The Knowledge Project

Proven Strategies to Accelerate Growth, Productivity and Profits with George Stalk, Jr.

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

George Stalk Jr., business strategist and author of the book Competing Against Time, reveals the surprising ways companies can harness the power of t...

Ravi Gupta: The Realities of Success

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the main jobs Ravi Gupta has as a partner at venture capital giant Sequoia Capital is to help founders see the difference between fantasy and r...

Jason Karp: Live A Healthier Life

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jason Karp was living what he thought was a successful life in his 20s. He graduated near the top of his class from the Wharton School of the Universi...

Nathan Myhrvold

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Visionary technology and business leader Nathan Myhrvold just might be the most interesting person in the world, and in this episode of The Knowledge ...

Jim Dethmer: The Pillars of Integrity

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready to upgrade your life with executive and leadership coach Jim Dethmer's powerful Four Pillars of Integrity. From owning your mistakes to boos...

TKP Insights: Leadership

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the third installment in a series of episodes, The Knowledge Project curates essential segments from five guests revolving around one theme: leader...

Dr. Anna Lembke: Between Pleasure and Pain

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you scrolling on your phone constantly? How badly do you crave that morning cup of coffee? Are you compulsively gambling, drinking, shopping, or e...

Aaron Dignan: Change The Way You Work

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What if you could change the way your company operates, even if you’re not the CEO? Aaron Dignan believes it’s possible, and in this episode he’...

Carolyn Coughlin: Become A Better Listener

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Acclaimed executive coach and leadership development specialist Carolyn Coughlin calls on more than a decade of experience to help you become a better...

Jack Kornfield: Finding Inner Calm

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Author and Buddhist practitioner Jack Kornfield sits down for a candid, in-depth interview to help you suppress self-doubt and find inner calm.  Cal...

Best of 2022: Conversations of the Year

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Knowledge Project closes 2022 with a look back at some of the best conversations of the year. Featuring interviews from 10 of the most downloaded ...

Emily Balcetis: Setting and Achieving Goals

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Social psychologist Emily Balcetis has devoted her career to understanding how people’s perceptions of the world fuel their motivations and life goa...

Keith Creel: Lessons from Life on the Railroad

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Keith Creel calls on nearly a decade of experience working with the Canadian Pacific Railway to discuss his strategies for leadership and how he’s t...

Tobi Lütke: Calm Progress

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today is Shopify co-founder and CEO Tobi Lütke.  We discuss the differences between founders and professional managers, how he’s scaled w...

Alan Mulally: The Power Of Working Together

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Widely regarded as one of the top business leaders of his generation, Alan Mulally joins the show to discuss the formation of his leadership strategy ...

TKP Insights: Making (Even) Better Decisions

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is packed with wisdom from previous guests on the art of making better decisions.  We discuss the three types of decision-makers, how t...

Neil Pasricha: Simple Rules for Happiness

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Shane's guest on this episode of the show is New York Times bestselling author Neil Pasricha, who returns for his second appearance on The Knowledge P...

Kenneth Stanley: Set The Right Objectives

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence researcher and author Kenneth Stanley has argued that “as soon as you create an objective, you ruin your ability to reach it...

Reid Hoffman: Better Decisions, Fewer Mistakes

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Few figures have shaped the way we think about business over the past 20 years more than Reid Hoffman. The co-founder of LinkedIn and former PayPal ex...

Barbara Tversky: Action Shapes Thought

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today is acclaimed psychologist and longtime Stanford University professor Barbara Tversky who calls on her nearly 50 years in the field of c...

Les Snead: Building a Super Bowl Champion

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

LA Rams General Manager Les Snead dives deep into some of the strategies that made the Rams a Super Bowl Champion, including assessing character, how ...

Gary Klein: Insights For Making Better Decisions

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today is celebrated research psychologist Gary Klein who has spent nearly 50 years studying how and why people make the decisions they do. W...

Andrew Wilkinson: Tiny Holdings

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My guest is businessman and investor Andrew Wilkinson, who has made a career out of channeling his entrepreneurial spirit, but he knows that sometime...

Marshall Goldsmith: The Essentials Of Leadership

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My guest today is Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world’s leading executive coaches. We discuss the surprising lessons he’s learned coaching some ...

Kunal Shah: Core Human Motivations

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My guest is Indian entrepreneur and venture capitalist Kunal Shah who calls on his decades of entrepreneurial experience to discuss what he’s learne...

TKP Insights: Sex and Relationships

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of a new series of themed episodes of the podcast, The Knowledge Project curates essential segments from five different past episodes all...

Laurie Santos: The Pursuit of Happiness

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can you accurately identify what aspects of life make you happy? Would you even know if you found true happiness? Leading psychology professor and hap...

Luke Burgis: The Power of Mimetic Desire

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is there really a straight line between you and the things you want in life? Entrepreneur and educator Luke Burgis goes deep on how understanding mime...

Justin Su'a: Peak Mental Performance

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Su'a calls on more than a decade of working with the world’s top athletes to discuss how to improve your mental performance. Su’a explores ...

David Sinclair: Reversing the Aging Process

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Biologist and genetics expert Dr. David Sinclair is out to prove he can live past 100 years old, and he thinks you can too. On this episode Sinclair g...

Sarah Jones Simmer: The Foundation of Trust

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Jones Simmer calls on her years of experience as an advisor, investor, and top-level executive to offer a series of crucial career tips, and dis...

Balaji Srinivasan: The Network State

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Balaji Srinivasan makes a return appearance to The Knowledge Project, this time to go in-depth on Web3, Crypto, and the state of the world today. Srin...

#133 Andrew Huberman: The Science of Small Changes

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Leading neuroscientist and Stanford University School of Medicine professor Dr. Andrew Huberman goes in-depth on how small behaviors can make a huge i...

#132 Ret. Gen. Stanley McChrystal - The Essence of Leadership

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Retired United States Army General Stanley McChrystal calls on more than three decades of military experience to discuss the fundamental tenets of lea...

#131 Matthew Walker: The Power of Sleep

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Renowned sleep scientist Matthew Walker discusses everything you need to know about what a better night’s sleep can do for your life, and how to pri...

#130 Diana Chapman: Trusting Your Instincts

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Acclaimed leadership advisor Diana Chapman offers a masterclass in changing the way you respond to challenges, understanding where you are in the dram...

#129 Marc Andreessen: Interview with an Icon

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Silicon Valley icon Marc Andreessen explores investing, decision making, and the art of solving unsolvable problems.    In this discussion, Andreess...

#128 Ryan Holiday: A Stoic Life

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Stoic philosopher and author Ryan Holiday shows us how to use the ancient philosophy to calm our mind and create a foundation for lasting success. Lis...

#127 Best of 2021: Conversations of the Year

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Knowledge Project closes 2021 with a look back at some of the best conversations of the year. Featuring interviews from 10 of the most downloaded ...

#126 Nancy Sherman: Soldiers and Stoics

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What can we learn from the intersection between the fundamental tenets of Stoicism and military heroism? Author and professor Nancy Sherman uses her e...

#125 Paul Rabil: Confidence and Competition

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Rabil knows what it takes to reach the top in both sports and business. In this episode, he teaches us the mindsets to succeed, where confidence ...

#124 Douglas Rushkoff: The Perils of Modern Media

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Douglas Rushkoff is obsessed with technology and how it impacts our lives. In this interview, he offers insight into how we shape and are shaped by te...

#123 William Irvine: How To Live a Stoic Life

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Author and philosophy professor William Irvine goes in-depth on Stoicism, and why the fundamental tenets of this ancient philosophy can provide answer...

#122 Robert Cialdini - The Principles of Persuasion

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What are the best strategies to get people to say “Yes” to your requests in life? Acclaimed psychologist Robert Cialdini dives deep into the seven...

#121 Walter Isaacson: Curiosity Fuels Creativity

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What do Steve Jobs, Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin and Jennifer Doudna all have in common? Celebrated journalist and author Walter Isaacson call...

#120 Chris Bosh: Hunger and Greatness

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Two-time NBA champion and 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Chris Bosh goes in-depth on the skills it takes to become a winner on the basketball c...

#119 Todd Simkin: Making Better Decisions

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Todd Simkin calls on experiences from his lengthy career in financial services and educating traders to help Shane understand how to make better decis...

#118 Doug Conant: Leadership With Integrity

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Doug Conant breaks down how putting his employees first made him an internationally renowned business leader atop both the Nabisco Foods Company and t...

#117 Kat Cole: The Power of Possible

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kat Cole discusses how "the power of possible" guided her from a part-time job as a hostess at a Hooters restaurant to one of the most respected busin...

#116 Jeff Immelt: Leadership In A Crisis

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Former General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt looks back on his two decades with the company and the strategies he used to lead during three separate crises...

#115 Danny Meyer: Hospitality and Humanity

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrated restaurateur Danny Meyer discusses the intersection between hospitality and humanity, and why we are all in the hospitality business regard...

#114 Noreena Hertz: The Crisis of Loneliness

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Acclaimed economist and author Noreena Hertz breaks down the world’s loneliness crisis, and what it means for the well-being of our minds, bodies, e...

#113 Sarah Tavel: The Value of Intellectual Rigor

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Tavel has spent the past four years as a general partner at venture capital firm Benchmark, after previously serving in the same role with Greyl...

#112 Adam Grant: Rethinking Your Position

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrated organizational psychologist and author Adam Grant provides compelling insight into why we should spend time not just thinking, but rethinki...

#111 Joel Greenblatt: Investing Made Simple

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Famed investor Joel Greenblatt is the Managing Principal and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Gotham Asset Management, the successor to Gotham Capital, ...

#110 Jim Collins: Relationships vs. Transactions

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Renowned researcher and author Jim Collins makes his second appearance on The Knowledge Project, this time to share a wealth of life lessons learned f...

#109 Angela Duckworth: Grit and Human Behavior

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Angela Duckworth is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and the Founder and CEO of Character Lab, ...

#108 Thomas Zurbuchen: Adventures in Astrophysics

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Thomas Zurbuchen is currently Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA, where he seeks answers to big questions about the u...

#107 Matt Ridley: Infinite Innovation

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Ridley is the author of several books related to science and human progress, biologist, newspaper columnist and member of the House of Lords in t...

#106 Josh Kaufman: Maximizing Our Locus of Control

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Author of one of the best business books of all time, The Personal MBA, Josh Kaufman chats with Shane about rapid skill acquisition, mental models, de...

#105 Seth Godin: Failing On Our Way To Mastery

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Seth Godin is the author of 20 bestselling books, founder of altMBA, the Akimbo podcast and runs one of the most popular blogs in the world. Seth and ...

#104 Nir Eyal: Mastering Indistraction

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable, Nir Eyal was dubbed by The M.I.T. Technology Review as, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.”...

#103 Loch Kelly: Effortless Mindfulness

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Loch Kelly is an author, meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and founder of the Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Shane and Loch do a deep dive into ...

#102 Sendhil Mullainathan: The Chaos Inside Us

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sendhil Mullainathan is the Professor of Computation and Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the author of Sc...

#101 Jane McGonigal: The Psychology of Gaming

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jane McGonigal is a PhD Game Designer who advocates for the use of video games to help people learn skills that transfer to the real world, heal physi...

#100 Matt Mullenweg: Collaboration Is Key

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Mullenweg is the co-founder of WordPress, the open platform that runs most of the sites you visit and the CEO of Automattic. In this episode Matt...

#99 Kris Cordle: Releasing the Ego

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

For over a decade, Kris Cordle worked directly with the CEOs at Yahoo, Twitter, and Slack. She joined Twitter and Slack early and helped them scale in...

#98 Sahil Lavingia: Observing the Present

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sahil Lavingia is the founder and CEO of Gumroad, an online marketplace for creators. In this conversation Sahil and Shane cover building a billion do...

#97 Roger Martin: Forward Thinking

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The former Dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, Roger Martin is one of the top management thinkering in the world. Yo...

#96 Randall Stutman: The Essence of Leadership

10 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The founder and co-head of the Leadership Practice at CRA and the Admired Leadership Institute, Randall Stutman is an incredible executive coach with ...

#95 Code Cubitt: Coachability Is Critical

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Managing Director of Mistral Venture Partners Code Cubitt has an interesting origin story. After being kicked out of University twice he still managed...

#94 Chamath Palihapitiya: Understanding Yourself

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Founder and CEO of Social Capital Chamath Palihapitiya sits down with Shane Parrish to chat about what it means to be an observer of the present, ...

#93 Matt Holland: Zero Day

29 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matthew Holland is one of the world’s leading authorities in cyber security. He explains exploits, hacking, and defending while providing insight on...

#92 Lisa Feldman Barrett: Balancing the Brain Budget

15 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Neuroscientist, psychologist and author, Lisa Feldman Barrett discusses the complexities of the brain, our emotions, improving ourselves and our relat...

#91 Russ Hudson: The Pursuit of Presence

01 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Author and co-founder of the Enneagram Institute, Russ Hudson, explains how the Enneagram was developed, how it helps us grow personally and with othe...

#90 Apolo Ohno: Process Versus Prize

18 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

8x Olympic medalist and short-track speed skating legend, Apolo Ohno chats about his origin story, recovering from multiple failures, mental training,...

#89 Maria Konnikova: Less Certainty, More Inquiry

04 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Professional poker player, psychologist and author of two New York Times best-sellers, Maria Konnikova discusses her mentors, making decisions in en...

#88 Derek Sivers: Innovation Versus Imitation

21 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Musician, speaker, writer and entrepreneur, Derek Sivers chats about creating and running CD Baby, reading, mental models, living a meaningful life an...

#87 Hannah Fry: The Role of Algorithms

07 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mathematician and author of Hello World and The Mathematics of Love, Hannah Fry discusses the role of maths in society, the dating world and we explor...

#86 BJ Fogg: The Science of Lasting Change

23 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Stanford behavior scientist BJ Fogg reveals why everything you know about habits is wrong – and the surprising truth about how they form. Fogg s...

#85 Bethany McLean: Crafting a Narrative

09 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Best-selling author of The Smartest Guys in the Room and All the Devils are here, Bethany McLean, discusses how to write a story, the behaviors of CEO...

#84 Jennifer Garvey Berger: Creating Routine in Chaos

26 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a more conversational episode than our last discussion (ep. 43), Jennifer Garvey Berger opens up about coping in these uncertain times, and how we’...

#83 Brian Koppelman: What Really Matters

12 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and director Brian Koppelman discusses his career ups and downs, dealing with fear, and learning to live a meaningful life. -- Want even more?...

#82 Bill Ackman: Getting Back Up

28 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary activist investor, Bill Ackman talks about lessons he’s learned growing up, raising a family, what drives him forward and back up from fai...

#81 Jason Calacanis: Intelligent Risk

14 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Angel investor Jason Calacanis talks high stakes poker, how to make intelligent investing decisions, how systems enable or forbid, and demystifies the...

#80 John Maxwell: Developing the Leader in You

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

John Maxwell breaks down the four traits every successful person possesses and how to awaken the leader within you, no matter what your job title says...

#79 Esther Wojcicki: The “TRICK” to Raising Successful People

17 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Esther Wojcicki discusses the current education model and how we can fix it and shares her powerful TRICK acronym, Esther’s secret for raising happy...

#78 Balaji Srinivasan: Exploring COVID-19

13 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This special pop-up episode explores Covid-19, with Balaji Srinivasan. Balaji is one of the more thought-provoking, interesting, and multi-disciplinar...

#77 Mike Maples: Living in the Future

03 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Maples, a partner at the VC firm Floodgate, shares how mental models shape his decision-making process, where to find the next big idea, and how ...

#76 Frank Stephenson: Pushing the Limits of Innovation

18 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Renowned car designer Frank Stephenson teaches the path to mastery, innovation, and taking creative risks. He also gives us a peek into the future of ...

#75 Suzanne Iasenza: Rewriting Relationship Narratives

04 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sex therapist Dr. Suzanne Iasenza explains how our personal narratives determine how we grow as a couple, how we communicate, even how we make love. ...

#74 Jeff Hunter: Embracing Confusion

21 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

CEO of Talentism, Jeff Hunter, teaches how to rewrite damaging narratives that hold us back, how to give and receive helpful feedback, and why confusi...

#73 Steven Strogatz: Exploring Curiosities

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mathematician Steven Strogatz reveals how math is the key to exploring and understanding the beauty of our world.   Go Premium: Members get early a...

#72 Neil Pasricha: Happy Habits

24 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Author and happiness expert Neil Pasricha shares the recipe for resilience, an antidote for anxiety, and how his two minute morning routine primes eac...

#71 Esther Perel: Cultivating Desire

10 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Relationship expert Esther Perel reveals her favorite strategies for “fighting” fair, rewriting stories that damage relationships, and breathing n...

#70 Scott Adams: Avoiding Loserthink

26 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dilbert creator and author Scott Adams shares cognitive tools and tricks we can use to think better, expand our perspective, and avoid slumping into “...

#69 Stephen Schwarzman: What It Takes

12 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman gives advice on attracting and assessing strong talent, making smart decisions, and how to press forward when the ch...

#68 Daniel Kahneman: Putting Your Intuition on Ice

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Psychologist and Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman shines a light on the biases that cripple our decision-making, hamstring negotiations, and damper our ...

#67 Jim Collins: Keeping the Flywheel in Motion

01 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

An earnest student and powerful teacher, mega best-selling author Jim Collins goes under the hood and shows what all enduring companies have in common...

#66 Dr. Emily Nagoski: Pleasure is the Measure

17 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sex educator and author Dr. Emily Nagoski demystifies the science of sexuality and shows us how to shed our insecurities, connect more closely with ou...