How To Academy Podcast

David Brooks, a New York Times columnist and bestselling author renowned for his insights into character, dives into fostering deeper human connections. He challenges listeners to see beyond surface interactions, advocating for vulnerability and emotional understanding. Brooks explores the transformative power of storytelling in empathy and highlights the contrasting effects of 'illuminators' and 'diminishers' in relationships. He emphasizes the necessity of social skills in education and encourages authentic communication for meaningful connections.

Walter Isaacson was the editor in chief of Time magazine and CEO of CNN but he's best known to the public for his incredible biographies - including Leonardo da vinci, Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs. He is the official biographer of Elon Musk and shadowed Musk through the saga of his purchase of Twitter. He joined us in London for a conversation with Matthew d'Ancona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amy Edmondson is one of the world's most influential organisational psychologists, a professor at Harvard Business School, and an expert on the concept of psychological safety.  She joined to answer a simple, provocative question: what if it is only by learning to fail that we can truly hope to succeed? Her new book Right Kind of Wrong doesn't tell us that failure is a problem; but it doesn't tell us to fail fast, fail often either. It tells us how to fail well. She joined Hannah MacInnes to share more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marina Abramović, an artist who has pushed her mind and body to their limits for over fifty years, discusses her career and new book. Topics covered include her perspective on home, the origins of spirit cooking, the responsibility of artists, the significance of the number seven, and the concept of death in her art.

Luke O'Neill is a Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity College, Dublin and one of the world's most respected immunologists, with 6 major discoveries to his name. He's also an infectiously enthusiastic broadcaster and public advocate for science. He's also a newspaper columnist and now the author of a wildly fun new history of science called To Boldly Go Where No Book Has Gone Before. He joined the How To Acadmey Podcast to tell us about his own career, and share the stories of both the most celebrated and unsung figures in the history of science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. David Spiegel, Stanford psychiatrist with expertise on the therapeutic potential of hypnosis, joins the How To Academy to reveal what self-hypnosis can do for you. They discuss the concept of hypnosis, its relationship with sleep and meditation, managing anxiety and stress, quitting smoking, incorporating hypnosis in psychotherapy, and the true nature and benefits of hypnosis.

A global superstar following his legendary cover version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity aboard the ISS, Colonel Chris Hadfield is also an ace fighter pilot, a veteran of two space walks, the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, the former NASA Director of Operations in Russia, one of the most popular TED talkers of all time, an adviser to SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, and was personally asked by King Charles to help lead a new project to protect the space environment.He joins the How To Academy Podcast to share out-of-this-world stories from his life to date, including not only his time as an astronaut but his early days as an RCAF pilot intercepting Soviet bombers in North American airspace. His new novel The Defector – the sequel to his million-selling thriller The Apollo Murders – takes us into the world of Cold War fighter pilots in a dizzying game of spies, lies, and a possible high level defection playing out across three continents. It’s a tale sizzling with the kind of detail and authenticity that only one of the world’s best fighter pilots can provide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Neuroscientist and Philosopher Iain McGilchrist discusses the nature of the mind and brain, exploring their relevance to modern life. They explore hemisphere differences, the limits of language, the importance of relationships and context, and the implications of left and right brain hemispheres on attention and morality. The discussion also touches on tick-box assessments, evaluating art, and the potential impact of spreading information through conversations.

For decades, Philippa Gregory has thrilled us with tales of the court and the machinations of kings, queens, and courtiers. Now she turns her attention not to the lives of our rulers but the ordinary women whose lives and accomplishments are missing from the national story: a hidden history of those who had no legal presence, no voice in government and no right to own property – but still ruled, governed, and made fortunes.Highlighting the drive, ingenuity and vast contribution made, Philippa puts women back where they belong in our history – centre stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Albert Read, Managing Director of Condé Nast UK and author of 'The Imagination Muscle,' is on a mission to revive creativity. He teams up with Will Gompertz, Artistic Director of the Barbican and former BBC Arts Editor, to explore how imagination has evolved. Their lively discussion covers the myth of originality, emphasizing that new ideas often stem from existing ones. They also tackle the relationship between AI and creativity, the importance of silence and play, and how slowing down can enhance our creative processes.