Nir Eyal grew up clinically obese, ashamed of his body, and convinced that food controlled him. He tried every diet: low-fat, keto, vegetarian, and intermittent fasting. Each one worked until it didn’t. What finally changed his life wasn’t a meal plan; it was his belief. When he believed a plan would work, it worked. When that belief cracked, the weight returned. And he realized this pattern doesn’t just apply to weight; it shows up in every area of life. In this episode, Nir joins Ilana to reveal the hidden force behind your success or stagnation. He unpacks the science of belief, how it shapes what you see, feel, and do, and the practical framework to break limiting beliefs before they break you.

Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, behavioral design expert, and former Stanford lecturer known for his work on habit formation, psychology, and human behavior. As an entrepreneur and angel investor, Nir has backed multi-billion-dollar companies including Canva and Kahoot!.

In this episode, Ilana and Nir will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(03:14) Childhood and Weight Loss Struggles

(07:34) Why Affirmations and Vision Boards Don’t Work

(09:18) Facts vs Faith vs Beliefs

(10:59) His Journey from Founder to Bestselling Author

(16:01) The Power of Belief in Success and Failure 

(24:49) The ‘Messy Middle’: Knowing When to Persist vs Quit

(32:06) Skills Gap vs Belief Gap in Leaders and Teams

(34:0) The Four Questions to Rewire a Limiting Belief

(46:51) Q&A: Crafting a Memorable Pitch Story

Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, behavioral design expert, and former Stanford lecturer. He is the author of Hooked and Indistractable, which have sold over one million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 30 languages. His latest book, Beyond Belief, explores how hidden beliefs shape our limitations and how to replace them to unlock personal and professional growth. An entrepreneur and angel investor, Nir has backed multi-billion-dollar companies including Canva and Kahoot!.

Connect with Nir:

Nir’s Website: http://nirandfar.com

Nir’s Instagram: instagram.com/neyal99

Nir’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nireyal

Resources Mentioned:

Nir’s Books:

Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Breakthrough Results: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593852036

Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194883653X

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591847788

Nir’s 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal: nirandfar.com/beyond-belief

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