

How To Academy Podcast
How To Academy
How To Academy is London's home of big thinking. From Nobel laureates to Pulitzer Prize winners, we invite the world’s most influential voices to share new ideas for changing ourselves, our communities, and the world. Our biweekly podcast is your chance to hear in-depth from the most exciting thinkers in global culture.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 9, 2024 • 1h 11min
Gary Stevenson – Confessions of a Trader
Gary Stevenson, the youngest and most profitable trader in the city, shares his journey of betting against the economy. Topics include the intense atmosphere of the trading floor, unexpected profits during a financial crisis, the duality of wealth and personal fulfillment, ethical dilemmas of wealth and responsibility, reflections on wealth inequality, and exploring the housing crisis and wealth disparities.

Apr 5, 2024 • 1h 14min
Classicists Mary Beard and Jo Quinn - Who Made The West?
Classicists Mary Beard and Jo Quinn challenge the conventional view of Western civilization's origins, exploring hidden histories of women in Roman and Persian civilizations. They discuss reevaluating ancient civilizations, evolving perspectives on civilizations, and navigating complexities of ancient history, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of historical narratives.

Apr 2, 2024 • 1h 17min
Neuroscientist Charan Ranganath meets Robin Ince - Why We Remember
Neuroscientist Charan Ranganath discusses memory's flawed nature, its impact on learning and decision-making. The podcast explores music's connection to memory, emotional triggers, and memory distortion. It touches on shared memories' evolution, memory's role in identity, visual perception, and emotional memory recall.

10 snips
Mar 26, 2024 • 1h 19min
Harvard's Christopher Palmer - Metabolism and Mental Health
Harvard psychiatrist Christopher Palmer delves into a metabolic approach to mental health, discussing the impact of diet on mental wellbeing. Topics include the generational effects of sweeteners on mental health, dietary strategies for metabolic health, and how to reclaim mental wellness through practical advice.

8 snips
Mar 22, 2024 • 59min
Diplomat Christiana Figueres and former Unilever CEO Paul Polman - How to Fight the Climate Crisis
Diplomat Christiana Figueres and former Unilever CEO Paul Polman discuss the importance of the 1.5 degrees Celsius target in fighting climate change. They explore the dilemma between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius, the impact of historical notions of superiority on nature, and the need for corporations to shift towards sustainable profit. The conversation also delves into embracing pain for social change and the intersection of personal responsibility and systemic transformation.

Mar 20, 2024 • 1h 14min
Justin Webb Meets Brian Klaas - Why Everything We Do Matters
Discover how seemingly insignificant events can lead to profound consequences in our lives and society, as social scientist Brian Klaas debunks the myth of control. From historical decisions to personal revelations, chaos theory, and the butterfly effect, this podcast explores the wild and fascinating reality of interconnected lives and the ripple effects of our actions.

9 snips
Mar 15, 2024 • 1h 4min
Neuroscientist Tali Sharot - How to See the World Anew
Neuroscientist Tali Sharot discusses habituation and how we become indifferent to our surroundings over time. She shares tips on keeping life exciting and vital, from the workplace to world news, and explores the impact of habituation on creativity, mental health, and beliefs. The podcast also touches on the slippery slope of deception and obedience to authority, highlighting the need to address lies early on to prevent escalation.

Mar 12, 2024 • 36min
Philosopher Tom Chatfield - How Technology Changes Humanity, From Fire to AI
Philosophy Tom Chatfield loves technology and the humanities with equal passion, and has spent a lifetime thinking about our relationship to the devices we shape and that in turn shape us. Neither a luddite nor a utopian, he seeks to tell a new and more nuaunced story about the role of technology in our evolution and in our present.Should we be frightened of the rise of AI and the extermination of desirable jobs? Are Silicon Valley stories like the Singularity legitimate possibilities for our future or only folktales for a digital age? What can the Amish teach us about when to embrace new gadgets? You'll discover the answer to these questions and more on this episode of the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 8, 2024 • 32min
Novelist Kiley Reid - Come and Get It
The author of the New York Times bestseller Such a Fun Age returns with a tale of campus politics, desire, and bad behaviour.How much of yourself are you willing to trade to get what you want? Unfolding in a University of Arkansas dormitory, Kiley Reid's new novel Come and Get It is a smart, stylish and scathing investigation of our money-obssessed society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 5, 2024 • 1h 1min
Neuroscientist Dr Richard Restak – How To Prevent Dementia
Neurologist and professor Richard Restak has dedicated his life to the science of brain health. Now he returns to How To Academy to share more ways to strengthen our memory and prevent the onset of Alzheimer's. From memory tricks to new friendships, learn how to protect your memory, while making life more vivid along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


