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, Naval Ravikant, Sam Harris, Jocko Willink, Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr Julie Smith, Steven Bartlett, Ryan Holiday, Robert Greene, Matthew McConaughey, Alain de Botton, Alex Hormozi, Tony Robbins, Chris Bumstead, Mark Manson and more.

Episodes

#672 - Paul Hutchinson - The Untold Story Behind The Sound of Freedom

Paul Hutchinson is an entrepreneur, former fund manager and undercover operative known for his role in rescuing trafficked children depicted in the film the Sound of Freedom. Paul has had a non-typical journey. Transitioning from a career in real estate asset management to dismantling some of the world’s largest child sex trafficking rings, he's sacrificed and risked an awful lot to try and stop some of the most evil people on the planet. Expect to learn what it was like to find an Epstein Islan...

Aug 26, 20231 hr 1 minEp. 674

#671 - Dr Steve Peters - The Science Of Reducing Stress & Building Confidence

Dr Steve Peters is a psychiatrist, sports psychology consultant, a professor and an author. Our brain is largely a black box. It's very important to how we experience life and yet we have very little insight into why it behaves the way it does. Steve has spent an entire career researching the strategies that empower the human mind to perform at its best and the secret to unlocking our full potential? Expect to learn how the Chimp Paradox can help you understand your brain, how to work with our n...

Aug 24, 20231 hr 15 minEp. 671

#670 - Alex Hormozi - 23 Controversial Truths About Life

Alex Hormozi is a founder, investor and an author. Alex’s Twitter continually has been one of my favourite sources of great insights over the last few years. Today we get to go through some of my favourite lessons from him about life, human behaviour, psychology, business and resilience. Again, this is really good. Expect to learn Alex’s most controversial opinions and mindset reframes. strategies to overcome self-doubt, why your revenge fantasy is a petty life goal, how to overcome regrets, how...

Aug 21, 20232 hr 54 minEp. 670

#669 - Scott Walker - A Hostage Negotiator’s Hacks To Master Communication

Scott Walker is a former Scotland Yard detective, world renowned hostage negotiator and an author. Having successfully resolved over 300 cases, from hostage negotiations to piracy, ransom and cyber extortion attacks, Scott has gained deep insights into how human communication works and today we get to find out his wildest stories and best tips. Expect to learn how the science of negotiating actually works, the questions should you ask at the beginning of a negotiation to set the tone, how you ca...

Aug 19, 202352 minEp. 669

#668 - David Pinsof - How To Leverage The Psychology Of Power & Status

David Pinsof is a research scientist at UCLA, co-creator of Cards Against Humanity and an author. Humans want things. Then we tell ourselves stories about why we want those things. And these reasons are often very flattering, but almost exclusively bullshit. We do not understand our motivations, and this is part of our brain's design. So, given this limit on introspection, is it possible to ever truly understand ourselves? Expect to learn the difference between bullshitting and lying, why we can...

Aug 17, 20231 hr 13 minEp. 668

#667 - Nancy Segal - What Twins Separated At Birth Teach Us About Nature vs Nurture

Nancy Segal is a professor at California State University, an author and one of the most prominent twin-study researchers on the planet. What makes you the person you are? Is it your genetics or your environment? When twins are either accidentally or purposefully separated at birth, it presents a fascinating view into this debate, shedding light on the influence of both traits and environments on the outcomes we get in life. Expect to learn the craziest similarities between twins who have been r...

Aug 14, 20231 hr 16 minEp. 667

#666 - John Lovell - How To Defeat Your Inner Coward

John Lovell is a former United States Army Ranger, firearms instructor and founder of Warrior Poet Society, known for his expertise in tactical training and philosophy. It's often quoted that “it’s better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war“, but how should you cultivate this state of readiness? How can you become capable of standing strong when there is a battle to be fought, and sufficiently peaceful to be in touch with your emotions once it's over? Expect to learn what it mea...

Aug 12, 202356 minEp. 666

#665 - Cory Clark - 5 Forbidden Topics That Psychology Won’t Discuss

Cory Clark is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, a social psychologist and an author. Academia is supposed to be a bastion of intellectual purity where curiosity and the truth reign supreme. But what happens when the findings of research start to become inconvenient? What happens when conclusions may be scientifically accurate, but politically incorrect? Expect to learn what happens when you conduct a study on self-censorship in academic psychology and get reported for it,...

Aug 10, 20231 hr 34 minEp. 665

#664 - Christine Emba - Talking To A Feminist About Masculinity

Christine Emba is an opinion columnist at The Washington Post, journalist, social commentator, and an author. Christine wrote one of the best articles on modern masculinity that I've ever read and it absolutely broke the internet. But it begs the question of why it's come down to a woman to raise the topic of men's issues. Expect to learn why making men and women equal is good but overreaching into making men and women the same is terrible, whether Christine thinks it is harder to be a man in 20...

Aug 07, 20231 hr 27 minEp. 664

#663 - Erik Hoel - A Guide To The Fundamental Mystery Of The Mind

Erik Hoel is a research professor at Tufts University, theoretical neuroscientist, and an author known for his work on understanding consciousness and the complexity of the brain. Consciousness and free will are two of the most puzzling aspects of human existence. The question now is whether emerging scientific discoveries and technological advancements can unravel what's going on under the hood of our experience. Expect to learn what the newest cutting edge research on consciousness can teach u...

Aug 05, 202358 minEp. 663

#662 - Gurwinder Bhogal - 18 Psychology Lessons To Understand People Better

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 every debate is fundamentally an argument about the definition of words, whether modern men are right to believe they would be better off living in medieval times, why people figh...

Aug 03, 20232 hr 4 minEp. 668

#661 - Sam Harris - How To Take Control Of Your Mind

Sam Harris is a best selling author, moral philosopher, neuroscientist and a podcaster. The entire world seems to be at each other's throats and finding peace in the chaos is becoming increasingly difficult. But there are tools at our disposal to improve the quality of our lives. As Sam says on this episode, “Wisdom is a matter of making your mind your friend”. Expect to learn what Sam’s life is like after Twitter, Sam’s reflections on his famous talk on death and the present moment, how to live...

Jul 31, 20233 hr 13 minEp. 661

#660 - Peter Akkies - 7 Hacks To Master Your Productivity & Get More Done

Peter Akkies is a productivity consultant, YouTuber and a blogger known for his expertise on time management and personal efficiency. Almost everyone is chronically distracted. The world fragments our attention into slivers so small it's a miracle we get anything done at all. Thankfully, there are strategies to take back control of your time and productivity and today we get to go through 7 of Peter's most impactful hacks. Expect to learn how to set up your own productivity system, what most peo...

Jul 29, 20231 hr 4 minEp. 660

#659 - Rob Brooks - Why Are People Falling In Love With Robots?

Rob Brooks is a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of New South Wales, a researcher, and author. Machines are integrating themselves more and more into our lives. From algorithms which know when you're depressed and want to eat ice cream to sex robots who are available to satisfy your desires on-demand. This concept, known as artificial intimacy, might seem as though it’s from a science fiction novel but, it’s rapidly becoming a reality in modern life. Expect to learn what Artif...

Jul 27, 20231 hr 21 minEp. 659

#658 - George TheTinMen - Why Do The Left Not Care About Men’s Problems?

George TheTinMen is a filmmaker, pro-mens advocate and a content creator. The conversation around the issues of men and boys has been dominated by the Right for a long time now. The Left largely seem to have abandoned the entire male sex. So what happens when an openly Left-leaning man creates a huge Instagram account talking exclusively about male issues? Expect to learn how the patriarchy can be so powerful if men aren't flourishing more, why the Left stopped talking to men and boys, why Georg...

Jul 24, 20231 hr 34 minEp. 658

#657 - Erik Angner - An Economist’s Guide To A Happy Life

Erik Angner is a professor of philosophy at King's College London, researcher, and author. Economists are usually concerned with macro trends. Money, finances. But they also have data-driven insights into what makes a happy, fulfilling life. Plus Erik is also a philosopher, so he manages to blend two murky worlds into a very usable life approach. Expect to learn what economics says are the 4 pillars of living a good life, why everyone hates philosophers, whether all old Japanese people should ki...

Jul 22, 20231 hr 6 minEp. 657

#656 - Mike Glover - Green Beret Teaches You How to Survive Any Situation

Mike Glover is a former United States Army Green Beret, survivalist expert, CEO of FieldCraft Survival, and podcaster providing expertise on survival tactics and preparedness. Being prepared is arguably the most potent tool in any survival kit. However working out what to prepare for can be a daunting task. How do you decide the likelihood of potential threats and distinguish them from unlikely scenarios? How do you gear up for risks that present the most significant danger to you, and what do y...

Jul 20, 20231 hr 21 minEp. 656

#655 - Polina Pompliano - The 10 Habits Of The World’s Most Successful People

Polina Pompliano is a writer, entrepreneur and author known for her insights into habits of history's highest performers. Deconstructing the habits and mindsets of the world's most successful people gives us an insight into how to expedite success and avoid pitfalls. Presumably the people who made it to the top have found effective ways of operating that we can all use in our lives, today we go through some of the most useful. Expect to learn the best way to channel creativity and inspiration, t...

Jul 17, 20231 hr 23 minEp. 655

#654 - J Michael Bailey - Activists Tried To Get This Study Banned

J. Michael Bailey is a Northwestern University professor of psychology, researcher, and an author known for his work on sexual orientation and human sexuality. Scientific research has had public scrutiny for a long time. But Michael's most recent study was placed under so much pressure from upset dissidents that the journal formally retracted it. Today we get to find out just why human sexuality is such a dangerous topic to look into. Expect to learn what it's like to be in the middle of a globa...

Jul 15, 20231 hr 21 minEp. 654

#653 - George Mack - Stop Wasting Your Life On Things That Don’t Matter

George Mack is a writer, marketer and entrepreneur. If our mind is an operating system, ideas are the apps we install to give us a greater understanding of the world. George is one of my favourite thinkers and today we get to go through 16 of the best ideas we've both discovered since the last time we spoke over 3 years ago. Expect to learn whether optimism is actually a scam, why it's so sexy to be cynical, why high agency people are the best ones to have in your life, what is the most interest...

Jul 13, 20232 hrEp. 653

#652 - Chris Bumstead - This Is The Price Of Greatness

Chris Bumstead is a professional bodybuilder, 4X Mr. Olympia Classic Physique title holder, and a business owner. Chris is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He's been called the Arnold Schwarzenegger of his era. But just what does it take to become the best in the world? What is the inner texture of a world champion like when he's as open as Chris about his failings and vulnerabilities? Expect to learn why pressure is a privilege, what it means to have a champions mentality, how Chri...

Jul 10, 20232 hr 2 minEp. 652

#651 - Dr Mike Israetel - Can Money Actually Buy You Happiness?

Mike Israetel is a bodybuilding and fitness consultant, Temple University professor of Exercise Science, co-founder of Renaissance Periodization and author. There are thousands of videos online about what it means to be happy and successful, usually all with different conclusions, but most include wealth in some form or another. Expect to learn why a pessimistic view of life is unrealistic, the extent to which money can buy you happiness, why living in the present moment is overrated, if trading...

Jul 08, 20231 hr 53 minEp. 651

#650 - Geoffrey Miller - How Dangerous Is The Threat Of AI To Humanity?

Geoffrey Miller is a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of New Mexico, a researcher and an author. Artificial Intelligence possesses the capability to process information thousands of times faster than humans. It's opened up massive possibilities. But it's also opened up huge debate about the safety of creating a machine which is more intelligent and powerful than we are. Just how legitimate are the concerns about the future of AI? Expect to learn the key risks that AI poses ...

Jul 06, 20231 hr 20 minEp. 650

#649 - Anil Seth - Does Your Brain Hallucinate Conscious Reality?

Anil Seth is a professor of cognitive and computational neuroscientist at the University of Sussex, co-director of the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, and an author. What is the Self? What does it mean that we are the same person we were 10 years ago? Why do we have a subjective experience of reality at all? Is consciousness created or perceived? These are fundamental questions that philosophers and neuroscientists have been trying to answer for centuries. So can a new science of consc...

Jul 03, 20231 hr 16 minEp. 649

#648 - Chris Ferrie - 7 Ways To Ruin Your Life With Lies From Quantum Physics

Chris Ferrie is a physicist and mathematician at the University of Technology Sydney and an author. The term “quantum” is liberally tossed around within the spiritual community, often suggesting a level of insight into this mysterious field of science. But what do these people actually mean? What have these gurus correctly interpreted about the field of quantum physics, and where are they very confused? Expect to learn why the word “quantum” is so frequently employed by spiritual gurus, what “qu...

Jul 01, 20231 hr 20 minEp. 648

#647 - Megan Phelps-Roper - How Did Harry Potter Enter The Trans Debate?

Megan Phelps-Roper is a social activist, public speaker and author known for her insights into religious extremism. Harry Potter is the most banned book of the 21st century. Firstly frowned upon by far Right Christian groups for its promotion of witchcraft, the controversy has recently pivoted to the far Left who have concerns that JK Rowling is promoting transphobia. The obvious question is, how did one of the most beloved children's authors of all time end up here? Expect to learn the reason b...

Jun 29, 20231 hr 14 minEp. 647

#646 - Scott Griffiths - Why Are So Many Men Unhappy With Their Bodies?

Scott Griffiths is a researcher and psychologist at the University of Melbourne and an author known for his work on male body dissatisfaction and muscle dysmorphia. Many men have experienced this phenomenon - looking at photos of ripped guys on social media and longing for a more muscular physique. Why are so many men dissatisfied with their bodies and why do they continue to feel bad even when they're in great condition? Expect to learn the risk factors associated with body dysmorphia, why men'...

Jun 26, 20231 hr 5 minEp. 648

#645 - Emily Morse - Why Is Everyone Having Such Bad Sex?

Emily Morse is a sexologist, author, and host of the podcast “Sex with Emily”. In a sex-positive world, bedroom activities are still considered a taboo subject. And intimacy isn't at the forefront of everyone's minds right now, but having a good love life is important for your physical and psychological health, so I guess we need to hear from an expert. Expect to learn why people are having less sex than previous generations, why we feel shame when talking about sex and how to get over it, what ...

Jun 24, 202359 minEp. 645

#644 - Jack Carr - What Has Happened To The Love For America?

Jack Carr is a former United States Navy SEAL, outdoor adventurer and author of The Terminal List series. The lives of Navy SEALs have been romanticised on screen and in books for decades. But what is life behind-the-scenes actually like? Just accurate are the dramatisations? And why does no one love the military any more? Expect to learn the details of Jack's narrowest escape from death, what are the biggest myths and misconceptions surrounding military snipers, the parallels between warfare an...

Jun 22, 20231 hr 25 minEp. 644

#643 - Michael Kasumovic - Are Violent Video Games Actually That Harmful?

Michael Kasumovic is a professor of evolutionary biology at University of New South Wales, a researcher and an author. The influence of violent video games on human psychology has been contested for years. Does virtual violence translate to real world harm? Should we be worried about our friends and kids who play them? And just what makes these games so compelling? Expect to learn the evolutionary theory of why winners tend to win more and losers tend to lose more, whether video games skills tra...

Jun 19, 20231 hr 35 minEp. 643
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