How To Hack The Habit Loop To Build A Better Life The Art Of Manliness podcast

58:06

Feelings of burnout and boredom have become prevalent in modern life. To understand the roots of and solutions to these issues, we can turn to both ancient philosophers and contemporary thinkers. Among the latter is Korean-German philosopher Byung-Chul Han, whose thought-provoking analyses are gaining increasing recognition. If you’re not yet familiar with Han’s philosophy, Steven Knepper, a professor at the Virginia Military Institute and the co-author of a new critical introduction to this modern philosopher’s work , will take us on a tour of some of Han’s key ideas. In the first part of our conversation, Steven unpacks Han’s concept of the “burnout society” and why so many of us feel tired from participating in what he calls “auto-exploitation” and “positive violence.” We then discuss how our burnout society is also a “palliative society” that tries to avoid suffering at all costs and how our obsession with health has turned us into a modern version of Nietzsche’s “last man.” We end our discussion with some of Han’s ideas for resisting the pitfalls of modernity, including embracing ritual, contemplation, and an openness to the mystery of others. Resources Related to the Podcast Byung-Chul Han’s books , including The Burnout Society and The Palliative Society Shop Class as Soulcraft and The World Beyond Your Head by Matthew B. Crawford New Verse Review Steven’s work at The Lamp Dying Breed Article: Resonance as an Antidote to Social Acceleration Dying Breed Article: What Nietzsche’s Typewriter Brain Can Tell Us About Twitter Brain Sunday Firesides: Protect the Sanctum Sanctorum of Selfhood Sunday Firesides: We Need as Much Meaning Extension as Life Extension Connect With Steven Knepper Steven at VMI…

The Art of Manliness

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

8 days 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 to explain the importance of what's called non-exercise activity thermogenesis, or NEAT, is Dr. James Levine, a professor, the co-director of the Mayo Clinic's Obesity Solutions Initiative, the inventor of the treadmill desk, and the author of Get Up!: Why Your Chair Is Killing You and What You Can Do About It . James explains how much more sedentary we are than we used to be and what happens to your body when, as the average American does, you spend two-thirds of your day sitting. He shares how doing the lightest kinds of physical activity, even standing more, can help you lose a significant amount of weight and improve other aspects of health, from your sleep to your mood. And we talk about how to easily incorporate more NEAT into your day. Resources Related to the Podcast Role of Nonexercise Activity Thermogenesis in Resistance to Fat Gain in Humans — James' overfeeding study AoM Article: The Digestive Power of an After-Dinner Walk AoM Podcast #552: How to Optimize Your Metabolism AoM Article: The Importance of Building Your Daily Sleep Pressure…

The Art of Manliness

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

15 days 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 will explain why everyone should spend at least 10 hours experimenting with these chatbots, what it means to live in an age where AI can pass the bar exam, beat humans at complex tests, and even make us question our own creative abilities, what AI might mean for the future of work and education, and how to use these new tools to enhance rather than detract from your humanity. Ethan Mollick is a professor at the Wharton business school and the author of Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI . Today on the show, Ethan explains the impact of the rise of AI and why we should learn to utilize tools like ChatGPT as a collaborator — a co-worker, co-teacher, co-researcher, and coach. He offers practical insights into harnessing AI to complement your own thinking, remove tedious tasks from your workday, and amplify your productivity. We'll also explore how to craft effective prompts for large language models, maximize their potential, and thoughtfully navigate what may be the most profound technological shift of our lifetimes. Connect With Ethan Mollick Ethan's faculty page One Useful Thing Substack Ethan on LinkedIn Ethan on Bluesky Ethan on X…

The Art of Manliness

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

22 days 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 centuries. What once was defined primarily by external markers like family, profession, and community has shifted dramatically toward inner feelings, desires, and psychological experiences. Today on the show, Carl Trueman unpacks this profound change and how we got to the lens through which we view ourselves today. Carl is a professor, theologian, and the author of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self . Throughout our conversation, he explores the insights of three key thinkers — Charles Taylor, Philip Rieff, and Alasdair MacIntyre — who have mapped the historical and cultural shifts that have transformed our ideas of identity. We discuss how this transformation has reshaped politics, education, and religion, while considering whether we’ve lost something essential in moving from a shared understanding of human nature to an increasingly individualized conception of self. Resources Related to the Podcast The Triumph of the Therapeutic: Uses of Faith After Freud by Philip Rieff Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity by Charles Taylor After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory by Alasdair MacIntyre The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis AoM Podcast #723: Men Without Chests AoM Article: 3 Essential Books for Understanding Our Disorienting Modern World AoM Article: Why Are Modern Debates on Morality So Shrill? Carl’s writing at First Things Connect With Carl Trueman Carl’s faculty page…

The Art of Manliness

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Beyond Resilience — How to Become Shatterproof 49:58

29 days 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 Shatterproof: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos . Today on the show, Tasha explains why the concept of resilience rose to prominence in the 2010s, how resilience can be improved a little as a skill, but is largely an exhaustible capacity, and how you know when you're hitting your "resilience ceiling." We then talk about the more sustainable skillset and strength of becoming shatterproof. We discuss the potential to grow forward instead of simply bouncing back, the psychological needs that have to be met to become shatterproof, and research-backed tools for thriving in life instead of just surviving. Resources Related to the Podcast Tasha's previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #644 — How to Develop Greater Self-Awareness AoM Article: On Becoming Antifragile Self-determination theory Sunday Firesides: You Don't Have the Time, Not to Take the Time Connect With Tasha Eurich Tasha's website Shatterproof website…

The Art of Manliness

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

5 weeks 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 Alex Hutchinson, author of The Explorers Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map . Today on the show, Alex shares the fascinating science behind our exploratory tendencies, from the dopamine-driven "explorer's gene" that varies across populations to the universal cognitive frameworks that govern how we navigate both physical and mental landscapes. He explains the delicate balance between exploring new possibilities and exploiting what we already know, and why we sometimes find meaning in difficult challenges. We also discuss why younger people explore more than older people do, how this decline in exploration doesn't have to be inevitable, and how to keep exploring throughout your entire life. Resources Related to the Podcast Alex’s previous appearances on the AoM podcast: Episode #382: How to Lift More, Run Faster, and Endure Longer Episode #538: Research-Backed Answers to All Your Fitness FAQs Episode #1,021: You Were Born to Run AoM Podcast #534: How Navigation Makes Us Human The Wundt Curve Connect With Alex Hutchinson Alex’s website…

The Art of Manliness

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

6 weeks 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-derived fiction when it comes to gladiatorial combat in ancient Rome. Alexander is a historian and an expert on gladiators who's served as a consultant for shows and films like Spartacus and Gladiator II . In our conversation, Alexander explains how gladiatorial games evolved from funeral rites into professional sporting events featuring the greatest superstar athletes and sex symbols of the day. We discuss the different types of gladiators, their rigorous training regimens, why gladiators fought in their underwear, and whether they actually fought to the death. Alexander describes what a day at the Colosseum was really like, complete with elaborate special effects, halftime shows, souvenirs, and even concessions. And we talk about the connections between the gladiatorial games and the sports and spectacle culture of today, and why, despite the passage of two millennia, these ancient athletes continue to captivate our imagination. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: Lessons in Manliness from Gladiator AoM Article: The Men in the Arena–A Primer on Roman Gladiators Gladiator Gladiator II Spartacus series "Gladiator 2 History Consultant Hits Back at Inaccuracy Claims" Connect With Alexander Mariotti Alexander's website…

The Art of Manliness

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

7 weeks 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, Derek Thompson will help us understand this puzzling disconnect and its profound implications. Derek is a staff writer at The Atlantic who recently wrote a piece entitled “The Anti-Social Century.” In the first half of our conversation, Derek unpacks the cultural shifts and technological developments — and no, it’s not just the smartphone — that have created what he calls the “convenience curse.” We then get into why even self-described introverts are often happier when forced to socialize, the concerning trend of young men settling further and further into isolating, sedentary leisure, and practical ways we can strengthen our atrophied social muscles to become better, happier people. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: The Importance of Developing and Maintaining Your Social Fitness AoM Podcast #742: The Power of Talking to Strangers AoM Article: Introversion as an Excuse AoM Podcast #176: The Vanishing Neighbor & The Transformation of American Community AoM Article: Use Technology Like the Amish Connect With Derek Thompson Derek on X…

The Art of Manliness

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

8 weeks 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 moldable than we often recognize. Steve is a psychologist and the author of Time Expansion Experiences: The Psychology of Time Perception and the Illusion of Linear Time . Today on the show, he unpacks the four laws of psychological time. He discusses the theories as to why time speeds up as we get older and what factors slow down and speed up time. We delve into the way time particularly expands in accidents and emergencies, giving people the ability to take life-saving measures. And we discuss why some people are more likely to have time expansion experiences than others, and what you can do to slow down time and make your life feel longer as a result. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: Be a Time Wizard — How to Slow Down and Speed Up Time AoM Article: More Footage — Take the One-Month “Do Something New Every Day” Challenge Connect With Steve Taylor Steve’s website…

The Art of Manliness

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

9 weeks 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. Brian Willoughby, a social scientist who has spent the past 15 years studying porn's impacts, will unpack what the research actually says about how it affects personal well-being, relationship satisfaction, and sexual expectations. We discuss the latest data on porn use across different demographics, how porn impacts religious versus non-religious populations differently, and how exposure affects kids. Brian shares whether using porn causes erectile dysfunction and depression, what parents should know about talking to their kids about porn, the main risk of porn that's typically under-discussed, and more. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM's series on porn and how to quit it (also available as an ebook ) NYT article that Brian was interviewed for: "It’s Time to Talk About Pornography, Scholars Say" Most People With Addiction Simply Grow Out of It NYT article: "The Teen Trend of Sexual Choking" Brian's research Connect With Brian Willoughby Brian's faculty page Brian at the Wheatley Institute…

The Art of Manliness

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

10 weeks 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 initial article ideas. Almost two decades later, the fruits of those notebook jottings are still bearing out. That’s the power of a pocket pad’s possibilities, something Roland Allen explores in The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper . Today on the show, Roland traces the fascinating history of notebooks and how they went from a business technology for accounting to a creative technology for artists. We talk about how famous figures from Leonardo da Vinci to Theodore Roosevelt used notebooks, the different forms notebooks have taken from the Italian zibaldone to the friendship book to the modern bullet journal, and why keeping a personal diary has fallen out of favor. Along the way, we discuss ways you can fruitfully use notebooks today, and why, even in our digital age, they remain an irreplaceable tool for thinking and creativity. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: 100 Ways to Use Your Pocket Notebook AoM Article: The Manly Tradition of the Pocket Notebook AoM Article: The Pocket Notebooks of 20 Famous Men AoM Podcast #194: The Field Notes of Theodore Roosevelt AoM Article: The Right and Wrong Way to Journal AoM Article: Finally Understand How to Keep a Bullet Journal Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks Charles Darwin’s notebooks John Locke’s Method for Commonplace Books Connect With Roland Allen Roland’s website…

The Art of Manliness

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

11 weeks 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 rational. But, my guest says, it actually sabotages relational happiness. Nate Klemp is a former philosophy professor and the co-author, along with his wife, of The 80/80 Marriage: A New Model for a Happier, Stronger Relationship . Today on the show, Nate shares how cognitive biases skew our perception of our contributions to a relationship, what happens when couples get stuck in the 50/50 mindset of domestic scorekeeping, and how shifting to an 80/80 model of “radical generosity” can create an upward spiral of connection and appreciation. And we discuss practical ways to divide household responsibilities, decide how much time to spend with each spouse’s respective parents, and establish values that will guide your partnership as you navigate life changes and work towards a spirit of shared success. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM article and podcast on how to hold a weekly marriage meeting AoM Article: Towards a Philosophy of Household Management AoM Article: Beware the Tit for Tat Trap Connect With Nate Klemp 80/80 Marriage website Nate’s website Nate on LinkedIn Nate on IG…

The Art of Manliness

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Sleep Like a Caveman 42:10

12 weeks 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, but are less happy about their sleep than ever before. My guest would say that to improve our experience of sleep, we'd be better off looking past the reams of modern advice out there and back in time — way, way back in time. Today on the show, Dr. Merijn van de Laar, a recovering insomniac, sleep therapist, and the author of How toSleep Like a Caveman: Ancient Wisdom for a Better Night's Rest , will tell us how learning about our prehistoric ancestors' sleep can help us relax about our own. He explains that the behaviors we think of as sleep problems are actually normal, natural, and even adaptive. We talk about why hunter-gatherers actually sleep less than we think we need to, how their natural wake periods during the night might explain our own sleep patterns, the methods they use to get better sleep, and why our modern efforts to optimize sleep could be making it worse. Merijn shares when it's okay to use a smartphone before bed, the myth that you have to get eight hours of sleep a night, how to intentionally use sleep deprivation to improve your sleep, and more. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: 22 Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep AoM Article: What Every Man Should Know About Sleep AoM Article: What to Do When You Can’t Sleep AoM Article: The Importance of Building Your Daily Sleep Pressure AoM Podcast #661: Get Better Sleep by Stressing About It Less AoM Podcast #736: Could Sleeping in Separate Beds Improve Your Relationship? Study: Hadza sleep biology — Evidence for flexible sleep-wake patterns in hunter-gatherers Connect With Merijn van de Laar Merijn's website…

The Art of Manliness

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

13 weeks 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 ways. Today on the show, Nicholas unpacks why the optimistic idea that more communication is always better hasn't panned out and how the speed and volume of modern communication is overwhelming our human capacity to process information and maintain meaningful relationships. We discuss why the "messiness" of pre-digital communication might have actually been better for us, how email has evolved from thoughtful letters to rushed messages, and why seeing more of people online often makes us like them less. Nicholas also explains why having different versions of ourselves for different contexts was actually healthy and the simple rubric for better managing our relationship with digital communication tools. Resources Related to the Podcast Nicholas' previous appearances on the AoM podcast: Episode #276: Utopia is Creepy Episode #632: How the Internet Makes Our Minds Shallow Charles Horton Cooley AoM Article: More Than Ever, the Medium Is the Message Connect With Nicholas Carr Nicholas' website Nicholas' Substack, New Cartographies…

The Art of Manliness

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

14 weeks ago50:32