How to Handle Anxiety (Without Trying to Eliminate It)

How to Handle Anxiety (Without Trying to Eliminate It)

Anxiety isn’t caused by uncertainty. It’s caused by how we respond to it. In this episode of NUGGETS, Pellegrino and Francois explore why the brain struggles so much with the unknown — and why anxious thinking often becomes an attempt to control things we simply can’t control. From football fandom and worst-case scenarios to leadership, work stress, finances, and everyday overthinking, this conversation looks at the psychology behind anxiety in a grounded and surprisingly practical way. They explore: * why the brain creates negative stories * the role of “anxious monkeys” as an early warning system * how uncertainty affects performance and relationships * why clarity and action calm people down * practical ways to stop spiralling when life feels unpredictable The episode also includes simple tools for managing anxiety more effectively — without pretending you can remove it completely. Because anxiety may be part of life. But making it worse doesn’t have to be. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Comparison Trap: The More You Compare, The Less You See Yourself

We’ve always compared ourselves to other people. That’s normal. Comparison helped humans learn, adapt, improve, and survive. But modern life has scaled comparison beyond anything we were built for. In this episode of NUGGETS, Pellegrino Riccardi and Francois Sibbald explore why comparison feels so exhausting today — from social media and status anxiety to money, relationships, parenting, self-worth, and identity. They discuss: * Why humans are wired to compare * Dunbar’s Number and social overload * Why social media amplifies inadequacy * Healthy vs destructive comparison * Why awareness reduces psychological pressure * How to build your own “scoreboard” “The more you use others for comparison, the less you see yourself.” * 20-minute episodes. * 3 practical takeaways. * Things you can actually use in your everyday life.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why We Procrastinate (It’s Not About Laziness)

Most people think procrastination is a time-management problem.It isn’t. In this episode of NUGGETS, Pellegrino and Francois unpack the real psychology behind procrastination — and why delaying things often has far more to do with emotion than laziness. From public speaking and perfectionism to relationships, health, and even an unfinished coffee table sitting in the house for nearly a year, they explore what we’re actually avoiding when we keep putting things off. The conversation moves from anxiety and self-doubt to pressure, visibility, fear of failure, and the strange comfort of postponement. Along the way, they disagree on preparation, freshness, perfectionism, and whether pressure actually helps performance. Because procrastination is rarely about the task itself. It’s about the feeling attached to the task. And now, for those of you who prefer to see the faces behind the voices, NUGGETS is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CfzQNjP3oM4 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why People Don’t Tell the Truth at Work (The Real Role of Fear)

Have you ever avoided telling the truth because you were afraid of the reaction? At work. At home. In a relationship. Around a parent. Around a boss. Then this episode is for you. In this week’s NUGGETS, Pellegrino and François go one level deeper into honesty — and ask a more uncomfortable question: What if people stay silent because the environment doesn’t feel safe enough for the truth? We talk about: – psychological safety – fear at work – difficult conversations – feedback culture – leadership reactions – and why people often choose silence over honesty Because most people don’t fear the truth itself. They fear punishment. Embarrassment. Conflict. Rejection. And over time, fear settles into the culture. A sharp conversation about honesty, fear, trust, and the environments that either encourage truth — or quietly destroy it. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why Leaders Avoid Difficult Conversations (The Cost of Not Telling the Truth)

The Crown Princess Mette-Marit story has put one question back on the table: Why don’t leaders—and the people we look up to—just tell the truth early? When something goes wrong, there’s a moment—right after it happens—where you decide what to say… or what to hold back. Miss that moment, and the story starts running away from you. In this episode, we look at why leaders avoid difficult conversations—and how delayed honesty quietly destroys trust. Because this isn’t just about royalty. It shows up everywhere: – leaders avoiding difficult conversations at work – companies drip-feeding bad news – people protecting themselves instead of telling it straight And here’s the uncomfortable part: We often judge hypocrisy more harshly than outright lies. The Nugget: * Say it early. * Say the hard part. * Say it once. That moment right after something goes wrong? That’s where your integrity lives. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.