Brave New World

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s new book ‘The Anxious Generation’ argues we’re overprotecting our children in real life, and underprotecting them online. In this special episode he tells Evgeny why he believes smartphones and social media have led to rises in anxiety, depression and suicide among young people, and why we have to “put the technology genie back in the bottle”. They also discuss:·      The polarisation of politics and how it began before social media·      Why the evolution of social media has led to the return of “tribalism” in society·      Why war between competing powers is “likely to return”·      How ideas spread on US college campuses can go viral across the world·      What happens when you introduce fear into a liberal democracy·      How we “utterly failed” with the introduction of AI·      Has social media “rewired our children’s brains”?·      Why parents have to let their kids go out again, and learn to fend for themselves·      Why he believes Mark Zuckerberg “could and should have done more” to protect young peopleThe second season of Brave New World is coming soon, hit the follow button on your podcast provider so you don’t miss an episode, and if you enjoyed this show please leave us a rating and review.

In the final episode of our first season, Evgeny talks to psychologist and researcher Bill Richards, whose book Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences is considered a seminal work in the field and is now in its 10th edition. In this discussion, they talk about: ·      Why science and spiritualism don’t have to be separate from each other·      How he thinks transcendental experiences like those provoked by psychedelics are the "origin of most of the world's religions"·      His research into their benefits for those near the end of their lives·      Why is there a taboo against psychedelics research in health?·      What is our definition of “normal” and should we think about it differently.·      Bill’s summer as an ordained minister, and his first psychedelic experience·      Why he doesn’t think people should “pop psychedelics” just for fun. Brave New World will return after the Easter break. Make sure you’re following the channel to get the first episode of season two as soon as it drops. And please do leave us a rating and review.

Evgeny meets Wim Hof to learn more about the Dutch athlete’s ‘Method’; a combination of breathing and cold-water immersion that he claims can have health and psychological benefits. Rita Ora also joins the show and talks about her own experience using Wim’s techniques as part of her wellness routines. And musician Marcus Flaherty tells us how he thinks the Method has helped him with some of the symptoms of MS. In this episode: ·      Wim Hof reveals he developed ‘The Method’ to recover from the “emotional agony” following the death of his wife·      What happened the first time he entered ice cold water, and why did he want to do it again? ·      How he’s trained his body to stay under the ice “for up to seven minutes”·      The scientific studies he says support his claims·      Rita Ora tells us about the surprise birthday visit she arranged with Wim for her husband Taika Waititi – and how he stayed in an ice bath for 30 minutes·      Her own use of both heat and cold as part of her wellness routine·      Her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, and the techniques she uses to overcome them·      Why she wants Wim to release a playlist of music he gave her as an album.If you enjoyed this episode of Brave New World, please leave us a rating and review. Hit your follow button to make sure you never miss an episode. 

What is biohacking and are you already doing it without realising? Evgeny spends a day with the ‘world’s fittest man’, Ben Greenfield, to learn how exercise, diet and light contribute to wellness. He also meets actress and author Davinia Taylor, who tells him how biohacking helped her get over the alcoholism she developed at the height of her TV success in the 90s. In this episode we learn about: ·      Ben Greenfield’s journey from “fantasy novel reading, home-schooled kid” to ‘America’s Best Fitness Coach’·      His six tips on how to improve your health ·      How and why to safely expose your body to heat and cold·      The importance of his faith to his wellbeing and business·      The genetic reasons why diets can work for some but not for others·      Why Davinia Taylor’s declaring “war” on vegetable oil·      How she’s turned her back on drink and drugs after years of addiction·      Her teaspoon of collagen tip to help with intermittent fasting Next week, Rita Ora and Wim Hoff join the show to talk about the benefits of cold-water immersion and breathing exercises. Hit your follow button so you don’t miss an episode. 

Evgeny meets ‘anti-ageing poster boy’ Bryan Johnson, the entrepreneur whose ‘Project Blueprint’ aims to extend the human lifespan. He also talks to the 46-year-old’s doctor Oliver Zolman, who details how they’re approaching a controversial area of emerging science. In this episode we talk about: ·      How they slowed Bryan’s speed of ageing “by the equivalent of 31 years”·      Why Oliver Zolman thinks humans “can live 25% longer”·      Can we improve humans “at the speed of technology”?·      How the emergence of AI has made “death our only enemy”·      Oliver Zolman’s Six Principles for biohacking beginners·      How Bryan achieved “8 months of perfect sleep” by designing his life around the need for it·      What Dr Zolman sees as the biggest health threat to western countries·      Is the resistance to longevity research more cultural than scientific?If you enjoyed this episode please give Brave New World a rating and review. Hit the follow button on your podcast provider so you never miss an episode.

Evgeny Lebedev describes his experience at a psychedelic retreat in Costa Rica where he encountered Ayahuasca, a plant-based brew used by indigenous healers. Psychedelics researcher Professor David Nutt, psychologist Bill Richards and physician Gabor Maté return to the show to explain what’s happening to the mind when DMT is used and how some believe it can help with recovery from trauma. In this episode:Evgeny reveals that Ayahuasca brought old fears home to roostDavid Nutt tells us about the history of psychedelic use, dating back to 5,000 BCBill Richards looks at the use of them by artists and writersGabor Maté examines what Evgeny’s experience with Ayahuasca really says about his mental stateIf you enjoyed this episode of Brave New World please give us a rating and review. New episodes are released every Thursday. Hit the follow button to make sure you don’t miss any.