John and Danny discuss Corey Keyes’ concept of languishing, which involves low mental health, marked by a lack of interest, motivation, and feelings of emptiness. We examine how languishing differs from flourishing and depression, consider its long-term effects, and outline the 5 behavioural vitamins essential for overcoming it. Languishing: How to…

John and Danny delve into Byung-Chul Han’s insightful book, The Disappearance of Rituals. We examine the rise of narcissism and its impact on diminishing the importance of rituals, exploring the consequences of this decline on contemporary life. Join our unique philosophy community, Rebel Intellects Get our book BEING WELL; all royalties go to the …

John and Danny explore Byung-Chul Han’s excellent book, “The Burnout Society.” We outline Han’s critique of our modern world—a landscape characterised by an overwhelming emphasis on positivity and relentless pursuit of achievement, often resulting in exhaustion and existential emptiness. We also discuss how Han’s philosophy resonates with our own e…

John and Danny discuss Spiral Dynamics, a psychological framework that describes how human values and worldviews change over time in response to life conditions and experiences. We outline the main stages of the spiral, from basic survival instincts to complex systems thinking, and consider how they shape our behavior, culture, and society. We also…

John and Danny delve into the fascinating world of personality. We unravel the layers that make us who we are, exploring the influence of genetics, environment, and experience. We also discuss some of the common models you can use to reflect on your personal traits and figure out what makes you tick. Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to …

John and Danny delve into the notion of 'the self' and the eternal question of what makes a person the same person over time. We explore the great Scottish philosopher David Hume's perspective, his skepticism about the the concept of a continuous identity, and draw parallels with the concept of personality. Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties…

John and Danny embark on a journey into the intricate realm of nostalgia, a complex emotion described as "a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past." We deplore the various facets of nostalgia, examining its different types, exploring how it can wield both positive and negative influences, and pondering whether it has become a more pr…

John and Danny explore the philosophy behind our podcast's new name, "Talk Doesn't Cook Rice." We dive into its pragmatic significance, its connection to embodied perception inspired by French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and why taking that first step is vital in life. Get our book, ‘⁠BEING WELL⁠’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disea…

John and Danny delve into the brilliant TV show that is Mr Inbetween. We explore how it relates to themes like morality, phenomenology, authenticity, and absurdism, and ask why it is we love the characters in shows like this and The Sopranos, The Wire, and Breaking Bad so much. Trailer for Mr Inbetween: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1622522393/ Get …

John and Danny discuss the captivating work of Alfred Adler, the brilliant Austrian psychotherapist and visionary behind individual psychology. We explore Adler's unique journey, from his collaboration with Freud to forging his own path of discovery. We dive deep into the causes and effects of inferiority complex, and contemplate its relevance in t…

John and Danny unpack the profound ideas of Ernest Becker in his groundbreaking book, "The Denial of Death". We explore the existential anxiety that lurks within us all and how it can affect our everyday lives and relationships. Despite the weighty topic, this episode is surprisingly uplifting and affirming and will help you live more fully in the …

John and Danny delve into the philosophy of pragmatism and its relevance to modern life. We explore the ideas of three classic American pragmatists—Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey—discussing topics such as the nature of truth and the importance of a pragmatic education. Additionally, we examine some of the criticisms that have…

John and Danny muse on the evolution of status in human life and the ways it distorts and defines our behavior, as individuals and societies. We discuss Will Storr’s excellent book, The Status Game, and delve into why the feeling of being valued is so important to us. We also consider why it's important to diversify your status game and how you mig…

John and Danny muse on bullshit and explore what it is, why we do it, and who is susceptible to it. We also discuss the notions of persuasive and evasive bullshitting, and ask if bullshitting is avoidable or simply an inherent part of what it is to be human. Harry Frankfurt, On Bullshit (Amazon) Research study mentioned: Cutting the Crap: The Perce…

John and Danny muse on well-being and ask whether "being well" might actually be a better focus if we are to truly flourish. Is well-being just another corporate buzzword and are well-being programmes and practitioners simply disguising companies’ base motivations with the language of care? Might existential philosophers like Martin Heidegger have …

John and Danny muse on the “bioenergetic” view of health and how it might impact the way we think, learn, and live. The central point revolves around maximising metabolic function so that we approach life with curiosity, positivity, and vigour while being resistant to the everyday stresses we might face. The paper that John wrote (PDF): https://t.c…

John and Danny muse on "the will to power," one of the most fundamental concepts in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. The central point revolves around gaining power over oneself and becoming who you truly are. We discuss its relationship with the "the will to live (Schopenhauer)," "the will to pleasure (Freud)," and "the will to meaning (Fran…

John and Danny muse on the notion of a psychologically rich life. Unlike happy or meaningful lives, psychologically rich lives are characterised by complexity, in which people experience a variety of interesting things and feel and appreciate a variety of deep emotions via firsthand or vicarious experiences. We discuss the work of Shigehiro Oishi a…

John and Danny muse on Adam Curtis’ documentary series “The Century of the Self” (2002), which focuses on the work of psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud and Anna Freud, and PR consultant Edward Bernays. We explore Curtis’ analysis of how those in power have used Freud's theories to encourage mass consumerism and control people in an age of mass democracy…

John and Danny muse on Simone de Beauvoir's classic book "The Ethics of Ambiguity" (1948), which explores the existentialist tension between absolute freedom of choice and the constraints of life’s givens. We explore de Beauvoir's powerful analysis of the five types of people who are not free, discuss their relevance and application in everyday lif…

John and Danny muse on Friedrich Nietzsche's three metamorphoses story, which appeared in his now iconic work of philosophical fiction, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883). Nietzsche believed that the purpose of human existence is to achieve one's full potential. To achieve that, a spirit had to go through three transformations: a camel, a lion, and a ch…

John and Danny muse on Martin Heidegger's concept of Dasein. In his fundamental text Being and Time (1927), Heidegger introduced Dasein as a term for the type of being that humans possess. We discuss what it is to be a Dasein and look through the lenses of thrownness, fallenness, and existentiality to explore its relevance and application in everyd…

John and Danny muse on Jean-Paul Sartre's notion of Bad Faith. A critical claim in existentialist philosophy is that humans are free to make choices and guide their lives towards their own chosen goal. For Sartre, Bad faith is whereby individuals act inauthentically by yielding to the external pressures of society to adopt false values and disown t…

John and Danny muse on Viktor Frankl's book, Man's Search For Meaning (1946). The book itself is an arresting account of his survival in the Nazi concentration camps of World War Two and his exploration of our ability to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity. We also explore the practical implications of Frankl's logotherapy, which states th…

John and Danny muse on schadenfreude. We discuss this perplexing emotion and wonder why it is we derive such distinctive pleasure from others' misfortune, especially when it comes to our friends. If you don't enjoy the episode, at least you might get some pleasure from our misfortune of having made it! Get our book, ‘⁠⁠BEING WELL⁠⁠’. All royalties …

John and Danny muse on Nihilism and Absurdism. We discuss their similarities and differences as life philosophies, why they might appeal, and the practicalities of how they can help us make more sense of our existence. Don't worry, it's more fun than it sounds! Get our book, ‘⁠⁠BEING WELL⁠⁠’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Associatio…

John and Danny muse on whether it's a good idea to focus too hard on living in the "now". We ask whether it's possible (and desirable) for humans to be more animalistic in our thoughts, and discuss the implications of distinguishing between the past, present, and future, including why it might even be dangerous to too readily dismiss memory and ima…

John and Danny muse on Mimetic Desire and the role it plays in determining why we want what we want. We discuss what we each took from the work of René Girard, the French polymath, historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science whose work belongs to the tradition of anthropological philosophy, as well as the book 'Wanting', by Luke B…

John and Danny muse on authenticity and The Alpinist, a brilliant documentary about the Canadian rock climber and Alpinist, Marc-André Leclerc. We discuss what we each took from the film, how it might apply to our own experiences, and what value can be found in artistic craft documentaries when pondering your own emergent situations and ongoing pre…