The Lesson: Over the last two decades as a culture, we have had to rapidly update the meaning of the word ‘depression’ within our zeitgeist. Once upon a time, being depressed meant you had a rough week at work or lost a loved one. Now we realize that depression is a disease that strikes down the student in the classroom, the big earner in his cubicle, and even a ‘king’ on his throne.
After beating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, in one of the biggest heavyweight boxing matches of the modern era, Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury had achieved everything he ever wanted. But even the fame, money, and glory that came with being a champ in the ring couldn’t keep him from spiraling into a near-suicidal depression. Confronted with a fight that seemed unwinnable, Fury hung up his gloves and tried a few small-goal-oriented strategies, which, combined with his faith, took him step-by-step back from the brink and demonstrated the immeasurable power of positive thinking and self-belief.
Notable Excerpt: “Contentment is the word we’re looking for; contentment doesn’t come from material stuff—jobs, positions, fame, glory, money, anything. You’ll never find contentment while you’re chasing that sort of stuff. My message would be – look around yourself, and be thankful for what you do have today. Don’t look for what you don’t have. You’ve got to be happy with who you are, and a wise man once said you’ve got to know yourself before you can know anybody else. Study yourself, try and understand yourself, think what makes you happy and do that, and what makes you sad don’t do that!”
The Guest: Holding an undefeated professional boxing record of 27 wins and 0 losses, Tyson Fury became one of this century’s most successful heavyweight champions, defeating the equally renowned Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles all at once. Having fought a long battle with depression, the British athlete is an active voice for raising awareness of just how sinister and ruthless depression can be; speaking to news outlets like The Guardian, and BBC Sport. As a past member of the traveling community, he is also a passionate activist for gypsy rights.
The Host: Joe Rogan is one of the world’s most successful podcasters, tallying around a billion downloads a year. With over a thousand episodes, The Joe Rogan Experience features comedians (he is a stand-up comedian himself), activists, physicists, outdoorsmen, athletes, celebrities, and the odd person who just has a wonderful story to tell.
(WATCH the Oct. 25 podcast below, or listen on Joe Rogan Experience) [EDITOR’S WARNING: Some mild cursing]
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