Mere Mortals Conversations
Mere Mortals Conversations

Mere Mortals Conversations

Kyrin Down & Juan Granados

Overview
Episodes

Details

What is Effective Philosophy? Juan and I simplify hard to grasp concepts into pragmatic takeaways that can be applied to every day life (fitness, goal setting, work, parenting, travel, hobbies, finances, etc.,).

Recent Episodes

The Rules For How To Get The Guy | A Question For The Men .... WTF DO YOU WANT?!
DEC 14, 2025
The Rules For How To Get The Guy | A Question For The Men .... WTF DO YOU WANT?!
I'm a woman trapped in a man's body analysing dating advice for women given by a man. <br /><br />In #505 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: three dating and relationships books (The New Rules, Get the Guy by Matthew Hussey and Attached), how prescriptive “rules” aimed at women can backfire, why some advice feels outdated (Facebook walls and BBM), how scarcity games tend to attract the very players you might want to avoid, why attachment styles are useful as a lens but less so as a to‑do list, a focus on authenticity over mere effectiveness, watch the influence of your friend circle, understand how strong male sexual drive can shape dating dynamics, apply Pareto principles to health and appearance first, build an interesting life (travel, skills, community) and learning to read yourself so you don’t try to fill loneliness with just anyone.<br /><br />No boostagrams this week, very sad puppy.<br /><br />Stan Link: <a href="https://stan.store/meremortals" target="_blank">https://stan.store/meremortals</a><br /><br />Timeline:<br />(00:00:00) Intro<br />(00:00:47) The books: The New Rules, Get the Guy &amp; Attached<br />(00:04:21) Lot's of Don'ts<br />(00:07:12) Perfectionism and the hunt for Mr Right<br />(00:11:09) Who this attracts: playing games gets game players<br />(00:16:21) What men reportedly dislike<br />(00:20:25) Quick verdict on The New Rules &amp; Switch To Matt Hussey<br />(00:25:48) Practical prompts: compliments, conversations, and friendly vibes<br />(00:30:15) Brief detour to Attached: anxious, avoidant, secure<br />(00:39:24) Boostagram Lounge<br />(00:41:15) Effectiveness vs authenticity: advice for daughters<br />(00:45:00) Masks, faking confidence and why acts won't last<br />(00:48:00) Be interesting: travel, stories and easy conversation openers<br />(00:55:14) Broad advice: the male mind, sex drive, and expectations<br />(01:02:26) Pareto squared: health and appearance<br />(01:07:09) A raw moment: walking through Brisbane and feeling loneliness<br />(01:11:24) Closing reflections&nbsp; <p><br /><br />Connect with Mere Mortals:<br />Website: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/</a><br />Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU" target="_blank">https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU</a><br />Twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/meremortalspods" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/meremortalspods</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/</a><br />TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts</a><br /><br />Value 4 Value Support:<br />Boostagram: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support</a><br />Paypal: <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast" target="_blank">https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast</a></p>
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72 MIN
Secrets Of The Art World | Power, Provenance & Pretentiousness
DEC 7, 2025
Secrets Of The Art World | Power, Provenance & Pretentiousness
There is a reason why the art 'space' is divisive and why money distorts many things.<br /><br />In Episode #504 of 'Meanderings', Juan &amp; I discuss: the book by Magnus Resch titled '100 Secrets of the Art World', tight‑knit gatekeeping at the high end of the market, how control of information shape what gets seen and sold (often more than artistic merit), parallels to other status markets such as watches/supercars, why 'better' often defaults to 'more expensive', where marketing can overshadow craft yet many collectors still buy for love and to support artists and why the truest encounters with art might still be found in small local galleries rather than at Art Basel.<br /><br />No support for this week, very sad puppy :( <br />&nbsp;<br />Stan Link: <a href="https://stan.store/meremortals" target="_blank">https://stan.store/meremortals</a><br /><br />Timeline:<br /> (00:00:00) Intro<br />(00:01:52) Defining the 'art space'<br />(00:03:38) First impressions: elitism, provenance and pretence<br />(00:09:04) Gatekeeping: cabals, galleries and New York<br />(00:12:06) Parallels with cars/watches: scarcity and status<br />(00:15:27) Art Basel anecdote: committees, control and quiet coups<br />(00:20:02) NFTs, provenance on-chain and collectibles vs art<br />(00:22:22) Popularity: storytelling, marketing and money<br />(00:27:38) Quality heuristics: effort, complexity and the 22blue painting22 problem<br />(00:32:38) Boostagram Lounge<br />(00:34:00) Misconceptions across niches: calisthenics, hand balancing, circus<br />(00:39:03) On labels and assumptions: steroids, fitness and nuance<br />(00:44:04) Finding the essence: local galleries, pure enjoyment<br />(00:48:06) Would creation persist without cash?<br />(00:53:56) Purity at the base, distortion at the peak<br />(00:55:27) Housekeeping and support links; live chat banter&nbsp; <p><br /><br />Connect with Mere Mortals:<br />Website: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/</a><br />Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU" target="_blank">https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU</a><br />Twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/meremortalspods" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/meremortalspods</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/</a><br />TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts</a><br /><br />Value 4 Value Support:<br />Boostagram: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support</a><br />Paypal: <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast" target="_blank">https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast</a></p>
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56 MIN
Masters Of The Universe | Perhaps Mastery Is More Ideal
DEC 1, 2025
Masters Of The Universe | Perhaps Mastery Is More Ideal
The master does nothing .... yet he leaves nothing undone.<br /><br />In Episode #503 of 'Meanderings', Juan &amp; I discuss: why the mindset of mastery may matter more than the title of “master", Robert Greene’s book called Mastery, the role of obsession, whether teaching is required for mastery, “unearned” mastery and savant talent and a pragmatic take on how to design your own path toward improvement without sacrificing what matters most. <br /><br />Huge thanks to Petar for the support, very much appreciated!<br />&nbsp;<br />Stan Link: <a href="https://stan.store/meremortals" target="_blank">https://stan.store/meremortals</a><br /><br />Timeline:<br />(00:00:00) Intro<br />(00:01:08) Why read Robert Greene's 'Mastery'?<br />(00:04:54) Podcasting as a case study: from basics to refinement<br />(00:06:58) Local mastery vs global mastery and reference frames<br />(00:10:33) Choosing what to master: obsession, trade-offs and limits<br />(00:13:16) Mastery as mindset vs outcome; daily improvement lens<br />(00:17:25) Boostagram Lounge<br />(00:19:00) Challenging outcome-first goals; internal vs external focus<br />(00:21:11) The costs of global excellence and life balance<br />(00:24:39) Prioritising self-mastery: emotions and immediate circles<br />(00:26:29) Unearned talent? Kyrgios, training minutiae and masters<br />(00:32:56) Reframing goals: skills, learning and public speaking<br />(00:35:00) Applying lessons like biographies, not blueprints<br />(00:39:11) Do you need to teach to be a master? Savants vs transferable methods<br />(00:41:14) Mastery (process) vs Master (status)<br />(00:45:59) Wrap-up and ways to support&nbsp; <p><br /><br />Connect with Mere Mortals:<br />Website: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/</a><br />Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU" target="_blank">https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU</a><br />Twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/meremortalspods" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/meremortalspods</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/</a><br />TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts</a><br /><br />Value 4 Value Support:<br />Boostagram: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support</a><br />Paypal: <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast" target="_blank">https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast</a></p>
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46 MIN
Monthly Goals | December 2025
NOV 30, 2025
Monthly Goals | December 2025
<p>It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next.<br /><br />Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why?<br /><br />Stan Link: <a href="https://stan.store/meremortals" target="_blank">https://stan.store/meremortals</a><br /><br />Timeline:&nbsp;<br /> (00:00:00) Intro<br />(00:03:41) Juan's November 2025 Recap<br />(00:06:42) Kyrin's November 2025 Recap<br />(00:10:05) Support Overview<br />(00:12:59) Juan's December 2025 Goals<br />(00:28:09) Kyrin's December 2025 Goals<br />(00:37:40) Fitness<br />(00:41:44) V4V</p> <p><br /><br />Connect with Mere Mortals:<br />Website: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/</a><br />Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU" target="_blank">https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU</a><br />Twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/meremortalspods" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/meremortalspods</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/</a><br />TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts</a><br /><br />Value 4 Value Support:<br />Boostagram: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support</a><br />Paypal: <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast" target="_blank">https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast</a></p>
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42 MIN
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone | Therapy, Men & Life Challenges
NOV 23, 2025
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone | Therapy, Men & Life Challenges
It's time for the male version of therapy .... podcasting!!! <br /><br />In Episode #502 of 'Meanderings', Juan &amp; I discuss: Lori Gottlieb’s book 'Maybe You Should Talk to Someone', the emotional burden therapists carry plus the mirror-like role they play in helping people surface what’s unsaid, my own brief stint with therapy as a late teen, why men seek therapy less, what they tend to talk about (anger, identity, intimacy, parenting), whether gym time/mates/modern tools like AI can substitute for a human therapist and how to decide when an external guide could reveal the real question behind the problem you’re trying to solve.<br /><br />Huge thanks to Petar &amp; The Late Bloomer Actor for the support, much appreciated!<br />&nbsp;<br />Stan Link: <a href="https://stan.store/meremortals" target="_blank">https://stan.store/meremortals</a><br /><br />Timeline:&nbsp;<br />(00:00:00) Intro<br />(00:00:36) Book setup: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (Lori Gottlieb)<br />(00:04:22) Is talk therapy an "easy job"?<br />(00:07:34) Personal histories with therapy<br />(00:13:37) When would you go?<br />(00:19:35) Male substitutes for therapy and why some need a neutral listener<br />(00:24:13) What therapists really offer: safe disclosure and third-party perspective<br />(00:31:03) Introspection vs understanding; overthinking and feeling understood<br />(00:35:05) Boostagram Lounge<br />(00:39:56) What Aussie men discuss in therapy<br />(00:47:15) Low affect: numbing vs regulation<br />(00:51:15) When does therapy end? Termination, success metrics and vagueness<br />(00:55:02) Therapy as a business, niches and the rise of AI/text-based care<br />(00:59:12) The value of a well-formed question and paid accountability<br />(01:03:11) Risks: authority, bad guidance and incentives<br />(01:06:54) Wrap-up: Meanderings as free therapy and support links&nbsp; <p><br /><br />Connect with Mere Mortals:<br />Website: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/</a><br />Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU" target="_blank">https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU</a><br />Twitter/X: <a href="https://twitter.com/meremortalspods" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/meremortalspods</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/</a><br />TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts</a><br /><br />Value 4 Value Support:<br />Boostagram: <a href="https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support" target="_blank">https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support</a><br />Paypal: <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast" target="_blank">https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast</a></p>
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67 MIN