Sounds of the Cosmos with Kim Arcand
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice host a Cosmic Queries episode with visualization scientist Kim Arcand, who works on the Chandra X-ray Observatory, to explore how data sonification, 3D modeling, and other multimodal techniques reveal the high‑energy universe. They discuss Chandra's role among NASA's "great observatories", how X-ray data are converted into images and sounds, accessibility for blind and low‑vision communities, and specific phenomena such as black holes, pulsars, galaxy clusters, and Eta Carinae. Listener questions prompt conversations about color mapping, engineering tradeoffs in X‑ray telescope design, VR for astronaut training, deep fields, and Kim's book "Why Space Will Freak You Out."
Wicked's costume designer on how to tell stories with clothes | Paul Tazewell
Host Elise Hu introduces Oscar-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell, who explains how clothing functions as a subconscious storytelling language that shapes our perceptions of heroes, villains, and marginalized people. Drawing on his work in Hamilton, West Side Story, and Wicked, he shows how design choices around color, silhouette, and texture can reinforce or challenge cultural narratives about power, identity, and "wickedness." A brief Q&A touches on how costumes will continue to evolve in the sequel Wicked for Good and hints at his future work on Broadway and film.
How to stop AI from killing your critical thinking | Advait Sarkar
Researcher Advett Sarkar argues that current AI tools risk turning knowledge workers into passive validators, weakening creativity, critical thinking, memory, and metacognition. He proposes a different paradigm where AI is designed as a "tool for thought" that preserves material engagement, offers productive resistance, and scaffolds thinking. Using a prototype scenario, he shows how AI provocations, lenses, and structured outlining can help people work faster while actually thinking more deeply, and he closes with a call to prioritize human agency and cognitive flourishing in AI design.
I Did Nothing For 2 Weeks. It Made Me Better At Everything.
Two co-hosts catch up after one has a new baby and the other returns from his grandfather's funeral, leading into honest reflections on paternity leave, men's emotional experience with newborns, and how much time off is actually useful. They explore Aristotle's concept of flourishing, the value of leisure and dedicated thinking time, and how engineered rest and movement can produce creative breakthroughs, tying into one host's project to write concise "one-hour" books and the discipline required for deep work. The conversation then shifts to Paul Graham's framework for procrastination, the transformative power of a parent or grandparent instilling belief in a child, immigrant family stories, the modern scarcity of belonging versus information abundance, and a fast-growing group travel company that builds community and reduces loneliness.
#484 - Dan Houser: GTA, Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar, Absurd & Future of Gaming
Lex Fridman speaks with game writer and Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser about his creative process, influences, and the design of story-driven open world games like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Dan explains how films, literature, and war stories shaped his approach to world-building and character creation, including the tragic arcs of Niko Bellic, John Marston, and Arthur Morgan. He also discusses his new company Absurd Ventures, its universes such as A Better Paradise and American Caper, his views on AI and large language models, and reflects on mortality, family, and advice for young people.
Give yourself permission to be creative | Ethan Hawke (re-release)
Host Elise Hu introduces an archive TED talk from 2020 in which actor, writer, and director Ethan Hawke explores why giving yourself permission to be creative is essential. Hawke argues that creativity is not a luxury but a vital way humans make sense of love, loss, and meaning, sharing stories from his own life and family to illustrate how following what you love reveals who you are and connects you to others. He encourages listeners to embrace feeling foolish, follow their genuine interests, and express themselves as a way to heal and help their communities.
#831: Frank Miller, Comic Book Legend - Creative Process, The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, 300, and Much More
Tim Ferriss interviews legendary comics creator Frank Miller about his life, creative process, and the evolution of his work from Daredevil and Elektra to Ronin, Sin City, and The Dark Knight Returns. Miller discusses technical aspects of drawing and storytelling, his influences from European and Japanese comics, and his collaborations with figures like Neil Adams, Alan Moore, and Robert Rodriguez. He also reflects on professional failure, Hollywood adaptations, alcoholism and sobriety, and offers advice to aspiring cartoonists and storytellers.
How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steven Pressfield
Andrew Huberman interviews author Stephen Pressfield about his concept of resistance, the difference between amateurs and professionals, and the daily habits and mindsets that support sustained creative work. They discuss Pressfield's military and physical training background, his writing process and use of the "muse," his experiences with failure and delayed success, and broader topics such as calling, addiction, social media, mortality, competition, and life trade-offs in pursuing one's craft.
"Edgar Wright"
The hosts talk with filmmaker Edgar Wright about his lifelong obsession with movies, from sneaking into age-restricted screenings as a kid and making Super 8 and video projects, to creating the TV series "Spaced" and the films in the so‑called Cornetto trilogy. Wright discusses his visual and musical style, his early DIY feature "A Fistful of Fingers," long‑time collaborations with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and the development of "Baby Driver." He also breaks down his new adaptation of Stephen King's "The Running Man," his writing process, formative British comedy influences, and his core philosophy of making the films he himself would want to see.
Judd Apatow: Fear of Rejection Holding You Back? THIS Trick Will Silence the Inner Critic & Help You Feel Confident to Create
Jay Shetty interviews Judd Apatow about his life in comedy, from his early days as a teenage interviewer of stand‑up comics to creating influential films and television shows. Apatow describes learning to treat failure as part of the path to success, developing his voice as a writer and director, and navigating ego, rejection, and collaboration in Hollywood. He also talks about parenting, long‑term marriage, therapy, meditation, psychedelics, and the importance of kindness, mentorship, and doing work that feels meaningful rather than merely successful.
Brainstorming $100M Ideas with the $1B+ King of Brands
The hosts interview consumer brand entrepreneur Eric Ryan about how he repeatedly reinvents everyday product categories like soap, vitamins, and bandages into large, culturally resonant brands. Ryan explains his simple but disciplined model for spotting category white space, stealing inspiration from distant industries and geographies, and balancing familiarity with novelty, then applies that thinking in a live brainstorming session for new $100M+ brand ideas. He also discusses the challenges of execution, leadership, and funding, including a recent failed retail jewelry venture and his current shift toward incubating brands and investing via a new consumer fund.
Try It for 1 Week: 6 Small Ways to Bring Back the Happiness, Energy, and Fun
Mel Robbins talks about the growing sense that life is less fun, more curated, and weighed down by stress, and argues that fun is not a luxury but a necessity for mental and physical health. Drawing on research and personal stories, she explains how micro moments of joy and playfulness build resilience and combat burnout, anxiety, and numbness. She then offers six practical ways listeners can deliberately bring more happiness, energy, and fun back into their daily lives.
Exhausted From Being a People Pleaser? Use THIS 0-10 Rule to Say "No" Without Guilt
In this live conversation, Jay Shetty shares his journey from speaking to empty college rooms to building a leading wellness platform, emphasizing his mission of making wisdom go viral. He explains frameworks for reframing adversity, protecting energy while being of service, and setting boundaries using a personal 0-10 scale for what truly matters. The discussion also explores why audio feels uniquely intimate, how to use AI without losing human soul, what he learned from three years as a monk, and how marketers and creators can rekindle childlike creativity.
#2388 - Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie discusses his new memoir, using the writing process to look back at a life and career he usually only approaches with a "race car driver" focus on the road ahead. He reflects on surviving the brutal music industry, his formative years with the Commodores and Motown, mentorship from legends like Marvin Gaye and Berry Gordy, and how he gradually discovered his own creative voice and unique sound. Richie also talks about navigating extreme fame, the impact of organized crime and corporate consolidation on the music business, the tension between creatives and executives, and the importance of humor, resilience, and authenticity in both art and life.
This TED Talk is full of bad ideas | Gabe Whaley
Host Elise Hume introduces a TED Talk by artist and mischief maker Gabe Whaley, founder of the New York art collective Mischief, about the surprising power of pursuing ideas that initially seem bad or impractical. Whaley walks through several of Mischief's projects, including a microscopic handbag, a robot dog with a paintball gun, the viral Big Red Boots, an ATM that publicly ranks users by bank balance, novelty objects, and a car shared via 5,000 keys, to show how the real artwork often becomes the interactions and communities that form around these experiments. He closes by encouraging people to give themselves permission to explore ideas that make them uncomfortable because they can evolve into something unexpected and meaningful.
DAVID SENRA: Daniel Ek, Spotify
Host David Senra speaks with Spotify founder Daniel Ek about optimizing life for impact rather than happiness, arguing that deep, sustained happiness is a trailing indicator of meaningful impact. Ek traces his journey from early financial success and subsequent depression to building Spotify as a long-term mission, emphasizing self-knowledge, founder archetypes, trust, creativity, and energy management. The conversation explores how he learns from other founders, delegates product decisions, focuses on problem-solving, and thinks about quality, longevity, and what it means to truly "live."
He turned a broke team into a billion dollars
The hosts profile Jesse Cole and the Savannah Bananas, tracing how he transformed a struggling summer-league baseball operation into a massively in-demand entertainment phenomenon. They describe his decade of experiments with the Gastonia Grizzlies, the all‑in risk he and his wife took to launch the Savannah Bananas, and the fan‑first innovations that led to Banana Ball and a huge touring live show business. Along the way they draw parallels to MrBeast, Steve Jobs, Will Guidara, Dan Porter, Monster Jam, and Feld Entertainment to explore strategy, hospitality, showmanship, and building AI‑proof live experiences.
"Lionel Richie"
The hosts open with light banter about family, college move‑ins, and an infamous incident where Jason was photographed skipping an iPhone line before welcoming music legend Lionel Richie. Lionel shares stories from his upbringing in Tuskegee, Alabama, his early days with the Commodores, and how his nickname "Skeet" and lifelong friendships shaped his character. He dives into his intuitive songwriting process, the backstories of hits like "Hello," "Truly," and "Lady," the creation of "We Are the World," and reflects on kindness, gratitude, and surviving decades in the music business with his positivity intact.