Today we welcome Robert Sapolsky to the podcast. ​​Robert is professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. His research has been featured in the National Geographic documentary "Stress: Portrait of a Killer". At age 30, Robert received the MacArthur Foundation's "genius" grant. He is author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, A Primate's Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone and Monkeyluv. His latest book is called Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will.

In this episode, I talk to Robert Sapolsky about life without free will. Humans like the idea of having control over their lives, but Robert asserts that free will is just an illusion. Life beyond free will may sound unpleasant, but Robert explains the profound consequences of this belief in reforming the justice system, meritocracy, and education. We also touch on the topics of philosophy, quantum physics, mindfulness, grit, and responsibility.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robertsapolsky/

Topics

02:38 Robert’s background and upbringing

05:43 Life without free will

13:16 Believing in free will

24:05 Responsibility and punishment

33:14 The future cannot be determined

43:45 Mindfulness - a form of free will?

48:37 The human experience

53:41 Abolish the justice system and meritocracy

1:04:03 Statistical guilt

1:07:21 Effort, grit and taking credit

1:16:40 Nobody is more “worthy” 

1:23:29 Life is worth living

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Bob Mankoff to the podcast. For over 40 years, Bob Mankoff has been the driving force of comedy and satire at some of the most honored publications in America, including The New Yorker and Esquire. He is the founder of Cartoon Collections, parent company to CartoonStock.com, the world’s most successful cartoon licensing platform. For twenty years as Cartoon Editor for The New Yorker,  Bob pored over thousands of submissions each week, analyzing, critiquing, and selecting each cartoon. In 2005, he helped start the “New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest.” Bob is the author of numerous books, including his New York Times bestselling memoir, How About Never – Is Never Good For You?: My Life In Cartoons.

In this episode, I talk to Bob Mankoff about the psychology of humor. Looking back at his illustrious career as a cartoonist, Bob talks about his early beginnings and the people he's mentored in the field. He explains the anatomy of a joke and reveals his all-time favorite cartoons. While humans are creative creatures, Bob believes that using AI and technology can further augment our intelligence and humor by opening up worlds of possibilities. 

Website: www.bobmankoff.com/

Twitter: @BobMankoff

Topics

02:14 Bob’s childhood & upbringing

10:42 Personality of cartoonists and comedians

19:54 Types of humor

23:44 The grand scheme of time

26:28 Augmenting intelligence and creativity

38:30 Cartoon Bank

44:24 All-time favorite cartoons

52:17 Theory of humor

57:49 Censorship & cancel culture

01:01:24 Bob Mankoff’s legacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Joseph Goldstein to the podcast. Joseph is a co-founder and the guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) along with Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg. He is one of the first American vipassana teachers and has been teaching Buddhist meditation worldwide since 1974. A contemporary author of numerous popular books on Buddhism, his publications include Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, One Dharma, Insight Meditation and others.

In this episode, I talk to Joseph Goldstein about Buddhism and the impermanence of life. Being too attached to the self can bring suffering. However, this doesn’t mean that we need to forego our identities or self-care. Joseph explains that enlightenment can be achieved when the mind is free from clinging. He talks about the different states that can help us realize the insight of impermanence and selflessness. We also touch on the topics of mindfulness, compassion, creativity, and wisdom.

Website: www.dharma.org/

Twitter: @onedharma

Topics

03:01 Joseph’s background and expertise

09:31 Enlightenment

15:11 Balance of mind

24:15 Noticing per minute

31:02 Mindfulness and flow

35:38 Wisdom is insight

38:00 Creativity

41:20 Different mind states

49:51 The tales of Sisyphus and Icarus

55:29 Skillful means

58:53 Flow of being

1:02:04 Unprompted mindfulness 

1:04:42 Equanimity

1:09:24 Compassion and connection

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Dan Siegel to the podcast. Dr. Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Dr. Siegel is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute. He’s authored numerous articles, chapters, and books including the New York Times bestsellers Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human and Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence. His latest book is called IntraConnected: MWe (Me + We) as the Integration of Self, Identity, and Belonging.

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Dan Siegel about expanding the notion of the self. Modern culture has taught us that the self is all about individual identity and personal experiences. But Dr. Siegel posits that who we are is not limited to the brain or body. He argues that the self is not isolated, it’s composed of our relationships to other living beings and to the natural world. This expanded view of the self has important implications for the trajectory of humanity. We also touch on the topics of consciousness, neuroscience, quantum physics, and the flow state.

Website: drdansiegel.com

Instagram: @DrDanSiegel

Topics

02:20 Me + We

06:08 Expand your self 

12:58 The self, the mind, and consciousness

42:15 Integrating all brain networks

59:43 Different styles of daydreaming

1:02:08 Wheel of awareness 

1:08:38 We’re IntraConnected

1:11:21 Widening the window of tolerance

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Nick Holton to the podcast. Nick is an international speaker, consultant, trainer, and coach. His work focuses on helping individuals become better versions of themselves through the application of the cutting-edge science of human flourishing, a synergistic development of both peak performance and overall well-being and fulfillment. He works with individuals, teams, businesses, and organizations ranging from professional athletes, NCAA programs, educational institutions, first responders and Fortune 100 executives. He is co-founder of The Antifragile Academy and he also co-hosts the podcast, FlourishFM which is sponsored by the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard and the Department of Education at Oxford. Nick has worked with clients, given talks, and delivered training across the U.S., Europe, India, Australia, Uganda, Singapore, Mexico, and South America.

In this episode, I talk to Nick Holton about human flourishing. Our current education system is primarily concerned with teaching academic subjects. While building knowledge is essential, this  is not enough to allow students to self-actualize. Nick points out that young people’s need to matter should be addressed as well. To facilitate human flourishing, we need to embed the different principles of positive psychology both inside and outside of the classroom. Nick and I believe that education can transform society for the better, and we exchange ideas on how we can build an ecosystem that fosters holistic development. 

Website: www.nickholton.com

Twitter: @dr_nickholton

Topics

02:23 Nick’s background and expertise

11:16 Coaching each individual 

13:35 The need for mattering

21:49 What is human flourishing?

25:21 Education can transform society

29:56 Positive education

38:59 The Shipley School 

42:40 Holistic development

51:38 FlourishFM

55:41 Flourishing outside the classroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Jeffrey Hull to the podcast. Jeffrey is a highly sought-after facilitator, keynote speaker and executive coach to both nonprofit and for-profit global organizations. 

He is the Executive Director of the Institute of Coaching, based at McLean Hospital. Jeffrey is also a clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct professor of leadership at New York University. His latest book is called Flex: The Art and Science of Leadership in a Changing World. 

In this episode, I talk to Jeffrey Hull about the new landscape of leadership. The world is changing, and alpha leadership is not the only way to manage a team. Jeffrey highlights the importance of beta leadership, a style that values emotion and collaboration. According to him, the most effective leaders know which style to lead with, depending on the situation. In addition to learning other ways of being, Jeffrey believes we need to leverage perspectives from the indigenous and neurodiverse communities. We also touch on the topics of emotional intelligence, coaching, creativity, and authenticity.

Website: www.jeffreyhull.com

Twitter: @JeffreyHullPhD

Topics

02:18 The beta boss

09:07 Inclusivity in all ways

12:50 Flexible communication

18:29 Emotional intelligence and vulnerability

25:48 Physical energy of being

28:27 Engagement: productivity or creativity

30:35 Collaboration occurs in safe spaces

33:01 Self-coaching

37:49 The future of coaching

43:46  We all have unique gifts

46:40 Dialogue, not disagreement

49:08 Age of convergence

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome back Arthur Brooks to the podcast. ​​Arthur is the Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Public and Nonprofit Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. He is also a columnist at The Atlantic, where he writes the popular weekly “How to Build a Life” column. A world-renowned speaker, he talks about human happiness, and works to raise well-being within private companies, universities, public agencies, and community organizations. His latest book, which he co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, is called Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier. 

In this episode, I talk to Arthur Brooks about building the life you want. People often think that happiness is a static end goal. But in reality, life will always have its ups and downs. According to Arthur, we can make choices that can improve our well-being despite the presence of challenges. He talks about how to find satisfaction through family, friends, meaningful work, and faith. Arthur also shares actionable steps around managing emotions and habits that can help us create a better life. We also touch on the topics of neuroscience, transcendence, evolutionary psychology, and love.

Website: arthurbrooks.com

Twitter: @arthurbrooks

Topics

02:50 Build the Life You Want

03:55 Writing the book with Oprah

10:14 Extremes are unhealthy

15:35 Unhappiness is not your enemy

17:38 Faith and transcendental experiences

21:22 Look for real friends, not deal friends 

25:09 Work is love made visible

27:27 Love your enemies

37:28 Conflict is not hatred

39:59 Patterns of happiness vs individual variation

44:04 Family as a source of growth

47:36 The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)

49:07 Emotional substitution

51:13 Overcoming the negativity bias

55:40 Keep it simple

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Troy Carter to the podcast. Troy is the co-founder and CEO of Venice Music, a technology and media company focused on powering the business of music via distribution, services, and data analytics. Formerly, Troy was the founder and CEO of Atom Factory, where he rose to prominence, nurturing the careers of global superstars including Lady Gaga and John Legend. He most recently served at Spotify as its Global Head of Creator Services, overseeing the company's growth strategy for artists and record labels.

In this episode, I talk to Troy Carter about spotting creative potential. Working in the entertainment industry has given Troy an eye for talent, but that’s not all it takes to become successful. Hard work, determination, and letting your personality shine through are also key components. Troy and I talk about musical geniuses and the future of the music industry with the advent of sophisticated AI tools. 

Website: www.venicemusic.co/

Twitter: @justcallmetroy

Topics

02:21 The golden age of hip hop

06:50 Spotting creative potential

13:26 East coast VS West coast hip hop

19:16 Discovering Lady Gaga 

26:35 Be willing to bet on yourself

29:50 Musical geniuses 

36:00 The creative process

41:59 How AI is changing music

49:36 Discovering new artists

53:19 Helping independent labels

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Maya Shankar to the podcast. Maya is a cognitive scientist and the creator and host of the podcast, “A Slight Change of Plans”. It was awarded as the Best Show of 2021 by Apple and received an Ambie award from the Podcast Academy in 2022. Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Oxford. She's a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program, where she was a private violin student of Itzhak Perlman.

In this episode, I talk to Maya Shankar about change. Humans have a desire to attach roles to identities. But when events disrupt that, we may feel unsure of who we are. Having gone through huge shifts herself, Maya shares with us ways in which we can reconfigure our identities and pivot to pursue our goals in different ways. Change can be disorienting, but it affords us a deeper understanding of ourselves. Maya also believes it’s also an opportunity to re-examine our long held beliefs and values. We also touch on the topics of cognitive science, mindfulness, awe, and hope.

Website: mayashankar.com

Twitter: @MayaUmaShankar

Topics

02:43 Maya as a violinist

06:00 Identity paralysis

13:02 Reconfiguring identity

18:08 A blind cook becomes a master chef

21:10 Post ecstatic growth

24:07 It’s okay to change values

28:38 Mindfulness and awe 

34:15 Re-examining our values 

38:29 Embracing a flexible mindset

40:49 Cognitive closure

44:51 Maya’s Slight Change of Plans

48:31 Pivot your goals

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Seth Gillihan to the podcast. Seth is a licensed psychologist who specializes in mindful cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). He received his doctorate in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Seth is also a therapy advisor with the self-therapy app Bloom, a medical reviewer for Everyday Health, and host of the Think Act Be podcast. Over the years, he’s authored multiple books on mindfulness and CBT. His latest book is called Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Simple Path to Healing, Hope, and Peace.

In this episode, I talk to Seth Gillihan about mindful CBT. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used to address mental health issues. Although proven to be helpful, Seth Gillihan believes that adding the component of mindfulness will not only improve our well-being, but can also help us find meaning, purpose, and peace. He shares with us the Think Act Be paradigm and ways we can be more in tune with ourselves. We also touch on the topics of alignment, spirituality, suffering, and openness to experience.

Website: https://sethgillihan.com/

Instagram: @sethjgillihan

Topics

02:30 Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

11:11 Finding spiritual peace

17:17 Think Act Be paradigm

21:56 Connect with yourself

28:06 Saying yes to life

34:59 Work in alignment

40:53 Alignment practice

44:50 Coming home to yourself

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.