Moonwalk

First off—it's been a thousand years. But I have a quick update—and if you liked Moonwalk, I think you'll (most likely) be into it. If you already know what it is (or just listened): here's the free system. And the update is: I talked to a guy named Andrew, because Andrew read a book. But when he read that book, it addressed a long-standing concern in his life. On this quick 2-minute update, we talk about it. For the book (the notetaking system is free, and you can read it in under 3 minutes) go here: www.mohnish.net/book Music by Kevin Macleod

The future of Moonwalk, and where I'm going next. Join the email list, where I'll post new projects, updates, and book recommendations, all at mohnish.net/insider The Facts Special thanks to Kevin Sanji, Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, Vysali Soundararajan, Armi Legge, Justin Sheppard, and - last but not least - you. Thanks for listening.  

"But he listened to it and he says, 'That's good shit, dad!'" - Paul Rozin There's a deep, subjective feeling inside us. And it's the feeling that you know what tastes good, you know what movies are terrible, and you know that your grandfather's esoteric opinions on classical operas are actually spot-on. But in a world filled with varying subjective preferences (as well as people who enjoy eating pickles whole), there is an idea that won't die. It's the idea that someone can have "good taste". The idea that your taste can be better than my taste. On this episode, we investigate: - Does that idea make sense? - Is is possible to improve your taste systematically? - What are the components of someone who has good taste, and someone who doesn't? - And how subjective is taste in a world with clear preferences?   The Facts Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan.  Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji. Special thanks to Anna Leonard and Paul Rozin. Sign up for the insider newsletter for exclusive updates and book recommendations.    Music is by Podington Bear, BitBasic, and Kevin MacLeod

"Worst case scenario, the spy gets killed" - Benedetta Lerva If you hire a spy, a lot can happen. They can get caught. They can get tortured with endless roundhouse kicks to the face. And worst case scenario: they can die. So if you had to risk someone’s life to spy for your country, would you do it? And, more importantly, what does this teach us about what it means to be a better person? An economist helps us figure it out.   The Facts Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Vysali Soundararajan. Special thanks to Benedetta Lerva. The research: East-West Germany espionage paper, Rotten Kid Theorem paper, and the “Pay Not to Go to the Gym” paper. Sign up for the insider newsletter for exclusive updates and book recommendations. Music is by Podington Bear, BitBasic, and Broke for Free.  

“My parents thought they hit the jackpot with me” - Gordie Bufton There’s a woman who buys a ticket. She gets in a plane, and passes all these little cultures of hills and cars and highways, and then - 2,000 miles later - realizes that the man whom she gave birth to and bought diapers in bulk for, is actually a complete shit show. On this episode, we talk about the shit show, and dive into a question that’s older than Nietzsche himself: can disadvantages be turned into advantages? Is that completely wrong? And if it’s true, why does the research give a different picture?   The Facts Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm, Justin Sheppard, and Mary Moran. Special thanks to Gordie Bufton, Lisa Moore, and Mark Seery. To sign up for the newsletter (and for more on this episode), go to mohnish.net Music is by Podington Bear.

I'm in a bar, and I tell Kevin a story about an African village. But the story I tell is the lovely, made-for-television version of what happened. The real story is worse. Much worse.  On this episode, we uncover the secret of sharp thinkers.   ###   Moonwalk is hosted, written, and produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Episode was co-hosted and co-written by Kevin Sanji. Feedback by Jarrod Sport and Justine Brumm. A special thanks to Christian Hempelmann. A quick note: No podcast next month. I’ll be traveling for 40 days, and we have some great material cued up. We’re off next month, but can’t wait to get back on the horse. Special thanks to Christain Hempelmann - his paper. Go to moonwalkpodcast.com and sign up for the email list.  Music is by Podington Bear.    

There's a hidden side to your first impression that you forgot. It's the secret that you forget - routinely - everyday when you slip on your carefully chosen off-color khakis, you spritz on your favorite cologne, and you spill orange soda all over your face.  Now, it's time to remember.    ###   Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. Editing direction was by Jarrod Sport and Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear. Special thanks to Eliza, Mario, and Sam! Eliza is a WNYC Producer over at The Takeaway and Freakonomics Radio.  Go to moonwalkpodcast.com for more, and sign up for the email list for exclusive updates. They are awesome. 

"...And then the dread sets in - that immeasurable depression and blackness of your future that you have no bearing of what it's going to hold" - Devyn Tammons   After you do the song and dance, put on the goofy outfit, and grab your diploma cover - graduation's over. But then the void hits. You have too much time. Boredom sets in. That excitement you had - it's gone. You start asking what the meaning of life is, and negotiate whether or not you can find it between the melted cheese of a ham sandwich. You are losing your mind. But, thankfully - as you spiral into a deep and deafening madness - there is something you can do.  On this episode, we talk about that something, how to do it, and why it's so, so important.    ###   Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji.  Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear. Special thanks to Devyn Tammons and Alec!  New essays can be found at mohnish.net For more episodes, go to moonwalkpodcast.com

"And they say the exact same thing. They say, 'there's no way this is real...this can't be real', even though we're here and we're living it"  - Finn If you talked to other people, they’d say they made friends with the wrong person. That they did something they shouldn’t have. That, if given the chance, they should take it back, retrace their steps, and stop what they did. But they wouldn’t say that. We sit down with them - and a psychological anthropologist - to figure out why, and what it says about the human mind.  ### The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji. This episode was edited by Jarrod Sport and Kevin Sanji. Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear. Special thanks to Jonce and Finn. Huge thanks to T.M. Luhrmann. You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com New essays can be found at mohnish.net  

This isn't a episode of Moonwalk. If you're on the email list, you already got this update. But if not - well then - here's the update: - The first is a big change: we're now releasing one podcast a month, and I'm releasing one written piece a month. In total, that's two pieces of content, but instead of both of them being podcasts, one of them will be written. - This gives us more time for better stories, better science, and better productions (content that can rival the best in the business) - This is a good strategy to save my sanity.  - Also, writing is awesome, and I'm excited to get back into it.  Get psyched every other Tuesday night (or, for people who love sleep, Wednesday morning). And of course, thanks for listening. We're pumped.  Find the essays and new content all at www.mohnish.net and www.moonwalkpodcast.com

"Mohnish is about to lose his mind" - Kevin Sanji Per Se is the 3rd most expensive restaurant in the world. Marisa Negro - a pastry chef - works at the 3-star Michelin restaurant (12 hour days are a minimum).  Ever since she could remember, she loved cooking. But when she was 19, she fell in love. And - surprisingly - that story is much different than what happened with cooking. Weirder still, it brings us to something else: the secret to falling in love with learning. On this episode, we cover: - How to fall in love with learning a skill  - Are you born to be good? - The counterintuitive secret to rapid skill acquisition - How did Marisa first fall in love? And more, all on this episode.    The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji, and this episode was edited by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear and Eter Dub. Special thanks to Marisa, Airis and Lucas. Check out Airis' site here. Lucas Sin runs Junzi Kitchen.  You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com        

"I don't know how to describe it...it was a traumatic experience" - Airis Johnson There's a church, right in the culinary underbelly, that no one knows about. It makes you work faster, work easier, and work better. It has no God, and it's followers wear chef whites, dice onions, and produce culinary experiences that would you make your grandfather's face explode right off.  We wanted to know more - so, we got a few chefs who've worked at Michelin star restaurants to talk:  - What is Mise en Place?  - What are the basics of organization? - How do you prep your day-to-day? - When you have no time, everything's on fire, and you have no idea what to do - what do you do?  And more all on this episode.    The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji, and this episode was edited by Jarrod Sport and Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear.  Feedback is by Justine Brumm. Special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and Kenzie Vaness, for the clip "Cooking in the Kitchen" Special thanks to Airis and Sandy. Check out Airis' site here, and Sandy's The Kosher Tomato here. Lucas Sin runs Junzi Kitchen. Special thanks to Dan Charnas for his book Work Clean, which inspired this piece. You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com  

"I heard this story of this guy, and he was rushed to the emergency room because he was having heart palpitations...because he was watching too much porn" - greyrocks1  Your mind is slipping. We've been conditioned to check our phones every 20 minutes, grapple with an inability to read essays longer than two paragraphs, and then scroll through our Twitter feeds at 2AM in the morning while crying softly in our sleep.  But on the internet, there's people who are fighting back. So, a few days ago I reached out. I waited, waited, and then - two usernames responded: thunderbolt-zhu and greyrocks1. I have no idea who they are. But they said they wanted to talk.  On this episode, we cover: - Who is thunderbolt-zhu and greyrocks1? - Why our minds are slipping, and how we can stop it - The real cognitive consequences of the internet, our phones, and technology - Why was the man in the retail store bleeding?  - Strategies to rebuild your attention and focus  And more, all on this episode.    The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji, and this episode was edited by Jarrod Sport and Justine Brumm. Music is by Podington Bear.  Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm. Special thanks to Nick and Conrad. Check out nosurf and check out their blog, Kaizenhabits. Special thanks to my sister, Vysali, and a huge thanks to the researchers who helped bring the science alive. Thanks to Cal Newport for his book, Deep Work.  You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com  

"No - No. What the fuck is up with the texts?" - Karen Lee Poter On December 24th, we got an email:  "I'm very attractive in certain social groups, but I'm afraid of showing interest. I'm afraid of coming off as a creeper. On the bright side, I'm seen as very safe ;}" For this Q&A, we sit down with Karen Lee Poter and use everything in our toolbox from evolutionary psychology to Kevin's love life, to solve this guy's crisis.  A throwback to our earlier seasons, we strip away the bells and whistles, and cover: - How to effectively show romantic interest in someone, without coming off as the weirdest person on the planet - How to build confidence and - if you can swing it - meta-confidence - How to ask someone out, if you're terrified of doing so  - The crucial difference between narrowcasting and broadcasting   The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji, and edited by Jarrod Sport.  Music is by Podington Bear.  Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm. Our main guest is Karen Lee Poter - listen to her podcast, Sex Talk With My Mom, and you can find her at the Karen Lee Poter Show. Special thanks to Alec, Jenn, and Mohi. Big thanks to the anonymous Aladdin. You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com  

"It's sort of like someone else is doing an autopsy on your dead body, but you're looking at it through a TV screen and you're completely confused what's going on." - Mohnish Soundararajan Imagine a grand experiment. Two men set foot to reconstruct your past - as accurately as they can. They talked to everyone you've ever cared for, looked at, talked to, yelled at, peed on, and washed a dish for. But the story keeps changing. And in the process, they shatter everything you ever knew about your memory, your self-awareness, and - lucky you - your sense of self. And what if - we actually did this. Featuring special guest Cam Poter, this episode deconstructs not just Cam's narrative identity, but the search for self-awareness, and covers: - The most technically challenging and time-consuming podcast we've ever done - Specific, actionable steps to get a better sense of self-awareness, so you don't take the one, precious life your parents paid so much money for and absolutely screw it up  - The differences in memory between a diverse, dynamic social circle, and yourself - How we piece together our narrative past - and how wrong we get it And more, all on this episode.    The Facts Moonwalk is produced and hosted by Mohnish Soundararajan. It's co-hosted by Kevin Sanji, and edited by Jarrod Sport.  Music is by Podington Bear.  Feedback is by Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm. Our main guest is Cameron Poter - listen to his podcast, Sex Talk With My Mom. Special thanks to Scott Breen - if you want to learn about sustainability, check out his podcast Sustainability Defined. Also, you can find special guest Karen Lee Poter on Youtube at the Karen Lee Poter Show. Special thanks to Jeremy Poter, David Goese, and Leesa Hapsel. You can find more research and fun stuff at moonwalkpodcast.com.       

It's not just a new season or a new episode - we're getting a new name. And this time, we're not messing around.  Unless we're messing around. Then, technically, I guess we'd be messing around. Moonwalk premieres January 24th, 2017. Produced by Mohnish Soundararajan. Music is by Podington Bear.   

"People are really looking for reasons to say no, Mohnish. That's the thing." - Ted Gonder  Mohnish has done well for himself. Thanks to his mother's credit card, he hasn't managed to die of starvation. He's worked with interesting authors, fast-paced startups, and - most importantly - he has a girlfriend.  But if he stops there - he's screwed.  As of January 1st, 2017, he doesn't have a job. He's a full-time student - so he doesn't need one. But in 6 months, that'll change. And when you're 22, and time is running out - how do you answer the hardest question: what do I do with the rest of my life? More to the point: is that even the right question to ask?  On this episode, special guests Josh Indig (AI research and serial entrepreneur) and Ted Gonder (Moneythink, Obama's Advisory Council) share their insights to wrestle, untangle, and reframe why careers (as well as their own) are just so incredibly tricky. On this episode, we cover: - If you're 22 and have no skills, what should you do?  - How badly will Ted roast Mohnish on the phone?  - Instead of asking "what should I do with my life?", what should you do instead? - Will Josh start an AI overthrow and doom humanity? (Short answer: No) And more, all on this episode.  P.S. For research and book recommendations, go to realtalkstudio.com.   ###   Production Team and Special Credits: Host and Producer: Mohnish Soundararajan Special Guests: Ted Gonder and Josh Indig Feedback: Jarrod Sport and Josh Indig Intro Music: Electric Mantis Movie Clips: The Social Network (2010), and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)          

Note: This December, we're taking a bit of a break. It's Christmas, we want to see our family's faces, and hey - we need some time to recharge and reorient the direction of this podcast.  Here's a short, rough episode - we'll be back to regular programming soon. ###  Finding the right friends is harder than trying to ice skate in the Olympics blindfolded.  But - the key word is "right". Because anyone can make friends. You can go out on the street, meet a store clerk, and become friends in 30 seconds. The key is: are the friends you have, even the right ones for you?  On this episode, we cover one thing: How do you know if the friends you have are ones you should keep? (And, should or should you not get new ones?) For more, go to www.realtalkstudio.com           

"We all have stories that we tell ourselves about what our lives are - and those stories are always wrong" - Shawn Coyle Going to high school is kind of like cutting an onion: you have to do it, but you're probably going to cry. In this audio essay, I talk about why that's true. Before we get to that though, here's the deal: We're off this week and we'll return to regular programming in 2 weeks. The bright side: this is a bonus episode. It's rough and it's a bit of an experiment...but I think you'll dig the change of pace. (If you're new to the podcast, don't start here, but if you're a fan, stick around.) The piece that I read in this episode, I wrote 2 years ago (so, basically 10,000 years ago). Here's what's covered: - What was high school really like for most people?  - What is the emotional reality of high school? - Defining the bullshit: the status, fake work, fake friends, and the stories we believed about ourselves when we were 16 and incredibly stupid - A story about me, a car, and concrete, and why it mattered For more, go to realtalkstudio.com.

"Once you pull that handle....there's no turning back" - Dave "Bio" Baranek  In 1969, the United States established an elite school for the top one percent of it's pilots. The Navy calls it Fighter Weapons school. The flyers? They call it Top Gun. And if you don't know what Top Gun is, know that Tom Cruise just called, and he wants me to tell you he's extremely disappointed. But, here's the point: by extrapolating strategies from Top Gun, you can become amazing at what you do. And - it's backed up by research. On this episode, the guys and special guest Dave "Bio" Baranek (Top Gun Instructor, RIO, and author) cover: - Whether you're an engineer, a doctor, a computer scientist, a lawyer, a marketer, or an entrepreneur - how do you break the sound barrier in your own career and blow past your peers?  - What's it like to meet Tom Cruise?  - Is it fun to crash in an F-14 and get waterboarded? (Hint: No.) - Technically speaking, can you get on the highway to the danger zone?   For more on this episode, go to realtalkstudio.com. P.S. Sign up for our email list and get your mind blown every other Tuesday.    Production and Special Credits Dave "Bio" Baranek - Special Guest, Photo Credit (Check out his book!)  Mohnish Soundararajan - Host, Producer, Editor, Sound Design, Research Jarrod Sport - Producer, Editor, Research, Feedback Kevin Sanji - Co-Host  Electric Mantis - Intro Music Justine Brumm - Feedback Movie Clips are from the film "Top Gun (1986)"  Important Influences - Anders Ericsson, Cal Newport  

"Some people go to sleep and have God appear in their dreams. I just looked her up" - Sudev Namboodiri Remarkable. If you didn't pass 5th grade, you have no idea what that word means. But, when something's remarkable - you know it when you see it. On this episode, we talk to the founders of a fake religion and then, one of TIME's People of the Year to uncover how to transform your working life by being remarkable. Plus: - How do you become the most interesting woman in the world? - What happens when you meet strangers on the internet? - What are the inner-mechanics of being remarkable and how can you use them to your advantage?  - How do you build the foundation for a deep, focused career? - What happened to Pardis Sabeti in 2015 that really, really sucked? For more material on this episode, go to realtalkstudio.com. P.S. Sign up for the email list here.    Production and Special Credits Special Guests: Pardis Sabeti, Sudev, Amanda, and Paca Host, Producer, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Kevin Sanji and Justine Brumm Special Music: "Turkana Boy" by Thousand Days Intro Music: Electric Mantis  

"We can curse all we want, but this is the most explicit thing that's ever been said on our podcast" - Mohnish Soundararajan, to Ted Gonder While your friend Jen is working at the White House, you're on the couch eating Ramen at 4 o' clock in the morning and you can barely feel your face. Jen - you figure - must be lucky.  But what if you could reverse engineer the moments that would come to define you? And what if you could break into the White House while doing it? The guys cover:  - The weirdest thing about 5 Silicon Valley billionaires.  - Is it possible to go from unlucky to lucky?  - How do you engineer random chance in your life? Is it even possible?  - What is "bulk, positive, randomness"?  For more on this episode, go to www.realtalkstudio.com.  P.S. Become an Insider, get on the email list, and get your questions answered. Seriously - any question.    Production and Special Credits Host, Research, Production, Sound Design, Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host and Editing: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm, Vysali Soundararajan Intro Music: Electric Mantis  

"You see this cute little vial here? It's crack - rock cocaine - the most addictive form. You think it's the glamor drug of the 80's? Well, that's the point of this friendly little reminder. It can kill you." - Clint Eastwood   Humans are bad. We're ridiculous. And we act in complex ways that I honestly have no idea how to describe. From Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign to the reality of teaching low-income students, we figure out: Why is changing and understanding human behavior so hard? To boot: What's the best way to change human behavior in a hopeless situation? We cover: - Did the "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign work? - What are the hidden sources of bad behavior? - How does complex, emergent behavior work? - What is the Gloomy Prospect? - Why is the learning-to-see model so effective at causing good behaviors? And more, all on this episode. For more, go to realtalkstudio.com P.S. Sign up for the email list and get your mind blown every other Tuesday.    Production and Credits Host, Research, Sound Design, Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm Intro Music: Electric Mantis Special Thanks: Eric Turkheimer, for the idea of "The Gloomy Prospect"  

"Do you know what it's like to be a Top Gun pilot? What about a violin player?" - Mohnish Soundararajan, Host Season 3 is coming soon - the wait ends October 11th. We'll be releasing twice a month (so that's every other Tuesday) in exchange for more people, better stories, better research, better production, and stupider jokes. It's about to get nutty. See you in 2 weeks.           

"That's a whole 'nother chips n' guac" - Kevin Sanji, co-host Hard work and experience can make you worse at what you do. This sounds absolutely bat-nut insane and it sounds wrong - but it's not. I'll take you back to the 70's, the early 1900's, and back to the present to a modern-day Japanese pushup champion to uncover why we get worse with hard work and experience (and, of course, what to do instead). In this episode, we cover:  - Why Steve Faloon's short-term memory mattered - The nature of hard work and experience over a long period of time - How to become an expert at what you do  - The key to expert performance - at anything Huge thanks to Anders Ericsson's book Peak - which inspired this. For more info, go to www.realtalkstudio.com.   P.S. We got an email list. Join the Insider list here - get bonus content, get your mind blown every Tuesday, and get your questions answered.    Production and Credits Host, Producer, Sound Design, and Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Huge thanks to Ander Ericsson and Robert Pool for all the research covered in Peak Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm  Intro Music: Electric Mantis  Attribution: Victor 78rpm Album M-399. (013663 - 013670). Recorded July 6-7, 1933. Alfred Cortot's Chopin, Ballad No. 1 in G Minor, Op 23

"Keep the doors locked. Don't go outside. Keep the windows shut. Just be a little bit cautious - we'll have a squad car patrolling the area all night. We'll try to make contact with Pizzaland and see if we can get some information on this guy"  - Woman, to Kevin Sanji  You don't want to tell bad stories because telling bad stories makes you feel bad ("Brad, I'm finally encountering the idea that loneliness is my only end-goal"). So here's what's going to happen next: We're going to get Kevin to tell a story about a pizza delivery gone wrong. And then we're going to break the story down step-by-step, uncover the mechanics of storytelling, and get you telling better stories. We cover: - What happened after Kevin ordered pizza?  - Who is the "Pizza Man"?  - Why does the order of events matter? - A simple process (using observation and deliberate practice) to improve your storytelling performance If you want to go deeper than the podcast, go to realtalkstudio.com.  P.S. Get your mind blown every Tuesday and sign up for the email list (plus, get bonus content and your questions answered by us)   Production and Credits Special Guest: Kevin Sanji Host, Producer, Research, Sound Design, Editing: Mohnish Soundararjan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, Kevin Sanji  Intro Music: Electric Mantis         

"I wish these photos I was sending this girl would just disappear" - Reggie Brown, ousted Snapchat co-founder Everyone is losing their minds. Flat out - we're obsessed with Snapchat. But why? Why do we use it the way we use it? And why did our special guest used to receive 20 - 30 "below-the-belt" pics a day from random strangers? Well - ladies, gents - we've got answers. Special guest Virginia Salas Kastilio and the guys cover: - The reality of becoming a Snapchat celebrity - Why are we obsessed with Snapchat? - The evolutionary and social underpinnings of why we use Snapchat - How does Kevin use Snapchat? - Also: how much ridiculous, dramatic music can Mohnish get away with?  And more, all on this episode. Want to go deeper than the podcast? More books, articles, and research here.  P.S. Sign up for our email list and get bonus materials you can't get anywhere else.    Who is Virginia Salas Kastilio? - Virginia really blew me away with how fun it was to talk to her. She's got a t-shirt brand which is based in an interesting idea: you see someone wearing the shirt, you give them a hug. Here's the link.  - She's the founder and CEO of the very first (not kidding) Snapchat consulting agency. If you want to grow a product launch, your business, or any other pet project, and you think Snapchat can help you get there, she's actually the best in the biz.  - We also alluded to Virginia's fame. Here's her username: ginicanbreathe. Add her!    Production and Credits Special Guest: Virginia Salas Kastilio  Host, Producer, Editor, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host, Editor: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Kevin Sanji, and Justine Brumm Intro Music: Electric Mantis  

"We're not designed to know how little we know" - Daniel Kahneman  Imagine you made a bet. You get a car, a jet plane, and a pet tiger if you win. And all you have to do is convince your mother that global warming is real. Could you do it? If you want to change someone's mind about anything, we've got 5 guidelines on exactly how to do it. It's non-obvious, it's counter-intuitive, but it works. We cover: - How to change someone's mind about anything (including getting them to marry you) - The importance of intellectual honesty - How dangerous is drunk walking? - Why social media feels like a battleground - How to have a hard conversation with anyone, and do it like a pro And more, all on this episode. More research and fun stuff (if you want to go deeper) at realtalkstudio.com.  P.S. Sign up for the email list - it's free, you get bonus goodies, and you get an email when the podcast comes out.    Production and Credits Host, Producer, Research, Editor, Sound Design: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Special Cameo: Vysali Soundararajan Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Vysali Soundararjan, Kevin Sanji, Justine Brumm Inspiration: Think Like A Freak, by Stephen Levitt and Stephen Dubner Sound Effect Attribution: Boxing Bell by Benboncan Intro and Outro Music: Electric Mantis   

"Make sure you stay thin...because that's what the boys want" - Armi Legge Sticking to your workouts, day in and day out, is almost as easy as entering an intergalactic wormhole that bends and transcends the physics of time and space. Most of absolutely suck at it so hard that it would make your ancestors, relatives, and next door neighbors cry and publically disown you. On this episode, Armi tells a secret, and we talk about: - How to stick to a workout routine, forever  - How battling with an eating disorder changed the way Armi looked at science - The counterintuitive flip that changed Armi's fitness approach - Why everyone is wrong. Except Armi.  - The science of adherence, implementation intentions, the hot and cold effect, and more - How to use the habit loop to your advantage Plus, dig into additional research, books, and more fun stuff at realtalkstudio.com P.S. Sign up for the email list here, you punk.     Production and Special Credits Special Guest: Armi Legge Host, Producer, Research, Editor, and Sound Design: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Justine Brumm and Kevin Sanji Clips: Complete Human Performance Intro Music: Electric Mantis  

"If I was more emotionally vulnerable, I would probably cry right now" - Joe Antenucci  When it comes to dating, most of us have no idea what the hell we're doing. But one guy decided to try something different. And in the process, he didn't just reinvent his dating life - he changed the romantic lives of thousands of guys across the country. The truth is - it's not what you think and it's not what you expect. Special guest Joe Antenucci sits down with the guys and cover: - The specific process Joe used to exponentially improve his dating life (with the help of a few guys) - How to recreate a derivative of that process for yourself (and be a normal human being) - An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at "Helping Joe"  - How long should you wait to text back?  - What is deliberate practice? What's a mating market?  For more fun stuff, including additional research used in the show, go to realtalkstudio.com P.S. Want to know when the show comes out before my parents? Sign up for the Insider list, plus, get bonus content you can't get anywhere else.    Production Team and Credits Special Guest: Joe Antenucci Host, Producer, Editor, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Feedback: Jarrod Sport, Nathan Lieberman, Justine Brumm, Vysali Soundararajan, Kevin Sanji  Intro Music: Electric Mantis  Clips: (Special thanks to Joe Antenucci for letting us use clips from 'Helping Joe'!) Episode 7 of 'Helping Joe', Episode 31 of 'Helping Joe'.

"Have you ever fallen in love with anybody you've lived with, Al?" - Mohnish Soundararajan, Host  In America, it goes: you live with your parents, you live with your roommates, you live with your spouse, and then you die. Al Jeffery is trying to change that. In this episode, the guys cover how to live with your friends, how to find them in the first place, plus: - What specific steps do you need to take to find a social circle (a tribe, if you will) that fits who you are?    - What happened to the mysterious town of Roseto? - How do you make the transition from living by yourself in LA and crying into your Chinese takeout, to coliving with a thriving community of 100+ people?   - What's an effective tactic to make sure your roommates don't want to punch you in the face or, how do you get 'Roommate Resentment Insurance'? - Why should you rethink the way you're living?  For more material on this episode, including research, go to realtalkstudio.com P.S. Sign up for the Insider List here. It's awesome. (Plus you get free stuff)   Who is Al Jeffery? Now (next to starting a coliving space in Australia), he's an author. If you dug what he had to say, he has a book coming out called Modern Tribe (the cover is beautiful) but he needs your help: He needs to get a specific amount of preorders before he can publish his book. To check out the book, click here.   Production Team and Credits Special Guest: Al Jeffery Host, Producer, Editor, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan  Co-Host and Feedback: Kevin Sanji  Music: Electric Mantis 

"There's a guy, a couple years ago....he actually got sued by United because the airlines really didn't like this..." - Tim van der Lee Here's Tim. He's like the guy from Taken - he's got a very specific set of skills that make him a nightmare for airlines. If you're 20, you've got pennies to fly on. But, if you game the system, saving thousands on airline tickets is easier than you think. On this episode, special guest Tim van der Lee and Mohnish cover: - How to save thousands on flights, for novices - An easy, actionable framework Tim uses to travel for pennies on the dollar - How does Mohnish know Tim and why is it ridiculous? - The economics behind price discrimination and why the same person traveling next to you paid a thousand dollars more for the same seat - Advanced ways to save on flights that can get you sued by the entire legal representation of United Airlines - Why is finance so boring? For more material on this episode, check out realtalkstudio.com P.S. Sign up for the email list and get bonus content here!     Production Team and Credits Special Guest: Tim van der Lee Host, Producer, Sound Design, Editor, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Content Feedback: Justine Brumm Music: Electric Mantis 

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien Airline tickets. Sights. Sounds. Instagram posts with way too many likes. This can be your life - special guest Andrea Wien (host, author, business-lady, and wine drinker) shows us how, plus covers:   - How do you travel effectively?  - How do you travel when you're shit-house broke? Where do you stay? When do you buy airline tickets?  - If you're a guy, and all your guy friends rent a cabin in the woods, should you make out with them?  - Why are some world travelers unhappy?  - How do you calibrate between a safe trip and a dangerous trip?  For more material on this episode, including research, go to realtalkstudio.com If you haven't joined the email list, what the hell are you waiting for?   Who is Andrea Wien? - She's awesome. She's a host, author, business lady and wine drinker. She's the author of the book "Gap to Great: A Parent's Guide to Gap Year", she's got a podcast (oh yeah!) Gap to Great, and you can find her work here. Highly recommended.    Production Team and Credits Special Guest: Andrea Wien Host, Producer, Editor, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: Vysali Soundararajan Music: Electric Mantis

"I thought you were going to tell me to go with Mohnish in my closet and shine a flashlight at him" - Kevin Sanji, co-host Stress comes in all shapes and sizes. Thousands of years ago, people stressed out about wild animals attacking them. Today, you're not being attacked by wild animals unless you work for Discovery channel. On this very, very, very special episode (you'll see what I mean), special guest Caroline Beaton (award-winning researcher and writer at Forbes), Mohnish, and Kevin cover:  - How can you outthink stress and make it your friend?  - Why is stress evolutionarily programmed into us? - How do you stress less?  - What's the one pill with only good side effects you should take everyday?  For more material on this episode, go to realtalkstudio.com Sign up for the Insider list here - get bonus content you can't get anywhere else.   Who's Caroline Beaton? - She's awesome and you should absolutely check out her stuff - well informed, researched backed, and she knows what she's talking about. She writes on millennials, psychology, purpose, and modern work. For more, check out her site here.    The Facts - Thanks for Kelly McGonigal for her book The Upside of Stress (with all the great research) and her wonderful TED talk which informed the big ideas in this piece. - Special thanks to Caroline Beaton for the extra research, which was unexpected and wonderful. - Thanks to Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D for the pill metaphor in The Happiness Hypothesis.   Production Team and Credits Special Guest: Caroline Beaton Host, Producer, Sound Design, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Feedback: Vysali Soundararajan, Kevin Sanji Music: Electric Mantis   

"Our spouses and children arrive comparatively late in our lives; our parents leave us too early. “Our brothers and sisters,” says family sociologist Katherine Conger of the University of California, Davis, “are with us for the whole journey.” - Jeffrey Kluger Contrary to popular belief, you can have a sibling and not want to punch them in the face, at the same time. On this very special episode, Mohnish and his sister Vysali deconstruct how to have good sibling relationship and cover: - The basics: how do you have a good relationship with your brother or sister? - What percentage of sibling relationships are unfixable? - Why did Mohnish's sister smoke him like a salmon? - Why are sibling relationships so valuable (and how do they affect you)? For more material on this episode including additional research, books, cover artwork and more fun stuff, check out www.realtalkstudio.com P.S. Sign up for the email list punk! It's awesome, you'll get updates, and you'll get all the lessons from Season One in one beautiful ebook, that you can read in 20 minutes.  Production - Special Thanks and Credits Special Guest and Content Ideation: Vysali Soundararjan Host, Producer, Editor, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Music: Electric Mantis

“Before you attempt to beat the odds, be sure you could survive the odds beating you.” - Larry Kersten Everyone - from your grandmother that you never call because she lit the house on fire, to your next door neighbor - wants to be confident. But what does the research say? Mohnish and Kevin dive into how exactly to build real, long-term confidence and cover:  - Is "Fake It Till You Make It" a good strategy? - Why is low confidence a good thing? - Why is "not thinking about building confidence" actually the way in which you build confidence? (hint: it's not what you think) - What's the one thing about building confidence that no one seems to talk about? For more material on this episode, including links to relevant research and more fun stuff, check out realtalkstudio.com. P.S. You should sign up for our email list (Insider). It's awesome.  Production Credits and Special Thanks Host, Producer, Editor, Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji  Special Effects: Angels Singing Anthem Sound Effect Music: Electric Mantis  

Season Two, Episode #16 "Attachments and relationships can bring us pain: as a character in Jean-Paul Sarte’s play No Exit said, “Hell is other people.” But so is heaven." - Jonathan Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis Being in a relationship takes work. Plus, love (cue the saxophones) can make Operation Relationship get a little complicated. But what does the science say? On this episode, special guest Cam Poter returns with Mohnish and Kevin and cover: - How do you keep a relationship alive, strong, and on the right track without screwing it up? - Is there a right time for love? - What's the big danger point for couples where many are prone to break up - but shouldn't? - Is "true love forever" biologically impossible? (hint: yes) - Why do arranged marriages have just as good, if not better, marital satisfaction than love marriages? And more, all on this episode. Sign up for our email list - it helps us help you better, plus, get free swag (like all the notes from Season One).   Production Team - Credits and Special Thanks Special Guest: Cam Poter Host, Producer, Audio Mixing, Editing, and Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji  Random Saxophone: MusicByPedro, Solo Sax 1 Music: Electric Mantis

Season Two, Episode #15 "I'd like to play a video game where you help the people who were shot in all the other video games. It'd be called 'Really Busy Hospital.” - Demetri Martin From playing Mario Kart to hearing that Jimmy from down the street went missing for 72 hours because he was in his basement playing World of Warcraft, video games are nuts. But are they good? Are they bad? And what's the science say? On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and special guest Devyn Tammons cover: - What are the benefits of video games? - Are all video game players socially isolated, lonely, and want to punch themselves in the face due to sadness? (short answer: no) - According to the research, do video games cause aggression? - How can playing video games screw with your emotional life? For more bonus material on this episode, go to www.realtalkstudio.com Sign up and get a free digital copy of "Season One Episode Breakdowns" + email updates from your favorite minorities here. It's awesome.   Production Team - Credits and Special Thanks Special Guest: Devyn Tammons Host, Producer, Audio Mixing, Editing, and Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji  Music: Electric Mantis      

Season Two Premiere, Episode #14 You're in a new city. You have no idea who anybody is. You're in your apartment shower crying (naked) while eating a soggy burrito because you're lonely. Truth is, you need some friends. On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and (mostly) Armi talk about how to get them, and cover: - Why is making friends so hard when you're in a city with thousands of people around you? - Is traveling around the world a bad idea? - Why are Mohnish and Kevin absolutely screwed after they leave college? - Step-by-step: how do you make friends in a place where you have none? Check out more material on this episode here. P.S. Get your free digital copy of all the "Season One Episode Breakdowns". Think all the theory and practical application from Season One in one place. Sign up and get it here. Production Team - Credits and Special Thanks Host, Producer, Audio Mixing, Editing, and Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, and Kevin Sanji  Music: Electric Mantis Movie Clip: Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Higher production. Better music. More people. More segments. Once a week. Better quality. Season Two - next Tuesday. Mark your calendars. More material at www.realtalkstudio.com Credits and Special Thanks Main Host and Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Music: CJ Beats  

If you literally have no idea what this podcast is, don't start here (try previous episodes first). But if you've stuck with us (whether for one episode or the whole season), here's a behind the scenes look at the making of Season One. If you've ever wanted to make a podcast or are just curious, this is the insider look at what it takes to put this ridiculous contraption together. (Plus you get to hear what my mom thinks of this whole operation.) Note: Season One is done. But more than anything, we're grateful. Grateful that people like you (whether you're an old friend who reviewed the podcast or a total stranger that spread it along the way) helped us.  Thanks for letting us do this. A love of science, research, books, and new knowledge really breathed life into this project from the get-go. When I was a kid, I wish I knew the things I know now and I don't say that in some saccharine Lifetime movie kind of way. It's true. This podcast is our shot at doing this for other people and it's pretty awesome that we get the chance to do it.  Season Two drops this month and you'll have to wait basically 5 seconds to listen (June 14th, if we don't massively screw up). It's going to be wild, different, and it'll surprise you. Mark your calendars. More stupid jokes about Kevin's lower anatomy coming soon.  And thanks for letting us do this. We're having fun.  ### Season Two Drops This Month. There's No Big Hiatus. June 14th, 2016. ### Season One Production Credits  Mohnish Soundararajan, Kevin Sanji, Armi Legge, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm, CJ Beats 

Season One, Episode #13 - Season Finale  Downloading Tinder and Bumble is the easy part. We cover the hard part (not that hard part). On the Season Finale, Mohnish, Kevin, and Armi talk: - Why do women and men have vastly different experiences on Tinder, even though it's the same app? - What's the #1 mistake most guys make with online dating apps? - Are Tinder and Bumble worth your time?  - What are Mohnish and Kevin's most ridiculous Tinder lines and did they work? (The short answer: No, no, and no) Check out more material at www.realtalkstudio.com ### Season Two is Coming, Mark Your Calendars We'll be producing just once a week (Tuesdays!), but in exchange for that, we're upping the quality, adding more variety and segments, better production, and generally - making it a better podcast. We're excited. Next episode is a Behind-The-Scenes Look at the Making of Season One, then a Real Talk Season Two Teaser the following week, and then  (*drumroll please*) we'll drop Season Two the following Tuesday. It's going to nuts.  ### Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research and Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justine Brumm Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #12 Stop crying Matt Damon. On this episode, we talk about smarts - book smarts, street smarts, all the smarts. Mohnish, Armi, and Kevin cover: - Does anyone care about your ACT, SAT or GPA? - How smart is the high school jock? - Can you become more intelligent? - Why is "college = more income" misleading? For more material on this episode, visit www.realtalkstudio.com   Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research and Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justin Brumm Movie Clip from Good Will Hunting (1997) Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #11 If you're going to college, are under 25, or you post on Facebook about your diamond-encrusted watch, you're probably broke (or are going to be broke) and think money is going to fill the hole in your soul. On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and Armi cover: - How much does money actually matter growing up? - What's it like to eat PB&J's for a week straight because you're so poor? - How do men and especially women think about money? - What's the price tag on happiness? For more material, check out our www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/bugattishopping Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research and Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, Justin Brumm Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #10 If getting into the club was as easy as showing the bouncer a picture of your extensive comic book collection, the world might be a better place. But it's not happening anytime soon. On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and Armi cover: - Why are nerds unpopular? - Are nerds destined to a life of misery and sorrow? (Quick answer: No) - Why is intelligence prized now more than any other decade? - What's the distinction between general intelligence and social intelligence? For more material on this episode, check out www.realtalkstudio.com P.S. Want to ask us a question and get featured on the podcast? Do it, we double-dog dare you.   Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research: Mohnish Soundararajan and Armi Legge Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, and Justine Brumm Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan and Kevin Sanji  Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #9 Most of us, when we were kids, were the worst human beings imaginable on the face of the planet. But why do kids call each other names like "Butt Pirate"? Why are kids so mean? On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and Armi cover: - Why did Kevin tackle someone, Armi get punched in the face, and Mohnish slide across his gym floor during a pickup basketball game? - What is shit-talking? And how do men and women differ with aggression? - Does being mean make you more popular? - How does status, popularity, and dominance-displays explain human behavior? For more material on this episode, check out www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/fiftyshades   Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research: Mohnish Soundararajan and Armi Legge Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, and Justine Brumm Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan and Kevin Sanji Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #8 Author, podcaster, and former CEO of a multi-million dollar company (which she sold to the Fortune 500) Laura Coe talks about how to be yourself, and it's almost as complicated as heart surgery. In addition to grilling Kevin like a salmon on the episode, Laura, Mohnish, and Kevin cover: - What's it like to lose all your friends? - "Be Yourself" is pretty empty advice - so what does it mean and how do you be yourself? - Why is there a 10 year old on the podcast? - Should we listen to the rider (our rational sense) or the elephant (our intuitive, "gut" sense)? - Should Kevin keep his radio job? For more material on this episode, check out www.realtalkstudio.com/new-blog/grilled Special Thanks and Credits Guest: Laura Coe Intro: Nathan Coe Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Editing and Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #7 We talk about the dreams we gave up and cry about it on the podcast. On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and Armi cover: - Why are some dreams worth giving up? - How did Mohnish meet the Blue Power Ranger? - If "follow your passion" is a flawed approach, what should you do instead?  - How can you reincorporate what you loved doing as a kid into your daily life and why is "play" so important?  For more material on this episode, check it out at www.realtalkstudio.com. P.S. Want the full notes to this episode? Sign up for Real Talk Insider.   Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research: Mohnish Soundararajan and Armi Legge Content Ideation: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, and Justine Brumm Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan and Kevin Sanji Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #6 If you're about to start college, I guarantee you that you have absolutely no idea what you're doing. On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and Armi talk about being absolutely confused their first week of college, and cover: - How do I nail the first week of college and set myself up for a healthy college career? - Why is Armi even on this episode? - How does the proximity principle and socioemotional selectivity theory affect your first week of college? - Why is making friendships exponentially harder near the end of college rather than when you're just starting out? For more material on this episode, check it out at www.realtalkstudio.com. P.S. Want the full notes to this episode? Sign up for Real Talk Insider.   Credits and Special Thanks Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Research: Mohnish Soundararajan and Armi Legge Content Ideation: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, and Justine Brumm Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan and Kevin Sanji Music: CJ Beats

Season One, Episode #5 We're joined with Cam and Karen Poter (a stand-up comedian and his sexually liberated cougar mother) from the podcast Sex Talk with My Mom to deconstruct sex and confidence. The stories get out of control pretty quickly. Mohnish, Kevin, Cam, and Karen cover: - Why is the way everyone thinks about confidence wrong and how do you actually build confidence? - How can you better understand your relationship goals (short-term, medium-term, or long-term) and craft a better dating life? - How did Cam go to the hospital for the most ridiculous reason I've ever heard? - Do women find most men attractive (like men do)? For more material on this episode, check out www.realtalkstudio.com Credits and Special Thanks: Guests: Cam and Karen Poter Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Host: Kevin Sanji Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan, Vysali Soundararajan, and Justine Brumm Editing and Research: Mohnish Soundararajan Music: CJ Beats  

Season One, Episode #4 Imagine a bet: you have to make the classroom laugh, or, you lose a million dollars. If most of us took that bet, we'd probably all be on the streets, in a box, crying softly to ourselves. But here's the question - can you become funny? Can you you go from "Knock-Knock-Joke Jeff" to "Above-Average-Joke Jeff"? On this episode, Mohnish, Kevin, and Armi cover: - What was it like to be painfully unfunny growing up? - How specifically can you become funny?  - Why are people funny? - From an evolutionary perspective, why do women and men value humor?  - How is your identity tied in with humor? For more material on this episode, check out www.realtalkstudio.com   Credits and Special Thanks: Main Host: Mohnish Soundararajan Co-Hosts: Kevin Sanji and Armi Legge Content Ideation and Feedback: Mohnish Soundararajan and Vysali Soundararajan Editing: Mohnish Soundararajan and Kevin Sanji  Music: CJ Beats