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.

 

In this episode, renowned social scientist Dan Ariely discusses the irrational pull of misinformation and how to understand "misbelief" — the psychological and social path that guides individuals to doubt established truths, consider alternative facts, and perhaps even welcome outright conspiracy theories.

Dan Ariely is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. He is dedicated to answering questions to help people live more sensible – if not rational – lives. He is a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight, co-creator of the film documentary (Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies, and a three-time New York Times bestselling author. His books include Predictably Irrational, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty, Irrationally Yours, Payoff Dollars, and Sense and now his latest - Misbelief.   

Talking points we cover include …

• The origin of Dan's distinctive half-beard.
• Behavioral insights into self-acceptance. 
• Covid misinformation and his attacks on social media and in public 
• Exploration and reasoning behind irrational behavior and beliefs.
• Identifying false comprehension.
• How to know why we believe what we believe.
• On belief creation and alteration.
• Understanding why people are attracted to heterodoxy and discussing the negative consequences of rejecting and ostracizing people with non-mainstream beliefs.
• Shibboleth in communication: signaling identity rather than the pursuit of truth.
• Behavioral science on task motivation

...and much more. 

Enjoy! 

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

"Often circumstances think for us, we don't really have a choice. And anybody who puts themselves in a bad position has no good options available. So a lot of the work involved in a decision comes before the actual decision is made." 

In decision-making, clarity is a critical element, if not the fundamental purpose; it reduces errors and facilitates confident, effective choice-making. 

In this episode, my guest sheds light on how to get clarity in decision-making, and I'll add, how to transform knowledge into wisdom.

Shane Parrish is a former cybersecurity expert at Canada's top intelligence agency turned thought leader. He is the mind behind Farnam Street, a site that's very popular among the innovator and investor class that draws on a variety of thinkers from Lao Tsu and Emerson to Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. 

Shane is also acclaimed for his bestselling series on mental models titled "The Great Mental Models Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts", Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology", and "Volume 3: Systems and Mathematics." And his latest book, "Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments Into Extraordinary Results," is the topic of this podcast. 

Listen in as we dive into how to think more clearly and, in doing so, make better decisions. 

Discussion highlights include:

• The origin of Farnham Street and the influence of Berkshire Hathaway 
• The problem with living life on 'autopilot'
• The importance of deep understanding.
• Recognizing 'ego default' and its role in clouded decision-making.
• Writing as a tool for clear thinking
• Decision lessons from everyday moments  
• The importance of pre-decision positioning
• Explanation of the Learning Loop 
• How to incorporate intuition in decision-making. 
• How to get quality feedback input from experienced individuals.
• Safety nets: using rules and processes to enhance decision-making
• On mental models. 
• How to think in reverse
• Separating problem identification from problem-solving
• The morning review: a method for decision validation

I believe you're going to find this episode very insightful and incredibly useful. 

Listen carefully, as it's not just about gathering knowledge; it's about applying it in a way that brings clarity to our complex world.

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

In a world increasingly dominated by AI and computational thinking, we've been taught that logic is the ultimate form of intelligence. But what if an over-reliance on pure reason is making us more fragile and less equipped to navigate uncertainty?

Angus Fletcher is a professor at Ohio State's Project Narrative and the author of the best-selling book, Primal Intelligence. Angus's has had an extraordinary career path to say the least, from building mutant neurons in neuroscience labs to studying Shakespeare at Yale, and being recruited by US Army Special Operations to train their elite operators.

Angus argues that the human brain is less a computational machine, and more a dynamic, narrative-based engine built for action and foresight. This "biological intelligence," often overlooked and untrained, is what allows us to operate with limited information, adapt in volatile environments, and innovate in ways no machine can. For his groundbreaking work on this very topic, Angus was awarded the Commendation Medal by the US Army in 2023.

Listen as we dive into the science of your innate intelligence and how narrative thinking works, and how understanding what feelings are telling you can transform how you deal with uncertainty. 

Some highlights from the episode:

• Angus's journey from neuroscience to Shakespeare to Army Special Operations
• Why hard skill, soft skill distinction misses the point entirely
• How biological intelligence differs from computational intelligence
• The Army's discovery about decision-making in volatile environments
• A novel take on the purpose of emotions 
• What fear and anger signals (and what to do about it)
• Special operators' techniques for turning anger on and off
• Why gratitude works best when applied to specific negative experiences
• The brain as a Swiss Army knife rather than calculator
• How to use emotions like a dashboard for better decision-making
• How an integrated past and branching future creates anti-fragility

If you're curious about the kinds of intelligence that AI can't replicate, and how to better utilize yours, this conversation provides the science and practical tools to get started.

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

The world of hospice nursing has always been a profound intersection of life and death, revealing lessons not only about the journey of mortality but also about the true essence of living in the shadow of it.   On this Podcast, my guest is Hadley Vlahos or simply Nurse Hadley. Hadley is not just a seasoned hospice nurse but also an end-of-life educator and now a New York Times bestselling author. Her journey and her experiences became the foundation for her bestselling work, The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments. The book captures deep, poignant stories from her time with patients, giving insights into what life's final moments can teach us about existence itself. Beyond her written work, Hadley has taken a step further with her nonprofit respite hospice house. This sanctuary is conceptualized to offer families a peaceful environment to remember and celebrate their loved ones.   In today's episode, we cover these topic points :

• Her journey from young mother to nurse and from hospice nurse to author.
• Hadley's experiences where patients stated and acted out as if they were seeing their deceased loved ones - and what they reveal about end-of-life encounters.
• The enigma of the "in-between moments" and their interpretations.
• Our shared narratives on the afterlife and my skepticism.
• Some common and not-so-common regrets of the dying
• How Hadley thinks about death and how she tries to live her life in its shadow
• And lastly, the practicalities of hospice, from deciding when it's time to seek hospice care to understanding the intricacies of coverage.

Despite the heavy nature of the topic, this episode is remarkably life-affirming. Many thinkers, from philosophers to psychologists, have advocated that understanding our own mortality paves the way to a richer, fuller life. Today's discussion provides not just a touch of emotional depth but also very practical advice that is invaluable to hear in advance of ever needing it.    For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

My guest is the renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. He is the fifth head since 1935 of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and the first occupant of its Frederick P. Rose Directorship. He is a research associate of the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. He is also the author of fifteen books—many of them international bestsellers—including the #1 best seller Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, and His most recent is Starry Messenger Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization.

Niel is also the host of the Emmy-nominated podcast StarTalk, as well as two seasons of Cosmos, televised by Fox and National Geographic. He has received 21 honorary doctorates as well as NASA's Distinguished Public Service Medal. The man has an asteroid named after him, for heck's sake.

On the show, we discuss the book Starry Messenger and his scientific perspectives on a variety of topics, including:

• Ballroom dancing (you read that right)
• The book's purpose and defining a cosmic perspective
• The overview effect
• The history and Impact of space exploration
• Revisiting the moon landing
• The Allegory of the Cave
• His view of Mars missions and the commercialization of space 
• Space as supply chain, the solar system as backyard
• His personal vision for the future 
• How to think scientifically 
• His one conspiracy theory
• On scientific consensus and what to do in its absence  
• The social importance of probability 
• On God and faith 
• UFOs, aliens, and the Fermi Paradox 
• Artificial Intelligence and the new generative AI's 
• What's it like to go to the movie theater with Neil 
• His favorite time-travel movie  

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

"You can delegate the activity but not the responsibility; you can share the praise but not the blame. the most finite, limited resource in our lives is time." - Dr. Tim Pychl 

Larry speaks with Professor Tim Pychyl about the impact procrastination has on our well-being. This isn't about managing or optimizing a to-do list; procrastination affects the whole of your life. 

Tim is a retired psychology professor whose research focused on understanding why we can become our own worst enemy through procrastination. In addition to journal publications and co-edited scholarly books, including Procrastination, Health & Well-Being, and Counseling the Procrastinator in Academic Settings, Tim wrote the brief and accessible Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change. An award-winning teacher, Tim has shared his passion for learning through his iProcrastinate podcast and blog on Psychology Today. 

In this episode, we delve into a variety of topics, including:

• On teaching and the importance of presence
• Defining and qualifying  procrastination 
• How procrastination differs from normal delay
• Rational and irrational delay
• On self-regulation failure
• Future self-theory 
• Getting started
• Strategies/tactics
• Priming the pump and the five-minute rule
• Recognizing avoidance when it appears
• Procrastination and depression
• Acceptance and self-compassion
• On ego depletion theory and replication
• On extended will 

Enjoy!

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

Getting stuck is inevitable. I hope you find yourself getting stuck only rarely, but when you do, know that breakthroughs aren't too far behind - Adam Alter 

Today we are going to look at the challenges of creative blocks, inertia, and the accompanying feeling of being stuck, whether it be a project, product, or personal life, and, more importantly, when we find ourselves in these states - how to get unstuck, what is the step by step structure of a breakthrough. 

My guest is Professor Adam Alter.

Adam Alter is a Professor of Marketing at New York University's Stern School of Business and the Robert Stansky Teaching Excellence Faculty Fellow, with an affiliated appointment in the New York University Psychology Department.

Adam is the New York Times bestselling author of two books: Irresistible (March 2017) and Drunk Tank Pink (2013), and his latest which is also the topic of the podcast - Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most 

Adam has also written for the New York Times, New Yorker, Washington Post, Atlantic, WIRED, Slate, Huffington Post, and Popular Science, among other publications. Adam's academic research focuses on judgment, decision-making, and social psychology, with a particular interest in the surprising effects of subtle environmental cues on human cognition and behavior. His research has been published widely in academic journals and featured in dozens of TV, radio, and print outlets worldwide.

In this episode, we delve into these subjects:

• The commonality of creative blocks why progress isn't always a straight line.
• How Our reactions to being stuck might be the real problem.
• The process of getting unstuck can lead to valuable advancements.
• Why the creative process is often lengthy and messy, contrary to many people's expectations.
• Why breakthroughs often seem accidental and come after hitting a wall.
• Do breakthroughs happen more commonly in a group (remote work) 
• Does creativity decline over time?
• Breakthrough tactics, including the "friction audit." 
• The role of environment in creativity and progress is significant.
• The use of AI as it relates to creative blocks. 
• When should someone quit vs. persist - and much more

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

"Learn to use AI. That's, that's my message. You wanna learn to use AI as a professional and as a citizen in your personal life. The more you know how to use it, the better you'll make of it, the better your life will be. AI gives power; like any technology, it gives power to those who understand it and use it" - Pedro Domingos

Recent developments in AI, specifically consumer-facing generative AIs, are helping people create a lot of cool content while also generating a ton of concern. A big bucket of that concern is AI alignment - what are the possible unintended consequences to humans? The internet transformed our relationship to information, but it took a few years; now, AI is doing it in real time. 

My guest on this episode is Professor Pedro Domingos. 

Pedro is a leading AI researcher and the author of the worldwide bestseller "The Master Algorithm." He is a professor of computer science at the University of Washington in Seattle. He won the Special Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining Innovation Award and the international joint Conference on AI John McCarthy Award, two of the highest honors in data science and AI.

Pedro helped start the fields of statistical relational AI, data stream mining, adversarial learning, machine learning for information integration, and influence maximization in social networks. 

On this episode, we run the gamut to include...

• Where are we with generative AIs
• Pedro demystifies LLMs (Large Language Models)
• Progress and problems with generative AIs
• Hallucination in AI - and Illusion in humans
• The homunculus fallacy
• Risks, regulations, known-unknowns
• Comments on existential threats
• The S curve in emerging technologies like AI
• AI's possible impact on employment and the economy
• Artificial General Intellience or AGI
• Goals and end games, is AGI the goal?
• Does he think LLMs AI's like ChatGPT are conscious?

No matter your technical level, you'll enjoy this discussion with Pedro. He is passionate about the subject matter, no surprise - much of what he's predicted has come to pass in the field, And if you feel a tinge of AI anxiety, consider this a bit of exposure therapy. 

Listen and learn more about how these systems work and how they might impact your life. 

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

 

"The root of my optimism comes in kind of a basic observation, that if we can create 1% more than we destroy every year, that 1% compounded over time is civilization. So the delta, the difference between a gain and very tiny gain, is hard to see in the present." - Kevin Kelly 

My guest is well-known technologist and futurist Kevin Kelly. Kevin is a renowned American writer, editor, and futurist, best known as the co-founder of Wired magazine. He has made significant contributions to the fields of technology, science, and culture. He has written several books, including "Out of Control: The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, and the Economic World," "New Rules for the New Economy," "What Technology Wants," and "The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future."

He explores recent developments in technology as well as shares some great life advice from his upcoming book aptly named, "Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I'd Known Earlier.
 
In this conversation, we talk about these topics and more. 

• Living in a "protopia" and the net 1% compounding principle 
• Embracing problems as capacity improvers
• Why Kevin's optimistic
• Societal implications of AI
• Current state of AI and its role in job market
• AI's resemblance to the early internet 
• What's different this time 
• A "universal personal intern"
• Extended Mind and its relation to AI and tools
• Opinions on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology
• What Kevin worries about
• Discussing new book and advice for living
• Practical tips on embracing change, prototyping life, and active listening.

Enjoy! 

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

 

"When we surface subroutines when we surface belief systems, we unleash a certain kind of potential, a certain kind of energy that enables us to do the one thing that a leader must do every day. Be creative" - Jerry Colonna 

Jerry Colonna, often referred to as the 'CEO whisperer,' is the co-founder of Reboot.io, an executive coaching and leadership development firm dedicated to the notion that better humans make better leaders. For nearly 20 years, he has used the knowledge gained as an investor, an executive, and a board member for more than 100 organizations to help entrepreneurs and others lead with humanity, resilience, and equanimity.

Prior to his career as a coach, Jerry was a partner with JPMorgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase. Previously, he led New York City-based Flatiron Partners, which he founded in 1996 with partner Fred Wilson, which became one of the nation's most successful early-stage investment programs. He is also the author of Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up, which is also the touchstone for our conversation. 

There is something about Jerry.

In 2017, WIRED published a piece on Jerry wherein this was written titled "This Man Makes Founders Cry." I don't know if it's how he talks or looks at you, but when talking with him, I felt some sort of sympathetic energy field; it was like a psychic hand on the shoulder. When we spoke, I was dealing with a monster of a cold, coupled with Jerry's superpower, turned this conversation into a coaching session of sorts.

Jerry talks about leadership and crucible moments, moments that can be transformative, leading to a new or altered sense of identity. These moments often put our character to the test. 

If you are in any state of upheaval or change or know someone who is, please listen. Not just for the excellent advice, but there is something beneficial about hearing this level of empathy in someone's voice.

On the show, we discuss these topics and more …

• State of leadership currently
• Why Jerry has a reputation for making people cry
• Jerry's story, leaving JP Morgan
• How to leaders can deal with uncertainty in business
• The importance of soft skills coupled with hard skills
• Separating genius from personality
• Breaking open vs. shutting down
• What "rebooting" means
• What do first when you're laid off
• Mountain equanimity
• Work as an opportunity to become better humans

If you are in any state of upheaval or change or know someone who is, please listen. Not just for the excellent advice, but there is something beneficial about hearing this level of empathy in someone's voice. 

Enjoy! 

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

This podcast is about the problem of overthinking - and how modifying one's metacognitive beliefs can reduce stress, worry, and problem fixation. 

Thinking is an amazing capacity we all have. Humans possess the cognitive abilities to form concepts, imagine possible futures, and solve problems, but this same capacity, when it runs amuck, can keep you up at night, paralyze effect decision making and keep you in a loop of worst-case scenarios. 

Yeah, not helpful. 

My guest is Dr. Pia Callesen, who explains how to use meta-cognitive strategies to break free from this overthinking. 

Dr. Callesen is a therapist and metacognitive specialist managing several clinics in Denmark. She has a Ph.D. from Manchester University, and She is the author of Live More Think Less (2020). Her study into the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy for depression, published in Scientific Reports in 2020, suggests that MCT has considerable benefits which might exceed those of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). 

On this show, we discuss…

• Metacognition and metacognitive therapy
• Metacognitive beliefs
• The self-regulating mechanism in the brain
• When less is more when dealing with thoughts
• Trigger thoughts
• How MCT differs from traditional cognitive therapies
• Targeting specific psychological processes
• How to postpone worry/rumination
• Attention training
• The benefits and risks of mindfulness
• Detached mindfulness
• How attentional awareness helps with depression 

As a person who overthinks, I'm already benefiting from much of Dr. Callesen's advice here. I think you will find this interesting and very helpful. 

Enjoy! 

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

"Feelings, nothing more than feelings" - Morris Albert

In this episode, we discuss how emotions are made - and how insights into how our brains make us feel can help us cope with challenging situations. 

My guest is Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a psychology professor and neuroscientist at Northeastern University, who is the author of seven books on emotion and the brain, including the best-selling book How Emotions Are Made and, most recently, Seven And A Half Lessons About The Brain. In addition to the books, Dr. Barrett has published over 260 peer-reviewed scientific papers. She received a National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award for her revolutionary research on emotion in the brain.

Her groundbreaking research overturns many prior assumptions about how the human brain forms emotions. On this show, we cover these topics …

• A discussion about theory in scientific contexts
  The classical view of emotions
• An overview of her research in constructed emotion
• The problem with the "amygdala hijack" and the reptilian brain
• The brain as a prediction machine
• Rationality
• Mood and metabolic efficiency
• The body-budget
• How emotions can be recategorized
• A new take on depression
• The story of her daughter and the "emotional flu"
• Decision-making, rationality, and the use of emotion

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com/podcasts

This discussion centers on what living with purpose actually means. 

My guest is Professor William Damon. 

William is a psychologist and professor at Stanford University and a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. He has been designated one of the fifty most influential living psychologists in the world today and is one of the world's leading scholars of human development. Bills is a pioneering researcher on the development of purpose in life and wrote the influential book The Path to Purpose. His current work includes a study exploring purpose in higher education and a study of family purpose across generations. He's been elected to the National Academy of Education and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

On this podcast, we cover these topics and more. 

• The multiple definitions of purpose
• Vocations/avocations  
• How purpose can change over time 
• Is purpose something you find or do
• Purpose as a noun vs purpose as a verb
• On having purpose vs being purposeful 
• The benefits of a Life Review 
• Bill's story about his early family life and his new book A Round of Golf With my Father 

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com/podcasts

In this episode, I'm digging into the messy reality of business turnarounds, the kind where survival isn't guaranteed and leadership is more about doing the hard, boring things than dazzling with big ideas.

My guest is Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium, whose recent post "Fell Into a Hole and Got Out" made the rounds for being one of the most honest and actionable stories about company rescue I've ever read. Tony's background runs deep: founder of Coach.me, architect of the Better Humans publication.

This is what it's really like to take over a company bleeding millions, shrinking fast, and staring down insolvency. But it's also a story about staying steady, balancing the financial reality with the need to restore quality, purpose, and confidence to a battered team. There's no sugar-coating here, just real talk about layoffs, difficult investor negotiations, and why the business model has to come before your "next big thing."

Tony walks us through the psychological and strategic ladder he and his team built, one rung at a time, to claw Medium back from the brink. He shares candid lessons for founders, hard truths about startup mythologies, and the personal practices that kept him sane when the stakes were highest.

Here's what we cover:

• The "hole" no one talks about: what it's really like to inherit a company in crisis
  
  
• Brutal financial realities, cutting costs, and restoring a culture's sense of purpose
  
  
• Why the business model now comes before the product
  
  
• The Goldilocks problem of innovation and finding the "just right" middle ground
  
  
• How to negotiate with investors when a prior deal is dead and nobody wants to say it out loud
  
  
• Lessons on hiring, layoffs, and having the hard conversations with a team that's seen too many pivots
  
  
• The psychological "ladder" out, how to focus everyone on small wins
  
  
• The power of slow, steady self-improvement (meditation, journaling, therapy) for surviving big challenges
  
  
• Why Tony thinks each of us, just by living our lives, accumulate wisdom that can help others
  
  
• This is more than a highlight reel, it's a toolkit for anyone who's had to make the tough calls or wondered if they could.

Enjoy the show.

 

My guests are Nathan and Susannah Fur. Nathan earned his Ph.D. from Stanford's Technology Ventures Program and is an Associate Professor of Strategy at INSEE ADD, one of the world's leading graduate business schools located in France. Susannah, a designer and art historian, founded a women's clothing line inspired by her research of the intricate embroidery of Dutch women.

Our discussion centers on the benefits of embracing uncertainty, specifically the tools outlined in their book, The Upside of Uncertainty.

I've been assembling tactics for years now, accumulating a mental toolbox of sorts for dealing with challenges. Uncertainty is challenging for what it lacks - concrete information. 

How do we move forward when we don't fully know what we are dealing with? 

We usually don't act; we might freeze or delay having a lack of certainty. Dealing with uncertainty has a lot to do with mindset since we may not know what to handle. What frame of mind will help us act or move forward in the face of uncertainty? We all know making decisions in a state of fear is also suboptimal. 

So on this show, we discuss ...

• Uncertainty and evolutionary hard-wiring 
• The relationship between stress and uncertainty
• Fragile and anti-fragile 
• Upsides
• Tools for dealing with uncertainty 
• Reframing 
• Adjacent Possible.  
• Aplomb: Doubting self-doubt. 
• Uncertainty balancers
• Creating an Uncertainty manifesto. 

And much more. 

I think if you listen, you will come to the conclusion that things may be uncertain, but we can have a little more certainty that we can handle it. 

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com/podcasts

 

"It is by squeezing your life into a single tube that you set yourself up for definitive failure. Projects fail, and people fail in them. But we have come to speak as if a person can BE a failure - as though failure were an identity, not an event" - Kieran Setiya

Kieran Setiya is a Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is known for his work in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind. Setiya is a co-editor of Philosophers' Imprint, and he is also the author of several books, including Practical Knowledge, Reasons without Rationalism, and Knowing Right From Wrong.

Kieren's newest book, Life is Hard, How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way, is the topic of this podcast. In this episode, Keiran challenges the idea that happiness should be life's primary pursuit. Instead, he argues that we should try to live well, and living well means how one lives in relationship to difficulty - not without difficulty.

Keiren has a great phrase, "the digressive amplitude of being alive." Life IS oscillation; it's up-down, backward-forward, and expecting anything different is a setup to suffering, adding to whatever hard thing you are experiencing. 

Topics covered in the show…

• On thinking philosophically
• On consolation
• Relating to pain
• Failure and your credit report
• The Experience Machine
• Autotelic vs exotelic experience
• The metaverse
• On the profundity of the movie Groundhog Day

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

 

On this podcast, we're going to talk about Brain Chemistry, specifically, what happens in our brains when we are traumatized, severely depressed, or anxious. And for those stuck in that state, what are the latest clinical treatments using medication, that can help someone get unstuck.

My guest on this episode is the distinguished  Dr. John Krystal MD. Dr. Krystal is the Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Psychology; Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University; and Chief of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Dr. Krystal is a leading expert in the areas of alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. His work links psychopharmacology, neuroimaging, molecular genetics, and computational neuroscience to study the neurobiology and treatment of these disorders. He is best known for leading the discovery of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.

He is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of Freedom Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotechnology platform developing next-generation ketamine and psychedelic therapeutics that recently emerged from stealth in August 2022. 

On this show, we cover topics that include ...

• The neurobiology of a depressed brain
• The relationship between thought and brain chemistry
• Anxiety and its connection to depression
• Pharmacology; getting into the various medications for treating depression.
• How antidepressants were discovered
• The efficacy of current antidepressants
• The neuroscience of psychedelics in the treatment of severe depression and PTSD
• Ketamine therapy; benefits, risks, and treatment protocols (the different delivery mechanisms, dosages, etc.) 

Since we do talk about substances like ketamine which has psychedelic-like properties, here is a disclaimer: I'm NOT a doctor, nor do I play one on the interwebs. None of the content in this podcast constitutes medical advice or should be construed as a recommendation to use any medications mentioned. There are psychological, physical, and sometimes legal risks with usage. Please consult your doctor before considering anything we discuss in this episode.

All right, that all said, here is more information for you to consider. 

Enjoy! 

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

My guest is clinical psychologist and author Dr. Lindsay Gibson.

Dr. Gibson has two graduate degrees in clinical psychology, including a Doctorate of Psychology from the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology – an Adjunct Professor for the College of William and Mary and Old Dominion University.

She has written a few best-sellers, including a series on dealing with emotionally immature people, the first of which is Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from the Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved.

On the podcast, Dr. Gibson sheds light on the high-conflict personality type and gives some great psychological and tactical advice for dealing with the emotionally immature.

On the show, we discuss

• Why she wrote the book and its origins from her practice
• EIP personality characteristics 
• The single most essential factor in human relationships
• How can I be sure I am emotionally mature 
• The impact an EIP might have on you emotionally
• Why an EIP is like they the way they are 
• How to deal with an EIPs 
• Where people go wrong in dealing with them
• What your main goal should be in interacting with an EIP (good tips generally when caught in an argument with anyone) 

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

My guest is Mary-Frances O'Connor.

Mary-Francis is a professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Arizona and is the Director of the Grief, Loss, and Social Stress Lab, where she and her colleagues are creating new frameworks for understanding grief and the grieving process; and her book The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss is the topic of this episode.

On the show, we discuss...

• Her work at the lab and what she is learning about grief
• What happens to the brain when someone is experiencing grief
• Defining complicated grief
• An update on Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's grief model
• How grief is prolonged
• We discuss the mortality rates for those who fail to adapt to loss
• General loss, death isn't the only loss type we grieve; it can be a job, an identity, or anything we are attached to
• How lost loved ones really stay with us, outside of any mystical experience

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

My guest is AJ jacobs 

A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, lecturer, and human guinea pig. His strategy as a writer is to dive into something he's curious about and actually live it. 

He has written ten books, four of which are New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor, and a dash of self-help. His most recent book is The Puzzler: One Man's Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life.

 AJ is also editor-at-large at Esquire magazine, a commentator on NPR, and a columnist for Mental Floss magazine. He has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, The Dr. Oz Show, Conan, and The Colbert Report. He has given several TED talks, including ones about living biblically, creating a one-world family, and living healthily. The viewership count of the two I saw was over 6M combined. 

On the podcast, I probe into his life experiments so we cover…

• How I came across his work in Esquire
• We cover some of his more notable experiments 
• What he took away from reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in his quest to learn everything in the world. 
• The hilarious problems with being radically honest 
• What he learned from living the rules of the old testament for a year - in Manhattan 
• He discusses which of his experiments was the most profound and life-changing 
• We talk about why being grateful is hard and what he learned about gratitude from thanking over 1,000 people 
• How we have the happiness equation backward, 
• We talk about his latest book and the benefits of puzzles 
• What mazes have to do with psychological flexibility 

I always strive for the meaningful on the show, but sometimes that can lean toward a bit of the somber - which is fine - but it is wonderful when you can get a guest like AJ who is breezy, funny, AND profound; hard to pull that off but he does it. 

I instantly liked him - I think you will too. Enjoy!

This podcast is about your relationship to time. 

My guest is Oliver Burkeman. Oliver is a journalist and author. He writes and publishes a twice-monthly email newsletter called "The Imperfectionist." You can find The Guardian column he wrote from 2006 to 2020 online. It's titled "This Column Will Change Your Life." He's also the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking, and his most recent book is Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. It is also the topic of the podcast. 

Four Thousand Weeks explores concepts of time and time management, arguing that our modern attempts to optimize our time leave us stressed and unhappy. The book's first sentence is: "The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short." (About 4,000 weeks, on average; thus the title.). It is not your classic time-management book and in it, he explores the most profound questions we have in life. 

In the book and on this podcast, Oliver prompts us to question the very idea that time is something you use in the first place." 

Some of our talking points. 

• On what he's learned about happiness
• What we should seek besides happiness 
• Defining personal growth 
• The importance of frustration tolerance 
• How we relate to time 
• The problems with time management
• Optimizing the wrong things 
• To-do list and apps and the trap of planning
• The challenges of prioritizing 
• Practical tips on project management 

And Oliver certainly helped me sort through my struggles with allocating my time, so I found the conversation very useful. I think you will, too. 

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

 

"Pain shared, my brother, is pain not doubled but halved."― Neil Gaiman

My guest on this episode is Professor Robin Dunbar, the well-known anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist famous for his "Dunbar Number." 

Robin is an Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology and head of the Social and Evolutionary Neuroscience Research Group in the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. He is also the author of 22 books including his most recent Friends — Understanding the Power of Our Most Important Relationships.

For the few of you who have never heard of Dunbar's number, it is the discovery that there exists a cognitive limit on human groups of about 150. Generally, we can only maintain stable social relationships within a limited number in which each individual knows who the other is and how that person relates to each other. 

On the show, Robin breaks down that upper number into concentric circles of much smaller groups that make up our close friends and best friends, explaining how they got there - and how we can maintain and grow them. 

We discuss these topics…

• The importance of friends and the huge effect they have on our health
• A summary of his famous number - and its implications for friendships  
• How friendships change across a lifespan 
• How best friends are created 
• How and why friendships end 
• The pandemics impact on friendships, a bit about proximity 
• The effect of the internet, Zoom, and Social Media 
• Differences in friendship between the online and real-world
• The impact of individual differences in introversion and extraversion
• Friendships between men and women, the "When Harry Met Sally" question

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

"I would say what would be responsible when asking yourself should I stay or should I go is, am I actively growing a core skillset that I want to harness and carry with me throughout my career?" - Ashley Stahl 

The great resignation is all over the media of late; it's an economic trend born of the COVID pandemic in which employees (In the U.S. for our purposes) are voluntarily leaving jobs in huge numbers—starting around the end of 2020, ramping in 2021 and increasing now in 2022. Although many service sectors are hardest hit, it does bleed beyond those impacting many different industries.  

My guest is Ashley Stahl. Ashley is a former counter-terrorism professional turned career coach and bestselling author of "You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction, and Design Your Dream Career."

Ashley's helped clients in over 30 countries discover their career path and land more job offers. Her writings appear in a monthly career column in Forbes magazine, and her articles have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Self, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more. 

When you listen, I think you can tell that Ashley is on a mission to help people step into a career they're aligned with and even excited about. 

I wanted Ashley on because she is an expert in career transitions and disruptive workplace phenomena. I wanted her opinion on what is happening and, more importantly, what opportunities this opens up for people. She did not disappoint. 

Topics we covered on the show 

• insights into what is happening at the moment across industries. 
• Work and the burden of meaning, purpose and passion. 
• Values first, roles second. 
• Better questions to ask yourself. 
• When to stay, when to leave. 
• The importance of mindset. 
• Assessments and determining work that is right for you. 
• Hard skills and how networking works today. 
• How to find unadvertised roles. 

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

"Acceptance is the full embrace of our personal experience…it's choosing to feel with openness and curiosity, so that you can live the kind of life you want to live while inviting your feelings to come along for the ride" - Stephen Hayes 

This podcast is about the power of dealing with negative thoughts and emotions more obliquely. It's about a central shift from focusing on what you think and feel to how you relate to what you think and feel. Its effectiveness is somewhat paradoxical because struggling to stop or change a thought or emotion can have the opposite effect - and compound the problem. 

My guest is Dr. Steven Hayes. Dr. Hayes is a Nevada foundation professor of psychology in the behavior analysis program at the University of Nevada. He's an author of 46 books in nearly 675 scientific articles. His TEDx talks and blogs have been viewed or read by over 3 million people he has ranked among the most cited psychologists in the world. He's especially known for his work on acceptance and commitment therapy or ACT, which is one of the most widely used and researched new methods of psychological intervention over the last 20 years.

Steven has received the lifetime achievement award from the association for behavioral and cognitive therapy and his popular book, Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: was #1 bestseller, and his new book, which is also discussed on the podcast. A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters has been recently released to white acclaim.

Some of the topics we cover.

• Current depression rates and the impact of the pandemic  
• What he thinks is exasperating depression and anxiety in the U.S. 
• The differences between sadness and depression
• How our brains and emotions can often work against us
• How automatic and complicated our thinking processes are
• ACT and process-based therapy, and the challenge of a purely cognitive model
• What is relational thinking
• The problem with treating negative thoughts as problems 
• How we can relate to our thoughts to create space from being caught up in them 
• What is diffusion and techniques to apply it 

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

There's something strangely reassuring about knowing people were wrestling with the similar issues we struggle with over 2,000 years ago — even if they wore togas and wrote with a chisel.   Donald Robertson is a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, acclaimed author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, and one of the world's leading voices on Stoicism. He's also the founder of the Plato's Academy Centre in Athens, and a founding member of the Modern Stoicism nonprofit.   On this pod, we talk about the wisdom literature and how it can help with emotional distress; specifically, the idea of Stoics as ancient psychotherapists. Donald explains how Stoicism wasn't just a philosophy of life, but also a clear system of psychotherapy in ancient Greek and Roman thought.   Some episode highlights:

• How shifting definitions shape our understanding of mental illness
• On the paradox of growth through adversity
• Struggle and transformation
• Experiential wisdom
• Fortune and the bitch goddess of success
• Stoicism as an ancient psychotherapy
• The philosophical roots of cognitive therapy
• On anger, and the art of self-mastery (Seneca, Galen)
• On Worry and rumination
• Marcus Aurelius 
• Stoicism's broader vision
• On the "view from above" and the liberation of perspective
• How time expansion mitigates worry
• The complex relationship of thoughts and emotions
• The core proposition of both Stoicism and CBT
• How complaining signals resistance to reality
• Acceptance and the dichotomy of control
• How to reconnect with what's essential in a noisy world

  This isn't motivational fluff; it's a toolkit for anyone who's ever gotten tangled in their own head.    

On this episode we cover a bit of the biography of vaccines, dovetailing into the current state of vaccination around the globe.

My guest on this podcast is Dr. Paul Offit, a world renowned expert and medical pioneer in the field of immunology and virology. He is a professor in the division of Infectious Diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of Vaccinology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is the co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine recommended for universal use in infants by the CDC, credited with saving hundreds of children's lives every day. Dr. Offit is also currently a member of the FDA's Vaccine Advisory Committee and is a founding advisory board member of the Autism Science Foundation and the Foundation for Vaccine Research. His awards and citations are too numerous to list here (See more of his bio at www.chop.edu/doctors/offit-paul-a)

Paul is not only an expert of great renown, he is also very generous and extremely passionate about public health - and it comes through.

Vaccination is widely considered one of the greatest medical achievements of modern civilization. Please listen as Paul explains why that is so.

We covered a range of topics including:

• The Ming dynasty, 'variolation' and smallpox
• Powdered pustules and other Chinese precursors
• 18th Century and the founding of vaccinology in the West
• Jonas Salk and the first successful polio vaccines
• Rotavirus and the RotaTeq vaccine
• Recombinant DNA flu vaccines
• The new mRNA era of vaccines
• Vaccine risks then and now; we do the math
• Vaccine controversy and hesitancy throughout history
• Overview of the current COVID-19 vaccines, Delta and what's next
• Who should, and should not, get the vaccine
• FDA timelines, approvals, and licensure

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

"A person can make himself happy or miserable regardless of what is actually happening outside just by changing the contents of consciousness" -Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

How you feel about life and living, and your happiness in general - ultimately depends on interpreting everyday experience. Your mind shapes every experience you have and there is a minimal return on happiness effort, trying to exert more control over external forces.

Time should be spent on ordering your inner world. This podcast is about doing just that. 

My guest is Loch Kelly.

Loch is an author, meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and founder of the  Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Loch has collaborated with neuroscientists at Yale, UPenn, and NYU to study how awareness training can enhance compassion and well-being. As a licensed psychotherapist, Loch has been teaching seminars, supervising clinicians and practicing awareness psychotherapy in NYC for 30 years. 

He has authored two books on meditation, Shift into Freedom The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness and The Way of Effortless Mindfulness A Revolutionary Guide for Living an Awakened Life, which is the touchstone for our discussion

Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions, the book is a practical guide to what he calls the next stage in the ongoing mindfulness movement: effortless mindfulness. 

On the show we discuss these topics and more 

• Defining meditation
• Defining awareness
• Suffering and managing emotions
• Why meditation can be hard 
• Who meditation is for
• Terminology
• Explaining Flow states and how it can be elicited in meditation
• Differences between mindfulness meditation and effortless mindfulness
• On effort and effortlessness 
• Types / Methods
• Multiple "selves" and the mini-me
• Glimpse practices
• How to start - "here now" meditation

There is a lot more here, so give it a listen. 

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

Larry

Nicholas Christakis on the impact of Coronavirus, what went wrong, what's going right, and our possible future. More below.

Nicholas is a physician and social scientist at Yale University who conducts research in network science, biosocial science, and behavior genetics.

Named by Time magazine to their annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, Nicholas's current work focuses on how human biology and health affect social interactions and social networks. He directs the Human Nature Lab and is the Co-Director of the Yale Institute for Network Science. 

He is also the author of several books, including Connected: The Amazing Power of Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society, and his latest, Apollo's Arrow, The Profound and Enduring impact of Coronavirus On the Way We Live - which is the topic of our conversation.

Nicholas was a font of information; it was a challenge to fit everything into an hour. He was a conversational tour de force crisscrossing history, medicine, social behavior, and disease math.

On the show we covered...

• How earlier pandemics were similar in how they played out 
• The frequency of pandemics
• How COVID-19 compares to other pathogens
• Disease math and mortality curves
• Updates on lethality
• Effective contagion rates
• What went wrong
• Trust in government and scientific institutions
• What's going right 
• Development of vaccines
• Vaccination rates (percentage of the populace) we need to open the economy
• The swiss cheese model of personal risk mitigation 
• Post pandemic behavior and the future boom

There is a lot more here, so give it a listen. 

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

Larry 

 

Chatter refers to this negative cycle of thinking and feeling that leads us to get stuck in ways that can be really toxic for our health, for our relationships, and for our ability to think and perform  - Ethan Kross

"Hecaton asks, "Do you ask what progress I have made? I have begun to be a friend to myself." Valuable progress indeed: he will never be alone." —Seneca

On this podcast, I delve into what cognitive science is learning about the conversations we have with ourselves - and even better, how to manage them. 

My guest is Ethan Kross, Ph.D. An award-winning professor in the University of Michigan's top ranked Psychology Department and its Ross School of Business, he studies how the conversations people have with themselves impact their health, performance, decisions and relationships. And his research has been published in academic journals and featured in the New York Times, the Economist and the New Yorker, to name just a few.

He is also the author of the just-published book Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It, the topic of this episode.

Why do you say what you say, when you talk to yourself? 

Ethan explained to me that our brains have an affinity for disconnecting from what's happening around us. This then offers an opportunity for the conversations in our minds. 

Ethan says that our inner voice is crucial and helps us evaluate what we do, calibrating our gap-to-goal actions. We have a monitoring default state.  

But it can turn on us.

Anxious or negative chatter can tank athletic performance and sabotage your career.

Chatter is often triggered when we interpret a situation as a threat—something we can't manage.

Hello, pandemic.

Ethan tells me uncertain times and uncertainty and a lack of control are agents that fuel (internal) chatter.

if you had asked me when I started this project, for a formula for a mass chatter event, we are living through that right now. And all the ingredients are there; a once in a century uncontrollable and uncertain pandemic - Ethan Kross

These internal conversations also determine our experiences. Your mood is most often defined not by what you did but by what you thought about what you did at the time you were doing it.

On the show, we cover a lot of his research on "chatter" laid out in his new book

• Why do we do it?
• Origins of the voices
• How chatter can backfire on us
• Tips (and tools) on improving or quelling negative chatter
• How to properly coach yourself and the use of pronouns
• Affirmations and how to talk to yourself
• And much more

It's arguable that some of the most important conversations you will have in your life will are the ones you have with yourself.

So tell yourself to give it a listen. 

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

Larry 

Tommy Chong is a grammy award-winning comedian and is legendary for his invaluable contribution to American counter-culture as part of the iconic comedy duo Cheech & Chong. During their reign, the twosome recorded six gold comedy albums, including the 1973 Grammy winner "Los Cochinos," and starred in eight films, most of which Chong co-wrote and directed. The first, "Up In Smoke," was the highest-grossing comedy of 1978, topping $100 million at the box office. Others were "Cheech and Chong's Next Movie" (1980), "Nice Dreams" (1981), "Things Are Tough All Over" (1982), "Cheech and Chong: Still Smoking" (1983), and "The Corsican Brothers" (1984). 

Tommy has acted in several other films, including 1990's "Far Out, Man!" and "National Lampoon's Senior Trip" (1995). He also starred as "Leo" on Fox's "That 70's Show," and guest starred on ABC's "Dharma & Greg" and "The George Lopez Show." 

Tommy is also the author of the New York Times Best-Seller The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint and the book, Cheech and Chong: The Unauthorized Autobiography. 

In 2003 a fully armed SWAT team raided the comedian's home, culminating with Tommy being sentenced to 9 months in federal prison for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute "Chong Glass," a family business specializing in handmade glass water pipes (bongs).

On this episode, Tommy talks about that experience and pretty much his whole life; growing up in Canada, getting his start in rock and roll, finding improv comedy, his time with Cheech and Chong, and getting into the business of CBD and Cannabis.  

I interview people, for the most part - to get their perspective as to relates to challenge whether personal or professional sometimes it's corporate and more often than not, the episodes refer to some documented touchstones like a book or research - a catalog of lessons 

This one is a bit of an exception. 

This episode is not so didactic; the lessons are in the pure experience - the story - and an entertaining one at that. 

Enjoy!

To see show notes, resources, and more, visit larryweeks.com 

 

What can we learn from survival science about recovering from trauma? What can survivors of extreme events teach us about creating a new normal?  

My guest on this episode is Laurence Gonzales.

Laurence Gonzales is the author of numerous books and has won many awards, including two National Magazine Awards and the Distinguished Service Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Laurence also received a Journalism Fellowship from the Santa Fe Institute and where he was also appointed a Miller Scholar. 

Laurence wrote the best-selling books Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why, its sequel Surviving Survival: The Art and Science of Resilience, and Everyday Survival: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things.

In these books, Laurence chronicles not only how some endured life-threatening situations and somehow survive them, but also their second acts; the difficulty of moving on from their trauma to the equally challenging return to or re-creation of a "normal" life.

The extreme events that Laurence writes about are helpful to study as it lends perspective; we realize we are one among many who may have it far worse than we. Also helpful are the lessons learned on how the brain and body work during and after traumatic events. 

Some of our talking points….

• How evolutionary wiring works for us and against us 
• PTSD or PTS
• Why some survive, and others do not 
• Problems with narrow domain expertise and ego 
• Active coping skills and suggested activities 
• Awareness, behavioral scripts, and accidents
• Cognitive dissonance 
• The brain's rage pathway 
• Goal seeking behavior and the power of hobbies 

I've been trying to get Laurence on for over a year - schedules just didn't align, but we finally made it happen happy to say and it was well worth it. 

Enjoy! 

In this episode, my focus is on how to find peace of mind amidst turmoil and persistent uncertainty. So many things that are directly affecting our lives are also out of our direct control - and it can be maddening. 

Serenity now. 

The Ancient Greeks used the term ataraxia, which means a state of serene calmness. Steven Gambardella writes in the Sophist, "Ataraxia is not a positively-defined state such as "happy" or "excited" It was believed by the Hellenistic philosophies to be a "resting" state of serenity."   

To achieve this state, the Stoics taught the need to discern between "things not up to us" vs. "things up to us." 

"Some things are within our power, while others are not. Within our power are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is of our own doing; not within our power are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, whatever is not of our own doing." - Epictetus in the Enchiridion

Herein lies the key to much of our neurosis, not understanding what's in your control and what's not. Crazy is treating outcomes as objects; to paraphrase psychoanalyst Leslie Farber, where you can directly move an object, you cannot directly will an outcome - and your goals can distort your psyche when confusing the two.

My guest is philosophy professor Massimo Pigliucci.

Massimo has a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee. He is currently the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His research interests include the philosophy of science, the nature of pseudoscience, and the practical philosophy of Stoicism. 

He is also the author or editor of 14 books, including the bestselling How to Be A Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life. Other titles include Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk and his just published A Field Guide to a Happy Life. 

Some of or talking points on this episode

• How his life changed in 2014
• Re-discovering Stoic philosophy 
• Thoughts and suffering
• Stoicism 2.0
• How stress is created
• The dichotomy of control
• Holding things lightly; loans from the bank of the universe
• Unhooking happiness from results
• Ambition, goals and the challenge of process orientation
• Pandemics, mask-wearing and citizenship
• Historical perspectives on crazy political seasons and unorthodox leaders
• On pacifism and civic engagement 

Massimo was great as usual so - take a break from the insanity out there, put your earphones on, go for a walk and listen. 

Enjoy! 

For show notes, resources and more of my content visit larryweeks.com 

What do you do when you're faced with a big decision?

If you're like most people, you might make a pro and con list, although many don't even do that - if you're like me, you might over-analyze and spend too much time searching for that extra data point that might make you sure.

There is a better way to make quality decisions and minimize second-guessing. 

My guest is Annie Duke. 

Annie is an expert on decision fitness and is the author of two books on decision making, the bestseller Thinking In Bets, and her latest How To Decide, Simple Tools For Making Better Choices, is the topic of the show. 

Prior to the books, Annie used high stakes poker as her decision lab and became one of the world's top poker players, winning her first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 2004. That same year, she won the $2 million winner-take-all, invitation-only Tournament of Champions. In 2010, she won NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. 

Before professional poker, Annie was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship to study Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. 

This is the second time I've had Annie as a guest (See Ep. 22) and the topic of this episode follows from the first except here we shift from highlighting causes of bad decisions to discussing in more detail the process for making better ones. We move to the more practical as she outlines the tools and heuristics we can use to make quality decisions and second-guess yourself less.

 Here are just some of our talking points. 

• A review of "resulting" and why it's a problem
• What's wrong with pro-con lists - and what's better
• Assigning probability and forecasting 
• The tree of possibility
• The decision multiverse 
• The three-column decision map
• Why we should embrace educated guesses
• Factors leading up to election cycles and how predictions might be wrong yet correctly made before 
• and much more 

Note Annie's audio is less than optimal but listen closely, it's a gold mine of decision-making wisdom you can use right away. 

Enjoy! 

"It's like an aha moment when you suddenly see it, the moment you say, oh, all these negative feelings are awesome and wonderful, this is a positive deal. The moment you see that you suddenly won't want or need them anymore."  - Dr. David burns 

"What you resist not only persists but will grow in size" - Carl Jung 

This was recorded in late August and throughout much of the world, we are still dealing with the pandemic via restricted living. Our routines have been disrupted and our world of experiences narrowed, going on six months. Add to the mix all the negative news that precedes a national election, and you have a recipe for depression and anxiety.

Enter my guest on this episode is Dr.David Burns, M.D.

David was a previous guest back when I started the podcast (episode 5), and he is one of the pioneers in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) so very happy to have him back on. 

Dr. Burns is currently Adjunct Clinical Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine, where he is involved in research and teaching. He has received numerous awards, including the A. E. Bennett Award for his research on brain chemistry, the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology through the Media Award, and the Outstanding Contributions Award from the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists. He has been named Teacher of the Year three times from the class of graduating residents at Stanford University School of Medicine, and his best-selling book, Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, published over 40 years ago, is still in the #1 Amazon spot for books on depression. 

Now he has a new book that innovates on the methods in the first called Feeling Great – The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety, which is based on more than 40,000 hours treating individuals with severe mood problems.

Dr. Burns says that our negative moods do not result from what's wrong with us, but rather - what's right with us. And paradoxically, when you listen and "hear" what your negative thoughts and feelings are trying to say, you won't need them anymore, and recovery follows. The goal, according to Dr. Burns, is not just complete elimination of negative feelings, but the development of joy and enlightenment. 

Some talking points from the show.  

• A review of the origins and basics of CBT 
• David's new treatment protocol - TEAM CBT 
• A list of cognitive distortions 
• Discerning healthy and unhealthy sadness  
• On dealing with cancer 
• Agenda setting
• How and why of honoring negative thoughts  
• Case studies and patience response 

Read to investigate your feelings and experiment with how to change them? 

Enjoy!

For resources and more visit larryweeks.com 

 

"The greater the mistake, the more foolish the belief, the more consequences of that belief...Then, the greater your need to reduce that dissonance in your favor because the gap is greater between yourself and feelings of self worth" - Carol Tavris 

On this podcast, we talk about what happens after we make a terrible mistake. What is our response to our mistakes? Do we try to brush it off? Do we say screw it and double down? 

Mistakes don't necessarily end with the mistake itself - it can get worse, much worse. 

It's akin to the axiom for failure testing software; 

Almost all catastrophic errors are the result of incorrect handling of non-fatal errors that are explicitly signaled. 

Consider Bill Clinton. It is arguable that had he admitted to his relationship with Monica Lewinsky early and contritely, he would have avoided a 4-month long impeachment process - and embarrassing testimony recorded for posterity. 

Or we can get better, we can learn and grow from our mistakes. 

But that takes admission along with taking responsibility so that we don't make the same mistake again. 

This podcast explains why that's so hard to do. 

My guests are Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson. They co-authored the book "Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions and Hurtful Acts" The book, and our conversation, is about cognitive dissonance theory applied to a wide variety of topics, including politics, religious belief, memory, criminal justice, and even family quarrels. 

Carol is an American social psychologist, public intellectual, well-known writer, and lecturer. She's devoted her career to the psychological sciences; the beliefs and practices that guide people's lives. Carol has a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Michigan, has taught psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles and the New School for Social Research. Carol is also a member of the editorial board of Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Her articles, book reviews, and op-eds have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, The Times Literary Supplement, Scientific American and other publications.

Elliot Aronson is one of the most famous names in the discipline of social psychology due in no small part to his best book, The Social Animal. He is listed among the 100 most eminent psychologists of the 20th century. He has taught at Harvard University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Texas, and is currently professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. 

This was an easy conversation as Carol and Elliot are both so very likable. I told them that if I had to tell someone about my mistakes, it would be them, as they came across as genuinely caring. 

I think you'll agree. 

Our conversation covers these topics and more. 

• Why people might justify bad decisions. 
• Cognitive dissonance
• The pyramid of choice
• Faulty memory 
• Keeping beliefs against revealed evidence 
• Dealing with our bad memories
• How to learn from mistakes 
• Cancel culture 
• Partitioning mistakes from persons
• Anatomy of an apology 

Enjoy!

For resources and more visit larryweeks.com 

People think happiness comes from getting everything you want. But the science shows, it's the absence, the novelty, and the change that bring joy back - Tali Sharot 

Ever wonder why lasting happiness can feel so elusive? This episode delves into the neuroscience of habituation, and why our brains, despite achieving desires, tend to filter out positive experiences. We'll explore this phenomenon and uncover practical strategies to consciously re-engage with what's already good in your life.

My guest is Dr. Tali Sharot, a cognitive neuroscientist and professor at University College London, where she directs the Affective Brain Lab. Tali's research blends neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics to study how emotion and motivation shape decision-making, memory, and belief. Tali's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The BBC, and her TED Talks have been viewed over 15 million times.

We talk about her research behind why we adapt so quickly to both the good and the bad—and how this helps us survive, but can also rob us of happiness, creativity, and even the desire to change. This is the crux of her book, Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There, co-authored with Cass Sunstein.

If you've ever wondered why joy fades faster than it should—or why we stop seeing the beauty around us—this conversation offers a fresh perspective on how to disrupt that pattern.

Some highlights from the pod:

• Tali's research background and the Affective Brain Lab
• Research insights into human–AI bias feedback loops
• Habituation: How our brains are built to ignore what doesn't change
• Why the mechanism that makes us resilient also makes us take good things for granted
• The problem of perfection; and getting everything you want
• Dis-habituation —and how to apply it to relationships and daily life
• Happiness and the evolutionary role of novelty
• How to use imagination and attention to rekindle joy and gratitude
• Why people with depression often struggle to recover—and the role of rumination
• How learning and effort unlock happiness
• Refreshing the familiar: Savoring, small changes, and role-play

This is one of those episodes that can help you feel more alive—not by adding more to your life, but by changing how you see what's already there.

Enjoy!

 

Rory Sutherland is a best selling author, ad man being the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy and Mather and co-founder of Ogilvy Change, a behavioral science practice where they believe the greatest gains to be made in business and society are psychological, not technological.  Rory is regarded as one of marketing and advertising's most original thinkers and inspirational speakers; a cumulative 7M viewers have seen his Ted Talks. 

This is Rory's second appearance on the podcast. The first episode 20,  which is still very popular. Because Rory has his finger on the pulse of consumer psychology, I wanted his take on the impact of stay at home orders on our respective western consumers as the Coronavirus (hopefully) wanes. 

How will our consuming and workplace behavior change? 

So this is a wide-ranging conversation covering these topics and more...

• Speculating on permanent and temporary consumer behavior changes 
• Behaviors that are inherently resilient
• Social norms
• The future of the workplace, commuting, public policy, travel, and movies
• Trends vs. vectors 
• What does he think about marketing/advertising on the edge of a pandemic? 
• What should brands do amidst all this change?
• Habits and social copying 

Enjoy! 

For resources and notes see larryweeks.com

I'm never sure how to introduce James Altucher to anyone who might not have heard of him. He's a best selling author with a hugely successful podcast, investor, serial entrepreneur, former VC & hedge fund manager, computer programmer, and chess master. I'm sure I've left some out but just Google him, he's everywhere. 

Returning for his second appearance on the podcast (see more of his story here), James is one of the most interesting people I know. But his superpower and what I admire about him most is his vulnerability. He's an open book and not afraid to lean into controversy. 

To the point of this show, on his podcast, he's been talking with a wide variety of experts about the Coronavirus, everyone from an immunologist, physicians, geneticist, economist to policy experts and super forecasters in the form of regular updates starting in February. He also lives in Manhattan, which is ground zero for the epidemic here in the states, which gives him another perspective I don't have. 

Well, I thought I'd short cut my research and just call him for a distillation of what he's finding out; what after all these conversations has he concluded about what is happening now?  

So here are just some of the topics we cover 

• Political risks for any opinion on what to do next 
• The math used for Coronavirus spread / who got what wrong? 
• Issues with flattening the curve 
• Dividing the certain from the uncertain
• He view on when this will it effectively "end"
• Possible shape of the recovery - L,U,V,W?
• Economic impact and when he thinks the country should open up or could open 
• How the future has been pulled forward 
• Businesses that may never return to normal 
• How to be an idea machine 
• Business ideas that are favorable in this environment 
• His personal practices for recovering from setback - as he's been through many  

Enjoy

Seem more at larryweeks.com

William B. Irvine is a professor of philosophy at Wright State University. The author of seven books, including The Stoic Challenge and A Guide to the Good Life, he has also written for the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Salon, Time, and the BBC. He lives in Dayton, Ohio

For the context of the show I refer you to his latest,  The Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher's Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer and More Resilient 

Philosophy for William is not just an academic career; he actually lives it, having adopted Stoicism many years ago, making him an outlier in the academic community.

In many ways, this ancient school of thought preempted many aspects of modern psychology and how to use some of its tenants to deal with setbacks. 

The Stoics' realized that even though you have limited control over what setbacks you experience, you can develop considerable control over how you respond to them. One of the 1st century Stoics Seneca wrote about the differences between experiencing a setback and suffering from it, by changing the perspective of how one thinks of setbacks. 

You've probably read or heard of some form of this quote attributed to another Stoic, Epictetus 

"We suffer not from the events in our lives but from our judgment about them." On this show, we explore that precept - with some helpful thought experiments that I encourage you to try 

Topics covered 

• How he came to Stoicism
• Comparisons with Buddhism
• Psychology of a setback  
• Stoic framing (the test frame, hero frame, target frame) 
• Negative visualization 
• "The last time" exercise and premature nostalgia 
• Resetting hedonic standards
• The power of perspective 

Enjoy! 

For show notes and more see larryweeks.com

This episode is about trying to understand our true capacity to cope with stress and how to arouse the dormant resilience in all of us. 

My guest on this show seems to be proof there are benefits from extreme physical challenges. In his case, actually seeking out stressors and using them to hack the nervous system - reprogramming it's response to those stressors.

Scott Carney is an investigative journalist who has worked in some of the most dangerous and unlikely corners of the world. His work has been the subject of a variety of radio and television programs, including NPR and National Geographic TV. 

Before writing what eventually became the New York Times bestseller, "What Doesn't Kill Us," Scott set out to prove that the now-famous "iceman" Wim Hoff was a charlatan and his workshop retreats destined to kill people. Instead, Scott winds up climbing Mount Kilimanjaro half-naked, submerging himself in ice water learning radical breathing techniques (see Episode 6 of this podcast). The experience gave Scott almost superhuman levels of endurance, and he says it quieted a persistent autoimmune illness. 

At the core of these methods is a technique Scott outlines in detail with his new book "The Wedge." In this episode, we talk about how it works, what he found on his search for other people who understood the language of the body's response to the environment. What other "wedges" did he discover? 

This chat with Scott helped me think of stress as something to use. Specific stressors can be opportunities to build a form of strength in the area where the stress is met, whether physical or mental. During the interview, Scott talks about the brain's ability to build "libraries of emotional experiences" tied to stressful events. He thinks you can hack the libraries by various means of exposure and or wedges dealing with the stress to change how you experience it, thus increasing your ability to cope.

This chat will push you to reconsider how far out your limits may be.

 Some interesting sections of the conversation...

• What he learned from Wim Hoff
• The two way communication between the mind-body and body-mind 
• Relationships between physiological and psychological stress
• Possibilities in reprogramming the nervous system
• Placebos
• How to use environment to increase resilience
• A new game of catch - with iron weights 
• Confronting fear in a laboratory 

Enjoy!

For show notes and more visit larryweeks.com