Big Questions with Cal Fussman

Latest Episodes:

The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever . . . And The $3 AI That Might Let Him May 05, 2026

Show notes

Cal stumbles on a Chinese company offering to digitally resurrect the dead for three dollars. His first thought? Larry King would have loved this. In this episode, Cal sits down with Larry King Jr. to explore what it really means to preserve a life. The stories. The voice. The questions. From Larry Sr's relentless chase for immortality. To the Larry King Cardiac Foundation that literally saved hundreds of hearts. To the bobblehead-sized AI facsimile that might one day let your great-great- grandchildren hear your voice. It all adds up to a conversation about legacy, technology, and what we leave behind. Plus! The story of how Larry Zeiger became Larry King in ten minutes flat through a liquor ad and a door that was kicked down.

He Could Be Golfing. Instead, He's Upgrading Your Brain. Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

What if AI didn't replace you — it made you a better you? Dr. David Bach, Harvard-trained neuroscientist and founder of Optios, is using artificial intelligence to help people think faster, learn better, retain more, and perform at their peak. He's stepping into what is his most consequential work yet while others his age are out on the golf course. From walking on fire to unlocking the science of "the zone" this conversation offers something rare in the age of AI: genuine hope. Cal says: If you know someone who feels unsettled by artificial intelligence, send them this episode.

The Stranger Inside of You Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Cal was 12 years old, bored out of his mind in junior high science class, waiting for the bell to ring. He had no idea his wandering brain was doing exactly what it was built to do – tell stories. We all carry the most extraordinary thing in the known universe around with us every day — and never really stop to look into it. This episode of Big Questions does just that. Cal sits with Claude — Anthropic's AI — for a chat about consciousness, memory, gut intelligence, and what the brain is actually up to when we think it's doing nothing. Along the way, Cal finds out how a boy from Michigan who also wasn't paying attention in class changed the digital world. And how a scientist on the cutting edge is asking the most important performance question of our time. But mostly, this episode is an invitation. To slow down and get acquainted with the blob between your ears that has been with you every moment of your life. You might be surprised by what you find. . .

What? A Cowgarithm????? Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

What do Clint Eastwood, a Montana snowstorm, and a herd of cattle have to do with artificial intelligence? Cal starts with the romance of the old cattle drives and the sound of the old show Rawhide, remembers the pull of the open range and a freezing night that made him question whether he'd even make it to the ranch alive. Then he finds something on the internet that stops him cold. No cowboys. Just cows . . . being guided by AI. The technology inside a cow collar is being called a "Cowgorithm." That discovery leads somewhere unexpected—into a late-night experiment with AI that stretches until sunrise… and opens a door Cal didn't see coming. Step inside.

The Theater That Taught Me How To Survive AI Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Cal Fussman walks into a theater expecting to see a documentary about artificial intelligence. He walks out with a new understanding of the future of work. Through a surprising connection to Super Mario, a landlord named Mario Segale, and the power of human serendipity, he uncovers a simple truth: The people who adapt will thrive. The ones who don't may disappear. If you've ever wondered whether AI is something to fear—or something to grow with—this story will change how you see what's coming next.

Founder vs. Cancer: A Real-Life Hail Mary Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

After watching Project Hail Mary, Cal sees more than a sci-fi story about saving the stars—he sees a blueprint for how humans might survive the age of AI. That insight leads him to a real-life story even more extraordinary. When tech founder Sid Sijbrandij is diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer, the traditional medical system eventually runs out of answers. Most people would accept that outcome. Sid does the opposite. He treats his own disease like an open- source problem—gathering data, building a team, and chasing solutions across the globe with the same mindset that helped build GitLab into a billion-dollar company. With the help of AI, Cal translates this complex scientific journey into a human story anyone can follow. One that's filled with pancakes, partnerships, love, and a radical idea: What if the future of survival—against disease, against uncertainty, against AI itself—belongs to those who adapt fastest? This episode is about more than cancer. It's about how humans fight back.

Who Buys the Future If AI Takes Your Job? Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

The headlines keep leading us to believe that AI is coming for your job. But Cal Fussman poses a question no one else is asking. If humans stop earning… who's left to buy what AI and the machines produce? As companies race toward automation, Nvidia's Jensen Huang insists new human jobs will be created. Cal believes him. The catch? Many of those jobs may not exist just yet. This episode points to the evolution of Big Questions into something bigger. Big Questions: The Future of Work. A place to step away from the dystopian drumbeat and be excited about what happens next.

Ryan Gosling At Work In The Age Of AI Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

Cal plans to go out to the theater to watch the actor save the universe in Project Hail Mary. Cal doesn't know exactly what's going to happen, but he sees the plot as the perfect metaphor for how humans must look at the work in the age of AI. Gosling plays a middle school science teacher who wakes up in a rocket and can't remember, only to use the skills he has to save the universe. We're all going to have to step and find the best in ourselves as we look at work going forward. The movie may be an inspiring way to see humanity's future.

Beating The Airport Security Lines Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

An electric razor is mistaken for a bomb. Security lines explode in Houston, New Orleans and Charlotte. TSA workers are on the job without pay. So Cal flips the script. Show up hours early and turn airport stress into productive work time that can create a bestseller and more. It's not whistling while you work. But in March 2026 . . . it works.

A Tale Of Two Futures Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

One future says the most human people win. The other says your job costs too much. Gary Vaynerchuk believes that as we become more "AI-ed out," the most human brands and people will dominate. Citrini Research predicts something far colder: Within two years, a Claude agent may do the work of a $180,000 product manager for $200 a month. And when that happens? The top 10% may control over half of all consumer spending. So which future is real? The one where humanity becomes more valuable? Or the one where intelligence becomes a utility? Cal gives you a closer look at both.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Big Questions with Cal Fussman

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected