Have you ever felt like you’re living by rules you never consciously agreed to follow? In Episode 2 of the Outlaws podcast we dive deep into those sneaky, unspoken expectations that somehow wormed their way into our psyche – and, more importantly, how to show them the door.
In this episode, Shayla and Kate discuss five game-changing revelations about the invisible rules that have been running the show behind the scenes. Fair warning: this episode comes with slightly chaotic audio involving unplugged microphones (oops!), but as Kate puts it, they’re definitely “absolute professionals” who will almost certainly get to “at least semi-professional status” by episode three.
The hidden curriculum we never signed up for
On the Outlaws podcast we don’t just talk about success, we interrogate it. This episode tackles what we call the “hidden curriculum”, those rules we’ve internalised about how life should look, often without questioning whether they actually serve us.
Shayla reflects on meeting a ski instructor who’d been happily doing the same job for 20 years: “That looks a lot like success to me in lots of ways, depending on what you’re measuring.” The revelation? Maybe the ladder we’re all supposed to climb isn’t going where we actually want to end up.
Five rules worth breaking
1. There’s a ladder and you must climb it – The assumption that moving “up” is the only way forward has trapped countless people in soul-crushing careers.
2. Success must look a certain way – Kate references philosopher Alain de Botton’s insight: “Our ideas about what it means to live successfully aren’t our own, they’re sucked in from other people.”
3. Busy equals important – Shayla’s confession about wearing exhaustion as a “badge of honour” will resonate with anyone who answers “How are you?” with “I’m so busy.”
4. If you invested time or money, you can’t quit – The sunk cost fallacy keeps us on trains to the wrong destination. Sometimes the best thing you can do is get off.
5. Rest is unproductive – Shayla’s story about pretending to be busy when someone caught her reading is both relatable and heartbreaking. Forced recovery taught her: “When I’m actually able to rest my brain works so much better.”
The Revolutionary Question
Perhaps the most radical shift the Outlaws podcast advocates is instead of asking “Should I do this?” to try asking “Do I want to do this?” It’s a deceptively simple question that cuts through expectation and obligation.
What sets the Outlaws podcast apart is its refusal to offer neat solutions. Instead, we invite you into the messy work of unlearning rules that no longer serve you. The episode challenges listeners to redefine the rules of life by first identifying what those rules actually are.
Are you ready to question everything you thought you knew about success? Episode 2 is waiting – complete with professional audio mishaps and revolutionary insights in equal measure.
