Big Think

• You don’t need a 10-year plan. You need to experiment. | Anne-Laure Le Cunff

  “By not focusing on the outcome and instead designing a tiny experiment, what you can do is letting go of any definition of success, letting go of that binary results that you're looking for, and instead focusing something that makes you feel curious and that you want to explore.” What if the secret to a meaningful life isn’t a five-year plan—but a five-day experiment? Neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff argues that in a world obsessed with goals, clarity, and productivity, the real path to growth lies in something much smaller: curiosity-driven, low-stakes experiments. Instead of asking, “What’s my purpose?” she suggests asking, “What am I curious about, and what small step can I take today to explore it?” Chapters:- 00:00 Staring at the leaderboard 00:40 Finding your purpose 01:21 Cognitive overload 02:14 Linear vs experimental 03:29 Affective labeling 04:47 3 subconscious mindsets 06:48 Experimental mindset 09:04 Information vs knowledge 11:29 Cognitive scripts 13:35 “Finding your purpose” 15:39 Systemic barriers to experimentation 17:49 Self-anthropology ----------------------------- About Anne-Laure Le Cunff: Anne-Laure Le Cunff is an award-winning neuroscientist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Ness Labs, where her weekly newsletter is read by more than 100,000 curious minds. Her research at King’s College London focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of lifelong learning, curiosity, and adaptability. Her book, Tiny Experiments, is a transformative guide for living a more experimental life, turning uncertainty into curiosity, and carving a path of self-discovery. Previously, she worked at Google as an executive on digital health projects. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, Financial Times, WIRED, and more. ---------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Sam Harris: Experience emotions without being consumed by them

  "You can be aware of sadness from a point of view that is not merely sad, and you can be aware of fear from a point of view that's not merely afraid.” Can consciousness serve as a refuge from suffering? By examining the raw textures of difficult emotions like anger and sadness, Sam Harris explains how we can experience them without suffering, and how digging into awareness reveals a layer of openness below the mental state. Harris explains how meditation and direct attention can alleviate pain and liberate us from a prison of our emotions. 0:00 The condition of awareness 0:48 Reframing our mental state 2:22 The condition of consciousness 4:55 How does consciousness arise? 7:09 Meditation and consciousness 7:36 Thought vs physiology ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Sam Harris: Sam Harris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers, The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation. The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN Award for Nonfiction. Mr. Harris' writing has been published in over ten languages. He and his work have been discussed in Newsweek, TIME, The New York Times, Scientific American, Rolling Stone, and many other journals. His writing has appeared in Newsweek, The Los Angeles Times, The Times (London), The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, Nature, The Annals of Neurology, and elsewhere. Mr. Harris is a graduate in philosophy from Stanford University and holds a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA, where he studied the neural basis of belief with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). He is also a Co-Founder and CEO of Project Reason. ---------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Brian Cox: The quantum roots of reality | Full Interview

  “We don't have enough knowledge to precisely calculate what is going to happen, and so we assign probabilities to it, which reflects our ignorance of the situation.” What do snowflakes, glowing street lamps, and Einstein’s “crazy” idea have in common? Physicist Brian Cox unwinds the surprising origins of quantum mechanics—the theory that shattered classical physics and redefined our understanding of reality. From Kepler’s insight in a 17th-century snowstorm to Planck’s revolutionary leap in 1900, Cox traces how curiosity and confusion gave rise to the most baffling theory in science. 00:00:00 Part 1: The power of quantum mechanics 00:00:24 What are considered the earliest glimpses of quantum mechanics? 00:06:39 How did Einstein's work on the photoelectric effect impact science? 00:12:17 How does quantum physics conflict with classical theory? 00:17:11 What is the double-slit experiment? 00:26:25 Why is it important that we seek to solve the mysteries of quantum physics? 00:33:30 Part 2: The fundamental measurements of nature 00:45:15 What kinds of insights does the Planck scale reveal? 00:52:15 Where does our comprehension of scale break down? 01:01:30 Part 3: The frontiers of the future 01:10:21 How can humanity influence the universe? --------------------------- About Brian Cox: Brian Cox obtained a first class honors degree in physics from the University of Manchester in 1995 and in 1998 a Ph.D. In High Energy Particle Physics at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg. He is now Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society. Brian is widely recognized as the foremost communicator for all things scientific, having presented a number of highly acclaimed science programs for the BBC watched by billions internationally including ‘Adventures in Space and Time’ (2021), ‘Universe’ (2021), ‘The Planets’ (2018), ‘Forces of Nature’ (2016), ‘Human Universe’ (2014), ‘Wonders of Life’ (2012), ‘Wonders of the Universe’ (2011) and ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ (2010). As an author, Brian has also sold over a million books worldwide including ‘Black Holes’, ‘Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos’, ‘Quantum Universe’ and ‘Why Does E=mc2?’ with co-author Professor Jeffrey Forshaw. He has set several world records for his sell-out live tours, including his most recent tour Horizons which has taken in venues across the globe. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ---------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 3 predictions for the future of music | Michael Spitzer

  **🎵 The Future of Music: Diverse, Technological, and Beyond Sound** Will music survive the digital age? Absolutely — and not just survive, but evolve in ways we can barely imagine. Despite the internet’s overwhelming access and ease, music won't become a dull, uniform noise. Why? Because *every artist craves uniqueness*. There’s an innate drive to rebel against trends and innovate. Plus, music is deeply tied to **personal identity**, and with thousands of genres already in existence, this creative diversity isn’t going anywhere. Looking ahead, several bold predictions emerge: - **Music will become more functional**, like a prescription for your emotions. Imagine sounds tailored to treat anxiety or boost focus. - **Technology will empower everyone**, not just trained musicians. From home studios to AI tools, we’re reclaiming music’s communal roots — where everyone can create and participate. - Instruments like AI music programs (e.g., Watson Beat) aren't replacing humans — they're expanding our creative reach. Humans will still shape the final output. - **Future music may transcend sound entirely** — incorporating *taste, color, body sensations,* and frequencies beyond human hearing. Just as today’s music would astonish Mozart, tomorrow’s sonic landscape will likely be unimaginable to us. 🎧 In short: The future of music is deeply *human*, increasingly *technological*, and wildly *experimental*. We’re only just beginning to hear what’s possible. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ---------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Love, sex, and happiness, explained by philosophy | Jonny Thomson: Full Interview

  "Plato would argue that sex in and of itself is not what true love is. Sex can reach a point where you are in union with that person, where you see behind their appearances and you see behind the flesh and you experience something which is more transcendental." Chapters: 00:00 Why has the study of happiness become your focus? 02:30 Why is happiness elusive? 05:09 What are the 3 pillars of happiness? 13:15 How can we apply the 3 pillars of happiness to our lives? 16:08 What is true love? 19:08 Is there right and wrong? 20:45 How does someone become evil? 23:26 Why does money matter in our society? 25:23 How is philosophy applicable to each of us? About Jonny Thomson: Jonny Thomson taught philosophy in Oxford for more than a decade before turning to writing full-time. He’s a columnist at Big Think and is the award-winning, bestselling author of three books that have been translated into 22 languages. Jonny is also the founder of Mini Philosophy, a social network of over half a million curious, intelligent minds. He's known all over the world for making philosophy accessible, relatable, and fun. ---------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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