A lot of us think that in exercise, more is better. We all just don’t do enough. But perhaps we’re giving too much. In today’s interview, our guest, Chad Morris, discusses how people over-train to their detriment, as they give up way too much time, money, effort, sweat, and stress in return for way too few fitness returns and way too many tears in frustration and discouragement. What if we could do a lot less for a lot more? Check out Chad's Myogenics fitness studio:...

Lisa VanDamme, educator and parent (which you’ll see are both understatements), has answers regarding education and parenting that stem from an approach which I might describe as rationally passionate or passionately rational—I can’t decide which is more appropriate. In any case, you’ll hear the clear thinking down to the root of each issue that ought to concern any parent or person concerned with the future generation and the society they will help build and in which we all must live. You’ll...

We've got to clear away some weeds--and sometimes even some healthy plants--to make room for new growth. Matthew makes and announcement about taking a step away from regular Mr. Bright Side podcast episodes. Don't worry! He will still be pursuing particular guests who he personally wants to have on, and will publish those interviews as they come. And on top, he will be back in some new incarnation at some point. Listen in for details as to what and why, and think about what you might drop...

Good stuff is happening, and it’s much more common than the negative. Listen in for some optimistic news that’s going on in the world. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Matthew highlighted some of the astounding feats of medical science, while expounding on what this means for the lives of real individuals like you and him–and those we love. In Part 2, he presents a variety of thrilling innovations that promise to make our lives even more convenient, fun, and simply richer with experience....

Good stuff is happening, and it’s much more common than the negative. Listen in for some optimistic news that’s going on in the world. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Matthew highlights some of the astounding feats of medical science, while expounding on what this means for the lives of real individuals like you and him–and those we love. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKMuFctZVH4 Learn more at https://matthewboulton.ca/ or https://www.facebook.com/matthewboulton.ca/

Matthew sets some context after he was apparently “busted” breaking his own rules, the same rules he claimed on his show were so helpful in leading him to get more done and enjoy his free time even more. Who is he to be sharing advice with people if he doesn’t actually practice what he preaches? Fair question. On today’s episode, he responds. See how setting boundaries is not restrictive but liberating, and how higher context goals ought to inform lesser ones. And then how we can be kind to...

Matthew elaborates on the lyrics of My Morning Jacket’s 2011 “Circuital,” and the themes and lessons within. He also comments on the music itself, as it is an exhilarating and joyous song. What are you going to do with your glorious and limited time “out on the circuit”? Listen to Circuital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8EtNSUy93U Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqXr2xyFvUI Learn more at https://matthewboulton.ca/ or https://www.facebook.com/matthewboulton.ca/

Should I save now to have for later? Spend now for life experience at the expense of one’s future security? How much either way? And then spend on what? Acquiring things or experiences? And then at what balance? These are all questions one must answer for oneself, and there is no “right way” to live. But depending on the answers, there is something that comes across in how much we experience in life in how much grace we carry ourselves with and in how we deal with others. It shows through in...

Does success lead to optimism or does optimism lead to success? Matthew's university classroom was divided, although none doubted the correlation. They were all ready, then, to accept the idea of a "virtuous circle." But a question remains: Where can one enter the circle? Well over a year ago, Matthew wrote a very brief essay titled “Enter at Optimism,” in which he describes this classroom discussion scene that led him to a realization. He proceeded in the essay to lay out that realization....

“Giving is getting” but this popular idea does have a qualifier that must be highlighted and properly understood, as it is often mistaken to refer to some kind of losing in the short term to gain in the long-term—which it kind of is yet isn’t. In this episode, Matthew distinguishes “giving” from “losing” so that we’re not trying to say anything paradoxical like “losing is winning.” There need be no losers for everyone to win. In this episode, Matthew relays two recent experiences to help...

What stories are we telling ourselves and the people we love? Are they serving us or hurting us? And them? In today’s show, the power of story is made alarmingly clear—I mean powerful at the neurochemical level, and I mean alarmingly in that many of us are mostly passive in allowing old, unchecked, and disempowering stories about ourselves drive us—and not anywhere we want to go. But fear not, as Rich shares with us his four-step story-evolution process to help us access our brain’s filter...

At minimum, you will leave this interview feeling confident and optimistic about yourself, your world, and the prospects in it, as Christmas Hutchinson convincingly reminds each of us that we're worth more than we give ourselves credit for. Not a little more...way more. Throughout, she repeatedly gives refreshingly novel takes on what self-preservation and resilience mean, and if you pay good attention, you'll walk away with the thinking and tools to achieve them. Check Christmas out at:...

Why do some people thrive in the face of hardship while others are crushed? To this challenging listener question, Matthew answers essentially that it’s about building resilience through the method of optimism versus the default of passive pessimistic resignation. On a deeper level, it’s about free will (optimistic) versus determinism (pessimistic). Through his search into Viktor Frankl’s “focused optimistic purpose” and “tragic optimism”, Matthew came across a phenomenon known as “toxic...

Are we basically good or evil? How can we transcend our culture of "blame and shame"? Why do we give away our power to others? How can we be less reactive and more proactively responsible for our own actions and well-being? What does it mean to take full ownership for our circumstances, and why is this empowering? What are the physical benefits to mindfulness training, on top of the obvious mental and emotional benefits? Dr. Fleet Maull, renowned mindset growth teacher and meditation...

Whether you’re depressed or not, none of us are operating in perfect mental health. And in any case, we all need to be better educated for those around us who may be struggling and for whom we might make a difference. Lewis Page, successful and respected soccer coach, loved father, husband, friend, and all-around popular and healthy guy, does not fit one’s typical image of what depression looks like. Yet he lives with it. Hear how shocked people were to see his 2016 Bell Let’s Talk Day video...

Most personal finance perspectives focus on savings and investment, and offer advice such as “don’t buy coffee every day.” But such practices are not conducive to living a liberated and happy life, and it’s not what moves the needle in one’s financial well-being besides. “The goal is to enjoy your life,” says guest David Veklser, “not to die sitting on a big stash of cash.” Listen to learn more about David’s integrated philosophical perspective on personal economy, with plenty of relevant...

It’s weird to me that anyone is ever against capitalism.” Hear why Tim thinks it’s weird, and hear loads of other inspiring stories and ideas in this packed episode. Let us just lay it on you in points. Tim goes off entertainingly on: -his lifelong obsessions with persuasion as leading him to a career in marketing -dropping out of uni to the devastation of his parents without any real plan, and the pressure that put on him to make good -how starting a marketing agency is not what you...

No, it’s nothing to do with The Killers. In this early milestone 50th episode, Matthew reflects a bit by sharing a brief history as to why he proceeded to call the show “Mr. Bright Side,” knowing full well that it would always be confused with the 2004 mega-hit Killers song. He also shares a few personal stories over the years which have reflected back to him his natural tendency to optimism and enthusiasm, long before he ever developed his mature and formal philosophy. Listeners can take a...

At what age does one become a fully-formed individual? One modern-day comedian and one sage character from a short story published in 1939 have both offered a similar magic number. How is that two people from distinctly separate eras and experience have both identified the same thing? In this episode, learn where Matthew heard Ricky Gervais and Parker Pyne, respectively, how he recognized in his own life the truth of what they say, and what advice he has for younger and older people...

Free time gets old quick. Retired people know this. So what’s the cause of that antsy, anxious feeling that makes it so that you just can’t enjoy your leisure time anymore? And how can we remedy this? Planning endless celebrations and leisure activities are like using sugar for energy. They seem to extend the good feeling for a moment but are not long-lived or give us anything authentic. In this episode, Matthew shares his recent experience that reminded him of what is true for all of us—of...

How does charity fit into a life dedicated to gaining—not surrendering—values? If healthy human relationships are about win-wins, and charity is about gaining nothing for oneself, then is it good? And why do many of us feel so unfulfilled after engaging in sacrificial charity, if it’s the right thing to do? Matthew answers all this and more on this week’s episode, as he outlines a positive image of what non-sacrificial charity can and ought to look like. Duty is ugly, so relieve yourself of...

There is a war on against Christmas. And it’s coming from all directions. From one point, it is attacked for being too “commercial” and “material.” From another, and right in step with the general cancel culture that’s pervaded our society, Christmas is maligned for being “exclusive,” as it is taken as the purview of a single religion (and a majority one in the West, which is an even graver sin today): Christianity. But what if we separated the holiday from religion? Matthew argues that...

How are billionaires and trillionaires regarded in our culture, and what does it say about us? Last week, Matthew referred to a children’s science textbook outlining three symbiotic relationships in nature: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism, and argued that only win-wins (mutualism) are good while win-lose/lose-wins (parasitism) are immoral. This week, he shows how commensalism (win-neutral) as defined in that text reflects the symbiotic relationship between giants of innovation and...

If win-win relationships are possible, why should we want any part of a win-lose or lose-win? Yet lose-win is what conventional morality offers us explicitly if we take it seriously. And we ought to take it seriously. Our self-esteem and mental health depend on it. Hear how an elementary school science textbook made this issue clear to Matthew during a private lesson with a Korean junior high school student, as the text discussed the three symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism,...