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Flourish FMAuthor: jonandnick
What does it take to flourish? We started Flourish FM to share cutting edge research from world experts on how to thrive, so you can take away big ideas and practical steps to enhance your life, the lives of others, and, ultimately, make the world a better place. Flourish FM is hosted by Dr. Jon Beale and Dr. Nick Holton, and in collaboration with the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, and The Shipley School. Language: en Genres: Education, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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The Role of Discomfort in the Good Life with Michael Easter
Episode 84
Monday, 4 May, 2026
About this episode: Michael Easter is a journalist, professor, and bestselling author who writes about how modern environments shape human behavior, health, and performance. He’s best known for translating scientific research and immersive reporting into practical insights about living better in an age of abundance. Michael is the author of two New York Times bestsellers: The Comfort Crisis (2021) and Scarcity Brain (2023). Comfort Crisis explores how modern life has become too easy and why seeking out purposeful discomfort can improve our mental and physical health. Scarcity Brain examines how evolved human instincts collide with today’s world of endless food, information, and stimulation, leading to overconsumption and addictive behaviors. Michael’s work has appeared in over sixty countries and in media outlets including Men’s Health, Outside, New York, Scientific American, Esquire, and Vice. Through his writing and speaking, he focuses on how people can design their environments and habits to live healthier, more intentional lives in a world built for comfort and excess. His work has been adopted by NASA, special forces units, Fortune 500 companies, top pro teams, and millions of readers worldwide. Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Links: Website LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Facebook Book: The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self (2021) Book: Scarcity Brain: Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough (2023) Newsletter: Two Percent 02:35 Why Discomfort Matters 04:25 Stress Sweet Spot 07:42 First World Problems 12:37 Arctic Reset Story 17:19 Boredom as Signal 21:24 Unpleasant Emotions Help 24:47 Misogi Annual Challenge 28:12 Physical or Mental Misogi 28:41 Sushi Fear Breakthrough 29:41 Anti Fragile Academy Update 31:12 Chosen Stress And Proactivity 33:39 Beneficial Versus Harmful Stress 36:01 Finding The Sweet Spot 38:11 Daily 2 Percent Mindset 42:13 Movement Culture And Walking 43:32 Why Walk With Weight 48:31 Rucking Gear And Sex Differences 50:06 Designing Environments For Discipline
