80k After Hours
The 80,000 Hours team
Resources on how to do good with your career — and anything else we here at 80,000 Hours feel like releasing.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 7, 2023 • 19min
Highlights: #147 – Spencer Greenberg on stopping valueless papers from getting into top journals
Spencer Greenberg, an expert on stopping valueless papers from getting into top journals, discusses the need for better research practices in social science, such as data sharing and replication projects. He also explores the concept of importance hacking in science practice and introduces the FIRE framework for making decisions. Other topics include strategies for changing habits, factors contributing to success, and the challenges of studying success.
7 snips
Dec 1, 2023 • 1h 51min
Benjamin Todd on the history of 80,000 Hours
This episode of 80k After Hours explores the history of 80,000 Hours with Benjamin Todd. They discuss the organization's humble beginnings, scrappy early days, and its evolution. They also touch on team trips, mistakes made along the way, and the future of 80,000 Hours.
Nov 30, 2023 • 27min
Highlights: #172 – Bryan Caplan on why you should stop reading the news
Bryan Caplan, an advocate of why you should stop reading the news, discusses the negative impact of following the news on emotions and suggests alternative ways to stay informed. They explore the benefits of stopping reading the news, media bias, and balancing disaster prevention. Additionally, they address rebuttals to cutting down news consumption and the importance of base rates and rationality in decision-making.
Nov 27, 2023 • 18min
Highlights: #148 – Johannes Ackva on unfashionable climate interventions that work, and fashionable ones that don’t
This is a selection of highlights from episode #148 of The 80,000 Hours Podcast.These aren't necessarily the most important, or even most entertaining parts of the interview — and if you enjoy this, we strongly recommend checking out the full episode:Johannes Ackva on unfashionable climate interventions that work, and fashionable ones that don’tAnd if you're finding these highlights episodes valuable, please let us know by emailing podcast@80000hours.org.Highlights put together by Simon Monsour, Milo McGuire, and Dominic Armstrong
Nov 21, 2023 • 23min
Highlights: #171 – Alison Young on how top labs have jeopardised public health with repeated biosafety failures
Investigative journalist recounts biosafety failures at top labs, including a smallpox incident at NIH. Covers uncovering the truth of a military lab accident and joint effort to hold accountable. Discusses balancing research and lab safety, oversight challenges, and need for regulation of privately funded labs.
Nov 14, 2023 • 28min
Highlights: #170 – Santosh Harish on how air pollution is responsible for ~12% of global deaths — and how to get that number down
Santosh Harish, an expert on air pollution, discusses its severe impact on global public health and its contribution to approximately 12% of all deaths worldwide. He highlights sources of air pollution, such as vehicular and coal power plant emissions, as well as concerning examples like municipal waste burning and industries without pollution control equipment. The role of the judiciary in air pollution regulation in India is explored, along with the potential for progress through individual researchers and think tanks. The importance of media in creating awareness and driving change is also emphasized.
Nov 10, 2023 • 17min
Highlights: #169 – Paul Niehaus on whether cash transfers cause economic growth, and keeping theft to acceptable levels
Paul Niehaus, an expert in cash transfers and their impact on economic growth and theft levels, discusses the benefits of giving cash directly to people in need and the limitations of traditional philanthropy. He explores the concept of a multiplier effect in cash transfers and its impact on economic growth, as well as concerns and objections to Universal Basic Income (UBI). The chapter also touches on GiveDirectly's fraud case in the DRC and measures to prevent future incidents.
Nov 8, 2023 • 28min
Highlights: #168 – Ian Morris on whether deep history says we’re heading for an intelligence explosion
Ian Morris talks about the potential for an intelligence explosion, exploring the three scenarios for humanity, astonishing burials in Sungir, hunter-gatherer societies, the future of hybrid intelligence, and cycles of history and civilization development.
Nov 6, 2023 • 21min
Highlights: #167 – Seren Kell on the research gaps holding back alternative proteins from mass adoption
Seren Kell, a researcher working on alternative proteins, discusses the problems with animal agriculture and the role of fermentation in creating meat-like proteins. They explore enhancing taste through traditional fermentation techniques and highlight the potential of fungi for alternative protein production. The importance of government funding and research in advancing the industry is emphasized.
16 snips
Nov 4, 2023 • 24min
Highlights: #166 – Tantum Collins on what he’s learned as an AI policy insider at the White House, DeepMind and elsewhere
Tantum Collins, AI policy insider at the White House and DeepMind, discusses the risk of autocratic lock-in due to AI, the need for improved democratic oversight in government, misconceptions about AI in China, using language models to translate technical AI concepts, and exploring perceptions of finite resources and competing interests in AI ethics.
