Best Sean McClure Podcasts (2025)

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2025 Season Preview Show Part 1 54:50

Play Pause

3d ago54:50

54:50

Send us a text Mike, Sean and Bruce are back in the saddle with your 2025 season preview show! Also, this football season you can catch a portion of our show on 96.7 FM The Eagle (Laporte County, IN)! Support the showBy Mike McClure, Sean Buck and Bruce Ruff

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Chase Patterns, Not Your Reasons for Them 26:07

9d ago26:07

26:07

The extremely effective skill of recognizing and following the patterns that move us. And the detrimental, interfering behavior of attempting to explain those patterns. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcastBy Sean McClure

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Scale by Geoffrey West 1:25:50

15d ago1:25:50

1:25:50

In this episode I recall Geoffrey West's book Scale. Support the show Become a Member https://thebookrecall.comBy Sean McClure

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Maybe Gravity Isn't Fundamental, but Emergent 33:00

16d ago33:00

33:00

Suggested Reading https://arxiv.org/pdf/2502.17575 Become a Member science-in-perspective.com Support the showBy Sean McClure

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Stop Prioritizing 29:58

17d ago29:58

29:58

In this episode I argue that we should choose to work on the first thing that comes to mind, rather than prioritize. While such behavior will cut into the time you would have spent on some other more prioritized task, it will be absolutely worth it. Choosing the non-prioritized action means much more movement, increasing the transition dynamics ins…

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Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari 1:09:40

1M ago1:09:40

1:09:40

In this episode I recall Yuval Noah Harari's book Nexus. *apologies for the audio quality in this episode Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2433797/support Become a Member: thebookrecall.com Support the show Become a Member https://thebookrecall.comBy Sean McClure

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The Boys are back!! 46:00

1M ago46:00

46:00

Send us a text Mike, Sean and Bruce are back behind the mic talking Irish football! Support the showBy Mike McClure, Sean and Bruce Ruff

1
Flow and Form: Creating Supersolids with Light 30:34

2M ago30:34

30:34

In this episode I discuss the science behind a recent paper on the creation of supersolids - a new form of matter that has both fluidic and structural properties. Suggested Reading https://tinyurl.com/2e2ym4u8 Become a Member science-in-perspective.com Support the showBy Sean McClure

1
Doing It All in a Day: Nature’s Way 26:11

2M ago26:11

26:11

In this episode I discuss how doing everything in a day is almost always an impossibility, but is in fact possible if you learn to categorize your work in a fashion akin to how nature operates. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcast…

1
Nuclear War by Annie Jacobsen 59:38

2M ago59:38

59:38

In this episode I recall Annie Jacobsen's book Nuclear War. Support the show Become a Member https://thebookrecall.comBy Sean McClure

1
Balance is the Decision 36:08

2M ago36:08

36:08

In this episode I discuss how making decisions in an uncertain world is best handled, not through explicit weighing of choices, but by focusing on high level targets (like balance) that cut through the noise. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcast…

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Reading as Mental Training, and More 44:10

3M ago44:10

44:10

In this episode I discuss how reading should be done for more than just entertainment and knowledge. Reading should be done every day to train the mind in extended concentration, maintaining a single thread of thought, and holding your attention deliberately. I discuss what I think it means to read well, and show how this skill goes well beyond jus…

1
Build Your Life, Literally 17:46

4M ago17:46

17:46

In this episode I discuss the importance of creating a physical snapshot of your life, to add meaning and direction to your efforts. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcastBy Sean McClure

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The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga 1:09:49

7M ago1:09:49

1:09:49

In this episode I recall and comment on Ichiro Kishimi's and Fumitake Koga's book The Courage to Be Disliked. Support the show Become a Member https://thebookrecall.comBy Sean McClure

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Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective 58:09

7M ago58:09

58:09

In this episode I recall and comment on Kenneth O. Stanley's and Joel Lehman's book Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective. Support the show Become a Member https://thebookrecall.comBy Sean McClure

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Let the Environment Build You 31:19

7M ago31:19

31:19

In this episode I discuss the idea that our environment should make the "decisions" for us, when it comes to crafting our lives and the things in it. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcastBy Sean McClure

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Conspiracy by Michael Shermer 46:59

8M ago46:59

46:59

In this episode I recall and comment on Michael Shermer's book Conspiracy. Support the show Become a Member https://thebookrecall.comBy Sean McClure

1
Throw it In and See what Sticks: The New Engineering 33:12

8M ago33:12

33:12

In this episode I discuss the new direction engineering is headed, and why it sounds to many as unsophisticated. It's a "throw everything in a pot to see what happens" outlook on how to build things, which I argue is in fact a far more sophisticated approach than best-laid plans. Something we should learn to embrace in our creativity and life in ge…

1
When the Ink Fades; Why (and How) We are Now the Media 42:11

8M ago42:11

42:11

In this episode I argue that platforms like X are in fact a better source of truth than mainstream news outlets, despite their errors and lack of expertise. I lay out the underlying mechanism behind how truth persists in large collectives, and show how natural dynamics in large complex systems effectively materialize truth. Support the show Become …

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Scale-Free Truth: Keeping AI Correct, Regardless its Power 45:45

9M ago45:45

45:45

How can we keep AI truthful, even if it knows more than we do? In this episode I discuss how AI might be kept aligned to human truth and values, despite superseding us in scale and capability. I argue that logic is a scale-free framework that is agnostic to size and complexity, and can serve as a self-regulating form of truth discernment, even for …

1
AI, Creativity, and the Benefit of Being Chased by the Machine 40:47

9M ago40:47

40:47

In this episode I talk about a recent comment made by Ben Affleck, suggesting that AI does not currently create. I challenge this, outlining how AI follows the same overall approach to creativity as humans. Further, I argue that our creativity should be challenged by AI, as this ensures we challenge ourselves to be as humanly creative as possible. …

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Dynamics are Truer than Facts: How to "Win" Debates 56:54

9M ago56:54

56:54

In this episode I discuss what I believe is missing from almost all debates today; an understanding of the dynamics at play in the systems being discussed. I argue that knowledge of natural systems and their dynamics can land debates on something more rigorous and true than the mere swapping of facts. O'Connor / Shapiro Debate https://www.youtube.c…

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Scripting the Unscripted: The Fallacy of Trying to Design Life 50:00

9M ago50:00

50:00

In this episode I discuss a recent project initiative that looks to design a genome from scratch, and argue that such research motivations rely on a deeply flawed premise. Suggested Reading He’s Gleaning the Design Rules of Life to Re-Create It, Quanta Magazine Become a Member science-in-perspective.com Support the show…

1
Life Goes Better with Guarantees 27:35

9M ago27:35

27:35

In this episode I discuss the importance of placing guarantees in your life, to ensure you biggest realizations get folded into your processes going forward. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcastBy Sean McClure

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Time travel, and the Unification of all Physics 1:10:55

9M ago1:10:55

1:10:55

In this episode I discuss recent research related to quantum time travel, and comment on what this might mean for the biggest outstanding problem in all physics: the unification of quantum mechanics with general relativity. Become a Member science-in-perspective.com Support the showBy Sean McClure

1
Stop Offloading Your Memory to the Machine 50:07

10M ago50:07

50:07

Externalizing your memory to machines ultimately makes you less productive. It feels like the opposite when you first do it. That’s what today’s products depend on. But what feels like an advantage is really just seeing the isolated definition of a task become optimized. Real world tasks do not function according to such isolation definitions. In t…

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Complexity Answers Complexity: Merging Brains and Machines 26:04

11M ago26:04

26:04

In this episode I discuss recent research in merging the human brain with machines. This opens the door to reestablishing motor control in paralyzed individuals, and also raises the question as to how far this might go. Augmented memory? Increased processing power? Time will tell. Music Attribution Depth of Science Intro by SPmusic Episode music by…

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Infinite Palaces: The True Potential of the Mind 27:37

11M ago27:37

27:37

In this episode I discuss the potential of the human mind in terms of assumed versus actual boundaries. People frame their mental potential in terms of space and time complexity (although most don't call it that); in other words, they assume their potential is limited by the speed and space of the task (how much time it takes, the amount of raw inf…

1
Hover and Wait: It Eventually Works 21:46

12M ago21:46

21:46

You can read more effectively by hovering above words and waiting until the text you thought would be too much to comprehend materializes in the mind. But if you try, sometimes it seems to work and sometimes it doesn't. But if you learn to hover and wait, it eventually always works. There is a universal pattern at play here, that occurs in many are…

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Classical Supremacy: Quantum Computers Still Mostly Hype 30:22

12M ago30:22

30:22

In this episode I discuss the announcement made by Google in 2019 about achieving "quantum supremacy", only to be surpassed this year with a classical computer. The hype is real, but the computer? Less so. This episode gives a conceptual overview of how quantum computing works, and why both companies and scientists can get a little too carried away…

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Be Niche, and Grow 21:13

12M ago21:13

21:13

In this episode I discuss how to be more niche in your life and with your projects, and why that's the only way to truly grow. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcastBy Sean McClure

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You Should Be Reading at the Speed of Thought 23:55

12M ago23:55

23:55

In this episode I discuss how standing too close to the techniques we use can end up ruining their ability to help us. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcastBy Sean McClure

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You Only Need the Title to Make the Rest Work 24:46

12M ago24:46

24:46

In this episode I argue that all that is required to produce your best work is the title of that work. The title captures the essence of what you're hoping to communicate, while everything else can be achieved automatically. The "everything else" includes the structures, transitions and details that will appear very deliberate, and at times even "a…

1
Work, Play, One Life 23:50

12M ago23:50

23:50

Most of us want some kind of work-life balance. We tend to assume this means creating a distinct separation between when we work and when we play. In this episode I argue that balance is more naturally achieved when we bring work and life together into a single flow. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version…

1
You Should Probably be Caring Less 22:59

1y ago22:59

22:59

In this episode I argue that it often makes more sense to go through life caring less. In today's society we are told we need to care more about how we look, how we speak, what we contribute to, etc. But we all care by default, and the real challenge is caring less about things that don't matter. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.c…

1
You Have to Pick Up the Sword 20:32

1y ago20:32

20:32

In this episode I talk about the need to realize that we are always in a war of some kind. This is true for our personal lives as much as society. If we stand for anything, than we must accept that messy friction is a part of life, and that embracing this reality leads to less problems in the long run. If we believe in anything, we must be willing …

1
What You Read Doesn't Matter 20:01

1y ago20:01

20:01

In this episode I look at the online judgement directed at those who post reading lists. I argue that what really matters is not so much what you read, but how you read, since the information you are after can only be gleaned by reading many different books. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://…

1
Diversity Works if You Don't Force It 24:07

1y ago24:07

24:07

In this episode, I discuss the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, and the ongoing criticism regarding the performance of the Secret Service. I argue that while diversity is critically important, when forced, it ends up creating more problems than solutions. I show how both the Left and the Right are in fact committing the same transgress…

1
Is Music Only for Dumb People? 26:14

1y ago26:14

26:14

In this episode I talk about a study that says smarter people listen to less music. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcastBy Sean McClure

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What Does "Smart" Look Like? 29:23

1y ago29:23

29:23

In this episode I discuss the problem with thinking we know what smart looks like. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the Video Version https://www.youtube.com/@nontrivialpodcastBy Sean McClure

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You Can't Learn from Scratch 33:27

1y ago33:27

33:27

In this episode, I challenge the idea that we can learn effectively by "learning from scratch." I discuss how starting with the basics runs learning in the wrong direction, and how genuine learning only happens when we embed ourselves inside real environments. I use the difference in strength between bodybuilders and naturally strong individuals to…

1
The Difference Between Real and Polished 19:26

1y ago19:26

19:26

Society has become a little too enamoured with analysis and explanation, at the cost of building real things. Nature only validates by making things that work. This is what true validation looks like; less talking, more pointing (at what has been made). In this episode I use Mike Tyson as an example of the difference between real and polished. Supp…

1
Is Death Irrational? 26:17

1y ago26:17

26:17

In this episode I discuss the increasingly popular idea that valuing death is irrational, and that death should be treated as a problem to solve. I argue that such a stance is itself irrational, and that death should be viewed more objectively as an essential piece to how nature works. I show how the death-as-a-problem stance suffers from being int…

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Nature is not Magic, Just Different: Why AI Shouldn't Surprise You 31:52

1y ago31:52

31:52

In this episode I use a recent statement made by Sam Altman, regarding the emergence of intelligence, to highlight the outdated way both laymen and many scientists view AI specifically, and complexity more broadly. I argue that, despite what we are told, a truly scientific and rigorous theory or decision does not demand a causal explanation, and in…

1
Round and Round We Go: The Circularity of IQ 28:18

1y ago28:18

28:18

In this episode I discuss one of the core flaws in IQ research, showing how it violates basic logic (let alone any notion of complexity). I discuss how such studies are not mere niche areas of research, but rather directly affect people's lives through the policies they encourage. Support the show Become a Member nontrivialpodcast.com Check out the…

1
Low Dimensional Thinking 27:34

1+ y ago27:34

27:34

For video version: https://youtu.be/kAnnsjl-jyg In this episode I discuss the problem with taking only the final/best parts of something, and using those parts as a system to run our lives. I look at the importance of "waste" and redundancy in natural systems, and how this runs counter to our modern world's obsession with stripped down efficiency. …

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Protecting Your Reputation is a Tragedy 29:53

1+ y ago29:53

29:53

Reputations are things people tend to protect. But protecting our reputation means blocking our values from being known, which I argue invites the wrong opportunities into our lives. Having a life filled with wrong opportunities means never having the chance to deliver your real potential to the world, which really is a tragedy. Support the show Be…

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People Who Understand Beethoven Don’t Play Beethoven 21:28

1+ y ago21:28

21:28

Many people proclaim to understand something because they study it. But you cannot know a thing by studying the thing, you have to create the thing. Playing Beethoven is replicating what you see in front of you, it is not creating the thing you see in front of you. Those who don’t create don’t understand. It doesn’t matter what you create, but if y…

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Bet What You Know 28:03

1+ y ago28:03

28:03

Placing bets means wagering something of value on the outcome of an uncertain event with the hopes of achieving a payoff. The decisions we make in life are akin to placing bets, and as with all bets, access to good information is what increases the chances of a bet achieving a payoff. Most people approach accessing good information by conducting re…

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Get Yourself Triggered 24:23

1+ y ago24:23

24:23

Getting triggered means someone experiences a strong emotional reaction to a particular stimulus or event. But there is a good side to being triggered. Getting triggered can compel us towards positive action. We can deliberately trigger ourselves to produce good work by putting in place things that compel us to write/speak/draw etc. in the best way…