The Principle Podcast

Today’s conversation is an all-encompassing discussion of uncertainty with Ray & Andrew from Dualistic Unity.

Dualistic Unity is a podcast that discusses existence, awareness, reality, and other topics that fall under the umbrella of philosophy.

Most importantly, they dive deep into the questions that we should ALL be asking ourselves.

Expect to learn why we crave certainty in a world that’s inherently uncertain, why letting go of your “self” is the first step towards understanding your core values, how stoicism is really just common sense, and much more.

If you’re fascinated by this conversation, like I was, be sure to check out Discover Transcendence on YouTube (and, of course, Dualistic Unity).

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

(0:24): What is Dualistic Unity?

(14:37): Overthinking.

(17:38): What is your identity?

(23:13): The illusion of control.

(32:04): Understanding your core values.

(40:22): Challenging the status quo.

(56:27): Faith (in yourself).

(1:00:35): Stoicism.

(1:06:15): Envy.

(1:15:40): Accountability.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com

Today’s conversation is with Paul Millerd, an effortless writer, freelance consultant, DJ, and the author of The Pathless Path.

In his book, Paul examines our relationship with work. He dissects the constraints that the default path places on our lives, and explores how we can find and create work that actually matters.

Paul is passionate about helping people who, like him, struggle with following the default path laid out for them.

Expect to learn how to define success for yourself, how to tame uncertainty, why leisure (wu wei) is critical, and much more.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

(0:38): Who is Paul, and how did he begin to question the default path?

(8:56): Facing opposition and finding support.

(13:01): Advice is overrated.

(17:37): What to do if your ‘dream job’ isn’t out there.

(22:34): Taming uncertainty.

(28:41): Wu wei = doing nothing. Being, not doing.

(40:40): The Great Resignation Contemplation.

(48:23): How did we start to believe we’re not creative?

(56:07): Reinventing yourself.

(65:42): Critical thinking + hope = optimism.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com

Today’s conversation is with Dr. Susan Hannan, an expert on the treatment of anxiety and trauma-related disorders.

Dr. Hannan is a Licensed Psychologist, Director of Clinical Research at the Center for Integrated Behavioral Health, and an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lafayette College.

As you’ll hear, Susan thinks deeply about the ways in which our psychology impacts each facet of our lives, both inside and outside of her research.

Expect to learn about the role that self-esteem plays in emotion regulation, creating distance between your self and your ego, our thoughts on commonly shared advice, and much more.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

(0:29): Who is Dr. Susan Hannan?

(4:37): How Susan gets her clients to open up.

(8:54): Findings from research on how we utilize other people to help regulate our emotions.

(17:05): The relationship between self-esteem and emotion regulation strategies.

(25:25): A discussion of the Ego:

(32:48): Creating distance between your self and your ego.

(40:11): How your ego can promote fragility.

(45:07): Using anger as a tool for introspection.

(54:00): Challenging conventional wisdom.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com

When you’re looking for a book on self-improvement, the fiction section isn’t usually your first stop.

Oddly enough, these books hold some of the most valuable pieces of wisdom you can apply to your life.

Today’s episode doesn’t feature a guest. Instead, we’re going to dive into six life lessons from Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist.

The Alchemist is a story about a shepherd boy named Santiago, who leaves everything behind and embarks on a journey to the Egyptian Pyramids to find a treasure that he’s been repeatedly dreaming about. Along the way, he meets friends and mentors, and learns what matters to him most.

1. [0:41] “When you want something, the whole universe conspires to help you.”

At first glance, this quote seems like it’s about manifestation and setting your intentions. While there are varying opinions on the benefits of manifesting and affirmations, there is no denying the power of committing to something.

Let’s say you decide to become a real estate agent. At first, you’re stressed because you don’t have any clients and aren’t sure when you’ll close your first deal.

As you show up to more events, make new friendships, and show people you actually care, people start to associate you with buying a home. The word spreads about your business.

It’s easy to see how the universe is now working in your favor.

Put good work out consistently, and watch it come back to you in multiples.

2. [1:38] "Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is… But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend."

In the book, Paulo describes your Personal Legend as how you find fulfillment. It’s about pursuing the things you’re curious about.

According to Paulo, those who ignore their Personal Legends never find true fulfillment.

When you’re young, you dream big and have no limiting beliefs. You want to be an astronaut, so you’ll be an astronaut.

But as you get older, limiting beliefs from your environment, or mysterious forces, take over and talk you out of doing what you want.

To me, this lesson is all about having fun.

If you really chase after things that make you feel fulfilled, you won’t have any regrets later on.

3. [2:37] "What people think about shepherds and bakers becomes more important for them than their own Personal Legends."

In the book, shepherds and bakers are seen as the lowest hanging fruit on the tree of careers.

Some people don’t care for fancy things and just want to see the world, so they become shepherds.

Others are passionate about food, so they become bakers.

This lesson relates to the one before it and is really simple — don’t let other people’s opinions talk you out of doing what you want to do.

We get too caught up in keeping up with the Joneses, living out someone else’s desires instead of our own.

Don’t do that. It’s dumb and you definitely won’t be fulfilled doing it.

4. [3:27] "The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon."

This one is abstract and hard to understand without having read the book, so let me give you some context:

A boy asks a wise man to explain the secret of happiness to him. The wise man says he doesn’t have time, but to walk around the palace they’re in and come back in two hours.

The catch is that the boy has to carry around a teaspoon with two drops of oil in it, without spilling the oil for the full two hours.

The boy returns after two hours, but can’t answer any of the detailed questions the wise man asks him about the interior of the palace. He has to go do it again.

The boy returns again, having paid complete attention to detailed interior of the palace this time, but has spilled all the oil out of the teaspoon since he wasn’t paying attention to it.

Lesson being — life is all about finding balance. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. My definition of balance might be totally different from yours.

You can’t only have leisure time, and you can’t only have work time.

You can’t always indulge, and you can’t always be restrictive.

Find what works for you. That’s the secret to happiness.

5. [4:52] "Silence held the answers to his questions."

Wake up to a chaotic alarm. Rush out the door.

Headphones on, music blasting.

Spend your day reacting to emails.

Meet up with friends for dinner, then head back home with your headphones in again.

Scroll through social media before bed.

Notice how we rarely schedule any time to be alone with our thoughts?

If you’re constantly being reactive, when do you actually have time to think?

Paulo was spot on with this one — give your brain time to just do its thing.

6. [5:37] “There is only one way to learn,” the alchemist answered. “It’s through action.”

There are obvious benefits to reading — concentration, focus, general knowledge. But no one ever became an expert by just reading.

Can you imagine if you had to play the guitar for an audience by just reading a book on how to play the guitar?

You need to get your hands dirty and just play the damn guitar!

Books are great for mindset and preparation, but very little learning happens without actively doing something.

As the old saying goes: “you can’t swim without getting wet.”

Thanks for listening. See you on the next episode of The Principle Podcast.

Thanks for listening to The Principle Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com

Today’s conversation is with Lauren Weinstein, an expert on overcoming self-doubt and limiting beliefs.

Through her private coaching business, Lauren has worked with clients from top companies, including Google, Nike, and Uber. Her TED Talk has inspired millions across the world to work towards unlocking their full potential.

As you’ll hear, Lauren is also a wealth of knowledge for other self-improvement resources linked below.

Expect to learn how to improve the quality of your thoughts, the problem with asking your friends for advice, and much more.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

(0:13): Who is Lauren Weinstein? What are ropes?

(9:31): The Ugly Scar Experiment.

(14:18): Courage, self-esteem, and a willingness to fail.

(24:03): Uncovering your hidden limiting beliefs.

(33:52): Using Human Design to better understand yourself (it’s not woowoo magic!).

(38:40): Chase after things that give you energy.

(43:25): The most commonly held limiting beliefs amongst Lauren’s coaching clients.

(46:30): What is your inner voice? How you can improve the quality of your thoughts.

(52:19): Hang It — Flip It — Grow It.

(53:32): How asking for advice can actually be counterproductive.

(58:34): Lauren’s short-circuits to practice daily.

Lauren’s recommended TED Talks:

* Embrace the Shake by Phil Hansen

* Why you should define your fears instead of your goals by Tim Ferriss

* How to eliminate self doubt forever by Peter Sage

* The power of introverts by Susan Cain

* How I use sonar to navigate the world by Daniel Kish

* What I learned from 100 days of rejection by Jia Jiang

* Your body language may shape who you are by Amy Cuddy

Lauren’s recommended reading & resources:

* The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer

* The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer

* You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

* Awaken The Giant Within by Tony Robbins

* Brené Brown (yes, all of them)

* 9 Steps to Living the Life You Love by Lisa Nichols

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com

Today’s conversation is with actor and content creator, Vihan Chelliah.

Vihan left the corporate world in his early twenties to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams.

On YouTube, Vihan produces weekly videos on a productivity, time-management, and personal growth. You can check it out HERE.

Expect to learn about how serendipity plays a massive role in your career, a framework to find your purpose, avoiding discouragement, and much more.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

(0:35): Who is Vihan Chelliah?

(2:27): How he jumped into YouTube, acting and entrepreneurship.

(11:44): Ikigai: a powerful framework to implement in your own life.

(17:18): Staying disciplined and the power of negative reinforcement.

* No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Erin Meyer & Reed Hastings.

(25:09): Avoiding discouragement and enjoying the process.

(33:23): The randomness of new opportunities.

(36:26): A summary and discussion of Meg Jay’s book, The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter-And How to Make the Most of Them Now.

(45:33): The Acting World 101.

(48:12): Vihan’s upcoming feature film — Time Pulse.

(51:25): Top 3 recommended reads/audiobooks:

* The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau.

* The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

* Atomic Habits by James Clear.

(59:48): Money as a motivator.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com

Today’s conversation is with John Rood, a marketing guru who is currently the CMO of Impact Theory.

John has been at the forefront of some of the most successful marketing campaigns at Warner Bros., ABC, and Disney, and has an uncanny ability to simplify complex concepts.

In his presentation at the Do More Good conference in 2019, John described a concept about the new age of marketing:

* Industrial Age marketing was all about identity.

* Information Age marketing was all about experience.

* And now, Individual Age marketing is all about customization for you.

Expect to learn about why marketing is more individualized today than ever before, how Web3 and NFTs fit within the new landscape, and much more.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

(0:53): Who is John Rood? An overview of his extensive marketing career.

(7:27): Leaving major production companies (WB, ABC, Disney) for Impact Theory.

(17:08): What is marketing? How do Web3 and NFTs change the marketing landscape?

(33:06): The power of word-of-mouth marketing within a community. No focus groups!

(43:42): The most critical elements of building a personal brand.

(56:31): The under-appreciated skill of self-regulating your behaviors.

(58:58): Please check out Formidable Joy.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com

Today’s conversation is with Tyler Tringas, the Founder of the Calm Company Fund, which takes a different approach to investing in startups.

While the traditional model has taken the boom or bust approach to Venture, the Calm Fund seeks to invest in lower-growth, sustainable, cash-flowing companies.

Since 2014, Tyler has been sharing his perspectives on entrepreneurship, while living in remote locations such as Thailand.

Expect to learn about how serendipity, interest, and motivation are all related, micro-Saas (a term Tyler coined himself), and much more.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

(0:59): Who is Tyler Tringas, and what are calm companies?

(8:01): Tyler’s thoughts on Peter Thiel’s idea that “competition is for losers.”

(15:22): Identifying an opportunity, learning to code, and quitting his job.

(18:04): Understanding and mitigating risk.

(24:53): Living in a big city vs. decentralized networking.

(32:55): Coding is a valuable skill that is overrated, unless combined with something else.

(37:03): Is networking overrated?

(45:29): Leaning into your expertise vs. trying something new.

(49:02): What is micro-SaaS?

(52:10): What did Tyler’s first startup failure teach him?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com

Today’s conversation is with Bill Benjamin, a keynote speaker on emotional intelligence and performing under pressure with the Institute for Health and Human Potential.

Bill’s background in math and computer science allows him to take a quantitative approach to understanding and developing emotional intelligence, or EQ.

Most people tend to do well during the first 92% of difficult situations, but shy away from the last 8%.

Expect to learn why EQ is a skill that can be developed, as opposed to something you’re just born with, how to conquer the last 8%, and much more.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

(0:29): Who is Bill Benjamin?

(2:45): Why is emotional intelligence (EQ) ignored as a standalone skill?

(4:59): EQ is much more than just being nice. What is EQ?

(9:02): Self-awareness and identifying your triggers.

(15:21): The SOS Strategy for dealing with difficult situations — Stop, Oxygenate, Seek Information.

(25:36): The research behind Bill’s 92% & 8% concept.

(29:24): Is anger a useless emotion? How can anger be helpful?

(34:30): Which is more effective for motivating people: positive or negative feedback?

(39:57): Can there truly be separation between your work life and your personal life?

(41:42): Questions to ask yourself to evaluate other perspectives.

(45:30): Resources to learn more about EQ.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com

Today’s conversation is with Reggie Rivers, the Founder and President of The Gala Team, a company that helps non-profits raise money by hosting benefit galas.

Reggie is a former Denver Broncos running back (1991-1996), has worked in newspaper, radio and television for 25 years, and has published six books — but most importantly, Reggie is an extremely effective communicator.

Reggie delivered a TEDx Talk in 2013 sharing some contrarian advice: If you want to achieve your goals, don’t focus on them.

Expect to challenge your conventional beliefs by thinking more about the near-term, being more reactive and less proactive, and much more.

Enjoy!

Timestamps:

(0:46): Who is Reggie Rivers?

(2:00): How playing in the NFL made Reggie question his habits.

(5:22): Control your behaviors, let the rest handle itself.

(9:19): How being more reactive and receptive to new circumstances has worked in Reggie’s favor.

(17:43): What is benefit auctioneering? Why is effective communication critical for this business?

(21:12): The power of reading and writing from a young age, and pursuing curiosity.

(30:07): Money as a motivator, and Reggie’s search for something meaningful.

(36:42): Finding fulfillment and purpose.

(41:02): Advice for people who struggle with discipline.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theprinciplepodcast.substack.com