Are you a spiraling down a rabbit hole of existential questions type of person? Why do we self-sabotage? What actually makes us happy? How do we stop caring so much about what other people think?
Those type of questions and more, pervade the SOLVED with Mark Manson podcast. The podcast takes the same no-nonsense, cut-through-the-noise approach that made Manson’s writing a phenomenon and applies it to some of life’s most persistent and gnarly problems, bringing in research, expert guests, and Manson’s signature blend of bluntness and genuine curiosity. With a growing library of episodes to dig into, it can be hard to know where to start so I did the listening for you. Here are the episodes I keep coming back to.
How to Stop Procrastinating
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Drew and his co-host are back for episode two of Solved, tackling procrastination, where it comes from, why it’s so stubborn, and how to actually beat it. They trace the idea all the way back to Plato and Aristotle, run it through Freud, and land on what modern research actually says. Spoiler: it’s not a character flaw, it’s a skill you can build. They dig into shame, perfectionism, identity, and why “I work better under pressure” is mostly a lie people tell themselves. Plus real, research-backed ways to stop putting off the things that matter most.
Dating, Solved: Why Finding the “Right Person” Feels So Hard Now
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In this episode of Solved, Drew and his co-host argue that most people aren’t bad at dating, they’re just solving the wrong problem. Dating isn’t a personality test; it’s a multi-stage process where each stage demands something completely different, and that one misunderstanding explains most of the confusion. They dig into the evolutionary psychology behind attraction, why men and women are optimizing for different things, and how apps make everything worse. They also break down why avoiding rejection is often the very thing killing someone’s dating life, and why modern dating isn’t nearly as broken as it feels.
Comparing Yourself to Others, Solved
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In this episode of Solved, Drew and his co-host dig into why humans constantly compare themselves to others, and why it almost always makes things worse. They unpack how social comparison quietly erodes self-worth, why most envy is really just projected insecurity, and the toxic paradox of chasing status that never actually satisfies. If you’ve ever felt behind or not good enough, this one’s worth a listen.
Boundaries, Solved: How to Set (And Keep) Your Boundaries This Year
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This episode delivers a no-BS breakdown of what boundaries actually are, why they matter, and how they quietly shape every part of life, relationships, mental health, identity, and career. They cover how to set and enforce them without being a jerk, why the internet has completely distorted the concept, and how to stop mistaking passive aggression for emotional maturity. If you’ve ever felt burned out, resentful, or overwhelmed by the people around you, this one’s for you.
How to Stop Wasting Your Life (ft. Oliver Burkeman)
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Mark brings on Oliver Burkeman, journalist and bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks, to explore what it really means to use time well. Together they dig into how our perception of time shapes self-image, why deliberately being bad at something can work in your favor, and why people-pleasing tends to backfire. Burkeman’s knack for mixing philosophy and psychology makes for a genuinely fresh take on a question everyone’s secretly asking.
How to Find and Live by Your Values
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In this episode of Solved, Drew and his co-host break down the difference between cheap dopamine and real fulfillment, why some values matter more than others, and how to figure out what you actually stand for. They explore how values silently shape decisions and relationships, and how to start living in closer alignment with the ones that count. If you’ve ever felt directionless or like you’re living someone else’s life, this one’s for you.
Mastering Resilience, AI’s Unstoppable Rise, and Can We Truly Change?
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A breakdown of what resilience actually is, not gritting your teeth, but managing the stories you tell yourself. He covers the “second arrow” concept, post-traumatic growth, and why having a purpose bigger than yourself makes you harder to break. He also gets into AI, not as savior or villain, but as a force already reshaping creative and knowledge-based work, and what to do about it. Plus, he tackles a deceptively complex question: can people really change?
What It Really Takes to Accomplish Your Dreams (ft. Steven Pressfield)
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In this episode, Mark sits down with Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art and The Legend of Bagger Vance, who didn’t publish his first hit until age 52 after decades of writing in obscurity. Now in his 80s, Pressfield reflects on why he kept going despite little to show for it, how he made up for his own lack of talent, and why creating great art is ultimately a war fought inside the artist’s own mind.
3 Questions That Determine 99% of Your Happiness
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Mark argues that happiness is far simpler to achieve than most people think. He walks through three of the most important questions anyone can ask themselves to honestly assess their own happiness, and why even small lifestyle changes can have surprisingly powerful effects.
How to Find Your True Path in Life (ft. Robert Greene)
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Robert Greene joins the pod to tackle some of life’s biggest questions, what you’re truly called to do, how to find it, and how to pursue it. They get into Peter Pan Syndrome, the tension between science and timeless wisdom, and what to do when you reach midlife having taken the wrong path.
A Comprehensive Guide to Stoicism (ft. Ryan Holiday)
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Ryan Holiday joins the pod to unpack what Stoicism actually means, where it came from, why it thrived in ancient Rome’s most turbulent moments, and why its core virtues still hold up today. They explore how it overlaps with modern psychology, why it’s resonating with young men right now, and whether its growing popularity is being misunderstood. If you’ve ever wondered whether Stoicism means being emotionless or whether it’s compatible with ambition, this one has your answer.
How to Build a Life Full of Meaning and Purpose (ft. Arthur Brooks)
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In this episode, the host sits down with social scientist and happiness expert Arthur Brooks to explore meaning, faith, and love. They cover why boredom fuels creativity, the danger of using political activism as a religion substitute, what makes marriages work, and why young men are increasingly turning to faith. Brooks also shares insights from his work with the Dalai Lama and offers a fresh perspective on finding meaning in a world shaped by technology.