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Big Think
By bigthinkEducation
Big Think episodes
- The case for free speech (even when it’s harmful)
“Defending free speech, even for your enemies, is essential for minorities, and for freedom and equality to thrive.”
Jacob Mchangama, founder of The Future of Free Speech, explains how free speech has shaped America, from Frederick Douglass fighting slavery to Supreme Court cases protecting voices that promote hate. He argues that today, tech platforms twist our view by promoting extremists for clicks, making it feel like free speech is the problem. But free speech only works if all voices are allowed. According to Mchangama, it is silence that truly damages equality and democracy.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Jacob Mchangama:Jacob Mchangama founded and leads The Future of Free Speech, is a research professor at Vanderbilt, and a Senior Fellow at The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). A prolific commentator and author on free speech and human rights, he created the podcast “Clear and Present Danger” and wrote the 2022 book “Free Speech: A History From Socrates to Social Media.”----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About The WellDo we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds.Together, let's learn from them.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11:10-18
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10 min - The 3-step process to CIA training, revealed | Andrew Bustamante: Full Interview
“The public really doesn't realize that they are much closer to CIA spies than they think they are.”
Most people think CIA agents are born extraordinary. Charming, genius, and ready to win every fight, gliding through danger like James Bond. But the reality isn’t so glamorous, reveals former spy Andrew Bustamante. Real spies aren’t superheroes; they’re invisible. They’re the people you’d never remember seeing in line for coffee, the ones who thrive on being overlooked.From the grueling 18‑month recruitment process to the moral flexibility required to operate in gray zones, Bustamante explains how the CIA builds operatives who can disappear, adapt, and serve missions above everything else.00:00:00 Part 1: Becoming a spy00:00:19 What do people get wrong about being a spy?00:01:29 What are the qualities of a potential spy?00:04:56 What is the process for becoming a CIA operative?00:09:10 What did you learn while becoming a CIA operative?00:11:05 How does becoming a CIA agent impact your personal life?00:13:48 What is CIA training like?00:16:48 What did the CIA teach you about ethics and morals?00:19:21 How do I know if I have what it takes to be a CIA operative?00:20:47 Part 2: Is there a difference between manipulation and motivation?00:22:57 How can you take control of a conversation?00:24:16 What is the R.I.C.E. Method?00:26:43 What is sensemaking?00:33:11 How should we use these psychological tools?00:34:29 Part 3: The economy of secrets. What is the economy of secrets?00:36:15 Do all secrets hold equal value?00:38:17 Why is it beneficial to know that everyone keeps secrets?00:42:25 How do we identify the most valuable secrets?00:44:21 Are there any tricks to keeping a secret?00:46:57 How can we extract secrets from others?00:49:57 Part 4: How to multitask like a spy. What is task saturation?00:51:49 How can I manage my task saturation?00:59:09 How do emotions sometimes get in our way?------------------------------------------------------------------About Andrew Bustamante:Andrew Bustamante is a former covert CIA intelligence officer and decorated US Air Force combat veteran. In 2017, he founded EverydaySpy.com, the first digital platform teaching real-world intelligence techniques to everyday people. Drawing from his 20 years running human and technical operations globally, Bustamante empowers individuals to break social, financial, and cultural barriers using proven spy skills. He's a Fortune 10 corporate advisor, cybersecurity expert, and author of "Everyday Espionage: Winning the Workplace and Social Game." Together with his wife Jihi, also a former CIA officer, Andrew hosts the EverydaySpy Podcast.Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes---------------------------------------------------------------11:10-18
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1 hr 11 min - Your brain: the most important sex organ in the body | Emily Nagoski
“The sexual excitation system is the accelerator or the gas pedal, and it notices all the sex-related information in the environment.”
Past decades of sex research have focused mainly on mechanics, overlooking the concept of desire. Now, we’re understanding how vital environment, emotion, and perception are in the science of sex.Sex educator Emily Nagoski emphasizes how critical context can be in amplifying or killing sexual desire.0:38 The role of desire in orgasm2:15 The gas pedal vs. The brakes4:15 Why people struggle with sex5:15 How to apply neuroscience in the bedroom7:02 The power of context----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Emily Nagoski:Emily Nagoski is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling Come As You Are and The Come As You Are Workbook, and coauthor, with her sister, Amelia, of New York Times bestseller Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. She earned an M.S. In counseling and a Ph.D. In health behavior, both from Indiana University, with clinical and research training at the Kinsey Institute. Now she combines sex education and stress education to teach women to live with confidence and joy inside their bodies. She lives in Massachusetts with two dogs, a cat, and a cartoonist.-------------------------------------------------------------11:10-18
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15 min - How to have "real" orgasms | Emily Nagoski
The best orgasms come when you learn how to unlock a sexual “flow state.” Emily Nagoski, a sex educator, shares a meditation to help you get started.
When you see an orgasm depicted in TV, film, or even porn, you can be virtually certain it was faked. This can feed misconceptions about there being a “correct” way to orgasm. In reality, orgasms are complex phenomena that can result from a wide range of stimuli, and they are orchestrated primarily by the brain, not only the genitals.Sex educator Emily Nagoski emphasizes the importance of familiarizing yourself with the full spectrum of pleasurable and arousing experiences, not just orgasms. Shifting focus from orgasms to overall pleasure can alleviate pressure, potentially leading to improved sexual experiences and, paradoxically, better orgasms.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Emily Nagoski:Emily Nagoski is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling Come As You Are and The Come As You Are Workbook, and coauthor, with her sister, Amelia, of New York Times bestseller Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. She earned an M.S. In counseling and a Ph.D. In health behavior, both from Indiana University, with clinical and research training at the Kinsey Institute. Now she combines sex education and stress education to teach women to live with confidence and joy inside their bodies. She lives in Massachusetts with two dogs, a cat, and a cartoonist.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11:10-18
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17 min - The universal hack: Why the friction principle applies everywhere | Bob Sutton for Big Think+
**Slow Down to Speed Up: The Power of Constructive Friction**
We often rush to solve problems—whether planning a trip, fixing a Lego model, or leading a company. But sometimes, slowing down is the smarter move. Think of a race car: winners don’t go full throttle the entire time; they brake at corners, stop for pit stops, and pull over when the car is on fire.
In organizations, obstacles can be frustrating, but they can also be useful. Good friction makes the right things easier and the wrong things harder. For example, Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes tried to bypass regulations to get faulty blood-testing devices into military helicopters. Thankfully, a rule requiring FDA approval blocked her. Meanwhile, Sequel, a company reinventing the tampon, embraced the long, rigorous process of obtaining FDA approval, ensuring a quality product.
The best leaders act as "friction fixers," trustees of others' time. They eliminate pointless delays—like the DMV employee who turned a dreaded experience into a smooth, efficient process. They also ask two key questions:
1. **Do I know what I'm doing?** Sergey Brin rushed Google Glass to market despite warnings that it wasn’t ready. The result? A high-profile flop.
2. **Is this decision reversible?** When IDEO grew too big, founder David Kelly proposed a reorganization, comparing it to shaving his mustache—something reversible. Had he cut off his finger instead, there’d be no going back.
Smart leaders embrace friction where it matters and remove it where it doesn’t. So before racing ahead, ask yourself: Should I hit the gas—or the brakes?
The ability to create and destroy friction in different circumstances is what defines an organizational genius.
When a customer, an employee, or a senior leader has set their sights on a certain course of action and then runs into obstacles that make it slower, harder, more frustrating, we call this organizational friction. Many times, that can be a bad thing, but best-selling author and organizational psychologist Bob Sutton argues that we can actually harness it to benefit us. One thing that Sutton emphasizes in his book The Friction Project is that you should first ask yourself if your course of action is the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ thing to do. If it's the right thing to do, it should happen fast and be relatively frictionless. The ‘wrong’ thing to do is often full of friction, but the right thing, although it may have some ‘constructive friction,’ is often able to push forward and make progress without harsh obstacles. Here are 2 easy tricks to solve any problem and make friction your secret weapon
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11 min - A simple tool for better communication during toxic conflict | Amanda Ripley
“We can have that fight for a 1,000 years, but we could have a shot at figuring out what we both need and noticing when there's opportunities to make that happen.”
Conflict can be constructive, inspiring learning, growth, and vulnerability when well-managed. But when it spirals into what Amanda Ripley calls high conflict, it becomes corrosive.Instead of solving problems, high conflict traps us in a cycle where arguments feed on themselves, eroding trust and entire relationships. So, why are we so susceptible to it? Ripley explains, sharing our psychological tripwires and how to avoid them.Chapters:-
0:00 The paradox of high conflict0:30 Breaking the cycle2:50 How to get to the understory5:00 High conflict is a tar pit6:30 The idiot driver reflex (why we don’t give people benefit of the doubt)7:50 Fear leads to a desire for simplicity8:20 The saturation point10:50 Good, healthy conflict11:15 Looping (how to prove you are listening)14:00 The most common understories17:30 Practice under stress20:00 How to keep conflict healthy21:00 The magic ratio of positive interactions to conflict21:55 Who high conflict benefits22:55 There’s no winning a marriage----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Amanda Ripley:Amanda Ripley is a New York Times bestselling author, Washington Post contributor, and co-founder of consultancy firm, Good Conflict. Her books include The Smartest Kids in the World, High Conflict, and The Unthinkable.--------------------
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31 min - How my diagnosis changed the way I perceive myself | Kaelynn Partlow
**Living Between Understanding and Loneliness**
Since gaining consciousness, Kaelynn Partlow has felt disconnected—spending more time analyzing human interactions than experiencing them. As an author, autism advocate, and content creator, she channels her thoughts into her work, finding solace in the movement of fidget toys and the rhythm of words.
Growing up, Kaelynn struggled with self-perception, feeling "stupid" after failing third grade. A string of diagnoses—autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more—gave her new labels to hold onto, but they didn’t erase the weight of being misunderstood. Conversations often felt like puzzles where others simply stopped engaging instead of saying, "I don’t understand."
Loneliness lingers, especially on nights, weekends, and holidays, when she is no longer needed in a professional capacity. She retreats into her closet—a quiet space filled only with her thoughts—writing until the emotions drain away. And yet, within the struggle, she has discovered resilience. At Project Hope, she was given tasks she could succeed at, reshaping the belief that she couldn’t achieve.
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Her defining moment of celebration? A Netflix feature that brought together coworkers, friends, and acquaintances in a room full of support. She embraced fear, realizing she thrives under pressure. Now, she sees public speaking not as an impossible challenge, but as something she can not only endure—but master.
Kaelynn Partlow shares her story about life with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, and how finding the right diagnosis helped her embrace her neurodivergent identity.
Kaelynn Partlow, an author, autism advocate, and registered behavior technician, shares her own experiences living with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. She talks about how these diagnoses shifted her self-perception from feeling "stupid" to understanding her unique challenges and strengths.Kaelynn opens up about the misunderstandings neurodivergent people face and the difficulty of connecting in a world that often doesn't accommodate different ways of thinking. She also shares her fears—like wondering if her social difficulties will ever improve—and how she copes with loneliness, especially when not focused on work.Through it all, Kaelynn emphasizes the value of recognizing your own strengths, even when it’s hard. By taking on challenges and thriving under pressure, she found new opportunities, from public speaking to creative writing. Her story shows that growth often comes from facing fears and redefining success on your own terms.
About Kaelynn Partlow: In 2015, Kaelynn Partlow joined Project Hope Foundation as a Registered Behavior Technician. She is now a Lead Technician, providing services to middle and high-school-aged clients and contributing to staff training development.In 2021, Kaelynn was featured on the Netflix series Love On The Spectrum. She has also been a guest on numerous national podcasts and has published several articles, offering insights from an autistic perspective.With a large following on various social media platforms, Kaelynn uses her reach for autism advocacy, connecting with millions globally. In addition to her online work and role at Project Hope, she is an international public speaker, passionate about sharing tangible strategies for best practices when interacting with individuals on the autism spectrm
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11 min - Not all effort leads to character. Here’s why.
Does self-discipline always build character? Not necessarily.
Psychologist Sarah Schnitker explains why virtue grows best when rooted in purpose beyond the self. Through studies of marathon runners fundraising for clean water, she shows how pro-social and spiritual motivations—not just personal fitness goals—led to deeper growth in generosity, patience, and self-control.This research challenges the idea that self-improvement alone leads to virtue. When moral purpose and shared meaning enter the picture, transformation becomes more than personal: it becomes relational and lasting.-------------------------------------------------------11:10-18
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5 min - How to tell if your job is limiting your potential | Josh Bersin for Big Think+
“The simplest, most powerful way to reinforce work, not jobs, is to ask people to do something different.”
Most careers are built on a widely -held assumption: climb the ladder, earn the title, wait for the promotion. But what if that traditional model no longer leads to reliable growth?HR researcher and author Josh Bersin explains why the traditional idea of a job is outdated and how breaking free from it unlocks growth for both individuals and organizations.Chapters:
0:00 Job-centric model of management1:34 The secret to reimagining 21st century jobs2:38 “Not-my-job” syndrome2:50 Senority-based compensation3:11 Internal mobility5:40 The cost of not learning-----------------------------About Josh Bersin:Josh Bersin is an analyst, author, educator, and thought leader focusing on the global talent market and the challenges and trends impacting business workforces around the world. He studies the world of work, HR and leadership practices, and the broad talent technology market. He is often cited as one of the leading HR and workplace industry analysts in the world.Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes--------------------
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12 min - Experts from 4 different fields define consciousness
We created this video in partnership with Unlikely Collaborators.
How does self-awareness connect us to others, society, and the universe? 4 experts explain.Christof Koch, PhD, Daniel Dennett, PhD, Sam Harris, PhD, and Deepak Chopra, MD—four thinkers from neuroscience, philosophy, biology, and medicine—each share their own interpretation of consciousness, combining their ideas to paint one massive, mysterious picture of what it means to be an awakened being.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Christof Koch, PhD:Christof Koch is a Meritorious Investigator at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and Chief Scientist at the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation. He is a pioneering neuroscientist celebrated for his influential work on the neuronal basis of consciousness, including jointly developing Integrated Information Theory and exploring the neural correlates of conscious experience.About Daniel Dennett, PhD:Daniel C. Dennett was the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy and director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University.About Sam Harris, PhD:Mr. Harris is a graduate in philosophy from Stanford University and holds a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA, where he studied the neural basis of belief with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). He is also a Co-Founder and CEO of Project Reason.About Deepak Chopra, MD:Deepak Chopra MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation and co-founder of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, is a medical doctor, public speaker, and author of 90 books, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. He is regarded as a major advocate for the use of alternative medicine.----------------------------------------------------------11:10-18
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12 min
About Big Think
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Big Think is the leading source of expert-driven, actionable, educational content -- with thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, we help you get smarter, faster.…
Get actionable lessons from the world’s greatest thinkers & doers. Our experts are either disrupting or leading their respective fields. We aim to help you explore the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century, so you can apply them to the questions and challenges in your own life.
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