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cover art for What Blocks Human Innovation and Progress?

The Coronavirus Effect

What Blocks Human Innovation and Progress?

Timeless lessons from the Stone Age and how to build innovation into our systems and solve global problems.


For 97% of human history, we barely had any technology. Innovation moved at a snail's pace because of 5 invisible forces shaping our world. Learn about how these forces still exist and what really drives world change


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If you enjoy the episode and want more, Sam has launched his new show - "How to Change the World: The History of Innovation".


Chronologically studying every world-changing event in order and how they build upon themselves up to today.


Available on all podcast players:


Can't find it on your player?

RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Find out more - www.changetheworldpod.com


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As we peer into the future, sometimes the best strategy is to look back into the past. The further and deeper we look, the more comprehensive our understanding of how technology and invention can shape the future.


The world's greatest minds didn't just innovate by accident. They studied the great thinkers before them and built upon their work. If you want to achieve greatness or understand whats going on around us this podcast is your guide.



Chapters

00:00 Coronavirus Effect - HTCW - 002 - 2 of 5 locks

01:52 The Hand Axe Conundrum

03:45 Episode Goals

05:01 #1 - SURVIVAL

05:40 Energy requirements

07:49 Time Scarcity

10:18 Risk and Psychological Safety

12:37 #2 - CULTURE

13:57 Culture in New Guinea

14:56 Results of trying ideas

16:41 The Grandmother Hypothesis

17:37 Widowhood statistics

19:02 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing

20:43 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis

21:53 Wrap up and where to find the show

More episodes

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  • Humanity's First Invention that Changed our Species and the World - The Story of Fire

    30:29|
    How humans stopped relying on evolution and became the controllers of their own destiny.In this episode of 'How to Change the World,' Sam Webster Harris discusses the profound impact of fire on the evolution and societal development of humanity. From transforming our bodies and brains to influencing gender roles and social structures, fire has fundamentally reshaped our way of life. Harris delves into the historical, biological, and cultural significance of fire, exploring how it has served as a tool for cooking, safety, and community building. Tune in to discover how fire drove early human innovations and set the stage for future technological advancements.---If you enjoy the episode and want more, Sam has launched his new show - "How to Change the World: The History of Innovation".Chronologically studying every world-changing event in order and how they build upon themselves up to today.Available on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more - www.changetheworldpod.com-------As we peer into the future, sometimes the best strategy is to look back into the past. The further and deeper we look, the more comprehensive our understanding of how technology and invention can shape the future.The world's greatest minds didn't just innovate by accident. They studied the great thinkers before them and built upon their work. If you want to achieve greatness or understand what's going on around us, this podcast is your guide.Chapters00:00Introduction: Who is in control03:51 The Role of Fire in Civilization04:31 Fire's Impact on Predators and Prey06:36 First Fire - 500 million years ago10:00 Humans and fire - ~2 million years ago12:12 The Discovery of Fire13:44 When did we discover Fire14:25 Stadium of Grandmothers15:28 Fire's Influence on Human Biology17:59 Fire and Human Digestion20:18 Light and Campfires22:27 Mealtimes23:35 Fire's Role in Human Birth and Survival25:26 Why Only Humans Mastered Fire27:57 Fire, Social Structures & Gender Roles29:00 Wrap up and subscribe to How to Change the World
  • How to Rank the Impact of an Innovation

    29:46|
    Is Brexit more important than Bitcoin? How do we rank Buddhism vs TikTok?The world changes, technology advances, but what really matters and how much? Sam explains the Innovation Richter Scale, a framework for understanding impact at every level of technology and what it means to society.---If you enjoy the episode and want more, Sam has launched his new show - "How to Change the World: The History of Innovation".Chronologically studying every world-changing event in order and how they build upon themselves up to today.Available on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more - www.changetheworldpod.com-------As we peer into the future, sometimes the best strategy is to look back into the past. The further and deeper we look, the more comprehensive our understanding of how technology and invention can shape the future.The world's greatest minds didn't just innovate by accident. They studied the great thinkers before them and built upon their work. If you want to achieve greatness or understand what's going on around us, this podcast is your guide.Chapters00:00 Innovation Richter Scale01:47 Why create a Scale?04:32 Earthquake Metaphor06:54 Invention, Innovation, Technology06:54 Ranking Magnitude not Morality08:01 The Innovation Richter Scale - Level 1 - 1008:04 Level 1 - Shower thoughts08:23 Level 2 - Actioned Idea (In private)08:42 Level 3 - Public ideas (Not popular)10:10 Level 4 - Popular and commercial ideas11:01 Level 5 - Defining Brand12:31 Level 6 - Innovation of the year15:53 Level 7 - Innovation of the Decade18:12 Level 8 - Innovation of the Century21:22 Level 9 - Innovation of the Era23:46 Level 10 - Species Epoch28:24 Wrap up + Where to find part 2!
  • A New Approach To Understanding How to Change The World

    24:39|
    As we peer into the future, sometimes the best strategy is to look back into the past. The further and deeper we look, the more comprehensive our understanding of how technology and invention can shape the future.---If you enjoy the episode and want more, Sam has launched his new show - "How to Change the World: The History of Innovation".Chronologically studying every world-changing event in order and how they build upon themselves up to today.Available on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more - www.changetheworldpod.com-------This episode covers the premise of the show. How it will work, why you should listen, and some timeless lessons on psychology and innovation.The world's greatest minds didn't just innovate by accident. They studied the great thinkers before them and built upon their work. If you want to achieve greatness or understand whats going on around us this podcast is your guide.Chapters00:00 Coronavirus effect - HTCW 001 - Promo01:09 Introduction: The Dawn of Human Influence03:31 A Journey Through Time: 10 years ago03:52 A Century Back: The 1920s04:19 A Millennium Ago: Medieval Times04:40 10,000 Years Ago: The Agricultural Revolution05:08 100,000 Years Ago: Early Human Innovation05:21 A Million Years Ago: The First Pioneers06:03 The Epic of Human Potential06:20 The Plan for the Podcast08:17 What counts as an innovation09:40 Release Schedule10:50 Beyond a history podcast12:03 Why this point in history13:43 A map is not a blueprint15:34 Why am I doing this?18:44 Why should you listen?19:54 Psychology and Innovation20:25 Bias and Hindsight21:02 Illusion of obviousness21:59 The Myth of Stability23:07 Mission and sign off
  • UPDATE - How To Change The World: The history of innovation

    03:01|
    Sam is launching a new show - How to Change the World: The History of InnovationStarting from the dawn of civilization. Each series will cover an era of humanity and each episode will cover an individual innovation and / or innovator telling their story and impact on society.In between episodes, we will have a shorter masterclass episode on an individual topic, mental model, or idea relating to the grand goal of changing the world.First season is out now:Spotify - ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠Apple - ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?This is the RSS feed - ⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠Find out more - www.changetheworldpod.com
  • 9. National Care Force

    16:44|
    Charles ArmitageCharles Armitage is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Florence. Florence is a marketplace that connects care homes to nurses and care workers looking for extra shifts.Having started his career in the NHS, Charles entered the world of tech to help tackle some of the failures he witnessed. Charles loves sharing lessons from the frontline of building a platform business.DiscussionOther than Florence, Charles and his partners developed National Care Force - a nationwide network of care providers, healthcare workers and volunteers, ready to support our social care services in looking after the most vulnerable members of societyWith the covid-19 still looming, more and more citizens are greatly affected . In need of help and support, Florence and National Care Force is a response to the crisis with a commitment of helping care workers, health workers and volunteers reach out to vulnerable locals who depend on vital services.Charles encourages people to sign up on their platforms and reach out to those in their community who are in need due to coronavirus.Take HomesPeople are resilientResilience is defined as the ability – and tendency – to “bounce back.” The goal of resilience is to thrive in a highly stressful situation or crisis. People who are more resilient are capable of adapting to adversity.People who are resilient tends to be more aware of situations, their own emotional reactions and the behavior of those around them. In order to manage feelings, it is essential to understand what is causing them and why. By remaining aware, resilient people can maintain control of a situation and think of new ways to tackle problems.Technology connects us togetherTechnology helps us connect beyond the social media aspect. With Florence and National Care Force, these platforms makes reaching out to health care more convenient.It’s often said that technology drives us apart, but the reality is, technology has been keeping us all connected. With the recent crisis affecting our day-to-day activities, technology has been providing the solutions that allows us to live our "normal" lives.---If you enjoy the episode and want more, Sam has launched his new show - "How to Change the World: The History of Innovation".Chronologically studying every world-changing event in order and how they build upon themselves up to today.Available on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more - www.changetheworldpod.com
  • 8. The Care Industry

    36:36|
    James Townsend, the co-founder of Mobilise, is on a mission to transform the way the UK's growing number of informal carers access support.James has over ten years of experience setting up and leading socially impactful organisations. He was formerly Teach First President, and set up the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership, facilitating 135,000 teachers, leaders and support staff into a learning community.DiscussionIn response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mobilise is an online platform where carers can meet for a chat over a “virtual cuppa” and access vital information about the outbreak from their homes. A number of unpaid carers are finding emotional support through the lockdown period by joining a new virtual community.At a time when we’re all worried about health, caring for someone you love is extremely stressful. James mentioned that he wants carers to know there is an online community available for them.It has undoubtedly become a time where caring is very important. With Mobilise, they make sure nobody has to learn how to be a carer on their own and gets the needed support to be a carer.Take HomesSupport those who provide supportIt can be hard to know what to do when supporting someone, especially in the current situation we are facing. Giving and receiving support from others is a basic human need. The goal of social support is to decrease stress. If you are looking to decrease stress by developing a support network, start with people who understands where you're coming from.Support comes in many forms, and it is helpful to have a variety of different resources to lean on.Helpful tips1 Evaluate who may be helpful. 2 Join a book club. 3 Be willing to ask for help. 4 Let important people in your life know that you appreciate them.---If you enjoy the episode and want more, Sam has launched his new show - "How to Change the World: The History of Innovation".Chronologically studying every world-changing event in order and how they build upon themselves up to today.Available on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more - www.changetheworldpod.com
  • 7. Where Is Technology Heading

    46:30|
    Eamonn Carey is the Managing Director of Techstars London. He's been an entrepreneur for most of his adult life - starting several companies in Europe and the Middle East - two successfully, others, less so.He's been an active angel investor in Europe, the US and Asia for the last five years - investing in everything from AI to food tech and from messaging to co-working spaces. He ran the Techstars Connection program in New York, works with the Zeroth AI accelerator in Hong Kong and sits on several boards - including Lingvist, Paranoid Fan, and Motivii.DiscussionWe cover the way the landscape has changed for investors, technology and entrepreneurs. With radical shifts in how we live there is a lot of current change but also a lot of things that will stay different after this.Eamonn explains the opportunities that are available for those willing to adapt quickly and how entrepreneurs can build new businesses that benefit the world. We outline the problems caused by uncertainty and how to deal with fear and act rationally.Take HomesAccept the Idea of ChangeChange is inevitable not only in life but in business too. As long as the people and the technology are progressing, so should the businesses around them.Businesses have to improve and develop new ideas that can be incorporated with their plan. They have to have a bird’s view of their business to understand what is going to happen next. This approach will help change the route in the shortest time if there is any unplanned change.Everybody should embrace change in their organization. If not, there will be a negative implication. Businesses that do not adapt to their environment tend to slow down and ultimately die or shutdown.Covenience is BoomingWith the impact of covid-19, “convenience” has taken on a whole new meaning. Companies offering convenience are taking over.This revolution is affecting all kinds of industries – not just retail – as some companies are developing new ways of doing business that make life easier for the customer.It is clear, no organization is free from the push toward higher convenience. Time to become ‘fast’ and ‘easy’!---If you enjoy the episode and want more, Sam has launched his new show - "How to Change the World: The History of Innovation".Chronologically studying every world-changing event in order and how they build upon themselves up to today.Available on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more - www.changetheworldpod.com
  • 6. How Do We Have Adventures?

    16:22|
    I am an adventuraholic. As such being confined to one space is an unusual place to find myself.I am embracing my curious spirit and invite listeners to explore their minds and body and have their own personal journeys of adventure inside.When You Can't Go Outside, Go InsideWe are used to being able to jump on a plane and appear in a new culture and immerse ourselves in adventures. But now we are all stuck at home. The future may have limited travel for a while as we maintain social distancing and restrited travel.Instead of relying on buying experiences we can have our own adventures just by using our minds. There are so many things to explore that we have never done before. We can go inside to push our minds and bodies in ways we have never done before.We can still learn about the world and about ourselves. We can have adventures, face our fears and come out stronger and wiser. All of this can be done inside our own homes.Thrillseekers Adventure ClubSam has launched a club (facebook group - free) for anyone to explore their limits and have adventures.We are a freindly bunch who aren't about comparing ourselves. The only competition is with yourself. To do the things that scare you and learn.In the first week Sam didn't eat anything for two days whilst enduring the amazing smells of his families cooking. He then spent 5 days doing the "Sally up Sally down" challenge on the hour every hour. He pushed his mind and body into places he had never gone and came out a lot wiser than he expected.Next week, he is eating only porridge for a week to practice stoicism.Join the club here https://www.facebook.com/groups/669108517225419------If you enjoy the episode and want more, Sam has launched his new show - "How to Change the World: The History of Innovation".Chronologically studying every world-changing event in order and how they build upon themselves up to today.Available on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more - www.changetheworldpod.com