Episodes

  • In Our Own Image
    Aug 8 2024

    What does the pursuit of Artificial Intelligence tell us about human nature?

    Can we ever understand AI, or the human brain?

    Can machines become conscious and should we worry about that possibility?

    In this episode, James talks to AI researcher and author George Zarkadakis about human intelligence, artificial intelligence, and the future of humanity in a world of super intelligent computers.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Brains At Work
    Jul 8 2024

    Do you remember the time Kim Kardashian and Kanye West disagreed over the colour of a dress?

    What is "flow" and why does it matter?

    What can London cabbies teach us about our brains?

    In this episode James talks to Hilary Scarlett about the neuroscience of change and how we make work work better for our brains.

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    49 mins
  • The Science of Mental Health
    Jun 10 2024

    What can monkeys drinking fruit juice teach us about mental health?

    How does the placebo effect really work?

    Are magic mushrooms the silver bullet for treating mental illness?

    In this episode, James talks to Camilla Nord who leads Cambridge Universitys Mental Health Neuroscience Lab.

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    47 mins
  • Neurobollocks
    May 27 2024

    Have you ever heard that we only use 10% of our brains?

    That the brain's right hemisphere is creative and the left hemisphere is logical?

    Or that we all have a lizard brain, a mammal brain, and a human brain?

    All of these statements have one thing in common....they're #neurobollocks.

    In this episode, James talks to UCL Neuroscientist Joe Devlin about the uses and misuses of neuroscience.

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    55 mins
  • Start At The End
    Dec 22 2023

    Every organisation, including yours, is in the business of behaviour change. But is your organisation willing to try new ideas, test and learn, experiment?

    In this episode, James talks to author and behavioural science pioneer Matt Wallaert about Don Draper, Steve Jobs, actuaries, toddlers, and the power of humility.  There's even a bit of David Attenborough thrown in for good measure. 

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    56 mins
  • The Power of No
    Oct 26 2023

    No. Non. Não. Nein. Nej. Nie. La. 

    It's a simple word. Why do so many of us find it so difficult to say?

    In this episode, James is joined by Professor Vanessa Patrick to talk about how to say "no" more effectively, whether you've been asked to work on your birthday, to marry someone live on the big screen at a football game, or indeed to shoot a randy elephant in the jungles of Burma. 

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    48 mins
  • Less is More
    Aug 31 2023

    More. Faster. Sooner.

    The modern world of work is all about productivity. What if the secret of increasing productivity was actually the last thing youd think of?

    In this episode James meets Dale Whelehan, CEO of 4 Day Week global to talk about Frederick Winslow Taylor, Josef Stalin, Richard Nixon, Pink Floyd, Sisyphus, and why less really might be more...

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    45 mins
  • Experimental Sustainability
    Jul 9 2023

    How can organisations use experiments to get better outcomes? What role does behavioural science play in the fight against climate change? What can we learn about human nature from the movie Don't Look Up?

    Experimental Economist Christina Gravert joins James to discuss the benefits of trial and error and how behavioural interventions can help in the fight against climate change.

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    43 mins