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The Secret to Beating Burnout | Steven Kotler

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Oct 13, 2025

Guest

Steven Kotler

Join Steven Kotler, a New York Times bestselling author and flow researcher, as he shares insights on overcoming burnout through the science of flow. Discover how accessing flow states can enhance resilience and creativity, and why frustration is actually a sign of progress. Kotler also discusses the importance of community in amplifying flow and reveals practical daily practices to achieve peak performance. Plus, learn how nature serves as a multifunctional tool for mental well-being and performance enhancement!

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insights

INSIGHT

Hardwired For The Extraordinary

We are all hardwired for extraordinary performance and can become extraordinary by following similar biological processes.
Steven Kotler found common neurobiological patterns across disparate domains that make peak performance repeatable.

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ANECDOTE

Action Sports Sparked The Inquiry

Kotler recounts the 1990s action sports scene where friends performed ever-more-impossible feats overnight.
He used those firsthand examples to ask how ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things.

insights

INSIGHT

Creativity Drives Flow

Creativity and pattern linking are powerful flow triggers that increase dopamine and focus.
Action-sport communities made creativity the core value, massively increasing flow opportunities.

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Flow Prevents Burnout by Regular Practice

01:50 • 26sec

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How Kotler Began Studying Peak Performance

02:16 • 4min

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Action Sports Creativity Revolution

06:18 • 10min

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How Communities Amplify Flow

15:52 • 3min

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How to Access Individual Flow

18:55 • 4min

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Debunking the 10% Brain Myth and Hypofrontality

22:48 • 3min

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Nature and Childhood Development Benefits

The 22 Flow Triggers and How They Work

32:44 • 2min

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Group Flow Triggers and 'Yes, And' Rule

34:44 • 6min

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Identifying Burnout Symptoms

40:16 • 45sec

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Six Positive Psychology Basics to Recover Energy

Daily Practices That Increase Flow Frequency

53:24 • 36sec

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Active Recovery and Resetting the Nervous System

54:00 • 3min

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Replacing Lost Flow Activities During COVID

56:57 • 4min

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The Impossible Stack: Motivation to Flow

01:01:15 • 4min

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How to Cultivate Curiosity and Passion

01:05:29 • 3min

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The Power of Community When Learning New Skills

01:08:12 • 1min

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Why Frustration Signals Progress

01:09:32 • 4min

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Kotler's X Factor: Systems-Level Thinking and Work Ethic

• Mentioned in 306 episodes

Think and Grow Rich

Napoleon Hill

Published in 1937, 'Think and Grow Rich' is a seminal work in the self-help genre. The book is the result of over twenty years of research by Napoleon Hill, who studied the habits and achievements of more than 500 successful individuals, including Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. Hill distills their wisdom into thirteen principles that, when practiced with persistence and faith, can transform dreams into reality. These principles include the power of desire, faith, specialized knowledge, organized planning, and the role of the subconscious mind. The book emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mental attitude, setting clear and specific goals, and taking consistent action to achieve success. It also explores the concept of the 'Master Mind' alliance and the need to overcome fears and doubts to achieve one's objectives.

#60

• Mentioned in 167 episodes

Range

Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

David Epstein

In this book, David Epstein examines the success of generalists in various fields, including sports, arts, music, invention, forecasting, and science. He argues that generalists, who often find their path late and juggle multiple interests, are more creative, agile, and able to make connections that specialists cannot. Epstein uses stories and research studies to show that wide sampling and late specialization can be more valuable than early specialization, especially in complex and unpredictable environments. He also discusses the distinction between 'kind' and 'wicked' learning environments and the importance of balancing specialization with range for long-term success.

#746

• Mentioned in 32 episodes

The Art of Impossible

Steven Kotler

What if peak performance isn’t about superhumans — but about biology? In this powerful conversation, AJ and Johnny sit down with New York Times bestselling author and flow researcher Steven Kotler to reveal why we’re all hardwired for the extraordinary. From 1990s action sports to neuroscience labs, Steven breaks down the science of flow, how communities amplify creativity, and how you can unlock heightened focus, creativity, and resilience — no matter your background.

Discover how flow states work in the brain, why nature is a “multi-tool solution” against burnout, how frustration signals progress (not failure), and the simple daily practices that make extraordinary performance repeatable. This episode will show you why elite performers across industries aren’t chasing hacks — they’re mastering biology.

What to Listen For
[00:00:00] Why flow states prevent burnout and boost resilience
[00:01:10] The 1990s action sports revolution and redefining “impossible”
[00:04:00] How creativity became the key flow trigger that changed everything
[00:07:00] Punk rock, DIY culture, and the psychology of innovation
[00:10:30] Flow and community: how group flow amplifies performance
[00:15:00] Micro flow vs. macro flow — and why both matter
[00:18:30] The myth of “10% brain” and what actually happens in flow
[00:22:00] Nature as a peak performance “multi-tool”
[00:26:30] Flow triggers for everyday conversations and relationships
[00:33:00] Group flow, improvisation, and the power of “yes, and”
[00:35:30] The 6 positive psychology basics that build burnout immunity
[00:43:00] Why gratitude isn’t fluffy — it rewires your brain for optimism
[00:50:00] Resetting your nervous system through flow
[00:53:00] Small “i” impossibles: how extraordinary starts
[00:57:00] Why frustration is proof you’re on the right track
[01:03:00] The real path to mastering passion and purpose

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Episode resources:

⁠Steven Kotler: Author and Speaker

The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer

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