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First Principles

Adrian Wells

First Principles isn't another business podcast recycling the same startup stories. Adrian Wells takes the fundamentals that actually matter and breaks them down like you're having coffee with the smartest professor you ever had.

Wells spent twelve years teaching philosophy and critical thinking before ditching the lecture hall for the microphone. Turns out, the same principles that help you think clearly about ancient Greek ethics also work pretty well for modern business decisions. Who knew?

Every episode strips away the latest trends and buzzwords to focus on the core ideas that don't change. How to actually evaluate evidence when everyone's throwing around statistics. Why most "revolutionary" business advice is just old wine in new bottles. The thinking patterns that separate smart decisions from lucky guesses.

You won't get hyped-up success stories or flavor-of-the-month strategies. Instead, you'll learn how to think through problems the way philosophers have for centuries, applied to the stuff that matters in your work and life right now.

Multiple new episodes drop daily, so there's always something fresh when you need it. Follow now if you're ready to think better, not just think faster. Multiple new episodes daily—follow now!

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  • 403 episodes
  • Avg 22 min
  • English

Episodes 403

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  • August 13 · 13 min

    AI Godfather Breaks His Silence: Why Google Doesn't Want You to Hear This

    Why did Google's AI godfather quit his dream job just to warn us about what's coming? Adrian Wells breaks down Geoffrey Hinton's shocking departure and the chilling predictions that made him abandon everything he built. The man who literally invented the neural networks powering ChatGPT and every AI system you use just torched his career at Google. His reason? He thinks there's a coin flip's chance that AI wipes us out in the next 20 years, and he couldn't stay quiet anymore. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why the Turing Award winner thinks AI extinction risk is 10-50% (and why that number keeps him up at night) • The specific moment Hinton realized his life's work might doom humanity • What changed between 2012 and 2023 that made him flip from optimist to doomsday prophet • The three things Hinton says we need to do RIGHT NOW before it's too late 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone passionate about personal growth who wants to understand the most important technological shift of our lifetime. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the AI godfather's great betrayal [01:45] Why Hinton abandoned his $200k Google salary to speak freely [04:15] The neural network breakthrough that changed everything (and why he regrets it) [07:30] His terrifying 10-50% extinction timeline explained [09:45] Three concrete steps Hinton says could save humanity [11:30] What this means for your career and kids' future This isn't some tech blogger's hot take. This is the guy who built the foundation of modern AI telling us he thinks he might have doomed the species. When the inventor of dynamite starts warning about explosions, you listen. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. New episodes drop daily, and next week Adrian's covering the psychology behind why most people ignore warnings like Hinton's until it's too late. 🔍 Topics: artificial intelligence, Geoffrey Hinton, AI safety, Google, neural networks Find all episodes at First Principles --- Keywords: relationship psychology, decision making, philosophy business, billionaire mindset, depression stories, performance optimization, entrepreneurship philosophy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 13 · 13 min

    Esther Perel: The Screen Addiction That's Literally Killing Your Sex Life

    What if the secret to better relationships isn't about communication skills, but about breaking free from the digital prison that's rewiring our brains? In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with world-renowned relationship therapist Esther Perel to uncover the shocking truth about how our screen addiction is literally killing our ability to connect with real humans. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why Americans went from 3.5 close friends in 1985 to just 1.9 today (and what this means for your romantic life) • The 90-minute daily dating app trap that's keeping 4 out of 5 users perpetually single • How couples who meet in person report 40% higher satisfaction rates than those who meet online • The anxiety epidemic: why 75% of young adults now fear face-to-face conversations 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who's noticed their relationships feeling more surface-level lately, even when you're trying harder than ever to connect. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the connection crisis hiding in plain sight [01:45] The friendship recession: how we lost 1.6 close friends per person [03:30] Dating app mathematics: why 90 minutes daily yields zero dates [05:15] The face-to-face fear factor: when screens become social crutches [07:45] Esther Perel breaks down the intimacy gap in modern relationships [09:30] Three practical steps to rewire your connection habits [11:15] Why meeting in person still wins by a 40% margin 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: relationships, digital addiction, social skills, dating apps, human connection Find all episodes at First Principles ------- Keywords: first principles, performance optimization, decision making, productivity science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 13 · 12 min

    The $400M Breakdown That Fixed Scooter Braun

    What if the most successful entertainment mogul of his generation had to lose everything to figure out who he actually was? In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down Scooter Braun's $400 million empire collapse and the surprising discovery that saved him from himself. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why Braun's "privilege guilt" about his family's success was secretly sabotaging his decision-making for decades • The exact moment he realized his professional identity was the complete opposite of his natural personality • How performing success differs from living it (and why most high achievers get this backwards) • The specific question that shifted Braun from proving himself to others to understanding what he actually wanted 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who's ever wondered if they're building the right life or just a successful-looking one. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces Braun's public breakdown [01:45] The privilege guilt that shaped 20 years of choices [04:15] Creating an identity that fought against his nature [06:30] When everything successful felt completely wrong [08:45] The breakthrough question that changed everything [11:00] What authentic success actually looks like Braun managed Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift. He built a media empire worth hundreds of millions. And he was miserable. His story isn't about business strategy or celebrity drama. It's about what happens when you finally stop running from yourself and start asking the right questions. The difference between external validation and internal alignment isn't just philosophical. It's practical. And Braun's breakdown shows exactly how to tell which one you're chasing. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: Scooter Braun, authentic success, privilege guilt, professional identity, personal growth Find all episodes at First Principles --- Keywords: thinking skills, fame psychology, logical reasoning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showing 401–403 of 403 episodes