VRB’s weekly list of things to read, watch, listen to, and try that have helped us live better and be better. Brought to you this week by Chase Hobby.

Alex Honnold on Fear, Confidence, and the Power of Practice

Listen to Alex Honnold on Fear, Confidence, and the Power of Practice. Alex Honnold is one of the most famous and accomplished rock climbers in the world. He is best known for his free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, a feat that was captured in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo. In this pod, he talks about his relationship with fear, confidence, and the power of practice. He also shares his insights on motivation, risk, and happiness. This guy is worth listening to…

How great leaders inspire action

Watch Simon Sinek describe how great leaders inspire action. According to Sinek, they start with the why rather than the what. He uses a model called The Golden Circle, which consists of three concentric circles: why, how, and what. The why is the core belief or cause that drives the leader and the organization. The how is the way they fulfill that belief or cause. The what is the product or service they offer. This is simple concept is a gamechanger.

The Winners of the 2023 Gizmodo Science Fair

Read about The Winners of the 2023 Gizmodo Science Fair. You’ll learn about the first attempt to redirect an asteroid; an experimental vaccine for breast cancer that’s already showing impressive results; the quest to create the world’s whitest paint; a company that’s making space accessible to people with disabilities, composting, NASA's DART mission, male birth control, and more. This list will make you hopeful about the future.

Setting Boundaries

Try setting boundaries. We all have that difficult family member we just can’t seem to get on with. That’s just the way it works. Setting and maintaining boundaries in relationships is difficult, enduring work, especially when it involves a parent, sibling, child or some other family member. Here are some strategies to help start the process.