Podcast appearances and mentions of angus fletcher

What if the smartest tool in your business isn't a dashboard or a spreadsheet—but your own brain? Dr. Angus Fletcher, author of Primal Intelligence, joins Mark and Justin to dismantle the myth that data and AI are the future of innovation. From working with U.S. Army Special Operations to decoding Shakespeare and Pixar, Angus reveals the four brain processes that drive human ingenuity in chaotic environments—and how entrepreneurs can reclaim their innate edge. You'll learn: • Why human intuition trumps data in uncertain markets • The neuroscience of storytelling and how it builds plans that actually work • How to shift from optimization to innovation • Why most marketing is mid—and how to fix it   Ready to build a brand that breaks through instead of blends in? Listen now.

In this episode, Angus Fletcher explains why the human brain doesn't work like a computer and why our deepest strengths come not from logic or data processing but from imagination, emotion, and the ability to invent new futures. Drawing on neuroscience, Shakespeare, evolutionary biology, and his work with U.S. Army Special Operations, Fletcher shows how storytelling is the brain's oldest "technology," why intelligence is rooted in action rather than analysis, and what most people get wrong about creativity and common sense. Angus Fletcher is a professor of story science at Ohio State's Project Narrative, the world's leading academic think tank dedicated to understanding how stories work. He earned his PhD from Yale, conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford, and in 2023 received the U.S. Army's Commendation Medal for his groundbreaking work with Army Special Operations on primal intelligence. He has also written screenplays for major Hollywood studios and networks. His new book is Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know.

Our very special guest today is Angus Fletcher, professor of story science at Ohio State's Project Narrative. His research has been called “life-changing” by Brené Brown and “mind blowing” by Malcolm Gladwell; has been endorsed by psychologists, neuroscientists, and doctors such as Martin Seligman and Antonio Damasio; and has been supported by institutions ranging from the National Science Foundation to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2023, he was awarded the Commendation Medal by the U.S. Army for his “groundbreaking research” with U.S. Army Special Operations into primal intelligence. His latest book is called Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know. There are very few books or writers who have affected me as much as Angus and this book have. In the few weeks since I have read it, my coaching has changed. My thoughts about intuition, imagination and emotion have changed. I've watched close to 20 videos featuring Angus on youtube… and I don't typically ever watch that many videos about one person. Dr. Fletcher says that as humans, we think in story, not in words or pictures. He has plenty of research and street cred to back this up. Hollywood studios consult with him regularly. In addition to everything else, he's a screenwriter, and a very compelling author. I could go on and on but that wouldn't leave much time for us to talk, would it? So I will start with something familiar, and soon you will discover how mind-blowingly different some of Angus's groundbreaking ideas are. But first, the amazingly familiar part… Copy is powerful. You're responsible for how you use what you hear on this podcast. Most of the time, common sense is all you need. But if you make extreme claims... and/or if you're writing copy for offers in highly regulated industries like health, finance, and business opportunity... you may want to get a legal review after you write and before you start using your copy. My larger clients do this all the time. 1. A lot of people in the direct marketing community have felt boxed-in by the conventional wisdom that the only true kind of story is a hero's journey. I believe you have a very different point of view about stories, that includes that anatomy of the brain. Could you tell us about it? 2. Let's talk about primal intelligence. When I first found out about your book and before I read it, my guess about primal intelligence was, well, pretty primal. Lizard brain stuff. That is, the animal description that you either mate with something, or you kill it, or you eat it. You have a different and I think much more sophisticated and I would say much more useful definition of primal intelligence and it has to do with four qualities of thinking that have nothing to do with logic. Could you talk about that? 3. Our listeners are copywriters and business owners who use direct response copy in their businesses. Pragmatic creativity is high on the list of capabilities people always want to increase. Could you share your thoughts on what creativity is, from the point of view of primal intelligence? And how to increase our abilities to be creative? 4. In your book there's a surprisingly long list of people, including politicians, scientists and even a famous classical composer, as well as writers, who have mentioned Shakespeare as a major influence in their lives. What is it about Shakespeare's work that is so valuable to all these people? 5. Can you give us some more tips about using stories in our content and advertising that will capture people's attention and help us with our businesses? 6. Tell us about your work with Army special operators? 7. Would you like to give us a preview of the book Primal Intelligence? Links: Primal Intelligence https://www.amazon.com/Primal-Intelligence-Smarter-Than-Know/dp/0593715306 Angus's LinkedIn Address https://www.linkedin.com/in/angus-fletcher-99713617/ Download.

What strange thing happens when a neuron is left alone? Are there ways to moderate stress and anxiety, and even channel them into productive and helpful signals there to assist you in making good decisions? How can you develop initiative, and what has to change in today's education landscape to accomplish this? Angus Fletcher is a Professor of Story Science at Project Narrative of Ohio State University. He also teaches screenwriting and is a screenwriter, as well as the author of several books including Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know, Storythinking: The New Science of Narrative Intelligence, and Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature.Greg and Angus discuss the intersection of story science and philosophy, emphasizing the importance of mythos and narrative thinking as opposed to logos, the purely logical, data-driven approaches in areas like decision-making and leadership. Angus outlines how neurophysiology and the brain's natural restlessness contribute to human intelligence and explores the practical applications of narrative cognition in fields ranging from military operations to education and business. He highlights the role of literature in developing imagination, perspective, and emotional intelligence, arguing for its integration into educational systems and other training programs to cultivate better leaders, thinkers, and problem-solvers.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:Why fear and anger are the two most powerful emotions41:50: I worked a long time with operators on this, and we particularly worked on fear and anger because those are our two most powerful emotions. Those are our fight-or-flight responses. Fear is flight, and anger is fight. And you know what is going on there? Well, what is going on there is your brain has a bias to action. Your brain always wants to be doing something. The moment that your brain is sitting still, it feels extremely vulnerable, so it always wants to have a plan. And when your brain experiences a severe threat and it realizes this threat is so new, so different, that it does not have a plan that it has confidence in, it does not know what to do here—that is when your brain starts to feel scared. That is when you feel fear. So the question is, why is fear the emotion that your brain evolved? Why did it not evolve some other emotion, like curiosity or whatever? And the answer is just because fear makes you incredibly susceptible to outside influence. The more scared you are, the smarter other people's suggestions sound.Emotion is the smartest thing in your brain41:06: Emotion is the smartest thing in your brain. If you're not using your emotions, you're severely limiting your intelligence. And the reason that we know emotion is the smartest thing in the brain is it's the oldest form of intelligence in the brain, so it's been keeping you alive for hundreds of millions of years.Stories help us imagine alternatives13:11: When you tell someone a story effectively, it allows them to imagine themselves in that position. And then what they do in that position is they imagine, what could I do? And when that's done effectively, what it allows them to do is imagine alternatives—not just alternatives from what they themselves are doing in their own lives, but alternatives to what the individuals did in that situation.Why modern life produces so much anxiety46:21: Why is it that so many people are experiencing over-anxiety in our modern world? Well, the first thing is that too many people spend their time inside these artificially stable environments where they're just not used to anything being unstable. If you spend all your time in the suburbs, and bananas are always there, even in the middle of the winter when you go to the supermarket and the whatnot, you know, then you're not ever coping or having to engage with even a mild amount of instability or volatility. So the moment you encounter any of it, you immediately freak out and think that something must be wrong.Show Links:Recommended Resources:MythosLogosDaniel KahnemanDual Process TheoryI. A. RichardsWilliam ShakespeareCase StudySteve JobsMike TysonRonald CraneNew CriticismPostmodernismPost-StructuralismSchadenfreudeThe Chicago SchoolAeschylusSophoclesFight-or-Flight ResponseGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at Ohio State UniversityProject Narrative Profile | Ohio State UniversityAngusFletcher.co | WebsiteAngus Fletcher | Wikipedia PageProfile on LinkedInSocial Profile on InstagramGuest Work:Amazon Author PagePrimal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You KnowNarrative Creativity: An Introduction to How and Why (Elements in Creativity and Imagination)Storythinking: The New Science of Narrative Intelligence (No Limits)Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of LiteratureCreative Thinking: A Field Guide to Building Your Strategic CoreComic Democracies: From Ancient Athens to the American RepublicScreenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of StoryEvolving Hamlet: Seventeenth-Century English Tragedy and the Ethics of Natural SelectionAngus Fletcher | IMDB Page Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's Tech Nation, Moira speaks withYou are smarter than you know - Dr. Angus Fletcher talks about Primal Intelligence, and then Dr. Derek Jantz from Tune Therapeutics explains how they aim to "tune" DNA - not just with human DNA, but stopping the Hepatitis B virus in its tracks.BTN Title: Tuning DNA, and Tuning Out Hepatitis BDr Derek Jantz, the Chief Scientific Officer of Tune Therapeutics, explains their approach, now in advanced clinical trials for Hepatitis B.

What do Shakespeare, Hollywood storytelling, and military special operations have in common? They all excel at inventing new plans, or improvising when we're facing radical uncertainty. Listen as professor of story science Angus Fletcher tells EconTalk's Russ Roberts how we've misdefined intelligence, equating it with data--driven reasoning in place of what he calls "primal intelligence"--the uniquely human ability to think and plan in situations with incomplete information. Drawing on years of work in Hollywood and working with elite military operators, Fletcher shows how narratives aren't just entertainment--they're the foundation of human intelligence. He reveals why military special operations personnel need to create new plans on the fly, why Shakespeare remains profoundly relevant to modern problem-solving, and why reading challenging literature literally rewires your brain for greater adaptability.

Angus Fletcher has a PhD in literature from Yale and teaches English at Ohio State. He's passionate about Shakespeare. He probably owns a tweed jacket. In other words, he's the last person you'd expect to receive the Army's fourth-highest civilian honor. But when he's not parsing King Lear or dissecting Hamlet, Angus is pioneering research into narrative cognition — our ability to think in stories — and how it can make us smarter. When the Army put his theories to the test, his methods reshaped how soldiers learn to think clearly under pressure and act decisively in volatile environments. Now, he has distilled this work into a new book called Primal Intelligence. Malcolm Gladwell says it's confirmation that Angus "has never had an uninteresting thought." We think you'll agree. — — — (04:21) What is Primal Intelligence? (8:24) Computers Think in Probabilities. Humans Think in Possibilities. (11:08) The Art of Intuition: Spotting Exceptions to Rules (29:59) Why Storytelling is the Essence of Human Intelligence (34:13) How to Plan (35:38) The Role of Emotion in Decision Making (45:27) How to Use Common Sense to ‘Tune Your Anxiety' (49:34) What Great Innovators Have in Common (51:25) The Best Way to Become a Better Communicator (54:22) Don't Freak Out About A.I. Do Freak Out the State of Your Intelligence. — — — Want to connect?

Andy sits down with Angus Fletcher, professor at Ohio State and author of "Primal Intelligence: You're Smarter Than You Know", to explore how narrative intelligence gives investors an edge. Drawing from his work with U.S. Army Special Operations, Angus explains why emotions in trading are signals—not flaws—and why relying on just one plan can be dangerous. He highlights the importance of processing past failures, embracing travel and new experiences, and sharpening intuition in ways AI can't replicate. For beginners, Angus recommends reading widely to build perspective, adaptability, and better decision-making skills. What You'll Learn in This Episode: - Why narrative intelligence can be more powerful than data-driven thinking - How emotions reveal gaps in your trading plan - Why having only one plan creates hidden risks - The importance of processing failure to grow as an investor - How travel and new experiences improve adaptability and opportunity-spotting - Why human intuition will always differ from AI—and how to use that to your advantage Want to Learn More?
 Visit YourInvestingClass.com
 for free investing resources and a step-by-step plan to help you build real financial confidence.

How can you tap into your hidden intelligence and transform your life? The Army might be able to show you how. If you've ever wondered where such visionary creatives and decision-makers such as Steve Jobs, Vincent van Gogh, Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou, Nikola Tesla, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Warren Buffett, and William Shakespeare get their extraordinary mental abilities, join us for an intriguing talk with Angus Fletcher, professor at The Ohio State University. Researchers at Ohio State's Project Narrative in 2021 said they have an answer: primal intelligence—something that cannot be found in computers but is in humans and can be strengthened. In response, U.S. Army Special Operations incorporated primal training for its most classified units; according to Fletcher, they saw the future faster, healed more quickly from trauma, and chose more wisely in life-and-death situations. The Army then authorized trials on civilians—entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, managers, coaches, teachers, investors, and NFL players. Their leadership and innovation reportedly improved significantly; they coped better with change and uncertainty, and they experienced less anger and anxiety. Then the Army provided primal training to college and K–12 classrooms, where it is said to have produced substantial effects in students as young as eight. Fletcher has brought this training to a wider audience in his new book Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know. Join us as he shares what he learned about this approach to using your brain—you just might end up thinking more like Jobs, Lincoln and Shakespeare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tap into your hidden intelligence and transform your lifeHow are some people so much smarter than the rest of us? Where do visionary creatives and savvy decision-makers like Vincent van Gogh, Steve Jobs, Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou, Nikola Tesla, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Wayne Gretzky, Warren Buffett, and William Shakespeare get their extraordinary mental abilities?In 2021, researchers at Ohio State's Project Narrative, renowned for collaborations with NASA, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley, announced they had the answer. They named it Primal Intelligence. And they published scientific proof that Primal Intelligence was impossible for computers—but could be strengthened in humans.Intrigued, U.S. Army Special Operations developed Primal training for its most classified units. The training succeeded. The Operators saw the future faster. They healed quicker from trauma. In life-and-death situations, they chose wiser.The Army then authorized trials on civilian entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, managers, salesforces, coaches, teachers, investors, and NFL players. Their leadership and innovation improved significantly. They coped better with change and uncertainty. They experienced less anger and anxiety. Finally, the Army provided Primal training to college and K-12 classrooms. It produced substantial effects in students as young as eight.That revolutionary training is now available for the first time in this book. It's not an optimization hack or a cheat code. It's a different way of using your brain. It offers a new neuroscientific approach to intuition, imagination, emotion, and commonsense, helping you think more like van Gogh and Jobs, Lincoln and Shakespeare.It's your edge over AI. Your human genius. Your Primal Intelligence.Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://peculiarbookclub.com/⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://eepurl.com/ixJJ2Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/PeculiarBookClub/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PeculiarBookClub/streams⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@peculiarbookclub.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/groups/peculiarbooksclub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thepeculiarbookclub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In a world increasingly dominated by AI and computational thinking, we've been taught that logic is the ultimate form of intelligence. But what if an over-reliance on pure reason is making us more fragile and less equipped to navigate uncertainty? Angus Fletcher is a professor at Ohio State's Project Narrative and the author of the best-selling book, Primal Intelligence. Angus's has had an extraordinary career path to say the least, from building mutant neurons in neuroscience labs to studying Shakespeare at Yale, and being recruited by US Army Special Operations to train their elite operators. Angus argues that the human brain is less a computational machine, and more a dynamic, narrative-based engine built for action and foresight. This "biological intelligence," often overlooked and untrained, is what allows us to operate with limited information, adapt in volatile environments, and innovate in ways no machine can. For his groundbreaking work on this very topic, Angus was awarded the Commendation Medal by the US Army in 2023. Listen as we dive into the science of your innate intelligence and how narrative thinking works, and how understanding what feelings are telling you can transform how you deal with uncertainty.  Some highlights from the episode: Angus's journey from neuroscience to Shakespeare to Army Special Operations Why hard skill, soft skill distinction misses the point entirely How biological intelligence differs from computational intelligence The Army's discovery about decision-making in volatile environments A novel take on the purpose of emotions  What fear and anger signals (and what to do about it) Special operators' techniques for turning anger on and off Why gratitude works best when applied to specific negative experiences The brain as a Swiss Army knife rather than calculator How to use emotions like a dashboard for better decision-making How an integrated past and branching future creates anti-fragility If you're curious about the kinds of intelligence that AI can't replicate, and how to better utilize yours, this conversation provides the science and practical tools to get started. For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Angus Fletcher is Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative for the study of how stories work. His most recent book is Primal Intelligence, you are smarter than you know.Please subscribe to this channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

In this episode of The Leadership Initiative, Angus Fletcher explores the connection between storytelling and primal intelligence, revealing how leaders can harness narrative, curiosity, and imagination to drive innovation, engagement, and human-centered leadership.

This episode is for you if you need: - To tap into your intuition and imagination in a deeper way than ever before - A boost of hope for your creative future and the future of human creativity - To hear two creativity nerds getting EXTREMELY excited about art, story and human potential!!! Pretty much everyday you are told that AI is coming for your job, but NOT TODAY, because today we talk with Angus Fletcher PhD. Angus is an expert in story AND neuroscience, and in this episode, we will dive into Fletcher's research that will show you how to access your “Primal Intelligence” AKA something AI cannot do!! Angus Fletch has a PhD in Literature from Yale studying Shakespeare and a BS in neuroscience from the University of Michigan. This unique blend of story and science makes him one of the most fascinating people I have ever met and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this conversation! I HIGHLY recommend you pick up Angus' new book “Primal Intelligence:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740110/primal-intelligence-by-angus-fletcher/ Learn more about Angus Fletcher here: https://www.angusfletcher.co   SHOW NOTES: Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.com SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A researcher uses his work with U.S. special operations forces to explain a new neuroscientific approach to intuition, imagination, emotion, and common sense. Guest: Angus Fletcher, Professor of Story Science at Ohio State University's Project Narrative. His latest book is called, "Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know," from Penguin Random House. 

UPGRADE TO SYSK PREMIUM! To unlock ad-free listening to over 1,000 episodes plus receive exclusive weekly bonus content, go to ⁠⁠⁠ https://SYSKPremium.com⁠ Your phone's battery is an engineering marvel — but you might be killing it without even realizing it. In this opening segment, you'll learn simple, science-backed charging habits that can dramatically extend your battery's life and keep it holding a charge for years to come. https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a15731/best-way-to-keep-li-ion-batteries-charged/ Have you heard of “primal intelligence”? It's essentially the opposite of artificial intelligence — the innate, deeply human abilities we're all born with but often lose touch with over time. U.S. Army Special Operations has been studying it, along with my guest, Angus Fletcher. He's a professor of story science at Ohio State's Project Narrative and was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal in 2023 for his groundbreaking research into primal intelligence. In this fascinating conversation, Angus shares how we can reclaim and strengthen this natural gift to solve problems, adapt faster, and think more creatively. He's the author of Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know (https://amzn.to/3HvfeMi). Humans are wired to both compete and cooperate. While we evolved to survive in groups, we have our own self-interests and desires. So how do we strike the right balance between cooperation and competition? Jonathan Goodman, social scientist at the University of Cambridge, unpacks this age-old tension — revealing how it shapes our relationships, workplaces, and even our evolution. He's the author of Invisible Rivals: How We Evolved to Compete in a Cooperative World (https://amzn.to/45QBrh1), and his insights might change how you see human nature itself. The number of overweight pets in the U.S. continues to escalate. Well over half of the dogs and cats in this country are overweight or obese. Listen as I reveal the cause, the cure and the way to prevent this epidemic. https://www.petobesityprevention.org/2023# PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! SHOPIFY: Shopify is the commerce platform for millions of businesses around the world! To start selling today, sign up for your $1 per month trial at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://Shopify.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! QUINCE: Keep it classic and cool with long lasting staples from Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! HERS: Whether you want to lose weight, grow thicker, fuller hair, or find relief for anxiety, Hers has you covered. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forhers.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angus Fletcher, a world leading expert on the science of storytelling, bestselling author, professor of story science at Ohio State University's Project Narrative, and a consultant to U.S. Army Special Operations, joins me on the latest Business Minds Coffee Chat. His research has been called "life changing" by Brené Brown and "mind blowing" by Malcolm Gladwell. In 2023, he was awarded the Commendation Medal by the U.S. Army for his "groundbreaking research" with U.S. Army Special Operations into primal intelligence.

How are some people so much smarter than the rest of us? Where do visionary creatives and savvy decision-makers like Vincent Van Gogh, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Maya Angelou, Warren Buffet, and William Shakespeare,get their extraordinary mental abilities?In 2021, researchers at Ohio State's Project Narrative, the world's leading academic think-tank for the study of how stories work, and a place renowned for collaborations with NASA, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley, announced they had the answer. They named it Primal Intelligence. And they published scientific proof that Primal Intelligence was impossible for computers—but could be strengthened in humans.Intrigued, U.S. Army Special Operations developed Primal training for its most classified units. The training succeeded. The Operators saw the future faster. They healed quicker from trauma. In life-and-death situations, they chose wiser.From there the Army authorized training for civilian entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, managers, coaches, teachers, investors, and NFL players. Their leadership and innovation improved significantly. They coped better with change and uncertainty. They experienced less anger and anxiety. And when they offered the training to college and K-12 classrooms it produced substantial effects in students as young as eight.In today's conversation with Angus Fletcher who serves as Professor of story science at Project Narrative,holds dual degrees in neuroscience and literature, a PhD in Shakespeare, and is author of the powerful new book: Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter than You know.We'll take a deep dive into the groundbreaking research and training they've been developing at Project Narrative over the past 4 years. And Angus will share his often surprising and unexpected journey into this work. Including some of the most potent insights and practices he gained from collaborating with U.S. Special Operations along the way.To learn more about Primal Intelligence, including the inspiring new book, Angus's work, and Primal trainings please visit operationhuman.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On How the Arts Transform Us | Susan Magsamen & Ivy RossUnwinding Anxiety | Dr. Jud BrewerThanks for listening!Support the show

We live in a complex world that's only getting harder to navigate. The pace is faster, the problems are messier, and the future is tougher to predict. So how can your brain possibly keep up? Should we outsource everything to AI? Or is there a deeper, older intelligence we're overlooking? That's the question Angus Fletcher asks in his new book out today, Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know. Angus is a professor of story science at Ohio State's Project Narrative, a consultant to U.S. Army Special Operations, and a leading thinker on how the human mind really works — and why our creative minds are a lot more powerful than we realize, even in the age of smart machines.

In this episode, meet authors Johnathan Walton, Angus Fletcher, and Dr. Vonda Wright. Discover how Johnathan Walton went from being the victim of a con artist to teaching others how to defend against scammers, hear Angus Fletcher on surprise pronunciation lessons in the studio, and listen to Dr. Vonda Wright on confronting the realities of aging for women, and the audiobook that changed her life. Anatomy of a Con Artist by Jonathan Walton https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/745592/anatomy-of-a-con-artist-by-johnathan-walton/9798217075898/ Primal Intelligence by Angus Fletcher https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740110/primal-intelligence-by-angus-fletcher/9798217076987/ Unbreakable by Dr. Vonda Wright https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777365/unbreakable-by-vonda-wright-md/9780593736586/

Back for his second round on The UNcivilized Podcast, the man who trains Special Forces Operators on how to use chaos to their advantage and tap into their instinct and intuition. Don't worry, his work is applicable to all — even the school children he teaches his programs to.Angus Fletcher is the author of Primal Intelligence and a friend of ours at UNcivilized. In this conversation we dive into the future with AI, how to be harder to kill, and why having the ability to rapidly create a plan is the difference maker whether you're hunting down an enemy, trying to grow your company to seven figures, or get along with your partner.This is a fast paced episode filled with gems, so hang on to your hat!Cheers,Traver

What if storytelling isn't just communication—but the original form of intelligence? Angus Fletcher, story scientist and Ohio State professor (featured on Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History Podcast), explains why narrative thinking is more powerful than data, logic, or AI. From neurons to Shakespeare to U.S. Special Ops, this conversation reveals how stories help us plan, survive, and imagine a better future. Angus Fletcher's new book available for pre-order! The Storytelling University is part of the 7 Minute Stories Universe Created & Produced by Aaron Calafato & Brooks Borden

Is it true that children are more creative than computer AI? How can we use literature, art, and stories to increase innovation, resilience, and joy in the era of AI? These are the research questions of Career Buzz guest, Angus Fletcher. We had an inspiring conversation covering Angus's own career and education story from studying life science in undergrad to focusing on Shakespeare in his PhD. Listen in to connect the dots from bio to Bard, and from science to story. Angus Fletcher is Professor of Story Science at Project Narrative at The Ohio State University, and author of “Primal Intelligence” and “Storythinking: The New Science of Narrative Intelligence.”  

In this episode of Driving Change, neuroscientist and storytelling expert Dr. Angus Fletcher returns to share insights from his latest book, Primal Intelligence. Drawing from his research with the U.S. Army Special Operations, Fortune 50 companies, and education systems, Fletcher unpacks how the brain's ancient systems—emotion, imagination, intuition, and common sense—shape the way we think, lead, and connect. This isn't just theory; it's actionable neuroscience that rewires how we respond to stress, how we plan, and how we grow. Jeff and Angus explore everything from battlefield psychology to parenting to sales conversations, all through the lens of primal brain power. This episode will change how you view intelligence. If you've ever struggled with anxiety, leadership under pressure, communication breakdowns, or helping others grow, this conversation delivers practical tools rooted in science—not self-help fluff. Learn how elite military units build confidence, how to tap into your brain's imagination for clearer decision-making, and why the stories you tell yourself matter more than any strategy. Whether you're a parent, leader, coach, or entrepreneur, this episode offers real techniques to become more grounded, resilient, and effective in how you show up. Emotion is the First Intelligence – Fear and anger aren't enemies—they're signals telling us how many plans we have. Four Primal Brain Powers – Imagination (planning), Intuition (opportunity spotting), Emotion (threat signaling), and Common Sense (choosing the best plan). Plan-Making Beats Panic – People freeze not from danger, but from having no plan. Teaching people how to plan reduces fear and anger. Storytelling is Neural – The brain organizes information through action-based narratives. It's not once-upon-a-time—it's how we think. Teach Planning, Not Just Plans – The goal of leadership is to develop planners, not just manage plans. Practice Under Low Stress – Communication habits formed in calm moments will show up under pressure. Authenticity Over Evasion – People can't always detect truth, but they immediately sense evasiveness. Share what you fear. Counterfactual Thinking Builds Vision – Asking "what if" about small changes with big outcomes activates the brain's default mode network. Kids (and Adults) Need Imperfect Practice – Tolerating messy planning helps grow initiative, resilience, and brain power. Sales = Story Anticipation – Great salespeople help others discover their own story faster and with more clarity than they could alone. 00:00 – Welcome + Book Launch Tease 01:45 – Ohio's Hidden Intelligence + Emotional Evolution 10:00 – Primal Intelligence Framework 13:00 – Special Ops and the Power of Plans 19:00 – Childhood Programming and Brain Plasticity 24:30 – Imagination as Thinking Tool 29:30 – Youth, Screens & Neural Pathways 33:00 – Leadership, Weird Ideas & Innovation 38:45 – Storytelling as Internal Narrative 43:00 – Relationships & Communication Needs 46:00 – Communicating Under Pressure 50:00 – Neurocentric Questions & Sales 54:30 – Authenticity, Fear, and Trust 58:00 – What Led to Primal Intelligence 1:00:00 – How to Learn More (Book, Quiz, Site) Primal Intelligence book page (Penguin Random House) – Available August 19 Free Quiz & Diagnostic: OperationHuman.com Why You Should ListenTop 10 Takeaways⏱️ Chapter Markings (by topic)How to find more from Dr. FletcherDr. Angus Fletcher on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile

In this episode of The Teamcast, Dr. Angus Fletcher joins Preston Cline to discuss the crucial role of "productive discomfort" and honesty in personal and professional growth. They explore how embracing emotional challenges, rather than shielding individuals from them, is vital for true learning and resilience. Angus describes his concept of "story thinking," emphasizing the brain's natural inclination to process experiences through narrative and emotion. The conversation touches on the shortcomings of modern education in fostering emotional robustness and concludes with practical advice for leaders on cultivating independent thinking by recognizing and congratulating actions that differ from their own.Dr. Angus Fletcher is a professor and practitioner of Story Science at Project Narrative at The Ohio State University. He holds degrees in neuroscience and literature. His research, which employs a mix of laboratory experiments, literary history, and rhetorical theory, explores how literature, art, and stories can cultivate emotional resilience, creativity, and common sense. He is the author of Wonderworks (2021), Storythinking (2023), and Primal Intelligence (2025), among other books. His work explores why children are more creative than computer AI and aims to understand how narrative can be leveraged to enhance innovation, resilience, and joy. His academic publications can be found in journals like Narrative, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, and Harvard Business Review.Check out Angus's work here: https://www.angusfletcher.co/

In this episode, I crack open Chapter 10 of Storythinking by Angus Fletcher—the part of the book that hit me in the gut and lit a fire in my mind. We explore the ancient roots of meaning, the limitations of happiness, and why story—not logic—may hold the real answer to life's biggest question. If you're a rogue learner, a guerrilla thinker, or someone who's felt trapped in the cold machinery of reason, this one's for you. It's about reclaiming your narrative brain and stepping back into the myth.

Kelly and Ragon welcome L.M. Montgomery scholar and curator Emily Woster, Phd to the pod!  Emily tells us all about L.M. Montgomery's reading life–what books she loved growing up, what influenced her books, her active reading style and her unique writing process.  And in true kindred spirit fashion we nerd out about our influential reads and Emily's family legacy of Anne fandom!   The Anne Manuscript for high quality scans of LMM's original handwritten manuscript and notes. The L.M. Montgomery Bookshelf  where you can find scans of books from LMM's library including some of her own notations in the books and Emily's information and notes about history and context of these books!  An amazing resource!   And you can follow Emily on bluesky for updates about her work. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by: Graphic bookends from the Container Store. Ragon is inspired by: Dragon Bookplates and Personalized Library Stamps . Emily is inspired by: Wonderworks: Literary Invention and the Science of Stories by Angus Fletcher and  Story or Die: How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade, and Change Minds in Business and in Life by Lisa Cron.  And a bonus of the Library Kit from Knock Knock.  If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media!  Send us a photo of your share or review at either our email: kindredspirits.bookclub@gmail.com or on our KindredSpirits.BookClub Instagram. 

Talking points: isolation, culture, relationships, friendship, anger, connection Every now and I then, my team and I like to compile some of the greatest insights from our guests and center them around a theme. This week, we're going hard on connection. The importance and nuance of it, the consequences of being without it, and the ways connection manifests. These days, connection isn't easy, but it's more important than ever. Listen in some highly distilled wisdom. (00:00:00) - Doug McKinley on isolation, passing down wisdom, self-leadership, working weaknesses, and adding value to you and your world (00:21:51) - Nedra Tawwab on developing satisfying friendships and how to navigate tough conversations  (00:35:26) - Marisa Franco on how men and women build friendship differently, “friendship minus mission”, how camaraderie has changed over the years, and the impacts of NOT having friends (00:50:56) - Angus Fletcher on changing your internal story and your relationship to yourself, cultivating inner antifragility, and relating differently to your own anger *** Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/ Check out some free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance.  Enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the tools and training they're looking for. And don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify For more episodes, visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is for you if: Your schedule is too full Your stress is too high You don't know how to change anything You've overwhelmed but don't know what to cut --------- Riverside - The easiest way for you and your team to record, edit and share professional grade Videos and Podcasts, from anywhere in the world. Use code PEPTALK 15% Off  https://creators.riverside.fm/creativepeptalk  --------- SHOW NOTES Co-Writing / Editing: Sophie Miller sophiemiller.co Audio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones pendingbeautiful.co  Soundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? whywithaquestionmark.com  Mentioned: Dave Ramsey and the 80/20 rule Susan David's book 'Emotional Agility' https://www.susandavid.com/book/ Angus Fletcher's book 'Wonderworks' https://www.angusfletcher.co/ Adam Grant https://adamgrant.net/

Gary Goldman was a writer on “Total Recall”, a Philip K. Dick adaptation directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzeneger. It was a big hit. So why do Gary and his writing partner, Angus Fletcher, have so much trouble selling another Philip K. Dick adaptation? They tell Malcolm that it all came down to a roller coaster ride of plot twists that even A-List action actors couldn't stomach, and an early attempt at AI that was too dumb to pick a smart script.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Goldman was a writer on “Total Recall”, a Philip K. Dick adaptation directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzeneger. It was a big hit. So why do Gary and his writing partner, Angus Fletcher, have so much trouble selling another Philip K. Dick adaptation? They tell Malcolm that it all came down to a roller coaster ride of plot twists that even A-List action actors couldn't stomach, and an early attempt at AI that was too dumb to pick a smart script.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Goldman was a writer on “Total Recall”, a Philip K. Dick adaptation directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzeneger. It was a big hit. So why do Gary and his writing partner, Angus Fletcher, have so much trouble selling another Philip K. Dick adaptation? They tell Malcolm that it all came down to a roller coaster ride of plot twists that even A-List action actors couldn't stomach, and an early attempt at AI that was too dumb to pick a smart script.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Lt. Col. Thomas Gaines and Dr. Angus Fletcher discuss creativity and leadership. Lt. Col. Gaines is the command's G6 and Dr. Fletcher is a Story Science Professor from Ohio State University. Together the two have done quite a bit of research on creativity and leadership. Enjoy the episode. It's a great one and an interesting conversation

In today's episode of the Driving Change podcast, Jeff features a compilation of interviews with change management experts from our past podcasts. You'll hear Dr. Richard Boyatzis, Dr. BJ Fogg, Dr. Angus Fletcher, and Dr. Caroline Leaf. The conversations cover topics from motivation and engagement in the workplace, the neuroscience of change and coaching, creating lasting change through tiny habits, the power of storytelling and optimism, to mind management and overcoming limiting beliefs. Jeff and our guests discuss the process of identifying and changing patterns of behavior and thought. As we move into 2024, there is no better way to cap off your year than listening to these experts. Takeaways Motivation and engagement are crucial in the workplace, and leaders should focus on creating a positive and engaging environment for their employees. Understanding the neuroscience of change can help leaders effectively coach and communicate with their teams, leading to successful change initiatives. Creating lasting change often starts with small habits and incremental steps rather than trying to make big changes all at once. Storytelling and optimism play a significant role in shaping our beliefs and mindset and can be powerful tools for personal and professional growth. Mind management is essential for overcoming limiting beliefs and achieving success, and involves deconstructing negative thought patterns and reconstructing more positive and empowering ones. Deliberately and intentionally focus on communication pathologies and patterns in relationships to identify the most dominant pattern that is stopping personal growth. The process of change involves tapping into the non-conscious mind, achieving automatization, and entering a flow state. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Driving Change podcast 01:01 Compilation of Change Management Experts 02:18 Motivation and Engagement in the Workplace 04:12 The Neuroscience of Change and Coaching 13:34 Creating Lasting Change through Tiny Habits 32:46 The Power of Storytelling and Optimism 44:26 Mind Management and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs 48:11 Identifying and Unpacking Patterns 50:03 Healing and Revealing Pain 51:24 Analyzing and Reconceptualizing Patterns 52:17 Growing and Competing with Thought Trees 53:15 The Importance of Gamma Peaks 54:09 Sustaining and Growing New Patterns 56:35 Tapping into the Non-Conscious Mind 57:27 Automatization and Flow State 59:06 Reflecting on Change and Growth

Angus Fletcher with the New Brunswick Tenants association tells us how the average cost of rent was up nine percent compared to last October.

Angus Fletcher is with the New Brunswick Coalition for Tenants Rights.

Meet Dr. Angus Fletcher. Dr. Fletcher has his PhD from Yale and is the Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative. His research has been called "mind-blowing" by Malcolm Gladwell and "life-changing" by Brene Brown. In 2023, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his work with US Special Operations on training the brain to act smarter in chaos.He began working with the Army's Command and General Staff College two years ago, both virtually and by conducting in-person sessions at military bases.“If you can come up with an original action and you put two actions together, that's an original plan. And then you start to put a lot of actions together, and that's an original strategy,” Fletcher said. “We wanted to train up these areas of the brain that allow you to come up with original actions, plans, plus strategies, so that when you're in an environment that's a contested space, when someone else is trying to break your plan, you can come up with a new plan that allows you to achieve what it was you wanted to do in the beginning.”So how does this apply to our new mission after the military? Tune in today.For more information about All Secure Foundation, visit https://allsecurefoundation.org/

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12   https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dr. Angus Fletcher has dual degrees in neuroscience (BS, University of Michigan) and literature (Ph.D., Yale). His research employs a mix of laboratory experiment, literary history, and rhetorical theory to explore the psychological effects—cognitive, behavioral, therapeutic—of different narrative technologies. He's the best-selling author of multiple books including Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature, and Storythinking: The New Science of Narrative Intelligence. "The story you tell yourself needs to be the true story of yourself." How Angus tells his story: Build trust Listen Demonstrate courage - Angus told a group of special forces operators one of the most embarrassing stories of his life. After that, he said, "I'm not scared of anything." You must be genuinely humble to learn from your mistakes. "Real leaders activate the leader within you." Being a leader is all about contemplating fear. Stepping up when adversity strikes is why we exist as leaders. It's easy to lead when everything is going well. We want to be known as the leader who is there when it's hard. Dr. Fletcher's ultimate goal of using the power of story to bring us closer to self-actualization. Seems like that's a good first step to being a great leader. Confidence is earned by creating evidence for yourself that you can do hard things. Angus did this when he shared his story of not making it through Marine Corps boot camp. Angus's vulnerability earned trust with the military leaders. “For the longer we suspend our judgments, the more accurate our subsequent verdicts become. This valuable fact has been uncovered by researchers who've spent decades probing the mechanics of better decision-making, only to discover that the key is simply more time and more information. Which is to say: reserving our judgment until the last possible moment.” Unlike a computer, the brain wasn't particularly data-driven. Or particularly logical. Instead, it was emotional. And creative. And powered by story. “There are a number of judgments that we can suspend permanently, including most of our judgments about other people. Our brain is constantly making such judgments. It looks at strangers on the street—and judges them. It looks at celebrities in magazines—and judges them. It looks at family members and colleagues and friends in homes and offices and restaurants—and judges them. These judgments feel instantly good to our neurons; they deliver pleasant microdoses of emotional superiority. But in the long run, they make us anxious, incurious, and less happy, so we can improve our long-term mental well-being if we suspend them.” Apply to be part of my Leadership Circle 02:12 - Highlights of Leadership Training04:24 - How to Prevent Failure09:14 - What is a Story Scientist? 12:57 - Is Story Science Therapy? 14:22 - Tell Your Story 18:56 - Vulnerability is the Most Powerful Thing You Can Do 22:00 - Can You Go Too Far With Being Vulnerable? 25:19 - How to Be Vulnerable 32:42 - Real Leaders Activate the Leader In You 36:10 - Where Does Your Sense of Confidence Come From? 40:50 - Punch Through Your Own Fear 43:00 - Be Open About What Could Go Wrong 44:47 - Questions to Ask During the Interview Process 48:33 - Responding to Adversity IS Leadership 51:45 - How to Be Excellent at Speaking 56:27 - Advice For Younger Leaders

This week our guest is Professor of Story Science at Ohio State University's Project Narrative, Angus Fletcher, who pulls on his background of literature and neuroscience to understand how brains and machines process story and narrative. Angus has recently made some extremely bold claims, including putting forth a proof that “even a sentient, self-aware, and infinitely powerful computer could never innovate” because it can't engage in narrative thought. In essence, computer AI cannot replicate human creativity, and all of our expectations around self-driving cars and ChatGPT come down to a human-guided prank that pretends to do something it's not really doing. In this episode, I obviously push back on this idea that narrative limits computer AI, but Angus makes some strong counter-arguments. Find out more about Angus and his work at angusfletcher.co ** Apply for registration to our exclusive South By Southwest event on March 14th @ www.su.org/basecamp-sxsw Apply for an Executive Program Scholarship at su.org/executive-program/ep-scholarship Learn more about Singularity: su.org Host: Steven Parton - LinkedIn / Twitter Music by: Amine el Filali

We delve into the science of storytelling and how it shapes our world with Angus Fletcher, Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative.

We delve into the science of storytelling and how it shapes our world with Angus Fletcher, Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative.

About Angus Fletcher My research explores why children are more creative than computer AI--and how to use literature, art, and stories to increase innovation, resilience, and joy. I work with teams at UPenn Wharton, US Army Special Operations, Hollywood, Silicon Valley AI startups, trauma nurses, and public elementary schools. I'm the author of Wonderworks (Simon & Schuster, 2021) and Storythinking (Columbia University Press, 2023) and dozens of peer-reviewed articles in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Harvard Business Review, etc. For the full show notes and transcription checkout: https://www.superpowers.school/ Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/paddydhanda/ ★ BUY ME KO-FI ★ If you enjoy the podcast, then you can donate a small amount here as a token of your appreciation: https://ko-fi.com/paddydhanda Contact Paddy at: pardeep_dhanda (at) hotmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/superpowers-school/message

Do you ever wonder how the stories you tell yourself are impacting your reality?   In this episode of the Align podcast, Angus Fletcher and I chat about how the human brain is predisposed to create and tell itself narratives that fit with its hopes and fears and how these stories we tell ourselves influence our perception of life. We also chat about why a human brain will always outperform artificial intelligence, the origins of technology, and what will happen if we fail to go beyond the “selfie” in today's society.   Dr. Angus Fletcher (PhD, Yale) researches the science of human intelligence--the science of why humans are smarter than machines. His research has been published in The New York Academy of Sciences, Harvard Business Review, and dozens of other academic journals. His most recent books are Wonderworks and Storythinking.     What we discuss:   02:27: What is the power of story? 05:36: What is the effect of culture on an individual who sees the world through the lens of science? 16:00: Where is Artificial Intelligence heading and why do we worship it so much? 24:33: What are the origins of technology?  30:51: What happens if we don't go beyond the “selfie”? 46:49: What are the different potentials of psychedelics for helping people reboot? 50:34: How to recognize the opportunity of rebirth in our every day life   Learn more about Angus:   Website: angusfletcher.co and www.justbloomschool.com Linked in: Angus Fletcher     Related Links:   The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!   Order here: alignpodcast.com/alignbook   alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount   alignpodcast.com/community to join our community   masszymes.com/alignfree and use code ALIGNFREE to get a FREE bottle of Masszymes + 3 FREE ebooks   gettrukava.com/discount/ALIGN15 and use code ALIGN15 to save 15%   ketone-iq.com and use code ALIGN20 to save 20% (100 FIRST people ONLY)   getkion.com/align and use code ALIGN to save 20% on Kion Aminos monthly deliveries or 10% off a one-time purchase.

The fact that you're listening to this podcast right now tells me ‌you likely already know the power of a compelling story. Good storytelling can persuade, inspire, and ultimately grab hold of the hearts and minds of whoever's listening or reading. And so, whether you'd call yourself a lover of classic literature, an avid reader, or neither, you can probably think of a book you've read or a story you've heard at some point that's completely changed your outlook on life or given you much-needed perspective. Telling stories, although the act may seem like second nature, is a powerful tool that we all can use to deepen the way we learn and interact with one another and ourselves and help us find more meaning and direction in our own lives. And to bring the power of storytelling to light further and break down the science and impact behind it is today's guest, Angus Fletcher, Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative, the world's leading academic think tank for the study of how stories work. As a practitioner of story science or story scientist, Angus has a B.S. in neuroscience from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in literature from Yale. His fascinating research employs a mix of laboratory experiment, literary history and rhetorical theory to explore the psychological effects—cognitive, behavioral, therapeutic—of different narrative technologies. His newest research on resilience and creativity with the U.S. Army's Special Operations community has just been published in Harvard Business Review and the New York Academy of Sciences.Today, he joins me as one of the world's leading experts on the psychological effects of narrative and literature to dive deeper into the science of stories and explore how we all could use the stories we are told and tell ourselves to better our lives and find more meaning, joy, and hope. In our chat, you'll hear us talk more about the nitty-gritty of narrative theory and his new book on the science of stories, Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature, and explore how storytelling is the free driver of change, self-efficacy, and connection that we all need in our adult lives and in childhood. You can find Angus at: Website | LinkedInIf you LOVED this episode you'll also love the conversations we had with Liz Gilbert about creativity and storytelling and writing and lifting a fully open, honest, true and real life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Sleep Number: Why choose proven quality sleep from Sleep Number? Because every great day starts the night before. And now, don't miss Sleep Number's lowest prices of the season with the Queen 360® c2 smart bed, now only $899. A savings of $200! Only at Sleep Number® stores or sleepnumber.com/GOODLIFE. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nearly a year and a half after the Capitol was breached, the January 6th Committee is making its case to Congress and the nation on TV. But how effective is their storytelling? Story scientist Angus Fletcher joins Virginia to dig into the science of narrative and why this committee has its work cut out for it.

The brain and a computer are light years apart from being the same. It is true that both store data, process information, and perform tasks. However, although technology tries to simulate the human intelligence processes, the human brain has proven to be better adapted than any computer could. To dive into this topic, today we will be joined by the Story Science Professor, Angus Fletcher. Angus is a man curious about the human brain and how it works. His research led him to discover how history can help us to be tougher, capable, and to have courage. During this episode, we talked about chaos, growth, attitude change, and initiative-taking. In addition, we will also be talking about the brain as a machine and why it is superior to computers, a topic worth listening to. Don't miss this episode! ABOUT ANGUS FLETCHER Angus Fletcher is Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative. His research with teams in US Special Operations, Silicon Valley, and the Healthcare Community explains why children are more creative than AI, how to adapt and overcome in fast-changing chaotic environments, and how to more effectively treat grief, burnout, and trauma. CONNECT WITH ANGUS Website: https://www.angusfletcher.co/ Email: fletcher.300@osu.edu WHAT YOU'LL HEAR [4:37] Who's Angus Fletcher? [6:32] Why is the human brain superior to a computer? [10:08] Why are stories so captivating for us? [14:15] How to reduce the rate of depression and anxiety in the male population? [17:12] How to create a relationship with chaos? [21:08] What to do to get out of burnout? [24:25] Human beings and their relationship with the divine. [26:20] How stories can help the military? [33:57] What must I do to be successful? [36:00] How to break the patterns? [41:19] Creating a daily practice. [44:48] How to manage isolation? [48:07] More information about Angus. If you look at the civilized world and think, "no thank you," then you should subscribe to our podcast, so you don't miss a single episode! Also, join the uncivilized community, and connect with me on my website, YouTube, or Instagram so you can join in on our live recordings, ask questions to guests, and more. Join the Nation, registration opens today. JOIN HERE Click here to sign up for the Kill the Nice Guy course. Click here for dates and early signup for Summer Initiation in Colorado. Get a copy of my book, Man UNcivilized

Forgive me while I geek out for the rest of the week about this fantastic conversation! After reading Angus' book Wonderworks: Literary Invention and the Science of Stories, I knew I had to get him on the show. Story, myth, and narrative are incredible tools for change, and knowing how they affect us down to the neurological level is Angus' specialty. Listen in for... -How narrative shifts not just our perspective, but our entire life. -How literature and apology are two of the oldest, most powerful human inventions. -A quick look at why AI will never surpass human intelligence -How we're losing narrative diversity—and why that's leading to polarization. -The function of anger. Angus Fletcher is a professor of story science at Ohio State's Project Narrative, the world's leading academic think-tank for the study of stories. He has dual degrees in neuroscience and literature, received his Ph.D. specializing in Shakespeare from Yale, taught Shakespeare at Stanford, and has published two books and dozens of peer-reviewed academic articles on the scientific workings of novels, poetry, film, and theatre. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has done story-consulting for projects for Sony, Disney, the BBC, Amazon, PBS, and Universal, and is the author/presenter of the Audible/Great Courses Guide to Screenwriting. Connect with Angus -Website: https://www.angusfletcher.co/ -Book: Wonderworks: Literary Invention and the Science of Stories: https://amzn.to/3smnhjQ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angus-fletcher-99713617/   Did you enjoy the podcast? If so, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser. It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community, and help others find the self-leadership they're looking for. Are you looking to find purpose, navigate transition, or fix your relationships, all with a powerful group of men from around the world? Check out The Alliance and join me today.  Check out our Facebook Page or the Men's community. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify For more episodes visit us at ManTalks.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As an alternative for those who would rather listen ad-free, sign up for a premium subscription to receive the following:• All JBP Podcast episodes are ad-free.• Monthly Ask Me Anything episodes (and the ability to ask questions).• Presale access to events.• Premium, detailed show notes for future episodes.Sign up here: https://jordanbpeterson.supercast.com/--We use stories to understand the world around us. It's the reason that we appreciate a beautiful poem, why our breath is taken away during an epic movie, and get transported to another world while reading a great book. Any great piece of music is a story, with the lyrics used, but also even the instrumental arrangements. It's hard to argue that any of the great orchestral pieces from Beethoven or Bach don't tell a complex story, even when no words are used.Stories, and Narrative in general, allow us to play games for fun, construct cooperative relationships in business and in life, and help us successfully navigate the most difficult parts of our lives. From birth to death, every day of our lives is inundated by story. Part one of this compilation focuses on season 4 conversations between Jordan, Randall Wallace, Chloe Valdery (released soon) and Angus Fletcher. We hope you enjoy this narrative.--This episode was brought to you by Skillshare. Explore your creativity at Skillshare.com/Peterson and get a one-month free trial. That's one month free... only at Skillshare.com/Peterson.This episode was sponsored by Audible. There's a 30-day trial for newcomers, Audible.com/Peterson or text "Peterson" to 500-500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode was recorded on September 7, 2021.Angus Fletcher and I discuss creativity, the link between literature and resilience, what makes for compelling narratives, the different kinds of stories, and much more.Angus Fletcher is a Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative, the world's leading academic think-tank for narrative theory. He is also the author of Wonderworks: The 25 Most Important Inventions in the History of Literature.Find more Angus Fletcher on his website: https://AngusFletcher.co[00:00] Intro[01:21] What is Project Narrative?[02:27] "Stories are the most powerful things ever invented. They're the most powerful tool we possess" Angus Fletcher[03:04] "When you realize stories have the power to change how our mind works, to troubleshoot it, to make it more resilient, more creative, more scientific—to do all these things... When you couple the power of stories with the human brain, you throw open the doors to anything" AF[03:53] The problem with literary studies. How stories empower us and improve performance[07:06] Wonderworks and the story of courage in Homer's Iliad[12:40] "Literature and scripture are synonyms. They mean 'that which is written.' So [something] more fundamental than any technology... Is simply that sense of spiritual experience" AF[13:18] The Neuropsychology of Anxiety by J. Grey[14:44] What are the 2 kinds of stories?[19:12] Story thinking[19:22] "Human cognition is largely narrative. We process the world narratively" AF[22:12] "The wonder of being on this earth... is to build stories and [empower people] to tell their own" AF "And to unite us in a collective story so we can work towards the same ends" JP[23:00] Why are certain stories so compelling?[24:48] The zone of proximal development[25:44] "Being enthralled is a manifestation of the instinct that specifies the zone of proximal development" JP[31:24] The ideal spirit transcending the individual; Jung's Pleroma[32:14] "The flip side of anxiety is creativity—they're both about restless energy" AF[33:31] What's the source of dreams?[33:55] "We have this vast knowledge in embodied action." A great storyteller takes "images that reflect a compelling pattern of behavior [and verbalizes them]” JP[34:56] Abstract representation of patterns as a dream-source[38:43] Computational power, stories, and the differences between the abstract and particular[38:48] "Much of what drives the demand for higher computational resources is... producing artificial realities for fantasy simulation" JP [45:51] Christianity and Star Wars[46:35] "Star Wars is Christianity for atheist nerds" JP[46:56] "We are most happy when we don't perceive ourselves as inheriting an archetypal story" AF[48:16] "We see in stories, and this is partly why our eyes are adapted... so that people can see [the white in] our eyes. It's really important because [our eyes point at] what they're interested in. We can see what they value [and] infer their motivation" JP[50:36] Literature and psychedelic experiences[51:27] "In psychotherapy... you're trying to hammer the person's narrative into a single... functional unit" JP[55:31] Trauma, unconscious mapping, and dream analysis[56:56] "Any territory you cannot perceive through the overlaid projection of a narrative map is traumatizing" JP [59:59] Jung, Joseph Campbell, and Erich Neumann[01:02:51] Jung vs Darwin on stories[01:10:18] "Literature can build emotional and intellectual resilience" AF[01:14:55] Being adaptive is “to be emotionally and intellectually resilient" AF[01:15:54] Creative training; measuring creativity#Creativity #Stories #Jung #Literature #Darwin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm talking to Dr. Angus Fletcher, professor and author of Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature, about the science behind the great writings of authors across time — from Greek tragedies to Maya Angelou to Tina Fey. We look at how the technology of literature can nurture democracy, power personal growth, and improve our mental health and well-being. Weaving together library and laboratory research, we discuss how literature actually changes who we are, helps us understand who we are, and teaches us how to think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices