Episodes

  • Laziness Does Not Exist

    Laziness Does Not Exist
    Aug 1 2024
    Today, social psychologist Devon Price makes the intriguing and ultimately hopeful case that laziness is a myth, a lie, a pernicious trap with no other purpose than to make us feel lousy for not doing more. Host: Rufus Griscom Guest: Devon Price (This episode first aired in October 2021.) 🎁 Get 20% off a Next Big Idea Club subscription when you use code PODCAST at https://nextbigideaclub.com/ 📩 We recently launched a daily Substack! Sign up today at https://bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com/
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • ALCOHOL: The Good, the Bad, and the Bubbly

    ALCOHOL: The Good, the Bad, and the Bubbly
    Jul 25 2024
    Humans have been imbibing for thousands of years. What has drinking contributed to society? What is it doing to our health? Guests: Edward Slingerland (”Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization”) and Susan Dominus (”Is That Drink Worth It to You?”) 🎙️ Check out Edward’s previous appearance on the show here 📱 Download the Next Big Idea Club app and use code PODCAST to get 20% off: https://nextbigideaclub.com/app/
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    1 hr
  • Living for Pleasure

    Living for Pleasure
    Jul 22 2024
    Over 2,000 years ago, Epicurus, a Greek philosopher, made a simple yet bold claim. The key to the good life, he said, is to pursue pleasure and avoid pain. Is it really that easy? To answer that question, we turn to Emily Austin, a professor of philosophy at Wake Forest and author of “Living for Pleasure: An Epicurean Guide to Life.” (This episode first aired in January 2023.)
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • PROBABILITY: How a 250-Year-Old Theorem Still Explains the World

    PROBABILITY: How a 250-Year-Old Theorem Still Explains the World
    Jul 18 2024
    Back in the 1700s, in a spa town outside of London, Thomas Bayes, a Presbyterian minister and amateur mathematician, invented a formula that lets you figure out how likely something is to happen based on what you already know. It changed the world. Today, pollsters use it to forecast election results and bookies to predict Super Bowl scores. For neuroscientists, it explains how our brains work; for computer scientists, it's the principle behind artificial intelligence. In this episode, we explore the modern-day applications of this game-changing theorem with the help of Tom Chivers, author of the new book "Everything Is Predictable: How Bayesian Statistics Explain Our World." 🎙️ Follow The Next Big Idea Daily on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🎁 Get 20% off a Next Big Idea Club membership when you use code PODCAST at nextbigideaclub.com
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    53 mins
  • GOOD ENERGY (Part 2): Casey Means on How to Supercharge Your Diet

    GOOD ENERGY (Part 2): Casey Means on How to Supercharge Your Diet
    Jul 11 2024
    So you want to eat healthy. But how do you actually go about doing that? Today, Casey Means — Stanford-trained physician, founder of Levels, and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller “Good Energy” — shares the science-backed dietary guide you need. 💿 Ready for more interviews that will supercharge your health? Check out our Spotify playlist 📱 Listeners of this show get 20% off a Next Big Idea Club membership. Learn more at https://nextbigideaclub.com/app/
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    53 mins
  • GOOD ENERGY (Part 1): How to Feel Incredible, Avoid Disease, and Age Well

    GOOD ENERGY (Part 1): How to Feel Incredible, Avoid Disease, and Age Well
    Jul 8 2024
    Bad news: 93% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy. Their bodies struggle to convert food into the energy their cells need. And this fuel shortage underlies all sorts of conditions, from diabetes and cancer to insomnia and erectile dysfunction. Good news: Simple changes to how we eat and exercise can dramatically improve our metabolic health. This is the thesis of “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health” by Casey Means. A Stanford-trained physician, Casey grew disillusioned with conventional healthcare when she realized that many doctors are great at prescribing pills and performing surgeries but hopeless when it comes to addressing root causes. This led her to leave traditional medicine and focus on combating metabolic dysfunction, which she believes is at the heart of America’s health crisis. Today on the show, she tells Rufus about her journey, explains why she thinks the medical system fails patients, and shares the simple biomarkers that you should check to see if you’re at risk for a deadly disease. 📱 This is part one of our interview with Casey. Part two will be available here on Thursday. But if you can't wait that long, you can listen right now on the Next Big Idea app: https://nextbigideaclub.com/app/
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    55 mins
  • BEN FRANKLIN: A Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life

    BEN FRANKLIN: A Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life
    Jul 4 2024
    Publisher, scientist, humorist, diplomat — Benjamin Franklin was America's first polymath. Today, with help from Eric Weiner, we revisit Franklin's life, searching for tips about how to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. 📱 If you love the show, the best way to let us know is by becoming a Next Big Idea Club member. Learn more at https://nextbigideaclub.com/ and use code PODCAST to get 20% off your subscription
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Bill Gates Says Superhuman AI May Be Closer Than You Think

    Bill Gates Says Superhuman AI May Be Closer Than You Think
    Jun 27 2024
    Where is AI headed, and how quickly will it get there? Should we be early adopters or keep our distance? Will it make our lives better or put us out of work? We can’t think of a better person to answer these questions than Bill Gates. He’s played a leading role in every major tech development over the last half-century, and he’s got a pretty good track record when it comes to forecasting the future. Back in 1980, he predicted that one day there’d be a computer on every desk; today on the show, he says there will soon be an AI agent in every ear. Rufus and Bill are joined by Andy Sack and Adam Brotman, co-authors of an exciting new book called “AI First.” Together, they consider AI’s impact on healthcare, education, productivity, and business. They dig into the technology’s risks. And they explore its potential to cure diseases, enhance creativity, and usher in a world of abundance. 📕 To learn more about Andy and Adam’s AI lab, Forum3, visit https://www.forum3.com. And for exclusive insights from their book, “AI First,” head to https://www.forum3.com/book 🎁 If you love the show, the best way to let us know is by becoming a Next Big Idea Club member. Learn more at https://nextbigideaclub.com/ and use code PODCAST to get 20% off your subscription
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    1 hr and 24 mins