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Are good looks actually a life advantage, or just a very convincing illusion?

In this episode, Craig and I poke at one of society’s favorite unspoken rules: beauty equals value. Why are humans so magnetically drawn to attractiveness? What do we really mean when we say someone is “confident,” “intimidating,” or “easy to like”? And how much of what we believe about social success is… let’s be honest… wildly untrue but repeated with the confidence of an over caffeinated motivational speaker?

We dig into how being different, visibly, socially, existentially, shapes identity. From my experiences growing up with facial deformities to navigating subtle threats to who you are (especially when they come from people you love), this is a candid look at how identity gets formed, fractured, defended, and sometimes rebuilt from scratch. We explore the stories we tell ourselves after awkward silences, side-eye glances, and half-smiles, and why our interpretations of social interactions are often far harsher than reality.

Along the way, we dismantle a few sacred cows:
• The futility of being right (no bridges in human history were ever built by winning an argument)
• Why “just be confident” is terrible advice
• The difference between self-accountability and self-punishment
• What it actually means to be self-authoring, grounded in who you are, not owned by other people’s opinions, but not numb or indifferent either.

This isn’t about ignoring life’s tragedies, horrors, or disappointments. It’s about the antidote, how we can find meaning, as well as mean enough to one another that we help fill the emptiness of existence without pretending the darkness isn’t real. It’s about inherent confidence, earned not through approval, but through honesty, courage, and the radical act of being fully human.

Thoughtful. Uncomfortable. Occasionally funny in a “why am I laughing right now?” way.

Come for the psychology. Stay for the existential reckoning.

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www.theselfhelpantidote.com

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In this episode of The Self-Help Antidote, I sit down with Jo Groves and Behavioral Scientist and Exercise Professional Dr. Lou Atkinson to explore one of the most talked-about topics in health and fitness today, GLP-1. From its medical origins and biological mechanisms to the behavioral implications of satiety and self-control, this conversation pulls no punches on what GLP-1 can (and can’t) do.

Dr. Atkinson unpacks the myths about obesity, the oversimplified “eat less, move more” narrative, and the cognitive distortions that still run rampant in the fitness industry. Together, we explore whether GLP-1 can serve as a keystone habit, building confidence and creating the psychological foundation for lasting change, and whether data supports its role in reducing other cravings beyond food.

The discussion expands into the importance of individualized programming, adaptive gym memberships, and how small wins, community, and empathy-based coaching can drive sustainable progress. Ultimately, this episode challenges the industry to move beyond stigma and towards genuine human understanding, because change doesn’t start in the mirror; it starts in the mind.

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We can’t relive the past, but the past never really leaves us. In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend and co-host Tiffanee Cook to explore how our history continues to shape who we are, what we value, and how we show up today. We unpack why the environments, people, and strengths that fueled our success in the past are a mirror reflecting what matters most to us now, and how dissecting those elements can help us become the best version of ourselves.

Together, we dig into why the most meaningful parts of our lives almost always involve relationships, not transactions, and why success in business and life requires more than strategy, it requires being in the right environment with the right people. We discuss relational vs. transactional business models, the role of community, and why people who genuinely care are good for business. After all, Gallup research shows that 70% of the variance in all business outcomes is directly related to the department manager. Translation: people matter, and leaders who foster connection create the conditions for growth.

This is a conversation about memory, meaning, and the environments that allow us to thrive, because the past may be behind us, but it still has a lot to teach us about the future.

Visit us at:

www.theselfhelpantidote.com