MetaLearn

Kevin Kelly is an editor. He is the founding executive editor of Wired magazine and has also been a writer, photographer, conservationist, and student of Asian and digital culture. He has written multiple bestselling books including What Technology Wants, The Inevitable and Cool Tools and has written many novels on his interest in cybernetics and all things tech. His latest book, Excellent Advice for Living, is a collection of Kevin's wisdom on everything from career to relationships and travel to finances, and is the starting point for our conversation.  This conversation was recorded on Monday 29 May 2023.

Steven Pressfield is a writer. He is the author of historical fiction, non-fiction, and screenplays including his novels Gates of Fire and The Legend of Bagger Vance and his non-fiction books The War of Art and Turning Pro. Steven was fifty two yeras old before his first novel was published. Along the way he worked 21 jobs in seven states incluidng schoolteacher, attendant in a mental hospital, truck driver, migrant fruit picker, advertising copywriter and Hollywood screenwriter.  None of this was intentional. All of it is in his latest book, a memoir called Govt Cheese, which is the starting point for our conversation.  This conversation was recorded on Wednesday 24 May 2023.

In this episode Nasos & Andrea discuss: closing the gap between knowing & doing, the challenge of living your values and the path to human progress.

In this episode Nasos & Andrea discuss: how to ask great questions, the role of curiosity in progress and the impact of modern media and technology on expertise, sensemaking and democracy.

In this episode Nasos & Andrea discuss: the importance of creativity for individuals and society, the process of discovering your genius and the difference between the gift and market economies.

In this episode Nasos & Andrea discuss: how to understand your emotions, the patterns driving human behaviour and why mental health culture isn't improving mental health. 

In this episode Nasos & Andrea discuss: how to focus in a world full of distractions, the challenges of ADHD and how to deal with it and why myths about attention are harming you.

The Next Loop is a 12 part series summarising the most important insights from 6 years of conversations with some of the world's greatest thinkers, entrepreneurs and artists on the MetaLearn Podcast. In this episode Nasos & Andrea discuss the topic of futureproofing yourself - how to adapt to a rapidly changing environment whilst maintaining your humanity so you can thrive in the modern world of work and live a good life.

Andrea Domenichini is a media producer and podcaster who runs his own show Voices in the Dark, and has been helping me with the latest episodes of the MetaLearn podcast. In this episode we discuss: - How to apply Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power in practice- Avoiding manipulation and how to defend against people using power plays- The true nature of power and how we misunderstand it in modern society So whether you want to become a modern Machiavelli, realise your true potential or stop being the victim of other people's games, this episode will give you everything you need and more.

Raoul Pal is the CEO of Real Vision, a cutting edge financial media company and also runs his own macro research business, Global Macro Investor. In this episode we discuss: - Raoul's 3 scenarios for how the war between Russia & Ukraine plays out - The outlook for different asset classes including stock & bonds, commodities & crypto - Why the tokenisation of culture through communities like Bored Ape Yacht Club are so significant We also talk about the practical implications of potential social unrest and how people should be thinking about their life choices in that context as well as Raoul's philosophy of living in the future.

Visakan ‘Visa' Veerasamy is a creator, marketer and the author of two books, Friendly Ambitious Nerd and Introspect. In this episode we discuss: - How to navigate the hero's journey of developing self awareness- Confronting your inner tyrant so you can do the work you were built for- Becoming friends with yourself and earning your own self-respect and admirationThis was a special conversation that will leave you with the mindsets and skillsets to better understand yourself, win your inner battles and realise your potential in all areas of life.  

Iain McGilchrist is a psychiatrist and author of The Master and His Emissary and The Matter with Things. In the episode we discuss: - The differences between the left and right brain hemispheres and how they shape your perspective - The 4 pathways to understanding - science, reason, intuition & imagination - How the big problems we face including the assault on Nature, destruction of Culture are all related We also talk about the significance of morality and the intersection of science and religion.

Andrew Warner is an entrepreneur, author and the founder of Mixergy, a platform for interviewing the world's top founders. In this episode we discuss:- Andrew's techniques for learning anything from anyone, based on 2000+ interviews - How to interrupt someone, ask tough questions and rescue bad conversations- Strategies for building a thriving content business around interviews We also discuss how Andrew improved his interviewing over time, what he learned from some of his interviewing heroes like Charlie Rose and the key mistakes to avoid for new interviewers.

Demetri Kofinas is a media entrepreneur, financial analyst and the host of the Hidden Forces Podcast. In this episode we discuss:- The key events that shaped the modern world including 9/11 and the 2008 Financial Crisis- The rise of ‘financial nihilism' and how it's playing out in asset markets including crypto - How to build a profitable media business with integrity in a post truth world We also talk about Demetri's recovery from a brain tumour that almost completely wiped his memory, the pros and cons of the different forms of media & the power of memes in crypto.

Oliver Burkeman is a journalist and author of the book 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. In this episode we discuss: - The time management myths that are holding you back - Practical strategies that help you focus on what matters most- The true cost of convenience culture and what you lose We also talk about how writing the book changed Oliver's relationship to time, the path to producing original creative work and the issues with self-help culture.

Armand D'Angour is a professor of classics at the University of Oxford and the author of several books including Socrates in Love and his latest, How To Innovate. In this episode we discuss:- The 3 different types of innovation and how to use them to your advantage - How the Greeks thought about change and what we can learn from them- The relationship between innovation and ethicsWe also cover the true story behind Archimedes' famous “Eureka!” moment and Aristotle's thoughts on political innovation.

Larry Grobel is a writer and interviewer who has interviewed every big name in Hollywood from Robert de Niro to Nicole Kidman, Al Pacino to Angelina Jolie. In this episode we discuss:- The art of a great interview informed by Larry' work with the world's biggest stars- Techniques for building rapport fast to make people feel comfortable and open up - Larry's principles for great storytelling that he's used in his writing & interviewing We also talk about Larry's 10 days on Marlon Brando's private island, his close 30 year friendship with Al Pacino and his controversial interview with former Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight.

Gary Lachman is a writer and philosopher, whose work focuses on human imagination and the history of occult ideas. In this episode we discuss: - Moving between the rational and the imaginative modes of consciousness - The rise of meme magic in politics and how Trump, Putin others have used it - How to make sense of a world dominated by philosophies of nihilism We also discuss Gary's experience in the rock band Blondie in the mid 70s, how the internet shapes reality and the history of some of the most important ideas about consciousness.

Andrea Domenichini is a media producer and podcaster who runs his own show Voices in the Dark, and has been helping me with the latest episodes of the MetaLearn podcast. In this episode we discuss:- The role curiosity plays in learning and how to cultivate it in yourself and others- The nature of knowledge and the thread running between science and the arts- What Dungeons & Dragons has taught Andrea about storytelling, creativity and media We also talk about growing up in different cultures, neurodivergence and the HBO Series Westworld and what it teaches us about consciousness.

James Hollis is Jungian analyst and author of 16 books, including his latest work Prisms and Living Between Worlds. In this episode we cover: - How to deal with competing desires and create the life you want to live- The meaning of Jung's big ideas like the shadow and what they mean for you- How James has written a book every two years for the last 3 decadesThis was a wide ranging, deep conversation that will give you a fresh perspective on how to live a meaningful life.

Sergey Young is the Founder of the Longevity Vision Fund and author of the book The Science and Technology of Growing Young. In this episode we discuss: - How using health data will eventually enable us to reverse aging - The current state of aging research and progress made in recent years - The simple things you can do to extend your lifes and stay healthy This episode will give you a broad overview of the longevity field and unique insights into what you can do to live a longer, healthier life.

Visakan ‘Visa' Veerasamy is a creator, marketer and the author of two books, Friendly Ambitious Nerd and Introspect. In this episode we discuss:  - How to reframe your ambition so you can succeed your way- How to create content that helps people, makes money and connects you to your tribe- How to market yourself and your work without selling out We also discuss Visa's experience growing up as a child of multiple worlds, turning ADHD into a superpower, and the importance of creative scenes like the Golden Age in Ancient Greece and the Renaissance in Italy. Visa is one of the most interesting and unique thinkers I've come across and this episode will give you a lot of valuable insight into creating, marketing and more.

Tom Chatfield is a philosopher and author of the books Critical Thinking and How To Think. In this episode we discuss:- How to avoid common thinking mistakes and deal with your biases to be less wrong- The three characteristics of valuable information sources- How to understand statistics and form an accurate picture of reality in a data driven world  We also discuss Tom's experience writing a book during the pandemic and the task of teaching people to think. This episode will help you overcome thinking mistakes and make sense of the world around you.

Michael Meade is a mythologist, storyteller and author best known for books like The Water of Life, Fate and Destiny and The Genius Myth. In this episode we discuss: - How to find and tap into your inner genius - How to tell transformative stories that move people- The most valuable life lessons from world mythology We also cover Michael's near fatal run-in with a gang aged 13 and his experience going on hunger strike after being drafted into the Vietnam War. This episode will fuel your imagination and help you discover and tap into your own genius.

Luke Burgis is an entrepreneur and author of the book Wanting, The Power of Mimetic Desire and How to Want What You Need.  In this episode, we cover: - How to turn blind wanting that leaves you unfulfilled to intentional wanting that supports your values- The different kinds of role models and how they affect your desires and behaviour- How conflict often comes from similarities, not differences and the tactics to break the cycle in your life This conversation will help you better understand what you want and why you want it, giving you the power to find more meaning in your work and life and transform your life for the better.

Rob Fitzpatrick is an author and entrepreneur, best known for his book The Mom Test. His latest offering is Write Useful Books. In this episode, we discuss: - Rob's 4-part system for writing useful books based on product testing principles - Common mistakes to avoid in getting feedback from readers - Business lessons Rob has learned from a decade and a half of entrepreneurial projects We also cover the publishing industry and Rob's plans to disrupt it. This episode will give you a system for writing great non fiction that solves readers' problems and give you an insights into running an entrepreneurial career in a sustainable way.

Thomas Moore is an author and psychotherapist, best known for the NYT bestseller Care of the Soul. His latest book, Soul Therapy is focused on therapy that actually makes a difference. In this episode we discuss: - What therapy or "soul care" is and how it works - The myths that to help you through dark times in life - The modern obsession with childhood trauma This conversation will give you a fresh perspective of therapy and help you separate the signal from the noise in a world of shallow conversations about mental health.

David Heinemeier Hansson is the creator of Ruby on Rails, Co-Founder and CTO at Basecamp and the best-selling co-author of Rework and Remote. In this episode we discuss: - David's learning process and how he's applied it to everything from photography to race car driving - Basecamp's recent battle against Apple and the implications of Big Tech monopolies for business and society - David's take on a recent controversy at Basecamp around discussing political issues at work This conversation will give you access to the methods and philosophies of an exceptional learner as well as insight into some of the key issues of our time. 

Neel Popat is the CEO of Donut, an app that helps you save at a high-yield rate within the world of DeFi. In this conversation we discuss: - Neel's journey building a crypto startup - The problems with traditional finance and how the industry is being disrupted - The fundamental building blocks for understanding DeFi We also cover Neel's backstory as a young entrepreneur, kid coder and banker and what he learned from those experiences as well as getting stuck into the wonderful world of DeFi.

Raoul Pal is the Co-Founder & CEO of Real Vision Group, a disruptive financial media brand. He also runs his own macro research business the Global Macro Investor and was himself previously a highly successful portfolio manager at one of the world's largest hedge funds GLG. The global economy is in a state of transition and with the march of technology accelerating and a new financial system and digital economy being created before our eyes, Raoul is the perfect guide to help you make sense of what's going on. In this episode we discuss: - How we got to the current crisis point in the global economy and what that means for you- The emerging digital asset space (including cryptocurrencies, NFTs & community tokens) and its significance as a source of return to combat monetary debasement- The skill of investing and what Raoul has learned about it after several decades in the markets If you're expecting tips on which cryptocurrencies to buy or sell this conversation isn't for you. But it is what I hope will be an evergreen conversation charting the story of how we got to where we are and where we're going, through the lens of one of the world's most successful investors. 

Barbara Oakley is an educator and writer who’s empowering people all over the world to learn more effectively. She’s best known for her role as the lead instructor on Coursera’s Learning How To Learn and her bestselling book A Mind for Numbers but in the last few years she’s created an incredible body of work including multiple books and online courses. In this episode we discuss: - How and why Barb is releasing not one but two books in quick succession Learn like a Pro and Uncommon Sense Teaching - The main insights from the last 5 years of research on the learning process - The difference between declarative and procedural memory and why that matters for learning This was a great conversation, full of fascinating insights about the learning process that you can go away and apply straight away.

Dean Nelson is the director of the journalism program at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and author of the book Talk To Me. He has over 40 years of experience in journalism and has written stories from all over the world, which have been published the likes of the New York Times & Boston Globe. In this episode, we discuss: - How to navigate career crisis and the two questions that resolved Dean’s own struggles- How jazz is a useful analogy for understanding how to having better conversations- The path to becoming an effective interviewer and talking to your heroes This was a really insightful conversation that will teach you how to ask better questions and get better answers whether you interview for a living or not.

Eric Jorgenson is the author of the Navalmanack, a distillation of the best insights from Angel List Founder Naval Ravikant and the Founder of Course Correctly, a site that curates the best online courses for knowledge workers. Eric is in the process of creating a course about leverage and has learned from one of the best thinkers on the subject, Naval Ravikant, founder of Angel List and one of the world’s best-known technologists.  In this episode we discuss: - The core principles of leverage & the limiting beliefs that prevent people from applying it- How to curate the best online courses in an ocean of available learning materials - How the best way to become a unique specialist is to start as a generalist This was a really insightful conversation that will give you some great ideas on how to apply leverage to your own life and business, as well as some powerful insights into the future of online education.

Dhrupad Karwa is the Founder and CEO of Inspo, an AI Inspiration Partner designed to enrich creative thinking at brands and agencies. He is also the co-founder and CEO of HaikuJAM, a social writing game that helps people write collaboratively online. In this episode we discuss: - The importance of inspiration and how AI can bring more of it to our lives- The challenges of building startups and what kept Dhru going along the way- The current state of the social media landscape and the challenge of navigating it  This was a great conversation that will give you an insight into the mind of an entrepreneur working on a fascinating problem at the intersection of human and machine creativity. Plus, if you’re craving some inspiration at the moment, Dhru’s stories and ideas will definitely give you a top-up.

Billy Broas is an entrepreneur, marketing coach and consultant and instructor of the Keystone online course. In this episode we discuss: - Limiting beliefs holding you back from marketing yourself and your business - Billy’s Bridge of Transformation Method - What Billy learned from some of history’s greatest copywriters This episode will give you the mindsets and skillsets you need to thrive in marketing, as well as great insights into human psychology, business and online education.

Anton Howes is a historian in residence at the RSA and a visiting lecturer at King's College London. He is also the author of the book Arts and Minds: How The RSA Changed a Nation. In this episode we discuss: - The innovator's mindset and why it’s much rarer than you think- A vision for reviving the great exhibitions of the 19th century as a vehicle for progress- How to research and write a book, as well as advice for getting your work read This conversation will give you some great ideas for how you can innovate more in your life, your organisation, and even for society as a whole as well as some valuable insights into the creative process. 

Kevin Kelly is the co-founder and editor at Wired magazine, and one of the world’s leading technologists. He’s the author of What Technology Wants and The Inevitable and has recently launched Vanishing Asia, a photo-book documenting 40 years of Kevin’s travels in Asia.  In this episode we discuss: - Kevin’s lessons about photography, the world and himself from 40 years of travel in Asia - What the rise of Asia and accelerating global convergence means for you and the world- How to succeed in the industry of ideas and the current state of intellectual property This was a wide ranging conversation that will offer you powerful insights about travel, technology and where the world is going. Most importantly, you’ll get a fresh perspective on how to discover your own unique attributes so you can future proof yourself and live a good life.

Neer Sharma is the founder of Patent Drop, a newsletter that gives you a peek into the future by summarising new patents from big tech companies.He previously co-founded HaikuJAM - a mobile game that helps people feel better through collaborative writing, helping grow the community to over 1 million users.In this episode we discuss: - How to navigate a career change without having the next thing lined up - What the latest patents coming out of big tech tell us about the future of online interaction - Neer’s experiments with NFTs (non fungible tokens) and what the technology means for creatorsThis conversation will give you access to the mindset and strategies of someone who’s created a completely new career for himself by running experiments online as well as some great insights into the weird and wonderful virtual world that’s being built online.

Armand D’Angour is a Professor of Classics at Oxford University, a musician and the author of several books, including his latest Socrates in Love. In this episode we discuss:- Armand's revisionist biography of Socrates including an account of the woman who helped him shape his ideas on love - The value of reviving ancient music and the methods for doing so- What the Greeks’ attitude to the new can teach us about technology in the modern world This was a wonderful conversation that will give you fresh insight into the foundations of Western philosophy and the connections between music and the classics.

Annie Duke is a bestselling author, speaker, and decision-making consultant. Her latest book, How to Decide is already earning rave reviews and her previous one, Thinking in Bets, became a national bestseller. As a former professional poker player, Annie won more than $4 million in tournament poker before retiring from the game in 2012. If you're anything like most people, you probably don't have much of a process for making decisions but what if decision making was a learnable skill? Annie has dedicated herself to teaching it through her books and consultingIn this episode we discuss: - What games like poker, chess and backgammon can teach us about decision making - How to learn effectively from your experiences without becoming biased by outcomes- How to overcome analysis paralysis and eliminate unnecessary decisionsThis was a great wide-ranging conversation with a lot of practical applications that will help you combat your own biases, address your weaknesses and become a better and more confident decision-maker.

Joel Christensen is a Professor of Classics at Brandeis University and author of the book The Many Minded Man. He also posts regularly on the popular Classics-oriented website Sententiae Antiquae.  The Many Minded Man explores Homer's Odyssey through a modern psychological lens, focusing on how it reflects the workings of the human mind and provides a model for coping with the challenges of chance and fate. In this episode we discuss: - The concept of agency and how The Odyssey helps us to understand what we can control- How to use the power of storytelling to make sense of your life and the world around you - What modern psychology can learn from Homer's Odyssey and Iliad This was a wonderful conversation centred on some of the greatest stories ever told, which will show you how storytelling can shape a sense of agency and provide solutions to help you avoid destructive patterns.

Minter Dial is an international speaker and award-winning author, who focuses on the topics of leadership, branding and transformation. He has written three books including his latest You Lead: How Being Yourself Makes You a Better Leader. In this episode we discuss: - How Minter's experience observing 9/11 in New York changed his values - The 4 paradoxes we all have to navigate in a modern business context - What Minter learned from making a documentary about his grandfather This conversation was remarkably insightful and wide ranging and in it, you'll discover the mindsets and skillsets required for transformational leadership and how to facilitate meaningful dialogue.

Christian Busch is a Professor at NYU and LSE and the author of the bestselling book, The Serendipity Mindset. He is also the co-founder of two thriving communities - Sandbox, a global community of young innovators, as well as of Leaders on Purpose, an organisation convening leading CEOs.In this episode we discuss: - The mindset needed to integrate serendipity into your career and life- How to plan and set goals without over optimising and obsessing about efficiency- How to keep a community fresh whilst maintaining the core values This was a great conversation that will give you the mindset and skillset to use the unpredictability of life to your advantage and create your own luck.

Michelle Weise is the author of Long-Life Learning: Preparing for Jobs that Don’t Even Exist Yet. She is an entrepreneur-in-residence and senior advisor at Imaginable Futures and her work over the last decade has concentrated on preparing working-age adults for the jobs of today and tomorrow. In this episode we discuss: - The current state of the landscape in workplace training and higher education - The blend of skills we'll need to develop individually and as a society to thrive in the future - What Michelle learned from working with legendary Professor Clayton Christensen If you're interested in the intersection between the future of education and work this conversation is for you as well as giving you with plenty of original insight into how to direct your own career in a rapidly changing environment.

Tom Vanderbilt is a journalist and author of the book Beginners: The Curious Power of Lifelong Learning. In this conversation we discuss: - The pain and joy of being an amateur and why it's so important- Tom's criteria for learning new skills and picking teachers- The unexpected benefits of picking up new skills The limiting beliefs that stop us from learning new things are often so difficult to overcome because they're invisible and in this conversation, we map the territory so you can break through and feel good about becoming a beginner again.

Oli Barrett is a super connector named "the most connected man in Britain" by Wired magazine, who has received an MBE for services to business. In this episode we discuss: - The 5 strategies for staying in touch with people - The components of a good cold email or long-shot as Oli calls them - How to create space for meaningful conversations online I've learned a lot from Oli in the last few years and if you apply a fraction of what he discusses here to your network, you'll be in a very different place a year from now.

Anne Laure Le Cunff, founder of Ness Labs, an online school and community on mindful productivity. She's an ex-Googler, and holds a masters in Applied Neuroscience from King's College London, while her work has been featured in WIRED, Forbes, the FT and Rolling Stone. In this episode we discuss: - How Anne-Laure's personal values have changed over the course of her career - Anne-Laure's system for consistently producing content online - The concept of an anti library and how that relates to metacognition This was a great conversation –– whether you're looking for some creative inspiration or techniques on publishing more, this episode has you covered.

Thomas Moore is a best selling author, international speaker and esteemed psychotherapist. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Thomas and in it we discuss: - The movement of archetypal psychology and the art of creative collaboration - The thinkers who have advanced our understanding of the human psyche - How the pandemic has affected the soul aspects of our work experience We also touch on the taboo around money in our society and how it relates to work. I hope you find Thomas' ideas as valuable as I have.

Thomas Moore is a best selling author, international speaker and esteemed psychotherapist. He has written 25 books about the soul, finding meaningful work and doing religion in a fresh way. In this episode we discuss: - The idea of having a calling, when this is naive and when it isn't - How Thomas has written 25 books in his career without retiring to a cabin in the woods - The distinction between soul and spirit and why it matters for everyone As Thomas himself puts it, so many of the problems we experience are not ones of knowledge but of imagination. I hope this conversation will be as much of a perspective shifter for you as it was for me.

Evan Carmichael runs a successful YouTube channel which distills the mindsets and skillsets from the world's top performers in sports, business and entertainment. In this episode we discuss: - The relationship between belief and action that every creator has to navigate - The systems and processes needed to create a thriving YouTube channel - What Evan has learned from studying some of the world's top performers Whether you're looking to start a YouTube channel, podcast or newsletter, this episode will give you the mindsets and approaches you need to succeed.

Margaret Heffernan is a former CEO of 5 companies, acclaimed TED speaker and author of six books including her latest, Uncharted. In this episode we discuss: - How to pursue a career as a series of experiments - The problems with modern forecasting in an uncertain environment - The dangers of prioritising efficiency in an uncertain world and the human qualities needed to thrive in it This episode will give you great practical advice for navigating the world we live in as well as a fresh perspective on the most important questions of our time.