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The Next Big Idea

Next Big Idea Club
Artificial Intelligence
Mental Health
Psychology
Climate Change
Consciousness
Education
Happiness
Neuroscience
Technology
Creativity
Social Media
Personal Development
Nutrition
Memory
Storytelling
Relationships
Free Will
Anxiety
Uncertainty
Depression

The Next Big Idea is a weekly series of in-depth interviews with the world’s leading thinkers. Join hosts Rufus Griscom and Caleb Bissinger — along with our curators, Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink — for conversations that might just change the way you see the world. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. For ad inquiries, please reach out to: Network+NBI@yapmedia.com

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes343Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureEducation

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Latest Episodes

What do your five senses — sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch — have to do with happiness? According to Gretchen Rubin, a great deal. The world around us, she says, has the potential to dazzle, to entertain, to trigger a state of rapture. If only ... more

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America's a funny place. It's not a country with a fixed geographic or religious identity. We don't have a common story of divine creation. "What we have," writes Ben Rhodes in his new book, ⁠All We Say⁠, "are words." The words of the founding docume... more

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In his mega-bestseller Four Thousand Weeks, Oliver Burkeman showed that the finitude of life “isn’t a reason for unremitting despair, or for living in an anxiety-fueled panic about making the most of your limited time. It’s a cause for relief.” In hi... more

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Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and host of "The Most Interesting Thing in AI," joins Rufus and Caleb to explain why the machines may master our minds long before they master our muscles — and what that gap tells us about where AI is headed. A... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nick Thompson
CEO of The Atlantic; host of The Most Interesting Thing in AI
The Atlantic
Episode: When Will AI Empty Your Dishwasher? (with Nicholas Thompson)
Simone Stolzoff
Author of How to Not Know
Author, How to Not Know
Episode: What if Uncertainty Isn’t Such a Bad Thing?
Majid Fotuhi
Neuroscientist, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: You Can Grow Your Brain. Here’s How.
Will Guidara
Founder of the hospitality agency Thank You; author of Unreasonable Hospitality
Thank You; Book: Unreasonable Hospitality
Episode: We're Still Thinking About This Conversation with Will Guidara
David Epstein
Author of Inside the Box; guest on the show
David Epstein, author
Episode: Here’s Our Favorite Book of the Season
Nir Eyal
Author of Beyond Belief
Author, Beyond Belief
Episode: “Beliefs Are Tools, Not Truths”
David Pogue
Author and former New York Times tech columnist
Author, Apple book author
Episode: The History and Future of Apple
Tony Fadell
Entrepreneur and inventor known for iPod, iPhone, and Nest
Futureshape (investment/advisory)
Episode: Best Of: Tony Fadell’s Guide to Building Products, Startups and Careers
Sebastian Mallaby
Journalist and author of The Infinity Machine
Author, The Infinity Machine
Episode: Demis Hassabis Wants to Build AGI. Should We Trust Him?

Hosts

Rufus Griscom
Host of The Next Big Idea
Caleb Bissinger
Host of The Next Big Idea

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • Favourite podcast

    It’s really my favourite podcast; very well produced and they thrive to cycle through different topics (not just AI). They started to bring in opposing views and mention them more clearly, but in general they could do better critically comparing and contrasting. For instance, broscience by Peter Attia. When it come out, they gave Attia 2 episodes as one of the most important things; however, since Attia published his book, it became clear that it was debunked in so many ways and highly unscienti... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ddddddddddaniel
    Germany21 days ago
  • Great Episode on John & Paul’s Creative Partnership

    I’ve been a fan of this podcast for years, it’s always great, but the episode about Ian Leslie’s book on John and Paul’s creative relationship finally compelled me to leave a review. I’m a huge Beatles fan.

    Ian’s deep dive into their creative symbiosis was fascinating, and Caleb, who hosted this one, asked super thoughtful questions that made the conversation really warm and engaging.

    Highly recommend this episode for music and pop culture fans. I ordered the book right after listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wfox454
    United States3 months ago
  • Ironic

    I find it ironic you interrupt the show to mention about Peter Attia yet don’t mention Ari Emmanuel, zeke’s brother, involvement with Epstein

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bruindude88
    United States4 months ago
  • I just found and started listening, right now.

    Did I just find my people? As I listen to commercials. I’m hopeful. In my simple description of “people” that are okay with enough for you less for me are “Sheep in Wolf clothing”. They know. But not enough for their “Golden Calf’s”; will allow solutions. When any money is involved.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JollyGee33
    United States7 months ago
  • Sam Kass is a Leader

    I’d love to see this podcast platform even more thought leaders. I want my country to do a better job of elevating calm people with good stories, who know how to tell those stories well. I really liked hearing Sam’s telling of where he thinks investment should go with AgTech, his point that many markets are not actually big enough for climate disruption tech, and his ability to tell a clear story. Most of all, I liked his take on optimistic realism for the future. Cheers also to our host of inte... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Disappointed in Veo
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality, book-led deep dives that reward attentive listening.
Audience appreciates practical takeaways and clear host questioning.
Thoughtful, well-produced conversations with strong guests.
Consistent intellectual rigor and broad topic range, though some episodes polarize opinions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#162
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#90
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#213
United Kingdom/Education
Apple Podcasts
#189
Australia/Education
Apple Podcasts
#207
Germany/Education
Apple Podcasts
#98
South Africa/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What if Uncertainty Isn’t Such a Bad Thing?
Q: Why is uncertainty something to be welcomed rather than avoided?
Because uncertainty can be the birthplace of learning, adaptability, and genuine progress, and it helps people act with purpose even when the full path isn't visible.
You Can Grow Your Brain. Here’s How.
Q: Do you think most people are wrong about intelligence being fixed by genetics?
Yes. Cognitive capacity can be enhanced at any age, and intelligence is a function of multiple networks in the brain that are malleable with practice, environment, and lifestyle.
Turning Constraints Into Breakthroughs with David Epstein
Q: Can you elaborate on the idea of constraint as a tool in business and technology, perhaps with Pixar or General Magic as examples?
The discussion highlights how constraint-driven planning, early prototyping, and disciplined focus prevent scope creep and misaligned products. In Pixar, wallets and timelines were aligned with well-defined boundaries, while General Magic showed how too much freedom without a coherent customer problem led to a catastrophic failure despite talent and funding.
Turning Constraints Into Breakthroughs with David Epstein
Q: How did the experience with constraints influence your approach to writing and structuring books, particularly Inside the Box?
Epstein explains that he used constraints as a creative framework: limiting the book's scope to a single page summary per chapter, forcing three opening paragraphs, and underlining the importance of the 'box' in which ideas can grow. This thinking slow, act fast approach helped him produce more coherent, finishable projects and avoid overexpansion.
Turning Constraints Into Breakthroughs with David Epstein
Q: David, you were a promising young athlete with a particular enthusiasm for team sports, for football, basketball, baseball. What happened?
A shoulder injury during eighth grade derailed his early sport trajectory, leading him to pivot to other activities. This setback triggered adaptive shifts—memoization in learning, strategic thinking, and eventually a path into running and physiology, which shaped his later career as a writer and thinker on constraints and learning.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Next Big Idea

What is The Next Big Idea about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtfully eclectic interview series that centers big ideas across thinking, science, technology, and culture. Episodes frequently feature authors, researchers, and practitioners who unpack complex topics—ranging from AI ethics and open-source movement to neuroscience, philosophy, and hospitality leadership—through rigorous questions, real-world examples, and actionable takeaways. The show often blends book-driven conversations with long-form storytelling, encouraging listeners to rethink how they approach work, creativity, and everyday life. A notable strength is curating high-caliber guests who translate dense ideas into accessible insights, often woven with practical frameworks and sponsor-supported context. This mix makes it appeali... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Next Big Idea?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Next Big Idea:

1. The Next Big Idea Daily
2. Worklife with Molly Graham
3. ReThinking
4. Choiceology with Katy Milkman
5. Plain English with Derek Thompson

How many episodes of The Next Big Idea are there?

The Next Big Idea launched 7 years ago and published 343 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Next Big Idea?

Recent guests on The Next Big Idea include:

1. Nick Thompson
2. Simone Stolzoff
3. Majid Fotuhi
4. Will Guidara
5. David Epstein
6. Nir Eyal
7. David Pogue
8. Tony Fadell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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