How To Build Free Will
Free will sounds easy until you look closely. Then it turns out to be smaller, stranger, and far more difficult than advertised. We take a cheerful scalpel to the idea that we’re the conscious captains of our lives. With help from psychology experiments, philosophical detours we find out what's really going on. Examining stories involving casinos, concentration camps, meditation cushions, and more, we discover that most behaviour is automatic. Pain, habit, desire, and social pressure do most of the driving. Yet, whilst we can’t choose our thoughts or impulses, we can choose how we respond to them. Viktor Frankl called it “the space between stimulus and response,” and it turns out to be the most valuable square inch of mental real estate you’ll ever own. Cultivate that space, and you get resilience, wisdom, and the rare ability to not punch metaphorical holes in windows. Actionable takeaways Treat strong emotions as data, not instructions Reduce temptation before relying on discipline Train non-reactivity through small, deliberate discomforts NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 What Personal Growth Really Means: Free Will 00:33 Fixed vs Growth Mindset as Freedom vs Reaction 01:59 Welcome to the Growth Mindset Podcast 02:08 Why You Can’t Understand One Part of Psychology in Isolation 03:34 Setting Expectations: Consciousness, Free Will, and Big Ideas 05:13 Habits, Consciousness, and the Sleepwalking Killer Case 06:44 The Compulsive Gambler and the Illusion of Choice 11:45 How Much Free Will Do We Actually Have? 15:35 Why You Don’t Choose Your Desires 18:24 Conscious vs Subconscious Memories 21:51 Why Willpower Often Arrives Too Late 25:04 Free Will, Fixed Mindset, and Hard Truths 25:39 Viktor Frankl and the Space Between Stimulus and Response 26:27 How to Build Free Will in Everyday Life 28:17 Emotional Triggers and Losing Autonomy 30:25 David Foster Wallace on Learning How to Think 33:12 The Psychology of Revenge 38:34 Pain, Discipline, and the Limits of Control 39:43 Meditation, Pain, and Non-Reactivity 45:30 Applying Free Will to Daily Life 47:04 What We’ve Learned: Growth Mindset as Choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20 Jan 53min
5 Surprising Truths About Independence and Being Yourself: What really impacts who you are
The idea that you are a blend of the 5 people you spend time with has a dangerous side. In fact, it's not exactly true. In this episode, I break down why the Growth Mindset is actually about autonomy, not assimilation. I share the story of my best friend Laurie—a guy with zero ambition who taught me how to relax and actually saved my career during burnout. I also look at Sahil Lavingia, who blended his Silicon Valley builder mindset with a country level ambitions to enjoy his success without chasing billions. Real growth isn't about surrounding yourself with clones; it's about treating influence like a buffet. You take the relaxation from one friend, the drive from another, and the curiosity from a stranger you met for an hour. You are not a result; you are a selector. NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 You are not the 5 people you spend time with 01:01 What is growth mindset 01:26 How people really affect growth 04:11 Don't be prevented from being yourself 04:38 Best friends 08:42 You choose your inspiration 09:27 Minimal time, big effect 10:44 Prioritize healthy relationships 11:27 Don't spend time with only one type of person 12:04 Sahil Lavingia and GumRoad 13:51 Variety is the spice of life 14:52 Questions to journal on 16:03 Life tips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16 Jan 20min
Life's Infinite Games: How to play by your own rules
What if the game you're playing isn't yours? Every moment of your life, something is at stake. Ignore your partner, they feel less loved. Choose status over meaning, you'll need a therapist. We inherit these games—LinkedIn profiles that read like eager cover letters, news consumption that convinces us everything's collapsing, social media that demands we perform. But there's another way. Instead of seeking approval, seek independence. Instead of doing what looks good, do what is good for us. The philosopher suggests three modes: machine (following instructions), intelligent (playing better), and zen (not playing at all). This episode will help you be more intelligent and more zen. NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to the Show 00:36 The Concept of Life as a Game 01:29 The Rules of Life's Games 03:18 Playing the LinkedIn Game 04:53 Reevaluating LinkedIn's Purpose 06:35 Life Lessons from LinkedIn 08:24 The Philosophy of Fun and Success 11:42 The Game of Life 14:08 Modes of Approaching Life 15:00 Applying the Modes to Social Media and News 17:02 Final Thoughts on Playing Life's Games 18:13 Housekeeping and Recommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13 Jan 23min
4 Steps to Become Remarkable: A guide to overhaul your life
Get in control of your life and use your time to build a life of purpose. We have been sold a myth of heroic solutions. Where a single dazzling act will change who we are. But real change is quiet, methodical, and often boring. As a result many people lack agency waiting for some heroic reinvention. This episode explores the architecture of a "Deep Life," a four-month process of reclaiming your sovereignty from the noise of the industrial complex. We stop asking "what do I feel like doing?" and start asking "what kind of life do I want to live?" By strictly curtailing obligations and automating the mundane, we create breathing room. This space allows us to move from being busy to being remarkable. The goal isn't to fit more in; it is to design a life that is unique, specific, and yours. The Code vs. The Decision: How to write a personal operating system that saves you from decision fatigue. Moving from "Yearning" to "Project": How to operationalize your dreams into a 6-week vision phase. The Art of the Big Overhaul: Why you need to take control of your obligations before you can successfully pivot your career or location. Go make your life remarkable. Worksheet 4 month overhaul prompts NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: Shackleton's Antarctic Challenge 01:25 Rebuilding Agency: The Four-Month Plan 02:29 Phase One: Discipline 04:54 Choosing Three Key Habits 07:53 Phase Two: Values 08:30 Reconnecting with Moral Intuition 10:11 Writing Your Personal Code 11:27 Installing Rituals 13:43 Phase Three: Control 14:31 Multi-Scale Planning for Work 15:55 Creating Breathing Room 17:58 Phase Four: Vision 20:46 Small Overhaul vs. Large Overhaul 22:39 Examples of Remarkable Overhauls 26:04 Planning for a Big Life Overhaul 28:49 Evaluating Constraints and Making Plans 31:04 Recap of the Four-Month Plan 33:45 Conclusion: Embracing Agency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
6 Jan 38min
Working with Time Instead of Against It - How to enjoy this year and every year of your life
You have roughly 4,000 weeks. Somehow, nobody mentioned this at school. This episode takes a cheerful scalpel to modern time-panic—the kind that convinces smart adults that the next app, habit, or color-coded calendar will finally subdue existence. (It won’t.) Time, inconveniently, keeps doing what it has always done: passing. The good news is that this makes it remarkably reliable, like a train that never apologizes. You’ll explore why becoming “more efficient” can make you feel more chased, how birthdays can reveal your true time-philosophy, and why sitting quietly for ten minutes can be the most practical thing you do all week. The aim isn’t to win against time. It’s to stop declaring war on the only place life can happen. Treat calm as a skill, not a personality trait. Build plans that assume “the deck” never clears. Use meditation as a weekly perspective tune-up. Press play, then reclaim one hour you were about to surrender. NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: Time as a Medium 01:52 The Relationship with Time 03:28 The Efficiency Trap (4,000 Weeks) 05:15 The Birthday Test: Are You Friends with Time? 07:22 The Privilege of Contentment 08:29 Lessons from a Silent Retreat 10:05 Meditation as Time Training 11:58 Working With Time, Not Against It 13:17 Conclusion: You Are the Pilot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30 Des 202515min
5 Rules for Mental Health and Clarity - Andrew Huberman's simple formula for success
Every advanced master nails the fundamentals first. To perform at your best these are the 5 most basic and essential practices you need to return to time and again. A short episode covering the core requirements for good mental health and clarity in life. Whether you love Andrew Huberman, are a skeptic or don't even know who he is. These 5 lessons are science backed legit good advice worth repeating and remembering. SPONSORS 👨💻 NordLayer Security across your business 28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28 http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset 🌳 Acorns Invest for your money goals $5 sign up bonus: PSYCHOLOGY www.acorns.com/psychology NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 Huberman's 5 rules for a better life 00:46 #1 - Good sleep 01:49 #2 - Movement 02:58 #3 - Sunlight 03:48 #4 - Diet 05:46 #5 - Good social connections 07:20 Bonus - Hydration 07:57 If you forget the basics, the specifics won't work. 09:00 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
23 Des 202511min
![Leaving a Legacy: What do we actually get remembered for - Lessons on family and life - [Storied Recipe]](https://cdn.podme.com/podcast-images/159AABCA6332A5E641750CAB8FE2009D_small.jpg)
Leaving a Legacy: What do we actually get remembered for - Lessons on family and life - [Storied Recipe]
How to nurture the best in people with consistency and be remembered for what matters. This is going to be a different episode about a cake my nan used to make. But isn't just a story about cake. It's about the difference between control and nurture. My school thought resilience came from forcing kids to clear their plates (even if they ended up vomitting). They were wrong. My Nan knew that real strength comes from consistency. She made me the same pineapple upside-down cake every time I visited for a decade. Even when she went blind, she kept creating. She was an entrepreneur, an artist, and the village baker. She taught me that you don't build character by breaking someone's spirit. You build it by showing up. By paying attention. By finding the one thing they can stomach and giving it to them again and again. Nurture over control: You get more out of people by supporting their quirks than forcing compliance. Consistency is love: Showing up the same way for years builds more trust than grand gestures. Create despite limits: My Nan went blind and kept making things; focus on what you can do. Listen to learn how a simple cake became a masterclass in leadership and love. SPONSORS 👨💻 NordLayer Security across your business 28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28 http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset 🌳 Acorns Invest for your money goals $5 sign up bonus: PSYCHOLOGY www.acorns.com/psychology STORIED RECIPE with Becky Hadeed An inspiring podcast about food, culture and love. Website and Podcast Pineapple Coconut Cake Recipe NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast (and my nan) 01:31 The Pineapple Cake Story 05:26 School Trauma and Food Struggles 14:11 Nan's Kitchen and Family Memories 19:48 Nan's Artistic Legacy 20:47 Family Artistry and Career Paths 21:14 The Cathartic Power of Music 21:59 Grandmother's Systematic Creativity 22:42 Connecting Through Art and Conversation 24:23 The Pineapple Cake Connection 28:48 Reflecting on Grandmother's Legacy 32:34 Passing Down Family Recipes 37:15 Cultural Differences and Cake Talk 38:15 Final Thoughts and Farewell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
19 Des 202542min
The Regret Minimization Framework: How to make life decisions
A boat is safe in the harbor. But that is not what boats are built for. We tend to view our lives as a single, continuous narrative. But in reality, we are a series of temporary selves, each with a distinct beginning and end. The teenager who dreams of adventure is not the same as the retiree who seeks comfort. When we defer our dreams, we aren't saving them for later; we are denying them to the person we are right now. This episode explores the "Regret Minimization Framework"—a tool for navigating the uncertainty of the future. We discuss the difference between "peak experiences" and "plateau experiences" and why wisdom lies in knowing the difference. The question isn't how much money you leave behind, but how much life you leave unlived. Actionable Takeaways: Time Bucketing: Allocate specific experiences to the specific decades of your life where they belong. The Cost of Inaction: Recognize that the safe choice often carries the highest hidden cost—regret. Live with Urgency: Embrace the impermanence of your current self to fuel meaningful action today. Decide today which version of yourself deserves to be fully realized before it's too late. SPONSORS 👨💻 NordLayer Security across your business 28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28 http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset 🌳 Acorns Invest for your money goals $5 sign up bonus: PSYCHOLOGY www.acorns.com/psychology NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8 --- UPGRADE to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - Growth Mindset CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: Facing Mortality 01:10 The Concept of Dying in Installments 02:03 The Death of Future Selves 03:16 Jeff Bezos and the Regret Minimization Framework 04:58 The Death of Peak Experiences 06:26 The Value of Plateau Experiences 10:12 The Death of Who You Could Have Been 13:19 Life Satisfaction U-Curve 13:58 Living Intentionally and Strategically 15:22 Time Bucketing and Peak Experience Mapping 17:06 Personal Examples and Reflections 18:32 Stoic Wisdom and Living with Urgency 20:25 Final Thoughts on Regret Minimization 21:32 Conclusion and Call to Action Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16 Des 202526min
