Is Anyone Else Tired of "Self-Improvement" Podcasts

Rich Roll

Apr 23, 2026

Episode description

Roll On, al fresco! Adam Skolnick, me, and the backyard. Self-obsession vs. actual growth, the dork problem in podcasting, Geese, Turnstile, Mike D, Ed O'Brien of Radiohead at SXSW, Julie Piatt's Manger debut, a joyride in the Rivian R2, the Dean Potter doc, and Artemis II. READ MORE👉🏼 http://bit.ly/richroll983
✌🏼🌱 – Rich

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00:00:00 Start
00:01:52 Personal Development & Authenticity
00:14:43 Moments of Presence & Meaning
00:17:13 AD BREAK 1
00:21:58 South by Southwest Experiences
00:31:24 Mike D, Malibu & Community Music
00:38:10 New Bands & Musical Exploration
00:40:36 AD BREAK 2
00:43:18 Family Bands & Julie Piatt’s Music
00:52:00 Learning & Rediscovering Music
00:52:56 Documentaries: The Dark Wizard (Dean Potter)
00:59:19 Wingsuit Culture & Facing Death
01:01:14 Media Diet: Mariah Wilson Documentary
01:02:52 Movie: Beast & Martial Arts Portrayal
01:06:06 Artemis II & Space Exploration
01:13:09 Space, War, & National Contradictions
01:14:02 Moon Bases, Sci-Fi & Exporting Culture
01:16:02 Flat Earth & Conspiracy Theories
01:16:56 The Overview Effect & Final Reflections

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Thanks To The Team: Jason Camiolo, Dan Drake, Morgan McRae, Blake Curtis, Desmond Loh

* * * * *

NEW TO RICH?
Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
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Mindsip insights from this episode:

Overcome self-obsession to foster personal growth

The self-obsession that comes with the self-improvement space is an antagonist to personal growth because it often stems from a fundamental sense of being broken.

#personal-growth

Connect with the world to enhance self-improvement

True self-improvement may come from thinking less about yourself and becoming more diffuse, feeling more alive by connecting with the world around you.

#personal-growth

Contrast climbing motivations: pathos vs. joy in elite athletes

The documentary 'The Dark Wizard' reveals that elite climber Dean Potter was a 6'6" artistic soul who climbed from a place of pathos, in contrast to Alex Honnold who climbs from joy.

#emotion

#motivation

Acknowledge risks of Artemis 2 crew's heat shield failure

The Artemis 2 crew knowingly accepted a 1 in 20 chance that their heat shields would fail on re-entry, a risk some former astronauts felt was unnecessary.

#risk

#safety

Choose effective clean deodorant and SPF for active days

The Freaks of Nature deodorant is aluminum and baking soda-free but still holds up through long training days, and their SPF 50 sun stick goes on smooth with no white cast.

#sunscreen

Celebrate award-winning non-alcoholic craft beer from Go Brewing

Go Brewing is a non-alcoholic craft beer brand that has won gold and silver at the Best of Craft Beer Awards, in which the host is an investor.

#alcohol

Transform discomfort into growth through personal development

For many, the urge for personal development comes from a discomfort with life's uncertainty, using control over one's body or routine to feel grounded.