#749: Michael Lewis and Martine Rothblatt

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #427 "Michael Lewis — Inside the Mind of the Iconic Writer" and episode #487 "Dr. Martine Rothblatt — A Masterclass on Asking Better Questions and Peering Into the Future."

Please enjoy!

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Timestamps:

[04:13] Notes about this supercombo format.

[05:16] Enter Michael Lewis.

[05:54] Why Michael quit his well-paid job to become a full-time author.

[12:58] Liar’s Poker is a cautionary tale, not a how-to book.

[15:16] On ambition and the metrics of success.

[18:31] Maximizing self-satisfaction, optimizing the writing process, and learning to sing.

[20:51] The value of having an impolite editor on your side.

[23:52] On the merits of productive laziness.

[28:13] How Michael determines if a project should proceed.

[29:51] Michael's billboard.

[32:45] Enter Martine Rothblatt.

[33:14] Martine's appreciation for Alan Watts' book on human identity.

[35:34] Martine's thoughts on AI-human coexistence in the movie Her.

[36:31] BINA48 and realistic human simulations in media.

[39:53] Martine's role models and inspirations.

[41:20] When Martine started a biotech company to save her daughter's life.

[52:44] Glaxo Wellcome's misconceptions about Martine's successful drug.

[56:17] Martine's interest in satellite communication systems.

[1:00:33] Promoting scientific literacy and curiosity.

[1:05:20] Questioning authority and Martine's transgender journey.

[1:10:28] Martine's non-binary gender identity.

[1:12:34] Key decisions in Martine's transition.

[1:13:28] The need for genetic information protection laws.

[1:16:00] South American population and organ transplant research.

[1:21:42] Vagus nerve manipulation for various therapies.

[1:31:25] Martine's Alzheimer's cognitive enabler patent.

[1:38:17] The Rothblatt family's "love nights" tradition.

[1:43:54] The possibility of machines experiencing love.

[1:49:20] Ethical considerations for future technology.

[1:52:44] Current practices future generations might view as barbaric.

[1:57:42] United Therapeutics' zero-carbon-footprint headquarters.

[2:00:32] Refurbishing unusable lungs to save lives.

[2:04:45] United Therapeutics' focus on long-term COVID-19 effects.

[2:07:26] Martine's billboard.

[2:08:27] Advice for finding positivity in life.

[2:11:48] Parting thoughts.

*

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