Stars and Bacteria

In this conversation we discuss: - The concept of psychological innovation versus technological innovation - What are psychological moonshots - The struggle between the hard sciences, social sciences and business - Engineers vs marketers - who deserves more credit - How our evolutionary behaviour drives consumer decision making - The trouble with metrics and optimisation

In this conversation we discuss: - Are carbohydrates friend or foe? - The benefits of fasting - How both carbohydrates and fasting are related to the ageing process - Simple hacks to delay ageing - Why medical advice around nutrition tends to be a lagging indicator and how to fix this - Lessons in building a startup in the health and nutrition space

In this episode we discuss: - Can parasites hack your behaviour, change your personality and compel you to commit suicide? - Why do some scientists think parasites are the invisible designers of the brain? - What are the military warfare strategies parasites use in the war against humans? - Does studying parasites have implications for new mechanisms of psychopharmacological treatments? - What is the most dangerous parasite that exists?

In this conversation we discuss: - Making sense of the human source code - The secrets of living your best life are locked in your genome - The importance of optimism - The 1 thing Maria would do if she started a company today - Why choosing the right investor is like finding the right groom

In this episode we discuss: - What is an emotional Turing test? - Does the introduction of social robots influence the relationships between human beings? - Has technology outpaced social norms - or are the state of social norms influencing technology - How the Shinto religion has shaped Japan's perception towards robots - Astroboy vs The Terminator - What does a modified Maslow's pyramid look like for AI?

In this conversation we discuss: - The current problems in the world of research - Importance of a Silicon Valley - Stanford complex - Technologies which detect cognitive problems decades before they manifest - Raising money from VCs versus grants

In this episode we discuss:- Why does ageing exist from an evolutionary perspective?- The 3 different evolutionary theories of ageing: mutation accumulation, antagonistic pleiotropy and the disposable soma- Unravelling the mystery of ageing through the years- Touching on topics such as Michael Jordan, radical life extension, cows & peacocks- Is ageing a side effect or an intentional programme?

In this conversation we discuss: - How Matt went from doctor to founder - Striking the balance between conviction and doubt - Are great founders born or made? - The role of luck in determining success - Is VC funding crucial for the success of startups? - The 1 key piece of advice anyone thinking of starting a business should know

In this conversation we discuss:Why taking ownership of our health is important for us and societyThe burden of preventable diseasesHigh agency and the locus of controlIs consumer technology critical for building good health?Bioresilience and its implicationsTwo bizarre thoughts on toilets and longevity

In this conversation we discuss: Sneh’s journey from surgeon to founder to digital health expert The difference between healthcare and sickcare Is telemedicine a fad or a gamechanger? Who has the ultimate responsibility for your health? Potential future trends in the world of healthcare

In the beginning of this podcast journey, we discuss what does the name 'Stars and Bacteria' actually mean? Has innovation slowed down? Will progress be driven by psychological innovation or technological innovation? What does the movie Blade Runner tell us about our present? Why does podcasting show that history repeats itself?