Talks at Google
The Talks at Google podcast - where great minds meet. Talks at Google brings the world’s most influential thinkers, creators, makers, and doers all to one place. Every episode is taken from a video that can be seen at YouTube.com/TalksAtGoogle. DISCLAIMER: The views or opinions expressed by the guest speakers are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Google, Inc. The comments on this channel belong only to the person who posted them. We do, however, reserve the right to remove off-topic or inappropriate comments. Also, the materials presented in the episodes are licensed to Google by the speaker(s). Google does not endorse any products or technology presented by the guest speakers.
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Ep382 - Rainn Wilson | Soul Boom
09/19/2023
Ep382 - Rainn Wilson | Soul Boom
Comedic actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson visits Google to discuss his book “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution.” The book is a deep-dive into the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for an increasingly challenging world. The trauma that our species has experienced in recent years is not going away anytime soon. Existing political and economic systems are not enough to bring the change that the world needs. In this book, Rainn Wilson explores the possibility and hope for a spiritual revolution, a “Soul Boom,” to find a healing transformation on both a personal and global level. For Wilson, this is a serious and essential pursuit, but he brings great humor and his own unique perspective to the conversation. He feels that culturally, we’ve discounted spirituality, and we need the wisdom that the great spiritual traditions can provide. Wilson’s approach to spirituality—the non-physical, eternal aspects of ourselves—is relatable and applies to people of all beliefs, even the most skeptical among us. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep381 - Dr. Robert Califf | Observations on Technology Enabled Healthcare
09/15/2023
Ep381 - Dr. Robert Califf | Observations on Technology Enabled Healthcare
Dr. Robert Califf visits Google to share his views on the nascent field of technology-enabled healthcare. One of the most prominent and influential physician-scientists in the US, Robert is the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, where he is responsible for protecting public health by assuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs and medical devices. Described as “the most qualified commissioner in the FDA's History”, Dr. Califf is a cardiologist and professor of medicine at Duke University and Stanford University, with more than 1,200 publications in peer-reviewed literature. Originally published in July of 2018 Visit http://g.co/TalksAtGoogle/TechnoHealth to watch the video.
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Ep380 - Idris Elba | Celebrating Africa Day
09/12/2023
Ep380 - Idris Elba | Celebrating Africa Day
Actor, producer and director Idris Elba visits Google to discuss the creative influence that Africa and its diaspora has across the tech, entertainment and business worlds. The only child of African immigrants to the UK, Idris Elba is one of a handful of British actors who can claim to be a Hollywood leading man. In 2002, he rose to fame playing the role of Stringer Bell in HBO’s “The Wire”, which is still considered to be one of the finest TV dramas ever made. He went on to big-screen success and cultural ubiquity, as an actor, director, producer, musician, fashion designer, philanthropist, dare-devil, podcaster, and heart-throb. Visit http://g.co/TalksAtGoogle/IdrisElba to watch the video.
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Ep379 - Rob Peladeau | Behaviorist Dog Trainer
09/08/2023
Ep379 - Rob Peladeau | Behaviorist Dog Trainer
Behaviorist dog trainer Rob Peladeau visits Google to discuss effective strategies for training your dog. Rob has been training dogs for almost twenty years, specializing in behavior modification and rehabilitation of aggressive and reactive dogs, as well as problem solving for unwanted behaviors. Rob and his company NextGen K9 specialize in helping dogs that struggle to cope with the urban environment we live in. Many unwanted traits become apparent when dogs are not given the right stimulus that they need to cope with city living. The close proximity of the space we share in urban areas makes a reactive or aggressive dog stand out. It can also turn dangerous in some cases, injuring other dogs, cats or human adults or children. Join us for a Talk about how a dog learns, the concepts of Marker Training, and behavior modification through counter conditioning. Originally published in December of 2014. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep378 - Lewis Dartnell | Being Human: How our Biology Shaped World History
09/05/2023
Ep378 - Lewis Dartnell | Being Human: How our Biology Shaped World History
Author and research scientist Lewis Dartnell visits Google to discuss his book “Being Human: How our Biology Shaped World History.” The book explores how our biology has shaped our relationships, our societies, our economies and our wars, and how it continues to challenge and define our progress. Powerful yet dextrous, instinctive yet thoughtful, humans are expert communicators and innovators. Our exceptional abilities have created the civilization we know today. But we're also deeply flawed. Our bodies break, choke and fail, whether we're kings or peasants. Diseases thwart our boldest plans. Our psychological biases have been at the root of terrible decisions in both war and peacetime. This extraordinary contradiction is the essence of what it means to be human - the sum total of our frailties and our faculties. And history has played out in the balance between them. Now, for the first time, Lewis Dartnell tells our story through the lens of this unique, capricious and fragile nature. He explores how our biology has shaped our relationships, our societies, our economies and our wars, and how it continues to challenge and define our progress. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep377 - Barry Michels | The Tools: Transform Your Problems into Courage
09/01/2023
Ep377 - Barry Michels | The Tools: Transform Your Problems into Courage
Psychotherapist Barry Michels visits Google to discuss his book “The Tools,” which he co-authored with psychiatrist Phil Stutz. The book presents a uniquely effective set of four tools that bring about dynamic change in the present and impart a greater understanding of the depth and complexity of the human condition. “The Tools” addresses the most common complaint patients have about psychotherapy: the interminable wait for change to begin. Barry Michels, an LA-based therapist, was frustrated by his inability to bring his patients faster relief from the issues that plagued them. He found a mentor in Phil Stutz, a psychiatrist who years before devised a methodology that arose from a similar disenchantment. The traditional therapeutic model sets its sights on the past, but Stutz and Michels employ exercises that access the power of the unconscious and effectively meet the most persistent problems people face--and the results are electrifying. Stutz and Michels are much sought-after--a recent profile in The New Yorker touted them as an "open secret" in Hollywood--and treat a high-powered and creative clientele. This book transcends the typical self-help genre because of its paradigm-changing material, the credibility of its authors, and the instant appeal and empowerment of its message. With “The Tools,” Stutz and Michels allow you to realize the full range of your potential. Their goal is nothing less than for your life to become exceptional—exceptional in its resiliency, in its experience of real happiness, and in its understanding of the human spirit. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep376 - George Mumford | Embrace Your Greatness and Discover Success
08/29/2023
Ep376 - George Mumford | Embrace Your Greatness and Discover Success
Psychologist, author and mindfulness performance expert George Mumford visits Google to discuss his book “Unlocked: Embrace Your Greatness, Find the Flow, Discover Success”. We all strive to find flow, when our skills, expertise, and mindset are aligned and we can perform at the highest level. George Mumford calls this being “unlocked”—a state anyone can achieve at any time. As a psychologist trained in the field of mindfulness and personal development expert, Mumford has decades of experience helping a wide range of individuals contend with the challenges and opportunities inherent in life, including CEOs and NBA superstars as well as those experiencing homelessness and fighting addiction. Now, in this life-changing guide, he shares his wisdom with all of us, no matter our background or socioeconomic status, guiding us on a path to discovering and harnessing our own individual potential. Filled with tangible insights, unexpected ancient wisdom, and inspiring stories from his clients and his own life—from his darkest moments of addiction and inner turmoil to training some of the best athletes in the world—”Unlocked” is the culmination of Mumford’s life’s work. Visit http://g.co/TalksAtGoogle/Unlocked to watch the video.
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Ep375 - Sam Gosling | Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You
08/25/2023
Ep375 - Sam Gosling | Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You
Author Sam Gosling visits Google to discuss his book "Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You". Does what's on your desk reveal what's on your mind? Do those pictures on your walls tell true tales about you? And is your favorite outfit about to give you away? For the last ten years, psychologist Sam Gosling has been studying how people project (and protect) their inner selves. By exploring our private worlds, such as desks, bedrooms, even our clothes and our cars, he shows not only how we showcase our personalities in unexpected-and unplanned-ways, but also how we create personality in the first place, communicate it to others, and interpret the world around us. Gosling, one of the field's most innovative researchers, dispatches teams of scientific snoops to poke around dorm rooms and offices, to see what can be learned about people simply from looking at their stuff. Sam Gosling is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. He has spent the last decade conducting research on how personality is expressed and perceived in everyday contexts. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep374 - Sarafina El-Badry Nance | A Memoir of Astrophysics
08/22/2023
Ep374 - Sarafina El-Badry Nance | A Memoir of Astrophysics
Astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance visits Google to discuss her book “Starstruck: A Memoir of Astrophysics and Finding Light in the Dark.” The book is an inspirational and science-packed memoir that details how she carved out a place in the field of astrophysics, grounding herself in her passion and a lifelong love of the stars. As a child, Sarafina spent nearly every evening with her father gazing up at the flickering stars and pondering what secrets the night sky held. The daughter of an American father and Egyptian mother who both pushed her toward academic excellence, Sarafina dreamed of becoming an astronomer and untangling the mysteries of the stars overhead. But it wasn’t long before she was told, both explicitly and implicitly, that girls just weren’t cut out for math and science. In “Starstruck”, Sarafina invites us to consider the cosmos through fascinating science lessons to open each chapter. But she also traces more earthbound obstacles, such as misogyny and racism, abuse and intergenerational trauma, anxiety and self-doubt, and cancer diagnoses and recovery. As her career and passion for space brought her from UT Austin to UC Berkeley, and even to a Mars astronaut simulation in Hawai’i, Sarafina learned how to survive—and ultimately thrive—in a space that was seldom welcoming to women. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep373 - Russell Brand & Bob Roth | Transcendental Meditation's Impact
08/18/2023
Ep373 - Russell Brand & Bob Roth | Transcendental Meditation's Impact
Russell Brand and Bob Roth visit Google to discuss transcendental meditation, commonly referred to as TM, and how it has greatly improved their lives. Comedian, actor, and best-selling author Russell Brand has been practicing Transcendental Meditation for nearly 10 years. He says the technique has been instrumental in fostering creativity, appreciating fatherhood, and maintaining his recovery from addiction. Bob Roth, a TM teacher, taught Russell to meditate and the two remain close friends. Bob and Russell will be discussing the benefits of practicing Transcendental Meditation, how TM has personally helped Russell, and how TM can help people suffering from stress and trauma. Originally published in May of 2017. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep372 - Jason Derulo | Sing Your Name Out Loud: 15 Rules for Living Your Dream
08/15/2023
Ep372 - Jason Derulo | Sing Your Name Out Loud: 15 Rules for Living Your Dream
Songwriter and recording artist Jason Derulo visits Google to discuss his book “Sing Your Name Out Loud: 15 Rules for Living Your Dream.” The book tells the remarkable story of Jason’s come up, told through the fifteen rules he lives by—like working hardest at what comes easiest, taking calculated risks, sticking to a routine, and respecting the numbers—which he credits with turning his many far-fetched goals over the years into reality. In 2009, an 18-year-old son of Haitian immigrants burst onto Billboard music charts with the instant #1 song, “Whatcha Say,” which opened with what would prove to be one of the catchiest lines in pop music history – the artist’s own name, sung out loud. Defying every possible odd, Jason Derulo cemented himself again and again with hit after hit, as one of the hardest working singers, dancers, and performers in the world and a risk-taking force of nature. After becoming one of the most followed creators on TikTok, he realized that his personal rules for self-mastery and success are applicable anywhere, for anyone, under any circumstance. Derulo reflects on the defining moments of his career thus far, most notably the wins and losses that strengthened his signature style of creative pursuit and offers his fifteen rules for turning goals into reality – where obstacles are opportunities, closed doors are meant to be opened, failure is inevitable, and good lighting is non-negotiable. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep371 - Tim Urban | Wait but Why? The Superintelligence Road
08/11/2023
Ep371 - Tim Urban | Wait but Why? The Superintelligence Road
Tim Urban has become one of the Internet’s most popular writers. With wry stick-figure illustrations and occasionally epic prose on everything from procrastination to artificial intelligence, Urban's blog, “Wait But Why”, has garnered millions of unique page views, thousands of patrons and famous fans like Elon Musk. Urban has previously written long form posts on “The Road to Superintelligence”, and his recent TED talk has more than 6 million views. Tim speaks about his blog “Wait but Why” and his writing on the impact of artificial intelligence. This talk was presented for Google's Singularity Network and hosted by John Bracaglia. Originally published in August of 2016. Visit http://g.co/TalksAtGoogle/Superintelligence to watch the video.
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Ep370 - The Source of Nature's Scents | Dominique Roques
08/08/2023
Ep370 - The Source of Nature's Scents | Dominique Roques
Dominique Roques visits Google to discuss his book “In Search of Perfumes: A Lifetime Journey to the Source of Nature's Scents.” The book contains a mix of history, travelog, and memoir from one of the perfume industry’s leading scouts of natural ingredients, as he tells the story of the precious plants needed to make our favorite fragrances. Do you know how many flowers it takes to produce a kilo of rose oil? One million roses, each handpicked. When it comes to nature, Dominique Roques is a unique authority. He has spent the last thirty years working closely with local communities across the globe to establish a sustainable supply of natural ingredients crucial to perfume making. From resin cultivated by traditional methods in El Salvador to rose oil distilleries in India as old as the Taj Mahal, his network reveals an elusive trade built on the fault lines of tradition and modernity. Roques tells the story of seventeen of the industry’s most precious ingredients–where they come from, their cultural and historic significance, and why we love them—from Indonesian patchouli to the "Damask rose,” interweaving his own recollections and reflections on his life and work. Entertaining and eye-opening, and decorated with beautiful black-and-white illustrations, “In Search of Perfumes” is an irresistible exploration of the smells that fuel our nostalgia and suffuse our fantasies. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep369 - Jia Jiang | Why Rejection is Awesome
08/04/2023
Ep369 - Jia Jiang | Why Rejection is Awesome
Jia Jiang visits Google to discuss his book “Rejection Proof.” Jia came to the United States with the dream of being the next Bill Gates. But despite early success in the corporate world, his first attempt to pursue his entrepreneurial dream ended in rejection. Jia was crushed, and spiraled into a period of deep self doubt. But he realized that his fear of rejection was a bigger obstacle than any single rejection would ever be, and he needed to find a way to cope with being told no without letting it destroy him. Thus was born his "100 days of rejection" experiment, during which he willfully sought rejection on a daily basis--from requesting a lesson in sales from a car salesman (no) to asking a flight attendant if he could make an announcement on the loudspeaker (yes) to his famous request to get Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the shape of Olympic rings (yes, with a viral video to prove it). Jia learned that even the most preposterous wish may be granted if you ask in the right way, and shares the secret of successful asking, how to pick targets, and how to tell when an initial no can be converted into something positive. But more importantly, he learned techniques for steeling himself against rejection and ways to develop his own confidence--a plan that can't be derailed by a single setback. Filled with great stories and valuable insight, “Rejection Proof” is a fun and thoughtful examination of how to overcome fear and dare to live more boldly. Originally published in November of 2013. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep368 - Roma Agrawal | Nuts and Bolts: Small Inventions That Changed the World
08/01/2023
Ep368 - Roma Agrawal | Nuts and Bolts: Small Inventions That Changed the World
Award-winning structural engineer Roma Agrawal visits Google to discuss her book “Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World in a Big Way.” The book takes readers on a deep dive into the seven most basic building blocks of engineering that have shaped the modern world. From the physics behind both Roman nails and modern skyscrapers, to rudimentary springs that inspired lithium batteries, Agrawal shows us how even the most sophisticated items are built on the foundations of these ancient and fundamental breakthroughs in engineering. She deconstructs our most complex feats of engineering into seven fundamental inventions: the nail, spring, wheel, lens, magnet, string and pump. Each of these objects is itself a wonder of design, the result of many iterations and refinements. Together, they have enabled humanity to see the invisible, build the spectacular, communicate across vast distances, and even escape our planet. She invites us to marvel at these small but perfectly formed inventions, sharing the stories of the remarkable, and often unknown, scientists and engineers who made them possible. The nuts and bolts that make up our world may be tiny, and are often hidden, but they've changed our lives in dramatic ways. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep367 - Vanessa Van Edwards | Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People
07/28/2023
Ep367 - Vanessa Van Edwards | Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People
Vanessa Van Edwards visits Google to discuss her book “Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People.” Do you feel awkward at networking events? Do you wonder what your date really thinks of you? Do you wish you could just decode people? To do this and more, you need to learn the science of people. As a human behavior hacker, Vanessa Van Edwards created a research lab to study the hidden forces that drive us. In her book “Captivate”, she shares shortcuts, systems, and secrets for taking charge of your interactions at work, at home, and in any social situation. These aren’t the people skills you learned in school. This is the first comprehensive, science-backed, real life manual on how to build connections. Just like knowing the formulas to use in a chemistry lab, or the right programming language to build an app, “Captivate” provides simple ways to solve people problems. You’ll learn how to work a room, how to read faces, and how to talk to just about anyone. When you understand the laws of human behavior, your influence, impact, and income will increase significantly. What’s more, you will improve your interpersonal intelligence, make killer first impressions, and build rapport quickly and authentically in any situation—negotiations, interviews, parties, and pitches. You’ll never interact the same way again. Originally published in June of 2017. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep366 - Tim Spector | The New Science of Eating Well
07/25/2023
Ep366 - Tim Spector | The New Science of Eating Well
Tim Spector visits Google to discuss his book “Food for Life: The New Science of Eating Well”, an easy-to-follow guide on how to eat—for our health and the health of the planet. Tim’s book reveals a new approach to nutrition, encouraging us to forget misleading calorie counts and nutritional breakdowns. In “Food for Life”, he draws on over a decade of cutting-edge scientific research, along with his own personal insights, to deliver a new and comprehensive approach to what we should all know about food today. Investigating everything from environmental impact and food fraud to allergies and deceptive labeling, Spector also shows us the many wondrous and surprising properties of everyday foods, which scientists are only just beginning to understand. Tim Spector is a professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London. He is a multi-award-winning expert in personalized medicine and the gut microbiome, and the author of five books, including the bestsellers “Spoon-Fed” and “The Diet Myth”. He appears regularly on TV, radio and podcasts around the world, and is one of the top 100 most cited scientists in the world. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep365 - Eric Ries | The Lean Startup
07/21/2023
Ep365 - Eric Ries | The Lean Startup
Eric Ries visits Google to discuss his book ""The Lean Startup"", a guide to help both new and established entrepreneurs and managers do one important thing: make better, faster business decisions. Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. “The Lean Startup” is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched. Eric Ries defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This is just as true for one person in a garage or a group of seasoned professionals in a Fortune 500 boardroom. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business. The Lean Startup approach fosters companies that are both more capital efficient and that leverage human creativity more effectively. Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs a way to test their vision continuously, and to adapt and adjust before it’s too late. Eric Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in an age when companies need to innovate more than ever. Originally published in April of 2011. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep364 - Shelmina Babai Abji | 8 Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work
07/18/2023
Ep364 - Shelmina Babai Abji | 8 Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work
Author Shelmina Babai Abji visits Google to discuss her book “Show Your Worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work”. The book provides readers with a toolbox designed to harness the power of intention and strategy to accelerate success—tailor-made for women who are underrepresented in their fields. If you're a woman, especially a woman of color, you know this already: You face unique challenges and obstacles as you work to scale the corporate ladder. From not seeing other faces in the room that look like you to dealing with the stereotypes and often unconscious biases in the workplace, you may know what to do to succeed, but not how to get it done in this environment. In pages that are both inspirational and practical, Shelmina Babai Abji speaks directly to professional women about how the power of being intentional and strategic can help transform the headwinds you face into much-needed tailwinds. Her book takes you on a deep dive into the 8 Intentional Strategies that will help you achieve success, including - success, attention, work/life balance, value creation, growth, relationships, leadership branding, and promotions. Through Abji's personal experiences and the inspiring stories of other successful women who have applied these strategies in their own lives, you will come to deeply understand just how important your voice is and know that your unique value makes you a force in any room. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep363 - Alane Freund | Understanding The Highly Sensitive Person
07/14/2023
Ep363 - Alane Freund | Understanding The Highly Sensitive Person
Do you have a keen imagination, rich inner life, and vivid dreams? Is time alone each day as essential as air? Do others call you too shy or overly sensitive? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be a highly sensitive person, or HSP. In this Talk, marriage & family therapist Alane Freund, an expert consultant working with the trait of high sensitivity, discusses how to use your strengths as an HSP, coping mechanisms for dealing with overstimulation, ways to improve your relationships, and the latest developments in research about highly sensitive people (HSPs). For more information about Alane Freund's work and highly sensitive people, visit areyouhighlysensitive.com and hsperson.com. Originally published in November of 2019, here is Alane Freund - Understanding the Highly Sensitive Person. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep362 - Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton & Matt Johnson | Blackberry
07/11/2023
Ep362 - Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton & Matt Johnson | Blackberry
Actors Jay Baruchel & Glenn Howerton join actor and filmmaker Matt Johnson to discuss their film “Blackberry,” the story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone. The film tells the story of two mismatched entrepreneurs – egghead innovator Mike Lazaridis and cut-throat businessman Jim Balsillie – who join forces in an endeavor that was to become a worldwide hit in little more than a decade. The device that one invented and the other sold was the BlackBerry, an addictive mobile phone that changed the way the world worked, played and communicated. But just as BlackBerry was rising to new peaks, it also started losing its way through the fog of the Smartphone wars, management indecision and outside distractions, eventually leading to the breakdown of one of the most successful ventures in the history of the tech and business worlds. Jay Baruchel recently starred in the FOX series The Moodys, the critically acclaimed FXX comedy series Man Seeking Woman, and The Last Girlfriend On Earth. Glenn Howerton is best known for playing Dennis Reynolds on FX’s wildly popular and long-running TV show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In addition to his starring role, Howerton serves as co-creator and writer on the series. Matt Johnson is an actor and filmmaker, and has directed movies such as The Dirties, Operation Avalanche, and BlackBerry. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep361 - Chris Ulmer | Special Books by Special Kids
07/07/2023
Ep361 - Chris Ulmer | Special Books by Special Kids
Disability-rights advocate and popular YouTuber Chris Ulmer visits Google to discuss his nonprofit “Special Books by Special Kids.” “Special Books by Special Kids” seeks to expand society's definition of normal by spreading empathy, understanding, and acceptance for neurodiverse and disabled individuals. What started as an idea for a book series became a multi-media movement when special education teacher Chris Ulmer began sharing stories from his classroom on social media. Ulmer began his online presence through Facebook in 2016, and a year later reached 1.2 million followers. In November of 2018, the Special Books by Special Kids YouTube channel reached 1 million subscribers. He has crisscrossed the country interviewing disabled children to give them an opportunity to be seen and accepted. In this Talk, Chris shares how it all started, a few of the touching stories behind his many interactions, and what each of us can do to celebrate the diverse abilities of all those around us. Originally published in December of 2016. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep360 - Michio Kaku | Quantum Supremacy
07/04/2023
Ep360 - Michio Kaku | Quantum Supremacy
Physicist and author Michio Kaku visits Google to discuss his book “Quantum Supremacy: How the Quantum Computer Revolution Will Change Everything.” The book takes us on an exhilarating tour of humanity’s next great technological achievement—quantum computing. The runaway success of the microchip processor may be reaching its end. Running up against the physical constraints of smaller and smaller sizes, traditional silicon chips are not likely to prove useful in solving humanity’s greatest challenges, from climate change to global starvation and incurable diseases. But the quantum computer, which harnesses the power and complexity of the atomic realm, already promises to be every bit as revolutionary as the transistor and microchip once were. Its unprecedented gains in computing power herald advancements that could change every aspect of our daily lives. Automotive companies, medical researchers, and consulting firms are betting on quantum computing, hoping to exploit its power to design more efficient vehicles, create life-saving new drugs, and streamline industries to revolutionize the economy. But this is only the beginning. Quantum computers could allow us to finally create nuclear fusion reactors that create clean, renewable energy without radioactive waste or threats of meltdown. They could help us crack the biological processes that generate natural, cheap fertilizer and enable us to feed the world’s growing populations. And they could unravel the fiendishly difficult protein folding that lies at the heart of previously incurable diseases like Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s, helping us to live longer, healthier lives. Told with Michio Kaku’s signature clarity and enthusiasm, “Quantum Supremacy” is the story of this exciting frontier and the race to claim humanity’s future. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep359 - Sara Zaske | Raising Self-Reliant Children
06/30/2023
Ep359 - Sara Zaske | Raising Self-Reliant Children
Sara Zaske visits Google to discuss her book “Achtung Baby: An American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children.” When Sara Zaske moved from Oregon to Berlin with her husband and toddler, she knew the transition would be challenging, especially when she became pregnant with her second child. She was surprised to discover that German parents give their children a great deal of freedom—much more than Americans. In Berlin, kids walk to school by themselves, ride the subway alone, cut food with sharp knives, and even play with fire. German parents did not share her fears, and their children were thriving. Was she doing the opposite of what she intended, which was to raise capable children? Why was parenting culture so different in the States? Through her own family’s often funny experiences, as well as interviews with other parents, teachers, and experts, Zaske shares the many unexpected parenting lessons she learned from living in Germany. “Achtung Baby” reveals that today's Germans know something that American parents don't about raising kids with “selbstandigkeit”, or self-reliance, and provides practical examples American parents can use to give their own children the freedom they need to grow into responsible, independent adults. Originally published in February of 2018. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep358 - Mariana Alessandri | Seeing Ourselves through Dark Moods
06/27/2023
Ep358 - Mariana Alessandri | Seeing Ourselves through Dark Moods
Associate professor of philosophy Mariana Alessandri visits Google to discuss her book “Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves through Dark Moods,” a philosopher’s personal meditation on how painful emotions can reveal truths about what it means to be truly human. Under the light of ancient Western philosophies, our darker moods like grief, anguish, and depression can seem irrational. When viewed through the lens of modern psychology, they can even look like mental disorders. The self-help industry, determined to sell us the promise of a brighter future, can sometimes leave us feeling ashamed that we are not more grateful, happy, or optimistic. “Night Vision” invites us to consider a different approach to life, one in which we stop feeling bad about feeling bad. In this book, Existentialist philosopher Mariana Alessandri draws on the stories of a diverse group of nineteenth- and twentieth-century philosophers and writers to help us see that our suffering is a sign not that we are broken, but that we are tender, perceptive, and intelligent. Thinkers such as Audre Lorde, María Lugones, C. S. Lewis, and Søren Kierkegaard sat in their anger, sadness, and anxiety until their eyes adjusted to the dark. Alessandri explains how readers can cultivate “night vision” and discover new sides to their painful moods, such as wit and humor, closeness and warmth, and connection and clarity. “Night Vision” shows us that when we learn to embrace the dark, we begin to see these moods—and ourselves—as honorable, dignified, and unmistakably human. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep357 - Yanis Varoufakis | And the Weak Suffer What They Must?
06/23/2023
Ep357 - Yanis Varoufakis | And the Weak Suffer What They Must?
Yanis Varoufakis visits Google to discuss his book “And the Weak Suffer What They Must?”, a critique of the European Union’s austerity policies during the Greek financial crisis of the early 2010’s. In January 2015, Yanis Varoufakis, an economics professor teaching in Austin, Texas, was elected to the Greek parliament with more votes than any other member of parliament. He served as Greece’s Minister of Finance for five months in 2015. In his book, Varoufakis delivers a fresh look at the history of Europe’s debt crisis and America’s central role in it. He presents his case against austerity, proposing concrete policies for Europe that he believes are necessary to address excessive sovereign debt and avert contagion to America, China, and the rest of the world. With passionate, informative, and at times humorous prose, he warns that the implosion of an admittedly imperfect European monetary union should, and can, be avoided at all cost. Varoufakis is the Finance Minister of Greece. A Professor of Economic Theory at the University of Athens and a visiting professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, he is the author of "The Global Minotaur: America", "The True Causes of the Financial Crisis" and "The Future of the World", among others. Originally published in April of 2016. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep356 - Monica Parker | The Power of Wonder
06/20/2023
Ep356 - Monica Parker | The Power of Wonder
Author Monica Parker visits Google to discuss her book “The Power of Wonder: The Extraordinary Emotion That Will Change the Way You Live, Learn, and Lead.” The book takes readers on a multidisciplinary journey through psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, literature, and business to show us how to become more open to experiencing wonder and to reconnect with a reverence for the world and all the magic in it. A world-renowned speaker, writer, and authority on the future of work, Monica Parker has spent decades helping people discover how to lead and live wonderfully. The founder of global human analytics and change consultancy HATCH, whose clients include blue-chip companies such as LinkedIn, Google, Prudential, and LEGO, Parker challenges corporate systems to advocate for more meaningful work lives. In addition to her extensive advocacy work, she has been an opera singer, a museum exhibition designer, and a homicide investigator defending death-row inmates. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep355 - Judith Orloff, MD | The Empath's Survival Guide
06/16/2023
Ep355 - Judith Orloff, MD | The Empath's Survival Guide
Dr. Judith Orloff visits Google to discuss her book, “The Empath’s Survival Guide.” The book teaches readers how sensitive people can thrive in an insensitive world. What is the difference between having empathy and being an empath? “Having empathy means our heart goes out to another person in joy or pain,” says Dr. Judith Orloff, “but for empaths it goes much farther. We actually feel others’ emotions, energy, and physical symptoms in our own bodies, without the usual defenses that most people have.” With The Empath’s Survival Guide, Dr. Orloff offers an invaluable resource to help sensitive people develop healthy coping mechanisms in our high-stimulus world—while fully embracing the empath’s gifts of intuition, creativity, and spiritual connection. In this practical and empowering book for empaths and their loved ones, Dr. Orloff begins with self-assessment exercises to help you understand your empathic nature, then offers potent strategies for protecting yourself from feeling overwhelmed and replenishing your vital energy. For any sensitive person who’s been told to “grow a thick skin,” here is your lifelong guide for staying fully open while building resilience, exploring your gifts of deep perception, raising empathic children, and feeling welcomed and valued by a world that desperately needs what you have to offer. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep354 - Hasan Kubba & Ash Ali | The Unfair Advantage
06/13/2023
Ep354 - Hasan Kubba & Ash Ali | The Unfair Advantage
Award-winning authors Hasan Kubba and Ash Ali visit Google to discuss their book “The Unfair Advantage: How You Already Have What It Takes to Succeed”. This groundbreaking book shows how to identify your own Unfair Advantages and apply them to any project, offering a unique framework for assessing your external circumstances in addition to your internal strengths. What is the difference between a startup that makes it, and one that crashes and burns? Behind every story of success is an unfair advantage. But an Unfair Advantage is not just about your parents' wealth or who you know: anyone can have one. An Unfair Advantage is the element that gives you an edge over your competition. This book shows how to identify your own Unfair Advantages and apply them to any project. Hard work and grit aren't enough, so Hasan and Ash explore the importance of money, intelligence, location, education, expertise, status, and luck in the journey to success. From starting your company, to gaining traction, raising funds, and growth hacking, The Unfair Advantage helps you look at yourself and find the ingredients you didn't realize you already had, to succeed in the cut-throat world of business. Visit to watch the video.
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Ep353 - Professor David Chalmers | The Meta-Problem of Consciousness
06/09/2023
Ep353 - Professor David Chalmers | The Meta-Problem of Consciousness
What is consciousness? How do physical processes in the brain give rise to the self-aware mind and to feelings as profoundly varied as love or hate, aesthetic pleasure or spiritual yearning? These questions today are some of the most hotly debated issues among scientists and philosophers. Now, in his book “The Conscious Mind”, philosopher David Chalmers offers an analysis of this heated debate as he unveils a major new theory of consciousness, one that rejects the prevailing reductionist trend of science, while offering provocative insights into the relationship between mind and brain. Taking us on a tour through the philosophical ramifications of consciousness, Chalmers reveals how contemporary cognitive science and neurobiology have failed to explain how and why mental events emerge from physiological occurrences in the brain. He proposes instead that conscious experience must be understood in an entirely new light--as an irreducible entity that exists at a fundamental level and cannot be understood as the sum of its parts. And after suggesting some intriguing possibilities about the structure and laws of conscious experience, he details how his unique reinterpretation of the mind could be the focus of a new science. Originally published in April of 2019. Visit to watch the video.
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