Modern Wisdom &#8211; Chris Williamson

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The Painful Psychological Cost Of Becoming A Dad - Darby Saxbe - #1129 Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

Dr Darby Saxbe is a clinical psychologist, professor at USC, and author.

Do dads get postpartum depression? Mothers face enormous physical and emotional changes after childbirth, but fathers can struggle too, often in silence. So what happens to men when they become dads, why does it affect some so deeply, and how can they adapt to a new life that nature has thrust upon them?

Expect to learn what actually happens to dads after moms give birth, the physiological changes that happen to dads after birth, which behaviors create the effect known as “dad brain”, the biggest upsides and downsides of fatherhood for men, why postpartum depression in fathers goes unrecognized, the worst advice dads get, and much more…

Sponsors:

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Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at ⁠https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom⁠

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

Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠⁠https://chatgpt.com

Timestamps:

(0:19) What is Dad Brain?
(2:18) How Fatherhood Has Changed Over Time
(8:18) What Happens to Men During Pregnancy?
(12:57) Should Fathers Be in the Delivery Room?
(13:47) Are Sympathetic Pregnancies Real?
(15:17) What Couples Should Focus on During Pregnancy
(17:56) The Real Cause of Dad Brain
(24:18) The Top Behaviours That Trigger Dad Brain
(31:31) Biology or Choice: What Makes a “Hands-On” Dad?
(33:48) The Truth Behind the Deadbeat Dad Narrative
(36:44) Can Fathers Bond at Any Age?
(38:50) How Fatherhood Changes Male Hormones
(46:44) Why Becoming a Father Is the Ultimate Masculine Role
(50:25) Does Dad Brain Get Worse With More Kids?
(53:19) How Daughters Change Fathers
(1:00:48) Does Housework Ruin Cortisol Recovery?
(1:03:43) Do Dads Experience Postpartum Depression?
(1:15:29) Why Postpartum Depression Happens in Women
(1:18:55) How to Support a Partner Through Postpartum Depression
(1:31:09) The Worst Advice New Dads Hear

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:

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Polyvagal Theory: Why You Feel So Anxious All The Time - Dr Stephen Porges - #1128 Jul 25, 2026

Show notes

Dr Stephen Porges is a neuroscientist & psychologist.

Why does your nervous system always feel on edge? When everything feels like a threat, your body may be stuck in survival mode. So what keeps your nervous system on high alert, and how can you finally teach it to feel safe again?

Expect to learn why your nervous system is in a state of fight or flight all of the time, what the Polyvagal Theory is and how to attain a calmer state of mind, why dogs calm humans so effectively, what the biggest myth about anxiety is and the role of metabolic support for the nervous system, how the gut, inflammation and chronic stress play in nervous system regulation and much more…

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

Get up to $50 off the RP Hypertrophy App at ⁠⁠https://rpstrength.com/modernwisdom⁠⁠

Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at ⁠https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom⁠

Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠⁠⁠https://chatgpt.com⁠

Timestamps:

(0:00) What is Polyvagal Theory?

(5:54) Why It’s So Important to Focus On How We Feel

(12:04) How the Nervous System Adapted Over Time

(18:08) Is Safety Our #1 Goal?

(19:59) What Feeling “Safe” Really Means

(21:28) The Most Powerful Signals of Safety

(23:31) Can You Ever Truly Feel Safe?

(25:21) Why Safety Feels Different for Everyone

(30:05) What Stephen’s Work Means to Chris

(39:20) What Causes Nervous System Dysregulation?

(44:00) Are Humans on the Same Frequency As Animals?

(50:49 Don’t Hack Your Nervous System, Challenge It

(54:05 Does Resonance Breathing Actually Work?

(57:15) How Does the Safe and Sound Protocol Work?

(59:43) What Your Body Language Reveals About You

(01:04:11) The Biggest Myth About Anxiety

(01:05:06) What Unlocks Your Full Capacity?

(01:10:28) Low vs High Tolerance: Understanding Your Nervous System

(01:12:31) How to Build a Sense of Safety

(01:16:59) How Important is Metabolic Support?

(01:19:49) What Causes Shifts Between Shutdown and Overdrive?

(01:23:07) Why Tinnitus Can Signal Nervous System Issues

(01:27:21) The Link Between the Vagus Nerve and the Gut

(01:29:47) Are Male and Female Nervous Systems Different?

(01:34:44) Why We Need More Humility and Compassion

(01:41:13) Do Stellate Ganglion Blocks Actually Work?

(01:44:50) The Strongest Criticisms of Polyvagal Theory

(01:49:54) Can Your Nervous System Be “Too Safe”?

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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Something Scary Is Happening In Biolabs - Annie Jacobsen - #1127 Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Annie Jacobsen is a journalist, investigative reporter and an author.

For decades, nuclear war has been humanity’s greatest existential fear. But the next global catastrophe may not arrive with a mushroom cloud—it could begin inside a laboratory. What would a biological attack actually look like, how quickly would it spread, and could humanity survive it?

Sponsors:

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

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Get 10% discount on all Gymshark products at https://gym.sh/modernwisdom (use code MODERNWISDOM10)

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

Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com

Timestamps:

(00:00) Nuclear vs Biological War: Which Is Worse? (01:08) Why No One Is Talking About Bioweapons (04:23) Is Genetic Engineering a Good Thing? (07:14) What COVID Really Taught Us (13:25) Who Created the First Biological Weapon? (21:25) What Makes the Perfect Biological Weapon? (26:44) The Soviet Bioweapons Ambition (27:50) How the Soviet Program Was Exposed (34:38) How Many Bioweapons Are Man-Made? (37:30) The Biggest Mistakes in Bioweapons History (45:04) What Happens in the First 24 Hours of a Leak? (56:02) Bacteria vs Virus: Which Is More Dangerous? (57:19) Does Dose Responsiveness Determine Survival? (59:21) Are Incubation Time and Lethality Correlated? (01:02:19) How the Soviets Created a Euphoric Plague (01:08:39) Six Days: From Outbreak to Anarchy (01:23:37) How Close COVID Came to Social Breakdown (01:36:24) Where to Find Annie

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 Patterns Behind the World’s Greatest Minds - David Senra - #1126 Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

David Senra is the host of Founders podcast and an investor.

What separates successful founders from everyone else? Luck and timing matter, but they’re not the whole story. The best founders share repeatable patterns in how they think, work, and handle pressure. You can’t control the hand you’re dealt, but you sure can control how you play it.

Expect to learn the work habits behind the genius of Rick Rubin, the 3 different types of founders with 3 specific traits who find unparalleled success, the simple advice most founders abide by when building their ideas into companies, why making mistakes is actually a badge of honour, how to have an obscene level of focus and much more…

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 up to 20% off Timeline powered by Mitopure (now at a lower price) at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom

Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom

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

Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com

Timestamps:

(00:00) The Mindset Behind “Lazy Workaholics” (04:26) Why You Have to Bet on Yourself to Find Success (13:42) Feed Your Mind or Fall Behind (24:19) The Power of One Simple Idea (30:51) Failure Is a Privilege of Progress (37:30) Why Listening Is the Real Advantage (41:14) Don’t Solve Problems, Avoid Them (47:37) Why You Should Create for Yourself First (50:08) Be Ruthless With Your Life (56:49) Are Entrepreneurs Bad at Relationships? (01:12:15) The One Biography Every Ambitious Person Should Read (01:19:13) Is Respect the End Goal? (01:27:11) Don’t Let Others Define Your Success (01:30:56) Where to Find David

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 True Story Of The Odyssey (and why it matters) - Alex Petkas - #1125 Jul 18, 2026

Show notes

Alex Petkas is a historian, writer, and podcaster.

What’s the real story behind The Odyssey? As the ancient epic returns to the big screen, a historian reveals the original tale, the world that shaped it, and the timeless lessons hidden within it.

Expect to learn why The Odyssey is such an important story, what type of person and writer Homer was, who the important women of The Odyssey were and which ones were benevolent, heroic, or dangerous, why revenge and justice are the key underlying themes in the story, what a real historian thinks of Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey and much more...

Sponsors:

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

Get up to $350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 5 at https://eightsleep.com/modernwisdom

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

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

Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom

Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com

Timestamps:

(00:00) Why The Odyssey Still Matters Today (06:19) What Happens in The Odyssey? (09:41) Did Homer Write The Iliad First? (15:20) How Much of The Odyssey Is Just Retelling? (16:31) Why Is Penelope the Ultimate Prize? (21:43) Telemachus’ Quest to Live Up to His Father (36:19) How Order Can Slip into Anarchy (37:21) Why Odysseus Walked Away From a Goddess (54:13) The Power of Cunning (01:01:09) How Odysseus Outsmarted the Cyclops (01:07:35) The One Mistake That Cursed Odysseus (01:09:23) Is Family the True Heart of The Odyssey? (01:24:57) How Odysseus Finally Returns Home (01:27:48) The Reunion of Odysseus and Telemachus (01:29:57) The Fall of the Suitors (01:42:12) Is Penelope the Real Hero of the Story? (01:46:25) Why Divine Favour Changes Everything (01:49:02) The Hidden Role of Oral Storytelling (01:53:24) Why Nolan’s Films Divide Audiences (01:57:52) Is Emily Wilson’s Translation Accurate? (02:01:26) Has the Classic Hero Disappeared? (02:11:09) Why We Need to Beware Modern Sirens (02:19:48) Where to Find Alex

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 Most Important Questions Of Our Time - George Mack - #1124 Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

George Mack is a writer, marketer and entrepreneur.

What are the most important questions of our time? Some search for the meaning of life. Others wonder how to leverage California’s gay subsidy. Both are equally valid, but one is definitely more interesting. So what are today’s biggest questions, and do any of the answers actually matter?

Expect to learn if AI-generated stories can win awards, what qualifies for California’s gay certification program, who the chicken farmer who fooled Hitler was, why men aren’t great at receiving and expressing their emotions, why George is obsessed with Gymshark’s finances, the best lessons Chris and George have learned from this past year and much more…

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 up to $50 off the RP Hypertrophy App at https://rpstrength.com/modernwisdom

Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom

Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com

Timestamps:

(00:00) Who Is Cristiano Ronaldo Named After? (03:13) Is This the Worst Walkout Song? (07:41) Should AI Be Winning Writing Awards? (12:46) Beckham vs Pitt: Who Do Women Prefer? (17:43) Do Trends in the East Always Translate to the West? (27:24) The Truth Behind California’s “Gay Certification” (32:02) How a Chicken Farmer Defeated Hitler (38:52) Is This the Greatest Civilian Hero Story? (45:37) Why We Experience Survivor’s Guilt (55:53) Are Men Homophobic or Femmephobic? (01:04:05) Why Cash Flow Cycles Matter More Than You Think (01:09:27) The Life Lessons You Come Back to Most (01:22:08) Where to Find George

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 Everyone Is Drowning In Debt (and how to get out) - Caleb Hammer - #1123 Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

Caleb Hammer is a personal finance YouTuber.

Are we in a financial crisis or spending our way into one? Rising prices, growing debt, and shrinking savings are putting every generation under pressure. But what’s really to blame? A broken economy, bad money habits, or both? The answer could determine whether we’re headed for disaster, or still have time to turn things around.

Expect to learn if it is actually harder to make an manage money than ever before, what the hidden costs of bankruptcy are that nobody wants to talk about, why Gen Z is in more debt than any other generation, if most financial problems are psychological in nature, if lifestyle inflation has become a bigger problem than inflation itself, what the biggest financial red flags are when dating and much more…

Sponsors:

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

Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom

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

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

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

Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com

Timestamps:

(00:00) Does Caleb Really Get Death Threats? (05:44) Does Gen Z Actually Have It Harder Financially? (18:02) The Hidden Costs of Bankruptcy (21:03) Why People Fall Into Debt (24:13) The Personality Traits Behind Financial Success (25:36) How Debt Impacts Your Identity (27:28) The Trap of Lifestyle Inflation (36:14) The Best Way to Handle Anxious Guests (39:23) Knowledge vs Discomfort: What Makes the Biggest Impact? (44:26) Why Behaviour Is the Real Fix for Money Problems (49:24) What Financial Milestone Makes People Happiest? (52:14) UK vs US: Who’s Better Off Financially? (01:07:36) What Real Financial Education Should Look Like (01:16:38) The Dangerous Consequences of the Gender Wars (01:21:32) The Economic Risks of a Declining Population (01:26:37) Should a Trillionaire Exist? (01:31:37) The Biggest Financial Red Flags in Dating (01:34:19) How Money Problems End Relationships (01:36:53) How Mental Health Shapes Spending Habits (01:40:19) The Dumb Purchases That Make People Broke (01:42:40) How Damaging Is Financial Over-Optimisation? (01:44:56) Is Property Still a Smart Investment? (01:53:43) Is Raising Kids Cheaper Than You Think? (01:55:53) Where to Find Caleb

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 The AI Doomers Might Be Right - Robert Wright - #1122 Jul 11, 2026

Show notes

Robert Wright is a journalist and author.

Is AI the next stage of human development? Some see it as another tool, while others view human-machine integration as a major shift in how we develop. What do recent advances in AI tell us, and is evolution the right framework for understanding them?

Expect to learn why Robert is interested in AI through an evolutionary lens, why most people still don’t grasp the magnitude of what’s coming, how AI will fit into the broader context of human evolution and civilisation, what the most legitimate concerns from the AI doomer camp are, if we are close to hitting the singularity, and much more…

Sponsors:

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

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

Get up to 20% off Timeline powered by Mitopure (now at a lower price) at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom

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

Get up to $350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 5 at https://eightsleep.com/modernwisdom

Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com

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