SOLVED with Mark Manson cover art

SOLVED with Mark Manson

SOLVED with Mark Manson

By: Mark Manson
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About this listen

 Mark Manson is a three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author and 20-year personal development industry veteran. Solved is the most comprehensive, evidence-based, overly-researched podcast on the planet to help you get an issue in your life, err... solved.Copyright 2025 Infinity Squared Media Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Solved, Answers: Finding Purpose, Failing Better, and the AI Future

    Solved, Answers: Finding Purpose, Failing Better, and the AI Future
    Dec 15 2025
    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 Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:13) Recap of 2025 (03:42) What if I don't have a single purpose? (06:07) Why don't I feel a strong need for purpose? (08:32) How do I find purpose when doing things I don't find important? (12:34) I'm having issues on getting motivated on one thing (19:35) What if my family doesn't support my purpose? (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 (33:13) How do you change yourself? (36:43) Finding meaning after AI takeover (44:01) What would a Models rewrite look like today? (48:19) Mark's first heartbreak (54:31) What would Mark put on Voyager 1? (57:35) Self-doubt on something you make (1:02:12) Mark's next book? (1:03:38) Tours around the world (1:05:55) Goals for 2026 (1:08:14) Podcast changes for 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Finding Your Purpose, Solved

    Finding Your Purpose, Solved
    Dec 4 2025
    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: https://solvedpodcast.com/purpose Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:39) Victor Frankl and Finding Purpose in the Darkness (17:20) Chapter 1: Foundations: What Is Purpose? (25:44) Myths (32:50) Definition (34:55) Health (39:22) Resilience and Purpose (45:34) Chapter 2: Philosophical & Historical Perspectives on Purpose (52:47) Religion and Purpose (58:31) Descartes (1:00:11) Hume (1:04:51) Nietzsche (1:17:43) Kierkegaard (1:22:50) Ernest Becker (1:30:16) Picasso (1:31:26) Chapter 3: The Psychology of Purpose (1:36:38) Relationships (1:45:40) Ego Identity (1:49:19) Social Aspect of Purpose (1:52:32) Religiosity (2:05:14) Going back to Religion (2:08:13) Chapter 4: The Four Stages of Life (2:19:41) Trade off to Purpose (2:23:48) Transitioning in Purpose (2:31:33) Chapter 5: The Dark Side of Purpose (2:40:38) Purpose App (2:51:36) Burnout (2:54:29) Toxic Purpose (3:07:25) Chapter 6: Finding and Cultivating Purpose (3:27:04) Breakdown on finding Purpose (3:36:56) Chapter 7: Finding Purpose in Work (or Not) (3:52:55) Parenting (4:01:00) Contributing to your community (4:04:05) Hobbies (4:09:14) Chapter 8: Practical Tools and Frameworks (4:20:18) Purpose Setting (4:22:17) Finding the right tool (4:24:48) Chapter 9: The 80/20 of Living with Purpose (4:34:24) Takeaways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    4 hrs and 50 mins
  • Comparing Yourself to Others, Solved

    Comparing Yourself to Others, Solved
    Nov 15 2025
    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 Ready to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join Momentum, a community of like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://findmomentum.com/socialcomparison Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 5:29 Chapter 1: Evolutionary Roots 16:20 The Emotional Toolkit 20:18 Chapter 2: Philosophy and Social Comparison 23:31 The Buddhist Path 24:58 Aristotle 34:34 Stoicism 36:24 Existentialism 40:06 Myths 48:37 Chapter 3: The Psychology of Social Comparison 58:54 Downward Comparison 1:22:19 Chapter 4: Digital Technology and Social Comparison 1:44:20 Chapter 5: The 80/20 of Managing Comparison 1:57:40 Hidden Costs 1:58:48 Takeaways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 hrs and 9 mins
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