Hi, Everyone,
I’m going to start blasting out my Explore the Edges live chats. This one is going out two days after it was recorded, but future episodes will go up right after recording.
On Tuesday, I chatted live and unedited with
. Rob has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Cambridge and is the author of Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class. He also writes a hell of a Substack.Rob and I covered:
What Rob learned from his chaotic upbringing and how it’s shaped his thinking today.
How my own wacky childhood was tough at times but ended up benefiting me in the long run.
Why Rob avoided voluntary discomfort in his youth but will happily take it on today (great lesson here that relates to The Comfort Crisis.)
Evolutionary mismatches in psychology that impact us today.
The evolution of dopamine and why doing hard things is good for us.
When to seek perfection and when to seek “good enough.”
Rob’s thoughts on Luxury Beliefs, which are ideas and opinions that confer status on the upper class, while often inflicting costs on the lower classes.
How to take shit from people.
The downsides and upsides of technology, and how we can use technology to live better (I cover a fun case study).
Gear not stuff!
When Rob and I each realized we weren’t just sending emails—we are creating community with our Substacks.
Rob’s advice for reading more books and his thoughts on audiobooks.
The downsides of traditional media and how I think about the practice of journalism today.
And much more …
Watch our conversation above and, as always, have fun, don’t die.
-Michael
