Best Stinging Fly Podcasts (2025)

1
The Power of NEAT — Move a Little to Lose a Lot 48:17

5d ago48:17

48:17

Do you have a goal to lose weight? If so, you're probably thinking about how you need to exercise more. And that can certainly help. But what about the 23 hours a day you're not at the gym? How much you move during those hours — from walking to the mailbox to fidgeting at your desk — can be just as important in winning the battle of the bulge. Here…

1
Who in the Hell are the Wingmen Anyway? 45:18

5d ago45:18

45:18

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! Perhaps the author Hailey Edwards put it best, “I do believe that sometimes—whether it's fate or accidental – we cross paths with someone who shatters us on a fundamental level and remakes us into a better version of ourselves.” To commemorate our two hundredth podcast your wingmen decided to give some …

1
Co-Intelligence — Using AI to Think Better, Create More, and Live Smarter 57:46

12d ago57:46

57:46

The era of artificially intelligent large language models is upon us and isn't going away. Rather, AI tools like ChatGPT are only going to get better and better and affect more and more areas of human life. If you haven't yet felt both amazed and unsettled by these technologies, you probably haven't explored their true capabilities. My guest today …

1
How the Poor Support the Rich When It Comes to Credit Cards 34:28

12d ago34:28

34:28

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! It’s never too late to get started doing something you love. The woman known to the world as Grandma Moses became a famous American artist after having taken up painting at the age of 79. Credit cards are good tools when used correctly. But there is little guidance given on the hidden traps of dependenc…

1
From Public Citizens to Therapeutic Selves — The Hidden History of Modern Identity 48:33

19d ago48:33

48:33

When you scroll through social media feeds today, you’ll find countless posts about “living your truth” and “being authentic.” These ideas feel so natural to us now that we rarely stop to ask where they came from or what they really mean. The concept of identity — how we understand ourselves — has undergone a radical transformation over the centuri…

1
Why Don’t We Have Enough Air Traffic Controllers? 31:22

19d ago31:22

31:22

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! Josephine Baker, born in the state of Missouri, lived most of her life in France in order to enjoy a sense of liberty and freedom as a human being and performer that was denied to her in the USA. During the early part of the twentieth century. This multi-talented woman is considered one of France’s grea…

1
Beyond Resilience — How to Become Shatterproof 49:58

26d ago49:58

49:58

Resilience is often touted as the end all, be all of coping with life's challenges and setbacks. But my guest knows from her studies, executive coaching, and her own life that sometimes resilience just isn't enough. You need an even more durable source of strength. Dr. Tasha Eurich is an organizational psychologist and researcher and the author of …

1
George Foreman, Muhammad Ali and Me! 31:42

26d ago31:42

31:42

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! Everyone needs money but wealth also exists in things that have no price tags, such as your health and relationships with friends and family. The world has lost one its great champions, both in and out of the ring. Commander Drew grew up with one of the champions and became friends with the other. The p…

1
Paula Garcia Dias & James Young 52:21

1M ago52:21

52:21

On this month’s episode, host Nicole Flattery is joined by Paula Dias Garcia and James Young to read from and discuss their stories featured in the Winter 2024-25 issue of The Stinging Fly Issue 51 Volume Two. Paula’s story, ‘The Woods’ can be found on page 193, and James’ story, ‘Long Term Parking’, can be found on page 154. Paula Dias Garcia is a…

1
The Art of Exploration — Why We Seek New Challenges and Search Out the Unknown 54:17

1M ago54:17

54:17

The human urge to explore has taken us to every corner of the planet. From the highest peaks to far-flung islands to even the deepest dimensions of an idea, our species has an innate drive to venture into the unknown. But what exactly drives this need to explore? Is it genetic, cognitive, or something else entirely? Here to unpack this question is …

1
How They Wouldn’t Give Commander Drew a TSA Pre-Check Even With a Top Secret Clearance 32:37

1M ago32:37

32:37

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! Learn as much as you can, while you can. The mind is truly a terrible thing to waste. If you want to avoid long lines at airports in the United States consider enrolling in the TSA Pre-Check/Global Entry program. Both programs will drastically reduce waiting times before and after a flight. TSA Pre-Chec…

1
Are You Not Entertained? The Myths and Truths About Roman Gladiators 58:09

1M ago58:09

58:09

When you think about ancient gladiators, you likely have a certain vision that comes to mind: slaves forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of bloodthirsty Romans. But much of what we think we know about gladiators is actually wrong. Today on the show, Alexander Mariotti will separate the just-as-fascinating fact from popular-culture-de…

1
How to Handle Political Anger in 2025? Talk To a Good Friend 34:09

1M ago34:09

34:09

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! When you make the decision to be an optimist you will find it easier to filter out negative behavior and attitudes from others as well as yourself. Don’t take all of your problems so seriously. If your biggest dilemma is picking the best furniture for your yacht, you’re probably doing just fine. While i…

1
No, There Isn’t a Loneliness Epidemic (And That May Be an Even Bigger Problem) 53:06

2M ago53:06

53:06

Face-to-face socializing in America has declined by more than 20% nationwide. Among some groups, like young adults and unmarried men, the drop is closer to 40%. But strangely, this hasn’t led to the loneliness epidemic that you hear so much about. Instead, we’re seeing a new phenomenon: rising aloneness without rising loneliness. Today on the show,…

1
How Did CDR. Brown Get Kicked Off a Frontier Airline Flight, Then Miss His Celebrity Cruise… But Ended Up On a Magnificent Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Instead! 35:39

2M ago35:39

35:39

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! Everything starts with a good education and continues from there. To be successful in the future one should commit to becoming a life-long learner. Commander Drew went on a wild adventure before he was able to take a vacation. Listen to his whole story; we won’t spoil it for you here as it’s quite revea…

1
Enter the Matrix — The Science of Slowing Down Time 39:37

2M ago39:37

39:37

People commonly think of time as a fixed, linear, objective structure. But our own experiences belie this belief. We’ve all been in situations where time has seemed to drag on or speed up, and there are even whole periods of our lives that seem to have gone by slower or faster. As my guest Steve Taylor will explain, time is a lot more fluid and mol…

1
Tim MacGabhann 57:24

2M ago57:24

57:24

To Be Finished

1
The Science of Porn: Myths, Facts, and Overlooked Issues 54:09

2M ago54:09

54:09

Pornography is more prevalent and accessible than ever before, yet its effects on relationships, mental health, and human development aren't popularly well understood. Discussions on the topic are often engaged in from an emotional or religious point of view; less typical is a discussion of pornography from an empirical frame. My guest today, Dr. B…

1
How to be an Engineer in the Military, Should you avoid Black Colleges? 34:33

2M ago34:33

34:33

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! Through the challenges of modern life we should strive to be as optimistic as possible. Look for the good in people; don’t be overly consumed by evil-doers who pop up every now and then. In a classic case of being dumb and even dumber, elements within the U.S. Department of Defense decided to avoid one …

1
Darragh McCausland & Nicole Morris 59:19

2M ago59:19

59:19

{Note: It’s almost 8 years since we started our podcast and this is our 55th episode. Up to now, the series has focused on the wealth of material contained in the magazine’s back catalogue and our guests have been asked to select and read a story or essay from the archive. Starting this month, we switch the attention to more recent work with contri…

1
The Power of the Notebook — The History and Practice of Thinking on Paper 52:19

2M ago52:19

52:19

The idea for the Art of Manliness came to me 17 years ago as I was standing in the magazine section of a Borders bookstore. As inspiration struck, I took my Moleskine out of my pocket and jotted down some notes, like potential names — I considered things like “The Manly Arts” before settling on “The Art of Manliness” — categories of content, and in…

1
How to Fly Jets at Night and Stay Alive in 2025? With a Little Fear and Trusting Your Instruments 34:08

2M ago34:08

34:08

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! Whenever one is taking the first step towards a goal that is difficult or dangerous, it is never easy, but sometimes necessary for the greater good. Pilots across the board can describe the difference between flying during the daylight hours and flying at night. Operating during the hours of darkness im…

1
The 80/80 Marriage — A New Model for a Happier, Stronger Relationship 54:21

3M ago54:21

54:21

A lot of people go into marriage with a 50/50 mindset. Everything in the relationship — from tangible things like childcare and chores to intangible things like the effort and energy needed to keep the partnership going — is supposed to be divided equally. The 50/50 approach to relationships is all about fairness. And that seems sensible and ration…

1
How Dr. Paul Avoided Being Arrested as a Terrorist…. He Used Common Sense! 34:54

3M ago34:54

34:54

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! The willingness to life-long learning is one of the keys to a positive future. As the world constantly changes, so should you, at least in a way that shows your accumulation of knowledge and overall growth. Dr. Paul and a colleague unexpectedly found themselves typecast as potential “evil doers” by U.S.…

1
Sleep Like a Caveman 42:10

3M ago42:10

42:10

For several decades, people's reported sleep quality has declined. This, despite the fact that specially optimized sheets, mattresses, and sleep trackers have emerged during that time, and despite the fact that the amount of time people are sleeping hasn't decreased for over fifty years. In other words, people aren't sleeping less than they used to…

1
Familiarity Breeds Contempt (And Other Underappreciated Consequences of Digital Communication) 53:38

3M ago53:38

53:38

There has been a lot of cultural discussion of the way digital technologies and social media contribute to things like political polarization and adolescent depression. But as I'll explore with Nicholas Carr, the author of Superbloom, our digital tools are also changing our ability to connect with others and our sense of self in less appreciated wa…

1
How to Not Loose Your Mind Over Politics in 2025.…STOP Watching TV & Stay Off Your Phone! 34:23

3M ago34:23

34:23

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! We are all capable of great things, but one must have the quality of patience to master something worth doing. Entertainment culture leads many to believe complex problems can be solved within thirty minutes; this is unrealistic and is rarely the case in real life. A political season is one filled with …

1
How to Use Leverage Points to Get Unstuck in Work and Life 50:32

3M ago50:32

50:32

When people get stuck in their job or personal life, the common response is to either work harder or shrug and accept that "that's just the way things are." My guest today has a much better solution to getting moving and making progress again. Dan Heath is a bestselling author whose latest book is Reset: How to Change What's Not Working. Today on t…

1
How to Find Good in Los Angeles, During Their Worst Disaster in History - 2025 30:06

3M ago30:06

30:06

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! Wealth, in the form of money, is a common aspiration for just about everyone. When you look beyond material possessions and financial metrics, it can be said that true richness comes from intangible, priceless aspects of life that cannot be purchased with money; a prime example is having health and mobi…

1
Stop Saying Um (And Fix the Other Vocal Tics That Are Sabotaging Your Speaking) 48:55

3M ago48:55

48:55

Think about a time you've had to speak in front of others — maybe during a work presentation, a wedding toast, or even on a first date. Did you struggle with using too many filler words, such as "um" and "like," talk too fast, or awkwardly ramble? Most of us try to fix these saboteurs of speech by giving ourselves mental mantras: "Slow down"; "Thin…

1
How to Get People to Like You 34:03

3M ago34:03

34:03

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! Many people search in vain to find a path to enlightenment from an external source, not realizing that the spirit they have inside is the main thing that will help them get ahead or fall farther behind. It is human nature for one to desire to be liked. There are a number of steps you can take to make yo…

1
Man's Search for Meaning, With Viktor Frankl's Grandson 56:50

4M ago56:50

56:50

I first read Man's Search for Meaning by the neurologist, psychologist, and philosopher Viktor Frankl in high school, and I have re-read it several times since. It's one of the books that's had the biggest impact on my life, so it was a real treat to speak with Alexander Vesely, Frankl's grandson, about his grandfather's ideas and legacy. Today on …

1
How to Make $120k per year Underwater With - No Experience Needed - Join The Australian Navy! 29:01

4M ago29:01

29:01

Sent us text! We would love to hear from you! In a fast paced society that’s always on the go it can be hard to slow down. Having a little patience throughout the day can help you live longer and enhance your sense of well being. Australia is offering high school graduates with no experience, the chance to make a six figure income by beginning a ca…

1
How to Hack the Habit Loop to Build a Better Life 49:21

4M ago49:21

49:21

Think about your habits, the things you do automatically without much thought — from brushing your teeth in the morning to scrolling social media before bed. There’s a lot going on with these behaviors. On one level, they’re just routines and actions wired into our brains through repetition. But there’s also more to it than that. Our habits shape w…

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