History · How To Change The World | Sam Webster Harris

How to Change the World: The History & Future of Innovation

by How To Change The World | Sam Webster Harris

Sam Webster Harris chronicles the complete history of innovation from the Stone Age to the modern day. Learn how transformative ideas build upon each other to change the world and shape the future of humanity. Every breakthrough that changes civilization begins with curiosity. From the first controlled fire to artificial intelligence. Follow the journey, step-by-step, tracing the evolution of human progress and society. On the way, uncovering the nerdy stories and fun facts behind world-changing inventions and the mental models that drive systemic change. Each episode is a deep dive into innovation patterns and the threads that shape our world: - From Leonardo Da Vinci dissecting human bodies to editing our own DNA - Maritime Navigation sets the course for Interstellar exploration - Hammurabi's legal code is relevant in algorithmic governance Modern revolutions in technology and the future of AI are a continuation of core needs of their human creators. Our desire for leverage shows up time and again in the history of civilization. Drawing insights from psychology, economics, and anthropology, we explore how change makers in history like Galileo, Newton, and Tesla didn't just discover big ideas. They transformed civilization itself. Their playbooks reveal timeless strategies for anyone seeking to understand how the world works. This isn't surface-level history. It's intellectual history told through narrative learning—connecting past invention stories to the future of technology, future of society, and patterns of history that will define the Anthropocene. Whether you're fascinated by the timeline of human history, founder stories, or the psychology of change, each episode delivers actionable mental models wrapped in engaging storytelling. Learn something new about human progress while discovering your own potential to change the world. For the intellectually curious seeking to understand innovation, drive progress, and glimpse the future of humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I have never written a review of any kind, let alone for a podcast. As a professor at a leading university, I am fortunate to be surrounded by many brilliant people—but none quite like Sam. Sam has a rare ability to present ideas from captivating and often entirely unique perspectives, illuminating core principles of human history that we rarely stop to think about. He makes complex ideas feel intuitive and accessible—so much so that my eight-year-old daughter genuinely enjoys every episode. What Sam explores consistently makes me rethink what truly defines us as human.

Belly1122 · Jan 2026

Great concept, and even better execution. I love how this podcast gets me thinking at a meta level.

Innovation Student · Nov 2025

Full-throated two-thumbs-up recommendation. Sam Webster Harris’ take on what got us here is thoughtful, insightful, and of uncommonly wide scope. Plus, he’s quietly hilarious. He doesn’t hide his clear-eyed optimism—which, besides being endearing, you gotta figure is going to be put to the test attempting something as breathtakingly grand as “How To Change the World”. Very much looking forward to a premium version.

wirosco · Oct 2025

From the discovery of fire to the iPhone, this podcast explores shockwaves of innovation. I like that it focuses on linking ideas and impacts vs. veering into long lists of dates.

Crickets Chirping · Sep 2025

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