Thinking 2 Think

Michael Antonio Aponte
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How to support what we are doing:  https://maaponte.substack.com/This is Thinking 2 Think the Critical Thinking podcast where we analyze topics such as Civics, History, Culture, Philosophy, Politics, business, and current events through a critical thinkers lens. I am your host, the social studies educator Michael Antonio Aponte also known as Mr. A. About the host:A successful author, motivational speaker, and educator, Michael Antonio Aponte (M.A. Aponte) empowers individuals via critical thinking. He has had a major impact in several industries due to his wide background and experience. He started his work as a Merrill Lynch wealth manager, learning about finance and its effects on us. After his personal and professional success, he became a motivational speaker, encouraging and mentoring individuals from various backgrounds. Aponte works to teach others how to think critically and thoughtfully about life's issues. M.A. Aponte's informative essays on current events, finance, history, and philosophy draw on his expertise and experience. His writings show his intellectual curiosity and passion to exploring world-changing concepts. He writes and teaches to empower people by sharing his knowledge, experiences, and viewpoints. His comments will motivate you to examine, analyze, and accept reasoning, obtaining new insights that can improve the future.Please, subscribe, share, listen, and let's build a critical thinking society together. 

  1. 3D AGO

    Who Are You When No One's Looking? Building Your Identity

    Send a text  Download the Cognitive Ladder diagnostic tools: MAAponte.Substack.com We explore why identity is not a job title but the pattern of thought that runs your choices when the pressure hits. We map three layers of identity, show how unconscious drivers hijack decisions, and lay out practical steps to build a resilient thinking identity. • story of shifting roles without changing core thinking • difference between roles and identity • three layers of identity: surface, aspirational, operating • identity wounds and how they drive decisions • common operating identities and their costs • case studies in school leadership and crisis choices • questions to diagnose your operating identity • a four-step method to change identity • if-then plans, evidence journals, and community • personal shift from proving to learning I share my own journey from "Prove you're not a failure" to "Someone who learns from everything"—and how that shift changed every decision I make. You'll learn:  How to diagnose your current operating identity Why your identity sabotages your thinking under stress The 5-step process to build a new identity deliberately Common operating identities that hold leaders back ("Prove you're smart enough," "Fix everything yourself," "Don't make waves") Why shame-based aspirational identities paralyze instead of motivate Join my Substack. I give a ton away for free, including my podcast notes. And if you sign up for the $10, you get exclusive information and an additional podcast episode from yours truly. Link is in the description. I hope you sign up. No cost to you.  #CriticalThinking #Leadership #Identity #DecisionMaking  Support the show Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.com 🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals! 🔗 Follow us: 📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions: https://theintellectuallibrary.com/ https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b 📲 Let’s connect on social media! https://x.com/Thinking_2Think

    24 min

  2. FEB 4

    From Memorizer To Decision Maker- The Five Levels of Every Thinker

    Send us a text Subscribe to my Substack for weekly decision-making frameworks: https://maaponte.substack.com/ Not all thinking is created equal. There are five distinct levels—and most people get stuck at Level 3 without realizing it. In this episode, I break down the Cognitive Ladder: from recall to comprehension to application to transfer to evaluation. I share the story of a student who could memorize the Constitution but couldn't apply it to modern life, a teacher who transferred literary analysis skills to crisis intervention, and the Level 5 judgment call I had to make when deciding whether to fire a beloved teacher. What you'll learn: The five levels of thinking (and how to diagnose where you are)Why smart people struggle when the context changesTraps at each level and how to avoid themHow I transferred thinking skills across four different careersThe difference between knowing how to do something and being able to adapt itHow to move up the ladder one rung at a timestep-by-step methods to move up a levelaligning tasks with levels to lead and teach betterbuilding tolerance for ambiguity and owning decisions If you want to go deeper on this, if you want to diagnose your thinking level and frameworks for moving up the ladder, I write about this every week in my Substack. If you want the insider of Substack, that's a $10 a month, and the link is in the show.  Support the show Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.com 🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals! 🔗 Follow us: 📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions: https://theintellectuallibrary.com/ https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b 📲 Let’s connect on social media! https://x.com/Thinking_2Think

    29 min

  3. JAN 28

    Why Smart People Make Dumb Decisions: The Knowing-Thinking Gap in Leadership

    Send us a text Why do highly educated people make catastrophically bad decisions? In this episode, Mike Aponte reveals the "knowing-thinking gap"—the critical difference between memorizing information and actually thinking critically. Drawing on his experience as a Merrill Lynch wealth manager during the 2008 financial crisis, Mike shares the story of a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon who "knew" finance but couldn't think strategically about his portfolio. He also explores why high school students can memorize facts about clean energy but fail to think through second-order consequences. You'll discover: - Why expertise in one domain doesn't transfer to critical thinking skills- The cognitive bias that makes smart people overconfident in unfamiliar areas- How to recognize when you're "knowing" vs. actually "thinking"- A framework for developing true critical thinking beyond knowledge accumulation- Real examples from Wall Street, education, and law enforcement Perfect for educators, leaders, executives, and anyone who wants to move beyond surface-level knowledge to deep strategic thinking. Learn the decision-making frameworks used by top performers across industries. Support the show Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.com 🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals! 🔗 Follow us: 📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions: https://theintellectuallibrary.com/ https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b 📲 Let’s connect on social media! https://x.com/Thinking_2Think

    24 min

  4. JAN 21

    How Your Brain Actually Works (And Why Smart People Make Dumb Decisions)

    Send us a text A split-second police simulation shows how fast the brain can be wrong, then we map the same mechanics onto work, parenting, and leadership. We break down cognitive budgets, working memory limits, mental models, load types, and four practical strategies to decide better under pressure. Your brain has 4-7 slots of working memory. That's it. And every decision you make, every problem you solve, every conversation you have is competing for those slots. In this episode, I break down the architecture of thought—how working memory actually works, what cognitive load is, and why intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing. You'll learn: Why you can only hold 4-7 things in your head at once (and what happens when you exceed that limit)How to offload cognitive load to free up mental space (and why writing things down literally makes you smarter)The difference between knowing something and being able to apply it under pressureWhy the smartest person in the room often makes the worst decisionsThis isn't abstract neuroscience—this is practical framework for understanding why you forgot what you walked into a room for, why meetings drain you even when you're just listening, and why your best ideas come in the shower (not at your desk). Plus: The one habit that instantly upgrades your thinking capacity (it takes 2 minutes and costs nothing). Support the show Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.com 🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals! 🔗 Follow us: 📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions: https://theintellectuallibrary.com/ https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b 📲 Let’s connect on social media! https://x.com/Thinking_2Think

    28 min

  5. JAN 19

    Why Your Thinking Failed Today - Critical Thinking Under Pressure

    Send us a text We unpack how a teacher-led school vision collapsed not because the idea was bad but because the room wasn’t ready for clear thinking. We map three forces that sabotage judgment and lay out practical steps to create conditions where logic can land. • staff meeting case study showing emotional threat responses • attention fragmentation and working memory limits • emotional hijacking and system one versus system two • information overload, clickbait, and AI plausibility traps • three-step method to pause, create space, and adapt • one-on-one conversations before group decisions • signal versus noise and deep work boundaries • frameworks, templates, and practice for better calls Please like, subscribe so you can get notified on when this episode airs Link is in the show notes The link is in the show notes also Support the show Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.com 🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals! 🔗 Follow us: 📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions: https://theintellectuallibrary.com/ https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b 📲 Let’s connect on social media! https://x.com/Thinking_2Think

    14 min

  6. JAN 12

    How AI Exposed A Hidden Weakness In Education And Work

    Send us a text Join our Skool community: skool.com/thethinkinglab Artificial intelligence didn’t break education, work, or leadership.  It revealed a gap we avoided teaching. We map the shift from answer-getting to judgment-making and name the unease many students and leaders feel when certainty disappears. We explain how AI exposed the gap, why identity gets shaken, and how to practice critical thinking as a teachable discipline. • naming the unease across education and work • shift from correctness to judgment under uncertainty • how structure disappears as responsibility arrives • intelligence versus judgment under pressure • adaptability as identity revision, not bravado • AI as clarity engine exposing where value lives • education–work mismatch and its real costs • a clear definition of critical thinking and habits • building spaces to practice public reasoning • invitation to a free community for judgment practice Please comment what you think are possible answers to the question I expressed earlier Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe Also, follow us on our social media And please join our Skool community It's free, and I'm sure we'll have a great time there Support the show Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.com 🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals! 🔗 Follow us: 📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions: https://theintellectuallibrary.com/ https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b 📲 Let’s connect on social media! https://x.com/Thinking_2Think

    13 min

  7. 10/20/2025

    Narcissism: No One Clapped, Would You Still Matter?

    Send us a text A missed title at a conference shouldn’t spark a crisis of identity—yet for Elena, a decorated senior research fellow, it did. We follow that sharp sting and instant correction to uncover a deeper pattern: when confidence depends on credentials, minor slights can feel like existential threats. Using a vivid case from Aponte’s “The Mask of Credentials,” we explore how ego maintenance becomes brittle, how vulnerable narcissism hides behind quiet competence, and why the chase for recognition keeps failing to deliver durable self-worth. We unpack the psychology from several angles. Freud gives us the frame for ego defenses, while contemporary research maps narcissism as a spectrum with grandiose and vulnerable forms. Kohut’s theory of missing mirroring explains the craving for external validation, and Kernberg’s model clarifies the split between a polished public image and a hidden core of shame. We trace two development pathways—chronic invalidation and overindulgence—and show how both can produce entitlement, poor frustration tolerance, and hypersensitivity to status cues. Then we widen the lens to culture: social media rewards the mask of success, driving a cycle of short-lived highs, escalating corrections, and brittle relationships. Along the way, we examine the relational cost. When identity is outsourced to others’ reactions, people become instruments—mirrors to reflect a preferred image—rather than partners. Miss the cue, and value plummets. To break the loop, we share concrete practices: catch the surge when status feels threatened, pause before correcting, and ask, “Would I still believe in my value if no one noticed?” We introduce logical humility—the discipline of letting ideas stand on their own—so credentials become tools, not life support. Finally, we challenge a subtler mask: grandiose suffering, the move to claim specialness through hardship rather than achievement. If you’ve ever felt your mood hinge on recognition, this conversation offers a path to steadier ground. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves psychology deep dives, and leave a review with your answer to our core question: what remains when no one is watching? Support the show Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.com 🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals! 🔗 Follow us: 📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions: https://theintellectuallibrary.com/ https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b 📲 Let’s connect on social media! https://x.com/Thinking_2Think

    22 min

  8. 07/28/2025

    Your Brain is Being Rewired While You Scroll

    Send us a text We dive deep into how digital algorithms shape our thinking and behavior through subtle reward systems rather than direct commands, exploring Michael Aponte's concept of "digitally optimized obedience" and its far-reaching implications for individual autonomy and society. Drawing from Aponte's research, the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and Harvard Medical School findings, we examine how technology is fundamentally reshaping our sense of morality and acceptable speech through invisible algorithmic nudges. • Digitally optimized obedience works through rewards and incentives, not direct commands or fear • Algorithms create feedback loops that train users to behave in ways that generate engagement  • Content amplification functions as implicit moral approval while shadow-banning marks ideas as unacceptable • Echo chambers and filter bubbles create the illusion of information while narrowing our perspectives • Algorithms deliberately escalate content toward more extreme versions to maintain engagement • Digital platforms known to target children's developing brains despite awareness of potential harm • Self-censorship emerges as users internalize algorithmic preferences to gain social rewards • Reclaiming autonomy requires conscious awareness of how algorithms shape our choices Take a moment to consider how deeply algorithms are influencing your thoughts and behaviors. What does genuine freedom of choice look like in our digitally optimized world? Please like, comment, share, and subscribe to Thinking2Think for more explorations into the forces shaping our minds. Support the show Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.com 🎧 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to join our growing community of thoughtful individuals! 🔗 Follow us: 📖 Check out my book: The Logical Mind: Learn Critical Thinking to Make Better Decisions: https://theintellectuallibrary.com/ https://a.co/d/jdOm9pI https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uZBbvqij7WRGoezaZG6c6L5tcjbl9VZB2vE9UAB9j2b 📲 Let’s connect on social media! https://x.com/Thinking_2Think

    13 min
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About

How to support what we are doing:  https://maaponte.substack.com/This is Thinking 2 Think the Critical Thinking podcast where we analyze topics such as Civics, History, Culture, Philosophy, Politics, business, and current events through a critical thinkers lens. I am your host, the social studies educator Michael Antonio Aponte also known as Mr. A. About the host:A successful author, motivational speaker, and educator, Michael Antonio Aponte (M.A. Aponte) empowers individuals via critical thinking. He has had a major impact in several industries due to his wide background and experience. He started his work as a Merrill Lynch wealth manager, learning about finance and its effects on us. After his personal and professional success, he became a motivational speaker, encouraging and mentoring individuals from various backgrounds. Aponte works to teach others how to think critically and thoughtfully about life's issues. M.A. Aponte's informative essays on current events, finance, history, and philosophy draw on his expertise and experience. His writings show his intellectual curiosity and passion to exploring world-changing concepts. He writes and teaches to empower people by sharing his knowledge, experiences, and viewpoints. His comments will motivate you to examine, analyze, and accept reasoning, obtaining new insights that can improve the future.Please, subscribe, share, listen, and let's build a critical thinking society together. 

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Antonio Aponte
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Thinking 2 Think
  • Show Website
    Thinking 2 Think