Episodes
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Struggling to focus and finish what matters most? Learn how to build momentum and transform your identity from idea generator to accomplished doer on this episode with Charlie Gilkey, author of Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done.
Discover why we fail to be productive, then rewire your brain, schedule, and actions to see beyond distractions. Implement "focus blocks" during peak energy times. Make conscious choices to displace low-value activities. Finish a small number of important projects to unlock a compounding effect on your confidence and career. Embrace your natural rhythms and limitations to contribute your gifts, then fully engage your relationships. This conversation provides an operating system to focus your limited time on what's essential.
You can find Charlie at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Brad Feld about focusing in what really matters in life or what he calls picking your 2% and putting everything up against it.
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What does it take to leave behind the safety of a corporate career to wholeheartedly pursue your creative passions? In this inspiring conversation, poet Joy Sullivan pulls back the curtain on her journey from accomplished marketing professional to full-time artist and author of the new poetry collection Instructions for Traveling West.
She busts myths that you have to starve, suffer, or lose it all to follow your dreams, revealing how she built her portfolio career through courage, commitment and joyful reverence for the poetic process. Tune in to hear Joy’s unbelievable story of personal and professional reinvention, and uncover practical insights about nurturing your gifts, finding belonging, sharing your voice, and manifesting a life of meaning and purpose. You’ll walk away ready to take the next step toward creative fulfillment.
You can find Joy at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Morgan Harper Nichols about her journey as a successful poet and artist.
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Missing episodes?
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Beloved author Anne Lamott joins us to share profound wisdom and insights from her seven decades of living, loving, and learning. In her latest book Somehow: Thoughts on Love, she compiles a lifetime of lessons on compassion, community, and the inner life to help us endure life's turbulence.
Anne reflects on the power of vulnerability, finding your true self, and becoming an unlikely elder. She explores unforgettable metaphors like doors, hinges, and minus tides. With her trademark wit and candor, she nudges us to wake up to life’s beauty, do loving things, and discover fulfillment. Tune in for an illuminating conversation that will inspire you to live fully, love completely, and embrace the journey.
You can find Anne at: Website | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Anne a little while back.
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What if leaning into grief could lead to profound personal growth? My guest Claire Bidwell Smith, therapist and author of Conscious Grieving: A Transformative Approach to Healing from Loss, shares how engaging with your pain fully can uncover meaning and purpose.
We discuss the gift hidden within life’s losses, how to healthily process complicated grief, the importance of rituals and community, continuing bonds with the deceased, and more. Claire explains how grief transformed her life after losing both parents young, leading her to her calling as a grief counselor. Discover why avoiding heartache only prolongs it, while courageously facing grief may just help you become your best self.
You can find Claire at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Megan Devine about feeling not okay after loss.
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Jen Sincero went from being broke and depressed to a #1 New York Times bestselling author with You Are a Badass and You Are a Badass at Making Money. Vivian Tu escaped Wall Street to build a viral online finance empire and now author of the new book, Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life.
These two powerhouse women share their incredible journeys and hard-won wisdom on how ordinary people can achieve extraordinary success.
Jen and Vivian get vulnerable about overcoming financial and emotional hurdles, bust myths about wealth being unattainable, and offer practical, motivational advice to help you make more money, follow your purpose, and design your dream life. Whether you seek financial confidence or personal growth, this empowering episode will give you the mindset shifts and money moves to silence your inner critic and unlock your inner money badass. Start believing in yourself and get ready to create lasting change.
Episode Transcript
You can find Vivian at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Vivian
You can find Jen Sincero at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Jen
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Can generosity go viral? TED curator Chris Anderson believes it can in our hyperconnected world. In his new book Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading, Chris explores how small acts of kindness can ripple out in surprising ways.
Learn how to tap into the asymmetric power of generosity, fight online negativity with delight, and share stories that light up human emotions. Chris and host Jonathan Fields discuss how practicing courage, creativity and authenticity can help spread compassion across our infinite global village. Get inspired to unleash more goodness and be the start of a contagious generosity movement.
You can find Chris at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dacher Keltner about the power of awe.
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Are you struggling to keep up in a world of dizzying change? My guest Morgan Housel offers a surprising solution: focus on timeless truths. In his book Same As Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes, Morgan reveals how embracing enduring aspects of human nature can be our guide.
We discuss how masterful storytelling moves hearts more than facts, how to balance uncertainty with possibility, and why there’s no formula for “the good life” except the one you design yourself.
Join us for a fascinating conversation on connecting with wisdom as relevant today as ever before. You’ll learn to build lives not on shifting trends but on the bedrock of eternal human truths.
You can find Morgan at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Scott Galloway about finding center in a changing world.
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Feeling overwhelmed and defeated by stress? It doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode, UCLA psychologist and author of Stress Resets: How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes, Dr. Jenny Taitz shares how reframing your mindset transforms your relationship with stress and anxiety.
Discover science-backed techniques to shift thought patterns, regulate emotions, and tap into inner resilience—allowing you to thrive while pursuing a meaningful life, not just survive. Whether it’s parent burnout, work pressures, or life’s daily frustrations, Jenny equips you with practical tools to gain agency over internal and external demands. Get ready to rewrite your stress story.
You can find Jenny at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Stephen Porges, Ph.D. about the polyvagal theory and the importance of psychological safety.
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Neuroscientist and addiction expert Dr. Judson Brewer unveils a practical, evidence-based approach to transforming your relationship with anxiety.
Learn how to "unwind" worry and fear by understanding the habit loop of anxiety, applying mindfulness tools, and accessing your brain's innate wisdom. Discover why anxiety persists and how retraining your brain can create more ease and joy, drawing from Jud's research and bestselling book, Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind.
You can find Dr. Jud at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode: you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ellen Hendriksen, PhD about social anxiety and how to handle it.
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What fuels your biggest dreams? How do you set goals that light you up instead of burn you out? New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff reveals how to ditch external pressures and re-center your goals around joy.
Jon explains why starting with a "fun goal" builds confidence for bigger dreams, and how to stay motivated by tapping into creative flow states. Learn how to define success on your own terms through Jon's unique 3-step methodology from his new book All It Takes Is A Goal: The 3-Step Plan to Ditch Regret and Tap Into Your Massive Potential. Discover practical strategies to unlock your potential, eliminate regrets, and live a life filled with gratitude and purpose.
You can find Jon at: Website | Instagram | All It Takes Is A Goal podcast | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations where I share what I call my success scaffolding.
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Ageism distorts how we view aging and harms us at every stage of life. My guest today, Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, reveals where these stereotypes come from and how they seep into our minds.
She explains powerful ways we can identify and challenge ageism in ourselves, our communities, and society. Ashton shares eye-opening facts that counteract myths about decline, along with steps to build a more age-inclusive world. If getting older fills you with dread, this conversation will give you a radically hopeful perspective on aging as a time of continued growth and joy—if we can erase the cultural biases clouding our vision.
You can find Ashton at: Website | Instagram | TED Talk | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Karen Waldrond about the amazing parts of getting older.
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After an on-air panic attack, ABC anchor Dan Harris, author of the 10-year anniversary edition of "10% Happier," embarked on a quest to understand his lifelong anxiety. If you've ever experienced self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or a fear of coming undone, don't miss this uplifting conversation with Dan Harris on living more fully and freely.
Harris traces generational roots back to a suicidal great-grandfather, realizing he could either be crushed by these demons or befriend them. This crisis set Harris on a quest that led to Buddhism, reshaping his mind through ancient tools and "mental rewiring." Now tattooed with his personal mantra, he shares the conversations that helped him tap into compassion. Harris reflects on transforming anxiety into awakening, befriending darkness to reveal inner light, and his journey to bestselling author and founder of the meditation company 10% Happier.
You can find Dan at: Website | Instagram | Ten Percent Happier podcast | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan Piver about mindfulness and life.
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What if being more mindful could lead to better health, happiness and fulfillment? Pioneering psychologist Ellen Langer reveals how on this week's episode. Known as the "mother of mindfulness," Ellen shares insights from over 45 years of research showing how our thoughts directly impact our physical and mental well-being.
Learn simple yet profound tips to become more present, question assumptions and unlock healthier living. Ellen explains how mindfulness is about engaging actively with the present moment rather than formal meditation. Discover how we can break free from mindless routines and limiting beliefs to shape empowering new realities. Find out why Ellen believes mindfulness could revolutionize healthcare. Don't miss this fascinating conversation with the author of the new book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health.
You can find Ellen at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Robert Thurman about the power of mindfulness, meditation and presence.
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Can memory improvement unlock a better life? Neuroscientist Charan Ranganath reveals how memory intertwines with happiness, relationships, creativity, and meaning. In his new book Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters, Charan shares research on how memories form, the role of sleep, aging's effects, and practical ways to remember what matters.
Learn how to harness your brain’s memory systems for personal growth and fulfillment. Discover techniques to preserve precious moments, let go of trauma, and pursue your passions. If you want to experience deeper connections and find more purpose, don’t miss this fascinating tour of memory’s power from a leading expert.
You can find Charan at: X | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Bessel van der Kolk, MD about how memory, trauma and movement work together.
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What if you could communicate effortlessly with anyone, instantly establishing trust and connection? According to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg, author of the new book Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, the most compelling communicators don't possess any magical talents. They've simply mastered the hidden rules that govern how we connect through conversation.
Learn techniques to identify the 3 types of exchanges occurring simultaneously in every interaction. Discover how vulnerability and "deep listening" forge bonds of trust. Gain insight into dissolving conflict through empathy. Whether one-on-one or on stage, communication can change lives. This research-backed episode reveals the science of forging genuine understanding.
You can find Charles at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had on our partner podcast, SPARKED with Ben Guttmann about how to communicate simply and clearly.
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Want to cut cravings, boost energy, and take control of your health? Biochemist and bestselling author Jessie Inchauspé shares surprising hacks to steady your blood sugar in this fascinating conversation. Learn how timing sweets, pairing carbs with fat/protein, and starting your day without sugar can work wonders. Jessie busts myths around whole grains and fruit while translating complex science into simple, sustainable habits.
Discover how to eat the foods you love in a healthier way from her groundbreaking book The Glucose Goddess Method: The 4-Week Guide to Cutting Cravings, Getting Your Energy Back, and Feeling Amazing. If you struggle with rollercoaster energy, cravings, or poor sleep - this episode is for you. Jessie empowers listeners with innovative ways to minimize glucose spikes and gain control of your health. Her passion for optimizing blood sugar shines as she reveals how tiny tweaks can help you feel your absolute best.
You can find Jessie at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Aviva Romm about how our hormones influence our health.
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What if mattering could be the key to living your best life? Psychologist Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky joins us to unpack the profound human need for mattering.
Isaac explains the two components of mattering—feeling valued and adding value. Discover how cultivating mattering through fairness, purpose, and small generous acts can transform health, happiness, work, and relationships. Learn why extremism rises when mattering is lacking, and how finding meaning by contributing to something bigger than yourself is the antidote. Get Isaac’s practical tips for taking responsibility to add value, listen generously, and promote wellness in yourself and society.
You can find Isaac at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Robert Waldinger about meaning and life.
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What if your closest friendships were just as significant as your marriage? My fascinating guest Rhaina Cohen, author of The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center, reveals compelling research on how profound platonic bonds can provide the same fulfillment and devotion as romantic ones.
Tune in to hear Rhaina's eye-opening stories that reimagine social connection. We explore how to nurture deeper intimacy in friendships and move beyond limiting cultural biases. Discover practical tools to cultivate lifelong platonic partnerships that are just as central to living a good life as romantic love. This surprising conversation will transform your understanding of relationships.
You can find Rhaina at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Kat Vellos about how to plant the seeds of grown-up friendship.
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After following in her activist parents' footsteps, Blair Imani reached her breaking point organizing protests in college. She shares how rediscovering spirituality helped her let go of toxic expectations and heal. Blair realized education was a more sustainable way for her to impact change as a historian and creator of the popular Smarter In Seconds educational video series.
She discusses learning self-care, listening to your values when making decisions, and embracing practices like yoga and meditation. While still devoted to intersectional advocacy, Blair now approaches it with intention, only taking on projects aligning with her ethics. She offers insights on finding calm within chaos and being mindful of how your actions affect others. Blair is the author of the bestselling book Read This to Get Smarter.
You can find Blair at: Instagram | Website | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Austin Channing Brown, about how we create the world around us and how we bring ourselves to it from a place of equity, dignity, and justice.
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Do you ever feel like you barely slept even after a full night in bed? You're not alone. Sleep expert Dr. Christopher Winter reveals the truth about the perception gap between how we think we're sleeping and reality.
Discover science-backed techniques to get better rest, change your mindset around sleep, and stop obsessing over routines. Dr. Winter shares insights from his book The Sleep Solution and busts myths around optimal sleep needs. Learn how to ditch the anxiety around sleep and become the well-rested person you aspire to be. This candid conversation provides practical steps anyone can take to transform their relationship with sleep.
You can find Chris at: Website | Instagram | Sleep Unplugged podcast | Episode Transcript
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Aric Prather about the fundamentals of sleep hygiene.
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My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. To submit your “moment & question” for consideration to be on the show go to sparketype.com/submit. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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