The Devil’s Dictionary Launch Party with Steven Kotler and Sarah Sarkis
May 30, 2022
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Steven Kotler and Sarah Sarkis discuss topics such as disruptive technologies, empathy, oxytocin's negative effects, writing fiction with music, and the process of writing the Devil's Dictionary in an entertaining and insightful episode.
Empathy and nature-relatedness are crucial in solving environmental challenges and addressing climate change and species die-off.
The discipline of writing fiction requires focus, avoiding tangents, and maintaining a tight narrative structure.
Reading fiction enhances curiosity, imaginative thinking, and creative problem-solving, providing a unique space for exploration and expanding perspectives.
Deep dives
The Power of Empathy and Nature-Relatedness
The podcast episode explores the importance of empathy and nature-relatedness in solving environmental challenges. It emphasizes the need to expand our sphere of caring to include plants, animals, and ecosystems in order to address climate change and species die-off. The role of empathy in expanding nature-relatedness is discussed, with examples of how flow experiences can naturally increase empathy and connection to the natural world. The podcast highlights the need for a shift in perspective and perception to prioritize the well-being of the natural world.
The Challenges of Writing Fiction
The podcast episode delves into the challenges of writing fiction, including the discipline necessary to avoid indulging in tangents and staying focused on the main plot. The importance of closing loops and not introducing unnecessary elements is emphasized. The host and guest discuss the balance between creativity and structure in writing, and how flow plays a role in making decisions about which ideas to pursue and which to discard. The podcast highlights the need for a writer to resist the temptation of self-indulgence and maintain a tight narrative structure.
The Impact of Reading Fiction
The podcast episode explores the role of reading fiction in enhancing curiosity, imaginative thinking, and creative problem-solving. The guest shares their personal experience of reading fiction after a long time and how it allowed them to escape reality, engage in philosophical reflections, and connect deeply with characters. The conversation highlights how reading fiction can provide a unique space for exploration, tangential thinking, and expanding one's perspective beyond the confines of nonfiction. Overall, the podcast emphasizes the potential of fiction to inspire and enrich the human experience.
The Benefits of Nature
Nature has positive effects on our mental health by increasing serotonin levels and reducing cortisol levels, making it more effective than antidepressants and anxiety treatments. It also stimulates the production of oxytocin, which is associated with environmental activism and pro-social behavior. Nature relatedness leads to behavioral changes and increased feelings of belonging.
Mega-Linkages and Conservation
Mega-linkages are a concept in conservation biology that aims to connect national parks and create migration corridors to minimize habitat fragmentation. This idea, proposed by Michael Soule, helps protect vulnerable species and maintain healthy ecosystems. By giving land back to animals and creating these linkages, we can mitigate climate change and the biodiversity crisis. Mega-linkages require removing agriculture and cattle ranching from the land and adopting more sustainable practices.
TODAY´S EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FLOW RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
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ABOUT THE GUEST:
STEVEN KOTLER is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and Founder and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance.
Sarah Sarkis is a psychologist by training, a certified executive and performance coach by practice, and the Senior Director of Psychology and Performance at EXOS.
ABOUT THE EPISODE:
In this episode, you will learn about:
Intro (0:00)
What Evo is (0:37)
Steven's Fiction Writing Career (4:12)
Big Themes Between Last Tango & Devil's Dictionary (7:30)
Disruptive Technologies Today (17:19)
The Role Empathy Plays in Devil's Dictionary (23:54)
Biology of Cross Species Empathy (27:29)
Negative Effects of Oxytocin (31:28)
What MegaLinkages Are (36:42)
Writing With Music (42:48)
The Challenge With Writing Fiction (44:49)
Process of Writing Devil's Dictionary (47:33)
The Role of Reading Fiction in Peak Performance (54:39)
Biophilia Hypothesis (1:01:12)
Empathic World & Capitalism (1:04:10)
Final Thoughts on Devil's Dictionary (1:09:32)
RESOURCES
Twitter: https://twitter.com/steven_kotler?lang=en
Website: https://www.flowresearchcollective.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective/
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