The Ghost of Dopamine Past | Frankly 103

The Ghost of Dopamine Past | Frankly 103

In this week's Frankly, Nate reflects on a moment of unexpected insight during a morning bike ride, which catalyzed a larger meditation on the modern human predicament. This episode explores the neuroscience of dopamine, and offers a reflection on the ways it plays into distraction, technology, and how we interact with the hyperstimulating world around us.

What is the "ghost of dopamine past," and how does it shape not only our individual lives, but our collective economic and ecological behavior? Why does the urge to scroll on our phones override the deep calm of watching wildlife? And how might tactics like dopamine fasting or socialization help us rebalance our nervous systems in a culture engineered to constantly produce more?

(Recorded July 28th, 2025)

Show Notes and More

Watch this video episode on YouTube

Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie.

---

Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future

Join our Substack newsletter

Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners

Episoder(384)

Rex Weyler: "Crisis in the Ecology Movement"

Rex Weyler: "Crisis in the Ecology Movement"

On this episode, we meet with ecologist, writer, and Greenpeace cofounder, Rex Weyler. Weyler explains how the ecology movement was hijacked by the environmental movement. How is climate change one of...

22 Mar 20221h 30min

Are Americans Willing to Risk Nuclear War? | Frankly #2

Are Americans Willing to Risk Nuclear War? | Frankly #2

An important dialogue with Chuck Watson on: 1) Why the U.S. public is naïve about what nuclear war means 2) The mechanics on how nuclear war with Russia could actually happen 3) How bad would nuclear ...

18 Mar 202230min

Nora Bateson: "Complexity Between The Lines"

Nora Bateson: "Complexity Between The Lines"

On this episode, we meet with award-winning filmmaker, writer, educator, and President of the International Bateson Institute, Nora Bateson. Nora brings us beyond the descriptions of the physical scie...

16 Mar 20221h 24min

What War in Ukraine means for Energy & Money | Frankly #1

What War in Ukraine means for Energy & Money | Frankly #1

In addition to regular Wednesday longform podcasts, this video is #1 of new series of short takes, "Frankly" which are framings and context on current world events. Today, I riff on longer term implic...

12 Mar 202218min

The Human Superorganism - TGS Animated Series Preview

The Human Superorganism - TGS Animated Series Preview

The second part of The Great Simplification Animated Series is now available! Visit http://thegreatsimplification.com to view now.

9 Mar 20222min

Paul Ehrlich: "Was the Population Bomb Defused?"

Paul Ehrlich: "Was the Population Bomb Defused?"

On this episode, we meet with Professor Emeritus of Population Studies at Stanford University and author of The Population Bomb, Paul Ehrlich. Ehrlich discusses what has happened with the human popu...

2 Mar 20221h 16min

Peter Ward: "Oceans - What's the Worst that Can Happen?"

Peter Ward: "Oceans - What's the Worst that Can Happen?"

On this episode, we meet with author and paleobiologist Peter Ward. Ward helps us catalogue the various risks facing Earth's oceans, how the Atlantic Ocean's currents are slowing due to warming, what ...

23 Feb 20221h 15min

Josh Farley: "The Past, Present, and Future of Human Cooperation"

Josh Farley: "The Past, Present, and Future of Human Cooperation"

On this episode we meet with ecological economist and Professor in Community Development & Applied Economics and Public Administration, Josh Farley.  Farley explores the importance of human cooperatio...

16 Feb 20221h 16min

Populært innen Vitenskap

fastlegen
tingenes-tilstand
jss
rekommandert
forskningno
sinnsyn
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
villmarksliv
rss-paradigmepodden
rss-nysgjerrige-norge
liberal-halvtime
nevropodden
fjellsportpodden
kvinnehelsepodden
diagnose
tidlose-historier
rss-inn-til-kjernen-med-sunniva-rose
psykopoden
nordnorsk-historie
rss-hoyt-lavt-med-ida-tonseth