In this episode, we begin by talking about Ali’s theory for what makes for a good blog post or YouTube video before a tweet from none other than Agnes Callard about introverts sends us down a path debating introversion, extroversion and signalling. -------------------------------------- Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and computer science online. Brilliant focuses on helping you learn how to think, rather than just memor...
Mar 15, 2021•59 min•Ep. 99
In this episode, we talk about earnestness and sincerity when posting on social media. We discuss Ali’s decision to start writing online, why it feels different posting a blog post as opposed to publishing a YouTube video and how we each want to come across on Twitter. We also delve a little into Ali’s dating life and how we each deal with people reaching out to us. ------------------------------------------- Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at skil...
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 98
Hey everyone - a bit of an 'in-between'-isode this week. In this episode, Ali talks to Justin Kan a renowned internet entrepreneur, investor and founder and the co-founder of Twitch, the video game streaming platform. He's also helped found a number of other platforms including Socialcam, a mobile app for sharing video and is an active angel investor and mentor for many startups. They chat through a whole variety of things in this wide ranging discussion, we hope you enjoy it. We'll both be back...
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 97
In this episode, we break down our feelings over the outpouring of nice comments that viewers kindly left on YouTube on our last episode. We touch on the difference between pity, sympathy and ‘feeling sorry’ for someone. Taimur feels strongly about this, Ali less so. We explore these feelings. (Apologies for the slight issue with the audio). --------------------------------------------------- Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at skillshare.com/notove...
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 96
In this episode, we explore some emotional rollercoasters we've both been on - Ali with regards to his book and reading mean comments online, and Taimur with regards to his startup and their narrative journey. Links Kevin Kwok Blog Post Entrepreneur First -------------------------------------- Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and computer science online. Brilliant focuses on helping you learn how to think, rather than jus...
Feb 15, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 95
In this episode, we discuss The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt, which explores questions of morality. We take a look at the three principles about morality that form the basis of the book and why people have different understandings of right and wrong. We also briefly talk about Ali’s concerns and struggles with his YouTube channel. Links Shortform The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt ------------------------------------------------ Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by S...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 94
This week we talk about the phenomenon of 'social media grifting' - trying to build an audience online through deliberate tactics. Most people think it's cringe, but we try to figure out whether it's objectionable. We also workshop Ali's book proposal. Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at skillshare.com/notoverthinkingpod . Leave us a Review If you enjoy listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave us a review on iTunes / Apple Podcasts. Here...
Feb 01, 2021•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 93
In this episode, we talk about epistemic humility - acknowledging the limitations of our beliefs. Taimur has recently made an effort to be *less* "epistemically humble" when he talks about things, and we into why. -------------------------------------- Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and computer science online. Brilliant focuses on helping you learn how to think, rather than just memorising methods and facts. Sign up at...
Jan 25, 2021•58 min•Ep. 92
In this episode, we discuss Michael J Samuel's book the Tyranny of Merit, which talks about the problems with the ideals of Meritocracy. We take a look at the history of the Rhetoric of Rising, and end with a discussion about why praising people for their achievements feels problematic. Do we really respect people more because of their credentials? Links The Tyranny of Merit Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at skillshare.com/notoverthinkingpod . Lea...
Jan 18, 2021•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 91
In this episode, we're joined by Neel Nanda to discuss life optimisations, career choices, how to live in alignment with your own values and how to treat your relationships more intentionally. We discuss some of the principles behind how we can do the most good with our lives, while also being fulfilled and enjoying the journey. Links 80000 Hours Key Ideas Misconceptions about EA Map of local EA groups Neel's Blog Neel's Top Posts Neel's Post on Excitement & Motivation If you want to read mo...
Jan 11, 2021•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 90
In this episode, we’re joined by our friend Sheen to discuss some complaints that a few listeners have raised over the years about this podcast having misogynistic undertones. We discuss some complaints about last week’s episode, and discuss the extent to which generalisation about groups (eg: women) is accurate and / or useful. Links Dream, Girl Podcast The WOC Tribe ----------------------------------------- Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at skil...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 89
In this episode, we discuss the highlights of the podcast from 2020, Ali shares some of the advice he's received about how to be better with women, and we try and figure out how to create a members community for listeners of the podcast. Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and computer science online. Brilliant focuses on helping you learn how to think, rather than just memorising methods and facts. Sign up at https://brilli...
Dec 27, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 88
In this episode, we answer some reflective end-of-year review questions. We introspect about new ways we've had fun in 2020, new ways we've suffered in 2020, and what lessons we'd teach to others. Enjoy! ------------------------------------- Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at skillshare.com/notoverthinkingpod . Leave us a Review If you enjoy listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave us a review on iTunes / Apple Podcasts. Here's a link t...
Dec 21, 2020•59 min•Ep. 87
In this episode, we discuss some thought-provoking questions designed to help us (and you) figure out what we want from life. This turns into a commitment we make to one another to consciously work towards our ‘rock star’ goals. Links The Forcing Function Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and computer science online. Brilliant focuses on helping you learn how to think, rather than just memorising methods and facts. Sign up...
Dec 13, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 86
In this episode, Ali shares a disappointing moment from his week when System 1 thinking took hold of him. We then discuss Alan Watts' famous framing of life as a game with two modes of operation - serious vs sincere. Taimur shares some lessons from his therapy sessions, and we end with an elaborate description of a problematic meme. Enjoy! -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at skills...
Dec 06, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 85
In this episode, Taimur talks about the existential crisis that he's going through. We try and figure out what our real goals and motivations are for the things that we're doing. Links Venkatesh Rao Tweet How to be a loser Pain is not the unit of effort Trying to Try Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and computer science online. Brilliant focuses on helping you learn how to think, rather than just memorising methods and fa...
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 84
In this episode, Ali moans about how he always comes across poorly in podcasts while Taimur always comes across well, and how this doesn't accurately represent how we are in real life. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at skillshare.com/notoverthinkingpod . Leave us a Review If you enjoy listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave us a review on iTunes / Apple Podcasts. Her...
Nov 22, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 83
John O'Nolan is the developer, founder and CEO at Ghost which he has grown to a $2.7m/year business. He has become a digital nomad in recent years and has been working remotely whilst travelling the world for well over a decade. John shares the lessons he’s learnt over the past decade, from setting up Ghost to successfully living the nomad life to why we should optimise for happiness rather than revenue. Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn ...
Nov 17, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 82
This is an 'inbetweenasode' and features an interview Ali did with Austin Kleon as part of his Deep Dive series last month. Austin Kleon is the bestselling author of a trilogy of books about creativity and originality in the digital age. His three books - Steal Like An Artist, Show Your Work! and Keep Going - have sold millions of copies around the world and inspired thousands of people, including myself. In their conversation they talked about Austin’s books, the value of writing daily and also...
Nov 09, 2020•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 81
In this episode, we discuss Taimur and Mack's setup of co-living in the Caribbean while Ali's stuck in rainy England. We then wonder aloud at length about whether Ali is a bad person for posting his revenue numbers on social media. Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and computer science online. Brilliant focuses on helping you learn how to think, rather than just memorising methods and facts. Sign up at https://brilliant.or...
Nov 01, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 80
This is the second part of our discussion of Morgan Housel’s book The Psychology of Money. We continue to explore some of the key points, like the role that luck plays in success, why poor people buy lottery tickets, and the differences between getting wealthy and staying wealthy. Links The Psychology of Money The Psychology of Money – Book Summary & Notes Morgan Housel's Website Morgan Housel's Twitter Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at www.sk...
Oct 25, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 79
In this episode, we discuss Morgan Housel’s book The Psychology of Money. We explore some of the key points, like the role that luck plays in success, why poor people buy lottery tickets, and the differences between getting wealthy and staying wealthy. Links The Psychology of Money The Psychology of Money – Book Summary & Notes Morgan Housel's Website Morgan Housel's Twitter Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and comput...
Oct 18, 2020•44 min•Ep. 78
This week we read and discuss Brian Timar’s excellent blog post entitled “Mimetic Traps”. We try and figure out when competitiveness is unproblematic and how we can avoid inheriting desires from other people. Links Mimetic Traps Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at www.skillshare.com/notoverthinking for a 2-month free trial. It's a good alternative to YouTube. Leave us a Review If you enjoy listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave us a re...
Oct 12, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 77
In this episode, we start by discussing an insight Ali had about the nature of dissatisfaction and setting overly high standards for ourselves. We then turn to the start of a book discussion, where Taimur explains some of the theories he’s been reading around our values, how they change and how ‘rational’ our decision-making really is. Links Your Standards Are Too High by Neel Nanda Aspiration: The Agency of Becoming by Agnes Callard Leave us a Review If you enjoy listening to the podcast, we'd ...
Oct 05, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 76
In this episode, we discuss some of the concepts behind effective altruism with our friend Lucia. We touch on her motivations for setting up a public health charity, the Giving What We Can Pledge, and a few other curiosities. Enjoy! Sponsored by Skillshare This episode is kindly supported by Skillshare. Sign up at www.skillshare.com/notoverthinking for a 2-month free trial. It's a good alternative to YouTube. Leave us a Review If you enjoy listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave us ...
Sep 28, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 75
Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and computer science online. Brilliant focuses on helping you learn how to think, rather than just memorising methods and facts. Sign up at https://brilliant.org/notoverthinking — the first 100 people get 20% off an annual subscription. Leave us a Review If you enjoy listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave us a review on iTunes / Apple Podcasts. Here's a link that works even i...
Sep 20, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 74
As we were away this week, this episode is an interview that Ali recorded with Noah Kagan as part of his Deep Dive series on YouTube. Noah is an entrepreneur, YouTuber, blogger and podcaster as well as being one of the first employees at Facebook. In this long-form interview, we talk about a variety of things including moving on from disappointment, finding satisfaction, productivity, goals and much more. Links: Notion Live Blog - https://www.notion.so/aliabdaal/Deep-Dive-Ali-Abdaal-x-Noah-Kagan...
Sep 15, 2020•2 hr•Ep. 73
Sponsored by Brilliant This episode is kindly supported by Brilliant, the best way to learn maths, science, and computer science online. Brilliant focuses on helping you learn how to think, rather than just memorising methods and facts. Sign up at https://brilliant.org/notoverthinking — the first 100 people get 20% off an annual subscription. Leave us a Review If you enjoy listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave us a review on iTunes / Apple Podcasts. Here's a link that works even i...
Sep 06, 2020•48 min•Ep. 72
In this episode, we talk some more about how we can treat children better. Specifically — what it means to "take children seriously", why we should take children more seriously, and how we can take children more seriously. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 30, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 71
In this episode, we review Ali's unemployment, talk about how to talk about workism, and Taimur finally elucidates some concrete ideas about how society treats children immorally, and how we treat children better. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 16, 2020•54 min•Ep. 70
