The Next Big Idea Daily

The Urban-Rural Divide Is Smaller Than You Think Nov 21, 2024

Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, a public policy professor at USC, has spent years studying small-town America. What she's learned may surprise you.

📕 The Overlooked Americans

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How Economics Explains the World Nov 20, 2024

Andrew Leigh, a former professor of economics and current member of Australia's parliament, shares key insights from his timely new book How Economics Explains the World: A Short History of Humanity.

A Brief History of the Female Body Nov 19, 2024

In "A Brief History of the Female Body," Dr. Deena Emera draws on her vast expertise as a biologist, her experience as a mother, and her love of teaching to look far into our evolutionary past, illuminating how and why the female form has transformed over millions of years and its effects on women's health.

How to Achieve Financial Freedom Without Sacrificing What Matters Most Nov 18, 2024

Most entrepreneurs start a business seeking freedom but end up in a prison of hundred-hour workweeks isolated from their loved ones. Today: a guide for how to do entrepreneurship differently — letting go of the hustle and embracing a family-first mindset instead.

Is Technology the World's Most Powerful Religion? Nov 15, 2024

Today, we're joined by Greg Epstein, Harvard and MIT's humanist chaplain, who shares a few key insights from his new book Tech Agnostic.

Mastering AI: A Survival Guide to Our Superpowered Future Nov 14, 2024

Award-winning journalist Jeremy Kahn shares his advice for staying on the right side of the AI revolution.

Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going Nov 13, 2024

A blueprint for a better future that offers a unified theory of human behavior, culture, and society.

📖 A Theory of Everyone by Michael Muthukrishna

A Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine Nov 12, 2024

As an assistant professor, practicing psychiatrist, university wellness leader, and regular media expert, Jessi Gold was used to constant busyness. But when mental exhaustion led her to commit an unthinkable error during a patient session, she was forced to reevaluate everything that the medical system taught her.

📖 How Do You Feel?: One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine

Your Journey to Financial Freedom Nov 11, 2024

Jamila Souffrant offers a step-by-step guide to achieving wealth and happiness.

What We Miss in Our Pursuit of the Good Life Nov 08, 2024

Happiness and meaning are usually seen as the two keys to the good life. But there's a third. Lorraine Besser is here to tell us more.

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The Psychology Behind America's Political Divide Nov 07, 2024

Can we find a way to mend the personal bonds that are fraying for so many of us?

📕 Good Reasonable People: The Psychology Behind America's Dangerous Divide by Keith Payne

'The Art of Verbal Warfare' by Rik Smits Nov 06, 2024

Value judgments, cultural relativism, and other conversation killers.

Can You Make Your Anxiety Work for You? Nov 05, 2024

It's the most stressful day of the year! To help us stay calm, we're bringing in renowned psychologist Wendy Suzuki to share a few tips from her book "Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion."

🎙️ Check out Wendy's interview on our sister podcast, The Next Big Idea, here

Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy Nov 04, 2024

Women in this country lag behind men according to most economic measures. Why this is and how to change it is the subject of the recent book "Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy" by Naomi Cahn, June Carbone, and Nancy Levit.

Mastering the Art of Conscious Conversations Nov 01, 2024

We live in conversations like fish live in water. Here's how to become a better swimmer — er, talker.

📕 The Art of Conscious Conversations: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact by Chuck Wisner

The Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History Oct 31, 2024

Sharon McMahon shares a few inspiring stories from her new book, "The Small and the Mighty," a #1 New York Times bestseller.

Who Owns Your Face? Oct 30, 2024

Kashmir Hill, a reporter at the New York Times, shares the story of a small AI company that gave facial recognition to law enforcement, billionaires, and businesses, threatening to end privacy as we know it.

The Science of Paternal Potential Oct 29, 2024

Most male mammals, including our closest primate relatives, barely participate in childcare. So why do at least some human men do a marginally better job? Here to explain is James Rilling, author of the new book "Father Nature."

Seth Godin's Advice for Making Better Plans Oct 28, 2024

Seth Godin is one of the world's most influential business thinkers. Today, he shares five key insights from his brand new book "This Is Strategy."

Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts Oct 25, 2024

Oliver Burkeman has been called a self-help guru for people who make fun of self-help. He joins us today to share five key insights from his new book "Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts."

A Journey into the Heart of American Democracy Oct 24, 2024

Frank Barry takes us on a thought-provoking journey into the heart of our democracy and the soul of our country. His new book is "Back Roads and Better Angels."

AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World Oct 23, 2024

Rival CEOs. A race to build god-like machines. What could go wrong? In "Supremacy," Bloomberg's Parmy Olson shares the thrilling (and sometimes chilling) story of Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, and the battle to create our future.

Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age Oct 22, 2024

The human brain hasn't changed much since the Stone Age, which is why it's so poorly equipped to resist modern technology. But don't despair. Renowned neuroscientist Richard Cytowic is here to offer compelling evidence that we can change the way we use technology, resist its addictive power over us, and regain the control we have lost.

⏳ Want to supercharge your productivity in under an hour? Check out the podclass we made with Cal Newport

How to Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius Oct 21, 2024

Happy Monday! To kick off the week, we're joined by Kendra Adachi, who's here to teach you how to be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't.

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Rediscover Calm in a Chaotic World Oct 18, 2024

Start your weekend with a little mindfulness...

📕 Deeper Mindfulness: The New Way to Rediscover Calm in a Chaotic World by Mark Williams & Danny Penman

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How to Be a Happy High Achiever Oct 17, 2024

Clinical psychologist Mary Anderson shares a road map ambitious people can follow to transform chronic stress and anxiety into sustainable happiness and success.

Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity Oct 16, 2024

Earlier this week, MIT's Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson were awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for their groundbreaking research on how institutions influence economic development and the historical roots of economic inequalities. But we at the Next Big Idea Club were into these guys over a year ago when we featured Daron and Simon's book "Power and Progress." To celebrate their Nobel, we thought we'd bring Simon back to share the big ideas from that book.

How to Transform Your Daily Grind and Achieve a Better Life Oct 15, 2024

American work isn’t working. Brigid Schulte is here to change that.

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The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land Oct 14, 2024

Rebecca Nagle has written for the Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and Indian Country Today. She hosts the celebrated podcast This Land. Her new book is By the Fire We Carry.

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What if the Problem Isn’t Your Partner―It’s Stress? Oct 11, 2024

It's Friday. You made it. But before you get into weekend mode, check out these key insights from Elizabeth Earnshaw, author of the new book 'Til Stress Do Us Part: How to Heal the #1 Issue in Our Relationships. She says stress is often at the root of relationship problems, but lucky for us, she has advice for how to cope with it.

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How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World Oct 10, 2024

Today, some key insights from Total Garbage, a new book by Edward Humes about the waste embedded in our daily lives.

Why Are We Obsessed With Human Origins? Oct 09, 2024

Stefanos Geroulanos, an eminent historian, tells the story of how we came to obsess over the origins of humanity ― and how, for three centuries, ideas of prehistory have been used to justify devastating violence against others.

🎟️ To learn more about our Oct. 10 event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss, visit https://nextbigideaclub.com/events

How to Optimize Your Brain and Transform the Way You Work Oct 08, 2024

Mithu Storoni isn't just an eye surgeon and neuroscience researcher; she's also an expert in how to get your brain working at peak efficiency. Today, she shares a few performance-enhancing tips with us.

How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World Oct 07, 2024

Tyler Cowen, one of the world's most respected economists, shares how to spot, assess, woo, and retain highly talented people.

Life Lessons From Kierkegaard Oct 04, 2024

Today, we're straying a bit off our usual path to share some inspiring insights from Aaron Simmons's book "Camping with Kierkegaard: Faithfulness as a Way of Life."

🎟️ There's still time to grab a ticket to our Oct. 10 event with Daniel Pink and Adam Grant. Learn more at nextbigideaclub.com/events

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How to Make the Most Consequential Decision in the World Oct 03, 2024

Voting for president is no small thing. Gautum Mukunda, from the Harvard Kennedy School, reflects on its significance in his new book "Picking Presidents."

Inside the Mind of Volodymyr Zelensky Oct 02, 2024

Time correspondent Simon Shuster provides an intimate portrait of Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky.

📕 The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our Oct. 10 event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss at nextbigideaclub.com/events

Living in Sync with Your Inner Clock Oct 01, 2024

Want to be sharper, healthier, and happier? Then you need to up your sleep game. Lynne Peeples, author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms, will teach you how.

🎟️ We're hosting a live event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss in NYC on Oct. 10. To join virtually or in person, visit nextbigideaclub.com/events

A Guide to Finding Fulfillment in Work and Life Sep 30, 2024

Megan Hellerer graduated from Stanford at the top of her class, landed a dream job at Google, and dutifully climbed the corporate ladder. So why was she so miserable?

📕 Directional Living: A Transformational Guide to Fulfillment in Work and Life

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our Oct. 10 event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss here

The Science of Human Possibilities Sep 27, 2024

Kumar Murty illuminates the interconnectedness of mental acuity and spiritual enlightenment.

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How Corporations Get Rich off America’s Poor Sep 26, 2024

The federal government spends around $900 billion a year on programs that are supposed to help poor Americans. Why does so much of that money end up in the pockets of private-sector interests that profit from the bureaucracies regulating the lives of the poor? Journalist Anne Kim reports on the “corporate poverty complex” in her new book "Poverty for Profit."

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The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity Sep 25, 2024

Horses revolutionized the way we hunted, traded, traveled, farmed, fought, worshipped, and interacted. They determined international borders, molded cultures, fueled economies, and built global superpowers. Timothy C. Winegard joins us today to talk about how these four-legged marvels shaped the world.

Answers to the Big Questions of Midlife Sep 24, 2024

Debra Whitman, a globally recognized expert on aging, presents practical steps you can follow to make sure the second half of your life is as rich, rewarding, and healthy as the first.

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Sell Like A Spy Sep 23, 2024

Jeremy Hurewitz on the tradecraft that can make you better at persuasion.

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our event with Daniel Pink and Adam Moss at nextbigideaclub.com/events

Stories From the Best of Humanity Sep 20, 2024

Let's end the week on a positive note. Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Knell share a few much-needed life-affirming stories handpicked from Upworthy’s community of millions.

Why Public Schools Are Worth Fighting For Sep 19, 2024

Public schools are the most democratic institutions this country has ever created. So why are they under threat? And can they be saved? Journalist Jennifer C. Berkshire and education scholar Jack Schneider are the authors of the new book "The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual."

Create Extraordinary Places that Bring People Together Sep 18, 2024

Museums, restaurants, grocery stores, and universities — in the era of AI and the metaverse, these real places will matter more than ever. Kevin Ervin Kelley joins to tell us how to make them better.

How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World Sep 17, 2024

Christian Madsbjerg explores how we can reclaim the lost art of paying attention.

How to Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation and Intuition at Work Sep 16, 2024

Creativity isn't just for artists. You can — and should — embrace creativity no matter your line of work. Today, Natalie Nixon offers tips for how to do it.

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How to Find the Silver Linings Even on Your Darkest Days Sep 13, 2024

From award-winning Washington Post columnist Steven Petrow, a guide to finding joy even during life’s most difficult times.

How Our Culture Enables Misbehaving Men Sep 12, 2024

It's been seven years since #MeToo went viral. What has actually changed? Reah Bravo joins us to share answers from her book "Complicit."

How to Live Future Ready Sep 11, 2024

Frederik Pferdt, Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, inspires you to shape your future, navigate ambiguity and uncertainty with intention, and transform problems and challenges into profound opportunities.

How to Make Social Media Less Polarizing Sep 10, 2024

Chris Bail offers a revealing look at how user behavior is powering deep social divisions online ― and how we might yet defeat political tribalism on social media.

🎟️ Buy a ticket to our event with Yuval Noah Harari at https://nextbigideaclub.com/events

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success Sep 09, 2024

Today, Molly Fletcher, the "female Jerry Maguire,” shares her tips for engaging in meaningful professional and personal growth.

🎟️ Tickets to our live event with Yuval Noah Harari are going fast. Grab yours today: https://nextbigideaclub.com/events/

Hope for Cynics Sep 06, 2024

Cynicism is making us sick. Stanford Psychologist Dr. Jamil Zaki has the cure.

🎟️ Join us in NYC on Sept. 11 for a live interview with Yuval Noah Harari: https://nextbigideaclub.com/events

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Nicholas Kristof on a Life in Journalism Sep 05, 2024

Today, Nicholas Kristof, the legendary New York Times columnist, shares five big ideas from his new book "Chasing Hope."

Die Hot with a Vengeance Sep 04, 2024

The multi-billion-dollar beauty industry is built around a single mandate: be hot. Sable Yong tells us why that message is equal parts toxic and fun.

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our event with Yuval Noah Harari: https://nextbigideaclub.com/events

The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others Sep 03, 2024

Today on the show, journalist Elissa Strauss explores the powerful role caring for others plays in our individual and communal lives.

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The Disciplines of Strategic Thinking Sep 02, 2024

Today, Michael Watkins delves into the essential practices that can prepare leaders and their teams for tomorrow's challenges.

🎟️ We're hosting an event with Yuval Noah Harari! To learn more, visit nextbigideaclub.com/events

A Philosopher’s Guide to the Good Life Aug 30, 2024

Adam Sandel, a philosopher and Guinness World Record holder in pull-ups, shares five key insights from "Happiness in Action," a new book in which he argues that the key to happiness is not goal-driven striving but forging a life that integrates self-possession, friendship, and engagement with nature.

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Is Modern Masculinity Holding Men Back? Aug 29, 2024

Today's model of masculinity is outdated. It's not giving boys and men the courage, strength, and resilience they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. That's why Andrew Reiner, a cultural critic and New York Times contributor, wrote "Better Boys, Better Men." It's a roadmap for developing a new form of masculinity that creates emotional resiliency.

The Stoic Path to Wealth Aug 28, 2024

What if ancient wisdom could help you achieve prosperity today? Darius Foroux is here to explain.

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Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America Aug 27, 2024

Today, we hear from journalist Shefali Luthra about her new book, "Undue Burden," which the San Francisco Chronicle called "an impeccably researched, clearheaded and frankly terrifying assessment of just how grave the situation in post-Roe America is."

🎟️ Grab a ticket for our upcoming live event with Yuval Noah Harari at https://nextbigideaclub.com/events/

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Dream First, Details Later Aug 26, 2024

Ellen Marie Bennett turned a hunch into a multi-million dollar business. So can you.

🎟️ Grab a ticket to our event with Yuval Noah Harari at https://nextbigideaclub.com/events/

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Use Nature's Playbook to Energize Your Brain, Spark Ideas, and Ignite Action Aug 23, 2024

Jeff Karp went from the back of the class to opening his own research lab at Harvard. In this episode, he explains how he did it — and how the tools he used can help you thrive, too.

📕 Pick up a copy of Jeff's new book, "LIT: Life Ignition Tools"

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The Truth About Immigration Aug 22, 2024

For nearly 20 years, Wharton professor Zeke Hernandez has been studying immigration. Today, he makes an evidence-based argument for why newcomers benefit your community, your country, and you.

📕 The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers

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Are You Hardwired for Happiness? Aug 21, 2024

Today, Ashish Kothari shares nine proven practices to overcome stress and live your best life.

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Sex, God, and the Brain Aug 20, 2024

"You heretics!" That's probably what you'd say if we told you that sexual pleasure gave birth to religion. Sex and god? They're like oil and water, non-overlapping magisteria. But in a bold new book called "Sex, God, and the Brain," researcher and physician Andrew Newberg shows that the underlying biological mechanisms of spiritual and sexual experiences are identical.

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How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons Aug 19, 2024

Building on the lessons she learned as an award-winning TV news journalist, Jessica Chen introduces a new way of getting noticed at work, without being loud, aggressive, or boastful.

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Becoming the Parent Your Kids Deserve Aug 16, 2024

Today, Gary John Bishop offers insightful (if unorthodox) parenting advice from his recent book "Grow Up."

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How Toxic Beauty Culture Harms Women Aug 15, 2024

What is toxic beauty culture ― from Botox to Instagram filters ― doing to women and girls? Ellen Atlanta reports.

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Will We Merge With AI? Ray Kurzweil Thinks So. Aug 14, 2024

Celebrated computer scientist and unabased AI optimist Ray Kurzweil says a future where nanorobots inhabit our brains is closer than you may think. His new book is "The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI."

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Can We Cure Grief? Aug 13, 2024

Journalist Cody Delistraty reports on the scientists and technologists searching for better and new ways to cope with loss. From chatting with a technologically recreated version of a lost loved one to opening your mind with the aid of hallucinogenic mushrooms, there's a whole new frontier that brims with fresh possibilities and pitfalls for how to cure grief.

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The Truth You Need to Succeed Aug 12, 2024

Bonnie Hammer worked her way up from the mailroom to become the “the most powerful woman in entertainment," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Today, she shares career-supercharging insights from her new book "15 Lies Women Are Told at Work ... and the Truth We Need to Succeed."

The Elastic Limits of Human Performance Aug 09, 2024

To close out our Olympics-themed week, we're sharing one of our favorite book bites from our archive: Alex Hutchinson on his 2018 bestseller "Endure."

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Do Hard Things Aug 08, 2024

What does it really mean to be tough? Performance coach Steve Magness has a surprising answer.

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Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism Aug 07, 2024

Today, journalist Macaela MacKenzie gives us an inside look at how women athletes are leading the fight for equality — on and off the field.

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How to Stay Rad as You Grow Old Aug 06, 2024

Steven Kotler (“Gnar Country”) has been studying human performance for 30 years and teaching people from all walks of life how to achieve peak performance. But could his own advice work for him?

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An Olympian’s Guide to Chasing Dreams and Befriending Pain Aug 05, 2024

The Olympics are on! Have you been watching? We have. We can’t get enough. Which is why all this week we’ll be bringing you episodes that celebrate the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. We’ll be joined by athletes and experts who’ll share hard-won wisdom that we can apply in our ordinary, non-Olympic lives.

Up first: Alexi Pappas. She ran the 10,000m at the 2016 games. She’s also a filmmaker and an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and The Atlantic. Today, she shares a few key insights from her memoir, “Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas.”

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How Trust Works Aug 02, 2024

Trust is at the heart of all relationships, and when trust is broken, those relationships can be tremendously difficult to put back together. Peter H. Kim, who teaches at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, has written a book called "How Trust Works: The Science of How Relationships Are Built, Broken, and Repaired." Peter is a leading authority in the field of “trust repair,” and his research has been published in the world’s top scientific journals in management and psychology.

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How to Be a Citizen Aug 01, 2024

We think that civil society is imposed by law. But what if that's not the case? What if it's something we create together?

Guest: C. L. Skach (How to Be a Citizen: Learning to Be Civil Without the State)

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The Invention of Reality TV Jul 31, 2024

Today, Pulitzer Prize winner Emily Nussbaum shares five big ideas from her new book "Cue the Sun!"

A New Framework for Understanding Addiction Jul 30, 2024

Today, we hear from Elias Dakwar, a psychiatrist addiction specialist, about his new book "The Captive Imagination: Addiction, Reality, and Our Search for Meaning."

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How to Thrive in a World That's Constantly Changing Jul 29, 2024

Change is universal. How we deal with it is not.

Guest: April Rinne ("Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change")

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The World Gets Happiness Wrong. Here's How to Get It Right. Jul 26, 2024

We all want to be happy, but happiness always seems out of reach. Lucky for us, Stephanie Harrison ("New Happy") is here to change that.

Free Speech in an Age of Rage Jul 25, 2024

Today: Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, on what we lose when we constrain free speech.

Triumph of the Yuppies Jul 24, 2024

What can the Yuppies of the 1980s tell us about American culture today?

Why Some Startups Change the Future Jul 23, 2024

Why do the most successful startups disregard best practices?

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How to Make It to the End with No Regrets Jul 22, 2024

Jodi Wellman shares five key insights from "You Only Die Once."

What Loners, Outcasts, and the Misunderstood Can Teach Us About Creativity Jul 19, 2024

Richard Deming is an award-winning poet and critic and is the director of Creative Writing at Yale University. Today, he shares big ideas from his new book "This Exquisite Loneliness."

Democracy in Retrograde Jul 18, 2024

Today, Emily Amick, lawyer and former counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Betches Media cofounder Sami Sage share five key insights from their New York Times bestseller "Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives."

"The Presidents and the People" by Corey Brettschneider Jul 17, 2024

American presidents have often pushed the boundaries established for them by the Constitution. Today, Corey Brettschneider shares the inspirational stories of the citizens who pushed back.

A Better Way of Thinking About Medicine and Healing Jul 16, 2024

Today, journalist Julia Hotz reports on a radical new trend in healthcare: social prescribing.

📩 Can't get enough of The Next Big Idea Daily? Check out our brand new Substack: https://bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com/

Mastering the Art of Changing Minds Jul 15, 2024

Michael McQueen has spent two decades teaching Fortune 500 leaders the skills they need to change people's minds. Now, he's here to share those skills with you.

The Power of Connection in a Fractured World Jul 12, 2024

Let's close out the week by hearing from Sharon Brous, one of the country's leading rabbis, about her new book "The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World."

📩 We launched a Substack! Check it out at https://bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com/

A Journey From White Nationalism to Antiracism Jul 11, 2024

R. Derek Black grew up with the founders of the American white nationalist movement but became an advocate for antiracism. How did that happen?

📩 We have a new Substack! Check it out at https://bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com/

Myths Shaped America. Now They've Brought Us to the Brink of Crisis. Jul 10, 2024

We are a nation of mythmakers. But in his new book, "A Great Disorder: National Myth and the Battle for America," Richard Slotkin argues those myths may be to blame for our current polarization.

A Scientist's Path from Grief to Wonder Jul 09, 2024

A decade ago, Alan Townsend's wife and daughter were both diagnosed with life-threatening forms of brain cancer. In the face of this gut-wrenching news, he took solace in science.

Can You Become Immune to Burnout? Jul 08, 2024

After extreme stress nearly killed Kandi Wiens, she dedicated herself to understanding why some people seem to be naturally “immune” to burnout and what the rest of us can learn from them. Kandi's new book is "Burnout Immunity: How Emotional Intelligence Can Help You Build Resilience and Heal Your Relationship with Work."

How Something Comes From Nothing Jul 05, 2024

To close out the week, we hear from Adam Moss, the legendary editor of New York magazine, about the personal, rigorous, complex, and elusive work of making art.

What Would Ben Franklin Do? Jul 04, 2024

Today, Eric Weiner joins to discuss his new book, "Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life."

The 40,000-Year Story of Animals and Us Jul 03, 2024

Today, Keggie Carew shares a few key insights from her book "Beastly: The 40,000-Year Story of Animals and Us," which the Guardian called "dazzling … [a] fantastic, heartfelt history of human-animal relations."

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Can Psychedelics Cure the Most Severe Pain Disorders? Jul 02, 2024

Today, renowned sociologist Joanna Kempner, author of the new book "Psychedelic Outlaws: The Movement Revolutionizing Modern Medicine," introduces us to a group of ordinary people racked by debilitating pain who have turned to psychedelic medicines for relief.

📱 To hear hundreds of book summaries written and read by the authors themselves, download The Next Big Idea app at https://nextbigideaclub.com/app/ Code DAILY gets you 20% off a subscription

How to Save Human Ability in the Age of AI Jul 01, 2024

As artificial intelligence gets more and more powerful, how do we protect human skills? Matt Beane, one of the world’s top researchers on work and technology, is here with a few surprising answers.

Practical Optimism Jun 28, 2024

Let's close out the week with a few big ideas from Sue Varma, author of "Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being."

How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard Jun 27, 2024

Tonight, there's a presidential debate. This morning, let's hear Bo Seo, two-time world champion debater and former coach of the Harvard debate team, share his tips for effective communication and persuasion.

How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That's a Good Thing) Jun 26, 2024

Khan Academy has helped more than 135 million students in 190 countries learn new things. Now its founder, Sal Khan, is out with a book in which he argues AI will transform the way we learn.

The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network Jun 25, 2024

Celebrated science writer David Robson joins us to reveal how social connections are far more important than we thought and show us the steps we can take to build better relationships and improve our lives.

Is Your Work Worth It? Jun 24, 2024

Today,a philosopher and an organizational psychologist walk into ... a soap opera?

Bianca Bosker Ventures Into the Art World Jun 21, 2024

Today, Bianca Bosker shares a few brilliant insights from her latest New York Times bestseller "Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See."

🖼️ Check out Bianca's interview on The Next Big Idea on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases Jun 20, 2024

We all have biases. Worse, they cause us to fall for misinformation. Here's what to do about it.

A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine Jun 19, 2024

Today, Uche Blackstock shares five key insights from her instant New York Times bestseller "Legacy."

***

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A Neurotoolkit for Creating Lasting Change Jun 18, 2024

Today, we hear from Nicole Vignola, a neuroscientist and organizational psychologist who has written an exciting new book called "Rewire: Break the Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts and Create Lasting Change (Your Neurotoolkit for Everyday Life)."

How the Science of Personality Can Help You Make Better Business Decisions Jun 17, 2024

Organizational psychologist Richard Davis has spent decades advising the leaders of the world's biggest companies. What he's learned will help you transform your relationships, your career, and your life.

💬 Have a question for Richard? He'll be in our LinkedIn group all week. To sign up, become a member at nextbigideaclub.com

We Live in a Tame World. Here's How to Find the Wild. Jun 14, 2024

Craig Foster, the South African filmmaker best known for his Oscar-winning documentary "My Octopus Teacher," joins Michael to share a few insights from his new book "Amphibious Soul: Finding the Wild in a Tame World."

🎁 Still looking for the perfect Father's Day gift? How about a subscription to the Next Big Idea Club? We'll send your dad eight new books a year, all chosen by our curators (Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink). Learn more at https://nextbigideaclub.com, and use code DAD20 for a nice discount.

Can Big Tech Be Contained? Jun 13, 2024

Our dependence on the big five tech companies threatens our civil rights, economy, and democracy. Tom Kemp has a plan to rein them in.

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Finding for the Good in Bad English Jun 12, 2024

Today, linguist Valerie Fridland ("Like, Literally, Dude") takes us on a tour of the speech habits we love to hate and makes the surprising argument that "like's" and "literally's" make us better communicators.

The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health Jun 11, 2024

In her #1 New York Times bestseller, "Good Energy," Casey Means argues that improving your metabolic health is the key to feeling better and living longer.

What if Innovation Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be? Jun 10, 2024

Has our idolatry of innovation gone too far? Lee Vinsel and Andrew L. Russell think so. Their book is "The Innovation Delusion: How Our Obsession with the New Has Disrupted the Work That Matters Most."

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How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age Jun 07, 2024

Adventurer Caroline Paul shares key insights from her new book "Tough Broad."

How America Weaponized the World Economy Jun 06, 2024

Today, Georgetown's Abraham Newman shares a few key insights from his recent book "Underground Empire."

The Mysterious Anomalies Challenging Our Understanding of the Universe Jun 05, 2024

Harry Cliff offers an eye-opening account of the inexplicable phenomena that science has only recently glimpsed, and that could transform our understanding of the fundamental nature of reality.

The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics Jun 04, 2024

Psychedelics are a buzzy new mental health treatment. Do they work, and are they safe? The New York Times' Ernesto Londoño reports.

Time Management Tips From Google’s Productivity Expert Jun 03, 2024

Tens of thousands of Google employees rely on Laura Mae Martin's strategies for how to make the most of their time. Now she's going to share those strategies with you. Laura's new book is "Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing."

The Science of Personality Change May 31, 2024

Neuroscientist Christian Jarrett on how we can change ourselves for the better.

"Wealth Supremacy: How the Extractive Economy and the Biased Rules of Capitalism Drive Today’s Crises" by Marjorie Kelly May 30, 2024

Marjorie Kelly, a distinguished senior fellow at The Democracy Collaborative, argues that a bias toward wealth has warped the economy. Here's what we can do about it.

The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis May 29, 2024

The one and only George Stephanopoulos stops by to share five key insights from his No. 1 New York Times bestseller "The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis."

How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes May 28, 2024

Today, Jennifer L. Taitz, a clinical psychologist at UCLA, shares a few calming insights from her new book, "Stress Resets."

How to Ask Better Questions May 27, 2024

Do you struggle to connect with other people? It could be because you're not asking the right questions. In this episode, leadership expert Jeff Wetzler shares strategies for asking deep questions drawn from his latest book, "Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life."

Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom May 24, 2024

What if everything you think you know about capitalism is wrong?

Guest: Grace Blakeley

Book: Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom

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A Brief History of Intelligence May 23, 2024

Today, Max Bennett explains how understanding the story of how our brains evolved can help shape the next generation of AI breakthroughs.

How Small Actions Can Have a Big Impact May 22, 2024

Today, Adaira Landry and Resa Lewiss, a pair of Harvard-trained physicians, share actionable career advice from "MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact."

No-BS Secrets to Success May 21, 2024

Jim VandeHei co-founded two highly influential news outlets, Politico and Axios. But as he explains in today's episode, his path to success was far from straightforward.

What 20th Century Anarchy Can Teach Us About Contemporary Polarization May 20, 2024

Steven Johnson returns to share some key insights from his new book "The Infernal Machine: A True Story of Dynamite, Terror, and the Rise of the Modern Detective."

A Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control May 17, 2024

To end the week, we'll hear from Katherine Morgan Schafler, a former on-site therapist at Google, who challenges us to change the way we look at perfectionism.

What a CBS News Correspondent Saw on the Front Lines of the Climate Crisis May 16, 2024

In "Before It's Gone: Stories from the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America," Jonathan Vigliotti shares the stories of regular Americans who are confronting the effects of climate disaster.

Can Big Tech Be Reined In? May 15, 2024

As chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Tom Wheeler advocated for stronger legislation of big tech companies. In his new book, "Techlash: Who Makes the Rules in the Digital Gilded Age?," he says there's more to be done.

When Extreme Wellness Causes Real Damage May 14, 2024

Jacqueline Alnes was a DI runner in college, but her athletic career was cut short by a series of mysterious neurological symptoms. Her search for a cure led her to discover the dark side of wellness culture. Her new book is "The Fruit Cure: The Story of Extreme Wellness Turned Sour."

Are You Suffering From Microstress? May 13, 2024

Are all the little things getting you down? Rob Cross and Karen Dillon are here to help. Their new book is "The Microstress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problems--and What to Do about It."

Forget Habits. You Need Rituals. May 10, 2024

Harvard's Michael Norton says cultivating a "ritual" mindset can infuse our lives with meaning. His new book is "The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions."

Frank Bruni Examines Our Age of Grievance May 09, 2024

Longtime New York Times columnist Frank Bruni says fervent hostility has eroded the civility, common ground, and compromise necessary for our democracy to survive. His new book is "The Age of Grievance."

Humans and Octopuses Are More Alike Than You Think May 08, 2024

Ecologist David Scheel has been obsessed with octopuses for decades. What he's learned — and why it should matter to you — is the subject of his new book: "Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses."

"The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age" by Meg Jay May 07, 2024

Your twenties are the most challenging time of your life. Does it have to be that way?

"A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career, and Win at Life" by Farnoosh Torabi May 06, 2024

Life lessons from the creator of the popular finance podcast So Money.

"Passion Struck: Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life" by John Miles May 03, 2024

Inside of you resides an intentional life without limits. The time has come to awaken it.

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"The Power of Ethics: How to Make Good Choices in a Complicated World" by Susan Liautaud May 02, 2024

Today, a few big ideas from Susan Liautaud, who teaches cutting-edge ethics courses at Stanford University.

"How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex: An Unexpected History" by Samantha Cole May 01, 2024

"How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex." The title says it all, doesn't it? Author Samantha Cole stops by to tell us why we have sex to thank for the internet we know and love.

"The Stoic Mindset: Living the Ten Principles of Stoicism" by Mark Tuitert Apr 30, 2024

"As a top athlete," says today's guest, Mark Tuitert, "you can easily be blinded by the goal: winning." Mark would know. He won the gold medal in speed skating in the 1500-meter event at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. When he woke up the next day, however, a worrying thought shot through his head: Now what? What do I focus on now? To answer those questions, he turned to the ancient philosophy of Stoicism.

"The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain" by Joe Davis Apr 29, 2024

Today, Joe Davis, managing director and senior partner at the Boston Consulting Group, explains why gernosity is the key attribute of a modern leader.

"This Beauty: A Philosophy of Being Alive" by Nick Riggle Apr 26, 2024

You didn't choose to live this life, but you can still make it beautiful.

“Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jacobsen Apr 25, 2024

If you're living in a city in America right now, there's a nuclear weapon pointed directly at you.

"Catastrophe Ethics: How to Choose Well in a World of Tough Choices" by Travis Rieder Apr 24, 2024

Life is full of moral dilemmas. How do you know you're making the right calls?

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"Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer" by Steven Johnson Apr 23, 2024

Today, friend-of-the-pod Steven Johnson stops by to share a few big ideas from his recent book "Extra Life," which President Obama praised for offering readers "a useful reminder of the role of modern science in fundamentally transforming all of our lives."

• If you enjoy this episode, check out the audio essay we made with Steven. It's called "Immortality: A User's Guide"

"Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully" by Elaine Lin Hering Apr 22, 2024

Have you ever been afraid to speak up? You're not alone, says Elaine Lin Hering, a lecturer at Harvard Law School. But your silence has repercussions for you and those around you. Today, Elaine is here to help you summon the courage to say what's on your mind.

"Which Way Is North: A Creative Compass for Makers, Marketers, and Mystics" by Will Cady Apr 19, 2024

To close out the week, let's hear from Reddit's Global Brand Ambassador, Will Cady, who has a few surprising tips for unlocking your creativity.

• Don't miss our event with Scott Galloway on April 22nd in New York City. Tickets are going fast! Grab yours at nextbigideaclub.com/events and use the code PODCAST for 50% off

"The Ancient Art of Thinking For Yourself: The Power of Rhetoric in Polarized Times" by Robin Reames Apr 18, 2024

Robin Reames grew up in a fundamentalist Christian, white, and very conservative family in the Deep South. "Up until about my late adolescence and early adulthood," she says, "I more or less believed that the polarized view of the world that dominated my subculture was true. They are the bad guys. We are the good guys." But things changed when she went away to college and discovered rhetoric. That ancient art ultimately showed her how everything from disagreements with her parents to the polarized politics of our time — and even to the way that we think about truth itself — are propelled by the power of words. Robin, who is now a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, joins us today to share a few key insights from her new book, "The Ancient Art of Thinking For Yourself."

"The Return of Great Powers: Russia, China, and the Next World War" by Jim Sciutto Apr 17, 2024

In this episode, CNN anchor and chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto warns that another world war could be looming.

• We're hosting a live event with Scott Galloway in New York City on April 22nd. Learn more and grab your ticket at nextbigideaclub.com/events

"Anxious Eaters: Why We Fall for Fad Diets" by Janet Chrzan & Kima Cargill Apr 16, 2024

Keto, Atkins, paleo, and Whole30 — it seems like fad diets are everywhere these days. How did they get so popular, and are they doomed to fail?

• Want to attend our live event with Scott Galloway on April 22? Learn more at nextbigideaclub.com/events/

"The Great Money Reset: Change Your Work, Change Your Wealth, Change Your Life" by Jill Schlesinger Apr 15, 2024

Today, indispensable financial advice from Jill Schlesinger, Emmy and Gracie Award winning business analyst for CBS News and author of "The Great Money Reset: Change Your Work, Change Your Wealth, Change Your Life."

"The Way Home: Discovering the Hero's Journey to Wholeness at Midlife" by Ben Katt Apr 12, 2024

Can Joseph Campbell’s "hero’s journey" help you find fulfillment?

"Our Biggest Fight" by Frank H. McCourt Jr. & Michael J. Casey Apr 11, 2024

Is the design of the internet to blame for our current crises of disinformation, mental illness, and hyper-partisan division?

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"The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality" by Amanda Montell Apr 10, 2024

Why does living in the so-called Information Age only seem to make life more confusing? Amanda Montell has some surprising answers.

"The Neuroscience of You: How Every Brain Is Different and How to Understand Yours" by Chantel Prat Apr 09, 2024

Today, a few brainy insights from neuroscientist Chantel Prat, author of "The Neuroscience of You," which our pal Adam Grant called her book "the smartest, clearest, and funniest book I've ever read about the brain."

"The Friction Project" by Huggy Rao and Robert Sutton Apr 08, 2024

How smart leaders make the right things easier and the wrong things harder.

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"Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships" by Scott Rick Apr 05, 2024

For the past few years, Scott Rick, a behavioral scientist at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, has been surveying couples, and he's reached a surprising conclusion: many tightwads are married to spendthrifts. Why does this happen? Why do penny pinchers fall for cash splashers? And if you find yourself in such a relationship, what can you do about it?

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"Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict" by William Ury Apr 04, 2024

William Ury wrote the world’s best-selling book on negotiation. Now he's here to help us navigate conflict.

"Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words" by Anne Curzan Apr 03, 2024

Linguist and professor Anne Curzan encourages us all to lighten up when it comes to grammar rules.

"The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight" by Andrew Leland Apr 02, 2024

As a teenager, Andrew Leland started to lose his sight. One day, in all likelihood, he will be blind. In his moving new memoir, "The Country of the Blind," he reckons with his soon-to-be blindness while also challenging us to think differently about our ablest world.

"Cultures of Growth" by Mary C. Murphy Apr 01, 2024

Carol Dweck’s "Mindset" transformed our view of individual potential. Now her protégé, Mary Murphy, is here to explain how mindset can transcend individuals and transform any group, team, or classroom.

"Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down" by Corey Keyes Mar 29, 2024

Do you ever feel kind of ... meh? Corey Keyes is here to help.

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"Women Money Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality" by Josie Cox Mar 28, 2024

Journalist Josie Cox stops by to share highlights from the story of women’s fight for financial freedom.

"The 100 Trillion Dollar Wealth Transfer: How the Handover from Boomers to Gen Z Will Revolutionize Capitalism" by Ken Costa Mar 27, 2024

Could Generation Z's focus on ethics, climate change, and purpose change capitalism forever?

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Is It Possible to Cheat Death? Mar 26, 2024

Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan walks us through the ongoing revolution in biology that could allow us to live for a very, very long time.

• Venki's new book is "Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality"

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How to Turn Anxiety Into Your Superpower Mar 25, 2024

Anxiety can be painful and embarrassing, even downright debilitating. But author and podcaster Morra Aarons-Mele says it's also a force that you can use to your advantage. She's here today to teach you how.

Morra's new book is "The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower." And be sure to check out her podcast, "The Anxious Achiever," which, like our show, is part of the LinkedIn Podcast Network.

"Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference" by Guy Kawasaki Mar 22, 2024

Guy Kawasaki has spent 40 years working with game-changing organizations like Apple, Google, Mercedes, and Canva. More recently, he's been chatting with luminaries like Steve Wozniak and Jane Goodall on his podcast, "Remarkable People." Today, he shares the six key insights — that's right, six! — he's learned along the way.

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"Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future" by Denise Hamilton Mar 21, 2024

It's not enough to be inclusive. Denise Hamilton, a nationally recognized workplace culture and DEI expert, says we should strive for a world that's indivisible.

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"The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories that Inform, Influence, and Inspire" by Karen Eber Mar 20, 2024

The ability to tell a good story is more than just a social skill. It’s a key element in good leadership, connection, and influence that can help you creatively and professionally as much as personally. Today, award-winning consultant and TED speaker Karen Eber has some practical tips for telling stories that resonate.

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"How Does That Make You Feel?: Everything You (N)ever Wanted to Know About Therapy" by Joshua Fletcher Mar 19, 2024

Today, Joshua Fletcher (a.k.a. Anxiety Josh) takes us on a tour of the inner mind of a therapist.

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"Slow Productivity" by Cal Newport Mar 18, 2024

Do fewer things. Work at a natural pace. Obsess over quality. Those are Cal Newport's three strategies for achieving "Slow Productivity." He's on the show today to tell us more.

"The Other Significant Others" by Rhaina Cohen Mar 15, 2024

Why do we assume romantic relationships are more important than friendships? Rhaina Cohen, award-winning producer and editor for NPR's Embedded, has a surprising pro-friendship answer in today's episode. Rhaina's new book is "The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center."

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How to Dismantle Gender Bias in the Workplace Mar 14, 2024

Today, we hear from Angelique Bellmer Krembs, global head of brand at BlackRock, about the micro-offenses women encounter in the workplace and what we can do to dismantle them.

• You can read the book bite for "You Should Smile More: How to Dismantle Gender Bias in the Workplace" here

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"Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness" by Nicholas Humphrey Mar 13, 2024

Today, join scientist Nicholas Humphrey on an epic quest to uncover the evolutionary history of consciousness.

A Celebrated ER Doctor's Guide to Better Listening Mar 12, 2024

In his new book, "Tornado of Life: A Doctor's Journey through Constraints and Creativity in the ER," physician and writer Jay Baruch explains how working in the emergency room made him a better listener and how what he's learned can help you, too.

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"Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman Mar 11, 2024

The average human lifespan is just over four thousand weeks. How will you spend your days? How should you spend your days? Journalist Oliver Burkeman has thoughts.

What Peggy Orenstein Learned About Life by Making the World's Ugliest Sweater Mar 08, 2024

In the early days of the Covid lockdown, many of us found ourselves taking up new hobbies, like playing guitar or baking bread. But Peggy Orenstein went a little further. A lifelong knitter, Peggy decided to try making a sweater from scratch. She taught herself to shear sheep, spin and dye yarn, and other skills. The surprising life lessons she learned are the subject of her new book, "Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World's Ugliest Sweater."

Why Hasn't America Put a Woman in the White House? Mar 07, 2024

What is it about American political culture that has kept women from the presidency for so long? NBC News correspondent Ali Vitale tackles this question in her book "Electable: Why America Hasn't Put a Woman in the White House … Yet."

"Her Space, Her Time: How Trailblazing Women Scientists Decoded the Hidden Universe" by Shohini Ghose Mar 06, 2024

You might have heard of Einstein and Newton and Galileo, but can you name the woman whose work led to the discovery of the Big Bang, or the woman who toppled one of the most fundamental laws of physics, or the woman who landed a probe on a comet. Women have contributed to every major discovery ever made in physics and astronomy. Shohini Ghose thinks it's time to rewrite our history books to tell the full story.

Why Do We Remember? Mar 05, 2024

Neuroscientist and psychologist Charan Ranganath reframes how we think about remembering and shares the tools we can use to hold on to the things we don't want to forget. Charan's new book, "Why We Remember," is out now.

"Learned Excellence: Mental Disciplines for Leading and Winning from the World's Top Performers" by Eric Potterat & Alan Eagle Mar 04, 2024

Today, learn how to perform at your very best from the psychologist who has advised elite military operators, Olympic medalists, big wave surfers, neurosurgeons, cliff divers, first responders, Cirque du Soleil acrobats, professional athletes and coaches, Fortune 500 business executives, and CIA analysts.

"The Life Brief: A Playbook for No-Regrets Living" by Bonnie Wan Mar 01, 2024

Ad exec Bonnie Wan shares her playbook for navigating life’s decisions, crossroads, and curveballs.

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"Of Greed and Glory: In Pursuit of Freedom for All" by Deborah G. Plant Feb 29, 2024

Historian Deborah Plant takes us on a personal exploration of America’s obsession with continuing human bondage.

Anyone Can Become a Supercommunicator — Even You Feb 28, 2024

Charles Duhigg, the bestselling author of "Power of Habit," is on the show today to explain what marital spats, NASA interviews, and gun rights debates can teach us about effective communication. His new book is "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection."

· Love the podcast and ready to go deeper? Come join us in the Next Big Idea Club, a community of lifelong learners led by acclaimed thinkers Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink. Learn more and sign up today at nextbigideaclub.com

"Digital Madness: How Social Media Is Driving Our Mental Health Crisis—and How to Restore Our Sanity" by Nicholas Kardaras Feb 27, 2024

We’ve become mad for our devices. Our devices are driving us mad.

Geeks of the World, Unite! Feb 26, 2024

Today, MIT's Andrew McAfee stops by to share a few key insights from his recent book "The Geek Way: The Radical Mindset that Drives Extraordinary Results."

How to Use Emotional Intelligence to Perform Your Best Feb 23, 2024

Happy Friday, friends! To close out the week, here are a few tips on how to have a great day, any day.

Guest: Daniel Goleman

Book: "Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day"

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"The Survivors of the Clotilda" by Hannah Durkin Feb 22, 2024

Today, the true story of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to land on American soil — more than half a century after a federal law banned the importation of captive Africans.

The Nuclear Threats of the 21st Century Feb 21, 2024

In an alarming new book "Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons," journalist Sarah Scoles explores the current state of the nuclear arms race.

Are You Addicted to Drama? This Will Help Feb 20, 2024

Today, clinical psychologist and mind-body expert Scott Lyons turns the notion of the drama queen on its head.

How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success Feb 19, 2024

Want to become the best at what you do? First, says Ron Friedman ("Decoding Greatness"), you must learn how to reverse engineer.

‘Humankind’ Makes the Case That We Are Wired for Happiness Feb 16, 2024

Humans, it turns out, are pretty decent. That's according to Dutch historian Rutger Bregman, whose book "Humankind: A Hopeful History" was praised by our very own Daniel Pink for making a "bold, sweeping argument" — one you'll hear pieces of today — "[that] will make you rethink what you believe about society, democracy, and human nature itself."

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How to Build a Just Economy Feb 15, 2024

Nick Romeo, a writer for The New Yorker, has spent the last several years covering the most compelling economic policies and ideas in Europe and America. He's here today to share what he's learned.

Make Your Relationships Great This Valentine's Day Feb 14, 2024

Today, we hear from Rick Hanson, senior fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, about his latest book, "Making Great Relationships: Simple Practices for Solving Conflicts, Building Connection, and Fostering Love."

Can One Therapy Session Transform Your Mental Health? Feb 13, 2024

In "Little Treatments, Big Effects," Harvard-trained psychologist Jessica Schleider explains how you can reboot your mental health in a single therapy session.

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Leadership Advice From One of Silicon Valley's First Female Black CEOs Feb 12, 2024

Shellye Archambeau was an executive at IBM, Blockbuster's president, and then MetricStream's CEO. She currently serves on the boards of Verizon and Nordstrom. Today, she shares five key insights from her book "Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms."

Why Life Gets Better With Age Feb 09, 2024

Today, five lessons, "Learning to Love Midlife," a blueprint for aging gracefully by Chip Conley, CEO of the Modern Elder Academy.

"Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum" by Antonia Hylton Feb 08, 2024

For her first book, Antonia Hylton, a Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist, unearthed the 93-year-old history of a segregated asylum in Maryland.

How the Moon Inspired Religion, Science, and Our Political System Feb 07, 2024

Rebecca Boyle stops by to discuss her new book, "Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are."

What Diabetes Tells Us About Medical Blindspots Feb 06, 2024

In "Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful Treatments," science journalist Gary Taubes argues that when it comes to treating diabetes, a disease that one in five Americans struggles with, we need to focus on diet—particularly, fewer carbohydrates and more fat — over a reliance on insulin

Want To Be a Great Leader? Try Cultivating a Co-Creation Mindset Feb 05, 2024

How did Apple overcome a culture of secrecy? How did Pixar out-innovate Disney? In their new book, "Brave Together," Chris Deaver and Ian Clawson say the answer lies in the power of co-creation, a mindset that fosters genuine collaboration.

"Goodbye, Perfect: How to Stop Pleasing, Proving, and Pushing for Others… and Live For Yourself" by Homaira Kabir Feb 02, 2024

Stop trying to be perfect. Try this instead.

"The Myth That Made Us How False Beliefs about Racism and Meritocracy Broke Our Economy (and How to Fix It)" by Jeff Fuhrer Feb 01, 2024

False narratives about post-racism and meritocracy have been used to condone egregious economic outcomes. What can we do to fix the system?

"Free Will: An Opinionated Guide" by Alfred R. Mele Jan 31, 2024

Last week, Stanford neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky came on the show to make the case that free will does not exist. Today, Alfred Mele, a professor of philosophy at Florida State University, is here to argue the opposite.

"Nobility in Small Things: A Surgeon's Path" by Craig Smith Jan 30, 2024

Craig Smith has been a heart surgeon for more than 40 years, and in that time he's saved the lives of ordinary patients and one former President of the United States. Today, he's on the show to reflect on his vocation and what it means to be a servant leader.

"Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication" by Vanessa Van Edwards Jan 29, 2024

Charisma. Some people have it, some people don’t. Or so we’ve been led to believe. But speaker, researcher, and bestselling author Vanessa Van Edwards says that to be charismatic, you just have to harness the power of cues. But wait. What are cues? Tune in to find out.

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"Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World" by Scott Shigeoka Jan 26, 2024

Curiosity may not seem like a skill, but it is. You can cultivate it. Scott Shigeoka will teach you how.

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"How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion" by David McRaney Jan 25, 2024

What does it take to open someone's mind? We asked David McRaney for his science-backed tips.

"The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society" by Mauro Guillén Jan 24, 2024

Increasing longevity and the explosion of technology are reshaping the world. What will it mean for your education, career, and life? Wharton professor Mauro Guillén has the answers.

"Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss" by Gina Moffa Jan 23, 2024

"The art of losing isn't hard to master," Elizabeth Bishop wrote in her poem "One Art." Psychotherapist Gina Moffa agrees. In her new book, "Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go," Gina offers an easy-to-follow map through the hinterlands of loss.

"All In: How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams" by Mike Michalowicz Jan 22, 2024

With the rise of hybrid work, intergeneration offices, and flexible schedules, it has never been harder to build a successful team. Leaders are bending over backward, searching for solutions that work. But nothing sticks. Today, bestselling author Mike Michalowicz shares his proven formula for building an unstoppable team in any workplace.

"The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning" by Meghan Sullivan & Paul Blaschko Jan 19, 2024

To close out the week, let's hear from two philosophers about what it means to be happy, good, and to live with purpose.

"Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings" by Steven G. Rogelberg Jan 18, 2024

Every day, in offices around the world, there are an estimated 200 million one-on-one meetings. In "Glad We Met," Steven Rogelberg asks: are all those 1:1s run as effectively as possible?

"Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will" by Robert Sapolsky Jan 17, 2024

Does free will exist? Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky says, "Hell no!" Which sounds scary, we know, but he's here today to explain why a world without free will might not actually be such a bad place.

"Beyond Longevity: A Proven Plan for Healing Faster, Feeling Better, and Thriving at Any Age" by Jason Prall Jan 16, 2024

We don't just want to live for a long time — we want to thrive as we age. Today, science writer and documentarian Jason Prall tells us how we can.

"Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism and What We Can Do to Fix It" by Adia Harvey Wingfield Jan 15, 2024

It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which has us thinking about the state of our nation — specifically, the state of diversity in our nation. It's a complicated subject, to be sure, so to help us think through it, we're joined by Adia Harvey Wingfield, a professor of sociology at Washington University, whose new book, "Gray Areas," examines why racial inequality persists in the workplace despite today's multi-billion-dollar diversity industry and what actions we can take to create an equitable, multiracial future.

"I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt" by Madeleine Dore Jan 12, 2024

Madeleine Dore went in search of the secret to productivity, only to find that there isn't one. Instead, we're being set up to fail. Today, she's here to encourage us to take productivity off its pedestal.

"On the Brink of Utopia: Reinventing Innovation to Solve the World's Largest Problems" by Thomas Ramge & Rafael Laguna de la Vera Jan 11, 2024

How innovative are our times really? Not very, according to Thomas Ramge and Rafael Laguna de la Vera. And they've got a point. Technology may have solved some fake problems ("one-click buying!"), but it hasn't done nearly enough to tackle big issues like climate change, cancer, dementia, or hunger. Today, Tomas and Rafael share their vision for a future in which we harness the forces of science and technology to solve real problems.

"Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream" by David Leonhardt Jan 10, 2024

You may know David Leonhardt from his wildly popular New York Times newsletter, "The Morning." What you may not know is that David is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has spent years trying to understand why the standard of living for many Americans seems to be eroding. His findings are the subject of a new book, "Ours Was the Shining Future," which The Atlantic named one of the best of the year. He joins us today to talk about it.

"Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection" by Jeremy Nobel Jan 09, 2024

Today, Dr. Jeremy Nobel unpacks our personal and national experiences of loneliness to discover its roots and to show how we can take steps to find comfort and connection.

"Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership" by Kirstin Ferguson Jan 08, 2024

Do you have what it takes to be a great leader? Find out by listening to Kirstin Ferguson, who joins us to share five indispensable leadership tips from her new book, "Head & Heart," which Adam Grant calls "a timely, actionable book on the virtues that every great leader needs to learn."

"Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure" by Maggie Jackson Jan 05, 2024

Today, author Maggie Jackson offers a guide to flourishing in times of flux and angst by harnessing the overlooked power of our uncertainty.

"What the Taliban Told Me" By Ian Fritz Jan 04, 2024

Have you ever met an airborne cryptologic linguist? No? Well, today's your lucky day. We're joined by Ian Fritz who has written a new memoir about coming-of-age in a war that is lost.

"Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World (in a Big Way)" by Roma Agrawal Jan 03, 2024

A structural engineer examines the basic building blocks of engineering that have shaped the modern world.

"Sweat: A History of Exercise" by Bill Hayes Jan 02, 2024

Exercise isn't just our modern obsession: the ancients were keen on it, too. That's according to award-winning journalist Bill Hayes, who joins us today to describe how our fanaticism for working out has evolved.

Best Of: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing (with Brad Stulberg) Jan 01, 2024

Change is not the exception, it’s the rule. Today, Brad Stulberg ("Master of Change") tells us how to deal with it.

Best Of: Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey Dec 29, 2023

You can get happier. And getting there will be the adventure of your lifetime. Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks shares a few tips on how to do it from his new book — co-written with the one and only Oprah Winfrey — "Build the Life You Want."

Best Of: Rainn Wilson ("The Office") on Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution Dec 28, 2023

Actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson ("The Office") explores the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for an increasingly challenging world.

Best Of: Shankar Vedantam on the Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain Dec 27, 2023

Today, Shankar Vedantam, host of "Hidden Brain," walks us through the surprising role of self-deception in human flourishing.

Best Of: How to Find Balance in the Age of Indulgence (with Anna Lembke) Dec 26, 2023

Today, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain — and what we can do about it.

Best Of: Amy Edmondson on the Science of Failing Well Dec 25, 2023

This week, we're looking back at some of our favorite episodes from the last year. Today, we'll hear from award-winning Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, who's going to transform your relationship with failure.

"Needy: How to Advocate for Your Needs and Claim Your Sovereignty" by Mara Glatzel Dec 22, 2023

To close out the week, we called up Mara Glatzel to share her unique approach to identifying, honoring, and advocating for the most tender and true parts of yourself that yearn to be acknowledged.

"How We Ended Racism: Realizing a New Possibility in One Generation" by Justin Michael Williams & Shelly Tygielski Dec 21, 2023

“It’s the year 2050… and racism has ended.” Could this really be our future?

"Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes" by Morgan Housel Dec 20, 2023

Today, we're joined by Morgan Housel, author of the mega-bestseller The Psychology of Money, who'll discuss his new book, Same as Ever.

"Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age" by Katherine May Dec 19, 2023

In this episode, the New York Times–bestselling author of Wintering invites us to rediscover the feelings of awe and wonder available to us all.

"The Phoenix Economy Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal" by Felix Salmon Dec 18, 2023

We are living in a strange world. Felix Salmon calls it “the New Not Normal.” Today, he explores the economic ramifications ofthe pandemic years, many of which are surprisinglypositive.

"Reasons Not to Worry: How to Be Stoic in Chaotic Times" by Brigid Delaney Dec 15, 2023

Can the ancient wisdom of the Stoics help you live a better life today?

"System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot" by Rob Reich, Mehran Sahami & Jeremy M. Weinstein Dec 14, 2023

Technology is rapidly reshaping our lives. And not always for the better. In this episode, three Stanford professors argue that if we want technology to advance human progress, we need to rein in big tech.

"Starstruck: A Memoir of Astrophysics and Finding Light in the Dark" by Sarafina El-Badry Nance Dec 13, 2023

Egyptian-American astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance shares how she boldly carved out a place in the field of astrophysics, grounding herself in a lifelong love of the stars to face life’s inevitable challenges and embrace the unknown.

"How Not to Age: The Scientific Approach to Getting Healthier as You Get Older" by Michael Greger Dec 12, 2023

Today, physician and New York Times bestselling author Michael Gregershares simple hacks you can use to stay healthy as you age.

"Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence" by Rich Horwath Dec 11, 2023

Over the past two decades, Rich Horwath has helped more than a quarter million leaders develop their strategic thinking and planning skills. Today, he's here to help you.

"How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book" by Liel Leibovitz Dec 08, 2023

Today, journalist and podcaster Liel Leibovitz explores how the Talmud — an ancient work of Jewish ethics, law, and tradition ― might actually be humanity’s first self-help book.

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"We, the Data Human Rights in the Digital Age" by Wendy H. Wong Dec 07, 2023

Today, Wendy Wong, a political scientist at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, stops by to tell us why we need to reboot rights in this data-intensive world.

"Fool Proof: How Fear of Playing the Sucker Shapes Our Selves and the Social Order—and What We Can Do About It" by Tess Wilkinson-Ryan Dec 06, 2023

The fear of playing the fool is a universal psychological phenomenon and an underappreciated driver of human behavior, says Tess Wilkinson-Ryan. She's on the show today to explain how to live with integrity in a sucker's world.

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"Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind" by Andy Dunn Dec 05, 2023

CW: This episode contains references to suicide.

In his 20s, Andy Dunn launched a DTC men’s fashion brand called Bonobos. Business was booming. But Dunn was haunted by a ghost: a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. A collision course was set in motion, threatening to unravel everything he’d built. Today, Andy joins us to talk about his harrowing experience and what it can teach all of us about the mental health stigmas.

"Awaken Your Genius: Escape Conformity, Ignite Creativity, and Become Extraordinary" by Ozan Varol Dec 04, 2023

Today, Ozan Varol, the acclaimed author of "Think Like a Rocket Scientist" shares five tools you can use to unlock your originality and unleash your unique talents.

"The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying about What People Think of You" by Michael Gervais Dec 01, 2023

Today, to close out the week, we'll hear psychologist Michael Gervais's groundbreaking guide for overcoming what may be the single greatest constrictor of human potential: our fear of people’s opinions.

"Apprentice Nation: How the 'Earn and Learn' Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America" by Ryan Craig Nov 30, 2023

College isn’t for everyone. Could high-value apprenticeships provide an alternative pathway to economic opportunity?

"Is Math Real?: How Simple Questions Lead Us to Mathematics’ Deepest Truths" by Eugenia Cheng Nov 29, 2023

Today, one of the world’s most creative mathematicians offers a new way to look at math.

"The Age-Proof Brain: New Strategies to Improve Memory, Protect Immunity, and Fight Off Dementia" by Marc Milstein Nov 28, 2023

"There are little things that we can do daily that lower our risk of dementia and Alzheimer's by anywhere from 30 to 60 percent," says Marc Milstein in today's episode.

"How Work Works: The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without Losing Yourself" by Michelle P. King Nov 27, 2023

In her two decades researching organizations, Michelle King has discovered that people who succeed possess a particularly unique skill: They know how workplaces work.

"How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times" by Chris Bailey Nov 24, 2023

To cap off the week, we'll hear from Chris Bailey, who offers up a guide to achieving calm, navigating anxiety, and staving off burnout.

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"Conflicted: How Productive Disagreements Lead to Better Outcomes" by Ian Leslie Nov 23, 2023

Ian Leslie, a columnist for the New Statesman, is here today to teach us how to transform the heat of conflict, disagreement, and argument into the light of insight, creativity, and connection.

"The Canceling of the American Mind: Cancel Culture Undermines Trust and Threatens Us All—But There Is a Solution" by Greg Lukianoff & Rikki Schlott Nov 22, 2023

Today, a deep dive into cancel culture, an account of its dangers to all Americans, and the much-needed antidote from the team that brought you "Coddling of the American Mind."

"Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us" by Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross Nov 21, 2023

Many of us mistakenly view the arts as mere entertainment. But today Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross show us how the arts and aesthetics can help us transform traditional medicine, build healthier communities, and mend an aching planet.

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"Quitting: A Life Strategy: The Myth of Perseverance—and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free" by Julia Keller Nov 20, 2023

We're often told to tough things out. But Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Julia Keller wanted to know: is grit all it's cracked up to be, or is it possible that sometimes quitting is actually a better life strategy?

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"Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World" by Jenn Granneman & Andre Sólo Nov 17, 2023

Do you pause before you speak and think before you act? Do you tune into subtle details and make connections that others miss? Well then you, my friend, might be a sensitive person. And according to today's guest, Andre Sólo, that's a good thing — because if you can learn to embrace your sensitivity, you can leverage it across the most important areas of your life: in friendships and relationships, the workplace, leadership, and parenting.

"Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens" by Rajiv Shah Nov 16, 2023

Today, Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation and former administrator of President Barack Obama’s United States Agency for International Development, shares his audacious strategy for achieving transformational change.

"The Experience Machine: How Our Minds Predict and Shape Reality" by Andy Clark Nov 15, 2023

Most of us believe that what we see is what’s really there. But new discoveries in neuroscience and psychology have turned this assumption upside down. What if rather than perceiving reality passively, your mind actively predicts it? That's what Andy Clark argues in today's episode.

"I'm So Effing Hungry: Why We Crave What We Crave — and What to Do About It" by Amy Shah Nov 14, 2023

Today, Dr. Amy Shah shares a science-based plan designed to help you take charge of your health and your cravings, without feeling deprived.

"The Deadline Effect: How to Work Like It's the Last Minute ― Before the Last Minute" by Christopher Cox Nov 13, 2023

As an editor at Harper's and GQ, Christopher Cox learned the power of a good deadline. Then he began to wonder: could he leverage that power in other parts of his life?

"The Power of Wonder: The Extraordinary Emotion That Will Change the Way You Live, Learn, and Lead" by Monica C. Parker Nov 10, 2023

We're capping off the week with an eye-opening journey through the magical, yet surprisingly little-understood, human emotion that is wonder led by Monica Parker, a consultant whose clients include blue-chip companies such as LinkedIn, Google, Prudential, and LEGO.

"The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World" by Max Fisher Nov 09, 2023

We all have a vague sense that social media is bad for us, but the truth, according to New York Times reporter Max Fisher, is that its reach and impact run far deeper than we have understood. He joins us today to explain how social media rewired our minds and what we can do to break free.

"Evolutionary Intelligence: How Technology Will Make Us Smarter" by W. Russell Neuman Nov 08, 2023

A surprising vision of how human intelligence will coevolve with digital technology and revolutionize how we think and behave from one of the founders of the MIT Media Lab.

"Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence" by Anna Lembke Nov 07, 2023

Today, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain — and what we can do about it.

"Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results" by Shane Parrish Nov 06, 2023

Few things will change your trajectory in life or business as much as learning to think clearly. Today, Shane Parrish, founder of Farnam Street and host of "The Knowledge Project" podcast, is here to teach you how.

"It's Not Me, It's You: Break the Blame Cycle. Relationship Better" by John Kim & Vanessa Bennett Nov 03, 2023

John Kim and Vanessa Bennett are marriage therapists. They are also partners. Today, they tell us how analyzing their own relationship helped them untangle the common barriers many individuals face on the road to a happy, loving, rewarding partnership.

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"Influence Is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen" by Zoe Chance Nov 02, 2023

Zoe Chance teaches the most popular class at the Yale School of Management. But you don't have to got to Yale to hear what she has to say, because she's with us today to share a few key insights from her book "Influence Is Your Superpower."

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"The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time" by Yascha Mounk Nov 01, 2023

Has a healthy appreciation for the culture and heritage of minority groups transformed into a counterproductive obsession with group identity in all its forms? The Atlantic's Yascha Mounk thinks so. He joins us today to explain how it happened and why he believes it threatens American democracy.

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"Your Life Depends On It: What You Can Do to Make Better Choices About Your Health" by Talya Miron-Shatz Oct 31, 2023

Today, a top expert on decision-making explains why it’s so hard to make good choices about your health — and what you (and your doctor) can do to make better ones.

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"Number Go Up: Inside Crypto's Wild Rise and Staggering Fall" by Zeke Faux Oct 30, 2023

Happy Monday! Today, Bloomberg reporter Zeke Faux is here to tell the story of the greatest financial mania the world has ever seen.

"Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It" by Jennifer Breheny Wallace Oct 27, 2023

Today, we hear from Jennifer Breheny Wallace, author of the definitive book on the rise of toxic achievement culture that is overtaking our kids' and parents' lives. She offers a new framework for fighting back.

• We'll be hosting a live event with Jennifer in New York City on November 1st. Click here to learn more.

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"The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves" by Alexandra Hudson Oct 26, 2023

Can civility help bridge our political divide?

"Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking" by Mehdi Hasan Oct 25, 2023

MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan isn’t one to avoid arguments. He relishes them as the lifeblood of democracy and the only surefire way to establish the truth. Arguments help us solve problems, uncover new ideas we might not have considered, and nudge our disagreements toward mutual understanding. A good argument, made in good faith, has intrinsic value ― and can also simply be fun. Whether you are making a presentation at work or debating current political issues with a friend, Mehdi Hasan will teach you how to sharpen your speaking skills to make the winning case.

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"Why We Forget and How To Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory" by Andrew E. Budson & Elizabeth A. Kensinger Oct 24, 2023

If memory is a simple thing, why does it so often go awry? Why is forgetting so common? How can you be certain about something you remember — and be wrong about it? Why is it so difficult to remember people's names? How can you study hard for an exam but not be able to recall the material on the test? Today,Dr. Andrew Budson and Dr. Elizabeth Kensinger address these questions and more, using their years of experience to guide readers into better memory.

"Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most" by Adam Alter Oct 23, 2023

Today, Adam Alter, author of "Anatomy of a Breakthrough," offers up a groundbreaking guide to breaking free from the thoughts, habits, jobs, relationships, and business models that are preventing you from achieving your full potential.

S37 E5: "Choose Your Story, Change Your Life: Silence Your Inner Critic and Rewrite Your Life from the Inside Out" by Kindra Hall Oct 20, 2023

The things we tell ourselves affect how well or poorly our path in life goes. Today, we're going to flip the script on the internal stories you tell yourself so you can live life on your terms.

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S37 E4: "The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma" by Mustafa Suleyman Oct 19, 2023

Today we dig into the unprecedented risks that AI and other fast-developing technologies pose to global order, and how we might contain them while we have the chance.

S37 E3: "A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload" by Cal Newport Oct 18, 2023

Today, New York Timesbestselling author Cal Newport offers a bold vision for liberating workers from the tyranny of the inbox — and unleashing a new era of productivity.

S37 E2: "Rethinking Intelligence: A Radical New Understanding of Our Human Potential" by Rina Bliss Oct 17, 2023

In this episode, Rina Bliss, a genetics expert and professor challenges our understanding of intelligence, explaining what it truly means to be “smart,” why conventional assessments are misleading, and what everyone can do to optimize their potential.

S37 E1: "Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You" by Brad Stulberg Oct 16, 2023

Change is not the exception, it’s the rule. Today, Brad Stulberg tells us how to deal with it.

S36 E5: "Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing" by Pete Davis Oct 13, 2023

We are stuck in “Infinite Browsing Mode” — swiping through endless dating profiles without committing to a single partner, jumping from place to place searching for the next big thing, and refusing to make any decision that might close us off from an even better choice we imagine is just around the corner. This culture of restlessness and indecision, Pete Davis argues, is causing tension in the lives of young people today: We want to keep our options open, and yet we yearn for the purpose, community, and depth that can only come from making deep commitments. Today, he's here to teach us how to make it to the other side.

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S36 E4: "How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes: Science-Based Strategies for Better Parenting—From Tots to Teens" by Melinda Wenner Moyer Oct 12, 2023

As an award-winning science journalist, Melinda Wenner Moyer was regularly asked to investigate and address all kinds of parenting questions: how to potty train, when and whether to get vaccines, and how to help kids sleep through the night. But as Melinda's children grew, she found that one huge area was ignored in the realm of parenting advice: How do we make sure our kids don't grow up to be assholes?

S36 E3: "The World Behind the World: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Limits of Science" by Erik Hoel Oct 11, 2023

Today: a fascinating exploration into how the brain creates our conscious experiences — potentially revolutionizing neuroscience and the future of technology.

S36 E2: "The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life" by Sally Jenkins Oct 10, 2023

Sportswriter Sally Jenkins has spent 30 years observing, interviewing, and analyzing elite coaches and playmakers, such as Bill Belichick, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, and more. In this episode, she shares the principles that lead superstars to success — and how you can apply those principles to your life.

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S36 E1: "Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot" by Matt Abrahams Oct 09, 2023

Spend 13 minutes with us today and develop the life-changing ability to excel in spontaneous communication situations—from public speaking to interviewing to networking—with a few essential strategies courtesy of Matt Abrahams, a Stanford lecturer, coach, and host of the popular "Think Fast, Talk Smart" podcast.

S35 E2: "Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships" by Nedra Glover Tawwab Oct 06, 2023

Today, licensed therapist and bestselling relationship expert Nedra Glover Tawwab offers clear advice for identifying dysfunctional family patterns and choosing the best path to breaking the cycle and moving forward.

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S35 E4: "Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs – An Antidote for Short-Termism" by Ari Wallach Oct 05, 2023

Many of the problems we face today, from climate change to work anxiety, are the result of short-term thinking. But there is a solution. Futurist Ari Wallach offers a radical new way forward called “longpath,” a mantra and mindset to help us focus on the long view.

S35 E3: "Misbelief What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things" by Dan Ariely Oct 04, 2023

Social scientist Dan Ariely explores the behavior of misbelief that leads people to distrust accepted truths and embrace conspiracy theories.

S35 E2: "Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, and Shape Our Health" by Anupam B. Jena & Christopher Worsham Oct 03, 2023

In their groundbreaking book, "Random Acts of Medicine," Anupam Jena and Christopher Worsham reveal the hidden side of medicine and how unexpected — but predictable — events can profoundly affect our health.

S35 E1: "Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well" by Amy Edmondson Oct 02, 2023

Today, in just eight minutes, award-winning Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson is going to transform your relationship with failure.

S34 E5: "The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough" by Thomas Curran Sep 29, 2023

The pursuit of perfection can become a dangerous obsession that leads to burnout and depression — keeping us from achieving our goals. Today, Thomas Curran gives us tips for letting go so we can focus on what matters most.

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S34 E4: "The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together" by Heather McGhee Sep 28, 2023

Racism, says Heather McGhee in her award-winning book "The Sum of Us," is the common denominator of our most vexing public problems, the core dysfunction of our democracy, and constitutive of the spiritual and moral crises that grip us all. But how did this happen? And is there a way out?

S34 E3: "Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain" by Shankar Vedantam & Bill Mesler Sep 27, 2023

Today, Shankar Vedantam, host of "Hidden Brain," walks us through the surprising role of self-deception in human flourishing.

S34 E2: "Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life" by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas Sep 26, 2023

Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas teach the popular course "Humor: Serious Business" at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where they help some of the world’s most hard-driving, blazer-wearing business minds infuse more humor and levity into their work and lives. In "Humor, Seriously," they draw on findings by behavioral scientists, world-class comedians, and inspiring business leaders to reveal how humor works and—more importantly—how you can use more of it, better.

S34 E1: "Lead Like a Marine: Run Towards a Challenge, Assemble Your Fireteam, and Win Your Next Battle" by John Warren & John Thompson Sep 25, 2023

In 2006, John Warren and John Thompson led Marines into combat in the world’s most dangerous city: Ramadi, Iraq. In "Lead Like a Marine," Warren and Thompson lay out the simple, universal rules that helped them succeed, from valuing grit and potential over pedigree, to condensing large groups into resilient “fireteams,” to cross-training team members so that anyone can step up to the plate in a crisis.

S33 E5: "Build the Life You Want" by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey Sep 22, 2023

You can get happier. And getting there will be the adventure of your lifetime. Today, Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks shares a few tips on how to do it from his new book — co-written with the one and only Oprah Winfrey — "Build the Life You Want."

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S33 E4: "Our Tribal Future: How to Channel Our Foundational Human Instincts into a Force for Good" by David R. Samson Sep 21, 2023

Tribalism is one of the most complex and ancient evolutionary forces. But in our vast modern world, has this blessing become a curse?

S33 E3: "High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out" by Amanda Ripley Sep 20, 2023

In "High Conflict,"bestselling author and award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley investigates how good people get captured by high conflict—and how they break free.

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S33 E2: "Psych: The Story of the Human Mind" by Paul Bloom Sep 19, 2023

Today, Paul Bloom takes us on a brisk tour through modern psychology.

S33 E1: "Hidden Genius: The Secret Ways of Thinking That Power the World’s Most Successful People" by Polina Marinova Pompliano Sep 18, 2023

What distinguishes the great from the truly exceptional? After five years of writing The Profile, Polina Marinova Pompliano has studied thousands of successful and interesting people in the world and examined how they reason their way through problems, unleash their creativity, and perform under extreme pressure.

S32 E5: "No Ordinary Assignment: A Memoir" by Jane Ferguson Sep 15, 2023

Jane Ferguson has covered nearly every war front and humanitarian crisis of our time. Today, she shares career advice inspired by her bestselling memoir, "No Ordinary Assignment."

S32 E4: "Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution" by Rainn Wilson Sep 14, 2023

Actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson explores the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for an increasingly challenging world.

S32 E3: "Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know" by Adam Grant Sep 13, 2023

Today, our curator Adam Grant stops by to share the key takeaways from his #1 New York Times bestseller "Think Again."

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S32 E2: "Fit Nation The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession" by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela Sep 12, 2023

Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, a leading political and intellectual historian and a certified fitness instructor, explores the complex and far-reaching implications of how our contemporary exercise culture took shape.

S32 E1: "The Manager's Handbook: Five Simple Steps to Build a Team, Stay Focused, Make Better Decisions, and Crush Your Competition" by David Dodson Sep 11, 2023

Today, Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty member, serial entrepreneur, and investor David Dodson details the five skills every great manager needs to know if they want to get things done.

S31 E5: “Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning” by Tom Vanderbilt Sep 08, 2023

To write "Beginners," Tom Vanderbilt embarked on a yearlong quest of learning just for the sake of it. Along the way, he interviewed dozens of experts about the psychology and science behind the benefits of becoming an adult beginner. Today, he joins us to explain how anyone can get better at beginning again — and why it's worth it.

S31 E4: "On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy" By Lee McIntyre Sep 07, 2023

In "On Disinformation," Lee McIntyre shows how the war on facts began, and how ordinary citizens can fight back against the scourge of disinformation that is now threatening the very fabric of our society.

S31 E3: "Imaginable: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything―Even Things That Seem Impossible Today" by Jane McGonigal Sep 06, 2023

In "Imaginable," Jane McGonigal draws on the latest scientific research in psychology and neuroscience to show us how to train our minds to think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable.

S31 E2: "Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting" by Lisa Genova Sep 05, 2023

In "Remember," neuroscientist and novelist Lisa Genova delves into how memories are made and how we retrieve them.

S31 E1: "The Leap to Leader: How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership" by Adam Bryant Sep 04, 2023

The chasm separating managers from leaders is widening as the skills required to be an effective leader grow in number and complexity. But you're ambitious. You want to cross that chasm. And your organization needs you to cross it in order to join its bench of stars who will lead with empathy and humanity and ground the organization's strategies in a meaningful, mission-driven, and purposeful way. Today on the show Adam Bryant will teach you how to make that leap.

S30 E5: "A Pity Party Is Still a Party: A Feel-Good Guide to Feeling Bad" by Chelsea Harvey Garner Sep 01, 2023

Most of us try to avoid feeling sad, but therapist Chelsea Harvey Garner believes the future will be brighter if we learn to enjoy the unenjoyable and support each other when the vibes aren’t so good. Today, she tells us how to do it.

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S30 E4: "The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet" by Jeff Goodell Aug 31, 2023

In his new book, award-winning journalist Jeff Goodell explains how extreme heat will dramatically change the world as we know it.

S30 E3: "How to Think like a Philosopher: Twelve Key Principles for More Humane, Balanced, and Rational Thinking" by Julian Baggini Aug 30, 2023

In "How to Think like a Philosopher," Julian Baggini turns to eminent philosophers, past and present, to find practical solutions for today's most vexing questions.

S30 E2: "Why We Need to Be Wild: One Woman's Quest for Ancient Human Answers to 21st Century Problems" by Jessica Carew Kraft Aug 29, 2023

Jessica Carew Kraft, an urban wife and mom of two, was firmly rooted in the modern world, complete with a high-powered career in tech and the sneaking suspicion that her lifestyle was preventing her and her family from truly thriving. Determined to find a better way, Jessica quit her job and set out to learn about "rewilding" from people who reject the comforts and convenience of civilization by using ancient tools and skills to survive. Along the way, she learned how to turn sticks into fire, stones into axes, and bones into tools for harvesting wild food―and found an entire community walking the path back from our technology-focused, anxiety-ridden way of life to a simpler, more human experience.

S30 E1: "Gonzo Capitalism: How to Make Money in An Economy That Hates You" by Chris Guillebeau Aug 28, 2023

The traditional ways of earning a living are outdated, if not outright rigged. That’s why a growing number of enterprising individuals are instead turning to the growing ecosystem of decentralized, fast-moving virtual markets to pursue a host of previously unheard-of ways to pay the bills. Join New York Times bestselling author Chris Guillebeau on a fascinating tour of this brave new world where novelty is currency, and the creators are in control.

S29 E5: "A Minute to Think: Reclaim Creativity, Conquer Busyness, and Do Your Best Work" by Juliet Funt Aug 25, 2023

Today, Juliet Funt provides strategies you can use to regain control of days, liberate yourself from burnout and busy work, and reclaim creativity and focus—even when there's chaos all around you.

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S29 E4: "Thoreau's Axe: Distraction and Discipline in American Culture" (Caleb Smith) Aug 24, 2023

What can a 19th-century naturalist teach us about reclaiming our attention?

S29 E3: "Brainhacker: Master Memory, Focus, Emotions, and More to Unleash the Genius Within" by Dave Farrow Aug 23, 2023

Today, two-time Guinness World Record memory champ Dave Farrow shares practical tips you can use to “rewire” your brain and boost its power.

S29 E2: "Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most" by Cassie Holmes Aug 22, 2023

Our most precious resource isn’t money. It’s time. We are allotted just 24 hours a day, and we live in a culture that keeps us feeling “time poor.” Since we can’t add more hours to the day, how can we experience our lives as richer?

S29 E1: “Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again” by Johann Hari Aug 21, 2023

You may have noticed that the kind of focus we all need to get stuff done is harder and harder to come by. But fear not. To help you get back on track, we've called in some of the smartest writers we know to give us their take on the attention crisis and what we can do about it. All this week, we'll be hearing from them. First up is journalist Johann Hari. Johann is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, and he joins us today to share some key insights from his latest, "Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again."

Encore: Plan on Fridays (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 18, 2023

In the final installment of the master class based on her book “Tranquility by Tuesday,” productivity expert Laura Vanderkam says nailing your work-life balance comes down to how you use your Fridays.

Encore: Effortful Before Effortless (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 17, 2023

Do effortful fun before effortless fun. But what's the difference? Laura explains in today's mini masterclass.

Encore: Take One Night for Yourself (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 16, 2023

To renew your spirits, Laura says you need to take some time for yourself.

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Encore: Have One Big Adventure and One Little Adventure (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 15, 2023

You know what you need? An adventure. That's right. You don't have to wait until your next vacation. You can — and should — make it a habit to do surprising, novel things on the reg. And, yes, we know you're thinking: "How can I fit that in with everything else I have going on?" Don't worry. Laura Vanderkam has a simple solution for making adventures of all sizes part of your routine.

Encore: You Need a Bedtime (Laura Vanderkam) Aug 14, 2023

In "Tranquility by Tuesday," time management guru Laura Vanderkam shares tools you can use to finally make time for the activities you love. But before you can do that, you need to get a good night's sleep. Today, Laura explains how.

S28 E5: How To Say No To Pushy Askers (Vanessa Patrick) Aug 11, 2023

In the final installment of her interview, Vanessa Patrick ("The Power of Saying No") gives us tips for turning down the pushy people in our lives.

S28 E4: Use a Cost-Benefit Framework To Decipher the Asks That Come Your Way (Vanessa Patrick) Aug 10, 2023

Today: The difference between "pass the salt" and "bake your favorite lasagna" asks.

S28 E3: Master the Art of Empowered Refusal (Vanessa Patrick) Aug 09, 2023

In this episode, Vanessa Patrick shares a strategy for saying "no" inspired by one of the most famous people in the world, and one of the best at saying "no"—Oprah Winfrey.

S28 E2: Say “I Don’t,” Not “I Can’t" (Vanessa Patrick) Aug 08, 2023

Today, Vanessa explains how the super skill of "empowered refusal" can help you say "no" no in a way that is persuasive and does not elicit pushback from others.

S28 E1: Why Do You Say “Yes” When You Want to Say “No”? (Vanessa Patrick) Aug 07, 2023

Too often, we say "yes" to friends, bosses, and even strangers when what we really want to say is "absolutely not." Why do we do this? Vanessa Patrick, a marketing professor at the University of Houston, has spent years researching this question. The answer she's come up with could change your life.

S27 E5: “Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most” by Steven Johnson Aug 04, 2023

In the final installment of our week-long exploration into the art and science of decision-making, we hear from acclaimed science journalist Steven Johnson, who provides a step-by-step process for making life-altering decisions.

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S27 E4: “Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life’s Biggest Decisions” by Myra Strober & Abby Davisson Aug 03, 2023

Today, you'll how to make smart decisions about two vexing subjects: money and love.

• Myra Strober is a labor economist and Professor Emerita at Stanford University, where she founded the Stanford Center for Research on Women (now the Clayman Institute for Gender Research).

• Abby Davisson is a social innovation leader and career development expert, who served as president of Gap Foundation and co-founded the company's employee resource group for parents and caregivers.

S27 E3: "The Art of Clear Thinking: A Stealth Fighter Pilot's Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions" by Hasard Lee Aug 02, 2023

As a U.S. fighter pilot, Hasard Lee has had to make split-second decisions under extreme pressure. Now he's here to teach you how to do the same.

S27 E2: "The Elements of Choice: Why the Way We Decide Matters" by Eric Johnson Aug 01, 2023

Today, we're continuing our deep dive into decision-making with a few big ideas from Eric Johnson, director of the Center for Decision Sciences at Columbia Business School and author of "The Elements of Choice: Why the Way We Decide Matters."

S27 E1: “Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away” by Annie Duke Jul 31, 2023

Sometimes it seems that all we do in life is make decisions, and yet it’s a surprisingly difficult skill to master. How do you get good at deciding? To answer that question, we’re calling in the pros: Annie Duke, Eric Johnson, Hasard Lee, Abby Davisson, Myra Strober, and Steven Johnson. They’re ex-poker players, business school professors, fighter pilots, and science journalists — and together, they’re going to share a whole bunch of tools you can use to improve your decision-making capabilities.

First up is cognitive scientist turned poker player turned decision strategist Annie Duke to share a few key insights from her recent book “Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away.”

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S26 E5: Make Present-Day Sacrifices Feel Easier To Undertake (Hal Hershfield) Jul 28, 2023

For any trade-off between your current and future self, it's always the you of today who has to make the sacrifice. In his final appearance on the show, UCLA's Hal Hershfield offers a way around that problem.

S26 E4: Add Constraints to Your Future Behavior (Hal Hershfield) Jul 27, 2023

Today, Hal Hershfield ("Your Future Self") explains how you can make life better tomorrow by making grand plans now to ease your future life.

S26 E3: Make Your Future Self Seem Closer (Hal Hershfield) Jul 26, 2023

Does your future self seem kinda blurry? Try writing them a letter.

S26 E2: The Better You Know Your Future Self, the Better Your Long-Term Decisions Will Be (Hal Hershfield) Jul 25, 2023

It may sound strange, but if you can learn to treat your future self like someone you really care about, then you'll be more likely to make satisfying, rewarding, and ethical long-term decisions.

S26 E1: Your Future Self Is an Entirely Different Person (Hal Hershfield) Jul 24, 2023

Can vividly imagining your future self help you make better decisions? Hal Hershfield thinks so, and he’s got the research to prove it. Hal — who teaches at UCLA and has been called a “pioneering psychologist” by none other than our curator Adam Grant — is out with a new book called “Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today,” and he is here all week to help Michael, you, and future you achieve success.

S25 E5: Surf When You Can (Brett Crozier) Jul 21, 2023

In the final installment of his mini-masterclass, Brett Crozier shares advice for being a staunch defender of your personal time.

S25 E4: Play Small Ball (Brett Crozier) Jul 20, 2023

Today, retired Navy captain Brett Crozier ("Surf When You Can") explains why in order to achieve big success, you've first got to nail the little things.

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S25 E3: Focus on the Closest Alligator (Brett Crozier) Jul 19, 2023

Whether you're flying, captaining, or working, always focus on the alligator closest to the canoe.

S25 E2: Pull Like a Clydesdale (Brett Crozier) Jul 18, 2023

We are stronger when we work together. Literally.

S25 E1: Never Turn Down an Espresso (Brett Crozier) Jul 17, 2023

"Talk to me, Goose." Actually, this week we're saying, "Talk to me, Chopper." That was Brett Crozier's call sign when he served as a fighter pilot (and it's what his wife still calls him when she's irritated). Brett has a new book out called "Surf When You Can: Lessons in Life, Loyalty, and Leadership from a Maverick Navy Captain," which charts his journey from "Top Gun" wannabe to commanding officer of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. He joins Michael this week to share five lessons from his career that can help you improve your life-work balance.

S24 E5: "Friendship in the Age of Loneliness: An Optimist's Guide to Connection” by Adam Smiley Poswolsky Jul 14, 2023

We're wrapping up our collection of summery Book Bites with a few lessons from Smiley Poswolsky's "Friendship in the Age of Loneliness: An Optimist's Guide to Connection."

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S24 E4: “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life” by Dacher Keltner Jul 13, 2023

Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at UC Berkeley who helped Pixar make “Inside Out,” explores the history and science of awe.

S24 E3: "How to Prepare for Climate Change" by David Pogue Jul 12, 2023

When David Pogue (CBS Sunday Morning) realized that we are already living through the beginnings of climate chaos, he decided to write a book full of action plans for riding out every climate catastrophe that Mother Nature might throw at us.

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S24 E2: “Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—a Cool History of a Hot Commodity” by Amy Brady Jul 11, 2023

Ice ice baby! Today, journalist and historian Amy Brady shares the astonishing 200-year history of ice in America, from ice rinks to ice cream to modern-day miracles like cryotherapy breast-cancer treatments.

S24 E1: “Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs” by Jamie Loftus Jul 10, 2023

We're trying something different this week. Instead of hearing from one author, you'll hear from five. Together, they'll help you figure out how to have the perfect summer. Up first: comedian and podcaster Jamie Loftus shares a few tasty insights from her New York Times bestseller "Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs."

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S23 E5: The Prosperity Trap (Ben Ansell) Jul 07, 2023

What can the global response to climate change tell us about the health of modern democratic states?

• Ben Ansell is professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail”

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S23 E4: The Security Trap (Ben Ansell) Jul 06, 2023

Today, Ben explains why democracy and security are such uneasy bedfellows.

• Ben Ansell is professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail”

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S23 E3: The Solidarity Trap (Ben Ansell) Jul 05, 2023

Why is it so hard to create a sense of national unity and civic responsibility here in the Divided States of America?

• Ben Ansell is professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail”

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S23 E2: The Equality Trap (Ben Ansell) Jul 04, 2023

Why has the American political system failed to arrest accelerating inequality, and is there anything we can do about it?

• Ben Ansell is professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail”

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S23 E1: The Democracy Trap (Ben Ansell) Jul 03, 2023

As you may have noticed, modern democracies aren’t doing so hot. In country after country, income inequality soars while solidarity plummets. Resentment simmers while national unity cools. In places like the US and the UK, beacons of liberal democracy, words like “autocracy” and “anarchy” are thrown around with alarming regularity. Meanwhile, our ability to take action on existential threats like AI and climate change is stymied by sniping politicians who are obsessed with point-scoring and eerily disinclined to agree on a shared set of facts.

Given all this, it’s not unreasonable to wonder: Are we doomed?

This week, on the 247th anniversary of America’s birthday — and the dawn of the modern democratic experiment — we’ll get to the bottom of that unsettling question with Ben Ansell, professor of comparative democratic institutions at Oxford and author of “Why Politics Fail.”

S22 E5: Take the Scenic Route and Give Yourself Grace at the Finish Line (Shelby Stanger) Jun 30, 2023

In her final mini masterclass, Shelby warns you not to be so focused on reaching the finish line that you may miss the epic views along the way.

• Shelby Stanger is the host of REI’s “Wild Ideas Worth Living” podcast and the author of “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life”

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S22 E4: Use Humor to Deflate Fear (Shelby Stanger) Jun 29, 2023

When scaling a steep rock wall or surfing gnarly waves, it’s easy to let fear get the better of you, but today, Shelby explains how you can use humor to stay loose.

• Shelby Stanger is the host of REI’s “Wild Ideas Worth Living” podcast and the author of “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life”

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S22 E3: Map Your Trail, but Start as Soon as You Can (Shelby Stanger) Jun 28, 2023

Before you embark on a wild adventure, you obviously need to do some planning. But don’t go overboard. Give yourself a deadline, and get to work.

• Shelby Stanger is the host of REI’s “Wild Ideas Worth Living” podcast and the author of “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life”

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S22 E2: Have a Strong Why (Shelby Stanger) Jun 27, 2023

If you have a strong why for pursuing a wild adventure, you’re more likely to find a way to get it done.

• Shelby Stanger is the host of REI’s “Wild Ideas Worth Living” podcast and the author of “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life”

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S22 E1: A Little Adventure Can Go a Long Way (Shelby Stanger) Jun 26, 2023

Where are you listening to this podcast? In your car? At your desk? Puttering around your house? If Shelby Stanger had her druthers, you’d be listening in the great outdoors — maybe while hiking on a scenic trail, or pedaling down an open road, or sitting astride a surfboard (while wearing waterproof earbuds, of course).

Shelby is a journalist and adventurer: as a journalist, her work has appeared in Outside Magazine and on ESPN; as an adventurer, she’s surfed from Canada to Costa Rica and paddled remote stretches of the Amazon River. Her new book, “Will to Wild: Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life,” is a guide to getting out of your comfort zone and into the wild world.

S21 E5: We Mistake Information for Intimacy (Marcus Collins) Jun 23, 2023

Data, demographics — these things only take you so far. That's the final lesson Marcus Collins has to share with us. If you really want to get to know someone, he says, you've got to look past what they "do" and try to figure out who they "are."

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S21 E4: The World Is Culturally Constructed (Marcus Collins) Jun 22, 2023

"Meaning," says Marcus Collins ("For the Culture") in today's episode, "is culturally mediated based on how we see the world. Understanding how people make meaning will increase the likelihood of understanding who they are and how they navigate the world."

S21 E3: Our Approach to Market Segmentation Needs an Upgrade (Marcus Collins) Jun 21, 2023

Today, Marcus Collins ("For the Culture") says that if you want to understand someone, you can learn much more from their tribal communities than their demographics.

S21 E2: The Future of Brands Will Be Communal (Marcus Collins) Jun 20, 2023

Welcome back to our week-long masterclass with marketing magician Marcus Collins. He ran digital strategy for Beyoncé; teaches at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan; serves as chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy; and wrote a great book called "For the Culture." Today, he explains why he thinks the brands that'll succeed in the future will make consumers feel like they're part of a community.

S21 E1: There's No Greater Force Than Culture (Marcus Collins) Jun 19, 2023

This week: Marcus Collins, who teaches marketing at the University of Michigan's business school and serves as the chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy, shares five key insights from his book "For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be."

S20 E5: Diversify Your Identity Beyond Work (Simone Stolzoff) Jun 16, 2023

When we work all the time, it doesn’t just take our best hours; it often takes our best energy, too. In his final lesson, Simone Stolzoff (”The Good Enough Job”) implores us to step away from work and engage in active forms of leisure.

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S20 E4: Define What Good Enough Means to You (Simone Stolzoff) Jun 15, 2023

Your job isn't your soulmate. If it's good enough, then maybe that's good enough.

S20 E3: Be a Satisficer Not a Maximizer (Simone Stolzoff) Jun 14, 2023

Many of us have internalized the message that there’s one dream job for us and we shouldn’t stop until we find it. So we tweak our resumes and browse LinkedIn in the hopes of finding a role that helps us self-actualize. But first determining what matters and recognizing that we may already have it is a better recipe for happiness.

S20 E2: Value Time, Not Money (Simone Stolzoff) Jun 13, 2023

In today's episode, Simone Stolzoff ("The Good Enough Job") tells Michael that when you think about the role work plays in your life, "it's worth considering that valuing more free time over more money tends to be more fulfilling and lead to higher overall well-being."

S20 E1: How to Reclaim Life From Work (Simone Stolzoff) Jun 12, 2023

Do you live to work or work to live? Journalist Simone Stolzoff tackles that age-old question with renewed energy in his book "The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work." All this week, he'll be chatting with host Michael Kovnat about how work came to play such an outsized role in our lives and what would happen if we stopped chasing the dream gig, gave up the idea of having a calling, and instead tried to find jobs that were simply good enough.

S19 E5: You Only Know What You Make (Tiago Forte) Jun 09, 2023

Our time with Tiago Forte may be over, but hopefully your journey to building a second brain has only just begun. In his final lesson, Tiago explains how your second brain can motivate you to take action.

• Grab a copy of "Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential"

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S19 E4: Prune the Good to Surface the Great (Tiago Forte) Jun 08, 2023

Today, Tiago explains how mastering the art of subtraction can strengthen your creative output.

S19 E3: Diverge Before You Converge (Tiago Forte) Jun 07, 2023

Today’s lesson: “Before you shut off new sources of information and converge on an end result, take time to diverge. Expand your horizons, expose yourself to diverse influences, and collect anything that resonates with you.”

Tiago Forte is the author of “Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential.”

S19 E2: Think Small (Tiago Forte) Jun 06, 2023

Today, Tiago Forte, author of “Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential,” says that if you want to accomplish a big goal, you must first stockpile small building blocks.

P.S. Use the code DAILY to get 10% off any Next Big Idea Club membership at nextbigideaclub.com

S19 E1: Capture the Insights All Around You (Tiago Forte) Jun 05, 2023

Do you ever struggle to keep track of all the information swirling around in your head? The idea you had for a new project at work; that stat you read in the paper this morning; the name of your sister’s boyfriend. Productivity expert Tiago Forte says you need a digital system to store all those thought bubbles. He thinks of it as a “second brain.” And this week on the show, he’ll teach you how to build one.

S18 E5: Optimize Your Regrets (Daniel Pink) Jun 02, 2023

Anticipating regrets can often work to our advantage. It slows our thinking. It taps our cerebral breaks, allowing us time to gather additional information and to reflect before we decide what to do. But it should come with a warning label.

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• Sign up for our newsletter where Michael shares his reflections every Friday (that's today!)

S18 E4: Science Offers a Systematic Way To Deal With Our Regrets (Daniel Pink) Jun 01, 2023

So, what can we do to turn our existing regrets into engines of progress? Science suggests a three-step process.

S18 E3: To Understand What People Regret, Look Beneath the Surface (Daniel Pink) May 31, 2023

After analyzing thousands of regrets from people in more than 100 countries, Daniel Pink (”The Power of Regret”) has identified the four core regrets that haunt us most. Today, he explains what they are and how understanding these categories can help you make better decisions in the future.

S18 E2: Done Right, Regret Makes Us Better (Daniel Pink) May 30, 2023

Regret makes us feel worse, but it can make us do better. Indeed, the way it makes us do better is by making us feel worse.

S18 E1: Regret Is Universal (Daniel Pink) May 29, 2023

It’s popular to claim you have no regrets. Popular, but perilous. Because regrets aren’t anything to be ashamed of — on the contrary, they’re an integral part of being human. When you deny their existence, you deny yourself the opportunity to look back on your missteps so you can chart a better path forward.

This week on the show: Next Big Idea Club curator Daniel Pink shares five key insights from his latest bestseller, “The Power of Regret.” In these episodes, you’ll learn how to use your regrets to make better decisions, improve your performance at work, and bring more meaning into your life.

S17 E5: We Find Ourselves Through Connecting With Others (Sharon Salzberg) May 26, 2023

Today, meditation expert Sharon Salzberg shares one final insight from her new book "Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom."

S17 E4: Cultivating Positive States Creates Resilience (Sharon Salzberg) May 25, 2023

Today, Sharon Salzberg tells us how practicing loving-kindness meditation can change how we treat others and understand ourselves.

S17 E3: Loving Presence Transforms Our Relationship With Painful Emotions (Sharon Salzberg) May 24, 2023

What if instead of demanding that a painful emotion disappear or becoming all consumed by it, you began to relate to your experience with spaciousness infused with kindness?

S17 E2: Happiness Isn’t Where You Thought It Would Be (Sharon Salzberg) May 23, 2023

Society’s prescriptions for freedom, happiness, and abundance may not be your own.

S17 E1: Contraction Limits Creativity and Connection (Sharon Salzberg) May 22, 2023

Sharon Salzberg has been meditating since 1971 — “since before it was cool,” she likes to say. That practice has inspired a series of books, most recently “Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom,” which is all about using the power of mindfulness to confront, and ultimately overcome, whatever obstacles stand in your way. Today, she tells Michael how to transcend “contraction.” What’s contraction? You’ll have to listen to this episode…

(Want the best books of the year — as chosen by Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink — delivered to your doorstep? Sign up for a Next Big Idea Club hardback subscription, and use the code DAILY for 10% off.)

S16 E5: The Most Durable Habits Are Elastic (Katy Milkman) May 19, 2023

All week, Wharton professor Katy Milkman has been giving us research-backed tips for making changes that stick. Now, in the final installment of her mini masterclass, she explains why the most durable habit is a flexible one.

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• Katy Milkman’s book is “How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.” Grab a copy today.

• A few years back, she spoke with Daniel Pink on our sister podcast, The Next Big Idea. You can listen to that conversation here.

• Speaking of Daniel Pink, did you know that every season he teams up with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, and Susan Cain to pick the two best new books and mail them to your front door? Sign up for a hardcover Next Big Idea Club membership today and get 10% off when you use the code IMMORTALITY at checkout!

S16 E4: You Might Want to Form an Advice Club (Katy Milkman) May 18, 2023

Struggling to achieve a goal? Form a club with people who have your back.

S16 E3: The Enjoyable Path Is Better Than the Effective One (Katy Milkman) May 17, 2023

How do you make change fun? By bundling an arduous task (exercising) with an enjoyable one (binge-watching lowbrow TV).

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Have you heard about our book boxes? Every quarter, we’ll send you the season’s two best books of the season as chosen by our curators, Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink. You’ll also get access to our app, VIP invitations to live events, and other member benefits. To subscribe, go to nextbigideaclub.com and use code IMMORTALITY for 10% off.

S16 E2: Use Fresh Starts to Kick-Start Change (Katy Milkman) May 16, 2023

New Year’s. Your birthday. The start of a new season. These are days when the slate is wiped clean. Which makes them perfect for establishing new habits, like going to the gym or writing in your diary. Today, Wharton professor Katy Milkman explains how you can use the “fresh start effect” to make changes big and small.

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Have you heard about our book boxes? Every quarter, we’ll send you the season’s two best books of the season, as chosen by our curators: Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink. You’ll also get access to our app, VIP invitations to live events, and other member benefits. To subscribe, go to nextbigideaclub.com and use code IMMORTALITY for 10% off.

S16 E1: To Make a Change, Plan a Tailored Attack (Katy Milkman) May 15, 2023

How do you get from where you are to where you want to be — from procrastinator to optimizer, couch potato to gym rat, night owl to worm-getting early bird? That's the question Wharton professor Katy Milkman set out to answer in her recent book "How to Change." Actually, she didn't just "set out" to answer it. She did answer it, and she's on the show this week to share science-based strategies you can use to make lasting changes in your life.

S15 E5: You Will Botch It (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz) May 12, 2023

Have you figured out how to live the good life? Don't worry if you're still working on it. It's only been a week. And you haven't even heard the final piece of advice from Matt Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz, professors at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture and authors of the new book "Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most."

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S15 E4: The Good Life Is Not a Buffet (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz) May 11, 2023

You can’t take bits and pieces of different philosophical traditions and put them together into a roadmap to the good life.

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• Have you downloaded our app? It’s loaded up with hundreds of book summaries written and read by the world’s leading authors. Check it out by going to nextbigideaclub.com/app

S15 E3: You Can’t Tackle the Big Question All at Once (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz) May 10, 2023

"What matters most in life?" There's a reason Matt and Ryan, theology professors at Yale and our guests this week, call it the Big Question. It's too big to answer all at once. You have to break it down. Today they're going to teach you how.

S15 E2: Lean Into Disagreement (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz) May 09, 2023

Today, we learn why the deepest question — the one that can truly change our lives, ground us, and give us direction — is not “What do I really want?” It’s “What is really worth wanting?”

(Have you checked out our newsletter? Every Friday, Michael looks back on the week's episodes and shares his key takeaways. Sign up now!)

S15 E1: Not Everything You Want Is Worth Wanting (Matt Croasmun & Ryan McAnnally-Linz) May 08, 2023

This week: Matt Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz, professors at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, share key insights from their New York Times bestselling book "Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most."

S14 E5: All Behavior Is Functional (Britt Frank) May 05, 2023

Even your suboptimal behaviors have a function. Understanding what they are can help you make a change.

S14 E4: There Is No Such Thing as Self-Sabotage (Britt Frank) May 04, 2023

You say self-sabotage, your brain says self-protection. In today's master class, Britt Frank explains how your brain tries to keep you safe by shooting you in the foot.

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• Have you checked out our newsletter? Every Friday, Michael looks back on the week's episodes and shares his key takeaways. Sign up now!

S14 E3: Mental Health Is a Physical Process (Britt Frank) May 03, 2023

This week we’re getting unstuck. We’re passing Go. We’re collecting $200. We’re finding a way forward. How? By utilizing the neuroscience-based tools psychotherapist Britt Frank shares in her new book, “The Science of Stuck.” Today, she explains why it’s so empowering to realize that mental health is a physical process.

S14 E2: Motivation Is Not a Mindset Issue (Britt Frank) May 02, 2023

In our brains, there is no such thing as a true “lack of motivation.” But how can we harness this biological fact to get off the couch and get more done?

S14 E1: We Need Anxiety (Britt Frank) May 01, 2023

This week on The Next Big Idea Daily: psychotherapist Britt Frank shares five key insights from her book "The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward." Today, Britt explains why you should treat anxiety like a check engine light.

• Download the Next Big Idea app to hear hundreds of audio summaries of the best new books

S13 E5: Plan on Fridays (Laura Vanderkam) Apr 28, 2023

In the final installment of the master class based on her book “Tranquility by Tuesday,” productivity expert Laura Vanderkam says nailing your work-life balance comes down to how you use your Fridays.

S13 E4: Effortful Before Effortless (Laura Vanderkam) Apr 27, 2023

Do effortful fun before effortless fun. But what's the difference? Laura explains in today's mini master class.

S13 E3: Take One Night for Yourself (Laura Vanderkam) Apr 26, 2023

To renew your spirits, Laura says you need to take some time for yourself.

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Download the Next Big Idea app and listen to hundreds of the world's bestselling authors summarize their books in just 12 minutes.

S13 E2: Have One Big Adventure and One Little Adventure (Laura Vanderkam) Apr 25, 2023

You know what you need? An adventure. That's right. You don't have to wait until your next vacation. You can — and should — make it a habit to do surprising, novel things on the reg. And, yes, we know you're thinking: "How can I fit that in with everything else I have going on?" Don't worry. Laura Vanderkam has a simple solution for making adventures of all sizes part of your routine.

S13 E1: You Need a Bedtime (Laura Vanderkam) Apr 24, 2023

In "Tranquility by Tuesday," time management guru Laura Vanderkam shares tools you can use to finally make time for the activities you love. But before you can do that, you need to get a good night's sleep. Today, Laura explains how.

S12 E5: Build Bridges — and Keep Them Up (Mónica Guzmán) Apr 21, 2023

All good things must come to an end. It's our last day with Mónica Guzmán, journalist, political de-polarizer, and author of "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times." This week, she's been our anti-debate coach, teaching us how to have tough talks about thorny topics that don't end in fisticuffs. In her final chat with Michael, she says that once you've built a bridge that connects you to someone on the other side of the ideological divide, you should do everything you can not to burn it.

• Have you heard about The Next Big Idea app? It has hundreds of non-fiction book summaries (written and read by the authors themselves), dozens of e-courses (with folks like Dan Pink and Susan Cain), ad-free episodes of this show, and invitations to live author Q&As. Download it today!

S12 E4: Ask How, Not Why (Mónica Guzmán) Apr 20, 2023

What's the most powerful question you can ask in a politically charged conversation? "How did you come to believe that?"

S12 E3: We Don’t See With Our Eyes, But With Our Whole Lives (Mónica Guzmán) Apr 19, 2023

“The paths we walk to our views are rich and long,” Mónica Guzmán says in today’s episode, “and it is not very likely that one meme or mic drop point is going to change someone else’s mind.” So what will?

S12 E2: We Need To Get Curious About Each Other, With Each Other (Mónica Guzmán) Apr 18, 2023

“I don’t understand this person!” You know you’ve thought it. About the uncle or neighbor or co-worker whose worldview is diametrically opposed to your own. But what would happen if you checked your bewildered outrage and tried curiosity instead?

S12 E1: We’re So Divided, We’re Blinded (Mónica Guzmán) Apr 17, 2023

This week, award-winning journalist Mónica Guzmán stops by to teach us how to cross the political divide, find common ground, and learn from people whose worldviews radically differ from our own.

Mónica's new book is "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times."

(Have you checked out our app? It's loaded up with hundreds of book summaries read by the authors themselves. Download it here!)

S11 E5: Do the Obvious Things That Bring Happiness (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz) Apr 14, 2023

Alright, it's time to wrap up Seth Stephens-Davidowitz's five-part master class based on his book "Don't Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life." Today, Seth explains what the data says about finding happiness.

• Our newsletter comes out today. Sign up now!

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S11 E4: Increase Your Luck Surface Area (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz) Apr 13, 2023

Success depends less on getting lucky and more on using your luck well. In this episode, the fourth in Seth’s mini master class, he explains how to do it.

S11 E3: What the Data Says About Getting Rich (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz) Apr 12, 2023

You might assume that the wealthiest 1% of Americans are neurosurgeons, corporate attorneys, and hedge fund managers. In reality, they're more likely to own car dealerships or run beverage distribution companies. Today, Seth explains why that is.

S11 E2: The Secret to Raising Great Kids (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz) Apr 11, 2023

Good news for all you parents out there: the data says you can relax. But there’s still one parenting decision that matters. A lot. Want to know what it is? Tune in to today’s episode!

S11 E1: Focus On Psychological Traits When Dating (Seth Stephens-Davidowitz) Apr 10, 2023

Big data. Baseball managers use it to win pennants. Stockbrokers use it to beat the market. And now you can use it to get what you really want in life. That's according to a new book by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz called Don't Trust Your Gut.

When faced with difficult life decisions-like "Who should I marry?" and "How can I avoid screwing up my kids?"-we typically follow our intuition. The problem is that our intuition is often wrong. The smarter move, Seth says, is to comb through millions of data points to find statistically significant answers. But who has time for that, not to mention the technical know-how? Well, Seth does. And this week on the show, he'll share the answers he found, starting with the surprising traits you should look for when searching for your soulmate.

S10 E5: Hindsight Bias Is Powerful (David Myers) Apr 07, 2023

Today, we wrap up our week-long master class with David Myers with a discussion of hindsight bias and how it can help you be less hard on yourself.

Our newsletter comes out today! Sign up now.

S10 E4: Differences Seize Our Attention (David Myers) Apr 06, 2023

"Others notice us less than we imagine. This is liberating: A bad hair day hardly matters. Few will notice. Fewer will care. Of those, fewer still will remember."

S10 E3: We Often Fear the Wrong Things (David Myers) Apr 05, 2023

David says we worry about improbable horrors (like plane crashes) while ignoring greater risks (car smash-ups). Today, he explains how performing statistically sound risk assessments can calm our worried minds.

S10 E2: The Happy Power of Micro-Friendships (David Myers) Apr 04, 2023

We all know it's good for us to nurture our relationships with close friends and loved ones. Today, David explains why chatting up strangers is also important.

S10 E1: Our Expressions and Actions Are Self-Revealing (David Myers) Apr 03, 2023

All week long on The Next Big Idea Daily, Michael will be chatting with social psychologist David Myers about the wonder of human thought and action, and how you can use insights from the latest research in David's field to boost your mood, improve your decision-making, and more. Today, David shares his first big idea, and it's a counterintuitive one. It turns out that “much as when we observe others and infer their sentiments, so hearing ourselves talk clues us in to our own attitudes.”

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with the show. Sign up now!

S9 E5: Boxing, Dancing and Connecting (Adam Gopnik) Mar 31, 2023

In our final episode with Adam Gopnik, the award-winning New Yorker writer and author of "The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery" learns how to box, how to dance, and why there’s “no mastery in the absence of another.”

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S9 E4: Perfect Imperfection (Adam Gopnik) Mar 30, 2023

Today: Why mastery requires idiosyncrasy.

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S9 E3: Mastering the Art of Baking (Adam Gopnik) Mar 29, 2023

Adam Gopnik's first memory of mastery was watching his mother roll out strudel dough, so in midlife, he asked his mother — a linguistics professor by day, pastry maestro by night — to teach him how to bake.

S9 E2: Learning to Drive (Adam Gopnik) Mar 28, 2023

It's the second day of our week-long master class with Adam Gopnik, New Yorker staff writer and author of "The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery." Today, he explains how learning to drive at the tender age of 55 brought him closer to his father.

Have you subscribed to our newsletter yet? It comes out every Friday and features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S9 E1: The Grammar of Mastery (Adam Gopnik) Mar 27, 2023

A few years ago, Adam Gopnik, a longtime writer for The New Yorker and three-time winner of the National Magazine Award, started thinking about all the things he wasn't good at. He couldn't dance the foxtrot or bake a brioche. Well into his 50s, he still had no idea how to drive a car. To make matters worse, when he looked around, he saw people who could do these things — often with great skill. How, he wondered, did they do it? How do any of us get good at the things we're good at? And how do some of us become next-level masters? To answer those questions, Adam set out to master the skills he lacked, and he has written up the results in a profound little book called "The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery." All this week, he'll be sitting down with Michael to talk about how he did it and what he learned. First up: drawing.

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E5: The Language of Creativity (Jonah Berger) Mar 24, 2023

In the final installment of his mini master class, Jonah shares his formula for telling great stories.

The latest edition of our weekly newsletter comes out today. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, details on our next guest, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E4: Ask Questions (Jonah Berger) Mar 23, 2023

Does asking questions make you look smart? (Yes!)

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E3: The Language of Confidence (Jonah Berger) Mar 22, 2023

It’s what cult leaders, charlatans, and at least one former president have in common.

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to relevant Book Bites, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E2: When Nouns Are More Persuasive Than Verbs (Jonah Berger) Mar 21, 2023

Today, Jonah explains how adding one or two letters to the end of a word can propel you to success.

Our newsletter comes out every Friday. It features commentary from Michael, links to related content, previews of upcoming seasons, and ways to engage with us. Sign up now!

S8 E1: Words Tell Us Everything (Jonah Berger) Mar 20, 2023

Almost everything we do involves words.

"Words," says Wharton professor Jonah Berger, "are how we persuade, communicate, and connect. They're how executives lead, salespeople sell, and parents parent. Even our private thoughts depend on language."

But while we live in a world awash in words, we're strangely indifferent about which ones we use. We focus on the ideas we want to convey, not the best way to articulate them. And that, according to Jonah, is a big mistake because "subtle shifts in the words we use can have a big effect on our impact."

This week on the show, he'll teach you how to make those subtle shifts so you can become a better communicator, a better persuader, a better friend, and a more confident, effective person.

Jonah's new book is called "Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way."

S7 E5: Put Your Own Life Jacket on First (Jessi Hempel) Mar 17, 2023

In the final installment of Jessi’s five-part master class, she explains why setting boundaries is critical if you want to establish healthy relationships.

• Jessi Hempel is the author of “The Family Outing: A Memoir.” She also hosts the podcast “Hello Monday.”

• Have thoughts about this week’s episodes? Sign up for our LinkedIn newsletter and leave a post a comment!

• Don’t forget to download the Next Big Idea app

S7 E4: Show Up (Jessi Hempel) Mar 16, 2023

When it comes to the people closest to you, do you ever regret not showing up?

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• This is day four of our week-long master class with Jessi Hempel, author of "The Family Outing"

• Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes

• And download the Next Big Idea app to hear hundreds of authors summarize their books in 15 minutes or less

S7 E3: Center Other People’s Experiences (Jessi Hempel) Mar 15, 2023

What truths emerge when we imagine life as other people experience it?

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• This is day three of our week-long master class with Jessi Hempel, author of "The Family Outing"

• Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes

• And download the Next Big Idea app to hear hundreds of authors summarize their books in 15 minutes or less

S7 E2: When Someone Tells You Who They Are, Listen (Jessi Hempel) Mar 14, 2023

First, listen. Then try "Tell me more."

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• This is day two of our week-long master class with Jessi Hempel, author of "The Family Outing."

• Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

S7 E1: Memory Is Unreliable (Jessi Hempel) Mar 13, 2023

This week, Michael sits down with journalist and podcaster Jessi Hempel to discuss her new memoir, "The Family Outing," which tells the remarkable story of how every member of Jessi's immediate family came out — she and her father as gay, her sister as bisexual, her brother as transgender, and her mother as a survivor of a traumatic experience with an alleged serial killer. But "The Family Outing" is more than just a coming-out story: it's a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to live authentically. In this episode, Jessi and Michael discuss how the subjectivity of memory can be the source of deep empathy.

S6 E5: Small Actions Make a Big Difference (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson) Mar 10, 2023

It’s not enough for us to solve our money and love issues on an individual level. Enter the tempered radical.

S6 E4: When Communicating, Tread Lightly, Listen and Give Grace (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson) Mar 09, 2023

Don’t let poor communication ruin your next conversation about money and love. Instead, follow Myra and Abby’s tips.

Subscribe to our newsletter if you’d like to ask questions about this episode, give us feedback, or learn more about Money and Love.

S6 E3: The 5Cs Method (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson) Mar 08, 2023

In this episode, Myra and Abby share their five-step process for making good decisions. It goes like this:

CLARIFY what’s most important to you. COMMUNICATE with those most affected by your decision. Generate a broad range of CHOICES. CHECK IN with friends, family, and trusted resources. And explore your decision’s possible CONSEQUENCES.

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S6 E2: Money and Love Decisions Shouldn’t Be Made in Haste (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson) Mar 07, 2023

Ready, set … wait a sec. Today, Myra and Abby explain why slowing down is key to making good decisions.

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• Myra Strober is a professor emerita at Stanford University and the founding director of the Stanford Center for Research on Women (now the Clayman Institute for Gender Research). Abby Davisson served as president of Gap Foundation and co-founded the clothing company's employee resource group for parents and caregivers.

• Check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

• And to hear hundreds of authors share the best ideas from their books, download the Next Big Idea app!

S6 E1: Decisions About Money and Love Are Profoundly Intertwined (Myra Strober & Abby Davisson) Mar 06, 2023

Diet Coke and Mentos. Suede and water. Tupac and Biggie. Money and love. What do they all have in common? They don't play well together.

Especially that last dueling duo. We've all been taught to make money decisions with our heads and love decisions with our hearts. Mix them up and, well, kaboom. But a new book by Myra Strober and Abby Davisson says that's a bunch of nonsense. In "Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life's Biggest Decisions," they make the case that by acknowledging the inextricable link between finance and romance, we can learn to make better life decisions — decisions that utilize head and heart in a balanced, fulfilling way.

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GUESTS:

• Myra Strober is a professor emerita at Stanford University and the founding director of the Stanford Center for Research on Women (now the Clayman Institute for Gender Research)

• Abby Davisson served as president of Gap Foundation and co-founded the clothing company's employee resource group for parents and caregivers

RESOURCES:

• Check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

• Can't wait for tomorrow's episode? Download the Next Big Idea app and you can listen to all five of this week's episodes right now.

S5 E5: Give Yourself Permission to Pull Back (Gloria Mark) Mar 03, 2023

In the final installment of her master class, Gloria strikes an optimistic note. “We are not doomed to have short attention spans,” she says. “We can change our relationship with technology.” What might that new relationship look like? Tune in to find out.

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• Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

• And download the Next Big Idea app. Hundreds of authors are sharing the best ideas from their books!

S5 E4: You Can Develop Agency to Manage Your Attention (Gloria Mark) Mar 02, 2023

Before checking the news, imagine what your future self will be doing at 10 p.m. Will you be relaxing reading your favorite book or still working on that deadline?

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Gloria Mark is a professor at UC Irvine and the author of the new book “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity.”

Be sure to check out our newsletter where Michael takes listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

S5 E3: Stop Interrupting Yourself (Gloria Mark) Mar 01, 2023

We are as likely to interrupt ourselves as to be interrupted by others. What can we do about it? Gloria has the answer in today’s episode.

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Gloria Mark is a professor at UC Irvine and the author of the new book “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity.”

Be sure to check out our newsletter where we take listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

S5 E2: There Are Different Types of Attention (Gloria Mark) Feb 28, 2023

Today, Gloria explains how you can use rote activities — like solving a puzzle or weeding your garden — to replenish your attentional reservoirs.

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Gloria Mark is a professor at UC Irvine and the author of the new book “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity.”

Be sure to check out our newsletter where Michael takes listeners behind the scenes of these episodes.

S5 E1: Use Your Attentional Resources Wisely (Gloria Mark) Feb 27, 2023

Picture this. You sit down to read a book. You know the one — the book all your friends have raved about. So, okay, you read the first sentence. Maybe you make it to the end of the paragraph. But the next thing you know, your hand, as if possessed, reaches for your phone and calls up Twitter or Instagram or the New York Times, and you let the book drop to the floor before you've even finished the first page.

Why does that happen? Why does your attention feel less like a steadily trained spotlight and more like a frantically blinking strobe? And will you ever find a way to get your focus back?

"Yes!" says author and UC Irvine professor Gloria Mark. And lucky for you, she'll be here all week to explain why your attention wandered off and what you can do to get it back.

Gloria's new book is "Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity."

S4 E5: Invest in the Long Tail of Time Management (Greg McKeown) Feb 24, 2023

In the final installment of his master class, Greg McKeown shares the three questions he asks to make life easier:

1️⃣ What is a problem that irritates me repeatedly?

2️⃣ What is the total cost of managing that over several years?

3️⃣ What is the next step I can take immediately, for a few minutes, to move towards solving it?

Tune in to learn how to apply this at work and in life.

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• Check out Greg’s book “Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most”

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S4 E4: Find Your Effortless Pace (Greg McKeown) Feb 23, 2023

You need to establish upper and lower bounds. “Okay, but what does that mean?” Listen to find out.

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Greg McKeown is the author of “Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most.” He’ll be here all week to share key insights from the book. If you can’t wait until tomorrow to hear the next episode, you can get early access by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S4 E3: Use Effortless Inversion (Greg McKeown) Feb 22, 2023

What happens when you stop assuming the answer to every problem is to work harder and instead ask, “What if this could be easy?” That’s effortless inversion. Today, Greg explains how you can use it to tackle problems big and small.

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Greg McKeown is the author of “Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most.” He’ll be here all week to share key insights from the book. If you can’t wait until tomorrow to hear the next episode, you can get early access by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S4 E2: Make a ‘Done for the Day’ List (Greg McKeown) Feb 21, 2023

Forget your never-ending to-do list. Greg says you need a “done for the day” list, a rundown of tasks you can actually accomplish and that will leave you feeling satisfied.

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Greg McKeown is the author of “Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most.” He’ll be with us all week to share key insights from the book. If you can’t wait until tomorrow to hear the next episode, you can get early access by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S4 E1: There Are Two Paths to Getting Results (Greg McKeown) Feb 20, 2023

If you want to accomplish great things, you must work relentlessly, right? Not so, says author and leadership strategist Greg McKeown. In his latest book, "Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most," Greg makes the counterintuitive argument that by working less, you can accomplish more. You just have to learn how to ask the right questions and use the right tools. All this week, he'll show you how.

S3 E5: It’s Never Too Late to Improve Your Connections (Marc Schulz) Feb 17, 2023

In our final episode with Marc, he says you’re never too old to forge new relationships.

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• Marc Schulz is the co-author of “The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.”

• Sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn.

• Listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S3 E4: Your Attention Is Your Most Precious Resource (Marc Schulz) Feb 16, 2023

Americans spend 11 hours a day interacting with media. From the age of 40 to the age of 80, that adds up to 18 years of waking life. What would happen if we put down our phones, turned off our TVs, and tried talking to each other?

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• Come back tomorrow for the final installment of our micro master class with Marc Schulz, co-author of “The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.

• Sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn.

• Listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors by downloading the Next Big Idea app.

S3 E3: Challenges Are Opportunities (Marc Schulz) Feb 15, 2023

Relationships may be good for your well-being, but that doesn't mean they're always easy. In this episode, Marc shares what 85 years of research have revealed about how to overcome relationship challenges.

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Marc Schulz is a professor of psychology at Bryn Mawr College and the associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. He'll be with us all week, discussing his new book, "The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness."

To get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S3 E2: Assess Your Social Fitness (Marc Schulz) Feb 14, 2023

“We tend to think," says Marc Schulz, "that once we establish friendships and intimate relationships, they will take care of themselves. But like muscles, neglected relationships atrophy.” Today, Marc shares the fitness regimen to keep your relationships fit and trim.

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• Marc is a professor of psychology at Bryn Mawr College and the associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. He’ll be with us all week to discuss his new book, “The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.”

• To get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S3 E1: Relationships Keep Us Happier and Healthier (Marc Schulz) Feb 13, 2023

What makes for a good life? Over the last 85 years, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has attempted to answer that question. This week, one of the study's directors, Marc Schulz, joins us to share the surprising things they've found.

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To get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S2 E5: Acting on Our Ideas Is the Best of Who We Are (Becky Blades) Feb 10, 2023

We are not the sum of our missed opportunities or the unfinished projects we decide to call failures. We are the sum of our starts.

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Today concludes our week-long master class with Becky Blades based on her book “Start More Than You Can Finish,” which is available for purchase here.

To get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S2 E4: The Creative Process Is in Charge (Becky Blades) Feb 09, 2023

Today, Becky explains how to get more done by embracing a creative process based on iteration.

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Come back tomorrow for the final installment of Becky’s master class. If you’re looking for something to do in the meantime, join us on LinkedIn and download the Next Big Idea app.

S2 E3: The First Step Is a Swag Bag (Becky Blades) Feb 08, 2023

So you took Becky's advice. You imagined more, thought less, decided to decide, and acted fast. Now you're ready to get your swag bag. That's what Becky calls the mood-boosting chemicals that flood over us when we start an exciting new project.

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It's day three of our week-long master class with Becky about her new book, "Start More Than You Can Finish."

To get a behind-the-scenes look at this show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S2 E2: Starting Is a Skill and a Muscle (Becky Blades) Feb 07, 2023

You have an idea. Great! Now what? In today’s episode, Becky shares her four-part process for getting started.

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Becky Blades will be here all week sharing tips and tricks from her new book, “Start More Than You Can Finish,” which is available for purchase here.

To get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S2 E1: Not Finished Is Not Failure (Becky Blades) Feb 06, 2023

Doing is more important than being done. That’s the provocative argument at the heart of a new book by artist and entrepreneur Becky Blades, “Start More Than You Can Finish: A Creative Permission Slip to Unleash Your Best Ideas.” Becky says you’ll be amazed by what you can accomplish when you stop worrying about the finish and just get started.

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Becky will be here all week sharing insights from her book. Tune in tomorrow to learn how to strengthen your "startist" muscles.

Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter on LinkedIn where we share resources, start conversations, and take listeners behind the scenes of this show.

S1 E5: Experiment Relentlessly (Daniel Coyle) Feb 03, 2023

No one likes a know-it-all. Try becoming a learn-it-all instead.

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Today concludes our week-long master class with Daniel Coyle, based on his book “The Culture Playbook,” which is available for purchase here.

To get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S1 E4: Embrace Deep Fun (Daniel Coyle) Feb 02, 2023

Studies show groups that invest in deep fun are more profitable than those that don’t. But what exactly is deep fun? Daniel Coyle is here with the answer.

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It’s day four of our week-long master class with Dan about his new book, “The Culture Playbook.”

To get a behind-the-scenes look at this show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S1 E3: Use Corny Mantras (Daniel Coyle) Feb 01, 2023

Does your team, family, or friend group have a cheesy catchphrase? It should. Here’s why.

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Daniel Coyle is on the show all week sharing essential lessons from his latest book, “The Culture Playbook,” which is available for purchase here.

To get a behind-the-scenes look at this show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S1 E2: Share Your Fallibility (Daniel Coyle) Jan 31, 2023

What are the four most important words a leader can say? Tune in to find out.

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Daniel Coyle is on the show all week sharing essential lessons from his latest book, “The Culture Playbook,” which is available for purchase here.

To get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, sign up for our newsletter on LinkedIn. And to listen to hundreds of audio summaries written and read by leading nonfiction authors, download the Next Big Idea app.

S1 E1: Amplify Your Warmth (Daniel Coyle) Jan 30, 2023

If you've ever been part of a team, then you know the scale of your success often depends on the strength of your culture. The mistake many of us make, however, is assuming that strong cultures happen by accident. In reality, says Daniel Coyle, a journalist who has spent years studying the world's most effective groups — from the hitmakers at Pixar to the soldiers on SEAL Team Six — there are concrete steps you can take to foster connection, trust, and a shared sense of purpose.

All this week on "The Next Big Idea Daily," Dan will offer up a master class on building great cultures in the office, on Zoom, and around your family's dinner table.

Grab a copy of Dan's book "The Culture Playbook" here. And tune in tomorrow to learn how to foster psychological safety at work.

Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter on LinkedIn, where we're sharing resources, starting conversations, and taking listeners behind the scenes of this show.

Introducing: The Next Big Idea Daily Jan 25, 2023

Do your mornings ever feel a little uninspired? What if your cup of coffee came with a shot of insight? Or if walking your dog could include a hit of wisdom? Every day on “The Next Big Idea Daily,” you’ll get a quick master class in better, smarter living from thinkers like Adam Grant, Susan Cain, Daniel Pink, Greg McKeown, Kim Scott, and lots of others you may not have heard of but who have ideas that just might make your day a little brighter.

Follow “The Next Big Idea Daily” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Listen early and ad-free by downloading the Next Big Idea app. And when you’re ready to go deeper, join our community on LinkedIn, where we’ll be sharing resources, starting conversations, and helping one another live our best lives.

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