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Ali & Taimur Abdaal

The weekly podcast about happiness, creativity, and the human condition. It's us, Ali and Taimur Abdaal, occasionally joined by guests, talking about things to help us think, do, and be better.
Things like social interaction, lifestyle design, mental models... Things that are hard to examine, but important to explore. And hopefully, things that make for a fun and interesting chat every week.
We'd love for you to join us.

Not Overthinking

In this episode of Not Overthinking, we discuss our morning routines, the excitement surrounding new book releases, and significant life updates, including Ali's upcoming fatherhood. We delve into the emotional aspects of parenthood, contrasting experiences, and share insights on Taimur's recent acquisition of his startup, Causal, exploring the implications for their work and future plans. We also discuss the intricacies of business acquisitions, the startup landscape, and the balance between product development and distribution strategies. They reflect on the emotional journey of selling a company, the importance of personal branding, and the joys of new technology in family life. Taimur shares insights on navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, emphasising the role of luck and timing in successful acquisitions. The discussion also touches on the impact of emerging technologies like OLED TVs and the Vision Pro on personal experiences.
Enjoy :)

Chapters

(00:00) Morning Routines and Grindsets
(03:01) Exciting Book Releases and Personal Time
(06:01) Life Updates: Expecting a Baby
(09:05) Navigating Parenthood: Perspectives and Experiences
(12:03) Work Transitions: Causal's Acquisition
(18:03) The Acquisition Process and Future Plans
(28:36) The Strategic Value of Acquisitions
(32:04) Navigating the Startup Landscape
(39:10) Product vs. Distribution: A Balancing Act
(49:16) Reflections on Selling a Company
(57:00) The Joys of New Technology and Family Life

Ali’s having a baby + Taimur sells his company

In this episode of Not Overthinking, Ali and Taimur dive into motivation, ambition, and the search for meaning in work and life. They chat about balancing personal fulfilment with financial success, the cyclical nature of ambition, and the challenges of staying motivated after reaching big goals. Along the way, they explore how community, values, and a clear vision can shape a meaningful journey.

(00:00) The Morning Routine and Mental State
(02:07) Finding Meaning in Goals
(06:01) Cognitive Limits and Intentions
(12:14) The Pendulum of Ambition
(18:08) The Economics of Content Creation
(23:46) The Price of Freedom and Lifestyle Choices
(29:48) The Fire Within: Motivation and Balance
(37:18) The Addictive Nature of Growth
(39:04) Finding Motivation Beyond Financial Success
(41:20) The Quest for Meaningful Goals
(43:58) The Role of Community in Sustaining Passion
(46:43) Internal vs External Goods in Work
(49:31) The Search for a Magnetic Vision
(52:48) Filling the Void Post-Financial Freedom
(01:01:18) Navigating Choices and Long-Term Goals
(01:08:49) Reflecting on Purpose and Contribution

The Motivation to Grind

In this episode of Not Overthinking, Ali and Taimur sit down with Derek Sivers to explore the journey of entrepreneurship, the concept of 'enough', and the role of money in happiness. Together, they discuss true financial freedom, future aspirations, and finding purpose in work. Derek reflects on his experience after selling CD Baby, navigating feelings of loss, setting new goals, and embracing change. The conversation touches on creativity, the fear of leaving behind successful ventures, and the excitement of exploring education and productivity. Using the metaphor of breaking out of the atmosphere, they reflect on growth and the opportunities beyond established success.

(00:00) Introduction to Derek Sivers
(03:07) The Concept of 'Enough' in Entrepreneurship
(06:00) The Role of Money in Happiness
(08:54) Defining True Financial Freedom
(12:01) Future Aspirations and Purpose
(15:04) Exploring Problem Areas and Education
(17:58) Derek's Journey After Selling CD Baby
(21:02) Finding New Goals and Passions
(24:13) The Importance of Actionable Goals
(26:51) Exploring New Ventures and Projects
(32:33) Exploring Through Exploiting
(34:53) The Comfort of Coasting on YouTube
(40:51) The Fear of Change and the Unknown
(46:16) The Price of Freedom: Leaving Money on the Table
(50:43) Breaking Out of the Atmosphere: New Possibilities
(57:08) Embracing the Unknown: Preparing for Change

🎙 About the Podcast - Not Overthinking
Not Overthinking is a podcast about happiness, creativity, and the human condition. We talk about things to help us think, do, and be better. Things like social interaction, lifestyle design, mental models...things that are hard to examine, but important to explore. And hopefully, things that make for a fun and interesting chat every week.

Exploring the Meaning of Work

This week, we’re talking about the early stages of parenthood and all the chaos that comes with it. Taimur shares what it’s really like dealing with sleep deprivation, and we chat about why daily walks help keep you sane. We also get into the idea of liminal spaces – those in-between phases of life where things feel uncertain – and why they’re not necessarily a bad thing. Plus, some thoughts on sleep quality, fitness, and getting ready for big life changes.

Chapters

(00:00) Navigating Sleep Regression with a Newborn
(03:59) The Joys and Challenges of Parenthood
(07:57) Connecting with Community Through Parenthood
(08:18) Navigating the Baby Expo Experience
(11:17) Understanding Antenatal Classes
(14:24) The Transition into Parenthood
(17:11) Existential Reflections on Work and Life
(20:17) The Importance of Sleep and Health
(26:19) Incorporating Exercise into Daily Life
(33:02) The Importance of Daily Movement
(38:55) Overcoming Mental Barriers to Exercise
(44:54) Redefining Fitness Routines

Dad Life + Healthy Habits

This week, we dive into the world of history, why it matters, how it shapes our understanding of society, and why ignoring it can be a mistake. Taimur shares how he went from not caring much about history to realising its importance in making sense of the world. We chat about historical consciousness, the limits of a purely tech-focused mindset, and why context is everything. Hope you enjoy the conversation!

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and Personal Updates
(05:32) The Importance of History
(26:21) Understanding Human Affairs Through History
(33:21) The Importance of History in Understanding Society
(36:33) Navigating Historical Knowledge: Strategies for Learning
(39:09) Engaging with History: Finding Personal Relevance
(42:30) The Challenge of Convincing Younger Generations
(45:22) Integrating Historical Understanding into Modern Life

Taimur Discovers the Value of History

In this pilot episode of Not Overthinking, we discuss our reasons for starting the podcast, and then have a chat about why we feel the urge to be correct in everyday conversation.

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Why do we like to be correct?

In this episode, we discuss why we were (once) scared to put ourselves out there and how we overcame that fear. Send us your thoughts — hi@notoverthinking.com!

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Why are we scared to put ourselves out there?

In this episode, we discuss why we hate networking events but love group holidays, and we try and figure out how to better connect with our fellow human beings.

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Why do we hate networking events?

In this episode we discuss how consistency in almost every domain is a super power, and come to a few conclusions about what helps us be more consistent with things like morning routines, gym workouts and writing practices.

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Why do we struggle with consistency?

In this episode, we explore "Measure" — a mental model for spending time and money more effectively. Based on this framework, we conclude that everyone should get a good kitchen bin and a voice coach, and that Ali probably shouldn't get a Tesla.

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Why should you invest in a good kitchen bin?

This episode is mostly a discussion of Robin Hanson's "The Elephant in the Brain", a book about the 'hidden motives in everyday lives'. We also go on a long tangent about envy, and our personal experience of it over the years.

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Envy and The Elephant in the Brain

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