Big Think

• 5 conversation skills that enhance your rational brain | Irshad Manji

  Educator Irshad Manji emphasizes that diversity is a fact of life, and it should be harnessed to unite society rather than divide it. Recognizing that humans tend to react defensively to opposing views, she offers five key skills to promote constructive conversations. These include 1) taking deep breaths to facilitate rational thinking, 2) intentionally establishing common ground, 3) genuinely inquiring about the other person's perspective, 4) actively listening to learn rather than to win, and 5) encouraging further dialogue by asking "Tell me more." Adopting these skills can lead to healthier outcomes in contentious conversations and foster collaboration. Ultimately, an individual's ability to engage in productive discussions depends on their motivation. It is essential to reflect on one's intentions, choosing between a genuine desire to solve problems or a need to assert moral superiority. Only by making the right choice can we hope to harness the power of diversity for the greater good. 0:00 Our defensive brains 1:52 How ‘slam dunking’ backfires 3:05 The 5-part toolkit 3:27 Skill #1: Breathe deeply (give your brain oxygen) 4:06 Skill #2: Create common ground 4:40 Skill #3: Ask a sincere question 5:16 Skill #4: Listen to learn 6:15 Skill #5: “Tell me more” 7:31 The most uncomfortable question ------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Why men and boys are struggling | Richard Reeves

  “People warned me against writing a book about boys and men.” Richard Reeves explains the big problems facing men today – and why no one is talking about them. "Are men and boys in crisis? In his book “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It”, Richard Reeves, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, explores several of the key challenges facing boys and men, including the friendship recession, the evolving nature of marriage, and the gender pay gap. To Reeves, these problems are generally structural, not individual, and the interventions tried so far haven't been very effective. The friendship recession is particularly affecting men, with the percentage of men who report having no close friends showing a fivefold increase compared to the 1990s. This social isolation can lead to numerous mental health issues and negatively impact their overall well-being. Meanwhile, marriage patterns have also shifted, creating a growing class divide, with educated couples more likely to marry and stay together than their less-educated counterparts. This divide exacerbates economic and social inequalities. Reeves argues that we ought to confront the crises facing boys and men in a deliberate and thoughtful manner. By addressing these challenges head-on, society can work toward a more equitable and inclusive future where both men and women can thrive." 0:00 Meet Richard Reeves 0:20 Part 1: The challenges facing boys and men 3:44 What is the education landscape like today for men and women? 8:37 How does brain development impact education? 12:46 Are boys more likely to be diagnosed with developmental disabilities? 16:59 What changes could we make to help boys in education? 18:52 Why do most men today earn less than men did 40 years ago? 22:58 Which occupations are the most gender segregated? 27:16 Which skills impact male employability? 28:50 How has fatherhood changed? 33:45 How is all of this affecting the well-being of men? 37:06 Part 2: The friendship recession 39:17 What was the traditional view of friendship? 40:47 What factors are getting in the way of people having more friends? 45:29 Why is it so hard to make friends as one gets older? 48:15 What are the negative impacts of not having friends? 50:15 Why is it beneficial to have diversity amongst your friends? 53:08 Part 3: The death of marriage 57:00 How has the concept of marriage in America changed? 1:03:12 Is marriage now more about love than necessity? 1:05:18 What is the future of marriage? 1:08:40 Part 4: The gender pay gap 1:13:24 Why is there still a pay gap for women? 1:18:36 Who else is affected by a pay gap? 1:21:14 Would you change anything about "Of Boys and Men"? 1:23:41 What do you hope to achieve with your book? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Inside a real genius club: the Santa Fe Institute

  Complexity arises in any system in which multiple agents interact and adapt to one another and their environments. Examples of these complex systems include the nervous system, the Internet, ecosystems, economies, cities, and civilizations. Complexity science explores all of those systems, and more. And at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico, the globe’s smartest minds are researching across disciplines, cultures, and schools of thought to answer the biggest questions in science and philosophy. Our host Kmele Foster stepped into the Santa Fe Institute — renowned for its collaborative environment of vast disciplines and schools of thought — to speak with some of the most eccentric and genius minds in our world today. ------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Physicist Brian Cox explains quantum physics in 22 minutes

  "Quantum mechanics and quantum entanglement are becoming very real. We're beginning to be able to access this tremendously complicated configuration space to do useful things." With a topic as seemingly complicated as quantum physics, where can you start if you want to build your understanding? In just 22 minutes, physicist and professor Brian Cox unpacks the subatomic world, beginning with the theories as we understand them today. Chapters: 0:00 The subatomic world 1:23 A shift in teaching quantum mechanics 2:48 Quantum mechanics vs. Classic theory 6:07 The double slit experiment 11:31 Complex numbers 13:53 Sub-atomic vs. Perceivable world 16:40 Quantum entanglement About Brian Cox: Brian Cox obtained a first class honors degree in physics from the University of Manchester in 1995 and in 1998 a Ph.D. In High Energy Particle Physics at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg. He is now Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society. Brian is widely recognized as the foremost communicator for all things scientific, having presented a number of highly acclaimed science programs for the BBC watched by billions internationally including ‘Adventures in Space and Time’ (2021), ‘Universe’ (2021), ‘The Planets’ (2018), ‘Forces of Nature’ (2016), ‘Human Universe’ (2014), ‘Wonders of Life’ (2012), ‘Wonders of the Universe’ (2011) and ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ (2010). As an author, Brian has also sold over a million books worldwide including ‘Black Holes’, ‘Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos’, ‘Quantum Universe’ and ‘Why Does E=mc2?’ with co-author Professor Jeffrey Forshaw. He has set several world records for his sell-out live tours, including his most recent tour Horizons which has taken in venues across the globe. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes ------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Freezing time in your best years, not your end years | Dr. Morgan Levine

  Age expert Dr. Morgan Levine explains why living to 100 is the wrong goal. Dr. Morgan Levine suggests that we should aim for living better, not just longer. In her book, “True Age,” Levine introduces the idea of healthspan, which is about staying healthy and enjoying life, rather than merely adding years to it. She explores the concept of “compression of morbidity,” a goal to squeeze most of our inevitable ailments into a short period before we die, mirroring the patterns seen in people who live to 100 or more. Levine also highlights a paradox: Women generally outlive men, but they also endure more age-related illnesses. Ultimately, she argues that the benefits of longevity science should be accessible to everyone, with the goal of health disparities rather than increasing them. 0:00 The immortality obsession 0:30 The male-female survival paradox 1:34 Prolonging healthy life 2:07 Squeezing morbidity into fewer years 3:05 LIfe extension for all ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Morgan Levine: Morgan Levine was previously a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the department of Pathology at Yale University where she ran the Laboratory for Aging in Living Systems. In 2022, she was recruited to join Altos Labs as a Founding Principal Investigator at the San Diego Institute of Science. She currently leads a research group at Altos Labs working at the intersection of bioinformatics, cellular biology, complex systems, and biostatistics with the overall goal of understanding the molecular trajectories aging cells, tissues, and organisms take through time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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