First Principles

Adrian Wells
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business
  • Updated Daily

First Principles isn't another business podcast recycling the same startup stories. Adrian Wells takes the fundamentals that actually matter and breaks them down like you're having coffee with the smartest professor you ever had. Wells spent twelve years teaching philosophy and critical thinking before ditching the lecture hall for the microphone. Turns out, the same principles that help you think clearly about ancient Greek ethics also work pretty well for modern business decisions. Who knew? Every episode strips away the latest trends and buzzwords to focus on the core ideas that don't change. How to actually evaluate evidence when everyone's throwing around statistics. Why most "revolutionary" business advice is just old wine in new bottles. The thinking patterns that separate smart decisions from lucky guesses. You won't get hyped-up success stories or flavor-of-the-month strategies. Instead, you'll learn how to think through problems the way philosophers have for centuries, applied to the stuff that matters in your work and life right now. Multiple new episodes drop daily, so there's always something fresh when you need it. Follow now if you're ready to think better, not just think faster. Multiple new episodes daily—follow now!

  1. 19h ago

    Thierry Henry: Why I Cried Before Every Game & The Depression That Almost Ended Me

    What if crying before every game was actually the sign of greatness, not weakness? Thierry Henry scored 228 goals for Arsenal and won the 1998 World Cup, but behind the glory, he was battling depression so severe he'd lock himself in hotel rooms and cry. Adrian Wells breaks down how elite performance and mental health create a paradox most people never see. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why 35% of elite athletes struggle with depression (double the general population rate) • How Henry's 1998 World Cup triumph at age 20 became a psychological burden that lasted decades • The specific triggers that made him cry in private during his most successful moments • Why our culture celebrates the achievement but ignores the human cost 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners who want to understand the real price of excellence and anyone who's ever wondered what success actually feels like from the inside. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces Henry's hidden struggle [01:45] The crying ritual: what happened before every match [03:30] France '98: when winning felt like losing [05:15] The spotlight trap: fame at 20 and its consequences [07:00] Depression in elite sports: the data nobody talks about [09:30] What Henry's story teaches us about mental health [11:15] Key insights you can apply to your own challenges Henry's story isn't just about football. It's about what happens when external success doesn't match internal reality. About the gap between what we achieve and how we actually feel about it. This episode shows how even our heroes are more fragile than we think, and why that's actually the most human thing about them. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: Thierry Henry, mental health, elite athletes, depression, sports psychology Find all episodes at First Principles -------------- Keywords: evidence evaluation, decision making, philosophy business, success psychology, thinking skills, personal development, motivation psychology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 min

  2. 1d ago

    Yuval Harari: The War Pattern Big Tech Hopes You Never See

    What if the technology you use every day is rewiring society for conflict? Historian Yuval Noah Harari reveals the disturbing pattern hiding in plain sight, and Adrian Wells breaks down why this matters for how we think about our future. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why false news spreads 6x faster than truth on social media (and what this means for society) • The historical pattern that connects rapid tech change to social upheaval • How your brain's ancient trust mechanisms are being hijacked by algorithms designed for engagement • The specific warning signs Harari sees that mirror pre-conflict periods in history 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone passionate about personal growth who wants to understand the forces shaping our world beyond the headlines. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces Harari's urgent warning about tech and conflict [02:15] The 30-year shift: from human-speed to algorithm-speed information [04:45] Why your brain trusts the wrong sources in the digital age [07:30] The historical pattern: tech disruption leads to social fractures [09:00] False news vs. truth: the 6x speed difference that's changing everything [11:15] What we can learn from past conflicts to navigate what's coming This isn't doom and gloom. It's pattern recognition. Harari spent decades studying how societies break down and rebuild. The signs he's pointing to aren't speculation, they're historical precedent playing out in real time. The question isn't whether technology will continue reshaping society. It's whether we'll recognize the patterns early enough to think our way through them clearly. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: Yuval Harari, social media psychology, historical patterns, critical thinking, technology impact Find all episodes at First Principles ------------- Keywords: mental health celebrities, success psychology, business fundamentals, career advice, critical thinking podcast, first principles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  3. 1d ago

    Your Phone Is Rewiring Your Brain (The Science Will Shock You)

    Right now, you're reading this on a device that's literally reshaping your brain. And if you've been sitting while scrolling, you've just reduced blood flow to your prefrontal cortex by up to 20%. Adrian Wells breaks down the neuroscience that'll make you rethink everything about your daily habits. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why heavy smartphone users show measurable gray matter loss in attention and emotional regulation centers • How sitting for 6+ hours daily cuts memory performance and why "exercise later" doesn't fix it • The 3-minute task-switching trap that's destroying your focus (and the 23-minute recovery cost) • Why walking breaks every 30 minutes boost creativity by 23% compared to desk-bound thinking 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone passionate about personal growth who wants to understand what their daily habits are actually doing to their brain. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the brain-phone connection [01:30] Gray matter shrinkage: what smartphone addiction looks like in brain scans [04:00] The sitting epidemic: how chairs became cognitive killers [07:00] Task-switching costs: why multitasking makes you measurably dumber [10:00] Simple fixes that actually work (backed by neuroscience) [12:00] Your action plan for protecting your brain This isn't about going off-grid or buying a standing desk. It's about understanding what's happening in your skull so you can make smarter choices. The research is pretty shocking, but the solutions are surprisingly simple. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: smartphone brain effects, sedentary lifestyle health, focus and attention, neuroplasticity, digital wellness Find all episodes at First Principles --- Keywords: anxiety management, performance optimization, personal development, wealth mindset, productivity science, social media addiction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    16 min

  4. 2d ago

    Your Single Friends Are Sabotaging Your Love Life (The Science Will Shock You)

    Why are your single friends secretly keeping you single? Adrian Wells breaks down shocking research showing how your social circle controls way more of your life than you realize. Turns out, behaviors like relationship status, weight gain, and even happiness spread through friend groups like a virus. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why obesity spreads through social networks with mathematical precision (Harvard researcher Nicholas Christakis mapped it) • The 75% statistic that explains why single friend groups stay single longer • How happiness travels up to three degrees of separation, meaning your friend's friend's friend impacts your mood • The smoking study that proves you're 5x more likely to quit if someone in your network does first 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone passionate about personal growth who wants to understand the invisible forces shaping their biggest life decisions. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces social contagion science [02:00] The obesity study that changed everything [04:30] Why single friends unconsciously sabotage relationships [06:45] The three-degree rule of happiness spread [08:30] Breaking free from negative social influence [10:15] Key takeaways you can use today This isn't about judging your friends. It's about recognizing patterns that run deeper than personal choice. Once you see how social contagion works, you can design your environment to support the life you actually want instead of defaulting to whatever your network unconsciously pulls you toward. The research is wild, the implications are huge, and the applications are immediate. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: social influence, relationship psychology, behavioral science, social networks, personal development Find all episodes at First Principles ------------- Keywords: personal development, success psychology, social media addiction, business fundamentals, thinking skills Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  5. 2d ago

    Exercise Doesn't Make You Lose Weight: Doctor Jason Fung Reveals What Actually Does

    Ninety percent of people who exercise to lose weight end up frustrated. In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with Dr. Jason Fung to uncover why your daily gym sessions aren't dropping the pounds and what actually works instead. Turns out, we've been sold a pretty big lie about calories in versus calories out. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why people overestimate exercise calories by 300-400% (and what that means for your results) • How your body secretly sabotages weight loss when you start working out more • The hormonal changes that make you hungrier after exercise, not lighter • Why professional athletes often have similar body fat to couch potatoes 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who's ever wondered why the treadmill isn't delivering the results they promised. Dr. Fung breaks down the real science behind weight loss, including how your NEAT (the calories you burn just existing) can drop by 20% when you start exercising. Your body is smarter than you think, and it's playing defense against your weight loss goals. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the exercise paradox [01:30] The calorie counting myth most people believe [04:00] Why your body fights back when you exercise more [07:00] Hormonal changes that increase appetite after workouts [10:00] What actually drives sustainable weight loss [12:00] Simple strategies you can start using today This isn't about giving up exercise. It's about understanding what exercise actually does versus what we've been told it does. Big difference. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: weight loss, exercise science, metabolism, Dr. Jason Fung, calorie counting myths Find all episodes at First Principles --------- Keywords: depression stories, cognitive biases, critical thinking podcast, behavioral economics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min

  6. 3d ago

    Harvard Doctor Reveals: This Common Food is Quietly Rewiring ADHD Kids' Brains

    What if that morning meltdown isn't just your kid being difficult, but their gut bacteria sending distress signals to their brain? Adrian Wells sits down with Harvard research that's flipping everything we thought we knew about ADHD, autism, and the food on your dinner table. This isn't another "eat your vegetables" lecture. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why kids with ADHD have completely different gut bacteria patterns than other children • The shocking 70% stat about autism and digestive issues that doctors rarely mention • Which common food additives are literally rewiring developing brains (and how to spot them) • How your gut produces 90% of your mood-regulating serotonin 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone passionate about personal growth, especially parents wondering if there's more to their child's behavior than meets the eye. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the gut-brain revolution [01:45] Harvard's ADHD gut bacteria discovery [03:30] The autism-digestive connection nobody talks about [05:15] Food additives: the hidden brain disruptors [07:00] Serotonin's surprising birthplace [09:30] Practical steps you can take today [11:00] Key takeaways for better brain health This episode cuts through the wellness noise to show you actual research. No miracle cures, no expensive supplements. Just the science behind why changing what's on your plate might change what's in your head. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: ADHD diet, autism gut health, Harvard research, brain food, neurodevelopment Find all episodes at First Principles -------------- Keywords: behavioral economics, business fundamentals, personal development, cognitive biases, business strategy, mental health celebrities, success psychology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    19 min

  7. 3d ago

    Harvard Professor: They're Lying To You About Running, Breathing & Sitting!

    What if everything you know about running, breathing, and sitting is completely backwards? Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman just shattered some pretty fundamental assumptions about how our bodies actually work. Adrian Wells sits down with the professor who's been studying human evolution for decades, and the revelations are pretty wild. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why humans can literally outrun horses in marathons (and have actually done it) • The breathing pattern that separates weekend joggers from elite endurance athletes • Why your office chair is fighting millions of years of spine evolution • The barefoot vs. shoe running debate that changes everything about impact force 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who's ever wondered if we're doing basic human activities all wrong. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian introduces the myth-busting Harvard professor [02:15] Humans vs. horses: the marathon showdown you didn't know happened [04:30] The breathing secret hiding in plain sight [06:45] Why your spine hates your desk job (and what evolution says about it) [08:30] Barefoot running: natural genius or modern nonsense? [11:00] What this means for how you move through your day Lieberman's research cuts through decades of fitness industry noise with actual evolutionary science. Turns out, our bodies have been giving us hints about optimal performance for millennia. We just haven't been paying attention. This isn't another fitness fad or biohacking trend. It's about understanding what humans were literally built to do, backed by rigorous academic research from one of Harvard's most respected evolutionary biologists. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: evolutionary biology, running mechanics, breathing techniques, human performance, Harvard research Find all episodes at First Principles --------------- Keywords: personal development, philosophy business, mental health celebrities, wealth mindset, cognitive biases, anxiety management, productivity science, career advice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    21 min

  8. 4d ago

    Paul Brunson: The 70/30 Body Shape That Scientists Say Is Most Attractive

    What if everything you think you know about physical attraction is dead wrong? Research has uncovered something fascinating: there's a specific body measurement that consistently drives attraction across every culture studied. In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with relationship expert Paul Brunson to unpack the science behind the 0.7 waist-to-hip ratio and why it might be hardwired into our brains. But here's the kicker: the same behavioral patterns that predict divorce also reveal who's actually relationship material. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why the 70/30 body shape beats conventional beauty standards every time • The communication red flags that predict breakups with 94% accuracy • Why focusing only on looks actually sabotages your dating success • How matchmakers spot relationship potential in the first 30 days 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who wants to understand the real science behind attraction and lasting relationships. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the attraction formula nobody talks about [01:45] The waist-to-hip ratio that drives desire across all cultures [04:20] Why your brain is wired for specific proportions [06:50] The divorce prediction method that's scarily accurate [09:30] What professional matchmakers actually look for [11:15] Three takeaways you can use in your next relationship Paul Brunson doesn't just theorize about relationships. As a professional matchmaker who's studied thousands of couples, he breaks down what actually works versus what we think should work. The gap between the two? Pretty massive. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow First Principles on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: attraction science, relationship psychology, dating advice, body language, matchmaking Find all episodes at First Principles --------- Keywords: celebrity interviews, decision making, first principles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min
See All (244)

About

First Principles isn't another business podcast recycling the same startup stories. Adrian Wells takes the fundamentals that actually matter and breaks them down like you're having coffee with the smartest professor you ever had. Wells spent twelve years teaching philosophy and critical thinking before ditching the lecture hall for the microphone. Turns out, the same principles that help you think clearly about ancient Greek ethics also work pretty well for modern business decisions. Who knew? Every episode strips away the latest trends and buzzwords to focus on the core ideas that don't change. How to actually evaluate evidence when everyone's throwing around statistics. Why most "revolutionary" business advice is just old wine in new bottles. The thinking patterns that separate smart decisions from lucky guesses. You won't get hyped-up success stories or flavor-of-the-month strategies. Instead, you'll learn how to think through problems the way philosophers have for centuries, applied to the stuff that matters in your work and life right now. Multiple new episodes drop daily, so there's always something fresh when you need it. Follow now if you're ready to think better, not just think faster. Multiple new episodes daily—follow now!

Information

  • Creator
    Adrian Wells
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    244
  • Rating
    Clean

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