👂 Is there an easy fix to our problems? In his latest project, Mark Manson — author of the popular The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck — presents Solved, a podcast that dissects the most common problems of the 21st century, from procrastination and shame to navigating life without compromising principles. Manson’s book got him to the top of the New York Times bestseller list three times, and a podcast of the same name carried the book’s torch. With Solved, launched in May, Manson continues his quest.

Explored in depth and detail, each episode is dedicated to a single topic. The podcast tackles fundamental issues such as value systems, confidence, shame, and procrastination. The episodes are backed with a great deal of research and are presented in a carefully crafted format, sans fluff. The show releases one episode at the start of each month, with a runtime of up to four hours, with five episodes having been released so far — so tuck in and grab a cup of joe.

The very first episode had us hooked from the get-go, embodying the podcast’s ethos and outlining its intellectual premise. Throughout the episode, Manson provides an in-depth exploration of the importance of values, and their role in shaping our happiness, meaning, relationships, and major life decisions. He deconstructs certain concepts, explaining how to distinguish between what we believe in as values, and what we pursue for the sake of fleeting pleasures. The four-hour episode blends philosophy and psychology within a structured framework aimed at inspiring positive change among listeners.

Originality? Check. Education? Check. Impact? Check. Solved offers a fresh, research-based approach to the self-help genre. Though there’s no current data on monthly listeners, the podcast’s predecessor recorded over 30 mn downloads, pointing towards a large and active audience. The hearty length of each episode might be intimidating, especially for listeners who opt for quick content, but it’s still too early to write Solved off. And based on the first episode, we think the show makes the case for the lengthy format.

WHERE TO LISTEN– You can tune in on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anghami | Audible | Amazon Music | iHeart | YouTube | YouTube Music.

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