Shows / The examined life - Thoughts from Self
The examined life - Thoughts from Self
The Examined Life is a collection of reflections on fitness, philosophy, psychology, and the principles that shape how we live. Through lessons learned from running, strength training, and studying human nature, Dana explores what it means to think deeply, live intentionally, and play the long game.
Episodes
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
the discipline to stop | why sometimes the hardest thing you can do is nothing
Rest sounds easy—until you’re someone who loves to keep pushing. In this episode, I explore why taking a day off can sometimes require more discipline than…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
The Athlete files: Usain Bolt | One athlete. One extraordinary journey. A completely unconventional path to greatness.
What does it actually take to become the best in the world?Usain Bolt is one of the most recognisable athletes in history. The fastest man alive. Eight-time…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
I stopped chasing what was new and started looking for what has lasted | The Lindy Effect, fitness, and why time is one of the best filters we have.
In this episode of The Examined Life, I explore why we often confuse novelty with progress, why social media has made us increasingly obsessed with the next…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
The Problem With Optimising Everything | On measurement, meaning, authenticity, and stepping away from the numbers to find what actually matters
What happens when the tools designed to improve your fitness start getting in the way of actually enjoying it?For almost my entire fitness journey, I wore a…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
The Things You Should Stop Doing | Inversion and the overlooked path to better fitness, better decisions and a better life.
What if the best way to get what you want is to stop asking how to achieve it?In this episode, I explore inversion — a mental model that completely changes the…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
why your hardest days might be your most valuable | hormesis, adaptation, and learning to use discomfort
What if the thing you're trying to avoid is actually the thing that makes you stronger?In this episode, I explore hormesis — the biological phenomenon where a…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
the four lessons fitness took years to teach me | the mindset shifts I wish i'd known from day one
What if staying consistent with fitness had nothing to do with motivation—and everything to do with how you think?In this episode, I share the four principles…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
the science of becoming | neuroplasticity, fitness, and the invisible process of becoming
Your brain is changing every single day.The question is: What are you teaching it to become?This episode explores neuroplasticity through the lens of fitness…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
building is impressive. maintaining is rare | entropy, fitness, and why maintenance matters more than motivation
Everything in life naturally drifts towards disorder.Your body.Your relationships.Your skills.Even your mindset.In this episode, I explore the idea of…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
the goal isnt to be right | bayesian thinking, fitness, and the art of becoming less wrong
Most people spend their lives trying to prove they're right.Bayesian thinking suggests something different: the people who improve the fastest are the ones…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
why your results arent random | systems thinking, fitness, and the hidden patterns shaping your life.
Why do some people consistently get results while others stay stuck repeating the same patterns?In this episode of The Examined Life, I explore one of the most…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
measure everything, experience nothing.
Why do so many people feel disconnected from meaning despite having more data, tools, and optimisation than ever before?In this episode of The Examined Life, I…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
life is a repeated game
Most people approach life as if success comes from making one big decision.The perfect workout program.The perfect career move.The perfect relationship.The…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
the person who enjoys training has a different problem to the person who doesn’t
Most fitness advice is designed for people who struggle to exercise. But what if your problem is the opposite?In this episode of The Examined Life, I explore a…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
truth begins where certainty ends | falsifiability, feedback, and reality-based thinking
Why do some people improve while others stay stuck defending the same beliefs?In this episode of The Examined Life, I explore one of the most powerful mental…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
the first 20 minutes are a metaphor for life
Why does everything worthwhile seem to feel hardest at the beginning?Whether it's a run, a writing session, studying for an exam, learning a new skill, or…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
the adaptation advantage | why evolution may be the most important lesson for fitness and life
Why do we struggle to think long-term? Why are quick fixes so appealing? And what does evolution have to do with the way we train, eat, think, and live?In this…
- The examined life - Thoughts from Self
The real advantage running gave me | running made me stronger, but not in the way you think
When was the last time you spent an hour alone with your thoughts?No phone. No music. No podcast. No distractions.Most people think the greatest benefit of…