The Hard Way Podcast is proudly presented by SPARTAN and hosted by Joe De Sena, Founder and CEO of SPARTAN and New York Times Best-Selling Author, is your ultimate ally in forging resilience for both mind, body, and unyielding grit. Strap in with Joe and his no-nonsense crew as they navigate the rugged path to peak performance and reveal the raw truths behind unstoppable success. Through captivating interviews with accomplished athletes, authors, entrepreneurs, professors, monks, moms, and adventurers, "The Hard Way" serves as your guide to conquering life's obstacles and achieving greatness.
In this hard-hitting episode, bestselling author Michael Easter joins Joe De Sena to discuss the
dangers of our addiction to comfort in the modern world.
They explore how technologies like social media and junk food use the same psychological tricks
as slot machines to hijack our brains. Easter reveals the "scarcity loop" that makes these activities so addictive. They also debate controversial solutions like taxing junk food and mandatory military service.
This thought-provoking discussion will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about comfort - and maybe inspire you to get a little uncomfortable yourself!
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
01:18 Michael Easter’s background
05:02 Lessons learned from skiing
06:27 Parenting mistakes and the danger of technology
09:44 The casino laboratory and a 3-part behavior loop
13:35 The negative consequences of casino games and phones
14:58 Snacking and junk food industry
17:02 Challenging things will make you thrive
20:37 Overeating and managing food
25:26 The power of phones and what to do
28:09 Mandatory military service and recruiting
30:53 Three things everybody should do daily
32:56 How to find Michael?