Podcast #805: How to Get Your Anger Under Control

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, life- and relationship-damaging moments happen more often than you’d like, then it’s time to start thinking about how to get a handle on your anger. My guest today offers help in that process. His name...

15h

Could Physical Activity Be the Solution to . . . (Almost) Everything?

When it comes to the biggest problems in modern Western society, things like obesity, anxiety, depression, and of course, COVID-19, surely rank near the top of the list. Every year, the United States spends $200 billion on mental health services, another $200 billion on conditions related to obesity, and has thus far spent trillions on the pandemic. ...

1d

Podcast #804: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile

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 eventually found it is one of adventure, danger, and bravery, but also arrogance, envy, and resentment. Here to offer some snapshots from this dramatic expedition is Candice Millard, author of River of the...

2d

Sunday Firesides: Why Isn’t Common Sense More Common?

Every time you turn around, you see decisions being made by individuals and institutions that seem head-scratchingly hard to comprehend. In light of the facts on the ground, the wisest course seems obvious, and yet the very opposite path is chosen. If it seems we’re suffering a deficit in common sense, it’s for this reason: there are multiple meanings...

4d

Podcast #803: How Your Expectations Can Change Your Life

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 wounds felt no pain. A further 44% experienced only slight or mild discomfort, despite the fact they had shrapnel embedded in their bodies. Beecher hypothesized that the euphoria of surviving battle resulted...

1w

The Philosophy Textbook Every Man Should Own

If you’ve been following AoM long enough, you know I like philosophy. I’ve written about philosophy on the site and talked to lots of philosophers on the podcast.  Philosophy isn’t some esoteric practice for me. It’s practical. I turn to philosophy to figure out how to live a good and meaningful life.  But it’s also just fun. For me, at least. I enjoy...

2w

Podcast #802: Stress-Free Small Talk

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 them overcome it through his practice as a therapist. Or, someone’s anxiety around small talk can be based in part on simply not knowing how to do it, and in that case, Rich helps them by teaching them...

2w

A Chill Dude Style Staple: The Classic Camp Collar Shirt

Summer is almost here so I’ve been thinking about refreshing my wardrobe for the warmer weather.  Dressing for warm weather has always been befuddling for me. I usually end up wearing a simple t-shirt with a pair of shorts. If I need to dress up a bit, I’ll go with a polo shirt. But sometimes a polo shirt feels a little too dressy, or at least a little...

3w

Podcast #801: The Cold Water Swim Cure

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 you know is cold water? My guest today, who argues that cold water swimming is one of the very best things you can do for your mental and physical health, will inspire you to finally take the plunge. His...

3w

Sunday Firesides: Pursuit as Happiness

When writing Green Hills of Africa, Ernest Hemingway titled one of its sections “Pursuit as Happiness.” The heading, a riff on the Declaration of Independence’s celebration of “the pursuit of happiness,” not only well described Hemingway’s feeling about the safari he undertook which the book recounts, but his entire life’s philosophy.  Hemingway was...

3w