The concept of agency, and what it means for an observer to have agency, is a key topic explored in the dialogue, with discussions on decision-making, action, and the ability to shape the environment.
Cultivating a sense of agency over one's internal state and ability to positively impact the world is posited as key to mental health.
The concept of agency - having control over one's mental processes - is highlighted as a core goal of the techniques.
The concept of agency, or the ability to exercise control over one's life and make meaningful choices, is a central theme explored across the podcast episodes.
In No Mercy / No Malice: Agency, Scott Galloway defines agency as "the capacity to take actions that shape one's future and the world." This core idea is further examined in episodes like Why are we so indecisive?, which discusses how indecisiveness can lead to a lack of agency and mastery over one's life.
The relationship between agency, self-expression, and identity is explored in The Society of Ambiance Makers and Elegant Persons, which looks at how the Sapeurs in Central Africa use fashion as a means of asserting their agency and self-determination. Meanwhile, Philip Ball - How Life Works delves into the philosophical and scientific underpinnings of agency, connecting it to the second law of thermodynamics and our fundamental understanding of how living systems interact with their environments.