What happens when an astronaut goes blind during a spacewalk?
For Chris Hadfield, this wasn’t a hypothetical scenario. While working outside the International Space Station, cleaning solution from his helmet visor spread into both eyes, leaving him completely blind in the vacuum of space.
His response? Stay calm and methodically evaluate options. He could call Houston. He could have a crew member rescue him. He could try to cry to flush out his eyes – though that’s tricky in zero gravity.
This story opens our conversation with Polina Marinova Pompliano, former Fortune Magazine reporter and author of the new book “Hidden Genius.”
Through her interviews with high-performers across fields — from astronauts to investors to extreme athletes — she uncovers patterns in how people handle uncertainty and build resilience.
Take trust, for example. Reid Hoffman’s formula is simple: Trust = Consistency + Time.
It’s not enough to show up sporadically when it’s convenient. Trust builds through meeting deadlines, following through on commitments, and maintaining clear communication — even during challenges.
Reliable consistency compounds over time, much like interest in an investment account.
Or consider Charlie Munger’s approach to beliefs. Rather than defending positions “to the death,” he argues you should only claim to believe something if you can argue the opposition’s viewpoint better than they can. This forces you to genuinely understand different perspectives rather than just reflexively disagreeing.
The conversation explores how people navigate major setbacks, from Conrad Anker surviving an avalanche that killed his climbing partners to Polina’s own experience of quitting Fortune magazine right before COVID hit. A key theme emerges: resilience isn’t about avoiding difficulty, but about training yourself to handle it through small daily practices.
Former Navy SEAL David Goggins calls this “callusing the mind.” By deliberately doing one uncomfortable thing each day – whether that’s running in the rain or having a difficult conversation – you build your capacity to handle larger challenges. The goal isn’t to become superhuman, but to expand your comfort zone step by step.
Other topics include:
– How immigrant experiences shape risk perception
– The shift from institutional to individual trust in media
– Reframing “failure” as redirection
– Building competence as an antidote to fear
– Finding signal in the noise of information overload
Enjoy the conversation!
Timestamps:
Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths.
0:00 Introduction
3:00 – Astronaut Chris Hadfield goes blind during spacewalk
4:40 – Training helps manage fear through “dress rehearsal for catastrophe”
7:40 – Managing emotional risks when trading time for money
10:40 – Learning not to tie identity to job titles
13:40 – Evolution of success metrics from external to internal
17:40 – Francis Ngannou: From Cameroon sand mines to MMA champion
24:40 – Jeff Immelt: Balancing personal life during GE leadership challenges
28:40 – How to analyze stories without personal bias
32:40 – Why individuals now trusted more than institutions
37:40 – Charlie Munger on building trusted information sources
41:40 – Reed Hoffman’s trust formula: consistency plus time
44:40 – David Goggins introduces “do one hard thing daily”
47:40 – Applying “dress rehearsal for catastrophe” to daily life
Resources:
The Art of Decision Making, with Annie Duke | Podcast
The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, with Annie Duke | Podcast
How to Build Incredible Habits, with James Clear | Podcast
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