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PODCAST

The Struggle

Gregor S Thomson

Find meaning and purpose through the art of struggle with philosopher and writer Gregor S Thomson. Through posing fundamental questions, this podcast guides the listener to discover who they are, where they are unnecessarily struggling and where they could embrace struggling more in order to live a healthy and productive life.

education self-improvement

All Episodes

00:14:21

Episode 59 - 4 Life-Changing Lessons Regret Is Trying...

The Struggle ·

2025/06/07

🎙️EPISODE 59 — 4 Life-Changing Lessons Regret Is Trying to Teach YouRegret is painful, persistent… and essential.In this episode ofThe Struggle, we break down4 powerful lessonsthat regret offers us—if we’re willing to listen. Rooted inStoic philosophy,evolutionary psychology, and modern emotional intelligence, this episode will change how you think about your past mistakes and missed opportunities.You’ll learn:🧠 Why your brain focuses on the negative (and how to use it to your advantage)🔥 The

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00:22:16

Episode 58 - Addicted to Distraction? How to Reclaim...

The Struggle ·

2025/05/25

Are you addicted… or just constantly distracted?In Episode 58 ofThe Struggle, we dive deep into the world of addiction, compulsive behaviour, and the modern epidemic of distraction. Whether you’re battling a harmful habit or simply find yourself endlessly scrolling, this episode will help you understand the hidden drivers behind your behaviour—and offer practical, compassionate tools to reconnect with yourself.Drawing on insights fromDr. Gabor Maté,Dr. Anna Lembke,Joe Hudson, andRyan Soave, this

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00:11:35

Episode 57 - The One rule that ends burnout: Do Less,...

The Struggle ·

2025/05/11

Feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or constantly busy but getting nowhere? In this episode of The Struggle, I share the one strategy that helped me cut through the noise, avoid burnout, and focus only on what truly matters: Pareto’s Principle, also known as the 80/20 Rule.I dive into:• Why I paused my newsletter to protect my mental health• How Tim Ferriss used the 80/20 rule to grow while doing less• The surprising truth about productivity, effort, and results• How you can apply this

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00:15:59

Episode 56 - Why Comfort is Killing You: The Hidden...

The Struggle ·

2025/03/20

We live in a world ofinstant gratification—fast food, quick entertainment, next-day deliveries. Everything we want is availableimmediately, yet we’re moreanxious, distracted, and unfulfilledthan ever.In this episode, we break down: • Why modern society is making us weaker, not stronger • TheHedonic Treadmill—why nothing ever feels enough • Howsocial media, fast food, and entertainmenthijack our brains • Nietzsche’s “Last Man”—and why we’re becoming him • Practical steps to escape the cycle andregain

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00:18:31

Episode 55 - The Biggest Risk in Life Is Playing It...

The Struggle ·

2025/03/12

Most of us think we’re taking the safe path—getting the degree, landing the well-paid job, buying the house—but what if that’s actually the riskiest decision of all? We fear uncertainty and avoid risk, but in doing so, we might be making the biggest gamble of our lives: sacrificing fulfilment for comfort.In this episode, I break down why we miscalculate risk, how loss aversion distorts our decision-making, and why inaction is just as risky—if not riskier—than action. Using Prospect Theory (Kahneman

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00:20:33

Episode 54 - Fear and Hope Are Traps - Lao Tzu’s...

The Struggle ·

2025/03/04

Fear and hope—two emotions that seem opposite—are actually two sides of the same illusion, both keeping us from taking action. In this episode ofThe Struggle, I explore a powerful passage from Lao Tzu’sTao Te Ching:“Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear...”What does this mean? How does it apply to modern life? I’ll break down: • Why fear paralyzes us—and why hope can be just as dangerous • The psychological and philosophical roots of inaction • The Yerkes-Dodson Law and why

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00:18:12

Episode 53 - The Shocking Truth About Pain,...

The Struggle ·

2025/02/16

What if the very thing you’re running from—your pain, your dissatisfaction, your anxiety—is actually the key to living a full, meaningful life? What if the endless distractions, self-improvement loops, and compulsive scrolling are keeping you from something deeper?In this episode ofThe Struggle, I explore why discomfort isn’t a flaw in the system—it’s a necessity. I dive into how modern technology exploits ancient survival mechanisms to keep us addicted to dissatisfaction and why true fulfillment

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00:21:06

Episode 52 - The Struggle Trap: Why You’re Stuck (And...

The Struggle ·

2025/02/09

📌 Episode SummaryIn this introspective episode of The Struggle, I explore a paradox that has shaped my entire life: the more we struggle, the more we become trapped—just like Devil’s Snare in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.For 20 years, I believed the solution to my problems was to work harder, achieve more, and optimize every part of my life. I thought success, productivity, and external achievements would make me feel whole. But no matter how much I accomplished, the internal void

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00:13:04

Episode 51 - The Cost Of An Unexamined Life & How to...

The Struggle ·

2025/02/02

Are you truly awake, or just sleepwalking through life? Most people drift through their days on autopilot unaware, unintentional, and unexamined until it’s too late. The shocking reality? An unexamined life comes at a devastating cost: regret, missed opportunities, and a lack of true fulfilment.In this episode of The Struggle, we dive deep into why living an examined life is crucial and how you can break free from unconscious living. We explore:The dangers of living on autopilot and how it affects

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00:19:16

Episode 50 - 3 Strategies To Rebalance Your Life

The Struggle ·

2025/01/26

Welcome back to The Struggle, where we uncover the best ideas, strategies, and exercises to help you overcome life’s challenges and thrive through adversity. In Episode 50, we dive into practical techniques to identify and rebalance areas of your life where you may feel restricted—whether it’s chaos vs. order, comfort vs. discomfort, or predictability vs. uncertainty.You’ll learn:✅ How to conduct a Life Domains Audit to uncover restrictions and patterns in your health, relationships, work, or other

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00:16:38

Episode 49 - The Power of Balance (Part 1): The Key...

The Struggle ·

2025/01/19

In this episode, we dive deep into the balance between chaos and order, the known and the unknown. How do we confront the restrictions in our lives—through comfort or adventure? Drawing from powerful symbols like the yin-yang, the Flammarion engraving, and stories like The Hobbit and the tale of Adam and Eve, we explore how to embrace change without losing stability. Discover how to break free from limiting beliefs, navigate life’s uncertainties, and find meaning through balance.ReferencesFlammarion

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00:58:29

Episode 48 - George (The Tin Men) - The Alarming...

The Struggle ·

2025/01/12

In this special guest episode, I’m joined by George from The Tin Men blog and Instagram page, hes a content creator, pro-men’s advocate, and researcher.In this conversation, we explore why men and women in the West aren’t actually oppressed, discuss the reasons behind why boys and men are moving to the political right, and how the left may be partly to blame for this shift. We also unpack how capitalism, while flawed, sometimes works in favor of both men and women, and dive into a controversial

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00:27:42

Episode 47 - 24 Lessons On Productivity, Emotions &...

The Struggle ·

2025/01/05

In this episode I run through 24 of the most meaningful and impactful lessons I learned and discussed in 2024. Topics include productivity, emotions, The Lonely Chapter, ‘Productivity Debt’ and much more.ReferencesModern Wisdom Podcast - Dopamine Gregor, Serotonin Gregor & Cortisol GregorSponsorSign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.comWatch The StruggleYouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsDGet In TouchInstagram -

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00:09:02

Episode 46 - End Of Year Review (2024) & The...

The Struggle ·

2024/12/22

In this episode, I discuss why human flourishing has to have individual struggles as well as meaningful connections with others, why consistency is key for achieving grand ambitions and I provide an update regarding the stats of the podcast for 2024.SponsorSign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.comListen To The StruggleApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-struggle/id1724163527Spotify -

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00:09:06

Episode 45 - Why You Should Endure Painful Emotions &...

The Struggle ·

2024/12/15

In this episode, I discuss an unethical experiment from the 1960s and what we can learn from it, why continually doing difficult tasks will make you stronger and make the difficult tasks feel easier and why embracing and experiencing painful emotions, rather than distracting yourself from them, will make you braver and more productive.SponsorSign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.comWatch The StruggleYouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsDGet In

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00:10:05

Episode 44 - Why You Should Acknowledge Painful...

The Struggle ·

2024/12/08

In this episode, I discuss why distracting yourself from painful emotions is making life painful, how taking responsibility for your vulnerabilities is empowering, the difference between instant-pleasure and pleasure felt post-effort and why the whole of experience is important.ReferencesMan’s Search For Meaning by Victor FranklSponsorSign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.comWatch The StruggleYouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsDGet In

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00:11:25

Episode 43 - Leveraging Dopamine For Motivation,...

The Struggle ·

2024/12/01

In this episode I discuss the benefits of cold exposure, the role dopamine plays regarding motivation and anticipation, how different behaviours and substances increase dopamine and how to leverage dopamine in productive, healthy and fulfilling ways.ReferencesHof, W. (2022)What are the benefits of Cold therapy?,Wim Hof Method. Wim Hof Method. Available at: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/cold-therapy.Lembke, A. (2021)Dopamine nation. Penguin Random House.Lieberman, D.Z. and Long, M.E. (2019)The

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00:12:38

Episode 42 - The Consequences Of Avoiding Pain

The Struggle ·

2024/11/24

In this episode, I discuss our over-dependence on painkillers, the unintended consequences of over-abundance and over-consumption and the consequences of avoiding pain and effort.SponsorSign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.comWatch The StruggleYouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsDGet In TouchInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/gregorsthomson/Tiktok -https://www.tiktok.com/@gregor.s.thomson?_t=8ioMNLUnA25&_r=1Email -

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00:11:42

Episode 41 - Existentialism & The Meaning Of Life...

The Struggle ·

2024/11/17

In this episode, I discuss The Existentialist Moment, the contributors to Existentialism, the common ideas and theories within it and applicable lessons to take away from the philosophy.Referenceshttps://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/SponsorSign up for The Struggle Newsletter here - https://gregorthomson.comWatch The StruggleYouTube - https://youtube.com/@GregorSThomson?si=wTfFwPVYKhJxKAsDGet In TouchInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/gregorsthomson/Tiktok

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00:10:50

Episode 40 - Existentialism & The Meaning Of Life...

The Struggle ·

2024/11/10

In this episode, I discuss the birth of Existentialism, two of it’s precursor philosophers Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche and their contribution to Existentialism and the applicable lessons we can learn from their writing.ReferencesCrowell, Steven, "Existentialism",The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy(Summer 2020 Edition), Edward N. Zalta(ed.), URL =

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