Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern

Modern technology enables instant global communication, microwave meals, and AI-generated artwork… but conveniences like these also come at a cost. In this episode of Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern, we explore why so many people find it difficult to connect the dots between their individual actions and any sort of meaningful impact, resulting in an epidemic of indifference. Far too often, we only make that connection when our actions or inactions lead to terrible consequences—for our personal lives, for our careers, and occasionally in the form of tragedies like January’s midair collision above Reagan National airport. Tune in to hear Tony’s thoughts on this accident and how the solution to all these problems is something we’ve lost in the Age of Apathy and Convenience: the pursuit of high precision performance.

Human beings possess a dangerous flaw in our inherent desire to confirm our current assumptions and perspectives. This flaw is amplified in the modern world through social media, like-minded friend groups, partisan news, etc. to create echo chambers that reinforce, rather than challenge, our pre-existing beliefs. In this episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, we explore the importance of mental agility—our ability to think flexibly, adapt, and question our own perspectives. This discussion covers both the dangers of a rigid perspective and how keeping an open mind when reviewing personal experience, discerning facts from opinions, and listening to opposing viewpoints keeps our brains healthy and encourages us to develop “strong opinions, loosely held.”

How distracted are we? How much effort is required for us to truly focus on something important? In this episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, our host discusses the modern distractions that pull focus and inhibit many of our efforts. He provides four critical strategies to counter the impact of disruptions and get back to what’s important, including attention management and acting with intent, along with some tools like the Eisenhower Matrix and the Pomodoro technique. So listen to this episode, then put down your distractions and get some deep work done on your critical projects.

In this episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, we explore the ongoing issue of human error in aviation, a challenge that has persisted throughout history and continues to impact the industry today. Recent tragedies have raised concerns about the safety of aviation, leading to public scrutiny. Tony reflects on the importance of understanding and addressing human error, especially in light of recent events, and considers how this issue will evolve moving forward.

Does your fear of failure have its basis in reality or is it actually a resistance to the unknown? In this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, we explore forging new paths through the wilderness of undiscovered ideas. Almost everyone has experienced looking for a tool, a service, a group, a book, or something else only to find it doesn’t seem to exist. When this happens, most of us simply give up—though a few might take the initiative to build the solutions for ourselves. While this takes courage to begin and tenacity to see through to the end, the results might just lead to the next game-changing invention, best-selling book series, or billion-dollar business venture. There’s only one way to find out.

Today on Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern, our host tackles an issue that we guarantee every single one of our listeners has struggled with in their lives: procrastination. Not only is procrastination a destroyer of dreams, a potential career derailer, and a wet blanket on ambition, it can do physical harm to our bodies as well. Tony breaks down all these issues, several effective countermeasures to break procrastination patterns, and—of course—includes a sprinkling of historical and personal anecdotes. Fight and win the psychological and chemical battle against procrastination with these helpful resources!

It’s not often that we’re able to pull off our plans without a hitch. Life is full of surprises and even the most predictable mission can go sideways with barely a moment’s notice. In this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kernpodcast, our host discusses the significant differences between having a plan and being prepared. While the former provides a great starting point for our efforts, it is the latter that more often determines our success. Because a plan is a singular and often rigid approach, but preparedness allows us to salvage victory after circumstances render the plan obsolete.

Welcome to this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast! After the tragic collision of an American Airlines plane and Army helicopter this week—the first commercial aviation crash since 2009—Tony and special guest D. Smith discuss repeating safety cycles, the aviation industry, dealing with depression, personal faith, and more. The Executive Director of Safety Management for the Transportation Safety Institute with 40 years of experience in the field of aviation safety, D. has plenty of insights to share on the likely systemic issues that led to this accident, as well as how the industry has responded to big incidents like this in the past. The two also engage in a frank discussion on depression and some methods they’ve learned to function and even grow through difficult periods, including engaging in creative projects and faith/spirituality. 

In this episode of Only Human, Dr. Tony Kern dives into the pressing conversation around generational differences, especially within industries like aviation. Joined by Brandon Carroll, a recent acquaintance from a Memphis event, they explore whether there really are significant divides between generations or if it’s all just noise. With Baby Boomers aging out, there’s a lot of talk about how the next generation will step up, what wisdom they’ll inherit, and if the old-school ways still have a place in today’s world. Tune in as Dr. Kern and Brandon discuss the largest generational handoff in history, and what it means for the future of work, leadership, and knowledge transfer.

This week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast examines the 8-word phrase that guides our improvement philosophy: “My true best, every time, in full compliance.” This mantra provides an anchor to individual progress, sets a performance goal to aim for, incorporates repetition and deliberate practice, and delineates practical boundaries for executing the task. Surrounding this discussion, Tony tackles the impact we have on others and tips to successfully encourage their growth.

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Tony Kern explores the often-unspoken truth behind New Year’s resolutions: they rarely go according to plan and most die a quick death after just a few weeks. Instead of giving in and giving up, we dive deep into the power of persistence, self-compassion, and recalibration. Inspired by Stephen Covey’s idea of “beginning with the end in mind,” we’ll tackle the critical moments when resolutions falter—because those moments don’t signal the end of the journey. From setbacks to breakthroughs, we’ll explore how to redefine success, embrace the process, and learn from the times we almost give up. Join us as we explore the art of sticking with it—no matter the bumps along the way.

Exploring our “reason for being” is the perfect topic for a show about improving our capabilities as human beings. Today on the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony dives into the Japanese concept of “Ikigai,” where what you love, are good at, can be paid for, and what the world needs intersect to form a purpose for being here that transcends our daily struggles and transforms our lives. Join us on this episode and learn how Ikigai can help you craft your own life mission statement!

Oxford University’s announcement that “brain rot” is their Word of the Year for 2024 inspires this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast. Tony shares insights into beating brain rot by engaging with our personal passions and creative pursuits to drive our internal motivation centers. From a board game about cats to the finding creative balance and how autonomy fuels innovation, this discussion is a call to action for us to stop doom scrolling and reengage with our purpose.

In this episode, Tony explores The Logic of Failure by Dietrich Dörner, revealing why even smart, well-intentioned people often fail when managing complex systems. Through a simulation of building a self-sustaining town, participants make decisions that lead to economic collapse, water shortages, and environmental degradation. He discusses how overconfidence, simplistic thinking, and failure to anticipate long-term consequences cause these catastrophic results. Drawing parallels to real-world disasters like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, he uncovers the key lessons on embracing complexity, using feedback, and avoiding quick fixes.

In this book-centric episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony uses the central themes from Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land to draw modern lessons that are applicable to our personal and professional lives. From the protagonist’s journey to adapt within a strange new culture (ours) to bridging gaps with clear communication and practicing both self-awareness and empathy, fans of both classic scifi and human performance improvement will be educated and entertained.

Today on the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony wades into current political discourse after using a controversial example at a public speaking event. This prompts self-reflection on how our individual worldviews are formed, staying open minded to alternate viewpoints, valuing dialogue between different perspectives, and thinking critically about the lessons we learn from history. This episode prompts us to see people individually, respect their differences, and communicate honestly.

This episode of the Only Human Podcast with Dr. Tony Kern concludes our miniseries on the many components of motivation. We already discussed whyit’s critical to finish what we start, and this week continues that conversation with how to accomplish the things we set out to do. From visualizing the finish line from the beginning to the difference it makes when we manage our energy instead of our time, we hope these episodes provided a clear pathway for you to find success in your many endeavors.

Is it important to finish what we start? In this episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, our host shows why finishing things should be a fundamental habit, how to reinforce it through things like grit and perseverance, how to reframe our obstacles and challenges, and why self-compassion is necessary to reach that finish line. With his usual mix of historical anecdotes, philosophical wisdom, and personal examples, Tony explores why this may be the most critical habit of all.

Hanging onto inspiration and motivation can be tricky. In this episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, discover several ways to maintain motivation by finding the right anchors to strong focal points. These include connecting on both an intellectual and emotional level with our goals, fanning the flames by taking small steps and keeping our next victory right around the corner, utilizing both intrinsic and extrinsic sources of motivation, and a whole lot more—tune in to find out!

This episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kernpodcast is a book launch party for Tony’s new title: Armored Knight, available now from North Slopeand Amazon. This release is the third in his trilogy of books on mastering ourselves. Blue Threattaught us how to defeat human error, Going Proimproved our collective professionalism, and now Armored Knight provides us with a roadmap for self-leadership, psychosocial strength building, finding the right allies, and overcoming life’s challenges.

In this episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast we focus on a subject that most people have experience with—inspiration. Where does it come from and why does it disappear? How can motivation and perseverance help us reach the finish line on our efforts when inspiration is gone? As a researcher, author, and speaker with decades of experience, Tony knows both sides of this coin and shares his insights and actionable strategies so that inspiration is readily available when we need it.

Our special guest on this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast comes to us from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Major General Colin Keiver (ret.) is a fellow pilot, instructor, and human factors aficionado who matches Tony point-for-point on a variety of topics. From growing through instructing others to principles-based operations and what’s missing from current leadership programs, this episode provides compelling depth on self-knowledge from two career aviators. 

Discover the cosmic balance between courage and fear in this week’s discussion on the Only Human Podcast with Dr. Tony Kern, with special guest Valerie Walsh. Valerie is a best-selling author of books on love, loss, and personal development and a mental health/physical fitness advocate. This conversation covers “knowing yourself” and the wide range of tools and methods that we’ve learned or discovered to mind our mental, physical, and spiritual health for improved outcomes across the board.

In this packed episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, we dive into the cognitive biases—or mental shortcuts—that our subconscious hidden identity uses that can sabotage our efforts. These automatic processes can trip us up if we’re not careful, but the more introspective (see our last episode) we can be about our own actions and thought processes, the more we can avoid these mind tricks. Which cognitive biases trip you up the most?

People who practice introspection—the act of thinking about the inner workings of ourselves—are more likely to find happiness, relationship fulfillment, personal growth, and a sense of control. But the opposite can also occur if introspection is done haphazardly or the wrong way. In this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony explores the benefits of introspection, tips for doing it well, and examples where it was absent or done poorly, resulting in the wrong lessons being learned.

What do road rage, Will Smith’s Oscar slap, and an astronaut in adult diapers have in common? The answer is an emotional and irrational response to a stimuli or trigger called “sudden loss of judgment.” Join us for this week’s Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast as we dive into more examples of this serious problem that we’ve all experienced from time to time. Tony shares personal anecdotes and some simple solutions to stop an unexpected event from turning us into a 6’o’clock news story.

In this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, we discuss how to break free from the things that keep us complacent, distracted, and limit our potential. Life isn’t usually stable, safe, or predictable and relying on the things we’re so often told will provide happiness and security can result in us becoming trapped instead. Breaking free requires intention and deliberate pursuit of small, consistent actions—a powerful journey that ultimately takes a lifetime.

Welcome to Season 3 of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast! Season 3’s focus is what Socrates called the fountain of all wisdom—getting to know yourself. In this episode, Tony discusses the “four identities” each of us possess: public, private, secret, and a hidden identity. Join us for a discussion on how these identities influence our actions, reactions, thoughts, and behaviors and learn the best ways to explore them and even take control to become the master of your own life.

In the Season 2 finale of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony breaks down the two major components of “readiness:” preparation and vigilance. Our challenges can be overcome through Mental, Emotional, Behavioral, and Physical Preparedness—this is half of the readiness equation. Vigilance—even hyper-vigilance—can be achieved by monitoring our self- and situational awareness, sustained attention, threat detection, and team communication. We’ll see you soon for the launch of Season 3!

In this follow-up episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast on self-defeating patterns, we tackle eight more. Based on a reader comment from the last episode, Tony takes a more positive approach by highlighting the upsides of each thought/behavior pattern. Issues covered range from Imposter Syndrome, People Pleasing, and Blame Shifting to Self-Sabotage and Chronic Worrying. No matter your age, experience, or station, there is sure to be something helpful to your daily life!

When does self-reflection become destructive self-criticism? When does smart planning turn into procrastination? In this week’s Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, our host responds to a reader question to address self-defeating thoughts and behaviors through multiple lenses. This episode is an examination of the upsides and downsides of certain personal thinking patterns and behaviors to discover a balance that facilitates improvement while minimizing negative self-talk and behaviors.

Join Tony and our special guest, bestselling author Adrienne Somerville, for expert insights about talent management, being a mentor, finding a mentor, and so much more. The discussion includes industry-spanning topics like the generational handoff, mentoring people and growing talent over focusing on production or profits, company culture, professionalism, the impacts of COVID, and much more. Optimal performance enthusiasts are certainly in for a treat with this conversation!

This week we finish our deep-dive discussion of the Blue Threat Proverbs we use on the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast. Follow along as Tony explains proverbs 21–35, including “Strange things happen near the boundaries,” “Only Human is the ultimate oxymoron,” and one of Tony’s absolute favorites, “Harness the Merlin Effect,” about the power of mentorship to improve not only the mentee, but the mentor as well. Let us know in the comments which one is your favorite!

In this episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony reflects upon a prayer from writer Laura Jean Truman about the potential of emotions to be used for good or deformed into anger, cruelty, and evil. The last line of this prayer stands out especially: “Keep me fiercely kind,” and from this inspiration, Tony reflects on this prayer and crafts his own version in alignment with his life purpose of helping others improve and find their own purpose, satisfaction, and inner strength.

In a world reshaped by new technologies, economic & social pressures, generational changes, and new workplace models, what does leadership even look like? Certainly not what it used to. This week on the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, we explore some counterintuitive ideas and how we can still shape the leadership & professionalism of tomorrow, albeit not the same way we did yesterday. If understanding these issues is as important to you as it is to us, you won’t want to miss this episode!

Delivering bad news is one of the most difficult conversations most of us ever have. They are also some of the most important. This week on the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony draws on his personal and professional experience to walk us through delivering bad news in a variety of scenarios and settings. Giving or receiving bad news is never easy, but with preparation and practice we can learn to do it like the pros do.

One of our favorite Blue Threat Proverbs states: “Noncompliance is addictive and progressive.” But it can also be viral, spreading within ourselves and eventually to others, like a pandemic with completely unforeseen consequences for everyone. In this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kernpodcast, Tony revisits the idea of “mindful noncompliance” to establish the essential considerations we must be mindful of if we’re ever contemplating bending or breaking the rules.

This week’s episode of the Only Human Podcast with Dr. Tony Kern features another amazing special guest: Elmar Luttar. Until a very recent “passing of the torch,” Elmar was the CEO of Lufthansa Technik Philippines. He is also author of the book, Error Traps, about his approach to reducing human error in the maintenance teams at Lufthansa. Don’t miss this lively discussion of his tenure at Lufthansa, efficiently managing complex operations, procedural compliance, customer service, and more!

An interesting trend has emerged in research of Gen Z in the workforce: they rank salary lower than intangible factors such as company culture, flexibility, and work/life balance. In today’s Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern, learn why these intangible factors are critical—for every professional—by viewing them in a different way: psychological salary, emotional salary, behavioral salary, and spiritual salary. No matter what generation you are, discover how to reach your ideal work/life balance!

Join us this week for another special guest! This episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern features Jermaine “Caddy” Cadogan for a personal discussion between two retired military officers from different service branches (Air Force and Marines, respectively) on the crossover—and lack thereof—concerning leadership principles between miliary and civilian work and life.  The discussion ranges from leadership and followership to the various military cultures and how they compare and contrast with the post-service experience.

In this episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony’s list of the biggest mistakes leaders make becomes a confessional as he shares with us his personal “top 5” leadership mistakes. There’s no “inside baseball” here, as Tony provides both personal and well-known examples of each, from Elizabeth Holmes of the Theranos scandal to product failures like Google Glass. Whether you’re a current/future leader, team member, or one of our regular listeners, you’ll appreciate these tips!

This week we continue our deep-dive discussion of the Blue Threat Proverbs we use on the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast. Tony briefly reviews the origin of the concept and then does a deep dive on proverbs like “You’re only as committed as you are convinced,” “The fourth dimension is the first decision,” and fan favorite “Never trust a dead villain.” This episode covers the next ten Blue Threat Proverbs (11–20) with additional discussion and analysis to expand your understanding—let us know in the comments which one is your favorite!

In a first for the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, this episode features not one but two special guests who join Tony for a lively discussion on leadership, family, and parenting. Bryan Burns is President and CEO of the Air Charter Safety Foundation and father of two highly successful children, now adults.  Rachel Kern is a college athlete and corporate retail manager who is raising two young sons in a “confusing world.” Join Tony, Bryan, and Rachel as they apply leadership lessons from their careers to their personal roles as partners and parents, how to positively impact the emotional and intellectual development of both children and employees, how social media and modern technologies can complicate everything, and—of course—nurturing human performance to bring out the very best in the people we care about.

If it isn’t possible to capitalize on opportunities without taking some risk, we can at least take smart risks. What do we mean by that? On this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, we explore the idea of “personal risk thresholds” which define different types of risk takers and what this means for each of us. Tune in for a risk threshold self-assessment that simplifies risk management across multiple roles—for leaders, team members, parents, and more.

In this week’s episode, Dr. Kern investigates how we can drive our performance through the lens of military theorist Carl von Clausewitz to learn about the “Fog of War” and how it applies to our everyday decisions and actions. Discussion of Clausewitz’ “remarkable “trinity of war” composed of emotion, reason, and chance—illustrate their usefulness on our everyday battlefields of life.

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This week we grant a viewer request for more information on the weekly Blue Threat Proverbs we use on the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast. Tony discusses the origin of the concept and then does a deep dive on proverbs like “Human error is not a victimless crime” and the personally powerful “Habits are better than rules.” This episode covers the first ten Blue Threat Proverbs with additional discussion and analysis to expand your understanding—perhaps you’ll even discover a new favorite.

Purchase Only Human Coffee Mug at TinyUrl.com/TonyKern

As we’ve examined over the last couple of episodes, problems have a life of their own. Join us for this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast to conclude this discussion with a fascinating fictional ally: the young protagonist Ender Wiggin of the classic sci-fi book Ender’s Game. Tony explores Ender’s unique approach to problem solving in the novel, leading to an actionable set of steps we can apply to our daily lives. You won’t want to miss this one!

In our last episode, we discussed analyzing problems versus the freedom in seeking solutions instead. This week on the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony follows that idea with a decision-making matrix that requires us to weigh the consequences of our response, any delays, and how reversible those consequences are when making decisions. Tune in to discover how putting the appropriate value on our choices and knowing the right time to act creates optimal solutions. 

Sometimes we get caught up in an “analysis paralysis” that hampers our progress as the problem we’re trying to solve evolves faster than their solution can be implemented. In this episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony shares his personal approach of “rapid prototyping” to make incremental improvements and foster a mindset of resilience and adaptability. Get off the bench and into the game with this active strategy focused on solutions instead of problems.

Last week we discussed the dual nature of chaos and order and how chaos can sometimes be a good thing. On this week’s episode of the Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast, Tony drives us deep into the heart of chaos to provide listeners with his tactics to handle the crazy and unknown; things like embracing flexibility, cultivating a growth mindset, building personal resilience, and finding calm amidst the chaos—with daily practical steps for each. You won’t want to miss this one!