Know More Know Less

I reached out to my guest a couple of months ago, because solar flares were in the news again. I became a little obsessed with solar flares about 10 years ago… to the point that I try not to think about them now because they freak me out. So this was the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into something I know so little about. Dr. Mojtaba Akhavan-Taftiis an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Michigan, he's also space scientist, inventor, and clean tech entrepreneur. He is the founder of Adaptable Powerful Transformative (APT) Solar Solutions, whose mission it is to unlock the power of the Sun by revolutionizing solar electricity generation and distribution. Mojtaba is also a space scientist, inventor and a part of the research faculty at the University of Michigan College of Engineering where he investigates the inner-workings of the Sun, Earth, and if that's not enough, he teaches satellite mission design and analysis. That last one seems like a fake job title from the Simpsons! Dr. Akhavan-Tafti was an amazing guest and I hope you enjoy all the knowledge he drops on me. KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4wkMATGEXMTU4Xrw-YZTA

In the zeitgeist today there's a concept used in therapy communities called "showing up" as it pertains to your relationships and how you support those closest to you. But my guest, Marcy Axelrod, has elevated Showing Up into a way of being that will forever change your life. Marcy and I discuss how the act of showing up fully in our lives hands us the keys to a happier, more effective and balanced life. Marcy has been a keynote speaker for over 25 years. She's the award -winning author of On Your Game and her new book How We Choose To Show Up challenges all of us to live more intentionally. Marcy asks her clients and all of us: Do we just show up, barely show up, or do we truly show up, living our most decisive moments with thoughtful intent? Showing up is the invisible system all around us, connecting us to society, situations, ourselves, and each other. And drawing from psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology, showing up is the crucial playbook for leading an impactful, high achieving life, while taking care of the world and each other. =============== KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://youtu.be/Gi1sGfmur4Q

We all have dreams and goals that live in our minds more then they live in the world. It doesn't matter if those dreams are to compete in an IronMan, to quit smoking, or to read a little more. We all have the desire and the motivation to accomplish these things, but tragically what we often lack is the follow-up, the execution of the daily tasks, big and small, that us to accomplishing those goals. My guest, Dr. Emily Balcetis, wanted to know why that is. And in her research put herself in the role of guinea pig testing her ideas to successfully write her book and learning to play the drums, all while caring for her newborn!! Emily and I discuss why some people accomplish their goals, throwing away their cigarettes packs or putting on their running shoes while others continue to fall short? Today we dive straight into the science of turning dreams into reality. Emily Balcetis is an Associate Professor of Psychology and the director of the New York University, Social Perception, Action and Motivation research lab where she leads an international team of scholars, writers, artists, and advocates. In her research, Emily has uncovered previously unknown strategies that increase, sustain, and direct people's efforts to meet their goals. Her work has been supported by numerous national grants from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, and has also appeared in over 80 scientific publications. She is a two time TEDx speaker and author of the book Clearer Closer Better: How Successful People See the World. =========================== KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4wkMATGEXMTU4Xrw-YZTA

This episode is definitely in my top 3 most meaningful conversations in the short history of KMKL. Few things leave an imprint more powerfully than speaking to someone with such a profound knowledge on a subject as well as a passion and dedication to help other. Dr. Bennett is one of those people. If you have been affected by suicide or love someone who has, you know the deep treadmarks of pain that experience of excruciating grief can leave on those left behind. What has come to light more publicly in recent years is the dramatic difference in the rate of suicide between genders. The range can be between 3 and 7 to 1 - men to women. Yet sadly, this news and the length of time it has been happening is leading some experts and researchers to acknowledge how much men are suffering, and how it appears much of society has decided to ignore their pain and deaths of despair as a price we are collectively willing to pay. Enter Dr. Susanna Bennett and the Suicidal Research Lab at the University of Glasgow. Through their research, they have discovered the deep pain and isolation that many men experience, as well as the barriers they face in seeking help both internally and externally. Susie has done studies synthesizing twenty years of male suicide research, explored help-seeking barriers for men, childhood challenges and developed an agenda of priorities for male suicide research. Her work has been supported by thousands of men worldwide sharing their insights and experiences. Our conversation explores the 3D risk model which includes denial, disconnection, and dysregulation in the psychological domains of emotions, thoughts and feelings of self, and connections with others. Susie highlights the role of love and compassion in addressing male pain in an attempt to avoid escalating emotional factors that can lead to suicidial ideation. I hope more people with soon be having conversations like this, staying curious about the boys and men in their lives and how they can ensure they feel accepted and loved. KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4wkMATGEXMTU4Xrw-YZTA

This conversation started as one thing and shape-shifted into something else completely. I originally reached out to John Graham to discuss his incredible feats of memory, performed around the world, but as we dove into that topic I began to sense there was something much deeper and profound that he wanted to share. It was a topic we only briefly touched upon during our pre-interview chat, his overcoming of his panic attacks after suffering through so many. John's panic attacks started during a competition in China in front of 400 MILLION people. The TV show changed the competition format on him at the last minute and his fight or flight mechanism went into Meltdown Mode! How he overcame his frequent panic attacks to banish them from his life is what we focused on at length and it turned into one of my favourite chats. I hope you enjoy it! -------- John Graham is a 3x USA Memory Champion, a Grandmaster of Memory, Entrepreneur, and mentors High Performers (including a World Record holder and National Memory Champion). He's performed insane mental feats on TV shows all over the world: - Super Brain (China) 400 Million Viewers - Xtra Ordinary (Indonesia) 20 Million Viewers - SuperHuman (USA) with Mike Tyson - Incredible People (Russia) 4th place finish OVERCOMING ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS: John overcame daily panic attacks and decades of anxiety by using unconventional methods to release suppressed emotions and release the control conditioning of his mind. He mentors high achievers and helps them release their anxiety & panic attacks, for good at releasepanic.com KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4wkMATGEXMTU4Xrw-YZTA

I've been looking for an experienced, credible, and reasonable fitness and nutrition guest for ages, and I hit the jackpot with Eric D'Agati. During this chat we discussed: The most useless supplement Supplements that actually work The #1 rule for making progress in your fitness level Why sprinting is important How to be fit and durable in your 40s Should your fitness program fit your life? Why movement matters Mobility and control for peak fitness Eric has been a coach, trainer and mentor in the fitness industry for the past 25+ years. He has taught fitness professionals inside organizations such as, Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York University Medical, the Navy SEALS, The Mayo Clinic and multiple major universities. Eric also appeared in the NY Times bestseller "The 4-Hour Body" by Tim Ferriss. His list of training clients includes individuals who have been an Olympic Gold Medalist, All-Americans, National Champions, World Series Champions and Pro-Bowl athletes. Eric is the real deal. He recently launched "The Ageless Athlete Blueprint," an interactive coaching program for active and competitive males over 40 who want to continue training and competing at a high level while staying injury-free. Website: www.ericdagati.com Eric's Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.dagati Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericdagati/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdagati/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZk5jKqzi1LLvgl-xNcuPHw ------- For more episodes: KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4wkMATGEXMTU4Xrw-YZTA

I found Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski on Instagram, producing reel after reel, speaking about his heart-centred research into the social-emotional development of teenage boys. Insight after insight, his findings were emotionally echoed in the comments by boys, men, and the people who love them. In this chat, we discuss: Impact of technology, bullying, and societal expectations on mental health How most boys want deep connections with their friends but never get it How becoming a teenager can change boys' emotional expression Overdiagnosis of boys' emotional disorders and the underdiagnosis of girls Understanding boys' emotional behaviours Preparing boys for the teenage years Brendan is an educator, researcher, and speaker specializing in boys and men's social-emotional development and well-being. His research spans multiple disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, and education. He received his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Edinburgh, where he studied Canadian teenage boys' emotions, masculinities, and schooling experiences. He is a mixed-methods researcher who firmly believes in positive-focused and person-centred research. His approach seeks to humanize and empower participants while also giving "voice" to their lived experiences. He is dedicated to making academic knowledge accessible to all and conducting research that is transformative and practically useful in real-world applications. You can find Brendan and all his platforms at: https://remasculine.com/ KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://youtu.be/Rpq0wXbrfLk

Most of us could use an extra dose of resiliency in one or all areas of life. No matter if it's doing something you don't want to do or rebounding from setbacks, sometimes we need tools and training to help us dig deep and overcome external or internal challenges that stand in our way. Enter Philip Folsom. Philip is an anthropologist, army veteran and co-founder of the critically acclaimed Valor Resiliency Program for veterans, first responders and other men and women in high-stress fields. Philip is recognized as an industry leader in organizational culture development and resiliency. He lectures at USC Marshall and provides leadership development classes to the Master of Business for Veterans Program. Philip is also the president of Wolf Tribe, a consulting agency that delivers transformational leadership and culture development programs to major organizations such as Space X, Google, Disney and Red Bull where he sits on their High-Performance Board. KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://youtu.be/h0m79bWnzks

There seems to be a slight panic in the air lately about more people choosing to be single. Often cited is the state of Japanese sexlessness, the "destruction of the nuclear family", or maybe population collapse! *gasp! Yet no matter how much fear the media tries to stir into my morning coffee about this manufactured problem… the trend persists. Is this a crisis or a personal choice revolution? Let's ask my guest, Dr. Bella DePaulo, who wrote the book "Single at Heart" to explore why she and many other people are increasingly choosing this path. The Atlantic has described Dr. Bella DePaulo as "America's foremost thinker and writer on the single experience." Dr. DePaulo coined the term "Single at Heart" and gave a TEDx Talk on the topic in 2017 which has had more than 1.6 million views. Dr. DePaulo received her PhD from Harvard University and is currently an academic affiliate in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the author of Singled Out, The Psychology of Dexter, and How We Live Now, among other titles. She has written the column "Living Single" for Psychology Today since 2008; and has been published by the New York Times, the Washington Post, Time magazine, and been interviewed on The Today Show, CNN, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, Anderson Cooper 360, and Hardball with Chris Matthews. KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4wkMATGEXMTU4Xrw-YZTA

I think most would agree, that those of us in the developed world with ubiquitous access to the internet are all dependent on it to live our lives in one way or another. The only question is: Where does that relationship turn toxic? This week, I spoke with Dr. Daria Kuss who gave me a firehose dose of academia on the matter. Our discussion ranged from when behaviour becomes addiction, the difference between chemical and behavioural addictions, the clinical perspective on gaming addiction, and more. Dr Kuss is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist, and Associate Professor in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. She created the Masters of Science program in Cyberpsychology, and is a member of the International Gaming Research Unit. She is an award-winning author, with her most recent book titled: Internet addiction – Evidence-based practice in psychotherapy Outside of academia, Dr. Kuss has worked with the World Health Organization, the European Parliament, and the Government Council of the Czech Republic. Her research has been covered in international news outlets, including the New York Times, The Washington Post, and the BBC. For more episodes, find us at: KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST: For other platforms: Listen here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299 For full episodes and clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4wkMATGEXMTU4Xrw-YZTA