First Principles

By Adrian WellsBusiness Education Self-Improvement

First Principles episodes

October 29 Why Smart Women Keep Dating Toxic Men: The Psychology Logan Ury Discovered
Why do brilliant women keep falling for men who treat them terribly? Logan Ury has studied thousands of dating patterns and discovered something shocking: our brains are literally wired to choose chaos over compatibility. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the psychology behind why smart women get addicted to toxic relationships and how to rewire your dating patterns for actual happiness.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• The 50% rule: Why relationships with high initial passion are doomed from the start
• How anxious attachment makes you 3x more likely to stay with emotionally unavailable partners
• The brain chemistry secret behind why "boring" relationships actually create lasting love
• Logan's practical framework for spotting red flags before you're already hooked
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone passionate about personal growth who wants to understand the psychology behind their own relationship patterns.
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the toxic attraction paradox
[01:45] Why smart women choose excitement over stability
[03:30] The brain chemistry of intermittent reinforcement
[05:15] Anxious attachment and the unavailable partner trap
[07:00] The "boring relationship" strategy that actually works
[09:30] Logan Ury's red flag detection system
[11:15] Practical steps to rewire your dating brain
Studies show that couples who rate their relationship as "boring" in year one report 23% higher satisfaction scores after five years. Your brain's reward system gets hijacked by hot-cold behavior the same way it does by gambling. Understanding this changes everything about how you approach dating.
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🔍 Topics: dating psychology, toxic relationships, attachment theory, relationship advice, Logan Ury
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Keywords: relationship psychology, performance optimization, logical reasoning, entrepreneurship philosophy

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20 min
October 29 Your Poop Is Telling You Something: Top Gut Doctor Reveals Warning Signs
That brown mess in your toilet bowl? It's basically your gut's daily report card. Most people flush and forget, but gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz says you're missing critical health intel every single day. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the science of what your poop is actually telling you about your body.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• The Bristol Stool Chart doctors use worldwide and why Types 1 and 7 are red flags
• When red poop means "call your doctor now" vs. "you ate too many beets last night"
• Why floating poop might signal pancreatic problems and what to do about it
• Simple gut microbiome changes that can transform your digestion in weeks
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who wants to decode their body's daily health signals without getting squeamish about it.
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the science behind poop analysis
[01:30] The Bristol Stool Chart breakdown every adult should know
[04:00] Color coding your health: when to worry, when to relax
[07:00] Your gut microbiome's 1,000+ bacterial species explained
[10:00] Dr. Bulsiewicz's simple changes for better gut health
[12:00] Red flag symptoms that need immediate medical attention
Look, talking about poop isn't exactly dinner conversation, but your digestive health affects everything from your immune system to your mood. Dr. Bulsiewicz has spent years studying gut health, and his insights could literally save your life.
This isn't just gross-out science for shock value. It's practical knowledge that helps you spot problems early and make changes that actually matter for your long-term health.
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New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away.
🔍 Topics: gut health, digestive health, poop analysis, microbiome, gastroenterology
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Keywords: performance optimization, fame psychology, career advice, personal development

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27 min
October 29 Brain Doctor Drops ADHD Bombshell on Steven Bartlett After Scanning 250,000 Brains
What if a brain doctor who's scanned 250,000 minds could spot ADHD just by looking at your scan? Dr. Daniel Amen claims he can, and he just told Steven Bartlett he has ADHD based on brain patterns alone. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the explosive debate around brain imaging for ADHD diagnosis and what it means for how we understand attention disorders.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• Why Dr. Amen's SPECT scan approach divides the medical community (and costs $5,000 per scan)
• The specific brain patterns that show up in ADHD scans versus traditional diagnosis methods
• How 250,000 brain scans changed one doctor's approach to mental health treatment
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who's wondered if there's more to ADHD than checking boxes on questionnaires.
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the brain scan controversy
[02:15] What SPECT scans actually show in ADHD brains
[04:30] Why most psychiatrists don't use brain imaging
[06:45] The $5,000 question: do expensive scans work better?
[08:30] What traditional ADHD diagnosis gets wrong
[10:15] Key takeaways about brain-based medicine
The American Psychiatric Association doesn't recommend brain scans for ADHD. Insurance won't cover them. So why does Dr. Amen's clinic stay booked solid? The answer reveals everything about how we think we understand the brain versus what we actually know.
Whether you're questioning your own ADHD diagnosis or just curious about the cutting edge of neuroscience, this episode cuts through the hype to show you what the evidence actually says.
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Follow First Principles on Spotify and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away.
🔍 Topics: ADHD diagnosis, brain scans, neuroscience, SPECT imaging, mental health
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Keywords: fame psychology, motivation psychology, health myths

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29 min
October 29 Ant Middleton: Why I Was Really Cancelled (The Truth Nobody Talks About)
When Britain's most famous ex-Special Forces soldier gets "cancelled" by Channel 4, what really happened behind the scenes? In this raw conversation, Adrian Wells sits down with Ant Middleton to uncover the truth about his public downfall, mental health battles, and unexpected spiritual transformation.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• The real reason Middleton lost his TV career (and why he says it saved his life)
• How Special Boat Service training prepared him for public controversy but not personal demons
• Why he turned to psychedelic therapy and meditation after years of rejecting "soft" approaches
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who's faced public criticism or struggled with mental health stigma in high-pressure environments.
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the controversy everyone's talking about
[01:45] What really happened with Channel 4 and SAS: Who Dares Wins
[04:20] Special Boat Service mindset: when mental toughness becomes a prison
[06:50] The breakdown that nobody saw coming
[09:15] Psychedelics, meditation, and finding peace with being "the bad guy"
[11:30] Building a new life after losing everything public
Middleton doesn't hold back about the complaints that ended his TV career or his journey from military hardman to spiritual seeker. This isn't another redemption story. It's an honest look at what happens when your greatest strength becomes your biggest weakness.
🔔 Never miss an episode:
Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away.
🔍 Topics: mental health, military mindset, public controversy, spiritual growth, career transition
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Keywords: health myths, critical thinking podcast, fame psychology, motivation psychology, thinking skills, business fundamentals, performance optimization

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15 min
October 29 The Exercise Expert: This Popular Lifestyle Is Killing 1 Person Every 33 Seconds
Your chair might be more dangerous than your car. Every 33 seconds, sedentary living claims another life globally, making it one of the top killers you've never heard about. In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with Michael Easter, who spent years researching how our modern lifestyle has turned us into sitting ducks for disease, premature aging, and death.
Most people think hitting the gym three times a week cancels out their desk job. They're wrong. Even if you exercise regularly, sitting for more than 6 hours daily still increases your early death risk by 19%. Your metabolism starts shutting down after just 30 minutes in that chair, and your blood sugar regulation goes haywire.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• Why the average American takes only 3,000 steps daily (our ancestors hit 16,000)
• The 30-minute metabolism crash that happens every time you sit down
• Simple movement hacks that work even in the most sedentary jobs
• How to rewire your environment to naturally increase daily movement
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who spends more time sitting than they'd like to admit (which is probably all of us).
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells reveals the 33-second death statistic
[01:45] Why exercise can't save you from sitting disease
[03:30] The metabolism shutdown that starts in 30 minutes
[05:15] Our ancestors vs. modern movement patterns
[07:00] Simple daily hacks that don't require a gym
[09:30] Environmental design for automatic movement
[11:15] Your action plan starting tomorrow
This isn't another "stand up more" lecture. Easter breaks down the actual science and gives you specific tactics that work in real life. Your body was built to move, and he shows you exactly how to honor that without turning your life upside down.
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Follow First Principles on Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications.
New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away.
🔍 Topics: sedentary lifestyle, exercise science, movement habits, metabolism, longevity
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Keywords: performance optimization, celebrity interviews, anxiety management, mental health celebrities

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20 min
October 28 Thierry Henry: Why I Cried Before Every Game & The Depression That Almost Ended Me
What if crying before every game was actually the sign of greatness, not weakness? Thierry Henry scored 228 goals for Arsenal and won the 1998 World Cup, but behind the glory, he was battling depression so severe he'd lock himself in hotel rooms and cry. Adrian Wells breaks down how elite performance and mental health create a paradox most people never see.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• Why 35% of elite athletes struggle with depression (double the general population rate)
• How Henry's 1998 World Cup triumph at age 20 became a psychological burden that lasted decades
• The specific triggers that made him cry in private during his most successful moments
• Why our culture celebrates the achievement but ignores the human cost
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners who want to understand the real price of excellence and anyone who's ever wondered what success actually feels like from the inside.
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells introduces Henry's hidden struggle
[01:45] The crying ritual: what happened before every match
[03:30] France '98: when winning felt like losing
[05:15] The spotlight trap: fame at 20 and its consequences
[07:00] Depression in elite sports: the data nobody talks about
[09:30] What Henry's story teaches us about mental health
[11:15] Key insights you can apply to your own challenges
Henry's story isn't just about football. It's about what happens when external success doesn't match internal reality. About the gap between what we achieve and how we actually feel about it.
This episode shows how even our heroes are more fragile than we think, and why that's actually the most human thing about them.
🔔 Never miss an episode:
Follow First Principles on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away.
🔍 Topics: Thierry Henry, mental health, elite athletes, depression, sports psychology
Find all episodes at First Principles
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Keywords: evidence evaluation, decision making, philosophy business, success psychology, thinking skills, personal development, motivation psychology

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20 min
October 28 Tony Hawk: The Man With The $1.4 Billion Name! Burnout, Obsession & Regrets
What if the most successful skateboarder in history built a $1.4 billion empire but paid a price most people never see? In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down Tony Hawk's incredible journey from 14-year-old pro to global brand powerhouse, and why his obsessive perfectionism reveals crucial lessons about success that go way beyond skateboarding.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• How Hawk turned skateboarding into a $1.4 billion video game franchise and multiple revenue streams
• The real cost of perfectionism: what 40+ years of professional obsession did to his personal life
• Why his 11 failed attempts at the 900-degree spin at the 1999 X Games teach us more about persistence than any motivational quote
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone passionate about personal growth who wants to understand what extreme success actually costs and how to build something lasting without losing yourself.
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the Tony Hawk paradox: billion-dollar success, hidden costs
[01:45] From 14-year-old pro to 40-year career: how Hawk redefined longevity in sports
[04:30] The $1.4 billion video game empire: turning passion into multiple revenue streams
[07:15] The 900-degree spin breakthrough: what 11 failures taught about perfectionism
[09:30] The personal price of obsession: burnout, regrets, and finding balance
[11:15] Key takeaways for building success without sacrificing everything else
🔔 Never miss an episode:
Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away.
🔍 Topics: Tony Hawk, entrepreneurship, perfectionism, brand building, work life balance
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Keywords: depression stories, critical thinking podcast, fame psychology, anxiety management, behavioral economics, evidence evaluation, decision making, mental health celebrities

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19 min
October 28 Yuval Harari: The War Pattern Big Tech Hopes You Never See
What if the technology you use every day is rewiring society for conflict? Historian Yuval Noah Harari reveals the disturbing pattern hiding in plain sight, and Adrian Wells breaks down why this matters for how we think about our future.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• Why false news spreads 6x faster than truth on social media (and what this means for society)
• The historical pattern that connects rapid tech change to social upheaval
• How your brain's ancient trust mechanisms are being hijacked by algorithms designed for engagement
• The specific warning signs Harari sees that mirror pre-conflict periods in history
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone passionate about personal growth who wants to understand the forces shaping our world beyond the headlines.
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells introduces Harari's urgent warning about tech and conflict
[02:15] The 30-year shift: from human-speed to algorithm-speed information
[04:45] Why your brain trusts the wrong sources in the digital age
[07:30] The historical pattern: tech disruption leads to social fractures
[09:00] False news vs. truth: the 6x speed difference that's changing everything
[11:15] What we can learn from past conflicts to navigate what's coming
This isn't doom and gloom. It's pattern recognition. Harari spent decades studying how societies break down and rebuild. The signs he's pointing to aren't speculation, they're historical precedent playing out in real time.
The question isn't whether technology will continue reshaping society. It's whether we'll recognize the patterns early enough to think our way through them clearly.
🔔 Never miss an episode:
Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away.
🔍 Topics: Yuval Harari, social media psychology, historical patterns, critical thinking, technology impact
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Keywords: mental health celebrities, success psychology, business fundamentals, career advice, critical thinking podcast, first principles

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39 min
October 28 The $300K Housing Mistake Morgan Housel Says You're Making Right Now
What if everything you know about homeownership is backwards? Adrian Wells breaks down Morgan Housel's shocking argument that buying a house might be the worst financial decision you'll make, backed by 130 years of market data that'll make you rethink everything.
Turns out, from 1890 to 2020, house prices grew at just 0.4% annually after inflation. Meanwhile, the stock market delivered 10% returns. But it gets worse: when you factor in maintenance, taxes, insurance, and interest, you're looking at 6-10% of your home's value vanishing every year.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• Why the "rent is throwing money away" myth has cost Americans millions
• The hidden costs that eat 1-3% of your home's value annually (spoiler: it's not just repairs)
• Morgan Housel's alternative strategy that historically outperforms real estate by 900%
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone considering their next major financial move (or questioning their current one).
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the $300K housing trap
[01:30] The math that real estate agents don't want you to see
[04:00] Hidden homeownership costs that destroy wealth quietly
[07:00] Why "building equity" might be building nothing
[10:00] Housel's alternative: where to put that down payment instead
[12:00] Three questions to ask before your next housing decision
This isn't about renting forever or living in your car. It's about making decisions based on data, not emotions or social pressure. Housel's research spans over a century, and the patterns are pretty hard to ignore.
Ready to challenge some assumptions? The numbers might surprise you, but they could also save you hundreds of thousands over the next decade.
🔔 Never miss an episode:
Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away.
🔍 Topics: housing market, real estate investing, personal finance, wealth building, Morgan Housel
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Keywords: business strategy, cognitive biases, critical thinking podcast, career advice

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39 min
October 28 The $0 to Millions Secret: Why Codie Sanchez Avoids Startups Completely
What if everything you think you know about building wealth is backwards? While everyone's chasing the next unicorn startup, Codie Sanchez is quietly building millions by buying the most boring businesses you can imagine. Adrian Wells breaks down her contrarian playbook that's generating 15-30% annual returns while tech bros burn through venture capital.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
• Why businesses selling for 2-4x annual profit are goldmines hiding in plain sight
• The retirement crisis creating a $10 trillion opportunity in small business acquisitions
• How boring laundromats and car washes outperform Silicon Valley darlings
• Sanchez's exact framework for evaluating profitable, unsexy businesses
👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone tired of get-rich-quick schemes who want to understand how real wealth actually gets built.
📍 Chapters:
[00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the anti-startup approach
[01:45] Why 70% of business owners have no exit plan
[03:30] The profit margin secret of "boring" businesses
[05:15] Sanchez's acquisition criteria that actually work
[07:00] Real numbers: 20-40% margins vs. startup losses
[09:30] How to spot these opportunities in your area
[11:00] The mindset shift that changes everything
This isn't another hustle culture fantasy. It's a clear-eyed look at how patient capital and smart thinking beat hype every single time. Sanchez proves that the path to millions doesn't require disrupting industries or changing the world. Sometimes it just requires buying the car wash down the street.
🔔 Never miss an episode:
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🔍 Topics: business acquisition, wealth building, small business investing, Codie Sanchez, boring businesses
Find all episodes at First Principles
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Keywords: billionaire mindset, career advice, business fundamentals, celebrity interviews, evidence evaluation, productivity science

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18 min

About First Principles

From the publisher's feed

First Principles isn't another business podcast recycling the same startup stories. Adrian Wells takes the fundamentals that actually matter and breaks them down like you're having coffee with the smartest professor you ever had.

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First Principles

First Principles episodes

About First Principles