The Art of Manliness

The Art of Manliness
  • 4.7 (14K)
  • Philosophy
  • Updated Biweekly

The Art of Manliness Podcast aims to deepen and improve every area of a man's life, from fitness and philosophy, to relationships and productivity. Engaging and edifying interviews with some of the world's most interesting doers and thinkers drop the fluff and filler to glean guests' very best, potentially life-changing, insights.

  1. 6d ago

    The Secret Skills of Master Negotiators

    When most people think of negotiation, they picture big, high-stakes moments: haggling over the price of a house, negotiating a starting salary, or hammering out the terms of a business deal. But negotiation is also something we do every day. It’s working out who’s taking on which chores with your spouse, convincing a coworker to help on a project, or even deciding where to go for dinner with friends. The better you understand negotiation — which is really about influencing other people’s decisions — the better you’ll be at navigating conflicts and opportunities both big and small. My guest has spent decades studying the art and science of wielding that influence. John Richardson teaches negotiation at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and is the co-author of Never Settle. Today on the show, John shares what he learned from negotiation legends like Roger Fisher, co-author of Getting to Yes, and FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss. He unpacks the skills of master negotiators, including how to build reciprocity, uncover what people actually want, and keep your emotions from hijacking your judgment. We also get into the part of negotiation that makes people the most uncomfortable: the back-and-forth over hard numbers like price and salary and how to handle those conversations with greater confidence and better results. Resources Related to the PodcastAoM Podcast #234: Haggling and Deal Making Advice From a FBI Hostage Negotiator (With Chris Voss)AoM Podcast #559: How to Handle Difficult Conversations (With Sheila Heen)Influence: The Essential Guide to the Psychology of Influence and Persuasion in Everyday Life by Robert B. CialdiniAoM Article: How Labeling Your Emotions Can Help You Take ControlGetting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger FisherStart with NO…The Negotiating Tools that the Pros Don’t Want You to Know by Jim Camp Connect With John Richardson Never Settle websiteJohn’s faculty page 0:00 Everyday Negotiation & Meet John Richardson 2:18 John's Path Into Negotiation 9:50 Why People Fear Negotiation 12:34 Roger Fisher's Philosophy (Getting to Yes) 17:46 Chris Voss & Hostage Negotiation Tactics 22:54 Give Them a Sandwich (Reciprocity) 30:06 Using Someone's Name 33:59 Managing Your Emotions 39:00 Figuring Out What Everyone Wants 46:29 Distributive Negotiation & Anchoring 54:52 Alternatives, Saying No & Closing See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  2. Jul 14

    The Art of Easy Discipline

    Most people assume that if a goal is hard to achieve, getting there has to feel hard too. We tend to believe that extraordinary results require extraordinary suffering. But my guest says the secret to success isn't gritting your teeth; it's making the path enjoyable. His name is Jia Jiang, and in his new book, Easy Discipline, he argues that consistency comes from designing your work and your life so that doing the right thing becomes something you actually want to do. Today on the show, Jia explains the difference between hard and easy discipline, why "eating bitterness" isn't the best way to go after your ambitions, and how to make your work feel more like play without lowering your standards. Along the way, we discuss Soviet hockey, Japanese tea ceremonies, rejection therapy, one-action goals, and the power of pursuing aims that are an expression of who you are. Resources Related to the Podcast Jia's previous book: Rejection TherapyJia's 100 Days of Rejection Therapy videos, including asking for a "burger refill"AoM Article: Motivation Over DisciplineAoM Podcast #954: The Feel-Good Method of ProductivityConnect With Jia Jiang Jia on SubstackJia's websiteJia on LinkedIn 0:00 Introduction to the AOM Podcast 0:41 Introducing Jia Jiang and Easy Discipline 1:36 Welcome Jia Jiang / The Myth of Sisyphus 6:05 Hard Discipline vs. Easy Discipline 9:36 Eating Bitterness 10:44 Soviet Hockey: Tarasov vs. Tikhonov 16:02 The EASY Framework: Enjoyment 31:02 Artistry and Ichi-go Ichi-e 33:54 Systems and One Action Goals 41:22 Repetition with Variation 44:18 Why: Being True to Yourself 52:33 Where to Find Jia Jiang's Work See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  3. Jul 7

    Beyond Midlife Myths — Why Middle Age Can Be Your Prime Time

    Many of us grow up believing that midlife is when things start going downhill. Your body's breaking down, your best work is behind you, and you may fall into a full-blown existential crisis. But a lot of what we think we know about midlife turns out to be based more on pop culture than actual research. My guest says the reality is much more encouraging. Her name is Margie Lachman. She's a professor of psychology, the Director of the Lifespan Lab at Brandeis University, and the author of Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife. Today on the show, Margie discusses what age range constitutes midlife — and how it's not just a matter of chronological age — and whether people really become less happy and experience a midlife crisis during these years. She explains the surprising ways your mind continues to improve even as some abilities slow down, and why this stage of life often represents a peak combination of creativity and judgment. We also talk about the real challenges that come with midlife and how adopting the right mindset and habits can mitigate those downsides while helping you make the most of what Margie argues can truly be a sweet spot in life — a time when you still have much of your physical and mental vitality, and it's coupled with seasoned experience and wisdom. Resources Related to the Podcast Seasons of a Man’s Life by Daniel LevinsonAoM series on Levinson’s researchTransformations: Growth and Change in Adult Life by Roger GouldPassages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life by Gail SheehyAoM Podcast #598: Journeying From the First to the Second Half of Life With James HollisAoM Podcast #776: How to Shift Out of the Midlife MalaiseConnect With Margie Lachman Margie's websiteMargie's faculty page See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  4. Jun 30

    George Washington — The Man Behind the Monument

    George Washington is perhaps the most familiar figure in American history. But most people really only know the image of him they see in marble statues and patriotic paintings. Behind those symbols was a real man: ambitious, self-taught, intensely concerned with honor, and constantly wrestling with the immense responsibilities history placed on his shoulders. In celebration of America's 250th birthday, we're taking an extended look at the life of the man more responsible than anyone else for the nation's founding. Here to unpack that life for us is H.W. Brands, a historian and the author of a new biography of Washington, American Patriarch. Brands traces Washington's journey from a young Virginia surveyor to military commander, founding father, and first president. Along the way, we discuss how Washington's upbringing shaped his character, why he became a surprisingly effective military leader despite losing more battles than he won, how he held together a fragile revolutionary army, how he shaped the presidency through the precedents he set, and whether a leader like Washington could still succeed today. Resources Related to the Podcast H.W.'s previous appearances on the AoM podcast:Episode #696: Theodore Roosevelt, The Last RomanticEpisode #908: Would You Have Been a Patriot or a Loyalist?AoM Podcast #223: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and Valiant AmbitionAoM Podcast #366: Teach Yourself Like George WashingtonAoM Podcast #719: The Surprising Pessimism of America’s Founding FathersAoM Article: George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and ConversationConnect With H.W. Brands H.W. on SubstackH.W.’s faculty page  00:00 Introduction 01:53 About the book American Patriarch 03:03 Washington's childhood & Virginia gentry upbringing 06:54 Self-education, surveying, and early ambition 11:47 First military mission to the Ohio country 17:11 The French and Indian War & Washington's baptism under fire 24:44 Washington marries Martha Custis 33:57 Washington takes command of the Continental Army 40:17 Military strategy: how Washington won by not losing 46:41 Holding the army together at Valley Forge 55:57 Washington as first president & setting precedents 1:09:56 The Farewell Address & legacy 1:10:15 What Washington teaches us today See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  5. Jun 23

    The Retirement Trap — Should You Really Stop Working at 65?

    The modern idea of retirement was built on a bet that turned out to be wrong. It assumed people would spend most of their lives working and only a relatively short period of time retired. Instead, many Americans now reach 65 healthy, active, and with an entire third of their life ahead of them. Yet we're still using a retirement model designed for a world in which old age was shorter and fewer people expected decades of life after leaving the workforce. My guest says that outdated assumption creates some unfortunate unintended consequences. It causes people to stress excessively about money, postpone meaningful experiences with family and friends, and sometimes sacrifice the very things that make life worth living in the first place. He argues that by rethinking retirement — not necessarily eliminating it, but reimagining it — we can enjoy more of our lives now while actually feeling more secure about the future. His name is Derek Coburn, and he's a financial advisor and the author of Let's Retire Retirement. Today on the show, Derek explains why the traditional retirement model came about, why it may no longer make sense for many people, and how working even a few years past 65 can dramatically change the math of retirement planning. We also discuss the surprising psychological challenges many people face after they stop working, why purpose matters more than leisure, and how thinking differently about retirement can free you up to spend more time on what matters most right now — whether that's traveling, strengthening your marriage, or making the most of the limited summers you have left with your kids. Connect With Derek Coburn Derek's website (including his retirement calculator)Derek on IG 0:00 - Introduction 1:22 - The Outdated Origins of Retirement (Bismarck's 1889 Social Insurance Plan) 4:12 - Why the Traditional Retirement Model Creates Stress and Anxiety 6:13 - The "Arrival Fallacy" — Why Retirement Isn't What You Think It Will Be 8:42 - The Psychological Crisis of Stopping Work Cold Turkey 11:05 - The Math: How Working 10 More Years Cuts Your Savings Requirement by 96% 13:21 - Enjoying Life NOW Instead of Deferring It to Retirement 14:22 - Maximizing the Limited Summers You Have with Your Kids 19:48 - Sponsor Break 20:07 - What If You Hate Your Job? Find One You "Don't Hate" 22:37 - Side Hustles as an On-Ramp to Work You Love 24:09 - Physical Jobs and Mandatory Retirement — What Then?   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  6. Jun 16

    Belonging Without Conforming — The Path From Pseudo Self to Solid Self

    We all want two things that can seem at odds with each other: to be our own person and to belong. We want to stand apart from the crowd, but we also want to be connected to it. When that balance gets out of whack, we either lose ourselves in tribalism or drift into isolation. My guest today says many of the problems in modern life stem from our inability to hold these two impulses in tension. His name is Luke Burgis, and he’s the author of The One and the 99: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion. Today on the show, Luke explains how becoming a true individual can give you the strength to be a part of a community. We discuss the difference between a solid self and a pseudo self — and what role families and rites of passage can play in moving us toward one or the other — why modern politics feels like a dysfunctional family, the dangers of performative religion, and much more. Resources Related to the PodcastLuke’s previous appearances on the AoM podcast:Episode #714: Why Do We Want What We Want?Episode #910: Thick Desires, Political Atheism, and Living an Anti-Mimetic LifeThe True Believer by Eric HofferEducation of a Wandering Man by Louis L’AmourAoM Podcast #1,025: The Life and Legacy of Louis L’AmourAoM article with L’Amour’s weekly to-do listsAoM article and podcast about C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man and the idea of objective valueThe Courage to Be by Paul TillichThe Quest for Community by Robert NisbetAoM Podcast #847: Overdoing DemocracyAoM Podcast #1,010: How to Resist Group Anxiety and Become a Differentiated SelfAoM Article: Becoming a Well-Differentiated LeaderDying Breed article: A New Kind of Monasticism — The Power of Community to Shape the SoulThe Rule of St. Benedict Connect With Luke Burgis Luke’s website Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MANLINESS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/MANLINESS Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 0:54 Guest Intro: Luke Burgis & The One and the 99 4:48 The Parable of the Lost Sheep & the Book's Framework 10:17 Defining the Self (vs. Identity & Soul) 14:37 The Pseudo Self Explained 19:40 How to Develop a Solid Self 25:35 Louis L'Amour & Education for a Solid Self 28:18 Curiositas vs. Studiositas (Ordered vs. Disordered Knowledge) 44:30 Tribalism, Politics, & the Pseudo Self 45:08 How Undifferentiation Fuels Political Dysfunction 51:13 Religion, Performative Piety & the Digital World 54:15 What Monasteries Teach Us About Community & Solid Selves See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  7. Jun 9

    How to Try Again

    Life rarely unfolds according to plan. A relationship implodes. A move or job change doesn't work out. Or you simply fail in a goal you've set for yourself. My guest has spent almost two decades researching and field-testing how to get back on track when smaller slip-ups and larger upheavals knock you off course. His name is Steve Kamb, and he's the founder of Nerd Fitness and the author of How to Try Again: An Approachable Guide to Navigating Chaos and Making Change THAT STICKS. Today on the show, Steve shares practical principles for dealing with life's frustrating and demoralizing setbacks. We discuss why sometimes the best move is to pause rather than push harder, how to accept reality without resigning yourself to it, why treating change as an experiment can help you beat paralysis and take action, why you should treat consistency with your goals the way you do showering, and more. Resources Related to the Podcast Steve's previous appearances on the AoM podcast:Episode #42: Level Up Your Life With Nerd Fitness & Steve KambEpisode #170: Level Up Your LifeSteve's AoM guest posts:Don’t Be That Guy: The Taxonomy of Lousy Male FriendsHow Superheroes, Movies, and Video Games Taught Me to Conquer FearNerd FitnessMuseum of FailureSunday Firesides: Good Times Are Not Around the Corner (And That's Great News!)Sunday Firesides: Treat Life Like an Experiment"Lightning Fields" by the Killers Connect With Steve Kamb Steve's websiteSteve on IGSteve on LinkedInSteve on Substack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  8. Jun 2

    Built to Walk — How Modern Shoes and Weak Feet Are Holding You Back

    Walking is one of the most powerful health tools we have. It improves cardiovascular fitness, boosts mood, sharpens cognition, and can even be a predictor of how well you'll age. But all those benefits depend on something we rarely think about until it starts hurting: our feet. For many of us, walking is so automatic that we never consider the mechanics that make it possible. Yet the way we move, the shoes we wear, and the strength of the muscles in our feet can have a profound impact on how comfortably and efficiently we walk. When something goes wrong at our physical foundation, the effects can ripple upward, leading to pain not just in the feet, but in the knees, hips, and back. My guest today is Dr. Milica McDowell, a physical therapist and the co-author of the new book Walk. Today on the show, Milica explains why walking speed may be a hidden vital sign, what gives you your signature walking style, and how to spot and address injury-inducing inefficiencies in your gait. We then talk about feet: whether you should worry about pronation, how to rehab plantar fasciitis — and no, it's not stretching — the best kind of shoes to wear, and much more. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: Solvitur Ambulando — It Is Solved By WalkingAoM podcast episode with Manoush ZomorodiAoM Article: I Started Taking a Walk Every Morning. Here’s What Happened to My HealthAoM Article: 20 Rules for WalkingAoM podcast episode with Matt FitzgeraldAltra shoesVivobarefootLems shoes (this is the pair Brett wears)Tyr weightlifting shoeInjinji toe socksToe spacerStudy on calf raise standardsConnect With Milica McDowell Milica's websiteMilica on IG See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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About

The Art of Manliness Podcast aims to deepen and improve every area of a man's life, from fitness and philosophy, to relationships and productivity. Engaging and edifying interviews with some of the world's most interesting doers and thinkers drop the fluff and filler to glean guests' very best, potentially life-changing, insights.

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  • Creator
    The Art of Manliness
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Art of Manliness
  • Show Website
    The Art of Manliness

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