Anne-Laure Le Cunff, a neuroscientist and founder of Ness Labs, dives into the world of 'tiny experiments' and how they can innovate personal growth and creativity. She discusses redefining success from a learning perspective, where curiosity reigns supreme over conventional achievements. The power of fiction as a counterbalance to productivity culture is highlighted, alongside the importance of structured yet flexible note-taking archetypes. Anne-Laure's insights transform uncertainties into opportunities, making exploration a key to meaningful work.
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Finding Curiosity Through Uncertainty
Anne-Laure Le Cunff started writing online after leaving Google and experiencing startup failure.
This period of uncertainty led her to reconnect with her curiosity about the brain.
insights INSIGHT
The Generation Effect
Writing about an idea in your own words enhances understanding and memory, known as the generation effect.
This is a powerful learning tool, encouraging deeper engagement with ideas.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Designing Effective Experiments
Design experiments by defining a clear action and duration.
Le Cunff's experiment of writing 100 articles in 100 weekdays helped her discover her writing preferences.
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In this book, neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff argues that life should be approached as a playground for experimentation rather than being molded around linear goals. She provides a science-backed toolkit to help readers break free from limiting beliefs, harness the power of imperfection, and make smarter decisions in uncertain times. The book guides readers in discovering their true ambitions through tiny personal experiments, dismantling harmful beliefs about success, and making decisions true to their own aspirations. It emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty as a catalyst for growth and self-discovery.
Le Petit Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 'Le Petit Prince' is a timeless novella that follows the story of a young prince from a small asteroid who travels to various planets, encountering eccentric characters that symbolize different aspects of human nature. The narrative, told through the perspective of a stranded pilot, delves into profound philosophical themes such as innocence and experience, love and loss, and the absurdity of adult life. The little prince's journey highlights the importance of love, relationships, and the inner values that define our existence, emphasizing that 'one sees clearly only with the heart'[2][3][4].
Anne Laure Le Cunff is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and the founder of Ness Labs. She is the author of the book “Tiny Experiments,” a transformative guide to rethinking your approach to goals, creativity, and life itself. In this episode, we talk about redefining success, the importance of curiosity and the power of “Tiny Experiments” and much more!
In this podcast, Nick and Anne-Laure discuss topics such as:
The Generation Effect & Writing Online – Why writing in your own words enhances memory and understanding.
100 Articles in 100 Days – How setting a clear action and duration creates powerful learning loops.
Redefining Success – The difference between conventional success and a scientist’s approach, where learning something new is never a failure.
Reconnecting with Curiosity – How getting lost can be a gift that leads you to your most meaningful work.
Fiction vs. Nonfiction – Why reading fiction can be an antidote to toxic productivity.
Architects, Gardeners, and Librarians – The note-taking archetypes that help structure and grow ideas.
Digital Gardening & Idea Evolution – How ideas take on a life of their own when shared.
The Book: Tiny Experiments – A Gardener’s Approach – Why small, intentional experiments can lead to big breakthroughs.
Examples of Tiny Experiments – Practical ways to apply this mindset in writing, creativity, relationships, and personal projects.
Tiny Experiments for Agency & Control – How structured experiments give you a greater sense of direction and confidence in uncertain times.
If you’re interested in how small, intentional actions can reshape your thinking and creative process, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
How I Think 
