Blueprints for Life

Your brain is weird. Ours are too.

Blueprints for Life is a show about making your brain work for you. Each episode, Nicole Cutler and Peter C. Hayward discuss mental models, personal systems, and practical tools for understanding yourself and navigating the world more effectively.

New episodes every two weeks.

Support the show: https://patreon.com/peterchayward
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/BM3qDHf9FU

https://blueprints.fm/ 

Episodes

Zooming Out

Aug 24, 2026

Aug 24, 2026

49 min

In the seventh episode of Blueprints for Life, Nicole Cutler and Peter C. Hayward discuss the ridiculously helpful discussion concept of "Zooming Out", and how you can use it to improve literally every single relationship in your life.
 
Yes, even THAT one.
 
Make a List TikTok song: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefemalelead/video/7306189367863676192
Question for us? Email life@blueprints.fm
Support the show: https://patreon.com/peterchayward
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/BM3qDHf9FU
Logo by Rozie Pocket: https://www.tiktok.com/@cozyboardgames
Please note that any sales made through the above links will reward us a small commission, at no extra cost for you. So, uh, buy everything we linked to. Multiple times.

Aug 24, 2026

49 min

Scarcity Mode

Aug 10, 2026

Aug 10, 2026

1 hr 9 min

Nicole and Peter talk through Scarcity and Abundance mode: when you can use scarcity thinking to motivate you, and how most great creative work comes from a place of abundance.
Mentioned in this episode:
Space-Biff's review of Scuttle!: https://spacebiff.com/2017/05/18/scuttle/
Peter's hit game Things in Rings: https://amzn.to/4g25yGa
WaitButWhy's blog post about the Instant Gratification Monkey: http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html
Getting Things Done: https://amzn.to/4wibbX6
The Uploaded, by Ferrett Steinmetz: https://amzn.to/4hkcuRq 
Condom Theroy: https://www.theferrett.com/2016/01/14/utilizing-condom-based-logic-surprisingly-useful/ 
Question for us? Email life@blueprints.fm
Support the show: https://patreon.com/peterchayward
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/BM3qDHf9FU
Logo by Rozie Pocket: https://www.tiktok.com/@cozyboardgames
Please note that any sales made through the above links will reward us a small commission, at no extra cost for you. So, uh, buy everything we linked to. Multiple times.

Aug 10, 2026

1 hr 9 min

Rules Brain

Jul 27, 2026

Jul 27, 2026

59 min

In the fifth episode of Blueprints for Life, Nicole Cutler and Peter C. Hayward discuss the concept of having a "rules brain".
Monarch (finance app): https://monarch.com/referral/sl1uv058wb
Question for us? Email life@blueprints.fm
Support the show: https://patreon.com/peterchayward
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/BM3qDHf9FU
Logo by Rozie Pocket: https://www.tiktok.com/@cozyboardgames
Please note that any sales made through the above links will reward us a small commission, at no extra cost for you. So, uh, buy everything we linked to. Multiple times.

Jul 27, 2026

59 min

Jul 6, 2026

53 min

In the fourth episode of Blueprints for Life, Nicole Cutler and Peter C. Hayward discuss the red flag rating system: feather, brick, truck.
Original blog post: https://nik.art/feather-brick-truck/
Monster Rehab: https://amzn.to/4eBZLI0
Old Man Pill Organizer: https://amzn.to/3RaHjx8 
Question for us? Email life@blueprints.fm
Support the show: https://patreon.com/peterchayward
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/BM3qDHf9FU
 
Logo by Rozie Pocket: https://www.tiktok.com/@cozyboardgames
Please note that any sales made through the above links will reward us a small commission, at no extra cost for you. So, uh, buy everything we linked to. Multiple times.

Jul 6, 2026

53 min

Jun 29, 2026

1 hr 21 min

In the third episode of Blueprints for Life, Nicole Cutler and Peter C. Hayward discuss the best ways to become someone that the people in your life can rely on.
Peter met John Cleese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0oHGT6ChRE The monkey started a business: https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/procrastination-matrix.html Colorful bandages: https://amzn.to/4uCYDsi Bacon bandages: https://amzn.to/4xw8q6f Sharpies: https://amzn.to/4ozQDao How long does it actually take: https://www.scarymommy.com/lifestyle/how-long-does-it-actually-take-tiktok 
Question for us? Email life@blueprints.fm
Support the show: https://patreon.com/peterchayward Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/BM3qDHf9FU 
Logo by Rozie Pocket: https://www.tiktok.com/@cozyboardgames 
Please note that any sales made through the above links will reward us a small commission, at no extra cost for you. So, uh, buy everything we linked to. Multiple times.

Jun 29, 2026

1 hr 21 min

Jun 1, 2026

1 hr 6 min

In the second episode of Blueprints for Life, Nicole Cutler and Peter C. Hayward discuss the concept of a Giraffe Person, a simple way to determine how much you can rely on the people in your life.
 
Podcast where Peter discusses The Intern: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guilty-treasures-the-intern-with-peter-c-hayward/id1809274829?i=1000760456395
Help! – Peter's old puppet show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GmgIqB3meU
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: https://amzn.to/4vhmLS0
Peter's glass bottles: https://amzn.to/4uPVUwD
Flamecraft: https://amzn.to/3RDuhrY
 
Question for us? Email life@blueprints.fm
Support the show: https://patreon.com/peterchayward
Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/BM3qDHf9FU
 
Logo by Rozie Pocket: https://www.tiktok.com/@cozyboardgames
Please note that any sales made through the above links will reward us a small commission, at no extra cost for you. So, uh, buy everything we linked to. Multiple times.

Jun 1, 2026

1 hr 6 min

May 11, 2026

1 hr 1 min

In the first episode of Blueprints for Life, Nicole Cutler and Peter C. Hayward introduce themselves, and talk about how to make friends.
Question for us? Email life@blueprints.fm
Support the show: https://patreon.com/peterchaywardJoin the Discord: https://discord.gg/BM3qDHf9FU
Logo by Rozie Pocket: https://www.tiktok.com/@cozyboardgames

May 11, 2026

1 hr 1 min

Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20241125