{"podcast":{"title":"Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement","slug":"growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575","podcast_index_feed_id":615575,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/NSR1382158191","website_url":"https://www.growthmindsetpodcast.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/b31b318a-dfc3-11ee-96e2-e307ea398f4c/image/b1e2aa5d2a29d2325cc1f7f07f4f13dc.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Sam Webster Harris","episode_count":541,"summary":"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…","last_synced_at":"2026-09-08T10:17:09.640115+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575"},"episode":{"title":"7 Painful Paradoxes of Self-Improvement (And what they teach us)","slug":"7-painful-paradoxes-of-self-improvement-and-what-they-teach-us","published_at":"2026-09-01T03:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575/7-painful-paradoxes-of-self-improvement-and-what-they-teach-us","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575","url":"https://mgln.ai/e/35/pfx.vpixl.com/k7b9t/op3.dev/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR8746244273.mp3","audio_url":"https://mgln.ai/e/35/pfx.vpixl.com/k7b9t/op3.dev/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR8746244273.mp3","summary":"You know that feeling when you try so hard to seem normal that you become a weirdo? Self-improvement works the exact same way. The more you chase happiness, the further it runs. The more validation you seek, the emptier you feel. This episode breaks down 7 painful paradoxes when we take on personal growth — psychological traps where trying harder makes things worse. We dig into King George VI's stutter, Carl Jung's shadow work, and why Steve Jobs getting fired was the best thing that happened to him. You'll learn why over-planning destroys resilience, why self-help books can quietly wreck your confidence, and why real change happens slower, yet more easily, than you think. Takeaways: Stop directly chasing happiness. Let it arrive as a byproduct of living with purpose. Build self-worth internally. External validation is a leaky bucket you can never fill. Accept your flaws before fixing them. Rejection breeds resistance, not change. CTA: Press play and learn why the hardest part of growth is knowing when to stop trying so hard. SPONSORS ☺️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MOD.com⁠ Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus. Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at ⁠MOD.com⁠ 🌳 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Acorns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Smart way to grow your money $5 welcome bonus ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ UPGRADE to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthMindset.Supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happine…","meta_description":"You know that feeling when you try so hard to seem normal that you become a weirdo? Self-improvement works the exact same way. The more you chase happines…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1766,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575/episodes/7-painful-paradoxes-of-self-improvement-and-what-they-teach-us/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575/7-painful-paradoxes-of-self-improvement-and-what-they-teach-us.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}