Scientist and writer Sam Arbesman joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on AI, optimism, science, education, archives, science fiction, and why the history of computing still has so much to teach us. We talk about why pessimism is often mistaken for sophistication, why AI may reward open-mindedness more than intelligence,…
Johnathan Bi returns to Infinite Loops for a conversation about founders, delusion, America, religion, mysticism, and the strange tension between truth and action. We explore why some of the most effective builders may be the least introspective, why societies often run on useful fictions, how America encourages megalomania, what happens…
Polina Pompliano studies some of the most successful people in the world—and what she’s found challenges how we think about success, creativity, and human behavior. In this episode of Infinite Loops, we explore the mental models behind high performers, why we misunderstand people (including ourselves), and what it really takes…
Sometimes deviance is a bad thing — we call that crime. Other times, we call it creativity.
Everything invented before us feels normal. Everything invented after us feels dangerous. #innovations #inventions #tech
Everyone complains that movies are all remakes—but the data says it’s actually true. #movies #curiosity #infiniteloops
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we speak with Adam Mastroianni—experimental psychologist and sharp critic of modern culture and science. We ask, why does creativity feel like it’s fading? From endless remakes to cultural sameness, Adam argues that as society becomes more stable and risk-averse, we may be unintentionally reducing…
Distraction isn’t always the problem — sometimes it’s the signal. Arkady Kulik explains why the urge to distract yourself can reveal something deeper about your life.
Defeat doesn’t require effort — it only requires blaming someone else. Arkady Kulik explains why the moment we externalize responsibility is the moment everything starts falling apart.
Most people think the problem is having a big ego. But the real question is whether your ego controls you — or you control it.
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we sit down with venture capitalist and physicist Arkady Kulikov to explore the psychology behind founders, responsibility, and self-deception. Kulik discusses why the hardest problems in business are almost always human problems, how great founders deal with stress, and why the biggest lie entrepreneurs…
Modern education produces incredible test takers — but often fails to prepare students for real life. According to neuroscientist Angus Fletcher, the system trains students to believe there is always a single correct answer and that the system already has it. But real life doesn’t work that way.
Why do some of the best planners in U.S. Army Special Operations write their plans on chalkboards instead of using PowerPoint? According to neuroscientist Angus Fletcher, writing by hand activates the motor cortex — the part of the brain responsible for generating actions. And actions are what generate plans. The…
Most people think optimism means believing the future will work out. But neuroscience tells a different story. According to Professor Angus Fletcher, optimism actually comes from looking at the past — remembering all the times you faced uncertainty, made mistakes, and figured things out anyway.
Most people exploring AI are making the same mistake: they stop doing the human part. Professor Angus Fletcher explains why technology should amplify human imagination rather than replace it. Humans can move between probability and possibility, optimization and innovation — something machines alone cannot do. The real future isn’t AI…
In this episode of Infinite Loops, Jim O’Shaughnessy sits down with Angus Fletcher, Professor of Story Science at Ohio State University's Project Narrative and author of multiple books at the intersection of narrative theory, psychology, and brain science. Angus’ research challenges one of the most widely accepted ideas in modern…
We don’t share the same facts. We don’t share the same vocabulary. And we stop seeing each other’s humanity. #news #politics #humanity
During the height of the AIDS epidemic, fear and stigma isolated millions. Families were afraid to touch their own children. This wasn’t just a medical crisis — it was a human one. #Health #history #epidemic
One addict earned the nickname “Crazy” after grabbing a gun barrel and daring a dealer to shoot. It wasn’t a safe place to grow up. But somehow, these men and women became like older siblings to us. #truestory #History #shorts
They moved into one of the most drug-ridden neighborhoods in Madrid — on purpose. What started with one addict is now one of the largest recovery programs in the world. #infiniteloops #Health #humanity
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we sit down with author Jonathan Tepper to discuss his extraordinary childhood. In 1985, when Jonathan was seven, his missionary parents moved the family to San Blas — then the heroin capital of Europe — to start a drug rehabilitation center. Jonathan and his…
Paul Millerd: "We're competing against TikTok and Netflix. We're not competing against other books." ~ Jimmy and Paul discuss the positive sum nature of the book business, and why having more readers is beneficial to everyone Links, highlights and transcript: https://newsletter.osv.llc/p/the-creative-opportunities-of-a-boring
Paul Millerd: "I literally approached my first book as a Taoist." What happens when you let the universe take over? When you let the work speak for itself? ~ Paul describes his experience 'selling' his book — by not selling it at all. Links, highlights and transcript: https://newsletter.osv.llc/p/the-creative-opportunities-of-a-boring
"If you're going to parties every night, you're going to be exhausted..." ~ Jimmy Soni talks about the realities of a writer's life, and how it forces discipline and makes the writing itself so much more memorable. Links, highlights and transcript: https://newsletter.osv.llc/p/the-creative-opportunities-of-a-boring