4000 Weeks Week #4, 2025
Jan 18, 2025
Dive into the exploration of cycles in life—from nature to culture—and our agency within them. Enjoy a dad joke interlude, then reflect on the blurred lines between work and play for a richer life experience. Recent cultural insights reveal concerns about gambling, corporate influence, and the persistence of adolescent fears into adulthood. Delve into the tension between integrity and popularity in public life and hear a poignant story about the real consequences of standing up for what's right. Stay tuned for timeless truths worth defending!
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Episode notes
Cycles Shape Life, Not Fate
- Cycles are omnipresent and shape our lives but do not fully determine our agency.
- Actions change the trajectory and duration of cycles even when direct control is impossible.
Modern Work Is Historically New
- Modern eight-hour, five-day workweeks are historically brief and not human-normal.
- This mismatch produces passive leisure that often fails to be generative or nourishing.
From Sculpture To Blended Work-Life
- Spencer describes his unusual career path after studying sculpture and rarely taking a conventional job.
- That path led him to blend work and life, finding it more fun and interesting than a typical job.