Robot-Proof Your Career with Mad Scientist Dr. Vivienne Ming

Explicit content warning

04/27/20 • 117 min

Overshare: Honest Conversations with Creatives

Dr. Vivienne Ming is a theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, author, and self-described mad scientist. She's been named as one of the BBC 100 Women in 2017, and as one of the Financial Times' "LGBT leaders and allies today". Dr. Ming co-founded Socos, her fifth company, an independent institute exploring the future of human potential. In her free time, she has invented AI systems to help treat her diabetic son, predict manic episodes in bipolar sufferers weeks in advance, and reunited orphan refugees with extended family members. Dr. Ming also speaks frequently on issues of LGBT inclusion and gender in technology.

In this conversation with host Justin Gignac., Dr. Ming talks about choosing a college major based on a coin toss, how her ultimate goal is to give the key note at Comic-Con, and why Dr. Ming sees creatives and the creative economy as an integral part of the future of work. Coming from someone who creates AI and Robotics, that’s pretty reassuring.

In this episode, you will learn that the scientifically proven secret to a more successful and rich life is living with a sense of purpose, and in order to future-proof your career, one of the biggest skills you need is resiliency and a growth mindset. You'll also be armed with a whole lot of knowledge that you can drop in your next Zoom call with friends, family, or coworkers.

Follow Overshare (@oversharetalks) and Working Not Working (@wnotw) on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES:
Socos Labs
Dr. Ming's 99U Talk "Share Your Vision With the World"
NOVA on PBS
Dr. Ming's home town of Monterey, CA captured in The Pastures of Heaven by John Steinbeck
Roy Batty's final monologue in Blade Runner
Westworld on HBO
Some of Dr. Ming's favorite cartoons: Bojack Horseman, Venture Brothers, and Rick and Morty
Dr. Ming's new entrance music: You Haven’t Done Nothin' by Stevie Wonder
"I Built a Superpower to Treat My Son's Diabetes" article by Dr. Ming
"There is a Tax on Being Different" article by Dr. Ming
James J. Heckman - University of Chicago
Article on the "Lost Einsteins" research by Raj Chetty
Meta learning
Socos.org - Socos Academy

Follow Overshare (@oversharetalks) and Working Not Working (@wnotw) on Instagram.

Previous Episode

Charlie Engle Ran Across the Sahara and He Isn't Stopping

Charlie Engle is an addict who runs and a runner who writes. He’s authored a memoir titled Running Man and has given inspiring talks to CEOs, marathon runners, the United States Armed Forces, and at think tanks and conferences.

Charlie's not just any kind of runner; he does ultra marathons that test his limits. Testing limits is kind of Charlie's thing. Sometimes it's intentional: he ran across the entire Sahara Desert edge to edge, which had never been done before. Sometimes it's accidental: he's been to prison, and also kidnapped at gunpoint in Kenya. Now, Charlie is about to attempt his greatest feat and become the first athlete to trek from the lowest point to the highest point on every continent. It's a fitting pursuit for someone who has experienced extreme lows and repeatedly bounced back with equal highs.

Charlie’s life has been anything but dull, and the way he’s responded is similarly dynamic. Luckily for all of us, Charlie is an open book, and talks about all of his hardships and moments of perseverance with complete candor in this conversation with host Justin Gignac.

In this episode, you will learn how you are capable of so much more than you even know, and that there’s never the perfect time for anything. You just need to make a decision to commit and then figure out how to do it, which Charlie has done time and time again.

Follow Overshare (@oversharetalks) and Working Not Working (@wnotw) on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES:
Charlie Engle ( website / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook )
Book Charlie just finished, The Night of the Gun by David Carr
Heavyweight podcast episode with Rob Corddry
Running the Sahara documentary film starring Charlie
Charlie's memoir, Running Man
5.8, Dead Sea to Everest - Charlie's next endeavor to trek from the lowest point to highest point on every continent
Charlie's blog post recounting getting kidnapped in Kenya, One Bullet...One Goat
water.org
green.org – Charlie's new non-profit

Next Episode

Directors Coodie & Chike on Kanye West, Serendipity, and Being Too Nice

Directing Duo Clarence "Coodie" Simmons & Chike Ozah, better known as Coodie & Chike, have so much infectiously positive energy and perspective from all their years in the business. We're thrilled to have them on this week's episode of Overshare.

Coodie & Chike started collaborating in the early 2000s and got their big break directing Kanye West’s music video “Through the Wire,” followed by music videos for “Two Words” and “Jesus Walks." They had less than two days to put "Jesus Walks" together from scratch, making it nothing short of a creative miracle, not to mention a classic. Their recounting of that experience with host Justin Gignac is a celebration in the art of scrappiness.

Coodie & Chike went on to work with big acts like Pitbull, Erykah Badu, Lupe Fiasco, and Mos Def. In 2007, they founded their own production company, Creative Control. They’ve since directed ESPN "30 for 30" documentary Benji, BET documentary Muhammed Ali: The People’s Champ, and just released A Kid from Coney Island about Stephon Marbury.

In this episode, you will learn that not having the time or money or resources to make great work are just excuses. You’ll also learn that wherever your happiness is coming from right now, that’s what really matters. This conversation is packed with insights and endless positivity.

Follow Overshare (@oversharetalks) and Working Not Working (@wnotw) on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES:
Coodie & Chike ( @officialcoodieandchike / @coodierock / @cozah)
Kanye West's debut album The College Dropout
Chike's favorite craft cocktail bars - Dutch Kills, Dullboy, Pegu Club, Death & Co,
Car Wash film
Ernie Barnes' painting "The Sugar Shack"
Bill Withers
Artist Nina Chanel ( website / Instagram )
Coodie's favorite album as a teenager, LL Cool J's BAD
Chike's favorite album as a teenager Big Daddy Kane's Taste of Chocolate
Coodie & Chike's videos for Kanye: Through the Wire, Two Words, Jesus Walks
Channel Zero TV
Pitbull "Culo" music video
Erykah Badu "Window Seat" music video
Matt & Kim "Lessons Learned" music video that inspired Erykah Badu
Lupe Fiasco feat. Ed Sheeran "Old School Love" music video