Embracing Discomfort for Personal Growth

In this hard-hitting episode, bestselling author Michael Easter joins Joe De Sena to discuss the dangers of our addiction to comfort in the modern world.    They explore how technologies like social media and junk food use the same psychological tricks as slot machines to hijack our brains. Easter reveals the "scarcity loop" that makes these activities so addictive. They also debate controversial solutions like taxing junk food and mandatory military service.    This thought-provoking discussion will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about comfort - and maybe inspire you to get a little uncomfortable yourself!   Highlights: 00:00 Intro 01:18 Michael Easter’s background 05:02 Lessons learned from skiing 06:27 Parenting mistakes and the danger of technology 09:44 The casino laboratory and a 3-part behavior loop 13:35 The negative consequences of casino games and phones 14:58 Snacking and junk food industry 17:02 Challenging things will make you thrive 20:37 Overeating and managing food 25:26 The power of phones and what to do 28:09 Mandatory military service and recruiting 30:53 Three things everybody should do daily 32:56 How to find Michael?