#129 – Lisa Feldman Barrett: Counterintuitive Ideas About How the Brain Works

The following is a conversation with Lisa Feldman Barrett, a professor of psychology at Northeastern University and one of the most brilliant and bold thinkers and scientists I've ever had the pleasure of speaking with. She is the author of a book that revolutionized our understanding of emotion in the brain called how emotions are made, and she's coming out with a new book called seven and a half lessons about the brain that you can and should preorder. Now, I got a chance to read it already, and it's one of the best short, whirlwind introductions to the human brain I've ever read. It comes out on November 17, but again, if there's anybody worth supporting, it's Lisa, so please do preorder the book now. Lisa and I agreed to speak once again around the time of the book release, especially because we felt that this first conversation is good to release now, since we talk about the divisive time we're living through in the United States leading up to the election, and she gives me a whole new way to think about it from a neuroscience perspective that is ultimately inspiring of empathy, compassion, and love. Quick mention of each sponsor, followed by some thoughts related to this episode. First sponsor is athletic Greens, the all in one drink that I start every day with to cover all my nutritional bases that I don't otherwise get through my diet naturally. Second is Magic Spoon, low carb keto friendly, delicious cereal that I reward myself with after a productive day. The cocoa flavor is my favorite. Third sponsor is cash app, the app I use to send money to friends for food, drinks, and unfortunately for the many bets I have lost to them. Please check out these sponsors in the description to get a discount and to support this podcast. As a side note, let me say that the bold first principles way that Lisa approaches our study of the brain is something that has inspired me ever since I learned about her work. And in fact, I invited her to speak at the AGI series I organized at MIT several years ago. But as a little twist, instead of a lecture, we did a conversation in front of the class. I think that was one of the early moments that led me to start this very podcast. It was scary and gratifying, which is exactly what life is all about. And it's kind of funny how life turns on little moments like these that at the time don't seem to be anything out of the ordinary. If you enjoy this thing, subscribe on YouTube, review it with five stars on Apple Podcast, follow on Spotify, support on Patreon, or connect with me on Twitter at Lex Friedman as usual. I'll do a few minutes of ads now and no ads in the middle. I try to make these interesting but I give you timestamps so if you skip, please still check out the sponsors by clicking the links in the description. It's the best way to support this podcast. This show is brought to you by athletic greens, the all in one daily drink to support better health and peak performance. Even with a balanced diet, it's difficult to cover all your nutritional bases. That's where athletic greens will help. Their daily drink is like nutritional insurance for your body that's delivered straight to your door. I fast often, sometimes intermittent fasting of 16 hours, sometimes 24 hours. Dinner to dinner. I'm actually considering doing a 48 and a 72 hours fast as well. I break the fast with athletic greens. It's delicious, refreshing, just makes me feel good. I think it's like 50 calories, less than a gram of sugar, but has a ton of nutrients. To make sure my body has what it needs despite what I'm eating, go to athleticgreens.com lex to claim a special offer. A free vitamin d three k, two for a year. So click athleticgreens.com lex in the description to get the free stuff and to support this podcast. This episode is also sponsored by Magic Spoon Low carb keto friendly cereal I've been on a mix of keto and carnivore diet for a long time now. That means eating very few carbs. I used to love cereal. Obviously most cereals have crazy amounts of sugar, which is terrible for you, so I quit years ago. But Magic Spoon is a totally new thing. Zero sugar, 11 grams of protein, and only 3 grams of carbs. I personally like to celebrate accomplishments and productivity with a snack of magic spoon. It feels like a cheat meal, but it's not. It tastes delicious. It has four flavors, cocoa, fruity, frosted and blueberry, and I think they come out with some new ones. I tried all of them. They're all delicious. But if you know what's good for you, you'll go with cocoa, my favorite flavor and the flavor of champions. Click the magicspoon.com Slash Lex link in the description and use code Lex at checkout for free shipping. This show is presented by Cash app, the number one finance app in the App Store. When you get it, use code Lex podcast Cash app lets you send money to friends, buy bitcoin, and invest in the stock market with as little as $1. Let me put a new idea out there. I'll send $42 to anyone via the cash app who makes a meme or podcast mashup video making fun of me since my ego needs to be brought down a notch, or even if you create some cool art, music, or a thing of any kind related to this podcast that either makes me lol in real life or is just awesome, beautiful, inspiring in some way. Post it in the Lex Friedman subreddit and include your cash tag if you want to be in the running for the many $42 awards that I'll give. It's not about the money, as always. It's about the love. So again, if you get cash app from the App Store Google Play use code Lex podcast, you get $10. And Cash app will also donate $10 to first, an organization that is helping to advance robotics and stem education for young people around the world. And now, here's my conversation with Lisa Feldman Barrett today. Do you think let's ask the craziest question. Do you think there's other intelligent life out there in the universe?