SOLVED with Mark Manson

Епизоди

• Why We Stay in Bad Relationships, Solved 20.05.2026 1ч 51мин

  Why do smart, emotionally aware people stay in relationships that are clearly destroying them? Drew and I dug into the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard marriage, to walk through the seven psychological mechanisms that quietly lock people inside bad relationships and make leaving feel impossible. If you have ever watched someone you love stay in a relationship that is destroying them, or if you have been that person yourself, this episode will shine a lot of light on what is really going on under the hood. Get your free episode guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/bad-relationships/ • Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁨https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁩ • Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at purpose.app⁩/solved Check out our sponsors: • Master Class: Get 15% off any annual membership at https://www.masterclass.com/solved • Ultra Pouches: Use code SOLVED to get 15% off at https://www.takeultra.com • Factor: Head to ⁠https://www.factormeals.com/solved202650off and use code solved202650off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only • Wealthfront: Wealthfront’s high-yield cash account: ⁠https://www.wealthfront.com/solved⁠ Chapters: 0:00:00 CHAPTER 1: Why Smart People Stay in Bad Relationships 0:04:00 CHAPTER 2: The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Backstory 0:14:30 CHAPTER 3: Mechanism 1 — Normalization 0:27:00 CHAPTER 4: Mechanism 2 — The Identity Trap 0:41:30 CHAPTER 5: Mechanism 3 — The Slot Machine Effect 0:51:30 CHAPTER 6: Mechanism 4 — Cognitive Dissonance 1:01:30 CHAPTER 7: Mechanism 5 — The Sunk Cost Fallacy 1:10:30 CHAPTER 8: Mechanism 6 — The Guilt Cage 1:16:00 CHAPTER 9: Mechanism 7 — The Terror of the Void 1:24:00 CHAPTER 10: The Aftermath of Johnny and Amber 1:30:00 CHAPTER 11: How to Counteract Each Mechanism Wealthfront Details and Disclosure: Wealthfront’s high-yield cash account: https://www.wealthfront.com/solved. This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Mark Manson, who is not a Wealthfront client,  receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid endorsement in his podcast, creating a conflict of interest. More details available via the referral link. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026 is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. References to the APY for the Wealthfront Cash Account, including any APY increase, are to the APY paid by insured depository institutions that participate in our cash sweep program (the "Program Banks”). Wealthfront Brokerage does not pay interest. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to Program Banks where they earn a variable APY and are eligible for FDIC insurance. Conditions apply. For a list of Program Banks, see: www.wealthfront.com/programbanks. FDIC pass-through insurance, which protects against the failure of Program Banks, not Wealthfront, is not provided until the funds arrive at the Program Banks. While funds are at Wealthfront Brokerage, and while they are transitioning to and/or from Wealthfront Brokerage to the Program Banks, the funds are eligible for SIPC protection up to the $250,000 limit for cash. FDIC insurance is limited to $250,000 per customer, per bank, regardless of whether those deposits are placed through Wealthfront Brokerage. You are responsible for monitoring your total deposits at each Program Bank to stay within FDIC limits. Wealthfront works with multiple Program Banks to make available up to $8 million ($16 million for joint accounts) of pass-through FDIC coverage for your cash deposits. For more info on FDIC insurance coverage, visit www.FDIC.gov. If eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period. Additional terms and conditions apply, which can be found on wealthfront.com/solved.  Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• How to Overcome Anxiety, Solved 06.05.2026 2ч 18мин

  Here's the uncomfortable truth about anxiety: most of what people reach for to fix it was chosen because it feels easy, not because it works. The supplement that went viral on TikTok, the CBD gummy, the glass of wine after a hard week... they range from doing nothing to actively making things worse. We ranked 17 of the most popular anti-anxiety interventions from the absolute worst to the number one most effective, according to the research. Along the way, we get into why alcohol is the anxiety cure that 2 billion people use that actually creates more anxiety in the long run. We talk about the UGC marketing conspiracy behind the magnesium craze. We break down the difference between harmonious and obsessive anxiety, why your brain is literally doing therapy on itself every night while you sleep (and what happens when you don't let it), and why exercise is essentially practice for being afraid. The pattern that emerges is painfully clear: everything that actually works is a lifestyle change, and everything that doesn't is a quick fix. The real question isn't which intervention is best. It's whether you're willing to be uncomfortable long enough for the right ones to work. Get your free episode guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/anxiety/ • Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁨https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁩ • Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at purpose.app/solved Check out our sponsors: • Waking Up: Get 30 days free at https://www.wakingup.com/solved • Shopify: Sign up for your $1-per-month-trial at https://shopify.com/solved • Factor: Head to https://www.factormeals.com/solved202650off and use code solved202650off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only • Wealthfront: Wealthfront’s high-yield cash account: https://www.wealthfront.com/solved This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Mark Manson receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid endorsement in his podcast, creating a conflict of interest. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The base APY is 3.30% on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. If eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period. Additional terms and conditions apply, which can be found on wealthfront.com/solved. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to program banks, where it earns the variable APY. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value. Chapters: 0:00 CHAPTER 1: What Is Anxiety and Why Do We Have It? 17:32 CHAPTER 2: #17 Alcohol (Bullshit Tier) 25:04 CHAPTER 3: #16 Magnesium and #15 Journaling 37:51 CHAPTER 4: #14 CBD and #13 Digital Detoxes 45:16 CHAPTER 5: #12 Breathwork and #11 Benzodiazepines 56:29 CHAPTER 6: #10 Probiotics and #9 Yoga 1:05:21 CHAPTER 7: #8 Adaptogens and #7 SSRIs 1:21:25 CHAPTER 8: #6 Psychedelics 1:33:02 CHAPTER 9: Top Five – Social Connection, Sleep, Exercise, Meditation, and Therapy 2:04:23 CHAPTER 10: Final Takeaways Follow Mark Mark's IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Your Questions On Manifestation, Confidence, and Getting Over Your Ex, Solved 29.04.2026 1ч 11мин

  It's been one year of SOLVED. 20 episodes, 20 million downloads, 3 million YouTube subscribers, and a truly unreasonable number of poop jokes. To celebrate, I sat down with over 200 of your questions and picked the ones that hit the hardest. We get into why most people fail at quitting addictions (hint: the problem isn't the feelings, it's that you never planned for them). I explain why, if you have ADHD and can't stop procrastinating, you need to treat yourself like a dog that shits on the carpet. We talk about the real science behind manifestation, why it sort of works but not for the reason TikTok thinks it does. I break down the difference between trait confidence and state confidence, and why "build evidence" is only half the equation. We cover how to handle panic attacks, getting over a "perfect" ex (spoiler: they're not perfect, and thinking they are is the problem), the uncomfortable truth about self-love, the difference between a boring relationship and being bored in a relationship, the purpose vs. money question, what FIRE retirees never tell you, and what I'd reincarnate as. Plus some big announcements: we're going back to the mega episode format in June, the PDF guides are returning, and our first topic is going to be how to actually change your life. • Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁨https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁩ • Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at purpose.app/solved Chapters: 0:00: One-Year Anniversary and Show Announcements 4:37: Overcoming Addiction and Relapse 8:18: Procrastination and ADHD 11:30: The Science of Manifestation 16:11: Panic Attacks, Siblings, and Getting Over a "Perfect" Ex 20:18: Self-Love, Gratitude, and Religion 27:12: Relationships, Purpose, and Money 36:07: Maladaptive Daydreaming, Personality, and Growing with Friends 39:59: Nomadic Living, FIRE Retirement, Purpose Anxiety, and Reincarnation Follow Mark Mark's IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Passion, Solved: Is It Really Worth Pursuing? 15.04.2026 2ч 9мин

  Nearly 60% of American workers are checked out at their jobs. Meanwhile, every graduation speech in history tells you to follow your passion and you'll never work a day in your life. So which is it? In this episode, Drew and I debate both sides. I argue for passion. He argues for practicality. And what we discover along the way is that the whole question is kind of a false dichotomy. We get into the psychology of harmonious vs. obsessive passion (and why one leads to fulfillment while the other led Kurt Cobain to write "I don't have the passion anymore" in his suicide note). We talk survivorship bias, Maslow's hierarchy, and why financial stress literally impairs your ability to think creatively. I share the story of quitting my investment bank job at 24, living on a friend's futon, and knowing within a month that I was never going back. We look at how Jane Goodall took a secretarial job and stumbled into becoming the world's preeminent primatologist. And we land on a phrase I think is way more useful than "follow your passion": develop your passion... because passion isn't something you find, it's something you grow. Get your free episode guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/passion/ • Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁨https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁩ • Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁨purpose.app/solved⁠ Check out our sponsors: • Factor: Get 50% off and free breakfast for a year at https://www.factormeal.com/solved CODE: solved202650off. • Shopify: Get your $1-per-month trial at https://www.shopify.com/solved. • 80,000 Hours: Pre-order your copy of their updated Career Guide at https://www.80000hours.org/Solved. • Wispr Flow: Wispr Flow is faster and more efficient than any other built-in dictation tool. Download today to try Wispr Flow Pro for one month free using promo code MARKMANSON (redeem on desktop checkout only): https://ref.wisprflow.ai/markmanson-podcast #WisprFlowPartner Chapters: 0:00 CHAPTER 1: Introduction 5:15 CHAPTER 2: Round One – The Case for Passion 12:49 CHAPTER 3: Rebuttal – Obsessive vs. Harmonious Passion 24:09 CHAPTER 4: Round Two – Financial Stability and Survivorship Bias 39:03 CHAPTER 5: Rebuttal – Regret Minimization and Turning Pro 1:00:48 CHAPTER 6: Round Three – Passion Is Fluid, Not Fixed 1:18:39 CHAPTER 7: Rebuttal – Career Capital and Getting So Good They Can't Ignore You 1:31:23 CHAPTER 8: Round Four – What Actually Causes Passion? 1:47:09 CHAPTER 9: Synthesis – Develop Your Passion Follow Mark Mark's IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Solved, Highlights: What Actually Makes People Happy 08.04.2026 32мин

  So here's the thing about happiness: the harder you chase it, the faster it runs. That's not some bumper sticker wisdom. It's basically the core finding of decades of research. In this highlight, Drew and I get into the stuff from our original happiness episode that I think people need to hear the most. We talk about Schopenhauer's idea that happiness is less like finding a treasure and more like removing a rock from your shoe. We dig into why social comparison doesn't have to destroy you (if you compare yourself to the right people for the right reasons). We cover the paradox of choice, why the maximizer mentality is a trap, and why Jeff Bezos says 70% certainty is the sweet spot for decisions. Then we get into the U-shaped curve of happiness across your lifespan. Your 20s are intense, your 40s can be brutal, and your 70s might actually be the best decade of your life. We talk about why, and what to do about wherever you currently are on that curve. If you listened to the original episode, this is the part that ties it all together. If you didn't, start here. Vote for Solved for Best Indie Podcast in the 2026 Webby Awards: ⁠https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/features/best-indie-podcast • Get your free episode guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/happiness/ • Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough • Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at purpose.app/solved⁠ Check out our sponsors: • Waking Up: Get a 30-day free trial and $30 off the annual membership ($119/year). https://wakingup.com/solved Follow Mark Mark's IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Self-Help, Solved 01.04.2026 2ч 10мин

  We pulled over 2,600 studies and ranked 19 of the most common self-improvement techniques across three dimensions: research quality, consistency of results, and actual effect size. Then we sorted them into four tiers: legitimately works, works sometimes, probably not helping, and straight up bullshit. Microdosing landed in the bullshit tier. Crystal healing outperformed several "serious" techniques. And the number one most effective strategy is something so stupidly simple it's almost annoying. We also get into why everything at the bottom of the list shares one thing in common, why the middle of the list is mostly a fancy placebo, and why nearly everything at the top has been around for thousands of years. Get your free episode guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/self-help/ Vote for Solved for Best Indie Podcast in the 2026 Webby Awards: ⁠https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/features/best-indie-podcast Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at purpose.app/solved⁠ Check out our sponsors: Henson Shaving: Get 100 free blades (a two-year supply) with the purchase of a razor. Head to hensonshaving.com/solved and use code SOLVED at checkout. Brain FM: Neuroscience-backed music engineered to shift your brain into focus, relaxation, or sleep. Get 30 days of unlimited access for free at https://go.brain.fm/solved. Chapters: 0:06:02 CHAPTER 1: Category 4: Bullsh*t 0:27:29 CHAPTER 2: Category 3: Probably Not Helping 0:51:37 CHAPTER 3: Category 2: Works Sometimes 1:23:50 CHAPTER 4: Category 1: Legitimately Works 1:59:19 CHAPTER 5: Conclusion Follow Mark Mark's IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• The Biggest Self-Help Scam in History, Solved 25.03.2026 27мин

  This book has sold over a hundred million copies, billionaires swear by it. But what if it's a lie? Does the effectiveness of the book change if we find out that the author is a huge scammer and quite possibly made up the whole story that spearheaded the book? Vote for Solved for Best Indie Podcast in the 2026 Webby Awards: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/features/best-indie-podcast For practical, science-based advice each week that might change your life, sign up for my newsletter here: http://bit.ly/3JRg3NX Written & Directed by Mark Manson Edited by Michelle Hsieh Director of Photography Jess Choi Thumbnail by Jonathan Sippel Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Meditation, Solved: Is It Actually Worth It? 18.03.2026 1ч 28мин

  Meditation has been sold to us as a magic pill for so long that the backlash is almost as overblown as the hype. I spent years deep in Buddhist practice, went on retreats, meditated daily — and then slowly discovered that half the gurus evangelizing it were alcoholics, abusers, or running Rolls-Royce-funded cults. Here's what the more careful research actually shows: there are three things meditation does reliably well, and they’re probably not what you've been promised. More importantly, almost everything you've been told about how to do it is wrong — starting with the idea that the goal is to quiet your mind. If your brain turns into a chaotic mess the moment you close your eyes, that's not a failure. That's the whole point. Get your free episode guide: https://solvedpodcast.com/meditation/ • Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough • Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at purpose.app/solved⁠ Check out our sponsors:• Factor: Head to https://www.factormeals.com/solved202650off to get 50% off and a free breakfast for a year. • Shopify: Sign up for your $1/month trial at https://www.shopify.com/solved• Waking Up: Get a free 30-day trial and $30 off the annual membership at https://www.wakingup.com/solved Chapters: 8:15 CHAPTER 1: Skeptic Claim #1: Meditation Is Overhyped 22:45 CHAPTER 2: Skeptic Claim #2: "Meditation Isn't for Me" 48:33 CHAPTER 3: Skeptic Claim #3: The New-Agey, "Woo-Woo" Crowd Turns Me Off 1:01:01 CHAPTER 3: A Secular, Grounded Alternative: Meditation Without Metaphysics 1:17:35 CHAPTER 4: Conclusion: What Meditation Really Is Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Solved, Highlights: How to Find Your Values 11.03.2026 38мин

  If you’ve ever felt stuck, or like you’re doing all the right things but something still feels off, there’s a good chance it’s a values problem. Not a discipline problem, not a productivity problem. A values problem. Most people have never actually sat down and figured out what they care about. Not really anyway. This clip is from our episode How to Find and Live By Your Values, which came out back in May 2025 and is honestly one of the episodes I’m most proud of. Drew and I go through a bunch of exercises to help you actually figure out what you value, not what you think you’re supposed to value.  We cover things like: How to identify your core values with a simple hypothetical scenario. How to clearly define what you want your legacy to be Ways to prioritize your values by making tough decisions. How to turn frustrations into your deepest values. Why the hierarchy of your values is more critical than any single one of them. And why your willingness to sacrifice for something says a lot more about you than just what you think you want in life. • Listen to the full Values episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pdYVl60TqKLNAwKgFdk0C?si=0aa34991b49f4fcc • Get your FREE five-day mini course: https://www.solvedpodcast.com/values-mini-course • Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Focus, Solved 04.03.2026 3ч 19мин

  Focus is one of those things everyone swears they need more of and almost no one is actually addressing correctly. In this episode, we dig into what the science actually says about attention spans (hint: your brain isn't broken, it's just overwhelmed), why the standard advice to "try harder" is probably making things worse, and what's really driving your inability to sit down and get things done. We get into the neuroscience of explore vs. exploit modes, why flow states feel the way they do, and the four hidden triggers behind most focus problems, none of which have anything to do with your phone. Then we get into the practical stuff: environmental design, deep work frameworks, the maker vs. manager schedule, time boxing, batching, and why a dentist appointment in the middle of your morning can ruin your entire day. If you're the kind of person who opens 14 browser tabs, switches between them for 40 minutes, and calls that "working", well, this one's for you. Get the free guide for this episode: https://solvedpodcast.com/focus/ Check Out Our Sponsors: • Brain.fm: Stop manifesting focus and go get some. Get 30 days free at ⁠https://www.brain.fm/solved⁠ • IM8: Feel your best self, every day. Go to ⁠https://www.im8health.com/solved⁠ and use code SOLVED for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order. • Duck.AI: Use AI without giving up your privacy, visit ⁠https://www.duck.ai/solved⁠ today. Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Chapters: 3:06 CHAPTER 1: The Attention Crisis (Is It Even Real?) 21:55 CHAPTER 2: The Exploit–Explore Dilemma 50:33 CHAPTER 3: The Psychology of Distraction 1:18:50 CHAPTER 4: Flow States and Hyperfocus 1:37:36 CHAPTER 5: Mental Health and the Clinical Realities of Focus 1:56:27 CHAPTER 6: Environmental Design for Focus 2:34:39 CHAPTER 7: Productivity Systems 3:05:29 CHAPTER 8: The 80/20 of Focus Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• The Best Thing About You is Also the Worst Thing 25.02.2026 24мин

  A Hungarian doctor discovered that handwashing saves lives, and was destroyed for proving it. Michael Jordan’s competitiveness made him a legend, then turned him into a prisoner of his own intensity. My ADHD nearly derailed my life and later became the foundation of my career. This video explores an uncomfortable truth: the traits that make you exceptional are often the same ones that create your biggest problems. The real question isn't “How do I change?” but “Is this worth it, and how do I manage it?” For practical, science-based advice each week that might change your life, sign up for my newsletter here: http://bit.ly/3JRg3NX Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Check out our sponsor: Get one month of BrainFM free with my link: https://go.brain.fm/idgaf Written & Directed by Mark Manson Edited by Daniel Johnson Director of Photography Jess Choi Thumbnail by Jonathan Sippel Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Romantic Love, Solved 18.02.2026 1ч 41мин

  We put love on trial — literally. Drew and I squared off in a full debate over whether romantic love is overrated. I made the case that love is basically your brain's con man, a neurochemical hijacking designed to make you delusional about deeply flawed people, and that the most intoxicating relationships are often the most toxic. Drew fought back with the evidence that love is the foundation of social infrastructure, physical health, and long-term happiness. By the end, we came to a gentlemen’s agreement: a framework that explains why we're all chasing the wrong kind of love, and what the right kind actually looks like. Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at purpose.app/solved⁠ Check out our sponsors: • IM8: Transform your daily routine with IM8's Daily Ultimate Essentials at https://www.im8health.com/solved • Factor: Head to https://www.factormeals.com/solved202650off and use code solved202650off to get 50% off and free breakfast for a year. Eat like a pro this month with Factor. Chapters 2:21 Round 1: Love is the Brain's Conman 23:33 Round 2: Love as Social Infrastructure 45:33 Round 3: Love and Happiness 1:07:14 Round 4: We're Drawn to People Who Hurt Us Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Solved, Highlights: The Real Reason You Procrastinate 11.02.2026 45мин

  This is a segment from the full episode on procrastination. Procrastination isn't a time management problem — it's an emotional regulation problem, and once you see that, everything changes. We break down how your brain uses avoidance as a mood-management strategy, why every philosopher from Plato to the Buddhists was partially right (but nobody had the full picture), and the specific internal and external levers you can pull to actually get shit done. We also run through the six types of procrastinators so you can figure out which flavor of self-sabotage you've been perfecting — plus the RAIN method, minimum viable actions, and why making boring things fun isn't just a nice idea, it's the whole game. We also put together a free companion guide for the full episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/procrastination Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Amazing Offer From Our Sponsor: Boost your focus with science-backed music from Brain.fm. Start your 30-day free trial at brain.fm/solved Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:44 Understanding Emotional Regulation 9:34 The RAIN Method 14:04 The Six Types of Procrastinators 23:09 The 80-20 of Procrastination 43:39 Conclusion Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Dating, Solved: Why Finding the Right Person Feels So Hard 04.02.2026 4ч 37мин

  Most people aren’t bad at dating, they’re just trying to solve the wrong problem. We treat dating like a personality test (“Am I attractive enough? Confident enough?”) when it’s actually a multi-stage process, and each stage punishes completely different mistakes. That one misunderstanding explains why dating feels so confusing, why men and women keep blaming each other, why dating apps feel brutal, and why so much dating advice makes things worse instead of better. In this episode of Solved, Drew and I break down why modern dating feels so broken, and why it actually isn’t. We dig into the evolutionary psychology behind attraction, why men and women are optimizing for different things, how modern culture and dating apps amplify the worst parts of the system, and the three stages of dating that almost nobody understands. We also talk about confidence, rejection, status, attraction, and why avoiding rejection is often the very thing sabotaging your dating life. If you’ve felt stuck, burned out, or quietly wondering “what the hell is wrong with dating?” — this episode is for you. We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/dating Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁠https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁠ Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Check out our sponsors: • Get your first month of Shopify for only $1 at https://shopify.com/solved • Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Sign up for free: ⁠https://www.rocketmoney.com/solved Chapters: 5:12 CHAPTER 1: Why Is Dating So Complicated? 51:27 CHAPTER 2: A Brief History of Courtship & Dating 1:21:37 CHAPTER 3: Men's and Women's Dating Advice Ecosystems 2:21:27 CHAPTER 4: The Pre-Dating Phase 2:57:48 CHAPTER 5: Meeting People and Getting Dates 3:29:51 CHAPTER 6: Going on Dates 4:14:44 CHAPTER 7: The 80/20 Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• How to Quiet Your Ego (Without Losing Yourself), Solved 15.01.2026 2ч 39мин

  Most people think ego is either something you need to kill off entirely or inflate to take over the world. Both are wrong. In this episode, we dig deep into what ego actually is—how it evolved, why it matters, and how it secretly runs your life without you realizing it. We hit Freud, Buddhism, David Hume, Jung’s shadow self, and even the Navy SEALs to unpack why your ego isn’t always the enemy—it’s mostly just misunderstood. Then we get into how to quiet your ego without losing your identity, and yes, we talk psychedelics, too. This is everything you were never taught about ego—but should’ve been. We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/ego Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁠https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁠ Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Check out our sponsors: • Head to ⁠https://www.80000hours.org/solved⁠ to start planning a career that is meaningful, fulfilling, and helps solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Chapters: 3:31 CHAPTER 1: Defining the Indefinable — What Is the Ego? 49:29 CHAPTER 2: The Ego’s Evolutionary Architecture — How Evolution Built the Self 1:13:08 CHAPTER 3: When the Ego Becomes a Tyrant 1:47:29 CHAPTER4: The Quiet Ego — Beyond a Strong Ego 2:04:27 CHAPTER 5: The Chemical Dissolution: Ego Death and Psychedelics 2:23:16 CHAPTER 6: 80/20 Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson dq1Cc7g4LpEwILa3NV4V Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• How to Set (And Keep) Your Boundaries, Solved 01.01.2026 4ч 12мин

  This is probably the most comprehensive, no-BS breakdown of boundaries you're going to find anywhere. We cover what boundaries actually are (spoiler: it’s not just telling people to f*ck off), why they matter more than you think, and how your entire life—your relationships, mental health, identity, even career—is quietly shaped by whether or not you have them. By the end of this, you’ll know exactly how to set boundaries, how to enforce them without being a jerk, and how to stop confusing your preferences, rules, and passive-aggressive texts for actual emotional maturity. Plus, we talk about how the internet has totally mangled this concept and what to do instead. If you’ve ever felt burned out, resentful, overwhelmed, or just vaguely annoyed by everyone around you, this is for you. We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/boundaries Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁠https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁠ Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Check out our Sponsors: Reset Your Brain with BrainFM: brain.fm/solved Chapters: (1:29) CHAPTER 1: Foundations of Boundaries (22:57) CHAPTER 2: Boundaries: Freedom Through Limitation (45:20) CHAPTER 3: Why Boundaries Matter (1:10:14) CHAPTER 4: Why We Fail to Set and Maintain Boundaries (1:46:06) CHAPTER 5: Types of Boundaries (2:34:39) CHAPTER 6: How to Set and Maintain Boundaries (3:13:37) CHAPTER 7: Boundaries in Romantic Relationships (3:44:48) CHAPTER 8: The 80/20 of Boundaries Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Solved, Answers: Finding Purpose, Failing Better, and the AI Future 15.12.2025 1ч 30мин

  This one’s different. In this special year-end episode, I answer your questions—from the deep stuff about purpose and motivation, to the uncomfortable realities of change, burnout, failure, and dealing with unsupportive family. I also share the behind-the-scenes chaos of building SOLVED this year, what I learned about making massive, meaningful content, and what’s coming in 2026 (spoiler: boundaries, ego, and maybe some live shows). This is part personal, part philosophical, and part therapy session disguised as a podcast. If you’ve been wondering what’s next—or why you feel stuck—this one’s for you. See you in 2026. Ready to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join the Solved Community, a group of like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://solvedpodcast.com/qa Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁠https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁠ Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Chapters: (01:13) Recap of 2025 (03:42) What if I don't have a single purpose? (12:34) I'm having issues on getting motivated on one thing (23:15) I'm struggling with the idea that purpose must be bigger than yourself (26:04) How Mark got Purpose AI to work (32:55) Questions from YouTube (1:05:55) Goals for 2026 Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Finding Your Purpose, Solved 04.12.2025 4ч 51мин

  This is the episode I’ve been waiting to make for a long time. Purpose has been at the core of everything I’ve written and done for over a decade—and in this episode, we go all the way down the rabbit hole. From Viktor Frankl surviving Auschwitz to the myth of “finding your one true purpose,” we break down what purpose really is, why you feel lost without it, and how you can build it into your life. We also get uncomfortable (in the best way) and talk about the dark side of purpose—how it can burn you out, trap you in toxic ambition, or become an excuse to ruin your life. And I have a very special announcement to make: Today, I’m launching a new app called Purpose. It’s an AI-powered mentor for personal growth. You talk to it about whatever you’re facing—stress, decisions, conflicts, goals—and it helps you make sense of things. Purpose listens, reflects back what matters most, and turns big challenges into small, actionable steps. The more you use it, the more personalized and helpful it becomes. Get started in the app with a free course on finding your purpose at https://purpose.app/solved We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with takeaways and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: purpose.app/solved⁠ Chapters: (17:20) CHAPTER 1: Foundations: What Is Purpose? (45:34) CHAPTER 2: Philosophical & Historical Perspectives on Purpose (1:31:26)CHAPTER 3: The Psychology of Purpose (2:08:13) CHAPTER 4: The Four Stages of Life (2:31:33) CHAPTER 5: The Dark Side of Purpose (3:07:25) CHAPTER 6: Finding and Cultivating Purpose (3:36:56) CHAPTER 7: Finding Purpose in Work (or Not) (4:09:14) CHAPTER 8: Practical Tools and Frameworks (4:24:48) CHAPTER 9: The 80/20 of Living with Purpose Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• Comparing Yourself to Others, Solved 15.11.2025 2ч 9мин

  We all compare ourselves to other people—our friends, coworkers, strangers on the internet—and most of the time, it makes us feel like shit. But why do we keep doing it? In this episode of Solved, we dig into the uncomfortable truth behind social comparison, how it quietly ruins our self-worth, and why most of what we envy in others is a projection of our own insecurity. We also get into the brutal paradox of success, the toxic loop of chasing status, and how the constant measurement of our lives against others is one of the dumbest things we do as a species. If you’ve ever felt not good enough, or like you’re falling behind, this one’s for you. We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/socialcomparison Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁠https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁠ Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Chapters: 5:29 CHAPTER 1: Evolutionary Roots 20:18 CHAPTER 2: Philosophy and Social Comparison 48:37 CHAPTER 3: The Psychology of Social Comparison 1:22:19 CHAPTER 4: Digital Technology and Social Comparison 1:44:20 CHAPTER 5: The 80/20 of Managing Comparison Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
• How to Make Friends as an Adult, Solved 01.11.2025 4ч 46мин

  Friendship is the most important thing nobody talks about. From ancient philosophy to game theory, we break down why friendship isn’t just some social nicety—it’s a biological survival strategy. Plus: the modern forces slowly strangling our ability to connect, and exactly what to do about it. You’ll walk away with a clearer sense of what real friendship looks like, how to build it, and how to stop shooting yourself in the foot every time you try. We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/friendship Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: ⁠⁠https://markmanson.net/breakthrough⁠⁠ Get clarity on what actually matters. Try Purpose, Mark's AI mentor app that learns your patterns, challenges your blind spots, and helps you take action. Get 7 days free at ⁠⁠⁠purpose.app/solved⁠ Chapters: 00:04:44 CHAPTER 1: Reframing Resilience — Definitions & Misconceptions 00:23:50 CHAPTER 2: Developmental and Biological Foundations of Resilience 00:38:54 CHAPTER 3: Biological & Physiological Foundations 01:17:17 CHAPTER 4: Psychological, Philosophical & Evidence-Based Frameworks 02:27:00 CHAPTER 5: Sociocultural & Community Dimensions 02:57:28 CHAPTER 6: The 80/20 of Becoming More Resilient Follow Mark Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson Solved IG: https://www.instagram.com/solvedpodcast/ Twitter: https://x.com/markmanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmanson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmMarkManson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices