55 episodes

Houston, we have a podcast.

Welcome to the show on how to moonwalk your life. Think interdimensional roller coaster, but for your mind.

We take big adventures and even bigger ideas, from science, to explore the ordinary – from how to be a better thinker to (most important) how to be better human being. Whether scientists or provocateurs, discover the wrinkles in everyday life. Uncover more at moonwalkpodcast.com.

Moonwalk Mohnish Soundararajan & Co.

    • Science
    • 4.4 • 121 Ratings

Houston, we have a podcast.

Welcome to the show on how to moonwalk your life. Think interdimensional roller coaster, but for your mind.

We take big adventures and even bigger ideas, from science, to explore the ordinary – from how to be a better thinker to (most important) how to be better human being. Whether scientists or provocateurs, discover the wrinkles in everyday life. Uncover more at moonwalkpodcast.com.

    Announcing: How to Take Notes at the Speed of Light

    Announcing: How to Take Notes at the Speed of Light

    First off—it's been a thousand years.
    But I have a quick update—and if you liked Moonwalk, I think you'll (most likely) be into it.
    If you already know what it is (or just listened): here's the free system.
    And the update is: I talked to a guy named Andrew, because Andrew read a book.
    But when he read that book, it addressed a long-standing concern in his life.
    On this quick 2-minute update, we talk about it.
    For the book (the notetaking system is free, and you can read it in under 3 minutes) go here: www.mohnish.net/book
    Music by Kevin Macleod

    • 2 min
    The Future of Moonwalk

    The Future of Moonwalk

    The future of Moonwalk, and where I'm going next.
    Join the email list, where I'll post new projects, updates, and book recommendations, all at mohnish.net/insider
    The Facts
    Special thanks to Kevin Sanji, Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, Vysali Soundararajan, Armi Legge, Justin Sheppard, and - last but not least - you. Thanks for listening.
     

    • 3 min
    The Superpower: Can You Have Good Taste?

    The Superpower: Can You Have Good Taste?

    "But he listened to it and he says, 'That's good shit, dad!'"
    - Paul Rozin
    There's a deep, subjective feeling inside us. And it's the feeling that you know what tastes good, you know what movies are terrible, and you know that your grandfather's esoteric opinions on classical operas are actually spot-on.
    But in a world filled with varying subjective preferences (as well as people who enjoy eating pickles whole), there is an idea that won't die.
    It's the idea that someone can have "good taste". The idea that your taste can be better than my taste.
    On this episode, we investigate:
    - Does that idea make sense?
    - Is is possible to improve your taste systematically?
    - What are the components of someone who has good taste, and someone who doesn't?
    - And how subjective is taste in a world with clear preferences?
     
    The Facts
    Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. 
    Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji.
    Special thanks to Anna Leonard and Paul Rozin.
    Sign up for the insider newsletter for exclusive updates and book recommendations.   
    Music is by Podington Bear, BitBasic, and Kevin MacLeod

    • 20 min
    The Rational Spy: How Incentives Screw with Everything

    The Rational Spy: How Incentives Screw with Everything

    "Worst case scenario, the spy gets killed" - Benedetta Lerva
    If you hire a spy, a lot can happen. They can get caught. They can get tortured with endless roundhouse kicks to the face. And worst case scenario: they can die. So if you had to risk someone’s life to spy for your country, would you do it? And, more importantly, what does this teach us about what it means to be a better person? An economist helps us figure it out.
     
    The Facts
    Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Vysali Soundararajan.
    Special thanks to Benedetta Lerva. The research: East-West Germany espionage paper, Rotten Kid Theorem paper, and the “Pay Not to Go to the Gym” paper.
    Sign up for the insider newsletter for exclusive updates and book recommendations.
    Music is by Podington Bear, BitBasic, and Broke for Free.
     

    • 24 min
    Gordie Goes to Hell: Turning Disadvantages into Advantages

    Gordie Goes to Hell: Turning Disadvantages into Advantages

    “My parents thought they hit the jackpot with me” - Gordie Bufton
    There’s a woman who buys a ticket. She gets in a plane, and passes all these little cultures of hills and cars and highways, and then - 2,000 miles later - realizes that the man whom she gave birth to and bought diapers in bulk for, is actually a complete shit show. On this episode, we talk about the shit show, and dive into a question that’s older than Nietzsche himself: can disadvantages be turned into advantages? Is that completely wrong? And if it’s true, why does the research give a different picture?
     
    The Facts
    Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm, Justin Sheppard, and Mary Moran.
    Special thanks to Gordie Bufton, Lisa Moore, and Mark Seery.
    To sign up for the newsletter (and for more on this episode), go to mohnish.net
    Music is by Podington Bear.

    • 49 min
    The Revisionist Strikes Back

    The Revisionist Strikes Back

    I'm in a bar, and I tell Kevin a story about an African village. But the story I tell is the lovely, made-for-television version of what happened.
    The real story is worse. Much worse. 
    On this episode, we uncover the secret of sharp thinkers.
     
    ###
     
    Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted and co-written by Kevin Sanji. Feedback by Jarrod Sport and Justine Brumm.
    A special thanks to Christian Hempelmann. A quick note: No podcast next month. I’ll be traveling for 40 days, and we have some great material cued up. We’re off next month, but can’t wait to get back on the horse.
    Special thanks to Christain Hempelmann - his paper.
    Go to moonwalkpodcast.com and sign up for the email list. 
    Music is by Podington Bear.
     
     

    • 21 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
121 Ratings

121 Ratings

kay_nyc ,

So good

6 episodes in and I’m crushing on Mohnish pretty hard. Witty, intelligent and funny.

Nickname_MRK ,

LOVE this podcast!

Moonwalk reminds me a lot of Radiolab in how it finds the most interesting subjects to explore and discuss and generally blow your mind. And they're pretty short, too. Leaves you wanting more. Great job!

Tuckkkkk ,

Insightful

Awesome show.. I'm a cook and sub teacher who listens to podcasts because they make me laugh and think creatively while working. You guys really inspire me to create my own podcast on everyday things in life. Thanks.

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