In this episode we catch up on life with a few big updates about the kids and what we’re learning as parents. We chat about the projects we’re working on at the moment, how we think about entrepreneurship, and why meeting people in the tech world still matters. We also explore some ideas around education, including homeschooling, and share a few thoughts from a book on the history of marriage. Plus Ali talks about his recent dive into Harry Potter fan fiction and why it’s surprisingly fun to rea...
Nov 17, 2025•52 min•Ep. 159
This week, we dive into the world of history, why it matters, how it shapes our understanding of society, and why ignoring it can be a mistake. Taimur shares how he went from not caring much about history to realising its importance in making sense of the world. We chat about historical consciousness, the limits of a purely tech-focused mindset, and why context is everything. Hope you enjoy the conversation! Chapters (00:00) Introduction and Personal Updates (05:32) The Importance of History (26...
Mar 05, 2025•51 min•Ep. 158
This week, we’re talking about the early stages of parenthood and all the chaos that comes with it. Taimur shares what it’s really like dealing with sleep deprivation, and we chat about why daily walks help keep you sane. We also get into the idea of liminal spaces – those in-between phases of life where things feel uncertain – and why they’re not necessarily a bad thing. Plus, some thoughts on sleep quality, fitness, and getting ready for big life changes. Chapters (00:00) Navigating Sleep Regr...
Feb 21, 2025•47 min•Ep. 157
In this episode of Not Overthinking, Ali and Taimur sit down with Derek Sivers to explore the journey of entrepreneurship, the concept of 'enough', and the role of money in happiness. Together, they discuss true financial freedom, future aspirations, and finding purpose in work. Derek reflects on his experience after selling CD Baby, navigating feelings of loss, setting new goals, and embracing change. The conversation touches on creativity, the fear of leaving behind successful ventures, and th...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 156
In this episode of Not Overthinking, Ali and Taimur dive into motivation, ambition, and the search for meaning in work and life. They chat about balancing personal fulfilment with financial success, the cyclical nature of ambition, and the challenges of staying motivated after reaching big goals. Along the way, they explore how community, values, and a clear vision can shape a meaningful journey. (00:00) The Morning Routine and Mental State (02:07) Finding Meaning in Goals (06:01) Cognitive Limi...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 155
In this episode of Not Overthinking, we discuss our morning routines, the excitement surrounding new book releases, and significant life updates, including Ali's upcoming fatherhood. We delve into the emotional aspects of parenthood, contrasting experiences, and share insights on Taimur's recent acquisition of his startup, Causal, exploring the implications for their work and future plans. We also discuss the intricacies of business acquisitions, the startup landscape, and the balance between pr...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 154
In this episode of Not Overthinking, Taimur shares his recent experience of becoming a father, discussing the challenges and joys of the early days of parenting. He reflects on his role as a husband during this time, the adjustments he has made to his daily routine, and the emotional bond he is forming with his newborn daughter. The conversation also touches on societal perceptions of parenthood, the impact of having a child on work-life balance, and advice for future parents. In this conversati...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 153
In this episode of "Not Overthinking," Taimur and Professor Jason Blakely dive into what ideology means and why it’s a big part of modern life. They talk about the limits of data in politics and how the stories we believe shape our views. They also discuss the challenges of staying objective and how ideologies like liberalism and conservatism shape our thinking. (00:00) Introduction to Ideology and Guest Introduction (02:45) Defining Ideology: Beyond Common Misconceptions (06:42) The Non-Optiona...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 152
In this episode of "Not Overthinking," together with Mags, we explore the complexities of work-life balance, the pressures of productivity, and the cultural narratives surrounding success. We discuss the concept of being 'locked in' to work, the impact of societal expectations on personal goals, and the importance of finding fulfilment beyond traditional measures of success. The dialogue highlights the tension between pursuing passions and the realities of market demands, ultimately questioning ...
Sep 26, 2024•52 min•Ep. 151
In this episode of "Not Overthinking," we cover a range of recent experiences and future plans. Ali talks about his recent marriage, honeymoon in Costa Rica, and his time at Burning Man, where he learned the value of living in the present and taking hobbies seriously. We also discuss Ali's move to Hong Kong, his plans to join local clubs, and our thoughts on aging. Our conversation touches on our shared interests in photography, filmmaking, and gear reviews. Additionally, we dive into my busines...
Sep 10, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 150
In this episode, Taim and I discuss health updates, workout plans, protein tracking, the impact of my book, creating original content, and the challenges of tailoring content to algorithms. We also talk about the changing creator economy, over-saturation of podcast formats, increasing competition, finding a niche, and the launch of VoicePal, my ghostwriting software. Finally, we touch on the future of my content creation and separating my brand from the business. Chapters (00:00) Introduction an...
Aug 07, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 149
In this episode, we explore the insights from a DEXA scan, the benefits of walking, and the development of VoicePal software. Ali talks about tweaking his exercise routine and diet, while Taimur shares his evolving views on politics and the importance of staying informed. We also touch on the joy of keeping a fish tank and the significance of engaging with the world beyond our immediate circles. Enjoy xx (00:00) - Introduction and Body Composition (03:18) - The Benefits of Walking and VoicePal (...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 148
In this episode, we chat with Jason Blakely, an associate professor of political science, discussing a range of topics related to political science, ideology, and the role of science in society. Jason critiques the approach of treating social sciences like natural sciences, highlighting the limitations and misinterpretations this can lead to. The discussion also delves into the concept of "Psi-ops" in social sciences, the influence of cultural and narrative elements in understanding social pheno...
Feb 03, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 147
Summary In this episode, Ali and Taimur delve into a range of personal and professional topics. Taimur shares his recent experience with contracting COVID-19 for the first time, discussing the physical and mental effects of the illness. He talks about experiencing severe cold symptoms, fever, and an altered mental state that included persistent song lyrics in his head, particularly from the musical "Hamilton." Ali reflects on his own past experience with COVID-19, particularly focusing on the la...
Jan 22, 2024•52 min•Ep. 146
Summary In this episode, Ali and Taimur catch up and discuss various topics. They introduce a calendar widget that allows users to provide feedback on meetings. They also discuss the value of experience and the misconceptions around being an ideas person. They reflect on their past impressions of fundraising, sales and marketing, delegation and outsourcing, brand deals and gifting, and book writing. Overall, they highlight the importance of gaining experience and understanding the intangibles in...
Dec 25, 2023•56 min•Ep. 145
In this episode, we talk about other podcasts and the future of the Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal podcast. Enjoy xx
Dec 18, 2023•57 min•Ep. 144
In this episode, we talk about the last five-or-so months of not posting any podcast episodes. Enjoy xx
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 143
In this episode, we catch up (and firmly put all the book highlight reading behind us). Merry Christmas! Enjoy xx
Dec 25, 2022•48 min•Ep. 142
In this episode, we carry on our discussion of the book 'Why Love Hurts' once more. Enjoy xx
Dec 18, 2022•25 min•Ep. 141
In this episode, we continue our discussion of the book “Why Love Hurts” by Eva Illouz. Enjoy xx
Dec 11, 2022•49 min•Ep. 140
In this episode, we discuss a few highlights from “Why Love Hurts” - a book which argues that our relationships go wrong due to 'institutional forces', rather than our dysfunctional childhoods or our insufficiently self-aware psyches (which is the more commonly accepted modern belief).
Dec 04, 2022•24 min•Ep. 139
In this episode, we discuss pysops: are things like 'eight hours of sleep a night' really necessary, or are we just unfoundedly made to believe them? Enjoy xx
Nov 27, 2022•35 min•Ep. 138
In this episode, we catch up on the past 6 weeks of our lives, discuss some calendar hacks and then break down our thoughts on the FTX crypto drama that’s been rampant on Twitter these past few days. Enjoy xx
Nov 20, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 137
In this episode, we discuss what we've been up to since the last episode, and we also continue discussing the book we've been reading. Enjoy xx
Sep 30, 2022•49 min•Ep. 136
In this episode, after a bit of rambling about our lives, we discuss Carl Trueman's book "The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self". Enjoy xx
Aug 22, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 135
In this episode, we discuss the spiritual journey that we're both dabbling with. Enjoy xx.
Aug 15, 2022•46 min•Ep. 134
In this episode, we ramble a bit about what’s going on in our lives, Ali’s recent discovery of Alan Watts, and the idea around whether or not we should give a ‘platform’ to potentially-controversial guests on our podcast. Enjoy xx
Aug 01, 2022•49 min•Ep. 133
In this episode, we discuss Taimur’s biggest life update in a long time. We explore the feelings behind being engaged vs being married, try to work out whether an expensive wedding is worth it, and a few other bits. Enjoy!
Jul 22, 2022•47 min•Ep. 132
In this episode, we discuss the idea of ‘enough’ and where our drive for ‘numbers go up’ comes from. Enjoy xx Search “One Sec” on the App Store and use the coupon code ALI15 to get a 15% discount on the premium subscription, if you want to pay for the premium subscription. Works perfectly fine as a free app too.
Jul 08, 2022•39 min•Ep. 131
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Jul 04, 2022•31 min•Ep. 130
