Shows
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceHopeJohn and Danny explore hope in pessimistic times, weaving together thoughts on Adam Curtis’ new documentary, Heidegger’s philosophy, Ernst Bloch’s philosophy of hope, Albert Camus’s absurdism, and the haunting optimism of the best single series of TV in history, True Detective.2025-07-021h 00Talk Doesn't Cook RiceSyntropyJohn and Danny dive into the captivating concept of syntropy, exploring how energy drives order from chaos in life’s cosmic dance. Drawing from complexity science and thinkers like Albert Szent-Györgyi, Ray Peat, Ervin Laszlo, and Ulisse Di Corpo, we unpack syntropy’s role in creating structure, from a single cell to entire societies, and share practical ways to tip the balance toward coherence in your own life.2025-04-171h 00Talk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Master and His EmissaryJohn and Danny discuss Dr Iain McGilchrist's brilliant 2009 book, The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World.
We explore the differences between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, how left hemisphere overreach may be at the heart of many modern maladies, and what we might do to ensure better balance.2024-12-1358 minTalk Doesn't Cook RiceFrom Languishing to FlourishingJohn and Danny discuss Corey Keyes’ concept of languishing, which involves low mental health, marked by a lack of interest, motivation, and feelings of emptiness. We examine how languishing differs from flourishing and depression, consider its long-term effects, and outline the 5 behavioural vitamins essential for overcoming it.
Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down
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Intro/Outro Music: The Eternal Now by Maze 282024-06-281h 01Talk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Disappearance of RitualsJohn and Danny delve into Byung-Chul Han’s insightful book, The Disappearance of Rituals. We examine the rise of narcissism and its impact on diminishing the importance of rituals, exploring the consequences of this decline on contemporary life.
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Intro/Outro Music: The Eternal Now by Maze 282024-05-1748 minTalk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Burnout SocietyJohn and Danny explore Byung-Chul Han’s excellent book, “The Burnout Society.” We outline Han’s critique of our modern world—a landscape characterised by an overwhelming emphasis on positivity and relentless pursuit of achievement, often resulting in exhaustion and existential emptiness. We also discuss how Han’s philosophy resonates with our own experiences and offer insights into finding balance in the relentless race for success. There's also a guest appearance from the comedian Micky Flanagan!
The Burnout Society by Byung-Chul Han
Micky Flanagan on How to do absolutely nothing
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neuron...2024-04-111h 02Talk Doesn't Cook RiceSpiral DynamicsJohn and Danny discuss Spiral Dynamics, a psychological framework that describes how human values and worldviews change over time in response to life conditions and experiences. We outline the main stages of the spiral, from basic survival instincts to complex systems thinking, and consider how they shape our behavior, culture, and society. We also examine the benefits and challenges of each stage, how to communicate and collaborate with people who are at different levels of the spiral, and how to apply them to our personal and professional lives.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Moto...2024-02-161h 05Talk Doesn't Cook RicePersonalityJohn and Danny delve into the fascinating world of personality. We unravel the layers that make us who we are, exploring the influence of genetics, environment, and experience. We also discuss some of the common models you can use to reflect on your personal traits and figure out what makes you tick.
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Become a member of our unique learning community, Rebel Intellects. It’s a haven for people who want to think, grow, and challenge the st...2023-12-2055 minTalk Doesn't Cook RiceThe SelfJohn and Danny delve into the notion of 'the self' and the eternal question of what makes a person the same person over time. We explore the great Scottish philosopher David Hume's perspective, his skepticism about the the concept of a continuous identity, and draw parallels with the concept of personality.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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Intro/Outro Music: The Eternal Now by Maze 28 (https://soundcloud.com/user-466346680)2023-11-271h 02Talk Doesn't Cook RiceNostalgiaJohn and Danny embark on a journey into the intricate realm of nostalgia, a complex emotion described as "a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past." We deplore the various facets of nostalgia, examining its different types, exploring how it can wield both positive and negative influences, and pondering whether it has become a more prominent and powerful force than ever before.
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Intro/Outro Music: The Eternal No...2023-09-1151 minTalk Doesn't Cook RiceWhy Talk Doesn't Cook RiceJohn and Danny explore the philosophy behind our podcast's new name, "Talk Doesn't Cook Rice." We dive into its pragmatic significance, its connection to embodied perception inspired by French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and why taking that first step is vital in life.
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Intro/Outro Music: The Eternal Now by Maze 28 (https://soundcloud.com/user-466346680)2023-08-2450 minTalk Doesn't Cook RiceMr InbetweenJohn and Danny delve into the brilliant TV show that is Mr Inbetween. We explore how it relates to themes like morality, phenomenology, authenticity, and absurdism, and ask why it is we love the characters in shows like this and The Sopranos, The Wire, and Breaking Bad so much.
Trailer for Mr Inbetween: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1622522393/
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Intro/Outro Music: The Eternal Now by Maze 28...2023-07-0845 minTalk Doesn't Cook RiceInferiority ComplexJohn and Danny discuss the captivating work of Alfred Adler, the brilliant Austrian psychotherapist and visionary behind individual psychology. We explore Adler's unique journey, from his collaboration with Freud to forging his own path of discovery. We dive deep into the causes and effects of inferiority complex, and contemplate its relevance in today's fast-paced world.
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Intro/Outro Music: The Eternal Now by Maze 28 (https://soundcloud.com/user-466346680)2023-05-1053 min
How You Say ItDanny Massaro | Communicating and coaching at an elite levelDanny Massaro has coached at the top of elite sport for years. What makes him such a good coach? His ability to get into the minds of athletes and performers to get the very best out of them. I met Danny through the Think Space Academy and have enjoyed listening to the Think Space Podcast that he co-hosts with John Stoszkowski. In this episode Danny talks about how he took elements of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) into coaching to get into the minds of the people he was coaching. His established career in the...2023-04-1154 min
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Denial of DeathJohn and Danny unpack the profound ideas of Ernest Becker in his groundbreaking book, "The Denial of Death". We explore the existential anxiety that lurks within us all and how it can affect our everyday lives and relationships. Despite the weighty topic, this episode is surprisingly uplifting and affirming and will help you live more fully in the present moment.
The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker
The Worm at the Core by Sheldon Solomon et al.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Become a...2023-03-1559 min
Talk Doesn't Cook RicePragmatismJohn and Danny delve into the philosophy of pragmatism and its relevance to modern life. We explore the ideas of three classic American pragmatists—Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey—discussing topics such as the nature of truth and the importance of a pragmatic education. Additionally, we examine some of the criticisms that have been leveled at pragmatism and its relationship with more traditional European philosophy.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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Intro/Outro...2023-02-1749 min
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Status GameJohn and Danny muse on the evolution of status in human life and the ways it distorts and defines our behavior, as individuals and societies. We discuss Will Storr’s excellent book, The Status Game, and delve into why the feeling of being valued is so important to us. We also consider why it's important to diversify your status game and how you might reconcile the need for status in your daily life.
The Status Game by Will Storr (@wstorr)
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Become a...2023-01-2856 min
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceBullshitJohn and Danny muse on bullshit and explore what it is, why we do it, and who is susceptible to it. We also discuss the notions of persuasive and evasive bullshitting, and ask if bullshitting is avoidable or simply an inherent part of what it is to be human.
Harry Frankfurt, On Bullshit (Amazon)
Research study mentioned: Cutting the Crap: The Perceived Prevalence of Pseudoscientific Bullshit in Sport Science and Coaching
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Become a member of Rebel Intellects, a unique philoso...2022-12-161h 00
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceBeing WellJohn and Danny muse on well-being and ask whether "being well" might actually be a better focus if we are to truly flourish. Is well-being just another corporate buzzword and are well-being programmes and practitioners simply disguising companies’ base motivations with the language of care? Might existential philosophers like Martin Heidegger have some better answers to what could in fact be a wicked problem?
Book mentioned (Amazon): Wicked & Wise: How to Solve the World’s Toughest Problems by Alans Watkins and Ken Wilber
LinkedIn crying guy: Washington Post article
Stutz documentary (Netflix): https://www.ne...2022-11-2559 min
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceBioenergeticsJohn and Danny muse on the “bioenergetic” view of health and how it might impact the way we think, learn, and live. The central point revolves around maximising metabolic function so that we approach life with curiosity, positivity, and vigour while being resistant to the everyday stresses we might face.
The paper that John wrote (PDF): https://t.co/sz7zNdIVmO
How to Heal Your Metabolism by Kate Deering: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Heal-Your-Metabolism-Happiness/dp/1511585625
Dr Ray Peat's website: http://raypeat.com/about.shtml
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to t...2022-10-081h 06
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Will to PowerJohn and Danny muse on "the will to power," one of the most fundamental concepts in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. The central point revolves around gaining power over oneself and becoming who you truly are. We discuss its relationship with the "the will to live (Schopenhauer)," "the will to pleasure (Freud)," and "the will to meaning (Frankl)." Then we explore how we can all make embracing our "will to power" a bigger part of our lives, including non-conformity and having the courage to be disliked, being more aware of motivated reasoning in ourselves and others, and appreciating the...2022-09-091h 00
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Psychologically Rich LifeJohn and Danny muse on the notion of a psychologically rich life. Unlike happy or meaningful lives, psychologically rich lives are characterised by complexity, in which people experience a variety of interesting things and feel and appreciate a variety of deep emotions via firsthand or vicarious experiences. We discuss the work of Shigehiro Oishi and colleagues in this area, and explore the ways we can all make psychological richness a bigger part of our day to day existence. There’s also a guest appearance by Micky Flanagan (sort of!).
The Psychologically Rich Life (Besser & Oishi, 2020): https://www.ta...2022-08-141h 02
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Century of the SelfJohn and Danny muse on Adam Curtis’ documentary series “The Century of the Self” (2002), which focuses on the work of psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud and Anna Freud, and PR consultant Edward Bernays. We explore Curtis’ analysis of how those in power have used Freud's theories to encourage mass consumerism and control people in an age of mass democracy, and we discuss the ways they continue to shape the way we live and think today.
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Mu...2022-07-211h 08
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Ethics of AmbiguityJohn and Danny muse on Simone de Beauvoir's classic book "The Ethics of Ambiguity" (1948), which explores the existentialist tension between absolute freedom of choice and the constraints of life’s givens. We explore de Beauvoir's powerful analysis of the five types of people who are not free, discuss their relevance and application in everyday life, and consider the responsibility we have to others in the actualization of their freedom too.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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Music by Kabbalistic V...2022-07-021h 06
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceThe Camel, the Lion, and the ChildJohn and Danny muse on Friedrich Nietzsche's three metamorphoses story, which appeared in his now iconic work of philosophical fiction, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883). Nietzsche believed that the purpose of human existence is to achieve one's full potential. To achieve that, a spirit had to go through three transformations: a camel, a lion, and a child. We discuss what characterises each of the phases and explore their relevance and application in everyday life.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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Musi...2022-06-0859 min
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceDaseinJohn and Danny muse on Martin Heidegger's concept of Dasein. In his fundamental text Being and Time (1927), Heidegger introduced Dasein as a term for the type of being that humans possess. We discuss what it is to be a Dasein and look through the lenses of thrownness, fallenness, and existentiality to explore its relevance and application in everyday life.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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Music by Kabbalistic Village: https://kabbalisticvillage.com/2022-05-211h 01
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceBad FaithJohn and Danny muse on Jean-Paul Sartre's notion of Bad Faith. A critical claim in existentialist philosophy is that humans are free to make choices and guide their lives towards their own chosen goal. For Sartre, Bad faith is whereby individuals act inauthentically by yielding to the external pressures of society to adopt false values and disown their innate freedom as human beings. We discuss some of the practical implications of this in everyday life.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Become a member of Rebel Intellects, a unique philosophy com...2022-04-2657 min
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceMan's Search for MeaningJohn and Danny muse on Viktor Frankl's book, Man's Search For Meaning (1946). The book itself is an arresting account of his survival in the Nazi concentration camps of World War Two and his exploration of our ability to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity. We also explore the practical implications of Frankl's logotherapy, which states that the primary motivational force of an individual is to find a meaning in life.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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Music...2022-04-0759 min
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceSchadenfreudeJohn and Danny muse on schadenfreude. We discuss this perplexing emotion and wonder why it is we derive such distinctive pleasure from others' misfortune, especially when it comes to our friends. If you don't enjoy the episode, at least you might get some pleasure from our misfortune of having made it!
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Music by Kabbalistic Village: https://kabbalisticvillage.com/2022-03-221h 00
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceSunny NihilismJohn and Danny muse on Nihilism and Absurdism. We discuss their similarities and differences as life philosophies, why they might appeal, and the practicalities of how they can help us make more sense of our existence. Don't worry, it's more fun than it sounds!
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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Music by Kabbalistic Village: https://kabbalisticvillage.com/2022-03-091h 03
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceLiving in the NowJohn and Danny muse on whether it's a good idea to focus too hard on living in the "now". We ask whether it's possible (and desirable) for humans to be more animalistic in our thoughts, and discuss the implications of distinguishing between the past, present, and future, including why it might even be dangerous to too readily dismiss memory and imagination in favour of the present moment.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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Music by Kabbalistic Village: ...2022-02-2356 min
The Sport Psych Show#179 Dr John Stoszkowski & Dr Danny Massaro - Thinking CriticallyI speak with Dr John Stoszkowski and Dr Danny Massaro in this episode. Danny is widely recognised as one of the best squash coaches in the United Kingdom. He coached his wife, world champion, Laura Massaro, for over 10 years, guiding her to world number 1. Danny is a lecturer in Sports Coaching at the University of Central Lancashire. And just completed his PhD. John was, up until very recently, a senior Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, leading a range of modules on the BSc Sports Coaching and Performance, BA Sports Coaching and...2022-02-211h 23
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceMimetic DesireJohn and Danny muse on Mimetic Desire and the role it plays in determining why we want what we want. We discuss what we each took from the work of René Girard, the French polymath, historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science whose work belongs to the tradition of anthropological philosophy, as well as the book 'Wanting', by Luke Burgis.
Get our book, ‘BEING WELL’. All royalties go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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Music by Kabbalistic Village: https://kabbalisticvillage.com/2022-02-0858 min
Talk Doesn't Cook RiceAuthenticity and The AlpinistJohn and Danny muse on authenticity and The Alpinist, a brilliant documentary about the Canadian rock climber and Alpinist, Marc-André Leclerc. We discuss what we each took from the film, how it might apply to our own experiences, and what value can be found in artistic craft documentaries when pondering your own emergent situations and ongoing predicaments.
Spoiler alert: you don't need to have watched the film, but if you do intend to watch it, we strongly suggest watching before listening!
The Alpinist Trailer: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11790780/
Get our book, ‘BEING WEL...2022-01-2551 min