Humans hate uncertainty. It makes us feel unsafe and uneasy. We often organize our lives to avoid it. When it's foisted upon us, we don’t always know how to act.
But writer and journalist Maggie Jackson argues that uncertainty can actually be good for us, and that we’re doing ourselves a disservice by avoiding it.
She tells Sean that embracing uncertainty ca ... Show More
Yesterday
Why humans need to matter
Why do humans have this deep need to feel like we matter? Sean Illing talks with the philosopher Rebecca Goldstein about why “mattering” is not the same thing as being important, how the hunger for validation can go really, really badly, and the different ways we try to justify o ... Show More
47m 1s
Mar 27
A brief update on the AI apocalypse
Something is definitely happening in the AI world, but how seriously should we take it? Is this another hype cycle or a genuine inflection point? Sean Illing talks with journalist Kelsey Piper (formerly of Vox, now at The Argument) about what’s changed, why AI “agents” are a diff ... Show More
36m 37s
Jul 2024
2251: How to Take Chances (A Love Story) by Jennifer of Simply Fiercely on Dating Advice
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2251: Jennifer of Simply Fiercely shares her journey of taking risks and finding love, highlighting the power of embracing ... Show More
10m 23s
Mar 2020
SPECIAL EPISODE! How To Fail: Alain De Botton on embracing vulnerability in the age of Coronavirus
In the second of two special episodes, the renowned philosopher Alain de Botton, returns to How To Fail With Elizabeth Day to talk about how to be human and how to stay (relatively) sane in the grip of a global pandemic. We talk about the fact that, right now, it's rational to be ... Show More
1 h
Feb 2025
EP 487: How to Make a Decision from Faith and Not Fear with Morgan
<p>In this heartfelt coaching session, Christine Hassler guides Morgan through an emotional crossroads: deciding whether to have another child. While Morgan has always envisioned a big family, fear stemming from a traumatic birth experience, postpartum depression, and complex fam ... Show More
31m 7s
Dec 2024
Ep 39: Why it's worth embracing uncertainty
There's no question that we find ourselves in uncertain times. Looking at current events and wondering about what the future may hold can leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed, to say the least. But uncertain times aren't always the ominous force we make them out to ... Show More
31m 5s
Oct 2024
192 - Embracing Uncertainty
In this episode, I explore the topic of uncertainty and how embracing life’s unpredictability can lead to greater peace and freedom. From everyday frustrations to life’s biggest challenges, groundlessness is a shared human experience. Drawing on stories, metaphors, and Buddhist t ... Show More
39m 55s
Sep 2024
Find Hope and Banish Cynicism... Coming Sept 9
It's hard to stay hopeful sometimes. Things can look pretty bleak and divided, especially around election time. But if you're losing hope in your fellow humans, stop and listen to the science. Other people are kinder, friendlier and more co-operative than you might think. Usin ... Show More
4m 3s