Modern WisdomLife Hacks 202 | Modern Wisdom Podcast 234
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 2:20
Banter, memory tricks, and why this episode exists (Life Hacks format recap)
The trio opens with jokes and a quick discussion about remembering things by putting them somewhere impossible to ignore. Chris then explains the Life Hacks roundtable format—each person brings a tool, food, app, or process and they riff on it.
- 2:20 – 4:47
Food hack: Nutritional yeast on eggs for easy extra nutrients
Yusef shares a nutrition add-on: sprinkle nutritional yeast on eggs for a cheesy taste and a nutrient boost. They clarify the form (flakes/powder) and compare it to brewer’s yeast capsules.
- 4:47 – 9:44
iOS 14 ‘Back Tap’: turning taps into shortcuts (TickTick, read screen, automation)
Jonny introduces iOS 14’s Back Tap feature, demonstrating triple-tap to read the screen aloud and double-tap to open a planning app. The group explores how it can trigger many Siri-capable actions and discusses practical setups.
- 9:44 – 12:58
Instagram growth hack: hide @tags on Stories to keep one clear call-to-action
Chris explains how to tag accounts in an Instagram Story without leaving visible/clickable tags that distract from your main CTA (swipe-up, poll, DM). He describes shrinking and sliding tags off-screen while preserving the notification and repost ability.
- 12:58 – 14:46
Don’t update early: beta OS horror stories and ‘wait two weeks’ rule
They warn against installing beta software or even updating immediately after release. Jonny recounts a disastrous Mac beta that broke his spacebar and rewired his muscle memory, underscoring why stability matters.
- 14:46 – 17:53
Build an anti-distraction home screen with iOS shortcuts + Screen Time guilt widget
Yusef shares an iOS home screen redesign using Shortcuts: single-tap buttons for the few actions he actually needs, while burying everything else in the App Library. He adds Screen Time to the home screen as a constant behavioral nudge.
- 17:53 – 21:57
Default fallback activity: replacing ‘scrolling’ with productive micro-tasks
Jonny proposes choosing a low-effort ‘fallback activity’ for idle moments—like cleaning a downloads folder, sorting photos, or tidying. The group expands the idea into managing boredom thresholds and preventing two-minute waits from becoming 20-minute rabbit holes.
- 21:57 – 27:03
Blocking compulsions: Cold Turkey for email + recognizing low boredom tolerance
They connect fallback behaviors to compulsive checking, especially email. Yusef describes using Cold Turkey to block email by default and being shocked by how many times per day he reflexively tried to open it.
- 27:03 – 30:59
Phone-free zones: never take your phone to the toilet (and stock bathrooms with books)
Chris suggests a simple rule to cut screen time: don’t bring your phone into the bathroom. He broadens it into ‘no phone zones’ in the house (especially the bedroom) and creating alternatives (books) to reduce mindless scrolling.
- 30:59 – 37:45
Sleep optimization gear: ChiliPAD water-cooled mattress topper (data-driven results)
Yusef reviews the ChiliPAD, a water-cooled mattress topper that controls bed temperature. He shares tracked sleep changes (notably increased deep sleep) and discusses comfort, maintenance, cost, and temperature settings.
- 37:45 – 45:11
The ‘Scoby problem’: over-optimizing, novelty chasing, and self-created messes
They define the ‘Scoby problem’—trying to avoid cost/inconvenience via quirky workarounds that create bigger issues. A standout example: Jonny’s brother falling into pseudo-legal credit card loopholes and trademarking his name in capitals.
- 45:11 – 48:58
Food hack (again): Lindahls Quark as ‘upgraded Skyr’ for cheap high protein
Chris recommends Lindahls flavored quark pots as a high-protein snack with minimal carbs and fat. They discuss taste, cost effectiveness, and the universal ‘everyone needs more protein’ framing, plus a funny fasting/macros misread story.
- 48:58 – 53:07
Wind-down routine: Insight Timer sleep meditations (switch-off, not sleep stories)
Yusef recommends short (10-minute) Insight Timer evening meditations to ‘wipe the slate clean’ before bed. They contrast this with celebrity Calm sleep stories and discuss using guided relaxation despite some ‘woo-woo’ framing.
- 53:07 – 55:24
Tea + microplastics: ditch pyramid ‘silky’ bags, use loose-leaf strainers or paper drawstring bags
Jonny suggests reusable tea strainers or disposable paper drawstring bags for loose-leaf tea, partly to avoid plastic micro-/nanoparticles from pyramid-style tea bags. They riff on ‘picking battles’ and practical low-cost options.
- 55:24 – 1:07:45
Communication hack: respond to criticism by asking ‘What would you do?’ + goal-first thinking
Chris shares a conversation tool: when someone complains or criticizes, ask them to propose a solution. Yusef adds a complementary framework—start with the goal, list options and obstacles, simplify routines, and when possible ask the best expert directly.
- 1:07:45 – 1:12:33
Home heat therapy: ‘poor man’s sauna’ infrared bag + benefits of heat/cold contrast
Jonny describes a portable infrared sauna setup (a heated wrap/bag) as a cheaper alternative to installing a full sauna. They discuss practical usage tips, cost, and why heat exposure may improve mood and cardiovascular/metabolic markers.
- 1:12:33 – 1:20:30
Evening rules: no TV after shower, read instead; plus living-room TV-free social design
Chris explains a hard stop rule: no TV after his nighttime shower, replacing it with reading or earlier sleep. He also praises TV-free living spaces for better conversation and more intentional social time.
- 1:20:30 – 1:40:27
Rapid-fire wrap-up: OmniFocus, ‘keys in the fridge’ memory hack, gear recs, and watch list
They close with quick-fire tips: OmniFocus task management (and a course to learn it), memory hacks like putting keys on/with items you must remember, and Chris’s training shorts recommendations. The episode ends with Netflix/documentary suggestions and show outro.
