Introduction to How to Change the World - Dissecting the History & Future of Innovation

2025-05-20

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"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it" - Alan WattsThis opening episode invites you on a journey, not just through time, but through perspective.From fire-starting hominids to spacefaring technologists, "How to Change the World" is going to trace the ripples of human imagination that turned tools into empires, and sparks into systems.In this introduction episode:Set the tone for the podcastExplain what the show is and isn'tLearn how we are going to navigate this journeyAnswer...

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it" - Alan Watts

This opening episode invites you on a journey, not just through time, but through perspective.

From fire-starting hominids to spacefaring technologists, "How to Change the World" is going to trace the ripples of human imagination that turned tools into empires, and sparks into systems.

In this introduction episode:

Set the tone for the podcast
Explain what the show is and isn't
Learn how we are going to navigate this journey
Answer who the hell is this 'Sam Harris' (the host)
Explain our 7 principles for exploring history and innovation

Change is rarely neat or obvious, but this podcast is here to help us understand it. We connect dots in history from the cognitive revolution and invention of language to the future of AI. Learn to ask better questions and consider the existential patterns of humanity and where we're going next.

History isn't just a study of the past, it is also our present. As we live through unprecedented innovation, it's a perfect time to study the forces of tectonic shifts and how to guide them.

If you're curious, optimistic, and even a little lost. You're in the right place.

ABOUT

How to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the most important inventions in history in chronological order. We hope you join us for the ride to learn how the world changes and maybe pick up some idea on building the future of technology.

It is written, recorded, re-recorded, rewritten and re-re-recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.

(He also makes the music.)

Find out more or contact the show - ChangeTheWorldPod.com

Designs were crafted by Francisca Correia (Available to hire)

Podcast strategy from Jeremy Enns (Available to hire)

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction: The Dawn of Human Influence

02:21 A Journey Through Time

05:14 The Plan for the Podcast

07:11 What counts as an innovation

08:08 Release Schedule

09:08 Beyond a history podcast