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The Next Big Idea

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

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 weeklyEpisodes361Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Next Big Idea

Latest Episodes

We've spent the last few years watching AI transform the digital world. Now it's coming for the physical one.

Humanoid robots are leaving the lab and entering homes, factories, and workplaces. But are we witnessing another ChatGPT moment, or are the... more

Why do some people seem to create opportunities wherever they go while others spend years waiting for the right break? According to Cate Hall — lawyer turned poker player turned drug addict turned CEO of a $3B foundation — the difference isn't luck. ... more

In the age of AI, endless information, and instant certainty, philosopher Lani Watson argues that questions — not answers — are humanity's greatest intellectual advantage.

Today, she explains why curiosity is a biological superpower, why schools uni... more

First, a few numbers. This year Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta will spend more than $700 billion building AI infrastructure. There are 1,500 data centers in development across the country. AI-linked stocks make up at least 40% of the S&P 500. more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

The Next Big Idea Daily
The Next Big Idea DailyNext Big Idea Club
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Recent Guests

Cate Hall
Author of You Can Just Do Things, expert on agency and practical life design
Author, You Can Just Do Things
Episode: You Can Just Do Things
Lani Watson
Philosopher and honorary fellow at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
Episode: The Lost Art of Asking Questions
Mark Pincus
Founder of Freeloader, Support.com, Tribe.net, Zynga; author of Life at the Speed of Play
Life at the Speed of Play
Episode: Living at the Speed of Play
Elizabeth Dunn
Professor, University of British Columbia; happiness researcher
University of British Columbia
Episode: What If Saving the Planet Could Be Fun?
Jiaying Zhao
Professor, University of British Columbia; climate scientist
University of British Columbia
Episode: What If Saving the Planet Could Be Fun?
Walter Isaacson
Author of The Greatest Sentence Ever Written
Simon & Schuster / biographer of Franklin and Einstein
Episode: As America Turns 250, Are You in the Mood to Celebrate?
Robert Wright
Author of The God Test, Artificial Intelligence and Our Cosmic Reckoning
Author/Thinker
Episode: THE GOD TEST (Part 2): Can Humanity Pass the Cosmic Reckoning?
Laura Vanderkam
Author and time-management expert
Author of Big Time
Episode: You Have 72 Free Hours a Week. How Do You Want to Spend Them?
C. Thi Nguyen
Philosophy professor at the University of Utah
University of Utah
Episode: Are You Playing Someone Else’s Game?

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 2k ratings
  • My Go To Podcast

    I love this podcast and its companion Next Big Idea Daily. I am a naturally curious person and find the range of topics to be pretty broad and a good match for my interests. Rufus and Caleb are engaging interviewers and each has a calm but energetic “radio” persona. I like both the long interview format and also the book bite format of the Next Big Idea Daily (I also like Michael Cavnat’s style).

    On several occasions I have checked the featured books out of the library and found that I got 80%... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mxlplz
    United States14 days ago
  • 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
    Germany3 months 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 States5 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 States6 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 States9 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
#143
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#111
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#183
United Kingdom/Education
Apple Podcasts
#190
Australia/Education
Apple Podcasts
#145
India/Education
Apple Podcasts
#238
Singapore/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Living at the Speed of Play
Q: Can you explain Proven Better New and why you believe conviction should trump initial ideas?
Proven Better New is about validating product decisions through conviction grounded in user data, social proof, and fast feedback. It's about not pursuing a brilliant idea blindly, but iterating toward a winning product with confidence rather than hoping it will succeed.
Living at the Speed of Play
Q: What was the turning point that led you from freeloader to Zynga, and how did you approach testing ideas quickly?
Freeloader showed me the Internet's two big frictions—speed and findability. We iterated, learned, and pivoted through successive ventures, culminating in Zynga by embracing rapid, experimental testing, using proven mechanics, and focusing on a culture that supports fast, visible progress.
Living at the Speed of Play
Q: Let's start with your origin story and how your father's views shaped your path.
My father pushed me to question authority, which set me on a path to challenge conventional careers, move between schools, and ultimately pursue entrepreneurship where I could design my own environment and culture.
THE GOD TEST (Part 1): Are You Ready for Superintelligence?
Q: What is 'the noosphere' and how does it relate to AI?
Noosphere, the idea of a mind-in-the-world or a global consciousness, is used to frame how culture and communication extend beyond individuals; AI could act as a new layer in this global mind, accelerating collective thinking and coordination while also posing dangers of centralization and manipulation.
THE GOD TEST (Part 1): Are You Ready for Superintelligence?
Q: Would you share the thesis of Non Zeros?
The book argues that evolution proceeds through non-zero-sum interactions where cooperation can create win-win outcomes, leading to larger and more complex societal structures, and that technology amplifies these cooperative dynamics while also introducing risks.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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. Hidden Brain
5. People I (Mostly) Admire

How many episodes of The Next Big Idea are there?

The Next Big Idea launched 7 years ago and published 361 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. Cate Hall
2. Lani Watson
3. Mark Pincus
4. Elizabeth Dunn
5. Jiaying Zhao
6. Walter Isaacson
7. Robert Wright
8. Laura Vanderkam

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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