You can't say yes to everything .... so where do you draw the line?In Episode #511 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the “hell yes versus no” decision-making lens and where it truly fits, opportunity cost/time constraints/certainty versus uncertainty, how emotion or rationality shapes decisions, stacking reasons to make a strong yes, a practical quadrant for choosing activities based on enjoyment and likelihood of meeting people. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline: (00:00:00) Intro(00:03:39) Context matters: opportunity cost, age and life stage(00:07:45) Replacing habits: when a simple yes is enough(00:09:44) Decision heuristics: yes vs hell no for everyday choices(00:13:14) Capacity fills the time: stacking commitments and hard trade-offs(00:19:10) Workplace decision matrices vs personal life choices(00:23:06) System 1 and System 2: training intuition with deliberate thinking(00:27:49) Certainty vs uncertainty: when you need a hell yes to persist(00:31:07) A practical framework: enjoyment vs meeting-people quadrants(00:35:25) Boostagram lounge(00:36:02) Listener input: lazy no vs instinctive no(00:37:40) Upcoming moonshot gathering: why it's a clear yes(00:44:31) Stacking reasons: VeeCon memories, serendipity and energy(00:50:00) New tech temptations: why not every tool warrants a yes(00:55:01) Where we're still weak at decisions: money and overcommitting(01:03:17) Emotion vs reason: explaining feelings with rationality(01:05:48) Wrap-up, live time and Brisbane Marathon team invite  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram:

We're destressing and just going over all the non-goal related things swirling around in the current moment.In Episode #510 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the old million dollar homepage and the new x402 version, experimenting with a cheeky one‑pixel squatting strategy to test rent‑seeking dynamics, why some value‑for‑value/Lightning initiatives plateau despite strong early communities, advertising economics from retro web banners to F1 liveries, if energy could become the unit of exchange in agent‑to‑agent worlds and whether the current moment has the most amount of historical rate of change. Huge thanks to Cole for the support!Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:00:49) Remembering the Million Dollar Homepage and link rot(00:03:07) Hype cycles and the modern x402 Wall revival(00:06:44) Domain‑squatting pixels: ethics and ROI debate(00:12:45) Advertising realities: from F1 liveries to failed walls(00:15:04) Old web ads versus brands and what’s obsolete now(00:19:10) Micropayments vision: beyond subscriptions(00:23:56) Index decentralisation, AI spam, and niche podcasts(00:28:20) Ads, ethics, and why ‘wall squatting’ targets advertisers(00:32:03) Boom–bust build‑outs, block space, and critics(00:36:54) Agents, moats, and access to compute(00:39:02) Boostagram Lounge and community shout‑outs(00:45:34) Agents doing business end‑to‑end: Truth Terminal case(00:50:07) Beyond attention? Energy, agency, and ‘currency’(00:56:36) Speculating on rights for uploaded minds and AI(01:00:24) Short‑term goals, schooling, and planning in fast change(01:05:03) Is today’s change really faster? Moore’s Law debate(01:10:26) Exponential feels: compressing change into months(01:16:22) Falling out of the loop: TikTok, crypto, and pace(01:19:35) Can AI replace governments? Companies vs states(01:23:46) Wrap‑up, shout‑outs, and value‑for‑value support  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.

It's a new year ... no new goals ... instead we're focusing upon what NOT to focus upon.In Episode #509 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss:  what we’re not bringing into 2026, expectation inflation (how setting grand scenarios can pre-bake resentment), how to strike a workable balance between Eastern contentment and Western drive, choosing realistic marathon aims without sacrificing other priorities, ditching negative self‑talk, making room for smarter training decisions that prevent injury and burnout and avoiding philosophers/what ifers/haters in the media landscape. No support so we can't focus on the beanie.Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline: (00:00:00) Intro(00:02:02) Framing the episode: inverse goal setting(00:06:31) Mindset traps from past races and comparison(00:09:40) Gym mastery vs beginner runner mentality(00:11:40) Training without self punishment and injury management(00:14:10) Working on relationships and reducing negative self-talk(00:17:36) Expectation inflation and premeditated resentment(00:24:19) Choosing realistic goals and tradeoffs(00:30:22) Livestream hiccup and Boostagram Lounge(00:32:08) Media focus: stopping attention leakage(00:37:46) Media diet rules: useful now over future hypotheticals(00:45:25) Entertainment vs actionable insight in moonshots(00:49:41) Cutting whatifs, doom and haters from feeds(00:53:19) Confusing consumption with growth(00:56:36) Abundance over scarcity and closing thoughts  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support

I'm shifting away from listening to podcasts and I'm a blog reader now.In Episode #508 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: why our media diets are shifting, how we each consume information across video, audio, books, Substack, X long‑form (even X Spaces), why written digital content is winning more of our attention lately, the flood of AI‑generated media (from YouTube videos to TTS podcasts spun from Reddit threads), the challenge of finding high‑signal sources, fiction vs non‑fiction swings, curation styles (tabs vs phone-first), rising ad density in pods/YouTube to near ad‑free long‑form writing and why subtlety and cadence get lost in AI summaries of long videos. No support for this week, the beanie remains cold.Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:48) How we consume now(00:04:26) From video rabbit holes to purposeful listening and reading(00:09:35) Podcasting 2.0 and structuring feeds to handle AI content(00:12:20) Why digital reading wins for AI and crypto topics(00:16:30) Finding and filtering digital reading: Substack, X longform, and curation styles(00:19:37) Longform on X and email newsletters as modern blogs(00:22:07) One inbox vs many silos: different workflows for discovery(00:26:21) Timeless vs timely episodes: examples from Rick Rubin, Brian Armstrong, Lex Fridman(00:29:07) Boostagram Lounge(00:31:21) Enhancement vs slop: subtle AI in scripts and production(00:38:20) AI guidance wins and fails: car fixes vs an $800 vet visit(00:41:03) TTS flooding the podcast indexes: Reddit threads to AI voices(00:46:28) High signal vs hype: debating Gary Vee and trend timing(00:52:38) Uniqueness from humans vs AI clones: where interviews still shine(00:56:37) Superabundance everywhere: YouTube, podcasts, music, and text(00:59:14) Hard mediums breed quality: from early podcasting to AI curated media(01:03:00) On demand past, uncertain future: predicting the next media shift(01:08:51) Follow the money: ads, creators, and why text feels cleaner(01:10:27) Wrap-up  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: ht

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next.Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why?Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline: (00:00:00) Intro(00:01:17) Juan's December 2025 Recap(00:06:19) Kyrin's December 2025 Recap(00:09:30) Support Overview(00:11:47) Juan's January 2026 Goals(00:18:17) Kyrin's January 2026 Goals(00:34:29) Fitness(00:37:04) V4V Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

We're expanding out from an AI blog into the real world. Also had some issues with the audio this episode so I'm working from the backup copy (that was super loud for some reason). In Episode #507 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the shift from attention to intention in the AI era, what truly agentic AI might look like versus glorified chatbots and automated workflows, where the tech is actually useful right now, whether the real breakthroughs will come from bolt-ons to existing platforms or from new rails built natively for agents, testing jailbreak games, microtransactions and betting on an AI Monopoly, job market dislocations, new forms of basic services and the rise of agent-first marketplaces.Huge thanks to Petar for the baller boost this week, the beanie is back!Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:20) Agentic AI: what it is and what it is not(00:06:08) Hands-on agents: calls, purchases and speed trade-offs(00:10:54) Agents vs automated workflows: real differences(00:15:06) Trust, bugs and the need for human verification(00:20:04) The Intent Economy article: key takeaways(00:27:59) Legacy rails vs new rails: why 2026 may surprise(00:31:05) Slow to sudden shifts: adopting AI-first systems(00:34:16) Content for AIs, not humans: a paradigm shift(00:39:11) Bootstragram Lounge(00:43:06) Daily use-cases: new profiles, payments and x402(00:49:20) Model guardrails vs open models: practical lessons(00:53:17) Spinning up a podcast agent: limitations revealed(00:57:47) Intent drift: when your goals change mid-stream(1:00:12) Human relationships, agents and future norms(01:06:36) Free money? x402 Monopoly and betting agents(01:12:32) When rules break: brittleness of current agents(01:15:00) Keeping up: daily AI briefs and real-world inertia(01:19:59) Wrap-up  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram:

Magnus is back with a master class on how to buy art.In Episode #506 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: the big blank wall behind us, how to choose something meaningful for your home, Magnus Resch’s books 'How To Become A Successful Artist' and 'How to Collect Art', why branding and networking matter in the art world, why most buyers should treat art as a sunk cost and purchase only what they truly love, practical buying tips (galleries, fairs, auctions, pricing signals), comparing art collecting with car collecting, digital art and NFTs as a way to prove ownership and enable utility and reflect on building personal connection to pieces and artists. No support for this week, so the Chux Cloth beanie stays off.Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline: (00:00:00) Intro(00:01:03) Two books by Magnus Resch(00:06:08) Defining success and the pyramid of artist types(00:11:06) Practicalities for artists: branding, pricing and Instagram(00:13:01) How to Collect Art – structure of the market and roles(00:18:18) What is a fair price? Treat purchases as sunk costs(00:23:53) Buy what you love: quotes and guiding principles(00:26:18) Access, opacity and why networking is crucial(00:34:46) Car collecting vs art collecting: rarity and value(00:41:11) Tactics: auctions, fairs, timing and discounts(00:41:53) Boostragram lounge and value‑for‑value break(00:43:12) Personal shifts: curating with sentiment and story(00:52:49) NFTs 101: ownership, authenticity and utility(00:58:02) Rebalancing a digital collection: fewer, loved pieces(01:01:30) Wrap‑up lessons and next week’s AI intent teaser  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Su

I'm a woman trapped in a man's body analysing dating advice for women given by a man. In #505 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: three dating and relationships books (The New Rules, Get the Guy by Matthew Hussey and Attached), how prescriptive “rules” aimed at women can backfire, why some advice feels outdated (Facebook walls and BBM), how scarcity games tend to attract the very players you might want to avoid, why attachment styles are useful as a lens but less so as a to‑do list, a focus on authenticity over mere effectiveness, watch the influence of your friend circle, understand how strong male sexual drive can shape dating dynamics, apply Pareto principles to health and appearance first, build an interesting life (travel, skills, community) and learning to read yourself so you don’t try to fill loneliness with just anyone.No boostagrams this week, very sad puppy.Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:00:47) The books: The New Rules, Get the Guy & Attached(00:04:21) Lot's of Don'ts(00:07:12) Perfectionism and the hunt for Mr Right(00:11:09) Who this attracts: playing games gets game players(00:16:21) What men reportedly dislike(00:20:25) Quick verdict on The New Rules & Switch To Matt Hussey(00:25:48) Practical prompts: compliments, conversations, and friendly vibes(00:30:15) Brief detour to Attached: anxious, avoidant, secure(00:39:24) Boostagram Lounge(00:41:15) Effectiveness vs authenticity: advice for daughters(00:45:00) Masks, faking confidence and why acts won't last(00:48:00) Be interesting: travel, stories and easy conversation openers(00:55:14) Broad advice: the male mind, sex drive, and expectations(01:02:26) Pareto squared: health and appearance(01:07:09) A raw moment: walking through Brisbane and feeling loneliness(01:11:24) Closing reflections  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram:

There is a reason why the art 'space' is divisive and why money distorts many things.In Episode #504 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the book by Magnus Resch titled '100 Secrets of the Art World', tight‑knit gatekeeping at the high end of the market, how control of information shape what gets seen and sold (often more than artistic merit), parallels to other status markets such as watches/supercars, why 'better' often defaults to 'more expensive', where marketing can overshadow craft yet many collectors still buy for love and to support artists and why the truest encounters with art might still be found in small local galleries rather than at Art Basel.No support for this week, very sad puppy :(  Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline: (00:00:00) Intro(00:01:52) Defining the 'art space'(00:03:38) First impressions: elitism, provenance and pretence(00:09:04) Gatekeeping: cabals, galleries and New York(00:12:06) Parallels with cars/watches: scarcity and status(00:15:27) Art Basel anecdote: committees, control and quiet coups(00:20:02) NFTs, provenance on-chain and collectibles vs art(00:22:22) Popularity: storytelling, marketing and money(00:27:38) Quality heuristics: effort, complexity and the 22blue painting22 problem(00:32:38) Boostagram Lounge(00:34:00) Misconceptions across niches: calisthenics, hand balancing, circus(00:39:03) On labels and assumptions: steroids, fitness and nuance(00:44:04) Finding the essence: local galleries, pure enjoyment(00:48:06) Would creation persist without cash?(00:53:56) Purity at the base, distortion at the peak(00:55:27) Housekeeping and support links; live chat banter  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@merem

The master does nothing .... yet he leaves nothing undone.In Episode #503 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: why the mindset of mastery may matter more than the title of “master", Robert Greene’s book called Mastery, the role of obsession, whether teaching is required for mastery, “unearned” mastery and savant talent and a pragmatic take on how to design your own path toward improvement without sacrificing what matters most. Huge thanks to Petar for the support, very much appreciated! Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:08) Why read Robert Greene's 'Mastery'?(00:04:54) Podcasting as a case study: from basics to refinement(00:06:58) Local mastery vs global mastery and reference frames(00:10:33) Choosing what to master: obsession, trade-offs and limits(00:13:16) Mastery as mindset vs outcome; daily improvement lens(00:17:25) Boostagram Lounge(00:19:00) Challenging outcome-first goals; internal vs external focus(00:21:11) The costs of global excellence and life balance(00:24:39) Prioritising self-mastery: emotions and immediate circles(00:26:29) Unearned talent? Kyrgios, training minutiae and masters(00:32:56) Reframing goals: skills, learning and public speaking(00:35:00) Applying lessons like biographies, not blueprints(00:39:11) Do you need to teach to be a master? Savants vs transferable methods(00:41:14) Mastery (process) vs Master (status)(00:45:59) Wrap-up and ways to support  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal:

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next.Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why?Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:  (00:00:00) Intro(00:03:41) Juan's November 2025 Recap(00:06:42) Kyrin's November 2025 Recap(00:10:05) Support Overview(00:12:59) Juan's December 2025 Goals(00:28:09) Kyrin's December 2025 Goals(00:37:40) Fitness(00:41:44) V4V Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

It's time for the male version of therapy .... podcasting!!! In Episode #502 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: Lori Gottlieb’s book 'Maybe You Should Talk to Someone', the emotional burden therapists carry plus the mirror-like role they play in helping people surface what’s unsaid, my own brief stint with therapy as a late teen, why men seek therapy less, what they tend to talk about (anger, identity, intimacy, parenting), whether gym time/mates/modern tools like AI can substitute for a human therapist and how to decide when an external guide could reveal the real question behind the problem you’re trying to solve.Huge thanks to Petar & The Late Bloomer Actor for the support, much appreciated! Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline: (00:00:00) Intro(00:00:36) Book setup: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (Lori Gottlieb)(00:04:22) Is talk therapy an "easy job"?(00:07:34) Personal histories with therapy(00:13:37) When would you go?(00:19:35) Male substitutes for therapy and why some need a neutral listener(00:24:13) What therapists really offer: safe disclosure and third-party perspective(00:31:03) Introspection vs understanding; overthinking and feeling understood(00:35:05) Boostagram Lounge(00:39:56) What Aussie men discuss in therapy(00:47:15) Low affect: numbing vs regulation(00:51:15) When does therapy end? Termination, success metrics and vagueness(00:55:02) Therapy as a business, niches and the rise of AI/text-based care(00:59:12) The value of a well-formed question and paid accountability(01:03:11) Risks: authority, bad guidance and incentives(01:06:54) Wrap-up: Meanderings as free therapy and support links  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.t

Let's help Juan find some excitement in the daily grind!In Episode #501 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: the shifting meaning of “adventure” across seasons of life, adventure beyond skydiving (think ballet classes, new walking routes, digital art experiments and structured learning), how vicarious adventures through kids or friends can scratch the itch without derailing priorities, a note on podcasting 2.0’s KeySend/LNURL Lightning shift and practical ideas to add novelty without burning your foundations.Huge thanks to Petar for the support, much appreciated! Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:17) Framing adventure and seasons of life(00:05:21) Reality check: priorities, phases and filtering ideas(00:09:41) Broadening experiences: ballet, novelty without risk(00:15:42) Travel temptations vs relationship goals(00:18:57) Miniadventures and planning around family life(00:23:03) Designing doable novelty: tracks, cafes and small switches(00:29:56) Tiny tweaks to shake patterns: routes, movement, mindset(00:32:38) Routine builds longterm payoffs(00:36:00) Boostagram Lounge(00:41:39) Swapping motivation for systems: dating, friends and classes(00:47:16) Big projects as adventures: the gym dream and obsession(00:53:03) Finding excitement in small stakes: digital art and curiosity(00:54:56) Living history: AI race, power and echoes of the space race(01:02:11) Perspective at the park: Luma Lads, comparison and gratitude(01:08:09) Wrapup: comments, Discord and socials  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram:

An easy update from the Mere Mortals podcast on what the future holds for us + the focus to come.Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

He’s sold over $6 million in high-ticket offers, worked with the top names in the industry, and built a community of closers who actually win, not just talk about it.In this conversation, Orlando Santucci breaks down the formulas, philosophies and frameworks that drive consistent results.https://closerscult.com/00:00 – Who knows you, who you know (why attention matters)02:19 – From Macca’s & uni to first sales role (Jason Capital ad)03:03 – “Oh... I’m in sales” moment08:50 – Energy vs Skill: 60/40 of closing10:06 – “Chill closer” mindset (personality-based tactics)11:27 – The CLOSES Framework12:50 – The Overview: how to prevent objections before they happen15:13 – Identity-based labelling (and the ethics behind it)21:52 – High-ticket shift: moving from hourly grind to performance pay27:27 – Building an ecosystem: community, referrals, placements32:17 – Pricing, fulfilment and scaling Close Is Call41:51 – Orlando’s 5-year vision & what “life maxing” really means43:11 – Where to find OrlandoConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspo

We have reached half a (MIL)estone so let's give it a half assed effort!In Episode #500 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: six years of podcasting, the origin story of why we originally started, stats and highlights across YouTube and audio, mishaps (spiders, dead mics, random street cameos), how our focus on value has changed over the years, community shout-outs (thanks for the surprise cake, Mum!), the lessons learned from interviews and long-form chats and why we’ve kept ads out of the show, what “doubling down” means for us, clearer topic lanes across our channels (tech, AI, books, art, fitness) and staying open, decentralised and listener-supported while the tech and monetisation landscape evolves.  Huge thanks to Cole McCormick for the support, absolute legend!Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:01) Origins in 2019 & splitting channels(00:03:59) Going live & cake(00:05:02) Stats time: YouTube vs podcast numbers and history(00:10:02) Throwback: Mere Mortals challenges and early experiments(00:14:40) Shifting away from chasing numbers & Value(00:19:13) Format choices: long form, low edits and creator trade‑offs(00:23:20) Personal archives: NFT's & Old Clips(00:29:38) Audience vs creator value & peak effort era(00:35:12) Guest pitches and curation(00:36:57) Boostagram Lounge(00:40:22) Support models ahead: value for value, subscriptions and tech shifts(00:43:53) Advertising, AI & Governments(00:49:19) Doubling down: personal life over production(00:51:43) Segmenting interests: tech, AI, art, books, and fitness channels(00:56:19) Concrete plans: more conversations and remote interviews(01:00:19) Confidence to reach out: lining up future guests(01:03:50) Skills to build: live speaking and community events(01:08:50) Travel networks vs local communities: effort vs payoff(01:10:54) Sign‑off: six years in, 20k unique listeners and thanks Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X:

Is the real world actually shaped for social interaction!?In Episode #499 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: 2 x books of Susan Cain’s 'Quiet' alongside Paul McKenna’s 'Instant Influence & Charisma', the quiet revolution of introverts rising up, what the book gets right (high reactivity, Big Five personality traits, pseudo‑extroversion), whether energy is the true differentiator, why environments like open‑plan offices and classrooms may suit the loud but don’t always produce the best work or learning, Juan's immense distaste of charisma hacks (power poses, havening), how confidence can be generated from practice rather than posture & how culture shapes what “good” interaction looks like.Huge thanks to Petar for the support, greatly appreciated!Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:04) Two Books: Quiet by Susan Cain and Instant Influence & Charisma by Paul McKenna(00:05:03) What would a mostly introverted world look like?(00:06:10) Key claims: IQ parity, persistence, and high reactivity(00:08:45) Biology tidbits: lemon test, Big Five, and old pseudoscience(00:10:56) How many introverts? Pseudoextroverts and the energy question(00:13:38) Definitions matter: the books late caveat on introvert/extrovert(00:17:46) Workplaces: open plan offices, productivity and culture(00:23:43) Matching space to work: dev focus vs relationship roles(00:26:27) Homes and schools: nooks, group work, and when quiet helps(00:29:38) Socialisation as a skill independent of introversion(00:32:59) Group dynamics: one on one comfort and smallgroup awkwardness(00:36:36) Boostagram Lounge(00:40:56) Would we thrive in an introvert ideal culture? Asia chat(00:41:21) Paul McKennas charisma: influence recap and power poses(00:46:43) Do power poses work? State vs posture, confidence from within(00:51:27) Baselines, triggers and practical state management(00:54:11) Skills, reps and mini goals beat quick fixes(00:58:38) Trophies vs generators: focus on process over outcomes(01:01:11) Milestones, episode counts and wrapup Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord:

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next.Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why?Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:45) Juan's October 2025 Recap(00:05:46) Kyrin's October 2025 Recap(00:16:00) Support Overview(00:17:05) Juan's November 2025 Goals(00:23:43) Kyrin's November 2025 Goals(00:36:10) V4V Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

If you wish you could have let yourself been happier, then why didn't you?In Episode #498 of 'Musings', Juan & discuss: advice we’d give to our 20-something selves after a decade of lessons, cringeworthy moments that come closest to genuine regret, why regret often intensifies closer to life’s end, the feedback loop of could-have-beens, when remorse is useful versus when it’s self-punishment, being more selfish about building skills and character, obsessively detailed on what you truly care about, applying first-principles/engineering thinking beyond work, investigating emotions two or three layers deeper, being strict on yourself and kinder to others, how to nurture confidence without creating monsters and why striving to be “uncommon” is easier to dial back than trying to switch it on later.  Huge shoutout to Magnolia Mayhem for the support, thank you so much!Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:26) Context setting & Petar's note(00:05:36) Defining regret by cringe(00:09:41) Deathbed regrets and when advice isnt enough(00:12:57) Framing the advice: not just information(00:21:07) Advice 1 (Juan): Be more selfish about skills and character(00:27:02) Counterpoint (Kyrin): More selflessness and meaningful connection(00:33:58) Boostagram Lounge: value-for-value support and listener message(00:38:56) Advice 2 (Kyrin): Effort solves problems with thoughtfulness(00:42:09) Advice 3 (Juan): Get obsessive about what you truly care about(00:45:34) Emotional investigations: tracing feelings to root causes(00:50:12) Think like an engineer: first principles beyond the lab and gym(00:55:18) Working on virtues: honesty, courage, discipline(00:57:03) Be strict with yourself, kinder to others(01:00:54) Confidence and the hype man effect(01:03:06) Become uncommon & cultivating the monster wisely(01:11:04) Wrap-up & V4V Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram:

After 15 years in law, Mel Storey walked away to build Career Big Sis, a movement helping ambitious professionals back themselves, set boundaries, and take the first step even when they can’t see the whole staircase.We go deep on burnout, the moment everything broke after Covid, rebuilding with a mental health plan, and the practical maths she used to leave corporate safely. This one’s honest, useful, and fiercely encouraging.00:00 – Welcome & why this conversation matters01:45 – 15 years in law → leaving corporate08:22 – The moment of freedom: VidCon & creative permission10:47 – “Could I make money not as a lawyer?” Optionality & identity12:29 – Covid, quarantine, and the slide into anxiety & depression15:26 – GP, mental health plan, psychologist & treatment17:13 – 2021 crisis → the breaking point & leaving law18:59 – Regret, shame, returning part-time24:32 – What clients really need: confidence, not tactics25:55 – Networking, intros & fear of applying26:40 – “Throw your hat in the ring” (process over perfection)27:41 – You don’t need the whole staircase; just the first step32:06 – Minimum baseline & runway: the quitting calculus33:40 – Savings, lifestyle inflation & backup plans37:25 – Seasons, super & why fallback ≠ failure39:15 – Dad’s ultimatum: “I’ll be disappointed if you don’t try.”41:19 – The 80-year-old self filter (no regrets)44:23 – Tough love for grads: cold calls & action45:49 – Mel’s BD moves: QR cards & “Career Big Sis” cookies56:45 – Money vs meaning: choosing flexibility & creative work1:01:25 – How Mel posts & shares her story online1:07:10 – Wrap up, socials & closing reflectionsConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremor