excellence, actually

Brad and Steve react to recent news of Sam Bankman-Fried and his company FTX. Tune in for a conversation about ego, fame, stardom, and altruism. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Check out our  exclusive community offers  on Patreon  here . Get Do Hard Things  and  The Practice of Groundedness  on audible (Or in hard copy: Hard Things  here  and Ground...

On today's episode, Brad and Steve discuss the symptoms, causes, and prevention of Internet Brain. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Check out our  exclusive community offers  on Patreon  here . Get Do Hard Things  and  The Practice of Groundedness  on audible (Or in hard copy: Hard Things  here  and Groundedness  here ). Please  write a review on Appl...

Brad and Steve are joined by psychologist, author, podcaster, and parent Yael Schonbrun. They discuss role tension, process vs. outcome, boundaries, and the skill of being bored. Stay tuned till the end for a special therapy session with the guys! Yael's new book: Work, Parent, Thrive Yael's podcast: Psychologists Off the Clock   You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Andro...

Brad is joined by author Kieran Setiya to discuss his new book Life is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way. Kieran discusses navigating a midlife crisis, his mindfulness practice, altruism, social media, telic vs atelic activities, ritual and religion, and the future of philosophy. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Check out our  exclusive co...

On today's episode, Brad and Steve explore a meta analysis of Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation. They discuss the impact of Socioeconomic factors and the Self-Determination theory. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Check out our  exclusive community offers  on Patreon  here . Get Do Hard Things  and  The Practice of Groundedness  on audible (Or in har...

On today's podcast, Brad and Steve are joined by Chris Doulgas: COO of The Growth Equation, Owner of Presidio Management , and host of the Low Tide Boyz podcast. They talk about his upbringing as a baseball player, previous careers, starting The Growth Equation with Brad and Steve, and why he still pushes himself with swim-run. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android...

What separates the burnt out childhood prodigy from the one that matures into world class performer? On today's episode, Brad and Steve answer this question. They discuss generalization vs specialization, time of starting their craft, hours of practice, and rate of progress. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Check out our  exclusive community offers  o...

On today's episode, Brad and Steve discuss rest and recovery. They talk about the importance of physical activity, socializing, nature, hydration, diet, sleep, and task switching, You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Check out our  exclusive community offers  on Patreon  here . Get Do Hard Things  and  The Practice of Groundedness  on audible (Or in hard...

Brad and Steve put together a list of their favorite documentaries of the last 10 years plus some TV show recommendations. For a deeper dive into the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance , check out the previous podcast here. Documentaries mentioned in this episode are Won't You be my Neighbor? Jiro Dreams of Sushi, 14 Peaks, The Dawn Wall, The Captain, Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off, M...

Brad and Steve examine how Awe impacts us, gives us perspective, connects us, and alleviates anxiety. In this episode, they discuss stillness, ego, narcissism and addiction. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Check out our  exclusive community offers  on Patreon  here . Get Do Hard Things  and  The Practice of Groundedness  on audible (Or in hard copy:...

Brad and Steve celebrate the anniversary (or birthday?) of Brad's book “The Practice of Groundedness” . What would he revise for 2022? Join Brad and Steve as they discuss loneliness, the Perils of Heroic Individualism, consumerism, status, and loyalty. For an expanded look into this topic, read Brad's article “The Perils Of Heroic Individualism (And Ideas For A More Grounded Society)” . You can fi...

Brad and Steve discuss “Quiet Quitting”. They talking about bullshit jobs, not trying hard as a way to protect yourself and keeping space away from something you enjoy doing. Lastly, an exclusive look at Brad's homemade vegetable juice drink. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Check out our  exclusive community offers  on Patreon  here . Get  Do Hard Th...

Brad and Steve discuss when pushing turns things from being fun to being work. Is it even a problem? So what if your work is fun? Brad struggles to read for pleasure and Steve forgets about making progress. They talk about choosing not to be competitive, putting down boundaries, and staying aware of the enjoyment of your work. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android...

Brad and Steve discuss the “medium is the message” and what it means for how we consume and discuss important topics as individuals, communities, and entire societies. (The article by Ezra Klein referenced in the show is here .) You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Check out our  exclusive community offers  on Patreon  here . Get  Do Hard Things  and  The...

Brad and Steve discuss how “audience capture” works both ways: you don't only capture an audience but an audience also captures you. While this is certainly true for folks with leadership roles or public personas, it is true for all of us, and increasingly so in an internet age where it is easier than ever to be connected to everyone, for better and for worse. Please note: this week is part one of...

Brad and Steve discuss what everyone could learn from the Norwegian model of talent development, and why the United States takes such a difference approach, often to its own peril. They also discuss concrete guidelines for sustainable development in any domain — from sport to intellect to the arts — that you can start applying today. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify A...

It is unfortunate that we've got a society where extreme narcissism is a key attribute for so-called “success.” Left unchecked, it can, and does, leave a whole lot of wreckage in its wake. On this episode, Brad and Steve discuss ego, narcissism, innovation, progress and how to keep these traits in check so you control them and they don't control you. A fun intellectual episode that is also filled...

Brad and Steve break down one of the most important principles for sustainable excellence and mastery without burning out: You get 24 to 48 hours to celebrate the win or grieve the defeat, but then it’s time to get back to doing the work itself. After success, getting back to the work humbles you. After failure, getting back to the work builds motivation. Either way, it’s the best medicine. You ca...

Welcome to this special bonus issue. Steve does his best revisionist history impression, telling you the story of Paul Bear Bryant's famous Junction Boys football camp, while discussing the origins of ‘old school toughness.' This is adapted from Steve's new book Do Hard Things , which you can buy wherever books are sold! You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitch...

Brad and Steve discuss different models for working with others, ranging from permissive to authoritarian and everything in between. They explore the research on what works best for specific situations, and translate that into practical take-aways. You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Please  write a review on Apple Podcasts  and help new listeners discov...

A discussion on consistency, intensity, and the tradeoffs between the two. The big topics discussed include how small steps compounded over time lead to big gains; why it is so tempting to over-do intensity and under-do consistency; how to determine a seven or eight out of ten and differentiate it from a nine or ten out of ten; and when it makes sense to go to the well. This one is jam packed with...

Brad and Steve discuss the different habits, strategies, and practices that can help you learn when it makes sense to keep going (and grit) versus when it makes sense shut things down (and quit) — be it in a job, in a relationship, or in some other pursuit. Topics explored include job-crafting, values-based decision making, different ways of meeting basic needs, the myth of Sisyphus, and the three...

In this behind-the-scenes podcast, Brad interviews Steve on his new book Do Hard Things . Where did the idea for the book come from? How do you go from an idea of “fake toughness” to a fleshed-out framework for the real thing? What are the biggest myths about resilience that trip people up? How do you know when to keeping going versus quit? All of these questions and more are answered in this week...

Brad and Steve are joined by Kyle Klechenko, co-founder, co-owner, and head coach at Strength Ratio, to discuss his new e-book, “Building Foundations: Prioritize Your Health and Well-Being.” The trio discuss the latest science and nuance behind physical activity guidelines, nutrition, sleep, substance-use, bloodwork, pain management, and more. This is a must-listen: it lays out a nice, comprehensi...

Some people love to grind and work long days and on the weekends.  Some people like never to work outside of traditional hours. Some people  like to brag about how much they work. Other people like to brag about  how little they work. When should we work? Is there such a thing as too  much work? Too little work? Our good friend, colleague, and always  critical thinker Cal Newport (author of Deep W...