Andrew McConnell on Stoicism, Mindful Technology, and Modern Wellness
A better way to own our mindsets
Andrew McConnell is the Founder and CEO of Alively.com and the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of "Get Out of My Head: Creating Modern Clarity with Stoic Wisdom". He's also the host of the "Home of Healthspan" podcast. Prior to this, he founded and led several companies including Rented.com. He has impressive academic credentials from Harvard and Cambridge and was a former member of the US National Team in Open Water Swimming.
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Episode overview & reflections:
Through both Alively and his broader thought leadership, Andrew is working to transform how we approach health and wellness by integrating timeless wisdom with modern science.
In the episode, we covered:
How stoicism and other ancient philosophies provide practical tools for modern challenges
The science behind habit formation and behavior change
Andrew's journey from competitive swimming to entrepreneurship to health optimization
Why focusing on foundations matters more than complex optimizations
The power of social connection in overall health outcomes
This conversation has already resonated deeply, with folks reaching out to me saying the ideas have been "bouncing around in their heads" for days after listening. I’ve found myself reflecting on it a lot. Andrew delivered a masterclass on mindset development and perspective-taking that applies far beyond just physical wellbeing.
I was struck by Andrew's emphasis on fundamentals - sleep, movement, nutrition, connection - and his insight that true wellness often requires doing less, not more. We explored how ancient wisdom traditions reached similar conclusions about human flourishing through different paths, suggesting these are universal truths rather than culturally specific insights.
My Reflections:
It's inspiring to see someone who has so deliberately aligned their vocation, career, and lifestyle. Andrew doesn't just talk about health and wellness - he embodies it in how he lives and works.
He represents an important shift underway culturally - moving wellness away from something counter-cultural to what is increasingly recognized as a fundamental priority. We should celebrate the ‘mainstreaming’ of holistic health!
Perhaps most powerfully, Andrew reminds us that the major tenets of health & wellness are free. Sleep, exercise, sunshine, laughter, time in nature, community, water - the foundations of wellbeing are within everyone's reach.
This points to a tension I perceive between capitalism and wellness: a capitalist economy needs us to feel a problem to sell us a solution, but the core pillars of wellness are available to anyone…provided we’re willing to prioritize them.
You can find the episode linked below, and you can also check out a short-form reel on mindful parenting and the Hedonic treadmill that has been well received: