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Explain It Like I’m Smart

51 episodes

Even the smartest people benefit from more context. These experts are here to provide just that.

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All Episodes (51)

Silhouette of a person against a vibrant background with radiating light beams in blue, white, and orange hues.

The illusion of self and the illusion of free will, explained

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10 min

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Image of Earth set against a black background with the text "A Volatile World" in large white letters.

Why does it feel like the world is falling apart?

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11 min

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Red ink disperses in water with the words "Menopause Chaos" overlaid in bold white font.

The science of menopause in 13 minutes

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13 min

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Close-up of a multicolored, reflective surface depicting two human-like eyes with iridescent hues surrounding them.

Yuval Noah Harari: An AI scenario you should not ignore

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11 min

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Yuval Noah Harari

Why Texas and Florida are America’s NEW economic powerhouses

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8 min

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Joseph Politano

The data on dating—and the golden rule for better “luck”

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8 min

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The psychopathic brain is different—but it CAN be treated

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10 min

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Three industrial smokestacks emit dense, white smoke against a blue sky.

We’re not doomed. Here’s how to revive Planet Earth

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8 min

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Sean B. Carroll

An illustrated human brain with musical notes to suggest the concept of music and cognition against a vintage anatomical background.

Homo sapiens: The “great synthesizers” of music

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9 min

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Michael Spitzer

A man sitting at a desk on a phone.

How did we end up here? Anthropologist explains how work has shaped society

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9 min

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Zen buddhism 101 by zen buddhism 101.

A Zen master’s guide to crushing pain & unlocking peace

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8 min

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Robert Waldinger

An ufo flying over a forest.

Why haven’t we found aliens? A physicist shares the most popular theories

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13 min

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An older man pondering with his hand on his chin, contemplating effective altruism.

What is effective altruism? Philosopher Peter Singer explains

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8 min

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A drawing of a human brain depicting the red section, symbolizing anxiety.

Anxiety evolved to help us — what went wrong? A neuroscientist explains.

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8 min

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A sparkler with the word orgasm on it.

A sex educator explains orgasms (plus an exercise for expanded pleasure)

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11 min

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A snake is sitting on top of a dollar bill.

Why fraud still thrives on Wall Street

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8 min

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Kelly Richmond Pope

a clock that is in the middle of a circle.

The science of super longevity

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7 min

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the cover of a magazine with a picture of a man's face.

Why high-ranking leaders should be psych tested

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6 min

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a pink computer keyboard with the word sex spelled on it.

How porn f*cked our minds

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6 min

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a man sitting in a box with a plant in it.

The friendship recession

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8 min

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Harvard professor explains Bayes’ rule

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5 min

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Master divergent and convergent thinking

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5 min

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The physics of time, entropy, and death

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5 min

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Sabine Hossenfelder

The neuroscience of loving music

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8 min

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Michael Spitzer

The mind-bending physics of time

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8 min

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Only high performers pass this kind of job interview

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4 min

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Sun Tzu: 4 battle principles for business leaders

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8 min

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How dirty debaters win against better opponents

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5 min

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The 3 dimensions of secrets: What are you hiding and why?

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7 min

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Michael Slepian

Why your brain thinks you’re Matt Damon

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4 min

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Related

Michio Kaku wants to solve Einstein’s unfinished equation

“An equation, perhaps no more than one inch long, that would allow us to, quote, “Read the mind of God.””

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01:08:41 min

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A red flower with a green stem and leaf drawn using overlapping scribbled lines on a black background.

Anxiety gives you an advantage. Unlock it with neuroplasticity

“Anxiety is focused on things that are important to you in life. That is the key.”

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18 min

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Illustration of a brain with highlighted regions overlaid on a close-up image of blue synapses and neurons, representing neural communication.

How and why your memories shift over time, explained by neuroscience

Your brain changes when you experience something, and it changes again when you remember it. Two neuroscientists explain what that means for memory, perception, and identity.

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3 min

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A split image showing the left half of a woman's face and the right half as a digital brain with neural connections and data waves.

Trauma, healing, and your nervous system explained

Three doctors break down brain function, somatic awareness, and how to recover from bad experiences.

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7 min

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This one essential trait begins shaping us seconds after birth

What if emotional regulation isn’t just a trait, but a skill parents and teachers can help develop? Ethan Kross reveals what science says about shaping young minds.

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3 min

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