Sitting In Podcast | Ep. 033 - Keith Chandler is a serial entrepreneur and hobbyist.

How does someone learn to take risks and grow their self-confidence? What does being raised by a single mother teach you about growing a business?

In today's episode, you can expect to learn:

- How Keith's single mom made him into who he is

- The power of reframing your perspective

- What it means to have a fear of succeeding

- What the "Slate Truck" advertising model missed

and much more!

Please double check that you're subscribed, have liked this video, and shared it with someone! Also, leave a comment with your thoughts down below. Those are the best ways to help this show grow. Thank you!

00:00 Intro

00:46 Keith's background

03:23 Why start a business in the first place?

05:02 How does scaling different types of businesses compare?

07:10 How do you deal with changes out of your control?

08:08 Being afraid to fail vs being afraid to succeed

08:58 Being raised by a single mother made Keith who he is

11:03 How to get over the fear of succeeding

14:13 Reframing fear into excitement

15:42 What are the hardest decisions in business?

18:24 "Put Your Aces in Their Places"

21:25 How to build trust in your employees? (Inspect what you expect)

23:40 Well-rounded vs playing to strengths?

25:43 Why sell two businesses and go back to corporate America?

28:08 The value of integrity

30:19 The power of reframing!

31:05 Why did Keith start his current business? (Plus stories)

36:53 Most people miss the niche parts of niche industries

37:38 What did Keith's mom teach him while raising him alone?

39:32 3 Reasons not to be scared of risk

41:48 Were all of Keith's changes a "level-up"?

42:34 A few more lessons from Keith's mom

44:05 How to keep the big picture in view during the tedious times?

47:06 How to let go of responsibility?

50:16 No one wants you to fail, and no one wants to do a bad job (usually)

52:37 #1 Skill for someone considering entrepreneurship

54:04 Has Keith always been a skilled communicator? (The answer might surprise you!)

55:52 How do you find good people without sinking too much capital?

57:29 How to say 'no' to an employee's request

59:52 How should someone find the "right" business to start?

01:01:00 Nuance between finding innovation and existing demand

01:03:24 Slate Trucks case study - being unique doesn't beat finding the right customer

01:07:40 What would Keith beg a young person to learn sooner than he did?

01:08:47 What do the next 5-10 years look like?

01:09:59 What does a CEO actually do?

01:11:48 Self-aware suffering or complacent simplicity?

01:13:05 How does it feel to be close to a huge goal?

01:13:57 How do you know when you're getting close to the "end"?

Sitting In Podcast | Ep. 032 - Dr. Chloe Chapin is a costume designer, PhD, fashion enthusiast, and an author.

The black suit is a staple in all professional settings, but why did men across the globe adopt it? How did a dark-colored suit come to represent modernity, democracy, and neutral ground in politics? What role did the American founders play in defining this "rule", and did they even know they were doing it?

In today's episode, you can expect to learn:

- What actually defines a "suit"

- Why the American Revolution was a turning point in men's fashion

- How mass production and innovations effected clothing

- Ben Franklin and George Washington's roles in what "serious people" wear

and much more!

Check out Chloe's work on her website and in her book!

Website - https://www.chloechapin.com/

Suitable: The Sartorial Revolution and the Fashioning of Modern Men - https://global.oup.com/academic/product/suitable-9780197842485?cc=us&lang=en&

Please double check that you're subscribed, have liked this video, and shared it with someone! Also, leave a comment with your thoughts down below. Those are the best ways to help this show grow. Thank you!

00:00 Intro

00:43 What would congressmen have been wearing in 1790?

02:12 Why did "flamboyant" suits go out of style?

03:39 How accurate are our ideas of what the founding fathers wore?

09:24 How aware were the founding fathers of what their clothing meant?

15:02 Was Washington's mourning a pivotal turning point for men's clothes?

17:50 What actually defines a "suit"?

22:11 Different types of pants? (Breeches vs Trousers)

24:47 How did modern "tailoring" start?

28:28 Did the tailor dictate what society liked, or did society like what tailors made?

29:32 How does mass production of textiles impact our clothes?

30:28 Independence, manufacturing, and innovation

35:30 Do simpler suits help resist a "class" based society?

40:52 Ben Franklin's influence on ambassador's clothes

42:29 James Buchanan resisting the British standards

45:34 Foreign courts recognized the truth behind American ideology (by allowing them to wear what they wanted)

46:34 Does clothing create societal divisions or simply reflect existing divisions?

47:12 (Chloe's response)

48:09 Japan case study

49:49 The suit acting as a "doubling down" and combination of modernity and democracy!

50:28 The Pants metaphor

53:31 The Japan Case Study (part 2)

55:42 The way people think about equality might change, but the suit remains... Why??

58:10 The suit as a neutral sign of seriousness

59:47 Why did the suit fall off so hard?

1:02:20 What will be seen as "weird" 200 years from now?

1:04:36 The strangeness of 'plainness'

1:06:21 The effect of clothing on masculine expression

1:07:12 A modern way the suit is evolving

1:07:46 Jerry West example

1:08:49 What would Chloe beg a young person to do (or learn) sooner than she did?

Sitting In Podcast | Ep. 031 - Dr. Chris Ferguson | Dr. Chris Ferguson is a psychology professor, expert on "moral panics", and author of Catastrophe!: How Psychology Explains Why Good People Make Bad Situations Worse

In recent years, social media has been labeled as a primary reason for many of the ills we've seen increasing among young people: depression, anxiety, and self-harm. But, does the data actually illustrate a causal link? It's good to be concerned about potential bad impacts of a phenomenon, but what happens if that goes too far?

In today's episode, you can expect to learn:

- What a Moral Panic actually is

- Why social media's impact on youth mental health might be overstated

- What an "ecological fallacy" is

- How we can start to improve the challenges facing young men

and much more!

Check out Dr. Ferguson's work on his Substack, and his books on Amazon and other retailers:

Substack:

https://grimoiremanor.substack.com/

Catastrophe:

https://www.amazon.com/Catastrophe-Psychology-Explains-People-Situations/dp/1633887952/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V5TFBSN061H1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.46ldyDubuSjK06G4qUS0HfForO-oN6B3ALZw7YILoEwF8ScY8n8_88pzg-FUIey6iogaJ88zei4lmUaFG-1Zfq0GtdJ_AwYG_RfxLlDcgm_WBW27jispWenVJamSbN5yZB7Ecst42LWKRYPnQ3x5i7WL21DzxKa5UfY9lls7NXcqgz4xTsnf-bgdGwS_bg1WnsndYBahIlaElFSeiwd3061-ULwHZPHTOw90ttk3dyc.P93ZzT-E9Uu_qDtdC2YI0gkNnHLRLLnKetxIjtknCCY&dib_tag=se&keywords=catastrophe+ferguson&qid=1790176261&sprefix=catastrophe+ferguson%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1

Secrets of Grimoire Manor:

https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Grimoire-Manor-Christopher-Ferguson/dp/1509255990/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T2CF8X769NVN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.acvO_vL_5CreZm8PXx2Ef9ulUIZcTUettDdEaqK-QAwNoM6PIwSnd9AZsvooUvDMwAN8PAuiBo0IBbstRbrz6X1j_G-LohWmEG0YAkMTfTd3Sp2KS8RdPoGWRWO3u-kIGHa5xEYG68_a-2LMw-2M5FiRO4g8iG32qFEyFlWNMZuGsCTlAvwr7NfuIVgAxv0d8_-b_p7wxORYSvl6eNSZZSAzE4z_QHf9ZpPtQamHtVY.wNdoz0VvxKqqXx_ghKuY4t-h6oSpB7esXWlUitOICMQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+secrets+of+grimoire+manor&qid=1790176290&sprefix=the+secrets+of+grimoire+manor%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1

Please double check that you're subscribed, have liked this video, and shared it with someone! Also, leave a comment with your thoughts down below. Those are the best ways to help this show grow. Thank you!

00:00 Intro

00:46 What is a "Moral Panic"?

01:46 Who is actually pushing these panics?

02:48 A few examples

06:31 The difference between real concern and a moral panic

08:35 Appearance vs intent

09:17 How do you tell if you're in a moral panic? (the danger of "statistically significant" effects)

10:12 Examples of misleading science and other signs of a moral panic

13:31 What is a time Chris changed his mind?

16:48 Just how easy is it to misrepresent statistics?

19:08 More examples!

20:26 How do we "get ahead of the curve" without causing a moral panic? (The Precautionary Principle)

28:51 How does bad science actually end up happening?

32:22 Pre-publishing research methods (pre-registering)

34:12 Comparing the moral panic about Video Games vs Social Media

35:34 Youth mental health is improving? (analyzing Australian data)

41:08 Ecological fallacies (with some funny examples)

42:58 The Social Media problem 'FEELS' really true... why doesn't the data align?

44:29 Why does it 'feel' bad?

48:25 Do the Europeans actually have it right? (the French)

49:28 Is America becoming more European?

52:17 What are psychologists misunderstanding about young men?

54:50 Education favors female behaviors

01:00:30 What can parents do to help children grow into men?

01:04:50 What can a 20 year old do to help themselves?

01:07:58 Mentorship, honoring your mother and father

01:09:41 Another perspective on the social media problem

01:14:19 Short form content's effect on polarization/misinformation

01:16:40 Not all universities are overrun by extreme left-leaning beliefs!

01:19:17 A discussion on Columbus Day

01:21:24 What would Chris beg a young person to do sooner than he did?

Sitting In Podcast | Ep. 030 - Dr. Robert Coplan | Dr. Robert Coplan is a published Solitude researcher, a professor, and author of The Joy of Solitude - How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World.

The modern world is more connected than ever before and changing in ways we could never have imagine 10 years ago, let alone 100 years ago. In the midst of this connection is a distinct loss of time spent purposely disconnected, which Dr. Coplan has dedicated his career to studying.

In today's episode, you can expect to learn:

- What Solitude means and how it's different from loneliness, isolation, or ostracism

- Why letting your mind wander can be a surprisingly powerful exercise

- What it means to actually be alone in 2026

- How to combat "Social Snacking"

and much more!

Check out Dr. Coplan's work on his website, https://robertcoplan.com/ and his book "The Joy of Solitude": https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Joy-of-Solitude/Robert-J-Coplan/9781668053423Please double check that you're subscribed, have liked this video, and shared it with someone! Also, leave a comment with your thoughts down below. Those are the best ways to help this show grow. Thank you!

00:00 Intro

00:35 Why Should we Care about Solitude?

01:53 What even are Ostracism, Isolation, Loneliness, and Solitude?

06:15 What about Solitude as a side effect of other choices?

09:44 How to Start Reframing Isolation into Solitude

11:39 Society is pushing for imbalance - so what do we do?

13:18 Practical Advice #1: Keep a log of your alone time

14:19 Creativity and Solitude (the isolated "mad genius")

16:12 Don't let solitude disappear when you get busy!

17:35 Meditation isn't the ONLY way

18:54 Austin's experimentation in solitude

21:17 Being "onstage" vs "offstage"

23:43 Dr. Coplan's favorite way to experience solitude

24:06 "Hard" vs "Soft" Fascination

25:14 Mind wandering research - powerful tool for creativity and productivity!

27:11 Why is there such a stigma around solitude?

28:47 The importance of communication surrounding solitude

30:31 Introversion vs Extraversion when it comes to solitude

33:58 Specific research on introverts vs extraverts experiencing solitude

34:41 Dr. Coplan's response

35:50 You can easily change the way you experience solitude

38:05 Solitude is like a skill! (you have to train those "muscles")

39:47 Solitude as an "intervention"

40:27 What does it mean to actually be "Alone" today?

42:20 Technology can actually help solitude!

43:41 The harms of "Social Snacking"

46:06 What Happens when we combine these ideas?

49:05 Dr. Coplan's thoughts on Arthur Brooks' recent "boredom" PSA. Is "boredom" a good reframe for solitude?

51:09 Is there a metric like Heart Rate Variability for measuring Solitude?

54:58 Isolation Entropy

57:37 Dr. Coplan's Thoughts on Isolation Entropy

1:01:01 Another metaphor for isolation entropy

1:02:37 Third Spaces and the impact on solitude

1:06:00 Why are we so bad at predicting how social interactions will go?

1:08:07 Who is Dr. Coplan's favorite historical author regarding solitude?

1:10:55 What would Dr. Coplan beg a young person to figure out sooner than he did?

1:14:45 Find more of Dr. Coplan's Stuff!

Sitting In Podcast | Ep. 029 - Dr. Matthew Wilson | Dr. Matthew Wilson is a published Political Scientist and a professor at Southern Methodist University (SMU) where he directs the Center for Faith and Learning.

In today's episode, you can expect to learn:

- Whether political beliefs are actually rational

- What "motivated reasoning" is and its impact on society

- The modern interaction between religion and politics

- The way our founding fathers said we should relate to government

and much more!

Please double check that you're subscribed, have liked this video, and shared it with someone! Also, leave a comment with your thoughts down below. Those are the best ways to help this show grow. Thank you!

00:00 Intro

00:39 Are our political beliefs actually rational?

02:31 Is identity politics new?

03:57 Misunderstandings about why we hold our beliefs

06:20 Is it bad to trust a politician implicitly?

10:17 People actually vote against their best interests

12:29 What's The Matter with Kansas?

15:27 Motivated Reasoning

18:05 The Group Dynamics of opinions

19:22 Social Media's impact on echochambers

20:07 Religion Influencing Politics or Politics Influencing Religion?

23:20 Other partisan bridges besides religion?

25:33 The decline of the "American community" and what a good community means.

27:21 Politics shaping relationships

29:21 Long-Term Polling and Political Division

32:52 Getting Kids Involved in Politics? Why does the Left do it more?

33:45 The role of "faith" in these trends

35:49 What can we do to reduce polarization?

37:50 Younger Gen Z appears to be more skeptical of social media

40:49 Resisting the trap of motivated reasoning

43:45 How to understand credible sources in the age of declining media trust?

48:32 Does studying psychology affect Dr. Wilson's personal trust in Democracy?

51:03 The ideal form of government (given our human limitations)

52:46 The Two things the founding fathers would have said are required for a successful democracy

54:20 What should someone understand before "choosing a side"?

55:34 Is a deep understanding of a few issues enough?

56:38 What would Dr. Wilson beg a young person to do sooner than he did?

59:00 Find more of Dr. Wilson's stuff!

Sitting In Podcast | Ep. 028 - Dr. Thuy-vy Nguyen | Dr. Thuy-vy Nguyen has a PhD in Social Psychology, extensive research regarding Solitude and Isolation, and coined the term "Deactivation Effect" in cognitive psychology.

In today's episode, you can expect to learn:

- Why solitude is a space for regulation and refreshment

- The differences between the US and the UK when it comes to solitude

- What a "third space" is and why they're so important

- How to encourage your friends into and out of solitude

and much more!

Check out Dr. Nguyen's website:

https://www.thuyvytnguyen.com/home

and her lab's website: www.solitude-lab.com

Please double check that you're subscribed, have liked this video, and shared it with someone! Also, leave a comment with your thoughts down below. Those are the best ways to help this show grow. Thank you!

00:00 Intro

00:41 Solitude as a space for refreshment and regulation

02:26 Solitude vs. isolation vs. loneliness

05:56 Lived experience and personal science

07:49 Psychology is like cooking

08:19 U.S. vs. U.K. Solitude differences

12:35 NHS organizing free activities for public health

16:13 How many hours does it take to become a close friend?

19:57 The proximity principle

22:26 Religious spaces as third spaces

25:28 Men vs. women, differences in social connection

28:17 Fight-or-flight vs. tend-and-befriend

31:08 Self-reliance and independence: good and bad

36:06 Life transitions and maintaining connections

40:14 Socioemotional selection theory

47:00 Nature as a third space

51:00 Isolation entropy

54:40 Thuy-vy's response

56:46 Isolation lineraly decreases energy levels

1:00:00 Removing social stimulation removes structure?

1:07:07 How to get out of a low-energy state

1:08:54 Men vs. women recovering from a low-energy state

1:11:54 Encouraging people to reconnect after solitude

1:13:11 Knowing how your friends need support

1:20:41 Thuy-vy's encouragement to young people

1:24:13 Find more of Thuy-vy's work!

Sitting In podcast | Ep. 27 - Dr. Tracy Brower | Dr. Tracy Brower has a PhD in Sociology and extensive writing and professional experience in workplace insights, building meaningful relationships, and the nuances of friendship and connection.

In today's episode, you can expect to learn:

- Why friendship is such a broad term - and what it really means

- How young men have such a different pattern of friendship than women

- The 7 Pillars of Friendship (and the two most important ones)

- How to use the Johari Window to improve your relationships

and much more!

Check out Dr. Brower's website: tracybrower.com

and her new book, Critical Connections: https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Connections-Relationships-Harness-Community/dp/1394362269/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XEXBma-Ycak5-dIEhNv8Qw.nj1uReb9Ux4ayjIpuAVEl2GNw0YrR6_JbuJ5e0rj4yo&qid=1787004975&sr=1-1

Please double check that you're subscribed, have liked this video, and shared it with someone! Also, leave a comment with your thoughts down below. Those are the best ways to help this show grow. Thank you!

00:00 Intro

00:23 Friendship is more important than you think

01:44 Why is 'friendship' such a broad term?

03:47 Why do young men have such different friendship patterns than women?

05:40 How to break out of negative social cycles

06:54 Is introversion actually the driver for less social interaction?

09:35 The perception gap of friendship

11:47 The 7 Pillars of Friendship

14:42 Work Besties and Loving your Coworkers?

17:40 Concentric Circles of Relationships (Robin Dunbar's research)

20:07 Check out Critical Connections (book) and "Connecting the Dots", Dr. Brower's Newsletter

20:52 Are any of the 7 Pillars more important than others?

26:16 The impact of nature on long-term life results

28:17 Boy Scouts and similar other leadership organizations

33:01 Do online and AI relationships work? (Reality is Broken?)

40:41 Why can work be a powerful place to develop social interaction?

43:46 The role of self-awareness in relationships (it's huge!)

48:32 The Johari Window (practical application of self-awareness training)

51:02 Courage and Vulnerability

52:49 Courage is like a wall (and you have to climb over it)

55:13 What should a young person do or learn sooner than they think is normal?

Sitting In Podcast | Ep. 026 - Luke Detraz | Luke Detraz is a pastor at Oasis Community Church in Arizona, a husband, a father, and an author. His book, The War for Men, details personal stories, practical advice, and encouragement to slow down and resolve the war inside.

In today's episode, you can expect to learn:

- Why the restaurant industry and ministry are more similar than you'd expect

- Luke's take on why young men are struggling so badly today and a few ways to start fixing it

- Why people are like filing cabinets

- What makes "humility" like a dam

and much more!

Please double check that you're subscribed, have liked this video, and shared it with someone! Also, leave a comment with your thoughts down below. Those are the best ways to help this show grow. Thank you!

00:00 Intro - Luke Detraz

00:20 How Different is the restaurant industry than pastoral ministry?

02:30 Bartending vs Pastoring a Church

04:13 Why are young men struggling so badly today?

07:37 You can't tame a man, only break him

10:23 People are like hard drives (or filing cabinets)

12:26 Why is porn like drinking saltwater?

15:04 The modern world gets the male/female relationship wrong

20:30 Being a Creator, not a Consumer

22:22 Be the light of the world

24:51 Downfall doesn't arrive with a bang

27:56 You have a purpose and a role (and it's specific!)

29:42 Advice to better hear the Holy Spirit in your life

33:44 Obedience is super unpopular... why?

36:44 Humility is like a dam

38:03 The Worst Year of Luke's Life

45:23 Reflecting on The Worst Year of your Life (Weak Foundations)

48:50 No wasted seasons

52:04 Society's version of a 'real man'

53:50 The sneaky way(s) men get tricked into thinking they're a real man

55:43 Isolation vs Solitude

01:01:17 Dedicating Time to 'Not Me'

01:06:29 What would Luke beg a young person to do differently if they were about to live a life very similar to his?