Bounce! Conversations with Larry Weeks Larry Weeks

Outside of the purely physical and physiological, nothing is more challenging than the world of entrepreneurship and business, especially when facing customer indifference and figuring out market demand—the delicate balance between innovation and market reality. 
How do you do that? 
Professor Merrick L. Furst runs commercialization and new venture creation and directs undergraduate programs and faculty development in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. Before GT, he was a professor at UC Berkeley, president of the International Computer Science Institute at Berkeley, and CEO of Essential Surfing Gear, Inc., which was sold in 2000, and anti-botnet startup Damballa. Earlier, he was a professor and associate dean at the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon. Mark is also known for seminal research in algorithms, complexity theory, and AI. He co-invented probabilistic circuit analysis and planning graphs, which are considered among the most influential breakthroughs in the field of AI planning.
Merrick is also the author of The Heart of Innovation: A Field Guide for Navigating to Authentic Demand, which is the touchstone for this podcast. 
On the show, we discuss the challenges every business faces in creating products that truly meet customer needs.
A brief chat about AI. Why and how products fail. Real reasons vs. stated reasons people buy. On the "curse of knowledge" Validation vs innovation. Authentic demand: sussing alternatives to not purchasing or using a product/service "Non-indifference" as an indicator of authentic demand. Observing vs listening and the problem with surveys. How to question assumptions.  Product development and market match.
The need for humility and open-mindedness.  As we explore these diverse topics, Merricks’ unique approach offers invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs, technologists, and anyone intrigued by the intersection of business, technology, and human behavior.
Enjoy! 
For show notes and more, visit www.larryweeks.com 

My guest is Derek Sivers. Derek proves that an unconventional background can be the perfect foundation for a wonderfully interesting life and groundbreaking success. 
Originally a professional musician and circus clown, Derek founded CD Baby in 1998. It became the largest seller of independent music online, with $100 million in sales for over 150,000 musicians. In 2008, Derek sold CD Baby for $22 million, giving the proceeds to a charitable trust for music education. 
His TED talks have garnered over 20 million views, and he has published 34 books, including Hell Yeah or No, Your Music and People, Anything You Want) and his most recent book as it pertains to this conversation is How to Live, 27 Conflicting Answers and One Weird Conclusion - but note we do slightly touch on his current yet-to-be-completed book Useful Not True.
Taking points include …
Derek's transition from a musician to circus performer to entrepreneur and author. The power of books and new ideas. The concept of "useful, not true" and the practicality of a belief. Revisiting "hell yeah or hell no" as a decision heuristic in his book" Anything You Want."  On oblique strategies for releasing creative potential  Embracing unpredictability and "random generators."  The pragmatic rabbi approach to simplifying problems  Thoughts on song and book writing. Seeing emotions as ends bypassing things as means.  The orchestra-instrument framework.  The motivation of being temporarily-abled. The practice of journaling to understand emotions and situations. And there is much more here, as we cover a lot of ground. 
Tim Ferris called Derek a philosopher-king programmer, master teacher, and merry prankster and quote (one of my favorite humans), and after chatting with Derek, I understand why. You can tell I enjoyed talking with him. 
Please enjoy.
For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com 

"To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom." - Socrates
 
This podcast is about understanding ourselves a bit better. We'll be exploring insights into what makes us happy as it relates to self-perception, and the various intricate connections between our minds, bodies, and social interactions.
 
My guest on the show is social psychologist David Myers, known for his extensive work in communicating psychological science to both students and the general public. His academic contributions, supported by National Science Foundation have been published in prestigious journals like Science and American Psychologist. David has made psychological research accessible through articles in magazines such as Scientific American and through seventeen books, including both general interest and textbooks.
 
David is best known for his textbook on psychology which is one of the most widely used psychology textbooks in the world. He is also the author of several  popular books, including one of the first on happiness called The Pursuit of Happiness: Discovering the Pathway to Fulfillment, Well-Being, and Enduring Personal Joy published in 1993
 
David’s newest book, "How Do We Know Ourselves?: Curiosities and Marvels of the Human Mind" is the topic of this show. 
 
Our conversation covers a wide array of psychology topics including:
A bit about David’s background. We revisit happiness and the latest findings in that field. The relationship between happiness and income. Goal setting and the material trap  The benefits of religion and religious engagement paradox. Self-Perception Theory. Body-mind effects. Micro-Friendships: The significant mood boost from brief, positive interactions with strangers. We touch on fear Misplaced Fears: How we skew risk perceptions. The power of reframing and its effectiveness in Brief Interventions.
Enjoy
 
For show notes and more visit larryweeks.com 

On this episode of our podcast, we delve into the fascinating world of hypnosis, with a focus on demystifying this phenomenon and separating myths from scientific reality. We explore its role in modern therapy and personal well-being.
Dr. David Spiegel is one of Stanford University’s leading psychiatrists, with more than 45 years of clinical experience, and has pioneered over 400 research papers on the power of self-hypnosis. Educated at Harvard and Yale, he is the Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr Speigel has written thirteen books and is also the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Reveri Health, which offers a clinically backed hypnosis app of the same name. 
In our conversation, we cover a wide array of topics, including:
The definition and understanding of hypnosis. A short history of hypnosis, its mystical origins, and its current scientific standing. Distinctions between clinical and theatrical hypnosis. Debates over the tools and techniques used in hypnosis. The controversial subjects of brainwashing and memory recovery. Current research and understanding of the neural mechanisms of hypnosis. The various types of hypnosis and their applications. The relationship between EMDR and hypnosis. The effectiveness, suitability, and therapeutic potential of hypnosis. The Reveri app, co-founded by Dr. Spiegel I share my own experience with the Reveri app, particularly how it helped me with my fear of airplane turbulence. Join us for this enlightening discussion as we uncover the mysteries and realities of hypnosis.
Enjoy!
For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com
 

In this episode, we dive into the shifting dynamics of work, careers, and the quest for fulfillment. My guest discusses the history of "career" and how work is undergoing transformations due to technology, social change, and pivotal global events. He has gathered a lot of data to discern patterns in people's work trajectories to expand the definition of what we call work. 
Bruce Fieler is a leading voice in America on modern life. He's written seven bestsellers; his three TED Talks have over four million views, and he teaches a TED Course on life changes. His newest book, "THE SEARCH: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World,” looks at how people can find purpose in their jobs. It's based on stories from people of all different backgrounds and jobs.
In our talk, Bruce questions common ideas about careers. He uses data to explain big career changes, which he calls 'work-quakes’. If you're thinking about your own job or career or just want to know more about work trends, you'll want to listen.
Topics we cover:
Bruce's own career changes. Current trends in jobs and careers. The history of the career and the resume. Why just following your passion might not be the best idea. Work-quakes The idea of having multiple types of jobs at once. How different generations see job changes. A broader view of what 'work' means. How to find out what really matters to you in a job. The many kinds of jobs people have. The danger of valuing work too much. How work can give our lives meaning. Questions to help you find a job you'll like. And much more. 
Enjoy!
For show notes and more information, check out larryweeks.com.
 

In this episode, renowned social scientist Dan Ariely discusses the irrational pull of misinformation and how to understand "misbelief" — the psychological and social path that guides individuals to doubt established truths, consider alternative facts, and perhaps even welcome outright conspiracy theories.
Dan Ariely is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. He is dedicated to answering questions to help people live more sensible – if not rational – lives. He is a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight, co-creator of the film documentary (Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies, and a three-time New York Times bestselling author. His books include Predictably Irrational, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty, Irrationally Yours, Payoff Dollars, and Sense and now his latest - Misbelief.   
Talking points we cover include …
The origin of Dan's distinctive half-beard. Behavioral insights into self-acceptance.  Covid misinformation and his attacks on social media and in public  Exploration and reasoning behind irrational behavior and beliefs. Identifying false comprehension. How to know why we believe what we believe. On belief creation and alteration. Understanding why people are attracted to heterodoxy and discussing the negative consequences of rejecting and ostracizing people with non-mainstream beliefs. Shibboleth in communication: signaling identity rather than the pursuit of truth. Behavioral science on task motivation ...and much more. 

Enjoy! 
For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com