Episode 31 - McArthur Wheeler & Self Perception
We can never really know how others see us. But with some awareness and the right tools, we can get pretty darn close. Today’s episode; Self Perception!
Episode 30 - Troy Hurtubise & Creative Obsession
All great artists, creators, composers, and inventors have their obsession. But how far is too far? And how do we channel obsession into rewarding passion?
Episode 29 - Mr Rogers & Being Nice
If you’re truly nice, then you’re treated like a doormat. And if you’re fake-nice, then it means you want something. So, are there any benefits at all to being nice in this life?
Episode 28 - Max Gendelman & Making Friends
Making friends in college was easy. Lend someone your lecture notes, and you have an ally for life. So why is it so hard to make friends as adults? And how do we keep them?
Episode 26 - Anna Delvey & Class
Did you know that the quickest indicator of your socioeconomic class is in the way you speak? And that hiring managers will base your salary on your class? Yay classism!
Episode 25 - Lisa Nowak & Romantic Obsession
Love makes us do crazy things. But exactly how far should we let our crush get out of hand? Sending chocolates and flowers? Unsolicited genital pictures? Trenchcoat, wig, and duct-tape...?
Episode 24 - Lee Iacocca & Quitting
Quitting should be the easiest thing in the world. So why does it take us so long to throw in the towel? And is there an obvious sign when it’s time to bail?
Episode 23 - Killdozer & Micro Stress
It’s the final straw that breaks the camel’s back...but how many straws can we take? How bad is day-to-day stress for us, really, compared to the big life events?
Episode 20 - William Sidis & Intelligence
Geniuses have it made, right? With enough smarts, you can just sit back, relax, and get paid to ponder life’s big problems. Well, as our research shows, that’s not exactly the case.
Episode 19 - Hollywood & Expectations
Did you know that Louisville had a prank “Purge” that lasted 10 hours? Or that the Truman Show became a real psychological delusion? Today we ask; how much does Hollywood shape our expectations, really?
Episode 18 - Gandhi & Public Speaking
Exercising, making wise financial decisions, and public speaking, will each improve your overall quality of life. But only public speaking is listed as a Top Fear across demographics. Why is that?
Episode 15 Rejection Part One
In part 1 of this Rejection double-feature, we talk about Jia Jiang’s TED talk, and we ask ourselves; can we really become resilient to rejection.
Episode 13 - Denali the Eagle & Nature
For one episode, Joe hijacks the show and tries to convince Todd to watch eagle “Nest Cams” on Youtube, and to revolt against robot pets like Pleo the Dinosaur and nursing home seals.
Episode 12 - Da Vinci, Machiavelli, & Polar Opposite Collaborators
They say opposites attract, but can they work together? How do you get the best results from an introvert and an extrovert? And what landmark, exactly, did Niccolò Machiavelle and Leonardo De Vinci team up to steal?
Episode 11 - Monsignor de Grandpré & Grudges
Revenge is a dish best served cold. But in today’s episode, we’ll ask if it should be served at all. How healthy are grudges? What do we risk by harboring them? And why did two Frenchmen decide to settle their grudge over Paris, in air balloons, with blunderbusses?
Episode 8: Stephen King & Alcoholism
Geniuses, creatives, and commoners can fall prey to alcoholism. But neuroscience may have found a uniting drive that pushes all mammals to pick up the bottle...a drive that writers have known about for decades.
Episode 7: Prison Letters & Hybristophilia
Has someone ever addressed a letter to you by accident? Todd experienced this when he opened a mysterious letter and found himself reading a heartfelt plea from a prisoner, asking his lady to forgive his long silence, and to take him back when he gets released. This letter spawned our topic today, about prison letters, forbidden love, and the disorder known as Hybristophilia.
Abe Lincoln & Vulnerable Leaders
Vulnerability, anxiety, and depression. They can feel like flaws in your character, but they might secretly be your greatest evolutionary gift. And, if you’re Lincoln, they’re the master key for unlocking life’s problems.
Franklin Roosevelt and stress
Join us in this episode as we explore the fundamental connection between stress management, leadership, and the most chill president who ever opened a day-spa...when he wasn’t winning wars or dodging torpedoes; Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
MLK & Procrastination
In this episode we expose the fundamental truth behind procrastination, and we explain how your brain goes to war with itself whenever you’re faced with a boring task. We also dig into Martin Luther King Jr’s speech to discuss the potential benefits of procrastination. And we offer you scientifically proven techniques to beat procrastination, fool your brain into enjoying tedious tasks, or even turn procrastination into a secret weapon.