The Rich Roll Podcast

chevron_right

Master of Change: Brad Stulberg On Rugged Flexibility & The Neuroscience Of Expectations

whatshot 366 snips

Aug 28, 2023

Guest

Brad Stulberg

Brad Stulberg, a sustainable excellence expert and bestselling author, dives into the art of embracing change and resilience. He introduces the concept of rugged flexibility, advocating for a flexible identity to navigate life's inevitable transitions. The discussion covers tragic optimism, the delicate balance between realistic expectations and hope, and the significance of gut health in resilience. Stulberg also emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and being present, encouraging listeners to view challenges as growth opportunities while maintaining core values.

02:25:31

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Change as a Conversation

We often view change as singular events, but it's a continuous process.
Allostasis, stability through change, describes how systems adapt and reorder.

insights

INSIGHT

Inescapability Trigger

The "inescapability trigger" is accepting a situation as unchangeable.
This acceptance allows us to shift from disorder to considering reordering.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Balancing Agency and Change

Embrace impermanence and transformation, but don't give up agency.
Find a balance between rigidity and complete surrender to change.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Rugged Flexibility: Embracing Change

02:21 • 6min

chevron_right

Navigating Change and Identity

08:40 • 16min

chevron_right

Balancing Identity in Competitive Sports

24:50 • 12min

chevron_right

Embracing Identity and Resilience

36:43 • 7min

chevron_right

Embracing Fluidity in Identity

43:20 • 4min

chevron_right

Navigating Change and Identity

46:58 • 26min

chevron_right

Navigating Life's Challenges: The Intersection of Gut Health and Personal Resilience

01:13:20 • 5min

chevron_right

Finding Balance: Navigating Hope and Realism

01:18:03 • 9min

chevron_right

Navigating Change and Emotions

01:26:45 • 16min

chevron_right

Embracing Pain: The Path to Healing

01:43:13 • 13min

chevron_right

Exploring Self, Spirit, and Health

01:56:15 • 19min

chevron_right

Tech and Personal Health: Embracing Change

02:15:10 • 9min

chevron_right

Transitioning Platforms and Book Launch Insights

02:23:46 • 4min

chevron_right

#1607

• Mentioned in 15 episodes

• Mentioned in 27 episodes

Peak Performance

Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success

Brad Stulberg

Steve Magness

Peak Performance uncovers the common principles that drive success in different domains, from athletics to intellectual and artistic pursuits. The book combines stories of top performers with scientific insights into cognitive and neurochemical factors that enhance performance. It teaches readers how to optimize their performance by alternating between intense work and rest, priming the body and mind for productivity, and developing a self-transcending purpose. The authors provide practical advice on managing stress, prioritizing rest and sleep, and setting meaningful goals to avoid burnout and achieve peak performance.

#4968

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Master of Change, How to Excel When Everything is Changing, Including You

Brad Stuhlberg

#3825

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

The Book of Hope

A Survival Guide for Trying Times

Douglas Abrams

Jane Goodall

In this book, Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams delve into the nature of hope through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue. Drawing on decades of Goodall's work, the book addresses vital questions about maintaining hope in challenging times. It outlines Goodall's 'Four Reasons for Hope': The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit. The book also shares Goodall's personal journey, from her experiences during World War II to her years in Gombe and her role as a global advocate for environmental justice, including her profound revelations about her next and perhaps final adventure.

#18723

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

To Have or To Be

Erich Fromm

#149

• Mentioned in 82 episodes

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Robert Pirsig

This classic novel by Robert M. Pirsig is a personal and philosophical odyssey that delves into the author's search for meaning. The narrative follows a father and his son on a summer motorcycle trip from the Midwest to California, intertwining a travelogue with deep philosophical discussions. The book explores the concept of 'quality' and how it informs a well-lived life, reconciling science, religion, and humanism. It also touches on the author's own struggles with his past and his philosophical quest, making it a touching and transcendent exploration of human experience and endeavor.

• Mentioned in 778 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.

#48

• Mentioned in 152 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.

From global disruptions to individual life changes, transformation—both good and bad—is happening constantly.

Here to offer us a path for embracing life’s inherent instability is Brad Stulberg—a sustainable excellence expert, human performance coach, and bestselling author returning for his fourth appearance on the pod.

Today we talk about how to embrace transformation, cultivate resilience, and adapt to an ever-changing world. We also explore rugged flexibility, tragic optimism, adopting a flexible identity over time, how to navigate big life changes successfully, the perils of biohacking, and many other fascinating topics.

Amidst the chaos and confusion of self-help, I find Brad to be a principled voice of reason. This conversation is overflowing with evidence-based, practical, and actionable life counsel.

My hope is that some of the tactics shared help you not only navigate difficult circumstances but help facilitate the emergence of meaning and growth.

Show notes + MORE

Watch on YouTube

Newsletter Sign-Up

Today’s Sponsors:

Seed: seed.com/RICHROLL

Momentous: LiveMomentous.com/RICHROLL

Athletic Brewing: athleticbrewing.com

On: on.com/RICHROLL

BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/RICHROLL

Plant Power Meal Planner: https://meals.richroll.com

Peace + Plants,

Rich

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books