Why do some of the smartest people struggle to succeed?

It turns out that intelligence alone isn’t enough. In this episode of Skipping Stones, we explore two surprising ways smart people sabotage their own potential: overconfidence that blocks learning and a constant craving for novelty that prevents long-term progress.

We’ll unpack why slow, steady focus often beats raw brainpower, and how embracing a little boredom might be the smartest move of all.

Subscribe now to start turning insight into real momentum.

Why do we always want more even when we already have so much?

That car, that phone, that dream vacation... they thrill us for a moment, then fade. Meanwhile, the quiet beauty of everyday life goes unnoticed.

In this week’s episode of Skipping Stones, we explore how to shift our attention from what’s missing to what’s already amazing. From kids turning trash into treasure to simple moments that stir the soul, this episode will help you see the world and your life with fresh eyes.

Subscribe now and start finding joy where you least expect it.

Have you ever noticed how destruction grabs our attention, but beauty quietly waits for it?

This episode explores why we’re drawn to negative things more than uplifting ones and what that says about how we live.

We chase quick pleasures like success or comfort, but they rarely satisfy. The truly powerful moments, like watching a sunrise, hearing moving music, or connecting deeply with someone, fill us in a way nothing else can. Yet we often ignore them.

It’s not just the world pulling us down. Sometimes it's our own habits and cravings. But we can choose to look up, to seek what inspires us instead of what distracts us.

The most meaningful moments aren’t loud or flashy. They’re quiet, lasting, and worth seeking.

Have you noticed how tightly we cling to certainty, even when the evidence says otherwise?

This episode explores the hidden power of embracing uncertainty. From Galileo to Einstein, history shows that breakthroughs often come when we admit we do not have all the answers. Our mental maps help us navigate life, but true growth happens when we dare to revise them.

By getting comfortable with the unknown, we unlock a rare strength: intellectual flexibility. It is not about giving up on truth. It is about staying open, humble, and ready to learn.

Ready to walk into the darkness with me? New episodes drop every Monday.

What fills your cup—success, admiration, wealth? Many of us chase these things, only to find our fulfillment draining away, like a cup with hidden holes.

This episode explores the difference between fleeting happiness and lasting contentment. True satisfaction doesn’t come from achievement alone, but from living in alignment with our values. Even great success can feel hollow if it doesn’t reflect what truly matters to us.

From Leo Tolstoy’s turn toward simplicity to Hiroo Onoda’s decades-long commitment, we uncover how real fulfillment often comes from self-denial, not self-indulgence. The question isn’t what you want, but what you’re willing to stand for.

Join us as we explore what makes life truly meaningful. Subscribe now and start building a life of deeper contentment.

That harsh inner voice constantly pointing out flaws and mistakes, doesn’t have to define your self-image.

We’ve been taught that self-criticism drives improvement, but what if it’s holding us back instead? A personal story about a childhood photo reveals how we’re often needlessly cruel to ourselves. Would you speak to a child the way you speak to yourself?

Instead of a harsh judge, our inner critic can be a compassionate coach. By forgiving ourselves for past mistakes, we create space for growth without self-hatred.

Next time the critic speaks, ask: Would I say this to someone I love?

Treat yourself with the same care and patience, and watch how differently you move through the world.

What happens when we stop standing up for ourselves?

When do we become so focused on pleasing others that we fade into the background?

Boundaries shape our relationships, yet many struggle to set them. From childhood, we learn through resistance, testing limits to understand the world. In adulthood, when we offer no resistance, we paradoxically become unknowable. Genuine connection isn’t built through constant accommodation but by standing firm in who we are.

True relationships thrive in the middle ground, neither appeasing nor exploding, but existing confidently. You have the right to take up space.

What boundaries might you need to reinforce to create more authentic connections?

Naming emotions gives us power over them. When we misidentify what we're feeling, we become controlled by unseen forces instead of responding thoughtfully.

Seth Roberts explores how accurately naming emotions—like realizing irritability stems from hunger, not anger—helps us break reactive patterns. Drawing from Spirited Away and horror films, he illustrates how naming what scares us diminishes its hold over us.

The next time strong emotions arise, ask: "What is the true name of this feeling?" Clarity begins where confusion ends.

Listen now and subscribe for new episodes every Monday.