Listen "Best of Series: Where Does Greatness Come From? With David Epstein"
Episode Synopsis
Today we welcome David Epstein, the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, and of the bestseller The Sports Gene, both of which have been translated in more than 20 languages. His TED Talks on performance science have been viewed more than 11 million times. He has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as an investigative reporter for ProPublica and a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. In this episode, I talked to David Epstein about greatness. If there's one thing we know for sure about greatness, it's that there is no linear path to it. David and I discuss the complex relationship of talent and hard work in specific domains. Although there is no formula, we can both agree that persistent effort and fierce determination are necessary ingredients—but so is talent. We have a nuanced discussion of the dance between nature and nurture on the path to talent. It’s a very delicate dance. We also touch on the topics of self-actualization, creativity, fulfillment and moral greatness. Website: davidepstein.com Twitter: @DavidEpsteinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More episodes of the podcast The Psychology Podcast
How Mindsets Shape Reality w/ Dr. Alia Crum
20/11/2025
From Coping to Capacity w/ RaQuel Hopkins
23/10/2025
Why Brains Need Friends w/ Dr. Ben Rein
09/10/2025
Dealing with Feelings w/ Dr. Marc Brackett
28/08/2025
Debunking the Genius Myth w/ Helen Lewis
17/07/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.