The Next Big Idea Daily

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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