Professor Christian Miller discusses the concept of the character gap, highlighting how people are a mix of virtuous and vicious traits. He explores the influence of context on behavior, practices to strengthen moral character, and the impact of world religions on moral development. The podcast challenges the idea of labeling individuals as purely good or bad.

Procrastination can be a big stumbling block to our success in life. If you’re a student and you put off studying to the last minute, you might not do as well on a test. If you wait to start saving for retirement until you’re in your 40s, you lose out on the power of compound interest.We know that we need to do certain things sooner, rather than later, but we don’t. Why?My guest today is Dr. Piers Steel, and in his work and his book, The Procrastination Equation, he's distilled all the research out there on procrastination into a kind of formula that explains why we put things off. Piers explains why his approach to procrastination is different from that taken by many psychologists, and what they often get wrong about its root causes. He then digs into the different components of why we procrastinate, as well as actionable advice on how you can mitigate these issues and start getting more stuff done.Get the show notes at aom.is/procrastinationequation.

Writer David Giffels recounts building a coffin with his father, reflecting on life lessons. They discuss Rust Belt loyalty, sports resilience, and the profound experience of coffin-building. Exploring themes of aging, mortality, and family bonds, the conversation touches on near victories in sports, Ohio humor, and navigating midlife challenges.

Learn about Rocky Marciano, the unlikely heavyweight champion who rose to fame through grit and fate. Discover how he navigated fame, money, and organized crime in the boxing world. Explore the inspiring and tragic sides of his journey, from humble beginnings to becoming a cultural icon in 1950s America.

Do you feel like you’re putting your nose to the grindstone and working longer and longer hours, but not getting anywhere with your career? My guest today makes the case that if you want to be a top performer and advance in your job, you need to start working smarter instead of harder.His name is Morten Hansen and in his book Great at Work, he highlights his groundbreaking, exhaustive analysis on top performers and shares his "7 Work Smarter Practices” that can maximize your job performance, without necessarily requiring you spend more time at it.Today on the show, Morten explains why top performers concentrate on fewer things, but obsess more about them, as well as the optimal number of hours to be working each week. He then shares some advice on how to convince your boss to limit the number of irons you've got in the fire. We then discuss a practice Morten called "the one thing" that will elevate your skills, why you shouldn't pursue a job based on passion alone, why the best collaborations involve a bit of heated debate, and why you need to find more time to work alone. This show busts a bunch of myths as well as offers a lot of really interesting insights that you can put into practice. Get the show notes at aom.is/greatatwork.

Explore the tumultuous atmosphere on college campuses, where students protest for limiting speech. Discover the 3 great untruths leading a generation astray. Learn how safetyism affects intellectual discourse and maturation. Explore victimhood culture, cognitive distortions, and mental health issues on campuses. Understand the expanding definitions of safety and violence. Embrace diverse viewpoints and manage emotions for better mental health. Discuss challenges of polarization, tribalism, and viewpoint diversity in academia. Learn to handle encounters with zealous ideologues with empathy and understanding.

You’ve probably read or heard about the benefits of meditation, but you’ve never given it a try because it all seems a bit too woo-woo. You’re not alone. My guest used to be a skeptic himself, but after falling into drug use and suffering a nervous breakdown on national television, he gave meditation a try and found that it made him calmer and more resilient. He’s now on a mission to make meditation approachable for the masses — no meditation pillow required. His name is Dan Harris. He’s a news reporter at ABC who you can see on Nightline. He’s also the author of the books 10% Happier and Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics.Today on show, Dan shares the story of his nervous breakdown in front of millions of people and how that led him to meditation. He then takes us through the latest research on the benefits of meditation, including the way it reduces depression and anxiety. Dan and I then discuss some of the myths that people have about meditation, such as the idea that it takes a lot of time, requires you to sit on a pillow, and will cause you to lose your edge. We end our podcast with Dan taking us through a 1-minute guided meditation which will you give you a nice moment of practical zen.Get the show notes at aom.is/meditation.

Dr. Gav Schneider, an expert in personal risk management and security, shares the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to personal safety. He explains the importance of developing situational awareness, having multiple plans of action, and realistic training to defend yourself. Learn about the significance of understanding one's surroundings, evaluating people's characteristics, and recognizing early warning signs of danger.

If you grew up in America in the 1970s and '80s, a vacation with your family likely involved piling in a car with your parents and siblings and being stuck with them for eight or more hours on the open road with little other than each other to keep yourselves entertained and sane. Entire movies were made about The Great American Road Trip. Yet this world has slowly faded away without our hardly noticing thanks to cheaper airfare and advances in technology and convenience.My guest today set out to document what he calls the Golden Age of Road Tripping before it vanishes from our collective memory. His name his Rich Ratay and in his book Don't Make Me Pull Over! he walks readers through the history of the American family road trip. Today on the show, Rich and I discuss how it was actually bicycles that kickstarted America's interstate highway system, when automotive road tripping really started taking off, and all the iconic businesses that built up around the nation's new pastime, including Stuckey's convenience stores, motels, and attractions like the world's largest frying pan. Along the way, Rich shares stories from his family road trips growing up as a kid, particularly his memories of his dad taking on the role of leader, protector, and refueling-stop-minimizer during their expeditions. We end our conversation discussing the decline of the family road trip, what we miss out on when we take a plane to our destination, and why Millennial parents are ushering in the return of road trips to American culture.This episode is definitely a nice drive down memory lane, and great one to listen to as you hit the open road.Get the show notes at aom.is/dontmakemepullover.

Benjamin Ginsberg, a political science professor, argues in 'The Worth of War' that war, despite its horrors, has led to advancements in nation-states, technology, medical progress, civil liberties, and rational thinking. He explores how war has shaped statehood, power dynamics, and technological progress, and how it has reduced state violence over time. The podcast delves into the evolution of warfare, including the mobilization of citizen soldiers in the French Revolution, and discusses the psychological impact of living in peaceful times.