Bounce! Conversations with Larry Weeks – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Society views time as a fixed commodity, yet modern theoretical physics and cognitive neuroscience suggest otherwise. If the linear flow of time is truly an illusion, then time isn't just a resource to be managed; it's a perception to be mastered.

My guest on the podcast today, Prof. Steve Taylor, argues that time isn't experienced evenly. He suggests that where you place your attention and how you live day-to-day can change the way time unfolds, stretching or compressing your sense of it. 

Steve is a researcher in psychology and a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University. He has served as the chair of the Transpersonal Psychology section of the British Psychological Society. He writes the popular blog Out of the Darkness for Psychology Today and has contributed to Scientific American, The Conversation, and The Psychologist.

In his work on "Time Expansion Experiences," Steve explores why we experience time differently in different states of mind. We discuss everything from slow-motion accident stories (and why calm can show up in chaos) to meditation, flow states, and the mind-bending "eternal now" where mysticism and physics converge.

Highlights from the episode:

• Accidents and "slow-motion" perception: Why the mind slows down in crisis.

• The age gap: Why children experience long summers while adults feel seasons fly by.

• Retrospective time theory: How we judge duration after the fact.

• Automatization: How your brain edits reality to remain efficient.

• Digital distortion: Social media's impact on your experience of time.

• The power of novelty: How small changes can make life feel longer.

• The "Block Universe" theory: Exploring Einstein and Minkowski's spacetime.

• NDE life reviews: Examining the spatial sequence of memory.

• Time cessation phenomena: What happens when time stops altogether.

The discussion moves from metaphysics to real-world advice on subjectively "lengthening" your life. Enjoy! 

Show notes and more visit larryweeks.com

We've been taught that success comes from setting goals, defining purpose, and executing a plan. But what if those very habits—the linear drive for certainty—are what keep us stuck?

Dr. Anne-Laure Le Cunff, neuroscientist, founder of Ness Labs, and world-leading expert on mindful productivity, has an alternative: treat your life like a series of tiny experiments. In her new book Tiny Experiments, she explores how curiosity, liminal spaces, and small-scale testing can transform how we handle uncertainty and growth.

Anne-Laure argues that traditional goal-setting and the "tyranny of purpose" trap us in rigid definitions of success and failure. Instead, she offers a science-backed framework for progress through curiosity-driven experimentation, an approach that replaces pressure with play and perfectionism with learning.

We discuss how to navigate the in-between spaces of life, the thresholds between who we were and who we're becoming, and why those moments of uncertainty hold the most potential for transformation.

Listen as we dive into how to build an experimental mindset that turns confusion into data and uncertainty into discovery.

Highlights 

• What if the most uncertain moments are also the most meaningful?
• Invisible "scripts" quietly running your decisions, and how to rewrite them
• Why rushing to "figure it out" might be costing you your next breakthrough
• How to turn fear of the unknown into curiosity about what's possible
• The surprising neuroscience behind why smaller risks create bigger change
• A four-step framework that turns uncertainty into momentum
• Why chasing legacy might be keeping you from real impact right now
• How to slow time without quitting your schedule
• The overlooked social hack that makes personal growth exponential
• What happens when you start studying your own life like a scientist
• If you're in between, unsure, or just restless, this conversation is for you.

Anne-Laure shows that uncertainty isn't a problem to solve; it's the raw material of discovery.

 

In this episode, we dig into FOMO and the temptations of quick wins and the importance of psychologically sustainable, long-term work.  

My guest is Nat Eliason. Nat is a writer and the author of Crypto Confidential: Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance. Since he started publishing his writing in 2013, his work has been read by millions of people and spun out multiple businesses ranging from a marketing agency to a tea cafe. 

It's a wild story. In 2021 Nat set a six-month deadline to make as much money as possible before the birth of his first child, leading him to the world of cryptocurrency.  In just a year, he made millions writing code that managed hundreds of millions of other people's money, became an influencer in the space, speaking at de-fi conferences, went through a platform hack, and despite amassing a small fortune, He started to question whether his wealth was truly secure and how long he could keep risking everything on the roller coaster investments his business was actually built on.

• Nat's journey.
• Startup culture and the "white-knuckle" mentality.
• The challenge of productivity optimization.
• Enduring impact of books vs. fleeting content of social media. 
• The power law of writing. 
• Redefining a relationship with creative work.
• Giving yourself credit for creative output. 
• Cryptocurrencies, DeFi, and the real value of  blockchain technologies.
• On the money-happiness equation. 
• Career shifts, burnout and recovery.

Lots of great life lessons here. 

For show notes and more, visit www.larryweeks.com 

Christof Koch is a pioneering computational neuroscientist and neurophysiologist best known for his groundbreaking work on the neural basis of consciousness. He collaborated with Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, to establish a neurobiological framework for understanding consciousness. Christof served as the President and Chief Scientist of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle and continues his work there as a Meritorious Investigator. He is also the Chief Scientist of the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation in Santa Monica, CA, which funds research aimed at alleviating suffering, anxiety, and other forms of distress in people worldwide.

Christof has authored over five books on consciousness, with his latest being "Then I Am Myself the World: What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It." This book delves into the subject of consciousness through the lenses of physics, psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and computer science, as well as Christof's personal experiences exploring his consciousness.

In this episode, Christof dives deep into what might explain the origin of consciousness and existing contradictions. We explore how our minds construct reality, the wonder of experience, and the profound implications of Integrated Information Theory. Christof also reflects on the importance of mindfulness, the power of belief, and the ongoing debate on free will.

Our conversation includes:

• The origin of consciousness and the "Hard Problem
• Integrated Information Theory (IIT)
• How far down the phylogenetic tree consciousness might go
• The mind-body problem: physical structures and subjective experiences
• Panpsychism and how consciousness might be a fundamental aspect of matter.
• Qualities of experience and the perception box
• Mind-melding and the "uber" consciousness
• Why AI or any compute-based system may never be sentient
• The boundaries of consciousness and the dissolution of self
• The notion of "mind at large"
• Christoph's experiences with psychedelics
• Free will

My hope is that this episode gives you a sense of awe about your mind so that you look at life and your experiences with a bit more wonder.

Enjoy!

For show notes and more, visit www.larryweeks.com 

Guy Kawasaki is a pioneering figure in Silicon Valley, celebrated marketing icon, and successful serial entrepreneur. Guy was one of the original Apple employees responsible for launching their Macintosh computer line in 1984 - and then revitalizing Apple again in the 90s when it faced market share challenges from Microsoft and IBM. His role at Apple popularized the term evangelism in marketing and technology. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and host of the popular Remarkable People podcast. 

Guy has written over 16 best-selling books, including Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and his latest - Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference is part of our conversation. 

Guy was an absolute delight and game for a wide-ranging chat. 

Our conversation points include:

• Guy's pathfinder career, from an unwilling law student to reluctant med student to passionate business leader.
• On family expectations and perspectives on "quitting."
• His stint in the jewelry business.
• On selling as a fundamental life skill beyond just business.
• Guy reflects on his time at Apple.
• Working under Steve Jobs.
• The transformation of tech sales.
• Apple's struggles and resurgence in the 90s
• Guy's innovation of the email newsletter (via listserver) during his second stint at Apple 
• Insights into the power of maintaining a positive narrative during Apple's turnaround
• On Artificial Intelligence.
• His views on social media and what he uses now platforms.
• Writing and Podcasting: Guy shares insights into his writing process.
• The resilience of remarkable individuals inspired by stories from his book and podcast.

Guy Kawasaki's story is one of passion pursuit, intellectual curiosity, and a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact. His work continues to inspire a new generation of thinkers, innovators, and creators.

Enjoy! 

For show notes and more, visit www.larryweeks.com 

Outside of the purely physical and physiological, nothing is more challenging than the world of entrepreneurship and business, especially when facing customer indifference and figuring out market demand—the delicate balance between innovation and market reality. 

How do you do that? 

Professor Merrick L. Furst runs commercialization and new venture creation and directs undergraduate programs and faculty development in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. Before GT, he was a professor at UC Berkeley, president of the International Computer Science Institute at Berkeley, and CEO of Essential Surfing Gear, Inc., which was sold in 2000, and anti-botnet startup Damballa. Earlier, he was a professor and associate dean at the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon. Mark is also known for seminal research in algorithms, complexity theory, and AI. He co-invented probabilistic circuit analysis and planning graphs, which are considered among the most influential breakthroughs in the field of AI planning.

Merrick is also the author of The Heart of Innovation: A Field Guide for Navigating to Authentic Demand, which is the touchstone for this podcast. 

On the show, we discuss the challenges every business faces in creating products that truly meet customer needs.

• A brief chat about AI.
• Why and how products fail.
• Real reasons vs. stated reasons people buy.
• On the "curse of knowledge"
• Validation vs innovation.
• Authentic demand: sussing alternatives to not purchasing or using a product/service
• "Non-indifference" as an indicator of authentic demand.
• Observing vs listening and the problem with surveys.
• How to question assumptions. 
• Product development and market match.
  The need for humility and open-mindedness. 

As we explore these diverse topics, Merricks' unique approach offers invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs, technologists, and anyone intrigued by the intersection of business, technology, and human behavior.

Enjoy! 

For show notes and more, visit www.larryweeks.com 

My guest is Derek Sivers. Derek proves that an unconventional background can be the perfect foundation for a wonderfully interesting life and groundbreaking success. 

Originally a professional musician and circus clown, Derek founded CD Baby in 1998. It became the largest seller of independent music online, with $100 million in sales for over 150,000 musicians. In 2008, Derek sold CD Baby for $22 million, giving the proceeds to a charitable trust for music education. 

His TED talks have garnered over 20 million views, and he has published 34 books, including Hell Yeah or No, Your Music and People, Anything You Want) and his most recent book as it pertains to this conversation is How to Live, 27 Conflicting Answers and One Weird Conclusion - but note we do slightly touch on his current yet-to-be-completed book Useful Not True.

Taking points include …

• Derek's transition from a musician to circus performer to entrepreneur and author.
• The power of books and new ideas.
• The concept of "useful, not true" and the practicality of a belief.
• Revisiting "hell yeah or hell no" as a decision heuristic in his book" Anything You Want." 
• On oblique strategies for releasing creative potential 
• Embracing unpredictability and "random generators." 
• The pragmatic rabbi approach to simplifying problems 
• Thoughts on song and book writing.
• Seeing emotions as ends bypassing things as means. 
• The orchestra-instrument framework. 
• The motivation of being temporarily-abled.
• The practice of journaling to understand emotions and situations.

And there is much more here, as we cover a lot of ground. 

Tim Ferris called Derek a philosopher-king programmer, master teacher, and merry prankster and quote (one of my favorite humans), and after chatting with Derek, I understand why. You can tell I enjoyed talking with him. 

Please enjoy.

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com 

"To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom." - Socrates   This podcast is about understanding ourselves a bit better. We'll be exploring insights into what makes us happy as it relates to self-perception, and the various intricate connections between our minds, bodies, and social interactions.   My guest on the show is social psychologist David Myers, known for his extensive work in communicating psychological science to both students and the general public. His academic contributions, supported by National Science Foundation have been published in prestigious journals like Science and American Psychologist. David has made psychological research accessible through articles in magazines such as Scientific American and through seventeen books, including both general interest and textbooks.   David is best known for his textbook on psychology which is one of the most widely used psychology textbooks in the world. He is also the author of several  popular books, including one of the first on happiness called The Pursuit of Happiness: Discovering the Pathway to Fulfillment, Well-Being, and Enduring Personal Joy published in 1993   David's newest book, "How Do We Know Ourselves?: Curiosities and Marvels of the Human Mind" is the topic of this show.    Our conversation covers a wide array of psychology topics including:

• A bit about David's background.
• We revisit happiness and the latest findings in that field.
• The relationship between happiness and income.
• Goal setting and the material trap 
• The benefits of religion and religious engagement paradox.
• Self-Perception Theory.
• Body-mind effects.
• Micro-Friendships: The significant mood boost from brief, positive interactions with strangers.
• We touch on fear Misplaced Fears: How we skew risk perceptions.
• The power of reframing and its effectiveness in Brief Interventions.

Enjoy   For show notes and more visit larryweeks.com 

On this episode of our podcast, we delve into the fascinating world of hypnosis, with a focus on demystifying this phenomenon and separating myths from scientific reality. We explore its role in modern therapy and personal well-being.

Dr. David Spiegel is one of Stanford University's leading psychiatrists, with more than 45 years of clinical experience, and has pioneered over 400 research papers on the power of self-hypnosis. Educated at Harvard and Yale, he is the Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr Speigel has written thirteen books and is also the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Reveri Health, which offers a clinically backed hypnosis app of the same name. 

In our conversation, we cover a wide array of topics, including:

• The definition and understanding of hypnosis.
• A short history of hypnosis, its mystical origins, and its current scientific standing.
• Distinctions between clinical and theatrical hypnosis.
• Debates over the tools and techniques used in hypnosis.
• The controversial subjects of brainwashing and memory recovery.
• Current research and understanding of the neural mechanisms of hypnosis.
• The various types of hypnosis and their applications.
• The relationship between EMDR and hypnosis.
• The effectiveness, suitability, and therapeutic potential of hypnosis.
• The Reveri app, co-founded by Dr. Spiegel
• I share my own experience with the Reveri app, particularly how it helped me with my fear of airplane turbulence.

Join us for this enlightening discussion as we uncover the mysteries and realities of hypnosis.

Enjoy!

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

 

In this episode, we dive into the shifting dynamics of work, careers, and the quest for fulfillment. My guest discusses the history of "career" and how work is undergoing transformations due to technology, social change, and pivotal global events. He has gathered a lot of data to discern patterns in people's work trajectories to expand the definition of what we call work. 

Bruce Fieler is a leading voice in America on modern life. He's written seven bestsellers; his three TED Talks have over four million views, and he teaches a TED Course on life changes. His newest book, "THE SEARCH: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World," looks at how people can find purpose in their jobs. It's based on stories from people of all different backgrounds and jobs.

In our talk, Bruce questions common ideas about careers. He uses data to explain big career changes, which he calls 'work-quakes'. If you're thinking about your own job or career or just want to know more about work trends, you'll want to listen.

Topics we cover:

• Bruce's own career changes.
• Current trends in jobs and careers.
• The history of the career and the resume.
• Why just following your passion might not be the best idea.
• Work-quakes
• The idea of having multiple types of jobs at once.
• How different generations see job changes.
• A broader view of what 'work' means.
• How to find out what really matters to you in a job.
• The many kinds of jobs people have.
• The danger of valuing work too much.
• How work can give our lives meaning.
• Questions to help you find a job you'll like.
• And much more. 

Enjoy!

For show notes and more information, check out larryweeks.com.