Habits and Hustle

What happens when we make life so comfortable for kids that they never learn how to handle discomfort on their own? Between overprotective parenting, smartphones, and fewer opportunities for real independence, kids are getting fewer chances to build confidence, coping skills, and resilience.
We dive deeper into this in Habits & Hustle with Dave Rubin. We also chat about how smartphones are changing childhood, why exercise builds confidence and mental toughness, and why discipline will take you further than motivation.
Dave Rubin is the host of The Rubin Report, which has generated more than one billion views and built an audience of millions. He is also the founder of Locals.com and a two-time New York Times bestselling author.
Listen to the full episode: How Parenting Mistakes Failed Gen Z & How to Fix It | Jennifer Cohen
 
What's Discussed:
(02:57) Why letting kids fail is essential for building resilience.
(05:01) How smartphones are replacing real-world experiences kids used to learn from.
(06:47) Why "bubble wrapping" kids can make it harder for them to adapt to the real world.
(23:44) How fitness teaches discipline, patience, consistency, and work ethic.
(25:31) Why getting physically stronger can build confidence and mental toughness.
(31:46) How social media and filters are changing our perception of normal beauty.
(34:23) Why changing a habit is so difficult once a behavior becomes your new normal.
(34:51) Why discipline will take you further than motivation.
(48:19) How smartphone addiction is affecting our ability to connect with other people.
(49:26) Why strong relationships and social connection matter for longevity.
 
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Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits for 20% off.
Tru Niagen®: For supplements that are rigorously tested, third-party verified, and actually deliver what's on the label, head to truniagen.com
 
Find more from Jen Cohen: 

Website: jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements

What if the thing keeping you stuck is not a lack of motivation, but the stories you keep telling yourself about why you cannot move?
We spend a lot of time thinking about what we want to change, who we want to become, and what would finally make us feel better. But intentions alone do not create change. The way you talk to yourself, the discomfort you avoid, the boundaries you do not practice, the labels you attach to yourself and other people, and the actions you take when nobody is motivating you, all shape what happens next. Kier Gaines argues that real growth starts when you become willing to confront the parts of yourself you would rather explain away.
Self-awareness gives you something practical to work with. You can learn to tolerate discomfort instead of immediately escaping it, practice saying no before the stakes are high, question whether "protecting your peace" has become avoidance, and stop waiting for the perfect mood or moment to start. You can also become more intentional about how social media, constant convenience, comparison, and endless options are influencing the way you think, connect, and make decisions.
Kier Gaines is a licensed therapist, keynote speaker, and popular content creator who has inspired millions of people to become more proactive about their mental health. His work has been recognized by Oprah and Viola Davis, and he has been invited to speak at the White House, NASA, Amazon Movie Studios, and more. He is also a contributor to Men's Health, host of the podcast (L)Earned The Hard Way, and author of It All Starts When You Do, out September 1, 2026.
What's Discussed:
(08:25) Why people can fall in love with the fantasy of a goal while avoiding the work required to achieve it, and why action is what turns an idea into evidence.
(27:13) Where AI can be useful for journaling and reflection, and what gets lost when it replaces the silence, emotional attunement, and human connection of therapy.
(31:48) How phones, algorithms, convenience, and the disappearance of "third spaces" may be contributing to loneliness and weakening face-to-face connection.
(37:41) Why "protecting your peace" can become well-dressed avoidance, and how avoiding every uncomfortable interaction can lower your tolerance for normal stress.
(40:10) How practicing small, low-stakes "no's" can make it easier to set boundaries when the consequences feel bigger.
(45:55) Why feeling overwhelmed does not automatically mean you are incapable, and how lack of support, financial pressure, and overloaded systems can push people past their limit.
(52:44) Why mental health language is being overused online, from calling every difficult person a narcissist to oversimplifying anxious and avoidant attachment.
(57:46) How having more options can create more dissatisfaction, especially in dating, and why endless swiping can make it harder to commit to what is in front of you.
(1:05:14) Why affirmations without awareness and action are just words, and how toxic positivity can become another way to avoid what actually needs attention.
(1:14:08) How depression can show up as irritation, isolation, or loss of joy instead of obvious sadness, and why high-functioning people can miss the signs in themselves.

 
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits for 20% off
Magic Mind: Head over to magicmind.com/jen and use code JEN at checkout.
Momentous: Ready to try supplements that actually do what they claim? Head to livemomentous.com and use code JEN for 35% off your first subscription. 
Therasage: Visit therasage.com and use code JEN to get 15% off your order. Your skin
Prolon: Prolon is offering listeners 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift.
Tru Niagen®: For supplements that are rigorously tested, third-party verified, and actually deliver what's on the label, head to truniagen.com

Find more from Jen Cohen:
Website: jennifercohen.com
Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements
 
Find more from Kier Gaines
Podcast: learnedthehardwaypod.com
Instagram: @kiergaines
Facebook: Kier Gaines
YouTube: @learnedthehardwaypod
LinkedIn: Kier Gaines
Book: It All Starts When You Do

Are we protecting our kids so much that we're making them less resilient?
As parents, the instinct to protect is strong. We don't want our kids to fail, struggle, feel rejected, sit on the bench, get bored, or deal with disappointment. But resilience is built through those exact experiences. When we constantly step in, fix the problem, remove the obstacle, or make sure everything feels fair, kids lose opportunities to develop competence, independence, and the confidence that comes from figuring things out for themselves.
Technology has made that even harder. Smartphones and iPads can fill every quiet moment, replace boredom, reduce face-to-face interaction, and give kids fewer chances to practice social skills, deal with rejection, or simply entertain themselves. Add overscheduling and constant parental involvement, and suddenly there are fewer opportunities for kids to fail, recover, solve problems, and learn how to function without someone managing every step.
Sports, chores, responsibilities, and real-world challenges give kids something they desperately need: evidence that they can handle difficult things. Losing teaches them how to recover. Being benched teaches patience and perspective. Working with difficult teammates teaches conflict resolution. Practicing something they are bad at teaches them that improvement comes from effort. Confidence grows when kids experience frustration and discover they can move through it.
In this episode of Habits & Hustle, I talk about why we need to stop removing every obstacle from our kids' lives, how smartphones are affecting independence and social development, why boredom and failure are essential, the value of sports and responsibility, and how parents can create a secure home base without solving every problem for their children.
Listen to the full episode: The Secret to Raising Mentally Strong Kids in a Fragile World with Jen Cohen | Mind Pump 2575
 
What's Discussed:
(01:24) Why mental resilience needs to be built in childhood.
(04:00) How removing every challenge can make kids less resilient.
(05:34) Why boredom is essential for creativity and independence.
(06:25) Why parents need to stop worrying about being liked by their kids.
(08:13) How letting kids struggle teaches them to tolerate frustration and failure.
(11:19) How smartphones changed childhood play, independence, and social development.
(20:25) Why fitness teaches kids discipline, accountability, and delayed gratification.
(26:15) Why sports and play help kids develop critical social skills.
(27:51) Why praising effort matters more than constantly telling kids they are amazing.
(30:24) How sports prepare kids for losing, teamwork, conflict, and real-world challenges.
(36:06) Why stepping back can help kids learn to solve problems on their own.
(45:00) Why kids should wait until 16 for full smartphone access.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Magic Mind: Head over to magicmind.com/jen and use code JEN at checkout.
Momentous: Ready to try supplements that actually do what they claim? Head to livemomentous.com and use code JEN for 35% off your first subscription. 
Therasage: Visit therasage.com and use code JEN to get 15% off your order. Your skin
Prolon: Prolon is offering listeners 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift.
Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits for 20% off.
Tru Niagen®: For supplements that are rigorously tested, third-party verified, and actually deliver what's on the label, head to truniagen.com
 
Find more from Jen Cohen:
Website: jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements

Is technology making you smarter, or are you slowly training your brain to do less?
We are living in a world where AI can write our emails, answer our questions, organize our thoughts, remember information, and make decisions faster than we ever could on our own. Our phones remember everything for us. GPS tells us where to go. Social media constantly competes for our attention. And the more convenient technology becomes, the easier it is to stop exercising the memory, focus, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that make us human.
This matters because your brain adapts to how you use it. You can deliberately train your focus, memory, confidence, adaptability, and ability to think for yourself. You can protect the first few minutes of your morning, stop giving away your attention, create friction before immediately turning to AI, and build mental strength the same way you build physical strength. The goal is to use technology as a tool while continuing to develop the human intelligence that allows you to make better decisions, solve harder problems, and adapt when the world changes.
Jim Kwik is a brain performance expert, bestselling author, and leading voice on memory, focus, accelerated learning, and human intelligence. After experiencing a traumatic brain injury and learning challenges as a child, he dedicated his life to understanding how the brain learns and how people can improve their cognitive performance. His latest book, Limitless Daily, focuses on simple daily practices designed to strengthen your mind, improve performance, and help you make meaningful progress one day at a time.
What's Discussed:
(04:07) How relying on AI and technology to remember and think for us can weaken the cognitive skills we stop using.
(06:42) Why AI is no longer the real competitive advantage and why human intelligence, judgment, creativity, and critical thinking matter more.
(27:43) Why the first five minutes after waking can shape your focus, mood, and perspective for the rest of the day.
(37:31) Why confidence comes after action and how doing difficult things creates evidence that you are capable.
(41:47) How deliberately thinking before turning to AI can help strengthen cognitive flexibility and mental resilience.
(55:44) How scrolling, bingeing, and getting rewarded before doing the work can reduce motivation and make follow-through harder.
(59:28) How the questions you repeatedly ask yourself shape what your brain notices and reinforce the beliefs you already hold.
(01:00:25) Why reading too slowly can make your mind wander and how increasing your pace can improve focus and comprehension.
(01:13:43) How multitasking and constant task switching drain focus, increase mistakes, and waste mental energy.
(01:19:29) Why remembering someone's name can strengthen relationships, improve likability, and even affect major business opportunities.

 
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Magic Mind: Head over to magicmind.com/jen and use code JEN at checkout.
Momentous: Ready to try supplements that actually do what they claim? Head to livemomentous.com and use code JEN for 35% off your first subscription. 
Therasage: Visit therasage.com and use code JEN to get 15% off your order. Your skin
Prolon: Prolon is offering listeners 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift.
Tru Niagen®: For supplements that are rigorously tested, third-party verified, and actually deliver what's on the label, head to truniagen.com
Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits for 20% off

Find more from Jen Cohen:
Website: jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements
 
Find more from Jim Kwik:
Website: limitlessdaily.com
Instagram: @jimkwik
Facebook: Jim Kwik
YouTube: Jim Kwik
LinkedIn: Jim Kwik
X: Jim Kwik
Book: Limitless Daily

What if the person you cannot get over was never actually your person?
We tend to give enormous weight to chemistry and connection, especially when we find someone we like who seems to like us back. That feeling can be powerful enough to make us overlook a harder truth: connection alone does not create a relationship. Without commitment and compatibility, chemistry can keep you emotionally invested in someone who is never actually choosing you.
Matthew Hussey breaks down the four levels of a relationship, from attraction to compatibility, and explains why so many people get stuck at the stage that feels the most exciting. He also explores why unfinished relationships can become so difficult to let go of. The future you imagined can start to feel more real than the relationship itself, keeping you attached to potential instead of what is actually happening.
Matthew Hussey is a relationship coach, bestselling author, speaker, and host of the Love Life podcast. His work focuses on dating, heartbreak, confidence, communication, and helping people build healthier relationships by paying attention to how someone actually shows up, rather than relying on chemistry or potential alone.
What's Discussed:
(00:00) Why connection and chemistry can feel incredibly important without actually creating a relationship.
(01:27) The four levels of a relationship: admiration, mutual attraction, commitment, and compatibility.
(03:46) Why someone choosing not to be with you cannot be "your person."
(05:07) How heartbreak can come from grieving the future you imagined rather than losing an actual soulmate.
(07:58) Why unfinished relationships and "what could have been" can occupy so much mental space.
(09:20) How romantic fantasy can become a form of avoidance that keeps you from participating in your real life.
(12:37) Why real relationships are built through commitment, difficulty, and repeatedly choosing one another.
(13:47) How to intentionally move on by removing reminders, limiting updates, and stopping the person from remaining part of your everyday life.

 
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Magic Mind: Head over to magicmind.com/jen and use code JEN at checkout.
Momentous: Ready to try supplements that actually do what they claim? Head to livemomentous.com and use code JEN for 35% off your first subscription. 
Therasage: Visit therasage.com and use code JEN to get 15% off your order. Your skin
Prolon: Prolon is offering listeners 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift.
Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits for 20% off.
Tru Niagen®: For supplements that are rigorously tested, third-party verified, and actually deliver what's on the label, head to truniagen.com

Find more from Jen Cohen: 
Website: jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements
 
Find more from Matthew Hussey 
Website: matthewhussey.com
Instagram: @thematthewhussey
Books: Books by Matthew Hussey
Facebook: Matthew Hussey
YouTube: @thematthewhussey
LinkedIn: Matthew Hussey