Aspire with Emma Grede 25 Million People Can't be Wrong: This Advice Will Change Your Life (James Clear)
In this engaging discussion, James Clear, author of the bestselling book Atomic Habits, dives into the psychology of behavior change. He emphasizes that every small action is a vote for the person you wish to become. Clear shares insights on escaping bad habit loops, the power of identity-based habits, and how to make habit change enjoyable. He introduces practical frameworks like the four laws of behavior change and habit stacking. Emma also shares her personal struggles with habits, prompting Clear to provide actionable tools for long-term success.
01:16:45
Habits Are Learning Systems
- Habits are the process of learning that turn repeated actions into skill and identity.
- Change your life by changing the small behaviors you practice each day.
Design Habits With Four Laws
- Make new habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying to increase follow-through.
- Use those four laws as a checklist when designing behavior change systems.
Start Small To Build Consistency
- Make starting the habit extremely easy and focus on showing up first, then improve later.
- Standardize the habit before optimizing its performance or scope.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app 1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right 7 chevron_right 8 chevron_right 9 chevron_right 10 chevron_right 11 chevron_right 12 chevron_right 13 chevron_right 14 chevron_right 15 chevron_right 16 chevron_right 17 chevron_right 18 chevron_right 19 chevron_right 20 chevron_right 21 chevron_right 22 chevron_right 23 chevron_right 24 chevron_right 25 chevron_right 26 chevron_right 27 chevron_right 28 chevron_right 29 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Why habits are the lever for meaningful change
02:26 • 2min
Escaping bad habit loops and the four laws
04:27 • 2min
Applying the four laws: phone vs exercise
06:01 • 2min
Scale down scope to secure consistency
07:34 • 3min
Invisible mistakes that derail habits
10:20 • 3min
Identity-based habits: voting for who you become
13:11 • 3min
Why James created the Atomic Habits workbook
15:51 • 1min
Balance long-term vision and near-term action
17:12 • 4min
Clarity beats motivation; A-B-Z decision framework
21:20 • 4min
Small daily practices restore identity
25:26 • 59sec
Time versus energy: protecting your best hours
26:25 • 2min
Reflection questions to evaluate priorities
28:50 • 3min
The alien test and ruthless prioritization
31:45 • 2min
Tactical habits: upstream routines and context
33:59 • 3min
Habit stacking to anchor new behaviors
37:18 • 4min
Anchor habits leaders use: walks, visualization, meditation
41:01 • 6min
Ad break
46:48 • 2min
Founders, grit, and finding what lights you up
49:14 • 2min
Optimism, pessimism, and work-backwards planning
51:35 • 2min
Building habits and culture in organizations
53:29 • 3min
Why James launched Authors' Equity publishing
56:20 • 3min
How success changed routines and scale trade-offs
59:44 • 6min
What stays the same amid success
01:05:53 • 2min
New Atomic Habits products: workbook and calendar
01:07:48 • 1min
Ad break
01:09:18 • 3min
Rapid-fire habits and personal routines
01:11:48 • 6min
Closing reflections: celebrate small wins and the climb
01:17:20 • 1min
Outro
01:18:48 • 1min
#29106
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Start With Yourself
Emma Grede
#538
• Mentioned in 51 episodes
A Brief History of Time
From the Big Bang to Black Holes
Stephen Hawking
In 'A Brief History of Time', Stephen Hawking delves into fundamental questions about the universe, including its origin, the nature of space and time, and the fate of the cosmos.
The book discusses key concepts such as the Big Bang, black holes, and the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics.
Hawking also explores the possibility of time travel and wormholes, and he reflects on the intersection of science and philosophy, including the search for a unifying theory of everything and the implications for our understanding of existence and the universe.
#3
• Mentioned in 951 episodes
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe.
Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature.
Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
#2
• Mentioned in 1,199 episodes
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Atomic Habits by James Clear provides a practical and scientifically-backed guide to forming good habits and breaking bad ones.
The book introduces the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying.
It also emphasizes the importance of small, incremental changes (atomic habits) that compound over time to produce significant results.
Clear discusses techniques such as habit stacking, optimizing the environment to support desired habits, and focusing on continuous improvement rather than goal fixation.
The book is filled with actionable strategies, real-life examples, and stories from various fields, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their habits and achieve personal growth.
#502
• Mentioned in 54 episodes
The Lessons of History
Will Durant
Written by Will and Ariel Durant after completing the 10th volume of their 'The Story of Civilization' series, 'The Lessons of History' provides an overview of the themes and lessons observed from human history.
The book examines history from various perspectives including geography, biology, race, character, morals, religion, economics, socialism, government, war, growth and decay, and progress.
The Durants discuss the recurring themes of history, such as the balance between liberty and equality, the role of economics, and the inevitability of human nature's influence on historical events.
They argue that while there are no predictable regularities in the course of civilizations, there are common factors that contribute to their growth and decline.
#676
• Mentioned in 44 episodes
The Sports Gene
Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance
David Epstein
In 'The Sports Gene', David Epstein delves into the science behind extraordinary athletic performance, examining the interplay between genetics and environmental factors.
Through on-the-ground reporting, interviews with leading scientists and Olympic champions, and analysis of genetic mutations and physical traits, Epstein challenges the 10,000-hour rule and explores how biology influences athletic success.
The book discusses sensitive topics such as race, gender, and the genetic roots of performance, highlighting the complexity of the nature vs.
nurture debate and its implications for training and competition.
#25877
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Manual for Living
Jim Roberts
Epictetus
This book encapsulates the core teachings of Epictetus, focusing on the importance of distinguishing between what is within one's control and what is not.
It provides insights into living a life of virtue and inner peace despite external challenges.
#4521
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
Inside Out
Alexandra Stein
#69
• Mentioned in 198 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.
What if the smallest decisions you make today determine who you become in 2026?
In this powerful New Year conversation, James Clear — author of Atomic Habits, the global phenomenon with over 25 million copies sold — sits down with Emma to break down the real psychology of habits, identity, and long-term success. Whether you're trying to reset your routines, build discipline, or reinvent your life this year, this episode gives you the blueprint.
James reveals:-Why “every action is a vote for the person you wish to become”-The invisible mistakes that sabotage your habits-How to escape bad habit loops without relying on motivation-Why the next hour matters just as much as the next decade -How to build habits that are obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying-The science behind consistency (and why starting is the real superpower)-Why “if you’re struggling to improve, the problem isn’t you — it’s your system”-What leaders, founders, and top performers do daily to stay ahead-Why identity is both your greatest advantage… and your biggest obstacle-How to make habit change FUN
Emma also opens up about her own struggles with habits, discipline, and energy — and James responds with practical tools, mindset shifts, and game-changing frameworks you can start using today.
This is more than a conversation — it’s your 2026 reset, your system reboot, and your reminder that you’re far more capable than you think.
To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices