Friendship is the most important thing nobody talks about. From ancient philosophy to game theory, we break down why friendship isn’t just some social nicety—it’s a biological survival strategy. Plus: the modern forces slowly strangling our ability to connect, and exactly what to do about it. You’ll walk away with a clearer sense of what real friendship looks like, how to build it, and how to stop shooting yourself in the foot every time you try.

Get your free PDF guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/friendship

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:04:44) Reframing Resilience: Definitions & Misconceptions

(00:23:50) Developmental and Biological Foundations of Resilience

(00:38:54) Biological & Physiological Foundations

(01:17:17) Psychological, Philosophical & Evidence-Based Frameworks

(02:27:00) Sociocultural & Community Dimensions

(02:57:28)The 80/20 of Becoming More Resilient

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What does it actually mean to live like a Stoic? In this wide-ranging conversation with bestselling author and modern Stoicism evangelist Ryan Holiday, we unpack the origins of Stoic philosophy, why it exploded during turbulent times in ancient Greece and Rome, and how its principles—like courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom—still apply in a world filled with chaos, anxiety, and uncertainty. From shipwrecked merchants to emperors journaling their fears, this episode explores why some of the most powerful figures in history turned to Stoicism not just for answers—but for survival.

We also dig into how Stoicism overlaps with modern psychology, why it’s gaining traction among young men, and whether its rising popularity is being misunderstood or misused. If you’ve ever wondered whether Stoicism means being emotionless, if it’s compatible with ambition, or if it actually makes you a better person, this episode is your one-stop masterclass.

Get your free PDF guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/stoicism

⇨ Order Ryan Holiday’s new book, Wisdom Takes Work: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Takes-Work-Repeat-Virtues/dp/0593191730

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction

(02:49) Setting the Scene: Ancient Greece After Alexander

(13:58) The Four Stoic Virtues

(01:25:51) Roman Conquest and the Spread of Stoicism

(01:39:06) Seneca: The Conflicted Philosopher

(01:55:50) Epictetus: The Slave Philosopher

(02:07:28) Marcus Aurelius: The Philosopher Emperor

(02:20:18) Stoicism Through History

(02:32:45): Stoicism and Modern Psychology

(02:41:09) The Modern Stoicism Revival

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Resilience isn’t about pretending you’re fine or never feeling pain—it’s about learning how to act in your best interest despite the pain. In this episode of Solved, we dive deep into the science, psychology, and real-life examples of resilience—from Ernest Shackleton’s crew surviving two years stranded in Antarctica to my own slightly insane decision to run an endurance race with basically no training. Spoiler: I didn’t die.

We cover it all: the biology of resilience, why some people are “dandelions” and thrive anywhere while others are “orchids” who need the right environment, the mindsets that let you push through hardship without losing your mind, and why humor and community might secretly be your best survival tools. And of course, we deliver the real, practical, evidence-based strategies you can actually apply when life inevitably decides to kick you in the teeth.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or like you can’t take one more setback, this episode is for you. And if you’re one of those psychos who enjoys doing hard sh*t just to see what you’re made of… well, you’ll feel right at home here.

Get your free PDF guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/resilience⁠

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction

(04:44) Reframing Resilience: Definitions & Misconceptions

(23:50) Developmental and Biological Foundations of Resilience

(38:54) Biological & Physiological Foundations

(01:17:17) Psychological, Philosophical & Evidence-Based Frameworks

(02:27:00) Sociocultural & Community Dimensions

(02:57:28) The 80/20 of Becoming More Resilient

(03:22:25) What We Learned

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Chances are, there’s something in your life you feel deeply ashamed about—something you’ve never told anyone, something you can’t even admit to yourself. In this episode, we go deep into the emotion we all experience but almost no one wants to talk about: shame. Where it comes from, why it’s so powerful, how it screws up our lives—and more importantly, how to deal with it.

We cover the biology of shame, the psychology, the evolutionary roots, and how modern life (especially the internet) completely messes with our shame systems. We talk about healthy vs. toxic shame, how it shows up in addiction, relationships, perfectionism, and self-sabotage, and why most of us either try to hide from it or end up being controlled by it. You’ll also hear from members of my team about how shame shaped their lives in surprising ways.

As always, this episode is brutally honest, deeply researched, and sprinkled with a few bad jokes. But more than anything, I hope it gives you the awareness—and the tools—to start facing whatever it is you’ve been avoiding. Because you can’t outrun your shame. But you can learn to live with it.

Get your free PDF guide: ⁠⁠https://solvedpodcast.com/shame

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction

(00:04:35): Shame's Hidden Architecture

(00:14:38): Key Definitions

(00:25:14) The Neurobiology of Shame

(00:44:12) The Shame Compass

(01:01:15) Individual, Familial, & Cultural Sources of Shame

(01:26:12) Digital Technology & Shame 2.0

(01:39:21) Developmental Stages of Shame

(01:56:49) How Therapy Transformed Our Understanding of Shame

(02:27:59) Tools to Address Your Shame

(02:58:26) Tuning Your Shame System

(03:31:39) Takeaways from the Discussion on Shame

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Everyone’s obsessed with being happy—but what if that obsession is the very thing making us miserable? Drew and I explore what actually makes us feel good—and why most of us are chasing it in all the wrong ways.

We unpack what philosophers like Aristotle and the Buddha got right thousands of years ago—and how modern science is just now catching up. We talk about hedonic vs. eudaimonic happiness, why more money and status don’t necessarily move the needle, and why most self-help advice completely misses the point. Happiness isn’t something you get. It’s a side effect of doing the right things for the right reasons.

So, if you're tired of chasing "more" and ready to actually feel a little less miserable, this one’s for you.

Get your free PDF guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/happiness

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction

(10:42) The Origins of Human Happiness

(29:30) The WEIRD Problem: When Happiness Research Goes West

(40:47) The Three Components of Happiness

(59:53): What Does—and Doesn't—Make Us Happy

(01:52:53) Baseline vs. Circumstantial vs. Intentional Happiness

(02:24:21) Don't Pursue Happiness; Remove Unhappiness

(02:34:19) How Happiness Changes Across the Lifespan

(02:51:44) Happiness Myths

(03:04:47) The 80/20 Guide to Happiness

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What are emotions? Why do we feel anything at all? And more importantly — can we actually get better at feeling?

In this episode, Drew and I dive headfirst into what might be the hardest question in all of psychology: what the actual f**k are emotions? We break down the biology, neuroscience, evolution, culture, and even language that shape how we feel — and why we often don’t understand what the hell is going on inside us. From ancient philosophy to brain scans, this is a deep (and occasionally weird) look into the emotional chaos that makes us human.

We unpack everything from the origins of emotional intelligence (spoiler: it might be BS) to the science of emotional regulation, attachment styles, and the sneaky ways your culture wires your emotional defaults. Along the way, we explore why some relationships make you feel like a better person while others drain the life out of you, and how trauma, genetics, and childhood with your ability to keep it together.

But this episode isn’t just about understanding emotions — it’s about learning how to work with them. And we give you a full emotional toolkit: a set of evidence-based tools to help you manage your emotions, build better relationships, feel more motivated, and yes — even feel more confident in yourself in the process.

Get your free PDF guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/emotions

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction

(00:04:47) What Are Emotions?

(00:49:45) How Culture Influences Our Emotions

(01:44:08) Historical and Philosophical Traditions on Emotions

(01:59:00) The Four Schools of Emotional Regulation

(02:48:25) Brilliant or Bullshit: Emotional Intelligence

(02:57:31) Relationships and Emotional Regulation

(03:57:24) 80/20

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From Plato and Aristotle to Freud and modern research, we break down why we delay the things that matter most—and how to actually stop. This isn't a “just set a timer” productivity talk. We’re diving deep into shame, identity, perfectionism, culture, and why procrastination is ultimately a *skill issue*, not a moral failure.

We cover things like: How humans have thought about putting things off for over 2000 years, the real reason you avoid the most important tasks in your life, why “I work better under pressure” is (usually) BS, why self-compassion is actually more motivating than guilt, tons of practical, research-backed strategies you can start using todayAnd much, much, much more.

Get your free PDF guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/procrastination

(00:00) Introduction

(08:20) What exactly is procrastination?

(01:04:25) Freud's Influence on Psychology

(01:59:20) Time Management

(02:34:22) Importance of Task Completion

(02:59:22) The Role of Technology in Procrastination

(03:28:09) Introduction to the RAIN Method

(03:40:21) The 80-20 of Procrastination

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Welcome to the first episode of the Solved Podcast. Today, we are solving your values.

Over eight years ago, I wrote The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck—a book that, underneath all the swearing and irreverence, was really about one thing: values. What do you care about? What’s actually worth your time, your energy, your life?

So in this kickoff episode of SOLVED, Drew and I are going deep into why your values are the foundation of everything—your happiness, your mental health, your relationships, your sense of meaning—and why so many of us today feel so lost.

We break down the difference between chasing cheap dopamine hits and building real fulfillment, why not all values are created equal, how to figure out what your true values are, how to change your values, how to start living out your values more fully, and how values silently shape your decisions and relationships every day. If you’ve ever felt stuck, directionless, or like you’re living someone else’s life, this episode is the wake-up call you need. It’s time to stop drifting through life and start giving a fck about the right things. Forget the rest. Welcome to SOLVED.

Get your free PDF guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/values

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction

(09:31) What are Values?

(01:05:01) Values and Your Relationships

(01:37:25) Where Do Values Come From?

(02:14:34) Identifying Your Core Values

(02:48:53) How to Change Your Values

(03:21:56) Lessons and Takeaways

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New podcast launches May 1st! We'll be releasing on this same feed, so all you have to do is stay subscribed to this channel and you'll get all the new episodes as they come out.

***

After more than 70 episodes and 30 million downloads, I’ve decided to shut down The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Podcast. Yeah, I know—sounds a little crazy. But the truth is, I wasn’t having fun anymore. The guest treadmill, the pressure to play nice, the temptation to chase clicks instead of meaning—it all started to feel fake. So, I’m pulling the plug.

BUT—I’m not going away. I’m launching something new. It’s called Solved—a no-ads, no-guests, deep-dive podcast where each episode tackles one major life topic and breaks it down thoroughly. Think: values, emotions, procrastination—done right, from every angle, with real research and clear implementation. It’s the podcast I wish already existed. So I’m making it. First episode drops May 1 st!

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I’ve got a special episode for you today. I sat down in person with my longtime friend and first-ever podcast guest, Derek Sivers. We haven’t recorded live before, and honestly, it shows—in the best way. It’s raw, weird, and filled with the kind of conversations we usually when we’re just hanging out together.

We dig into Derek’s new book, Useful, Not True, and the big idea behind it: that our beliefs don’t need to be true to be helpful. That spins off into everything from remixing creative influences (metal + Dixieland jazz, anyone?) to why most podcasts—including mine—have gotten painfully predictable. We talk artistic reinvention, Bob Dylan, Bowie, Miles Davis, why most “thought leaders” are just regurgitating each other’s ideas, and why I'm ending the podcast as you know it—and what’s next!

We also dive into the deeper stuff: the emotional power of belief, authenticity vs. performative vulnerability, therapy culture, and why sometimes the most liberating thing you can do is reject what everyone else thinks is necessary—relationships, kids, all of it.

This was one of the most honest, meandering, and creatively energizing conversations I’ve had in a while. If you’re into big questions, unconventional ideas, and the occasional musical metaphor, this one’s for you.

Derek’s new book- Useful, Not True: https://www.amazon.com/Useful-Not-True-Derek-Sivers-ebook/dp/B0D86K4XF5

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