Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist, and the Chief Science Officer of SENS Research Foundation, a California based non-profit charity dedicated to combating the aging process. Through his work at SENS, Aubrey works on the development of medical innovations that promote rejuvenation and can postpone all forms of age-related ill-health including diseases like alzheimers, certain forms of cancer and atherosclerosis. Aubrey started off as a computer scientist and AI Researcher before becomi...
Apr 03, 2018•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is another special one on equations that changed the world. Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity is widely known as the world’s most famous equation created by history’s most famous scientist. In simple terms the equation reads - E = MC² which states that Energy = Mass x Speed of Light² This theory predicts the equivalence of mass and energy and a space-time continuum, which fundamentally changed our understanding of the universe and how it works. In practical terms, Einstein’s t...
Mar 20, 2018•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast What I've found from experience is that presenting on and off camera is both a science and an art. As an academic tutor and university lecturer I’ve spent plenty of time standing up and presenting to students, and I've now racked up plenty of hours in front of the camera by creating my own online course, Make Me A MetaLearner, and teaching on my YouTube channel. To improve my skills, I've studied some of the best presenters, both past and present, to try and find out what they did differently. W...
Mar 08, 2018•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast James Bidwell is the owner of Springwise, an innovation portal, which crowd sources innovation ideas from all over the world and publishes the top 3 every day. He is also the co-founder of RE_SET, an innovation consultancy for the disruption economy working with boards to help them thrive in an unpredictable world. James was also formerly a marketing manager at Disney, marketing director at Selfridges and CEO of Visit London. In this episode we discuss: - How to stay on top of the rapid pace of ...
Feb 28, 2018•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast The process of authoring and producing my first course, Make Me A MetaLearner , was a great learning experience for me. It taught me a lot about the skills of research and writing and the importance of structuring educational content in a way that's easy to digest and understand for students. As a university lecturer I’ve spent plenty of time preparing lessons and delivering them to students, but authoring an online course was a completely different ball game for me. Looking back, I can see that...
Feb 13, 2018•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tom Stafford is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of Sheffield. He’s also the author of the book Mindhacks, a book featuring 100 DIY mind experiments you can try at home, and he runs the excellent MindHacks blog dedicated to psychology and neuroscience news & views. Tom has done some fascinating research into skill acquisition by studying the process of playing computer games (which can be tracked across the whole learning curve) drawing out some useful gene...
Feb 07, 2018•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Finding great teachers is a big part of learning anything. But for most people, the top experts are off limits. They’re only available to the few who can afford to fork out for their services, or a select who have spent years working their way up in the industry have the privilege of meeting and working with them. So what if I told you that in 12-24 months you could be speaking to any teacher or expert you wanted? That you could create your own education, build your own curriculum and learn from...
Feb 02, 2018•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tim Urban is the founder of the blog WaitButWhy and is one of the Internet’s most popular writers. With brilliant stick-figure illustrations and epic analysis on everything from artificial intelligence to the future of the brain, Wait But Why, has gained a huge audience and number of famous fans such as Tesla, Space-X and Solar City CEO, Elon Musk. Musk asked Tim to write about his companies and their surrounding industries, leading to a five-part series of posts discussing the importance of sus...
Jan 26, 2018•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is a special one on equations that changed the world. And what better one to start with than Isaac Newton’s Universal Law of Gravity – an equation that ultimately helped us put a man on the moon! In simple terms the equation reads: Earth’s Gravitational Force = (G x M x m) / D squared Earth’s Force = (Gravitational Constant x Earth’s Mass x Mass of the Object) / Distance between the Earth and Object Squared What this equation allowed the smart scientists at NASA to do was to to esta...
Jan 17, 2018•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tiago Forte helps people and companies improve their productivity and prepare for the future of work using design thinking and technology. He does this through his consultancy and training firm Forte Labs, and as editor of Praxis, a members-only online publication on the future of productivity. He has also produced a series of highly successful online courses on productivity and has written a book on the future of work. In this conversation we get into: - The fundamental pillars of a great note ...
Jan 09, 2018•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today’s episode is a special one for several reasons. First, it’s episode 100 of the podcast! This is a big milestone so thank you for supporting the show and I’m looking forward to taking things forward in the weeks and months to come. Second, it’s the first day of 2018 – so Happy New Year and all the best to you and yours for the year ahead. And third, this episode is my review of 2017, so in it I’ll discuss 5 key lessons I’ve learned in the year gone by. I’ll take story from my own experience...
Jan 03, 2018•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Nat Eliason is the founder of Growth Machine, a new content marketing business and the host of the Made You Think and Nat Chat podcasts. In this conversation we discuss: - How to teach yourself anything with the sandbox method - How to run and manage self-experimentation projects - Career lessons from building a thriving blog, podcast and a business So whether you’re looking to upgrade your learning or run a few more self-experiments this episode has you covered.
Dec 13, 2017•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ali Almossawi is an author of books on critical thinking and computer science and a data visualizer at Apple. In this conversation we discuss: - How to use algorithms to think smarter and make better decisions - How to improve your critical thinking skills in a world full of noise - How to make sense of the data deluge of the 21st century So if you want to see the world like a computer scientist or level up your critical thinking skills, this episode has you covered....
Dec 05, 2017•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Choosing what to learn is no easy task if you’re doing it right. But doing a bit of work up front can save you a lot of trouble in the end. In this episode I discuss: - The major differences between passion and professional projects - A simple framework for identifying the skill you should learn next - The three skills everyone should be developing in the 21st century So whether you’re overwhelmed with multiple ideas or can’t come up with what to learn next, this episode has you covered....
Nov 29, 2017•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cecily Sommers is a futurist and author who speaks, writes, and consults on the forces shaping our future. In this conversation we discuss: - The universal principles behind mastering any skill or field of knowledge - The 4 Forces shaping the 21st Century and what to do about them - The mental models and habits needed to think like a futurist So if you want to learn more about the mindsets and skillsets needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world, this episode has you covered....
Nov 22, 2017•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stephen Kosslyn is world-renowned cognitive scientist and the Founding Dean of Minerva, an innovative new university. In this conversation we discuss: - How Minerva applies the science of learning to its curriculum and pedagogy - The major misconceptions about the Minerva project and its key innovations - The importance of community in any learning program Whether you’re interested in the application of learning science or curious about the latest innovations in education this episode has you co...
Nov 14, 2017•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Seth Godin is one of the world’s best marketers, the author of 18 bestsellers and the founder of the altMBA. In this conversation we discuss: - What Seth has learned from building a successful online education program - Seth’s insights on creativity, including quitting projects and getting feedback - Seth’s advice on selling and marketing effectively Whether you’re looking for creative inspiration, insight into alternative education or the secrets to selling well, this episode has you covered....
Nov 07, 2017•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Oli Barrett is an entrepreneur and speaker who makes valuable connections between people and ideas. In this conversation we discuss: - How to turn contacts into connections and build relationships that last - The best strategies for effective communication in different contexts - The best time management techniques for juggling multiple projects Whether you’re looking to build better, hone your speaking skills or manage your day better, this conversation will give you all that and more....
Oct 31, 2017•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kyle Pearce is the Founder of DIY Genius – a self-education platform that helps people learn faster online. In this episode we discuss: - How Kyle learns best and the skills needed to thrive in the 21st century - How to access the flow state that produces optimal performance - Kyle’s travel experiences and what he’s learned from other cultures So whether you’re looking to learn more effectively online, build a mobile business, or get into flow this episode will give you all you need and more....
Oct 24, 2017•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jonathan Levi, an entrepreneur, angel investor, and online educator who hails from Silicon Valley. Since 2014, Jonathan has been one of the top-performing instructors on Udemy, including a flagship course on speed reading, memorisation and accelerated learning techniques called Becoming A SuperLearner. He has also snowballed this success into a top-rated podcast, Becoming SuperHuman, and numerous other online courses in a range of subjects from productivity to bitcoin. In this conversation we di...
Oct 18, 2017•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Noah Kagan is the founder of AppSumo and Sumo.com, two multi million dollar companies that help businesses grow. In this conversation we discuss: - How Noah learns best and his experience learning a new language - The lessons Noah has learned from building an 8-Figure business - The secret behind getting your ideas heard in a world full of noise So whether you’re looking to build or grow your business or accelerate your learning with beginner’s mind, this episode will give you all that and much ...
Oct 13, 2017•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. Alex Pattakos is a bestselling author and the founder of the Global Meaning Institute. In this conversation we discuss: - The importance of finding meaning in learning and how to do it - The lessons Alex learned from his mentor, the psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl - The lessons that we can learn from the Greeks to live a more meaningful life So whether you’re looking to find meaning in your learning or want to develop greater self-awareness this episode has you covered....
Oct 03, 2017•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Matt Clifford is the co-founder of Entrepreneur First, the world's leading technology talent investor. In this episode we discuss: - The qualities aspiring entrepreneurs should be looking to cultivate - The environmental characteristics that produce startup hubs - What Matt has learned from creating over 100 startups in the tech space So whether you’re looking to build a startup or want to get some insight into the tech trends that will affect us in the future, this episode has you covered....
Sep 26, 2017•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast While your brain doesn’t come with a user’s manual, there are things we’ve learned that apply to most humans. In this episode we discuss: - The most common brain myths dispelled including the 10% myth - The 3 key insights from neuroscience about the brain in recent years - The MetaLearning strategies that build on these insights So if you’re looking to learn more about your own brain and how to use it better in learning and life, this episode has you covered.
Sep 21, 2017•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast My first video course, Make Me A MetaLearner launches today and I’m doing a special episode here to celebrate the launch! In this episode I discuss: - Why I made Make Me A MetaLearner in the first place - The learning problems that I’ve faced on my journey - How I designed Make Me a MetaLearner I believe that MetaLearning is the ultimate 21st century superpower. Check it out for yourself from the courses section on my site or from the link below http://metalearn.teachable.com/p/make-me-a-metalea...
Sep 14, 2017•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jonathan Cutrell is the founder and host of the Developer Tea Podcast and the Director of Technology at Whiteboard. In this episode we cover: - The core skills of a good developer and advice on learning to code - How Jonathan got his pilot’s license and learned to fly planes - Jonathan’s lessons from 300+ episodes of the Developer Tea Podcast So whether you’re looking to learn how to code, start a podcast, or fly a plane, this episode will give you everything you need and more....
Sep 05, 2017•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast George Spencer is the founder of Rentify an online letting agent disrupting the property rental market. In this conversation we discuss: - How George learned enough about the property market to disrupt it - How to develop core business skills including raising money and hiring - The most common media myths about entrepreneurship So whether you’re looking to build business skills or understand how to leverage tech to disrupt inefficient markets this episode has you covered....
Aug 30, 2017•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Play is one of the most heavily neglected aspects of learning something new. In this episode, we discuss: - How to find a balance between play and hard work - How effective gamification is in improving the learning process - How to reframe whatever you’re doing to make it more enjoyable So whether you’re looking to make your learning more fun or you want to learn more about gamification, this episode will give you all that and more.
Aug 27, 2017•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Rajeeb Day is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Learnerbly a content platform that helps businesses develop their people better. In this conversation we discuss: - The current state of the corporate L&D market - What Raj picked up from interviewing over 100 learning experts - Raj’s lessons about entrepreneurship from building 3 successful businesses Whatever size business you work in this episode will give you some great insights into how you can learn better at work....
Aug 23, 2017•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we discuss the major learning problems people face, which can be broken down into 5 main areas: 1) Not getting started 2) Not getting momentum 3) Burning out and giving up 4) Plateauing and losing interest 5) Integrating skills into your life So whether you're looking to get over the first hurdle of getting started or just want to comfortably integrate a new skill you’ve learned into your life, this episode has you covered.
Aug 20, 2017•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
