Podcast
Freedom Pact | Joseph and Lewis
Hosted by Freedom Pact Podcast | Joseph and Lewis · EN
Motivation. Insight. Independent Thought.
Tune in to the Freedom Pact Podcast as Joseph and Lewis sit down with the world’s most original thinkers. From Nobel Laureates and Billion-Dollar CEOs to FBI Hostage Negotiators, Astronauts, Political Thought-Leaders, Elite Athletes and Bestselling Authors, to uncover the ideas that shape our world and the strategies that help us thrive in it.
Past guests include; Neil deGrasse Tyson, Andrew Huberman, Robert Greene, Douglas Murray, Georges St-Pierre, Kendra Lust, Danny Trejo, Jefferson Fisher, 5 Nobel Prize Winners. & more.
37episodes
Episodes
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#423: Shawn Achor (Positive Psychologist) - The Beliefs That Secretly Shape Your Life
2w ago01:09:42Tap to summarizeShawn Achor is a Harvard-trained positive psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and one of the world's leading researchers on happiness and human potential.In this conversation, we explore why beliefs may be far more powerful than we realise, how they shape perception before we are even aware of them, and why some people continue to find possibility when the odds seem stacked against them. Shawn explains why AI can calculate probabilities but can never believe you'll beat them, how social support literally changes the way we see challenges, and why the most dangerous belief a person can hold is that their behaviour doesn't matter.We also discuss the surprising science behind placebo effects, trauma, ageing, loneliness, meaning, religion, Michael Jordan's rituals, Roger Bannister's four-minute mile, fake surgery studies, why modern life can leave us untethered, and the profound role beliefs play in shaping the trajectory of our lives.This was one of the most thought-provoking conversations we've ever had, and I hope you enjoy it.Timestamps:00:00 – Why Is Changing Ourselves So Difficult?01:59 – AI Can Predict the Odds, But It Can't Believe You'll Beat Them03:20 – Why Probability Masks Possibility04:02 – Richard Wiseman's Luck Experiment06:17 – Can Belief Really Change Reality?07:15 – The Limits of Belief08:45 – Roger Bannister and the Four-Minute Mile09:55 – Stereotype Threat and Human Performance11:03 – Michael Jordan's Shorts and Serena Williams' Socks14:12 – What Is a Belief?16:35 – How Are Beliefs Formed?17:00 – The Hill Study: Why Support Changes Perception18:20 – How Modern Life Teaches Us That Our Behaviour Doesn't Matter19:00 – How Memories Shape Beliefs20:42 – ADHD, Identity and Educational Outcomes22:17 – Dangerous Beliefs and Sweeping Generalisations23:02 – Yale's Remarkable Study on Ageing26:12 – Do People Change Through Evidence or Experience?28:00 – Trauma Doesn't Determine Your Future31:00 – Why We Forget Our Strength34:16 – The Five Candles Ritual38:24 – Navy SEAL Training, Exposure Therapy and Perspective40:46 – Placebos, Fake Surgery and the Power of Belief45:57 – Why Beliefs Are Becoming More Powerful46:49 – The Nocebo Effect48:00 – Burnout, Anxiety, Loneliness and Depression50:12 – The Great Drift: Why Modern Life Feels Meaningless53:00 – Shared Texts and the Need for Collective Meaning55:49 – "Don't Waste Your Money Applying to Harvard"58:42 – Why Probability Should Never Eliminate Possibility1:01:22 – The Most Dangerous Belief You Can Hold1:03:45 – Is There Something Greater Than Us?1:06:04 – The Message Shawn Achor Would Put on a Billboard1:08:06 – Why We Should Read Books Together1:09:19 – Final ThoughtsConnect with Shawn:https://www.shawnachor.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnachor/https://www.instagram.com/shawnachor/Connect with us:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompacthttps://www.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: freedompact@gmail.com (business enquiries, guest suggestions, appreciation, feedback, and anything else!)https://Tiktok.com/personaldevelopment
Transcribe →#422: Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar - Harvard's Happiness Expert: The First Step to Happiness Is Unhappiness
3w ago00:57:56Tap to summarizeTal Ben-Shahar is an internationally renowned scholar, teacher, and author specialising in positive psychology and the science of wellbeing. He is best known for teaching two of the most popular courses in the history of Harvard University, which attracted thousands of students and helped bring the science of happiness into the mainstream.Tal is the co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy, where he works to bridge academic research and practical application, helping individuals, organisations, and educators cultivate greater wellbeing, resilience, and fulfilment.Today, we discuss a simple question. That is, what if the pursuit of happiness is the very thing making us unhappy? We explore one of the most misunderstood ideas in psychology: that a meaningful life is not free from sadness, anxiety, grief, or disappointment - but is shaped by how we relate to them. We discuss why resisting painful emotions often intensifies suffering, the psychology behind lasting change, the knowing-doing gap, the power of tiny habits, attention in the age of distraction, meaningful relationships, awe, gratitude, and what it truly means to live a well-lived life.This is a conversation about happiness, but even more fundamentally, it is a conversation about being fully human.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:47 - The Happiness Paradox04:04 - The Two Levels of Suffering06:44 - The Knowing–Doing Gap09:24 - The Three Rs of Lasting Change13:00 - The Myth of Radical Change17:09 - Perfectionism and the All-or-Nothing Trap18:29 - Psychological Compound Interest23:07 - The Upward Spiral26:23 - Horoscopes, Belief and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies29:30 - Reality and Perception31:28 - Mindset vs Circumstance33:52 - The Attention Crisis35:00 - How the Brain Changes Throughout Life40:26 - The Relationship Advantage44:51 - Why Relationships Are Built Slowly45:48 - The Art of Listening48:05 - Social Anxiety and Self-Focus49:56 - The Power of Presence51:25 - The Beginner's Mind54:20 - The Ordinary Things That Matter54:58 - What Does a Well-Lived Life Feel Like?57:12 - Where to Find Tal Ben-Shahar57:52 - Closing RemarksConnect with us: https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompacthttps://www.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: freedompact@gmail.com (business enquiries, guest suggestions, appreciation, feedback, and anything else!)https://Tiktok.com/personaldevelopmentConnect with Tal:https://www.talbenshahar.comTal's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvWvBong0cl-pJCUbsmfg0Ahappinessstudies.academyBuy Happy Habits (non-affiliate links): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Habits-Happier-Healthier-Minute-ebook/dp/B0F3WN9YWT/ref=sr_1_4?crid=27D18LZNCM6HM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pDmiNeH2L8YLMXk8TzC41eNesZURfnCuVE6r8-dTj5ZnenKY9AyB2ZJ7BhXxR1fWs4yn36kICW_EwXzENKY5u0HuHBlhW5Dz1r0aB3GT1HygYg8F4iVn-_QRQkAzEV6q7zUFv-WjSc4rwXoYHlHQ54SfWrKKFjI8Lq7M-D17Qlr_qJn3wgiMqEvKVgV2CWMraqoQUPGR98j0blWHYLJuGETT_9ekYdmZgOFf4f-gmE0.SNaDnsm40KQ9zJ9mBkir70xpfbUnxc5_845hJoODQ7g&dib_tag=se&keywords=tal+ben+shahar&qid=1780227053&sprefix=tal+ben+shaha%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-4
Transcribe →#421: Johan Norberg - The Conditions That Create Golden Ages
May 2400:47:36Tap to summarizeJohan Norberg is a historian of ideas, author, and Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute whose work explores the rise and fall of civilizations, the psychology of progress, and the cultural conditions that allow societies to flourish.In this conversation, we explore why great civilizations collapse, how fear changes cultures psychologically, why openness and intellectual risk-taking repeatedly produce golden ages, and what modern society can learn from Athens, Sparta, Renaissance Florence, Abbasid Baghdad, and the Dutch Republic.Johan explains why civilizations often “die from suicide rather than murder”, why fear drives societies toward conformity and orthodoxy, and how innovation emerges from cultures willing to tolerate disagreement, eccentricity, and experimentation.We also discuss:- Why societies stop believing in the future,- Whether the modern West is becoming more “Spartan” or "Athenian",- The psychology of decline and nostalgia,- Why too much comfort can weaken civilizations,- The importance of freedom of speech and intellectual openness,and the institutional conditions that repeatedly produced humanity’s greatest breakthroughs.This is a conversation about civilization, creativity, fear, innovation, and the fragile conditions required for human flourishing.Timestamps:00:00 — Why civilizations lose belief in the future02:09 — “Civilizations die from suicide, not murder”03:16 — How fear psychologically changes societies05:08 — Why openness creates flourishing civilizations07:23 — Why societies persecute the people they need most09:08 — Athens vs Sparta: two eternal archetypes12:21 — Is the modern West becoming more Spartan?14:49 — Do civilizations decline psychologically first?16:44 — Are humans biased toward nostalgia and decline narratives?20:28 — How do we distinguish real decline from pessimism?22:00 — Why breakthrough thinkers cluster in certain places25:47 — Creativity, bureaucracy, and cultural stagnation28:10 — Does comfort weaken civilizations?30:27 — The conditions that foster intellectual risk-taking33:24 — Universities, truth, and psychological safety35:16 — Which cultures are fostering innovation today?37:49 — The institutions behind flourishing civilizations40:34 — What future generations may judge us for44:19 — Johan Norberg’s most important lesson from history47:01 — Where to find Johan NorbergConnect with Johan:https://www.johannorberg.netBUY 'PEAK HUMAN' HERE (Not an affiliate link): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Peak-Human-What-Learn-Golden/dp/1838957294https://x.com/johanknorbergConnect with us:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompacthttps://www.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: freedompact@gmail.com - (Business enquiries, guest suggestions, feedback, appreciation and anything else)https://Tiktok.com/personaldevelopment
Transcribe →#420: Dale Comstock: 'CIA's Grim Reaper' Reveals All About Chaotic Missions, Delta Selection & More
May 2001:40:22Tap to summarizeDale Comstock is a former U.S. Army Special Operations veteran, having served over two decades as a paratrooper, Green Beret, and ultimately a member of 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (Delta Force), the Army’s premier counterterrorism unit. In this episode, we discuss:00:00 What It Takes To Be An Elite Operator12:00 Delta Force Selection16:00 Chris Ryan, Bravo Two-Zero & Special Forces Toughness33:00 "We Are Not All Equal" - Delta Mindset40:00 Panama Jail Mission: "It Was Chaos"59:00 Performing Under The Ultimate Pressure1:06:00 Do Special Forces Feel Fear?1:26:30 Becoming A Mercenary 1:39:20 More From DaleLinks:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise)https://instagram.com/freedompactMore from Dale: https://www.dalecomstockamericanbadass.com/
Transcribe →#419: Alison Armstong - The Hidden Reasons Why Men Pull Away
May 1301:24:55Tap to summarizeAlison Armstrong ( @AlisonArmstrongVideos ) has spent more than 35 years studying the dynamics between men and women.In this conversation, we explore one of the most emotionally charged questions in modern relationships. That is, why do so many men and women struggle to truly understand each other?Alison argues that many of the behaviours people interpret as indifference, withdrawal, or incompatibility are often misunderstood emotional responses shaped by criticism, appreciation, polarity, and the way couples unintentionally condition each other over time.We discuss why men withdraw in relationships, the psychology of admiration and criticism, what keeps attraction alive long-term, and why modern dating can feel increasingly confusing and disconnected despite people wanting love more than ever.Timestamps:00:00 – Why modern relationships are struggling05:48 – What women fundamentally misunderstand about men14:39 – Are men more emotionally sensitive than people realise?23:16 – Do women create the men they complain about?33:04 – Why men withdraw in relationships40:55 – Why appreciation changes everything 48:50 – The biggest mistakes men and women make with each other56:22 – What keeps attraction alive long-term?1:04:35 – Why modern dating feels broken1:06:58 – Why intense chemistry can be dangerous1:13:49 – How to know if you’re with the right person1:23:33 – What gives relationships lasting hopeLinks:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompacthttps://www.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: freedompact@gmail.com https://Tiktok.com/personaldevelopmentThe Appreciation Equationhttps://www.alisonarmstrong.com/products/appreciationequation.htmlFeels Like Love, Looks Like Mathhttps://www.alisonarmstrong.com/products/love-math.htmlAlison's Online Curriculum Free Sampleshttps://www.alisonarmstrong.com/samples/In addition, viewers can receive the following products for FREE using the promo codes and instructions below:Thrive Your Life webinarGo to: https://www.alisonarmstrong.com/products/thrive-life.htmlClick on "FOR ME"At check out, enter promo code AlisonThrive2025 (promo code expires 6/30/2026)Making Sense of Men: A Woman's Guide to a Lifetime of Love, Care & Attention from All MeneBook, available on the Alison Armstrong Mobile AppGo to: https://www.alisonarmstrong.com/products/makingsense.htmlClick on "FOR ME"At check out, enter promo code AlisonGift2025 (promo code expires 6/30/2026)
Transcribe →#418: Steven Pressfield - The Painful Reason You Haven’t Become Who You Could Be
May 900:53:24Tap to summarizeSteven Pressfield is a bestselling author best known for The War of Art, Turning Pro and more. His books have influenced writers, entrepreneurs, athletes, creatives, and performers around the world. In this episode, we cover:Why talent is overrated and consistency matters more than most people thinkHow Steven defines “Resistance” and why it shows up strongest around meaningful workThe habits and mindset shifts that helped him survive years of failure and self-doubtWhy fear can often point directly toward your true calling and purposeSteven’s philosophy on creativity, discipline, the muse, and building a meaningful lifeTimestamps:00:00 — Why Talent Is Overrated & The Power of Grinding02:24 — The Danger of Blind Persistence Without Growth05:04 — Resistance in the Age of Smartphones & Distraction07:08 — How Resistance Still Shows Up Every Morning10:39 — Resistance as a Compass Toward Your Calling13:33 — Steven’s Lowest Point: Defeat, Divorce & Living in a Van17:26 — “Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants To Be”26:17 — Why Self-Doubt Never Fully Disappears for Creators33:18 — Writer’s Block, Creativity & Serving the Muse48:25 — What To Do When You’re Working Hard But Seeing No ResultsLinks:https://stevenpressfield.com/Connect with us:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompacthttps://www.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: freedompact@gmail.com https://Tiktok.com/personaldevelopment
Transcribe →#417: Professor Paul Eastwick - You’re Overthinking Attraction (It's Simpler Than You Think)
May 501:03:53Tap to summarizeProfessor Paul Eastwick is one of the leading researchers in the science of attraction, relationships, and human mating psychology, leading the Attraction and Relationships Lab at UC Davis.In this conversation, we explore a deceptively simple question: do we actually know what we want in a partner? Drawing on decades of research, Paul challenges some of the most deeply held assumptions about dating, suggesting that many of the preferences we believe define our “type” do not meaningfully predict who we are attracted to in real life.We also discuss why attraction often fails to follow our stated ideals, how compatibility emerges in ways that cannot be easily predicted, and why even advanced models struggle to explain who will click with whom. Along the way, we examine the role of conversation, proximity, and repeated interaction in shaping romantic outcomes, factors that are often overlooked in modern, app-based approaches to dating.Timestamps:00:00 – Do we actually have a “type”?02:42 – Why your ideal partner list doesn’t hold up05:30 – “But I’m different” — do preferences ever work?07:46 – If attraction isn’t preference… what is it?08:00 – Why compatibility can’t be predicted (even with AI)10:30 – Attraction as “random conversations”15:45 – Should you trust what you think you want?17:58 – Why dating apps and filters can backfire21:02 – Attractiveness is more subjective than you think24:44 – Why this should give people hope27:19 – The truth about looks, status, and “optimising”32:00 – The hidden cost of self-improvement culture35:16 – Why vulnerability beats performance39:29 – Should you date lots of people—or focus on one?41:55 – Why relationships naturally progress (and stick)44:23 – Why people don’t “trade up” the way we think46:24 – Proximity: the most powerful force in attraction47:50 – What this means for long-distance relationships49:21 – Is hypergamy real? (what the data actually says)52:59 – Why people end up with similar partners54:28 – Are dating apps distorting reality?55:33 – Do we fall for the person—or how they make us feel?56:53 – How much of attraction is shaped by culture?59:36 – What should you actually do differently?Links:http://pauleastwick.comhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723049/bonded-by-evolution-by-paul-eastwick/ - Bonded by Evolution (Paul's Book)http://pauleastwick.com/publications-by-year - Academic PublicationsLove Factually Podcast ( @LoveFactuallyPod )Connect with us:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompacthttps://www.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: freedompact@gmail.com https://Tiktok.com/personaldevelopment
Transcribe →#416: Menno Henselmans - The Science-Based Tools To Build Muscle Faster
Apr 2600:50:38Tap to summarizeMenno Henselmans is exercise scientist, author, and researcher. In this episode, Menno and I disucss what science shows actually builds muscle, what early 'gym-bro' culture got right and wrong, how to correctly apply science-based training, getting better results without overcomplicating your training, the nuances of protein intake, recovery and progress, and much more.Timestamps:00:00 What Science-Based Training Is & How To Use It05:10 Is Stretching a Waste of Time?07:56 What Gym Bros Got Right & Wrong (Proven by Science)12:10 Is There an “Optimal” Training Volume?15:20 How Stress & Sleep Impact Muscle Growth16:38 What Is Mechanical Tension? (Explained Simply)18:43 If Menno Could Only Do 7 Exercises Forever22:03 Do Stretched Exercises Build More Muscle?24:30 Are People Overcomplicating Science-Based Training?27:00 Do “Effective Reps” Actually Matter?29:43 Strength vs Muscle: What’s the Difference?31:45 Protein Intake Explained Properly35:41 The Truth About the Anabolic Window41:16 Genetics vs Muscle Growth (What’s Realistic?)45:50 Why You’re Not Actually Plateauing48:36 The Future of Muscle Growth Research49:43 Connect With MennoLinks:https://mennohenselmans.com/https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise)https://instagram.com/freedompact
Transcribe →#415: Jonathan Pageau - Civilisation, Meaning, and the Foundations of Social Stability
Apr 2201:01:41Tap to summarizeJonathan Pageau ( @JonathanPageau ) is a French-Canadian icon carver, writer, and speaker known for exploring symbolism, Christianity, and the patterns that shape culture and meaning.In this conversation, Jonathan Pageau explores a question that feels increasingly difficult to ignore: what actually breaks down at the level of a civilisation, and why now?Drawing on history, philosophy, and cultural analysis, this episode examines how societies lose coherence, why identity begins to fragment, and how the absence of shared meaning can produce two seemingly opposing forces at once: chaos and control.We discuss:- Why removing higher-order meaning leads to fragmentation- The hidden pattern behind civilisational decline- Why modern societies struggle with identity, community, and cohesion- The tension between increasing freedom and rising authoritarianism- Whether current trends in mental health and social breakdown reflect something deeperThis is not a conversation about politics. This is a conversation about structure, meaning, and the conditions required for a society to remain stable over time.Timestamps00:00 – What actually breaks down in when civilisations fall?03:11 – Why societies split into chaos and control05:52 – The hidden historical pattern behind collapse09:36 – When civil conflict becomes more likely13:28 – What actually triggers collapse in real life16:17 – Mental health, fertility, and societal decline21:06 – Can society be saved? (and where to start)29:35 – Why beauty is disappearing from modern life35:32 – AI, technology, and becoming less human43:12 – The lost meaning of suffering52:17 – What should you actually do now?Connect with Jonathan:https://www.youtube.com/@UCtCTSf3UwRU14nYWr_xm-dQ https://www.thesymbolicworld.comConnect with us:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompacthttps://www.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: freedompact@gmail.com https://Tiktok.com/personaldevelopment
Transcribe →#414: Dr Amir Levine (Attachment Expert) - What Makes An Avoidant Stay (And Why They Leave)
Apr 1600:55:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Dr. Amir Levine - a neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and bestselling author of Attached. Here, we explore one of the most important yet overlooked forces shaping your life: your relationships.We dive deep into the science of attachment and uncover why your brain treats social disconnection as a serious biological threat. From loneliness and rejection to love, intimacy, and long-term health, this conversation reveals how the quality of your relationships may be the single biggest predictor of your happiness, resilience, and even how long you live.Amir discusses the attachment system that governs how safe you feel in the world, why being ignored can feel so painful, and how small, everyday interactions quietly shape your brain over time. We also explore the different attachment styles: anxious, avoidant, and secure, and how they play out in real relationships, often without you even realising it.If you’ve ever wondered why relationships feel difficult, why you react the way you do, or how to build deeper, more secure connections, this episode will change how you see yourself, and the people around you.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:- Why your brain treats rejection like physical danger- The surprising link between relationships and lifespan- What attachment styles really are (and how they form)- Why avoidant and anxious patterns repeat in relationships- The hidden system that determines how safe you feel- Practical tools to build stronger, more secure connections- How small interactions shape your brain and behaviour00:00 – Do relationships determine how meaningful life feels?01:26 – Why being ignored feels so painful (Cyberball effect)04:16 – The deep human need to belong07:07 – The science linking relationships to health & longevity09:48 – The biggest mistake people make about relationships10:27 – Why your childhood doesn’t define your attachment style13:36 – How your brain is constantly rewiring itself14:54 – What attachment theory actually is (simple explanation)16:01 – The different attachment styles explained19:27 – The distribution of attachment styles in the population20:28 – Anxious attachment as a “perceptual superpower”23:10 – Why avoidants push people away (without realising)27:36 – Why anxious and avoidant types attract each other30:00 – Where attachment theory stops explaining behaviour33:37 – Why relationships regulate your emotions34:54 – The “reverse Cyberball” experiment (power of inclusion)37:17 – The 5 pillars of secure relationships (CARP model)38:03 – Why your brain needs people to feel safe40:44 – Why breakups feel so painful42:25 – The rule that stops arguments instantly46:10 – Does comfort kill attraction? (secure vs passion debate)50:08 – Why stable relationships outperform dramatic ones51:51 – The power of small daily interactions (SIMIs)52:49 – The most important relationship habit to practice54:25 – Final thoughts & where to find AmirConnect with us:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompacthttps://www.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: freedompact@gmail.com https://Tiktok.com/personaldevelopmentConnect with Amir:https://amirlevinemd.comBuy 'Secure': https://amirlevinemd.com/secure-bookTake the attachment quiz:https://amirlevinemd.com/quiz
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