
What Netflix’s “Adolescence” Got Wrong - William Costello - #924
Modern Wisdom
04/05/25
•96m
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William Costello is a psychology researcher and Ph.D. student specialising in evolutionary psychology.
With the recent release of “Adolescence” on Netflix, it has stirred up quite a bit of controversy. But what are the real dangers of incel-related violence, and how can we begin to confront them?
Expect to learn what Netflix’s “Adolescence” got wrong in their adaptation, if incels are a bigger danger to themselves or others, why there is not more incel violence, what The Low Mate Value Theory of Misogyny is, what the reaction to “Adolescence” has been from various factions of the internet, if fear, shame, and shock actually can change behaviour, and much more...
Timestamps:
(00:00) Is Netflix's "Adolescence" A Bit Too Real? (11:36) Was Jamie A Good Avatar For An Incel? (22:24) Aspects The Show Got Wrong (33:01) What Contribution Does The Show Make To Male Sedation Hypothesis? (40:13) What Has Been The Reaction From The Incel Community? (46:05) Were Any Interesting Points Made About Masculinity? (56:17) Why The Incel Community Attracts Attention (59:36) Is This Turning Into A Moral Panic? (01:04:27) Defining Masculinity (01:19:13) Achieving Positive Masculinity In A Modern World (01:25:04) Why The Terms Manosphere And Incels Are Being Demeaned (01:36:16) Where To Find William
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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-Huberma
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Previous Episode

Why Evolution Favours Beauty Over Survival - Matt Ridley - #923
April 3, 2025
•74m
Matt Ridley is a science writer, journalist, and author.
Evolution is a strange theory. If survival is all that matters, why do we find things beautiful? Why does beauty exist at all? And if aesthetics are so important, how do some species thrive without it?
Expect to learn what Darwin’s strangest ideas were, the fundamental mystery of sexual selection, why females choose certain males based on beauty and performance rather than obvious survival traits, if females actually have as much agency in mate selection as we assume, or if other forces dictate choice, the alternative explanations for beauty and why aesthetics are so important and much more...
Timestamps:
(00:00) Darwin's Sexual Selection Theory (03:58) What Is The Fundamental Mystery When It Comes To Sexual Selection? (16:16) Why Were Birds Useful For This Study? (19:42) Do Females Choose Males Based On Beauty Rather Than Survival Skills? (22:24) Is Maximised Survival Seen As Sexiness? (27:11) Conventional Explanation For The Great Snipe (31:59) What Is The Lek Paradox? (34:47) Why Sexual Selection Could Be A Maladaptive Force (40:14) How Extreme Can These Traits Become? (44:58) Tiny Traits That We Could Overlook As Sexual Selection (47:37) Could Sexual Selection Have Shaped The Human Mind? (54:21) How Does This All Fit Together? (59:17) Parallels Between Bird Mating Behaviours And Human Romantic Displays (01:06:06) What We Should Learn About Biases In Interpreting Our Nature (01:09:53) Where To Find Matt
Sponsors:
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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-Huberma
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Get In Touch:
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Next Episode

23 Lessons For Being Kinder To Yourself - Joe Hudson - #925
April 7, 2025
•143m
Joe Hudson is a coach, entrepreneur and a podcast host.
Before you try to change the world, make sure your own “bed is made”. It's often the most crucial first step in any personal growth journey. But how do we navigate the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that inevitably arise as we work to become better versions of ourselves?
Expect to learn why it might be a problem to become too self-reliant, what people get wrong with obsessing over productivity as they grow in their careers, how can we deal with painful emotions more effectively, how to move past resentment and feel less defensive, if it is possible to be world-class and enjoy the process at the same time and much more...
Timestamps:
(00:00) Achievements Joe Is Working Towards (08:04) Identifying The Negative Voices In Our Head (11:38) Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Self Reliance? (16:26) Do We Seek Validation In The Wrong Places? (24:40) Where Does Passive Aggression Come From? (29:38) Why Do People Get Defensive? (35:44) How To Overcome Defensiveness (39:49) Why Fear Creates Binary Thinking (44:41) Adapting A More Optimistic Outlook On Change (47:22) Why We Need To Stop Chasing Perfection (52:58) Becoming Comfortable With Vulnerability (56:37) Prioritising Our Own Needs (01:06:21) How We Can Show Up More Bravely With Ourselves (01:14:47) Preventing Resentment In A Relationship (01:19:18) What Does It Mean To Open Your Heart? (01:23:28) Defining Feeling Oppressed (01:26:49) Are Compliments Ego Destroying? (01:32:55) What It Means To Dissolve The Sense Of Self (01:38:38) Why Exhaustion Causes Negative Self Talk (01:44:20) Gaining Enjoyment From Efficiency (01:55:00) Why Not Feeling Accepted Prevents Us From Being Ourselves (02:02:07) Fundamental Value Of Unconditional Love (02:07:02) Why We Can't Avoid Agitation (02:13:01) Where Does Confidence Come From? (02:22:55) Where To Find Joe
Sponsors:
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get a Free Sample Pack of all LMNT 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://drinkag1.com/modernwisdom
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Extra Stuff:
Joe's website: https://view.life/modernwisdom
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-Huberma
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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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