SIGNIFICANT.
Where "what if" meets "what is." Significant talks about pivotal ideas shaping our world: blending science, history, and culture with an eye on the future. Hosted by polymath/neurologist Dr. David Filippi, each episode explores the stories behind game-changing discoveries, technologies, and thinkers, from consciousness to concussions and beyond. Join us as we unravel the mysteries of the past, present, and future. Learn more at https://significant-podcast.com.
Episodes
In this pivotal episode of Significant, Dr. David Filippi confronts the existential stakes of AI alignment with his signature blend of scientific rigor, philosophical depth, and personal insight. Drawing on everything from the Chicxulub impact to the fragile humanity of a child’s laughter, he asks the most urgent question of our time: What if we build a superintelligence that doesn’t love our children?
This is the hinge of the seas...
The only human skill that matters now is AI collaboration.
Look at the timeline:
- Neurology mastery – 26 years.
- Launching a podcast – 6 months.
- Writing & producing a country album – 1 month.
- Building a full-stack AI-driven iOS app – 18 hours.
The difference? Superintelligent AI.
In this episode, we break down:
🚀 What intelligence really means, from psychometrics to AI self-assessments.
🚀 Why AI isn’t just passing benchmarks—it...
Communication isn’t just words—it’s connection. This episode starts with a blue jay who taught me a lesson in language, moves through my autistic son’s search for a voice, explores science’s efforts to talk to animals, and stretches all the way to messages we’ve sent to the stars.
From backyards to deep space, who—or what—is really listening?
This one’s personal.
Join your intrepid guide, Dr. David Filippi, on a deep dive - literally - into the Cenotes of the Yucatán. In this episode, we explore the geological origins of these breathtaking natural wonders, shaped by the cataclysmic Chicxulub impact 66 million years ago. Learn how blind cavefish have evolved extraordinary adaptations to thrive in their resource-scarce, lightless underwater worlds, and discover how these ecosystems mirror cha...
How does the brain construct our sense of self—and what happens when it breaks apart? Come along for the ride as Dr. David Filippi delves into haunting case histories: from the phenomenon of alien hand syndrome to the story of Lev Zasetsky - The Man with a Shattered World - a man lost in a world his mind could no longer piece together.
Along the way, we explore groundbreaking insights from neuroscience and ask: What can these stor...
In this episode of SIGNIFICANT, Dr. David S. Filippi examines three pivotal moments where science and industry intersected to reshape the world. Discover the story of Fritz Haber, Carl Bosch, and the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut, whose groundbreaking ammonia synthesis revolutionized agriculture but fueled global conflict. Explore the life-saving discovery of penicillin and the extraordinary network of scientists and industrialists w...
In this episode of SIGNIFICANT, we explore two astonishing tales where science and industry collided – with world-altering consequences. First, the untold story of how Pemex geologist Glen Penfield uncovered clues to the Chicxulub impact crater decades before its role in the extinction of the dinosaurs was recognized—a discovery delayed by corporate priorities and scientific blind spots. Then, we delve into the legacy of Thomas M...
Dr. David S. Filippi pulls back the curtain on the NFL’s concussion crisis, where science, personal tragedy, and cultural shifts collide. Discover the hidden toll on players and the groundbreaking research shaping football’s future. Tune in for a powerful look at the stakes, the stories, and the path forward. Catch more at significant-podcast.com.
Join Dr. David S. Filippi as he explores the cutting-edge science of GLP-1 agonists—medications originally designed for diabetes but now revolutionizing weight management. From the intricate brain pathways that regulate hunger to the real-world health impacts of obesity, discover why GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide are being hailed as game-changers. Visit significant-podcast.com for more insights and episodes.
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