Brad and Steve discuss different models for working with others, ranging from permissive to authoritarian and everything in between. They explore the research on what works best for specific situations, and translate that into practical take-aways. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show ! Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagness Check out our exclusive com...
Jul 13, 2022•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast A discussion on consistency, intensity, and the tradeoffs between the two. The big topics discussed include how small steps compounded over time lead to big gains; why it is so tempting to over-do intensity and under-do consistency; how to determine a seven or eight out of ten and differentiate it from a nine or ten out of ten; and when it makes sense to go to the well. This one is jam packed with lots of interesting concepts and practical applications. Don't miss it! You can find the episode on...
Jul 06, 2022•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brad and Steve discuss the different habits, strategies, and practices that can help you learn when it makes sense to keep going (and grit) versus when it makes sense shut things down (and quit) — be it in a job, in a relationship, or in some other pursuit. Topics explored include job-crafting, values-based decision making, different ways of meeting basic needs, the myth of Sisyphus, and the three things that you want every job to have but nearly every job can only offer two. You can find ...
Jun 29, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this behind-the-scenes podcast, Brad interviews Steve on his new book Do Hard Things . Where did the idea for the book come from? How do you go from an idea of “fake toughness” to a fleshed-out framework for the real thing? What are the biggest myths about resilience that trip people up? How do you know when to keeping going versus quit? All of these questions and more are answered in this week’s podcast. It’s your final chance to receive pre-order bonuses for Do Hard Things! Check them out h...
Jun 22, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brad and Steve are joined by Kyle Klechenko, co-founder, co-owner, and head coach at Strength Ratio, to discuss his new e-book, “Building Foundations: Prioritize Your Health and Well-Being.” The trio discuss the latest science and nuance behind physical activity guidelines, nutrition, sleep, substance-use, bloodwork, pain management, and more. This is a must-listen: it lays out a nice, comprehensive framework for setting yourself up for optimal health and longevity without becoming a stress-cade...
Jun 15, 2022•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Some people love to grind and work long days and on the weekends. Some people like never to work outside of traditional hours. Some people like to brag about how much they work. Other people like to brag about how little they work. When should we work? Is there such a thing as too much work? Too little work? Our good friend, colleague, and always critical thinker Cal Newport (author of Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and A World Without Email ) joins us for a wide-ranging discussion on work. Part...
Jun 08, 2022•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast With the NBA finals here, Brad and Steve use the championship series as a jumping off point to discuss the power of well-oiled teams, where there is both dependence and independence. They contrast this with so-called “super teams” that are made up of all-star individuals. While the duo starts out with a discussion on sports, they end with two universal principles for developing and leading great teams regardless of the arena. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android...
Jun 01, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast It is mental health awareness month, and it is a topic near and dear to our hearts. Mental health and its opposite (mental illness) affects just about everyone at one point or another. On this episode, we detail eleven key concepts for mental health, all based on evidence and with concrete applications and practices. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources: You are Not a Rock by Mark Freeman Check out our exclusive community bonuses on ...
May 25, 2022•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast The episode title says it all. Brad and Steve investigate the connection between the wild west of supplements and the wild west of ideas and politicians. They propose some big-swing theories that make a whole lot of sense, and they also provide a very concrete list of what supplements tend to work for what type of people in what situations. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources: Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon . G...
May 18, 2022•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast You asked. We answered. This week's episode is a listener AMA, including: 1. What are some recent good books that you’ve read? 2. I know you two are both concerned with social media, how do you manage your own use currently? 3. What do you think of Elon Musk buying Twitter? 4. What projects are you working on? 5. Sleep is something that you say is paramount. How do I balance this with being a new parent? It seems impossible to get any sleep? 6. Is there any role for tools like whoop or fit bits?...
May 11, 2022•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast The NFL draft just went down last week. For football fans it is a very exciting time. For everyone else, it is a fascinating look at just how hard identifying talent can be. In this episode, Brad and Steve use the NFL draft as a starting point for a broader discussion on what we choose to measure in work and life and why. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources: Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon . Get a copy of The Pr...
May 04, 2022•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast In light of the news that Elon Musk might actually buy twitter, Brad and Steve explore how they use social media in their own lives and they offer some new and interesting ideas about owning your energy and attention in an increasingly frenetic and commercialized world. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources: Here is the Jonathan Haidt article and Derek Thompson article mentioned in the show. And the podcast conversation between the tw...
Apr 27, 2022•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week we are joined by Michelle Segar, who is a researcher at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, studying sustainable behavior change. The discussion revolves around when and why habits fail, and how you can still make the right choice in those moments. It is a great and actionable conversation on a framework for progress that is different than and complementary to the power of habits. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher *** Check out Michelle'...
Apr 20, 2022•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brad and Steve share a framework for “minimum effective dosing” of habits for health and performance. They provide a menu of evidence-based health and performance habits with the biggest bang for the buck, and then discuss how to harmoniously integrate these habits with everything else you have going on. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher *** Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon . Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! Please writ...
Apr 13, 2022•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Many people are experiencing a chronic low-grade fatigue. It can manifest as multiple snooze-button taps, mid-day crashes, struggling to find motivation for things that once made you tick, or some combination of all these things. This episode explores the two big reasons underlying this sort of low-grade chronic fatigue and what you can do about it in order to regain and reclaim your energy. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher *** Check out our exclusi...
Apr 06, 2022•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do we handle uncertainty in life? In this episode, Brad and Steve take on what to do when your world seems a bit out of whack. They dive into how to make better decisions , whether you should rely on intuition or rational thought processes, how to take care of your body during crazy times, and why there is no such thing as a bad decision. If your life feels a bit chaotic, this podcast is for you. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher *** Get The Prac...
Mar 30, 2022•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is a conversation for the ages. Brad and Steve are joined by a special guest, Eric Zimmer, a former heroine addict now successful coach, entrepreneur, and podcast host. You'll immediately sense that Eric is a kindred spirit to everything the Growth Equation Podcast stands for. The trio go deep on what addiction thinks and feels like, how Eric worked his way into recovery, and the key lessons therein for all of us—regardless of your current state and station in life. It was also fascinating ...
Mar 23, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Brad and Steve get personal and discuss what is top of mind for them when it comes to their own health and longevity, including why Brad has decided to lose some weight (and how he's going about it), why Steve is changing his relationship with sport performance, and how so many controversial and polarizing topics (such as weight loss) need not be. You'll be sure to enjoy this intimate and thoughtful discussion on tough topics with themes and lessons that are applicable to everyo...
Mar 16, 2022•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week on The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve check in with NYC Marathon Champion, Olympian, coach, and friend Shalane Flanagan. The trio first discuss the challenges that come with transitions. Shalane candidly describes the hard and dark days she faced when transitioning away from being an athlete and how she struggled to see her purpose and meaning. Brad, Steve and Shalane then turn to how to cope with impostor syndrome. Shalane offers tricks such as finding your specific role and ...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast There have been many recent articles, essays, and books arguing against ambition—and some might even say the pursuit of personal excellence. In this episode of the podcast, Brad and Steve provide a counter argument and bring some much-needed nuance to this discussion. It is not ambition that is bad. It is the ways in which many people channel it, and the ways in which the culture encourages us to channel it. Understanding this empowers us to better self-direct our ambition as individuals, and fo...
Mar 02, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Everyone experiences performance anxiety at some point. It's simply the cost of caring deeply about you are doing. In this episode, Brad and Steve dive deep on the mechanisms underlying performance anxiety and the various approaches to work with it: ranging from practices to diminish a strong stress response to those that help you channel anxiety and work with, not against, it. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher *** Blog post on identity connected to ...
Feb 23, 2022•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is it possible to strive for the utmost excellence without sacrificing your mental health? Can you care deeply about a pursuit without attaching your entire identity to it? Drawing from recent Olympic examples, these are the big questions, important, and timely questions that Brad and Steve wrestle with on this episode. This one is a must-listen for anyone serious about getting the most out of themselves in a healthy way, and also teachers, parents, coaches, and other leaders. You can find the e...
Feb 16, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast A must-listen for anyone currently pursuing (or considering) big goals in their life. Brad and Steve dive into one of their favorite topics: how to strike the right balance between internal and external validation in the pursuit of big goals, and the interplay between identity, ego, and achievement. They give examples of what happens when motivation goes awry. They touch on people like Elizabeth Holmes, Barry Bonds, and Lance Armstrong, and in a nuanced way. And they provide concrete strategies ...
Feb 09, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brad and Steve address all the people who seem to be losing their minds on the internet, and what they do (at their best) to stop themselves from going down this path. Hopefully you can apply some lessons to your own life and the people in it. (Warning: This podcast is full of rants. Love them or hate them or somewhere in between, we wanted to give you a heads up.) You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher *** Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Pat...
Feb 02, 2022•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Progress, continual growth, and development are all great, no doubt. But we all go through periods of life when it is wise to shift the goal from thriving to just getting through and surviving. What generally gets in the way: rigid expectations, fear of losing your rhythm, and the (false) entangling of how you feel (internally) with how you perform (externally). On this episode we dive into all that and more. Whether you currently feel like you are thriving or surviving, we're confident you'll f...
Jan 26, 2022•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Nobody likes to fail, but you can't get through life without failing at least a few times. On this episode, Brad and Steve discuss an evidence-based philosophy for thinking about failure—and also actually doing it. Topics include the interplay between self-discipline and self-compassion, finite versus infinite games, the short-term crappiness and long-term wisdom that comes with failing, and some of their own experiences with failure. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotif...
Jan 19, 2022•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Good enough is usually good enough. Good enough over and over again—that's how you get to great. The culture loves heroic efforts. Heroic efforts are how you burnout. Great outcomes love consistency. Consistency is how you play the long game. This episode is all about how to make consistency a practice. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher *** Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon . Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is curren...
Jan 12, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brad and Steve discuss the latest science of goal setting, including the common pitfalls most people overlook and the concrete principles for setting goals that will drive the process and outcomes you want in life. They also give personal examples of how they take this knowledge and apply it to setting goals in their own lives. This episode is filled with practical, timely, and immediately applicable tips. Don't miss it! You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stit...
Jan 05, 2022•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brad and Steve let loose recapping the six biggest ideas in performance and wellness from 2021. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher *** Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon . Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off! Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show ! Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagness The post Recapping the Six Biggest Perfo...
Dec 29, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brad and Steve are joined by world-class sculptor Emil Alzamora to discuss his work, the idea (and life) of being a craftsperson, physical versus digital art, the creative process, the role of lightening inspiration versus hacking at it every day, and so much more. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher *** Learn more about Emil here . Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon . Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 4...
Dec 22, 2021•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
