Smart People Podcast

With the international sensation, critical favorite, and New York Times bestseller Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari unleashed a global phenomenon. His electrifying debut resonated with notable public figures: the book was lauded by President Obama, Bill Gate, Sebastian Junger, and Mark Zuckerberg. In this episode we discuss Sapiens, as well as his newest endeavor, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, leading sales trainer, researcher and CEO of Hoffeld Group, David Hoffeld blends cutting-edge research in social psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics, to show you the best way to sell. He explains how to align the way you sell with how our brains naturally form buying decisions, dramatically increasing your ability to earn more sales. Hoffeld’s evidence-based approach connects the dots between science and situations salespeople and business leaders face every day to help you consistently succeed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest this week is an award winning sports journalist and Golf Digest's digital editor. So naturally, we start off the episode talking about digital content, the future of writing and publishing, and of course...golf. But the main focus of the interview is the essential life skill of "learning to lose". Sam shares with us what he uncovered in his interviews and all of the tips to being a good loser, and therefore a real winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawrence Levy is a Silicon Valley lawyer and executive hired by Steve Jobs in 1994 as CFO and member of the Office of the President of Pixar Animation Studios. He was responsible for Pixar's business strategy and IPO and guided Pixar's transformation from a money-losing graphics company into a multibillion-dollar entertainment studio. He later joined Pixar's board of directors. He then left corporate life to study Eastern philosophy and meditation and their relevance to modern life. He now writes and teaches on this topic and cofounded Juniper Foundation to pursue this work. Originally from London, England, he earned degrees from Indiana University and Harvard Law School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest this week believes capitalism is broken, and he makes a pretty good argument to support this. He explains how capitalism as a system has spawned deepening economic crisis alongside its bought-and-paid-for political establishment. Neither of these outcomes serves the needs of our society. Our guest this week believes he has the solution - a cure for capitalism. In this episode, world renowned economist, Dr. Richard Wolff, offers a fair critique of capitalism and advocates for a worker cooperative based economy. This solution requires the institution of genuine economic democracy, starting with workers directing their own workplaces, as the basis for a genuine political democracy. According to Dr. Wolff, what most people don't realize is that worker cooperatives are actually larger than conventional businesses, survive at least as long as other businesses, and have more stable employment. Tune in and get your smart people economics fix! Dr. Richard D. Wolff is professor of economics emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is currently a visiting professor at the New School for Social Research in New York. Wolff is the author of many books, including his newest, Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism. He is also the founder of Democracy at Work, a 501(c)3 organization that conceives, creates, and distributes content aimed at demonstrating why, and how, democratizing the workplace is a feasible solution to a new and better economic system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we welcome to the podcast Jerome Hardaway, Executive Director of Vets Who Code. Jerome is an Air Force veteran, alumni/Opportunity Fund recipient of General Assembly's Web Development Immersive Program, and Panelist on the Ruby Rogues podcast. Vets Who Code is a non-profit dedicated to filling the wide chasm between technical expertise needed and available to America’s best. Vets Who Code is looking to close the digital talent gap and ease career transition for military veterans, through software development training. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we interview consultant and executive coach, Doug Hensch, and we discuss his brand new book, Positively Resilient: 5 1/2 Secrets to Beat Stress, Overcome Obstacles, and Defeat Anxiety. Doug shares with us lessons learned over 20 years of experience that can help you increase your resilience, so that you can grow in the face of change, and thrive in the midst of adversity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we welcome back former guest, Jonathan Levi. Jonathan is an entrepreneur, and an expert in speed reading and advanced memorization. His online course is ranked as one of the top selling of all time on Udemy and has been personally recommended by the CEO. Jonathan appeared on Smart People Podcast nearly 2 years ago in Episode 167 where he explained how to become a super learner and a speed reader. Get a free trial of Jonathan's new course (and 10% off if you purchase) at jle.vi/spp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show we speak with leading psychologist, Dr. Jessica Tracy. Dr. Tracy is professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, where she also directs the Emotion & Self Lab and she is also the author of the brand new book, Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, in 2005. Her research focuses on emotions and emotion expressions, and, in particular, those emotions that are most intricately intertwined with our sense of self: pride, shame, and guilt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Bailey - A Life of Productivity. In this episode we speak with productivity expert Chris Bailey and learn the best ways to transform our life by getting done the things that are most important. The Productivity Project—and the lessons Chris learned—are the result of that year-long journey, and we are going to share them with you today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices