Leap Academy Podcast · Episode 149 · Mar 10, 2026 Featured
Nir Eyal
Behavioral Design Expert: The Hidden Belief Blocking Your Growth
Nir Eyal grew up clinically obese, ashamed of his body, and convinced that food controlled him. He tried every diet: low-fat, keto, vegetarian, and intermittent fasting. Each one worked until it didn’t. What finally changed his life wasn’t a meal plan; it was his belief. When he believed a plan would work, it worked. When that belief cracked, the weight returned. And he realized this pattern doesn’t just apply to weight; it shows up in every area of life. In this episode, Nir joins Ilana to reveal the hidden force behind your success or stagnation. He unpacks the science of belief, how it shapes what you see, feel, and do, and the practical framework to break limiting beliefs before they break you.
Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, behavioral design expert, and former Stanford lecturer known for his work on habit formation, psychology, and human behavior. As an entrepreneur and angel investor, Nir has backed multi-billion-dollar companies including Canva and Kahoot!.
In this episode, Ilana and Nir will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(03:14) Childhood and Weight Loss Struggles
(07:34) Why Affirmations and Vision Boards Don’t Work
(09:18) Facts vs Faith vs Beliefs
(10:59) His Journey from Founder to Bestselling Author
(16:01) The Power of Belief in Success and Failure
(24:49) The ‘Messy Middle’: Knowing When to Persist vs Quit
(32:06) Skills Gap vs Belief Gap in Leaders and Teams
(34:0) The Four Questions to Rewire a Limiting Belief
(46:51) Q&A: Crafting a Memorable Pitch Story
Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, behavioral design expert, and former Stanford lecturer. He is the author of Hooked and Indistractable, which have sold over one million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 30 languages. His latest book, Beyond Belief, explores how hidden beliefs shape our limitations and how to replace them to unlock personal and professional growth. An entrepreneur and angel investor, Nir has backed multi-billion-dollar companies including Canva and Kahoot!.
Connect with Nir:
Nir’s Website: http://nirandfar.com
Nir’s Instagram: instagram.com/neyal99
Nir’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nireyal
Resources Mentioned:
Nir’s Books:
Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Breakthrough Results: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593852036
Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194883653X
Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591847788
Nir’s 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal: nirandfar.com/beyond-belief
Leap Academy:
Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.
Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-trainingRead more ↓Show less ↑
Nir Eyal grew up clinically obese, ashamed of his body, and convinced that food controlled him. He tried every diet: low-fat, keto, vegetarian, and intermittent fasting. Each one worked until it didn’t. What finally changed his life wasn’t a meal plan; it was his belief. When he believed a plan would work, it worked. When that belief cracked, the weight returned. And he realized this pattern doesn’t just apply to weight; it shows up in every area of life. In this episode, Nir joins Ilana to reveal the hidden force behind your success or stagnation. He unpacks the science of belief, how it shapes what you see, feel, and do, and the practical framework to break limiting beliefs before they break you.
Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, behavioral design expert, and former Stanford lecturer known for his work on habit formation, psychology, and human behavior. As an entrepreneur and angel investor, Nir has backed multi-billion-dollar companies including Canva and Kahoot!.
In this episode, Ilana and Nir will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(03:14) Childhood and Weight Loss Struggles
(07:34) Why Affirmations and Vision Boards Don’t Work
(09:18) Facts vs Faith vs Beliefs
(10:59) His Journey from Founder to Bestselling Author
(16:01) The Power of Belief in Success and Failure
(24:49) The ‘Messy Middle’: Knowing When to Persist vs Quit
(32:06) Skills Gap vs Belief Gap in Leaders and Teams
(34:0) The Four Questions to Rewire a Limiting Belief
(46:51) Q&A: Crafting a Memorable Pitch Story
Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, behavioral design expert, and former Stanford lecturer. He is the author of Hooked and Indistractable, which have sold over one million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 30 languages. His latest book, Beyond Belief, explores how hidden beliefs shape our limitations and how to replace them to unlock personal and professional growth. An entrepreneur and angel investor, Nir has backed multi-billion-dollar companies including Canva and Kahoot!.
Connect with Nir:
Nir’s Website: http://nirandfar.com
Nir’s Instagram: instagram.com/neyal99
Nir’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nireyal
Resources Mentioned:
Nir’s Books:
Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Breakthrough Results: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593852036
Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194883653X
Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591847788
Nir’s 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal: nirandfar.com/beyond-belief
Leap Academy:
Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.
Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training
53 minutes
Leap PodcastNir EyalBehavioral Design Expert: The Hidden Belief Blocking Your Growth
New to Leap Academy? Ilana Golan has helped 70,000+ professionals reinvent their careers. Watch her free training to see the framework.
Watch the free training →Watch the conversation
On YouTube
Listen
Open this episode in your podcast app
Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeOr paste this episode title into any podcast app: Behavioral Design Expert: The Hidden Belief Blocking Your Growth
About Leap Academy
Where ambitious professionals leap to their next chapter.
Founded by Ilana Golan — Forbes contributor, board director, investor in 100+ companies, and former F-16 flight instructor commander — Leap Academy has helped 70,000 people across 4 continents reinvent their careers and build lasting reputations.
- American Business Awards Startup of the Year, 2023
- Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company
- Featured on Forbes, Yahoo Finance, NBC, CBS, ABC

Founder & CEO
Ilana Golan
Hosts every episode. Has guided thousands of professionals through career reinventions, leadership leaps, and brand building.
70,000
Lives impacted
$60M
Market value
4
Continents
Featured episodes · Editor's picks
Don't miss these conversations
Jason FriedHow Basecamp's CEO Lost 30% of His Team, Faced Backlash, and Came Back Stronger
Benchmark Partner, Bill Gurley: The Strategy That Makes You Stand Out in a Crowded Job Market- Leap PodcastLEAP ReplayRichard Branson: Virgin Group Founder on Turning Bold Risks into a Billion-Dollar BusinessLEAP ReplayRichard Branson: Virgin Group Founder on Turning Bold Risks into a Billion-Dollar Business
Richard Branson: The Journey to a Multi-Billion Dollar Empire
Latest episodes
New on the show this month
From Skype to Wix: Mark Tluszcz’s Formula for Turning Bold Bets into Billion-Dollar Successes
Self-Made Billionaire: How John Paul DeJoria Built Paul Mitchell with $700
George BarriosFormer WWE President: The Hard Decisions That Built a Global Media Business
The Lean Startup: Eric Ries Reveals the #1 Mistake New Founders Make