Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement - podcast cover

Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement

Sam Webster Harris | Growth Mindset Psychologywww.growthmindsetpodcast.com
Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives. WHY LISTEN? Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it? This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change. WHAT YOU'LL GET Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism. Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be. We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system. WHAT YOU DON’T GET No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn. Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health. THE APPROACH Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development. Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life. YOUR HOST I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives. This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation. PREMIUM Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord. Growth Mindset Premium PAST SERIES Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum. Past series: — Psychology vs Stoicism — Time Management for Busy Mortals — Independence and Knowing Yourself — Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking — Psychology of Connection and Relationships — Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets — Addiction and Behaviour Change — Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory — Mental Strength and Self-Discipline
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Episodes

Abundance vs. Ego: How to Shift Your Mindset and Take Control of Your Life | Kyle Livingston

Learn how to reframe your mindsets to see the opportunities in the world and reject feelings of fear and scarcity. Kyle Livingston was abandoned by his mother when he was only a few weeks old. He grew up living with scarcity and a chip on his shoulder. His life came to a tipping point with a broken marriage and business but he turned it around by reframing his attitude and mindset. - - - Connect with Kyle: His consultancy - 7 figure industry Kyle's Linked In - Kyle Livingston - - - Connect with ...

Feb 07, 202349 min

The Art of Adventure: How to Create Incredible Experiences That Will Change Your Life

Shane Ohly is an elite athlete who has broken climbing records and built a career and business in elite mountain running. His events business Ourea Events hosts some of the most challenging endurance events on the planet. We discuss the mindsets behind elite performance and how to build a more resilient mentality. His events deliberately push people past the breaking points of anything they have experienced before to truly see what they are capable of. - - - Connect with Shane Ohly Elite Enduran...

Jan 31, 202340 min

Overcoming Ageism: 3 Strategies for Living Life on Your Own Terms

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. The secret to peace is found in examining our troubles. With so much stress and business in our lives, we feel like we are constantly behind. Every year we see our failures and regret our losses and need to swap our negative thoughts for a positive mindset. Aging should not be a reason to smile less and worry more. Every year is a new adventure to enjoy and savor for what it is. - - - Connect with Sam: Join the socia...

Jan 24, 202312 min

Jim Mann: Pragmatically pushing your potential

Jim Mann has broken several Ultramarathon records whilst also scaling his business Undo , with the goal to remove a billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. He is one of the most ambitious and yet grounded individuals you will ever meet. To call him understated would be understating his understatedness. As a child, he was a very average runner but his love of challenge and ability to outwork others has led him to break some of the hardest Ultra running records such as the Spine Challenger and the 30 Munro...

Jan 17, 202340 min

Making friends with time

You cannot master time, you can only master yourself. Time will keep doing its thing and we can't ever blame it or be annoyed with it. We must accept it and look to ourselves to make decisions we feel better about. As we launch into 2023 plenty of us are looking to smash goals and achievements this year in a race against the 2024 countdown. We discuss how to move from a scarcity mindset around time to creating a better relationship with our moments as they happen. - - - Connect with Sam: Join th...

Jan 10, 202314 min

2023 goals - Enjoy the year

There are plenty of people telling you to 10x everything next year. How about trying to enjoy the year? 2023 will come and it will go and you will never have that year again. So please make a point to enjoy it whilst it's there. Then see what else you can do whilst you're in it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 27, 202220 min

Do you know when to stop?

Do you have a reverse gear? We spend so much time with our heads down trying to make forward progress that we often fail to be sure we are making progress in the right direction. We discuss the importance of doing the right things for the right reasons and the problems many aspirational entrepreneurs run into by following the hype. --- Dan Murray-Serter is the host of the Secret Leaders podcast and founder of Kindling Media. He is also the founder of the brain care company Heights. Dan shares hi...

Dec 21, 202219 min

Learning faster by doing less

Trying to do too much is overwhelming and we can learn faster by doing less. We learn how to have more success in our learning goals with a more tactical approach. Learning a new skill is so much fun in theory. Yet in reality, it involves doing hard things and being bad at stuff. We can really struggle to stay motivated and struggle to find the time to dedicate to being terrible at something. What if there was a different way that made things easier to start and yet the achievement more likely? ...

Dec 13, 202215 min

Your Mind on food

We discuss how to improve our relationships with food and ultimately ourselves. How we think about our body and how we treat it directly impacts our health and mental health. Toni Marinucci is a registered dietician and runs Tips With Toni, one of my favourite podcasts on the topic of food, health and happiness. Connect with Toni: Read her blog - Tips with Toni Instagram - @tips_with_toni Connect with Sam: Join the social podcast app - Podvine Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking ...

Dec 07, 202222 min

Dan Murray-Serter: Know your purpose

Dan Murray-Serter is the host of the Secret Leaders podcast and has bootstrapped it into an entire media company. He is also the founder of the brain care company Heights. Dan shares his top mindsets for success and tools for positive psychology. We dive into many lessons learnt from podcasting that apply to life and also discuss the rising issues of cancel culture and polarization. Connect with Dan Murray-Serter The BrainCare company - Heights His epic podcast - Secret Leaders Twitter - @DanMur...

Nov 29, 202226 min

Be more interesting by being yourself

Everyone wants to be more interesting and more liked but they can try too hard or simply not know where to start. We learn some ideas that you won't have heard before or at least not described in this way to give you a mindset boost to be more confidently yourself. What are the blockers that get in the way of being yourself and how can you become more interesting by being uniquely you? The fears and mindsets to grow more confident and more unique along with tips for mental health and managing yo...

Nov 15, 202219 min

PreMint: Solve real problems and don't give up

PreMint founder, Brendan Mulligan shares his lessons from building several businesses. He sold LaunchKit to Google and led dev tool products for three years there. He's built a tonne of other projects and currently runs PodPage and PreMint . We learn: The biggest mistakes founders make His framework to solve real problems The number 1 flaw that kills NFT projects What it's like to sell a business to Google The benefits and negatives of startup vs. corporate How to prioritise work in your 20's fo...

Nov 02, 202236 min

How we lose track of Reality and where to find it

“You must not fool yourself… and you are the easiest person to fool” Richard Feynman We all have goals and ideas for our future, but things don’t always go according to plan. There is a mismatch between the idea when it is in the safe space of our mind and when we try to bring the idea into the world Most of our failures come down to a detachment from reality. This episode breaks down the psychological nature of ideas. Where the differeneces lie compared to the practicalities of life. It then co...

Oct 18, 202217 min

Journey vs. Destination - Optimising the right things

Goals are important to achieve, but they can distract us from living a life of meaning. Chasing the wrong things is a sure way to waste your life. Make better decisions by improving your mindset and appreciating what's important to you. Learn to focus your time and energy on the journeys you want to take instead of getting lost seeking goals to please others. Connect with Sam: Join the conversation on the social podcast app - Podvine Sam's newsletter on creativity and entrepreneurship - Explosiv...

Oct 07, 202212 min

Better Decisions - Thinking in Bets

Annie Duke was a professional poker player and psychologist. Her book "Thinking in Bets" provides a brilliant set of rules and mental models for rationality in a confusing world. Connect with Sam: Join the conversation on the social podcast app - Podvine Sam's newsletter on creativity and entrepreneurship - Explosive Thinking Sam's podcast on books - Wiser Than Yesterday Support the Show - Patreon If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Ti...

Sep 20, 202216 min

The overlooked solution to work-life balance

By treating work and life as opposing forces we inevitably end up tipping the scales the wrong way. We can't always subscribe time evenly and things get out of whack. We find there is a much better way by examining the term itself 'Work-life balance". This podcast will not only help you find better harmony with your different life projects but also help your awareness and mindsets to the choices you make. - - - Infinite Play - Nat Eliason This episode was based on an article from Nat Eliason and...

Sep 06, 202216 min

Get noticed and be remembered

"People don't remember what you tell them, they never forget how you make them feel." In the episode, we learn how to use emotions to make ourselves memorable and stand out. You need to make a good impression if you want more friends, make sales, get a better job or impress dates. - - - Connect with Sam: Join the conversation on the social podcast app - Podvine Sam's newsletter on creativity and entrepreneurship - Explosive Thinking Sam's podcast on books - Wiser Than Yesterday Support the Show ...

Aug 30, 202212 min

Increase output, learn faster, avoid burnout

Relying on stress for productivity is a recipe for burnout. We can avoid burnout and increase our output when we optimise our mindsets. We can keep our mind firing on all cylinders through excitement and enjoyment instead of through stress and difficulty. We can learn faster and access more of our potential when we treat our brain like a brain instead of like a muscle. Brain training and mind workouts can be completely reframed to have a much bigger effect once we know what we are doing. - - - C...

Aug 23, 202222 min

Master finishing things

Finishing things is an art we need to take seriously. By digging into where we are blocked we can identify our problems with the task at hand and we might even gain a broader understanding of our purpose as well. This episode presents some alternative strategies to really help you identify good ideas and get things completed. Questions to reflect on: Which tasks do I reliably finish? Could some of them create value if I did more of them? What are my unfinished projects? What are the specific tas...

Aug 16, 202220 min

Own how others affect you

We are often told we are the product of the 5 people we spend the most time with. This episode explores the cases where this isn't true and what we can learn from examining the relationships we have. We learn that actually, the most significant effect is from those that prevent us from being ourselves. Otherwise, we are free to choose the qualities we are inspired by regardless of how much time we spend with people. Questions to reflect on What are my strengths? When do I feel like I am being my...

Aug 09, 202219 min

3 secrets to change your thinking

Your thinking reflects your environment. We have all heard the best practices for improving your focus. These three ideas are just as influential and no one knows about them. Connect with Sam: Join the conversation on the social podcast app - Podvine Sam's newsletter on creativity and entrepreneurship - Explosive Thinking Sam's podcast on books - Wiser Than Yesterday Support the Show - Patreon If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share with your friends! Timest...

Aug 02, 202218 min

Remove personal limits

Often the thing holding us back more than anything is ourselves. The episode helps uncover the limiting beliefs we have and how they are made. We then come up with ways to question these beliefs and form empowering mindsets. Connect with Sam: Join the conversation on the social podcast app - Podvine Sam's newsletter on creativity and entrepreneurship - Explosive Thinking Sam's podcast on books - Wiser Than Yesterday If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it. And of course, share wi...

Jul 26, 202213 min

Stop dreaming, start doing

The difference between amateurs and professionals is process and dedication. If you want to achieve big dreams or 'find your calling' you have to take consistent action. This episode dives into ways to make it happen and gives new ways to think about it. Connect with Sam: Join the conversation on the social podcast app - Podvine Sam's newsletter on creativity and entrepreneurship - Explosive Thinking Sam's podcast on books - Wiser Than Yesterday Support the Show - Patreon If you enjoyed the podc...

Jul 19, 202215 min

Expand your comfort zone

Success lies outside of our comfort zone. Learning to regularly leave our comfort zone behind is the key to growing and achievement. This podcast is a masterclass in strategies and lessons that help you face fears and expand your comfort zone. Learn more about deliberate practice and strategies to enjoy your moments of failure as opportunities. --- Connect with Sam: Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking Sam's podcast on books - Wiser Than Yesterday Support the Show - Patreon Listen...

Jun 14, 202218 min

Growth Mindset - An introduction

Sam was supposed to record an advert but got a little lost with making rhymes about mindset. He is fully aware he is an idiot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 10, 20221 min

Fail Your Way to Success

Don't be scared of failure. Eccie Newton tells us about the relentless setbacks whilst building her catering idea into a company that's raised over £350 million. "For one thing to go right, a hundred things had to go wrong." Eccie's is a brilliant story of resilience and strength and this is a must-listen for any growth mindset or business enthusiasts. Timestamps 00:01:34 Working through the "Trough of sadness" 00:03:22 No no, everything went wrong, Literally Everything 00:04:26 Epic Pie day fai...

Jun 07, 202226 min

Increase your opportunities

Wish you didn't have to chase for opportunities? Start making them come to you instead. Learn how to put your best foot forwards for everyone to see. Follow the tactics of the successful people who got themselves out there. --- Connect with Sam: Sam's newsletter on creativity and entrepreneurship - Explosive Thinking Sam's podcast on books - Wiser Than Yesterday Support the Show - Patreon Listen and connect with the show - Podvine If you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe and rate it . And of ...

May 24, 202217 min

Perfectionism kills creativity

Stop getting caught up and blocked by the concept of "perfect". Get into the flow and build momentum that unlocks your true creativity. --- Growth Mindset pod Sam Webster Harris explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. Success and happiness is a state of mind unique to ourselves and is our responsibility to create. Watch the pod - YouTube (Growth Mindset) Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com Insta - SamJam.zen Learn more ab...

May 17, 202216 min

Curating chaos and creating connections

We learn from the master of conferences how to throw the best minds into a giant melting pot and make magic happen. Keith Wallace tells all, the Senior Vice President of Web Summit and General Manager of Collision Conf. Web Summit is one of the biggest technology conferences in the world where billionaires, VCs and the world's future leaders all descend for a week of madness and connection. Described by Forbes as the Number 1 conference on the planet. --- Connect with Keith: - LinkedIn - Twitter...

May 03, 202246 min

Pitch anything - Close deals with Oren Klaff

Oren Klaff is the New York’s Best Selling Author of Pitch Anything and Flip the Script. He joins us for a masterclass on sales, raising capital and negotiation. Oren is a badass who has raised over $2 billion and isn't showing any sign of stopping. If you’re starting your business or sales, this is a brilliant episode for you as he uncovers the secrets to closing deals. --- Connect with Oren: - OrenKlaff.com - Oren's LinkedIn - Oren's Twitter - Oren Klaff - YouTube Oren's Books: Pitch Anything F...

Apr 26, 202248 min
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