Skipping Stones with Seth Roberts

What if the stories you tell yourself are the reason you stay stuck?

We talk envy, expectations, and why it’s easier to cheer for strangers than friends. This one’s about taking back control, acknowledging real barriers without letting them define you.

We dig into how low standards spread, how to spot a “that’s not for people like us” mindset, and why raising the bar helps everyone rise. It’s honest, practical, and a little uncomfort...

What if the victories you’re chasing are pulling you away from the life you actually want?

This episode explores surrender as a strength, not a setback —a choice that protects your peace, purpose, and long-term goals. We unpack why constant striving often fails, how ego hides behind grit, and why true success means ending up more grounded and aligned with what matters.

You’ll learn when to let small wins go, how to watch emotions wit...

What if the same trust that keeps society working also makes us easy to influence?

This episode looks at how media, politics, and group psychology exploit our wiring for safety and belonging. We explore why anger spreads faster than reason and how outrage cycles erase nuance.

You’ll learn simple ways to spot manipulation, question intent, and stay steady in a world built on emotional triggers. The goal isn’t cynicism, but clarity, hi...

How much of you existed before you were born?

Your DNA, appearance, and tendencies come from generations who lived, loved, failed, and triumphed before you.

This episode of Skipping Stones explores how family history shapes identity:

• We think of ourselves as self-made, but each of us carries generations of stories.
• Merchants, artists, pioneers, and rebels still influence who we are today.
• Love, grief, ambition, and joy connect us ac...

Think you’re getting a great deal? Maybe not.

On this week’s Skipping Stones, Seth Roberts talks about the hidden costs of bargains. From family “freebies” to cut-rate gear, cheap often comes with strings attached.

Through personal stories from business and life, Seth explains how spending a little more can actually save time, stress, and energy in the long run.

If you’ve ever wondered whether chasing deals is really worth it, this ep...

We spend so much energy running from pain, but the harder we run, the longer it follows us.

This episode dives into the surprising truth that real healing happens when we stop numbing, stop distracting, and actually feel what hurts. It’s not about fighting your demons; it’s about letting yourself mourn, grieve, and process so you can finally move forward.

On the other side of that discomfort? Clarity, empathy, resilience, and a stron...

The stories that shape us rarely come from ease. They come from struggles, failures, and how we rise to meet them. We don’t look back with pride at what was easy. We remember the storms we survived.

This episode delves into the hero’s journey as more than just storytelling; it’s a pattern of real growth. From comfort to challenge, loss to resilience, struggle to transformation.

Through examples like Jean Valjean in Les Mis...

The Power of Sharing Pain

When someone’s hurting, our instinct is to fix their problems or offer comforting words. But what if real support isn’t about solving at all?

In this episode, we explore the art of holding space, pausing our urge to fix, truly listening, and sharing another’s burden. Pain, like a glowing ember, often needs to be witnessed before it can fade.

From personal reflections to the bonds formed in brotherhood and fri...

Why Do Some Loves Last While Others Fade?

We often think deep connection comes from instant chemistry, but the truth is the opposite. Real love, real meaning, and real fulfillment begin after the spark fades.

Relationships, careers, even passions only become truly valuable when we’ve seen them at their worst—and chosen to stay. The breaking point isn’t where things end; it’s where something authentic begins.

This episode explores why ...

Ambition vs. Purpose: What Really Drives You?

 We celebrate ambition, but without purpose, it’s just motion without meaning. In this episode, I share stories from corporate America that reveal how ego and status-chasing can waste time, fuel politics, and drain creativity. 

Discover how shifting from ambition to purpose builds resilience, fuels joy, and frees you from the fear of losing what you’ve gained. 

Why We Should Rethink Our “Enemies”

Why do some people get under our skin so easily? In this Skipping Stones episode, we explore the surprising truth about conflict: both sides usually believe they’re right, yet we’re all wrong sometimes.

The real reason to “love your enemies” isn’t for their benefit—it’s for yours. Understanding those who hurt us can take away the sting of their actions and free us from carrying bitterness.

Listen no...

Can Pain Be a Path to Growth?

We’ve spent centuries trying to avoid pain, but what if it’s the key to real growth?

In this episode of Skipping Stones, Seth Roberts explores how pain becomes unbearable when it feels meaningless. But when pain has a purpose, it becomes a challenge we can grow from.

Through powerful stories and insights, learn how to shift your mindset and turn suffering into strength. Because it’s not about avoiding pai...

Why Being “Perfect” Is Pushing People Away

Trying to be perfect might be the very thing keeping you from a real connection. In this episode of Skipping Stones, we explore how vulnerability, authenticity, and emotional honesty are key to building stronger relationships.

Hear how one shift in a dating profile led to deeper conversations and why being needed is a strength, not a flaw.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to have it al...

Turning Hardship Into Strength: The Hidden Power of Adversity

Why do we wear our struggles like badges of honor? In this episode, we explore the strange relationship between hardship, identity, and personal growth. Discover how adversity builds resilience, confidence, and character in ways that privilege often can't.

With powerful insights from psychology and nature, we reveal why your toughest experiences may be your greatest a...

Emotions spread fast. One person panics, and suddenly everyone feels on edge. But what if you could be the calm in the chaos?

After witnessing a friend's apartment ceiling collapse, I was reminded how powerful a steady presence can be during a crisis. In this episode of Skipping Stones, we explore how active listening, emotional awareness, and calm energy can de-escalate panic and create deeper connection—whether you're he...

In this episode of Skipping Stones, we explore the powerful contrast between two mindsets: prey and predator. Prey scans for danger. Predator locks in on a goal. As humans, we can do both but knowing when to switch might change everything.

Whether it’s avoiding that new opportunity because you’re afraid to look foolish, or holding back from an honest conversation, fear can quietly run your life. But clarity, focus, and purpose are t...

How Kids Really Build Confidence (Hint: It's Not Hand-Holding)

When should parents step back and let their kids struggle? Inspired by a scene from The Chronicles of Narnia where Aslan says, “Let the prince win his spurs,” this episode dives into how real confidence is built, not given.

From ancient rites of passage to modern over-parenting, we explore why facing hard things on your own is the key to growing up. 

Whether...

Divorce breaks more than vows.

It can unravel your identity, future, and sense of self.

In this honest episode of Skipping Stones, we explore the quiet collapse that begins long before the paperwork, the emotional crash that follows, and the deep identity shift that comes after. From lonely nights to painful choices, this is a look at what really happens when a marriage ends.

We also talk about the impact on kids, who often...

Is It Love or Just Infatuation?

In this episode of Skipping Stones, we break down the difference between true love and infatuation.

Real love isn’t about constant excitement or missing someone every second. It’s about calm, trust, and feeling safe with someone who makes your life better, not more dramatic.

We explore why many people confuse fantasy with connection, and how real love is built on the little things: steady support, quiet...