Information Theory

Luca Lampariello grew up monolingual in Rome. At 10, his teacher told him he simply wasn't cut out for language learning. Today, he speaks 15 languages – 10 of them fluently – and runs one of the largest polyglot YouTube channels in the world.In this conversation, we cover: why he was bad at Italian before he was good at anything else, the role his 90-year-old grandmother played in shaping his curiosity, how watching American movies transformed his English in months, what he thinks about the "critical period" hypothesis, his 70/20/10 rule for language acquisition, and why he believes the biggest barrier to accent mastery is psychological, not biological.0:46 Luca's Monolingual Childhood and Grandmother's Influence2:43 "I Was Actually Pretty Poor at My Native Language"5:52 "I Wanted to Be Like an American" – How Luca Learned English11:55 Can Anyone Learn a Foreign Language to Fluency?16:35 A Concrete Learning Plan: The American in Italy20:16 The 70/20/10 Rule for Input, Output, and Grammar21:41 The Critical Period Hypothesis – Can Adults Sound Like Natives?25:36 Why Some Immigrants Never Lose Their Accent29:51 Luca's Journey Through German, Spanish, Dutch, and Russian34:42 "Japanese Rejected Me – But I'm Going Back With a Vengeance"37:32 What Are The Most Beautiful Languages? Greek, German, Russian

In this engaging conversation, David Bessis, a mathematician and author, challenges the notion that mathematical talent is genetically determined. He discusses the concept of 'secret math'—metacognitive tricks shared informally among mathematicians. Bessis emphasizes the detrimental role of fear in learning math and recounts his journey from PhD failure to success. He also shares playful teaching methods for kids, advocating for a transformative approach to math education, including mentorship and fostering creativity.

David Moser, a linguistics scholar at Capital Normal University and author of A Billion Voices, shares his insights on learning Chinese. He discusses the complex challenges posed by Chinese characters, which hinder phonetic learning. Moser reflects on China’s transformation in the 1980s, the debate over a unified national language, and the balance between cultural identity and practicality in language. He emphasizes immersive learning techniques for mastering Mandarin and offers advice for new learners to prioritize speaking and listening.

Professor Avi Loeb is a theoretical physicist who was the longest-serving chair of Harvard University's Department of Astronomy.In this episode, we talk about the possible extraterrestrial origins of Oumuamua, the eventual fate of our solar system, and how mainstream academia suppresses risk-taking and innovation.0:00 Introduction1:46 The Discovery of Oumuamua8:05 Light Sails and Space Trash: An Artificial Origin for Oumuamua?12:53 Do Extraordinary Claims require Extraordinary Evidence?21:11 Why the Oumuamua Hypothesis generated so much Pushback26:14 How Academia Suppresses Risk-Taking and Innovation30:27 Advice for Young Scientists37:14 What Percentage of Astrophysics Research is Worthless?45:07 The Discovery of the First Interstellar Meteor52:16 What the US Government secretly knows about UAPs1:04:42 The Fermi Paradox and the Dark Forest hypothesis1:12:11 Conclusion"On the Possibility of an Artificial Origin for `Oumuamua" https://arxiv.org/pdf/2110.15213

Stephen Hsu, a theoretical physicist and tech entrepreneur, shares insights from his diverse career. He discusses the intricacies of research funding, shedding light on how financial priorities shape scientific innovation. Hsu also tackles the replication crisis, examining its implications for scientific credibility. He reflects on the evolution of computational genomics and challenges in linking theory to data. Additionally, he critiques the concept of 'the great stagnation' in scientific progress, advocating for a reassessment of how we gauge technological advancements.

Daniel Everett is a linguist and anthropologist whose work has challenged long-standing beliefs about human language and cognition.In 1977, Dan journeyed deep into the Amazon rainforest as a Christian missionary to live among an indigenous tribe of hunter-gatherers known as the Pirahã.He is the author of several acclaimed books, including "Don't Sleep, There are Snakes" and "How Language Began". Outline0:00 Episode highlight1:43 First arrival in the Amazon4:00 Unique attributes of the Pirahã language6:53 Noam Chomsky's influence on Linguistics12:05 Lessons from raising Children in the Jungle24:31 The Failure of Missionary Work36:53 Everett's most controversial paper49:51 How UG took over Linguistics57:44 The Future of the Pirahã