The Big Think Interview

The Big Think Interview

Intimate interviews with the world's biggest thinkers.
Latest episode
How facing adversity can help you live a deeper, more meaningful life
“There would be something very, very empty and meaningless about [a] sort of life with no problems.”

Oliver Burkeman

A rat stands on a concrete floor, casting a shadow on the wall that resembles the shape of a sheep.
The burnout antidote on a yellow background.
6mins
Burnout doesn’t happen because of too much work. Liz Wiseman, an executive advisor, suggests it’s something else entirely.
A man in a tie and suspends holding a crate.
6mins
80% of people say they work with at least one terrible coworker.
A man in a blue shirt with his hands outstretched.
5mins
How do people actually get promoted? According to Harvard career coach Gorick Ng, it’s all about knowing the unspoken rules for success.
39mins
Throw away your history books — here’s what life in ancient Rome was really like, according to Cambridge scholar Mary Beard.
The words uber innovation on a black background.
8mins
“You’re not punished for failing, you’re punished for not trying.” Former Uber exec Emil Michael on how to truly achieve success.
A man in a suit and tie is pointing to a quantum computer.
11mins
Theoretical physics professor Michio Kaku outlines the evolution of computers from analog to digital and introduces quantum computers as the next frontier.
An image of a face with a blurred background.
1hr 13mins
This two-time debate world champion gives three tips for constructing the perfect argument.
A man's hand holding a pair of dumbbells on a black background.
Exercise can have surprisingly transformative impacts on the brain, according to neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. It has the power not only to boost mood and focus due to an increase in […]
a green bitcoin logo on a black background.
6mins
Crypto is a lot of things, but it isn’t a currency. "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O’Leary, a.k.a. “Mr. Wonderful,” breaks down what it would take to get there.
an image of a face with a blurred background.
Two-time debate world champion Bo Seo gives 3 tips for constructing the perfect argument.
a hand holding a tiny group of mushrooms.
2hr 9mins
Johns Hopkins professor Dr. Matthew Johnson answers 24 huge questions about psychedelics.
a statue of a man with no shirt on.
10mins
People are having less sex than ever. 3 experts explain the keys to maintaining a passionate relationship.
a green peace sign on a black background.
5mins
Not all conflict is bad. Expert Priya Parker explains how “heat” can be harnessed for good.
two hands reaching for each other with the words your true age.
9mins
Your chronological age and your biological age aren’t the same thing. This ex-Yale professor explains how to tell the difference.
a hand is holding a ball with a model of the solar system.
42mins
Sabine Hossenfelder talks about Albert Einstein, dead grandmothers, the physics of aging, and more in this full interview with Big Think.
a close up of a fish under water.
7mins
Nobel Prize-winning scientist Paul Nurse defines the 5 core principles of life.
a close up of a person with freckles on his face.
1hr 25mins
Richard Reeves explains the big problems facing men today — and why no one is talking about them.
a red question mark kite flying in the sky.
4mins
Asking the wrong questions can hold you back. Natalie Nixon explains how to ask divergent questions to become a great thinker.
8mins
Educator Irshad Manji emphasizes that diversity is a fact of life, and it should be harnessed to unite society rather than divide it. Recognizing that humans tend to react defensively […]