The Yes Theory Podcast
Yes Theory
In order to achieve growth, discomfort is unavoidable. So why not seek it out? Yes Theory co-founders Matt, Ammar, and Thomas are turning off the cameras and turning on the mics to reflect upon how Discomfort actually might hold the keys to meaning and happiness. The Yes Theory Podcast shares behind-the-scenes stories and talks with expert guests to gather insights about the world at large, our place in it, and one another.
My Final Goodbye (the last episode)
Thank you for everything.
I will love you forever…and ever.
-Matt
Link to review book: https://tinyurl.com/2y7ts3ry
Link to newsletter: http://www.mattdahlia.substack.com
Get a signed copy of ‘Talk To Strangers’ here: http://www.seekdiscomfort.com/book
The Man Who Saved The Book (Derin Emre)
Link to buy book: https://www.yestheorybook.com/
Link to review book (means the world!): https://tinyurl.com/2y7ts3ry
Hi guys,
The book launched four days ago and the support from this community has been unbelievable.
Thank you to each and everyone of you who ordered.
Your support doesn’t go unnoticed. It truly is life changing for me.
I’m already getting so many positive messages from so many of you who binged it (some of you in just a few hours!), and it’s just the best.
Alrigthty, here
Saying Goodbye To What We Used To Be (with Ammar)
Newsletter: http://www.mattdahlia.substack.com
Preorder the book: http://www.seekdiscomfort.com/book
Preorder the book in EU: https://tinyurl.com/35c4npdy
Hey all,
Three days away from launch.
And what better way to run this final mile than with my best friend and brother, Ammar. Aka Habibs.
The man who has pushed me to grow more than anyone in my life.
The brother with whom I’ve had the lowest of lows and the highest of highs.
In this podcast we don’t hold back. We show you the hard parts
Overcoming Bullying, Acne, and Loneliness (with Staffan Taylor)
Newsletter: http://www.mattdahlia.substack.com
Preorder the book: http://www.seekdiscomfort.com/book
Preorder the book in EU: https://tinyurl.com/35c4npdy
Hi ladies and gents,
Wow wow wow.
DECEMBER 3RD IS SO CLOSE.
So crazy to think about. So surreal that the launch day is nearly here.
If you want to take advantage of the preorder bonuses like our Live Q&A, raffle to join the launch party in LA, and signed copies, then make sure to preorder at http://www.seekdiscomfort.com/book before
Yes Theory’s first and only investor (Tom Wright)
Newsletter: http://www.mattdahlia.substack.com
Preorder the book: http://www.seekdiscomfort.com/book
Preorder the book in EU: https://tinyurl.com/35c4npdy
Hello you lovely people,
What you’re about to watch is the equivalent of finding a never-seen-before species in the wild.
Very few people have shaped Yes Theory as much as Tom. Yet no one outside of our inner circle knows about Tom.
Tom is very private. He likes being behind the scenes.
He’s like Charlie from Charlie’s Angels.
Tom h
A conversation with my older brothers (The Buried Life)
Newsletter: http://www.mattdahlia.substack.com
Preorder the book: http://www.seekdiscomfort.com/book
Preorder the book in EU: https://tinyurl.com/35c4npdy
Hey everyone,
So happy to be back with you.
Two quick things:
- We have a new book launch date: December 3rd
- We will now be releasing two podcasts a week (Mondays and Thursdays)
- With everything happening in the world, the guys and I want to give back financially to foundations focused on children affected by war. More on that soon.
Al
A Pause...
Hey everyone,
We’re putting everything on pause due to what’s happening in the Middle East.
The team and I are figuring out how to act in a constructive way that is aligned with Yes Theory’s value of love over fear.
Sending you all so much love.
-Matt
Book Cover REVEAL!! (and how we got here)
Hey all,
Matt here :)
Thanks for tuning in once again.
Today is a very exciting day…We are FINALLY showing you the book cover.
But that’s not all. In this podcast I sit down with Dez.
Dez is Yes Theory’s social media editor and the brains behind the whole promotion of this book. She even designed the cover with me. All of this to say, I wouldn’t be here without her.
In this episode you’ll get to hear about what the past year has been like for us as we’ve worked to get this book out to a
"I Wasn’t Sure If We Would Ever Be Friends Again" (Matt & Thomas Open Up)
Newsletter: http://www.mattdahlia.substack.com
Preorder the book: http://www.seekdiscomfort.com/book
Preorder the book in EU: https://tinyurl.com/35c4npdy
Hey everyone,
Thomas and I have worked through a lot behind the scenes, especially in the past six months.
It’s been really challenging, and at times our relationship was in serious jeopardy.
Thankfully, we’ve gotten through it.
In this podcast, we dive into all of it. Not just our relationship, but also how we see the world, advice for so
She Knows All of Yes Theory’s Secrets (Yes Theory Team Therapist)
Newsletter: http://www.mattdahlia.substack.com
Preorder the book: http://www.seekdiscomfort.com/book
Preorder the book in EU: https://tinyurl.com/35c4npdy
Hey all,
I wanted to introduce you to one of my best friends, Bonnie. Bonnie is a therapist at UCLA and since 2018, has been not only a friend but also pretty much the Yes Theory team therapist. She is a huge part of the book as she’s been an instrumental part of mine and Yes Theory’s growth. For those of you who plan on getting the book, I
The Man Who Saved Yes Theory (Yes Theory's Head of Operations)
Hey everybody, so excited for this one :)
Pedro Paiva is the Head of Operations at Yes Theory. He’s been with us for two years. When he first arrived, our system was in shambles. We needed someone to come in an re-organize the ship. He’s done an incredible job since then and has become such a good friend, that I felt it would be awesome for you guys to get to know him. This podcast is for anyone with a dream job or anyone who is curious about how things work behind the scenes here. I think you’l
The Secret to Unlocking Your Creativity with Mark Manson (Author of Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck)
Oh baby, here we go!
First podcast with the one and only Mark Manson. Mark is a multiple #1 New York Times best-selling author, including his mega hit ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck’. The main themes of this conversation were around change and how to deal with a major identity shift as well as how to find the necessary spark for creativity. I feel so blessed to get to share these conversations with you and hope you enjoy it.
Make sure you check out Mark’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.c
I'm Back (Kinda)
Hey guys,
Thanks for being here :)
This video’s been a long time coming. I feel really grateful to be able to finally speak to you about where I’ve been, where things are at, and what’s going to happen next.
I’ve missed you dearly and I hope you can feel it.
I hope you enjoy this first podcast of my going away party.
Also, here are the links that are mentioned:
Newsletter: https://mattdahlia.substack.com/
Pre-order for the book: https://www.seekdiscomfort.com/book
See you next Thursday 🙂
American Dreams
While we often seek discomfort, sometimes, it finds us. Our internal discomforts over the course of our careers have shaped who we are and how we deal with situations at hand. On today’s episode, we bring on our close friend, Eric Tabach. Eric, like many of us, has gone through his own internal discomforts over this past year and beyond that have overall landed him in a better place. So stick with us to hear more about the internal conflicts that we have faced this year and how we turn these dis
Growing Up Under a Microscope
Growing older is definitely an odd feeling. One moment we’re young 21 year olds starting up a YouTube channel, and then we seemingly blink and six years have flown by. On today’s episode we bring on the one and only, Tommy Dajer. Tommy is Matt’s little brother and has grown up with us along our journey of saying yes. So join us on this episode as we discuss our experiences growing up in Yes Theory.
Our Secret Weapon For Long-Term Success
Mentors can be a huge driving force in how we carry out our life’s path. From teachers to coaches, parents and even friends, having someone to look to for guidance can help to set you on the right path with clarity and confidence. On today’s episode we bring on one of Ammar’s mentors, Maha Abouelenein. Maha is a fellow podcast host and one of the most fearless networkers we have ever met. So stick around to learn a bit more about how we choose our mentors, what they mean to us, and why they are
Are We Spiritual?
Spirituality is a convoluted subject. With Ammar being raised as a Muslim and myself being raised mainly agnostic, we had two extremely different experiences growing up with religion. On today’s episode, we are also joined by Rotana Tarabzouni. Rotana was raised under Sharia law in Saudi Arabia and brings her own unique perspective to the table for this conversation. So join us today as we explore religion, faith and spirituality.
How to Travel like Yes Theory
If you know Yes Theory, you know that we love to travel. On this episode we sit down with Lexie Alford. Lexie is the Guinness Book World Record holder for being the youngest person to travel to every country, and she has some amazing stories to share along with her journey. So join us to hear more about how getting out of your comfort zone can lead you to some of the most amazing experiences that life has to offer.
Are We What We Eat?
You are what you eat!
How We Turned Our Greatest Weaknesses into Strengths
Turn your weakness into a super power!
Introducing: HiberNation
HiberNation is out now from Headspace Studios. Binge the first season now.
A Global Identity Crisis
Identity...crisis? None of that here. Tune in to hear how Yes Theory deals.
Break Free From Your Old Ways
Feeling stuck can get you down. Here's how Thomas and Ammar break through it.
The Evolution of our Friendship
What have we been up to since last season? Well...
Yes Theory is BACK! Season 2 Premieres July 14
We are so excited to welcome you back to yet another season of the Yes Theory Podcast presented by Headspace Studios. This season, we will take deep dives into topics that are near and dear to our heart, exploring the internal discomforts that allow us to learn as we grow on this crazy journey. We can't wait for you to join us.
The End of a Chapter
Things are changing in our little Yes Theory world, as well as the broader world, and we aren’t sure what the future holds. Thomas is headed back to Europe for the foreseeable future, and Matt’s stepped back from hosting. It really feels like the end of a chapter (with a new one coming close behind).
To celebrate and close the last chapter properly, and to end the season on a high note, we took a new spin in this episode. Just like in Episode 8, there are no guests (besides the people that just
How to Make a Change
Have you ever seen someone staring back in the mirror that you didn’t like?
We all experience “mirror moments” -- where we see ourselves and the paths we’re headed down clearly. In these moments, we can decide to continue the course or make a change. Sometimes we are seeking big changes -- like choosing to pursue a completely new career or end a relationship. Sometimes we’re vying for simpler -- like just choosing to meditate for five minutes a day or get dressed in the mornings.
No matter how
What Makes Our Friendship Work
Matt, Thomas, and Ammar have a picturesque kind of friendship. They’ve made memories on nearly every continent, built a business, and chased down their wildest dreams… together.
But what you don’t see on screen is that their friendship isn’t always easy. In fact, it rarely ever is. As is the case with many things in life, it’s leaning into the hard, uncomfortable parts that makes all of the beautiful parts possible.
For Matt, Thomas, and Ammar that looks like a mix of going off and doing tough
Why We Seek Discomfort
From climbing up snow-capped mountains in our boxers to running marathons with no training, one of the core pillars of Yes Theory is seeking out the big heart-pumping, mind-bending physical experiences that force us beyond our limits.
But what’s the point of doing all this? Are big challenges effective at helping us build daily exercise and wellness habits? Or is it more for show?
The science -- of extending past our physical limits -- is layered and complex. But at the most basic level -- the
The Problem With Productivity
Ever struggled to do your laundry, re-register your car, or make time to go to the dentist? It might make you feel like you’re terrible at “adulting,” but it turns out that’s actually more normal than you think and there might be a pretty solid explanation: burnout.
Anne Helen Peterson, author of Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation, joins Matt in this episode to talk about the costs of living in an achievement-obsessed culture, how monetizing what you love can get in the w
The Courage to Hope
“Hope makes you follow your dreams,” says actress Dina Shihabi, from the Amazon Original Jack Ryan. “I would have nothing in my life if I didn't have hope.”
We’re living through a pretty dark time right now. There’s this constant stream of negative news coverage and criticism. It’s hard to feel certain or confident about anything. Which is why it’s more important than ever to tap into our collective reserve of hope - the belief that life can be better tomorrow than it is today.
In today’s epi
The Antidote to Anxiety
Pandemics and vast uncertainty aside, life is hard. And for whatever reason, it seems to be getting harder. Studies have shown that the average kid today experiences more anxiety than the average psychiatric patient in the 1950s.
It feels like there’s this undercurrent of anxiety to everything we do. But instead of dealing with it, we fill our calendars with back-to-back appointments and our lives with endless distractions. We do everything we can to avoid having that anxiety bubble up.
But wha
The Path to a Kinder World
Remember the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated? You probably learned it in kindergarten.
Chances are you haven’t really upped your kindness game since. Most of us haven’t. The older we get, the more responsibilities, anxieties, and personal pursuits take over. And kindness simply doesn’t make the to-do list.
It’s not that we think kindness is any less important than in kindergarten. No, it’s the opposite. Most people agree that practicing kindness is more important than e
How To Chase Your Dreams
Before Yes Theory, we were just three guys trying to figure out what we wanted to do in life. We didn’t know much, just that we didn’t want to walk predictable paths. Luckily, we each had mentors that inspired us to stop thinking and start doing--anything and everything outside our comfort zones.
In this episode, we call back two of those early mentors to talk about why having novel experiences is so crucial for creativity, meaningful relationships, and business. And how it is truly the foundat
Let's Turn This Year Around
If 2020 was a question, it would be… how the heck do you make the best of a situation when you can’t even understand the situation?
When we asked Harvard Professor and Atlantic columnist, Arthur Brooks, he said so matter of factly, “You have to be an entrepreneur about your life.”
And when we asked Ozan Varol, the self-described perpetual dropout (but more importantly the rocket scientist, lawyer, professor, and author behind the book Think Like a Rocket Scientist), he told us the story of why
Introducing: The Yes Theory Podcast
Welcome to Yes Theory — the audio experience. We’re your hosts Thomas Brag, Ammar Kandil, and Matt Dajer. You may know us from our YouTube channel with the same name, or maybe not.
We believe the best things in life are outside your comfort zone. We’re talking about meaning, connection, you know all the good stuff.
Over the last 5 years, we’ve made a habit of seeking discomfort and creating videos about it. We’ve had the unthinkable honor of traveling around the world, conquering everyday fea