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Ariel Krakowski

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TECHNOLOGY
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On machine learning, the mind, meditation, motivation, morality, and more

12/30/2025

The Science of Optimal Experience: Understanding Flow with Dr. Orin Davis

In this conversation, Ariel interviews Dr. Orin Davis to explore the science of "Flow" - the state of complete immersion and energized focus often described as "being in the zone". Orin breaks down the characteristics of flow, its relationship with happiness, and how to identify the activities that help you cultivate it. They discuss the differences between flow and meditation and offer a critical look at how modern schools and workplaces may inhibit optimal performance. They explore real-world examples of flow in tennis, chess, coding, and dancing. Finally, they discuss "microflow" - salvaging optimal experiences in short bursts even under suboptimal conditions. Guest Dr. Orin Davis studied under Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and is holder of the first doctorate awarded in Positive Psychology, a lecturer at Columbia University, and Principal Investigator of the Quality of Life Laboratory. You can find more about his work at qllab.org. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Positive Psychology and Flow 01:49 Understanding Flow: Definition and Characteristics 04:22 The Spectrum of Flow Experiences 06:02 Flow and Happiness 07:49 Frequency and Spillover Effects of Flow 10:06 The Nature of Flow: Struggle and Enjoyment 12:59 Flow vs. Mastery: Short-term vs. Long-term Satisfaction 14:40 Flow and Meditation: Similarities and Differences 17:48 Effort and Enjoyment: The Balance in Flow 20:21 The Importance of Doing for Its Own Sake 22:48 Work-Life Balance and the Startup Culture 27:32 Cultivating Flow: Tips and Strategies 30:08 The Art of Collaboration in Dance 31:01 Flow in Physical vs. Intellectual Activities 33:33 The Impact of Distractions on Flow 36:46 Rethinking Education for Flow Experiences 40:11 Grouping in Schools and Flow Opportunities 44:20 Understanding Microflow 48:03 Flow When Playing Chess & Volleyball 53:40 Benefits of Microflow in Daily Life 58:19 Creating Opportunities for Flow at Work

1h 1m
09/04/2025

The Elephant in the Brain, Ems & LLMs with Robin Hanson

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ariel interviews economist Robin Hanson about the hidden motives that drive human behavior, the central theme of his book The Elephant in the Brain. Hanson argues that much of what we do is not for the reasons we consciously believe, but rather for signaling our value as allies, mates, and group members. Our conscious mind acts as a "press secretary," creating socially acceptable narratives for our actions, while the real, often selfish, motives remain hidden. Hanson illustrates this thesis with examples from medicine, charity, and art, contending that our actions in these domains are better explained by a desire to signal care, loyalty, and status than by the stated goals of health, altruism, or aesthetic appreciation. The conversation then shifts to the implications of this theory and the rise of Artificial Intelligence. Hanson suggests that while individuals can only make modest changes to their ingrained behaviors, society can foster more rationality by creating institutions like prediction markets. They discuss the implications of AI on human value creation and the future of work in an AI-driven economy. Hanson places the latest AI technology within the overall context of AI booms and busts, and revisits his analysis from The Age of Em. Hanson is less worried about AI risk than many, but appreciates modern AI as a powerful research tool for integrating knowledge across disciplines. They discuss the potential influence of AI on art and culture, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of artistic expression. Guest: Robin Hanson, economist at George Mason University, author of The Age of Em and co-author of The Elephant in the Brain, and writer at the blog Overcoming Bias. Timestamps 00:00 Understanding Motivations: The Drive to Explore 04:06 The Elephant in the Brain: Unpacking Hidden Motivations 07:43 Controversial Insights: Medicine and Health 15:14 Signaling and Status: The Social Dynamics of Behavior 24:30 Behavior Beyond Signaling: Exploring Basic Drives 28:29 The Role of Constants in Human Behavior 29:33 Signaling in Art and Consumption 30:58 Uniqueness and Social Preferences 34:11 Distal vs. Proximate Explanations of Behavior 36:30 The Nature of Helping Behavior 37:16 Effective Altruism and Individual Behavior 38:54 Understanding Human Behavior and Policy 41:25 Individual Change vs. Societal Change 43:00 Institutions and Rational Decision-Making 45:31 Betting Markets and Prediction Accuracy 49:09 AI's Impact on Human Value and Signaling 52:38 The Future of Work in an AI-Driven Economy 55:34 The Human-Like Evolution of AI 58:23 The Near View vs. Far View of AI 59:52 Investment Cycles in AI Development 01:01:46 Paths to Artificial Intelligence: Ems vs. LLMs 01:02:41 The Challenge of Regulating AI Development 01:05:25 Knowledge Spread and Its Risks 01:07:46 The Future of AI and Personal Investment 01:09:29 AI as a Tool for Integration and Discovery 01:14:05 The Impact of AI on Art and Culture

1h 21m
07/29/2025

Meditation and The Mind Illuminated with Matthew Immergut

In this conversation, Ariel speaks with Matthew Immergut, an associate professor of sociology and co-author of the acclaimed guide to meditation "The Mind Illuminated'. They dive deep into the nature of meditation, moving beyond the pop-culture view of it as a simple tool for relaxation. Matthew shares his journey into meditation, discussing its nature, goals, and the challenges faced by practitioners. He emphasizes the distinction between meditation as a formal practice and meditative activities, the importance of attention and awareness, and the potential for insights gained through meditation. Matthew provides practical advice for both beginners who are skeptical and for practitioners who have hit a plateau, and emphasizes the importance of joy in meditation. He discusses how there is no "silver bullet" for self-transformation, and the evolving gifts of meditation over time. They also discuss the role of neuroscience in understanding meditation, the balance between concentration and insight, the paradox of "letting go," and the complex relationship between meditative states and a person's everyday behavior. Topics with Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Meditation and Background 04:34 Secular vs. Spiritual Approaches to Meditation 07:30 The Purpose of Meditation: Beyond Self-Improvement 10:33 Defining Meditation: Formal Practice vs. Meditative Activities 11:49 Training the Mind: Skills and Intentions in Meditation 14:01 Experiential Curiosity: Insights from Meditation 19:07 Skepticism, Setting Small Goals and Finding Enjoyment 25:27 Navigating Plateaus in Meditation Practice and Appreciating Noticing 29:43 The Role of Teachers in Meditation 31:27 Meditation: Universal Necessity or Personal Choice? 37:52 The Evolving Gifts of Meditation 39:46 Personal Journeys: From Orthodox Judaism to Meditation 45:01 The Mind Illuminated: Understanding Attention and Awareness 48:54 Meditation and Neuroscience 54:26 Shamatha & Vipassana, Insights and Awakening 1:01:21 Direct Approaches to Awareness 1:04:56 States vs. Traits in Meditation 01:09:00 Practical Meditation Tips and Finding Balance

1h 13m
06/24/2025

The Philosophy of Stoicism: Agency, Reason, and Human Nature

In this episode Ariel explores Stoic philosophy and ethics with Jula Wildberger, Professor Emerita of Classics at the American University of Paris. Professor Wildberger discusses: •⁠ ⁠The core Stoic idea of human agency and what is truly good •⁠ ⁠⁠The Stoic belief in living according to one's own nature •⁠ ⁠⁠The Stoic view on emotions: distinguishing between involuntary reactions, harmful "passions", and the sage's "eupatheiai" •⁠ ⁠⁠How "Indifferents" like health or wealth are neither truly good nor bad, but are still relevant to virtue •⁠ ⁠⁠The importance of sociability as a fundamental human characteristic •⁠ ⁠⁠The challenges of applying ancient Stoicism, considering its original physical and metaphysical underpinnings •⁠ ⁠⁠How Stoic principles can still offer practical value today

1h 17m
04/28/2025

Computational Neuroscience, Connectomics, and Consciousness

In this inaugural episode, Ariel sits down with Toviah Moldwin, PhD, to explore computational neuroscience. They discuss the similarities and differences between how biological brains and current AI models function and learn. They tackle the question of brain efficiency, particularly in language acquisition, debating the roles of innate biological structures versus learning from data, comparing it to the vast data needs of AI models. Next, Toviah provides an introduction to the field of connectomics – the detailed mapping of neural connections, and also discusses the complexity of single neurons. Finally, they discuss the hard problem of consciousness: can science explain it and can AI attain it?

1h 30m

5 Episodes

On machine learning, the mind, meditation, motivation, morality, and more

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Ariel Krakowski
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