The Panzoic Effect at TEDxBoulder 2024

How the search for extraterrestrial life can make us better people (potentially)

My talk for TEDxBoulder 2024 is now available for viewing online!

I’m so excited for the talk to be out and to share the concept of The Panzoic Effect with everyone.

While I was prepping this talk, my friend and colleague, Mike Toillion, and I sat down with a couple of beers at Sanitas Brewing Company in Boulder, Colorado, so that I could share the idea with him. Mike made the suggestion that I should think of a word or a term to explain the concept I was thinking of. It was while sitting and enjoying a glass of the cherry saison that the idea of “Panzoic Effect” popped into my head.

I had been thinking of the Overview Effect, the concept that astronauts and space travelers looking back at the Earth may experience a shift in the perspective of identity and conscious awareness of the biosphere. The Panzoic Effect is a similar concept: by thinking of the “panzoic” (which literally translates to “life everywhere”) or the potential for alien life out there beyond us it may also cause a radical shift in our perspective of ourselves. The sheer act of thinking of alien life, what it might be like, how alien civilizations might face similar issues to our own, and what the concept of “alien” even means is in itself a sheer act of wonder and awe. It might inspire us to be more empathetic and charitable and thoughtful as we progress into the future.

I hope you enjoy the talk. And I’d love to hear your opinions about it.

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It’s truly an honor to have been able to share some space on the TEDx stage with so many other remarkable speakers. The other talks will slowly be added in the coming days and weeks, and I’m so excited to see all of them again.

For everyone out there who has supported me in getting to that stage, a huge heart-felt thanks is in order.

I am so grateful for all of you who’ve been coming along on the journey with me, who’ve shared your thoughts and questions, who’ve read my writing and have been inspired, and those who have reached out to start some flat-out incredible conversations about science, philosophy, fitness, the art of living, looking for aliens, science fiction, and so much more.

I have some more writing in the works, and given how many people are now reading along with us I might soon send out a little survey to see what the best time and cadence will be for publishing these newsletters. I also would love to collaborate with all of you on writing some pieces together. If you have ideas of something you want to write, let me know. I’m even down for a recorded conversation that we can turn into some writing (believe it or not, a good bit of my writing starts as an audio piece where I record my thoughts while I’m reading or walking and then use the recordings to come back to the ideas in writing).

Peace be the journey all!