Voices in the Dark

The 7 Primes of Life

16 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We live in a culture that prizes youth and tells us that, once our wild 20s are over, we're basically on the slow train to decay and death. But modern...

(Economic) Apocalypse Now – Are We Weeks Away From Global Financial Meltdown?

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jon's been getting disturbing dispatches from Andrea. Is the economy about to crash like never before? Was 2008's Big Short just a dress rehearsal for...

Righteous Anger – A New Beginning?

03 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Andrea returns for a live, YouTube-streamed episode as we finally get back in the recording saddle! And we're back with anger. Or at least, a certain ...

Solo Cast & The Conspiracy on Pushkin Street

13 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is an experiment. Jon turns on the mic for a solo cast – to reflect on what life in the pandemic means and the challenges of finding m...

Are You Conscious? Westworld, Neuroscience, And Living In The Virtual – With Special Guest Michael Garfield

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Here's a hidden treasure from the VITD archives for you – our interview with the brilliant and fascinating Michael Garfield! Michael's the host of t...

The Laws of Human Nature 12: Poison Envy

21 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Envy is an inescapable part of the human experience. But nobody likes to feel – let alone admit to – envy. Instead, whenever we feel the stirrin...

The Laws of Human Nature 11: Discovering the Shadow

09 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Maybe you've heard of the shadow? Even if you haven't, you've got one – and there's no escaping it. This episode, we discuss how to discover it, acc...

The Laws of Human Nature 10: The Attitude Adjustment

30 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Time to escape the mind prison. This episode is like a shot of distilled Stoicism... are you ready? Tapping into our true nature and living a good lif...

The Laws of Human Nature 9: Five Strategies To Become a Master Persuader

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This is our second episode exploring The Law of Defensiveness, but this time we're breaking it down into some clear steps on how to hone our ability t...

The Laws of Human Nature 8: Three Core Beliefs And How To Disarm Them

04 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This could be the most important Law of all: The Law of Defensiveness. At our emotional core, we're all desperately grasping onto three basic ideas –...

Corona Chronicles, Black Lives Matter and Poetry

05 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It feels like we're living through a tipping point in world history. The year 2020 began with the Pope slapping a woman and the Australian wildfires (...

The Laws of Human Nature 7: Why Do You Want To Get Rich Quick?

16 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why do people get caught up in wild and implausible conspiracy theories, get-rich-quick scams and other tantalising pyramid schemes? As we learn in th...

Corona Chronicles: Conspiracies, Censorship and Life under Lockdown

17 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's Week 4 of Lockdown in the UK and we've got the band back together. Well, the duo. Andrea and Jon are back in the virtual studio to make some sens...

Coronavirus Cast – Laughing in the Dark

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We're living through some damn strange times. We wanted to release something to stay connected with you and to share some thoughts on the current Coro...

The Laws of Human Nature 6: Why Are You Always Dissatisfied?

08 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Robert Greene forces us to confront our inherently covetousness nature: we always want what we don't have. And yet, if we do get thos...

What Happened To Culture?

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This episode we get together to discuss a variety of topics, ultimately centring around the seeming decline of popular culture into endless sequels an...

That Time of Year...

28 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After an unintentional hiatus, Jon and Andrea return for their seasonal year in review, where they reflect on what they've learnt, how their goals and...

The Laws of Human Nature 5: Uncovering People's True Character

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we explore what 'true character' means and how to identify, deal with and master the major personality types we encounter in the worl...

What Makes A 'Perfect Gentleman'? – Zach Falconer-Barfield Interview

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The idea of the 'gentleman' increasingly seems a thing of the past – a costume drama caricature, or an old fashioned toff whose connection to the p...

The Laws of Human Nature 4: Mastering Non-Verbal Communication

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In a vast modern world, where we're constantly encountering strangers and trying to work out where they're coming from and how we can operate and coop...

When Jon Became Part Of A Police Investigation

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What would you do if the police called, informed you that you're a victim, and that they want you to give evidence about a sexual assault you've alrea...

The Laws of Human Nature 3: How To Identify & Deal With Narcissists (2/2)

26 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Last time we unveiled the disturbing psychology of narcissism; in this episode we explore some vivid historical examples and what we can all learn fro...

The Laws of Human Nature 3: How To Identify & Deal With Narcissists (1/2)

02 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Narcissists aren't what you think they are. We throw the word around so liberally these days that it's almost been drained of real meaning. But narcis...

Closing Loops, Having Boundaries, And Giving Your One Last Talk

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jon's back from Indonesia and is experiencing reverse culture shock as he returns 'home' to London. From that unstable vantage point, in this catch-up...

The Laws of Human Nature 2: Confronting Irrationality

25 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you find yourself repeating the same negative patterns in life? Finding yourself in the same argument with your partner, friends or colleagues? Or ...

We Know Who We Are

24 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Time for a catch-up episode in which Andrea recounts what happened during the first psychedelic trip he's taken in quite some time, how the Disney fil...

The Laws of Human Nature 1: Start To See The Matrix

05 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the beginning of our new in-depth series on the work of Robert Greene, one of the most important and successful authors to explore what mak...

Think & Grow Rich: The End of Self Help?

13 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jon's back in London because, in strange symmetry, his grandfather died shortly after Andrea's. So, we decided to make a mixed episode in which we fin...

Grief, Death, Censorship, And #MeThree

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a long overdue catch-up. We cover a lot of ground across the worlds of culture, censorship, sex and psychology. But it's also about gr...

Think & Grow Rich #10: Turning Sex Into Success!

04 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We're filled with sexual energy, and it's down to us to harness this force and use it to transform our creative and business efforts into 'genius'-lev...

Consent, Confusion and Toxic Narcissism: Sex & Relationships Series

17 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What would you do if your physiotherapist's hands started wandering? Would you even know howto say 'stop'? Could you be sure something sexual was actu...

Think & Grow Rich #9: Overcoming Indecision & Procrastination

03 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week's foray into the world of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich is all about the subtle art of making decisions. Procrastination is the de...

New Year in Chiang Mai and Chiswick

17 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's 2019 and that means it's time for our annual catch-up and reflection episode as we contemplate how the year's gone, what we achieved, what we did...

Think & Grow Rich #8: The 30 Major Causes Of Failure

05 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to self-help, everyone loves a good old fashioned list, and Napoleon Hill, as the man who practically invented the genre, has got plent...

VITD's Poorly-Named 'Bro Talk'

22 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The second instalment of our still-not-quite-entitled catch-up series in which Jon and Andrea discuss everything that's been hitting their radars over...

Think & Grow Rich #7 – Influence, Power And What Makes A Real Leader

07 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a good leader? What makes a bad one? We certainly know the difference when we have to work for them, but do we really know what it takes to...

VITD SPECIAL: Social Pressure & Social Conformity

25 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With Jon moving to Thailand in the next few weeks, we've decided to start a new regular series where we catch up, share our experiences and dig deep i...

Think & Grow Rich Special Episode – What Happened When JJ Bitters Put ALL of Napoleon Hill's Advice Into Action?

12 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We've been talking about Napoleon Hill's wildly popular self-help book, Think and Grow Rich, for the past few weeks, but whatever we make of the text...

Think & Grow Rich #6 – The Charisma Code

04 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we explore Napoleon Hill's theories about using the power of the imagination in order to Think and Grow Rich. Without an active, well-oiled...

Think & Grow Rich #5 – Should You Specialise, Or Start A MasterMind Group?

25 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we tackle two chapters from Napoleon Hill's perennial bestseller, Think and Grow Rich, which focus on the importance of (you guessed it) au...

Think & Grow Rich #4 – The Confidence Code (You Gotta Have Faith?)

16 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Napoleon Hill, author of the mega-seller Think and Grow Rich, believes that the single biggest thing holding you back in life is a lack of self-confi...

Think & Grow Rich #3 – How To Programme Yourself With Auto-Suggestion (And Should You?)

10 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

To keep the podcast going, we need your support! Please consider making a pledge on Patreon to help us meet our target to ensure we can continue deliv...

Think And Grow Rich #2 – Do Affirmations Really Work?

30 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 2 of Think and Grow Rich, we find Napoleon Hill riding the knife-edge between profound insight and total lunacy. He tells us that, in order t...

Think And Grow Rich #1 – Become The Master Of Your Fate

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Time for something new here at Voices in the Dark. By popular demand, we're going to dissect the original self-help classic, Think and Grow Richby Na...

The State Of The Podcast: What Next?

16 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This is a special episode of the podcast where we take stock, see where we're at, and think about where we're going to take the show next. We've both ...

How To Use Psychedelics Safely – With Psychedelics Today Host Kyle Buller

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As psychedelics increasingly hit the mainstream, we need to educate ourselves about their risks as well as their incredible potential for healing and ...

OCD & Me: Lucy Danser Interview

03 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

These days, everyone's claiming to be 'a little bit OCD', but the popularisation of the term has been at the cost of understanding the condition. Obse...

I Joke, Therefore I Am: Repression, Resistance, And The Psychology of Humour

07 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After ten years of blood, sweat and tears, Jon's book has finally emerged into the world! It hit the Amazon Bestseller lists on launch day and has bee...

You Are Not Your Ego: Personal Growth & Integration

30 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For all the tales coursing through the veins of the internet about life-changing experiences brought on by a cup of Ayahuasca or a drop of LSD, someth...

How Do Open Relationships Work? [Sex & Relationships Series]

23 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Open relationships. We've all heard about them. But how do they work? Would one be right for you? And how can you even broach the subject with your p...

The Modern Stoic #33: What Is Free Speech? Seneca Takes Down Social Justice Warriors

16 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Why do flame wars happen? Why are so many people on the Left shutting down free speech through no-platforming? Do Social Justice Warriors even know wh...

The Modern Stoic #32: Drowning In Gurus

09 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The devil is in the detail... and that's the problem. This week is about not becoming obsessed with detail at the expense of actually doing or creati...

The Problems Of Consent [Sex & Relationships Series]

03 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Consent. We intuitively think it should be simple – 'yes or no?' – but the Me Too movement and the maelstrom of Hollywood abuse scandals show us j...

The Modern Stoic #31: Chasing Happiness (Away)

26 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

 Centuries before the arrival of social media and rolling news channels, people were still chasing happiness and still finding themselves miserable a...

Killing Gossip With Authenticity - The Modern Stoic #30

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is there anything more immediately disturbing than hearing that someone's been talking about you behind your back? Whatdid they say? Whydid they say i...

The Modern Stoic #29: Does Power Corrupt And What Is True Wealth?

11 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week it's all about power, corruption, jealousy and pride! Do the things you own end up owning you, or, despite everything Seneca tells us, are ...

The Modern Stoic #28: How To Be Who You Are

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to get spiritual this week as Stoicism starts to merge almost imperceptibly with an even more ancient philosophy: Buddhism. This is Letter 4...

The Modern Stoic #27: Speak Proper, Bruv

28 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week Seneca's on the war path about oral. Communication, that is. Frustrated by Lucilius's admiration for a gabbling philosopher, Seneca lays out...

The Modern Stoic #26: Addiction And Moderation

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week Seneca's got a thing or two to say about over-indulgence and ending up controlled by our vices. Drawing from Letter 39, 'On Noble Aspiratio...

Being 'Open' [Sex & Relationships Series] – With Special Guest Carsie Blanton

15 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone's heard about open relationships, but what does it really mean to be in one? Just mentioning the concept can provoke intense debates, but bec...

Dre Is Dead

12 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Here at Voices in the Dark we're doing our best at Learning How To Human, but sometimes we – like everyone else – face some stumbling blocks. This...

The Modern Stoic #25: How To Make The Right Friends And Influence The Right People

07 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Drawing on Letter 38 from Seneca ('On Quiet Conversation'), this episode digs into the immense value of real, face-to-face conversation for all aspect...

We Need To Talk About Chemsex [Sex & Relationships Series]

04 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This next instalment in our Sex & Relationships Seriesis a stunning episode that brings us into dialogue with some of the most important, yet often-ig...

The Modern Stoic #24: Entering the Arena of Life... With A Vibrator

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we riff on Seneca's Letter 47, 'On Allegiance to Virtue' – it's short, but richly rewarding to dig into. It's about how life can seem lik...

Peter Sage: Keeping It Real Behind Bars

27 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This isn't the first timewe've crossed paths with Peter Sage, a world-renowned speaker, serial entrepreneur, author, and mentor... But to say that a l...

The Modern Stoic #23: Are You Ready For Love & True Friendship?

23 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

 Riffing on Letter 35 from Seneca ('On the Friendship of Kindred Minds'), this one takes us deep into the nature of human connections and how we can ...

Join The Unknown – JJ Bitters Interview

16 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Poet, writer, philosopher and artist JJ Bitters joins us this week midway through a tour through Europe and Africa. And he's just come out of the clos...

Why Nice Guys Suck [Sex & Relationships Series]

09 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What's wrong with being a Nice Guy? Isn't that what everyone wants in a partner? No, they don't. Nice Guys aren't nice. Nice guys are a problem – fo...

The Modern Stoic #22: Stop Quoting, Start Creating

02 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You know those people who can quote passages of Shakespeare, have read all the great novels, and who always seem to have an aphorism to hand? Well, fu...

The Modern Stoic #21: What Progress Really Means

26 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This one's about staying the course, knowing how to recognise progress from how it feels, and the dangers of internalising other people's narratives o...

Finding Clarity In Life With Philip McKernan – Jon's Retreat Experience

24 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After a successful Go Fund Me campaign, Jon raised enough money to spend an intensive weekend retreat with coach, speaker, author and emotional terror...

The Modern Stoic #20: Stop Giving Advice, Start Making Connections!

19 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week: when and how to give advice; how people avoid seeing what's right in front of them; how to avoid getting overwhelmed in life; and what huma...

Can Psychedelics Cure Autism?

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Can psychedelics cure Autism? It's a question researchers are only beginning to ask, but VITD's own Dre has already run the experiments – on himself...

The Modern Stoic #19: Are You Running Away Or Going Walkabout?

05 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Does travel broaden the mind, or are you simply running away from your problems? Can self-discovery happen on the road, or is it always a case of 'whe...

Psychology Of Dating Apps [Sex & Relationships Series]

27 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to our new series on Sex & Relationships! VITD has long been about psychology, mental health, social dynamics and self-development, and these ...

The Accidental CEO: Saud Juman's Journey From Darkness To Light

23 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

These days Saud Juman is a clean-cut guy with a successful healthcare business dedicated to helping doctors and medical staff actually take care of th...

The Modern Stoic #18: Fake It Till You Make It?

19 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What's the difference between wisdom and experience; between faking it till you make it, or truly growing as a person; and why should you never try to...

Psychology Of The Hustle With Award-Winning Actor David Bryan

16 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone's obsessed with 'the hustle' these days – it seems like we're meant to be on duty promoting ourselves and pushing to the next level 24/7......

The Modern Stoic #17: Helping People Change

13 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How and when to help other people; whether we can really get anybody to change after a certain age; how to check we're not also in need of correction ...

Minisode: Why You Won't Find Steadiness Without Taking Action

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Struggling to find equilibrium in your life? Need to choose between several options but can't quite make out which is the best path to take? In this M...

The Modern Stoic #16: Make Fear Your Mentor

05 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How to deal with and handle fear; how to find balance between accepting death and embracing life; and how to make fear your mentor. This week we take ...

Why Does School Suck For So Many Kids? – Jim Sheils Interview

01 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Sheils is disarmingly friendly for a terrorist. Well, that's what he's been branded in his community – they say he's an 'education terrorist' fo...

The Modern Stoic #15: Littlefingering Your Way To Success

29 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  When's the right time to make change? Whether it's leaving a job or changing your life, this letter is all about facing some hard truths. When and ...

The Jordan Peterson, Cathy Newman Controversy Explained

23 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode where we break down what happened in Channel 4's recent controversial interview with Dr Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist who...

The Modern Stoic #14: Practising What You Preach

22 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From ancient Stoic letters to modern-day S&M clubs, this one's a corker. We explore why actions speak louder than words; the benefits of taking action...

Jayson Gaignard Interview – From Darkness To Life

19 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jayson Gaignard is one of the best-connected people on the planet. His MasterMind Talks weekend for thought leaders and entrepreneurs is invite-only, ...

The Modern Stoic #13: Practical Exercises For Overcoming Fear

15 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Ferriss's favourite letter, this week's episode has direct, practical applications. It's time to intentionally do tough things to become sturdier ...

Minisode: An Accidental Journey Through The Maze Of Life

13 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A special minisode about the podcast phenomenon S-Town and how it (often accidentally) reveals deep truths about modern life, mental health, and what ...

The Modern Stoic #12: Rich On Paper, Poor On Life

12 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A letter that hammers home the need to put your WHY first – to find your mindset and your outlook before you do anything else; on avoiding becoming...

New Year, Real You: Stoic Journalling & New Year's Dissolutions

08 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It's 2018 and we've got a couple of powerful tools for you to make the best start in the new year, personally, socially, and professionally. And we do...

Tim Ferriss Asked – We Answered!

01 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode to bring in the new year in which we answer questions from podcast titan, angel investor and lifestyle revolutionary Tim Ferriss! Ti...

The Modern Stoic #11: Humour And Fear

28 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A rather messy letter which covers physical vanity; the three greatest fears people have; how to avoid getting lynched; when it's useful to retire fro...

The Modern Stoic #10: Are You Fears Real Or Imagined?

18 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a Tim Ferriss favourite – the basis for his TED talk on 'Fear-Setting'. This one's about overcoming the paralysis of worrying; how ...

The Modern Stoic #9: Growing Wise Without Growing Old

11 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This Episode: How to grow wiser as we grow older; how to be content when you go to sleep at night; what it means when pleasures grow stale; and a bril...

Minisode: Ryan Holiday, Ego Traps, Depression and Creativity

05 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is a special minisode, in which Jon breaks down Ryan Holiday's bestselling book, Ego is the Enemy. Drawing on his own lifelong experience with d...

Finding Your Gift & Building A Meaningful Life – Philip McKernan Interview

05 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Philip McKernan is an emotional terrorist. Quite a statement for a man who's advised the Pentagon, top business leaders, and even the Canadian Olympic...

The Modern Stoic #8: Create Your Own Role Models

27 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is about not just having but creating role models, and on being your best self without needing a mentor directly involved in your life. ...

Metaprogramming Crosscast – Uncovering The Unconscious

24 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is a crosscast with the incredible Metaprogramming Podcast. After our phenomenal interview with Erick Godsey, we heard your feedback and are brin...

The Modern Stoic #7: What You Need vs. What You Want

20 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is all about being self-sufficient. Is it possible and, if so, is it really desirable? Do we need friends? Can we really be so 'stoic' th...

The Modern Stoic #6: Success Vampires & The Madness of Crowds

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode examines the subtle madness of crowds; why 'upgrading your peer-group' is a recipe for disaster if you don't understand what it really me...