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#749: Michael Lewis and Martine Rothblatt

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Jun 25, 2024

Michael Lewis, a bestselling author known for hits like Moneyball, shares insights on his leap from Wall Street to writing, emphasizing lessons learned about success and ambition. Martine Rothblatt, a biotechnology pioneer and advocate for organ transplantation, discusses her journey to save her daughter and the ethical implications of genetic research. They explore the intersection of technology and humanity, the value of mentorship in creativity, and the potential of digital consciousness in our future.

02:18:19

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INSIGHT

Glaxo's Miscalculations

Glaxo Wellcome underestimated the drug's potential due to low initial patient numbers, low probability of success, and perceived low market value.
They also failed to consider the growing treatment cohort as patients lived longer.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Inspiration from NASA

Martine Rothblatt's interest in satellite communication stemmed from a visit to a NASA tracking station.
Inspired, she changed her career path to pursue satellite communication.

insights

INSIGHT

Scientific Literacy

Cultivate scientific literacy by relating science to everyday life.
Use relatable examples and analogies.

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

Celebrating a Decade of Impactful Voices

04:14 • 2min

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From Wall Street to Words

06:35 • 24min

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Striving for Greatness and Philosophical Insights

30:12 • 5min

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Exploring Digital Consciousness and Artificial Sentience

35:17 • 5min

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A Journey through Science and Identity

40:19 • 33min

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Ethics of Genetic Rights and Organ Transplantation

01:13:29 • 8min

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Exploring Bioelectronic Medicine and the Vagus Nerve

01:21:16 • 2min

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The Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve

01:23:43 • 20min

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Digital Consciousness and Ethical Innovations

01:44:03 • 27min

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Gratitude and Connections

02:11:13 • 7min

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#216

• Mentioned in 107 episodes

Liar's poker

Michael Lewis

Liar's Poker is a non-fiction, semi-autobiographical book that details Michael Lewis's three-year tenure at Salomon Brothers, one of Wall Street's premier investment firms in the 1980s. The book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the culture of bond traders, highlighting the frat-boy camaraderie, killer instincts, and high-stakes games of bluffing and deception. Lewis describes the creation and use of mortgage bonds, the excessive bonuses, and the ruthless competition among traders. The narrative also touches on the author's disillusionment with the industry, leading to his resignation and transition into financial journalism.

#233

• Mentioned in 102 episodes

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Thomas Kuhn

In 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions', Thomas S. Kuhn argues that scientific progress does not occur through a gradual accumulation of facts, but rather through periodic revolutions that disrupt existing paradigms. Kuhn introduces the concept of 'normal science' and 'revolutionary science', where normal science involves puzzle-solving within an established paradigm, and revolutionary science involves a paradigm shift that fundamentally changes the way scientists view the world. He explains that these revolutions are driven by the accumulation of anomalies that cannot be explained by the current paradigm, leading to a crisis and eventually a new paradigm that offers a different perspective and new ways of conducting research.

#1154

• Mentioned in 34 episodes

Stranger in a Strange Land

Robert A. Heinlein

The novel tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human born on Mars and raised by Martians after the deaths of the crew of the first mission to the planet. When Michael is brought back to Earth as an adult, he struggles to understand human behavior and culture. With the help of characters like Gillian Boardman and Jubal Harshaw, Michael navigates human society, critiques its institutions, and eventually starts his own movement, the 'Church of All Worlds. ' The novel explores themes of individual liberty, self-responsibility, and challenges to traditional social and religious norms. It is known for its complex characters, philosophical discussions, and its impact on the science fiction genre and the counterculture movement of the late 1960s.

#1440

• Mentioned in 28 episodes

Parable of the Sower

Octavia Butler

Published in 1993, 'Parable of the Sower' is a dark and vivid portrayal of a future where global climate change and economic crises have led to social chaos. The story is told through the diary entries of Lauren Olamina, a 15-year-old Black girl living in a gated community near Los Angeles. Lauren suffers from hyperempathy, a condition that makes her feel the pain and pleasure of others. As her community is destroyed by external threats, Lauren embarks on a perilous journey north, developing a new faith called Earthseed along the way. Earthseed's central doctrine is that 'God is Change' and cannot be resisted, but can be influenced. The novel explores themes of survival, faith, family, hope, and community in a world torn apart by environmental devastation, economic collapse, and violence.

#16

• Mentioned in 419 episodes

The 4 Hour Workweek

Tim Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.

#30802

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Virtually Human delves into the concept of cyberconsciousness, where human consciousness is simulated using software and computer technology, potentially allowing for digital immortality. The book examines the ethical implications of this technology and features Bina48, a sentient robot created as a mindclone of Martine Rothblatt's wife. It discusses the potential societal and legal impacts of such advancements.

#15028

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The emotion machine

Mercedes García Garmilla

Marvin Minsky

In 'The Emotion Machine', Marvin Minsky argues that emotions are not separate from rational thinking but are different ways to think, enhancing our intelligence. He discusses how emotions help us deal with various problems and how they are crucial for creating a truly intelligent artificial mind. The book also delves into the challenges of modeling human behavior in AI systems.

#12685

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The No Book

A blueprint for how to get everything you want by saying no to everything you don't

Neil Strauss

Tim Ferriss

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #427 "Michael Lewis — Inside the Mind of the Iconic Writer" and episode #487 "Dr. Martine Rothblatt — A Masterclass on Asking Better Questions and Peering Into the Future."

Please enjoy!

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Start

[04:13] Notes about this supercombo format.

[05:16] Enter Michael Lewis.

[05:54] Why Michael quit his well-paid job to become a full-time author.

[12:58] Liar’s Poker is a cautionary tale, not a how-to book.

[15:16] On ambition and the metrics of success.

[18:31] Maximizing self-satisfaction, optimizing the writing process, and learning to sing.

[20:51] The value of having an impolite editor on your side.

[23:52] On the merits of productive laziness.

[28:13] How Michael determines if a project should proceed.

[29:51] Michael's billboard.

[32:45] Enter Martine Rothblatt.

[33:14] Martine's appreciation for Alan Watts' book on human identity.

[35:34] Martine's thoughts on AI-human coexistence in the movie Her.

[36:31] BINA48 and realistic human simulations in media.

[39:53] Martine's role models and inspirations.

[41:20] When Martine started a biotech company to save her daughter's life.

[52:44] Glaxo Wellcome's misconceptions about Martine's successful drug.

[56:17] Martine's interest in satellite communication systems.

[1:00:33] Promoting scientific literacy and curiosity.

[1:05:20] Questioning authority and Martine's transgender journey.

[1:10:28] Martine's non-binary gender identity.

[1:12:34] Key decisions in Martine's transition.

[1:13:28] The need for genetic information protection laws.

[1:16:00] South American population and organ transplant research.

[1:21:42] Vagus nerve manipulation for various therapies.

[1:31:25] Martine's Alzheimer's cognitive enabler patent.

[1:38:17] The Rothblatt family's "love nights" tradition.

[1:43:54] The possibility of machines experiencing love.

[1:49:20] Ethical considerations for future technology.

[1:52:44] Current practices future generations might view as barbaric.

[1:57:42] United Therapeutics' zero-carbon-footprint headquarters.

[2:00:32] Refurbishing unusable lungs to save lives.

[2:04:45] United Therapeutics' focus on long-term COVID-19 effects.

[2:07:26] Martine's billboard.

[2:08:27] Advice for finding positivity in life.

[2:11:48] Parting thoughts.

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