It's another episode for the What Makes This Book Great?! mini-series.

This time, Chad Prevost and Phil Mondy discuss Atomic Habits by James Clear, highlighting its success with over 3 million copies sold and its cultural impact.

The duo explore the book's key principles, such as making habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying, and breaking habits by making them invisible, unattractive, difficult, and unsatisfying.

Phil shares his experiences with habit formation, including morning routines and exercise, and the importance of aligning habits with long-term goals. They also discuss the challenges of breaking bad habits, like daily drinking, and the concept of identity in behavior change. The conversation touches on the competitive nature of habit formation and the benefits of cold plunges for mental and physical well-being.

Reach out to Chad to book a call at [email protected].Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify! Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.

On today's episode, Chad is visited by Charlie Moss, Richie Daigle, Chris Collins, and Matt McLelland to discuss an interesting choice: Jonathan's Krakauer's Into the Wild.

Why is it an interesting choice for The Humanist? Well, on the surface it might seem like the adventure-seeking Chris McCandless's tragic story might not be the subject matter for our discussions. Yet it is when seen through the interpretive lens of life decisions, good and bad decisions, reactions and responses in compliance and against our parents. Also, in seeking "Truth" and the expression of an authentic life.

Check out our rich discussion of this powerful book, and learn what makes this book great.

Reach out to Chad to book a call at [email protected].Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify! Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.

For this week's episode we have return guests and friends of the show, Matt McLleland and Daniel Lucas to discuss Adam Grant's brilliant, Think Again.

The discussion on Think Again highlights the book's impact and relevance, emphasizing the importance of rethinking and humility. The book, a New York Times bestseller, encourages readers to approach problems like scientists rather than politicians or salespeople. Key points include the significance of emotional intelligence (EQ) and the balance between confidence and humility in leadership. The conversation also touches on the challenges of overcoming confirmation bias, the value of constructive conflict, and the importance of self-awareness in decision-making. Personal anecdotes and real-world examples illustrate the book's practical applications.

Reach out to Chad to book a call at [email protected].Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify! Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.

For this week's conversation I'm joined by friends of the show and fellow podcasters, Daniel Lucas and Richie Daigle. They generously gave of their time to dive into this big Rick Rubin book, The Creative Act--and then to join me for a wide-ranging and unscripted conversation about it.

The idea for this series is to consider a book that has met several hallmarks of cultural success. Whether or not we like or love the book, we consider the features of the book and what has led to its critical and bestselling success. Spoiler alert: Usually we do like and love the books we cover. But the point is, we're not just fanboys. We're considering what the book tries to achieve and whether or not it lands.

For the record, we have no affiliation with the authors and there are no affiliate links. We are here to consider these books and see how they lead us into richer territory and meaningful conversation.

Reach out to Chad to book a call at [email protected].Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify! Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.

Chad Prevost and Reagan Pugh discuss their experiences as Enneagram Type Fours, exploring the challenges and opportunities of emotional intensity. They emphasize the importance of emotional awareness and self-acceptance in overcoming shame and doubt. Also dealing with personal struggles with anger as a coping mechanism.

The importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in personal growth and relationships, emphasizing the need to recognize and address emotional issues to improve communication and overall well-being. They discuss the growing importance of emotional intelligence in leadership roles, highlighting the unique strengths of emotionally attuned leaders and the challenges of balancing emotional intelligence with the pressure to be liked and avoid conflict.

Learn more about Reagan Pugh here.

And check out his book, Too Emotional, here.

Download our free book, Desire: How Do You Want to Feel?

Finding your way to your desire requires a number of the principles we teach at the Big Self School. It requires a calm center, self-knowledge, and courage to put the ideas into practice. Whether you think you know your desires, but want to reconnect to them, or you simply have no idea, this book can help you realize your way to a deeper and more authentic connection with yourself. Desire is ultimately about how you want your feelings, experiences, and values to line up in your life.

This book is only available in print in hardback, but it's yours free as our downloadable PDF.

Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.

Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify!

Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.

Just plain ol' sign up for a quarterly roundup of all things happening at Big Self School, and only when a specific opportunity is available.

Chad Prevost and Chris Heuertz discuss the Enneagram, a personality typing system that aims to help individuals understand themselves and others better. Chris provides insights into its history and practical applications. They highlight its ability to help individuals understand their motivations and behaviors.

They also discuss the importance of vulnerability and community in using the Enneagram effectively, and explore the overlap between psychological and spiritual practices. Later, they delve into the Enneagram's origins, symbolism, and ecumenical use across various esoteric and mystical communities. They discuss the connections between the Enneagram and personality, explore the Enneagram and Gurdjieff's work. They also delve into the concept of Enneagram wings and their impact on personal growth.

More on Chris Heuertz here.

Download our free book, Desire: How Do You Want to Feel?

Finding your way to your desire requires a number of the principles we teach at the Big Self School. It requires a calm center, self-knowledge, and courage to put the ideas into practice. Whether you think you know your desires, but want to reconnect to them, or you simply have no idea, this book can help you realize your way to a deeper and more authentic connection with yourself. Desire is ultimately about how you want your feelings, experiences, and values to line up in your life.

This book is only available in print in hardback, but it's yours free as our downloadable PDF.

Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.

Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify!

Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.

Just plain ol' sign up for a quarterly roundup of all things happening at Big Self School, and only when a specific opportunity is available.

Chad Prevost and friend of the show, Matt Mclleland, discuss the significance of choice in shaping our identity and life outcomes, with a focus on self-awareness, conscious decision-making, and overcoming unconscious patterns. What is the impact of social media and technology on mental health? What are the challenges of balancing innovation with risk aversion in various industries? Whatever the answer, you need courage, authenticity, and leadership in navigating complex dynamics.

High NotesOptimism, emotions, and Adlerian psychology.Self-expression, peer pressure, and individuality.Parenting, self-awareness, and the importance of opinions.Leadership values and authenticity.The power of choice in life and personal growth.Overcoming negative thoughts and building resilience through exercise and positive thinking.Gen Z mental health, social media, and parenting.Sustainability innovation and autonomous vehicles.Innovation, fear, and leadership in various industries.Download our free book, Desire: How Do You Want to Feel?

Finding your way to your desire requires a number of the principles we teach at the Big Self School. It requires a calm center, self-knowledge, and courage to put the ideas into practice. Whether you think you know your desires, but want to reconnect to them, or you simply have no idea, this book can help you realize your way to a deeper and more authentic connection with yourself. Desire is ultimately about how you want your feelings, experiences, and values to line up in your life.

This book is only available in print in hardback, but it's yours free as our downloadable PDF.

Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.

Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify!

Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.

Just plain ol' sign up for a quarterly roundup of all things happening at Big Self School, and only when a specific opportunity is available.

Today's conversation revolves around the importance of practicing gratitude, self-care, and radical optimism in the face of adversity. Ashley Jones shares her story of unexpectedly becoming a young parent and then navigating the diagnosis of their child, Skyler's, rare condition.

Ashley tells us about our culture's comfort level with talking about grief. She also sees a great, big need for creating space for grief and healing through conversation, and highlights, among other things, the importance of self-awareness in healing.

They also discuss the complexities of trauma and loss, and the need for a holistic approach to healing that addresses the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of loss. Ashley emphasizes the importance of living authentically, while still setting boundaries and embracing vulnerability.

High NotesHealing, gratitude, and self-care in difficult circumstances.Grieving and navigating loss after the death of a child at a young age.Grief, loss, and finding meaning after a child's death.Grief support and healing with a nonprofit organization.Grief, healing, and emotional awareness.Personal and professional boundaries, authenticity, and trauma recovery.Living authentically, dealing with criticism, and writing a book on surviving loss.Regrets of the dying, including letting happiness, staying in touch with friends, expressing feelings, and living authentically.

Find out more about Ashley and the Momento Organization here.

Download our free book, Desire: How Do You Want to Feel?

Finding your way to your desire requires a number of the principles we teach at the Big Self School. It requires a calm center, self-knowledge, and courage to put the ideas into practice. Whether you think you know your desires, but want to reconnect to them, or you simply have no idea, this book can help you realize your way to a deeper and more authentic connection with yourself. Desire is ultimately about how you want your feelings, experiences, and values to line up in your life.

This book is only available in print in hardback, but it's yours free as our downloadable PDF.

Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.

Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify!

Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.

Just plain ol' sign up for a weekly roundup of all things happening at Big Self School.

Chad Prevost and Frederik Pferdt discuss the importance of developing a mindset that can navigate and shape an uncertain future. Pferdt emphasizes the need to move away from fear and uncertainty and instead focus on creating a better future through radical optimism, living in the present, and embracing the unknown.

They also explore the power of reframing challenges as opportunities for growth, cultivating a positive mindset, and valuing authority while cultivating a beginner's mindset. Throughout the conversation, they discuss the importance of taking proactive steps towards improvement and inspiring others to do the same.

High NotesCreating a better future through radical optimism and living in the present moment.Cultivating a "Future Ready" mindset through 5 key dimensions (radical optimism, unreserved openness, compulsiveRadical optimism and how to practice it in daily life.Mindfulness, meditation, and cold water exposure for personal growth.AI experimentation and fear vs. optimism.Embracing a beginner's mindset and personal growth.Developing a positive mindset for the future.

Find out more about Frederik Pferdt and his book here.

Download our free book, Desire: How Do You Want to Feel?

Finding your way to your desire requires a number of the principles we teach at the Big Self School. It requires a calm center, self-knowledge, and courage to put the ideas into practice. Whether you think you know your desires, but want to reconnect to them, or you simply have no idea, this book can help you realize your way to a deeper and more authentic connection with yourself. Desire is ultimately about how you want your feelings, experiences, and values to line up in your life.

This book is only available in print in hardback, but it's yours free as our downloadable PDF.

Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.

Want to give us some love but don't know how? Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify!

Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.

Just plain ol' sign up for a weekly roundup of all things happening at Big Self School.

Chad discusses the growing pressure of stress in modern society and the need to develop mindfulness practices to manage it. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and interrupting compulsive thinking patterns that reinforce negative emotions and emotional reactivity.

Chad introduces the "stop one minute breathing space" technique to help you pause and take stock of your body, feelings, and associated thoughts, all through the lens of modern neuroscience in understanding this phenomenon.

High Notes:Managing stress and emotions through mindfulness practices.

• How thoughts and emotions are linked, leading to patterns of emotional reactivity.
• The "magic quarter second" of choice before acting on impulses.

Mindfulness and self-awareness practices to manage stress and anxiety.

• Pausing before reacting to thoughts and emotions to choose a wiser response.
• Mindfulness meditation can help empower individuals to slow down and respond from a more inner wise place.
• By focusing on breath, individuals can control their heart rate and access natural resilience and wisdom.
• One-minute breathing space for stress resilience.

Find out more about Big Self School:

Big Self School seeks to democratize wellbeing and happiness. Our methodology is rooted in science and ancient wisdom to help clients improve their outcomes and design their dream life. We are innovating the way coaching is currently practiced. We’re building a community to serve in a variety of high impact ways from coaching to in-person trainings to even using AI. Let's dream of a better future for everyone. Lead yourself first. Others will follow. bigselfschool.com

Download our free book, What Do You Expect? Discovering Methods for Deep Calm.

Book a discovery call for coaching or workshop trainings here.

Leave us a review and subscribe on Apple iTunes or Subscribe on Spotify.

Order a copy of Chad’s book Shock Point or order an ebook here.