What if the path to happiness isn't where all the spotlights are shining? While most seek contentment in the thin slice of "now," true fulfilment lives in a paradox. We're stuck in what I call "now-ish" thinking—that anxiety-producing zone of yesterday's failures and tomorrow's deadlines. We're taught to live in the moment, yet rarely consider where our moments are leading us. True happiness requires an honest look at your 30-year trajectory. Are you building skills you want to master for decade...
Mar 11, 2025•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast The mind does a lot of things we are never aware of. You don't think about how you move or digest, your mind just does it in the background, You also can't witness all the self-sabotaging doors your mind keeps you locked up in. We all have our own battles that limit us. Maybe how we think about money, or relationships or our own value. Maybe we get nervous about situations and it's our nerves that actually cause the problem we are afraid of. Today guest Jeff Bauhner shares a radical idea for how...
Mar 07, 2025•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast We all know smart people make dumb decisions. But why? Why do gamblers double down when they should walk away? Why do we check our phones 58 times a day? Why do people micromanage their partners and get confused when they become distant? We are all suckers for the illusion of control. We are convinced that our meddling is needed to achieve our desired outcome. Sadly this misses the important fact that we are causing all our problems. The episode covers all sorts of personal problems from addicti...
Mar 04, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast What if misery wasn’t something that happened to you—but something you unknowingly created? We all have habits that screw us over—whether it’s blaming others, scrolling mindlessly on Instagram, or convincing ourselves that “next week” is when we’ll finally start living. In this episode, I’m calling out the seven most toxic habits that keep people stuck in their own misery - they're probably (some) things you’re doing right now. I’ll break down why these habits exist, how society reinforces them,...
Feb 28, 2025•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ever feel like life’s pulling you in a direction you didn’t choose? Like you’re paddling against a current, but the harder you try, the further you drift? From social media algorithms to career paths, we’re all caught in currents we barely notice. They can sweep us toward growth or drag us into chaos. Whether it’s influencers chasing clicks or careers locking us into identities we never wanted, these currents are everywhere. But here’s the good news: just like in the ocean, you can learn to spot...
Feb 25, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast How to boost creativity and productivity with a gentle yet dedicated approach to getting the best of yourself Fun fact: The average person has 6,200 thoughts per day. Most creatives capture zero of them. What if the secret to unleashing your creative potential isn't finding inspiration, but building systems that make creativity inevitable? That’s why we have Jeremy Enns on the show. He's built a system that turns random thoughts into profitable content. Every. Single. Day. We cover: How to stop ...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast The awkward thing about finding our calling. Is that our calling isn’t out there looking for us. It's easy to be stuck in mediocrity waiting for the perfect moment or for that ambiguous feeling that we are totally ready and blessed with pre-ordained approval to start our ideas. These days knowledge is abundant and easily accessible. What's scarce is the willingness to show up, create, and launch our thoughts into the world before we feel ready. In this episode: How the world is changing and the ...
Feb 18, 2025•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Navigating the great paradoxes of the heart. What if everything we believed about perfect relationships was exactly what held us back from creating meaningful ones? Consider a few classic paradoxes: In our quest for closeness, we often create distance Distance often brings you closer Your partner's annoying habits, might actually be their best qualities.... This episode explores the delicate threads that weave together seemingly contradictory truths in relationships, Key topics: Learn to identif...
Feb 14, 2025•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast The more we fear loneliness, the more we scare people away. Connection is our birthright. Yet in our rush to avoid loneliness, we often make things worse. This is a story about the paradox at the heart of human relationships. But it's also a story about possibility. Key takeaways: Practical strategies to build confidence and attract healthy relationships The 7 hidden ways fear of loneliness sabotages relationships Understanding the distinction between solitude and loneliness Building the courage...
Feb 11, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast 76% of people regularly break promises to themselves - Why do we keep letting ourselves down? The uncomfortable truth about why your self-improvement efforts keep failing: it's not about motivation. It's about managing the gap between who you are and who you want to be. This episode breaks down the exact psychology behind why we disappoint ourselves (hint: your brain is lying to you) and gives you 5 practical systems to fix it. No fluff. No guru BS. Just actionable frameworks. What you'll learn:...
Feb 07, 2025•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast A high IQ isn't useful if you can't make decent life decisions. Drawing from neuroscience and behavioural psychology, this episode delivers practical frameworks for cognitive development. You'll discover: No-nonsense tools to stop overthinking and start actually learning from your mistakes Real-world examples of how reflection beats raw intelligence A simple system for turning life's patterns into practical wisdom Research-basked methods for implementing reflection practices and deliberate learn...
Feb 04, 2025•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ego loves company. But success? Success loves silence. Ever noticed how the loudest person in the room rarely has the most interesting thing to say? There's a reason for that. And it's the same reason why Elizabeth Holmes is in prison while the world's best operators are probably people you've never heard of. In this episode: - The "Washington Protocol": How America's first president used strategic humility to build an empire (and why modern leaders keep missing the point) - Lehman Brothers' $60...
Jan 31, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Make time your secret weapon. Our success and happiness are often eroded by the 7 habits of highly impatient people. We are losing the ability to focus and glorify instant success. Thus we lose the ability to stick with anything and create meaningful work. This episode goes through the psychology and philosophy of taking a slower and deeper approach to life: Understand the causes behind our poor attention spans Create resilience in your work Grow lasting momentum instead of bursts of speed From ...
Jan 28, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast What If Everything You Knew About Success Was Backward? Our lives are shaped by contradictions: The harder we chase happiness, the further it seems. The more freedom we gain, the more constrained we feel. You need money to be happy, but then chasing money makes you miserable. The more we learn, the more we realize we know absolutely nothing These are some of life’s paradoxes, and they are as profound as they are puzzling. In this episode, we explore 16 of these paradoxes, breaking down their und...
Jan 24, 2025•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast What if the path to true growth begins with admitting how little you actually know? The teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates tells us to use questions to expose holes in conventional thinking. If you enjoy learning about psychology, self-development, and the inner workings behind success, you’ll discover proven wisdom from ancient Greece on getting out of your own way. Hear unique Socratic tactics for: Questioning assumptions Overcoming knowledge bias Admitting what you don’t know...
Jan 21, 2025•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Timeless laws to focus on what matters and live free of stress and anxiety. No matter what life throws your way this year, adopting a Stoic mindset can set you up for both success and satisfaction. Join our host, Sam Webster Harris, as he walks through 24 powerful Stoic rules that are just as important today as 2000 years ago. The lessons will help you develop more mindfulness, discipline, generosity, calmness, and contentment in your life. We'll tackle big ideas like controlling what you can co...
Jan 17, 2025•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Strategic decision-making approaches to build wisdom in your everyday decisions. Annie Duke is the author of Thinking in Bets - A book full of genius psychology and poker tips to help you build mental models to make better decisions. Annie is a psychologist studying cognitive behavioural decision science and in her life as a professional poker player she won the World Series. She was even the highest-paid female player in history when she retired. Her psychology helped her poker and her poker he...
Jan 14, 2025•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The laws of physics are the only true limits, stop letting your brain set fake limits. We accrue all sorts of limiting beliefs for different reasons. Our culture and reference points hide them from us. Or fear of failure keeps us small. This episode explores the psychology of self-limiting beliefs and fixed mindset ideas that sit hidden and unchallenged in our mind. These limiting beliefs sabotage our potential and the only way to stop them it to take ownership of your own thoughts. We explore: ...
Jan 10, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast The psychology of beating procrastination, inaction, and confusion that lets you systematically work towards any goal. Goal setting is easy - Goal achieving is a very different thing. We dig into the main causes and the often small but subtle tweaks we can make that keep us in check. Using ideas from psychology and ancient wisdom we see how humans have dealt with the big hairy ambitious goals over history and how you can too: Task Initiation Paralysis - Shows us how Charles Darwin overcame the m...
Jan 07, 2025•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stop Dreaming, Start Doing - Action is more important than planning. We are increasingly addicted to planning yet more and more allergic to doing. Get your ducks in a row this year as we learn about the psychology behind our goals and dreams and what it takes to knuckle down, make some hard decisions and start taking action. We discuss some key concepts: What is our real work The problem with motivation and aspirations Waiting for life to blow us in the right direction 4 Burners theory Sam also ...
Jan 03, 2025•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast What does it mean to live a good life? The Stoics were the masters of asking the right questions to focus the mind on what's important. At the year's end, it's a perfect time to reflect on who you've been this year and who you want to be going forward. We juggle multiple priorities and hectic demands, so it's easy to get lost in the day-to-day. Today's episode will combine Psychology with Stoicism as we ask the most important questions we can of ourselves to help direct our lives in the directio...
Dec 31, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Why do we get off track, and how do we get back on track? Humans love goals, but where do our goals come from? How much do we choose them vs. have them chosen for us... We learn how to stop working towards destinations that look good to others. Instead, we dissect what makes a good goal that creates a journey we want to go on. Topics include: The reality of aspirational destinations Focussing on the journeys of your life A healthy relationship with money How to stay motivated The rule of thirds ...
Dec 27, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast The science behind spreading Christmas cheer and getting people to like you. Not only is Elf a wonderfully silly and enjoyable Christmas movie. Its premise is based on a fascinating concept that can be explored using psychology. What happens when an adult is raised by elves? Not only do we get to revisit a great story but we can learn about: Attachment Theory Identity Development Social Contagion and spreading good vibes Family Systems Nuerodivergence and upbringing effects The psychology of Jor...
Dec 20, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast What does psychology say about the role of information in building wisdom and lasting change in our lives? There is an explosion in self-help content. From gurus on Tik Tok to 85,000 self-help books being published a year. But what actually works? This episode explores the psychology of learning and how to put information into practice: How to identify time-wasting nonsense? 3 steps to build a healthy content diet The best forms of content for retention and lasting changes? Take home strategy to...
Dec 17, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Modern technology amplifies our fear and emotions. FOMO is on the rise. Whether you are worried about being invited to a party, checking social media, or finding it harder to make decisions. FOMO is increasingly driving our emotions and actions. It is a deeply natural feeling built into us through hundreds of thousands of years of evolution. But it hasn't kept up with our incredible pace of technological change. Part of the reason we have such a decline in mental health is we can compare ourselv...
Dec 13, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast The small but very real problems that hold you back in a big way. Personal finances feel just that, personal. Yet most of our issues are fundamentally quite predictable and universal based on different mindset patterns and beliefs we pick up. Money isn't a completely natural tool; it is a human invention that helps us overcome trade and resource accumulation problems. Learning the basics of how to think about money and deal with it allows for us to become a master of our own future. From Lifesty...
Dec 10, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Psychology of the 5 Types of Non-Player Characters - How to Fix Them and Be a Main Character Thinker. The same story plays out online every day. The same people are getting outraged about the same things again and again. Like Clockwork. The human brain is highly optimised to rely on heuristics and simplistic decisions. Modern media hijacks this system to control our beliefs and emotions based on the agenda of other people. This episode helps listeners build autonomy over their beliefs and em...
Dec 06, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast The surprising techniques to be more yourself - that also make you more interesting. There are endless self-help books and blogs about how to increase your charisma. In the same way you can increase your sales skills by following a checklist but there is something fake about it. Instead, we look at little-known ways you can naturally get better at being yourself. We can then expand on our own natural tendencies and be more interesting to the people we are inherently interested in. Some lessons i...
Dec 03, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Art of War: High School Edition Mean Girls was one of the biggest movies of 2004 - Twenty years later it still touches the themes that teenagers struggle with the world over. Navigating cut-throat social hierarchies and the urge to morph our identity to fit in. Regina George is the villain of the movie. She is always ready to take others down and manipulate anyone around her to retain power. But there is more going on than meets the eye. In this episode: Where narcissism comes from How high-...
Nov 29, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast What are the secret drivers behind the year's biggest shopping day, and why is there so much fighting? Black Friday has become an inescapable part of life, with a deal notification even popping up as a type this... (thanks Grammarly I don't need 50% off) But it wasn't always this way. In the early 1950's Philadelphia after Thanksgiving, a flood of traffic would swell for the local football game and downtown shopping. Cops called the gridlock "Black Friday" as a derogatory term. It was slowly ado...
Nov 26, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
