Into The Impossible

Welcome to a very important, meaningful, and delightful episode of Into the Impossible, with an impossibly brilliant guest who has inspired me since my young days as a graduate – Michael Turner!  Michael Turner is a renowned theoretical cosmologist and professor of physics at the University of Chicago. He is a pioneer in exploring what he calls the dark side of the Universe. He coined the term dark energy, and his ideas led to the cold dark matter theory of structure formation.  Michael’s contributions to modern physics are truly invaluable, and I am beyond thrilled to have him as a guest on my show.  Join us as we explore the origins and evolution of the Universe!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: The Early Universe (01:44) Was there a Big Bang or not? (06:23) The most important discoveries in physics (12:44) The origin of dark energy (29:32) The Hubble constant and its precision (41:44) Magnetic fields, dark energy, and resolving the Hubble tension (48:20) Dark photons

What’s written in our stars? Here to read humanity's horoscope is none other than Lord Martin Rees!  Lord Martin Rees has played a huge role in my career and is an inspiration to me and millions of scientists around the world. There is literally nothing beyond his purview, and our conversation bore this out -- we covered everything from A to Z: artificial intelligence to zoology! Nothing was off-limits – we even shared our mutual and controversial distaste for alchemy and astrology! Lord Rees of Ludlow, the Astronomer Royal, is the Co-founder of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and an Emeritus Professor of Cosmology & Astrophysics at Cambridge University. He is the 38th Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. He is the author of ‘On the Future’ and 10 other books and the 60th President of the Royal Society. Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: On The Future (01:48) Reading the Queen's horoscope (03:08) Do physicists envy mathematicians? (06:46) Why is Einstein so often a

Katherine Freese first presented the concept of dark stars at a conference in 2007. It was not well received at the time, as there was no evidence for it, and finding it seemed impossible. That is until recently… Katherine Freese is a renowned theoretical physicist, professor of physics at the University of Texas at Austin, and a member of the Simons Observatory. She works on a wide range of topics in theoretical cosmology and astroparticle physics, including her quest to identify the dark matter and dark energy that permeate the universe. She wrote The Cosmic Cocktail: Three Parts Dark Matter, published in June 2014 by Princeton University Press. She is one of the most renowned scientists that exists today, and I’m excited to have her back on the show to discuss Hubble tension, natural inflation, dark energy, and, of course, the star of the show (pun intended), dark stars! Tune in.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) In honor of Steven Weinberg (01:09) Katie’s take on Hubble tension (03:28) Natural inflation

What's really going on in a black hole? Why are there so many theories of everything? And did Leonard Susskind, the father of string theory, ever feel like an impostor? Find out in this thrilling interview with none other than Susskind himself. Susskind is an American physicist and a professor of theoretical physics at Stanford University. He is also the founding director of the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics. In 1995, Susskind was the first to give a precise string-theoretic interpretation of the holographic principle and the first to introduce the idea of the string theory landscape in 2003.  In this interview, we discuss Susskind's popular science book, The Black Hole War, which covers the black hole information paradox and the related scientific dispute between Stephen Hawking and Susskind himself. We also talk about other developments in modern physics and more! Tune in! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) The difference between writing for broad and small audiences (05:56) Impostor syndrome (0

Humans have never lived in such abundance as we do today. Yet we are miserable, divided, and lonely. We have everything we need to flourish, so why are we wilting? Today’s extraordinary guests, Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein, say it’s because the modern world is out of sync with our ancient brains and bodies! They explore this bold thesis in their book A Hunter Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century, which we will discuss extensively in this interview.  Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein are evolutionary biologists who have been invited to ad­dress the US Congress, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Education and have spoken before audi­ences across the globe. They both earned PhDs in Biology from the University of Michigan, where their research on evolution and adaptation earned awards for its quality and innovation. They have been visiting fellows at Princeton University and, before that, were professors at the Ever­green State College for fifteen years. Join us as we explore evolution, the ch

Is math real? How to bake pi? And how much is x+y, really?  Many people don't like math because they find it too complicated or boring. But math can actually be a lot of fun, and we can find it everywhere in life, even in the most mundane things like baking. And it is through baking that today's guest, Eugenia Cheng, decided to rid the world of math phobia. Dr. Cheng is a renowned mathematician, educator, author, and concert pianist. She's a scientist in residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she teaches mathematics to art students. She is an expert in category theory and has recently published a book, Is Math Real?, which we will discuss in detail today! Join Eugenia and me as we explore mathematics’ deepest truths. Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: Is Math Real? (01:10) On the unreasonable power of mathematics in the physical sciences (04:05) If there were no physical world, would math exist? (08:14) The number zero (10:30) Is our brain a massive co

There is a God equation in mathematics; could there be a God equation in physics?  This is the question to which Dr. Michio Kaku has dedicated his life. Dr. Kaku is a theoretical physicist, bestselling author, acclaimed public speaker, renowned futurist, and popularizer of science. As co-founder of String Field Theory, Dr. Kaku carries on Einstein’s quest to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into a single grand unified theory. In this episode of Into the Impossible, Dr. Kaku and I embark on a quest to find this theory of everything. We discuss artificial intelligence, string theory, God, agnosticism, how to become the next Einstein and one of my favorite books – The God Equation. Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Could an advanced AI create a game like chess? (02:23) Balancing fame with physics (04:31) Has particle physics been dormant for the last 50 years? (08:32) Rivals to the string theory (18:39) Different laws for different universes (25:38) Is string theory falsifiable? (31:0

Is life insurance a scam? What is the difference between a visionary and someone who’s all talk? And what would Patrick Bet-David's next five moves be if he lost his job? On this episode of Into the Impossible, Patrick Bet-David and I discuss his book, 'Your Next 5 Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy,' his approach to business, visionaries, life insurance, and his enthusiasm for helping others reach their full potential. Patrick Bet-David immigrated to the US from Iran as a child. He served in the U.S. Army and began working in the financial industry. He founded the successful insurance sales company PHP Agency. His Valuetainment YouTube channel has nearly 5 million subscribers, and he hosts The Bet-David Show.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) If Patrick got fired, what would be his next five moves? (01:09) Judging a book by its cover: Your Next Five Moves (05:20) Is Patrick a deep or a broad guy? (07:05) The value of Valuetainment fans (12:54) The difference between a visionary and someone who’

How does a Nobel Prize winner create ideas and bring them to life? What can starlings teach us about physics? And what is a spin glass? Here today, to take us on a fascinating journey from bird flocks to condensed matter physics is none other than Nobel Prize laureate Giorgio Parisi. Giorgio is an Italian theoretical physicist and author of many wonderful works, such as In a Flight of Starlings: The Wonders of Complex Systems, which we will discuss in detail in this episode. Giorgio is an incredibly inspiring mind who has contributed so much to our understanding of nature and complex systems, and it was an honor to interview him! Tune in.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: In a Flight of Starlings (00:38) Nicola Cabibbo as an advisor (07:10) Why do starlings form murmurations? (12:12) Giorgio’s work on spin glasses (22:04) How Giorgio lost the Nobel Prize (29:38) Can scientists work in isolation? (35:10) How ideas are born (38:28) Room-temperature superconductivity (43:08

Usually, I’m the one interrogating guests, but every now and then, I find myself on the hot seat, too! Enjoy my conversation with Francis and Konstantin on their show, TRIGGERnometry. We discussed the idea of colonizing Mars, aliens, the origin of everything, the complex correlation between science and religion, everything wrong with the Nobel Prize, and much more!  TRIGGERnometry is a YouTube show and podcast in which comedians Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster create honest conversations with fascinating people.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Are we too pessimistic, and do we have a future in space? (03:27) Is there anything for us on Mars? (12:48) Storing consciousness & the survival of humanity (19:42) The discovery of extraterrestrial life (28:35) Humility in the field of science (46:24) Criticism of the Nobel Prize (52:49) Will we ever be able to travel space effectively? (58:33)  Are we alone in the Universe? (1:03:54) Where does everything come from? (1:11:17) What is the one thing we’r

Are you ready for the battle of the theories of everything? Eric Weinstein and Stephen Wolfram, two mathematical mavericks and personal heroes of mine, joined me on the show to debate their theories of everything, answer questions from the audience, and discuss the fundamental nature of the universe.  I thoroughly enjoyed this deep and wide-ranging conversation, and I hope you will, too!  Tune in.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Why are young people so interested in theories of everything? (06:32) Is it possible to reconcile Eric's and Stephen's theories? (13:43) The notion of paradigm shifts (20:22) Too simplistic or too complex? (40:02) Comparing and contrasting different approaches (1:07:15) Of what value is a theory if it’s not testable? (1:17:03) The role of AI and the simulation hypothesis (1:31:46) Final thoughts (1:43:59) Outro (1:49:30) — Additional resources: 

Have you ever wondered who Ben Shapiro is beyond politics? Well, you are in luck because today, you have the incredible opportunity to get to know him in a way that only a few do! In our exciting interview, we talked about nearly everything •except• politics.  Tune in and find out what Ben would be doing if he wasn’t famous, why he loves science fiction, who he would MOST like to have on his show, what he would do if elected president, and the downside of success. We also get into one of his recent books, How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps.  Ben Shapiro is the author of multiple New York Times best-selling books. His popular podcast, “The Ben Shapiro Show” has millions of followers and is syndicated to radio stations nationwide. In 2015, Shapiro founded the conservative news site The Daily Wire. He has a B.A. in political science from UCLA and a degree from Harvard Law School.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) How marriage and kids helped Ben mature (03:05) A day in the life of Ben Shapiro (05:49)

Welcome everybody to an existential edition of the Into the Impossible podcast with one of my favorite human beings and one of your favorite human beings too, judging by my comment sections on Twitter and YouTube – Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder! For those of you who don’t know Sabine, she is a German theoretical physicist, talented science communicator, bestselling author, and very successful YouTuber.  Today, Sabine and I talk about her latest book, Existential Physics, the current state of academia, whether we need to reform our educational system, why Sabine keeps changing her mind about dark matter, what the deal is with quantum computers and much more! As always with Sabine, it was a great conversation, so tune in! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: Existential Physics (01:40) Should scientists promote their research? (04:32) Thoughts on the educational system (18:49) What excites Sabine the most in science (36:12) What annoys Sabine most in science (40:37) Brandolini law and

Is reality real, or are we actually just living in a simulation? How did Galileo influence modern thinking about reality? And are there any drug experiences that you simply can't come back from?  Here today to discuss this with me is renowned philosopher, famous TED talk speaker, cognitive scientist, and deep thinker Donald Hoffman!  Donald is a professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of the provocative book The Case Against Reality. So, there is really no one better out there to discuss reality with! Tune in and join us as Donald presents his case against reality.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: The Case Against Reality (01:15) How Galileo influenced modern thinking about reality (06:41) Can biology predict how consciousness emerges? (18:30) What is panpsychism? (22:50) Is reality just a linguistic construction? (31:53) How are humans supposed to interact with the “real” world? (42:53) Is consciousness a

Is the human brain a quantum computer? What is the Orch OR model of consciousness? And is there an afterlife for our quantum souls? Here today to answer these questions and take us on a wild tour through consciousness, imagination, and the human brain is Dr. Stuart Hameroff! Stuart is a professor of anesthesiology and psychology at the University of Arizona and director of The Center for Consciousness Studies. In this interview, we dive deep into Stuart’s research and his passion for everything consciousness, so make sure to check it out!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging the symposium by its cover (02:06) The Orch OR theory (06:44) The problem of free will (10:14) Elaborating on the Orch OR theory (13:00) How does anesthesia actually work? (26:23) Stuart’s interest in quantum physics (30:10) Artificial intelligence and brain organoids (33:55) AI, Neuralink, and other brain-computer interfaces (38:02) Audience questions (42:54) Outro (55:53) — Additional resources: 

I've recently hit a huge milestone on my YouTube channel, which is currently at a whopping 150k subscribers... And counting! I could not be more grateful to you for tuning in, subscribing, and especially for commenting and leaving questions for me to answer.  So, to thank you, I've prepared a very special bonus episode in which I answer ALL your questions! Buckle up! Today, we’re diving deep Into the Impossible. — Additional resources: 

Today, I have the honor to welcome back one of my favorite guests on the show, Eric Weinstein! Most of you are probably already very familiar with Eric and his work, but for those who don’t know him, Eric is a mathematical physicist, economist, podcaster, public speaker, and one of the most brilliant people I know.  In this episode, we will again discuss the universe's current state, whether we are heading towards nuclear war, the twin nuclei problem of cell and atom, aliens, physics, and much more.  Tune in! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Are we heading towards a nuclear war? (00:53) What would happen the next day after we discovered aliens? (20:41) Nuclear fission, the Manhattan Project, and the collapse of civilization (26:23) Will we ever get off the planet? (41:22) Intuitive and rational minds (53:47) On theories of everything (56:37) What Eric does to take care of himself (1:14:51) Outro (1:17:04) — Additional resources: 

Is AI real or just magic pretending to be real? What’s the difference between education and learning? And what does global warming have to do with marketing?!  Here today, to answer these questions, is one of my heroes, Seth Godin! Seth is an internationally renowned author and public speaker. His name is synonymous with marketing. For over 30 years, Seth has inspired countless individuals, teams, and tribes to think differently about marketing, leadership, and innovation.  Today, Seth and I sit down to discuss his latest book, The Song of Significance, a manifesto for teams desperately seeking ways to navigate the age of disconnection, AI, the educational system, and global warming.  Strap in for another mind-bending conversation!  Key Takeaways:  Introduction (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: The Song of Significance (01:10) AI, magic, and the future of education (05:22) The half-life of companies (16:29) Seth’s writing process (24:13) Final questions (41:47) Outro (44:41) — Additional re

Noam Chomsky is one of the most influential and highly cited scholars of our time. He is a pioneer in the fields of linguistics and cognitive science. He has deep thoughts about communicating with aliens, meditation, Elon Musk, and free speech. Chomsky is a prolific author and known political activist. We avoided politics, as is the custom for my interviews. Our conversation also covers the Turing Test, neural nets, and artificial intelligence, including why he expects Elon Musk’s Neuralink project to fail. Key Takeaways:  Introduction (00:00) Does Noam Chomsky believe in extraterrestrial life & could we communicate with E.T.? (09:01) Busting (or confirming) linguistic myths with the master (23:57) “There is no scientific method. It’s just being intelligent.” (39:19) Artificial intelligence applications in cognitive science (58:13) Chomsky University would encourage discovery (1:09:46) Thoughts on the negative reaction to the Harper’s Magazine article (1:21:52) What object or knowledge would Chomsk

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Peter Beck? Who's winning the billionaire space race? And who will take care of all their space junk? Here today to answer all of these questions and more is none other than Ashlee Vance! Ashlee is a writer at Bloomberg, bestselling author, filmmaker, and Emmy-nominated host and writer of the tech series Hello World. Among his most well-known books are Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future and When The Heavens Went on Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing To Put Space Within Reach, which was an instant bestseller, and which we will discuss in depth today. Ashlee is one of my favorite writers, and it was a huge honor for me to dive deep into the world of space exploration with him.  Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover: When The Heavens Went on Sale (01:04) Pete Worden and his influence on commercial spaceflight (03:20) Communist vs. capitalist approach to space exploration (06:54) Will Elon Musk die on Mars? (11:09)