How to Change the World: The History & Future of Innovation

Why are we here? Can the patterns of history and nature tell us anything new?In this episode of How to Change the World we trace a clear line. From ancient molecules learning to copy themselves, to religions and nations learning to spread, to algorithms that now compete for your attention. All on a subversive quest for immortality.This hidden history of innovation maps the evolution of the universes most successful survivors. Learn the game theory of how these immortal beings compete and impact society.This season has been about a species of hairy apes and how they became human. Today we combine science, history, and philosophy to build a set of mental models that explain the animal and human landscape of today and quite possibly tomorrow. The future of humanity depends on the decisions and innovations of today.This episode will turn a lot of your ideas about the world on their head:Have you ever considered that your genes don't exist to build you, you exist to build your genes?Do you have ideas or do ideas colonize your mind - eating away at your attention just like we eat food to survive?Is innovation more about what we spread, than what we invent?Become a MemberPatreon.com/ChangeTheWorldPodAccess to behind the scenes episodesAsk Sam anythingSupport the showABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change.Written, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris.🤓 Website: ChangeTheWorldPod.com🤗 Join the Patreon: Patreon.com/ChangeTheWorldPodHelp from:👩‍🎨 Design - Francisca Correia (available to hire)🧙‍♂️ Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)ResourcesThe Selfish Gene - Richard DawkinsThe Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene - Richard DawkinsCHAPTERS00:00 You are a robot01:47 Patterns of Nature03:04 ACT 1 - CONTROL03:39 Nico Tinbergen and the randy fish06:05 The Primordial Soup Starter Kit07:23 Algorithmic Governance08:43 ACT 2 - CO-OPERATION08:43 Cancer11:03 Fear of death and The Birth of religion12:42 ACT 3 - EXTERNAL CONTROL12:42 Extended Phenotypes14:55 Remote control18:01 ACT 4 - IDEA VATS18:01 Consciousness20:31 What is a meme?21:32 Genes vs Memes Speed23:21 Idea Propogation25:46 Carrier Class27:40 ACT 5 - GAME THEORY28:03 Hawk Dove Conjecture29:16 Gravity Wells & conformity30:39 ACT 6 - INNOVATION30:39 Complexity - Meme Stacks32:15 Innovation34:13 ACT 7 - IMMORTAL MINDS34:13 The Third Replicating Medium - Silicon36:53 Immortal Minds38:06 What does it mean to be conscious?39:45 Building the future41:28 Sign off Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the scenes access to extra content and surprising stories. Sam reveals all sorts of chaos from the weird pages of history, science and the even stranger insides of his mind...You can support the show and claim your place in history by joining the VIP members club.What's occurring? As every episode has a lot research that goes unused, we're making an extra sister episode for all every main history episode.We'll also give extra updates on what's going on and chances to vote on topics.Premium episodes include:Cool findings that didn't make the main episodeFact checking and deeper explanations of confusing stuffInsights into the process (or lack of) that make the showAMA questionsExcited, curious or just love clicking links?Join the Patreon membership - Patreon.com/ChangeTheWorldPod 🤗ABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process learning about frameworks and mental models to think deeeeply about what it means to be human and make stuff happen.Written, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris.🤓 Deets: ChangeTheWorldPod.comHelp from:👩‍🎨 Design - Francisca Correia (available to hire)🧙‍♂️ Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)CHAPTERS00:00 Biiiiiiiiig announcement01:15 Wait - it's just a Patreon...01:30 What do YOU get?02:40 What you DON'T get03:05 DVD's - Anyone remember those things..?04:00 Episodes will be interviews04:31 Join the club (please) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Stone flakes to the Bow and Arrow. How Stone Age weapons innovation shaped humanity and triggered global extinction events. Three million years ago, we were semi-hairless apes hiding from lions. Today we're the apex predator of planet Earth.This episode traces the entire weapons journey through Ancient History; sharp rocks, hand axes, spears, atlatls, and bows and arrows.Learn how we became humans we know today as we outsourced biology to technology, trading muscle for tools, brute force for precision. We also changed socially as values of teamwork, trust and intelligence forged the mental models that would build civilization and transformed humanity forever.Key takeaways:Technology and humans co-evolved - every tool invention was matched by physical, intellectual, and social updatesMarginal advantages compound into existential differences over time - other hominids were wiped out as only sapiens remainedWisdom takes time to catch up with out powerDiscover how ancient innovation patterns still shape the future of technology today.ABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time.Written, edited, recorded, produced by Sam Webster Harris.Website: ChangeTheWorldPod.comPatreon: Patreon.com/ChangeTheWorldPodHelp from:👩‍🎨 Design - Francisca Correia (available to hire)🧙‍♂️ Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)BOOKSThe Human Story - Robin DunbarHow humans evolved away from apes and developed tools.Stone Tools in Human Evolution - John J. SheaHow our stone tools evolved over 3 millions years.CHAPTERS00:00 Magical Powers02:10 Introduction to Stone Age Weapons04:28 1 - THE OLDOWAN FLAKE (~3 MYA)07:07 Evolution feedback loop08:18 Human obsession with time saving09:08 Status flexing10:01 2 - ACHEULEAN HAND AXE (~1.7MYA)10:55 Why did we care about beauty?12:08 Status games13:00 Brain growth and imagination14:40 3 - SWEAT AND PERSISTENCE HUNTING (~1.5MYA)17:59 4 - HAFTED SPEARS (~500,000BC)20:52 Steps to make a Hafted Spear22:24 Co evolution of shoulder throwing23:37 Teamwork and language co-evolution24:47 Leadership qualities26:06 5 - ATLATL / SPEAR LAUNCHER (~100,000-50,000BC)28:40 How an Atlatl works30:12 Accuracy over strength30:30 Timeline of Atlatl development31:15 6 - BOW AND ARROW (~64,000BC)33:06 How to make a bow and arrow34:33 The First great invention?35:50 Yes my sister shot the headmaster...36:40 Hunting with archery38:55 Evolution compared to Neanderthals41:30 HUMANITY - THE GREAT FILTER42:18 Australian Extinction event43:34 Europe - Neanderthal Extinction44:46 The Conquest of America - Pleistocene Blitzkrieg46:11 The Rise of Human Conflict47:58 MODERN LESSONS AND FUTURE WEAPONS49:07 Algorithms51:58 Supply Chains52:55 Cognitive Warfare54:13 Teamwork56:02 ROUNDUP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How complex language evolved during the cognitive revolution, changing humanity and the world.Discover how language transformed from simple grunts and hand signals to complex communication, enabling us to cooperate, create cultures, invent stuff and build civilizations. We explore the evolution of human imagination, the role of gossip, the development of societal morals, and the paradoxical nature of human violence and compassion.Additionally, we discuss the future of communication technology and the potential mind-blowing implications of brain-computer interfaces. Packed with insights from anthropology, psychology, and neuroscience, this episode provides a comprehensive understanding of our past and a glimpse into our possible future.ABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast documenting the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change and the future of technology.ChangeTheWorldPod.comWritten, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris.Help from:Designs - Francisca Correia (available to hire)Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)REFERENCESRichard Wrangham: Ape society lessons in human cooperation and violence - The Goodness Paradox | Demonic MalesNicholas Shea: How we make and use concepts - Concepts as Plug and Play Devices | Concepts at the InterfaceSteven Mithen: Evolution of the brain and language - Prehistory of the Mind | The Language PuzzleYuval Noah Harari: Cognitive revolution and myths - SapiensChristopher Boehm: How morals shape society - Moral OriginsTim Urban: Future of brain computer interfaces - Neuralink and the Brains Magical FutureCHAPTERS00:00 The magic of co-operation02:26 Welcome05:09 The Compression problem08:50 ACT 1 - COGNITIVE BASIS OF LANGUAGE08:50 Biological history of languages13:46 The Interconnected Brain17:24 Complex words and stuff21:11 Teamwork22:08 ACT 2 - GOSSIP, MYTHS & RELIGION22:08 Gossip and the glue of society25:46 Myths and shared delusions30:40 Early Religions - Animism, art and penises33:37 ACT 3 - SELF-DOMESTICATION33:43 Shame and Blushing38:30 The Execution Hypothesis43:21 Reactive vs Proactive Violence46:55 Mealtimes Sharing and small town thinking52:12 ACT 4 - EVOLUTIONS OF LANGUAGE52:12 Language shifts55:59 Shame and Society58:49 ACT 5 - FUTURE OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY01:01:33 Brain Computer Interfaces01:07:38 Predicting the future01:09:47 WRAP UP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do we really control fire? A curious fact about fire is that an individual human is completely dependent on it to survive. Furthermore, human society itself is built on fire and would collapse totally without itWhile you're patting yourself on the back for lighting that barbecue, fire has been pulling the strings for 2 million years, reshaping our anatomy, rewiring our brains, and dictating our social structures.The ultimate innovator, it transformed us from ape-like creatures with a neat standing trick into the cunning apex predator of the world. Along the way, it upended both ecosystems, gender roles, and how we use energy.Today, as we face the dawn of AI, we're seeing a similar pattern. Fire marked a huge leverage of energy that freed us up to think. AI uses energy to do our thinking for us, which frees us up for who knows what.Three takeaways:Transformative technologies change what we are, not just what we doDependency often disguises itself as control and masteryThe biggest innovations create irreversible psychological and social shiftsReady to understand how fire forged the human mind and what it might mean for the future of technology and humanity?ABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change.Learn more and contact us - ChangeTheWorldPod.comWritten, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris. (incl the music)Help from:Designs - Francisca Correia (available to hire)Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)ReferencesCatching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human - Richard WranghamA great overview of fire and human anthropology (apes etc...). I can highly recommend listening/watching some of interviews Richard Wrangham on other podcasts (Lex Friedman, Modern Wisdom, Jordan Peterson)The Pyrocene: How We Created An Age Of Fire - Stephen PyneSome good ideas on the different eras of human fire use: Cooking food -> Cooking land -> Cooking the planet.Fire: The Spark That Ignited Human Evolution - Frances BurtonThe insights on the importance of light helped.Chapters00:00 The Role of Fire in Civilization04:32 First Fire - 500 million years ago07:56 Humans and fire - ~2 million years ago10:08 Discovery of Fire12:21 Stadium of Grandmothers13:24 Fire's Influence on Human Biology15:55 Fire and Human Digestion18:15 Light and Campfires20:25 Mealtimes21:32 Human Birth Woes23:23 Why Only Humans Mastered Fire25:55 Fire, Social Structures & Gender Roles31:15 Adapting to the Information Age33:17 Fire's Role in Human Expansion - 70,000 years ago35:09 Terraforming with Fire38:27 The Industrial Revolution and Fossil Fuel42:00 The Race for Renewable Energy43:11 Today - Reflecting on our lessons44:28 AI: The Next Transformative Force48:04 Reflections on Fire and the Future49:06 Premium and Book resources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What lies at the core of human progress? This episode asks ancient history what created human innovation and what stopped it for so long?For 3.5 million years, humans and our ancestors were stuck in the Stone Age until 10,000 years ago we finally broke out of it and all manner of inventions was let loose.We study tribal life across the world from anthropological records and archeology of the stone age to reconstruct the lifestyle of our ancestors and the forces against them. From personal pressures to global currents, we trace the blocks on human development. The answers hold many insights for today when we think about innovation, technology and how to make progress..We cover:What were we busy with for 97% of our existence?Why were we so slow at innovating?How did we eventually overcome these fundamental forces?This episode is ground zero as we begin our expedition through history and the creation of our modern world.ABOUTThis show is an independent podcast on a mission to document the most important inventions in history in chronological order. We hope you join us for the ride to learn how the world changes and inspire you to build the future of technology.It is written, recorded, re-recorded, rewritten and re-re-recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.(He also makes the music.)Find out more or contact the show - ChangeTheWorldPod.comDesigns were crafted by Francisca Correia (Available to hire)Podcast strategy from Jeremy Enns (Available to hire)BOOKSThe World Until Yesterday: What we can learn from traditional societies - Jared DiamondAn overview of the world last uncontacted tribes and their ways of live compared to today.Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and language in the Amazonia jungle - Daniel L. EverettAstonishing experiences and discoveries by missionary Daniel Everett in the Amazon jungle in 1977CHAPTERS:00:00 The Hand Axe Conundrum01:53 Episode Goals03:45 #1 - SURVIVAL04:21 Energy requirements06:30 Time Scarcity08:59 Risk and Psychological Safety11:17 #2 - CULTURE12:41 Why people hate new ideas15:25 The Grandmother Hypothesis16:21 Widowhood statistics17:46 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing19:27 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis20:36 #3 - KNOWLEDGE22:42 Losing knowledge24:04 Maths24:52 Communication and Language25:53 Ice Age Picasso Paradox27:06 #4 - MOBILITY CONSTRAINTS28:05 Nomadism30:22 Racism, war, and travel complications32:07 Trade Issues34:02 Feasting examples35:51 #5 - POPULATION DENSITY37:27 Evolution of Multicellular Life39:54 Dunbars Number41:25 Mortality Rates42:46 Systems Feedback effects44:31 LESSONS - How we beat the locks48:00 Conclusion - Innovation isn't about Geniuses50:50 What can you do Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the best way to tackle the question "How to change the world"? Learn about our plan to dissect the history innovation and peer into the future of technology.This show will dissect how the world really works and the impact of the biggest inventions that changed both the world and humanity for good. We'll also tell the stories of the greatest innovators from history and understand their mental models, mindsets and habits to help you build a guide for world change and innovation.In this promo, Host Sam Webster Harris explains in 2 minutes what we'll be doing on this show for the next 10 years or more.ABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the most important inventions in history in chronological order. We hope you join us for the ride to learn how the world changes and maybe pick up some idea on building the future of technology.It is written, recorded, re-recorded, rewritten and re-re-recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.(He also makes the music.)Find out more or contact the show - ChangeTheWorldPod.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.