Here’s how to design a work environment that gives control to employees and stimulates open conversation.

Up Next ► Why employees have the upper hand now more than ever before   • Why employees have the upper hand now...  

Americans are reevaluating their relationship with work. However, collective illusions about the workplace are holding back reform.

Many workers believe that their colleagues want to work for an employer that gives them nice fringe benefits — like free food, swag, and fancy job titles.

In reality, people want more fulfillment and purpose in their jobs, as well as a healthy work-life balance in which they are trusted to make good decisions.

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Collective Illusions is a 9-part series brought to you by Stand Together: a community of changemakers tackling our biggest challenges

For more stories, ideas, and advice from changemakers, subscribe to Stand Together ►   / standtogethercc  

Watch the entire Collective Illusions playlist ►   • Collective Illusions  

And visit Stand Together’s website to learn more ► https://standtogether.org/

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About Todd Rose:

Todd Rose is the co-founder and president of Populace, a think tank committed to ensuring that all people have the opportunity to pursue fulfilling lives in a thriving society. Prior to Populace, he was a faculty member at Harvard University where he founded the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality and directed the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Todd is the best selling author of Collective Illusions, Dark Horse, and The End of Average. He lives in Burlington, Massachusetts.

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Princeton Bioethics professor Peter Singer challenges our factory food systems, the underlying psychology that fuels them, and shares a path towards more ethical eating.

Up next, from our friends at Hard Reset: Step inside a cultivated meat factory ►   • Large-scale, lab-grown meat: Step ins...  

Peter Singer, professor of Bioethics and author of "Animal Liberation Now," examines the deep-seated issues within our food systems, highlighting the ethical dilemmas surrounding animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and consumer choices.

Through a critical lens, Singer unveils the realities of factory farming, from the confinement of egg-laying hens to the rapid growth of broiler chickens, questioning the moral justifications of speciesism and advocating for a shift towards ethical eating. He argues for the importance of considering the capacity for suffering in determining moral status, proposing plant-based diets and cultured meat as viable, sustainable alternatives.

Singer’s interview encourages viewers to reflect on the impact of their dietary habits, offering insights into how informed choices can contribute to a more ethical and sustainable future.

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About Peter Singer:

Peter Singer has been described as the world’s most influential philosopher. Born in Melbourne in 1946, he has been professor of bioethics at Princeton University since 1999. His many books include Animal Liberation - often credited with triggering the modern animal rights movement - Practical Ethics, The Life You Can Save, The Most Good You Can Do, and Ethics in the Real World. In 2023, he published Animal Liberation Now, a fully revised and updated version of the 1975 original.

Singer’s writings have also inspired the movement known as effective altruism, and he is the founder of the charity The Life You Can Save. In 2021 he was awarded the $1 million Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, which he donated to nonprofit organizations working for the causes he supports. In 2023 he received the Frontiers of Knowledge Prize for the Humanities, from the Spanish BBVA Foundation.

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Marketing maverick @garyvee reveals how empathy, listening, and patience aren’t just virtues – they’re your ultimate advertising tools.

Up next, Master your anxiety. Unleash your genius ►   • Master your anxiety. Unleash your gen...  

According to marketing expert Gary Vaynerchuk, the best ideas come from one thing: listening.

Gary Vaynerchuk, the entrepreneurial force behind VaynerMedia and VeeFriends, explores the critical missteps businesses make in connecting with their customers, primarily their failure to adapt to consumer needs and their reliance on yesterday’s strategies. Vaynerchuk emphasizes the transformative — and often overlooked — power of caring and empathy in advertising. Great marketing is not just about bombarding people with ads; it's about making sure every message respects the consumer's time and is something they'd actually enjoy.

Despite the challenges of standing out in a crowded media landscape, Vaynerchuk remains confident in the power of authentic storytelling to connect with audiences. He stresses the importance of patience and a long-term vision in building a brand that resonates with consumers and leaves a lasting impact.

----------------------------------------------------

About Gary Vaynerchuk:

Gary Vaynerchuk is a serial entrepreneur and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX, the CEO of VaynerMedia, and the Creator & CEO of VeeFriends. Gary is considered one of the leading global minds on what's next in culture, business, and the internet.

Known as "GaryVee," he is described as one of the most forward thinkers in business. He acutely recognizes trends and patterns early to help others understand how shifts in consumer attention impact the realities of the business world today. Gary's approach sits at the intersection of business and pop culture. He keenly understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase, and Uber.

This year, Gary will unveil two new books. In his seventh book, "Day Trading Attention" (set to be published on May 21, 2024), he provides fresh insights into navigating the modern social media landscape. Gary's expertise guides readers on harnessing underpriced attention channels in the digital age. He emphasizes mastering storytelling in these arenas and highlights the "TikTokification of Social Media," where content relevance surpasses follower counts. Businesses can leverage this shift to enhance their brand and boost sales. "Day Trading Attention" equips readers with essential skills to succeed in today's dynamic digital world. Gary also announced his first children's picture book, based on his VeeFriends characters, titled "Meet me in the Middle" (set to be published on July 16, 2024). The picture book, which will prominently feature two VeeFriends characters, Eager Eagle and Patient Pig, delves into the emotional elements essential for nurturing children's empathy – a crucial skill for their future success.

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With so much chaos in the world, it is tempting to embrace the adage, "Ignorance is bliss." But, what if it's actually the opposite?

Many scientists would argue that knowledge, understanding, and enlightenment are always better than ignorance. Why?

Because the more we know about the world, the better we understand the interconnectedness of nature and mankind and how the universe is full of magic and wonder.

-----------------------------------

About Jim Al-Khalili:

Jim is a multiple award-winning science communicator renowned for his public engagement around the world through writing and broadcasting and a leading academic making fundamental contributions to theoretical physics, particularly in nuclear reaction theory, quantum effects in biology, open quantum systems and the foundations of quantum mechanics.

Jim is a theoretical physicist at the University of Surrey where he holds a Distinguished Chair in physics as well as a university chair in the public engagement in science. He received his PhD in nuclear reaction theory in 1989 and has published widely in the field. His current interest is in open quantum systems and the application of quantum mechanics in biology.

-----------------------------------------\------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About The Well

Do 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.

So what do they think?

How is the power of science advancing understanding? How are philosophers and theologians tackling these fascinating questions?

Let’s dive into The Well.

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Humanity is a type 0 civilization. Here’s what types 1, 2, and 3 look like, according to physicist Michio Kaku.

is anybody out there? Renowned physicist Michio Kaku discusses we could identify and categorize advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. According to Kaku, while recognizing intelligence in space is challenging, Quantum computers may be able to help sift through data for signals of intelligence, similarly to how we analyze patterns in dolphin communication.

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About Michio Kaku: Dr. Michio Kaku is the co-founder of string field theory, and is one of the most widely recognized scientists in the world today. He has written 4 New York Times Best Sellers, is the science correspondent for CBS This Morning and has hosted numerous science specials for BBC-TV, the Discovery/Science Channel. His radio show broadcasts to 100 radio stations every week. Dr. Kaku holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York (CUNY), where he has taught for over 25 years. He has also been a visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study as well as New York University (NYU). Get Smarter, Faster. With Episodes From The Worlds Biggest Thinkers

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Discover Big Think | Smarter Faster™

Your top destination for expert-driven, educational content. Featuring thousands of episodes and insights from renowned figures like Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think accelerates your learning by delving into the pivotal concepts and essential skills shaping knowledge in the 21st century...

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Former Harvard professor and best-selling author Todd Rose explains the problem with prestigious colleges and how the future of higher ed could be bright.

Education is and always will be the great equalizer - the best vehicle for enabling people to actually live the kind of lives they want to live.

What people don't want is essentially the education system we have right now. A standardized system with standardized assessments, leading to standardized outcomes that treats every kid exactly the same.

But here’s the good news - there are incredible institutions of higher education who are giving us a vision of what the future of higher education will be. They are doing things that are modularized, individualized, customized using credentials instead of diplomas, to create better signals for employers.

Collective Illusions is a 9-part series brought to you by Stand Together: a community of changemakers tackling our biggest challenges.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Todd Rose:

Todd Rose is the co-founder and president of Populace, a think tank committed to ensuring that all people have the opportunity to pursue fulfilling lives in a thriving society. Prior to Populace, he was a faculty member at Harvard University where he founded the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality and directed the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Todd is the best selling author of Collective Illusions, Dark Horse, and The End of Average. He lives in Burlington, Massachusetts.

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Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accountant, shares a simple test that puts your ethics under the spotlight. What would you be willing to do if you thought you’d get away with it? Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accountant, delves into how we often unintentionally ignore our moral compasses and veer into unethical behavior when possible consequences are intangible. Kelly says we do this mainly by convincing ourselves that everyone else behaves similarly. But is that true? She shares the results of an ethics survey she uses in her class, where her students found themselves divided about whether a social lunch with a colleague, discussing personal and work matters, should be expensed as a work-related activity. She also shares her experience of accidentally receiving an extra handbag and how different people advised her to proceed. Maybe we’re all a little unethical. But Kelly assures that there’s no need to panic. She believes that acknowledging these vulnerabilities and implementing internal controls can help us prevent unethical behavior. Fostering an environment of self-awareness and accountability can help us all make better decisions in the future.

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Adam Grant's #1 phrase to unlock potential

The science of super longevity

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-About Kelly Richmond Pope: Dr. Kelly Richmond Pope is the Dr. Barry Jay Epstein Endowed Professor of Accounting at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Pope is a nationally recognized expert in risk, forensic accounting, and white-collar crime research, and an award-winning educator, researcher, author, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. She’s the author of Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion Dollar Fraud Industry (Harvard Business Review Press, March 2023). Pope teaches managerial and forensic accounting both at the undergraduate and graduate level...

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Discover Big Think | Smarter Faster™

Your top destination for expert-driven, educational content. Featuring thousands of episodes and insights from renowned figures like Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think accelerates your learning by delving into the pivotal concepts and essential skills shaping knowledge in the 21st century...

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What is the capacity for belief in humans, and how does it shape our lives and interactions with the world? According to Agustín Fuentes, a professor of anthropology at Princeton University and author of Why We Believe: Evolution and the Human Way of Being, the human capacity for belief is the most significant trait that sets us apart from other animals. This capacity for belief, which importantly is not limited to religious belief, allows us to take our experiences and turn them into perceptions, ideologies, and lifestyles to which we can fully commit — thereby shaping our reality and the reality of future generations. At its core, Fuentes explains, human belief is rooted in, and contingent on, our evolutionary history. Unlike other mammals, human infants are born with brains that are just 40% of their adult size. This extended childhood allows for constant social and environmental influence, which become the fabric of our being. Beliefs even influence our biological make-up, from our gut microbiome to our hormones.

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Chapters:

0:00 Why are humans so complicated?

1:16 Human baby vs. giraffe baby (aka the human brain is an anomaly)

2:18 How belief becomes reality

3:52 The religion question

5:25 When realities collide

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The science of super longevity

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-----------------

About Agustín Fuentes: Agustín Fuentes, a Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University, focuses on the biosocial, delving into the entanglement of biological systems with the social and cultural lives of humans, our ancestors, and a few of the other animals with whom humanity shares close relations. Earning his BA/BS in Anthropology and Zoology and his MA and PhD in Anthropology from UC Berkeley, he has conducted research across four continents, multiple species, and two-million years of human history. His current projects include exploring cooperation, creativity, and belief in human evolution, multispecies anthropologies, evolutionary theory and processes, and engaging race and racism. Fuentes’ books include Race, Monogamy, and other lies they told you: busting myths about human nature (U of California), The Creative Spark: how imagination made humans exceptional (Dutton), and Why We Believe: evolution and the human way of being (Yale). Get Smarter Faster, With Daily Episodes From The Worlds Biggest Thinkers.

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Quantum mechanics allows scientists to make accurate calculations, and the theory serves as the basis of many modern technologies, from lasers to solar panels.

However, scientists cannot agree on what the underlying equations actually mean. This is important because quantum mechanics has profound philosophical implications about the nature of reality.

Jim Al-Khalili agrees with Einstein that a common approach to quantum physics known as the Copenhagen interpretation (which is, essentially, "Shut up and calculate") is not enough to gain understanding of the real world.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

About Jim Al-Khalili:

Jim is a multiple award-winning science communicator renowned for his public engagement around the world through writing and broadcasting and a leading academic making fundamental contributions to theoretical physics, particularly in nuclear reaction theory, quantum effects in biology, open quantum systems and the foundations of quantum mechanics.

Jim is a theoretical physicist at the University of Surrey where he holds a Distinguished Chair in physics as well as a university chair in the public engagement in science. He received his PhD in nuclear reaction theory in 1989 and has published widely in the field. His current interest is in open quantum systems and the application of quantum mechanics in biology.

About The Well

Do 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.

So what do they think?

How is the power of science advancing understanding? How are philosophers and theologians tackling these fascinating questions?

Let’s dive into The Well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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60% of people feel disconnected. Harvard professor Robert Waldinger addresses the science behind humanity’s loneliness epidemic and suggests ways to solve it.

Loneliness is quietly spreading across our society. Robert Waldinger, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, explores the roots of this growing epidemic.

He draws on research by experts like Julianne Holt-Lunstad, revealing the severe health impacts of loneliness, equating it to smoking half a pack of cigarettes daily. Stress, accelerated brain decline, and overall well-being suffer, but the remedy lies in our relationships—with friends, family, and even casual encounters.

Waldinger shares practical steps to combat loneliness, encouraging everyday connections with individuals like the person who delivers the mail or the cashier at the grocery store.

You belong. You matter. You're connected.

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About Robert Waldinger:

Dr. Robert Waldinger is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Center for Psychodynamic Therapy and Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. He is a practicing psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, he teaches Harvard medical students and psychiatry residents, and he is on the faculty of the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute. He is also a Zen priest.

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Discover Big Think | Smarter Faster™

Your top destination for expert-driven, educational content. Featuring thousands of episodes and insights from renowned figures like Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, Big Think accelerates your learning by delving into the pivotal concepts and essential skills shaping knowledge in the 21st century...

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With Insights from the World's Leading Minds

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