Episode
#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
2:51:22
Published: Fri Aug 16 2019
Description
Safi Bahcall (@SafiBahcall) is the author of Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas that Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries, which debuted #3 on Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list. Loonshots describes what an idea from physics tells us about the behavior of groups and how teams, companies, and nations can use that to innovate faster and better.Safi received his PhD in physics from Stanford and his undergrad degree from Harvard. After working as a consultant for McKinsey, Safi co-founded a biotechnology company specializing in developing new drugs for cancer. He led its IPO and served as its CEO for 13 years. In 2008, Safi was named E&Y New England Biotechnology Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2011, he worked with President Obama’s council of science advisors on the future of national research. In this episode, we talk about many things we haven’t covered before, including hypnosis, conquering insomnia, thoughts on depression, optimizing incentives, and much more. You can also listen to my first interview with Safi at tim.blog/safi. Please enjoy!This podcast is brought to you by Peloton, which has become a staple of my daily routine. I picked up this bike after seeing the success of my friend Kevin Rose, and I've been enjoying it more than I ever imagined. Peloton is an indoor cycling bike that brings live studio classes right to your home. No worrying about fitting classes into your busy schedule or making it to a studio with a crazy commute.New classes are added every day, and this includes options led by elite NYC instructors in your own living room. You can even live stream studio classes taught by the world's best instructors, or find your favorite class on demand.Peloton is offering listeners to this show a special offer: Enter the code you heard during the Peloton ad of this episode at checkout to receive $100 off accessories with your Peloton bike purchase. This is a great way to get in your workouts, or an incredible gift. That's onepeloton.com and enter the code you heard during the Peloton ad of this episode to receive $100 off accessories with your Peloton bike purchase.This episode is also brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs, which offers a smarter system for the hiring process. If you’ve ever hired anyone (or attempted to), you know finding the right people can be difficult. If you don’t have a direct referral from someone you trust, you’re left to use job boards that don’t offer any real-world networking approach.LinkedIn, as the world’s largest professional network, which is used by more than 70 percent of the US workforce, has a built-in ecosystem that allows you to not only search for employees, but also interact with them, their connections, and their former employers and colleagues in a way that closely mimics real-life communication. Visit LinkedIn.com/Tim and receive a $50 credit toward your first job post!***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim: Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
Peloton offers indoor cycling bikes with live studio classes and thousands of workouts on demand, including a variety of workout options such as low-impact, high-intensity, and themed classes.
00:00 - 04:26 (04:26)
Summary
Peloton offers indoor cycling bikes with live studio classes and thousands of workouts on demand, including a variety of workout options such as low-impact, high-intensity, and themed classes.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The misconceptions surrounding hypnosis have turned it into a subject of skepticism and ridicule.
04:26 - 10:16 (05:50)
Summary
The misconceptions surrounding hypnosis have turned it into a subject of skepticism and ridicule. Hypnosis can be used in therapy to treat conditions like anxiety, addiction, and PTSD by tapping into the unconscious mind and finding the root cause of the problem.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The process of trance induction is familiar because it involves a state of heightened focus that we all experience, such as when we are deep into a book or listening to music.
10:16 - 14:14 (03:58)
Summary
The process of trance induction is familiar because it involves a state of heightened focus that we all experience, such as when we are deep into a book or listening to music. Hypnotists are skilled at identifying what forms of trance induction work best with different individuals.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
By assigning a simple task of generating a random double digit number to the audio and video engineers in our head, we can redirect our racing thoughts and firing neurons to a single object, helping to calm our mind.
14:14 - 17:56 (03:41)
Summary
By assigning a simple task of generating a random double digit number to the audio and video engineers in our head, we can redirect our racing thoughts and firing neurons to a single object, helping to calm our mind.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The techniques of hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to control thoughts and behaviors like fear of heights, or quitting smoking, by creating an inner playlist for the mind to guide thought patterns and to dial down stress and anxiety.
17:57 - 25:11 (07:14)
Summary
The techniques of hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to control thoughts and behaviors like fear of heights, or quitting smoking, by creating an inner playlist for the mind to guide thought patterns and to dial down stress and anxiety.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast, the speaker discusses the significance of acknowledging our mistakes and learning from them rather than dwelling on them.
25:12 - 29:58 (04:46)
Summary
In this podcast, the speaker discusses the significance of acknowledging our mistakes and learning from them rather than dwelling on them. He explains how replaying negative situations can help us understand our mistakes better and improve in the future.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The overload of inputs in the current era has made it difficult for our brains to keep up with evolution and cope with mental conflicts.
29:58 - 35:36 (05:38)
Summary
The overload of inputs in the current era has made it difficult for our brains to keep up with evolution and cope with mental conflicts. However, bifurcating or trifurcating thoughts and identifying different characters can help one deal with insomnia, anxiety or stress.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares their experience of facing rejection in trying to publish a book that combines physics, business, and history, and how the process felt similar to training for a three-point shot in basketball.
35:36 - 39:02 (03:25)
Summary
The speaker shares their experience of facing rejection in trying to publish a book that combines physics, business, and history, and how the process felt similar to training for a three-point shot in basketball.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses a common misconception about depression being solved by "thinking positively" and compares it to telling an infertile person to "just think positive and have a baby."
39:02 - 48:42 (09:40)
Summary
The speaker discusses a common misconception about depression being solved by "thinking positively" and compares it to telling an infertile person to "just think positive and have a baby."
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Medication can be helpful in treating depression even in small doses, and the right combination of them can have a positive effect on a person's mental and emotional well-being.
48:42 - 53:22 (04:40)
Summary
Medication can be helpful in treating depression even in small doses, and the right combination of them can have a positive effect on a person's mental and emotional well-being. Genetics can also play a role in how different people respond to treatment.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares his experience with depression and offers hope for those struggling by discussing the tools available to help manage it, including SSRIs and ketamine, and the theories behind why they work.
53:22 - 1:00:34 (07:11)
Summary
The speaker shares his experience with depression and offers hope for those struggling by discussing the tools available to help manage it, including SSRIs and ketamine, and the theories behind why they work. The speaker also highlights his interest in other therapies like psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
By interrupting negative patterns of behavior or thought, individuals can gain a new perspective on them and work towards breaking them in order to improve their mental health.
1:00:34 - 1:05:38 (05:04)
Summary
By interrupting negative patterns of behavior or thought, individuals can gain a new perspective on them and work towards breaking them in order to improve their mental health. A combination of methods, including mindfulness meditation and pattern interrupts, can be effective tools for achieving this goal.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares a practical tip for dealing with negative thoughts by mentally “hashtagging” them and labeling them as self-criticism.
1:05:38 - 1:09:46 (04:07)
Summary
The speaker shares a practical tip for dealing with negative thoughts by mentally “hashtagging” them and labeling them as self-criticism. This helps to acknowledge the negative thought and prevent it from spiraling into a cycle of negativity.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The villagers have to take an annual trip to a neighboring village, but on their way back home, they are attacked twice by different groups of bandits resulting in being robbed and injured.
1:09:46 - 1:12:35 (02:48)
Summary
The villagers have to take an annual trip to a neighboring village, but on their way back home, they are attacked twice by different groups of bandits resulting in being robbed and injured.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Some people believe that no matter how good things get, they'll always see the negative, preventing them from reaching true happiness.
1:12:35 - 1:17:38 (05:03)
Summary
Some people believe that no matter how good things get, they'll always see the negative, preventing them from reaching true happiness. By examining and making peace with this fear, individuals can learn to project calm and potentially find contentment.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The book Awareness is recommended for those who aim to get from high functioning normal to super high functioning, and can provide an inner peace that lasts up to two weeks.
1:17:39 - 1:22:06 (04:27)
Summary
The book Awareness is recommended for those who aim to get from high functioning normal to super high functioning, and can provide an inner peace that lasts up to two weeks. The book comes highly recommended by Peter Maluch, a guest on the podcast, and can be a helpful tool for those who experience normal hard days.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast discusses how a personal playlist and the inner audio engineer can affect the brain, and the benefits of exercise on our brains not limited to just aerobic exercise.
1:22:06 - 1:27:17 (05:10)
Summary
The podcast discusses how a personal playlist and the inner audio engineer can affect the brain, and the benefits of exercise on our brains not limited to just aerobic exercise. It touches on showing actual session footage of people who have suffered extreme trauma, but the payoff is worth it.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The placement of your calendar in relation to your other tasks can affect how punctual you are in completing them.
1:27:17 - 1:30:29 (03:11)
Summary
The placement of your calendar in relation to your other tasks can affect how punctual you are in completing them. Those who keep their calendar front and center tend to be more timely in accomplishing their to-do list.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses how to use different types of anger, such as the anger of rejection, as a fuel for motivation, and shares a personal anecdote about using anger to trigger a question that can defuse it.
1:30:29 - 1:36:53 (06:23)
Summary
The speaker discusses how to use different types of anger, such as the anger of rejection, as a fuel for motivation, and shares a personal anecdote about using anger to trigger a question that can defuse it.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on their experiences as a graduate student and how their behavior around professors is perceived by others.
1:36:53 - 1:40:21 (03:28)
Summary
The speaker reflects on their experiences as a graduate student and how their behavior around professors is perceived by others. They discuss the importance of balancing professionalism with authenticity and the relationship between entitlement and anger.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The use of oscillating magnetic fields to nudge neurological processes back to their default rate is a 30% effective treatment, and while most equipment is too expensive and yields similar results, there is a push for the utilization of brain imaging for research grants.
1:40:21 - 1:47:02 (06:40)
Summary
The use of oscillating magnetic fields to nudge neurological processes back to their default rate is a 30% effective treatment, and while most equipment is too expensive and yields similar results, there is a push for the utilization of brain imaging for research grants.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode, the science behind EEG brain mapping is explained in detail.
1:47:02 - 1:53:24 (06:21)
Summary
In this episode, the science behind EEG brain mapping is explained in detail. The hosts discuss the potential uses and benefits of EEG brain mapping, as well as common misconceptions surrounding the procedure.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker ponders on the possibility of the bi-directionality of biochemistry and thoughts in producing measurable imbalances that could lead to a state of depression, anxiety or feeling tired and wired.
1:53:24 - 1:59:16 (05:51)
Summary
The speaker ponders on the possibility of the bi-directionality of biochemistry and thoughts in producing measurable imbalances that could lead to a state of depression, anxiety or feeling tired and wired. He shares personal observations on the impact of drugs on biochemistry and the potential for thoughts to affect the body's biochemistry.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The egg crate model is a common occurrence in physics, particularly in complex oscillators with interconnected complex frequencies, seen through a duality between position space and frequency space.
1:59:16 - 2:03:51 (04:35)
Summary
The egg crate model is a common occurrence in physics, particularly in complex oscillators with interconnected complex frequencies, seen through a duality between position space and frequency space.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In science and entrepreneurship, it's essential to focus on the little things and not overlook them, as they can lead to a big idea.
2:03:51 - 2:09:39 (05:47)
Summary
In science and entrepreneurship, it's essential to focus on the little things and not overlook them, as they can lead to a big idea. It's easy to get caught up in wanting to create the next big gadget, drug or idea, but the little things can be just as important in the long run.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
As companies grow bigger, the perks of rank become increasingly important, while the stake and outcome become smaller.
2:09:39 - 2:13:49 (04:09)
Summary
As companies grow bigger, the perks of rank become increasingly important, while the stake and outcome become smaller. Instead of just focusing on culture and psychology, incentives for stake and outcome should also be considered to promote hard work for the success of the company.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The understanding of incentives is crucial to controlling the transition between innovation and rigidity when embracing new ideas.
2:13:49 - 2:18:02 (04:13)
Summary
The understanding of incentives is crucial to controlling the transition between innovation and rigidity when embracing new ideas. Mathematical models can aid in calculating this transition and determining at what size company it occurs.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Incentives and performance can be difficult to manage in large companies due to the sheer scale and complexity of the organization, making it difficult for individual managers to have a significant impact on the company's success.
2:18:02 - 2:22:27 (04:24)
Summary
Incentives and performance can be difficult to manage in large companies due to the sheer scale and complexity of the organization, making it difficult for individual managers to have a significant impact on the company's success.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Uber's hyper growth has led to the accumulation of a technology debit that needs to be addressed before scaling further.
2:22:27 - 2:28:26 (05:58)
Summary
Uber's hyper growth has led to the accumulation of a technology debit that needs to be addressed before scaling further. Rather than working on fixing existing issues, employees are focused on creating new services like UberEATS or Uber Delivery.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The role of culture in determining the success or failure of a company has become a prominent topic, yet it is full of paradoxes and fuzzy logic, which can be attributed to the influence of incentives.
2:28:26 - 2:36:49 (08:22)
Summary
The role of culture in determining the success or failure of a company has become a prominent topic, yet it is full of paradoxes and fuzzy logic, which can be attributed to the influence of incentives.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
This podcast discusses the hiring process at companies like Google and McKinsey where a candidate's promotion is decided upon not by the local office but by a group of interviewers who interview a broad range of people from internal and external stakeholders.
2:36:49 - 2:44:25 (07:36)
Summary
This podcast discusses the hiring process at companies like Google and McKinsey where a candidate's promotion is decided upon not by the local office but by a group of interviewers who interview a broad range of people from internal and external stakeholders.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker hopes to inspire people with crazy ideas to keep going, and suggests signing up for his Friday email with "five bullet Fridays" to share cool things and ponderings with readers.
2:44:25 - 2:48:56 (04:30)
Summary
The speaker hopes to inspire people with crazy ideas to keep going, and suggests signing up for his Friday email with "five bullet Fridays" to share cool things and ponderings with readers. He also shares that many younger people have found it inspiring.
Episode#382: Safi Bahcall — On Hypnosis, Conquering Insomnia, Incentives, and More
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Peloton is an indoor cycling bike that streams live studio classes to your home, with a variety of workouts to choose from including low impact or high intensity, 45 minute classes, 20 minute burns, hip hop, and rock and roll.
2:48:56 - 2:51:10 (02:13)
Summary
Peloton is an indoor cycling bike that streams live studio classes to your home, with a variety of workouts to choose from including low impact or high intensity, 45 minute classes, 20 minute burns, hip hop, and rock and roll. With up to 14 new classes every day and thousands of classes on demand, users can personalize their exercise routine to fit their needs.