Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
Sam Webster Harris | Growth Mindset Psychology
489 episodes
3 days ago
Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives.
WHY LISTEN?
Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it?
This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism.
Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be.
We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system.
WHAT YOU DON’T GET
No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn.
Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health.
THE APPROACH
Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development.
Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life.
YOUR HOST
I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives.
This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation.
PREMIUM
Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord.
Growth Mindset Premium
PAST SERIES
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for Busy Mortals
— Independence and Knowing Yourself
— Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking
— Psychology of Connection and Relationships
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
— Addiction and Behaviour Change
— Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory
— Mental Strength and Self-Discipline
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Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives.
WHY LISTEN?
Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it?
This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism.
Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be.
We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system.
WHAT YOU DON’T GET
No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn.
Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health.
THE APPROACH
Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development.
Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life.
YOUR HOST
I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives.
This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation.
PREMIUM
Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord.
Growth Mindset Premium
PAST SERIES
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for Busy Mortals
— Independence and Knowing Yourself
— Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking
— Psychology of Connection and Relationships
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
— Addiction and Behaviour Change
— Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory
— Mental Strength and Self-Discipline
Get in control of your life and use your time to build a life of purpose.
We have been sold a myth of heroic solutions. Where a single dazzling act will change who we are. But real change is quiet, methodical, and often boring. As a result many people lack agency waiting for some heroic reinvention.
This episode explores the architecture of a "Deep Life," a four-month process of reclaiming your sovereignty from the noise of the industrial complex. We stop asking "what do I feel like doing?" and start asking "what kind of life do I want to live?"
By strictly curtailing obligations and automating the mundane, we create breathing room. This space allows us to move from being busy to being remarkable. The goal isn't to fit more in; it is to design a life that is unique, specific, and yours.
The Code vs. The Decision: How to write a personal operating system that saves you from decision fatigue.
Moving from "Yearning" to "Project": How to operationalize your dreams into a 6-week vision phase.
The Art of the Big Overhaul: Why you need to take control of your obligations before you can successfully pivot your career or location.
Go make your life remarkable.
Worksheet
4 month overhaul prompts
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
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Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
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RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: Shackleton's Antarctic Challenge
01:25 Rebuilding Agency: The Four-Month Plan
02:29 Phase One: Discipline
04:54 Choosing Three Key Habits
07:53 Phase Two: Values
08:30 Reconnecting with Moral Intuition
10:11 Writing Your Personal Code
11:27 Installing Rituals
13:43 Phase Three: Control
14:31 Multi-Scale Planning for Work
15:55 Creating Breathing Room
17:58 Phase Four: Vision
20:46 Small Overhaul vs. Large Overhaul
22:39 Examples of Remarkable Overhauls
26:04 Planning for a Big Life Overhaul
28:49 Evaluating Constraints and Making Plans
31:04 Recap of the Four-Month Plan
33:45 Conclusion: Embracing Agency
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You have roughly 4,000 weeks. Somehow, nobody mentioned this at school.
This episode takes a cheerful scalpel to modern time-panic—the kind that convinces smart adults that the next app, habit, or color-coded calendar will finally subdue existence. (It won’t.) Time, inconveniently, keeps doing what it has always done: passing. The good news is that this makes it remarkably reliable, like a train that never apologizes. You’ll explore why becoming “more efficient” can make you feel more chased, how birthdays can reveal your true time-philosophy, and why sitting quietly for ten minutes can be the most practical thing you do all week. The aim isn’t to win against time. It’s to stop declaring war on the only place life can happen.
Treat calm as a skill, not a personality trait.
Build plans that assume “the deck” never clears.
Use meditation as a weekly perspective tune-up.
Press play, then reclaim one hour you were about to surrender.
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: Time as a Medium
01:52 The Relationship with Time
03:28 The Efficiency Trap (4,000 Weeks)
05:15 The Birthday Test: Are You Friends with Time?
07:22 The Privilege of Contentment
08:29 Lessons from a Silent Retreat
10:05 Meditation as Time Training
11:58 Working With Time, Not Against It
13:17 Conclusion: You Are the Pilot
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Every advanced master nails the fundamentals first. To perform at your best these are the 5 most basic and essential practices you need to return to time and again.
A short episode covering the core requirements for good mental health and clarity in life.
Whether you love Andrew Huberman, are a skeptic or don't even know who he is. These 5 lessons are science backed legit good advice worth repeating and remembering.
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28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28
http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset
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Invest for your money goals
$5 sign up bonus: PSYCHOLOGY
www.acorns.com/psychology
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
---
UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Huberman's 5 rules for a better life
00:46 #1 - Good sleep
01:49 #2 - Movement
02:58 #3 - Sunlight
03:48 #4 - Diet
05:46 #5 - Good social connections
07:20 Bonus - Hydration
07:57 If you forget the basics, the specifics won't work.
09:00 Outro
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How to nurture the best in people with consistency and be remembered for what matters.
This is going to be a different episode about a cake my nan used to make. But isn't just a story about cake. It's about the difference between control and nurture. My school thought resilience came from forcing kids to clear their plates (even if they ended up vomitting). They were wrong. My Nan knew that real strength comes from consistency. She made me the same pineapple upside-down cake every time I visited for a decade.
Even when she went blind, she kept creating. She was an entrepreneur, an artist, and the village baker.
She taught me that you don't build character by breaking someone's spirit. You build it by showing up. By paying attention. By finding the one thing they can stomach and giving it to them again and again.
Nurture over control: You get more out of people by supporting their quirks than forcing compliance.
Consistency is love: Showing up the same way for years builds more trust than grand gestures.
Create despite limits: My Nan went blind and kept making things; focus on what you can do.
Listen to learn how a simple cake became a masterclass in leadership and love.
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28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast (and my nan)
01:31 The Pineapple Cake Story
05:26 School Trauma and Food Struggles
14:11 Nan's Kitchen and Family Memories
19:48 Nan's Artistic Legacy
20:47 Family Artistry and Career Paths
21:14 The Cathartic Power of Music
21:59 Grandmother's Systematic Creativity
22:42 Connecting Through Art and Conversation
24:23 The Pineapple Cake Connection
28:48 Reflecting on Grandmother's Legacy
32:34 Passing Down Family Recipes
37:15 Cultural Differences and Cake Talk
38:15 Final Thoughts and Farewell
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A boat is safe in the harbor. But that is not what boats are built for.
We tend to view our lives as a single, continuous narrative. But in reality, we are a series of temporary selves, each with a distinct beginning and end. The teenager who dreams of adventure is not the same as the retiree who seeks comfort. When we defer our dreams, we aren't saving them for later; we are denying them to the person we are right now.
This episode explores the "Regret Minimization Framework"—a tool for navigating the uncertainty of the future. We discuss the difference between "peak experiences" and "plateau experiences" and why wisdom lies in knowing the difference. The question isn't how much money you leave behind, but how much life you leave unlived.
Actionable Takeaways:
Time Bucketing: Allocate specific experiences to the specific decades of your life where they belong.
The Cost of Inaction: Recognize that the safe choice often carries the highest hidden cost—regret.
Live with Urgency: Embrace the impermanence of your current self to fuel meaningful action today.
Decide today which version of yourself deserves to be fully realized before it's too late.
SPONSORS
👨💻 NordLayer
Security across your business
28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28
http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset
🌳 Acorns
Invest for your money goals
$5 sign up bonus: PSYCHOLOGY
www.acorns.com/psychology
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
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GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: Facing Mortality
01:10 The Concept of Dying in Installments
02:03 The Death of Future Selves
03:16 Jeff Bezos and the Regret Minimization Framework
04:58 The Death of Peak Experiences
06:26 The Value of Plateau Experiences
10:12 The Death of Who You Could Have Been
13:19 Life Satisfaction U-Curve
13:58 Living Intentionally and Strategically
15:22 Time Bucketing and Peak Experience Mapping
17:06 Personal Examples and Reflections
18:32 Stoic Wisdom and Living with Urgency
20:25 Final Thoughts on Regret Minimization
21:32 Conclusion and Call to Action
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How to master cognitive flexibility by understanding the biases that keep you stuck.
In WWI, generals sent horses against machine guns. Cognitive Rigidity mean they couldn't reimagine the battlefield.
In this episode, I break down the five mental traps keeping you stuck. We look at why you value your own bad ideas more than good ones (The Endowment Effect) and why you can’t stop scrolling TikTok instead of working (Hyperbolic Discounting). We even cover why Einstein—the genius of flexibility—eventually got stuck in his ways and rejected quantum mechanics.
Actionable Takeaways:
Reimagine the tool: Don't ask what it is, ask what it could be to overcome functional fixedness.
Question the crowd: The Bandwagon Effect offers safety, not truth; dare to be the outlier.
Respect the future: Overcome the urge for immediate gratification by empathizing with your future self.
Choose to see the world differently and open the door to possibility.
SPONSORS
👨💻 NordLayer
Security across your business
28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28
http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset
🎓 MasterClass
Learn from the best, to become your best
Up to 50% off code: GrowthMindset
www.MasterClass.com/GrowthMindset
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
---
UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 A Personal Story of Cognitive Rigidity
03:48 Defining Cognitive Rigidit
04:54 Functional Fixedness
09:37 Overcoming Functional Fixedness
11:01 The Endowment Effect
15:07 Overcoming the Endowment Effect
16:32 The Bandwagon Effect
20:29 Understanding Hyperbolic Discounting
25:14 Einstein's Personal Struggles and Successes
29:26 The Zeigarnik Effect: Unfinished Tasks and Obsession
33:55 Relationships and Social Media: The Open Loop Trap
38:32 Einstein's Journey: Genius and Cognitive Biases
40:51 Embracing Growth and Self-Acceptance
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How the mind blinds us to reality by showing us what we want to believe.
We don't see with our eyes; we see with our stories. In 1951, psychologists proved that fans from opposing teams physically saw different fouls during the same game. This is the power and danger of perception.
It is the tension between what is real and what we believe is possible. When a doctor gives a patient a placebo, the patient heals not because of medicine, but because of the story of the medicine.
In this episode, we explore the cognitive biases that shape our culture and our work. From the "Baader-Meinhof" phenomenon to the tragedy of Napoleon’s retreat, we examine how our perceptions limit our possibilities.
Actionable Takeaways:
Change the narrative: Use the Placebo Effect to create positive outcomes through the power of expectation.
See the system: Recognize how the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon highlights opportunities you previously ignored.
Reframing value: Use the Contrast Effect to understand how relative comparison dictates the worth of your work.
Go make a ruckus by changing how you choose to see the world around you.
SPONSORS
👨💻 NordLayer
Security across your business
28% off: GROWTHMINDSET-28
http://nordlayer.com/growthmindset
🎓 MasterClass
Learn from the best, to become your best
Up to 50% off code: GrowthMindset
www.MasterClass.com/GrowthMindset
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Historic Football Game
01:35 Selective Perception in Politics
02:26 Reality Distortion Fields
04:13 Napoleon's Rise and Fall
05:58 The Exposure Effect
09:06 The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon
11:26 The Placebo Effect
15:57 The Illusion of Control
19:04 Napoleon's Russian Campaign
21:29 The Clustering Illusion
25:34 The Contrast Effect
30:03 Reflections on Cognitive Biases
33:09 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
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How to make smarter decisions that improve your life by understanding your mind and it's hidden psychology.
We are all storytelling creatures, desperate to fit the world into a narrative that makes sense to us. Thus, we build echo chambers not because we are stupid, but because we are afraid.
The Confirmation Bias is a shield against the discomfort of being wrong. The Availability Bias shapes our worldview based on the loudest stories, not the most important facts.
This episode reviews 7 cognitive biases the explore the friction between what is comfortable and what is true. Learning helps us build tools for the art of long-term thinking in a short-term world.
Audit your inputs: Step outside your algorithmic feed to find the friction of opposing views.
Reframe the risk: Turn "Black Swan" surprises into "White Swan" predictions by analyzing the unsexy data.
Choose commitment: Overcome the paralysis of infinite choice by making a "good enough" decision and sticking to it.
Go make a ruckus by choosing to think clearly today.
SPONSORS
👨💻 NordStellar
Security across your business
20% off: BLACKFRIDAY-20 (valid before 10th Dec)
10% off: GROWTHMINDSET-10
nordstellar.com/growthmindset
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
---
UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Confirmation Bias
04:14 The Availability Bias
07:08 The Neglect of Probability Bias
09:12 Black Swan vs. White Swan Events
11:00 The Hindsight Bias
13:47 The Outcome Bias
16:15 The Paradox of Choice Bias
18:56 The Time Discounting Bias
21:10 Becoming More Rational Thinkers
22:14 Wrap Up
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Think you konw what you're doing with you money on your mind? Think again.
You walk into a cinema and buy the $12 large popcorn because the medium is $10. You think you got a deal, but you actually just fell for the "Decoy Effect."Your brain is wired to latch onto the first number it sees.
In this episode, I break down the psychological pricing traps that businesses use to hack your wallet.
We also cover why Sir Isaac Newton lost his fortune to the Sunk Cost Fallacy and why having more information actually makes you a worse investor. It’s not about being smart; it’s about understanding the system.
Key Takeaways:
"Consider the Opposite" strategy: Mentally flip the price anchor to neutralize the urge to buy.
Spot the Decoy: Identify products that exist solely to make expensive options look cheap.
The 5-Point Rule: Stop researching after five data points to avoid the Information Bias trap.
Listen now to stop your brain from leaking money on deals that aren't real.
SPONSORS
👨💻 NordStellar
Security across your business
20% off: BLACKFRIDAY-20 (valid before 10th Dec)
10% off: GROWTHMINDSET-10
nordstellar.com/growthmindset
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
---
UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
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🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Money Traps - Financial Cognitive biases #2
02:49 The Opposite Strategy
08:01 Decoy Effect
10:44 Gambler's Fallacy
16:48 Sunk Cost Fallacy
19:24 Bad Prediction Flaws
19:59 Overconfidence Bias
21:33 Information Bias
25:43 Send Off
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Ever caught yourself defending a dumb idea just to look smart?
That's your ego controlling your brain. Cognitive biases and ego team up to screw your decisions daily.
Picture this: confirmation bias has you cherry-picking facts that stroke your self-image, while ego whispers you're too smart for mistakes. Spot the traps like Dunning-Kruger (overestimating skill) or sunk cost fallacy (throwing good money after bad).
Takehomes:
Point at one bias daily: "Am I ignoring counter-evidence like a muscly Irishman blocking the door?"
Test decisions: Can you drop it on your foot? If abstract, make it concrete now.
Audit ego weekly: List three "wins" that were actually luck—kill the illusion.
Hit play and arm yourself against yourself today.
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Spotlight Effect
02:07 Dunning Kruger Effect
04:25 Status Quo Bias
06:13 Curse of Knowledge
08:04 Cognitive Dissonance
10:17 The Halo Effect
13:54 Fundamental Attribution Error
16:01 Actor-Observer Bias
17:20 Self-Serving Bias
19:42 Hostile Attribution Bias
23:30 Don't blame other peoples behaviours
24:09 Don't get lost in our own world
27:09 These Biases exist for a reason
28:20 Don't get easily offended
29:01 Send Off
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You think you're rational? Think again. We love feeling like thoughtful decision-makers, but the truth is we're riddled with cognitive shortcuts.
Daniel Kahneman's Nobel Prize-winning work breaks down the systems of our mind. We constantly substitute hard questions with easy ones; e.g. Buying a stock because you like the company, not because you've done the data.
This episode cuts through the 300,000-word book to show you exactly how these shortcuts lead to everything from bad investments to pointless stress about the weather. It's time to stop letting your brain’s simple tricks run your whole life.
Stop overestimating the importance of your current stress.
Identify and reduce low-level daily pains (like a bad commute) for massive life returns.
Implement a "sleep-on-it" rule to override System 1's instant commitments.
Why let a lazy brain ruin your best decisions? Start thinking slower today.
Further Reading:
Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman
Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order.
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Understanding Cognitive Biases, comedy and systems of thinking
03:58 Deep Dive into System One and System Two Thinking
05:23 How System 1 and System 2 Work Together
06:49 System 1's Impact on Decision Making
08:26 System 1 and Politics
11:29 The Teenage Brain and System 2 Development
12:32 Cognitive Biases and Their Impact
17:45 The Law of Large Numbers
22:38 Prospect Theory, Risk Assessment and Loss Aversion
23:41 Rationality and Utility Theory in Economics
25:39 Prospect Theory: Perception of Value and Risk
27:16 Probability and Decision Making
29:29 The Experiencing Self vs. The Remembering Self
31:17 The Peak-End Rule and Its Impact on Memory
34:58 Momentary Pleasure vs Long-Term Satisfaction
38:09 The Focusing Illusion: What Really Matters
43:46 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
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We can try all the things: new habits, different mindsets, therapy, medication, or god save us... self-help books.
Yet to no ones surprise: we don't wake up a different person, we don't start doing all the things we keep saying we will eventually do, we don't even lose weight...
What is the deal? Are we broken? Is there a way to fix ourselves?
It all comes down to a single question.
Who are you VS. Who do you want to be?
Thoroughly confused, conflicted and curious. Sam sets out into the realms of psychology and philosophy to consider motivation from different angles.
Learn:
- What do you actually want to do VS What do you want to have done
- How to align your current actions with who you want to be
- Why Sam still leaves clothes all over the floor like a big 35 year old baby...
Journal prompts - Free notes
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Get in Touch
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📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Two Competing Wants
01:54 Desires as Contracts for Unhappiness
04:09 The Formula for Action
04:45 Finding the Right Level of Challenge
07:02 Discovering Your Path
09:20 Redefining Sacrifice
11:22 Making Tasks Easier
13:14 Simplifying and Prioritizing
15:00 Money vs Happiness Balance
16:32 Aligning Desires with Actions
17:34 Send Off
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Inner Peace vs Retail Rage - How do shops design our experience to remove our decisions and make us to FOMO into all sorts of weird situations?
This episode peels back the slick banners and countdown timers to show the tiny psychological tricks that turn shoppers into hunters. Scarcity, anchoring, and anticipation aren’t marketing buzzwords — they’re brain hacks.
Retailers riff off ancient instincts: spot a rare fruit, grab it. Online, those instincts run on caffeine and fast clicks. The result? We chase status, reassurance, and an imagined better life via objects.
Three actionable takeaways:
Pause 24 hours before you buy to let impulse die.
Flag “true needs” vs “story purchases” in a list.
Reframe purchases as stories you’ll tell later.
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Contradiction of Black Friday
00:42 A Brief History of Black Friday
01:02 The Psychology Behind Sales
06:28 The Power of Anticipation
06:47 The Perfect Storm of Psychological Triggers
07:57 Case Studies of Black Friday Madness
09:18 The Dark Side of Black Friday
09:41 The Role of Deindividuation and Competition
10:15 Social Contagion and Polyvagal Theory
10:48 Acts of Kindness Amidst the Chaos
12:19 Cyber Monday and Online Shopping
12:44 The Shift to Online Shopping
16:26 The Environmental Cost of Black Friday
18:32 Global Perspectives on Black Friday
18:44 Black Friday in Brazil and France
19:40 Singles Day in China
20:18 Human Nature Revealed by Black Friday
20:31 The Irrationality of Value
21:35 The Social Dynamics of Black Friday
22:18 Final Thoughts on Black Friday
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Most problems in the world aren't random accidents, they're built into the systems we live in. When we look closer we find systems all around us drive the currents that change the world.
Systems Thinking is a key idea in science, politics and business, but it knows no boundaries as systems show up everywhere.
In every era of humanity we created new systems in politics, law, technology and economics to deal with the problems of the day. As new challenges arise in the 21st century, from the future of AI to global politics, it is up to humanity to build new systems to overcome them.
Systems thinking invites us to discover the threads that bind our actions, cultures, and destinies into unexpected tapestries:
Stop firefighting and get to the root cause.
Search for leverage points where small acts create outsized impact.
Reframe crisis from an isolated disaster to an interconnected opportunity.
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro to systems thinking
01:53 Systems and Families
03:35 Welcome
05:12 What is a System
08:27 ACT 1 - 4 ELEMENTS OF A SYSTEM
08:27 Stocks and Flows
09:56 Feedback Loops
11:46 Delays
12:57 Boundaries
14:27 ACT 2 - MANAGING SYSTEMS
14:35 Leverage Points
21:27 ACT 3
21:52 Resilience in systems
23:44 Self-Organisation
25:00 Hierarchies
27:35 ACT 4 - LOOKING AT TODAY
28:40 Wrap up
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What if “enough” wasn’t a number — but a moment?
This conversation explores the quiet art of leaving nothing essential undone. We talk about the trap of “more” — more savings, more time, more planning — and how it steals the urgency that makes life vivid.
To die with zero regrets isn’t to die empty; it’s to die complete. Like an artist who finishes a painting not because it’s perfect, but because it says what it needed to say. We explore how generosity, timing, and intention turn ordinary years into extraordinary ones. It’s not about consuming your wealth — it’s about converting it into meaning.
Takeaways:
Treat time as your most valuable currency.
Design your life around moments that matter.
Give forward — not backward.
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Regrets of the Dying: Lessons from Palliative Care
01:35 Introducing 'Die With Zero' by Bill Perkins
02:35 Seneca's Philosophy on the Shortness of Life
03:28 The Value of Time and Money
04:35 Hyperbolic Discounting: The Psychology of Time and Money
08:46 Intentional spending and experiences that keep paying
11:59 The Memory Dividend: Investing in Experiences
15:38 The Health-Wealth Curve: Timing Your Experience
17:07 Balancing Life's Experiences and Timing
17:27 Seneca's Wisdom on Life and Death
18:31 The Concept of Peak Utility
19:59 The Inheritance Trap
20:45 Fear and Attachment in Financial Decisions
21:31 The Importance of Giving While Alive
23:21 Bill Perkins' Strategy for Dying with Zero
25:03 Time Bucketing for Life Experiences
27:47 The Final Reflection on Life's True Value
31:11 Conclusion and Next Steps
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99% of podcasters quit before episode 20. Why do 1% keep going... and what does it teach us about ourselves?
Paul Davies interviews Sam on the psychology of motivation, self-determination, signalling theory and more as we break down the psychology of what makes people podcast.
Besides analysing what's driving the trend to start a podcast we also learn about why humans do anything and how to make your own decisions for the right reasons.
Learn:
- How to keep a side hustle fun instead of it being a chore
- What on earth do virtue signalling, costly commitments and intellectual fitness testing have to do with podcasting and mate acquisition
- Why the things we do become extensions of ourselves.
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Why make a podcast?
01:48 Introducing Sam Webster Harris
02:43 Overcoming Podcasting Challenges
03:17 The Journey of Podcasting
04:21 The Power of Asking
07:48 The Effort Behind Podcast Production
10:14 The Process of Creating an Episode
15:41 Balancing Passion and Profession
16:47 The Psychology of Motivation
22:17 The Drive for Fame and Recognition
27:12 Reflecting on Podcast Beginnings
28:16 Choosing a Unique Podcast Path
29:43 Self-Actualization Through Podcasting
30:18 Signaling Theory and Podcasting
31:39 The Reality of Podcasting
33:17 Perceptions and Misconceptions
41:34 Burnout and Consistency
42:24 Dealing with Criticism
44:42 Advice for Aspiring Podcasters
47:39 Podcast Recommendations and Final Thoughts
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What if the life you're living is just a metaphor for the life you're meant to live?
Pressfield kept his typewriter buried under spare parts in his truck. He knew it was there. Thought about it constantly. But he was too terrified to dig it out and write. So he drove. For years.
Shadow callings aren't about laziness—they're about proximity without risk. We fall into fixed mindset thinking this is all we can do.
We become English teachers instead of novelists, consultants instead of founders, gallery workers instead of artists. We stay close enough to feel legitimate, far enough to avoid the real work.
This episode breaks down why your brain creates these elaborate escape mechanisms, what separates amateurs from professionals, and the exact moment everything changes.
You'll learn:
How to recognize if you're living a shadow career right now
The 20 habits that separate professionals from amateurs
Why turning pro is a decision you remake every single day
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 Are You Living Your Dream or a shadow calling?
02:14 Steven Pressfield's Shadow Career
03:28 Examples of Shadow Careers
04:01 The Concept of Metaphor
05:54 Addiction: The Partner of the Shadow Life
08:02 Amateur vs. Professional Behavior
09:35 Characteristics of a Professional
10:46 Turning Pro: A Life-Changing Decision
11:31 The All is Lost Moment
13:20 Personal Reflections on Turning Pro
15:42 The Rewards of Turning Pro
17:34 Building habits of a professional
19:38 Closing Remarks and Recommendations
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What if winning isn't a destination? What if it's the quiet act of becoming slightly better than you were when the sun rose this morning?
Frank Dick spent five decades asking "How do we help people see their own progress?"
As British Athletics' legendary Director of Coaching, he discovered something profound. We're wired to notice missing buttons but blind to the ones that are there. His Four Rs framework (Reason, Reality, Reflection, Response) is a mindset shift in how we define growth mindset psychology.
Every competition, meeting, and conversation is an invitation to ask What did I learn?
Three frameworks for transformation:
The left-side/right-side exercise: How to rewire your nervous system for positive psychology and curiosity
Strength-first philosophy: Why building on what works creates better mental models than fixing flaws (neuroscience meets self-development)
Emotional control in the arena: Simple techniques athletes use to ignore distractions and maintain mental strength
The only competition that matters is with yesterday's version of yourself—are you ready to win that game?
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Frank Dick OBE
- Website - https://www.frankdick.co.uk
- Book - "Winning: Motivation for Business, Sport & Life"
NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Haunting Feeling of Never Being Enough
00:29 Welcome to the Growth Mindset Psychology Podcast
01:03 The Journey of Sustainable Success
01:24 Introducing Frank Dick: Coaching Legend
01:57 The Four Rs Framework for Personal Growth
02:06 Defining Winning: A Continuous Journey
02:26 Frank Dick's Insights on Winning
03:06 Practical Tips for Daily Wins
03:59 The Importance of Setting Realistic Goals
07:08 Recognizing and Celebrating Small Wins
14:26 The Role of Emotional Control in Success
16:28 The Pitfalls of Success and Complacency
17:29 Reflections and Takeaways from Frank Dick
19:38 The Four Rs: A Growth Mindset Framework
20:18 Conclusion: Embrace Your Strengths and Improve Daily
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Ever notice how the people who never mess up also never win big? Frank Dick, the legendary British Olympic coach who led Team GB through its golden era, calls this "the risk of winning."
For over 50 years, Frank coached Olympic champions like Daley Thompson and Sebastian Coe. His growth mindset framework reveals a counterintuitive truth about mental strength: failure isn't falling off your bike—it's refusing to get back on. This episode unpacks the hidden psychology behind mistakes, character formation, and why vulnerability might be your greatest competitive advantage in self-improvement.
You'll discover:
Why making zero mistakes means you're not dreaming big enough (the science behind mental models for personal development)
The exact moment your character forms—hint: it's before you act (behavioural psychology meets emotional intelligence)
Frank's "Four Rs" framework for extracting wisdom from both wins and losses (cool psychology for mindset improvement)
Listen now to master the mental health strategies Olympic athletes use to build unshakeable self-discipline.
SPONSORS - 👨💻 NordLayer
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Episode: Victim vs Victor Mentality
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Growth Mindset Psychology
00:25 Overcoming the Fear of Failure
00:59 Meet Frank Dick, OBE
01:15 The Risk of Winning
01:43 Victim Mindset vs. Winning Mindset
02:38 Embracing Mistakes and Stumbles
03:52 Reflection and Learning from Mistakes
08:05 The Importance of Asking for Help
08:49 Courage and Vulnerability
10:01 Cheating and Character Flaw
14:31 Learning Through Experience
15:22 The Art and Science of Coaching
17:15 Frank Dick's Key Insights
17:19 Episode Highlights and Takeaways
18:42 Conclusion and Next Steps
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Ever said "you just need the right mindset" without knowing what that actually means? You're not alone. Most people use mindset like a magic word—vague, fluffy, and completely useless.
This episode breaks down what mindset really is through psychology, not wellness guru nonsense. You'll learn the difference between growth mindset (seeing failure as learning) and fixed mindset (believing ability is static), why abundance mindset beats scarcity thinking, and how open-mindedness isn't about accepting everything. The fisherman story reveals how we all fake understanding of concepts we never properly learned.
You'll discover:
Why specificity transforms mindset from buzzword to breakthrough
How Carol Dweck's research differs from manifestation myths
Three mindset pairs that actually impact your decisions
SPONSORS
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NEW SHOW - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation
Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights.
Found on all major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
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YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
CHAPTERS
00:00 What is a mindset - REALLY?
01:16 Understanding Mindset: Core Concepts
02:08 The Psychology Behind Mindset
03:50 Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
04:44 The Evolution and Misuse of Mindset
12:38 Open vs. Closed Mindset
17:37 Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindset
20:31 Applying Mindset Correctly
23:08 Future Content Plans and Listener Engagement
27:24 Conclusion: Embracing Change and Staying Positive
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Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives.
WHY LISTEN?
Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it?
This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism.
Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be.
We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system.
WHAT YOU DON’T GET
No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn.
Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health.
THE APPROACH
Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development.
Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life.
YOUR HOST
I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives.
This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation.
PREMIUM
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PAST SERIES
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for Busy Mortals
— Independence and Knowing Yourself
— Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking
— Psychology of Connection and Relationships
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
— Addiction and Behaviour Change
— Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory
— Mental Strength and Self-Discipline
