TIP757: RICHER, WISER, HAPPIER Q3 2025

W/ STIG BRODERSEN & WILLIAM GREEN

TIP757: RICHER, WISER, HAPPIER Q3 2025 W/ STIG BRODERSEN & WILLIAM GREEN

27 September 2025

Each quarter, Stig Brodersen sits down with his friend and co-host William Green, author of Richer, Wiser, Happier. Together, they reflect on the lessons and stories that have made them Richer, Wiser, or Happier over the past few months. From investing insights to timeless ideas about how to live well, this conversation is an invitation to join them on the journey toward a more meaningful life.

SUBSCRIBE

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

  • Whether universal truths about a good life really exist
  • What we can — and can’t — learn about living well from other people
  • Why happiness often comes more from the absence of negative emotions than from positive ones
  • What William has learned about money and happiness from some of the wealthiest people on earth
  • Why spending money on others may increase your own happiness
  • Why Stig has deliberately constrained himself from reading new books this past quarter

TRANSCRIPT

Disclaimer: The transcript that follows has been generated using artificial intelligence. We strive to be as accurate as possible, but minor errors and slightly off timestamps may be present due to platform differences.

 

[00:00:00] Stig Brodersen: Every quarter I sit down with my friend and co-host William Green, and these conversations always end up somewhere unexpected. We quickly find ourselves wrestling with the big questions. What does it mean to live wisely? How do we deal with uncertainty investing in life? And why is it so tempting to think that our own perspective is so much more enlightened than others?

[00:00:21] Stig Brodersen: I’ll admit, as you hear in this episode, we are as guilty as charged as everyone else. We also talk about how history, literature, and even the market’s chaos can all be teachers if we’re willing to pay attention. So if you’re curious about how investing intersects with philosophy and why the search for a good life is often much harder than it looks, I think you enjoy this conversation.

[00:00:47] Intro: Since 2014 and through more than 180 million downloads, we’ve studied the financial markets and read the books that influenced self-made billionaires the most. We keep you informed and prepared for the unexpected. Now for your hosts, Stig Brodersen and William Green.

[00:01:13] Stig Brodersen: Welcome to The Investor’s Podcast. I’m your host, Stig Brodersen, and today, as always, for these Richer, Wiser, Happier conversations. I’m joined by my co-host and good friend William Green. William, how are you today?

[00:01:26] William Green: Hi Stig. I’m very well indeed and very happy to be here with you.

[00:01:30] Stig Brodersen: So, William, today we are going to tackle a very modest topic. We’ll be talking about the search for universal truths, like, like how more modest can we really start?

[00:01:42] William Green: We’ll nail this one.

[00:01:44] Stig Brodersen: I think we will. And we have three topics here for today. The first one is universal truth. The second one is about money and happiness. And then we have a section about books that may have made us richer, wiser and happier over the past quarter.

[00:01:57] Stig Brodersen: But if we can jump into the first segment here, you know, I’m amazed by the number of intelligent people who do not understand that what gives them purpose and happiness just isn’t so for everyone else. And then I’m amazed by how often I fall into the same trap. Like what I sometimes think that this is what works for me, so it must be working for you.

[00:02:22] Stig Brodersen: And of course, that’s not the way life is, but the more I explore the concept of universal truth, the fewer examples I can find. And sure you have some, like, you know, you could say that two and two equals four, that was a universal truth even before math was invented. But whenever it comes to living a good life, which we are going to talk about here today, it’s just, it’s really hard.

[00:02:43] Stig Brodersen: At least it is for me. And I would like to share a few personal anecdotes, just I guess really just to display my own ignorance. So. This was I want to say it was back in 2019. So I was traveling around Marrakesh and I was chatting up a local about the good life. I was just curious to hear how the locals live.

HELP US OUT!

Help us reach new listeners by leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! It takes less than 30 seconds, and really helps our show grow, which allows us to bring on even better guests for you all! Thank you – we really appreciate it!

BOOKS AND RESOURCES

 

NEW TO THE SHOW?

SPONSORS

Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors:

Disclosure: The Investor’s Podcast Network is an Amazon Associate. We may earn commission from qualifying purchases made through our affiliate links.

CONNECT WITH STIG

CONNECT WITH WILLIAM

PROMOTIONS

Check out our latest offer for all The Investor’s Podcast Network listeners!

WSB + BFF + RWH Promotions

The Intrinsic Value Newsletter