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Randy Nesse, a psychiatrist and professor renowned for his work in evolutionary psychiatry, dives into the fascinating intersection of evolution and mental health. He explains how low mood serves as an adaptive response when goals fail and discusses the importance of sometimes giving up those goals for better mental health. Exploring anxiety, he highlights its role in detecting threats. Randy also shares clinical examples where understanding one's emotions through an evolutionary lens can lead to therapeutic breakthroughs.

Richard Wrangham is a professor at Harvard, a primatologist, and the author of multiple books including "The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution."------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:50) How humans have removed alpha male bullies(09:59) Christopher Boehm's "Hierarchy in the Forest"(16:06) Implications of human's self-domestication through violence(22:03) Bullying male behavior that would lead to execution(28:45) How the threat of violence influenced our moral impulses(34:23) Psychopathy and reactive aggression in adult men(45:25) How can someone spot a psychopath?(50:07) Jane Goodall and how Richard views human nature(01:02:53) Cooking and fire(01:03:13) Richard's views on removing the y chromosome(01:10:39) Removing genes for extreme aggression rather than men altogether

Robert Plomin is a British-American scientist, a psychologist and behavioral geneticist, and the author of the bestselling book, "Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are."------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:53) The power of DNA in making us who we are(03:40) Debunking the nurture-focused perspective(10:40) Robert's views on his own genetic predisposition to weight gain(22:59) How personalized, low-cost DNA sequencing will effect people's lives(30:21) Clarity around genetic risk will improve with time(31:49) The probabilistic, nuanced truth of genetic influence (38:20) Clarifying randomness and the nurture aspect of who we are(43:57) Identical twins(49:36) Quotes from "Blueprint"(58:41) A quote about child rearing from Tig Notaro(01:02:00) How genetic truths can make people more compassionate(01:04:52) Merging evolution and psychology(01:15:23) How should society evolve and improve because of these truths?(01:18:23) B.F. Skinner and the power of nature in the extremes

Brian Hare is a professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University and is the co-author of the book "Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity."------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:46) The origin and ideas of "Survival of the Friendliest"(07:38) The story of human survival and dominance(20:20) What is meant by "friendliness"?(26:40) Tribal identity and darker aspects of human cooperation(35:15) Political polarization in America(46:12) The work of Braver Angels and overcoming political division(52:30) Is it ever appropriate to dehumanize?

Stephen Kinzer is a historian, a Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs at Brown University, and the author of various books including, "Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control."------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) What was MK-Ultra? Who was Sidney Gottlieb?(08:55) The U.S.'s collaboration with Nazi and Japanese torturers(14:43) The historical context that justified MK-Ultra(24:25) Examples of torture from the MK-Ultra program(30:53) LSD and MK-Ultra(39:14) The eventual conclusion from the MK-Ultra program(43:21) Speculating on the full scope and details of the MK-Ultra program(49:13) Stephen's ethical judgments on Gottlieb(53:25) Has Stephen received pushback for his revelations?(57:04) Is something like MK-Ultra happening now?(59:47) Why do so few Americans know about MK-Ultra?

Helen Fisher, a renowned biological anthropologist, dives deep into the science of love. She shares her journey of studying love, highlighting its evolutionary purpose. Fisher discusses the intriguing concept of 'love maps' that shape our attractions and the subconscious influences on partner choices. She addresses the significance of understanding attachment styles in relationships and offers wisdom for navigating modern romance. With insights on what makes relationships work, this conversation is a treasure trove for anyone seeking deeper connections.

Richard Reeves is a writer, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and the author of "Of Boys and Men."This is a rebroadcast of episode 67 of "Keep Talking," one of the most important conversations from this show. Richard presents data detailing how boys and men are falling behind in education and employment, that men represent three out every four "deaths of despair," and the confusion over what is good about being a man and what it means to be a man as gender roles have significantly changed.------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackRate on SpotifyRate on Apple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro (01:06) How Richard realized men are falling behind (04:42) The data re: men falling behind in education (08:02) The structure of education helps women's natural abilities (12:26) A response to the indifference of male decline (17:06) Stories of suffering of modern men (20:30) Men are "opting out" not "acting out" (25:42) What would men be doing without porn and video games? (27:19) Big stats and small stats that reveal the decline of men (30:56) A sense of agency is crucial for men who are struggling (37:31) Jim Hollis' work for men (38:46) Jordan Peterson is a gigantic listening ear for men (44:06) The Andrew Tate phenomenon (51:31) Jordan Peterson's rage and empathy (57:09) Divorce and its effect on men (01:02:44) What is the evolutionary purpose of men? (01:06:46) Children need positive relationships with their fathers; married parents less so (01:15:39) Solutions to increase male flourishing

Kevin Kelly is a photographer, a futurist, an editor, and the author of multiple books, including "Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier," the subject of our conversation.This is a rebroadcast of episode 75 of "Keep Talking," one of my favorite episodes. On his 68th birthday, Kevin wrote "68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice" for his children - an essay that went viral. He wrote two more birthday advice essays for years 69 and 70. Now, after cleaning those nuggets up and adding 150 more, he has written a treasure-trove of wisdom, created and given to the world by one of America's most perceptive thinkers.This is my favorite kind of book, and Kevin has created a masterpiece that I will consult for the rest of my life. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to become just a little bit wiser, a little bit better, a little bit more thoughtful.------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackRate on SpotifyRate on Apple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro (00:55) Why Kevin began sharing advice (03:21) "68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice" popularity (05:27) 10 pieces of advice (07:42) You are what you do (12:00) Character is about how you deal with power (18:55) Look back 25 years from today to decide (22:20) The three things you need (36:15) Cultivate 12 people who love you (40:35) Money is to allow you to do great work (41:51) A perfect day to Kevin Kelly (44:15) Success and wealth (45:46) What's the point of obtaining wisdom?

Traver Boehm is an entrepreneur, a speaker, the author of "Today I Rise" and "Man UNcivilized," and the founder of the UNcivilized Movement, "dedicated to ending the unnecessary suffering in men to end the suffering caused by men."------------Book a meeting with Dan------------Keep Talking SubstackRate on SpotifyRate on Apple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------00:00 Intro 00:31 How Traver got into men's work 05:40 Living as an unconscious man for 40 years 10:53 Integrity and the book "How To Be A Man" by Robert Masters 16:26 Advice for men who feel out of integrity 28:04 Asking men: what do you want? 39:32 Shame, and how men can ask for what they need 55:22 Selecting women and the importance of male tribe 01:06:52 Male isolation and how to find good men 01:13:18 Vulnerability and how much Traver has changed

Orna Donath, a sociologist and professor at Tel Aviv University, dives deep into the controversial topic of motherhood regret. She shares poignant accounts from women who describe motherhood as traumatic, highlighting the societal pressures that push women towards parenting. Orna discusses her new research on elderly, childless women, emphasizing their lack of regret and the need for healthy role models. She also explores how self-awareness can guide decisions about motherhood and the meaning of life without children, offering a refreshing perspective on societal norms.