The boss who ignores you… the friend who ghosts you… the partner who “just doesn’t get it”… Why do they all feel like versions of the same headache? Ethan and Justin swing a wrecking ball at polite self-help and declare: every challenge in your life is a relationship problem in disguise. Drawing on The Courage to Be Disliked and their own hard knocks, they expose how your craving for applause—at work, in friendships, and in love—quietly scripts the drama you swear you hate. If you’ve ever blamed “circumstances,” get ready to see the real culprit in the mirror. What you will learn in this episode: How to trace any goal or setback to a single relationship root How to want recognition without becoming a praise addict How to flip workplace friction into career rocket fuel How to keep ambition alive when the crowd stays silent Questions answered: Are you engineering villains so you never have to level up? Why do your personal dreams hinge on other people’s opinions? Can you stay driven without letting applause control you? Press play now—then subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.