The Art of Manliness
Episodes
The Cues That Make You Charismatic
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Charisma can make everything smoother, easier, and more exciting in life. It's a quality that makes people want to listen to you, to adopt your ideas,...
Jack London's Literary Code [Rebroadcast]
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Note: My guest in this episode, Dr. Earle Labor, died on September 15 at the age of 94. Earle was the world's foremost authority on one of the Art of...
Data-Backed Answers to Personal Finance Controversies
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dip your toes into the world of personal finance and you can find plenty of questions which are the subject of endless debate. How much of your income...
The Power of Ritual
19 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our lives are populated by rituals. Baptisms. Funerals. Graduations. Singing happy birthday, chanting cheers at a sports event, saying grace before di...
The 7 Types of Work Jerks (And How to Deal With Them)
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You're working under a boss who really rubs you the wrong way. So you quit your job and take another. But in your new office, you find yourself stuck ...
A World War II Story of Survival, Love, and Redemption
12 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Amidst the epic clashes of armies and navies that make war such a fascinating subject, lie the smaller human interest stories that prove just as compe...
The Power of Unwavering Focus
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you were a kid, teachers and parents probably told you to concentrate. And as an adult, you likely often think about how much more productive, pr...
The Character Traits That Drive Optimal Performance [REBROADCAST]
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some people who look can’t-miss high-achievers on paper end up floundering in life, while those who can seem like underdogs end up flourishin...
Grappling With Life's "Wild Problems"
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As an economist, Russ Roberts has been taught to approach decision-making by conducting an analysis, weighing tradeoffs, and then rationally budgeting...
How to Read Minds and Detect Deception
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Being adept at discerning people’s true thoughts and intentions is a valuable skill to have. Knowing when someone is deceiving you can protect your ...
The Bicycle as Freedom and Flight
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No kid forgets getting his first bike, nor the surge of independence he felt the first time he pedaled away from his parents. And even as adults, the ...
The Groundhog Day Roadmap for Changing Your Life
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel stuck in life? Inwardly you keep repeating the same thoughts, outwardly you keep repeating the same routine, and on and on a cycle of unha...
Where You Should Live When You Could Live Anywhere
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When we think about people who can live anywhere, we tend to think about corporate-employed remote workers and online entrepreneurs. But many other ki...
From Novice to Advanced — The Weightlifter's Journey
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I've been barbell lifting for seven years. In that time I've hit some personal records that I'm proud of: a 615-lb deadlift, 225 shoulder press, and 4...
Tactics and Mindset Shifts for Making the Most of Life
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Dicks wears a lot of hats. Among other things, he's a storyteller, communications consultant, writer, and schoolteacher. In order to excel in ...
Lonesome Dove and Life's Journey Through Uncertainty
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you've been listening to this show or reading the AoM website for awhile, then you likely know what my favorite book of all time is: Lonesome Dov...
Future-Proof Your Body by Practicing Good Posture
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of us have niggling bodily pains. A bum knee, a tight hip, an achy back. My guest would say that the cause of those maladies, as well as their c...
Developing the Warrior Within
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As a member of the Ottawa Tribe and someone who's worked with over five hundred tribal nations, my guest has long been inspired by his Native American...
Physical Benchmarks Every Man Should Meet, At Every Age [REBROADCAST]
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As men, we all want to be physically capable. We want to be able to save our own life in two ways: in the more metaphorical sense of wanting to preser...
Routines Are Overrated
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You struggle with being productive. So you decide you need to establish a routine for yourself. You get real gung-ho about this routine — this is go...
Escape the Safety Trap
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We like to think that our personal safety and the safety of our loved ones is something that other people — law enforcement, school administrat...
What Made JFK So Compelling?
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Despite assuming the presidency from the 20th century’s narrowest election victory, John F. Kennedy captivated the American public’s imagination, ...
The Philosophy of Self-Improvement
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are thousands of books, podcasts, and social media posts about how to be more productive, strengthen your relationships, find your purpose, and ...
Life Lessons From the World's Greatest Negotiator
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 1981, Time magazine stated: “If you are ever in a crucial life-changing negotiation, the person you want on your side of the table is Herb Cohe...
Building a Second Brain
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the modern age, people are bombarded with more information, and are more personally responsible for managing that information, than ever before. Ho...
What It's Like to Spend a Year in Space
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In March of this year, Mark Vande Hei returned to earth after spending 355 days in outer space. Today on the show, I talk to Mark about what it was li...
How to Make a Good Argument
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whenever you get into an argument, whether you're discussing politics with a colleague or the distribution of chores with your spouse, you likely feel...
The Fascinating Life of America's Forgotten Founding Father
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The 18th century doctor, civic leader, and renaissance man Benjamin Rush was one of the youngest signers of the Declaration of Independence, edited an...
How to Develop Greater Self-Awareness
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
95% of people say that they're self-aware. But only 10-15% of people actually are. As my guest today says, that means "on a good day, 80% of us are l...
Chef-Vetted Answers to Your Cooking FAQs
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In your quest to become a better home chef, you probably find yourself wondering things like: What potato should I use in this recipe? How much salt s...
The Secrets to Booking Cheap Flights
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Travel can offer a lot of good: memory-making adventure, mind-expanding experiences, and plenty of fun and relaxation. It's not surprising then that m...
How to Turn a Boy Into a Man
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of young men today struggle in finding their footing in adulthood. They feel lost, directionless, and unsure of who they are and how to confiden...
Why We Like Puzzles, and What We Get From Them
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Puzzles may seem like fairly pedestrian pastimes — fun ways to while away a rainy afternoon. And while they certainly do make for satisfying diversi...
The Surprising Science Behind Building Stronger Relationships
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We've all heard by now just how important strong relationships are to our health and well-being. But a lot of the common advice and conventional wisdo...
What Nietzsche Can Teach Us About Joyful Living in a Tech-Saturated World
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Friedrich Nietzsche is famous for espousing a philosophy that may be a help in wrestling with existential angst and finding meaning in life.My guest w...
The Humble Heroics of Four of WWII's Most Decorated Soldiers
30 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Medal of Honor is the military's highest and most prestigious decoration and is awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces who "disting...
How to Get Your Anger Under Control
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you look back on the moments you regret most in your life, a fair number of them likely involved you being angry. And if these cringe-inducing, l...
Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile
23 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the 19th century, the source of the Nile River remained one of the greatest mysteries of geographic exploration. The story of how the British event...
How Your Expectations Can Change Your Life
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
During World War II, Henry Beecher, an anesthesiologist serving in the U.S. Army, noticed that 32% of the soldiers he treated for horrific battle woun...
An Old-School Boxing Trainer on What It Means to Be a Man
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Teddy Atlas was born to a well-respected doctor in a wealthy part of Staten Island. Most kids like him end up going to an Ivy League school to become ...
Stress-Free Small Talk
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If making small talk makes someone anxious, it may just be because they have a fear of such interactions, and my guest today, Rich Gallagher, can help...
The Cold Water Swim Cure
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever driven along the coastline, or walked by a local pond or lake and thought about taking a dip, but felt hesitant about swimming in what y...
The 5 Allies Every Man Needs
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to improving our lives and reaching our goals, we often think of changing our personal habits and routines. We think about ourselves, bu...
Getting Along Is Overrated
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of people really dislike conflict and have a low opinion of it. They're uncomfortable with disagreements at the office, think there's no room fo...
The Harrowing Life of a World War II B-17 Pilot
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“We were young citizen-soldiers, terribly naive and gullible about what we would be confronted with in the air war over Europe and the profound effe...
Overcome the Decision Traps Around Diet and Exercise
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to making behavior change around diet and exercise, it's no secret that many people fail in their efforts. My guest would say that's bec...
The Life We’re Looking For
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the quiet moments of our lives, we can all sense that our hearts long for something, though we often don’t know what that something is. We seek a...
The U-Shaped Curve of Happiness
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you're someone who's a decade or two out from your high school graduation, do you ever find yourself thinking that you're just not as happy as you ...
The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Johnny Cash
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Johnny Cash, “The Man in Black,” said he wore all black on behalf of the poor and hungry, the old who were neglected, “the “prisoner who has l...
The New Science of Metabolism and Weight Loss
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You hear a lot about metabolism. You probably know it has something to do with weight loss. And even if you don't go in for those supposed hacks aroun...
How Power Corrupts
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why do corrupt people end up in power?By way of an answer, you probably think of that famous quote from Lord Acton, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute ...
Set Your Kids Up for a Lifetime of Healthy Sleep
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Chris Winter sees adult patients in his sleep clinic, they often come to him because of a struggle with inso...
Kierkegaard on the Present (Passionless) Age
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel like the time we live in feels flat, complacent, timid, conformist, populated by people who are focused on playing it safe and are in...
Become a Backyard Adventurer
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of people feel like they've seen and done everything there is to see and do in their local area. They're bored of their daily routine, and conte...
The Dangers of "Concept Creep"
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Trauma. Violence. Bullying. Addiction. The range of things that these words encompass has expanded over time, and while my guest today would say that ...
Run Like a Pro (Even If You're Slow)
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Running is a gloriously democratic and accessible sport. All you need is a pair of shoes and the will to start moving your legs. It's so seemingly sim...
The Writing Life of Ernest Hemingway
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How did one of history's greatest writers — Ernest Hemingway — get going with his craft, develop his indelible style, and infuse his narratives wi...
The Dreams That Precede Death
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the dying approach their death, up to 88% of them experience certain vivid, moving dreams — though "dreams" isn't even the best word for these ex...
The Secrets to Making the Perfect Pizza
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pizza. It's ubiquitous. It's a fixture at parties and office break rooms, and there's a good chance you order it from your favorite place for dinner e...
How Eisenhower Led — A Conversation with Ike's Granddaughter
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Editor's Note: This is a rebroadcast. It originally aired in September 2020.From guiding the Allies to victory in World War II as supreme commander, t...
Developing Your Personal Uniform
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The personal uniform is a look that you've settled on as your regular get-up. Today on the show I talk to two style writers, David Coggins and Michael...
Anxiety Is a Habit — Here's How to Break It
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You may think of anxiety as a reaction, a feeling, or a disorder. My guest today says that perhaps the best way to think about anxiety, especially if ...
Beyond OODA — Developing the Orientation for Conflict and Violence
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The OODA Loop — the OODA stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, Act — is a strategic tool designed to help people make better decisions when facing a...
Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You want to declutter. You want to downsize. You want to live more simply. So what's been holding you back from getting closer to those ideals?My gues...
The World of the Transcendentalists and the Rise of Modern Individualism
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The town of Concord, Massachusetts has been famous twice in history. First as the location of the "shot heard round the world" which kickstarted the A...
A Playbook for Modern Dating
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dating is a relatively recent phenomenon in human history. Given that, it shouldn't come as a surprise that many people aren't sure of the best way to...
Becoming a Hybrid Athlete
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to fitness, people tend to either focus on endurance or strength; they're runners or powerlifters. But wouldn't it be pretty cool to be ...
How to Shift Out of the Midlife Malaise
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you think about someone having a midlife crisis, you probably think of a man getting divorced, stepping out with a younger woman, and buying a sp...
We Need a P.E. Revolution
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to physical education in our country’s schools, parents, teachers, and administrators alike typically place it at the bottom of their ...
How to Make Life’s Big Decisions
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are little decisions to make in life like what to wear to work and what to eat for lunch. Then there are potentially life-changing decisions lik...
Get on Top of Collaboration Overload
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There is seemingly more collaboration going on in the workplace than ever before. People are working and talking across teams, and within teams, using...
How Long Does It Take to Make Friends (And How Does That Process Work, Anyway)?
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How long does it take to make friends — for someone you meet who's a potential friend, to turn into an actual friend? If you're out of college and n...
The Rise and Fall of Athens
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a period of only about 100 years, Athens went from relative obscurity, to becoming an influential empire, to collapsing into ruin.My guest today wi...
Philosophical Tools for Living the Good Life
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most everyone wants to live a good, meaningful life, though we don't always know what that means and how to do it. Plenty of modern self-improvement p...
The New Science of Narcissism
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Narcissism is something that looms large in our cultural consciousness. We accuse friends and family of being narcissistic, think we observe the quali...
The Code of the Warrior
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Editor's Note: This is a rebroadcast. It originally aired July 2020.War is a violent and bloody business, but it's rarely a no-holds barred free-for-a...
Become a Focused Monotasker
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Writing an email while on a Zoom call. Talking on the phone while walking. Scrolling through social media while watching a movie.In both our work and ...
Fat Loss Made Simple
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to losing weight, you can find plenty of complicated programs that involve long, intense workouts and strict calorie-counting diet plans...
The Tiny Habits That Change Everything
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Editor's Note: This is a re-broadcast. It originally aired in February 2020. We're a month into the new year now. How are you doing on your resoluti...
Begin the New Year by Reflecting on These 3 Life-Changing Questions [Rebroadcast]
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Editor's Note: This is a re-broadcast. It was originally published in December 2020. As one year ends and another begins, it's natural to reflect on ...
The Real (Decidedly-Less-Sentimental-Yet-Still-Wonderful) Story of WWI's Christmas Truce
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most famous stories to come out of World War I is that of the "Christmas Truce" of 1914, in which German and British forces engaged in a sp...
C.S. Lewis on Building Men With Chests
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Like Plato, C.S. Lewis believed that the human soul was made up of three parts — the head (the rational, reason-driven part of you), the belly (your...
Prototype Your Way to a Better Life
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I used to wake up early, around 5:15, and do my workout right after getting out of bed. But I noticed I was tired all day, and just felt kind of stiff...
The Perils and Powers of Cowardice
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There have been many books written about courage. About cowardice, however, there has only been one. The author of this lone book onb cowardice joins ...
Prepare Now to Have Your Best Year Ever
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How did your 2021 go? Did you accomplish less than you wanted to? Are you hoping to have a more successful run at your goals in 2022?Well my guest tod...
How Testosterone Makes Men, Men
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What creates the differences between the sexes? Many would point to culture, and my guest today would agree that culture certainly shapes us. But she'...
Cormac McCarthy, The Road, and Carrying the Fire
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Once a year, I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It's a cathartic annual ritual for me. What is it about this novel that has such an impact on my soul...
To Drink or Not to Drink
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the title of his book — Drink? — suggests, world-renowned professor of neuropsychopharmacology David Nutt thinks the cost/benefit analysis arou...
The Quest for a Moral Life
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Note: This is a rebroadcast. This episode originally aired June 2019.Do you ever feel like you’re spinning your existential wheels in life? That out...
The Epic Story of the Making of The Godfather
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to lists of men’s favorite movies, The Godfather is a perennial inclusion. And as hard as this may be to believe, the critically accla...
How to Achieve Cognitive Dominance
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to high-stakes endeavors, few are as fraught as brain surgery. One false move and you can forever alter someone's life. That's why my g...
How the Desire for Status Explains (Pretty Much) Everything
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Being famous. Knowing someone famous. Getting a laugh after telling a joke. Getting a good grade. Getting likes on a social media post. Winning a vide...
Why Do the Navy’s Frogmen Fight on Land?
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of the Navy SEALs, you think of elite special operators who have been tasked with commando-type missions in conflict zones from Central...
A Surprising Theory on Why We Get Fat
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are two dominant theories as to why Westerners have gotten increasingly obese in the last fifty years. One is that we're eating too many carbs a...
Take Back the Weekend
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever get to feeling kind of down, dejected, and anxious come Sunday evening? People refer to this phenomenon as the "Sunday Night Blues," and i...
The Metaphysical Club
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1872, a group of men that included future Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., father of modern psychology William James, and eccentri...
The Rise of the Religious "Nones" (And What It Means for Society)
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1972, the number of Americans who described themselves as religiously unaffiliated was 5%. In 2018, it was almost 24%. Why has the number of people...
The Surprising Benefits of Forgetting
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whenever Dr. Scott Small is at a social event and tells people what he does for a living — that he's a memory scientist — they inevitably tell him...
Let the Children Play!
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In Finland, children don't start formal schooling until age seven, aren't subject to standardized testing, and always get at least one hour of physica...
Time Management for Mortals
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of ink has been spilled on time management and productivity hacking; you can find endless tips on how to master your workflow, tame your inbox, ...