How to Change the World: The History & Future of Innovation

How to Change the World in 2 minutes

What is the best way to tackle the question "How to change the world"? Learn about our plan to dissect the history innovation and peer into the future of technology.This show will dissect how the world really works and the impact of the biggest inventions that changed both the world and humanity for good. We'll also tell the stories of the greatest innovators from history and understand their mental models, mindsets and habits to help you build a guide for world change and innovation.In this promo, Host Sam Webster Harris explains in 2 minutes what we'll be doing on this show for the next 10 years or more.ABOUTHow 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

"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 who the hell is this 'Sam Harris' (the host)Explain our 7 principles for exploring history and innovationChange 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.ABOUTHow 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.comDesigns were crafted by Francisca Correia (Available to hire)Podcast strategy from Jeremy Enns (Available to hire)CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction: The Dawn of Human Influence02:21 A Journey Through Time05:14 The Plan for the Podcast07:11 What counts as an innovation08:08 Release Schedule09:08 Beyond a history podcast10:03 A map is not a blueprint11:35 Why am i doing this?14:27 Why should you listen?15:36 The Myth of Stability16:31 7 Core Principles of the Show16:40 #1 - Interdisciplinary Thinking17:23 #2 - Systems Thinking18:02 #3 - Understanding of knowledge18:45 #4 - Context19:50 #5 - No current affairs and politics20:48 #6 - Side Quests21:56 #7 - Optimism22:59 Mission and sign off Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Stone Age] - Innovation Locks: The 5 Progress Blockers for 97% of Human History

What lies at the core of human progress? This episode asks ancient history what created human innovation and what stopped it for so long?For 3.5 million years, humans and our ancestors were stuck in the Stone Age until 10,000 years ago we finally broke out of it and all manner of inventions was let loose.We study tribal life across the world from anthropological records and archeology of the stone age to reconstruct the lifestyle of our ancestors and the forces against them. From personal pressures to global currents, we trace the blocks on human development. The answers hold many insights for today when we think about innovation, technology and how to make progress..We cover:What were we busy with for 97% of our existence?Why were we so slow at innovating?How did we eventually overcome these fundamental forces?This episode is ground zero as we begin our expedition through history and the creation of our modern world.ABOUTThis show 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 inspire you to build 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.comDesigns were crafted by Francisca Correia (Available to hire)Podcast strategy from Jeremy Enns (Available to hire)BOOKSThe World Until Yesterday: What we can learn from traditional societies - Jared DiamondAn overview of the world last uncontacted tribes and their ways of live compared to today.Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and language in the Amazonia jungle - Daniel L. EverettAstonishing experiences and discoveries by missionary Daniel Everett in the Amazon jungle in 1977CHAPTERS:00:00 The Hand Axe Conundrum01:53 Episode Goals03:45 #1 - SURVIVAL04:21 Energy requirements06:30 Time Scarcity08:59 Risk and Psychological Safety11:17 #2 - CULTURE12:41 Why people hate new ideas15:25 The Grandmother Hypothesis16:21 Widowhood statistics17:46 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing19:27 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis20:36 #3 - KNOWLEDGE22:42 Losing knowledge24:04 Maths24:52 Communication and Language25:53 Ice Age Picasso Paradox27:06 #4 - MOBILITY CONSTRAINTS28:05 Nomadism30:22 Racism, war, and travel complications32:07 Trade Issues34:02 Feasting examples35:51 #5 - POPULATION DENSITY37:27 Evolution of Multicellular Life39:54 Dunbars Number41:25 Mortality Rates42:46 Systems Feedback effects44:31 LESSONS - How we beat the locks48:00 Conclusion - Innovation isn't about Geniuses50:50 What can you do Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Innovation Richter Scale: How Much Do Technology and Ideas Change World History?

Innovations have huge impacts on humanity. But which ideas matter the most?Sam W. Harris builds out a system to rank world change and compare the impact of technology and inventions.It's easy to tell that the invention of Writing itself is more important than Velcro. But...Is Netflix more important than Baseball?Has TikTok changed the world as much as the Longbow?Was Steve Jobs more impactful than Henry VIII?History has opinions. It's time to sense check what matters to humanity and the future and what is just noise.Headlines are beyond useless when everything seems so important these days:This war will BREAK the economyIf you feed your toddler THIS, you don't deserve to be a parentA new iPhone update changes EVERYTHING...So it's time for a scale to measure global impact.The Innovation Richter Scale: A 1 to 10 rating system to rank anything you can think of; from a Gillete safety razor to the future of AINOTE - This episode expands on the Technological Richter Scale proposed by Nate Silver.ABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast documenting the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change and the future of technology.Learn more and contact us - ChangeTheWorldPod.comWritten, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris. (incl the music)Help from:Designs - Francisca Correia (available to hire)Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)ReferencesNate Silver - One The Edge (2024)Nate's book is about risk analysis and the future of AI. The final chapter proposes a Technological Richter Scale, with a page on how to use it.Zvi Mowshowitz - AI and the Technological Richter Scale (2025)A good summary of Nate's ideas, on how the scale applies to AI. Also quotes Nate's page guide for each level and argues a few changes.Chapters:00:00 Innovation Richter Scale01:47 Why create a Scale?03:47 Earthquake Metaphor06:16 Invention, Innovation, Technology06:56 Ranking Magnitude not Morality08:08 The Innovation Richter Scale - Level 1 - 1008:11 Level 1 - Shower thoughts08:29 Level 2 - Actioned Idea (In private)08:49 Level 3 - Public ideas (Not popular)10:17 Level 4 - Popular and commercial ideas11:08 Level 5 - Defining Brand12:38 Level 6 - Innovation of the year15:59 Level 7 - Innovation of the Decade18:19 Level 8 - Innovation of the Century21:29 Level 9 - Innovation of the Era23:53 Level 10 - Species Epoch28:31 Part 2 - Using the scale29:45 Weapons & Tools of Death - Brands, Categories and Concepts33:58 Politics & Population Impact - Local, Continental and Global38:00 Questions without answers38:38 Sports & Religion - Emotional Impact and Purpose41:01 Peter Thiel and Chess41:47 Religion and Personal Beliefs in interpreting the scale43:33 Roundup conclusions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[~1.8 Mya] - Fire: The Innovation that Forged Humanity and Sparked World Domination

Do we really control fire? A curious fact about fire is that an individual human is completely dependent on it to survive. Furthermore, human society itself is built on fire and would collapse totally without itWhile you're patting yourself on the back for lighting that barbecue, fire has been pulling the strings for 2 million years, reshaping our anatomy, rewiring our brains, and dictating our social structures.The ultimate innovator, it transformed us from ape-like creatures with a neat standing trick into the cunning apex predator of the world. Along the way, it upended both ecosystems, gender roles, and how we use energy.Today, as we face the dawn of AI, we're seeing a similar pattern. Fire marked a huge leverage of energy that freed us up to think. AI uses energy to do our thinking for us, which frees us up for who knows what.Three takeaways:Transformative technologies change what we are, not just what we doDependency often disguises itself as control and masteryThe biggest innovations create irreversible psychological and social shiftsReady to understand how fire forged the human mind and what it might mean for the future of technology and humanity?ABOUTHow to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change.Learn more and contact us - ChangeTheWorldPod.comWritten, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris. (incl the music)Help from:Designs - Francisca Correia (available to hire)Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)ReferencesCatching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human - Richard WranghamA great overview of fire and human anthropology (apes etc...). I can highly recommend listening/watching some of interviews Richard Wrangham on other podcasts (Lex Friedman, Modern Wisdom, Jordan Peterson)The Pyrocene: How We Created An Age Of Fire - Stephen PyneSome good ideas on the different eras of human fire use: Cooking food -> Cooking land -> Cooking the planet.Fire: The Spark That Ignited Human Evolution - Frances BurtonThe insights on the importance of light helped.Chapters00:00 The Role of Fire in Civilization04:32 First Fire - 500 million years ago07:56 Humans and fire - ~2 million years ago10:08 Discovery of Fire12:21 Stadium of Grandmothers13:24 Fire's Influence on Human Biology15:55 Fire and Human Digestion18:15 Light and Campfires20:25 Mealtimes21:32 Human Birth Woes23:23 Why Only Humans Mastered Fire25:55 Fire, Social Structures & Gender Roles31:15 Adapting to the Information Age33:17 Fire's Role in Human Expansion - 70,000 years ago35:09 Terraforming with Fire38:27 The Industrial Revolution and Fossil Fuel42:00 The Race for Renewable Energy43:11 Today - Reflecting on our lessons44:28 AI: The Next Transformative Force48:04 Reflections on Fire and the Future49:06 Premium and Book resources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.