Conversations with Tom | Nicholas Christakis on Why You Should Feel Optimistic About The Future of the World

In this conversation with host Tom Bilyeu, the best-selling author of “Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society” discusses everything from grieving elephants to colonies on Mars and future sex robots. He explains why good human impulses are eventually more powerful than antagonism and division, describes experiments where interaction with artificial intelligence improves peoples’ behavior towards each other, and expresses hopeful optimism about our ability to constantly expand the moral sphere and upgrade the social contract. This episode is brought to you by: PATLive: Get 15% off their regularly listed rates. Call 866-708-2507 and mention this podcast. For more information, visit PATLive.com  ShipStation: FREE for 60 days when you use offer code IMPACT at ShipStation.com ISSUU: Go to ISSUU.info/impacttheory to sign up for your FREE account. SHOW NOTES:  Why are we cultural animals in the first place? What is the capacity for culture? [1:00] Nicholas advocates that there is more that unites humanity than there is that divides us [4:43] People don’t really think that their life experience is dictated by their group membership [7:12] When travelling, at first people seem so different, but soon it’s clear how similar we are [9:38] Nicholas discusses the ability of elephants to feel grief, and why faces are different [13:35] Elephants will teach each other how to raid human crops [18:11] Nicholas explains the power of grief, and the way it is so different from other emotions [20:26] Nicholas talks about the rituals surrounding grief, and how they reconnect people [24:20] Nicholas uses whaling to describe how the human moral sphere has expanded [28:28] Nicholas shares stories of being a hospice doctor [30:33] Nicholas talks about how important active listening is, especially as a hospice doctor [37:49] Nicholas explains how to talk to someone who is dying [41:55] Nicholas then explains the basic principles on how to break bad news [46:21] Nicholas discusses colonizing Mars and why he thinks it is inevitable [49:43] Nicholas and Tom discuss Shackleton and shipwrecks [53:11] How does artificial intelligence change the way humans interact with each other? [56:43] Nicholas talks about sex robots, and how we may need a new social contract [1:01:15] How will we program AI, and how will it affect human society? [1:04:27] Nicholas describes an experiment where robots encouraged human sociality [1:13:47]  FOLLOW NICHOLAS:  WEBSITE: https://bit.ly/3eepkx7  FACEBOOK: https://bit.ly/2Nber36  TWITTER: https://bit.ly/3d9eWFt  Are You Ready for EXTRA Impact? If you’re ready to find true fulfillment, strengthen your focus, and ignite your true potential, the Impact Theory subscription was created just for you. This is not for the faint of heart. This is for those who dare to learn obsessively, every day, day after day. Subscription Benefits: Unlock the gates to a treasure trove of wisdom from inspiring guests like Andrew Huberman, Mel Robbins, Hal Elrod, Matthew McConaughey, and many, many, more New episodes delivered ad-free Exclusive access to Tom’s AMAs, keynote speeches, and suggestions from his personal reading list You’ll also get access to an 5 additional podcasts with hundreds of archived Impact Theory episodes, meticulously curated into themed playlists covering health, mindset, business, relationships, and more: Legendary Mindset: Mindset & Self-Improvement Money Mindset: Business & Finance Relationship Theory: Relationships Health Theory: Mental & Physical Health Power Ups: Weekly Doses of Short Motivational Quotes  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PCvJaz Subscribe on all other platforms (Google Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Downcast, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podcast Republic, Podkicker, and more) : https://impacttheorynetwork.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices