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The James Altucher Show

The James Altucher Show

Written by: James Altucher
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 James Altucher interviews the world's leading peak performers in every area of life. But instead of giving you the typical success story, James digs deeper to find the "Choose Yourself" story - these are the moments we relate to... when someone rises up from personal struggle to reinvent themselves. The James Altucher Show brings you into the lives of peak-performers: billionaires, best-selling authors, rappers, astronauts, athletes, comedians, actors, and the world champions in every field, all who forged their own paths, found financial freedom and harnessed the power to create more meaningful and fulfilling lives.© Copyright © 2002-2025 PodcastOne.com. All rights reserved. Economics
Episodes
  • Keeping the Spark Alive – Long-Term & Aging (a/k/a How to Maintain Great Sex) | Dr. Nicole McNichols Part 3

    Keeping the Spark Alive – Long-Term & Aging (a/k/a How to Maintain Great Sex) | Dr. Nicole McNichols Part 3
    Feb 21 2026
    A Note from James:In the first two episodes with Dr. Nicole McNichols, we talked about chemistry, communication, anatomy, and the science of pleasure. This final episode is really about something deeper—how relationships evolve over time and what actually keeps desire alive.Because the truth is, long-term relationships don’t stay exciting automatically. They require intention. They require curiosity. And sometimes the issue isn’t your partner at all—it’s that you’ve stopped doing things that light you up in your own life.We also talk about novelty, sex toys, aging, hormones, communication, and why pleasure itself is not optional for wellbeing—it’s essential.This conversation tied everything together for me.Episode Description:How do couples keep desire alive years—or decades—into a relationship?In the final part of this series, Dr. Nicole McNichols explains why long-term passion isn’t about constant novelty or dramatic reinvention. It’s about intentional connection, personal growth, communication, and maintaining a sense of play.They discuss the “seven-year itch,” why boredom often comes from losing personal passion rather than losing attraction, and how seeing your partner energized by their own interests can reignite desire. The conversation also explores sex toys as collaborative tools, the health benefits of sexual activity, aging and sexuality, hormone therapy, and practical ways to communicate about sex without embarrassment.The episode closes with a powerful reminder: pleasure is not a luxury—it’s a core component of wellbeing.What You’ll Learn:Why boredom in relationships is often about your own life—not your partnerHow pursuing individual passions can increase attraction in long-term couplesWhy sex toys enhance connection rather than threaten itThe physical and psychological health benefits of sexual activityHow curiosity, humor, and vulnerability improve sexual communicationTimestamped Chapters:[00:02:00] Pleasure, Playfulness & Why Attraction Fades[00:03:28] The Seven-Year Itch & Long-Term Desire[00:04:00] Intention, Communication & Intimacy Dates[00:04:45] When Boredom Is About Your Own Life[00:05:25] Personal Passion & Seeing Your Partner Differently[00:06:11] The Best Sex of Your Life After Kids[00:08:16] Novelty Without Threatening the Relationship[00:09:24] Erotic Identity & Emotional Needs[00:11:00] Frequency of Novelty & Sexual Compatibility[00:11:21] Men Feeling Threatened by Novelty[00:11:42] Sex Toys as Collaborative Tools[00:13:26] The Pleasure Cycle: Wanting, Liking, Learning[00:14:12] Sex, Stress Reduction & Sleep[00:15:23] Health Benefits of Sex[00:16:08] Pleasure as Essential Wellbeing[00:19:00] Is Sex the Most Enjoyable Activity?[00:20:00] Presence, Mindfulness & Happiness Research[00:21:39] Sex and Meditation[00:22:00] Sex in Your 80s & Aging[00:23:22] Loneliness, Health & Sexual Function[00:24:25] Erectile Dysfunction & Physical Health[00:25:00] Menopause, Hormones & Sexual Pain[00:26:23] Hormone Therapy & Medical Guidance[00:27:35] Communication as the Core Skill[00:28:35] Leading With Curiosity[00:29:56] Humor, Playfulness & Awkward Conversations[00:31:08] Closing ThoughtsAdditional Resources:You Could Be Having Better SexNicole McNicholsDaniel Gilbert — Happiness research referencedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    31 mins
  • The Science & Mechanics of Pleasure (a/k/a How to Have Great Sex) | Dr. Nicole McNichols Pt. 2

    The Science & Mechanics of Pleasure (a/k/a How to Have Great Sex) | Dr. Nicole McNichols Pt. 2
    Feb 19 2026
    A Note from James:In the first episode with Dr. Nicole McNichols, we talked about chemistry, myths, and why communication matters more than performance. This episode goes deeper—into biology, anatomy, dopamine, desire, and the mechanics of pleasure.There are a lot of myths around sex. Some are cultural. Some are Hollywood. Some come from bad science. And some just come from silence.This conversation gets specific. We talk about orgasm, desire, scheduling sex, the so-called “missionary problem,” novelty in long-term relationships, and why so much of what we assume about men and women sexually just isn’t true.If Part 1 was about mindset, Part 2 is about understanding how sex actually works.Episode Description:What actually happens in the body during orgasm? Why does anticipation sometimes feel better than the act itself? And why are so many of our beliefs about sex simply wrong?In Part 2 of this three-part series, Dr. Nicole McNichols breaks down the biology of desire, the science of orgasm, and the myths that quietly sabotage long-term relationships.She explains why dopamine peaks during anticipation, why consistency—not intensity—is often key to orgasm, and why “missionary” might be underrated. They explore the anatomy of the clitoris (including research only fully mapped in 2006), the orgasm gap, responsive vs. spontaneous desire, and why scheduling intimacy can actually increase desire.This episode reframes sex not as performance, but as collaboration—an evolving, communicative process rooted in curiosity and growth.What You’ll Learn:Why dopamine spikes during anticipation—and how to avoid the post-expectation letdownThe difference between spontaneous and responsive desire (for both men and women)Why consistency is physiologically critical during orgasmThe science behind the orgasm gap and what actually closes itWhy scheduling intimacy can increase frequency and desire—not kill spontaneityTimestamped Chapters:[00:02:00] No One Craves Bad Sex & The Myth of “Boring” Positions[00:03:18] Previously on Part 1: Porn Myths & Feeling Wanted[00:04:00] Chemistry, Pheromones & The Role of Safety[00:06:00] Sexual Growth Mindset & Compatibility[00:08:00] Fireworks vs. Communication[00:10:00] Anatomy, Diversity of Touch & The Clitoris Explained[00:12:00] Scripts, Feedback & How to Talk During Sex[00:17:00] Novelty, Micro-Novelty & Preventing Boredom[00:19:00] Wanting, Liking & Learning: The Pleasure Cycle[00:23:00] Expanding the Definition of Sex[00:25:00] The “Sex Recession” & Frequency Myths[00:27:00] Planning Intimacy & Scheduling Sex[00:31:00] Why Missionary Deserves a Rebrand[00:34:00] Internal Anatomy, the Clitoral Complex & Size Myths[00:39:00] What Is an Orgasm, Physiologically?[00:45:00] The Orgasm Gap & Why Fingering Matters[00:47:00] Consistency vs. “Faster & Harder”[00:49:00] Masturbation Myths & No Nut November[00:51:00] Refractory Period & Aging[00:55:00] Multiple Orgasms & What Research Shows[01:00:00] Love, Orientation & Novelty in Long-Term RelationshipsAdditional Resources:You Could Be Having Better SexNicole McNicholsHelen O'Connell – Research mapping full clitoral anatomy (MRI studies)Beverly Whipple – Orgasm research & physiological studiesA Moveable Feast – Referenced during discussionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • From the Archive: Ramit Sethi on Building a Rich Life, Dream Jobs & Online Businesses

    From the Archive: Ramit Sethi on Building a Rich Life, Dream Jobs & Online Businesses
    Feb 14 2026

    Episode Description:

    This archival conversation with Ramit Sethi is a masterclass in systems thinking, behavioral psychology, and building a “rich life” on your own terms.

    Long before online courses were mainstream, Ramit was quietly building scalable systems—automating money, testing business ideas rigorously, and rejecting conventional wisdom around careers, housing, and passion. In this conversation, he explains why most advice fails, why willpower is overrated, and how to engineer results instead of hoping for inspiration.

    They cover negotiation psychology, competence triggers, breaking into dream jobs without HR, why buying a house isn’t always the best investment, and how to build a real online business—from research to first sale.

    This episode still holds up because it’s not about hacks. It’s about structure. Systems. Leverage. And testing instead of guessing.


    What You’ll Learn:

    • Why analyzing your own behavior (even on video) is one of the fastest ways to improve
    • The concept of “competence triggers” and how to use them in interviews and negotiations
    • Why most financial advice (like skipping lattes) focuses on the wrong problems
    • How to negotiate salary without anchoring yourself to your current pay
    • The step-by-step system for building an online business—from research to first sale


    Timestamped Chapters:

    • [00:02:00] Human Behavior, Willpower & Cognitive Misers
    • [00:03:00] Ramit’s Origin Story: Scholarships, Interviews & Self-Analysis
    • [00:06:00] The Power of Videotaping Yourself
    • [00:08:00] Losing Money & Discovering Personal Finance Psychology
    • [00:09:00] Why Latte Advice Doesn’t Work
    • [00:11:00] Automating Money & Designing a Rich Life
    • [00:14:00] The Housing Myth & Financial “Great Lies”
    • [00:18:00] How to Land a Dream Job (Without HR)
    • [00:20:00] Negotiation Tactics & Avoiding Salary Anchors
    • [00:28:00] Competence Triggers & Social Signaling
    • [00:34:00] Why Courses Beat Books (For Results)
    • [00:38:00] Zero to Launch: Why Most Passive Income Advice Is Wrong
    • [00:41:00] Research Before Building: Finding Profitable Ideas
    • [00:44:00] Writing Headlines That Sell
    • [00:49:00] Traffic Strategy: Guest Posting & Email Lists
    • [00:52:00] Case Study: Turning Tutoring into $200K


    Additional Resources:

    • Ramit Sethi's Website
    • I Will Teach You to Be Rich - The Book

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    1 hr and 12 mins
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