The Disruptors

Would you sell your life to save another? Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable... Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps. Someone is going to pay. Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial: deathdonor.com

Would you sell your life to save another? Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable... Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps. Someone is going to pay. Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial: deathdonor.com

Would you sell your life to save another? Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable... Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps. Someone is going to pay. Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial: deathdonor.com  

Would you sell your life to save another? Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable... Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps. Someone is going to pay. Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial: deathdonor.com

Would you sell your life to save another? Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance, and a roof over her head. Life is livable... Until her daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts, and the ex-assassin snaps. Someone is going to pay. Grab the rest today FREE with an Audible trial: deathdonor.com  

Ariel Garten (@ariel_garten) is the Founder of InteraXon, makers of Muse: the brain sensing headband. Muse is the award-winning headband that makes meditation easier. During guided exercises, Muse senses your brain activity and sends that information to your phone or tablet, giving you real time audio feedback... Ariel has researched at the Krembil Neuroscience Institute studying hippocampal neurogenesis, displayed work at the Art Gallery of Ontario, DeLeon White Gallery and opened Toronto Fashion Week. The intersections of these diverse interests have culminated into various lectures with topics such as “The Neuroscience of Aesthetics” and “The Neuroscience of Conflict”, featured on TVO’s Big Ideas. Referred to as the “Brain Guru”, Garten has also run a successful real estate business, spent time as the designer of a Canadian fashion boutique, and is a practicing psychotherapist. Garten regularly lectures at MIT, Singularity University and FutureMed. Her lecture on Ted.com has over 400k views and she gave this year’s opening keynote at Le Web (plus numerous times previously), Europe’s biggest tech conference.   You can listen right here on iTunes In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including: * The science of meditation and how it affects your brain * Why Ariel is passionate about neuroscience and its ability to evolve our species * How IoT and technical enhancements will shape humans of the future * The mental health problem we're facing and how to overcome it * Why elite performers tend to be meditators * The ways to consciously control and hack your brain * How technological innovation will impact our evolution * What brain scientists are just starting to understand * The reason capitalist incentive structures drive many of our most pressing problems * What is really the future for wearables Get 15% OFF Muse when you use this link! “Transcript”   Producing this podcast and transcribing the episode takes tons of time and resources. If you support FringeFM and the work we do, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. If you can’t afford to support us, we completely understand as well, but an iTunes review or share on Twitter can go a long way too!   Ariel: I said this is the work of Dr Elizabeth Blackburn. She's a Nobel Prize winning scientist and she actually talks about and this sounds [Inaudible] which is why reference at this is a Nobel Prize winning scientist and this is her Nobel Prize. In that voice and so her work talks about the fact that negative thoughts actually lead to cellular aging. So, when we have a negative perception of the world in a negative sort of viewpoint what ends up happening is we create cellular stress in one of the ways that you measure the cellular stress is the length of your telomeres. So telomeres are kind of like the shoelaces the little plastic knobs on the end of our DNA. They're there to protect the DNA. When your cells are in a state of cellular stress those little telomeres those names decrease in size and see your DNA is much more readily subjective subjected to a damage through reproduction or through general copying. So when we meditate [Inaudible] work shows that meditators actually have increased length of their telomeres so their processes of cellular aging have actually been slowed.     Matt: The ancients discovered many modernish sciences centuries before they would be rediscovered by Europeans. It turns out that technology thought innovation can oftentimes go backwards losses of information like these can lead to large societal and cultural cautious.

Yotam Ariel (@yotamariel) is the Founder and CEO of Bluefield, a satellite change detection startup that was recent winner of Top 20 NewSpace Awards alongside SpaceX, Virgin Orbit and other innovative space startups. Bluefield use proprietary methane tracking micro-satellites & AI to provide actionable insights and valuable data for farmers maximizing crop yields, governments watching military behavior and much much more. Bluefield lies up nicely with Yotam's previous startup Bennu Solar which mass produces affordable solar products for third world countries. Yotam likes the Morning Climate newsletter, for anyone interested.       You can listen right here on iTunes In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including: * How Yotam thinks see satellite space technology changing everyday life * The space tech convergence of small scale satellites * Why methane is the new carbon dioxide * The reason Yotam doesn't look up to Elon Musk and Richard Branson * Why we are still a ways off from living in space * The 80/20 way to think about climate change * How complexity becomes commodity and creates innovation * Why Yotam spent 12 years in China and what he learned * The reason today's entrepreneurs focus on profitable purpose * How to start a space tech startup today - and how much it costs -- Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support FringeFM FringeFM is supported by the generosity of its readers and listeners. If you find our work valuable, please consider supporting us on Patreon, via Paypal or with DonorBox powered by Stripe. Donate   Superhuman Brain Nootropics Daniel Schmachtenberger (prev on podcast) and the folks at Neurohacker are some of THE smartest biohackers on the planet, and their Qualia's line of brain-enhancing nootropics make it obvious why. Get $15% off ANY order, or 50% OFF 1st order and 15% OFF ALL orders if you order a subscription with Coupon Code: DISRUPTORS. At Disruptors, we're big on health and biohacking for a reason!

Fraser Cain (@fcain) is the founder of Universe Today, one of the most popular spaces and astronomy sites online with over 3 million space focused visitors a month. In addition to Universe Today, Fraser co-hosts Astronomy Cast, a fact-based weekly journey through the cosmos which offers discussions about astronomical topics ranging from planets to cosmology Fraser has been working in the software/Internet industry for the more than 15 years and was a partner in two software companies that are now traded publicly. He studied engineering at the University of British Columbia and has a degree in computer science. Visit Fraser’s site at Universe Today. You can listen right here on iTunes In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including: * What's been happening in space since the space race * How advances in reusable rockets, materials science and hardware have revolutionized the future of space * Why Fraser thinks Earth is far and away from the best place in the solar system to live * How the new space race may unfold and the political implications * The health problems associated with living in space and living in low gravity * Why asteroid mining and space manufacturing may hold humanity's key to the stars * The changes in space technology since the space race * How space exploration may impact our evolution * Why Earth should be focused as only our home * Why space is a possible answer to our climate change and pollution problems * The reason the economics of space are starting to become viable * What is really the future for life in space * Why space is key to overcoming the existential risk -- Today's episode is brought to you by TeamViewer. Start your free trial today at teamviewer.com/disruptors Donate Big On Health and Human Optimization? Designed for and by athletes and top performers like Joe Rogan, ONNIT makes top-notch supplements and workout gear. Big fan of MCT oil when I’m doing keto, their F*CK YEAH! Coffee with 2x the caffeine, grass-fed whey protein and Total Human, the all-in-one to live and perform at your best. Save 10% on ANY ORDER (except fitness equipment) with Coupon Code: disruptors  

George Dvorsky (@dvorsky) is a Canadian futurist, science writer, and ethicist that has written and spoken extensively about the impacts of cutting-edge science and technology—particularly as they pertain to the improvement of human performance and experience. He is also a senior staff reporter at the popular tech blog Gizmodo, a contributing editor at io9 where he writes about science, culture, and futurism and blogs at sentientdevelopments.com George is a founding member of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, he is Chair of the Board and is the founder and program director for its Rights of Non-Human Persons program. In addition, George is the co-founder and president of the Toronto Transhumanist Association and has served on the Board of Directors for Humanity+ for two terms. George's work has been featured in such publications as The Guardian, the BBC, CBC, Forbes, the New York Times, Slate, Radio Free Europe, and al-Jazeera. Outside of work, he is also an avid CrossFitter, an ancestral health enthusiast, and an accomplished music performer, composer, and recording engineer. Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Android | Overcast | Spotify | Youtube You can listen right here on iTunes In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including: * How life extension and longevity affect society and the technologies ending aging * The dangers of AI and problems with containment * Why consciousness is such a hard problem and what it means for all of us * How George's study of the past influences his views on the future * Why mutually assured destruction could become a thing again * The reason AI regulation is harder than it seems * Which technologies have George most excited today and why * Why tech ethics are so important going forward * What happens if and when we invent AGI * The problems and possibilities of exponential technology in today's world Today's episode is brought to you by TeamViewer. Start your free trial today at teamviewer.com/disruptors -- Support The Disruptors FringeFM is supported by the generosity of its readers and listeners. If you find our work valuable, please consider supporting us on Patreon, via Paypal or with DonorBox powered by Stripe. Donate

Andrew Maynard (@2020science) is the Director of the Risk Innovation Lab at Arizona State University, a Professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the author of Films from the Future: The Technology and Morality of Sci-Fi Movies. Andrew's research focuses on risk innovation and the responsible development and use of emerging technologies. He is especially interested in effective approaches to developing socially responsive, responsible and beneficial technologies; understanding and responding to the technology and society dynamic; and effective science communication and engagement – particularly through social media. Andrew is widely published in the academic press and in public media and stretch from physics and nanotechnology to toxicology, risk perception, governance, and policy. He writes regularly for the journal Nature Nanotechnology and is a frequent contributor to The Conversation. He also directs and produces the YouTube science education channel “Risk Bites” and blogs at 2020science.org. Andrew’s science training is in nanoparticle analysis – and for many years he conducted and led research on aerosol exposure in occupational settings. In the early 2000’s he became increasingly involved in guiding US federal initiatives supporting nanotechnology research and development, and in addressing potential risks. In 2005 he became Chief Science Advisor for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (and later the Synthetic Biology Project) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and for five years helped inform national and global initiatives addressing the responsible development of nanotechnology. Over this period, he became increasingly interested in science communication and science policy and began working closely with academics, policymakers, industry, non-government organizations, and journalists, on science-informed decision making. This interest continued between 2010 - 2015 as Director of the University of Michigan Risk Science Center, and Chair of the Environmental Health Sciences Department. In 2015 he joined the faculty of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University to continue his work and collaborations on socially responsible, responsible and beneficial research and development. In the course of his work, Andrew has testified before congressional committees, has served on National Academy panels, and has worked closely with organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) that promote public-private partnerships. Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Android | Overcast | Spotify | Youtube   You can listen right here on iTunes In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including: * The biggest risks to humanity's future * Why Andrew is excited and terrified about AI and synthetic biology * Which areas of technology are most susceptible to negative consequences * The reason Ex Machina is such a terrifying example of artificial intelligence * How we can use science fiction to ask deep philosophical questions about society * Why Andrew is that worried about the killer AI scenario * The big difference between corporations and universities when it comes to technological innovation

Isaac Arthur (@isaac_a_arthur) is a physicist and futurist who runs popular YouTube channel Featured Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur. Isaac's popular channel has over 270k subscribers and 20M+ views and a legion of loyal, insightful fans, including his own sub-Reddit. Arthur covers a wide range of futurist and science fiction ideas including cyborgs, androids and artificial intelligence, the Fermi paradox and interstellar warfare, Dyson spheres and megascale engineering, quantum teleportation and faster-than-light travel—typically exploring hypothetical scenarios extending to the distant future. Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Android | Overcast | Spotify | Youtube You can listen right here on iTunes In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including: * The future of interplanetary travel * What you didn't know about the Fermi paradox * How humanity will likely evolve as we explore space * The reason we probably won't terraform planets and where we'll live instead * Why material science and meta-materials may be the most important technology of this decade * The effects of genetic engineering on society * Two paths to free energy for all * The reason Isaac thinks we are close to a post-scarcity world * Why Isaac thinks cybernetics/mechanical human enhancement is more likely than gene editing * How Isaac build the top Science channel on Youtube * The reason manmade structures are the habitats of the future * How AI is likely to evolve and play out in society * Why our education system is failing and how we can fix it Transcript   Producing this podcast and transcribing the episode takes tons of time and resources. If you support FringeFM and the work we do, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. If you can’t afford to support us, we completely understand as well, but an iTunes review or share on Twitter can go a long way too!   Isaac: My usual philosophy on the simulation hypothesis is that the question isn't whether or not we live in a simulation but whether or not it matters. Now I tend to think that the rules for simulation will likely be self-consistent you would have physical laws in that simulation that you would expect the simulation to tend to follow because otherwise kind of gives away the game and you know you divorce the rules we observe whether this is the view of us or not we probably should be assuming that me most about how likely life is to evolve, to begin with, and to get to intelligence and technology. Oh, we're just a lot less probable than we think they are and I I don't see us trying to tell from all as much you know forming and people think of it as oh we take this planet make it livable this process that is inherently destructive and I mean seriously. Mountain changing type of procedures that takes centuries to take place whereas while it sounds strange building your own habitats building giant orbital habitats like an O sound or might turn out to be much cheaper than trying to tear form an equal amount of space and then most importantly you've got the entire planet moaning.

Majora Carter (@MajoraCarter) is an American urban revitalization strategist and broadcast producer/host from the South Bronx in New York whose career has spanned environment, economy, social mobility, and real estate development. Majora's work has won major awards including a MacArthur 'genius' Grant, a Peabody Award, the Rudy Bruner Award Silver Medal, nine honorary doctorates, and is quoted on the walls of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture: “Nobody should have to move out of their neighborhood to live in a better one.” Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Android | Overcast | Spotify | Youtube You can listen right here on iTunes In today's episode we discuss: * Black Lives Matter and the big issue with housing inequality * Why owning communities is such a big part of improving them * Majora's work with greenification and better urban areas * The role of investment in changing a city's culture * What steps can the US take to righting past racial wrongs * Why the future of cities and urbanization is a bit more local * Which narratives around health and wealth contribute most to racial inequality * Why inner city brain drain makes everything all the worse * How to use triple bottom line businesses to better the world * What systemic racism looks like from a successful black woman's perspective Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support The Disruptors The Disruptors is supported by the generosity of its readers and listeners. If you find our work valuable, please consider supporting us on Patreon, via Paypal or with DonorBox powered by Stripe. Donate  

Charles Arthur (@CharlesArthur) is a former technology editor of the Guardian and the author of Cyber Wars: Hacks That Shocked the Business World covering some of the world's biggest cyber attacks. He also played a large role in the UK's Free Our Data campaign to persuade the government to make non-personal government data available for free reuse. Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Android | Overcast | Spotify | Youtube You can listen right here on iTunes In today's episode we discuss: * Thoughts on data-powered totalitarianism * A deeper dive into social media's ability to influence us, and democracy * How data privacy and surveillance have changed in the last ten years * Why open-sourcing government data is a good thing * How mission-driven journalism both helps and hurts the world * A bold proposal to improve democratic outcomes * How to avoid heading towards 1984 * Just how bad is the surveillance economy today * Which of the tech giants Charles is most worried about and why * Charles thoughts on COVID contact tracing   Make a Donation to Support The Disruptors The Disruptors is supported by the generosity of its readers and listeners. If you find our work valuable, please consider supporting us on Patreon, via Paypal or with DonorBox powered by Stripe. Donate  

Byron Reese (@byronreese) is the CEO and publisher of Gigaom, an industry-leading technology research company. Byron's also an award-winning author, speaker and futurist with a strong conviction that technology will help bring about a new golden age of humanity. Byron holds a number of technology patents and hosts two podcasts about artificial intelligence. He gives talks around the world about how technology is changing work, education, and culture to combined audiences well in excess of 100,000. His newest book, The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity tackles the issues of artificial intelligence, robots, automation, and the future of work. Byron is also the author of Infinite Progress: How the Internet and Technology Will End Ignorance, Disease, Poverty, Hunger, and War. Bloomberg Businessweek credits Byron with having “quietly pioneered a new breed of media company.” The Financial Times of London reported that he “is typical of the new wave of internet entrepreneurs out to turn the economics of the media industry on its head.” Byron and his work have been featured in hundreds of news outlets, including New York Times, Washington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, NPR, and the LA Times Magazine. “The biggest problems of tomorrow will not be a lack of jobs but a shortage of humans to take advantage of all of the opportunities technology will offer.” – byronreese.com Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Android | Overcast | Spotify | Youtube You can listen right here on iTunes In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including: * Why the world is fundamentally improving and Byron is an optimistic realist * How AI will transform the labor market and economy, leading to better jobs * The reason optimism and pessimism are incredibly important to humanity's survival, and evolution * Why forecasting artificial general intelligence is just silly * Will AI become conscious * Why we're entering a fourth era of humanity * The reason Byron is a little worried about the prospect of bioterrorism * How 25 years in the internet industry has evolved Byron's view of the future * Why the news drives fear and separation among us * What to say to naysayers about technological progress * Why social media will ultimately be a net positive to society -- Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support FringeFM FringeFM is supported by the generosity of its readers and listeners. If you find our work valuable, please consider supporting us on Patreon, via Paypal or with DonorBox powered by Stripe. Donate

Garry Golden (@garrygolden) is a professionally trained futurist who writes, speaks, and consults on complex issues shaping society and business in the 21st century. He has consulted for Fortune 500 companies, governmental agencies and the US Army on issues related to transportation and mobility, food safety and health, the future of portable power, financial services  and much more. Garry teaches an online course on The Future of Energy & Environment through the University of Houston Futures Studies program, and was Founding Editor of The Energy Roadmap.com Garry is co-author of Designing Your Future (2008) a Fast Futures / ASAE publication, and has co-written several business white papers including the Future of the Social Web and the Future of Green as a Business Strategy published by Future Think. Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Android | Overcast | Spotify | Youtube In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including: * The future of energy consumption and the grid * Why Garry isn't sold on electric vehicles and battery technology * The 4 types of futures and what they mean for society * How we save the planet while still using fuel * Why consciousness could be a problem with AI * The reason politicians pull progress backward * How futurists help society evolve * Why Garry is quite enthusiastic about automation and AI * Where the US is falling behind the rest of the world -- Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support FringeFM FringeFM is supported by the generosity of its readers and listeners. If you find our work valuable, please consider supporting us on Patreon, via Paypal or with DonorBox powered by Stripe. Donate