The Daniel Stih Podcast

My guest is Hrvoje Morić. His work explores geopolitics, health, war, and the structures that shape what information reaches the public. This conversation looks at a deeper question: What happens when information itself becomes something that is filtered, shaped, or controlled by systems we don't fully see? We explore: The Disinformation Governance Board and what problem it was intended to solve ...

How does AI decide what's "accurate"? In this episode, I walk through a real example of editing a piece of content with ChatGPT—and what changed as a result. We explore: • How AI systems apply internal guidelines to determine accuracy • What gets added, removed, or reframed—and why • The difference between factual correctness and interpretive framing • Where these systems are useful—and where they...

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are often discussed in terms of bias or censorship. The real question is: What are these systems actually optimizing—and how does that shape what you see? My guest is Ryan Hartwig, who worked as a content moderator reviewing posts, groups, and videos on behalf of Facebook. In this conversation, we explore: • How content moderation decisions are made • What inc...

Climate change is often discussed in absolute terms—certainty on one side, skepticism on the other. The real question is: How are these claims formed and how should they be evaluated?  My guest is Lynne Balzer, who has spent years researching climate data and the assumptions behind it. In this conversation, we explore: • How climate data is collected and interpreted • Where assumptions enter the a...

Feeling stuck? Today is Step 7, the final step   of the WHISTLE Method, a framework for going from stuck to started. You don't need a finish line. This is where you step into your next evolution. Each day this week, I'll walk you through a new step of the WHISTLE Method. One letter. One breakthrough. One day at a time. Because You Can: How to Succeed Under Difficult Circumstances: Lessons Learned...

Feeling stuck? Today is Step 6 of the WHISTLE Method, a framework for turning stuck in to started and reclaiming your sense of purpose. The solution is woven into how you think, act, and lead. Make it real, make it yours - Live it. Each day this week, I'll walk you through a new step of the WHISTLE Method. One letter. One breakthrough. One day at a time. Because You Can: How to Succeed Under Diffi...

Feeling stuck? Today is Step 5 of the WHISTLE Method, a 7-step framework for going from stuck to started. Touch it. Until you touch it —you haven't stepped into the solution space. Each day this week, I'll walk you through a new step of the WHISTLE Method. One letter. One breakthrough. One day at a time. Because You Can: How to Succeed Under Difficult Circumstances: Lessons Learned From Climbing M...

Feeling stuck? Today is Step 4 of the WHISTLE Method, a 7-step framework for turning indecision into momentum and reclaiming your sense of purpose. Learn why imperfect action beasts perfect planning. Start now. Each day this week, I'll walk you through a new step of the WHISTLE Method. One letter. One breakthrough. One day at a time. Because You Can: How to Succeed Under Difficult Circumstances: L...

Feeling stuck? Today is Step 3 of the WHISTLE Method, a 7-step framework for turning indecision into momentum and reclaiming your sense of purpose. Decide before you act. Make the decision. Set your Intention. I'll walk you through a new step of the WHISTLE Method. One letter. One breakthrough. One day at a time.  Because You Can: How to Succeed Under Difficult Circumstances: Lessons Learned From...

Feeling stuck? Today is Step 2 of the WHISTLE Method, a 7-step framework for going from stuck to started. The roadblock is rarely what you think it is. Learn how to clarify the problem so you can get started. This step will help you to examine internal and external resistance enabling you to move forward with eyes wide open. Each day this week, I'll walk you through a new step of the WHISTLE Metho...

Feeling stuck? Wondering if this is all there is? You're not alone. In this episode, I introduce the WHISTLE Method, my 7-step framework for turning indecision into momentum and reclaiming your sense of purpose. As a rocket scientist and creative thinker, I mapped out the process I use to solve problems, launch ideas, and do the things most people dream of. Today we begin with W — What Do You Want...

Building a business around a mission sounds straightforward—until growth introduces trade-offs. The real question is: what happens when values, incentives, and scale start pulling in different directions? My guest is Jodi Scott, founder of Green Goo, a company that grew from a kitchen experiment into a nationally distributed brand—then went through the process of being sold and bought back. In thi...

A core thinking practice of mine is to never start a sentence with, "I don't know" or "I don't have." Begin it with what you do know or have. This builds confidence and solutions that were not visible before.  

Giving advice is easy. Giving good advice takes courage and awareness. Sometimes you're unsure what to say. Sometimes you're afraid of hurting someone's feelings. This episode explores how to offer guidance without overstepping — and how to decode vague, hesitant, or unclear responses when you're the one asking for advice. You'll learn how to: Offer advice that empowers, not controls Read between...

A solo episode by Daniel Stih We're sometimes afraid to talk about differences in what we think and believe, as we don't want to lose our friends, family, or our peace of mind. Today I'm going to tell you how you can stay human — and keep your voice — even when you disagree.  

A lot of people feel like they're "behind" in life. Behind in career. Behind in relationships. Behind financially. But where does that idea actually come from? In this solo episode, I break down how the feeling of being "behind" is constructed—and why it doesn't hold up under closer examination. We explore: • What you're actually comparing yourself to • How timelines get inherited rather than chos...

My guest is Matthieu Mehuys, a landscape architect focused on regenerative design and practical, real-world sustainability. This conversation focuses on a question: What makes a landscape sustainable, and why do many approaches fail ? In this episode, we explore: How water, soil, and plant systems interact  Why some "eco-friendly" designs don't work as intended  The role of constraints like climat...

Modern dating tools are designed to optimize connection. What if they're optimizing the wrong things? In this episode, I talk with Matt Cook about relationships, health, and long-term connection—not as lifestyle topics -  as systems to understand. • What dating apps optimize and what they don't • How health, chemistry, and environment shape relationships • Why connection breaks down even as option...

In this solo episode, Daniel unpacks the concept of Thought Entrapment — what happens when someone asks a vague or overly broad question such as, "What do you think about [topic]?" It unintentionally corners your thinking.  Using examples from conversations on controversial topics such as evolution, politics, and morality, Daniel explains how open-ended framing can make you feel put on the spot, d...

A solo episode by Daniel Stih Adam Grant says curiosity about astrology is like believing in conspiracy theories. Here's why that claim is flawed, and why dismissing personal beliefs with condescension is more dangerous than the beliefs themselves. In this critical response to Adam Grant's article on astrology, I unpack the flawed research behind his claims and challenge the deeper problem: the co...

My guest is Dr. Jonathan Lockwood, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former intelligence officer, and expert in Russian affairs, military history, and ballistic missile defense. This conversation is not about predicting outcomes. It's about a deeper question: How are strategic decisions made when the stakes are global and the consequences are real? Using current conflicts and emerging technologies as c...

Could your smartphone or home WiFi actually encourage the growth of toxic mold? In this episode, I share the results of an experiment that tested whether exposure to electric fields, magnetic fields, or WiFi signals affects mold growth. You'll hear what did — and didn't — cause black mold like Stachybotrys and toxigenic species such as Aspergillus to thrive. We'll break down: The experiment setup...

How I Think: Words to Delete - Writing Lessons from The Elements of Style Great writing isn't about endless drafts—it's about knowing the rules that matter. In this episode of How I Think, Daniel Stih shares how the timeless principles from The Elements of Styleby William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White have shaped his writing—and helped him finish 12 published books. Discover: The key rules from The E...

While in medical school, Dr. Jill Carnahan was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. After aggressive chemotherapy and radiation, she developed Crohn's disease and began questioning whether standard medical explanations fully accounted for what patients experience with chronic illness. In this conversation, we explore: the difference between symptom management and root-cause thinking why chronic...

Dr. Douglas Estrada is the creator of Silver Scrubs, a line of antimicrobial medical apparel designed to shield the body from electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Dr. Estrada shares: What EMFs are and how they can affect health Why healthcare workers face high EMF exposure EMF shielding and antimicrobial fabrics How Silver Scrubs were developed and tested Practical steps to reduce EMF exposure   If you'...