Best Jonathan Ressler Podcasts (2025)

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Thanksgiving Didn’t F*ck You Up. Your Choices Did. 29:27

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5h ago29:27

29:27

Send us a text Stop Dieting. Start Choosing. I’m Jonathan Ressler, Transformation Guide and author of Shut Up and Choose. I lost 140 pounds and built a movement the diet industry hopes you never find. No starvation. No obsession. No gym marathons. Real transformation starts when you stop outsourcing discipline and start leading yourself. The truth …

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Movie Pyrotechnician Anthony Simonaitis 1:22:05

8m ago1:22:05

1:22:05

From Terminator and Superman to Sicario and Face/Off, Movie Pyrotechnician and Stunt Coordinator has been blowing stuff up in movies for more than 30 years. We talk how movie explosions are made, the biggest explosions in movies and blowing up the Death Star. Then, it’s Dallas and Charlotte vs. Madison and Lincoln as we countdown the Top 5 Cities t…

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The Biggest Lie From The Biggest Loser- Why Exercise Is Not The Answer 38:50

7d ago38:50

38:50

Send us a text Shock value makes great TV, but it makes terrible health. We dig into the Netflix documentary on The Biggest Loser and trace the fallout of extreme weight loss: starvation-level calories, dehydration before weigh-ins, and punishing workouts that tanked metabolism and broke trust. The headline the show never printed is simple: you can…

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Conspiracy Theory Researcher Dr. Daniel Jolley 1:07:35

13m ago1:07:35

1:07:35

From Jeffrey Epstein and faking the moon landing, to chemtrails and who really killed JFK, Social Psychologist Dr. Daniel Jolley has spent his life studying conspiracy theories. We talk why people are drawn to conspiracy theories, what all major conspiracy theories have in common and the wildest conspiracy theories he’s ever heard. Then, in the poi…

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You’re Not Just Carrying Extra Weight — You’re Paying for It Every Day 26:36

15d ago26:36

26:36

Send us a text The extra 25 pounds you call “no big deal” might be costing you far more than you realize. We get brutally honest about how weight can quietly shrink your world—tugging at your confidence, narrowing your relationships, draining your energy, and numbing your joy—long before it shows up on a medical bill. No scare tactics, no gimmicks,…

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Fewer Donors, Bigger Checks. Interpreting the Latest Giving Data. 51:38

3h ago51:38

51:38

We break down the 2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy with the researchers who created it — exploring what this concentration means for nonprofit sustainability and the future of philanthropy. There’s a number that keeps showing up in conversations about American philanthropy. And it tells two completely different stories depending on how yo…

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Secret Societies Researcher Dr. Rick Spence 1:14:37

12d ago1:14:37

1:14:37

The Illuminati, Freemasons, the Bilderberg Group, Historian Dr. Rick Spence has spent decades studying secret societies. We talk how secret societies have changed history, the most influential secret societies and what secret societies really want. Then, we unveil a new Candle of the Month and countdown the Top 5 Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies. Dr. R…

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The Weight Loss Conspiracy They Don’t Want You to Figure Out 30:07

22d ago30:07

30:07

Send us a text What if the loudest promise in wellness—make it easy—was the most expensive lie you’ve ever bought? We pull back the curtain on the weight loss industry’s subscription model, from big-box pharmacy counters to glossy “doctor-approved” plans, and show how the business thrives on keeping you almost there. No miracle shot, cleanse, or ap…

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Why Good Orgs Stall Out 8:18

11d ago8:18

8:18

The biggest barrier to your next stage isn’t lack of vision or resources. It’s the moment you stop imagining what could be and start protecting what already is. Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link. *** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it t…

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Horror Author Paul Tremblay 1:03:43

16d ago1:03:43

1:03:43

As the Author of A Head Full of Ghosts, The Cabin at the End of the World and Horror Movie, horror writer Paul Tremblay knows what scares people. We talk the psychology behind horror, the scariest things he’s ever read and turning books into movies. Then, it’s hootenanny vs. shindig as we countdown the Top 5 Party Words. Paul Tremblay: 01:14 Pointl…

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The Fat Kid’s Survival Guide to Halloween Candy 31:06

29d ago31:06

31:06

Send us a text Candy doesn’t control you—rigid rules do. We break the holiday panic cycle and show how Halloween can prove you’re in charge by trading restriction for intention. Jonathan unpacks why willpower collapses under real-life stress and how a choice-based mindset lets you enjoy the candy without the guilt, the spiral, or the Monday reset. …

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Unexplained Researcher Colin Dickey 1:00:15

1M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Ghosts, Monsters, Alien Abductions, Secret Societies, New York Times Bestselling Author Colin Dickey studies them all. His goal is to discover why we’re so fascinated with things we can’t explain. We talk the most haunted places in America, how Secret Societies have shaped our lives and what our obsession with Bigfoot and other cryptids really mean…

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The Day I Stopped Dieting and Started Choosing To Transform My Life 27:54

1M ago27:54

27:54

Send us a text A hospital wristband, a bag of orange pill bottles, and a photo so jarring it broke years of denial—this is the moment the story turns. I walked to the edge of the “easy way” with bariatric surgery and GLP-1 drugs and realized every shortcut still demanded the same hard truth: I had to choose. Not once, not perfectly, but daily, in b…

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Why Facts Don't Change Minds 32:29

16d ago32:29

32:29

In this episode, we're joined by Drew Dumsch, President and CEO of the Ecology School at River Bend Farm in Maine. Drew co-founded the organization 26 years ago with a premise that felt radical then and feels essential now: that ecological literacy — learning to read the landscape the way you learn to read a book — is foundational to creating engag…

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Serial Killer Researcher Dr. Katherine Ramsland 1:09:41

1M ago1:09:41

1:09:41

From Ed Gein and Ted Bundy, to BTK and Jeffrey Dahmer, Criminologist Dr. Katherine Ramsland has spent the last 30 years studying serial killers - trying to find out what drives them to kill. We talk the mind of a serial killer, the worst serial killers you’ve never heard of and why we’re fascinated by them. Then, we countdown the Top 5 Worst Sports…

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Calories Don’t Lie — But Diet Gurus and Fitness Influencers Do 29:08

1M ago29:08

29:08

Send us a text The loudest voices in weight loss profit from confusion, shame, and false certainty—so we turn down the noise and hand you the controls. We break apart the biggest myth of all, that “calories don’t matter,” and rebuild from first principles: energy balance, metabolic adaptation, and small, smart choices that actually stick. No whiteb…

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Growth Isn't Linear. It's Cyclical. 6:02

1M ago6:02

6:02

Once you see the pattern, you can't unsee it. Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link. *** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do t…

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Cave Diver Jonathan Bird 1:08:08

2M ago1:08:08

1:08:08

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Cloud10

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No Discipline or Willpower? No Problem. That’s Not What Got You Fat Anyway 23:51

2M ago23:51

23:51

Send us a text Some truths sting because they pull the mask off. The $70B diet machine thrives on your “failure,” selling restriction and then blaming your willpower when real life shreds the rules. We take a flamethrower to that narrative and replace it with something durable: design over discipline. When your environment and systems do the heavy …

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What Political Campaigns Know That Nonprofits Don't 39:44

2M ago39:44

39:44

By Eric Ressler

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Food Rules Are Bullsh*t, But Keep Believing If You Like Misery 27:33

2M ago27:33

27:33

Send us a text Tired of being told what you can’t eat and when you’re allowed to eat it? We go straight at diet dogma—carb curfews, salad halos, cheat-day chaos—and show why rigid rules keep you stuck in guilt and rebound binges. Instead of another plan that collapses when life gets messy, we make the case for a smarter operating system built on sm…

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Political Humiliation Dominatrix Krystal 1:03:21

2M ago1:03:21

1:03:21

They want her to humiliate them, embarrass them and make them feel small, all because they’re a Republican. Krystal is a dominatrix who specializes in Political Humiliation. We talk the rise of political humiliation as a kink, why her clients want to be humilated because of their politics and her most unusual requets. Then, it’s salt and pepper vs.…

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What If It’s Not All Falling Apart? 7:50

2M ago7:50

7:50

The dominant narrative this year has been that everything’s falling apart. But what if we're manifesting a social impact doom loop? Why I have a newfound resurgence of hope and optimism for this work. Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link. *** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share wi…

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Money Laundering and Scam Expert Moyara Ruehsen 1:00:35

1M ago1:00:35

1:00:35

Between money laundering scams, pig butchering cons and ransomware attacks, Professor Moyara Ruehsen says we are in the middle of an epidemic of scams. Scams that are costing people billions of dollars every year. We talk how money laundering really works, the organized crime gangs behind pig butchering scams and what you can do to protect yourself…

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The Funder Breaking All the (Fake) Rules 50:34

2M ago50:34

50:34

What if philanthropy, as we know it, is a flawed system? In this episode, we're joined by Jen Nguyen, a director at the Stupski Foundation, a unique "spend-down" organization designed to close its doors after giving away all of its assets by 2029. Jen, a former college counselor, provides an unapologetically candid look at a sector she may soon lea…

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Accent Coach Erik Singer 58:23

2M ago58:23

58:23

Everyone has an accent. Yes, even you. And your accent says so much more than simply where you are from. It's a window into who you really are. Erik Singer studies accents and has taught some of Hollywood's biggest actors how to speak with a new voice. We talk how accents develop, America's most famous accents and where new accents are appearing an…

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By Next Summer You’ll Either Thank Me—or Hate Yourself 31:28

2M ago31:28

31:28

Send us a text Ever caught yourself thinking "I'll get serious about my health in January" or "I need to get beach-ready by June"? That seasonal mindset is exactly what keeps you trapped in the frustrating cycle of weight gain and panic dieting year after year. The hard truth? The diet industry has masterfully conditioned us to think health has a s…

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You Can’t Control Everything (But You Can Control This) 6:14

2M ago6:14

6:14

Reflections on fear, control, and what you can actually do about it. As we head into year-end — often the most high-stakes season in our sector — this episode will help you develop the right mindset to navigate it skillfully. Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link. *** If you liked this episode, please help …

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Psychedelics Advocate Zach Leary 1:00:36

2M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

As the son of Timothy Leary, Zach Leary has spent his life at the forefront of the psychedelics movement. We talk the growing legalization of psychedelics, the use of psychedelics in therapy and psychedelic experiences that changed him forever. Then, it’s Halle Berry and Don Cherry vs, Bob Lemon and Julius Peppers as we countdown the Top 5 Celebrit…

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What If the Economy Were Built on Care? 29:25

3M ago29:25

29:25

What if everything you’ve been taught about economic progress is wrong? In this episode, Stacey Edgar — social worker turned social entrepreneur and now executive director of the International Folk Art Market — shares her journey through the “career jungle gym” of the social impact sector. We unpack her concept of artisan economics, a radically hum…

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Handedness Researcher Dr. Sebastian Ocklenburg 1:08:04

2M ago1:08:04

1:08:04

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Cloud10

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Two Seats, One Truth- Southwest Just Did Us a Favor 28:01

3M ago28:01

28:01

Send us a text Ready for some raw, unfiltered truth about weight loss? In this hard-hitting episode, we tackle Southwest Airlines' customer size policy head-on and flip the script on the outrage. Far from discrimination, requiring passengers who can't fit in one seat to purchase another might be the wake-up call you never knew you needed. Drawing f…

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The Vision Window is Open...For Now 7:12

3M ago7:12

7:12

How to recognize and act on the rare moments when transformation is possible. Join the conversation on substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/eressler/p/the-vision-window-is-openfor-now?r=8rkfl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link. *** If you liked …

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Football Sideline Reporter Amanda Guerra 56:07

3M ago56:07

56:07

Football is back! And for College Football Sideline Reporter Amanda Guerra, that means the craziness is about to begin. We talk what really happens on the sidelines, chasing down coaches and the wildest stadiums. Then, we countdown the Top 5 Worst College Mascots. NordProtect Special Offer 00:00: Intro 01:19: The Life of a College Football and NFL …

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Ozempic Lawsuits? Surprise The Miracle Was Bullshit 28:07

3M ago28:07

28:07

Send us a text Ready for the unfiltered truth about Ozempic? Brace yourself for a reality check that the pharmaceutical companies and diet industry don't want you to hear. The miracle weight loss shot that celebrities and doctors have been raving about isn't quite the revolutionary breakthrough it's been marketed to be. Behind the glossy ads and dr…

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Amanda Litman on How Real Change Happens 28:34

3M ago28:34

28:34

What if real change doesn't begin with institutions, campaigns, or capital — but with the people we invite into our lives? In this episode, Eric sits down with Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something and author of When We’re In Charge, to explore how small, human-scale actions can spark transformational impact — from politics to parenting to…

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NIL Researcher Dr. Thilo Kunkel 1:05:31

3M ago1:05:31

1:05:31

College Football is back. But it will never be the same. NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) Researcher Dr. Thio Kunkel reveals how a massive influx of new money is changing college sports. We talk why the rich are getting richer, the disappearance of smaller schools and the powerhouses of NIL. 00:00: Intro 01:22: How NIL is Changing College Sports 08:4…

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Meal Plans Are Adult Lunchables for People Who Don’t Want to Think 28:28

3M ago28:28

28:28

Send us a text Ready to ditch the fantasy of perfect meal plans that inevitably collapse when life gets messy? This raw, unfiltered episode cuts through the diet industry BS to reveal why those color-coded, macro-counted meal plans fail – not because you lack willpower, but because they're fundamentally designed for robots, not real humans with com…

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What's Your Truth? 5:02

3M ago5:02

5:02

In this episode, I’m exploring a question that’s been showing up in a lot of our recent work — and in my own thinking: What is your truth? Links: 📝 Read the full essay version on our new Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/eressler/p/what-is-your-truth?r=8rkfl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=podcast&showWelcomeOnShare=true Listeners, now you can t…

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The Gym Is a Waste of Time (If You're Trying to Lose Weight) 25:38

4M ago25:38

25:38

Send us a text Ready for some unfiltered truth that might just change everything you thought you knew about weight loss? Forget what the fitness industry has been selling you for decades – the gym is not your weight loss solution. As someone who lost 140 pounds without ever setting foot in a gym, I'm pulling back the curtain on one of the biggest m…

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Stop Dieting. Start Choosing. The Real Reason Diets Keep Failing (And What You Need to Do Instead) 29:35

4M ago29:35

29:35

Send us a text We've been sold a lie about weight loss. The billion-dollar diet industry thrives on your repeat business—creating plans that promise transformation but deliver temporary results at best. The problem isn't your willpower or motivation; it's the fundamental approach. When you diet, you're outsourcing your power to someone else's rules…

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The Power (and Pitfalls) of Partnerships 30:10

3M ago30:10

30:10

Everyone loves the idea of collaboration — but real partnership? That’s harder. From mismatched visions to unclear roles, even the most well-intentioned alliances can go sideways fast. In this episode, Eric and Jonathan break down what makes partnerships work — and what to watch out for before saying yes. ➔ The five elements every partnership needs…

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The Real Reason You Keep Falling Off (It’s Not What You Think) 30:42

4M ago30:42

30:42

Send us a text Ever found yourself saying "I was doing so well and then just fell off"? Stop blaming yourself – your weight loss plan was probably designed to fail from the start. The harsh truth is that willpower is a finite resource that gets depleted throughout your day. By the time you're staring at the fridge at 7 PM trying to choose between a…

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Fat Isn’t a Feeling—It’s a Choice You Keep Making 29:08

4M ago29:08

29:08

Send us a text Ever caught yourself saying "I feel fat today"? That single phrase might be sabotaging your entire weight loss journey. In this no-holds-barred episode, we rip the emotional band-aid off this common statement and expose the dangerous language trap that's keeping you stuck. Fat isn't a feeling—it's the result of small, repeated choice…

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How to Build a Strong Case for Support 28:00

4M ago28:00

28:00

Too many social impact leaders step into donor meetings with a bold vision — but an unclear case for why anyone should support it. Your case for support isn’t just a fundraising tool — it’s a strategic asset that can align your messaging, mobilize your team, and inspire serious investment in your mission. But only if you get it right. In this episo…

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Why Your Diet Is A Lying, Soul-Sucking Freak 33:56

4M ago33:56

33:56

Send us a text Most weight loss approaches set you up for failure from day one—not because you lack willpower, but because they're designed to be temporary quick fixes rather than sustainable lifestyle changes. That's how the $70 billion diet industry keeps you coming back, blaming yourself instead of their broken system. The pattern is painfully f…

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F*ck The Diet Industry - Stop Starting Over, You Drama Queen 28:02

5M ago28:02

28:02

Send us a text Ever found yourself eating one cookie, then throwing in the towel completely because "I'll just start fresh on Monday"? You're stuck in the cycle that keeps millions trapped in weight-loss purgatory. This raw, no-BS episode exposes the toxic lie that's been keeping you from sustainable weight loss: the all-or-nothing mentality. I bre…

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Is Our Obsession with Efficiency Backfiring? 27:19

5M ago27:19

27:19

We’re constantly told to “do more with less” — but what if that’s the wrong goal altogether? In this episode, Eric and Jonathan challenge the traditional definition of efficiency and unpack why it can be a trap for social impact organizations. From donor pressure to staff burnout, they explore how the pursuit of efficiency often undermines effectiv…

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Breaking the Water Myth- The Only Thing a Gallon a Day Flushes Is Your Sanity 27:49

5M ago27:49

27:49

Send us a text Ever feel hungry, only to realize you were actually just thirsty? Your brain's not the sharpest when it comes to distinguishing between hunger and dehydration—and this confusion might be sabotaging your weight loss efforts without you even realizing it. In this straight-talking episode, we're cutting through the hydration hype to rev…

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Your Family Tree Isn’t Fat—Your Family Habits Are 31:14

5M ago31:14

31:14

Send us a text Ever found yourself saying, "I've always been big, it's just in my genes"? That seemingly innocent explanation might be the very thing keeping you stuck in a cycle of weight struggles and failed attempts at change. In this raw, unfiltered episode, we tear down the myth of the "fat gene" and expose the truth that most people don't wan…