Risk - The Spice of Life: Dan Ariely on Fear, Failure, and Living Fully

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely unpacks why we shy away from risks we know could improve our lives from unwritten love letters to stalled careers, and how our “vintage” brains, risk-averse systems, and cancel-culture dynamics conspire to keep us on safe but shallow ground. Blending evolutionary psychology, thought experiments, and practical frameworks, he shows how to reframe risk through portfolio thinking, build resilience so failure doesn’t break us, and design environments that nudge us toward bolder choices. This talk is a provocative invitation to treat risk not as something to avoid, but as the essential ingredient of a meaningful, emotionally rich life.

📍 Recorded Live at PopTech 2025: Enigma in Washington DC

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