The Questionistas

We're back! Thomas learned the hard way that he was editing too much. We've still been recording, only now episodes are going to get a bit more raw. Uncut. Unfiltered. (That makes it sound WAY MORE WILD then the episodes are actually going to get 🤣. ) Let's talk about who we are. Where do we get our identities from? How can those be useful or damaging? Why do we get so offended when people behave...

In today's episode, we ask perhaps the scariest question of them all. What if I'm wrong? This thing that I believe, this thing that I'm doing, what if I'm wrong? Am I going to ruin my life and everything? Is "realism" (often just disguised pessimism) always better than optimism?

Is manipulation always a negative thing? What is rhetoric? How can I recognize people trying to manipulate me, and how can I use those techniques in a positive way to make my conversations more effective?

We're back! Again! Hey, it can be hard to keep up with editing and publishing a podcast that isn't making you money bwahahaha. We get back to the question of "Who am I", trying to get a layer deeper. Is our identity actually us? We talk fixed, growth, and dynamic mindsets. Can you change? Can you adapt to the needs of the moment?

Why do we use group identities and other shorthand? What are the pros and cons of binaries and spectrums? How do we balance understanding others and letting them be different?

Is failure bad? Am I the sum of what I did today? When is it ok to give up on a goal or task? And finally, is failure necessary? If so, for what?

Why doesn't the stupid tool do what I want? Why do I feel like I'm hitting my head against the wall to make something happen? Why am I struggling to get the motivation to change my habits?

Why can it be so hard to be criticized? How do we get something useful from poorly delivered feedback? How do we move past the desire to ignore feedback and avoid becoming masochistic collectors of criticism? (After editing this episode, I further realized how much I unknowingly quote Eliezer Yudkowsky and his ideas. If you're reading this, thank you for the skills you taught me.)

Do you feel like you suck at math? The good news is, it isn't your fault! (At least not all of it, you've got to at least try!) But the human brain optimized to handle certain types of math, and by instinct it fails at others. Here, we talk about why, when dealing with numbers, sometimes the answer is to "Shut up and do the math."

How do I understand other people? What are the ideas I have of who other people are in my head? How do I react when a good person does something bad, or a bad person does something good? Are those labels even useful?

Why is it sometimes hard to make a decision? What if I don't know what I should do next? What if there are too many options, or none at all? We cover some psychology and tools to get you unstuck! :D 

Why would many of us rather get electrocuted then sit alone with our thoughts? What gets in the way of having good, personal thinking time? How can you find peace in doing nothing? And, perhaps most importantly, how can looking at our own thoughts trick us into thinking we understand ourselves better than we do?

Why do humans think together instead of just alone? What are the benefits thinking as a team? How can it go wrong? What are some tools we can use to have better conversations?

Why did I (Thomas) want to make this podcast? Why does believing in absolutes tend to make you suffer? Can you survive a world that you can't fit inside of your head? YES.

When is it time to stop asking questions, pick an answer, and move forward? Can you go too far in analysis? How does this hurt you? What's a good balance?

In our very first episode of The Questionistas, we address one of the most important questions. "Why questions?" Why are we focusing on questions? Why are they so important? Are they more useful than answers? And if so, why?