2% With Michael Easter

17 Reasons to Explore More Now

Mar 31, 2025

Dive into the fascinating reasons behind our innate drive to explore! Discover how exploration shapes human experience and the role of dopamine in seeking adventure. Learn why technology might dull our exploratory instincts and what a wild event 50,000 years ago meant for our species. Uncover surprising links between endurance and exploration, and find practical tips to explore your city or even your daily life. With insights from a new book, this conversation sparks inspiration to embrace the unknown!

13:27

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Quick takeaways

Exploration is essential for personal growth and well-being, pushing individuals out of their comfort zones to discover new experiences.

The influence of technology on exploration can diminish genuine adventure, highlighting the need for intentional engagement in everyday exploration.

Deep dives

The Importance of Exploration

Exploration plays a crucial role in human life, functioning as a remedy for feelings of malaise and boredom. Individuals are biologically wired to seek out the unknown, which not only satisfies a drive but also provides great rewards that enhance life experiences. Engaging in exploration fosters personal growth by pushing people out of their comfort zones, ultimately leading to new discoveries, improved well-being, and a greater sense of purpose. This innate desire to explore can manifest in activities as simple as trying new foods or embarking on physically demanding adventures, showcasing that exploration is central to the human experience.

Intro

2min

Exploring the Human Drive for Adventure

8min

Exploring the Limits of Endurance and Adventure

4min

We’re speaking with Alex Hutchinson about his new book The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map.

Michael asked Alex 17 questions about exploration—why humans are driven to explore, the benefits of exploration, how exploration is changing, and how we can explore more today.

Michael gained so much insight into my own life from Alex’s book and our exchange below, and I hope you will, too.

You’ll learn:

* Why exploration is critical to being a human.

* Why humans are hardwired to seek the unknown.

* The truth about dopamine and how it factors into exploration.

* Whether humans are unique in our ability to explore.

* Another (surprising) animal that is a badass explorer.

* How a wild occurrence 50,000 years ago allowed humans to conquer the globe.

* Why living well requires pushing yourself into new experiences.

* How exploration is changing, and why that’s not necessarily a good thing.

* The downsides of technology and how it’s altering the rewards we get from exploration.

* Why Alex thinks I should change “Burn The Ships” to “Eat The Camels.”

* How endurance and exploration are related (overlaps between Alex’s books).

* How writing the book changed Alex’s everyday behaviors (and why those changes led his children to complain about his driving).

* How we can explore cities for better experiences.

* How you can explore every single day.

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2% With Michael Easter

17 Reasons to Explore More Now

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Importance of Exploration

Neuroscience and Exploration

Navigating Modern Exploration

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts