SOLVED with Mark Manson

• Finding Your Purpose, Solved

  This is the episode I’ve been waiting to make for a long time. Purpose has been at the core of everything I’ve written and done for over a decade—and in this episode, we go all the way down the rabbit hole. From Viktor Frankl surviving Auschwitz to the myth of “finding your one true purpose,” we break down what purpose really is, why you feel lost without it, and how you can build it into your life. We also get uncomfortable (in the best way) and talk about the dark side of purpose—how it can burn you out, trap you in toxic ambition, or become an excuse to ruin your life. And I have a very special announcement to make: Today, I’m launching a new app called Purpose. It’s an AI-powered mentor for personal growth. You talk to it about whatever you’re facing—stress, decisions, conflicts, goals—and it helps you make sense of things. Purpose listens, reflects back what matters most, and turns big challenges into small, actionable steps. The more you use it, the more personalized and helpful it becomes. Get started in the app with a free course on finding your purpose at https://purpose.app/solved We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with takeaways and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/purpose Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:39) Victor Frankl and Finding Purpose in the Darkness (17:20) Chapter 1: Foundations: What Is Purpose? (25:44) Myths (32:50) Definition (34:55) Health (39:22) Resilience and Purpose (45:34) Chapter 2: Philosophical & Historical Perspectives on Purpose (52:47) Religion and Purpose (58:31) Descartes (1:00:11) Hume (1:04:51) Nietzsche (1:17:43) Kierkegaard (1:22:50) Ernest Becker (1:30:16) Picasso (1:31:26) Chapter 3: The Psychology of Purpose (1:36:38) Relationships (1:45:40) Ego Identity (1:49:19) Social Aspect of Purpose (1:52:32) Religiosity (2:05:14) Going back to Religion (2:08:13) Chapter 4: The Four Stages of Life (2:19:41) Trade off to Purpose (2:23:48) Transitioning in Purpose (2:31:33) Chapter 5: The Dark Side of Purpose (2:40:38) Purpose App (2:51:36) Burnout (2:54:29) Toxic Purpose (3:07:25) Chapter 6: Finding and Cultivating Purpose (3:27:04) Breakdown on finding Purpose (3:36:56) Chapter 7: Finding Purpose in Work (or Not) (3:52:55) Parenting (4:01:00) Contributing to your community (4:04:05) Hobbies (4:09:14) Chapter 8: Practical Tools and Frameworks (4:20:18) Purpose Setting (4:22:17) Finding the right tool (4:24:48) Chapter 9: The 80/20 of Living with Purpose (4:34:24) Takeaways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Comparing Yourself to Others, Solved

  We all compare ourselves to other people—our friends, coworkers, strangers on the internet—and most of the time, it makes us feel like shit. But why do we keep doing it? In this episode of Solved, we dig into the uncomfortable truth behind social comparison, how it quietly ruins our self-worth, and why most of what we envy in others is a projection of our own insecurity. We also get into the brutal paradox of success, the toxic loop of chasing status, and how the constant measurement of our lives against others is one of the dumbest things we do as a species. If you’ve ever felt not good enough, or like you’re falling behind, this one’s for you. We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/socialcomparison Ready to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join Momentum, a community of like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://findmomentum.com/socialcomparison Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 5:29 Chapter 1: Evolutionary Roots 16:20 The Emotional Toolkit 20:18 Chapter 2: Philosophy and Social Comparison 23:31 The Buddhist Path 24:58 Aristotle 34:34 Stoicism 36:24 Existentialism 40:06 Myths 48:37 Chapter 3: The Psychology of Social Comparison 58:54 Downward Comparison 1:22:19 Chapter 4: Digital Technology and Social Comparison 1:44:20 Chapter 5: The 80/20 of Managing Comparison 1:57:40 Hidden Costs 1:58:48 Takeaways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• How to Make Friends as an Adult

  Friendship is the most important thing nobody talks about. In this episode of The SOLVED Podcast, Drew and I dig into what makes friendships work, why they fall apart, and why so many of us are struggling to build or keep them as we get older. We’re talking loneliness stats, Darwin’s confusion about cooperation, and the deep emotional mechanics behind being a good friend—and finding one. From ancient philosophy to game theory, we break down why friendship isn’t just some social nicety—it’s a biological survival strategy. Plus: the modern forces slowly strangling our ability to connect, and exactly what to do about it. You’ll walk away with a clearer sense of what real friendship looks like, how to build it, and how to stop shooting yourself in the foot every time you try. We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/friendship Ready to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join Momentum, a community of like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://findmomentum.com/friendship Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 7:52 Chapter 1: Friendship: an Evolutionary Puzzle 25:45 Chapter 2: What Is Friendship? 27:11 Friendship in the Great Religious Traditions 37:21 Modern Psychology's Definition of Friendship 49:02 Chapter 3: Your Brain On Friendship 1:03:34 The Neurobiology of Connection 1:22:48 Health Benefits of Friendship 1:33:11 Chapter 4: How to Make and Maintain Friendships 1:35:19 Proximity and Repeated Contact and Reciprocal Disclosure 1:53:51 Time investment (quantity and cadence) 1:58:15 Evidence-Based Strategies for Making Friends 2:07:46 Examples Of Making Friends 2:26:50 Chapter 5: How Friendship Changes Across the Lifespan 2:54:18 Chapter 6: Gender Dynamics in Friendships 3:09:39 Can Men And Women Be Friends? 3:16:39 Chapter 7: Toxic Friendships 3:17:41 Competitive Friendship 3:21:18 Codependency 3:34:45 Chapter 8: Why It's So Hard to Make Friends These Days 3:35:48 External Headwinds: Why Getting Together Is Hard 3:53:18 Internal Frictions: Why Staying Equal Feels Impossible 4:02:45 Chapter 9: Technology's Double-Edged Impact on Human Connection 4:11:19 Mark's LA Story 4:20:21 Chapter 10: The 80/20 of Friendship 4:30:33 Chapter 11: The Trade-Offs of Friendship Produced by Drew Birnie Research by Zenya Giatzoglou, Katherine Wei, & Gage Greer Edited by SJ van Breda Director of Photography Jess Choi Thumbnail by Jonathan Sippel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• A Comprehensive Guide to Stoicism (ft. Ryan Holiday)

  What does it actually mean to live like a Stoic? In this wide-ranging conversation with bestselling author and modern Stoicism evangelist Ryan Holiday, we unpack the origins of Stoic philosophy, why it exploded during turbulent times in ancient Greece and Rome, and how its principles—like courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom—still apply in a world filled with chaos, anxiety, and uncertainty. From shipwrecked merchants to emperors journaling their fears, this episode explores why some of the most powerful figures in history turned to Stoicism not just for answers—but for survival. We also dig into how Stoicism overlaps with modern psychology, why it’s gaining traction among young men, and whether its rising popularity is being misunderstood or misused. If you’ve ever wondered whether Stoicism means being emotionless, if it’s compatible with ambition, or if it actually makes you a better person, this episode is your one-stop masterclass. Order Ryan Holiday’s new book, Wisdom Takes Work: https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Takes-Work-Repeat-Virtues/dp/0593191730 We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/stoicism Ready to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join the Solved Community, a platform for like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://membership.solvedpodcast.com Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough Produced by Drew Birnie Research by Zenya Giatzoglou, Katherine Wei, & Gage Greer Edited by SJ van Breda Director of Photography Jess Choi Thumbnail by Jonathan Sippel Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:49 Setting the Scene: Ancient Greece After Alexander 06:44 The Story of Zeno: Founder of Stoicism 13:58 The Four Stoic Virtues 44:20 Virtue 1: Courage 53:17 Virtue 2: Temperance (Discipline) 1:05:01 Virtue 3: Justice 1:08:51 Virtue 4: Wisdom 1:25:51 Roman Conquest and the Spread of Stoicism 1:33:10 Cato the Younger: The Stoic Martyr 1:39:06 Seneca: The Conflicted Philosopher 1:55:50 Epictetus: The Slave Philosopher 2:07:28 Marcus Aurelius: The Philosopher Emperor 2:20:18 Stoicism Through History 2:32:45 Stoicism and Modern Psychology 2:41:09 The Modern Stoicism Revival 2:50:06 Final Thoughts and Recommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• How to Become Resilient

  Resilience isn’t about pretending you’re fine or never feeling pain—it’s about learning how to act in your best interest despite the pain. In this episode of Solved, we dive deep into the science, psychology, and real-life examples of resilience—from Ernest Shackleton’s crew surviving two years stranded in Antarctica to my own slightly insane decision to run an endurance race with basically no training. Spoiler: I didn’t die. We cover it all: the biology of resilience, why some people are “dandelions” and thrive anywhere while others are “orchids” who need the right environment, the mindsets that let you push through hardship without losing your mind, and why humor and community might secretly be your best survival tools. And of course, we deliver the real, practical, evidence-based strategies you can actually apply when life inevitably decides to kick you in the teeth. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or like you can’t take one more setback, this episode is for you. And if you’re one of those psychos who enjoys doing hard sh*t just to see what you’re made of… well, you’ll feel right at home here. We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/resilience Ready to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join the Solved Community where you can interact with like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://membership.solvedpodcast.com/ Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 04:44 Chapter 1: Reframing Resilience — Definitions & Misconceptions 13:11 The Word That Started It All 16:30 Bounce Forward, Not Back 23:50 Chapter 2: Developmental and Biological Foundations of Resilience 29:26 The Evolutionary Puzzle 38:54 Chapter 3: Biological & Physiological Foundations 44:45 Training Your Brain to Be More Resilient 48:43 The HPA Axis: Our Central Stress Response System 51:19 Heart Rate Variability: The Resilience Rhythm 54:32 Physiological Interventions 1:00:07 Gut-Brain Axis 1:17:17 Chapter 4: Psychological, Philosophical & Evidence-Based Frameworks 1:20:19 The 5 Mindsets of Resilience 1:21:46 Mindset #1: Anything Is Possible 1:38:22 Mindset #2: Stories Are Just Stories 1:44:16 MIndset #3: Focus on What You Control 1:58:55 Mindset #4: Make It Fun 2:10:34 Mindset #5: Assume a Resilient Identity 2:20:21 Pheidippides 2:27:00 Chapter 5: Sociocultural & Community Dimensions 2:37:40 Social Connection and Resilience: Why Strong People Don't Go It Alone 2:45:33 Blitz Spirit: Myth vs Reality 2:48:23 How to Build Your Resilient Circle 2:57:28 Chapter 6: The 80/20 of Becoming More Resilient 3:11:36 The Hidden Costs of Resilience 3:22:25 What We Learned Follow me: https://instagram.com/markmanson/ https://twitter.com/IAmMarkManson https://facebook.com/Markmansonnet/ https://linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ https://www.tiktok.com/@iammarkmanson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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