Thomas Zurbuchen manages the $8 billion dollar research program at NASA. In this interview, he gives a masterclass in how to make critical decisions when billions are on the line, how to manage risk, gathering effective information from a team, the challenges of commercial spaceflight, whether humans will ever life on Mars, and so much …

In this thought-provoking episode of The Knowledge Project, acclaimed science writer Matt Ridley explores the unstoppable power of human innovation. Discover the crucial difference between invention and execution, why failure is essential to progress, and how collaborative problem-solving drives breakthrough technologies. Ridley reveals why innovation clusters geographically, explains why execution often matters more than ideas, …

Historian John Lewis Gaddis offers a masterclass in the lessons of history and why we should study it, the patterns of success and failure, grand strategy and how to use it, the value of a liberal education, and so much more. Gaddis is a professor of Military and Naval History at Yale University. Audio for …

Author of one of the best business books of all time, The Personal MBA, Josh Kaufman chats with Shane about rapid skill acquisition, mental models, decision making, overcoming fear and so much more. Now available on: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Transcript Here are a few highlights from the conversation: The Personal MBA …

Seth Godin is the author of 20 bestselling books, founder of altMBA, the Akimbo podcast and runs one of the most popular blogs in the world. Seth discusses creative work, fear, shame, trusting yourself, what it means to be a professional, how to become an observer of reality, emotional labor, how we learn and so …

Nir Eyal challenges conventional wisdom about technology addiction, revealing his four-step framework for becoming ‘indistractable.’ Learn why most productivity advice fails, how to master internal triggers driving distraction, and why time management is pain management. Discover practical techniques to reclaim your attention in a world designed to steal it, including why to-do lists are killing …

Discover the transformative power of effortless mindfulness with Loch Kelly as he guides you beyond traditional meditation practices into deeper levels of awareness. Learn how to access flow states at will, unhook from ego-centered thinking, and experience the spacious, interconnected consciousness within you. This conversation explores practical ‘glimpsing’ techniques to shift your awareness, reduce anxiety …

Explore the depths of human cognition with economist Sendhil Mullainathan as he discusses the chaos inside our minds. This rich conversation covers mental models, decision-making frameworks, and the delicate balance between creativity and pragmatism. Learn about establishing effective habits, understanding opportunity costs, and the power of positioning over prediction. Discover how metacognition can transform your …

Welcome to a special members only edition of The Knowledge Project. This episode explores the world of artificial intelligence. Melanie Mitchell is the Davis Professor of Complexity at the Sante Fe Institute and the author or editor of six books including her latest, Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans. Melanie and Shane discuss the …

Jane McGonigal is a PhD Game Designer who advocates for using video games to help people learn skills that transfer to the real world, heal physical problems like concussions, and improve attitudes and self-esteem in children. This episode reveals the science behind gaming benefits, debunks myths about violence in video games, and explains how game …