The Difficulty: Creativity, Meaning & the Hard Work of a Life

Chad Prevost and Reagan Pugh discuss their experiences as Enneagram Type Fours, exploring the challenges and opportunities of emotional intensity. They emphasize the importance of emotional awareness and self-acceptance in overcoming shame and doubt. Also dealing with personal struggles with anger as a coping mechanism. The importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in personal growth...

Chad Prevost and Chris Heuertz discuss the Enneagram, a personality typing system that aims to help individuals understand themselves and others better. Chris provides insights into its history and practical applications. They highlight its ability to help individuals understand their motivations and behaviors. They also discuss the importance of vulnerability and community in using the Enneagram...

Chad Prevost and friend of the show, Matt Mclleland, discuss the significance of choice in shaping our identity and life outcomes, with a focus on self-awareness, conscious decision-making, and overcoming unconscious patterns. What is the impact of social media and technology on mental health? What are the challenges of balancing innovation with risk aversion in various industries? Whatever the an...

Today's conversation revolves around the importance of practicing gratitude, self-care, and radical optimism in the face of adversity. Ashley Jones shares her story of unexpectedly becoming a young parent and then navigating the diagnosis of their child, Skyler's, rare condition. Ashley tells us about our culture's comfort level with talking about grief. She also sees a great, big need for creatin...

Chad Prevost and Frederik Pferdt discuss the importance of developing a mindset that can navigate and shape an uncertain future. Pferdt emphasizes the need to move away from fear and uncertainty and instead focus on creating a better future through radical optimism, living in the present, and embracing the unknown. They also explore the power of reframing challenges as opportunities for growth, cu...

Chad discusses the growing pressure of stress in modern society and the need to develop mindfulness practices to manage it. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and interrupting compulsive thinking patterns that reinforce negative emotions and emotional reactivity. Chad introduces the "stop one minute breathing space" technique to help you pause and take stock of your body, feelings, and as...

Chad discusses the concept of stress in today's fast-paced world, exploring its impact on the human body and mind. He highlights the importance of understanding and managing stress to improve overall well-being. He presents a counterintuitive perspective that stress can be beneficial when viewed as a positive force. Later, he explores the interplay between stress and social isolation, emphasizing...

Chad Prevost and Chris Collins discuss the importance of building strong communities through authenticity and inclusivity. They emphasize the role of small businesses in fostering a sense of community and the need for people to feel welcomed and included. They also share personal experiences and insights on balancing parental responsibilities and personal aspirations, maintaining focus and setting...

Chad Prevost and John M. DeMarco discuss their paths to coaching, emphasizing the importance of building relationships, trust, and connection in their practices. They also explore the evolving nature of careers and skills, particularly among younger generations, and highlight the need for intentional training, experience, and learning agility to navigate this landscape. And what about the importan...

Chad Prevost and Ben Albert discuss the importance of authenticity and resilience in entrepreneurship, sharing personal experiences with maintaining these qualities in the face of challenges such as burnout, financial struggles, and personal growth. They emphasize the need to be honest about one's struggles and to showcase vulnerability in marketing and storytelling, while also acknowledging the i...

Chad Prevost and Charles Moss discuss their experiences in creative freelancing, sharing personal struggles with imposter syndrome and financial stability. They emphasize the importance of persistence, resilience, and community support in navigating these challenges. They also discuss their experiences in the music industry, finding a balance between creativity and financial stability. Finally, th...

Chad Prevost and Adam Hergenrother discuss practical approaches to personal growth and fulfillment, emphasizing the interconnectedness of outer work and inner growth. Adam shares his experiences in real estate and prioritizes both aspects of life. He explores the concept of awakening and breaking free from the cycle of self-driven desires by becoming aware of the ego and true nature of thoughts an...

Chad Prevost and Daniel Lucas discuss personal growth through ultrarunning, coping with life's challenges, and fulfillment in the digital age. They discuss the importance of resilience, mental toughness, and self-awareness in achieving success in ultra-distance running and in life.  Daniel shares his experiences as an innovation specialist and discusses the challenges of driving innovation and gro...

Chad Prevost and Juan Aguinaga discuss the potential of public education to transform society through innovative approaches and collaborations. Juan shares his personal experience with a mentor, Jeremy Beard, who helped shape his belief in himself and his peers. Chad highlights the work of Chatt Prep, an all-boys public charter school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is achieving remarkable result...

Chad Prevost and Jonathan Fisher discuss the interplay between courage and heart health, exploring how fear and lack of courage can negatively impact heart health. They share personal experiences and scientific insights, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and working with fear to strengthen courage and promote better heart health. The conversation also touches on the complexities of the...

Chad Prevost and Dale Woodfin discuss their experiences with managing creativity and focus in the digital age, sharing personal anecdotes and insights on prioritizing deep work and setting aside distractions. They also discuss the challenges of pursuing a creative career, including balancing artistic vision with financial stability, and the significance of dreams and authenticity in both art and l...

Chad Prevost and Ben Cake explore the complexities of authenticity in various contexts, including personal relationships, marketing, and conflict resolution. They emphasize the importance of understanding the intent of others, simplifying complex ideas, and fostering a culture of acceptance and understanding. They also discuss the value of authenticity in their respective fields, while acknowledgi...

Chad Prevost explores personal growth and authenticity through various discussions, delving into the unconscious realm and examining the personal and collective unconscious, archetypes, and the hero's journey. He shares insights on navigating power dynamics and integrating conscious and unconscious aspects for personal growth. Prevost also discusses the complex relationship between individuation a...

Today's conversation revolves around the role of creativity and entrepreneurship in shaping culture, the importance of belief and support in creative collaboration, and the challenges of bringing creative visions to life. Taylor Jones and Eric Brown emphasize the need for a holistic approach to culture building that prioritizes both individual and organizational well-being, and highlights the pote...

Chad Prevost and friend of the show, Richie Daigle, discuss their experiences with identity and purpose, exploring the complexities of being identified by one's profession. Richie shares his struggles with being defined solely as a professional baseball player after his playing career ended, and what he did upon graduating during the economic recession of 2008. They delve into the idea that our ac...

Chad recounts his terrifying experience during a whitewater rafting trip. What is the difference between giving up and surrendering when it comes to how we live our (extra)ordinary lives? Tune in and find out. You'll be glad that Chad lived and what you can takeaway from his harrowing experience. High Notes: The concept of surrender and letting go. Surrender and giving up, with personal stories of...

Today's conversation centers around the importance of addressing stigmas associated with men's mental health and the need for supportive resources and community engagement. Chad and friend of the show, James Dawson, emphasize the interconnectedness of mental health and wellness, and share their experiences with men's mental health retreats and breathwork practices. They discuss the evolution of ma...

Chad Prevost and James Dawson discuss their experiences with burnout in startup culture, emphasizing the importance of self-care and setting realistic expectations. They also explore the intersection of neuroscience and personal growth, and share their personal experiences with cold water plunging. The conversation highlights the role of perspective and gratitude in shaping our experiences and rel...

This episode's conversation revolves around the themes of creativity, vulnerability, and personal growth. Genesis emphasized the importance of practicing vulnerability in creative endeavors, and with Chad Prevost and Ben Cake, they discussed the need for radical new ways to understand and practice humanism. This includes sharing experiences with embracing risk and failure, and the importance of st...

The central focus of the first month's theme for The Humanist is understanding Authenticity. Why? Partly because the title of the podcast almost featured authenticity in the first place. Partly because authenticity seems to be having "a moment" culturally, and we aim to find out what's going on: How authentic is authenticity really when it comes to ways it's used an understood? Chad Prevost and Be...