The Armen Show – Page 2 – Science + Technology Podcast for the Lifelong Learner

230: Steven C. Hayes | Accepting What Is And Pivoting Toward What You Want In “A Liberated Mind”

Professor Steven C. Hayes of the University of Nevada is prolific in the category of psychological research. He has put out over 600 scientific articles and 44 books. Most of his research has been in the categories of human language and cognition as they relate to reducing human suffering. He has built a form called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which is psychotherapy using mindfulness and acceptance.

“Dr. Hayes has been President of Division 25 of the APA, of the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. He was the first Secretary-Treasurer of the Association for Psychological Science, which he helped form and has served a 5 year term on the National Advisory Council for Drug Abuse in the National Institutes of Health.”

He joins me on this episode to discuss topics from his book “A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters”. It was a great nonlinear discussion that brought up a lot of insights.

Show notes:

why you need to be continually putting effort in some category to have a chance in it
how those who are not ready for the difficult have no chance to acquire the great
what it takes to pivot toward the things you are interested in
how so many of your thoughts can run on auto-pilot until you deconstruct the steps leading to them
where you need to go mentally to clear up a past issue and come to a conclusion
and much more

You can check out A Liberated Mind on Amazon, or check out Dr. Hayes web page, or his Twitter.

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229: Mark Metry | Story, Message, And Goals From Host Of The Humans 2.0 Podcast

We bring it live on episode 229 of the show with a fellow podcaster – Mark Metry of the Humans 2.0 Podcast. He has had wonderful guests like Robert Greene, Mark Manson, Safi Bahcall(previously on my podcast as well), and more.

Mark brings a lot of momentum to the table, across his episodes, speaking engagements, social media postings, and more. He has a company called VU Dream, which is focused on application of virtual reality and augmented reality technologies.

Show notes:

how Mark started his speaking engagements, and where he sees it going
who some of Mark’s memorable guests are, and what he took from his discussions with them
how a podcaster can improve their reach
what one can do to avoid the life of quiet desperation
why one should keep exploration in their mind when making daily decisions, so as not to stick in an exploitative pattern
what some goals are that Mark has regarding his upcoming career

Glad to have Mark on the show. You can check out his podcast on podcast services under the name Humans 2.0. He is also on Twitter at @markymetry.

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228: Bill Sullivan | Genes, Germs, And Curious Forces Within Humans In “Pleased To Meet Me”

Professor Bill Sullivan of Indiana University School of Medicine joins on episode 228 of the show, and we discuss his book Pleased To Meet Me: Genes, Germs, And The Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are, along with related topics.

He is a Professor with a Ph.D. in Molecular & Cell Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, who had focused on genes for drug-resistance in a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. He has experience with epigenetics, parasites, germs, gene expression, and more. Professor Sullivan also has written for numerous outlets like Scientific American and What Is Epigenetics.

I enjoyed speaking with Bill here, and we covered a variety of topics from the book, as well as some extended questions I had from the book’s framework.

Show notes:

how taste can be different in different people based on ability to be a “super taster”
why your gut bacteria is so important in assisting regulation of your mood and well-being
what makes some people more prone to addiction, and the percentages associated with some levels of addiction
what type of environments contribute to drug use, versus the ones that make drug use seem less appealing
how mood requires a balance of many different parameters
why a polygenic trait like height is desired, and what it represents of the person who has it
what epigenetics has to do with adverse childhood experiences and their lasting impact on an individual

Professor Sullivan’s material is available on his website, and his new book is available on Amazon.

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227: Satya Ma Atmo | Therapist Looking Deeper In Her Healing Practice

Do you heal someone by handling their frantic responses to life, or do you look to respond to their inner child who isn’t fulfilled? Therapist and healer Satya Ya Atma joins on episode 227 to discuss healing and the inner person that we can respond to.

Satya brings both a healing practice and a matching style to the framework. I first noticed her having what might be called a chic jungle type of look, and it matches her larger scale message of connecting. She comes from Israel, and was recently in Peru and Brazil in relation to setting up her practice.

Show notes:

how healing is like getting to some of the inner layers of an onion or one of those Russian dolls
where Satya came from, and how that influences her personality or connection with people of that area and elsewhere
why you are only able to see as far as you have traveled mentally or physically thus far
how adults can either be like their inner child or be trapped in a crippling comfort zone
who you should try to change, and whether that should only be you
how rationalization might be a method to keep away from feeling one’s own internal emotions

Glad to have Satya on the show~. You can check out her site at Open To Love.

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226: Get To Know The Full Spectrum Of Someone, And Full-Scale Interview Prep

We bring the stream of consciousness on episode 226. This one covered a variety of topics I had not planned for before the episode started. I handled a few things during the episode, which was nice to add variety, and I mentioned them during.

Part of this episode was about how I’m prepping differently for when I interview Dr. Christakis, in connection with understanding people more holistically. People are not one-faceted individuals, but have layers of experiences and connections.

We don’t do things in a vacuum, and the collective of humanity traveling through time has no unknowns that have been added during the process of entropy reduction. Enjoy the episode~

Show notes:

why looking through all the interviews of one of my upcoming guests is a great way for my interview to go better
how each person is not just a single element, but a combination of their experiences and connections and happenings
what planning the next week or month can do for personal productivity, management of highs and lows, and fulfillment
how things can be light now and heavy later depending on when you handle them
why you can’t think away a feeling that you are in, and how you roll in a feeling until you get out of that headspace
how figuring something out clears an issue, while leaving it untouched lets it show up as soon as possible

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225: Scott H. Young | The Process Of Taking Information In Quickly And Effectively In His Book “Ultralearning”

The show continues forward with Scott H. Young on episode 225, coming out on the launch day of his book Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career. The book is a guide to master hard skills quickly in any category, including languages, science, programming, and more.

Knowing of Scott for many years, this was a great opportunity to connect with him around the same time that his current book was coming out for people to read and take note of. I first found Scott’s blog when I was writing on my blog Timeless Information, and his content always made sense to me as valuable material, and this was only the case with a few blogs at the time.

We had a great chat here, and Scott is thoughtful about all the content he has put out in text, audio, video, and illustrated form.

Show notes:

how ultralearning methods can lead you more quickly through the process of understanding than conventional learning methods
what the MIT Challenge that Scott created was about, and how he documented his process through the experience
why the likely improvement or adjustment to the general school system is likely to come from outside the built-in system that exists
what it is that leads to the title of the book being Ultralearning, instead of just the title Learning
how you distill and refine the essence of learning well, by looking at individuals who have learned a lot quickly
what it can take to see problems from a broader perspective that sees the macro features and gives less weight to micro details
what languages Scott has learned, and how he would quickly learn a language in a new country
how the feel you have during learning can be more important than a specific method you should use to learn
and more

You can check out Scott’s content across the internet. His book Ultralearning is available on Amazon. Separate from that, his blog that I read from back in 2009 continues to have great content that he writes, his Twitter @ScottHYoung includes his quick insights or thoughts (along with series’ of tweets), and his YouTube channel showcases some of his learning adventures and interviews or discussions about books. I see Scott continuing to put out content in the learning and growth categories for years to come, growing his audience and reach. To more great things~.

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224: Some Takeaways From My Recent Relationship

We all process things a bit differently, and I like to look at what I missed and what I can work on. I like to keep my ego from building, by sharing and talking and thinking through times. I like to come out a more understanding person who is more connected.

This episode is one where I present a few quick messages about things I got to understanding. There might be future content to go deeper into the topics I mentioned here, or I might go into other ones. This is my way of solidifying what I figured out, sharing with someone it could help, and bringing some energy forward.

Here are some show notes:

why you should do for yourself what you seek out for others to fulfill
how light can become heavier when you don’t handle your end
when you should over-communicate and what kind of person it might help
where you can take things when you include the other person
how I process a relationship or experience to come out more whole on the other side of it
what it means to give yourself the love that you seek outside
how you can look at growth experiences in a smooth light

There may be more across these topics or alternate ones. These are the more analytical end, but part of the message here is about handling that part so the warmth and connection can persist.

We all try our best along the way.

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223: Brian Dy | Physical Therapist With Vision To Tackle Widespread Loneliness

Physical therapy and home health is one thing, but empowering others mentally by countering their loneliness is another thing. My friend since high school Brian joins on episode 223 of the show to discuss his interest in putting out content, speaking, empowering people, and battling widespread loneliness.

Brian Dy (PT, DPT, CKTP, CSCS) is a Doctor of Physical Therapy practicing in Seattle, Washington, and he works with patients on their physical ailments. He has recently had an interest in a light transition to forms of speaking and writing in the personal development space. This is a space I have resided in for some time, and so it only makes sense for him to join on the show.

Show notes:

what Brian has been doing in recent years, and what he seeks to do for others
how listening is important, and what makes him a good listener
what the loneliness epidemic is doing, and why it is a category worth responding to
where Brian has been posting articles, and where he may spread his content in the future
how I have known Brian, and things I like about his personality
what a breakup can do to a person, and where it might leave them for months or even years
how loneliness pervades our society, and how it leads to damage beyond the momentary pain
and more

Glad to have Brian on the show. He says things more directly than most, and this is an appreciated feature. Check out his recent articles at Living Your Life. Look out for more~. Onward we go.

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222: Cary McClelland | Personal Stories Of Tech, Soul, Housing, And Challenges In “Silicon City”

The Bay area is a region of technology, higher-level education, and much creativity. There is soul and flair and venture capital. A lot is going on in a small and dense space, and this ignites stories of results, challenges, and struggles. Author Cary McClelland interviewed and collected stories from numerous individuals across the region, and presents a message about what Silicon City is.

From his bio, “Cary is a writer, filmmaker, lawyer, and rights advocate whose work has taken him around the world. He met his wife in San Francisco, where they settled down and built their first home. They now live in Brooklyn with their son.” From talking with him, he is an individual with consideration for the people around him, who is able to feel what the conditions can be like. He also has the ability to present what he sees and feels in text and video form, so as to relay a message over.

I enjoyed my talk with Cary, and list the show notes here:

what led up to the ability and interest in speaking with and interviewing numerous individuals in the Bay area
how much the Bay was headed to by individuals looking to jump on a quick rush without a long-term vision
where the soul of the Bay comes from, and how it connects to adversity
what leads to Balkanization of segments of the region, and if it is more of a decision by the wealthy or a dynamic process
how the merging of the two worlds in each city, with one being better off, can be looked at
why individuals have to decide whether to commute or stay in their cars to live and work around the bay
and much more articulation provided by Cary

There is a lot to learn from this episode. The region of San Francisco and its local counties has a lot of weight attached to it, in terms of energy, activity, money coming in and being transferred, and creativity. It is important to look at where it is headed, how its people are doing, and what this says about cities elsewhere.

You can check out Cary on Twitter or the book on Amazon.

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221: Safi Bahcall | How To Support Innovative Ideas And The “Loonshots” Behind Them

People pushing a risky or new message are in a difficult spot, because the support for their moment is not high. They have to work well with others who do things in a more steady form. In the book “Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries”, Safi Bahcall discusses the importance of and ideas behind keeping innovative ideas from being lost into the abyss.

Safi is a technologist, business executive, and author. He got his BA summa cum laude from Harvard, and his PhD from Stanford. He worked as a consultant for McKinsey, and then co-founded a biotech company Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. developing cancer drugs, which he served as CEO at for thirteen years. He also worked with President Obama’s council of science advisors for future national research.

Here are the show notes for my episode with Safi:

how Loonshots are separated into two types based on product or strategy
what it takes to get an innovative idea through an organization
how Vannevar Bush was a big part of the basis for research and development in the United States
where the 150-person rule for groups comes from, and why it applies to both social networks and corporations
what Dr. Bahcall learned from his school and work experience throughout the recent years
when to listen to others and take their message into account as a CEO
how a lone individual can only do so much based on the structure of the scenario they are placed in
how structure trumps culture as far as application

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220: Allison Schrager | Risk Mitigation With Examples In “An Economist Walks Into A Brothel”

Understanding risk is an economic way to understand the decisions and systems in our communities and finances. Economist Allison Schrager looks at risk in fields at the more extreme ends of the spectrum, to understand it with less noise in place.

Professor Allison Schrager teaches at NYU, and has a PhD in Economics from Columbia University, with her Bachelors from the University of Edinburgh. She is an economist, journalist at Quartz, and cofounder of LifeCycle Finance Partners, LLC. She has contributed to The Economist, Reuters, and Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

Show notes:

what sex work can teach about risk management, and how Allison looked at a specific brothel to understand the value proposition
where in life you have your risks managed, whereas you have them completely ignored in other categories
when to take a risk and when to lean towards the safer option
why you should define what risk and reward mean to you, so that you can take and seek levels complementary to your nature
how to include your human irrationality into your risk modeling
what it takes to get the most bang for your buck in the department of risk-taking
how hedging and insurance are methods used to master your domain
what you can expect in your assessments, and what type of room you need to leave for unanticipated events
where the perspective of the world has gone, in terms of having control of the world you live in

I was glad to have Professor Schrager on episode 220. You can check out her articles on Quartz, home page, or her book on Amazon.

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219: Matthew O. Jackson | Social, Financial, And Global Network Dynamics In “The Human Network”

Your social position determines your power, beliefs, behaviors, and the way that you interact with the world. Are you a central figure in groups that you participate in? Are you able to get information or leverage transferred smoothly? Did the financial institutions of yesterday have all the information that they needed?

Economics Professor Matthew O. Jackson of Stanford University discusses topics related to this in his book The Human Network. He graduated with a PhD from Stanford in 1988, and has done much research in economics and social networks over the past 25 years. He is also a member of the Santa Fe Institute, and wrote Social and Economic Networks prior to this version of it. We discussed his book contents, his career, and thoughts on networks.

Show notes:

how the degree of centrality, and the different kinds of centrality, impact how quickly information or influence can transfer from you or others
whose family benefited greatly from being a central figure in the Middle Ages, coordinating communication between many
what types of value can be provided in networks that you are currently part of
why externalities should be taken into account when decision-making, as they are part of the variable set
how the financial networks remain in a precarious situation with regards to global economic well-being
what it takes for a financial contagion to spread or take hold
what people take into account for how they group with similar individuals of economic or educational status
why reaching across groups can cause suspicion or thoughts of being a traitor
how the area you live in during youth is so relevant to future earnings, regardless of small changes like tax rates or incentives
how prediction market(like those created by Dr. Robin Hanson) show results of an issue before even knowing the result
why being aware of biases and flaws in analysis of what is seen counters effects of averaging

It was wonderful to have Professor Jackson on the show. I took solid notes on his book, with good subheadings, and enjoy the fact that he created the book as a more public version of his prior book. He does current research and finds models for networks that were not mapped out prior. You can check out his webpage, his research, and his book.

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218: David Hu | Animal/Robotic Movement, Fluid Mechanics, And More In “How to Walk on Water and Climb up Walls”

The way that organisms move is a precursor to how robots will map their movements out. Animals can do things like walk on water and climb up vertical surfaces, and knowing how this works is useful. Professor David Hu of Georgia Tech explores these topics in his book How to Walk on Water and Climb up Walls.

Professor Hu is Associate Professor of Fluid Mechanics at The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. He runs the Hu Laboratory for Locomotion at his institution. He got his Bachelors and Masters, along with his PhD in Mathematics, at MIT. Most of his research focuses on hydrodynamics and elasticity problems as they relate to biology.

Show notes:

what biolocomotion is involved with, and how evolution has impacted animals and the insect world in terms of movement
why looking at nature is a good way to get ideas for mechanical devices that are more effective or better maintaining
where Professor Hu looked for inspiration, or bioinspiration, to see what the next item of research would be
how insects or animals can walk on water based on surface tension
what kinds of analysis it requires to be able to take a guess regarding locomotion and test it out in terms of basis
how body movements and material properties have to be looked at as a pair to be able to decipher their value
what kinds of animals need to undulate or slither to be able to get the most efficiency for their movement
how some of these advances connect to upcoming robots that are able to touch and move things in a more gentle way than current robots

I was glad to have Professor Hu on the show. He is a personable individual with a good sense of humor. You can check out his book on Amazon, look at his research articles, or look at his lab page.

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217: Vince Beiser | How Sand Served As A Natural Resource That Transformed Civilization

Sand is one of the overlooked natural resources of the world, and is a huge part of the cities that we live and transport around in. In his book The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How it Transformed Civilization, journalist Vince Beiser speaks to the importance of this resource, as well as the stories related to its acquisition and usage.

Vince has served as a journalist in over 100 countries, reported from California’s harshest prisons, ridden with first responders, and contributed to Wired, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, the LA Times, and more. He continues to work as an award-winning journalist based in Los Angeles.

Show notes:

why sand on beaches is at risk of being reduced all around the world
how violence is attached to battles for sand in some parts of India and elsewhere
where sand operations have allowed for building of whole cities
what sand is used to build, and what other substances come from sand
how reinforced concrete became the main element for strong buildings
how more cars leads to more paved road, which led to more cars
why is it worthwhile to look at sustainability and personal usage of cars and fuel sources in relation to sand limits and violence related to it

I was glad to have Vince on the show. You can check out his book The World in a Grain on Amazon, or check out his website.

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216: Steven Strogatz | Calculus, Biological Dynamics, And More From His Book “Infinite Powers”

Calculus is a branch of mathematics that speaks to the flow of our society. You might think of derivatives and integrals, but you can also think of it as deconstruction and reconstruction. Professor Steven Strogatz of Cornell University wrote Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe to detail how calculus links with universal dynamics.

Professor Strogatz is the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Applied Mathematics at Cornell University. He graduated from Princeton University with a degree in mathematics, attended Trinity College and completed his doctoral work in applied math at Harvard, and then did a postdoctorate at Harvard and Boston University. He then taught at MIT, and then joined Cornell faculty in 1994, where he currently continues to teach.

Some of the items Professor Strogatz has worked on include biology as it relates to math, geometry of supercoiled DNA, sleep-wake cycle dynamics, 3D chemical wave topology, collective behavior of oscillators, and social system structural balance. There is a theme of waves across many of the categories. He has worthwhile papers on these topics, along with co-authoring the 6th most cited physics paper of all time(which is also the 63rd most cited research article of all time), on small-world networks.

Show notes:

how Professor Strogatz got to being a researcher and math professor
where he attended, and the takeaways that he got at those institutions
what small-world networks bring to the table as advantages
what similarity worm neural networks have with the power grid of the western United States
why Calculus is linked to rules of growth, laws of motion, and more
when math can apply in your day-to-day life, and why it is valuable to have a sense of the dynamics you see
how calculus is connected to HIV clearance and immune response in the body, through exponential growth curves
what math feedback from teachers can do to student’s esteem levels

You can check out on Professor’s Strogatz website, which has all his research articles, or see his book on Amazon. It was great to have him on the show, and connect with someone interested in some of the same topics as myself.

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215: Leveraging Your Strengths, And Some Words About Nipsey Hussle

You have a set of strengths and built up investments that is your source of highest energy. It is worth working from that, instead of starting items from scratch. One is way more motivating than the other. On episode 215 of the show, I discuss this concept.

As well, I want to include material on Nipsey Hussle and his passing, along with how it relates to leverage.

Show notes:

why you should leverage the strengths that you have
how looking at what you have is inspiring as compared with the alternative viewpoint
what you can do to use leverage for your workouts
when to apply points of leverage to your being
how social connections connect to this concept, with some efforts of yours being the priorities
why certain places give you more leverage than others, and how to get a sense of where they are
how to see where you have already built up leverage and investment, in order to expand on it
why Nipsey Hussle knew this concept and applied it to his efforts
how he impacted his community, and the message to take away
what it means to be valuable to others around you

Glad to have you listening on episode 215 of the show. The show you know about. On to the next.

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214: Paty Ramirez | Life Coaching With Care, Meditation, And Broad Perspective

Caring is something we look to see more of. In episode 214, transformational life coach Paty Ramirez joins to discuss what got her into coaching, how she has applied her abilities, the importance of meditation, and more.

Having some of these life skills is the differentiating point between a person who is trapped in a condition and a person who is at peace with the world. Meditating can clear the path to that inner peace.

Show notes:

where Paty has been at recent times in her life
what caused Paty to get into life coaching in the first place
how the best teachers are the ones who have gone through the process for themselves
how some of her clients have been impacted by her working with them
what Paty brings to life coaching that separates her from others
how you can do meditation in different ways, and what it provides
what broad perspective can do to someone stuck in a labyrinth of their own making
and more

This episode was recorded at Pan Pacific Park in West Hollywood. I was glad to have Paty on the show, and originally met her through Heidi Paquette-Falk. You can also check out Paty’s @selflovemafia on Instagram.

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213: Nick Tovar | Scientific Thinking, IT For Surgical Imaging, Technology Viewpoints, And Gaming

Scientific thinkers get along. Guest Nick Tovar on episode 213 is my friend of a long time, and both of us think about and keep up with recent science and technology.

Nick does IT for a company that makes imaging products that doctors use for surgeries and related applications.

Show notes:

how we met and our background in activities we have done
why upcoming technology is valuable and how it is being used
what Nick thinks about AI, 3D printing, VR, and ore
where we went to school or were at during different times of our life
what kinds of games Nick has played, along with my connection to such games
how Nick thinks about life perspective in relation to productivity, competition, learning, and more
what Nick has in mind as a goal or goals for 2019

Glad to have Nick on the show~. He may return at a later time to discuss specific scientific research articles or related concepts with me.

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212: Doruk Gundogan | From Lawyer To Actor, Observation, Questioning Everything, And Life Shifts

You might know of Doruk Gundogan from his lawyering (word I just made up) after studying law at Cambridge, or you may know of him currently as an actor in the United States. Doruk joins us on episode 212 of the show to let us know about his story and perspective, and how an observational style gives a sense of self.

Show notes:

why observation is a big basis for how you understand others and develop your own style in response
how the small details of a person’s actions and behaviors can say a lot about who they are in a short period of time
how not being too concerned with your success in a category gives you a big advantage in the category
what kind of risk it is to change up your living situation or profession in a world where these things are commonly fixed in place
how the visceral response to the uncomfortable leads to the expression of our internal humanity that was there the whole time
why it is very valuable to question all that is around you
how Doruk had a long-term plan to shift to his current acting role that felt more appropriate as a thing
battle between me and Doruk inspired by no one else who was there

Glad to have Doruk on the show~

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211: Mimmy Loftin | Views On Love And Sexuality For Teens And Tweens In “Your Body Is A Gift”

We bring a variety of perspectives to The Armen Show podcast, and this episode is no exception. Guest Mimmy Loftin is author of an upcoming book about sexuality, love, and relationships.

I always like to support creators doing their thing, because they are able to reach out to someone who meshes well with them.

In this episode, we discussed:

sections of her book, from the broad to the narrow to the self-focused
ways that consistent use of pornography during formative teenage years impacts future ability to connect
conquest philosophy and how it has limiting features
the ways that sex has developed over recent decades in the media

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