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Big Think
By bigthinkEducation
Big Think episodes
- How zero gave us mathematical and philosophical power | Talithia Williams
The abstract numeral that changed everything, according to mathematician Talithia Williams.
Before the introduction of zero, mathematics was a tangible subject, where numbers held weight and substance. With zero came the concept of a mathematical “nothing;” it turned our solid understanding of values into something theoretical.
This development, the addition of zero, led scientists to begin exploring more conceptual ideas, like dark matter and black holes. Without zero, we wouldn’t have discovered equations like E=mc², which fundamentally rely on the concept of nothingness and balance to describe the relationship between energy and mass.
Including zero and other abstract numerals like negative numbers, gave us the framework to think about the absence of things. This “nothing number” gave us access to a new layer of understanding, potentially even leading us to new solutions for problems that were unapproachable beforehand
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6 min - Fix your destructive mindset in 15 mins | Anne-Laure Le Cunff
"Being aware of your mindsets is the difference between living a conscious life, where you're making choices in accord with what you actually want and going where you actually wanna go, versus being on autopilot and having those mindsets subconsciously drive all of your decisions."
Chapters:
0:00 Our mindsets’ influences
0:50 Linear vs. Experimental
2:50 3 subconscious mindsets
4:58 The experimental mindset
6:30 Designing experiments
8:35 Habit vs. Experiment
🔥 Are Your Mindsets Secretly Controlling Your Life?
We all have default ways of seeing the world—our *mindsets*. And these mindsets silently shape everything: our decisions, relationships, feelings, and even the path we take in life. But here’s the catch: most of us aren’t even aware of them.
💭 The Turning Point
The speaker shares their journey—initially chasing traditional success: good grades, a job at Google, and startup life. But despite achieving all of it, they felt empty. It wasn’t until their startup failed that they paused to ask: *What do I really want?* This question led them to neuroscience, curiosity, and ultimately, fulfillment.
⚠️ The 3 Mindsets Holding Us Back
1. Cynical Mindset – Low ambition, low curiosity. You’re checked out and stuck in survival mode.
2. Escapist Mindset – High curiosity, low ambition. You binge-watch, dream-plan, and avoid responsibility.
3. Perfectionist Mindset – High ambition, low curiosity. You’re overworking, chasing success, but losing joy.
These mindsets are fluid—not fixed traits. You can shift them.
🔬 Enter: The Experimental Mindset
This mindset thrives on *both* high curiosity and ambition. It embraces uncertainty, treats failure as data, and turns life into a series of small experiments—each one helping you grow.
🧪 How to Build It: The Pact Method
A “pact” is a mini-experiment:
- Purposeful: You care about it.
- Actionable: You can start it *now*.
- Continuous: You repeat it regularly.
- Trackable: You only track if you did it—yes or no.
It’s not a habit, KPI, or resolution. It’s a test to see what *actually* works for you.
**📊 Internal vs External Data**
After an experiment, analyze both:
- **External**: Did it bring recognition, money, results?
- **Internal**: Did it *feel* good? Was it energizing or draining?
The speaker tried becoming a YouTuber. It “succeeded” externally—but internally, it felt awful. So they quit. That’s the power of self-awareness.
**🧠 Neuroscience Backs It Up**
When we’re curious, our brain lights up the same way it does when we’re thirsty. Curiosity isn’t fluff—it’s fuel.
**✨ Final Message:**
Your mindset determines whether you live consciously or on autopilot. Choose curiosity. Run tiny experiments. Design a life that’s yours.
About Anne-Laure Le Cunff:
Anne-Laure Le Cunff is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and writer. A former Google executive, she went back to university to earn a Ph.D. In Psychology & Neuroscience from King’s College London. As the founder of Ness Labs and author of its widely read newsletter, she writes about evidence-based ways for people to make the most of their minds, navigate uncertainty, and practice lifelong learning. Her work has been featured in peer-reviewed academic journals and mainstream publications such as WIRED, Forbes, Rolling Stone, Fortune, Entrepreneur, and more
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21 min - How America lost its mind—and how to get rationality back | John Inazu
Washington University professor John Inazu tells us how we can make peace inside a raging culture war.
What explains the high levels of political polarization in American society today? To writer and law professor John Inazu, the answer is not necessarily that the media has become more biased — there has always been bias in the news, after all.The more likely answer is that the “volume” of the information we encounter has been turned way up, thanks to technology. For example, while we used to have limited access to the news through the newspaper and nightly broadcasts, we can now get constant updates on social media, email, and news apps.Often, the result is that we seek out information that confirms our beliefs and we have trouble connecting with people whose opinions differ from our own. Inazu suggests we can break out of our ideological bubbles through “confident pluralism,” which he describes as a framework that uses the values of tolerance, patience, and humility to help people better engage with each other.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About John Inazu:John Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. He teaches criminal law, law and religion, and various First Amendment seminars. His scholarship focuses on the First Amendment freedoms of speech, assembly, and religion, and related questions of legal and political theory. He is the author of Liberty’s Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly (Yale University Press, 2012) and Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference (University of Chicago Press, 2016), and co-editor (with Tim Keller) of Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference (Thomas Nelson, 2020).Inazu holds a B.S.E. And J.D. From Duke University and a Ph.D. In political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He clerked for Judge Roger L. Wollman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and served for four years as an associate general counsel with the Department of the Air Force at the Pentagon.--------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19
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6 min - Money ruins relationships. Here’s how to fix that. | Your Brain on Money
Money ruins relationships. Here’s how to fix that.
One of the last taboos in a modern relationship is talking about money.While many people like to pretend that love conquers all, or that a positive attitude will overcome all obstacles, the fact is that money issues are a leading factor in divorce — especially among young couples. A 2013 study found that money issues played a significant role in 40% of divorces.But why? In a consumer society like ours, why do we not like to talk about money in a relationship? And, perhaps more importantly, how can we keep this tendency from negatively impacting our relationships?Kathleen Burns Kingsbury’s title is incorrectly cited in the video as financial psychologist. Kingsbury’s title is wealth psychology expert.0:00 Money in relationships1:08 Why some couples don’t talk about money2:15 How to get aligned on money3:58 Avoiding financial abuse4:25 Your words matter5:08 Your history matters too------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19
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11 min - How to double your brain power | Tiago Forte
How do we deal with information overload? Build a second brain, explains Tiago Forte.
Tiago Forte, Founder of Forte Labs and author of "Building A Second Brain," discusses the problem of information overload and how it can hinder creativity.He proposes a solution in the form of a Commonplace book, a central repository for all meaningful information and content. Forte's method for managing this information, called C.O.D.E. (capture, organize, distill, and express), allows individuals to access and use this information in order to facilitate creative thinking.By regularly reviewing the information in their Commonplace book and using it to inspire new ideas, people can more effectively navigate the modern world’s information overload — allowing us to free up cognitive resources for creativity.0:00 Creativity under fire1:10 The information abundance problem2:22 “You need a second brain”3:24 How to begin preserving your creativity5:04 Unlocking productive creativity----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Tiago Forte:Tiago Forte is one of the world’s foremost experts on productivity. He has taught more than 20,000 people worldwide through his programs and writes and speaks on how technology can help knowledge workers revolutionize their personal effectiveness.Tiago’s online course, Building a Second Brain, has produced more than 5,000 graduates from over 70 countries. The course draws on his experience in academic disciplines such as information science, practical fields such as user experience design, and his work with top organizations and leaders in Silicon Valley. Tiago believes knowledge management is one of the most impactful skills in the world today, and his work is dedicated to making it accessible to individuals for the first time.In a previous life, he worked in microfinance in Latin America, served in the Peace Corps in Ukraine, and consulted for large companies on product development in San Francisco. He lives in Long Beach, California, with his wife Lauren, son Caio, and dog Ximena.---------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19---------------------
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10 min - This productivity hack comes with an asterisk | Tiago Forte
This productivity hack comes with an asterisk, explains note-taking guru Tiago Forte.
What would you learn about yourself if you temporarily stopped using the tools that make your life easier?That’s the main question in this Big Think video with author Tiago Forte, who describes what happened when he changed the way he took digital notes.The utility of note-taking depends on the context, Forte says. During face-to-face conversations, he found that taking notes was helpful for him, but it came at the cost of being less connected to the person in front of him. In contrast, taking notes while he’s by himself — walking around a city, for example — is more beneficial, and often ends up influencing his work in a positive way.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Tiago Forte:Tiago Forte is one of the world’s foremost experts on productivity. He has taught more than 20,000 people worldwide through his programs and writes and speaks on how technology can help knowledge workers revolutionize their personal effectiveness.Tiago’s online course, Building a Second Brain, has produced more than 5,000 graduates from over 70 countries. The course draws on his experience in academic disciplines such as information science, practical fields such as user experience design, and his work with top organizations and leaders in Silicon Valley. Tiago believes knowledge management is one of the most impactful skills in the world today, and his work is dedicated to making it accessible to individuals for the first time.In a previous life, he worked in microfinance in Latin America, served in the Peace Corps in Ukraine, and consulted for large companies on product development in San Francisco. He lives in Long Beach, California, with his wife Lauren, son Caio, and dog Ximena.---------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7 min - Train for any argument with Harvard’s former debate coach | Bo Seo
Train for any argument with Harvard’s former debate coach, Bo Seo.
Bo Seo, an author and two-time world debate champion, believes our public conversations are in crisis. To Seo, our arguing skills have collectively atrophied over recent decades, resulting in bad arguments that have caused many people to lose faith in the idea that productive disagreements are even possible.That's why Seo suggests a framework called RISA — which stands for "Real, Important, Specific, and Aligned" — to help people pick their fights more wisely and to give conversations the best possible chance of success. RISA helps individuals find a better way to disagree.Seo believes that by making a contract with the other party and reminding them of the rules, conversations can be productive, and disagreements can lead to progress.0:00 Why you’re losing your arguments1:11 The making of a world champion2:17 Intelligence vs wisdom3:04 The RISA framework4:29 Applying the RISA framework6:23 Picking a good fight7:46 Weak vs. Strong arguments9:21 Side-switch exercises----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Bo Seo:Bo Seo is a two-time world champion debater and a former coach of the Australian national debating team and the Harvard College Debating Union. One of the most recognized figures in the global debate community, he has won both the World Schools Debating Championship and the World Universities Debating Championship. Bo has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, CNN, and many other publications. He has worked as a national reporter for the Australian Financial Review and has been a regular panelist on the prime time Australian debate program, The Drum. Bo graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University and received a master’s degree in public policy from Tsinghua University. He is currently a student at Harvard Law School.--------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19---------------------
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17 min - Why psychopaths rise to power | Brian Klaas
Why we keep giving power to the wrong people, according to political scientist and associate professor Brian Klaas.
Brian Klaas, a political scientist and associate professor at University College London, argues that while the popular phrase "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely" is true to a certain extent, the real problem lies in broken systems that attract and promote the wrong kind of people.In his research, Klaas has found that people who crave power are more likely to self-select into positions of power, resulting in a slate of leaders who are not representative of the general population. He believes that the solution is to design systems that attract better people.Klaas challenges the notion that the people in power are entirely to blame and instead reflects on why society is drawn toward abusive leaders.0:00 Why the wrong people are in charge1:32 Is corruption universal?2:11 Martin McFife, the HOA president from hell3:28 Self-selection bias4:14 Why we can’t resist “strongmen”6:26 Expelling the worst of the worst----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Brian Klaas:Associate Professor of Global Politics at University College London, Contributing Writer for The Atlantic, author of Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us, and Creator/Host of the award-winning Power Corrupts podcast.----------------------------------------------------------06:30-19Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
13 min - Why Einstein is a “peerless genius” and Hawking is an “ordinary genius” | Albert-László Barabási
A very few creative individuals, often labeled “geniuses,” have had a profound and lasting impact on science, culture, and society. Sure, we admire the achievements and legacy of this lofty few, but it’s a puzzle to determine what, precisely, launched these specific innovators into the stratosphere.
The simplest answer is that the root of genius is raw ability. Yet, decades of research indicate otherwise. As network scientist Albert-László Barabási tells us, exceptional talent or intellectual prowess is no guarantee of exceptional achievement. And exceptional achievement is, in turn, no guarantee of recognition. Even a significant breakthrough doesn’t ensure that an individual ultimately will be labeled a genius.So what truly makes a genius? And what separates ordinary geniuses — those who have accomplished remarkable feats and are often compared to their peers, like Stephen Hawking — from peerless geniuses, who are considered alone in the significance of their achievements, such as Albert Einstein? Working with Alexander Gates and Qing Ke at the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University, Barabási catalogued the publishing history of nearly six million scientists to answer these questions. And the data they gleaned might just predict which genius will be our generation’s Einstein.0:00 Genius worshippers1:18 Ordinary vs. Peerless genius3:47 Was Einstein right about the age of genius?5:35 The ‘Q-factor’ of scientific success----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Albert-László Barabási:Albert-László Barabási is a network scientist, fascinated with a wide range of topics, from unveiling the structure of the brain and treating diseases using network medicine to the emergence of success in art and how science really works. His research has helped unveil the hidden order behind various complex systems using the quantitative tools of network science, a research field that he pioneered, and has led to the discovery of scale-free networks, helping explain the emergence of many natural, technological, and social networks.Barabási is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He is the author of The Formula (Little Brown), Network Science (Cambridge), Bursts (Dutton), and Linked (Penguin). He co-edited Network Medicine (Harvard, 2017) and The Structure and Dynamics of Networks (Princeton, 2005). His books have been translated into over twenty languages.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19
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13 min - How Jesus and Socrates taught the same way
What if religious texts were some of our most significant sources of philosophical insight?
Philosopher Meghan Sullivan believes that traditions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are filled with moral questions that invite discussion and reflection. She challenges the idea that philosophy must be strictly secular, pointing out how religious stories and parables often resemble the open-ended questioning found in ancient dialogues like Plato’s Republic.These connections support the idea that religious texts are not meant to shut down debate, but encourage it. For Sullivan, exploring faith through philosophical conversation helps us think more clearly about how to live and what it means to be human.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------About Meghan Sullivan:Meghan Sullivan is the Wilsey Family College Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, where she leads the Ethics Initiative and founded the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. With support from the John Templeton Foundation, the Institute advances research and teaching on human flourishing. Sullivan’s work spans ethics, metaphysics, and religion. She’s the author of Time Biases and co-author of The Good Life Method, based on her acclaimed course “God and the Good Life.”-------------------------------------------------------------06:30-19
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