The Next Big Idea Club

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23 FEB

Michael Pollan on the Mystery of Consciousness

Five years ago, Michael Pollan — the acclaimed author of The Botany of Desire, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and How to Change Your Mind — went looking for an answer to one of life's great mysteries: "How does three pounds of brain matter generate subjective experience?" The result is his luminous new book, A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness, which comes out tomorrow. Great journalists like Michael have a nose for story and a knack for timing. Both are on display in A World Appears. It's a page-turner teeming with maverick characters. It's a startling look at the emerging science of plant sentience. And it's an urgent exploration of a question we can't afford to ignore: Could consciousness — that is, "subjective or felt experience," the trippy miracle that when we open our eyes, a world appears — emerge in AI? * * * A World Appears is the Next Big Idea Club’s latest selection. To get an early copy, a personal note from Michael, and an invitation to a Q&A with him on March 10, become a member at nextbigideaclub.com⁠⁠. Code PODCAST gets you a super secret discount (spoiler: it’s 20% off). If you enjoyed this episode, check out our conversations with Antonio Damasio, David Chalmers (here and here), Sara Walker, Paul Bloom, Robert Sapolsky, Sam Harris, and Gaurav Suri and Jay McClelland. Watch The Next Big Idea on YouTube! You can find our episodes ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Follow Rufus on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, subscribe to our ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠, or send us an email at ⁠podcast@nextbigideaclub.com⁠. We love getting fan mail. Sponsored By: Bitdefender — Get 30% off your plan at bitdefender.com/idea Factor — Head to ⁠factormeals.com/idea50off⁠ and use code idea50off to get 50% off your first box Granola — Get three months free at granola.ai/idea Shopify — Start your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/nbi⁠⁠⁠

23 Feb

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1h 17m
26 FEB

Inside the Most Creative Friendship in History

On the surface, Ian Leslie's book John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs is a dual biography of the greatest songwriting duo the world has ever seen. So not exactly standard Next Big Idea territory. But what’s remarkable about Ian's book, which I've been pressing on everyone I know, whether they're Beatlemaniacs or the opposite (i.e., Rolling Stones fans), is that through the narrative of this tender, tempestuous, radically inventive partnership — romance, really — genuinely big ideas emerge about creativity, vulnerability, and how to get by with a little help from your friends. Watch The Next Big Idea on YouTube! You can find our episodes ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Follow Rufus on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, subscribe to our ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠, or send us an email at ⁠podcast@nextbigideaclub.com⁠. We love getting fan mail. Sponsored By: Bitdefender — Get 30% off your plan at bitdefender.com/idea Factor — Head to ⁠factormeals.com/idea50off⁠ and use code idea50off to get 50% off your first box Granola — Get three months free at granola.ai/idea Shopify — Start your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/nbi⁠⁠⁠

26 Feb

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1h 1m
19 FEB

The Science of Change

The only constant is change. You’ve heard it a thousand times. But here’s what the cliche leaves out: Change may be inevitable, but how you respond to it — and who you become because of it — that part’s up to you. Maya Shankar knows a thing or two about this. She’s studied change as a cognitive scientist, explored it on her podcast “A Slight Change of Plans,” and now written a book — The Other Side of Change — about how the hardest moments of our lives can transform us … for the better. In the book, she tells remarkable stories of people overcoming colossal change — debilitating diagnoses, amnesia, incarceration — and extracts universal lessons grounded in the latest science. “When a big change happens to us,” she tells us in this episode, “it can feel like a personal apocalypse of sorts. And that the word apocalypse comes from the Greek word apokálypsis, which actually means revelation. That etymology is instructive. Change can upend us, yes. But it can also reveal things to us.” * * * Watch The Next Big Idea on YouTube! You can find our episodes ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Follow Rufus on ⁠LinkedIn⁠, subscribe to our ⁠Substack⁠, or send us an email at podcast@nextbigideaclub.com. We love getting fan mail. The best way to support the show is by becoming a Next Big Idea Club member. Learn more at ⁠nextbigideaclub.com⁠, and use code PODCAST for a super secret discount (spoiler: it’s 20% off). That Tim Kreider essay we quoted is called “Reprieve,” and you can find it in his wonderful book We Learn Nothing. The George Saunders clip comes from his lovely conversation with David Marchese, co-host of “The Interview.” You can listen to it here. Sponsored By: Bitdefender — Get 30% off your plan at bitdefender.com/idea Factor — Head to factormeals.com/idea50off and use code idea50off to get 50% off your first box Shopify — Start your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠shopify.com/nbi⁠⁠

19 Feb

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52 min
3 DAYS AGO

Do We Even Need Politicians?

“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers,” sneers a rebel henchman in Shakespeare’s “Henry VI.” Hélène Landemore, a political scientist at Yale, has another idea: let’s fire all the politicians. She has a point, doesn’t she? Most of ’em are beholden to donors, allergic to accountability, and more interested in stuffing their reelection coffers than serving the public good. But what’s the alternative? Well, Hélène believes we could break the partisan gridlock and restore public trust by letting ordinary citizens, chosen at random, set the agenda and craft legislation. That may sound preposterous, but in her new book, Politics Without Politicians, she blends examples from ancient Athens to modern-day France to show citizen rule in action and argue that it might just save democracy. This episode was guest-hosted by one of our favorite citizens, Michael Kovnat. If you’d like more of his dulcet tones and shrewd insights, check out his daily podcast (The Next Big Idea Daily) and newsletter (Book of the Day). Watch The Next Big Idea on YouTube! You can find our episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sponsored By: Bitdefender — Get 30% off your plan at ⁠bitdefender.com/idea⁠ Factor — Head to ⁠⁠factormeals.com/idea50off⁠⁠ and use code idea50off to get 50% off your first box Granola — Get three months free at ⁠granola.ai/idea⁠ Shopify — Start your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/nbi⁠⁠⁠⁠

3 days ago

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55 min
12 FEB

Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life

Do you ever feel like you're drowning in health advice? Eat this, not that. Take this supplement, but only after popping this other one first. Here’s the good news: Most of it doesn't matter. In Eat Your Ice Cream, renowned physician Ezekiel Emanuel shares six simple rules for living longer — and gives you permission to ignore pretty much everything else. The Next Big Idea is now on YouTube! You can find our episodes ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out our interviews with Russell Foster, Tim Spector, Casey Means, Kelly McGonigal, Chris van Tulleken, and Eric Topol. Follow Rufus on ⁠LinkedIn⁠, subscribe to our ⁠Substack⁠, or send us an email at podcast@nextbigideaclub.com. The best way to support the show is by becoming a Next Big Idea Club member. Learn more at ⁠nextbigideaclub.com⁠, and use code PODCAST for a super secret discount (spoiler: it’s 20% off). Today’s episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to factormeals.com/idea50off and use code idea50off to get 50% off your first Factor box plus free breakfast for one year. We’re also sponsored by Shopify. Start your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠shopify.com/nbi⁠⁠.

12 Feb

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1h 11m
5 FEB

A Practical Guide to Achieving Excellence

If you’ve spent any time on social media in the last few years, you’ve probably noticed the rise of what Brad Stulberg calls “hustle-culture greatness” — influencers who promote labyrinthine morning routines, ruthlessly optimized habits, and ascetic self-discipline. “That is not excellence,” says Brad. “That is a bunch of elaborate kabuki that masquerades as the real thing.” The real thing is about challenging yourself in worthwhile endeavors, focusing on what matters most, and expressing the unique qualities that make you who you are. In a word, excellence. Today, we’ll teach you how to pursue it. Brad’s new book, The Way of Excellence, is out now. Pick up a copy on Amazon, Audible, or Bookshop.org. The Next Big Idea is now on YouTube! You can find our episodes ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out Brad’s last appearance on the show. Follow Rufus on ⁠LinkedIn⁠, subscribe to our ⁠Substack⁠, or send us an email at podcast@nextbigideaclub.com. The best way to support the show is by becoming a Next Big Idea Club member. Learn more at ⁠nextbigideaclub.com⁠, and use code PODCAST for a super secret discount (spoiler: it’s 20% off). We have two great sponsors for today’s episode. The first is Factor. Head to factormeals.com/idea50off and use code idea50off to get 50% off your first Factor box plus free breakfast for one year. The second is Shopify. Start your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠shopify.com/nbi⁠⁠.

5 Feb

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1h 5m
6 DAYS AGO

Cade Metz and Kevin Roose on the Rise of AI

• Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World by Cade Metz • Futureproof: 9 Rules for Surviving in the Age of AI by Kevin Roose Sponsored By: Shopify — Start your $1/month trial at ⁠shopify.com/daily⁠ Notion — Try Custom Agents now at ⁠notion.com/daily

6 days ago

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31 min
2 DAYS AGO

Space Babies and Martian Bones: How Leaving Earth Will Change Our Bodies

We're closer than ever to living on Mars — but evolution won't wait for us to get there. Sponsored By: Shopify: Start your $1/month trial at ⁠shopify.com/daily⁠ Notion: Try Custom Agents now at ⁠notion.com/daily

2 days ago

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22 min
16/12/2025

FLOURISH: Daniel Coyle on the Art and Science of Feeling Alive

What does it mean to flourish? According to author Daniel Coyle, flourishing is “joyful, meaningful growth — shared.” But how do you achieve that enviable state? The answer lies in Dan’s forthcoming book, “Flourish,” which you can pre-order now on Amazon, Audible, or Bookshop.org. Highlights: (5:11) Life isn't a treasure hunt; it’s more like treasure creation (14:15) The $90 million deli that said no to Disney (20:40) Your brain’s two attention systems (58:00) The rule of the beautiful mess (65:07) Why you should open yellow doors Sponsored By: GoDaddy | Get a domain and professional email plan for just $0.99/month at Godaddy.com/GDNOW Aura Frames | Get $35 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code IDEA at auraframes.com The Next Big Idea Club | Know someone who devours great nonfiction? Get them a year of the best new ideas and take 20% off with code PODCAST at nextbigideaclub.com

16/12/2025

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1h 17m
8 JAN

CRYPTO: Is It Quietly Transforming the Global Economy?

As the co-founder and CEO of Circle — the fintech powerhouse that issues USDC, a popular cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar — Jeremy Allaire has had a front-row seat to the crypto revolution. Circle now commands a market cap of over $20 billion, yet Jeremy insists it is still an "early stage company." Why? Because the true transformation of the global economy, he says, is just beginning. In this episode, Jeremy and Rufus discuss how the economic system is becoming “internet native," what happens when money becomes programmable, and why blockchain is the "major missing layer" of the internet. Sponsored By: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at shopify.com/nbi — 🎁 Join the Next Big Idea Club and we'll send you a signed copy of Walter Isaacson's new book, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written. You’ll also get ad-free versions of this show, invitations to member-only Q&As, and the six best books of the year delivered to your door. Sign up at nextbigideaclub.com and use code PODCAST for 20% off. 🎥 Watch video episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NextBigIdeaClub Want to connect? 🔗 Follow Rufus on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ 📖 Subscribe to our daily newsletter, ⁠⁠Book of the Day⁠⁠ ✉️ Send us an email: ⁠podcast@nextbigideaclub.com⁠

8 Jan

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1h 17m

The Next Big Idea is a weekly series of in-depth interviews with the world’s leading thinkers. Join hosts Rufus Griscom and Caleb Bissinger — along with our curators, Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink — for conversations that might just change the way you see the world. New episodes every Thursday. For ad inquiries, please reach out to: Network+NBI@yapmedia.com

4.6 (68)

EDUCATION
In "Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout," Georgetown professor Cal Newport explains how we have become ensnared in a cycle of frantic busyness that is making us miserable. He then makes the case that a more measured approach to productivity is within reach, illuminating a better, more sustainable, more humane way to work. In Cal's 45-minute podclass, you will discover: • Why IBM's first use of email ended in disaster • How Jane Austen published four masterpiece novels in just five years • Why we should work more like ancient hunter-gatherers • How Georgia O'Keeffe's brilliance emerged in slower seasons • Why you should consider not scaling your business

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COURSES
In her book "Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole," acclaimed author and Next Big Idea Club curator Susan Cain invites you to accept more sadness in your life—and be happier for it. Contrary to popular belief, embracing bittersweetness can fuel creativity, connection, productivity, and our sense of self. In Susan’s 40-minute podclass, you will discover: • Why melancholia is possibly the most inspirational state of mind • The scientifically-supported connections between sorrow and creativity • How to transform pain and longing into productive forces • Examples of the bittersweet as a team-building tool • Reasons to have gratitude for our own mortality

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COURSES
In "Extra Life," acclaimed science writer Steven Johnson told the remarkable story of the breakthroughs that helped us double our life expectancy in the last century. Now, in "Immortality: A User's Guide," he asks: What will happen if we do it again? Imagine a world where we flip a switch and suddenly everyone can expect to live to 120 or beyond. Some scientists believe this demographic shift is within the realm of possibility, which might seem like good news, but a dramatic extension of the average lifespan could plunge the planet into a maelstrom of unintended consequences and second-order effects. That's why we need to start thinking about the implications of radical life extension now. "Immortality: A User's Guide" takes listeners on a thrilling journey through recent scientific history and reveals the cutting-edge technology that may help us live deep into our second centuries. Featuring insightful conversations with longevity experts, archival footage, immersive sound design, and Johnson's trademark storytelling, Immortality explores the recent paradigm shift in our understanding of aging and wrestles with what we should do, as a society, to prepare for advances in science and technology that may radically transform the potential length of human life.

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SOCIETY & CULTURE
Celebrated writer John Kaag extracts modern life lessons from the classic works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and William James.

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PHILOSOPHY
In "Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most," New York University psychologist Adam Alter explains how to emerge from any personal, professional, or creative rut — and start blazing a new, more promising trail. In Adam's 30-minute podclass, you will discover: • Which counterintuitive skill helped both Lionel Messi and Andre Agassi achieve greatness • How “the Real Dr. House” simplifies even the trickiest medical diagnoses • Why no one, not even Bob Dylan, is as original as you think • Which three people belong on every creative team • How a two-step process helped both Jackson Pollock and Peter Jackson find success

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COURSES

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EPISODE 5 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Do Fewer Things

Cal Newport on Slow Productivity

E5

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7 min
EPISODE 6 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Pull Instead of Pile

Cal Newport on Slow Productivity

E6

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5 min
EPISODE 4 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Fall of Pseudo-Productivity

Cal Newport on Slow Productivity

E4

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3 min
EPISODE 2 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

John McPhee and the Problem with Productivity

Cal Newport on Slow Productivity

E2

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4 min
EPISODE 3 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

The Rise of Pseudo-Productivity

Cal Newport on Slow Productivity

E3

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4 min
EPISODE 7 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Work at a Natural Pace

Cal Newport on Slow Productivity

E7

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6 min
EPISODE 7 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Part Five: The Critics

Who would benefit from radical life extension? If we figure out how to break the Calment boundary, are we setting ourselves up for runaway population growth? Are longevity researchers attempting to "play god"?

E7

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13 min
EPISODE 9 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

End Credits

Immortality: A User's Guide

E9

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1 min
EPISODE 4 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Part Two: The Birth of a Science

In the old paradigm, aging was just the inevitable wear and tear of being alive in the world for so many decades. But starting in the 1990s, that whole set of assumptions began to change.

E4

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9 min
EPISODE 8 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Part Six: How to Decide

We need an annual holiday where the world comes together to debate big questions.

E8

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12 min