
Solved, Answers: Finding Purpose, Failing Better, and the AI Future
This one’s different. In this special year-end episode, I answer your questions—from the deep stuff about purpose and motivation, to the uncomfortable realities of change, burnout, failure, and dealing with unsupportive family. I also share the behind-the-scenes chaos of building SOLVED this year, what I learned about making massive, meaningful content, and what’s coming in 2026 (spoiler: boundaries, ego, and maybe some live shows).
This is part personal, part philosophical, and part therapy session disguised as a podcast. If you’ve been wondering what’s next—or why you feel stuck—this one’s for you. See you in 2026.
Ready to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join the Solved Community, a group of like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://solvedpodcast.com/qa
Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:13 Recap of 2025
3:42 What if I don't have a single purpose?
6:07 Why don't I feel a strong need for purpose?
8:32 How do I find purpose when doing things I don't find important?
12:34 I'm having issues on getting motivated on one thing
19:35 What if my family doesn't support my purpose?
23:15 I'm struggling with the idea that purpose must be bigger than yourself
26:04 How Mark got Purpose AI to work
32:55 Questions from YouTube
33:13 How do you change yourself?
36:43 Finding meaning after AI takeover
44:01 What would a Models rewrite look like today?
48:19 Mark's first heartbreak
54:31 What would Mark put on Voyager 1?
57:35 Self-doubt on something you make
1:02:12 Mark's next book?
1:03:38 Tours around the world
1:05:55 Goals for 2026
1:08:14 Podcast changes for 2026
This is part personal, part philosophical, and part therapy session disguised as a podcast. If you’ve been wondering what’s next—or why you feel stuck—this one’s for you. See you in 2026.
Ready to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join the Solved Community, a group of like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://solvedpodcast.com/qa
Sign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:13 Recap of 2025
3:42 What if I don't have a single purpose?
6:07 Why don't I feel a strong need for purpose?
8:32 How do I find purpose when doing things I don't find important?
12:34 I'm having issues on getting motivated on one thing
19:35 What if my family doesn't support my purpose?
23:15 I'm struggling with the idea that purpose must be bigger than yourself
26:04 How Mark got Purpose AI to work
32:55 Questions from YouTube
33:13 How do you change yourself?
36:43 Finding meaning after AI takeover
44:01 What would a Models rewrite look like today?
48:19 Mark's first heartbreak
54:31 What would Mark put on Voyager 1?
57:35 Self-doubt on something you make
1:02:12 Mark's next book?
1:03:38 Tours around the world
1:05:55 Goals for 2026
1:08:14 Podcast changes for 2026
Mark Manson
3x #1 NY Times Bestselling Author. World Champion Non-Fuck-Giver.
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