Abraham Maslow is best known for the “hierarchy of needs,” but that pyramid is one of the most misunderstood ideas in psychology.
In this episode, we go deeper into what Abraham Maslow was actually trying to do: build a psychology that studied healthy, capable, ethically grounded human beings, not just trauma and dysfunction.
We break down:
Humanistic psychology and why Maslow rejected reductionism
The real meaning of the hierarchy of needs (and why it’s not a ladder)
Self-actualization as responsibility, not self-expression
Peak experiences vs plateau experiences
B-values (truth, justice, beauty, meaning) and why Maslow thought values were real
Metamotivation and why growth changes what motivates you
The qualities Maslow observed in genuinely self-actualized people
Why most people never reach this stage—and what blocks them
How Maslow’s ideas shaped transpersonal and positive psychology
This is not an episode about happiness hacks or affirmations.
It’s about becoming competent, honest, and aligned with your capacity—and why that process is rare, demanding, and often uncomfortable.
