Flow Radio

• Flow vs. the Victim Mindset: Trade Blame for Breakthroughs

  No one is coming to save you—but staying stuck isn’t the only option.Steven Kotler and Ryan Wickes welcome back Columbia professor and humanistic psychologist Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman—author of the just-released Rise Above, and one of today’s leading voices on human potential.Kaufman joins to unpack the victim mindset, the neurobiology of agency, and how narcissism, entitlement, and impostor syndrome can quietly block the path to self-actualization.At the heart of this conversation is a powerful truth: flow demands agency. When we feel powerless, we avoid challenge—and without challenge, there is no flow. A victim mindset disrupts the neural circuitry behind motivation, focus, and drive.This episode breaks down the science of that disruption—and maps out a way through. From learned helplessness to learned hopefulness, you’ll hear how reclaiming agency reactivates your growth, unlocks flow, and strengthens resilience.The journey is personal. The tools are universal.Guest Bio:Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a humanistic psychologist, Columbia University professor, and one of the world’s leading experts on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. Ranked in the top 1% of most-cited scientists worldwide, he’s the founder of Self-Actualization Coaching, director of the Center for Human Potential, and host of The Psychology Podcast (30M+ downloads). Named one of Business Insider’s 50 groundbreaking scientists, he’s authored 11 books—including Transcend, Choose Growth, and his latest, Rise Above.In This Episode:03:03 The Journey from Creativity to Self-Actualization06:07 Overcoming the Victim Mindset09:07 Neurobiology of Mindsets15:06 Understanding the Victim Mindset17:53 Evolutionary Perspectives on Victimhood20:53 Empathy and Honest Love25:29 Empowerment Through Adversity28:39 Challenging the Trauma Narrative32:39 Navigating the Victim Mindset45:12 Imposter Syndrome: A Signal for Growth52:08 Narcissism and WellbeingEpisode Resources:Self-Actualizing People in the 21st Century by Scott Barry KaufmanA modern, data-driven update to Maslow’s theory—complete with a validated scale and new insights into well-being, resilience, and creative expression.→ Read the full paperScott’s New Book — Rise AboveWant to go deeper on the science behind the victim mindset, resilience, and human potential?Grab Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman’s latest book, Rise Above… → scottbarrykaufman.com/books/rise-aboveFlow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

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  1:02:43
• The Creative Leader’s Playbook

  Creativity isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a survival skill.In this episode of Flow Radio, Steven Kotler sits down with artist, designer, and serial entrepreneur Jody Levy for a conversation on how intuition, constraint, and ritual unlock creativity—and why all three are non-negotiables for high-performance leadership.They trace Jody’s path through experience design and explore the mindset behind building high-flow communities. From the tactical to the transcendent, this episode delivers real tools—and ends with a major announcement: the Summit community is coming to Detroit. It’s a rare chance to catch Steven live, speaking on flow, AI, and the future of creativity.If you're chasing innovation, collaboration, and community at full tilt—don’t miss it.Guest Bio:Jody Levy is an artist, systems thinker, and serial entrepreneur whose work lives at the intersection of wellness, innovation, and impact.She’s the founder of WTRMLN WTR, the category-defining beverage brand; the creator of NeuroPraxis, a breakthrough platform for brain and spinal cord recovery; and a leader in large-scale trauma and disaster response. Today, she serves as the Global Director and CEO of Summit—the legendary community of creators, builders, and change agents.Jody has a rare ability to turn bold ideas into real-world systems for healing, creativity, and human optimization.In This Episode:02:51  The Journey of Creativity and Flow05:49  The Role of Art in Emotional Regulation08:58  Intuition and Decision-Making in Entrepreneurship11:50  Constraints as Catalysts for Creativity17:48  Building High-Impact Experiences29:53  The Importance of Structure in Creative Environments31:06  Cultivating Flow in Teams36:25  The Power of Rituals41:04  Time Management and Leadership46:32  Optimizing Community Engagement52:37  Preserving the Magic in GrowthSummit DetroitThis June, Summit heads to Detroit—a city that pulses with creativity, reinvention, and raw energy. Join an unforgettable gathering of visionaries, builders, and creators.→ Learn more & apply to attendFlow Radio is Presented Bt Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.Guest Bio:In This Episode:Episode Resources:Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research Collective

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  56:20
• Flow vs. the Machine: AI, Creativity & the Next Human Renaissance

  What happens when AI takes center stage—and humans still want to create?Steven Kotler returns to Peter Diamandis’s Moonshots to unpack the forces shaping our future: AI, abundance, creativity, and how flow fuels the human advantage. Drawing on three decades at the bleeding edge of peak performance, they explore what it takes to thrive in a world accelerating beyond imagination—and why the right 100 people can still change everything.This is required listening for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone building in the age of machines. If the future belongs to the bold, flow is your blueprint.Guest Bio:Recently named one of Fortune’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Peter Diamandis is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, which has launched over $500 million in incentive prize competitions. He also founded Singularity University and has started more than 25 companies in healthtech, space, venture capital, and education.Diamandis is Co-founder and Vice-Chairman of Celularity and Vaxxinity, and Chairman of Fountain Life—a platform for predictive, preventative, and data-driven health. He also co-founded BOLD Capital Partners, a $500 million fund investing in exponential technologies and longevity companies.A four-time New York Times bestselling author, his books include Abundance, BOLD, The Future is Faster Than You Think, LIFE FORCE (with Tony Robbins), and LONGEVITY: Your Practical Playbook.He holds degrees in molecular genetics and aerospace engineering from MIT and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. His motto: “The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.”In This Episode:05:42 Tech Tipping Points: From Tesla to GPT-410:04 Understanding Flow States14:00 Flow & Craft29:51 Facing the Fermi Paradox: What Comes Next?37:00 700% More Creative? Flow Science Explained57:37 The XPRIZE & Cross-Disciplinary Breakthroughs01:19:31 Mindset as Neurobiology, Not Woo-Woo01:30:31 The Age of AI Companions01:19:31 Mindset and Resilience01:57:37 How 100 People Shift Culture02:09:17  Inside The Alliance: Creativity, Flow, and the Future of LearningEpisode Resources:The Alliance is a hyper-curated 15-person think tank where we train creativity and collaborate with one another.The Alliance is made up of visionary, entrepreneurs and thought leaders looking to accelerate their creative process and realize their next breakthrough→ Apply to join todayFlow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

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  2:14:42
• The Next Step Won't Kill You: Flow Lessons from the Iron Cowboy

  What happens when you reach such extreme states of pain that you start having out-of-body experiences? Join us for a fascinating conversation with James Lawrence (aka the Iron Cowboy) about redefining human limits, managing pain through flow states, and what happens when you push beyond what doctors claim is impossible.  James shares his raw truth about overcoming the voice of doubt, achieving out-of-body flow experiences, and why your next step won't kill you—even when everything in your body screams otherwise.  From his early days riding a Ferris wheel for ten straight days in a contest of who could stay bored the longest to becoming a world record holder, this is a masterclass in human potential.  In This Episode: 05:04 The Journey to Endurance Sports 10:04 Understanding Flow States 14:53 Managing the Internal Bully 19:58 The 50-50-50 Challenge 25:06 The Conquer 100 Experience 36:37 The Power of Flow in Peak Performance 38:11 Mastering Monotony for Success 40:19 Embracing the Impossible 50:15 Mindset and Resilience 56:39 Recovery and Adaptation 01:01:35 Intuition and Flow Experiences About The Guest: James Lawrence, more commonly known as the Iron Cowboy, is a world-renowned speaker, endurance athlete, 2x author, and 2x documentary subject. He received his nickname from the public after he started to wear a cowboy hat during races to be recognized by his children. With two Guinness world records under his belt, James and his family attempted to do something every person deemed impossible, the 50/50/50. However, that wasn't enough to satisfy him. On June 8, 2021, James achieved a remarkable milestone known as the Conquer 100—a series of 100 consecutive full-distance triathlons, as coined by the team.  Sports Illustrated ranked James in the top 50 fittest freaks with Lebron James and Connor McGregor, two of James' favorite athletes.  Originally from Calgary, Canada, he now lives in Utah with his wife, Sunny, and their five children. His family plays a crucial role in his endeavors, providing unwavering support through his remarkable journey.  Episode Resources: Book: Iron Hope: Lessons Learned from Conquering the Impossible - January 21, 2025 Website: Ironcowboy.com Social: @ironcowboyjames Learn more: https://linktr.ee/ironcowboyjames Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research Collective Flow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research and training company. If you’re interested in learning the science-backed techniques we used to train top executives at Facebook, Audi and even the Navy SEALs, click the link here: https://www.flowresearchcollective.com ‍ Follow Flow Research Collective: YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠ ‍ Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

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  1:11:30
• Flow Radio Special: You Have Peak Performance Questions. We Have Answers. Safety Not Guaranteed.

  Flow—your brain's gateway drug to the infinite game. How far could you push your performance if you knew exactly what your brain was capable of? In this special Ask Me Anything episode, Steven Kotler and Dr. Michael Mannino answer questions from people around the world who use their work to unlock more flow. They share mind-bending insights about "getting into the zone"—insights that have helped world-class athletes and entrepreneurs break through their perceived limitations. Through candid stories and cutting-edge research, they show exactly how anyone can tap into these optimal states of consciousness—whether you're hurling yourself down mountains or seeking deeper connections in your everyday life. The question isn't whether you can access these states. The question is: what will you do once you know how? Warning: Side effects include the uncontrollable drive to truly live your life.   In This Episode: 01:01 Endurance & Scripting 20:27 Clear Goals: Risk vs. Reward 29:00 ADHD, Flow States, and Peak Performance 41:00 Neurodivergence Debate: Rethinking Labels 49:19 Flow States in Healing and Therapy 54:54 Teacher-Student Flow Dynamics  1:00:04 Psychoneuroimmunology and Healing 1:03:04  Individual vs. Group Flow States 1:07:36 Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes About The Guest: Steven Kotler is a New York Times-bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the co-founder and executive director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. He is the author of eleven bestsellers (out of fourteen books), including The Art of Impossible, The Future is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abundance. His work has been nominated for three Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over sixty languages, and has appeared in over 110 publications, including academic journals such as Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews and Psychophysiology, and mainstream publications like The New York Times Magazine, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, Wall Street Journal, TIME, and the Harvard Business Review. Dr. Michael Mannino is the Director of Programs at the University of Miami's Institute for Data Science and Computing, focusing on AI projects across various domains. He holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience and a Master’s in philosophy, with expertise in embodied cognition, critical thinking, and the philosophy of mind. As a professor of philosophy and ethics for over a decade, Michael integrates his academic background with a passion for peak performance, flow science, and the mind-body connection. He is also an athlete, musician, and avid learner, and serves on the Singularity University Miami Chapter. Episode Resources: Paper: A framework for neurophysiological experiments on flow states Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research Collective Flow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research and training company. If you’re interested in learning the science-backed techniques we used to train top executives at Facebook, Audi and even the Navy SEALs, click the link here: https://www.flowresearchcollective.com Follow Flow Research Collective: YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠ ‍ Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

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  1:02:50

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