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

#893 - Jillian Turecki - 9 Harsh Truths About How Relationships Work

Jillian Turecki is a relationship coach, teacher, writer and author. How do you create a thriving and loving relationship that truly lasts? While many may stumble into one by chance, building a deep and meaningful connection often requires more than luck. So what role does the inner work play in not just finding love, but building a relationship that continues to grow and flourish over time? Expect to learn why having a thriving relationship begins with self-work, why the mind is a battlefield i...

Jan 23, 20252 hr 34 minEp. 893

#892 - Kyle Forgeard - The Rise Of NELK, Donald Trump & Global Chaos

Kyle Forgeard is a content creator, entrepreneur, and co-founder of NELK. From Canada to global fame, the NELK Boys have become a household name. From pranks and viral videos to building an empire, Kyle and his crew have captured the attention of millions. But how did they rise to such heights, and what was the journey like along the way? Expect to learn what Kyle thinks of Canada at the moment, the biggest differences between living in Miami and LA, Kyle's friendship with Donald Trump, what dri...

Jan 20, 20252 hr 43 minEp. 892

#891 - John Vervaeke - The Psychology Of Finding Meaning In Life

John Vervaeke is a cognitive scientist, professor, and YouTube educator. Humans are meaning making machines. Even when we believe our lives lack meaning, we instinctively follow something; an idea, a goal, or a routine. So, how can we intentionally create more meaning in our lives, and what’s the best way to discover it when it feels absent? Expect to learn why humans need meaning and why having meaning is very important to humans, what creates meaning for an individual, why the word purpose is ...

Jan 18, 20251 hr 27 minEp. 891

#890 - Connor Beaton - A Man’s Guide To Feeling Your Feelings

Connor Beaton is a men’s life coach, founder of ManTalks and an author focusing on men’s wellness and personal growth. Emotions can be challenging. Some bring joy and comfort, while others we’d rather avoid entirely. But what if learning to embrace all emotions—even the uncomfortable ones—could lead to greater growth and understanding? Expect to learn why men have bad reputations with emotions, what emotions exactly are and why they’re important, how people can learn to start feeling their feeli...

Jan 16, 20251 hr 28 minEp. 890

#889 - Tony Robbins - How To Build An Extraordinary Life

Tony Robbins is a life and business coach, entrepreneur and #1 New York Times Bestselling author. What does it truly mean to live a good life? Many fall into the trap of believing that nothing we have—or ever will have—can fill the voids we feel inside. If material possessions and physical desires aren’t the answer, then what are the keys to a happy and fulfilled life? Expect to learn how to build your self-esteem, strategies for not being so hard on yourself, how to balance ambition & gratitude...

Jan 13, 20251 hr 28 minEp. 889

#888 - David Sutcliffe - How To Stop Betraying Yourself & Be More Authentic

David Sutcliffe is a former actor and life coach. Balancing self-compassion with self-discipline can be challenging. On one hand, kindness towards yourself fosters growth and resilience, but on the other, pushing yourself can maintain drive and ambition. How can we navigate this balance to treat ourselves better while staying motivated? Expect to learn the role of authenticity in everyday life, what the cost is of betraying yourself, why self compassion is so hard, why people struggle to access ...

Jan 11, 20251 hr 26 minEp. 888

#887 - Dr Rangan Chatterjee - The Key Strategies Of Behaviour Change

Rangan Chatterjee is a physician, author, and podcaster. Breaking old habits can be just as challenging as building new ones. As we step into a new year, what does the latest science say are the best strategies for forming positive habits and letting go of the old ones? Expect to learn what the problem with reliance is and why having minimal reliance is important, why hero worship is problematic, why there are problems with perfectionism, how to let go of the past, why so many people feel the ne...

Jan 09, 20252 hr 39 minEp. 887

#886 - Konstantin Kisin - A Plan To Save The Western World

Konstantin Kisin is a podcaster, a speaker and an author. With Trump's historic victory in the books, the implications of his policies and promises could send shockwaves worldwide. So what does this mean for the future of the West and Trump's impact on the global stage? Expect to learn whether Konstantin is actually right wing or not, if the Trump victory will inspire a broader movement across the globe, what happens if Trump is not able to deliver the big changes he promised, Konstantin’s take ...

Jan 06, 20252 hr 9 minEp. 886

#885 - Adam Grant - How To Overcome Your Fear Of Failure & Unlock Your Potential

Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist, professor at the Wharton School and an author. Success is multi-layered. It involves challenges like overcoming nervousness, developing an appetite for risk-taking, and dealing with failures both privately and publicly—the list goes on. So how can we better navigate these hurdles to unlock our full potential? Expect to learn why so many people fail to reach their true potential, what most people don’t realise about where meaning and motivation come f...

Jan 04, 20251 hr 16 minEp. 885

#884 - Nick Pollard - How To Stop Being Such A People Pleaser

Nick Pollard, “The People Displeaser,” is a coach and a speaker. Why do we feel so compelled to put others ahead of ourselves? Surely at the very minimum we should be able to prioritise ourselves. Yet it's hard. So, how can you break free from people pleasing tendencies and actually start advocating for your own needs with confidence? Expect to learn why people pleasing is such a trap, how someone can distinguish between being considerate and sacrificing their own identity to please others, how ...

Jan 02, 20252 hr 6 minEp. 884

#883 - Dr Matthew Walker - The Science Of Perfect Sleep

Dr. Matthew Walker is a neuroscientist, professor at UC Berkley, and author. Many of the mental and physical challenges you might be facing could have a surprisingly simple solution: more sleep. But why is sleep so essential? What happens when we sleep, and how can we optimize our sleep to maximize its benefits? Expect to learn what defines good sleep, how stress impacts your sleep, the keys to getting and maintaining a regular sleep pattern, the best sleeping positions, how to stop snoring, why...

Dec 30, 20243 hr 43 minEp. 883

#882 - The Best Moments Of Modern Wisdom (2024)

2024 is nearly over, so I decided to put together a compilation of some of my favourite moments from the show over the last year. It was going to be a top 10, but I couldn't choose, so it's 11. Expect to learn Andrew Huberman's best advice on how to become a morning person, why Oliver Burkeman thinks you should stop trying to control your life, the reason Eric Weinstein thinks more young men are becoming Right Wing, Dr Mike Israetel's most important advice for choosing muscle-building exercises,...

Dec 28, 20242 hr 6 minEp. 882

#881 - Christmas Special - Life Hacks, Biggest Lessons & Best Resolutions

I'm back on my old couch in Newcastle with Jonny, Yusef & George to catch up on what they've learned, their best hacks and new year's resolutions for 2025. 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 How To Mast...

Dec 23, 20242 hr 43 minEp. 881

#880 - Greg McKeown - How To Focus On What Matters Most

Greg McKeown is an author, public speaker, and leadership consultant Success requires you to focus on what truly matters. But in the modern world there are more distractions than ever before. So how should you best choose what to prioritise, and what are the pitfalls to avoid? Expect to learn how Essentialism has evolved over the past decade, why saying no is so hard and how to get better at saying it, how to counteract your desire for novelty, why it’s so difficult to cut your losses, how to us...

Dec 21, 20241 hr 19 minEp. 880

#879 - 16 Lessons From 2024 - Chris Bumstead, Elon Musk & Alex Hormozi

Get my free End Of Year Review Template here - https://chriswillx.com/review/ It’s the end of 2024 and to celebrate I thought I’d run through some of the best lessons I’ve picked up over the last 12 months. This year has had over 10,000 minutes of episodes produced so there was a lot to choose from but I ended up settling on 16 insights from some of my favourite conversations both inside and outside of the podcast. Expect to learn what the insecure overachiever mindset is, whether success has to...

Dec 19, 20241 hr 5 minEp. 879

#878 - David Senra - 15 Harsh Truths From History’s Greatest Founders

David Senra is the host of Founders podcast and an investor. Every success story is like a unique song, composed with different instruments. Yet, when you listen closely, many of them share the same underlying rhythms. So, what are the core principles that play a key role in the lessons of the most successful individuals from history? Expect to learn why excellence is defined by the capacity to take & manage pain, why having high powered relationships is the secret to running the world, if self-...

Dec 16, 20242 hr 20 minEp. 878

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

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, 20242 hr 30 minEp. 877

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

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

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

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, 20242 hr 32 minEp. 875

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

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, 20242 hr 36 minEp. 874

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, 20242 hr 55 minEp. 869

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

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

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

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

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

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, 20242 hr 42 minEp. 866

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

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... Sponsors: Se...

Nov 16, 20241 hr 25 minEp. 865

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

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