Radical Uncertainty: How to deal with surprises and Black Swan events - w/ Nicolas Vereecke
Ever felt like life just sucker-punched you out of nowhere? That's exactly what Nassim Taleb calls a Black Swan event.
Most people think they can predict the future by looking at patterns. They study charts, analyze trends, and feel safe in their little bubble of certainty.
However, the biggest events that shape our lives—market crashes, pandemics, breakthrough innovations—are the ones nobody sees coming. ..
Taleb argues we're all like turkeys getting fed every day, thinking tomorrow will be the same, until suddenly it's Thanksgiving. The real mind-bender? We convince ourselves afterwards that we "should have seen it coming."
This is critical for understanding finance or world events
More than that, it's about how your brain tricks you into thinking you understand a world, that's fundamentally unpredictable.
Stop trying to predict everything and start building resilience for anything
Rebuild your investment portfolio and life plan to deal with shocks
Prepare for worst-case scenarios instead of hoping for the best
How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
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Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: Radical Uncertainty: How to deal with surprises and Black Swan events - w/ Nicolas Vereecke
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Navigating Life's Unpredictability
02:02 Understanding the Black Swan Concept
02:41 Real-World Examples and Implications
04:54 Investment Strategies for Unpredictable Events
12:00 Mediocristan vs. Extremistan
18:39 Ludic fallacy
18:39 The Ludic Fallacy and Risk Assessment
21:46 Conclusion and Takeaways
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29:02
10 Mental Models to Create Long Term Thinking and Better Decisions from Jeff Bezos
The tools of thinking that fueled the Growth Mindset and fast decisions behind the success of Jeff Bezos.
Bezos frames business as a series of silent promises: to customers, to colleagues, to the future. Each promise is a primitive—simple, sturdy, waiting to be linked. When those links form, independence evolves into interdependence, and a whisper becomes a flywheel.
In this conversation, we explore how “Day One” thinking keeps the path clear, how a “regret-minimization lens” invites bold choices, and why “single-threaded leadership” protects the soul of a project.
Name your primitives—identify the small assets that can connect to others.
Map the flywheel—draw how each promise fuels the next.
Practice long-horizon thinking—act today as if seven years depend on it.
How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
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📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: 10 Mental Models to Create Long Term Thinking and Better Decisions from Jeff Bezos
Chapters:
00:00 Thinking in Primitives
05:58 Story of AWS
08:32 2 Customer Centric Obsession
10:13 Working backwards from the customer's experience - Why they built Amazon Prime
12:11 3 Long Term Thinking
13:27 Story - Kindle and e-publishing industry
16:10 Willingness to be Misunderstood
16:49 Team - Single Threaded Leadership
17:58 Team - Employ and Empower Builders
19:03 Culture - Meetings are for Decisions
20:03 High Velocity Decision making - Reversible vs Irreversible Decisions
22:15 Regret Minimization Framework
23:51 Disagree and Commit
25:01 Embrace Failure
25:44 Total Fails - Amazon Fire Phone, Amazon Wallet, Amazon Destinations, Amazon Restaurants
28:01 Importance of Timing and Competition
30:16 Day 1 Thinking
32:58 Useful Bonus points
33:06 Flywheel effect
33:34 Word of Mouth Marketing
34:30 Opposing beliefs - Ignoring vs Crushing Competition
36:38 Opposing Beliefs - Stubborn and Flexibility
37:14 How this helps a with Growth Mindset
41:12 Wrap up
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47:36
3 Ways to Avoid the Biggest Self-Help Traps and Just Start Enjoying Your Life
Self-help is sometimes the opposite. It can end up increasing your task list with a bunch of unrealistic expectations you never achieve.
Today’s conversation is about navigation, not directions.
We explore the quiet difference between a compass you trust and a checklist someone sells. Passport stamps matter less than the personality you bring to the journey; so does the company you invite to walk beside you.
We trade a stack of generic self-help books for three simple ideas you can put on a sticky note.
The answer might not even be faster growth but perhaps wiser detours and a network that grows because we grow.
Work out if a new habit is worthwhile or if you should be doing less
Build a personal compass based on your own interests
Show up as the person you are
How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
Can't find it on your player?
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
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🏖️ Ad-free listening
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🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: 3 Ways to Avoid the Biggest Self-Help Traps and Just Start Enjoying Your Life
Chapters:
00:00 The Problem with Much Self-Help Advice
02:59 Reality's Complexities vs. Simplistic Advice
09:09 Principle 1: Be Kind and Helpful
13:12 Principle 2: Spend Time with Those Who Let You Be Yourself
16:52 Principle 3: Take Ownership and Responsibility
21:22 Send Off
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27:33
Master Magnetic Presence: How to be yourself but more likeable w/ Harry Cohen
A sunflower doesn’t hold strategy meetings to decide which way to grow. It simply tilts toward the light.
This conversation with Dr. Harry Cohen invites us to do the same. The heliotropic effect—our quiet, evolutionary pull toward positive energy—may be the simplest, most overlooked lever of leadership and community.
We explore what happens when you become the light source instead of chasing it. Why a six-second smile hacks brain chemistry, how a clean apology resets trust faster than any marketing funnel, and what my own networking face-plant taught me about social tax.
Take homes:
Swap “small talk” for small wins to trigger instant rapport
Schedule a daily 1 % kindness rep and track the ripple
Deploy the two-word apology before your ego drafts excuses
How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
Can't find it on your player?
RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
-------
UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: Master Magnetic Presence: How to be yourself but more likeable w/ Harry Cohen
Chapters:
00:00 Be the Sun, Not the Salt
01:55 The Heliotropic Effect
04:13 Personality vs Circumstance
08:09 Simplicity vs Complication
11:26 Giving Feedback Effectively
18:09 Apologizing Well
20:05 Embracing Negativity
26:14 The Moonlight Surfing Metaphor
29:37 Earliest memory
31:13 Kindest thing
31:57 Summary
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39:38
6 Unsexy Habits of Geniuses - How to build substance over style
Uncover what it really takes to build greatness.
There's much more to genius than effortless intelligence or risky business bets. We dive into the consistent habits that drive long-term results for coming out on top.
They might not be sexy, but if you can leave your ego at the doo,r there's a lot more on the other side.
How to Change the World
Sam's new show can be found on major podcast players:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast
Can't find it on your player?
This is the RSS feed - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8
-------
UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
GrowthMindset.Supercast.com
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: How To Change The World - Introducing my new show - The history of innovation.
Chapters:
00:00 People who boast about their IQ are losers
01:45 #1 Focus on other people's achievements
03:11 #2 Always focus on learning over money or power
05:07 #3 Be the dumbest person in the room
07:17 #4 Use mentors (a lot!)
10:43 #5 Be embarrassingly weird
12:21 #6 Assume you are usually wrong
13:49 Bonus Tip: Work hard
16:18 Outro
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Over Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement
There are a lot of opinions on how to master your mind, but then there’s PSYCHOLOGY.
We’re all stuck with the brain we’re born with, but we aren’t stuck with how we use it.
Learn science-backed answers to make the most of your mind and your life.
CURIOUS?
Growth Mindset Psychology is the "self-help sceptic" podcast for the curious.
Whether you want to improve performance, navigate setbacks, or know who you are.
We find answers to the true science of self-improvement.
So put down the astrology chart and start working with your mind, instead of against it.
With over 8 million downloads and 60,000 monthly listeners, you’re invited to join.
PROCESS
Instead of telling you what to think, we discuss how thinking works.
Armed with a stack of science journals, textbooks and a boatload of curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of the mind.
Why? >>> Success is personal!
You might want to make the most of your neurodiverse strengths, start a business, or simply find more reasons to smile.
Hone your ability for independent thinking and growth with mental models to pursue your definition of success.
HOST
I’m Sam Webster Harris, a lifelong learner with ADHD, a raging curiosity, and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions.
After launching several businesses, travelling the world and nearly dying a few times I concluded that science and Psychology are where it’s at.
What actually makes people happy? What’s the best way to treat a brain? How can I get more done?
Studying the answers we find that changing behaviours requires building mindsets, mental models, and a healthy relationship with failure.
I run the show to help listeners enjoy nutritious content that feeds their minds (and I needed a legitimate excuse to cover for my reading addiction).
PREMIUM
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Growth Mindset Premium
ARCHIVE
Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum.
Past series:
— Psychology vs Stoicism
— Time Management for busy mortals
— Independence and knowing yourself
— Cognitive biases and rational thinking
— Psychology of connection
— Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets
Luister naar Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement, De Podcast Psycholoog en vele andere podcasts van over de hele wereld met de radio.net-app