Stuck@Om with Maria Konnikova
In this episode of Stuck@Om, I\u2019m talking with an old friend, Maria Konnikova. Maria holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, is the author of multiple best-selling books, and is also a professional poker player. We immediately dive into her book \u201cThe Confidence Game\u201d about how con artists convince people of unbelievable things. We dissect how movies and TV glamorize the con artists while placing blame on those who were conned. We even touch on our shared love for Sherlock Holmes.\xa0
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We enter into a much deeper discussion about Maria\u2019s most recent book \u201cThe Biggest Bluff\u201d, which was released June 23rd. When Maria wrote the book, she set out to write about luck and the things we can and can\u2019t control. After reading John Von Neumann\u2019s book on game theory, she realized poker was the perfect medium for her exploration into chance. Erik Seidel \u2014 a renowned poker player \u2014 agreed to let Maria shadow him to learn more about poker. Maria never thought this opportunity would lead to becoming a professional poker player.\xa0
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We talk about what poker has taught her about emotional control and how you have to learn to identify your emotions to become an expert poker player. The goal isn\u2019t to move away from being emotional \u2014 because it\u2019s human nature. But you must identify your emotions and learn to remove them from the equation. You must also identify your triggers: What types of people make you mad? What interactions make you upset? What excites you or makes you happy?
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We further delve into the psychology of poker and the topics of psychological distancing, physical distancing, and how to prevent emotions before you\u2019re triggered. We chat about how emotions can be essential to decision-making. Maria also shares about her experience as a professional poker player and what she learned about herself throughout her journey. Our conversation travels deep into psychology, emotion, self-awareness, and the uncertainty of life. Please listen \u2014 Maria\u2019s captivating story cannot be missed.\xa0
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Outline of This Episode- We talk about Maria\u2019s three books
- What does TV get right about con artists?
- How Maria landed on writing a book about poker
- Making decisions because of and in spite of emotion
- How emotional control impacts the game of poker \u2014 and life
- Maria\u2019s journey to becoming a best-selling author
- Maria\u2019s time as a professional poker player
- What Maria learned about herself from poker\xa0
- The uncertainty of mortality that\u2019s part of our being
- How epidemiologists use poker as a model for disease spread
- Theory of Games and Economic Behavior by John von Neumann
- Erik Seidel