223 episodes

The Next Big Idea is a weekly series of in-depth interviews with the world’s leading thinkers. Join our host, Rufus Griscom — 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.

The Next Big Idea LinkedIn

    • Education
    • 4.4 • 1.2K Ratings

The Next Big Idea is a weekly series of in-depth interviews with the world’s leading thinkers. Join our host, Rufus Griscom — 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.

    ALCOHOL: The Good, the Bad, and the Bubbly

    ALCOHOL: The Good, the Bad, and the Bubbly

    Humans have been imbibing for thousands of years. What has drinking contributed to society? What is it doing to our health?
    Guests: Edward Slingerland (”Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization”) and Susan Dominus (”Is That Drink Worth It to You?”)
    🎙️ Check out Edward’s previous appearance on the show here
    📱 Download the Next Big Idea Club app and use code PODCAST to get 20% off: https://nextbigideaclub.com/app/

    • 1 hr
    Living for Pleasure

    Living for Pleasure

    Over 2,000 years ago, Epicurus, a Greek philosopher, made a simple yet bold claim. The key to the good life, he said, is to pursue pleasure and avoid pain. Is it really that easy? To answer that question, we turn to Emily Austin, a professor of philosophy at Wake Forest and author of “Living for Pleasure: An Epicurean Guide to Life.”
    (This episode first aired in January 2023.)

    • 1 hr 13 min
    PROBABILITY: How a 250-Year-Old Theorem Still Explains the World

    PROBABILITY: How a 250-Year-Old Theorem Still Explains the World

    Back in the 1700s, in a spa town outside of London, Thomas Bayes, a Presbyterian minister and amateur mathematician, invented a formula that lets you figure out how likely something is to happen based on what you already know. It changed the world. Today, pollsters use it to forecast election results and bookies to predict Super Bowl scores. For neuroscientists, it explains how our brains work; for computer scientists, it's the principle behind artificial intelligence.
    In this episode, we explore the modern-day applications of this game-changing theorem with the help of Tom Chivers, author of the new book "Everything Is Predictable: How Bayesian Statistics Explain Our World."
    🎙️ Follow The Next Big Idea Daily on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
    🎁 Get 20% off a Next Big Idea Club membership when you use code PODCAST at nextbigideaclub.com

    • 52 min
    GOOD ENERGY (Part 2): Casey Means on How to Supercharge Your Diet

    GOOD ENERGY (Part 2): Casey Means on How to Supercharge Your Diet

    So you want to eat healthy. But how do you actually go about doing that? Today, Casey Means — Stanford-trained physician, founder of Levels, and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller “Good Energy” — shares the science-backed dietary guide you need.
    💿 Ready for more interviews that will supercharge your health? Check out our Spotify playlist
    📱 Listeners of this show get 20% off a Next Big Idea Club membership. Learn more at https://nextbigideaclub.com/app/

    • 52 min
    GOOD ENERGY (Part 1): How to Feel Incredible, Avoid Disease, and Age Well

    GOOD ENERGY (Part 1): How to Feel Incredible, Avoid Disease, and Age Well

    Bad news: 93% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy. Their bodies struggle to convert food into the energy their cells need. And this fuel shortage underlies all sorts of conditions, from diabetes and cancer to insomnia and erectile dysfunction.
    Good news: Simple changes to how we eat and exercise can dramatically improve our metabolic health.
    This is the thesis of “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health” by Casey Means. A Stanford-trained physician, Casey grew disillusioned with conventional healthcare when she realized that many doctors are great at prescribing pills and performing surgeries but hopeless when it comes to addressing root causes. This led her to leave traditional medicine and focus on combating metabolic dysfunction, which she believes is at the heart of America’s health crisis.
    Today on the show, she tells Rufus about her journey, explains why she thinks the medical system fails patients, and shares the simple biomarkers that you should check to see if you’re at risk for a deadly disease.
    📱 This is part one of our interview with Casey. Part two will be available here on Thursday. But if you can't wait that long, you can listen right now on the Next Big Idea app: https://nextbigideaclub.com/app/

    • 55 min
    BEN FRANKLIN: A Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life

    BEN FRANKLIN: A Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life

    Publisher, scientist, humorist, diplomat — Benjamin Franklin was America's first polymath. Today, with help from Eric Weiner, we revisit Franklin's life, searching for tips about how to be healthy, wealthy, and wise.
    📱 If you love the show, the best way to let us know is by becoming a Next Big Idea Club member. Learn more at https://nextbigideaclub.com/ and use code PODCAST to get 20% off your subscription

    • 1 hr 2 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
1.2K Ratings

1.2K Ratings

Alli Cat 72 ,

Love this podcast

I learn a lot listening to this podcast. It is also very uplifting…. It is one of my favorite podcasts because it is entertaining while simultaneously uplifting and educational. Thank you!!! 😊

Patricio Ferrari ,

Greatest non-fiction podcast in English

No matter who you are—a passionate reader of books across genres, a dream-chaser, a fresh graduate entering the workforce, or just a podcast aficionado—The Next Big Idea Club will change the way you see the world. And it’s right at the tip of your earlobes. For intellectuals, creatives, or simply the curious, this podcast is a source of groundbreaking ideas, made easy to access and internalize thanks to dynamic weekly interviews and insightful book summaries.

Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, this podcast emerged as a beacon of insight in my life, blending deep intelligence with approachable content that inspires and introduces new perspectives on fascinating topics across a wide range of fields—from science and sports to economics, health, and more. Four years later, whether I find myself on U.S. soil, in the cerulean heights, or in a different language zone, it continues to be a steadfast companion, offering the best non-fiction in the English language. The quality is such that I have adopted it as part of the curriculum in our language school in Argentina.

Shauna NI ,

How to eat

Nine minutes in I heard her say I-I-I soooooooo many times as she told of private schools and fancy universities in a “valley girl voice”. Ugh, No thanks.

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