Flow Radio

• DIY and the Flow Code: How Punk Culture Built the Startup World

  What do DIY entrepreneurship, peak performance, and punk rock have in common? Everything.In this live Flow Radio episode, recorded at Summit at Sea 2024, New York Times bestselling author and FRC Executive Director Steven Kotler joins fashion icon John Varvatos to trace the rebel spirit from CBGB’s to Silicon Valley. Together, they map how the kids nobody wanted—punks, misfits, and rule-breakers—accidentally built the culture of innovation we live in today.This isn’t just music history. It’s a neuroscience-backed deep dive into how rebellion, risk, and raw self-expression create the perfect storm for flow—and why punk’s anti-authoritarian DNA became the blueprint for startup culture, action sports, and social movements.If you’re chasing innovation, impact, or just trying to stay sane while breaking things—there’s flow on the other side of risk. Go get it.Guest Bio:John Varvatos is an award-winning fashion designer, cultural curator, and lifelong rebel.Best known for fusing rock-and-roll attitude with high-end tailoring, he launched his namesake brand in 2000 and has since earned multiple CFDA Designer of the Year awards. He’s also the force behind the revival of CBGB—the legendary punk venue turned retail and cultural space.From the Bowery to boardrooms, Varvatos has spent decades channeling the punk ethos into business, design, and live music. His work sits at the intersection of culture, entrepreneurship, and radical self-expression—making him not just a fashion icon, but a builder of movements.In This Episode:03:30 Punk as Evolutionary Instinct06:45 The DIY Revolution Begins10:55 The Neuroscience Behind the Movement14:30 Group Flow, Mosh Pits & the End of the Stage Dive18:15 From Subculture to Startup Culture25:00 Punk Values: Radical Individuality to DIY Capitalism30:45 Rebellion Goes Mainstream36:00 The New Punk: Entrepreneurs, Artists & Conscious Rebels38:20 Final Words from the MoshpitEpisode Resources:Steven returns to Summit this June in Detroit—a city that pulses with creativity, reinvention, and raw energy.Join a one-of-a-kind gathering of visionaries, builders, and creators. This one won’t be forgotten.→ Learn more & apply to attendFootage shot at Summit At Sea 2024, courtesy of Summit Series, © Summit Series.Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

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  38:44
• Flow vs. the Victim Mindset: Trade Blame for Breakthroughs

  No one is coming to save you—but staying stuck isn’t the only option.Steven Kotler and Ryan Wickes welcome back Columbia professor and humanistic psychologist Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman—author of the just-released Rise Above, and one of today’s leading voices on human potential.Kaufman joins to unpack the victim mindset, the neurobiology of agency, and how narcissism, entitlement, and impostor syndrome can quietly block the path to self-actualization.At the heart of this conversation is a powerful truth: flow demands agency. When we feel powerless, we avoid challenge—and without challenge, there is no flow. A victim mindset disrupts the neural circuitry behind motivation, focus, and drive.This episode breaks down the science of that disruption—and maps out a way through. From learned helplessness to learned hopefulness, you’ll hear how reclaiming agency reactivates your growth, unlocks flow, and strengthens resilience.The journey is personal. The tools are universal.Guest Bio:Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a humanistic psychologist, Columbia University professor, and one of the world’s leading experts on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. Ranked in the top 1% of most-cited scientists worldwide, he’s the founder of Self-Actualization Coaching, director of the Center for Human Potential, and host of The Psychology Podcast (30M+ downloads). Named one of Business Insider’s 50 groundbreaking scientists, he’s authored 11 books—including Transcend, Choose Growth, and his latest, Rise Above.In This Episode:03:03 The Journey from Creativity to Self-Actualization06:07 Overcoming the Victim Mindset09:07 Neurobiology of Mindsets15:06 Understanding the Victim Mindset17:53 Evolutionary Perspectives on Victimhood20:53 Empathy and Honest Love25:29 Empowerment Through Adversity28:39 Challenging the Trauma Narrative32:39 Navigating the Victim Mindset45:12 Imposter Syndrome: A Signal for Growth52:08 Narcissism and WellbeingEpisode Resources:Self-Actualizing People in the 21st Century by Scott Barry KaufmanA modern, data-driven update to Maslow’s theory—complete with a validated scale and new insights into well-being, resilience, and creative expression.→ Read the full paperScott’s New Book — Rise AboveWant to go deeper on the science behind the victim mindset, resilience, and human potential?Grab Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman’s latest book, Rise Above… → scottbarrykaufman.com/books/rise-aboveFlow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

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  1:02:43
• The Creative Leader’s Playbook

  Creativity isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a survival skill.In this episode of Flow Radio, Steven Kotler sits down with artist, designer, and serial entrepreneur Jody Levy for a conversation on how intuition, constraint, and ritual unlock creativity—and why all three are non-negotiables for high-performance leadership.They trace Jody’s path through experience design and explore the mindset behind building high-flow communities. From the tactical to the transcendent, this episode delivers real tools—and ends with a major announcement: the Summit community is coming to Detroit. It’s a rare chance to catch Steven live, speaking on flow, AI, and the future of creativity.If you're chasing innovation, collaboration, and community at full tilt—don’t miss it.Guest Bio:Jody Levy is an artist, systems thinker, and serial entrepreneur whose work lives at the intersection of wellness, innovation, and impact.She’s the founder of WTRMLN WTR, the category-defining beverage brand; the creator of NeuroPraxis, a breakthrough platform for brain and spinal cord recovery; and a leader in large-scale trauma and disaster response. Today, she serves as the Global Director and CEO of Summit—the legendary community of creators, builders, and change agents.Jody has a rare ability to turn bold ideas into real-world systems for healing, creativity, and human optimization.In This Episode:02:51  The Journey of Creativity and Flow05:49  The Role of Art in Emotional Regulation08:58  Intuition and Decision-Making in Entrepreneurship11:50  Constraints as Catalysts for Creativity17:48  Building High-Impact Experiences29:53  The Importance of Structure in Creative Environments31:06  Cultivating Flow in Teams36:25  The Power of Rituals41:04  Time Management and Leadership46:32  Optimizing Community Engagement52:37  Preserving the Magic in GrowthSummit DetroitThis June, Steven will be joining forces with Summit (once again) in Detroit—a city that pulses with creativity, reinvention, and raw energy. Join an unforgettable gathering of visionaries, builders, and creators.→ Learn more & apply to attendFlow Radio is Presented Bt Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.Guest Bio:In This Episode:Episode Resources:Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research Collective

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  56:20
• Flow vs. the Machine: AI, Creativity & the Next Human Renaissance

  What happens when AI takes center stage—and humans still want to create?Steven Kotler returns to Peter Diamandis’s Moonshots to unpack the forces shaping our future: AI, abundance, creativity, and how flow fuels the human advantage. Drawing on three decades at the bleeding edge of peak performance, they explore what it takes to thrive in a world accelerating beyond imagination—and why the right 100 people can still change everything.This is required listening for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone building in the age of machines. If the future belongs to the bold, flow is your blueprint.Guest Bio:Recently named one of Fortune’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Peter Diamandis is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, which has launched over $500 million in incentive prize competitions. He also founded Singularity University and has started more than 25 companies in healthtech, space, venture capital, and education.Diamandis is Co-founder and Vice-Chairman of Celularity and Vaxxinity, and Chairman of Fountain Life—a platform for predictive, preventative, and data-driven health. He also co-founded BOLD Capital Partners, a $500 million fund investing in exponential technologies and longevity companies.A four-time New York Times bestselling author, his books include Abundance, BOLD, The Future is Faster Than You Think, LIFE FORCE (with Tony Robbins), and LONGEVITY: Your Practical Playbook.He holds degrees in molecular genetics and aerospace engineering from MIT and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. His motto: “The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.”In This Episode:05:42 Tech Tipping Points: From Tesla to GPT-410:04 Understanding Flow States14:00 Flow & Craft29:51 Facing the Fermi Paradox: What Comes Next?37:00 700% More Creative? Flow Science Explained57:37 The XPRIZE & Cross-Disciplinary Breakthroughs01:19:31 Mindset as Neurobiology, Not Woo-Woo01:30:31 The Age of AI Companions01:19:31 Mindset and Resilience01:57:37 How 100 People Shift Culture02:09:17  Inside The Alliance: Creativity, Flow, and the Future of LearningEpisode Resources:The Alliance is a hyper-curated 15-person think tank where we train creativity and collaborate with one another.The Alliance is made up of visionary, entrepreneurs and thought leaders looking to accelerate their creative process and realize their next breakthrough→ Apply to join todayFlow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research CollectiveFlow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research company. ‍Follow Flow Research Collective:YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠‍Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

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  2:14:42
• The Next Step Won't Kill You: Flow Lessons from the Iron Cowboy

  What happens when you reach such extreme states of pain that you start having out-of-body experiences? Join us for a fascinating conversation with James Lawrence (aka the Iron Cowboy) about redefining human limits, managing pain through flow states, and what happens when you push beyond what doctors claim is impossible.  James shares his raw truth about overcoming the voice of doubt, achieving out-of-body flow experiences, and why your next step won't kill you—even when everything in your body screams otherwise.  From his early days riding a Ferris wheel for ten straight days in a contest of who could stay bored the longest to becoming a world record holder, this is a masterclass in human potential.  In This Episode: 05:04 The Journey to Endurance Sports 10:04 Understanding Flow States 14:53 Managing the Internal Bully 19:58 The 50-50-50 Challenge 25:06 The Conquer 100 Experience 36:37 The Power of Flow in Peak Performance 38:11 Mastering Monotony for Success 40:19 Embracing the Impossible 50:15 Mindset and Resilience 56:39 Recovery and Adaptation 01:01:35 Intuition and Flow Experiences About The Guest: James Lawrence, more commonly known as the Iron Cowboy, is a world-renowned speaker, endurance athlete, 2x author, and 2x documentary subject. He received his nickname from the public after he started to wear a cowboy hat during races to be recognized by his children. With two Guinness world records under his belt, James and his family attempted to do something every person deemed impossible, the 50/50/50. However, that wasn't enough to satisfy him. On June 8, 2021, James achieved a remarkable milestone known as the Conquer 100—a series of 100 consecutive full-distance triathlons, as coined by the team.  Sports Illustrated ranked James in the top 50 fittest freaks with Lebron James and Connor McGregor, two of James' favorite athletes.  Originally from Calgary, Canada, he now lives in Utah with his wife, Sunny, and their five children. His family plays a crucial role in his endeavors, providing unwavering support through his remarkable journey.  Episode Resources: Book: Iron Hope: Lessons Learned from Conquering the Impossible - January 21, 2025 Website: Ironcowboy.com Social: @ironcowboyjames Learn more: https://linktr.ee/ironcowboyjames Flow Radio Is Presented By Flow Research Collective Flow Research Collective is a leading neuroscience research and training company. If you’re interested in learning the science-backed techniques we used to train top executives at Facebook, Audi and even the Navy SEALs, click the link here: https://www.flowresearchcollective.com ‍ Follow Flow Research Collective: YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@flowresearchcollective⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/flowresearchcollective⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/flowresearchcollective⁠ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/thefrc_official⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/flowresearchcollective⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6RQY0d5rdlEiinHEtfWy6A⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.flowresearchcollective.com⁠ ‍ Flow Research Collective was founded by Steven Kotler, one of the world’s leading experts on human peak performance. He is an award-winning journalist and author with over ten bestselling books.

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  1:11:30

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