Concepts: How the Brain Constructs Reality, Emotional Experience and Who You Are - w/ Nicholas Shea
Ever wonder why you can recognise your friend's face instantly but struggle to remember where you put your keys? Your brain is running the most sophisticated learning system ever created, and most of us have no clue how it actually works. Nicholas Shea is an Oxford and King's College Researcher working in philosophy of mind, cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence. He breaks down the fascinating psychology behind how we build concepts in our minds. Think of concepts as mental shortcuts - when you see a dog, you don't analyse four legs, fur, and a tail. Your brain instantly accesses everything you know about dogs. We dissect these fundamental building blocks of learning into how the brain actually works and learns, and build mastery. Three key takeaways: What builds basic concepts into subject mastery? How do emotions inform decision-making? The real difference between deliberate practice and passive learning ------- NEW SHOW - How to Change the World Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 ------- Nicholas Shea Nick & his work - https://www.nicholasshea.co.uk/ Book - Concepts at The Interface - https://philpapers.org/rec/SHECAT-11 Paper - Concepts as Plug and Play Devices - https://www.nicholasshea.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Shea_22_Concepts_plug-and-play_RSTB_OA.pdf Recommended Books "Consciousness Explained" - Daniel Dennet Metazoa : Animal minds and the birth of consciousness” - Peter Godfrey Smith "Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Origins of Consciousness” -Peter Godfrey Smith "The Pleistocene Social Contract" - Kim Sterelny Helen Steward - Article - Do animals have free will - https://philosophersmag.com/do-animals-have-free-will/ UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: The Building Blocks of Learning and Mastery in the Brain - w/ Nicholas Shea Chapters: 00:00 How does your mind really work? 03:21 Playing with Concepts 05:00 Overview of Concepts in Psychology 06:14 Building and Storing Concepts 06:30 Concept Learning in Adults 07:59 Concept Acquisition in Children 08:46 Motor Skills and Conceptual Thinking 09:29 Automatic vs. Deliberate Thinking 11:00 Richness and Accessibility of Concepts 13:56 Cognitive Shortcuts and Biases 15:09 Narration on how media affects our thoughts 17:27 The Frame Problem in AI 22:25 Emotions in Decision Making 26:17 Animal Cognition and Emotions 29:14 Neurotransmitters and Learning 30:44 Philosophy methods and experimentation 31:32 Interdisciplinary Approach in Philosophy 33:13 Practical Implications of Abstract Research 34:29 Challenges in Applying Theoretical Insights 37:54 Recommended Books and Final Thoughts 39:45 Books Repeated 40:34 Take-home ideas 42:27 How to change the world podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20 Kesä 202547min
When Your Brain Won’t Shut Up: A guide to internal peace and lasting focus
Let's unpack the heart of attention, addiction, autopilot and self-sabotage. This episode is a deep dive into the junk food of thought: addictive mental loops that hijack your attention, and keep you stuck repeating the same boring patterns — again and again and again. We talk about why your thoughts are like badly designed software, why addiction makes your brain less creative, and how to actually take back control. From scrolling email to self-sabotaging loops, it turns out the enemy isn’t the internet… it’s your untrained mind. Reframe addiction as a self-inflicted cognitive handicap Break the loop with “internal repulsion” instead of willpower Interrupt the mental chatter that blocks creativity You’ll never look at your own thoughts the same way again. NEW SHOW - How to Change the World Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 ------- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: When Your Brain Won’t Shut Up: A guide to internal peace and lasting focus Chapters: 00:00 Useful vs bad fixed beliefs 02:37 Dimensions of our thoughts 03:46 Activating our Auto-Pilot 04:55 Understanding Addiction 05:56 Your mind in addiction 09:25 How do addictions impact ability 10:10 Addictions Undermine Growth and Potential 11:48 The Distraction Ritual 12:58 Taking Responsibility for Addictions 15:27 Changing Your Desire, Not Just Your Behavior 18:03 Reframing Addiction as a Self-Imposed Limitation 19:33 Reclaiming Your Mental Capabilities 20:55 The Power of Embracing Boredom 21:34 Support the podcast by helping a friend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
17 Kesä 202525min
How to transcend your normal habits and routines to have original ideas
Mental Constraints: How to change your thoughts and break invisible limits you can't see This episode is a ride through dimensions—space, time, and your own mind. It’s like stepping outside your body mid-coffee to ask, “Wait, what the hell am I doing?” From Zen bugs to aeroplane windows, Sam breaks down how we’re all stuck in routines that make life two-dimensional. And the worst part? We don’t even notice. You’ll learn: Why your habits aren't just habits—they're constraints dressed as convenience How to inject randomness into your week to break mental inertia A simple way to use boredom as a creative tool Don’t let your year pass in fast-forward. Open your thinking to start living in widescreen. NEW SHOW - How to Change the World Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 ------- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: How to transcend your normal habits and routines to have original ideas Chapters: 00:00 The Observing Centipede 01:25 Transcendent versus experiential thinking 03:02 The Flatness of Our Existence 05:33 Thinking in Dimensions 07:50 Routines and Potential Decisions 11:51 Introducing Novelty and Chaos 13:36 Entropy and Being Anti-Entropy Machines 15:45 Living with Intention After a Near-Death Experience 18:03 Forgiveness and Letting Go 20:05 Send off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13 Kesä 202524min
How to Tell if Someone Will Be a Good Long-Term Partner (and find them)
What if everything we believe about finding love is designed to keep us searching instead of finding? This episode debunks some of the worst common advice and showcases what's genuinely useful. It might start with you. The people most focused on finding the perfect partner often remain alone, while those focused on becoming the right partner tend to attract extraordinary relationships. Shift from scarcity-based dating to abundance-based connection: Understand "optimal search theory" Focus on shared vision for the future rather than identical current interests Recognise that generosity and a growth mindset matter more than initial chemistry If you find someone, will you recognise them when you do? Advertiser - Millionaire Match High-quality, entrepreneurial singles, for serious relationships MillionaireMatch.com Referal code 'GROW' for a welcome treat. NEW SHOW - How to Change the World Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 ------- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: How to Tell if Someone Will Be a Good Long-Term Partner (and find them) Chapters: 00:00 How to choose a partner 00:51 Importance of shared values 03:21 Know what you really want 05:29 What is the "Optimal Choice" 06:08 Increasing the pool of potential mates 06:57 Go on more dates 08:27 Improving yourself to attract better partners 10:10 4 Mistakes and bad advices when choosing a partner 13:22 4 Dating myths to uncover 19:40 4 Signs to look at when choosing a partner 22:45 Past Relationships 27:06 Screening for a positive mindset 28:42 Optimal Search Theory 31:30 Send off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10 Kesä 202535min
Uncertainty: How to Handle Life's Surprises (+ What is a Black Swan event) - w/ Nicolas Vereecke
Ever felt like life just sucker-punched you out of nowhere? That's exactly what Nassim Taleb calls a Black Swan event. Most people think they can predict the future by looking at patterns. They study charts, analyze trends, and feel safe in their little bubble of certainty. However, the biggest events that shape our lives—market crashes, pandemics, breakthrough innovations—are the ones nobody sees coming. .. Beyond that, it's about how your brain tricks you into thinking you understand a world that's fundamentally unpredictable: Stop trying to predict everything and start building resilience for anything Rebuild your investment portfolio and life plan to deal with shocks Prepare for worst-case scenarios instead of hoping for the best NEW SHOW - How to Change the World Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 ------- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: Radical Uncertainty: How to deal with surprises and Black Swan events - w/ Nicolas Vereecke Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Navigating Life's Unpredictability 02:02 Understanding the Black Swan Concept 02:41 Real-World Examples and Implications 04:54 Investment Strategies for Unpredictable Events 12:00 Mediocristan vs. Extremistan 18:39 Ludic fallacy 18:39 The Ludic Fallacy and Risk Assessment 21:46 Conclusion and Takeaways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6 Kesä 202527min
10 Mental Models to Create Long Term Thinking and Better Decisions from Jeff Bezos
The tools of thinking that fueled the Growth Mindset and fast decisions behind the success of Jeff Bezos. Bezos frames business as a series of silent promises: to customers, to colleagues, to the future. Each promise is a primitive—simple, sturdy, waiting to be linked. When those links form, independence evolves into interdependence, and a whisper becomes a flywheel. In this conversation, we explore how “Day One” thinking keeps the path clear, how a “regret-minimization lens” invites bold choices, and why “single-threaded leadership” protects the soul of a project. Name your primitives—identify the small assets that can connect to others. Map the flywheel—draw how each promise fuels the next. Practice long-horizon thinking—act today as if seven years depend on it. How to Change the World Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 ------- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: 10 Mental Models to Create Long Term Thinking and Better Decisions from Jeff Bezos Chapters: 00:00 Thinking in Primitives 05:58 Story of AWS 08:32 2 Customer Centric Obsession 10:13 Working backwards from the customer's experience - Why they built Amazon Prime 12:11 3 Long Term Thinking 13:27 Story - Kindle and e-publishing industry 16:10 Willingness to be Misunderstood 16:49 Team - Single Threaded Leadership 17:58 Team - Employ and Empower Builders 19:03 Culture - Meetings are for Decisions 20:03 High Velocity Decision making - Reversible vs Irreversible Decisions 22:15 Regret Minimization Framework 23:51 Disagree and Commit 25:01 Embrace Failure 25:44 Total Fails - Amazon Fire Phone, Amazon Wallet, Amazon Destinations, Amazon Restaurants 28:01 Importance of Timing and Competition 30:16 Day 1 Thinking 32:58 Useful Bonus points 33:06 Flywheel effect 33:34 Word of Mouth Marketing 34:30 Opposing beliefs - Ignoring vs Crushing Competition 36:38 Opposing Beliefs - Stubborn and Flexibility 37:14 How this helps a with Growth Mindset 41:12 Wrap up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
3 Kesä 202545min
How To Change The World - Learn to think like an innovator
Ever wondered how to really change the world? After thinking about the question for too long, Sam has started a new podcast to answer it. Sam's new show 'How To Change The World' tells the stories of the greatest innovations throughout the entire history of humanity. As he goes, he'll be breaking down the mental models and frameworks to create change. The show can be found on major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast Can't find it on your player? This is the RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 ------- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: How To Change The World - Introducing my new show - The history of innovation. Chapters: 00:00 About my new show 01:28 Introduction: The Dawn of Human Influence 03:49 A Journey Through Time 06:38 The Plan for the Podcast 08:36 What counts as an innovation 09:59 Release Schedule 11:08 Beyond a history podcast 12:22 Why this point in history 14:02 A map is not a blueprint 15:52 Why am I doing this? 19:03 Why should you listen? 20:12 Psychology and Innovation 20:44 Bias and Hindsight 21:21 Illusion of obviousness 22:18 The Myth of Stability 23:25 7 Core Principles of the Show 23:34 1 - Interdisciplinary Thinking 24:17 2 - Systems Thinking 25:04 3 - Understanding of knowledge 26:44 4 - Context 27:49 5 - No current affairs and politics 28:58 6 - Side Quests 30:06 7 - Optimism 31:09 Mission and sign off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31 Touko 202535min
3 Ways to Avoid the Biggest Self-Help Traps and Just Start Enjoying Your Life
Self-help is sometimes the opposite. It can end up increasing your task list with a bunch of unrealistic expectations you never achieve. Today’s conversation is about navigation, not directions. We explore the quiet difference between a compass you trust and a checklist someone sells. Passport stamps matter less than the personality you bring to the journey; so does the company you invite to walk beside you. We trade a stack of generic self-help books for three simple ideas you can put on a sticky note. The answer might not even be faster growth but perhaps wiser detours and a network that grows because we grow. Work out if a new habit is worthwhile or if you should be doing less Build a personal compass based on your own interests Show up as the person you are How to Change the World Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 ------- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: 3 Ways to Avoid the Biggest Self-Help Traps and Just Start Enjoying Your Life Chapters: 00:00 The Problem with Much Self-Help Advice 02:59 Reality's Complexities vs. Simplistic Advice 09:09 Principle 1: Be Kind and Helpful 13:12 Principle 2: Spend Time with Those Who Let You Be Yourself 16:52 Principle 3: Take Ownership and Responsibility 21:22 Send Off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30 Touko 202525min
