How does the Stronger By Science team operate day-to-day?

The team, consisting of co-owners Greg, Eric, and Lindsay, describes their environment as productive despite being 'toxic,' characterized by a mix of big-picture input and mundane tasks. They spend their days reading research, writing articles, and editing audio, often engaging in low-level complaining about common research issues.

What are Greg's daily work habits and communication style?

Greg typically works from 9:30 AM, using the morning for responding to emails, messages, and website traffic. Due to the volume, his online communication can be brusque, leading people to believe he's annoyed, though he insists this is for efficiency. He prefers communication via Facebook or email over mobile platforms like Instagram or texting.

What sport would Eric compete in if it wasn't a strength sport or major spectator sport?

Eric would realistically choose wrestling, which he previously competed in. Alternatively, he would love to compete in alpine skiing, despite being currently 'garbage' at it, because he enjoys the cold, snow, and picturesque scenery.

What sports does Greg find most fascinating or unbelievable at the top level?

Greg finds top-level badminton fascinating due to the incredible speed and reflexes required. He also highlights male and female gymnastics for their extreme strength, skill, and coordination. Surprisingly, he includes competitive Super Smash Brothers Melee, citing its complex, glitch-exploiting mechanics and high actions-per-minute gameplay.

Why do the hosts, particularly Greg, avoid using steroids?

Greg cites concerns about legal liability, the effort required to manage cycles and post-cycle therapy, potential liver damage from pro-hormones, and cost. Eric adds concerns about the legal ramifications of possession with intent in the US, a family history of heart problems, and the neurotoxic potential of steroids affecting cognition and gray matter. They also express curiosity about achieving natural potential.

What are the main reasons Greg avoids becoming a natural bodybuilder?

Greg finds the hunger during extreme dieting manageable but dislikes the side effects of low testosterone and low thyroid hormone, which cause constant coldness and low energy. He is hesitant to live that lifestyle and has even considered using TRT to finish a cut.

Would you take a pill to become smarter, and what are the potential drawbacks?

Both hosts agree they would take a pill to become smarter, provided there are no severe side effects like premature death. However, they express reservations about superhuman intelligence potentially leading to frustration, social isolation, and regret due to being significantly more intelligent than those around them. The reversibility of the pill is also a key consideration.

Key Moments

Fireside Chat #8: Motivation, sports, steroids, and more

Stronger By Science

Education4 min read80 min video

Sep 10, 2020|5,410 views|145|9

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Greg Nuckols and Eric Trexler discuss motivation, the inner workings of Stronger By Science, sports, and steroids.

Key Insights

Motivation often stems from reframing tasks to align with personal values or goals, or by simply starting the task to overcome inertia.

Stronger By Science operates as a small, dynamic team where co-owners share broad responsibilities, leading to a mix of high-level strategy and detailed execution.

Greg Nuckols and Eric Trexler choose not to use performance-enhancing drugs due to concerns ranging from legal liability and health risks to the desire for personal achievement and intellectual curiosity.

Top-level sports like badminton, gymnastics, and competitive video games (Melee) showcase extraordinary skill, reflexes, and dedication that are fascinating to observe.

The global talent pool in sports like soccer is immense, making standout performance incredibly difficult and impressive, unlike sports with more extreme physical requirements or socioeconomic barriers.

The decision to take a hypothetical pill enhancing intelligence involves weighing potential cognitive benefits against unknown side effects, isolation, and the ethical implications of altering one's own consciousness.

MOTIVATION STRATEGIES

Greg and Eric explore personal strategies for motivation, often involving reframing tasks to align with intrinsic values or goals. They suggest that even if a task isn't inherently interesting, finding a personal reason or benefit can drive completion. A common tactic is simply to start a task, even for a short period, to overcome initial inertia, as getting started often leads to continued engagement. This approach acknowledges that consistent motivation isn't always possible, so finding practical ways to push through is key.

BEHIND THE SCENES AT STRONGER BY SCIENCE

The conversation delves into the operational dynamics of Stronger By Science (SBS), highlighting its structure as a small team where co-owners share diverse responsibilities. This setup involves a blend of strategic, big-picture planning and hands-on execution of day-to-day tasks. The team engages in frequent, low-level complaining about scientific literature or common errors, finding a productive rhythm within this shared environment. Greg also details his intense morning routine of responding to a high volume of messages, which explains his concise online communication style.

CHOICES REGARDING SPORTS PERFORMANCE

When discussing sports outside of major categories, Eric leans towards wrestling for its strategic depth and physical demands, though he notes its watchability decreases at the highest levels due to extreme precision. Greg, however, favors ping pong and basketball for their engagement and enjoyment when playing with similarly skilled individuals. His experience with a significantly more skilled ping pong player highlights the vast differences in skill acquisition and the personal enjoyment derived from playing.

FASCINATION WITH HIGH-LEVEL SPORTS

The hosts express fascination with sports requiring extraordinary skill, reflexes, and dedication. Top-tier badminton is highlighted for its speed and reaction times, which seem almost impossible to human athletes. Gymnastics is also cited for its immense strength, coordination, and artistry. Surprisingly, competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee is mentioned as a sport demanding exceptional motor skills and rapid input, showcasing complexity often lost in newer game iterations.

THE GLOBAL TALENT POOL AND ACCESSIBILITY IN SPORTS

The immense global talent pool in sports like soccer is discussed as a key factor in the difficulty of reaching elite levels. Unlike sports that select for extreme physical traits (like height in basketball), soccer's broader physical requirements and accessibility mean that excelling requires an extraordinary degree of skill relative to billions of participants. This accessibility, potentially less burdened by socioeconomic barriers in many countries, contributes to its massive talent pool.

DECISIONS ON PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS (STEROIDS)

Greg and Eric explain their personal decisions to remain drug-free. Key reasons include concerns over legal liability (especially for extreme users facing serious penalties), significant health risks (heart issues, potential cognitive decline, black market product contamination), and the desire to achieve goals authentically. Eric also notes his family history of heart problems as a deterrent. While not advocating against responsible use, they prioritize avoiding these risks.

CONSIDERATIONS ON INTELLIGENCE-ENHANCING PILLS

The hypothetical of a pill that enhances intelligence is met with initial caution, primarily concerning potential uncontrollable side effects, the risk of extreme outlier intelligence leading to isolation and frustration, and difficulties in socializing. However, they eventually agree that, assuming no severe negative consequences, the benefits of increased intelligence would likely outweigh the risks. Defining 'smarter' involves processing speed, working memory capacity, and the ability to assimilate information efficiently.

HEALTH RISKS AND PERSONAL GOALS

The discussion touches on the health risks associated with severe dieting and bodybuilding, particularly low testosterone and thyroid hormone levels, which can make the lifestyle miserable. Eric mentions a curiosity about achieving a very lean physique and the potential consideration of TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) to mitigate side effects, distinguishing this from using large doses for extreme muscle growth. He emphasizes that his choices are driven by curiosity and personal goals rather than a moral objection to others' use.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Organizations

●People Referenced

Common Questions

Reframing the task to find a personal reason for doing it, even if it involves self-delusion, can be effective. Another approach is to recognize that completing disliked tasks enhances the enjoyment of leisure time, creating a hedonic motivation to get them done. James Clear's advice to simply start for a short period, like five minutes, can also overcome initial inertia.

Topics

Brain-Health Health & Longevity Mindset & Self-Improvement Technology & Innovation Productivity Cognitive Enhancement Business Operations Sports & Athletics Motivation Strategies Sports Analysis Performance Enhancement History Steroid Use Ethics

Mentioned in this video

personMike Trout

Considered the best baseball player today or over the last decade, mentioned in the context of talent slipping through the cracks due to socioeconomic factors.

personHakuho Sho

The number one ranked Yokozuna (grand champion) in sumo wrestling.

organizationUncle Sam

Colloquial term for the US government or its tax agency, mentioned in the context of financial worries early in the business's history.

personJay Cutler

Bodybuilder whose physique was a goal for the speaker in their early fitness career.

personRonnie O'Sullivan

A great snooker player whose highlight reel was recommended to the speaker via YouTube.

personLee Priest

Bodybuilder whose physique was a goal for the speaker in their early fitness career.

personGreg Knuckles

Host of the Fireside Chat series and co-owner of Stronger By Science.