Big Think

### 🧠 What *True* Well-Being Really Means Most people think of well-being as just the absence of illness or stress. But neuroscience and social science show it's much deeper — **it's about balance** and the **flexibility to manage yourself**. #### 🔑 Key Takeaways: - **Well-being is both a capacity and a state**: It’s not just a feeling, it’s a skill you build. - **It's created from within**: Through your own actions and mindset, not something applied from outside. ### 💡 Practical Ways to Build Well-Being: 1. **Nurture strong relationships** – Prioritize time with people you care about. 2. **Take control of tech habits** – Limit addictive scrolling and overstimulation. 3. **Do what you love with people you love** – Joy and connection matter. 4. **Reflect regularly** – Ask yourself: What’s this all for? What matters? 5. **Give to others** – Acts of kindness reflect back to us emotionally. ### 🌱 A Modern View of Well-Being Includes: - **Personal agency** – Feeling in control of your choices. - **Connection to others** – A sense of belonging and shared meaning. - **Purpose** – Living in alignment with what matters to you. - **Shared storytelling** – Creating narratives of meaning and possibility with others. About Mary Helen Immordino-Yang: Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, EdD, is an expert on the psychological and neurobiological foundations of social emotion, self-awareness, and culture, and how they impact learning, development, and education. She is a Professor of Education at the USC Rossier School of Education, a Professor of Psychology at the Brain and Creativity Institute, a faculty member in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Southern California, and the Director of the USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning, and Education (CANDLE). ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The one phrase that changed Diana Nyad’s life, and set her on course to become the first person ever to conquer the 110 mile, 53 hour swim from Florida to Cuba. At 64, Diana Nyad swam 110 miles from Cuba to Florida, facing jellyfish, exhaustion, and tough ocean currents for over 53 hours. But this feat was more than just physical - it was the result of a lifetime of mental endurance. As a young swimmer, she faced sexual abuse from her coach, which derailed her Olympic dreams and left deep emotional scars. Instead of letting those experiences hold her back, she found a way to channel that pain into something powerful. She talks about developing a "steel trap mind," using her struggles as motivation to pursue her goals.Diana's journey goes beyond breaking records. It’s a powerful reminder of the human spirit's ability to persevere and heal, no matter the odds. Her swim from Cuba to Florida, completed on her fifth attempt, showcases her incredible willpower and serves as an inspiration to people everywhere. About Diana Nyad: Diana Nyad is an endurance swimmer, author, and motivational speaker best known for her 2013 record-breaking swim from Cuba to Florida at age 64. Completing the 110-mile journey without a shark cage, she demonstrated unparalleled resilience and determination. Nyad is also a bestselling author, journalist, and co-founder of EverWalk, a fitness initiative promoting community through walking. Her story of perseverance, chronicled in her memoir Find a Way, continues to inspire audiences worldwide. ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

📏 **Do we really need to measure intelligence?** In today’s culture, there's a constant push to quantify everything — including how "smart" someone is. But are test scores really telling us the full story? Our current education system defines intelligence as a student’s ability to recall and reproduce information on a standardized test. This narrow approach may reveal how well a child performs *under specific conditions*, but it says little about their **true potential**. 📚 The real issue? This system often undermines a child’s sense of agency. It trains them to solve problems crafted by others, within constraints they didn’t create — rather than exploring open-ended, real-world challenges. 🌱 Instead, we should recognize a different kind of intelligence: **Ecological, adaptive, lived intelligence** — the ability to navigate complexity, think creatively in real time, and make meaning on the fly. This is the kind of thinking our society truly needs, yet we rarely measure or nurture it. 🧠 Intelligence isn’t just about getting the “right” answer. It’s about asking new questions, adapting, inventing — and thriving in unpredictable environments. Maybe it’s time we stopped testing for conformity and started supporting **real-world intelligence**. ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**🎭 Jay Pharoah's Journey: From Impressions to Inner Power** 🔓 **"Being yourself, unapologetically, is freedom."** Jay Pharoah reflects on embracing authenticity in comedy. While impressions come naturally—“like breathing”—he once viewed them as limiting. But now? He calls them a *superpower* that draws people in, giving him the chance to reveal deeper talents. 💔 **Childhood pain, adult forgiveness** Jay opens up about the tough dynamic with his father growing up—strict discipline, even abuse. But at 17, he made peace. Forgiveness, he says, freed him from anger and fueled his drive to succeed. 🔥 **True celebration in Sydney** Performing at the iconic Opera House, Jay hit a "Dragon Ball Z-level" of energy on stage. The best part? His dad’s proud hug and heartfelt words—"I’ve never seen you like that"—meant everything. 😨 **Biggest fear? Not living up to his potential.** Jay feels destined to leave something meaningful behind. "If I don’t use my talents, it’s a wasted light." That’s the fire that drives him every day. 💡 **Blessings in disguise** Bullied and overweight as a child, Jay longed to fit in—until he realized *standouts aren't meant to*. Lonely times led to honing his voice work, turning pain into a one-of-a-kind gift. Now, he looks in the mirror and sees growth, strength, and beauty—not just the physical, but the emotional. 🕶️ To his younger self? "Hang in there. You haven’t got any booty yet, but trust me—there’s plenty in the future." 😄 —A vulnerable, funny, and uplifting self-portrait of a man still chasing greatness ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**🌍 Feeling hopeless about climate change? You're not alone — but the data tells a more hopeful story.** Oxford researcher Hannah Ritchie was once overwhelmed too. But by zooming out and studying centuries of progress, she discovered something remarkable: humanity *has* solved massive environmental problems before — and we can do it again. She breaks climate change down into four critical battlegrounds: **energy, transport, food, and construction**. The good news? We already have the tools — solar and wind are now cheaper than coal, EVs are surpassing gas cars in sales, and we can cut land use and emissions by rethinking how we farm and eat. Even cement, a notoriously dirty material, is seeing exciting innovations. But this isn't blind optimism. It's what she calls **"urgent optimism"** — knowing that change is possible, but only if we fight for it. 🔥 We’ve passed the tipping point on some trends — the rest is up to us. 👉 *Ready to see how technology, policy, and people power can rewrite our future?* Timestamps: 0:00 - An ‘insurmountable’ problem? 1:10 - 4 key targets to solve climate change 04:27 - How we reduce our emissions 09:36 - Being an ‘urgent optimist’ ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🔊 *“Meaning is what you do. It’s not what you say.”* — Godfrey Reggio This meditative episode of *Dispatches from the Well* dives into the lives of three unconventional creators — **Godfrey Reggio**, **Steve Albini**, and **Fred Armisen** — exploring how they find meaning through discipline, presence, and the refusal to follow convention. 🧘‍♂️ **Godfrey Reggio**, once a monk and social worker, became a groundbreaking filmmaker known for *Koyaanisqatsi*, a wordless reflection on humanity and technology. His chaotic studio belies his deep focus and 8+ years of obsessive labor on a single project. He believes: > *“You become what you do.”* His films challenge how we perceive the "normal" by stripping away words and relying on music, especially Philip Glass’s layered scores. Technology, to Reggio, is not neutral — it's our environment, shaping us more than we know. 🎛️ **Steve Albini**, legendary sound engineer, holds fiercely to analog audio for ethical and historical reasons. Rejecting traditional music industry profits, he sees himself not as a producer but a technician preserving cultural truth: > *“I feel like my day-to-day job is being a vector of history.”* Albini emphasizes that analog recordings will survive centuries, offering future generations a clear window into our world — unlike encrypted digital data. 🎭 **Fred Armisen**, with his trademark self-awareness, weaves humor and awkwardness into his art. His brief appearance highlights the delicate interplay between performance and authenticity. 💡 **Core Themes**: - 🎯 *Meaning through discipline*: Daily routine reveals identity. - 📽️ *Art as perception shift*: Not education, but transformation. - 🤖 *Technology’s double edge*: It connects us, yet shapes and traps us. - 📻 *Analog as legacy*: Some things are worth preserving in their purest form. ✨ A poetic meditation on creativity, presence, and our imprint on the cosmos. As Reggio says: > *“Begin, and the work shall show you how.”* ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00:00 Introduction 00:28 Why a Top Risks report? 01:31 2024 is a geopolitical recession 03:45 #10 Risky business 05:07 #9 El Niño is back 07:03 #8 No room for error 09:05 #7 The fight for critical minerals 11:23 #6 No China recovery 12:52 #5 The axis of rouges 15:50 #4 Ungoverned AI 18:53 #3 Partitioned Ukraine 21:34 #2 Middle East on the brink 24:53 #1 The US vs. Itself 28:55 The case for optimism in 2024 ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a young age, we’re taught that being alone means something’s wrong with us 😔 — that the person sitting by themselves is a *loner*. We absorb this belief early, and it shapes how we see others… and ourselves. But here’s the truth: 🔍 **Loneliness isn’t a flaw — it’s a signal.** It’s not *who* you are. It’s *what* you need. 🧭 👋 I’m Kasley Killam, author of *The Art and Science of Connection* and an expert in **social health** — the often-overlooked third pillar of wellness, alongside physical 🏃 and mental health 🧠. When we feel lonely: - 🤯 We overthink social situations - 😟 We assume people won’t like us - 🛡️ We enter interactions guarded That mindset creates a loop: 🔁 Negative belief → anxious behavior → shallow connection But it can go the other way too: 💪 Self-trust → openness → meaningful relationships 🤝 🧘‍♀️ **Self-compassion meditation** can help. It’s about redirecting the love you give others — toward *yourself*. That inner safety helps you become more vulnerable, and research shows vulnerability builds **trust and emotional intimacy**. 💞 🌍 Culture also plays a role: - In *individualistic* societies, people feel lonelier 😶‍🌫️, but have more freedom to branch out 🌱 - In *collectivist* cultures, loneliness clashes with expectations — leading to poorer health outcomes ⚠️ And yes, loneliness affects the body: - 🧬 Raises cortisol - 🔥 Increases inflammation - 🛡️ Weakens the immune system Want to reconnect? Try this: ✅ Help someone ✅ Volunteer ✅ Show up for others (and yourself) 💗 Your social life literally rewires your brain 🧠⚡ It shapes how you process pain, respond to stress, and experience joy 🎉 💡 **Loneliness is just one sign of poor social health.** Whether you feel it or not — 👉 *everyone* needs connection 👉 *everyone* should prioritize their social well-being And it all starts with the most important connection of all: ✨ The one you have with yourself 💖 ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

**🕊️ From Prison to Freedom: A Journey of Inner Liberation** Before he ever stepped into a prison cell, he was already imprisoned—by trauma, grief, and the belief that his life had no other path but death or incarceration. This gripping story traces a man’s transformation from a street-hardened teen to a soul awakened behind bars. 🚨 Shot at 17. Convicted of second-degree murder at 19. 🔒 Spent 19 years incarcerated—seven in solitary confinement. 😞 Haunted by shame, loss, and a sense of dehumanization. But inside those walls, he found **three personal miracles**: 📚 **Books** – Malcolm X’s story sparked hope and a thirst for education. 💌 **Forgiveness** – A letter from his victim’s loved one opened his heart. 👶 **Fatherhood** – His son’s words drove him to become a man worth admiring. He reimagined his prison cell as a **university**, a **creator’s den**, a **meditation room**. And when the doors finally opened—just after his 38th birthday—he stepped into the world reborn. 🌍 Now, freedom means… Dancing for no reason. Crying without shame. Being present. Loving deeply. **"Freedom is trusting that the moment you're in is divine."** —A raw and powerful reminder that true liberation starts from within. ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's an illusion around generative AI. 🤖 Headlines promise it’ll revolutionize everything, solve business problems, and displace workers. But that’s hype. Generative AI is *impressive*, yes — capable of first drafts, conversations, and mimicking human language. But it isn’t magic. It's not autonomous. You still need to proofread, verify, and correct it. ✍️ Meanwhile, **predictive AI** — the older cousin — quietly delivers real, measurable value. It improves operations by making **data-driven predictions** that inform decisions: - Who to market to 🛒 - Which transaction is likely fraud 💳 - Which train wheel or building might fail 🚂🔥 - Which patient might be readmitted 🏥 These predictions help prioritize and triage at scale — fast, autonomously, and effectively. Timestamps: 0:00 - The Generative AI illusion 1:05 - Generative AI’s function 3:13 - Generative vs. Predictive 4:21 - The Predictive AI process 6:57 - Moving towards AGI? I’m Eric Siegel — CEO of Goodr AI and author of *The AI Playbook*. I’ve watched AI hype evolve since the '80s, and I believe **value lies in action**. Predictive AI is the real engine behind enterprise optimization. Take UPS, for example. 📦 They use predictive AI to forecast tomorrow’s deliveries — even before all packages arrive — allowing for optimized routes and loading. The result? $350M saved yearly, and major emissions cuts. ♻️ It’s not about perfection. It’s about probability, scale, and deployment. Generative AI is amazing to watch — but if you're chasing **Artificial General Intelligence** (AGI), you're buying into a sci-fi dream. The real power of AI today? Concrete, credible, enterprise use cases. 🚀 Forget the hype. Focus on **what improves operations now** — and deploy it. About Eric Siegel: Eric Siegel is a leading consultant and former Columbia University and UVA Darden professor. He is the founder of the long-running Machine Learning Week conference series, a frequent keynote speaker, and author of "The AI Playbook: Mastering the Rare Art of Machine Learning Deployment," as well as the bestselling "Predictive Analytics: The Power to Predict Who Will Click, Buy, Lie, or Die." ------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices