Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
Sam Webster Harris | Growth Mindset Psychology
Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives.
WHY LISTEN?
Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it?
This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism.
Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be.
We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system.
WHAT YOU DON’T GET
No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn.
Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health.
THE APPROACH
Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development.
Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life.
YOUR HOST
I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives.
This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation.
PREMIUM
Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord.
Growth Mindset Premium
PAST SERIES
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for Busy Mortals
— Independence and Knowing Yourself
— Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking
— Psychology of Connection and Relationships
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
— Addiction and Behaviour Change
— Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory
— Mental Strength and Self-Discipline
WHY LISTEN?
Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it?
This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism.
Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be.
We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system.
WHAT YOU DON’T GET
No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn.
Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health.
THE APPROACH
Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development.
Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life.
YOUR HOST
I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives.
This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation.
PREMIUM
Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord.
Growth Mindset Premium
PAST SERIES
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for Busy Mortals
— Independence and Knowing Yourself
— Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking
— Psychology of Connection and Relationships
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
— Addiction and Behaviour Change
— Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory
— Mental Strength and Self-Discipline
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 24, 2026 • 34min
Are You Thinking Your Thoughts, Or Are They Thinking You?
A deep dive into how ideas act like replicators that shape our behavior. Evolutionary stories explain why genes, parasites, and cultural memes hijack minds. Social media and advertising exploit the same cognitive vulnerabilities as biological parasites. Understanding how influence spreads is framed as the key step toward mental autonomy.
Mar 20, 2026 • 24min
The Psychology of Never Feeling Good Enough (Even When You Clearly Are)
They unpack why hedonic adaption, perfectionism, and the inner critic erase your wins before you notice. Stories include ignoring a 65 km ultramarathon and small daily progress that goes unseen. Practical moves covered: noticing the “already moved on” reflex, separating experiencing vs remembering selves, and building tiny recognition habits to preserve joy.
18 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 60min
7 Weird Life-Changing Skills that are Strange to Work On
They explore five unusual, learnable traits that reshape your life: deep thinking, curiosity, uniqueness, humor, and enthusiasm. Practical steps for training attention, building curiosity as a lens, and developing a distinctive voice are highlighted. Comedy techniques, storytelling rules, and simple rituals for vocal energy and patience round out the surprising skillset.
Mar 13, 2026 • 45min
Why Having a Backup Plan Is Making You Fail - Burn the boats with Matt Higgins
Matt Higgins, Shark Tank investor and Harvard Business School lecturer who wrote Burn the Boats, explains why removing escape routes boosts commitment. He discusses how backup plans sap motivation. He outlines a four-step risk-synthesis process. He shows how to extract value from failure and balance bold vision with flexible tactics.
Mar 10, 2026 • 23min
Why You Have Great Ideas but Never Actually Do Anything With Them
They compare ideas to planes and explain why takeoff needs fuel, faith, and stubborn follow-through. Listeners hear why execution beats brilliance and why professionals ship many drafts. The conversation highlights how ideas evolve mid-flight, the value of feedback, and the power of finishing projects instead of chasing perfection.
Mar 6, 2026 • 53min
You Didn't Choose Your Attachment Style, but Here's How You Can Change It - With Jessica Baum
Jessica Baum, psychotherapist and author of Anxiously Attached, specializes in attachment theory and trauma‑informed relationship work. She explains how early survival strategies shape closeness patterns. Short, clear segments cover why attachment repeats, how relationships can retrain the nervous system, co-regulation vs self‑regulation, and moving from fear‑based dependency to healthy interdependence.
Mar 3, 2026 • 25min
From Reactance to Resilience: How to manage psychological triggers and create freedom
They explore why anger often reflects a threat to freedom rather than the event itself. Short tactics are offered: name the freedom threat, ask what assumption broke, and redesign triggers to reduce surprise and increase choice. There is discussion of cognitive load, inbox mishaps, habit and overwhelm, and practical delivery fixes to prevent reactive snarls.
Feb 24, 2026 • 23min
How To Train Your Mind: The surprising benefits of play
They argue brains learn through novelty, meaning and attention rather than stress. Memory palaces and absurd stories beat brute repetition. Learn faster by turning practice into play: gamify tasks, find a fun entry point, and lower stress friction. Stories show passion-driven practice outperforms boring drills. Practical tips for making learning and exercise genuinely enjoyable today.
Feb 17, 2026 • 40min
The Weird Psychology of Communication, Self-control, and Gossip: What evolution teaches us about communicating your needs clearly
They trace language from jellyfish nerve nets to modern gossip and collective fictions. Compression is used as a mental model for squeezing big thoughts into words. The evolution of signalling, self-domestication, shame and blushing get tied to reputation systems. The role of shared stories in building money, nations and trust is explored.
15 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 53min
Hidden Potential: The Psychology of self-sabotage and changing what's possible - Heather Moyse (2x Olympic Gold)
Heather Moyse, two-time Olympic gold medallist and late-start pro athlete turned coach and writer. She explores why potential can feel like pressure, how environment and inertia set hidden limits, and quick mental questions to poke holes in limiting beliefs. Conversations cover choosing priorities, finding supportive people, and performing under pressure with kinder, practical mindset shifts.
