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Curiosity Chronicle

Curiosity Chronicle

Sahil Bloom 444 Episodes Sep 17, 2026

Curiosity Chronicle is a podcast that delivers curiosity-inducing content every week. It is the audio version of a newsletter, encouraging listeners to explore new ideas and perspectives. The host, Sahil Bloom, shares insights and stories designed to spark curiosity and personal growth.

Episodes

Jevons Paradox: The Perils of Efficiency
Jevons Paradox: The Perils of Efficiency Sep 17, 2026 485 In 1865, English economist William Stanley Jevons studied the impact of the increased efficiency of coal use.The common economic intuition said that as efficiency improved, people would use less coal. Jevons argued that the economic reality was different: As technology improved the efficiency of coal use, demand for coal would increase as people created and justified new uses.It became kn
I Think I Need to Talk About Failure
I Think I Need to Talk About Failure Sep 15, 2026 661 Last Sunday, I was scheduled to run a marathon with a goal of completing the race in 2:49:59.I trained all summer for the race, building up to 70+ mile weeks. I tapered. I carb loaded. I meticulously prepared for every detail.And honestly, I was certain I’d do it.But…I failed.After 21.45 miles at a 6:24 average pace, I stopped and walked off the course. I didn’t finish. DNF.That’s not som
Be a Ford, Then a Sloan
Be a Ford, Then a Sloan Sep 10, 2026 549 The engineer took out an axe and slammed it into the brick wall.It was June 1896. The young man had spent months working in a small brick shed behind his rented house, only to realize, at 4am, that the door wasn't big enough for what he'd built.His name was Henry Ford. His creation, the Ford Quadricycle.His atomic insight was simple: He began viewing the factory itself as the product.Whil
It Was Just a Game of Catch
It Was Just a Game of Catch Sep 8, 2026 421 Last weekend, my family and I made our annual pilgrimage to a small community in northwest Connecticut.When I was 18 months old, my parents had rented a house there for the summer, seeking an escape from the New York City heat.The next year, we went back. The following, we went again.Soon, the tiny enclave became like a second home. I met my two best friends there. I caught my first fish
A Lesson From a Mentor I'll Never Forget
A Lesson From a Mentor I'll Never Forget Sep 3, 2026 356 I first met Tim Cook in 2014.I was just starting my career in finance and had signed up for a local gym that opened at 5:00am. I started arriving at 4:45am so I could get to the office by 6:30.Each morning, there was a small handful of others who would congregate outside the doors at that time. Tim happened to be one of the people in that group.For the first six months, I talked to him al
9 Harsh Truths Nobody Told You About Success
9 Harsh Truths Nobody Told You About Success Sep 1, 2026 678 I'm convinced that the market for telling people what they want to hear is much larger than the market for telling people what they need to hear.That one fact explains a lot of what you see in the world.But my goal has always been to be real. Even if it's unpopular. Because everything I write is something I hope my son reads someday, and I owe him the truth.Today, that truth is a few thin
The Focusing Illusion: A Science-Backed Life Trap
The Focusing Illusion: A Science-Backed Life Trap Aug 27, 2026 451 Imagine two different people on the same mid-January day.One lives in California. He walks outside in shorts and a t-shirt. The warm sun beams down on his face. He puts on his sunglasses, unlocks his car, and turns the AC on full blast.One lives in New York. He walks outside in a heavy jacket. He grimaces as the cold wind hits his uncovered face. He opens the trunk of his car, takes out a
The Hidden Debt of Convenience
The Hidden Debt of Convenience Aug 25, 2026 553 A few weeks ago, I came across a podcast clip of Conan O'Brien talking about why he doesn't pay to fly private. He likes going through the airport, chatting with people at TSA, and "being in the world with other people that are traveling."It got me thinking about the obsessive pursuit of convenience and the hidden debt it creates in your life.Money has the ability to reduce the simple str
Why You Need to Subtract: The Vasa Effect
Why You Need to Subtract: The Vasa Effect Aug 20, 2026 487 In 1628, Sweden's mightiest warship sank less than a mile into its maiden voyage -- not because of an enemy attack, but because a king couldn't stop adding to it. I call it the Vasa Effect: the addition of individual positives can eventually create a catastrophic negative.In this week's piece, I break down why our bias for addition is holding us back and how creative subtraction might be
Why You Need a Side Quest in Life
Why You Need a Side Quest in Life Aug 18, 2026 633 The seat you randomly chose on day one is the seat you'll sit in for the rest of the term. My college professor said that, and he was right -- not just about lecture halls, but about life. Your life has gravity, and most people never even feel it building.This week, I break down the two types of gravity keeping you stuck and the simple answer to making sure you can always escape.•••This e
The Scarlet Robe Effect
The Scarlet Robe Effect Aug 13, 2026 446 A fancy robe nearly destroyed a philosopher's life.In 1765, Denis Diderot's financial means went from meager to extravagant. Soon thereafter, he came to own a fancy scarlet dressing robe.Diderot liked the status that the fancy robe conferred on him but quickly felt the remainder of his possessions could not compare.So, in quick succession, he purchased a new leather chair. New shoes. An e
The Traffic Jam Theory of Success
The Traffic Jam Theory of Success Aug 11, 2026 957 Everyone's asking: how do I stand out in the AI era? A 1968 German mathematician's traffic paradox holds the answer.When everyone floods the new shortcut, the fast lane becomes the slow lane.Here's how to find the open road... •••This episode brought to you by:DeleteMe - DeleteMe makes it quick, easy, and safe to remove your personal data online. Origin Financial - Your personal AI Financ

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