Dr. Robert Sapolsky: Science of Stress, Testosterone & Free Will

[@streetspirits274]

My love for neuroscience started watching Sapolsky's free lectures on youtube. Watching both of you together gives me a level of happiness that words cannot describe. Also reading Behave has made me a better human and one that's more compassionate with others (or at least that's what I try). Just thank you.

[@sonals2021]

Ditto! Love RS lectures.

[@linchpainmer7411]

Same!

[@CMonsteronutube]

Me too. I discovered RS lectures 4 years ago and he rebooted my neuroscience nerdship

[@conniehudson4764]

I’m right there, too!

[@debrataylor-cragg56]

I think every person in political positions should be required to read Behave. And Journalists, too.

[@lucasfigueroa6165]

Sapolsky is one of the most interesting guest this podcast could've ever have. Thrill to see this

[@ratunkuuu]

Different guests have different personalities and scientific interests, I would not grade them....

[@LateButGreat]

Absolutely

[@conniehudson4764]

Totally agree!

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Check out this CRUCIAL documentary on youtube 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@AgendaInMind]

So the least corrupt countries who held their citizens hostage for the shortest amount of time had the lowest Boogey Virus rates. Of course.... because people don’t get sick from germs, they get sick from being scared and upset about something that happened in their lives. Enter the worldwide FEAR CAMPAIGN brought to you by governments who have lied for decades. Governments who allow synthetic foods on the market like fake butter, Twinkies, telling you to eat 10 servings of toxic grains a day in order to keep your heart healthy, meanwhile it's causing everyone to become diabetic....THIS is who you take health info from??! Governments that lied about the medical benefit of marijuana are now to be TRUSTED? The Germ Theory was never actually proven to be 100% accurate, yet the trillion dollar medical industry is entirely based on that theory. What's the CAUSE of death in people with this "virus"? Does their brain explode? Does their heart stop beating? The CAUSE of death is still pneumonia. Pneumonia is not something you can "catch". It's a biological result of being "scared to death" of something which is exactly what the media has done to people dumb enough to watch them. You've heard the term "Worried sick". That's because your BRAIN causes you to become sick due to the stress it is perceiving! Why do you think young kids aren't getting the Boogey Virus? Because they aren't sitting in front of the news being scared to death because they're too young to understand a Fear Campaign. These pathetic "experts" just make shit up to explain their narrative as they go. First they tell you kids bring home every illness from school because they're not "exposed" to enough things, then they say somehow they're immune to a Boogey Virus? Does anyone have common sense?! You don't show the symptoms of "disease" until you stop being panicked and afraid. These symptoms usually show up 1-2 weeks after you've relaxed and resolved the upsetting event. There's no such thing that some diseases you can "catch", but not all. It's not that complex! If you can't "catch" cancer, diabetes, MS, arthritis, etc., from other people, then you can't "catch" colds, flu and Boogey Viruses. So governments around the world are CAUSING fear frights in everyone based on an unproven THEORY by one man, Louis Pasteur, who redacted his claim of the germ theory on his death bed, yet no one listened. So of course, when everyone is allowed to escape the hostage situation the governments have put their people into, and they start relaxing about the Boogey Virus, that's not in any way transmissible, they will begin their healing phase (get sick), and believe they then have it, and more panic will ensue as well as martial law. The longer people allow this government to hold them hostage in their homes, the more severe the "sickness" will be. Can anyone put 2 and 2 together to figure out what I'm saying?? Western Medicine is pure fraud, and people's lives are destroyed because of it. There's no critical thinking anymore. The group thinkers are moronic and brain dead. People think they're educated because they've memorized the lies they've been told for 100 years.

[@seanyounk1]

1:22:28 "The knowledge of the knowledge is an effector in and of itself". The absolute most powerful statement here!

[@martincattell6820]

Just commented the same thing. The grain of pure gold in this stunning stream.

[@jackjack-xw1ci]

Omg, i swallowed every single word from Prof Sapolsky' lectures on Human Behavioral Biology from 11 years ago. A pleasure to see Prof Sapolsky and Prof Huberman together here.

[@Q_QQ_Q]

Me too . Old KZbin

[@conniehudson4764]

Right! This is awesome!

[@isabt4]

Me too 😀

[@UserName-ii1ce]

I have good memories of listening to his lecture videos

[@gepisar]

same!

[@Weston29406]

I never realized how many people have watched Sapolsky's lectures. I too admire his work and was excited to see this. Love the genuine effort behind this channel. 👏

[@kingstormysky3978]

there's a view count at the bottom of the videos lol

[@czarneckie]

It is a series that everyone should watch, the byproduct is bettering the viewer ..... |Always been recommending to friends interested in the subject.

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Check out this CRUCIAL documentary on youtube 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@cowboycalicojakk9685]

It's remarkable that these resources are offers for free, pretty amazing

[@jfnurod]

I listen to his lectures while working sometimes very much appreciate this mans existences.

[@utasantos-konig3465]

i have rarely laughed so loudly and heartily in andrew huberman's episodes. Robert Sapolsky's humor is subtle and familiar, I love it. Laughing is my favorite way to learn

[@starshiptexas]

"nah"

[@TotalNigelFargothDeath]

"I'd"

[@dantemawji3489]

i jumped out of bed like never before to run to my pc and watch this episode. SO STOKED THANKS HUBERMAN AND SAPOLSKY

[@Macrotodon]

Well, and I look at it now.

[@michelle4688]

me too!!!!!

[@kapukapuuan]

same! one of my favorite scientists shows up on one of my favorite podcasts

[@conniereightler3484]

Thanks, Sapolsky is a lifetime favorite... So glad his life's dominos fell the way they did! 😉

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Check out this CRUCIAL documentary on youtube 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@2snipe1]

I am fangirl screaming so loud. Sapolsky is my hero! I binged his entire lecture series

[@newyorker6890]

Are you an atheist? I know random, But curious

[@fabzy4L]

100% same.

[@6099rahul]

Oh his stanf lectures

[@Coastpsych_fi99]

Yes! He’s literally amazing and his lectures + research is amazing.

[@aaronsnobel1583]

hey yo fangirl the answer is subway stops! wheres my cream cheeese bagel???!

[@oldgymrat71]

For the past 13 years I have watched everything Sapolsky on KZbin and am very appreciative!

[@jessiepower5561]

I can not believe how lucky we are to get such amazing educational resources close to free now days!! Both your podcast and Robert Sapolskys published lectures have given me an invaluable amount of insight into the biology of being human. Thankyou both for all the usefull mechanisms, explanations and potential explorations in finding our best selves, and overcoming our hardest selfs.

[@kevinbissinger]

Close to free? Who.... who charged you to watch this?

[@grasshopper8901]

@@kevinbissinger the collection of your data by KZbin is the exchange. Doesn't have to be monetary to be a cost.

[@juanvaldes1837]

​@@kevinbissingercost of a device to listen, electric cost, internet cost

[@Khodalyr]

This is the biggest neuroscience crossover episode ever

[@prasvasu4217]

Yup, had everything. Biology, neurology, psychology, opthomology

[@Kc-gu5er]

FOR REAL

[@UserName-ii1ce]

I am so hyped!!

[@memastarful]

It also had atheism

[@kylevids3951]

With horrible audio.

[@BorisAmar]

I took his college class on KZbin. Saved tons of money and learned so much. He truly is a gift to humankind.

[@Cuyt24]

Put that on your resume. Attended Stanford University via KZbin.

[@JoshuaTootell]

I don't put my actual college courses on my resume as they are not applicable. So, seems the same ​@@Cuyt24 Totally possible to try and improve yourself with knowledge without any other gain.

[@adamgale2189]

he is a genius. did he come up with this?

[@Alistair_Spence]

Sapolsky's Stanford lecture series, available on KZbin, is legendary (in my opinion anyway). I watched it about a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I only wish I could have had access to that kind of information earlier in life, but better late than never I guess.

[@marvinedwards737]

Those are great lectures. But I believe Sapolsky is making a serious error in suggesting that one must somehow be free of ones own biology in order to have free will. The whole person, including the brain and the chemical reactions required to experience their life, and to make choices as to what that whole person will do next, is not an argument against free will, but simply an explanation of how free will actually works. There is no such thing as "freedom from oneself". But there is our ability to choose for ourselves what we will do, while free of coercion and other forms of undue influence.

[@EvilMAiq]

Seconded.

[@adripekalski8148]

Thanks for the pointer! I appreciate it.

[@kjekelle96]

@@marvinedwards737 Maybe free will is like an interference pattern that randomly collapses in a changing probability-field or something.

[@marvinedwards737]

@@kjekelle96 I'm a compatibilist, so, for me, free will is a deterministic event, and freedom is a deterministic phenomenon. You see, freedom requires a world of reliable cause and effect. Without it, we could never reliably cause any effect, and would have no freedom to do anything at all. Free will is when we choose for ourselves what we will do, while free of coercion and other forms of undue influence. The act of deliberation is also deterministic, because the meaningful and relevant cause of our choice is our own purposes and reasons, our own thoughts and feelings.

[@Crashoverall]

Sapolsky is an absolute scientist. Very gifted and one of the most amazing contributors to good thought of all time.

[@ninobach7456]

His books are great too!

[@romandenisov7195]

Dear Robert and Andrew! With this interview you open portal to another dimension! Can this be that high level concepts such as free will, love, creativity be result of quantum mechanics uncertainty principle? Thank you!

[@juvetb1]

Thank you for this, Dr Huberman. I feel super fortunate that I live in this era, where despite not living in the states, I got to listen to Dr Sapolsky's lectures online, and read the terrific books he had written. It was through his lectures I developed such a deep interest, and some understanding of human behaviour, which would simply not have been possible in a different era. Behave, in particular, has almost been the equivalent of a bible for me (an atheist), and even if some parts of it have been overwritten by new science, Sapolsky's structure of thinking about behaviour (1 sec before, seconds before, minutes before, hours and days before....) that combines all the different branches of science is simply unparalleled

[@lucubrationowl]

Same. Any other Sapolsky interviews with this quality of questions from another scientist? These videos will likely save me so much effort trying to convince friends to read a several hundred page book.

[@siemore]

You don't believe the shivers that went through my whole body from just seeing the thumbnail with Robert Sapolski. It's crazy! Behave was one of the best books that have ever been written. Never expected him to be on the show.

[@BirdFlow]

+1

[@Q_QQ_Q]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@bntagkas]

i cant comprehend how you never expected him to be on the show, i was so sure he would appear and soon, to the point that i wasnt sure the sun is going to come out tomorrow but sapolsky will appear soon on huberman you are aware more than that sapolsky is a colleague from the same university as huberman, also that the subject matter that both are taking on is very related, and on top of this that sapolsky has given many talks which shows hes willing to appear on places to talk about science he knows so i ask again, how on earth could you say you NEVER EXPECTED HIM TO BE ON THE SHOW i have no free will but am entirely programmed to be entirely flabbergasted by your comment that is all

[@BirdFlow]

@@bntagkas i think he not expected around this time. It was like an unexpected reward what makes the Huberman podcast listening behavior more consistent haha

[@breehogg2878]

This was an absolutely brilliant episode. Hormones, ‘free will’ and the meaning of existence. Please bring Dr Robert Sapolsky back for more discussions. Knowledge of knowledge is indeed changing Thank you.

[@sanjaykupper7577]

Writing my dissertation on determinism, free will, and moral responsibility, my brain lit up hearing those words during the introduction. Thank you.

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

you might check out the stance of neurosurgeon Prof. Michael Egnor on the research on free will, easy to gurgle it

[@TheDoomWizard]

Too bad none of it matters when we enter pliocene like conditions on earth in 9 years. Waste of your time Sanjay. Go learn about your future on my channel.

[@sanjaykupper7577]

@@TheDoomWizard I’d argue that it matters all the more, and I dig the vids, dude!

[@AIIu_]

@@TheDoomWizard Lmao yeah sure. Keep wasting your time prepping for the doomsday.

[@Clitp00p]

I also lit up when I heard that. 💨

[@niklaswerner5607]

Thank you so much for bringing Robert Sapolsky on the show. Both of you are truly inspiring science educators

[@ensokim]

Robert Sapolsky is a legend. I've read a few of his books and his passion, humor, and ability to explain things both in depth and simply in his subject are unmatched. Thank you Andrew and the Huberman Lab!

[@Nic-xr8sd]

Can you explain to me what he says about Testosterone and aggression, please?

[@michellew5257]

Dr Sapolsky's human behavioural biology lectures are phenomenal, they inspired me to learn more about the subject and think about a change of career. Dr Huberman, your work on stress mitigation, the breathing exercises you provide and a "now or never" style statement you made once on a talk somewhere have been fantastic in encouraging me to take the first steps in that direction. I'm beginning a new journey thanks to the two of you and it's great to see you both on here, brilliant episode.

[@skierrage]

Great interview, Andrew crushed this, Sapolsky is the most amazing person alive today.

[@davesipsy7587]

I am extremely impressed with the level of preparedness and the seriousness with which a brilliant thinker such as Dr. Huberman approaches interviewing another brilliant thinker such as Dr. Sapolsky. It tells me a LOT about the man; his dedication to excellence, his reverence for other gifted, hard-working people, his complete lack of self-importance. This is a truly beautiful meeting of great minds and of two of my very favorite humans. Superb work!

[@danettedarbonne1804]

I've found a home here with this podcast. I admit I've had a troubled life but I've had so much help here. I am so looking forward to the podcast on ADHD. Thank you, Dr. Huberman!

[@robertdavis3788]

Is estrogen better than testosterone?

[@francoismartineau2519]

@@robertdavis3788 No, nor the opposite

[@XanderShiller]

Hope you're staying strong. How is your progress so far?

[@robertdavis3788]

@@francoismartineau2519 there opposite ? Don't they have specific roles?

[@shakogasteier6370]

IS Insulin better than growth Hormone? Is tnfalpha(inflamation Hormone) better than il 1 ( anti inflamation Hormone) ? Is Cortisol better than aldosterone? No they are hormones and they have important Rules in every human, and depending on age, Sex, genetic Makeup, These Levels vary... And it's important, that These hormones stay in range, generally for Testosterone one can say the higher end of the range IS preferred in men. At least that IS what Most men will say, If they manipulate their hormones( Trt) or naturally, Like good health and or Testosterone boosting Supplements. For Cortisol ITS more complicated, for Estradiol also, for tnfa or other inflamatory hormones( cytokines) they should be low in a healthy Not acutely sick individual...

[@bethany2902]

Starting TRT 3 years ago was best choice ever. Finding a good doctor trained in it is important. I was depressed, tired , in constant joint and muscular pain, anxious and unmotivated before. Bloodwork showed my super low T and we fixed it. It was crazy how it helped me feel like myself again and continues to today 3-3.5 years later. Can’t stress importance of trained HRT doctors because endocrinologists just go more by the book and the books lack this research. My husband is in med school and wants to get into HRT because it is a field we feel is growing and truly helps people. And I’m sure if I went to a psychologist they would’ve just had me on antidepressants and antianxieties for the rest of my life instead which wouldn’t fix the problem and long term problems of low t. Thank you for this discussion, it needs to be spread. 👍🏻

[@Cat-zk4ke]

Hi Bethany, I’m just about to start TRT. I have the same range of symptoms that you had. How long did it take for you to see improvements? Did it alleviate all symptoms? Any side effects at all? Thank you for your feedback 🙏

[@Chhesterification]

I went to my GP and she tried to prescribe me antidepressants. I start HRT next week. It's not soon enough. My memory is effecting my career.

[@lunam7249]

good for you..ya insurance will also not want to pay for hormones, and blood tests are up and down 5 times a day

[@tyromeka5693]

@@lunam7249 Not true, I'm on Medicaid and they pay for %100 of my testosterone prescriptions and have for a couple years now

[@tyromeka5693]

@@Cat-zk4ke you can start feeling the results in literally days

[@garrettmillard525]

Lmfao I love Andrew thanking him at the end and Robert being like... 'well I didn't really do anything, this was all predetermined.. but thanks"

[@Krushard]

Was laughing my ass off about the same irony :)

[@TheUltimateGC]

wow spoiler alert.

[@hotsky83]

Hahaha

[@iconsonscreen7291]

@@TheUltimateGC if you go through the comments, you'll have spoilers

[@n8works]

I love the science shout outs that these guys always give to others in their field. Everytime they say something interesting they have to give a cool little shout out to the person who discovered it. While some do it excessively to appear credible, it's really nice to see when it's as genuine as these guys.

[@Ooooopppsss]

Sapolsky is a KZbin O.G, thanks for having him on!

[@pamelapap]

“The knowledge of knowledge is an effectuate in it of itself…” that gives me so much hope for my son. That my beautiful son is more than just the crappy genes that he might have or the toxic environment we both had to face against my stbx. My son can change as long as I keep teaching him and myself more and more. And this is all thanks to Robert Sapolsky and people like him such as Andrew. Thank you so much. This is a gift to humanity.

[@szymonkuc1370]

If you watch such content I don`t think your genes are "crappy". Dumb people don`t take interest in such topics. I think there is a high level of interest in the world and inteligence required to seek such information.

[@РюриковичиБолотные]

😂 blaming your stbx that you chose is a sign of profound stupidity

[@BeatrisZaharia]

Keep investing in you and your son's knowledge and you will outweight your environment by soooooo much so you don't have to worry. You are a great mum, i really apreciate your thought

[@kiyoshuki]

I literally jumped and screamed when I saw Sapolsky in the thumbnail. There's few interviews of this incredible neurologist and I just can't believe that out of all the people Huberman is the one interviewing him in this excepcional podcast, I'm so happy I could explode. Thank you Huberman for bringing him to the podcast.

[@conniehudson4764]

Sounds like most of us had the same reaction!

[@marvinedwards737]

Sapolsky's definition of free will is a choice someone makes while "free from themselves".The biology of the person is not an external influence exercising control over the person. We cannot set ourselves in one corner of the room and set our biology in a different corner, and then claim that biology is forcing us to make choices against our will. One of those two corners is empty.

[@Iksvomid]

Jumping and screaming increases testosterone! Well done!

[@sam187st]

I watched many if not all of dr. Sapoloskys videos and lectures several years ago. He is also very smart and easy on the ears. It's unexpected for me that you would have him on and quite a treat. So I'll start watching this now. Thank you!

[@standinginthegap7118]

I'm just one person, but I was able to beat deep longterm depression, to the extent that I got off of longterm antidepressants and am very happy and content by stopping talking about things that bother me and instead taking some time by myself and praying/meditating when I am frustrated or sad/stressed. For me NOT cementing my negative feelings through speech was a real game changer. Once my emotions were balanced, my mind became clear, and I was able to take control and make adjustments in my life that then created the changes I had wanted to see take place in my life.

[@anemicgoalhop495]

Wow, that was profound! Thank you for saying that.

[@chamade166]

So you didn’t have any internal chatter of recurring negative and upsetting thoughts? That what happens to me so if anything taking time to myself I marinate in these thoughts more.

[@18_rabbit]

yeah cementing things internally through language is quite powerful and bad when they are counterproductive things.

[@mj-ls7qr8xp3n]

​@@chamade166mindful at the time that's what you're doing?

[@andre1488adjwidhx]

Sapolky's lectures on human behavior are life changing. Best episode ever!

[@mattjeffsdpt]

Sapolsky - YES! One of favorite authors!

[@ambroznikac]

This was definitely the best 80 min I spent in a while, Thank you, professor Huberman and Dr. Sapolsky.

[@unconventionalguitarist9129]

It’s 90 min

[@dianeapparcel1825]

Sapolsky's Stanford lecture series, on free will - super insightful! Thank you Dr. Huberman and Team. YOU ROCK!

[@conniehudson4764]

I’ve been watching recorded lectures given by Dr. Sapolsky and it’s awesome to see him then and now - and to see him with you is a huge bonus! I love listening to his lectures I am just amazed at the volume of knowledge he communicates in a session just, nonstop, high energy, lively, and very interesting.

[@autisticautumn7379]

Amazing, I loved Salposky's lecture series on u tube . The revelations that our behaviour is largely pre-determined is fascinating and liberating at rhe same time .

[@DrLeifSmith]

LOVE Sapolsky's work. What a great guy, huge contributions to the field of stress management

[@sabrinafr.7234]

Hoje, depois de assistir alguns minutos do vídeo, eu me peguei pensando sobre o que eu realmente estava fazendo aqui, uma vez que meu nível de inglês não atinge,nesse momento, uma completa excelência ao que diz respeito a termos técnicos científicos. E essa linha de raciocínio me fez perceber que a ciência é exatamente isso para mim, uma intrigante e mágica poesia universal, que por sua própria essência é capaz de ir além... Além de muros, de fronteiras, de idiomas e de muitas outras coisas. Isso porque ela fala de maneira muito íntima com cada um de nós. Ela nos instiga e nos convida a ir além também. Que esses verdadeiros sonetos sigam sendo postados, pelo bem de nossas mentes, almas e de nosso progresso como espécie. Um singelo e brasileiro, obrigada! 🇧🇷

[@kaylacarr2200]

You’re clearly very well spoken and poetic yourself. You’ll have the English language mastered in no time, I’m confident of it. Sending positive vibes to you 🥰

[@sabrinafr.7234]

@@kaylacarr2200 Hi Kayla! 😀 Thanks for your comment, compliment and good vibes. Have a nice day! 🍀

[@standinginthegap7118]

Thank you so much for your commitment to getting high quality information and education to the public at no cost. I greatly respect you for this.

[@defenderofwisdom]

You really have to admit Sapolsky is a beautiful man. From his knowledge to his voice, from his smoothe-flowing and understandable rhetorical style to his hair and beard styles, he is remarkably beautiful.

[@DS-rd9qn]

Sounds like you're man crushing bro! Lol

[@defenderofwisdom]

@@DS-rd9qn Maybe so, maybe so...

[@DS-rd9qn]

@@defenderofwisdom Go for it dude!

[@conniehudson4764]

Yep. I did like his hair longer. But he looks great! And I love the dog yipping in the background 🤗

[@defenderofwisdom]

@@conniehudson4764 Agreed!

[@Philusteen]

Wow. If there's such a thing as a "Sapolsky fanboy," that would be me. I share his lectures from the Stanford website regularly. I truly believe that if more people listened to him, the world would be a better place. What a gift he is.

[@Q_QQ_Q]

Where ?

[@Philusteen]

@@Q_QQ_Q Sorry - the Stanford KZbin channel

[@Q_QQ_Q]

@@Philusteen yes . tnx

[@winbalingit8502]

Totally!!! Me too!!! Happy dancing over this episode!!!💃🏽😁👍🏽✌🏽❤️

[@Philusteen]

@@winbalingit8502 Agreed - and I look ludicrous when I dance. 😆

[@lucarich8711]

WOW, the 20-30 mins a day for stress management blew my mind. I always feel so frantic that I will literally tell myself exactly what he says NOT to do: "I will manage this stress when the weekend comes, I am too busy and overwhelmed right now."

[@miaodu1695]

I watched his entire open course on youtube a couple years ago! Best lectures ever! 💙💙👏🏻👏🏻

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Check out this CRUCIAL documentary on youtube 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@mididoctors]

Obligatory imo great stuff

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

2010 course is best thing on internet. Only thing better would be a more recent course revised based on more recent research

[@kellyberry4173]

Absolutely!!!

[@TheTruthAsEyeKnowIt]

Watch the newest (there's two) Maps & Meanings lecture series by Dr. Jordan Peterson. It's even better than Salposky's and I watched Robert's twice.

[@Bostonceltics1369]

I love Dr. Sapolsky's lectures, tuned right in.

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

Check out this CRUCIAL documentary on youtube 👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖

[@KL-ni9ju]

Finished binging the Huberman Lab episodes and now on to Dr Spolski's lectures. He's such a wonderful lecturer who makes complex topics intelegible for those of us with 0 science background.

[@paulofernandes1375]

So glad you have Dr Sapolsky on your show! But 1h30m seems just to short of a podcast with him ahah I really hope you bring him back some other time.

[@reytsyel]

Gold! Gold!! Thanks, Prof. Andrew for bringing in Dr. Sapolsky early in this podcast. Been listening to his lectures during this pandemic.

[@pennistanley6089]

This would have to be one of my favorite podcast talks ever. It just kept getting better and better. Wrapping it up with the talk about free will,,,,, mind blown. Thank you both.

[@meghagoyal4516]

I am soo much obsessed with Dr Robert spolsky, his mind blowing research, I went through his standford lecture series, being a psy student learning about physicology , neurology is amazing

[@kmichalene]

I am such a fan of Dr. Sapolsky! Thank you so much for bringing him into this discussion!

[@paulklem9249]

I love that man. It's in the struggle.He knows so much from decades of pushing through jungles, reading library's, and the life on life terms crud and he's still willing,...to keep moving.

[@jhf6261]

Omg I cant believe that this is exists and it is free... Cant thank you in words Huberman...

[@winbalingit8502]

Omg!!😲 This is such a HUGE gift!!! Thank you so much for this!!! Dr. Saplosky is the one who turned me on to online education!!! I will never think or behave the same!!! My life is significantly better now!!!🙏🏽👍🏽😁❤️

[@roobookaroo]

When it comes to the discussion of Free Will, we have Huberman saying, 1:16:24: "So I can appreciate that our behaviors and our choices are the consequences of a long line of dominoes that fell prior to that behavior. But is it possible that I can intervene in the domino effect, so to speak?" Then, later, 1:16:55 "Can the knowledge of that give me some small shard of freewill? Meaning does it allow me to say, ah, OK, I accept that my choices are somewhat predetermined, and yet knowing that gives me some additional layer of control?" The whole misconception about choice and change is in the use of the word and concept "PRE-DETERMINED", as if there's somewhere a script or blueprint describing "a long line of dominoes that fell prior to that behavior." The distortion results from following linear thinking. A new thought, a new choice does not come AFTER any existing "line" of events, it EMERGES in the interplay of thousands of neuronal circuits sending action potentials to all corners of the brain with a result not established anywhere in the brain in advance. We get to know what it is only when it happens, because the "long chain" of dominoes does not exist anywhere, and they don't "FALL" before the arrival of the new choice or action. The new choice, thought, action emerges from all the new activity of circuits interacting in the brain all together at the same time, with no blueprint of their commingled interactions and its result anywhere. The new thought or choice, or behavior, becomes known as it comes into existence in the brain circuits. Everything is in a way "DETERMINED", but the interplay of all the thousands of factors going into the joint making of a new thought or decision is never "PRE-DETERMINED." When Sapolsky mentions the title of his new book on Free Will, his wording makes this very clear, 1:24:01 Title is "DETERMINED: A SCIENCE OF LIFE WITHOUT FREEWILL ". The key word is "DETERMINED", with nothing being "PRE-DETERMINED". It's a subtle difference, but a fundamental one that most people don't grasp, as Huberman rhetorically pretends to fail to do here in this exchange for the sake of prodding Sapolsky further. Especially the religious mind cannot accept this distinction that introduces the fundamental factor of luck in life, as the religious mind is used to imagining some overall brain already orchestrating the whole music of life. But in the biological world, there is no overall director, engineer, designer or conductor. Luck and emergence remain key principles of development and change. What we can do is to observe statistically the results and construct categories and causality, and so develop a body of science. NOTE: For a nice complement to this discussion, see "Lecture 21. Chaos & Reductionism", (May 2010) and "Lecture 22. Emergence & Complexity" (Feb. 2011) in Prof. Sapolsky's HUMAN BEHAVIORAL BIOLOGY course produced by Stanford Un. and shown in 27 videos on KZbin. The famous beard was fuller and darker then, and the voice more authoritative. ROO BOOKAROO, Dec. 19, 2022

[@AlphaCFalcon]

Coming from likely a more religious mind, luck is not really the issue. The issue on free will for religious people comes down to an ethical question. Fundamentally, "Can you choose between right and wrong?" If you can choose than you have responsibility for your actions. If you cannot then ethics and justice are pointless constructions. The difference between determined and pre-determined is a distinction without difference. Whether it's fate or luck, if people cannot choose there is no ethical value to their actions.

[@3jesus3christ3]

@@AlphaCFalcon why exactly is “can we choose between right and wrong” a fundamental question or issue if we already know the answer is yes? Free will doesnt exclusively refer to human ethics so the question must be larger to include all of biology. sorry if this reply is somewhat pointless. I do generally agree with your statements but im lost in this language game…

[@rdallas81]

@@AlphaCFalcon that all depends on whether the individual actually believes in God. What most people will never know is they are spiritual souls bound temporarily to a flesh body. Thats why most people are walking contradictions.

[@OompaLoompaFu]

Until we can explain how all of the circuits, action potentials, molecules, electrical activity, etc. can create consciousness, nobody can refute or assert free will. Remember the Carl Sagan thing about how all the chemicals in your body are worth, in total, about $3? It's not that we're made of anything exotic. The construction is exotic. The way on which the chemicals are arranged gives rise to life and consciousness. So how does the arrangement of matter create a mind? We can't answer that, the hard problem of consciousness. And so how can we say anything about the determinacy of mind? Sure, we were caused, but it appears as if we do causing of our own. Either the universe made atoms bounce around for 13.7 billion years until I typed this sentence, so it's really the echo of the Big Bang typing now. Or the echo of the Big Bang created me, and I'm choosing to type these words. Both are incredible propositions. One entirely negates my existence.

[@ricardomartinhodacruz]

his whole conscluion on lack of free will comes from the twin experiments that are described in his book where twins separated at birth developed same behaviours thru life without they not meeting themselves after decades. these twins are under the same pre natal hormone exposure environment in the mothers fetus and lived in completly different upbringings rerally far away geographically. this is not the only experiment but also in things like animals who didnt went extinct millions of years ago and that were part of the multicellular organism evolutions into the mammals we are rn who we herited subconscious behaviours like expansion of the chest in the presence of a smaller organism to show dominance and the bending of the back by the smaller creature. our past, present and future is biologically conditioned not only by biological evolution itself but also by the physical environment and social societal accomplishments more specifically. in terms of survival, we can interfere in the process of being a better adapted to our physical reality by intuition and education, our brain is still a self driven subconscious machine. the root of all our behaviours is still raw survival instinct.

[@Shenakhti]

Huberman and Sapolsky on Hormones and Free Will? Count me the **** in, I've been waiting for this my whole life!

[@cg5471]

Honestly this felt very serendipitous as I've been on a robert sapolsky kick the last couple months as I have watched this podcast over the year.

[@shipwrecker37]

Same here! Binged his Stanford lectures and I got started on Behave.

[@edwigcarol4888]

Listened twice.. each time with curiosity and new "discoveries" Plan to listen to this awesome interview a third time... taking away new bits of knowledge.. such a richness so stimulating..

[@subhalaxmisen3463]

Omg best crossover ever!!!! Since your podcasts revolve around focus and optmising efficiency of our biology, would love to have an episode centred around how ADHD impacts our neurobiology and how us ADHD-ers can be better versions of ourselves armed with the knowledge we get from all your videos!!

[@victorcalderon8478]

Solo me queda esperar los subtitulos de este gran encuentro!!!! Leí "Compórtate" de Robert Sapolsky y quedé maravillado!

[@zombiemachinery4868]

Algun dia no necesitaras mas subtitulos.

[@jabibgalt5551]

Soy maestro de ingles. Si gustas ayuda para aprender ingles, con gusto. Hay un mundo de recursos en ingles, tanto videos como textos, que se ponen a tu alcance al aprender el idioma. Tan tedioso como sea, hay que aprenderlo una vez nada mas, y te servira' el resto de tu vida.

[@dolevnirran3195]

the most positive message I got out of this - change the environment->change your destiny. perhaps free will is more limited than we thought but by changing where we are and what we consume things can change for the better.

[@klondike444]

He was contradicting himself, but he couldn't help it - no free will.

[@spikespiegel8642]

I have attended his online lectures on Human Behavioural Biology. I am an engineering student with no relation to biology. I was still able to learn a lot from his lectures, I made some notes too. He is a great teacher, looking forward to this podcast.

[@drzeworyj]

realising a new book of Sapolsky on determinism is coming out made my month! in 2018 learning about determinism sent me into a very dark existential crisis for various reasons. I emerged with a strong love for science, and I can't be happier now!

[@teodordl]

haha yeah, yet another case of the notorious post-sapolsky blues. I'm glad you made it through. I find it somewhat poetic that one always has to give up something to be rewarded with true progress, be that mental energy, time, sweat or in our case: our sanity.

[@drzeworyj]

@@teodordl agreed. I really enjoyed the humanistic perspective of Sapolsky ('the only sense of life in view of lack of free will might be reducing the suffering') and was glad I learnt about determinism from one of his interviews. it was actually Sam Harris that made me go through the circles of hell. I ended up being just as hard a determinist as he is, but I think he really transmits this knowledge without much empathy (perhaps even in a somewhat sadist way, who knows). to lose a foundament of your world and everything you had believed is no easy business. I was in a very dark moment overall and I was really close to not making it through. I believe more integrity, empathy, responsibility and humanism is needed to shatter the free will paradigm (and it definitely needs to be!), and Sapolsky is the right man for it. so happy about the book!

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

@@drzeworyj Sam Harris must have been influenced by Sapolsky, since he completed a PhD in neuroscience at Stanford.

[@drzeworyj]

​@@youmothershouldknow4905 very likely. however, I doubt he arrived at the conclusion himself, as Sapolsky did. but Harris had also previously studied Philosophy, and I guess that's where he first got to think about determinism as the discourse has been present there for centuries.

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

@@drzeworyj Harris worked on his neuroscience PhD at Stanford relatively recently when Sapolsky was already a star academic there.

[@beinghuman3225]

All your experiences, all your meditations, all your prayer, all that you do, is self-centred. It is strengthening the self, adding momentum, gathering momentum, so it is taking you in the opposite direction. Whatever you do to be free from the self also is a self-centred activity.

[@paullanders7658]

This was an outstanding interview. You asked some questions on subjects I've been researching for years. One of the best KZbin videos I've ever seen.

[@raptorrogue4227]

I wanted this so bad. This was an amazing podcast episode. The whole "The knowledge of the knowledge is an effector in and of itself" is an amazing concept. Overall I loved the podcast.

[@Dizmal0ne]

This was excellent! A good example of Roberts end point on Freewill or there fore lack of it, is this. Not too long ago, I was stagnating in life, struggling with adult ADHD and cyclic bouts of depression, self harming behaviors, addictions ect. But then somehow I was half listening to a JRE podcast with Andrew as guest, I had tuned out for some time when I heard Andrew talk about Tongkat Ali and Fadogia Aregetis stack and it's effects. I stopped , replayed, took note. Soon I was to further investigate, eventually I ordered both. I stopped my stimulant medication less than a week before it arrived. And I stopped many bad habbits in the month prior. After taking for only 1 and a half weeks, I felt amazingly focused, calmed, energized and mentally optimized. Then I started lifting, getting shit done, feeling like my old self but better! Im now integrating medication back into my stack and changing my life, direction, mindset, habbits and plans everyday. It was the realization that this one bit of information learned in turn changed my life tremendously, which in of knowing this, again expanded my whole mindset and outlook on freewill. It was the knowledge of the knowledge! The Knowledge was enough to give me some hope, the action upon especially, then the practice and results were effective. But the realization of the fact one random bit of information done all this, that's the magic!

[@No-ky3kb]

That's fucking awesome man thanks for sharing

[@Dizmal0ne]

@@No-ky3kb Alguds brother! So glad my lengthy comment I barely remember shed some wisdom. Proud to say I'm still on this path. Because my attention somehow shifted into a single moment and some crucial knowledge. Self determinism be damned. Good will prevail I am sure of this.

[@hittman1412]

It seems like you got better because you stopped the more harmful habit. Not because you bought the supplements he pushes. You stopped stimulants in nearly enough time to completely withdraw the psychological need (addiction) for them, if I read that right. And other bad habits effectively 6 weeks before that.

[@MontrealCanadaa]

My favourite episode thus far and I’ve been here since day one. Dr. Sapolsky is an idol.

[@gnuPirate]

Oh man, what an amazing discussion. Thank you for this presentation Dr. Huberman. Dr. Sapolsky is a global treasure. And you are a complete gem for making this youtube series, so that lay-people like myself on the other side of the world can have some access to discussions like this. Certainly beats the hell out of any conversation I can get access to in my daily life....so....thank you!

[@user-oj9sv4vx6o]

I have been a Sapolsky fan for many years but hadn't seen this great discussion. Huberman's deeply knowledgeable and intelligent contribution brought out the best in Sapolsky.

[@mosesmukuna]

Never have i being so attentive, i am learning more than i did at school ,absolutely marvellous.

[@mohiuddin3275]

I've been waiting for this episode for a while now. It's amazing to have you both together.

[@pimchella]

Im watching his lectures recorded ten years ago and concern how’s he doing. Prof is aging and I just wish I could protect him from atrophy all cost 😠 Wishing you well. Great podcast, duo legends who make complicate science easy and accessible to everybody.

[@18_rabbit]

yep! time for everyone to get crackin' and get stuff done bcuz the originals are going to die out!

[@nikitachernenko3774]

OMG, 2 neuro-science figures that brought me the most knowledge about my existence are here, at the same time, amazing, simply amazing!!

[@tatianahawaii13]

❤️

[@paulabertone561]

OMG!!! I just finished listening, and I’m gonna be HIGH from this episode the whole day - oh, the power of verbal language on human physiology! 😄 Thanks again, Dr Huberman - what a fascinating conversation; I’ll be listening to it again - so many layers to digest!

[@wojciechstefaniak3541]

Both of you gentlemen dropped some hardcore truths on us. This was fantastic. Dr. Huberman would love to head a deep dive into libido.

[@royclancy5546]

Ok

[@Astro_Fizix]

Ok

[@BZhenya]

Be still my heart - two of my favourite scientists in conversation

[@ID30394]

I've recently finished up a twenty year endeavor researching a minimum of twenty hours a week on general knowledge. It's been an incredible experience to learn and understand life and human nature without being schooled. What I've observed is both enriching and at times disturbing. This is a wonderful sight for giving good information to the public

[@howtodoit4204]

Share us with your findings

[@sigmundfreud2443]

You get sponsored? Lol

[@fabzy4L]

Im doing a fellowship in Neuropsychiatry thanks to how influential Behave was to me. I'm a BIG fan of both. Doc Hub, if it wasn't bc of your insights on attention and ADHD + Sapolsky's depiction of the basal ganglia and its role in why we're hyperreactive anger/stress. Y'all saved my wild mind.

[@RomanDobs]

I totally agree both of these guys work as been blessings

[@ADHDologia]

Yes, yes and yes. I was listening to Prof. Sapolsky's lectures long before my ADHD diagnosis and I must say, they really prepared me for it. I view my brain with awe, respect, compassion and curiosity now :)

[@Kal-EL_Volta]

Is there a video where Sapolsky speaks on the basal ganglia?

[@spinozistscientist1528]

Amazing discussion between two great minds..On Huberman's question (regarding Free Will) on "overriding" the choice made by the various factors Sapolsky made, the decision to "override" the initial choice; and the eventual "alternative choice" that is made are also determined by similar factors which Sapolsky mentioned..Therefore, in the end, there is no free will at all..

[@chaitanyabhatt7915]

SAPOLSKY is the most underrated scientific poet!

[@KlingbergWingMkII]

Great interview! I loved the end where they discuss free will. I think any creative person will readily identify with the notion of having no free will. Those who create generally don't sit down and say, "I will be creative!". Rather they feel compelled or "driven" to create. They have no choice, they must try and make something new. It is as though their brain is in charge and the body must respond. I once had a creative person tell me it was like the urge to throw up - unpleasant, but such a relief when it was over.

[@corpseposse7158]

Desires and urges are what make free will (at least, to some degree, not as an absolute freedom) a thing. You’re free to choose or to act upon your desires because you have desires, if you were incapable of desiring, you wouldn’t be free at all, because you wouldn’t have anything to choose from because you are incapable of wanting to choose or to want at all. If freedom is absence of desires and urges, are inanimate objects, like rocks, free?

[@hawaii4n670]

That’s not at all my experience tbh. And many of the creatives I know have never expressed such sentiments. Maybe a couple said they felt like they absolutely needed to, but not most, unless someone wants to say that those few are the only “real” creatives and the rest of us are posers.

[@hittman1412]

@@corpseposse7158the idea is that those desires you think you’re acting on are not ones that spontaneously occur. There is always a causal link to the many factors sapolsky alluded to. And if causality is by definition linked to a past event, then free will in the sense I think they are talking about cannot exist.

[@snowwhite8143]

Wish we could get more Dr. Sapolsky! This was GREAT. Just GREAT.

[@mk5129]

Nice! I've been waiting for this episode, originally I found the Huberman Lab Podcast while watching the Lectures about "Human Behavioral Biology" from Dr. Sapolsky, so I'm happy to hear from him again. :D

[@andrejdaubner9627]

Absolute bliss to hear both of you talk about neuroscience. It is my favourite field. Wish You could invite Dr Sapolsky again.😅 Also thank You, Dr Huberman, for your work. I truly appreciate your passion You do things with.

[@zemnly]

I love the fact that this idea of there not being an inherent free will is starting to be discussed in an open setting. Anytime I try to discuss this with my family or peers, they just look at me like I'm crazy. So glad I found Andrew's channel.

[@thesecretplace1055]

They probably haven't watched a few videos of KZbin on the subject like you and became an expert on it over the night. I guess it just happens that you can explain your theory or your beliefs, more clearly but this doesn't make them true.

[@jeremyphillips3087]

It makes people really uncomfortable for some reason. Never really understood the aversion. Its like talking about death, or something.

[@AllisterCaine]

@@jeremyphillips3087 it's the implication of not being fully accountable for crimes, that is always lingering that makes people uncomfortable.

[@jeremyphillips3087]

@@AllisterCaine Probably, but that never made much sense to me. If a person had a severe intellectual disability most people would say that person wasn't fully accountable for crimes, but that doesn't mean that we wouldn't remove that person from society. Just extend that to everyone.

[@dexked]

I have been watching his behavioral biology lectures and reading his stuff. Its so crazy hes on this podcast! So awesome

[@melissachinnici]

Dr. Sapolsky is seriously amazing. I was grateful to have stumbled upon his evolutionary biology lectures. he has radically altered my perception of reality. so much incredible insight and wisdom especially on the concept of free will.

[@sma2206]

Another clash of the Titans! Heavyweights of the fields, looking forward to the conversation!

[@JasperElvenSky]

Sapolsky is a sort of science rabbi. Wonderful. Well done getting him on the show, Dr. Huberman.

[@euthanasie8017]

I cannot explain how much Sapolsky has influenced and inspired me both on personal and academical manner. I've consumed his publications and online content enough to decide to become a neuroscientist. I was a undergraduate veterinary medicine student when first introduced to Sapolsky, by a close friend of mine and it's been a remarkable cornerstone in my life. Looking forward to his new book on free will. Also, I just wanted to mention that I discovered Huberman Lab Podcast with this episode and I've been consuming everything on this channel ever since. Thank you for the inspiration, and being generous enough to share such an high quality, intellectual knowledge with the rest of the world.

[@naeemtull2026]

Me as well he helped me find peace within myself and my species. Listening to him help me make sense of the world.

[@lalaragimov]

Wonderful interview! Thank you! We're lucky that an entire class taught by him is available free on KZbin, I learned so much from it! Completely agree with him on the absence of free will.

[@cyberfunk3793]

He contradicted himself countless times implying we are making choices and even implied culpability by possible being "heartless" in some situations. He is absolutely talking from both sides of his mouth and not even even recognizing his own self contradictions. Unbelievable that an expert can be so inconsistent with his beliefs.

[@slide387]

@@cyberfunk3793 scientists are indeed bad at philosophy

[@klondike444]

@@cyberfunk3793 Making choices isn't free will. The choices are determined. But yes, he does contradict himself, and I've seen him do it before.

[@cyberfunk3793]

@@klondike444 can you demonstrate that everything like our choices are determined?

[@klondike444]

@@cyberfunk3793 Can you demonstrate that they are not? We live in a universe of cause and effect (plus possibly quantum randomness). Is there any reason to suppose that what happens in our brains, including the choices we make, is any different from what happens in the rest of the universe?

[@JJBerthume]

SAPOLSKY IS A BOSS!!! Thoroughly enjoyed this episode

[@anujkishor]

Words cannot convey how much I value and appreciate the ever relevant information shared in this episode.

[@BahramKheradmand]

Andy is a pretty high-ranking academic himself, but just seeing how much admiration he has for and how much he looks up to Sapolsky, it just shows how prominent and well-received Sapolsky is. The wisdom is there for all to see and enjoy, even for Andy!

[@ds7900]

Dr. Sapolsky is an incredible lecturer. He breaks down complex scientific data into an easily understandable and digestible format.

[@josiesiman9847]

Prof. Huberman, would you invite Sapolsky to talk about (his) depression? I love him and would like to know how he manages it. And why being wonderful doesn't make things better. ❤

[@AboodCohen]

Dr Huberman is on another level 🔥

[@vidalskyociosen3326]

But Sapolsky is one level up.

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

@@vidalskyociosen3326 Sapolsky: GOAT!