Brad and Steve are joined by author Ryan Holiday for a wide-ranging discussion on courage: how it relates to self and society, and the big and small acts in our lives. They also discuss Ryan's routines, how he sticks to them, adhering to a process-mindset vs. an outcome one, and why physical practice is such an integral part of Ryan's job as a writer. For those who don't know him personally, Ryan is a great and genuine dude — he's the real deal. Ryan has done a bunch of podcasts on his new book, so we made sure to stick to new questions, prompts, and stories. This is one of our best conversations in a long time.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcher***Support Ryan's local bookstore and get these books that were recommended and discussed:Courage is CallingHow the Word is PassedFirst PrinciplesThe Practice of GroundednessCheck out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessIf you are price sensitive, get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness where it is currently over 40 percent off!The post What Does it Mean to be Courageous in Daily Life, With Ryan Holiday appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brad and Steve discuss their top 10 books of 2021. Fun banter, and a great reading and holiday gifting recommendations. You don't want to miss out on this one.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcher***Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessBooks discussed:Bullshit Jobs, by David Graeber.The Extended Mind, by Annie Murphy Paul.The Shallows, by Nicholas Carr.Wintering, by Katherine May. The World Ending Fire, by Wendell Berry. Escape from Freedom, by Erich Fromm.The Hidden Spring, by Mark Solms.The Knowledge Gap, by Natalie Wexler.Think Again, by Adam Grant.Wanting, by Luke Burgis.The post Top 10 Books of 2021 appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interesting discussion on when grit is useful versus when grit gets in the way, and the value of exploration (going wide) before exploitation (going deep). Between the extremes of generalization and specialization there is quite a bit of nuance, and this podcast explores that in-between, using a few recent and large studies as a foundation for confidence in the assertions.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcher ***Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Grit and Exploitation vs. Exploration appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Whoop to Fitbit to Oura, activity trackers are on the rise. On this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve dive into these wrist, finger, and chest worn devices. They discuss various types of trackers and their applications, and when these sorts of things work versus when they get in the way, or worse, cause harm. If you wear an activity tracker or have ever considered wearing one, you won't want to miss this episode.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcher ***Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Activity (And Other) Trackers appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve discuss the vast benefits of doing real, concrete activities in a modern world that is increasingly complex and full of subjective measures. They argue that everyone, especially knowledge workers, should have a “real thing” craft to which they dedicate at least some time, energy, and focus.  Doing real things keeps you humble and it keeps you well. This is one of the best episodes we've recorded in a long time, so don't miss out!You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcher***Brad's essay in Outside on Doing Real Things.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Do More Real Things in The World, Be Better, and Feel Better appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are lucky to be joined by Dave Pell, the reader, writer, and all-around creative behind the internet's longest running big-time newsletter, Next Draft. In this far-reaching conversation, we talk about how Dave shows up consistently to do high quality work, his daily routines, mental health and news consumption, running your own little internet empire, getting addicted to relevance, the future of the media in the western world, Dave's new book, Please Scream Inside Your Heart: Breaking News and Nervous Breakdowns in the Year That Wouldn't End, and so much more. It's a far-reaching conversation that has something for everyone, from those wanting to understand excellence and high-performance in a traditional craft, to those who want to learn more about the inside baseball of newsletter publishing, to those who are curious about the news, its history, choices one makes in covering it, and where this all may be going.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherAdditional Notes:Order Dave's brand new book on Amazon or via Bookshop.orgSubscribe to Dave's newsletter Next Draft here.***Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Dave Pell: Managing Editor… Of The Internet appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the pod, Brad and Steve talk about all things performance coaching, including in fields outside of sport. They discuss everything from who can benefit from having a coach, to the value of credentials, to strategies you can use to separate hucksters from excellent professionals, to the nuts and bolts of their own individual performance and executive coaching practices.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherAdditional Notes:“I am a life coach, you are a life coach: the rise of an unregulated industry”Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Everyone Can Benefit From Coaching appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Less is not more. More is more. Less is less. But sometimes—no, even often—less is better. In this episode, Brad and Steve talk to Leidy Klotz, a professor at the University of Virginia with appointments in engineering, architecture, and business. They focus on his new seminal work, Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less. The trio discuss why subtracting is not second nature, why minimalism sounds so good but is so hard to implement, and how to overcome our biases to always be adding, be it personally or culturally. They also talk about Leidy's past as a professional soccer player and how he made the identity shift from standout athlete to standout academic, all before age 40; and how the lessons learned from sport can be applied to so much beyond the playing field.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherAdditional NotesGet the book Subtract here.Leidy's Nature paper here.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post SUBTRACT: The Power of Less appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A fun and wide-ranging conversation on the entire notion of productivity and time-management. We start from a 30,000 foot view of what's the point of all this anyways? and then go all the way down to the ground floor, where we cover common pitfalls and concrete practices that can help you right now to get the most out of your limited stay on this planet we call Earth.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherGet a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Productivity vs. Productive Activity and Time Management appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We use a recent exploration of the NFL's empathy gap as a doorway into a broader conversation about the tradeoffs between analytics and the human side of things in organizational and individual life. Steve also coaches Brad through a challenge he's having in sticking to his own physical practice.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherIf you haven’t yet, pick up a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! Get your copy today!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.The post Closing the Empathy Gap appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We dive into what it was like to launch the Growth Eq's latest book, The Practice of Groundedness. In particular, we focus on our struggles trying to practice what we preach during a frenetic, hectic, and results focused week. Plus, if you've ever wondered what it is like to launch a book, you won't want to miss this.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherIf you haven't yet, pick up a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! Get your copy today!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.The post Focusing on the Process When Results Matter appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this behind-the-scenes podcast, Steve interviews Brad on his new book The Practice of Groundedness. Where did the idea for the book come from? How do you go from an idea to a fleshed-out framework? Will groundedness help you run a faster 5k? All of those questions and more are answered in this week's podcast.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherIt's your final chance to receive pre-order bonuses for The Practice of Groundedness! Check them out here. Don’t miss out and get your copy today!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Finding Stability in a Frenetic World appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People often think of the brain and the mind as the same thing. But they are not. The brain is an organ inside your skull. The brain contributes to the mind — or your thoughts, feelings, and general consciousness — but it is only a small part of it. Your mind is also made up of your body, and the people, places, and objects around you. On this episode of the pod, we explore the benefits of getting beyond a brain-based model of thinking and feeling and using the framework of an extended mind instead.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherHere is the book referenced in the show, The Extended Mind, by Annie Murphy Paul.Exclusive and time-limited pre-order bonuses for The Practice of Groundedness are here. Don’t miss out and get your copy today!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post The Mind Outside of Your Head appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We take a slight divergence from our usual topics to dive into one of those perennial questions with no possible answer: Who is the greatest of all time? To give ourselves at least some constraints, we narrow down into the world of sports. Our goal for this discussion was to entertain and, perhaps more practically, to help you think through the various criteria you use to evaluate performance and greatness in your own life. Enjoy the show!You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherExclusive and time-limited pre-order bonuses for The Practice of Groundedness are here. Don’t miss out and get your copy today!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Determining the Greatest of All Time appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With conspiracy theories—on everything from diet, to exercise, to a global pandemic and vaccines—flying left and right, we wanted to devote some time to understanding the tendencies behind the people who spread these ideas. The goal is not to dunk on them (though we definitely do some of that) but more importantly, to use these folks as a model to help all of us spot the same tendencies in ourselves and those around us, so we can become aware of them and not give in. We talk about the underlying symptoms of “Guru Syndrome,” such as being addicted to being a contrarian, feeling like your part of a tribe, and the relevance the internet gives to provocative thinking, even if it is also bullshit thinking, and more. We also play devil's advocate, trying to pin ourselves down as having Guru Syndrome, which is the intellectually honest thing to do here. Listen to find out what happens. An entertaining and important episode for sure.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherExclusive and time-limited pre-order bonuses for The Practice of Groundedness are here. Don’t miss out and get your copy today!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post How to Spot Guru Syndrome (And What to Do About It) appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the 2020 Olympic Games coming to an end, we thought we'd recap some of the best moments and explore what we all can learn from them, regardless of whether you are an athlete, an executive, an artist, a consultant, a parent, or something else altogether. Themes include: accepting what is happening to get where you want to go, self-awareness, community, competing with instead of against, and the relationship between vulnerability and true confidence. This was a good conversation where a bunch of interesting insights emerged. We hope you like it too!You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherExclusive and time-limited pre-order bonuses for The Practice of Groundedness are here. Don't miss out and get your copy today!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Olympic Lessons For All of Us appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another AMA. We field a broad range of listener questions on diverse topics, ranging from the Olympics to nutrition to how to actually implement a process mindset.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here. The George Packer story on diverging American narratives that we mentioned is here.The post Ask Me Anything (AMA) — It Depends! appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many people are feeling a kind of languishing these days, a sense of stagnation and lethargy as if everything is a big effort. We dive into what is underlying this and, more importantly, how to work your way out. To do so, we draw upon all the latest evidence in motivation as well as plenty of concrete examples, practices, and tips.You can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post How to Get Going When You Don't Want To But Know You Should appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few days ago, NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked about keeping his mind right during high pressure games. His answer, which this podcast opens up with, was a masterclass in high-performance psychology, and really, psychology for all of life. A short summary: “Focusing on the past is ego,” he said. “Focusing on the future is pride. Focusing on the present is humility.” In this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, we deconstruct this killer quote along with the person behind it, covering topics like confidence vs. arrogance, the relationship between doing the work and humility, and what it means to be an imperfect star. If you are a sports fan you'll love this. And even if you aren't a sports fan, you'll be sure to take away some gems that you can apply to your own life.Resources Mentioned:Leadership styles and Lebron vs. MJYou can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Unpacking The Best Press Conference Ever appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the hardest parts of work and life is facing transitions. These are often periods of discombobulation, where we may feel like we are losing a part of our identity. Here, we'll explore the science and art of big transitions, and provide tips and practices on how to prepare for and work through, with grace and grit, the big transitions in your own life.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth Academy #10: Transitions appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore the illusion of trying to be “balanced,” and how a better aim to strive for is the self-awareness to prioritize and choose to focus on what matters most to you in a given season of life. From there, we discuss the various strategies and practices that can be used to cultivate this sort of wise perspective in your own day-to-day life. We'll learn how one of the biggest paradoxes of self-awareness is that it requires getting outside of your usual mode of self.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth Academy #9: Self-Awareness (And Self-Distancing) appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last round of Growth EQ Academy podcasts (Academy episodes #6 and #7) we explored the genesis of motivation, drive, and passion, and what happens when it goes astray — and also, how to prevent this from happening. In this episode, we turn to harmonious passion, or the kind of drive that can propel you to great heights, without losing a sense of yourself and what is important to you.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth Academy #8: Harmonious Passion appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Naomi Osaka recently withdrew from the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. Mental health seems to have played a role. Osaka is not the first athlete and certainly won't be the last to struggle publicly and make big decisions as a result. In this episode, Brad and Steve dive into the topic of mental health in elite athletes. They discuss the wonderful impact of more awareness and less stigma around mental health, but also the dangers of stopping there—versus going on to effective treatment methods, which usually require some level of playing through the pain. An important episode on an important topic that benefits from a bit more nuance than how it has been covered in the mainstream press to date.Resources Mentioned:You are Not a RockThe Coddling of the American MindYou can find the episode on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Mental Health in Athletes (And Beyond) appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We go deep on the “bad” kind of passion, exploring how motivation and drive can become destructive — leading to burnout, angst, unethical behavior, and depression — and what you can do to stop this from happening in yourself and the teams in which you work.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth Academy #7: Obsessive Passion appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Intense motivation and drive — what we call passion — is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it can help you accomplish great things. A curse because it can narrow your world and get you to a point where you lose perspective and burn out. This kind of passion is like rocket-fuel: extremely powerful, but only productive when pointed in the right direction. That's what we'll explore in this episode, drawing from science, history and practice.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth Eq Academy #6: Motivation and Drive appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some people love to grind and work long days and on the weekends.  Some people like never to work outside of traditional hours. Some people  like to brag about how much they work. Other people like to brag about  how little they work. When should we work? Is there such a thing as too  much work? Too little work? Our good friend, colleague, and always  critical thinker Cal Newport (author of Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and A World Without Email) joins  us for a wide-ranging discussion on work. Part philosophical theory,  part cultural critique, and part pragmatic, this episode is for everyone  who “works,” which, as you'll see, is all of us.Brad's blog post on the topic is here.More on Cal Newport, his podcast, and his books is here.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show! Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post CAL NEWPORT on The Moral Weight of Working, Not Working, and Bragging About Both appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Motivation comes from diverse sources, but perhaps none is more powerful than purpose. Why is this the case? What happens in our brain and body when we are driven by a purpose? How can we all create more meaning in our own lives, not just so we can perform better, but also, and arguably more important, so we can be more fulfilled. Listen in to learn more and find out.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth EQ Academy #5: Purpose appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first rule of routines is to have one and stick to it. The second rule of routines is to be able to let go. We explore the truth of this paradox, how to build the optimal routine for yourself given your current life station, the power of pre-performance priming, and when to use energy on decision versus when to automate them.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth EQ Academy #4: Routines appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forget about all the products and services that promise to help you recharge. You don't need all (or really, any) of that stuff. In this episode of the Growth Equation Academy, we detail the foundations of how to come down after challenging periods. Topics include breaks, taking an interval training approach to all of work, sleep, and other ways you can mentally and physically recover in a way that promotes sustainable growth.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth EQ Academy #3: Rest and Recovery appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While there are many definitions of stress, we like to think of productive stress as a stimulus that challenges you in a manner which promotes growth. In this episode of the Growth Equation Academy, we dive deep into productive stress. Topics include just-manageable challenges, how to determine the right amount of stress, what conditions create deep-focus work, and how productively stress yourself on micro and macro timescales.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth EQ Academy #2: Stress Yourself appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the universal equation to make sustainable progress in anything. In this episode of the Growth Equation Academy, we review what we mean by “stress” and “rest,” and discuss how the growth equation can be a valuable concept across diverse contexts—personally, professionally, and organizationally. Too much stress with not enough rest you get injury, illness, and burnout. Not enough stress with too much rest you get complacency or stagnation.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth EQ Academy #1: Stress + Rest = Growth. appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Mickelson just won the PGA Championship at age 50. That is no joke. In this episode of the Growth Equation podcast,  Brad and Steve use Mickelson's shocking victory as the basis for a  conversation on aging and performance. They discuss the importance of mindset and intrinsic drive; how to thwart the decline of raw talent that comes with aging while at the same time reaping the rewards of wisdom; Mickelson's intense fasting regime (what exactly was it and did it help, hurt, or not really matter at all?); and how hard work isn't always about training the body but also about training the mind. This episode is chock-full of wisdom and practical advice. We hope you learn as much as we did from the discussion.Here's the column mentioned in the episode on aging and the crossing wisdom and talent curves.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessResources referenced:The book Make It Scream, Make it Burn, and the Second Life essay on its own hereThe value of doing something real in the worldWhy do rich people love endurance sportsShop Class As Soulcraft  The post Fascinating Insights About Aging and Performance appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is it that so many people seem so out of touch with reality these days? In this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve explore a new theory that argues the best way to stay grounded (and not become an ego-maniac) is to do real, concrete things in the world where you either succeed or fail. And, they argue, these successes or failures are best when they happen privately (or perhaps in a small group). We'll explore stories involving lifting weights,  building tables, running, and gardening. We'll also talk about why so many white-collar people love triathlon. We feel that this is one of our most interesting and valuable conversations in a while, and we hope you like it too.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessResources referenced:The book Make It Scream, Make it Burn, and the Second Life essay on its own hereThe value of doing something real in the worldWhy do rich people love endurance sportsShop Class As Soulcraft  The post The Instagram Filter Theory of Life and Doing Real Things in the World appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the stars in the NBA are getting hurt. This comes off the coattails of a hyper-condensed season because of COVID-19, followed by a  shortened off-season that led directly into another condensed season.  The injuries, many of which are classic overuse issues, aren't a  coincidence. They are the result of lots of stress, not enough rest. In this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve are joined by Coach Jojo to discuss the concept of “load management” and how it applies not only to high-level athletes but to all of us. As a bonus, they debate whether Lebron James is underpaid or if it's just that top CEOs are overpaid (or both). Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Load Management (In Sport, Work, and Life) appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many were shocked to hear about Bill and Melinda Gates getting divorced. But some weren't. After all, they are both extreme pushers, those who care deeply about their mission and work. The cost of this deep caring is often making sacrifices in other areas of life. On this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve dive into what big drive, purpose, and motivation — all usually thought of as positive attributes — can leave in their wake. They not only discuss divorce in relationships, but also how a peak pursuit can divorce you from many other elements of your life.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Divorce in High Performers appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the best ways to be smarter, kinder, and wiser is to read. Straight up. It's the truth. On this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast,  Brad and Steve dive deep into all things reading. They discuss deep  versus superficial attention, nonfiction vs. fiction, how to develop a  consistent reading habit that will work for you, and so much more.  Whether you are an avid reader or someone who hasn't picked up a book in  ages, this episode will get you thinking about reading in new and  improved ways.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post How to Read More and Read Better appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is infinite information out there. Every day, we are inundated with principles, concepts, and ideas. How does one wade through the deluge, let alone discern where to lean in and pay close attention versus where to lean out and ignore? On this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve dive into models for right thinking, or bringing deliberateness and skill to what we take in and what we share out. Among many other things, they dive into their “three-legged” stool framework for evaluating concepts, ideas, and principles — a practical framework that much of their work benefits from, and yours could too.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Right Thinking appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve discuss the culture's obsession with idolizing certain people, and how thanks to the internet, everyone has a chance to win at this game. But is it a game that you actually want to win? Or are the forces of so-called celebrity (or going viral, or growing a personal brand, or becoming more influential, and so on) actually just making life increasingly performative rather than real? Might this be leaving us exhausted and stressed? Is there a practical way to opt out?Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Hero Worship and Performative Everything appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hard work is often talked about as a be-all end-all when it comes to performance, and even personhood. On this episode of The Growth Equation podcast, we explore what hard work can (and can't do), what pursuits are more prone to be impacted by hard work, and the difference between hard work making you as good as you can be versus making you better than others. We also look at the history of hard work as a moral concept, and offer some thoughts on why it might be misguided.Resources Mentioned:Born Losers by Scott SandageRachel Hollis Instagram PostCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Skill vs. Luck vs. Hard Work appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The film Operation Varsity Blues, a chronicle of the massive college admissions scandal that occurred from 2011 to 2018, was just published on Netflix. It is a pretty damning (and tragic)film. In this episode of The Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve use the film as a jumping off point to an in-depth discussion of everything that is wrong with higher education. Of course, they also offer some ideas on how to fix it. Topics discussed include standardized testing, to pay or not to pay athletes, and how so many schools have become a luxury brands in the same way that a Prada bag or Gucci wallet are. Warning: this show is not for the faint of heart or easily offended. Brad and Steve don't hold back in their analysis of how we got into this mess. But it will take this kind of brutally honest analysis if we are to have any chance at working our way out.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post An Honest Rant on College Admissions appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special bonus episode, Brad and Steve delve into the process of becoming authors, starting from their early days writing hardly-read blogs to landing book advances with large publishing houses. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has ever wondered how to write a book, the difference between self-publishing and traditional-publishing, or what goes into turning an idea on the back of a napkin into 250 pages for sale at Barnes and Nobles.To Subscribe and get the full episode, head over to: https://www.patreon.com/TheGrowthEquationYou can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Inside Baseball: Book Publishing appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To foam roll or not to foam roll? Force yourself to endure an ice-bath after a grueling workout, or sit it out? Cardio or weights, or perhaps even more pertinent, will doing cardio hurt your weights (and vice versa)? Sure, “diets” are no good, but neither is being opposed to all weight loss, right? What matters more, training frequency or duration or intensity? The list goes on and on. In today's episode, we are going to spend some time debunking myths in health and fitness and discussing what actually works, and when. As you might guess, there's a fair of amount of “it depends,” in this episode, but we do our best to tease out the “on what.” To help us navigate the sometimes overwhelming and bizarre world of health and fitness, we've got special guest Zach Greenwald, an exercise scientist, gym owner, and personal strength and conditioning coach to Brad (and coach to strength athletes far better than Brad!) We had a great time in this conversation and learned a lot. We hope you do too!Zach's gym and personal coaching: Strength Ratio.Zach on Instagram.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here. (Note: Judson will be joining us for a conversation on his book in an upcoming book-club!)You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Slaying Sacred Cows in Health and Fitness appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anxiety, in the broadest of terms, is discomfort with uncertainty. In the words of psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author Judson Brewer, “it's a severe condition; that is, it's the human condition.” On this week's episode of The Growth Equation podcast Brad and Steve are joined by Judson for a wide-ranging conversation on anxiety. They touch on anxiety's evolutionary roots, historical evolution, and modern day permutations. They also detail Judson's 3-part process to unwind anxiety, using as an example Judson's own current situation: resisting the impulse to constantly check reviews on his newly released book. Finally, they dive into something that Judson once told Brad about his own experience of anxiety while meditating: “That's just your ego afraid to die.” Judson is one of the smartest people Brad and Steve know, and in this conversation, you'll see why. With an uncanny ability to go broad and deep, to explain and coach, Judson is a great teacher for all.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherJudson's new book, Unwinding Anxiety.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here. (Note: Judson will be joining us for a conversation on his book in an upcoming book-club!)Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Unwinding Anxiety appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sleep. It's a topic that affects everyone, and it's particularly timely coming off of daylight savings time, which doesn't do much other than make an entire country of people groggy. Against that backdrop, Brad and Steve figured it'd be a perfect occasion to dive deep into sleep. They discuss the fundamental and sometimes surprising habits that set you up for a good night's sleep, the role of melatonin (both naturally and as a supplement), what's happening in your mind and body throughout the night, and the costs and benefits of using sleep-trackers. Equal parts intellectually interesting and practical, this episode is chock full of insights for anyone who sleeps, which is everyone!You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherCheck out our exclusive community offers and special launch giveaways on Patreon here.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post What “Good Sleep” Really Means and How to Get It appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A phenomenon that just about everyone is familiar with goes like this: You are striving hard to reach the next level at your given craft or pursuit. After loads of hard work, you finally reach it. When you do, you vacillate from feeling in over your head to feeling like you belong. Sometimes your ego may be too big; other times, too small. It's a wild and uniquely human ride. Someone who knows it well is Mara Gay. Shortly after she got her dream job at the New York Times editorial board, she told us, “This feels like going from playing in high-school to getting drafted into the NFL.” In this episode of The Growth Equation podcast, we are joined by Mara for a wide-ranging conversation on taking your game to the next level, and the importance of practicing humility as you do. Mara's craft is reporting and writing, but the topics we discuss are applicable to sustainable success and peak performance in all fields. These include how to keep perspective to stop your ego from getting in your way, imposter syndrome, resilience, staying hopeful during dark times, identity, routines, setting boundaries between work and life, and Mara's ongoing battle with a serious case of COVID-19. We absolutely loved this conversation and we think you will too.Follow Mara Gay on Twitter here.Support the Podcast and check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Why Practicing Humility is the Key to True Confidence and Belonging appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you dislike email, or at the very least, the amount of time, energy, and attention your inbox demands? If so, you aren't alone. In this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, we welcome Cal Newport, bestselling author of Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and most recently, A World Without Email. We dive deep into Cal's new book. But we also explore Cal's journey to becoming an author who is also a computer scientist, and who was formerly a pretty dang good athlete all the way up to the collegiate level. This is a wide-ranging conversation that tackles a variety of topics including using constraints to be more free, fit versus grit, exploration versus mastery, and of course e-mail (and more accurately, how to lessen its role in your life).Get Cal's new book, A World Without Email, here.Check out our exclusive community offers and special launch giveaways on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post A World Without Email (And a More Optimal Life) With Cal Newport appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coaching has long been a foundation of sport, but only more recently is it spreading into other industries. From business, to health care, to creativity, more people are seeking coaches to help them boost their performance and longevity, and the flip side of that coin, to help them avoid burnout too. On this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve are joined by Sarah Milby, founder of the company Valor Performance, which aims to scale coaching to non-traditional spaces. The trio dive deep into who could benefit most from coaching, the principles of good coaching, what to look for in a coach, and the future of coaching as it continues to expand. While they focus on coaching, they also touch upon traditional management leadership, and much of what they discuss can be applied to other fields too. At its core, this is a good discussion on helping people improving, even if that person you are helping is yourself (i.e., self-coaching).Check out our exclusive community offers and special launch giveaways on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagness(As mentioned in the show, you can use the Promo code “GROWTH” for discounted coaching from Valor Performance. Learn more here.)The post Coaching Beyond Sport appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hack culture—or the general idea that there are specific products, services, or supplements that will quickly make you healthier, happier, fitter, and more productive—has taken off in the last decade. In this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve explore how and why this has happened. They discuss what, if any, “hacks” may be worthwhile, and why so many people fall for the myriad other ones that don't work (at best) and are downright harmful (at worst). Since the goal of this show is never to be doom and gloom, they also spend time on what actually works to become healthier, happier, fitter, and more productive, outlining the steps that actually make a difference and that everyone can take.Check out our exclusive community offers and special launch giveaways on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Getting Beyond Hack Culture appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.