Episodes

  • DRIVE: A Fresh Look at the Science of Motivation (with Daniel Pink)

    DRIVE: A Fresh Look at the Science of Motivation (with Daniel Pink)
    Jan 9 2025
    What drives human motivation? For years, the answer seemed simple: rewards. Dangle the right carrot — a bonus, stock options, "Employee of the Month" certificate — and people will perform. But Daniel Pink's 2009 bestseller "Drive" flipped this idea on its head. Drawing on decades of scientific research, Dan revealed that our deepest motivations come from within: the innate drive for autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Now, 15 years after "Drive" revolutionized our understanding of motivation, Dan joins us to discuss how this science has evolved and what it means for anyone trying to motivate themselves or others in today's rapidly changing world. 💿 You can find Dan's previous appearances on the show here 📰 And follow his Washington Post column "Why Not?" 🎧 Check out our Next Big Idea Classics episodes with James Clear and Kim Scott 📱 Follow The Next Big Idea on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • You Need an Editor | The Next Big Idea Daily

    You Need an Editor | The Next Big Idea Daily
    Jan 6 2025
    Want to write emails people will actually read? Author Jenn Bane is here to show you how. Her new book, which she co-wrote with Melissa Harris, is “Everybody Needs an Editor: The Essential Guide to Clear and Effective Writing.” 🎙️ Follow The Next Big Idea Daily on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
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    12 mins
  • James Clear’s Ultimate Guide to Building Good Habits (Encore)

    James Clear’s Ultimate Guide to Building Good Habits (Encore)
    Jan 2 2025
    Forming a new habit is tough. Sticking with it is even tougher. That’s probably why someone buys a copy of James Clear’s 2018 book “Atomic Habits” every 11 seconds. James breaks down the science of habit formation into simple, actionable steps anyone can take — even you. Today on the show, he talks Rufus through the four laws of behavior change, explains how small improvements compound over time to produce remarkable results, and offers easy tips you can use now to kick bad habits and adopt good ones.
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • How to Find Purpose, Meaning, and Success (2022)

    How to Find Purpose, Meaning, and Success (2022)
    Dec 26 2024
    Arthur C. Brooks used to run a prominent think tank where he was paid handsomely to influence public policy. Did all that success make him happy? Nope. So Arthur quit his job and set out to transform his life. Now he’s written a book about what he learned along the way, the #1 New York Times bestseller “From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life.” 💿 Want to listen back to our favorite episodes of 2024? Check out this playlist
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • A Curious History of the Gut | The Next Big Idea Daily

    A Curious History of the Gut | The Next Big Idea Daily
    Dec 23 2024
    Elsa Richardson shares five big ideas from her book "Rumbles: A Curious History of the Gut." 📱 Follow the Next Big Idea Daily on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ✉️ Check out our newsletter, Book of the Day 🎁 Need a last-minute gift for the readers in your life? You can get 30% off a Next Big Idea Club gift membership when you use code HOLIDAY30 at nextbigideaclub.com
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    14 mins
  • WHAT IS LIFE? (Part 2): Consciousness, AI, and Aliens

    WHAT IS LIFE? (Part 2): Consciousness, AI, and Aliens
    Dec 19 2024
    Does free will exist on a sliding scale? Will humans and AI co-evolve? Are aliens already here on earth? These are just a few of the many mind-bending questions Rufus and Sara Walker, author of “Life as No One Knows It,” explore in the second half of their conversation. 1️⃣ If you missed the first half of Sara’s interview, you can find it here 🧪 Want to hear more of our interviews with brilliant scientists? Check out this playlist 🎁 Take 20% off a Next Big Idea Club subscription or gift when you use the code PODCAST20 at nextbigideaclub.com
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    59 mins
  • WHAT IS LIFE? (Part 1): A Mind-Bending Conversation with Sara Walker

    WHAT IS LIFE? (Part 1): A Mind-Bending Conversation with Sara Walker
    Dec 17 2024
    We’ve had many bracing thinkers on this show, but Sara Walker might take the cake. A physicist and astrobiologist at Arizona State University, she's just written "Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life's Emergence," a thrilling exploration of life's origins and the search for it across the cosmos. 🕐 The second part of this conversation will be available on Thursday. If you can’t wait until then, you can hear it right now on The Next Big Idea app 🎁 Take 20% off a Next Big Idea Club subscription when you use code PODCAST20 at nextbigideaclub.com
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • How to Winter | The Next Big Idea Daily

    How to Winter | The Next Big Idea Daily
    Dec 16 2024
    It’s the winter solstice this week, which means we have officially hit the darkest time of the year. But dark doesn’t have to mean bleak. That’s the premise of “How To Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days,” a new book by Stanford-trained social psychologist Kari Leibowitz, who joins us today to share a few warming tips on how to beat the wintertime blues. 📱 Today’s episode comes from our sister podcast, The Next Big Idea Daily. Follow it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
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    13 mins