you could make this year — and how that shift opens up possibilities you didn’t know you had. Then, in the second half of the show, we'll hear some big ideas from Life Is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way by philosophy professor Kieran Setiya.

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Why a Tough Childhood Might Help Some Kids Survive

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

An evolutionary perspective reveals how early adversity can sometimes accelerate development.

The Nature of Nurture by Jay Belsky
The Social Genome by Dalton Conley

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New Year, Same Patterns? Here’s Why That’s OK.

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Now that we’re in early January, a lot of us are thinking about what we want to change this year. But here’s the thing — we often focus on adding new habits when the real question might be, Why do we keep repeating the old ones?

Why Do I Keep Doing This? by Kati Morton
Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There by Tali Sharot and Cass Sunstein

A Spy's Guide to Parenting

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Emily Oster is a professor of economics at Brown University and the author of the 2021 book The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years. She makes a fascinating case: well-run companies have a clear mission, they make decisions deliberately, and they have processes that keep things running smoothly. So why don't we apply that same intentionality to our family lives? Then we’ll hear from Christina and Ryan Hillsberg, a husband-and-wife team of former CIA officers. They share how lessons from intelligence work can help us raise resourceful, self-sufficient children.

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What Is Capitalism?

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Capitalism shapes everything about our lives — the way we work, the cities we live in, the goods we consume. But where did it come from, and where is it headed?

Capitalism: A Global History by Sven Beckert
The Problem of Twelve by John Coates

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Are You Smarter Than a Plant?

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Max Telford is a leading evolutionary biologist who's spent his career tracing the deepest roots of life itself. His new book is called The Tree of Life: Solving Science's Greatest Puzzle, and he joins us today to share some of his big ideas in just a moment. In the second half of the show, we'll hear big ideas from the 2023 book Planta Sapiens, exploring the surprising intelligence hidden in the plants all around us.

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The Heart of Entrepreneurship

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of the beloved toy company Melissa & Doug, has spent decades discovering what it means to build a business that's true to who you are. Her new book is called The Heart of Entrepreneurship: Crafting Your Authentic Recipe for Success, and she'll join us to share some of her big ideas in the first half of today's show. After that, we'll hear from Catalina Daniels and James Sherman. They went inside eighteen companies founded by Harvard Business School graduates to uncover the lessons that actually lead to success.

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How to Navigate Life's Transitions

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:20:00 -0000

First up, Ann Tashi shares key insights from her book Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World. And later in the show, we'll hear from Rachel Macy Stafford, New York Times bestselling author of 2023’s Soul Shift, who'll show us how small, incremental changes can help us rediscover what truly brings us joy.

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What Kind of American Are You?

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 13:30:00 -0000

First, Colin Woodard argues that where you are in the country determines how you live and how you'll die. Then Luke Shaefer tells us how America's most disadvantaged communities aren't where we think they are, and what their shared history reveals about inequality in this country.

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This Episode Will Change Every Breath You Take

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

When was the last time you actually thought about the air around you? Unless you're stuck in a windstorm or gasping after a run, probably never. But it turns out that this invisible element — whether it's blowing across continents or flowing through your lungs — has shaped human history in some pretty remarkable ways.

Simon Winchester is the New York Times bestselling author of books like The Professor and the Madman and Krakatoa. His new book is called The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind, and he'll join us with some of his big ideas in just a moment.

And later in the show, we'll hear from James Nestor, author of the 2020 book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, who'll show us how modern humans have forgotten how to breathe properly — and what that's costing us.

A Starter Kit to Make Your Finances Bulletproof

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

First up, Harvard economist John Campbell on how to make the financial system work better for you. His new book, co-written with Tarun Ramadorai, is Fixed: Why Personal Finance Is Broken and How to Make It Work for Everyone. Later in the show, Lauren Simmons offers us a practical, empowering roadmap for building financial wellness right now.

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An Exercise in Uncertainty and a Memoir of a Life Interrupted

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Up first, we hear from Jonathan Gluck, author of An Exercise in Uncertainty. And then Suleika Jaouad shares key insights from Between Two Kingdoms.

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The Power of Being Alone: Why Solitude Is Good for You

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Act One: The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World by Robert Coplan

Act Two: Arrangements in Blue Notes by Amy Key

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You’re Working Hard. You’re Still Stuck. Here’s Why.

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Let’s say you’ve made it to a position to manage other people. Congratulations! But unfortunately, you can’t just coast from here. The mindset that got you into that leadership role isn’t the mindset you need to succeed at it. Muriel Wilkins is a leadership coach and host of the award-winning podcast Coaching Real Leaders. Her new book is called Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential. And later, we hear from Eduardo Briceño, author of the 2023 book The Performance Paradox.

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The Surprising Science of Pets

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Do you have a pet? A dog, a cat, a goldfish? If so, why? I don’t mean why did you adopt the dear things, I mean why do humans keep pets at all? It’s a strange behavior, when you think about it, and not one shared by any of our animal cousins. Jay Ingram is a top science writer and TV personality who’s spent decades exploring the natural world. His new book is called The Science of Pets, and he shares five of his key insights in the first half of the show. Then we hear from Marlene Zuk, author of Dancing Cockatoos and the Dead Man Test.

Here's How to Get Lucky

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

We all know someone who seems impossibly lucky. They land the perfect job, get into the right school, meet the right people at the right time. But luck isn’t as random as it seems. There are hidden systems at work determining who gets what, and understanding them can tilt the odds in your favor.

Act One: Lucky by Design by Judd Kessler
Act Two: The Serendipity Mindset by Christian Busch

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How to Spot a Swindler

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Charlatans by Moisés Naím and Quico Toro

Nobody's Fool by Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris

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The Weird Force That May Well Kill You

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Like it or not, gravity controls life and death on this planet, yet we barely understand it.

Crush by James Riordon
Pull by Brennan Spiegel

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You're a Hypocrite, But That's OK

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Why acknowledging our own contradictions can make us better friends, colleagues, and citizens.

The Hypocrisy Trap by Michael Hallsworth
The Status Revolution by Chuck Thompson

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The Simple Shift That Reduces Stress and Increases Freedom

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Why choosing less leads to more clarity, wellness, and connection.

Act One: Less Is Liberation by Christine Platt

Act Two: Work Won't Love You Back by Sarah Jaffe

Your Life Could Use a Little More Danger

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Here’s how small, smart risks can boost your creativity and strengthen your relationships — at work and at home.

Act 1️⃣: Safe Danger by Ben Swire

Act 2️⃣: The Leader's Guide to Managing Risk by K. Scott Griffith

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The Story of Depression

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

A Cure for Darkness by Alex Riley
The Empire of Depression by Jonathan Sadowsky

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How to Break Up With Your Car

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

The surprising case for walking, cycling, community—and life after automobile overload.

Life After Cars by Sarah Goodyear, Doug Gordon, and Aaron Naparstek
Paved Paradise Henry Grabar

Where Intelligence Really Comes From

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Why simple neurons—and simple algorithms—can create minds far more complex than their parts.

Act One: The Emergent Mind by Gaurav Suri and Jay McClelland

Act Two: Journey of the Mind by Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam

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Want to Lead Better? Stop Being So Authentic.

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

We’ve all been told to bring our authentic selves to work, to be vulnerable, to share our truth. But what if all that authenticity is actually holding you back? What if the pressure to be yourself is keeping you from becoming the person you want to be?

Act One: Don't Be Yourself by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Act Two: Authentic by Jodi-Ann Burey

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Leading the Future of AI-Enhanced, On-Demand Work

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Now, if you run any kind of business, you know that finding the right talent can be one of your hardest problems. You can spend months recruiting, weeks interviewing, and then hope your new hire works out. But what if that whole model is becoming obsolete? What if, instead of hoarding talent, you could access exactly the expertise you need, exactly when you need it—and have a high-performing team assembled in minutes?

Melissa Valentine and Michael Bernstein are Stanford professors who've spent years studying the future of work, and their new book, Flash Teams: Leading the Future of AI-Enhanced, On-Demand Work, reveals how this radical shift is already happening. We’ll hear from them in just a moment. Then in the second half we’ll hear some Big ideas from the 2024 book Open Talent: Leveraging the Global Workforce to Solve Your Biggest Challenges by John Winsor and Jin Paik.

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Better Living Through Mindfulness

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Today, we're exploring two powerful books about transforming how we care for ourselves and show up for others. First, Sharon Salzberg, the renowned meditation teacher and New York Times bestselling author, joins us with key insights from her 2023 book Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom, a guide to recovering spaciousness and connection. Then, in the second half of the show, mindfulness teacher Shelly Tygielski will share how small acts of radical care can create global impact, as laid out in her 2021 book Sit Down to Rise Up.

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Your Thanksgiving Table Is Missing Something

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Why reviving ancient ingredients may be the key to healthier people and a healthier planet.

Act One: The Lost Supper by Taras Grescoe

Act Two: Dinner in Rome by Andreas Viestad

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How Running Can Unlock the Life You Didn’t Know You Had

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

First up, the Atlantic's CEO Nicholas Thompson on hidden potential, aging well, and pushing past the limits we imagine. Then we hear from Washington Post sportswriter Sally Jenkins, whose 2023 book The Right Call examines what the greatest coaches and athletes can teach us about work, leadership, and life.

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Why Talent Isn’t Enough: The Surprising Habits of Thriving Teams

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Act One: Team Intelligence by Jon Levy

Act Two: Come Up For Air by Nick Sonnenberg

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The Neuroscience of Loneliness: Why Your Brain Needs Real Connection

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Isolation stresses the body, shrinks empathy, and shortens life — and friends are biological medicine.

Act One: Why Brains Need Friends by Ben Rein

Act Two: How To Break Up With Your Friends by Erin Falconer

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How to Grow Old

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

First up, Sandeep Jauhar shares insights from his 2023 book, My Father's Brain, exploring his father's descent into Alzheimer's and revealing what neuroscience tells us about why our brains degenerate with age. Then, in the second half of the show, we'll hear a lighter take on aging from Steven Petrow, author of Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old.

The Art of Spending Money (Without Losing Your Mind)

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Morgan Housel explains why real wealth isn’t about what you buy but about what you appreciate. Then BU's Lawrence Kotlikoff offers practical financial tips.

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Strong Floor, No Ceiling: A New American Dream

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, Oliver B. Libby lays out a centrist blueprint to restore opportunity and rebuild trust. His new book is Strong Floor, No Ceiling. Then, in act two, we hear from Alissa Quart, author of the 2013 book Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream.

The Sentence That Built a Nation, According to Walter Isaacson

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Big news: The Next Big Idea Club just announced its nonfiction book pick of the season, and that book is The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, by Walter Isaacson.

If you’re not already a member of the Next Big Idea Club, you can join to get a signed copy of the book, an invitation to a member-only chat with Walter, and other great perks. To join for yourself, or to give a gift membership, go to NextBigIdeaClub.com.

And over at the Next Big Idea, you can hear an in-depth conversation between Walter and Rufus Griscom.

Stop Complaining About Gen Z. Start Leading Them.

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

This new generation of workers is different, and you can use that to your advantage.

1️⃣ The Future Begins with Z: Nine Strategies to Lead Generation Z as They Disrupt the Workplace by Tim Elmore

2️⃣ The Empathy Advantage: Leading the Empowered Workforce by Heather E. McGowan and Chris Shipley

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Living in the Shadow of AI

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

What does it mean to be human in a world that is increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence?

Act One: Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI by Madhumita Murgia

Act Two: AI Needs You: How We Can Change AI's Future and Save Our Own by Verity Harding

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We Are Eating the Earth

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Journalist Michael Grunwald explains how our food system is destroying the planet—and what it will take to fix it. Later, Amanda Little tells us what we'll eat in a bigger, hotter, smarter world.

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The Science of Fear—and How to Break Free From It

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Why do we fear the wrong things? We worry about plane crashes but not car rides, strangers but not algorithms, sharks but not sugar. In The Fear Knot: How Science, History, and Culture Shape Our Fears – and How to Get Unstuck, journalism professor Ruth DeFoster and neuroscientist Natashia Swalve explore why our brains evolved to fear what once kept us alive — but now often misleads us. The result is a timely, eye-opening look at how to separate fact from fear in a world that profits from keeping us anxious. In the second half of the show, we hear from Ellen Vora, author of the 2022 book The Anatomy of Anxiety.

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Are We Wired for War?

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

What if the battlefield isn’t just out there, but also inside our heads? In the new book Warhead: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain, neuroscientist Nicholas Wright draws on his experience advising the Pentagon and the British government to reveal how our brains are built for survival and strategy, in the office and on the battlefield. He shows that the same neural machinery that helps us cooperate, compete, and make moral choices also determines whether we wage war or choose peace. Then, in the second half of the show, we hear some key insights from the 2022 book The New Fire.

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How to Be Bold

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

First up, we hear from Ranjay Gulati, a Harvard Business School professor whose new book, How to Be Bold, reveals the surprising research on what makes ordinary people capable of brave acts. In the second half of the show, career coach Kathy Caprino shares five key insights from The Most Powerful You.

Let's Get Weird

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In her 2020 book Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World, Olga Khazan draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and sociology to explore what it means to be different, and why our quirks and peculiarities can be powerful assets rather than liabilities.

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How Will AI Transform Our Politics?

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Bruce Schneier is a security technologist at Harvard’s Kennedy School. Nathan Sanders is a data scientist at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center. They've been studying AI's impact on democratic institutions. Their new book is Rewiring Democracy.

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Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Food (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In Food Intelligence, health journalist Julia Belluz and nutrition scientist Kevin Hall deliver a comprehensive guide to food, diet, metabolism, and healthy eating.

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Why You Should Talk to Your Pet

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Have you ever named your car? Or caught yourself baby-talking to your cat like he’s a tiny human? You’re not alone, and there’s actually fascinating science behind why we do this. We anthropomorphize everything from our Roombas to our houseplants, but is this quirk helping or hurting us? Justin Gregg is an animal cognition researcher, a Senior Research Associate with the Dolphin Communication Project and an Adjunct Professor at St. Francis Xavier University. His new book, Humanish, explores what our tendency to humanize reveals about us—and why it might actually be one of our smartest habits.

Jim Cramer Says You Can Make Money in Any Market

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

The CNBC legend reveals why index funds won’t make you rich — and how to build lasting wealth by picking your own winning stocks. His new book is called How to Make Money in Any Market.

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How Everyday Communication Connects and Shapes Us

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Five key insights from The Social Biome by Andy Merolla and Jeffrey Hall.

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Why Does Everything Online Suck Now?

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Cory Doctorow calls it “enshittification.” Here’s how we got here, and how we can make the internet not terrible again.

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5 Lessons the Dying Can Teach Us About Living Well

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We often live like our time is limitless. But what if those who are facing the limits of life are the ones who really grasp what it’s all about? Diane Button has worked as a death doula for two decades, sitting beside people at the end of life and learning from their profound insights.

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How to Stop Negative Self-Talk from Running Your Team

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Every leader knows that as tough as it can be to manage others, the real challenge is managing yourself — your insecurities, your bad habits, your distracted thoughts. That’s why corporate consultants Suzy Burke, Ryan Berman, and Rhett Power have written a new book called Headamentals: How Leaders Can Crack Negative Self-Talk that helps you learn how to lead, starting with that most important workplace of all — the one inside your head.

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Stop Trying to Optimize Your Life

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Not every decision can be reduced to data. In Choose Wisely: Rationality, Ethics, and the Art of Decision-Making, Barry Schwartz and Richard Schuldenfrei argue that wisdom begins where the algorithm ends.

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Are You Cult Curious?

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Amanda Montell shares five key insights from her 2021 book Cultish.

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If the Economy’s So Good, Why Do We All Feel So Broke?

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The problem isn’t you: it’s the data. Gene Ludwig reveals how America’s economic scorecards mask widespread struggle.

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Digital Exhaustion: How to Reclaim Your Energy in an Always-On World

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Technology was supposed to make life easier. Instead, it’s draining our attention and creativity. Paul Leonardi is here to help you recharge.

Your Attention Is Being Hijacked. Here’s How to Take It Back.

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Does this sound familiar: You sit down to do some real focused work, and within minutes you’ve checked your phone, opened three browser tabs, and mentally planned your lunch — all without realizing it. Our attention doesn’t just wander anymore. It’s being quietly, relentlessly pulled apart by a world designed to fragment it, and most of us have forgotten what real focus even feels like. Zelana Montminy is a behavioral scientist who advises Fortune 500 companies and her new book is called Finding Focus: OwnYour Attention in an Age of Distraction.

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How to Build a Company That Lasts 100 Years

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

How do you build a company that lasts? It’s certainly not easy. About half of all small businesses fail within five years, and even large companies struggle to make it to the decade mark. So how do some businesses last for generations, even centuries? According to Eric Becker (The Long Game), founder and chairman of the wealth management firm Cresset, those companies, which he calls Centurions, have figured out how to play the long game.

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What Kind of Mood Are You In?

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Check out these big ideas from the 2020 book The Book of Moods: How I Turned My Worst Emotions Into My Best Life by Laura Martin.

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The World’s Changing Fast. Here's How to Keep Up.

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

It’s easy enough to celebrate “disruptive” technologies, but all that disruption can have a real human cost. Job loss, anxiety, environmental fallout — every major shift creates winners and losers. But today’s author says the upsides may be worth the turmoil. Scott D. Anthony is a clinical professor of strategy at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, and in his new book, Epic Disruptions, he looks back at the biggest technological upheavals in history — from the printing press to AI — to uncover patterns that can help us not just survive disruption, but thrive in it.

The Simple Formula for a Longer, Healthier Life

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Dr. Tom Frieden has spent his career on the front lines of public health, from leading the CDC during the Ebola crisis to running New York City’s Health Department. Now, as head of Resolve to Save Lives, he’s written The Formula for Better Health. Here’s the key idea: most of the health tragedies we fear — heart attacks, strokes, many cancers — are avoidable.

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How to Live and Lead by Your Core Values

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Finding alignment across work, relationships, and community starts with naming the values that steer you. Author, executive coach, and leadership educator Robert Glazer’s new book, The Compass Within, is a short fable about clarifying what matters and making choices that match.

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Multitasking Is a Lie. Delight Is a Superpower.

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

If you’ve ever caught your mind spiraling at 2 a.m., you know how it can feel to have your brain working against you. But what if you could train it to be your ally instead of your adversary? In How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend, author and neuroscientist Rachel Barr lays out a practical playbook for turning down the volume on unhelpful loops and turning up the habits that build clarity, calm, and positive momentum.

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Never Not Working

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The always-on culture is bad for business. Malissa Clark has a plan to fix it.

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The Hidden Logic of Your Emotions

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In his new book, Dealing with Feeling: Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want, Marc Brackett shows you how to turn emotional confusion into clarity.

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The Real Secret to Wealth? Think Long, Not Fast.

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

If you’ve ever had a few extra dollars lying around, you’ve probably been tempted—wisely, I’d say—to invest it. But where? How? David Gardner has spent three decades thinking about this. As the co-founder of The Motley Fool and the host of the Rule Breaker Investing podcast, David has built a track record of making shrewd market moves, along the way spotting companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Tesla long before they were household names. In his new book, Rule Breaker Investing, he offers guidance to let you do the same, helping you build lasting wealth.

You’re Not Traumatized. You’re Human

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but therapy-speak has gone mainstream. On social media, and in personal and professional communication, you might hear phrases like “I’m triggered,” “that’s my trauma,” “I’m being gaslit.” But as common as that kind of jargon is becoming, it’s not necessarily helpful, especially for those experiencing true mental illness. Joe Nucci is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and content creator whose new book, Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free, takes aim at the myths and misconceptions of therapy culture.

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You’re Thinking About the Future All Wrong

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AI is writing poems. Cars are driving themselves. It’s easy to think the future is already here. But it’s not. There’s much more coming. The question is: What kind? Flying cars and robot lovers? Social and environmental collapse? Nick Foster, a designer who’s worked with Apple, Dyson, and Google X, says our problem isn’t what’s coming next; it’s how we think about it. His new book, Could Should Might Don’t: How We Think About the Future, shows why better imagination leads to better outcomes.

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Do We Live in a Multiverse?

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The idea of parallel dimensions has long intrigued scientists and screenwriters alike, but how seriously should we take the concept? Here with some guidance is Paul Halpern, author of the 2023 book The Allure of the Multiverse: Extra Dimensions, Other Worlds, and Parallel Universes. Paul is a professor of physics at Saint Joseph’s University and the author of eighteen popular science books. He’s the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

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You're Being Manipulated. Here's How to Fight Back.

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Manipulation is everywhere: in ads, algorithms, politics, even workplace incentives. In the new book Manipulation: What It Is, Why It’s Bad, and What to Do About It by Harvard Law professor Cass Sunstein—one of the most cited legal scholars in the world—you’ll learn how subtle design choices and social pressures can hijack your autonomy, plus practical steps to spot and resist them in your feeds, at the store, and on the job.

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Money Lessons from the Presidents

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0000

We all know that money can be stressful, confusing, even a little embarrassing, and that applies to pretty much all of us, even the president of the United States. From Abraham Lincoln secretly stashing his paychecks to Gerald Ford’s side-hustle retirement, the financial lives of America’s leaders have been just as messy and fascinating as our own. In her new book, All the Presidents’ Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money, wealth manager and Forbes contributor Megan Gorman shows how the same dramas that hit our wallets have played out in the White House.

5 Things Only a Terrible Boss Can Teach You

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Have you ever had a bad boss? It's painful, but also kind of useful. Because every nightmare manager is basically handing you a playbook of what not to do. And if you pay attention, those horror stories can turn into leadership lessons. Mita Mallick offers such lessons in her new book The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn From Bad Bosses.

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How Common Knowledge Rules the World

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Today’s big ideas come to us from Harvard cognitive psychologist, public intellectual, and bestselling author Steven Pinker, who’s out with a new book called When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows… Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life. In it, he shows how public, shared awareness shapes everything from markets and politics to first dates and social media pile‑ons, and why understanding it can make you a sharper decision‑maker and a better collaborator.

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How to Make AI Work for You

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

When it comes to the AI revolution, do you want to be a follower or a leader? To stay ahead of the technology and use it to help your organization thrive, check out these big ideas from The AI-Savvy Leader: Nine Ways to Take Back Control and Make AI Work by David De Cremer.

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Fear is Your Co-Pilot

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

What could be more terrifying than flying an F-16 fighter jet at supersonic speeds, only feet away from other aircraft? Well, maybe public speaking. Or asking for a promotion. Or simply facing that inner voice that tells you you’re not good enough. Those are the fears Michelle "Mace" Curran needed to overcome. Michelle is an Air Force combat veteran who was also the lead solo pilot for the Thunderbirds, those flying daredevils at air shows. But as scary as all that sounds, in her new book The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower, Michelle reveals that the most paralyzing fears she encountered weren’t in the cockpit at all.

The Science Behind Your Need to Please

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

If you've ever been called a "people pleaser" or found yourself constantly putting others' needs before your own, what you're experiencing may actually be a trauma response called fawning. In the new book Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves--and How to Find Our Way Back, clinical psychologist Dr. Ingrid Clayton explains this often overlooked alternative to fight-flight-freeze, an effort to appease threats by trying to make oneself more appealing. Whether in relationships, work, or family dynamics, understanding this pattern can help you reclaim your voice and authentic self.

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Five Timeless Lessons for Building Riches and Joy

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

You may or may not know the name Naval Ravikant, but in Silicon Valley, he’s revered as both a sharp investor and a philosopher of modern life. Eric Jorgenson’s 2020 bestseller The Almanack of Naval Ravikant distills Naval’s wisdom on how to build wealth and happiness without depending on luck.

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We’re All Hallucinating. That’s a Good Thing.

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We like to believe our senses show us the world as it is. But what if your brain is quietly “editing” reality before you ever notice it? In his new book, A Trick of the Mind, psychologist and neuroscientist Daniel Yon explains how the brain builds theories about the world, other people, and even ourselves—and why understanding that process can change how we handle stress, conflict, and decision‑making.

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Is Earth Exceptional?

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Mario Livio, an astrophysicist who worked with the Hubble Space Telescope, and Jack Szostak, who won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine, take us inside the quest for cosmic life.

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Big Food Is Making Us Sick — and Getting Rich Doing It

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Food is supposed to nourish us, but what if the system that produces our food is actually making us sick? According to Stuart Gillespie, a veteran of global nutrition and development, that’s exactly what’s happening. He argues that Big Food has become a machine designed less to feed people than to maximize profit, leaving behind a trail of obesity, malnutrition, and environmental damage. But Stuart says there’s a way out. His new book is called Food Fight: From Plunder and Profit to People and Planet.

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We Need to Talk About Disney Adults

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

What would make a grown man or woman line up for hours to ride Space Mountain, spend thousands on collectible mouse ears, or plan their year around the release of a new Disney churro? AJ Wolfe reports. Her new book is Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture.

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You and We: A Leadership Call for Overcoming Divides in a Polarized World

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Could some of the most daunting problems of our time — division, conflict, and increasing isolation — stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of reality? That’s the provocative question at the heart of Jim Ferrell's new book, You and We: A Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership.

Written in the style of a business fable, like his previous bestsellers Leadership and Self-Deception and The Anatomy of Peace, the book weaves together science, philosophy, and decades of experience in organizational development to reveal a radically different way of seeing organizations — as networks of relationships. And the key to strengthening the relational fabric that holds us together lies not in individuals but in the space between them.

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The A.I. Will See You Now: Why Your Doctor's Days Are Numbered

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We’re used to hearing “the doctor will see you now,” but in the not-so-distant future, that doctor may not be human. That’s because human docs are prone to misdiagnosis, burnout, and bias — making our current healthcare system a leading cause of preventable death.

In Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us―and How AI Could Save Lives, medical researcher and philosopher Charlotte Blease makes the case that artificial intelligence could be the physician we need—more consistent, less prejudiced, and infinitely more resilient than the flesh-and-blood doctors we rely on today.

Introducing 'Totally Booked with Zibby'

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Today, we're sharing a recent episode from the Webby Award-winning, daily podcast Totally Booked with Zibby.

Hosted by Zibby Owens — the powerhouse bookstore owner and bestselling author dubbed "NYC's Most Powerful Book-fluencer" by Vulture — "Totally Booked" delivers interviews with the best, buzziest, and underrated authors to share work that’s truly worth your time.

In this episode, Adam Met — climate advocate, educator, and the “A” in the multi-Platinum band AJR — dives into his new book Amplify. Adam also reveals how his journey from indie musician to arena headliner taught him the secrets of building a passionate fanbase, which he now applies to activism, advocacy, and policy change.

For more episodes, follow "Totally Booked with Zibby" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. New episodes are released daily!

How to Make Friends and Keep Them

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Many of us struggle to maintain our friendships as careers, romance, and children take over. And making new friends as an adult can be downright impossible. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are concrete actions you can take to cultivate friendship at whatever stage of life you’re in. Marisa Franco explains how.

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Ambition Won’t Save You—Purpose Will

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

A former Navy SEAL commander shares why it’s not enough to run hard. You have to know where you’re going.

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When Good People Make Bad Teams

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

No matter how talented or diligent you are, your ultimate success depends on the people around you. In his new book The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups, organizational scientist Colin M. Fisher says it’s time to ditch the myth of the lone genius and focus on what really moves the needle: groups that work. Our curator Daniel Pink says the book is “essential reading for creators, builders, and leaders.”

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5 Aztec Secrets for a More Rooted, Resilient Life

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

When modern Americans go looking for meaning, happiness, or a little self-help, we often turn to ancient wisdom traditions like Buddhism or Stoicism. But those aren’t the only traditions worth listening to. Today’s author shines a light on another: the Aztecs. Sure, the great Mesoamerican empire is best known for its pyramids and, yes, its human sacrifices. But SUNY-Cortland philosophy professor Sebastian Purcell, PhD argues they also developed a surprisingly practical philosophy of daily life—one that says the best way to steady your mind is to begin with your surroundings, your habits, and your community.

The Dirtbag Billionaire Who Gave It All Away

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

What if the best way to win in business is to do the exact opposite of what everyone else is doing? While most CEOs chase growth at all costs, Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, chose a different path. Starting out as a rock climber and adventurer, when he pivoted to business, he built products to last, created a company culture where surfing sometimes mattered more than spreadsheets, and even risked profits to protect the planet. Then, in a move almost unheard of in corporate America, he gave the entire company away. In his new book Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away, New York Times journalist David Gelles tells the story of how a reluctant businessman reshaped capitalism—and shows us what it looks like to build a company that puts people and the planet first.

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The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Acclaimed chef and writer Andrew Friedman is here to introduce you to all the people and processes that come together in a single restaurant dish.

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The New Rules of Productivity

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

What does productivity mean to you? For most of us, it’s about squeezing more output from the same amount of input, getting more done in less time. But that definition is literally killing us, turning people into stress-soaked automatons on the edge of burnout. What if productivity could be more human—and more humane? That’s the promise of the MTR framework, which stands for Move, Think, Rest. In her new book, Move. Think. Rest.: Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship with Time, corporate advisor and strategist Natalie Nixon makes the case for a counterintuitive approach that puts creativity, reflection, and resilience at the center of how we work.

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The Most Dangerous Animal on Earth? The One That Forgot It’s an Animal.

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

You’ve probably been taught to believe you’re better than other animals. But that story is wrong, and it’s dangerous. NYU primatologist Christine Webb argues that human exceptionalism has blinded us to the intelligence all around us, and it’s fueling today’s biggest crises, from climate change to mass extinction. In her new book, The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters, Christine makes the case that humility —not hubris — may be our species’ best survival strategy.

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What Happens When AI Outsmarts Us?

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In his just-released book The Intelligence Explosion: When AI Beats Humans at Everything, James Barrat warns that we could be sleepwalking into a future where machines rapidly outpace human intelligence — a time fast approaching when we’ll no longer be the ones calling the shots.

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How to Turn Anxiety Into Your Superpower

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Anxiety can be painful and embarrassing, even downright debilitating. But author and podcaster Morra Aarons-Mele says it's also a force that you can use to your advantage. She's here today to teach you how.

Morra's most recent book is ⁠⁠The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower. And be sure to check out her podcast,⁠ The Anxious Achiever.⁠

Risk Forward

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

What if setting goals is a waste of time?

———

📖 Risk Forward: Embrace the Unknown and Unlock Your Hidden Genius

✍️ Victoria Labalme

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Here Comes The Sun. Just In Time.

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We’ve known about climate change for decades, even if most of the so-called solutions have felt too slow, too expensive, or too politically fraught. But pioneering environmentalist Bill McKibben says we’ve been overlooking the answer right in front of us, or rather right above us. The sun. In his new book, Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, Bill argues that solar power — once dismissed as niche and impractical — is now growing faster than any energy source in history. It’s cheap, it’s everywhere, and it’s the only solution that can scale quickly enough to meet the climate emergency.

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Blame the Babies: How Infants Sparked Human Speech

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Why are we so much chattier than other species? Madeleine Beekman has a surprising answer: blame the babies. Madeleine is professor emerita of evolutionary biology at the University of Sydney, and in her new book, The Origin of Language: How We Learned to Speak and Why, she explains that due to a series of evolutionary accidents, human infants were born so helpless that survival depended on coordinating care. Language, she argues, evolved as a kind of project-management system for baby-rearing. In other words, we didn’t start talking because we were geniuses; we started talking because we were exhausted parents.

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Drowning in Meetings, Emails, and Chaos? There's a Better Way to Work.

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

You’re busy. Your team is busy. Everyone’s working hard. But for all that effort, does it ever feel like not much actually gets done? According to today’s guests, the culprit usually isn’t laziness — it’s lousy workflow design. Emails that should’ve been meetings, meetings that should’ve been emails, and half-finished projects clogging the system. In their new book, There’s Got to Be a Better Way: How to Deliver Results and Get Rid of the Stuff That Gets in the Way of Real Work, MIT Sloan professors Nelson Repenning and Donald Kieffer show how smarter work design can cut through the clutter.

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There's Probably a Con Artist in Your Life Right Now. Here's How to Spot Them.

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Most of us like to think we could spot a con artist. But according to Emmy-winning television producer and investigative podcaster Johnathan Walton, the truth is much scarier: Scammers don’t look like strangers. They look like friends, neighbors, even soulmates. In his new book ⁠Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves⁠, Walton draws from his own jaw-dropping experience of being conned out of nearly $100,000 by someone he considered family. The good news? He turned that pain into purpose, and he’s here to help the rest of us avoid the same fate.

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How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Even in good office environments, there are inevitably colleagues who are challenging to deal with. But not dealing with them isn’t really a choice. Luckily, Amy Gallo is here to help. Her book is Getting Along.

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Want to Make Better Decisions? Pretend You’re Someone Else.

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Conventional wisdom says that great leaders roll up their sleeves, get in the trenches, and sweat the small stuff. But what if that’s only half the story? According to former nuclear submarine captain L. David Marquet and organizational psychologist Michael A. Gillespie, the real superpower of great leaders isn’t proximity — it’s distance. In their new book, Distancing: How Great Leaders Reframe to Make Better Decisions, they show that stepping back — psychologically, emotionally, imaginatively — helps leaders strip away bias, see what truly matters, and make smarter choices.

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The Hidden Cost of People-Pleasing

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Most of us worry about what others think of us. While this is probably a useful survival instinct, it can also turn into a kind of neurotic rumination, leading us to prioritize people-pleasing over our own needs. Why we do this, and how we can move past it, is the topic of the new book Are You Mad at Me?: How to Stop Focusing on What Others Think and Start Living for You by psychotherapist Meg Josephson.

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Want to Outsmart AI? Ask an Elite Soldier.

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We live in a complex world that’s only getting harder to navigate. The pace is faster, the problems are messier, and the future is tougher to predict. So how can your brain possibly keep up? Should we outsource everything to AI? Or is there a deeper, older intelligence we’re overlooking? That’s the question Angus Fletcher asks in his new book out today, Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know. Angus is a professor of story science at Ohio State’s Project Narrative, a consultant to U.S. Army Special Operations, and a leading thinker on how the human mind really works — and why our creative minds are a lot more powerful than we realize, even in the age of smart machines.

How to Run Your Life Like a Startup

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Happiness might not sound like a business strategy, but Arthur C. Brooks—Harvard professor, Atlantic columnist, and all-around happiness guru—says it’s the most important metric of all. In his new book The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life, Arthur argues that your life is a startup, and you’re the founder, CEO, and maybe even the unpaid intern. Which means you’ve got to manage your most important asset: yourself.

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How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

How can you break out of the endless cycle of blah and create the kind of interesting, meaningful life you seek?

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Anti-Aging Is Overrated. Joy Is the Real Fountain of Youth.

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

When we talk about aging, we often hear about lifespan (how long you live) or healthspan (how well you live). But what about joyspan? That’s the question gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight is asking in her new book by that name, Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half.

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Money Isn’t Real—Here’s Why That Matters

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Journalist Paul Vigna has spent years covering crypto and asking hard questions about finance. He’s written a new book called The Almightier: How Money Became God, Greed Became Virtue, and Debt Became Sin and in it he argues that money is less of a tool and more of a kind of religious object — a myth fueled by faith, weaponized by greed, and now so central to our lives that we barely question it. But maybe we should.

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That Little Voice in Your Head? It’s Smarter Than You Think.

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Do you ever just know something? You get a gut feeling about a person or a situation — a feeling you can’t quite explain, but more often than not happens to be right? It can feel like magic, but it’s actually neuroscience. Today, we’re hearing from behavioral scientist Laura Huang, author of You Already Know: The Science of Mastering Your Intuition. In the book, she explains that gut feelings are actually fast, subconscious calculations — your brain drawing on data, memory, and lived experience to make split-second judgments. And the best part? You can train it to be even better.

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Feel Like a Number? Learn How to Beat the System.

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In Robin Hood Math, mathematics professor Noah Giansiracusa shows how understanding a little math can help you push back against a world that keeps reducing you to a number.

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Reality Bites: Why Your Teeth Matter More Than You Think

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Author and zoologist Bill Schutt joins us to make the case that chompers have made vertebrates dominant on the planet, and how, in the future, dentists might be a dying breed.

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Arguing About Politics Never Works. This Does.

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In her new book Don’t Talk About Politics, Sarah Stein Lubrano explores a radical idea: that people don’t think their way into new beliefs — they live their way into them. If you want to shift hearts and minds, you’ve got to start with experiences, relationships, and community.

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Have a Head? Then You Should Understand Headaches.

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Despite affecting more people than diabetes or depression, headaches are still under-researched, underfunded, and often dismissed. But science is finally starting to catch up, and what it’s revealing might change the way you think about pain, the brain, and how we treat illness.

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Your Job Is Making You Sick

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Leadership expert and serial entrepreneur Meghan French Dunbar says the way we work isn’t just outdated — it’s dangerous. In her powerful new book, This Isn’t Working, she offers a new blueprint for building lives and workplaces that prioritize well-being over burnout, and meaning over metrics.

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Why Your Teen Thinks You’re an Idiot

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

If you’ve raised an adolescent (or been one), you already know it’s a life stage that can feel like an emotional rollercoaster—full of drama, defiance, and slammed doors. But what if all that chaos wasn’t a bug but a feature? Today we’re hearing from Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times journalist Matt Richtel, who says adolescence is a brilliant, necessary phase of human development. In his new book How We Grow Up, Matt explains how teenage brains are wired to question, rebel, and innovate—and how that friction might just be the thing that helps our species survive.

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You Are More Powerful Than You Think

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We all know what it looks like to use power badly. But how much do we really know about how to use power well?

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Want to Get Rich? Stop Taking Advice Meant for Millionaires.

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Nicholas Maggiulli is here to flip your concept of wealth on its head. In his new book The Wealth Ladder, he argues that building financial freedom isn’t about budgeting harder or dreaming bigger — it’s about recognizing where you are on the wealth spectrum, and then following the right strategy for that level. Whether you’ve got ten bucks in the bank or ten million, Nick has a plan to help you enjoy what you’ve got without risking your future.

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Want Better Relationships and More Focus? Try This Two-Minute Practice

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Today, we hear from Julian Treasure, a sound expert whose TED talks have racked up more than 160 million views. In his new book, Sound Affects: How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing, and Our Planet, he delivers a kind of public service announcement for your ears. Because sound isn’t just background noise — it’s shaping your health, your focus, your mood, even your spending habits. The good news? By becoming better listeners, we can improve almost every area of our lives.

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Why Your Team Sucks — And How to Fix It

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Organizational psychologist and University of New Hampshire professor Vanessa Urch Druskat has spent decades studying what separates the best teams from the rest. Spoiler: It’s not hiring superstars. It’s about creating emotionally intelligent norms.

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Take a Nap

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Neuroscientist Joseph Jebelli explains how doing nothing might be the best thing you do all day. His new book is The Brain at Rest: How the Art and Science of Doing Nothing Can Improve Your Life.

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Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Great Kids

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In When You Wonder, You're Learning, Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski bring the lessons of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood into the digital age, helping parents raise more creative, curious, and caring kids.

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Are You a Bad Listener?

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

You know that feeling when someone’s really listening to you, not just nodding while waiting to talk, but actually tuning in? It’s rare. In our noisy, fast-talking world, real listening has become a lost art. Emily Kasriel, a former BBC journalist and executive coach, wants to change that. In her new book Deep Listening: Transform Your Relationships with Family, Friends, and Foes, she explores how we can tune out the noise and truly tune into each other at work, at home, and across divides.

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How We Evolved to Compete in a Cooperative World

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In Invisible Rivals, Jonathan Goodman argues that the real story of human nature isn’t about picking sides: it’s about understanding how our ancient instincts for cooperation and competition are still playing out today.

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The Radical Power of Enjoying Your Job

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Bree Groff argues that fun isn’t frivolous. It’s the secret to better teams, better lives, and better business.

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Your Doctor Might Be Ignoring What’s Making You Sick

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

According to Wendy Johnson, real wellness starts with community, nature, and rethinking everything we’ve been told.

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The Elements of Meaningful Communication

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Fred Dust, former senior partner and global managing director at the legendary design firm IDEO, is here to teach you how to design conversations and meetings that are creative and impactful.

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The Surprising Truth About Shamans

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In his new book, Shamanism: The Timeless Religion, anthropologist Manvir Singh travels from Indonesian rainforests to Burning Man in search of what makes shamanic traditions so enduring — and so human. It turns out that when life feels uncertain, people everywhere still seek out ritual, healing, and a little magic.

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Reclaim Your Physical Power. Transform Your Life.

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Anne Marie Chaker went from journalist to competitive bodybuilder at 50. Now, with her book Lift, she wants to change how we think about aging, power, and what our bodies are capable of.

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Like, Get Over It Already

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The most hated word in English might just be a storytelling superpower—and a tool for empathy, nuance, and emotional truth.

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Human History on Drugs

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

When we talk about the forces that shape history, we usually hear about wars, revolutions, inventions… maybe the occasional love affair. But there’s one powerful force that’s rarely acknowledged—because, well, it makes people uncomfortable.

That force is drugs.

In his new book ⁠Human History on Drugs⁠, writer and historian Sam Kelly uncovers the surprising, often scandalous ways that everything from opium to cocaine has shaped leaders, inspired art, fueled some bad decisions—and some good ones. It’s a provocative and oddly humanizing look at the past, and it just might change the way you think about both history and substance use.

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The Pleasures of Suffering

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Celebrated psychologist Paul Bloom shares five key insights from his book The Sweet Spot.

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Who Designed Design?

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Once just a word, now a worldview — how a 20th-century invention came to shape everything from your phone to your future.

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Ambition is a Trap. Here's How to Get Out.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Ambition. We celebrate it, chase it, and reward it. But for many of us, ambition has become a double-edged sword—fueling overwork, perfectionism, and self-neglect. What if the problem isn’t having ambition, but where it’s coming from? Executive coach Amina AlTai has worked with everyone from Olympians to entrepreneurs, and in her new book The Ambition Trap: How to Stop Chasing and Start Living, she argues that we don’t need to give up ambition; we just need to reclaim it on our own terms.

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Magic Is Real—And It’s Living in Your Computer

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

How code became the most powerful spell humans have ever cast.

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Your Life Plan Fell Apart. Now What?

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Life changes can sneak up on all of us, and sometimes they hit pretty hard. Cassidy Krug spent 20 years training to be one of the best divers in the world. She made it to the Olympics. And then, in a single moment, her lifelong dream ended—with no medal, no encore, just the quiet shock of “What now?” Cassidy’s new book, Resurface, is a guide for anyone navigating life’s big transitions—grief, identity shifts, career changes, reinventions. In the book, she gathers wisdom from Olympians, veterans, new parents, and more. Below, she shares what she’s learned about letting go, asking for help, and redefining success.

Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Listening can be improved. Ximena Vengoechea is here to tell you how.

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Lean Learning

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:15:00 -0000

We live in a golden age of learning. Want to learn Mandarin? There’s an app for that. Want to write some code? There’s an AI chatbot that can help. Want to start a business, write a novel, fix your posture, or master the didgeridoo? Go to YouTube and you could start today. And that’s the problem. When you can learn anything, the temptation is to try learning everything. Entrepreneur and podcaster Pat Flynn says that’s the fast track to burnout and stagnation. In his new book, Lean Learning: How to Achieve More by Learning Less, he lays out a better way.

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Your Brain Is Broken. So Why Can't Anyone Fix It?

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:30:00 -0000

Antidepressants we don't understand. Cures that never arrive. One neuroscientist blows the whistle on a mental health system that's stuck—and she’s got a radical new plan to fix your brain.

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Ideas Are Easy. Now Comes the Hard Part.

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Let’s face it: ideas are a dime a dozen. Just about anyone can come up with a clever app, a market opportunity, or a product pitch over coffee. But building a real company? That’s the hard part. In her new book After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup, Harvard Business School faculty member Julia Austin offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to turn inspiration into a functioning business—and stay sane along the way.

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Your Brain on Revenge

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Let’s talk about revenge. Not the juicy, action-movie kind with flaming cars and dramatic showdowns, but the kind that quietly simmers in your brain long after someone cuts you off in traffic or sends a snarky email. According to Yale psychiatry lecturer and lawyer James Kimmel, Jr., revenge isn’t just an emotion. It’s an addiction. A hit of dopamine here, a rumination there, and suddenly we’re hooked on the fantasy of payback. But what if we could quit cold turkey? In his new book, The Science of Revenge, James explains how to rewire our minds, embrace forgiveness, and break free from the cycles of grievance that keep us stuck.

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No One Succeeds Alone

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Robert Reffkin, co-founder and CEO of the real estate company Compass, says his success story is really the story of his great relationships.

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You’re Not Too Old. You’re Just Getting Started.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

A formula for reigniting your purpose at any age, from the founder of Moms Demand Action.

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Your Brain Is Lying to You—And That's Actually Amazing

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Pria Anand reveals how our minds create elaborate stories to fill the gaps we don't understand.

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Ever Feel Like You Just Don’t Fit In?

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In a world where fitting in can seem critical to your survival, it’s worth asking: What if your power lies in not belonging? Psychiatrist Rami Kaminski thinks that sense of being an outsider isn’t a bug — it’s a feature.

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How to Raise Great Kids in a Messed-Up World

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer, shares research-backed strategies for parenting with compassion, curiosity, and resilience from her new book, Hello, Cruel World!: Science-Based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times.

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Nobody's Normal

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

To close out the week, here are five key insights from Roy Richard Grinker's book Nobody's Normal: How Culture Created the Stigma of Mental Illness.

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Work Less, Accomplish More

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Juliet Schor shares the data behind a shorter workweek—and why it’s better for your health, your boss, and the bottom line. Her new book is Four Days a Week.

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Six Minutes to End Civilization

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In a world armed to the teeth and governed by split-second decisions, Six Minutes to Winter by Mark Lynas makes a chilling argument for total nuclear disarmament — before it’s too late.

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Stop Being Bland. Start Being Memorable.

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Want to be more persuasive, inspiring, or just less forgettable? Today's episode has the tools to help you stand out.

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Sure, You're Smart — But What Kind of Smart?

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Travis Bradberry, author of The New Emotional Intelligence, argues that understanding and managing your emotions — and the emotions of others — is even more important than IQ when it comes to success at work and in life.

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Let's Get Touchy-Feely

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Think about the best relationships in your life, the ones where you can be completely yourself, speak honestly, and know the other person truly gets you. What if you could build more relationships like that — at home, at work, anywhere. That’s the promise of Connect, a book by Stanford professors Carole Robin and David Bradford, based on their legendary course in emotional intelligence. Turns out deeper connection isn’t some mysterious talent. It’s a learnable skill.

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Where’d My Money Go?

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In their new book, Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers, Brown University economists Mark Blyth and Nicolò Fraccaroli explain who wins, who loses, and—most importantly—how you can land on the right side of that equation.

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Unlock Your Inner Athlete

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In his new book, Ballistic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance, journalist Henry Abbott explores how cutting-edge sports science is rewriting what we know about movement, injury, and staying active — for life.

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The Ultimate Brain Hack? Talking.

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Turns out that speaking isn’t just a way of communicating important information and ideas. Psycholinguist Maryellen MacDonald says it's also good for you. Her new book is More Than Words.

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Where Were You During the AI Revolution?

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

If you want your organization to succeed in the future, you need to take advantage of AI now. Lucky for you, Adam Brotman and Andy Sack have written AI First, a playbook that can help you future-proof your business.

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The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

How do we decide what we want? By imitating other people, says Luke Burgis. His new book is Wanting.

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No New Things

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Want to save money, the planet, and your sanity? Sustainability expert Ashlee Piper says the answer is simple: stop buying things.

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How Noise Took Over the World — and How We Can Take It Back

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Chris Berdik reports on how our increasingly noisy world affects our health, well-being, and the planet. His new book is Clamor.
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How Women Revolutionized Modern Friendship

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Cultural historian Tiffany Watt Smith shares five key insights from her new book, Bad Friend.

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The Five Mindsets Every Leader Needs to Master

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The old rules of management don't work anymore. Today, Paula Davis, founder of the Stress & Resilience Institute, shares what smart leaders are doing instead. Her new book is ⁠Lead Well⁠.

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How to Get a Good Night's Sleep

Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Russell Foster, professor of circadian neuroscience at the University of Oxford, shares the new science of catching z's.

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The One Leadership Skill That Matters Most

Thu, 29 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Zach Mercurio shares insights from his new book, The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance.

Is AI a Con?

Wed, 28 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Linguist Emily M. Bender and sociologist Alex Hanna aren't feeling the AGI.

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The Neuroscience of Choice and Change

Tue, 27 May 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Emily Falk reveals the hidden calculations that shape our daily decisions ― and how to make more fulfilling, impactful choices in our work, relationships, and lives. Her new book is What We Value.

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Five Rules for Living a More Creative Life

Mon, 26 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Acclaimed poet Maggie Smith says everyone is creative — yes, even you.

📖 Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life

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The Power of Strangers

Fri, 23 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Joe Keohane on the benefits of connecting in a suspicious world.

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What Cultures Around the World Can Teach You About Parenting

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Marina Lopes's new book is Please Yell at My Kids.

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Taming the Molecule of More

Wed, 21 May 2025 11:45:00 -0000

Dopamine makes it easy to get stuck in a cycle of never being truly satisfied. It promises happiness, but can never deliver. A more fulfilling life begins with training your brain to overcome the dopamine chase. It’s easier than you think.

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Silicon Valley’s Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In his new book, More Everything Forever, science journalist Adam Becker investigates the wildly implausible and often profoundly immoral visions of tomorrow — and shows why, in reality, there is no good evidence that they will, or should, come to pass.

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The Psychology of Leadership

Mon, 19 May 2025 12:00:00 -0000

We're kicking off the week with a fresh take on leadership from Sébastien Page, chief investment officer at T. Rowe Price.

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A Conservative Case for Liberal Education

Fri, 16 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Not so long ago, conservative intellectuals believed universities were worth fighting for. Today, conservatives seem more inclined to burn them down. Today on the show, conservative political theorist and professor Jonathan Marks makes the case that liberal education is an antidote to this despair, because the true purpose of college is to encourage people to be reasonable.

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The Ideological Brain

Thu, 15 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

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How to Live Forever. Well, Almost Forever.

Wed, 14 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Eric Topol is the executive vice president and a professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research, the largest nonprofit biomedical institute in the United States. He is also a practicing cardiologist and one of the ten most-cited medical researchers. His new book is Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity.

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The Navy SEAL Way to Turn Stress into Success

Tue, 13 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Retired Navy SEAL commander and performance expert Rich Diviney reveals a revolutionary method for training individuals and teams to perform at their best, no matter what.

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A Playbook for Building the Future

Mon, 12 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Today, we hear from Jake Knapp, the guy who helped build Gmail, about his new book, Click. It's an innovative guide for starting big projects the smart way.

Raising Calm Kids in a World of Worry

Fri, 09 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Kids today are more susceptible than ever to anxiety and stress. Fortunately, there are ways to help.

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The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift

Thu, 08 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Taylor Swift isn’t just a once-in-a-generation talent. She's also a brilliant businesswoman, says Harvard Business Review editor Kevin Evers, whose career is a masterclass in brand-building, audience engagement, and tactical reinvention.

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How to Fall in Love with Questions

Wed, 07 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

A new way to thrive in times of uncertainty.

📕 How to Fall in Love with Questions by Elizabeth Weingarten

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How to Be Unforgettable

Tue, 06 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Are you an ambitious hard worker and high achiever ― but feeling stuck, unseen, and struggling to advance in your career? Lorraine K. Lee can help you change that.

📕 Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career

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Are You Mentally Fit?

Mon, 05 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Drew Ramsey wants us to approach mental fitness the way we approach physical fitness. Today, he shares his training regimen.

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Bears!

Fri, 02 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Teddy bears. Paddington. Winnie-the-Pooh. Somewhere along the way, bears wandered out of the wilderness and straight into our imaginations — and our hearts. But outside of the storybooks, the remaining species of bear face a difficult reality: shrinking habitats, poaching, and deadly encounters with our species. Reuters journalist Gloria Dickie explores that reality in the book Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future.

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Economic Cheat Codes for Life

Thu, 01 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, shares some big ideas from her new book, Hate the Game.

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Put Some Muscle Into It

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Bonnie Tsui, longtime contributor to The New York Times, shares key insights from her new book On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters.

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The Only Job Search Advice You'll Ever Need

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Madeline Mann's new book is Reverse the Search: How to Turn Job Seeking into Job Shopping.

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How to Be a Grown Up

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Adulting is hard. Lucky for us Raffi Grinberg, author of How to Be a Grown Up, is here to help.

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Life Is Unpredictable. Here's How to Thrive Anyway.

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Sir David Spiegelhalter offers a data-driven guide to managing risk and uncertainty.

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On Privacy

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In an age of constant connectivity, privacy can feel like a relic of the past. But Lawrence Cappello says it's vital for free societies and essential for a fulfilling life.

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Do You Have the 'Wild Courage' to Go After What You Want?

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

After nearly two decades at Google, where she went from entry-level to executive and helped generate billions in revenue, Jenny Wood realized the secret to success isn’t being nice, modest, or agreeable—it actually might call for being a little bit selfish, a little bit shameless, and just manipulative enough to get what you want.

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How to Bring Out the Best in Others — And Yourself

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Sabina Nawaz is the author of You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need).

A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Laura Delano spent fourteen years under psychiatric care, working with a variety of diagnosed mental illnesses and trying every drug and therapy that promised to “fix” her. But eventually she started wondering what if the problem wasn’t in her brain, but in the system itself?

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Should We Turn Down the Sun?

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Science writer Thomas Ramge makes the case for geoengineering.

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Stop Letting Conflict Get the Better of You

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Two former Harvard faculty members join forces to introduce conflict resilience: the radical act of sitting in and growing from conflict to break the bad habits that sabotage our politics, workplaces, and most important relationships.

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How to Menopause

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Emmy award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Tamsen Fadal on how to take midlife into your own hands.

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Why Are So Many Americans Behind Bars?

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Benjamin Weber is a historian at the University of California, Davis. His new book is American Purgatory: Prison Imperialism and the Rise of Mass Incarceration.

Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

How to start, build, buy, scale, and sell a business that expands your life.

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Achieve Big Change With Small Acts

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Stanford's Greg Walton is here to tell us about the ordinary experiences that can help us set aside the ordinary worries of life and unleash extraordinary change.

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Who Invented Bitcoin?

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Journalist Benjamin Wallace on his quest to unmask the mysterious inventory of crypto.

🎙️ Check out a longer interview with Benjamin here

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A Journey Through Anxiety and the Body

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Alexandra Shaker on how you can transform anxiety into resilience, courage, or even creativity.

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Why Introverts Make the Best Networkers

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

One of the biggest myths in business is that your ability to network depends on having the “gift of gab.” But Matthew Pollard argues that when it comes to networking, introverts—not extroverts—have the edge.

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Reinventing the American Dream

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

To thrive in this day and age, smaller cities must create innovation economies. But how can they do that when tech jobs, venture capital, and R&D are concentrated in a handful of big coastal cities, while the broad middle of the country is left out? That's a problem. Nicholas Lalla, founder of Tulsa Innovation Labs, has big ideas for how to change it.

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Do Elite Colleges Divide Us?

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Evan Mandery, a professor at the City University of New York, argues that elite colleges don't fight the inequality — they create it.

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A Reporter Reflects on a Life Spent 'Chasing Hope'

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

From New York Times columnist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas Kristof shares what he's learned from a life in journalism. (This episode first aired in September 2024.)

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Space Oddities

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Something strange is going on in the cosmos. Scientists are uncovering a catalogue of weird phenomena that simply can’t be explained by our long-established theories of the universe. Harry Cliff reports.

(This episode first aired in June 2024.)

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Do You Have the Explorer's Gene?

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

New York Times-bestselling author Alex Hutchinson shares a fresh perspective on how exploration, uncertainty, and risk shape our behavior and help us find meaning.

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The Secret to Lasting Change

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Caroline Fleck shares five big ideas from her new book, "Validation: How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life."

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How to Love Better

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Yung Pueblo offers a blueprint for deepening your compassion, kindness, and gratitude so you can truly grow in harmony with another person and build stronger connections in all your relationships.

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Men, Women, and the Space Between Us

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Jennifer Finney Boylan shares five big ideas from her new book "Cleavage."

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Do You Know How to Manage Up?

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Melody Wilding has helped thousands of clients advocate for their needs at work while navigating the minefield of office politics. Today, she's here to help you.

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The Science and Promise of Personality Change

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Is it possible to change your entire personality in a year? An award-winning journalist experiments with her own personality to find out.

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How to Find Your ‘Sleep Groove’

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Sleep researcher Olivia Walch on why your body’s clock is so messed up and what to do about it.

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The Science of Conversation

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Alison Wood Brooks, a celebrated Harvard Business School professor and leading expert on the psychology of conversation, shares easy tips that will make you a better conversationalist.

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A Guide to Living a Meaningful Life

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Psychologist Steven Heine on how to overcome angst and live life with purpose.

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How Neuroscience and Mysticism Can Unlock the Secrets of Consciousness

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Cognitive scientist Vladimir Miskovic and psychologist Steven Jay Lynn have teamed up to write a new book called Dreaming Reality, blending their perspectives to answer the question: what is consciousness?

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The Power Code

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Power is not working — for women, for men, or for the world. Today, big ideas from Katty Kay and Claire Shipman on how to remake power in a way that benefits everyone.

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What Can AI Really Do?

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Two of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI share what you need to know about AI — and how to defend yourself against bogus AI claims and products.

📕 AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference by Arvind Narayanan & Sayash Kapoor

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Beyond Anxiety

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Bestselling author and life coach Martha Beck explains how to turn worry into creativity.

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How to Prepare for a Wildfire

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Nick Mott and Justin Angle have written a practical guide for living with wildfire, including essential history and science, actions you can take to protect your home, and guiding principles for life in an increasingly fiery future. Today, Nick joins us to share a few big ideas from the book.

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Can Microdosing Enhance Your Health?

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Five key insights from "Microdosing for Health, Healing, and Enhanced Performance" by James Fadiman and Jordan Gruber.

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The Small Shifts That Lead to Big Change

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Anne-Laure Le Cunff shows how an experimental mindset can turn challenges into self-discovery and doubt into opportunity.

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Inside the Messy, Unstoppable Transition to EVs

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Electric vehicles are here to stay. What does that mean for the automotive industry, the world, and you?

📕 Inevitable by Mike Colias

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The Key to a Good Diet

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

For the last few years, philosopher Julian Baggini has been exploring the hidden forces that shape our food choices — from the debates over organic vs. conventional farming to the global inequalities baked into our supply chains to the science of the optimal diet. He joins us to share a few key insights from his book How the World Eats.

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Think You’re Too Smart to Fall for a Scam? Think Again.

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

What makes perps tick, victims so gullible, and whistleblowers so morally righteous? Kelly Richmond Pope reports. Her book is “Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion-Dollar Fraud Industry.”

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Can the Stress of Loss Be an Opportunity for Healing?

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In The Grieving Body, Grief expert and neuroscientist Mary-Frances O’Connor shows the impact grief — and life’s other major stressors — can have on the human body, both good and bad.

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How Innovation Happens at Microsoft

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Microsoft insiders Dean Carignan and JoAnn Garbin explain how the tech giant has managed to stay at the forefront of innovation for half a century.

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How to Move from Surviving to Thriving

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Steve Magness shares five key insights from his new book "Win the Inside Game."

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How Hollywood’s Biggest Flops Changed Film History

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Tim Robey tells an alternate history of Hollywood, starring misunderstood masterpieces, disastrous sequels, and catastrophic literary adaptations. Turns out Tinseltown’s biggest blunders reveal a lot about the fragile alchemy of movie magic.

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The Art of Healthy Arrogance

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Will Packer is the author of "Who Better Than You?"

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The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Management professor and communication expert Andrew Brodsky shares his framework for navigating the digital workplace.

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Unlearning Bad Ideas About How to Be a Good Mom

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Nancy Reddy, an award-winning writer and professor, shares a few key insights from "The Good Mother Myth."

How to Break Up With Your Phone

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Let’s face it — your relationship with your phone is toxic. Luckily, Catherine Price is here to help.

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The Boys Are Not All Right

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Boys and men are struggling. What should we do about it?

📕 Of Boys and Men by Richard Reeves

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How to Help Your Kids Learn, Live, and Feel Better

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Have a teen who's checked out, stressed out, or both? Then this episode is for you. Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop have spent the last five years investigating why so many children lose their love of learning in adolescence. The result is "The Disengaged Teen," a book that Adam Grant calls "an engaging, evidence-based, and practical read about how to develop a generation of lifelong learners.”

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Can You Upgrade Your Brain in 15 Minutes a Day?

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Today, Elizabeth Ricker, an MIT and Harvard-trained brain researcher turned Silicon Valley technologist, shows you how a few minutes of neurohacking can help you work better, think faster, and get more done.

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It's Cool to Be Kind

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Graham Allcott argues the key to success is kindness.

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Jay Shetty’s Rules of Love

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Valentine’s Day is behind us, but don’t let your relationship slip into screensaver mode. Relationships need ongoing attention and care. That’s why we’ve invited Jay Shetty — author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Think Like a Monk and host of the hit podcast On Purpose — to share insights from his latest book, 8 Rules of Love. Get ready for practical advice that will keep your love life vibrant all year long.

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Autonomy, Connection, and Why We Need Both to Find Happiness

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether you’re celebrating with roses or rolling your eyes at all that lovey-dovey stuff, it's a good time to reflect on an essential truth: we are wired for connection. To explain more about that evolutionary need — and how, along with autonomy, it's the pathway to happiness — we're joined by William von Hippel, author of "The Social Paradox."

📕 Preorder William's book here

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How the Competition in Space Will Change Our World

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Today: Tim Marshall, author of the new book "The Future of Geography."

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Is Climate Change Messing With Your Brain?

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Recovering neuroscientist Clayton Page Aldern stops by to share a few key insights from his book "The Weight of Nature: How a Changing Climate Changes Our Brains."

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The New Rules of Persuasion in Business and Life

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Leslie Zane shares five key insights from her new book "The Power of Instinct: The New Rules of Persuasion in Business and Life."

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Does AI Have Rights?

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Philosopher Jeff Sebo calls for a revolution in ethics, suggesting we expand our “moral circle” to everything from insects to AI.

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How Optimists Change the World, and How You Can Be One

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

You don’t have to be naturally optimistic to benefit from the power of positivity. You just have to follow these five easy steps.

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We Can Win the Fight Against Climate Change. Here's How.

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Investor, activist, and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer shares five key insights from his new book "Cheaper, Faster, Better."

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The Path to Inspired Leadership

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Social psychologist and leadership expert Adam Galinsky says there are two kinds of leaders: those who inspire and those who infuriate. Which will you be?

📕 Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others

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What's Your Hidden Genius?

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The key to a fulfilling and successful life isn’t just about passion or hard work — it’s about understanding and harnessing your innate aptitudes.

📕 Your Hidden Genius by Betsy Wills and Alex Ellison

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Technology Is Tearing Us Apart

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Faster, easier communication was supposed to make the world better. Instead, it made us miserable. How did we get here, and what can we do about it? For answers, we turn to Nicholas Carr, author of the new book “Superbloom.”

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How to Be Enough

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Clinical psychologist Ellen Hendriksen on how to be good to yourself.

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The Transformative Power of Inclusion

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Anne Chow, the former CEO of AT&T Business, shares a new approach to inclusive leadership that goes beyond DEI.

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The DOSE Effect

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Neuroscientist TJ Power provides a powerful framework for enhancing your quality of life through the regulation of four key hormones: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins (DOSE).

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Throw Away Your Budget

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Today, five big ideas from "You Don’t Need a Budget: Stop Worrying About Debt, Spend Without Shame, and Manage Money with Ease" by Dana Miranda.

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Are Algorithms Controlling Your Mind?

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Algorithms have penetrated the most intimate aspects of our psychology. Here’s what you can do about it.

📕 Mindmasters: The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior by Sandra Matz

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Strategies for More Meaningful Connection

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

To close out the week, we're joined by Natalie Kerr and Jaime Kurtz, who are going to share five key insights from their book "Our New Social Life: Science-Backed Strategies for Creating Meaningful Connection."

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You Should Probably Buy Some Plants

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

From the remarkable power of flowers to the surprising health effects of touching wood or smelling lavender, Kathy Willis blends cutting-edge research with practical advice to help us tap into the healing power of the natural world.

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How to Lead in a Fast-Changing World

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Steve Dennis has held senior leadership roles at two Fortune 500 companies. He shares what he learned in "Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption."

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Can We Settle Space? Should We?

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Kelly Weinersmith and her husband Zach set out to write the essential guide to a glorious future of space settlements. After years of research, they aren’t so sure it’s a good idea.

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How Americans Made the Black-White Wealth Gap

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Why has so little progress been made on the wealth gap?

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Public Speaking Made Simple

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Michael Chad Hoeppner has coached presidential candidates, prominent CEOs, and Ivy League deans on their communication skills. Now he's going to share his wide‑ranging knowledge with you.

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Pay the People!

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Seventy percent of the U.S. economy relies on consumer demand, yet nearly 40 percent of Americans earn less than the cost of living. John Driscoll wants to change that.

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How Neuroscience Is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Health and science journalist Chelsea Conaboy explodes the concept of “maternal instinct” and tells a new story about what it means to become a parent.

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Benjamin Franklin's Electric Mind

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The dramatic story of an ingenious man who explained nature and created a country.

📕 Ingenious: A Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Scientist

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How to Build Extraordinary Wealth Buying Ordinary Businesses

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Forget flashy startups — the real path to wealth is buying the local car wash. Today, former Wall Street investor Codie Sanchez reveals how acquiring unsexy but profitable businesses can build more reliable wealth than chasing the next unicorn.

📕 Main Street Millionaire

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Other People's Words

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

When a loved one dies, can their words live on?

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Should We Go Extinct?

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The title says it all.

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Red, White, and Taboo: America's Sexual History

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

American history is kinkier than you think.

📕 Fierce Desires by Rebecca L. Davis

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Custodians of Wonder

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Eliot Stein, journalist and editor at BBC Travel, has traveled the globe in search of remarkable people who are preserving some of our most extraordinary cultural rites. Today, he shares their stories.

📕 Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive

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You Need an Editor

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Want to write emails people will actually read? Author Jenn Bane is here to show you how. Her new book, which she co-wrote with Melissa Harris, is “Everybody Needs an Editor: The Essential Guide to Clear and Effective Writing.”

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What You Learn From Losing Everything

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

A storage unit fire destroyed everything Helen Chandler-Wilde owned and forced her to re-evaluate her relationship with material things.

Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Patrick Hutchison quit his office job and moved to a cabin in the woods. Here's what he learned.

Are We Living in an Age of Magical Overthinking?

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Why does living in the so-called Information Age only seem to make life more confusing? Amanda Montell has some surprising answers.

Best Of: No-BS Secrets to Success

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Jim VandeHei co-founded two highly influential news outlets, Politico and Axios. But as he explains in today's episode, his path to success was far from straightforward.

Best Of: How to Get Unstuck

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Adam Alter, author of "Anatomy of a Breakthrough," offers up a groundbreaking guide to breaking free from the thoughts, habits, jobs, relationships, and business models that are preventing you from achieving your full potential.

Best Of: An Ugly Sweater’s Hidden Wisdom

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In the early days of the Covid lockdown, many of us took up new hobbies, like playing guitar or baking bread. But Peggy Orenstein went a little further. A lifelong knitter, Peggy decided to try making a sweater from scratch. She taught herself to shear sheep, spin and dye yarn, and other skills. The surprising life lessons she learned are the subject of her new book, "Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World's Ugliest Sweater."

Best Of: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation and former administrator of President Barack Obama’s United States Agency for International Development, shares a dynamic new model for creating large-scale change.

Best Of: Anyone Can Become a Supercommunicator — Even You

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Charles Duhigg, the bestselling author of "Power of Habit," is on the show today to explain what marital spats, NASA interviews, and gun rights debates can teach us about effective communication. His new book is "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection."

Best Of: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Katherine May, the New York Times–bestselling author of Wintering, invites us to rediscover the feelings of awe and wonder available to us all.

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A Curious History of the Gut

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Elsa Richardson shares five big ideas from her book "Rumbles: A Curious History of the Gut."

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Can You Save Civilization by Getting Married?

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Nothing predicts happiness better than a good marriage, says University of Virginia sociologist Brad Wilcox.

What Do We Owe Animals?

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Brandon Keim shares a few big ideas from his new book "Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human World."

Escaping the Toxic Productivity Trap

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

If you've ever wondered, "When will it feel like I've done enough?" this episode is for you.

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The Career Advice You Really Need

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Three innovators offer a road-tested framework for career development that helps anyone make real progress on their path when they switch jobs.

How to Winter

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

It’s the winter solstice this week, which means we have officially hit the darkest time of the year. But dark doesn’t have to mean bleak. That’s the premise of “How To Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days,” a new book by Stanford-trained social psychologist Kari Leibowitz, who joins us today to share a few warming tips on how to beat the wintertime blues.

Are You Playing It Safe? Stop That.

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Chase Jarvis shares five big ideas from Never Play It Safe.

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"Playing from the Rough" by Jimmie James

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

When Jimmie James set out to become the first person to play all of America’s 100 greatest golf courses in a single year, he came face to face with the gulf between his impoverished childhood in the Jim Crow South and the successful executive he became.

The Surprising Biology of the Seven Deadly Sins

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

What if the seven deadly sins aren't moral failings? What if, instead, they're biological functions that humans need to survive?

📕 Seven Deadly Sins: The Biology of Being Human by Guy Leschziner

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How to Be a Likeable Badass

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, key insights from Alison Fragale's "Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve," a book that our curator Daniel Pink says "shatters the conventional wisdom about power, status, and the path to professional success."

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A Woodworker's Guide to Life

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, master woodworker Callum Robinson on craft, history, family, and our relationship with the natural world.

📕 Ingrained: The Making of a Craftsman

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Let's Talk About Sex, Baby

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

We all deserve great sex, according to relationship therapist Dr. Emily Jamea. And she joins us today to share the latest science on how to achieve it.

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How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

A lot has been written about the downsides of tribalism, but could the forces that separate people also help build stronger teams and communities?

The Wellness Trap

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

What if modern wellness culture is standing in the way of true well-being?

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How the James Webb Telescope Unlocked the Secrets of the Cosmos

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

A $10 billion marvel of human ingenuity is rewriting the cosmic narrative right before our eyes.

***

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Is Your Job a Good Fit?

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0000

You’re probably used to looking for so-called good jobs and avoiding bad ones, but we might be better off looking for jobs that fit, that are a good match for our talents and personality. This approach would be better for employers and employees alike, according to Andre Martin, author of “Wrong Fit, Right Fit: Why How We Work Matters More Than Ever.”

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The Wisdom and Wonder of Uncertainty

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Google searches for "uncertainty" are at a five-year high, so it seems like the right time to revisit "Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure" by Maggie Jackson. One thing we are certain of? This is a great book. And don't just take our word for it. Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink named it one of the eight best books published last year.

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From Hot Takes to Handshakes: A Thanksgiving Survival Guide

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! To celebrate, we’re bringing back Ian Leslie, a columnist for the New Statesman, who’s going to teach us how to transform the heat of conflict, disagreement, and argument into the light of insight, creativity, and connection.

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Happiness That You Can Eat

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

James Beard Award-winner Rowan Jacobsen on the surprising history and magical properties of chocolate.

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What Would Socrates Do?

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

What can the father of Western philosophy teach us about how to live today? A great deal, according to Donald J. Robertson, author of the new book "How to Think Like Socrates: Ancient Philosophy as a Way of Life in the Modern World."

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How to Find Work That Works for You

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

A psychologist’s guide to finding your most fulfilling job yet.

📕 Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You by Tessa West

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Is Marriage Still Relevant?

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Allison Raskin's new book is "I Do (I Think): Conversations About Modern Marriage."

The Urban-Rural Divide Is Smaller Than You Think

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, a public policy professor at USC, has spent years studying small-town America. What she's learned may surprise you.

📕 The Overlooked Americans

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How Economics Explains the World

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Andrew Leigh, a former professor of economics and current member of Australia's parliament, shares key insights from his timely new book How Economics Explains the World: A Short History of Humanity.

A Brief History of the Female Body

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In "A Brief History of the Female Body," Dr. Deena Emera draws on her vast expertise as a biologist, her experience as a mother, and her love of teaching to look far into our evolutionary past, illuminating how and why the female form has transformed over millions of years and its effects on women's health.

How to Achieve Financial Freedom Without Sacrificing What Matters Most

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Most entrepreneurs start a business seeking freedom but end up in a prison of hundred-hour workweeks isolated from their loved ones. Today: a guide for how to do entrepreneurship differently — letting go of the hustle and embracing a family-first mindset instead.

Is Technology the World's Most Powerful Religion?

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, we're joined by Greg Epstein, Harvard and MIT's humanist chaplain, who shares a few key insights from his new book Tech Agnostic.

Mastering AI: A Survival Guide to Our Superpowered Future

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Award-winning journalist Jeremy Kahn shares his advice for staying on the right side of the AI revolution.

Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

A blueprint for a better future that offers a unified theory of human behavior, culture, and society.

📖 A Theory of Everyone by Michael Muthukrishna

A Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

As an assistant professor, practicing psychiatrist, university wellness leader, and regular media expert, Jessi Gold was used to constant busyness. But when mental exhaustion led her to commit an unthinkable error during a patient session, she was forced to reevaluate everything that the medical system taught her.

📖 How Do You Feel?: One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine

Your Journey to Financial Freedom

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Jamila Souffrant offers a step-by-step guide to achieving wealth and happiness.

What We Miss in Our Pursuit of the Good Life

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Happiness and meaning are usually seen as the two keys to the good life. But there's a third. Lorraine Besser is here to tell us more.

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The Psychology Behind America's Political Divide

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Can we find a way to mend the personal bonds that are fraying for so many of us?

📕 Good Reasonable People: The Psychology Behind America's Dangerous Divide by Keith Payne

'The Art of Verbal Warfare' by Rik Smits

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Value judgments, cultural relativism, and other conversation killers.

Can You Make Your Anxiety Work for You?

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

It's the most stressful day of the year! To help us stay calm, we're bringing in renowned psychologist Wendy Suzuki to share a few tips from her book "Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion."

🎙️ Check out Wendy's interview on our sister podcast, The Next Big Idea, here

Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Women in this country lag behind men according to most economic measures. Why this is and how to change it is the subject of the recent book "Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy" by Naomi Cahn, June Carbone, and Nancy Levit.

Mastering the Art of Conscious Conversations

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0000

We live in conversations like fish live in water. Here's how to become a better swimmer — er, talker.

📕 The Art of Conscious Conversations: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact by Chuck Wisner

The Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Sharon McMahon shares a few inspiring stories from her new book, "The Small and the Mighty," a #1 New York Times bestseller.

Who Owns Your Face?

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Kashmir Hill, a reporter at the New York Times, shares the story of a small AI company that gave facial recognition to law enforcement, billionaires, and businesses, threatening to end privacy as we know it.

The Science of Paternal Potential

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Most male mammals, including our closest primate relatives, barely participate in childcare. So why do at least some human men do a marginally better job? Here to explain is James Rilling, author of the new book "Father Nature."

Seth Godin's Advice for Making Better Plans

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Seth Godin is one of the world's most influential business thinkers. Today, he shares five key insights from his brand new book "This Is Strategy."

Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Oliver Burkeman has been called a self-help guru for people who make fun of self-help. He joins us today to share five key insights from his new book "Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts."

A Journey into the Heart of American Democracy

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Frank Barry takes us on a thought-provoking journey into the heart of our democracy and the soul of our country. His new book is "Back Roads and Better Angels."

AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Rival CEOs. A race to build god-like machines. What could go wrong? In "Supremacy," Bloomberg's Parmy Olson shares the thrilling (and sometimes chilling) story of Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, and the battle to create our future.

Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The human brain hasn't changed much since the Stone Age, which is why it's so poorly equipped to resist modern technology. But don't despair. Renowned neuroscientist Richard Cytowic is here to offer compelling evidence that we can change the way we use technology, resist its addictive power over us, and regain the control we have lost.

⏳ Want to supercharge your productivity in under an hour? Check out the podclass we made with Cal Newport

How to Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Happy Monday! To kick off the week, we're joined by Kendra Adachi, who's here to teach you how to be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Rediscover Calm in a Chaotic World

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Start your weekend with a little mindfulness...

📕 Deeper Mindfulness: The New Way to Rediscover Calm in a Chaotic World by Mark Williams & Danny Penman

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How to Be a Happy High Achiever

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Clinical psychologist Mary Anderson shares a road map ambitious people can follow to transform chronic stress and anxiety into sustainable happiness and success.

Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Earlier this week, MIT's Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson were awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for their groundbreaking research on how institutions influence economic development and the historical roots of economic inequalities. But we at the Next Big Idea Club were into these guys over a year ago when we featured Daron and Simon's book "Power and Progress." To celebrate their Nobel, we thought we'd bring Simon back to share the big ideas from that book.

How to Transform Your Daily Grind and Achieve a Better Life

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

American work isn’t working. Brigid Schulte is here to change that.

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The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Rebecca Nagle has written for the Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and Indian Country Today. She hosts the celebrated podcast This Land. Her new book is By the Fire We Carry.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

What if the Problem Isn’t Your Partner―It’s Stress?

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

It's Friday. You made it. But before you get into weekend mode, check out these key insights from Elizabeth Earnshaw, author of the new book 'Til Stress Do Us Part: How to Heal the #1 Issue in Our Relationships. She says stress is often at the root of relationship problems, but lucky for us, she has advice for how to cope with it.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, some key insights from Total Garbage, a new book by Edward Humes about the waste embedded in our daily lives.

Why Are We Obsessed With Human Origins?

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Stefanos Geroulanos, an eminent historian, tells the story of how we came to obsess over the origins of humanity ― and how, for three centuries, ideas of prehistory have been used to justify devastating violence against others.

🎟️ To learn more about our Oct. 10 event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss, visit https://nextbigideaclub.com/events

How to Optimize Your Brain and Transform the Way You Work

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Mithu Storoni isn't just an eye surgeon and neuroscience researcher; she's also an expert in how to get your brain working at peak efficiency. Today, she shares a few performance-enhancing tips with us.

How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Tyler Cowen, one of the world's most respected economists, shares how to spot, assess, woo, and retain highly talented people.

Life Lessons From Kierkegaard

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, we're straying a bit off our usual path to share some inspiring insights from Aaron Simmons's book "Camping with Kierkegaard: Faithfulness as a Way of Life."

🎟️ There's still time to grab a ticket to our Oct. 10 event with Daniel Pink and Adam Grant. Learn more at nextbigideaclub.com/events

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

How to Make the Most Consequential Decision in the World

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Voting for president is no small thing. Gautum Mukunda, from the Harvard Kennedy School, reflects on its significance in his new book "Picking Presidents."

Inside the Mind of Volodymyr Zelensky

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Time correspondent Simon Shuster provides an intimate portrait of Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky.

📕 The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our Oct. 10 event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss at nextbigideaclub.com/events

Living in Sync with Your Inner Clock

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Want to be sharper, healthier, and happier? Then you need to up your sleep game. Lynne Peeples, author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms, will teach you how.

🎟️ We're hosting a live event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss in NYC on Oct. 10. To join virtually or in person, visit nextbigideaclub.com/events

A Guide to Finding Fulfillment in Work and Life

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Megan Hellerer graduated from Stanford at the top of her class, landed a dream job at Google, and dutifully climbed the corporate ladder. So why was she so miserable?

📕 Directional Living: A Transformational Guide to Fulfillment in Work and Life

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our Oct. 10 event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss here

The Science of Human Possibilities

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Kumar Murty illuminates the interconnectedness of mental acuity and spiritual enlightenment.

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How Corporations Get Rich off America’s Poor

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The federal government spends around $900 billion a year on programs that are supposed to help poor Americans. Why does so much of that money end up in the pockets of private-sector interests that profit from the bureaucracies regulating the lives of the poor? Journalist Anne Kim reports on the “corporate poverty complex” in her new book "Poverty for Profit."

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The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Horses revolutionized the way we hunted, traded, traveled, farmed, fought, worshipped, and interacted. They determined international borders, molded cultures, fueled economies, and built global superpowers. Timothy C. Winegard joins us today to talk about how these four-legged marvels shaped the world.

Answers to the Big Questions of Midlife

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Debra Whitman, a globally recognized expert on aging, presents practical steps you can follow to make sure the second half of your life is as rich, rewarding, and healthy as the first.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Sell Like A Spy

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Hurewitz on the tradecraft that can make you better at persuasion.

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss at nextbigideaclub.com/events

Stories From the Best of Humanity

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Let's end the week on a positive note. Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Knell share a few much-needed life-affirming stories handpicked from Upworthy’s community of millions.

Why Public Schools Are Worth Fighting For

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Public schools are the most democratic institutions this country has ever created. So why are they under threat? And can they be saved? Journalist Jennifer C. Berkshire and education scholar Jack Schneider are the authors of the new book "The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual."

Create Extraordinary Places that Bring People Together

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Museums, restaurants, grocery stores, and universities — in the era of AI and the metaverse, these real places will matter more than ever. Kevin Ervin Kelley joins to tell us how to make them better.

How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Christian Madsbjerg explores how we can reclaim the lost art of paying attention.

How to Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation and Intuition at Work

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Creativity isn't just for artists. You can — and should — embrace creativity no matter your line of work. Today, Natalie Nixon offers tips for how to do it.

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How to Find the Silver Linings Even on Your Darkest Days

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

From award-winning Washington Post columnist Steven Petrow, a guide to finding joy even during life’s most difficult times.

How Our Culture Enables Misbehaving Men

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

It's been seven years since #MeToo went viral. What has actually changed? Reah Bravo joins us to share answers from her book "Complicit."

How to Live Future Ready

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Frederik Pferdt, Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, inspires you to shape your future, navigate ambiguity and uncertainty with intention, and transform problems and challenges into profound opportunities.

How to Make Social Media Less Polarizing

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Chris Bail offers a revealing look at how user behavior is powering deep social divisions online ― and how we might yet defeat political tribalism on social media.

🎟️ Buy a ticket to our event with Yuval Noah Harari at https://nextbigideaclub.com/events

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Molly Fletcher, the "female Jerry Maguire,” shares her tips for engaging in meaningful professional and personal growth.

🎟️ Tickets to our live event with Yuval Noah Harari are going fast. Grab yours today: https://nextbigideaclub.com/events/

Hope for Cynics

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Cynicism is making us sick. Stanford Psychologist Dr. Jamil Zaki has the cure.

🎟️ Join us in NYC on Sept. 11 for a live interview with Yuval Noah Harari: https://nextbigideaclub.com/events

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Nicholas Kristof on a Life in Journalism

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Nicholas Kristof, the legendary New York Times columnist, shares five big ideas from his new book "Chasing Hope."

Die Hot with a Vengeance

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The multi-billion-dollar beauty industry is built around a single mandate: be hot. Sable Yong tells us why that message is equal parts toxic and fun.

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our event with Yuval Noah Harari: https://nextbigideaclub.com/events

The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today on the show, journalist Elissa Strauss explores the powerful role caring for others plays in our individual and communal lives.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

The Disciplines of Strategic Thinking

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Michael Watkins delves into the essential practices that can prepare leaders and their teams for tomorrow's challenges.

🎟️ We're hosting an event with Yuval Noah Harari! To learn more, visit nextbigideaclub.com/events

A Philosopher’s Guide to the Good Life

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Adam Sandel, a philosopher and Guinness World Record holder in pull-ups, shares five key insights from "Happiness in Action," a new book in which he argues that the key to happiness is not goal-driven striving but forging a life that integrates self-possession, friendship, and engagement with nature.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Is Modern Masculinity Holding Men Back?

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today's model of masculinity is outdated. It's not giving boys and men the courage, strength, and resilience they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. That's why Andrew Reiner, a cultural critic and New York Times contributor, wrote "Better Boys, Better Men." It's a roadmap for developing a new form of masculinity that creates emotional resiliency.

The Stoic Path to Wealth

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

What if ancient wisdom could help you achieve prosperity today? Darius Foroux is here to explain.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, we hear from journalist Shefali Luthra about her new book, "Undue Burden," which the San Francisco Chronicle called "an impeccably researched, clearheaded and frankly terrifying assessment of just how grave the situation in post-Roe America is."

🎟️ Grab a ticket for our upcoming live event with Yuval Noah Harari at https://nextbigideaclub.com/events/

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Dream First, Details Later

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Ellen Marie Bennett turned a hunch into a multi-million dollar business. So can you.

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our event with Yuval Noah Harari at https://nextbigideaclub.com/events/

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Use Nature's Playbook to Energize Your Brain, Spark Ideas, and Ignite Action

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Jeff Karp went from the back of the class to opening his own research lab at Harvard. In this episode, he explains how he did it — and how the tools he used can help you thrive, too.

📕 Pick up a copy of Jeff's new book, "LIT: Life Ignition Tools"

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

The Truth About Immigration

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

For nearly 20 years, Wharton professor Zeke Hernandez has been studying immigration. Today, he makes an evidence-based argument for why newcomers benefit your community, your country, and you.

📕 The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers

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Are You Hardwired for Happiness?

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Ashish Kothari shares nine proven practices to overcome stress and live your best life.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Sex, God, and the Brain

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

"You heretics!" That's probably what you'd say if we told you that sexual pleasure gave birth to religion. Sex and god? They're like oil and water, non-overlapping magisteria. But in a bold new book called "Sex, God, and the Brain," researcher and physician Andrew Newberg shows that the underlying biological mechanisms of spiritual and sexual experiences are identical.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Building on the lessons she learned as an award-winning TV news journalist, Jessica Chen introduces a new way of getting noticed at work, without being loud, aggressive, or boastful.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Becoming the Parent Your Kids Deserve

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Gary John Bishop offers insightful (if unorthodox) parenting advice from his recent book "Grow Up."

📩 Check out our daily Substack

🔗 The Next Big Idea Daily is produced in partnership with LinkedIn. Speaking of LinkedIn, have you checked out our LinkedIn newsletter? Sign up here

How Toxic Beauty Culture Harms Women

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

What is toxic beauty culture ― from Botox to Instagram filters ― doing to women and girls? Ellen Atlanta reports.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Will We Merge With AI? Ray Kurzweil Thinks So.

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Celebrated computer scientist and unabased AI optimist Ray Kurzweil says a future where nanorobots inhabit our brains is closer than you may think. His new book is "The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI."

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Can We Cure Grief?

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Journalist Cody Delistraty reports on the scientists and technologists searching for better and new ways to cope with loss. From chatting with a technologically recreated version of a lost loved one to opening your mind with the aid of hallucinogenic mushrooms, there's a whole new frontier that brims with fresh possibilities and pitfalls for how to cure grief.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

The Truth You Need to Succeed

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Bonnie Hammer worked her way up from the mailroom to become the “the most powerful woman in entertainment," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Today, she shares career-supercharging insights from her new book "15 Lies Women Are Told at Work ... and the Truth We Need to Succeed."

The Elastic Limits of Human Performance

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

To close out our Olympics-themed week, we're sharing one of our favorite book bites from our archive: Alex Hutchinson on his 2018 bestseller "Endure."

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Do Hard Things

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

What does it really mean to be tough? Performance coach Steve Magness has a surprising answer.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, journalist Macaela MacKenzie gives us an inside look at how women athletes are leading the fight for equality — on and off the field.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

How to Stay Rad as You Grow Old

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Steven Kotler (“Gnar Country”) has been studying human performance for 30 years and teaching people from all walks of life how to achieve peak performance. But could his own advice work for him?

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

An Olympian’s Guide to Chasing Dreams and Befriending Pain

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The Olympics are on! Have you been watching? We have. We can’t get enough. Which is why all this week we’ll be bringing you episodes that celebrate the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. We’ll be joined by athletes and experts who’ll share hard-won wisdom that we can apply in our ordinary, non-Olympic lives.

Up first: Alexi Pappas. She ran the 10,000m at the 2016 games. She’s also a filmmaker and an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and The Atlantic. Today, she shares a few key insights from her memoir, “Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas.”

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

How Trust Works

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Trust is at the heart of all relationships, and when trust is broken, those relationships can be tremendously difficult to put back together. Peter H. Kim, who teaches at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, has written a book called "How Trust Works: The Science of How Relationships Are Built, Broken, and Repaired." Peter is a leading authority in the field of “trust repair,” and his research has been published in the world’s top scientific journals in management and psychology.

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

How to Be a Citizen

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0000

We think that civil society is imposed by law. But what if that's not the case? What if it's something we create together?

Guest: C. L. Skach (How to Be a Citizen: Learning to Be Civil Without the State)

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

The Invention of Reality TV

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Pulitzer Prize winner Emily Nussbaum shares five big ideas from her new book "Cue the Sun!"

A New Framework for Understanding Addiction

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, we hear from Elias Dakwar, a psychiatrist addiction specialist, about his new book "The Captive Imagination: Addiction, Reality, and Our Search for Meaning."

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

How to Thrive in a World That's Constantly Changing

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Change is universal. How we deal with it is not.

Guest: April Rinne ("Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change")

📩 Check out our daily Substack and our weekly LinkedIn newsletter

The World Gets Happiness Wrong. Here's How to Get It Right.

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

We all want to be happy, but happiness always seems out of reach. Lucky for us, Stephanie Harrison ("New Happy") is here to change that.

Free Speech in an Age of Rage

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today: Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, on what we lose when we constrain free speech.

Triumph of the Yuppies

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

What can the Yuppies of the 1980s tell us about American culture today?

Why Some Startups Change the Future

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Why do the most successful startups disregard best practices?

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📫 And check out our weekly newsletter on LinkedIn

How to Make It to the End with No Regrets

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Jodi Wellman shares five key insights from "You Only Die Once."

What Loners, Outcasts, and the Misunderstood Can Teach Us About Creativity

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Richard Deming is an award-winning poet and critic and is the director of Creative Writing at Yale University. Today, he shares big ideas from his new book "This Exquisite Loneliness."

Democracy in Retrograde

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Emily Amick, lawyer and former counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Betches Media cofounder Sami Sage share five key insights from their New York Times bestseller "Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives."

"The Presidents and the People" by Corey Brettschneider

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

American presidents have often pushed the boundaries established for them by the Constitution. Today, Corey Brettschneider shares the inspirational stories of the citizens who pushed back.

A Better Way of Thinking About Medicine and Healing

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, journalist Julia Hotz reports on a radical new trend in healthcare: social prescribing.

📩 Can't get enough of The Next Big Idea Daily? Check out our brand new Substack: https://bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com/

Mastering the Art of Changing Minds

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Michael McQueen has spent two decades teaching Fortune 500 leaders the skills they need to change people's minds. Now, he's here to share those skills with you.

The Power of Connection in a Fractured World

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Let's close out the week by hearing from Sharon Brous, one of the country's leading rabbis, about her new book "The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World."

📩 We launched a Substack! Check it out at https://bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com/

A Journey From White Nationalism to Antiracism

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

R. Derek Black grew up with the founders of the American white nationalist movement but became an advocate for antiracism. How did that happen?

📩 We have a new Substack! Check it out at https://bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com/

Myths Shaped America. Now They've Brought Us to the Brink of Crisis.

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

We are a nation of mythmakers. But in his new book, "A Great Disorder: National Myth and the Battle for America," Richard Slotkin argues those myths may be to blame for our current polarization.

A Scientist's Path from Grief to Wonder

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

A decade ago, Alan Townsend's wife and daughter were both diagnosed with life-threatening forms of brain cancer. In the face of this gut-wrenching news, he took solace in science.

Can You Become Immune to Burnout?

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

After extreme stress nearly killed Kandi Wiens, she dedicated herself to understanding why some people seem to be naturally “immune” to burnout and what the rest of us can learn from them. Kandi's new book is "Burnout Immunity: How Emotional Intelligence Can Help You Build Resilience and Heal Your Relationship with Work."

How Something Comes From Nothing

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

To close out the week, we hear from Adam Moss, the legendary editor of New York magazine, about the personal, rigorous, complex, and elusive work of making art.

What Would Ben Franklin Do?

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Eric Weiner joins to discuss his new book, "Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life."

The 40,000-Year Story of Animals and Us

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Keggie Carew shares a few key insights from her book "Beastly: The 40,000-Year Story of Animals and Us," which the Guardian called "dazzling … [a] fantastic, heartfelt history of human-animal relations."

📩 Sign up for Michael's LinkedIn newsletter here

Can Psychedelics Cure the Most Severe Pain Disorders?

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, renowned sociologist Joanna Kempner, author of the new book "Psychedelic Outlaws: The Movement Revolutionizing Modern Medicine," introduces us to a group of ordinary people racked by debilitating pain who have turned to psychedelic medicines for relief.

📱 To hear hundreds of book summaries written and read by the authors themselves, download The Next Big Idea app at https://nextbigideaclub.com/app/ Code DAILY gets you 20% off a subscription

How to Save Human Ability in the Age of AI

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

As artificial intelligence gets more and more powerful, how do we protect human skills? Matt Beane, one of the world’s top researchers on work and technology, is here with a few surprising answers.

Practical Optimism

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Let's close out the week with a few big ideas from Sue Varma, author of "Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being."

How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Tonight, there's a presidential debate. This morning, let's hear Bo Seo, two-time world champion debater and former coach of the Harvard debate team, share his tips for effective communication and persuasion.

How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That's a Good Thing)

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Khan Academy has helped more than 135 million students in 190 countries learn new things. Now its founder, Sal Khan, is out with a book in which he argues AI will transform the way we learn.

The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Celebrated science writer David Robson joins us to reveal how social connections are far more important than we thought and show us the steps we can take to build better relationships and improve our lives.

Is Your Work Worth It?

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today,a philosopher and an organizational psychologist walk into ... a soap opera?

Bianca Bosker Ventures Into the Art World

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Bianca Bosker shares a few brilliant insights from her latest New York Times bestseller "Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See."

🖼️ Check out Bianca's interview on The Next Big Idea on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

We all have biases. Worse, they cause us to fall for misinformation. Here's what to do about it.

A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Uche Blackstock shares five key insights from her instant New York Times bestseller "Legacy."

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A Neurotoolkit for Creating Lasting Change

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, we hear from Nicole Vignola, a neuroscientist and organizational psychologist who has written an exciting new book called "Rewire: Break the Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts and Create Lasting Change (Your Neurotoolkit for Everyday Life)."

How the Science of Personality Can Help You Make Better Business Decisions

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Organizational psychologist Richard Davis has spent decades advising the leaders of the world's biggest companies. What he's learned will help you transform your relationships, your career, and your life.

💬 Have a question for Richard? He'll be in our LinkedIn group all week. To sign up, become a member at nextbigideaclub.com

We Live in a Tame World. Here's How to Find the Wild.

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Craig Foster, the South African filmmaker best known for his Oscar-winning documentary "My Octopus Teacher," joins Michael to share a few insights from his new book "Amphibious Soul: Finding the Wild in a Tame World."

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Can Big Tech Be Contained?

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Our dependence on the big five tech companies threatens our civil rights, economy, and democracy. Tom Kemp has a plan to rein them in.

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Finding for the Good in Bad English

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, linguist Valerie Fridland ("Like, Literally, Dude") takes us on a tour of the speech habits we love to hate and makes the surprising argument that "like's" and "literally's" make us better communicators.

The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In her #1 New York Times bestseller, "Good Energy," Casey Means argues that improving your metabolic health is the key to feeling better and living longer.

What if Innovation Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be?

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Has our idolatry of innovation gone too far? Lee Vinsel and Andrew L. Russell think so. Their book is "The Innovation Delusion: How Our Obsession with the New Has Disrupted the Work That Matters Most."

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How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Adventurer Caroline Paul shares key insights from her new book "Tough Broad."

How America Weaponized the World Economy

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Georgetown's Abraham Newman shares a few key insights from his recent book "Underground Empire."

The Mysterious Anomalies Challenging Our Understanding of the Universe

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Harry Cliff offers an eye-opening account of the inexplicable phenomena that science has only recently glimpsed, and that could transform our understanding of the fundamental nature of reality.

The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Psychedelics are a buzzy new mental health treatment. Do they work, and are they safe? The New York Times' Ernesto Londoño reports.

Time Management Tips From Google’s Productivity Expert

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Tens of thousands of Google employees rely on Laura Mae Martin's strategies for how to make the most of their time. Now she's going to share those strategies with you. Laura's new book is "Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing."

The Science of Personality Change

Fri, 31 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Neuroscientist Christian Jarrett on how we can change ourselves for the better.

"Wealth Supremacy: How the Extractive Economy and the Biased Rules of Capitalism Drive Today’s Crises" by Marjorie Kelly

Thu, 30 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Marjorie Kelly, a distinguished senior fellow at The Democracy Collaborative, argues that a bias toward wealth has warped the economy. Here's what we can do about it.

The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis

Wed, 29 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The one and only George Stephanopoulos stops by to share five key insights from his No. 1 New York Times bestseller "The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis."

How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes

Tue, 28 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Jennifer L. Taitz, a clinical psychologist at UCLA, shares a few calming insights from her new book, "Stress Resets."

How to Ask Better Questions

Mon, 27 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Do you struggle to connect with other people? It could be because you're not asking the right questions. In this episode, leadership expert Jeff Wetzler shares strategies for asking deep questions drawn from his latest book, "Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life."

Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom

Fri, 24 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

What if everything you think you know about capitalism is wrong?

Guest: Grace Blakeley

Book: Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom

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A Brief History of Intelligence

Thu, 23 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Max Bennett explains how understanding the story of how our brains evolved can help shape the next generation of AI breakthroughs.

How Small Actions Can Have a Big Impact

Wed, 22 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Adaira Landry and Resa Lewiss, a pair of Harvard-trained physicians, share actionable career advice from "MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact."

No-BS Secrets to Success

Tue, 21 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Jim VandeHei co-founded two highly influential news outlets, Politico and Axios. But as he explains in today's episode, his path to success was far from straightforward.

What 20th Century Anarchy Can Teach Us About Contemporary Polarization

Mon, 20 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Steven Johnson returns to share some key insights from his new book "The Infernal Machine: A True Story of Dynamite, Terror, and the Rise of the Modern Detective."

A Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control

Fri, 17 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

To end the week, we'll hear from Katherine Morgan Schafler, a former on-site therapist at Google, who challenges us to change the way we look at perfectionism.

What a CBS News Correspondent Saw on the Front Lines of the Climate Crisis

Thu, 16 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In "Before It's Gone: Stories from the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America," Jonathan Vigliotti shares the stories of regular Americans who are confronting the effects of climate disaster.

Can Big Tech Be Reined In?

Wed, 15 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

As chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Tom Wheeler advocated for stronger legislation of big tech companies. In his new book, "Techlash: Who Makes the Rules in the Digital Gilded Age?," he says there's more to be done.

When Extreme Wellness Causes Real Damage

Tue, 14 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Jacqueline Alnes was a DI runner in college, but her athletic career was cut short by a series of mysterious neurological symptoms. Her search for a cure led her to discover the dark side of wellness culture. Her new book is "The Fruit Cure: The Story of Extreme Wellness Turned Sour."

Are You Suffering From Microstress?

Mon, 13 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Are all the little things getting you down? Rob Cross and Karen Dillon are here to help. Their new book is "The Microstress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problems--and What to Do about It."

Forget Habits. You Need Rituals.

Fri, 10 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Harvard's Michael Norton says cultivating a "ritual" mindset can infuse our lives with meaning. His new book is "The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions."

Frank Bruni Examines Our Age of Grievance

Thu, 09 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Longtime New York Times columnist Frank Bruni says fervent hostility has eroded the civility, common ground, and compromise necessary for our democracy to survive. His new book is "The Age of Grievance."

Humans and Octopuses Are More Alike Than You Think

Wed, 08 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Ecologist David Scheel has been obsessed with octopuses for decades. What he's learned — and why it should matter to you — is the subject of his new book: "Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses."

"The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age" by Meg Jay

Tue, 07 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Your twenties are the most challenging time of your life. Does it have to be that way?

"A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career, and Win at Life" by Farnoosh Torabi

Mon, 06 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Life lessons from the creator of the popular finance podcast So Money.

"Passion Struck: Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life" by John Miles

Fri, 03 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Inside of you resides an intentional life without limits. The time has come to awaken it.

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"The Power of Ethics: How to Make Good Choices in a Complicated World" by Susan Liautaud

Thu, 02 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, a few big ideas from Susan Liautaud, who teaches cutting-edge ethics courses at Stanford University.

"How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex: An Unexpected History" by Samantha Cole

Wed, 01 May 2024 08:00:00 -0000

"How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex." The title says it all, doesn't it? Author Samantha Cole stops by to tell us why we have sex to thank for the internet we know and love.

"The Stoic Mindset: Living the Ten Principles of Stoicism" by Mark Tuitert

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

"As a top athlete," says today's guest, Mark Tuitert, "you can easily be blinded by the goal: winning." Mark would know. He won the gold medal in speed skating in the 1500-meter event at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. When he woke up the next day, however, a worrying thought shot through his head: Now what? What do I focus on now? To answer those questions, he turned to the ancient philosophy of Stoicism.

"The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain" by Joe Davis

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Joe Davis, managing director and senior partner at the Boston Consulting Group, explains why gernosity is the key attribute of a modern leader.

"This Beauty: A Philosophy of Being Alive" by Nick Riggle

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

You didn't choose to live this life, but you can still make it beautiful.

“Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jacobsen

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

If you're living in a city in America right now, there's a nuclear weapon pointed directly at you.

"Catastrophe Ethics: How to Choose Well in a World of Tough Choices" by Travis Rieder

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Life is full of moral dilemmas. How do you know you're making the right calls?

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"Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer" by Steven Johnson

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, friend-of-the-pod Steven Johnson stops by to share a few big ideas from his recent book "Extra Life," which President Obama praised for offering readers "a useful reminder of the role of modern science in fundamentally transforming all of our lives."

• If you enjoy this episode, check out the audio essay we made with Steven. It's called "Immortality: A User's Guide"

"Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully" by Elaine Lin Hering

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Have you ever been afraid to speak up? You're not alone, says Elaine Lin Hering, a lecturer at Harvard Law School. But your silence has repercussions for you and those around you. Today, Elaine is here to help you summon the courage to say what's on your mind.

"Which Way Is North: A Creative Compass for Makers, Marketers, and Mystics" by Will Cady

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

To close out the week, let's hear from Reddit's Global Brand Ambassador, Will Cady, who has a few surprising tips for unlocking your creativity.

• Don't miss our event with Scott Galloway on April 22nd in New York City. Tickets are going fast! Grab yours at nextbigideaclub.com/events and use the code PODCAST for 50% off

"The Ancient Art of Thinking For Yourself: The Power of Rhetoric in Polarized Times" by Robin Reames

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Robin Reames grew up in a fundamentalist Christian, white, and very conservative family in the Deep South. "Up until about my late adolescence and early adulthood," she says, "I more or less believed that the polarized view of the world that dominated my subculture was true. They are the bad guys. We are the good guys." But things changed when she went away to college and discovered rhetoric. That ancient art ultimately showed her how everything from disagreements with her parents to the polarized politics of our time — and even to the way that we think about truth itself — are propelled by the power of words. Robin, who is now a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, joins us today to share a few key insights from her new book, "The Ancient Art of Thinking For Yourself."

"The Return of Great Powers: Russia, China, and the Next World War" by Jim Sciutto

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode, CNN anchor and chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto warns that another world war could be looming.

• We're hosting a live event with Scott Galloway in New York City on April 22nd. Learn more and grab your ticket at nextbigideaclub.com/events

"Anxious Eaters: Why We Fall for Fad Diets" by Janet Chrzan & Kima Cargill

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Keto, Atkins, paleo, and Whole30 — it seems like fad diets are everywhere these days. How did they get so popular, and are they doomed to fail?

• Want to attend our live event with Scott Galloway on April 22? Learn more at nextbigideaclub.com/events/

"The Great Money Reset: Change Your Work, Change Your Wealth, Change Your Life" by Jill Schlesinger

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, indispensable financial advice from Jill Schlesinger, Emmy and Gracie Award winning business analyst for CBS News and author of "The Great Money Reset: Change Your Work, Change Your Wealth, Change Your Life."

"The Way Home: Discovering the Hero's Journey to Wholeness at Midlife" by Ben Katt

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Can Joseph Campbell’s "hero’s journey" help you find fulfillment?

"Our Biggest Fight" by Frank H. McCourt Jr. & Michael J. Casey

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Is the design of the internet to blame for our current crises of disinformation, mental illness, and hyper-partisan division?

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"The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality" by Amanda Montell

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Why does living in the so-called Information Age only seem to make life more confusing? Amanda Montell has some surprising answers.

"The Neuroscience of You: How Every Brain Is Different and How to Understand Yours" by Chantel Prat

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, a few brainy insights from neuroscientist Chantel Prat, author of "The Neuroscience of You," which our pal Adam Grant called her book "the smartest, clearest, and funniest book I've ever read about the brain."

"The Friction Project" by Huggy Rao and Robert Sutton

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

How smart leaders make the right things easier and the wrong things harder.

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"Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships" by Scott Rick

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

For the past few years, Scott Rick, a behavioral scientist at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, has been surveying couples, and he's reached a surprising conclusion: many tightwads are married to spendthrifts. Why does this happen? Why do penny pinchers fall for cash splashers? And if you find yourself in such a relationship, what can you do about it?

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"Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict" by William Ury

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

William Ury wrote the world’s best-selling book on negotiation. Now he's here to help us navigate conflict.

"Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words" by Anne Curzan

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Linguist and professor Anne Curzan encourages us all to lighten up when it comes to grammar rules.

"The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight" by Andrew Leland

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

As a teenager, Andrew Leland started to lose his sight. One day, in all likelihood, he will be blind. In his moving new memoir, "The Country of the Blind," he reckons with his soon-to-be blindness while also challenging us to think differently about our ablest world.

"Cultures of Growth" by Mary C. Murphy

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Carol Dweck’s "Mindset" transformed our view of individual potential. Now her protégé, Mary Murphy, is here to explain how mindset can transcend individuals and transform any group, team, or classroom.

"Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down" by Corey Keyes

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Do you ever feel kind of ... meh? Corey Keyes is here to help.

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"Women Money Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality" by Josie Cox

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Journalist Josie Cox stops by to share highlights from the story of women’s fight for financial freedom.

"The 100 Trillion Dollar Wealth Transfer: How the Handover from Boomers to Gen Z Will Revolutionize Capitalism" by Ken Costa

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Could Generation Z's focus on ethics, climate change, and purpose change capitalism forever?

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Is It Possible to Cheat Death?

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan walks us through the ongoing revolution in biology that could allow us to live for a very, very long time.

• Venki's new book is "Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality"

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How to Turn Anxiety Into Your Superpower

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Morra's new book is "The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower." And be sure to check out her podcast, "The Anxious Achiever," which, like our show, is part of the LinkedIn Podcast Network.

"Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference" by Guy Kawasaki

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Guy Kawasaki has spent 40 years working with game-changing organizations like Apple, Google, Mercedes, and Canva. More recently, he's been chatting with luminaries like Steve Wozniak and Jane Goodall on his podcast, "Remarkable People." Today, he shares the six key insights — that's right, six! — he's learned along the way.

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"Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future" by Denise Hamilton

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

It's not enough to be inclusive. Denise Hamilton, a nationally recognized workplace culture and DEI expert, says we should strive for a world that's indivisible.

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"The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories that Inform, Influence, and Inspire" by Karen Eber

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The ability to tell a good story is more than just a social skill. It’s a key element in good leadership, connection, and influence that can help you creatively and professionally as much as personally. Today, award-winning consultant and TED speaker Karen Eber has some practical tips for telling stories that resonate.

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"How Does That Make You Feel?: Everything You (N)ever Wanted to Know About Therapy" by Joshua Fletcher

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Joshua Fletcher (a.k.a. Anxiety Josh) takes us on a tour of the inner mind of a therapist.

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"Slow Productivity" by Cal Newport

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Do fewer things. Work at a natural pace. Obsess over quality. Those are Cal Newport's three strategies for achieving "Slow Productivity." He's on the show today to tell us more.

"The Other Significant Others" by Rhaina Cohen

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Why do we assume romantic relationships are more important than friendships? Rhaina Cohen, award-winning producer and editor for NPR's Embedded, has a surprising pro-friendship answer in today's episode. Rhaina's new book is "The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center."

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How to Dismantle Gender Bias in the Workplace

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, we hear from Angelique Bellmer Krembs, global head of brand at BlackRock, about the micro-offenses women encounter in the workplace and what we can do to dismantle them.

• You can read the book bite for "You Should Smile More: How to Dismantle Gender Bias in the Workplace" here

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"Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness" by Nicholas Humphrey

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Today, join scientist Nicholas Humphrey on an epic quest to uncover the evolutionary history of consciousness.

A Celebrated ER Doctor's Guide to Better Listening

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In his new book, "Tornado of Life: A Doctor's Journey through Constraints and Creativity in the ER," physician and writer Jay Baruch explains how working in the emergency room made him a better listener and how what he's learned can help you, too.

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"Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The average human lifespan is just over four thousand weeks. How will you spend your days? How should you spend your days? Journalist Oliver Burkeman has thoughts.

What Peggy Orenstein Learned About Life by Making the World's Ugliest Sweater

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In the early days of the Covid lockdown, many of us found ourselves taking up new hobbies, like playing guitar or baking bread. But Peggy Orenstein went a little further. A lifelong knitter, Peggy decided to try making a sweater from scratch. She taught herself to shear sheep, spin and dye yarn, and other skills. The surprising life lessons she learned are the subject of her new book, "Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World's Ugliest Sweater."

Why Hasn't America Put a Woman in the White House?

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

What is it about American political culture that has kept women from the presidency for so long? NBC News correspondent Ali Vitale tackles this question in her book "Electable: Why America Hasn't Put a Woman in the White House … Yet."

"Her Space, Her Time: How Trailblazing Women Scientists Decoded the Hidden Universe" by Shohini Ghose

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

You might have heard of Einstein and Newton and Galileo, but can you name the woman whose work led to the discovery of the Big Bang, or the woman who toppled one of the most fundamental laws of physics, or the woman who landed a probe on a comet. Women have contributed to every major discovery ever made in physics and astronomy. Shohini Ghose thinks it's time to rewrite our history books to tell the full story.

Why Do We Remember?

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Neuroscientist and psychologist Charan Ranganath reframes how we think about remembering and shares the tools we can use to hold on to the things we don't want to forget. Charan's new book, "Why We Remember," is out now.

"Learned Excellence: Mental Disciplines for Leading and Winning from the World's Top Performers" by Eric Potterat & Alan Eagle

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, learn how to perform at your very best from the psychologist who has advised elite military operators, Olympic medalists, big wave surfers, neurosurgeons, cliff divers, first responders, Cirque du Soleil acrobats, professional athletes and coaches, Fortune 500 business executives, and CIA analysts.

"The Life Brief: A Playbook for No-Regrets Living" by Bonnie Wan

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Ad exec Bonnie Wan shares her playbook for navigating life’s decisions, crossroads, and curveballs.

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"Of Greed and Glory: In Pursuit of Freedom for All" by Deborah G. Plant

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Historian Deborah Plant takes us on a personal exploration of America’s obsession with continuing human bondage.

Anyone Can Become a Supercommunicator — Even You

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

· Love the podcast and ready to go deeper? Come join us in the Next Big Idea Club, a community of lifelong learners led by acclaimed thinkers Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink. Learn more and sign up today at nextbigideaclub.com

"Digital Madness: How Social Media Is Driving Our Mental Health Crisis—and How to Restore Our Sanity" by Nicholas Kardaras

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

We’ve become mad for our devices. Our devices are driving us mad.

Geeks of the World, Unite!

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 09:30:00 -0000

Today, MIT's Andrew McAfee stops by to share a few key insights from his recent book "The Geek Way: The Radical Mindset that Drives Extraordinary Results."

How to Use Emotional Intelligence to Perform Your Best

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Happy Friday, friends! To close out the week, here are a few tips on how to have a great day, any day.

Guest: Daniel Goleman

Book: "Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day"

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"The Survivors of the Clotilda" by Hannah Durkin

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, the true story of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to land on American soil — more than half a century after a federal law banned the importation of captive Africans.

The Nuclear Threats of the 21st Century

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In an alarming new book "Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons," journalist Sarah Scoles explores the current state of the nuclear arms race.

Are You Addicted to Drama? This Will Help

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, clinical psychologist and mind-body expert Scott Lyons turns the notion of the drama queen on its head.

How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Want to become the best at what you do? First, says Ron Friedman ("Decoding Greatness"), you must learn how to reverse engineer.

‘Humankind’ Makes the Case That We Are Wired for Happiness

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Humans, it turns out, are pretty decent. That's according to Dutch historian Rutger Bregman, whose book "Humankind: A Hopeful History" was praised by our very own Daniel Pink for making a "bold, sweeping argument" — one you'll hear pieces of today — "[that] will make you rethink what you believe about society, democracy, and human nature itself."

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How to Build a Just Economy

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Nick Romeo, a writer for The New Yorker, has spent the last several years covering the most compelling economic policies and ideas in Europe and America. He's here today to share what he's learned.

Make Your Relationships Great This Valentine's Day

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, we hear from Rick Hanson, senior fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, about his latest book, "Making Great Relationships: Simple Practices for Solving Conflicts, Building Connection, and Fostering Love."

Can One Therapy Session Transform Your Mental Health?

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In "Little Treatments, Big Effects," Harvard-trained psychologist Jessica Schleider explains how you can reboot your mental health in a single therapy session.

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Leadership Advice From One of Silicon Valley's First Female Black CEOs

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Shellye Archambeau was an executive at IBM, Blockbuster's president, and then MetricStream's CEO. She currently serves on the boards of Verizon and Nordstrom. Today, she shares five key insights from her book "Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms."

Why Life Gets Better With Age

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, five lessons, "Learning to Love Midlife," a blueprint for aging gracefully by Chip Conley, CEO of the Modern Elder Academy.

"Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum" by Antonia Hylton

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

For her first book, Antonia Hylton, a Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist, unearthed the 93-year-old history of a segregated asylum in Maryland.

How the Moon Inspired Religion, Science, and Our Political System

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Rebecca Boyle stops by to discuss her new book, "Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are."

What Diabetes Tells Us About Medical Blindspots

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In "Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful Treatments," science journalist Gary Taubes argues that when it comes to treating diabetes, a disease that one in five Americans struggles with, we need to focus on diet—particularly, fewer carbohydrates and more fat — over a reliance on insulin

Want To Be a Great Leader? Try Cultivating a Co-Creation Mindset

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

How did Apple overcome a culture of secrecy? How did Pixar out-innovate Disney? In their new book, "Brave Together," Chris Deaver and Ian Clawson say the answer lies in the power of co-creation, a mindset that fosters genuine collaboration.

"Goodbye, Perfect: How to Stop Pleasing, Proving, and Pushing for Others… and Live For Yourself" by Homaira Kabir

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Stop trying to be perfect. Try this instead.

"The Myth That Made Us How False Beliefs about Racism and Meritocracy Broke Our Economy (and How to Fix It)" by Jeff Fuhrer

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0000

False narratives about post-racism and meritocracy have been used to condone egregious economic outcomes. What can we do to fix the system?

"Free Will: An Opinionated Guide" by Alfred R. Mele

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Last week, Stanford neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky came on the show to make the case that free will does not exist. Today, Alfred Mele, a professor of philosophy at Florida State University, is here to argue the opposite.

"Nobility in Small Things: A Surgeon's Path" by Craig Smith

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Craig Smith has been a heart surgeon for more than 40 years, and in that time he's saved the lives of ordinary patients and one former President of the United States. Today, he's on the show to reflect on his vocation and what it means to be a servant leader.

"Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication" by Vanessa Van Edwards

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Charisma. Some people have it, some people don’t. Or so we’ve been led to believe. But speaker, researcher, and bestselling author Vanessa Van Edwards says that to be charismatic, you just have to harness the power of cues. But wait. What are cues? Tune in to find out.

Swing by our event in New York City on Jan. 31. Can't make it in person? Grab a ticket for the livestream here.

"Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World" by Scott Shigeoka

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Curiosity may not seem like a skill, but it is. You can cultivate it. Scott Shigeoka will teach you how.

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"How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion" by David McRaney

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

What does it take to open someone's mind? We asked David McRaney for his science-backed tips.

"The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society" by Mauro Guillén

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Increasing longevity and the explosion of technology are reshaping the world. What will it mean for your education, career, and life? Wharton professor Mauro Guillén has the answers.

"Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss" by Gina Moffa

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

"The art of losing isn't hard to master," Elizabeth Bishop wrote in her poem "One Art." Psychotherapist Gina Moffa agrees. In her new book, "Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go," Gina offers an easy-to-follow map through the hinterlands of loss.

"All In: How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams" by Mike Michalowicz

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

With the rise of hybrid work, intergeneration offices, and flexible schedules, it has never been harder to build a successful team. Leaders are bending over backward, searching for solutions that work. But nothing sticks. Today, bestselling author Mike Michalowicz shares his proven formula for building an unstoppable team in any workplace.

"The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning" by Meghan Sullivan & Paul Blaschko

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

To close out the week, let's hear from two philosophers about what it means to be happy, good, and to live with purpose.

"Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings" by Steven G. Rogelberg

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Every day, in offices around the world, there are an estimated 200 million one-on-one meetings. In "Glad We Met," Steven Rogelberg asks: are all those 1:1s run as effectively as possible?

"Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will" by Robert Sapolsky

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Does free will exist? Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky says, "Hell no!" Which sounds scary, we know, but he's here today to explain why a world without free will might not actually be such a bad place.

"Beyond Longevity: A Proven Plan for Healing Faster, Feeling Better, and Thriving at Any Age" by Jason Prall

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

We don't just want to live for a long time — we want to thrive as we age. Today, science writer and documentarian Jason Prall tells us how we can.

"Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism and What We Can Do to Fix It" by Adia Harvey Wingfield

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which has us thinking about the state of our nation — specifically, the state of diversity in our nation. It's a complicated subject, to be sure, so to help us think through it, we're joined by Adia Harvey Wingfield, a professor of sociology at Washington University, whose new book, "Gray Areas," examines why racial inequality persists in the workplace despite today's multi-billion-dollar diversity industry and what actions we can take to create an equitable, multiracial future.

"I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt" by Madeleine Dore

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Madeleine Dore went in search of the secret to productivity, only to find that there isn't one. Instead, we're being set up to fail. Today, she's here to encourage us to take productivity off its pedestal.

"On the Brink of Utopia: Reinventing Innovation to Solve the World's Largest Problems" by Thomas Ramge & Rafael Laguna de la Vera

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

How innovative are our times really? Not very, according to Thomas Ramge and Rafael Laguna de la Vera. And they've got a point. Technology may have solved some fake problems ("one-click buying!"), but it hasn't done nearly enough to tackle big issues like climate change, cancer, dementia, or hunger. Today, Tomas and Rafael share their vision for a future in which we harness the forces of science and technology to solve real problems.

"Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream" by David Leonhardt

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

You may know David Leonhardt from his wildly popular New York Times newsletter, "The Morning." What you may not know is that David is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has spent years trying to understand why the standard of living for many Americans seems to be eroding. His findings are the subject of a new book, "Ours Was the Shining Future," which The Atlantic named one of the best of the year. He joins us today to talk about it.

"Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection" by Jeremy Nobel

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Dr. Jeremy Nobel unpacks our personal and national experiences of loneliness to discover its roots and to show how we can take steps to find comfort and connection.

"Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership" by Kirstin Ferguson

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Do you have what it takes to be a great leader? Find out by listening to Kirstin Ferguson, who joins us to share five indispensable leadership tips from her new book, "Head & Heart," which Adam Grant calls "a timely, actionable book on the virtues that every great leader needs to learn."

"Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure" by Maggie Jackson

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today, author Maggie Jackson offers a guide to flourishing in times of flux and angst by harnessing the overlooked power of our uncertainty.

"What the Taliban Told Me" By Ian Fritz

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Have you ever met an airborne cryptologic linguist? No? Well, today's your lucky day. We're joined by Ian Fritz who has written a new memoir about coming-of-age in a war that is lost.

"Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World (in a Big Way)" by Roma Agrawal

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

A structural engineer examines the basic building blocks of engineering that have shaped the modern world.

"Sweat: A History of Exercise" by Bill Hayes

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Exercise isn't just our modern obsession: the ancients were keen on it, too. That's according to award-winning journalist Bill Hayes, who joins us today to describe how our fanaticism for working out has evolved.

Best Of: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing (with Brad Stulberg)

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Change is not the exception, it’s the rule. Today, Brad Stulberg ("Master of Change") tells us how to deal with it.

Best Of: Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

You can get happier. And getting there will be the adventure of your lifetime. Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks shares a few tips on how to do it from his new book — co-written with the one and only Oprah Winfrey — "Build the Life You Want."

Best Of: Rainn Wilson ("The Office") on Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson ("The Office") explores the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for an increasingly challenging world.

Best Of: Shankar Vedantam on the Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Shankar Vedantam, host of "Hidden Brain," walks us through the surprising role of self-deception in human flourishing.

Best Of: How to Find Balance in the Age of Indulgence (with Anna Lembke)

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain — and what we can do about it.

Best Of: Amy Edmondson on the Science of Failing Well

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week, we're looking back at some of our favorite episodes from the last year. Today, we'll hear from award-winning Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, who's going to transform your relationship with failure.

"Needy: How to Advocate for Your Needs and Claim Your Sovereignty" by Mara Glatzel

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

To close out the week, we called up Mara Glatzel to share her unique approach to identifying, honoring, and advocating for the most tender and true parts of yourself that yearn to be acknowledged.

"How We Ended Racism: Realizing a New Possibility in One Generation" by Justin Michael Williams & Shelly Tygielski

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

“It’s the year 2050… and racism has ended.” Could this really be our future?

"Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes" by Morgan Housel

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, we're joined by Morgan Housel, author of the mega-bestseller The Psychology of Money, who'll discuss his new book, Same as Ever.

"Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age" by Katherine May

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode, the New York Times–bestselling author of Wintering invites us to rediscover the feelings of awe and wonder available to us all.

"The Phoenix Economy Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal" by Felix Salmon

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

We are living in a strange world. Felix Salmon calls it “the New Not Normal.” Today, he explores the economic ramifications of the pandemic years, many of which are surprisingly positive.

"Reasons Not to Worry: How to Be Stoic in Chaotic Times" by Brigid Delaney

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Can the ancient wisdom of the Stoics help you live a better life today?

"System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot" by Rob Reich, Mehran Sahami & Jeremy M. Weinstein

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Technology is rapidly reshaping our lives. And not always for the better. In this episode, three Stanford professors argue that if we want technology to advance human progress, we need to rein in big tech.

"Starstruck: A Memoir of Astrophysics and Finding Light in the Dark" by Sarafina El-Badry Nance

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Egyptian-American astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance shares how she boldly carved out a place in the field of astrophysics, grounding herself in a lifelong love of the stars to face life’s inevitable challenges and embrace the unknown.

"How Not to Age: The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Get Older" by Michael Greger

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, physician and New York Times bestselling author Michael Greger shares simple hacks you can use to stay healthy as you age.

"Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence" by Rich Horwath

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Over the past two decades, Rich Horwath has helped more than a quarter million leaders develop their strategic thinking and planning skills. Today, he's here to help you.

"How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book" by Liel Leibovitz

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, journalist and podcaster Liel Leibovitz explores how the Talmud — an ancient work of Jewish ethics, law, and tradition ― might actually be humanity’s first self-help book.

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"We, the Data Human Rights in the Digital Age" by Wendy H. Wong

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Wendy Wong, a political scientist at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, stops by to tell us why we need to reboot rights in this data-intensive world.

"Fool Proof: How Fear of Playing the Sucker Shapes Our Selves and the Social Order—and What We Can Do About It" by Tess Wilkinson-Ryan

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The fear of playing the fool is a universal psychological phenomenon and an underappreciated driver of human behavior, says Tess Wilkinson-Ryan. She's on the show today to explain how to live with integrity in a sucker's world.

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"Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind" by Andy Dunn

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

CW: This episode contains references to suicide.

In his 20s, Andy Dunn launched a DTC men’s fashion brand called Bonobos. Business was booming. But Dunn was haunted by a ghost: a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. A collision course was set in motion, threatening to unravel everything he’d built. Today, Andy joins us to talk about his harrowing experience and what it can teach all of us about the mental health stigmas.

"Awaken Your Genius: Escape Conformity, Ignite Creativity, and Become Extraordinary" by Ozan Varol

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Ozan Varol, the acclaimed author of "Think Like a Rocket Scientist" shares five tools you can use to unlock your originality and unleash your unique talents.

"The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying about What People Think of You" by Michael Gervais

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, to close out the week, we'll hear psychologist Michael Gervais's groundbreaking guide for overcoming what may be the single greatest constrictor of human potential: our fear of people’s opinions.

"Apprentice Nation: How the 'Earn and Learn' Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America" by Ryan Craig

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

College isn’t for everyone. Could high-value apprenticeships provide an alternative pathway to economic opportunity?

"Is Math Real?: How Simple Questions Lead Us to Mathematics’ Deepest Truths" by Eugenia Cheng

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, one of the world’s most creative mathematicians offers a new way to look at math.

"The Age-Proof Brain: New Strategies to Improve Memory, Protect Immunity, and Fight Off Dementia" by Marc Milstein

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

"There are little things that we can do daily that lower our risk of dementia and Alzheimer's by anywhere from 30 to 60 percent," says Marc Milstein in today's episode.

"How Work Works: The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without Losing Yourself" by Michelle P. King

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In her two decades researching organizations, Michelle King has discovered that people who succeed possess a particularly unique skill: They know how workplaces work.

"How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times" by Chris Bailey

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

To cap off the week, we'll hear from Chris Bailey, who offers up a guide to achieving calm, navigating anxiety, and staving off burnout.

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"Conflicted: How Productive Disagreements Lead to Better Outcomes" by Ian Leslie

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Ian Leslie, a columnist for the New Statesman, is here today to teach us how to transform the heat of conflict, disagreement, and argument into the light of insight, creativity, and connection.

"The Canceling of the American Mind: Cancel Culture Undermines Trust and Threatens Us All—But There Is a Solution" by Greg Lukianoff & Rikki Schlott

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, a deep dive into cancel culture, an account of its dangers to all Americans, and the much-needed antidote from the team that brought you "Coddling of the American Mind."

"Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us" by Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Many of us mistakenly view the arts as mere entertainment. But today Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross show us how the arts and aesthetics can help us transform traditional medicine, build healthier communities, and mend an aching planet.

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"Quitting: A Life Strategy: The Myth of Perseverance—and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free" by Julia Keller

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

We're often told to tough things out. But Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Julia Keller wanted to know: is grit all it's cracked up to be, or is it possible that sometimes quitting is actually a better life strategy?

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"Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World" by Jenn Granneman & Andre Sólo

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Do you pause before you speak and think before you act? Do you tune into subtle details and make connections that others miss? Well then you, my friend, might be a sensitive person. And according to today's guest, Andre Sólo, that's a good thing — because if you can learn to embrace your sensitivity, you can leverage it across the most important areas of your life: in friendships and relationships, the workplace, leadership, and parenting.

"Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens" by Rajiv Shah

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation and former administrator of President Barack Obama’s United States Agency for International Development, shares his audacious strategy for achieving transformational change.

"The Experience Machine: How Our Minds Predict and Shape Reality" by Andy Clark

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Most of us believe that what we see is what’s really there. But new discoveries in neuroscience and psychology have turned this assumption upside down. What if rather than perceiving reality passively, your mind actively predicts it? That's what Andy Clark argues in today's episode.

"I'm So Effing Hungry: Why We Crave What We Crave — and What to Do About It" by Amy Shah

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Dr. Amy Shah shares a science-based plan designed to help you take charge of your health and your cravings, without feeling deprived.

"The Deadline Effect: How to Work Like It's the Last Minute ― Before the Last Minute" by Christopher Cox

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

As an editor at Harper's and GQ, Christopher Cox learned the power of a good deadline. Then he began to wonder: could he leverage that power in other parts of his life?

"The Power of Wonder: The Extraordinary Emotion That Will Change the Way You Live, Learn, and Lead" by Monica C. Parker

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

We're capping off the week with an eye-opening journey through the magical, yet surprisingly little-understood, human emotion that is wonder led by Monica Parker, a consultant whose clients include blue-chip companies such as LinkedIn, Google, Prudential, and LEGO.

"The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World" by Max Fisher

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

We all have a vague sense that social media is bad for us, but the truth, according to New York Times reporter Max Fisher, is that its reach and impact run far deeper than we have understood. He joins us today to explain how social media rewired our minds and what we can do to break free.

"Evolutionary Intelligence: How Technology Will Make Us Smarter" by W. Russell Neuman

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

A surprising vision of how human intelligence will coevolve with digital technology and revolutionize how we think and behave from one of the founders of the MIT Media Lab.

"Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence" by Anna Lembke

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain — and what we can do about it.

"Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results" by Shane Parrish

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Few things will change your trajectory in life or business as much as learning to think clearly. Today, Shane Parrish, founder of Farnam Street and host of "The Knowledge Project" podcast, is here to teach you how.

"It's Not Me, It's You: Break the Blame Cycle. Relationship Better" by John Kim & Vanessa Bennett

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000

John Kim and Vanessa Bennett are marriage therapists. They are also partners. Today, they tell us how analyzing their own relationship helped them untangle the common barriers many individuals face on the road to a happy, loving, rewarding partnership.

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"Influence Is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen" by Zoe Chance

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Zoe Chance teaches the most popular class at the Yale School of Management. But you don't have to got to Yale to hear what she has to say, because she's with us today to share a few key insights from her book "Influence Is Your Superpower."

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"The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time" by Yascha Mounk

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Has a healthy appreciation for the culture and heritage of minority groups transformed into a counterproductive obsession with group identity in all its forms? The Atlantic's Yascha Mounk thinks so. He joins us today to explain how it happened and why he believes it threatens American democracy.

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"Your Life Depends On It: What You Can Do to Make Better Choices About Your Health" by Talya Miron-Shatz

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, a top expert on decision-making explains why it’s so hard to make good choices about your health — and what you (and your doctor) can do to make better ones.

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"Number Go Up: Inside Crypto's Wild Rise and Staggering Fall" by Zeke Faux

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Happy Monday! Today, Bloomberg reporter Zeke Faux is here to tell the story of the greatest financial mania the world has ever seen.

"Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It" by Jennifer Breheny Wallace

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, we hear from Jennifer Breheny Wallace, author of the definitive book on the rise of toxic achievement culture that is overtaking our kids' and parents' lives. She offers a new framework for fighting back.

• We'll be hosting a live event with Jennifer in New York City on November 1st. Click here to learn more.

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"The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves" by Alexandra Hudson

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Can civility help bridge our political divide?

"Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking" by Mehdi Hasan

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan isn’t one to avoid arguments. He relishes them as the lifeblood of democracy and the only surefire way to establish the truth. Arguments help us solve problems, uncover new ideas we might not have considered, and nudge our disagreements toward mutual understanding. A good argument, made in good faith, has intrinsic value ― and can also simply be fun. Whether you are making a presentation at work or debating current political issues with a friend, Mehdi Hasan will teach you how to sharpen your speaking skills to make the winning case.

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"Why We Forget and How To Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory" by Andrew E. Budson & Elizabeth A. Kensinger

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

If memory is a simple thing, why does it so often go awry? Why is forgetting so common? How can you be certain about something you remember — and be wrong about it? Why is it so difficult to remember people's names? How can you study hard for an exam but not be able to recall the material on the test? Today, Dr. Andrew Budson and Dr. Elizabeth Kensinger address these questions and more, using their years of experience to guide readers into better memory.

"Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most" by Adam Alter

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Adam Alter, author of "Anatomy of a Breakthrough," offers up a groundbreaking guide to breaking free from the thoughts, habits, jobs, relationships, and business models that are preventing you from achieving your full potential.

S37 E5: "Choose Your Story, Change Your Life: Silence Your Inner Critic and Rewrite Your Life from the Inside Out" by Kindra Hall

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

The things we tell ourselves affect how well or poorly our path in life goes. Today, we're going to flip the script on the internal stories you tell yourself so you can live life on your terms.

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S37 E4: "The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma" by Mustafa Suleyman

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today we dig into the unprecedented risks that AI and other fast-developing technologies pose to global order, and how we might contain them while we have the chance.

S37 E3: "A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload" by Cal Newport

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, New York Times bestselling author Cal Newport offers a bold vision for liberating workers from the tyranny of the inbox — and unleashing a new era of productivity.

S37 E2: "Rethinking Intelligence: A Radical New Understanding of Our Human Potential" by Rina Bliss

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Rina Bliss, a genetics expert and professor challenges our understanding of intelligence, explaining what it truly means to be “smart,” why conventional assessments are misleading, and what everyone can do to optimize their potential.

S37 E1: "Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You" by Brad Stulberg

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Change is not the exception, it’s the rule. Today, Brad Stulberg tells us how to deal with it.

S36 E5: "Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing" by Pete Davis

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

We are stuck in “Infinite Browsing Mode” — swiping through endless dating profiles without committing to a single partner, jumping from place to place searching for the next big thing, and refusing to make any decision that might close us off from an even better choice we imagine is just around the corner. This culture of restlessness and indecision, Pete Davis argues, is causing tension in the lives of young people today: We want to keep our options open, and yet we yearn for the purpose, community, and depth that can only come from making deep commitments. Today, he's here to teach us how to make it to the other side.

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S36 E4: "How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes: Science-Based Strategies for Better Parenting—From Tots to Teens" by Melinda Wenner Moyer

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

As an award-winning science journalist, Melinda Wenner Moyer was regularly asked to investigate and address all kinds of parenting questions: how to potty train, when and whether to get vaccines, and how to help kids sleep through the night. But as Melinda's children grew, she found that one huge area was ignored in the realm of parenting advice: How do we make sure our kids don't grow up to be assholes?

S36 E3: "The World Behind the World: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Limits of Science" by Erik Hoel

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today: a fascinating exploration into how the brain creates our conscious experiences — potentially revolutionizing neuroscience and the future of technology.

S36 E2: "The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life" by Sally Jenkins

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Sportswriter Sally Jenkins has spent 30 years observing, interviewing, and analyzing elite coaches and playmakers, such as Bill Belichick, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, and more. In this episode, she shares the principles that lead superstars to success — and how you can apply those principles to your life.

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S36 E1: "Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot" by Matt Abrahams

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Spend 13 minutes with us today and develop the life-changing ability to excel in spontaneous communication situations—from public speaking to interviewing to networking—with a few essential strategies courtesy of Matt Abrahams, a Stanford lecturer, coach, and host of the popular "Think Fast, Talk Smart" podcast.

S35 E2: "Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships" by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, licensed therapist and bestselling relationship expert Nedra Glover Tawwab offers clear advice for identifying dysfunctional family patterns and choosing the best path to breaking the cycle and moving forward.

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S35 E4: "Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs – An Antidote for Short-Termism" by Ari Wallach

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Many of the problems we face today, from climate change to work anxiety, are the result of short-term thinking. But there is a solution. Futurist Ari Wallach offers a radical new way forward called “longpath,” a mantra and mindset to help us focus on the long view.

S35 E3: "Misbelief What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things" by Dan Ariely

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Social scientist Dan Ariely explores the behavior of misbelief that leads people to distrust accepted truths and embrace conspiracy theories.

S35 E2: "Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, and Shape Our Health" by Anupam B. Jena & Christopher Worsham

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In their groundbreaking book, "Random Acts of Medicine," Anupam Jena and Christopher Worsham reveal the hidden side of medicine and how unexpected — but predictable — events can profoundly affect our health.

S35 E1: "Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well" by Amy Edmondson

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, in just eight minutes, award-winning Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson is going to transform your relationship with failure.

S34 E5: "The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough" by Thomas Curran

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

The pursuit of perfection can become a dangerous obsession that leads to burnout and depression — keeping us from achieving our goals. Today, Thomas Curran gives us tips for letting go so we can focus on what matters most.

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S34 E4: "The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together" by Heather McGhee

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Racism, says Heather McGhee in her award-winning book "The Sum of Us," is the common denominator of our most vexing public problems, the core dysfunction of our democracy, and constitutive of the spiritual and moral crises that grip us all. But how did this happen? And is there a way out?

S34 E3: "Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain" by Shankar Vedantam & Bill Mesler

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Shankar Vedantam, host of "Hidden Brain," walks us through the surprising role of self-deception in human flourishing.

S34 E2: "Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life" by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas teach the popular course "Humor: Serious Business" at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where they help some of the world’s most hard-driving, blazer-wearing business minds infuse more humor and levity into their work and lives. In "Humor, Seriously," they draw on findings by behavioral scientists, world-class comedians, and inspiring business leaders to reveal how humor works and—more importantly—how you can use more of it, better.

S34 E1: "Lead Like a Marine: Run Towards a Challenge, Assemble Your Fireteam, and Win Your Next Battle" by John Warren & John Thompson

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In 2006, John Warren and John Thompson led Marines into combat in the world’s most dangerous city: Ramadi, Iraq. In "Lead Like a Marine," Warren and Thompson lay out the simple, universal rules that helped them succeed, from valuing grit and potential over pedigree, to condensing large groups into resilient “fireteams,” to cross-training team members so that anyone can step up to the plate in a crisis.

S33 E5: "Build the Life You Want" by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

You can get happier. And getting there will be the adventure of your lifetime. Today, Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks shares a few tips on how to do it from his new book — co-written with the one and only Oprah Winfrey — "Build the Life You Want."

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S33 E4: "Our Tribal Future: How to Channel Our Foundational Human Instincts into a Force for Good" by David R. Samson

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Tribalism is one of the most complex and ancient evolutionary forces. But in our vast modern world, has this blessing become a curse?

S33 E3: "High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out" by Amanda Ripley

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In "High Conflict," bestselling author and award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley investigates how good people get captured by high conflict—and how they break free.

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S33 E2: "Psych: The Story of the Human Mind" by Paul Bloom

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Today, Paul Bloom takes us on a brisk tour through modern psychology.

S33 E1: "Hidden Genius: The Secret Ways of Thinking That Power the World’s Most Successful People" by Polina Marinova Pompliano

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

What distinguishes the great from the truly exceptional? After five years of writing The Profile, Polina Marinova Pompliano has studied thousands of successful and interesting people in the world and examined how they reason their way through problems, unleash their creativity, and perform under extreme pressure.

S32 E5: "No Ordinary Assignment: A Memoir" by Jane Ferguson

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Jane Ferguson has covered nearly every war front and humanitarian crisis of our time. Today, she shares career advice inspired by her bestselling memoir, "No Ordinary Assignment."

S32 E4: "Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution" by Rainn Wilson

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson explores the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for an increasingly challenging world.

S32 E3: "Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know" by Adam Grant

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Today, our curator Adam Grant stops by to share the key takeaways from his #1 New York Times bestseller "Think Again."

• If you're an Adam Grant fan, you'll love The Next Big Idea Club. Adam, Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink handpick their favorite books, and then we send them to your doorstep. Sign up at nextbigideaclub.com and use code DAILY for a special discount.

S32 E2: "Fit Nation The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession" by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, a leading political and intellectual historian and a certified fitness instructor, explores the complex and far-reaching implications of how our contemporary exercise culture took shape.

S32 E1: "The Manager's Handbook: Five Simple Steps to Build a Team, Stay Focused, Make Better Decisions, and Crush Your Competition" by David Dodson

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty member, serial entrepreneur, and investor David Dodson details the five skills every great manager needs to know if they want to get things done.

S31 E5: “Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning” by Tom Vanderbilt

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

To write "Beginners," Tom Vanderbilt embarked on a yearlong quest of learning just for the sake of it. Along the way, he interviewed dozens of experts about the psychology and science behind the benefits of becoming an adult beginner. Today, he joins us to explain how anyone can get better at beginning again — and why it's worth it.

S31 E4: "On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy" By Lee McIntyre

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In "On Disinformation," Lee McIntyre shows how the war on facts began, and how ordinary citizens can fight back against the scourge of disinformation that is now threatening the very fabric of our society.

S31 E3: "Imaginable: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything―Even Things That Seem Impossible Today" by Jane McGonigal

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In "Imaginable," Jane McGonigal draws on the latest scientific research in psychology and neuroscience to show us how to train our minds to think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable.

S31 E2: "Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting" by Lisa Genova

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In "Remember," neuroscientist and novelist Lisa Genova delves into how memories are made and how we retrieve them.

S31 E1: "The Leap to Leader: How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership" by Adam Bryant

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

The chasm separating managers from leaders is widening as the skills required to be an effective leader grow in number and complexity. But you're ambitious. You want to cross that chasm. And your organization needs you to cross it in order to join its bench of stars who will lead with empathy and humanity and ground the organization's strategies in a meaningful, mission-driven, and purposeful way. Today on the show Adam Bryant will teach you how to make that leap.

S30 E5: "A Pity Party Is Still a Party: A Feel-Good Guide to Feeling Bad" by Chelsea Harvey Garner

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Most of us try to avoid feeling sad, but therapist Chelsea Harvey Garner believes the future will be brighter if we learn to enjoy the unenjoyable and support each other when the vibes aren’t so good. Today, she tells us how to do it.

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S30 E4: "The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet" by Jeff Goodell

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In his new book, award-winning journalist Jeff Goodell explains how extreme heat will dramatically change the world as we know it.

S30 E3: "How to Think like a Philosopher: Twelve Key Principles for More Humane, Balanced, and Rational Thinking" by Julian Baggini

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In "How to Think like a Philosopher," Julian Baggini turns to eminent philosophers, past and present, to find practical solutions for today's most vexing questions.

S30 E2: "Why We Need to Be Wild: One Woman's Quest for Ancient Human Answers to 21st Century Problems" by Jessica Carew Kraft

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Jessica Carew Kraft, an urban wife and mom of two, was firmly rooted in the modern world, complete with a high-powered career in tech and the sneaking suspicion that her lifestyle was preventing her and her family from truly thriving. Determined to find a better way, Jessica quit her job and set out to learn about "rewilding" from people who reject the comforts and convenience of civilization by using ancient tools and skills to survive. Along the way, she learned how to turn sticks into fire, stones into axes, and bones into tools for harvesting wild food―and found an entire community walking the path back from our technology-focused, anxiety-ridden way of life to a simpler, more human experience.

S30 E1: "Gonzo Capitalism: How to Make Money in An Economy That Hates You" by Chris Guillebeau

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

The traditional ways of earning a living are outdated, if not outright rigged. That’s why a growing number of enterprising individuals are instead turning to the growing ecosystem of decentralized, fast-moving virtual markets to pursue a host of previously unheard-of ways to pay the bills. Join New York Times bestselling author Chris Guillebeau on a fascinating tour of this brave new world where novelty is currency, and the creators are in control.

S29 E5: "A Minute to Think: Reclaim Creativity, Conquer Busyness, and Do Your Best Work" by Juliet Funt

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Juliet Funt provides strategies you can use to regain control of days, liberate yourself from burnout and busy work, and reclaim creativity and focus—even when there's chaos all around you.

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S29 E4: "Thoreau's Axe: Distraction and Discipline in American Culture" (Caleb Smith)

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

What can a 19th-century naturalist teach us about reclaiming our attention?

S29 E3: "Brainhacker: Master Memory, Focus, Emotions, and More to Unleash the Genius Within" by Dave Farrow

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, two-time Guinness World Record memory champ Dave Farrow shares practical tips you can use to “rewire” your brain and boost its power.

S29 E2: "Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most" by Cassie Holmes

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Our most precious resource isn’t money. It’s time. We are allotted just 24 hours a day, and we live in a culture that keeps us feeling “time poor.” Since we can’t add more hours to the day, how can we experience our lives as richer?

S29 E1: “Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again” by Johann Hari

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

You may have noticed that the kind of focus we all need to get stuff done is harder and harder to come by. But fear not. To help you get back on track, we've called in some of the smartest writers we know to give us their take on the attention crisis and what we can do about it. All this week, we'll be hearing from them. First up is journalist Johann Hari. Johann is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, and he joins us today to share some key insights from his latest, "Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again."

Encore: Plan on Fridays (Laura Vanderkam)

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In the final installment of the master class based on her book “Tranquility by Tuesday,” productivity expert Laura Vanderkam says nailing your work-life balance comes down to how you use your Fridays.

Encore: Effortful Before Effortless (Laura Vanderkam)

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Do effortful fun before effortless fun. But what's the difference? Laura explains in today's mini masterclass.

Encore: Take One Night for Yourself (Laura Vanderkam)

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

To renew your spirits, Laura says you need to take some time for yourself.

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Encore: Have One Big Adventure and One Little Adventure (Laura Vanderkam)

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

You know what you need? An adventure. That's right. You don't have to wait until your next vacation. You can — and should — make it a habit to do surprising, novel things on the reg. And, yes, we know you're thinking: "How can I fit that in with everything else I have going on?" Don't worry. Laura Vanderkam has a simple solution for making adventures of all sizes part of your routine.

Encore: You Need a Bedtime (Laura Vanderkam)

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In "Tranquility by Tuesday," time management guru Laura Vanderkam shares tools you can use to finally make time for the activities you love. But before you can do that, you need to get a good night's sleep. Today, Laura explains how.

S28 E5: How To Say No To Pushy Askers (Vanessa Patrick)

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In the final installment of her interview, Vanessa Patrick ("The Power of Saying No") gives us tips for turning down the pushy people in our lives.

S28 E4: Use a Cost-Benefit Framework To Decipher the Asks That Come Your Way (Vanessa Patrick)

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today: The difference between "pass the salt" and "bake your favorite lasagna" asks.

S28 E3: Master the Art of Empowered Refusal (Vanessa Patrick)

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Vanessa Patrick shares a strategy for saying "no" inspired by one of the most famous people in the world, and one of the best at saying "no"—Oprah Winfrey.

S28 E2: Say “I Don’t,” Not “I Can’t" (Vanessa Patrick)

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Vanessa explains how the super skill of "empowered refusal" can help you say "no" no in a way that is persuasive and does not elicit pushback from others.

S28 E1: Why Do You Say “Yes” When You Want to Say “No”? (Vanessa Patrick)

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Too often, we say "yes" to friends, bosses, and even strangers when what we really want to say is "absolutely not." Why do we do this? Vanessa Patrick, a marketing professor at the University of Houston, has spent years researching this question. The answer she's come up with could change your life.

S27 E5: “Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most” by Steven Johnson

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In the final installment of our week-long exploration into the art and science of decision-making, we hear from acclaimed science journalist Steven Johnson, who provides a step-by-step process for making life-altering decisions.

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S27 E4: “Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life’s Biggest Decisions” by Myra Strober & Abby Davisson

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, you'll how to make smart decisions about two vexing subjects: money and love.

• Myra Strober is a labor economist and Professor Emerita at Stanford University, where she founded the Stanford Center for Research on Women (now the Clayman Institute for Gender Research).

• Abby Davisson is a social innovation leader and career development expert, who served as president of Gap Foundation and co-founded the company's employee resource group for parents and caregivers.

S27 E3: "The Art of Clear Thinking: A Stealth Fighter Pilot's Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions" by Hasard Lee

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

As a U.S. fighter pilot, Hasard Lee has had to make split-second decisions under extreme pressure. Now he's here to teach you how to do the same.

S27 E2: "The Elements of Choice: Why the Way We Decide Matters" by Eric Johnson

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, we're continuing our deep dive into decision-making with a few big ideas from Eric Johnson, director of the Center for Decision Sciences at Columbia Business School and author of "The Elements of Choice: Why the Way We Decide Matters."

S27 E1: “Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away” by Annie Duke

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Sometimes it seems that all we do in life is make decisions, and yet it’s a surprisingly difficult skill to master. How do you get good at deciding? To answer that question, we’re calling in the pros: Annie Duke, Eric Johnson, Hasard Lee, Abby Davisson, Myra Strober, and Steven Johnson. They’re ex-poker players, business school professors, fighter pilots, and science journalists — and together, they’re going to share a whole bunch of tools you can use to improve your decision-making capabilities.

First up is cognitive scientist turned poker player turned decision strategist Annie Duke to share a few key insights from her recent book “Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away.”

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S26 E5: Make Present-Day Sacrifices Feel Easier To Undertake (Hal Hershfield)

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

For any trade-off between your current and future self, it's always the you of today who has to make the sacrifice. In his final appearance on the show, UCLA's Hal Hershfield offers a way around that problem.

S26 E4: Add Constraints to Your Future Behavior (Hal Hershfield)

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Hal Hershfield ("Your Future Self") explains how you can make life better tomorrow by making grand plans now to ease your future life.

S26 E3: Make Your Future Self Seem Closer (Hal Hershfield)

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Does your future self seem kinda blurry? Try writing them a letter.

S26 E2: The Better You Know Your Future Self, the Better Your Long-Term Decisions Will Be (Hal Hershfield)

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

It may sound strange, but if you can learn to treat your future self like someone you really care about, then you'll be more likely to make satisfying, rewarding, and ethical long-term decisions.

S26 E1: Your Future Self Is an Entirely Different Person (Hal Hershfield)

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Can vividly imagining your future self help you make better decisions? Hal Hershfield thinks so, and he’s got the research to prove it. Hal — who teaches at UCLA and has been called a “pioneering psychologist” by none other than our curator Adam Grant — is out with a new book called “Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today,” and he is here all week to help Michael, you, and future you achieve success.

S25 E5: Surf When You Can (Brett Crozier)

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In the final installment of his mini-masterclass, Brett Crozier shares advice for being a staunch defender of your personal time.

S25 E4: Play Small Ball (Brett Crozier)

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, retired Navy captain Brett Crozier ("Surf When You Can") explains why in order to achieve big success, you've first got to nail the little things.

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S25 E3: Focus on the Closest Alligator (Brett Crozier)

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Whether you're flying, captaining, or working, always focus on the alligator closest to the canoe.

S25 E2: Pull Like a Clydesdale (Brett Crozier)

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

We are stronger when we work together. Literally.

S25 E1: Never Turn Down an Espresso (Brett Crozier)

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

"Talk to me, Goose." Actually, this week we're saying, "Talk to me, Chopper." That was Brett Crozier's call sign when he served as a fighter pilot (and it's what his wife still calls him when she's irritated). Brett has a new book out called "Surf When You Can: Lessons in Life, Loyalty, and Leadership from a Maverick Navy Captain," which charts his journey from "Top Gun" wannabe to commanding officer of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. He joins Michael this week to share five lessons from his career that can help you improve your life-work balance.

S24 E5: "Friendship in the Age of Loneliness: An Optimist's Guide to Connection” by Adam Smiley Poswolsky

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

We're wrapping up our collection of summery Book Bites with a few lessons from Smiley Poswolsky's "Friendship in the Age of Loneliness: An Optimist's Guide to Connection."

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S24 E4: “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life” by Dacher Keltner

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at UC Berkeley who helped Pixar make “Inside Out,” explores the history and science of awe.

S24 E3: "How to Prepare for Climate Change" by David Pogue

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

When David Pogue (CBS Sunday Morning) realized that we are already living through the beginnings of climate chaos, he decided to write a book full of action plans for riding out every climate catastrophe that Mother Nature might throw at us.

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S24 E2: “Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—a Cool History of a Hot Commodity” by Amy Brady

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Ice ice baby! Today, journalist and historian Amy Brady shares the astonishing 200-year history of ice in America, from ice rinks to ice cream to modern-day miracles like cryotherapy breast-cancer treatments.

S24 E1: “Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs” by Jamie Loftus

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

We're trying something different this week. Instead of hearing from one author, you'll hear from five. Together, they'll help you figure out how to have the perfect summer. Up first: comedian and podcaster Jamie Loftus shares a few tasty insights from her New York Times bestseller "Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs."

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S23 E5: The Prosperity Trap (Ben Ansell)

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

What can the global response to climate change tell us about the health of modern democratic states?

• Ben Ansell is professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail”

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S23 E4: The Security Trap (Ben Ansell)

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Ben explains why democracy and security are such uneasy bedfellows.

• Ben Ansell is professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail”

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• To hear more interviews, audio e-courses, and hundreds of author-read book summaries, download the Next Big Idea app

S23 E3: The Solidarity Trap (Ben Ansell)

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Why is it so hard to create a sense of national unity and civic responsibility here in the Divided States of America?

• Ben Ansell is professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail”

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• To hear more interviews, audio e-courses, and hundreds of author-read book summaries, download the Next Big Idea app

S23 E2: The Equality Trap (Ben Ansell)

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Why has the American political system failed to arrest accelerating inequality, and is there anything we can do about it?

• Ben Ansell is professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail”

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• To hear more interviews, audio e-courses, and hundreds of author-read book summaries, download the Next Big Idea app

S23 E1: The Democracy Trap (Ben Ansell)

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0000

As you may have noticed, modern democracies aren’t doing so hot. In country after country, income inequality soars while solidarity plummets. Resentment simmers while national unity cools. In places like the US and the UK, beacons of liberal democracy, words like “autocracy” and “anarchy” are thrown around with alarming regularity. Meanwhile, our ability to take action on existential threats like AI and climate change is stymied by sniping politicians who are obsessed with point-scoring and eerily disinclined to agree on a shared set of facts.

Given all this, it’s not unreasonable to wonder: Are we doomed?

This week, on the 247th anniversary of America’s birthday — and the dawn of the modern democratic experiment — we’ll get to the bottom of that unsettling question with Ben Ansell, professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail.”

S22 E5: Take the Scenic Route and Give Yourself Grace at the Finish Line (Shelby Stanger)

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In her final mini masterclass, Shelby warns you not to be so focused on reaching the finish line that you may miss the epic views along the way.

• Shelby Stanger is the host of REI’s “Wild Ideas Worth Living” podcast and the author of “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life”

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• To hear more interviews, audio e-courses, and hundreds of author-read book summaries, download the Next Big Idea app

S22 E4: Use Humor to Deflate Fear (Shelby Stanger)

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

When scaling a steep rock wall or surfing gnarly waves, it’s easy to let fear get the better of you, but today, Shelby explains how you can use humor to stay loose.

• Shelby Stanger is the host of REI’s “Wild Ideas Worth Living” podcast and the author of “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life”

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• To hear more interviews, audio e-courses, and hundreds of author-read book summaries, download the Next Big Idea app

S22 E3: Map Your Trail, but Start as Soon as You Can (Shelby Stanger)

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Before you embark on a wild adventure, you obviously need to do some planning. But don’t go overboard. Give yourself a deadline, and get to work.

• Shelby Stanger is the host of REI’s “Wild Ideas Worth Living” podcast and the author of “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life”

• Want to go behind the scenes of this show? Sign up for our newsletter

• To hear more interviews, audio e-courses, and hundreds of author-read book summaries, download the Next Big Idea app

S22 E2: Have a Strong Why (Shelby Stanger)

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

If you have a strong why for pursuing a wild adventure, you’re more likely to find a way to get it done.

• Shelby Stanger is the host of REI’s “Wild Ideas Worth Living” podcast and the author of “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life”

• Want to go behind the scenes of this show? Sign up for our newsletter

• To hear more interviews, audio e-courses, and hundreds of author-read book summaries, download the Next Big Idea app

S22 E1: A Little Adventure Can Go a Long Way (Shelby Stanger)

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Where are you listening to this podcast? In your car? At your desk? Puttering around your house? If Shelby Stanger had her druthers, you’d be listening in the great outdoors — maybe while hiking on a scenic trail, or pedaling down an open road, or sitting astride a surfboard (while wearing waterproof earbuds, of course).

Shelby is a journalist and adventurer: as a journalist, her work has appeared in Outside Magazine and on ESPN; as an adventurer, she’s surfed from Canada to Costa Rica and paddled remote stretches of the Amazon River. Her new book, “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life,” is a guide to getting out of your comfort zone and into the wild world.

S21 E5: We Mistake Information for Intimacy (Marcus Collins)

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Data, demographics — these things only take you so far. That's the final lesson Marcus Collins has to share with us. If you really want to get to know someone, he says, you've got to look past what they "do" and try to figure out who they "are."

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S21 E4: The World Is Culturally Constructed (Marcus Collins)

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

"Meaning," says Marcus Collins ("For the Culture") in today's episode, "is culturally mediated based on how we see the world. Understanding how people make meaning will increase the likelihood of understanding who they are and how they navigate the world."

S21 E3: Our Approach to Market Segmentation Needs an Upgrade (Marcus Collins)

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Marcus Collins ("For the Culture") says that if you want to understand someone, you can learn much more from their tribal communities than their demographics.

S21 E2: The Future of Brands Will Be Communal (Marcus Collins)

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Welcome back to our week-long masterclass with marketing magician Marcus Collins. He ran digital strategy for Beyoncé; teaches at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan; serves as chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy; and wrote a great book called "For the Culture." Today, he explains why he thinks the brands that'll succeed in the future will make consumers feel like they're part of a community.

S21 E1: There's No Greater Force Than Culture (Marcus Collins)

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

This week: Marcus Collins, who teaches marketing at the University of Michigan's business school and serves as the chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy, shares five key insights from his book "For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be."

S20 E5: Diversify Your Identity Beyond Work (Simone Stolzoff)

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

When we work all the time, it doesn’t just take our best hours; it often takes our best energy, too. In his final lesson, Simone Stolzoff (”The Good Enough Job”) implores us to step away from work and engage in active forms of leisure.

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S20 E4: Define What Good Enough Means to You (Simone Stolzoff)

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Your job isn't your soulmate. If it's good enough, then maybe that's good enough.

S20 E3: Be a Satisficer Not a Maximizer (Simone Stolzoff)

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Many of us have internalized the message that there’s one dream job for us and we shouldn’t stop until we find it. So we tweak our resumes and browse LinkedIn in the hopes of finding a role that helps us self-actualize. But first determining what matters and recognizing that we may already have it is a better recipe for happiness.

S20 E2: Value Time, Not Money (Simone Stolzoff)

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In today's episode, Simone Stolzoff ("The Good Enough Job") tells Michael that when you think about the role work plays in your life, "it's worth considering that valuing more free time over more money tends to be more fulfilling and lead to higher overall well-being."

S20 E1: How to Reclaim Life From Work (Simone Stolzoff)

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Do you live to work or work to live? Journalist Simone Stolzoff tackles that age-old question with renewed energy in his book "The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work." All this week, he'll be chatting with host Michael Kovnat about how work came to play such an outsized role in our lives and what would happen if we stopped chasing the dream gig, gave up the idea of having a calling, and instead tried to find jobs that were simply good enough.

S19 E5: You Only Know What You Make (Tiago Forte)

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Our time with Tiago Forte may be over, but hopefully your journey to building a second brain has only just begun. In his final lesson, Tiago explains how your second brain can motivate you to take action.

• Grab a copy of "Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential"

• Have you checked out our newsletter? Every Friday, Michael looks back on the week's episodes and shares his key takeaways. Sign up now!

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S19 E4: Prune the Good to Surface the Great (Tiago Forte)

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Tiago explains how mastering the art of subtraction can strengthen your creative output.

S19 E3: Diverge Before You Converge (Tiago Forte)

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today’s lesson: “Before you shut off new sources of information and converge on an end result, take time to diverge. Expand your horizons, expose yourself to diverse influences, and collect anything that resonates with you.”

Tiago Forte is the author of “Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential.”

S19 E2: Think Small (Tiago Forte)

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Tiago Forte, author of “Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential,” says that if you want to accomplish a big goal, you must first stockpile small building blocks.

P.S. Use the code DAILY to get 10% off any Next Big Idea Club membership at nextbigideaclub.com

S19 E1: Capture the Insights All Around You (Tiago Forte)

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Do you ever struggle to keep track of all the information swirling around in your head? The idea you had for a new project at work; that stat you read in the paper this morning; the name of your sister’s boyfriend. Productivity expert Tiago Forte says you need a digital system to store all those thought bubbles. He thinks of it as a “second brain.” And this week on the show, he’ll teach you how to build one.

S18 E5: Optimize Your Regrets (Daniel Pink)

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Anticipating regrets can often work to our advantage. It slows our thinking. It taps our cerebral breaks, allowing us time to gather additional information and to reflect before we decide what to do. But it should come with a warning label.

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S18 E4: Science Offers a Systematic Way To Deal With Our Regrets (Daniel Pink)

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

So, what can we do to turn our existing regrets into engines of progress? Science suggests a three-step process.

S18 E3: To Understand What People Regret, Look Beneath the Surface (Daniel Pink)

Wed, 31 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

After analyzing thousands of regrets from people in more than 100 countries, Daniel Pink (”The Power of Regret”) has identified the four core regrets that haunt us most. Today, he explains what they are and how understanding these categories can help you make better decisions in the future.

S18 E2: Done Right, Regret Makes Us Better (Daniel Pink)

Tue, 30 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Regret makes us feel worse, but it can make us do better. Indeed, the way it makes us do better is by making us feel worse.

S18 E1: Regret Is Universal (Daniel Pink)

Mon, 29 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

It’s popular to claim you have no regrets. Popular, but perilous. Because regrets aren’t anything to be ashamed of — on the contrary, they’re an integral part of being human. When you deny their existence, you deny yourself the opportunity to look back on your missteps so you can chart a better path forward.

This week on the show: Next Big Idea Club curator Daniel Pink shares five key insights from his latest bestseller, “The Power of Regret.” In these episodes, you’ll learn how to use your regrets to make better decisions, improve your performance at work, and bring more meaning into your life.

S17 E5: We Find Ourselves Through Connecting With Others (Sharon Salzberg)

Fri, 26 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, meditation expert Sharon Salzberg shares one final insight from her new book "Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom."

S17 E4: Cultivating Positive States Creates Resilience (Sharon Salzberg)

Thu, 25 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, Sharon Salzberg tells us how practicing loving-kindness meditation can change how we treat others and understand ourselves.

S17 E3: Loving Presence Transforms Our Relationship With Painful Emotions (Sharon Salzberg)

Wed, 24 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

What if instead of demanding that a painful emotion disappear or becoming all consumed by it, you began to relate to your experience with spaciousness infused with kindness?

S17 E2: Happiness Isn’t Where You Thought It Would Be (Sharon Salzberg)

Tue, 23 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Society’s prescriptions for freedom, happiness, and abundance may not be your own.

S17 E1: Contraction Limits Creativity and Connection (Sharon Salzberg)

Mon, 22 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Sharon Salzberg has been meditating since 1971 — “since before it was cool,” she likes to say. That practice has inspired a series of books, most recently “Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom,” which is all about using the power of mindfulness to confront, and ultimately overcome, whatever obstacles stand in your way. Today, she tells Michael how to transcend “contraction.” What’s contraction? You’ll have to listen to this episode…

(Want the best books of the year — as chosen by Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink — delivered to your doorstep? Sign up for a Next Big Idea Club hardback subscription, and use the code DAILY for 10% off.)

S16 E5: The Most Durable Habits Are Elastic (Katy Milkman)

Fri, 19 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

All week, Wharton professor Katy Milkman has been giving us research-backed tips for making changes that stick. Now, in the final installment of her mini masterclass, she explains why the most durable habit is a flexible one.

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• Katy Milkman’s book is “How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.” Grab a copy today.

• A few years back, she spoke with Daniel Pink on our sister podcast, The Next Big Idea. You can listen to that conversation here.

• Speaking of Daniel Pink, did you know that every season he teams up with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, and Susan Cain to pick the two best new books and mail them to your front door? Sign up for a hardcover Next Big Idea Club membership today and get 10% off when you use the code IMMORTALITY at checkout!

S16 E4: You Might Want to Form an Advice Club (Katy Milkman)

Thu, 18 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Struggling to achieve a goal? Form a club with people who have your back.

S16 E3: The Enjoyable Path Is Better Than the Effective One (Katy Milkman)

Wed, 17 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

How do you make change fun? By bundling an arduous task (exercising) with an enjoyable one (binge-watching lowbrow TV).

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Have you heard about our book boxes? Every quarter, we’ll send you the season’s two best books of the season as chosen by our curators, Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink. You’ll also get access to our app, VIP invitations to live events, and other member benefits. To subscribe, go to nextbigideaclub.com and use code IMMORTALITY for 10% off.

S16 E2: Use Fresh Starts to Kick-Start Change (Katy Milkman)

Tue, 16 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

New Year’s. Your birthday. The start of a new season. These are days when the slate is wiped clean. Which makes them perfect for establishing new habits, like going to the gym or writing in your diary. Today, Wharton professor Katy Milkman explains how you can use the “fresh start effect” to make changes big and small.

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Have you heard about our book boxes? Every quarter, we’ll send you the season’s two best books of the season, as chosen by our curators: Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink. You’ll also get access to our app, VIP invitations to live events, and other member benefits. To subscribe, go to nextbigideaclub.com and use code IMMORTALITY for 10% off.

S16 E1: To Make a Change, Plan a Tailored Attack (Katy Milkman)

Mon, 15 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

How do you get from where you are to where you want to be — from procrastinator to optimizer, couch potato to gym rat, night owl to worm-getting early bird? That's the question Wharton professor Katy Milkman set out to answer in her recent book "How to Change." Actually, she didn't just "set out" to answer it. She did answer it, and she's on the show this week to share science-based strategies you can use to make lasting changes in your life.

S15 E5: You Will Botch It (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz)

Fri, 12 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Have you figured out how to live the good life? Don't worry if you're still working on it. It's only been a week. And you haven't even heard the final piece of advice from Matt Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz, professors at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture and authors of the new book "Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most."

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S15 E4: The Good Life Is Not a Buffet (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz)

Thu, 11 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

You can’t take bits and pieces of different philosophical traditions and put them together into a roadmap to the good life.

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S15 E3: You Can’t Tackle the Big Question All at Once (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz)

Wed, 10 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

"What matters most in life?" There's a reason Matt and Ryan, theology professors at Yale and our guests this week, call it the Big Question. It's too big to answer all at once. You have to break it down. Today they're going to teach you how.

S15 E2: Lean Into Disagreement (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz)

Tue, 09 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Today, we learn why the deepest question — the one that can truly change our lives, ground us, and give us direction — is not “What do I really want?” It’s “What is really worth wanting?”

(Have you checked out our newsletter? Every Friday, Michael looks back on the week's episodes and shares his key takeaways. Sign up now!)

S15 E1: Not Everything You Want Is Worth Wanting (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz)

Mon, 08 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

This week: Matt Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz, professors at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, share key insights from their New York Times bestselling book "Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most."

S14 E5: All Behavior Is Functional (Britt Frank)

Fri, 05 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Even your suboptimal behaviors have a function. Understanding what they are can help you make a change.

S14 E4: There Is No Such Thing as Self-Sabotage (Britt Frank)

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

You say self-sabotage, your brain says self-protection. In today's master class, Britt Frank explains how your brain tries to keep you safe by shooting you in the foot.

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S14 E3: Mental Health Is a Physical Process (Britt Frank)

Wed, 03 May 2023 08:00:00 -0000

This week we’re getting unstuck. We’re passing Go. We’re collecting $200. We’re finding a way forward. How? By utilizing the neuroscience-based tools psychotherapist Britt Frank shares in her new book, “The Science of Stuck.” Today, she explains why it’s so empowering to realize that mental health is a physical process.

S14 E2: Motivation Is Not a Mindset Issue (Britt Frank)

Tue, 02 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In our brains, there is no such thing as a true “lack of motivation.” But how can we harness this biological fact to get off the couch and get more done?

S14 E1: We Need Anxiety (Britt Frank)

Mon, 01 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week on The Next Big Idea Daily: psychotherapist Britt Frank shares five key insights from her book "The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward." Today, Britt explains why you should treat anxiety like a check engine light.

• Download the Next Big Idea app to hear hundreds of audio summaries of the best new books

S13 E5: Plan on Fridays (Laura Vanderkam)

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

S13 E4: Effortful Before Effortless (Laura Vanderkam)

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Do effortful fun before effortless fun. But what's the difference? Laura explains in today's mini master class.

S13 E3: Take One Night for Yourself (Laura Vanderkam)

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

To renew your spirits, Laura says you need to take some time for yourself.

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Download the Next Big Idea app and listen to hundreds of the world's bestselling authors summarize their books in just 12 minutes.

S13 E2: Have One Big Adventure and One Little Adventure (Laura Vanderkam)

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

S13 E1: You Need a Bedtime (Laura Vanderkam)

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

S12 E5: Build Bridges — and Keep Them Up (Mónica Guzmán)

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

All good things must come to an end. It's our last day with Mónica Guzmán, journalist, political de-polarizer, and author of "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times." This week, she's been our anti-debate coach, teaching us how to have tough talks about thorny topics that don't end in fisticuffs. In her final chat with Michael, she says that once you've built a bridge that connects you to someone on the other side of the ideological divide, you should do everything you can not to burn it.

• Have you heard about The Next Big Idea app? It has hundreds of non-fiction book summaries (written and read by the authors themselves), dozens of e-courses (with folks like Dan Pink and Susan Cain), ad-free episodes of this show, and invitations to live author Q&As. Download it today!

S12 E4: Ask How, Not Why (Mónica Guzmán)

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

What's the most powerful question you can ask in a politically charged conversation? "How did you come to believe that?"

S12 E3: We Don’t See With Our Eyes, But With Our Whole Lives (Mónica Guzmán)

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

“The paths we walk to our views are rich and long,” Mónica Guzmán says in today’s episode, “and it is not very likely that one meme or mic drop point is going to change someone else’s mind.” So what will?

S12 E2: We Need To Get Curious About Each Other, With Each Other (Mónica Guzmán)

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

“I don’t understand this person!” You know you’ve thought it. About the uncle or neighbor or co-worker whose worldview is diametrically opposed to your own. But what would happen if you checked your bewildered outrage and tried curiosity instead?

S12 E1: We’re So Divided, We’re Blinded (Mónica Guzmán)

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

This week, award-winning journalist Mónica Guzmán stops by to teach us how to cross the political divide, find common ground, and learn from people whose worldviews radically differ from our own.

Mónica's new book is "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times."

(Have you checked out our app? It's loaded up with hundreds of book summaries read by the authors themselves. Download it here!)

S11 E5: Do the Obvious Things That Bring Happiness (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz)

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Alright, it's time to wrap up Seth Stephens-Davidowitz's five-part master class based on his book "Don't Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life." Today, Seth explains what the data says about finding happiness.

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S11 E4: Increase Your Luck Surface Area (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz)

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Success depends less on getting lucky and more on using your luck well. In this episode, the fourth in Seth’s mini master class, he explains how to do it.

S11 E3: What the Data Says About Getting Rich (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz)

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

You might assume that the wealthiest 1% of Americans are neurosurgeons, corporate attorneys, and hedge fund managers. In reality, they're more likely to own car dealerships or run beverage distribution companies. Today, Seth explains why that is.

S11 E2: The Secret to Raising Great Kids (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz)

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Good news for all you parents out there: the data says you can relax. But there’s still one parenting decision that matters. A lot. Want to know what it is? Tune in to today’s episode!

S11 E1: Focus On Psychological Traits When Dating (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz)

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Big data. Baseball managers use it to win pennants. Stockbrokers use it to beat the market. And now you can use it to get what you really want in life. That's according to a new book by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz called Don't Trust Your Gut.

When faced with difficult life decisions-like "Who should I marry?" and "How can I avoid screwing up my kids?"-we typically follow our intuition. The problem is that our intuition is often wrong. The smarter move, Seth says, is to comb through millions of data points to find statistically significant answers. But who has time for that, not to mention the technical know-how? Well, Seth does. And this week on the show, he'll share the answers he found, starting with the surprising traits you should look for when searching for your soulmate.

S10 E5: Hindsight Bias Is Powerful (David Myers)

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, we wrap up our week-long master class with David Myers with a discussion of hindsight bias and how it can help you be less hard on yourself.

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S10 E4: Differences Seize Our Attention (David Myers)

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

"Others notice us less than we imagine. This is liberating: A bad hair day hardly matters. Few will notice. Fewer will care. Of those, fewer still will remember."

S10 E3: We Often Fear the Wrong Things (David Myers)

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

David says we worry about improbable horrors (like plane crashes) while ignoring greater risks (car smash-ups). Today, he explains how performing statistically sound risk assessments can calm our worried minds.

S10 E2: The Happy Power of Micro-Friendships (David Myers)

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

We all know it's good for us to nurture our relationships with close friends and loved ones. Today, David explains why chatting up strangers is also important.

S10 E1: Our Expressions and Actions Are Self-Revealing (David Myers)

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

All week long on The Next Big Idea Daily, Michael will be chatting with social psychologist David Myers about the wonder of human thought and action, and how you can use insights from the latest research in David's field to boost your mood, improve your decision-making, and more. Today, David shares his first big idea, and it's a counterintuitive one. It turns out that “much as when we observe others and infer their sentiments, so hearing ourselves talk clues us in to our own attitudes.”

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with the show. Sign up now!

S9 E5: Boxing, Dancing and Connecting (Adam Gopnik)

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In our final episode with Adam Gopnik, the award-winning New Yorker writer and author of "The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery" learns how to box, how to dance, and why there’s “no mastery in the absence of another.”

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S9 E4: Perfect Imperfection (Adam Gopnik)

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today: Why mastery requires idiosyncrasy.

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S9 E3: Mastering the Art of Baking (Adam Gopnik)

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Adam Gopnik's first memory of mastery was watching his mother roll out strudel dough, so in midlife, he asked his mother — a linguistics professor by day, pastry maestro by night — to teach him how to bake.

S9 E2: Learning to Drive (Adam Gopnik)

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

It's the second day of our week-long master class with Adam Gopnik, New Yorker staff writer and author of "The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery." Today, he explains how learning to drive at the tender age of 55 brought him closer to his father.

Have you subscribed to our newsletter yet? It comes out every Friday and features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S9 E1: The Grammar of Mastery (Adam Gopnik)

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

A few years ago, Adam Gopnik, a longtime writer for The New Yorker and three-time winner of the National Magazine Award, started thinking about all the things he wasn't good at. He couldn't dance the foxtrot or bake a brioche. Well into his 50s, he still had no idea how to drive a car. To make matters worse, when he looked around, he saw people who could do these things — often with great skill. How, he wondered, did they do it? How do any of us get good at the things we're good at? And how do some of us become next-level masters? To answer those questions, Adam set out to master the skills he lacked, and he has written up the results in a profound little book called "The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery." All this week, he'll be sitting down with Michael to talk about how he did it and what he learned. First up: drawing.

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E5: The Language of Creativity (Jonah Berger)

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In the final installment of his mini master class, Jonah shares his formula for telling great stories.

The latest edition of our weekly newsletter comes out today. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, details on our next guest, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E4: Ask Questions (Jonah Berger)

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Does asking questions make you look smart? (Yes!)

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E3: The Language of Confidence (Jonah Berger)

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

It’s what cult leaders, charlatans, and at least one former president have in common.

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E2: When Nouns Are More Persuasive Than Verbs (Jonah Berger)

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, Jonah explains how adding one or two letters to the end of a word can propel you to success.

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to related content, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E1: Words Tell Us Everything (Jonah Berger)

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Almost everything we do involves words.

"Words," says Wharton professor Jonah Berger, "are how we persuade, communicate, and connect. They're how executives lead, salespeople sell, and parents parent. Even our private thoughts depend on language."

But while we live in a world awash in words, we're strangely indifferent about which ones we use. We focus on the ideas we want to convey, not the best way to articulate them. And that, according to Jonah, is a big mistake because "subtle shifts in the words we use can have a big effect on our impact."

This week on the show, he'll teach you how to make those subtle shifts so you can become a better communicator, a better persuader, a better friend, and a more confident, effective person.

Jonah's new book is called "Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way."

S7 E5: Put Your Own Life Jacket on First (Jessi Hempel)

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In the final installment of Jessi’s five-part master class, she explains why setting boundaries is critical if you want to establish healthy relationships.

• Jessi Hempel is the author of “The Family Outing: A Memoir.” She also hosts the podcast “Hello Monday.”

• Have thoughts about this week’s episodes? Sign up for our LinkedIn newsletter and leave a post a comment!

• Don’t forget to download the Next Big Idea app

S7 E4: Show Up (Jessi Hempel)

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

When it comes to the people closest to you, do you ever regret not showing up?

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• This is day four of our week-long master class with Jessi Hempel, author of "The Family Outing"

• Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes

• And download the Next Big Idea app to hear hundreds of authors summarize their books in 15 minutes or less

S7 E3: Center Other People’s Experiences (Jessi Hempel)

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

What truths emerge when we imagine life as other people experience it?

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• This is day three of our week-long master class with Jessi Hempel, author of "The Family Outing"

• Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes

• And download the Next Big Idea app to hear hundreds of authors summarize their books in 15 minutes or less

S7 E2: When Someone Tells You Who They Are, Listen (Jessi Hempel)

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

First, listen. Then try "Tell me more."

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• This is day two of our week-long master class with Jessi Hempel, author of "The Family Outing."

• Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

S7 E1: Memory Is Unreliable (Jessi Hempel)

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week, Michael sits down with journalist and podcaster Jessi Hempel to discuss her new memoir, "The Family Outing," which tells the remarkable story of how every member of Jessi's immediate family came out — she and her father as gay, her sister as bisexual, her brother as transgender, and her mother as a survivor of a traumatic experience with an alleged serial killer. But "The Family Outing" is more than just a coming-out story: it's a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to live authentically. In this episode, Jessi and Michael discuss how the subjectivity of memory can be the source of deep empathy.

S6 E5: Small Actions Make a Big Difference (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson)

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

It’s not enough for us to solve our money and love issues on an individual level. Enter the tempered radical.

S6 E4: When Communicating, Tread Lightly, Listen and Give Grace (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson)

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Don’t let poor communication ruin your next conversation about money and love. Instead, follow Myra and Abby’s tips.

Subscribe to our newsletter if you’d like to ask questions about this episode, give us feedback, or learn more about Money and Love.

S6 E3: The 5Cs Method (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson)

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Myra and Abby share their five-step process for making good decisions. It goes like this:

CLARIFY what’s most important to you. COMMUNICATE with those most affected by your decision. Generate a broad range of CHOICES. CHECK IN with friends, family, and trusted resources. And explore your decision’s possible CONSEQUENCES.

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Check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes!

S6 E2: Money and Love Decisions Shouldn’t Be Made in Haste (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson)

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Ready, set … wait a sec. Today, Myra and Abby explain why slowing down is key to making good decisions.

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• Myra Strober is a professor emerita at Stanford University and the founding director of the Stanford Center for Research on Women (now the Clayman Institute for Gender Research). Abby Davisson served as president of Gap Foundation and co-founded the clothing company's employee resource group for parents and caregivers.

• Check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

• And to hear hundreds of authors share the best ideas from their books, download the Next Big Idea app!

S6 E1: Decisions About Money and Love Are Profoundly Intertwined (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson)

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Diet Coke and Mentos. Suede and water. Tupac and Biggie. Money and love. What do they all have in common? They don't play well together.

Especially that last dueling duo. We've all been taught to make money decisions with our heads and love decisions with our hearts. Mix them up and, well, kaboom. But a new book by Myra Strober and Abby Davisson says that's a bunch of nonsense. In "Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life's Biggest Decisions," they make the case that by acknowledging the inextricable link between finance and romance, we can learn to make better life decisions — decisions that utilize head and heart in a balanced, fulfilling way.

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GUESTS:

• Myra Strober is a professor emerita at Stanford University and the founding director of the Stanford Center for Research on Women (now the Clayman Institute for Gender Research)

• Abby Davisson served as president of Gap Foundation and co-founded the clothing company's employee resource group for parents and caregivers

RESOURCES:

• Check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

• Can't wait for tomorrow's episode? Download the Next Big Idea app and you can listen to all five of this week's episodes right now.

S5 E5: Give Yourself Permission to Pull Back (Gloria Mark)

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In the final installment of her master class, Gloria strikes an optimistic note. “We are not doomed to have short attention spans,” she says. “We can change our relationship with technology.” What might that new relationship look like? Tune in to find out.

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• Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

• And download the Next Big Idea app. Hundreds of authors are sharing the best ideas from their books!

S5 E4: You Can Develop Agency to Manage Your Attention (Gloria Mark)

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 12:20:00 -0000

Before checking the news, imagine what your future self will be doing at 10 p.m. Will you be relaxing reading your favorite book or still working on that deadline?

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Gloria Mark is a professor at UC Irvine and the author of the new book “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity.”

Be sure to check out our newsletter where Michael takes listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

S5 E3: Stop Interrupting Yourself (Gloria Mark)

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

We are as likely to interrupt ourselves as to be interrupted by others. What can we do about it? Gloria has the answer in today’s episode.

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Gloria Mark is a professor at UC Irvine and the author of the new book “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity.”

Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

S5 E2: There Are Different Types of Attention (Gloria Mark)

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Today, Gloria explains how you can use rote activities — like solving a puzzle or weeding your garden — to replenish your attentional reservoirs.

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Gloria Mark is a professor at UC Irvine and the author of the new book “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity.”

Be sure to check out our newsletter where Michael takes listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

S5 E1: Use Your Attentional Resources Wisely (Gloria Mark)

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Picture this. You sit down to read a book. You know the one — the book all your friends have raved about. So, okay, you read the first sentence. Maybe you make it to the end of the paragraph. But the next thing you know, your hand, as if possessed, reaches for your phone and calls up Twitter or Instagram or the New York Times, and you let the book drop to the floor before you've even finished the first page.

Why does that happen? Why does your attention feel less like a steadily trained spotlight and more like a frantically blinking strobe? And will you ever find a way to get your focus back?

"Yes!" says author and UC Irvine professor Gloria Mark. And lucky for you, she'll be here all week to explain why your attention wandered off and what you can do to get it back.

Gloria's new book is "Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity."

S4 E5: Invest in the Long Tail of Time Management (Greg McKeown)

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In the final installment of his master class, Greg McKeown shares the three questions he asks to make life easier:

1️⃣ What is a problem that irritates me repeatedly?

2️⃣ What is the total cost of managing that over several years?

3️⃣ What is the next step I can take immediately, for a few minutes, to move towards solving it?

Tune in to learn how to apply this at work and in life.

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• Check out Greg’s book “Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most”

• Sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn.

• Listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S4 E4: Find Your Effortless Pace (Greg McKeown)

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

You need to establish upper and lower bounds. “Okay, but what does that mean?” Listen to find out.

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Greg McKeown is the author of “Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most.” He’ll be here all week to share key insights from the book. If you can’t wait until tomorrow to hear the next episode, you can get early access by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S4 E3: Use Effortless Inversion (Greg McKeown)

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

What happens when you stop assuming the answer to every problem is to work harder and instead ask, “What if this could be easy?” That’s effortless inversion. Today, Greg explains how you can use it to tackle problems big and small.

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S4 E2: Make a ‘Done for the Day’ List (Greg McKeown)

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Forget your never-ending to-do list. Greg says you need a “done for the day” list, a rundown of tasks you can actually accomplish and that will leave you feeling satisfied.

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Greg McKeown is the author of “Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most.” He’ll be with us all week to share key insights from the book. If you can’t wait until tomorrow to hear the next episode, you can get early access by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S4 E1: There Are Two Paths to Getting Results (Greg McKeown)

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

If you want to accomplish great things, you must work relentlessly, right? Not so, says author and leadership strategist Greg McKeown. In his latest book, "Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most," Greg makes the counterintuitive argument that by working less, you can accomplish more. You just have to learn how to ask the right questions and use the right tools. All this week, he'll show you how.

S3 E5: It’s Never Too Late to Improve Your Connections (Marc Schulz)

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In our final episode with Marc, he says you’re never too old to forge new relationships.

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• Marc Schulz is the co-author of “The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.”

• Sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn.

• Listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S3 E4: Your Attention Is Your Most Precious Resource (Marc Schulz)

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Americans spend 11 hours a day interacting with media. From the age of 40 to the age of 80, that adds up to 18 years of waking life. What would happen if we put down our phones, turned off our TVs, and tried talking to each other?

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• Come back tomorrow for the final installment of our micro master class with Marc Schulz, co-author of “The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.

• Sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn.

• Listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S3 E3: Challenges Are Opportunities (Marc Schulz)

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Relationships may be good for your well-being, but that doesn't mean they're always easy. In this episode, Marc shares what 85 years of research have revealed about how to overcome relationship challenges.

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Marc Schulz is a professor of psychology at Bryn Mawr College and the associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. He'll be with us all week, discussing his new book, "The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness."

To get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S3 E2: Assess Your Social Fitness (Marc Schulz)

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

“We tend to think," says Marc Schulz, "that once we establish friendships and intimate relationships, they will take care of themselves. But like muscles, neglected relationships atrophy.” Today, Marc shares the fitness regimen to keep your relationships fit and trim.

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• Marc is a professor of psychology at Bryn Mawr College and the associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. He’ll be with us all week to discuss his new book, “The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.”

• To get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S3 E1: Relationships Keep Us Happier and Healthier (Marc Schulz)

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

What makes for a good life? Over the last 85 years, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has attempted to answer that question. This week, one of the study's directors, Marc Schulz, joins us to share the surprising things they've found.

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S2 E5: Acting on Our Ideas Is the Best of Who We Are (Becky Blades)

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

We are not the sum of our missed opportunities or the unfinished projects we decide to call failures. We are the sum of our starts.

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Today concludes our week-long master class with Becky Blades based on her book “Start More Than You Can Finish,” which is available for purchase here.

S2 E4: The Creative Process Is in Charge (Becky Blades)

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Today, Becky explains how to get more done by embracing a creative process based on iteration.

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Come back tomorrow for the final installment of Becky’s master class. If you’re looking for something to do in the meantime, join us on LinkedIn and download the Next Big Idea app.

S2 E3: The First Step Is a Swag Bag (Becky Blades)

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

So you took Becky's advice. You imagined more, thought less, decided to decide, and acted fast. Now you're ready to get your swag bag. That's what Becky calls the mood-boosting chemicals that flood over us when we start an exciting new project.

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It's day three of our week-long master class with Becky about her new book, "Start More Than You Can Finish."

To get a behind-the-scenes look at this show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S2 E2: Starting Is a Skill and a Muscle (Becky Blades)

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

You have an idea. Great! Now what? In today’s episode, Becky shares her four-part process for getting started.

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Becky Blades will be here all week sharing tips and tricks from her new book, “Start More Than You Can Finish,” which is available for purchase here.

S2 E1: Not Finished Is Not Failure (Becky Blades)

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Doing is more important than being done. That’s the provocative argument at the heart of a new book by artist and entrepreneur Becky Blades, “Start More Than You Can Finish: A Creative Permission Slip to Unleash Your Best Ideas.” Becky says you’ll be amazed by what you can accomplish when you stop worrying about the finish and just get started.

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Becky will be here all week sharing insights from her book. Tune in tomorrow to learn how to strengthen your "startist" muscles.

Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter on LinkedIn where we share resources, start conversations, and take listeners behind the scenes of this show.

S1 E5: Experiment Relentlessly (Daniel Coyle)

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

No one likes a know-it-all. Try becoming a learn-it-all instead.

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Today concludes our week-long master class with Daniel Coyle, based on his book “The Culture Playbook,” which is available for purchase here.

S1 E4: Embrace Deep Fun (Daniel Coyle)

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:15:00 -0000

Studies show groups that invest in deep fun are more profitable than those that don’t. But what exactly is deep fun? Daniel Coyle is here with the answer.

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It’s day four of our week-long master class with Dan about his new book, “The Culture Playbook.”

S1 E3: Use Corny Mantras (Daniel Coyle)

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Does your team, family, or friend group have a cheesy catchphrase? It should. Here’s why.

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Daniel Coyle is on the show all week sharing essential lessons from his latest book, “The Culture Playbook,” which is available for purchase here.

S1 E2: Share Your Fallibility (Daniel Coyle)

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

What are the four most important words a leader can say? Tune in to find out.

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Daniel Coyle is on the show all week sharing essential lessons from his latest book, “The Culture Playbook,” which is available for purchase here.

S1 E1: Amplify Your Warmth (Daniel Coyle)

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

If you've ever been part of a team, then you know the scale of your success often depends on the strength of your culture. The mistake many of us make, however, is assuming that strong cultures happen by accident. In reality, says Daniel Coyle, a journalist who has spent years studying the world's most effective groups — from the hitmakers at Pixar to the soldiers on SEAL Team Six — there are concrete steps you can take to foster connection, trust, and a shared sense of purpose.

All this week on "The Next Big Idea Daily," Dan will offer up a master class on building great cultures in the office, on Zoom, and around your family's dinner table.

Grab a copy of Dan's book "The Culture Playbook" here. And tune in tomorrow to learn how to foster psychological safety at work.

Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter on LinkedIn, where we're sharing resources, starting conversations, and taking listeners behind the scenes of this show.

Introducing: The Next Big Idea Daily

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 03:41:00 -0000

Do your mornings ever feel a little uninspired? What if your cup of coffee came with a shot of insight? Or if walking your dog could include a hit of wisdom? Every day on “The Next Big Idea Daily,” you’ll get a quick master class in better, smarter living from thinkers like Adam Grant, Susan Cain, Daniel Pink, Greg McKeown, Kim Scott, and lots of others you may not have heard of but who have ideas that just might make your day a little brighter.

Follow “The Next Big Idea Daily” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Listen early and ad-free by downloading the Next Big Idea app. And when you’re ready to go deeper, join our community on LinkedIn, where we’ll be sharing resources, starting conversations, and helping one another live our best lives.