The Double Win

Why do we procrastinate, overspend, or neglect habits we know matter? In this episode, UCLA professor Hal Hershfield reveals how our connection (or lack of connection) to our future selves shapes everything from health and finances to ethics and life satisfaction. Drawing on decades of research, Hal introduces practical tools—including reverse time travel, temptation bundling, and vivid imagination exercises—that help close the gap between intention and action. This conversation is equal parts science, story, and strategy for anyone who wants to live with more agency and hope.

Memorable Quotes
“It involves thinking about trade-offs between now and later, and thinking about sort of balancing out our happiness and our satisfaction over time between the version of us who exists right now and the version of us who exist in the future.”
“People change, and we change much more than we expect to. And the reason I think that that's not something to fear is because it means that we have some control over our lives. It means that we can become different versions of us, we can change aspects of ourselves.”
“It may be scary at first to recognize that my life could look different in 10 years than I expect it to be. But the reality that we know from decades of research is that as a human being, we're quite good with grappling with change. We're quite resilient. We have a healthy, what's called ‘psychological immune system,’ which basically means we can sort of fend off the changes that we don't want and sort of learn to live with the way that life has become.”
“What the research has found is that if we make the process of achieving a goal more fun, more enjoyable, more pleasurable, we're just—and this shouldn't surprise anybody—we're a lot more likely to stick it out.”
“If we want to spur action, if we wanna take some agency, we not only need to think about the way that we want things to look differently, but we also need to figure out what's the contrast between now and later? And what are the—and this is really important—what are the overcomeable obstacles?”
“There's lots of little things where we can cut corners and, you know, we get some gain in the present, but we might get punished in the future. And what we've found in several papers is that the people who feel connected to their future selves are actually more likely to, to take this sort of more difficult but ethical path.”
“That's the irony of procrastination. It hurts while we're procrastinating. It hurts after we procrastinated too…[We can instead think] ‘I don't wanna do it now. There’s a good chance I'm not gonna wanna do it in the future, so I might as well just do it now.’ Just do it and eliminate all that feeling of negativity along the way.”
“We can take anything that feels like it's painful, unpleasant, et cetera, and pair it with something that's a temptation.”

Key Takeaways
You Have Agency. Life will always include uncertainty and unpredictable events, but your responses and daily choices still matter.
The Present Is Loud. The Future Is Abstract. Making the future more concrete helps counteract our tendency to overvalue short-term comfort.
Three Common Mistakes Sabotage Progress. Getting stuck in the present, under-planning, or projecting today’s feelings too far forward can derail growth.
Reverse Time Travel Makes Goals Feel Closer. Starting in the future and working backward reveals obstacles—and opportunities—you’d otherwise miss.
Temptation Bundling Reduces Friction. Pair necessary habits with enjoyable experiences to increase follow-through without relying on grit alone.
Small Choices Compound Into Identity. Your future self isn’t created in one moment—but in thousands of ordinary ones.

Resources
www.halhershfield.com 
Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today (Book)

Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/FbLoVyZ-eTU
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Why does it feel like everything is falling apart, even as our lives get materially easier in so many ways? Michael Hyatt talks with author and cultural thinker Virginia Postrel about why progress becomes invisible, how nostalgia for the “good old days” distorts reality, and why modern change moves unevenly.

They explore why humans crave beauty and meaning (not just function) and how AI is reshaping the future of work. A clear theme emerges throughout the wide-ranging conversation: change is inevitable, and how we respond matters. Resilience, margin, and an entrepreneurial mindset make all the difference.

If you’ve felt powerless against “big systems,” this episode is a reminder that innovation is often personal, practical, and close to home: start where you are, solve what you can, and expect the unexpected.

Memorable Quotes
“The issues of character never go away. They are eternal human questions, and we forget because we have sort of nostalgic views of the past.”
“Even the smartest AI can’t figure out what people want—what people are dissatisfied with. And a lot of innovation comes from that. We tend to focus on big technologies. And even big technologies come from a lot of incremental improvements… A lot of improvements come from people saying, ‘I’m dissatisfied with this,’ or ‘Here’s something I figured out.’”
“Human beings don’t just value function. They value pleasure, and they value meaning, and pleasure and meaning are things that are very much conveyed through the look and feel of objects or places.”
“Agency is problem-solving. It’s you solving problems in your life, or whatever that might be—and it’s sort of reversed, too, which is that if you assume that it’s someone else’s job to solve your problem, you sort of give up your sense of agency.”
 “A lot of leadership is figuring out what gifts individuals have and getting them moving in the right direction… A big part of leadership as problem-solving is people problem-solving—getting people in the right roles and thinking about how those roles mesh.”
“Expect that you’re going to be in a world that changes, because that’s the world we live in. It’s the world we’ve been living in for hundreds of years. The other thing is: understand this didn’t start with you. Other people have gone through amazing and scary and terrifying changes, and our civilization has lived to tell the tale.”

Key Takeaways
Progress Becomes Invisible Quickly. We normalize improvements fast—and forget what life used to require in drudgery, time, and basic comforts.
Change Is Uneven: Bits vs. Atoms. Software accelerates rapidly, while physical-world progress (like housing) can be slowed by policy, cost, and complexity.
Dynamism vs. Stasis Shapes How We Face the Future. Some people see change as positive-sum opportunity; others experience it as zero-sum threat.
Agency Grows Through Problem-Solving. When we assume “someone else” must fix things, we trade away our sense of control and possibility.
Resilience Requires Margin. Financial cushion, emotional bandwidth, and community support help you absorb shocks and adapt.
Entrepreneurship Is Bigger Than Business. You can be “entrepreneurial” by starting groups, building community, or solving everyday problems—not just launching companies.

Resources
vpostrel.com (Website)
vpostrel.substack.com (Substack Newsletter)
The Future and Its Enemies (Book)
The Substance of Style (Book)
The Power of Glamor (Book)
The Fabric of Civilization (Book)

Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/yCMHIdYYS-A

This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Why do high-achievers feel perpetually behind, even while consuming more content than ever? In this conversation, Pat Flynn explains the trap of “overlearning” and how it quietly keeps us stuck in motion without progress. You’ll learn how to shift from “just-in-case” learning to “just-in-time” learning, create real momentum with a simple four-step framework, and protect what matters most with practical boundaries. Along the way, Pat shares how these principles helped him build multiple successful businesses (including a Pokémon channel with millions of followers) without sacrificing his family, health, or joy.

Memorable Quotes
“We all, in a way, are not just our overlearning, but we're getting over-inspired. We're so connected with so many amazing people out there who teach us this and push us over here, and then we're pulled over this way. We're spread so thin it's we're we're not seeing any results in our own life.”
“Now we all have access to all the same kind of information, but we're still treating it as if it's scarce…However, we now live in a buffet line of information… and we're not quite evolved to absorb all of this because we're stuffing our plates full. Not only are we getting bloated and and and slowed down, but we're also getting force-fed on these platforms.”
“This is the difference between ‘just-in-case learning,’ which is what we've all been doing, and ‘just-in-time learning,’ which is learning what you need to know to just take that next step. Because truly the action of taking that next step, the results of that one way or another—whether there are good results or bad results—can teach you so much more than just absorbing this information and never taking any action at all.”
 “[Silence] allows me to be with myself and to digest the things that I've already learned, to think about my priorities and the things I've already committed to. It allows me to make creative connections between things that I have already picked up instead of just getting more puzzle pieces to try to figure out where they go.”
“I mean I was always taught that again, ‘The more you know the more successful you'll be,’ and there's always seemingly opportunities to inject more of that learning. And it has this sort of fake productivity that goes along with it, because it is only truly productive, in my opinion, when you actually put into action those things that you do read or listen to or watch.”
“At our authors retreat, a theme across most of the people there was not optimizing for revenue, not optimizing for scale, but optimizing for peace. And that was huge to think about.”
“If I give myself five months to learn, I'm gonna take five months to learn it. If I give myself five hours to learn, I'm gonna take five hours to learn it. So I almost use time as a tool to help me get to the point of action and then understanding sooner.”
“I've developed this rule called the 20% Itch Rule, and that is, out of all the things you do, 80% of your time is dedicated to the things you've already committed to, the things that, the responsibilities you have, the things that you've already said, yes to. The last 20% of time, allocate for curiosity, for play, for experimentation.”

Key Takeaways
Overlearning Is a Hidden Productivity Trap. Constant consumption creates a sense of progress without producing results—and often adds more “to-dos” than your life can hold.
Shift from “Just-in-Case” to “Just-in-Time.” Learn only what you need for the next step, then take action. Real learning accelerates through doing.
Use the 4-Step Lean Learning Cycle. Identify the next step → choose one resource → implement → review. Repeat.
Silence Helps You Digest What You Already Know. Pat’s “silent car” habit creates space for integration, creativity, and clarity.
Watch for “Junk Sparks.” Many ideas are just distractions dressed up as opportunity—especially when algorithms reduce the friction to buy, click, or binge.
Try the “20% Itch Rule.” Dedicate 80% of your time to current commitments and responsibilities, and reserve 20% for curiosity, experimentation, and play—without blowing up your life.
Optimize for Peace, Not Scale. More revenue isn’t always worth the hidden cost. A Double Win means there’s still room for what makes you feel most alive.

Resources
Smart Passive Income (Pat’s Business)
Superfans (Book)
Lean Learning (Book)

Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/aLp6hHTrYQs
This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Why do leaders jump so quickly to giving advice? And why does it so often backfire? In this episode, Michael Bungay Stanier explains why the “advice monster” is one of our biggest leadership liabilities—and how seven simple questions can help you listen better, coach smarter, and build stronger connections. Filled with humor, story, empathy, and practical scripts, this episode is a masterclass in everyday leadership.

Memorable Quotes
“When you ask a question and they actually have to think about it, you're literally creating new neural pathways in their brain—or at least they're creating their own neural pathways—so they're literally becoming smarter right in front of you.”
“More deeply than an ‘answer,’ much of the time people want to feel deeply heard, deeply seen, and deeply encouraged. And your ‘answer’ often means they feel less seen, less heard, and less encouraged.”
“One of the great moments of claiming adulthood is being clear on what you want to say ‘yes’ to—and knowing that inevitably you have to say ‘no’ to things to get that.”
“Every time you jump in with your ideas and your opinions and your advice—particularly if it's your default reaction—you’re basically reinforcing, ‘I'm better than you are. I'm smarter and wiser and older and faster and just generally better than you. You are not as good as I am.’ There’s a degree to which you're diminishing that other person rather than helping them.”
“There's a time and a place where [giving advice] is the right thing to be doing. The way I define coaching is: Can you stay curious a little bit longer? Can you rush to action and advice-giving a little bit more slowly?”
“One of the phrases I've started saying to people who are going through a tough time is simply, ‘I'm Team Michael. I'm Team Megan.…I'm Team whoever that person might be.’ It’s my way of saying, ‘I love you and I want the best for you, and I don't even know what to do—or I can’t think of anything to do—so I'm just trying to be with you in this moment.’”
“One of the questions that I’ve found most helpful—particularly if I'm the more senior person in the relationship—is: ‘What needs to be said that hasn't yet been said?’”

Key Takeaways

The “Advice Monster” Is Real. Our instinct to help by offering answers often diminishes others. Curiosity, not certainty, is what truly empowers people.
Questions Create Ownership. When people generate their own ideas, they’re more confident, more committed, and more capable.
Seven Questions Change Everything. Michael’s practical framework gives you a simple playbook for better conversations. His personal favorite? “And what else?”
Curiosity Deepens Every Relationship. Parents, partners, bosses—everyone benefits when you resist the urge to fix and choose to listen instead.
Better Conversations Start With Permission. Rather than assume what someone needs, lead with humility and ask: How can I be most useful here?
Coaching Is for Everyday Life. You don’t have to be a professional coach for this to matter. These tools transform team meetings, parenting moments, and even difficult conversations at home.

Resources

The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier
How to Work With (Almost) Anyone by Michael Bungay Stanier
Box of Crayons (Curiosity-driven leadership program)

Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/WOjq8aMbr5k

This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Why do some ideas spark movements while others fizzle? Joel—author of The Idea Machine, veteran publisher, and Chief Content Officer at Full Focus—explains how books transform vague thoughts into precise, shareable frameworks. You’ll hear the case for analog reading, how writing unlocks buy-in at work, and why AI and books actually belong together. Practical, contrarian, and deeply encouraging for any high achiever who wants clearer thinking and better communication.
Memorable Quotes

“Ideas that start in the mind of an author as just kind of a gooey, fuzzy idea. And in the course of writing, it forces them to get clear on it. It forces them to get specific about it and develop it in a way that actually becomes useful.”
“Not only can these ideas live in a way that we can understand them, but they can live through time. And that's one of the greatest things about a book—that it perpetuates ideas across time.”
“It forces you to get clear. It forces you to develop an argument. It forces you to develop a line of thought that other people can follow. And without that, you're kind of left with a grab bag of ideas that are probably cool. They're great, but they're not in a system that can be used or explained or anything like that.”
“I think this is true for leaders. They have a lot of personal charisma and people want to follow them, but that's not enough. You really do have to go to the discipline of getting these ideas clear for yourself so that they can be clear to other people.”
“Part of what we've done is we've just de-skilled ourselves in reading and we just need to re-skill ourselves in reading.”
“Never read a book 'cause you're supposed to. Read books because they delight. You read books because they're entertaining to you. Read books because you get something out of it that you really like.”
Key Takeaways

Books Are Tech. Treat books as an information technology that lets ideas scale with precision and longevity.
Writing Creates Clarity. If you want buy-in, don’t rely on vibes—write the memo. Make your idea explicit and specific.
Right Format, Right Job. Use audio/ebook for breadth and speed. Reach for print when you need depth, notes, and recall.
AI Is a Companion. From library science to today’s models, AI extends the book’s mission—use it to augment (not replace) critical thinking.
Build a Daily Reading Habit. Aim for 30–60 minutes a day (top and bottom of day works). Follow your curiosity. Quit the books that don’t serve you.
Resources

The Idea Machine by Joel J. Miller
Miller’s Book Review (Joel’s Substack)

Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/e36acyYWBnM

This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound