Mr. Bright Side
Never has there been a better time to be alive in human history. If you’re not feeling it, it’s essential that you discover why. Health, wealth, happiness, and other components of successful living are not achieved by accident. Everything has a cause. This is the weekly show that seeks and discusses impactful ideas, systems, and inspiration---the thinking---to fuel your pursuit of a flourishing, thriving life. Learn more at: https://matthewboulton.ca/ or https://www.facebook.com/matthewboulton.ca/
Episodes
July 25, 2021 • 18 min
Good stuff is happening, and it’s much more common than the negative. Listen in for some optimistic news that’s going on in the world.
In Part 1 of this two-part series, Matthew highlighted some of the astounding feats of medical science, while expounding on what this means for the lives of real individuals like you and him–and those we love. In Part 2, he presents a variety of thrilling innovations that promise to make our lives ev...
In Part 1 of this two-part series, Matthew highlighted some of the astounding feats of medical science, while expounding on what this means for the lives of real individuals like you and him–and those we love. In Part 2, he presents a variety of thrilling innovations that promise to make our lives ev...
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July 11, 2021 • 20 min
Good stuff is happening, and it’s much more common than the negative. Listen in for some optimistic news that’s going on in the world.
In Part 1 of this two-part series, Matthew highlights some of the astounding feats of medical science, while expounding on what this means for the lives of real individuals like you and him–and those we love.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKMuFctZVH4
Learn more at https://matthe...
In Part 1 of this two-part series, Matthew highlights some of the astounding feats of medical science, while expounding on what this means for the lives of real individuals like you and him–and those we love.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKMuFctZVH4
Learn more at https://matthe...
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June 27, 2021 • 19 min
Matthew sets some context after he was apparently “busted” breaking his own rules, the same rules he claimed on his show were so helpful in leading him to get more done and enjoy his free time even more. Who is he to be sharing advice with people if he doesn’t actually practice what he preaches?
Fair question. On today’s episode, he responds.
See how setting boundaries is not restrictive but liberating, and how higher context goals o...
Fair question. On today’s episode, he responds.
See how setting boundaries is not restrictive but liberating, and how higher context goals o...
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June 13, 2021 • 22 min
Matthew elaborates on the lyrics of My Morning Jacket’s 2011 “Circuital,” and the themes and lessons within. He also comments on the music itself, as it is an exhilarating and joyous song.
What are you going to do with your glorious and limited time “out on the circuit”?
Listen to Circuital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8EtNSUy93U
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqXr2xyFvUI
Learn more at https://matthewbou...
What are you going to do with your glorious and limited time “out on the circuit”?
Listen to Circuital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8EtNSUy93U
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqXr2xyFvUI
Learn more at https://matthewbou...
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May 30, 2021 • 21 min
Should I save now to have for later? Spend now for life experience at the expense of one’s future security? How much either way? And then spend on what? Acquiring things or experiences? And then at what balance? These are all questions one must answer for oneself, and there is no “right way” to live.
But depending on the answers, there is something that comes across in how much we experience in life in how much grace we carry oursel...
But depending on the answers, there is something that comes across in how much we experience in life in how much grace we carry oursel...
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May 16, 2021 • 11 min
Does success lead to optimism or does optimism lead to success?
Matthew's university classroom was divided, although none doubted the correlation. They were all ready, then, to accept the idea of a "virtuous circle." But a question remains: Where can one enter the circle?
Well over a year ago, Matthew wrote a very brief essay titled “Enter at Optimism,” in which he describes this classroom discussion scene that led him to...
Matthew's university classroom was divided, although none doubted the correlation. They were all ready, then, to accept the idea of a "virtuous circle." But a question remains: Where can one enter the circle?
Well over a year ago, Matthew wrote a very brief essay titled “Enter at Optimism,” in which he describes this classroom discussion scene that led him to...
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May 2, 2021 • 16 min
“Giving is getting” but this popular idea does have a qualifier that must be highlighted and properly understood, as it is often mistaken to refer to some kind of losing in the short term to gain in the long-term—which it kind of is yet isn’t. In this episode, Matthew distinguishes “giving” from “losing” so that we’re not trying to say anything paradoxical like “losing is winning.” There need be no losers for everyone to win.
In thi...
In thi...
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April 18, 2021 • 71 min
What stories are we telling ourselves and the people we love? Are they serving us or hurting us? And them?
In today’s show, the power of story is made alarmingly clear—I mean powerful at the neurochemical level, and I mean alarmingly in that many of us are mostly passive in allowing old, unchecked, and disempowering stories about ourselves drive us—and not anywhere we want to go.
But fear not, as Rich shares with us his four-step st...
In today’s show, the power of story is made alarmingly clear—I mean powerful at the neurochemical level, and I mean alarmingly in that many of us are mostly passive in allowing old, unchecked, and disempowering stories about ourselves drive us—and not anywhere we want to go.
But fear not, as Rich shares with us his four-step st...
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April 4, 2021 • 53 min
At minimum, you will leave this interview feeling confident and optimistic about yourself, your world, and the prospects in it, as Christmas Hutchinson convincingly reminds each of us that we're worth more than we give ourselves credit for. Not a little more...way more.
Throughout, she repeatedly gives refreshingly novel takes on what self-preservation and resilience mean, and if you pay good attention, you'll walk away with...
Throughout, she repeatedly gives refreshingly novel takes on what self-preservation and resilience mean, and if you pay good attention, you'll walk away with...
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March 21, 2021 • 33 min
Why do some people thrive in the face of hardship while others are crushed? To this challenging listener question, Matthew answers essentially that it’s about building resilience through the method of optimism versus the default of passive pessimistic resignation. On a deeper level, it’s about free will (optimistic) versus determinism (pessimistic).
Through his search into Viktor Frankl’s “focused optimistic purpose” and “tragic opt...
Through his search into Viktor Frankl’s “focused optimistic purpose” and “tragic opt...
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March 7, 2021 • 84 min
Are we basically good or evil? How can we transcend our culture of "blame and shame"? Why do we give away our power to others? How can we be less reactive and more proactively responsible for our own actions and well-being? What does it mean to take full ownership for our circumstances, and why is this empowering? What are the physical benefits to mindfulness training, on top of the obvious mental and emotional benefits?
Dr....
Dr....
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February 21, 2021 • 77 min
Whether you’re depressed or not, none of us are operating in perfect mental health. And in any case, we all need to be better educated for those around us who may be struggling and for whom we might make a difference. Lewis Page, successful and respected soccer coach, loved father, husband, friend, and all-around popular and healthy guy, does not fit one’s typical image of what depression looks like. Yet he lives with it.
Hear how s...
Hear how s...
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February 7, 2021 • 69 min
Most personal finance perspectives focus on savings and investment, and offer advice such as “don’t buy coffee every day.” But such practices are not conducive to living a liberated and happy life, and it’s not what moves the needle in one’s financial well-being besides.
“The goal is to enjoy your life,” says guest David Veklser, “not to die sitting on a big stash of cash.” Listen to learn more about David’s integrated philosophical...
“The goal is to enjoy your life,” says guest David Veklser, “not to die sitting on a big stash of cash.” Listen to learn more about David’s integrated philosophical...
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January 24, 2021 • 79 min
It’s weird to me that anyone is ever against capitalism.”
Hear why Tim thinks it’s weird, and hear loads of other inspiring stories and ideas in this packed episode. Let us just lay it on you in points. Tim goes off entertainingly on:
-his lifelong obsessions with persuasion as leading him to a career in marketing
-dropping out of uni to the devastation of his parents without any real plan, and the pressure that put on him to make goo...
Hear why Tim thinks it’s weird, and hear loads of other inspiring stories and ideas in this packed episode. Let us just lay it on you in points. Tim goes off entertainingly on:
-his lifelong obsessions with persuasion as leading him to a career in marketing
-dropping out of uni to the devastation of his parents without any real plan, and the pressure that put on him to make goo...
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January 10, 2021 • 28 min
No, it’s nothing to do with The Killers.
In this early milestone 50th episode, Matthew reflects a bit by sharing a brief history as to why he proceeded to call the show “Mr. Bright Side,” knowing full well that it would always be confused with the 2004 mega-hit Killers song. He also shares a few personal stories over the years which have reflected back to him his natural tendency to optimism and enthusiasm, long before he ever devel...
In this early milestone 50th episode, Matthew reflects a bit by sharing a brief history as to why he proceeded to call the show “Mr. Bright Side,” knowing full well that it would always be confused with the 2004 mega-hit Killers song. He also shares a few personal stories over the years which have reflected back to him his natural tendency to optimism and enthusiasm, long before he ever devel...
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January 3, 2021 • 17 min
At what age does one become a fully-formed individual? One modern-day comedian and one sage character from a short story published in 1939 have both offered a similar magic number. How is that two people from distinctly separate eras and experience have both identified the same thing?
In this episode, learn where Matthew heard Ricky Gervais and Parker Pyne, respectively, how he recognized in his own life the truth of what they say, ...
In this episode, learn where Matthew heard Ricky Gervais and Parker Pyne, respectively, how he recognized in his own life the truth of what they say, ...
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December 27, 2020 • 18 min
Free time gets old quick.
Retired people know this. So what’s the cause of that antsy, anxious feeling that makes it so that you just can’t enjoy your leisure time anymore? And how can we remedy this?
Planning endless celebrations and leisure activities are like using sugar for energy. They seem to extend the good feeling for a moment but are not long-lived or give us anything authentic. In this episode, Matthew shares his recent exp...
Retired people know this. So what’s the cause of that antsy, anxious feeling that makes it so that you just can’t enjoy your leisure time anymore? And how can we remedy this?
Planning endless celebrations and leisure activities are like using sugar for energy. They seem to extend the good feeling for a moment but are not long-lived or give us anything authentic. In this episode, Matthew shares his recent exp...
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December 20, 2020 • 20 min
How does charity fit into a life dedicated to gaining—not surrendering—values? If healthy human relationships are about win-wins, and charity is about gaining nothing for oneself, then is it good? And why do many of us feel so unfulfilled after engaging in sacrificial charity, if it’s the right thing to do?
Matthew answers all this and more on this week’s episode, as he outlines a positive image of what non-sacrificial charity can a...
Matthew answers all this and more on this week’s episode, as he outlines a positive image of what non-sacrificial charity can a...
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December 13, 2020 • 32 min
There is a war on against Christmas. And it’s coming from all directions. From one point, it is attacked for being too “commercial” and “material.” From another, and right in step with the general cancel culture that’s pervaded our society, Christmas is maligned for being “exclusive,” as it is taken as the purview of a single religion (and a majority one in the West, which is an even graver sin today): Christianity.
But what if we s...
But what if we s...
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Ep. 45: Grateful to be commensal with giants (Moral lessons from a children's science textbook Pt.2)
December 6, 2020 • 20 min
How are billionaires and trillionaires regarded in our culture, and what does it say about us?
Last week, Matthew referred to a children’s science textbook outlining three symbiotic relationships in nature: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism, and argued that only win-wins (mutualism) are good while win-lose/lose-wins (parasitism) are immoral.
This week, he shows how commensalism (win-neutral) as defined in that text reflects the...
Last week, Matthew referred to a children’s science textbook outlining three symbiotic relationships in nature: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism, and argued that only win-wins (mutualism) are good while win-lose/lose-wins (parasitism) are immoral.
This week, he shows how commensalism (win-neutral) as defined in that text reflects the...
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