Episodes

  • #83: FRAM2 Astronaut: I Cried On The Phone To My Wife, I Thought SpaceX Would Boot Me Off The Mission! - Eric Philips

    #83: FRAM2 Astronaut: I Cried On The Phone To My Wife, I Thought SpaceX Would Boot Me Off The Mission! - Eric Philips
    May 22 2026

    Polar Explorer & FRAM2 Astronaut Eric Philips Reveals What It’s Really Like To Be Charged By A Polar Bear, The 6 Hours That Nearly Killed His Partner On Arctic Ice, And The Billionaire Text That Made Him The First Human To Orbit Both Poles on SpaceX’s FRAM2 Mission.

    Polar explorer Eric Philips has spent 30 years walking into the deadliest environments on Earth, and then a billionaire texted him to go somewhere even more dangerous. He reveals the polar bear that stopped 20 metres from his face, the day his expedition partner plunged through the Arctic ice with a 6-hour window before hypothermia, and why he cried on the phone to his wife thinking SpaceX would boot him off the FRAM2 mission.

    Eric Philips is one of the world’s most experienced polar explorers, the co-founder of the International Polar Guides Association, and the mission specialist and medical officer on SpaceX’s FRAM2 mission, the first human spaceflight to orbit directly over both the North and South Poles. He has pioneered four new routes through the Transantarctic Mountains, has an Order of Australia Medal for services to polar exploration, and in March 2025 became one of only four humans ever to see both poles from 440 kilometres above Earth.

    He explains:◾ The polar bear charge that stopped 20 metres from his face and what saved his life◾ The 6-hour rescue when his partner fell through Arctic ice into freezing water◾ Why he cried on the phone to his wife thinking SpaceX would boot him off the mission◾ The “seven minutes of terror” plunging back to Earth at 500 km/h and 500°C◾ What Antarctica really looks like from space and the one country he never got to see◾ Why being an atheist in orbit gave him a refreshed belief in the laws of the universe◾ The first ever X-ray taken in space and the mushrooms he grew in microgravity

    00:00 Intro

    01:34 The Journey to Space: An Unlikely Opportunity

    05:51 Mindset and Skills: The Polar Explorer’s Edge

    11:14 Training for the Unknown: Preparing for Space

    17:55 Team Dynamics: Building Trust and Communication

    23:51 Launch Day: The Calm Before the Storm

    30:18 A New Perspective: Viewing the Poles from Space

    35:56 Geography from Above: The True Size of the World

    38:16 Reflections from Space: A New Perspective

    42:42 The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

    44:06 The Future of Space Exploration

    47:50 Experiments in Space: Discoveries and Innovations

    50:53 Returning to Earth: The Descent Experience

    58:53 Reintegrating into Earth’s Atmosphere

    01:05:54 The Call of Polar Exploration: A Lifelong Journey

    01:15:48 The Allure of Exploration

    01:18:48 Contrasting the Poles: North vs South

    01:24:21 Survival Challenges in Polar Expeditions

    01:32:04 Overcoming Adversity: Encounters with Nature

    01:39:33 Balancing Passion and Relationships

    01:43:37 Navigating Uncertainty and Belief

    01:48:37 Recognition and Its True Meaning

    01:52:33 Advice to My Younger Self

    Follow Eric:Website –

    https://ericphillips.com

    Icetrek –

    https://icetrek.com

    FRAM2 Mission –

    https://fram2.com

    Follow Jacob:Jacob:

    YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@watsonhowland

    Website:

    https://www.jacobwatsonhowland.com

    Spotify: ⁠

    Apple Podcasts: ⁠



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naturewithjacob.substack.com
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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Space Expert: The Internet Is One Satellite Collision Away From Total Collapse! - Scott Manley

    Space Expert: The Internet Is One Satellite Collision Away From Total Collapse! - Scott Manley
    May 20 2026

    Space YouTuber Scott Manley has been quietly preparing us for the most dangerous decade in space history. He reveals the SpaceX shells silently dancing above your head, the day the GPS, internet and weather systems you depend on could collapse in days, and why Apollo was a one-off political accident the US has never recovered from.

    Scott Manley is an astrophysicist, ex-Apple engineer and one of the world’s most-watched space educators with 1.8 million subscribers and over 680 million views. Trained at the University of Glasgow and Armagh Observatory, he has an asteroid literally named after him and has been called “The Internet’s Rocket Scientist” for breaking down real-world spaceflight, SpaceX launches and NASA politics for over a decade.

    He explains:◾ The “Kessler dance” SpaceX is performing in orbit right now to stop the internet collapsing in days◾ Why China will land on the Moon by 2030 and how “it’s up to the US to lose this”◾ The truth about SLS, the rocket built from old Space Shuttle engines that already flew to space◾ How SpaceX is secretly running the biggest satellite surveillance system in space (Stargaze)◾ Why your next iPhone could be built in orbit, and the drugs already being manufactured in zero gravity

    00:00 Intro

    00:44 The Evolution of Space Exploration

    03:31 The Impact of Space Programs on Technology

    06:26 Future Technologies from Space

    09:31 The Role of Private Companies in Space

    12:27 Challenges of Space Debris and Kessler Syndrome

    15:34 The Journey of a Space Educator

    18:32 The Importance of Science Communication

    21:22 The Future of Space Exploration and Public Interest

    40:05 NASA’s Slow Progress and New Leadership

    41:21 The Impact of Private Space Companies

    42:52 Shifts in SpaceX’s Focus: Moon vs. Mars

    46:44 The Economic Viability of Lunar Resources

    48:00 Colonization of the Moon: Feasibility and Challenges

    50:09 The Race to the Moon: US vs. China

    52:32 Tory Bruno’s Move to Blue Origin

    55:46 Blue Origin’s Future in the Space Industry

    57:21 Comparing Blue Origin and SpaceX

    01:01:18 China’s Growing Space Ambitions

    01:04:03 Future Milestones in Space Exploration

    01:07:49 The Potential of Reusable Rockets

    01:09:17 Science Fiction vs. Science Fact in Space

    01:09:54 Transitioning to Full-Time Content Creation

    01:13:26 Advice for Aspiring Creators

    01:16:00 Inspiring the Next Generation of Space Enthusiasts

    01:16:56 Reflections and Advice for the Younger Self

    Follow Scott:YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@scottmanley X/Twitter – https://x.com/DJSnM

    Follow Jacob:Jacob:

    YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@watsonhowland

    Website:

    https://www.jacobwatsonhowland.com

    Spotify: ⁠

    Apple Podcasts: ⁠



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naturewithjacob.substack.com
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • #81: Oxford Historian: Your Vote Doesn't Matter! The Greeks Would Call Your Democracy An Oligarchy!

    #81: Oxford Historian: Your Vote Doesn't Matter! The Greeks Would Call Your Democracy An Oligarchy!
    Apr 2 2026
    Watson-Howland | British Long-Form Podcast | Episode 81: The ancient Greeks invented democracy. Oxford classics lecturer Steve Kershaw says they would look at your government and call it an oligarchy. An outsider looked at Rome and said “that city is for sale, and if it finds a buyer, it’s doomed.” 2,000 years later, the same corruption is everywhere.Jacob Watson-Howland (award-winning BBC-featured photographer) is joined by Steve Kershaw: Oxford lecturer, author of The Search for the Real Troy, Mythologica, and A Brief History of the Roman Empire, and BBC history expert (Barbarians Rising, You’re Dead to Me, Dan Snow’s History Hit).From the invention of the “barbarian” as a Greek linguistic joke to the invisible collapse of the Roman Empire, Kershaw reveals how ancient Rome’s internal rot, political corruption, and cultural arrogance mirror modern civilisation with uncomfortable precision. Plus: why the Greeks, who invented democracy, would classify every modern Western government as an oligarchy.You’ll learn:-Why the Greeks would classify every modern Western government as an oligarchy, not a democracy -How Roman historians used “noble barbarians” to criticise their own corrupt governments without being killed -What an outsider meant when he looked at Rome and said “that city is for sale, and if it finds a buyer, it’s doomed” -Why a scholar came up with 210 different reasons for Rome’s fall, and what that tells us about collapse -How Greek myths teach nuance in a way modern culture has completely abandoned-What Achilles, Odysseus, and Medea reveal about the human cost of getting what you wantSubscribe and turn on notifications: https://www.youtube.com/@watsonhowland?sub_confirmation=100:00 Intro02:04 Inventing The Barbarian06:57 Barbarian As Mirror11:13 Assimilation Not Erasure15:29 Polytheism And Tolerance17:31 Christianity Takes Over23:32 Pagan Gods And Boundaries28:53 Healing Sanctuaries Holism32:51 Greek Heroes Not Saints40:17 Myths Teach Nuance42:19 Fate Power And Limits47:22 Migration Then And Now53:35 Why Rome Is So Cool56:50 Alpha History Fantasy57:22 Roman Fantasy Reality59:13 Odysseus Cautionary Hero01:02:42 Medea Revenge Logic01:05:47 Achilles Revenge Price01:08:19 What Democracy Saved01:12:34 Coins as Propaganda01:14:09 Barbarians Worthy Foes01:17:10 Ancient Globalization01:20:36 Fall of Rome Debates01:26:25 Teaching Classics Today01:28:34 Why Classics Matter01:32:29 Rapid Fire Farewell01:35:23 Final Thanks Next Work01:36:30 Super Important MessageThree pillars of the show:- FRONTIER: Space, AI, science, engineering, and the builders of the next century.- CIVILISATIONS: History, economics, geopolitics and the ideas that still run everything.- AGENCY: The psychology of purpose, performance, and what it means to be a man of genuine character in this new world.Steve:Official Website: stevekershaw.com includes info on his teaching at Oxford and toursBooks Page: stevekershaw.com/16.html full list of his published classics booksLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/steve-kershaw-ab7b7415Jacob:Website: https://www.jacobwatsonhowland.com1-1 Coaching + Podcast Blueprint: ⁠https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385⁠FREE Podcast Tips: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowland⁠Spotify: ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠#RomanEmpire #AncientHistory #BritishPodcastCIVILISATIONS + BRITISH MINDS SERIES This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naturewithjacob.substack.com
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • #80: Men's Mental Health Pastor: The Lie That's Targeting & Destroying Young Men Right Now! - Bill Perkins

    #80: Men's Mental Health Pastor: The Lie That's Targeting & Destroying Young Men Right Now! - Bill Perkins
    Mar 25 2026
    Bill Perkins is the bestselling Author of “When Good Men Get Angry”, former Senior Pastor of 24 Years and founder of Million Mighty Men.Expect to learn:–The “Respect Bank” concept: why disrespect is the #1 anger trigger in men and how an empty bank leads to explosive reactions–How to find the core lie that is silently running your life, and the one question Bill uses to expose it–Why the hardest person for most men to forgive is themselves, and how refusing to do it is actually a form of pride–How Jesus got angry, and what that means for men who are told anger is always wrong–The truth about strongholds: why therapy alone often fails men and what has to happen first–How to set firm boundaries without cruelty, even with a parent or close family member–The word-of-knowledge moment that changed Bill’s entire ministry model, and what he saw God do in a church in Louisiana–Why growing up in a home with poor conflict resolution is still shaping your relationships right now–How reading the Gospels every month for 13+ years rewired how Bill thinks, speaks, and processes pain🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode that changes how you see yourself.00:00 Intro01:18 Finding Faith at Nineteen06:56 Family Wounds and Words11:32 Marriage Lessons and Maturity17:36 Forgiveness and Boundaries20:26 Setting Hard Boundaries25:05 Jesus and Healthy Anger30:12 Respect Bank Explained34:02 Hearing God and Healing Lisa42:39 From Skeptic to Supernatural45:20 Freedom Ministry and Strongholds47:00 Why Self Forgiveness Is Hard50:26 Deliverance and Dramatic Healings50:57 Dramatic Healing Story52:09 Freedom Is Not Fixing Life52:40 Where Demons Come From55:40 Hold Interpretations Loosely01:00:01 Sin Evil And Suicide Lies01:05:56 Satan Judas And Temptation01:09:49 Strongholds And Core Lies01:13:45 Confession Brings Freedom01:18:09 Trauma Patterns In Adults01:22:03 Blended Gospels Project01:29:15 Christmas Star Reframed01:32:49 What People Miss About Jesus01:39:02 Advice Consistency And WrapBills WorkMain site: https://billperkins.comBooksWhen Good Men Get Angry — https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/when-good-men-get-angry-the-spiritual-art-of-managing-anger_bill-perkins/1812925/When Good Men Get Angry audiobook (Google Play): https://g.co/booksYT/AQAAAEAMmTzZIMJacob’s Work1-1 Coaching + Podcast Blueprint: ⁠https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385⁠FREE Podcast Tips: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowland⁠Spotify: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠Follow Jacob: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jacobwatsonhowland⁠Jacob’s Website: ⁠https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com⁠#MensMentalHealth #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndMasculinityWhat’s the one lie about yourself you’ve been carrying the longest — and where do you think it actually came from? Drop it below 👇Music created using Eleven Music by ElevenLabsIf you or someone you know is struggling, contact Samaritans on 116 123 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naturewithjacob.substack.com
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    1 hr and 43 mins
  • #79: ‘AI Stole My Book’ Ex-Disney Exec on the $1.5B Copyright Fight (What Creatives Must Know About AI) - Adam Leipzig

    #79: ‘AI Stole My Book’ Ex-Disney Exec on the $1.5B Copyright Fight (What Creatives Must Know About AI) - Adam Leipzig
    Mar 13 2026
    AI is already training on your work, without asking, without paying, and without waiting for you to catch up. Former Disney and National Geographic executive Adam Leipzig had his own book scraped into an AI model, and he’s here to tell you exactly what creatives must do before it’s too late.Adam Leipzig has helped produce over 35 films, including Dead Poets Society and March of the Penguins, generating over $2 billion at the box office and earning 10 Oscars and 11 BAFTA win/nominations. He now teaches at UC Berkeley and is the author of Fearless Persistence.This is episode 79 of the Watson-Howland Podcast. Subscribe to understand yourself and the world better.Expect to learn:–Why AI can already fake a pretty good version of you, and the one thing it will never be able to replicate–How Anthropic and Meta trained their models on pirated books, including Adam’s, through a $1.5 billion lawsuit settlement–The difference between a Jason Statham movie and Barbie or Oppenheimer, and why it tells you everything about where AI falls short–The 10 Laws of Culturnomics: why every work that is both aesthetically great and financially successful follows the same rules–How to think of yourself as the CEO of your own creative career, and what that actually means day to day–Why vulnerability is not weakness, and how authenticity is the single most powerful weapon creatives have against AI–The “Next” mentality Adam learned from Jeffrey Katzenberg at Disney, and why it’s the key to surviving both wins and losses–How to sustain yourself emotionally, spiritually, and financially as a creative when nobody teaches you the practical stuff📘 Fearless Persistence by Adam Leipzig (April 2026):Purchase/pre-order through his official site:adamleipzig.com🌐 Adam Leipzig’s Official Website:adamleipzig.com🎓 Adam at UC Berkeley (Haas School of Business):haas.berkeley.edu/faculty/leipzig-adam🎓 Adam at UC Berkeley Executive Education:executive.berkeley.edu/faculty-directory/adam-leipzig🎬 MediaU — Adam’s Online Film School:mediau.comAI has already trained on the work of creators like Adam without permission or payment. Do you think creatives will be fairly compensated for their work in the future, or is it already too late? Drop your thoughts below 👇Best Quotes“AI is already trained on your work. It’s not asking for permission and it’s not waiting for you to catch up.”“Could AI create a pretty good Jason Statham movie? Yeah, there’s about 40 to train on. Could it create Barbie or Oppenheimer? I don’t think so.”“It’s really, really hard to be a creative in this world right now. Love is not enough, you still have to pay the rent.”“Don’t stop. That’s my mantra. Just don’t stop.”“You are not your work. The work crosses the bridge, and then it belongs to the world.”00:00 WATCH THIS BEFORE AI REPLACES YOU00:27 Meet Adam Leipzig01:38 AI Is Retrospective03:22 Jobs Disrupted and Created04:58 AI as Film Tool07:50 Formula vs Breakthrough Art09:36 Spotting AI Outputs12:29 Copyright Lawsuits and Piracy14:29 New Book Fearless Persistence16:53 10 Laws of Omics20:45 Context and Communication25:26 Creative Career Curiosity27:25 Black and White Western Dream31:42 Choosing Projects and People34:29 Red Flags and Truth37:35 Authenticity and Vulnerability40:52 Deadlines Beat Perfectionism43:14 Emotional Resilience for Creators47:53 Meditation and the Power of Next51:33 Learning From Wins Losses52:07 Mission And Purpose52:56 Disney Lessons Katzenberg55:04 Why Leave Disney57:47 What Producers Really Do01:02:53 Workflows That Scale01:04:49 Joyful Work And Risk01:09:07 Creative Community Matters01:13:39 Why Art Shapes Us01:17:15 Parenting And Boundaries01:20:47 Love Later In Life01:23:46 Grief Mortality Presence01:26:41 Photography And Stillness01:30:24 Pie Crust Vodka Hack01:34:49 Communication And Mantras01:37:03 Final Thanks And Plug01:38:04 Podcast Blueprint Pitch01:40:14 Closing GoodbyeJacob’s Work1-1 Coaching + Podcast Blueprint: ⁠https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385⁠FREE Podcast Tips: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowland⁠Spotify: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠Follow Jacob: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jacobwatsonhowland⁠Jacob’s Website: ⁠https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com⁠#AIandCreativity #CreativeCareer #AdamLeipzigAll images, film artwork, and photos of Adam Leipzig used with permission, courtesy of Adam Leipzig and adamleipzig.comMusic created using Eleven Music by ElevenLabs This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naturewithjacob.substack.com
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    1 hr and 40 mins
  • #78: Jesus' Bones Would Destroy Christianity: PhD Geomythologist Exposes The Dark Truth Experts Ignore - Timothy Burbery

    #78: Jesus' Bones Would Destroy Christianity: PhD Geomythologist Exposes The Dark Truth Experts Ignore - Timothy Burbery
    Mar 9 2026
    Ancient myths aren’t superstition, they’re survival manuals. Geo-mythologist Timothy Burbery has spent his career proving that the stories your civilization dismissed as legend are actually encoded records of real catastrophes, real people, and real miracles.Timothy Burbery is a Marshall University professor, published author, and the mind behind TED-Ed videos on dragons and mythology with over 2 million views. He’s the man building the bridge between science and the ancient world.Subscribe to understand yourself and the world better.You’ll learn:–Why finding the bones of Christ would actually undermine the entire faith, and what that reveals about the power of myth–How geo-mythology decodes ancient stories as real historical and geological records–The tribe that survived a disaster that killed 200,000 people — because they had the right story–Why the same myths your culture calls superstition have saved entire civilisations from destruction–What it means to be a scientist who believes in the miraculous, and whether faith and scholarship can coexist–How dragon myths and ancient legends map onto real-world events–The one question every Christian must answer: can you believe in Jesus without believing in the Resurrection?00:00 ADD INTRO01:16 The Universal Presence of Dragons04:19 Cultural Interpretations of Dragons07:30 Dragons as Explanations for Natural Phenomena10:03 Regional Variations of Dragon Myths13:16 The Proto-Ceratops Theory and Its Implications16:21 The Intersection of Science and Mythology19:23 The Legend of King Arthur22:17 The Cyclops Myth and Its Origins25:14 The Role of Geomythology in Understanding Myths29:43 The Nature of Predatory Myths31:27 Connecting Myths to Historical Events33:26 Geomythology and Major Geological Events36:39 Aboriginal Knowledge and Meteor Myths38:55 Preservation of Ancient Knowledge41:26 The Legend of Atlantis43:28 Survival Value of Myths45:52 The Emergence of Hybrid Creatures47:44 Legends of Giants and Bigfoot49:45 Unexplained Myths and Cold Cases54:25 Explaining Natural Disasters through Myths56:06 The Mystery of Werewolves57:45 Exploring Mythology and Eclipses59:27 The Wonders of Geomythology01:02:54 Indigenous Perspectives and Scientific Narratives01:05:18 Personal Beliefs and Philosophical Reflections01:11:39 Finding Life and Meaning01:13:22 The Resurrection and Its Significance01:19:43 The Possibility of Extraterrestrial Life01:23:00 Advice to My Younger SelfTimothy’s Work📺 TED-Ed Video (2M+ views):Why do so many cultures have dragon legends?📘 Book — Geomythology: How Common Stories Reflect Earth Events (Routledge, 2021):Routledge listing🌐 Marshall University Profile:marshall.edu/english/profile/timothy-burbery📄 Academia.edu (Research Papers):marshall.academia.edu/TimothyBurberyJacob’s WorkPodcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385FREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppAYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowlandSpotify: Apple Podcasts: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobwatsonhowlandWebsite: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com#Mythology #GeoMythology #AncientHistoryMusic created using Eleven Music by ElevenLabs This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naturewithjacob.substack.com
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    Not Yet Known
  • #77: Why Real Connection Is So Rare (And How to Find It) - Ashlee Raymond

    #77: Why Real Connection Is So Rare (And How to Find It) - Ashlee Raymond
    Mar 3 2026
    Ashlee Raymond is a writer, PA student, and published poet at 25 who’s amassed thousands of Substack readers in just six months by saying what nobody else will.She’s lived through elite-level figure skating, her dad’s brain cancer diagnosis, heartbreak, and a quarter-life crisis, and turned every bit of it into writing that makes strangers message her in paragraphs.Subscribe for weekly conversations on love, identity, and learning to live without a mask.You’ll learn:VALUE BULLETS–Why curiosity is a lost art, and how dating apps have completely destroyed the ability to truly know someone–The one shift that changes every relationship: “It is more intriguing to be interested in somebody than to be interesting“–How Ashlee grew thousands of Substack readers in 6 months by writing journal entries she was terrified to post–The hidden cost of hiding yourself just to be liked, and why it quite honestly makes you feel like sh*t–What years of elite figure skating taught her about identity, obsession, and losing yourself in one thing–How her dad’s brain cancer diagnosis changed her life’s direction, and why it led her to medicine–The real reason we stay in relationships we know aren’t right (it’s not stupidity, it’s neurochemistry)–Why “to be loved is to be considered”, and the moment she realised she wasn’t being considered at all–Her final advice: don’t do anything safely. Live and love a little recklessly.00:00 Why You Should Watch This Episode01:02 Substack Milestone Chat02:12 Why Curiosity Resonated03:29 Writing Letters Unsent04:53 Vulnerability as Strength07:40 Deep Talks and Loneliness14:12 Dating Apps and Masks20:25 Hidden Identity and Skating23:03 Figure Skating Reality Check26:38 Perfectionism and Fixations29:53 Rebuilding Social Life32:20 Late Blooming in Love34:26 Why She Writes About Love35:52 Choosing Better Relationships39:20 Codependency vs Growth40:25 Healthy Love and Red Flags41:23 Honeymoon Chemistry and Love Bombing42:29 False Attachment and Dad’s Diagnosis43:31 Terminal but Stable Treatment44:14 Why Medicine Matters46:05 Veteran Injury and Resilience48:46 Perspective Through Pain51:23 Acceptance and Writing to Heal52:27 Nostalgia Bias and Exes56:16 Love Languages and Reciprocity01:00:22 Asking Deeper Dating Questions01:02:29 Intentional Dating and Standards01:09:43 Quarter Life Crisis at 2501:11:28 Staying Grounded with Gratitude01:12:32 Mom and Dad’s Meet Cute01:16:03 Standards and Happiness01:17:15 Gut Feelings vs Anxiety01:20:03 Attachment Styles Evolve01:23:04 Dating in the Digital Age01:26:46 Ghosting and Guarded Hearts01:29:29 Why Love Feels Hard Now01:30:55 Support as Relationship Glue01:35:23 Balancing Ambition and People01:40:36 Friendships and Cutoffs01:43:57 Dream Life and People Pleasing01:51:27 Generational Work and Freedom01:53:54 Faith, Death, and Meaning01:57:54 Fear of Being Forgotten01:58:43 Living Fully Over Dying02:00:29 Fulfillment and No Regrets02:01:23 Defining Success and Impact02:03:28 Writing Habits and Substack02:04:45 Books and Loving the Process02:05:53 Core Inspiration to Write02:09:21 Advice from Mom Self First02:11:36 Live a Little Reckless02:13:30 Are We Built for Happiness02:15:03 Impermanence and Gratitude02:17:04 Journaling Meditation Reading02:20:52 How Fast We Change02:23:21 Aliens and Unknown Science02:26:40 Advice to Younger Self02:28:26 Wrap Up and Where to Find02:29:10 Podcast Blueprint Pitch02:31:20 Final GoodbyeBest Quote“Don’t do anything safely. You cannot experience the riches of life if you don’t take that step forward.”Ashlee’s Work:Substack: https://substack.com/@ashleewritesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashrayray/Book - Deep Dive: https://www.amazon.com/deep-dive-Ashlee-Raymond/dp/B0DDGY36CM/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RKaSvNBj6dBRYTEzi6OUA5S0mbYYBtG4He1wwuDt55U.AhBhjaH6ivHHCDO7NRPNhw1ULUWNv0rjIW5Z3O-GjeA&dib_tag=se&keywords=deep+dive+ashlee+raymond&qid=1772535379&sr=8-1Jacob’s WorkPodcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385FREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppAYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowlandSpotify: Apple Podcasts: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobwatsonhowlandWebsite: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com#relationships #GenZ #loneliness This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naturewithjacob.substack.com
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    2 hrs and 31 mins
  • #76: How to Grow on Substack & Feel Less Lost in Your 20s - Sydney Rheeder

    #76: How to Grow on Substack & Feel Less Lost in Your 20s - Sydney Rheeder
    Feb 27 2026
    How do you find your true self in your twenties when school, social media, and everyone else’s timeline are pulling you in every direction? sydney rheeder 𖣠 , South African writer, designer, and creator of for the record®, one of Substack’s fastest-growing personal essays newsletters, gets brutally honest about shame, perfectionism, vulnerability, and building a creative life from scratch.Subscribe for weekly conversations on self-discovery, creativity, and living deliberately in your twenties.VALUE BULLETS–Why the most vulnerable, “cringey” thing you post will almost always perform the best–How Sydney went from 0 to 9,000 Substack subscribers in under two months, and the YouTube strategy behind it–The real reason we feel so lost in our twenties, and why school is largely to blame–Why shame is the most dangerous emotion you can carry, and how therapy helped Sydney face her childhood self–The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and why chasing external validation will make you quit–How to balance ambition with presence: Sydney’s personal mantra, persevere with patience–Why your creative niche doesn’t need to be chosen, it finds you when you start–The Alan Watts “life as a dance” philosophy that completely reframed how Sydney thinks about success00:00 Substack Growth Surprise00:38 Repurposing YouTube Stories01:34 Why Vulnerability Resonates03:27 Emma Watson Storytelling Lesson07:13 Fear of Being Seen Online10:31 Suppressing Your True Self16:34 Finding Your Inner Voice19:31 Experience Over Self Help21:01 Exposure Therapy and Toastmasters26:14 Bravery Through Coralline29:23 Journaling Patterns and Perfectionism31:47 Therapy as Unbiased Witness34:41 Shame and Childhood Healing39:54 Beyond Achievement and Finish Lines41:37 Chasing the Finish Line42:44 Dance With the Moment44:28 Persevere With Patience46:21 Rituals Over Social Media47:53 All Or Nothing Cycles48:59 Alignment And Seasons50:48 Daily Pauses And Boredom53:43 Letting Ideas Find You55:48 Intrinsic Vs Extrinsic Values01:00:21 Using Negative Fuel Wisely01:03:03 Creative Dreams And Career Doubts01:05:37 Why Twenties Feel Lost01:08:41 What School Never Taught01:10:21 Industrial Age Education01:12:24 Side Hustles For Freedom01:15:19 Sunday Scaries And Taking Risks01:17:24 Start Before Youre Ready01:18:25 Keep Going While YoungRESOURCES / LINKS📝 Sydney’s Substack — for the record®:📺 Sydney’s YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCALqf9ZBI2zOZU7HdOMcmkA📸 Sydney’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sydneyrheeder/🎵 Sydney’s TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@sydney_rheederJacob’s WorkPodcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385FREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppAYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowlandSpotify: Apple Podcasts: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobwatsonhowlandWebsite: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com#FindingYourself #TwentiesSelfDiscovery #podcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naturewithjacob.substack.com
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    1 hr and 19 mins