Show Notes
You think you know why you make the choices you make. Your unconscious mind may have gotten there first.
AJ and Johnny sit down with psychologist Glenn to explore the hidden forces behind temptation, habits, infidelity, and self-control. Glenn explains why willpower often fails when we repeatedly face powerful urges, how unconscious processes can drive behavior without consulting our values, and why we’re surprisingly good at inventing explanations for decisions after we’ve already made them.
You’ll learn why changing your environment can be more effective than relying on self-control, how past experiences shape what feels rewarding, why rationalization often happens outside our awareness, and how love, attachment, and sexual desire can operate as separate systems. The conversation also explores what causes infidelity, why people can betray partners they genuinely love, and what rebuilding trust can look like afterward.
Episode Resources:
https://glennhutchinson.net/my-book/
A Word From Our Sponsors
Get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers by using promo code CHARM at AirDoctorPro.com.
Shopify is where you go to start your business, and everything you need to sell is already there from day one. Start your free trial by going to SHOPIFY.COM/charm
Connect with top talent ready to help your business grow by going to UPWORK.COM.
This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm
Curious how to put this episode into practice? Take a look inside the X-Factor Accelerator, the Art of Charm coaching program: https://join.theartofcharm.com/xfa?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=xfa-podcast&utm_content=2026-09-08-the-hidden-forces-behind-your-choices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from The Art of Charm
What if your obsession with productivity is actually making you less productive—and damaging the relationships that matter most? Working longer hours, answering every message, and sacrificing rest might feel like the path to success, but chronic stress and burnout can quietly undermine your performance, emotional health, and personal life.
Ever walk away from a conversation wondering why you struggle to make meaningful connections—even though you're friendly, ask questions, and listen? The problem might not be your social skills. It might be that you're having conversations where nobody gets to know the real you.
When pressure rises, your instinct may be to take control, push harder, and force a decision. But the harder you push, the more resistance you can create.
Doing great work isn't enough to get promoted if nobody understands the value you're bringing to the table.
Shame doesn’t tell you that you did something bad. It tells you that you are bad—and that distinction can quietly shape your relationships, choices, and sense of self.