Episodes

  • From Cursive to Rage Bait: The Radical Shift in How We Think and Feel Due to Digital Media

    From Cursive to Rage Bait: The Radical Shift in How We Think and Feel Due to Digital Media
    May 26 2026
    Your Brain Is Being Renovated — And You Didn’t Sign the PermitLet me ask you something. When was the last time you sat with a difficult idea — not scrolled past it, not hit pause and grabbed your phone — but actually sat with it? Turned it over. Let it challenge you. Felt a little uncomfortable and stayed anyway?If you had to think about that for more than five seconds, we need to talk.Because here’s what’s actually happening. Your brain is being renovated in real time, and the contractor is an algorithm that doesn’t care what the finished product looks like. It just cares that you stay on the job site.The Typographic Mind — And Why You Should Care About ItNeil Postman wrote about this in 1985. 1985!! His book Amusing Ourselves to Death introduced the concept of the typographic mind — a brain developed through reading. Not skimming. Not speed reading. Not glancing at captions. Reading.What Postman argued — and what the neuroscience is now catching up to — is that print culture built a specific kind of cognitive architecture. The ability to sustain focus over long periods of time. Linear, sequential reasoning. Tolerance for complexity and deferred gratification. And critically, the ability to hold an argument in your working memory and evaluate it.Now, that last one. Let’s slow down there for a second.The prefrontal cortex — the most evolutionarily advanced region of your brain — is your working memory manager. It’s the part of you that thinks before acting. That considers consequences. That regulates emotion. That empathizes. When we talk about what separates high performers from reactive people, we’re largely talking about how well they use this region of the brain.And working memory is built. It’s practiced. Through deep processing. Through reading. Through sitting with complexity.Maryanne Wolf, a cognitive neuroscientist out of UCLA, puts it plainly: reading is not born, it is built through practice. Your brain doesn’t have a reading circuit by default. You grow one. Which means, just as easily, you can lose one.The Reactive Mind — What Short Form Content Is Actually Doing to YouReady for the discomfort?A meta-study of nearly 100,000 people found that frequent short form video users scored measurably lower in three areas: attention, inhibitory control, and working memory.Let’s talk about inhibitory control specifically, because most people don’t know what that term means. Inhibitory control is your pause button. It’s the mechanism that allows you to suppress automatic urges, filter distractions, and choose a response instead of just reacting. Scratch that mosquito bite or don’t. Lose your temper or don’t. Engage with the rage bait or not.Oxford University Press named “rage bait” the word of the year for 2025. Let that sink in. A term for content that is deliberately engineered to trigger outrage became the defining word of a year. Not because people are getting angrier. Because platforms figured out that anger is the most reliable way to capture your attention. And the more disregulated you become, the better it works.When people are emotionally disregulated, blood flow shifts into the deeper limbic regions — the older, more instinctive parts of the brain. The amygdala takes over. Thinking becomes binary. Black and white. Us versus them. And the inhibitory control that keeps you sharp, measured, and socially intelligent? Gone.The brain you’re practicing is the brain you become.It’s Not Social Media AnymoreMark Manson made an observation recently that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. He said: it’s not social media anymore. It’s attention media.And he’s right.Think about it. When Facebook launched, you followed people you knew. Your cousin’s wedding photos. Your mate’s holiday. Maybe a group for your favorite TV show. You were suspicious of strangers trying to connect with you. That made sense. That was social.Now? I scroll Facebook and one out of every four posts is from someone I actually know. The other three are targeted ads, suggested influencers, and whatever the algorithm has decided will keep me engaged longest. That’s not a community feed. That’s a behavioral experiment you volunteered for without reading the terms and conditions.The goal of attention media is singular: maximize your time on the platform. More time equals more data equals better targeting equals more revenue. You are the product. This is the business model.And the result of that model, at scale, is the reactive mind. A mind trained on fragments. Conditioned for stimulation. Increasingly unable to sit with anything that doesn’t immediately reward it.What Deep Processing Actually Gives YouHere’s what I want you to understand. Working memory isn’t about being smart. It’s cognitive infrastructure.The quality of your decisions, the depth of your empathy, your ability to regulate emotion, follow through, and exert agency over your life — ...
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    36 mins
  • Trans-humanism: A New Era of Evolution

    Trans-humanism: A New Era of Evolution
    Feb 19 2026
    Are You Ready to Upgrade Yourself? A Deep Dive into TranshumanismWhere do you sit on the spectrum between “I’ll sleep on it” and “inject me now”?It started with a TV show.Back around 2013, I stumbled across Orphan Black — a series about a woman who witnesses her exact double commit suicide on a subway platform, assumes her identity, and discovers she’s one of several human clones. Within a few episodes, my mind was completely blown. Not just by the storytelling, but by the questions it forced me to sit with: How far are we willing to go as a species? What parts of ourselves are worth keeping? What does it even mean to be human?That show introduced me properly to the concept of transhumanism — the idea of modifying our species to become more than what we are naturally. And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.Two Flavours of the Same QuestionWithin transhumanism, there are two broad camps worth distinguishing:Biotranshumanism — changes to our biology. Gene editing, hormone therapy, peptides, pharmaceuticals. Modifications that work from the inside out.Technotranshumanism — the addition of machinery to our organism. The cybernetic meeting the bioorganic. Think Neuralink, implanted chips, augmented reality overlays.But here’s where it gets interesting. It’s not just about what kind of modification we’re talking about. It’s about where each of us personally draws the line — and why.The Agreeability SpectrumI want you to picture a scale from 0 to 10.At zero, you’re behaviour-first, all the way. Sleep. Food. Movement. Emotional regulation. You believe the body’s natural systems, when respected and trained properly, are the greatest technology ever designed. Tradition matters to you. Maybe faith does too. You see beauty in natural limits.At ten, you’re chomping at the bit for gene edits and brain chips. You want to see the evolution of the species. You’d sign up to have your DNA rewritten to breathe methane and live on Titan if it meant expanding what humanity could become.Most of us — if we’re honest — are somewhere in between. And understanding where we sit, and why, tells us a lot about what we actually value.Two Axes to Help You ThinkHere’s a framework I find useful. Picture two axes:* Internal vs. External — Is the modification happening inside your body or outside it?* Reversible vs. Transformative — Can you undo it, or is it a permanent change?An exoskeleton? External and reversible. You take it off, it’s gone.Steroids or hormone therapy? Internal and transformative. The tissue changes. Your body’s processes change. Even when you stop, the impact remains.LASIK? Internal, largely permanent. Cosmetic surgery? Same category.Your phone? Technically a techno augmentation — you’re outsourcing cognitive function to an external device. You do it every time you open the calculator instead of doing the maths in your head.The point is: transhumanism isn’t some futuristic concept. It’s already woven into how we live. The question is just how far down the path you’re willing to walk.What the Data Actually SaysA large Japanese survey on enhancement technologies found that only 20% of respondents said they’d personally use them. 80% wouldn’t — but 80% were also tolerant of others who did. Not for me, but you do you.In the US, an AARP survey found that 43% of adults were interested in a medical intervention to boost cognition beyond normal capacity. But that number dropped to 34% when the same enhancement involved an implantable device.The takeaway? People are far more open to biotranshumanism than technotranshumanism. They’ll consider the molecule before they’ll consider the machine.And there’s something else that came up in the data that I find genuinely fascinating: the majority of people want to try behaviour first. Even in clinical settings, there’s a preference for changing habits before changing biology. We want to earn it. We want to know we’ve done the hard work first.That resonates with me deeply.Where I Stand (And Why I’m Saying It Out Loud)I’m a behaviour-first person. Full stop.I believe the human body is the greatest technology ever made. We still don’t fully understand it. We understand inputs and outputs — we just don’t understand all the mechanisms. And to me, that’s not a limitation. That’s the invitation to get curious about it.I’m not against interventions that allow kids to fulfil their potential, or that allow adults to continue contributing and creating. But I am — and I’ll own this — resistant to the concept of engineering a human to live forever.Here’s my thinking: a lot of purpose and meaning comes from our limited spectrum. Death isn’t the enemy of a good life. It might actually be part of what gives a good life its shape.There was an episode of Love, Death and Robots that put this beautifully: if all humans develop the technology to live forever, you eventually hit a ...
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    31 mins
  • Cut the Noise: Why You Need Philosophical Razors

    Cut the Noise: Why You Need Philosophical Razors
    Oct 27 2025

    “A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence.” — David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

    If you feel dragged into debates that go nowhere, or find yourself thinking about ideas that never touch reality, you’re leaking energy. Philosophical razors are the tools to stop the bleed. They’re not about “winning arguments”; they’re about refusing to waste attention on claims that have no consequences, no evidence, or no path to action.

    Razors do three things for you:

    * Protect your focus. They filter out topics that are unfalsifiable, untestable, or irrelevant to your goals—so you spend time where outcomes actually change.

    * Reduce frustration. Instead of wrestling with every hypothetical, you set rules of engagement: what must be shown, what can be ignored, and when to simply move on.

    * Speed decisions. By pre-committing to standards of evidence and utility, you cut hours of circular thinking down to minutes.

    In this episode I show how a few simple rules prevent common traps: arguing over unfalsifiable “what ifs,” mistaking complexity for credibility, and giving equal weight to unequally supported ideas. I also cover when not to use a razor—because over-pruning can blind you to real signals.

    The goal isn’t to be cynical; it’s to be effective. Keep your curiosity. Just stop paying attention tax to ideas that won’t pay you back.

    RESOURCES:

    * List of Philosophical Razors

    * Mind Valley Founder Says He Can Read a Book by Touching It

    * Wife Not Caring About Conspiracy Theories

    🔊 Listen to the episode on Spotify or Itunes

    Ready to upgrade your mental OS?Join my 6-week cohort to boost confidence, cut catabolic stress, and build durable, anabolic emotions. Spots are limited—apply here



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingresilient.substack.com
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    23 mins
  • Misogi: Why You Need One Impossible Challenge Per Year

    Misogi: Why You Need One Impossible Challenge Per Year
    Oct 6 2025
    It’s 5 o’clock in the morning. I’m sitting in a van with twenty other teenagers, and none of us know where we’re going.The instructors haven’t said a word for the last hour. When the van finally stops in the middle of nowhere and the door slides open, we hear: “You have a map. You have a compass. Your destination is marked. You need to be there by tomorrow morning. Good luck.”And then they’re gone.I was 14 years old, standing in the dark with no food, no real supplies, and 36 hours of hiking ahead of me. I had no idea this experience would give me a framework for understanding challenge and growth that I’d carry for decades.What I didn’t know then was that I was experiencing something called Misogi - and in this episode, I’m exploring why we all need this practice in our lives.What You’ll Discover in This Episode:The Story That Started Everything* My detailed account of being dropped in the middle of nowhere at 14* The misery, the arguments, the midnight shift that changed everything* What that experience taught me about my actual limits (versus what I thought they were)What Misogi Really Means* The Japanese Shinto purification ritual and its core principle: do something very difficult* How the West has evolved it into a transformative annual challenge* Michael Easter’s framework: Make it really hard. Don’t die.The Three Zones Framework* Your comfort zone and why staying there shrinks your capacity* The eustress zone - where positive stress creates growth* The distress zone - where challenge becomes destructive* How spending time in eustress expands what becomes comfortableWhy Modern Life Is Failing Us* The hedonic adaptation trap: how excitement becomes normal and comfort becomes baseline* Why we’ve eliminated genuine testing of ourselves along with danger* What we’re craving when we sign up for ultramarathons and ice bathsThe Two Gifts of Misogi* Pride of Accomplishment - the quiet pride that can’t be faked or bought, only earned* Perspective - your most powerful tool for stress resilience (with concrete examples)Macro vs Micro Misogi* Macro Misogi: Your annual impossible challenge that shifts everything* Micro Misogi: Daily practice of stepping into discomfort (one more rep, one scary conversation, one vulnerable post)* How the daily practice trains you for the annual test* Applying “don’t die” to both levelsReal Examples You Can Use* Physical challenges: multi-day hikes, marathons, learning to swim then doing a triathlon* Creative challenges: writing a book, recording music, showing your art publicly* Social challenges: public speaking, standup comedy, teaching workshops* Personal challenges: difficult conversations, confronting fears, traveling aloneThe Core InsightWe spend our lives running away from stress. Seeking comfort. Escaping to the beach. But we’ve lost something by only moving away from stress and never toward it.When you voluntarily put yourself through something extremely difficult - when you push yourself to a place where you genuinely don’t know if you’ll make it - everything else in your life becomes contextual.That difficult conversation? You’ve been through worse. That presentation making you anxious? You’ve faced bigger challenges. That conflict stressing you out? You know what real hardship feels like.You’re not minimizing these things. You’re seeing them in proportion. And that perspective is incredibly valuable for building stress resilience.The Question That MattersWhat’s your Misogi going to be this year?Not someday. Not eventually. This year.What’s one challenge that would be hard enough that you’re not certain you’ll succeed? Because if you know you can do it, it’s not a Misogi - it’s just a goal. Misogi lives in that space of “I think I can do this, but I’m not sure.”That uncertainty is what makes it transformative.And while you’re planning your annual Macro Misogi, what’s your daily Micro Misogi practice? What’s one thing you can do today that puts you in that eustress zone? That stretches you just beyond comfortable?Listen to the full episode to hear:* The complete story of my 36-hour ordeal at age 14* Detailed exploration of the eustress zone and how to use it* Specific examples of both Macro and Micro Misogi practices* How this practice counters hedonic adaptation and expands your capacity* Why this isn’t about Instagram or proving anything to anyone elseReflection Questions:* What’s a Misogi you’ve done recently, or are thinking of doing?* When was the last time you voluntarily chose discomfort when you didn’t have to?* What’s one daily practice that could become your Micro Misogi?* What’s the big challenge that scares and excites you in equal measure?Drop your answers in the comments - I’d love to hear what your Misogi practice looks like. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ...
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    23 mins
  • Your Brain Is Running Old Software. Time to Upgrade.

    Your Brain Is Running Old Software. Time to Upgrade.
    Sep 12 2025

    ⚡️ 5-second gist

    * 🧠 You’re often running V1 Safety or V2 Approval on adult problems.

    * ⚠️ Under stress, the most-practiced code hijacks you.

    * 🎯 The upgrade is V3 Values—calmer, clearer choices.👉 Listen to the episode for the quick “upgrade drill.”

    😬 The quiet pain

    * Rejection of your work feels like rejection of you.

    * You people-please, overexplain, then regret it.

    * Logic vows collapse the moment emotions spike.

    🎛 The black-box truth

    We don’t control the mechanism—only inputs and outputs. Keep feeding fear/validation and you’ll keep getting reactivity and rumination. Change the inputs, change the day.

    🧩 The Human OS (the 3 versions)

    * V1: Safety (0–10) → hide/appease.

    * V2: Approval (10–25) → perform/belong.

    * V3: Values (optional) → chosen principles > mood or optics.

    Under pressure you won’t rise to goals—you’ll sink to defaults.

    👀 Spot it (don’t solve it yet)

    * Am I chasing safety or approval? (V1/V2)

    * Would I do this if nobody saw it? (V3)That’s enough to start catching the hijack.

    🧭 Why V3 feels better

    When actions match values, stress drops and decisions simplify. Identity stops riding the rollercoaster of other people’s reactions.

    🎧 What’s in the episode (teaser)

    * A 3-second pattern breaker you can use mid-conversation.

    * A pocket test to separate Participant vs Observer.

    * Real examples of shifting from V2 to V3 in work and relationships.

    Reply: Where does V2 hijack you most—work, relationships, or health?

    🔊 Listen to the episode on Spotify or Itunes



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingresilient.substack.com
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    21 mins
  • 🔥 Unlock Your Inner Strength with Mike Salemi! 🔥

    🔥 Unlock Your Inner Strength with Mike Salemi! 🔥
    Feb 2 2025

    In this powerful episode of Becoming Resilient, I sit down with kettlebell master, men's work specialist, and all-around wisdom powerhouse, Mike Salemi! 🏋️‍♂️💡 Together, we dive deep into the struggles many men face—feeling stuck, disconnected, and unsure of their purpose. We break down how shifting your mindset, understanding your relationship with money, and stepping into your own power can create real, lasting transformation. 🚀

    If you're ready to lead yourself with confidence, own your space, and break free from old patterns, this episode is for you. Plus, Mike shares insights on his Vital Man Collective, an ongoing program designed to support men in reclaiming their vitality, purpose, and strength. 🌿🔥

    🔊 Listen to the episode on Spotify or Itunes

    What You’ll Take Away

    * 🏋️ Why true strength starts with internal alignment—and how focusing on your body, breath, mindset, and relationships creates a solid foundation for lasting change.

    * ⚡ Simple, everyday steps that help you break out of autopilot and boost your energy—without overcomplicating your life.

    * 🤝 How conscious community fuels real growth—no man thrives alone, and sharing challenges in a supportive circle can spark breakthroughs you never saw coming.

    Curious yet?

    Here’s a question to ponder before you listen: Which area of your life—fitness, family, or mindset—needs you to show up bigger? And what if the key is leaning on others instead of going it alone?

    Hit reply and let me know your thoughts—I’d love to hear your story!

    Mike Salemi’s “Vital Man Collective”

    The Vital Man Collective is for men ready to step into authentic power with integrity and alignment—free from burnout and the constant need for external validation.

    This NEW offering is unique blend of a deep, supportive community, a men's group, access to all of Mike’s past work (programs, workshops, etc.), and everything he creates moving forward!

    The first call workshop is FREE and open to ALL MEN on Tuesday, February 4th from 5-7pm PST.

    Whether you sign up for the program or not, you will walk away from this workshop with something valuable if you show up with an open mind and heart.

    In this first workshop, Mike will lead powerful group breathwork practices and guide a process called “Storywork” to help men let go of the heavy packs they so often carry.

    Link for Workshop on Feb 4th: https://orchid-camelotia-b51.notion.site/18851d66bdc1818f96bde9e647ba844c

    Email Mike@mikesalemi.io with the word “VITAL”if you’d like more details on the Vital Man Collective.

    Talk soon,Justin



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingresilient.substack.com
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • The Number 1 Issue With Language Learning!!

    The Number 1 Issue With Language Learning!!
    Jan 26 2025

    Have you ever wondered why learning a language feels effortless for some and frustratingly slow for others? What if the key isn’t just about practice, but how your brain is wired to learn?

    In this week’s Becoming Resilient podcast episode, I dive deep into:

    ✅ The #1 challenge holding language learners back (hint: it’s not just about vocabulary).✅ How your brain’s fast and slow thinking systems impact fluency.✅ The hidden flaws of traditional language learning methods—and what actually works.✅ 3 powerful techniques to accelerate your language journey.

    Whether you’re actively learning a new language or just fascinated by the way our brains work, this episode has something for you.

    Why tune in?Because we’re not just talking about language—we’re uncovering how understanding your brain can unlock resilience, adaptability, and faster learning in every area of life.🔊 Listen to the episode on Spotify or Itunes

    What You’ll Take Away:

    🌍 A fresh perspective on language learning that flips the traditional methods on their head.🧠 Simple but powerful ways to retrain your brain for faster fluency.✨ How to balance rigidity and adaptability for long-term success.

    Curious yet?

    Here’s a question to ponder before you listen: What’s the one thing holding you back from feeling fluent? And what if there’s a smarter, easier way to get there?

    Hit reply and let me know your thoughts—I’d love to hear your story!

    Talk soon,Justin

    P.S. I’m also giving away free resources in the show notes, including links to my exclusive language learning tools. Check them out!

    Watch the replay here:

    Check out the Chat GPT:

    Get your $10 credit for Italki here:



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingresilient.substack.com
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    31 mins
  • Think Smarter, Not Harder

    Think Smarter, Not Harder
    Jan 9 2025
    Discover the two powerful systems that drive your thinking: fast and slow. Based on Daniel Kahneman's groundbreaking work, this podcast explores how understanding these brain modes can unlock your peak performance, enhance strategic decision-making, and boost your overall success. Learn practical strategies to harness the power of slow thinking for deeper focus, improved learning, and achieving your personal and professional goals. Perfect for driven professionals seeking to optimize their minds and maximize their potential. Explore mental models, emotional intelligence, and the 'slow movement' for a more fulfilling and impactful life.In this episode, we explore how understanding these modes can transform the way you learn, grow, and approach life.📚 Chapters⏩ 1. The Two Modes of the BrainLearn about the brain's fast, automated System 1 and slow, deliberate System 2—and why balancing these modes is key to thriving.⚡ 2. Stress and the Brain – Fight or FlightFind out how stress narrows your perspective, limits creativity, and makes you react defensively, plus tips to break free.📖 3. The Reading MetaphorDiscover why slow reading helps you think deeply and how fast reading works best for familiar content.🧠 4. Intelligence vs. KnowledgeExplore the difference between fluid and crystallized intelligence and why challenging your brain is crucial for growth.🌟 5. Fear, the Unknown, and Mental ModelsLearn how tackling the unfamiliar builds new mental models and unlocks your potential to grow.❤️ 6. The Role of Emotions in LearningSee how emotions supercharge your brain’s ability to retain information and deepen your understanding.🔄 7. Alternate Between Fast and Slow ThinkingFind out how to master both systems to optimize your learning, productivity, and adaptability.(Post advertising the Live Accelerated Language Learning Workshop)🌟 What’s the #1 Key to Unlocking Fluency in a New Language?When I moved to Argentina, I was determined to learn Spanish faster than anyone else. I threw myself into 🎥 videos, 📖 grammar lessons, 🗂️ vocabulary drills, and even 📚 comic books in Spanish. I thought I had all the tools I needed.But then, reality hit.One day, while doing laundry 🧺, my neighbor stopped by to chat. This was my moment—my chance to show off everything I’d been learning.Instead? 😳 My mouth went dry. My brain froze. I fumbled for words.None of my “knowledge” came out.Over the years, as both a language learner and a teacher of over 15 years, I’ve heard this same story from countless people:"My reading and writing are fine, but when it comes to speaking and listening, I feel completely lost."Sound familiar? 🤔If you’re nodding along, here’s the truth: it doesn’t have to be this way.The problem isn’t just about practice—it’s about the way we’ve been taught to think about language learning. The traditional focus on grammar, rote memorization, and passive learning only gets you so far.But there’s a better way. 🚀In my FREE live workshop, I’ll reveal the 3 essential shifts that completely transformed the way I—and my clients—approach language learning. You’ll learn how to:✔️ Speak and understand effortlessly, without endless mental translation.✔️ Build true confidence in real-life conversations.✔️ Unlock your brain’s natural ability to acquire language faster.The solution isn’t just about speaking more—it’s about rewiring your approach. 🔑If you’re ready to finally break through the barriers holding you back, check out the link in the comments to join the workshop.✨ Oh, and one more thing—I’ll also be sharing client success stories and exercises that have helped people just like you turn their struggles into breakthroughs.What’s been your biggest challenge with speaking and listening? 🤷‍♂️ Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your story!Thanks for reading Becoming Resilient! This post is public so feel free to share it.🔊 Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Itunes🎥 Check out the youtube channel📸 Connect with me on linkedin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit becomingresilient.substack.com
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    26 mins