A Mind-Expanding Conversation About Human History and Happiness With Tim Urban

A Mind-Expanding Conversation About Human History and Happiness With Tim Urban

Sometimes on this show, we talk about the news. This episode is about the diametric opposite of the news. It’s about thinking deeply about human history and trying to appreciate the awesome length of time and the finitude of our lives. It's an interview with Tim Urban, a blogger at the mind-expanding site Wait But Why, and the author of a new book What’s Our Problem: A Self-Help Book for Societies. If you don’t know Tim and his work, I would sum up his thing this way: Tim is a kind of alien. He has an incredible talent for seeing our world as if from the perspective of a goofy but smart extraterrestrial, who takes not the 30,000-foot view on life, but the 300,000-foot view of life, and history, and human nature. In this show, we talk about … you know what. I'm not even going to try to sum up the hour. Just enjoy. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. You can find us on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@plainenglish_ Host: Derek Thompson Guest: Tim Urban Producer: Devon Manze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episoder(361)

A Diet Conspiracy: Is Ice Cream Secretly Good for You?

A Diet Conspiracy: Is Ice Cream Secretly Good for You?

Today’s episode is about a narrow question and a broad question. The narrow question is: Is ice cream secretly good for you? The broader question is about the nature of uncertainty and truth, how diet...

9 Mai 202343min

An Optimistic Guide to America’s Clean-Energy Future

An Optimistic Guide to America’s Clean-Energy Future

The world is engaged in a multitrillion-dollar project to decarbonize the economy to slow or reverse climate change. But what exactly does that mean? How optimistic should we be that we can pull this ...

2 Mai 20231h 25min

The Most Important Thing Most Americans Misunderstand About Insomnia

The Most Important Thing Most Americans Misunderstand About Insomnia

I am fascinated by sleep and also—perhaps, relatedly—not very good at it. Like tens of millions of Americans, I've had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep for most of my life. I also know that s...

25 Apr 20231h 5min

How American Cities Can Avoid the ‘Urban Doom Loop’

How American Cities Can Avoid the ‘Urban Doom Loop’

Today’s episode is about the future of the American city. Many downtowns are "wounded renditions of their once-robust selves." Offices are empty. Commercial real estate is losing value, pulling down m...

18 Apr 20231h 10min

Americans Die Younger Than People in Any Other Rich Country. Why?

Americans Die Younger Than People in Any Other Rich Country. Why?

Today’s episode is about guns, drugs, cars, and a big question: Why do Americans die so much younger than people in any other rich country? Before the 1990s, average life expectancy in the U.S. was no...

11 Apr 202355min

How Strong Is the Case Against Donald Trump?

How Strong Is the Case Against Donald Trump?

Derek talks to ‘Semafor’ political reporter Dave Weigel about how the Trump indictment could reshape the election—or turn out to be a big ole nothing burger. But before that, Norman Eisen, a lawyer wh...

6 Apr 202358min

Myth-Busting Wellness Hacks: Cold Plunges, Coffee, Alcohol, and Fitness Trackers

Myth-Busting Wellness Hacks: Cold Plunges, Coffee, Alcohol, and Fitness Trackers

Today, we go wading in the murky waters of 2023 wellness trends. We’re talking cold plunges, fitness trackers, and recovery scores. And on the more prosaic side, the real science of coffee and alcohol...

4 Apr 202355min

Eight Burning Questions About the Donald Trump Indictment

Eight Burning Questions About the Donald Trump Indictment

Donald Trump has been indicted. But what do we actually know about the case against him? What will the charges be? Is there any legal precedent for the prosecution? What happens when he's arrested? Co...

31 Mar 202326min

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