People avoid you for reasons that have nothing to do with your deodorant. You can be smart, talented, even funny—but if people feel unseen or misunderstood around you, your life gets smaller. Dr. Steven Stein has tested emotional intelligence in everyone from Air Force recruiters to reality TV contestants. And the results are weirdly human. EQ isn’t about being soft. It’s about knowing when to shut up, when to speak up, and when to walk away. This episode breaks down emotional intelligence like ...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 1 min
There are a million ways to waste time. We don't need a million and one ways to be productive. We just need to - Do The Thing It's easy to overcomplicate productivity: Over analysing your habits Over examing your past Over sharing your strategies. These are all effective ways to not be productive. In this episode, we cut through the fluff and focus on the pure, simple truths. WORKSHOP - Building certainty in an uncertain world 😱 The world is spinning faster and increasingly feels unhinged ✊ Use...
Apr 29, 2025•30 min
We don’t see the future. We predict it — and sometimes we predict disaster before it’s even possible. Catastrophizing is a mental reflex. It’s your mind, desperate for control, drawing monsters where none exist yet. In this episode, we explore the quiet space between stimulus and story — the moment you could choose curiosity over certainty. Relationships, careers, self-worth: all suffer when we confuse our imagined outcomes with inevitable truths. But if we learn to watch the story unfold withou...
Apr 25, 2025•41 min
What if the person you think you are is an outdated idea? In this episode, we explore how habits form—not from logic, but from history. From childhood rules to adult rituals, your behaviours aren’t just choices. They’re echoes. We look at behavioural debt: how the past continues to extract payments from your present and what you can do about it. We look expansively at different ways we pick up all these habits and identities, and then use 5 ideas from psychology and philosophy to fix them. There...
Apr 22, 2025•33 min
How often do you say no? In this episode, I unpack the beautiful mess that is boundary-setting—with stories, psychology, and a touch of Brexit. This episode dives deep into what it really means to assert your needs. Boundaries aren’t about building walls—they’re more like installing a front door with a lock you actually use. We explore why people-pleasing kills self-respect, how resentment creeps in when you’re too “nice,” and why your future depends on the limits you’re willing to draw today. W...
Apr 18, 2025•41 min
What separates those who break from those who bend? A shift—not in strength, but in perspective. In today’s episode, we look at the 4 quadrants of mental resilience: Control, Commitment, Challenge, and Confidence —using a blend of metaphors, Stoic wisdom, and powerful stories from history. Think of your mind like a car: control is the steering wheel, commitment is the fuel, challenge is the terrain, and confidence? That’s your engine. From Helen Keller to Joan of Arc, you’ll see how legendary me...
Apr 15, 2025•33 min
There’s only so much logic you can apply to your problems, at some point you need to work with your biology. The nervous system it an incredible organ built to help you survive and it can over-ride your conscious processing at will. To stop tripping over our barriers and build true resilience, reduce stress & feel more alive we need there is a way. Working with your nervous system instead of against it. On the show we invite Esin Pinarli a licensed therapist and expert in working with our nervou...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 1 min
The problem with being human is that we believe our version of truth is the truth. Not because we’re bad—but because we’re wired that way. This episode is a story of blindness. Not the kind you see—but the kind you don’t even know you have. You’re not as open-minded as you think. That’s not an insult—it’s just how the brain works. We shortcut. We judge. We protect our ego like it’s a vintage vinyl. In this episode, I dive into the strange ways our own minds trick us into thinking we're rational,...
Apr 08, 2025•32 min
Ever notice how you'll curse for days when stuck in traffic but never celebrate hitting all green lights? Your brain's flaw-detection software is working overtime. In our quest for the ideal—the perfect relationship, the flawless investment, the dream career—we often miss the opportunity to appreciate what's already working. This isn't about lowering standards; it's about recognizing diminishing returns and the opportunity costs of perfectionism. Gratitude research shows that people who accept s...
Apr 04, 2025•24 min
The psychology of mental strength and how to achieve your goals. The path to extraordinary achievement isn't paved with enjoyment. It's built on something far more powerful: alignment with our deepest values. Sustainable motivation comes not from the pleasure of the journey but from how we connect our actions to what matters most to us. This isn't about willpower or discipline—it's about meaning-making. When we frame our challenges within the context of our personal values, we transform mundane ...
Apr 01, 2025•34 min
What if the key to unlocking your potential was already within you, nestled within the folds of your own mind? Today we're diving into the science and psychology of hypnosis. It isn't about stage tricks or loss of control. It's about accessing a state of focused attention where the critical mind steps aside, allowing for profound change. Not only do we learn about how the subconscious mind can be accessed but the techniques and ways that work, backed by science. It's the difference between forci...
Mar 28, 2025•35 min
What if the path to a meaningful life isn't paved with comfort, but with deliberate discomfort? In this episode, we explore the insidious nature of "flabbiness" - not just of body, but of mind and spirit. We'll uncover how our modern world lulls us into a state of complacent existence, and why the easy path often leads to the hardest life. Through stories of transformation and philosophical insights, we'll challenge the notion that happiness comes from avoiding difficulty. Instead, we'll discove...
Mar 25, 2025•23 min
We're all blind to our own patterns. Even when we think we're self-aware, there's a whole universe of emotional blocks lurking beneath the surface. Most of us walk around thinking we understand ourselves, but the reality is we're operating on autopilot. This episode features coach Tracy Litt, a performance coach who reveals how seemingly innocent behaviours can actually be fear mechanisms in disguise. The conversation gets deeply personal as Sam confronts his own emotional avoidance, exploring w...
Mar 21, 2025•37 min
Bruce Lee wasn't just a martial arts icon. He was a master of mental discipline, using six powerful habits that transformed his approach to life and success. Bruce's journey reveals how deliberate practice shaped his legendary status. Instead of fearing failure, he embraced it as a teacher, carrying notebooks everywhere to capture insights that became contracts with himself. His methods were surprisingly practical—reading voraciously across diverse subjects, daily goal recitation, and blending E...
Mar 18, 2025•18 min
What if the greatest barrier to your success isn't what you don't know, but what you think you know that simply isn't so? This episode explores the subtle architecture of stupidity – not as a personal failing, but as a series of distinct patterns that emerge in all human thinking. We'll journey through seven varieties, from the straightforward lack of cognitive ability to the more insidious systemic stupidity that quietly infects organizations and societies. You'll discover how the most brillian...
Mar 14, 2025•40 min
What if the path to happiness isn't where all the spotlights are shining? While most seek contentment in the thin slice of "now," true fulfilment lives in a paradox. We're stuck in what I call "now-ish" thinking—that anxiety-producing zone of yesterday's failures and tomorrow's deadlines. We're taught to live in the moment, yet rarely consider where our moments are leading us. True happiness requires an honest look at your 30-year trajectory. Are you building skills you want to master for decade...
Mar 11, 2025•33 min
The mind does a lot of things we are never aware of. You don't think about how you move or digest, your mind just does it in the background, You also can't witness all the self-sabotaging doors your mind keeps you locked up in. We all have our own battles that limit us. Maybe how we think about money, or relationships or our own value. Maybe we get nervous about situations and it's our nerves that actually cause the problem we are afraid of. Today guest Jeff Bauhner shares a radical idea for how...
Mar 07, 2025•42 min
We all know smart people make dumb decisions. But why? Why do gamblers double down when they should walk away? Why do we check our phones 58 times a day? Why do people micromanage their partners and get confused when they become distant? We are all suckers for the illusion of control. We are convinced that our meddling is needed to achieve our desired outcome. Sadly this misses the important fact that we are causing all our problems. The episode covers all sorts of personal problems from addicti...
Mar 04, 2025•31 min
What if misery wasn’t something that happened to you—but something you unknowingly created? We all have habits that screw us over—whether it’s blaming others, scrolling mindlessly on Instagram, or convincing ourselves that “next week” is when we’ll finally start living. In this episode, I’m calling out the seven most toxic habits that keep people stuck in their own misery - they're probably (some) things you’re doing right now. I’ll break down why these habits exist, how society reinforces them,...
Feb 28, 2025•33 min
Ever feel like life’s pulling you in a direction you didn’t choose? Like you’re paddling against a current, but the harder you try, the further you drift? From social media algorithms to career paths, we’re all caught in currents we barely notice. They can sweep us toward growth or drag us into chaos. Whether it’s influencers chasing clicks or careers locking us into identities we never wanted, these currents are everywhere. But here’s the good news: just like in the ocean, you can learn to spot...
Feb 25, 2025•34 min
How to boost creativity and productivity with a gentle yet dedicated approach to getting the best of yourself Fun fact: The average person has 6,200 thoughts per day. Most creatives capture zero of them. What if the secret to unleashing your creative potential isn't finding inspiration, but building systems that make creativity inevitable? That’s why we have Jeremy Enns on the show. He's built a system that turns random thoughts into profitable content. Every. Single. Day. We cover: How to stop ...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr
The awkward thing about finding our calling. Is that our calling isn’t out there looking for us. It's easy to be stuck in mediocrity waiting for the perfect moment or for that ambiguous feeling that we are totally ready and blessed with pre-ordained approval to start our ideas. These days knowledge is abundant and easily accessible. What's scarce is the willingness to show up, create, and launch our thoughts into the world before we feel ready. In this episode: How the world is changing and the ...
Feb 18, 2025•43 min
Navigating the great paradoxes of the heart. What if everything we believed about perfect relationships was exactly what held us back from creating meaningful ones? Consider a few classic paradoxes: In our quest for closeness, we often create distance Distance often brings you closer Your partner's annoying habits, might actually be their best qualities.... This episode explores the delicate threads that weave together seemingly contradictory truths in relationships, Key topics: Learn to identif...
Feb 14, 2025•29 min
The more we fear loneliness, the more we scare people away. Connection is our birthright. Yet in our rush to avoid loneliness, we often make things worse. This is a story about the paradox at the heart of human relationships. But it's also a story about possibility. Key takeaways: Practical strategies to build confidence and attract healthy relationships The 7 hidden ways fear of loneliness sabotages relationships Understanding the distinction between solitude and loneliness Building the courage...
Feb 11, 2025•27 min
76% of people regularly break promises to themselves - Why do we keep letting ourselves down? The uncomfortable truth about why your self-improvement efforts keep failing: it's not about motivation. It's about managing the gap between who you are and who you want to be. This episode breaks down the exact psychology behind why we disappoint ourselves (hint: your brain is lying to you) and gives you 5 practical systems to fix it. No fluff. No guru BS. Just actionable frameworks. What you'll learn:...
Feb 07, 2025•28 min
A high IQ isn't useful if you can't make decent life decisions. Drawing from neuroscience and behavioural psychology, this episode delivers practical frameworks for cognitive development. You'll discover: No-nonsense tools to stop overthinking and start actually learning from your mistakes Real-world examples of how reflection beats raw intelligence A simple system for turning life's patterns into practical wisdom Research-basked methods for implementing reflection practices and deliberate learn...
Feb 04, 2025•43 min
Ego loves company. But success? Success loves silence. Ever noticed how the loudest person in the room rarely has the most interesting thing to say? There's a reason for that. And it's the same reason why Elizabeth Holmes is in prison while the world's best operators are probably people you've never heard of. In this episode: - The "Washington Protocol": How America's first president used strategic humility to build an empire (and why modern leaders keep missing the point) - Lehman Brothers' $60...
Jan 31, 2025•32 min
Make time your secret weapon. Our success and happiness are often eroded by the 7 habits of highly impatient people. We are losing the ability to focus and glorify instant success. Thus we lose the ability to stick with anything and create meaningful work. This episode goes through the psychology and philosophy of taking a slower and deeper approach to life: Understand the causes behind our poor attention spans Create resilience in your work Grow lasting momentum instead of bursts of speed From ...
Jan 28, 2025•27 min
What If Everything You Knew About Success Was Backward? Our lives are shaped by contradictions: The harder we chase happiness, the further it seems. The more freedom we gain, the more constrained we feel. You need money to be happy, but then chasing money makes you miserable. The more we learn, the more we realize we know absolutely nothing These are some of life’s paradoxes, and they are as profound as they are puzzling. In this episode, we explore 16 of these paradoxes, breaking down their und...
Jan 24, 2025•28 min
What if the path to true growth begins with admitting how little you actually know? The teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates tells us to use questions to expose holes in conventional thinking. If you enjoy learning about psychology, self-development, and the inner workings behind success, you’ll discover proven wisdom from ancient Greece on getting out of your own way. Hear unique Socratic tactics for: Questioning assumptions Overcoming knowledge bias Admitting what you don’t know...
Jan 21, 2025•24 min
