One of the hardest parts of work and life is facing transitions. These are often periods of discombobulation, where we may feel like we are losing a part of our identity. Here, we'll explore the science and art of big transitions, and provide tips and practices on how to prepare for and work through, with grace and grit, the big transitions in your own life. You can find the episodes on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new liste...
Jul 14, 2021•18 min
We explore the illusion of trying to be “balanced,” and how a better aim to strive for is the self-awareness to prioritize and choose to focus on what matters most to you in a given season of life. From there, we discuss the various strategies and practices that can be used to cultivate this sort of wise perspective in your own day-to-day life. We'll learn how one of the biggest paradoxes of self-awareness is that it requires getting outside of your usual mode of self. You can find the episodes ...
Jul 14, 2021•23 min
In the last round of Growth EQ Academy podcasts (Academy episodes #6 and #7) we explored the genesis of motivation, drive, and passion, and what happens when it goes astray — and also, how to prevent this from happening. In this episode, we turn to harmonious passion, or the kind of drive that can propel you to great heights, without losing a sense of yourself and what is important to you. You can find the episodes on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Please write a revie...
Jul 14, 2021•19 min
Naomi Osaka recently withdrew from the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. Mental health seems to have played a role. Osaka is not the first athlete and certainly won't be the last to struggle publicly and make big decisions as a result. In this episode, Brad and Steve dive into the topic of mental health in elite athletes. They discuss the wonderful impact of more awareness and less stigma around mental health, but also the dangers of stopping there—versus going on to effective treatment methods, whic...
Jul 07, 2021•39 min
We go deep on the “bad” kind of passion, exploring how motivation and drive can become destructive — leading to burnout, angst, unethical behavior, and depression — and what you can do to stop this from happening in yourself and the teams in which you work. You can find the episodes on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show ! Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagness Check...
Jun 30, 2021•19 min
Intense motivation and drive — what we call passion — is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it can help you accomplish great things. A curse because it can narrow your world and get you to a point where you lose perspective and burn out. This kind of passion is like rocket-fuel: extremely powerful, but only productive when pointed in the right direction. That's what we'll explore in this episode, drawing from science, history and practice. You can find the episodes on: i...
Jun 30, 2021•24 min
Some people love to grind and work long days and on the weekends. Some people like never to work outside of traditional hours. Some people like to brag about how much they work. Other people like to brag about how little they work. When should we work? Is there such a thing as too much work? Too little work? Our good friend, colleague, and always critical thinker Cal Newport (author of Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and A World Without Email ) joins us for a wide-ranging discussion on work. Part...
Jun 23, 2021•58 min
Motivation comes from diverse sources, but perhaps none is more powerful than purpose. Why is this the case? What happens in our brain and body when we are driven by a purpose? How can we all create more meaning in our own lives, not just so we can perform better, but also, and arguably more important, so we can be more fulfilled. Listen in to learn more and find out. You can find the episodes on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help...
Jun 16, 2021•24 min
The first rule of routines is to have one and stick to it. The second rule of routines is to be able to let go. We explore the truth of this paradox, how to build the optimal routine for yourself given your current life station, the power of pre-performance priming, and when to use energy on decision versus when to automate them. You can find the episodes on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show ! Find...
Jun 16, 2021•21 min
Forget about all the products and services that promise to help you recharge. You don't need all (or really, any) of that stuff. In this episode of the Growth Equation Academy, we detail the foundations of how to come down after challenging periods. Topics include breaks, taking an interval training approach to all of work, sleep, and other ways you can mentally and physically recover in a way that promotes sustainable growth. You can find the episodes on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Andro...
Jun 09, 2021•24 min
While there are many definitions of stress, we like to think of productive stress as a stimulus that challenges you in a manner which promotes growth. In this episode of the Growth Equation Academy, we dive deep into productive stress. Topics include just-manageable challenges, how to determine the right amount of stress, what conditions create deep-focus work, and how productively stress yourself on micro and macro timescales. You can find the episodes on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Andr...
Jun 09, 2021•20 min
It's the universal equation to make sustainable progress in anything. In this episode of the Growth Equation Academy, we review what we mean by “stress” and “rest,” and discuss how the growth equation can be a valuable concept across diverse contexts—personally, professionally, and organizationally. Too much stress with not enough rest you get injury, illness, and burnout. Not enough stress with too much rest you get complacency or stagnation. You can find the episodes on: iTunes and Apple Podca...
Jun 09, 2021•23 min
Phil Mickelson just won the PGA Championship at age 50. That is no joke. In this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve use Mickelson's shocking victory as the basis for a conversation on aging and performance. They discuss the importance of mindset and intrinsic drive; how to thwart the decline of raw talent that comes with aging while at the same time reaping the rewards of wisdom; Mickelson's intense fasting regime (what exactly was it and did it help, hurt, or not really matt...
Jun 02, 2021•41 min
Why is it that so many people seem so out of touch with reality these days? In this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve explore a new theory that argues the best way to stay grounded (and not become an ego-maniac) is to do real, concrete things in the world where you either succeed or fail. And, they argue, these successes or failures are best when they happen privately (or perhaps in a small group). We'll explore stories involving lifting weights, building tables, running, an...
May 26, 2021•43 min
All the stars in the NBA are getting hurt. This comes off the coattails of a hyper-condensed season because of COVID-19, followed by a shortened off-season that led directly into another condensed season. The injuries, many of which are classic overuse issues, aren't a coincidence. They are the result of lots of stress, not enough rest. In this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve are joined by Coach Jojo to discuss the concept of “load management” and how it applies not only t...
May 19, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Many were shocked to hear about Bill and Melinda Gates getting divorced. But some weren't. After all, they are both extreme pushers, those who care deeply about their mission and work. The cost of this deep caring is often making sacrifices in other areas of life. On this episode of the Growth Equation P odcast , Brad and Steve dive into what big drive, purpose, and motivation — all usually thought of as positive attributes — can leave in their wake. They not only discuss divorce in ...
May 12, 2021•1 hr
One of the best ways to be smarter, kinder, and wiser is to read. Straight up. It's the truth. On this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast , Brad and Steve dive deep into all things reading. They discuss deep versus superficial attention, nonfiction vs. fiction, how to develop a consistent reading habit that will work for you, and so much more. Whether you are an avid reader or someone who hasn't picked up a book in ages, this episode will get you thinking about reading in new and improved wa...
May 05, 2021•54 min
There is infinite information out there. Every day, we are inundated with principles, concepts, and ideas. How does one wade through the deluge, let alone discern where to lean in and pay close attention versus where to lean out and ignore? On this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve dive into models for right thinking , or bringing deliberateness and skill to what we take in and what we share out. Among many other things, they dive into their “three-legged” stool framework fo...
Apr 28, 2021•52 min
On this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve discuss the culture's obsession with idolizing certain people, and how thanks to the internet, everyone has a chance to win at this game. But is it a game that you actually want to win? Or are the forces of so-called celebrity (or going viral, or growing a personal brand, or becoming more influential, and so on) actually just making life increasingly performative rather than real? Might this be leaving us exhausted and stressed? Is t...
Apr 21, 2021•49 min
Hard work is often talked about as a be-all end-all when it comes to performance, and even personhood. On this episode of The Growth Equation podcast, we explore what hard work can (and can't do), what pursuits are more prone to be impacted by hard work, and the difference between hard work making you as good as you can be versus making you better than others. We also look at the history of hard work as a moral concept, and offer some thoughts on why it might be misguided. Resources Mentioned: B...
Apr 14, 2021•42 min
The film Operation Varsity Blues, a chronicle of the massive college admissions scandal that occurred from 2011 to 2018, was just published on Netflix. It is a pretty damning (and tragic)film. In this episode of The Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve use the film as a jumping off point to an in-depth discussion of everything that is wrong with higher education. Of course, they also offer some ideas on how to fix it. Topics discussed include standardized testing, to pay or not to pay athlete...
Apr 07, 2021•57 min
In this special bonus episode, Brad and Steve delve into the process of becoming authors, starting from their early days writing hardly-read blogs to landing book advances with large publishing houses. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has ever wondered how to write a book, the difference between self-publishing and traditional-publishing, or what goes into turning an idea on the back of a napkin into 250 pages for sale at Barnes and Nobles. To Subscribe and get the full episode, head...
Apr 05, 2021•39 min
To foam roll or not to foam roll? Force yourself to endure an ice-bath after a grueling workout, or sit it out? Cardio or weights, or perhaps even more pertinent, will doing cardio hurt your weights (and vice versa)? Sure, “diets” are no good, but neither is being opposed to all weight loss, right? What matters more, training frequency or duration or intensity? The list goes on and on. In today's episode, we are going to spend some time debunking myths in health and fitness and discussing what a...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Anxiety, in the broadest of terms, is discomfort with uncertainty. In the words of psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author Judson Brewer, “it's a severe condition; that is, it's the human condition.” On this week's episode of The Growth Equation podcast Brad and Steve are joined by Judson for a wide-ranging conversation on anxiety. They touch on anxiety's evolutionary roots, historical evolution, and modern day permutations. They also detail Judson's 3-part process to unwind anxiety, using as a...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Sleep. It's a topic that affects everyone, and it's particularly timely coming off of daylight savings time, which doesn't do much other than make an entire country of people groggy. Against that backdrop, Brad and Steve figured it'd be a perfect occasion to dive deep into sleep. They discuss the fundamental and sometimes surprising habits that set you up for a good night's sleep, the role of melatonin (both naturally and as a supplement), what's happening in your mind and body throughout the ni...
Mar 17, 2021•59 min
A phenomenon that just about everyone is familiar with goes like this: You are striving hard to reach the next level at your given craft or pursuit. After loads of hard work, you finally reach it. When you do, you vacillate from feeling in over your head to feeling like you belong. Sometimes your ego may be too big; other times, too small. It's a wild and uniquely human ride. Someone who knows it well is Mara Gay. Shortly after she got her dream job at the New York Times editorial board, she tol...
Mar 10, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Do you dislike email, or at the very least, the amount of time, energy, and attention your inbox demands? If so, you aren't alone. In this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, we welcome Cal Newport, bestselling author of Deep Work , Digital Minimalism , and most recently, A World Without Email . We dive deep into Cal's new book. But we also explore Cal's journey to becoming an author who is also a computer scientist, and who was formerly a pretty dang good athlete all the way up to the colle...
Mar 03, 2021•2 hr 32 min
Coaching has long been a foundation of sport, but only more recently is it spreading into other industries. From business, to health care, to creativity, more people are seeking coaches to help them boost their performance and longevity, and the flip side of that coin, to help them avoid burnout too. On this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve are joined by Sarah Milby, founder of the company Valor Performance , which aims to scale coaching to non-traditional spaces. The trio ...
Feb 24, 2021•49 min
Hack culture—or the general idea that there are specific products, services, or supplements that will quickly make you healthier, happier, fitter, and more productive—has taken off in the last decade. In this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve explore how and why this has happened. They discuss what, if any, “hacks” may be worthwhile, and why so many people fall for the myriad other ones that don't work (at best) and are downright harmful (at worst). Since the goal of this sh...
Feb 17, 2021•49 min
COVID-19 has often been compared to a marathon (by us, too! Brad wrote a piece in The New York Times back in May of 2020 saying as much). A big part of this analogy relies on the importance of pacing; and not just physically, but how you frame the pandemic in your mind, too. Yet it's not just COVID-19 that a framework of pacing is helpful for; it's all the big projects in our lives. In this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve explore how and why pacing is such a useful mental ...
Feb 10, 2021•49 min
