Modern Wisdom &#8211; Chris Williamson

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A Masterclass in Improving Your HRV - Dr Jay Wiles - #1049 Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Dr Jay Wiles is https://ohm.health's Chief Health & Performance Officer and HRV researcher.

HRV is the new health flex, but is it lying to you? Everyone’s comparing HRV scores, but what does HRV really mean for your health? How do you raise it, and should you actually care if yours is lower than your friends'?

Expect to learn what HRV actually measures and what it doesn’t, why everyone suddenly cares about HRV, how fast the vagal system responds to changes in HRV and how it adapts, why resonance breathing is different than slow breathing, what to improve first when optimizing HRV, the big picture takeaway you should look out for, for HRV and much more...

Timestamps:

(0:00) Why Should We Be Looking at HRV? (14:54) Why Everyone’s HRV is Different (19:56) Do Men and Women Have Different HRV? (28:44) State vs Trait: Understanding Nervous System Change (38:14) How Fast Your Nervous System Really Reacts (44:16) Can You Train Your Nervous System to Adapt Over Time? (53:08) Does Resonance Breathing Actually Work? (01:10:24) How Ohm is Rethinking Breathwork (01:19:31) Does Feeling Calm Mean You’re Regulated? (01:24:41) How to Reduce Physiological Stress (01:41:06) The Top Signs Your Resonance Breathing is Working (01:47:15) The Best Ways to Improve Your HRV (01:51:27) How Breath Connects the Mind and Nervous System (01:56:03) Why Sleep is the Most Important Factor (02:04:32) Is There a Limit to Improving HRV? (02:08:12) Where to Find Jay

Sponsors:

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Extra Stuff:

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Episodes You Might Enjoy:

#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠⁠

#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠⁠

#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠

Get In Touch:

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Autism is the New Stolen Valor - Trevor Wallace - #1048 Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Trevor Wallace is a comedian, writer, and content creator.

What does going viral actually feel like? If you’re Trevor Wallace, it’s just another week. From Celsius kids to Zyn bros, Cybertrucks to Monster Energy and "Kyle's", Trevor turns internet chaos into comedy gold. So what’s the method behind his madness, and how does he keep winning the internet

Expect to learn why Autism is the new stolen valour, Trevor’s thoughts on the new Charlie Sheen documentary, how Trevor gets ideas to create his content, Trevor’s thoughts on Celcius, ZYN culture, and Cybertrucks, how it feels to go viral on the internet, why dating is so hard now, why most of your fears are a waster of time and much more...

Timestamps:

(0:00) Are Men Attracted to Autism? (11:12) What Trevor Really Thinks of Charlie Sheen (22:48) How Much is Too Much Caffeine? (26:23) Trevor's Hacks to Staying At Peak Performance (38:23) Why We All Need a Healthy Obsession (45:45) How Creativity Helps Beat Self-Doubt (51:50) Why Do We Tie Self-Worth to Performance? (01:01:18) Simple Ways to Boost Your Creativity (01:17:45) Why You Need Something to Look Forward to (01:25:50) Are These the Golden Years (01:31:47) Are We Overwhelmed by Too Many Choices? (01:39:29) Why Your Goals Change Over Time (01:52:34) How to Create Space and Reduce Noise (02:01:27) What’s Next for Trevor?

Sponsors:

See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠

Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom

Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom

New pricing since recording: Function is now just $365, plus get $25 off at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom

Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom

Extra Stuff:

Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠

Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠⁠

#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠⁠

#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠

Get In Touch:

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Obvious Strategy to Take Back Your Time - Jonathan Swanson - #1047 Jan 17, 2026

Show notes

Jonathan Swanson is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Thumbtack.

What if instead of using extra money to buy things, you used it to buy time? Delegation has never been easier, and with AI, you can 10× your productivity without working more. So what does smart delegation actually look like, and which tools make it possible?

Expect to learn why buying hours is more important than buying things, why delegating your tasks is so important and the Cardinal sins of delegation, what Jonathan's top themes of being good at delegation are, what it would take to build your best life using assistants and much more…

Timestamps:

(0:00) Why is Time So Important? (8:12) How to Make More of Your Time (16:15) The Biggest Mistakes of Delegation (22:08) How to Build Your AI Assistant’s Algorithm (28:40) Ambition vs Leverage: What Drives Success? (36:39) How to Start Delegating to Your Assistant (42:48) Are There Any Downsides to Delegation? (47:03) The Assistants Who Shaped History (52:54) The Neuroscience Behind Delegation (56:41) The Best Ways to Reduce Phone Use (01:04:19) How to Overcome the Fear of Delegation (01:11:18) Where to Find Jonathan

Sponsors:

See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠

Get the brand new Whoop 5.0 and your first month for free at https://join.whoop.com/modernwisdom

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Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom

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Extra Stuff:

Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠

Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠⁠

#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠⁠

#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠

Get In Touch:

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠

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Can Ambitious People Ever Have Balance? - Russ - #1046 Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Russ is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer.

Is obsession a gift or a choice? If you want to do something truly great, the idea of balance can start to feel like a comforting lie. So what does it actually cost to win? How did Russ go from an independent producer to a Billboard-winning artist by sacrificing almost everything else in his life, and was it worth it?

Expect to learn why you have to stop blaming your parents for you life eventually, how to take your life seriously and why that is okay, why your fear of embarrassment is killing your dreams and how to get over it, the verse that Russ resonates most deeply with, what the darkest side of the music industry is right now, how legit the Spotify charts actually are, the moment Russ learned being an independent musician was a non-negotiable and much more…

Timestamps:

(0:00) Why It’s So Hard to Reach the Top (13:25) What Makes Appreciating Success So Hard? (22:18) Why Do We Blame Our Parents For Our Flaws? (30:50) Never Dismiss Your Internal Struggle (40:55) Who Really Controls Your Reputation? (50:49) Who Decides the Reputation You Deserve? (59:36) The Fear of Embarrassment (01:17:11) Is Male Worth Tied to Competence? (01:23:32) You Don’t Need to Fight Your Emotions (01:29:45) How to Balance Vulnerability and Strength (01:44:41) Will We Chase Success Forever? (02:01:43) Why Surrendering to Creativity Changes Everything (02:12:08) What’s Next for Russ?

Sponsors:

See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠

New pricing since recording: Function is now just $365, plus get $25 off at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom

Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom

Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom

Extra Stuff:

Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠

Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠⁠

#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠⁠

#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠

Get In Touch:

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Take Control of Your Emotions - Joe Hudson - #1045 Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Joe Hudson is a coach, entrepreneur and a podcast host.

Why do we struggle to feel our emotions fully? A rich life requires openness, but that openness comes with the risk of pain. So how do we embrace the full spectrum of human emotion, even when it leaves us vulnerable to being hurt?

Expect to learn why it’s hard to live in the real world with an open heart, why so many people struggle to make good decisions and how to make better ones, how to break the loops of rumination, how to develop a good relationship with your intuition, what the largest misconceptions about overwhelm is, why people struggle to let go of imposter syndrome and how to break free from it, and much more…

Timestamps:

(0:00) Is Living With an Open Heart Too Difficult? (11:12) How Does Heartbreak Change Us? (19:07) Why Does Pain Make Us Resist? (26:10) Learning to Accept Unconditional Love (36:04) Are You Angry or Just Sad? (40:02) What Healthy Boundaries Really Look Like (46:03) Why Do We Suffer in Silence? (52:53) Aligning Your Heart and Actions (01:03:02) How to Build Real Self-Confidence (01:10:45) Why You Should Trust Your Emotions (01:26:52) How Joe Has Switched Up His Content (01:32:19) Does Loving Your Work Lead to Success? (01:37:11) What All Arguments Really Come Down To (01:44:57) Efficiency vs Awareness: What Matters More? (01:50:34) What’s Next for Joe?

Sponsors:

See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠

New pricing since recording: Function is now just $365, plus get $25 off at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom

Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom

Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom

Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom

Extra Stuff:

Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠

Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠

Learn more about Joe's work:

Free self-assessment: assessment.artofaccomplishment.com

Art of Accomplishment: artofaccomplishment.com

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠⁠

#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠⁠

#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠

Get In Touch:

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside Minnesota's $10B Childcare Fraud Scandal - Nick Shirley - #1044 Jan 10, 2026

Show notes

Nick Shirley is a YouTuber, content creator, and investigative journalist.

In just a few weeks, Nick Shirley has gone from relative obscurity to the center of one of the largest political fraud scandals in recent history. By uncovering tens of millions of dollars in alleged fraud in Minnesota, his work has forced immediate reactions from both state and federal officials, something no journalist has accomplished this fast before. So what’s behind this fraud scandal, and how deep does the corruption run at the state and federal levels?

Expect to learn how Nick ended Tim Walz upcoming gubernatorial run, the inside story of how Nick Shirley uncovered the child-care fraud scheme in Minnesota, why Minnesota is a prime state to commit fraud in, the places and states Nick wants to uncover fraud in next, what Nick’s new security concerns are since uncovering the scandal, what part 2 to his major expose will look like, some live breaking news during the ep and much more…

Timestamps:

(0:00) How Did Nick End Tim Walz? (4:10) How Nick Uncovered $10B of Fraud (15:31) The Business Model Behind Fraudulant Daycares (23:09) Where is the Funding Actually Going? (29:43) Are Holes in the System Inevitable? (34:52) Is Nick’s Work Fuelling Xenophobia? (50:50) Why is the Media So Against Nick? (59:02) Does Nick Feel Safe Anymore? (01:08:22) What to Expect in Part 2 (01:16:48) What It’s Actually Like in CECOT (01:23:21) What’s Next for Nick? (01:29:21) Breaking News (01:33:59) Chris’ Advice For Nick

Sponsors:

See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠

Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom

Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom

New pricing since recording: Function is now just $365, plus get $25 off at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom

Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom

Extra Stuff:

Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠

Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠⁠

#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠⁠

#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠

Get In Touch:

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 Habits for an Optimised Morning & Evening Routine - Arthur Brooks - #1043 Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Arthur Brooks is a social scientist, professor at Harvard University, and an author.

What does it really take to live a fulfilling life? With endless advice on how to boost or sabotage happiness, what does science actually say about feeling better and living well?

Expect to learn if men need marriage more than women do, why women tend to leave bad relationships faster than men, why falling in love makes us do crazy things, what the brain chemistry of love is, if we should be careful about who we let ourselves fall in love with, how you can tell if you’re a compatible romantic partner, but not a compatible best friend, how to overcome contempt and insecurity in a relationship and much more...

Timestamps:

(0:00) Is Wellbeing Physical or Mental? (8:37) Why Privilege Can Fuel Addiction (18:30) The Key To Managing Yourself More Effectively (35:51) How to Rewire Anxiety and Uncertainty (42:25) How Biology Shapes Our Relationships (50:33) Why Growth Stems From Pain (59:08) Designing the Optimal Morning Routine (01:08:55) The Physiology of Staying Fit as You Age (01:18:49) Engineering the Optimal Evening Routine (01:24:31) Can You Over-Optimise Your Wellbeing? (01:29:45) What Causes Us the Most Pain? (01:33:01) The Neuroscience of Heartbreak (01:39:57) Has Modern Freedom Backfired on Happiness? (01:47:27) Where to Find Arthur

Sponsors:

See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠

Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom

New pricing since recording: Function is now just $365, plus get $25 off at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom

Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom

Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom

Extra Stuff:

Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠

Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠

Get Arthur Brooks' new book - 'The Meaning of Your Life' here: http://themeaningofyourlife.com/

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠⁠

#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠⁠

#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠

Get In Touch:

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Reclaim Your Brain in 2026 - Dr Andrew Huberman - #1042 Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Dr Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist, Associate Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine and a podcaster. There’s an overwhelming amount of information on how to level up your body and mind, and it can be difficult to know where the latest science truly stands. Thankfully, Dr. Andrew Huberman breaks down the research on habits, the brain, sleep, supplements, and his personal go-to protocols. Expect to learn why high cortisol isn’t actually a bad think to have a lot of, Andrew’s advice on how to overcome burnout, what the new science of better sleep would be, how to make and set better habits easier, what Andrew thinks of the new “protein in everything” trend, the next wave of supplements to take to optimise your life, Andrew’s take on religion and faith and much more…

Timestamps:

(0:00) How Cortisol Programs Our Day (9:22) Understanding Stress & Burnout (14:16) The Silent Cost of Sleep Debt (21:47) Breakthrough Secrets for Better Sleep (36:19) Should We Sleep With Our Head Raised? (51:44) The #1 Hack for Deep Focus (01:08:08) The Science of Spirituality (01:25:28) How Much Can We Control Our Internal World? (01:33:38) Why Understanding People Changes Everything (01:46:35) Healthy Media Habits (02:06:28) The Next Breakthrough Supplement (02:25:09) The Nutrient That Heals Your Second Brain (02:31:24) Hacking Your Mitochondrial DNA (02:39:55) Making Sense of Complex Health Issues (03:04:02) Andrew’s Upcoming Book

Sponsors:

See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠

Extra Stuff:

Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠

Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠⁠

#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠⁠

#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠

Get In Touch:

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Don’t You Have Sex With Your Sister? - Dr Debra Lieberman - #1041 Jan 03, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Debra Lieberman is an evolutionary psychologist, professor, and researcher.

Why don’t we feel sexual attraction toward our siblings or close family? Evolution seems to have hard-wired the brain to prevent inbreeding, a pattern shared with many other animals. So how does this mechanism work, and what are the moral or ethical arguments surrounding incest?

Expect to learn why evolution has designed you to not want sex with your sister, how animals actually detect who their relatives are, what the high level explanation is for why humans don’t want sex with their kin, the moral argument if it is okay if two adult siblings had consensual sex, how big the actual genetic risk is for first cousins, what crying adn tears actually communicate from an evolutionary perspective and much more…

Timestamps:

(0:00) Why Don’t We Want to Have Sex With Our Siblings? (7:57) What Triggers Our Incest Avoidance Mechanism? (19:04) Is Incest Disgust a Moral Pressure? (27:19) How Only Children Make Sense of Incest (31:11) Why Is Incest P**n So Popular? (37:19) Why Do We Cry? (52:53) What Happens When No One is Watching (58:07) Why We Use Tears to Convey Emotions (01:06:30) Where to Find Debra

Sponsors:

See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠

New pricing since recording: Function is now just $365, plus get $25 off at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom

Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom

Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom

Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom

Extra Stuff:

Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠

Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠⁠

#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠⁠

#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠

Get In Touch:

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠