Modern Wisdom
Chris Williamson
Life is hard. This podcast will help. Lessons from the greatest thinkers on the planet with Chris Williamson. Including guests like David Goggins, Dr Jordan Peterson, Naval Ravikant, Sam Harris, Jocko Willink, Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr Julie Smith, Steven Bartlett, Ryan Holiday, Robert Greene, Matthew McConaughey, Alain de Botton, Alex Hormozi, Tony Robbins, Chris Bumstead, Mark Manson and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books
1,276 snips
Apr 18, 2026 • 1h 36min
Inside The Viral Words That Make You Click - Etymology Nerd - #1086
Adam Aleksic, linguist, author, and creator known as the Etymology Nerd, dives into how TikTok, memes, and algorithms reshape the words people use every day. They explore why nonsense slang catches on, how influencer voices are engineered for attention, why emojis confuse courts, and what AI might be doing to the future of human expression.
622 snips
Apr 16, 2026 • 2h 1min
The Rise of History’s Greatest Emperor: An Untold Story - Alex Petkas - #1085
Alex Petkas, a historian and writer who brings Greece and Rome to life, dives into Julius Caesar’s rise from ambitious outsider to imperial giant. They explore the pirate story that shaped him, how he won Rome’s loyalty, the real stakes of crossing the Rubicon, Cleopatra’s dramatic entrance, and the eerie final hours before the Ides of March.
2,367 snips
Apr 13, 2026 • 2h 11min
Everything You Know is About to Collapse - David Friedberg - #1084
David Friedberg, founder of The Climate Corporation and an investor focused on science and tech, maps out a wild near future. He gets into why AI hype may be overstated, how robots could expand personal freedom, why the moon matters for industry, how fusion could slash energy costs, and why age reversal and biotech breakthroughs may arrive sooner than expected.
3,448 snips
Apr 11, 2026 • 2h 2min
16 Brutal Life Lessons for Ambitious People - Michael Smoak - #1083
Michael Smoak, a mindset coach and entrepreneur, dives into the hidden costs of ambition, why success keeps moving further away, and the fear of being truly seen. He also gets into grief, loneliness as part of growth, clear communication, authenticity in content, and why simple consistency beats flashy hacks.
3,572 snips
Apr 9, 2026 • 1h 36min
The Wild Psychology of Elon Musk - Eric Jorgenson - #1082
Eric Jorgenson, investor and author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Book of Elon, explores the wild mechanics behind Elon Musk’s mind. They dig into speed obsession, first-principles thinking, brutal deadlines, bottlenecks, Mars ambition, and why public narratives often miss the real pattern.
929 snips
Apr 6, 2026 • 2h 31min
Why Children of Divorce Grow Into Broken Adults - Erica Komisar - #1081
Erica Komisar, psychoanalyst and parenting author, explores why divorce can hit children far harder than adults expect. She gets into chronic conflict, stress on brain development, why 50-50 custody for babies may backfire, vulnerable ages for separation, self-blame in kids, and why stability, attachment, and emotional presence matter more than fairness between parents.
1,063 snips
Apr 4, 2026 • 1h 11min
The Terrible Paradox of Self-Awareness - Robert Pantano - #1080
Robert Pantano, writer and creator of Pursuit of Wonder, explores the strange trap of knowing yourself too well. He gets into overthinking, regret, anxiety, aging, anger, and choice paralysis. There’s also a sharp look at desire, uncertainty, relationships, and why wonder, art, and love still make life feel worth the trouble.
1,695 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 2h 8min
AI Expert Warns: “This Is The Last Mistake We’ll Ever Make” - Tristan Harris - #1079
Tristan Harris, a former Google design ethicist and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, explores why AI is unlike past tools. He gets into rogue model behavior, deepfakes, misinformation, AI firms racing toward total cognitive labor, and how useful systems could still erode human agency, social stability, and control.
619 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 1h 40min
Studio Launch Party - Indian Fetishes, Betting on Wars & Tom Cruise - #1078
George Mack, a writer and marketer, joins Michael Smoak, a podcaster and investor, and Shaan Puri, a startup founder and business commentator, for a chaotic launch-party chat. They bounce from internet oddities and Phil Collins heartbreak lore to self-improvement traps, AI replacing experts, war betting markets, fake Tom Cruise, attachment styles, and why novelty makes life feel longer.
1,764 snips
Mar 28, 2026 • 1h 9min
How to Wake Up Excited About Your Goals - Chris Bailey - #1077
Chris Bailey, productivity author and attention researcher, explores why some goals feel natural while others spark resistance. He gets into values, intention stacking, default vs deliberate choices, why SMART goals fall flat, what really fuels procrastination, and how structure, constraints, and reflection can make commitment feel more meaningful.
