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How To Build Free Will
20/1/2026 | 53 mins.Free will sounds easy until you look closely. Then it turns out to be smaller, stranger, and far more difficult than advertised.
We take a cheerful scalpel to the idea that we’re the conscious captains of our lives. With help from psychology experiments, philosophical detours we find out what's really going on.
Examining stories involving casinos, concentration camps, meditation cushions, and more, we discover that most behaviour is automatic. Pain, habit, desire, and social pressure do most of the driving.
Yet, whilst we can’t choose our thoughts or impulses, we can choose how we respond to them. Viktor Frankl called it “the space between stimulus and response,” and it turns out to be the most valuable square inch of mental real estate you’ll ever own.
Cultivate that space, and you get resilience, wisdom, and the rare ability to not punch metaphorical holes in windows.
Actionable takeaways
Treat strong emotions as data, not instructions
Reduce temptation before relying on discipline
Train non-reactivity through small, deliberate discomforts
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
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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 What Personal Growth Really Means: Free Will
00:33 Fixed vs Growth Mindset as Freedom vs Reaction
01:59 Welcome to the Growth Mindset Podcast
02:08 Why You Can’t Understand One Part of Psychology in Isolation
03:34 Setting Expectations: Consciousness, Free Will, and Big Ideas
05:13 Habits, Consciousness, and the Sleepwalking Killer Case
06:44 The Compulsive Gambler and the Illusion of Choice
11:45 How Much Free Will Do We Actually Have?
15:35 Why You Don’t Choose Your Desires
18:24 Conscious vs Subconscious Memories
21:51 Why Willpower Often Arrives Too Late
25:04 Free Will, Fixed Mindset, and Hard Truths
25:39 Viktor Frankl and the Space Between Stimulus and Response
26:27 How to Build Free Will in Everyday Life
28:17 Emotional Triggers and Losing Autonomy
30:25 David Foster Wallace on Learning How to Think
33:12 The Psychology of Revenge
38:34 Pain, Discipline, and the Limits of Control
39:43 Meditation, Pain, and Non-Reactivity
45:30 Applying Free Will to Daily Life
47:04 What We’ve Learned: Growth Mindset as Choice
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices5 Surprising Truths About Independence and Being Yourself: What really impacts who you are
16/1/2026 | 20 mins.The idea that you are a blend of the 5 people you spend time with has a dangerous side. In fact, it's not exactly true.
In this episode, I break down why the Growth Mindset is actually about autonomy, not assimilation. I share the story of my best friend Laurie—a guy with zero ambition who taught me how to relax and actually saved my career during burnout.
I also look at Sahil Lavingia, who blended his Silicon Valley builder mindset with a country level ambitions to enjoy his success without chasing billions.
Real growth isn't about surrounding yourself with clones; it's about treating influence like a buffet. You take the relaxation from one friend, the drive from another, and the curiosity from a stranger you met for an hour. You are not a result; you are a selector.
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 You are not the 5 people you spend time with
01:01 What is growth mindset
01:26 How people really affect growth
04:11 Don't be prevented from being yourself
04:38 Best friends
08:42 You choose your inspiration
09:27 Minimal time, big effect
10:44 Prioritize healthy relationships
11:27 Don't spend time with only one type of person
12:04 Sahil Lavingia and GumRoad
13:51 Variety is the spice of life
14:52 Questions to journal on
16:03 Life tips
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesLife's Infinite Games: How to play by your own rules
13/1/2026 | 23 mins.What if the game you're playing isn't yours?
Every moment of your life, something is at stake. Ignore your partner, they feel less loved. Choose status over meaning, you'll need a therapist.
We inherit these games—LinkedIn profiles that read like eager cover letters, news consumption that convinces us everything's collapsing, social media that demands we perform. But there's another way.
Instead of seeking approval, seek independence. Instead of doing what looks good, do what is good for us.
The philosopher suggests three modes: machine (following instructions), intelligent (playing better), and zen (not playing at all). This episode will help you be more intelligent and more zen.
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 Introduction to the Show
00:36 The Concept of Life as a Game
01:29 The Rules of Life's Games
03:18 Playing the LinkedIn Game
04:53 Reevaluating LinkedIn's Purpose
06:35 Life Lessons from LinkedIn
08:24 The Philosophy of Fun and Success
11:42 The Game of Life
14:08 Modes of Approaching Life
15:00 Applying the Modes to Social Media and News
17:02 Final Thoughts on Playing Life's Games
18:13 Housekeeping and Recommendations
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices4 Steps to Become Remarkable: A guide to overhaul your life
06/1/2026 | 38 mins.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.
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 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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesWorking with Time Instead of Against It - How to enjoy this year and every year of your life
30/12/2025 | 15 mins.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
---
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 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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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About 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
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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