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Traveling Opens Your Mind: Here's How

Raised in the small suburb of Schaumburg, Adriana Perez knew there was more to life than a white ...

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Mark Twain said it, your travel advisor said it, even you've told it to yourself—traveling opens your mind. But what exactly does that mean? What does that look like in your day-to-day life abroad? 

Panoramic view over the city of Barcelona seen from Parque GuellPhoto credit to Natalia Sleszynska

Yes, travel CAN broaden the mind, but it's up to the traveler to tune in, pay attention, and simultaneously practice humility and self-reflection. Here's our take on how travel broadens the mind.

What is relativism?

It is a fancy way of saying to keep an open mind and be aware that how you see the world is not how everyone else sees the world. Priorities, morals, values, every possible social aspect of a culture are unique and open to interpretation depending on who is experiencing it.

The opposite of relativism is ethnocentrism. While the word has a negative, racist connotation, it just means being unaware of the other cultures around you and not accepting the differences in how other people may see the world. Sometimes ethnocentrism is intentional, but more often than not is purely ignorance, which can be easily fixed with knowledge. 

How is this different than culture shock?

Culture shock affects some people more than others, but no matter how tolerant or learned someone is, that initial contact with a new culture is always eye opening. It is one thing to read about a culture, how it is different, and to keep an open mind. It is another thing entirely to experience firsthand a conflict of cultural norms. Many assume that the greater the difference, the greater the culture shock. This is not always the case, though, and sometimes having only subtle differences can be just as disarming because they are so subtle that they no longer appear as cultural differences; rather they come off as potential personality traits or character flaws. 

A few examples of how traveling opens your mind

In Barcelona, it is very common for a waiter to be taking your order and if he sees that you are slow in saying what you want, or hesitant and uncertain at the last minute, to walk away from you and begin to take care of another table. This is a subtle difference in cultures that happens frequently, and is very normal, but to an American traveler may come off as rude or impatient. These feelings are ethnocentric, but feel valid because the cultural difference is so subtle that it is not as obviously a cultural difference. It is important to understand and be ready for these subtle differences in culture, because someone may interpret an experience like this negatively, and let it negatively impact the rest of their day and ruin what should have been a nice evening. 

Another example of this is riding on public transportation. In many cultures it is considered rude to stare, but in Barcelona it is not taken quite as offensively. Because of this, many people commuting will be faced with looks or intense stares. Some can interpret this offensively and let it bother them the rest of the day, perhaps cause them to think there is something on their face or they had been doing something wrong, but that is not the case. It is a common occurrence, and should you be stared at, shake it off and do not take it personally. Perhaps join in on the cultural habit and stare at others as well, gauging how they respond to it. 

On top of a mountain in Cape Town, South AfricaPhoto credit to Hillary Federico

It is a lot harder to experience events like this and think, “I am in a new culture, it is different from mine, and they see the world through a different lens than I do” than if the difference was more obvious. 

But just like a photographer packs many lenses for his or her camera, it is just as important for a traveler to pack some cultural lenses, and prepare themselves for seeing the world in a different way than they are used to doing.

Travel broadens the mind if you are open to it

Life and the encounters experienced are all based off of how they are interpreted and perceived. Someone walking down the street that gets pushed can either interpret it as an act of hostility or as an accident. These interpretations are what create experiences, and experiences vary internally from person to person, even if the actions that occur are the same externally. 

Traveling is a unique experience, and it is over before you know it, so it is crucial to take advantage of every moment and make everyday a positive one. Feeling upset or irritated are normal human emotions, and it’s impossible to not feel down every once in awhile, but it is good to minimize feeling these negative sensations when they can be controlled. Including a relativistic view of the world and the cultures within it can help in reducing these negative sensations, using knowledge and an open mind as a shield from potential emotional threats. 

Any experience can be a positive one if you have the right mindset. Whether you are heading to the other end of the world, or to Barcelona, it is important to note the cultural differences and be prepared for what is to come. Everyone always warns you about the big cultural differences, but the subtle cultural differences can be just as important to take note of. Some you can read about and be prepared for, but no matter what there will always be those that catch you by surprise. Remember to pack a relativistic mindset, and every experience abroad should be a learning experience for you, opening your mind in ways that you never imagined were possible.

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How Travel Can Broaden the Mind

Travel has the power to broaden the mind in countless ways, from expanding our cultural understanding and knowledge of the world to helping us to develop new skills and perspectives. Whether it’s exploring new destinations, trying new foods, or simply stepping outside of our comfort zone, travel can have a profound impact on our minds and how we view the world. Here are a few ways in which travel can broaden the mind.

One of the most obvious ways that travel can broaden the mind is by exposing us to new cultures, customs, and ways of life. When we travel to different countries or regions, we have the opportunity to learn about the history, traditions, and values of those places, and to gain a deeper understanding of the diversity of the world. This can help us to develop a more open and accepting attitude, and to see things from a different point of view.

Another way that travel can broaden the mind is by challenging our preconceptions and assumptions. When we encounter unfamiliar situations or people, we are forced to think outside of our usual frame of reference and to adapt to new circumstances. This can help us to be more open-minded and flexible in our thinking, and to develop problem-solving and communication skills.

Travel can also have a positive impact on our personal growth and development. By stepping outside of our daily routine and breaking out of our usual patterns and habits, we can gain a fresh perspective and a renewed appreciation for the world around us. This can help us to develop a growth mindset and to become more resilient and adaptable.

Finally, travel has the power to expand our social connections and to increase our empathy and understanding of others. When we encounter people from different cultures and backgrounds, we have the opportunity to learn about their experiences and to gain a deeper understanding of their perspectives. This can help us to develop more meaningful relationships and to become more compassionate and understanding of others.

In summary, travel has the power to broaden the mind in a variety of ways, including exposing us to new cultures, challenging our preconceptions, promoting personal growth and development, and expanding our social connections and empathy. By embracing the opportunities that travel offers, we can enrich our lives and transform the way we think, feel, and experience the world.

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Why travel broadens the mind

• April 27, 2018

You may have heard and are familiar with the saying that travel broadens the mind, but is it actually true? In fact, traveling not only benefits your mind and helps you to create lasting memories, but it can also fill your soul thanks to all those experiences and lessons that you learn along the way. If you are feeling stuck in a rut, or perhaps that you are no longer as creative as you would like to be, then this could be a sign that you too should book a trip and get ready to use your brain to its full capacity. Do not be afraid to explore new countries and expand your mind.

Stress less

If you currently feel stressed and are permanently cranky, then this could be a sign that you need to take a break or even a shorter vacation to help with your stress levels. Travel is great to allow your mind a break and provide your entire body with the opportunity to unwind and rejuvenate. Plus, if you are exploring new surroundings, then you have no reason at all to feel stressed. As each and every day is different while you are out and about on the road, then you have no reason to get worked up about the usual things that would usually cause you to see red. So, if you are looking for a way to get happy and feel like your mental health has seriously improved, then get your passport ready and open your suitcase – as a trip should be on the top of your priority list.

Cope under pressure

If you usually find it difficult to cope under pressure, or struggle to make decisions, then believe it or not, travel can help you to learn to act and deal with your emotions better. When you are planning a trip, you will need to learn to cope under pressure before you have even left home, from getting planning and preparing for any adventures that you want to experience along the way, to dealing with delayed flights and travel arrangements that don’t follow suit.

If you find it difficult to act on the spur of the moment, then this too is a skill that you can learn while you are away from home. You will no longer feel overwhelmed, in fact, you may even relish having no deadlines or pressures to help you make important decisions. So, if you feel that you are no longer decisive, or have increasingly growing stress levels, then it is high time that you considered travel as the ideal way to become a calmer and more grounded individual.

If you are keen to learn new skills and get out of your comfort zone, then planning and undertaking a trip is the ideal opportunity to do so. From trying out a new sport, to basics such as getting organized and packing light, there is no better way to learn something new if you are living in paradise or against a backdrop of glaciers and mountains. Now you are traveling and have lots of new, free time, you will be able to spend moments honing your current interests, such as writing and photography or even painting, to pursuing different areas that have always interested you – but perhaps you have never had time to explore. Travel is the perfect chance to get fit, grow culturally and make the most of your free time to the maximum so you that you arrive home with a new talent under your belt.

Broaden your thought process

If you are usually very set in your ways and find it hard to break away from your daily routine, then travel could be the ideal way to broaden your mind and shape up how you view the world. From spending time volunteering to interacting with other cultures or indigenous groups, you should approach your new trip as a blank slate against which you can get ready to expand and explore your horizons. Plus, you may even feel inspired and decide that you want to make a change to your home life after a trip too, you may even decide to quit your current job or even relocate to follow your dreams. So if you are keen to see the world in a new light, and feel that you want to broaden your horizons, then a trip is the ideal way to rethink how you currently approach your daily routine and make several changes for the better – that will benefit you in the future.

Have the trip of a lifetime

If you are looking to create memories that will last you a lifetime, then consider planning a trip. If you’re unsure on how to plan your trip, companies such as Aurora Expeditions specialize in unique destinations. While destinations such as the Sahara, Niagara Falls and even Everest are all reachable, if you start planning and saving you’ll be able to see as much of the world as possible. Planning the trip of a lifetime will put all of your aptitudes to the test, from budgeting and route planning to ensuring that everything is ready before you leave home.

If you feel that you are stuck in a rut and want to make a change to your life for the better, but are unsure how, then why not consider planning a trip? Travel broadens the mind, as it teaches you to cope better under pressure and manage your stress levels while being several thousand miles away from home. Not to mention, travel is the ideal opportunity to learn new skills and practice your current interests. So, if you want to feed both your mind and soul while making memories and gaining experiences that will last you a lifetime or more, then consider planning a trip you won’t regret.

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The Mind: Neuroscience and Psychology

Introduction.

What are the origins of our impulses to travel? Many scientists believe that the answer lies in the brain, and the way it is programmed. There are two dimensions to the way the mind influences our propensity to travel. First, we can explore through insights from neuroscience how physiological characteristics of the brain influence movement, and second, we can investigate how human psychology relates to travel.

I feel the need… the need for speed..   Maverick, Top Gun (1986), dir.Tony Scott

Key Aspects

Neuroscience, humans have unique neural mechanisms for movement.

Human babies are believed to follow the same chains of motor command as other animals, until they learn to walk, at which point we develop neural mechanisms that are unique in allowing us to co-ordinate complex movements. Professor Francesco Lacquaniti of the University of Rome believes that the co-ordination and maintenance of upright balance during human walking is more difficult than achieving balance during quadrupedal locomotion, and requires specific and complex neural pulses.

Our brains are wired to adapt to new forms of movement

Over the course of human social evolution, we have adapted rapidly to new forms of movement. As Stephen Gislason has explained ‘Ten thousand years ago… you learned to throw a spear, catch a fish or carry a deer carcass on your back. Today, you learn to throw a football, move a pen across a paper surface, push keys on a keyboard and control movement with a mouse or joystick.’

Our brains have a circadian rhythm and are wired for sunlight

Long distance travel can be disorientating, particularly if we cross multiple time zones in a short timeframe. We are wired to wake and work under sunlight: travel outdoors can therefore release endorphins and improve our feeling of well-being.

Our brains need travel for health

Movement benefits our mental health over the short and long term. But even inactive travel has benefits for the mind. According to Professor M C Diamond, novelty and challenge – such as we encounter when travelling – are two of five key elements needed for healthy brain ageing.

Travel, curiosity and creativity

Some scientists have described humans as ‘infovores’, noting that our curiosity, our need for new information, is related to release of chemicals in the brain that make us feel good. Other scientists have shown that our imagination and creativity can be increased by travel and even by the idea of travel or ‘psychological distance’ (Jia et al, 2009). It has been found that that spatial navigation, imagination and future thinking are all underpinned by a common set of ‘scene construction’ processes within the hippocampus. Perhaps the benefits of travel asserted by many cultures past and present – travel as an experience that broadens the mind – may have some neurological basis, lying within the ‘scene construction’ process of the hippocampus.

• Many journeys are not motivated by need but by desire. Sometimes we travel further than we need and we do not always seek to minimize economic costs.
• Cognitive psychology indicates that travel decision-making is complex, based on personality, perception and information processing.
• The aging process has significant effects on our propensity and psychological attitude towards travel. Older people tend to be less adventurous in their travel choices, preferring to use modes and visit destinations that are familiar.
• The emotions have a strong role to play in our travel choices. The sometimes competing feelings of pleasure, nostalgia, fear and freedom all affect our individual ideals of travel and the limits that we place on our movement. Perceptions of danger and safety, for example, can strongly affect the destinations we choose. One of the most common themes for anxiety dreams is the imagining of journeys gone wrong.

The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are. Samuel Johnson, ‘Letter to Hester Thrale’ (1773)

Practical Implications

• Movement is hard wired into the human brain. Scientists argue that increasingly we should appreciate the benefits of movement as a human need.
• Humans can become psychologically distressed if their movement is restricted; hence confinement is commonly seen as form of a punishment. For mobility-disabled people the need for travel is often particularly important. Until recently most public transport was inaccessible to disabled people, resulting in their isolation and arrest of their full potential.
• The psychological motivations for travel are complex and differ between individuals, reflecting such factors as age, gender, emotions and experience.

Our style of locomotion, together with our cognitive abilities, probably was instrumental for evolving our style of social life. As for the other way around, that is, whether socialization plays a major role in the development of locomotion in human children, I really don’t know what to answer… the issue is wide open. Professor Francesco Lacquaniti, Atlantic Magazine (2011)

Further Reading/Resources

Hannaford, Carla  Smart Moves: Why Learning is not All in Your Head. (2000) Explains how movement can help cognitive development and learning

Harrison, Clearwater, and McKay (eds) From Antarctica to Outer Space: Life in Isolation and Confinement. ( 1991) Investigation into the way isolation and lack of movement affect the mind

Tony Hiss, In Motion: The Experience of Travel (2010) Enjoyable investigation of the psychology of motion and ‘deep travel’

Michael Brien – The Travel Psychologist: http://www.michaelbrein.com/index2.htm Readable popular introduction to the psychology of travel

Key Questions

How adaptable are we to new forms of movement? What role do the emotions play in our travel choices and behavior, and how can our transport systems incorporate these insights?

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Meaning of broaden the/your mind in English

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have your head in the clouds

to not know the facts of a situation

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How Travel Can Improve Our Lives

How Can Travel Broaden Our Perspective on the World?

Travel has the incredible power to broaden our perspective on the world in ways that few other experiences can. Stepping outside of our familiar surroundings and immersing ourselves in new cultures, landscapes, and ways of life opens our minds and expands our understanding of the world and its complexities. In this article, we will explore how travel can broaden our perspective and help us develop a more global outlook.

Experiencing Cultural Diversity One of the most significant ways travel broadens our perspective is by exposing us to diverse cultures. Through firsthand experiences, we encounter different customs, traditions, languages, and belief systems. We learn to appreciate and respect the unique qualities of each culture, breaking down stereotypes and preconceived notions. This exposure fosters empathy, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the richness of human diversity.

Challenging Stereotypes and Biases Traveling allows us to challenge the stereotypes and biases we may hold. By interacting with people from different backgrounds, we realize that our assumptions and generalizations are often inaccurate. We come face-to-face with the reality that there is much more to a culture, a country, or a group of people than what we may have previously believed. This process of unlearning and reevaluating our preconceptions helps us become more open-minded and compassionate individuals.

Gaining Historical and Geographical Knowledge Exploring new destinations exposes us to the historical and geographical aspects of the world. We visit ancient ruins, historical landmarks, and museums that provide valuable insights into different civilizations, events, and historical contexts. Learning about the histories and struggles of various regions deepens our understanding of the world’s complexity and helps us appreciate the interconnectedness of past and present.

Witnessing Social and Economic Inequalities Traveling allows us to witness social and economic inequalities firsthand. We may encounter poverty, unequal access to education, healthcare, and basic necessities. These experiences provide a stark reminder of the disparities that exist in the world. It compels us to reflect on our own privilege and motivates us to advocate for positive change. Through this awareness, we develop a greater sense of social responsibility and become more engaged global citizens.

Appreciating Natural Beauty and Environmental Concerns Traveling exposes us to the incredible natural beauty of our planet. From majestic mountains and serene beaches to lush rainforests and vibrant coral reefs, these experiences instill in us a sense of awe and reverence for the Earth’s natural wonders. Witnessing the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation in different regions also deepens our understanding of the urgent need for environmental conservation and sustainability.

Learning from Different Perspectives Engaging in conversations with locals and fellow travelers provides valuable opportunities to learn from different perspectives. We gain insights into local issues, cultural norms, and societal challenges. These exchanges broaden our understanding of complex global issues such as politics, social justice, and human rights. By actively listening and engaging in meaningful dialogue, we expand our worldview and become more informed global citizens.

Developing Adaptability and Flexibility Traveling often requires us to adapt to new environments, navigate unfamiliar transportation systems, and overcome unexpected challenges. These experiences cultivate adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving skills. We learn to embrace uncertainty and become more flexible in our thinking and approach to life. This adaptability extends beyond travel and allows us to navigate various situations with an open mind and a positive attitude.

Fostering a Sense of Connection and Unity Traveling connects us with people from different cultures and backgrounds, fostering a sense of connection and unity. We realize that despite our differences, there are common threads that bind us together as human beings. We discover shared values, aspirations, and emotions. This sense of connection helps break down barriers and promotes a more inclusive and compassionate worldview.

Encouraging Personal Growth and Self-Reflection Traveling provides ample opportunities for personal growth and self-reflection. Stepping outside of our comfort zones and encountering new experiences pushes us to confront our fears, embrace change, and discover our true capabilities. We gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. Traveling challenges us to question our beliefs, values, and priorities, leading to personal transformation and growth.

Inspiring a Lifelong Love for Exploration and Discovery Perhaps one of the most enduring ways travel broadens our perspective is by instilling in us a lifelong love for exploration and discovery. Once we experience the transformative power of travel, we develop a thirst for knowledge and a curiosity about the world. This passion for exploration extends beyond the boundaries of travel and influences our everyday lives. We become lifelong learners, constantly seeking new experiences and opportunities for growth.

Travel is a catalyst for broadening our perspective on the world. By exposing us to diverse cultures, challenging stereotypes, and providing opportunities for learning, reflection, and personal growth, travel helps us develop a more global outlook. It fosters empathy, understanding, and a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of our world. So, let us embark on our journeys with open hearts and open minds, ready to embrace the transformative power of travel and the profound impact it has on our perspective of the world.

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7 reasons why travel boost our sense of adventure and curiosity, what are the psychological benefits of traveling, what role does travel play in strengthening family bonds.

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Travel broadens the mind, but can it alter the brain?

Studies suggest that taking a gap year or studying abroad can positively influence your brain to make you more outgoing and open to new ideas

T here are lots of opportunities for students to travel: be it to postpone your degree and travel the world after taking your A-levels; to take a placement abroad; or to spend your summer months volunteering. Reports show that over 20,000 UK students spend time abroad for a period of over three months each year .

It’s hardly suprising so many students decide to spend time away from the UK: the benefits of travelling are well documented. You can make new friends, broaden your outlook and gain stories to tell. But that’s not all: you may also improve your brainpower and become more outgoing.

Blue-sky thinking

According to a study by Adam Galinsky , a professor at Columbia Business School, those who have lived abroad are more creative. His research found that the more countries people had lived in, the more creative their work tended to be. However Galinsky says that just being a tourist isn’t enough to see any benefit. “Someone who lives abroad and doesn’t engage with the local culture will likely get less of a creative boost than someone who travels abroad and really engages in the local environment,” he says.

Gain confidence and independence

Travelling and living abroad can also affect the way we interact with people. Research by Dr Julia Zimmermann and Dr Franz Neyer compared the personality development of a large sample of German university students who had studied abroad for at least one semester with a non-travelling group.

The results showed that those who studied abroad were generally higher in extraversion than those who chose not to travel during their studies: the travellers were likely to enjoy being around other people more than being alone. When they returned home after travelling, the participants also tended to show an increase in openness to new experiences, agreeableness and emotional stability.

Tom Champion, 26, a PhD student from the University of Sheffield who is studying in Singapore for 18 months, says he has become more accepting and compassionate since living abroad. “Seeing the world through a foreigner’s eyes has led me to realise my previously invisible cultural habits and hone my sense of empathy and my ability to understand others,” he says.

Moving abroad also allows young adults to gain a new sense of responsibility and independence, and to manage their own finances. Nikitha Aithal moved to the UK from India when she was 10 years old, and later worked in Spain for a year as part of her undergraduate language degree at the University of Leeds. She says: “Living and working in Spain made me appreciate the struggle my parents went through when moving to the UK – simple things such as setting up a bank account or paying the water bills.”

Sharpening your mind is a no-brainer

The new and unusual situations we encounter while travelling – whether trying to figure out how to navigate the local metro system, or just to order a meal in an unfamiliar language – help to keep our mind sharp, according to a study commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association.

It found that challenging new experiences can boost cognitive health, as when your brain is exposed to an environment that is novel and complex, it reacts by forming new connections as it tries to categorise the new and unusual stimuli. This grows the brain and keeps it active in a similar way as taking up a new hobby or learning a language.

So if you’re in the fortunate position of being able to chose whether or not to travel, why not take the plunge and explore the world – your brain will thank you for it.

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How Traveling Can Broaden Your Horizons

If you’ve never traveled then the world out there can seem incredibly intimidating. You hear these stories about people getting kidnapped, crime waves hitting foreign regions and natural disasters to boot and think ‘not for me, thanks’. And really, that’s an understandable response. All the same, if that’s how you’re looking at this, then boy are you missing out!

The truth is, it’s not half as dangerous out there as you might think it is. The main reason why there is such a big difference between how it is and how you perceive it as being is down to the modern news cycle. There are a bunch of channels competing for viewing numbers 24 hours a day. And disaster attracts more viewers than happy stories do. That’s just the way it is.

A much better way to know where to go is to look at how countries rank . Doing so will show you that the UK is at 74 and the US is at 84 th place, with there being a host of other countries which are far safer.

Even better, if you do go you’ll find that you will learn invaluable skills which will help you throughout your life – including helping you manage dangerous and difficult situations. Here are some of the most noteworthy advantages.

Travel Boosts Your Emotional Intelligence

You’ve probably heard of IQ. Just as important for our success, however, is your EQ or emotional intelligence quotient . That defines how well you understand your own emotions and those of others. And that’s a big deal, as your emotions decide how you’ll react, while knowing the emotions of others will make it easier to react appropriately to them.

The reason that travel is such a great tool for growing your emotional intelligence is because it lets you realize why people feel the way they do. You see, people everywhere are driven by the same forces and drives. Sure, these things might have different names, wear different clothes and speak different languages, but deep down they are still the same.

The more you travel, the more obvious this becomes and the better you become at understanding where somebody is coming from – whether you speak their language or not. This, in term, makes you better at responding appropriately to what these people are doing. You know what people are really after, how they mean to get there and whether that will help or harm you.

Travel Will Make You More Creative

There’s no getting around it. Travel sparks creativity. This is mainly down to the way that travel makes you see things in a different light and from different angels. Why? Because culture is a box in which you reside. Even worse, when you don’t travel you don’t even realize the dimensions of that box and how it funnels your thinking. You end up thinking are black and white when in fact there’s a whole range of other colors they can be.

Travel breaks you out of that box. It allows you to realize how people think different, act different and have different values. This, in turn, allows you to understand the world’s many different colors that much better.

Even better, learn some different languages while you’re there. The shopping list of mental benefits that doing so has is just tremendous. As an extra bonus, a whole lot of employment options open up when you can translate to multiple languages.  

It Makes You More Open Minded

In fact, travel affects a lot of the big five personality traits in a positive way. It makes you more open-minded, less neurotic and even boosts how agreeable you are. These are often incredibly useful traits, whether you’re trying to start a business or just get along with your friends and family.

What is just as true is that the people you meet on the road are also stronger in these attributes. And so, you’ll often in that even if they’re from the same area as you are, they’re more open minded and friendlier than the people you meet at home. This is because travelers self-select. Those who like it are more easy going, while those who don’t often aren’t.

It Makes You Understand What You Have

And finally there’s how it changed how you view home. This is not to be underestimated. You might think that you fully understand what you’ve got. The thing is, you probably don’t. Most us don’t appreciate what we’ve got until it’s gone. The great thing about traveling is that you can get something to go away for a little while and then return to it. That means you get the best of both worlds. You get to both experience the world without these things and then return to them when you realize how much you miss them.

From my own experience I can tell you that when you get them back – be it the love of a sibling or the enjoyment of a hot shower – these things are better than they’ve been in forever. And that, in fact, make it worth the time you spent away.

Author Bio:

Margaret Reid is a self-driven specialist who is currently working in the company  The Word Point  and trying to improve herself in the blogging career at  Writersquad.co.uk . She is always seeking to discover new ways for personal and professional growth and is convinced that it’s always important to broaden horizons. That`s why Margaret develops and improves her skills throughout the writing process to help and inspire people.

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TRAVEL broadens the mind  

Travel can give the traveller valuable fresh mental perspectives. Mark Twain’s general observations on the benefits of travel may have ...

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LanGeek Dictionary

used to suggest that exposure to diverse people, ideas, and experiences can enhance a person's knowledge, empathy, and overall worldview

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Untravelled Paths

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Why Does Travel Broaden the Mind?

We’re fortunate enough to live during a time when travel is relatively easy and inexpensive. Compared to 40 years ago, when flights were costly, we have come a long way. Budget airlines even offer some flights for less than £10, madness! So, with these low prices and improved infrastructure in some of the lesser ‘touristy’ countries in Europe and across the world, it seems there really is no better time than now to be welcomed aboard. But why? Why should we travel at all? Well, thanks to Mark Twain’s genius, we know that it broadens the mind. In this article, we explore exactly why we need to open our eyes and how important it is to see the bigger picture.

Demolish Our Prejudices

Unfortunately, as people, we have something of a habit of assuming that we’re always right, even when we have little or no evidence on which to base our assumptions. Whether this is politics, religion or travel, we think that we know best and therefore need no further knowledge or experience. However, as many travellers and worldly people will attest, this is embarrassingly not correct.

We let the drip feeding of bad news and other people’s prejudices change the way we perceive other countries, and even worse, the people from those countries. When thinking of the Balkans, images can be conjured of cold and bleak settings, with equally cold people, but this is hugely incorrect. Having extensively travelled across Europe, we can say with confidence that these countries and their people are warm, welcoming and beautiful (side note: these three countries share the Adriatic Sea with Italy’s east coast meaning they have beautiful summers and autumns).

It’s hard to not have any prejudices, especially when we are bombarded by bad news on a 24/7 schedule. However, we implore you to act against these; by visiting these countries, having an open mind for their culture and cuisine and asking questions. Being genuinely curious and respectful will guarantee to open doors for you and lead to experiences you would never have had before!

Learn New Ways of Living

As humans, we like to be different, to stand out from the crowd and be noticed. Unfortunately, sometimes these differences can be persecuted, when instead they should be celebrated. One of the greatest privileges of being able to travel so freely is the chance to experience other people’s ways of living.

Having ventured across the world in search of tours, we have given thousands of people the opportunity to enjoy other ways of living. Whether this is cooking a new recipe, learning a new skill or taking part in a new tradition, the chance to step into someone’s life and experience life from their point of view is a truly unique feeling and one that can really only be obtained through travelling.

Bring New Cuisines into Your Home

Ever been on holiday and tried a new recipe that’s blown your mind? Maybe a dish that combines your favourite foods in a different way, or a recipe that uses an ingredient you’ve never even heard of? If the answer is yes, then that is a great reason for travelling.

Trying new food abroad and then remaking that food for your friends and family back home is a great feeling; it may also inspire them to head out on a new adventure! Challenge yourself to try something new next time you head abroad, maybe even something you can’t pronounce!

Build Human Connections

Although countries have differences, with climates, landscapes and infrastructure differing from place to place, the thing that really defines a country is the people. Although there are minuscule differences that set us apart, it’s more important to focus on the human commonalities that define us. We all like to smile, laugh and be happy, so why not use this knowledge to make a new friend and share a real connection?

Before heading to a new country, try learning some of the language; even a few simple phrases will go a long way. People often appreciate when travellers make the effort and this can set you apart as an inquisitive traveller as opposed to a naive tourist. If people can see that you have made an effort, the thought will more than likely be reciprocated and you can get an insight into the real life of someone that lives in this new country.

Experiences are More Important than Things

Our experiences define us as people, they are the building blocks by which we are made. Often, we care more about the material things we possess than the experiences, which can be a sign of shallowness. No one wants to hear you talk about your expensive watch and everyone wants to hear about the time you visited a Bear Sanctuary in Romania . So, next time you head to the shops to buy something luxurious, stop and think, to consider the amazing adventures you could be having instead. Here at Untravelled Paths, we have some incredible and diverse adventures on offer, why not browse through our tours ?

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Jupiter in Gemini Will Inspire You To Broaden Your Mind

For the first time since 2013, jupiter is entering gemini. discover how this will affect your growth for the next year..

When the planet of good fortune, Jupiter, enters the curious and playful sign of Gemini, our ways of communicating receive an optimistic upgrade. Wherever Jupiter is in the sky, it shows us how our tendency to grow will express itself, and in the sign of “The Twins,” there’s a special emphasis on our collective growth in knowledge, social connection, and ability to adapt. As the largest body in the solar system, aside from the Sun, Jupiter is associated with all things expansive: consciousness, faith, wealth, abundance, adventure, storytelling, etc. Jupiter is like a genie, asking us to make a wish that could either vastly improve our lives or add so much excess that we become lost in a sea of endless choices. Practically speaking, this planet has the power to exceptionally elevate our lives.

Jupiter enters Gemini on May 25th and will stay there until June 9th, 2025. Traditionally, Jupiter is considered to be “in detriment” in Gemini, meaning it has a harder time fully expressing its capacity for growth due to the breadth of information available. While Jupiter loves philosophical sojourns, epic adventures, and deepening soulful relationships, Gemini prefers to be a jack-and-jill-of-all-trades, skipping across the surface to take in sweeping amounts of sometimes-useful information. While this presents the challenge to choose what’s most important to us, it doesn’t have to feel daunting. By staying true to Gemini’s fun-loving spirit while also remaining mindful of our attention spans, we can be led to life-changing lessons and gifts that last for years to come.

What Was Happening The Last Time Jupiter Was In Gemini ?

Curious to know how this transit played out before? The last time Jupiter was in Gemini was between 2012 - 2013, when Vine launched and offered users the ability to create and share short, looping videos. TikTok’s drag mother, if you will. We also saw the resurgence of group acts in music, such as One Direction, Fifth Harmony, and 5SOS–a testament to Gemini’s emphasis on collaboration. Before then, between 2000 - 2001, Jupiter in Gemini brought us modern reality television and the popularization of wireless cell phones (shoutout to everyone’s favorite brick, the Nokia 3310). As we rapidly launch into an era defined by AI and other technological advancements, one thing is certain under this transit: communication will multiply and magnify at a dizzying rate. Just as we saw a few months ago, we have AI that can translate any language for the end-listener in real-time , effectively building a lingual bridge between every human on earth. Over this upcoming year, while Jupiter expands our Gemini proclivities of inventiveness, imagination, and expression, many of us are likely to focus on figuring out how to work smarter, not harder, thanks to advancements in technology and communication.

How to Work With Jupiter In Gemini

If you want to make the most of this growth-oriented transit by working with what Jupiter has to offer in Gemini, then there are three important things to consider:

• More Isn’t Always Better. Most of the time, having more options enables us to achieve better outcomes. However, since Jupiter tends to take things to their extreme, there is the possibility that having too many options will lead to stretching yourself thin. Find balance between variety and commitment by following the advice of Coco Chanel, “ Before leaving the house, you should look in the mirror and remove one item. ” An editor’s eye will enable effective growth under this transit.
• Embrace a beginner’s mindset. Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac, and as such it’s associated with the stage of life when we’re developing our language and social skills. During this transit, many of us will be exploring new passions, hobbies, and work paths, meaning there will be an inevitable period of “being bad” at something. Practice patience, give yourself grace by embracing a beginner’s mindset, and approach novel situations with an open mind.
• Listen as much as you speak. As a Mercurial sign, Gemini stimulates our monkey mind, which for many of us, can increase our anxiety, confusion, and overwhelm. You can combat this by staying in touch with your calm center. In the immortal words of the Greek philosopher Epictetus, “ We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. ”

Below, you can find where your specific growth trajectory will be focused for each rising sign.

Jupiter in Gemini Horoscopes By Rising Sign

After spending the past year nurturing your self-worth and natural talents to make more money, it’s time to shift your focus onto your communication habits. As Jupiter enters Gemini, your third house of learning and locality, your locus of growth is centered on learning and honing new skills. Whether it’s through reading, writing, or scrolling TikTok, there are many ways to feed the mind. New, innovative ideas are likely to come a mile a minute in fast-paced Gemini, so it’ll be important for you to find an outlet for expressing yourself and all of the downloads coming in.

After entering a new personal era following Jupiter’s journey through your identity sector, you’re primed to enter a season of abundant money-making by flexing your natural gifts. As Jupiter enters Gemini, your second house of personal resources, there are endless possibilities for stepping further into your personal power. If you’ve been considering an entrepreneurial venture, then this is the time to take the leap. If you’ve felt like a scarcity mindset has been holding you back from living your best life, then repeat the mantra, “I will always have enough.” Gratitude is the key that unlocks most doors.

For the past year, you’ve been improving your relationship with your psyche, cultivating a sense of inner strength that will be your foundation for the years to come. As Jupiter enters your first house of self, you’re primed to re-enter the world as a new-and-improved version of yourself that you should be proud of. This marks an incredibly auspicious time for you because the more you put yourself “out there.” the more luck will be on your side. This extra boost only happens once every twelve years, so embrace a larger-than-life presence and commit to your curiosity. What’s most important is that you don’t let what others may say shrink you or the possibilities you see for yourself.

After spending the past year expanding your networks and dreaming bigger than ever before, it’s time to turn your attention inward and engage with your consciousness. While Jupiter travels through your twelfth house of inner experience, there will be a growing emphasis on how you tend to your mental and spiritual well-being. In the sign of dualities, Jupiter endeavors to broaden the mind while also helping you realize your hidden strengths. Yes, you’re likely to spend more time in introspection, but that doesn’t mean that the world stops turning around you. If there have been any stuck mindsets or inherited belief systems that have held you back from living your most authentic life, then this next year promises opportunities to clean them out and bring you closer to embodying your true self.

Jupiter has just spent the past year enriching your career sector, offering all kinds of opportunities to level up your public image and bring in more recognition for your contributions. As Jupiter enters Gemini–your eleventh house of community, hopes, and dreams–your growth mindset shifts to become part of something even bigger. You’ll be able to boost your good fortune by engaging with groups of like-minded people. The more diverse they are the better, because with fresh perspective comes fresh inspiration. You are the sum of your parts, so who you surround yourself with and how you choose to socialize this year will influence your ambitions for years to come. Just remember that it’s not always about quantity over quality. Oftentimes, a select few can offer more impactful connections than a widespread many. Collaboration is key.

Following an exciting year of foreign adventure, philosophical growth, and countless horizon-expanding experiences, Jupiter is now ready to enter your tenth house of career and reputation. Undoubtedly, you’re a natural at juggling multiple jobs at once, but during this upcoming year, it’ll be critical to make sure you’re not embarking on so many new ideas that you don’t give yourself the chance to deepen at least one of your vocational paths. A hunger for recognition and moments to showcase your leadership is expected. Praise is coming for your communication skills, so be sure to seek opportunities to make your voice heard.

Let the adventure begin! Jupiter has a special affinity for the sector of your chart it’s about to enter: the ninth house of new perspectives, belief systems, and higher education. In Gemini, Jupiter encourages us to cultivate our curiosities, and while it transits through this sign for this upcoming year, there’s an emphasis on seeking out unique perspectives in order to promote fresh possibilities. Stay alert and open to gurus, teachers, and guides. Travel will become more frequent, offering opportunities to attend the school of life. Others will also become eager to learn from you just as your own hunger for knowledge intensifies.

Jupiter has been traveling through your partnership zone for the last year, pairing you up with friends, colleagues, and loved ones to bolster your sense of security. As Jupiter enters your Gemini eighth house of shared resources, your growth becomes focused on deepening your closest bonds through your own transformational mental and spiritual journey. Doors will open that encourage you to dive deeper into soulful matters, where you’ll explore the powers of intimacy, vulnerability, and the machinations of the mind. You’re no stranger to shedding your skin, so by the end of this transit, don’t be surprised if you walk away with a new self entirely!

Sagittarius

When your cosmic ruler changes signs, especially into your Gemini seventh house of “the other”, you can expect big changes to occur across all major areas of life, but especially in your relationship matters. Whether it’s deepening your commitment to an existing partnership or getting lucky with meeting ideal lovers, romance is sure to be a focus. On the other hand, platonic, professional, and even familial relationships can be just as expansive. While luck will always be on your side more than most as a natural “Jupiterian,” you’ll attract even more abundance when you prioritize providing and receiving reliable, consistent, and committed support. The bonds you forge during this transit have the potential to infuse a lasting life-long relationship, so choose wisely!

After spending a year in your sector of pleasure and creativity, Jupiter is now moving into your Gemini sixth house of habits, health, work, and routine, offering opportunities to navigate your daily life with more playfulness, versatility, and sustainability. Any previous physical and mental efforts to create healthy work-life boundaries will bear significant positive results and rewards. Gemini is known to offer collaborators, meaning someone at work could help optimize your productivity. It’s likely you’ll be juggling a variety of tasks at once, but you’re no stranger to the grind. If anything, your ability to sustain long-term work in service of greater (albeit delayed) gratification will motivate you to explore and integrate new ways of productivity into your everyday life.

As Jupiter graces your fifth house of joy, romance, and creative expression, you’re in store for a pleasure-centric year ahead. Aquarius risings are known to take themselves and their responsibilities to heart, but this period offers you a lesson in how to relax and enjoy life more, especially through artistry, childlike fun, and at least a few love affairs. In short, it’s time for your hot girl summer. If you’re willing to get out of your comfort zone and live life for the present moment rather than the yet-to-come future, there’s no telling the kinds of passionate opportunities that will make themself available to you.

Your hosting era is set to begin as Jupiter enters Gemini, your fourth house of home, family, and belonging. Over the next year, opportunities to share your space in order to cultivate a gratifying sense of community are on the horizon. There’s a sense of optimism as you make more space for growing relationships, reconnecting to ancestral traditions, and healing your inner child. In order to attract the luck that Jupiter loves to give, it’s important to avoid embodying a false or detached sense of self for the sake of fitting in. The more you let your authentic self shine while embodying your full spectrum of emotions, the good and the bad, the more you remain grounded in a loving family dynamic.

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The Interview

The netflix chief’s plan to get you to binge even more.

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By Lulu Garcia-Navarro

• May 25, 2024

If you’re anything like me, you probably spent some large portion of this week sitting on your couch watching Netflix. I love rom-coms — my latest obsession is a Turkish series called “Thank You, Next” — and the more rom-coms I watch, the more of them Netflix feeds to me. Maybe you’ve had this experience with sports documentaries, or thrillers, or biopics. It’s something we’ve all gotten used to. Which means, as I’m pressing play on whatever comes up next, I’m not really thinking about the people who are deciding what I’m consuming. And that’s why I wanted to talk to Ted Sarandos.

Listen to the Conversation With Ted Sarandos

Sarandos, 59, has been at Netflix for 24 years, nearly as long as Reed Hastings, one of the company’s two founders. He is now co-chief executive and is in charge of Netflix’s creative output. He oversaw the company’s early expansion into streaming and pioneered the binge watch. Under him, Netflix developed that powerful algorithm that knows just what to serve up next. He was also the guy who greenlit Netflix’s early original productions, like “House of Cards,” making Netflix into a studio, not just a platform. And he has led the company as it has ventured into reality TV, prestige film and live entertainment — including a just-announced deal to broadcast some of the N.F.L.’s Christmas Day games.

Sarandos seems to be very good at giving us more of what we want. And after a crackdown on password-sharing (which Sarandos tells me is still in progress), his company has come out on top in the crowded streaming wars (if you set aside YouTube, which Sarandos does not). That doesn’t mean everything is rosy all the time now — the company has had several rounds of layoffs in the past few years — but Sarandos, along with his co-chief executive, Greg Peters, has put Netflix in a dominant position. Has this been good for us? Or for culture? When we talked recently, with viral clips of Netflix’s Tom Brady roast flying all over the internet, I asked him.

You have an unusual background for a Hollywood or tech C.E.O. I would agree with that assessment. My parents had four kids in their 20s. So these were kids raising kids really. Our house was always chaos. And my only escape from that chaos was that little box. I watched a lot of television. Most of my upbringing, we never had all the utilities on at the same time. So the gas would be cut off, and then the phone would be cut off, and the electric, but never all simultaneously. But for some reason we had a VCR. And total happenstance, the second video store in the state of Arizona opened up two blocks from my house.

Do you remember the first thing you ever checked out in the video store? Yeah, it was a filmed version of the Willie Nelson Fourth of July picnic. [Laughs.]

And you actually ended up working at a video store. At that very video store! Arizona Video Cassettes West.

The way I’ve heard you tell it, there were like 900 titles in the catalog, and you saw all of them. And people would come in and ask you for recommendations. People would walk in and roam around the store aimlessly, but they kind of enjoyed that experience. It was pretty novel at the beginning. But then you’re really trying to find something in that sea of boxes. And eventually I realized I had this interesting capacity for remembering these movies. And when people would come in, I would remember: Oh, hey, remember, you liked that movie? You’re going to love this one . And I got good enough at it that even when the store was very busy and there was a long line, they would wait for me because they wanted me to suggest something to them.

So cut to now. We have Peacock and Hulu and Apple+ and Max, and they’ve all spent a fortune trying to catch up with Netflix. And the consensus seems to be that you, Netflix, won the streaming war. I try not to take those stories too seriously, any more than we did a couple of years ago when they said we were dead. Early on, we were discounted because I think the studios thought these tech guys are never going to figure out programming. They’re never going to figure out the creative part of the business. We largely have proved them wrong. And I think it would be crazy for us to think, Well, these entertainment companies are never going to figure out the tech.

I want to get your sense of what is happening in Hollywood right now, because the box office is down. Studios are laying off people. One of the most storied studios is on the block: Paramount. What is your feeling about what’s going on, if it isn’t Netflix’s victory? Because you have so fundamentally shifted what happens in Hollywood, and that’s had some knock-on effects. In periods of radical change in any industry, the legacy players generally have a challenge, which is they’re trying to protect their legacy businesses. We entered into a business in transition when we started mailing DVDs 25 years ago. We knew that physical media was not going to be the future. When I met Reed Hastings in 1999, he described the world we live in right now, which is almost all entertainment is going to come into the home on the internet. And he told me that at a time when literally no entertainment was coming into the home on the internet. And it really helped us navigate this transition from physical to digital, because we just didn’t spend any time trying to protect our DVD business. As it started to wane, we started to invest more and more in streaming. And we did that because we knew that that’s where the puck was going. At one point, our DVD business was driving all the profit of the business and a lot of the revenue, and we made a conscious decision to stop inviting the DVD employees to the company meeting. We were that rigid about where this thing was heading.

That’s harsh! It does sound harsh, but it got the whole company in the mind-set that we shouldn’t keep investing in the old business. It’s going to prevent us from investing in the new business, and the new business is going to get us to the next place.

In the job you have now, you are probably best positioned to shape what kind of culture people are consuming. What have you noticed about shifting tastes in America? We’re entering into a new era now where content and great stories can come from almost anywhere in the world. And they can very conveniently sit on the shelf — I’m doing air quotes right now — next to your favorite show, and you will discover an incredible story from Korea or an incredible story from Italy or incredible story from Spain that you would never otherwise have access to and maybe no awareness of before. The creator of “Squid Game,” he pitched that show as a movie for 10 years. He had almost completely given up on it, and our team in Korea had the foresight to advise him that this is a great story, but it’s a much bigger world. Have you ever thought about going out and trying to break down that world a little more and giving us a little more exposition? And he went off and wrote those scripts and made “Squid Game," and it became the most-watched show in the history of Netflix around the world, including in the United States.

My husband likes horror, and his Netflix account looks very different from mine. In fact, we keep it very, very separate. His is “Lulu Don’t Touch,” and mine is “Lulu Rom-Com.” He doesn’t want me to muddy his horror algorithm. And that thing that used to be the connection where someone might tell you about something, now it’s managed in a way that can allow for these serendipitous things like the surprise of “Squid Game,” but often gives you more of what you already want. Has streaming been good for culture? Oh, I think it’s been great for culture. Not only great for culture; in a strange way, I think it’s been great to make the world a safer place. I think you’re exposed to cultures around the world in a way that makes you more understanding and empathetic. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the movie “A Separation” from Iran? It’s a story of a couple getting divorced in Iran, and you realize when you watch it how much we have in common with each other.

Doesn’t it atomize you too? That I’m having my own unique experience myself, my choices, and that I get fed more of the same. And this idea of communal culture gets sort of pushed away? When you see something like “Baby Reindeer” — there was a time when something like “Baby Reindeer” would not even be seen in the United States. And if it did, it’d be on PBS once. It’s very, very big in the U.K., and in that way that Netflix does, it gets picked up in the algorithm and starts getting more and more presented, because when something gets that big in one country, it’s likely there’s a lot of audience for it outside of that country. And it’s been an enormous hit around the world.

Are international audiences pushing American audiences to broaden their horizons? That’s an interesting feedback loop. Yeah. What it’s pushing is: You don’t have to adapt your storytelling to America to work. If your movie, if your film works, if your TV series works in the home country, it’s got to be very authentic. And I think what international audiences pick up on is that authenticity. When you try to engineer something to travel, it really appeals to no one. I can’t think of anything that we’ve done that has been engineered to travel that actually did travel.

I’m thinking of Hollywood studios trying to make global hits. Something that will play in China, that will play in the United States, that will be popular in Argentina — I think that globalization of American film has disconnected American film from audiences. The love affair with film is lessened because of it.

There’s been a lot of discussion about what’s been dubbed “folding-your-laundry shows” — something that isn’t difficult to watch. It’s light, it’s fun, it’s not expensive to make. Netflix has a lot of examples: “Selling Sunset,” “Ginny & Georgia,” “Alone,” the survivalist show. Do you feel as if you’ve cornered the market on that? And is that a title that you want to own? Look, if there’s one quote that I could take back, it would have been in 2012, I said we’re going to become HBO before HBO could become us. At that time, HBO was the gold standard of original programming. What I should have said back then is, We want to be HBO and CBS and BBC and all those different networks around the world that entertain people, and not narrow it to just HBO. Prestige elite programming plays a very important role in culture. But it’s very small. It’s a boutique business. And we’re currently programming for about 650 million people around the world. We have to have a very broad variety of things that people watch and love. So we take a consumer view of quality. The people who love “Ginny & Georgia” will tell you, “Ginny & Georgia” is great.

I want to ask you about the movie side of things. You have a new head of film, Dan Lin, and that suggests to me that you’re tweaking strategy. Whenever somebody new comes in, they have an idea of what they want to do differently, and they have a different charge. A criticism of Netflix from some corners is that you make too much stuff that isn’t as good as it could be, specifically in movies. Are you trying to make better movies now? I don’t agree with the premise that quantity and quality are somehow in conflict with each other. We’ve had eight best-picture nominees in the last five years on Netflix [turns out, they’ve had nine]. Our movie programming has been great, but it’s just not all for you. And it’s not meant to be all for you.

I know, but you also have an “ Irish Wish ,” for example. And I was looking at your summer slate. The movies are all pretty midtier. “Irish Wish” is great! You love a rom-com — you didn’t like it?

I’m giving you a face. I saw the face! My point is, I am going by the numbers, how many people watch it. I mean, people watch the whole thing. People generally turn off things they don’t like in this on demand world.

Us rom-com lovers are very committed to watching things to the bitter end. [Laughs.] But again, I think that “Irish Wish” is at the high end of the Hallmark scale. And not at the kind of midtier of the Fox Searchlight scale. [Fox Searchlight is now just Searchlight.]

It wasn’t always certain that Netflix was going to be where it is now. In 2022, your stock plunged 70 percent after you lost subscribers for the first time since 2011. As a leader, what do you do when something like that happens? On any given day, we can lose or gain 200,000 subscribers, which is what that was, which was the first time we went negative. We went negative by 200,000 subscribers. This is probably the benefit of being around for a long time. We had times that were much tougher than that in terms of where we were heading with the business in the earliest days, before we were a public company even.

Well, what you did was, you threw out some of the company’s longstanding core principles, chief among them, not having advertisers. You introduced an ad-supported subscription tier. Did that feel like a real turn, betraying the identity of the company? It really wasn’t that we were “core principles” against advertising, it’s just that no advertising was our counterposition to television, the way that no late fees was our counterposition to video stores in our DVD days. What don’t people like about TV? Watching the ads and waiting a week for the next episode. We realized though, in this world of unlimited choice, what we didn’t do is give a choice to people who didn’t mind advertising at all and wanted a lower price. So for us, we thought that it was actually market-expanding to give more choice to folks if they wanted a lower price and they didn’t mind ads.

I want to ask you a little bit more about you as a leader. In 2020, you supported Black Lives Matter. During the invasion of Ukraine, you pulled Netflix out of Russia. It seems, though, that corporate activism is on its way out. I’m wondering how you’re thinking about that? When you think about diversity, diversity should be all things, including diversity of thought, which makes political activism of companies very difficult, because people have different opinions and different ideas and different thoughts, and you’re representing a lot of different constituencies. So I think companies should be very, very careful about how they insert themselves into these discussions. Sometimes when it’s just a matter of pretty simple, pure black and white, right and wrong — I think pulling out of Russia was a much clearer decision above anything we’ve ever done. It’s impossible to do business in Russia without being in business with that government. So for me, that was kind of a no-brainer decision. I didn’t view it as political. I viewed it as quite impractical to do anything but.

You’ve seen other companies in Hollywood — Disney, among others — and we’re seeing Google now, crack down on activism within their company. You say it’s a difficult balancing act. As a company that tries to be all things to all people, how do you navigate that? People have very different sensibilities about the world. I think that it’s one of those things where it’s very hard to say that our view would represent the views of all of our members and all of our employees. I think that would be a very high bar to clear, but that is the bar I would like it to clear. And by the way, I don’t know why that happened over the last couple of years where people looked to corporate leaders to do those things. They didn’t used to.

Do you see Netflix now as middle-aged? Middle-aged might be too old.

Sorry about that. Speaking for myself here. If I’m going to live to 120, I’m middle-aged. But I think the business is maturing, of course. And I think it’s taking on different characteristics.

So who is your competitor now? We compete for screen time. Social media, including YouTube, other streaming apps, gaming.

YouTube is actually bigger than you. It’s mostly free. Free is superpopular.

Free is superpopular. And you’re not free. So how do you compete with free? You’ve got to be worth paying for all the time. Be better all the time, at the programming, at the choosing of it, at driving the conversation around the world of it, which drives the kind of must-seen-ness.

One thing that YouTube has had for a while that you’re just starting to break into is live TV. Earlier this year, WWE announced it was taking “Raw,” the weekly live pro-wrestling show, to Netflix. You’ve just had live roasts, comedy specials. What is that doing for you? It’s really incredible, the conversation that gets driven around the world around a big live event. You know, in a world of on demand and total control, the novelty of a big live event, if it’s a Super Bowl or the Tom Brady roast, is that people get very excited that they’re all watching it at the same time. And what we saw with the Tom Brady roast was it was driving so much conversation around the world that the audience kept coming back. That is saying, well, there’s some real value in people gathering around the TV at the same time.

It’s making me laugh a little because you’re like reinventing the live special from network television. Yeah, live has been around for a long time, it turns out. We started that way as you’ll recall. I remember, as a kid, when “Roots” was on, every night the streets were empty.

Looking ahead, what are you most worried about? Mostly I worry about internal execution. It’s a very different company with 270 million subscribers around the world than it was when I joined with 175,000 subscribers getting DVDs in the U.S. So how you evolve the company, how you don’t get too nostalgic, how you don’t be too romantic about the past. Movies and games and television and stand-up comedy — all these things are real art forms. Otherwise it’s just killing an hour, and then I’d be very worried about TikTok.

I called Sarandos back a few days later to keep talking.

I’m wondering if you had any thoughts from our previous conversation. The thing that stuck with me most was our discussion about film, because in so many ways it captures everything we’re trying to do. Our discussion about “Irish Wish” is a great example of how hard it is, because we all have these great contradictions even inside of ourselves. I love “The Crown,” and I love “Is It Cake?” And I love them both equally, which doesn’t make any sense! When I think about that and think about, What are we trying to do? We’re trying to make movies that are great. We define quality from the perspective of the audience. So if the audience loves the movie, it’s great. That’s quality. “Irish Wish” maybe didn’t scratch the itch for you, but 65 million people watched that movie. It’s an enormous hit, and people love it. Critics and reviews — it’s a great thing. We want to please everybody. But sometimes the movies that we make are not made for critics. But for the audience that loves it, they love it.

Well, this dovetails very nicely with what I was thinking about. When we spoke, I was sort of pressing you on this question of whether your strategy — everything for everyone — affects the quality of your programming. And you argued, as you just argued, that you can have quality and quantity. And I came away from that thinking you’ve made a really good case. So it left me wondering: Discernment is part of any entertainment business. So what’s not right for Netflix? Great question. I don’t think that there’s a clean answer because the best version of something may work really well for Netflix but just hasn’t worked to date. There’s some obvious ones, like we don’t do breaking news and that kind of thing, because I think there’s a lot of other outlets for it. People aren’t looking to us for that.

I guess I’m thinking of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” Are there things that just don’t feel like they’re in your wheelhouse right now? Both of those movies would be great for Netflix. They definitely would have enjoyed just as big an audience on Netflix. And so I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that certain kinds of movies do or don’t work. There’s no reason to believe that the movie itself is better in any size of screen for all people. My son’s an editor. He is 28 years old, and he watched “Lawrence of Arabia” on his phone.

Oh, no. But it is just an interesting thing. At every new development of technology, there’s wins for the audience.

I’d love to know from your vantage point how you think about the possible creative trade-offs and consequences of using A.I. I think that A.I. is a natural kind of advancement of things that are happening in the creative space today, anyway. Volume stages did not displace on-location shooting. Writers, directors, editors will use A.I. as a tool to do their jobs better and to do things more efficiently and more effectively. And in the best case, to put things onscreen that would be impossible to do. Think about this gigantic leap from hand-drawn animation to computer-generated animation, and look how many more people animation employs today than it used to. Remember how everybody fought home video? For several decades, the studios wouldn’t license movies to television. So every advancement in technology in entertainment has been fought and then ultimately has turned out to grow the business. I don’t know that this would be any different.

I guess the difference might be that all those things were tools that were used to open up the creative space. Whereas what a lot of people feel is that A.I. might actually supplant the creators. I have more faith in humans than that. I really do. I don’t believe that an A.I. program is going to write a better screenplay than a great writer, or is going to replace a great performance, or that we won’t be able to tell the difference. A.I. is not going to take your job. The person who uses A.I. well might take your job.

This interview has been edited and condensed from two conversations. Listen to and follow “The Interview” on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube , Amazon Music or the New York Times Audio app .

Director of photography (video): Aaron Katter

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