Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this episode, Niall speaks with Olga Khazan, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of “Weird” and “Me, But Better”.
Drawing on research and personal experimentation, Olga shows how our personalities are more flexible than we often realise—and how intentional change can lead to greater fulfilment and success.
In this conversation, they explore:
— Why personality change often starts with letting go of limiting self-narratives
— How Buddhist principles can reduce neuroticism and anxiety
— Why acting against your natural tendencies sometimes brings unexpected benefits
— The link between personality traits and life outcomes
— How setting meaningful goals can support positive personality change
And more.
You can learn more about Olga’s work at http://olgakhazan.com.
---
Olga Khazan is a staff writer for The Atlantic. Prior to that, she was The Atlantic’s Global editor. She has also written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, and other publications. She is the author of Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change and Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World.
---
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
02:45 - Why Study Personality Change?
04:15 - Neuroticism & Personal Growth
06:41 - Buddhism, Meditation & Personality Change
09:28 - Accepting Life’s Challenges & Reducing Anxiety
11:46 - Buddhism and the Balance Between Acceptance & Striving
14:03 - Stress Tolerance & Big Life Decisions
17:26 - Can You Really Change Your Personality?
20:00 - Inside the Mind of a Self-Described Psychopath
21:54 - What Is Personality?
23:56 - How Goals Shape Your Personality
26:29 - Personality Tests & the “Looking Glass Self”
29:54 - Self-Image: How Others Shape Who You Are
34:01 - The Big Five Personality Traits Explained
35:09 - Growing by Acting Outside Your Comfort Zone
37:19 - Letting Go of Limiting Identity Stories
38:40 - Identity, Personality & Self-Perception
40:13 - Psychedelics & Personality Transformation
44:18 - Self-Consciousness & Social Awareness
47:41 - Building Conscientiousness Through Goals
50:08 - Writing About Personality Change
51:38 - Improv & Personal Growth
53:48 - Self-Monitoring & Adapting Your Personality
55:22 - How to Assess Your Personality
56:28 - Can Personality Keep Changing?
57:37 - Your Future Self & Ongoing Growth
---
Interview Links:
— Olga’s website - olgakhazan.com
— Olga's new book: Me, But Better - amzn.to/4rBLDly
— Sneak peeks from Olga's book - olgakhazan.substack.com
In this episode, Niall speaks with Olga Khazan, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of “Weird” and “Me, But Better”.
Drawing on research and personal experimentation, Olga shows how our personalities are more flexible than we often realise—and how intentional change can lead to greater fulfilment and success.
In this conversation, they explore:
— Why personality change often starts with letting go of limiting self-narratives
— How Buddhist principles can reduce neuroticism and anxiety
— Why acting against your natural tendencies sometimes brings unexpected benefits
— The link between personality traits and life outcomes
— How setting meaningful goals can support positive personality change
And more.
You can learn more about Olga’s work at http://olgakhazan.com.
---
Olga Khazan is a staff writer for The Atlantic. Prior to that, she was The Atlantic’s Global editor. She has also written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, and other publications. She is the author of Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change and Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World.
---
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
02:45 - Why Study Personality Change?
04:15 - Neuroticism & Personal Growth
06:41 - Buddhism, Meditation & Personality Change
09:28 - Accepting Life’s Challenges & Reducing Anxiety
11:46 - Buddhism and the Balance Between Acceptance & Striving
14:03 - Stress Tolerance & Big Life Decisions
17:26 - Can You Really Change Your Personality?
20:00 - Inside the Mind of a Self-Described Psychopath
21:54 - What Is Personality?
23:56 - How Goals Shape Your Personality
26:29 - Personality Tests & the “Looking Glass Self”
29:54 - Self-Image: How Others Shape Who You Are
34:01 - The Big Five Personality Traits Explained
35:09 - Growing by Acting Outside Your Comfort Zone
37:19 - Letting Go of Limiting Identity Stories
38:40 - Identity, Personality & Self-Perception
40:13 - Psychedelics & Personality Transformation
44:18 - Self-Consciousness & Social Awareness
47:41 - Building Conscientiousness Through Goals
50:08 - Writing About Personality Change
51:38 - Improv & Personal Growth
53:48 - Self-Monitoring & Adapting Your Personality
55:22 - How to Assess Your Personality
56:28 - Can Personality Keep Changing?
57:37 - Your Future Self & Ongoing Growth
---
Interview Links:
— Olga’s website - olgakhazan.com
— Olga's new book: Me, But Better - amzn.to/4rBLDly
— Sneak peeks from Olga's book - olgakhazan.substack.com
