People avoid you for reasons that have nothing to do with your deodorant.
You can be smart, talented, even funny—but if people feel unseen or misunderstood around you, your life gets smaller.
Dr. Steven Stein has tested emotional intelligence in everyone from Air Force recruiters to reality TV contestants. And the results are weirdly human.
EQ isn’t about being soft. It’s about knowing when to shut up, when to speak up, and when to walk away.
This episode breaks down emotional intelligence like it’s a muscle group: you’ve got to work it, stress it, and recover from it. Steven explains the science, shares unexpected stories (like lighthouse keepers and narcissists), and makes EQ feel practical
We explore:
🔹 Spot the everyday signs you're low on EQ (and how to fix them)
🔹 Build empathy without becoming a pushover
🔹 Train your emotional intelligence like going to the gym
🔹 The biggest traits of success in the FBI, air force, army and navy
🔹 The psychology of reality TV
Come away with the practical side of emotional intelligence in real life - not just in theory
How to Change the World
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Steven Stein
Bestselling author and psychologist who has worked with leading corporates, defense agencies and some of the biggest reality TV shows.
Steven J. Stein
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
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Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: Emotional Intelligence: Why the FBI Trains for Empathy, and You Should Too w/ Steven Stein
Chapters:
00:00 Emotional Intelligence - Steven Stein Intro
02:18 Everyday signs of emotional intelligence
05:40 Improving Emotional Intelligence
08:02 Emotional Intelligence in Different Professions
11:30 Coaching for Emotional Intelligence at Work
14:20 The US Air Force Emotional Intelligence Study
17:00 Empathy Training Course
18:39 Emotional Intelligence and Neurodiversity
23:22 Trainable Aspects of Emotional Intelligence
24:40 Building Empathy by Using Drugs
27:11 Personal Growth in Emotional Intelligence
30:41 Reality TV and Emotional Intelligence
34:54 Cross-Cultural Differences in EQ
38:20 General Likability vs. Emotional Intelligence
40:42 Tips to Build Assertiveness
43:40 Relationship between IQ and EQ
49:59 Outro
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Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement 