Watson-Howland

Jacob J. Watson-Howland
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Understand yourself and the world better with Jacob J. Watson-Howland, Europe’s fastest-growing U21 podcaster & award-winning BBC-featured photographer. Crowned one of Spotify’s most popular & most shared new shows, ahead of 93% of podcasts in 2025. Featuring deep-dive conversations on psychology, philosophy, self-improvement, history, entrepreneurship & AI with guests like Evan Carmichael (4.4M+ YouTuber), Jim Cantrell (SpaceX Co-founder), Lord Matt Ridley, Tyler Cowen & 100+ more. ___ In 2 months, I went from 0 to 3.0M+ views & dream guests in my bedroom at 20. Start your own podcast today using my blueprint: https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385/about

  1. The Dark Rise & Fall of The KKK - Kristofer Allerfeldt

    1D AGO

    The Dark Rise & Fall of The KKK - Kristofer Allerfeldt

    Why did 10% of white Americans join the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s, and how did President Harry Truman become a secret member? Dr. Kristofer Allerfeldt, University of Exeter historian and author of The Full History of the Ku Klux Klan, reveals shocking truths about America's most notorious hate group, from its 1865 founding to its decline in the digital age. Subscribe for more deep-dive history interviews that uncover the uncomfortable truths behind modern society. You’ll Learn: –Why the 1920s Ku Klux Klan attracted 4-5 million members and operated like a mass fraternity, not a fringe terror group –How President Harry Truman joined the KKK for 3-4 years in the 1920s and what his membership reveals about American politics –The truth about why the Klan uniform became so sinister—it wasn't about intimidation, it was about profit –How the 1915 film Birth of a Nation resurrected the Klan and turned it into America's first pyramid scheme –Why the Klan's anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant agenda in the 1920s mirrors modern political scapegoating tactics –The FBI's dirty tricks campaign (COINTELPRO) that finally destroyed Klan power in the 1960s –How social media could be weaponized to prevent white supremacist movements from ever gaining power again –What receiving a death threat from a Klansman taught Dr. Allerfeldt about researching America's darkest history 00:00 The Persistence of Hate: Understanding the KKK 08:10 The Origins and Evolution of the KKK 16:07 The KKK's Influence and Political Ambitions 23:52 Violence and Atrocities: The Dark Side of the KKK 31:30 Cultural Impact: Birth of a Nation and the KKK's Revival 39:39 The KKK's Legacy and Modern Implications 52:41 Patriotism and Immigration Perspectives 53:46 The Challenges of Publishing and Cultural Sensitivity 55:28 The KKK: Historical Context and Modern Implications 58:10 FBI Infiltration and Covert Operations Against the KKK 01:01:09 Media Representation and the KKK's Evolution 01:03:30 Civil Rights Movement and KKK Violence 01:06:00 The KKK's Modern-Day Presence and Activities 01:08:13 Future of White Supremacy and Hate Groups 01:10:43 Modern Slavery: Definitions and Implications 01:14:19 The Role of Technology in Modern Slavery 01:18:31 Exploring Dark Topics and Human Nature 01:20:29 Personal Reflections and Life Lessons 01:23:59 The Intersection of Religion and Morality 01:27:24 Final Thoughts on Life and Legacy RESOURCES / LINKS Dr. Kristofer Allerfeldt's Book: The Full History of the Ku Klux Klan https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ku-Klux-Klan-American-History/dp/1803990163/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 (Available on Amazon UK, NOT published in the USA) University of Exeter Faculty Page: https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/1199-kristofer-allerfeldt Team Chief Editor: Chloe Breheret Chief Automation Officer: Jack McDuff Jacob’s Work Podcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385 Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com

    1h 38m
  2. #72: Anil Seth: Why AI Will NEVER Be Conscious

    4D AGO

    #72: Anil Seth: Why AI Will NEVER Be Conscious

    If we give AI rights because we think it's conscious, we lose the ability to control it… the dangerous illusion explained by a consciousness expert. Professor Anil Seth is one of the world's leading neuroscientists, Co-Director of the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science, and author of Being You, which challenges everything you thought you knew about perception, reality, and what it means to be conscious. 0:00 Overestimating AI and underestimating ourselves 0:43 Why we project consciousness onto ChatGPT and Claude 2:09 How AI metaphors diminish our view of biological intelligence 3:25 Can AI become conscious? The truth between zero and 100% 5:05 Why consciousness requires life: metabolism, biology, substrate 6:00 Brain organoids vs GPT—which should worry us more? 7:28 Consciousness: more like digestion or flight? 8:29 Why brains are NOT computers when you look inside them 11:10 Intelligence vs consciousness: doing vs feeling 12:35 Why conscious AI would be terrible—even if it's just an illusion 14:33 The alignment problem: can't control AI if we give it rights 17:18 Social media's lessons: unintended consequences of "move fast" 20:07 The moral circle problem: caring about AI means less for animals 21:35 Descartes' error: rationality requires embodied emotion 27:32 Bayesian reasoning: brains make best guesses, not optimal solutions 30:37 The frame problem: why AI can't know what's NOT relevant 33:33 Unconscious vs subconscious: Freud vs modern neuroscience 37:00 Predictive processing: perception as controlled hallucination 38:01 What consciousness is good for: integration and fast learning 41:47 Mental time travel and scrub jays planning futures 45:19 The space of possible minds: dogs, flies, octopuses 48:11 Octopuses see with their skin for predator vision 53:27 Thomas Nagel: "What is it like to be a bat?" 55:13 Human echolocators: blind people navigating by sound 58:54 Perception as controlled hallucination: never experiencing reality directly 1:02:24 Color requires a mind; the spectrum from physics to social construction 1:06:05 Why simulation theory fails if consciousness isn't computation 1:08:28 Why we dream: preventing overfitting and simulating threats 1:12:37 Sleep cycles and why dreams fade instantly 1:15:26 Lucid dreaming: knowing you're dreaming without waking 1:17:50 Derealization: when reality feels unreal even though it is 1:19:08 Final advice: control what you can, find balance and purpose Professor Anil Seth's Work: Official Website: https://www.anilseth.com Books: Being You: A New Science of Consciousness (Sunday Times Bestseller) https://www.anilseth.com/being-you/ Latest Essay: "The Mythology of Conscious AI" - NoEmer (Free to read online) Academic Profile: Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science (Co-Director) https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/sussex-centre-for-consciousness-science/ Team Chief Editor: Chloe Breheret Chief Automation Officer: Jack McDuff Jacob’s Work Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com

    1h 23m
  3. #71: Dr Lara Boyd: Man Lives with 90% Brain Missing, Advantage of ADHD & Autism, Mystery of Consciousness & Sleep’s Effect on Learning

    FEB 9

    #71: Dr Lara Boyd: Man Lives with 90% Brain Missing, Advantage of ADHD & Autism, Mystery of Consciousness & Sleep’s Effect on Learning

    Neuroscientist and physical therapist Dr. Lara Boyd explains why there is no such thing as a “normal brain,” how neuroplasticity reshapes us across life, and why struggle and sleep are the real drivers of change in our brains. In this episode, she and Jacob explore neurodivergence, learning, stroke recovery, genetics, and what it actually takes to rewire your brain on purpose. 0:00 The French civil servant with “half a brain” and what neuroplasticity can do 1:05 How many of us are actually neuro-atypical? Defining (and questioning) “normal” 2:15 Why there is no clear definition of “neurotypical” 3:05 UK Biobank genetics: ADHD, autism, anxiety and overlapping gene profiles 4:35 Are we over-diagnosing or mis-grouping neurodivergent conditions? 5:35 Evolutionary upsides of ADHD and autism: hyperfocus, sentry attention, solo hunting 6:22 Why autism diagnoses are rising: broader criteria and better recognition in girls 7:30 ADHD and autism as “differences,” not defects — and examples like Elon Musk and Bill Gates 9:05 Lara’s winding path: English major → physical therapist → neuroscientist 10:30 The 1990s shift: from “fixed brain” to lifelong neuroplasticity 12:20 How the brain actually changes: myelin, pruning, and wiring into the mid-20s 16:20 Why young men take more risks: late-maturing prefrontal cortex 18:40 Genes vs environment, epigenetics, and why nature vs nurture isn’t a debate anymore 21:10 APOE4 and dementia risk — and how exercise can change outcomes 22:20 Big data, AI, and decoding brain–gene interactions 24:00 The stroke patient that made Lara feel like a “car mechanic who didn’t understand the engine” 27:20 The landmark monkey stroke study: forced use, reorganization, and recovery 31:00 Redundancy, “silent” neurons, and spare real estate in the brain 33:20 How dendrites, brain chemistry, and BDNF drive neuroplasticity — and why exercise helps 38:20 Why consciousness and self are still “unsolved problems” 39:40 The motor homunculus: why your hands, lips, and tongue dominate your cortex 41:40 Why some people learn in 50 hours and others need 500 — and Lara’s quest to understand variability 44:15 Biomarkers, stroke recovery, and who responds best to brain stimulation 46:05 Could we one day time school topics to each child’s brain readiness? 47:40 Visual vs auditory learners and what brain scans reveal about reading and math readiness 49:30 Stuck in bad habits or a failing career? Why you’re not trapped — and why struggle is your brain changing 52:00 Why we hate struggle even though it’s exactly when neuroplasticity happens 52:55 Sleep as neuroplastic “glue”: deep sleep for motor, REM for cognitive learning 54:05 Naps, aging, and how much sleep we really need 55:10 Lara’s advice to her 20-year-old self: stay curious, practice hard, sleep well RESOURCES / LINKS Dr. Lara Boyd – UBC Faculty of Medicine profile https://www.med.ubc.ca/researchers/lara-boyd-physical-therapy/ UBC Physical Therapy – Brain Behaviour Laboratory https://physicaltherapy.med.ubc.ca/2022/10/11/lara-boyd/ Website: ⁠https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com⁠

    57 min
  4. More Medicine Doesn't Make You Healthier - Robin Hanson

    FEB 7 · BONUS

    More Medicine Doesn't Make You Healthier - Robin Hanson

    Medicine often acts less like a health intervention and more like an expensive way to show love and concern, according to Robin Hanson’s “conspicuous caring” hypothesis. Robin Hanson is an Associate Professor of Economics at George Mason University and co-author of The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life. Subscribe for more contrarian conversations on hidden motives, signaling, and why we do what we do. Best Quotes: “Medicine is a luxury, as we get rich, we spend more and more money on it.” “When some people get a lot more medicine than others at random, those people don’t get healthier.” “It’s not saying each effect is zero. It says the average effect is zero.” “A common motive is that we use medicine to show that we care about each other.” #RobinHanson #HiddenMotives #Healthcare

    3 min
  5. #70: Olivia Gambelin: AI Ethics & Life of an AI CEO

    FEB 6

    #70: Olivia Gambelin: AI Ethics & Life of an AI CEO

    Silicon Valley has become 'stale.' AI ethicist Olivia Gambelin reveals why innovation is now iteration, and what needs to change before the bubble pops. AI ethics expert Olivia Gambelin reveals why most companies are getting AI wrong, and how understanding human values, not just technology, is the key to building AI that actually works. As founder of Ethical Intelligence and author of Responsible AI, Olivia has empowered hundreds of business leaders across Silicon Valley and Brussels to implement ethics-by-design strategies that drive innovation without compromising humanity. Subscribe for weekly conversations with world-leading experts on AI, technology, philosophy, and human potential. You’ll Learn: –Why AI ethics isn't about the technology, it’s about design choices, use cases, and how humans interact with AI systems –How Silicon Valley's innovation bubble has become "stale" and why the ecosystem desperately needs fresh perspectives from outside the tech world –The truth about responsible AI: it's not ethics washing, it's good business practice that helps companies scale AI successfully –Why working strict boundaries (no weekends, 9-7 schedule) makes you MORE effective as an entrepreneur, not less –How to know if you actually need AI in your business, and why most people are being sold solutions looking for problems –What it means to be an AI ethicist: studying values as forces that shape decisions, just like physics studies forces of nature –Why the "AI singularity" mindset reveals people who haven't experienced the messy, beautiful parts of being human –The preventative questions every company should ask BEFORE building AI to save time, money, and avoid ethical disasters Olivia’s Work: Olivia Gambelin's Website: https://www.oliviagambelin.com AI Literacy Course for Non-Technical Professionals: https://www.ethicalintelligence.co/ailiteracy Ethical Intelligence Community: https://www.ethicalintelligence.co Olivia's Book - Responsible AI: https://www.koganpage.com/digital-technology/responsible-ai-9781398615700 Olivia's Substack - In Pursuit of Good Tech: https://pursuitofgoodtech.substack.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviagambelin Team Chief Editor: Chloe Breheret Chief Automation Officer: Jack McDuff Jacob’s Work Podcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385 Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com

    2h 2m
  6. Matt Ridley: The UK is Committing Economic S*icide

    FEB 3 · BONUS

    Matt Ridley: The UK is Committing Economic S*icide

    Britain now has the most expensive electricity costs for both domestic and industrial consumers of any major nation, and it's killing economic growth, warns Matt Ridley, bestselling science writer and author of The Rational Optimist. Lord Matt Ridley is a British science journalist, former Economist editor, and author of multiple bestselling books on economics, innovation, and prosperity, including The Rational Optimist and How Innovation Works. Subscribe for honest conversations about economics, innovation, and the forces shaping national prosperity. Leanr: -Why the UK now has the highest electricity prices in the developed world—and how this destroys competitiveness -How economic growth is fundamentally a thermodynamic phenomenon requiring affordable energy -The catastrophic cost of Britain's 40-year failure to build a third runway at its main airport -Why the UK planning and bureaucratic system prevents essential infrastructure development -How the UK welfare system now rewards non-work at the expense of productive employment -The reality of capital flight—chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and AI industries leaving Britain -Why Brexit failed to deliver promised benefits because the UK refused to deregulate and innovate -How the UK has failed to grow its economy for 15 years due to deliberate policy failures -Why Britain's energy costs are 63% higher than France and making manufacturing impossible -The vacant position for "innovative engine of the world economy"—and why no country is filling it #UKEconomy #Energycrisis #EconomicGrowth BEST QUOTES: "In the end, economic growth is a thermodynamic phenomenon. You make useful things out of useless ones using energy." "We now have the most expensive electricity costs for both domestic and industrial consumers of any major nation. That's fatal. That's disastrous." "We spent 40 years not building a third runway for our main airport. I mean, what is that all about? How suicidal is this?" "We're seeing capital flight, we're seeing the chemical industry leaving. We're seeing the pharmaceutical industry leaving. We're seeing the oil and gas industry leaving." "I think this country has basically failed to grow its economy for the best part of 15 years because of bad policies." "We left the European Union and failed to take any advantages of doing so... we just said, oh, we're gonna go on being like Europe, but not in it. Well, probably not much point in that then." “You can get a free car for saying you have anxiety”

    4 min
  7. #69: How Corporations Manipulate You Into Blaming Yourself | Nick Chater (pt. 2)

    FEB 2

    #69: How Corporations Manipulate You Into Blaming Yourself | Nick Chater (pt. 2)

    Stop blaming yourself. Corporations spent billions making you think environmental collapse is your fault. Here's the systemic truth. Corporations like BP invented the concept of the "carbon footprint" to shift climate responsibility onto individuals and away from systemic change, reveals Professor Nick Chater, one of the UK's leading behavioral scientists. Professor Chater is a Fellow of the British Academy, former member of the UK government's Climate Change Committee, and co-founder of the Behavioural Insight Team (the original "Nudge Unit"). This is his second time on the show! Subscribe for conversations on systemic change, behavioral science, and exposing corporate manipulation tactics. Expect to learn: -How BP spent over $100 million to popularize the carbon footprint concept and shift climate blame onto individuals -Why Purdue Pharma represents the darkest example of corporate manipulation—from regulatory capture to media playbooks -The truth about individual actions vs systemic solutions in fighting climate change -How corporations use behavioral science against us to avoid accountability and regulation -Why a global carbon tax and cap-and-trade systems are more effective than personal lifestyle changes -The role of academia in perpetuating corporate narratives through compromised research funding -How aligning incentives at the system level creates more environmental progress than nudging behavior -Why "nudging" and individual behavior change are insufficient for addressing massive social problems -The power of collective action and regulatory frameworks over personal responsibility narratives -How to identify when corporations are deflecting blame and what systemic changes actually work Nick’s Work: NEW BOOK: It’s On You https://amzn.to/4arIAXw Team Chief Editor: Chloe Breheret Chief Automation Officer: Jack McDuff Jacob’s Work Podcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385 FREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowland Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0r4v5xgyYz0rTFSLklk0Em Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watson-howland/id1813625992 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobwatsonhowland X: https://x.com/jwatsonhowland LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watsonhowland Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com Sound Bites: "It's the systems that drive the outcomes we see."

    54 min
  8. What Is A Dark Empath? (Most Dangerous Personality Type)

    FEB 2 · BONUS

    What Is A Dark Empath? (Most Dangerous Personality Type)

    20% of people are 'dark empaths’, highly empathetic manipulators who use understanding as a weapon. Are you dealing with one? Full episode: https://youtu.be/1QwnglrWWzE Dark empaths are individuals with elevated psychopathic, narcissistic, and Machiavellian traits combined with high cognitive empathy, making up nearly 20% of the population according to groundbreaking research by Dr. Nadja Heym. Dr. Heym is an Associate Professor at Nottingham Trent University who coined the term "Dark Empath" and specializes in dark personality traits, antisocial behavior, and empathy deficits. Subscribe for more insights on psychology, personality science, and understanding human behavior. Expect to learn: -What dark empaths are and how they differ from traditional psychopaths and narcissists -Why dark empaths make up 20% of the population while traditional dark traits account for only 13% -The difference between cognitive empathy (understanding thoughts) and affective empathy (feeling emotions) -How dark empaths use empathy as a weapon for manipulation rather than connection -The four personality profiles discovered in Dr. Heym's research of 1,000 individuals -Why dark empaths are more socially adept and extroverted than traditional dark personalities -How to identify someone with elevated dark traits before they cause interpersonal damage -Why having empathy doesn't always mean someone is trustworthy or compassionate 00:00 Introduction to Dark Empaths 00:23 Understanding Dark Traits and Empathy 01:08 Research and Findings on Dark Empaths 01:38 Profiles Identified in the Study 02:15 Characteristics of Dark Empaths 03:03 Prevalence and Impact of Dark Traits 03:32 Conclusion: Dark Traits in the Population Best Quote: "The dark empaths are almost 20% of the population. We're looking at about a third of the population that has high dark traits." #DarkEmpath #DarkTriad #PersonalityPsychology

    4 min
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About

Understand yourself and the world better with Jacob J. Watson-Howland, Europe’s fastest-growing U21 podcaster & award-winning BBC-featured photographer. Crowned one of Spotify’s most popular & most shared new shows, ahead of 93% of podcasts in 2025. Featuring deep-dive conversations on psychology, philosophy, self-improvement, history, entrepreneurship & AI with guests like Evan Carmichael (4.4M+ YouTuber), Jim Cantrell (SpaceX Co-founder), Lord Matt Ridley, Tyler Cowen & 100+ more. ___ In 2 months, I went from 0 to 3.0M+ views & dream guests in my bedroom at 20. Start your own podcast today using my blueprint: https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385/about

Information

  • Creator
    Jacob J. Watson-Howland
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    192
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jacob J. Watson-Howland
  • Show Website
    Watson-Howland