I've spent the last two months talking with innovators who have done some wild things—from surviving homelessness to become a world-renowned scientist, to convincing a sitting President to get roasted on a comedy show to save a landmark policy.

The stories are incredible. But the strategies are what you can use, today.

This week's episode is a little different. I’ve gone back through the last two months and pulled the most powerful, actionable moments from our conversations. This compilation is built on one powerful theme: the most effective way to create change often defies logic.

In this episode, you’ll get standout clips and strategy previews on:

✅ The Science of Hope: Why setting “moonshot” goals dramatically improves performance, even if you fail—and how you can train your brain to dream bigger and achieve more. 

✅ Behavioral Science for Persuasion: The counterintuitive secret to motivating people that has nothing to do with rational arguments and everything to do with identity, social norms, and the fear of missing out. 

✅ The Power of Awe: How to find “lowercase awe” in your daily life to reduce stress and rewire your attention—a powerful tool that doesn't require a trip to the Grand Canyon.

✅ Humor as a Strategic Weapon: The set-up of how the Obama White House used a viral comedy sketch to break through the noise and achieve a goal when nothing else was working.

And you'll get a the How-To for Nathaniel’s episode on a two-part playbook to motivate anyone (including yourself), drawn from our How-To on behavioral science.

Putting these clips together, I realized this isn't just a collection of stories—it's a toolkit for the times we feel stuck. It’s a reminder that when the front door of logic is locked, there’s usually a side window left open through our shared human nature, if we just know where to look. This mixtape is about finding that window.

Here's to breaking through,

— Molly