Podcast
The Art of Manliness
Hosted by The Art of Manliness · EN
The Art of Manliness Podcast aims to deepen and improve every area of a man's life, from fitness and philosophy, to relationships and productivity. Engaging and edifying interviews with some of the world's most interesting doers and thinkers drop the fluff and filler to glean guests' very best, potentially life-changing, insights.
124episodes
Episodes
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Belonging Without Conforming — The Path From Pseudo Self to Solid Self
1w ago00:58:52Summary readyWe all want two things that can seem at odds with each other: to be our own person and to belong. We want to stand apart from the crowd, but we also want to be connected to it. When that balance gets out of whack, we either lose ourselves in tribalism or drift into isolation.My guest today says many of the problems in modern life stem from our inability to hold these two impulses in tension. His name is Luke Burgis, and he’s the author of The One and the 99: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion. Today on the show, Luke explains how becoming a true individual can give you the strength to be a part of a community. We discuss the difference between a solid self and a pseudo self — and what role families and rites of passage can play in moving us toward one or the other — why modern politics feels like a dysfunctional family, the dangers of performative religion, and much more.Resources Related to the PodcastLuke’s previous appearances on the AoM podcast:Episode #714: Why Do We Want What We Want?Episode #910: Thick Desires, Political Atheism, and Living an Anti-Mimetic LifeThe True Believer by Eric HofferEducation of a Wandering Man by Louis L’AmourAoM Podcast #1,025: The Life and Legacy of Louis L’AmourAoM article with L’Amour’s weekly to-do listsAoM article and podcast about C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man and the idea of objective valueThe Courage to Be by Paul TillichThe Quest for Community by Robert NisbetAoM Podcast #847: Overdoing DemocracyAoM Podcast #1,010: How to Resist Group Anxiety and Become a Differentiated SelfAoM Article: Becoming a Well-Differentiated LeaderDying Breed article: A New Kind of Monasticism — The Power of Community to Shape the SoulThe Rule of St. BenedictConnect With Luke BurgisLuke’s websiteTake your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MANLINESS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/MANLINESSTimestamps0:00 Introduction0:54 Guest Intro: Luke Burgis & The One and the 994:48 The Parable of the Lost Sheep & the Book's Framework10:17 Defining the Self (vs. Identity & Soul)14:37 The Pseudo Self Explained19:40 How to Develop a Solid Self25:35 Louis L'Amour & Education for a Solid Self28:18 Curiositas vs. Studiositas (Ordered vs. Disordered Knowledge)44:30 Tribalism, Politics, & the Pseudo Self45:08 How Undifferentiation Fuels Political Dysfunction51:13 Religion, Performative Piety & the Digital World54:15 What Monasteries Teach Us About Community & Solid SelvesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryHow to Try Again
2w ago00:55:59Summary readyLife rarely unfolds according to plan. A relationship implodes. A move or job change doesn't work out. Or you simply fail in a goal you've set for yourself.My guest has spent almost two decades researching and field-testing how to get back on track when smaller slip-ups and larger upheavals knock you off course. His name is Steve Kamb, and he's the founder of Nerd Fitness and the author of How to Try Again: An Approachable Guide to Navigating Chaos and Making Change THAT STICKS. Today on the show, Steve shares practical principles for dealing with life's frustrating and demoralizing setbacks. We discuss why sometimes the best move is to pause rather than push harder, how to accept reality without resigning yourself to it, why treating change as an experiment can help you beat paralysis and take action, why you should treat consistency with your goals the way you do showering, and more.Resources Related to the PodcastSteve's previous appearances on the AoM podcast:Episode #42: Level Up Your Life With Nerd Fitness & Steve KambEpisode #170: Level Up Your LifeSteve's AoM guest posts:Don’t Be That Guy: The Taxonomy of Lousy Male FriendsHow Superheroes, Movies, and Video Games Taught Me to Conquer FearNerd FitnessMuseum of FailureSunday Firesides: Good Times Are Not Around the Corner (And That's Great News!)Sunday Firesides: Treat Life Like an Experiment"Lightning Fields" by the KillersConnect With Steve KambSteve's websiteSteve on IGSteve on LinkedInSteve on SubstackSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryBuilt to Walk — How Modern Shoes and Weak Feet Are Holding You Back
3w ago00:58:51Summary readyWalking is one of the most powerful health tools we have. It improves cardiovascular fitness, boosts mood, sharpens cognition, and can even be a predictor of how well you'll age. But all those benefits depend on something we rarely think about until it starts hurting: our feet.For many of us, walking is so automatic that we never consider the mechanics that make it possible. Yet the way we move, the shoes we wear, and the strength of the muscles in our feet can have a profound impact on how comfortably and efficiently we walk. When something goes wrong at our physical foundation, the effects can ripple upward, leading to pain not just in the feet, but in the knees, hips, and back.My guest today is Dr. Milica McDowell, a physical therapist and the co-author of the new book Walk. Today on the show, Milica explains why walking speed may be a hidden vital sign, what gives you your signature walking style, and how to spot and address injury-inducing inefficiencies in your gait. We then talk about feet: whether you should worry about pronation, how to rehab plantar fasciitis — and no, it's not stretching — the best kind of shoes to wear, and much more.Resources Related to the PodcastAoM Article: Solvitur Ambulando — It Is Solved By WalkingAoM podcast episode with Manoush ZomorodiAoM Article: I Started Taking a Walk Every Morning. Here’s What Happened to My HealthAoM Article: 20 Rules for WalkingAoM podcast episode with Matt FitzgeraldAltra shoesVivobarefootLems shoes (this is the pair Brett wears)Tyr weightlifting shoeInjinji toe socksToe spacerStudy on calf raise standardsConnect With Milica McDowellMilica's websiteMilica on IGSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryHow to Turn a Boy Into a Man
4w ago01:12:02Summary readyNote: This is a rebroadcast.A lot of young men today struggle in finding their footing in adulthood. They feel lost, directionless, and unsure of who they are and how to confidently and competently navigate the world.Part of the reason for this is that most young men today lack something which was once a part of nearly every culture in the world, but has now almost entirely disappeared: a rite of passage.My guest today didn’t want his son to flounder on the way to maturity, nor to miss out on having an initiation into manhood, so he set out to create a 6-year journey for him that would help him move from boy to man. His name is Jon Tyson, and he’s the author of The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character. Today on the show, Jon unpacks the components of the years-long journey into manhood he created for his son, beginning with how he brainstormed those components by doing “The Day Your Son Leaves Home” exercise. We then discuss how old Jon’s son was when he started his rite of passage and why it began with him having a “severing dinner” with his mom. We get into what his rite of passage consisted of, from the kickoff ceremony to the challenges, experiences, trips, and daily rituals Jon used to impart values and teach his son the “5 Shifts of Manhood.” Jon shares how moving his son’s focus from being a good man, to being good at being a man, helped him get remotivated to continue the process, why his rite of passage included a gap year after high school, and how Jon celebrated the end of his son’s journey into becoming a man. We also discuss whether Jon did something similar with his daughter. We end our conversation with some key principles any dad can use to start intentionally helping their kids become well-rounded individuals who can confidently step out on their own and into the world.Resources Related to the PodcastAoM Article: The Importance of FathersAoM Article: The Importance of Male Rites of PassageAoM Article: Male Rites of Passage From Around the WorldAoM Article & Podcast: Man’s Need for RitualAoM Series on the origins, elements, and future of manhoodAoM Article: The 7 Habits — Begin With the End in MindAoM Article: The 3 Families Every Young Man Needs to Grow Up WellJames HollisAoM Article: Carry the FireArt of Manliness’ Carry the Fire Zippo LighterAoM Article: What Is Manliness?AoM Podcast #527 With Richard RohrThe Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip and Dan HeathThe Way of Men by Jack DonovanAoM Podcast #49 With Jack DonovanAoM Series on the Four Archetypes of the Mature MasculineAoM Article: 100 Skills Every Man Should KnowAoM Article: 80+ Quotes on Men & ManhoodConnect With Jon TysonPrimal PathJon on TwitterJon on IG0:00 Introduction0:29 Guest Introduction: John Tyson & The Intentional Father2:28 The Research on Fatherless Boys4:54 What Men Lack Without a Rite of Passage8:37 The "Day Your Son Leaves Home" Exercise10:47 Building an Asset Map & Community of Fathers13:37 The Severing Dinner with Mom17:10 The Beach Initiation Ceremony at Age 1320:42 Taking Your Son Back to Your Roots28:14 The Five Shifts of Manhood31:52 Daily Morning Talks, Books & Movies42:32 Good Man vs. Good AT Being a Man46:28 The Archetypes: Lover, Leader, Warrior, Brother, Sage50:01 The Life Arc Interview56:03 The Gap Year as the Ordeal1:01:16 The Capstone Ceremony on the Camino de Santiago1:04:44 Doing Something Similar for His Daughter1:09:09 Key Principles Any Dad Can Start With TodayThat's 17 — let me trim to the 12 most distinct:0:00 Introduction & Why Rites of Passage Have Disappeared2:28 The Research on Fatherless Boys4:54 What Men Lack Without a Rite of Passage8:37 The "Day Your Son Leaves Home" Exercise13:37 The Severing Dinner & Beach Initiation Ceremony20:42 Taking Your Son Back to Your Roots28:14 The Five Shifts of Manhood31:52 Daily Talks, Books & Movies42:32 Good Man vs. Good at Being a Man50:01 The Life Arc Interview56:03 The Gap Year as the Ordeal1:01:16 The Capstone Ceremony & Key Principles for Any DadSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryInside With the Old Breed — A Conversation With Eugene Sledge’s Son
May 1900:58:52Summary readyWith the Old Breed is widely considered one of the greatest war memoirs ever written. Penned by Eugene Sledge, a Marine who fought with the 1st Division — the old breed — in the Pacific campaigns of Peleliu and Okinawa, the book is unflinching, deeply human, and so vividly written that you can practically feel the heat, mud, exhaustion, and terror coming off the page.But Sledge wasn't a professional writer. He was a biology professor who started jotting notes on scraps of paper tucked inside the New Testament he carried in his breast pocket. He wrote the book decades later, partly to process his own trauma, partly to leave a record for his sons.One of those sons is my guest today. Henry Sledge has spent years carrying his father's legacy forward, and he's written his own book — The Old Breed: The Complete Story Revealed — that pairs his father's combat experience with previously unpublished material and his own perspective as Eugene's son. Today on the show, Henry and I talk about why his dad wrote With the Old Breed, what made fighting in the Pacific uniquely hellish, and how Eugene managed to come home and live a full, honorable life despite carrying the war with him for the rest of his days.Resources Related to the PodcastChina Marine: An Infantryman's Life After World War II by E.B. SledgeHBO series The PacificKen Burns' The WarAoM Article: Eugene B. Sledge Puts Your Problems Into PerspectiveAoM Article: Are You Missing the Forbidden City?Connect With Henry SledgeHenry on IGHenry on FBThanks to This Week's Sponsor!Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MANLINESS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/MANLINESS0:00 - Introduction0:41 - About With the Old Breed: Eugene Sledge's War Memoir1:15 - Why Eugene Wrote the Book3:07 - How He Kept Notes in Combat4:20 - Writing & Publishing the Book6:03 - Eugene's Writing Style9:44 - Why Eugene Enlisted as a Private16:03 - Boot Camp Training21:35 - Why Peleliu Is the "Forgotten Battle"27:49 - What Made Fighting on Peleliu Hell31:40 - The Japanese as an Enemy43:10 - Life After the War: Coming Home50:00 - Lessons from With the Old BreedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryHow Constraints Help You Focus, Create, and Finish
May 1200:45:02Summary readyBack in 2019, David Epstein joined me to talk about his book Range and why generalists often thrive in a specialized world. Now he’s back with a new book that explores a seemingly opposite idea: the power of constraints. In Inside the Box, David argues that limits — deadlines, boundaries, and even setbacks — are often the very things that spark creativity, sharpen focus, and help us actually get meaningful work done.Today on the show, David shares how, in a world of endless freedom and options, constraints might actually be the thing you need most. He shares the surprising true story behind the creation of the periodic table, explains how a broken arm changed the course of his own life, and explores why giving people too much leeway can actually kill innovation. We discuss what Pixar did right that doomed companies like General Magic got wrong, why brainstorming sessions are usually ineffective, how to identify the bottlenecks holding back your work and life, and why learning to settle for “good enough” may be the key to getting more great things done.Resources Related to the PodcastDavid’s previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #512 — Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized WorldPixar’s Tin ToyAoM Article: Curing Your Restlessness — Limiting Your ChoicesThe Goal by Eliyahu M. GoldrattDavid’s This American Life Episode: “Something Only I Can See”AoM Article: Via Negativa — Adding to Your Life By SubtractingConnect With David EpsteinDavid’s website0:00 - Introduction0:40 - David Epstein & "Inside the Box": Overview1:50 - How Range and Constraints Are Connected3:14 - The Real Story Behind the Periodic Table7:00 - How a Broken Arm Changed David's Life10:22 - General Magic: What Happens With No Constraints20:14 - Pixar vs. General Magic: Constraints Done Right25:37 - This American Life's Editing Process31:10 - Finding Your Bottlenecks (The Goal)38:10 - Why Brainstorming Doesn't Work (And What Does)43:00 - The Case for Satisficing (Good Enough)51:11 - When Maximizing Makes SenseSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryWhy Screen Time Leaves You Exhausted — And How to Reverse Its Effects
May 500:50:56Summary readyYou hear a lot today about how our ample screentime is affecting our mental health. But how is it affecting our bodies, and how is that impact on our bodies affecting, well, our mental health?My guest today will unpack the ways that digital technology is sapping our vitality, and offer a simple protocol to get it back. Her name is Manoush Zomorodi, and she's the host of the TED Radio Hour and the author of Body Electric. In our conversation, Manoush explains why a day spent sitting in front of screens can leave you exhausted, even though you haven't really done anything, and how small bouts of movement throughout the day can counteract that drain and keep you feeling energized and focused. She shares how much activity you need to offset periods of being sedentary, and how to realistically incorporate these movement breaks into your routine. We also get into the specific effects digital technology is having on our eyes and ears — and what you can do to prevent the damage.Resources Related to the PodcastManoush's previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #342 — Why Boredom is Good for You"I Sing the Body Electric" by Walt WhitmanKeith Diaz's studiesAoM Article: The Importance of Building Your Daily Sleep PressureConnect With Manoush ZomorodiManoush's websiteManoush on IG0:00 - Introduction0:41 - Meet Manoush Zomorodi & Body Electric1:10 - Why Are We So Tired After Sitting All Day?5:30 - The Physical Effects of Sitting & Screens on the Body10:02 - Walt Whitman, Clerks & the History of Sedentary Work16:42 - Keith Diaz's Study: 5 Minutes of Movement Every 30 Min20:07 - Testing the Protocol: Manoush's Lab Experience21:15 - The Global Clinical Trial Results29:11 - How to Actually Integrate Movement Breaks Into Your Day32:11 - Even Exercise Isn't Enough If You Sit All Day37:50 - What Screens Are Doing to Your Eyes46:10 - What Earbuds Are Doing to Your Hearing49:22 - How Screens Disrupt Sleep (It's Not Blue Light) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryA Map for Finding Direction and Purpose in Life (Again and Again)
Apr 2800:58:15Summary readyWhile we often think of life as linear, my guest’s own life, along with a decade of research, has taught him that it’s anything but. In his latest book, What to Make of a Life, Jim Collins unpacks the cyclical pattern life actually unfolds in, and how to navigate it. He explains how we all go through periods of “fog” — times of disorientation and uncertainty — at least three times: in youth, after a life-changing “cliff” event, and as we move through midlife into older age. We find our way out of these fogs by what Jim calls coming into “frame” — aligning what you're built to do with what you actually do in a way that feels enlivening and meaningful. And Jim unpacks the three elements that help you find, and re-find, this frame over the course of your life.Along the way, Jim shares case studies of these principles at work, and we explore the role of luck, the inevitability of drudgery (even in work you love), and how to keep your inner fire lit over the long haul.Resources Related to the PodcastGood to Great by Jim CollinsAll Rise: The Remarkable Journey of Alan Page by Bill McGraneSelf-Renewal: The Individual and the Innovative Society by John W. GardnerSunday Firesides: You Never Know How Many Chapters Are Still to ComeSunday Firesides: Do the Right Thing, for Right NowAoM Article: The 5 Best AoM Podcast Episodes on Finding Meaning and PurposeAoM series on finding your life's vocationConnect With Jim CollinsJim's website0:00 - Introduction & Guest Overview0:41 - What Is "What to Make of a Life"?2:17 - The Three Seeds That Started the Research7:26 - What Are "Encodings"? Finding What You're Built For8:58 - John Glenn & Gordon Cooper: Encodings in Action14:32 - It's Never Too Late to Find Your Frame (Eisenhower & Franklin)19:34 - Multiple Frames: Alan Page's Second Life in Law25:56 - Navigating Cliffs: Expected vs. Shocking Life Changes31:09 - The Fog: Why Feeling Lost Is Normal40:58 - Simplex Stepping: How to Navigate the Fog49:32 - Flipping the Arrow of Money & Building a Flywheel57:34 - Thriving in the Second Half of LifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryBecome an Automatic Millionaire
Apr 2100:51:41Summary readyBuilding substantial personal wealth can feel difficult and out of reach. But my guest says that even those with modest means can, with a few simple decisions and strategies, become millionaires, and even multi-millionaires.David Bach is the author of the bestselling, newly updated personal finance classic, The Automatic Millionaire. Today on the show, we talk about the money management framework that will put you on the path to a free, secure, rich retirement. David explains his controversial "Latte Factor" principle, the astonishing power of compounding interest, how setting your finances on autopilot may be the most important financial move you can make, why he still believes in buying a home as an incomparable way to build wealth, the best way to pay down your debt, and more.Resources Related to the Podcastinvestor.gov compound interest calculatorAoM Article: What Every Young Man Should Know About the Power of Compound InterestAoM Article: Know-Nothing Investing — Index Funds For BeginnersAoM Article: Build Your Wealth — Graduate from a Paycheck Mentality to a Net Worth MentalityAoM Article: A Young Man’s Guide to Understanding Retirement Accounts — IRAsConnect With David BachDavid's websiteDavid on IGDavid on FBDavid on XDavid on YouTubeDavid on LinkedIn0:00 - Introduction0:41 - Meet David Bach & The Automatic Millionaire2:18 - The McIntyre Story: How Ordinary Income Built Millions7:37 - The Latte Factor Explained17:37 - The Power of Compound Interest20:27 - The Rule of 72 & Rate of Return23:32 - Why Starting Early Is the Key to Wealth33:55 - How Much to Save: The Millionaire Formula36:05 - Setting Up Automatic Investing (401k & IRAs)44:23 - Why Homeownership Still Builds Wealth50:22 - How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early47:14 - Paying Down Debt While Saving for RetirementSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryTruths Your Therapist Won't Tell You About How to Get Your Mind Right
Apr 1400:55:49Summary readyWhen people visit a therapist's office for help with their depression, they often don't find the relief they're seeking. That's because much of the counsel that is traditionally given doesn't offer the context people need to make sense of and preserve their mental well-being.Here to share these missing pieces of perspective and strategy is Dr. Scott Eilers, a clinical psychologist and the author of The Light Between the Leaves: 6 Truths Your Therapist Won't Tell You About Healing Depression and Trauma. Today on the show, Scott shares why the world of psychology doesn't always offer the most useful explanations for why people can sometimes feel alienated from their own lives. We then talk about insights Scott has gleaned from science, nature, and lived experience as to the mindset shifts and habits that can help you stay sharp, steady, and engaged in life — whether you're struggling with chronic depression, or just adrift in a low-grade funk.Resources Related to the PodcastAoM series on depressionAoM Podcast #741: The Exercise Prescription for Depression and AnxietyAoM article and podcast on Rick Hanson's method of "hardwiring happiness"Connect With Scott EilersScott's websiteScott's YouTube channelScott on IGScott on FB0:00 - Introduction0:41 - Meet Dr. Scott Eilers & His Book2:09 - Scott's Personal History with Depression6:23 - What Actually Causes Depression?8:28 - Neurotransmitters & the Biology of Mood14:45 - Why Traditional Therapy Falls Short25:50 - The Road to the Cabin: A Mental Health Metaphor30:22 - Sleep, Nutrition & Self-Care as Treatment31:15 - Exercise: The Most Powerful Tool for Depression40:35 - Envy Is Ignorance: You Can't See to the Bottom of Others' Lives44:23 - Pull the Weeds: Removing Invasive Pleasures51:10 - Keep the Water Flowing: The Power of Having Goals See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Summary