Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg
Spencer Greenberg
Clearer Thinking is a podcast about ideas that truly matter. If you enjoy learning about powerful, practical concepts and frameworks, wish you had more deep, intellectual conversations in your life, or are looking for non-BS self-improvement, then we think you'll love this podcast! Each week we invite a brilliant guest to bring four important ideas to discuss for an in-depth conversation. Topics include psychology, society, behavior change, philosophy, science, artificial intelligence, math, economics, self-help, mental health, and technology. We focus on ideas that can be applied right now to make your life better or to help you better understand yourself and the world, aiming to teach you the best mental tools to enhance your learning, self-improvement efforts, and decision-making. • We take on important, thorny questions like: • What's the best way to help a friend or loved one going through a difficult time? How can we make our worldviews more accurate? How can we hone the accuracy of our thinking? What are the advantages of using our "gut" to make decisions? And when should we expect careful, analytical reflection to be more effective? Why do societies sometimes collapse? And what can we do to reduce the chance that ours collapses? Why is the world today so much worse than it could be? And what can we do to make it better? What are the good and bad parts of tradition? And are there more meaningful and ethical ways of carrying out important rituals, such as honoring the dead? How can we move beyond zero-sum, adversarial negotiations and create more positive-sum interactions?
Episodes
Mentioned books
44 snips
Oct 1, 2025 • 1h 17min
From prisoner to escaping inner prisons (with Shaka Senghor)
Shaka Senghor, a resilience expert and author, transformed his life after spending 19 years in prison. In an insightful conversation, he discusses how trauma, fear, and shame often drive violence, challenging societal narratives around crime and accountability. Shaka highlights the importance of respectful policing and community engagement, contrasts solitary confinement with productive alternatives for rehabilitation, and shares his journey towards emotional freedom. His insights pave the way for understanding and overcoming psychological barriers.
34 snips
Sep 24, 2025 • 1h 27min
A new paradigm for psychology research (with Slime Mold Time Mold)
In this engaging discussion, the Slime Mold Time Mold collective sheds light on their innovative cybernetic approach to psychology. They challenge conventional traits, insisting on identifying entities and rules for understanding behavior. Dive into how hunger and fear operate as internal governors, plus their fascinating research linking obesity and environmental factors like lithium. Expect to learn how emotions fit into this paradigm, why the Big Five might mislead, and the future directions for a richer, more mechanistic psychology.
37 snips
Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 12min
Beyond saving lives: happiness and doing good (with Michael Plant)
In this engaging discussion, Michael Plant, Founder of the Happier Lives Institute and post-doctoral researcher at Oxford, dives into the realms of happiness and charity evaluation. He examines the balance between moment-to-moment happiness and life satisfaction when guiding philanthropic efforts. Michael critiques traditional metrics like QALYs/DALYs and reveals gaps in charity effectiveness focused on wellbeing. He also delves into the moral complexities of prioritizing interventions, such as treating depression versus providing clean water, urging donors to consider happiness-based strategies.
23 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 1h 18min
Darwinian Demons: Climate Change and the AI Arms Race (with Kristian Rönn)
Kristian Rönn, an entrepreneur and author of The Darwinian Trap, discusses the urgent existential risks posed by AI, comparing them to historical threats like nuclear weapons. He emphasizes the need for global governance to mitigate these dangers and explores the complexities of climate change in relation to technology. Rönn raises critical questions about balancing innovation with caution and whether collaborative efforts can ensure emerging technologies uplift humanity. His insights into the interplay of competition and ethical dilemmas in AI development are thought-provoking.
140 snips
Sep 3, 2025 • 1h 32min
Seeing through cognitive traps (with Alex Edmans)
Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at London Business School, explores the complexities of causation versus correlation in organizational success, particularly regarding ESG criteria. He delves into the nuances of gray thinking in climate policies, arguing against binary views. The discussion touches on how cognitive biases shape understanding of diversity and company performance, countering the assumption that higher diversity guarantees better outcomes. Edmans also critiques the pressures of academic publishing and shares insights on the interplay between market dynamics and corporate responsibility.
62 snips
Aug 27, 2025 • 1h 48min
The most important century (with Holden Karnofsky)
Holden Karnofsky, a Member of Technical Staff at Anthropic and co-founder of GiveWell, dives into provocative topics about our future. He questions if we've hit 'peak progress' and whether ongoing economic growth is sustainable. Karnofsky discusses the risks of stagnation in innovation, the paradoxes of AI development, and parallels drawn between agricultural shifts and quality of life. He also reflects on the ethical complexities of aligning AI with human values, emphasizing the importance of responsible scaling in this transformative era.
33 snips
Aug 22, 2025 • 1h 14min
Should we try to live forever? (with Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston)
In this captivating discussion, neuroscientist Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston shares insights on human longevity and how it compares to other species. He examines the fascinating evolutionary trade-offs in lifespan and reproduction, while speculating on future technologies like stasis and cryonics. The conversation delves into the fluid concept of death, questioning traditional definitions and addressing consciousness and identity in light of technological advancements. Zeleznikow-Johnston challenges us to rethink our relationship with life and death, raising intriguing philosophical questions along the way.
40 snips
Aug 13, 2025 • 1h 29min
Trying to convince Spencer to be a utilitarian (with Tyler John)
Tyler John, a Visiting Scholar at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence and expert on AI ethics, dives into the evolution of utilitarianism from ancient to modern times. He discusses the delicate balance between personal values and the utilitarian principle of maximizing overall happiness. Listeners learn about the 'veil of ignorance' and its implications for ethical decision-making. Tyler also tackles the intersection of utilitarianism with AI ethics, prompting reflections on how technology shapes our moral landscape.
75 snips
Aug 6, 2025 • 1h 35min
A conversation with an autistic person (with Megan Neff)
In a thought-provoking conversation with Megan Neff, a clinical psychologist and founder of Neurodivergent Insights, they delve into the nuances of autism. Neff shares insights from her journey of self-discovery and discusses empathy in autism, challenging the misconception that autistic individuals lack emotional understanding. The duo explores the complexities of special interests, social dynamics, and the significance of stimming. They also address the intersection of autism with gender and ADHD, and highlight the need for a more inclusive understanding of neurodiversity.
22 snips
Jul 30, 2025 • 1h 31min
AI: Autonomous or controllable? Pick one (with Anthony Aguirre)
Anthony Aguirre, Executive Director of the Future of Life Institute and a professor at UC Santa Cruz, dives into the paradox of superintelligent AI. He explores whether AI can be both autonomous and controllable, and discusses the ethical ramifications of rapid AI development. Aguirre advocates for regulatory frameworks to mitigate risks and reflects on the dangers of simplistic optimization in AI metrics. He even ventures into philosophical territory by contemplating if our reality could be a simulation, raising vital questions about our future and the moral alignment of advanced technologies.
