21st Century Adulting with Travis Retzlaff

Crying While Male

Society tells men to "open up" and be vulnerable. Experience tells men that if they cry, they lose respect. Which side is right? These statements aren't even in opposition. And the unpacking of the topic isn't even specific to men. Let's get into it. Article: https://www.adulting.media/crying-while-male/ [https://www.adulting.media/crying-while-male/]

21st Century Adulting 2026: Tales of the New Poor and Look Away

There are a million voices covering the news. They’re telling you what's going on now and how we got there.  I'm here to tell stories about how I’m trying to get through here and prepare for whatever comes next. Hopefully, deliver some food for thought, and maybe a little companionship. Things we can put to use in our own lives.

Humility: Kill Your Inner Narcissist Not Your Self Esteem

Humility is prized in many wisdom traditions and modern psychology, but often misunderstood, and even looked down on. In this episode, we cover: - What Is Humility - Benefits of Humility - Humility Gone Bad - Cultivating Humility For a written version of this material, you can visit my site. 🔗 https://www.adulting.media/humility-kill-your-inner-narcissist/ [https://www.adulting.media/humility-kill-your-inner-narcissist/] Thanks for your support!

It's About Time: How to Hack Your Perception and Live Longer

Time is your most valuable resource, yet its value is often hidden because we cannot see it or know how much remains. While we can't all travel to black holes to experience Einstein’s relativity, we can change how we experience time through our "experiential clock." By understanding the "Oddball Effect" and the power of novelty, we can stop time from slipping away as we age. This video explores actionable steps to expand your days—from finding awe in nature to the simple science of "working backward" through your day to solidify memories.

The Math of Kindness: Why Cooperation Wins (From Confucius to Game Theory)

What does an ancient Chinese philosopher have in common with a modern computer simulation? It turns out, they both discovered the exact same secret to human survival. In this video, we explore the incredible convergence of the Confucian concept of Ren (仁), the Golden Rule found in major world religions, and the "cold, hard logic" of Game Theory. While religious leaders taught us what to do, 20th-century mathematics proved why it is actually the smartest winning strategy. We cover: * The Meaning of Ren: Why virtue cannot exist when you are alone. * The Universal Ethic: How Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Confucianism all arrived at the same "Golden Rule". * The Prisoner's Dilemma: Why "logic" tells us to betray one another in a single interaction. * Tit-for-Tat: The computer algorithm that proved being "nice, retaliatory, and forgiving" is the ultimate survival code. Cooperation isn't just an ideal—it is a mathematically proven logic for a prosperous society.