The Ground State

Podcast trailer for The Ground State, a show about enduring ideas and the people behind them.

Show Notes

We live in an "excited state." The world is loud, the news cycle is fast, and the hype is constant. But the most valuable knowledge isn't found in the noise. It’s found in the foundation.
The Ground State is a podcast about enduring ideas and the people behind them. Hosted by JD Elder, each topic is explored through a unique two-part structure:
  • Part 1: The Distillation: A focused, 30 minute review of a masterclass of non-fiction to uncover the fundamental insights. We explore why AI still can't understand meaning, how your brain constructs your emotions from scratch, and why time itself is an illusion. 
  • Part 2: The Conversation:  A deep-dive interview with the original thinkers behind those ideas. We look past the theory to understand the human being—exploring their inspirations, their mental models, and how they navigate the world.  
Our ability to think deeply has never been more important. Join me as we study the foundational truths to help us live effectively in a changing world. 

Subscribe wherever you watch or listen to podcasts. First episodes coming soon. 


What is The Ground State?

Enduring Ideas and the People Behind Them

We live in an excited state. The world is loud. The news cycle is fast, and the hype is constant, but the most valuable knowledge isn't found in the noise, it's found in the foundation. I'm JD Elder, and this is The Ground State where I explore enduring ideas and the people behind them.

This isn't just another interview show. In every episode, we do two things. First, I spend 30 minutes distilling a masterpiece of nonfiction to uncover its fundamental insights. We explore why AI still can't understand meaning, how your brain constructs your emotions from scratch, and why time itself is an illusion. Then in part two, I sit down with the original thinkers behind those ideas from theoretical physicists and complexity scientists to the neuroscientists mapping our internal reality.

We look past the theory to understand the human being, exploring their inspirations, their mental models, and how they navigate the world. The noise isn't stopping, it's compounding. Our ability to think deeply has never been more important. Join me as we study the foundational truths that help us live effectively in a changing world.

I'm JD Elder. This is the ground state enduring ideas and the people behind them follow now so you don't miss the first episodes dropping soon.