Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement The Psychology of Podcasting: Lessons in self actualisation, intrinsic motivation and how to enjoy yourself - w/ Paul Davies
Nov 7, 2025
Sam Webster Harris, a passionate podcaster and host of the Growth Mindset Psychology podcast, dives into the secrets of podcasting with Paul Davies. They explore why the majority of podcasters quit early and what motivates the few who persist. From discussing the shift from interviews to scripted episodes, to the deep research process behind high-production shows, Sam sheds light on how podcasting fosters learning and accountability. They also touch on the balance between intrinsic motivation and external rewards, and the impact of social perception on podcasters.
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Sofa Recording That Opened Doors
- Sam started Growth Mindset in December 2017 by recording on his sofa and quickly booked high-profile guests despite having no legitimacy.
- Early episodes landed guests like the CTO of PayPal and TransferWise simply by asking and framing the invite as a podcast conversation.
From Interviews To Written Solo Shows
- Sam moved from interviews to scripted solo episodes because writing produced clearer, faster content for him.
- His psychology episodes now take 1–2 days, while his ambitious history-of-innovation episodes often take a month.
Public Accountability Accelerates Mastery
- Podcasting forces you to organise and structure thoughts, accelerating mastery through public accountability.
- Sam used episodes as a tool to learn deeply and maintain motivation via a public output and deadlines.