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Intimate interviews with the world's biggest thinkers.
Latest episode
Live with Big Think: Inside “The Opt-Out Nation”
Watch our first-ever members-only event — a livestreamed conversation about our summer special issue, The Opt-Out Nation.
21mins
"Asking the question of, where did the entire universe come from, is no longer a question for poets and theologians and philosophers. This is a question for scientists, and we have some amazing scientific answers to this question that have defied even the wildest of our expectations."
8mins
Many of us wake up each morning with something Oliver Burkeman calls “productivity debt.” The bestselling author and journalist explains this term as “a sense that you’ve got to work […]
22mins
"There is so much more uncertainty and volatility in a world that is moving fast with big countries that are more at odds with each other and with fewer rules of the road that leaders, companies, and societies are adhering to."
10mins
“If we're to be happy at all, it has to be found outside of this notion of pleasure. We have to step beyond hedonia. But the problem is that we risk going too far.”
8mins
“Self-awareness, it's the least visible part of emotional intelligence, but we find in our research that people low in self-awareness are unable to develop strengths very well in other parts of emotional intelligence.”
11mins
"Understanding more about monetary policy and the economic regime that you're living under can help ease some of the fundamental uncertainties [that have been] prevalent since COVID, and help you make better decisions in your day-to-day life."
10mins
"Is it possible that consciousness is a much more basic phenomenon in nature and is essentially pervading everything?"
9mins
"I think we need a truly open-ended conversation with 8 billion strangers, and what makes that hard to do increasingly is a level of political fragmentation and extremism and
partisanship born of our engagement with these new technologies."
1hr 15mins
“Why is it that the quality of our information did not improve over thousands of years? Why is it that very sophisticated societies have been as susceptible as stone age tribes to mass delusion and the rise of destructive ideologies?”
7mins
“When we face a problem, our natural tendency is to race ahead – but some friction is actually a good thing.”
7mins
“I'm often asked: “Are great strategic thinkers born, or are they made?” And my answer is always yes. Like so many human capabilities, it’s a mixture of nature, nurture and experience.”
6mins
“People will claim that something is rigorous because it's by an authority figure or it's written in a book. But anyone can write a book.”
8mins
Biological evolution in humans has slowed. Can AI, culture wars, and modern tech explain why?
8mins
Eric Siegel has been in the AI field since 1991. He’s “horrified” by the AI hype bubble, but not for the reason you think.
12mins
“You can find examples of really big environmental problems that we've already solved.” Climate change is solvable, argues Hannah Ritchie.
24mins
“It’s remarkable how weak the correlation between success and intelligence is.” Here’s what skills do matter, from 3 business experts.
6mins
“How is it possible to do work that you’re proud of and not feel like your job is encroaching on all parts of your life?” Cal Newport, Author of ‘Slow Productivity,’ explains.
10mins
“We control nothing but influence everything.” Political scientist Brian Klaas on how every decision we make - both massive and miniscule - shapes our futures.
10mins
Are humans naturally selfless? Psychologist Abigail Marsh is using studies on psychopathy and altruism to find out.
10mins
Dr. Jen Gunter debunks the most common myths about menstruation.