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.
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Episodes

Elon Musk, The Changing World Order & America’s Future - Marc Andreessen - #877

Marc Andreessen is a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz. America is entering a new chapter. With the recent election in the past, sweeping changes on the horizon, and a lot of uncertainty. Just how optimistic should we be about the upheaval the world is about to face? Expect to learn how we ended up on our current timeline, just how big the civil war is within the Democratic party right now, Marc’s thoughts on the motives and response to the Brian Thompson ki...

Dec 14, 20241 hr 30 minEp. 877

How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci - Michael Gelb - #876

Michael Gelb is an executive coach, speaker, and an author. Given that Leonardo da Vinci is one of history’s greatest minds, presumably we can learn a lot from the life, lessons and background of him. Michael is one of the world's leading writers on the man and today we get to discover his 7 most important rules for thinking like Leonardo. Expect to learn Leonardo da Vinci’s unique way of assessing problems, what Leonardo's demeanour was like as a person, if Leonardo was naturally gifted, what a...

Dec 12, 20241 hr 15 minEp. 876

Pushing The Boundaries Of Mental Toughness - Nedd Brockman - #875

Nedd Brockmann is an Australian ultramarathon runner, motivational speaker, and philanthropist. Is good mental health the same as strong mental toughness? Nedd has completed some of the most famous endurance feats in Australia, so what is driving him? And does the world actually understand his mission? Expect to learn why Nedd ran 1000 miles around a track raising over $2.5M for charity, Nedd’s reaction to the accusation that his event was just ’just toxic masculinity rebranded”, what Nedd’s die...

Dec 09, 20241 hr 32 minEp. 875

Why Are We More Divided Than Ever? - Michael Morris - #874

Michael Morris is a professor of cultural psychology at Columbia University and an author. Why are humans so tribal? Despite our capacity for empathy and inclusion, why do we always gravitate toward groups of similar individuals? And is there such a thing as good tribalism? Expect to learn why tribalism exists and how it evolved in humans, why we can hate people outside of our group and why we become hostile, if the modern world has worsened tribal instincts, whether tribalism is actually a good...

Dec 07, 20241 hr 36 minEp. 874

The Invisible Psychology Of Happiness & Meaning - Lionel Page - #873

Lionel Page is a professor at the University of Queensland and an author. Lionel is one of my favourite writers so I had to bring him on to uncover the invisible psychology which drives our happiness. How can we optimise for wellbeing in a world full of distractions and pressures? Why does persistent happiness remain so elusive, and what shifts can help us build a healthier, more sustainable relationship with it? Expect to learn what everyone gets wrong when thinking about happiness, the most im...

Dec 05, 20241 hr 28 minEp. 873

Exercise Scientist’s Masterclass On Longevity - Dr Mike Israetel - #872

Dr Mike Israetel is a Professor of Exercise and Sport Science at Lehman College and the Co-Founder of Renaissance Periodization. As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, the idea of humans living forever feels within reach. But what’s the truth about extending our lives? What does the latest science reveal about our pursuit of extended lifespan? Expect to learn the biggest determining factors to increase longevity, the role of genetics, whether fasting is the ultimate hack, how steroid u...

Dec 02, 20242 hrEp. 872

Why Does Mainstream Media Suck So Much? - Dave Smith - #871

Dave Smith is a stand-up comedian, podcaster and a political commentator. Why do so many Americans distrust the media? In fact, how can anyone trust the media when they has been proven wrong time and again? And is it possible to salvage this channel of public communication? Expect to learn what Dave thinks of the current state of the media, why they refuse to ever admit they're wrong, how much the media will learn from the recent election outcome, Dave’s thoughts on users leaving X for Bluesky, ...

Nov 30, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 871

How The Left Continues To Eat Itself - Cenk Uygur - #870

Cenk Uygur is a political commentator, former attorney and founder of The Young Turks,. The dust has settled after the US election, so what is the post-mortem? As the founder of the biggest Left-leaning show in the world, why does Cenk have so many problems with the way the Left is constructed right now, and how can they improve? Expect to learn if Joe Rogan is more credible than The View, if Elon will give Cenk the resources to run the Pentagon’s budget, whether it's possible for the left to st...

Nov 28, 20241 hr 5 minEp. 870

Life Lessons From A Modern Cowboy - Dry Creek Dewayne - #869

Dewayne Noel is a wrangler, cowboy, educator, and founder of Dry Creek Wrangler School. Hustle culture often tells us that working harder is the only way to succeed—grinding through 80-hour weeks on 4 hours of sleep per night. But what if the real solution isn’t about working harder, but finding balance? What if true success lies in slowing down, savouring life, smoking a cigar on the porch occasionally and being fully present. How differently might we define success then? Expect to learn who Dr...

Nov 25, 20241 hr 55 minEp. 869

The Hidden Truth About Our Collapsing Birth Rates - Mads Larsen - #868

Mads Larsen is a researcher who focuses on the history of human mating ideologies. The truth can be a tough pill to swallow, but when it comes to saving humanity, even the hardest truth is better than the softest lie. So why is Mads facing outrage for speaking a truth that could save a country? Expect to learn why Mads was canceled for talking about Norway's declining birth rates, the key reasons why people aren’t having more kids, the underlying psychology behind modern mating, the potential in...

Nov 23, 20241 hr 20 minEp. 868

Exposing The Food Industry’s Dangerous Lies - Vani Hari - #867

Vani Hari is an author, activist, and founder of Food Babe. Something is profoundly wrong with America’s food industry. From the scientists shaping America's understanding to the regulatory bodies meant to protect us, there are deep-seated problems in the system. The fight to restore America’s health has begun, but corruption and troubling ingredients in our food supply are just the tip of the iceberg. Expect to learn why Vani Hari took her fight straight to the front steps of Kellogg's headquar...

Nov 21, 202457 minEp. 867

How To Stay Disciplined When Times Get Tough - Jesse James West - #866

Jesse James West is a YouTuber and an athlete. Fitness is supposed to be enjoyable. And so is creating content about your favourite hobbies. But what about the dark side you don't see in your favourite influencers? How low were the moments they got to and what are the lessons to take away? Expect to learn how to overcome the fear and judgement of others, what running every day for 30 days does to your physique, Jesse’s experience from his first time competing in bodybuilding, the current sate of...

Nov 18, 20241 hr 42 minEp. 866

How High Performers Build An Unbreakable Mindset - Matthew Syed - #865

Matthew Syed is a journalist, author and former champion table tennis player. To master anything, you have to put in the time. But what are the key mindset principles that all resilient, high performers have? Expect to learn how people can learn more effectively from failure, the skill you need to develop to overcome the fear of risk, whether the 10,000 hours rule is the actual key to mastery, Matthew's new theory on why the modern generations are struggling so much and much more... Timestamps: ...

Nov 16, 20241 hr 25 minEp. 865

The True Story Of History’s Greatest Philosopher - Donald Robertson - #864

Donald Robertson is a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, an author and an expert on ancient philosophy. If you were to divide philosophy into two eras, it would be pre-Socratic and post-Socratic. Socrates is history's greatest philosopher, and today we get to discover new lessons about his life and his teachings. Expect to learn the benefits of thinking like Socrates, why he was so influential, what the Socratic method actually is, the hidden gem lessons from Socrates on how to live a good li...

Nov 14, 20242 hr 1 minEp. 864

The Hidden Art Of Reinventing Yourself - Matthew McConaughey - #863

Matthew McConaughey is an Academy Award winning actor, a producer and an author. Expect to learn what “Don’t half-ass it” means, the story of how Matthew got his iconic starting role in Dazed & Confused, how to see the upside during any crisis, why having a sense of humour should be your default emotion, McConaughey’s own version of his Lonely Chapter, when you should listen to your gut versus your head, why McConaughey turned down $14.5M to pursue something great, Matthew's reflections on t...

Nov 11, 20241 hr 49 minEp. 863

An Ode To People Who Take Things Seriously - Visakan Veerasamy - #862

Visakan Veerasamy is a writer and an entrepreneur. It's perhaps the biggest competitive advantage no one ever talks about because it's so obvious. But just what does it mean to be a serious person? And if it's such a help, why is it so hard to find? Expect to learn why being serious is so important, how to deal with being too harsh on yourself and holding high expectations of others, how to get better at being disliked, the relationship between seriousness and earnestness, ways to deal with proc...

Nov 09, 20241 hr 22 minEp. 862

The Dark Psychology Of Female Serial Killers - Dr Marissa Harrison - #861

Dr Marissa Harrison is a psychologist, professor, researcher and an author. All the most infamous serial killers are men? But 1 in 6 serial killers are women - a group who have totally slipped under the radar. So who are these women? What are their motives and why haven’t we heard of them? Expect to learn why female serial killers are neglected in research, what the average demographic of a female serial killer is, who are the most likely victims of a female serial killer, why they kill, the met...

Nov 07, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 861

Travis Kelce, OnlyFans & New York Chaos - Sam Morril - #860

Sam Morril is a stand-up comedian, writer, and podcaster. America is a strange place, full of quirky customs and bizarre rituals, from tipping practices to unconventional dating trends. So I figured I'd ask one of my favourite comedians how to navigate this odd land. Expect to learn how long it really takes to adjust to NYC, why Sam felt like a medieval country bumpkin for a while, the surprising stats behind American passports, why Spanish supermarket pineapples are a dating hotspot, what Sam t...

Nov 04, 20241 hr 8 minEp. 860

Why Does Everyone Feel So Politically Homeless? - Ana Kasparian - #859

Ana Kasparian is a political commentator, journalist, and co-host of The Young Turks. When we talk with normal people about politics, we usually have more common ground than disagreement. So how have public politics become so polarised? Why does it feel so tribal? And is it really that unreasonable to hold beliefs from both sides? Expect to learn why Ana went independent and unaligned herself from the Democratic party, the issues Ana has with the political Left, why the Left are scared of speaki...

Nov 02, 20241 hr 2 minEp. 859

Why Aren’t Men’s Issues Being Taken Seriously? - George TheTinMen - #858

George from TheTinMen is a content creator, pro-men’s advocate and a researcher. Why is it so hard to advocate for the problems of boys and men? If truly we care about half of the population flourishing and living lives they enjoy, why is it so unpopular to talk about the challenges they're facing? Expect to learn what George thinks the current wold of advocacy for men looks like, why the press struggles to define what “healthy masculinity” is, the lessons we can learn from the rise of the Manos...

Oct 31, 20241 hr 19 minEp. 858

DEI Wars, Trump's Bible & The Masculinity Vote - Ryan Long - #857

Ryan Long is a comedian, writer, and filmmaker. The world feels like a comedy goldmine right now. From the upcoming election and DEI backlash to bizarre trends like Japanese and Indian fetish porn, P Diddy conspiracy theories, Hawk Tuah memes and Florida men doing Florida man things, obviously we need an expert like Ryan to help make sense of everything. Expect to learn why companies that embraced DEI are rolling back their support, the hottest Google search trends when you type in “my husband w...

Oct 28, 20242 hr 30 minEp. 857

Why Does The 2024 Election Feel So Fake? - Krystal Ball - #856

Krystal Ball is the co host of Breaking Points, a political commentator and a podcaster. Politics has changed a lot over the last 4 years, and even more compared to a decade ago. And yet everything feels unreal, kind of like a pantomime. So, do elections even matter any more? Expect to learn if breaking stories have any real impact, whether Elon Musk is even influential in this election cycle, if Kamala is a change candidate or have incumbent legitimacy, the role of podcasts in deciding the futu...

Oct 26, 20241 hr 16 minEp. 856

Why Do Modern Men Feel So Left Behind? - Richard Reeves - #855

Richard Reeves is a writer, researcher and the Founder of the American Institute for Boys & Men. Men have been struggling for a long time. What exactly is going on? What resources can genuinely help modern men, and how can we better understand the dynamics that are driving this decline in male wellbeing. Expect to learn why Obama endorsed Richard’s book, the scary trends about male suicide, why it's important for humans to feel needed, whether the Harris-Walz campaign has even considered men...

Oct 24, 20242 hr 56 minEp. 855

The Hidden Secrets Of America’s Ancient Apocalypse - Graham Hancock - #854

Graham Hancock is a journalist and an author known for his work on ancient civilisations. The Americas hold a profound secret. While human history is often traced back to other parts of the globe, Graham believes that evidence points to the Americas being inhabited far earlier than previously believed. So what is the true history of the Americas and how does it reshape our understanding of human civilisation? Expect to learn how Graham thinks that the first inhabitants of the Americas got there,...

Oct 21, 20242 hr 5 minEp. 854

Should We Be Worried About Incel Violence? - Dr Andrew Thomas - #853

Dr Andrew Thomas is a senior lecturer of psychology at Swansea University and a writer. The topic of involuntarily celibates is a spicy one. Half of the internet fears them and the other half pities them, very few have researched about why these communities come together and who constitutes them. Andrew's new work looks at this in fascinating detail. Expect to learn whether incels should be looked at from a mental health perspective, why there isn't more incel violence, what the word Himpathy me...

Oct 19, 20241 hr 27 minEp. 853

The Untold Story Of England’s Greatest King - Dan Jones - #852

Dan Jones is a historian, author and a podcaster. Though many English kings throughout history have left a lasting impact, Henry V is considered potentially the greatest ever, even though he only ruled for 9 years. So, what made him such an important figure and why has his legacy endured for over 600 years? Expect to learn why King Henry V made such an impact on history, how he rose to power and what he managed to accomplish during his reign, why he was so impressive as a leader, what has happen...

Oct 17, 20242 hr 7 minEp. 852

Discipline, Motivation & The Champion’s Mindset - Chris Bumstead - #851

Chris Bumstead is a professional bodybuilder, 5x Mr. Olympia Classic Physique title holder, and a business owner. Ask any of the greats what it takes to win, and they’ll tell you the same thing: greatness comes at a cost. So, what is the price to becoming the best? What lessons are there to discover from a world champion who is prioritising his mental health above his sport? Expect to learn Chris’ reflections on his prep for his 6th Olympia Championship, Chris’ message to his younger self, how t...

Oct 14, 20242 hr 4 minEp. 851

2.75M Q&A - Women’s Value, Loneliness & Bernie Sanders - #850

I hit 2.75 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. Expect to learn whether I'll bring Bernie Sanders on the podcast, what I think about women's value to the world, why my forearms are this size, how to deal with loneliness, whether I'll release merch, why I'm a large emo kid, my advice for people going through a tough time and much more… Timestamps: (00:00) N...

Oct 12, 20241 hr 45 minEp. 850

Is Our Food Supply Making Us Sick? - Calley Means - #849

Calley Means is an entrepreneur, health & wellness advocate and an author. Why is America struggling with all time highs of obesity and illness? Healthcare has never been more advanced and yet levels of healthiness have never been worse. What's going on? And is there a way to make America healthy again? Expect to learn why modern health is so broken, the healthcare system's biggest issues, which health problems are unique to Americans, what is wrong with American food compared to the rest of...

Oct 10, 20241 hr 20 minEp. 849

Male Body Dysmorphia, Fat Loss & Insane Challenges - Will Tennyson - #848

Will Tennyson is a YouTuber and an athlete. Taking a journey from fat to fit is a massive achievement in itself. Will then went on to become one of the best creators of positive fitness and mindset content on the internet and today we get to discover some of his best lessons from a decade of self-improvement. Expect to learn why Will decided to become morbidly obese for a day and what he learned, which diet allowed him to lose the most weight, his thoughts on the state of male body dysmorphia, w...

Oct 07, 20241 hr 25 minEp. 848
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