Best-selling author Mark Manson brings his irreverent, hard-hitting style right to your ear holes with life advice that doesn't suck.
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Featuring a mix of gues...
How to Set Goals and Create Healthy Habits in 2025
In this special New Year's episode of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck podcast, we dive into the perennial challenge of making meaningful changes in our lives. Rather than falling into the typical "new year, new you" trap that leads most people to abandon their resolutions by February, Drew and I explore a different approach to personal transformation. We share our own struggles with perfectionism, control, and finding purpose.
We also dig into some research about how evolution may have shaped our sense of purpose, the science of habit formation, and offer practical strategies for making lasting changes. Whether you're setting goals for the new year or just trying to build better habits, this episode will help you approach personal growth with more wisdom and less pressure in 2025. Enjoy.
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Theme song: Icarus Lives by Periphery, used with permission from Periphery.
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53:33
No Regrets, The Case Against Empathy, and Is AI Coming for Us All?
This week, we dive headfirst into the messy, uncomfortable topic of regret. From the aches and grays that come with hitting a new decade to the deeper realizations about relationships, selfish mistakes, and missed opportunities, we unpack how regret shapes who we are. And there's a twist: what if regret isn’t something to fear or avoid? What if it’s a tool for growth? I share my own stories of taking people for granted, self-destructive habits, and the lessons I’ve learned about self-forgiveness and choosing your regrets wisely.
We also tackle some fascinating questions about whether empathy is actually good for society. Is it always a good thing, or can it sometimes lead us astray? To round things off, we share our thoughts on AI and its impact on creativity and human connection.
Enjoy.
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Chapters
01:14 The F*ck of the Week: No Regrets?
19:36 Brilliant or Bullsh*t: Is Empathy Always a Good Thing?
40:45 Q&A: Is AI coming for us all?
Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough
Theme song: Icarus Lives by Periphery, used with permission from Periphery.
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52:51
How to Get Lucky in Life and Take Smarter Risks
Today, we dive into the fascinating world of luck, risk, and how they shape our lives. We explore the delicate balance between playing it safe and taking chances, and why understanding this balance is crucial for personal growth. If you've ever wondered whether you're too cautious or not cautious enough, then strap in for this one.
We dig into the psychology of luck, examining how our perceptions influence our outcomes, and why taking calculated risks can lead to outsized returns. We also tackle the tough question of how to cope with life's inevitable hardships. Hopefully this gives you a fresh perspective on risk-taking and a new appreciation for the role of chance in your life.
Enjoy.
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0:00 Mark’s in the doghouse
2:44 The F*ck of the Week: Making Your Own Luck?
19:00 Brilliant or Bullsh*t: We should take more risk in life?
36:47 Q&A: How should you approach taking bigger risks?
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Theme song: Icarus Lives by @Periphery , used with permission from Periphery.
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46:41
Advice To Avoid, The Dark Side of Therapy, and Taking Your Own Medicine
You ever notice how some people can’t stand being told what to do—even when the advice is good? Yeah, that’s me. In this episode, Drew and I dig into why so many of us rebel against advice, why others chase it like their life depends on it, and whether all that “actionable advice” we’re constantly fed is actually helping anyone. Spoiler: I’m not a fan of cookie-cutter solutions, and I’ve got some opinions about the self-help industry’s obsession with telling people exactly what to do.
We also get into the bigger picture—how advice often misses the mark when it’s not tailored to someone’s unique situation, and how therapy culture might be trying to replace something deeper that’s missing in our lives. I’ll share why I don’t give rigid life hacks, the trouble with universal solutions, and the surprising reason why most breakthroughs aren’t about the advice at all. If you’re tired of “do this, don’t do that” advice, this one’s for you.
Enjoy.
Get a free sample pack of LMNT with your purchase when you use my exclusive link: https://drinklmnt.com/idgaf
Get 10% off your first month of therapy at BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/idgaf
Chapters
01:26 - The F*ck of the Week: Actionable Advice
21:26 - Brilliant or Bullsh*t: Therapy vs Therapy Culture
38:04 - Q&A: Taking Your Own Medicine
Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough
Follow me:
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Theme song: Icarus Lives by Periphery, used with permission from Periphery.
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45:27
How to Stop Living for Other People (ft. Ben Nemtin)
Have you ever felt like there’s more to life than the daily grind, like your dreams are buried under all the obligations and expectations life throws at you?
In this episode, we sit down with The Buried Life co-founder and New York Times bestselling author, Ben Nemtin, to explore why so many of us feel disconnected from our true purpose—and how to reclaim it.
For Ben, it all started as a group of friends chasing wild bucket-list dreams and helping strangers achieve their dreams too. In the process, they discovered what it means to give yourself permission to dream and then make those dreams a reality.
We dive deep into the psychology of fear, the power of accountability, and the surprising benefits of doing what you love—not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. We discuss why most people regret not living authentically, how to overcome the social and emotional barriers holding you back, and practical strategies for rediscovering your dreams, even if they’ve been buried for years.
If you’re looking for inspiration to take that first small step toward a life that feels truly yours, this episode will get you there.
Enjoy.
Use code IDGAF to get 15% your order at https://huel.com/idgaf
Get 10% off your first month of therapy at https://BetterHelp.com/IDGAF
Ben’s Stuff:
The Bucket List Journal by Ben Nemtin: https://www.amazon.com/Bucket-List-Journal-Achieve-Fulfilling/dp/B09VX2LMY2
The Buried Life (TV Show): https://www.bennemtin.com/tv-show/
The Buried Life (Poem): https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43585/the-buried-life
Ben’s Website: https://www.bennemtin.com
Ben’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Y7mfxEaco
Follow Ben:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennemtin
https://www.instagram.com/bennemtin
https://twitter.com/BenNemtin
https://www.facebook.com/Nemtin/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5l2kfhEEEXLm2HlRXRVzbw
Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough
Follow me:
https://instagram.com/markmanson/
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https://linkedin.com/in/markmanson/
https://www.tiktok.com/@iammarkmanson
00:00 What is the buried life?
06:57 Finding your gift and giving it away
11:07 The impact of The Buried Life TV show
18:06 Your goals don't have to be big to be meaningful
21:17 Your authentic self changes over time
26:15 Buried lives and the modern world
34:50 How to uncover your buried life
50:22 Leveraging emotions in your favor
59:41 Ben's Bucket List Journal
Theme music: “Icarus Lives” by Periphery, used with permission from Periphery.
Best-selling author Mark Manson brings his irreverent, hard-hitting style right to your ear holes with life advice that doesn't suck.
ㅤ
Featuring a mix of guest appearances, burning reader questions, and solo shows with just Mark and a microphone, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Podcast explores all the uncomfortable questions that, if you're brave enough to ask yourself, might just change your life.
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Whether it's your relationship, career, health, wealth, or happiness, Mark tackles it all with refreshing honesty and a dash of foul-mouthed humor.