Concepts: How the Brain Constructs Reality, Emotional Experience and Who You Are - w/ Nicholas Shea
Ever wonder why you can recognise your friend's face instantly but struggle to remember where you put your keys? Your brain is running the most sophisticated learning system ever created, and most of us have no clue how it actually works.
Nicholas Shea is an Oxford and King's College Researcher working in philosophy of mind, cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
He breaks down the fascinating psychology behind how we build concepts in our minds. Think of concepts as mental shortcuts - when you see a dog, you don't analyse four legs, fur, and a tail. Your brain instantly accesses everything you know about dogs.
We dissect these fundamental building blocks of learning into how the brain actually works and learns, and build mastery.
Three key takeaways:
What builds basic concepts into subject mastery?
How do emotions inform decision-making?
The real difference between deliberate practice and passive learning
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
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Nicholas Shea
Nick & his work - https://www.nicholasshea.co.uk/
Book - Concepts at The Interface - https://philpapers.org/rec/SHECAT-11
Paper - Concepts as Plug and Play Devices - https://www.nicholasshea.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Shea_22_Concepts_plug-and-play_RSTB_OA.pdf
Recommended Books
"Consciousness Explained" - Daniel Dennet
Metazoa : Animal minds and the birth of consciousness” - Peter Godfrey Smith
"Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Origins of Consciousness” -Peter Godfrey Smith
"The Pleistocene Social Contract" - Kim Sterelny
Helen Steward - Article - Do animals have free will - https://philosophersmag.com/do-animals-have-free-will/
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
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Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: The Building Blocks of Learning and Mastery in the Brain - w/ Nicholas Shea
Chapters:
00:00 How does your mind really work?
03:21 Playing with Concepts
05:00 Overview of Concepts in Psychology
06:14 Building and Storing Concepts
06:30 Concept Learning in Adults
07:59 Concept Acquisition in Children
08:46 Motor Skills and Conceptual Thinking
09:29 Automatic vs. Deliberate Thinking
11:00 Richness and Accessibility of Concepts
13:56 Cognitive Shortcuts and Biases
15:09 Narration on how media affects our thoughts
17:27 The Frame Problem in AI
22:25 Emotions in Decision Making
26:17 Animal Cognition and Emotions
29:14 Neurotransmitters and Learning
30:44 Philosophy methods and experimentation
31:32 Interdisciplinary Approach in Philosophy
33:13 Practical Implications of Abstract Research
34:29 Challenges in Applying Theoretical Insights
37:54 Recommended Books and Final Thoughts
39:45 Books Repeated
40:34 Take-home ideas
42:27 How to change the world podcast
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49:04
When Your Brain Won’t Shut Up: A guide to internal peace and lasting focus
Let's unpack the heart of attention, addiction, autopilot and self-sabotage.
This episode is a deep dive into the junk food of thought: addictive mental loops that hijack your attention, and keep you stuck repeating the same boring patterns — again and again and again.
We talk about why your thoughts are like badly designed software, why addiction makes your brain less creative, and how to actually take back control. From scrolling email to self-sabotaging loops, it turns out the enemy isn’t the internet… it’s your untrained mind.
Reframe addiction as a self-inflicted cognitive handicap
Break the loop with “internal repulsion” instead of willpower
Interrupt the mental chatter that blocks creativity
You’ll never look at your own thoughts the same way again.
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
Can't find it on your player?
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: When Your Brain Won’t Shut Up: A guide to internal peace and lasting focus
Chapters:
00:00 Useful vs bad fixed beliefs
02:37 Dimensions of our thoughts
03:46 Activating our Auto-Pilot
04:55 Understanding Addiction
05:56 Your mind in addiction
09:25 How do addictions impact ability
10:10 Addictions Undermine Growth and Potential
11:48 The Distraction Ritual
12:58 Taking Responsibility for Addictions
15:27 Changing Your Desire, Not Just Your Behavior
18:03 Reframing Addiction as a Self-Imposed Limitation
19:33 Reclaiming Your Mental Capabilities
20:55 The Power of Embracing Boredom
21:34 Support the podcast by helping a friend
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27:32
How to transcend your normal habits and routines to have original ideas
Mental Constraints: How to change your thoughts and break invisible limits you can't see
This episode is a ride through dimensions—space, time, and your own mind. It’s like stepping outside your body mid-coffee to ask, “Wait, what the hell am I doing?”
From Zen bugs to aeroplane windows, Sam breaks down how we’re all stuck in routines that make life two-dimensional. And the worst part? We don’t even notice.
You’ll learn:
Why your habits aren't just habits—they're constraints dressed as convenience
How to inject randomness into your week to break mental inertia
A simple way to use boredom as a creative tool
Don’t let your year pass in fast-forward. Open your thinking to start living in widescreen.
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
Can't find it on your player?
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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UPGRADE to Premium:
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🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
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Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: How to transcend your normal habits and routines to have original ideas
Chapters:
00:00 The Observing Centipede
01:25 Transcendent versus experiential thinking
03:02 The Flatness of Our Existence
05:33 Thinking in Dimensions
07:50 Routines and Potential Decisions
11:51 Introducing Novelty and Chaos
13:36 Entropy and Being Anti-Entropy Machines
15:45 Living with Intention After a Near-Death Experience
18:03 Forgiveness and Letting Go
20:05 Send off
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26:49
How to Tell if Someone Will Be a Good Long-Term Partner (and find them)
What if everything we believe about finding love is designed to keep us searching instead of finding?
This episode debunks some of the worst common advice and showcases what's genuinely useful.
It might start with you. The people most focused on finding the perfect partner often remain alone, while those focused on becoming the right partner tend to attract extraordinary relationships.
Shift from scarcity-based dating to abundance-based connection:
Understand "optimal search theory"
Focus on shared vision for the future rather than identical current interests
Recognise that generosity and a growth mindset matter more than initial chemistry
If you find someone, will you recognise them when you do?
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
Can't find it on your player?
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: How to Tell if Someone Will Be a Good Long-Term Partner (and find them)
Chapters:
00:00 How to choose a partner
00:51 Importance of shared values
03:21 Know what you really want
05:29 What is the "Optimal Choice"
06:08 Increasing the pool of potential mates
06:57 Go on more dates
08:27 Improving yourself to attract better partners
10:10 4 Mistakes and bad advices when choosing a partner
13:22 4 Dating myths to uncover
19:40 4 Signs to look at when choosing a partner
22:45 Past Relationships
27:06 Screening for a positive mindset
28:42 Optimal Search Theory
31:30 Send off
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36:40
Uncertainty: How to Handle Life's Surprises (+ What is a Black Swan event) - w/ Nicolas Vereecke
Ever felt like life just sucker-punched you out of nowhere? That's exactly what Nassim Taleb calls a Black Swan event.
Most people think they can predict the future by looking at patterns. They study charts, analyze trends, and feel safe in their little bubble of certainty.
However, the biggest events that shape our lives—market crashes, pandemics, breakthrough innovations—are the ones nobody sees coming. ..
Beyond that, it's about how your brain tricks you into thinking you understand a world that's fundamentally unpredictable:
Stop trying to predict everything and start building resilience for anything
Rebuild your investment portfolio and life plan to deal with shocks
Prepare for worst-case scenarios instead of hoping for the best
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
Can't find it on your player?
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: Radical Uncertainty: How to deal with surprises and Black Swan events - w/ Nicolas Vereecke
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Navigating Life's Unpredictability
02:02 Understanding the Black Swan Concept
02:41 Real-World Examples and Implications
04:54 Investment Strategies for Unpredictable Events
12:00 Mediocristan vs. Extremistan
18:39 Ludic fallacy
18:39 The Ludic Fallacy and Risk Assessment
21:46 Conclusion and Takeaways
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About Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
There are a lot of opinions on how to master your mind, but then there’s PSYCHOLOGY.
We’re all stuck with the brain we’re born with, but we aren’t stuck with how we use it.
Learn science-backed answers to make the most of your mind and your life.
CURIOUS?
Growth Mindset Psychology is the "self-help sceptic" podcast for the curious.
Whether you want to improve performance, navigate setbacks, or know who you are.
We find answers to the true science of self-improvement.
So put down the astrology chart and start working with your mind, instead of against it.
With over 8 million downloads and 60,000 monthly listeners, you’re invited to join.
PROCESS
Instead of telling you what to think, we discuss how thinking works.
Armed with a stack of science journals, textbooks and a boatload of curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of the mind.
Why? >>> Success is personal!
You might want to make the most of your neurodiverse strengths, start a business, or simply find more reasons to smile.
Hone your ability for independent thinking and growth with mental models to pursue your definition of success.
HOST
I’m Sam Webster Harris, a lifelong learner with ADHD, a raging curiosity, and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions.
After launching several businesses, travelling the world and nearly dying a few times I concluded that science and Psychology are where it’s at.
What actually makes people happy? What’s the best way to treat a brain? How can I get more done?
Studying the answers we find that changing behaviours requires building mindsets, mental models, and a healthy relationship with failure.
I run the show to help listeners enjoy nutritious content that feeds their minds (and I needed a legitimate excuse to cover for my reading addiction).
PREMIUM
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ARCHIVE
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for busy mortals
— Independence and knowing yourself
— Cognitive biases and rational thinking
— Psychology of connection
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
Listen to Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement, The Mel Robbins Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
Ireland