<p>You hold the door open. You say yes when you mean no. You put others first—always. It feels like the right thing to do… but is it costing you more than you realize? </p><p>In this episode, <strong>Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D.—Columbia professor, psychologist, and author of Rise Above—joins Dave Asprey</strong> to expose the <strong>psychology of victim vs. empowerment mindsets</strong>. He reveals how <strong>toxic altruism, external validation, and emotional fragility</strong> keep people stuck—and how you can <strong>reclaim your confidence, set boundaries, and create a life of true growth</strong>. </p><p>Dr. Kaufman, one of the <strong>world’s most cited scientists</strong>, shares cutting-edge research on <strong>self-actualization, resilience, and the hidden mental loops that shape your success</strong>. If you’ve ever felt <strong>stuck in self-doubt, drained from over-giving, or afraid to take up space</strong>, this conversation will <strong>help you break free</strong>. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>What You’ll Discover in This Episode:</strong> </p><p>• <strong>Victim vs. empowerment mindset</strong>—the key shift that changes everything </p><p>• The <strong>psychological traps of toxic altruism</strong>—and why over-giving holds you back </p><p>• How <strong>people-pleasing rewires your brain</strong>—and how to break the cycle </p><p>• The science of <strong>self-actualization</strong>—how to unlock your full potential without guilt </p><p>• Why modern culture and social media <strong>reward emotional fragility—and how to rise above it</strong> </p><p>• The neuroscience behind <strong>confidence, resilience, and making better choices for YOUR growth</strong> </p><p><br></p><p>If you’ve ever felt <strong>stuck, undervalued, or drained from always being “nice”</strong>, this episode will show you how to <strong>step into your power, rewrite your mental programming, and take control of your future.</strong> </p><p><br></p><p>SPONSORS </p><p>-Quantum Upgrade | Go to <a href="https://quantumupgrade.io/Dave" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://quantumupgrade.io/Dave</a> for a free trial. </p><p>-Timeline | Head to <a href="https://www.timeline.com/dave" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.timeline.com/dave</a> to get 10% off your first order. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources:</strong>  </p><p>• <strong>A Day of Biohacking and Consciousness Event: </strong><a href="https://daveasprey.com/biohacking-and-consciousness/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://daveasprey.com/biohacking-and-consciousness/</a> </p><p>• <strong>Dave Asprey’s New Book - <em>Heavily Meditated</em>:</strong> <a href="https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated/</a> </p><p>• <strong>Scott’s Instagram<em>:</em> </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/scottbarrykaufman/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/scottbarrykaufman/?hl=en</a> </p><p>• <strong>Scott's New Book – <em>Rise Above</em></strong>:<a href="https://scottbarrykaufman.com/books/rise-above/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://scottbarrykaufman.com/books/rise-above/</a> </p><p>• <strong>Danger Coffee</strong>: <a href="https://dangercoffee.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dangercoffee.com</a> </p><p>• <strong>Dave Asprey’s Website</strong>: <a href="https://daveasprey.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://daveasprey.com</a> </p><p>• <strong>Dave Asprey’s Linktree</strong>: <a href="https://linktr.ee/daveasprey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/daveasprey</a> </p><p>• <strong>Upgrade Collective – Join The Human Upgrade Podcast Live</strong>: <a href="https://www.ourupgradecollective.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ourupgradecollective.com</a> </p><p>• <strong>Own an Upgrade Labs</strong>: <a href="https://ownanupgradelabs.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ownanupgradelabs.com</a> </p><p>• <strong>Upgrade Labs</strong>: <a href="https://upgradelabs.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://upgradelabs.com</a> </p><p>• <strong>40 Years of Zen – Neurofeedback Training for Advanced Cognitive Enhancement</strong>: <a href="https://40yearsofzen.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://40yearsofzen.com</a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong> </p><p>• <strong>00:00</strong> Trailer </p><p>• <strong>00:44</strong> Intro  </p><p>• <strong>02:02</strong> <em>Rise Above</em> – Scott’s New Book </p><p>• <strong>03:13</strong> Triggers and Mind Control </p><p>• <strong>05:12</strong> Victimhood and Self-Actualization </p><p>• <strong>12:01</strong> Curiosity Over Fear </p><p>• <strong>16:32</strong> The Power of Discernment </p><p>• <strong>26:32</strong> Emotional Resilience Today </p><p>• <strong>31:12</strong> The Fragility of Younger Generations