Podcast appearances and mentions of David Epstein

What if constraints could actually make us more creative? This week, we use behavioral science to explore how limits on our time, resources, and choices can focus our attention, spark creativity, and help us make better decisions. With author David Epstein, we look at how creatives like Bach and Dr. Seuss used constraints to generate new ideas, and how identifying bottlenecks at work can help us focus on the problems that matter most. We'll also share practical ways to embrace constraints, think differently, and get more done. Topics [0:00] Intro and speed round with David Epstein [15:00] Choice overload and endless options [22:31] How constraints can unlock creativity  [29:53] Innovation and limitations [36:14] Great thinkers and the obstacles that met them [43:55] The Green Eggs and Ham Effect [51:10] AI and creativity [59:40] Finding the Bottleneck [1:04:02] Knowing your own constraints [1:11:13] Bach: the maestro of constraint [1:18:43] Grooving Session: Exploring the power of constraints ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links About David Epstein Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves Music Links Bach - Air on the G String (Orchestral Suite No. 3) London Grammar - Hey Now

What do you do when every option is on the table and you still end up with the same idea you always have? Jake and Damian tackle one of the quiet traps of creative work, and land somewhere counterintuitive: freedom doesn't make ideas bolder. Constraints do.Damian unpacks David Epstein's Inside the Box and the psychology behind why unlimited time, unlimited method and unlimited scope send the brain straight to its safest, most familiar answer and the three tools for building a better box: the Fake Deadline, the One Rule, and the Small Box.Along the way you'll hear Shane Parrish on the Henry Kissinger question that outed a staffer's "best work" as anything but; René Meulensteen on the Federer clips he used to teach Man Utd players to stay one point wide; Sarina Wiegman on the training session she deliberately ran with a terrible referee, just to see what her players would do with it; and Lewis Morgan on what he'd actually do with a spare £1,000 and a Facebook Marketplace login.The idea doesn't need better conditions. It needs a smaller box.Listen to the full episodes:Sarina Wiegman: https://shows.acast.com/the-high-performance-podcast/episodes/sarina-wiegman-the-leadership-secrets-powering-england-lioneLewis Morgan: https://shows.acast.com/3d30295e-f7fb-5af1-b618-30a8763cc75a/625c41bcfa71dd0012e7f614René Meulensteen: https://shows.acast.com/3d30295e-f7fb-5af1-b618-30a8763cc75a/67e02799511f1304b0d74225 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get our anti-AI slop checklist: https://clickhubspot.com/lhug Most marketers have AI in the wrong order. Tool first, brain second. David Epstein, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Range, explains why that order is quietly making your work worse, and gives Kipp the one rule that flips it.David's new book, Inside the Box, argues that constraints are what make people and companies better. Kipp puts that to the test against the reality of marketing in 2026: infinite tools, infinite output, and a growing pile of AI slop nobody reads. What follows is a set of exercises real teams use to think before they build: write the press release first, prototype the box before the product, ask "if we had half the budget, how would we do it," run a subtraction audit every quarter, and treat AI as the second step, never the first. WHAT WE COVER:→ Why "think fast, act slow" is the pattern behind most failed projects (16,000 of them)→ How Pixar keeps directors in story development for years, on purpose→ Tony Fadell's rule: write the press release at the start, not the end→ The Nest box test: if it doesn't fit on the box, it's not a priority→ Why the internet stripped marketing of its healthy constraints→ Getting the pain up front so it doesn't cost you 10x later→ Nobody wants a drill, they want a hole (and AI is a broom with a laser pointer)→ The feature-dump epidemic and why simplicity wins in a world of abundance→ Why everyone assumes you already know what they know→ Explore vs exploit: how Range and Inside the Box fit together→ What to say to a team that says "we're not resourced for this"→ How NASA found water on the Moon with half the budget→ Why Amazon forces frugality on people with unlimited money→ Brooks' Law: adding people to a late project makes it later→ The legacy constraint: "if we were going out of business in two years"→ Kipp's reboot question (teams would stop 80% of what they do)→ Sunk cost, design freeze, and the featuritis that sank US shipbuilding→ HipChat vs Slack and the difference between sunk cost and opportunity cost→ How David actually uses AI (and why he doesn't write with it)→ AI is GPS for your brain: the early research on AI and learning→ Brain first, tool second: the rule that stops AI slop→ What an "AI slob" is and how to know if you're one→ The subtraction audit: cut one thing every quarter Host: Kipp BodnarGuest: David Epstein, author of Range, The Sports Gene, and Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better Loop: Outlearn. Outmarket. Outgrow ⁠https://www.hubspot.com/loop-marketing-book https://davidepstein.com/ Inside The Box https://a.co/d/06AsbsZ0 We're on Social Media! Follow us for everyday marketing wisdom straight to your feed YouTube: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@matgpod⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/matgpod⁠  TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@marketingatg⁠  Thank you for tuning into Marketing Against The Grain! Don't forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Apple Podcasts (so you never miss an episode)! ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-against-the-grain/id1616700934⁠   We really appreciate your support. Host Links: Kipp Bodnar, ⁠https://twitter.com/kippbodnar⁠   Kieran Flanagan, ⁠https://twitter.com/searchbrat⁠  ‘Marketing Against The Grain' is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Produced by Darren Clarke.

Kelly has a fascinating conversation with New York Times bestselling author David Epstein about his new book “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better.” “Multitasking is the act of distracting yourself.”  “It is usually bad to be a maximizer.” “Too often, we reach for a dream when what we need is a textbook.”

Simone Stolzoff: How to Not Know Simone Stolzoff is an author and journalist who explores big questions about work, meaning, and identity. A former design lead at the global innovation firm IDEO, his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and on the TED stage. He is the author of How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers (Amazon, Bookshop)*. I'm not sure about you, but I very much dislike uncertainty. And yet, basically the job of leadership is to not only deal with it but to help others thrive in the midst of it. In this conversation, Simone and I explore how to build your tolerance for uncertainty so you can lead much more effectively. Key Points We love certainty and our tolerance for uncertainty is decreasing due to the internet, smartphones, and AI access. Organizations with higher uncertainty tolerance tend to be more innovative and adaptable. We assume unwavering confidence breeds credibility, when in fact, research shows that those who admit what they don't know are perceived as more credible. Professional athletes have the same threshold for pain but a higher pain tolerance. We can develop a similar tolerance for uncertainty. Find your anchor points. By knowing the key boulders you can hang onto in a storm, you are vastly better able to weather uncertain times. Build to learn. Progress depends on uncertainty. Row through the fog. Maintain faith that you will discover the next step by continuing to row. Sometimes what we feel is most uncertain is actually more certain than we realize. Resources Mentioned How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers by Simone Stolzoff (Amazon, Bookshop)* Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Lead Better Through Complexity, with Jennifer Garvey Berger (episode 613) Notice Disruption and Innovate Through It, with Steve Blank (episode 761) The Counterintuitive Secret to Creativity and Focus, with David Epstein (episode 789) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

The problem isn't that you can't decide. It's that you have too many options. If every big decision feels exhausting, there's a reason for it, and it has nothing to do with willpower. I know because I'm exactly the same way. I once spent 90 minutes trying to pick something to watch on Netflix, watched every trailer, and finally handed the remote to my husband and said, "You choose." Sound familiar? In this episode, I'm joined by David Epstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Range and bestselling author of Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. Together, we explore why keeping every door open is quietly making us more anxious, more overwhelmed, and less satisfied, and why creating limits is often the fastest path to clarity, confidence, and peace. You'll learn: Why having more options often leads to more regret The surprising brain bias that keeps you stuck How to stop second-guessing yourself after you make a decision Why "good enough" beats trying to find the perfect choice How to make big life decisions feel smaller and less scary A simple subtraction exercise that instantly clarifies your priorities Why committing to one path actually gives you more freedom, not less If you're tired of overthinking, afraid of making the wrong choice, or keeping every possibility alive because you don't want to miss out, this conversation will help you stop spinning and start moving forward. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month's sponsors of the podcast: Shopify —  Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/lhs Quince — Quality products you'll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠quince.com/lhs⁠ Skylight — Stay connected with the people you love through beautiful digital calendars and photo frames designed for real family life. Learn more at skylightcal.com/lhs.

He's been an Arctic scientist, a sports journalist, and is now a best-selling author of science books. His latest, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, makes the argument that early specialization does not give you a head start in life. David and Steve talk about why frustration is a good sign, and why the 10,000-hour rule is definitely not a rule. This episode originally aired on July 9th, 2021st. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Modern workplace culture pressures us to multitask even though research shows multitasking makes most people less productive, more stressed out and worse at their jobs. Journalist and author David Epstein joins us talk about why we need to prioritize monotasking over multitasking. His latest book is called “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better.”Marsha Battle Philpot calls herself a "primordial Detroiter," and she knows the city and its history well. Her father, Joe Battle, opened a record store in 1945 and he recorded blues guitarist John Lee Hooker, the Baptist preacher reverend C. L. Franklin, and Franklin's incredibly talented daughter, Aretha. Scott Tong talks to Marsha Battle Philpot about her father's store, her own musical education, her experience in a changing Detroit.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

David Epstein is a journalist and the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Inside the Box (which we're talking about today), Range, and The Sports Gene. He tells some fascinating stories that he uncovered during his research that challenge or complicate a lot of cultural perceptions about: freedom (often, sadly, the death knell of creativity!), originality and innovation (turns out there is an optimal level of newness), famous moments of insight and breakthrough (these surprised me), and the relationship between constraints and personal satisfaction (might surprise you).  For the show notes, head to eliseloehnen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does less freedom make you more creative? How can you use constraints effectively to help you get the most out of your creativity? Is AI helping you solve or avoid the real problem? In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok discusses creativity, constraints, and problem-solving with NYT bestselling author David Epstein, author of Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. They explore why having unlimited freedom can actually make people less creative, how constraints can unlock better ideas, and why subtracting commitments may be more effective than continually adding new ones. David also explains how AI can hinder creative problem-solving when it is used before the real problem has been identified, and offers advice for private practitioners navigating an increasingly AI-driven world while preserving the value of human connection.

We tend to think that creativity flourishes in the absence of limits, when we have all of the freedom to innovate and dream big. But what if the opposite is true? What if constraints — from strict rules to tight deadlines — actually make us more creative?On this episode, we explore how limitations force us to think differently, solve problems in unexpected ways, and allow us to create our best work. We talk with science writer David Epstein about his new book “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better.”He explains how restrictions led to the invention of everything from impressionism to the iPod, and how to develop rules and limits for your own creative work that could encourage innovation.

David Epstein is General Partner at USF Ventures, the venture fund backing companies connected to the University of San Francisco. He was previously a General Partner at Crosslink Capital and has held management and CEO roles at more than half a dozen startups. He also teaches entrepreneurship and finance, and began his career at Data General as a computer designer, on the project chronicled in Tracy Kidder's Pulitzer Prize winning The Soul of a New Machine.In this episode, Dave argues that the real AI bottleneck isn't chips, power, or capital. It's data. We get into why frontier labs backing open weight models is a defensive move rather than a principled one, where early stage startups can still win, and why he thinks jobs will disappear faster than they get created.⭐This episode is brought to you by Podcast10x. We help founders and investors turn one podcast episode into a full month of content. Strategy, production, and distribution handled end to end. Learn more at https://podcast10x.comWhat we cover:→ Why "AI company" is no longer a category, and the pitch deck claim that has become his pet peeve→ Why AI isn't a tool anymore, and what makes this cycle different from the dot com era→ The real bottleneck: why we've exhausted the internet's data and what comes next→ Money as the constraint nobody prices in, and the circularity in the current data center build out→ How Chinese open weight models pull revenue out of token charges and subscriptions→ Why big lab support for open models is defensive positioning→ Who survives if open weights take share, and why consolidation is coming→ Where early stage startups can still win: drug discovery, financial services, legal→ Why the likely exit is a sale, not an IPO→ Ethical investing as a return rather than a tax, and why it's tough to work with jerks→ Why self-regulation rarely works, and what 2008 tells us about the current AI alliance→ Why layoffs are just the beginning, and the Industrial Revolution parallel everyone forgets→ Where the jobs actually are: management, human facing care, and the trades→ What top tier VCs get right, and why VCs are also lemmings→ Quantum computing as a data center accelerator, and the password problem it creates→ Physics AI vs physical AI, and the validation problem sitting on top of both→ Five year predictions: AGI, commonplace robots, and why consciousness doesn't matterConnect with Dave Epstein:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedavee/USF Ventures: https://usfventures.comConnect with Prashant Choubey:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/choubeysahabSubscribe to VC10X newsletter - https://vc10x.beehiiv.comVC10X website - https://vc10x.comTimestamps:(00:00) - Preview(00:56) - Introduction to David Epstein and the Episode's Topics(02:48) - How the AI Startup Landscape Has Fundamentally Changed(05:08) - Comparing the Current AI Boom to the Internet Boom(06:25) - Identifying the Next AI Bottleneck: Chips, Power, or Data?(09:30) - Why Money is an Overlooked Bottleneck for AI Development(11:14) - The Cyclical Nature of AI Investments and Financing(12:46) - Analyzing Big Tech's Support for Open Source Models(15:12) - Winners and Losers: Open Source vs. Frontier Models(18:01) - How Early-Stage Startups Can Compete and Win in the AI Space(20:53) - The Role of Ethics in AI Investment Decisions(23:31) - The Challenge of Upholding Ethics in a Competitive Market(26:21) - Implications of the OpenAI Model Escaping(29:46) - The Future of AI-Driven Job Disruption(32:46) - Where to Find Employment Opportunities in the AI World(37:43) - How Top-Tier VCs Evaluate Founders and Make Decisions(40:21) - The Most Exciting Emerging Areas of Innovation(43:18) - Explaining Quantum Computing's Potential and Impact(48:39) - An Ambitious AI Prediction for the Next 5 Years(51:35) - Rapid Fire Round: USF Ventures' Investment Strategy(53:06) - Conclusion

"I think structure is more liberating than it is stifling, and it often takes people losing it to sort of realize that,” says David Epstein. Epstein is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Range and the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. He has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and as an investigative reporter for ProPublica. He lives in Washington, DC. His newest book, Inside The Box, is out now.  00:00 - Why constraints drive creativity 06:35 - How mnemonics help you memorize 10:31 - The power of low-stakes practice 12:25 - The problem with youth sports  18:56 - The constraints-led approach in elite sports 22:25 - Good vs bad constraints 25:39 - Constraints at NASA & Pixar 31:07 - Why we always add instead of subtract 35:02 - The dizziness of freedom 41:29 - Experimentation as a practice 45:19 - The importance of self-reflection 49:02 - How to fix your fractured attention Referenced in the episode:  Read The Athletic's article about the constraints-led approach: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6665943/2025/09/29/sports-training-cla-coaching-wembanyana-ohtani For more about David Epstein, visit his website: https://davidepstein.com/  Buy Inside The Box here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNDSKWMY/?/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  Buy Range here: https://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214506/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: podcast@mindbodygreen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's author argues that all of us—individuals, businesses, institutions, even societies—can benefit from narrowing our options. Join Mike & Cory as they attempt to transform themselves—and the world—by embracing constraints.Support the ShowInside the Box by David EpsteinMike's Amplify CohortThe Growth IntensiveThe Goal by Eli GoldrattApple: The First 50 Years by David PogueCreativity, Inc. by Ed CatmullScience Fictions by Stuart RitchieSix SigmaAnatomy of a Breakthrough by Adam AlterCo-Intelligence by Ethan MollickFour Thousand Weeks by Oliver BurkemanDave Ramsey Debt SnowballRange by David EpsteinThe Psychology of Money by Morgan HouselUncommon Sense by William BrodyCory's Rating: ⭐⭐⭐Mike's Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Welcome back to the Level Up Series, where every episode is designed to help you become a more confident, intentional, and fulfilled version of yourself.What if the very thing you've been told leads to success—more choices, more freedom, more opportunities—is actually what's keeping you stuck? In this episode, Lo sits down with #1 New York Times bestselling author David Epstein to explore the surprising science behind procrastination, perfectionism, focus, and why embracing constraints may be the key to getting more done and living a more meaningful life. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by endless options, struggled to stay focused, or found yourself waiting for the “perfect” moment to take action, this conversation will challenge the way you think.Lo and David also discuss the unexpected path to long-term fulfillment, sharing research that may completely change how you approach your goals, your career, and your future. This is one of those conversations that will stay with you long after it ends—so be sure to stick around for David's thoughtful (and fun) rapid-fire answers at the end.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This month, we look back at the big off-the-field impacts of the FIFA World Cup as well as critique the on-the-field action. We also discuss the success of the young 800-meter phenom from the U.S., Cooper Lutkenhaus, and his interview with David Epstein on the pros and cons of hyper-specialization and hyper-competitiveness of youth sports in the U.S. 

Today we sit down with David Epstein, environmental scientist, investigative journalist, and author of the new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. He joins us for a special interview to discuss a modern paradox that is plaguing today's society: how seemingly infinite choices and the illusion of absolute freedom bring overwhelm, paralysis, and uncertainty.   David Epstein uses science to explain how we can benefit from narrowing our options, and how, as contrary as it might feel, using self-imposed boundaries and constraints can tap into unexpected wells of focus and innovation.   Find David on Instagram or at his website or order his book here. ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our 4th annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is taking place this year from 1 to 7 November 2026! If you'd like to be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more here. AD-FREE LISTENING: After well over 10 years on the air with little-to-no advertising, in 2026 we have finally made the difficult decision that this completely independent and self-funded show is no longer sustainable without it. HOWEVER! If you join us on Patreon, for as little as $3 per month, you will have access to all new episodes completely ad-free! ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. GET TWO BONUS EPISODES PER MONTH: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life at the $5 per month level or above, and you will have access to two all-new (and sometimes wacky) bonus episodes every single month. As well as ad-free listening, occasional live meet-ups, and access to our chat community. Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us on Facebook or Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon. TOUR ROME WITH TIFFANY: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Limits are the key to stimulating creativity, innovation, and collaboration. In a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and prizes freedom above all else, we have an unprecedented number of options regarding what to do, who to be, and how to spend our time. All that choice is wonderful, but it is also overwhelming. The irony is that total freedom can be paralyzing, and unlimited resources don't necessarily lead to the biggest breakthroughs. In fact, overvaluing complete freedom can be disastrous for everything from starting a company to harnessing creativity to finding personal satisfaction. In his new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, David Epstein argues that all of us — individuals, businesses, institutions, even societies — can benefit from narrowing our options. Epstein dives into the science and practice of constraints, exploring exactly when and how guardrails can be beneficial, whether we're working with limited resources or using self-imposed boundaries to tap unexpected wells of focus and innovation. Inside the Box reveals how boundaries create breakthroughs, and how setting the right constraints can help you become the most creative, productive, and satisfied version of yourself. David Epstein is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Range and the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. He has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and as an investigative reporter for ProPublica. Katy Sewall is the host and creator of The Bittersweet Life podcast. She's a writer, podcast consultant, and a Public Radio professional frequently heard on 94.9 KUOW. She's also the former Program Director at Town Hall. Buy the Book Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better Elliott Bay Book Company

Early specialization often fails, yet we push kids to pick paths young. This book summary reveals why diverse experience leads to triumph.

The right limits can lead to better ideas and better performance.David Epstein, bestselling author of The Sports Gene, Range, and Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, joins Wharton Moneyball to explore how constraints can strengthen creativity, focus, and decision-making.Epstein discusses the value of tight briefs and rapid prototypes, why first ideas are not always the best ideas, and why young athletes may benefit from playing multiple sports before specializing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We live in an era of limitless options, but infinite choice might actually be paralyzing our ability to make decisions and find satisfaction. David Epstein, bestselling author of Range and the new book Inside the Box, joins host Zachary Karabell to argue that we severely overvalue complete freedom. Instead, Epstein reveals how imposing limits and constraints on ourselves can act as a powerful tool to drive creativity, spur innovation, and increase personal contentment. Epstein shares his own personal strategies for managing an overwhelming world. He discusses how he limits his own maximizing tendencies by setting strict parameters before shopping online, and how he outlined his entire new book on a single piece of paper to restrict his own sprawling curiosity. The conversation also delves into the stark contrast between the American youth sports machine and Norway's highly successful, joy-focused athletic development model. Along the way, they explore the decline of local investigative journalism, the cognitive pitfalls of learning via AI, and why historical context remains our best defense against modern pessimism. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Subscribe to Zachary's Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

Discipline, in this way, isn't just about action; it's about control. Control over our impulses, our desires, and even our most deeply ingrained habits.

I nearly fell off the reformer. I was mid-Pilates class listening to David Epstein on Modern Wisdom when he said something so back to front I had to hear it twice: if you want to be more creative, don't give yourself more freedom. Give yourself fewer options. And then he explained why - and it cracked open something I've been teaching for years without ever having the words for it. So I went down a rabbit hole. If that's true, what else is? What else are we doing, with completely good intentions, that's quietly the very thing keeping us stuck? I found three things. They sound wrong. They feel backwards. They're absolutely, provably true. In this episode: The bet that produced one of the bestselling children's books of all time - and what it tells you about the thing you keep not starting Why 95% of us think we're self-aware, only 10–15% are, and the one word you're using that's keeping you in the wrong 85% The 2009 study that suggests announcing your goal can make you less likely to do it - and the crucial exception that changes everything The difference between support and accountability (they're not the same thing, and one of them is letting you off the hook) Three questions to ask before you do anything else this week If you've been circling the same idea for two years, this one's for you.  Ready to shrink the fuzzy thing into something you can actually start? Book a free 30-minute Direction Call with me → kategladdin.com/coaching It's not a sales call. It's a working session with a real outcome. Want the fence I mentioned? From Story to Platform — the workbook that asks you the small, narrow, annoyingly specific questions that turn "I want to do something meaningful" into a plan → kategladdin.com/workbook Want these powerful lessons at your next event? Resilience keynotes for teams who are done with fluff → kategladdin.com/speaking

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Tom Rath, one of the most respected researchers on wellbeing and human potential, author of What's the Point? Turning Your Purpose Into a Superpower. Tom argues that we can be incredibly busy while slowly drifting away from what matters most, optimizing our schedules while our lives quietly leak away. Andy and Tom explore why "follow your passion" can be harmful advice, how status seeking becomes career quicksand, and why our smartphones may be one of the greatest threats to purposeful living. They also discuss how many of us inherit ambitions from our parents that we never consciously chose, and how an honest awareness of mortality can sharpen our clarity, intentionality, and sense of purpose. Rather than treating purpose as one grand calling, Tom reframes it as something we create in small moments throughout the day. If you're looking for a practical, and honestly a little uncomfortable, guide to leading and living with more purpose, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Here's what I know with absolute certainty: you're wasting most of your day. Not because you're lazy, but because you've never asked the right question. You're so busy being busy that you've forgotten to ask why. You're optimizing your schedule while your life leaks away, hour by hour in meetings that don't matter and tasks that won't be remembered next week, let alone next year." "If you fail to do those things in a day and take that initiative and have those meaningful and purposeful conversations, and you put those off until tomorrow, tomorrow never really comes because we get into that responsive mode." "Passion by definition starts with you, and it's a little self-oriented, whereas I would argue purpose by definition has an other orientation to it, which is a much better idea for anchoring your energy in a day." "If you're not connecting back with the impact that it made on one person that day, it fails to kind of count in the way we motivate ourselves and think about our work on a daily basis." "I would argue that 90% of the purpose in life is built in those moments, not in some epiphany on a sunny day." "I would estimate that at least 80% of people, maybe 90%, make it all the way to the very end of their career in their life without ever seeing what they could have been best at in life." "Even as managers and leaders, if we don't take care of our own health and wellbeing first, we just have no shot at even being our best for other people that we manage." "There's always someone making twice as much as you or 10 times as much as you, and there's always somebody with more followers or more listeners or more readers or whatever it might be." "The eulogy virtues are about what am I doing today so I'll be a better dad, a better husband, a better friend, to help readers, to help people with the products I'm working on." "I would argue that 80% of people I see out in public today, out in the wild, are essentially working for their smartphone." "Their smartphone's running their life, and they're the ones salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs every time the darn thing blinks or buzzes or vibrates, right?" "Having your phone out sends an implicit message to the other person that the little black box on the table matters more than the other person, and it degrades the quality of the conversation." "The one thing we've all got in common is we have today to try and do some things that serve a purpose and help another person, and if you miss that opportunity, it's gone." "None of them, none of the headstones say anything about those kind of resume virtues that we were talking about." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Start of Interview 02:08 Busy, Yet Drifting from What Matters 05:50 Rethinking the "One True Calling" 07:38 Why "Follow Your Passion" Can Backfire 09:26 From "What Do I Do?" to "Who Do I Help?" 11:20 How Our Parents' Paths Shape Us 12:11 When Admirable Influence Becomes a Limiting Script 15:01 Unlearning the "Always the Hardest Worker" Mindset 16:55 Are We Nudging Our Kids Into Our Dreams? 19:23 Status Seeking as Career Quicksand 22:02 Choosing Your Own Scoreboard 23:38 Smartphones and the Threat to Purpose 26:28 Making Technology Work for You 28:05 How Mortality Sharpens Purpose 30:52 What the Headstones Don't Say 32:33 Helping Kids Build Lives That Matter 35:21 End of Interview 35:48 Andy Comments After the Interview 40:20 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Tom and his new book at tomrath.org/whats-the-point. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 132 with Tom Rath. An earlier conversation with Tom, digging into his story and his research on wellbeing. Episode 140 with Tom Rath. Another previous discussion with Tom on wellness and living with strengths. Episode 31 with Adam Grant. Adam's first-ever podcast interview, where he shares insights on how to lead with meaning. Episode 261 with David Epstein. A conversation about his book Range, a helpful complement on career decisions for kids and for us. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: Purpose, Leadership, Career Development, Passion, Wellbeing, Intentionality, Status, Comparison, Digital Distraction, Mortality, Parenting, Meaningful Work, Project Management The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Awakening by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Constraints often feel frustrating and limiting — but they can also create the friction that sparks creative breakthroughs, reveals better solutions, and leads to more thoughtful decisionmaking. In this episode, Anne and Frances are joined by David Epstein, an investigative reporter and bestselling author of the new book Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. They discuss why limits are powerful tools for clarity and innovation, examining case studies of companies that used constraints to accelerate their success (and others that struggled after removing them). They also explore the constraints-based strategies elite athletes use in their training routines.Featured guestFollow David Epstein on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and at davidepstein.com/Buy Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us BetterSubscribe to David's substack Range WidelyConnect with the teamFollow Anne on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow Frances on Instagram and LinkedInWatch Fixable videos on youtube.com/@TEDPodsVisit Anne and Frances' websiteHave a question you want Anne and Frances to solve? Email the team at fixable@ted.com or leave a voicemail at 234-349-2253Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokFor the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

¿Te gustaría trabajar una hora seguida en algo importante sin que tu propia cabeza te saque de ahí cada tres minutos? ¿Te gustaría volver a meterte tanto en algo que el tiempo desaparece sin enterarte? Llevas un tiempo notando que te cuesta concentrarte más que antes. Que empiezas tres cosas y no terminas ninguna. Que coges el teléfono para mirar una cosa y veinte minutos después sigues ahí. Y te dices: tengo que tener más disciplina. En este episodio resumimos El valor de la atención (Stolen Focus, 2022), de Johan Hari, periodista británico que se fue tres meses a una playa sin teléfono ni internet para entender qué nos está pasando, y que entrevistó a más de 250 científicos y expertos del mundo para escribir este libro. La tesis que lo cambia todo: no vivimos en una época de personas débiles sin disciplina. Vivimos en un sistema diseñado para echar ácido sobre nuestra atención, todos los días. Y luego encima nos dicen que es culpa nuestra. Hari identifica 12 fuerzas reales, medidas y estudiadas, que nos están robando la capacidad de concentrarnos. No son excusas: son mecanismos. Solo dos o tres tienen que ver con la tecnología. El resto son algo más profundo: cómo dormimos, cómo comemos, cómo criamos, cómo hemos organizado nuestro trabajo y nuestra vida. En este episodio vas a llevarte: ✅ Por qué la multitarea no existe y qué te cuesta cada vez que tu cerebro salta entre tareas (el «costo del cambio») ✅ Qué es el estado de flow, por qué es el modo más productivo y más placentero de trabajar, y por qué el teléfono lo destruye ✅ Por qué leer en pantalla te hace comprender y recordar menos que en papel («inferioridad de pantalla») y cómo ese hábito contamina todo lo que lees ✅ Cómo tu distracción es el modelo de negocio de las grandes plataformas y por qué la fuerza de voluntad sola no gana esta partida ✅ Por qué el aburrimiento es la materia prima de la creatividad y qué estamos matando cuando llenamos cada hueco con pantalla Este episodio forma parte del bloque Atención, donde durante varias semanas exploramos los mejores libros sobre concentración, foco y trabajo profundo. La semana anterior revisamos Range, de David Epstein; la próxima semana continuamos con Cuatro Mil Semanas, de Oliver Burkeman.

What if the key to breakthrough innovation isn’t more freedom—but better constraints? In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with bestselling author David Epstein about the surprising ideas behind his newest book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. Drawing on examples from Apple, Pixar, Bell Labs, General Magic, Bach, Dr. Seuss, and scientific research, David explains why carefully designed constraints often produce more creativity, better decisions, and stronger leadership than unlimited choice. Listeners will also learn: Why our brains default to the “path of least resistance” How constraints fuel innovation across business, science, and the arts What General Magic teaches today’s AI leaders Why hypothesis-driven thinking produces better outcomes How leaders can create boundaries that encourage creativity without stifling it This episode is presented by Mailtrap — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at mailtrap.io

Theories of addiction abound: various choice models and brain disease models, all trying to explain why people use substances in ways that appear to harm them. Theories are often pitted against one another. But does this always have to be the case? In this episode, Dr. David Epstein discusses problems that arise from theories using their own definitions for addiction, and ways in which considering various etiological pathways may help us better understand and treat the heterogenous presentations of addictive behavior. Dr. Epstein also enlightens us with a conversation about the association between substance use and boredom. Dr. David Epstein is the Chief of the Real-World Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment Section at the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program. Find out more about his work here.

What does it take to write a book that actually makes an impact? In this compilation episode, Travis brings together three bestselling authors and accomplished leaders—David Epstein, Dave Berke, and Mark Divine—to share their hard-earned lessons on writing, leadership, entrepreneurship, and building lasting credibility. From the disciplined writing process to the importance of authenticity and patience, this episode is packed with practical insights for anyone looking to create meaningful work that stands the test of time. On this episode we talk about: Why great books begin with deep research, thoughtful planning, and clear constraints How military leadership principles translate directly into entrepreneurship and business The challenges—and rewards—of writing a book that truly reflects your expertise Why authenticity and personal experience matter more than writing a book just for credibility How founders can build stronger businesses by hiring great leaders and focusing on their unique strengths Top 3 Takeaways The best writing happens long before the first draft—careful research, planning, and defining clear boundaries make the execution dramatically easier. Leadership principles like humility, discipline, and ownership work across every environment, whether you're leading troops, running a company, or building a personal brand. Don't write a book because you think you should. Write one because you have a unique perspective and a message that's compelling enough that it has to come out. Notable Quotes "Think slow, act fast." "Everything worth doing is on the other side of a bunch of struggle." "If you want to make money with your business as a founder, you ultimately have to get out of the way." Connect with the Guests: David Epstein Website: https://davidepstein.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-epstein Dave Berke Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidrberke/ Echelon Front: https://echelonfront.com Mark Divine Website: https://markdivine.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdivine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmarkdivine A Word from Our Sponsors: - Visit DrinkAG1.com/TMM to get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplieslast.  - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through July 12, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney -Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Epstein is a science journalist and author. Is discipline really freedom? When we feel overwhelmed, it can seem like the problem is that we have no freedom. But maybe the opposite is true: maybe we have too much freedom, too many options, and too little structure. So why can setting constraints become a superpower? And when you're overwhelmed, why might choosing limits actually make you feel more free? Expect to learn what the Green Eggs and Ham effect is, why having constraints is so unsexy, how setting limits powers learning, the real meaning of “The Road Not Taken”, why it is important to decide what not to do, how to tell if you have too much freedom or too many constraints, and much more… Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠⁠ Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom Get 10% discount on all Gymshark products at https://gym.sh/modernwisdom (use code MODERNWISDOM10) Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com Timestamps: (00:00) How Dr. Seuss Changed Children's Books Forever (03:30) Why We Avoid Constraints (and Why That's a Mistake) (11:37) Why Is Choice So Overwhelming? (18:06) The Tension Between Freedom and Constraint (22:07) The Genius Behind General Magic (29:33) How Limits Power Learning (37:01) Why Fewer Options Feel Harder to Choose From (45:58) Is Anything Truly Original? (53:56) How to Break Free From Habit and Convention (56:45) Are Constraints the Secret to Great Design? (01:00:26) Is Multitasking Secretly Hurting You? (01:03:48) The Best Examples of Locking In (01:08:44) When Optimisation Turns Into Obsession (01:13:39) How to Use Constraints Without Being Trapped (01:15:41) What the “Road Less Travelled” Really Means (01:18:08) Where to Find David Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠⁠ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠⁠ Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠ #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠ #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠ - Get In Touch: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠https://chriswillx.com/contact⁠⁠ - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Coyle: Flourish Daniel Coyle is the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code, which was named Best Business Book of the Year by Bloomberg, BookPal, and Business Insider. He has served as an advisor to many high-performing organizations, including the Navy SEALs, Microsoft, Google, and the Cleveland Guardians. His newest book is Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment (Amazon, Bookshop)*. When teams really thrive, it isn't about luck or simply optimizing systems. Instead, it's about intentionally creating spaces for connection, agency, and shared growth. In this conversation, Daniel and I discuss where to begin to help a team flourish. Key Points Life (and leadership) is treasure creation, not a treasure hunt. Flourishing environments encourage experimentation, agency, and even mistakes, allowing ownership and innovation to thrive. If leaders think like designers, using questions and constraints, they will more likely unlock people's full potential. Simple acts such as little “thank you's” build psychological safety and lay the foundation for flourishing groups. Some of the world's greatest innovations emerged from environments that welcomed surprise, cross-pollination, and flexibility. Value the art of asking good questions over having all the answers. Resources Mentioned Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment by Daniel Coyle (Amazon, Bookshop)* Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes What Innovative Leaders Do Differently, with Linda Hill (episode 774) How to Help People Flourish, with Marcus Buckingham (episode 778) The Counterintuitive Secret to Creativity and Focus, with David Epstein (episode 789) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

From the restaurant menu that has 10 pages of entre options, to trying to pick out a new set of ear buds on Amazon, to telling kids they can be “anything they want.” The anxiety around our seemingly unlimited world continues to increase. Tactically I think we must become more discerning. But conceptually I think it helps to understand that too many options are unhelpful, and why. So when a new book titled,  INSIDE THE BOX: How Constraints Make Us Better, came across my desk, I interested myself. The book is authored by David Epstein who is already the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Range and The Sports Gene, and has worked as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. The tagline for Range is Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. I like David's questioning and relevantly contrarian approach and was eager to sit down and talk with him about how constraints make us better. David claims that total freedom is the enemy of creativity, and constraint its companion. He says, “Contrary to popular belief, the brain is not designed for thinking. It's designed to save you from having to think.” And thus all the thinking that too many options gives us has a cost. I ultimately interested myself in going forth with decisions by first, vetting them not for what is possible, but what is most probable. And shifting my mindset from wanting no limits, to understanding that less options is actually helpful for my mindset, and my life.  Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

¿Has sentido que ibas tarde porque no te especializaste pronto? ¿Que tu camino lleno de giros y cambios de rumbo era una señal de que algo no iba bien? Hoy te traigo el libro que, con datos y ciencia, demuestra que casi todo eso es mentira. En este episodio resumimos Amplitud (Range, 2019), de David Epstein, periodista de investigación que se lee los estudios científicos de verdad y luego te los cuenta para que los entiendas. La tesis: la especialización temprana solo gana en entornos donde las reglas no cambian. El mundo real de los negocios no es uno de esos entornos. Tiger Woods empezó con siete meses de vida y un palo de golf. Roger Federer probó mil deportes antes de elegir. Los dos llegaron a lo más alto del mundo. Pero cuando los científicos estudian cientos de casos, el camino de Federer, no el de Tiger, es el más común entre los que llegan más lejos. En entornos amables, como el golf o el ajedrez, donde las reglas son fijas y el feedback es inmediato, la especialización temprana funciona de maravilla. Pero en entornos malvados, donde las reglas cambian y la respuesta llega tarde o equivocada, la amplitud le gana. Y los negocios, el liderazgo y la innovación son, sin excepción, entornos malvados. En este episodio vas a llevarte: ✅ Por qué la historia de Tiger Woods engaña y la de Roger Federer es la norma ✅ La diferencia entre entornos amables y malvados, y por qué te importa para tu negocio ✅ Por qué cambiar de rumbo es información valiosa, no debilidad (con Van Gogh como prueba) ✅ Cómo tu amplitud, esas cosas distintas que has hecho, puede ser tu ventaja competitiva ✅ Por qué el mayor experto puede ser el peor consejero (y qué pasó con el Challenger) Segundo episodio del bloque dedicado a la atención y el enfoque. La semana anterior vimos con Cal Newport cómo recuperar el control de tu atención frente a la tecnología. Hoy damos el paso siguiente: una vez que recuperas tu atención, ¿en qué la inviertes?

Why do constraints help kids thrive? Dr. Aliza Pressman & David Epstein reveal the counterintuitive science of raising resilient, confident children. If you've ever wondered whether making things easier for your kids is actually holding them back, this episode will stop you in your tracks. Dr. Aliza Pressman sits down with bestselling science writer David Epstein, author of Inside the Box, to unpack the research-backed case for constraints as one of the most powerful — and most misunderstood — tools in child development. From the Harvard Study of Adult Development's landmark findings on chores and confidence, to the neuroscience of why frustration tolerance is a skill every parent should be actively building, this conversation gives you concrete strategies you can implement this week. Starting at the dinner table. What you'll learn: Why assigning chores in kindergarten predicts higher self-confidence later, and how to frame them so kids actually want to do them What the Constraints-Led Approach (used by elite sports coaches) can teach every parent about stepping back and letting kids self-organize "Brain first, tool second," David's framework for navigating AI, screens, and the cognitive risks of passive consumption Why anomie (normlessness) drives youth anxiety and how clear family values and rituals act as a protective anchor This episode is brought to you by: Minnow: Cabana Capsule celebrates days spent lingering by the sea, soaking up the sun, and savoring the simple luxury of having nowhere to be. Shop the capsule starting July 7th at shopminnow.com and enter code MEETMINNOW15 at checkout to receive 15% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For years, we've been told that creativity comes from thinking outside the box. But what if that advice is incomplete—or even wrong? In this video, I explore the idea of thinking inside the box, heavily influenced by the work of David Epstein and his book on the subject. The core idea is simple but powerful: constraints, limitations, and structure don't always reduce creativity—they often fuel it. We talk about why boundaries can lead to better problem-solving, stronger innovation, and more focused execution in business and life. Instead of waiting for unlimited resources or perfect conditions, sometimes the best ideas come from learning how to maximize what's already in front of you. If you've ever felt limited by constraints, this conversation may completely change how you think about them. What feels like a box might actually be the thing that helps you create something better.

Most of us believe more options equals better outcomes. Research says no. In much of life, the opposite is true, and the gap between what we believe and what the data shows is one of the more quietly consequential misconceptions shaping how we live right now.David Epstein is the author of Range and the new book Inside the Box, both New York Times bestsellers. He spent years studying human performance and creativity, and this conversation picks up where Range left off. If Range was about why broad exploration matters early in life, Inside the Box is about what you actually do once you have all that range. The answer turns out to be counterintuitive: you box yourself in.In this conversation, you'll discover:Why people with more options to watch are consistently more bored than people with fewer, and what that reveals about how your brain actually works The difference between satisficing and maximizing, and why maximizers make worse decisions, feel more regret, and are less happy with their lives despite spending more time and energy on every choice How Keith Jarrett recorded the best-selling solo jazz piano album of all time on a broken, out-of-tune instrument he almost refused to play, and what that says about where creative breakthroughs actually come from The paired constraints process used by Monet, Dr. Seuss, and Isabel Allende, and how you can use the same structure to unstick your own creative projects Why our attention switches tasks every 45 seconds on average now, down from every three minutes 25 years ago, and what it's actually costing us in terms of stress, creativity, and the simple experience of loving our workThis is a conversation for anyone who has ever felt scattered across too many possibilities, half-committed to too many things, and quietly wondered if the constraint they've been avoiding might be exactly the thing they need.You can find David at: Website | Instagram | Range Widely Substack | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sitting down with Donna Jackson Nakazawa to talk about why rumination feels so productive even when it's actively working against you, and what the neuroscience actually says about how to loosen its grip. She has a framework for this that I haven't been able to stop thinking about since we recorded. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts, so you don't miss it.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Epstein: Inside the Box David Epstein is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Range and The Sports Gene, both of which have been translated into more than 30 languages. He was previously the host of Slate‘s popular “How To!” podcast and a science and investigative reporter at ProPublica. His TED talks have been viewed more than 12 million times. His newest book is also a New York Times bestseller: Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better (Amazon, Bookshop)*. It seems like we should be the most focused, creative, and innovative when we are the freest to do whatever we want. Turns out, it's pretty much the exact opposite. In this conversation, David and I discuss why constraints make all the difference. Key Points Myth: we are most creative and innovative when we are most free. In fact, it's the opposite. Given complete freedom, we tend to follow the path of least resistance. The Einstellung effect: employing only familiar methods even if better ones are available. General Magic (the most important technology company that nobody's ever heard of) had virtually no constraints and ultimately produced nothing. Write down hypotheses and make commitments visible before you begin. Give people agency in creating constraints. If your organization or team was being handed off to someone else tomorrow, what's the first thing the new leader would change? Consider making that change now. To avoid over-indexing on constraints, ask this question: “Could I still surprise myself?” Resources Mentioned Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better by David Epstein (Amazon, Bookshop)* Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, with Mark Barden (episode 207) Help Your Brain Learn, with Lisa Feldman Barrett (episode 513) Get People Reading What You're Sending, with Todd Rogers (episode 666) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Science writer David Epstein on why freedom can be the enemy of success and how we can all benefit from less choice, not more.We live today with vastly more freedom of choice than our ancestors.But there's also plenty of research telling us all this choice is making us more anxious, overwhelmed and less creative.In his book, Inside the Box, David makes the case for how constraints can unlock creativity and satisfaction.And why after writing this book he now believes that narrowing your options can truly set you free.Further InformationInside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better is published by MacmillanYou can learn more about David Epstein hereThis episode was produced by Jen Leake and the Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores creativity, innovation, creative burnout, relationships, technology, art, music, rules, deadlines, science, General Magic, Apple, Iphone, sport, choice, anxiety, creative thinking, rules.

There is a feeling many people in midlife carry that does not have a name, a clear cause, or anyone to blame. It shows up when you have been the dependable one long enough that dependable starts to feel like a cage. Or when you have handled everything capably and walked away feeling hollowed rather than proud. Or when you have given more than you have received for so long that the imbalance stopped feeling like generosity and started feeling like the terms of your life.In this solo episode, Jonathan Fields examines what he calls diffuse resentment, a specific, accumulated form of feeling that is distinct from the anger or grievance most people recognize as resentment. It does not have an address. It does not require a villain. And because it feels illegitimate, because the voice in your head says you made these choices, you have so much to be grateful for, it tends to go unexamined, parked, managed, and silently expensive.In this solo episode, Jonathan draws on his own experience, research from psychologists Jennifer Lerner, Laura Carstensen, James Pennebaker, and Nick Epley, and thousands of conversations over 14 years of doing this work, to offer a way of looking at this feeling directly.In this episode, you will explore:The five territories where diffuse resentment most reliably lives, the calcified role, the invisible labor ledger, the deferred self, relational drift, and the unlived pathWhy midlife is specifically when this feeling tends to become unavoidable, and why it often intensifies precisely when things are going wellWhat the research on emotional suppression actually shows about the cost of carrying unexamined feelingsTwo movements (not steps) for beginning to look at this honestly, and why the first must come before the second is possibleWhat becomes available on the other side: accuracy, energy, and a different quality of closeness in the relationships that matter mostIf you have been explaining away a feeling you cannot quite name, this episode is for you.Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sitting down with David Epstein to talk about something that runs against just about everything the self-help world has told you about freedom and options: why the constraints, limits, and boundaries you have been trying to escape are often the very conditions that make creativity, focus, and satisfaction actually possible. It is a genuinely counterintuitive conversation, and it is the kind that stays with you. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss it.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Phoenix Cast, host John mentally travels back to the Marine Corps Communication Electronics School in 29 Palms, the place where the cast was basically born, to talk with Col Arun Shankar, MCCES's commanding officer, and LtCol Steve Morello, who leads Communication Training Battalion. The conversation digs into how the comm community is shifting from being “just plumbers” to owning information management, why how you employ a C2 system now matters as much as the system itself, and the cybersecurity training gaps the schoolhouse is racing to close. John presses them on managing risk, virtualizing hands-on training, and how they're using AI to compress a three-year curriculum cycle down to days. If you claim comm or cyber, lead Marines, or just want to hear how the schoolhouse is modernizing to keep pace with Ukraine-era threats, this homecoming episode is worth the listen.We'd love to hear your thoughts! Tweet us @ThePhoenixCast, and don't forget to join our LinkedIn Group to connect with fellow Phoenix Casters. If you enjoyed the episode, help us out by leaving one of those coveted 5-star reviews on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!Links:- Murello bio (MCCES): https://www.mcces.marines.mil/Leaders/Biography/Article/3929785/lieutenant-colonel-steven-murello/- Shankar bio (MCCES): https://www.mcces.marines.mil/Leaders/Biography/Article/3929593/colonel-arun-shankar/- Shankar Hoover Q&A (Nov 2022): https://www.hoover.org/news/qa-lieutenant-colonel-arun-shankar-us-marine-corps-national-security-affairs-fellow- "Assured C2: Pivoting the 06xx Community," MCG Nov 2022: https://mca-marines.org/blog/gazette/assured-c2/- "Offensive Cyberspace Operations," MCG Feb 2023: https://www.mca-marines.org/wp-content/uploads/Offensive-Cyberspace-Operations-Shankar.pdf- USNI News, "Virtual Tech in Marine Comms School Saves Time, Money" (Feb 2026): https://news.usni.org/2026/02/23/virtual-tech-in-marine-comms-school-saves-time-moneyBook RecommendationsCol Shankar: Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman; Range by David Epstein.LtCol Murello: Mindset by Carol Dweck; White Sun War by Mick Ryan; 10 to 25 by David Yeager.

Maximizers are miserable, satisficers are happy. Inside the Box author David Epstein explains why limits beat limitless options for creativity and sanity.Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1345What We Discuss with David Epstein:The periodic table wasn't a dream — it was a deadline. Mendeleev cramming elements into a textbook beats the genius-wakes-up-inspired myth. Hand your brain total freedom and it bolts for the familiar; the right constraints are what actually force original thinking.Why infinite options quietly make us miserable. Endless scroll breeds boredom, and the "maximizers" hunting the perfect pick end up less happy than the "satisficers" who grab something good enough and move on. The dizziness of freedom is real, and your brain isn't built for it.What Pixar's "beautifully shaded penny" reveals about wasted effort. Teams polish details nobody notices while real priorities stall. The fix: make every commitment visible, run a subtraction audit, and live by the rule "stop starting, start finishing."Why writing down your prediction first feels so uncomfortable. It quietly removes your license to fool yourself later. When the NIH forced scientists to pre-register their hypotheses, a parade of "miracle" supplement results suddenly went negative.How to build your own "bad piano." Keith Jarrett turned a broken instrument into the best-selling solo jazz album ever by dodging its dead keys. Block your default move, force a fresh one, and set a decision rule so good-enough finally beats endless agonizing.And much more...And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: BetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanBoll & Branch: 15% off first set of sheets: bollandbranch.com, code JORDANMarathon Rewards: Sign up today: marathonrewards.comAT&T: Get an iPhone 17 Pro for $0: att.com/iphone or visit an AT&T store for detailsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New York Times bestselling author David Epstein talks about why Malcolm Gladwell's 10000-hour rule isn't accurate, how he and Malcolm became friends, how creativity actually works (what you can learn from Dr. Seuss), and why constraints and limits set you free.

The easier life gets, the less prepared we may be for what's hard. In today's episode, Ryan talks with David Epstein about “desirable difficulties,” the challenges that make learning slower and more frustrating in the moment but lead to greater growth over time. David Epstein is the author of the #1 New York Times best seller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. His new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, is out now!

Creativity knows no bounds but it's best captured within set limits. Author and journalist David Epstein joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why too many choices make it hard to start a project, how to avoid leaning on the status quo when we don't know where to start, and how we can unlock our unlimited potential. His book is “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Have you ever scrolled Netflix for 25 minutes, finally picked something—and then couldn't enjoy it because you kept wondering if there was something better? Or told yourself that if you just had more time, more space, or more freedom, you'd finally write the book, start the business, or get serious about the creative work you keep putting off? We've been sold the idea that more options and more freedom make us happier and more creative. But what if the opposite is true—what if all that freedom is actually making you stay stuck? My guest is David Epstein, a New York Times bestselling author whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times. His new book, Inside the Box, makes the case that the limits we resent might be the very thing standing between us and our best work. Some of the things we discuss are: Why "think outside the box" is actually terrible advice—and what your brain does instead when you hand it a blank page. The reason too much freedom raises your anxiety. The jazz pianist who turned a near-disaster into the best-selling solo piano album of all time. The "satisficing" rule a Nobel Prize winner used to free up his mind—and why he owned only three sets of clothes. Why "maximizers" who hunt for the best option end up less satisfied, more regretful, and unhappier with their lives. David's simple three-letter framework (BCS) for putting useful constraints into your work and your day. The almost embarrassingly simple trick David uses to become a morning person and never skip a workout. The Therapist's Take: my three favorite strategies for using constraints to think more creatively, make faster decisions, and grow mentally stronger. Related Episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 126 — Overcome Choice Overload to Make Smarter, Faster Decisions without Regret ⁠316 — How Talking to a Duck Will Solve Any Problem Fast (And Why Thinking Harder Fire Backfires) Links & Resources Inside the Box Connect with the Show Buy a copy of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Amy on Instagram —⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AmyMorinAuthor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit my website —⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmyMorinLCSW.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Helix Sleep —Go to helixsleep.com/STRONGER to get 20% off sitewide   AirDoctor — Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! One Skin — Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠oneskin.co/STRONGER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code stronger to get up to 30% off your first 3 subscription orders Quince — Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/stronger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Flamingo — Get a $7 starter set at ⁠⁠⁠ShopFlamingo.com/STRONGER⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentally Stronger Premium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leave an Amazon Rating or Review for my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy! Check out the full episode: https://greatness.lnk.to/1932DM Keith Jarrett showed up to a sold-out concert in Germany and hated the piano. Wrong instrument. Out of tune. Fewer keys than he needed. He tried to walk. The promoter begged him to stay. So he played anyway. Only certain keys were usable. The sound wasn't loud enough for the room. He started banging his foot against the pedal just to make percussive noise. It became the bestselling solo jazz piano album of all time. David Epstein breaks down why the things we think are holding us back are often what force us into something no one has done before. Research backs it up: we overestimate what more freedom will give us. Irreversible decisions actually make people happier. More options don't increase enjoyment. The imperfect piano made the masterpiece. Sign up for the Greatness newsletter: http://www.greatness.com/newsletter Topics creativity under constraints, David Epstein, Inside the Box, Keith Jarrett Cologne Concert, freedom vs creativity, constraint-driven innovation, mindset shift, overcoming limitations, creative breakthroughs, productivity psychology Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this Money Talks: Elizabeth Spiers is joined by David Epstein, author of Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, who explains his research into how limitations often lead to breakthroughs.Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Slate Money show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/moneyplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli and Cheyna Roth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Too many options isn't freedom. It's paralysis dressed up as possibility. David Epstein, investigative journalist and author of the bestseller Range, is back with a counterintuitive idea: the constraints you've been avoiding might be the exact thing that unlocks your best work. His new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, makes the case that boundaries don't limit you. They focus you. You'll hear how a company in the early nineties assembled arguably the greatest collection of tech talent ever, had unlimited resources, and still collapsed under the weight of its own options. Meanwhile, two people who left that company with small, focused projects built eBay and the Palm Pilot. The lesson isn't about talent. It's about the bounding box. David introduces his BCS Press Release framework: batch your work so you're not toggling all day, make your commitments visible so you can actually subtract the right ones, use satisficing rules to make decisions without drowning in choices, and write the press release before you start anything, so you know what matters before you're too deep in to see clearly. This conversation also gets personal. David talks about the childhood arm injury that ended his baseball career and pushed him toward running and memory techniques he still uses today. He opens up about forgiveness, about the grudges that are hard to shake, and about the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest study of human happiness ever conducted, which concluded that happiness is love. Real relationships. Mutual obligation. The stuff you keep forgetting to schedule. David's socials: Website Instagram X David's books: Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance In this episode you will: Discover why having too many options can kill your creativity and how the psychology of the path of least resistance explains it Learn the BCS Press Release framework for batching work, making commitments visible, and using satisficing rules to stay focused Understand the difference between kind and wicked learning environments and why the 10,000-hour rule only applies to one of them Explore what MIT, Northwestern, and Census Bureau research reveals about the average age of fast-growing startup founders and why late bloomers have an edge Apply the subtractive neglect bias and the subtraction game to cut commitments and create more clarity in your work and relationships For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1932 For more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960 Follow The Daily Motivation for essential highlights from The School of Greatness More SOG episodes we think you'll love: Lewis Howes Solo [5-Step Mental Reprogramming Process] Emma Grede Kevin Love TOPICS David Epstein, Inside the Box, Range, constraints and creativity, BCS Press Release framework, kind vs. wicked learning environments, 10000-hour rule, Harvard Study of Adult Development, satisficing rules, subtractive neglect bias Get more from Lewis! Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on SpotifyText Lewis AIYouTubeInstagramWebsiteTiktokFacebookX Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sean talks with writer David Epstein about why unlimited freedom and endless choice often make us less creative, less focused, and less fulfilled. They discuss the hidden power of constraints, the psychology of attention, why humans struggle with too many options, and how useful limits can help us do better work and live more meaningful lives. Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling) Guest: David Epstein (@DavidEpstein) We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at thegrayarea@vox.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show. And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. New episodes drop every Monday and Friday. Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back in 2019, David Epstein joined me to talk about his book Range and why generalists often thrive in a specialized world. Now he's back with a new book that explores a seemingly opposite idea: the power of constraints. In Inside the Box, David argues that limits — deadlines, boundaries, and even setbacks — are often the very things that spark creativity, sharpen focus, and help us actually get meaningful work done.Today on the show, David shares how, in a world of endless freedom and options, constraints might actually be the thing you need most. He shares the surprising true story behind the creation of the periodic table, explains how a broken arm changed the course of his own life, and explores why giving people too much leeway can actually kill innovation. We discuss what Pixar did right that doomed companies like General Magic got wrong, why brainstorming sessions are usually ineffective, how to identify the bottlenecks holding back your work and life, and why learning to settle for “good enough” may be the key to getting more great things done.Resources Related to the PodcastDavid's previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #512 — Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized WorldPixar's Tin ToyAoM Article: Curing Your Restlessness — Limiting Your ChoicesThe Goal by Eliyahu M. GoldrattDavid's This American Life Episode: “Something Only I Can See”AoM Article: Via Negativa — Adding to Your Life By SubtractingConnect With David EpsteinDavid's websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.