Modern Wisdom - podcast cover

Modern Wisdom

Chris Williamsonchriswillx.com
Life is hard. This podcast will help. Lessons from the greatest thinkers on the planet with Chris Williamson. Including guests like David Goggins, Dr Jordan Peterson, Sam Harris, Jocko Willink, Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr Julie Smith, Steven Bartlett, Ryan Holiday, James Clear, Robert Greene, Matthew McConaughey, Steven Pinker, Alex Hormozi, Douglas Murray, Chris Bumstead, Mark Manson and more.

Episodes

#833 - Eric Weinstein - Are We On The Brink Of A Revolution?

Eric Weinstein is a mathematician, economist, former Managing Director of Thiel Capital and a podcaster. It feels like the world is reaching a fever-pitch. From deep fakes to cheap fakes, AI girlfriends to senile presidents, we've never had more access to information, and yet it's never been harder to work out what is true. So, what do we do? Expect to learn Eric’s thoughts on the 2024 presidential election, whether we are being gaslit on a global scale by the media, the future of string theory ...

Sep 02, 20244 hr 31 minEp. 833

#832 - Rudyard Lynch - Is This The Most Absurd Time In History?

Rudyard Lynch is a YouTuber and a historian. Is the modern world weird? Whether it's incels, brat summer, a broken media landscape, godlessness or a decline in institutional trust it seems like lots of modernity is kind of odd. From the fall of empires to the rise of new world orders, how does our current timeline compare to the rest of recent history? Expect to learn whether we are actually living in a unique time in history, what a far-right backlash might look like, why the left is seen as mo...

Aug 31, 20242 hr 46 minEp. 832

#831 - Dan Martell - How To Stop Wasting Your Time & Money On Things That Don’t Matter

Dan Martell is an entrepreneur, investor, and author. The saying “money can’t buy time” is often used to emphasise the importance of not wasting your days. But what if there was a way to actually buy back your time. What if using your money well actually can liberate your life? Expect to learn what "the bigger it gets, the harder it gets" means in business, why so many successful people suffer with more chaos rather than less as they grow, Dan's framework for outsourcing all the stuff you don't ...

Aug 29, 20243 hr 35 minEp. 831

#830 - Alex Hormozi - 24 Controversial Truths About Success & Failure

Alex Hormozi is a founder, investor and an author. Alex’s Twitter has been one of my favourite sources of insights over the last few years. Today we get to go through some of his best lessons about life, human behaviour, psychology, business and resilience. Yet again this is so, so good. Expect to learn how to stop being indecisive and take action, how to persevere when things get rough, why overnight successes don’t happen overnight, why Alex hates being around negative people, if there is a wr...

Aug 26, 20243 hr 5 minEp. 830

#829 - Dr Leah Lagos - How To Improve Your Heart Rate Variability

Dr Leah Lagos is a clinical psychologist, HRV performance coach and an author. Heart Rate Variability is one of the most important new metrics that people are using to gauge heart health, longevity and fitness, but improving it can be a minefield. Thankfully Dr Lagos has spent decades optimising the HRVs of some of the world's highest performers and today we get to hear her best advice. Expect to learn the crucial relationship between HRV and your brain function plus heart health, the best way t...

Aug 24, 202456 minEp. 829

#828 - Dan Bilzerian - What Happened To Dan Bilzerian?

Dan Bilzerian is an entrepreneur and a professional poker player. What would it be like to dedicate yourself to hedonism for a decade? Without any budget or time or resource constraints. What would you discover from doing every adventure available in the modern world? And what would you truly value once it was over? Expect to learn where Dan has been for the last few years, whether his company Ignite actually went bankrupt, if Dan is still rich, why he's trying monogamy, what happens when you lo...

Aug 22, 20242 hr 1 minEp. 828

#827 - Whitney Cummings - Why Is Everyone So Emotionally Fragile?

Whitney Cummings is a comedian, actress, writer, and a podcaster. Emotional maturity is a difficult thing to truly come by. Making your needs known, setting boundaries, being able to disappoint people without being afraid. If it's such an important skill, why is it so hard to discover how to develop it? Expect to learn how Whitney has been changed since becoming a mother, why Whitney has been thinking about circumcision so much, what codependence is and how to overcome it, why your niceness migh...

Aug 19, 20242 hr 55 minEp. 827

#826 - Jonny Miller - How To Stop Feeling So Frustrated All The Time

Jonny Miller is a writer, nervous system coach and a podcaster. Emotions are scary. Feeling feelings and being truly connected to your life is hard. But what if the solution to these thinking problems doesn't lie in thinking more, but in fixing your body, nervous system and breath first? Expect to learn why it’s so hard to feel feelings, whether it’s possible to think your way out of overfeeling, how to use breathwork to master your nervous system, what the personal development industry gets wro...

Aug 17, 20242 hr 30 minEp. 826

#825 - Macken Murphy - The New Science Of Why Men & Women Cheat

Macken Murphy is an evolutionary biologist at the University of Melbourne, a writer and a podcaster. Why do people cheat? Is it just the allure of novelty? Dissatisfaction in their current relationship? Fear of being left? Retaliation for their partner cheating? Macken's brand new study gives so many fascinating answers to these questions. Expect to learn what the evolutionary drivers are behind men's and women's infidelity, what this new science says about the Dual Mating and Mate Switching hyp...

Aug 15, 20242 hr 58 minEp. 825

#824 - Ross Edgley - 317 Miles: Breaking The Longest Non-Stop Swim Record

Ross Edgley is an endurance athlete and an author. Ross just broke the world record for the world's longest non-stop river swim. It took over 2 days with no sleep, no stopping or touching land. He's also swum around the entire UK and competed head to head with sharks. Time to find out how his mind, body and preparation works. Expect to learn how Ross prepares for an endurance event, how you go to the bathroom when you're locked in a wetsuit, what 50 hours of sleep deprivation whilst exercising f...

Aug 12, 20242 hr 57 minEp. 824

#823 - Dr Jonathan Anomaly - Is It Ethical To Hand-Pick Your Child’s Genes?

Dr Jonathan Anomaly is a philosopher, professor and an author. The concept of hand-selecting your baby’s traits has been an idea since the dawn of genetic science. This technology is now available. But just how ethical is it to shape your child’s destiny, and what unseen problems might a world with this science be facing? Expect to learn why so many people dislike any discussions about IQ, what the moral challenges of embryo selection are, why genetic selection is going to be the biggest global ...

Aug 10, 20242 hr 48 minEp. 823

#822 - Dr Andy Galpin - The New Science Of Heart Health, VO2 Max & Sleep Hacking

Dr Andy Galpin is a professor of kinesiology, exercise scientist, and an author. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and poor sleep is affecting almost everyone. Andy has some of the best, evidence-based strategies for improving both, while becoming fitter and more resilient. Expect to learn which metrics matter most for health, the best ways to train your VO2 Max, what the most optimal daily routine for peak VO2 max looks like, advanced techniques to enhance your sl...

Aug 08, 20242 hr 12 minEp. 822

#821 - Tulsi Gabbard - Who Actually Runs The US Government?

Tulsi Gabbard is a politician, military veteran, and former U.S. Representative. Our elected officials are supposed to be in charge of the country we live in. But the more we learn about the inner workings of government, the less that seems to be true. So, who is really running the show, and what will the future of America look like for those who truly hold the power? Expect to learn what Joe Biden is actually like behind the scenes, why RFK Jr’s campaign didn't succeed, the reason that Elon Mus...

Aug 05, 20242 hr 56 minEp. 821

#820 - Bridget Phetasy - “Sleep Your Way To Empowerment” Has Failed Women

Bridget Phetasy is a writer, comedian and a podcast host. We all have moments in life we wish we could undo. But when an entire generation has been told that all life paths are acceptable and there is no judgement no matter how you spend your time, what happens when they grow up? Expect to learn why Bridget regrets her twenties, her controversial thoughts on divorce, why people have such a problem the word ‘regret’, why everyone still feels the need to manage emotionally immature boomers, if Bri...

Aug 03, 20242 hr 54 minEp. 820

#819 - Dominic Cummings - The Secrets Behind A Crumbling British Government

Dominic Cummings is a political strategist who served as Chief Adviser to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Dominic has masterminded some of the biggest events in recent history. From leading the Vote Leave campaign during Brexit to quarterbacking Boris Johnson's Covid response, he has seen the inside of UK and US government at their most chaotic. And what he knows is wild. Expect to learn just how inefficient the inside of government is, how the Conservatives lost so badly in the General El...

Aug 01, 20242 hr 1 minEp. 819

#818 - Andrew Wilkinson - How To Stop Feeling Like Your Success Is Never Enough

Andrew Wilkinson is an entrepreneur, co-founder of Tiny, and an investor. "I'll be happy when..." is the beginning of many people's mindsets about life and happiness. We assume that happiness sits on the other side of the next set of goals, even though right now we're on the other side of our last set of goals. So the question is, what if you're a billionaire? Does this pattern ever stop? Expect to learn whether successful people are just disordered, if SSRIs aren’t actually that bad, what Andre...

Jul 29, 20242 hr 51 minEp. 818

#817 - Dr Anna Machin - The Evolutionary Psychology Of Love, Lust & Cheating

Dr Anna Machin is an evolutionary anthropologist at Oxford University and an author. Love is pretty fascinating. This odd cocktail of hormones and neurochemicals can turn even the most normal person insane. What is it? Why did it evolve? And why do we seem to have no control over when it comes and when it goes? Expect to learn what the evolutionary advantage of love is, the difference between love and lust, why women cheat and who they tend to cheat with, the role of genetics on who you find att...

Jul 27, 20242 hr 35 minEp. 817

#816 - 2.25M Q&A - The Manosphere, Mike Israetel & Overcoming Insecurities

I hit 2.25 million Subscribers on YouTube!! To celebrate, I asked for questions from YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, so here’s another 90 minutes of me trying to answer as many as possible. As always there’s some great questions in here about my single life, my new project with Mike Israetel, and how I overcome insecurities. Expect to learn what the future of vlogs on the channel looks like, what I think about clickbait on YouTube, when the most challenging chapter in my life was, what I’m curre...

Jul 25, 20241 hr 16 minEp. 816

#815 - Blaine Anderson - A Woman’s Guide To Attracting Women

Blaine Anderson is a dating coach, a speaker and a YouTuber. Expect to learn how women want to be approached, how to overcome approach anxiety, the most important factors for designing the perfect online dating profile, the best strategies to text women well, what are the biggest red flags to watch out for on a first date, whether it's okay to approach women in the gym, the traits women actually care about in men and much more... Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ...

Jul 22, 20242 hr 56 minEp. 815

#814 - Doctor Mike - Reacting To The Rise Of Anxiety, Microplastics & Antidepressants

Doctor Mike is a family medicine physician and a YouTuber. There’s a lot of information in the health space. With so much data out there, what are the best ways to discern real health advice from false claims? Expect to learn whether there really is an uptick in Adult ADHD diagnoses, whether SSRIs are being over prescribed, the worst beauty trends Doctor Mike is seeing at the moment, the problem of microplastics men who’s testicles, which health trends we will look back on in 50 years in horror,...

Jul 20, 20242 hr 37 minEp. 814

#813 - Joe Hudson - The Art Of Mastering Your Emotions

Joe Hudson is a coach, entrepreneur and a podcast host. We are often our own harshest critics. Everyone knows that it’s important to be kinder and more understanding to ourselves, yet this is a challenge. So what is a more reliable route to developing self-compassion, stopping negative self-talk and getting out of our own way? Expect to learn what the real Matrix is, how to identify thoughts that might be holding you back, why feeling superior only works if you’re suppressing emotions, why peopl...

Jul 18, 20242 hr 17 minEp. 813

#812 - Mike Baker - Emergency Episode: Former CIA Agent On Trump Assassination Attempt

An emergency episode in the wake of this past weekend. No ads, no edits — just a raw, unfiltered conversation with former Central Intelligence Agency officer and security expert Mike Baker. Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - D...

Jul 17, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 812

#811 - Tim Kennedy - Emergency Episode: Special Forces Sniper Explains Trump Shooting

An emergency episode in the wake of this past weekend. No ads, no edits — just a raw, unfiltered conversation with Special Forces Sniper and Green Beret Tim Kennedy. Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is H...

Jul 16, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 813

#810 - Brett Cooper - The Quiet Revolution Against Modern Feminism

Brett Cooper is a political commentator, an actor and a YouTuber. It's revolutionary to say that you want to get married young and build a family in the modern world. But why? Is the choice between being co-opted by capitalism or conned by the patriarchy? Surely there must be a better solution for men and women. Expect to learn how Brett feels about getting married at 23, why the modern dating landscape is such a mess, how both men and women can find & build a lasting relationship, why Brett hat...

Jul 15, 20243 hr 45 minEp. 810

#809 - Cory Allen - The Spiritual Pursuit Of Becoming A Braver Person

Cory Allen is a meditation coach, podcaster, and an author. We all face challenges in life. However, learning to navigate your emotions and understanding the role that your thoughts play in your wellbeing can make hard times much more manageable. Expect to learn why so many people feel like they are drifting in life, why genuine change is so hard to achieve, how to fully embrace your emotions & feel more alive, where the negative voice in our heads comes from, how to set goals and habits that ac...

Jul 13, 20241 hr 8 minEp. 809

#808 - Dr David Kipping - Black Holes, Alien Civilisations & How The World Ends

Dr David Kipping is an astronomer, a professor at Columbia University and a YouTuber. Expect to learn David’s thoughts on Terrence Howard’s appearance on Joe Rogan, what actually happens as you approach the speed of light, if there is any chance of finding intelligent life out there in the universe, how big the universe actually is, the biggest questions we still have about black holes, how the moon was created, whether time is infinite or if the universe will ever end and much more... Sponsors:...

Jul 11, 20242 hr 22 minEp. 808

#807 - Alex O'Connor - Why Is Cultural Christianity On The Rise?

Alex O’Connor is a YouTuber, writer and a podcaster. Christianity is nothing new. But it's seeing a resurgence in popularity among some unexpected groups - public intellectuals and Gen Z. What is going on that only shortly after it was cool to be an atheist, it's now cool to go to church on a Sunday again? Expect to learn whether we are actually seeing a Christian revival, if the new wave of Christianity is just right wing conservatism in disguise, whether you can ‘choose’ to believe in God, if ...

Jul 08, 20241 hr 21 minEp. 807

#806 - Brian Klaas - Chaos Theory: The Hidden Force That Secretly Controls Your Life

Brian Klaas is a political scientist, a professor at University College London and an author. Small, seemingly insignificant events can have profound effects on the world. But how much of our fate is truly determined by chance, and if chaos plays such a huge role, how much control do we actually have over anything? Expect to learn the chance story of the atomic bomb's targeting, the difference between contingency and convergence, why our brains are so good at distorting reality, the link between...

Jul 06, 20242 hr 30 minEp. 806

#805 - Gurwinder Bhogal - 14 Uncomfortable Truths About Human Psychology

Gurwinder Bhogal is a programmer and a writer. Gurwinder is one of my favourite Twitter follows. He’s written yet another megathread exploring human nature, cognitive biases, mental models, status games, crowd behaviour and social media. It’s fantastic, and today we go through some of my favourites. Expect to learn why our mental model of the world assumes people are just like us, why Narcissists tend to inject themselves into every story no matter how unrelated or tenuous, the role of Postjourn...

Jul 04, 20242 hr 45 minEp. 805

#804 - Dr Mike Israetel - Exercise Scientist’s Masterclass On Losing Fat

Dr Mike Israetel is a Professor of Exercise and Sport Science at Lehman College and the Co-Founder of Renaissance Periodization. If you’ve ever wondered “is this diet actually working” then you're probably not alone. However there are now scientifically proven optimal methods for losing fat in the most efficient way possible. And today we get a full breakdown of the optimal approach for fat loss from the best teacher on the planet. Expect to learn how the physiology of fat loss actually works, w...

Jul 01, 20242 hr 23 minEp. 804