Textiles have played a significant role in our history and culture, starting with the Stone Age and continuing to the present. As award-winning journalist Virginia Postrel tells us, thread and fabric played are catalysts in revolutionizing human labor and innovations that economic historians often overlook. The Fabric Of Civilization is Virginia's book on textile history that stitches our aesthetics, history, and cultural identity. It focuses on textiles as among the oldest, most essential, and ...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 62
For the past decade, Michael Wade, professor of innovation and strategy at IMD Business School, and his co-authors studied the thought process of inventors, scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, and artists. The product of this collaboration is the book A.L.I.E.N. Thinking: The Unconventional Path To Breakthrough Ideas. Wade and his colleagues learned that these people’s out-of-the-world ideas helped them to make leaps and bounds in discovering game-changing solutions. In this episode, Michael tal...
Oct 22, 2021•50 min•Ep. 61
Experimental research has been a perennial practice in the natural sciences, but social scientists have taken it up in recent decades as well. Randomized trials have been used to design policies aimed at increasing educational attainment, lowering crime rates, enhancing employment rates, and improving living standards among the poor. In his book, Randomistas , Andrew Leigh, an economist turned politician, tells the stories of radical researchers who uncovered what works and what doesn’t using ex...
Oct 18, 2021•40 min•Ep. 60
To understand how humans react and adapt to economic change, we need to study how these people who live in harsh environments survived these conditions. From war zones to natural disasters and failed states, to aging societies and those who are challenged by technological advancement. In his book, Extreme Economies , economist, and journalist Richard Davies features stories of communities that experienced seismic shock or have been violently changed in some way. In this episode, he gives an acco...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 59
Most billion-dollar startups are founded by non-technical individuals— one of the many insights that Ali Tamaseb notes in his recent book. Ali spent countless hours manually collecting what may be the biggest data set ever on startups — comparing billion-dollar startups with those that failed to succeed. In his book Super Founders , Ali brings together 30,000 data points on nearly every factor that influences a new business: number of competitors, market size, the founder's age, academic perform...
Oct 13, 2021•51 min•Ep. 58
Our collective ability to deal with infections has impacted human development for over 5,000 years. Through unprecedented advancements in hygiene and medicine, humanity has been able to break free of epidemic cycles, which has resulted in a world that is urbanized, globalized, and unimaginably wealthy. Global trade, however, made us more vulnerable to newly emerging diseases. Today, there is a strong demand from the whole world to work together on sustainable health programs, such as the global ...
Oct 11, 2021•59 min•Ep. 57
For many established companies, enormous resources and risky decisions stand in the way of innovation. There are ample opportunities for innovation in large companies, both in terms of technology and business models. But often, a plateau happens when the mindset becomes stagnant. Striking the balance between short-term needs and committing resources to bold innovation is critical. Gary Pisano, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the Harvard Business School, advises business leaders ...
Oct 08, 2021•52 min•Ep. 56
According to today’s guest, the human mind is both genius and pathetic, brilliant and idiotic. As a species, we have learned to control fire, established democratic institutions, walked on the moon, and sequenced our genome. Our societies and technologies are extremely complex, but most of us do not really know how a pen or a toilet works. How have we achieved so much despite understanding so little? In his book, The Knowledge Illusion , cognitive scientist Steven Sloman points out that the key ...
Oct 06, 2021•50 min•Ep. 55
The Company Of Strangers by renowned economist Paul Seabright illustrates how fragile everyday life can be. In this episode, he talks about the book and describes how our ability to reason abstractly has enabled institutions such as money, markets, and banking systems to lay the foundation for the social trust we rely on daily. How did trust shift from smaller communities and family units to larger institutions like governments, states, and large companies? You won't want to miss out on Paul's i...
Oct 01, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 54
Measuring informal interactions can improve the chances of a major project's success. Ben Waber, CEO and co-founder of Humanyze, stresses the importance of these hidden social levers and networks within your teams to facilitate better communication. He points out that organizations can improve workplace performance with the right employee analytics tools. In this episode, he shares stories from his book, People Analytics. Learn how managers and human resources teams can use network metrics to lo...
Sep 29, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 53
As modern leaders, we are challenged by the pace and complexity of change, the need for collaboration, and the push to align teams. Developing mindful leadership capabilities is a vital skill for leaders today to overcome stress, burnout, anxiety, and overwhelm. In this episode, best-selling author and executive coach, Marc Lesser, shares his proven seven-step method to mindful leadership. He talks about his experiences running his kitchen at a Zen Monastery and best practices from tech giants l...
Sep 27, 2021•49 min•Ep. 52
Award-winning Harvard Business School professor Felix Obelholzer-Gee says that data about the rate of change in companies is no faster today than in previous years. Hence, long-term strategies make more sense for businesses today, despite our rapidly changing world. His book Better, Simpler Strategy discusses the three modes of value creation-- value for customers, suppliers, and employees. This strategy promotes working on fewer initiatives with more significant impact, substituting the traditi...
Sep 24, 2021•53 min•Ep. 51
The first half of the episode discusses distinguished professor Gregory Clark's book, A Farewell To Alms . During the eighteenth century, England underwent a period of rapid industrialization and economic growth. Clark explains why industrialization made the whole world rich but not equally rich. The episode ends with Prof. Clark and Greg exchanging views on how much our fate is affected by our family status. Clark provides an insider's view into his latest book, The Son Also Rises , demonstrati...
Sep 22, 2021•59 min•Ep. 50
For a while now, machines have been inseparably tied to our lives. The algorithms on Google, Netflix, Amazon, Xbox, and Tinder have run your life unwittingly. Machines are digesting data that you willingly share with them. Artificial intelligence has also impacted healthcare, from the development of vaccines to the search for a cure for cancer. Machine learning is transforming every aspect of our lives, but what is AI's ultimate foundation? Author and AI expert Pedro Domingos discusses machine l...
Sep 20, 2021•58 min•Ep. 49
Traditionally, biologists and ecologists study microbes and hosts separately. And, it’s only recently that 'Hologenomics' emerged as a discipline with a holistic perspective. Rob Dunn's work in this field influenced his three best-selling books, Delicious , The Wildlife Of Our Bodies , and Never Home Alone . In this episode, Rob takes us on a scientific taste adventure. In his use of “hologenomics” perspectives, he explains why humans crave flavors that cannot be explained by their nutritional n...
Sep 15, 2021•55 min•Ep. 48
Developed nations like the United Kingdom and the United States are experiencing growing radical oppositions and deep divisions between rural communities and bustling urban centers. A severe lack of opportunities plagues poorer communities. Young people have little to look forward to except a bleak job market, while older workers are marginalized as their skills lose value. One of the world's most influential development economists, Paul Collier, tackles these issues in his recent book, The Futu...
Sep 13, 2021•56 min•Ep. 47
Did you know that all humans go through a period, during late infancy or early childhood, when their sense of smell judgement is almost completely blank? That's the reason babies put anything and everything in their mouths. It turns out disgust and displeasure for particular tastes and odors are learned. Renowned food and cooking scientist and James Beard award-winning author Harold McGee takes us on a sensory journey in this episode. We learn about the importance of smells, what McGee calls a ‘...
Sep 08, 2021•49 min•Ep. 46
Why do we feel bad after losing a loved one? What causes people to people panic and worry?? How can people pursue happiness even after heartbreaks? Understanding our bad feelings gives us real power. In his new book, Good Reasons For Feeling Bad , Dr. Randolph Randy? Nesse, a pioneer in evolutionary medicine, transforms our understanding of mental disorders. As opposed to asking why some people suffer from mental illnesses, Dr. Randy asks why natural selection has left us with fragile minds. Lis...
Sep 06, 2021•57 min•Ep. 45
Could plants and nature sounds make you happier at work? What kind of scent should you wear on your first date? Can a simple hug make grandma and grandpa healthier? Charles Spence, sensory science and experiential psychology expert, tells us how our senses alter how we feel and think, in his groundbreaking book, Sensehacking . He describes how hacking our senses and stimulating them in nature, at home, at work, and at play makes our lives richer. Greg and Charles talk about how the impact of our...
Sep 03, 2021•49 min•Ep. 44
Machine learning and big data are becoming increasingly important, and some say they can make predictions more accurate than ever before. But as risk expert Gerd Gigerenzer explained in his book Risk Savvy , the surprising truth is that we often get better results by using simple rules and considering less information in the real world. In this episode, Gerd reveals concepts behind Risk Savvy and how misunderstanding statistics leaves us misinformed and vulnerable to exploitation. He explains ho...
Aug 31, 2021•46 min•Ep. 43
Finding a ride, booking an overnight stay, running errands for someone— these amenities have been around for a while. But peer to peer platforms that offer these services have dominated the market in recent years. In his book, The Sharing Economy , professor of technology and economic expert Arun Sundararajan unpacks the concept of crowd-based capitalism. He breaks down his extensive research and presents numerous real-world examples, including Airbnb, Uber, Etsy, and more. As the line between p...
Aug 27, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 42
Following the success of his first three books, best-selling author and licensed chartered financial analyst Simon Lack examined how the steady growth in debt and financial services will affect future returns. In Bonds Are Not Forever , he explores the reasons behind the steady decline in interest rates over the last few decades, how these fueled a dramatic rise in government and private borrowing, and the resulting risk of inflation. We will also get an insider's view on the data behind Simon's...
Aug 25, 2021•56 min•Ep. 41
Popular culture often portrays artificial intelligence (AI) as a super-powerful, ominous threat to jobs, lives, and ultimately humanity. As AI is moving out of the lab into the real world, how can we harness its potential for good? In this episode, Stuart Russell talks about how to avoid this impending problem, a topic he covers in his book Human Compatible. Listen as he takes us on a deep dive into the history of AI and how a new foundation can be used to develop machines that are sensitive to ...
Aug 23, 2021•51 min•Ep. 40
Why do so many kids in wealthy countries have braces? Our jaws and teeth are growing smaller, causing aesthetic challenges as well as breathing difficulties. Modern orthodontics convinced us that braces and oral devices could resolve these issues. In this episode, Paul Ehrlich, a world-renowned evolutionist, talks about his latest book, Jaws: The Story Of A Hidden Epidemic . He discusses biological, dietary, and cultural changes that have led us to face this major health challenge, and why our p...
Aug 18, 2021•47 min•Ep. 39
Are you considering a new way of working? Is it possible to give people the freedom to lead projects they are great at and to collaborate regardless of hierarchy? It might be time to consider self-management. In this episode, Frederic Laloux, best-selling author and former Associate Partner with McKinsey & Company, discusses these ideas as well as his book Reinventing Organizations . Greg & Frederic discuss new models of self-management management, as well as myths and misconceptions sur...
Aug 06, 2021•54 min•Ep. 38
Hard work and luck. That's the key to success, according to Weijian Shan. And he knows a thing or two about success. Shan is the founder and head of Hong Kong-based private equity group PAG, a former professor at the Wharton School, and the lead on one of the most successful buyout deals ever: the acquisition and turnaround of what used to be Korea's largest bank. That is the focus of his latest book, Money Games , where he gets deep into the details of closing that deal. Join us as he and Greg ...
Aug 04, 2021•54 min•Ep. 37
The buzz surrounding A.I. cognitive strategy, technology, data, and analytics has many companies excited, but what does a business do with the information available? In his book, The A.I. Advantage , Thomas Davenport offers a guide to using artificial intelligence in business. Tom and Greg discuss how companies can leverage available technologies for their competitive advantage. Check out their discussion on IBM's Watson’s attempts to cure cancer, and learn how legacy companies integrate AI desp...
Aug 02, 2021•45 min•Ep. 36
Why do you buy a lottery ticket when the odds of winning are one out 200 million? In this episode, Meir Statman, Professor of Finance at St. Clara University, talks about his book Finance For Normal People. Listen as he talks about what drives our hope for wealth, financial security, the need to provide for the family, and the need to give back to our society. Greg and Meir talk about financial facts and human behavior, including overconfidence, hindsight, unrealistic hopes, and exaggerated fear...
Jul 30, 2021•47 min•Ep. 35
On May 6, 2010, the global financial markets went into a tailspin suddenly and simultaneously. The event was known as the “Flash Crash,” the fastest drop in stock market history. Reports document a loss of a trillion dollars in valuation that occurred in just five minutes. Liam Vaughan, an investigative reporter with Bloomberg and Businessweek magazine in London, talks about this in his book Flash Crash. Listen as Liam and Greg talk about Navinder “Nav” Singh Sarao, the bedroom day trader who wo...
Jul 28, 2021•47 min•Ep. 34
There is a saying that money makes the world go round. But Jacob Goldstein, journalist, author, and co-host of NPR’s Planet Money, suggests that money only works when we all believe in it. In this episode, he talks about his book, Money: The Story Of A Made-Up Thing . Jacob explains how money became a helpful fiction that shaped societies for thousands of years. Listen from the beginning till the end to learn about how world leaders and fringe thinkers have changed our perceptions about money. G...
Jul 26, 2021•49 min•Ep. 33
