Moving Into 2026: How Play, Failure, and Curiosity Accelerate Growth

Moving Into 2026: How Play, Failure, and Curiosity Accelerate Growth

Author: Armando Dominguez PhD Health Psychology, Educator, Martial Artist, Researcher December 30, 2025 Duration: 30:54
Ep 132. Play is not the opposite of discipline — it is the fastest path to mastery. From early childhood to elite performance, play is one of the most powerful learning mechanisms available to the human nervous system. When we play, explore, and experiment, we engage curiosity, creativity, and our brain’s natural learning architecture. Failure, in this context, is not a verdict on identity — it is data. It provides feedback, information, and direction, showing us what doesn’t work so we ...

Ever feel like your brain's ancient wiring is at odds with the demands of modern life? That's the core territory explored in Running Man Self Regulation Skills Project. Hosted by Armando Dominguez, who brings a unique perspective as a PhD in Health Psychology, an educator, a martial artist, and a researcher, this podcast digs into the primal roots of our reactions. It’s about understanding how stress, anxiety, and even physical pain directly hijack our capacity to think clearly and make good decisions, often leading to behavior we might later regret. Each episode unpacks the survival programming we all carry-our inner paleo-caveperson-and how it manifests in today's world. You’ll hear practical discussions that bridge science and daily experience, focusing on why we freeze, lash out, or struggle to choose wisely under pressure. This isn't just theory; it's about gaining tangible insights for recognizing these patterns and developing stronger self-regulation skills. For anyone interested in the intersection of mental resilience, physical fitness, and social behavior, this podcast offers a thoughtful, grounded conversation. Tune in to reframe your understanding of your own instincts and learn to navigate tension with more awareness and control.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Running Man Self Regulation Skills Project
Podcast Episodes
Practicing Kindness: The Three Gates Approach to Self Regulation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:16
Ep 63. Explore the Three Gates technique for promoting mindfulness and kindness in daily interactions. Learn how to cultivate compassion and peace by being mindful of our words and actions, fostering a harmonious social…
Nurturing Your Inner Voice: the Voice that No-one Hears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:18
Ep 62. Explore the impact of our inner voice on authenticity and self-trust. Learn how nurturing self-kindness and acceptance can lead to transformative personal growth and enhanced social interactions. Our inner voice,…
Neuroplasticity, Observational Learning and Synaptic Connections [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:04
Ep 57. Neurocognitive aspects of skill acquisition and learning and benefits. Learn how stress management and low-stakes environments can enhance skill development and foster effective learning strategies for everyday li…