Best James Lawther Podcasts (2025)

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Mastering Decisions: The Manager's Essential Skill 32:32

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3h ago32:32

32:32

In this week’s episode, we discuss effective decision-making. It is the cornerstone of good management, and makes up 80-90% of a manager’s role. While pressure and incomplete information are constants, improving this skill is the fastest route to better results. First, we discuss four common mistakes. Ignoring Stakeholders: Never forget the custome…

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295 // What Makes an Alien Film an Alien Film? Part One 1:32:10

8d ago1:32:10

1:32:10

A phrase we often throw around is "This (movie, TV show, book) feels like Alien." But what does that actually mean? In today's episode, Jaime and Patrick attempt to figure that out. We will return to this conversation in the new year, so please send us your thoughts in the meantime! You can do so at r/perfectorganism, Building Better Worlds, or by …

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Is Conflict Our Greatest Natural Resource? 38:15

11d ago38:15

38:15

This episode introduces special guest Charles Irvine, who proposes a provocative idea: Conflict is our greatest natural resource. Key Discussion Points The Problem with Denial: Jimmy, James and Charles discuss how much time, energy, and resource people dedicate to denying the existence of conflict or avoiding it, leading to a "long tail of conflict…

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294 // Alien: Earth Season Two Announcement Roundtable 1:19:40

22d ago1:19:40

1:19:40

Alien: Earth has been renewed for a second season, and that's making a lot of people feel a lot of big feelings! On tonight's roundtable, the PO Team comes together to discuss this news and how they're personally processing it. What lies ahead? How do we feel about the series now that we've had a couple months to live with it? Come hang, and let's …

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High Performing Teams Part 2 – With Elana Friedman 36:17

12d ago36:17

36:17

Building on their previous discussion, this episode explores the second half of Elana’s Adaptable Team framework, focusing on two key areas: the learning rhythm within teams and the dynamics of team leadership. Elana shares practical insights on how high-performing teams create habits of reflective learning—emphasising the importance of regularly p…

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The Productivity Puzzle – John Seddon 29:38

26d ago29:38

29:38

In this thought-provoking episode, John Seddon joins James Lawther to unravel the complexities of productivity and growth within modern organisations. Seddon, an occupational psychologist, consultant and author, critiques the prevailing reliance on government regulation, economic theory, and technological quick fixes such as AI. He argues that thes…

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Do You Need (or Want) Process Improvement? 33:23

19d ago33:23

33:23

In the latest episode of "A Job Done Well," James Lawther and Jimmy Barber confront a polarising topic: Process Improvement. They tackle the central debate—is it essential for organisational health, or simply bureaucratic overhead? 1. The Core Conflict: Necessity vs. Bureaucracy Jimmy admits to a strong aversion to "process," associating it with en…

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293 // Interviewing Shaun Hamill, Author of Alien: Perfect Organisms 43:15

1M ago43:15

43:15

You'll know Shaun Hamill is a lifelong Alien nerd within the first few pages of his new novel Alien: Perfect Organisms (out today, November 18, wherever books are sold!). With believable characters, a healthy dose of body horror, and extensive meditations on creativity and capitalism, Alien: Perfect Organisms is a wonderful new entry in the Expande…

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High Performing Teams Part 1 – With Elana Friedman 38:16

26d ago38:16

38:16

Elana Friedman, an expert in organisational development and team dynamics, joins James Lawther and Jimmy Barber this week to discuss the secrets of high-performing teams. Elana shares her journey from South Africa to the UK, and how her experiences shaped her desire to help teams and organisations thrive. Together, the hosts and Elana explore the A…

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How to Get Promoted Without Selling Your Soul 30:58

1M ago30:58

30:58

This week, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber explore the subject of getting promoted and suggest how you can go about it without compromising your values or playing games. They discuss how promotions work in organisations, the importance of thinking through why you want a promotion, how you position yourself and some things to be wary of. The mi…

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292 // What ALIEN Means to You | A Roundtable 1:17:01

2M ago1:17:01

1:17:01

In this episode, the Perfect Organism team unites to explore what the Alien series truly means to each of them. From Patrick’s fascination with the creature itself to Andie’s devotion to character, no corner of the franchise, or the human heart behind it, is left unexplored. Joining the crew is patron and returning guest Mario Benvenuto, who inspir…

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How to Make Difficult Conversations Easy – with Amanda Gilbert 35:37

1M ago35:37

35:37

In this episode of "A Job Done Well," James Lawther and Jimmy Barber are joined by learning and development expert Amanda Gilbert to tackle a topic we all face but often dread: difficult conversations at work (and beyond). After a quick catch-up (including university choices and Jimmy’s book recommendation for every man who has a mother), the team …

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The Cathedral Model – Frank Devine 43:14

2M ago43:14

43:14

In this episode of Beyond Deming, host James Lawther sits down with Frank Devine to explore the innovative Cathedral Model for leadership and management development. Frank shares his journey from traditional HR roles to developing a systematic, evidence-based approach that challenges the status quo of conventional leadership development programmes.…

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How to Prioritise Your Work and Increase Your Effectiveness 27:25

2M ago27:25

27:25

In today's world, we all face too many demands on our time—where do you start? How can you achieve more? The answer is never to work harder! This week, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber explore ways you can prioritise the demands on your time by focusing on the most essential stuff and making the right choices so you can achieve more and avoid o…

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291 // The Inside Story of Alien: Earth, From the People Who Made It 5:11:00

2M ago5:11:00

5:11:00

One of the great thrills of covering Alien: Earth's release was getting to speak with so many people involved with the show. We aired many of these interviews throughout the season as part of our aftershow, but we had to leave almost two hours' worth on the cutting room floor for the sake of brevity. Presented here, for the first time as a single, …

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How You Can Make Work a Source of Vitality 36:13

2M ago36:13

36:13

Do you end each day full of energy or drained and in need of recovery? This week's guest, Ben Simpson, believes that our working lives should be a source of vitality, and not something we have to recover from, and he shares his insights on how to achieve that. Ben is the Chair of the Deming Alliance in the UK and co-founder of VitalOrg, so he knows…

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290 // Directing the Dark: The Future of ALIEN 1:24:07

2M ago1:24:07

1:24:07

After a month-long break that felt more like a deep breath after a storm, Jaime and Patrick return to the mic following a relentless stretch of Alien: Earth coverage. In this episode, they take a long, unflinching look at where the Alien universe stands today. From the legacy of the original trilogy to the uneven terrain of everything that followed…

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How to Inspire Your Team 26:41

2M ago26:41

26:41

Everyone wants to inspire people - it's an ambition, a badge of honour, but is it that easy? Hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber talk about their experience of how they've been inspired by their managers (rarely) or demotivated by them (often), and their experience of trying to inspire others (ditto). Despite this, they identify some things anyone…

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How to Thrive at Work 35:52

2M ago35:52

35:52

By Jimmy Barber, James Lawther and Caroline Mabon

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How to Work With Difficult People 29:34

3M ago29:34

29:34

In this week's episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss strategies for dealing with difficult people at work. We all know them – those you dread interacting with – maybe they don't listen, or they snipe from the sidelines. Perhaps they ignore you, or nothing ever sticks to them when things go wrong. Regardless of who they are, James an…

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UnEarthed | S1 E8 "The Real Monsters" ft. Noah Hawley, Sydney Chandler, Jonathan Ajayi, Lily Newmark, Erana James, and Babou Ceesay 2:31:29

3M ago2:31:29

2:31:29

WE MADE IT! This is our final episode of UnEarthed (at least for now ...). Today we're covering the final episode of Alien: Earth's first season: "The Real Monsters." This massive aftershow features nearly the entire Perfect Organism team, along with guests Micah Greene and Dave Gogel (of Xenomorphing). After the live aftershow, you will hear our i…

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Kingman's Equation – John Bicheno 26:11

3M ago26:11

26:11

In this episode of Beyond Deming, host James Lawther sits down with Professor John Bicheno of the Lean Enterprise Research Centre (LERC) to unravel the mysteries of Kingman’s Equation and its relevance to management thinking. Together, they debunk the common myth that maximum efficiency comes from running operations at full utilisation, revealing h…

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How to Make A.I. Work for You 35:39

3M ago35:39

35:39

Season 3 - we're back with a muddle of James's! To kick the season off, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber explore how we can all use artificial intelligence at work with special guest James Crawford. Unless you're living under a rock, you'll be aware of the promise of AI revolutionising the workplace. This tends to focus on how organisations, go…

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UnEarthed | S1 E7 "Emergence" ft. Samuel Blenkin ("Boy Kavalier"), Alex Lawther ("Joe Hermit"), Lily Newmark ("Nibs"), Jonathan Ajayi ("Smee"), Adarsh Gourav ("Slightly"), and Dana Gonzalez (Director ... 2:08:03

3M ago2:08:03

2:08:03

Join us for the audio version of our live Alien: Earth aftershow! Today’s installment covers the seventh episode of season one, titled “Emergence.” Stay tuned at the end for our interviews with Samuel Blenkin ("Boy Kavalier"), Alex Lawther ("Joe Hermit"), Lily Newmark ("Nibs"), Jonathan Ajayi ("Smee"), Adarsh Gourav ("Slightly"), and Dana Gonzalez …

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Season 3 Preview 2:33

3M ago2:33

2:33

We're back! Contrary to popular rumour we didn't get divorced over the summer. This season expect more insights, thought provoking experts, practical tips and hopefully a few laughs. All aimed at helping you improve your performance and enjoyment at work. So if you're frustrated about how things work, want to get better results, want to make your c…

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UnEarthed | S1 E6 "The Fly" ft. Sandra Yi Sencindiver ("Yutani"), Kit Young ("Tootles"), and Director Ugla Hauksdóttir 1:52:30

3M ago1:52:30

1:52:30

Join us for the audio version of our live Alien: Earth aftershow! Today’s installment covers the sixth episode of season one, titled “The Fly.” Stay tuned at the end for our interviews with Sandra Yi Sencindiver ("Yutani"), Kit Young ("Tootles"), and Ugla Hauksdóttir (Director of Episodes 4 and 6)! // New Episodes of UnEarthed drop an hour and 15 m…

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BREAKING NEWS!! Fede Alvarez Will NOT Be Directing the Sequel to Alien: Romulus 10:01

4M ago10:01

10:01

In a news item that NONE of us saw coming, Fede Alvarez just announced he will step down from directing the sequel to Alien: Romulus. Instead, he and Ridley Scott will jointly produce the film. In this brief news update (recorded live on YouTube), Jaime and Patrick discuss this wild development. // Join the new Perfect Organism subreddit, while you…

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UnEarthed | S1 E5 "In Space, No One ..." ft. Babou Ceesay ("Morrow") and Richa Moorjani ("Zaveri") 1:08:54

4M ago1:08:54

1:08:54

Join us for the audio version of our live Alien: Earth aftershow! Today's installment covers the fifth episode of season one, titled "In Space, No One ..." Stay tuned at the end for our interviews with Babou Ceesay ("Morrow") and Richa Moorjani ("Zaveri")! // New Episodes of UnEarthed drop an hour and 15 minutes after new episodes of Alien: Earth r…

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289 // Through the Looking Glass | An Alien: Earth Roundtable 1:05:36

4M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

Andie, special guest Micah Greene, Patrick, and Jaime dig into episodes three and four of Alien: Earth. From our shared fascination with the Eye Midge to our uncertainty about where the story is headed, we explore the intricacies and brilliance of Noah Hawley’s series. // Join the new Perfect Organism subreddit, while you're at it! It's a great pla…

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UnEarthed: An Alien: Earth Aftershow | S1 E4 "Observation" ft. David Rysdahl ("Arthur") 1:00:31

4M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

Join us for the audio version of our live Alien: Earth aftershow! Today's installment covers the fourth episode of season one, titled "Observation." Stay tuned at the end for an excerpt of our interview with David Rysdahl, who plays Arthur Sylvia! You'll be hearing more from him later in the season, but we wanted to share a little preview of that c…

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Minisode: Interviewing Alien: Earth Music Supervisor Maggie Phillips and Composer Jeff Russo 14:50

4M ago14:50

14:50

We're releasing this as special bonus content for our recent episode of UnEarthed: a wonderful little interview with Maggie Phillips and Jeff Russo, Alien: Earth's Music Supervisor and Composer, respectively! Among other duties, Maggie is behind the "needle drops" in the show—a hallmark of Hawley's style, and a thrilling (if somewhat divisive) addi…

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UnEarthed: An Alien Earth Aftershow | S1 E3 "Metamorphosis" 56:01

4M ago56:01

56:01

In episode two of our Alien: Earth aftershow, Jaime, Patrick, Andie and Perry re-convene to talk about 'Metamorphosis' the third installment of Noah Hawley's new Alien series. In this hour-long episode we discuss how the show is improving, how we're feeling and the excitement of what's to come. Jaime also introduces a new segment called 'I Like Gri…

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288 // Fauna Disguised As Flora: An Alien: Earth Roundtable 1:35:56

4M ago1:35:56

1:35:56

Nearly the entire Perfect Organism Podcast team gathers to dive into Neverland and Mr. October, the gripping first chapters of Noah Hawley and FX’s Alien: Earth. From raw first impressions to probing what it truly means to become something else, we unravel a web of ideas and unsettling possibilities woven into this bold new vision of the Alien univ…

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UnEarthed: An Alien: Earth Aftershow | S1 E1+2 "Neverland and "Mr. October" 53:04

4M ago53:04

53:04

Jaime, Patrick, Perry and Andie host Perfect Organism Podcast's first aftershow. Covering the first two episodes of Noah Hawley's Alien: Earth, your hosts cover different aspects of each episode in dynamic new segments while giving their first impressions of this exciting new show. We hope you enjoy. To watch the show every Tuesday when it airs, pl…

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UnEarthed: An Alien: Earth Aftershow Announcement 1:11

5M ago1:11

1:11

We're launching our new official Perfect Organism Podcast aftershow for Alien: Earth! You can find our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@perfectorganism // Join the new Perfect Organism subreddit, while you're at it! It's a great place to interact with us and celebrate all the great stuff coming to Alien fandom lately: https://www.reddit.com/r/pe…

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287 // Perfect Organism Reviews Alien: Earth Ep. 1 ("Neverland") SPOILERS AHEAD 41:10

5M ago41:10

41:10

SPOILERS AHEAD Here is Jaime and Patrick's review of the first episode of Noah Hawley's Alien: Earth. Recorded immediately after the premiere screening in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, this conversation is a deep dive into the themes, characters, and events in this first episode. We're releasing this as the review embargo lifts in the hopes you'll…

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286 // Alien: Earth Speculation | A Roundtable 1:06:08

5M ago1:06:08

1:06:08

In this exciting pseudo-roundtable episode, Perry, Andie, Xander, Adam, Holden and Ross discuss their excitement for Alien: Earth. From managing expectations to experiencing the unknown, all aspects are covered as we anxiously await the series premiere on August 12. This discussion centers around a few quotes from Noah Hawley that are featured in t…

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285 // Interviewing Alien: Earth Stars Sydney Chandler and Babou Ceesay 15:08

5M ago15:08

15:08

Two of the most intriguing characters in Alien: Earth (at least from what we've seen so far!) are, without a doubt, Wendy (played by Sydney Chandler) and Morrow (Babou Ceesay). Jaime and Patrick had the chance to chat with them inside FX's podcasting space at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, and we're more intrigued than ever to see where these characters…

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SDCC Minisode: Talking Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition with Survios 11:42

5M ago11:42

11:42

In the midst of all the chaos at SDCC, Jaime and Patrick managed to sit down with TQ Jefferson and Eugene Elkin from Survios to chat about Alien: Rogue Incursion's upcoming move to consoles! This was recorded on an iPhone in a loud ballroom, so the audio isn't great. But luckily there is video as well! Check our channels for that later today. // Jo…

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284 // Alien: Earth Hall H Reaction Minisode (no spoilers!) 15:25

5M ago15:25

15:25

Just moments after the SDCC Hall H Alien: Earth panel ended—a panel which included a screening of the full first episode!—Jaime and Patrick ran back to the podcast studio to record some quick thoughts. There are NO SPOILERS in here, so don't be worried about that. We then stayed in the studio for another 45 minutes and recorded our first-ever spoil…

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283 // Interviewing Alien: Earth Composer Jeff Russo 46:14

5M ago46:14

46:14

This is a big one, folks! Our first interview with someone involved directly in the production of Alien: Earth (first of more to come ...). We're so pleased to bring you this conversation with Jeff Russo, composer of the intriguing score of FX's Alien: Earth. Jeff, a frequent Noah Hawley collaborator, has had quite the career: originally a founding…

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282 // ALIEN: Lost Transmission | An Interview with the Filmmakers 1:00:30

5M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

In this episode, Perry and Jaime sit down with Alien: Lost Transmission writer-director Connor Botts and his co-writer and star, Benjamin Mayer. This might just be one of our most entertaining conversations yet. From Connor’s first sparks of inspiration to last-minute reshoots and shifting release dates, the duo dives into the passion, chaos, and c…

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Season Two Finale - Highlights, Lowlights and Outtakes! 22:50

5M ago22:50

22:50

This week marks the end of the second season, so James Lawther and Jimmy Barber have an extravaganza for you - well, it should at least be mildly entertaining! They share some of the highs and lows from the series, things that they've learned and a few of their vast catalogue of outtakes. They'll be back for season 3 in September, so if you have an…

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How to Harness the Power of Innovation? 29:29

6M ago29:29

29:29

In this episode, James Lawther and Jimmy Barber delve into the topic of innovation, dispelling common misconceptions and emphasising its true value in enhancing performance and enjoyment at work. They share personal experiences and discuss both successful and failed innovations, highlighting the importance of involving all employees in the innovati…

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281 // Building Fear With Legacy Effects Artist Adam Milicevic 1:01:33

6M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

In this episode, Patrick, Andie and Jaime talk with Legacy Effects artist Adam Milicevic about his work on Alien Romulus, the challenge of creature design, the ever-changing film industry and so much more. This episode was meant to drop on Alien Day 2025 but fell through the cracks. We are so excited to present it to you now. If you'd like to follo…

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Understanding Grief at Work: A Conversation with Lou Hynes 39:47

6M ago39:47

39:47

Nearly a quarter of us are impacted by grief every year - so why aren't we talking about it more at work? In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Baber explore the crucial topic of grief in the workplace with special guest Lou Hynes, 'The Grief Guru'. Lou shares her personal story, in which, through devastating personal loss, she has found h…

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Will Artificial Intelligence Take All of Our Jobs? 38:47

6M ago38:47

38:47

In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss the impact of AI on contact centres and back-office jobs. This follows a question from Rob, a member of the audience, who asked about the potential for AI to reduce contact centre jobs by a claimed 80-90% in the next year or two. The hosts share insights from a former guest, Alex Alexand…

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280 // A Predator In An Alien Film 1:15:46

6M ago1:15:46

1:15:46

In this episode, Patrick and Jaime welcome AvP Galaxy’s Adam Zeller for a bold and timely conversation about a major development: the possible return of the Predator—this time, in a sequel to Alien: Romulus. What could this mean for the future of the Alien franchise? Is it a bold evolution, or a risky crossover just as Alien is rediscovering its cr…

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Mastering the Art of Networking: Tips and Strategies 28:48

6M ago28:48

28:48

In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss the importance of networking with special guest Andy Warren - the best-connected person we know! They talk about the nuances of networking, what makes it effective, and how to overcome common barriers. Andy shares invaluable insights, including key strategies such as the significance of …

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How to Achieve Peak Performance by Using Flow State? 25:51

6M ago25:51

25:51

In this episode, James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss “Flow”, a mental state where we achieve peak performance whilst our actions feel effortless. They discuss how Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi discovered this phenomenon, and they also explore the benefits of being in the “Flow” state and its effect on happiness. The dis…