Shit You Don't Learn in School
106 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago -Formal schooling does a terrible job of preparing you to thrive as an adult. The Shit You Don't Learn in School podcast exists to make up for this societal failure. In this show, Calvin Rosser and Steph Smith share stories, insights, and resources designed to help you improve the quality of your personal and professional life. If all works out, you'll be at least 1% better at navigating the waters.
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Episodes
28. How to Quit Drinking Alcohol and Still Be Happy
June 08, 2021 03:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBDrinking alcohol is embedded within the social fabric of society, but how do we take control of our relationship with alcohol? For all of the fun it supports, alcohol is a poison that causes unnecessary physical, mental, and emotional harm for many people. In this episode, Steph and Cal interview Taylor Platt, a Princeton graduate and NBA strategist who went sober 3 years ago. Taylor shares why he made the decisions, how he did it, the challenges he faced, and what he learned that might be h...
27. Earning the Trust of Your Team
June 07, 2021 06:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBWhether we'd like to believe it or not, age is a signal that people judge others by. In a professional setting, it can signal your level of experience and for that reason, it can be difficult to earn the trust of a team, if they happen to be older than you. In this episode, Calvin and Steph talk through their experiences managing at a young age and what tips they have for effective leadership.
26. The 3X Rule and When You Should Splurge
June 06, 2021 04:00 - 27 minutes - 18.7 MBIn recent episodes, Calvin and Steph have discussed lifestyle creep and how when you make more, you have the tendency to spend more. In this episode, they brought on a friend and colleague Ethan Brooks, to discuss in what circumstances it does make sense to splurge. In particular, they discuss their experiences in hostels and when it was time to upgrade.
25. How to Make Your Stuff Work For You, Not Against You
June 04, 2021 23:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBWe all accumulate possessions throughout our lives, but how often do we evaluate whether or not all that stuff is helping or hurting us? In this episode, Steph and Calvin talk about what they learned from living out of backpacks for 4 years, how expensive items carry a psychological burden, and how to think about what you buy over time.
24. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
June 04, 2021 00:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBNo matter how talented you are, you'll inevitably be a victim of imposter syndrome. But, there's a flipside to every coin and for imposter syndrome, it's the compulsion to always be better. Is is possible to get the upside and limit the downside? In this episode, Calvin and Steph discuss how they've managed imposter syndrome and balance their ambition to improve, with the tendency to compare yourself to others.
23. Is the World Actually Getting Worse?
June 02, 2021 20:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBMost of us walk around thinking that the world is getting worse. But is this actually true? In this episode, Steph and I walk through a quiz that shows us just how wrong our instincts are about the state of the world and why we consistently believe that things are far worse than they actually are.
22. The Importance of Tech Literacy
June 02, 2021 06:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBAs technology becomes more ingrained in our daily lives, the question must be posed: how important is it for people to “keep up” technologically. In this episode, Steph makes a case for the importance of tech literacy and how she believes that with time, technical literacy will be viewed in a similar vein to written and oral literacy today. Calvin and her walk through how people can start dipping their toes into technology, why it matters, and discuss what skills may fade with time.
21. What is Financial Freedom and Are You There Yet?
June 01, 2021 05:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBWhether we'd like to admit it or not, finances have such a significant impact in our lives, both in micro and macro decision making. We also can't ignore how people have different relationships with their wealth, even at the same level of income. In this episode, Calvin and Steph talk through the concept of being "post-economic", how they think about their "f*** you money" number, and how they manage their relationship with money.
20. Will FAANG Be the Dominant Companies Forever?
May 30, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBFacebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix & Google (FAANG) have dominated and become integrated parts of all of our lives in the software era. But if you look at history, time and time again, the leading companies of the present aren't the leading companies of the future. In this episode, Steph and I explore the areas of innovation that might produce companies that displace FAANG and how those companies may approach attracting the best talent.
19. How the Fundamental Attribution Error Impacts Your Relationships
May 29, 2021 18:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBAmong the many biases that we can fall prey to, one of Calvin's favorites is the fundamental attribution error. The bias, sometimes known as the "correspondence bias", is your tendency to assume that someone's behavior is due to the "kind" of person they are, rather than the circumstances impacting them. In this episode, Calvin and Steph discuss the cognitive bias, why it matters, and how we can combat it.
18. What Does it Take to Become World Class at Something?
May 28, 2021 15:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBWith 7 billion people on Earth, it's incredibly hard to be at the absolute top of any field. In this episode, Steph and Calvin discuss what they learned from their brief stints of being "world-class" in chess and golf, respectively. They also dive into the 10,000-hour rule, mastering skills in adulthood, and managing your psychology along the way.
18. Becoming World Class at Anything
May 28, 2021 15:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBWith 7 billion people on Earth, it's incredibly hard to be the absolute top of any field. In this episode, Steph and Calvin discuss what they learned from their brief stints of being "world class" in chess and golf, respectively. They also dive into the 10000 hour rule, mastering skills in adulthood, and managing your psychology along the way.
17. The Individual Contributor vs the Manager
May 28, 2021 03:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBIn most companies, there are two major role types: individual contributors and managers. The career track goes one way and not the other; IC upleveling to a manager. But is that the best way? Calvin and Steph share their stories as both ICs and managers, and think through how companies can get the most from their uniquely talented individual contributors.
16. Will People Rush Back to the Office?
May 27, 2021 03:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBAs a follow up from episode 14, Calvin and Steph debate what work life will be like post-pandemic. Will people rush back to the office? Or will they bask in their newfound flexibility? Listen in to find out how they think both companies and individuals may progress over the coming years!
What is Integrity & Why Does it Matter?
May 25, 2021 19:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBCodifying and living by your values is one of the most important skills of adulthood. Values are the guideposts that help you make decisions that align with who you want to be, especially when you're confronted with difficult situations. In this episode, Steph and Calvin dive deep into integrity, how to think about values, and what this means for individuals and businesses.
15. What is Integrity & Why Does it Matter?
May 25, 2021 19:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBCodifying and living by your values is one of the most important skills of adulthood. Values are the guideposts that help you make decisions that align with who you want to be, especially when you're confronted with difficult situations. In this episode, Steph and Calvin dive deep into integrity, how to think about values, and what this means for individuals and businesses.
14. Lessons from Years of Location Independence
May 25, 2021 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MBThe pandemic resulted in hundreds of millions — if not billions — of people moving their work online. These rapid changes mean that so many people now have the freedom to work and live from where they want. Calvin and Steph had the privilege of being location independent since 2016, so in this episode, they break down the most important lessons they’ve learned about being happy, productive remote workers.
13. How to Say No More Often
May 24, 2021 03:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBEven if we’d like to wish otherwise, our time is finite and zero sum. If we spend time on one thing, we’re not spending time on another. But even though it’s our most scarce resource, we often don’t protect it by saying “no”. In this episode, Calvin and Steph discuss why it can be so difficult to say no and how we can develop the muscle to say no more often.
12. When is it Okay to be Late?
May 22, 2021 21:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBSome people are never late. Others are late consistently. Why is there such a difference in people’s relationship with time? In this episode, Steph and Calvin talk about chronically late insane people (CLIPs), a term coined by Tim Urban. They talk through when it’s okay to be late, when it’s not, and why some people can’t seem to be on time, despite feeling bad about it. Steph also shares her experience as a CLIP and they discuss the four different types of chronically late people, along w...
11. The Pitfalls of Zeroism
May 21, 2021 19:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBThe pandemic has been a fascinating case study in problem solving, yet remains a topic that parts of the world is deeply divided on. Just like other controversial topics, understanding that there is no perfect solution is both accurate and freeing. In this episode, Steph and Calvin explore the idea of zeroism, or said otherwise, the pursuit of perfection. By identifying the tendency for humans to strive for perfection, they highlight the ways that thinking in absolutes can hinder our abilit...
17. How Your Relationship with Money Influences Your Investing Decisions & Strategy
May 20, 2021 17:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBWe all need money, but formal schooling fails to teach us how to make decisions based on our unique relationship with money and investing. In this episode, Steph and I openly explore the challenges we've had with investing our money and the many pitfalls we've tried to avoid in our pursuit of building sustainable, long-term wealth.
10. How Your Relationship with Money Influences Your Investing Decisions & Strategy
May 20, 2021 17:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBWe all need money, but formal schooling fails to teach us how to make decisions based on our unique relationship with money and investing. In this episode, Steph and I openly explore the challenges we've had with investing our money and the many pitfalls we've tried to avoid in our pursuit of building sustainable, long-term wealth.
9. Navigating the Complexities of the Modern Era
May 20, 2021 03:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBWe have access to more data and opportunities than ever before, but it's hard to separate the signal from the noise. In this episode, Steph and Calvin discuss navigating information overload, how to avoid being left behind, what we can learn from the past, and how we can better prepare for an uncertain future.
16. Navigating the Complexities of the Modern Era
May 20, 2021 03:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBWe have access to more data and opportunities than ever before, but it's hard to separate the signal from the noise. In this episode, Steph and Calvin discuss navigating information overload, how to avoid being left behind, what we can learn from the past, and how we can better prepare for an uncertain future.
15. Staying in Touch with Friends and Family in Adulthood
May 18, 2021 20:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBFriendship, family, and community are indispensable to living a good life. But as we get older, it becomes more difficult to stay in touch with the people we care about. Life seems to always get in the way. In this episode, Steph and Calvin chat about the challenges of staying in touch with people, some tactics for doing a better job, and the importance of prioritizing this part of your life.
8. Staying in Touch with Friends and Family in Adulthood
May 18, 2021 20:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBFriendship, family, and community are indispensable to living a good life. But as we get older, it becomes more difficult to stay in touch with the people we care about. Life seems to always get in the way. In this episode, Steph and Calvin chat about the challenges of staying in touch with people, some tactics for doing a better job, and the importance of prioritizing this part of your life.
7. How to Build a Rewarding Career & Minimize Regret
May 18, 2021 01:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBIt's hard to make career decisions. What industry should you work in? What should you optimize for? When should you quit your job? In this episode, Steph and Calvin talk about how they've thought about navigating the endless nuances and ambiguities of building a rewarding career.
14. How to Build a Rewarding Career & Minimize Regret
May 18, 2021 01:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBIt's hard to make career decisions. What industry should you work in? What should you optimize for? When should you quit your job? In this episode, Steph and Calvin talk about how they've thought about navigating the endless nuances and ambiguities of building a rewarding career.
13. Learning How to Give Back in Ways That Resonate
May 17, 2021 01:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBLike everything in life, giving back is a skill and a habit that takes time to learn. In this episode, Steph and I talk about how we define giving, the ways in which we've experimented with giving back, and how you can get started giving even before you're ready to give.
6. Learning How to Give Back in Ways That Resonate
May 17, 2021 01:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBLike everything in life, giving back is a skill and a habit that takes time to learn. In this episode, Steph and I talk about how we define giving, the ways in which we've experimented with giving back, and how you can get started giving even before you're ready to give.
12. Mastering the Art of Learning New Skills
May 15, 2021 17:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBWe all want to learn new things, whether it's how to cook, speak Spanish, write, code, or surf. But how often do you follow through and actually make progress on learning the skill you say you want to learn? Not often enough. In this episode, Steph and I discuss how we approach learning new skills and how you can get better at translating your desires into reality.
5. Mastering the Art of Learning New Skills
May 15, 2021 17:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBWe all want to learn new things, whether it's how to cook, speak Spanish, write, code, or surf. But how often do you follow through and actually make progress on learning the skill you say you want to learn? Not often enough. In this episode, Steph and I discuss how we approach learning new skills and how you can get better at translating your desires into reality.
11. Should Remote Companies Pay People Based on Location?
May 15, 2021 01:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBWith more companies going partially and fully remote in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Steph Smith and I tackle the difficult question: Should companies pay everyone the same salary, independent of their location, or should salaries be adjusted based on your location?
4. Should Remote Companies Pay People Based on Location?
May 15, 2021 01:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBWith more companies going partially and fully remote in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Steph Smith and I tackle the difficult question: Should companies pay everyone the same salary, independent of their location, or should salaries be adjusted based on your location?
10. How to Think About Improving the Quality of Your Sleep
May 13, 2021 19:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBWe all know sleep is important, but how should you think about sleep and investing in improving the quality of your sleep? In this episode, we explore how we're approaching sleep, thinking about how to improve it, and measuring the results.
3. How to Think About Improving the Quality of Your Sleep
May 13, 2021 19:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBWe all know sleep is important, but how should you think about sleep and investing in improving the quality of your sleep? In this episode, we explore how we're approaching sleep, thinking about how to improve it, and measuring the results.
9. How to Deal with Comparing Yourself to Others
May 13, 2021 03:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBWe all compare ourselves to others, but when you compare, you despair. In this episode, we explore the origins of comparing yourself with others, the specific ways in which it can manifest in your life, and how to mitigate the harmful effects of comparing yourself with others in life and business.
2. How to Deal with Comparing Yourself to Others
May 13, 2021 03:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBWe all compare ourselves to others, but when you compare, you despair. In this episode, we explore the origins of comparing yourself with others, the specific ways in which it can manifest in your life, and how to mitigate the harmful effects of comparing yourself with others in life and business.
1. Don't Let Bad Days Become Destructive Days
May 12, 2021 02:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBEveryone has bad days. You may be tired, stressed, or dealing with a difficult time. That's human. But if you want to succeed in the workplace, a meta-skill is ensuring that these bad days don't snowball into destructive days. While you can shake off a bad day, a destructive day can have lasting damage and is totally avoidable.
8. Don't Let Bad Days Become Destructive Days
May 12, 2021 02:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBEveryone has bad days. You may be tired, stressed, or dealing with a difficult time. That's human. But if you want to succeed in the workplace, a meta-skill is ensuring that these bad days don't snowball into destructive days. While you can shake off a bad day, a destructive day can have lasting damage and is totally avoidable.
How to Retain and Apply Lessons from Nonfiction Books
May 30, 2020 19:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBIn this episode, I discuss a system you can use to better understand, retain, and apply the information you read in nonfiction books. If you want to expand your knowledge, solve problems, or deepen your understanding of the world, this system will help you do so.
7. How to Retain and Apply Lessons from Nonfiction Books
May 30, 2020 19:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBIn this episode, I discuss a system you can use to better understand, retain, and apply the information you read in nonfiction books. If you want to expand your knowledge, solve problems, or deepen your understanding of the world, this system will help you do so.
Costly Investing Biases & How to Avoid Them
May 23, 2020 13:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBA rational investor maximizes his wealth within the constraints of his risk tolerance. Most investors are not rational - they're driven by greed, hope, fear. That is, they're human. To invest smartly and avoid loses money unnecessarily, you need to learn how to manage the natural weaknesses in your psychology. This episode explores 5 common biases that plague investors. It also explores how to mitigate the risk of falling victim to these biases.
6. Costly Investing Biases & How to Avoid Them
May 23, 2020 13:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBA rational investor maximizes his wealth within the constraints of his risk tolerance. Most investors are not rational - they're driven by greed, hope, fear. That is, they're human. To invest smartly and avoid loses money unnecessarily, you need to learn how to manage the natural weaknesses in your psychology. This episode explores 5 common biases that plague investors. It also explores how to mitigate the risk of falling victim to these biases.
5. Crush Your Next Job Interview - 6 Insider Tips from a Hiring Manager
April 25, 2020 22:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBIn the last 5 weeks, 26 million people have filed for unemployment. As someone who regularly interview candidates for jobs, I wanted to share 6 insider tips to help you crush your next interview. I explore how interviewers think, common mistakes candidates make, and practical advice about how you can stand out from the crowd.
Crush Your Next Job Interview - 6 Insider Tips from a Hiring Manager
April 25, 2020 22:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBIn the last 5 weeks, 26 million people have filed for unemployment. As someone who regularly interview candidates for jobs, I wanted to share 6 insider tips to help you crush your next interview. I explore how interviewers think, common mistakes candidates make, and practical advice about how you can stand out from the crowd.
What the hell is going on with COVID-19?
April 14, 2020 07:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MBIn this episode, I speak with Steph Smith (@stephsmithio), the Senior Analyst for the popular tech and business newsletter, the Hustle. In our wide-ranging conversation, Steph shares her thoughts about the COVID-19 pandemic and what we can expect over the coming months for life and business. We also discuss the complex nature of the virus, why the entire world missed its window to react, how these “black swan events” lead to second and third-order effects, why many people may default to opt...
4. What the hell is going on with COVID-19?
April 14, 2020 07:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MBIn this episode, I speak with Steph Smith (@stephsmithio), the Senior Analyst for the popular tech and business newsletter, the Hustle. In our wide-ranging conversation, Steph shares her thoughts about the COVID-19 pandemic and what we can expect over the coming months for life and business. We also discuss the complex nature of the virus, why the entire world missed its window to react, how these “black swan events” lead to second and third-order effects, why many people may default to opt...
Black Beans, Seneca, and Practicing Poverty
April 12, 2020 02:00 - 4 minutes - 3.22 MBIn this episode, you'll learn about what eating black beans out of a can has to do with your life. Whether you feel like you're living in abundance or you're just "getting by", this short talk will help you learn how to enjoy living with less. For all show notes: https://calvinrosser.com/podcast/ For a helpful weekly newsletter: https://calvinrosser.com/newsletter
3. Black Beans, Seneca, and Practicing Poverty
April 12, 2020 02:00 - 4 minutes - 3.21 MBIn this episode, you'll learn about what eating black beans out of a can has to do with your life. Whether you feel like you're living in abundance or you're just "getting by", this short talk will help you learn how to enjoy living with less. For all show notes: https://calvinrosser.com/podcast/ For a helpful weekly newsletter: https://calvinrosser.com/newsletter