Sevenfold Studios

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Habit-building, letter by letter, with the setbacks left in.

The gist

Seven's Playbook, from Sevenfold Studios, is where Joel works through The Habit Loop, a letter-by-letter take on building healthy habits with stops at better plans, consistent action and embracing change. The coaching comes wrapped in his own missed goals and course corrections, delivered in a loose, talk-it-out style.

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About Sevenfold Studios

Seven's Playbook is the personal-development podcast from Sevenfold Studios, hosted by Joel. It sticks close to habits, goals and plans, and to what happens when they stall. Episodes open with the words 'we are live' and name the topic straight away. A running series is The Habit Loop, which Joel calls his own rendition of the ABCs of building healthy habits and describes as a journey through the year. The letters sit in the titles: '(B)uilding Better Plans', '(C)onsistently Take Action', '(D)eliberately Evaluate Progress', '(E)mbrace Adjustments' and '(E)mbrace Change'. 'Bouncing Back' works as a checkpoint; he calls it a habit recap. The ideas are modest and repeatable. On planning, he pushes the goal of getting one percent better and warns against being intimidated by the size of a goal. He pictures the first run on a treadmill as the moment past failures start to become irrelevant. On consistency, he measures progress in weeks rather than days, grading each week from A to F, with an A-plus next to impossible and anything less than an A still acceptable. A day that goes nowhere simply gets charged to the game. At the year's halfway mark in July, he argues that discipline rather than mood should drive action, and that showing up for a goal set months earlier is all it takes. He backs it with a difficult period at work when he did not know exactly what was going on. The episode on adjustments uses the example of someone who moved from South Africa, where he mostly drove, to somewhere with trains, walking everywhere and far pricier haircuts. The point is that the discomfort is real, and the sooner it is embraced the better life gets. The most candid material is about his own year. Starting consulting work and putting in extra hours left him drained, goals from the first six months slipped, and he missed a month of the podcast and fell behind on LinkedIn articles. His conclusion was that change has to be planned for, right down to the environment around it. In 'Bouncing Back' he turns that honesty outward, asking what goals have been put off and what the remaining two months of the year could still change. The delivery is conversational and loose, with self-corrections, slang and asides left in. Episodes close with a pointer to Instagram and LinkedIn and the sign-off 'keep doing the most with the most high'.

Made for: Suits a listener who wants plain, step-by-step habit and goal-setting advice from someone who talks openly about his own missed targets, and who prefers an informal, thinking-aloud delivery to a polished lecture.

What sets it apart: Rather than drifting across self-help topics, the show organises its habit advice as an alphabet in The Habit Loop, and grounds each letter in Joel's own year, from the month he missed on the podcast to the A-to-F grades he gives his weeks.

In their own words

Sevenfold Studios Presents Seven's Playbook. Hosted by Joel, each episode focuses on a different topic related to personal development, from building healthy habits to managing stress and improving relationships. Through personal anecdotes, expert interviews, and actionable advice, Seven's Playbook empowers listeners to make positive changes in their lives and reach their full potential. Whether you're looking to improve your productivity, boost your confidence, or cultivate a more positive mindset, this podcast has something for you. Instagram: @[email protected]

Why you'd press play

Joel grades his weeks in letters, then makes room for yours to be imperfect.

Press play if you want

  • a habit plan that survives the morning you don't feel like going to the gym
  • a reason to write down your values before setting another goal
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
building healthy habitsThe Habit Loop seriesplanning and goal-settingconsistency and disciplineevaluating progressadapting to changerecovering from setbacks

Talks about

Best episodes of Sevenfold Studios

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

Ep 34 | (E)mbrace ChangeNov 6, 2023

A candid year-end case for changing the plan without losing sight of the goal.

The episode works best as a practical reflection on keeping a fixed goal while letting the plan change. Joel Meruo looks back on a demanding year in which some strategies held and others broke down, including the period when consulting in business communication and public…

Ep 33 | Bouncing BackOct 2, 2023

A habit-focused reset that turns an uneven year into a concrete chance to rebuild momentum.

Joel Meruho turns a habit-loop recap into a practical check on what the remaining months can still hold. He uses James Clear's Atomic Habits as the frame, then brings the point back to postponed goals, unfinished plans, and the way a year can still be shaped before it closes.

Ep 32 | (E)mbrace AdjustmentsAug 18, 2023

A grounded look at handling the discomfort of changed habits, goals, and daily routines.

Seven's Playbook treats change less as an idea to admire than as something that shows up in small, inconvenient moments. A haircut that costs more than expected and the move from depending on a car in South Africa to using trains and walking give Joel Miruho a grounded way into…

Ep 31 | (D)eliberately Evaluate ProgressJul 3, 2023

A practical midyear habit check about feedback, setbacks, and the discipline of showing up.

Sevenfold Studios uses the year’s midpoint as a reason to look at progress with more honesty than hype. Joel Miro centers the episode on the ABCs of building healthy habits, with an emphasis on returning to goals set months earlier even when motivation has thinned out.

Ep 30 | (C)onsistently Take ActionJun 5, 2023

Consistency feels more workable when the week matters more than one difficult day.

Sevenfold Studios' "Ep 30 | (C)onsistently Take Action" treats motivation as useful but temporary. Joel Miruho uses the "C" in the Habit Loop to ask what is left once the early spark around baking, redoing a room, or going to the gym has settled into routine.

Ep 29 | (B)uilding Better PlansMay 8, 2023

A practical case for flexible plans, clear goals, and starting one percent better.

Planning is the bridge between wanting healthier habits and making room for them in Seven's Playbook's look at building a better plan. Joel Miro treats it as the B in the ABCs of healthy habits, connecting it to the environment that shapes time, culture, constraints, and…

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Episodes

  1. 1

    Ep 34 | (E)mbrace Change

    Hidden gem

    Joel Meruo uses The Habit Loop to frame the E in the ABCs as "embrace change," pairing a John F.

    Nov 6, 2023·26m·1 clip
  2. 2

    Ep 33 | Bouncing Back

    Hidden gem

    Joël Meruho uses Sevenfold Studios' Ep 33, "Bouncing Back," to revisit the habit loop after missing the September release.

    Oct 2, 2023·23m·2 clips
  3. 3

    Ep 32 | (E)mbrace Adjustments

    Hidden gem

    Joel Miruho turns Seven's Playbook Episode 32 into a framework for handling change: "embrace, evolve, and excel." As the solo host from Sevenfold Studios, he says he wants to sound less like a "robot" and share more of his own experience.

    Aug 18, 2023·27m·1 clip
  4. 4

    Ep 31 | (D)eliberately Evaluate Progress

    Hidden gem

    ["Sevenfold Studios' 'Ep 31 | (D)eliberately Evaluate Progress' uses the halfway mark of July to review habits, goals, and New Year's resolutions with Jo\u00ebl Mir\u00f3 as host.", "Mir\u00f3 draws on his own undergrad completion in 2021 and two certification exams he passed to explain why mid-year evaluation matters.", "He argues that small wins, weekly Sunday check-ins, and streak tracking in Excel can keep motivation alive when progress feels slow.", "The episode ends on his three-part frame of 'reflect, reframe and return,' plus a warning that people often quit just before the next milestone arrives."]

    Jul 3, 2023·37m·2 clips
  5. 5

    Ep 30 | (C)onsistently Take Action

    Hidden gem

    Joel Miruho uses Seven's Playbook to cover the C in The Habit Loop: consistently taking action, and he frames the episode as a framework rather than “three steps to success.” He says a friend told him the show can sound like a lecture, so he wants more banter and more of the tone he used on Midnight Mixtape.

    Jun 5, 2023·42m·4 clips
  6. 6

    Ep 29 | (B)uilding Better Plans

    Hidden gem

    Sevenfold Studios' Seven's Playbook episode 29, '(B)uilding Better Plans,' continues the habit-loop series with the letter B.

    May 8, 2023·37m·3 clips
  7. 7

    Ep 28 | (A)im for Specific Goals: "Why" It Matters

    Hidden gem

    Joel Miruho opens Sevenfold Studios' Seven's Playbook by turning James Clear's habit loop into his own ABCs of building healthy habits, with aiming for specific goals as the first step.

    Apr 3, 2023·31m·2 clips
  8. 8

    Ep 27 | The Habit Loop: The ABC's of Building Healthy Habits

    Hidden gem

    Sevenfold Studios' Seven's Playbook episode 27 centers on Joel Meruho's 'habit loop' and the 'ABCs of building healthy habits.' He ties the idea to an industrial engineering degree, a year of stepping back from the podcast, and a 'now what' moment after graduation.

    Mar 1, 2023·41m·2 clips
  9. 9

    Ep 26 | Make your scars visible, or at least don't hide them

    Hidden gem

    ["Sevenfold Studios' 'Ep 26 | Make your scars visible, or at least don't hide them' is a solo return after a hiatus, and the host says he is not releasing weekly episodes.", "He says the show began in 2018, the Midnight Mixtape run started around late 2019 or early 2020, and the pandemic once gave him time to record with friends.", "Work, school, and other pressing responsibilities pulled his attention away, and he argues that choosing them is not failure if the season demands it.", "The episode closes on a Jordan Peterson quote about consequences and a direct call to treat scars, mistakes, and pain as visible proof of survival."]

    Sep 1, 2022·30m·2 clips
  10. 10

    Ep 25 | Don't Stay Stuck On Yesterday

    Feb 6, 2022·17m
  11. 11

    Tape 54 | Star Signs and Astrology

    Jan 30, 2022·36m
  12. 12

    Tape 49 | 2000s Nostalgia

    Sep 13, 2021·28m
  13. 13

    Tape 50 | Does Pretty Privilege Exist?

    Sep 13, 2021·32m
  14. 14

    Tape 51 | Donda Special Part 1

    Sep 13, 2021·29m
  15. 15

    Tape 48 | Growing Up In The Early 2000s

    Jun 30, 2021·27m
  16. 16

    Tape 46 | Is the bar too low for men?

    May 4, 2021·35m
  17. 17

    Tape 45 | Can Women Be Sexist?

    Apr 12, 2021·37m
  18. 18

    Tape 43 | How do your talking stages end?

    Mar 21, 2021·48m
  19. 19

    Tape 44 | I Have A Stalker...

    Mar 21, 2021·29m
  20. 20

    Tape 42 | Love Island South Africa

    Mar 21, 2021·30m
  21. 21

    Tape 41 | When should you get married?

    Mar 1, 2021·33m
  22. 22

    Tape 40 | Bae-cation In Cape Town

    Feb 21, 2021·29m
  23. 23

    Tape 39 | Long-Distance Relationships

    Feb 13, 2021·30m
  24. 24

    Tape 38 | Valentine's Is Coming

    Feb 13, 2021·46m
  25. 25

    Tape 37 | Staying Friends with your Ex

    Joel discusses his gym routine and the benefits of using a steam room for health and COVID-19 prevention.

    Jan 3, 2021·30m
  26. 26

    Tape 35 | I Fought A Bouncer

    Dec 24, 2020·29m
  27. 27

    Tape 36 | Christmas Special: 2020 Naughty List

    Two hosts engage in playful, comedic banter during a Christmas-themed episode, with one dressed as Santa Claus.

    Dec 24, 2020·32m
  28. 28

    Tape 34 | The Friendzone

    Dec 24, 2020·29m
  29. 29

    Tape 33 | Should He Be Cancelled?

    Dec 24, 2020·33m
  30. 30

    Tape 32 | Dating Your Friend's Ex

    Oct 21, 2020·36m
  31. 31

    Tape 31 | Best 90's and 2000's RnB/Soul

    A heated debate comparing the musical impact of R&B/soul artists from different decades, specifically Teddy Pendergrass versus 2000s artists.

    Oct 11, 2020·32m
  32. 32

    Tape 30 | The Worst Date.. Ever

    The hosts discuss their absence and banter about recording habits, setting a casual tone for a personal development podcast.

    Oct 2, 2020·30m
  33. 33

    Tape 29 | Relationship Advice from the Love Dr

    Sep 18, 2020·1h 36m
  34. 34

    Tape 28 | Let Me Explain

    Sep 16, 2020·39m
  35. 35

    Tape 27 | What's your type, Bro?

    Sep 16, 2020·35m
  36. 36

    Tape 26 | Beyonce Is Overrated

    Aug 11, 2020·33m
  37. 37

    Tape 25 | Most Embarrassing Moments

    Aug 1, 2020·39m
  38. 38

    Tape 24 | Street Justice

    Jul 24, 2020·40m
  39. 39

    Tape 23 | My Secret Admirer

    Jun 27, 2020·35m
  40. 40

    Tape 22 | I Got A Girfriend

    Jun 11, 2020·37m
  41. 41

    Tape 21 | What’s her name? (Asking for a “friend”)

    Jun 5, 2020·29m
  42. 42

    Tape 20 | What’s The Most Romantic Thing You’ve Ever Done?

    May 28, 2020·35m
  43. 43

    Tape 19 | I Discovered Afrikaans Music

    May 26, 2020·39m
  44. 44

    Tape 18 | We found love on Tinder

    May 14, 2020·39m
  45. 45

    Tape 17 | Risked It All For Chicken Licken

    May 8, 2020·44m
  46. 46

    Tape 16 | Quarantine and Chill ft. The Lefa Life Week

    Mar 24, 2020·34m
  47. 47

    Tape 15 | I Finally Moved Out

    Mar 6, 2020·34m
  48. 48

    Tape 14 | Valentine’s Day Special

    Feb 13, 2020·30m
  49. 49

    Ep. 24 | Caught In The Moment

    Nov 4, 2019·20m
  50. 50

    Ep. 23 | Setting Standards

    Oct 28, 2019·35m