The Antifragile Podcast

In this episode of the Antifragile Podcast, we had the incredible opportunity to speak with Dr. Karen Dark, a remarkable individual whose life story exemplifies the concept of antifragility. At just 21 years old, Karen was paralyzed from the waist down, but instead of allowing this life-altering event to define her, she embraced challenges that many would consider insurmountable.

Karen shared her recent adventure to Everest Base C...

In this episode of the Antifragile Podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Brendan, a remarkable individual who recently completed the World's Toughest Row, an ocean rowing race from Monterey, California, to Kauai, Hawaii. Brendan and his team, which included a member living with Parkinson's, not only made history by becoming the first four-man American team to cross the mid-Pacific but also raised an astounding $43 million...

In this episode, Dr. Nick and Dr. Adam sit down with Corrina Stasik, creator of the podcast "My True Crime Life" and personal coach. Corrina shares her incredible journey of resilience, healing, and transformation, drawing parallels between her life experiences and the Netflix series "Ozarks."

Join us as we explore:

-Corrina's childhood and the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on her adult life.

-The power of vulnerab...

In this episode we get into the intricate relationship between personality traits and antifragility. Building on last week's discussion about the proactive personality, we aim to unpack the science of personality and its implications for developing greater mental fortitude and resilience.

We begin by addressing a common concern among listeners: the fear that lacking certain proactive personality traits might preclude them from bec...

In this episode, hosts Dr. Holton and Dr. Wright discuss key insights from Brendan Markey-Towler's seminal 2018 paper on what he describes as the "proactive personality" and its relationship to antifragility.

Key takeaways include:

-What a proactive personality is

-The role of a growth mindset in fostering antifragility

-How a scientific approach to knowledge acquisition can enhance adaptability

-The significance of courage and d...

In this episode, we unpack why this topic isn’t getting the attention it deserves, discuss the potential dangers of misapplying antifragility, and explore recent research that provides practical measures for assessing it. Here are three key takeaways from our discussion: 1. Understanding the Misconceptions: One of the primary reasons anti-fragility isn’t widely discussed is due to its complexity and the common misunderstanding that...

In this episode, Dr. Nick and Dr. Adam walk through some of the rationale for why we should be deeply interested and invested in developing antifragility. Particularly in the contexts of parenting, coaching, and education. A few takeaways... (1) The Importance of Embracing Adversity In our discussion, we highlight the alarming trends in mental health among adolescents, particularly post-COVID. Research shows that young people who f...

In this episode, we dig into the concept of "via negativa", a principle introduced by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, which emphasizes the importance of removing the negative rather than constantly adding new elements to improve our lives. Join us we explore: 1. The essence of via negativa and its connection to environmental mastery 2. The philosophy of optimization through subtraction 3. Key concepts such as simplicity, redundancy, and the...

In this episode, Dr. Nick Holton walks you through the overlapping worlds of antifragility and psychology research. Dr. Holton discusses the mission of the Antifragile Academy and how it aligns with Nassim Nicholas Taleb's original work on antifragility, but he also takes it a step further. Throughout the segment, Dr. Holton explores the six key themes of antifragility according to Taleb, but also how those show up in the psycholog...

In the latest episode of our podcast, "The Antifragile." the good Drs. focused on the the "barbell approach" posited by Nassim Taleb by holding up human flourishing alongside the utility of unpleasant experiences. The guys explored the concept of alignment and thriving, discussing the importance of understanding what thriving means and how it plays a crucial role in building antifragility. Here are two key takeaways from this episo...

In this episode of The Antifragile podcast, we discussed the crucial concept of psychological for athletes, executives, and high performers in proactively building antifragility.

Key Points Covered:

-Definition and importance of psychological flexibility in building antifragility.

-Positive associations of psychological flexibility with well-being, resilience, and performance.

-Practical tips and strategies for developing psychol...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating topic of motivation as a core component of antifragility. Join us as we explore the concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, break down self-determination theory, and discuss the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in driving behavior. From compliance-based extrinsic motivation to the inherently satisfying nature of intrinsic motivation, we examine how different t...

In our most recent segment we start to dive into the crucial components of antifragility, focusing on awareness and attention as key subcomponent first and foremost. We discuss the importance of self-awareness, attention, and the interplay between the two in the context enhancing performance, resilience, and well-being. The conversation covers the distinction between awareness and attention, the role of mindfulness and meditation p...

In our newest segment, we delve into the concept of antifragility through a biopsychosocial lens or the interconnected nature of well-being, resilience, and performance, focusing on top-down cognitive processes, bottom-up physiological factors, and outside-in social influences. Our discussion covers the importance of understanding biological, psychological, and social factors in enhancing athlete performance and overall well-being....

In this episode, we delve into the concept of antifragility in psychology and neuroscience.

We start by discussing the idea of an antifragile personality, as proposed by Marky-Towler in 2018. The key takeaway from Towler's paper is that individuals with an anti-fragile personality not only survive but actually grow in their knowledge of how to act in the world in the face of uncertainty and difficulty.

We then transition into a di...