The Art of Manliness

Back in 2019, David Epstein joined me to talk about his book Range and why generalists often thrive in a specialized world. Now he’s back with a new book that explores a seemingly opposite idea: the power of constraints. In Inside the Box, David argues that limits — deadlines, boundaries, and even setbacks — are often the very things that spark creativity, sharpen focus, and help us actually get meaningful work done.
Today on the show, David shares how, in a world of endless freedom and options, constraints might actually be the thing you need most. He shares the surprising true story behind the creation of the periodic table, explains how a broken arm changed the course of his own life, and explores why giving people too much leeway can actually kill innovation. We discuss what Pixar did right that doomed companies like General Magic got wrong, why brainstorming sessions are usually ineffective, how to identify the bottlenecks holding back your work and life, and why learning to settle for “good enough” may be the key to getting more great things done.
Resources Related to the PodcastDavid’s previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #512 — Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
Pixar’s Tin Toy
AoM Article: Curing Your Restlessness — Limiting Your Choices
The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt
David’s This American Life Episode: “Something Only I Can See”
AoM Article: Via Negativa — Adding to Your Life By Subtracting
Connect With David EpsteinDavid’s website

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You hear a lot today about how our ample screentime is affecting our mental health. But how is it affecting our bodies, and how is that impact on our bodies affecting, well, our mental health?
My guest today will unpack the ways that digital technology is sapping our vitality, and offer a simple protocol to get it back. Her name is Manoush Zomorodi, and she's the host of the TED Radio Hour and the author of Body Electric. In our conversation, Manoush explains why a day spent sitting in front of screens can leave you exhausted, even though you haven't really done anything, and how small bouts of movement throughout the day can counteract that drain and keep you feeling energized and focused. She shares how much activity you need to offset periods of being sedentary, and how to realistically incorporate these movement breaks into your routine. We also get into the specific effects digital technology is having on our eyes and ears — and what you can do to prevent the damage.

Resources Related to the Podcast
Manoush's previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #342 — Why Boredom is Good for You
"I Sing the Body Electric" by Walt Whitman
Keith Diaz's studies
AoM Article: The Importance of Building Your Daily Sleep Pressure
Connect With Manoush Zomorodi
Manoush's website
Manoush on IG


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While we often think of life as linear, my guest’s own life, along with a decade of research, has taught him that it’s anything but. In his latest book, What to Make of a Life, Jim Collins unpacks the cyclical pattern life actually unfolds in, and how to navigate it. He explains how we all go through periods of “fog” — times of disorientation and uncertainty — at least three times: in youth, after a life-changing “cliff” event, and as we move through midlife into older age. We find our way out of these fogs by what Jim calls coming into “frame” — aligning what you're built to do with what you actually do in a way that feels enlivening and meaningful. And Jim unpacks the three elements that help you find, and re-find, this frame over the course of your life.
Along the way, Jim shares case studies of these principles at work, and we explore the role of luck, the inevitability of drudgery (even in work you love), and how to keep your inner fire lit over the long haul.

Resources Related to the Podcast
Good to Great by Jim Collins
All Rise: The Remarkable Journey of Alan Page by Bill McGrane
Self-Renewal: The Individual and the Innovative Society by John W. Gardner
Sunday Firesides: You Never Know How Many Chapters Are Still to Come
Sunday Firesides: Do the Right Thing, for Right Now
AoM Article: The 5 Best AoM Podcast Episodes on Finding Meaning and Purpose
AoM series on finding your life's vocation
Connect With Jim Collins
Jim's website

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Building substantial personal wealth can feel difficult and out of reach. But my guest says that even those with modest means can, with a few simple decisions and strategies, become millionaires, and even multi-millionaires.
David Bach is the author of the bestselling, newly updated personal finance classic, The Automatic Millionaire. Today on the show, we talk about the money management framework that will put you on the path to a free, secure, rich retirement. David explains his controversial "Latte Factor" principle, the astonishing power of compounding interest, how setting your finances on autopilot may be the most important financial move you can make, why he still believes in buying a home as an incomparable way to build wealth, the best way to pay down your debt, and more.

Resources Related to the Podcast
investor.gov compound interest calculator
AoM Article: What Every Young Man Should Know About the Power of Compound Interest
AoM Article: Know-Nothing Investing — Index Funds For Beginners
AoM Article: Build Your Wealth — Graduate from a Paycheck Mentality to a Net Worth Mentality
AoM Article: A Young Man’s Guide to Understanding Retirement Accounts — IRAs
Connect With David Bach
David's website
David on IG
David on FB
David on X
David on YouTube
David on LinkedIn

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When people visit a therapist's office for help with their depression, they often don't find the relief they're seeking. That's because much of the counsel that is traditionally given doesn't offer the context people need to make sense of and preserve their mental well-being.
Here to share these missing pieces of perspective and strategy is Dr. Scott Eilers, a clinical psychologist and the author of The Light Between the Leaves: 6 Truths Your Therapist Won't Tell You About Healing Depression and Trauma. Today on the show, Scott shares why the world of psychology doesn't always offer the most useful explanations for why people can sometimes feel alienated from their own lives. We then talk about insights Scott has gleaned from science, nature, and lived experience as to the mindset shifts and habits that can help you stay sharp, steady, and engaged in life — whether you're struggling with chronic depression, or just adrift in a low-grade funk.

Resources Related to the Podcast
AoM series on depression
AoM Podcast #741: The Exercise Prescription for Depression and Anxiety
AoM article and podcast on Rick Hanson's method of "hardwiring happiness"
Connect With Scott Eilers
Scott's website
Scott's YouTube channel
Scott on IG
Scott on FB

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