James believes that admitting your biggest excuse is the first step towards stopping the action. So today, our hosts get personal about the things they avoid doing, some from lack of interest, others from procrastination. Will coming clean to the listening audience be enough to set them on the straight and narrow path?

Does New York City's standing as the cultural epicenter of America stem from how much it embodies the American Dream, or from how starkly different it is from the rest of the country? Our hosts, and long-time New Yorkers, discuss the evolution of NYC since the Dinkins administration in the late 1980's began the city's transformation from "no-go" zone to the number one tourist destination in the country.

How do Stephen and James always come up with 'one-liners' of guidance to fit every situation? Simply put, they have stockpiled a lifetime of the good ones. Today, our hosts discuss a few gems of wisdom they've received in the past which have made a difference in how they interpret things in life. Then we find out if they actually followed the advice. (Hint: Not always.)

Would the United States function better if states were combined into cultural regions? James believes that New England or heavily-Latino populated South Florida could create more economically sound trade deals and legislation if new boundaries were established. On the other hand, Stephen thinks this sounds a bit too much like secession. Whose argument will prevail on today's Question of the Day?

Could saying curse words around your family members be a good thing? Your grandmother would probably dismiss that question outright, but the rules may have changed over the last few generations. Even the seminal etiquette book series started by writer Emily Post doesn't ban its use completely. Today, we'll hear what Stephen and James have to say on the topic, and get a glimpse into how their own families speak to one another.

What experiences do you dream about doing in your spare time? Do you have your answers ready? Great! Now most definitely do not ask James or Stephen to attend those functions with you, because as we learn on today's show, their lists of leisure activities are severely limited. This probably explains why they're able to put out so many podcasts, books, and play backgammon…

Is re-framing rejection as feedback a useful learning tool, or does it pose a potential danger if taken to heart? Would it be more productive to simply brush rejections aside and keep moving forward? Stephen and James tackle these topics today, recalling their own personal and career rejections, and give ideas for proactively preparing yourself against hearing the answer "no".

Supermarket sushi rolls may be deeply discounted from restaurant prices, but does the quality of the fish present a gamble to your GI tract? Stephen's leery about eating days-old sushi from a quality control standpoint, but James believes that strict FDA standards have all but weeded out food poisoning from American prepared foods. Later, our hosts predict whether anyone would be able to tell the difference between a sushi roll containing sushi-grade fish and one containing salmon bought from the supermarket seafood counter.

A listener wants to know why people tend to inversely react to feedback given to them. James and Stephen don't agree that this is a universal truth, but instead attempt to dissect the underlying issues by looking at humans' insecurities, and the systematic pressures put upon them from a young age to excel in every area of education and development.

Adults have a much more difficult time mastering new skills, from foreign languages to perfecting a golf swing, than adolescents. Stephen and James believe that the principles of deliberate practice, as opposed to experiential repetition, may be able to help those over the age of thirty cognitively develop the skills that they're emotionally ready to learn. Listen on to hear the pillars of deliberate practice built up one by one.