Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
- Épisodes
- 560
- Parution
- plusieurs fois par semaine
- Dernier épisode
- 13 Nov 2026
À propos du podcast
Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives. WHY LISTEN? Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it? This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change. WHAT YOU'LL GET Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism. Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be. We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system. WHAT YOU DON’T GET No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn. Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health. THE APPROACH Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development. Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life. YOUR HOST I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives. This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation. PREMIUM Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord. Growth Mindset Premium PAST SERIES Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum. Past series: — Psychology vs Stoicism — Time Management for Busy Mortals — Independence and Knowing Yourself — Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking — Psychology of Connection and Relationships — Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets — Addiction and Behaviour Change — Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory — Mental Strength and Self-Discipline
Épisodes 560
How to Want Less in a World That Wants You to Buy More
A deep dive on the psychology of impulse, scarcity, and the hidden forces shaping your choices. Using Black Friday as a case study 🎁 Every purchase begins with a story. Sometimes it is a story about …
Notes de l’épisode
A deep dive on the psychology of impulse, scarcity, and the hidden forces shaping your choices. Using Black Friday as a case study 🎁
Every purchase begins with a story. Sometimes it is a story about convenience. Sometimes it is a story about who we hope to become. And sometimes (especially when a red countdown timer appears) it is a story about fear.
This episode asks: who is shaping the story before you decide? From Black Friday queues to endless online aisles, we examine how scarcity, social proof, competition, and frictionless technology can quietly move us from intention to impulse.
The point is not to reject desire, comfort, or beautiful things. It is to distinguish between a choice that reflects your values and one that merely responds to pressure. When we see the system clearly, we regain the ability to participate in it differently.
Identify the story: what future self, status, or feeling is this purchase promising?
Name the trigger: scarcity, urgency, comparison, or social proof may be doing the deciding.
Choose deliberately: make room for a pause before the impulse becomes an identity.
Press play to see consumer culture with fresh eyes—and to practise wanting less, on purpose
SPONSORS
🏗️ Base44
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- 30% off plans - base44.com/psychology
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- Gear up the way the locals do
- 20% off promo - Stio.com/Psychology
☺️ NOCD
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- Book a free 15 min call
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- Alex Honnold interviews people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 The Contradiction of Black Friday
00:42 A Brief History of Black Friday
01:02 The Psychology Behind Sales
03:00 From Traffic Nightmare to Cultural Phenomenon
05:00 The Psychology of Discounts
06:28 The Power of Anticipation
07:57 Case Studies of Black Friday Madness
09:18 The Dark Side of Black Friday
10:15 Social Contagion and Polyvagal Theory
10:48 Acts of Kindness Amidst the Chaos
12:19 Cyber Monday and Online Shopping
14:00 The Shift to Online Shopping
15:00 Sale-Induced Purchasing Disorder
16:26 The Environmental Cost of Black Friday
18:34 Global Perspectives on Black Friday
20:21 Human Nature Revealed by Black Friday
20:34 The Irrationality of Value
21:38 The Social Dynamics of Black Friday
22:21 Final Thoughts on Black FridayTopics
The psychology behind Black Friday shopping
Why discounts trigger impulse buying
Scarcity, urgency, and fear of missing out
How marketing shapes consumer decisions
The anchoring effect and perceived value
Why online shopping encourages overspending
Social pressure and behaviour in crowds
Compulsive buying and credit card debt
The environmental cost of fast consumption
How to make more intentional purchases
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How To Be More Interesting - Without taking a course in charisma or fighting a bear
In fact, quite surprisingly to myself and the wider philosophy community, to become more interesting you don't even need to read Nietzsche! You can become distinctly memorably by simply being yourself. In this …
Notes de l’épisode
In fact, quite surprisingly to myself and the wider philosophy community, to become more interesting you don't even need to read Nietzsche!
You can become distinctly memorably by simply being yourself.
In this episode, we look at why shallow interests rarely make you memorable—and why going deeper into the things you actually care about can change how people see you. I share the surprising maths behind why exploring a topic ten times more deeply can make it a hundred times more interesting, plus why embracing a little harmless weirdness can make you more confident, more relatable, and more fun to be around.
We also tackle the other side of the equation: you do not need to stand out in every meeting, comment section, or conversation. Sometimes being ordinary is the smartest use of your energy.
Go deeper into one interest instead of collecting surface-level opinions.
Try one small thing that feels socially awkward but genuinely excites you.
Save your effort for the moments where standing out actually matters.
Press play if you want to become more interesting without turning yourself into a performance.
SPONSORS
🏗️ Base44
- Build your own apps, websites, products and AI agents on Base44 using your own words.
- 30% off plans - base44.com/psychology
⛷️ Stio
- Ski wear designed and tested in Jackson Hole
- Gear up the way the locals do
- 20% off promo - Stio.com/Psychology
☺️ NOCD
- Struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help
- Book a free 15 min call
- https://learn.nocd.com/growthmindset
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interviews people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Why Fit In When You Were Born to Stand Out?
01:00 How to Create More Interesting Interests
02:31 Why Going 10x Deeper Makes You 100x More Interesting
03:38 Examples of Geeking Out That Are Fascinating
05:00 How Deep Interests Make Everyday Conversations Better
06:00 Becoming More Yourself by Facing Social Fear
08:10 The Space Hopper Experiment
09:10 Wearing a Dress at Web Summit
11:00 What Happens When You Stop Trying to Conform
12:00 When Trying Too Hard Becomes a Waste of Energy
14:31 Don’t Over-prepare for Everything
15:14 Stand Out vs Chill Out
16:00 The Best Way to Be More InterestingTopics discussed
How to become more interesting without faking confidence
Why going deeper into interests makes conversations better
The maths behind curiosity, exploration, and creative depth
How to embrace your weirdness without overthinking it
Facing small social fears to build genuine confidence
Why trying to impress people can backfire
When it is smart to blend in and save energy
How to choose the moments worth standing out for
Building a more interesting life through curiosity
Being yourself without turning it into a performance
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Fifty Shades of Dysregulation: The Nervous System’s Hidden Role in Sex and Love
Does loneliness make people horny and other questions that demand answers? The human body is a marvel: it can fall in love, write symphonies and forget where it left its keys. It can also decide, with …
Notes de l’épisode
Does loneliness make people horny and other questions that demand answers?
The human body is a marvel: it can fall in love, write symphonies and forget where it left its keys. It can also decide, with tremendous confidence, that a first date is roughly equivalent to being chased by a wolf.
Sex therapist and trauma-informed practitioner Rachel Jane Cook joins the show to explain this curious design flaw. She describes how the nervous system constantly scans for danger, and how past experiences can leave it primed to protect us from intimacy, attention or desire. The result can be anxiety, numbness, avoidance, or a puzzling urge to seek connection in places that do not truly soothe us. We discuss trauma, attachment, loneliness, sexual compatibility and why community—not merely individual willpower—helps people change.
Learn to spot the difference between feeling activated, shut down and genuinely safe.
Treat avoidance as information, not a moral failure.
Invest in relationships that help your body settle, rather than relying on one partner to meet every need.
Press play for a kinder, more curious way to understand yourself.
SPONSORS
⛷️ Stio
- Ski wear designed and tested in Jackson Hole
- Gear up the way the locals do
- 20% off promo - Stio.com/Psychology
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Reinventing Yourself Through New Environments
02:13 Nervous System Dysregulation
04:00 Why Comfort Zones Can Become Traumatic
07:33 Building an Unemployable Life
10:53 Loneliness, Touch and the Need to Connect
14:24 Intersectionality in Therapy
18:50 Gender, Diagnosis and Mental Health Labels
21:28 Healing Through Nervous System Regulation
24:04 Community Care Over Self-Care
28:11 Psychedelics and Self-Development
30:51 Turning Connections Into Opportunities
33:57 From School Yearbook to Radio Show
35:31 Growing Confidence Through Podcasting
37:26 The Kindest Thing Someone Has DoneTopics discussed
Reinventing yourself by changing your environment
How nervous system dysregulation affects behaviour
Trauma-informed therapy and emotional safety
Why pushing outside your comfort zone can backfire
Loneliness, skin hunger and the need for touch
How trauma shapes sex, desire and intimacy
Intersectionality, privilege and access to therapy
Gender bias in mental health diagnoses
Community care as an alternative to self-care
Psychedelics, integration and personal insight
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Psychology of Mean Girls - Lessons on Power, Fear & Insecurity
How social hierarchies, relational aggression and status games shape teenage behaviour. In this episode, we use Mean Girls as a surprisingly useful case study in social psychology. Regina’s power does not come …
Notes de l’épisode
How social hierarchies, relational aggression and status games shape teenage behaviour.
In this episode, we use Mean Girls as a surprisingly useful case study in social psychology. Regina’s power does not come from being universally liked. It comes from making other people need her approval. Through relational aggression, exclusion, gossip and carefully chosen compliments, she turns friendship into a hierarchy—and turns insecurity into influence.
We explore narcissistic traits, social dominance, adolescent identity, and why ostracism can hurt as much as physical pain. Then we ask the uncomfortable question: if the system rewards manipulation, how different would any of us be?
Notice when you are seeking approval rather than connection.
Recognise exclusion and gossip as forms of social control.
Choose the status games worth playing—and leave the rest.
SPONSORS
⛷️ Stio
- Ski wear designed and tested in Jackson Hole
- Gear up the way the locals do
- 20% off promo - Stio.com/Psychology
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Mean Girls and Social Psychology
02:34 Regina George: The Rulebook
04:51 The Plastics and building a kingdom
07:38 The Fragility of Regina’s Power
10:17 Diagnosing Regina George
15:39 Regina’s Transformation
17:38 The Real Tragedy of Regina George
20:52 Fun Trivia
28:00 Closing ReflectionTopics discussed
The psychology of Regina George and Mean Girls
How social hierarchies shape teenage behaviour
Relational aggression, gossip and social exclusion
Narcissistic traits, manipulation and fragile self-esteem
Why fear of irrelevance drives controlling behaviour
Social dominance and the fragility of popularity
How status games affect identity and belonging
Why ostracism can feel like physical pain
The influence of parenting and appearance-based worth
Choosing connection and values over approval
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What Is Real Wealth—and How Do You Build It? | The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
How to rethink success, escape status games, and build a life with more freedom. In this episode, Sam and Nico explore The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. A book that changes how you think about success. The …
Notes de l’épisode
How to rethink success, escape status games, and build a life with more freedom.
In this episode, Sam and Nico explore The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. A book that changes how you think about success. The fundamental concept is that earning money isn’t the same as building wealth. A bigger salary can become a faster treadmill. You're not actually going anywhere you want to end up.
Through their experiences learning to code, building businesses, and sharing ideas publicly, they unpack Naval’s approach to valuable skills, leverage, and long-term relationships. They also question the urge to impress people you don’t particularly like. Because the goal isn’t to win an endless comparison contest. It’s to build something that gives you more choice over your time.
So listen in to understand what “enough” actually means to you.
Define success by the freedom you want, not someone else’s income.
Identify a skill or asset that can create value beyond your working hours.
Choose collaborators you’d happily keep learning and building with.
SPONSORS
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
⛷️ Stio
- Ski wear designed and tested in Jackson Hole
- Gear up the way the locals do
- 20% off promo - Stio.com/Psychology
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
02:00 Introducing The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
04:00 Wealth, Money, and Status
07:00 When Can You Call Yourself Wealthy?
09:00 Building Wealth from Nothing
11:00 Specific Knowledge and Accountability
14:00 Learning to Build and Sell
17:00 Using Capital as Leverage
20:00 Scaling Your Impact with People, Code, and Media
23:00 Becoming a Perpetual Learner
26:00 Can Wealth Creation Be Ethical?
28:00 Escaping Status Games
31:00 Long-Term Relationships and Compounding
33:00 Why Judgement Matters More Than Effort
36:00 Defining Enough and Reviewing the Book
39:00 Wisdom, Stories, and Who This Book Is For
42:00 Closing Thoughts and ReflectionTopics discussed
Naval Ravikant’s philosophy of wealth and freedom
The difference between money, wealth, and status
Defining success beyond income and social comparison
Building valuable skills through learning and curiosity
Using leverage to create value beyond working hours
Learning in public and embracing personal accountability
Ethical wealth creation through solving real problems
How long-term relationships compound trust and opportunity
Making better decisions instead of simply working harder
Recognising when to change your career direction
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A Simple Framework for Solving Any Problem in Your Life
Practical tools for problem-solving, decision-making, and building resilience when life feels complicated. Simply put, You don’t need a better life. You need a better way to deal with the one you’ve got. Most …
Notes de l’épisode
Practical tools for problem-solving, decision-making, and building resilience when life feels complicated.
Simply put, You don’t need a better life. You need a better way to deal with the one you’ve got.
Most problems feel huge because we meet them all at once. A difficult decision, a relationship issue, money stress, a career wobble—they arrive tangled together, and your brain treats the whole knot as one emergency.
This episode gives you a simple framework for solving problems without spiralling. You’ll learn how to define what’s actually wrong, separate what you can control from what you can’t, and turn vague worry into one clear next step.
Name the real problem in one specific sentence
Sort it into “control,” “influence,” and “accept”
Choose one small action you can take today
Press play and turn the next problem on your list into a plan.
SPONSORS
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Problems Are Illusions of the Mind
00:37 A Framework for Handling Complaints
01:22 The Three Types of Problems
02:02 Problems You Want to Have
02:39 Problems You Have to Accept
03:56 Why Expectations Create Suffering
08:05 Problems You Don’t Want to Have
09:58 Community, Purpose and Major Life Changes
11:16 Having Too Many Interests and Desires
14:29 When Small Problems Reveal Bigger Issues
15:56 How Priorities Change Over Time
17:00 Complaints as Tools for Self-Reflection
19:20 OutroTopics discussed
A simple framework for solving any problem in life
How to define the real problem behind your stress
Separating what you can control from what you cannot
Turning overwhelming problems into clear next steps
Why vague worries feel harder than specific problems
Practical problem-solving skills for difficult decisions
How to stop spiralling and start taking action
Building resilience through better decision-making habits
Using curiosity to find solutions instead of blame
A mindset shift for handling life’s inevitable challenges
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Designing Your Ambition Around A Life You Enjoy - w/ David Meltzer
Rethinking success and our approach to money, happiness and breaking free from a scarcity mindset. You’ve upgraded your goals, your workload and possibly your spreadsheet. Has anyone remembered to upgrade your …
Notes de l’épisode
Rethinking success and our approach to money, happiness and breaking free from a scarcity mindset.
You’ve upgraded your goals, your workload and possibly your spreadsheet. Has anyone remembered to upgrade your enjoyment?
This episode asks whether your approach to success is delivering a better life or merely a longer to-do list. David Meltzer joins Growth Mindset Psychology to discuss gratitude, priorities and the expectations we place on money.
You’ll explore why “enough” can remain frustratingly out of reach, how to distinguish useful ambition from chasing approval, and what to do when frustration starts steering your decisions.
David also shares five daily questions for bringing direction to your efforts. No requirement to stop caring about achievement or become suspicious of your salary. The invitation is simpler: examine what you expect success to solve, then make more deliberate choices about how you spend your time.
Ask what your next achievement is supposed to change.
Make gratitude a daily practice, not an occasional thought.
Identify what matters now before adding more to your workload.
Listen for a more useful definition of progress—one that includes enjoying the life you’re working so hard to improve.
SPONSORS
🔋 MOD.com
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Why Success Doesn’t Guarantee Happiness
03:18 Five Daily Practices for Purpose and Priorities
06:50 When Ambition Creates a Scarcity Mindset
10:04 Can You Learn Without Making the Mistakes?
11:57 Money, Status and the Purpose Behind Spending
15:11 Handling Frustration and Refocusing Your Energy
17:11 Natural Talent, Practice and Reaching Your PotentialTopics discussed
The relationship between money, happiness and fulfilment
Designing ambition around a life you enjoy
How scarcity thinking shapes your definition of success
Daily gratitude practices for appreciating what you have
Five daily questions for clarifying goals and priorities
Learning from mentors versus making your own mistakes
Understanding the motives behind status and spending
Managing frustration through breathing and deliberate reprioritisation
Finding enjoyment in the pursuit of personal growth
Developing natural talent through consistent practice
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How to Enjoy Your Imperfect Life
Simple mindset shifts to build more gratitude, without reworking your entire personality. We imagine success as a destination where the problems finally stop. But the life we want brings its own friction: the …
Notes de l’épisode
Simple mindset shifts to build more gratitude, without reworking your entire personality.
We imagine success as a destination where the problems finally stop. But the life we want brings its own friction: the garden needs tending, meaningful work fills the inbox, and intimacy means sharing life with another imperfect person. If we only notice the friction, we can miss the strange fact that some of our frustrations belong to things we once hoped for.
This episode considers gratitude as a shift in attention, not a demand to call everything good. We’ll look at how anticipating the difficulties attached to our hopes can help us meet them with more perspective. And we’ll explore a second route to appreciation: curiosity. Learning how ordinary comforts came to exist can loosen their grip as invisible background and make the familiar feel newly astonishing.
No perfect mindset is required. Just a willingness to look again at the life already taking shape around you.
- Actionable takeaways to build positivity
- No requirement to pretend bad things are good
- Increased levels of inner peace and lower frustration
SPONSORS
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Gratitude Without the Zen Routine
00:32 Why Gratitude Is So Elusive
01:35 The Problems That Come With a Good Life
04:12 The Annoyances Hidden in Success
05:56 Planning for the Problems You Want
08:46 Making Peace With Imperfection in Relationships
09:40 Why Perspective Alone Doesn’t Create Gratitude
11:44 Finding Wonder Through Curiosity
13:18 Stories That Make the Everyday Feel Extraordinary
15:10 Building Everyday Gratitude Through Curiosity
15:54 A Practical Recap: Reframing Life’s Problems
17:58 Next Week: The Problems You Don’t Want to HaveTopics discussed
Building practical gratitude without forced positivity
Reframing everyday problems as signs of success
Finding perspective when goals bring new frustrations
Accepting imperfection in relationships and daily life
Using curiosity to rediscover wonder in ordinary things
Appreciating modern comforts through history and innovation
Shifting attention from complaints toward what matters
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What Your Relationship With Food Is Trying to Tell You - w/ Toni Maranucci
Most people think healthy eating means following stricter rules: fewer carbs, fewer calories, fewer “bad” foods. But strict rules often create the exact behaviour they’re meant to prevent. Eat one cookie, feel …
Notes de l’épisode
Most people think healthy eating means following stricter rules: fewer carbs, fewer calories, fewer “bad” foods. But strict rules often create the exact behaviour they’re meant to prevent. Eat one cookie, feel guilty, decide the day is ruined, then eat three more.
In this episode, I speak with registered dietitian Tony Marinucci about how to build a healthier relationship with food—without obsession, punishment, or another fad diet.
We explore why extreme restriction backfires, how “good” and “bad” food labels damage your mindset, and why focusing on energy, confidence, and long-term habits beats chasing a number on the scales. Tony also shares practical ways to handle comments about your body, set boundaries around diet talk, and make nutrition simpler rather than more complicated.
Notice when you label food as “good” or “bad” and ask what belief is behind it.
Choose one small, repeatable habit that improves how you feel—not just how you look.
Set a calm boundary when someone comments on your body or eating choices.
Press play and learn how to make peace with food—without giving up on your health.
SPONSORS
☺️ NOCD
- Struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help
- Book a free 15 min call
- https://learn.nocd.com/growthmindset
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
🌳 Acorns
- Smart way to grow your money
- $5 welcome bonus
- Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Why Food Mindset Matters
01:00 From Dieting to Dietetics
01:47 The Problem With Fad Diets
03:46 Why Quick Transformations Mislead Us
04:59 The Real Cost of Restrictive Programs
07:07 Changing Your Mindset Around Food
09:00 Focus on How You Want to Feel
10:00 Building Habits for the Long Game
11:00 Setting Boundaries Around Body Comments
11:47 Instagram, TikTok and Diet Culture
12:35 Coaching, Weddings and Sustainable Change
14:41 Hydration, Exercise and Digestive Issues
16:43 Electrolytes, IV Drips and Marketing Hype
18:58 The Kindest Thing Someone Has Done
20:03 Final Advice: Act First, Learn Later
20:45 Outro and ReflectionTopics discussed
How to build a healthier relationship with food
The psychology behind food guilt and shame
Why extreme diets and quick fixes backfire
Breaking free from the diet-binge cycle
Focusing on energy and wellbeing, not just weight
How social media shapes body image and eating habits
Setting boundaries around comments about food and bodies
Building sustainable nutrition habits without restriction
Hydration, electrolytes, and nutrition for endurance exercise
Why self-compassion supports long-term healthy eating
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AMA: Accountability and Procrastination, Lasting Enthusiasm and Auditory Processing Issues
Why we procrastinate, lose enthusiasm and struggle to process spoken information—and what actually helps. In this listener AMA, I answer three questions: how auditory processing difficulties affect a child’s …
Notes de l’épisode
Why we procrastinate, lose enthusiasm and struggle to process spoken information—and what actually helps.
In this listener AMA, I answer three questions: how auditory processing difficulties affect a child’s willingness to learn, why enthusiasm disappears even when nothing is objectively wrong, and how to stop procrastinating on projects that matter. I share my own experience of struggling with spoken instructions, language learning and getting a podcast off the ground. We look at why “just try harder” usually fails, why accountability often works better than willpower, and how to make difficult tasks feel less punishing.
Separate low enthusiasm from negativity bias before deciding whether to quit.
Turn one intimidating project into visible, small next actions.
Use deadlines, other people and reduced friction to make follow-through easier.
If this gave you a useful idea, send it to someone who needs permission to start imperfectly.
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Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to the AMA
00:38 Auditory Processing and Willingness to Learn
03:36 My Experience of Learning Difficulties
05:18 Learning Spanish in Mexico
07:10 How Environment Shapes Learning
10:01 Signs of Auditory Processing Issues
14:02 Enthusiasm vs Negativity Bias
16:52 Why You Might Feel Flat, Not Negative
19:35 What to Do About Low Enthusiasm
21:08 Accountability and Procrastination
22:42 How I Finally Launched the Podcast
26:52 Productivity Books and Planning Tools
29:12 Breaking Big Projects Into Small Tasks
32:00 Habits, Focus and Finishing Deadlines
35:09 Thanks and Send-OffTopics discussed
Auditory processing difficulties and learning support
Why children lose confidence at school
Making difficult skills easier and more enjoyable
The difference between low enthusiasm and negativity bias
How to rebuild motivation without quitting everything
Accountability strategies for procrastination
Breaking overwhelming projects into manageable tasks
Using deadlines and habits to finish creative work
Reducing friction between writing and publishing
Visual planning, mind mapping and task organisation
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How to Make Your Ideas Survive a Changing World
A life is brief. An idea can travel further than its inventor ever will. What determines which ones last? We follow life’s story from the first organisms to the systems we build today, using three laws of …
Notes de l’épisode
A life is brief. An idea can travel further than its inventor ever will. What determines which ones last?
We follow life’s story from the first organisms to the systems we build today, using three laws of biology as a lens: competition, selection and reproduction. These aren’t just rules for animals in a nature documentary. They also help us think about innovation, businesses, beliefs and the ambitions that shape our own lives.
Seen this way, success isn’t simply being clever or working harder. An idea must meet a real need, adapt when its environment changes, and find a way to continue beyond its creator. That doesn’t make the future predictable. It makes it more open: if survival depends partly on fit, then changing the idea—or the conditions around it—can change what becomes possible.
Notice which assumptions your environment is rewarding—and which it is quietly discarding.
Make room for variation before committing everything to one solution.
Ask how your idea can remain useful when you are no longer there to carry it.
Listen with curiosity, then consider what you could create that others might adapt, share and carry forward.
SPONSORS
🌳 Acorns
- Smart way to grow your money
- $5 welcome bonus
- Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Philosophical Questions
02:32 The Beginning of the Universe
03:42 The Story of Life on Earth
04:05 Three Rules of Biology
07:34 The First Law: Life is Competition
09:06 The Evolution of Competition
12:25 The Second Law: Life is Selection
14:30 Inequality in Nature and Society
16:18 Balancing Freedom and Equality
18:53 The Third Law: Life Must Breed
20:24 The Gift of Existence
20:39 Human Progress and Fire
21:14 Agricultural Revolution and Civilization
21:53 Fertility and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations
22:27 Population Dynamics: Japan vs. Nigeria
23:17 Ideas and Religions: Survival of the Fittest
24:54 The Three Horsemen: Famine, Disease, and War
30:06 Modern Challenges and Fertility Trends
31:09 The Laws of Biology in Action
32:13 Conclusion and Future EpisodesTopics discussed
The three laws of biology and life
Competition as the engine of evolution
Natural selection and why life is unfair
Freedom versus equality in human societies
Reproduction and the survival of ideas
Fertility rates and the future of nations
Famine, disease and war as population checks
How civilizations rise, grow and decline
Adapting your thinking to changing conditions
Building ideas that compete, adapt and spread
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How to Catch Your Brain Lying to You: A Practical Guide to Self-Awareness Over Ego
It's easy to spend our lives defending a story about who we are, instead of finding out who we could become. This episode is an invitation to stop protecting your ego and start practising self-awareness as a …
Notes de l’épisode
It's easy to spend our lives defending a story about who we are, instead of finding out who we could become.
This episode is an invitation to stop protecting your ego and start practising self-awareness as a craft. We look at how high intelligence can turn into a sophisticated self-deception machine, and how the stories we tell ourselves—“I’m the rational one”, “I learn from feedback”, “I’m different from those stubborn people”—are often the very things that keep us stuck.
Through real examples from science, travel, and building (and misbuilding) companies, you’ll see how ego hides in certainty, and how growth begins the moment you allow yourself to be wrong on purpose. This is about a shift in identity, from someone who must be right to someone who is willing to see.
Identify three recurring patterns where your ego resists uncomfortable truths.
Create a regular “ego audit” ritual: write, reflect, and invite honest feedback.
Choose relationships and environments that reward curiosity over confidence.
Hit play if you’re ready to trade the comfort of being right for the possibility of becoming wiser.
SPONSORS
🌳 Acorns
- Smart way to grow your money
- $5 welcome bonus
- Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Intro: Intelligence as a Burden
02:50 What This Episode Is About
05:25 How Good Are You at Understanding Information?
07:55 Being Aware of Your Flaws
10:42 Mistake 1: The Unscientific Scientist
14:00 Mistake 2: The Unbalanced Balancer
18:13 Mistake 3: The Unentrepreneurial Entrepreneur
22:47 Recap: Three Big Mistakes
23:05 Becoming an Ego Detective
24:28 Tip 1: Write Down Three Big Errors
25:25 Tip 2: Nurturing Strategies for Awareness
26:46 Tip 3: Find Your Crowd
27:18 Outro and Final ThoughtsTopics discussed
Why smart people trick themselves into being right
How ego hides unconscious bias in everyday decisions
Real stories of ego-driven mistakes in work and life
The link between high IQ and self-deception
Simple habits to build honest self-awareness
Spotting blind spots before they cost you
How to learn from feedback without defensiveness
Using reflection and journaling to reduce ego traps
Choosing friends who challenge your certainty
Turning mistakes into fuel for long-term growth
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Faster Than Normal - Living well with ADHD
The peculiar thing about attention deficit is that everybody seems to have it these days, whether they've earned it through proper diagnosis or simply absorbed it from an enthusiastic TikTok video filmed in …
Notes de l’épisode
The peculiar thing about attention deficit is that everybody seems to have it these days, whether they've earned it through proper diagnosis or simply absorbed it from an enthusiastic TikTok video filmed in someone's bathroom.
What I've learned, from my own escapades, and partly through reading Peter Shankman's excellent book Faster Than Normal, is that whatever your brain does, you need to learn how to drive it.
This conversation covers the four rules Shankman uses to turn a supposedly defective brain into rather useful equipment, none of which involve medication or particularly virtuous behaviour.
Structure your environment so willpower becomes optional
Eliminate choice wherever possible — routine isn't boring, it's protective
Exercise before you need focus, not after you've lost it
Work with your strengths, delegate the rest
SPONSORS
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- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
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🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interviews people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Sam's ADHD Reality Check
03:10 Podcast Intro and Season Kickoff
05:23 Reframing ADHD as Strength
06:17 ADHD Stereotypes Explained
08:15 ADD vs ADHD Breakdown
09:41 The Shy Extrovert Story
10:53 The Supercar Brain Metaphor
12:34 Strengths Over Weaknesses
15:26 Rule One: Eliminate Choice
22:44 Rule Two: Eat Healthy
24:21 Rule Three: Morning Exercise for Dopamine
26:08 Rule Four: Active Lifestyle and Micro Workouts
28:53 Sleep Fuels Focus
29:26 Food as Procrastination
31:07 Tools, Assistants and Tracking
35:23 Ratings and Book Recommendations
36:00 Next Book and FarewellTopics discussed
Sam shares his recent official ADHD diagnosis and what it finally explained about his life
The TikTok self-diagnosis trend and why overdiagnosis drowns out people who actually have ADHD
Peter Shankman's Faster Than Normal book and the supercar metaphor for the ADHD brain
Why Sam never held a job longer than nine months and what that pattern revealed
The difference between ADD and ADHD and how stereotypes miss quiet, inattentive presentations
Four core rules from the book: eliminate choice, eat well, exercise first, stay active
The apple versus Doritos rule for distinguishing real hunger from boredom eating
How to design your life around your brain instead of fighting your natural weaknesses
Why batching meetings and tracking data helps neurodivergent people protect their focus and energy
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The Deep-Thinking Habits That Quietly Change Your Life
Train your brain to resist distraction, form your own opinions, and think like an intellectual. When every answer is one click away, we’ve forgotten how to enjoy the struggle of figuring things out. This …
Notes de l’épisode
Train your brain to resist distraction, form your own opinions, and think like an intellectual.
When every answer is one click away, we’ve forgotten how to enjoy the struggle of figuring things out. This episode explores the radical act of thinking more slowly in a fast-paced world.
Modern life has made us intellectual snackers: we graze on headlines, notifications, and other people’s opinions until our minds feel full on intellectual candy floss.
Drawing on ideas from Cal Newport, Charlie Munger, and curious historical figures, we unpack why boredom, better information, and stronger memory are the unsung heroes of clear thinking.
You’ll learn:
- How to design an information diet that actually feeds your brain
- How to become comfortable enough with silence to let your own ideas emerge
- How to train your attention so it doesn’t sprint away at the first ping.
You don't need to turn into a monk, but hopefully this is a gentle nudge to think with more depth, nuance, and independence.
SPONSORS
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- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Deep Thinking
02:04 Using Charlie Munger’s Inversion Approach
05:02 System One vs. System Two Thinking
06:14 Improving Information Quality
09:34 Comfort with Boredom
13:35 Cultivating Attention
16:23 Tracking Your Progress
18:00 Increasing Working Memory
21:47 Intellectual Practice
22:13 Pairing Primary and Secondary Sources
23:02 Richard Feynman’s Idea Documents
25:46 Adopting Intellectual Curiosity
27:38 Benjamin Franklin’s Deep Thinkers Club
28:12 Launching a Book Club
29:02 Rebranding the Podcast
30:08 Starting a Second Podcast
31:43 Episode Summary and Final ThoughtsTopics discussed
How to think more deeply in a world designed for shallow attention
Why outsourcing your opinions to social media weakens independent thought
The cognitive cost of prioritising fast emotional hits over slow work
How checklist mentality creates the illusion of progress without real depth
System One versus System Two thinking and why deeper thinkers choose slower
Building an information diet that improves the quality of what you consume
Training your brain to become more comfortable with boredom and silence
Practical ways to sanitise your phone and reduce distraction in daily life
Strengthening working memory so you can hold and connect complex ideas
How intellectual curiosity and argumentative thinking sharpen judgment and reduce bias
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Can Psychedelics Really Help You Change Your Patterns?
Have you ever wonder if the thing keeping you stuck is yourself? Invisible rules your brain runs on that you have no choice over... In this episode, we go inside guided psilocybin retreats to see how people …
Notes de l’épisode
Have you ever wonder if the thing keeping you stuck is yourself? Invisible rules your brain runs on that you have no choice over... In this episode, we go inside guided psilocybin retreats to see how people actually change deep mental patterns.
As they say the “trip” is only the start.
We talk with Gabriel Charalambides, founder of Odyssey, about what happens in the brain during these experiences: the default mode network quiets down, old self-stories lose their grip, and the mind becomes unusually open to new connections.
But the real work shows up afterwards, in the quiet days of writing, reflection, and small experiments that turn a powerful experience into lasting change. We also cover who these retreats help, who they don’t, and why integration matters more than most people think.
Understand how psychedelics can temporarily loosen rigid thought patterns
Learn why post-experience integration is where real change happens
See the limits and risks so you can think clearly about your own path
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the same mental loops, this conversation might give you a new map for getting out.
SPONSORS
☺️ MOD.com
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Psilocybin and Odyssey
02:08 Defining Growth Mindset and Oceanic Boundlessness
07:59 The Attachment to Ego and Spiritual Perspectives
11:06 Recommended Reading and Book Tangent
12:32 The Role of Anxiety and Letting Go During Experiences
15:09 The Role of Retreat Guides and Holding Space
17:53 Reflections and Note-Taking During Retreats
21:39 Screening and Assessing Suitability for Retreats
24:26 The Potential Benefits of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
31:00 Restrictions and Who Should Avoid Psilocybin Retreats
34:02 Considerations for Mental Health Conditions
36:19 Psychedelics and Narcissism
37:29 The Training and Qualifications of Retreat Guides
41:49 The Neuroscience of Psychedelic-Induced Neuroplasticity
43:17 Flow States, Meditation, and ADHD
48:51 Cultural Differences in Participants
49:53 About Odyssey and How to Get Involved
50:29 Books Discussed and Final RecommendationsTopics discussed
Psilocybin retreats for depression, trauma, OCD, and breaking mental patterns
Oceanic boundlessness and ego dissolution during guided psychedelic experiences
Default mode network, neuroplasticity, and how psilocybin changes the brain
Integration practices that turn psychedelic insights into lasting behaviour change
Who should avoid psilocybin: psychosis risk, bipolar, borderline, and cardiac issues
The role of retreat guides in creating safety without steering the experience
Anxiety, panic attacks, and navigating difficult moments during psychedelic journeys
Comparing psychedelic experiences with meditation, near-death experiences, and flow states
Screening criteria and realistic expectations for legal psilocybin retreats in Oregon
Recommended books on psychedelics, mindfulness, and personal growth for listeners
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
34 Unconventional Life Lessons That Changed My Definition of Success
Beyond money, status, and attractive partner where do we find meaning, and happiness? Across 34 unconventional life lessons, we explore the inner machinery behind a meaningful life: why status can behave like a …
Notes de l’épisode
Beyond money, status, and attractive partner where do we find meaning, and happiness?
Across 34 unconventional life lessons, we explore the inner machinery behind a meaningful life: why status can behave like a sugary breakfast cereal, why exercise is cheaper than many illnesses, and why some of our finest ideas arrive only after we stop staring aggressively at a blank page.
Along the way, we consider discipline, creativity, money, identity, empathy, confirmation bias, and the possibility that society is held together with rather more metaphorical duct tape than anyone would like to admit.
We all have enough heroic checklists for self-improvement. My aim is to make familiar ideas seem strange enough to re-examine properly. That and to leave you feeling slightly more optimistic about being human.
Treat mistakes as tuition rather than evidence of failure.
Make room for rest, curiosity, and unplanned opportunities.
Build beliefs carefully instead of inheriting them wholesale.
Listen in and discover why a less certain life may be a happier one.
SPONSORS
☺️ MOD.com
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
🌎 Planet Visionaries Podcast
- Alex Honnold interview people reshaping what's possible
- Part of the Rolex Perpetual Plant Initiative
- Listen on Apple podcasts
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
00:27 Exploring Thought-Provoking Ideas
00:44 Welcome to the Growth Mindset Podcast
01:09 Personal Philosophy and Lifelong Learning
01:14 The Importance of Understanding Books
02:54 Are You Pursuing a Shadow Career?
03:32 You Don’t Need a Side Hustle
04:14 You Do Need an Exercise Habit
04:47 Your Best Work Happens When You Aren’t Working
05:39 Ideas Are Stepping Stones
06:14 Money Is a Tool
06:54 Life Is Too Short for the Wrong Pursuits
07:36 It’s How You Do It
08:23 Practise the Emotions You Want to Feel
09:35 Find Out Who You Are
10:07 Find Your Personal Voice
11:04 Discipline Is More Important Than Talent
11:40 IQ Is an Unfair Advantage
13:01 Apply Yourself Accordingly
14:08 Make Other People Feel Clever
14:59 Think Bigger
16:17 No One Thinks About You as Much as You Do
16:53 Make Your Life Story Interesting
17:47 Use First-Principles Thinking
18:56 Learn from Other People’s Mistakes
19:56 Too Much of Anything Is Bad
20:59 Society Is an Accident
21:36 Embrace Unplanned Opportunities
22:22 The World Is Duct-Taped Together
24:06 Question What You Take for Granted
25:54 Build Your Own Beliefs
27:50 Keep Your Identity Small
28:38 Understand Your Biases
30:28 Empathy Makes the World Nicer
30:38 Life Is About Contrasts
31:20 Anger Is a Useless Emotion
32:17 Camera Angles and Stories
33:43 Big and Small Things Matter
34:20 Final Thoughts and Birthday WishLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why So Many People Secretly Struggle With Porn Addiction
An honest conversation on addiction, depression, and identity with recovery coach Powerful Eric. This week we talk about the strange modern epidemic of porn addiction, an affliction so quietly widespread that …
Notes de l’épisode
An honest conversation on addiction, depression, and identity with recovery coach Powerful Eric.
This week we talk about the strange modern epidemic of porn addiction, an affliction so quietly widespread that roughly one in nine men wrestle with it, yet almost nobody mentions it at dinner.
Eric explains how the brain mistakes novelty for reward, why the "disease model" of addiction may be doing more harm than good, and how a golden Buddha buried under centuries of clay became his favourite metaphor for the human mind. It is a hopeful, occasionally hilarious, thoroughly researched conversation about getting your brain back.
Why the brain falls into compulsive behaviours
How identity, not willpower, drives lasting behaviour change
What a buried golden statue can teach you about recovery
SPONSORS
☺️ MOD.com
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
☺️ NOCD
- Struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help
- Book a free 15 min call
- https://learn.nocd.com/growthmindset
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warning
02:26 Recognizing Porn Addiction
05:43 Eric's Personal Struggle
08:26 Eric's Journey to Beating Addiction
11:00 Identity Reconstruction
15:44 The Dangers of Porn Desensitization
20:10 Addiction's Impact on Mental Health
22:08 Reframing the Disease Model
24:31 The Rise of AI-Generated Porn
29:04 Schizophrenia and Murder
31:26 Finding a Healthy Habit
35:12 Overcoming Moral Conflicts
37:59 Masturbation vs Pornography
41:36 Eric's Advice and Resources
43:32 Earliest Memories and Acts of Kindness
44:58 OutroLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Psychology of Mistakes: 7 Lazy Thinking Habits You Don't Notice You Have
Human beings, it turns out, are magnificently good at fooling themselves. Sadly the mind has developed an elaborate way of hiding our worst thinking mistakes from us. Our shortcut-taking so instinctive we …
Notes de l’épisode
Human beings, it turns out, are magnificently good at fooling themselves.
Sadly the mind has developed an elaborate way of hiding our worst thinking mistakes from us. Our shortcut-taking so instinctive we rarely notice it happening.
This episode explores seven of these habits and on the way answers a lot of questions. Why do we blame the referee and ignore our own missed shots? Why does a friend's anecdote beat a mountain of statistics? Why do the people who commit history's worst atrocities rarely think of themselves as villains?
I find it oddly comforting discovering that everyone, including myself, is quietly wired / weird this way. Hopefully you do to and can learn to start working around it.
Catch yourself assigning blame to one convenient cause
Ask what a friend's story leaves out that the statistics reveal
Notice when certainty feels good but the evidence is thin
Listen in, and you may never trust your first instinct quite the same way again.
SPONSORS
☺️ MOD.com
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
☺️ NOCD
- Struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help
- Book a free 15 min call
- https://learn.nocd.com/growthmindset
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Benefits of thinking hard thoughts
00:52 Developing ourselves and our thinking
01:12 Optimizing for the wrong things
02:45 Doubting takes time and energy
03:39 The 7 biggest flaws of lazy thinking
06:35 Single cause explanations to complex events
08:52 Justifying your own actions while judging others
11:52 Tangent on the book Evil
14:01 Your field of vision isn't everyone else's
17:45 Prioritizing stories over statistics
20:26 Outsourcing hard decisions to experts
23:47 Overconfidence
25:59 Annie Duke and thinking in bets
28:00 Accepting probability and reality
29:11 OutroTopics discussed
Why humans default to lazy thinking instead of doing the harder mental work
How rushing to eliminate doubt leads to wrongful blame and bad decisions
Why blaming one cause for complex events ignores the real bigger picture
How we justify our own mistakes while judging others for the same ones
Why ordinary people can rationalize evil without believing they're doing wrong
How assuming everyone shares your worldview limits empathy and understanding
Why personal stories persuade us more than statistics, even when we're wrong
The hidden risks of outsourcing big decisions to consultants and so-called experts
How overconfidence blinds us to the role of luck and probability in life
Why embracing uncertainty leads to better decisions than chasing false certainty
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8 Questions I asked Myself after 30
The World Record Breaking Jack Cai is back on the show. Asking Sam some of the deep life questions he asks himself a lot. To say this was a discussion on a single topic that stayed focused would be a big old …
Notes de l’épisode
The World Record Breaking Jack Cai is back on the show. Asking Sam some of the deep life questions he asks himself a lot.
To say this was a discussion on a single topic that stayed focused would be a big old lie. We discuss various random things: from making the most of your time on earth or with your grandparents to youtube thumbnail strategies.
Should Sam keep building a podcast in a crowded market, or walk away entirely? Is a rootless, nomadic life actually freedom, or a disguise for avoiding commitment?
The conversation might not resolve into a tidy lesson but that's life and we can enjoy it nonetheless.
SPONSORS
☺️ NOCD
- Struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help
- Book a free 15 min call
- https://learn.nocd.com/growthmindset
🌳 Acorns
- Smart way to grow your money
- $5 welcome bonus
- Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:43 Asking Friends What They Think of You
02:54 What's Next for Sam - Stop Podcasting or Get a Job?
06:02 Relationships and Staying Connected as a Nomad
07:21 Where Sam Wants to Live Next
11:41 What Works on YouTube
12:48 GeoWizard vs Zack and Jay
15:25 Why Community Matters for Growth
18:20 Jack's Own YouTube Journey
20:00 The Power of Obsession in Content
21:41 Outro and CreditsTopics discussed
- Why asking friends for honest feedback reveals more about your future than self-reflection alone.
- How to decide whether to quit a podcast, take a job, or build something entirely new.
- The hidden loneliness of digital nomad life despite the freedom it appears to offer.
- Key factors for choosing where to live abroad, including language, healthcare, and housing costs.
- Why spending time with aging grandparents matters more than it feels like in the moment.
- What separates GeoWizard's loyal YouTube audience from Zack and Jay's clickbait-driven format.
- Why parasocial connection and background listening build stronger audiences than viral thumbnails.
- How comedy and storytelling give any YouTube script a structural advantage over competitors.
- Why obsessive depth, like the Dissect podcast's song-by-song breakdowns, builds lasting niche loyalty.
- How ADHD can fuel creative obsession when channeled into the right long-term project.
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How To Solve Complex Problems
This episode asks a simple question: what if the way forward isn't a bigger vision, but a smaller unit of thought? We trace this idea through history, biology, and the quiet architecture of the mind, showing …
Notes de l’épisode
This episode asks a simple question: what if the way forward isn't a bigger vision, but a smaller unit of thought? We trace this idea through history, biology, and the quiet architecture of the mind, showing how growth rarely comes from grand gestures. It comes from identifying the one reliable piece worth repeating. The paradigm shift isn't thinking bigger. It's thinking smaller, on purpose, until the small thing becomes unstoppable.
Find the smallest version of the idea worth trying
Repeat what works instead of chasing what's new
Let simple, boring reliability replace the need for certainty
Hit play, and start building the small thing that changes everything.
SPONSORS
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Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
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🏖️ Ad-free listening
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:08 Intergalactic Planetary Lasagna
02:49 Thinking in Primitives: Jeff Bezos, Amazon and AWS
07:51 The Building Blocks of Life
11:11 HOX Genes and the Animal Building Instruction Manual
14:07 Civilization and Hidden Inventions
17:17 Standardisations That Make the World Work
19:29 Primitive Lessons
21:12 Market Timing and Innovation Mistakes
24:35 Future of Technology and Innovation
26:54 Space and Orbital Refuelling
28:50 Wrap UpLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How to Shift Your Mindset and Take Control of Your Life - w/ Kyle Livingston
Scarcity whispers that there isn't enough. Ego insists you deserve more anyway. Abundance is the quiet third option nobody mentions. Most of us were handed scarcity as a default setting. This episode sits with …
Notes de l’épisode
Scarcity whispers that there isn't enough. Ego insists you deserve more anyway. Abundance is the quiet third option nobody mentions.
Most of us were handed scarcity as a default setting. This episode sits with that tension: what scarcity actually protects us from, why ego is so loyal to it, and what shifts when abundance becomes a practiced choice instead of a lucky feeling.
It's less about having more and more about needing less from the wrong things.
Ask what your ego is really protecting when it demands "more"
Treat abundance as a discipline you build, not a mood you wait for
Trace your scarcity triggers back to their original source
SPONSORS
☺️ MOD.com
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
- Smart way to grow your money
- $5 welcome bonus
- Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro - Sam's opening thoughts and meeting Kyle Livingston
02:02 Kyle's origin story - abandoned at a yard sale
05:55 The turning point - mowing lawns, hustle, and a life-changing book
08:58 Chasing $10k a month and realizing money isn't the finish line
11:27 Money as fuel, not the goal
14:18 The panic attack that changed everything
17:57 Overcoming anxiety - coaches, books, and facing fear through travel
20:38 The worst-case scenario technique for beating fear
23:03 Spotting luck and losing everything twice
26:39 Mentoring, leverage, and helping failed founders scale
29:52 Biology, business, and the scientific method
35:20 Relationships, self-improvement, and honest advice
39:07 Friends who stayed, kindness, and early memories
42:21 Advice for his younger self and closing thoughtsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7 Painful Paradoxes of Self-Improvement (And what they teach us)
You know that feeling when you try so hard to seem normal that you become a weirdo? Self-improvement works the exact same way. The more you chase happiness, the further it runs. The more validation you seek …
Notes de l’épisode
You know that feeling when you try so hard to seem normal that you become a weirdo? Self-improvement works the exact same way.
The more you chase happiness, the further it runs. The more validation you seek, the emptier you feel. This episode breaks down 7 painful paradoxes when we take on personal growth — psychological traps where trying harder makes things worse.
We dig into King George VI's stutter, Carl Jung's shadow work, and why Steve Jobs getting fired was the best thing that happened to him. You'll learn why over-planning destroys resilience, why self-help books can quietly wreck your confidence, and why real change happens slower, yet more easily, than you think.
Takeaways:
Stop directly chasing happiness. Let it arrive as a byproduct of living with purpose.
Build self-worth internally. External validation is a leaky bucket you can never fill.
Accept your flaws before fixing them. Rejection breeds resistance, not change.
CTA: Press play and learn why the hardest part of growth is knowing when to stop trying so hard.
SPONSORS
☺️ MOD.com
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
- Smart way to grow your money
- $5 welcome bonus
- Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
CHAPTERS
00:00 Awkward First Date Conversations
02:32 The Effortlessness Paradox
04:23 Introduction to the Growth Mindset Psychology Podcast
05:14 The Paradox of Pursuing Happiness
07:49 The Paradox of Validation
10:30 The Paradox of Emotions
12:31 Carl Jung and the Shadow Concept
14:46 The Planning Paradox
16:07 Understanding Uncertainty Tolerance
16:26 Steve Jobs' Journey of Adaptability
17:44 The Paradox of Self-Improvement
18:23 The Dunning-Kruger Effect in Self-Help
19:28 The Slow Process of Real Change
21:51 Balancing Self-Improvement and Acceptance
25:01 The Timid Cat Analogy for Happiness
26:12 Final Thoughts and FarewellTopics discussed
Chasing happiness directly backfires; Mill's story reveals why joy resists pursuit.
Marilyn Monroe's fame shows how validation-seeking deepens inner emptiness over time.
Imposter syndrome persists because self-worth depends on external praise, not internal validation.
King George VI's stutter proves fighting emotions strengthens them through ironic process theory.
Bruce Lee's "be like water" philosophy favors emotional flexibility over rigid emotional control.
Carl Jung's shadow concept warns that repressed flaws gain power when denied.
Self-rejection breeds a fixed mindset; genuine change starts through radical self-acceptance instead.
Eisenhower and Steve Jobs show rigid planning increases anxiety, while adaptability builds resilience.
Dunning-Kruger effect explains why more self-help content increases feelings of personal inadequacy.
The timid cat analogy teaches patience over pressure for lasting, sustainable personal growth.
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Seeking Difficulty: The Habit System Behind Three World Records and a Remarkable Life – Jack Cai
What if the thing you're avoiding is exactly what you should pursue? Jack Cai broke three world records solving Rubik's Cubes blindfolded, for teh same reason America suppsoedly went to the moon. "Not because …
Notes de l’épisode
What if the thing you're avoiding is exactly what you should pursue?
Jack Cai broke three world records solving Rubik's Cubes blindfolded, for teh same reason America suppsoedly went to the moon. "Not because it is easy, but because it is hard"
This episode explores the mindset shift that happens when you stop asking "How can I make this easier?" and start asking "What's so hard that almost no one else is doing it?"
Jack shares his five-year journey from curiosity to world record, the habit systems that made elite performance possible, and the surprising question that emerged after he achieved his goal: now what? We discuss deliberate practice, the introvert's edge in mastery, and why the hardest problems often offer the best opportunities for people willing to embrace discomfort.
Reframe difficulty as a competitive advantage, not a barrier
Build systems that make extraordinary performance automatic over time
After winning, redefine success on your own terms
The remarkable life isn't found in avoiding hard things—it's found in seeking them deliberately.
SPONSORS
☺️ MOD.com
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:48 Jack's Early Obsessions
03:07 Working Towards Success
06:55 Introversion and Personality
10:15 Why Blindfolded Solving
14:30 Being the Best at Something Unique
18:29 How Winning Actually Felt
22:42 Compressing Information and Algorithms
26:52 Five Years to World Records
31:17 Life After World Records at 20
34:54 Enjoying Your 20s
38:34 AI and Life Coaching Ideas
41:16 Fatherhood and Emotional Openness
42:00 Closing Thoughts and OutroTopics discussed
Jack Cai's journey to three blindfolded Rubik's Cube world records
How choosing harder problems creates less competition and more opportunity
The psychology of deliberate practice and building unbreakable habits over five years
Why introversion and solitude can accelerate skill mastery and performance
Memory techniques and mnemonic systems for solving Rubik's Cubes blindfolded
The counterintuitive strategy of status arbitrage in niche selection
What happens after achieving your biggest goal and feeling lost
Why your 20s should be for sampling, not settling on one path
Meditation retreat insights on future obsession and present-moment awareness
Asian parenting, work ethic, and finding your own definition of success
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Psychology of Mental Strength: 3 Habits to build resilience, Inner toughness & Growth Mindset
We've been sold a myth: that mental toughness means gritting your teeth and pushing through, disregarding their emotions entirely. The people who actually build lasting resilience do something different. They …
Notes de l’épisode
We've been sold a myth: that mental toughness means gritting your teeth and pushing through, disregarding their emotions entirely.
The people who actually build lasting resilience do something different. They get honest with what they feel and investigate it. They notice when their mind drifts into yesterday's mistake or tomorrow's fear, understanding why helps them choose the present instead.
They learn to tell the difference between what they want right now and what they actually value and focus on what matters to them.
Practice radical honesty with your own feelings, not just others'
Catch and interrupt patterns of rumination or future-worry
Choose your long-term values over your short-term impulse, deliberately
Change how you relate to your mind, and everything else starts to shift.
SPONSORS
☺️ NOCD
- Struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help
- Book a free 15 min call
- https://learn.nocd.com/growthmindset
☺️ MOD.com
- Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus.
- Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off
- Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at MOD.com
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: 3 Habits to Build Mental Strength
04:16 #1 Be Honest About Your Emotions
05:56 Practical Steps for Emotional Honesty
07:08 #2 Be Present and Resist Unnecessary Mental Time Travel
09:25 Practical Steps to Stay Present
13:01 #3 Distinguish Your Wants and Values
15:21 Practical Steps to Clarify Your Values
17:45 Bonus Habits: 5 More Ways to Build Mental Toughness
20:52 Growth Mindset and Mental Toughness Are Inextricably Linked
21:51 Send OffTopics discussed
Mental strength means controlling your mind instead of being controlled by it entirely
Emotional honesty helps you accept feelings without denying, minimizing, or exaggerating what you're going through
Naming specific emotions and journaling builds self-awareness and stronger emotional intelligence over time
Mental time travel pulls focus into past regrets or future worries, fueling anxiety and stress
Mindfulness, meditation, and grounding techniques like 5-4-3-2-1 anchor you firmly in the present moment
Distinguishing fleeting wants from core values leads to better long-term decisions and lasting satisfaction
Visualization, journaling, and accountability partners help clarify and reinforce your deepest personal values
Cultivating gratitude reframes negative thinking and builds motivation even during genuinely difficult moments
Self-compassion, boundaries, and social support protect against burnout while sustaining long-term mental resilience
Growth mindset and mental toughness are inseparable, turning life's challenges into opportunities for growth
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A Growth Mindset Alone Won’t Make You a Better Leader: The psychology principles that will /wRyan Gottfredson
Explore the psychology of effective leadership and the hidden mental patterns that influence how you handle fear, failure, and change. A leader can learn new skills, adopt ambitious goals, and proudly claim a …
Notes de l’épisode
Explore the psychology of effective leadership and the hidden mental patterns that influence how you handle fear, failure, and change.
A leader can learn new skills, adopt ambitious goals, and proudly claim a growth mindset—yet still remain trapped by the way they interpret the world.
Sure, you might believe people can change, but... Are you willing to hear what you do not want to hear, pursue what matters instead of merely avoiding loss, and see the people around you as human beings rather than instruments.
In this episode, Ryan Gottfredson explores the four mindsets that shape leadership psychology: fixed or growth, closed or open, prevention or promotion, and inward or outward.
Together, they explain why two people can face the same problem and produce entirely different results. More encouragingly, these mindsets can be improved through small, repeated interventions—sometimes involving little more than reflection, better questions, and five minutes of honest journaling.
Separate your identity from the possibility of being wrong.
Choose a meaningful destination instead of drifting away from danger.
Ask how your decisions affect the people you lead.
Listen closely, find the lens you have been carrying, and decide what becomes possible when you change it.
SPONSORS
- Struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help
- Book a free 15 min call
- https://learn.nocd.com/growthmindset
🏖️ Ad-free listening
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🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: The Four Mindsets of Leadership Success
02:40 Why Leadership Is About Who You Are
04:54 The Automatic Processes Shaping Your Behavior
08:47 The Four Mindsets That Influence Success
09:57 Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
11:34 Closed vs. Open Mindset
15:23 Why Growth Mindset Alone Isn’t Enough
22:50 Prevention vs. Promotion Mindset
29:53 Inward vs. Outward Mindset
35:47 Seeing Others with Greater Empathy
41:30 Coaching Techniques for Changing Mindsets
44:30 Small Daily Practices That Rewire Your Thinking
47:00 Final Lessons on Leadership and SuccessTopics Discussed
Why growth mindset alone may not be enough for effective leadership success
The four psychological mindsets that shape leadership behavior and decision-making
How fixed and growth mindsets influence responses to challenges and failure
Developing an open mindset by questioning assumptions and accepting uncomfortable feedback
Understanding how fear creates closed-minded thinking, defensiveness, and resistance to change
Shifting from prevention mindset toward promotion mindset, ambition, and meaningful progress
Why leaders must focus on winning rather than simply avoiding mistakes
Building an outward mindset that treats employees as people instead of objects
How small daily interventions and journaling can change automatic thought patterns
Becoming a more self-aware, empathetic, and effective leader through mindset awareness
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Master Finishing Things - Psychology vs Productivity, Perfectionism & Creative Constipation
Productivity gurus insist we must engineer ourselves into completion machines. This is nonsense, rather like insisting everyone should enjoy opera. The truth, as behavioral psychology reveals, is delightfully …
Notes de l’épisode
Productivity gurus insist we must engineer ourselves into completion machines. This is nonsense, rather like insisting everyone should enjoy opera.
The truth, as behavioral psychology reveals, is delightfully simple: we finish what we're motivated and able to do. Everything else is self-sabotage mistaken for ambition. Perfectionism, is a whole side mission that gets in the way of anything causing creative constipation.
We can start working smarter by abandoning the unrewarding, delegating the tedious, and valuing time so highly that saying no becomes second nature.
Identify what you reliably finish and do more of that
Remove non-essential blockers that make tasks harder than needed
Treat big ideas as stepping stones, not precious monuments
Learn to let go of the big ideas that hold you back and start doing more things that you will actually finish.
SPONSORS
- Struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help
- Book a free 15 min call
- https://learn.nocd.com/growthmindset
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: The Junkyard of Unfinished Projects
03:01 The Power of Abandoning Unrewarding Tasks
05:50 The 80/20 Rule in Practice
08:25 The Danger of Perfectionism
13:32 Delegation and Collaboration
16:58 Creative Constipation and Big Ideas
19:36 Saying No to Unwanted Work
22:57 The Power of Imperfect Action
29:29 Final Thoughts and Questions to PonderTopics discussed
Why starting too many projects isn't actually your real problem
How strategic abandonment creates more finished work than forcing completion
The psychological reason perfectionism blocks creativity and shipping
Using the 80/20 rule to identify what you naturally finish
Why delegation beats struggling through tasks you'll never complete
Understanding creative constipation and how big ideas paralyze action
How valuing your time helps you say no to unwanted work
The paradox of finishing things you don't actually want to do
Why imperfect action beats perfect planning every single time
Building momentum by shipping ideas as stepping stones not monuments
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AMA - How to choose meaningful opportunities, take intelligent risks, and build an audience around your ideas
A meaningful life is not built by choosing perfectly. It is built by learning how to choose, revise, and continue. In this AMA, Sam examines the hidden forces that shape our decisions: fear of failure, the need …
Notes de l’épisode
A meaningful life is not built by choosing perfectly. It is built by learning how to choose, revise, and continue.
In this AMA, Sam examines the hidden forces that shape our decisions: fear of failure, the need to appear competent, resistance to unfamiliar ideas, and the pressure to follow paths that already look successful. The episode then asks a larger question: what is worth doing with the limited attention and time we have?
The answer is not simply the most profitable idea or the most impressive opportunity. It may be the project that expands your skills, fits the life you want, and gives you a reason to keep showing up.
From podcast differentiation and creative businesses to community-building and entrepreneurial uncertainty, this is a conversation about turning vague ambition into deliberate action.
Separate genuine opportunity from ego-driven novelty.
Start with a reversible commitment whenever possible.
Build the network your future work will need.
Listen for the idea that changes how you think about your next commitment.
SPONSORS
- Smart way to grow your money
- $5 welcome bonus
- Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
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🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AMA
00:55 What Makes Someone Resistant to Learning?
06:29 How Do You Differentiate Your Podcast?
12:56 What Makes an Idea Worth Pursuing?
15:31 How Do You Handle Uncertainty as a Founder?
18:11 Should You Pursue VC Funding for a Creative Business?
20:51 How Do You Build a Network for Feedback and Exposure?
24:00 outro
Topics
Psychology behind resistance to learning, change, and developing a growth mindset.
How ego, social pressure, and fear of failure block personal growth.
Practical strategies for choosing worthwhile business ideas and creative projects.
Testing startup ideas before making major commitments or leaving employment.
How independent podcasters can differentiate themselves in a crowded market.
Building a unique podcast through niche expertise and interdisciplinary thinking.
Bootstrapping creative businesses before pursuing venture capital funding.
Understanding distribution, audience growth, and product-market fit for creators.
Building communities, feedback networks, and meaningful professional relationships.
Using regret minimization and curiosity to make better career decisions.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Start Before You Feel Ready - How to Overcome Rejection and Take Action w/ Jonathan Petrides [AllPlants]
Most people wait to feel ready before they begin. But readiness is often the the feeling we only enjoy after we have already taken the first step. Jonathan Petrides, founder of AllPlants, knows what it means to …
Notes de l’épisode
Most people wait to feel ready before they begin. But readiness is often the the feeling we only enjoy after we have already taken the first step.
Jonathan Petrides, founder of AllPlants, knows what it means to keep going when the obvious answer is “no.” He was rejected by every university he applied to, experimented with businesses that went nowhere, and eventually built a company around a simple insight: people may want to eat more plant-based food, but wanting something and making it easy are different things.
This conversation explores the psychology of taking action before you feel ready, finding a mission worth committing to, and staying resilient when progress is slow. JP explains why purpose creates endurance, how persistence can change outcomes, and why showing up often gives you an advantage over people who are still preparing.
Turn rejection into information rather than identity.
Find a problem you care about solving for years.
Make the first step so small that action feels inevitable.
Listen now and start before you feel ready.
SPONSORS
- Smart way to grow your money
- $5 welcome bonus
- Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
---
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:19 Importance of Showing Up
02:01 Who JP Is
03:50 The importance of a Fallow Period
05:03 Finding Something You Can Commit To
06:53 Why JP Moved to Nairobi
08:55 Starting a Vegan Business
12:59 How AllPlants Operations Started
15:40 Did AllPlants Go to Investors?
18:21 The Most Difficult Thing AllPlants Faced
21:02 Mistakes Made
22:22 Converting No Into Yes
29:22 JP’s Mantra in Life
30:16 Earliest Memory
31:11 The Kindest Thing Someone Has Done
32:09 Send-OffTopics
How to turn rejection into persistence, purpose, and entrepreneurial action.
Building AllPlants and making plant-based food easier, tastier, and more accessible.
Why meaningful missions create resilience during difficult stages of business growth.
The psychology of starting before you feel confident, prepared, or ready.
How entrepreneurs can use long-term thinking to navigate uncertainty and setbacks.
Turning customer behaviour insights into practical innovation and sustainable business models.
The challenges of scaling operations, hiring teams, and eliminating organisational debt.
Why convenience and deliciousness influence plant-based eating more than moral arguments.
Learning from failed ideas, abandoned ventures, and entrepreneurial experimentation.
The importance of showing up, asking directly, and creating unexpected opportunities.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How to be remembered in a forgetful world - 3 rules to build lasting impressions [ARCHIVE]
Most people don’t have a skills problem. They have a memory problem.. no one remembers them. So why is it you can say all the right things and still be forgettable? Because people don’t store information, they …
Notes de l’épisode
Most people don’t have a skills problem. They have a memory problem.. no one remembers them.
So why is it you can say all the right things and still be forgettable? Because people don’t store information, they store feelings.
Think about the last person you met. You probably don’t remember what they said. But you remember how they made you feel. In this episode, we break down the psychology of first impressions and why “telling” people your strengths quietly fails.
Instead, you’ll learn how to show who you are through small, repeatable actions. Not big performances. Just consistent signals. Like giving someone the better slice of cake, or telling a story that lands. Memorable people aren’t louder, they’re clearer:
Replace claims with proof: show traits in action, don’t describe them
Turn everyday moments into simple, emotional stories
Make people feel something specific when they’re around you
If you want to stop being overlooked, this episode will change how you show up.
SPONSORS
- Smart way to grow your money
- $5 welcome bonus
- Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
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🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 The Power of Being Remembered
03:07 Why People Forget You
05:00 Becoming Yourself Takes Practice
08:13 Show, Don’t Tell
11:31 Building Proof and Confidence
14:04 Turning Traits Into Stories
16:38 Making Yourself Easy to Understand
19:14 Small Actions That Make You Memorable
21:59 Final Reflections and TakeawaysTopics
Why people remember feelings more than facts or information
The psychology behind strong first impressions and emotional impact
Show don’t tell: proving traits through actions not words
How to build trust quickly in social and professional settings
Turning everyday experiences into engaging and memorable stories
Developing a personal style through experimentation and practice
Communicating complex ideas in simple, relatable language
Building confidence through evidence and real-world demonstrations
Small acts of kindness that shape how others perceive you
How to stand out and avoid being forgettable in conversations
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How to Build Worldly Wisdom - The Greatest Mental Models of Charlie Munger
What if the goal isn’t to be right, but to be less wrong, over time? Charlie Munger didn’t chase brilliance. He built a philosophy. A quiet system for navigating uncertainty, grounded in psychology, humility …
Notes de l’épisode
What if the goal isn’t to be right, but to be less wrong, over time?
Charlie Munger didn’t chase brilliance. He built a philosophy. A quiet system for navigating uncertainty, grounded in psychology, humility, and a refusal to follow the crowd.
In this episode, we explore what it means to develop “worldly wisdom”—a latticework of mental models that help you see reality more clearly. This isn’t about hacks or shortcuts. It’s about choosing to think differently. To question your instincts and notice where bias creeps in.
Every decision you make is a vote for the person you become. And most people are voting blindly. Munger’s approach offers an alternative: deliberate thinking, grounded in first principles and sharpened by inversion.
Redefine success as avoiding preventable mistakes
Build your own latticework of mental models across disciplines
Practice arguing against your own beliefs to sharpen judgement
The shift is subtle, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it—so the question is, what will you do differently next?
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
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🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Mastering Wisdom
02:46 Interdisciplinary Thinking
05:32 Understanding Circle of Competence
06:42 Opportunity Costs in Decision Making
07:36 The Inversion Principle
10:31 Cognitive Biases Overview
17:42 Critiquing Charlie's Rationality
24:39 The Art of Rational Decision Making
25:52 First Principles Thinking
27:40 Probabilistic Thinking and Risks
29:15 The Margin of Safety
30:30 Chauffeur Knowledge vs. True Understanding
32:44 Applying Mental Models in Real LifeTopics discussed:
Charlie Munger’s mental models for better decision-making.
How to build worldly wisdom through interdisciplinary thinking.
The importance of knowing your circle of competence.
Why opportunity cost matters in investing and life choices.
How inversion helps you avoid mistakes and think more clearly.
The role of cognitive biases in psychology and judgment.
How confirmation bias distorts the way we see information.
Why authority bias and social proof can lead to poor decisions.
The value of first principles thinking for solving complex problems.
How probabilistic thinking and margin of safety improve risk management.
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