unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc

Neuroscience professor Tali Sharot and host Greg LaBlanc discuss habituation, optimism bias, and the impact of bad news. They explore breaking free from emotional habits, the human desire for control, escalating dishonesty, and emotional habituation in social change and harmful actions.

Carl Elliott, a philosophy professor, discusses unethical medical experiments and whistleblowers. Topics include protecting vulnerable populations, challenges faced by whistleblowers, the evolution of healthcare perception, and the implications of seeking authenticity through interventions.

Dan Ariely, a Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics, delves into the psychology behind misbelief and conspiracy theories. He discusses his experience with conspiracy theories during the pandemic, the significance of language as a social marker, and the role of transparency in scientific communication. They explore the impact of misinformation on society and the challenge of discerning facts in a polarized world.

Travis Rieder, a bioethics professor, discusses societal attitudes towards opioids, his personal struggle with opioid withdrawal, and the ethical challenges in medicine and climate change. He explores the historical shifts in opioid perception and emphasizes the importance of individual decision-making in addressing structural issues like healthcare and climate change.

Eric Siegel, machine learning expert, discusses bridging technical expertise with business needs. He highlights challenges in deploying ML projects, emphasizing collaboration for success. The conversation explores cost analysis, managing buy-in, and utilizing ML for business improvement. Strategies for executives' upskilling are also covered.

Economics professor Daniel Susskind and Greg LeBlanc dive into the history of economic growth, the limitations of GDP, the impact of technology on work, and the need to redefine work's value in an automated world.

Anthropology professor Brian Fagan discusses how civilizations historically adapted to climate change, the role of climate in the rise and fall of societies, and the importance of learning from the past to tackle future climate challenges. They explore ancient fishing artifacts, meteorological records in ancient societies, and the impact of climate change on human ingenuity and societal structures across different civilizations.

Brad Wilcox, a sociology professor and director of the National Marriage Project, discusses the importance of marriage in societal well-being. They explore the impact of shifting societal norms on marriage decisions, the soulmate myth, gender roles, and the benefits of strong marriages. The conversation delves into the significance of extended family involvement, the challenges facing marriage in modern society, and the need to educate elites on the benefits of marriage for overall societal well-being.

Emeritus professor David Barash discusses the resistance in social sciences to studying human nature, violence, sex differences, and the risks of nuclear deterrence. The conversation also explores deception in animal communication and the intersection of literature with evolutionary wisdom.

Applied mathematician Coco Krumme and Greg LaBlanc explore the negative impacts of excessive optimization on essential human values and spontaneity. They discuss ethical trade-offs, the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, and question the fabric of modern living. The conversation delves into the pillars of optimization, the influence of corporations on personal life optimization, and the balancing act between efficiency and life in an optimization culture.