[Music] how many of you consider yourselves left
how many of you consider yourselves left
how many of you consider yourselves left brained and how many consider yourselves
brained and how many consider yourselves
brained and how many consider yourselves right brained how many of you don’t
right brained how many of you don’t
right brained how many of you don’t really fit let feel like it fit in one
really fit let feel like it fit in one
really fit let feel like it fit in one or the other it’s hard right so it’s as
or the other it’s hard right so it’s as
or the other it’s hard right so it’s as commonly accepted neuroscience concept
commonly accepted neuroscience concept
commonly accepted neuroscience concept that left brain people are logical and
that left brain people are logical and
that left brain people are logical and organized and right brain people are
organized and right brain people are
organized and right brain people are creative and expressive but the left
creative and expressive but the left
creative and expressive but the left right thing never really worked for me
right thing never really worked for me
right thing never really worked for me and looks like it doesn’t work for most
and looks like it doesn’t work for most
and looks like it doesn’t work for most of you either well it turns out this
of you either well it turns out this
of you either well it turns out this split between left and right brains
split between left and right brains
split between left and right brains between logic and creativity it’s an
between logic and creativity it’s an
between logic and creativity it’s an idea that’s actually a false dichotomy
idea that’s actually a false dichotomy
idea that’s actually a false dichotomy I’m not supported by science because the
I’m not supported by science because the
I’m not supported by science because the truth of it is you can be no more left
truth of it is you can be no more left
truth of it is you can be no more left brained than you can be left lung or
brained than you can be left lung or
brained than you can be left lung or left kidney
left kidney
left kidney we’ll get to the research bit in a
we’ll get to the research bit in a
we’ll get to the research bit in a second first I want to talk about how
second first I want to talk about how
second first I want to talk about how incredibly limiting this idea can be
incredibly limiting this idea can be
incredibly limiting this idea can be even though it’s not true see humans
even though it’s not true see humans
even though it’s not true see humans like to organize the world into neat
like to organize the world into neat
like to organize the world into neat little groups for one it’s cognitively
little groups for one it’s cognitively
little groups for one it’s cognitively efficient once you understand something
efficient once you understand something
efficient once you understand something about what group they fit in you don’t
about what group they fit in you don’t
about what group they fit in you don’t have to look at individual
have to look at individual
have to look at individual characteristics about those things it
characteristics about those things it
characteristics about those things it also helps us predict and understand the
also helps us predict and understand the
also helps us predict and understand the world and it makes us feel better about
world and it makes us feel better about
world and it makes us feel better about ourselves because groups were in are
ourselves because groups were in are
ourselves because groups were in are obviously better than groups we’re not
obviously better than groups we’re not
obviously better than groups we’re not but trying to fit things into group that
but trying to fit things into group that
but trying to fit things into group that don’t fit us is incredibly limiting I
don’t fit us is incredibly limiting I
don’t fit us is incredibly limiting I understand this problem innately I often
understand this problem innately I often
understand this problem innately I often describe myself as fluent in three
describe myself as fluent in three
describe myself as fluent in three languages English math and music I
languages English math and music I
languages English math and music I started all three around the same age
started all three around the same age
started all three around the same age and I don’t really remember my life
and I don’t really remember my life
and I don’t really remember my life without any one of them math just made
without any one of them math just made
without any one of them math just made sense to me it was so clear and logical
sense to me it was so clear and logical
sense to me it was so clear and logical music made me feel whole it also had
music made me feel whole it also had
music made me feel whole it also had this internal consistency but it gave me
this internal consistency but it gave me
this internal consistency but it gave me a language to express myself an English
a language to express myself an English
a language to express myself an English it gave me the medium of storytelling
it gave me the medium of storytelling
it gave me the medium of storytelling using grammar and syntax to weave
using grammar and syntax to weave
using grammar and syntax to weave threads of exotic worlds and daring
threads of exotic worlds and daring
threads of exotic worlds and daring adventures and feelings that I often
adventures and feelings that I often
adventures and feelings that I often first experience through care
first experience through care
first experience through care actors on a page the symmetry between
actors on a page the symmetry between
actors on a page the symmetry between them was so obvious to me is that it
them was so obvious to me is that it
them was so obvious to me is that it seemed like they were just three
seemed like they were just three
seemed like they were just three languages describing one world
languages describing one world
languages describing one world now I also had a faint understanding
now I also had a faint understanding
now I also had a faint understanding around the stage that I was not what
around the stage that I was not what
around the stage that I was not what most people considered a normal kid
most people considered a normal kid
most people considered a normal kid whether is cuz I was a girl who excelled
whether is cuz I was a girl who excelled
whether is cuz I was a girl who excelled in math or a kid who’d rather read than
in math or a kid who’d rather read than
in math or a kid who’d rather read than go out for recess I was regularly
go out for recess I was regularly
go out for recess I was regularly reminded by kids and adults alike that I
reminded by kids and adults alike that I
reminded by kids and adults alike that I was different what exactly do you think
was different what exactly do you think
was different what exactly do you think you’re gonna be when you grow up they
you’re gonna be when you grow up they
you’re gonna be when you grow up they would ask confounded by my refusal to
would ask confounded by my refusal to
would ask confounded by my refusal to define a career path they could
define a career path they could
define a career path they could understand by age 10 sound familiar
understand by age 10 sound familiar
understand by age 10 sound familiar I ignored them and kept doing my same in
I ignored them and kept doing my same in
I ignored them and kept doing my same in high school I attended a School for the
high school I attended a School for the
high school I attended a School for the Performing Arts where in addition to
Performing Arts where in addition to
Performing Arts where in addition to studying piano and cello I got to learn
studying piano and cello I got to learn
studying piano and cello I got to learn math and science through the language of
math and science through the language of
math and science through the language of the Arts I learned
the Arts I learned
the Arts I learned Tork through arabesques experience sound
Tork through arabesques experience sound
Tork through arabesques experience sound waves by building African finger piano
waves by building African finger piano
waves by building African finger piano and understood permutation groups
and understood permutation groups
and understood permutation groups through chord inversions in figured base
through chord inversions in figured base
through chord inversions in figured base it all made sense to me but the
it all made sense to me but the
it all made sense to me but the questions kept coming you have so many
questions kept coming you have so many
questions kept coming you have so many interests which will you choose next
interests which will you choose next
interests which will you choose next year I chose not to choose in college I
year I chose not to choose in college I
year I chose not to choose in college I majored in math and theatre with
majored in math and theatre with
majored in math and theatre with additional concentrations and music
additional concentrations and music
additional concentrations and music physics and political science
physics and political science
physics and political science I used trigonometry to build sets
I used trigonometry to build sets
I used trigonometry to build sets learned entrepreneurship by producing
learned entrepreneurship by producing
learned entrepreneurship by producing plays I split my days between
plays I split my days between
plays I split my days between cryptography chamber music colloidal
cryptography chamber music colloidal
cryptography chamber music colloidal particles in stage combat researching
particles in stage combat researching
particles in stage combat researching telling stories creating something from
telling stories creating something from
telling stories creating something from nothing and then as graduation came near
nothing and then as graduation came near
nothing and then as graduation came near the questions came back what kind of
the questions came back what kind of
the questions came back what kind of career path are you going to build it’s
career path are you going to build it’s
career path are you going to build it’s time you got serious and focused they’d
time you got serious and focused they’d
time you got serious and focused they’d say why did I have to focus
say why did I have to focus
say why did I have to focus Leonardo da Vinci never had to focus in
Leonardo da Vinci never had to focus in
Leonardo da Vinci never had to focus in the 15th century the ideal of the
the 15th century the ideal of the
the 15th century the ideal of the polymath Renaissance man came into being
polymath Renaissance man came into being
polymath Renaissance man came into being defined as one with unquenchable
defined as one with unquenchable
defined as one with unquenchable curiosity
curiosity
curiosity no one embodied this ideal better than
no one embodied this ideal better than
no one embodied this ideal better than da Vinci he was an artist who is also
da Vinci he was an artist who is also
da Vinci he was an artist who is also inventor a poet a botanist cartographer
inventor a poet a botanist cartographer
inventor a poet a botanist cartographer mathematician and a whole
mathematician and a whole
mathematician and a whole of other things this polymath ideal grew
of other things this polymath ideal grew
of other things this polymath ideal grew out of the notion of a universal
out of the notion of a universal
out of the notion of a universal education which sadly did not mean
education which sadly did not mean
education which sadly did not mean education for all but rather education
education for all but rather education
education for all but rather education across a broad array of subjects
across a broad array of subjects
across a broad array of subjects including science languages theology
including science languages theology
including science languages theology philosophy and more
philosophy and more
philosophy and more rather than specializing in just one
rather than specializing in just one
rather than specializing in just one area it’s the basis of what we call a
area it’s the basis of what we call a
area it’s the basis of what we call a liberal arts education today so how did
liberal arts education today so how did
liberal arts education today so how did we get from there a world that embraced
we get from there a world that embraced
we get from there a world that embraced well-rounded interdisciplinary thinking
well-rounded interdisciplinary thinking
well-rounded interdisciplinary thinking and supported the development of
and supported the development of
and supported the development of polymaths to here a world where
polymaths to here a world where
polymaths to here a world where teenagers are expected to pick a
teenagers are expected to pick a
teenagers are expected to pick a specialty that they’re gonna follow for
specialty that they’re gonna follow for
specialty that they’re gonna follow for the next 60 years well for one thing the
the next 60 years well for one thing the
the next 60 years well for one thing the Industrial Revolution happened it was
Industrial Revolution happened it was
Industrial Revolution happened it was the end of the artisan and agrarian
the end of the artisan and agrarian
the end of the artisan and agrarian economies and the beginning of the
economies and the beginning of the
economies and the beginning of the efficiency economy and as the economy
efficiency economy and as the economy
efficiency economy and as the economy changed we need people to develop these
changed we need people to develop these
changed we need people to develop these narrowly defined expertise we needed to
narrowly defined expertise we needed to
narrowly defined expertise we needed to put them in boxes so let’s get back to
put them in boxes so let’s get back to
put them in boxes so let’s get back to that research that somehow morphed into
that research that somehow morphed into
that research that somehow morphed into this pop culture doctrine of left and
this pop culture doctrine of left and
this pop culture doctrine of left and right brained people in the 1960s a
right brained people in the 1960s a
right brained people in the 1960s a doctoral student named Michael Gazzaniga
doctoral student named Michael Gazzaniga
doctoral student named Michael Gazzaniga teamed up with neurobiologist Roger’s
teamed up with neurobiologist Roger’s
teamed up with neurobiologist Roger’s ferry on a series of experiments with
ferry on a series of experiments with
ferry on a series of experiments with epilepsy patients whose corpus callosum
epilepsy patients whose corpus callosum
epilepsy patients whose corpus callosum that bundle of nerve fibers that
that bundle of nerve fibers that
that bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of your
connects the two hemispheres of your
connects the two hemispheres of your brain it was surgically severed to
brain it was surgically severed to
brain it was surgically severed to prevent seizures from spreading across
prevent seizures from spreading across
prevent seizures from spreading across the brain one patient that Gazzaniga
the brain one patient that Gazzaniga
the brain one patient that Gazzaniga worked with was shown a square – just
worked with was shown a square – just
worked with was shown a square – just the left hemisphere of his brain but
the left hemisphere of his brain but
the left hemisphere of his brain but showing it to his right eye and the
showing it to his right eye and the
showing it to his right eye and the patient said he could see a box but when
patient said he could see a box but when
patient said he could see a box but when the image was shown only to the right
the image was shown only to the right
the image was shown only to the right hemisphere even though he could still
hemisphere even though he could still
hemisphere even though he could still see it and point to it he was unable to
see it and point to it he was unable to
see it and point to it he was unable to name it so Gaza Nina theorized that
name it so Gaza Nina theorized that
name it so Gaza Nina theorized that while both sides of the brain are
while both sides of the brain are
while both sides of the brain are involved in processing an image only the
involved in processing an image only the
involved in processing an image only the left side was responsible for
left side was responsible for
left side was responsible for articulating what it was in this
articulating what it was in this
articulating what it was in this patient’s case without communication
patient’s case without communication
patient’s case without communication from the left side the right side
from the left side the right side
from the left side the right side couldn’t find the word for box now the
couldn’t find the word for box now the
couldn’t find the word for box now the main result of Gaza Nina’s research was
main result of Gaza Nina’s research was
main result of Gaza Nina’s research was about how much the two sides of the
about how much the two sides of the
about how much the two sides of the brain have to work together to perform
brain have to work together to perform
brain have to work together to perform basic cognitive tasks but in 1973 New
basic cognitive tasks but in 1973 New
basic cognitive tasks but in 1973 New York Times article missing
York Times article missing
York Times article missing and instead described it as two
and instead described it as two
and instead described it as two astonishingly different persons
astonishingly different persons
astonishingly different persons inhabiting our brain this notion of left
inhabiting our brain this notion of left
inhabiting our brain this notion of left and right brain people that
and right brain people that
and right brain people that neuroscientists have been trying to
neuroscientists have been trying to
neuroscientists have been trying to dispel it for 40 years but it still
dispel it for 40 years but it still
dispel it for 40 years but it still persists
so why is this such a problem beyond the
so why is this such a problem beyond the fact that it’s just not true it’s
fact that it’s just not true it’s
fact that it’s just not true it’s because it forces people into boxes that
because it forces people into boxes that
because it forces people into boxes that don’t fit them I can’t tell you how many
don’t fit them I can’t tell you how many
don’t fit them I can’t tell you how many times I was told I was weird
times I was told I was weird
times I was told I was weird for liking math and theater as though I
for liking math and theater as though I
for liking math and theater as though I was a freak of nature and I can imagine
was a freak of nature and I can imagine
was a freak of nature and I can imagine that a kid who was more interested in
that a kid who was more interested in
that a kid who was more interested in fitting in than I was would be less
fitting in than I was would be less
fitting in than I was would be less inclined to cross that chasm if it meant
inclined to cross that chasm if it meant
inclined to cross that chasm if it meant they were singled out as strange what
they were singled out as strange what
they were singled out as strange what happens to a child who’s branded as
happens to a child who’s branded as
happens to a child who’s branded as brilliant at chess but secretly has a
brilliant at chess but secretly has a
brilliant at chess but secretly has a desire to try out for the school play or
desire to try out for the school play or
desire to try out for the school play or the adult who’s developed an identity as
the adult who’s developed an identity as
the adult who’s developed an identity as a creative but actually has an interest
a creative but actually has an interest
a creative but actually has an interest in technology in computer science
in technology in computer science
in technology in computer science how much are we missing out on by
how much are we missing out on by
how much are we missing out on by forcing ourselves into these artificial
forcing ourselves into these artificial
forcing ourselves into these artificial categories two years ago a friend sent
categories two years ago a friend sent
categories two years ago a friend sent me this youtube video called how I do
me this youtube video called how I do
me this youtube video called how I do math it was created by this actress who
math it was created by this actress who
math it was created by this actress who also started a non-profit focused on
also started a non-profit focused on
also started a non-profit focused on helping girls to love math her name was
helping girls to love math her name was
helping girls to love math her name was Kate Scott Campbell and she was tall and
Kate Scott Campbell and she was tall and
Kate Scott Campbell and she was tall and a redhead and let’s split her time
a redhead and let’s split her time
a redhead and let’s split her time between these worlds of math in theater
between these worlds of math in theater
between these worlds of math in theater just like I had 15 years ago and I
just like I had 15 years ago and I
just like I had 15 years ago and I decided I had to meet her so I flew out
decided I had to meet her so I flew out
decided I had to meet her so I flew out to Los Angeles and we spent the day
to Los Angeles and we spent the day
to Los Angeles and we spent the day together I showed her my tattoo of a
together I showed her my tattoo of a
together I showed her my tattoo of a Fibonacci spiral overlaid with a
Fibonacci spiral overlaid with a
Fibonacci spiral overlaid with a Kandinsky inspired geometric print and
Kandinsky inspired geometric print and
Kandinsky inspired geometric print and she showed me her web series that she
she showed me her web series that she
she showed me her web series that she created and produced about being a math
created and produced about being a math
created and produced about being a math tutor we realized that we were not alone
tutor we realized that we were not alone
tutor we realized that we were not alone in our weird interdisciplinary nests and
in our weird interdisciplinary nests and
in our weird interdisciplinary nests and we suspected there might be more of us
we suspected there might be more of us
we suspected there might be more of us out there so we started a podcast called
out there so we started a podcast called
out there so we started a podcast called the limit does not exist it celebrates
the limit does not exist it celebrates
the limit does not exist it celebrates all these people who refuse to focus and
all these people who refuse to focus and
all these people who refuse to focus and instead embrace their curiosity and
instead embrace their curiosity and
instead embrace their curiosity and follow it down rabbit holes of their own
follow it down rabbit holes of their own
follow it down rabbit holes of their own choosing
choosing
choosing we interviewed a computer scientist who
we interviewed a computer scientist who
we interviewed a computer scientist who became a filmmaker using algorithms to
became a filmmaker using algorithms to
became a filmmaker using algorithms to build animations a painter who followed
build animations a painter who followed
build animations a painter who followed her curiosity into a Natural History
her curiosity into a Natural History
her curiosity into a Natural History Museum and became an online science
Museum and became an online science
Museum and became an online science storyteller a filmmaker and venture
storyteller a filmmaker and venture
storyteller a filmmaker and venture capitalist who simultaneously building
capitalist who simultaneously building
capitalist who simultaneously building the technology of virtual reality
the technology of virtual reality
the technology of virtual reality while creating a new form of
while creating a new form of
while creating a new form of storytelling within that technology like
storytelling within that technology like
storytelling within that technology like Kristensen defined this way of thinking
Kristensen defined this way of thinking
Kristensen defined this way of thinking and working across the disciplines as
and working across the disciplines as
and working across the disciplines as the power of associating which forms the
the power of associating which forms the
the power of associating which forms the backbone of his innovators DNA Mill
backbone of his innovators DNA Mill
backbone of his innovators DNA Mill affirmed merchant Francis as each
affirmed merchant Francis as each
affirmed merchant Francis as each person’s own leanness that unique thing
person’s own leanness that unique thing
person’s own leanness that unique thing that they can harness to embrace their
that they can harness to embrace their
that they can harness to embrace their power for good that the limit does not
power for good that the limit does not
power for good that the limit does not exist we call these people human Venn
exist we call these people human Venn
exist we call these people human Venn diagrams people who live at the
diagrams people who live at the
diagrams people who live at the intersection of multiple interests and
intersection of multiple interests and
intersection of multiple interests and create their own inspiration out of
create their own inspiration out of
create their own inspiration out of connecting seemingly disconnected ideas
connecting seemingly disconnected ideas
connecting seemingly disconnected ideas questions and fields but the name is
questions and fields but the name is
questions and fields but the name is doesn’t really matter what matters is
doesn’t really matter what matters is
doesn’t really matter what matters is this is what’s going to power the future
this is what’s going to power the future
this is what’s going to power the future the Industrial Revolution is long gone
the Industrial Revolution is long gone
the Industrial Revolution is long gone and these narrowly defined jobs that
and these narrowly defined jobs that
and these narrowly defined jobs that were predicated on the efficient
were predicated on the efficient
were predicated on the efficient utilization of land labour and capital
utilization of land labour and capital
utilization of land labour and capital are disappearing and in their place are
are disappearing and in their place are
are disappearing and in their place are jobs that are using people’s creativity
jobs that are using people’s creativity
jobs that are using people’s creativity and innovation to add value we are at
and innovation to add value we are at
and innovation to add value we are at the beginning of the next Renaissance so
the beginning of the next Renaissance so
the beginning of the next Renaissance so if you feel like you don’t fit in a box
if you feel like you don’t fit in a box
if you feel like you don’t fit in a box this is your permission to say screw it
this is your permission to say screw it
this is your permission to say screw it and define your own interdisciplinary
and define your own interdisciplinary
and define your own interdisciplinary path and if you find yourself trying to
path and if you find yourself trying to
path and if you find yourself trying to put other people in boxes your kids your
put other people in boxes your kids your
put other people in boxes your kids your colleagues strangers you meet on tinder
colleagues strangers you meet on tinder
colleagues strangers you meet on tinder stop it it’s preventing you from
stop it it’s preventing you from
stop it it’s preventing you from embracing the full expression of their
embracing the full expression of their
embracing the full expression of their humanity oh and me what did I grow up to
humanity oh and me what did I grow up to
humanity oh and me what did I grow up to be an entrepreneur a writer public
be an entrepreneur a writer public
be an entrepreneur a writer public speaker who writes computer code and
speaker who writes computer code and
speaker who writes computer code and sings Gregorian chant you know just a
sings Gregorian chant you know just a
sings Gregorian chant you know just a classic human Venn diagram thank you
”
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