On the 112th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Anne-Laure Le Cunff, PhD. Anne-Laure is an award-winning neuroscientist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Ness Labs, where her weekly newsletter is read by more than 100,000 curious minds. Her research at King’s College London focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of lifelong learning, curiosity, and adaptability. Her book, Tiny Experiments, is a transformative guide for living a more experimental life, turning uncertainty into curiosity, and carving a path of self-discovery. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, Financial Times, WIRED, and more.
In this wonderful conversation, we explore the themes of curiosity, connection, and the journey from a linear to an experimental approach to life. Anne-Laure shares her personal experiences of feeling lost yet free and of embracing uncertainty and designing playful experiments in various aspects of life.
This conversation is an invitation to experiment more with our lives.
For more of Anne-Laure's work, check out the following:
Tiny Experiments: https://nesslabs.com/book
Anne-Laure’s Newsletter: https://nesslabs.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuranne/
Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos
- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/
- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations
00:00 Introduction
01:17 Embracing Curiosity and Connection
03:11 The Journey from Linear to Experimental Living
06:06 Finding Joy in Uncertainty
10:20 Designing Playgrounds for Experimentation
12:30 The Structure of Freedom in Experimentation
15:09 Redefining Success: Cycles of Learning
18:31 The Intimacy of Curiosity and Growth
21:08 Quality of Life Through Adventure and Experimentation
29:19 The Importance of Play and Time
30:28 Understanding Time: Chronos vs. Kairos
36:56 Curiosity and Age: The Impact of Time Perception
40:17 The Industrial Society's Effect on Curiosity
42:53 Finding Joy in the Process
46:18 The Emotional Journey of Completing a Book
48:27 Reconnecting with Curiosity
51:34 The Surprising Connection Between Curiosity and Emotions
52:52 What is a good life for Anne-Laure?
