Late Morning Coffee

After hearing a striking study on the You Are Not So Smart podcast, I had to jump in and reflect. The episode explores how even the most rational, mathematically inclined people can twist numbers to support their identity-driven beliefs, often without realizing it. I unpack what that means for critical thinking, why simply informing people rarely works, and how it connects to behavior change, public health campaigns, and personal bias. There’s no tidy conclusion here. Just a set of tough, fascinating questions about how we form our beliefs and how hard we work to keep them intact.

You Are Not So Smart 317

In this conversation with agent, psychologist, and coach Albert Bramante, we explore a different take on imposter syndrome: maybe it’s not something to conquer, but something to work with. Albert shares insights from his experience with performing artists; why self-sabotage shows up, how identity can quietly limit growth, and what it really means to "act as if." From reframing limiting beliefs to unpacking perfectionism and procrastination, this episode looks at imposter syndrome not as a flaw to fix, but as a clue to navigate.

• Book: Rise Above the Script
• Website

James Gunn’s new Superman movie is here, and it delivers something that’s been missing from superhero films for a while: hope. In this episode, I unpack what worked (a charismatic lead, a fun Lex Luthor, and actual optimism) and what didn’t (plot chaos, a maybe-unnecessary Justice Gang, and a few Gunn-isms that either land or don’t). I talk about how this Superman fits into a post-Snyder DC world, how it plays with some clever tropes, and why I think this could be the start of something genuinely fun. It’s not perfect, but it left me wanting more.

This episode explores why resisting the lure of your phone is so difficult and why it’s not just a matter of willpower. With thousands of behavioral scientists designing platforms to keep your attention, the odds are stacked against you. If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for your phone without thinking, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at why that happens and what you might try instead.

Video: The Habit That FORCES Your Brain To STOP Consuming

Fifty episodes might be arbitrary, but it still feels like a good moment to take stock. In this episode, I reflect on what I’ve learned so far, what I hope to do next, and a few follow-up thoughts from past episodes that deserved more airtime.

Followup Items:

• Ep 38: “Results show” vs. “Results prove” vs. “Results suggest”
• Ep 11: Macrofactor — AI better now?
• Ep 34: Easier each time: form of cognitive offloading 
• Ep048 - Also wanted to mention that SWU is MUCH more accessible for kids

What happens when search engines stop being the main way people find things online? I take a near-future look at how platforms like ChatGPT and social media are chipping away at traditional web search, and what that might mean for creators, websites, and the soul of the internet itself. From the heyday of personal blogs to the rise of YouTube as a destination, this is a reflection on what's been lost and what might come back. If you've been sitting on an idea for your own site, this might be the moment you've been waiting for.

After decades of loving Magic: The Gathering and gradually drifting away from it, a new card game finally offered something fresh. This episode reflects on the long arc of collectible card games, the shifting balance between strategy and accessibility, and the unexpected joy of finding a game that feels just right. It is about rediscovering fun in a familiar format and being caught off guard in the best way.

https://starwarsunlimited.com/

Momentum is easy to celebrate, but what about the moments in between? This episode looks at the quieter phases of growth and how the urge to always shift forward can blur the value of where you already are. It's a reflection on progress, pace, and the uncomfortable space between ambition and patience.

There is a growing chorus of voices repeating a message that sounds pragmatic on the surface: your job is not your family. It’s meant to clarify expectations, but underneath, it may be doing something else entirely. This episode pushes back on that narrative, exploring how language like this, even when well-intended, contributes to a larger trend of dehumanizing employees. The conversation isn't about clinging to outdated notions of loyalty; it’s about protecting the idea that work can still be a place for connection, collaboration, and something more than quiet isolation.

The Post that Inspired the Episode

Rules of thumb are supposed to set us free from rigid thinking, yet they often become rigid themselves. Whether it is advice from improv classes, leadership seminars, or motivational posters, we are surrounded by maxims that say "never do this" and "always do that." This episode questions that binary approach and looks at what happens when one well-intended rule just replaces another. Sometimes good judgment means knowing when to break your own pattern; not because the rule was wrong, but because context changed.