Paul Smaldino - Social identities, collective intelligence, and an ambling open life

from Origins Podcast with Ryan McGranaghan · host Ryan McGranaghan

Paul Smaldino is an explorer. That might seem like an odd way to describe a professor of cognitive science, but anyone who has glanced at his biography will recognize that he lives his life in exploration. His scholarship as his life are inspiration for keeping the lines of inquiry wide open and the things we can discover in doing so.Origins Podcast WebsiteFlourishing Commons NewsletterShow Notes:The Dancing Wu Li Masters (08:00)The Quantum and the Lotus (12:30)Sagehood (15:00)J. Krishnamurti and David Bohm (17:00)Simone de Beauvoir (18:00)Science as an ongoing process of flourishing (18:15)Jeffrey Shank (26:00)Richard McElreath (27:40)"Cultural group selection plays an essential role in explaining human cooperation" Richardson et al. (28:00)"Social conformity despite individual preferences for distinctiveness" (35:00)"Maintaining transient diversity is a general principle for improving collective problem solving" Smaldino et al. (38:00)Philip Kitcher (46:00)explore-exploit tradeoff (46:10)replication crisis (49:00)The Knowledge Machine Strevens (50:30)"Echo chambers and epistemic bubbles" by C Thi Nguyen (53:00)"Interdisciplinarity can aid the spread of better methods between scientific communities" Smaldino and O'Connor (56:00)Wicked problems (56:30)C Thi Nguyen on Origins (57:00)Flourishing (58:00)Lightning round (01:05:00):Book: Dune by Frank Herbert or Culture and the Evolutionary Process by Boyd and RichersonPassion: film and musicHeart sing: two kidsFind Paul online: WebsiteLogo artwork by Cristina GonzalezMusic by swelo on all streaming platforms or @swelomusic on social media

What this episode covers

NOW PLAYING

0:00 1:12:20

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

I'm ok

Mar 26, 2026 ·1m

REMIX: Why we over-shop and compulsively acquire, and how to stop, with Dr Jan Eppingstall

Jan 9, 2026 ·61m

REMIX: OCD and hoarding disorder with Jenna Overbaugh

Jan 2, 2026 ·47m

REMIX: Therapy and hoarding disorder - what are the options? With Dr Jan Eppingstall

Dec 26, 2025 ·78m

REMIX: ADHD and hoarding disorder with Professor Sharon Morein

Dec 21, 2025 ·46m

#207 13 actionable pieces of mental health advice from six former podcast guests

Dec 12, 2025 ·53m

Similar Podcasts

MG Show MG Show The MG Show, hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend, is a leading alternative media platform dedicated to uncovering the truth behind today’s most pressing political issues. Launched in 2019, the show has grown exponentially, offering unfiltered insights, comprehensive research, and real-time analysis. With a commitment to independent journalism and factual integrity, the MG Show empowers its audience with knowledge and encourages active participation in the political discourse. French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? That Hoarder: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding That Hoarder Hoarding disorder is stigmatised and people who hoard feel vast amounts of shame. This podcast began life as an audio diary, an anonymous outlet for somebody with this weird condition. That Hoarder speaks about her experiences living with compulsive hoarding, she interviews therapists, academics, researchers, children of hoarders, professional organisers and influencers, and she shares insight and tips for others with the problem. Listened to by people who hoard as well as those who love them and those who work with them, Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder aims to shatter the stigma, share the truth and speak openly and honestly to improve lives. The Small Business Startup School – Business Notes | Financial Literacy | Retail Psychology – For Professionals & Entrepreneurs The Small Business Startup School Inc. Starting or buying a small business? While personal circumstances may vary, business patterns remain timeless. On The Small Business Startup School, we explore strategies, insights, and practical solutions to help entrepreneurs confidently navigate their journey.Hosted by Ola Williams—a retail entrepreneur, fintech founder, and financial coach with over two decades of experience—this podcast marries financial awareness and retail psychology with optimism to deliver actionable takeaways.Join us to learn, grow, and connect as we uncover the keys to business success.Let’s continue to learn together and be encouraged to keep on connecting!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Origins Podcast with Ryan McGranaghan?

This episode is 1 hour and 12 minutes long.

When was this Origins Podcast with Ryan McGranaghan episode published?

This episode was published on January 28, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this Origins Podcast with Ryan McGranaghan episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!