The Double Win

Why does it feel like everything is falling apart, even as our lives get materially easier in so many ways? Michael Hyatt talks with author and cultural thinker Virginia Postrel about why progress becomes invisible, how nostalgia for the “good old days” distorts reality, and why modern change moves unevenly.They explore why humans crave beauty and meaning (not just function) and how AI is reshaping the future of work. A clear theme emerges throughout the wide-ranging conversation: change is inevitable, and how we respond matters. Resilience, margin, and an entrepreneurial mindset make all the difference.If you’ve felt powerless against “big systems,” this episode is a reminder that innovation is often personal, practical, and close to home: start where you are, solve what you can, and expect the unexpected.Memorable Quotes“The issues of character never go away. They are eternal human questions, and we forget because we have sort of nostalgic views of the past.”“Even the smartest AI can’t figure out what people want—what people are dissatisfied with. And a lot of innovation comes from that. We tend to focus on big technologies. And even big technologies come from a lot of incremental improvements… A lot of improvements come from people saying, ‘I’m dissatisfied with this,’ or ‘Here’s something I figured out.’”“Human beings don’t just value function. They value pleasure, and they value meaning, and pleasure and meaning are things that are very much conveyed through the look and feel of objects or places.”“Agency is problem-solving. It’s you solving problems in your life, or whatever that might be—and it’s sort of reversed, too, which is that if you assume that it’s someone else’s job to solve your problem, you sort of give up your sense of agency.” “A lot of leadership is figuring out what gifts individuals have and getting them moving in the right direction… A big part of leadership as problem-solving is people problem-solving—getting people in the right roles and thinking about how those roles mesh.”“Expect that you’re going to be in a world that changes, because that’s the world we live in. It’s the world we’ve been living in for hundreds of years. The other thing is: understand this didn’t start with you. Other people have gone through amazing and scary and terrifying changes, and our civilization has lived to tell the tale.”Key TakeawaysProgress Becomes Invisible Quickly. We normalize improvements fast—and forget what life used to require in drudgery, time, and basic comforts.Change Is Uneven: Bits vs. Atoms. Software accelerates rapidly, while physical-world progress (like housing) can be slowed by policy, cost, and complexity.Dynamism vs. Stasis Shapes How We Face the Future. Some people see change as positive-sum opportunity; others experience it as zero-sum threat.Agency Grows Through Problem-Solving. When we assume “someone else” must fix things, we trade away our sense of control and possibility.Resilience Requires Margin. Financial cushion, emotional bandwidth, and community support help you absorb shocks and adapt.Entrepreneurship Is Bigger Than Business. You can be “entrepreneurial” by starting groups, building community, or solving everyday problems—not just launching companies.Resourcesvpostrel.com (Website)vpostrel.substack.com (Substack Newsletter)The Future and Its Enemies (Book)The Substance of Style (Book)The Power of Glamor (Book)The Fabric of Civilization (Book)Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/yCMHIdYYS-AThis episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Why do high-achievers feel perpetually behind, even while consuming more content than ever? In this conversation, Pat Flynn explains the trap of “overlearning” and how it quietly keeps us stuck in motion without progress. You’ll learn how to shift from “just-in-case” learning to “just-in-time” learning, create real momentum with a simple four-step framework, and protect what matters most with practical boundaries. Along the way, Pat shares how these principles helped him build multiple successful businesses (including a Pokémon channel with millions of followers) without sacrificing his family, health, or joy.Memorable Quotes“We all, in a way, are not just our overlearning, but we're getting over-inspired. We're so connected with so many amazing people out there who teach us this and push us over here, and then we're pulled over this way. We're spread so thin it's we're we're not seeing any results in our own life.”“Now we all have access to all the same kind of information, but we're still treating it as if it's scarce…However, we now live in a buffet line of information… and we're not quite evolved to absorb all of this because we're stuffing our plates full. Not only are we getting bloated and and and slowed down, but we're also getting force-fed on these platforms.”“This is the difference between ‘just-in-case learning,’ which is what we've all been doing, and ‘just-in-time learning,’ which is learning what you need to know to just take that next step. Because truly the action of taking that next step, the results of that one way or another—whether there are good results or bad results—can teach you so much more than just absorbing this information and never taking any action at all.” “[Silence] allows me to be with myself and to digest the things that I've already learned, to think about my priorities and the things I've already committed to. It allows me to make creative connections between things that I have already picked up instead of just getting more puzzle pieces to try to figure out where they go.”“I mean I was always taught that again, ‘The more you know the more successful you'll be,’ and there's always seemingly opportunities to inject more of that learning. And it has this sort of fake productivity that goes along with it, because it is only truly productive, in my opinion, when you actually put into action those things that you do read or listen to or watch.”“At our authors retreat, a theme across most of the people there was not optimizing for revenue, not optimizing for scale, but optimizing for peace. And that was huge to think about.”“If I give myself five months to learn, I'm gonna take five months to learn it. If I give myself five hours to learn, I'm gonna take five hours to learn it. So I almost use time as a tool to help me get to the point of action and then understanding sooner.”“I've developed this rule called the 20% Itch Rule, and that is, out of all the things you do, 80% of your time is dedicated to the things you've already committed to, the things that, the responsibilities you have, the things that you've already said, yes to. The last 20% of time, allocate for curiosity, for play, for experimentation.”Key TakeawaysOverlearning Is a Hidden Productivity Trap. Constant consumption creates a sense of progress without producing results—and often adds more “to-dos” than your life can hold.Shift from “Just-in-Case” to “Just-in-Time.” Learn only what you need for the next step, then take action. Real learning accelerates through doing.Use the 4-Step Lean Learning Cycle. Identify the next step → choose one resource → implement → review. Repeat.Silence Helps You Digest What You Already Know. Pat’s “silent car” habit creates space for integration, creativity, and clarity.Watch for “Junk Sparks.” Many ideas are just distractions dressed up as opportunity—especially when algorithms reduce the friction to buy, click, or binge.Try the “20% Itch Rule.” Dedicate 80% of your time to current commitments and responsibilities, and reserve 20% for curiosity, experimentation, and play—without blowing up your life.Optimize for Peace, Not Scale. More revenue isn’t always worth the hidden cost. A Double Win means there’s still room for what makes you feel most alive.ResourcesSmart Passive Income (Pat’s Business)Superfans (Book)Lean Learning (Book)Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/aLp6hHTrYQsThis episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Why do leaders jump so quickly to giving advice? And why does it so often backfire? In this episode, Michael Bungay Stanier explains why the “advice monster” is one of our biggest leadership liabilities—and how seven simple questions can help you listen better, coach smarter, and build stronger connections. Filled with humor, story, empathy, and practical scripts, this episode is a masterclass in everyday leadership.Memorable Quotes“When you ask a question and they actually have to think about it, you're literally creating new neural pathways in their brain—or at least they're creating their own neural pathways—so they're literally becoming smarter right in front of you.”“More deeply than an ‘answer,’ much of the time people want to feel deeply heard, deeply seen, and deeply encouraged. And your ‘answer’ often means they feel less seen, less heard, and less encouraged.”“One of the great moments of claiming adulthood is being clear on what you want to say ‘yes’ to—and knowing that inevitably you have to say ‘no’ to things to get that.”“Every time you jump in with your ideas and your opinions and your advice—particularly if it's your default reaction—you’re basically reinforcing, ‘I'm better than you are. I'm smarter and wiser and older and faster and just generally better than you. You are not as good as I am.’ There’s a degree to which you're diminishing that other person rather than helping them.”“There's a time and a place where [giving advice] is the right thing to be doing. The way I define coaching is: Can you stay curious a little bit longer? Can you rush to action and advice-giving a little bit more slowly?”“One of the phrases I've started saying to people who are going through a tough time is simply, ‘I'm Team Michael. I'm Team Megan.…I'm Team whoever that person might be.’ It’s my way of saying, ‘I love you and I want the best for you, and I don't even know what to do—or I can’t think of anything to do—so I'm just trying to be with you in this moment.’”“One of the questions that I’ve found most helpful—particularly if I'm the more senior person in the relationship—is: ‘What needs to be said that hasn't yet been said?’”Key TakeawaysThe “Advice Monster” Is Real. Our instinct to help by offering answers often diminishes others. Curiosity, not certainty, is what truly empowers people.Questions Create Ownership. When people generate their own ideas, they’re more confident, more committed, and more capable.Seven Questions Change Everything. Michael’s practical framework gives you a simple playbook for better conversations. His personal favorite? “And what else?”Curiosity Deepens Every Relationship. Parents, partners, bosses—everyone benefits when you resist the urge to fix and choose to listen instead.Better Conversations Start With Permission. Rather than assume what someone needs, lead with humility and ask: How can I be most useful here?Coaching Is for Everyday Life. You don’t have to be a professional coach for this to matter. These tools transform team meetings, parenting moments, and even difficult conversations at home.ResourcesThe Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay StanierThe Advice Trap by Michael Bungay StanierHow to Work With (Almost) Anyone by Michael Bungay StanierBox of Crayons (Curiosity-driven leadership program)Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/WOjq8aMbr5kThis episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Why do some ideas spark movements while others fizzle? Joel—author of The Idea Machine, veteran publisher, and Chief Content Officer at Full Focus—explains how books transform vague thoughts into precise, shareable frameworks. You’ll hear the case for analog reading, how writing unlocks buy-in at work, and why AI and books actually belong together. Practical, contrarian, and deeply encouraging for any high achiever who wants clearer thinking and better communication.Memorable Quotes“Ideas that start in the mind of an author as just kind of a gooey, fuzzy idea. And in the course of writing, it forces them to get clear on it. It forces them to get specific about it and develop it in a way that actually becomes useful.”“Not only can these ideas live in a way that we can understand them, but they can live through time. And that's one of the greatest things about a book—that it perpetuates ideas across time.”“It forces you to get clear. It forces you to develop an argument. It forces you to develop a line of thought that other people can follow. And without that, you're kind of left with a grab bag of ideas that are probably cool. They're great, but they're not in a system that can be used or explained or anything like that.”“I think this is true for leaders. They have a lot of personal charisma and people want to follow them, but that's not enough. You really do have to go to the discipline of getting these ideas clear for yourself so that they can be clear to other people.”“Part of what we've done is we've just de-skilled ourselves in reading and we just need to re-skill ourselves in reading.”“Never read a book 'cause you're supposed to. Read books because they delight. You read books because they're entertaining to you. Read books because you get something out of it that you really like.”Key TakeawaysBooks Are Tech. Treat books as an information technology that lets ideas scale with precision and longevity.Writing Creates Clarity. If you want buy-in, don’t rely on vibes—write the memo. Make your idea explicit and specific.Right Format, Right Job. Use audio/ebook for breadth and speed. Reach for print when you need depth, notes, and recall.AI Is a Companion. From library science to today’s models, AI extends the book’s mission—use it to augment (not replace) critical thinking.Build a Daily Reading Habit. Aim for 30–60 minutes a day (top and bottom of day works). Follow your curiosity. Quit the books that don’t serve you.ResourcesThe Idea Machine by Joel J. MillerMiller’s Book Review (Joel’s Substack)Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/e36acyYWBnMThis episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Why do so many high achievers secretly struggle with anxiety, burnout, and overwhelm? Dr. Elizabeth Stanley, Army veteran, Georgetown professor, and author of Widen the Window, joins Michael Hyatt to explain the hidden science behind stress and resilience. Drawing on her personal story of trauma, her background in the military, and her training in somatic therapy, Elizabeth reveals why talk therapy alone often falls short—and how body-based practices can change everything. This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply hopeful for anyone who feels stuck in patterns of stress.Memorable Quotes“We're all in it together and we're all experiencing the particular lawful ways that this human mind and body works in this particular poly-crisis world. Of course, people are struggling. It's kind of why it's my passion to help people understand ‘You're not alone in this.’”“We are wired organically to be able to mobilize the energy to manage a crisis or a stressful situation, and then recover. Our ancestors that shared the same wiring that we have did not have 24/7 constant activation and constant demands the way that we do in modern life today.”“The science term there is allostatic load, and the more our stress load grows, the less capacity we have in our mind and body to meet the next challenge, so that it becomes a bit of a vicious cycle, and we know that we're on the edge of our window or outside of our window of tolerance.”“We are built so that we learn the downregulation through the soothing we receive from our parents and other early caregivers. And that presumes that our early caregivers and parents were regulated enough to do that for us.”“If we're redirecting it somewhere that the survival brain perceives as safe, that actually starts conditioning. A process that makes the system move back in the way that we're organically built, which is to go through stress and recover naturally.”“When we don't perceive agency, when we feel powerless or helpless, that actually leads to higher levels of arousal and it really resolidifies the prior conditioning. So being able to access that choice point is really critical in beginning to shift it.”“If our parents had narrowed windows, if they were coping with a lot of stress and trauma, or if they were absent, if they had mental illness or they were incarcerated, they aren't able to help us wire those things. It's one of the ways that narrowed windows get transmitted intergenerationally and why trauma can become intergenerational.”Key TakeawaysYou’re Not Broken. Chronic anxiety and overwhelm are signs of dysregulation, not defects. They’re the evidence of what you’ve walked through—but don’t determine what’s ahead.Your Body Knows the Way. Healing starts by listening to the signals of your nervous system. The key is not to minimize our reactions, but to listen and practice strategies that help us return to baseline.Talk Therapy Isn’t Enough. True healing requires engaging the body and nervous system. Trauma-informed, body-based therapy can lead to breakthroughs when just thinking and talking isn’t enough.Agency Is Key. Learning to notice choice points rewires the brain toward safety. The quickest way out of powerlessness is regaining a sense of agency.Resilience Can Be Trained. Simple, repeated practices expand your “window of tolerance.” It takes time and intention, but you can widen your window.ResourcesWiden the Window by Elizabeth StanleyElizabeth Stanley’s Mindfulness-Based Mind Fitness Training (MMFT)Watch on Youtube at:  https://youtu.be/Z607BPgbxi4This episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound