Tom Mullaney, a Professor of History at Stanford University, and Chris Rea, a Professor of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia, discuss self-centered research, the power of vulnerable self-confidence in research, and the necessity of personal biases in noticing anything interesting. They highlight the importance of choosing a meaningful research problem, exploring personal connections in research topics, and the value of self-reflection and engaging with the world. They also delve into the relationship between bias and the research process and the need to test and contrast ideas with reality.