Technology allows us to bank, shop and dine without talking to another human, but what toll is this taking on our happiness? The inventor of the ATM and the Talking Heads singer David Byrne join Dr Laurie Santos to explore the ways in which talking to strangers can bring us all genuine joy.  For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit https://www.happinesslab.fm/  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It all started when the rockstar David Byrne did a Freaky-Friday-like body-swap with a Barbie Doll. That’s what inspired him — along with his collaborator Mala Gaonkar — to transform a 15,000 square-foot warehouse in Denver, Colorado into a brainy funhouse known as the Theater of the Mind. This episode, co-Host Latif Nasser moderates a live conversation between Byrne and Neuroscientist Thalia Wheatley at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The trio talk about how we don’t see what we think we see, don’t hear what we think we hear, and don’t know what we think we know, but also how all that… might actually be a good thing. Special thanks to Charlie Miller and everyone else at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Emily Simoness and everyone else at the Arbutus Foundation, Boen Wang, and Heather Radke.   Episode Credits: Produced by Suzie Lechtenberg   CITATIONS Theater of the mind website: https://theateroftheminddenver.com/   Our newsletter comes out every Wednesday. It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab(https://members.radiolab.org/) today.Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org. Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.  

In this celebration of five years, Dr. Laurie Santos chats with Don Wetzel, inventor of the ATM, who shares insights on technology's impact on human connection. Behavioral scientist Nick Epley discusses how fostering personal connections can enhance happiness amidst automation. David Byrne, renowned musician, emphasizes the joy found in interactions with strangers, challenging the loneliness that often comes with convenience. Together, they explore the hidden costs of solitude and advocate for revitalizing human engagement in our lives.

Topics covered include: the world of childhood, collaborators as playmates, blasting Remain in Light on loop, Mike’s innate desire to give everyone a hug, being allergic to bullshit, the Wim Wenders Easter eggs in C’mon C’mon, black and white movies as their own species, bingeing Hitchcock movies during the pandemic, David being a little dictator on the set of Stop Making Sense, putting ‘fringe’ into a different context, the pretentiousness of thinking that being a graphic designer would be radical, and finding new ways to enchant yourself, again and again.

Talking Heads frontman David Byrne feels carefree and buoyant about being Conan O’Brien’s friend. David sits down with Conan to discuss his Scottish heritage, the inspiration for the iconic oversized suit, and telling the story of Filipino First Lady Imelda Marcos in his new Broadway musical Here Lies Love. Plus, Matt Gourley shares his training regimen as he prepares to return to the soccer pitch. This episode was recorded on 5/11/23. For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com. Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/conan.

David Byrne views life through many lenses. He’s a musician, author, filmmaker, curator, conservationist, digital music theorist, bicycle advocate, visual artist... the list goes on. But through his many trajectories – from co-founding the acclaimed band Talking Heads to his later solo career, moving into theater and beyond, David is always trying to capture the indescribable. In this episode, he shares how he meshes art, technology, and point of view to tell one-of-a-kind stories, move audiences, and invoke all of us to create masterpieces of our own. David’s latest experiential theater project “Theater of the Mind” is running now through December 18 at York Street Yards in Denver, Colorado. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the show, Fareed sits down with three former Treasury Secretaries to discuss the state of the world economy. First, he hosts Henry Paulson and Timothy Geithner to talk about the US debt downgrade and the chances of a recession in the near future. They also discuss the Biden administration's China policy and whether there's a path to a stable relationship with Beijing. Then, President Clinton’s Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin talks to Fareed about decision-making – and how a yellow legal pad can help us all weigh the risks and rewards. Plus, a special interview with iconic artist David Byrne who talks with Fareed about his latest Broadway musical. “Here Lies Love” tells the tale former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos … and her love of disco.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All four members of the original Talking Heads lineup share stories about their iconic concert documentary Stop Making Sense, the early days of the band, and recording classic albums. They discuss choreographed spontaneity on stage, the recording process at Blank Tape studio, A24's influence on the film, the creative revolution in New York City, and an unexpected reunion that revived their joy.

Renowned musician David Byrne joins Dana Carvey and David Spade on the podcast to discuss his career, puns, and dancing style. They also touch on dynamic pricing in concerts, therapy during the holidays, testing new material in comedy clubs, the effects of psilocybin and ketamine on brain health, and the use of therapies like psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine. The speakers talk about comfortable clothing, healthy dog food, attending comedy shows, political comedy, and their own art exhibits. They reflect on therapy experiences, express enjoyment of the interview, and discuss potential future projects.

David Byrne, the multi-award-winning frontman of Talking Heads, dives into his groundbreaking project, Theater of the Mind. He explores how this immersive storytelling experience merges art with neuroscience to create deep emotional connections. Listeners learn about the significance of tailored spaces for enhancing audience engagement and the role of technology in artistic expression. Byrne also discusses the civic responsibility of art and its ability to unite communities, underscoring the transformative power of stepping outside creative comfort zones.