Fear, Anger, and the Plans They Hide: Angus Fletcher on the Science of Primal Intelligence

Bounce! Conversations with Larry Weeks

In a world increasingly dominated by AI and computational thinking, we've been taught that logic is the ultimate form of intelligence. But what if an over-reliance on pure reason is making us more fragile and less equipped to navigate uncertainty?

Angus Fletcher is a professor at Ohio State's Project Narrative and the author of the best-selling book, Primal Intelligence. Angus's has had an extraordinary career path to say the least, from building mutant neurons in neuroscience labs to studying Shakespeare at Yale, and being recruited by US Army Special Operations to train their elite operators.

Angus argues that the human brain is less a computational machine, and more a dynamic, narrative-based engine built for action and foresight. This "biological intelligence," often overlooked and untrained, is what allows us to operate with limited information, adapt in volatile environments, and innovate in ways no machine can. For his groundbreaking work on this very topic, Angus was awarded the Commendation Medal by the US Army in 2023.

Listen as we dive into the science of your innate intelligence and how narrative thinking works, and how understanding what feelings are telling you can transform how you deal with uncertainty.

Some highlights from the episode:

• Angus's journey from neuroscience to Shakespeare to Army Special Operations
• Why hard skill, soft skill distinction misses the point entirely
• How biological intelligence differs from computational intelligence
• The Army's discovery about decision-making in volatile environments
• A novel take on the purpose of emotions
• What fear and anger signals (and what to do about it)
• Special operators' techniques for turning anger on and off
• Why gratitude works best when applied to specific negative experiences
• The brain as a Swiss Army knife rather than calculator
• How to use emotions like a dashboard for better decision-making
• How an integrated past and branching future creates anti-fragility

If you're curious about the kinds of intelligence that AI can't replicate, and how to better utilize yours, this conversation provides the science and practical tools to get started.

For show notes and more, visit larryweeks.com