Alex Hutchinson

In this episode Rebecca and Alex discuss:

• The science behind The Explorer’s Gene and why curiosity drives human progress

• The tension between exploring new frontiers and exploiting what we already know

• How doing hard things gives life deeper meaning

• Why we need uncertainty to grow and how to find the right balance of risk and reward

• The surprising link between exploration, play, and creativity

• How sport serves as the ultimate laboratory for self-discovery

• The difference between passive and active exploration in the age of algorithms

Transformative insights

• Exploration is about learning something new about yourself.

• The effort paradox: we value what’s hard because it’s hard.

• Play and exploration are deeply connected; curiosity is the bridge between them.

• The sweet spot for growth lies between fear and boredom where uncertainty meets possibility.

• Hardship and learning are inseparable; meaning comes from the struggle.

Vulnerable moments

• Rebecca shares how her old Bronco became a symbol of independence, transformation, and letting go.

• Alex opens up about his struggles with anxiety before races and learning to find calm through experience.

• Rebecca reflects on losing her sense of play and how she’s rediscovering joy beyond performance.

• Both reflect on shifting from “the next challenge” to learning how to slow down and savor the journey.

Practical wisdom

• You can’t outsource discovery; real learning comes from active participation, not algorithms.

• Explore doesn’t mean “chase everything new;” it means follow what sparks curiosity.

• To stay engaged, add novelty in small ways: take a new route, learn a new skill, have a new kind of conversation.

• If a goal feels a little scary, you’re probably in the right zone for growth.

• The most meaningful goals are challenging and chosen, not imposed.

Personal growth

• How Rebecca’s athletic evolution mirrors the explore–exploit balance

• Alex’s reflections on writing, family, and why building a treehouse changed how he thinks about learning

• Finding stillness amidst ambition: learning when to slow down without losing momentum

• Why rediscovering play as adults is a powerful act of exploration