How to Be a Better Human

Episode: How to add more exploration in your life (w/ Alex Hutchinson)
Host: Chris Duffy (TED)
Guest: Alex Hutchinson (science journalist, author of The Explorer’s Gene)
Release Date: March 30, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores the concept of "exploration"—not just in the heroic sense of climbing Everest or discovering new continents, but as an essential human drive accessible to everyone in daily life. Host Chris Duffy interviews science journalist Alex Hutchinson about why we crave newness, the science behind it, and how to invite more adventure into even the most ordinary routines. The conversation draws from Alex’s new book, The Explorer’s Gene, with practical guidance and inspiring anecdotes on redefining exploration for work, family, creativity, and personal growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Redefining Exploration for Everyone

• Broader Definition:
  • Exploration isn’t limited to grand adventures or physical feats.
  • It's "ordering a new dish in a restaurant. It's exploring new art or new music, venturing into the unknown. It's any way in which we're not just sticking with what we already know." (Alex Hutchinson, 06:42)
• Access for All:
  • Every human possesses a drive to explore, though it exists along a spectrum—some are more strongly wired for the unknown, but all carry the "explorer’s gene."

2. The Science of Curiosity: Dopamine and the Brain

• The Role of Dopamine:
  • Dopamine’s core function in exploration isn't just "reward"; it's about surprise and learning.
  • "Dopamine... acts as a marker of prediction error. So when something is different than you expect, ideally when it's better than you expect, you get a big hit of dopamine... The fact that we're wired to want more dopamine means we're wired to want to go to places where we will be surprised." (Alex Hutchinson, 08:51)
• Why Humans Roam:
  • This neurological drive explains our species’ global spread, driven not only by necessity but by a hunger for unknown possibilities.

3. Personal Stories of Adventure

• The Rocky Mountain Courtship:
  • Alex shares a formative backpacking trip with his wife: “It’s the greatest trip I’ve ever taken because we weren’t just following a trail to predetermined sites... I also really value not knowing what I’m going to see.” (Alex Hutchinson, 10:48)
• The Value of Surprise:
  • Both host and guest discuss a preference for quirky, off-the-beaten-path experiences over mainstream attractions.

4. Everyday Exploration with Kids

• Children as Guides:
  • “Having young kids has helped open my eyes to the possibilities of exploration... For kids, every day is exploration and discovery. Instead of watching them explore, why don't we go explore?” (Alex Hutchinson, 13:35)
• City Adventures:
  • Exploration doesn’t require wilderness; it can be as simple as discovering a new park or path in your neighborhood.

5. Embracing Uncertainty

• Balancing Planning and Discovery:
  • The value of “not knowing where we’re going”: “Sometimes knowing where you’re headed isn't an advantage… It’s easy to find arguments for sticking with the familiar. But sometimes you have to venture into the unknown and see for yourself what's out there.” (Book passage, read by Alex Hutchinson, 16:02)
• Risk vs. Reward in the Unknown:
  • We all fear uncertainty, but the richest memories and growth come from stepping outside our comfort zones.

6. Exploration in Memory and Time

• How Experiences Shape Memories:
  • “Places where I was... doing a big exploration... have such a bigger mental space... It’s almost like I planted a flag that stopped the flow of time from going so quickly.” (Chris Duffy, 21:01)
• Active vs. Passive Living:
  • Compared to passively consuming life (e.g., scrolling social media), active participation (even choosing your route home) deepens engagement and memory: “You want to have the act of discovery... Planning makes sense... But always knowing what's going to happen takes away some of the sauce of discovery.” (Alex Hutchinson, 17:15)

7. Strategies for More Everyday Exploration

• Turn Off GPS (“Turn-by-Turn Directions”):
  • “That's 100% like the most concrete thing. There's two reasons for it... It's a reminder that I'm okay getting lost.” (Alex Hutchinson, 25:04)
  • Cites studies: London taxi drivers, by navigating without GPS, show larger hippocampi and lower Alzheimer’s risk.
• Ask Different Questions:
  • Social exploration can be achieved by asking neighbors new, more meaningful questions—deliberately swerving from the routine.
• Embrace Social & Professional Uncertainty:
  • “It's easy to... ask the questions [I] only know the answers to... but it’s so much more satisfying to be willing to ask the questions that I don’t know the answers to.” (Alex Hutchinson, 28:13)

8. Finding the Right Balance

• When NOT to Explore:
  • Don’t persistently seek newness at the expense of satisfaction or safety. It’s a “permanent tension... wanting to find out what's next, but to find ways of enjoying where you just reached the summit.” (Alex Hutchinson, 30:38)
• The Wundt Curve:
  • Balancing “crazy” novelty with routine; learning and fulfillment are maximized in the middle zone, tuned by one’s genuine interest.

9. Practical Application—Bringing Exploration Home

• Family and Kids:
  • Let kids lead play; say yes more often; set higher expectations for their resilience and curiosity. “If you take some opportunities to take all of you together out of your comfort zone and try some things... that's super rewarding for them.” (Alex Hutchinson, 37:07)
• Type 1 vs. Type 2 (and 3!) Fun:
  • Type 1: Fun in the moment; Type 2: Only fun in retrospect; Type 3: Not fun ever, but may get repeated! (39:20–40:41)
• Romantic and Social Exploration:
  • The 37% Rule: In dating and life, explore at least a moderate amount before settling, but balance with eventual commitment and deepening.

10. Exploration as a Lifelong Attitude

• Workplace and Play:
  • Cultivate playful, curious attitudes even at work—not to escape work, but to enrich it.
• Meaning Over Outcome:
  • “A good exploration… it’s not just about, like, the gold pot at the end of the rainbow. It's about like, this is awesome. I'm so happy to be here. This is what I live for.” (Alex Hutchinson, 43:11)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Meaningful exploration... involves making an active choice to pursue a course that requires effort and carries the risk of failure... Most importantly, it requires the embrace of uncertainty, not as a necessary evil to be tolerated, but as the primary attraction.”
  — Alex Hutchinson reading from The Explorer’s Gene (02:15)
• “If you're given a choice between being shot or being banished into the jungle, you choose the jungle to maximize your odds of survival. Exploring, by contrast, is heading into the jungle when your alternative is being an accountant.”
  — Alex Hutchinson reading from his book (02:15)
• “There's always a tension in all of us. We hate uncertainty. We fear not knowing how things are going to turn out, but it's rewarding.”
  — Alex Hutchinson (14:35)
• “You want to, you want to have the act of discovery... But always knowing what's going to happen... takes away some of the the sauce of discovery.”
  — Alex Hutchinson (17:15)
• “One of the problems [with scrolling Instagram] is that you're not making any choices about what's interesting to you. The algorithm is feeding you... But you're not choosing... There's nothing at stake.”
  — Alex Hutchinson (21:54)
• “You should generally... start by a period of exploration. Because if you don't explore first, you don't know what your options are. And then... you eventually have to shift to what's called in the literature exploitation.”—on the 37% rule
  — Alex Hutchinson (40:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Redefining Exploration — 06:26–07:52
• The Explorer’s Gene & Dopamine — 08:03–10:22
• Personal Tales of Adventure — 10:48–12:21
• Exploring with Kids — 13:35–15:52
• Living with Uncertainty: Passage Reading — 16:02–17:15
• Exploration & Memory — 21:01–24:05
• Practicing Everyday Exploration (turning off GPS, trying new social inquiries) — 24:47–28:13
• When Exploration Isn't Always Best — 30:38–32:19
• Finding the Sweet Spot (Wundt Curve) — 32:19–33:58
• Powerball Test & Choosing by Curiosity — 33:58–35:37
• Adventure with Kids & Type 2 Fun — 37:07–40:41
• The 37% Rule in Relationships — 40:45–42:51
• Exploration at Work and in Life — 43:11–44:48

Practical Tips for Adding More Exploration Into Your Life

• Broaden Your Definition: Look for novelty in small everyday choices, not just epic journeys.
• Be Present and Active: Actively engage with your environment, even during routine tasks.
• Switch Off Autopilot: Occasionally turn off navigation aids; let yourself get a little lost.
• Say Yes More Often: Especially with kids, follow their lead and let them (safely) guide play and discovery.
• Welcome Discomfort: Embrace the nerves that come with new social interactions or trying something unfamiliar.
• Balance the New and the Familiar: Use your own genuine curiosity or interest to find the right mix.
• Reflect on Your Choices: Ask not just what's expected, but what excites you—try the "Powerball Test" to clarify desires.
• Build It Into Routines: Add small twists to daily patterns to see your world with new eyes.

Closing Words

"A good exploration, it’s not just about, like, the gold pot at the end of the rainbow. It's about like, this is awesome. I'm so happy to be here. This is what I live for."
— Alex Hutchinson (43:11)

Whether it’s with a family trip, a new recipe, an unplanned conversation, or a career move, embracing exploration is less about finding something "out there" and more about asking: What haven’t I tried yet—and what might I discover if I do?