The Art of Manliness

The Art of Manliness
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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. 3D AGO

    Inside With the Old Breed — A Conversation With Eugene Sledge’s Son

    With the Old Breed is widely considered one of the greatest war memoirs ever written. Penned by Eugene Sledge, a Marine who fought with the 1st Division — the old breed — in the Pacific campaigns of Peleliu and Okinawa, the book is unflinching, deeply human, and so vividly written that you can practically feel the heat, mud, exhaustion, and terror coming off the page. But Sledge wasn't a professional writer. He was a biology professor who started jotting notes on scraps of paper tucked inside the New Testament he carried in his breast pocket. He wrote the book decades later, partly to process his own trauma, partly to leave a record for his sons. One of those sons is my guest today. Henry Sledge has spent years carrying his father's legacy forward, and he's written his own book — The Old Breed: The Complete Story Revealed — that pairs his father's combat experience with previously unpublished material and his own perspective as Eugene's son. Today on the show, Henry and I talk about why his dad wrote With the Old Breed, what made fighting in the Pacific uniquely hellish, and how Eugene managed to come home and live a full, honorable life despite carrying the war with him for the rest of his days. Resources Related to the Podcast China Marine: An Infantryman's Life After World War II by E.B. SledgeHBO series The PacificKen Burns' The WarAoM Article: Eugene B. Sledge Puts Your Problems Into PerspectiveAoM Article: Are You Missing the Forbidden City?Connect With Henry Sledge Henry on IGHenry on FB Thanks to This Week's Sponsor! 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 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    59 min

  2. MAY 12

    How Constraints Help You Focus, Create, and Finish

    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 website See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    45 min

  3. MAY 5

    Why Screen Time Leaves You Exhausted — And How to Reverse Its Effects

    You hear a lot today about how our ample screentime is affecting our mental health. But how is it affecting our bodies, and how is that impact on our bodies affecting, well, our mental health? My guest today will unpack the ways that digital technology is sapping our vitality, and offer a simple protocol to get it back. Her name is Manoush Zomorodi, and she's the host of the TED Radio Hour and the author of Body Electric. In our conversation, Manoush explains why a day spent sitting in front of screens can leave you exhausted, even though you haven't really done anything, and how small bouts of movement throughout the day can counteract that drain and keep you feeling energized and focused. She shares how much activity you need to offset periods of being sedentary, and how to realistically incorporate these movement breaks into your routine. We also get into the specific effects digital technology is having on our eyes and ears — and what you can do to prevent the damage. Resources Related to the Podcast Manoush's previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #342 — Why Boredom is Good for You"I Sing the Body Electric" by Walt WhitmanKeith Diaz's studiesAoM Article: The Importance of Building Your Daily Sleep PressureConnect With Manoush Zomorodi Manoush's websiteManoush on IG  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    51 min

  4. APR 28

    A Map for Finding Direction and Purpose in Life (Again and Again)

    While we often think of life as linear, my guest’s own life, along with a decade of research, has taught him that it’s anything but. In his latest book, What to Make of a Life, Jim Collins unpacks the cyclical pattern life actually unfolds in, and how to navigate it. He explains how we all go through periods of “fog” — times of disorientation and uncertainty — at least three times: in youth, after a life-changing “cliff” event, and as we move through midlife into older age. We find our way out of these fogs by what Jim calls coming into “frame” — aligning what you're built to do with what you actually do in a way that feels enlivening and meaningful. And Jim unpacks the three elements that help you find, and re-find, this frame over the course of your life. Along the way, Jim shares case studies of these principles at work, and we explore the role of luck, the inevitability of drudgery (even in work you love), and how to keep your inner fire lit over the long haul. Resources Related to the Podcast Good to Great by Jim CollinsAll Rise: The Remarkable Journey of Alan Page by Bill McGraneSelf-Renewal: The Individual and the Innovative Society by John W. GardnerSunday Firesides: You Never Know How Many Chapters Are Still to ComeSunday Firesides: Do the Right Thing, for Right NowAoM Article: The 5 Best AoM Podcast Episodes on Finding Meaning and PurposeAoM series on finding your life's vocationConnect With Jim Collins Jim's website See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    58 min

  5. APR 21

    Become an Automatic Millionaire

    Building substantial personal wealth can feel difficult and out of reach. But my guest says that even those with modest means can, with a few simple decisions and strategies, become millionaires, and even multi-millionaires. David Bach is the author of the bestselling, newly updated personal finance classic, The Automatic Millionaire. Today on the show, we talk about the money management framework that will put you on the path to a free, secure, rich retirement. David explains his controversial "Latte Factor" principle, the astonishing power of compounding interest, how setting your finances on autopilot may be the most important financial move you can make, why he still believes in buying a home as an incomparable way to build wealth, the best way to pay down your debt, and more. Resources Related to the Podcast investor.gov compound interest calculatorAoM Article: What Every Young Man Should Know About the Power of Compound InterestAoM Article: Know-Nothing Investing — Index Funds For BeginnersAoM Article: Build Your Wealth — Graduate from a Paycheck Mentality to a Net Worth MentalityAoM Article: A Young Man’s Guide to Understanding Retirement Accounts — IRAsConnect With David Bach David's websiteDavid on IGDavid on FBDavid on XDavid on YouTubeDavid on LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    52 min

  6. APR 14

    Truths Your Therapist Won't Tell You About How to Get Your Mind Right

    When people visit a therapist's office for help with their depression, they often don't find the relief they're seeking. That's because much of the counsel that is traditionally given doesn't offer the context people need to make sense of and preserve their mental well-being. Here to share these missing pieces of perspective and strategy is Dr. Scott Eilers, a clinical psychologist and the author of The Light Between the Leaves: 6 Truths Your Therapist Won't Tell You About Healing Depression and Trauma. Today on the show, Scott shares why the world of psychology doesn't always offer the most useful explanations for why people can sometimes feel alienated from their own lives. We then talk about insights Scott has gleaned from science, nature, and lived experience as to the mindset shifts and habits that can help you stay sharp, steady, and engaged in life — whether you're struggling with chronic depression, or just adrift in a low-grade funk. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM series on depressionAoM Podcast #741: The Exercise Prescription for Depression and AnxietyAoM article and podcast on Rick Hanson's method of "hardwiring happiness"Connect With Scott Eilers Scott's websiteScott's YouTube channelScott on IGScott on FB  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    56 min

  7. APR 7

    You’ve Been Pooping Wrong — Here’s How to Do It Better

    Pooping. Everybody does it, but a lot of people are embarrassed to talk about it. That's a shame, my guest says, not only because your digestive health is incredibly linked to your overall health, but simply for the fact that there is much happiness to be found in an easy, worry-free constitutional. Harvard gastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha is the author of You've Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy. Today on the show, Trisha and I have a fun and frank conversation about the art and science of bowel movements, including the color of healthy stools, how often you should be pooping, if laxatives are safe to use, the food to eat that's even better than prunes for getting things going, why you feel the urge to go poop at Barnes and Noble, the wonders of the bidet, the danger of using your smartphone on the toilet, how to get more comfortable pooping in a public restroom, and more. Resources Related to the Podcast AoM Article: The Top 10 Toilet BooksAoM Article: Be a “Regular” Guy — Tips for Improving Your Daily ConstitutionalThe Squatty Potty"Mariko Aoki phenomenon" — where individuals feel an urgent need to use the bathroom when entering a bookstoreAoM Article: You Need to Eat More FiberConnect With Trisha Pasricha Trisha's websiteTrisha on IG See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    50 min

  8. MAR 31

    The Mystery of Courage

    Courage is one of our most prized and celebrated virtues. But once you really start exploring it, the nature of courage is surprisingly hard to pin down. Here to help us explore the fascinating complications of courage is William Ian Miller, a historian, professor of law, and the author of The Mystery of Courage. Today on the show, Bill explains how centuries of philosophers, soldiers, and storytellers have approached courage and the hard-to-answer questions its manifestations raise. We discuss why courage has long been ranked among the highest virtues, the relationship between fear and courage, the fuzzy line between courage and cowardice, the association of courage and manhood, whether or not courage is domain specific, the difference between offensive and defensive courage, whether martyrs are courageous, whether deeds with evil ends are courageous, how fear, shame, and honor shape brave action, and more. Resources Related to the Podcast The Road to Richmond: The Civil War Memoirs of Maj. Abner R. SmallIf I Die in a Combat Zone: Box Me Up and Ship Me Home by Tim O'BrienGood-Bye to All That by Robert GravesThe Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. GrantAoM Article: Developing Manly CourageAoM Article: 9 Ways to Become More CourageousAoM Article: Courage Vs. Boldness — How to Live With Spartan BraveryAoM Podcast #380: How to Increase Your Courage and BraveryAoM Article: The 54 Best Quotes on CourageAoM Article: The Cardinal Virtues — CourageAoM Podcast #763: The Perils and Powers of CowardiceAoM series on honorConnect With William Ian Miller Bill's faculty page Thanks to This Week’s Podcast Sponsor Incogni. 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 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    57 min
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out of 5
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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.

Information

  • 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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