The Struggle

Most of us think we’re taking the safe path—getting the degree, landing the well-paid job, buying the house—but what if that’s actually the riskiest decision of all? We fear uncertainty and avoid risk, but in doing so, we might be making the biggest gamble of our lives: sacrificing fulfilment for comfort. In this episode, I break down why we miscalculate risk, how loss aversion distorts our decisi...

Fear and hope—two emotions that seem opposite—are actually two sides of the same illusion, both keeping us from taking action. In this episode of  The Struggle , I explore a powerful passage from Lao Tzu’s  Tao Te Ching : “Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear...” What does this mean? How does it apply to modern life? I’ll break down: • Why fear paralyzes us—and w...

What if the very thing you’re running from—your pain, your dissatisfaction, your anxiety—is actually the key to living a full, meaningful life? What if the endless distractions, self-improvement loops, and compulsive scrolling are keeping you from something deeper? In this episode of  The Struggle , I explore why discomfort isn’t a flaw in the system—it’s a necessity. I dive into how modern t...

📌 Episode Summary In this introspective episode of The Struggle , I explore a paradox that has shaped my entire life: the more we struggle, the more we become trapped —just like Devil’s Snare in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone . For 20 years , I believed the solution to my problems was to work harder, achieve more, and optimize every part of my life . I thought success, productivity, and...

Are you truly awake, or just sleepwalking through life? Most people drift through their days on autopilot unaware, unintentional, and unexamined until it’s too late. The shocking reality? An unexamined life comes at a devastating cost: regret, missed opportunities, and a lack of true fulfilment. In this episode of The Struggle, we dive deep into why living an examined life is crucial and how you c...

Welcome back to The Struggle, where we uncover the best ideas, strategies, and exercises to help you overcome life’s challenges and thrive through adversity. In Episode 50, we dive into practical techniques to identify and rebalance areas of your life where you may feel restricted—whether it’s chaos vs. order, comfort vs. discomfort, or predictability vs. uncertainty. You’ll learn: ✅ How to condu...

In this episode, we dive deep into the balance between chaos and order, the known and the unknown. How do we confront the restrictions in our lives—through comfort or adventure? Drawing from powerful symbols like the yin-yang, the Flammarion engraving, and stories like The Hobbit and the tale of Adam and Eve, we explore how to embrace change without losing stability. Discover how to break free fro...

In this special guest episode, I’m joined by George from The Tin Men blog and Instagram page, hes a content creator, pro-men’s advocate, and researcher. In this conversation, we explore why men and women in the West aren’t actually oppressed, discuss the reasons behind why boys and men are moving to the political right, and how the left may be partly to blame for this shift. We also unpack how cap...

In this episode I run through 24 of the most meaningful and impactful lessons I learned and discussed in 2024. Topics include productivity, emotions, The Lonely Chapter, ‘Productivity Debt’ and much more. References Modern Wisdom Podcast - Dopamine Gregor, Serotonin Gregor & Cortisol Gregor Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com Watch The Struggle YouTube...

In this episode, I discuss why human flourishing has to have individual struggles as well as meaningful connections with others, why consistency is key for achieving grand ambitions and I provide an update regarding the stats of the podcast for 2024. Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com Listen To The Struggle Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/po...

In this episode, I discuss an unethical experiment from the 1960s and what we can learn from it, why continually doing difficult tasks will make you stronger and make the difficult tasks feel easier and why embracing and experiencing painful emotions, rather than distracting yourself from them, will make you braver and more productive. Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gre...

In this episode, I discuss why distracting yourself from painful emotions is making life painful, how taking responsibility for your vulnerabilities is empowering, the difference between instant-pleasure and pleasure felt post-effort and why the whole of experience is important. References Man’s Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorth...

In this episode I discuss the benefits of cold exposure, the role dopamine plays regarding motivation and anticipation, how different behaviours and substances increase dopamine and how to leverage dopamine in productive, healthy and fulfilling ways. References Hof, W. (2022)  What are the benefits of Cold therapy? ,  Wim Hof Method . Wim Hof Method. Available at: https://www.wimhofmetho...

In this episode, I discuss our over-dependence on painkillers, the unintended consequences of over-abundance and over-consumption and the consequences of avoiding pain and effort. Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com Watch The Struggle YouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsD Get In Touch Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gregors...

In this episode, I discuss The Existentialist Moment, the contributors to Existentialism, the common ideas and theories within it and applicable lessons to take away from the philosophy. References https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/ Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com Watch The Struggle YouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwP...

In this episode, I discuss the birth of Existentialism, two of it’s precursor philosophers Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche and their contribution to Existentialism and the applicable lessons we can learn from their writing. References Crowell, Steven, "Existentialism",  The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy  (Summer 2020 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = < https:...

In this episode, I discuss The Lonely Chapter, the nature of aiming high in relation to those around you, why you should continually sacrifice even when those around you are not and why you should take a chance and ask someone what makes them cry. References https://medium.com/@tonny.nguyen/the-lonely-chapter-fc0c1080e516 Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com...

In this guest episode, I spoke with Oliver Burkeman, he is an author and journalist and he wrote one of the most impactful books I’ve ever come across: 4000 Weeks: Time Management For Mortals . Oliver also writes an email newsletter entitled The Imperfectionist that he sends out twice a month and he has a new book out entitled Meditations For Mortals: Four Week To Embrace Your Limitations And Make...

In this episode, I discuss serotonin’s role in the brain and body, the importance of experiencing the present and bettering your future and behaviours and activities that boost serotonin activity. References https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2077351/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545168/ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/digestive-health/good-foods-to-help-your-digestion/ https:...

In this episode I discuss dopamine, it’s function, the pleasure/pain balance, why the modern world is rife with addictive behaviours, activities and substances and how to leverage dopamine for motivation, productivity and fulfilment. Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com Watch The Struggle YouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsD Get...

In this episode I discuss why I took a break from social media and producing The Struggle podcast and newsletter and the 4 lessons I learnt from doing a dopamine detox. Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com Watch The Struggle YouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsD Get In Touch Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gregorsthomson/ Ti...

In this episode, I discuss why our mental health is deteriorating, how social media makes us less connected, how dating apps make dating harder, why technology is not the answer to a lack of meaning and fulfilment and why I’m taking a break in September from the podcast and weekly newsletter. References https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/trend/archive/fall-2023/americas-mental-health-crisis https://www....

In this episode, I discuss how sacrificing helped our primitive ancestors survive, how sacrifice can lead to meaning and fulfilment and why all successful people had to sacrifice to succeed. Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com Watch The Struggle YouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsD Get In Touch Instagram - https://www.instagram....

In this episode, I respond to comments from the last 31 episodes, both the positives and negatives. Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com Watch The Struggle YouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsD Get In Touch Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gregorsthomson/ Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gregor.s.thomson?_t=8ioMNLUnA25&_r...

In this episode, I discuss the reason why we should struggle more, the weight of suffering that you will bear in your life, how to prepare for it and how to help others. Sponsor Sign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.com Watch The Struggle YouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsD Get In Touch Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gregorsthomson/ T...