First Principles

Adrian Wells
  • 2.0 (4)
  • 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. 1h ago

    Why You're Sleeping Wrong (And The 6 Fixes That Actually Work)

    You think you know how to sleep? Think again. Matthew Walker, the world's leading sleep scientist, just dropped six evidence-based sleep hacks that could change everything about your energy, health, and mental clarity. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down Walker's research-backed strategies that don't require expensive gadgets or dramatic lifestyle overhauls. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why your bedroom temperature is probably sabotaging your sleep (and the exact degree that fixes it) • The caffeine math that explains why you're tossing and turning at midnight • How blue light exposure literally jet-lags your brain by 3 hours every single night • The shocking 200% heart attack risk increase tied to getting less than 6 hours of sleep 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone passionate about personal growth who wants to optimize their most fundamental biological process without falling for sleep industry marketing hype. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the sleep crisis hiding in plain sight [02:00] Core body temperature: the 2-degree rule that changes everything [04:30] Caffeine's 6-hour half-life and why your afternoon coffee matters at bedtime [06:45] Blue light's melatonin destruction (and the simple fixes that work) [09:00] Sleep debt myths vs. what the research actually shows [11:30] The six actionable hacks you can implement tonight 🔔 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: sleep science, Matthew Walker, circadian rhythm, sleep optimization, health hacks Find all episodes at First Principles ----------- Keywords: philosophy business, thinking skills, productivity science, fame psychology, billionaire mindset, social media addiction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 1h ago

    Why Swiss Philosopher Alain de Botton Says We're All Terrible at Love

    Here's the podcast description: What if everything you believe about love is actually making you lonelier? Swiss philosopher Alain de Botton drops a truth bomb: our romantic expectations, rooted in 18th-century Romanticism, are sabotaging modern relationships. In this eye-opening episode, Adrian Wells breaks down why we're failing at love and what actually works. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why Romanticism created impossible relationship standards (and how it's still hurting us today) • The real reason 70% of couples fight about the same issues over and over • How relationship education cuts divorce rates by 30% and what those couples know that others don't • De Botton's "good enough" partner theory that could save your relationship 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who's ever wondered why modern dating feels so broken (spoiler: it's not just you). 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the love paradox [01:45] How Romanticism ruined realistic expectations [04:20] Why most relationship fights aren't about what you think [07:10] The psychology behind feeling unheard in relationships [09:30] De Botton's "good enough" partnership model [11:15] Practical steps to become a better partner today This isn't another "love yourself first" pep talk. It's a philosophical deep dive into why our culture set us up to fail at the thing we want most, plus actual tools to fix it. 🔔 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: relationships, philosophy, Alain de Botton, modern love, psychology Find all episodes at First Principles ------------ Keywords: ai dangers, business fundamentals, entrepreneurship philosophy, philosophy business, behavioral economics, decision making, celebrity interviews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. 2h ago

    Your Poop Is Telling You Something: Top Gut Doctor Reveals Warning Signs

    That brown mess in your toilet bowl? It's basically your gut's daily report card. Most people flush and forget, but gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz says you're missing critical health intel every single day. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the science of what your poop is actually telling you about your body. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • The Bristol Stool Chart doctors use worldwide and why Types 1 and 7 are red flags • When red poop means "call your doctor now" vs. "you ate too many beets last night" • Why floating poop might signal pancreatic problems and what to do about it • Simple gut microbiome changes that can transform your digestion in weeks 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone who wants to decode their body's daily health signals without getting squeamish about it. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the science behind poop analysis [01:30] The Bristol Stool Chart breakdown every adult should know [04:00] Color coding your health: when to worry, when to relax [07:00] Your gut microbiome's 1,000+ bacterial species explained [10:00] Dr. Bulsiewicz's simple changes for better gut health [12:00] Red flag symptoms that need immediate medical attention Look, talking about poop isn't exactly dinner conversation, but your digestive health affects everything from your immune system to your mood. Dr. Bulsiewicz has spent years studying gut health, and his insights could literally save your life. This isn't just gross-out science for shock value. It's practical knowledge that helps you spot problems early and make changes that actually matter for your long-term health. 🔔 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: gut health, digestive health, poop analysis, microbiome, gastroenterology Find all episodes at First Principles ------- Keywords: performance optimization, fame psychology, career advice, personal development Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. 4h 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

  5. 5h 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

  6. 6h ago

    The $0 to Millions Secret: Why Codie Sanchez Avoids Startups Completely

    What if everything you think you know about building wealth is backwards? While everyone's chasing the next unicorn startup, Codie Sanchez is quietly building millions by buying the most boring businesses you can imagine. Adrian Wells breaks down her contrarian playbook that's generating 15-30% annual returns while tech bros burn through venture capital. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why businesses selling for 2-4x annual profit are goldmines hiding in plain sight • The retirement crisis creating a $10 trillion opportunity in small business acquisitions • How boring laundromats and car washes outperform Silicon Valley darlings • Sanchez's exact framework for evaluating profitable, unsexy businesses 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners and anyone tired of get-rich-quick schemes who want to understand how real wealth actually gets built. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Adrian Wells introduces the anti-startup approach [01:45] Why 70% of business owners have no exit plan [03:30] The profit margin secret of "boring" businesses [05:15] Sanchez's acquisition criteria that actually work [07:00] Real numbers: 20-40% margins vs. startup losses [09:30] How to spot these opportunities in your area [11:00] The mindset shift that changes everything This isn't another hustle culture fantasy. It's a clear-eyed look at how patient capital and smart thinking beat hype every single time. Sanchez proves that the path to millions doesn't require disrupting industries or changing the world. Sometimes it just requires buying the car wash down the street. 🔔 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: business acquisition, wealth building, small business investing, Codie Sanchez, boring businesses Find all episodes at First Principles ---------- Keywords: billionaire mindset, career advice, business fundamentals, celebrity interviews, evidence evaluation, productivity science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. 7h 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

  8. 8h 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

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Ratings & Reviews

2
out of 5
4 Ratings

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
    2026
  • Episodes
    308
  • Rating
    Clean

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