Author Archives: Lex Fridman

#239 – Niall Ferguson: History of Money, Power, War, and Truth

Niall Ferguson is a historian at Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is the author of 16 books on the history of money, war, power, and catastrophe. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– The Prisoner Wine Company: https://theprisonerwine.com/lex to get 20% off & free shipping
– Stripe: https://stripe.com
– Coinbase: https://coinbase.com/lex to get $5 in free Bitcoin
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit

EPISODE LINKS:
Niall’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfergus
Niall’s Website: https://www.niallferguson.com
University of Austin: https://uaustin.org/
Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe (book): https://amzn.to/3wt7AI8
Kissinger: The Idealist (book): https://amzn.to/3CVXvGc
The Ascent of Money (book): https://amzn.to/3kCK0Ev
The Square and the Tower (book): https://amzn.to/307YfK8
The Age of AI (book): https://amzn.to/3BUgTSH

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips

SUPPORT & CONNECT:
– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast
– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman
– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(09:14) – University of Austin (UATX)
(42:09) – Sam Harris
(1:00:36) – Elon Musk
(1:08:55) – Money
(1:18:50) – Hyperinflation
(1:24:15) – Bitcoin
(1:40:57) – Ethereum and smart contracts
(1:49:43) – Worst disasters in human history
(2:11:41) – How history will remember the current pandemic
(2:25:16) – Hope for the future
(2:33:46) – Love
(2:40:24) – Meaning of life

#238 – Francis Collins: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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Francis Collins is the director of the NIH and former head of the Human Genome Project. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Ten Thousand: https://www.tenthousand.cc/ and use code LEX to get 15% off
– Allform: https://allform.com/lex to get 20% off
– SimpliSafe: https://simplisafe.com/lex and use code LEX to get a free security camera
– NI: https://www.ni.com/perspectives
– Magic Spoon: https://magicspoon.com/lex and use code LEX to get $5 off

EPISODE LINKS:
Francis’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/NIHDirector
NIH: https://www.nih.gov
Human Genome Project: https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:44) – Lab-leak theory
(10:51) – Gain-of-function research of viruses
(23:00) – Bioterrorism
(27:30) – Tony Fauci
(37:41) – COVID Vaccines
(43:46) – Joe Rogan
(50:49) – Variants
(55:31) – Rapid at home testing
(59:44) – Animal testing
(1:05:09) – Stepping down as director of the NIH
(1:09:03) – Barack Obama
(1:11:06) – Accelerating Medicines Partnership
(1:21:44) – Faith
(1:27:12) – Fear of death
(1:30:15) – Meaning of life

#237 – Steve Viscelli: Trucking and the Decline of the American Dream

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Steve Viscelli is a former truck driver and now an economic sociologist at University of Pennsylvania studying freight transportation, including autonomous trucks. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Shopify: https://shopify.com/lex to get 14-day free trial
– ROKA: https://roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order
– Sunbasket: https://sunbasket.com/lex and use code LEX to get $35 off
– Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium
– BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Steve’s Website: https://www.steveviscelli.com/
Big Rig (book): https://amzn.to/3EbaofP
Will Robotic Trucks Be “Sweatshops on Wheels?” (article): https://bit.ly/3vGGgpO
Johnny Cash – All I Do Is Drive (song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEHoagHlqrE
Steve’s Penn Gazette Interview: https://bit.ly/3nkRPyV
More Information on Automated Trucking: http://www.driverlessreport.org/

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:36) – Ethnography
(19:49) – Challenges of driving a truck
(38:28) – Trucking industry: State of affairs
(1:11:33) – Future of autonomous trucks
(1:37:49) – Solving the automated truck dilemma
(2:09:44) – Role of society in automated trucking
(2:36:53) – Tesla and revolutionizing the trucking industry
(2:56:33) – Hope and final thoughts

#236 – Jimmy Pedro: Judo and the Forging of Champions

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Jimmy Pedro is a judo competitor and coach, world champion, 3x world medalist, 2x Olympic medalist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– ROKA: https://roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order
– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil
– Ladder: https://ladderlife.com/lex
– Linode: https://linode.com/lex to get $100 free credit
– MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/lex to get 15% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Jimmy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmypedrousa
Jimmy’s Links: https://linktr.ee/jimmypedro
Jimmy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimmypedrousa
Jimmy’s Website: https://www.jimmypedro.com/
American Judo System: https://usajudo.com/

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:56) – The most beautiful throw
(32:25) – Russian approach to randori
(45:57) – Judo gripping
(57:25) – IOC
(1:07:50) – Toughest match
(1:12:57) – Jimmy Pedro Sr
(1:32:12) – Travis Stevens
(1:51:42) – Kayla Harrison
(2:10:00) – Putin and judo
(2:14:12) – Getting started in judo
(2:18:58) – BJJ
(2:22:24) – Advice for young people

#235 – Michael Mina: Rapid COVID Testing

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Michael Mina is an immunologist, epidemiologist, and physician at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Notion: https://notion.com/startups to get up to $1000 off team plan
– Quip: https://getquip.com/lex to get first refill free
– Theragun: https://therabody.com/lex to get 30 day trial
– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Michael’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelmina_lab

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:14) – At-home COVID-19 tests
(18:17) – Medical devices and FDA classification
(24:37) – Rapid test availability
(40:59) – Who is in charge of public health?
(57:38) – Testing privacy
(1:04:54) – Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan
(1:16:08) – Uncertainty, fear, and COVID
(1:23:02) – Vaccines and herd immunity
(1:31:42) – Meditation and consciousness
(1:41:44) – Minimalism and Capitalism
(1:45:20) – The future of humanity

#234 – Stephen Wolfram: Complexity and the Fabric of Reality

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Stephen Wolfram is a computer scientist, mathematician, and theoretical physicist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– ROKA: https://roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order
– FightCamp: https://joinfightcamp.com/lex to get free shipping
– Onnit: https://lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit
– Fundrise: https://fundrise.com/lex

EPISODE LINKS:
Stephen’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephen_wolfram
Stephen’s Blog: https://writings.stephenwolfram.com
Wolfram Physics Project: https://www.wolframphysics.org
A New Kind of Science (book): https://amzn.to/30XoEun
Fundamental Theory of Physics (book): https://amzn.to/30XbAoT

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:50) – What is complexity
(20:51) – Randomness in the universe
(25:12) – The Wolfram Physics Project
(37:14) – Space and time are discrete
(49:19) – Quantum mechanics and hypergraphs
(58:33) – What is intelligence
(1:09:16) – Computational equivalence
(1:17:36) – What it is like to be a cellular automata
(1:32:00) – Making prediction vs explanations
(1:45:20) – Why does the universe exist
(1:51:01) – The universe and rulial space
(1:59:44) – Does an atom have consciousness
(2:10:10) – Why does our universe exist
(2:18:41) – What is outside the ruliad
(2:29:15) – Automated proof systems
(2:45:10) – Multicomputation for biology
(3:03:41) – Cardano NFT collaboration with Wolfram Alpha
(3:10:41) – Global theory of economics

#233 – Carl Hart: Heroin, Cocaine, MDMA, Alcohol & the Role of Drugs in Society

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Carl Hart is a psychologist at Columbia University. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex and use code Lex25 to get 25% off
– Ten Thousand: https://www.tenthousand.cc/ and use code LEX to get 15% off
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off
– ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free

EPISODE LINKS:
Carl’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/drcarlhart
Carl’s Website: https://drcarlhart.com
Drug Use for Grown-Ups (book): https://amzn.to/3lVpq2Y

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:33) – The experience of drugs
(18:38) – Drug use for grownups
(24:21) – Studies on drugs
(25:31) – Negative effects of drugs
(30:59) – Should all drugs be legalized
(36:27) – War on drugs: positive or negative
(42:19) – Proper, positive, and misuse of drugs
(46:40) – Recovery
(53:34) – Drug depiction in movies
(57:05) – How the study of drugs changed Carl
(59:28) – Formative memories
(1:03:57) – Greatest hip hop artist of all time
(1:07:19) – What mind altering drugs teach us
(1:11:26) – Advice for young people
(1:13:31) – The meaning of life

#232 – Brian Greene: Quantum Gravity, Big Bang, Aliens, Life, Death, and Meaning

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Brian Greene is a theoretical physicist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– The Prisoner Wine Company: https://theprisonerwine.com/lex to get 20% off & free shipping
– Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium
– LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack
– BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off
– NI: https://www.ni.com/perspectives

EPISODE LINKS:
Brian’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/bgreene
Brian’s Website: http://www.briangreene.org/
Until the End of Time (book): https://amzn.to/2XuqXUi

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(06:53) – Entropy
(15:01) – Consciousness
(31:20) – Quantum gravity
(34:40) – String theory
(48:07) – Time
(1:00:39) – Free will
(1:05:02) – Emergence and complexity
(1:12:14) – The Big Bang
(1:25:13) – Extraterrestrial life
(1:35:35) – Space exploration
(1:43:33) – Fear of death

#231 – Alex Gladstein: Bitcoin, Authoritarianism, and Human Rights

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Alex Gladstein is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation and the Oslo Freedom Forum. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Stripe: https://stripe.com
– Paperspace: https://gradient.run/lex to get $15 credit
– Codecademy: https://codecademy.com and use code LEX to get 15% off
– NI: https://www.ni.com/perspectives
– Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings

EPISODE LINKS:
Alex’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/gladstein
The Little Bitcoin Book: https://littlebitcoinbook.com/
Human Rights Foundation: https://hrf.org/

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:36) – Universal human rights
(22:35) – Authoritarianism
(32:46) – AIs impact on civil liberties
(44:09) – Edward Snowden and government surveillance
(47:48) – Money
(52:01) – Bitcoin
(1:07:48) – Government response to Bitcoin
(1:18:19) – The blockchain
(1:23:42) – Can Bitcoin fail?
(1:26:33) – Bitcoin scams
(1:30:17) – Patriotism
(1:32:41) – Human Rights Foundation
(1:37:15) – Conflict with China
(1:40:05) – Corporate accountability
(1:55:27) – Garry Kasparov and the HRF
(2:00:36) – Journalism, conversations, and truth
(2:07:50) – Alex’s book recommendations
(2:15:56) – Attacks on Bitcoin
(2:17:35) – The future of humanity
(2:21:57) – Advice for young people
(2:33:13) – Meaning of life

#230 – Kelsi Sheren: War, Artillery, PTSD, and Love

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Kelsi Sheren is a veteran, artillery gunner, and founder of Brass and Unity. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Shopify: https://shopify.com/lex to get 14-day free trial
– Justworks: https://justworks.com
– Novo: https://banknovo.com/lex
– Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit
– Onnit: https://lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off

EPISODE LINKS:
Kelsi’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/kelsiburns
Kelsi’s Website: https://brassandunity.com
Kelsi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsie_sheren
Charity: https://www.heroicheartsproject.org/
Do the F*cking Work (book): https://amzn.to/3mGhguF
Notes from Underground (book): https://amzn.to/3mN5TRF
Brothers in Arms (song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhdFe3evXpk

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:50) – World War II
(18:54) – Yeonmi Park, starvation, and mental health
(33:10) – Kelsi’s 9/11 experience
(36:39) – Becoming a soldier
(43:07) – Artillery: The Hand of God
(52:49) – Weapons training
(1:10:35) – Pre-Deployment
(1:26:42) – Arrival to Afghanistan
(1:48:55) – Tragic war story
(2:13:59) – Feelings after tragedy
(2:17:41) – The Taliban
(2:23:17) – Retrospective: 20 years in Afghanistan
(2:39:57) – How war changes people
(2:45:18) – PTSD
(3:14:13) – Ayahuasca and mental recovery
(3:46:09) – Love
(4:04:12) – Advice for young people
(4:07:33) – Death
(4:13:22) – World War II