PODCAST · business
First Principles
by Adrian Wells
First Principles isn't another business podcast recycling the same startup stories. Adrian Wells takes the fundamentals that actually matter and breaks them down like you're having coffee with the smartest professor you ever had.Wells spent twelve years teaching philosophy and critical thinking before ditching the lecture hall for the microphone. Turns out, the same principles that help you think clearly about ancient Greek ethics also work pretty well for modern business decisions. Who knew?Every episode strips away the latest trends and buzzwords to focus on the core ideas that don't change. How to actually evaluate evidence when everyone's throwing around statistics. Why most "revolutionary" business advice is just old wine in new bottles. The thinking patterns that separate smart decisions from lucky guesses.You won't get hyped-up success stories or flavor-of-the-month strategies. Instead, you'll learn how to think through problems the way philosophers have for centuries, applie
Episodes
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Cancer Doctor: This Food In Your Kitchen Is Feeding Your Cancer Right Now
What if that sugar in your morning coffee is actually feeding something you don't want growing? Adrian Wells sits down with a leading cancer specialist who reveals the shocking truth about how everyday foods interact with cancer cells at the cellular level. This isn't another fear-mongering…
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Rita Ora: How Jay-Z's Record Deal at 18 Triggered 8 Years of Panic Attacks
What if getting signed by Jay-Z at 18 was the worst thing that could happen to your mental health? Rita Ora's story shows how overnight success can trigger years of anxiety that even fame can't fix. Adrian Wells breaks down how early industry pressure creates psychological patterns that follow...
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What Boris Johnson Just Revealed About Virus Engineering Will Shock You
Boris Johnson just dropped some explosive claims that'll make you question everything about the pandemic response. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down Johnson's shocking allegations about virus engineering and government bribery attempts that reveal the messy reality behind closed-door...
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The $250K Renting vs Buying Myth That's Costing You (Ramit Sethi Breaks It Down)
What if everything you've been told about money is wrong? In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with bestselling author Ramit Sethi to destroy some of the most expensive myths in personal finance. Spoiler alert: that "always split the bill" rule might be sabotaging your relationships and your...
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Trevor Noah: Why My ADHD Diagnosis Finally Explained My Depression
Trevor Noah thought he was broken. Years of depression, struggling to focus, feeling like his brain worked differently than everyone else's. Then came the ADHD diagnosis that changed everything. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down Noah's revelation about the hidden connection between ADHD…
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Why Mary Portas Quit Her £2M Career to Find Her True Self
What if the £2 million career you thought would make you happy actually becomes your prison? Mary Portas built everything she thought she wanted, then walked away to discover who she really was. In this episode, Adrian Wells explores the uncomfortable truth about living authentically in a world...
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The NoFap Trap: Why 73% Relapse And What Scientists Just Discovered
What if everything you think you know about quitting adult content is actually making the problem worse? Adrian Wells breaks down the shocking science behind why 73% of people relapse in the NoFap movement and what researchers just discovered about how the adult industry is literally rewiring our...
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Divorce Expert: Why Kids-First Parents Are 3x More Likely to Split Up
What if everything you've been told about putting kids first is actually destroying your marriage? Adrian Wells sits down with a divorce expert who reveals the counterintuitive truth: couples who prioritize their children over their relationship are 3x more likely to split up. 🎯 What You'll…
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The $2.3 Billion UFO Program the Government Tried to Hide
What if the Pentagon has been sitting on evidence of aircraft that defy everything we know about physics? Former Pentagon official Luis Elizondo just went public with classified details about the government's $2.3 billion UFO investigation program. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down why…
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NYU Professor's Math: Trump Has 1 in 3 Chance of Dying as President
What if a math professor just calculated something that could change the next four years of American politics? NYU's Scott Galloway ran the numbers on Trump's age and health data, and his conclusion is stark: there's a 1 in 3 chance Trump won't survive his presidency. Adrian Wells breaks down…
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Why Chris Kamara's Speech Condition Nearly Ended His Career (The Full Story)
What if one of football's most beloved voices almost went silent forever? Adrian Wells reveals how Chris Kamara's battle with apraxia of speech nearly destroyed the career that made him a household name. The same condition that affects just 1 in 500 people caught everyone off guard when "Kammy's"...
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Why This Investing Expert Says 2032 Will Change Everything
What if the guy who predicted the 2008 financial crisis is right about 2032? Raoul Pal, former Goldman Sachs executive, believes we have exactly six years before economic and technological forces completely reshape how we work, invest, and live. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down Pal's…
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Chris Williamson: Why Modern Dating Apps Are Making Men & Women Incompatible
Why are 63% of men under 30 single while only 34% of women the same age are? In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the latest relationship research with Chris Williamson, revealing how dating apps and shifting social dynamics are creating an unprecedented compatibility crisis between modern…
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Dr Sampson: The Mouth Bacteria That's Secretly Destroying Your Brain
What if the bacteria in your mouth right now is quietly rewiring your brain for Alzheimer's disease? Adrian Wells breaks down the shocking research connecting your oral health to cognitive decline in ways that will make you rethink your dental routine forever. This isn't about cavities or bad...
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Eric Schmidt's Terrifying AI Warning: Why We Need Emergency Stop Buttons
When a former Google CEO says AI could help terrorists create biological weapons, you listen. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down Eric Schmidt's shocking warning about AI's dark potential and why tech leaders are quietly building "emergency stop buttons" for artificial intelligence. 🎯 What...
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Why Ramit Sethi Says Your Dream House Is Bankrupting Your Future
What if everything you think you know about building wealth is completely backwards? Ramit Sethi just dropped some serious truth bombs about homeownership that'll make you question the American Dream itself. In this eye-opening episode, Adrian Wells breaks down why that dream house might actually...
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Tom Blomfield's $5 Billion Mistake: Why Building Monzo Almost Killed Him
What if the price of building a $5 billion company was nearly losing your mind? Tom Blomfield turned Monzo into one of the UK's most successful fintechs, but the personal cost almost destroyed him. Adrian Wells sits down with Blomfield to uncover the brutal reality behind the startup success...
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No.1 Toxicologist: These 3 Products Were Making Me Infertile (You Have Them Too)
Most people think they're living pretty clean lives. But according to the #1 toxicologist in fertility research, we're unknowingly poisoning ourselves every single day. Adrian Wells sits down with a world-renowned expert who reveals how three common household products tanked his own sperm count…
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Jaspreet Singh: If You're Under 45, You Won't Get A Pension (Here's What To Do)
Your retirement plan just got torched. If you're under 45, forget everything you thought you knew about financial security because the system you're counting on is already broken. In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with financial expert Jaspreet Singh to expose the brutal math behind why...
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Birth Control Is Rewiring Your Brain: What Doctors Don't Tell You
What if the tiny pill millions of women take daily is quietly rewiring their brains and changing who they're attracted to? Adrian Wells breaks down the shocking research that doctors rarely discuss when prescribing hormonal birth control. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why women on the pill show 25%…
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Ex-CIA Spy: China's 2030 Plan Will Shock You (And We're Ignoring It)
China graduates 4.7 million STEM students each year. The US graduates 568,000. That gap isn't an accident. In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with a former CIA analyst who spent years tracking China's strategic planning, and what he reveals about their 2030 timeline will change how you think...
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Brian Keating: I'm Spending $200 Million To Prove God Exists Through Science
What if a $200 million telescope project could answer humanity's biggest question: are we alone in a universe that seems perfectly designed for life? Astrophysicist Brian Keating thinks it can, and his approach to blending rigorous science with spiritual curiosity might surprise you. In this...
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How Lewis Capaldi Went From Busking to $50M at 22: The Mental Health Secret
What if the secret to massive success isn't talent or luck, but just being brutally honest about your mental health struggles? Lewis Capaldi went from busking on Glasgow streets to earning $50 million by age 22, and it wasn't because he had the best voice. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks…
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The 20-Minute Rule Sex Therapists Don't Want You To Know (Changes Everything)
Most couples jump straight into intimacy without giving their bodies the 20 minutes they actually need to reach peak arousal. That's like trying to sprint before you've warmed up. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the biological reality behind great sex and the simple pre-intimacy routine...
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Why People Secretly Dislike You: 5 Body Language Signals You Miss
Ever wonder why some people just seem... unlikeable, even when they're trying their best? In this episode, Adrian Wells reveals the hidden body language mistakes that make people unconsciously pull away from you. Turns out, you might be sabotaging your own likability without even knowing it. 🎯...
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Josh Peck Lost 127lbs: The Mental Health Secret Nobody Talks About
Most people think losing weight is the hard part. Josh Peck discovered the real challenge starts after you drop 127 pounds and nobody recognizes who you are anymore. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the mental game behind sustainable transformation that most weight loss stories…
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MrBallen: Why I Almost Quit After Navy SEALs (And How I Turned It Around)
How does a Navy SEAL who gets kicked out of the military turn rejection into a billion-view storytelling empire? In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with John Allen (MrBallen) to unpack the brutal honesty and strategic thinking that transformed his lowest point into his greatest success. 🎯...
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The £2M Mistake That Nearly Destroyed True Geordie's Career
What if building a £2M media empire started with a depressed football fan making videos in his bedroom? In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the wild journey of True Geordie's Brian Davis, from unemployed Newcastle supporter to YouTube powerhouse who survived career-threatening scandals and...
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Why Reid Hoffman Thinks You're Staying In Your Job Too Long (LinkedIn CEO)
When does an entrepreneur who built a billion-dollar company and invested in Facebook, Airbnb, and Spotify start worrying about political revenge? Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn's founder, reveals the career timing framework that guided his biggest decisions and shares why he's genuinely concerned about...
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Dr. Martha Beck: Why Your Anxiety Gets Worse When You Try to Think Your Way Out
What if the anxiety trick that works best is actually the opposite of what your brain wants to do? Instead of thinking your way out, Dr. Martha Beck (Oprah's life coach for over 20 years) says the secret is dropping into your body. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down Beck's simple technique...
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Loneliness Kills: Life Extension Expert Reveals the 170.8% Death Risk Nobody Talks About
What if the biggest threat to your lifespan isn't cancer, heart disease, or even smoking? Adrian Wells sits down with a life extension expert who drops a bombshell: loneliness increases your risk of early death by 170.8%. That makes social isolation deadlier than a pack-a-day smoking habit. The...
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Why Your Brain Stores Trauma in Your Eyes (And How to Release It)
What if the secret to healing your deepest wounds was literally right before your eyes? Adrian Wells breaks down the surprising science behind EMDR therapy, a trauma treatment that sounds almost too simple to work but has revolutionized how we understand the mind-body connection. 🎯 What You'll...
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Why Your Body Language Is Sabotaging Your Success (Behavior Expert Reveals)
Ever wonder how military interrogators can spot a lie before someone even finishes their sentence? Chase Hughes conducted over 1,000 interrogations and developed a system so accurate, the military now spends $50 million annually on his techniques. Adrian Wells sits down with this behavior expert…
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What Alcohol Is Actually Doing to Your Dopamine (The Truth Will Shock You)
Here's your dopamine and that Friday night drink? Adrian Wells breaks down what's actually happening in your brain when you reach for alcohol, and why understanding your dopamine system might be the key to making smarter choices about everything from work habits to weekend plans. Most people…
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What Being In The World's Biggest Girl Band Actually Cost Mel C
What if the biggest girl band in history wasn't living the dream, but quietly falling apart behind the scenes? In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with Mel C from the Spice Girls to uncover the brutal reality behind selling 100 million records worldwide and what that level of fame actually...
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Why Your Period Workouts Fail (And The 4 Supplements That Fix Everything)
Ever wonder why your workout feels like absolute torture the week before your period? Turns out, there's actual science behind why your body seems to revolt against exercise at certain times of the month. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the biology that's been working against you and…
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Why Your Doctor Lied About Low Libido: The Truth That Changes Everything
Ever wonder why your doctor's first solution for bedroom problems is always "take a pill"? About 70% of men with erectile dysfunction actually have normal blood flow but low testosterone levels. In this episode, Adrian Wells sits down with Dr. Khera to expose what the medical establishment gets...
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Why Modern Men Are Creating A Sexless Society (Peterson's Brutal Truth)
About 20% of American marriages today are sexless. In 1992, it was just 2%. Adrian Wells examines Jordan Peterson's provocative argument that we've systematically ignored the relationship wisdom our grandparents knew by heart. Peterson doesn't pull punches here: men are lonelier, relationships…
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Deliveroo Founder Reveals: The £5 Billion Business Started With One Restaurant Rejection
What if the founder of a £5 billion company told you his biggest early mistake was trying to get restaurants to deliver their own food? Will Shu built Deliveroo by flipping that assumption completely. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down how a Morgan Stanley investment banker making £150k...
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Doctor Breaks Down After Losing Brother: The Hidden Mental Health Crisis in Medicine
What if the most dangerous job in the world isn't what you think? Healthcare workers are 25% more likely to experience depression than other professionals, and when Dr. Alex George lost his brother to suicide at just 19, he discovered the hidden mental health crisis destroying the people who save...
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Why Reggie Yates Never Gives Up: The Psychology Secret Behind Unstoppable Drive
What if the one trait that separates champions from quitters isn't talent, but something way more trainable? Reggie Yates joins Adrian Wells to break down the psychological blueprint behind unstoppable drive and why 92% of people abandon their goals before they even get started. 🎯 What You'll...
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What Nasty Gal's Rise Reveals About Building Billion-Dollar Brands
What if everything you think you know about building a billion-dollar brand is dead wrong? Sophia Amoruso went from shoplifting vintage clothes to running a $400 million empire, and her unconventional path destroys every "proper" business rule you've ever heard. In this episode, Adrian Wells…
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I Used Daniel Priestley's 7,11,4 Method for 30 Days. Here's What Happened.
What if I told you there's a proven formula that can turn $1 into $10,000 per month? Adrian Wells tested Daniel Priestley's legendary 7,11,4 method for 30 days straight, and the results might surprise you. This isn't another get-rich-quick scheme: it's a systematic approach used by entrepreneurs...
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What Trump's Victory Just Revealed About The UK's Coming Collapse
What if Trump's victory just exposed the real cracks in the UK's foundation? While everyone's focused on American politics, Adrian Wells reveals why Britain's economic crisis might be the bigger story for your future. The numbers don't lie: UK debt hit 98.7% of GDP in 2024, the highest since the...
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Why Your Chewing Habits Are Making You Fat (Scientists Finally Prove It)
Your dinner timing might be sabotaging your weight loss goals, and most people have no clue. A nutritional scientist just proved that when you eat matters as much as what you eat-and the research will completely change how you think about meals. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the...
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Paul Brunson: Women Are Sabotaging Their Love Lives With These Impossible Standards
What if the dating "standards" keeping women single aren't really standards at all, but impossible checklists that block them from real love? Adrian Wells sits down with Paul Brunson, the matchmaker who worked for Oprah and has successfully paired over 3,000 couples, to break down why most dating...
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The $50 Tampon That Cost Lauren Wasser Her Legs (TSS Warning Signs)
What if a single tampon could cost you both legs? Lauren Wasser was a healthy 24-year-old model when toxic shock syndrome nearly killed her and ultimately led to the amputation of both her legs. In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down her shocking story and the critical warning signs that could...
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What Your Voice Reveals About Why You're Rejected Before You Speak
What if the reason people don't warm up to you has nothing to do with what you say, but everything to do with how you say it? Adrian Wells breaks down the psychology behind first impressions and reveals the specific traits that make some people magnetic while others get written off in seconds. 🎯...
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The Voice Coach Behind 50M+ YouTube Views Reveals His Speaking Secrets
Ever wonder why some people's voices make you lean in while others make you tune out? Adrian Wells sits down with Julian Treasure, the speaking coach whose techniques have generated over 50 million YouTube views, to uncover the vocal secrets that separate influential speakers from background…
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What Your Glucose Monitor Reveals About Your Fat Storage (Doctor Explains)
Why does your body store fat after eating a salad with bread, but not after eating steak with vegetables? In this episode, Adrian Wells breaks down the insulin-glucose connection that controls whether your next meal gets burned for energy or stored as fat. Your glucose monitor isn't just for...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
First Principles isn't another business podcast recycling the same startup stories. Adrian Wells takes the fundamentals that actually matter and breaks them down like you're having coffee with the smartest professor you ever had.Wells spent twelve years teaching philosophy and critical thinking before ditching the lecture hall for the microphone. Turns out, the same principles that help you think clearly about ancient Greek ethics also work pretty well for modern business decisions. Who knew?Every episode strips away the latest trends and buzzwords to focus on the core ideas that don't change. How to actually evaluate evidence when everyone's throwing around statistics. Why most "revolutionary" business advice is just old wine in new bottles. The thinking patterns that separate smart decisions from lucky guesses.You won't get hyped-up success stories or flavor-of-the-month strategies. Instead, you'll learn how to think through problems the way philosophers have for centuries, applie
HOSTED BY
Adrian Wells
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does First Principles have?
First Principles currently has 443 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is First Principles about?
First Principles isn't another business podcast recycling the same startup stories. Adrian Wells takes the fundamentals that actually matter and breaks them down like you're having coffee with the smartest professor you ever had.Wells spent twelve years teaching philosophy and critical thinking...
How often does First Principles release new episodes?
First Principles publishes regularly with 443 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to First Principles?
You can listen to First Principles on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts First Principles?
First Principles is created and hosted by Adrian Wells.
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