Steven Kotler, a renowned author and human performance expert, discusses the fascinating science of flow and peak performance. He shares insights on how fear influences skill development, especially as we age. Kotler also explores the intersection of neuroscience and action sports, highlighting personal growth through challenges like skiing. He emphasizes the cognitive benefits of aging and the importance of intergenerational collaboration, encouraging everyone to embrace their potential at any stage of life.
40:31
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Understanding Flow State
Flow is an optimal state of consciousness where people feel and perform their best.
It features intense focus, loss of self-awareness, time distortion, and a sense of control and joy.
insights INSIGHT
Flow vs Traumatic Stress
Flow is neurobiologically the opposite of traumatic stress and learned helplessness.
It creates a sense of learned powerfulness and can induce post-traumatic growth without trauma.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Chasing Impossible Feats
Steven Kotler chased professional athletes in action sports starting at 23 to understand extreme human performance.
Despite the rough backgrounds of many athletes, they achieved seemingly impossible feats that fascinated him.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work
Steven Kotler
This book explores the revolution in high performance driven by four accelerating forces: psychology, neurobiology, technology, and pharmacology. It delves into how trailblazers like Eric Schmidt, Elon Musk, Navy SEALs, and maverick scientists are harnessing rare and controversial states of consciousness to solve critical challenges and enhance their lives. The authors, Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal, spent four years investigating these leading edges, from Silicon Valley to the Navy SEALs, and present a provocative examination of what is possible and how to radically upgrade one's life.
The Rise of Superman
Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance
Steven Kotler
In this groundbreaking book, Steven Kotler delves into the science of 'flow,' an optimal state of consciousness where individuals perform and feel their best. Drawing on over a decade of research and firsthand interviews with top action and adventure sports athletes like Laird Hamilton, Jeremy Jones, and Danny Way, Kotler explains how these athletes achieve the impossible through flow. The book bridges the gap between extreme sports and mainstream life, offering insights on how to radically accelerate performance in everyday activities. It is a exploration of profound possibility, examining what is achievable for human beings and where our limits lie.
The Art of Impossible
Steven Kotler
The Future Is Faster Than You Think
How Converging Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives
Peter H. Diamandis
Steven Kotler
This book investigates how the convergence of technologies such as AI, robotics, virtual reality, digital biology, and sensors with 3D printing, blockchain, and global gigabit networks will transform legacy industries and every aspect of our lives, including transportation, retail, education, health, entertainment, food, and finance. The authors provide a prescient look at the impending future, highlighting the potential for significant upheaval and wealth creation in the next decade.
Steven Kotler is a world-renowned author, journalist, and entrepreneur. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance, and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is also author of many books, including The Rise of Superman, Stealing Fire, The Future is Faster Than You Think and a new one, Gnar Country, which publishes today. Steven has also been named one of the Top 100 world thinkers by Foreign Policy and called one of the top 10 brains in science and technology by Discover.
On this classic episode, Steven joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to talk about achieving flow, fending off aging, and his experiment to try to become a world class skier at age 53.
Special Thanks to the Sponsors of the Elevate Podcast
Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job’s visibility at Indeed.com/elevate.
NPM Tech Unheard Podcast: Tune into Tech Unheard from Arm and NPM—wherever you get your podcasts.
Northwest Registered Agent: Don’t wait—protect your privacy, build your brand, and set up your business in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://northwestregisteredagent.com/elevate today.
Quince: Go to quince.com/elevate for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns
Elevate with Robert Glazer 
