Pursuit of Utility

You want to start a podcast. You've been thinking about it for two years. You've done the research. You're somewhere between the SM7B and whatever Andrew Huberman is running in his sound-treated studio in California. You have recorded zero episodes. The thing standing between you and starting isn't the mic. It isn't the format, the guests, the name, or whether to set up a Patre...

In this special Father's Day episode of Pursuit of Utility, I dive deep into what it means to truly show up for the people you care about. From fixing brake lights to navigating the complex balance of supporting and pushing your kids, this episode is a candid reflection on the realities of fatherhood. I discuss the importance of not "hedging" on your dreams, why you shouldn't hid...

In this episode, we explore what it really means to maintain your mental health as a man, no fluff, no autopilot. We kick things off with why Men’s Mental Health Month matters, break down the silent epidemic of depression and suicide, and then shift into low gear with a metaphor that hits home: your mind isn’t a Tesla—it’s a Jeep. We talk grit, gear, and getting unstuck. How working on yourself is...

“Provide and protect.” It’s the phrase we hear every Father’s Day but what does it really mean? In this episode, I unpack the deeper, often overlooked dimensions of fatherhood. Providing isn’t just about finances or about safety. I explore what it looks like to provide perspective, presence, and emotional vocabulary and how real protection sometimes means shielding your kids from your own ego or t...

Follow along as I use ChatGPT to help create a New Year's Resolution. In this podcast we explore various New Year Resolution trends as well as explore how a tool like ChatGPT can be used to help ideate and brainstorm various topics. Link to the YouTube video Check out ChatGPT Contact me with any questions: nate@pursuitofutility.com

Listen to this episode to find out the areas that I am thinking about moving into next year. Here is that list: Automate / Delegate / Remove AI Time to Process Organization Readiness Doing it Health Here is the link to the Justin Mares article that I mentioned. Great American Poisoning Reach out to me at nate@pursuitofutility.com #resolutions #newyear #howtocomeupwitharesolution

I provide a quick update on our latest farm project and also talk about the agency that comes from having your kids involved in what you do around your property and also how teaching them things, like how to operate equipment or cook their own food is the way. There is no greater good than to be of service to the people you love. #parenting #agency #utility

In this episode, I read one of my favorite poems, We Who Are Your Closest Friends, which just speaks to the insanity in which our mind operates. It was written back in the 1940s and is still true to this day. How might we get out of our heads such that we can live the way that we want without existing in so much turmoil? It is not easy but is a noble pursuit. Check out the video on YouTube .

Reclaim your agency. This episode talks about showing up with purpose. This article and more can be found on the website. Check out the website: https://pursuitofutility.com/an-orange-shirt-and-discomfort/

Being a dad is the hardest job you will ever love. And with that job comes lots of room for improvement. In this episode I reflect on how I think I am doing as a dad with a few areas that I think I am getting better in and a few others that could use some work. If you have any ideas on topics that you want to hear discussed shoot me an email to nate@theuntuckedlife.com And remember, care a lot mor...

In this episode I talk about how my passion has now become part of my career. I am taking a new position that I am super pumped about and it will involve creating a Podcast for the organization that I will be working for. Pretty sweet. How might you be able to start infusing more of your passion into your day job?  The Untucked Podcast  www.natevalentin.com #passion #untuckedpodcast #hus...

In this episode I break down my approach to ramping up in the incredibly overwhelming and intimidating world of day trading. Now I am by no means an expert nor a financial advisor but think that the steps I outline could help you onboard onto any new interest. I take my years as an analyst and the tools I used to ramp up on new subjects and apply those to day trading.  If you want to get star...

I am not a group-ex guy but the Peloton is pretty dope. In this episode I review the Peloton, my first impressions of it as a product and also how it fits into the market. I share my initial reaction to taking delivery and having my first ride and also review the latest member statistics. The bottom line is that a ridiculously high user retention level just further emphasizes the value proposition...

He was the RomCom guy. But then he reinvented himself into probably one of the best actors in Hollywood. How did he do this? Why did he do this? Who is he really and what does he think about? In this episode I share 4 meaningful highlights from his new book Greenlights that start to unpack the answers to these questions. I have been so impressed with the depth of the content in this book and the e...

This episode is a little different than most so let's see what you think. One, I am trying out a different mic and also mixed the audio a bit differently. Let me know what you think about that. I also broke the episode down into different sections. Here is the breakdown of the episode. Section 1. Review of David Goggins' Can't Hurt Me - :30 Section 2: Passive Income Story - 9:30 Section 3: Politic...

Here are 5 simple steps I am taking in 2021 to take back control of life. 2020 was a hard year for all of us and as we limp into next year here are a few ideas on how you might make the most out of the new year. The tips that I discuss are: 1. Purge 2. Organize 3. Produce more content 4. Question 5. Radical accountability If you are looking for some help in moving into the new year consider these...

This is a quick discussion about algorithms and social media and some of the consequences they present.  If you haven't watched Social Dilemma, I highly recommend it. You can find it here   #socialmedia #algorithms #socialdilemma

Fear and anxiety are becoming more and more common place in today's world. In this article Shane from the FS blog talks about rethinking fear based on the work done by Gavin de Becker in his book The Gift of Fear. If you have been struggling with uncontrollable fear or crippling anxiety maybe this episode is for you.  --- Link to the original article on fs.blog --- Check out more here: www.th...

In this episode I read an article written by the great Mark Manson on FastCompany regarding self-control and more importantly the thinking brain versus the feeling brain. I share my thoughts and how I reconcile these concepts in my mind. If you struggle with change or with willpower listen to this episode and hopefully it will help shed some light on this topic. Here is the original article here ....

In this episode I read Ryan Holiday's latest article and respond to his list of 10 ways to find stillness. I then share my thoughts on the approaches he mentions along with my own experience implementing some of these into my life. Ryan is one of the great thinkers of this generation and I strongly recommend following his work. Stillness is something that can be cultivated through deliberate pract...

In this episode I share a few passages from Book 6 of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations. This book has been something I have recommended to several people and one that I come back to regularly. It is just crazy to think that the ruler of the most powerful kingdom at that time was writing messages, largely to himself, to stay centered. The wisdom and teachings he wrote some 2,000 years ago still apply t...

Today is my birthday! The big 36. Are you supposed to tell people on the internet how old you are? Hmmm... Last year at this time I wrote an article called 35 Things at 35. It was a collection of thoughts and lessons I had learned over the years. Today, in honor of that post I wanted to write something new. I didn't want to do the same old 36 at 36. Especially since there has been one central them...

In this episode I talk about the importance of your story and how it can literally change your life. For the first time, I talk about my accident and share what the recovery process has taught me... continues to teach me. The stoics said that we should delineate between the things that we can control and those that we cannot. We are not always in control of the things that happen to us. But we are...

Why do you do the things you do? Do you know? Have you ever stopped to think about why you either agreed to do something or decided that you should undertake a new project? In this episode I talk about how I approach decision making through analyzing the root motivations behind the decisions I make or ideas I pursue.  Check us out at www.theuntuckedlife.com Care more about less.

This podcast is about failure and how you might think about it and respond to it. The ironic thing is that the first pass at uploading this podcast actually failed ( edit: the second one did too ), so I added a section at the beginning of this to just show how frequent failure can happen. It didn't stop me from fixing the podcast and re-uploading it and it shouldn't stop you from doing what you ar...