Two Percent with Michael Easter

Michael speaks with FDNY Chief Joseph Pfeifer, who led the first fire units into the North Tower on 9/11 and later gave the order to evacuate the towers. Chief Pfeifer later served as the FDNY Chief of Counterterrorism and Emergency preparedness, is a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, and wrote Ordinary Heroes, which examines what 9/11 taught him about crisis leadership, resilience, and the ordinary acts of heroism. They discuss:
- Watching American Airlines flight 11 hit the North Tower
- Leading firefighters into the North Tower
- Critical decisions and lessons from inside the towers when the second plane hit
- The 60-second decision to order evacuation
- The ordinary acts of heroism that saved lives
- Lessons in resilience from 9/11
- Leading the Ground Zero recovery efforts
- The three rules of crisis leadership
- Four stages of resilience after a crisis
- Looming threats and how to prepare for them
And more …
This episode includes detailed discussion of the September 11 attacks, death, and trauma.
Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today's episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Will Mayo. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.
GET A FREE GUIDE TO EXAMPLES OF MISOGI at twopct.com
I share similar insights around health and wellness on Substack.
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael sits down with Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted at 14, survived nine months of captivity, and spent the decades after building her own path to recovery. She is the Founder of the Elizabeth Smart foundation and host of The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart, a true-crime podcast where she speaks with survivors of violent crimes about healing. Michael and Elizabeth discuss:
- Elizabeth’s 2002 kidnapping
- Surprising facts about her kidnapping and discovery
- The psychological research behind downward comparison
- The untraditional support that helped her move forward
- Why healing from trauma does not follow one path
- Why bodybuilding became Elizabeth’s passion
- Why exercise can improve mental health and trauma recovery
- Why doing what scares you can lead to massive gains
- Elizabeth’s work with survivors of violence
- Putting survivors at the center of true crime
- The strength people discover under pressure
And more …
This episode includes detailed discussion of child abduction, sexual violence, and trauma.
Go deeper: How To Be More Resilient
Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today's episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Will Mayo. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.
GET A FREE GUIDE TO EXAMPLES OF MISOGI at twopct.com
I share similar insights around health and wellness on Substack.
Follow Michael: Instagram · X · LinkedIn · Facebook · TikTok
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Delony argues that anxiety can be a signal, and avoiding the thing behind it often makes the alarm louder. Michael sits down with Delony, host of The Dr. John Delony Show and author of Building a Non-Anxious Life. They discuss:
- The most common relationship problems he hears (from thousands of calls)
- The most profound call he ever received
- The downsides of formalizing mental health
- What anxiety can be a useful signal (and how to read it)
- Why anxiety is so high in a world that’s the safest it’s ever been
- Lessons from John’s dad, a hostage negotiator and detective
- How John thinks about religion and science coexisting
- What John has learned from his boss, Dave Ramsey
- Why avoidance makes fear and anxiety stronger
- The three parts of real expertise
- Why admitting you were wrong builds trust
- Why couples need hobbies apart from each other
- Why strong relationships are never a 50/50 split between tasks
And more …
This episode includes discussion of suicidal thoughts and addiction.
Go deeper: The 6 Rules of a Tougher Mindset
Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today's episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Joey Fischground. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.
GET A FREE GUIDE TO EXAMPLES OF MISOGI at twopct.com
I share similar insights around health and wellness on Substack.
Follow Michael: Instagram · X · LinkedIn · Facebook · TikTok
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael sits down with trial lawyer Jefferson Fisher, author of The Next Conversation, on why hard conversations are some of the most uncomfortable things we do and how to do them better. They discuss:
- The hardest conversation Jefferson has ever had
- Exactly what to do before having a hard conversation
- Why you shouldn’t try to win arguments (and what to do instead)
- Why your breath should be your first word
- A key to progress: stop over-apologizing
- The five-second rule of silence
- Why brevity wins: say it in three sentences
- Boundaries: lead with the no
- When someone's grieving, just do the thing
- Why no is a complete sentence
And more …
Go deeper: Do Hard Things
Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today's episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Will Mayo. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.
GET A FREE GUIDE TO EXAMPLES OF MISOGI at twopct.com
I share similar insights around health and wellness on Substack.
Follow Michael: Instagram · X · LinkedIn · Facebook · TikTok

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael speaks with physician and competitive powerlifter Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum about what peptides are, why they suddenly seem to promise everything, and what the human evidence actually shows. They discuss:
Why GLP-1s normalized injections
What counts as a peptide drug
Why BPC-157 lacks human trial data
What sham surgery research suggests about peptides and pain
Peptide sources—the good, bad, and ugly
Whether Dr. Feigenbaum would prescribe peptides to patients
Which peptides may survive the hype
The future of peptides and new laws around peptides
And more …
Go deeper: The 5 Supplements I Take
Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today's episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Will Mayo. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.
GET A FREE GUIDE TO EXAMPLES OF MISOGI at twopct.com
I share similar insights around health and wellness on Substack.
Follow Michael: Instagram · X · LinkedIn · Facebook · TikTok
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.