Solved, Answers: Finding Purpose, Failing Better, and the AI Future

whatshot 676 snips

Dec 15, 2025

In this insightful discussion, the host tackles the quest for purpose and the struggles of finding motivation. They delve into the implications of having unsupportive family members while pursuing personal goals. Listeners are encouraged to reframe mundane tasks to extract meaning and avoid the pitfalls of early quitting. There's also a thought-provoking exploration of AI's impact on work and meaning, alongside plans for more engaging content and community interactions in the future.

01:29:34

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

00:00 / 00:00

Purpose Is A Portfolio

Purpose is not singular; you can hold multiple meaningful pursuits like a diversified portfolio.
Rebalance periodically when one source of meaning falters to maintain stability and upside.

00:00 / 00:00

Purpose Isn't Mandatory For Everyone

Not everyone needs a single named purpose; usefulness of the concept varies by person.
What matters is that your time feels well used and meaningful to you.

00:00 / 00:00

Reframe Drudgery As A Means

Reframe boring tasks as means toward meaningful ends by tracing the chain of value they enable.
Use that chain to reduce dread and make necessary seasons more tolerable.

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

2025 recap and episode format

01:38 • 3min

chevron_right

How to choose between many passions

04:29 • 3min

chevron_right

When you don't need a single purpose

07:07 • 2min

chevron_right

Finding meaning in mundane tasks

09:33 • 4min

chevron_right

Why motivation fades and the Valley of Despair

13:36 • 5min

chevron_right

Four reasons people quit new pursuits

18:47 • 2min

chevron_right

Handling family who won't support your purpose

20:46 • 5min

chevron_right

Why purpose should extend beyond you

25:17 • 3min

chevron_right

How Purpose AI was trained and designed

28:07 • 7min

chevron_right

Changing yourself when you don't want to

35:00 • 4min

chevron_right

Will AI replace work and meaning?

38:45 • 6min

chevron_right

AI timelines and cultural impact

44:29 • 2min

chevron_right

Rewriting Models today: what he'd change

46:11 • 4min

chevron_right

First heartbreak and recovering

50:23 • 5min

chevron_right

Stopping porn: treat your impulses

55:23 • 1min

chevron_right

What to put on Voyager 1 and risks

56:33 • 4min

chevron_right

Dealing with creative doubt and shipping

01:00:18 • 5min

chevron_right

Are you writing another book?

01:04:48 • 1min

chevron_right

Tours, live shows, and in-person plans

01:06:12 • 2min

chevron_right

YouTube strategy and content convergence

01:08:28 • 2min

chevron_right

Production scale, team, and episode structure

01:10:54 • 4min

chevron_right

Planned 2026 episode schedule and fixes

01:14:47 • 7min

chevron_right

Community tiers and returning ads

• Mentioned in 26 episodes

Models

Attract Women Through Honesty

Mark Manson

This book focuses on the concept of 'non-neediness' and emphasizes the importance of honesty in relationships. It advises men to be genuine, vulnerable, and true to themselves, rather than trying to impress women through manipulative tactics. The book is divided into sections such as 'Honest Living,' 'Honest Action,' and 'Honest Communication,' and it provides practical advice on overcoming anxiety, developing true confidence, and polarizing women to determine their interest. It also stresses the importance of self-investment and living a life that aligns with one's true values and desires.

#4477

• Mentioned in 9 episodes

The Dark Forest

Cixin Liu

In 'The Dark Forest', Earth faces an impending alien invasion by the Trisolarans in four centuries. The Trisolarans have sent sophons, advanced subatomic particles, to monitor all human activities, making Earth's defense plans vulnerable. To counter this, the Wallfacer Project is initiated, where four men, including Luo Ji, a Chinese astronomer and sociologist, are given unlimited resources to develop secret strategies hidden from both Earth and Trisolaris. The novel explores themes of human nature, existential dread, and the philosophical implications of the Fermi Paradox, using the metaphor of the 'dark forest' to describe the universe as a place where civilizations must hide and be cautious to survive.

#35

• Mentioned in 243 episodes

So Good They Can't Ignore You

Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

Cal Newport

In this book, Cal Newport challenges the conventional wisdom that following one's passion is the key to career happiness. Instead, he argues that passion often follows mastery and that developing valuable skills and expertise is essential for creating work you love. Newport presents four rules: Don't follow your passion, Be so good they can't ignore you, Turn down a promotion, and Think small, act big. He supports his arguments with case studies from various professionals who have found satisfaction in their careers through hard work and skill development.

#55

• Mentioned in 209 episodes

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Mark Manson

In this book, Mark Manson argues against the typical self-help advice of constant positivity, instead suggesting that life's struggles give it meaning. He emphasizes the need to focus on what truly matters and to accept and confront painful truths. The book is divided into nine chapters and uses blunt honesty and profanity to illustrate its ideas, encouraging readers to find meaning through values they can control and to replace uncontrollable values with more meaningful ones.

This one’s different. In this special year-end episode, I answer your questions—from the deep stuff about purpose and motivation, to the uncomfortable realities of change, burnout, failure, and dealing with unsupportive family. I also share the behind-the-scenes chaos of building SOLVED this year, what I learned about making massive, meaningful content, and what’s coming in 2026 (spoiler: boundaries, ego, and maybe some live shows).

This is part personal, part philosophical, and part therapy session disguised as a podcast. If you’ve been wondering what’s next—or why you feel stuck—this one’s for you. See you in 2026.

Ready to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join the Solved Community, a group of like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://solvedpodcast.com/qa

Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:13) Recap of 2025

(03:42) What if I don't have a single purpose?

(06:07) Why don't I feel a strong need for purpose?

(08:32) How do I find purpose when doing things I don't find important?

(12:34) I'm having issues on getting motivated on one thing

(19:35) What if my family doesn't support my purpose?

(23:15) I'm struggling with the idea that purpose must be bigger than yourself

(26:04) How Mark got Purpose AI to work

(32:55) Questions from YouTube

(33:13) How do you change yourself?

(36:43) Finding meaning after AI takeover

(44:01) What would a Models rewrite look like today?

(48:19) Mark's first heartbreak

(54:31) What would Mark put on Voyager 1?

(57:35) Self-doubt on something you make

(1:02:12) Mark's next book?

(1:03:38) Tours around the world

(1:05:55) Goals for 2026

(1:08:14) Podcast changes for 2026

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books