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451: Jason Silva | Origins of a Performance Philosopher

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Dec 24, 2020

Guest

Jason Silva

Jason Silva, a futurist and filmmaker known for his captivating insights, dives into the intricate relationship between identity and self-perception. He discusses how our sense of self is shaped by others, and how top performers manage their inner dialogue to achieve flow states. The art of video creation is unveiled, showcasing how thoughtful editing can evoke altered consciousness. Silva also reflects on the impact of environment on creativity, urging listeners to curate spaces that inspire wonder and authenticity. Expect a fusion of philosophy, technology, and personal exploration.

55:14

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ANECDOTE

Cannabis and Creativity

Jason Silva experimented with cannabis in high school, finding it catalyzed out-of-body experiences.
He used a camera to capture these moments, combining surrender with a sense of control.

insights

INSIGHT

Inducing Altered States

Jason Silva's videos combine intense verbal delivery with jarring edits, overwhelming viewers' conscious processing.
This shift to unconscious processing creates an altered state, mirroring Silva's own experience.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Stifled Expression

At Current TV, a producer told Silva to put his hand in his pocket to appear calmer on camera.
Silva felt this stifled his expressiveness and creativity, hindering his performance.

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

Exploring Identity and Cognitive Ecstasy

01:30 • 2min

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The Art of Creative Expression

03:31 • 18min

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The Power of Knowledge and Connection

21:35 • 2min

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Artistry and Identity: A Personal Journey

23:30 • 13min

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Curating Environments for Creativity and Wonder

36:38 • 5min

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The Journey of Creativity and Connection

41:21 • 9min

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Exploring Memory and Identity

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Stealing fire

How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work

Steven Kotler

This book explores the revolution in high performance driven by four accelerating forces: psychology, neurobiology, technology, and pharmacology. It delves into how trailblazers like Eric Schmidt, Elon Musk, Navy SEALs, and maverick scientists are harnessing rare and controversial states of consciousness to solve critical challenges and enhance their lives. The authors, Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal, spent four years investigating these leading edges, from Silicon Valley to the Navy SEALs, and present a provocative examination of what is possible and how to radically upgrade one's life.

Jason Silva (@JasonSilva) would have been called a “performance philosopher” by counterculture icon Timothy Leary. Among many things, he’s a futurist, filmmaker, creator of short video series Shots of Awe, and host of the National Geographic Channel’s Brain Games and Origins: The Journey of Humankind.

What We Discuss with Jason Silva:

How our concepts of self are formed — often through the eyes of others — and how they affect our behavior.
How top performers excel by shutting down the editorial parts of the human brain coined by Buddhists as the monkey mind.
Why “unscripted” isn’t the same as “unprepared,” and how videos can be edited to elicit altered states of consciousness.
How good directors help performers get out of their heads — while bad directors do just the opposite.
How is day-to-day reality edited by context, similar to the Kuleshov effect demonstrated by Alfred Hitchcock?
And much more!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/451

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