Lex Fridman Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#242 – Ben Askren: Wrestling and MMA Nov 20, 2021

Show notes

Ben Askren is a wrestler and MMA fighter, former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion, a two-time NCAA wrestling champion and four-time finalist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Notion: https://notion.com/startups to get up to $1000 off team plan
– NI: https://www.ni.com/perspectives
– Onnit: https://lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off
– Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings
– NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour

EPISODE LINKS:
Ben’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Benaskren
Ben’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benaskren/
Ben’s Website: https://www.benaskren.com/
Ben’s Wrestling Academy: https://awawisconsin.com/

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips

SUPPORT & CONNECT:
– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast
– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman
– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(06:59) – Woodley vs Jake Paul boxing match
(10:48) – Askren vs Jake Paul boxing match
(13:23) – Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake
(24:37) – Askren vs Burroughs charity match
(29:21) – Champion mentality and handling losses
(43:40) – Future interest in competition
(53:09) – Askren’s early career
(1:03:58) – Robots wrestling
(1:18:39) – Olympics
(1:24:46) – Dagestan wrestling
(1:30:51) – Askren Wrestling Academy
(1:46:32) – Khabib Nurmagomedov
(1:53:08) – 2020 Olympics
(1:54:49) – Wrestling dominance in MMA

#241 – Boris Sofman: Waymo, Cozmo, Self-Driving Cars, and the Future of Robotics Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

Boris Sofman is the Senior Director Of Engineering and Head of Trucking at Waymo, formerly the Google Self-Driving Car project. He was also the CEO and co-founder of Anki, a home robotics company. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack
– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil
– ROKA: https://roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit
– BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Boris’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsofman
Boris’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsofman
Waymo’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/waymo
Waymo’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/waymo
Waymo’s Website: https://waymo.com/

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:32) – Robots in science fiction
(13:13) – Cozmo
(38:28) – AI companions
(45:23) – Anki
(1:10:56) – Waymo Via
(1:42:34) – Sensor suites for long haul trucking
(1:52:30) – Machine learning
(2:10:26) – Waymo vs Tesla
(2:21:02) – Safety and risk management
(2:30:06) – Societal effects of automation
(2:41:11) – Amazon Astro
(2:45:35) – Challenges of the robotics industry
(2:50:03) – Humanoid robotics
(2:57:06) – Advice for getting a PhD in robotics
(3:04:37) – Advice for robotics startups
(3:15:43) – Advice for students

#240 – Neal Stephenson: Sci-Fi, Space, Aliens, AI, VR & the Future of Humanity Nov 11, 2021

Show notes

Neal Stephenson is a sci-fi writer (Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, and new book Termination Shock), former Chief Futurist at Magic Leap and first employee of Blue Origin. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Mizzen+Main: https://mizzenandmain.com and use code LEX to get $35 off
– InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex and use code Lex25 to get 25% off
– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil
– Grammarly: https://grammarly.com/lex to get 20% off premium
– ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free

EPISODE LINKS:
Neal’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/nealstephenson
Neal’s Website: https://www.nealstephenson.com/
Termination Shock (book): https://amzn.to/3HhmDKi
Snow Crash (book): https://amzn.to/3H7yFFW
Cryptonomicon (book): https://amzn.to/3C01HDF
The Diamond Age (book): https://amzn.to/3wxUF83
Seveneves (book): https://amzn.to/3kkhveg
The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1 (book): https://amzn.to/3koMW7n
Innovation Starvation (article): https://bit.ly/3mYLSJ2

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:34) – WWII and human nature
(17:20) – Search engine morality
(21:58) – Space exploration
(38:59) – Aliens and UFOs
(47:21) – SpaceX and Blue Origin
(54:43) – Social media
(59:11) – Climate change
(1:11:00) – Consequences of big ideas
(1:15:42) – Virtual reality
(1:38:50) – Artificial intelligence
(1:53:49) – Cryptocurrency
(2:06:26) – Writing, storytelling, and books
(2:29:05) – Martial arts
(2:38:23) – Final thoughts

#239 – Niall Ferguson: History of Money, Power, War, and Truth Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

Niall Ferguson is a historian at Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is the author of 16 books on the history of money, war, power, and catastrophe. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– The Prisoner Wine Company: https://theprisonerwine.com/lex to get 20% off & free shipping
– Stripe: https://stripe.com
– Coinbase: https://coinbase.com/lex to get $5 in free Bitcoin
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit

EPISODE LINKS:
Niall’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfergus
Niall’s Website: https://www.niallferguson.com
University of Austin: https://uaustin.org/
Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe (book): https://amzn.to/3wt7AI8
Kissinger: The Idealist (book): https://amzn.to/3CVXvGc
The Ascent of Money (book): https://amzn.to/3kCK0Ev
The Square and the Tower (book): https://amzn.to/307YfK8
The Age of AI (book): https://amzn.to/3BUgTSH

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(09:14) – University of Austin (UATX)
(42:09) – Sam Harris
(1:00:36) – Elon Musk
(1:08:55) – Money
(1:18:50) – Hyperinflation
(1:24:15) – Bitcoin
(1:40:57) – Ethereum and smart contracts
(1:49:43) – Worst disasters in human history
(2:11:41) – How history will remember the current pandemic
(2:25:16) – Hope for the future
(2:33:46) – Love
(2:40:24) – Meaning of life

#238 – Francis Collins: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Nov 05, 2021

Show notes

Francis Collins is the director of the NIH and former head of the Human Genome Project. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Ten Thousand: https://www.tenthousand.cc/ and use code LEX to get 15% off
– Allform: https://allform.com/lex to get 20% off
– SimpliSafe: https://simplisafe.com/lex and use code LEX to get a free security camera
– NI: https://www.ni.com/perspectives
– Magic Spoon: https://magicspoon.com/lex and use code LEX to get $5 off

EPISODE LINKS:
Francis’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/NIHDirector
NIH: https://www.nih.gov
Human Genome Project: https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:44) – Lab-leak theory
(10:51) – Gain-of-function research of viruses
(23:00) – Bioterrorism
(27:30) – Tony Fauci
(37:41) – COVID Vaccines
(43:46) – Joe Rogan
(50:49) – Variants
(55:31) – Rapid at home testing
(59:44) – Animal testing
(1:05:09) – Stepping down as director of the NIH
(1:09:03) – Barack Obama
(1:11:06) – Accelerating Medicines Partnership
(1:21:44) – Faith
(1:27:12) – Fear of death
(1:30:15) – Meaning of life

#237 – Steve Viscelli: Trucking and the Decline of the American Dream Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

Steve Viscelli is a former truck driver and now an economic sociologist at University of Pennsylvania studying freight transportation, including autonomous trucks. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Shopify: https://shopify.com/lex to get 14-day free trial
– ROKA: https://roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order
– Sunbasket: https://sunbasket.com/lex and use code LEX to get $35 off
– Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium
– BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Steve’s Website: https://www.steveviscelli.com/
Big Rig (book): https://amzn.to/3EbaofP
Will Robotic Trucks Be “Sweatshops on Wheels?” (article): https://bit.ly/3vGGgpO
Johnny Cash – All I Do Is Drive (song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEHoagHlqrE
Steve’s Penn Gazette Interview: https://bit.ly/3nkRPyV
More Information on Automated Trucking: http://www.driverlessreport.org/

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:36) – Ethnography
(19:49) – Challenges of driving a truck
(38:28) – Trucking industry: State of affairs
(1:11:33) – Future of autonomous trucks
(1:37:49) – Solving the automated truck dilemma
(2:09:44) – Role of society in automated trucking
(2:36:53) – Tesla and revolutionizing the trucking industry
(2:56:33) – Hope and final thoughts

#236 – Jimmy Pedro: Judo and the Forging of Champions Oct 31, 2021

Show notes

Jimmy Pedro is a judo competitor and coach, world champion, 3x world medalist, 2x Olympic medalist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– ROKA: https://roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order
– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil
– Ladder: https://ladderlife.com/lex
– Linode: https://linode.com/lex to get $100 free credit
– MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/lex to get 15% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Jimmy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmypedrousa
Jimmy’s Links: https://linktr.ee/jimmypedro
Jimmy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimmypedrousa
Jimmy’s Website: https://www.jimmypedro.com/
American Judo System: https://usajudo.com/

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:56) – The most beautiful throw
(32:25) – Russian approach to randori
(45:57) – Judo gripping
(57:25) – IOC
(1:07:50) – Toughest match
(1:12:57) – Jimmy Pedro Sr
(1:32:12) – Travis Stevens
(1:51:42) – Kayla Harrison
(2:10:00) – Putin and judo
(2:14:12) – Getting started in judo
(2:18:58) – BJJ
(2:22:24) – Advice for young people

#235 – Michael Mina: Rapid COVID Testing Oct 29, 2021

Show notes

Michael Mina is an immunologist, epidemiologist, and physician at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Notion: https://notion.com/startups to get up to $1000 off team plan
– Quip: https://getquip.com/lex to get first refill free
– Theragun: https://therabody.com/lex to get 30 day trial
– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Michael’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelmina_lab

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:14) – At-home COVID-19 tests
(18:17) – Medical devices and FDA classification
(24:37) – Rapid test availability
(40:59) – Who is in charge of public health?
(57:38) – Testing privacy
(1:04:54) – Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan
(1:16:08) – Uncertainty, fear, and COVID
(1:23:02) – Vaccines and herd immunity
(1:31:42) – Meditation and consciousness
(1:41:44) – Minimalism and Capitalism
(1:45:20) – The future of humanity

#234 – Stephen Wolfram: Complexity and the Fabric of Reality Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

Stephen Wolfram is a computer scientist, mathematician, and theoretical physicist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– ROKA: https://roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order
– FightCamp: https://joinfightcamp.com/lex to get free shipping
– Onnit: https://lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit
– Fundrise: https://fundrise.com/lex

EPISODE LINKS:
Stephen’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephen_wolfram
Stephen’s Blog: https://writings.stephenwolfram.com
Wolfram Physics Project: https://www.wolframphysics.org
A New Kind of Science (book): https://amzn.to/30XoEun
Fundamental Theory of Physics (book): https://amzn.to/30XbAoT

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:50) – What is complexity
(20:51) – Randomness in the universe
(25:12) – The Wolfram Physics Project
(37:14) – Space and time are discrete
(49:19) – Quantum mechanics and hypergraphs
(58:33) – What is intelligence
(1:09:16) – Computational equivalence
(1:17:36) – What it is like to be a cellular automata
(1:32:00) – Making prediction vs explanations
(1:45:20) – Why does the universe exist
(1:51:01) – The universe and rulial space
(1:59:44) – Does an atom have consciousness
(2:10:10) – Why does our universe exist
(2:18:41) – What is outside the ruliad
(2:29:15) – Automated proof systems
(2:45:10) – Multicomputation for biology
(3:03:41) – Cardano NFT collaboration with Wolfram Alpha
(3:10:41) – Global theory of economics

#233 – Carl Hart: Heroin, Cocaine, MDMA, Alcohol & the Role of Drugs in Society Oct 23, 2021

Show notes

Carl Hart is a psychologist at Columbia University. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex and use code Lex25 to get 25% off
– Ten Thousand: https://www.tenthousand.cc/ and use code LEX to get 15% off
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off
– ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free

EPISODE LINKS:
Carl’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/drcarlhart
Carl’s Website: https://drcarlhart.com
Drug Use for Grown-Ups (book): https://amzn.to/3lVpq2Y

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:33) – The experience of drugs
(18:38) – Drug use for grownups
(24:21) – Studies on drugs
(25:31) – Negative effects of drugs
(30:59) – Should all drugs be legalized
(36:27) – War on drugs: positive or negative
(42:19) – Proper, positive, and misuse of drugs
(46:40) – Recovery
(53:34) – Drug depiction in movies
(57:05) – How the study of drugs changed Carl
(59:28) – Formative memories
(1:03:57) – Greatest hip hop artist of all time
(1:07:19) – What mind altering drugs teach us
(1:11:26) – Advice for young people
(1:13:31) – The meaning of life

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