Hardiness with Dr Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor
  • 4.7 (37)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semiweekly

Host Dr Paul Taylor, a Psychophysiologist, Neuroscientist, Exercise Scientist, and Nutritionist interviews experts from around the world on cutting edge research and practices related to improving hardiness in your mind, body and brain to become your best self.

  1. 2d ago

    The Alcohol & Health Story Isn’t as Simple as You Think: Wisdom Wednesdays

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  2. 4d ago

    Four Stoic Steps to Reduce Your Struggle

    This week's Mojo Monday looks at four Stoic steps for cutting down unnecessary suffering, starting with Epictetus's dichotomy of control: sorting what's actually within your control from what isn't, redirecting your attention toward your own response, pivoting into useful action once you've accepted the facts, and taking the view from above for perspective. It also unpacks the difference between rumination and genuine processing, and includes a reflection on ego, injustice, and why choosing not to react can be its own kind of strength. Carly is a counsellor and coach who specialises in building psychological hardiness, which is the ability to navigate challenge, stay engaged, and take meaningful action under pressure. Her work integrates modern psychology with Eastern and Stoic approaches, helping people build resilience, live with purpose, and respond to life’s challenges with greater clarity, courage and steadiness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 6d ago

    The Children We Leave Behind with Dr. Geoff Masters AO

    The education system is sending kids the wrong message about learning, ability, and success - and it’s leaving far too many behind. Dr. Geoff Masters reveals why age-based schooling, narrow assessment, and one-size-fits-all teaching are failing students, and what a smarter redesign could look like. Geoff is the former head of the Australian Council for Educational Research, explains the hidden lessons schools teach children: that learning is for pleasing others, that the body is separate from the mind, that learning happens alone, and that progress is just a sequence of disconnected content chunks. He shows how those assumptions shape disengagement, frustration, and the belief that some kids are simply “good” or “bad” learners. You’ll discover: Why 40 to 50 percent of students are disengaged in the middle years Why the top 10 percent in a year level can be five to six years ahead of the bottom 10 percent Why that makes the current model nearly impossible for one teacher to meet. Geoff also breaks down how assessment should change from “how well did you learn what I just taught?” to “where are you up to now, and what comes next? “We also unpack what schools can borrow from Finland, Hong Kong, and Wales, including multi-year learning spans, progression steps, and greater teacher autonomy. Geoff and I explore why scripted lessons and rigid standardisation often backfire, how teacher expectations shape student outcomes, and why rebuilding self-efficacy starts with showing children the progress they are already making.   Key Takeaways 00:30 - From science teacher to educational research leader01:27 - How educational research shapes policy and school systems02:18 - Why The Children We Leave Behind was written04:39 - What the system teaches students about learning05:45 - Learning as cognitive only, and the body being left out06:52 - Learning as isolated and competitive rather than social07:52 - The problem with treating learning as disconnected content chunks09:45 - Why the early years handle learning better than the senior years10:52 - University, relevance, and preparation for the real world12:03 - What schools teach students about their ability as learners13:53 - Disengagement in the middle years and the loss of agency15:13 - Why age is a poor proxy for learning needs17:09 - Why the system needs redesign, not just small fixes19:23 - Moving from age-based grouping to individual learning pathways20:29 - Why assessment should measure progress, not just completion22:40 - Building self-efficacy by making progress visible23:30 - Teacher expectations and their impact on student outcomes25:16 - Why this is a whole-school and system-level challenge26:56 - How much autonomy schools actually have27:25 - Rethinking learning across year spans instead of single year levels29:37 - Examples from Finland and three-year schooling phases31:41 - Wales and progression steps instead of year-level lockstep32:46 - Why Finland’s teacher preparation and autonomy matter34:15 - The downside of scripted lessons and excessive prescription35:58 - Standardisation versus true evidence-based teaching37:19 - What parents can do to support engagement and growth38:44 - Whether learning styles are real and how schools should respond40:22 - If education were redesigned from scratch41:20 - Music, proficiency levels, and learning as a continuum42:46 - Organising mathematics around proficiency levels43:41 - Using growth data to guide teaching and communicate progress44:58 - Why teacher quality and pay need to rise together47:48 - What society values, and why education needs a new starting point   Resources Geoff’s book: The Children We Leave Behind LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-masters-a8526a88/ Institute for Educational Reform: https://educationalreform.org.au/who-we-are/   Support the Podcast If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Children We Leave Behind with Dr. Geoff Masters AO

  4. Aug 18

    Here's a surprisingly effective, easy-to-do longevity and mental health practice the won't cost a cent: Wisdom Wednesdays

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  5. Aug 16

    Emotions and Waves With Carly Taylor

    Carly is a counsellor and coach who specialises in building psychological hardiness, which is the ability to navigate challenge, stay engaged, and take meaningful action under pressure. Her work integrates modern psychology with Eastern and Stoic approaches, helping people build resilience, live with purpose, and respond to life’s challenges with greater clarity, courage and steadiness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Aug 14

    How to Play the Role Life Gives You - Stoic Wisdom for Chaos with William C Spears

    Stoicism is not soft self-help - it's the philosophy that helped prisoners survive torture, submariners survive confinement, and warriors keep their heads when everything else is falling apart. William C. Spears shows why this ancient mindset still matters on the ocean floor, on the battlefield, and in your everyday life. I chat with William C. Spears, an active-duty US Navy submarine officer and author of Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy, to explore why stoicism resonates so deeply in military life. From the brutal reality of hot bunking and months underwater to the moral pressure of captivity, William explains why the Stoics were right about freedom, duty, and character - even when you have zero control over the situation around you. You’ll discover: Why the submarine environment is the ultimate test of composure and team culture How Vice Admiral James Stockdale turned Epictetus into a survival framework in the Hanoi Hilton The Stoic meaning of honour, and why it matters when nobody is watching How the four cardinal virtues - wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice - work together in real life Why the dichotomy of control is more than a slogan when your options are limited by pressure, fear, or fate William also breaks down how to apply Stoicism outside the military, whether you're facing parenting stress, illness, grief, work pressure, or just trying to be the kind of person others can rely on. This conversation makes the case that virtue isn't abstract philosophy - it's practical training for being a better human under pressure. Time Stamps 07:18 The Influence of Stoicism in the Military 18:14 The Dichotomy of Control in Submarine Operations 27:51 The Essence of Stoic Virtue 29:58 Understanding Virtue in Stoicism 35:46 The Cardinal Virtues Explained 38:42 Applying Stoicism in Daily Life 43:53 Choosing the Hard Path 46:39 The Warrior Mindset Beyond the Battlefield 51:39 Playing Your Role in Society     Resources  William’s Book: Stoicism As A Warrior Philosophy Website: https://williamcspears.com/ X: htttps://X.com@WilliamCSpears Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/william.c.spears/ Substack: https://williamcspears.substack.com/   Support the Podcast If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    How to Play the Role Life Gives You - Stoic Wisdom for Chaos with William C Spears

  7. Aug 11

    Your water bottle is influencing your response to stress: Wisdom Wednesdays

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. Aug 9

    Choose Growth Over Discomfort With Carly Taylor

    Carly is a counsellor and coach who specialises in building psychological hardiness, which is the ability to navigate challenge, stay engaged, and take meaningful action under pressure. Her work integrates modern psychology with Eastern and Stoic approaches, helping people build resilience, live with purpose, and respond to life’s challenges with greater clarity, courage and steadiness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Host Dr Paul Taylor, a Psychophysiologist, Neuroscientist, Exercise Scientist, and Nutritionist interviews experts from around the world on cutting edge research and practices related to improving hardiness in your mind, body and brain to become your best self.

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