Life Lab: Recent Episodes
David Ponder and Zach Schaefer
Experiment With Life. That is the essence of Life Lab, a weekly podcast that discusses life lessons in a very conversational way. We give listeners simple ways to make positive change in their lives, and most of our shows are organized around principles to live “the good life.” We end each episode with Change Challenges that come from the “teach a person to fish” philosophy. Each episode also weaves together a patchwork of knowledge and stories from diverse sources and topics. You might learn what rapper 50 Cent has in common with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, how Pink Floyd can improve your time management, and how Charlie Sheen can teach you to be a better negotiator. We use history, current events, and futuristic visions to understand who we are as humans and how we live. The goal of Life Lab is growth, so sit down, plug in, and spark your development.
Is there life beyond our planet? When we gaze up at the vast expanse of the universe, the question lingers in our minds: Are we alone? The concept of extraterrestrial life has fascinated humans for centuries, igniting our imaginations and driving scientific inquiries. It's like a cosmic puzzle, waiting for the pieces to fall into place. Dive deep with us as we explore the mysteries and possibilities of extraterrestrial life.
When you have anxiety your heart rate will increase, tension builds in your muscles, and you may even hold your breath. Mainstream sociologists have said we live in one of the safest times in known history, so why are anti-anxiety medication sales at all time highs? Join us as we discuss Danger.
One of the great lessons of life as told by Spider Man is that with great power comes great responsibility. If that’s true, then how does it apply to all of our lives and the power we hold over ourselves? Join us as we discuss personal responsibility.
Stories are a powerful, uniquely human way of communicating. They bring order and meaning to our chaotic and nonsensical world. We're always looking for patterns and relationships to compare what we've experienced to what we have not, and stories give us that for new events and situations. It's curious how much we want others to hear our stories, to share our meaning, and to share our beliefs on the stories of events we haven't personally experienced. Join us as we discuss narrative.
We all want freedom for ourselves and others, right? Perhaps not unbounded freedom. If not unbounded then with what constraints? Who chooses those constraints? How are they enforced? Do you want everyone to have more or less ability to act, speak, or think without constraint? Join us as we discuss freedom.
Aware of it or not, we all benefit when we can find "a moderate course between extremes, a dynamic between knowledge and doubt, a sufficient detachment from the problem at hand". How can we find those things when our emotions and thoughts are anything but? Join us as we discuss wisdom.
Do you know anyone who seems to always be full of energy? Full of physical strength and mental vigor? Are you envious of them, or do you have it too? What feeds that drive? Join us as we discuss Vitality.
Do you have optimistic or pessimistic expectations? Do you have expectations and desires for a good future, or not? Do your expectations serve as a fuel for action or an excuse for inaction? Join us as we discuss hope.
"The world isn't fair.", said just about every parent ever, including ours to us. Why do unfair outcomes so seldom favor us? Certainly our viewpoint and biases don't impinge on our judgement of what's fair? Join us as we discuss fairness.
Are people are inherently good or bad? Even when doing good, are people selfish, and only doing it to make themselves feel good? Or, is that a feature of humanity (Feeling good helping others) and proof that people are good? Join us as we discuss Altruism.
When was the last time you were struck with a feeling of wonder? When did you last experience something that left you feeling blown away? How great was it? How indescribable? Join us as we discuss awe.
Perhaps one of the most important questions someone should ask themselves regularly is: How well are you living according to your principles and values? Regardless of your words, your choices, big and small, tell both the world and yourself what you actually value. Join us as we discuss Integrity.
Garnering cooperation and support from those around you is critical in achieving your goals. Are your goals shared by those around you? What is behind the charisma that makes some people actually enjoy following another whether those values are shared or not? Join us as we discuss Leadership.
It's important to align your actions with your core values. But do you even know what your core values are? When was the last time you scrutinized those values and where they came from? Are you acting as your true self? Join us as we discuss Authenticity.
The Tears For Fears song says everybody wants to rule the world. If not the world, we all want control over something, right? Who should have control, and what should their circle of control encompass? Join us as we discuss Authority.
What is is about vibrations that travel through the air that make us feel something? They can make us remember, make us happy, and make us dance. We aren't the only ones, as you can tell hearing the songs of other species as you walk through nature. Join us as we discuss music.
If something is unusual, does that make it bad? What if it's describing the way you think? Have we piqued your interest, yet? Join us as we discuss abnormal psychology.
How do you envision things in the future? What do you desire your life to look like? What if it ends up even better than that? What is if ends up worse? Better or worse, how does what you imagine impact how you feel in the future? Join us as we discuss expectations.
Is that a fact? According to who? Did they experience it first hand, or hear about it from someone they trust? Was it measured? If so, what was the scale and how was it sampled? There's one thing we can all agree about - a lot of people disagree about the truth.
While Maslow's hierarchy of needs is useful... it's wrong - for humans, at least. We all sat as a human newborn, and our number one need as such a helpless being is social support. This support system is critical in developing your view of the world and learning about yourself. Join us as we talk about friends and family.
Do you ever stop to think about the transactions you make on a daily basis and their broader impact on the world? What are the consequences - intended or unintended - of your choices around production (work) and consumption? Is wealth all about money? What about goods and services? What about values? Join us as we discuss the economy.
Of course, it's enticing to be someone who's in the know. It's seductive to think that you might know a truth or truths that the majority do not. Those in the minority group that share those truths have a tight bond as they work together to turn those beliefs into action, often under a strong leader. Join us as we discuss cults.
It's not easy when you want something badly, and you want it now. Conversely, you can suffer enduring something that you wish was over as quickly as possible. Stoicism stresses aligning to our inner flow to the external flow of life. They say that this ability is a virtue. Join us as we discuss patience.
Do you produce more or consume more? Does it matter? The supply chain links manufacturers and producers with consumers who use their products, and "Supply chain disruptions" are a hot (and controversial) topic right now. Have you thought about your role on both sides of this equation? Join us as we discuss production and consumption.
What makes a subject interesting to you? Do you like to share knowledge? What's the relationship between schooling and education to learning? Do you remember when you learned how to learn? Just us as we discuss education... again.
Do you think this is it, or do you think there's something more? Do you look to others for guidance or do you find your own way? How often do you think about the metaphysical (outside of material reality)? Join us as we discuss Spirituality.
It can be internal (with yourself) or external (with others), and it often comes down to either dealing with a situation or letting it pass you by. Do you engage or not? If so, how do you approach it? If not, why? Join us as we discuss confrontation.
Many people are afraid of it, but it's unavoidable. Embracing it and learning how to navigate it effectively can be a superpower. As The Rolling Stones said, "You can't always get what you want, but..." join us as we discuss conflict.
The unknown brings fear, so, wouldn't it be great to have perfect knowledge of the future? Just think about it. You would know everything that's going to happen. But what does that mean for your reality? What does that mean for your free will? Maybe that wouldn't be so great. Join us as we discuss uncertainty.
Honor and respect are things that just about everyone would say they want. Should everyone get those things? What would make someone worthy, or not worthy of them? Are they earned or are they a right? Join us as we discuss dignity.
When you hear the word art, it's easy to think of paintings, statues, music, and dance. What about the way that a sunset reflects off of a pond? What is it to you? Join us as we discuss art.
Sometimes you feel badly. Perhaps about something you did. Maybe about something you didn't do. Why? Is this feeling harmful? Can it be useful? Join us as we discuss Guilt.
From the minute you're born, you're on the clock... the meter's running. It's the great equalizer. Join us as we discuss time. And all your money, won't another minute buy....
Is there anything more satisfying than Justice? Knowing everything is "right" in the world? But wait - right to whom? Is nature and the universe just? Join us as we discuss justice.
How does your body and the way we treat it play into curiosity, exploration, competition, etc? Join us as we discuss Fitness & Athleticism.
They're our companions. Most of us consider them family. What is the connection we feel with them? Is it just emotional or could it be something more? Join us as we discuss pets.
You can't stop thinking about it. It's probably nothing and you should just let it go. But you can't. It's causing you anxiety. Why? Join us as we discuss suspicion.
Is stagnation a negative thing? Is there a difference between stillness and stagnation?
What do you feel duty to make sure happens? Is that something the universe gave you, or something you chose? Did you "accept responsibility?" or did you say "If it's to be, it's up to me."? Let's discuss responsibility.
-"I'm breaking up with you. It's over. Accept that."
-"Except that what?!"
Join us as we discuss acceptance.
They help us identify things quickly, and we see them everywhere. Does our mind sometimes make them up? Join us as we discuss patterns.
It's a basic human emotion and helped us survive, but does it wield too much power in our lives today? Join us as we discuss anger.
Showing firm and constant allegiance to something is a good thing, right? Loyalty gives a sense of security - but are there downsides? Join us as we discuss Loyalty.
Opposing forces are a part of nature, and the refusal to accept something is a part of human nature. Join us as we discuss something that is front and center in 2020 - resistance.
From coffee to cocaine to computer screens - everything you consume impacts the way you feel. Join us as we discuss the things we select to influence our perceptions.
The amount of physical space between to things is different than the emotional space between us or within us. Sounds "far out", right? Join us as we discuss Distance.
"SERENITY NOW!" - Jerry Stiller. We live in a paradoxical time. We're taught to want more and do more, and yet we all want to feel at peace deep inside. Join us to discuss Serenity.
Today's capitalistic society worships efficiency. Every new technology and advancement seeks ever increasing efficiency. That great for tech and business, but what about for your human connections? Can you give love more efficiently?
Helping those you care about seems to come naturally, right? What about helping others? When does it become something you deserve credit for, if ever? Join us as we discuss service.
With youth comes not taking things seriously, being light-hearted, and truly being in the moment. How can we have that as an adult? Join us as we discuss playfulness.
We can't control it all, but at least we have control over ourselves, right? Join us as we discuss Will Power.
As we all adjust to life in a quarantine, how do we continue to practice curiosity, spontaneity, service, and many of the other life principles we value? Is this a setback, a pause in life, or an opportunity? Join us as we discuss our thoughts on the current Covid 19 pandemic.
We knew we should make this episode, but we kept avoiding it until we were filled with anxiety that we'd never make the deadline. Join us as we talk about why people procrastinate like that.
If you defer to others, can you not also be confident? Can you exercise authority if you give credit to others and do the most difficult or least glamorous tasks? Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of the most unsung virtue - humility.
Do you remember getting excited about learning new things when you were young? Do you still get excited about new things or would you rather stick to what you know? Join us as we re-discover discovery.
Fear can be debilitating, and oobstacles can seem insurmountable. When we're at our best, however, we can push through. What is it within us that gives us the strength to keep going despite our fears? Join us on our 50th episode as we explore courage.
Doesn't it feel good when you make progress on something? Why is that? What is behind our collective drive for progress? Join us as we progress our understanding of progress.
Everyone wants to be happy, but what is happiness? How does one achieve it? Is it the thing we should be chasing after all? Join us as we discuss what most people think is the most important thing - happiness.
We all understand why moderation is usually beneficial, so why do we often fail to moderate ourselves? And why does it seem that every viewpoint is extreme nowadays? Join us as we talk about moderation.
It seems to be everywhere today. From the news to the dinner table. Wherever there's disagreement, there's controversy. When there's controversy how do you decide what to believe? Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of controversy.
A good education is important, but what is a good education? Is is knowledge? Is it the ability to learn? Curiosity? How does the internet and on-demand access to knowledge impact education? Join us as we discuss education.
What’s most important to you in life? Are your behaviors in line with that answer? Join us as we talk about values, and the dilemmas we encounter when trying to prioritize what matters most.
What is both one of the greatest motivators we have as humans and one of the scariest things to think about? Death. Listen to us chat about how humans have quarantined Death & Dying and what effects that has on our daily lives.
Do you have a "good sense of humor"? What does that even mean? One thing's for sure: laughing more is good. Laugh along with us as we discuss the ins and outs of humor.
We talk to our children about their feelings, but how much to we talk to the adults we love about them? How much do we reflect on our own? At the essence and core of emotions is meaning. Could emotions be a guide to living your life with meaning?
We all want certainty... right? What are you certain of? Can you think of something you were certain of 5 or 10 years ago that you now feel differently about? Is the opposite of certainty uncertainty? Or, is it curiosity?
Are you a good secret keeper? How does telling and keeping secrets alter the fabric of our relationships? If you want to learn to better react to other's secrets and problems when they bring them to you, check out this episode.
When you hear the word "faith" what do you think of? Do you relegate this to spiritual and religious matters or do you live with faith in your daily life? Listen to our episode on faith to understand how we all rely on this concept throughout our lives.
Do you go with your gut, or do you think your first feeling might deceive you? Where does instinct come from? Nature? Our Ancestors? Join us as we discuss our instincts, and what they mean to us.
How loud is your conscience and how often do you pay attention to it? Dave and Zach discuss the usefulness and complexities of having a conscience, how it relates to our daily actions, and how ignoring it on a societal level can lead to horrific consequences.
Why is making healthy decisions so damn difficult? What is the connection between physical and mental health? Listen in to Dave and Zach as they discuss what it means to live a healthy lifestyle.
Do you find it easy or difficult to forgive others? What about forgiving yourself? Listen to this Life Lab episode to hear Dave and Zach talk about the burden of resentment and steps to more easily forgive ourselves and each other.
What’s the last sacrifice you’ve made that was for the good of others? Do you sacrifice or substitute? Listen to the latest Life Lab episode on #Sacrifice to find out why it’s such an important part of what makes us human.
Are you more honest with yourself or with others? Do you enable honesty in others? Check out the latest Life Lab episode on Honesty to discover why dishonesty comes more easily and learn what you can do about it.
How often are you uncomfortable? Do you actively seek to stretch your comfort zone, and if so, for what purpose? Listen to this week's episode to learn about the benefits of discomfort and why being too comfortable for too long is unhealthy.
Do you have difficulty letting things go? Listen in to our latest episode to figure out why it's so hard to "let things go" and unlock strategies to help you do so more easily.
Do you use fear as a motivational tool or as source of self-limiting beliefs? What fears from your childhood are still with you as an adult…and what does that mean? Learn about Dave and Zach’s deepest fears and discover special mechanism to harness your fears and make them work in your favor.
Do you have a parenting philosophy? Do you parent more out of fear or love? Listen to some of the mistakes and successes that Dave and Zach have had while parenting and how these experiences can enrich your overall life.
How trusting are you? Do you trust your family, friends, strangers, yourself? Are you a “task trust” or “feelings trust” kind of person? We discuss how humans can’t get through a single day without exercising trust. In this interesting follow up to the lying episode we answer the previous questions and more.
How many times do you lie throughout the day? At what age do children learn to lie? You might be surprised! Tune in to the latest Life Lab episode on lying to discover why it’s an integral part of human society and how it influences your daily life.
Special Episode - Remember that chill guy from High School? I wonder what he's up to. In this episode we interview Nashville-based singer-songwriter Vince Ostrander. Does that label describe all that Vince is? Learn how our identity revolves over time in relation to the people we surround ourselves with. Check out Vince's Man Date podcast at: https://www.vinceostrander.com/
Is addiction a choice, genetic, or tied to our environments? Are all addictions bad? If you or someone you know has an “addictive personality” then you will love our latest episode where we explore the challenges associated with addictions, including our own personal struggles with addiction.
What role does religion and spirituality play in your life? Where do you get your sense of purpose, meaning and connection? On this Life Lab episode we discuss the world’s religions and spiritual paths, our personal views on these paths, and the different ways that people interact with them.
Are you the same person you were as a kid? At the end of the day do you feel fulfilled or exhausted from the face you showed the world? Listen to our Life Lab episode on Identity to discover what a modular identity means and how to stretch your sense of self.
What level of resistance do you put up to emerging technologies? Are you willing to adapt or do you prefer to fight them? Listen to our 2nd episode on Technology to discover emerging trends and tools in medicine, manufacturing, finance, automation, and many more.
Do you take technology for granted? Check out Dave and Zach’s latest episode about how technology enables and constrains our relationships and sense of purpose, but in the end is all about helping us “do things better.”
Are you a compassionate person? If you want to be more compassionate, check out our latest episode to discover the benefits of vulnerability and understand the relationship between compassion, sympathy, and empathy.
Want to know the secret formula for getting value out of life? Tune in to Dave and Zach’s episode on “Value Extraction” to discover how to reframe obligations into opportunities and see if you can accomplish the the “1-picture challenge.”
What do you take pride in? Check out our latest Life Lab episode to reap the benefits of and avoid the pitfalls of pride.
What is the most important thing in life? Money ranks high in our society. Career? Legacy? Fame? In this episode David and Zach argue that Love -- by far -- is the most important thing in life.
One episode wasn't enough to discuss money. Listen to Dave and Zach argue about their approaches to money and how people can change their relationship to money. This is the second of a 2-part episode.
Regrets. Everyone has them but you can learn how to let them go. Listen to Zach and Dave's latest episode to find your micro and macro regrets and learn how to move past all of them.
Due to the recent national news illuminating the limits of IF (Intellectual Freedom) in the United States in 2017, we thought it both timely and important to both read an important statement on IF, and to remind our audience to go back and listen to the full IF episode.
In the United States, we all have intellectual freedom, don't we? How free do you feel to discuss all of the thoughts you have? Do you feel encouraged to question commonly held beliefs? We discuss these questions and others in this episode.
Is it easy for you to change? Do you want to more easily find opportunities to build change momentum? Tune in to Dave and Zach's episode on Change to discover the five fears that prevent every human from wanting to change.
Do you take collaboration for granted? Check out Dave and Zach's latest episode to discover why conflict is a central part of human collaboration and how to flex your conflict styles.
What's your money mindset? Is money a taboo topic to you? Listen to Dave and Zach argue about their approaches to money and how people can change their relationship to money. This is the first of a 2-part episode.
Do you struggle with taking initiative? Do you wish you could more easily take action on the things that matter to you? Learn why Zach and Dave think that taking initiative is nothing more than paying attention to our emotions.
Want to find simple ways to be more creative? Think you have a creativity deficiency? Check out Dave and Zach's latest episode to find out how to do plastic surgery on your creativity scars.
If you want to avoid the "Paradox of Persistence" and learn to master the Persistence Process to more quickly achieve your goals, tune in to Dave and Zach's new episode.
Want to learn one simple trick that can turn an ordinary experience into an extraordinary one? Hang out with Dave and Zach for 30 minutes to figure out how to add a little curiosity into your life.
When you set a goal do you hold yourself accountable? Spend a few minutes with Dave and Zach to figure out what successful failures look like and why you should use accountability confessions.
Are you authentic when you talk to others? Are you a good listener? Sharpen your listening skills today by checking out what Zach and Dave have to say about communication.
Do you ever struggle with self-confidence? If so, you're not alone! In this episode, Dave and Zach discuss the benefits and challenges associated with maintaining self-confidence in a world that tends to tear you down.
Whatever you're doing right now... did you plan it? In this episode Dave and Zach explore the positives and negatives of being spontaneous. Stop whatever you had planned and give it a listen!
In this episode, Zach and Dave discuss self actualization. How do you become the person you want to be, the person you feel you are inside. Interestingly, how do you know once you've gotten there, or at least if you're on the right track?
Everyone wants to find their passion, and somehow make it their life's work... right? Zach and Dave talk about this idea, how passion evolves from the time you're a child to the time you're an adult, and how we all too often competing priorities push passion out of our lives.