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Explain It Like I’m Smart
Even the smartest people benefit from more context. These experts are here to provide just that.
Latest episode
The illusion of self and the illusion of free will, explained
“Many people get stuck in feeling responsible for their psychological state, and there's a way in which simply being with whatever uncomfortable emotions rather than believing that you are controlling them can be extremely beneficial for psychological wellbeing.”
11mins
“We've engineered a volatile world where Starbucks is completely unchanging from year to year, but democracies are collapsing and rivers are drying up.”
13mins
What can you do to support your health during menopause? “If exercise were a drug, that would be the one thing that we would be giving to everybody.”
11mins
“What happens if you incorporate an AI? It's now a legal person, and it can make decisions by itself. So you start having legal persons in the U.S., which are not human, and in many ways are more intelligent than us.”
7mins
The winners of the remote work boom? Utah, Arizona, and Maine. Here’s what the US’ post-pandemic migration looks like.
7mins
Have we evolved to understand multiple rejections on Bumble, or survive more than one ghosting from Tinder? Christine Emba explores the sociology of modern dating and how to make them more ethical.
9mins
Humans are among the most altruistic species that we’ve studied, due to our alloparental instincts – a trait we evolved into that allows us to care for offspring who are […]
7mins
“If given a chance, nature can rebound, and nature can rebound dramatically.” Biologist Sean B. Carroll discusses the resilience of nature and how humans can help it thrive. Humans litter, […]
8mins
What do aliens, apes, and orchestras all have in common? Professor Michael Spitzer explains how they each help us understand the origins of music.
9mins
From hunter-gatherers to the American Dream: This is how humanity’s definition of “work” has developed over time.
8mins
Eastern religion meets Western psychology: meet the Harvard professor who’s also a Zen priest as he explains how to relieve suffering using both faith and neuroscience.
12mins
There are a few theories as to why we’ve never found other intelligent life in our Universe. Physicist Brian Cox walks us through them.
8mins
Effective altruism isn’t just for the rich. Philosopher Peter Singer shares how we can all be better at doing “good.”
7mins
Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki explains why zero anxiety isn’t the goal.
11mins
The best orgasms come when you learn how to unlock a sexual “flow state.” Emily Nagoski, a sex educator, shares a meditation to help you get started.
7mins
Forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope explains how fraud runs rampant — even when businesses don’t intend it.
7mins
Science can’t stop aging, but it may be able to slow our epigenetic clocks.
5mins
Why do the worst people rise to power? University College London professor Brian Klaas responds.
5mins
Expert Louise Perry discusses the idea of sexual disenchantment, the commodification of sex, and the impact of the online porn industry on society.
8mins
Americans without friends have increased 400% in recent years. Here’s why.
5mins
The formula for rational thinking explained by Steven Pinker.