3 Takeaways

Lynn Thoman
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Aug 26, 2025 • 21min

Space: The Invisible Infrastructure Behind Modern Life — And Its Growing Risks (#264)

Space may look empty, but it’s crowded, fragile, and under threat. Former Congresswoman Jane Harman and Lieutenant General (Ret.) Nina Armagno — former U.S. Space Force Director of Staff who oversaw missile warning, satellite operations, and space launches — reveal how satellites quietly keep the world running, and how quickly it could all go dark. Imagine waking up to no internet, no GPS, and no air travel. They share what’s happening above our heads, and why we can’t afford to ignore it.
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8 snips
Aug 19, 2025 • 17min

Inside the Hook Model: Secrets Companies Use to Keep You Scrolling and How To Break Free (#263)

Nir Eyal, a behavioral design expert and the author of "Hooked" and "Indistractable," dives deep into how modern apps leverage psychology to keep us hooked. He reveals how variable rewards drive user engagement, much like slot machines, turning mere minutes of use into extensive engagement. Eyal discusses the neurological triggers behind our habits, the competitive edge gained by companies like Google, and how personal intent shapes our experiences with technology. Finally, he shares strategies for mastering distraction and becoming more present in our digital lives.
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Aug 12, 2025 • 21min

Zanny Minton Beddoes on America, China, and a World in Flux (#262)

The global order that brought decades of peace and prosperity is coming apart. The Economist’s Editor-in-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes takes us inside the world’s power centers, where America is both admired and doubted — and China’s influence is on the rise. She reveals how shifting alliances and economic rivalries are rewriting the balance of power — with consequences that will touch us all.
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Aug 5, 2025 • 16min

No Way Out with Former Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Greg Mankiw (#261)

Imagine owing over $100,000—not for a home or college, but simply for being an American.That’s each citizen’s share of the nearly $40 trillion U.S. national debt—and it’s climbing fast. The government now spends more on interest than on Medicare or defense. Former Council of Economic Advisers Chair Greg Mankiw explains why this path is unsustainable and what it will take to fix it.He lays out five possible outcomes: some painful, some unlikely, and all politically explosive.One thing is clear: The bill is coming due.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 19min

From Bits to Brains: How AI Sees, Talks, and Learns (#260)

How does AI go from predicting the next word to powering robots that navigate the real world?Princeton computer science professor Sanjeev Arora explains how today’s models learn, adapt, and even teach themselves.From chatbots to multimodal machines that process text, images, and video, you’ll learn how it all works—and where it’s headed next.This conversation will change how you think about intelligence, language, and the future of AI.
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Jul 22, 2025 • 16min

Hype vs. Reality: Crypto and Stablecoins (#259)

Crypto runs on stablecoins — and they’re far less stable than they sound.Bloomberg investigative journalist Zeke Faux followed the money behind the scenes. What he uncovered will change the way you see digital money — and the trust it’s built on.Listen to understand the hidden forces shaping the future of money.
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Jul 15, 2025 • 19min

The Long Game: How to Build Wealth in Turbulent Times with Blackstone President Jon Gray (#258)

How do the savviest investors navigate today’s uncertainty? Jon Gray, President of Blackstone, one of the world’s most successful asset management firms, shares the timeless principles that helped grow the firm from under $1B to over $1T in assets. He reveals how to spot great businesses, invest with conviction, and think decades ahead. This episode is a masterclass in building lasting wealth—especially in turbulent and uncertain times. This is a rare window into the mindset of someone who’s helped shape a trillion-dollar investing firm.Whether you’re new to investing or a seasoned pro, this conversation will sharpen how you think.
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Jul 8, 2025 • 15min

Goodbye Baby Boom—Hello Population Bust: How a 60% Drop Could Change Everything (#257)

Global birth rates are collapsing—sometimes to half the level needed to keep populations stable. UT-Austin’s Michael Geruso explains how that trend could shrink the world’s population from eight billion to three billion in just three generations. He unpacks the silent drivers behind falling fertility, why cash incentives rarely work, and what disappearing people mean for innovation, cities, pensions, and geopolitical power. If you’ve never worried about a world that’s too small, this conversation will change your mind.
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Jul 1, 2025 • 18min

The Knowledge Illusion: How Overconfidence Shapes Our Lives (#256)

We’ve landed on the moon and built global networks—yet most of us don’t understand how a toilet works. Cognitive scientist Philip Fernbach explores the paradox of human intelligence: our success depends on shared knowledge, not personal depth. But that creates an illusion—we think we know far more than we do. How does this illusion quietly shape our politics, beliefs and risks and is it time we all got a little more curious - and less certain? 
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Jun 24, 2025 • 14min

The Surprising Science Behind Falling—and Staying—in Love (#255)

Love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a science. Arthur Aron, the psychologist behind the 36 questions that went viral, shares what really makes people fall and stay in love. You’ll hear why new experiences matter, how to deepen intimacy, and what most couples get wrong.Whether you’re looking to strengthen a relationship, connect more deeply with friends, or understand human bonding, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. 

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