First off—it's been a thousand years. But I have a quick update—and if you liked Moonwalk, I think you'll (most likely) be into it. If you already know what it is (or just listened): here's the free system. And the update is: I talked to a guy named Andrew, because Andrew read a book. But when he read that book, it addressed a long-standing concern in his life. On this quick 2-minute update, we talk about it. For the book (the notetaking system is free, and you can read it in under 3 minutes) go here: www.mohnish.net/book Music by Kevin Macleod

First off—it's been a thousand years. But I have a quick update—and if you liked Moonwalk, I think you'll (most likely) be into it. If you already know what it is (or just listened): <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/book" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here's the free system.</a> And the update is: I talked to a guy named Andrew, because Andrew read a book. But when he read that book, it addressed a long-standing concern in his life. On this quick 2-minute update, we talk about it. For the book (the notetaking system is free, and you can read it in under 3 minutes) go here: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/book" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.mohnish.net/book</a> <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Music by Kevin Macleod</a>

Announcing: How to Take Notes at the Speed of Light

The future of Moonwalk, and where I'm going next. Join the email list, where I'll post new projects, updates, and book recommendations, all at mohnish.net/insider The Facts Special thanks to Kevin Sanji, Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, Vysali Soundararajan, Armi Legge, Justin Sheppard, and - last but not least - you. Thanks for listening.

The future of Moonwalk, and where I'm going next. Join the email list, where I'll post new projects, updates, and book recommendations, all at <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mohnish.net/insider</a> The Facts Special thanks to Kevin Sanji, Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, Vysali Soundararajan, Armi Legge, Justin Sheppard, and - last but not least - you. Thanks for listening.

The Future of Moonwalk

"But he listened to it and he says, 'That's good shit, dad!'" - Paul Rozin There's a deep, subjective feeling inside us. And it's the feeling that you know what tastes good, you know what movies are terrible, and you know that your grandfather's esoteric opinions on classical operas are actually spot-on. But in a world filled with varying subjective preferences (as well as people who enjoy eating pickles whole), there is an idea that won't die. It's the idea that someone can have "good taste". The idea that your taste can be better than my taste. On this episode, we investigate: - Does that idea make sense? - Is is possible to improve your taste systematically? - What are the components of someone who has good taste, and someone who doesn't? - And how subjective is taste in a world with clear preferences?   The Facts Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan.  Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji. Special thanks to Anna Leonard and Paul Rozin. Sign up for the insider newsletter for exclusive updates and book recommendations.    Music is by Podington Bear, BitBasic, and Kevin MacLeod

"But he listened to it and he says, 'That's good shit, dad!'" - Paul Rozin There's a deep, subjective feeling inside us. And it's the feeling that you know what tastes good, you know what movies are terrible, and you know that your grandfather's esoteric opinions on classical operas are actually spot-on. But in a world filled with varying subjective preferences (as well as people who enjoy eating pickles whole), there is an idea that won't die. It's the idea that someone can have "good taste". The idea that your taste can be better than my taste. On this episode, we investigate: - Does that idea make sense? - Is is possible to improve your taste systematically? - What are the components of someone who has good taste, and someone who doesn't? - And how subjective is taste in a world with clear preferences? The Facts Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan.  Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji. Special thanks to Anna Leonard and Paul Rozin. Sign up for the <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">insider newsletter</a> for exclusive updates and book recommendations.    Music is by <a href="http://www.podingtonbear.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Podington Bear,</a> <a href="http://bitbasic.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BitBasic,</a> and <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kevin MacLeod</a>

The Superpower: Can You Have Good Taste?

"Worst case scenario, the spy gets killed" - Benedetta Lerva If you hire a spy, a lot can happen. They can get caught. They can get tortured with endless roundhouse kicks to the face. And worst case scenario: they can die. So if you had to risk someone’s life to spy for your country, would you do it? And, more importantly, what does this teach us about what it means to be a better person? An economist helps us figure it out.   The Facts Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Vysali Soundararajan. Special thanks to Benedetta Lerva. The research:  East-West Germany espionage paper, Rotten Kid Theorem paper, and the “Pay Not to Go to the Gym” paper. Sign up for the insider newsletter for exclusive updates and book recommendations. Music is by Podington Bear, BitBasic, and Broke for Free.

"Worst case scenario, the spy gets killed" - Benedetta Lerva If you hire a spy, a lot can happen. They can get caught. They can get tortured with endless roundhouse kicks to the face. And worst case scenario: they can die. So if you had to risk someone’s life to spy for your country, would you do it? And, more importantly, what does this teach us about what it means to be a better person? An economist helps us figure it out. The Facts Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Vysali Soundararajan. Special thanks to Benedetta Lerva. The research: <a href="https://www.iza.org/publications/dp/10816/industrial-espionage-and-productivity" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> East-West Germany espionage paper,</a> <a href="https://ideas.repec.org/p/nbr/nberwo/0042.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Kid Theorem paper</a>, and the <a href="https://eml.berkeley.edu/~ulrike/Papers/gym.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Pay Not to Go to the Gym” paper.</a> Sign up for the <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">insider newsletter</a> for exclusive updates and book recommendations. Music is by <a href="http://www.podingtonbear.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Podington Bear</a>, <a href="http://bitbasic.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BitBasic</a>, and <a href="http://www.brokeforfree.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Broke for Free</a>.

The Rational Spy: How Incentives Screw with Everything

“My parents thought they hit the jackpot with me” - Gordie Bufton There’s a woman who buys a ticket. She gets in a plane, and passes all these little cultures of hills and cars and highways, and then - 2,000 miles later - realizes that the man whom she gave birth to and bought diapers in bulk for, is actually a complete shit show. On this episode, we talk about the shit show, and dive into a question that’s older than Nietzsche himself: can disadvantages be turned into advantages? Is that completely wrong? And if it’s true, why does the research give a different picture?   The Facts Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm, Justin Sheppard, and Mary Moran. Special thanks to Gordie Bufton, Lisa Moore, and Mark Seery. To sign up for the newsletter (and for more on this episode), go to mohnish.net Music is by Podington Bear.

“My parents thought they hit the jackpot with me” - Gordie Bufton There’s a woman who buys a ticket. She gets in a plane, and passes all these little cultures of hills and cars and highways, and then - 2,000 miles later - realizes that the man whom she gave birth to and bought diapers in bulk for, is actually a complete shit show. On this episode, we talk about the shit show, and dive into a question that’s older than Nietzsche himself: can disadvantages be turned into advantages? Is that completely wrong? And if it’s true, why does the research give a different picture? The Facts Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm, Justin Sheppard, and Mary Moran. Special thanks to Gordie Bufton, Lisa Moore, and Mark Seery. To sign up for the newsletter (and for more on this episode), go to <a href="http://www.mohnish.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mohnish.net</a> Music is by Podington Bear.

Gordie Goes to Hell: Turning Disadvantages into Advantages

I'm in a bar, and I tell Kevin a story about an African village. But the story I tell is the lovely, made-for-television version of what happened. The real story is worse. Much worse.  On this episode, we uncover the secret of sharp thinkers.   ###   Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted and co-written by Kevin Sanji. Feedback by Jarrod Sport and Justine Brumm. A special thanks to Christian Hempelmann. A quick note: No podcast next month. I’ll be traveling for 40 days, and we have some great material cued up. We’re off next month, but can’t wait to get back on the horse. Special thanks to Christain Hempelmann -  his paper. Go to moonwalkpodcast.com and sign up for the email list.  Music is by Podington Bear.

I'm in a bar, and I tell Kevin a story about an African village. But the story I tell is the lovely, made-for-television version of what happened. The real story is worse. Much worse.  On this episode, we uncover the secret of sharp thinkers. ### Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted and co-written by Kevin Sanji. Feedback by Jarrod Sport and Justine Brumm. A special thanks to Christian Hempelmann. A quick note: No podcast next month. I’ll be traveling for 40 days, and we have some great material cued up. We’re off next month, but can’t wait to get back on the horse. Special thanks to Christain Hempelmann - <a href="https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/humr.2007.20.issue-1/humor.2007.003/humor.2007.003.xml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> his paper</a>. Go to <a href="http://www.moonwalkpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moonwalkpodcast.com</a> and sign up for the email list.  Music is by Podington Bear.

The Revisionist Strikes Back

There's a hidden side to your first impression that you forgot. It's the secret that you forget - routinely - everyday when you slip on your carefully chosen off-color khakis, you spritz on your favorite cologne, and you spill orange soda all over your face.  Now, it's time to remember.    ###   Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Editing direction was by Jarrod Sport and Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear. Special thanks to Eliza, Mario, and Sam! Eliza is a WNYC Producer over at The Takeaway and Freakonomics Radio.  Go to moonwalkpodcast.com for more, and sign up for the email list for exclusive updates. They are awesome. 

There's a hidden side to your first impression that you forgot. It's the secret that you forget - routinely - everyday when you slip on your carefully chosen off-color khakis, you spritz on your favorite cologne, and you spill orange soda all over your face.  Now, it's time to remember.  ### Moonwalk is produced and hosted by <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a>. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Editing direction was by Jarrod Sport and Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Music is by <a href="http://www.podingtonbear.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Podington Bear</a>. Special thanks to Eliza, Mario, and Sam! Eliza is a WNYC Producer over at <a href="http://www.wnyc.org/shows/takeaway/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Takeaway</a> and <a href="http://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/eliza-lambert/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Freakonomics Radio</a>.  Go to <a href="moonwalkpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moonwalkpodcast.com</a> for more, and sign up for the email list for exclusive updates. They are awesome.

The Dog Who Had a Seizure / The Hidden Side of Your First Impression

"...And then the dread sets in - that immeasurable depression and blackness of your future that you have no bearing of what it's going to hold" - Devyn Tammons   After you do the song and dance, put on the goofy outfit, and grab your diploma cover - graduation's over. But then the void hits. You have too much time. Boredom sets in. That excitement you had - it's gone. You start asking what the meaning of life is, and negotiate whether or not you can find it between the melted cheese of a ham sandwich. You are losing your mind. But, thankfully - as you spiral into a deep and deafening madness - there is something you can do.  On this episode, we talk about that something, how to do it, and why it's so, so important.    ###   Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji.  Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear. Special thanks to Devyn Tammons and Alec!  New essays can be found at mohnish.net For more episodes, go to moonwalkpodcast.com

"...And then the dread sets in - that immeasurable depression and blackness of your future that you have no bearing of what it's going to hold" - Devyn Tammons After you do the song and dance, put on the goofy outfit, and grab your diploma cover - graduation's over. But then the void hits. You have too much time. Boredom sets in. That excitement you had - it's gone. You start asking what the meaning of life is, and negotiate whether or not you can find it between the melted cheese of a ham sandwich. You are losing your mind. But, thankfully - as you spiral into a deep and deafening madness - there is something you can do.  On this episode, we talk about that something, how to do it, and why it's so, so important.  ### Moonwalk is produced and hosted by <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a>. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji.  Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Music is by <a href="http://www.podingtonbear.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Podington Bear</a>. Special thanks to <a href="http://propellermovies.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Devyn Tammons</a> and Alec!  New essays can be found at <a href="mohnish.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mohnish.net</a> For more episodes, go to <a href="moonwalkpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moonwalkpodcast.com</a>

Post Grad Blues / Fill the Hole in Your Soul with Learning

"And they say the exact same thing. They say, 'there's no way this is real...this can't be real', even though we're here and we're living it"  - Finn If you talked to other people, they’d say they made friends with the wrong person. That they did something they shouldn’t have. That, if given the chance, they should take it back, retrace their steps, and stop what they did. But they wouldn’t say that. We sit down with them - and a psychological anthropologist - to figure out why, and what it says about the human mind.  ### The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. This episode was edited by Jarrod Sport and Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear. Special thanks to Jonce and Finn. Huge thanks to T.M. Luhrmann. You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com New essays can be found at mohnish.net

"And they say the exact same thing. They say, 'there's no way this is real...this can't be real', even though we're here and we're living it"  - Finn If you talked to other people, they’d say they made friends with the wrong person. That they did something they shouldn’t have. That, if given the chance, they should take it back, retrace their steps, and stop what they did. But they wouldn’t say that. We sit down with them - and a psychological anthropologist - to figure out why, and what it says about the human mind.  ### The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a>. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. This episode was edited by Jarrod Sport and Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Music is by <a href="http://www.podingtonbear.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Podington Bear</a>. Special thanks to Jonce and Finn. Huge thanks to <a href="http://luhrmann.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">T.M. Luhrmann.</a> You can find more research and fun stuff at <a href="http://www.moonwalkpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moonwalkpodcast.com</a> New essays can be found at <a href="mohnish.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mohnish.net</a>

Playing God / Bending the Mind

This isn't a episode of Moonwalk. If you're on the email list, you already got this update. But if not - well then - here's the update: - The first is a big change: we're now releasing one podcast a month, and I'm releasing one written piece a month. In total, that's two pieces of content, but instead of both of them being podcasts, one of them will be written. - This gives us more time for better stories, better science, and better productions (content that can rival the best in the business) - This is a good strategy to save my sanity.  - Also, writing is awesome, and I'm excited to get back into it.  Get psyched every other Tuesday night (or, for people who love sleep, Wednesday morning). And of course, thanks for listening. We're pumped.  Find the essays and new content all at www.mohnish.net and www.moonwalkpodcast.com

This isn't a episode of Moonwalk. If you're on the email list, you already got this update. But if not - well then - here's the update: - The first is a big change: we're now releasing one podcast a month, and I'm releasing one written piece a month. In total, that's two pieces of content, but instead of both of them being podcasts, one of them will be written. - This gives us more time for better stories, better science, and better productions (content that can rival the best in the business) - This is a good strategy to save my sanity.  - Also, writing is awesome, and I'm excited to get back into it.  Get psyched every other Tuesday night (or, for people who love sleep, Wednesday morning). And of course, thanks for listening. We're pumped.  Find the essays and new content all at <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.mohnish.net</a> and <a href="http://www.moonwalkpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.moonwalkpodcast.com</a>

An Update!

Houston, we have a podcast.Welcome to the show on how to moonwalk your life. Think interdimensional roller coaster, but for your mind. We take big adventures and even bigger ideas, from science, to explore the ordinary – from how to be a better thinker to (most important) how to be better human being. Whether scientists or provocateurs, discover the wrinkles in everyday life. Uncover more at moonwalkpodcast.com.

6 episodes in and I’m crushing on Mohnish pretty hard. Witty, intelligent and funny.

So good

If podcasts were memes I&#39;d put this podcast in my top 10 memes

So flames

Houston, we have a podcast. Welcome to the show on how to moonwalk your life. Think interdimensional roller coaster, but for your mind. We take big adventures and even bigger ideas, from science, to explore the ordinary – from how to be a better thinker to (most important) how to be better human being. Whether scientists or provocateurs, discover the wrinkles in everyday life. Uncover more at <a href="http://moonwalkpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moonwalkpodcast.com</a>.

Moonwalk

"Keep the doors locked. Don't go outside. Keep the windows shut. Just be a little bit cautious - we'll have a squad car patrolling the area all night. We'll try to make contact with Pizzaland and see if we can get some information on this guy"  - Woman, to Kevin Sanji  You don't want to tell bad stories because telling bad stories makes you feel bad ("Brad, I'm finally encountering the idea that loneliness is my only end-goal"). So here's what's going to happen next: We're going to get Kevin to tell a story about a pizza delivery gone wrong. And then we're going to break the story down step-by-step, uncover the mechanics of storytelling, and get you telling better stories. We cover: - What happened after Kevin ordered pizza?  - Who is the "Pizza Man"?  - Why does the order of events matter? - A simple process (using observation and deliberate practice) to improve your storytelling performance If you want to go deeper than the podcast, go to realtalkstudio.com.  P.S. Get your mind blown every Tuesday and sign up for the email list (plus, get bonus content and your questions answered by us)   Production and Credits Special Guest: Kevin Sanji Host, Producer, Research, Sound Design, Editing: Mohnish Soundararjan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, Kevin Sanji  Intro Music: Electric Mantis 

"Keep the doors locked. Don't go outside. Keep the windows shut. Just be a little bit cautious - we'll have a squad car patrolling the area all night. We'll try to make contact with Pizzaland and see if we can get some information on this guy"  - Woman, to Kevin Sanji  You don't want to tell bad stories because telling bad stories makes you feel bad ("Brad, I'm finally encountering the idea that loneliness is my only end-goal"). So here's what's going to happen next: We're going to get Kevin to tell a story about a pizza delivery gone wrong. And then we're going to break the story down step-by-step, uncover the mechanics of storytelling, and get you telling better stories. We cover: - What happened after Kevin ordered pizza?  - Who is the "Pizza Man"?  - Why does the order of events matter? - A simple process (using observation and deliberate practice) to improve your storytelling performance If you want to go deeper than the podcast, go to <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/27" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">realtalkstudio.com. </a> <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">P.S. Get your mind blown every Tuesday and sign up for the email list (plus, get bonus content and your questions answered by us)</a> Production and Credits Special Guest: Kevin Sanji Host, Producer, Research, Sound Design, Editing: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararjan</a> Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: <a href="https://www.worldaffairs.org/about-us/staff/profile/jarrod-sport" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jarrod Sport</a>, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, Kevin Sanji  Intro Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis </a>

Be a Better Storyteller, or The Pizza Man #27

"Make sure you stay thin...because that's what the boys want" - Armi Legge Sticking to your workouts, day in and day out, is almost as easy as entering an intergalactic wormhole that bends and transcends the physics of time and space. Most of absolutely suck at it so hard that it would make your ancestors, relatives, and next door neighbors cry and publically disown you. On this episode, Armi tells a secret, and we talk about: - How to stick to a workout routine, forever  - How battling with an eating disorder changed the way Armi looked at science - The counterintuitive flip that changed Armi's fitness approach - Why everyone is wrong. Except Armi.  - The science of adherence, implementation intentions, the hot and cold effect, and more - How to use the habit loop to your advantage Plus, dig into additional research, books, and more fun stuff at realtalkstudio.com P.S. Sign up for the email list here, you punk.     Production and Special Credits Special Guest: Armi Legge Host, Producer, Research, Editor, and Sound Design: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Justine Brumm and Kevin Sanji Clips: Complete Human Performance Intro Music: Electric Mantis

"Make sure you stay thin...because that's what the boys want" - Armi Legge Sticking to your workouts, day in and day out, is almost as easy as entering an intergalactic wormhole that bends and transcends the physics of time and space. Most of absolutely suck at it so hard that it would make your ancestors, relatives, and next door neighbors cry and publically disown you. On this episode, Armi tells a secret, and we talk about: - How to stick to a workout routine, forever  - How battling with an eating disorder changed the way Armi looked at science - The counterintuitive flip that changed Armi's fitness approach - Why everyone is wrong. Except Armi.  - The science of adherence, implementation intentions, the hot and cold effect, and more - How to use the habit loop to your advantage Plus, dig into additional research, books, and more fun stuff at <a href="realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/24" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">realtalkstudio.com</a> <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">P.S. Sign up for the email list here, you punk. </a> Production and Special Credits Special Guest: <a href="http://www.completehumanperformance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Armi Legge</a> Host, Producer, Research, Editor, and Sound Design: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Justine Brumm and Kevin Sanji Clips: <a href="http://www.completehumanperformance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Complete Human Performance</a> Intro Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis</a>

Why We Don't Stick to Our Workouts, or The Fitness Expert #24

Andrea Wien

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien Airline tickets. Sights. Sounds. Instagram posts with way too many likes. This can be your life - special guest Andrea Wien (host, author, business-lady, and wine drinker) shows us how, plus covers:   - How do you travel effectively?  - How do you travel when you're shit-house broke? Where do you stay? When do you buy airline tickets?  - If you're a guy, and all your guy friends rent a cabin in the woods, should you make out with them?  - Why are some world travelers unhappy?  - How do you calibrate between a safe trip and a dangerous trip?  For more material on this episode, including research, go to realtalkstudio.com If you haven't joined the email list, what the hell are you waiting for?   Who is Andrea Wien? - She's awesome. She's a host, author, business lady and wine drinker. She's the author of the book  "Gap to Great: A Parent's Guide to Gap Year", she's got  a podcast (oh yeah!) Gap to Great, and you can find her work here. Highly recommended.    Production Team and Credits Special Guest: Andrea Wien Host, Producer, Editor, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: Vysali Soundararajan Music: Electric Mantis

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien Airline tickets. Sights. Sounds. Instagram posts with way too many likes. This can be your life - special guest Andrea Wien (host, author, business-lady, and wine drinker) shows us how, plus covers:   - How do you travel effectively?  - How do you travel when you're shit-house broke? Where do you stay? When do you buy airline tickets?  - If you're a guy, and all your guy friends rent a cabin in the woods, should you make out with them?  - Why are some world travelers unhappy?  - How do you calibrate between a safe trip and a dangerous trip?  For more material on this episode, including research, go to <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">realtalkstudio.com</a> <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">If you haven't joined the email list, what the hell are you waiting for</a>? Who is Andrea Wien? - She's awesome. She's a host, author, business lady and wine drinker. She's the author of the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gap-Great-Parents-Guide-Year-ebook/dp/B019FWMZSI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1469561400&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=gap+to+great#navbar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> "Gap to Great: A Parent's Guide to Gap Year"</a>, she's got <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gap-to-great/id1046697667?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> a podcast (oh yeah!) Gap to Great</a>, and you can find <a href="http://www.andreawien.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">her work here.</a> Highly recommended.  Production Team and Credits Special Guest: <a href="http://www.andreawien.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Andrea Wien</a> Host, Producer, Editor, Sound Design, Research: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: Vysali Soundararajan Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis</a>

How to Travel the World Dangerously (with Andrea Wien!) or The Aleppo Pepper #20

"Some people go to sleep and have God appear in their dreams. I just looked her up" - Sudev Namboodiri Remarkable. If you didn't pass 5th grade, you have no idea what that word means. But, when something's remarkable - you know it when you see it. On this episode, we talk to the founders of a fake religion and then, one of TIME's People of the Year to uncover how to transform your working life by being remarkable. Plus: - How do you become the most interesting woman in the world? - What happens when you meet strangers on the internet? - What are the inner-mechanics of being remarkable and how can you use them to your advantage?  - How do you build the foundation for a deep, focused career? - What happened to Pardis Sabeti in 2015 that really, really sucked? For more material on this episode, go to realtalkstudio.com. P.S. Sign up for the email list here.    Production and Special Credits Special Guests: Pardis Sabeti, Sudev, Amanda, and Paca Host, Producer, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Kevin Sanji and Justine Brumm Special Music: "Turkana Boy" by Thousand Days Intro Music: Electric Mantis

"Some people go to sleep and have God appear in their dreams. I just looked her up" - Sudev Namboodiri Remarkable. If you didn't pass 5th grade, you have no idea what that word means. But, when something's remarkable - you know it when you see it. On this episode, we talk to the founders of a fake religion and then, one of TIME's People of the Year to uncover how to transform your working life by being remarkable. Plus: - How do you become the most interesting woman in the world? - What happens when you meet strangers on the internet? - What are the inner-mechanics of being remarkable and how can you use them to your advantage?  - How do you build the foundation for a deep, focused career? - What happened to Pardis Sabeti in 2015 that really, really sucked? For more material on this episode, go to <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/3-3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">realtalkstudio.com.</a> <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">P.S. Sign up for the email list here. </a> Production and Special Credits Special Guests: Pardis Sabeti, Sudev, Amanda, and Paca Host, Producer, Sound Design, Research: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Kevin Sanji and Justine Brumm Special Music: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2udV9GhptY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Turkana Boy" by Thousand Days</a> Intro Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis</a>

The Most Interesting Woman in the World / Being Remarkable (Season 3, Episode 3)

"I heard this story of this guy, and he was rushed to the emergency room because he was having heart palpitations...because he was watching too much porn" - greyrocks1  Your mind is slipping. We've been conditioned to check our phones every 20 minutes, grapple with an inability to read essays longer than two paragraphs, and then scroll through our Twitter feeds at 2AM in the morning while crying softly in our sleep.  But on the internet, there's people who are fighting back. So, a few days ago I reached out. I waited, waited, and then - two usernames responded: thunderbolt-zhu and greyrocks1. I have no idea who they are. But they said they wanted to talk.  On this episode, we cover: - Who is thunderbolt-zhu and greyrocks1? - Why our minds are slipping, and how we can stop it - The real cognitive consequences of the internet, our phones, and technology - Why was the man in the retail store bleeding?  - Strategies to rebuild your attention and focus  And more, all on this episode.    The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji, and this episode was edited by Jarrod Sport and Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear.  Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm. Special thanks to Nick and Conrad. Check out nosurf and check out their blog, Kaizenhabits. Special thanks to my sister, Vysali, and a huge thanks to the researchers who helped bring the science alive. Thanks to Cal Newport for his book,  Deep Work.  You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com

"I heard this story of this guy, and he was rushed to the emergency room because he was having heart palpitations...because he was watching too much porn" - greyrocks1  Your mind is slipping. We've been conditioned to check our phones every 20 minutes, grapple with an inability to read essays longer than two paragraphs, and then scroll through our Twitter feeds at 2AM in the morning while crying softly in our sleep.  But on the internet, there's people who are fighting back. So, a few days ago I reached out. I waited, waited, and then - two usernames responded: thunderbolt-zhu and greyrocks1. I have no idea who they are. But they said they wanted to talk.  On this episode, we cover: - Who is thunderbolt-zhu and greyrocks1? - Why our minds are slipping, and how we can stop it - The real cognitive consequences of the internet, our phones, and technology - Why was the man in the retail store bleeding?  - Strategies to rebuild your attention and focus  And more, all on this episode.  The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a>. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji, and this episode was edited by Jarrod Sport and Justine Brumm. Music is by <a href="http://www.podingtonbear.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Podington Bear</a>.  Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm. Special thanks to Nick and Conrad. Check out <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/nosurf/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nosurf</a> and check out their blog, <a href="http://www.kaizenhabits.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kaizenhabits</a>. Special thanks to my sister, Vysali, and a huge thanks to the researchers who helped bring the science alive. Thanks to <a href="http://www.calnewport.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cal Newport</a> for his book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Deep Work</a>.  You can find more research and fun stuff at <a href="http://www.moonwalkpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moonwalkpodcast.com</a>

Death by a Thousand Distractions / Your Mind is Slipping 

“Before you attempt to beat the odds, be sure you could survive the odds beating you.” - Larry Kersten Everyone - from your grandmother that you never call because she lit the house on fire, to your next door neighbor - wants to be confident. But what does the research say? Mohnish and Kevin dive into how exactly to build real, long-term confidence and cover:  - Is "Fake It Till You Make It" a good strategy? - Why is low confidence a good thing? - Why is "not thinking about building confidence" actually the way in which you build confidence? (hint: it's not what you think) - What's the one thing about building confidence that no one seems to talk about? For more material on this episode, including links to relevant research and more fun stuff, check out realtalkstudio.com. P.S. You should sign up for our email list (Insider). It's awesome.  Production Credits and Special Thanks Host, Producer, Editor, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Special Effects: Angels Singing Anthem Sound Effect Music: Electric Mantis

“Before you attempt to beat the odds, be sure you could survive the odds beating you.” - Larry Kersten Everyone - from your grandmother that you never call because she lit the house on fire, to your next door neighbor - wants to be confident. But what does the research say? Mohnish and Kevin dive into how exactly to build real, long-term confidence and cover:  - Is "Fake It Till You Make It" a good strategy? - Why is low confidence a good thing? - Why is "not thinking about building confidence" actually the way in which you build confidence? (hint: it's not what you think) - What's the one thing about building confidence that no one seems to talk about? For more material on this episode, including links to relevant research and more fun stuff, check out <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/17" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">realtalkstudio.com.</a> P.S. You should <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sign up for our email list (Insider). It's awesome. </a> Production Credits and Special Thanks Host, Producer, Editor, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Special Effects: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0ANKvSevPQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Angels Singing Anthem Sound Effect</a> Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis</a>

Rethinking How to Build Confidence, or Paid Assassin #17

If you literally have no idea what this podcast is, don't start here (try previous episodes first). But if you've stuck with us (whether for one episode or the whole season), here's a behind the scenes look at the making of Season One. If you've ever wanted to make a podcast or are just curious, this is the insider look at what it takes to put this ridiculous contraption together. (Plus you get to hear what my mom thinks of this whole operation.) Note: Season One is done. But more than anything, we're grateful. Grateful that people like you (whether you're an old friend who reviewed the podcast or a total stranger that spread it along the way) helped us.  Thanks for letting us do this. A love of science, research, books, and new knowledge really breathed life into this project from the get-go. When I was a kid, I wish I knew the things I know now and I don't say that in some saccharine Lifetime movie kind of way. It's true. This podcast is our shot at doing this for other people and it's pretty awesome that we get the chance to do it.  Season Two drops this month and you'll have to wait basically 5 seconds to listen (June 14th, if we don't massively screw up). It's going to be wild, different, and it'll surprise you. Mark your calendars. More stupid jokes about Kevin's lower anatomy coming soon.  And thanks for letting us do this. We're having fun.  ### Season Two Drops This Month. There's No Big Hiatus. June 14th, 2016. ### Season One Production Credits  Mohnish Soundararajan, Kevin Sanji, Armi Legge, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, CJ Beats 

If you literally have no idea what this podcast is, don't start here (<a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/hall-of-fame/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">try previous episodes first</a>). But if you've stuck with us (whether for one episode or the whole season), here's a behind the scenes look at the making of Season One. If you've ever wanted to make a podcast or are just curious, this is the insider look at what it takes to put this ridiculous contraption together. (Plus you get to hear what my mom thinks of this whole operation.) Note: Season One is done. But more than anything, we're grateful. Grateful that people like you (whether you're an old friend who reviewed the podcast or a total stranger that spread it along the way) helped us.  Thanks for letting us do this. A love of science, research, books, and new knowledge really breathed life into this project from the get-go. When I was a kid, I wish I knew the things I know now and I don't say that in some saccharine Lifetime movie kind of way. It's true. This podcast is our shot at doing this for other people and it's pretty awesome that we get the chance to do it.  Season Two drops this month and you'll have to wait basically 5 seconds to listen (June 14th, if we don't massively screw up). It's going to be wild, different, and it'll surprise you. Mark your calendars. More stupid jokes about Kevin's lower anatomy coming soon.  And thanks for letting us do this. We're having fun.  ### Season Two Drops This Month. There's No Big Hiatus. June 14th, 2016. ### Season One Production Credits  Mohnish Soundararajan, Kevin Sanji, Armi Legge, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FasPicPro" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CJ Beats </a>

Making Season One

"We're not designed to know how little we know" - Daniel Kahneman  Imagine you made a bet. You get a car, a jet plane, and a pet tiger if you win. And all you have to do is convince your mother that global warming is real. Could you do it? If you want to change someone's mind about anything, we've got 5 guidelines on exactly how to do it. It's non-obvious, it's counter-intuitive, but it works. We cover: - How to change someone's mind about anything (including getting them to marry you) - The importance of intellectual honesty - How dangerous is drunk walking? - Why social media feels like a battleground - How to have a hard conversation with anyone, and do it like a pro And more, all on this episode. More research and fun stuff (if you want to go deeper) at realtalkstudio.com.  P.S. Sign up for the email list - it's free, you get bonus goodies, and you get an email when the podcast comes out.    Production and Credits Host, Producer, Research, Editor, Sound Design: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Special Cameo: Vysali Soundararajan Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Vysali Soundararjan, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm Inspiration: Think Like A Freak, by Stephen Levitt and Stephen Dubner Sound Effect Attribution: Boxing Bell by Benboncan Intro and Outro Music: Electric Mantis 

"We're not designed to know how little we know" - Daniel Kahneman  Imagine you made a bet. You get a car, a jet plane, and a pet tiger if you win. And all you have to do is convince your mother that global warming is real. Could you do it? If you want to change someone's mind about anything, we've got 5 guidelines on exactly how to do it. It's non-obvious, it's counter-intuitive, but it works. We cover: - How to change someone's mind about anything (including getting them to marry you) - The importance of intellectual honesty - How dangerous is drunk walking? - Why social media feels like a battleground - How to have a hard conversation with anyone, and do it like a pro And more, all on this episode. More research and fun stuff (if you want to go deeper) at <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/25" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">realtalkstudio.com. </a> <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">P.S. Sign up for the email list - it's free, you get bonus goodies, and you get an email when the podcast comes out. </a> Production and Credits Host, Producer, Research, Editor, Sound Design: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Special Cameo: Vysali Soundararajan Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Vysali Soundararjan, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm Inspiration: Think Like A Freak, by Stephen Levitt and Stephen Dubner Sound Effect Attribution: <a href="https://www.freesound.org/people/Benboncan/sounds/66951/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Boxing Bell by Benboncan</a> Intro and Outro Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis </a>

How to Change Someone's Mind, or The Boxing Gloves #25

Season One, Episode #13 - Season Finale  Downloading Tinder and Bumble is the easy part. We cover the hard part (not that hard part). On the Season Finale, Mohnish, Kevin, and Armi talk: - Why do women and men have vastly different experiences on Tinder, even though it's the same app? - What's the #1 mistake most guys make with online dating apps? - Are Tinder and Bumble worth your time?  - What are Mohnish and Kevin's most ridiculous Tinder lines and did they work? (The short answer: No, no, and no) Check out more material at www.realtalkstudio.com ### Season Two is Coming, Mark Your Calendars We'll be producing just once a week (Tuesdays!), but in exchange for that, we're upping the quality, adding more variety and segments, better production, and generally - making it a better podcast. We're excited. Next episode is a Behind-The-Scenes Look at the Making of Season One, then a Real Talk Season Two Teaser the following week, and then  (*drumroll please*) we'll drop Season Two the following Tuesday. It's going to nuts.  ### Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research and Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #13 - Season Finale  Downloading Tinder and Bumble is the easy part. We cover the hard part (not that hard part). On the Season Finale, Mohnish, Kevin, and Armi talk: - Why do women and men have vastly different experiences on Tinder, even though it's the same app? - What's the #1 mistake most guys make with online dating apps? - Are Tinder and Bumble worth your time?  - What are Mohnish and Kevin's most ridiculous Tinder lines and did they work? (The short answer: No, no, and no) Check out more material at <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/9outof10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.realtalkstudio.com</a> ### Season Two is Coming, Mark Your Calendars We'll be producing just once a week (Tuesdays!), but in exchange for that, we're upping the quality, adding more variety and segments, better production, and generally - making it a better podcast. We're excited. Next episode is a Behind-The-Scenes Look at the Making of Season One, then a Real Talk Season Two Teaser the following week, and then  (*drumroll please*) we'll drop Season Two the following Tuesday. It's going to nuts.  ### Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and <a href="http://www.armilegge.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Armi Legge</a> Research and Editing: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Content Ideation and Feedback: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a>, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm Music: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FasPicPro" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CJ Beats</a>

#13 "9 out of 10", or Decoding Tinder and Bumble 

Season Two Premiere, Episode #14 You're in a new city. You have no idea who anybody is. You're in your apartment shower crying (naked) while eating a soggy burrito because you're lonely. Truth is, you need some friends. On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and (mostly) Armi talk about how to get them, and cover: - Why is making friends so hard when you're in a city with thousands of people around you? - Is traveling around the world a bad idea? - Why are Mohnish and Kevin absolutely screwed after they leave college? - Step-by-step: how do you make friends in a place where you have none? Check out more material on this episode here. P.S. Get your free digital copy of all the "Season One Episode Breakdowns". Think all the theory and practical application from Season One in one place. Sign up and get it here. Production Team - Credits and Special Thanks Host, Producer, Audio Mixing, Editing, and Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji  Music: Electric Mantis Movie Clip: Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Season Two Premiere, Episode #14 You're in a new city. You have no idea who anybody is. You're in your apartment shower crying (naked) while eating a soggy burrito because you're lonely. Truth is, you need some friends. On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and (mostly) Armi talk about how to get them, and cover: - Why is making friends so hard when you're in a city with thousands of people around you? - Is traveling around the world a bad idea? - Why are Mohnish and Kevin absolutely screwed after they leave college? - Step-by-step: how do you make friends in a place where you have none? Check out more material <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/14" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on this episode here.</a> P.S. Get your free digital copy of all the "Season One Episode Breakdowns". Think all the theory and practical application from Season One in one place. <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sign up and get it here.</a> Production Team - Credits and Special Thanks Host, Producer, Audio Mixing, Editing, and Research: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji  Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis</a> Movie Clip: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064665/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Midnight Cowboy (1969)</a>

#14 Repeated Exposure, or How Do I Make Friends in a New City?

Cam Poter

Season Two, Episode #16 "Attachments and relationships can bring us pain: as a character in Jean-Paul Sarte’s play No Exit said, “Hell is other people.” But so is heaven." - Jonathan Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis Being in a relationship takes work. Plus, love (cue the saxophones) can make Operation Relationship get a little complicated. But what does the science say? On this episode, special guest Cam Poter returns with Mohnish and Kevin and cover: - How do you keep a relationship alive, strong, and on the right track without screwing it up? - Is there a right time for love? - What's the big danger point for couples where many are prone to break up - but shouldn't? - Is "true love forever" biologically impossible? (hint: yes) - Why do arranged marriages have just as good, if not better, marital satisfaction than love marriages? And more, all on this episode. Sign up for our email list - it helps us help you better, plus, get free swag (like all the notes from Season One).   Production Team - Credits and Special Thanks Special Guest: Cam Poter Host, Producer, Audio Mixing, Editing, and Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji  Random Saxophone: MusicByPedro, Solo Sax 1 Music: Electric Mantis

Season Two, Episode #16 "Attachments and relationships can bring us pain: as a character in Jean-Paul Sarte’s play No Exit said, “Hell is other people.” But so is heaven." - Jonathan Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis Being in a relationship takes work. Plus, love (cue the saxophones) can make Operation Relationship get a little complicated. But what does the science say? On this episode, special guest Cam Poter returns with Mohnish and Kevin and cover: - How do you keep a relationship alive, strong, and on the right track without screwing it up? - Is there a right time for love? - What's the big danger point for couples where many are prone to break up - but shouldn't? - Is "true love forever" biologically impossible? (hint: yes) - Why do arranged marriages have just as good, if not better, marital satisfaction than love marriages? And more, all on this episode. <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sign up for our email list - it helps us help you better, plus, get free swag (like all the notes from Season One).</a> Production Team - Credits and Special Thanks Special Guest: <a href="http://www.sextalkwithmymom.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cam Poter</a> Host, Producer, Audio Mixing, Editing, and Research: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji  Random Saxophone: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLUSt1s4Jmw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MusicByPedro, Solo Sax 1</a> Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis</a>

#16 John Lennon, or Making Your Relationship Work (with Cam Poter!)

Caroline Beaton

"I thought you were going to tell me to go with Mohnish in my closet and shine a flashlight at him" - Kevin Sanji, co-host Stress comes in all shapes and sizes. Thousands of years ago, people stressed out about wild animals attacking them. Today, you're not being attacked by wild animals unless you work for Discovery channel. On this very, very, very special episode (you'll see what I mean), special guest Caroline Beaton (award-winning researcher and writer at Forbes), Mohnish, and Kevin cover:  - How can you outthink stress and make it your friend?  - Why is stress evolutionarily programmed into us? - How do you stress less?  - What's the one pill with only good side effects you should take everyday?  For more material on this episode, go to realtalkstudio.com Sign up for the Insider list here - get bonus content you can't get anywhere else.   Who's Caroline Beaton? - She's awesome and you should absolutely check out her stuff - well informed, researched backed, and she knows what she's talking about. She writes on millennials, psychology, purpose, and modern work. For more, check out her site here.    The Facts - Thanks for Kelly McGonigal for her book The Upside of Stress (with all the great research) and  her wonderful TED talk which informed the big ideas in this piece. - Special thanks to Caroline Beaton for the extra research, which was unexpected and wonderful. - Thanks to Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D for the pill metaphor in The Happiness Hypothesis.   Production Team and Credits Special Guest: Caroline Beaton Host, Producer, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: Vysali Soundararajan, Kevin Sanji Music: Electric Mantis 

"I thought you were going to tell me to go with Mohnish in my closet and shine a flashlight at him" - Kevin Sanji, co-host Stress comes in all shapes and sizes. Thousands of years ago, people stressed out about wild animals attacking them. Today, you're not being attacked by wild animals unless you work for Discovery channel. On this very, very, very special episode (you'll see what I mean), special guest Caroline Beaton (award-winning researcher and writer at Forbes), Mohnish, and Kevin cover:  - How can you outthink stress and make it your friend?  - Why is stress evolutionarily programmed into us? - How do you stress less?  - What's the one pill with only good side effects you should take everyday?  For more material on this episode, <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/19" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">go to realtalkstudio.com</a> <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sign up for the Insider list here - get bonus content you can't get anywhere else.</a> Who's Caroline Beaton? - She's awesome and you should absolutely check out her stuff - well informed, researched backed, and she knows what she's talking about. She writes on millennials, psychology, purpose, and modern work. <a href="http://carolinebeaton.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">For more, check out her site here. </a> The Facts - Thanks for Kelly McGonigal for her book The Upside of Stress (with all the great research) and <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend?language=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> her wonderful TED talk</a> which informed the big ideas in this piece. - Special thanks to Caroline Beaton for the extra research, which was unexpected and wonderful. - Thanks to Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D for the pill metaphor in The Happiness Hypothesis. Production Team and Credits Special Guest: Caroline Beaton Host, Producer, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: Vysali Soundararajan, Kevin Sanji Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis</a>

Outthinking Stress (with Caroline Beaton!), or Into the Jungle #19

Season One, Episode #12 Stop crying Matt Damon. On this episode, we talk about smarts - book smarts, street smarts, all the smarts. Mohnish, Armi, and Kevin cover: - Does anyone care about your ACT, SAT or GPA? - How smart is the high school jock? - Can you become more intelligent? - Why is "college = more income" misleading? For more material on this episode, visit www.realtalkstudio.com   Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research and Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justin Brumm Movie Clip from Good Will Hunting (1997) Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #12 Stop crying Matt Damon. On this episode, we talk about smarts - book smarts, street smarts, all the smarts. Mohnish, Armi, and Kevin cover: - Does anyone care about your ACT, SAT or GPA? - How smart is the high school jock? - Can you become more intelligent? - Why is "college = more income" misleading? For more material on this episode, visit <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/wickedsmaht" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.realtalkstudio.com</a> Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research and Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justin Brumm Movie Clip from Good Will Hunting (1997) Music: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FasPicPro" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CJ Beats</a>

#12 Wicked Smaht, or Is Intelligence Important?

"It's sort of like someone else is doing an autopsy on your dead body, but you're looking at it through a TV screen and you're completely confused what's going on." - Mohnish Soundararajan Imagine a grand experiment. Two men set foot to reconstruct your past - as accurately as they can. They talked to everyone you've ever cared for, looked at, talked to, yelled at, peed on, and washed a dish for. But the story keeps changing. And in the process, they shatter everything you ever knew about your memory, your self-awareness, and - lucky you - your sense of self. And what if - we actually did this. Featuring special guest Cam Poter, this episode deconstructs not just Cam's narrative identity, but the search for self-awareness, and covers: - The most technically challenging and time-consuming podcast we've ever done - Specific, actionable steps to get a better sense of self-awareness, so you don't take the one, precious life your parents paid so much money for and absolutely screw it up  - The differences in memory between a diverse, dynamic social circle, and yourself - How we piece together our narrative past - and how wrong we get it And more, all on this episode.    The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji, and edited by Jarrod Sport.  Music is by Podington Bear.  Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm. Our main guest is Cameron Poter - listen to his podcast, Sex Talk With My Mom. Special thanks to Scott Breen - if you want to learn about sustainability, check out his podcast Sustainability Defined. Also, you can find special guest Karen Lee Poter on Youtube at the Karen Lee Poter Show. Special thanks to Jeremy Poter, David Goese, and Leesa Hapsel. You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com. 

"It's sort of like someone else is doing an autopsy on your dead body, but you're looking at it through a TV screen and you're completely confused what's going on." - Mohnish Soundararajan Imagine a grand experiment. Two men set foot to reconstruct your past - as accurately as they can. They talked to everyone you've ever cared for, looked at, talked to, yelled at, peed on, and washed a dish for. But the story keeps changing. And in the process, they shatter everything you ever knew about your memory, your self-awareness, and - lucky you - your sense of self. And what if - we actually did this. Featuring special guest Cam Poter, this episode deconstructs not just Cam's narrative identity, but the search for self-awareness, and covers: - The most technically challenging and time-consuming podcast we've ever done - Specific, actionable steps to get a better sense of self-awareness, so you don't take the one, precious life your parents paid so much money for and absolutely screw it up  - The differences in memory between a diverse, dynamic social circle, and yourself - How we piece together our narrative past - and how wrong we get it And more, all on this episode.  The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by <a href="http://www.mohnish.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a>. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji, and edited by Jarrod Sport.  Music is by <a href="http://www.podingtonbear.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Podington Bear</a>.  Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm. Our main guest is Cameron Poter - listen to his podcast, <a href="http://www.sextalkwithmymom.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sex Talk With My Mom</a>. Special thanks to Scott Breen - if you want to learn about sustainability, check out his podcast <a href="http://sustainabilitydefined.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sustainability Defined</a>. Also, you can find special guest Karen Lee Poter on Youtube at the <a href="http://www.karenleepoter.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Karen Lee Poter Show.</a> Special thanks to Jeremy Poter, David Goese, and Leesa Hapsel. You can find more research and fun stuff at <a href="http://www.moonwalkpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">moonwalkpodcast.com</a>.

Camento / Searching for Self-Awareness  

Steve Faloon

"That's a whole 'nother chips n' guac" - Kevin Sanji, co-host Hard work and experience can make you worse at what you do. This sounds absolutely bat-nut insane and it sounds wrong - but it's not. I'll take you back to the 70's, the early 1900's, and back to the present to a modern-day Japanese pushup champion to uncover why we get worse with hard work and experience (and, of course, what to do instead). In this episode, we cover:  - Why Steve Faloon's short-term memory mattered - The nature of hard work and experience over a long period of time - How to become an expert at what you do  - The key to expert performance - at anything Huge thanks to Anders Ericsson's book Peak - which inspired this. For more info, go to www.realtalkstudio.com.   P.S. We got an email list. Join the Insider list here - get bonus content, get your mind blown every Tuesday, and get your questions answered.    Production and Credits Host, Producer, Sound Design, and Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Huge thanks to Ander Ericsson and Robert Pool for all the research covered in  Peak Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm  Intro Music: Electric Mantis  Attribution: Victor 78rpm Album M-399. (013663 - 013670). Recorded July 6-7, 1933. Alfred Cortot's Chopin, Ballad No. 1 in G Minor, Op 23

"That's a whole 'nother chips n' guac" - Kevin Sanji, co-host Hard work and experience can make you worse at what you do. This sounds absolutely bat-nut insane and it sounds wrong - but it's not. I'll take you back to the 70's, the early 1900's, and back to the present to a modern-day Japanese pushup champion to uncover why we get worse with hard work and experience (and, of course, what to do instead). In this episode, we cover:  - Why Steve Faloon's short-term memory mattered - The nature of hard work and experience over a long period of time - How to become an expert at what you do  - The key to expert performance - at anything Huge thanks to Anders Ericsson's book Peak - which inspired this. For more info, go to <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.realtalkstudio.com</a>.   P.S. We got an email list. <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join the Insider list here</a> - get bonus content, get your mind blown every Tuesday, and get your questions answered.  Production and Credits Host, Producer, Sound Design, and Editing: <a href="http://mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Huge thanks to Ander Ericsson and Robert Pool for all the research covered in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peak-Secrets-New-Science-Expertise/dp/0544456238" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Peak</a> Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm  Intro Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis </a> Attribution:<a href="http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Alfred_Cortot/Victor_78rpm_Album_M-399_013663_-_013670_Recorded_July_6-7_1933/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Victor 78rpm Album M-399. (013663 - 013670). Recorded July 6-7, 1933. Alfred Cortot's Chopin, Ballad No. 1 in G Minor, Op 23</a>

Can Hard Work and Experience Make You Worse? or Steve Faloon's Memory #28 

"You see this cute little vial here? It's crack - rock cocaine - the most addictive form. You think it's the glamor drug of the 80's? Well, that's the point of this friendly little reminder. It can kill you." - Clint Eastwood   Humans are bad. We're ridiculous. And we act in complex ways that I honestly have no idea how to describe. From Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign to the reality of teaching low-income students, we figure out: Why is changing and understanding human behavior so hard? To boot: What's the best way to change human behavior in a hopeless situation? We cover: - Did the "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign work? - What are the hidden sources of bad behavior? - How does complex, emergent behavior work? - What is the Gloomy Prospect? - Why is the learning-to-see model so effective at causing good behaviors? And more, all on this episode. For more, go to realtalkstudio.com P.S. Sign up for the email list and get your mind blown every other Tuesday.    Production and Credits Host, Research, Sound Design, Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm Intro Music: Electric Mantis Special Thanks: Eric Turkheimer, for the idea of "The Gloomy Prospect"

"You see this cute little vial here? It's crack - rock cocaine - the most addictive form. You think it's the glamor drug of the 80's? Well, that's the point of this friendly little reminder. It can kill you." - Clint Eastwood Humans are bad. We're ridiculous. And we act in complex ways that I honestly have no idea how to describe. From Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign to the reality of teaching low-income students, we figure out: Why is changing and understanding human behavior so hard? To boot: What's the best way to change human behavior in a hopeless situation? We cover: - Did the "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign work? - What are the hidden sources of bad behavior? - How does complex, emergent behavior work? - What is the Gloomy Prospect? - Why is the learning-to-see model so effective at causing good behaviors? And more, all on this episode. For more, go to <a href="realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/3-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">realtalkstudio.com</a> <a href="http://www.realtalkstudio.com/insider" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">P.S. Sign up for the email list and get your mind blown every other Tuesday. </a> Production and Credits Host, Research, Sound Design, Editing: <a href="http://www.mohnish.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mohnish Soundararajan</a> Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm Intro Music: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/electricmantis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Electric Mantis</a> Special Thanks: Eric Turkheimer, for the idea of "The Gloomy Prospect"

The Gloomy Prospect / The Hidden Sources of Bad Behavior (Season 3, Episode 1)

The best episodes for anyone looking to learn more about topics such as happiness, fulfillment, depression and psychology/mental health in general. With interviews with industry experts, personal stories of individuals, this topic has lessons applicable to everyone. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Mental Health, Emotions & Thoughts

The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!