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Why do we do things we know we’ll regret?

Why is it so hard to pause in the moment… and choose differently?

From snapping at someone you care about, to habits you keep falling back into, these split-second decisions can quietly shape the direction of your life.

In this episode, Carly unpacks what’s really happening in those moments when the impulse feels stronger than you… and a technique to stop getting pulled under by it.

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This was a really cool and practical conversation with Dr Pam King, who is a Professor of Applied Development Science and Director of the Thrive Centre.

Most of us are chasing happiness, meaning, and purpose, yet many feel lost in a sea of conflicting advice—what if the key is rooted in ancient wisdom wrapped in modern science?

In this episode, Dr. Pam King and I explore the profound connection between spirituality, resilience, and thriving through life's hardships. Discover the Thrive Centre’s innovative framework that guides us toward a flourishing life, no matter our beliefs or background. You'll learn practical, research-backed steps to cultivate joy, build resilience, and find a sense of belonging in a fractured world.

Key Takeaways

• The connection between spirituality and psychology
• The Thrive Centre’s approach to thriving in complex contexts
• Distinction between religion and spirituality
• The concept of functional spirituality and its components
• The role of virtues, habits, and community in well-being
• Impact of adversity and hardship on personal growth
• The importance of love, trust, and relationships
• Practical steps to find purpose and joy in life

00:00 Pam King's Journey: From Faith to Psychology

02:50 The Thrive Centre: Bridging Research and Real Life

05:56 Spirituality vs. Religion: Understanding the Distinction

08:58 Functional Spirituality: A New Approach to Meaning

11:55 The THRIVE Model: Keys to Flourishing

14:56 The Role of Community in Spirituality

17:58 The Crisis of Meaning in Modern Society

20:56 Navigating Purpose in a Secular World

23:52 Finding Joy: Practical Steps to Meaning

27:04 The Importance of Values and Relationships

29:51 Resilience Through Hardship: The Power of Meaning

32:05 Finding Meaning Through Hardship

33:09 The Five Rs of Resilience

39:09 The Role of Relationships in Resilience

42:43 Finding Purpose in Tragedy

46:48 The Power of Gratitude

54:31 The Importance of Love and Connection

Resources

Podcast: With and For hosted by Dr. Pam King

With & For bridges psychology and spiritual wisdom to help you thrive. Hosted by developmental psychologist and ordained minister Dr. Pam King.

• https://play.megaphone.fm/98lslc0crcc7cpmf21jd3g
• https://play.megaphone.fm/smnfur3csbexbzu4d8ovza

Some other resources from Pam

• Spiritual Health PDF
• Secular Age Paper on our website news page
• Love Centered Religion & Spirituality blog
• What does Thriving mean?

https://www.instagram.com/drpamking/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-ebstyne-king-1a495ab/

https://thethrivecenter.org/

Support the Podcast

If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Most of us build confidence on outcomes, which means it rises when things go well and drops when they don’t. In this episode, Carly explores a Stoic practice known as the reserve clause, the idea of committing fully to your actions while accepting that the result is not entirely in your control.

Drawing on Stoic philosophy, she explains how shifting your focus from outcomes to effort, intention, and how you show up creates a more stable form of confidence. You’ll also hear how practising arete, or excellence of character, allows you to respond well in both success and failure.

A simple mindset shift before and after challenges can help you build confidence you can actually rely on, regardless of what happens.

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In this episode, I chat with Thoryn Stephens, a data visionary and keynote speaker, about the intersection of human behaviour, biology, and artificial intelligence. Thoryn shares his journey from studying biotechnology and molecular biology to optimising human performance through data science. The discussion delves into the importance of wearable technology in measuring and enhancing personal health metrics, such as heart rate variability and sleep quality. Thoryn emphasises the significance of recovery and Behavioral design in achieving peak performance, whether in athletics or corporate settings. The conversation also explores the potential of AI in advancing healthspan and mindspan, highlighting both the promising and challenging aspects of integrating technology with human biology.

Takeaways

• Wearable biometrics and HRV measurement accuracy
• The role of peptides in health and longevity
• Behavioral design for health and performance
• AI and brain-computer interfaces in medicine
• Strategies for preventing dementia and neurodegeneration

03:06 The Intersection of Data Science and Human Performance

05:57 Wearable Technology and Health Metrics

09:03 Balancing Performance and Recovery

11:55 Micro and Macro Recovery Strategies

15:04 Understanding Lifespan, Healthspan, and Mindspan

18:04 AI's Role in Health and Recovery

20:57 Personal Recovery Experiences and Insights

23:55 The Impact of Genetics and Lifestyle on Health

24:58 Understanding Dementia and Its Prevention

26:28 Personalised Health Protocols and AI Integration

28:55 The Evolving Landscape of Peptides

30:08 Navigating the Legal Status of Peptides

31:54 The Role of Continuous Monitoring in Health

34:01 Resistance Training and Its Importance

38:02 Behavioral Design for Health Improvement

41:55 The Future of Health Monitoring and AI

Resources

Connect with Thoryn Stephens:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thoryn/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ragearea

brain.one - https://brain.one/

peptides.one - https://peptides.one/

Galen Buckwalter's Neural Implants - https://caltech.edu/research/neural-interfaces

Support the Podcast

If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here are the links to the research papers mentioned in the podcast:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35187864/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28698222/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26817506/

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We’ve all had moments where we reacted in ways we later regret.

In this episode, Carly explores a simple Stoic idea: you don’t rise to the moment, you fall to the level of your training.

Drawing on Seneca’s quote, “If you would not have a man flinch when the crisis comes, train him before it comes,” this episode is about preparing for life’s challenges so you can respond with intention, not reactivity.

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