William von Hippel is a psychologist, professor, and author.
Modern life feels so complex that even basic emotions like happiness seem distant. Were we happier as hunter-gatherers, with more connection and autonomy? If so, how do these prehistoric needs shape our well-being today?
Expect to learn if it would be helpful to return back to a simpler hunter & ... Show More
Today
How War Shaped Human Evolution - David Geary - #1172
Dr David Geary is an evolutionary psychologist, cognitive scientist, professor at the University of Missouri, and author. Expect to learn the disturbing reasons why humans are so intelligent, why men are obsessed with status, money, and power, the biggest differences between male ... Show More
1h 11m
Nov 2
How To Make Better Decisions (with way less uncertainty) - Joe Hudson - #1171
Joe Hudson is a coach, entrepreneur and a podcast host. Expect to learn how important it is to develop the skill of decision-making, why intelligent people often struggle the most with making decisions, how to spot the biggest indicators you are about to make a terrible decision, ... Show More
1h 43m
Oct 31
The Art Of Growing Up (just enough) - James Smith - #1170
James Smith is a podcaster, author, personal trainer, and co-founder of the world's greatest clean energy drink, Neutonic. Expect to learn why solving your problems never leaves you with fewer of them, why more money buys less happiness than you’d expect, how James got arrested a ... Show More
1h 20m
Jun 2025
Why Modern Life Doesn't Make Us Happy, and How to Fix It with Dr. William von Hippel
Life today is safer and more comfortable than ever before, so why do so many people feel unhappy, lonely, and anxious? Forrest talks with evolutionary psychologist Dr. William von Hippel about this paradox in light of our two core needs: autonomy and connection. He argues that mo ... Show More
1h 29m
Aug 2025
How Modern Life Makes Us Unhappy | Bill von Hippel
Economist and researcher Bill von Hippel joins AJ and Johnny to unpack a surprising question: if modern life is safer, richer, and more comfortable than ever, why do studies suggest hunter-gatherers were happier than we are? Bill shares insights from a decade of studying the “soc ... Show More
1h 4m
Feb 2025
Behavioural Psychologist: We're Not Having Enough Sex! Fat Makes You Attractive & The Poorer You Are The Friendlier You Are!
Are we fighting against our own biology? Dr Bill von Hippel reveals how evolutionary psychology impacts love, success, and happiness.
Dr Bill von Hippel is a renowned social psychologist, evolutionary specialist, and Professor of Psychology at the University of Queensland. He ... Show More
1h 55m
Jun 2022
What Ancients Cultures Have To Teach Us About Being Human And Happy with Wade Davis
This episode is brought to you by Gut Food, Cozy Earth, InsideTracker, and Rupa Health. Many of us are feeling a crisis of meaning; feeling we’ve lost our way amongst the stressors and distractions of modern life. We are more isolated, divided, and sick than ever before. Personal ... Show More
1h 17m
Feb 2024
What Evolution and Human Behavior Can Tell Us About Purpose and Meaning | Sam Wilkinson
In today’s episode, we tackle meaning and purpose with Samuel T Wilkinson. Sam is a professor of psychiatry at Yale University, an associate director of the Yale Depression Research Program, and the author of his latest book Purpose: What Evolution and Human Nature Imply about th ... Show More
59m 55s
Nov 2024
The Truth About Modern Anxiety, A Surprising Way To Find Joy and Meaning & How To Transform Your Relationships with Alain de Botton #495
Have you ever wondered why, despite all our modern comforts, so many of us still struggle with unhappiness and anxiety? What if a more fulfilling life isn't about constant positivity but rather a form of ‘cheerful pessimism’? Today's guest is Alain de Botton. Alain is the founder ... Show More
1h 54m
Feb 2025
The Extra Scoop: How to Be Happy
Every month, "How to be happy" is searched 45 million times on Google. We all want happiness, yet so many struggle to find it. With anxiety and depression on the rise, what’s holding us back?
This week, Dr. David Hamilton — a pharmaceutical scientist, with PhD in organic chemistr ... Show More
26m 4s
Mar 2020
What's a Genius Life - and can YOU have one?
Max Lugavere, the author of The Genius Life, says the world has changed quite a bit since our days as hunter gatherers — and it's left our brains in a state of despair. The good news is, we can turn things around. Max says we can heal our bodies and brains by changing our lifesty ... Show More
59m 4s