The Art of Manliness
Episodes
Do You want to Be Rich or Wealthy? (And Why the Difference Matters)
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Note: This is a rebroadcast. It originally aired in November 2020. When we think about finance, we typically think about numbers and math. My guest ...
Why We Get Sick
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cancer. Alzheimer's. Heart disease. Diabetes. Infertility. While these prevalent and dreaded diseases are caused by multiple factors, my guest says th...
The Confucian Gentleman
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you think about the word "gentleman," you probably think about the kind of well-mannered, well-educated, civil, virtuous, self-controlled fellows...
Do You Need to Take a Dopamine Fast?
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Her name is Anna Lembke and she's Chief of Stanford's Addiction Medicine Clinic and the author of the book Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in an Age ...
What the Labors of Hercules Can Teach You About Life and Masculinity
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You're probably familiar with the mythological tale of Hercules (or "Heracles" as the hero was originally called) from books, comics, and movies. But ...
How to Get Time, Priorities, and Energy Working in Your Favor
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of your assets, you probably think of your money. But you also have three other hugely important assets at your disposal too: your time...
The Power of Talking to Strangers
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Look around a grocery store, airport lobby, or subway car, and you'll see a bunch of people who are physically together but distinctly separate, each ...
The Exercise Prescription for Depression and Anxiety
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you went to the doctor about treating your depression or anxiety, you might expect to be written a prescription for Zoloft or Xanax. But if you wen...
Life's 10 Biggest Decisions
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How many of your life’s ten biggest decisions have you already made?My guest today, behavioral scientist Dr. Adrian Camilleri, would often ask this ...
Rewild Your Life
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you have one, take a look at your pet cat or dog. These animals descended from wildcats and wolves, but today live pretty sedate lives, walking aro...
The Character Traits That Drive Optimal Performance
08 Sep 2021
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 flourishing?...
Being a Man in the Lousy Modern World
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Note: This is a rebroadcast. It originally aired March 2020. Emerson famously said “society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every...
College — What It Was, Is, and Should Be
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Modern students are apt to see going to college as the way to earn a credential that will help them get a good job. But as Andrew Delbanco, Professor ...
Could Sleeping in Separate Beds Improve Your Relationship?
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to advice around getting better sleep, nearly all of it is directed at the individual sleeper who feels they've got room to improve: Her...
The Conquering Father Who Made an Empire-Building Son
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If asked to think about the greatest generals of the ancient world, one name is likely to come to mind first: Alexander the Great — the incomparable...
How Moral Grandstanding Is Ruining Our Public Discourse
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's hard not to notice how heated and divided our public discourse has gotten, especially online. People insult and vilify each other, take unnuanced...
What a Man With 60,000 Books Can Teach You About Lifelong Learning and Building Your Home Library
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gary Hoover loves books. Among the nine companies he founded was the bookstore chain Bookstop, which was acquired by Barnes & Noble. He has a pers...
Tips From a Top TED Talker on How to Be Heard
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Julian Treasure knows a thing or two about how to speak well. He's given five TED talks which have been watched over 125 million times, including one ...
A Futurist's Guide to Building the Life You Want
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When people hear that Brian David Johnson is a futurist, they typically want him to offer up some predictions for what the world will look like 10, 20...
The Hell-Raising Leader of WWII's Filthy Thirteen
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you have any interest in World War II, then you've surely seen one of the most arresting photographs to come out of that conflict. In it, members o...
How to Fight Internet-Induced Numbness
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The ironic thing about our digital devices, is that they promise constant stimulation . . . and yet we find they end up making us feel numb. Numb in t...
Improve Your Productivity With the Power of Deadlines
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone has experienced the way deadlines can act as a double-edged sword: on the one hand, they force us to get stuff done; but on the other, they o...
How Doing a Life Review Can Help Your Understand Your Past, Present, and Future
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Who and where do you want to be in the future? It's a question we typically answer by looking ahead. But, my guest would say, you can actually best fi...
What's Causing the Male Friendship Recession?
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
According to a recent survey, the percentage of men with at least six close friends has fallen by half since 1990, and men today are 5X more likely to...
The Curse of the Self
21 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What a gift the human self is. It enables you to sense and reflect upon your own existence; examine the past and plan for the future; check certain im...
The Strange Science of Sweat
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Start jogging around the block, or simply sitting outside on a hot summer day, and you begin to feel moisture develop all over your body. Maybe a drop...
Men Without Chests
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.” While th...
Think More Strategically
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of organizations and individuals will set some aim for themselves, and then, when they reach the point where they should be seeing progress, but...
The Psychology of Effective Weight Loss
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When most people think about losing weight, they think about the details of a diet plan — what food to eat, how much of it to eat, and when to eat i...
A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Editor's Note: This is a rebroadcast. It originally aired June 2020. One of the most burning questions in life is what it is you’re called to do wi...
The Secrets to Making the Perfect Burger
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Chris Kronner took his first head chef position at an upscale restaurant, he inherited a menu which featured a popular burger. At first he resent...
The Surprising Pessimism of America's Founding Fathers
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Americans think about their country's Founding Fathers, they tend to think of them as cool and competent figures, who were supremely confident in...
How to Use Digital Body Language to Build Trust and Connection
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Three-quarters of our face-to-face communication with other people is given through nonverbal cues — the way we smile, hold our arms, raise or lower...
The Stranger in the Woods — The Story of the Last True Hermit
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Editor's Note: This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally aired in November 2017. Have you ever just wanted to get in your car, drive off into the...
The Fraught, Relatable Relationship Between Winston Churchill and His Son
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Winston Churchill once said of his only son: "I love Randolph, but I don't like him." It's a sentiment many a parent with a tumultuous relationship wi...
How to Make Your Life More Effortless
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When we're failing to do the things that are most important in our lives, the typical diagnosis of the problem is to believe we're simply not working ...
What's the Most Sustainable Diet?
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you're someone who wants to lose weight, you've probably spent some time thinking about and experimenting with different diets. Browse the literal ...
Why Do We Want What We Want?
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we want the things we want? While we'll offer up plenty of reasons to explain our choices, my guest today says the real reason we want what we ...
How to Predict the Weather (No Apps Required)
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you're deciding what to wear in the morning, or on the viability of some activity for the weekend, you'll likely turn to a weather app to see wha...
What Plato’s Republic Has to Say About Being a Man
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Editor’s Note: This is a re-broadcast. This episode originally aired in April 2019. Plato’s Republic is a seminal treatise in Western political p...
The Men and Mission of WWII's Unsinkable U.S.S. Plunkett
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Seventy-six years years after the end of World War II, that singular event continues to capture our interest and fascination. There's a reason for tha...
How to Plan the Ultimate Road Trip
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After more than a year of being cooped up due to pandemic restrictions, lots of people are itching to hit the open road and get the heck out of dodge....
The Spartans at Thermopylae
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
for knowing the death which was about to come upon them by reason of those who were going round the mountain, they displayed upon the barbarians all ...
The Art of Conversation — A Guided Tour of a Neglected Pleasure
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you form a meaningful connection with another person? Well, it starts with simply opening your mouth. From there, my guest says, you want to pr...
Overcoming the Comfort Crisis
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our world has never been more convenient and comfortable. With just a few taps of our fingers, we can order food to our door, access endless entertain...
Did You Pick the Right Partner?
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you've been dating someone for a short time or been married for years, there's one question that can remain perennially interesting — did I ...
The (Non-Cliche) Life Lessons of Fly Fishing
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fishing has long lent itself to imparting philosophical parallels and metaphorical life lessons. But these homespun platitudes can, to be honest, tend...
The Best Tools for Personal Change
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There's no shortage of information out there on how to change — how to lose weight, exercise more, curb your anger, quit smoking, and every other ki...
How to Keep Your Edge as You Get Older
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's a common life trajectory for men: graduate college, get married, get a 9 to 5 job, have some kids, settle down in the suburbs. And somewhere alon...
The Hidden Qualities of Genius
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We tend to throw the word "genius" around pretty casually, saying so-and-so has a genius for a particular skill, or sarcastically pointing out someone...
One Man's Impossible Quest — To Make Friends in Adulthood
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Several years ago, there was a tweet that went viral which said that of Jesus' many miracles, perhaps his greatest, was having 12 close friends in his...
Why Are We Restless?
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most everyone has experienced restlessness from time to time. A feeling of wanting more, but being unsure of how to find it; of struggling with distra...
The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Quick, think of a famous magician. Dimes to donuts, you just thought of Harry Houdini. Though it's been almost a century since his death, Houdini stil...
The No-Nonsense Guide to Simplifying Every Aspect of Your Life
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Before Gary Collins left a bureaucratic government job to pursue a more independent existence off the grid, he had to work on downsizing and declutter...
The Secrets of Public Speaking From History's Greatest Orators
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Despite the fact that public speaking remains an important and relevant skill in our modern age -- you never know when you'll need to give a toast at ...
Social Psychology Won't Save Us
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to proposed solutions to life's problems, whether on an individual or societal scale, the four most commonly used words these days are "...
Forging Mental Strength Through Physical Strength
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Editor’s Note: This is a re-broadcast. This episode originally aired in June 2018. When you start a fitness program, you tend to spend most of your...
Theodore Roosevelt, The Last Romantic
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Romanticism, not in terms of courtship and bouquets of roses, but as a philosophical approach to life which blossomed in the 19th century, embodies ma...
Sisu, the Finnish Art of Strength
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In Finland, "sisu" is a concept that, while it can't be strictly translated into English, roughly corresponds to a combination of bravery, resilience,...
The Fascinating Secrets of Your Voice
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Unless you're a complete recluse, you probably use your voice many times a day, whether talking to your spouse, chatting with co-workers, or singing a...
Why Is It So Hard to Admit You Were Wrong?
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Personal responsibility, the ability to own up to one's mistakes, is a foundational element of character. It's also the only way we can grow and get b...
The Two Halves of the Warrior's Life
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Roman army hires a former legionnaire to hunt down a courier and intercept a letter he is carrying from the apostle Paul. But when this mercenary ...
What You Can (Really) Learn About Exercise from Your Human Ancestors
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all know how indisputably good exercise is for you. Yet a lot of folks still find it a struggle to engage in much physical activity. To understand ...
The Life Philosophy of Bruce Lee
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many people know Bruce Lee as a martial artist and film star. But he was also a philosopher, who articulated principles that apply beyond engaging in...
Email Is Making Us Miserable — Here's What to Do About It
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Each day you begin work with high hopes for productivity and creativity. But each day you instead find yourself bogged down in checking and answering ...
Protection for and from Humanity
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When celebrities, dignitaries, and executives go out and about and travel around the world, they're often surrounded by bodyguards whose job it is to ...
How to Get a Handle on the Voice in Your Head
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all talk to ourselves all the time. This kind of inner dialogue can be a good thing, helping us focus and work through problems, but it can also go...
The Psychology of Boredom
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When we experience boredom, we tend to experience it as uncomfortable and agitating, and seek to banish it with some ready distraction. Or, we try to ...
How to Decide
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all make many decisions every single day. From little ones like what to eat for breakfast, to big ones like whether to take a new job. Given how re...
Help for Those Stuck Between Boyhood and Manhood
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You probably know a young man, or several, who's struggled to transition from adolescence to adulthood. He's in his twenties or even thirties, and see...
How to Think Like a Renaissance Man
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When we think about the Renaissance, we think of a great flowering in artistic creativity and intellectual innovation; we think about the beautiful pa...
Get Rucking
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rucking, that is, walking with a weighted backpack, started as something that soldiers did to carry the gear and equipment needed for combat. In recen...
The Epic Exploits of Kit Carson
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Within the space for just three decades, monumental episodes of exploration and expedition, politics and violence, including the mapping the Oregon Tr...
Influence and Persuade Through Human Hacking
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of hacking, we think of a tech-savvy dude breaking into computer systems to steal data. But hackers can also take the form of "social en...
The History of Fame, From Alexander the Great to Social Media Influencers
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When choosing among options like becoming a leader, helping others, and becoming more spiritual, half of millennials say that their generation's first...
Physical Benchmarks Every Man Should Meet, At Every Age
25 Jan 2021
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...
The Value of Learning New Skills in Adulthood
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you were a kid, you not only went to school, where you did academics, art, and PE, but you probably also took extracurricular lessons in music or...
Stop Living on Autopilot and Take Responsibility for Your Life
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever have moments of terrible realization where you recognize that you're living on autopilot? Instead of feeling like you're in the driver's s...
The Humble, Narcissistic Leader
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Research, not to mention anecdotal observation, shows that a lot of narcissists end up in leadership positions. That's because the qualities narcissis...
How to Land Your Dream job
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chances are, you've got a job right now. Chances are even good that you have a pretty decent job. But there's also a good chance that you often desire...
The Complex Coolness of Steve McQueen
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Performances by the actor Steve McQueen in classic films like The Great Escape and Bullitt earned him the nickname "The King of Cool." But behind the ...
How to Do the Impossible This Year
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are goals in life that seem very attainable. And then there are those which seem practically impossible — rising out of poverty and/or a traum...
How to Lose Weight, and Keep It Off Forever
30 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is a rebroadcast. This episode originally aired January 2019. If you’re like a lot of men listening to this podcast, you’ve likely made it a ...
Begin the New Year by Reflecting on These 3 Life-Changing Questions
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As one year ends and another begins, it's natural to reflect on both the past and the future -- who we were, who we are, and who we want to become. My...
How to Tell Better Stories
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is a re-broadcast. The episode originally ran in November 2018. Humans are storytelling and story-listening creatures. We use stories to teach, p...
The Hidden Tragedy of Male Loneliness
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many men prioritize the pursuit of status, power, and autonomy, which can have its advantages in moving them towards financial security and up society...
A Change IS a Rest
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One of my favorite sayings is that "a change is as good as a rest." It captures an idea I've found true in my own life, that doing something different...
Outdoor Competence With an Expert Backcountry Hunter
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You may know Steven Rinella as an expert hunter and the host of the MeatEater television show and podcast. He's also an author, and his latest book is...
Bringing More Soul (and Poetry) Into Your Work
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of areas of life that speak to the soul, and elicit poetry, you likely think of things like romantic relationships and natural landscap...
The Power of Brevity in a Noisy World
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Going all the way back to the laconic Spartans, the ability to be succinct in one's communications has been to others a sign of strength and a well-ap...
#665: How Childhood Shapes Adulthood
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ask an adult, especially if they're struggling in life, what caused them to end up the way they did, and they might cite certain factors from their ch...
#664: The Masters of the Art of War
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Looked at from the heat of combat, war can seem disorganized and chaotic. But overarching the conflict is typically some kind of thoughtful, well-orde...
#448: Your Son Isn’t Lazy — How to Empower Boys to Succeed [RE-BROADCAST]
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is a re-broadcast. The episode originally ran in October 2018. Do you have a teenage boy who struggles in school? Or do you have a younger son w...
#663: How to Achieve Physical Autonomy
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Most men want to wake up in the morning knowing their body is ready to handle whatever opportunities and challenges come their way that day, from a re...
#662: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When you think about serendipity, you likely think of strokes of good luck that happen entirely by chance. But my guest today says that we can play a...
#661: Get Better Sleep by Stressing About It Less
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past decade, there's been an emerging focus on the importance of sleep. Thousands of books and articles have been put out which drive home ju...
#660: How Ancient Greek Tragedies Can Heal the Soul
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When you think about ancient Greek tragedies, you probably think about people in togas spouting stilted, archaic language -- stories written by stuffy...
#659: Do You Want to Be Rich or Wealthy? (And Why the Difference Matters)
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When we think about finance, we typically think about numbers and math. My guest today, however, argues that doing well with money is less about what ...
#658: In Praise of Maintenance in a World Obsessed With Innovation
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Humans like starting new things much more than taking care of older things. This is true on both an institutional and individual level: it's more exci...
#657: Why You Don't Change (But How You Still Can)
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone who's ever tried to lose weight, curb their temper, quit smoking, or alter any other habit in their lives knows that personal change is hard. R...