When people think of the paratroopers of World War II, they tend to think of the European theater — the 101st Airborne Division and the Band of Brothers. But paratroopers were also deployed in the Pacific, and here to unpack their lesser-known but equally epic and heroic story is James Fenelon, a former paratrooper himself and the author of Angels Against the Sun: A WWII Saga of Grunts, Grit, and Brotherhood. Today on the show, James tells us about the formation, leadership, and training of the 11th Airborne Division, the role they played in the campaigns of the Pacific — which included being dropped one by one out of a tiny plane described as a “lawnmower with wings” —how they built a reputation as one of the war’s most lethal units, and the division’s surprising connection to the creation of the Twilight Zone. At the end of our conversation, James shares what lessons we all can take away from the exploits and spirit of the 11th Airborne. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Podcast #1: We Who Are Alive and Remain AoM Article: Motivational Posters — Band of Brothers Edition Lieutenant General Joseph Swing Colonel Orin “Hard Rock” Haugen Medal of Honor citation for Private First Class Manuel Perez Jr. “Combat in Twilight: Rod Serling’s World War II” Connect With James Fenelon James’ Website

The charge to be well-mannered, to treat others with civility, kindness, and respect, is perennial. But the rules for how to carry those manners into action, the rules of good etiquette, change over time. Given all the cultural and technological changes modern society has experienced, it's not always easy to know the best practices for a contemporary gentleman. Here to offer some guidance on that front is Thomas Farley, aka, Mr. Manners. Today on the show, Thomas offers some answers to the frequently asked questions around modern etiquette, including when to send a handwritten thank you note, whether "no problem" is an appropriate response to "thank you," if it's okay to ghost someone, how to deal with our ever proliferating and out-of-control tipping culture, whether it's okay to exclude kids from your wedding, if you should still open a door for a woman, and more. Resources Related to the Podcast Extensive Manners and Etiquette Archives How Manners Made the World The Importance of Good Manners How to Acquire Good Manners The Art of Thank You Note Writing The Unclassified Laws of Etiquette How to Accept a Compliment With Class The Ins and Outs of Opening a Door for a Woman A Primer on Wedding Etiquette How to Tame the Timing Anxiety Around Texting Podcast #718: How to Use Digital Body Language to Build Trust and Connection Podcast #162: Digital Manners & Etiquette For the Modern Man Podcast #422: Men & Manners — Tipping, Emojis, and Much More Connect With Thomas Farley Thomas' website

Do you feel stuck in life — that you aren’t making progress in a relationship, job, or goal and you don’t know how to fix the problem and move forward? Well, perhaps you can take a little solace in the fact that it’s a universal human experience, even amongst history’s highest achievers. Indeed, when Adam Alter, a social psychologist and professor of marketing, looked at the lives of successful actors, musicians, writers, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs, he found that they all had passed through times in their lives and careers when they felt totally stuck. Today on the show, Adam, who’s the author of Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most, explains why getting stuck is an inevitability in life, as well as mindset shifts and practices to escape from stuckness. We first talk about what contributes to getting stuck, including the goal gradient effect, and how the illusion of the creative cliff can keep you from seeing that you may end up doing your best work later in life. We then talk about dealing with the emotional angst of feeling stuck, and how it can be better to initially accept your stuckness than kick against the pricks. From there, we turn to some tactics for getting unstuck, including doing a friction audit and copying the work of others. In my favorite part of the conversation, we discuss the importance of recognizing when to move from exploring to exploiting, and vice versa. We end our conversation with why the mantra for getting unstuck is “action over all.” Resources Related to the Podcast Adam’s previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #420: What Makes Your Phone So Addictive & How to Take Back Your Life a-ha’s video for “Take on Me” Giannis on whether he considers this season a failure AoM Article: Meditations on the Wisdom of Action AoM Article: Want to Become a Better Writer? Copy the Work of Others AoM Article: Solvitur Ambulando — It Is Solved By Walking AoM Podcast #418: How to Get Unstuck AoM Podcast#432: How to Achieve Creative Success AoM Podcast #512: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World Connect with Adam Alter Adam on LinkedIn Adam on Twitter Adam’s website

America’s national parks are one of the country’s greatest treasures, and many people have it on their bucket list to visit one or more of these gems. But figuring out where to go and how to execute a national park experience can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. Here to offer some really helpful advice on both visiting and camping in the national parks is Jeremy Puglisi, co-author, along with his wife Stephanie, of Where Should We Camp Next?: National Parks: The Best Campgrounds and Unique Outdoor Accommodations In and Around National Parks, Seashores, Monuments, and More. Today on the show, Jeremy walks us through how to navigate the complex reservation system some of the parks have in place and what it takes to secure a campsite inside the parks. He then shares his best tips for getting the most out of a national park experience in general, as well as when you’re visiting some of the country’s most iconic destinations, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. At the end of our conversation, Jeremy shares the national parks he thinks are underrated, and if you want to avoid the crowds of the national parks, he also shares his picks for the country’s best state parks. Resources Related to the Podcast Jeremy’s previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #711: — How to Plan the Ultimate Road Trip recreation.gov nps.gov KOA campgrounds AoM Article: Beat the Crowds (And the Fees) With Dispersed Camping Connect With Jeremy Puglisi The RV Atlas website The RV Atlas podcast RV Atlas on Instagram RV Atlas on Twitter

We don't often think of work when we think of Henry David Thoreau. We think of Thoreau living with his family, or loafing around at a cabin at Walden, and mostly spending his days walking and enjoying nature. We know he did some writing, sure, but often think of him as being largely the abstract thinker type. But Thoreau was a man of much practical skill, who lived a life of both thought and action. He did lots of kinds of work — from carpentry to surveying to helping raise Ralph Waldo Emerson's kids — and thought a lot about the nature of work, both the paid variety and the kind that's necessary for simply sustaining day-to-day life. Today on the show, John Kaag, a professor of philosophy and the co-author of Henry at Work: Thoreau on Making a Living, shares some of Thoreau's insights on work with us. We discuss what Thoreau can teach us about the value of resignation, the importance of continuing to work with your hands to maintain what Thoreau called your "vital heat," what makes for meaningful work, and the trap of working in bad faith. We end our conversation with a call to consider what you're really being paid for in your job and the true cost of the things you buy. Resources Related to the Podcast John's previous appearances on the AoM podcast: AoM Podcast #480: Hiking With Nietzsche AoM Podcast #576: A Treasure Trove of American Philosophy Walden by Henry David Thoreau Emerson's eulogy for Thoreau AoM Article: How to REALLY Avoid Living a Life of Quiet Desperation Sunday Firesides: The Cost of a Thing Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew B. Crawford Connect With John Kaag John's faculty page

When men think about optimizing their hormones, they tend only to think about raising their testosterone. But while increasing T can be important, an ideal health profile also means having testosterone that's in balance with your other hormones as well. Today on the show, Dr. Kyle Gillett joins me to discuss both of those prongs of all-around hormone optimization. We start with a quick overview of the different hormones that affect male health. We then get into what qualifies as low testosterone and how to accurately test yours. We also discuss what causes low testosterone in individual men, and how its decline in the general male population may be linked to both birth control and the world wars. In the second half of our conversation, we discuss how to both raise testosterone and get rid of excess estrogen, including the use of some effective supplements you may never have heard of. We then get into the risks and benefits of taking TRT, before ending our discussion with what young men can do to prepare for a lifetime of optimal T and hormonal health. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM series on testosterone, including How I Doubled My Testosterone Levels Naturally AoM Podcast #761: How Testosterone Makes Men, Men AoM Podcast #878: The Fitness Supplements That Actually Work Connect With Dr. Kyle Gillett Kyle on IG Gillett Health Podcast on Spotify and Apple Gillett Health on YouTube Gillett Health website

When Daniel Zia Joseph decided to join the Army at the unusually late age of 32, he solicited advice from his buddies who had served in the military on how to succeed in the experience and become a good officer and leader. Today, he passes on these leadership lessons to us. Dan is the author of Backpack to Rucksack: Insight Into Leadership and Resilience From Military Experts, and he first shares why he decided to join the Army at an older age and what he would tell other guys who keep thinking about doing the same thing. We talk about how he prepared himself to be a leader and how getting his masters in organizational psychology helped deepen his development. We then discuss the lessons his military mentors imparted to him, including why you should pursue attrition, the importance of command climate, using psychological jiu-jitsu, and the difference between garrison and field leadership. Resources Related to the Podcast Dan's video about joining the military after age 30 AoM Podcast #875: Authority Is More Important Than Social Skills AoM Article: Are You a Strategist or an Operator? Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer Connect With Dan Joseph Dan's website — Combat Psych

Writing an email while on a Zoom call. Talking on the phone while walking. Scrolling through social media while watching a movie. In both our work and our play, we’re all doing more and more multitasking. Doing two things at once makes us feel as if we’re more efficient and getting more done. But my guest would say that all this task juggling actually makes us less productive, while diminishing the quality of our work and stressing our minds, and that we’d be better off curbing our multitasking in favor of monotasking. His name is Thatcher Wine and he’s the author of The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better. Today on the show, Thatcher explains the illusions around multitasking and the benefits of monotasking — that is, bringing our full focus to a single task at a time. We discuss why reading is a foundational part of becoming a monotasker, and then get into some of the other activities Thatcher recommends monotasking, including walking, listening, traveling/commuting, and thinking. Thatcher argues that doing things like listening to a podcast while cleaning your house isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but that you may want to try stripping everything away from your daily tasks except the primary tasks themselves to observe the resulting effect and to strengthen your “monotasking muscles” and rebuild your attention span. Once you’ve experimented with doing a task alone, you can then decide to layer back in the second activity, or, maybe decide you actually liked giving it your all. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM podcast episodes with Cal Newport on Deep Work and Digital Minimalism AoM podcast with Oliver Burkeman on Time Management for Mortals AoM podcast with Nicolas Carr on how the internet affects our minds and attention AoM series on how to improve your listening AoM article on the benefits of being fully present AoM article on working when you work, and playing when you play Connect With Thatcher Wine Companion Website to the Monotasking Book Thatcher’s Website Juniper Books

Different generations love to cast aspersions on each other. Boomers think Millennials and Gen Zers are fragile narcissists. Those younger generations think that Boomers are selfish, closed-minded pinheads who helped themselves to economic success and then pulled the ladder out for everyone else. But are these and other generational stereotypes true? Here to unpack that question for us is Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology and the author of Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future. We begin our conversation with some background on the study of generations and why Jean thinks the Strauss-Howe theory of generational cycles has been disrupted. We then work our way through the generations, from the Silent Generation to the present, and talk about the characteristics and particular challenges of each cohort. We dig into the myths and truths of the generations, such as whether Boomers are doing financially well and Millennials are doing financially poorly. We talk about why Gen X gets overlooked, why there’s such a sharp break between Millennials and Gen Z, why Gen Zers are taking longer to get their drivers’ licenses and feel darkly pessimistic, and much more. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM article on the Strauss-Howe generational cycle theory AoM Podcast #236: What the Generational Cycle Theory Can Tell Us About Our Present Age (With Neil Howe) AoM Article: A New Generation of Prigs, Prudes, and Squares AoM Article: How Millennials Could Be the Next Greatest Generation of Personal Finance AoM Podcast: #751: The Rise of the Religious “Nones” (And What It Means for Society) Atlantic article by Jean: “The Myth of the Broke Millennial” Connect With Jean Twenge Jean’s website

When John Bowe learned that his extremely reclusive cousin, who had lived for decades in his parents' basement, had moved out and gotten married at the age of fifty-nine, John was extremely surprised. What made him equally surprised was how his cousin had finally launched his life. It hadn't been meds or therapy. Instead, he had joined his local Toastmasters club. Duly intrigued, John set off on his own Toastmasters journey, as he details in his book I Have Something to Say: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking in an Age of Disconnection. Today on the show, John shares how he discovered that the ethos of this nonprofit organization parallels the tradition of rhetoric espoused by the ancient Greeks, especially by Aristotle, and why the ability to speak, whether in the context of giving a formal speech or simply having a conversation, continues to be such an essential skill in the modern age. In my favorite part of the show, we discuss how our ideas of authentic speech can actually get in the way of expressing our authentic selves. We then turn to the techniques for better speaking that John learned from joining Toastmasters and how Toastmasters ultimately transformed his own life. After the show is over, check out the show notes at aom.is/toastmasters Resources Related to the Podcast Toastmasters International AoM Podcast #698: The Secrets of Public Speaking From History’s Greatest Orators AoM Article: An Introduction to Public Speaking AoM Podcast #639: Why You Should Learn the Lost Art of Rhetoric AoM series on classical rhetoric Rhetoric by Aristotle The Fall of Public Man by Richard Sennett AoM series on overcoming shyness AoM Article: How to Minimize Your Uh’s and Um’s Sunday Firesides: Want to Solve Your Social Problems? Get Over Your Self "How to Speak in Public" — article in Psyche magazine by John Connect With John Bowe John's website

When most people think of psychopaths, they think of uniformly monstrous characters who lack empathy and conscience. But my guest says that those characteristics are just one part of the spectrum of traits that make up psychopathy, and while always having these traits turned up high is indeed bad, when employed to certain degrees in certain circumstances, they can actually be utilized for adaptive, positive ends. Kevin Dutton is a researcher of experimental psychology at Oxford and the author of The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success. Today on the show, Kevin first defines what makes psychopaths, psychopaths, and how they differ from sociopaths. He describes how psychopathic traits can be particularly useful in some professions and which professions attract the most psychopaths. In the second half of our conversation, Kevin lays out his argument for why he thinks the Apostle Paul was a psychopath and how that’s actually what made him such an effective evangelist. At the end of our conversation, Kevin offers a test that assesses psychopathy; stay tuned to find out if I’m a psychopath and take the test yourself to see if you are. Connect With Kevin Dutton Kevin on Twitter Kevin on IG Kevin’s website

There's plenty of advice out there about how to have a better daily routine. But what's just bunk and what actually works to improve the quality of your day and your overall life? My guest, medical-doctor-turned-science-educator Stuart Farrimond, took a deep dive into the research to find the authoritative answers to that question, and he shares them in his book Live Your Best Life: 219 Science-Based Reasons to Rethink Your Daily Routine. Today on the show, we walk through a daily routine, from morning to night, and Dr. Farrimond shares some best practices to make the most of it. We discuss why waking up to an alarm clock feels so terrible, why you shouldn't drink coffee first thing in the morning, the ideal length for an afternoon nap, how to improve your commute, the best time of day to exercise, and more. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: What Every Man Should Know About Sleep AoM Article: The Digestive Power of an After-Dinner Walk "It’s Not Just What You Eat, but the Time of Day You Eat It" AoM Article: How to Stop Your Snoring AoM Article: Unleash the Power of the Nap Sunday Firesides: Your Routine Needs Rites of Passage Connect With Stuart Farrimond Stuart on IG Stuart on Twitter

You know Michael Phelps, the most successful and decorated Olympic swimmer of all time who won a record 28 medals, 23 of which were gold. Well today, meet the coach behind Phelps' legendary success. Bob Bowman is an Olympic swimming coach, the head coach of the Arizona State swim team, and the author of The Golden Rules: 10 Steps to World-Class Excellence in Your Life and Work. Today on the show, Bob shares what he calls "the method," a system of principles he's developed over the years to coach his athletes to elite-level success that can also be applied to setting and achieving goals in every area of life. We first talk about how Bob ended up working with Phelps, before turning to some of his golden rules. We discuss developing a "dream big vision" and all-in attitude; the importance of having a daily routine and what his own routine and the routine of his swimmers is like; the need to cultivate a passion outside your main pursuit; and much more. After the show is over, check out the show notes at aom.is/goldenrules Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: Craft the Life You Want — Creating a Blueprint for Your Future AoM Article: Visions Over Goals AoM Article: Motivation Over Discipline AoM Article: Get 1% Better Every Day "The Mundanity of Excellence" by Daniel F. Chambliss Champions: The Making of Olympic Swimmers by Daniel F. Chambliss The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle Connect With Bob Bowman Bob on Twitter Bob on IG

Several years ago, the American Psychological Association issued a set of guidelines for psychologists working with boys and men. Guideline #1 says: "Psychologists strive to recognize that masculinities are constructed based on social, cultural, and contextual norms." Guideline #3 says: "Psychologists understand the impact of power, privilege, and sexism on the development of boys and men and on their relationships with others." My guest says that these guidelines miss the mark, and are just one indicator of the way in which the world of psychology misunderstands, and consequently underserves, men. Dr. John Barry is a psychologist, the co-founder of the Male Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society and the Centre for Male Psychology, as well as the co-author of the Perspectives in Male Psychology textbook. Today on the show, John unpacks the issues with thinking that masculinity is purely a social construct and that men's problems grow out of their power and privilege, and how these issues prevent men from getting the help they need. In the second half of our conversation, we discuss the surprising origin of the idea of toxic masculinity, what really defines masculinity, and what effect internalizing a negative or positive view of masculinity has on men. We end our conversation with what works for men's mental health and well-being if you don't want to go to therapy, and what you should look for in a therapist if you do. After the show is over, check out the show notes at aom.is/malepysch Resources Related to the Podcast The Centre for Male Psychology Introduction to Male Psychology and Mental Health course AoM series on the origins, nature, and imperatives of manhood Manhood in the Making by David Gilmore Iron John by Robert Bly AoM Podcast #761: How Testosterone Makes Men, Men Rational emotive behavior therapy Men's sheds associations in Australia and the US Connect With John Barry John's website John on Twitter

Kelly Starrett, a doctor of physical therapy, has trained professional athletes, Olympians, and military special operators, helping them unlock peak performance. But as he approached his fifties, he started to see cracks appearing in the health of the folks around him. What had worked for his peers in their 20s and 30s, wasn't working anymore; they were gaining weight, having surgeries, and just didn't feel good. So he and his wife and fellow trainer, Juliet, decided to write a book — Built to Move: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully — that took all that they've learned from training elite performers and distilled it into the foundational practices that everyone, at every age, can use to develop lasting mobility, durability, and all-around health. Today on the show, Kelly unpacks some of those essential physical habits, sharing the "vital signs" — tests that will help you assess how you're doing in that area — as well as daily practices that will help you strengthen and improve that capacity. Resources Related to the Podcast Kelly's previous appearance on the AoM podcast — Episode #213: Undoing the Damage of Chronic Sitting AoM article on the Sitting-Rising Test AoM Article: 7 Simple Exercises That Undo the Damage of Sitting (including the Couch Stretch) AoM article on foam rolling AoM Article: The Benefits of Hanging for Strength and Mobility AoM Article: 12 Balance Exercises You Can Do on a 2×4 AoM Podcast #638: How Changing Your Breathing Can Change Your Life AoM Podcast #678: Physical Benchmarks Every Man Should Meet, At Every Age Muscles and Meridians: The Manipulation of Shape by Phillip Beach Video of Kelly demonstrating the Couch Stretch Video of Kelly demonstrating the squat test Video of 90/90 sit/stretch Get yourself a pull-up bar The SlackBlock Kelly's article on fixing shoulder pain, including a video on the Shoulder Spin-Up Connect with Kelly Starrett The Ready State website The Ready State on IG Kelly on Twitter

If you've ever waited, and perhaps are now currently waiting, to hear whether or not you've tested positive for a disease, passed medical boards, or got the job you interviewed for, you know that this period of uncertainty can be filled with tension and anxiety. My guest today — Kate Sweeny, a professor of psychology — has studied the dynamics of this human experience and how we can best deal with it. We first discuss why the stress of waiting for uncertain news feels particularly uncomfortable and what types of people are more likely to worry while waiting. Kate then shares tactics that can help alleviate some of the worry of waiting, including leaning into being a pessimist as you approach the moment of truth and finding flow, even by doing something like playing Tetris. She also explains at what point the social support for people who are waiting for news tends to wane, so you can better support those around you who are currently stuck in this state of mind-burdening limbo. Resources Related to the Podcast 5 Tools for Thriving in Uncertainty The Best Books to Read in Uncertain Times AoM Podcast #287: The New Frontier of Flow The One Question NOT to Ask for Healthy Introspection (And What to Ask Instead) The Right and Wrong Way to Journal Connect with Kate Sweeny Kate's website

Whether you see some deer, have a fox cross your path, or spot a moose, there’s something disportionately delightful about encountering wildlife. Even seeing something pedestrian like a possum feels really fun. If you’d like to have more of these kinds of encounters, and a deeper experience with nature as a result, my guest has some tips for making them happen more often. His name is Dave Hall, and he’s an outdoor educator and guide, as well as the author of The Naturalist’s Companion: A Field Guide to Observing and Understanding Wildlife. Today on the show, Dave and I first talk about the safety and ethical considerations around observing wild animals. We then discuss the best places to spot wildlife (and how it could be in your own backyard), whether there’s a best time of day to encounter animals, and the approach to take so that the animals don’t know you’re there, or if they do, feel comfortable with your presence. Dave shares the gaze to adopt to spy more animals and the signs that will help you find them. We end our conversation with how to practice what Dave calls “spontaneous acceptance,” which may allow you to chill with a beaver. Resources Related to the Podcast Field guides and nature-related books that Dave recommends: Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking by Tom Brown Jr. Peterson Field Guides Timber Press Field Guides Tracking and the Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks and Sign by Paul Rezendes What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young Touching the Wild by Joe Hutto Beaversprite: My Years Building an Animal Sanctuary by Dorothy Richards Dave’s previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #157 — Primitive Pursuits & Winter Survival AoM Article: A Primer on Identifying Animal Footprints AoM Podcast #739: Rewild Your Life AoM Podcast #194: The Field Notes of Theodore Roosevelt Connect With Dave Hall Dave’s website

We live in a chatter-filled world. People will talk your ear off when you see them in person and everyone is constantly sharing their thoughts online. But my guest would say that all this chatter may be hurting us more than we know, and it would be better to close our pieholes and sit on our typing fingers a lot more often than we do. His name is Dan Lyons, and he's the author of STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World. Today on the show, Dan unpacks how being quiet and speaking with greater intention can improve your life. We discuss why some people tend to overtalk more than others and the six types of overtalkers out there, from the blurter to the most extreme case, the talkaholic, for whom overtalking is practically an addiction. We then discuss not getting sucked into spouting off online, avoiding conversational narcissism, the argument for spending less time working on your personal brand and more time doing quality work, how silence is power, how the best way to deal with issues in a marriage may be by not talking about them, and more. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: The Virtuous Life — Silence AoM Article: The Spiritual Disciplines — Silence AoM Article: The Quiet Man’s Power AoM Podcast #389: What It Means to Be a Quiet Professional AoM Article: How to Avoid Conversational Narcissism AoM Article: Why the Secret of a Happy, Successful Marriage Is Treating It Like a Bank Account AoM series on becoming a better listener Jonathan Haidt on how social media is causing a mental illness epidemic in teenage girls "Millions of Followers? For Book Sales, 'It's Unreliable'" International Listening Association Connect with Dan Lyons Dan's website

If you've had some contact with the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, there's a good chance you found it abstract, heady, and hard to understand. But my guest would say that it's full of rich, usable insights on how to become better people, and, fortunately for us, she's got a true knack for making Kant's wisdom really accessible. Karen Stohr is a professor of philosophy and the author of Choosing Freedom: A Kantian Guide to Life. Today on the show, she brings Kant's ethical system and categorical imperative down to earth and shares how it can be applied to our everyday lives. We discuss Kant's belief in our great moral potential and duty to improve ourselves, and how his insights can help us make right choices. Karen explains Kant's ideas on the difference between negative and positive freedom, the importance of treating people as ends and not just means, the tension between love and respect, why ingratitude could be considered a "satanic vice," how practicing manners can make us better people, and more. You Kant miss this episode. Sorry, I had to do that. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: Freedom From…Freedom To AoM Article: Practical Wisdom — The Master Virtue AoM Article: Via Negativa — Adding to Your Life By Subtracting AoM Podcast #292: The Road to Character AoM Podcast #421: Why You Need a Philosophical Survival Kit AoM Podcast #535: The Problem of Self-Help in a Liquid Age Sunday Firesides: Embracing the Coin of Character Sunday Firesides: Manners Develop Self-Control (And May Preserve Democracy) AoM Article: Are You a Contemptible Person? MLK's "Loving Your Enemies" sermon On Manners by Karen Stohr Oxford's Guides to the Good Life series of books Connect with Karen Stohr Karen's faculty page

You get really excited about an idea to start an exercise program, or become a better partner, or get organized. And then you do . . . nothing. Absolutely nothing. It's said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Even if they don't send you straight to Hades, good intentions, that go unfulfilled, can lead to real suffering. When you fail to act on your perennial plans for progress, you end up feeling frustrated, demoralized, and stuck. My guest is a clinical psychologist who has spent his career obsessed with how to tackle this stubborn issue of human existence. His name is Steve Levinson, and he's the co-author of Following Through: A Revolutionary New Model for Finishing Whatever You Start. Steve first explains the unhelpful ideas we have about why we don't follow through and that its real cause comes down to a tension between two different systems within us. He then shares the ah-ha moment he had as to how to reconcile these systems in order to consistently follow through on your intentions and offers strategies on how to put his follow-through method into practice. We end our conversation with the idea that the greatest strategy for increasing your follow-through is treating your intentions with a seriousness that borders on the sacred. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: Stop Procrastinating Today With Behavioral Science AoM Podcast #444: How to Use the Procrastination Equation to Start Getting Things Done AoM Article: What Gandhi and a 19th-Century Prussian Prince Can Teach You About Making Unbreakable Resolutions Sunday Firesides: Lash Yourself to the Mast AoM Article: The Power of Temptation Bundling Sunday Firesides: Do You Take This Habit . . . ? Connect With Steve Levinson FollowingThrough website Steve on LinkedIn