MetaLearn Podcast

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.

- 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.

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 admiration

This 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 ethics

We 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 decades

This 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.

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.

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.