Avsnitt
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How to rank the impact of innovations on humanity and how much they really changed the world.
It's easy to tell that the invention of talking is more important than Velcro. But is Netflix more important than Baseball? Has TikTok changed the world as much as the Longbow?
History has opinions, so it's time for a scale that lets us rationally measure global impact.
NOTE - This episode expands on the Technological Richter Scale proposed by Nate Silver. (see references)
ABOUT
This show is an independent podcast on a mission.
It is written, edited, and recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.
He also makes the music.
Designs were crafted by Francisca Correia.
References
Nate Silver - One The Edge (2024)
Nate's book is about risk analysis and the future of AI. The final chapter proposes a Technological Richter Scale, with a page on how to use it.
Zvi Mowshowitz - AI and the Technological Richter Scale (2025)
A good summary of Nate's ideas, on how the scale applies to AI. Also quotes Nate's page guide for each level and argues a few changes.
Grant Lichtman - Innovation: Are We Overlooking "Magnitude" With "Frequency" (2013)
A short blog that suggests it might be nice to use a logarithmic Richter scale or a Madonna curve to measure innovation.
Chapters:
00:00 Innovation Richeter Scale
01:47 Why create a Scale?
03:47 Earthquake Metaphor
06:16 Invention, Innovation, Technology
06:56 Ranking Magnitude not Morality
08:08 The Innovation Richter Scale - Level 1 - 10
08:11 Level 1 - Shower thoughts
08:29 Level 2 - Actioned Idea (In private)
08:49 Level 3 - Public ideas (Not popular)
10:17 Level 4 - Popular and commercial ideas
11:08 Level 5 - Defining Brand
12:38 Level 6 - Innovation of the year
15:59 Level 7 - Innovation of the Decade
18:19 Level 8 - Innovation of the Century
21:29 Level 9 - Innovation of the Era
23:53 Level 10 - Species Epoch
28:31 Part 2 - Using the scale
29:45 Weapons and tools of death
29:54 Level 5 - Forms of Capital Punishment
30:55 Level 6 - Longbows to Rifles
32:01 Level 7 - Subcategories - Wheel chariot, aircraft carrier
32:31 Level 8 - Categories
33:13 Level 9 - Nuclear and existential threats
33:58 Politics and Population Impact
34:55 Level 7 and Continental policy
37:14 Level 9 - Politics is not level 9
38:00 Questions without answers
38:38 Emotional Impact and Purpose - Sports?
41:01 Peter Thiel and Chess
41:47 Religion and Personal Beliefs in interpreting the scale
43:33 Roundup conclusions
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What lies at the core of human progress?
This episode sets the scene for all human innovation. For 3.5 million years, humans and our ancestors were stuck in the Stone Age.
We cover:
What were we busy with for 97% of our existence?Why were we so slow at innovating?How did we eventually overcome these fundamental forces?From personal pressures to global forces, we trace the blocks on human development. The answers hold many insights for today when we think about innovation and how to make progress..
This episode is ground zero as we begin our expedition through history and the creation of our modern world.
ABOUT
This show is an independent podcast on a mission.
It is written, recorded, re-recorded, rewritten and re-re-recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.
He also makes the music.
Designs were crafted by Francisca Correia.
Chapters:
00:00 The Hand Axe Conundrum
01:53 Episode Goals
03:45 #1 - SURVIVAL
04:21 Energy requirements
06:30 Time Scarcity
08:59 Risk and Psychological Safety
11:17 #2 - Culture
12:41 Why people hate new ideas
15:25 The Grandmother Hypothesis
16:21 Widowhood statistics
17:46 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing
19:27 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis
20:36 #3 - Knowledge
22:42 Losing knowledge
24:04 Maths
24:52 Communication and Language
25:53 Ice Age Picasso Paradox
27:06 #4 - Mobility Constraints
28:05 Nomadism
30:22 Racism, war, and travel complications
32:07 Trade Issues
34:02 Feasting examples
35:39 Eurasia vs America Development
37:45 #5 - Population Density
39:20 Evolution of Multicellular Life
41:48 Dunbars Number
43:43 Mortality Rates
46:37 Historical demographics
48:18 Lessons - How we beat the 5 locks
51:47 Conclusion - Innovation isn't about Geniuses
54:36 REFLECTIONS - Innovation cycles
57:43 Modern Innovation Blockers
01:06:01 What can you do
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it" - Alan Watts
This opening episode invites you on a journey, not just through time, but through perspective.
From fire-starting hominids to spacefaring technologists, we are going to trace the ripples of human imagination that turned tools into empires, and sparks into systems.
In this introduction episode:
Set the tone for the podcastExplain what the show is and isn'tLearn how we are going to navigate this journeyAnswer who the hell is this 'Sam Harris' (the host)Explain our 7 principles for exploring history and innovationChange is rarely neat or obvious, but this podcast is here to help us understand it. You'll start to connect the dots that are all around you.
History isn't just a study of the past, it is also our present. As we live through unprecedented innovation, it's a perfect time to study the forces of tectonic shifts and how to guide them.
If you're curious, optimistic, and even a little lost. You're in the right place.
ABOUT
This show is an independent podcast on a mission.
It is written, recorded, re-recorded, rewritten and re-re-recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.
Designs were crafted by Francisca Correia.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction: The Dawn of Human Influence
02:22 A Journey Through Time
05:10 The Plan for the Podcast
07:08 What counts as an innovation
08:31 Release Schedule
09:40 Beyond a history podcast
10:54 Why this point in history
12:34 A map is not a blueprint
14:24 Why is Sam doing this?
17:19 Why should you listen?
18:29 Psychology and Innovation
19:01 Bias and Hindsight
19:37 Illusion of obviousness
20:32 Gratitude - Understanding - Curiosity
20:34 The Myth of Stability
21:42 7 Core Principles of the Show
21:51 1 - Interdisciplinary Thinking
22:34 2 - Systems Thinking
23:21 3 - Understanding of knowledge
25:01 4 - Context
26:06 5 - No current affairs and politics
27:14 6 - Side Quests
28:23 7 - Optimism
29:26 Mission and sign off
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What is the best way to tackle the question "How to change the world"? Learn about our plan to dissect the history and future of innovation.
This show will dissect how the world really works and the impact of the biggest inventions that lead to a step change. We'll also tell the stories of the greatest innovators from history and understand their mental models, mindsets and habits.
In this promo, Host Sam Webster Harris explains in 2 minutes what he'll be doing for the next 10 years.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
