Innovation Hub
655 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 310 ratingsInnovation Hub looks at how to reinvent our world – from medicine to education, relationships to time management. Great thinkers and great ideas, designed to make your life better.
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Episodes
No Technology, No Problem for Innovative Amish
January 20, 2017 05:00 - 14 minutes - 8.02 MBEven without cars and computers, the Amish have managed to start and grow successful businesses. Professor Donald Kraybill tells us how they've developed a surprising culture of innovation without the help of the latest tech.
Full Show: How To Make A Perfect World
January 20, 2017 05:00 - 49 minutes - 56.7 MBThe Industrial Revolution spawned more than just machinery. Author Chris Jennings says it was a catalyst for a pretty old idea: that heaven could be found on Earth. Plus, Judy Cockerton saw a problem and set out to fix it. And finally, something surprising: the Amish have wildly successful businesses, often without using cell phones, websites or email addresses.
Utopias from A to Z
January 20, 2017 05:00 - 14 minutes - 8.47 MBWhat would your personal utopia look like? Well, it probably wouldn't involve furniture making and no sex. Chris Jennings talks 19th century American utopias.
Full Show: Leaders Have Issues
January 13, 2017 05:00 - 49 minutes - 56.8 MBOur leaders should be deeply empathetic people, right? Well, according to Paul Bloom, empathy can actually get in the way of helping people. Mandatory voting, a council of presidents, more bureaucrats... Parag Khanna says that this is what American democracy should look like. Man-made climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. So why exactly aren’t we doing more about it?
Why We Can't Agree on Climate Change
January 12, 2017 05:00 - 19 minutes - 22.7 MBClimate change looks like it will drastically change all of our lives. So why aren’t we doing more about it? We’ll take a look at why some are reticent to accept the consensus view on climate science, and what those in power are doing now to prepare for a new world.
Technocracy Now!
January 12, 2017 05:00 - 9 minutes - 10.9 MBParag Khanna believes technocrats get a bad rap in America, and our country could improve - and recover from what he calls “degenerative politics” - if it had more of them in office.
How Empathy Leads Us Astray
January 12, 2017 05:00 - 20 minutes - 23.3 MBEmpathy is an inherently good human quality. So, why is Yale psychologist Paul Bloom against it? We talk with him about why feeling others' pain makes for bad public policy.
Full Show: It's All In Your Head
January 06, 2017 05:00 - 50 minutes - 57.3 MBCamilla Benbow and David Lubinski spent their lives studying child geniuses. Their advice on how to create a baby Einstein? Do nothing. Plus, conspiracy theories have gotten a lot of attention in the last year, but psychologist Rob Brotherton says they've been around for a long time. And finally, Thomas Gilovich thinks he can make you wise... or at least, the wisest person in the room.
Want To Raise A Genius? Do Nothing.
January 05, 2017 05:00 - 19 minutes - 22.2 MBWhat makes a genius? Camilla Benbow and David Lubinski have worked on that question for decades; they think they might have some answers.
What Wisdom Really Is
January 05, 2017 05:00 - 10 minutes - 11.8 MBWant to become wise? Well, you should first figure out what wisdom actually is. Psychology Professor Thomas Gilovich explains.
What THEY Don't Want You To Know About Conspiracy Theories
January 05, 2017 05:00 - 19 minutes - 21.8 MBDo you believe that the illuminati run the world? That there was a second gunman? That everything is NOT WHAT IT APPEARS? Well, even if you don't, conspiracy theories help shape our world. We look at the psychology behind them.
Full Show: Money Problems
December 30, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 56.3 MBIt's been quite a year. Whether you started 2016 on the Trump train, heavily invested in the rising British pound, or confident that Pantone's color of the year was an accurate forecast of the twelve months to come, you're probably surprised. Don’t worry -- we are too. But thankfully, we've curated some of our favorite segments to help you bookmark a very surreal year.
Full Show: Hidden Truths
December 23, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 28 MBA winter chill is in the air, and there's way too much Christmas music being played. So curl up in an armchair, grab yourself a mug of something, and take a mental vacation with some fascinating conversations from Innovation Hub.
Full Show: City Life, Take Two
December 16, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 56.8 MBIf you want to live near a vibrant downtown but don't want to share a walk-in-closet with eleven roommates… maybe you should consider someplace other than San Francisco or New York. And yes, we know, self-driving cars are coming. But you'll never guess how they're actually going to change your city. Finally, refugee camps are becoming more and more permanent. And we need to build them better.
How ATMs Spread Money and Microbes
December 15, 2016 05:00 - 4 minutes - 5.5 MBThere's an invisible world that’s right at your fingertips. Literally. Trillions and trillions of tiny microbes live alongside us in our cities and we don't even see them. A team of scientists recently swiped a whole bunch of ATM keypads in New York, looking for evidence of our minuscule neighbors.
Self Driving Cars and the Future of Cities
December 15, 2016 05:00 - 16 minutes - 19.2 MBSelf-driving cars are going to be a thing. Soon. But how are they going to reshape cities?
Permanently Displaced: Rethinking Refugee Cities
December 15, 2016 05:00 - 12 minutes - 13.9 MBKilian Kleinschmidt thinks we need to wake up to the world's refugee crisis. And it starts by reimagining where they live.
The Return of the Urban
December 15, 2016 05:00 - 16 minutes - 18.4 MBBack in the mid-20th century, wealthy people fled big cities in droves for a quiet life in the suburbs. Now they're coming back. Alan Ehrenhalt, author of The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City, tells us why, and how it's going to change.
Full Show: A Wiser, Better You
December 09, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBFirst, If you want to learn how to roast the perfect chicken, you’ve come to the right place. Mark Bittman talks about cooking - and eating - without fear. Then, Your dream job doesn’t always turn out to be your dream job. Millennial’s Megan Tan explains how she turned her part-time passion into her full-time career. Finally, Having trouble learning something? Take a break. Barbara Oakley dives into how we actually learn.
Making Millennial
December 08, 2016 05:00 - 12 minutes - 13.9 MBMegan Tan’s portfolio project accidentally became a certified hit. Here’s how she created Millennial.
Math? It's All Russian To Me
December 08, 2016 05:00 - 18 minutes - 21.4 MBWant to be a scientist, but never made it past high school algebra? Barbara Oakley talks with us about why there may still be hope for you - and why you might even have a leg up.
Historic Innovation: Muy Picante
December 08, 2016 05:00 - 4 minutes - 4.69 MBHere’s the story of a culinary experience you’ve almost certainly had - with a backstory you may not know as well.
Food For Thought: A Conversation With Mark Bittman
December 08, 2016 05:00 - 16 minutes - 18.5 MBWant to know anything and everything about cooking? There’s one person you should turn to. Mark Bittman.
Full Show: Extraordinary Ordinary
December 02, 2016 05:00First, our memories of events change over time. Researcher Julia Shaw explains why our recollections may differ from what actually happened. Then, almost all of modern medicine is developed using mice - and that’s a problem. Why? I-Hub's Caroline Lester investigates. Finally, Emelyn Rude explains how America invented the modern chicken.
Of Mice And Medicine
December 01, 2016 05:00 - 8 minutes - 9.2 MBWhy do we use mice for medical research? As I-Hub's Caroline Lester found out, it all started with fancy mice.
The New World Of Digital Memory
December 01, 2016 05:00 - 9 minutes - 10.5 MBYou can read a book from 100 years ago… but will your descendants be able to access a USB drive? A look at the world of digital memory.
The Changing Science of Memory
December 01, 2016 05:00 - 17 minutes - 19.7 MBHow well do you remember your past? Dr. Julia Shaw explains why your memory isn't nearly as good as you think it is.
Innovation: It Tastes Like Chicken
December 01, 2016 05:00 - 16 minutes - 18.6 MBLess than a century ago, chicken was as expensive as lobster. Now, Americans eat. 6 million pounds of chicken every hour of every day. Emelyn Rude tells us how thinking about the chicken as a piece of technology can help explain this change.
Full Show: Place Matters
November 22, 2016 05:00 - 50 minutes - 57.9 MBThis week, we're gifting you I-Hub a few days early. Just another thing to be thankful for. There are a lot of lessons one can learn from the election. But one of the most vital is how important place is; how where you live can shape your worldview and how your worldview can shape the place you live. This episode, we’re exploring the idea of place.
Full Show: Imperfections
November 18, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 56.9 MBHelping refugees - and others - generally means giving them things like blankets, clothes, and food. Radha Rajkotia thinks we should try handing out cash. Plus, Jessica Tracy explains why one of the seven deadly sins could be a good thing, after all. And finally, advances in genetic engineering have allowed scientists to make decisions that could affect millions of people. Kevin Esvelt thinks the public should have a voice in those decisions.
Why Cash Could Be The Future Of Foreign Aid
November 17, 2016 05:00 - 11 minutes - 13.3 MBDo we know what refugees need better than they do? Radha Rajkotia of the International Rescue Committee tells us why giving cash, rather than food and other supplies, could be a better model for foreign aid to refugees.
Historic Innovation: Raising Wires
November 17, 2016 05:00 - 3 minutes - 3.88 MBEzra Cornell was fired from his job due to after the Panic of 1837… then helped create our modern communication network.
How To Engineer Thoughtful Science
November 17, 2016 05:00 - 16 minutes - 18.9 MBGene technology is becoming more and more powerful… and could affect more and more people. MIT researcher Kevin Esvelt tells us why he thinks the public needs to have a say in how we use it.
We Are Proud Of This Segment About Pride
November 17, 2016 05:00 - 18 minutes - 21.7 MBPride isn’t just for cheating athletes or bullies. Psychology professor Jessica Tracy explains why pride is a key emotion in human civilization.
Full Show: What Happened In This Election? Trump, our Fears, and the Future
November 11, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 57 MBTrump promised to bring back jobs from China and Mexico. But, according to MIT researcher Andrew McAfee, not only are those jobs not coming back - they don’t even exist anymore. No matter who you voted for, you were probably surprised by Trump’s triumph. Psychology professor Mahzarin Banaji thinks implicit bias might help us understand the difference between the polls and the actual results. A former reality TV star will be the 45th president of the United States. Columbia Law Schoo...
The Myth of Manufacturing's Return
November 11, 2016 05:00 - 17 minutes - 19.7 MBAmerica's manufacturing industry has been hollowed out by globalization and automation. Donald Trump promises he can revive it. MIT researcher Andrew McAfee says that’s not possible.
Hidden Biases: How Our Unconscious (Might Have) Shaped the Election
November 11, 2016 05:00 - 17 minutes - 19.6 MBSurprised by the election? Us too. Psychologist Mahzarin Banaji thinks our unconscious biases might explain the difference between the public’s expectations and the results.
Want To Know Why Trump Won? Pay Attention.
November 11, 2016 05:00 - 14 minutes - 17.1 MBHow exactly was Donald Trump able to captivate us on his path to the White House? Columbia University Professor Tim Wu explains.
Full Show: Fear and Our Future
November 04, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 56.7 MBThere are things you should be very afraid of. According to security expert Juliette Kayyem, terrorism isn’t one of them. But science writer Annalee Newitz tells us that mass extinction is. Plus, our seeds are becoming less diverse. Conservationist Cary Fowler says this is something you should care about, if you consider eating crucial to your health.
What Should We Really Be Afraid Of?
November 03, 2016 05:00 - 15 minutes - 17.4 MBIt’s very unlikely that you will be killed by a far-off terrorist group. So why do we worry about it so much? National security expert Juliette Kayyem explains what we should - and shouldn’t - be afraid of.
Sowing the Seeds for Food Security
November 03, 2016 05:00 - 15 minutes - 18.2 MBCary Fowler thinks we might be in trouble. But he’s got a solution. A tiny, tiny solution.
The Great Extinction - A Survivor's Guide
November 03, 2016 05:00 - 18 minutes - 21.4 MBAfraid of the apocalypse? Well, maybe you shouldn’t worry too much. The Earth has already gone through at least five.
What's Your Job Really Worth?
October 28, 2016 05:00 - 14 minutes - 16.1 MBHow do money and happiness intersect when it comes to finding a job? Economist Robert Frank thinks he might have the answer.
Why Immigrants Aren't Stealing Our Jobs (Unless You're a CEO)
October 28, 2016 05:00 - 11 minutes - 12.9 MBDo you remember your first job? Odds are, it was with a local small business. One of President Obama’s cabinet members talks small businesses, immigration, and jobs.
Full Show: You Can Take This Job
October 28, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 56.5 MBThat quick glance at Facebook… it’s kind of a big deal. Professor Cal Newport says it can significantly derail your train of thought for about 10 minutes. Plus, Immigration may be a contentious issue in this election, but immigrants are absolutely essential to our economic success. Cabinet member Maria Contreras-Sweet explains. And finally, economist Robert Frank talks love, money, and happiness.
Redefining Office Space
October 28, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 67.4 MBRobert Propst was a brilliant inventor who wanted to make a better office. Instead, he created something he hated.
Why You Can't Get Work Done
October 28, 2016 05:00 - 17 minutes - 20.3 MBThink glancing at Facebook isn’t a big deal? Well, Cal Newport says it can significantly derail your train of thought for about 10 minutes.
The Career-Boosting Power Of Your Spouse
October 28, 2016 05:00 - 5 minutes - 6.6 MBAccording to researcher Brittany Solomon, there’s one personality trait in a husband or wife that can predict success for their spouse: conscientiousness.
How Much Do Campaigns Really Matter?
October 21, 2016 05:00 - 11 minutes - 15.6 MBIt seems like every election is a high-wire race whose outcome is always in doubt. But what if campaigns weren’t as important as you thought?
Full Show: What You Thought You Knew
October 21, 2016 05:00 - 49 minutes - 57.1 MBAre you really, really tired of this election? Well, maybe democracy isn’t the best form of government. Plus, teenagers are… hard to understand. Neurology professor Frances Jensen says it’s all because of their still-developing brains. And finally, what if campaigns aren’t as important as you thought?