What if knowing less could actually make you more? In this riveting conversation, Ben Owden sits down with Dr. Stuart Firestein, former Chair of Columbia University’s Biological Sciences, neuroscientist extraordinaire, and author of Ignorance: How It Drives Science and Failure: Why Science Is Successful. Far from being gloomy topics, Stuart shows us how ignorance and failure are the secret engines of creativity and innovation, both in the lab and in life.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• Why “Not Knowing” Is Your Greatest Superpower – Stuart argues that curiosity lives between what we know and what we don’t. Learn how “negative capability” (a willingness to tolerate uncertainty) is the birthplace of every major discovery.
• How Failure Uncovers Hidden Possibilities – From Marie Curie to Richard Feynman, see why a “failed experiment” can be more valuable than hitting a bull’s-eye. (Hint: Nature’s top predators in nature only succeed 25% of the time!)
• The Art of Asking Better Questions – Forget “hypothesis‐driven” experiments: discover why wandering in the dark sometimes, not just under the lamp post, is where the real magic happens.
• Living with Revision — Why “Total Truth” Doesn’t Exist – What Newton, Einstein, and Keats taught Stuart about refining knowledge instead of clinging to “one final answer.”
• Practical Tips for Embracing Ignorance & Failure Today – From “failing better” to scheduling a daily “dark-room” hour, Stuart shares concrete ways to rewire your mindset—whether you’re a scientist, a middle manager, or just someone who wants to do more creative work.
  
  

Get a copy of Failure: Why Science Is So Successful

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Imagine waking up to a world run by hyper-intelligent machines. It sounds like science fiction, but Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer at Google X, bestselling author, and renowned happiness evangelist, says it's coming faster than you think.

In this gripping episode, Mo shares a prophetic vision that’s equal parts warning and hope. As we hurtle toward a future where artificial intelligence holds unimaginable power, Mo argues we are at a tipping point: AI will either magnify our flaws or elevate humanity to unprecedented heights. But first, brace yourself for a dystopian phase, driven not by technology itself, but by our own deeply flawed ethics.

Mo passionately explains why Africa, especially, must urgently stake its claim in the rapidly emerging "digital soil," warning that delay could lead to decades of digital colonization. Yet, his message isn’t purely cautionary. He shows us a clear, optimistic path to harness AI as a force for true abundance, joy, and human flourishing—provided we take responsibility now.

Will we raise AI to be Superman or a supervillain? Mo insists the choice is ours.

Watch as Ben Owden hosts a conversation filled with sharp insights, urgent warnings, and an inspiring vision for a world where technology serves our collective happiness, not our undoing.

Mo Gawdat's Books: https://www.mogawdat.com/books

WhyLead's Web: https://www.whyleadothers.com/podcast

WhyLead's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whyleadconsultancy/?viewAsMember=true

WhyLead's Twitter: https://twitter.com/whyleadothers

Ben Owden's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benowden/

Ben Owden's Twitter: https://twitter.com/godsrafiki

#BenOwden #WhyLead #WhyLeadPodcast #africanleadership #mogawdat #ScarySmart #AIRevolution #SlowMoPodcast #futureofai #ethicalai #DigitalTransformation #aiforgood #humancenteredai #FutureReadySummit

In this conversation, Dr. Sara Mednick, world-renowned scientist, author of the influential book Take a Nap, Change Your Life, and professor directing the Sleep and Cognition Lab at UC Irvine, shares eye-opening insights about the profound link between rest, sleep, longevity, and your overall quality of life.

Ever wondered why stress at work drains your energy or why cutting corners on sleep today might sabotage your health decades later? Dr. Mednick breaks down exactly how your daily rest rhythms directly impact everything from emotional resilience and cognitive clarity to your long-term health, immunity, and even susceptibility to Alzheimer’s and dementia.

She challenges society’s obsession with constant productivity, explores why "I'll sleep when I'm old" is a dangerous myth, and reveals the surprising consequences of relying on caffeine and alcohol to "take the edge off."

Get a copy of The Power of the Downstate by Sara Mednick.

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*Join Thrive in the Middle Today!
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*Ben Owden's LinkedIn
*Ben Owden's Twitter