Essentialism
11
MENTIONS
9
EPISODES
9
PODCASTS
Search complete. 11 mentions across 9 episodes found for "Essentialism".
Sep 22, 2026
Dave RobertsHOST
I was born this way, and I'm not changing much.
Dave RobertsHOST
In the 19th century, the philosopher Schopenhauer gave us what is called essentialism as a way of understanding human character.
Dave RobertsHOST
Essentialism basically says, I am what I am and I don't change.
Dave RobertsHOST
It argues that objects and people have a fixed, unalterable core essence that defines them.
Dave RobertsHOST
And that perspective suggests that your fundamental nature is innate, permanent.
Karen KenneyHOST
It's like, no, individual people, right? You want to be able to, you know, be curious about not just labeling people and sticking them in a group and then stop seeing them at all because people do this all the time.
Karen KenneyHOST
Essentialism is when you're quick to use stereotypes and you categorize big groups of people.
Karen KenneyHOST
That's kind of simple.
Karen KenneyHOST
But I love this one.
Kirana SidinGUEST
We have AI, we have social media, we have smartphones and information coming at us all day.
Kirana SidinGUEST
but we're still dealing with the same fundamental question how do I deal with uncertainty how do I handle difficult relationship how do I respond when things don't go my way what is actually enough and what kind of person do I want to become I think that is the same question even though we're like living in the ancient time or also like in the Victorian time or say in this modern life right so yeah That's why I keep coming back to philosophy and timeless wisdom, especially ideas from Stoicism, Essentialism, and other timeless wisdom.
Kirana SidinGUEST
They give us principles we can apply even when the circumstances around us keep changing.
Kirana SidinGUEST
For example, the stoic idea of focusing on what is within our control is incredibly relevant today.
Jennie GilbertHOST
I think that we need to understand, or a leader needs to understand, what is your essential intent? What is important? Because our tendency to get dragged into unnecessary often stems from either a feeling of overwhelm, a lack of control, or simply where we're sitting emotionally.
Jennie GilbertHOST
And so if we understand what are essential intent, and essential intent is a term from Greg McCowan in Essentialism, that's his book.
Jennie GilbertHOST
And it is concrete and it's clear, like this is what we stand for as a team.
Jennie GilbertHOST
This is what we're working for.
Alan LazarusHOST
The Compound Effect.
Alan LazarusHOST
And Essentialism.
Alan LazarusHOST
Now, I have to say this.
Alan LazarusHOST
Don't know these people.
Alan LazarusHOST
What matters in the books are the concepts.
Alan LazarusHOST
To me, principles and concepts are what change your life.
Alan LazarusHOST
Like Essentialism is such an important concept.
Alan LazarusHOST
The disciplined pursuit of less but better.
Tommy MelloGUEST
I needed extreme focus.
Tommy MelloGUEST
There's a good book called The One Thing by Gary Keller or Essentialism.
Tommy MelloGUEST
And this ultimate focus.
Tommy MelloGUEST
Racehorses wear blinders for a reason.
Ste LaneHOST
It's usually quite simple, but we get so enamored with more shiny objects and ideas, you know?
Skye MacintoshGUEST
Have you heard of the book Essentialism?
Ste LaneHOST
Yes, love it.
Skye MacintoshGUEST
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Skye MacintoshGUEST
That's a good one too.
Skye MacintoshGUEST
I don't know if you've gone through that one, but those are so good.
Skye MacintoshGUEST
I re-listened to Essentialism like three weeks ago for probably like my 15th time.
Skye MacintoshGUEST
Just because, yeah, I always need that reminder of less but better.
Steph MidlockHOST
Who knows? I do want to mention an essay called Tolkien's Baits.
Steph MidlockHOST
Agonism, Essentialism, and the Visible in The Lord of the Rings by Dirk Wieman.
Steph MidlockHOST
It's published in a book called Politics in Fantasy Media, Essays on Ideology and Gender in Fiction, Film, Television, and Games.
Steph MidlockHOST
And this essay explores a couple of different things, but including this story specifically.
Fredrik HärénGUEST
That's all-
James LaughlinHOST
... who wrote a book called Essentialism, and essentially what he said, pardon the pun, was that, uh, most people are on an undisciplined pursuit of more: more money, more houses, more everything.
James LaughlinHOST
But the true essentialists are on a disciplined pursuit of less.
Fredrik HärénGUEST
Mm.