Arthur Brooks: Meaning in Midlife & Beyond

An episode of the Good Life Project podcast, hosted by Jonathan Fields / Acast, titled "Arthur Brooks: Meaning in Midlife & Beyond" was published on March 26, 2026 and runs 49 minutes.

March 26, 2026 ·49m · Good Life Project

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Summary

You’ve reached a point in life where you thought you’d feel different. You’ve checked a lot of the boxes of achievement, happiness, even success. And, still, something is missing. It is a quiet restlessness that age or achievement cannot seem to quiet. What you’re missing is meaning.Our guest today is Arthur Brooks. He is a Harvard professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness. In this conversation, we explore:The myths we tell about how to find meaning, and how they delude us. The neurological reason why your phone is blocking purposeThe 3 real keys to meaning and mattering, and finally feeling aliveThe arrival fallacy that explains why winning is not the same the meaningHow to use a specific morning protocol to program your brain for mystery and wonderThe counterintuitive reason you actually want suffering in your lifeIf you are tired of the hustle and still feeling empty, it is time to look at the science of the soul, and learn how to bring more meaning into your life, starting with practical tools today.You can find Arthur at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Jenny Lawson. She's a #1 New York Times bestselling author who has made millions of people laugh with her writing, and she also lives with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. This conversation is one of the most honest, funny, and unexpectedly hopeful we've ever had on the show.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description

Our guest today is Arthur Brooks. He is a Harvard professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.

In this conversation, we explore:

The myths we tell about how to find meaning, and how they delude us.
The neurological reason why your phone is blocking purpose
The 3 real keys to meaning and mattering, and finally feeling alive
The arrival fallacy that explains why winning is not the same the meaning
How to use a specific morning protocol to program your brain for mystery and wonder
The counterintuitive reason you actually want suffering in your life

If you are tired of the hustle and still feeling empty, it is time to look at the science of the soul, and learn how to bring more meaning into your life, starting with practical tools today.

You can find Arthur at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Jenny Lawson. She's a #1 New York Times bestselling author who has made millions of people laugh with her writing, and she also lives with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. This conversation is one of the most honest, funny, and unexpectedly hopeful we've ever had on the show.

Check out our offerings & partners: