A Masterclass In Storytelling - Will Storr - #944
Modern Wisdom
05/22/25
•97m
About
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Will Storr is an author, journalist, and former photographer.
Stories mould who we are, from our character to our cultural identity. They drive us to act out our dreams and ambitions, and shape our politics and beliefs. Some of the world’s greatest contributors are those who have learned to master storytelling. Is storytelling something we can learn? Is there a science to storytelling?
Expect to learn how we use stories to gain status, why stories are key to how we process reality, what most people get wrong about great storytelling, the fundamental questions great storytellers answer, what the best stories in recent history, and much more...
Timestamps:
(00:00) Why Are Stories So Persuasive? (03:45) The Problem of Knowingness (08:29) Stories Are the Language of the Brain (13:55) The Link Between Stories & Social Identity (25:22) How Stories Engineer Tribal Preferences (39:05) How We Use Stories to Gain Status (44:31) Rivalry in Storytelling (57:36) Storytelling in Cancel Culture (01:05:32) What People Get Wrong About Good Storytelling (01:10:19) The Importance of Heroes in Stories (01:20:07) How to Make Stories Stick More (01:26:09) The Story Around Smoking Cigarettes (01:33:41) Where to Find Will
Sponsors:
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get 5 Free Travel Packs, Free Liquid Vitamin D, and more from AG1 at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom
Get a 20% discount on Nomatic’s amazing luggage at https://nomatic.com/modernwisdom
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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:
This Is How To Master Your Life - David Goggins - #577: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs - Dr Jordan Peterson - #712: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain - Dr Andrew Huberman - #700: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman
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Get In Touch:
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast
Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact
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Previous Episode
The Downfall Of CrossFit & The Future Of Fitness - Will Ahmed - #943
May 19, 2025
•114m
Will Ahmed is an entrepreneur, founder, and CEO of WHOOP.
Wearable fitness tech has taken over in 2025, from sleep scores to stress tracking and everything in between. So how did WHOOP grow into a $3.6 billion giant? And how do you use the data to improve your life without letting it control you?
Expect to learn why CrossFit is so unpopular now and what happened to its falloff, what the broad trends of fitness are across the globe, how to get past your self-doubt and stop being so hard on yourself, how to deal with rejection better, what it is like hanging with the world’s best athletes, how to avoid being a prisoner of your wearable fitness data, and much more...
Timestamps:
(00:00) The Downfall of CrossFit (04:34) Recent Global Trends in the Fitness Industry (13:11) How Being an Only Child Influences You (17:31) Overcoming Self-Doubt (25:01) Balancing Ambition & Gratitude (34:44) Running a Company While Experiencing Grief (39:18) Finding Out What You Truly Want (43:18) The Journey of Pursuing What You Want (56:27) The Romanticisation of Failure (01:10:41) Learning From the World’s Best Athletes (01:19:31) Getting Trapped in Over-Optimisation (01:32:14) The Real Costs of the Outcomes You Desire (01:37:57) Will’s Perfect Morning Routine (01:43:54) Biggest Hacks for Overseas Travel (01:51:22) What’s Next for Will
Sponsors:
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get a 20% discount on Nomatic’s amazing luggage at https://nomatic.com/modernwisdom
Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom
Get the best bloodwork analysis in America at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom
Get a Free Sample Pack of all LMNT Flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.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:
This Is How To Master Your Life - David Goggins - #577: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs - Dr Jordan Peterson - #712: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain - Dr Andrew Huberman - #700: 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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Next Episode
The Art Of Self Mastery - Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi - #945
May 24, 2025
•62m
Shi Heng Yi is a Shaolin master, headmaster of Shaolin Temple Europe, and teacher of Kung Fu and Chan Buddhism
What can the Shaolin lifestyle teach us in a world full of distractions? In the rush of modern life, learning to pause, breathe, and reflect can be the difference between a good day and a bad one. So what other timeless principles can monks offer that still hold power today?
Expect to learn what self mastery means and how to master yourself, the Shaolin monk approach to mental clarity and breath work, what to do if you feel like something is missing from your life, how people can better deal with regret, how you can be more present, the Shaolin training method to overcome modern distractions, how to build mental resilience and much more...
Timestamps:
(0:00) The Meaning of Self-Mastery (03:01) The Areas People Neglect the Most (06:20) How Much Control Can We Have Over Our Minds? (15:23) Preparing for Difficult Times During Times of Comfort (19:39) Why Become a Monk? (22:28) How to Begin Finding Your Purpose (28:45) Interrupting the Cycle of Pursuing Things (33:26) Balancing Self-Improvement & Self-Love (37:49) Dealing With Regret (41:56) Where Do Discipline & Focus Come From? (46:17) How Being a Monk Changes the Texture of Your Mind (51:02) Calming Our Unprocessed Trauma (55:52) The Courage to Face Our Own Pain
Sponsors:
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get 60% off an annual plan of Incogni at https://incogni.com/modernwisdom
Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom
Get a Free Sample Pack of all LMNT Flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom
Extra Stuff:
Get Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi Book: https://tinyurl.com/5drhan2c
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:
This Is How To Master Your Life - David Goggins - #577: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs - Dr Jordan Peterson - #712: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain - Dr Andrew Huberman - #700: 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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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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