It's said, pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. But, is that true? Many of us live our lives in pursuit of certainty, believing that if we could just get things more stable - emotionally, financially, relationally - then we?d finally feel at ease. We wouldn't struggle with anxiety, stress, and fear. we wouldn't suffer so much. Problem is, that approach often deepens our suffering, rather than relieves it. Maybe you've felt this very thing.

In this powerful episode on healing and resilience and how to relieve suffering, Jonathan sits down with Dr. Suzan Song, a Harvard- and Stanford-trained psychiatrist and humanitarian researcher. Dr. Song has spent decades working with individuals and communities living through profound instability, revealing a gentler, more honest reframe: healing, lessening suffering, doesn?t come from chasing certainty and stability, but from learning how to relate differently to the inevitability of pain, uncertainty, and change.

In this conversation, discover:

Why pain is inevitable, but suffering often grows from the stories we tell.The hidden role of our nervous system and memory in shaping our experience of hardship.The power of ritual?not as performance, but as a path to emotional grounding and resilience.What purpose really is, and why it?s often already present, woven into our lives through mattering.How genuine healing happens in relationship, not in isolation, transforming our approach to mental health.

This is an invitation to stop blaming yourself for not feeling satisfied, let go of suffering, and remember that you don?t have to navigate life?s instabilities alone. Sometimes, relief comes not from doing more, but from allowing yourself to feel everything, then learn how to live with the truth of uncertainty in a world that will never stop changing.

You can find Suzan at: Website | Linkedin | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Adam Grant about rethinking beliefs and inner patterns.

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Most new habits fizzle quickly, what if they didn't have to? We blame a lack of willpower, but what if the way we approach habits that's the real problem? Why does true, lasting habit change feel so hard to sustain? And, how can we do it better?

In this Best of episode, we explore a gentler and more honest reframe, drawing from the work of James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. We show that lasting change doesn't begin with force or fixing, but rather with identity. Discover how listening to who you already are, and letting small, faithful actions slowly reshape what you believe about yourself, is the most powerful, sustainable, and truly transformational path forward.

In this episode, discover:

Why habits are less about discipline and more about identityHow small, atomic actions quietly become evidence for who we?re becomingThe difference between forcing change and aligning with who you areWhy environment often matters more than motivation for long-term habit formationHow belief and behavior shape each other over time

This is a conversation for anyone who is ready to build consistent habits that actually stick. There?s no rush, no prescription?just an invitation to soften, to notice, and to remember that true transformation begins the moment you stop trying so hard to become someone else.

You can find James at: Website | The 3-2-1 Newsletter | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversations we had with Seth Godin about identity, creativity, and choosing how you show up.

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Big dreams matter. But how we pursue them matters more.

You can honor where you've come from, hold live with self-compassion, and be grateful for what you have, and still yearn to accomplish big life-changing dreams, visions, or goals. The question is how? How to do we do this in a way that makes us feel more alive, more human, and also sets us up for true success?

In this episode, Jonathan explores a radically different, practical approach to achieving big, meaningful dreams, visions, and goals that honors the life you?re actually living, and comes from a mindset of wholeness and abundance, rather than lack, shame, or pain. 

This conversation offers a humane, sustainable reframe for ambition called Success Scaffolding that allows you to keep growing without tying your worth, happiness, or nervous system to the next win.

In this episode, discover:

? The Happiness Delay Trap: Why achievement so often fails to deliver lasting fulfillment, and how the ?I?ll be happy when?? mindset keeps moving the finish line.

? Why Goals Collapse After Motivation Fades: How real life, not lack of discipline, is usually what derails even the most meaningful intentions.

? Success Scaffolding: A practical, science-informed framework for building goals that can actually survive a human life.

? The Seven Elements That Make Growth Sustainable: How to design goals with structure, support, flexibility, and compassion, without pressure or self-criticism.

? Enough as the Fuel for Growth: Why grounding your goals in worthiness, not scarcity, leads to more resilience, creativity, and follow-through.

? A Kinder Way Forward: Simple practices to help you stay in relationship with what matters, especially when you wobble.

This episode is an invitation to stop blaming yourself for not feeling satisfied by success, and to start building goals that support who you already are, rather than asking you to become someone else first.

You don?t need to earn your okay-ness. You need a powerful, agile, structure that can hold your life and fuel your dreams.

Episode Transcript

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Stop outsourcing your peace. Feeling better is an inside job.

We often feel exhausted, not because life is so difficult (which it can be), but because our minds are full of old wounds, unresolved feelings, self-destructive stories, and subconscious rules that secretly run the show?and leave us empty. In this episode, Jonathan sits down with acclaimed spiritual teacher and 19-time bestselling author, Iyanla Vanzant, to explore a radically practical idea: spiritual hygiene.

Drawing from her new book Spiritual Hygiene: A Practical Path for Clean Living, Inner Authority, and Divine Freedom, Iyanla offers a grounded, compassionate framework for clearing emotional residue, reclaiming inner authority, and tending to your inner life with the same care you give your outer one.

In this episode, discover:

? The hidden inner rulers like fear, shame, and unforgiveness that quietly shape behavior, identity, and decision making.

? Why we feel spiritually congested, and how constant reliance on external fixes keeps us disconnected from our own inner power.

? What spiritual hygiene actually looks like as a daily practice, not a belief system, and why small, consistent acts matter more than dramatic breakthroughs.

? How to reclaim inner authority without fixing, forcing, or bypassing pain, and why presence is often more powerful than effort.

? A gentler path to healing that does not require perfection, years of struggle, or becoming someone new before you begin.

This is a conversation about cleaning from the inside out. About creating space for clarity, honesty, and peace. And about remembering that your inner life is not something to outsource, avoid, or conquer, but something to care for with intention and respect.

You can find Iyanla at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Thema Bryant about healing trauma and reclaiming your true self.

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You are not behind. How to find enough right now.

We've all played the "I'll be happy when..." game, constantly moving the goalpost and living in the anxiety of "not enough yet." In this episode, Jonathan challenges the myth that you have to "fix" yourself or acquire "more" to feel worthy of a good life.

He offers a counter-cultural approach to setting your intentions: making this The Year of Enough, a radical internal commitment that your current self is a valid starting point for growth.

In this episode, discover:

The "Happiness Delay": Why achieving big goals often fails to deliver lasting contentment, and how to get off the hedonic treadmill.Enough is the fuel for growth: A new definition of enough that is the opposite of settling, but instead frees you from the pressure of "not being enough," while still honoring your desire to growth and achieve big, meaningful things.Three Practices for Sufficiency: Simple daily and weekly exercises (like The "Already" List and The "What's Not Wrong?" Check-In) to gently train your nervous system to register moments of peace and contentment.The Inverse Resolution: A powerful subtraction technique: what to intentionally stop doing this year to create spaciousness, joy, and peace.

This is a quiet, powerful invitation to stop postponing your okay-ness and to let your goals flow from a place of belonging, not desperation.

Episode Transcript

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Samin Nosrat on taking back your life, overcoming overwhelm, and redefining success. A candid conversation about joy, grief, rebellion, rest, food, and what actually sustains us when achievement isn?t enough.

In this soul-stirring conversation about her new book "Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love," the Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat creator offers a masterclass in how small rituals can become profound acts of love, and why letting go of striving might be the key to finding what we're all really hungry for.

You can find Samin at: Website | Instagram | Home Cooking podcast | a grain of salt substack | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Samin about her journey from anxiety and depression to finding joy through food, writing, and community at Chez Panisse. Her earlier visit also offers a wonderful complement to today's conversation.

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New Year?s resolutions fail, not because of discipline, but because the system is broken. In this episode, Jonathan Fields introduces The Unresolution, a calmer, more reliable way to change that replaces rigid promises with fun and forgiving experiments, kind reflection, and compassion. This episode is for anyone who wants genuine growth without burnout, shame, or starting over yet again.

Episode Transcript

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Showing up as your true self is terrifying, but it?s also the unlock key for so much of what makes your life good. Through powerful stories and research-backed insights, this conversation reveals why showing up as your real self unlocks extraordinary possibilities, and how embracing imperfection creates deeper connections than striving for perfection ever could. Whether you're leading a team, raising children, or pursuing creative work, you'll discover practical tools for choosing courage over comfort and building genuine connections in a world that often fears being real.

You can find Brené at: Website | Instagram | Brené's Podcasts | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Gilbert about bringing your whole self to your life.

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You don?t have to erase yourself to feel more alive. Nor do you have to deny your past or who you truly are. What if the secret to real transformation isn't becoming someone new, but understanding who you already are? This episode challenges the "clean slate" myth of New Year's change, revealing why treating your past as valuable data rather than baggage unlocks genuine, lasting growth.

Episode Transcript

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If you LOVED this episode:

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Are you tired of never feeling good enough? In this insightful Best of conversation, psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, author of How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists, shares strategies to escape the perfectionism trap. 

Learn how to pursue excellence without harsh self-criticism, shift from rigid rules to living by your core values, and make room for imperfection - allowing you to live the life you truly want.

You can find Ellen at: Website | Instagram | How to Be Good to Yourself When You're Hard on Yourself Substack | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Ellen about overcoming social anxiety.

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How I made peace with the sound in my head, turned my inner tormentor into one of my greatest teachers, learned to live with uncertainty, and tamed relentless anxiety.

Through his story, Jonathan reveals how an unexpected approach became not just his salvation but a powerful tool for living well amid uncertainty, offering listeners both inspiration and practical guidance?including a special guided meditation practice to bring peace and open your heart.

Episode Transcript

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What if the shame you carry isn't just from one event, but layers of experiences that typical healing approaches can't touch?

Dr. Zoe Shaw reveals why some people remain trapped in patterns of shame despite outward success, and shares a revolutionary framework for healing what she calls "complex shame" from her book "Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shame." Learn why traditional advice about vulnerability sometimes falls short, how shame lives in your body, and practical steps to transform your relationship with yourself and others.

You can find Zoe at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Lori Gottlieb about understanding your emotional narratives and rewriting the stories you live by.

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Toy designer and RISD professor Cas Holman shows how rediscovering play can help adults build resilience, spark creativity, and forge deeper connections in an achievement-focused world.

In this revealing conversation about her book "Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity," Holman shares practical ways to embrace uncertainty through play and explains why putting down our phones might be the first step toward reclaiming our natural capacity for joy.

You can find Cas at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Debbie Millman about designing a life through creativity and story.

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From breakthrough AI diagnostics to personalized immunotherapy treatments, cancer care is undergoing a revolution that's already saving lives.

Dr. Ross Levine, Chief Scientific Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering, shares how new technologies are helping doctors detect cancer earlier, treat it more effectively, and transform what was once untreatable into manageable conditions. Whether you're navigating cancer personally or professionally, this conversation offers crucial insights into the future of medicine and why there's unprecedented hope in cancer treatment today.

You can find Ross at: Website | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, don't miss a single conversation in our Future of Medicine series, airing every Monday through December. Follow Good Life Project wherever you listen to podcasts to catch them all.

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What if the secret to a stronger relationship is breaking the "rules" everyone says you should follow?

In this paradigm-shifting conversation, renowned therapist Stephanie Yates-Anyabwile reveals why sleeping apart, living separately, and other unconventional choices might actually deepen your connection. Learn why preventative relationship work matters more than crisis management, how to navigate family resistance to unconventional choices, and why giving your partner "the benefit of the doubt" could transform your relationship.

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Julie and John Gottman about the science of lasting love and what makes relationships truly thrive.

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Imagine a tattoo that changes color to warn you of health issues, or a watch that knows you're getting sick before you do.

In this fascinating episode, we explore breakthrough biosensor technology with Imperial College's Ali Yetisen and precision medicine pioneer Michael Snyder, who reveal how real-time health monitoring is transforming from science fiction to reality. Learn how new technologies like smart tattoos, wearable devices, and advanced blood testing are revolutionizing healthcare, shifting us from treating illness to preventing it entirely through continuous, personalized health tracking.

Episode Transcript

You can find Michael at: Website

You can find Ali at: Website

If you LOVED this episode, don't miss a single conversation in our Future of Medicine series, airing every Monday through December. Follow Good Life Project wherever you listen to podcasts to catch them all.

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Three wisdom-keepers reveal how to navigate life's most devastating losses and emerge transformed.

Death doula Alua Arthur, grief therapist Claire Bidwell Smith, and community builder Cyndie Spiegel share powerful insights on finding meaning after loss, creating healing rituals, and discovering unexpected moments of joy even in darkness. Learn practical tools for processing grief, supporting others through loss, and transforming pain into deeper connection with life.

Episode Transcript

You can find Alua at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Alua

You can find Claire at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Claire

You can find Cyndie at: Website | Dear Grown Ass Women | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Cyndie

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Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing heart disease prevention and treatment with Dr. Ami Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology.

From AI-powered early detection tools to personalized risk prediction, learn how new technologies are making quality cardiac care more accessible while preserving the essential human element of medicine. Dr. Bhatt shares fascinating insights about the innovations transforming cardiovascular health today and her vision for even more remarkable advances coming in the next five years.

You can find Ami at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, don't miss a single conversation in our Future of Medicine series, airing every Monday through December. Follow Good Life Project wherever you listen to podcasts to catch them all.

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In this soul-stirring conversation, bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert reveals the transformative practice of "Letters from Love" - a simple yet profound writing ritual that helped her emerge from her darkest moments and has since touched thousands of lives.

Liz shares how to access unconditional love through pen and paper, offering a practical pathway to self-compassion that cuts through the noise of self-judgment and opens the door to genuine self-acceptance.

You can find Liz at: Website | Letters From Love with Elizabeth Gilbert | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Gilbert about navigating love and loss and finding lightness again.

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Dr. Adeel Khan reveals why many current stem cell therapies may be based on outdated science, and introduces a revolutionary discovery from Japan that could transform medicine: Muse cells.

From cutting-edge peptide therapies to gene treatments that could reverse aging, this episode explores how regenerative medicine is making science fiction real, and why these breakthrough treatments might soon be accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy.

You can find Adeel at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, don't miss a single conversation in our Future of Medicine series, airing every Monday through December. Follow Good Life Project wherever you listen to podcasts to catch them all.

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From punk rock revolutionary to bridge-builder, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco reveals how being canceled by her own community transformed her approach to activism and art.

This intimate conversation explores how to maintain fierce convictions while fostering revolutionary love, featuring vulnerable insights about evolving activism, DIY independence, and creating change through music and dialogue in an age of deepening divides.

Watch this conversation on YouTube

You can find Ani at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Zoe Boekbinder, joined by Ani DiFranco and Nathen Brown, about The Prison Music Project?a powerful collaboration born inside New Folsom Prison that became the album Long Time Gone, produced by Ani and featuring songs written with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated musicians.

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What if AI could help solve medicine's biggest blind spots?

Harvard Medical School researcher Dr. Charlotte Blease reveals why doctors can only keep up with 2% of new medical research and how artificial intelligence could transform healthcare for both patients and providers. Drawing from her new book Dr Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail and How AI Could Save Lives, she shares fascinating insights about the future of medical care.

Part of the Future of Medicine series exploring innovations reshaping healthcare as we know it.

You can find Charlotte at: Dr Bot Substack | Website | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, don't miss a single conversation in our Future of Medicine series, airing every Monday through December. Follow Good Life Project wherever you listen to podcasts to catch them all.

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In this deeply personal episode, Jonathan Fields reveals the transformative results of his two-year, 2x20 Project?experiment?an intentional journey of reinvention designed to set up the next 20 years of his life.

Through candid reflections on hands-on creativity, meaningful connections, and confronting long-held fears, Jonathan shares how this structured yet fluid approach to life redesign has led to unexpected breakthroughs and a clearer vision of what it means to live authentically.

Links mentioned in this episode: 

A Surprisingly Simple Way to Heal Chronic Pain that ACTUALLY Works? | Nicole Sachs, LCSWWhy Secrets Wreck Us: a Science-backed Practice to Reveal and Heal | James W. PennebakerLearn more about the 2x20 Experience? here.

Episode Transcript

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What if we could spot disease decades before symptoms appear? Dr. Eric Topol, one of medicine's most influential voices, reveals how new AI-powered diagnostics and precision treatments are revolutionizing the way we prevent disease and extend healthy lifespans.

In this illuminating conversation from our Future of Medicine series, discover the science behind "super agers" who stay sharp and active into their 80s and beyond, plus practical strategies you can implement today, as shared in his new book, Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity.

You can find Eric at: Ground Truths Substack | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, don't miss a single conversation in our Future of Medicine series, airing every Monday through December. Follow Good Life Project wherever you listen to podcasts to catch them all.

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From an anxiety-filled first date involving 100 tacos to becoming a trusted voice for millions, Elyse Myers shares how embracing her authentic self: quirks, struggles, and all, led to unexpected connection and community.

In this candid conversation about her new book, That's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You, she reveals practical strategies for managing anxiety, setting boundaries, and building genuine relationships while in the public eye. Learn how vulnerability became her superpower and why being exactly who you are might be the key to everything you're looking for.

You can find Elyse at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Prentis Hemphill about embodiment, healing, and what it means to truly belong.

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Learn how tiny habits can transform your life from the inside out in this spotlight conversation.

Discover Mel Robbins' shockingly simple "High Five Habit" to flood your body with confidence chemicals. Learn James Clear's step-by-step system from Atomic Habits for turning small routines into remarkable growth. And get Nicole Vignola's neuroplasticity toolkit to rewire your brain and break free from limiting beliefs.

Episode Transcript

You can find Mel at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Mel

You can find James at: Website | The 3-2-1 Newsletter | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with James

You can find Nicole at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Nicole

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What if your teenager's emotional storms and late-night worries aren't problems to fix, but signs of healthy development?

Lisa Damour, Ph.D., author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents, joins two parents for an intimate conversation that flips conventional wisdom about raising teens and young adults on its head. Together, we explore surprising truths about perfectionism, emotional development, and maintaining connection with kids who seem to be pulling away, offering practical strategies for parents navigating these challenging yet transformative years.

You can find Lisa at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with David Yeager about inspiring young people through the mentor mindset.

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Transform anxiety into calm, stress into clarity, and disconnection into deep presence through the one tool you already have complete mastery over: your breath.

In this illuminating conversation, conscious breathing pioneer Jessica Dibb shares powerful yet simple techniques from her book, Breathwork and Psychotherapy: Clinical Applications for Healing and Transformation, that can shift your state more effectively than coffee or wine. Learn how this most basic human function becomes a universal bridge across divides and a pathway to accessing your deepest potential, all through a practice that takes just minutes a day.

You can find Jessica at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with James Nestor about the transformative power of breath.

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Parker Palmer shares how three seasons of profound depression led him to a surprising discovery about authentic living and finding your true calling.

Through intimate stories of his journey from academic to activist to spiritual teacher, Palmer reveals why embracing our shadows and letting go of who we "should be" opens the door to who we truly are. His gentle wisdom offers hope and practical guidance for anyone questioning their path, facing inner darkness, or seeking to live with greater purpose and meaning.

You can find Parker at: Website | Facebook | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Sharon Salzberg about mindfulness, lovingkindness, and inner resilience.

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Forget everything you think you know about aging.

In this eye-opening conversation, gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight reveals why your genes only determine 25% of how you'll age, and how your mindset about getting older can add or subtract 7 years from your life. Drawing from her NYT bestseller, Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half, Dr. Burnight shares four science-backed strategies to create not just a longer life, but one filled with meaning, connection, and genuine joy at any age.

You can find Kerry at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Karen Walrond about embracing aging with possibility and power. 

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When New York Times bestselling author Tembi Locke faced sending her only child to college, she created what she calls a "college moon" - a transformative journey through Sicily that offers fresh wisdom for anyone navigating major life transitions.

In her new audio memoir, Someday, Now: A Memoir of Family, Reclaiming Possibility, and One Sicilian Summer, Locke shares intimate insights about blending families after loss, finding presence during change, and how the places we love can become anchors for our well-being.

You can find Tembi at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Suleika Jaouad about turning illness and upheaval into creative meaning and wonder.

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Every choice you make today is rewiring your brain, shaping not just how you think and feel, but who you become.

In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, author of Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness, reveals how modern life disrupts our brain chemistry and shares simple, science-backed strategies to enhance cognitive function, improve decision-making, and protect against mental decline. Learn why resistance training is crucial for brain health, which foods help make better decisions, and how to set up your environment to make healthy choices automatic rather than exhausting.

You can find Austin at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Adam Grant about rethinking what we think we know.

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Former BBC executive Emily Kasriel reveals eight practical steps to transform any conversation through the art of deep listening, from healing family relationships to bridging seemingly impossible divides.

Drawing from research across boardrooms and conflict zones, she shares surprising insights about how small changes in how we listen can lead to breakthrough moments of connection, plus why walking side-by-side creates better conversations than sitting face-to-face. Based on her new book, Deep Listening: Transform Your Relationships with Family, Friends, and Foes, this conversation offers practical tools for anyone seeking to create more meaningful connections in our increasingly disconnected world.

You can find Emily at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Krista Tippett about the art of deep conversation and the human spirit.

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Your nervous system shapes every reaction, emotion, and experience in your life, yet most of us never learned how to work with it effectively.

In this episode, discover practical tools to shift from stress to stability, backed by cutting-edge research and real-world applications from experts who've trained thousands in nervous system regulation. Learn why some people stay calm while others get triggered, and master simple techniques to reset your system in moments of tension.

Episode Transcript

You can find Jonny Miller at: Nervous System Quotient (NSQ) self-assessment | Nervous System Mastery course

You can find Emiliya Zhivotovskaya at: Website | Instagram | 20 Tools to Tame Anxiety | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Emiliya

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Through ancient Chinese wisdom and personal experience, poet and spiritual teacher Mark Nepo reveals how life's second half can be our most profound creative awakening.

In this intimate conversation about his new book The Fifth Season: Creativity in the Second Half of Life, Nepo shares how aging isn't about decline but rather an invitation to strip away the non-essential and access deeper wisdom, offering a refreshing perspective for anyone seeking to live more authentically at any age.

You can find Mark at: Website | Mark's Substack | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Mark about resilience, learning to fail with grace, and discovering how every setback can lead us higher.

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Discover why being proudly mediocre at something you love might be the key to unlocking joy, meaning, and even spiritual practice in your life.

In this perspective-shifting conversation, leadership consultant Karen Walrond shares insights from her new book, In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur, revealing how letting go of the pressure to excel can transform simple activities into powerful portals for self-discovery, connection, and personal growth. Learn the seven surprising attributes that make intentional amateurism a radical act of self-care in our achievement-obsessed world.

You can find Karen at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with James Victore about making your art and owning your point of view. 

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Feel stuck despite knowing exactly what you want to do?

Neuropsychotherapist Britt Frank reveals why stuckness isn't a character flaw but a brain state you can change, sharing science-backed strategies from her book The Getting Unstuck Workbook: Practical Tools for Overcoming Fear and Doubt - and Moving Forward with Your Life. Learn why willpower isn't the answer and discover practical tools to shift from stasis to movement, transform your inner critic into an ally, and use the surprising power of play to unlock your potential.

You can find Britt at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Charlie Gilkey about finishing projects that matter.

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From gazing at stars on the Navajo reservation to becoming NASA's first African American spacewalker, Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr. shares how to transform setbacks into launching pads for extraordinary achievement.

In this powerful conversation, he reveals how seeing Earth from space changed his perspective on humanity, and offers practical wisdom from his new book, Embracing Infinite Possibilities: Letting Go of Fear to Find Your Highest Potential, about discovering your true calling and pursuing seemingly impossible dreams.

You can find Bernard at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Kathryn Sullivan about her journey to space.

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In this collection of intimate essays, we explore what happens when we prioritize genuine presence over performance, deep connection over financial success, and authentic expression over social expectations.

Through personal stories and practical insights, learn how small shifts in how we show up, communicate, and measure success can transform our relationships and creative impact. Whether you're feeling behind in life, seeking more meaningful conversations, or yearning to express yourself more freely, these reflections offer both comfort and actionable wisdom for living with greater authenticity and purpose.

You can find Jonathan's new writing project: Awake at the Wheel | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the written essays from this episode. You can find them at Awake at the Wheel.

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Ever wondered why some people move past hardships while others get stuck in them?

In this transformative conversation, Columbia professor Scott Barry Kaufman reveals the crucial difference between experiencing hardship and adopting a victim mindset, sharing research-backed strategies from his book, Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential. Learn how shifting your perspective on boredom, lowering certain life expectations, and changing simple self-talk patterns can unlock new levels of personal power and possibility.

You can find Scott at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Brené Brown about embracing Vulnerability to fuel creative growth.

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What if showing up as your most authentic, playful self was the key to doing truly brilliant work?

Bree Groff, author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously), shares her radical rules for injecting more joy, creativity and aliveness into your professional life. An eye-opening listen for anyone who wants to finally merge work and life into one joyful expression of their fullest self.

You can find Bree at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Seth Godin about turning the workplace into a wellspring of fulfillment and innovation.

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Former college football player turned minister Danté Stewart reveals what happens when you stop shrinking yourself to fit others' expectations and start trusting your own evolution.

Drawing from his acclaimed memoir Shoutin' in the Fire, Stewart shares intimate stories about navigating faith, identity, and belonging, offering a fresh perspective on what it means to grow beyond your community's boundaries while staying true to yourself.

You can find Danté at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Rabbi Steve Leder about how to live, what really matters.

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Ever wonder why some relationships thrive through challenges while others crumble? In this spotlight episode, leading relationship researchers share the exact patterns that predict relationship success, revealing why conflict isn't the problem?it's how we navigate it that matters.

Learn practical tools from the Gottmans' decades of research, discover how self-awareness shapes stronger connections with Yung Pueblo, and explore science-backed strategies for deepening friendships with expert Danielle Bayard Jackson.

Episode Transcript

You can find Julie & John Gottman at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with The Gottmans

You can find Yung Pueblo at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Yung

You can find Danielle at: Better Female Friendships | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Danielle

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Harvard professor Alison Wood Brooks reveals why those perfectly polished conversations we see in movies and TV are actually making it harder for us to connect in real life.

In her new book Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves, she shares the surprising science behind why messy, imperfect conversations often lead to deeper connections, and offers her practical TALK framework for transforming everyday interactions into meaningful moments of genuine connection. Learn why face-to-face conversations generate 30 times more laughter than digital ones, and discover simple techniques for asking better questions that create real understanding.

You can find Alison at: Website | Instagram| Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Priya Parker about making impossible conversations possible.

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When Scott Shigeoka, a queer Asian American progressive, packed everything into his Prius and spent a year seeking out conversations with people who held opposing views, he discovered something remarkable about the relationship between fear and curiosity.

In this transformative conversation, Scott shares insights from his book "Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World" and reveals how genuine curiosity can turn our deepest fears into bridges of understanding. You'll learn his practical DIVE framework for navigating difficult conversations and discover why the people who scare us most might hold the key to our own transformation.

You can find Scott at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode:

You?ll also love the conversations we had with Brené Brown about how vulnerability and courage can deepen the connections and transform our lives.

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What if those parts of yourself you've been trying to change or silence are actually trying to protect you?

In this illuminating conversation, psychotherapist Tamala Floyd reveals how understanding and building relationships with your different inner parts can transform exhaustion into wholeness, offering insights from her new book Listening When Parts Speak: A Practical Guide to Healing with Internal Family Systems Therapy and Ancestor Wisdom. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, people-pleasing, or perfectionism, this episode provides a revolutionary framework for healing that honors all parts of who you are.

You can find Tamala at: Website | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about using mindfulness and compassion to free ourselves from suffering.

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Until 2018, we had no medications specifically designed to prevent migraines or cluster headaches - a startling fact given that headaches affect billions worldwide.

In this revealing conversation, former New York Times journalist Tom Zeller Jr., author of The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction?and a Search for Relief, weaves together cutting-edge neuroscience, cultural history, and his personal battle with cluster headaches to explore why this common condition remains so misunderstood and what emerging treatments - from AI prediction to psychedelics - might finally offer real hope.

You can find Tom at: Website | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Jennifer Heisz about how movement eases the mind by reshaping your brain.

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Psychologist Dr Elaine Aron sits down with Jonathan Fields to unpack the traits of the Highly Sensitive Person and show how this wiring can become your greatest strength in family life.

Get science-backed strategies straight from her book ?The Highly Sensitive Parent: Be Brilliant in Your Role, Even When the World Overwhelms You? and start turning overwhelm into resilience.

You can find Elaine at: Website

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Susan David, PhD, about emotional agility.

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What happens when a former investigator who spent 26 years keeping her true self hidden decides at age 50 to let it all out on social media?

Meet Sherri Dindal, who transformed from living life behind a mask to becoming The Real Slim Sherri, amassing 5.7 million followers by showing up with raw authenticity, humor and hard-won wisdom that's inspiring a generation of GenXers to reclaim their right to take up space. Her story reveals how two brushes with death led to an extraordinary reinvention, proving it's never too late to become who you truly are.

You can find Sherri at: Connect with Sherri | Wholesome Hippy | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you?ll also love the conversations we had with Karen Walrond about rewriting the mid-life narrative to one of joy, grace and possibility.

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What if your life isn?t a fixed plan, but a living, evolving blueprint?

In the final episode of our 4-part Inner Architect summer series, you?ll discover five practical, science-backed strategies to adapt with clarity, turn setbacks into growth, and build a life that keeps pace with who you're becoming. If you're craving more meaning, momentum, and flexibility, this one's for you.

Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode:

You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Find all of the Summer Series 2025 episodes.

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