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• I make videos about life lessons, these are the ones I’ve learned firsthand | Dhar Mann

  "Change your name—your failures will follow you." That was the worst advice Dhar Mann got—from someone he admired. Instead, he built his entire brand on that very name. Now? 60+ billion views. Growing up, he never fit in—too Indian for Americans, too American for Indians. Even ate lunch in the bathroom to avoid judgment. But later, he realized: he didn’t need to fit into any box at all. At 30, rock bottom hit: broke, depressed, facing public failure. That’s when he stopped blaming the world—and took full ownership of his life. "If I'm not the problem, I can't be the solution." Then COVID hit his family hard—his daughter nearly died. That moment rewired his values. Success isn’t one more video—it’s showing up. For his kids. For himself. Every single day. Dhar Mann’s life looked perfect on the outside—but behind the scenes, he was completely falling apart. He shares how he changed his mindset and his habits to overcome the most difficult moments of his life. For Mann, success used to mean financial achievement, but after years of chasing the next big milestone, his priorities shifted. Now, it’s about being present, especially for his family. Whether it’s taking his kids to school or setting personal goals, he’s learned that real success isn’t just about numbers—it’s about the people who count on you to show up. About Dhar Mann: Dhar Mann is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, and the founder of Dhar Mann Studios, known for creating viral videos that share powerful life lessons. With over 70 million followers and 60 billion views on YouTube, his stories inspire people to make better choices and treat others with kindness. After going through his own tough times, Dhar started making videos to help others who might be struggling too — turning his past into a purpose that connects with millions. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes --------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• How to grow deeply happy | Jonny Thomson

  **What If Everything You Know About Happiness Is Wrong?** We chase success, money, and pleasure—thinking they’ll make us happy. But what if we’re climbing the wrong ladder? Aristotle believed every action has a purpose, but the ultimate goal of life? True happiness. The problem? Most of us don’t even know what that means. In this eye-opening episode, Jonny Thomson unravels the hidden paths to happiness through ancient wisdom and modern philosophy. He explores why pleasure alone won’t fulfill us, how extreme lifestyles lead to burnout, and why real happiness is impossible without virtue. From the thorny roads of Daoism to the golden rule of kindness, he reveals the three *pillars* that can transform your life. Are you unknowingly sabotaging your own happiness? Press play and find out. “If we're to be happy at all, it has to be found outside of this notion of pleasure. We have to step beyond hedonia. But the problem is that we risk going too far.” Humans have been chasing happiness for thousands of years. But we can't seem to agree on the exact definition of happiness and it's often presented as simply a smiling face on social media. Jonny Thomson, author and our very own staff writer here at Big Think, argues that happiness is less of a smiling face, rather, happiness is a smiling soul. Thomson runs the social media account ‘Mini Philosophy,’ where he distills complex philosophical ideas into bite-sized lessons. So, what can philosophy teach us about happiness? By examining different schools of philosophical thought, we can learn a lot about different ways to create happiness.From Buddhism, Daoism, and ancient Greece to the philosophers of today, Thomson leads us through 2,500 years of happiness philosophy and carves out 3 simple methods that you can use to usher greater happiness into your life.Timestamps: 00:00: What is the end point?01:46: The philosophies of happiness02:31: 3 pillars of happiness03:00: Happiness ≠ pleasure04:40: Moderation05:53: Virtue08:08: Applying the 3 pillars About Jonny Thomson:Jonny Thomson taught philosophy in Oxford for more than a decade before turning to writing full-time. He’s a columnist at Big Think and is the award-winning, bestselling author of three books that have been translated into 22 languages.Jonny is also the founder of Mini Philosophy, a social network of over half a million curious, intelligent minds. He's known all over the world for making philosophy accessible, relatable, and fun. Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes --------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The science of shared consciousness | Lisa Miller

  Ever wondered why you can sense when a loved one is in pain? This Columbia psychologist has an explanation. Clinical psychologist Lisa Miller rejects a materialist view of the brain as a factory producing thoughts. She believes that the brain might function more like an antenna — capable of sending and receiving consciousness, which holds information, love, and intelligence. In other words, consciousness can exist independently of matter. Miller highlights scientific research that has explored this idea of shared consciousness, particularly in bonded relationships and among twins. She emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity, where our actions and treatment of others leave lasting imprints on a collective consciousness field. Miller wants to redefine how we understand human consciousness and interconnectedness. This view of our minds has implications for fields such as psychology, neuroscience, and spirituality: by recognizing our shared consciousness, we can live a less lonely and more mindful shared existence. --------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The great friendship collapse: Inside The Anti-Social Century | Derek Thompson

  “You can debate all sorts of things about how the texture of American life has changed. What you can't debate is the sheer, objective, existential fact that Americans are more alone than ever.” Why are we spending more time alone than ever? More importantly, why do we seem to prefer this solitude? Journalist Derek Thompson unpacks the rise of what he calls the “Anti-Social Century.” Each leap of technology hasn’t just made our lives easier, it’s made it lonelier. But this isn’t just about feeling isolated; it’s about how we’re choosing solitude, which in turn is rewiring our brains to prefer screens over people. Chapters: 00:00 American Time Use Survey 00:55 The decline of socializing over 60 years 01:41 How the TV privatized leisure 02:38 How the smartphone privatized attention 03:12 The Anti-Social Century 04:40 Dopamine and smartphones 06:43 The emotional costs 07:22 Is AI replacing friendship? 09:37 What’s the antidote? --------------------------------------- About Derek Thompson: Derek Thompson is a staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the podcast Plain English. He is the author of Hit Makers and the co-author of Abundance alongside Ezra Klein, which explores the case for renewing the politics of plenty in the modern world. --------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The psychology of persuasion, as told by an Ivy League professor _ Jonah Berger for Big Think+

  It just takes one “yes.” Wharton professor Jonah Berger shares his three tips for getting what you want from others. In appropriate contexts, the art of persuasion can go a long way. Wharton School of Business professor Jonah Berger shares three strategies for getting your peers and target audiences to "yes." Learn how to make your communications more convincing and easier to agree with. --------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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