Can Money Actually Buy You Happiness? - Dr Mike Israetel - #651

**Chris Williamson** (0:00)
Hello, friends, welcome back to the show. My guest today is Mike Israetel. He's a bodybuilding and fitness consultant, Temple University Professor of Exercise Science, co-founder of Renaissance Periodization, and an author. There are thousands of videos online about what it means to be happy and successful, usually all with different conclusions, but most include wealth in some form or another. But just what is the role that wealth plays in our happiness? Expect to learn why a pessimistic view of life is unrealistic, the extent to which money can buy you happiness, why living in the present moment is overrated, if trading your time for future gains is a smart move, how to find purpose even in jobs that you hate, whether worrying about the future will help you to be more successful, Mike's contrarian view on porn, the future of how AI will shape society, and much more. Dr. Mike is a very, very long time requested guest, and I can see why. The guy is very charming, incredibly funny, and I really, really enjoyed this super wide-ranging conversation. I don't think we touched on his industry of fitness actually once at all in two hours. So yes, lots and lots of varied things to go through today. I really, really hope that you enjoyed this one. Also, you may have noticed that I hit 1 million subscribers on YouTube, which feels insane. It's 2,000 videos, 650 episodes, like 20 million hours of watch time to get to where we are. And it feels really, really good. This week's been incredibly hectic, getting ready for the Chris Bumstead episodes to go live this Monday. But I've taken time to be grateful for all of the success and the positive feelings and vibes that I'm getting my way. So thank you to everybody that's shared the episodes, subscribed on YouTube and all of that stuff. There is a special 1 million subscriber video thing coming that we've been working on for ages, but the subs exploded so much over the last couple of weeks that they overtook our projected timeline for finishing the edit. So you are just going to have to sit tight, but there is something special coming soon, I promise. In other news, this episode is brought to you by Surfshark VPN. Protect your browsing online and get access to the entire world's Netflix library for less than the price of a cup of coffee per month. If you use a public Wi-Fi network, it is like leaving your car unlocked in a very dangerous neighborhood. Everybody can see what you are doing and steal your information, and you don't want that. Also, by using Surfshark VPN, you can change your location digitally, which means you can access the entire world's Netflix library. You can use HBO Max and Disney Plus and other services when you're away from home, and it's available across unlimited devices, your laptop, your phone, your iPad, even your smart TV.
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That's better, help.com/modernwisdom to take their free quiz today. And in final news, this episode is brought to you by Mudwater. Mudwater is a coffee alternative with adaptogenic mushrooms and Ayurvedic herbs. It provides energy without the jitters, anxiety or crash of coffee. The blend includes Lion's Mane for alertness, Cordyceps for physical performance, Chaga and Rishi for immune support, Turmeric for soreness and cinnamon for antioxidants. It is Whole30 approved, 100% USDA, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and Kosher certified. But best of all, it really helps you to take a moment in the morning to just reflect on your day. I really love the fact that there is a ritual associated with making your mudwater. It takes a couple of minutes. And while you're doing that, you just get to reflect, unwind and contemplate how everything is going in your life. Get ready for the day ahead. I really, really like it. And you can get 15% off everything if you go to mudwtr.com/mw and use the code MW15 at checkout. That's mudwtr.com/mw and MW15 at checkout. But now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Dr Mike Israetel.