A Controversial New Cure for Alcohol Dependence - Katie Herzog - #993
Modern Wisdom
09/13/25
•95m
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Katie Herzog is a journalist, podcaster, and writer.
What does it take to get sober in today’s world? From traditional paths like AA to the grit of going cold turkey, the old methods of sobriety may no longer be enough. But what if counterintuitive, cutting-edge approaches, backed by modern science, offer new ways to manage alcohol use? And what does that say about the value of the old ways?
Expect to learn why drinking might be a viable route to going sober, why white knuckling alcohol isn’t a great option, If AA were invented today what methods would be its first step, the difference between getting sober and living sober, the different reasons people drink and the underlying reasons why people tend to drink more than others, advice for people who need to quit but don’t want to stop, and much more...
Timestamps:
(0:00) How Relationships to Alcohol Can Vary
(18:36) How Does Alcohol Addiction Manifest in the Brain?
(26:58) Building Good Habits to Break Bad Habits
(33:53) The History of Addiction Treatment
(47:58) Is Medication the Modern Cure for Alcohol Addiction?
(01:01:16) Why are Medical Professionals Still Hesitant About Addiction Medication?
(01:09:27) Changing Your Relationship to Alcohol
(01:22:03) Drinking Cultures are Changing Globally
(01:31:53) Find Out More About Katie
Sponsors:
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Get 10% discount on all Gymshark’s products at https://gym.sh/modernwisdom (use code MODERNWISDOM10)
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Extra Stuff:
Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books
Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom
Episodes You Might Enjoy:
#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman
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Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact
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Previous Episode
The Period Brain: How Hormones Change Women’s Behaviour - Dr Sarah Hill - #992
September 11, 2025
•99m
Dr Sarah Hill is a professor at TCU, a research psychologist, expert in women’s hormones and brain science, and an author.
Each month, women experience hormonal changes that go far beyond the clichés of PMS. These shifts can influence mood, stress response, and even how women relate to others. So how can recognizing these patterns make it easier for both men and women to navigate relationships when things don’t feel normal?
Expect to learn why hormones play such a role in psychological function, what actually happens to women during their time of the month and what a PMS brain is, if women understand what their cycle does to them, what men can learn about women’s hormonal cycles and how birth control changes the brain, if oral contraceptives could be the biggest unexamined mental health experiment currently playing out, if PMS is actually a design feature rather than a flaw, and much more...
Timestamps:
(0:00) Introducing the Menstrual Cycle
(5:30) What Women Experience During Their Cycle
(20:29) The Ovulatory Shift Hypothesis: Researching the Cycle
(44:05) How Do Men and Women Differ Hormonally?
(56:27) How Does the Pill Effect Women on Their Cycle?
(01:05:58) Does Female Hormone Suppression Effect Male Hormone Levels?
(01:11:31) Are Career-Driven Women Going to Burn Out Faster Than Women Listening to Their Cycle?
(01:17:50) Biological Sex is So Important in Research
(01:22:56) Is Feminism Making Women Feel Insufficient?
(01:27:26) Why are Periods So Understudied?
(01:35:50) Find Out More About Sarah
Sponsors:
See me on tour in America: https://chriswilliamson.live
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular Flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom
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Get 5 Free Travel Packs, Free Liquid Vitamin D, and more from AG1 at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom
Extra Stuff:
Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books
Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom
Episodes You Might Enjoy:
#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman
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Get In Touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast
Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact
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Next Episode
The Endless Pursuit of Progress - Sam Sulek - #994
September 15, 2025
•130m
Sam Sulek is a professional bodybuilder and YouTuber.
From zero to millions of fans, Sam Sulek’s rise has been nothing short of explosive. In just a few years, he’s become one of social media’s most-watched and talked-about creators. Sit back as we dive into the story of the man behind some of the internet’s most beloved vlogs, fueled by hefty scoops of chicken and rice.
Expect to learn what Sam would be doing if he wasn’t doing fitness and bodybuilding, why so many people are drawn to Sam’s content and if he expected at all to become an ASMR channel, if there are any pressures to brand himself as anything different than his most authentic self, what Sam’s relationship with the mirror is like, if Sam has any concerns over longevity in his current pursuits, how to keep pushing even when motivation is low, Sam’s thoughts on science based lifting, Sam’s top 10 exercises of all time, and much more...
Timestamps:
(0:00) Where Would Sam Be Without Bodybuilding?
(6:56) Where Sam Finds His Inspiration
(17:56) How Sam Deals with Online Criticism
(27:39) How to Be Comfortable Living a Simple Life
(33:06) Why It’s Important to Stay Hungry for Success
(43:55) Sam’s Opinion on the Rise of Male Body Dysmorphia
(01:00:23) How Sam’s Perspective on Bodybuilding Changes
(01:11:20) How Sam Stays Driven and Disciplined
(01:26:56) Optimising Your Diet to Build Muscle
(01:36:43) What Diets Did Sam Follow to See Progress?
(01:45:24) Sam’s Thoughts on Evidence-Based Lifting
(01:55:37) If Sam Could Only Keep 10 Exercises
(02:08:57) What’s Next for Sam?
Sponsors:
See me on tour in America: https://chriswilliamson.live
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular Flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom
Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom
Get 5 Free Travel Packs, Free Liquid Vitamin D, and more from AG1 at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom
Get $100 off the best bloodwork analysis in America at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom
Extra Stuff:
Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books
Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom
Episodes You Might Enjoy:
#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman
-
Get In Touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast
Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact
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