Bounce! Conversations with Larry Weeks

Latest Episodes:

Ep.79: Mind and Matter: Christof Koch on What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It May 29, 2024

Show notes

Christof Koch is a pioneering computational neuroscientist and neurophysiologist best known for his groundbreaking work on the neural basis of consciousness. He collaborated with Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, to establish a neurobiological framework for understanding consciousness. Christof served as the President and Chief Scientist of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle and continues his work there as a Meritorious Investigator. He is also the Chief Scientist of the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation in Santa Monica, CA, which funds research aimed at alleviating suffering, anxiety, and other forms of distress in people worldwide.

Christof has authored over five books on consciousness, with his latest being "Then I Am Myself the World: What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It." This book delves into the subject of consciousness through the lenses of physics, psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and computer science, as well as Christof's personal experiences exploring his consciousness.

In this episode, Christof dives deep into what might explain the origin of consciousness and existing contradictions. We explore how our minds construct reality, the wonder of experience, and the profound implications of Integrated Information Theory. Christof also reflects on the importance of mindfulness, the power of belief, and the ongoing debate on free will.

Our conversation includes:

The origin of consciousness and the "Hard Problem
Integrated Information Theory (IIT)
How far down the phylogenetic tree consciousness might go
The mind-body problem: physical structures and subjective experiences
Panpsychism and how consciousness might be a fundamental aspect of matter.
Qualities of experience and the perception box
Mind-melding and the "uber" consciousness
Why AI or any compute-based system may never be sentient
The boundaries of consciousness and the dissolution of self
The notion of "mind at large"
Christoph's experiences with psychedelics
Free will

My hope is that this episode gives you a sense of awe about your mind so that you look at life and your experiences with a bit more wonder.

Enjoy!

For show notes and more, visit www.larryweeks.com

Ep. 78: Beyond the Apple Legend: Guy Kawasaki on Remarkable Journeys with Remarkable People Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

Guy Kawasaki is a pioneering figure in Silicon Valley, celebrated marketing icon, and successful serial entrepreneur. Guy was one of the original Apple employees responsible for launching their Macintosh computer line in 1984 - and then revitalizing Apple again in the 90s when it faced market share challenges from Microsoft and IBM. His role at Apple popularized the term evangelism in marketing and technology. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and host of the popular Remarkable People podcast.

Guy has written over 16 best-selling books, including Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and his latest - Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference is part of our conversation.

Guy was an absolute delight and game for a wide-ranging chat.

Our conversation points include:

Guy's pathfinder career, from an unwilling law student to reluctant med student to passionate business leader.
On family expectations and perspectives on "quitting."
His stint in the jewelry business.
On selling as a fundamental life skill beyond just business.
Guy reflects on his time at Apple.
Working under Steve Jobs.
The transformation of tech sales.
Apple's struggles and resurgence in the 90s
Guy's innovation of the email newsletter (via listserver) during his second stint at Apple
Insights into the power of maintaining a positive narrative during Apple's turnaround
On Artificial Intelligence.
His views on social media and what he uses now platforms.
Writing and Podcasting: Guy shares insights into his writing process.
The resilience of remarkable individuals inspired by stories from his book and podcast.

Guy Kawasaki's story is one of passion pursuit, intellectual curiosity, and a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact. His work continues to inspire a new generation of thinkers, innovators, and creators.

Enjoy!

For show notes and more, visit www.larryweeks.com

Ep. 77: Hit or Miss? Merrick Furst on Business Innovation, Customer Illusion, and the Challenge of Authentic Demand Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

Outside of the purely physical and physiological, nothing is more challenging than the world of entrepreneurship and business, especially when facing customer indifference and figuring out market demand—the delicate balance between innovation and market reality.

How do you do that?

Professor Merrick L. Furst runs commercialization and new venture creation and directs undergraduate programs and faculty development in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. Before GT, he was a professor at UC Berkeley, president of the International Computer Science Institute at Berkeley, and CEO of Essential Surfing Gear, Inc., which was sold in 2000, and anti-botnet startup Damballa. Earlier, he was a professor and associate dean at the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon. Mark is also known for seminal research in algorithms, complexity theory, and AI. He co-invented probabilistic circuit analysis and planning graphs, which are considered among the most influential breakthroughs in the field of AI planning.

Merrick is also the author of The Heart of Innovation: A Field Guide for Navigating to Authentic Demand, which is the touchstone for this podcast.

On the show, we discuss the challenges every business faces in creating products that truly meet customer needs.

A brief chat about AI.
Why and how products fail.
Real reasons vs. stated reasons people buy.
On the "curse of knowledge"
Validation vs innovation.
Authentic demand: sussing alternatives to not purchasing or using a product/service
"Non-indifference" as an indicator of authentic demand.
Observing vs listening and the problem with surveys.
How to question assumptions.
Product development and market match. The need for humility and open-mindedness.

As we explore these diverse topics, Merricks' unique approach offers invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs, technologists, and anyone intrigued by the intersection of business, technology, and human behavior.

Enjoy!

For show notes and more, visit www.larryweeks.com

Ep. 76: An Unconventional Path: Derek Sivers on Useful Beliefs, Pragmatic Positivity and Embracing Randomness Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

My guest is Derek Sivers. Derek proves that an unconventional background can be the perfect foundation for a wonderfully interesting life and groundbreaking success.

Originally a professional musician and circus clown, Derek founded CD Baby in 1998. It became the largest seller of independent music online, with $100 million in sales for over 150,000 musicians. In 2008, Derek sold CD Baby for $22 million, giving the proceeds to a charitable trust for music education.

His TED talks have garnered over 20 million views, and he has published 34 books, including Hell Yeah or No, Your Music and People, Anything You Want) and his most recent book as it pertains to this conversation is How to Live, 27 Conflicting Answers and One Weird Conclusion - but note we do slightly touch on his current yet-to-be-completed book Useful Not True.

Taking points include …

Derek's transition from a musician to circus performer to entrepreneur and author.
The power of books and new ideas.
The concept of "useful, not true" and the practicality of a belief.
Revisiting "hell yeah or hell no" as a decision heuristic in his book" Anything You Want."
On oblique strategies for releasing creative potential
Embracing unpredictability and "random generators."
The pragmatic rabbi approach to simplifying problems
Thoughts on song and book writing.
Seeing emotions as ends bypassing things as means.
The orchestra-instrument framework.
The motivation of being temporarily-abled.
The practice of journaling to understand emotions and situations.

And there is much more here, as we cover a lot of ground.

Tim Ferris called Derek a philosopher-king programmer, master teacher, and merry prankster and quote (one of my favorite humans), and after chatting with Derek, I understand why. You can tell I enjoyed talking with him.

Please enjoy.

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

Ep.75: Reflective Happiness: David Myers on Self Perception, Fear, Money and Micro-Friendships Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

"To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom." - Socrates This podcast is about understanding ourselves a bit better. We'll be exploring insights into what makes us happy as it relates to self-perception, and the various intricate connections between our minds, bodies, and social interactions. My guest on the show is social psychologist David Myers, known for his extensive work in communicating psychological science to both students and the general public. His academic contributions, supported by National Science Foundation have been published in prestigious journals like Science and American Psychologist. David has made psychological research accessible through articles in magazines such as Scientific American and through seventeen books, including both general interest and textbooks. David is best known for his textbook on psychology which is one of the most widely used psychology textbooks in the world. He is also the author of several popular books, including one of the first on happiness called The Pursuit of Happiness: Discovering the Pathway to Fulfillment, Well-Being, and Enduring Personal Joy published in 1993 David's newest book, "How Do We Know Ourselves?: Curiosities and Marvels of the Human Mind" is the topic of this show. Our conversation covers a wide array of psychology topics including:

A bit about David's background.
We revisit happiness and the latest findings in that field.
The relationship between happiness and income.
Goal setting and the material trap
The benefits of religion and religious engagement paradox.
Self-Perception Theory.
Body-mind effects.
Micro-Friendships: The significant mood boost from brief, positive interactions with strangers.
We touch on fear Misplaced Fears: How we skew risk perceptions.
The power of reframing and its effectiveness in Brief Interventions.

Enjoy For show notes and more visit larryweeks.com

Ep. 74: Trance as a Tool: Dr. David Spiegel on the History and Evidence-Based Benefits of Hypnosis Dec 16, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of our podcast, we delve into the fascinating world of hypnosis, with a focus on demystifying this phenomenon and separating myths from scientific reality. We explore its role in modern therapy and personal well-being.

Dr. David Spiegel is one of Stanford University's leading psychiatrists, with more than 45 years of clinical experience, and has pioneered over 400 research papers on the power of self-hypnosis. Educated at Harvard and Yale, he is the Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr Speigel has written thirteen books and is also the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Reveri Health, which offers a clinically backed hypnosis app of the same name.

In our conversation, we cover a wide array of topics, including:

The definition and understanding of hypnosis.
A short history of hypnosis, its mystical origins, and its current scientific standing.
Distinctions between clinical and theatrical hypnosis.
Debates over the tools and techniques used in hypnosis.
The controversial subjects of brainwashing and memory recovery.
Current research and understanding of the neural mechanisms of hypnosis.
The various types of hypnosis and their applications.
The relationship between EMDR and hypnosis.
The effectiveness, suitability, and therapeutic potential of hypnosis.
The Reveri app, co-founded by Dr. Spiegel
I share my own experience with the Reveri app, particularly how it helped me with my fear of airplane turbulence.

Join us for this enlightening discussion as we uncover the mysteries and realities of hypnosis.

Enjoy!

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

Ep. 73: A Post Career World: Bruce Feiler On The Reinvention of Work Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, we dive into the shifting dynamics of work, careers, and the quest for fulfillment. My guest discusses the history of "career" and how work is undergoing transformations due to technology, social change, and pivotal global events. He has gathered a lot of data to discern patterns in people's work trajectories to expand the definition of what we call work.

Bruce Fieler is a leading voice in America on modern life. He's written seven bestsellers; his three TED Talks have over four million views, and he teaches a TED Course on life changes. His newest book, "THE SEARCH: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World," looks at how people can find purpose in their jobs. It's based on stories from people of all different backgrounds and jobs.

In our talk, Bruce questions common ideas about careers. He uses data to explain big career changes, which he calls 'work-quakes'. If you're thinking about your own job or career or just want to know more about work trends, you'll want to listen.

Topics we cover:

Bruce's own career changes.
Current trends in jobs and careers.
The history of the career and the resume.
Why just following your passion might not be the best idea.
Work-quakes
The idea of having multiple types of jobs at once.
How different generations see job changes.
A broader view of what 'work' means.
How to find out what really matters to you in a job.
The many kinds of jobs people have.
The danger of valuing work too much.
How work can give our lives meaning.
Questions to help you find a job you'll like.
And much more.

Enjoy!

For show notes and more information, check out larryweeks.com.

Ep. 72: The Irrational: Dan Ariely On The Mechanics of Misbelief Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, renowned social scientist Dan Ariely discusses the irrational pull of misinformation and how to understand "misbelief" — the psychological and social path that guides individuals to doubt established truths, consider alternative facts, and perhaps even welcome outright conspiracy theories.

Dan Ariely is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. He is dedicated to answering questions to help people live more sensible – if not rational – lives. He is a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight, co-creator of the film documentary (Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies, and a three-time New York Times bestselling author. His books include Predictably Irrational, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty, Irrationally Yours, Payoff Dollars, and Sense and now his latest - Misbelief.

Talking points we cover include …

The origin of Dan's distinctive half-beard.
Behavioral insights into self-acceptance.
Covid misinformation and his attacks on social media and in public
Exploration and reasoning behind irrational behavior and beliefs.
Identifying false comprehension.
How to know why we believe what we believe.
On belief creation and alteration.
Understanding why people are attracted to heterodoxy and discussing the negative consequences of rejecting and ostracizing people with non-mainstream beliefs.
Shibboleth in communication: signaling identity rather than the pursuit of truth.
Behavioral science on task motivation

...and much more.

Enjoy!

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

Ep. 71: Clearing The Fog: Shane Parrish On Clarity In Decision-Making and Transforming Knowledge Into Wisdom Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

"Often circumstances think for us, we don't really have a choice. And anybody who puts themselves in a bad position has no good options available. So a lot of the work involved in a decision comes before the actual decision is made."

In decision-making, clarity is a critical element, if not the fundamental purpose; it reduces errors and facilitates confident, effective choice-making.

In this episode, my guest sheds light on how to get clarity in decision-making, and I'll add, how to transform knowledge into wisdom.

Shane Parrish is a former cybersecurity expert at Canada's top intelligence agency turned thought leader. He is the mind behind Farnam Street, a site that's very popular among the innovator and investor class that draws on a variety of thinkers from Lao Tsu and Emerson to Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.

Shane is also acclaimed for his bestselling series on mental models titled "The Great Mental Models Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts", Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology", and "Volume 3: Systems and Mathematics." And his latest book, "Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments Into Extraordinary Results," is the topic of this podcast.

Listen in as we dive into how to think more clearly and, in doing so, make better decisions.

Discussion highlights include:

The origin of Farnham Street and the influence of Berkshire Hathaway
The problem with living life on 'autopilot'
The importance of deep understanding.
Recognizing 'ego default' and its role in clouded decision-making.
Writing as a tool for clear thinking
Decision lessons from everyday moments
The importance of pre-decision positioning
Explanation of the Learning Loop
How to incorporate intuition in decision-making.
How to get quality feedback input from experienced individuals.
Safety nets: using rules and processes to enhance decision-making
On mental models.
How to think in reverse
Separating problem identification from problem-solving
The morning review: a method for decision validation

I believe you're going to find this episode very insightful and incredibly useful.

Listen carefully, as it's not just about gathering knowledge; it's about applying it in a way that brings clarity to our complex world.

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

Ep. 70: Between Life and Death: Hadley Vlahos on Hospice care, End-of-Life Moments and Embracing Mortality Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

The world of hospice nursing has always been a profound intersection of life and death, revealing lessons not only about the journey of mortality but also about the true essence of living in the shadow of it. On this Podcast, my guest is Hadley Vlahos or simply Nurse Hadley. Hadley is not just a seasoned hospice nurse but also an end-of-life educator and now a New York Times bestselling author. Her journey and her experiences became the foundation for her bestselling work, The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments. The book captures deep, poignant stories from her time with patients, giving insights into what life's final moments can teach us about existence itself. Beyond her written work, Hadley has taken a step further with her nonprofit respite hospice house. This sanctuary is conceptualized to offer families a peaceful environment to remember and celebrate their loved ones. In today's episode, we cover these topic points :

Her journey from young mother to nurse and from hospice nurse to author.
Hadley's experiences where patients stated and acted out as if they were seeing their deceased loved ones - and what they reveal about end-of-life encounters.
The enigma of the "in-between moments" and their interpretations.
Our shared narratives on the afterlife and my skepticism.
Some common and not-so-common regrets of the dying
How Hadley thinks about death and how she tries to live her life in its shadow
And lastly, the practicalities of hospice, from deciding when it's time to seek hospice care to understanding the intricacies of coverage.

Despite the heavy nature of the topic, this episode is remarkably life-affirming. Many thinkers, from philosophers to psychologists, have advocated that understanding our own mortality paves the way to a richer, fuller life. Today's discussion provides not just a touch of emotional depth but also very practical advice that is invaluable to hear in advance of ever needing it. For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

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