Episode Four - Dr William von Hippel
Dr William von Hippel is a renowned psychologist, author and expert on human behaviour. Bill has spent over three decades as a psychology professor in the United States and Australia.
Today, he writes books and conducts research for private companies. Bill has published over 150 academic articles and chapters across a range of psychological topics. His work has been cited over fifteen thousand times in academic literature and widely reported in the media, including The New York Times ‘100 Ideas of the Year’, The Economist, USA Today, Le Monde, Il Mundo, Der Spiegel and The Australian.
Bill is the author of The Social Leap: The New Evolutionary Science of Who We Are, Where We Come From and What Makes Us Happy, a critically acclaimed book that explores how the challenges our early ancestors faced continue to influence our decision-making, relationships and happiness today.
The Social Leap has been translated into a dozen different languages and received the annual Book Prize from the world’s foremost social psychology society. Bill’s second book, ‘The Social Paradox’, was published in February 2025.
Bill has also been a guest on several of the world’s biggest podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience, The Diary of A CEO, London Real and Modern Wisdom with Chris Williamson.
Known for his ability to connect evolutionary theory with everyday life, Bill’s research delves into the cognitive and social mechanisms that influence our relationships, decisions and overall well-being.
His talks are insightful and engaging, offering audiences a fresh perspective on how ancient evolutionary pressures continue to mould our lives today.
When he is not doing all of these things, Bill can be found spending time with family and friends, climbing, golfing, and skiing, and is a keen photographer.