What Generosity Does For Your Well-Being

Generosity is often relegated to a bit part in our lives, an incidental thing we appreciate when we notice it but not something we consider important to driving our happiness or success. What happens when we put generosity at the center?In this episode of The Art of Accomplishment, Brett Kistler and Joe Hudson unpack the ways in which giving—whether of time, resources, or presence—is a direct line to our collective humanity and changes the trajectory of our well-being and sense of wholeness.They touch on:The unspoken generosity of cultures that thrive on givingHow generosity exposes our attachments—our need to be seen, to be in control, to matterThe difference between obligation and true generosityMoments where generosity is a lifeline, a language between people when words failThe ways in which loss, grief, and generosity intersectThe article Brett wrote and referenced in the podcast can be found here: https://open.substack.com/pub/inneradventure/p/welcome-to-iran?r=30w17r&utm_medium=iosSend us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccomp Visit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.comWe invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore

Our society glorifies self-reliance. We tell ourselves that it is the only way to survive in a world where no one is coming to save us and armor our hearts and mask our faces to avoid appearing weak or being disappointed when we show that we are in need.In this episode, Joe and Brett deconstruct the mythology of self-reliance and ask: What does it mean to truly receive? How does our fear of vulnerability keep us from intimacy, from connection, from the radical act of trusting another? They explore the ways self-reliance is both survival and self-sabotage, the ways we must unlearn it in order to heal.They discuss:How to heal the fear of needing and being needed.Why self-reliance is often a misleading ideal.The hidden fear and control embedded in hyper-independence.How trauma conditions us to reject support and connection.The surprising ways leadership and relationships thrive on interdependence.Practical ways to shift from unhealthy self-reliance to empowered collaboration.Send us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccomp Visit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.com We invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore

In this episode of The Art of Accomplishment, Brett and Joe provide a guide to productivity that challenges the notion of productivity itself. Drawing from personal anecdotes and experience, they explore:The distinction between working hard and working meaningfully.How dopamine and cultural norms fuel a false sense of accomplishment.Practical methods for aligning productivity with personal purpose and enjoyment.The role of reflection, rest, and pacing in sustainable achievement.Join Brett and Joe as they illuminate the often-overlooked forest amidst the trees of modern productivity culture, providing tools to reclaim joy and efficiency in your work and life.Send us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccomp Visit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.com We invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore

Why do some teams thrive in harmony while others crumble under pressure? How can leaders align aspirations with action, transforming their workplaces—and themselves—into engines of meaningful success?  Brett and Joe recorded a special episode of the podcast in front of a live audience to discuss the impact of workplace culture on decision-making, organizational growth, and personal fulfillment. The conversation dives deep into:- The challenges of fostering connection, accountability, and trust- What matters to people in organizations- The fundamental components of culture- The interplay between leadership and a teamAnd much more. Send us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccompVisit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.com We invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore

Purpose is not defined by what we do, but by how we show up to life’s callings—whether in moments of fear, effort, or surrender. In this episode of The Art of Accomplishment, Joe and Brett lead us on a journey to uncover what it means to live with purpose. Not as something to be found, but as something to be recognized. Together, they unpack the myths surrounding purpose, challenging the notion that it is an external destination and reframing it as an inherent part of how we live.They examine:The search for purposeHow purpose emerges in the momentBalancing the fear and challenge of stepping into purposeDiscovering purpose as a deeply personal truthHow facing discomfort and friction often reveals the path to deeper meaningSend us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccomp Visit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.com We invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore

In this episode of The Art of Accomplishment, Brett and Joe take us on a poignant journey through the inevitability of death and the profound ways it shapes the experience of life. At the center of their conversation is Brett’s brother, facing a terminal diagnosis, and the extraordinary lessons his life—and the process of his dying—have imparted.Through anecdotes of BASE jumping, near-death experiences, and profound loss, Brett and Joe explore the paradox of mortality: the closer you are to death, the more vividly you taste life.Brett and Joe examine:The power of mortality: How facing the truth of our impermanence can compress life into moments of unparalleled sweetness.The freedom in letting go: Why the stories we tell ourselves about success, identity, and purpose often crumble in the face of death.A life well lived: Brett reflects on his brother’s choice to "dive into his family" and redefine what it means to truly live.Lessons from the edge: Stories of BASE jumping and near-death experiences that reveal the peace and clarity often found in moments of extreme vulnerability.The opportunity of goodbye: How acknowledging the fleeting nature of life can lead to deeper, more meaningful connections.As the conversation unfolds, a clear and steady message emerges: death, far from being an endpoint, is a profound teacher. It forces us to confront what matters most, stripping away the trivial and leaving only the raw truth of our existence.Send us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccomp Visit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.com We invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore

“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future,” is a common expression that suggests who you surround yourself with will determine who you become and how you operate. Evidence suggests that there’s some truth to this.In this episode of The Art of Accomplishment podcast, Brett and Joe explore the makings of effective support networks. Through the lens of BASE jumping, self-discovery work, business, and parenting, they discuss:The importance of shared purposeAccountabilityThe benefit of diversityPractical steps to create your own support structuresThe necessity of vulnerability and visibilityTune in for a stimulating conversation about how support systems are a vital part of the transformative power of community.Send us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccomp Visit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.com We invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore

There’s an elephant in the room! Everyone KNOWS there’s an elephant in the room, and they keep glancing at it—except for one person who is highly committed to ignoring the elephant. The elephant is making a mess. It’s taking up all the air and space in the room, and it’s already crushed poor Bob. Yet instead of talking about the elephant in the room, people are afraid to mention that there’s an elephant. Some people get so uncomfortable that they leave the room, but still say nothing. Everyone is hoping that the person who is ignoring the elephant will finally acknowledge it, so they can do something about it, but they aren’t sure how to go about it.In this episode, Brett and Joe unpack the phenomenon of the elephant in the room. They explore:The dynamics that create this situationHow looking directly at these issues can lead to healing and growthThe importance of addressing difficult topics in both personal and professional settingsHow to create a culture where individuals feel safe to express their thoughts and feelingsThe need for leaders to model this behaviorThe significance of conflict in fostering trust and connectionSend us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccomp Visit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.comWe invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore

Most people never consider that fighting can be a useful and healthy practice for our relationships — and that “fighting well” is a skill that can be learned. We resist conflict until it builds up and we reach a breaking point, and then BAM! Our trauma runs the show and we risk re-traumatizing ourselves and others.  In this episode, Joe and Brett talk about how to fight well. They explore how: • Healthy fighting can actually lead to healing, growth, and deeper connection• The importance of speaking your truth• What to NOT do during fights• The empowerment of a good fight• When to walk away (and how)• When a fight is no longer worth fighting Chapters00:00 - Introduction to Relationships and Fighting03:00 - The Journey of Fighting Well05:51 - Understanding Healthy Conflict09:02 - Navigating Trauma in Relationships12:03 - The Role of Window of Tolerance14:57 - The Dynamics of Emotional and Logical Partners17:53 - The Importance of Speaking Your Truth20:54 - Recognizing Apathy in Relationships24:01 - The Gift of Conflict in Relationships27:02 - The Nature of Truth in Perspectives29:52 - Final Thoughts on Fighting and Love Send us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccomp Visit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.com We invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore

What’s all this fuss about experiments? What’s so great about them, and how does one even go about it? Join Joe and Brett for a deep dive on experiments! Hear about Joe’s early experiences that led him to place experimentation at the core of his self-exploration work and what makes them so important to the work we do at AOA.The characteristics of effective experimentsWhy it’s more effective to approach them from a playful perspectiveHow to iterate effectivelyPitfalls to watch out forPlus, learn about some experiments that Brett and Joe are running right before your eyes! Come along for a fun chat about how to, ultimately, have more fun in life.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Experiments in Life 03:00 The Philosophy of Experimentation 06:00 The Role of Experiments in Self-Discovery 09:04 Characteristics of Effective Experiments 12:14 Mindset for Running Experiments 15:05 Identifying Areas for Experimentation 18:01 Iterating and Evolving Experiments 20:53 Trusting the Process of Experimentation 23:55 Real-Life Applications of ExperimentsSend us your questions on Twitter, through our website, or in our Circle community! Joe on X: @FU_JoeHudson Brett on X: @airkistler AOA on X: @artofaccomp Visit Us: www.artofaccomplishment.com We invite you to experience our work. Reserve your spot at www.view.life/explore