Sting & The Police went from playing to 6 people on his first American performance (broke, on welfare, with a wife and baby) to selling out stadiums with The Police and selling 100 million records worldwide. This deep dive into Sting's biography reveals the brutal years of rejection between obscurity and stardom that nobody talks about, decoded from his memoir Broken Music.

Subscribe for more breakdowns on how icons escape their limitations and build legendary careers.

Expect to learn:

-How Sting escaped a working-class trap in Newcastle and broke the cycle of generational regret

-Why obsession and volume beat talent alone: the forensic practice method Sting used to decode Beatles songs

-The truth about overnight success: the humiliating rejections and 10+ years of grinding before The Police broke through

-How Roxanne became a classic after almost being rejected by the band's manager

-Why Sting left The Police at their peak and what drove his need to keep escaping

-The father-wound pattern that fuels most male outliers: and how Sting channeled it into 100 million+ records sold

-What separates artists who quit from those who make it: Sting's "don't stop" mentality through welfare, empty clubs, and doubt

-The escape code Sting discovered: how your obsession is data telling you how to get out

00:00 The Humble Beginnings of Sting

01:28 The Trap and the Escape Code

02:25 The Drive to Prove Himself

03:22 The Obsession with Music

05:01 The Grind and Humiliation

07:57 The Turning Point: Meeting Stewart Copeland

08:48 Roxanne and the Breakthrough

10:32 The Rise and Fall of The Police

11:07 Lessons from Sting's Journey

12:22 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Sting's Memoir Broken Music (Amazon): https://amzn.to/3Nnc4g7

What's YOUR "this is how you escape" moment? What obsession keeps pulling you back even when it doesn't make logical sense? Drop your escape code in the comments. I’m rooting for you. 👇

Best Bits:

"There's something in the driven and compulsive nature of this obsession that's unusual, something in the unconscious saying, this is how you escape. This is how you escape. his how you escape.”

"I will travel the world, be the head of a large family. I'll own a big house in the country. I will be wealthy and I will be famous." [He achieved all of them]

"We'll play with equal passion to six people or 600. Driving ourselves thousands of sleepless miles, loading and unloading our gear...we were the dogs of war and nothing could stop us."

"In my quest to become unique, I have become a statistic."

"Success and failure are on the same road. You just have to keep going.”

"It's just that nothing else I ever did was going to work. I was merely treading water."

#Sting #ThePolice #MusicBiography

Vagabonding isn’t “quitting life”, it’s a practical long-term travel mindset for anyone who wants more freedom, less fear, and more time-rich living.

Rolf Potts is a travel writer and bestselling author of Vagabonding (the modern classic on extended travel).

What’s the biggest thing keeping you from long-term travel right now: money, fear, responsibility, or simply not giving yourself permission?

Subscribe for more long-form conversations on travel, purpose, and designing a life you actually want.

Expect to learn:

–How to give yourself “permission” to travel (even if no one in your life gets it).

–Why “time is the truest form of wealth” and how travel makes that real.

–How to travel longer on less money by stepping outside the tourist bubble and into local rhythms.

–Why slow travel beats rushed itineraries (and how it unlocks better deals + better stories).

–Smartphone independence: simple ways to protect presence, serendipity, and real-world connection on the road.

–Why “know your options, not your destiny” is the best planning rule for long-term travel.

–How routines (gym, journaling, quests) can make travel deeper not boring.

–Travel as pilgrimage: how walking (in cities or nature) can reset attention and reduce anxiety.

00:00 Introduction to Solo Traveling

00:12 First Vagabonding Journey

01:37 Motivations and Realizations

02:28 Impact of Early Travels

03:45 Long-Term Travel Lifestyle

05:19 Writing Vagabonding

06:19 Travel Philosophy and Advice

11:42 Funding Early Travels

13:22 Experiencing Local Economies

17:33 Slow Travel and Serendipity

23:42 Challenges of Modern Travel

30:21 Off the Beaten Path

36:30 Embracing the Unexpected in Travel

37:24 Challenging Journeys and Personal Growth

39:16 Adventures on the Mekong River

42:26 The Joys of Youthful Exploration

44:21 Balancing Routine and Adventure

53:20 Spiritual Reflections and Nature's Wisdom

01:02:42 Final Thoughts and Advice for Young Travelers

01:05:37 Start Your Own Podcast

Rolf’s Work: Rolf Potts (official site): https://rolfpotts.com Vagabonding (book page): https://rolfpotts.com/books/vagabonding/ Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf’s Paris workshops info): https://rolfpotts.com/about/paris-writing-workshop/ Paris Writing Workshops (main site): https://pariswritingworkshops.com Vagabonding (official book site): https://vagabonding.net

Jacob’s Work

FREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA

Podcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385

Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com

Harvard Physicist Avi Loeb reveals why Neil deGrasse Tyson, Brian Cox & NASA gets the 3I/ATLAS alien theory wrong and exposes the "echo chamber" problem in modern science. As the head of the Galileo Project, Loeb argues we must stop listening to "commentators" and start searching for technological signatures before it’s too late.

00:00 Neil deGrasse Tyson's Misconception

01:22 Einstein's Major Mistakes

03:26 The Humility of Science

04:10 Challenges in Modern Physics

08:04 Encouraging Innovation in Academia

16:49 The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

23:22 The Importance of Independent Thought

38:50 The Importance of Technological Signatures

39:41 The Limitations of Human Imagination

41:38 The Unknown Unknowns in Science

43:49 The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

45:11 The Role of Private Space Industry

48:10 The Case of 3I/ATLAS

50:39 The Need for a New Approach in Astronomy

54:40 The Potential of Interstellar Objects

57:34 The Future of Space Exploration

01:12:12 The Cost of Space Archaeology

01:23:16 The Impact of Extraterrestrial Contact

01:26:37 The Limitations of Viewing God as a Parent

01:27:28 The Power of Optimism in Life and Relationships

01:29:04 The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

01:30:58 The Big Bang and the Creation of the Universe

01:35:39 Mars Colonization and Space Habitats

01:39:25 The Future of Space Propulsion

01:46:26 The Risks and Rewards of AI

01:56:42 The Importance of Youthful Curiosity

01:57:30 Belief in a Higher Being and the Quest for Immortality

02:02:19 Closing Thoughts and Future Endeavors

Avi Loeb’s Work:

-Avi Loeb’s Medium: ⁠avi-loeb.medium.com⁠

-Avi’s Book "Extraterrestrial": ⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extraterrestrial-Search-Intelligent-Beyond-Earth-ebook/dp/B087N7D3YZ?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1⁠

Jacob’s Work

Website: ⁠https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com⁠

Rejection therapy is the fastest way to build real confidence and Gregory Russell Benedikt explains how “terrified action” can break your fear, self-doubt, and people-pleasing for good better than anyone.

Gregory Russell Benedikt is a TEDx sensation (“How Being Bold Will Change Your Life”) and life coach helping people live a story worth telling.

Subscribe for more long-form interviews on psychology, self-improvement, and the habits that change your life.

00:00 Rejection therapy: the most painful rejection and why it still shapes us

03:20 The “mask”: why fitting in kills confidence (and how to drop it)

07:27 Finance burnout: quitting with no plan when fear is smaller than staying stuck

07:27 End-of-life regret: the quote that forced the identity change

17:47 “Just start”: lowering friction to launch your podcast/creative project

40:14 Consistency when success is invisible (this is what hard feels like)

44:36 Courage defined: terrified action and the 5-second rule

50:35 The 100-day rejection challenge: swimming pool story + rejection reps

53:43 Live a story worth telling: commitment devices, community, and momentum

01:05:55 How the TEDx talk changed his life (and why it changes slower than you expect)

01:01:11 The best self-improvement questions: ideal day + “what costs am I willing to pay?”

FREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA

Podcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385

Gregory’s Work:

Gregory’s website (coaching): https://gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/

Gregory on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryrussellbenedikt

Gregory on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregoryrussellbenedikt/

Gregory’s TEDx talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezygvBTXeeQ

Jacob’s Work YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowland Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com

Behavioral genetics is destroying what we’ve been told about parenting, school “quality,” and personality. Robert Plomin explains why “parents don’t matter (in the way you think)” and why school quality can explain as little as 1% of SAT/GCSE variation after correcting for socioeconomic status.

Robert Plomin, leading behavioural geneticist at King’s College London with 50 years in psychology/genetics research (from the pre-DNA era to today’s polygenic scores)

Subscribe for more long-form interviews with world-class experts (and share this with one parent or student who needs it)

Expect to learn:

–Why the “shared family environment” (nurture) often explains surprisingly little—so siblings can be wildly different.

–The school shocker: why “great schools” may explain ~4% of GCSE variance, and ~1% after adjusting for socioeconomic sorting.

00:00 Behavioral genetics: "We got it wrong for 50 years" (nature vs nurture flips)

00:36 "Everything is heritable": what psychology missed (and why DNA changed the game)

01:46 The DNA revolution in behavioral genetics (from twin studies to genome sequencing)

02:32 "Nurture" isn't what you think: why shared family environment explains little

07:13 Genetics and personal preferences: where you live, who you are, and free will

13:35 What heritability means (and the #1 misunderstanding about the 80% figure)

13:35 Twin studies vs adoption studies: why identical twins reared apart matter

20:05 If it's not family, what is it? Non-shared environment and "stochastic" life outcomes

30:27 Polygenic scores: predicting education, schizophrenia risk, and massive effect sizes

30:27 The "School Scam": why school quality can explain ~1% of GCSE variance (after SES)

38:59 Ethical implications of genetic testing: Gattaca, prevention, and the totalitarian fear

51:05 The power of genetics in shaping personality: why siblings differ so dramatically

51:52 The dark side of genetic experiments: Three Identical Strangers and the wicked psychiatrist

53:21 Identical twins reared apart: astonishing similarities in behavior, jobs, and even hobbies

59:29 "Parents matter, but don't make a difference": what parenting can't change (and what it can)

01:04:12 Understanding and accepting individual differences (shyness, confidence, going with the flow)

01:04:12 Attachment theory vs evidence: relationships as descriptions, not destiny

01:18:53 The role of DNA testing in modern life: prevention, couples screening, and Nucleus Genomics

01:18:53 DNA testing for couples + recessive disorders (the prevention case that eliminates diseases)

01:32:34 Meditation, self-knowledge, and "becoming who you are" over time (final advice)

FREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA

Podcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385

Robert Plomin book mentioned: Blueprint — https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39074555-blueprint

Company mentioned for consumer DNA testing: Nucleus Genomics — https://nucleusgenomics.com

Jacob’s Work Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com

AI companions aren’t just “tools” they’re competing with your friendships, your colleagues, and your dating life.

Julie Freeland Fisher (a researcher at the Clayton Christensen Institute and expert on disruptive innovation & AI’s impact on relationships). Subscribe for more long-form conversations on AI, human behavior, and the future of society.

Answer me this: AI can reduce loneliness fast… but could it quietly dismantle human connection long-term? In the comments!

Expect to learn:

–How AI companions exploit the loneliness epidemic and why that’s a classic disruptive innovation foothold.

–Why “anthropomorphic” AI changes how we relate to technology (and to each other).

–What “social capital” really is, and why it predicts opportunity, resilience, and economic mobility.

–The workplace warning sign: AI power users reporting they trust AI more than colleagues and what that does to teams and culture.

–How AI companions can “alleviate loneliness” short-term while potentially scaling long-term isolation.

–The hidden risk of emotional offloading (and why “cognitive offloading” isn’t the only concern).

–What policies and real-world “third places” (youth clubs, sports, green spaces) can do to protect human connection.

–A more hopeful path: using AI to connect people to people (matchmaking, network-building) instead of replacing relationships.

00:00 The Impact of AI on Our Lives: Why AI Companions Change Human Connection

00:59 Disruptive Innovation Explained (Clay Christensen’s Real Definition)

02:03 Classic Disruptive Innovation Examples: Sony Walkman, Personal Computers

04:28 Is AI Actually Disruptive? The Business Model vs the Technology

06:59 AI in Education & Business Models: Tutoring, Access, and the Cost Curve

09:25 Social Capital Explained: How Relationships Create Opportunity

14:03 AI Companions vs Colleagues: Trust, Work Culture, and Burnout Signals

21:00 The Future of AI & Relationships: Attachment, Empathy, and What “Better” Means

28:55 Investing in Pro-Social Relationships (And Using AI Without Replacing People)

31:57 Decline of Religion & Community: The Need for Secular “Third Places”

32:45 Online Life, Social Media, and the Loneliness Feedback Loop

34:02 Social Skills in the AI Era: Building Confidence Through Real-World Reps

34:51 Parenting & Early Socialization: Offline Play as a Competitive Advantage

35:47 Offline Community Building: Green Spaces, Sports, and Local Civic Infrastructure

38:24 AI Companion Apps & Loneliness: Why This Market Is Growing So Fast

43:39 Disruptive Innovation Meets the Social Fabric: Hidden Costs of Convenience

51:34 Practical Advice for Human Connection: Better Conversations, Deeper Networks

56:12 Final Thoughts: Protect Face-to-Face Connection in an AI-Driven World

Julie’s Work

Julie Freeland Fisher’s Substack: “Connection Error” https://juliafreelandfisher.substack.com

Julie Freeland Fisher on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-freeland-fisher-4162466

Jacob:

Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowland

Willpower isn’t the answer to bad habits. Neuroscientist Dr. Jud Brewer shows what actually changes behavior (and it’s simpler than you think). Dr. Judson Brewer is a psychiatrist + neuroscientist and Director of Research & Innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center. Subscribe for more long-form interviews on science, self-improvement, and human behavior.

Expect to Learn:

Why willpower fails under stress (and why the prefrontal cortex is a fragile “control” strategy). How habits are shaped by reward learning and why awareness is the real “lever” for change. How to use mindful attention to make cravings feel less rewarding (+ the smoking example that surprises almost everyone).

The habit loop framework: trigger → behavior → result (and why “triggers” are often the least important part). What the default mode network is, and why it’s linked to self-referential thinking and craving. How “curiosity” becomes a bigger, better offer than worry, craving, or self-judgment. A practical grounding tool for anxious moments: five-finger breathing (and why it helps bring the brain back online). How anxiety can function like a habit and what Dr. Jud’s research has found with app-based training (including major symptom reduction reported in his work).

00:00 — How to break bad habits: start with how your brain learns (not willpower)

00:30 — Willpower is a myth: why “just stop” fails under stress

02:16 — Neuroscience of habit formation: reward learning, dopamine, and prediction error

02:44 — The real key to habit change: awareness (why attention rewires behavior)

04:22 — Real-world habit change: smoking + overeating (making cravings feel unrewarding)

07:54 — Triggers explained: why environment matters less than the reward outcome

15:47 — Mindfulness + the default mode network: self-focus, craving, and meditation

25:35 — Curiosity beats cravings: the “bigger better offer” for breaking habits

40:24 — Practical tools for anxiety + habit change (what to do in the moment)

44:13 — Dr. Jud’s anxiety story: how mindfulness helped panic + stress symptoms

44:28 — Empathy → evidence-based programs: turning patient needs into training systems

46:19 — Anxiety meds reality check: why “gold standard” helps only a minority long-term

48:35 — Building an anxiety app: using neuroscience to train skills (not dependency)

50:04 — Can anxiety be a habit? negative reinforcement, worry loops, and action bias

55:40 — Exercise + healthy routines: helpful… unless it becomes an avoidance habit

01:01:49 — Social media & AI addiction: engineered attention + RLHF “sycophant” bots

01:16:02 — Meaning, service, and curiosity: philosophical reflections to end the episode

01:19:22 — Final links, program mention, and closing remarks

Judson’s Work

Going Beyond Anxiety (program): https://www.goingbeyondanxiety.com Dr. Jud’s site (resources + programs): https://drjud.com Dr. Jud bio / research background: https://mindfulness.sph.brown.edu/people/judson-brewer Brown University researcher profile: https://vivo.brown.edu/display/jbrewer2

https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com

Is your oral microbiome quietly driving cavities, fatigue, brain fog, and even dementia and heart disease, while your dentist just keeps “fixing” teeth?

Functional dentist Dr. Staci Whitman breaks down why your mouth is actually the front of your gut, how mouth breathing and bleeding gums can trigger whole‑body inflammation, and why humans (and our pets) are the only species routinely getting dental decay, and what that says about our modern diet. She explains how signs like bad breath, constant snacking, white‑coated tongue, crumbling teeth, and poor sleep can be early red flags for blood sugar issues, autoimmune disease, gut problems, and even increased risk of dementia and cancer, long before standard tests pick them up.

You’ll learn the 80/20 steps to become as close to cavity‑free for life as possible: how to eat and when to eat for a healthier oral microbiome, why to stop sipping all day, how mouth breathing at night wrecks both your teeth and deep sleep, and how tools like flossing, tongue scraping, nasal hygiene, and mouth tape (used safely) can transform your energy, focus, and long‑term healthspan. If you care about longevity, but have only focused on your gut, gym, or glucose, this conversation will permanently change how seriously you take your mouth.

00:00 Introduction to the Oral Microbiome

01:28 The Importance of Oral Health

03:24 Diet and the Oral Microbiome

06:20 Oral Hygiene Practices

06:55 The Role of Saliva and Breathing

14:23 Oral Microbiome Testing

19:01 Functional Dentistry and Future Directions

33:10 Oral Health as a Reflection of Overall Health

33:43 Impact of Mouth Breathing on Health

35:38 Nasal Breathing and Sinus Hygiene

36:58 Identifying and Addressing Mouth Breathing During Sleep

38:48 The Importance of Airway Health

40:48 Functional Dentistry and Early Interventions

42:52 Practical Tips for Better Oral Health

49:05 Nutritional Deficiencies and Oral Health

53:17 Key Takeaways for a Healthy Oral Microbiome

56:46 Final Thoughts and Advice

Podcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385

FREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA

Dr Staci Whitman Website: https://doctorstaci.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_staci/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doctor_staci/featured

Feed Your Good Guys (Fygg): fygg.com*

The Institute for Functional Dentistry: functionaldentistry.org Bloom Kids: bloomkidsdentistry.com

Jacob’s links YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jacobjwatsonhowland Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com

#oralhealth #mouthbreathing #oralmicrobiome #dentistry #andrewhuberman