Flow Radio

• Gut Instinct, Hard Science: The New Neuroscience of Intuition

  What if your gut instinct was more than a hunch? What if it was your brain’s first navigation system—designed to reduce uncertainty, minimize surprise, and keep you alive?In this episode of Flow Radio, Steven Kotler and neuroscientist Dr. Michael Mannino crack open the black box of intuition. Along with co-authors Karl Friston, György Buzsáki, J.A. Scott Kelso, and Guillaume Dumas, they’ve just completed a new scientific paper—Pathfinding: A Neurodynamical Account of Intuition—set to be published this summer in Nature Communications Biology.Thirty years in the making, the paper proposes a bold model: intuition as pathfinding. Not magic. Not precognition. But an embodied, neurodynamic process built to help us make the next best move—fast.From hippocampal sharp wave ripples to attractor landscapes and the free energy principle, Kotler and Mannino break down how your brain runs compressed simulations of the past to predict the future. You’ll learn how intuition differs from insight, why instincts often lead us astray in matters of sex and money, and how novel environments can help you tap into opportunistic assimilation—a key to creativity and problem-solving.You'll Learn:Why intuition is a movement-based, evolutionarily ancient survival mechanismThe role of hippocampal “sharp wave ripples” in solving problems while you sleep—and while you moveHow to train your “prepared mind” to boost intuitive decision-makingWhy intuition is fast, embodied, and predictive—and what that means for agency, flow, and peak performanceHow the brain uses the free energy principle to minimize surprise and optimize action→ This is neuroscience with bite. A gut-check for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Should I trust my instinct?”In This Episode:05:13 Defining Intuition: Pathfinding in the Brain18:06 Neuroscience Behind Intuition24:11 The Role of Memory and Problem Solving in Intuition30:00 Theoretical Frameworks: Free Energy Principle and Meta-Stability37:00 700% More Creative? Flow Science Explained40:38 Exploring Intuition and Decision Making43:52 Neuroscience of Intuition and Action47:02 The Role of Feedback in Intuition 54:50 Delta Waves and Intuition58:42 Meta-Stability and MultitaskingJoin 300,000+ members on our weekly newsletter for more neuroscience-based tools delivered straight to your inbox: → ⁠Subscribe hereFollow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research Collective

  --------  

  1:01:20

  --------

  1:01:20
• DIY and the Flow Code: How Punk Culture Built the Startup World

  What do DIY entrepreneurship, peak performance, and punk rock have in common? Everything.In this live Flow Radio episode, recorded at Summit at Sea 2024, New York Times bestselling author and FRC Executive Director Steven Kotler joins fashion icon John Varvatos to trace the rebel spirit from CBGB’s to Silicon Valley. Together, they map how the kids nobody wanted—punks, misfits, and rule-breakers—accidentally built the culture of innovation we live in today.This isn’t just music history. It’s a neuroscience-backed deep dive into how rebellion, risk, and raw self-expression create the perfect storm for flow—and why punk’s anti-authoritarian DNA became the blueprint for startup culture, action sports, and social movements.If you’re chasing innovation, impact, or just trying to stay sane while breaking things—there’s flow on the other side of risk. Go get it.Guest Bio:John Varvatos is an award-winning fashion designer, cultural curator, and lifelong rebel.Best known for fusing rock-and-roll attitude with high-end tailoring, he launched his namesake brand in 2000 and has since earned multiple CFDA Designer of the Year awards. He’s also the force behind the revival of CBGB—the legendary punk venue turned retail and cultural space.From the Bowery to boardrooms, Varvatos has spent decades channeling the punk ethos into business, design, and live music. His work sits at the intersection of culture, entrepreneurship, and radical self-expression—making him not just a fashion icon, but a builder of movements.In This Episode:03:30 Punk as Evolutionary Instinct06:45 The DIY Revolution Begins10:55 The Neuroscience Behind the Movement14:30 Group Flow, Mosh Pits & the End of the Stage Dive18:15 From Subculture to Startup Culture25:00 Punk Values: Radical Individuality to DIY Capitalism30:45 Rebellion Goes Mainstream36:00 The New Punk: Entrepreneurs, Artists & Conscious Rebels38:20 Final Words from the MoshpitEpisode Resources:Steven returns to Summit this June in Detroit—a city that pulses with creativity, reinvention, and raw energy.Join a one-of-a-kind gathering of visionaries, builders, and creators. This one won’t be forgotten.→ Learn more & apply to attendFootage shot at Summit At Sea 2024, courtesy of Summit Series, © Summit Series.Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

  --------  

  38:44

  --------

  38:44
• Flow vs. the Victim Mindset: Trade Blame for Breakthroughs

  No one is coming to save you—but staying stuck isn’t the only option.Steven Kotler and Ryan Wickes welcome back Columbia professor and humanistic psychologist Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman—author of the just-released Rise Above, and one of today’s leading voices on human potential.Kaufman joins to unpack the victim mindset, the neurobiology of agency, and how narcissism, entitlement, and impostor syndrome can quietly block the path to self-actualization.At the heart of this conversation is a powerful truth: flow demands agency. When we feel powerless, we avoid challenge—and without challenge, there is no flow. A victim mindset disrupts the neural circuitry behind motivation, focus, and drive.This episode breaks down the science of that disruption—and maps out a way through. From learned helplessness to learned hopefulness, you’ll hear how reclaiming agency reactivates your growth, unlocks flow, and strengthens resilience.The journey is personal. The tools are universal.Guest Bio:Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a humanistic psychologist, Columbia University professor, and one of the world’s leading experts on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. Ranked in the top 1% of most-cited scientists worldwide, he’s the founder of Self-Actualization Coaching, director of the Center for Human Potential, and host of The Psychology Podcast (30M+ downloads). Named one of Business Insider’s 50 groundbreaking scientists, he’s authored 11 books—including Transcend, Choose Growth, and his latest, Rise Above.In This Episode:03:03 The Journey from Creativity to Self-Actualization06:07 Overcoming the Victim Mindset09:07 Neurobiology of Mindsets15:06 Understanding the Victim Mindset17:53 Evolutionary Perspectives on Victimhood20:53 Empathy and Honest Love25:29 Empowerment Through Adversity28:39 Challenging the Trauma Narrative32:39 Navigating the Victim Mindset45:12 Imposter Syndrome: A Signal for Growth52:08 Narcissism and WellbeingEpisode Resources:Self-Actualizing People in the 21st Century by Scott Barry KaufmanA modern, data-driven update to Maslow’s theory—complete with a validated scale and new insights into well-being, resilience, and creative expression.→ Read the full paperScott’s New Book — Rise AboveWant to go deeper on the science behind the victim mindset, resilience, and human potential?Grab Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman’s latest book, Rise Above… → scottbarrykaufman.com/books/rise-aboveFlow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

  --------  

  1:02:43

  --------

  1:02:43
• The Creative Leader’s Playbook

  Creativity isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a survival skill.In this episode of Flow Radio, Steven Kotler sits down with artist, designer, and serial entrepreneur Jody Levy for a conversation on how intuition, constraint, and ritual unlock creativity—and why all three are non-negotiables for high-performance leadership.They trace Jody’s path through experience design and explore the mindset behind building high-flow communities. From the tactical to the transcendent, this episode delivers real tools—and ends with a major announcement: the Summit community is coming to Detroit. It’s a rare chance to catch Steven live, speaking on flow, AI, and the future of creativity.If you're chasing innovation, collaboration, and community at full tilt—don’t miss it.Guest Bio:Jody Levy is an artist, systems thinker, and serial entrepreneur whose work lives at the intersection of wellness, innovation, and impact.She’s the founder of WTRMLN WTR, the category-defining beverage brand; the creator of NeuroPraxis, a breakthrough platform for brain and spinal cord recovery; and a leader in large-scale trauma and disaster response. Today, she serves as the Global Director and CEO of Summit—the legendary community of creators, builders, and change agents.Jody has a rare ability to turn bold ideas into real-world systems for healing, creativity, and human optimization.In This Episode:02:51  The Journey of Creativity and Flow05:49  The Role of Art in Emotional Regulation08:58  Intuition and Decision-Making in Entrepreneurship11:50  Constraints as Catalysts for Creativity17:48  Building High-Impact Experiences29:53  The Importance of Structure in Creative Environments31:06  Cultivating Flow in Teams36:25  The Power of Rituals41:04  Time Management and Leadership46:32  Optimizing Community Engagement52:37  Preserving the Magic in GrowthSummit DetroitThis June, Steven will be joining forces with Summit (once again) in Detroit—a city that pulses with creativity, reinvention, and raw energy. Join an unforgettable gathering of visionaries, builders, and creators.→ Learn more & apply to attendFlow Radio is Presented Bt Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.Guest Bio:In This Episode:Episode Resources:Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research Collective

  --------  

  56:20

  --------

  56:20
• Flow vs. the Machine: AI, Creativity & the Next Human Renaissance

  What happens when AI takes center stage—and humans still want to create?Steven Kotler returns to Peter Diamandis’s Moonshots to unpack the forces shaping our future: AI, abundance, creativity, and how flow fuels the human advantage. Drawing on three decades at the bleeding edge of peak performance, they explore what it takes to thrive in a world accelerating beyond imagination—and why the right 100 people can still change everything.This is required listening for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone building in the age of machines. If the future belongs to the bold, flow is your blueprint.Guest Bio:Recently named one of Fortune’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Peter Diamandis is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, which has launched over $500 million in incentive prize competitions. He also founded Singularity University and has started more than 25 companies in healthtech, space, venture capital, and education.Diamandis is Co-founder and Vice-Chairman of Celularity and Vaxxinity, and Chairman of Fountain Life—a platform for predictive, preventative, and data-driven health. He also co-founded BOLD Capital Partners, a $500 million fund investing in exponential technologies and longevity companies.A four-time New York Times bestselling author, his books include Abundance, BOLD, The Future is Faster Than You Think, LIFE FORCE (with Tony Robbins), and LONGEVITY: Your Practical Playbook.He holds degrees in molecular genetics and aerospace engineering from MIT and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. His motto: “The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.”In This Episode:05:42 Tech Tipping Points: From Tesla to GPT-410:04 Understanding Flow States14:00 Flow & Craft29:51 Facing the Fermi Paradox: What Comes Next?37:00 700% More Creative? Flow Science Explained57:37 The XPRIZE & Cross-Disciplinary Breakthroughs01:19:31 Mindset as Neurobiology, Not Woo-Woo01:30:31 The Age of AI Companions01:19:31 Mindset and Resilience01:57:37 How 100 People Shift Culture02:09:17  Inside The Alliance: Creativity, Flow, and the Future of LearningEpisode Resources:The Alliance is a hyper-curated 15-person think tank where we train creativity and collaborate with one another.The Alliance is made up of visionary, entrepreneurs and thought leaders looking to accelerate their creative process and realize their next breakthrough→ Apply to join todayFlow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

  --------  

  2:14:42

  --------

  2:14:42

Mais podcasts de Ciência

Podcasts em tendência em Ciência

Sobre Flow Radio