For most of us, the idea of jumping off a bridge with a parachute or surfing a wave 70 feet tall seems to defy comprehension. Psychologists, too, have wondered what drives people to participate in extreme sports. Eric Brymer, PhD, talks about why many of our preconceived notions about adventurers are wrong, what draws people to extreme adventure, the role f ... Show More
Aug 20
Why numeracy counts in everyday life, with Ellen Peters, PhD
From deciding whether to buy a house to weighing the risks and benefits of taking a new medication, many important life decisions hinge on understanding numbers, statistics and probability. Ellen Peters, PhD, author of “Innumeracy in the Wild: Misunderstanding and Misusing Number ... Show More
35m 22s
Aug 13
Encore - How science can help you change your behavior for the better, with Katy Milkman, PhD
What can you learn from the science of behavior change that can help you make the changes you want to see in your life? Katy Milkman, PhD, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where Y ... Show More
43m 42s
Aug 6
Encore -- Why we choose to suffer, with Paul Bloom, PhD
Why do people like to watch scary movies or listen to sad songs? Why do we run marathons and raise children, even though both of those pursuits come with struggle and pain? Paul Bloom, PhD, discusses why suffering is linked to meaning in life, the connection between pleasure and ... Show More
23m 18s
Jul 2023
Inside the Minds of Thrill Seekers
Skydiving, BASE jumping, climbing the highest peaks, adventuring to remote parts of the world — pushing the boundaries of safety. For thrill-seekers, chasing the rush is what it's all about. Where lots of us would break into a cold sweat, they experience something different: calm ... Show More
49m 20s
Nov 2014
The Extreme Sport You've Probably Never Heard Of, And How You Can Use It's Renegade Techniques To Become Superhuman.
While on assignment in Greece, journalist James Nestor witnessed something that confounded him: a man diving 300 feet below the ocean’s surface on a single breath of air and returning four minutes later, totally unharmed... ...and smiling. This man was a "freediver", and his supe ... Show More
40m 53s
Mar 2018
Alex Honnold: The Free Soul of Free Solo Climbing On Fear, Risk, Mindset & What It Means To Be Truly Alive
“No matter the risks we take, we always consider the end to be too soon, even though in life, more than anything else, quality should be more important than quantity.”Alex Honnold
Last week I asked you to imagine being attacked by a 9-foot bull shark.This week I invite you to env ... Show More
1h 57m
Sep 2021
Roll On: Melding Passion With Purpose (+ Arctic Swimmer Lewis Pugh!)
How do you meld passion with purpose? What makes you committed to your cause? And most importantly, what does your podcast do? In addition to philosophizing these questions and more, in today’s edition of ‘Roll On,’ Adam Skolnick and I trade fitness updates, engage in typical rib ... Show More
2h 38m
Jan 2024
How To Work Out Less And Get Fitter, The Secrets of Sustainable Fitness, What We Can All Learn From The World’s Best Athletes & Understanding The Stress Load of Exercise with Professor Stephen Seiler
Whether your fitness goal is completing an Ironman race, jogging a 5K, or simply tackling the stairs without getting out of breath, today’s guest has some surprising news on how you can get there quicker, by putting in less – yes, less – effort. World-renowned sports scientist Pr ... Show More
2h 20m
Nov 2023
EP 160: The Training, Skillsets and Mindsets Of Being An Athlete For Life, & Winning In The Game Of Life
This was a interview that Ali Gilbert did with me on the Virtual Silverback Summit that I want to share with everyone as I dove into the Athlete For Life model of training, as well as diving into the mindset of growth, overcoming obstacles, and winning in life. I share how I appr ... Show More
1h 5m