What is the best way to tackle the question "How to change the world"? Learn about our plan to dissect the history innovation and peer into the future of technology.

This show will dissect how the world really works and the impact of the biggest inventions that changed both the world and humanity for good. We'll also tell the stories of the greatest innovators from history and understand their mental models, mindsets and habits to help you build a guide for world change and innovation.

In this promo, Host Sam Webster Harris explains in 2 minutes what we'll be doing on this show for the next 10 years or more.

ABOUT

How to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the most important inventions in history in chronological order. We hope you join us for the ride to learn how the world changes and maybe pick up some idea on building the future of technology.

It is written, recorded, re-recorded, rewritten and re-re-recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.

(He also makes the music.)

Find out more or contact the show - ChangeTheWorldPod.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"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, "How to Change the World" is 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 podcast
• Explain what the show is and isn't
• Learn how we are going to navigate this journey
• Answer who the hell is this 'Sam Harris' (the host)
• Explain our 7 principles for exploring history and innovation

Change is rarely neat or obvious, but this podcast is here to help us understand it. We connect dots in history from the cognitive revolution and invention of language to the future of AI. Learn to ask better questions and consider the existential patterns of humanity and where we're going next.

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

How to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the most important inventions in history in chronological order. We hope you join us for the ride to learn how the world changes and maybe pick up some idea on building the future of technology.

It is written, recorded, re-recorded, rewritten and re-re-recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.

(He also makes the music.)

Find out more or contact the show - ChangeTheWorldPod.com

Designs were crafted by Francisca Correia (Available to hire)

Podcast strategy from Jeremy Enns (Available to hire)

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction: The Dawn of Human Influence

02:21 A Journey Through Time

05:14 The Plan for the Podcast

07:11 What counts as an innovation

08:08 Release Schedule

09:08 Beyond a history podcast

10:03 A map is not a blueprint

11:35 Why am i doing this?

14:27 Why should you listen?

15:36 The Myth of Stability

16:31 7 Core Principles of the Show

16:40 #1 - Interdisciplinary Thinking

17:23 #2 - Systems Thinking

18:02 #3 - Understanding of knowledge

18:45 #4 - Context

19:50 #5 - No current affairs and politics

20:48 #6 - Side Quests

21:56 #7 - Optimism

22:59 Mission and sign off

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What lies at the core of human progress? This episode asks ancient history what created human innovation and what stopped it for so long?

For 3.5 million years, humans and our ancestors were stuck in the Stone Age until 10,000 years ago we finally broke out of it and all manner of inventions was let loose.

We study tribal life across the world from anthropological records and archeology of the stone age to reconstruct the lifestyle of our ancestors and the forces against them. From personal pressures to global currents, we trace the blocks on human development. The answers hold many insights for today when we think about innovation, technology and how to make progress..

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?

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 to document the most important inventions in history in chronological order. We hope you join us for the ride to learn how the world changes and inspire you to build the future of technology.

It is written, recorded, re-recorded, rewritten and re-re-recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.

(He also makes the music.)

Find out more or contact the show - ChangeTheWorldPod.com

Designs were crafted by Francisca Correia (Available to hire)

Podcast strategy from Jeremy Enns (Available to hire)

BOOKS

The World Until Yesterday: What we can learn from traditional societies - Jared Diamond

An overview of the world last uncontacted tribes and their ways of live compared to today.

Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and language in the Amazonia jungle - Daniel L. Everett

Astonishing experiences and discoveries by missionary Daniel Everett in the Amazon jungle in 1977

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

35:51 #5 - POPULATION DENSITY

37:27 Evolution of Multicellular Life

39:54 Dunbars Number

41:25 Mortality Rates

42:46 Systems Feedback effects

44:31 LESSONS - How we beat the locks

48:00 Conclusion - Innovation isn't about Geniuses

50:50 What can you do

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.