Take Back the Day

One day all humanity is going to be wiped off the face of the planet. What do we do when it does? In this episode, Sam and Simon talk about getting to Mars, doomsday scenarios and the things we want to learn about the world before we all die.

When we're less afraid to fail, we end up doing more radical stuff. Simon and Sam have a conversation about badassery, Mad Max, lady vikings, and what we can learn from companies that made giant epic failures. Also, you can find out what Simon would do if he had powers of invisibility.

We've reached the point where our technology speaks to us. But does that software have enough to say? When will we be able to build artificial intelligence with personality? And is everything getting more bland because the teams who make things are too big?

Is the space you're working in making you dumber? Or is that just one of many other excuses we tell ourselves about why we're not getting stuff done? Sam and Simon discuss workspaces and serendipity this week. Also, why Sam secretly wants to join the German navy (her reason involves existentialism, not seamen).

A weird Meerkat experiment in which Sam and Simon try live-streaming their conversation, and discuss how we act differently when we're being observed. It's all very meta.

Is honesty the best policy? We all agree to keep secrets, whether for our country or for the company we work for. Sam and Simon think this is wrong. Honesty surfaces data, and helps people to make better decisions.

This week we cast our doubts in the direction of resolutions and the underwhelming challenges that humans set themselves. Can we stick to our plans and what are ways to game our psychology and do the right things when we really have to? Part of the secret, we decide, is being disagreeable...

Sam and Simon get together in one of South Africa's oldest theatres to discuss mindfulness and being present in the shit that you're doing while you're doing it

Just quit. You know what we're talking about - that job you hate... the relationship that's tanking. Just stop. Say no. Follow Sam's example and give it up.

Do you need an idea before you create something, or does going through the motions of creating something precede the idea? Sam and Simon reach some conclusions.

In this episode Sam and Simon discuss getting computers to do and say things for you, so you don't have to.

You may have figured out how to get data about stuff, but that doesn't make it important. Or does it? This week Sam and Simon discuss tracking things, the value of conferences and some other stuff too...

The dichotomy of productivity is that you have to spend a lot of time doing nothing in order to do other stuff well. In this conversation Sam and Simon explore the quest for pointless activities.

According to your parents, you can do anything. This sort of over-compensating encouragement presents a number of challenges for adults doing stuff in the world. Sam and Simon discuss this and other things.

Does the world happen to you or do you happen to the world? In this week's conversation Sam and Simon ponder the power of stories and how what we tell ourselves not only affects us, but the people around us too. It's all science, and very magical...