Learn what's in store for you on the show.

What will be in the podcast "How to change the world", and how are we going to dissect the history and future of innovation?

Host Sam Webster Harris explains in 2 minutes what he'll be doing for the next 10 years.

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"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it" - Alan Watts

This opening episode invites you on a journey—not just through time, but through perspective. From fire-starting hominids to spacefaring technologists, we trace the ripples of human imagination that turned tools into empires, and sparks into systems. You’ll learn why context matters more than content, why change is rarely neat or obvious, and why innovation is less about genius and more about persistence, curiosity, and timing.

This podcast starts with history and shapes how we understand the systems behind change, so you can shape what comes next:

• See innovation as a chain reaction—not a lightning bolt
• Learn to connect dots others haven’t noticed
• Hear why the best ideas never arrive on schedule—and why that’s a good thing

If you're curious, optimistic, and even a little lost. You're in the right place.

00:00 Introduction: The Dawn of Human Influence

02:22 A Journey Through Time

05:10 The Plan for the Podcast

07:08 What counts as an innovation

08:31 Release Schedule

09:40 Beyond a history podcast

10:54 Why this point in history

12:34 A map is not a blueprint

14:24 Why am I doing this?

17:19 Why should you listen? - understanding civilization

18:29 Psychology and Innovation

19:01 Bias and Hindsight

19:37 Illusion of obviousness

20:32 Gratitude - Understanding - Curiosity

20:34 The Myth of Stability

21:42 7 Core Principles of the Show

21:51 1 - Interdisciplinary Thinking

22:34 2 - Systems Thinking

23:21 3 - Understanding of knowledge

25:01 4 - Context

26:06 5 - No current affairs and politics

27:14 6 - Side Quests

28:23 7 - Optimism

29:26 Mission and sign off

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Timeless lessons on what lies at the core of human progress.

This episode sets the scene:

• What were we doing for 97% of our existence?
• Why were we so slow at innovating?
• How did we eventually overcome these fundamental forces?

By asking these questions, we follow a natural journey. From personal pressures to global forces that blocked development. The answers hold many insights for today when we think about innovation.

As we begin our expedition through history, following the creation of our modern world.

This episode is ground zero.

Chapters:

00:00 The Hand Axe Conundrum

01:53 Episode Goals

03:45 #1 - SURVIVAL

04:21 Energy requirements

06:30 Time Scarcity

08:59 Risk and Psychological Safety

11:17 #2 - Culture

12:41 Why people hate new ideas

15:25 The Grandmother Hypothesis

16:21 Widowhood statistics

17:46 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing

19:27 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis

20:36 #3 - Knowledge

22:42 Losing knowledge

24:04 Maths

24:52 Communication and Language

25:53 Ice Age Picasso Paradox

27:06 #4 - Mobility Constraints

28:05 Nomadism

30:22 Racism, war, and travel complications

32:07 Trade Issues

34:02 Feasting examples

35:39 Eurasia vs America Development

37:45 #5 - Population Density

39:20 Evolution of Multicellular Life

41:48 Dunbars Number

43:43 Mortality Rates

46:37 Historical demographics

48:18 Lessons - How we beat the 5 locks

51:47 Conclusion - Innovation isn't about Geniuses

54:36 REFLECTIONS - Innovation cycles

57:43 Modern Innovation Blockers

01:06:01 What can you do

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