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#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More

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Aug 16, 2019

Guest

Safi Bahcall

Safi Bahcall, the author of "Loonshots" and a former biotechnology CEO, dives deep into the fascinating connections between hypnosis, mental health, and innovation. He shares self-hypnosis techniques to combat insomnia and enhance focus. The discussion also explores how reframing emotions like anger can fuel success, alongside innovative insights into incentives in organizations. Safi emphasizes the importance of personal growth through mindfulness and understanding emotional triggers while considering novel therapies for depression like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. It's a blend of science, psychology, and real-world application!

02:51:22

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Episode notes

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ADVICE

Chairman of the Mind

Personify your racing thoughts as characters and address them individually.
Thank them, allocate specific time for them, and negotiate to find solutions and inner peace.

insights

INSIGHT

Mind as Survival Tool

Our minds are survival tools, but haven't adapted to modern information overload.
Techniques like personifying thoughts help manage this influx and maintain sanity.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Anger as Fuel

Reframe anger as fuel for motivation, like Michael Jordan using criticism.
Thank those who reject you; they provide fuel to improve and work harder.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Exploring Innovation, Well-Being, and Important Documentaries

03:52 • 3min

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Unlocking Trance: The Power of Hypnosis

06:34 • 20min

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Boardroom Mind: Engaging Inner Characters

26:20 • 9min

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Harnessing Anger for Growth

35:20 • 29min

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The Power of Mindfulness and Self-Awareness

01:04:43 • 2min

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Navigating Intrusive Thoughts and Emotions

01:07:02 • 32min

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Understanding Emotions Through Awareness and Expectations

01:39:00 • 2min

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Exploring Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression

01:40:53 • 15min

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Mind and Body: The Biochemical Connection

01:55:50 • 8min

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The Power of Incentives

02:03:58 • 18min

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Incentives and Organizational Dynamics

02:22:14 • 24min

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Closing Remarks and Weekly Insights

02:46:02 • 5min

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#7295

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Loonshots

How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries

Safi Bahcall

Loonshots by Safi Bahcall offers a new perspective on innovation by applying the science of phase transitions to team behavior. It highlights how small structural changes can significantly impact a team's ability to innovate. The book provides practical lessons for creatives and entrepreneurs to foster groundbreaking ideas, using examples from history and industry.

#420

• Mentioned in 69 episodes

Awareness

a de Mello spirituality conference in his own words

Anthony de Mello

In 'Awareness', Anthony de Mello combines Christian spirituality, Buddhist parables, Hindu breathing exercises, and psychological insight to challenge readers to wake up from the go-go-go world of illusion. The book, composed of short chapters and lectures, encourages readers to become aware of their thoughts, actions, and motivations. De Mello argues that true happiness and freedom come from dropping illusions and living in the present, free from the constructs of culture, conditioning, and fear. He emphasizes the need to observe oneself, understand negative feelings, and practice detachment to achieve a more authentic and fulfilling life.

#785

• Mentioned in 44 episodes

Radical acceptance

Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha

Tara Brach

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach offers a transformative practice to help readers overcome habitual feelings of deficiency and better relate to their experiences and emotions. The book emphasizes two key pillars: observing one's experience clearly and responding with compassion. Through personal stories, case histories from her clinical psychology practice, and guided meditations, Brach provides practical guidance on mindfulness, compassion, and acceptance. The book helps readers stop being at war with themselves and live fully in every moment, addressing issues such as self-judgments, conflicts, addictions, and perfectionism. It also clarifies that Radical Acceptance does not mean self-indulgence or passivity but rather empowers genuine change and healing.

#1272

• Mentioned in 31 episodes

Spark

The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

John J. Ratey

In 'Spark', John J. Ratey, M.D. , explores the comprehensive connection between exercise and the brain, presenting research that proves exercise is a potent defense against conditions such as depression, ADD, addiction, aggression, menopause, and Alzheimer's. The book includes case studies, such as the revolutionary fitness program in Naperville, Illinois, which significantly improved science test scores among 19,000 students. Ratey explains how exercise physically remodels the brain for peak performance, reducing stress, lifting mood, fighting memory loss, and sharpening intellect. The book covers various chapters on stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addiction, hormonal changes, and aging, all highlighting the beneficial effects of exercise on mental and physical health.

#5834

• Mentioned in 8 episodes

The Hot Zone

A Terrifying True Story

Richard Preston

The Hot Zone tells the dramatic story of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses from the central African rain forest, including Ebola and Marburg viruses. The book is structured around several key events: the discovery of Marburg virus in the 1960s, the 1976 outbreak of Ebola Zaire in Sudan and Zaire, the 1989 outbreak of Reston virus in Northern Virginia, and the author's visit to a sub-Saharan cave suspected to be the natural host of Ebola. Preston's account is a hair-raising narrative that highlights the dangers and mysteries of these highly infectious and deadly viruses.

#905

• Mentioned in 40 episodes

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Dale Carnegie

In 'How to Stop Worrying and Start Living', Dale Carnegie provides a set of practical formulas and techniques to help readers overcome their worry habits. The book, first published in 1948, has been updated and remains highly relevant today. It offers advice on how to eliminate business and financial worries, avoid fatigue, improve sleep, and cultivate a mental attitude that brings peace and happiness. Carnegie's approach includes rules such as living in 'day-tight compartments', accepting the worst-case scenario, and keeping busy to crowd out worry. The book is filled with inspiring examples and stories of people who have successfully applied these principles to achieve a more enjoyable and fulfilling life.

Safi Bahcall (@SafiBahcall) is the author of Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas that Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries, which debuted #3 on Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list. Loonshots describes what an idea from physics tells us about the behavior of groups and how teams, companies, and nations can use that to innovate faster and better.

Safi received his PhD in physics from Stanford and his undergrad degree from Harvard. After working as a consultant for McKinsey, Safi co-founded a biotechnology company specializing in developing new drugs for cancer. He led its IPO and served as its CEO for 13 years. In 2008, Safi was named E&Y New England Biotechnology Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2011, he worked with President Obama’s council of science advisors on the future of national research.

In this episode, we talk about many things we haven’t covered before, including hypnosis, conquering insomnia, thoughts on depression, optimizing incentives, and much more. You can also listen to my first interview with Safi at tim.blog/safi.

Please enjoy!

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