Only Human – News, Analysis, and Insights from the World of Human Performance

In this episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, we explore the ongoing issue of human error in aviation, a challenge that has persisted throughout history and continues to impact the industry today. Recent tragedies have raised concerns about the safety of aviation, leading to public scrutiny. Tony reflects on the importance of understanding and addressing human error, especially i...

Does your fear of failure have its basis in reality or is it actually a resistance to the unknown? In this week’s episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, we explore forging new paths through the wilderness of undiscovered ideas. Almost everyone has experienced looking for a tool, a service, a group, a book, or something else only to find it doesn’t seem to exist. When this happens,...

Today on  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern,  our host tackles an issue that we guarantee every single one of our listeners has struggled with in their lives: procrastination. Not only is procrastination a destroyer of dreams, a potential career derailer, and a wet blanket on ambition, it can do physical harm to our bodies as well. Tony breaks down all these issues, several effective countermeasures t...

It’s not often that we’re able to pull off our plans without a hitch. Life is full of surprises and even the most predictable mission can go sideways with barely a moment’s notice. In this week’s episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, our host discusses the significant differences between having a plan and being prepared. While the former provides a great starting point for our eff...

Welcome to this week’s episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast! After the tragic collision of an American Airlines plane and Army helicopter this week—the first commercial aviation crash since 2009—Tony and special guest D. Smith discuss repeating safety cycles, the aviation industry, dealing with depression, personal faith, and more. The Executive Director of Safety Management for...

In this episode of Only Human, Dr. Tony Kern dives into the pressing conversation around generational differences, especially within industries like aviation. Joined by Brandon Carroll, a recent acquaintance from a Memphis event, they explore whether there really are significant divides between generations or if it’s all just noise. With Baby Boomers aging out, there’s a lot of talk about how the...

This week’s episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast examines the 8-word phrase that guides our improvement philosophy: “My true best, every time, in full compliance.” This mantra provides an anchor to individual progress, sets a performance goal to aim for, incorporates repetition and deliberate practice, and delineates practical boundaries for executing the task. Surrounding this d...

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Tony Kern   explores the often-unspoken truth behind New Year’s resolutions: they rarely go according to plan and most die a quick death after just a few weeks. Instead of giving in and giving up, we dive deep into the power of persistence, self-compassion, and recalibration. Inspired by Stephen Covey’s idea of “beginning with the end in mind,” we’ll tackle t...

Exploring our “reason for being” is the perfect topic for a show about improving our capabilities as human beings. Today on the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, Tony dives into the Japanese concept of “Ikigai,” where what you love, are good at, can be paid for, and what the world needs intersect to form a purpose for being here that transcends our daily struggles and transforms our lives....

Oxford University’s announcement that “brain rot” is their Word of the Year for 2024 inspires this week’s episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast. Tony shares insights into beating brain rot by engaging with our personal passions and creative pursuits to drive our internal motivation centers. From a board game about cats to the finding creative balance and how autonomy fuels innovat...

In this episode, Tony explores The Logic of Failure by Dietrich Dörner, revealing why even smart, well-intentioned people often fail when managing complex systems. Through a simulation of building a self-sustaining town, participants make decisions that lead to economic collapse, water shortages, and environmental degradation. He discusses how overconfidence, simplistic thinking, and failure to an...

In this book-centric episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, Tony uses the central themes from Robert Heinlein’s  Stranger in a Strange Land  to draw modern lessons that are applicable to our personal and professional lives. From the protagonist’s journey to adapt within a strange new culture (ours) to bridging gaps with clear communication and practicing both self-awareness and em...

Today on the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, Tony wades into current political discourse after using a controversial example at a public speaking event. This prompts self-reflection on how our individual worldviews are formed, staying open minded to alternate viewpoints, valuing dialogue between different perspectives, and thinking critically about the lessons we learn from history. This...

This episode of the  Only Human Podcast with Dr. Tony Kern  concludes our miniseries on the many components of motivation. We already discussed  why it’s critical to finish what we start, and this week continues that conversation with  how  to accomplish the things we set out to do. From visualizing the finish line from the beginning to the difference it makes when we manage our energy instead of...

Is it important to finish what we start? In this episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, our host shows why finishing things should be a fundamental habit, how to reinforce it through things like grit and perseverance, how to reframe our obstacles and challenges, and why self-compassion is necessary to reach that finish line. With his usual mix of historical anecdotes, philosophica...

Hanging onto inspiration and motivation can be tricky. In this episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, discover several ways to maintain motivation by finding the right anchors to strong focal points. These include connecting on both an intellectual and emotional level with our goals, fanning the flames by taking small steps and keeping our next victory right around the corner, uti...

This episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast is a book launch party for Tony’s new title:  Armored Knight , available now from  North Slope and  Amazon . This release is the third in his trilogy of books on mastering ourselves.  Blue Threat taught us how to defeat human error,  Going Pro improved our collective professionalism, and now  Armored Knight  provides us with a roadmap for...

In this episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast we focus on a subject that most people have experience with—inspiration. Where does it come from and why does it disappear? How can motivation and perseverance help us reach the finish line on our efforts when inspiration is gone? As a researcher, author, and speaker with decades of experience, Tony knows both sides of this coin and sh...

Our special guest on this week’s episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast comes to us from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Major General Colin Keiver (ret.) is a fellow pilot, instructor, and human factors aficionado who matches Tony point-for-point on a variety of topics. From growing through instructing others to principles-based operations and what’s missing from current leadership...

Discover the cosmic balance between courage and fear in this week’s discussion on the  Only Human Podcast with Dr. Tony Kern,  with special guest Valerie Walsh. Valerie is a best-selling author of books on love, loss, and personal development and a mental health/physical fitness advocate. This conversation covers “knowing yourself” and the wide range of tools and methods that we’ve learned or disc...

In this packed episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, we dive into the cognitive biases—or mental shortcuts—that our subconscious hidden identity uses that can sabotage our efforts. These automatic processes can trip us up if we’re not careful, but the more introspective (see our last episode) we can be about our own actions and thought processes, the more we can avoid these mind...

People who practice introspection—the act of thinking about the inner workings of ourselves—are more likely to find happiness, relationship fulfillment, personal growth, and a sense of control. But the opposite can also occur if introspection is done haphazardly or the wrong way. In this week’s episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, Tony explores the benefits of introspection, tip...

What do road rage, Will Smith’s Oscar slap, and an astronaut in adult diapers have in common? The answer is an emotional and irrational response to a stimuli or trigger called “sudden loss of judgment.” Join us for this week’s  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast as we dive into more examples of this serious problem that we’ve all experienced from time to time. Tony shares personal anecdotes an...

In this week’s episode of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast, we discuss how to break free from the things that keep us complacent, distracted, and limit our potential. Life isn’t usually stable, safe, or predictable and relying on the things we’re so often told will provide happiness and security can result in us becoming trapped instead. Breaking free requires intention and deliberate p...

Welcome to Season 3 of the  Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern  podcast! Season 3’s focus is what Socrates called the fountain of all wisdom—getting to know yourself. In this episode, Tony discusses the “four identities” each of us possess: public, private, secret, and a hidden identity. Join us for a discussion on how these identities influence our actions, reactions, thoughts, and behaviors and learn...