Alex Hutchinson: Why Humans Are Wired To Explore

Please enjoy my B.rad podcast conversation with Alex Hutchinson, the world’s leading science-sport journalist and NYT best-selling author of Endure. The occasion is the release of his long-awaited next book, titled The Explorer’s Gene, and in this much-anticipated follow-up to Endure, he refutes the myth that, in our fully mapped digital world, the age of exploration is dead. Instead, the itch to discover new things persists in all of us, expressed not just on the slopes of Everest but in the ways we work, play, and live. The Explorer’s Gene combines riveting stories of exploration with cutting-edge insights from behavioral psychology and neuroscience, making a powerful case that our lives are better—more productive, more meaningful, and more fun—when we break our habits and chart a new path. Alongside our deep dive into The Explorer’s Gene, we also enjoyed a lively and friendly debate about my latest book, Born to Walk, sparked by Alex’s unique perspective as a long-time runner and promoter of endurance. Spoiler alert: we have lots of common ground, so it’s a peaceful, enlightening discussion; my favorite take away from Alex is: “Running is fine, as long as you recover from workouts.” You will hear his thoughtful critiques and insights, helping to clarify the message of the book while reflecting on the value of endurance pursuits—like why training for the mile might be more beneficial than pushing for a marathon. Alex Hutchinson is a National Magazine Award-winning science journalist and Outside magazine’s longtime Sweat Science columnist. Before journalism, he was a postdoctoral physicist and a long-distance runner for the Canadian national team. Check out his website here.   TIMESTAMPS: Modern technology has an impact on our hardwired drive to explore and be creative. Intelligence is going up and creativity is going down. [02:14] Why are we drawn to explore different horizons? [06:02] We athletes need to change our approach when our goals change. [12:41] What are the effects of aging on athletic performance? [16:24] Alex explains the inner drive that makes us push ourselves to such a degree. [26:29] This trait varies from person to person. [31:36] If you have one person choosing what to look at, and the other person being shown the same thing as the person who's making the choices, the person who's active learns more than the person who's passive, even though they're being fed the same information. [39:23] Brad and Alex talk about the process of beginning to write a book. When and how does the research come about? [44:06] How is ChatGPT influencing writing? [48:08] LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes The Explorer’s Gene AlexHutchinson.net Outside Magazine North   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off! Ketone-IQ Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six-pack of Ketone-IQ! Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD. Mito Red Light: Photobiomodulation light panels to enhance cellular energy production, improve recovery, and optimize circadian rhythm. Use code BRAD for 5% discount! GAINSWave: Enhance sexual function with high frequency shockwave therapy. Buy 6 and get one treatment free with code: BRAD Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD! Male Optimization Formula with Organs (MOFO): Optimize testosterone naturally with 100% grass-fed animal organ supplement See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.