The Hidden Why Podcast

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

Written and narrated by Leigh Martinuzzi

Yuval Noah Harari’s latest book, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, takes us on a thought-provoking journey and behind the enemy lines of the most pressing and challenging issues that face humanity today. His previous New York Times bestselling books, Sapiens and Homo Deus explored both the past and the future. This book tackles the present modern-day global issues and while tapping into the ideas visited in his previous books Yuval brings new conversation and innovative thoughts to help us understand where we are now and how this can bring clarity to an uncertain future.

The book is broken into five parts that form Yuval’s perspective on areas that represent key challenges and urgent problems of the 21st century. In typical Yuval style, grace and clarity he wisely untangles issues within the political, technological, existential, social and cultural landscapes. The overriding notion is that in a world full of noise and uncertainty, and where data is king, clarity at the end of the day is mighty powerful. I believe the 21 lessons will assist any reader to achieve greater clarity to the complexities of modern-day life.

Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” Theodore Roosevelt

Comparison; the act or process of comparing which usually has one examining the similarities or dissimilarities of two or more things or people.

In this statement, I believe Roosevelt is suggesting that it is the comparing of oneself to another that is the true thief of joy, not the comparison of things. Why does a consideration of our similarities or differences to another deplete our happiness?

I feel that the key issue here is that in comparison we focus our attention and energy on what others have, do or their state of being instead of focusing on our own. This weakens our personal progress and also neglects to give thanks to all that we have, do and are. Without this personal gratitude, we develop an attachment to cravings, always wanting to be, do and have more. And yet, we are unable to achieve this right now. Such an expectation of a created false reality will let us down when expectations are not met.

Comparing our lives to others will also limit the energy and focus towards our own self-improvement. We are better suited to giving attention to comparing ourselves. Are we becoming better than we were yesterday? The lack of growth in our personal lives leads to dissatisfaction and can manifest a heightened state of unease and suffering. Personal growth results in increased happiness.

The fact of the matter is, that without walking in the shoes of another how can our lives be truly comparable. And why should it matter? What matters is how we feel walking in our shoes and the advancement of that feeling is by putting our energy towards a comparison to how we are in life.

The Kindness Guy

"Never, never, never, give up."

Leon Logothetis is known as The Kindness Guy. In this interview, I speak to him about his adventure and lessons learnt about how kindness has not only allowed him to travel the globe but also how kindness can reshape the quality of our lives. It's not too deep but a critically important topic. I hope you enjoy!

Guest Bio

Leon Logothetis is a global adventurer, motivational speaker and philanthropist. Known for being “The Kindness Guy,” Leon’s every action in life is motivated by his belief that kindness can change the world.

As a former broker in London, he felt uninspired and chronically depressed. Profoundly influenced by the movie The Motorcycle Diaries, Leon decided to make a radical life change and in 2005 gave it all up for a life on the road, in search for what would fill his spirit and his soul. Travelling with very little he made his way around the globe on kindness and became known as 'The Kindness Guy'.

In 2015 he produced a series that streams on Netflix and published The Kindness Diaries about his experiences circumnavigating the globe on kindness. Leon is also the author of The Mojo Diaries, Live, Love, Explore: Discover the Way of the Traveler a Roadmap to the Life You Were Meant to Live, and his fifth book Go Be Kind: 28 1/2 Adventures Guaranteed to Make You Happier debuts on March 26th.

After On by Rob Reid

Written and narrated by Leigh Martinuzzi

Bold, insightful, controversial and critical conversations about new science and technology and the implications they have on our society and culture now and beyond. Rob Reid is an American author and entrepreneur who seems to have a fascinating curiosity with the rise of tech and the advances in science and how this is shaping our future.

Knowledgable himself through his own research and as an offshoot to his book, After On, Rob brings his listeners interesting long-form interviews with founders, scientists and thought leaders within this space. The outcome, unbelievably insightful and thought-provoking conversation that will keep you coming back for more. The goal, I believe, is to help listeners grasp complex yet critically important topics that have a major role in altering the way of the future.

I hope you enjoy. Peace, passion and purpose…

Motivational Mash-Up with Leigh Martinuzzi

In this episode, I share a series of my live motivational rants - My Motivational Mash-Up

If you like it to connect with me on FaceBook or Instagram please do, and tune in sometime.

Peace, passion and purpose.

My Morning Routine: Why I Stopped Journaling

Written and narrated by Leigh Martinuzzi

Journaling is essentially a daily practice that involves writing about one’s thoughts, feelings, events and activities that are happening in life at any given moment. When I began focusing on my personal development several years back, everywhere I looked people promoted the benefits of keeping a journal. I was informed that keeping a daily journal would change my life. And so, my journaling habit began.

Recently I have decided to stop journaling. It has been a conscious decision that I have made for a few reasons.

Undo It!

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." Albert Einstein

Dean Ornish is a well-known advocate for using diet and lifestyle changes to treat and prevent heart disease among many other commonly occurring chronic diseases. In this conversation, I talk with Dean about his new book Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases

Dean shares his unifying theory on how through simple lifestyle changes we can reverse disease and live healthier, longer and happier lives. Dean's research and theory is scientifically backed. In his book, he describes what it is, why it works, and how you can do it. The four key areas are: Eat Well, Move More, Stress Less and Love More. The practices are simple and easy to implement.

Stay Curious & Question Everything

“Stay curious and question everything.” Warren Berger

Curiosity appears to be a trait of those who live well. We could call living well success. Success is to be defined by the individual. Living well could relate to the quality of life you live. It may mean to have good health, positive relationships, growth and progress. To better oneself day by day. To alleviate suffering and cultivate a deeper sense of joy. A sense of purpose in all that you pursue and the ability to help and have a positive impact on the lives of others.

Personally, I feel it is a combination of all these things. A tough challenge and an important one. If we can uphold a level of curiosity towards how to live well, questions will assist us in finding the answers we seek. Once we begin, we may find ourselves asking more beautiful questions. Questions to help us to better understand. To find more meaning in those areas in life that feel significant. Questions will assist us in our quest for happiness. We should not fear to ask the wrong question, we should fear not having asked the question at all.

Stay curious and question everything.

Halo Neuroscience

"Believe in investing in yourself." Daniel Chao

Halo Neuroscience is a neurotechnology company that champions human potential. Their first product, Halo Sport, facilitates a faster acquisition of muscle memory by inducing a temporary state of hyperlearning in the brain's motor cortex. Thousands of athletes and musicians worldwide use Halo Sport every day, including members of the NBA, MLB, NFL, and NCAA, as well as members of the Olympics and the U.S. Military. Their long-term goal is to build a suite of Halo products that will use neurostimulation to optimize both human performance and human health.

In this conversation, I chat with the founder of Halo Neuroscience, Daniel Chao, about his fascinating journey and explore the amazing advances in neuroscience and it's potential to have a very healthy and positive impact in the lives of others.

I hope you enjoy.

Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the New Science of the Human Past By David Reich

In this book Geneticist David Reich takes us on a tour of ancient DNA with hopes to highlight a scientific perspective of who we are and how we got here. He does this by using the advances of science and research in the field of genomics, biological insight and the evolutionary mapping of human genomes.