Dr. Hal Hershfield is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making and Psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. He focuses his research at the intersection of psychology and economics; and his work has been published in the NY Times, Harvard Business Review, and Wall Street Journal, among others.

Dr. Hershfield is the author of a new book titled Your Future Self - How to Make Tomorrow Better Today, which he and Greg discuss in detail in this conversation.

In the book, Dr. Hershfield explores deep questions on identity, like:

Episode segments:

(04:10) - Hal's fascination with connecting with our future selves

(08:17) - Are we the same person for our entire lives?

(12:15) - How Brazil's most notorious serial killer became a different person

(17:27) - How one of your 5 key personal traits will change in the next 10 years

(18:41) - Why the closeness you feel with your future self matters... A LOT!

(25:05) - The "end of history" illusion or why you're not "fully baked" even though it feels that way

(29:49) - Writing a letter to (and from) your future self

(33:52) - Hollywood make-up artists and Hal's crazy experience "becoming" his future self

(40:42) - How to use commitment devices to encourage behavioral change

(47:52) - Better parenting by being more present (with the help of a "K-Safe")

(54:22) - The irony of being too focused on the future and missing the present

Link to (very) raw transcript:

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This episode is brought to you by Athletic Brewing Company.

But did you know that Athletic is also a Certified B Corp donating up to $2 million annually to protect and restore outdoor spaces around the globe through their Two for the Trails program?

Personally, I love that this is a company that gives back to

Near beer. Exclusions and conditions apply.

Athletic Brewing Company. Fit For All Times.

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