excellence, actually

Brad and Steve are joined by Kyle Klechenko, co-founder, co-owner, and head coach at Strength Ratio, to discuss his new e-book, “Building Foundations: Prioritize Your Health and Well-Being.” The trio discuss the latest science and nuance behind physical activity guidelines, nutrition, sleep, substance-use, bloodwork, pain management, and more. This is a must-listen: it lays out a nice, comprehensive framework for setting yourself up for optimal health and longevity without becoming a stress-cadet about it.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources:Download the Foundations eBook here.More on Kyle and Strength Ratio here.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 7 Key Guidelines for Health and Longevity appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 Re-Listen: 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With the NBA finals here, Brad and Steve use the championship series as a jumping off point to discuss the power of well-oiled teams, where there is both dependence and independence. They contrast this with so-called “super teams” that are made up of all-star individuals. While the duo starts out with a discussion on sports, they end with two universal principles for developing and leading great teams regardless of the arena.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources: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 Truly Great Teams Versus “Super Teams” appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It is mental health awareness month, and it is a topic near and dear to our hearts. Mental health and its opposite (mental illness) affects just about everyone at one point or another. On this episode, we detail eleven key concepts for mental health, all based on evidence and with concrete applications and practices.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources:You are Not a Rock by Mark FreemanCheck out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post 11 Concepts for Mental Health appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The episode title says it all. Brad and Steve investigate the connection between the wild west of supplements and the wild west of ideas and politicians. They propose some big-swing theories that make a whole lot of sense, and they also provide a very concrete list of what supplements tend to work for what type of people in what situations.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources:Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post The Connection Between Crazy Supplements, Crazy Conspiracies, and Crazy Candidates appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You asked. We answered. This week's episode is a listener AMA, including:1. What are some recent good books that you’ve read?2. I know you two are both concerned with social media, how do you manage your own use currently?3. What do you think of Elon Musk buying Twitter?4. What projects are you working on?5. Sleep is something that you say is paramount. How do I balance this with being a new parent? It seems impossible to get any sleep?6. Is there any role for tools like whoop or fit bits?7. How do you manage to follow your teachings in an environment (physical, social & cultural) that encourages in many cases the complete opposite. I am doing my best to practice your teachings and quite often feel like walking upstream. Should one try to change his/her environment?8. You guys mention your dogs quite often. Tell us more!You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources:Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Listener Mailbag: Books, Sleep, Practicing What You Preach, and More! appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NFL draft just went down last week. For football fans it is a very exciting time. For everyone else, it is a fascinating look at just how hard identifying talent can be. In this episode, Brad and Steve use the NFL draft as a starting point for a broader discussion on what we choose to measure in work and life and why.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources:Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness!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 the NFL Draft can Teach Us About Talent Identification appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In light of the news that Elon Musk might actually buy twitter, Brad and Steve explore how they use social media in their own lives and they offer some new and interesting ideas about owning your energy and attention in an increasingly frenetic and commercialized world.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Notes and Resources:Here is the Jonathan Haidt article and Derek Thompson article mentioned in the show. And the podcast conversation between the two of them that we referenced is here.Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post The Current State of Social Media and Attention Economics appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by Michelle Segar, who is a researcher at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, studying sustainable behavior change. The discussion revolves around when and why habits fail, and how you can still make the right choice in those moments. It is a great and actionable conversation on a framework for progress that is different than and complementary to the power of habits.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out Michelle's new book (and take the quiz she mentioned in the show) at her website, here.Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Habits Aren't the Only Path to Health Behavior Change appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brad and Steve share a framework for “minimum effective dosing” of habits for health and performance. They provide a menu of evidence-based health and performance habits with the biggest bang for the buck, and then discuss how to harmoniously integrate these habits with everything else you have going on.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Daily Habits for Health and Performance appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many people are experiencing a chronic low-grade fatigue. It can manifest as multiple snooze-button taps, mid-day crashes, struggling to find motivation for things that once made you tick, or some combination of all these things. This episode explores the two big reasons underlying this sort of low-grade chronic fatigue and what you can do about it in order to regain and reclaim your energy.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness!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 Is Tired All The Time. Here's What You Can Do About It. appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do we handle uncertainty in life? In this episode, Brad and Steve take on what to do when your world seems a bit out of whack. They dive into how to make better decisions , whether you should rely on intuition or rational thought processes, how to take care of your body during crazy times, and why there is no such thing as a bad decision. If your life feels a bit chaotic, this podcast is for you.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Get The Practice of Groundedness on Audible!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!The post Managing Uncertainty appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is a conversation for the ages. Brad and Steve are joined by a special guest, Eric Zimmer, a former heroine addict now successful coach, entrepreneur, and podcast host. You'll immediately sense that Eric is a kindred spirit to everything the Growth Equation Podcast stands for. The trio go deep on what addiction thinks and feels like, how Eric worked his way into recovery, and the key lessons therein for all of us—regardless of your current state and station in life. It was also fascinating to think about addiction recovery as an extreme form of trying to make progress in any challenging pursuit.***At the age of 24, Eric was homeless, addicted to heroin and facing long jail sentences. In the years since he has found a way to recover from addiction and build a life worth living for himself, that includes becoming a parent, being a successful entrepreneur, living business to do more creative work, developing a personal coaching practice, and hosting a popular podcast.Eric works as a behavior coach and has done so for the past 20 years. He has coached hundreds of people from around the world on how to make significant life changes and create habits that serve them well in achieving the goals they’ve set for themselves.In addition to his work as a behavior coach, he currently hosts the award-winning podcast, The One You Feed, based on an old parable about two wolves at battle within us. With over 300 episodes and over 13 million downloads, the show features conversations with experts across many fields of study about how to create a life that has less suffering and more fulfillment and meaning.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Get The Practice of Groundedness on Audible!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Show Notes:Eric's coaching practice.Eric's podcast, The One You Feed.The One You Feed Episodes Mentioned:Brad's conversation with Eric on GroundednessJohan Hari on Stolen AttentionJames Clear on Compounding Habit ChangeBurnout with Leah WeissRecovery with Veronica ValliEthan Cross on ChatterThe post From Opioid Addiction to Enlightenment appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Brad and Steve get personal and discuss what is top of mind for them when it comes to their own health and longevity, including why Brad has decided to lose some weight (and how he's going about it), why Steve is changing his relationship with sport performance, and how so many controversial and polarizing topics (such as weight loss) need not be. You'll be sure to enjoy this intimate and thoughtful discussion on tough topics with themes and lessons that are applicable to everyone.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Get The Practice of Groundedness on Audible!Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!The post Longevity, Diet, and Changing Your Relationship with Excellence appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve check in with NYC Marathon Champion, Olympian, coach, and friend Shalane Flanagan. The trio first discuss the challenges that come with transitions. Shalane candidly describes the hard and dark days she faced when transitioning away from being an athlete and how she struggled to see her purpose and meaning. Brad, Steve and Shalane then turn to how to cope with impostor syndrome. Shalane offers tricks such as finding your specific role and putting ego aside. Shalane also shares her thoughts on being one of the only female professional running coaches, what she’s learned about parenting in the past few months, and whether she would considering lacing up to compete at the master’s level.Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!You can find the podcast on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Re-listen: Life with Shalane Flanagan, Marathon Champion, Olympian and Coach appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There have been many recent articles, essays, and books arguing against ambition—and some might even say the pursuit of personal excellence. In this episode of the podcast, Brad and Steve provide a counter argument and bring some much-needed nuance to this discussion. It is not ambition that is bad. It is the ways in which many people channel it, and the ways in which the culture encourages us to channel it. Understanding this empowers us to better self-direct our ambition as individuals, and for those of us in leadership roles, to change the game—whether it's sports, corporate, or education—in the same way.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!The post The Case for Ambition appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everyone experiences performance anxiety at some point. It's simply the cost of caring deeply about you are doing. In this episode, Brad and Steve dive deep on the mechanisms underlying performance anxiety and the various approaches to work with it: ranging from practices to diminish a strong stress response to those that help you channel anxiety and work with, not against, it.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Blog post on identity connected to achievement that is mentioned in the show is here.Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please 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 Work With Performance Anxiety appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is it possible to strive for the utmost excellence without sacrificing your mental health? Can you care deeply about a pursuit without attaching your entire identity to it? Drawing from recent Olympic examples, these are the big questions, important, and timely questions that Brad and Steve wrestle with on this episode. This one is a must-listen for anyone serious about getting the most out of themselves in a healthy way, and also teachers, parents, coaches, and other leaders.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Excellence, Mental Health, and the Olympics: Going Hard Without Falling Apart appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A must-listen for anyone currently pursuing (or considering) big goals in their life. Brad and Steve dive into one of their favorite topics: how to strike the right balance between internal and external validation in the pursuit of big goals, and the interplay between identity, ego, and achievement. They give examples of what happens when motivation goes awry. They touch on people like Elizabeth Holmes, Barry Bonds, and Lance Armstrong, and in a nuanced way. And they provide concrete strategies to cultivate the good kind of motivation while minimizing the bad.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Good vs. Bad Motivation appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brad and Steve address all the people who seem to be losing their minds on the internet, and what they do (at their best) to stop themselves from going down this path. Hopefully you can apply some lessons to your own life and the people in it.(Warning: This podcast is full of rants. Love them or hate them or somewhere in between, we wanted to give you a heads up.)You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post People Are Losing Their Minds on the Internet appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Progress, continual growth, and development are all great, no doubt. But we all go through periods of life when it is wise to shift the goal from thriving to just getting through and surviving. What generally gets in the way: rigid expectations, fear of losing your rhythm, and the (false) entangling of how you feel (internally) with how you perform (externally). On this episode we dive into all that and more. Whether you currently feel like you are thriving or surviving, we're confident you'll find this week's discussion both interesting and practical, with concrete actions you can take starting now.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post When To Thrive vs. Simply Survive appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nobody likes to fail, but you can't get through life without failing at least a few times. On this episode, Brad and Steve discuss an evidence-based philosophy for thinking about failure—and also actually doing it. Topics include the interplay between self-discipline and self-compassion, finite versus infinite games, the short-term crappiness and long-term wisdom that comes with failing, and some of their own experiences with failure.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post All About Failure appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good enough is usually good enough. Good enough over and over again—that's how you get to great. The culture loves heroic efforts. Heroic efforts are how you burnout. Great outcomes love consistency. Consistency is how you play the long game. This episode is all about how to make consistency a practice.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please 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 be Consistent appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brad and Steve discuss the latest science of goal setting, including the common pitfalls most people overlook and the concrete principles for setting goals that will drive the process and outcomes you want in life. They also give personal examples of how they take this knowledge and apply it to setting goals in their own lives. This episode is filled with practical, timely, and immediately applicable tips. Don't miss it! You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post The Science (And Philosophy) Of Setting Optimal Goals appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brad and Steve let loose recapping the six biggest ideas in performance and wellness from 2021.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Recapping the Six Biggest Performance and “Wellness” Ideas from 2021 appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brad and Steve are joined by world-class sculptor Emil Alzamora to discuss his work, the idea (and life) of being a craftsperson, physical versus digital art, the creative process, the role of lightening inspiration versus hacking at it every day, and so much more.You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***Learn more about Emil here.Check out our exclusive community bonuses on Patreon.Get a copy of The Practice of Groundedness! It is currently over 40 percent off!Please write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post The Creative Process with Sculptor Emil Alzamora appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode, Brad and Steve dispel some recent trends in the health, fitness, and high-performance space, delving into how they came into existence, why people follow them, and what, if any, benefit they may have. Then, we go into what actually works for improvement and why it's so easy to focus on fluff and fads and so hard to focus on fundamentals.(Note: We call out a few particular trends. If you follow these we don't mean to offend you and would be interested to hear about your experience with them. We are always, and genuinely, open to being wrong and changing our minds.)You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***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 Fundamentals Not Fluff appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher ***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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Additional 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Additional 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Additional Notes Get 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 Productivity vs. Productive Activity and Time Management appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher If 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher If 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher It'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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Here 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 Determining the Greatest of All Time appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 Olympic Lessons For All of Us appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 Unpacking The Best Press Conference Ever appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 Growth Academy #10: Transitions appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 Growth Academy #9: Self-Awareness (And Self-Distancing) appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 Growth Academy #8: Harmonious Passion appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Rock The Coddling of the American Mind You can find the episode on: iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher 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 Mental Health in Athletes (And Beyond) appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.