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What drives us to venture into the unknown despite the inherent uncertainty and risk that awaits?
Our relationship with exploration—from pushing physical boundaries to seeking novelty in everyday life—reflects something preternaturally profound about the human condition.
My guest today is Alex Hutchinson, an award-winning journalist, Cambridge-trained physicist, and bestselling author whose work dives into the profound depths of human performance and our innate desire to explore.
His earlier book, “Endure,” remains the definitive text on the science of human performance—a well-worn copy still rests on my coffee table—but his latest work goes beyond the physical to investigate the psychological, evolutionary, and neurological factors that motivate us to seek the unknown. Seven years after our initial discussion about the science of endurance, Alex returns with “The Explorer’s Gene,” a captivating exploration of why we are drawn to the fringes of what we understand.
“Listen to that inner voice telling you to try something and be willing to take risks in pursuit of something because you never know what you might find.”
– ALEX HUTCHINSON
Today, we discuss:
- The Explorer’s Gene & Human Evolution
- Dopamine, Novelty & Uncertainty
- Mental Maps & The Hippocampus
- The Paradox of Effort & Meaning
- Latest Breakthroughs in Endurance Science
Exclusive Alex Hutchinson Book Giveaway
In celebration of Alex’s appearance on the podcast, we’re giving away five signed copies of his transformative new book.
Five lucky winners will receive a signed copy of: “The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map.”
To enter, simply sign up for Rich’s newsletter at richroll.com/subscribe and await further instructions. See our official rules for more details at richroll.com/official-rules.
For those who prefer a visual experience, the conversation is available on YouTube. As always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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- Connect With Alex: Website | Instagram
- Book: The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map
- Book: Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance
- The New York Times: Is ‘Zone 2’ the Magic Effort Level for Exercise?
- Outside: Articles by Alex Hutchinson
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Thank The Team: I do not do this alone. Send your love to Jason Camiolo for audio engineering, production, show notes and interstitial music; with additional audio engineering by Cale Curtis and additional music by Moby; Dan Drake & Morgan McCrae for video, & editing; graphics by graphics by Alejandro Ribadeneira & Bryan Lawrence; portraits by Davy Greenberg; copywriting by Ben Pryor; and theme music by Tyler Piatt, Trapper Piatt & Hari Mathis.
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