Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene
Self-Improvement
About
Insightful and open-minded pieces conversations that help you see the world with greater clarity. The bi-weekly roadmap to a more intentional and fulfilling life.
Episodes
- The Great Sexual Divide
This episode discusses the increasing global divergence between men and women, examining its effects on dating, marriage, sexual relations, and birth rates.
- The World's Most Interesting Man
Ben Sasse, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, shares insights on how to live and die with dignity and grace during his final days.
- Nobody Cares
The episode discusses the feeling of being constantly watched, like on a digital scoreboard. It suggests that as people age, they often realize nobody is paying attention to them because they are preoccupied with their own lives.
- What an Insane and Remarkable Time to Be Alive
This episode challenges the notion that the world is ending, proposing instead that the current era is both remarkably alive and deeply insane.
- Why Your Dog Might Be Smarter Than You
The episode discusses the human tendency to feel guilty about enjoying life and suggests that dogs, with their ability to live, love, eat, and forgive without reservation, offer a model for a better way to experience the world.
- The Quiet Crisis Facing Young Men
Tom Greene addresses the "quiet crisis" affecting young men, noting trends like online gambling and prolonged dependence on parents. He suggests the causes are more complex than a lack of motivation or laziness.
- Six Surprising Secrets of Success
This episode of Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene explores the idea that the intense focus on college acceptances and grades might be misplaced. It questions whether these factors are truly the keys to success, suggesting that student anxieties…
- The Age of Impatience
The episode discusses the traditional view of wisdom as something earned through experience and questions whether modern impatience hinders its pursuit.
- The Things We Leave Behind
Tom Greene reflects on legacy, suggesting that the traits and qualities we impart to others are more significant than material possessions left behind.
- The Hidden Gift of the Detour
This episode discusses how unexpected detours and adjustments in life, prompted by a simple observation, can unexpectedly add richness and color to our experiences.
- The Quiet Discipline of Letting Go
The episode discusses how wisdom and growth often come from letting go, or subtracting, rather than adding. It highlights the realization that the life one envisions might not be the life one truly wants.
- The American Sobriety Experiment
This episode discusses the trend of 'Dry January' and the broader decline in American alcohol consumption. It delves into the potential unforeseen consequences of increased sobriety across the nation.
- When Did Empathy Get Hijacked?
The episode discusses how empathy, once a tool for respectful disagreement, has been co-opted by extreme ideologies. It questions how society reached a point where empathy is seemingly hijacked, forcing a choice between agreement and perce…
- The Growing Pains of Affluence
This episode of Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene discusses how modern parents are providing their children with unprecedented affluence. It questions whether this approach, offering the best schools, clothes, and neighborhoods, might inadverte…
- You Aren't Meant to Carry the World
This episode of Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene is titled "You Aren't Meant to Carry the World."
- Is Civility Really Dead?
Tom Greene questions the narrative that civility is extinct, asserting that evidence suggests otherwise. The episode explores reasons why civility remains present.
- The Growing Pains of Affluence
This episode discusses a generation raised during a prosperous era, given many advantages and promised success through education. However, they are now discovering the reality of the 'real world' differs from the idealistic expectations se…
- The Misinterpretation of the American Dream
This "best of 2025" episode of Wit & Wisdom revisits popular moments from the year, including discussions on "The Misinterpretation of the American Dream."
- The Ultimate Act of Compassion
Tom Greene questions Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) law, noting that 60,000 people voluntarily ended their lives in Canada last year. He observes that several US states are adopting similar laws, allowing doctors to end a pati…
- Twenty Five Years of Bowling Alone
The episode discusses Robert Putnam's observation from 25 years ago that more people were bowling but fewer were joining leagues, linking this to a growing trend of individualism.
- When Everything is Free, Nothing is of any Value
Host Tom Greene reflects on his father's saying that nothing in life is free, noting that many things once considered valuable are now available at no cost. The episode questions what truly holds value when it's given away freely.
- Why the Kids Aren't Getting Married (long version)
This episode of Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene explores the difficulties young adults have faced due to recent social movements and the pandemic. It touches on a significant increase in college freshmen unable to identify their gender, and a…
- The Poverty of Abundance
This episode of Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene explores the challenge of finding purpose later in life when faced with numerous opportunities. Greene suggests there is a solution to this feeling of being overwhelmed or uninspired.
- Three Secrets of Resilient People
This episode discusses the importance of resilience and shares three habits that resilient people rely on. Resilience is a necessary skill for navigating life's challenges.
- Eight Observations from Eight Decades of Life
In this episode, the author shares a letter written to their younger self, offering advice based on experiences from eight decades of life. The core message focuses on the significance of present adjustments for future well-being.
- When Did Time Become the Enemy?
This episode discusses the changing perception of time as we age, contrasting the seemingly endless days of childhood summers with the rapid passage of time in adulthood. It questions whether adulthood and technology influence this altered…
- Did the Boomers Ruin Things for Everyone?
The episode discusses the widespread online sentiment that younger Americans face financial challenges due to high home prices and interest rates, with some blaming the baby boomer generation.
- Dear Younger Me:
In this episode, Tom Greene writes a letter to his younger self from the year 2000. The letter aims to prepare his younger self for upcoming changes.
- The Death of Shame
The podcast episode discusses the historical role of shame as a protective mechanism and contrasts it with its perceived absence in contemporary society, characterized by moral relativism. It raises the question of whether shame should be…
- Five Key Pillars of a Happy Life
This episode discusses five essential pillars for achieving happiness, offering guidance to overcome life's difficulties.
- Why Crazy Rich People are Often Miserable
This episode of Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene discusses the topic of why extremely wealthy people might experience misery. The specific reasons are not detailed in the provided information.
- The "Liabetes" Epidemic in America
The episode explores the concept of a 'Liabetes' epidemic in America, questioning if widespread lying has become a national pastime.
- The Power of Hope
This episode discusses hope as an underrated emotion. It is described as the last light that remains when everything else is stripped away, like an ember that refuses to go out or a green shoot from scorched earth.
- Our Passion Whispers to Us
This episode discusses existential crises and the pursuit of passion, questioning if a single passion exists and suggesting that meaning may lie in life's mysteries rather than clear answers.
- The End of Risky Business
Modern children are raised with structured play and constant supervision, leading to a decline in adventure and courage. This approach may be hindering the development of bravery in an entire generation.
- Fifty Shades of "Greige"
The episode discusses the decreasing presence of color in modern society since the 1970s, noting that 80% of cars sold are monochrome and this trend is also affecting other areas like media and branding.
- The Lost Art of Dying
Episode 139 discusses the shift in dying from a family and neighborhood event to a professional, institutional process. The episode suggests this outsourcing, while professional, avoids the messiness of death and may change listeners' pers…
- The New Artificial Frontier
This episode of Wit & Wisdom discusses the trend of men confiding in ChatGPT, highlighting the associated ethical and legal concerns and instances where the AI's advice led to dangerous outcomes.
- Do You Really Want to Live to Age 100?
A female born today has a 5% chance of living to 100. This episode considers whether one would desire to live to that age.
- The Male Sedation Hypothesis
The episode discusses the Male Sedation Hypothesis, presenting it not just as a phrase but as an indicator of a significant issue occurring subtly.
- Slowly Rotting From the Inside Out
Tom Greene explores ChatGPT's six-step plan for societal destruction, prompted by a hypothetical question about ending the world without traditional weapons. Greene notes that many of the AI's suggested steps are already underway.
- The Blame Game
The episode discusses the human tendency to assign blame after disasters like the Texas floods, questioning whether this is a healthy response to grief and loss.
- The Power of Remembering
Tom Greene questions why we struggle to remember certain information, like credit card numbers, while easily recalling others, like old phone numbers. He suggests that technology, while convenient, has diminished thoughtfulness and intenti…
- Things We Know Without Knowing
The episode discusses the common experiences of déjà vu and visiting places for the first time, only to realize you've been there before. It delves into the subconscious mind and the potential impact of deeply buried thoughts.
- The Illusion of Control
This episode of Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene discusses the modern trend of extreme curation in all aspects of life, from news to coffee. It questions whether this extensive customization provides genuine peace or if it leads to regret over…
- Why Your Brain Thrives on Uncertainty
This episode discusses the surprising idea that the brain thrives on uncertainty. It uses the evolution of air travel booking and boarding processes since 1974 as an example of how humans adapt to and even enhance their lives through chang…
- The Synchronicity of Life
This episode discusses Synchronicity, explaining it as meaningful coincidences like encountering repeating numbers or receiving consistent advice, and questions whether people recognize these as potential messages from the universe.
- Often Wrong, Seldom in Doubt
This episode of Wit & Wisdom with Tom Greene discusses the Dunning Kruger effect, a phenomenon where individuals with the least expertise often exhibit the most confidence.
- Life is a Journey
The podcast episode 'Life is a Journey' suggests that life is a journey where the most significant impact often stems from the smallest gestures, implying this is a fundamental reason for our existence.
- The Epidemic of Awkwardness
This episode discusses the paradox of being highly connected yet struggling to form genuine connections, attributing some of this to social skill loss during the pandemic. It aims to provide a guide for building more meaningful relationshi…