How to Change the World: The History & Future of Innovation

Dive into the world of systems thinking, where problems aren't random but woven into the fabric of our lives. Discover how feedback loops and leverage points can create significant change from small actions. Explore the importance of reframing crises into opportunities and the perils of measuring the wrong goals. Learn why adaptability and resilience are vital in the face of complex global challenges. Sam invites you to rethink the systems that govern us and embrace hope in designing a better future.

How language and cooperation shaped our world and human society.Discover how language transformed from simple signals to complex communication, enabling us to cooperate, create cultures, and build civilizations. We explore the evolution of human imagination, the role of gossip, the development of societal morals, and the paradoxical nature of human violence and compassion.Additionally, we discuss the future of communication technology and the potential mind-blowing implications of brain-computer interfaces. Packed with insights from anthropology, psychology, and neuroscience, this episode provides a comprehensive understanding of our past and a glimpse into our possible future.ABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change.ChangeTheWorldPod.comWritten, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris.Help from:Designs - Francisca Correia (available to hire)Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)REFERENCESRichard Wrangham: Ape society lessons in human cooperation and violence - The Goodness Paradox | Demonic MalesNicholas Shea: How we make and use concepts - Concepts as Plug and Play Devices | Concepts at the InterfaceSteven Mithen: Evolution of the brain and language - Prehistory of the Mind | The Language PuzzleYuval Noah Harari: Cognitive revolution and myths - SapiensChristopher Boehm: How morals shape society - Moral OriginsTim Urban: Future of brain computer interfaces - Neuralink and the Brains Magical Future(See website for more)CHAPTERS00:00 The magic of co-operation02:26 Welcome05:09 The Compression problem08:50 ACT 1 - COGNITIVE BASIS OF LANGUAGE08:50 Biological history of languages13:46 The Interconnected Brain17:24 Complex words and stuff21:11 Teamwork22:08 ACT 2 - GOSSIP, MYTHS & RELIGION22:08 Gossip and the glue of society25:46 Myths and shared delusions30:40 Early Religions - Animism, art and penises33:37 ACT 3 - SELF-DOMESTICATION33:43 Shame and Blushing38:30 The Execution Hypothesis43:21 Reactive vs Proactive Violence46:55 Mealtimes Sharing and small town thinking52:12 ACT 4 - EVOLUTIONS OF LANGUAGE52:12 Language shifts55:59 Shame and Society58:49 Evolution of communication01:01:33 Magical Wizard Hats (Brain Computer Interfaces)01:03:58 Potential Limitations01:07:38 Predicting the future01:09:47 WRAP UP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do some ideas flourish while others fail? This podcast dives into the three biological laws that govern life and innovation. Explore how early cells competed for resources, leading to groundbreaking advancements like photosynthesis. Discover the role of natural selection in creating diversity and inequality. Learn the significance of reproduction for survival, and how historical forces like famine and war shape societies. Connect these concepts to understand why certain technologies and ideas succeed in our world.

Fire isn't just a tool; it's the core of human evolution. It shifted power dynamics, enabling early humans to fend off predators and explore new habitats. Cooking changed our anatomy, allowing us to evolve bigger brains while altering social structures around shared meals. The podcast draws parallels between fire's impact and the looming influence of AI, warning about dependency and loss of control. Ultimately, it presents fire as the original catalyst for humanity's progress, setting the stage for future innovations.

Innovations have huge impacts on humanity. We build out a system to rank world change.Everything seems so important these days:This war will BREAK the economyIf you feed your toddler THIS, you don't deserve to be a parentA new iPhone update changes EVERYTHING...We sense check what matters to humanity and what is just noise.It's easy to tell that the invention of Writing itself is more important than Velcro. But...Is Netflix more important than Baseball?Has TikTok changed the world as much as the Longbow?Was Steve Jobs more impactful than Henry VIII?History has opinions.So it's time to build a scale that lets us rationally measure global impact.Introducing the Innovation Richter Scale. A 1 to 10 rating system that lets you rank absolutely anything you can think of.NOTE - This episode expands on the Technological Richter Scale proposed by Nate Silver.ABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change.Learn more and contact us - ChangeTheWorldPod.comWritten, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris. (incl the music)Help from:Designs - Francisca Correia (available to hire)Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)ReferencesNate Silver - One The Edge (2024)Nate's book is about risk analysis and the future of AI. The final chapter proposes a Technological Richter Scale, with a page on how to use it.Zvi Mowshowitz - AI and the Technological Richter Scale (2025)A good summary of Nate's ideas, on how the scale applies to AI. Also quotes Nate's page guide for each level and argues a few changes.Chapters:00:00 Innovation Richter Scale01:47 Why create a Scale?03:47 Earthquake Metaphor06:16 Invention, Innovation, Technology06:56 Ranking Magnitude not Morality08:08 The Innovation Richter Scale - Level 1 - 1008:11 Level 1 - Shower thoughts08:29 Level 2 - Actioned Idea (In private)08:49 Level 3 - Public ideas (Not popular)10:17 Level 4 - Popular and commercial ideas11:08 Level 5 - Defining Brand12:38 Level 6 - Innovation of the year15:59 Level 7 - Innovation of the Decade18:19 Level 8 - Innovation of the Century21:29 Level 9 - Innovation of the Era23:53 Level 10 - Species Epoch28:31 Part 2 - Using the scale29:45 Weapons & Tools of Death - Brands, Categories and Concepts33:58 Politics & Population Impact - Local, Continental and Global38:00 Questions without answers38:38 Sports & Religion - Emotional Impact and Purpose41:01 Peter Thiel and Chess41:47 Religion and Personal Beliefs in interpreting the scale43:33 Roundup conclusions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the slow pace of technological progress in human history, highlighted by the unchanged stone axe for centuries. Discover the barriers that stifled early innovation, from survival pressures to cultural resistance. Learn about the pivotal role of grandmothers in passing down knowledge and the unique marriage customs of isolated tribes. Delve into how geography and demography shaped innovation, contrasting development in Eurasia and the Americas. Finally, reflect on the importance of long-term thinking for future progress.

This engaging journey dives into the fascinating evolution of innovation from our earliest ancestors to modern tech marvels. It examines the interplay between history and change, highlighting key milestones that shaped our world. The host shares personal experiences that fuel curiosity and ambition, while emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary thinking. Listeners are invited to reflect on how past advancements influence our present and future, igniting a spark for innovative breakthroughs.

What is the best way to tackle the question "How to change the world"? Learn about our plan to dissect the history and future of innovation.This show will dissect how the world really works and the impact of the biggest inventions that lead to a step change. We'll also tell the stories of the greatest innovators from history and understand their mental models, mindsets and habits.In this promo, Host Sam Webster Harris explains in 2 minutes what he'll be doing for the next 10 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.