
Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
There are a lot of opinions on how to master your mind, but then there’s PSYCHOLOGY.We’re all stuck with the brain we’re born with, but we aren’t stuck with how we use it.Learn science-backed answers to make the most of your mind and your life.CURIOUS?Growth Mindset Psychology is the "self-help sceptic" podcast for the curious.Whether you want to improve performance, navigate setbacks, or know who you are.We find answers to the true science of self-improvement.So put down the astrology chart and start working with your mind, instead of against it.With over 8 million downloads and 60,000 monthly listeners, you’re invited to join.PROCESSInstead of telling you what to think, we discuss how thinking works.Armed with a stack of science journals, textbooks and a boatload of curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of the mind.Why? >>> Success is personal!You might want to make the most of your neurodiverse strengths, start a business, or simply find more reasons to smile.Hone your ability for independent thinking and growth with mental models to pursue your definition of success.HOSTI’m Sam Webster Harris, a lifelong learner with ADHD, a raging curiosity, and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions.After launching several businesses, travelling the world and nearly dying a few times I concluded that science and Psychology are where it’s at.What actually makes people happy? What’s the best way to treat a brain? How can I get more done?Studying the answers we find that changing behaviours requires building mindsets, mental models, and a healthy relationship with failure.I run the show to help listeners enjoy nutritious content that feeds their minds (and I needed a legitimate excuse to cover for my reading addiction).PREMIUMGo Ad-Free and listen to exclusive content.Support the show and access the AMA features and community Discord.Growth Mindset PremiumARCHIVEPrevious guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.Past series:— Psychology vs Stoicism— Time Management for busy mortals— Independence and knowing yourself— Cognitive biases and rational thinking— Psychology of connection— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
Latest episodes

May 16, 2023 • 13min
Gratitude lessons (that don't suck)
No one likes people who complain and yet it is so hard to stop complaining about problems in our life. Gratitude is sold as the answer to all our happiness woes. Stop having expectations, be happy and grateful for what you have, and never let another day go to waste.It's so simple and yet it doesn't work because it isn't that easy.This episode covers the most powerful strategy that has helped people find gratitude in many areas they didn't feel possible without meditating, journaling or re-aligning their chakras. Just some simple psychology and reframing the information in their heads to make them see what they already know.- - -Connect with Sam:
Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking
Watch the pod - YouTube - Growth Mindset
Twitter - @samjamharris
Instagram - @SamJam.zen
- - -Chapters00:00 Introduction to the flaw with gratitude00:35 Standard tips on how to build gratitude00:54 Issues with gratitude - focusing on problems01:38 Example - Lawn being ruined02:18 Example - Arctic trip02:57 Example - Frustrating emails04:16 Recurring theme - great achievements will come with problems06:14 Planning ahead08:00 Example - Social influencer trolls08:53 Example - Romantic partner problems09:37 Recap - Notice to see the positive side of things11:35 Next week's episode - Problems you don't want to have11:42 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 9, 2023 • 11min
Feeling behind? How to seize opportunities [before its too late]
Learn to spot luck and seize big chances in life through the concept of the 'Go For It Window'. Embrace change and discomfort for growth mindset. Examples include Airbnb and not getting a degree. Take risks and invest in unconventional ideas as opportunities are fleeting and require perseverance.

May 2, 2023 • 38min
10 painful truths about productivity [you NEED to hear] from Nir Eyal
Nir Eyal, behavioural expert and bestselling author in attention management, discusses the impact of distraction on productivity and achieving goals. Topics include understanding traction and distraction, the importance of follow-through, finding balance, and using pacts to overcome distractions. The episode emphasizes the power of managing attention to live a more focused and fulfilled life.

Apr 25, 2023 • 7min
How to be more decisive - Instant brain hack
A quick strategy to cure confusion and be more decisive. This simple brain hack can radically simplify our situation when we feel confused and help us make hard decisions and take action.We can all become confused with the pile-up of priorities and our different obligations. The worst thing is no decision yet we can sit in confusion unable to move on. In many cases there is a simple way to cure confusion and make stuff happen.- - -Connect with Sam:
Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking
Watch the pod - YouTube - Growth Mindset
Twitter - @samjamharris
Instagram - @SamJam.zen
- - -Chapters00:00 - You don't have time to be confused01:41 - Identify the truth of the matter02:39 - Buridians Donkey04:08 - My booking dilemmas to NASA launch failures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 18, 2023 • 25min
Breaking out of a rut - Battling mental health (with GeoWizard)
Tom Davies, better known as GeoWizard is a YouTuber, adventurer and mental health advocate. He has raised thousands of pounds for mental health and is passionate about helping other break out of their ruts.Before his YouTube took off Tom suffered his own mental health problems, anxiety and loss of enthusiasm for anything. In the episode, we talk about the best ways to find inspiration and how to quit our bad habits.GeoWizard is known for his straight-line missions across Wales, Dribbling a football across the length of Britain and being one of the best GeoGuessrs on the planet. - - -Contact GeoWizard - Tom Davies
Youtube - @GeoWizard
Instagram - @GeoWizardOfficial
TikTok - @GeoWizard
- - -Connect with Sam:
Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking
Watch the pod - YouTube - Growth Mindset
Twitter - @samjamharris
Instagram - @SamJam.zen
- - -Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:49 Richard Branson's childhood adventures
03:31 Problems with Smartphones
06:36 Effects of social media
07:37 The importance of youth
10:00 Being a voice for others
12:11 Growing your comfort zone
13:08 Traveling alone
14:37 Talk to yourself more
15:32 You can always turn things around
18:43 Men's mental health difficulties
19:00 Getting his first job
20:00 Humans and commitment issues
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Apr 11, 2023 • 1h
10 no bullsh*t ways to live a more interesting life
Alastair Humphreys is the author of my all-time favourite books on the topic of adventure and getting more out of life.He was awarded the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year award for his work. He cycled around the world over four years and has since rowed the Atlantic, ran the Marathon de Sables, and walked across India amongst numerous other adventures.Perhaps his greatest success, however, is pioneering the concept of micro-adventures, encouraging anyone to experience the outdoors and thrillseeking within an hour of their doorstep.- - -Connect with Alastair:
Website - AlastairHumphreys.com
Instagram - @Al_Humphreys
Twitter - @Al_Humphreys
- -Connect with Sam:
Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking
Watch the pod - YouTube - Growth Mindset
Twitter - @samjamharris
Instagram - @SamJam.zen
- - -Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:34 Quick fire questions
05:12 How do you define success and happiness
06:04 What are your internal measures
07:14 Adventures
07:56 Why should we be adventurous
09:50 What were the things people need to hear on how to start an adventure
11:15 Microadventures
12:19 Hardest part of an adventure is daring yourself to get out
13:24 3 biggest questions when it comes to time - calendar, routines, little margins of time
16:13 Money-to-adventure ratio
21:18 Just GO
22:31 Overcoming sense of inadequacy
25:53 Mindset framework around finding a sustainable adventure and career
29:14 Going back, would Alastair done something different
32:23 Essay - A thousand true fans
33:35 GeoWizard Tangent
35:06 3 stages of flabbiness
36:16 Physical Flabbiness
36:46 Mental Flabbiness
37:04 Moral Flabbiness
38:42 How do Alastair deal with Mental Flabbiness
39:31 Habit Calendar
41:01 Pull-up or Press-up challenge
42:58 Hardest cultural difference Alastair navigated during an adventure
45:27 Maintaining relationships and adventures
47:10 Kindest thing
50:22 Earliest memories
51:18 Advice to your 20 yr old self
52:26 What's Sam's next adventure
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Apr 4, 2023 • 20min
14 Habits Keeping You Poor
Learn about the bad habits holding you back from financial success, including procrastination, not prioritizing projects, and not understanding personal finances. Discover the negative impact of not having an emergency fund, succumbing to lifestyle inflation, and hanging around with the wrong crowd. Explore the consequences of acting rich, taking poor advice, blaming circumstances, and focusing solely on saving without an investment strategy.

Mar 28, 2023 • 41min
Mastering your mind: Understand how emotions drive subconscious behaviour
Jeff Buehner is the author of 'The Sultans Seven Secrets' which teaches us how to converse with our subconscious mind through our emotions.In this episode, we discuss self-defeating behaviors and mindsets that originate from our upbringing and are fixed in our subconscious. We learn how to reframe our attitude toward work, money, relationships and fear by working with our emotions and gaining control of subconscious behaviors.- - -Contact Jeff Buener
Get his book - Sultans Seven Secrets
Twitter - @Jeff_Buener
- - -Connect with Sam:
Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking
Watch the pod - YouTube - Growth Mindset
- - -Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
03:52 - How negative behaviours form
05:07 - Going backwards - having troubles financially
06:17 - Jeff's 2nd unconscious belief
07:25 - How groups affect us
08:40 - Jeff's pivotal change
10:35 - Story of Sultan Musa of Mali
13:13 - Sultan's seven secrets
18:24 - The origin and lessons of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
19:08 - Feelings are the "language of the Gods"
21:55 - How to use your superpower
29:44 - Manifesting your feelings into your subconsciousness
31:20 - Fear as a sign that it's something worth doing
33:13 - Jeff's book - Sultan's Seven Secrets
34:21 - How Jeff made a lot of money
35:48 - Benefits of Growth Mindset
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Mar 21, 2023 • 17min
Stop disappointing yourself: 4 strategies to earn respect
Learn how to stop disappointing yourself and earn respect by aligning present actions with future goals. Discover strategies to cultivate a harmonious life, earn authority through actions, and take ownership of your decisions. This podcast explores the psychology of self-improvement and offers practical steps for personal growth.

Mar 14, 2023 • 25min
How to believe in yourself: Why it matters with Kyra Condie (US Olympic climber)
Kyra Condie, a rising star in the world of climbing, shares her journey of overcoming scoliosis and becoming an Olympian. She discusses the dynamics of climbing, training, and maintaining good skin condition. Learn how to focus on your strengths, overcome weaknesses, and be kind to yourself and others.