Marc Andreessen: How Risk Taking, Innovation & Artificial Intelligence Transform Human Experience

In this episode, my guest is Marc Andreessen, the legendary software innovator who co-created the internet browser Mosaic, co-founded Netscape, and is now at Andreessen Horowitz — a venture capital firm that finds and brings to life technologies that transform humanity. We discuss what it takes to be a true innovator, including the personality traits required, the role of environment and the support systems needed to bring revolutionary ideas to fruition. We discuss risk-taking as a necessary but potentially hazardous trait, as well as the role of intrinsic motivation and one’s ability to navigate uncertainty. We also discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and Marc’s stance that soon everyone will use AI as their personalized coach and guide for making decisions about their health, relationships, finances and more — all of which he believes will greatly enhance our quality of life. We also delve into nuclear power, gene editing, public trust, universities, politics, and AI regulation. This episode is for those interested in the innovative mind, psychology, human behavior, technology, culture and politics.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.

Thank you to our sponsors

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Timestamps

(00:00:00) Marc Andreessen

(00:03:21) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:06:05) Personality Traits of an Innovator

(00:12:49) Disagreeableness, Social Resistance; Loneliness & Group Think 

(00:18:48) Testing for Innovators, Silicon Valley

(00:23:18) Unpredictability, Pre-Planning, Pivot

(00:28:53) Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation, Social Comparison

(00:32:53) Sponsor: AG1

(00:33:49) Innovators & Personal Relationships

(00:39:24) Risk Taking, Innovators, “Martyrs to Civilizational Progress”

(00:46:16) Cancel Culture, Public vs. Elite

(00:53:08) Elites & Institutions, Trust

(00:57:38) Sponsor: InsideTracker

(00:58:44) Social Media, Shifts in Public vs. Elite 

(01:05:45) Reform & Institutions, Universities vs. Business

(00:14:14) Traditional Systems, Lysenkoism, Gen X

(01:20:56) Alternative University; Great Awakenings; Survivorship Bias 

(01:27:25) History of Computers, Neural Network, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

(01:35:50) Apple vs. Google, Input Data Set, ChatGPT

(01:42:08) Deep Fakes, Registries, Public-Key Cryptography; Quantum Internet

(01:46:46) AI Positive Benefits, Medicine, Man & Machine Partnership

(01:52:18) AI as Best-Self Coach; AI Modalities

(01:59:19) Gene Editing, Precautionary Principle, Nuclear Power

(02:05:38) Project Independence, Nuclear Power, Environmentalism

(02:12:40) Concerns about AI

(02:18:00) Future of AI, Government Policy, Europe, US & China

(02:23:47) China Businesses, Politics; Gene Editing 

(02:28:38) Marketing, Moral Panic & New Technology; Politics, Podcasts & AI

(02:39:03) Innovator Development, Courage, Support 

(02:46:36) Small Groups vs. Large Organization, Agility; “Wild Ducks”

(02:54:50) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media 

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

Goals Toolkit: How to Set & Achieve Your Goals

In this episode, I describe science-based protocols to set and achieve your goals in a way that maximizes the likelihood of reaching them. I explain how to define a priority and reach a specific goal by systematically assessing the challenge level, measurability, milestones, and action states needed to make progress from start to finish. I also explain research-supported tools to improve your performance during cognitive or physical goal work — including directed visualization, variable reward timing, and optimizing your physical environment. I also dispel common myths about goal setting and achievement. This episode provides a science-supported toolkit of zero-cost strategies for goal-setting, goal-pursuit, and goal-completion that can be applied to any physical or cognitive endeavor.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Goal Setting Toolkit

(00:02:26) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:04:43) Biology of Goal Setting & Pursuit

(00:08:50) Tool 1: Choose a Priority Goal

(00:12:04) Tool 2: Pursue Lofty Goals

(00:17:23) Tool 3: Define Verb Actions, Measurability & Specificity; Writing vs. Typing

(00:24:06) Tool 4: Visual Reminder Myth; “Post-It Fallacy”

(00:26:44) Tool 5: Accountability Myth, “Don’t Tell the World” Rule

(00:31:35) Intrinsic Motivation & Goal Achievement 

(00:33:22) Sponsor: AG1

(00:33:54) Tool 6: Measurable Goal; Quarterly Cycle

(00:37:35) Tool 7: Quantifiable Goals; Book Writing

(00:43:34) Tool 8: Visualization of End; Motivation & Negative Thinking

(00:50:38) Sponsor: InsideTracker

(00:51:44) Tool 9: Visual Target/Finish Line Training & Perceived Effort

(01:05:50) Tool 10: Distance from Phone

(01:08:31) Tool 11: Random, Intermittent Reinforcement; Cognitive Rewards

(01:17:11) Tool 12: “Middle Problem”; Time Chunking

(01:23:16) Tool 13: Circadian Rhythm & Attention

(01:30:09) Tool 14: Protocol Flexibility, Subjective Feelings

(01:32:13) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media 

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

Dr. David Linden: Life, Death & the Neuroscience of Your Unique Experience

In this episode, my guest is Dr. David Linden, Ph.D., professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the author of many popular books about the brain. We discuss individual differences between people — focusing on differences in how people sense the world around them and the roles that chance, heredity, and life experiences (even in utero) play in determining our physical and cognitive traits. We discuss the bidirectional connection between the mind and body and how our thoughts and mental practices (e.g., meditation and breathwork) impact our health. We also discuss the link between inflammation and depression. We also discuss Dr. Linden’s terminal illness diagnosis, his mindset during chemotherapy and what his diagnosis has taught him about the mind, gratitude, time perception and life. This episode also covers sensual touch, cerebellar function, and epigenetic inheritance and ought to be of interest to all interested in neuroscience, genetics, psychology and human development. 

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) David Linden

(00:04:15) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:07:54) Sensory Touch & Genitals, Krause Corpuscles

(00:16:46) Sexual Experiences & Sensation

(00:19:14) Human Individuality & Variation; Senses & Odor Detection

(00:29:32) Sponsor: AG1

(00:31:22) Visual Individuality; Heat Tolerance; Early Life Experiences & Variation

(00:40:28) Auditory Variability, Perfect Pitch

(00:42:08) Heritability & Human Individuality: Cognitive & Physical Traits

(00:49:36) Heritability, Environment, Personality; Twin Studies

(01:01:19) Development, Chance; Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance

(01:07:37) Single Generation Epigenetic Inheritance & Stress; Autism

(01:15:52) Sleep Paralysis; Cerebellum, Prediction

(01:23:47) Nature vs. Nature, Experience; Linden Hypothesis

(01:30:37) Mind-Body Interaction; Chemical Signals

(01:39:10) Inflammation & Depression

(01:43:35) Neuroplasticity, Inflammation & Mental Disorders; Microglial Cells, Exercise 

(01:52:15) Fads & Science

(01:55:16) Mind-Body Communication; Cancer 

(02:03:28) Mind-Body, Mediation, Breathwork

(02:07:30) Atrial Fibrillation, Synovial Sarcoma, Heart 

(02:14:22) Gratitude & Anger; Chemotherapy, Curiosity & Time Perception

(02:19:58) Death, Brain & Future Prediction, Religion & Afterlife

(02:24:15) Life Advice; Time Perception & Gratitude

(02:34:35) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

Dr. Rena Malik: Improving Sexual & Urological Health in Males and Females

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Rena Malik, M.D., a board-certified urologist and pelvic surgeon, male and female pelvic medicine expert, and public health educator. We discuss the major causes of and treatments for sexual and urologic dysfunction, including how to restore, maintain and enhance pelvic floor function and proper neural and vascular (blood) supply to the genitals. We also discuss what controls and can enhance desire and arousal, how to assess and treat erectile dysfunction, and challenges with vaginal lubrication and/or orgasm. We also discuss vaginal and penile health, including preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) and which common prescription drugs can cause sexual dysfunction in males and females. This episode covers a range of topics: oral contraception, masturbation, pornography, prostate health, and male and female hormone health. 

Note: This episode covers topics related to sexual and reproductive health. Some content might not be suitable for all audiences and ages.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Rena Malik

(00:04:21) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:07:45) Pelvic Floor: Urination & Sexual Function

(00:14:13) What is a Healthy Pelvic Floor?

(00:19:44) Kegels, Benefits & Risks, Urinary Incontinence

(00:24:08) Pelvic Floor Relaxation; Exercise & Pelvic Floor

(00:28:03) Desire vs. Arousal, Erections: Psychology, Hormones, Blood Flow & Nerves

(00:35:31) Sponsor: AG1

(00:37:07) Pelvic Floor: Medical Professionals & Physical Therapy

(00:40:15) Sexual Dysfunction, Erectile Dysfunction, Orgasm Difficulty

(00:43:13) Desire & Arousal Issues; Erectile Dysfunction, Viagra, Cialis (Tadalafil) 

(00:52:20) L-Citrulline, Supplements

(00:54:09) Erectile Dysfunction & Cialis; Prostate Health; Females 

(00:58:58) Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men

(01:01:37) Pornography, Masturbation & Ejaculation; Healthy Sexual Behavior 

(01:08:22) Arousal Habituation, Masturbation, Addiction

(01:12:57) Female Arousal Response, Orgasm, Coolidge Effect

(01:17:22) Priapism, Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone; Women & Low Libido Medications

(01:22:25) Libido & Individuality

(01:26:18) Female Arousal, Vaginal Lubrication; Discharge, Odors & Douching

(01:33:09) Vaginal Infections, Discharge; Vaginal Microbiome

(01:35:45) Female Orgasm, Vaginal Penetration, Stimulation, Clitoris, G-Spot

(01:42:31) Erection & Orgasm, Pelvic Floor Muscles

(01:46:32) Dopamine-Enhancing Medication & Arousal Arc

(01:51:18) Menstrual Cycle & Libido

(01:52:49) Vaginal Penetration, Variation & Communication 

(01:55:24) Sexual Interaction Communication, Sex Therapists

(01:58:45) Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Male & Females; Prevention, Vaginal Estrogen

(02:04:04) Male Urination Sitting; Spermicide, Cranberry, D-Mannose & UTIs

(02:11:33) Testosterone, Post-Menopausal Women & Libido

(02:14:56) Kidney Stones: Prevention & Treatment

(02:19:14) Oral Contraception, Libido, Individuality, Intrauterine Device (IUDs)

(02:26:52) Anti-Depressants, SSRIs & Low Libido

(02:29:32) Prostate Health, Cialis, Urination Difficulty

(02:34:22) Bicycling, Genital Numbness, Erectile Dysfunction

(02:37:48) Anal Sex, Females, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Lubricants

(02:44:14) Libido, Behavioral Interventions, Supplements

(02:49:15) Supplements for Libido

(02:52:14) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

Ketamine: Benefits and Risks for Depression, PTSD & Neuroplasticity

In this episode, I explain how ketamine causes rewiring of brain circuits and dissociative states to relieve symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I explain how ketamine impacts both the brain’s glutamate and its endogenous opioid pathways, which together regulate mood and well-being. I discuss how ketamine therapy is used clinically to treat major depression, bipolar depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), suicidality and other psychiatric challenges. I also describe how ketamine causes the subjective effects of dissociation and euphoria and, at higher doses, is an anesthetic. I compare the different routes of ketamine administration, dosages and forms of ketamine, and if micro-dosing ketamine is effective. I also highlight the potential risks of recreational ketamine use (and the colloquial term ‘K-holes’). This episode should interest anyone interested in ketamine, treatments for depression, neuroplasticity mechanisms, psychiatry and mental health.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Ketamine

(00:02:46) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:05:13) Ketamine & PCP; Clinical & Recreational Use

(00:09:00) Depression & Current Treatments

(00:15:17) Preclinical Models of Depression & Ketamine; “Learned Helplessness” 

(00:22:11) Ketamine & Clinical Uses; Depression & Suicidality 

(00:28:32) Ketamine & Other Psychiatric Challenges; Relief & Durability 

(00:33:40) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)

(00:34:29) NMDA Receptor & Neuroplasticity

(00:41:36) Excitatory & Inhibitory Communication, Seizure, NMDA Receptors & Ketamine

(00:48:26) How Ketamine Functions in Brain; Acute & Long-Term Effects

(00:55:36) Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) & Ketamine Therapy

(01:03:40) Ketamine & Opioid Pathway 

(01:10:00) Divergent Mechanisms of Immediate & Long-Term Effects

(01:15:45) Habenula, Pro-Depressive Behaviors & Ketamine Therapy

(01:20:36) Ketamine & Context-Dependent Strategy; Reward Pathway

(01:22:45) Dissociative States

(01:26:04) Doses & Routes of Administration; “K-holes”; Risk & Caution

(01:32:25) Ketamine Forms; R-, S- vs R/S- Ketamine; Micro-Dosing

(01:38:24) Ketamine: Effects & Therapy

(01:40:40) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

Tony Hawk: Harnessing Passion, Drive & Persistence for Lifelong Success

In this episode, my guest is Tony Hawk, the legendary and pioneering professional skateboarder, video game and skateboard industry entrepreneur, and founder of the Skatepark Project, whose philanthropic mission is to help underserved communities create safe and inclusive public skateparks for all youth. We discuss his career, how he helped popularize and evolve the sport of skateboarding, and his role as an ambassador for skateboard culture. We also discuss where he derives his intrinsic drive, how he sets and evolves goals and how he has made remarkable and continual progress throughout his career. We also discuss Tony’s ability to overcome what would otherwise be career-ending injuries. For anyone seeking to find or pursue their passion and make lifelong progress while serving the larger world, this episode with Tony Hawk ought to be of deep interest.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Tony Hawk

(00:03:32) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:05:55) Childhood & Self-Concept

(00:11:08) Early Skateboarding & Skateparks

(00:16:58) Adolescence, Skateboarding

(00:23:10) Turning Professional, The Bones Brigade

(00:32:01) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)

(00:35:27) Trick Development & Evolution

(00:40:33) Visualization, Dreaming

(00:47:09) “Feeling” While Skateboarding

(00:51:15) Drive & Discipline; Injuries

(00:58:46) Injury Recovery Practices

(01:06:52) Healthy Life Practices & Skateboarding

(01:15:03) Video Game Development

(01:23:00) Financial Investments, Birdhouse

(01:30:16) Professionalism; Hobbies

(01:35:43) Kids, Parents & Skateboarding

(01:44:15) Music; High School

(01:49:28) Females in Skateboarding

(01:56:04) Inspiration, Kids, Bones Brigade

(02:01:18) Memorabilia, Autographs

(02:05:50) Skatepark Project

(02:08:14) Future Goals & Aspirations

(02:13:08) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

Dr. Maya Shankar: How to Shape Your Identity & Goals

In this episode, my guest is Maya Shankar, Ph.D., a cognitive scientist, former senior advisor to the White House and Chair of the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team. She is the creator and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. We discuss how our identities develop and change, how our beliefs and internal narratives shape our perception of self, and how to use structured introspection about our values to determine our goals. We discuss how to cope and grow through uncertain situations, especially those that force us to reexamine our roles and identity. Dr. Shankar shares her experience of redefining her identity after an early career-ending setback. She also explains numerous science-based strategies to effectively define goals, structure our goal pursuits and maintain consistent motivation. This episode provides a science-supported toolkit and roadmap to assess your identity and goals and positively transform in the face of change.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Maya Shankar

(00:02:53) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:05:15) Identity Foreclosure, Identity Paralysis, Throughlines

(00:12:10) Identity & Adolescence; “Essence” & Shame

(00:16:58) Delight & Awe

(00:23:00) Delight & Possibilities for Self

(00:29:28) Playing Violin, Childhood

(00:35:17) Sponsor: AG1

(00:35:58) Intrinsic Motivation; Juilliard & Courage

(00:45:43) Competitive Environments; Curiosity & Growth

(00:53:46) Re-Creating of Self

(01:00:51) Pop-Science, Science Accessibility

(01:06:32) Passions & Curiosity

(01:13:20) Change, Cognitive Closure, End-of-History Illusion

(01:22:29) Self-Awareness & Critical Feedback

(01:30:48) Tools: Flexible Mindset; Reframing & Venting; Gratitude

(01:40:13) Tool: Framing Goals

(01:47:13) Tool: Agency in Goal Pursuit

(01:52:25) Tool: Like-Minded People & Goal Pursuit; Challenging Beliefs

(02:01:27) Cultivating Open-Mindedness & Empathy

(02:08:15) Building Self Narratives: Empathy, Burnout

(02:13:56) Tools: Goal Setting

(02:19:54) Tool: “Middle Problem”, Maintaining Motivation

(02:24:55) Tool: Aversion & Memory, Peak-End Rule

(02:31:41) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

How to Enhance Performance & Learning by Applying a Growth Mindset

In this episode, I discuss how to build and apply a growth mindset — the practice of self-rewarding and focusing on learning and skill development through effort — to improve learning and performance. I also discuss how our internal narratives drive our ability to make progress. I contrast the growth mindset vs. the fixed mindset and describe how the type of feedback or praise we receive shapes our mindsets, and the huge advantage of rewarding and celebrating “verbs” (actions) rather than adjectives (performance labels). I also discuss data showing how stress can enhance performance and explain why the growth mindset works synergistically with the “stress-is-enhancing mindset,” and how to combine them. Whether you are a student, coach, therapist, parent, teacher or simply someone seeking to improve at something, this episode provides numerous science-supported tools for how to adopt a performance enhancing mindset.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Growth Mindset

(00:03:11) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:05:17) Mindset & Narrative

(00:12:58) Intelligence Feedback vs. Effort Feedback, Identity Labels

(00:20:10) Intelligence vs. Effort Praise: Performance, Persistence & Self-Representation

(00:26:45) Fixed Intelligence vs. Growth Mindset

(00:28:53) Tool: Intelligence (Performance) vs. Effort Narrative, Labels

(00:32:30) Sponsor: AG1

(00:34:36) Tool: Failure & Identity; Effort & Verbs

(00:35:41) Tool: Timing, Intelligence vs. Effort Praise & Performance

(00:40:080 Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset: Failure & Performance

(00:50:28) Tool: Shift from Fixed Mindset

(00:54:23) Sponsor: InsideTracker

(00:55:30) Stress-is-Enhancing Mindset

(01:05:53) How Stress Can Enhance Performance 

(01:13:21) Growth Mindset + Stress-is-Enhancing Mindset & Performance

(01:20:36) Reframing Stress

(01:25:45) Tool 1: Student & Teacher Mindset

(01:28:17) Tool 2: Effort Praise/Feedback: Verbs not Labels

(01:31:24) Tool 3: Errors & Seeking Help

(01:32:58) Tool 4: Self-Teaching & Growth Mindset

(01:34:35) Tool 5: Reframe “Mind is Like a Muscle” Analogy

(01:39:20) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer