• Wonderfully Uncomfortable (2 of 4): How to Set Goals That Actually Work
    Apr 7 2026

    Find Your Why Workbook: Link

    In this episode, Andrew discusses the importance of goal setting and how to effectively work towards achieving goals. He provides a framework for long-term goal setting and emphasizes the need for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based (SMART) goals. Andrew also shares his personal approach to goal setting and the daily behaviors required to execute these goals. The conversation delves into the process of setting and achieving long-term goals, emphasizing the importance of mindset, behavior, and execution. It explores the concept of fear and the impact of aligning goals with personal values and relationships. The speaker shares a practical approach to goal setting and reflects on the significance of living with purpose and meaning.

    Takeaways

    • SMART goals are essential for effective goal setting.
    • Long-term goal setting involves envisioning the person you want to become and working backwards to identify the behaviors and actions needed to achieve that vision. Mindset, behavior, and execution are crucial components of achieving long-term goals.
    • Aligning goals with personal values and relationships is essential for success.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 - Introducing the episode: why goal setting matters

    02:17 - The pitfalls of traditional goal setting and the importance of purpose

    03:44 - Why most goals fail and the role of outcome dependency

    05:09 - The origins of goal setting theories and the SMART framework

    06:09 - How to craft specific, measurable, and achievable goals

    08:36 - Common reasons goals don't stick and how to address them

    10:02 - The importance of feedback and realistic progress tracking

    11:31 - Why outcome-focused goals often lead to burnout

    12:33 - How to build identity-based goals that shape behavior

    15:28 - Long-term visioning: your 5-year goals and the person you want to become

    16:55 - Breaking down long-term goals into 3-year and 1-year milestones

    18:45 - The process of backtracking from future achievements

    20:10 - Adjustments and flexibility: what to do when plans change

    21:54 - Daily habits and micro-actions: making progress step-by-step

    25:18 - The importance of mindset, beliefs, and environment

    27:45 - Overcoming habits that sabotage your goals

    28:43 - The power of massive action and messy progress

    30:11 - The role of self-awareness in goal achievement

    32:37 - Handling fear and failure: the Fear-Setting technique

    36:11 - Dispelling the myth of fearless success

    37:34 - Seeing fear as growth and discomfort as a sign to push further

    39:02 - Practical strategies for managing setbacks and adverse conditions

    42:04 - The importance of planning for what could go wrong

    43:41 - Building mental resilience to adapt and thrive

    45:07 - The balance of control and letting go in goal pursuit

    46:19 - Reflecting on what excites and motivates you

    48:01 - The significance of community, relationships, and purpose in your goals

    49:37 - Final thoughts: living intentionally and creating your best life

    Connect with Andy:

    • LinkedIn
    • Website
    • Instagram

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    51 mins
  • Wonderfully Uncomfortable (1 of 4): Finding Your Why
    Mar 29 2026

    Find Your Why Workbook [link]

    In this episode of the Tiny Shifts Podcast, Andy Nunn explores the power of understanding your why. The core motivation that drives you to face challenges and pursue meaningful goals.

    • Why having a strong foundation and clear purpose is crucial for tackling difficult goals
    • How to identify and live your values to stay motivated during tough moments
    • The difference between hedonistic pleasure and eudaemonic pursuit of fulfillment
    • How to craft a personal mission statement that guides your behavior and decisions
    • The importance of environment and community in maintaining motivation

    Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to the Tiny Shifts Podcast and new studio setup
    01:06 - Andy’s journey with ultra running and upcoming 100-mile race
    02:44 - The importance of mindset and the role of purpose in ultra marathoning
    07:08 - Why your why matters when facing challenges
    08:35 - Exploring Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and pursuing a meaningful life
    10:00 - Balancing pleasure (hedonic) and purpose (eudaimonic) for happiness
    13:02 - Lessons from past life imbalances and the importance of discipline
    14:24 - Practical tips on embracing discomfort and enjoying the struggle
    16:49 - How to find your why through reflection, values, and personal stories
    19:43 - The significance of core values and guiding principles
    21:55 - How big, scary goals can fuel motivation and growth
    23:16 - Using your why to overcome setbacks and habit pitfalls
    27:36 - Crafting your personal mission statement and taking aligned action
    30:02 - The importance of environment and community in living your purpose
    33:23 - Practical steps to implement your why in daily actions and tough moments
    36:10 - Final encouragement: do something hard, start before you're ready, and live with purposeResources & Links:

    • Brené Brown's Dare to Lead Values List
    • Mark Manson - Solve the Podcast on Values
    • Book: Endurance by Alfred Lansing (Shackleton's story)
    • Workbook

    Connect with Andy:

    • LinkedIn
    • Website
    • Instagram
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    40 mins
  • Why can't we do the things we say we are going to do?
    Mar 2 2026

    The episode covers Andy experience of becoming a father, the concept of cutting through the noise, the gap between expectations and actions, cognitive dissonance, the power of stories, safety and comfort, beliefs about stress, performance anxiety and fear, biases and heuristics, the Go Method, recognising limited time, and overcoming resistance.

    Takeaways

    • The importance of recognising the gap between expectations and actions
    • Understanding the power of stories and their impact on our beliefs and behaviors

    Chapters

    • 00:00 Becoming a Father
    • 05:05 Cognitive Dissonance and Discomfort
    • 11:10 Beliefs About Stress
    • 19:51 The Go Method
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    30 mins
  • How Opinions Catch Fire: Inside the psychology of social contagion
    Feb 6 2026
    Summary

    In this episode of the Tiny Shifts podcast, host Andrew Nunn explores the unsettling idea of social contagion and how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours spread between people without us noticing. Through strange historical cases, modern examples, and everyday behaviour, Andrew challenges the belief that we are independent thinkers. He explains how moods, fears, habits, and expectations ripple through social networks, shaping our decisions, health, and sense of reality. The episode reveals how much of what feels personal is actually social and how small changes in what we expose ourselves to can quietly change who we become.

    Takeaways

    Much of what feels like personal choice is socially influenced.
    Emotions and behaviours can spread without conscious awareness.
    Fear and expectation are contagious.
    Stories can create real physical symptoms without any biological cause.
    We often underestimate how much others shape our moods and decisions.
    Homophily pulls us toward people who reinforce our existing beliefs.
    Social networks influence habits, health, and mental wellbeing.
    Expectations can alter perception, behaviour, and even the body.
    Tiny shifts in environment can lead to big changes over time.
    Becoming aware of social contagion restores choice and agency.

    Chapters

    00:00 Strange cases of collective behaviour
    01:32 Are we really independent thinkers?
    02:29 Why we misunderstand our own choices
    05:10 Social contagion and emotional spread
    08:40 How expectations shape behaviour
    12:15 Stories, fear, and physical symptoms
    17:40 Homophily and social influence
    22:10 Habits and behaviours in networks
    27:30 The cost of unconscious exposure
    31:45 Making small, intentional shifts
    35:20 Closing reflections on awareness

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    15 mins
  • Sharks, Headlines and the Illusion of Risk
    Jan 28 2026

    Summary

    In this episode of the Tiny Ships podcast, host Andrew Nunn explores the complex relationship between fear, cognitive biases, and emotional conversations. He discusses how fear can distort our perception of risk and the importance of understanding cognitive biases when engaging in difficult discussions. Andrew introduces the CALM tool as a strategy for navigating these conversations effectively, emphasizing the need to control one's emotions, acknowledge feelings, and ask questions to understand differing viewpoints.

    Takeaways

    • The mind often works in invisible ways that shape our choices.
    • Fear can distort our perception of risk and reality.
    • Strong emotions can change how we process information.
    • Cognitive biases are features that evolved for survival.
    • Natural selection favors caution over rationality.
    • One tragic event can overshadow larger statistics.
    • Understanding biases can help in navigating difficult conversations.
    • Empathy is crucial when discussing polarizing topics.
    • The CALM tool can help manage emotional conversations.
    • Asking questions can reveal underlying values and beliefs.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to the Tiny Ships Podcast

    00:55 Understanding Fear and Emotional Conversations

    05:40 The Impact of Statistics in Emotional Discussions

    10:09 Cognitive Biases and Their Role in Perception

    18:02 Exploring Specific Biases in Fearful Contexts

    25:53 Strategies for Effective Conversations on Sensitive Topics

    27:56 Navigating Heated Conversations

    34:00 Understanding Emotions and Values in Discourse

    34:31 Mastering Heated Conversations

    35:11 Mastering Heated Conversations

    36:11 Emotional Detachment in Discussions

    36:38 PODCAST (1).mp4

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    37 mins
  • Optimistic People Live Longer
    Jan 22 2026

    The conversation explores the concept of real optimism and its practical application, followed by an in-depth discussion on metacognition and its impact on decision-making and behavior. The final chapter delves into specific habits that can boost optimism and improve overall well-being.

    Takeaways

    • Real optimism is the belief that things can improve and that you can do something about it.
    • Metacognition, or thinking about your thinking, is a powerful tool for improving performance outcomes and understanding your own biases.

    Chapters

    • 00:00 Understanding Real Optimism
    • 07:11 Metacognition: Thinking About Your Thinking
    • 15:11 Boosting Optimism Through Habits
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    24 mins
  • Mindulness is Hard
    Jan 15 2026

    The Tiny Shifts podcast, hosted by Andy Nunn, focuses on practical tools for personal development, with a strong emphasis on mindfulness. Andy shares his personal journey with anxiety and the impact of mindfulness on his mental health. He provides insights and tools for implementing mindfulness in daily life.

    Takeaways

    • Mindfulness is about awareness and deliberate attention to thoughts and emotions.
    • Mindfulness can help in managing anxiety, improving emotional language, and making better decisions.
    • Practical habits for improving mindfulness include removing distractions, reducing phone usage, single-tasking, journaling, and meditation.

    Chapters

    • 00:00 Introduction to Tiny Shifts Podcast
    • 10:01 The Impact of Mindfulness on Mental Health
    • 26:20 Practical Tools for Mindfulness
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    34 mins
  • Atomic Habits Fails Where It Matters Most
    Jan 7 2026

    The episode explores the concept of fear-based habits and procrastination, delving into the emotional and psychological aspects of these behaviors. It introduces the 'Go method' as a practical tool for changing the relationship with procrastination and fear-based habits.

    Takeaways

    • Procrastination is often a fear response, not laziness.
    • Emotional regulation is key to understanding procrastination.
    • Social media can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and procrastination.
    • Habit formation involves reducing friction for positive habits and increasing friction for negative ones.
    • Mindset shapes our perception of ourselves and our abilities.
    • The Go Method helps in overcoming procrastination by grounding oneself and taking small actions.
    • Fear is a natural part of growth and should be embraced, not avoided.
    • You are not broken; you are a human experiencing emotions.
    • Failure is a necessary part of the journey towards success.
    • Real change happens through consistent action, not just planning.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Tiny Shifts and Procrastination

    01:02 Understanding Procrastination: Definition and Misconceptions

    04:48 The Emotional Roots of Procrastination

    11:18 Chronic Procrastination and Its Impact on Identity

    20:14 The Go Method: A New Approach to Overcoming Procrastination

    32:20 Implementing the Go Method in Daily Life

    43:46 End

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    44 mins