The Dr. Olafsson Podcast
Deep conversations with extraordinary minds on the choices, crises, and transformations behind who they've become.
Episodes
#18 You Don't Have to Hate Yourself to Win
Today's guest is... me. At a young age, I learned that I was loved for what I did, not for who I am. For the vast majority of my life, I've been driven by not being enough, always working to validate my existence and prove my worth through something external. That program gave me accomplishments I once only dreamed of. But nothing on the inside ever quite filled up. You have that inner critic too.
#17 What Has To Die Before You're Dateable - Blaine Anderson
Blaine Anderson is a dating coach and matchmaker. Being in love and being loved is arguably the best feeling in the world. But finding that one person seems to be a complex task. And is it even about finding - or simply becoming someone worth choosing? Expect to learn the most common mistakes men make when looking for a partner, why you shouldn't wait to build your life or pursue your goals just b
#16 How the Hell Did I End Up Here? (And What I Learned)
Today's guest is... me. You never really know someone until you know their story - here is mine, from being a football player in Iceland to a psychologist in Los Angeles, and everything in between. It's been a wild journey, to say the least. When I was about 27, I secretly wished for a harder life, where I got tested. I learned that you should be careful about what you wish for, since by far the t
#15 - Why You Should Talk to Strangers (and How) - Dr. Nicholas Epley
Dr. Nicholas Epley, PhD, is a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago and a leading expert on the science of social connection. Social connection is vital to our happiness, health, and meaning. And many of our best connections first start with a conversation with someone who once was a stranger. What if your fear and pessimism are preventing you from not only feeling better, b
#14 Are You Your Genes Or Your Choices? - Dr. Kári Stefánsson
Dr. Kári Stefánsson is an Icelandic neurologist and the founder of deCODE Genetics - the company that cracked the human genome using an entire nation as its laboratory. Who are we, most fundamentally? Some would say our choices define us. Kári would say it's the interaction between your genes and the environment and he has more data on that question than perhaps anyone alive. Expect to learn why
#13 The Only Way Out is Through - Andrew Glaze
Andrew Glaze is an ultramarathon runner, author, and social media personality. Life is difficult - less for some, more for others, like Andy Glaze, who learned that the only way out is through, most often with a smile on his face. Expect to learn the value of the father-son relationship, why grief is the receipt for love, how to face your feelings without being defined by them, what to do when you
#12 You Have No Idea What You're Capable Of
Today's guest is... me. I didn't plan on doing a solo episode. But a good man encouraged me to do it, as I have so many perspectives to share. I like podcasters who mostly listen, shut their mouth and ask questions, and I didn't want to make this podcast about me. Also, I guess I had some limited belief that what I had to offer might not be enough. But screw that, we made it happen. Expect to lear
#11 Is Vanity Actually a Virtue? - Michael Israetel
Dr. Mike Israetel is a sport scientist and the co-founder of Renaissance Periodization. Look at someone obsessed with how they look, and it's easy to assume it's shallow. Dr. Mike argues that's usually the wrong read - the real question isn't whether you're chasing aesthetics; it's what's driving the chase. The difference between superficial and meaningful motivations for changing your body, what
#10 How Losing Everything That Defined You Can Make You More Whole - Magnus Scheving
Magnús Scheving is an entrepreneur, actor, and the founder of LazyTown. Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. Most people specialize in one thing. Magnús, shaped by a small town in Iceland, did the opposite: he owned, led, directed, and acted in LazyTown, building one of the biggest children's brands in the world without ever choosing just one role. Expect
#9 How to Navigate Life's Biggest Transitions - Bruce Feiler
Bruce Feiler is a New York Times bestselling author of multiple books on human experience and a beloved TV personality. Ever felt like your life is falling apart? Maybe you feel lost, your future is uncertain, you just made a big change, or you know you have to make one? You are not the person you were, but yet not the person you are becoming. This might have happened because you made a voluntary
#8 How Do You Actually Know You're In Love? - Michael Smoak
Michael Smoak is a mindset coach, creator, entrepreneur, and podcaster. Our most important currency is time, and Michael was struck with that realization when going through the process of a dying father. And the best utilization of our time seems to be found in love - to ourselves, the neighbour - and last but not least in our romantic relationships. This path seems to be easier said than done, m
#7 What Hormones Are Really Doing to Human Psychology - Dr. Sarah Hill
Dr. Sarah Hill is a professor at TCU, a research psychologist, an expert in women's hormones and brain science, and author. Women go through two different phases on a 28-day cycle that influence their mood, perception, mate choice, sex drive, and motivation. What can both women and men learn so that navigating these phases will be easier for both of them? Expect to learn how and why hormones play
#6 Inside the Heart of the World's Strongest Man - Hafthor Bjornsson
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson is the strongest man in the world. You only see the top of the iceberg with successful people - the accomplishments, the fame, the titles. But who did they have to become on the inside to make that outside reality possible? Hafþór shares who he had to become, recorded three days before he attempted the world record in the deadlift at the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas. Expect
#5 The Other Side of Dropping Your Story - Khalil Rafati
Khalil Rafati is a multimillionaire entrepreneur and the founder of SunLife Organics. How do you turn rock bottom into the foundation of something extraordinary? And what does it take to stop being a victim of your own story? After 20 months living on Skid Row, battling addiction, and surviving a childhood that should have broken him, Khalil Rafati rebuilt his life from the inside out - eventuall
#4 Psychedelics Saved My Life - Benjamin Forest
Benjamin Forest is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and psychedelic advocate. What do you do when you hate yourself and the life you built, you've tried everything to feel better, and nothing has worked? On the outside, Benjamin epitomized the American Dream. On the inside, he embodied the American Nightmare: disconnected, lost, and hopeless. After 25 years of military service, Benjamin walk
#3 Feeling Loved Is a Skill - Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky
Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky is a distinguished professor of psychology and a pioneer in happiness research. What if the secret to feeling loved has nothing to do with becoming more wealthy, more successful, or more attractive but everything to do with how you make other people feel?After decades of researching happiness, Sonja discovered that every intervention that made people happier had one thing in
#2 Why You Can't Think Your Way Out of Trauma - Dr. Christian González
Dr. Christian González is a naturopathic doctor, somatic healer, and host of the Heal Thyself podcast. What if the reason you are suffering is that you have been trying to think your way out of something your body has been carrying for years? After losing his mother to cancer, Christian abandoned a conventional path and spent the next decade discovering why logic alone never heals, devoting his l
#1 The Gap Between Who You Are and Who You Could Be - Alfie Robertson
Alfie Robertson is an entrepreneur, creator, and founder of Roll. What does it actually cost to evolve beyond the person you've always been? And what is waiting for you on the other side? Alfie has lived several completely different lives. It started at 15, working at a vineyard for $8 an hour. He is now building an 8-figure business. What happened between then and now is a story about identity, s
The Dr. Olafsson Podcast - INTRO
The Dr. Olafsson Podscast - INTRO
