Big Questions with Cal Fussman

Latest Episodes:

The Luck We Find Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Cal draws pocket aces and wins big in the first hand of a charity poker night raising money for the fight against cancer. The surge of luck makes it feels like it will be his lucky day. But then his luck seems to begin turning up in everyone around him. Only at the end of the night does he realize that it's his luck to be with everyone that he's touched. Enjoy the story . . .

The Academy Awards, Leo, and the Magic of Movie Theaters Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

As Cal watches the Academy Awards, he has a startling realization—he's barely stepped inside a movie theater all year. Then, host Conan O'Brien delivers a hilarious skit introducing home streamers to a wild new concept: the movie theater. The moment sparks a memory of an interview Cal once did with Leonardo DiCaprio, where Leo spoke passionately about his favorite films and the power of cinema. That interview is replayed here, reminding us all why the theater experience is worth rediscovering. So sit back, listen, celebrate the magic of the big screen.

AI, War & Peace Feb 25, 2025

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Technology, history, and global politics collide in this episode after Cal asks ChatGPT if there is a way that he can stop a war. The question unexpectedly evolves into an exploration of the forgotten Nutmeg War—a historical conflict with surprising modern parallels. Cal connects the dots between this overlooked episode of history, the recent three-year conflict unfolding in Ukraine, and the buzz surrounding Greenland. This analysis is a window into how AI can show you history and the world around you in a way that you can't get anywhere else.

AI & Comedy on SNL's 50th Anniversary Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

After reading about Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary, Cal turns to one of his AI assistants, Arbor, for recommendations on the freshest new comedians. What starts as a simple question about stand-up talents turns into an eye-opening look at how AI is reshaping the way we can discover entertainment—and how we'll all be interacting with AI in the near future. Naturally, this podcast will also deliver a few laughs . . .

AI & Your Therapist: Can AI Help You Overcome Your Biggest Roadblocks? Feb 11, 2025

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Marketing guru Seth Godin recently shared on The Tim Ferriss Show that people often ask AI simple questions—missing out on the real value of deeper conversations. Cal has been exploring this idea on Big Questions, using AI to dive into the legacies of Muhammad Ali, Kobe Bryant, and beyond. This week, the experiment gets personal. Struggling with his discomfort around social media, Cal turns to AI—not just for strategy, but for something deeper. Can AI help reframe his mindset? Can it act as a therapist, guiding him toward a healthier relationship with the digital world? The conversation takes some surprising turns, and what he discovers might just change how you think about AI. Tune in for an episode that blends tech, psychology, and personal growth in ways you won't expect!

The Visionary Behind Siri: AI's Past, Present & Future Feb 04, 2025

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Siri didn't emerge from a single mind—it was the product of many brilliant innovators. But in this episode, Cal talks with one of the key founders behind the company that built the digital assistant Steve Jobs had to have. Norman Winarsky takes us back to the moments Siri first stunned the world in the testing phase in 2009 and 2010 and shares his thoughts on today's AI revolution—what excites him, what concerns him, and what leaves him in awe.

President Trump & AI Jan 28, 2025

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Donald Trump divides opinions like few others—some love him, others loathe him. But over the next four years, his most impactful decisions might not be about politics as usual. Instead, they could shape the future of artificial intelligence -- and humanity. In this thought-provoking episode, Cal dives into why the President's moves in AI policy will matter to everyone regardless of their political stance—and why getting it right is crucial. A commentary from NotebookLM.com adds some twists to Cal's insights and is further evidence that AI will continue to take us to places we can't yet imagine.

Kobe, Claude AI & The Nature Of Competition Jan 21, 2025

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As we approach the fifth anniversary of Kobe Bryant's passing, Cal dives deep into a fascinating discussion with Claude AI about the relentless spirit of competition that defined the NBA great. But the conversation takes an unexpected turn when Cal asks Claude if it competes with ChatGPT and other AI models. Join this thought- provoking journey as Cal uncovers lessons about the two sides to competition and simultaneously learns how to ask AI better questions to unlock its potential.

Muhammad Ali & AI: Lessons From A Hero's Birthday Jan 14, 2025

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January 17th marks what would have been Muhammad Ali's 83rd birthday. To honor his legacy, Cal embarks on a unique journey—reconnecting with his childhood hero through ChatGPT. Along the way, he discovers a powerful truth: asking the right questions is the key to unlocking the answers we seek about artificial intelligence and beyond. This episode explores the intersection of curiosity, technology, and the timeless lessons of The Greatest.

Sandra Matz: Your Data And Your Future Jan 07, 2025

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Discover the astonishing ways your daily life reveals more about you than you could ever imagine. Columbia University professor Sandra Matz takes you on a journey through the hidden world of data collection, showing how a single routine hour in the morning can generate more data than was used to send a spacecraft to the moon. In this eye-opening conversation with Cal, explore an era in which those who collect our data may know us better than we know ourselves. See the power your digital footprint holds over your life and what it means for our future.