Good Life Project

What if writing simple letters of love to yourself could change everything? Liz Gilbert shares an unusual practice that became her lifeline during painful times. Discover how tapping into self-compassion through daily letter writing provides surprising wisdom and comfort. Liz explains the transformative power of listening to your heart's guidance - something she now shares with thousands on her popular Substack, Letters From Love. Learn to turn inward and receive the unconditional love and support you crave through this magical daily ritual. Liz provides inspiration and practical guidance to unlock your inner wisdom through writing.You can find Liz at: Website | Letters From Love with Elizabeth Gilbert | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Gilbert about navigating love and loss and finding lightness again.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if facing mortality could unlock the secret to living fully? My guest Alua Arthur, a death doula and author of Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End, knows firsthand how confronting death can transform how we live. In this thought-provoking episode, we dive into taboo topics like grief, loss, and our cultural avoidance of mortality. Alua shares insights from her deeply personal journey of embracing end-of-life experiences, leading to more meaning, authenticity, and connection. Learn tangible practices to live more present and purpose-driven lives, reflect on death consciously, craft your own ideal experience, and discuss difficult topics with loved ones. This conversation may shift your entire outlook on how to live well by leaning into our universally shared mortality.You can find Alua at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Gilbert about embracing life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you ready to break free from codependent patterns and create authentic connection? Mark Groves and Kylie McBeath share transformative insights from their new book, Liberated Love: Release Codependent Patterns and Create the Love You Desire on how to heal attachment wounds, set boundaries, and communicate openly to find freedom in your relationships. Learn why we conform to societal expectations, how to tap into your body's wisdom, and steps for becoming interdependent without losing yourself. Whether you struggle with anxious attachment, avoidance, or simply desire more fulfillment, Mark and Kylie provide practical tools to stop abandoning yourself, speak your truth, and manifest the healthy, conscious love you desire. Get ready to transform not just your relationships, but your whole life.You can find Mark & Kylie at: Website | Mark's Instagram | Kylie's Instagram | The Mark Groves Podcast | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Julie & John Gottman about sustaining love in long-term relationships.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf 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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf 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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Anne a little while back.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Megan Devine about feeling not okay after loss.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptYou can find Vivian at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with VivianYou can find Jen Sincero at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with JenCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dacher Keltner about the power of awe.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Scott Galloway about finding center in a changing world.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf 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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode: you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ellen Hendriksen, PhD about social anxiety and how to handle it.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations where I share what I call my success scaffolding.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Karen Waldrond about the amazing parts of getting older.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan Piver about mindfulness and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Robert Thurman about the power of mindfulness, meditation and presence.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf 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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf 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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Aviva Romm about how our hormones influence our health.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Robert Waldinger about meaning and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf 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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf 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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Aric Prather about the fundamentals of sleep hygiene.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sex educator Emily Nagoski reveals how to sustain passionate intimacy over the long haul with research from her groundbreaking new book, Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections.She explains why pleasure trumps desire, how stress impacts connection, and the importance of open communication about desires. Emily offers practical steps to invite more pleasure into relationships as bodies change, and rejects cultural grind in favor of ease. Her insights on nourishing intimacy through pleasure can enrich partnerships when we center what truly matters. You can find Emily at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Vanessa Marin about how to talk about sex.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This January Jumpstart episode explores how we can rediscover our deepest sense of belonging within. Zen priest Rev. angel Kyodo williams and spiritual leader Melissa Carter share how embracing all of ourselves allows us to fully inhabit our humanity. By returning to our inner wholeness through mindfulness, we can move through the world from a place of truth, connect authentically with others, and transform society.Episode TranscriptYou can find Rev. angel Kyodo williams at: Instagram | Website | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Rev. angelYou can find Melissa at: Find Melissa Online Here | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with MelissaWe want to hear from YOU! Record your responses to the challenge or questions you have along the way and email them to support@goodlifeproject.com. We may include your reflections in an episode.If you LOVED this episode Find all of the January Jumpstart - Your 2024 Good Life Awakening episodes.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, author of The Five Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience, shares how to reframe our relationship with stress. She explains why feeling overwhelmed is a common human experience, not a personal failing. Simple, science-backed techniques like breathing, social connection, journaling, and eliminating multitasking can help our minds and bodies reset. Dr. Nerurkar offers realistic ways to introduce ease into our days through small, sustainable steps. Learn how to "do better" so you can start to "feel better" and thrive.You can find Aditi at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Stephen and Seth Porges about safety, stress, and your nervous system.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This January Jumpstart episode explores how movement strengthens your mind, body, and immunity. What if exercise could unlock your brain's creativity and make you happier, healthier, and more focused?Neuroscientist Dr. Jennifer Heisz and physician Dr. Gabrielle Lyon reveal how movement strengthens your mind, body, and immunity. Learn how to reframe exercise as playful self-care, not monotonous drudgery. Discover how muscle builds resilience against disease while microbursts of activity boost cognition. Small steps create big rewards when you tap the mind-body connection through joyful motion. Get science-backed insights on gaining strength, focus, and joy through intuitive movement.Episode TranscriptYou can find Dr. Heisz at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Dr. HeiszYou can find Dr. Lyon at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Dr. LyonWe want to hear from YOU! Record your responses to the challenge or questions you have along the way and email them to support@goodlifeproject.com. We may include your reflections in an episode.If you LOVED this episode, Find all of the January Jumpstart - Your 2024 Good Life Awakening episodes.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feeling like you're always behind in life? Leo Babauta joins us to explore why we get stuck chasing unrealistic expectations, and simple mindset shifts that can transform your days into a graceful, meaningful, and fun game worth playing. Discover how to ditch perfectionism and embrace self-compassion to experience more ease and joy right now.You can find Leo at: Website | Instagram | Zen Habits Podcast | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Suneel Gupta about discovering and following your dharma.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This January Jumpstart episode explores the power of exquisite attention - the ability to direct your focus with intention to create moments of profound presence. Renowned mindfulness teacher Tara Brach shares practices like RAIN to help awaken us from anxious, judgmental trances. Leading researcher Dacher Keltner illuminates how awe opens our eyes to everyday wonder and possibility.Learn simple tools to train moment-to-moment awareness and presence. Discover how slowing down, looking closer, and tuning in fully can uncover magic, amplify creativity, deepen connections, and transform your life. This episode will open your eyes to the blessings that surround you every day through the lens of exquisite attention.Episode TranscriptYou can find Dacher at: Website | LinkedIn| Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with DacherYou can find Tara Brach at: Website | Instagram | Tara Brach podcast | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with TaraWe want to hear from YOU! Record your responses to the challenge or questions you have along the way and email them to support@goodlifeproject.com. We may include your reflections in an episode.If you LOVED this episode find all of the January Jumpstart - Your 2024 Good Life Awakening episodes.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When constant ringing and noise from tinnitus brought anxiety, despair and sleepless nights, Jonathan stumbled upon an unlikely antidote - mindfulness meditation. What began as therapy to cope with daily torment evolved into a profound practice for creativity, clarity and calm. Learn how mindfulness helped Jonathan find peace despite unrelenting symptoms, trained his brain to let go of fixating on the noises, and transformed his life. You'll also be led through a soothing lovingkindness meditation designed to ground you in the present. Discover how embracing a mindfulness practice could fundamentally alter how you experience even the most difficult circumstances.Guided Meditation starts around 22:40 into the episode.Episode TranscriptCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Change is hard. But what if embracing change led to your greatest growth? My guest is Brad Stulberg, bestselling author of Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You. Brad shares how we can cultivate “rugged flexibility” to gracefully navigate cycles of order, disorder and reorder. Imagine harnessing the storms of change to help you grow into your best self. Brad upends conventional wisdom, showing how accepting impermanence allows us to become our best selves. Having weathered major life changes himself, Brad did extensive research on how we can thrive amidst instability. This eye-opening discussion will challenge your assumptions and show you how to make peace with change.You can find Brad at: Website | Instagram | Farewell Podcast | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jason Mendelson about how he intentionally disrupted and kept changing his life over seasons and years.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What really brings meaning and purpose to life? This episode is part of our January Jumpstart series where each week we dive into concepts to drive real change through learning and action.Get science-backed insights from an 80-year Harvard happiness study revealing how relationships and activities—not money or fame—unlock fulfillment with our guide, Robert Waldinger. Discover philosophical wisdom and practical tips to continually reconnect with what matters through relationships, reflection, and daily practices with Yale professor Matthew Croasmun, as he invites us to join in asking life's big questions to illuminate the quest itself as a source of joy.This research-inspired guide to crafting a life of significance also offers a simple 7-day challenge to increase your sense of purpose right away. Follow along each week, do the challenges with friends for accountability, and send us your questions. Let's make this year one of growth, discovery, and living your good life!Episode TranscriptDiscover the Work That Makes You Come Alive! Take the Sparketype® AssessmentYou can find Robert at: Website| LinkedIn | TED Talk | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with RobertYou can find Matthew at: Website | Life Worth Living | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with MatthewWe want to hear from YOU! Record your responses to the challenge or questions you have along the way and email them to support@goodlifeproject.com. We may include your reflections in an episode.If you LOVED this episode: Find all of the January Jumpstart - Your 2024 Good Life Awakening episodes.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you have big goals and dreams but struggle with making them happen, this episode is for you! We're sharing our powerful 8-part Success Scaffolding framework to finally accomplish your most meaningful visions this year.We'll create a vivid picture of the outcome you want and understand your deeper purpose behind it. Jonathan will walk you through making an adaptable plan, opening a possibility window, gathering proof, enlisting key people, establishing practices, and making a pledge. This comprehensive structure addresses every aspect needed to turn goals into reality!You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Episode TranscriptCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if small, incremental actions could transform your life? In this fascinating conversation with James Clear, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Atomic Habits, you’ll get proven strategies based in psychology and neuroscience for building the habits you want and breaking the ones holding you back. Learn how to create an environment that reinforces positive change and the crucial role identity plays in making new habits stick. Discover how to find the opportunities best suited to your natural strengths. James shares insights from his extensive research and personal experience to deliver actionable tactics you can start applying today to reinvent your habits, fulfill your potential, and live the life you aspire to. If you want to make lasting positive changes, this is one conversation you can’t afford to miss!You can find James at: Website | The 3-2-1 Newsletter | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Gretchen Rubin about how we meet our own expectations.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reignite your passion for life in 2024 with our January Jumpstart episode! We debunk false beliefs about finding your one true passion, reveal the science behind harmonious vs. obsessive pursuits, and explore why curiosity offers a healthier path than waiting for a thunderbolt moment. You'll hear insights from positive psychology expert Dan Lerner and author Elizabeth Gilbert on embracing gradual interest development, balancing multiple passions, and how small steps unlock hidden joys. Whether you feel devoid of passion or obsessed to an unhealthy degree, you'll gain actionable ways to uncover meaningful pursuits, avoid burnout, and integrate more vibrance into everyday life. Join us and awaken your passions!Episode TranscriptYou can find Dan at: Website | InstagramYou can find Elizabeth Gilbert at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with LizWe want to hear from YOU! Record your responses to the challenge or questions you have along the way and email them to support@goodlifeproject.com. We may include your reflections in an episode.If you LOVED this episode: Find all of the January Jumpstart - Your 2024 Good Life Awakening episodes.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does your Contribution Bucket look like these days? On this special year-end reflection episode, we dive deep into the work and effort that fills you up rather than drains you. Jonathan shares what he's learned from researching human flourishing at work, including identifying the 5 key qualities that make work energizing: purpose, excitement, flow, full expression, and meaning. Jonathan then analyzes his own contribution bucket over the past year, how it was impacted by health challenges, and what he'll change going forward to align work with his values and sparketypes®.If you want to reflect on how your work and effort make you feel and set intentions for a more energized 2024, don't miss this episode. Discover how to find purpose and joy in your unique contribution.If you’re open to it, record your own responses and email them to support@goodlifeproject.com. We may include your reflections in an episode. I'm excited to share this powerful process over the coming weeks to help us all step into the new year with intention.Take The Good Life Bucket Quiz to discover your levels.Discover the Work That Makes You Come Alive! Take the Sparketype® AssessmentView the 1-page Worksheet.Find all of the Year-End Reflection episodes on this Spotify playlist.Episode TranscriptCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to live meaningfully? Journey with us as we revisit poignant moments from conversations on presence, curiosity, self-acceptance, integration, community, and the power of our stories. We'll dive into chats with Pico Iyer on living fully through presence, Karen Walrond on embracing change and aging with creativity, and violinist Vijay Gupta on building community beyond prestige and comfort. Their wisdom illuminates pathways to flourish through integrity, purpose, generosity, and joy. This is an invitation to blossom fully into who you're becoming, without apology or hesitation.Episode TranscriptYou can find Pico at: Website | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with PicoYou can find Karen at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with KarenYou can find Vijay at: Website | Street Symphony | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with VijayCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes some couples thrive for decades while others fizzle out? Psychotherapist and bestselling author Amy Morin reveals the habits that erode relationships and the tools needed to build resilient joy in her latest book, 13 Things Mentally Strong Couples Don't Do. Drawing on research and years of counseling experience, Amy shares how small changes can transform even the most challenged partnerships. Learn how to reconnect with your partner's best self - and your own. Discover why arranged marriages often get happier over time, while many romantic relationships decline. Healthy love takes work, but it's possible. If you've ever felt disconnected from the magic that first drew you together, this conversation is for you. Amy provides honest wisdom and gentle guidance for crafting enduringly satisfying long-term relationships.You can find Amy at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Julie and John Gottman about lasting love.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this illuminating episode, we dive deep into the power of human connection for a fulfilling life. Jonathan shares insights from decades of research showing our most important relationships are key to wellbeing. We explore how to take stock of your Connection bucket and nurture the few deep bonds that matter most. Learn simple but profound practices to be more present with loved ones, keep your bucket full in tough times, and cultivate chosen family.If you want to feel more connected, this episode will inspire you to take small steps that ripple into big changes. Strengthening your core relationships could be the best investment you make next year!If you’re open to it, record your own responses and email them to support@goodlifeproject.com. We may include your reflections in an episode. I'm excited to share this powerful process over the coming weeks to help us all step into the new year with intention.Take The Good Life Bucket Quiz to discover your levels.View the 1-page Worksheet.Find all of the Year-End Reflection episodes on this Spotify playlist.Episode TranscriptCheck out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the winning money mindset to change your financial life. Personal finance phenom and TikTok star Vivian Tu decodes finances in simple steps so you can stop living paycheck-to-paycheck. Learn how to negotiate your true worth, overcome investing fears, adopt wealth-building habits, and use money as a tool for good. Vivian shares insider strategies from her new book Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life to help you understand finances, maximize earnings, and build generation-changing wealth, no matter where you are starting out.You can find Vivian at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Patrice Washington about wealth and purpose.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered about the secret fungal networks operating unseen beneath your feet? My guest Merlin Sheldrake, author of the New York Times bestseller Entangled Life, reveals a surreal subterranean cosmos of mycelium underlying life as we know it.In this mind-expanding conversation, Sheldrake illuminates the alien intelligence of fungi and their profound interconnectedness with human existence. Discover how these overlooked organisms communicate, adapt, and even exhibit consciousness despite their radically decentralized biology.Delving into fungal behaviors and the latest scientific research, Sheldrake fundamentally alters our perception of the natural world. His new book Entangled Life: The Illustrated Edition: How Fungi Make Our Worlds brings the magic of fungi to life through stunning visuals. After listening, you may never look at mold quite the same way again.You can find Merlin at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Adam Gazzaley about psilocybin and those things we know as magic mushrooms or psychedelics.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a turbulent year for many of us, taking a real toll on our vitality buckets - our energy levels, physical health, mental focus and overall sense of well-being. In Part 2 of this special Year-End Reflection series, we're tapping into the wisdom of the Good Life Buckets model to help you understand how the last year has impacted your own vitality. Jonathan shares the key ingredients for refilling our vitality buckets, along with 5 clarifying questions to ask yourself during this period of reflection. Jonathan walks through a personal assessment of his own vitality and mindfulness in 2023, modeling how to evaluate your mental focus, physical energy, pain levels and more. This insightful episode will provide a framework to help you reflect on the past year and make intentional changes to optimize your mindset and physical vitality as you look ahead to the new year.Join me as we explore practices and perspectives to refill your vitality bucket! If you’re open to it, record your own responses and email them to support@goodlifeproject.com. We may include your reflections in an episode. I'm excited to share this powerful process over the coming weeks to help us all step into the new year with intention.Take The Good Life Bucket Quiz to discover your levels.View the 1-Page Worksheet.Find all of the Year-End Reflection episodes on this Spotify playlist.Episode TranscriptCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you noticed patterns in your life traced back generations? My guest Dr. Mariel Buqué shares how trauma gets embedded in our biology and psychology, passed down through families.In her new book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma, this psychologist provides clinically proven techniques to regulate our nervous systems, restore secure attachment, process grief, and break free from harmful intergenerational patterns. Her message transcends genetics - it’s a call to become cycle breakers who chart a new course for our families. I even had my own cycle-breaking revelation during our poignant conversation.You can find Mariel at: Website | Instagram | Intergenerational Adverse Experiences Quiz | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Paul Conti, MD about healing from trauma.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you could rewrite the subconscious scripts controlling your life? Harness untapped mental powers to conquer pain, anxiety, and addictions? My guest Dr. David Spiegel, renowned psychiatrist & director of Stanford's Center on Stress and Health, pulls back the curtain on hypnosis. With 45+ years of researching and successfully treating patients, he's on a mission to reveal hypnosis as a gentler, effective first-line treatment. We dive into the science, address the mythology around it, and learn how his clinically-backed app Reveri brings self-hypnosis to anyone seeking healing and unleashing their full potential.You can find David at: Website | Reveri app (tap from mobile for 2 weeks free) | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Jill Blakeway about the surprising science behind energy medicine.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for deep reflection as we close out 2023. Over four weeks, join us for an intimate year-end review built around the Good Life Buckets. We'll guide you to reflect on how this year unfolded, your role in it, key learnings, and how to carry those into 2023 with more wisdom and agency. We'd also love for you to share your journey! Record a voice memo reply to each week's prompts and email it to support@goodlifeproject.com to potentially be featured on the show. Super excited to share this powerful process with you in our special weekly bonus episodes over this month! Let's close out 2023 and enter the new year with open hearts and clarity. Take The Good Life Bucket Quiz to discover your levels.Episode TranscriptCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After years of requests, it's finally happening - I'm the one in the hot seat for this special interview with none other than beloved 4x bestselling author and podcast host Kelly Corrigan of Kelly Corrigan Wonders. We have a heart-to-heart chat about life, work, relationships, challenges and more. Kelly nudges me into sharing personal stories and insights I usually keep private. It felt like an intimate conversation between old friends. Grab a cup of tea, get cozy and join Kelly and me for this lively, joyful and meaningful dialogue. You may just pick up an unexpected insight or two.You can find Kelly at: Website | Instagram | Kelly Corrigan Wonders podcast | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Peter Frampton about a life of creativity, struggle, and making peace with what is.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to live a life filled with love? This special episode draws upon the wisdom of five relationship experts to share insights on how to love and be loved in a complicated world. Hear research-backed tips from bestselling authors and marriage researchers Julie and John Gottman, Diego Perez (Young Pueblo) shares thoughts on allowing relationships to grow. Rev. angel Kyodo williams discusses compassion across differences and liberating love. Topping it off, spoken word poet IN-Q performs an original piece on the magic of falling in love. Whether you're seeking romantic love, community, or social change, this episode will speak to your heart and inspire you to bring more love into the world.Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode:You can find Julie & John Gottman at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Digeo Perez (Yung Pueblo) at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Rev. angel Kyodo williams at: Full Conversation | Instagram | WebsiteYou can find IN-Q at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When was the last time you truly embraced yourself, inside and out? My guest Cleo Wade, New York Times–bestselling author and poet shares her incredible wisdom for finding inner peace amid life's changes in her new book, Remember Love: Words for Tender Times. We explore how poetry anchors us when lost, tuning into natural rhythms, and growing through grief.Cleo reads 3 deeply moving passages that remind us of our inner light and intrinsic self-worth. Her words stayed with me long after the episode ended, and I hope it does the same for you.You can find Cleo at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Sue Monk Kidd about life transitions and changing lanes. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt stuck in life? Psychiatrist Phil Stutz says leaning into adversity is the secret to getting unstuck. His unconventional methods have helped celebrities and everyday people find meaning and purpose when they felt lost. Now, in his new book Lessons for Living: What Only Adversity Can Teach You, Stutz shares the tools and wisdom from 40 years of therapy on how to face hardship and grow through life's storms. This fascinating conversation may challenge everything you thought you knew about living well.You can find Phil at: Website | Instagram | Lessons for Living | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jud Brewer about anxiety and what we can do about it in a very practical and hands-on way. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesAudio excerpted courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio from Lessons for Living: What Only Adversity Can Teach You by Phil Stutz; Read by JC Mackenzie © 2023, Phil Stutz ℗ Penguin Random House, LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an era of polarization, we’ve lost the art of gathering, listening, and connecting across divides. How can we rediscover the power of discourse to build mutual understanding? Priya Parker, Anand Giridharadas, and Jonah Berger reveal simple but transformative tools to help us relearn how to truly listen, relate, and influence. Through stories and guidance, we uncover how to create spaces for bearing witness to shared humanity, open minds and hearts through persuasive conversation, and choose words that connect rather than divide. Join us as we uncover a path back to empathy, dignity, and healing in our fractured world.Episode TranscriptYou can find Priya at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with PriyaYou can find Anand at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with AnandYou can find Jonah at: Website | Twitter | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with JonahCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like you've lost your sense of self? Psychotherapist Sara Kuburic joins me to discuss her experience with profound "self-loss" and the journey back to oneself. In her insightful new book, It's On Me: Accept Hard Truths, Discover Your Self, and Change Your Life, Sara blends personal stories with psychology and neuroscience to offer wisdom and practical steps for reconnecting with your true self. Born a refugee, Sara brings both personal experience and professional expertise to this vital topic. We explore the emptiness of self-loss, often triggered by major life changes, and how self-discovery is an ongoing practice of curiosity, playfulness and courage to experiment with who you want to be - imperfections and all.You can find Sara at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Nedra Glover Tawwab about how boundaries affect our sense of self. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the secret to a fulfilling life was simpler than you thought? My guest Simon Sinek offers a visionary perspective on transforming work into a source of passion and purpose. Simon believes we all have the capacity to live inspired, safe, and fulfilled lives, yet too many are deprived of this. He may be best known for starting a movement with his TED talk and book Start With Why, which explores how great leaders inspire action by putting purpose before product. He’s gone on to write global bestsellers like Leaders Eat Last and The Infinite Game, sharing his insights on creating fulfillment in business and life.In this powerful conversation, Simon shares practical wisdom on building environments where we and others can thrive, along with insightful stories. His message: bringing care, dignity, and connection to everything we do allows us to live our best lives.You can find Simon at: Website | Instagram | A Bit of Optimism podcast | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Brené Brown about how vulnerability can be a powerful source of connection. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like your brain just operates differently? Like no matter how hard you try, you're perpetually distracted or struggling to focus? You're not alone. Psychiatrist Dr. Sasha Hamdani shares her personal ADHD journey and provides research-backed techniques to better understand and thrive with your uniquely wired brain. We dive into practical self-care tools from her book, Self-Care for People with ADHD: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Prioritize You! to help manage symptoms, prioritize yourself, and embrace your neurodiversity. Dr. Hamdani aims to empower those with ADHD and neurodiverse brains to navigate the world with more clarity, ease and success.You can find Sasha at: Focus Genie App | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor about whole brain living. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After experiencing profound personal tragedy, Michael Tennant made it his life's mission to cultivate empathy in himself and others. In our conversation, the Founder of Curiosity Lab and author of The Power of Empathy: A Thirty-Day Path to Personal Growth and Social Change shares his journey to understanding this powerful yet often neglected skill. Michael provides practical steps we can take to grow in empathy, imaginatively step into another’s shoes, and build more inclusive, connected communities. Though it takes courage, empathy’s rewards are immense—it can heal relationships, bridge divides, relieve isolation, and open the door to human connection.You can find Michael at: Website | Actually Curious Card Decks | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Terry Real about the power of us. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if confidence was an illusion stopping you from an amazing life?Today we're unpacking how chasing confidence distracts us from meaningful growth and connection. Instead, cultivate awareness, bravery and conviction to take unconfident action. Learn to make decisions and live fully, even when uncertain. You’ll unlock growth and impact without needing magical confidence.Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode be sure to check out other solo episodes with Jonathan, easily organized HERE as a Spotify playlist.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if ancient indigenous wisdom could guide us to live a good life today? My guest James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, a descendant of the Ojibwe tribe, reveals hidden insights encoded in their language after dedicating over 20 years to studying and translating their stories. His fascinating new book, The Seven Generations and The Seven Grandfather Teachings,, unpacks unconventional yet powerful Ojibwe concepts of truth, humility, respect, love, courage, honesty and wisdom. James' journey to reconnect with his heritage and its uncommon notions of how to live a moral life delivered the soulful antidote our modern lives need. His insights and passion bring this everyday wisdom for living a good life into focus.You can find James at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Violet Duncan about the power of Indigenous wisdom. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does anxiety feel like it's spiraling out of control? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive into the neuroscience behind anxiety and gain research-backed techniques to find calm, from embracing acceptance to short-circuiting unhelpful rumination. Hear perspectives on shifting your relationship with anxiety from:Dr. Jud BrewerDr. Wendy SuzukiEllen Hendriksen, Ph.D.Ethan Kross Discover the surprising upsides of this complex emotion. If you've struggled with overwhelming anxiety or want to transform your mindset, this research-packed episode will give you new tools to unlock relief and resilience.Episode TranscriptYou can find Dr. Jud at: Website | Instagram | Unwinding Anxiety App | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with JudYou can find Dr. Wendy at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with WendyYou can find Ellen at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with EllenYou can find Ethan at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with EthanCheck out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you struggled to speak up when it matters most? My guest Sam Horn has devoted her career to helping people transform awkward moments into open communication. In this episode, Sam shares her expertise on how to find your voice, even on eggshells. We explore essential skills like awareness, listening, and empathy to shift from reactive to proactive in challenging interactions. Sam dives into strategies from her newest book, Talking on Eggshells: Soft Skills for Hard Conversations, so you can turn conflicts into clarifying, satisfying conversations. If you’ve felt too intimidated to speak your truth, this episode will give you hope.You can find Sam at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Zoe Chance about the language of influence. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we sometimes feel unsafe or anxious for no reason? Neuroscientist Stephen Porges, Ph.D. shares how his groundbreaking polyvagal theory reveals the hidden workings of our nervous system. He and his son Seth Porges, explore in their new book Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us, how subjective feelings of safety versus danger shape our health, happiness and ability to connect. Learn how becoming "neuroception architects" adept at transmitting cues of safety through our voice, face and presence can override default survival circuits - helping us consciously create environments that nurture true security.You can find Stephen & Seth at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Jud Brewer about anxiety, safety, and habits. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Modern life is silently destroying our health. But what if the real culprit isn't too much fat, but too little muscle? Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, a physician researching the overlooked importance of muscle for metabolism, immunity, and disease prevention, reveals how the loss of muscle mass as we age secretly undermines health. In her groundbreaking book, Forever Strong: A New, Science-Based Strategy for Aging Well, Dr. Lyon shares how you can slow, stop and even reverse muscle loss through science-based nutrition and exercise. Imagine if simply building muscle could lower disease risk and make you feel better. Dr. Lyon is on a mission to revolutionize aging. If you want to thrive in midlife and beyond, this conversation could change your life.You can find Dr. Lyon at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with David A. Sinclair, Ph.D. about increasing lifespan. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've been sold a story that aging means decline. But what if that was a lie? My guest Karen Walrond flips the script on aging with her new book Radiant Rebellion: Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy, and Raise a Little Hell. She argues we can embrace getting older as a time of growth, joy, and possibility. Karen shares how we can rewrite narratives around aging illuminated by purpose, wisdom, levity, and curiosity. Imagine aging not as something to endure, but to embrace. Karen shows us how through exercises, perspective shifts, and reimagining living itself. Get ready to reclaim aging and live your most vibrant years ahead.You can find Karen at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about making peace with the truth about our lives. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into the captivating tale of Yunha Kim. An immigrant who exceeded expectations, yet felt unfulfilled despite having every hallmark of success. From thriving in Wall Street's corridors to becoming a passionate entrepreneur, living with 5 workmate-roommates as they built from scratch. Yet, fulfillment evaded her until she combined tech and a personal challenge - her own battle with chronic insomnia.Today, we unpack Yunha's incredible journey, from the pressures of Shark Tank to becoming a beacon of change in the tech industry. Discover how she's not just building apps but impacting lives. You can find Yunha at: Website | Sleep Reset Instagram | Yunha's Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Brad Feld about the journey from finding your purpose to guiding people through founding companies to find their own purpose. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life will knock us down. But how we get back up defines us. Where do we find the resilience to face hardship? How do we transform struggle into meaning?Mark Nepo, spiritual teacher and bestselling author of The Book of Awakening, returns with his new book Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength, to share the winding path to inner strength. Having battled cancer and profound loss, Mark knows the value of falling with grace, mining obstacles for their hidden gifts, and holding nothing back. His gentle wisdom guides us to live courageously through life’s storms, embrace imperfection, and keep getting back up. Mark shows how every fall can lift us higher.You can find Mark at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Anne Lamott about embracing all parts of life.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colorado's new poet laureate Andrea Gibson takes the stage to illuminate and heal through raw, vulnerable spoken word poetry. A pioneering LGBTQ voice, Andrea discusses poetry's power, the courage growth requires, and their guiding ethos that authenticity matters more than suffering. Despite fear, their immersive performances resonate deeply, changing hearts and making listeners feel less alone. In recent years, they have been very public about their cancer journey, not to draw attention to their mortality, but to help others appreciate life's brevity and feel the urgent call to truly live. This stirring conversation reaffirms poetry's power to reveal our common humanity.You can find Andrea Gibson at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Morgan Harper Nichols about the power of language to connect people. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you make the right call when faced with high-stakes decisions?Shane Parrish devoted his career to decoding the art and science of decision-making after being overwhelmed with life-and-death choices in his 20s. Now, the founder of Farnam Street and acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller  Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results reveals his insights on how anyone can short-circuit defaults, see past blindspots, and set themselves up for success before big decisions arise.Shane’s techniques helped me understand my own thinking and how to refine it in a much more nuanced way. Learn how small tweaks to your approach can lead to extraordinary results.You can find Shane at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dan Pink about how time and timing affect our choices. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if chasing outer success still leaves us feeling empty inside? My guest Suneel Gupta can relate. After selling his startup, he realized achievements weren’t enough. Rediscovering the Hindu concept of dharma—expressing your essence through work—he found new purpose.In our conversation, Suneel shares insights from his book Everyday Dharma to reveal practical ways we can honor our inner fire through our daily work. How can we live with more meaning and purpose? Suneel shares abundant tools to help you discover and express your calling.You can find Suneel at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the solo episode I recorded about discovering what makes you come alive, what we call your Sparketype.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When was the last time you felt truly seen, flaws and all, without pretending or minimizing yourself? For many, those moments of radical self-acceptance are rare.Today we're sharing stories from three inspiring women - author Alex Elle, teacher Rosie Acosta, and poet Arielle Estoria - who have uncovered their truest selves after shedding layers of conditioning. Their profoundly personal journeys offer wisdom for us all. We explored what it takes to embrace who you are, not who you "should" be, and how sharing your unique light can help you find belonging. Their stories and words are infused with empathy, compassion, and generosity of spirit.My hope is this episode will spark self-reflection and help you reconnect with your authentic voice. Because when we can be radically seen and loved fully - that's when we glimpse our highest potential.Episode TranscriptYou can find Alex at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with AlexYou can find Rosie at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with RosieYou can find Arielle at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with ArielleCheck out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wonder what living a truly grounded, meaningful life looks like in our fast-paced world? My guest Jill Winger did too. Her journey into modern homesteading not only changed her life, it sparked a movement guiding thousands back to their roots. Jill shares why old-fashioned traditions like growing your own food and working with your hands reconnect us to what humans need. In her new book, Old-Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life she offers honest wisdom on seeking balance between rural living and reality, pushing through struggles to find beauty, and taking small steps to cultivate a slower, more joyful life - no matter where you live.You can find Jill at: Website | Instagram | Old Fashioned On Purpose podcast | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Natalie Baszile on the history and contribution of Black farmers in America. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Navigating the treacherous waters of conflict can feel overwhelming, but what if we could transform it into an opportunity? In today's episode, we explore:The Emotional Impact: Understand why conflict typically brings feelings of anxiety, fear, and rejection.The Variance of Conflict: Learn how disagreements may arise from small, personal matters to significant issues that impact our daily lives.Workplace Dynamics: Discover how conflict manifests in professional relationships between colleagues, teammates, leaders, and subordinates.A Fresh Perspective: Join us as we delve into alternative approaches to conflict, viewing it not as a challenge to avoid, but an opportunity for empathy, engagement, and satisfying resolution.Whether it's in business, personal relationships, or within a family, this episode provides new insights and tools to help you handle conflict with grace and confidence. Dive into this exciting and unique approach, and turn what could be a stressful experience into something truly positive.Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode: be sure to check out other solo episodes with Jonathan, easily organized HERE as a Spotify playlist.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you felt paralyzed facing unwanted change? My guest April Rinne provides hope. An acclaimed global leader and author of Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change, she shares research on reframing change as a tool for growth, not fear. April offers techniques to find belonging amidst uncertainty. She explains how environments of trust allow us to risk towards possibility and purpose. Rinne provides practical strategies to transform uncertainty into “intelligent change” - illuminating the path forward. If you’ve felt lost facing change, this conversation will empower you to turn life’s twists into gateways of resilience.You can find April at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Bessel van der Kolk, MD about paying attention to what your body is telling you during times of stress. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever pondered what could transpire if your creative spark truly ignited? Or what might emerge if you overcame inner fears and let your genuine talents gleam?Dive deep into these and more with the globally acclaimed author of Eat Pray Love, The Signature of All Things, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, and City of Girls, Elizabeth Gilbert. Delve into the fascinating realms of curiosity vs. passion, creativity's origin, and the barriers stopping you from realizing your life's purpose.Learn about the significance of self-care, resilience during life's tumults, and Liz's perspective on a fulfilling life.Be ready for unexpected turns, amusing moments, and a 40-year-old secret of Liz's unveiled!Tune in for this riveting "Best Of" chat. Maybe, just maybe, you'll muster the bravery to present your unique gifts to the world. Ready to awaken your creative spirit?You can find Elizabeth Gilbert at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Glennon Doyle about becoming untamed.  Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever felt isolated when your beliefs were challenged?Faced the sting of judgment in a world of polarized views?Questioned if there’s room for contrasting opinions without alienation?Dive into an enlightening conversation with Melissa Carter, Senior Director for Global Spiritual Life at NYU, as she:Challenges the fear of differing views.Shares techniques to bridge the gaps of misunderstanding.Explores "intelligent differences" and how they can unite us.Distinguishes between genuine harm and simple disagreement.Join us in this episode, as we unveil the transformative power of conflict and discover the potential for shared belonging. Let's learn to view opposition not as a threat but as a beacon towards mutual growth and understanding. Press play to chart your path from isolation to inclusivity.You can find Melissa at: Find Melissa Online Here | Instagram | Episode Transcript If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jonathan Haidt on happiness, morality, and hard conversations. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever been paralyzed by the fear of failing or judged by your mistakes? You're not alone. From school tests to career flops, we've all faced moments that shook our confidence. But what if failure is not an enemy but a stepping stone to success? My guest today, Amy Edmondson, is the Novartis Professor of Leadership at Harvard and author of the new book Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.🔍 Amy's 20+ years of research on transforming failure into a powerhouse of growth.🚀 Techniques to hurdle past setbacks and achieve your true potential.🧠 Dive deep into 'psychological safety' and why it's pivotal for risk-taking and innovation.🛠️ Turn your failures into 'intelligent failures' with practical strategies.You can find Amy at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Angela Duckworth, revealing the truth about the science and art of this thing called grit. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the secret to living longer wasn't just kale and spin class, but transforming your whole environment and community? After decoding longevity hotspots he introduced as the Blue Zones, Dan Buettner discovered their vitality ensues from ecosystems promoting natural movement, plant-based eating, purpose, community, and stress reduction. These universal experiences shape our ability to build deeply healthy lives, yet we rarely learn from those who've mastered the art - the world's most vigorous centenarians.I'm thrilled to share this myth-busting conversation to glean simple, enjoyable lessons on adding life to our years from the wisdom of history's most remarkable super-agers. Join me and Dan, author of The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer, as we sidestep pitfalls by infusing our lives and communities with insights from the globe's greatest teachers on living well past 100.You can find Dan at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with David A. Sinclair, Ph.D. offering a different and complimentary lab-based take on longevity. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us in unraveling the pressure cooker of modern achievement culture and discovering a healthier, happier definition of success with Jennifer Breheny Wallace. Her new book, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic – and What We Can Do About It, offers research-driven solutions drawn from interviews with families struggling to find balance amid our achievement-crazed culture.The Hidden Costs of Success: Dive deep into the toxic effects of the achievement-focused definition of success on our well-being and happiness.Raw Truth: The alarming rise of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse in today's youth across the spectrum: from the affluent to the underserved.Redefining Success: How can we balance our aspirations with well-being? Learn how to nurture resilience and deep connection in our families and communities.You can find Jennifer at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jessica Lahey around the gift of failure. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you constantly losing focus and wonder why you can't reel it back in? In today's special compilation episode, explore the enigmatic world of attention and focus, an issue we all grapple with in our fast-paced lives. Uncover insights that could transform the way you approach your daily tasks and long-term goals. Johann Hari's Odyssey: A revealing journey across America, unearthing the secret forces manipulating our attention.Gloria Mark's Studies: A neuroscientist's in-depth look at attention spans and habits, offering unprecedented insights.Gretchen Rubin's Tendencies: Explore the four tendencies that shape our response to expectations, aiding in harnessing attention and action.This episode will make you rethink how you engage with your surroundings and shed light on unseen patterns that determine how we focus. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by distractions, join us in exploring the groundbreaking perspectives shared in this episode. Dive in, take control, and spark new possibilities for your unique attention. Unlock the mysteries of your mind with insights that could change your life. Don't miss this enlightening exploration!Episode TranscriptYou can find Johann at: Instagram | Website | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with JohannYou can find Gloria at: Website | LinkedIn | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with GloriaYou can find Gretchen at: Website | Instagram | Happier with Gretchen Rubin - Podcast | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with GretchenCheck out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the universal struggle of life and discover the path to healing in this riveting episode with Minaa B., author of Owning Our Struggles: A Path to Healing and Finding Community in a Broken World. In our candid conversation, we delve into:The Dangers of Hiding Struggle: How pretending it doesn't exist only amplifies our pain.Healing through Inner Child Work: Learn how Minaa B. found resilience by tending to her wounded inner child, and why you should reconsider dismissing this concept.Community Care and Connection: The essential role of community in revealing, healing, and finding peace.Practical Strategies for Inner Wisdom: Tune into your inner compass and recalibrate your nervous system for a more balanced life.Don't miss this insightful episode that offers guidance on personal struggles and promotes a simpler, more connected way of living. If you ever felt overwhelmed and yearned for purpose, this episode is for you!You can find Minaa B. at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Alex Elle about healing & self-care. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the profound insights of belonging in our latest episode, where we unravel the enigma of connection with Sebene Selassie, author of You Belong: A Call for Connection. Dive into a conversation filled with self-discovery, love, and a universal sense of belonging:A Personal Journey: From feeling like a "big weirdo" in Washington, D.C. to a celebrated teacher and speaker, Selassie's unique story is an invitation to explore our own sense of belonging.An Inspiring Revelation: Learn how belonging starts within, and why knowing and connecting with ourselves is the first step to embracing the world.Ancient Wisdom & Modern Practices: Unlock the secrets of ancient traditions and contemporary contemplative practices that reconnect us to truths of belonging.Healing from Trauma: Explore the methods to unlock trauma from the body, creating space for grace and growth.This episode isn't just about fitting in; it's about cultivating a deeper sense of connection within ourselves and the world.You can find Sebene at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Rev. angel Kyodo williams about what we leave outside the room when we seek to fit in. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the transformative power of vulnerability and courage in this eye-opening episode with Dr. Brené Brown, renowned researcher, storyteller, and author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers. Our riveting conversation explores profound questions that can redefine your life and relationships:🌟 Daring to be Open: How does embracing our flaws and humanity unlock the life we desire?💪 Courage over Comfort: What doors can courage open that you never imagined?🧠 Understanding Vulnerability: With 60 million views, Brené's TED Talk on vulnerability has inspired many. Why is it so powerful?😢 Emotionally Stirring Dialogue: A conversation that moved both of us to tears and will likely inspire you as well.🌎 Relevance in Current Climate: The wisdom in this Best Of episode resonates even more today.Brené's relatable storytelling and insights on empathy, resilience, and living a "wholehearted life" will leave you profoundly changed. This isn't just an episode; it's an invitation to a life where owning our stories means owning our lives. Listen in and dare to be real, open, and seen.You can find Brené at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Gilbert about bringing your whole self to your life. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt torn between two paths, pulled by what others expect and what your heart truly desires? In this episode, I'm sharing the extraordinary journey of violinist Vijay Gupta, a man caught between the artistic fire of music and a passion for medicine.Imagine a world where a single chance meeting can redefine your destiny. It happened to Vijay, and it could happen to you.From Prodigy to Passion Project: Discover how Vijay's encounter with a mentor rekindled his love for music, and how LA's Skid Row inspired a new purpose.Finding Yourself in Unexpected Places: It's not easy to abandon a successful career, but sometimes the path to self-discovery leads us to unfamiliar territories.Embracing Destiny: Growing into your best self means embracing uncertainty and pursuing your passion, even when it defies expectations.For me, personally, Vijay's story is a profound reminder that we have the power to shape our destiny. Listen to this episode, and imagine if you could find your path by defying expectations and following your heart. Here's a tale of transformation that just might inspire your next big move.You can find Vijay at: Website | Street Symphony | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Seth Godin about reclaiming significance, especially in the context of the work we do in the world.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking to unravel the mysteries of sexual desire and its impact on living a fulfilled life? In this eye-opening episode, renowned neuroscientist Nicole Prause dives deep into the science of sexual motivation and how it influences our relationships and overall well-being.Understanding Sexual Desire: What is it? Why is it essential to our lives, and how is it changeable?Myth-busting and Research Insights: Nicole shares why differences in sexual desire are normal and introduces groundbreaking work on brain stimulation to change individual desire.Impact on Health: Discover how the neuroscience of orgasm can enhance pleasure, relationships, and physical and mental health, affecting everything from inflammation to sleep.Don't miss this engaging conversation that's not just about sex but about embracing an essential and healthy part of life. You can find Nicole at: Website | Twitter | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Vanessa Marin about how to have open and honest about sex.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Uncover a transformative conversation with Mesmin Destin, an award-winning researcher and professor. Of Haitian descent, Destin's journey from his modest beginnings in Nebraska to being honored by the American Psychological Association is a testament to resilience and exploration.🔹 Delve into the intriguing concept of "future identity" - the dynamic mental blueprints of our potential selves that can shape our motivations, behaviors, and success trajectories.🔹 Destin's research reveals how interactions, environments, and pivotal moments in our lives can either nourish or hinder the formation of our future identity.🔹 Revisit the dreams of your youth and learn how to awaken your latent talents, as we discuss how to cultivate the right circumstances and relationships to rediscover your hidden genius.Let Mesmin Destin guide you on a journey to rediscover your true potential, today on our podcast. Let's unlock the power of future identity together.You can find Mesmin at: Website | TEDxChicago Talk | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Anders Ericsson about excellence and expertise. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the power of your unique voice with our special compilation episode featuring exclusive insights from best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert, artist Lisa Congdon, and poet Morgan Harper Nichols. In this richly engaging dialogue:• We explore the life-changing journey of self-discovery, creativity, and expressing authenticity.• Hear how each of these iconic creatives navigated their paths, found their unique voices, and the impact they made in their respective fields.• Learn about common themes that arose from these conversations - invaluable for anyone on their own journey of self-expression.• Listen to a unique blend of wisdom, vulnerability, and inspiring personal stories that reveal universal truths about curiosity, openness, and owning one's own experience.Whether you're overcoming creative hurdles or just beginning to explore your potential, this episode promises to ignite new questions and possibilities. So join us as we delve into the depths of unique expression and identity. Find your voice, amplify your impact.Episode TranscriptYou can find Elizabeth Gilbert at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with ElizabethYou can find Morgan Harper Nichols at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with MorganYou can find Lisa at: Website | Instagram | The Lisa Congdon Sessions | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with LisaCheck out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into the profound exploration of life's most pressing questions with Matthew Croasmun, Yale lecturer and co-author of the instant New York Times bestseller, Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most. In this episode, we dissect:• What really matters most in life?• How can we discern what's worth wanting?• How to develop the wisdom to navigate life's challenges?We unravel Matthew's philosophy of living a life of love, alongside his provocative take on his life-transforming Yale course that 'just might ruin your life'. From dissecting fleeting pleasures to understanding profound purpose, this episode holds the key to unlocking a life that is truly worth living. Get ready for a journey of self-discovery and reflection!Perfect for those on the quest to live a richer, more meaningful life, don't miss this deep dive into understanding what makes a life flourish beyond superficial gains. Tune in!You can find Matthew at: Website | Life Worth Living | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Matthieu Ricard about the true source of contentment and happiness in life. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode uncovers a true tale of resilience, love, and hope as we delve into a deeply personal journey with author Steph Catudal, chronicled in her New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything All At Once. This riveting conversation explores:The terrifying moment when Steph's husband, Rivs, was admitted to the hospital with what appeared to be COVID-19, only to be diagnosed with the same rare cancer that claimed her father's life.The 84-day battle for survival that Rivs endured on life support, with the ever-present specter of a grim prognosis.Steph's struggle to provide hope for her young daughters while grappling with the reality of their father's condition.How she sought solace in writing and spirituality, discovering the power of vulnerability and the strength of human connection amid profound disruption.The role of suffering in opening up to love and the untapped potential of kindness and intuition when navigating life's most challenging times.Listen in as Steph reveals the tenacity and faith that fueled her fight for her husband's life and how dealing with loss alongside children can force us to face reality with unwavering honesty. Unveil the transformative power of adversity and learn how we can all find light in our darkest hours.You can find Steph at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Mark Nepo about moving through tender moments in life.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Tune in for an enriching conversation with Light Watkins, renowned spiritual minimalist who swapped his 2-bedroom LA apartment for a backpack and a nomadic lifestyle. Learn how to achieve more peace and freedom in your life, from the expert himself!• Dive into the concept of 'Spiritual Minimalism', exploring how it goes beyond just getting rid of material possessions.• Discover how inner happiness, stillness practices, and meditation can profoundly impact your day-to-day life.• Uncover the truth behind our attachment to the familiar, even when it doesn't fulfill us, and learn how to overcome this resistance.• Take a journey with Light as he shares stories and principles from his new book, Travel Light: Spiritual Minimalism to Live a More Fulfilled Life.Don't just declutter your living space; declutter your soul. It's time to travel light.You can find Light at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Sharon Salzberg about insight meditation and loving-kindness. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and creative wisdom with renowned branding guru and author, Debbie Millman. In her latest book, Why Design Matters: Conversations with the World’s Most Creative People she curates profound insights from global creative powerhouses.Here's what's in store:Hear from the co-founder of the first-ever graduate program in branding and past president of Sterling Brands, who has helped shape identities for giants like Burger King and Star Wars.Explore the interplay of design, branding, business, and life from one of Fast Company's most creative people in business.Learn how storytelling plays a key role in both personal and professional spheres, from someone who has contributed to The New York Times and Fast Company.Uncover the art of designing a fulfilling life of love, joy, and meaning.This episode is a must for anyone looking to infuse creativity into their life and work. Don't miss the chance to draw inspiration from a woman who's intimately shaped the world of design. Dive in now!You can find Debbie at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Milton Glaser about building a life of meaning and impact. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the power of a multi-passionate career in our latest podcast episode featuring Jason Mendelson, a creative dynamo who's seamlessly integrated a spectrum of pursuits into an inspiring, joy-filled journey.Key highlights include:Debunking the myth that success equals singular focus, and exploring how a diversified "portfolio of pursuits" can enhance career satisfaction.Jason's incredible journey from passionate musician to tech engineer, law practitioner, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, philanthropist, writer, and back to music again, a testament to the magic of diversified career-building.Insight into his latest book, How to Be a Lawyer: The Path from Law School to Success, a must-read that bridges the gap between academia and real-world legal practice.The remarkable comeback to music after a life-altering injury, illustrating that passion transcends obstacles, and even opens doors to other interests.Join us as we unpack Jason's 'yes, and' approach to career progression, and learn how intertwining multiple passions can lead to a fulfilling, joyful, and successful career. Tune in, get inspired, and rethink the way you perceive success.You can find Jason at: Website | Spotify | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Adam Grant on rethinking beliefs and the power of motivation and creativity at work.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply engaging episode, meet Kemi Nekvapil, an Australian transformational coach who's reshaping the definition of power. Raised in foster care, Kemi wrestled with a sense of powerlessness that only began to shift as she questioned the status quo as an adult. Now, she helps individuals in influential positions who often feel powerless within.Highlights of this episode include:💡Discovering Kemi's journey from feeling powerless to becoming a potent force of good in the world.💡Exploring her 5 principles for redefining power, built on inner strength rather than domination.💡Revealing how owning your stories and assumptions can lead you to a place of self-empowerment.💡Learning how to coexist in mutual empowerment, embracing equality and responsibility.💡Gaining insights from Kemi's new book, Power: A Woman’s Guide to Living and Leading Without ApologyJoin us as we dive deep into her transformative insights, illustrated by her compelling personal experiences. Tap into your inherent power and explore what it means to live and lead without apology. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to reclaim their power and live with purpose.You can find Kemi at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jadah Sellner about reimagining how you step into your life and building it around a center of love. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the transformative power of the most under-researched human emotion, awe, in this enlightening episode with Dacher Keltner, renowned psychology professor and author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.💡 Unearth the profound impact of awe on personal well-being and global change.💡 Understand how cultivating a sense of wonder can refresh your outlook and enhance your connection with the world.💡 Get a sneak peek into Dacher Keltner’s groundbreaking research spanning three decades, highlighting the untapped power of awe.💡 Learn about the tangible psychological and physiological benefits of awe from reduced stress to increased vitality.💡 Explore actionable ways to infuse awe into your daily routine for amplified well-being and human connection.This thought-provoking dialogue blends scientific evidence with personal experiences to redefine your understanding of emotions. It’s time to tap into the awe-inspiring power of awe.You can find Dacher at: Website | LinkedInIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jeffrey Davis about wonder.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for an eye-opening discussion with Dr. Anna Yusim, psychiatrist and author of Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life. We explore the intersection of science and spirituality, and how it guides us towards a richer, more fulfilling existence. Uncover the power of authenticity, interconnectedness, and intuition in shaping your life beyond the laboratory's limitations. Prepare to challenge your perspectives and redefine what a truly good life means.You can find Anna at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Lisa Miller, Ph.D. about the awakened brain.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover the compelling link between mental health and metabolic dysfunction with Harvard psychiatrist, Dr. Chris Palmer and author of the book Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health--and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More.After years of treating patients, he stumbled upon a paradigm shift - a schizophrenia patient's symptoms went into remission with a ketogenic diet, pushing him toward the metabolic roots of mental health. Could mental illnesses be metabolic disorders caused by dysfunctional mitochondria in the brain? Join us to explore this revolutionary breakthrough, blending diet, lifestyle changes and metabolic interventions, and how it can redefine treatment for millions globally suffering from mental disorders.You can find Chris at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Aviva Romm, MD about how hormones control health, and what we can do about it.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by tasks, where even simple work feels impossible? You may wonder if you've lost your enthusiasm and capabilities. You could be experiencing burnout.I know burnout's crushing weight firsthand. But I've discovered unconventional ways to reclaim joy and efficacy if we experiment with fresh strategies.In this episode, we'll explore techniques to reawaken that spirit within you that burnout has dimmed. We'll uncover how to reignite your joy, once you let go of burnout's grip. It starts by cultivating the courage to push past what's not working and reclaim your spark.Discover the Work That Makes You Come Alive | Take the AssessmentYou can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.If you LOVED this episode:Be sure to check out our entire Summer Series, which you can find easily organized as a Spotify playlist as they are released each week.7 Days to Unlock Your Best Sleep | Dr. Aric PratherNedra Glover Tawwab | Better Boundaries, Better LifeTerri Cole | Let’s Talk About BoundariesCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Esteemed therapist Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, in her new book Sisterhood Heals: The Transformative Power of Healing in Community, emphasizes the healing power of community to combat feelings of isolation. She discusses creating safe, vulnerable spaces and the importance of platonic relationships for genuine understanding and support. Join us as we delve into themes of loneliness, sisterhood, group dynamics, and the unexpected origins of deep connections.You can find Joy at: Website | Instagram | Therapy for Black Girls podcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Kat Vellos about making adult friendships.Check out our offerings & partners: canMy New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever received criticism that left you confused and defensive, wondering what you could do better? How often have you felt personal attacks masquerading as helpful feedback? These experiences are all too common, leaving us questioning our self-worth and abilities.Today's episode explores how we can navigate criticism in a way that fosters growth instead of damage. Listen as we explore the psychological effects of criticism, debunk the myths surrounding it, and share strategies to make it a catalyst for positive change within your life and work.You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.If you LOVED this episode:Be sure to check out our entire Summer Series, which you can find easily organized as a Spotify playlist as they are released each week.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent years have impacted our mental and physical health significantly. We are constantly faced with unsettling moments that leave a lasting impact, often unnoticed but affecting us all. The question is, how do we address this? My guest this week is renowned trauma researcher, psychiatrist, and author, Bessel van der Kolk, known for his New York Times bestseller, The Body Keeps the Score. In 1984, Bessel established one of the first centers in the US for traumatic stress research and treatment, pioneering the study of trauma's effects on the brain. His work gave rise to the Trauma Research Foundation, created new treatment models, studied neurofeedback and MDMA's effects, and facilitated numerous trainings across the nation.You can find Bessel at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ellen Hendrickson about social anxiety.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all have those moments, maybe even days, months, years, some of us, maybe even decades of our lives where our minds just won't stop racing. We get caught up in this whirlwind of thoughts and anxieties, wary stories, just rehashing the past, forecasting the future, and all too often imagining these worst-case stories or scenarios and we just can't let them go.Yes, we are talking about overthinking, and today we are going to unravel this interesting, complicated, sometimes messy mental pattern and share with you a set of science-back strategies, a sort of an overthinking ultimate toolkit to help you stop overthinking and start taking action to become more present in your life. More focused on what matters, more engaged with those around you because you are not spinning those things in your head and just perpetuate, overthinking.And you may be surprised at just how much control you do have over this process and how powerful and fairly quick to implement some of the tools we'll share are. So that is where we're headed today in this second installment of our Good Life summer series where every Monday we take on a single topic that is critical to a life well lived, to dive into ideas, the issues, the practical impact, science, art, and then explore strategies, tips, and tools to navigate these experiences with more grace and ease.You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.If you LOVED this episode:Be sure to check out our entire Summer Series, which you can find easily organized as a Spotify playlist as they are released each week.You’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Aric Prather about transforming your sleep in just seven days.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What turns an insult into inspiration? How can you transform struggle into meaning and purpose? Today we'll discover how one man did just that through what was, for him, and the many doubters around him, a very unlikely path.Martinus Evans had a tough childhood on the east side of Detroit. Football gave him hope, but an injury steered him towards a sedentary lifestyle. A harsh doctor's comment inspired him to embark on a transformative journey, one that would shockingly turn him from an overweight patient to a passionate runner. Defying stereotypes, he finished his first marathon and started the "Slow AF" movement after being mocked during a race. This brand fostered a worldwide community - the Slow AF Run Club. Now an international marathoner, he has collaborated with leading fitness brands like Adidas, Nike, and Oakley, and appeared on the cover of Runner's World magazine. His journey is encapsulated in his new book, Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run. For Martinus, running has become intertwined with his purpose, identity, and sense of meaning - transforming struggle into something that helps feed his family, travel the world, and overcome hardship.You can find Martinus at: Website | InstagramTW: thoughts & mentions of suicideIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with artist Lisa Congdon about her thinking that she just wasn't made for a particular pursuit, but then stepping into it and realizing it was not only her passion but would end up being her purpose and profession. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've all experienced that magical feeling of something we've longed for becoming real - a creative project finally coming together, a new relationship blossoming, achieving a health goal we never thought possible.But have you ever wondered how those seemingly "impossible" things actually happen? What mix of vision, persistence, luck and effort makes dreams into realities?In this illuminating exploration, we aim at one of today's most controversial and widely discussed phenomena: manifestation and the law of attraction. You'll learn surprising historical roots that stretch back centuries across cultures. You'll discover real psychological and physiological mechanisms that play a crucial role - and what actual research says about goal achievement and motivation.New possibilities emerge when we understand ourselves and the world more deeply. And through this wide-ranging yet practical discussion, you just may find a new way of thinking about - and actually making - the impossible possible in your own life.You'll walk away with a modern, science-backed approach to visualization, goal-setting and psychological strategies that can truly transform your ability to pursue and achieve big dreams. Whether you're skeptical of "mumbo jumbo" concepts like manifestation or a firm believer in its power, you'll gain insights and tools to push past what once seemed impossible into powerful and purposeful action.So join me as we uncover the stories, secrets and science behind how "impossible" dreams actually become our realities - through mixing vision and grit, determination and grace, science and spirit. Let's embark on a journey into the fascinating yet practical stories of how humans make the impossible possible.If you LOVED this episode be sure to check out our entire Summer Series, which you can find easily organized as a Spotify playlist as they are released each week.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sex and relationship expert Vanessa Marin discusses the taboo nature of discussing sex and how it can lead to unmet needs and dissatisfaction in relationships. Her new book, Sex Talks: The Five Conversations That Will Transform Your Love Life, provides practical exercises and dialogue prompts to improve communication around intimacy, breaking down shame and stigma. Through open discussions on touchy subjects and setting rituals for intimacy, Marin believes couples can foster deeper connection, igniting intimacy and enhancing their love lives.Many people struggle to openly discuss sex due to shame and stigma.Open communication about sex and intimacy is important for a healthy relationship.Vanessa recommends five core conversations: acknowledgment, connection, desire, pleasure, and exploration.She provides practical methods to make these conversations easier.Rituals like makeout routines can create intimacy Understanding one's desires, boundaries, and pleasures enables satisfying communication.Giving positive feedback during sex helps partners figure out each other's pleasures.Scheduling sex demonstrates priorities but reframing as "planning" can help.You can find Vanessa at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Eli Finkel about the self-actualized marriage.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.Conflicts are inevitable in long-term relationships. But often we argue in ways that push our partners away instead of resolving issues.Dr. Stan Tatkin, a marriage and family therapist who has spent decades working with couples and training practitioners to improve communication in relationships believes there is a better way for partners to weather conflicts and emerge closer. His new book, In Each Other’s Care: A Guide to the Most Common Relationship Conflicts and How to Work Through Them offers strategies grounded in neurobiology and years of clinical experience.When disagreements arise, primal instincts trigger 'fight or flight', making us defend ourselves instead of understanding each other. But with awareness and new strategies, partners can shift this dynamic. As Stan says, we can learn to "work problems, not each other", regulate emotions, consider interests equally, and prioritize the relationship.We'll discuss Dr. Tatkin's approach for navigating conflicts productively. His insights may save your next argument and reveal how you can grow closer through challenges together.You can find Stan at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Julie and John Gottman about deepening long-term relationships.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.Ever wish you had the courage to try something entirely new? To create something that didn’t exist before? Even if you’re already successful at your career, and you enjoy much of it? Sometimes we just feel this call to try on something new. That’s one of the big ideas we dive into with award-winning journalist and podcaster Manoush Zomorodi. • Manoush had success at NPR but later started her own company and podcast, showing it's never too late to try something new.• Manoush recommends side passions or "garden plots" that let you experiment freely, fueling your main work with energy and excitement.• We discuss the rapid impact of technology on identity, creativity and relationships, and how to harness change instead of just surviving it.• Manoush believes in laughing at life's absurdity, being proud of getting older, and taking action instead of waiting on others to live a good life.• The conversation covers big ideas, passions and perspectives on living well from Manoush's viewpoint as an award-winning journalist.Join us as we dive into big ideas, passions and living well with award-winning journalist Manoush Zomorodi.You can find Manoush at: Website | ZigZag PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Kevin Kelly about excellent advice for living.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.Beyond money, what truly matters is meaning and purpose - feeling like your work and life make a difference. Studies show significance is key to satisfaction.Yet workplaces often keep us from these feelings. Seth Godin explores how to transform work into a source of fulfillment and purpose.Seth has inspired many through his insights on work culture, leadership and spreading ideas. His latest book, The Song of Significance serves as a manifesto for creating a more human-centric workplace.We discuss:Embracing change as the new normalReimagining the workplace to enroll, empower and trust everyoneHow the past few years have trained us to embrace changeThe importance of taking responsibility for meaningful workRediscovering the value of human connection at workThis is a must-listen for anyone seeking a more purpose-driven approach to work. Seth's book can help transform workplaces and create an environment where everyone can do their best work.You can find Seth at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love my January episode, featuring the Sparketypes and how to better align your work with who you are, in order to experience more meaning, purpose, and possibility.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.Have you ever felt stuck in any part of your life? Trapped in a soul-sucking job, an unfulfilling relationship, a health, fitness or performance plateau, or a creative rut? What if there was a way to tap scientifically-validated principles to get unstuck, break free from the invisible forces holding you back and unleash your full potential? What if you could literally engineer breakthroughs? Turns out, you can.Adam Alter joins us to discuss his new book Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most, which explores the often unavoidable experience of feeling stuck - whether it's a relationship, career, or health issue - and what we can do to turn stuckness into breakthrough. Adam shares strategies and mindset shifts to get unstuck and how simplifying and experimenting can ultimately help us make progress.Stuckness is an inevitable part of the human experience, especially for long-term goals that have a lull period in the middle. We become fixated on the end goal and overlook the journey.When stuck, people feel anxious, confused, isolated, and like their struggles are unique even though stuckness is universal. It leads to a flailing response that doesn't help.The first step is managing emotions by taking down the pressure and slowing down. Only then can you start to think strategically about how to move forward.Hitting plateaus is natural due to the plateau effect - constant methods become less effective over time. Anticipating plateaus and chunking large goals into smaller ones helps navigate through them.Failure is also inevitable but we have different cultural baggage around failure depending on the domain. The key is to reframe failure as learning rather than a stain on your character.Conducting a "friction audit" - identifying and removing obstacles - can reduce stuckness, especially if done periodically.Simplicity trumps complexity when stuck - focus on the 1-2 most important factors that will make the biggest difference now.Experimentation, exploration, and luck also play a role in breakthroughs. Being more exploratory increases serendipity.Surrounding yourself with different types of people, including those who challenge you, can enrich your life.You can find Adam at: Website | TwitterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love my January episode on the power of success scaffolding to achieve incredible visions.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.Born in 1989 Ukraine with extensive physical challenges, missing bones and parts of limbs, muscle,s and organ tissue due to in-utero radiation poisoning from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Oksana Masters was left to fend for herself in an orphanage. The world was stacked against her, and the conditions in the three orphanages she endured were, as she described, truly brutal. But, she refused to give up.Then, at age 7, she’d find herself adopted by a single, American mom, whose own years-long journey to bring Oksana home is its own astonishing story. The simple fact that she survived is remarkable. But, she didn’t just survive, once in her home, enduring multiple additional surgeries and amputations, her indomitable spirit refused to let anyone tell her what she could or could not do. And, nearly a decade later, she’d end up stunning not just her mom, and the local community, but the entire world, becoming the United States' most decorated winter Paralympic or Olympic athlete, taking home seventeen medals in four different sports. She has since been featured everywhere from Sports Illustrated to The New York Times and has written a powerful memoir, The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph, that recounts her astonishing journey from the shadow of Chernobyl to the world's biggest stages. In today’s deeply moving and inspiring conversation, you'll discover:How an unwavering spirit can conquer the most daunting physical challenges.The power of love, support, and perseverance in overcoming trauma and adversity.The importance of embracing your unique differences and using them to your advantage.What it takes to excel in not just one, but four different sports on the world stage.The life-changing impact of a single decision to never give up.And so much more.Join us as we explore the extraordinary life of Oksana Masters, and learn how she turned her greatest challenges into her most exceptional victories. How she became unstoppable, and showed the world what was possible. You can find Oksana at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Kyle Bryant about how to transform challenges into action.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.What if you could transform your sleep in just seven days? What if the key to unlocking your best rest lies within a simple yet powerful prescription, tailored by one of the world's leading sleep experts? What if sleep didn’t have to be something you struggle with and, instead, could become a powerful and friendly ally? Well, that’s exactly where we’re heading into today’s conversation as we open your eyes to the wonders of sleep and help you finally experience the restorative snooze time you've been craving.My guest today is Dr. Aric Prather, a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. In his new book, The Sleep Prescription: Seven Days to Unlocking Your Best Rest, Aric shares the powerful solutions he uses to help patients at his clinic achieve healing and restorative sleep. In this conversation, you'll discover things like:How your internal clock plays a crucial role in your sleep qualityThe importance of sleep transition and the activities that can help you wind down effectivelyThe surprising impact of blue light exposure on melatonin production, and the myths around itWhy it's essential to create a "shrine to sleep" and the consequences of not doing soHow to retrain your brain for better sleep through innovative techniquesWhy you might want to focus more on wake times than bedtimesAnd so much more.Don't miss this opportunity to gain insight into the mysteries of sleep and unlock the keys to your best rest. Join us as we explore the groundbreaking work of Dr. Aric Prather and learn how you can transform your sleep in just seven days.You can find Aric at: Website | TwitterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Light Watkins about finding calm wherever you are.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.These last few years have tested our boundaries on nearly every level. Work, friendship, family, community, geography, politics, religion, social issues, love, and well-being. It’s like we’re being asked to draw lines, all day, every day. Question is, how? How do you create and uphold boundaries that are clear, healthy, and constructive, while also acknowledging the nuance, kindness, and understanding this moment demands? Well, my guest today, Nedra Glover Tawwab, can help. A licensed therapist and sought-after relationship expert, she has practiced relationship therapy for 12 years and is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Kaleidoscope Counseling. Every day she helps people create healthy relationships by teaching them how to implement boundaries. Her philosophy is that a lack of boundaries and assertiveness underlie most relationship issues, and her gift is helping people create healthy relationships with themselves and others. Nedra is also the author of the New York Times Bestselling book, Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself, and The Set Boundaries Workbook: Practical Exercises for Understanding Your Needs and Setting Healthy Limits.You can find Nedra at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Terri Cole, who brings a beautifully complementary lens to the critical exploration of boundaries.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.Could Your Smartphone Be Destroying Your Focus? Have our attention spans, will power, mood and productivity just become hopelessly derailed for life? Answer is, it depends. What we do about our rapidly-diminishing attention and its effect on our work, lives, health, and relationships is mission-critical. In today's world, we're constantly bombarded by digital distractions. From emails and social media notifications to the constant buzzing of our smartphones, our attention spans are dwindling to an average of 46 seconds on a screen, before our attention flitters off to something or someone else. But what if the key to regaining control over your focus lies not only in your own habits but also in the way you interact with your devices? Our guest today is Gloria Mark whose new book, Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity reveals surprising results from her decades of research into how technology affects our attention and how we can take control, not only to find more success in our careers, but also to find health and wellness in our everyday lives.In this intriguing conversation, you'll discover:The alarming effect of digital multitasking on our ability to focus and the implications for our mental health.The power of mindfulness practices in helping to combat digital distractions and build a stronger attention muscle.How the "future self" concept can be utilized to motivate ourselves to stay on task and resist the temptation of digital distractions.Simple yet effective environmental changes, such as turning off notifications, can make a significant difference in our ability to concentrate.The importance of deep, meaningful connections with others in living a fulfilling and creative life.You can find Gloria at: Website | LinkedInIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Johann Hari on how to reclaim focus.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.You’ve heard about it everywhere, but what does AI have to do, if anything, with living a good life? With how you live and work and play? With the choices you get to make, and the choices that might be taken from you? With the ability to do more of what you love and less of everything else? And, beyond AI, what are some of the big levers to live by? The simple bits of wisdom that actually have a giant impact on everything from work to play, love to health and beyond? These are just some of the big questions and ideas I’m exploring with none other than truly visionary thinker, Kevin Kelly. Kevin has played a pivotal role in shaping the discourse around technology and its potential impact on society for decades. His latest book, Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier is an ideal companion for anyone seeking to navigate life with grace and creativity.In today's episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of emergent technologies, with a focus on AI, and get to some both exciting and unsettling, but important truths (or at least guesses), unearthing some the most groundbreaking ideas and insights that promise to redefine the very fabric of our existence. And we also dive into some of the fun, surprising and wise and, in his words, excellent bits of advice for living. You can find Kevin at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Parker Palmer about what really matters in life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have a magical way with words, effortlessly connecting with others, inspiring change, being able to share ideas in a way that seems to bypass defenses, be wildly persuasive and lead to action and impact? What IS it that lets them do it? In today's fund and surprising conversation with Jonah Berger, we delve into the fascinating world of language, persuasion, and ethics, and reveal the secrets to harnessing the power of what my guest calls “magic words” in your everyday life.Jonah is a world-renowned expert on natural language processing, change, word of mouth, influence, consumer behavior, and why things catch on. His latest book, Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way, provides a powerful toolkit and actionable techniques around the science of language and how you can use it to change minds, engage audiences, and drive action.In today’s conversation, we explore the incredible ways in which language can impact our lives, relationships, and influence, including:The concept of "linguistic chameleons" and how adjusting your language can create stronger connections with others.The power of emotional language to hold attention, evoke curiosity and inspire action.How sharing vulnerabilities and failures can foster a sense of camaraderie, empowering others to persist in their endeavors.The importance of understanding similarities and differences in language, and the potential to drive creativity and cultural shifts.You can find Jonah at: Website | TwitterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Zoe Chance about ethical persuasion.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We want to hear from YOU! Take our survey.Ever notice how, increasingly, spirituality, and especially, religion, have become these loaded terms? Let alone concepts. But, does that have to be the case? What might a new lens or approach on spirituality and faith look like? One steeped in openness, kindness, inclusivity, service, compassion and beyond? That is where we’re headed today in this deep and nuanced conversation with my guest, Rainn Wilson. Now, before you even ask, you may be wondering, “Isn’t he the three-time Emmy-nominated actor who portrayed Dwight Schrute on NBC's The Office?” And, the answer would be yes. But what you may not know is that Rainn has been traveling, examining, and deeply studying both his own Baha'i tradition, as well as nearly every other religious and spiritual tradition for more than 50 years. He is no stranger to deep, meaningful conversations. His latest book, Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution explores the harmony between personal transformation service and the future of religion and spirituality. And, that’s exactly where he headed in today’s deep, rich, wise, and kind conversation.You can find Rainn at: Instagram | TwitterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Matthew McConaughey about the pursuit of meaning, joy and expression in life.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered what sets successful people apart, and how they stay motivated to achieve their goals? What if you could discover the secrets to maximizing your own motivation and achieving the success you desire? In today's podcast, we delve into the surprising science of motivation and accomplishment, uncovering powerful strategies to help you conquer challenges and propel yourself toward your dreams with my guest, Emily Balcetis.Emily is an Associate Professor of Psychology and the director of the New York University Social Perception Action and Motivation research lab. Described as a pioneer in the scientific investigation of behavioral science and motivation, she leads an international team of scholars, writers, artists, and advocates. Her research has uncovered previously unknown strategies that increase, sustain, and direct people's efforts to meet their goals. As a TED speaker and author of Clearer, Closer, Better: How Successful People See the World, she has become one of the most sought-after voices on motivation science in the world.During this conversation, you'll learn:How our perception of the world shapes our motivation and, in turn, our success.The surprising strategies successful people use to sustain and direct their efforts.The role of self-compassion in overcoming setbacks and maintaining motivation.How to unlock your own inner resources to achieve your personal and professional goals.You can find Emily at: Psychology Today | LinkedInIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Lewis Howes about the mindset that propels greatness.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m fascinated by the idea of snap decisions, how some can lead to amazing outcomes, and others can destroy lives. What you so often find is that nothing actually happens in a moment, there is no real snap, but rather a series of experiences leading up to it, often years in the making, were as much authors of the moment as the instance itself. And, sometimes, when those moments lead to something you’ll regret for a lifetime, you get to the next question - what is recoverable - redeemable - how do you make that happen, and who gets to write the story of your reclamation? This is the powerful thru line of my conversation with Shaka Senghor, New York Times bestselling author of Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison. He took another young man’s life at the age of 19, served the next two decades in prison, 7 in solitary, and through a series of awakenings, began to unwind the pieces of his life and begin the process of understanding, reassembling and eventually redemption. His latest book, Letters to the Sons of Society: A Father's Invitation to Love, Honesty, and Freedom invites men everywhere on a journey of honesty and healing through this book of moving letters to his sons. So excited to share this 'Best of' conversation with you today.You can find Shaka at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Father Greg Boyle and Fabian Debora about the power of redemption and expression.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if there was a secret pathway that could dramatically expand the level of joy, creativity, pleasure, and connection you experienced in life, no matter what was happening? Turns out, there is, and that path takes us through the land of our five senses, but in ways you never thought about or imagined. In today's captivating conversation with my dear friend, Gretchen Rubin, one of today’s most influential observers of happiness and human nature, we dive into the untapped potential of the 5 senses to dramatically enhance our lives. Gretchen reveals how engaging with our senses in novel, playful ways can bring us moments of joy, even during difficult times. You'll discover the essential role our senses play in connecting with ourselves and the world around us. We explore how tuning into these powerful tools can foster stronger relationships, increase creativity, pleasure and joy, and lead to more mindful, satisfying experiences, all based on her new book, Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World.You'll learn:The concept of a "Five Senses Journal" to heighten your self-awareness and unlock personal insights.How tapping into your senses can foster stronger relationships, resolve conflicts, and boost empathy.The transformative power of sensory experiences in stimulating creativity, productivity, and mental well-being.How to harness your senses for meditation, relaxation, or simply having fun in your everyday life.The vital role our senses play in creating meaningful memories and fostering a greater sense of well-being.Join us as we uncover the hidden power of our senses, and embark on a sensory journey that will inspire you to live a more fulfilled and joyous life.You can find Gretchen at: Website | Instagram | Happier with Gretchen Rubin - PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Gretchen about The Four Tendencies or how we meet our own expectations.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like you’ve got so much more potential inside you, but you have no idea how to unlock it and share it with the world? If so, you’re not alone. And it’s a question that today’s guest, rocket scientist turned award-winning professor and bestselling author, Ozan Varol, takes us into. How can we unleash our hidden genius, that magical set of capabilities that lies within every person? And, how do we even know what our is, let alone how to release it into the world?In this thought-provoking podcast, we'll dive into the art of embracing curiosity, letting go of our past and future, and stepping into the unknown. His newest book, Awaken Your Genius, explores how to identify and share the magic that lies within all of us.We explore:How the power of curiosity can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and help you overcome fear.The importance of looking where others don't to find unique perspectives and uncover hidden gems.The role of repetition in creating false confidence and the value of exploring different sources of information.The remarkable story of Jimmy Breslin, a journalist who found success by stepping away from the norm.How Ozan experimented with potential futures before finding his true calling and the importance of approaching life with the mindset of a curious scientist.You can find Ozan at: Website | Purchase the Book & Get a Special Free BonusIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ozan three years ago about how to think like a rocket scientist to solve big problems.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like the only one in the room? That uneasy feeling of being different, isolated, or misunderstood, having to perform to a norm that is entirely misaligned with who you are can be jarring. But what if those moments of feeling out of place are actually the key to unlocking a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us? Welcome to a groundbreaking episode where we dive deep into the unseen divide with our guest, Laura Cathcart Robbins.Laura Cathcart Robbins is an accomplished author, freelance writer, speaker, and host of the popular podcast The Only One in the Room. Her new memoir, Stash: My Life in Hiding is about the journey to sobriety and self-love amidst addiction, privilege, racism, and self-sabotage. In this episode, we dive into:The powerful role of vulnerability, honesty, and openness in fostering genuine connections, breaking down barriers, and coming home to yourself.How so many of us try to cope with stress, overwhelm, or differences by turning to unhealthy behaviors, even addiction, and how these need not be lifelong conditions.How comparing your suffering to others often only piles on, rather than eases the pain.An unusual take on redefining and rebuilding relationships after life-altering events, like divorce, addiction, and recovery.The importance of including diverse voices in educational and communal spaces and beyond.You can find Laura at: Website | Instagram | The Only One In The Room PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Rich Roll about his journey through addiction and awakening.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The science is crystal clear, deep, genuine, healthy and enduring relationships are at the center of a well-lived life. But, so often, it’s the long-term intimate partnerships that we take most for granted or give least attentiveness to. Just assuming they’ll keep on keeping on. Until they don’t. So how DO you keep your relationship with someone you hope to be a life partner not just alive, but truly rich and flourishing and nourishing and joyful? Especially over a period of years or, if you’re fortunate enough, decades? What’s the secret to maintaining passion and connection throughout the years?That’s where we’re headed in this eye-opening conversation with professor Eli Finkel, as we dive deep into the world of romantic relationships. Eli is the author of the bestselling book The All-Or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work.You'll discover:The surprising impact of engaging in exciting, out-of-the-ordinary activities on relationship satisfaction and passion.How to distinguish between activities that foster closeness and those that reignite desire.The unexpected benefits of breaking out of routines and embracing new challenges together.And, lots more. During our conversation, we delve into the intricacies of maintaining passion in long-term relationships, discussing the importance of novelty, and exploring the potential benefits of breaking out of routines in the aftermath of the pandemic. Eli shares valuable insights on how couples can be deliberate about rebooting their relationships and resetting priorities, all while creating meaningful connections and lasting memories.You can find Eli at: Website | TwitterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Julie and John Gottman about love and marriage.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of our core values and beliefs here at Good Life Project is that every human being, regardless of how they identify, love, practice, or live is endowed with dignity and worth, and is entitled to be treated through this lens. We also believe that every person can learn from any person, especially those who they perceive as being different from them. It’s a big part of the reason we’re always seeking to share a rich tapestry of voices on the podcast. The moment we close ourselves off to those we perceive as other, whether from fear, lack of knowledge or lived experience, we close ourselves off to a part of ourselves and of life that could have made our days so much richer. And, we shrink our worlds and lives along the way.So, as we head into this year’s Trans Day of Visibility, we wanted to share a selection of moments, ideas and awakening from a few deeply-moving conversations we’ve had over the years with some incredible, big-hearted, and wise humans who also happen to identify as transgender, and have chosen to make it their life’s work to step into conversation with others to share their experience. Not just of being transgender, but also of moving through a world that often misunderstands, labels, and ostracizes on a level that leads to injustice, rising at times to violence and suffering. These conversations aren’t just about transgender life, though, they’re about life, the way we choose to relate to each other, hear and see each other, acknowledge our shared humanity, and choose to either expand our horizons and our lives, or contract both. So excited to share this Best Of episode featuring Imara Jones and Trystan Reese. You can find Imara Jones at: Website | Instagram | TransLash Podcast | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with ImaraYou can find Trystan Reese at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with TrystanCheck out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We live in a world of near-constant distraction, making it harder and harder to focus, to be present and attentive in the activities, goals, pursuit and even relationships that mean the most to us. And, so often, the solution offered to reclaim focus are the same old tired things we hear, over and over again.So, today, in the next installment of our Life-changing Habits series, we’re exploring 7 unconventional, more secret-weapon-level, science-backed habits that can help you stay focused, be less distracted, and truly be present in the moment. These unconventional but incredibly powerful habits can transform the way you interact with the world and the people that really matter. And, pretty safe bet you either haven’t heard of them or tried them, or if you have, you never had them teed up in the context of improving focus, along with specific direction, and the science behind how and why they work. So excited to share these 5 life-changing focus-building habits with you. Submit a voice memo of your 5 Good Life Habits.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the other episodes in this series:5 Life-Changing Habits5 Life-Changing Relationship Habits5 Life-Changing Holiday Survival Habits Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like you're living a life that isn't truly yours? Maybe you long to uncover the most authentic version of yourself, the one that’s laid hidden beneath layers of expectations and societal norms? Or, maybe you ever feel trapped in a never-ending cycle of change and growth without ever really getting where you want to be or feeling the way you want to feel. What if I told you that there's a process to the feeling of emergence, a journey to be embraced? And that it was steeped not in rigidity or force, but in poetry and grace.In today’s conversation, interwoven with live, spoken word performances, poet, spoken word phenom, author, actor, and artist, Arielle Estoria, guides us through a journey she calls The Unfolding, which is also the title of her new book - a beautiful collection of poems, essays, and meditations that guide us through this transformative process.She shares her personal experiences of pain and growth, and reveals how we can all learn to embrace a process of Unfolding, of coming home to ourselves, in our own lives. And, along the way, she also recites some beautiful, deeply-evocative poems that I know you won’t want to miss.You can find Arielle at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Cleo Wade about life, love and expression.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if there was a game-changing relationship practice or tool or strategy that was capable of not only transforming your personal relationships, even the really tense one, but also your relationship with yourself, and even with the way to respond to others, even complete strangers, and embrace shaping the world to be a better place? Turns out, there just might be. And, this is where we’re headed today with my guest, Rick Hanson. As a psychologist, best-selling author, and expert on positive neuroplasticity, Rick has lectured at some of the world's top institutions and is here to share his insights on how to warm your heart, see the person behind the eyes, and ultimately shape the world to be a better place.TW: brief mention of suicidal thoughtsYou can find Rick at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about the practice of compassion and acceptance.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you living your best life? It's a question we've all asked ourselves, but have you considered the role that global exploration and cultural immersion can play in answering it? In a world that's more connected than ever before, it's crucial to look beyond the immediate confines of our communities and explore the richness of other cultures. And what better way to do that than by studying abroad? In this special sponsored episode, we partner with the StudyUK campaign which is part of the UK Government's wider Great campaign for Britain and Northern Ireland to explore the benefits of studying in the UK, from finances to application processes and everything in between. Join us as we sit down with Raquel Villanueva, a broadcast journalism veteran who is currently a commentator and video producer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to discover the transformative impact studying abroad can have on our lives and careers.You can find more information on studying abroad in the UK at: British Council - StudyUK websiteYou can find Raquel at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Pico Iyer about the power of travel as a tool for learning and connecting.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My first exposure to Anne Lamott’s work was her iconic book, Bird By Bird, which as a writer, was transformative. Not just because it helped me better understand how and why to write, but also because her wonderfully wise and irreverent voice inspired me to be more real, more honest in both my work and my life. I’ve remained captivated by her writing ever since. The author of too many The New York Times bestsellers, including Almost Everything; Hallelujah Anyway; Small Victories; Stitches; Help, Thanks, Wow; and her most recent Dusk Night Dawn, Anne goes places other fear to tread with such humility, humor and craft, it’s like you’ve been invited into her mind, her life and her ability to draw belly laughs, deep wisdom and hits of awakening from those often tiny moments that touch down in our lives that so many of us miss. She reminds you, it may not be fun while it’s happening, but it’s all part of the beautiful souffle of life and every ingredient matters. So excited to share this best-of conversation with you now.You can find Anne at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Glennon Doyle about living more authentically and untamed.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, you think you’re making good decisions, but are you really? And, what about the hidden scripts and noisy inputs that affect nearly every decision you make, without you being aware of any of it? How do we make better decisions?Today's guest can help. Daniel Kahneman is one of the most influential psychologists and thinkers in modern history, his ideas have literally changed the way we live, work, relate, see the world, make decisions, and build solutions, organizations, industries, societies, and lives. Best known for his remarkable work with Amos Tversky, which explores how we reason and make decisions, his research was, in no small way, seminal in the creation of the field of behavioral economics. He’s been awarded the Nobel Prize, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His New York Times best-selling book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, has sold more than seven million copies worldwide. And his most recent book, Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment, explores how unrecognized, systemic influences affect our decisions in ways, both rational and not, that remain completely hidden to us and often lead to profound unfairness and inequality. We talk about key ideas from his research spanning more than 6 decades. But, we also dive deep into the life experiences that shaped him. Fascinatingly, Kahmeman’s curiosity about humans and all our complexities was sparked as a young Jew living with his family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, and running for years, before fleeing. His sometimes harrowing experiences triggered questions and curiosities that powerfully influenced what would become a lifelong devotion to understand why we do the things we do.We explore those early experiences, and he shares where some of the seeds were first planted that would later grow into the body of research and work that have changed the world. You can find Daniel at: Princeton University | The Nobel PrizeIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Charles Duhigg about how unknown influences and habit and ritual effect our behavior.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you tired of feeling like you’re powerless against your cravings, no matter how much you try to resist them? From unhealthy, yet irresistible snacks to binge-TV, we often feel helpless against the biochemical storm happening inside our bodies and brains that lure us into behaviors we know are not healthy or life-enhancing, yet, still, we keep saying yes to them. Thinking, “I’m better than this,” or trying to tap willpower isn’t enough. We need to understand what’s really happening and learn how to harness our physiology for good.Today's episode is going to change everything you thought you knew about cravings. To help guide us through this exploration, is double board-certified doctor and wellness expert specializing in food allergies, hormones and gut health, Amy Shah, MD. Building on the ideas from her new book, I’m So Effing Hungry: Why We Crave What We Crave – and What to Do About It, Amy takes us deep into the world of cravings, what they really are and are not, how they co-opt your body’s systems, and she even reveals how companies use this knowledge to manipulate our cravings and how we can take back control of our brains, and lives. So get ready to rewire your brain and discover natural ways to get that dopamine fix that will keep you motivated and focused on your goals. You can find Amy at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Aviva Romm, MD about how to work with our hormones to live better lives.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you hear the term “greatness,” what do you think? For most people, images of world-class athletes, innovators, performers, leaders or industry or arts come to mind. The best of the best in any field. Those who push harder than anyone and everyone else and succeed on a scale most can only dream of. But, what if that’s not actually greatness at all? What if greatness was more about how you show up in your life, and lead with service and humanity? That’s the argument that my dear friend, New York Times best-selling author, keynote speaker, industry-leading show host, and former pro-athlete, Lewis Howes, makes. "Greatness,” according to Lewis, “is about service to other people in the pursuit of your dreams, making sure that everyone else wins around you while you're winning and empowering people around you while you grow and succeed."He believes that success alone will not bring joy, but we must also fulfill our inner peace, free ourselves emotionally and mentally, and have clarity on what direction we want to go in. Only then can we live our highest version of ourselves and be the best version of ourselves. Many of these ideas are detailed in his new book, The Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today. We dive into key elements in a powerful and revealing way in today’s conversation.You can find Lewis at: Website | The School of Greatness podcast | The Daily Motivation podcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Chase Jarvis about reimagining success.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever had a moment or experience, maybe even an entire season of life that was so hard, so filled with struggle and, maybe even, grief, loss and uncertainty, that the very idea of feeling or accessing any kind of big or meaningful or sustained happiness or joy just completely left you? Yeah, we’ve all been there on some level. But, what if, even in those moments where the big happy, or the big joy just isn’t accessible, there was still a way to dip into fleeting moments of lightness, or what my dear friend and guest today, Cyndie Spiegel, calls microjoys? One that gives you just enough of a glimmer of hope and connection, ease and maybe even laughter, that it keeps you going long enough to begin to emerge back into a state of more sustained spaciousness and possibility?Cyndie is a beloved storyteller-turned-writer and an igniter of power conversation whose new book, Microjoys: Finding Hope (Especially) When Life Is Not Okay, is a revelation. She first began holding on to what she calls microjoys during a devastating season that saw her mom pass from cancer, her nephew murdered, her brother struggling to recover from a stroke, and her own diagnosis of cancer, all while navigating a global pandemic. That’s what we’re diving into today, both the notion of microjoys, along with myriad ways to access these moments and experiences. You can find Cyndie at: Website | Dear Grown Ass Women | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ocean Vuong about navigating struggle and making peace with his story.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed or helpless in the face of anxiety? Like the more you try to manage it, the more out of control it becomes? Maybe it’s in social situations where you’re surrounded by new people or work situations where it’s so easy to start spinning about everything from how you’ll be perceived to what happens if you stumble. Or, maybe it's just about the state of your life, relationships, family, community, or even the world. If that’s you, you're not alone. But, what if anxiety was actually just a particular type of energy that could be transformed into something akin to a superpower? This is the bold idea offered by my guest today, Professor Wendy Suzuki. Her latest book, Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion, explores how to use anxiety as a superpower. Wendy is passionate about helping people understand the phenomenon of anxiety and how to reframe it in order to lead a more fulfilling life and offers science-based strategies to help us turn the volume down on our anxiety responses. You can find Dr. Wendy at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jud Brewer about unwinding anxiety.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many times have you said yes to something, started it, gotten halfway through, then either been distracted, run out of time, energy, money, ideas, motivation, or all the above? And, just kind of walk away, leaving something that could’ve been amazing unfinished? Never getting the chance to back in the I DID THAT glow of accomplishment and tell everyone around you, “hey, I DID that!” And, yes, I’m raising my hand here.And, what about being able to do what’s important without it also taking over your life, and leaving you living reactively? Wouldn’t it be cool if there were ways, strategies, tools, processes and technology that could dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to get things done, so you could have so much more free time to do all the other stuff you love to do? Including absolutely nothing at all? These are the questions we’re diving into in today’s special spotlight conversation featuring conversations with Start Finishing author, Charlie Gilkey, and Free Time author, Jenny Blake. How do I not only choose and start but also finish what really matters? And, while you’re at it, how can I reimagine the way I work to create a ton more free time to do anything that lights me up? You can find Charlie Gilkey at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with CharlieYou can find Jenny Blake at: Website | Free Time Podcast | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with JennyIf you LOVED this episode you'll love the conversation we had with Chip Conley about reimagining what you center in your life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cole Arthur Riley grew up in a house full of loud, funny, and loving personalities, but as a kid, she kept her voice from others, barely speaking at all until she was 7 years old. Still, her dad kept finding ways to, as she described, bribe her to share her voice and nurture her creative impulse, often in writing, from poems to stories and beyond. Over time, as her expressive and creative voice took shape, her lens on spirituality also yearned for a more expansive expression, she began to bring all parts of her life together - the creative impulse, life experience, sense of identity and fairness and spiritual inclination - to write her own blended prayer-meets-poetry, modern liturgies. Then, she started sharing them on Instagram under the moniker, Black Liturgies. Almost immediately, the project took off, growing into a global phenomenon. Her work then led to Cole’s debut book and New York Times bestseller, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us, which explores some of the most urgent questions of life, identity, and faith: How can spirituality not silence the body, but instead allow it to come alive? How do we honor, lament, and heal from the stories we inherit? How can we find peace in a world overtaken with dislocation, noise, and unrest? In this stunning work, Cole invites us to descend into our own stories, examine our capacity to rest, wonder, joy, rage, and repair, and find that our humanity is not an enemy to faith but evidence of it. And we talk about all of it in today’s conversation. Her journey, her wisdom, the incredible response of the community, and more.You can find Cole at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Alex Elle about how to heal.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you were, unknowingly being controlled by unresolved pain from your past, even minor, or momentary experiences, ones that took root and, from that moment on, without you having any idea, limited everything from your relationships to your health, work, wealth, and life? We all encounter unresolved pain from our past, or what my guest today, New York therapist and author of the new book The Origins of You: How Breaking Family Patterns Can Liberate the Way We Live and Love, Vienna Pharaon, calls origin wounds. But most of us don't realize they’re even there, so we just keep repeating patterns that lead to unhappiness, having no idea what’s really stopping us from feeling more connected and alive. Even if we do recognize them, understanding and dealing with them can be a difficult and intimidating process. I love how practical, strategic, and tool-oriented Vienna is in her approach. I opened my eyes to such much, maybe it’ll do the same for you.You can find Vienna at: Website | Instagram | “What’s Your Origin Wound” quizIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Bessel van der Kolk about resolving trauma.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wonder if entrepreneurship is for you? Whether starting a personal business like coaching or consulting, building around an idea, platform, technology or product, teaching others what you know, either in person or through books, courses and talks, heading out on your own, blazing your own path can be scary. And, this is especially true if you’re walking away from a job with a nice salary, benefits, and some sense of security. Even more so if your resources are limited.But, does it have to be that scary or risky? What can we do to, first, understand if this path is right for us and, second, set ourselves up for success? Not just in building a flourishing business, but also in crafting a life you love? These are the questions we’re exploring today with my long-time friend, Amy Porterfield.Now 14 years in, having helped tens of thousands of people, Amy has built an extraordinarily successful company with a full team and many offerings, and produces a top-ranked podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy. She’s become a true champion, and also a leading voice on how to make the transition into entrepreneurship. In her new book, Two Weeks Notice: Find the Courage to Quit Your Job, Make More Money, Work Where You Want, and Change the World, Amy dives into her journey, then walks you through a detailed process to envision, validate, and build your own, low-risk, easy-on-the-psyche business. And, we dive deep into it all in today’s conversation.You can find Amy at: Website | Instagram | Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield podcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Lisa Congdon about transitioning from full-time work to building a successful career in the arts.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if paradise was real? But, instead of searching and traveling a journey to the far ends of the earth to find it, you could touch it at any moment, in any place, no matter how amazing or awful the setting or circumstance. And what if paradise or peace is something completely different than this all-perfect place or feeling a lot of us believe it to be? What if that feeling we so yearn to experience, is here and now, dead center in our lives of complexity and paradox? And, we just had to know what to do to feel it?Today's guest, Pico Iyer, has spent much of his life searching, living, and listening for insight and answers to life's big questions. A full-time writer and essayist since 1982, Pico's insightfulness and quest for meaning have led him to places and people all across the world. From Iran to North Korea, from the Dalai Lama’s Himalayas to the ghostly temples of Japan. He has shared his travels and lessons learned in his 15 books on subjects ranging from the Dalai Lama to globalism and the Cuban Revolution to Islamic mysticism. In our conversation, Pico and I dive deeper into his story and the events in his life that have led him to some powerful revelations that he shares in his latest book, The Half-Known Life: In Search of Paradise. We talk about some key ideas that make up a good life of peace, happiness and meaning. Pico opens up about the losses, opportunities, and, often, paradoxical feelings and experiences that helped him find paradise here on Earth. You can find Pico at: WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Robert Thurman about meaning, Buddhism, and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 CodesPeloton: Access high-energy workouts, instantly. Discover Peloton: streaming fitness classes to you live and on-demand. New Members who choose monthly billing get a 30-day free trial, or choose annual billing and get 12 months of Membership for the price of 10. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How might your life be different if you’d gotten comfortable saying no in your earliest days? No to other people’s opinions about everything from education to careers to relationships. No to someone else telling you what to prioritize and how to spend your time. No to people you’ve never met offering their opinion on what you should or shouldn’t do, then tell you how they think your choice worked out.How would your life be different, if you’d gotten okay with choosing for you, and not just for acceptance or obligation? And, how might you reclaim it, if you started getting clear on when and what to say yes or no to from this moment on? And, rid yourself of the need to please? That’s what we’re diving into with today’s guest, Natalie Lue, as a self-proclaimed recovering people pleaser who's spent the past nearly two decades unwinding the need to please and reclaiming freedom and ease. Natalie is a writer, speaker, podcaster, artist, and founder of one of the longest-running personal-growth websites in the world, Baggage Reclaim and The Baggage Reclaim Sessions podcast, and author of the new book, The Joy of Saying No: A Simple Plan to Stop People Pleasing, Reclaim Boundaries, and Say Yes to the Life You Want. In our conversation, Natalie opens up about her struggles with people-pleasing, something we all know about and have experienced to some degree. We talk about the life events that brought Natalie back to herself, back to reclaiming her boundaries and life, and we get into some of the nitty-gritty of what it looks like to say yes to the life you want and how to embrace the joy of saying no. You can find Natalie at: Website | Instagram | The Baggage Reclaim Sessions podcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan Piver about the Enneagram and how it helps us relate to others and also set boundaries.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you didn’t have to keep everything bottled up? Or show up a certain way? Or deny what you’re going through or feeling? What if you could just sit with it, feel it fully, then find a way to not only release it, but turn those feelings, thoughts, and emotions into something that went out into the world and moved people to feel and connect and love and laugh, too?This is the work, the world, and life of New York City designer, illustrator, muralist, and author, Timothy Goodman. Surviving early life trauma, losing himself to drugs, getting arrested, and barely graduating high school, a chance encounter with a boss who’d become a mentor rekindled a passion for art and expression that had been seeded by the example of his grandma decades earlier. He was smitten with design, storytelling, and art and poured himself into it, eventually finding his way to New York City, studying at SVA, and knowing in his bones, this would be his home for life. Over the years, he’s built a stunning career. His new book, I Always Think It's Forever: A Love Story Set in Paris as Told by an Unreliable but Earnest Narrator, takes us into his exploration of love, blending poignant stories, insights and awakenings with vibrant joyful illustrations. And his body of work openly explores Timothy’s own mental health challenges and concern about the state of the world, sometimes centering both in his work. You can find Timothy at: Website | Instagram | TwitterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jason Naylor about the sweet spot between art, commerce and impact.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 CodesPeloton: Access high-energy workouts, instantly. Discover Peloton: streaming fitness classes to you live and on-demand. New Members who choose monthly billing get a 30-day free trial, or choose annual billing and get 12 months of Membership for the price of 10. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you get through each day, let alone build a meaningful, connected and rewarding career when rapid-fire, constant change, groundlessness, unrelenting pace, overwhelm, and even workplace toxicity have become the norm?That’s where we’re headed with my guest today, Gabriella Rosen Kellerman. Her new book, Tomorrowmind: Thriving at Work—Now and in an Uncertain Future which was co-authored with renowned psychologist Martin Seligman, also known as the father of positive psychology, offers critical insights for facing a wildly fluctuating, seemingly perpetually unstable future of work. And in our conversation today, we explore a bit of Gabriella's background and her own trajectory in her career before diving into five science-backed strategies or workplace superpowers that can help us all thrive at work. From resilience to building rapid rapport at work, there's a lot of great insight to learn here.You can find Gabriella at: Website | LinkedInIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with DJ DiDonna about professional sabbaticals.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 CodesPeloton: Work out anytime, anywhere with the Peloton App. New Members who choose monthly billing get a 30-day free trial, or choose annual billing and get 12 months of Membership for the price of 10. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world that seems to be constantly in motion, it can be difficult to find calm. Whether it's the never-ending stream of news notifications on our phones or the constant pressure to be doing, it can feel like we're always on the go. But it is possible to find calm amidst the chaos. Here are 7 ways to do just that.You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Find All Of The Episodes In This Series:How to Succeed at Anything Worth Doing | 2023 KickstartA Simple Model for a Really Good Life | 2023 KickstartWhat Should I Do With My Life? Start Here | Kickstart 2023Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you weren’t paying attention to your health before the last few years, you are now. Question is, what should we actually be paying attention to? And, are there major things, early or even real-time indicators that could tell us how our day-to-day choices are affecting everything from our energy to level of pain, inflammation, fatigue, mental health and risk of chronic illness or life-altering disease, but that most of us are missing? These are the questions I pose to today’s guest, Dr. Casey Means, as we explore the world of metabolic and mitochondrial health and how technology is now becoming available on more of a mass scale that can help us reclaim control over so many aspects of our immediate and long-term wellbeing. And even guide our behavioral choices, from food to movement to meditation in real-time. And, I also share my own experience running my own, personal experiments with this emerging tech.You can find Casey at: Levels Website | Casey's Instagram | Levels InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Aviva Romm about hormones, well-being, and the struggles of modern healthcare.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should I do with my life? How can we actually make different choices that just might let us figure out what to devote our working lives to in a way that is more likely to make us come alive than empty us out in a way that will maybe for the first time ever satisfy our need? Not just for security and stability, which is an important need, but for meaning and purpose and energy and excitement and joy and beyond. And how do we make those choices and take action in a way that also doesn't lead to unwittingly repeating the same patterns that got us here, or even regretting what we've chosen and done? How do we craft our work lives to better reflect who we are and what makes us come alive? That's what we're diving into in today's special Kickstart Your Life episode.Discover The Work That Makes You Come Alive - Take the Sparketype™ AssessmentYou can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Find All Of The Episodes In This Series:How to Succeed at Anything Worth Doing | 2023 KickstartA Simple Model for a Really Good Life | 2023 KickstartCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the key to living a good life is actually a lot closer than we all realize? Whether you're a long-time listener of the podcast or this is your first time tuning in, I bet some part of you is searching for the answers to living a good, meaningful life. You've probably wondered what the keys to happiness or good health, or fortune are. In our last episode, I shared a simple model for a really good life that I call the Good Life Buckets. If you haven’t listened, be sure to tee that up next. Today, we’re diving even deeper into the role that relationships and people play in our ability to feel human, to feel alive, and to flourish in all parts of life with a very special guest, someone passionate about uncovering and sharing the keys to living a good life, Dr. Robert Waldinger. He's a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the longest-running study on human flourishing ever conducted, now spanning over 80 years. The insights that have come out of it are profound, and also, for many, surprising, especially in the context of the importance of relationships on our ability to be happy, no matter what else comes our way.Bob is also the co-author of the book The Good Life: Lessons From the World's Longest Scientific Study on Happiness, and I'm excited to dive deeper today into some of the insights shared in his book. In this conversation, Dr. Waldinger reveals some myths about happiness and living a good life that some of us cling to, what the data says actually matters and what doesn’t, and how to invest more effectively in the pursuit of happiness. You can find Robert at: Website| LinkedIn | TED TalkIf you LOVED this episode: you’ll also love last week’s episode about a simple model for a really good life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So as we all step into this year together, there's a big question that I think is on everybody's mind. And that question is, "What does it actually take to live a good Life?" Is it about health or wealth, friendship love, passion, purpose? Or are there things that really matter that are fairly simple to cultivate, no matter your circumstance, but that most of us completely miss? And maybe most importantly, what can we do? How much is actually in our control? And does that vary from person to person or even within one person's life from moment to moment, month to month, season to season? No matter who you are, what you do or what life brings your way, the question of what it means to live a good life, it resonates at the core of every single one of us. No matter our circumstances to feel more alive and connected to feel like whatever version of our best life is possible, we have found a way to access it on some level. And we have a sense of agency and co-creation in it.And for over a decade now, I have been granted rare access to a global collective of luminaries in every industry and circumstance imaginable. From renowned scientists and leading voices in everything from spirituality, and philosophy, to art, to innovators, change makers in industries, psychology, health, mental health, relationships, education activism, CEOs and founders, painters, writers, Oscar-winning actors, iconic musicians have populated the quest and the list of teachers for me and people that have turned around and shared with you. And what I have added to that is many decades of my own countless personal experiments and experience ranging from studying and teaching, yoga and meditation to my own meditation and breathwork deep dives to having the incredible blessing of teaching tens of thousands of students and human beings from around the world. Building many intentional businesses and communities and experiences focused around collective elevation. And over time, this deceptively simple, yet powerful model for a life well live emerged and I call it the Good Life Buckets. And this simple Good Life Bucket model remains as valid as robust as powerful as ever. So get ready to dive into the Good Life Buckets with the new 2023 lens on how to tap this model to build your best life possible.You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Links Mentioned:5 Life-Changing Relationship HabitsArthur Aron's 36 QuestionsGood Life Project Bucket QuizSparketype™ QuizFind All Of The Episodes In This Series:How to Succeed at Anything Worth Doing | 2023 KickstartCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to be time-poor? We've all heard the old phrase, "time is money," usually in the context of work and productivity. But, time isn’t just about money, it’s about happiness, health, and life. How we use it and feel like we have enough of it, is everything. Time is precious and, it is also our one nonrenewable resource. When a dollar is spent, you can earn another. When a day is gone, it’s gone for life.So, how can we move forward, making sure that we live more intentionally and spend our time wisely so we won't have regrets in the end? My guest today, Cassie Holmes, has done incredible research on making the most of the world's most precious resource, time, and I'm excited to tackle these big questions and ideas in this important and timely conversation with her today. Her new book, Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most, gives readers the blueprint to reframing their time and overcoming time poverty. And in our chat today, you'll hear us dive deeper into this notion of having too much to do and too little time, how to distinguish between what matters and what doesn't when it comes to our time, and what to consider and do if you want to lead a more intentional, happier life — which I'm sure that's all of us.You can find Cassie at: Website | LinkedInIf you LOVED this episode: you’ll also love the conversations we had with Tim Ferriss about being present and intentional in life.Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if this was the year you actually did the thing that you have dreamed of doing, the thing that's been in the back of your mind for months or years, maybe even decades? The thing that when you think about it, your whole body responds - exhilarated in part, energized. You can feel it in your heart. And if you're being honest, maybe along with that tingling of excitement, there's even a touch of fear and doubt.If it's even remotely inspiring or appealing and motivating, this very special episode is for you. If you're ready, but if you're not even sure where to begin, this episode is for you. It's the first in our January Kickstart Your Life Series, and the focus is on a very powerful framework that I have been developing and testing, using and refining for years that I call Success Scaffolding.I am going to walk you through the 8 critical elements that are immensely powerful, unlock keys and guideposts that'll let you - maybe for the first time ever feel so much more confident and have a real actionable roadmap to finally do that thing that you have yearned to do. This framework will help you get there and keep you inspired and supported along the way. I have shared success scaffolding before, but over the years, I keep kind of refining it and tweaking it and tuning and optimizing, making necessary updates. And even if you've heard me talk about it before you've changed, the world has changed, and no doubt your personal circumstances have evolved. So listen in with fresh ears. My greatest hope is that it serves as a template for you to do and be and make real whatever it is that inspires you. Not someday, but starting today.You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 CodesTalkspace: Online Counseling Via Text, Audio, Or Video Messaging. At Any Time, From Anywhere. Get $100 off of your first month with Talkspace when you use the code GOOD. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com. Peloton: Try Peloton risk-free with a 30-day home trial. New members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at onepeloton.com/home-trial. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we bring this year to a close, we wanted to reflect on human beings. Stories. Kindness. Love. And connection. And, more than anything, you. Our community.Stories that allow us to see more of the goodness in each other, how we’re all human, doing the best we can. Stories that remind us all that people are good, they can be kind even to total strangers in ways we never imagined. And, today, to close out this long-strange trip of a year, we wanted to share some of these curating stories, specifically from a collection of community stories we love to call The Hug.Each story shares a moment or experience where a little bit of kindness, a little bit of sweetness, and just maybe a little bit of lightness and laughter touched into the storyteller’s life, and reminded them how good people can be. I feel like we all need a little bit of that right now. So sit back and enjoy these stories. And, maybe, find a little space to rediscover your own tender heart along the way. End of the day, that’s really what it’s all about. See you in 2023.You can find our storytellers at:Marsha Shandur: Instagram | WebsiteYvonne Ator: WebsiteIN-Q: Instagram | WebsiteDan Stones: Wildfire note on TwitterJana Langford: Instagram | WebsiteGabra Zackman: InstagramRick Charlie: FacebookSusan Piver: InstagramErin Moon: Instagram | WebsiteCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 CodesYou Need a Budget: Your money doesn’t have to be messy. Get a handle on your personal finances by budgeting with YNAB—a proven method and budgeting app that gives you real results. Try You Need a Budget free for 34-days (no credit card required) at YNAB.com/GOODLIFE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re in a moment where more people are awakening to the reality that there is no such thing as a universal experience. Especially in the world of work. And often, some blend of our identities, history, biases, gender, race, age, ability, and more play into whether any given experience feels welcoming and filled with dignity and possibility, or exclusionary and layered with inequity and intolerance.And, the thing is, it’s not up to the person being harmed or excluded to dim their light and make everyone else feel comfortable, it’s up to all of us to enter into the conversation in an open, respectful, generous and generative way, and explore how to create cultures where everyone feels at peace, at home, and able to flourish. That's where we're headed today with my guest and friend, Deborah Owens, whose own story has shaped her mission to ensure that every Person of Color is fully supported and equipped for both the opportunities and challenges in the corporate arena through her consulting company Corporate Alley Cat. We explore her family's legacy of social justice before diving into the unique—yet, familiar—experiences and challenges she faced as a young Black woman finding her voice in corporate America and the lessons she's learned since on reclaiming her power, and how you can contribute to the conversation and solution.You can find Deborah at: Website | LinkedIn | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ruth King about equality, advocacy, and mindfulness.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 CodesYou Need a Budget: Your money doesn’t have to be messy. Get a handle on your personal finances by budgeting with YNAB—a proven method and budgeting app that gives you real results. Try You Need a Budget free for 34-days (no credit card required) at YNAB.com/GOODLIFE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, what might happen if you let go of what you thought your life would or should be, and created the space to let it show you what it truly yearns to be? Then, followed that thread. That’s been the experience of today’s guest, Parker Palmer. Graduating Berkley with a Ph.D. in ‘69, he thought he’d head into the world of academia but instead found himself heading to DC to become an activist and community organizer for 5 years. But, something else began to call him, and he took what he thought would be a short sojourn to a Quaker learning community that turned into 11 years. Over time, a new sense of calling emerged as a writer, speaker and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. In this deeply-moving conversation, Parker shares this journey and many of insights, as well as how three seasons of profound depression have shaped his experience of life, and lens on people, compassion, belonging and beyond.You can find Parker at: Website | FacebookIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Mark Nepo about following your own path.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 CodesPlanta: Individual care schedule and reminders for your plants, recommendations, step-by-step guides, identification, light meter and more. Keep your plants alive with Planta! Download the Planta App today, use code goodlife20 and get 20% OFF. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you’re in your darkest hour, dealing with tough circumstances that don’t seem to have an end in sight, it can be easy to lose hope. And, have those around you give up on you, even abandon you. But, in today’s powerful conversation, you’ll discover how two people, from profoundly different walks of life, found each other and not only transformed their own lives, but also the lives of so many around them.Father Greg Boyle has become known to millions as the Jesuit priest who asked to be placed in a neighborhood in LA deeply affected by poverty, surrounded by gangs and unbearable violence, where he’d eventually found Homeboy Industries, which has since become the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry program in the world.Along the way, Fabian Debora found his way to Homeboy. A gang member, addicted, and formerly incarcerated, he lived a brutal life, at one point, becoming so despondent, he came close to taking his own life. All the while, Fabian had the soul, impulse, and wisdom of an artist that he kept trying to express. Fabian started creating stunning, large-scale paintings that reflected everything he’d experienced, and would eventually partner with Father Greg to become Executive Director of the Homebody Art Academy.They’ve partnered on a new book, Forgive Everyone, Everything. It is a powerful collection of Fr. Greg’s most poignant writings and Fabian’s stunning art, making this book a modern-day devotional that will provoke and inspire readers.You can find Father Greg at: Website | InstagramYou can find Fabian at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Mike Han about the power of artistic expression as a source of impact and connection.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 CodesPlanta: Individual care schedule and reminders for your plants, recommendations, step-by-step guides, identification, light meter and more. Keep your plants alive with Planta! Download the Planta App today, use code goodlife20 and get 20% OFF. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If a magic pill existed that could transform the health of your brain and keep it from aging as you got older, would you take it? We all know that as we age, so does our brain. And with it comes some less-than-favorable effects on cognitive functions like memory, focus, and productivity that might leave you wishing for your more youthful days. But what if there was a way to make our brains more age-proof and less prone to signs of aging like memory loss or even dementia? My guest today, Dr. Milstein has conducted research on topics including cancer biology and neuroscience, and his work has been published in multiple scientific journals. His new book, The Age-Proof Brain: New Strategies to Improve Memory, Protect Immunity, and Fight Off Dementia, reveals the secrets to improving brain function, and in today's episode, he joins me to share some of those brain-boosting strategies discussed in his book, debunks common misinformation about the aging brain, and even lay out the red flags to look out for as you grow older. You can find Marc at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode: you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Aviva Romm about how to work with your hormones to optimize health and longevity.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesSolo Stove: Use promo code GLP at SoloStove.com for an extra $10 off.BetterHelp: Good Life Project is sponsored by BetterHelp. Learn more and save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/GoodLifeProjectThe Lazy Genius Podcast: Part systems expert, part permission giver, Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius, is here to help you be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't. Check out The Lazy Genius Podcast now wherever you get your podcasts.Air Doctor: The AirDoctor air purifier features patented UltraHEPAR technology that is proven and tested to remove airborne particles as small as 0.003 in size. Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code GOODLIFE and, depending on the model, you’ll receive up to 35% off.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chip Conley shares how the early seed of an idea around the deep wisdom and value and sharing, learning and potential for profound, intergenerational contribution led to the creation of what’s now become a global institution call the Modern Elder Academy with campuses in Baja Mexico and New Mexico, and programming that is building community and changing lives in amazing ways. By the way if you’re wondering why Chip's name might sound familiar, beyond earlier appearances on Good Life Project, he’s also a New York Times bestselling author, the hospitality maverick who first built and sold a boutique hotel chain, flatlined on stage while keynoting, then reclaimed and reimagined his life, stepping into help Airbnb's founders turn their fast-growing tech start-up into a global hospitality brand, all before founding the Modern Elder Academy. If you’re in a moment where you’re really thinking about what you want the next season of work and life and contribution to look and feel like, this is a don’t-miss episode.You can find Chip at: Modern Elder Academy | Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Robert Thurman about life, spirituality and contribution.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesSolo Stove: Make more backyard memories with solo stove's award-winning fire pits, stoves, & grills. Use promo code GLP  at SoloStove.com for an extra $10 off their already great prices.BetterHelp: Good Life Project is sponsored by BetterHelp. Learn more and save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/GoodLifeProjectThe Lazy Genius Podcast: Part systems expert, part permission giver, Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius, is here to help you be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't. Check out The Lazy Genius Podcast now wherever you get your podcasts. Air Doctor: The AirDoctor air purifier features patented UltraHEPAR technology that is proven and tested to remove airborne particles as small as 0.003 in size. AirDoctor comes with a no questions asked, 30-day money-back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping. So head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code GOODLIFE and, depending on the model, you’ll receive up to 35% off.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So today is a little bit of a different episode for you. As I sit here recording this, I have just returned from a month-long creative sabbatical. I never believed something like this could be possible for someone like me until something happened earlier in this year that inspired me to really test that assumption and eventually prove me wildly wrong. I'm coming back with some experiences, some awakenings, some reality checks, and learnings that I wanted to share with you today. Today we're going to dive into just what happened, what I learned, and how you might consider creating your own version of an extended, deeply generative, regenerating, renewing and awakening leave. So excited to share these experiences and insights with you.If you LOVED this episode: you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jenny Blake where the possibility of a creative sabbatical for me was planted and the conversation with DJ DiDonna about the research around how to take a life-changing break.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codeseharmony: eharmony is the first platform to use a proprietary matching system we developed to match you with highly compatible singles. So if you're ready to move past the swipe grind, join the dating app that helps people find the most authentic relationships and see for yourself. Start a conversation on eharmony today! Download the eharmony app now.The Unmistakable Creative Podcast: The Unmistakable creative podcast provides timeless wisdom, practical insights and candid conversations with insanely interesting people from every field. Listen to The Unmistakable Creative Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s a weird statement, my friend, Neil Pasricha, is simultaneously one of the free-est, and also most rules-based and systematized humans I know. He’s got a system or ritual or set of rules for just about everything from how many nights a month he can be away from his family - that’s written into his signed family contract by the way - to what he does the first two minutes of every day to how and we he can hang out with friends, wander the streets in solitude, workout. Even the very thing that exploded him into the public consciousness about a decade ago, his wildly-popular blog about tiny pleasures and awesome things, was pre-designed around a countdown from 1,000 to 1 day. You might think this would make life feel rigid, boxed in, devoid of freedom and room to play. But, for Neil, it’s the exact opposite. All these systems and rules and rituals and routines remove so much decision-making burden it’s like he has tons more time to actually just do the things he loves and that make him smile. And that includes everything from playing with his wife and kids to traveling, speaking, writing a series of blockbuster books and more.His new book - Our Book of Awesome: A Celebration of the Small Joys That Bring Us Together, for the first time ever, invites hundreds, actually, it might even be thousands of people into his writing and sharing and community-building process to share awesome things from people’s lives, large gobsmacking to short, sweet and funny, from all over the world.It’s a wonderful read that I highly recommend, and today we’re diving deep into Neil’s compelling take on saying yes to systems as a way to bring more freedom and joy and space into your life and then inviting the community to share in both the awesomeness and the process of creation.You can find Neil at: Website | Instagram | 3 Books PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan Cain about the creative power of bittersweetness.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodeseharmonyThe Unmistakable Creative Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever realized how often you think without really thinking? Jessica is an award-winning author and science writer known for expertly blending rigorous science with compassionate humanity. With degrees in physics from Harvard and poetry from the University of Wisconsin, Jessica is deeply engaged with connecting across differences to expand and heal the human experience, and her debut book, The End Of Bias: A Beginning, is the culmination of fifteen years of reporting and writing on bias and discrimination and how to solve it. The book, which offers readers hope and direction on how to change their biased behavior, was named a Best Book of the Year by the World Economic Forum, Greater Good, AARP, and INC, and in our conversation today, we dive deeper into some of the fascinating ideas and research presented in her book. Jessica and I go back in time, and she walks me through some key moments in her life and career that led to her research into these hidden scripts and preferences, what they are, where they come from, how they affect us and offers ideas on how we can realistically examine and change the way we think about and treat others to create more meaningful and compassionate connections with the people around us. You can find Jessica at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Zoe Chance about how social dynamics and language influence our decisions.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesPeloton: Get up to $200 off accessories like cycling shoes, heart rate monitors, and more when you purchase a Peloton Bike, Bike+ or Tread and up to $100 off accessories with the purchase of a Peloton Guide to take your workout to the next level. Get this offer before it ends on December 25th. Visit onepeloton.com All Access Membership separate. Offer ends December 25. Cannot be combined with other offers. See additional terms at onepeloton.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we head into the final month of the year, which for many has been a year of re-emergence and reimagining, there’s never been a more important time to reconnect with our own inner creativity. And, by the way, this is even more important if you’re someone who, maybe, has never even considered themselves all that creative, or in any way skilled at it. But, now, it’s not just about our work or hobbies or passions, we need to find new ways to turn our creative impulse loose on life, itself. That process of reimagining, of stepping into a place of possibility, takes a blend of inspiration, action-taking and wisdom from those who’ve been immersing themselves in the world of creativity for years. This is why we’re excited to bring you a power compilation collective today that focuses in on igniting creativity in all parts of work, play, relationships, and life. We’ve brought together 4 incredible voices, Lisa Congdon, James Victore, Yrsa Daley-Ward, and Mike Han. Each comes from wildly different backgrounds, experiences, and challenges, and each also finds ways, often ways no one else saw, to center creativity in their work and also explore life as the ultimate creative canvas. You can find Lisa at: Website | Instagram | The Lisa Congdon SessionsYou can find James at: Website | InstagramYou can find Yrsa at: Website | InstagramYou can find Mike at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode be sure to check out the full-length episodes of these conversations we had with Lisa, James, Yrsa, & Mike. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesPeloton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For a lot of us, 2020 was the wake-up call we desperately needed to be able to look at our lives, how we work and live, what we value, and more with a pair of fresh eyes. Yet, now, almost two years later, many of us are still struggling with how to answer the call. And I imagine that right about now, we'd all love a blueprint or some sort of direction as we try to take what we've learned and experienced in the past few years and use it to embrace the new passions, careers, and ideas that have lit us up. So joining me today to explore how we can all move forward, with more intention and meaning, in life and at work is my good friend, behavior coach, Certified Interfaith Spiritual Director, host of The One Your Feed podcast, and writer Eric Zimmer. But this format is a bit different. Eric and I have been having these deep private jam sessions for years, centering topics that fascinate us and matter to all of us. So, we thought we’d get together, turn on the mics, and dive share one of these deep dives in a more public way. And we tee up three topics we’ve both been exploring: finding meaning at work, setting and sustaining healthy boundaries between work and life, especially when you love your work, and we also explore what it looks like to really embrace change and create new habits in a practical way.You can find Eric Zimmer at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode be sure to also check out Eric’s podcast, The One You Feed, wherever you get your podcasts.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Mejuri: Mejuri believes you don’t have to overspend to treat those you love most. They design high-quality, fine jewelry you can live in and style your way. Simplify your holiday shopping and go to mejuri.com.Peloton: This year, Peloton is gifting you their best offer of the season. Get up to $300 off accessories when you purchase a Peloton Bike, Bike+ or Tread. Shop from a variety of accessories such as cycling shoes, a heart rate monitor and more. Visit onepeloton.com to learn more. All Access Membership separate. Offer starts November 14 and ends November 28. Cannot be combined with other offers. See additional terms at onepeloton.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you step into conversations, whether personal or professional, family, friends, colleagues, or even perceived or real adversaries, and still find a place for love in the conversation? Is that even possible in some situations? Is it asking way too much, or is it the only way to finally feel the way you want to feel and resolve an issue that, approached any other way, will remain forever intractable?That’s what we’re talking about with today’s guest, the Most Reverend Michael Curry, who is the first African American individual to serve as Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church.In May of 2018, Bishop Curry delivered a moving sermon on the redemptive power of love at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding, then just months after served as the officiant for the state funerals of Senator John McCain and President George H.W. Bush in the Washington National Cathedral. Bishop Curry has also written 5 books, his newest is Love is the Way: Holding Onto Hope in Troubling Times, which expands upon his focus on love as the centerpiece for a new way to live and find meaning and peace, even at times when they can seem so hard to access. We explore all of this in today’s BEST OF conversation.You can find Bishop Michael Curry at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Rev. Jacqui Lewis about love in challenging times.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Mejuri: Mejuri believes you don’t have to overspend to treat those you love most. They design high-quality, fine jewelry you can live in and style your way. Simplify your holiday shopping and go to mejuri.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahh, that holiday time of year. A time for celebration and joy and generosity and reflection. And also a whole lot of forced togetherness and conflict and family patterns and politics and stress and unhealthy coping, lashing out, even sadness and loneliness - sometimes all within a matter of minutes, even for the most joyful, healthily attached and grateful person, this time can just bring up a lot. So what do we do with that? How do we handle that? What habits or go-to strategies can we say yes to that just might make this time of year fly by with more genuine ease and joy and connection and maybe even grace? That is what we were talking about in this month's continuation of our fun 5 Life-Changing Habits series. So we kicked that series off a little bit earlier with a wide-ranging sort of a more universal 5 Life-Changing Habits episode. And then last month, again with our 5 Life-Changing Relationship Habits episode, and they were met with such a huge reception, we figured, hey, let's keep it going and get specific and shared genuinely life-changing habits that relate to specific moments that we all go through, or maybe areas of life where simple habits can make a big difference. So today I am bringing you 5 Life-Changing Holiday Survival Habits, so excited to share them with you.Mentioned in this episode, our conversations with: Dr. Marisa G. Franco | How to Make Adult Friends (and Why They Matter)Submit a voice memo of your 5 Good Life Habits.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the other episodes in this series:5 Life-Changing Habits5 Life-Changing Relationship HabitsCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes.BetterHelp: Good Life Project is sponsored by BetterHelp. As the world’s largest therapy service, BetterHelp has matched 3 million people with professionally licensed and vetted therapists available 100% online. Plus, it’s affordable. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to match with a therapist. If things aren’t clicking, you can easily switch to a new therapist anytime. It couldn’t be simpler. No waiting rooms. No traffic. No endless searching for the right therapist. Learn more and save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/GoodLifeProject Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine, after years of struggling to find your way in different careers and trying out business ideas, you created something that exploded in the best of ways. A business serving thousands of people, a great living, security, possibility, an amazing channel of expression. And, then, over time, you realized you’d bought into a way of doing things that went against the essence of who you were. And, you started to feel called to do something else?Would you walk away from that success, trusting once again, that joyful lightning could, in fact, strike twice, without even knowing what your next move would be? That is exactly the question today’s guest, Jadah Sellner, faced. After co-founding and growing Simple Green Smoothies into a viral phenomenon and a flourishing 7-figure business in an astonishingly short period of time. She did the unthinkable. She exited the business, selling her interest, and bet on herself, and her belief that she could figure out how to craft her living, once again, in a way that better fit her evolving values, lens on life, and approach to service. Leaving behind the never-stop-working hustle culture approach and betting on creativity and love.Jadah Sellner is a bestselling author, business coach, international keynote speaker, poet, and host of the Lead with Love podcast. Her new book, She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life, uncovers a framework for women entrepreneurs to create a business on their own terms.You can find Jadah at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jen Sincero about being a badass at money and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesIndeed: Connect with your talent audience so you can make more quality hires faster. Start hiring NOW with a $75 sponsored job credit to sponsor your job post at Indeed.com/GOODLIFE. Offer good for a limited time. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed.Scribd: The world's largest digital library. Enjoy millions of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, podcasts, sheet music, and documents. Get inspired by Keith Boykin with Quitting today with a FREE 60-day trial at try.scribd.com/GLP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Question for you: what if you could slow down, stop or even reverse your aging process? What if you could live, not just longer, but better? Extending and even potentially expanding your physical and mental health and well-being. Staving off decline or illness. Is any of that really possible, and what does cutting-edge science have to say?That is what we are talking about with today's guest. David Sinclair. David is a worldwide leader in aging research. He is a Professor in the Department of Genetics and co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School.He's best known for his work on genes and small molecules that delay aging, including the sirtuin genes and resveratrol and its precursors, which we get into. He’s published over 170 scientific studies, is the co-inventor on over 50 patents, has co-founded 14 biotechnology companies in the area of aging vaccines, diabetes, fertility Cancer Biodefense. His book Lifespan, Why We Age, and Why We Don't Have To explores what we get wrong about aging and how to approach it differently. And, his podcast, Lifespan, explores healthy aging and how to live not just longer, but better, too. So excited to share this Best Of conversation with you.You can find David at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Aviva Romm, MD about how hormones control health, and what we can do about it.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Peloton: Access high-energy workouts, instantly. Discover Peloton: streaming fitness classes to you live and on-demand. Try Peloton risk-free with a 30 Day Home Trial. New Members only. Not available in remote locations. See additional terms at www.onepeloton.com/home-trial. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it even possible to have a genuinely open conversation that holds the potential to persuade someone to your point of view anymore? Or have we entered a “post-persuasion” state? And, if so, is there a way to change that?How to move people back into conversation, and set the table for openness and, maybe even persuasion to a different set of ideas, beliefs and actions? Our guest today, Anand Giridharadas, has been studying this very question for years. In our conversation today, Anand and I dive deeper into the politics of persuasion, dissect the underlying drivers behind division, identity politics, social reinforcement, and explore a number of specific ideas and strategies designed to help us all get back to a place of more empathy and understanding. You can find Anand at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Zoe Chance about personal social dynamics and the art of persuasion. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve come to realize something, we are all healing from something. All the time. Maybe it’s a physical illness or injury or harm, maybe it’s rooted more in our minds, maybe it’s even rooted in the culture. But, we’re all invited into a path of healing, and we all need it on some level, even if we don’t know it, or want to own it quite yet.Question is, how do you find healing when you feel like all the odds are stacked against you?When you feel like you take two steps backward for every step forward? How do you heal beyond the visible wounds, and reclaim something deeper, more whole? And, how do we heal as a path of growth and expression and joy?This is where we’re heading in today’s conversation with Alex Elle, who's found a way to approach self-healing from a practical, relatable, expansive standpoint. Alex is an author, certified breathwork coach, and restorative writing teacher whose powerful healing journey has led her to where she is today. Her newest book, How We Heal: Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free, is a practical and empowering guide to self-healing, filled with essential techniques and insights that invite readers to unlock their confidence to heal on their own.And in our conversation today, we explore Alex's own healing journey and the barriers—which you might find relatable—that stood in the way of her process, and we discuss the difficulties of healing when no one else around you is doing it, breaking generational cycles, and how to heal when you're ready. You can find Alex at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Lesser about a life of perpetual awakening and healing.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes, life brings us to our knees in order to also bring us back to our essence. Question is, what happens when we honor that voice? There’s only one way to know, and that’s to heed the call.And that is exactly what my guest today, Mike Han, has done. Over the years, he became a deeply-skilled and sought-after omakase sushi chef, rising up in that world, and was just about to open his own place, when the pandemic hit. Literally overnight, he found himself without work, without a vision, without enough money to pay his rent and, to a certain extent, out of hope. But, he still had one thing, his artistic impulse, and it began calling him louder than ever. Not as a sushi chef, but as the visual artist that’d been inside him since childhood. The chain of events that unfolded over the next two years, frankly, is hard to explain in any rational sense. He said yes to the call and the Universe did, in fact, rise up to support him, time and time again, in the most astonishing ways. Mike has now made massive waves as a rising artist. In our conversation, we talk about Mike's journey up until this moment and explore the ways art has shaped his own life and even saved him at times. We also dive into his unique process as an artist, and he offers his own interpretations of what art can look like and mean to us all. You can find Mike at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Peter Tunney about his journey from finance to art.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Skylight Calendar: Skylight Calendar is a touchscreen digital wall calendar that displays your family's important events. Now, as a special offer, you can get $10 off your purchase of a Skylight Calendar when you go SkylightCal.com and enter code GOOD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So what if I told you that the things that will make the biggest difference in your life, your health, your mindset, career, relationships and more are rarely the big, sweeping gestures or actions, but rather the tiny things that you do on a repeated basis every day, every week, every month, that generate a compounded impact on your life and the lives of those around you? It's these little repeated actions, these rituals, these habits that change the game and that are truly the source fuel of a life well lived. Today we dive into what specific, tiny things can you do on a regular repeated basis that will have an exponential, even life-changing impact on your relationships over time.Mentioned in this episode, our conversations with:Brad Feld: Acclaimed Venture Capitalist On Life Well-LivedNedra Glover Tawwab | Better Boundaries, Better LifeDr. Marisa G. Franco | How to Make Adult Friends (and Why They Matter)Kat Vellos ⎮ Cultivating Better FriendshipsEllen Hendriksen, Ph.D. | Taming Social AnxietySubmit a voice memo of your 5 Good Life Habits.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the first episode in this series, 5 Life-Changing Habits.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Scribd: The world's largest digital library. Enjoy millions of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, podcasts, sheet music, and documents. Get inspired by Keith Boykin with Quitting today with a FREE 60-day trial at try.scribd.com/GLP.IKEA: Find affordable furniture and home goods at IKEA! Discover furnishings and inspiration to create a better life at home. And now sign up for IKEA Family for free and save 5% in-store on eligible purchases. Every visit. Every day! Explore even more new benefits at IKEA-USA.com/Family. Offer valid starting 9/1/2022. Limited to qualifying purchases, exclusions apply. Not valid on services. Discount applied in-store only, before tax, shipping, and handling. Cannot be combined with coupons. Visit IKEA-USA.com/Family for more details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine working as an artist for a decade only to burn out, melt down, and vanish from that world to spend 10 years driving a truck. Then, having never written before the age of 40, returning to that same world, but this time as an art critic for some of the biggest magazines and arbiters of taste in that domain. Having never been formally trained or degreed or even studied art in a formal way. How is that even possible? That is the story of today’s guest, Jerry Saltz, the senior art critic at New York magazine and Vulture, and the author of the New York Times bestseller How to Be an Artist. In his most recent book Art Is Life, Jerry draws on two decades of work to offer a real-time survey of contemporary art as a barometer of our times, arguing for the importance of the fearless artist—reminding us that art is a kind of channeled voice of human experience, a necessary window onto our times. The result is an openhearted and irresistibly readable appraisal by one of our most important cultural observers.You can find Jerry at: New York Magazine | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Maria Garcia about the art of performance and how it can change millions of lives.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Cabinets To Go: Whether you’re looking to simply replace a few cabinets or for a fully customized remodel, Cabinets To Go is your one-stop renovation destination. Right now, get a full custom 3D design of your new kitchen at CabinetsToGo.com/GOODLIFE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friends matter, more than you even know. A lack of genuine, open, loving friends can lead to profound loneliness. And that very loneliness can be devastating to both your mental health. But, it goes further than that, the health effects can also wreak more havoc and increase risk of illness, dementia and death, on a level that dramatically exceeds addiction, obesity, and pollution, sometimes combined. What’s the solution? We tend to look to find our one person to solve the loneliness problem. That dream partner who makes everything okay. Except, as we’ll learn today, that can, and often is, a recipe for disaster. Better approach - reconnect with, or find and make new, platonic, yet intimate, engaged, and loving friendships.Sure, you say, easy to do as a kid. But, what about as an adult? Here to walk me through the world of friendships, why they matter and how to make new adult friends, is research-driven psychologist, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Marisa Franco. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Platonic, with a research focus on the powerful role of our communities in shaping who we are and why we flourish. You can find Marisa at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Kat Vellos about approaching friendships as a design problem to be solved.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.About the Journey: What does it mean to travel better? Travel journalist Oneika Raymond connects with locals who can speak to the heart of the dynamic cities we’re traveling to. They’ll tell us where to go, what to do and how to see the world in more sustainable and meaningful ways. Listen to About the Journey wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, what if being highly sensitive was actually a superpower, not something to be fixed?If you've ever heard the term, “highly sensitive person,” or even been called highly sensitive and maybe even recoiled a bit when that happened, our conversation with today’s guest, Dr. Elaine Aron, just might change your world. An acclaimed researcher, she first identified high sensitivity as a distinct character trait more than 25 years ago, introducing the term “Highly Sensitive Person” to describe someone who is easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input, subtleties in environment and other people’s moods, processes things in different ways and at different speeds, and deeply feels pressure and overstimulation. Since its publication in 1995, her preeminent book on the subject, The Highly Sensitive Person, has gone on to become an international bestseller translated into 30 languages. She is also the author of The Highly Sensitive Parent, and many others. She has established the Foundation for the Study of Highly Sensitive Persons and published many scientific articles on sensitivity in the leading journals in her field. Turns out, today’s conversation was also personal, because in many ways, I’ve begun to realize that I actually identify as a highly sensitive person. But, I also discovered so much more about the way I move through the world, how this trait relates to introversion and extroversion - very surprising - and how you can be both highly sensitive, while also being high-sensation, which I’d never heard before. And, we also discover how Elaine’s lens on high sensitivity has evolved in meaningful ways since her groundbreaking early research on the topics.You can find Elaine at: WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan David, PhD about emotional agility.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been so deeply affected by another person that their story literally gives your life context and meaning and even a sense of belonging? Now, what it that other person was someone you never actually met? And what if they’d been gone from the planet for 25 years, but still it was like they were present in your life, guiding and inspiring you every day?That, it turns out, is the power of authenticity, agency, and legacy. And, in today’s conversation with award-winning journalist, writer, and producer, Maria Garcia, we dive deep into these topics in a very cool and unusual way. Through the lens of the life of iconic performer, Selena Quintanilla, and the impact she had not just on Maria’s life, but on tens of millions around the world, even decades after her tragic passing at a young age. And, not because Maria or, for that matter, any of those millions, knew Selena, personally, but because what she embodied profoundly affected and informed the way Maria, and those millions, saw themselves, their sense of wholeness, heritage, community, and the call to celebrate uniqueness, and embrace life through a lens of possibility and joy. In the end, it’s really a story about belonging, which we all need more of.Maria became the driving creative force and on-air host of the stunning podcast series, Anything for Selena, which was named Apple Podcast's Show of the Year of 2021, and produced with Futuro Studios and NPR member station WBUR. You can find Maria at: Instagram | WebsitesIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Samin Nosrat about food, belonging, culture and connection.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all mess up. Sometimes in small ways, but other times big ones. Sometimes privately, other times publicly. We don’t mean to - or maybe we do in the momentum, but feel remorse after the fact. Either way, we all will, at some point, hurt someone. And we may also suffer repercussions. Whether personal, communal, or societal. Question is, what do we do after that? How do we repair the harm, and make amends? How do we find a way back to grace, connection, community, redemption and repair? Is that even possible in all cases? And if so, what are the steps? And what about forgiveness? Does that, and should it, be a part of the process? Turns out, there is a well-defined set of steps, a path, that very few know about.Today, we explore a practical, though not always easy, 5-step path to repair, reconciliation, and redemption based on ancient, universal wisdom, that she details in her newest book, On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World. We talk about each step, why it’s there, how to step into it, and some challenging “edge case” and how to both do the work and set expectations. And, we also talk about forgiveness, with Rabbi Danya offering a powerful alternative take on it.You can find Rabbi Danya at: Website | Twitter | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jonathan Haidt about the free exchange of ideas, cancel culture, and the line between growth and harm.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Traveling the world, especially for an extended period, may be a luxury you only dream about or can only do every few years. But, what if there was a way to make it happen? And, way sooner, and for less money than you ever imagined? Or, what if there's a way to evoke that sense of wonder and curiosity that travel brings out of us without leaving our immediate neighborhood? What would it look like to keep the spirit of the journey or travel alive at home, using it to engage with and learn from the community that's right in front of us in a new and meaningful way? My guest today, Rolf Potts, is a firm believer in the life-altering benefits of travel - even if that means driving heading just a few blocks outside your normal routine - and how we can use adventure as a metaphor for life itself, and I'm excited to dive deeper into his philosophies and stories about life, travel, and wonder. Rolf has shared much of his wisdom and travel stories in his books Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel and his newest release, The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel. In our conversation today, we explore Rolf's strategies for doing immersive travel in a meaningful way, uncover the ways anyone, even those who can't travel, can use the vagabond mindset to disrupt their routines at home, and we touch on a few moments of adventure and curiosity that have shaped and inspired us.  You can find Rolf at: Website | Instagram | Deviate with Rolf Potts PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Tim Ferriss about centering humanity and love in work and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Indeed: Connect with your talent audience so you can make more quality hires faster. Start hiring NOW with a $100 sponsored job credit to sponsor your job post at Indeed.com/GLP. Offer good for a limited time. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed.Cozey: The comfortable sofa made for modern living. Cozey is a Canadian company that makes modular sofas-in-a-box that are shipped fast and for free across Canada. Design the perfect sofa for your space and have it shipped to your door for free. Assembly is tool-free and super easy. Visit Cozey.ca to start your 30-day risk-free trial.Shopify: Try Shopify FREE and start a business or grow an existing one. Get more than e-commerce software with tools to manage every part of your business. Sign up for a FREE trial at Shopify.com/GOODLIFE to start selling online today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, what’s your biggest secret? And, what’s the cost you’ve been bearing for living, or trying to live, under its weight?For many of us, it’s wrapped around our identity. There’s something about us we don’t want others to know. The idea of being your 100% authentic self, meaning no secrets, no masks, and no pretending, in front of your family, of all people, is something that sounds terrifying, if not impossible. But, what if the opposite were true? What if living behind the facade was actually the more brutalizing experience, one that sustains, possibly for years, decades, even life? In contrast to the momentary or even season of disruption incited by coming out as your true self, yet followed by a lifetime of liberation?That’s where we’re headed in today’s conversation with Jessi Hempel, whose own revelation about her sexual identity, became the first in a chain of "coming out" events that touched every member of her family. Jessi is the host of the award-winning podcast Hello Monday, and she's a senior editor-at-large at LinkedIn. Jessi's striking upcoming memoir, The Family Outing, is a fascinating look into Jessi's seemingly picture-perfect American family, whose lives slowly start to unravel after a series of coming outs. In our chat, we uncover universal revelations, like seeing and realizing the humanity in your parents for the first time and the liberation that comes with claiming your whole truths—even in the face of uncertainty. Jessi opens up about the complexities of growing up with two parents struggling with emotional turmoil and learning to embrace her imperfect family as each of them shed their secrets and found, or rediscovered, their place in the world. You can find Jessi at: LinkedIn | Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel podcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jake Wesley Rogers about bringing all parts of himself to work and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is it that, so often, we need to be brought to our knees in order to wake up to, and reclaim, what really matters? And, does that have to be so? These are just a few of the questions we dive into with my guest today, Diego Perez, best known for his virtual moniker, Yung Pueblo, which is both a reminder to him to stay grounded in a younger, growth mindset, and also a contained to frame this current season of work as a project that doesn’t constrain his own personal and professional growth. Diego’s new book, Clarity & Connection, shares many of his recent insights about life, meaning, love, work, self-awareness, and of course, clarity and connection.You can find Yung Pueblo at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about wisdom and compassion.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Fireweed: After the devastation of a forest fire, the first plant to grow back is fireweed. Meet people with vastly different experiences who have demonstrated their ability to grow and adapt to whatever challenges life throws at them, and -- like the fireweed -- come back stronger than ever. Listen to Fireweed wherever you get your podcasts.Talk Easy: Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, activists, and politicians. Where people sound like people. New episodes every Sunday. Listen to Talk Easy wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you ever wish you could be that person who captivated a room, a gathering, an audience, a date with a story that cast a spell, moved them deeply, then left you both more connected and alive? Transformed even? Yeah, you’re not alone. We all live lives filled with stories worth telling, but so often we don’t realize it. And few of us know “how” to tell those stories in a way that brings others in close, then leaves them changed. Most just think it’s a God-given ability. But, what if it wasn’t? What if it was a skill anyone - including you - could learn? Would you want that? My guest today, Catherine Burns, believes it is. And, if there’s anyone I’d believe, it’s her. Catherine is the long-time Artistic Director at The Moth, the global phenomenon dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling.In our conversation today, you'll hear us dive into many of the ideas, tips, and strategies from her newest book, How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth, which she co-wrote with fellow The Moth directors, Meg Bowles and Jenifer Hixson. If you've ever wondered why we care so much about stories in the first place or what elements make for a good story, you're in for a treat in this episode because Catherine and I dive deeper into the art of storytelling and what it takes for anyone, and we mean anyone, to craft a story worth listening to. You can find Catherine at: Website | The Moth Instagram | TwitterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Zoe Chance about language, stories, and influence.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve heard the call, “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.” What does that even mean? And, why are so many people running from organized religion, but flocking to some amorphous and ambiguous claim to spirituality that often extends not further than a sense that you yearn for something more? And, is that okay? Or, are we leaving something behind? And, if so, what? Is it a part of ourselves? A sense of wholeness and belonging? How do we reclaim a feeling of connectedness and expansiveness and ease, without also surrendering to the strictures of organized religion that, too often, integrate tribalism, separateness and disconnection from our lived, modern experience?These are the questions we dive into with my guest today, Rabbi Rami Shapiro. Rabbi Rami is an award-winning author of over three dozen books on religion and spirituality, including his latest, Judaism Without Tribalism. In our conversation today, we explore why so many people are leaving organized religion, the distinction between religion and spirituality, the evolution of God and religion, and much more.You can find Rabbi Rami at: WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Rabbi Steve Leder about the role of faith and how to share our wisdom with future generations.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesGoing West: Whether you’re looking for a new true crime podcast that has minimal side-talk or one that focuses on the victim and their story, you have to check out Going West! Going West is a true crime podcast hosted by Portland, Oregon couple Daphne and Heath, and in each episode, they dive into various US-based disappearance and murder cases. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.ClickUp: Save time with the all-in-one productivity platform that brings teams, tasks, and tools together in one place. Sign up today at ClickUp.com & use code GOODLIFE to get 15% off ClickUp's massive Unlimited Plan for a year—meaning you can start reclaiming your time for under $5 a month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life today can feel like wall-to-wall conflict. And most of us, well, we plain hate the feeling it gives us. Thing is, some conflict is not only good, but necessary and important. While other conflict, high conflict, is pretty much a road to othering, isolation, and devastation. Question is, how do you know the difference? And once you do, how do you step into good conflict with more grace and ease, that both helps you breathe, but also leads to a genuine resolution that leaves everyone better for it?My guest today, Amanda Ripley, offers her wise counsel as a New York Times bestselling author, investigative journalist, and co-founder of Good Conflict, a conflict meditation business. Her most recent book, High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out, explores the complexities of high conflict through storytelling and interviews featuring a dozen people in three countries who escaped destructive conflicts to gather lessons for the rest of us in our polarized world. If you've grappled with high-stakes conflict before or wondered how we've all ended up in such a divided state, you'll discover a lot in this episode that'll hopefully help you see the bigger picture.You can find Amanda at: WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan Piver about the Buddhist Enneagram and how that can help you understand yourself and others in a way that eases conversation.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So we all have habits and routines, rituals, and behaviors that we do in the name of living our best lives. Well, sometimes we have things that are not so much in that, but that's what we're working towards. But which of those habits actually moves the needle the most? Put another way, what's the Good Life Habit 80/20? The 20% that'll fuel 80% of the difference-making. I have been asked this question so many times in so many ways by so many people over the years and in fact, I have asked it of myself many times. And after a decade of learning from more than 700 leading voices in science, health, behavior change, and beyond, running literally hundreds of my own experiments and learning from others, I have found that at least for me, there's a fairly straightforward and simple set of habits that make a huge difference in my life.So I thought that instead of our usual conversation today, I'm going to share with you what I call my Big 5 Good Life Habits. Now some may feel right and accessible for you and others might feel challenging. My intention is not that you have to say yes to all 5, but that each one, even if nothing else is explored, can make a genuinely meaningful, even transformational difference in your life. That is where we're headed in today's special episode. The Big 5 Habits that have made a really big difference in my life and hopefully will make a difference in yours as well.Mentioned in this episode:The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles DuhiggAtomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James ClearSubmit a voice memo of your 5 Good Life Habits.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with James Nestor on How Breathing Can Change Your Life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.The Loudest Girl in the World is a new podcast that tells the story of Lauren Ober’s journey to understand what the hell it means to be on the autism spectrum and how to live life as a newly diagnosed autistic person. It’s about finding yourself broken in a place you never expected to be and emerging from that place a mostly glued-back-together person. Download and listen today wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s suspend judgment, just for a minute. What if you could take a few weeks, months, maybe even an entire year off work to do exactly what you wanted, whether traveling the world, considering your next career move or just taking a moment to step back and really check in with yourself? Would you go for it? Especially after the last few years we’ve had? Safe bet, most people would jump on that opportunity. But then comes the reality check. The doubt. The details. Sure, it’d be amazing, but I could never make it happen. Right?But, what if you could? What if it was actually more doable than you ever imagined? What if there were ideas, tools, and strategies that would help you step away and reset your mind, body, and life? Ways that might not even require you to leave your job, and know you had something to come back to. Even if, by the end, you didn’t want to anymore? What if your personal, life-changing sabbatical was not only possible, but necessary for you to not only reclaim your sense of self and purpose and aliveness, but to create the space to see more clearly who and what matters, and how you want to step into your life from this moment forward.My guest today, DJ DiDonna has been studying these real-life breaks, in all forms, showing why they matter and revealing incredible insights into not just how to do them in a way that truly gives you what you’re looking for, but also how to make them more possible than you ever imagined. DJ is the founder of The Sabbatical Project, a research and advocacy nonprofit that is on a mission to define, explore, and research sabbaticals and their impact on non-academics. On his own sabbatical, DJ walked 900 miles on pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan and ran a poverty research lab at his alma mater Notre Dame. And today, we dive deeper into some of the ideas and stories that appear in his upcoming book based on hundreds of interviews with sabbatical-takers from across the world. DJ and I uncover more about the history of sabbaticals and their roots in academia. And also, he breaks down the essential components of taking an effective extended pause from work and even offers some ideas that might make you seriously consider taking a sabbatical in the near future—even if retirement isn't even in sight yet.You can find DJ at: Website | Learn About Your Sabbatical Style | LinkedInIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Chip Conley about reimagining later-in-life contributions.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you hear the word - enneagram, you likely have one of three replies: Oh, yay, can’t get enough of the enneagram. Oh please, aNOTHer podcast about the enneagram? Or, ummmm, what’s the enneagram?!Well, no matter where you fall on that spectrum, good news. You're about to discover one of the most powerful personal insight tools ever created, AND in a way you’ve never heard it explained before. Not just as a tool for personal awakening and transformation, but also as a game-changing lever to transform your personal and professional relationships, see things you never saw, understand people with a depth you never imagined possible - and effect change in the state of culture, society, the world even. ​​This conversation, with a member of my chosen family, legendary Buddhist teacher, founder of the Open Heart Project, and New York Times bestselling author, Susan Piver, will not only rock your understanding of the Enneagram, it may well change your life. And, it’s all about her groundbreaking synthesis of the enneagram and Buddhism, or, as Susan calls it, the Buddhist Enneagram, which also happens to be the title of her equally revelatory new book. These new insights are especially important, given the times we live in. In today's world, compassion from a stranger is something you can only hope for as we struggle over our differences in race, religion, gender, politics, and more. The Buddhist Enneagram helps you see and understand others, in a truer, clearer, more nuanced way, then step into relationships with more empathy and compassion. In our conversation today, we dive deeper into the enneagram and its roots, and Susan takes me through her fascinating journey of discovering the tool and using it through a Buddhist lens, and we also explore the ways the enneagram could be an integral guide in our individual and collective transformations to becoming more compassionate, connected, and whole—only if we're willing and brave enough. You can find Susan at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan about the 4 Noble Truths of Love.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Sleep Number: Save 50% on the Sleep Number 360® Limited Edition smart bed. sleepnumber.com/GOODLIFE.This Being Human: Fom the Aga Khan Museum This Being Human is an arts and culture podcast devoted to amplifying the voices of leaders and redefining what it means to be Muslim in today's world. New episodes every other Tuesday. Download and listen today wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine, being in your 20s, fresh out of washing dishes at a local restaurant, borrowing just enough money to open a tiny, local deli with a friend who shared your passion for food, community, and business? Now, imagine that, decades later, that single decision would profoundly change the lives of not just thousands of regular customers, but millions of people, around the world? What my guest today, Ari Weinzwieg, didn’t realize, when starting Zingerman’s Deli with a $20,000 loan from the bank, and a degree in Russian History from the University of Michigan, was that he was seeding a revolution. Actually, in hindsight, maybe he did. Now 17 companies later and sitting as the CEO and co-founding partner of Zingerman's Community of Businesses, Ari sees commerce as an engine of impact, expression and service that changes people’s lives. Ari and his ideas have set off a global ripple of compassion, dignity, imagination, and aliveness in the world of business, inviting people to reimagine a profoundly different, radically expansive and inclusive way of defining success. Named by Inc Magazine as one of "The World's 10 Top CEOs," he’s forging a new way in business that rejects the norm and is grounded in purposeful vision, passion, and anarchy theory. He's written extensively about the values and beliefs that have kept the now iconic Zingerman's Delicatessen, his first business venture, afloat and successful for over 40 years in weekly newsletters and the numerous books he's authored, such as A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to the Power of Beliefs and A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Managing Ourselves. In our chat today, Ari shares some of the brilliant happenings inside his head, ranging from the ways we can use history to guide us in work, life, and business today, a reclamation of anarchy as a tool for impact and equality, Ari’s natural laws of business and the importance of being in harmony with nature, the power of visioning, and the steps you can take to cast your own life and world-changing vision. This isn’t just about business, it’s about life.You can find Ari Weinzweig at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Donna Carpenter about how she and her husband, Jake, built Burton into not just a snowboard giant, but also a workplace that champions humanity.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Solo Stove: Code GLP - $10 OFFClickUp: Code GOODLIFE - 15% OFF Unlimited Plan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you flip the switch from struggle and futility to wild, unbridled joy and success? And how does money play into that equation, if at all, as a source fuel, an outcome, or both?Today's guest, Jen Sincero, started out as a musician in a band, and really thought that that would be her future. She loved the music, the creativity, the comradery of being in a band, surrounded by community. What she didn’t like, though, was the struggle that seemed embedded in the experience. She wanted the passion, but not the suffering. In addition to music, Jen started writing on the side, eventually publishing a book about her drummer, and then to a second book. And Finally, it started leading her into a deeper and deeper career in writing. Along the way, she also realized that the life that she was living was not the life she wanted to be living. And she started doing a lot of deep, personal work that incited a personal awakening and reinvention, which then fueled her to write You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, which became a global phenomenon that has remained on the NY Times bestseller list for years, sold millions of copies worldwide, is available in over 40 languages, and continues to grow in popularity around the globe. Her follow-ups, You Are a Badass® at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth also a NY Times bestseller, You Are a Badass® Every Day, and Badass Habits are written with the same signature benevolent snark, down-to-earth humor and blunt practicality that made You Are a Badass® a beloved bestseller and Jen a celebrated voice in the world of self-development.Her book, You Are a Badass at Making Money is the focus of today’s best of conversation. We track her journey and also we dive into this idea of personal development and money and making money. And a lot of our weirdness around money around writing about money, around talking about money and where that comes from and maybe what you do about it. It's a fun conversation that touches on a lot of different moments in her life and a lot of ideas.You can find Jen Sincero at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Patrice Washington about wealth, what it is, and what it’s not.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Zelle: When anyone sends you money or if you need to get paid back, always ask for Zelle®! With Zelle, the money goes straight into your bank account, and it works even if the sender banks somewhere different than you in the U.S. Look for Zelle® in your banking app today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This has been a year that has tested our boundaries on nearly every level. Work, friendship, family, community, geography, politics, religion, social issues, love, and wellbeing. Even our own inner boundaries with technology. It’s like we’re being asked to draw lines, all day, every day. And, our ability to do just that, well, it just may mean the difference between peace and calamity.Question is, how? How do you create and uphold boundaries that are clear, healthy, and constructive, while also acknowledging the nuance, kindness, and understanding this moment demands? That’s what we’re diving into in today’s special compilation episode on boundaries, featuring key elements of conversations we’ve had with therapists, bestselling authors, and boundary experts, Nedra Glover Tawwab and Terri Cole. You’re going to want to take notes on this episode, what you learn may not only help breathe more easily and reclaim space and peace, it just might also change your life.You can find Nedra at: Website | Instagram | Discover Your Secondary GainYou can find Terri at: Website | Instagram | Discover Your Secondary Gain | The Terri Cole ShowIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jud Brewer about unwinding anxiety.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may not think of your work as your religion, but for many, it’s trying to become exactly that! Without us even realizing it. Question is - is that a good thing? A bad thing? Or just a thing? Today's guest, sociologist, Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley, and Co-Director of the Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion, Carolyn Chen, has a lot to say about this silent, yet deeply impactful, phenomenon. She spent years studying workplace culture, with a focus on the near-religious cultures of Silicon Valley. As home to startups, major tech companies, and some of the world's most innovative and, arguably, faithful entrepreneurs and professionals, she noticed the lines between doing meaningful work and religion have not only been blurred, but work has, in many ways, squeezed out and even become employees’ religion. Problem is - the goal is not personal and societal betterment, but rather in service of one central purpose: working harder and smarter, and generating innovation and profit.Her latest book, Work Pray Code: When Work Becomes Religion in Silicon Valley, is an account and exploration of her time spent interviewing the best and the brightest in the tech world to unfold how tech giants are reshaping spirituality to serve their religion of peak productivity. In our conversation, we explore big questions like why are so many people leaving traditional religion? How do religion and spirituality meet our needs in the first place, and what are the ways big tech or corporations are filling those gaps? What does it look like for us to choose what we want to worship and find meaning and belonging in healthy, nontraditional spaces? And, is this conversion of work into faith, actually a societally destructive phenomenon, even while organizations benefit from it? And, by the way, these topics and questions are on display in tech but don’t think, for a moment, that a wide range of companies aren’t exploring them, and along the way, bringing us “into the fold,” sometimes wittingly, other times, maybe not.You can find Carolyn at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Lisa Miller, Ph.D. about the science of spirituality.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.ClickUp: 15% OFF ClickUp's massive Unlimited Plan for a year. Sign up today at ClickUp.com and use code GOODLIFE.Talkspace: $100 OFF of your first month with Talkspace when you use the code GOOD. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all been othered, felt like we didn’t belong, at some point or moment in our lives. It feels awful. But, what happens when that experience rises to a level and pervasiveness of such intensity that it’s not just about feeling unwelcome, it’s about fearing for your life? And the lives of others you care about? Whether drawn from what we look like, what or who we worship, our values, beliefs, or any other identifier, that fear of being othered because of something that defines us can cause so much suffering. And at times, anger, even rage. It’s understandable. Question is, it is the answer? The way forward? Or, is there a different, more expansive, empathy-centered path? And if so, what does that look like, and it is really a genuine option, given the world we currently live in?These are the questions and ideas today's guest, Simran Jeet Singh, has been grappling with. In today's conversation, we take a deep dive into his experiences growing up, becoming a visible advocate for not only his own cultural and spiritual traditions but also a different approach to bridge-building. In his new book, The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life, he shares his complex, fresh perspective on how empathy and traditions come into play to help us embrace each other's differences, find contentment, and discover our universal connectedness. And, in our conversation today, he offers a framework, a different approach, designed to let us to see each other’s humanity more clearly and, hopefully, create a better and more equal world for ourselves and whoever comes after us. You can find Simran at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Valarie Kaur about advocacy, spirituality, and love.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.ClickUp: One app to replace them all. · Simplify work and get more done. All of your work in one place: Tasks, Docs, Chat, Goals, & more. Use code GOODLIFE to get 15% off ClickUp's massive Unlimited Plan for a year—meaning you can start reclaiming your time for under $5 a month. Sign up today at ClickUp.com and use code GOODLIFE.Talkspace: Online Counseling Via Text, Audio, Or Video Messaging. At Any Time, From Anywhere. We’re here to continue supporting all the amazing parents out there, so as a listener, you’ll get $100 off of your first month with Talkspace when you use the code GOOD. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to Talkspace.com.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if wealth wasn’t what we thought? Sure, money is a part of it, and access, status, and at least the illusion of security it can bring. And, yes, the nice things you can buy. But, here’s the thing, I’ve known too many people who’ve earned unreal amounts of money, and they don’t feel wealthy. In fact, they feel like they’ll never have enough. What they DO feel is envy, fear of loss, perpetual craving, and security that seems “take-awayable” in a moment. On the other hand, I’ve known folks of modest means who feel wealthy beyond measure, vibrant, and alive with generosity. So, then, what’s wealth - real wealth - about? Turns out, beyond the Benjamins, it’s about something much bigger than we think, or talk about. And, simultaneously, way more accessible and valuable to us, and our ability to live good lives. And, it all starts with where the word wealth actually comes from. Today's guest, Patrice Washington, has been exploring the topic of wealth for decades, sometimes without even realizing it, developing a level of insight and expertise that is powerfully revealing. As host of the award-winning "Redefining Wealth Podcast," Patrice has built a thriving international community committed to creating wealth in a vastly reimagined way, moving beyond budgets and credit reports and diving into the heart of why we behave the way we do with money, what real wealth looks and feels like, and how to build it. SUCCESS Magazine named Patrice Washington one of 12 Inspiring Black Voices in Personal Development, and I'm thrilled to have her on the show today to share her expansive and deeply-wise lens on everything from wealth and value-creation, to faith, and the season of her life that, literally, brought her to her knees, revealed what truly matters, then fueled a reinvention that, for the first time in her life, brought her face-to-face with a redefined, sustained capacity for wealth, wellbeing, and an extraordinary life of purpose and contribution. You can find Patrice at: Website | Instagram | The Redefining Wealth PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jen Sincero about being a badass in life and money.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Indeed: Connect with your talent audience so you can make more quality hires faster. And now Indeed's doing something no other job site has done. Now with Indeed, businesses only pay for quality applications matching the sponsored job description. Visit Indeed.com/GOODLIFE to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is happiness just in your mind, or does your body play a role? Is health just in your body, or is your mind critical? What about your environment, circumstance, and history? How do these play into the well-being puzzle? Especially now, after a few years that have been so hard on us?According to Dr. Frank Lipman, in order for us to feel better, more alive, more well, we need to focus on 6 key areas, that all interconnect. Frank is a pioneer in both integrative and functional medicine. He's the founder and director of 1111 wellness center in New York City. A New York Times bestselling author and the creator of Be Well, a lifestyle brand that helps people achieve genuine and really sustainable life changes. I have known Frank for many years. He's become a close advisor when it comes to really anything wellness related that I am exploring doing. We explored his moving personal journey from South Africa to New York in a prior episode. In this week's best of episode, drawing from his latest book, How to Be Well, we dive into what he calls his good medicine mandala, and it's really kinda wrapped around these six pillars of health, along with some very specific and often contrary and advice, which, he is not afraid to carve his own path and be very direct about what he agrees and disagrees with on everything from fasting and fat in your diet to sleep and sunshine, and so much more, really excited to share this conversation with you. His insights are especially valuable as we all start to look at how to emerge from these last few years, and reclaim a sense of agency over our health, happiness, and overall well-being. You can find Frank at: Website | Instagram | Eleven Eleven Wellness CenterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Aviva Romm about women, health, and hormones.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Indeed: Connect with your talent audience so you can make more quality hires faster. And now Indeed's doing something no other job site has done. Now with Indeed, businesses only pay for quality applications matching the sponsored job description. Visit Indeed.com/GOODLIFE to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether you consider yourself a spiritual person, or not, your brain - yes, you - is wired for spirituality in a way you never imagined. It is activated, turned on, and greatly benefits, from spiritual experience. And, it’s not just your brain, it’s your body, your health, your relationships, your work, your life. Which begs the question, “what even IS spiritual experience?” And, beyond feeling more deeply connected to some notion of Source, God, or oneness, how does it affect us? And, is there science that explains it? That’s where we’re headed with today's guest, acclaimed researcher, and pioneer in the science of spirituality, Dr. Lisa Miller. Dr. Miller is a professor of twenty years in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the Founder and Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology, and has held over a decade of joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical School. Her innovative research has been published in more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.Dr. Miller is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and her newest book, The Awakened Brain, explores her groundbreaking research on the science of spirituality and how to engage it in our lives. In my conversation with her today, she uncovers more about the innate spirituality that's within all of us, dives deeper into the research that connects spirituality to wellbeing, and awakens the question that's inside us all, which is how do I live a meaningful and purposeful life? And, be sure to listen and join in when she guides me through a powerful thought experience, in real-time, that reveals insights about my own spiritual sense that surprised even me!You can find Lisa at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Adam Gazzaley about neuroscience, psychedelic and spiritual experience.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Solo Stove: Make more backyard memories with solo stove's award-winning fire pits, stoves, & grills. Right now, you can get big discounts on all fire pits during Solo Stove's Summer Sale. And use promo code GLP at SoloStove.com for an extra $10 off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine leaving everything you know behind to start a life in a brand new country, all in hopes of providing a better life for yourself and your family. After all is said and done, and you've made sacrifice after sacrifice to feed, clothe, and care for yourself and eventually, children, in this new and unfamiliar place that doesn't even feel all that welcoming all the time, your biggest hope for your kids is that become self-sufficient, and ideally, make you proud in the process. This, like many other immigrant families, was the hope of Sabaa Tahir's parents, and as a NY Times bestselling author, it's safe to say she's fulfilled her parents' hopes and dreams despite where she came from. That's why I'm excited to dive into this chat with Sabaa today, where she tells me more about how a girl who grew up in her family's eighteen-room motel went from devouring fantasy novels to writing hit ones of her own.Sabaa was born to Muslim-Pakistani immigrants in Great Britain, and she lived there for the first year of her life before moving to California, where she grew up in the Mojave Desert in the middle of a naval base at the small motel her parents owned. She's been a professional author since 2015 and a journalist at The Washington Post before that, and Sabaa's books, including her critically-acclaimed Ember in the Ashes series, have sold more than a million copies worldwide, are New York Times and international bestsellers, and have been honored by TIME Magazine on a list of the 100 best fantasy books of all time. Her work has appeared on numerous best books of the year lists, including Amazon, Buzzfeed, The Wall Street Journal, TIME, and Entertainment Weekly. Her latest book, All My Rage, draws heavily from her experiences and feelings of isolation growing up as an outcast as one of the few South Asian families in her small military hometown, and in my conversation with Sabaa today, we explore those external, as well as the internal, influences that helped her tell a story that embodies a deeply personal, but universal, rage. Of course, none of us can choose where we come from or where we grew up, and certainly, none of us can control the injustices that happen every day in this world. But in this chat with Sabaa today, we pinpoint how she's used storytelling to face the ghosts that haunted her, access emotions like rage that have traditionally not been reserved for those like her and tell a story that's been brewing inside her all along. You can find Sabaa at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Valarie Kaur about her experience integrating two cultures.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Air Doctor: Code GOODLIFE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adults do this thing — and maybe you've already done it yourself since you've grown up — where they go out of their way to remind children that life will come with its difficult moments, so we should revel in the good, easy times while they last. Ease, we learn, is the state we should most aspire to.But, what about those hard things, moments, and experiences? Isn’t there value in them, even if they’re not fun in the moment? Aren’t they important in not only making us who are, in fostering confidence, competence, and resilience? In making life truly good, and equipping us with the resilience to get through the times when it’s not? And, what about that age-old notion of toughness? What’s really going on there? Can we be tough, but also gentle, vulnerable, open? Today's guest, Steve Magness, a world-renowned expert on performance, well-being, and sustainable success, joins me to dive deeper into these questions and explore the fascinating intersections of success, toughness, doing hard things, and science. Steve is co-author of the best-selling book Peak Performance and The Passion Paradox. His most recent work is Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness. In his coaching practice, Steve works with executives, entrepreneurs, and athletes on their performance and mental skills. He's worked with Olympians and professional athletes across the NBA and MLB, and his writing has appeared in various notable outlets such as Forbes, Sports Illustrated, and Men's Health. Toughness is a word that comes with certain unfortunate, heavily machismo-fueled perceptions that might not be accurate or even helpful to us as we strive for success or try to work our way through hard things. In this conversation, you'll hear us dissect the words "grit" and "toughness" as Steve offers his take on the matter, defining grit as the ability to create space for navigating your doubts, insecurities, and feelings that can get in the way of the desired outcome. And in the end, we explore the importance of training our brains to escape the shock of difficulties and forge on until the end — even with the complicated feelings and all. You can find Steve at: Website | The Growth Equation podcast | On Coaching podcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Angela Duckworth about grit, resilience, and adaptability.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Ka'Chava: 10% OFFFinancial Feminist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you balance both the weight and the sense of possibility of pursuing a massive dream? Especially when you feel you’re representing generations and building a life and living in a very public way, from your earliest years?We all know the story of the American Dream goes: move to America in pursuit of a better life. One with more resources, access, and opportunities, not just for yourself, but your kids, who so often hold in their hands the dreams and expectations and sacrifices of those who came before them and made it possible for them to be where they are today. It can be quite the burden. On the other hand, there’s the dream side of the equation. The example of making hard choices and taking action in the belief that amazing things are possible. My guest today, acclaimed actor, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, learned this from her dad.In our eye-opening conversation today about the complexities of navigating Hollywood as a young child and woman, how the values instilled by her father molded her and the boundaries that sustain her career, and more, JoAnna and I explore the shifting nature of how stories are told in media and their ability to help us relate to one another, feel joy or even grieve. So join us, as she and I dive deeper into her background and then bring it back to the big picture, which is the powerful nature of dreams, joy, and storytelling. You can find JoAnna at: Website | The Happy Place Instagram | JoAnna's InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Marin Hinkle about navigating life in the public eye.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, what would make someone strap a sled loaded with 375 pounds of food and supplies onto their body, then drag it across a stormy, windswept, frozen landmass at the bottom of the earth for 54 days in brutal subzero temperatures, just to say they did it? What might the average person - meaning you and me - who has little to no interest in doing anything remotely so extreme, learn from this experience that would translate into our ability to live better lives, in far less brutal environments, every day? And, how might committing to a more accessible, single-day of challenge, radically change our perspective on all parts of life?These are the questions I had, and the topics we explore with today’s guest, ten-time world record-breaking explorer, speaker, entrepreneur, and expert on mindset, Colin O’Brady. His feats include the world’s first solo, unsupported, and fully human-powered crossing of Antarctica, speed records for the Explorers Grand Slam and the Seven Summits, and the first human-powered, 700-mile ocean row across Drake Passage, maybe the most dangerous and brutal body of frigid, wave-stream ocean that spans South America to Antarctica. Colin’s highly publicized expeditions have been followed by millions and his work has been featured by The New York Times, The Tonight Show, The Joe Rogan Experience, and The Today Show. He is the author of The New York Times bestseller The Impossible First and now The 12-Hour Walk: Invest One Day, Conquer Your Mind, and Unlock Your Best Life.But, what got me so curious, was how preparing for and then mounting these extreme, physically-grueling challenges, was actually as much, if not more about the mind as it was about the body. And, I wanted to know, beyond why anyone would do these things, how they changed him, as a human being, what we all might learn from this and how we might create more accessible, yet transformative versions in our own lives, and experience the powerful benefits that come from them? And, as part of that, we talk about an interesting invitation he’s created to say yes to what he calls The 12-Hour Walk.You can find Colin at: Website | The 12-Hour Walk | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Rich Roll about the interplay between body and mind and how we can use each as a lever to evolve the other.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.ClickUp: 15% Off. Code GOODLIFEZocdoc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine, after years of living on your own, building a 15-year career an award-winning career as a Creative Consultant and Wardrobe Stylist, and essentially checking all the success boxes, a chronic illness drops into your body, leading you back to your hometown to move in with your parents as you work to rehabilitate and heal, and try to not just reclaim, but reimagine your life.Today's guest, Tiffani Moore, knows exactly what it's like to be in this scenario—forced to listen to her body's need for recovery and support after she found out she had Lupus. Tiffani is the Founder and Owner of Moore WellBeings, in addition to being an Intuitive Healer & Coach, Reiki Master, yoga instructor, BreathWork, and MNDFL certified Meditation Facilitator. Before making her mark in the world of wellness, she spent 15+ years building a career as a successful, sought-after stylist and Creative Consultant. But her lupus diagnosis, and the physical and psychological devastation that led up to it, changed everything. Seeking less conventional solutions, she followed her intuition and began to study the power of alternative therapies, including meditation, yoga, herbal medicine, and many of the healing practices she utilizes with clients now. Recovering her wellbeing has been a years-long, painstaking process, fueled by intensive learning, and eventually, a drive to train in and share the many modalities she’d discovered, while also creating a safe, nonjudgmental and well-informed space for marginalized communities to explore holistic wellness. In this conversation with Tiffani today, you'll hear us explore the harsh realities of living with a chronic illness, like feeling like a burden to loved ones or the struggle to balance rest and recovery with the need to work to survive. We talk about intuition and its role in healing, wellness, and self-expression and how it could benefit us to rethink wellness not as a luxury but instead as a birthright or something we all deserve and can access.You can find Tiffani at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with James Gordon about the power of the mind to heal and work through illness and trauma.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.ClickUp: 15% off ClickUp's massive Unlimited Plan for a year. Code GOODLIFE.Zocdoc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the things I’ve come to believe during the now 10-year journey of Good Life Project is that there truly is no individual good life, without there also being a more collective and inclusive path for a societal good life. We are all interconnected. And a key part of this more expansive aspiration is about planting seeds, starting with younger generations. So, how do you raise kids to create a more equitable and inclusive society? One where we’re not afraid to acknowledge and discuss beautiful experiences, while also addressing hard truths in a way that steeps us in reality, invites everyone into the conversation, and compels us to do the work needed to create more possibility, equality and opportunity for all, regardless of race, socio-economic status, religion, age, ability and beyond?That’s where we’re headed with today’s guest, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. He’s the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University, founding director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research, a contributing writer at The Atlantic, CBS News racial justice contributor, and the host of the Be Antiracist podcast. Dr. Kendi is also the author of many highly acclaimed books including Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, making him the youngest-ever winner of that award. He has also produced five straight #1 New York Times bestsellers, including How to Be an Antiracist, Antiracist Baby, and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, co-authored by Jason Reynolds. In 2020, Time magazine named Dr. Kendi one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was awarded a 2021 MacArthur Genius Grant. And his new book, How to Raise An Antiracist, take us into the core ideas around bringing kids up - as caretakers, parents, educators and community members - in a way that opens their minds, hearts and eyes to both our history and to the work still to be done to decrease inequality and increase equality.You can find Ibram at: Website | Instagram | Be Antiracist PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Austin Channing Brown inviting all to play a part in creating a more equal and inclusive society.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a founding member of one of the biggest bands of the last few decades create such incredible music, enjoyed by hundreds of millions of people, while living a life that is privately falling apart? And what would make him do the work to start to put all the pieces back together, to produce not just iconic music, but also a grounded, fulfilling life? That’s where we’re going in today’s Best Of conversation with the founding member, frontman and guitarist for iconic band, the Goo Goo Dolls, John Rzeznik. Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, John is a legend in the world of music, with 19 top-ten singles, including mega-hits like Iris (which spent 12 months on the Billboard charts), Name, Black Balloon and countless others. And, like so many who turned to music at a young age as both a way to cope with discord and a form of expression, he’s lived a life of extraordinary artistry and contribution, and along with that, a certain amount of darkness and struggle that for many years found him turning to alcohol as a way to get through each day. Until it all fell apart, and he had to make a decision. One he keeps making every day. Now, sober, a devoted dad and husband, he's telling a new story with his life and music, and taking the giant, global community of Goo Goo Doll fans along for the journey. And, as you’ll hear, he’s headed into the studio to create something that is truly representative not just of this moment in time, but also of how his lens on life, music, and creativity have evolved.You can find John at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Joan Osborne about her incredible life in music and activism.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Wealthfront: Diversify your investing with an automated portfolio that can help maximize your returns and minimize your taxes. There are already nearly half a million people using Wealthfront to save more, earn more, and build long-term wealth. So why wait? Earn 1.4% on your cash today. Visit wealthfront.com/GOODLIFE to get started. This no-brainer good news has been a paid endorsement from Wealthfront. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know how exercise and fitness can impact and improve our physical health. But, what about what it can do for your mind? Your brain? Your experience of anxiety, depression, stress and more? Your relationships? Your ability to experience peace and ease? Movement can be an astonishingly powerful prescription for the all-too-often heaviness and complexity of life. So, why is it so difficult sometimes to get up and move, even when we know what good it'll do for us? Turns out, our bodies and brains do this fascinating dance that sometimes supports us, and other times shuts us down, even when we know, rationally, we’d feel better making different choices. It makes me wonder what if the solution to start moving more isn't based on a doctor's orders or creating a rigorous workout plan but, instead, listening to our bodies and responding accordingly with movement in a way that brings all systems online? That's what we're talking about today with my guest, Dr. Jennifer Heisz. She's an expert in brain health and the author of Move The Body, Heal The Mind: Overcome Anxiety, Depression, and Dementia and Improve Focus, Creativity, and Sleep. Dr. Hesiz is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Brain Health and Aging at McMaster University, where she directs the NeuroFit lab. Her award-winning research examines the intersections of physical and emotional health and how exercise helps ward off or treat depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health conditions. Her new book explores her own research and the latest findings on how fitness and exercise can combat mental health conditions such as anxiety, dementia, ADHD, and depression, while improving productivity, creativity, and sleep. Get ready to hear us dive deeper into the relationships between fitness and mental health, creativity, and sleep and explore different strategies and approaches that anyone — with all levels of ability or disability, motivated or unmotivated — can tap to incorporate movement into their lives in a way that feels good. So excited to share this conversation with you.You can find Jennifer at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Bessel van der Kolk, MD about the relationship between our minds and our bodies and how we need to harness both to unwind the mind, especially in the context of trauma.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Indeed: Connect with your talent audience so you can make more quality hires faster. And now Indeed's doing something no other job site has done. Now with Indeed, businesses only pay for quality applications matching the sponsored job description. Visit Indeed.com/GOODLIFE to to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all heard the call to self-care, some have even heeded it. But what if, beyond the core concept of taking care of your physical, emotional, and spiritual self, there was a deeper engine of discord and exclusion at play? Wellbeing is, no doubt, key to living a good life, but wellness - as a concept - over the years, has become an industry, and along with that has come both incredible benefits and also a host of co-opted, problematic ideals, offerings and structures. A look under the hood often reveals an arguably toxic industry with deep cracks in its foundation that threaten to reveal the inequitable, exclusionary, shame-driven, perfection-aspiring, and, on occasion, even predatory side of wellness culture. But, it doesn’t have to be that way.That’s what we’re exploring in today's episode with community organizer and wellness activist Kerri Kelly. Kerri is the founder of CTZNWELL, a movement that is democratizing well-being for all. As a descendant of generations of firemen and first responders, Kerri has dedicated her life to kicking down doors and fighting for justice. She's been teaching yoga for over 20 years and is known for making waves in the wellness industry by challenging norms, disrupting systems, and mobilizing people to act. Kerri is the author of the forthcoming book American Detox: The Myth of Wellness and How We Can Truly Heal, and through her work and her advocacy, she's been instrumental in translating the practices of wellbeing into social and political action and working in collaboration with community organizers, spiritual leaders, and policymakers to transform our systems from the inside out. Today, I get the pleasure of chatting more about her ideas, activism, and all the ins and outs of wellness culture through her lens. And in this conversation, you'll hear us talk about the aftermath of 9/11 and how loss and grief pushed Kerri into the world of wellness; we explore wellness as we've come to know it today and its transformation into a symbol of luxury, the divisiveness of the movement, the deep systematic problems that plague its culture, and what we can do about it. So excited to share this conversation with you.You can find Kerri at: Website | Instagram | CTZNWELL | CTZN PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Aviva Romm, MD about women’s health.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.K12Green Chef: Use code goodlifeproject135 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fact that you're listening to this podcast right now tells me ‌you likely already know the power of a compelling story. Good storytelling can persuade, inspire, and ultimately grab hold of the hearts and minds of whoever's listening or reading. And so, whether you'd call yourself a lover of classic literature, an avid reader, or neither, you can probably think of a book you've read or a story you've heard at some point that's completely changed your outlook on life or given you much-needed perspective. Telling stories, although the act may seem like second nature, is a powerful tool that we all can use to deepen the way we learn and interact with one another and ourselves and help us find more meaning and direction in our own lives. And to bring the power of storytelling to light further and break down the science and impact behind it is today's guest, Angus Fletcher, Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative, the world's leading academic think tank for the study of how stories work. As a practitioner of story science or story scientist, Angus has a B.S. in neuroscience from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in literature from Yale. His fascinating research employs a mix of laboratory experiment, literary history and rhetorical theory to explore the psychological effects—cognitive, behavioral, therapeutic—of different narrative technologies. His newest research on resilience and creativity with the U.S. Army's Special Operations community has just been published in Harvard Business Review and the New York Academy of Sciences.Today, he joins me as one of the world's leading experts on the psychological effects of narrative and literature to dive deeper into the science of stories and explore how we all could use the stories we are told and tell ourselves to better our lives and find more meaning, joy, and hope. In our chat, you'll hear us talk more about the nitty-gritty of narrative theory and his new book on the science of stories, Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature, and explore how storytelling is the free driver of change, self-efficacy, and connection that we all need in our adult lives and in childhood. You can find Angus at: Website | LinkedInIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Liz Gilbert about creativity and storytelling and writing and lifting a fully open, honest, true and real life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Sleep Number: Why choose proven quality sleep from Sleep Number? Because every great day starts the night before. And now, don’t miss Sleep Number’s lowest prices of the season with the Queen 360® c2 smart bed, now only $899. A savings of $200! Only at Sleep Number® stores or sleepnumber.com/GOODLIFE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest, Gail Devers, was a rising star in the world of running, winning title after title. Until her body began to betray her, literally consuming itself and threatening to end her career just as it was just getting going, let alone her life. Maybe even more distressing, though, was a level of systematic gaslighting for years, doctors kept saying nothing was wrong, but she knew. And she kept pushing for answers until she found one, then painstakingly rebuilt her health, her life, and stepped back onto the track to do what no one else thought possible. Gail became a nine-time World Champion, three-time Olympic gold track and field medalist, and a five-time Olympian. Now a fierce advocate for raising awareness for Grave's Disease, which she was finally diagnosed with, she’s made a name for herself as one of the fastest women alive for almost two decades. Although the odds were seemingly against Gail when she discovered her diagnosis, from her health suffering to her self-confidence taking a major hit as a result. It made Gail's recovery and comeback moment years later in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona even more special. But her story is also so much bigger than running. She’s become a fierce advocate to raise awareness for Grave's disease and its accompanying TED symptoms. In my chat with her today, we take it back to where it all first started, remembering what motivated her to step onto the track in the first place, and we make our way up to the moment that finally changed everything for Gail: receiving her first diagnosis. We talk about how overwhelming yet crucial it was for Gail to serve as her own health advocate during her search for answers, how goal-setting played its role in her recovery and healing journey, and why it's so important for us all to take back control of our lives against anything that tries to take it away from us. This talk with Gail comes at a special time since July is Grave's Disease Awareness Month. So buckle in, and come along this ride with us today and learn how one woman was determined to finish the race that she started, even if her life depended on it. So excited to share this conversation with you.You can find Gail at: More About Thyroid Eye Disease | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Rich Roll about navigating his journey through addiction, recommitting himself to health and wellness, and eventually becoming an ultra-endurance athlete.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vogue Magazine named today’s guest, Jake Wesley Rogers, Gen Z's Elton John, but truth is, he is a wildly-talented, 25-year-old singer, songwriter and performer not only dazzles audiences but also stands powerfully in an identity that belongs to no one other than himself. How a queer kid from Springfield, Missouri, went from growing up in the deep South, then studying songwriting in Nashville, TN, to eventually gracing the stages of music festivals like Lollapalooza, headlining for artists like Panic At The Disco! and Ben Platt isn't all that of a mystery once you hear his music—and his story. Jake has this unique way of creating bold, emotional music that tells the stories of his life, yet feels universal at the same time. He invites us all to feel and sing and move and, in no small way, reclaim the parts and stories in our own lives that we’ve left behind. Elton John, himself, sang Jake’s praises while he was a guest on the 300th episode of Elton's Apple Music radio show Rocket Hour, saying Rogers reminded him of himself when he started out. And, all the while, what you’ll experience in this conversation, is how deeply grounded, loving, and intentional he is with everything he does.In today's conversation, we dive into Jake's journey in music and life and explore some of the lyrics of his recently released six-song EP Pluto, which has been long-awaited since his signing to hit songwriter Justin Tranter's imprint of Warner Records, Facet Records, in 2020. We unpack the art of songwriting and storytelling and its ability to help us process difficult experiences and explore some interesting asides on identity, finding inspiration, his connection and love for his family, and how important it is for Rogers to keep himself centered and present as the rocket ship that has become his career as an artist takes off. His EP “Pluto” is filled with passionate ballads and poetic lyrics that tell the stories of his most formative years and dealings with love of all forms—from romantic to familial to self-love. And though Jake is early in the years, he’s deeply wise, we can all learn something from his outlook not just on storytelling but on gratitude, joy, and taking life in stride. You can find Jake at: Website | Instagram | SpotifyIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Justin Tranter about their life in music and creativity and really finding a place of power and beauty and creative expression.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For generations, Abby Wambach’s name has been synonymous with soccer. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA World Cup Champion, and the highest all-time goal scorer ever, she is an icon. But, that's not the whole story. Not by a long shot. And, funny enough, especially here in the podcast world, she’s become known for a very different story. One centered around love, advocacy, and impact.Retiring in 2015 at the age of 35, Abby found herself, for the first time since she was a young child, without a defining identity or path forward. The year that followed brought her to her knees, but then delivered her into her next, even more powerful season of her life. She met and married the love of her life, Glennon Doyle, (who’s been a two-time guest on this show) and became a co-parent to three amazing kids. Funny enough, and we talk about this in the conversation, the first time Abby ever heard Glennon publicly talk about her, and their then-budding relationship was on this podcast. And, as we all know now, they’d eventually team up with Glennon’s sister to launch the wildly-beloved and impactful podcast, We Can Do Hard Things.Abby has also redirected the same fierce effort that led her to be a world-class athlete toward becoming an activist for equality and inclusion, a champion of women, queer, and human rights. Her book, Wolfpack, and the movement and company she launched along with it, is a reclamation. It's a call to agency and community. It's a stake in the ground that defines this next, powerful leg in her journey, and her role in our collective journey together.We explore this powerful journey, along with many of the deeper motivations, struggles, moments of awakening, defining stories and so much more in today’s conversation.You can find Abby at: Website | Instagram | We Can Do Hard ThingsIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Glennon Doyle about becoming untamed and falling in love.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Zapier: Workflow automation for everyone. Zapier automates your work across 4000+ app integrations, so you can focus on what matters. See for yourself why teams at Airtable, Dropbox, HubSpot, Zendesk, and thousands of other companies use Zapier every day to automate their businesses. Try Zapier for free today at zapier.com/GLP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you haven't heard of Tara Westover's memoir Educated. yet, you're in for a real treat. Her massive blockbuster book recounts her time growing up in rural Idaho with a dad who viewed the outside world with deep fear and a conspiratorial bent and kept the family isolated and forbidden from pursuing public school education. Tara, who never saw the inside of a classroom until she was 17, retraces her steps from her survivalist childhood to her remarkable journey to earning her Ph.D. at Cambridge. She spent her time in Idaho working in her family's junkyard, learning about herbal medicine from her mother, a self-taught herbalist and midwife, and plotting her great escape. Ultimately, she graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University, and in 2014, she earned a Ph.D. in history from Trinity College, Cambridge, became a Writer in Residence at the Harvard Kennedy School, and was selected as a Senior Research Fellow there. When it came time to tell her own story, Tara wrote the book she needed to write for herself. Her truth. Her story. That's it. But just as she has her own story to tell through her own lens, so does each person in her family. This reality pushes us to wonder and question how quickly society has become to put people in categories or boil their existence down to a single instance or even statement. So how do you do justice to your own narrative when the stakes are the ability to ever reconnect with your family for the rest of your life? And is it even possible? In today's conversation, we explore Tara's story, but we also go deeper into her creative journey, her desire to make meaning and to write. To build her own life. And we talk about what happened leading up to the book's publication, as well as how that moment affected her in ways she could've never seen coming and the conflict between being loyal to her family and being loyal to herself. We explore how the ensuing years have led her into a new phase of self-discovery and revelation, in part, because of the stunning global success of the book and also the near-overnight exposure of her and her story to millions of people around the world.So like I said in the beginning if you've never heard of this book before —and even if you have— you're in for a real treat today. You can find Tara at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Gilbert about the power and also concerns that come from writing your truth, then sharing it.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.OutschoolZocdoc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When's the last time you've answered the question, "How are you?" honestly? Whether small talk is a good thing, a bad thing or just a thing is a matter of passionate debate. But, the bigger issue is - when it is time to get real. Both with other people, and also with ourselves? And what are we losing, what parts of ourselves, our relationships, our lives, are we forsaking when we hide behind the facade of social propriety? There comes a time when it's crucial to move beyond the surface level if we want to invite deeper and more fulfilled connections into our lives and find a community that will support and uplift us. So today, I'm joined by Jenna Kutcher to talk more about this idea of diving deeper below the surface in all parts of life to spark meaningful connections and, ultimately, a more authentic and rich life. Jenna Kutcher is a born-and-raised Minnesota wife, mom, and wildly-successful educational entrepreneur who aims for two things daily that I can totally respect: helping others wake up to life and staying in comfy pants. After leaving a mainstream, yet largely life-sucking career that was a complete misfit for her, she found her way into art, photography, and eventually creative entrepreneurship. And, she began to realize, life is just so much bigger than she imagined, and success was not what she’s always been told. And, as is her bent, the minute she learns something she loves to share, so she founded and hosts the now top-rated The Goal Digger podcast, where Jenna’s helped thousands redefine success and chase dreams through her decade-long work as a leading online educator. Her first book, How Are You Really?: Living Your Truth One Answer At A Time, is this deeply open guidebook to being alive that's chocked full of both provocative invitations to rethink life, as well as detailed guidance to lead you forward in a way that moves closer to your heartbeat, your people, and the good life that awaits you.There are too many fascinating nuggets that touch on so many elements of living a good life throughout this conversation, like the importance of asking for help, how to navigate change in life and business while remaining grounded, and the difference asking that age-old question with a simple tweak, "How are you, really?" could make in all our relationships. So if you're on a mission to own your life rather than the other way around and feel more alive, good things are in store for you in this chat with Jenna. You can find Jenna at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Amanda Palmer about being open, vulnerable, and real.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.AquaTruAir Doctor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heartbreak. We all experience it. It’s a horrible feeling, but can it actually, literally, break your heart, along with the other organs and systems in your body? Turns out, the answer is yes. It attacks not just your psychology - your state of mind - but also your physiology; everything from your brain to your cardiovascular, endocrine, immune system, and beyond. It can ravage both body and mind. And, it also turns out, there are things you can do to not only mend your broken heart emotionally but also rebuild your health after it’s taken a major hit.That’s where we’re going with my guest today, acclaimed science journalist, Florence Williams. Her book The Nature Fix was an Audible bestseller. She is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine and has written for the New York Times, National Geographic, and many other publications. But, that’s not what kicked off her interest in heartbreak and what it does to us. For Florence, it was personal. After her decades-long marriage ended, she found herself, not surprisingly, devastated. Not just emotionally, though, but also physically. Ill. Her body and her health started falling apart. And as she began to pick up the pieces, her science journalist’s brain also started wondering how emotional heartbreak was connected to the rash of physical symptoms and illness that had seemed to take over her body. She wondered if there was science behind if and, also, what could be done about it. That curiosity set in motion a quest that led her deep into the rapidly-evolving science of heartbreak, and also to the tools and strategies that culminated in her book Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey.You can find Florence at: Website | Instagram | Heartbreak AudiobookIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Frank Lipman about how inseparable the mind and body are when it comes to health.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, what if being fiercely self-reliant and individualistic was actually a terrible thing? I know, I know, sounds silly. I mean isn’t that the very thing we’re told to strive for from the youngest age? And, especially, in our culture now? Problem is, living in a me-first or me-over-you world is not only destroying our personal relationships, it’s destroying us, our states of mind, and even physical wellbeing. And, intimacy, deep connectedness, even reliance on and elevating others just might be the solution to much of what ails us.That idea may sound strange at first, it’s hard to argue that the rise of a wildly individualistic society has also gone hand-in-hand with the destruction of social bonds, friendship, mental health and nearly every marker of health in communities as well. As humans, we are all designed to be in relationship with others to experience the positive effects of connectedness, when that breaks down, so do we. And today's guest, Terry Real is an internationally recognized family therapist, speaker, and author. His new book Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship is a guide not just for couples, but also just for all human beings, filled with tools and advice to help anyone tap into their most collaborative and relational self. In today's conversation with Terry, he shares his story of growing up in a dysfunctional home to reveal how the techniques we've all learned to survive dysfunction as children can take a toll on our present relationships. And we explore how re-engaging with the people around us we hold most dear just may save not only those relationships, but our lives as well, and society more broadly. You can find Terry at: Website | FacebookIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Julie and John Gottman about how to build deeper, loving relationshipsCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today, Danica Roem, went from fronting a Death Metal band by night while building a career as an accomplished journalist by day, to being the first person to be elected and serve in any U.S. state legislature while openly transgender.When you hear that story, you might think, “wow, that’s amazing, but I don’t really relate.” Not so fast. When you zoom the lens out, Danica’s story is really about the quest to live as the truest expression of yourself, to not stifle or deny who you are, and to find a sense of home for all parts of you within a community. Which is something nearly all of us often struggle with. I know I do. This is why I was so excited to be in conversation with Danica Roem. My chat with Danica takes us back to her teenage years, where she first found her community in (what may sound surprising now, but won’t later) metal music. We talk about the struggles of masking the authentic parts of yourself in order to fit in, and how she’s been able to use her experiences to relate with people from all different backgrounds on a human level. Danica’s new memoir-meets-manifesto, Burn the Page: A True Story of Torching Doubts, Blazing Trails, and Igniting Change, deconstructs the many, sometimes outrageous and deeply isolating and offensive stories her doubters and opponents have thrown at her and shows through brutal honesty how she’s turned her identity, values and experiences into her greatest strengths. She brings that same honesty and authenticity to our conversation today, so know that you’re in for a real treat. You can find Danica at: Website | TwitterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jeffrey Marsh about living into your own sense of identity, unapologetically. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine being a kid who loved music, who’d been brought up with jazz literally in his blood, graduating college, then, instead of heading into a “responsible” adult job like all your friends, opening a record store in the heart of Seattle at a time where the neighborhood musicians, the ones who’d hang out all day and talk about all-things-music, also just happened to be budding icons who’d go one to become scions in the industry, forming bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Sound Garden, and so many others. This is just one season in the extraordinary life and career of today’s guest, Nabil Ayers.Now, years into a powerhouse career in music, he heads-up of one of the most iconic labels in the business, one, in fact, he fell in love with as a young kid. Growing up mixed-race, Jewish and Black, in NYC in the eighties, with a father who was a legendary jazz musician, but also entirely absent from his life, Nabil’s mom and uncle made sure to surround him with music, musicians and other quirky characters. And, that seeded a passion not just for music, but also for the culture, the stories, and eventually the business of helping artists grow and thrive. Along the way, Nabil also found himself becoming a storyteller. Both, of his own narrative, and of the many artists he’d champion and help introduce to the world. And, well into his career in music, Nabil began writing about music, his own life and story, and race for publications including The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, GQ, and The Root. Ayers is the President of Beggars Group US, a music label where he has released albums by many GRAMMY Award-winning artists such as The National. His new memoir, My Life in the Sunshine: Searching for My Father and Discovering My Family is about his journey to connect with his musician father, Roy Ayers, and ultimately re-draw the lines that define family and race. You can find Nabil at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jimmie Vaughan about his life in music.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With everything going on in the world recently, we've likely all thought to ourselves at some point, "Is humanity lost?" You are not alone if the news makes you feel like everything is hopeless, and it's fair to wonder if collective and individual hope in empathy, compassion, and humanity will ever be restored. As we move forward past the darkest days of the COVID-19 outbreak, many people are still searching for hope, inspiration, and answers to some big questions like: How do you regain access to empathy? Or what truly matters in life in the end? And I can't think of a better person to explore these questions with than my guest today, Rabbi Steve Leder. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and was ordained at Hebrew Union College, and he currently serves as the Senior Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. He's also a writer and the author of several critically acclaimed books, including his best-seller, More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us, and his latest book, For You When I'm Gone: 12 Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story. His compassionate voice and words of wisdom have earned Rabbi Leder recognition as one of Newsweek Magazine's ten most influential rabbis in America — twice. In this revealing conversation, we explore his views on humanity, death, religion, and what makes a good life well-lived.Rabbi Leder shares his interesting thoughts on why people leave the church, what he believes to be the true single source of evil, and how we can all get back to living in alignment with our values and also how to create a powerful curation of beliefs and stories to share with others he calls your ethical will. There are so many good nuggets to take away from this conversation, so I hope you're in a position to jot down Rabbi Leder's words of wisdom today.You can find Rabbi Steve at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you'll also love the conversations we had with Bishop Michael Curry about the role of love in faith and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When we consider the qualities and traits passed down throughout our family tree, we may think of the curly hair we share with a sibling or a natural talent like singing. But what about the not-so-pleasant traits, beliefs, or patterns that appear generation after generation that are hard to shake? Do we keep making these same old mistakes just because "old patterns die hard," as they say? Or will you be the one who takes a new path, no matter how hard or long it takes?Jennifer Grey is no stranger to taking the road less traveled. From her most visible standout moments, like her iconic role as the star of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, to her personal journey to self-acceptance, Grey has found her way back to herself one step at a time. And you'll hear today that she's just as forthcoming about her journey as she is in her recently released memoir Out of the Corner.In this transparent conversation with her, we explore how Grey views and juggles her family's history and culture, her identity, and her role as the cycle breaker through the lens of her younger and present self. Her awareness of what her mother sacrificed to be a wife and mother shapes how Grey leads her life and chooses to tell her story now. And despite what patterns, gender roles, or responsibilities she was expected to bear or even did at one point, Grey is no longer worried about pleasing people but just being as real and true to herself as possible. You can find Jennifer at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Marin Hinkle about her life in theater, film, and TV.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Chef Irene Li opened a food truck, mei mei, with her siblings, hoping to have fun together, build something cool, and reimagine Chinese comfort cuisine with a playful, modern twist, what happened next took everyone by surprise. Mei Mei exploded, becoming the talk of the town within months. They soon found themselves looking for space and opening a full-service restaurant that was perpetually abuzz. The restaurant was a big success. But, beyond the chance to do something cool with her brother and sister, and push the culinary envelope, there was something else going on.Growing up, Irene’s grandparents immigrated to the US and slowly built up their own restaurants. While her brother had been in fine dining for years, she’d developed a deep passion not just for food, but also for the environment, viewing agriculture, the food and restaurant industry as a potential vehicle to change people’s lives, to completely upend the way restaurants run, and weave in a powerful thru line of social justice, advocacy and impact. And, of course, fun and love. As mei mei took off, Irene and the restaurant landed features everywhere from Food & Wine and The New York Times to People, Bon Appetit and more. Irene gained acclaim for her creativity and innovation, being named a Zagat 30 Under 30 and Forbes 30 Under 30 winner, six-time James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef nominee, and James Beard Foundation Leadership Award winner. Her cookbook is Double Awesome Chinese Food: Irresistible and Totally Achievable Recipes from Our Chinese-American Kitchen.Like many restaurants, though, the pandemic was a brutal experience, the restaurant space eventually closed its doors, but mei mei - the creative, joyful food innovator brand - transformed itself into a next-generation direct-to-consumer and wholesale food manufacturer, focusing on their signature dumplings, with a heartbeat that remains deeply rooted in industry reform and social justice. Irene’s commitment to food, agriculture, cooking and community is a testament to the dedication she has for her work and her genuine commitment to being in relationship with others to impact the greater good. You can find Irene at: Website | Instagram | Dumplings | PrepshiftIf you LOVED this episode: you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ellen Bennett, the founder of Hedley & Bennett chef’s apron brand, about how she built a business in the food industry when everyone around her told her it’d never work.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you google the word “Trauma” you’ll find the top search results arrive in some form of the question “What is trauma?” This then begs the next question: what are we really talking about when we’re talking about trauma? In today’s episode, Dr. Paul Conti and I unpack what trauma is, what it means to have experienced trauma, and what makes trauma so hard to resolve. What I found so fascinating in this conversation was the idea that there are 4 types of trauma we can experience and how, if we can create safe spaces to talk about our trauma and support one another, we can more readily recognize who we were before the trauma occurred and who we want to be after. A graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine, Paul completed his psychiatry training at Stanford and Harvard. Now living in Portland, OR and founding his own clinic, he serves patients and clients throughout the United States and internationally, including the executive leadership of large corporations. He is the author of TRAUMA: The Invisible Epidemic: How Trauma Works and How We Can Heal From It. Thing is, Paul talks about trauma - not just as an academic pursuit but from a personal perspective and experience - having lost his brother to suicide when Paul was just 25 years old. As a result of his training and experience, Paul urges us to remember that we are all in this together and shared humanity is more important now than ever for our healing to begin - and around the 53-minute mark, Paul gives us two prescriptions to take action on - 1 as societal prescription and the other for us individually. Quick note before diving in. As noted above, trauma & suicide are discussed in this conversation, with the lens of care and compassion, still we understand these topics are sensitive and may be triggering to some, so please take care when choosing to listen and honor your own personal sensitivities and needs.You can find Paul at: WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Bessel van der Kolk about his embodied approach to integrating trauma.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever asked yourself: “Who am I? What do I stand for?” Many of us do ask these questions and when we do, it can be a catalyst that sets us on an alternative path - even though we know it might disappoint those around us. Yet, all too often, even when our inner knowing is forcing us to pay attention, life can pull us in the direction of expectations versus desire. We hesitate to follow our curiosity for fear we might let down our family and loved ones. As a result, we stay on course towards what “we’re supposed to do”. But it doesn’t always have to be this way. Sometimes choosing the new path is just what we need to honor our voice, culture and family. This is why I’m excited to share this conversation with Connie Lim, whose artist name is MILCK for this Best Of Conversation.MILCK rose to widespread attention after a video of an a capella performance of her song "Quiet" on the street at the 2017 Women's March exploded into the public’s consciousness going viral and becoming embraced as an anthem for the movement. That moment and the impact and reach of the song led to a major record deal and collaborations as a songwriter that launched the career she’s been working to build for years. But that career almost never happened. MILCK grew up in an enclave of LA, the child of immigrants from China, and was drawn to music from her earliest days. She wrote her first song at 7 years old and studied classical piano and opera. Yet the pressure of intense perfectionism and the expectation she’d eventually leave music behind to follow the family tradition into medicine led her into years of profound emotional struggle. Eventually, she hit a point in college where she decided it was time to choose herself over the expectations of others, as well as the burden of perfectionism that had caused so many years of suffering and harm. MILCK left college and went all-in on music, performing as an independent artist for years, slowly building her name, before that fateful day in 2017 that changed everything. She’s now deep into writing, producing and performing her own work, while also writing with and for other artists and focusing on not just sharing her own creative voice, but also gathering community and shining the light on truth and inequity along the way.You can find MILCK at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Justin Tranter about their journey through challenging times as a kid growing up and then stepping into the world of music - first as a musician, and then as a powerhouse songwriter and collaborator.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if, instead of trying to fit in and be accepted, you embraced and harnessed the power of your inner outlier? How could you leverage different experiences and environments to turn the parts of you that no one else can replicate from a potential source of exclusion into a superpower and differentiator? In today’s episode with my guest, Julian Gilliam, who goes by the artist name, LOGIK, we explore these ideas in the context of LOGIK’s upbringing, living in 9 different places and having to constantly adapt, to his work as both a change-maker and creative innovator in the world of advertising and media, a Creative Director for Google, as an artist and painter who creates stunning lifesize works, and has recently been making giant waves in the world of art, community, Web3, and NFTs.And all the while, he’s done it by immersing himself in different experiences and cultures, including Japanese art and language, studying the dynamics and often unspoken social context, then rather than trying to fit in, bringing his full self, often as an outside and outlier, to the quest to create incredible moments of innovation, emotion, and awakening.I’m fascinated by LOGIK’s complexity as a skilled artist, the powerful direction he’s taking NFTs and the decisions he’s currently making as he steps fully into this brand new digital creative world. Toward the end of our conversation, at around the hour mark, he brings us to a point of how art and digital collide in a way that changes the relationship between art and collectors. This was a particularly potent part of the conversation in that, LOGIK reveals his philosophy around building a solid foundation as an artist and also building the relationships and structure needed to support longevity for the projects you’re undertaking. He truly brings a new lens to the creative life and how to bring together many people, voices, and communities to both drive change and support expression.You can find LOGIK at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you'll also love the conversations we had with Lisa Congdon about building a career in the arts as an outlier.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re all in a process of reimagining when it comes to work, looking at the changes we’ve made over the last few years, and trying to figure out what we’ll keep, what we’ll let go of, and how else we might want to change the way we work in order to feel the way we want to feel. And, what so many are realizing is that we’ve got more power to reimagine every aspect of work now than we’ve ever had before. Question is, what do we do with that power? And what do we do with this moment of openness to new ways of working and living?These questions are what we dive into with today’s guest, Anne Helen Peterson. Anne is a journalist whose wise, often irreverent, funny, and provocative writing appeared in Buzzfeed, the New York Times and more, before leaving the mainstream to become the voice behind the wildly-popular newsletter, Culture Study. She’s also the author of four books, most recently Out of the Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working From Home (co-written with Charlie Warzel) and Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation.During our conversation, we talk about everything from where we live and work to the traditional role of the 9-5 work week and how, as we look at what’s important to us, companies, businesses and the promise of what remote work can bring, there’s an opportunity to change the way we think about work which ultimately then opens the door to shifting old-schoolwork schedules and models across many industries. One of my favorite moments of this conversation is at minute 35:03 when Anne makes a really compelling case for the 4-day work week, showing how she’s witnessed its success even in, as she calls them, “fuddy-duddy industries.” We also talk about Ann’s power move from mainstream media journalist and big city living to going out on her own as a writer, starting her own subscription newsletter, moving to a remote island, and loving it all. If you’re ready to think about working differently, this episode will be a beacon for you. You can find Anne at: Instagram | SubstackIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Charlie Gilkey about focusing on what matters in work and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve come to believe that the quality and richness of our lives is, in no small part, determined by the depth and quality of our attention. If it’s massively distracted, perpetually spinning out, and focused on negativity, that will also largely be the state of our lives, regardless of the actual objective circumstance of our lives. And, that is where we go in a powerful way with my guest today, Johann Hari. Johann is a writer and journalist, whose work appears in everywhere from the New York Times, Le Monde, to The Guardian and many other newspapers and media outlets. His TED talks and NowThis viral video have been viewed almost 100 million times, and his work has been praised by a broad range of people, from Oprah Winfrey to Noam Chomsky. He was the Executive Producer of the Oscar-nominated film “The United States vs Billie Holiday” and of a forthcoming eight-part TV series starring Samuel L Jackson. And following an incident with his Godson a few years back, he decided to turn his attention to the topic of attention, what attention actually is, how it affects us our mental and physical health, relationships, careers, and lives, what our ability to either harness or lose control of it is doing to us, and how our world, technology and global enterprise have built models designed to hijack our attention not in the name of the betterment of our lives or of humanity, but rather for their own good. Johann goes deep into his research and ideas in the groundbreaking book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention - and How to Think Deeply Again, and we explore what he calls an attentional pathogenic culture, how it’s making life both harder and sadder, and, importantly, what we can do about it to reclaim our attention and, in doing so, our lives.You can find Johann at: Instagram | WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley about the way our brain works.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you think of when you hear the word influence? Or the phrase, “be an influencer?” Maybe you think about the ability to affect another person, to have influence over them. Or, to persuade them to adopt an idea, point of view or opinion. Or, maybe take an action or commit to something, or buy something. Whether we’re comfortable with the notion of influence or persuasion or not, we’re all immersed in overlapping processes of subtle and not-so-subtle influence all day, every day. And to better understand how to both cultivate our own skills and tools, and also become more aware of the scripts that are running all around us, I’m so excited to be able to sit down with my friend, Dr. Zoe Chance. Zoe is a writer, teacher, researcher, and climate philanthropist obsessed with the topic of interpersonal influence. She earned her doctorate in behavioral science from Harvard and now teaches “Mastering Influence and Persuasion,” the most popular course at Yale School of Management. And, her framework for behavior change is the foundation for Google’s global food policy that helps over 100,000 people make healthier choices every day. Before focusing on academic pursuits, she also managed a $200 million segment of the Barbie brand for Mattel.Zoe teaches smart, kind people to raise money for charity, get elected to political office, fund startups, start movements, save lives, find love, negotiate great deals and job offers, and even get along better with their kids. In other words, she helps people to use their superpower of influence as a force for good. And, by the way, if you love today’s conversation, you’ll also love her book, Influence is Your Superpower.You can find Zoe at: Website | Twitter If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Charles Duhigg about building habits.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is energy medicine real? What about Ayurveda? What about Western/modern medicine, what’s right and not so right about it? Does the gender of a patient make a difference in how they’re treated, or in their health outcomes? What about the role of plants, herbs, and intuition? These are all questions that have come up in conversations over the years as I’ve had the incredible opportunity to sit down with women who are leading voices and often voices of change in various approaches to medicine and wellbeing. And, in today’s episode, we’ve curated key elements from four of those conversations to share and potentially pull back the curtain on so many myths, misunderstandings and confusion and plant some seeds to explore a different lens and maybe even some different modalities when it comes to exploring your own physical, mental, and energetic wellbeing. If you LOVED this episode:You can find Jill at: Website | InstagramYou can find Avanti at: Website | InstagramYou can find Aviva at: Website | InstagramYou can find Latham at: Website | InstagramCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today, Blair Imani, grew up in a house where sitting quiet in the face of any level of injustice was just not an option. Whether it was advocating for the needs of a sibling or standing up to right a wrong in her community, her parents set a powerful example and invited Blair to always rise to the challenge. And that’s exactly what she’s done. But, along the way, Blair also discovered, there are different ways to make a difference, and we each need to figure out how to take up the mantle of change, while also honoring our unique circumstances and needs, and that includes acknowledging our own, very personal psychological and physical wellbeing. Building on this, Blair transitioned from organizing and activism to focusing on education, but in a way only she could do - harnessing the power, reach, interactivity and visual impact of social media by creating short, punchy, informative and entertaining bursts of wisdom and inspiration she calls her Smarter in Seconds series, which, at this point, has become a global movement.Now a writer, mental health advocate, award-winning educator, and historian living at the intersections of Black, Queer, and Muslim identity, Blair is the bestselling author of Read This to Get Smarter, Making Our Way Home, and Modern HERstory. Her scholarship spans intersectionality, gender studies, race and racism, sociology, and United States history. She has presented at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, serves on the Board of Directors for the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and been featured in The New York Times and tons of other outlets.You can find Blair at: Instagram | WebsiteIf 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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all breathe. It just happens. But, what if the way you breathe made a massive difference in everything from your risk for debilitating illness to your depth and quality of sleep, energy, creativity, and performance? Turns out, it does. Breathing is maybe the single most effective and accessible switch we can throw to radically transform and take control of the way we feel and live. And, by the way, when we leave it chance - as most of us do - our breathing often defaults into a mode that sends us spiraling into poor physical and mental health, and underperformance in all parts of life. Which is why I was so excited to sit down with James Nestor for this Best Of conversation.James is a science writer who has written for Outside, Scientific American, The Atlantic, Dwell, The New York Times, and more. His award-winning book Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves was a revelation and, in no small part, kicked off this science writer’s fascination with the breath. That led to a years-long, immersive quest to understand this often-ignored key to both human potential and all forms of peril. And it led to his blockbuster book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, which is a myth-busting and paradigm-shifting look at how we breathe, what it does to us and how to harness breathing to transform our health and lives.You can find James at: Instagram | WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Wim Hoff about breathing and how it affects your physiology and psychology.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When was the last time you felt truly at peace? Relaxed, physically and emotionally at ease? How can you downregulate your mind and body and reclaim control over everything from your current state of mind to your sleep, risk of illness and even how fast or slow you age? What if you had so much more control over these than you imagined, no matter what seemingly breathless circumstance swirls around you? Turns out, we do, and it’s all about understanding our nervous system and how to actively bring ourselves into what my guest today, Professor Sara Mednick, calls the downstate. Sara is a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of California, Irvine and author of the powerful new book, The Power of the Downstate: Recharge Your Life Using Your Body's Own Restorative Systems. She is passionate about understanding how the brain works through her research into sleep and the autonomic nervous system. In fact, her seven-bedroom sleep lab works literally around the clock to discover methods for boosting cognition by napping, stimulating the brain with electricity, sound and light, and pharmacology. Her research findings have been published in such leading scientific journals as Nature Neuroscience and The Proceedings from the National Academy of Science, and covered by major media outlets, in no small part because of their importance and practical application in helping us feel better, and live healthier, more vibrant lives.You can find Sara at: Website | TwitterIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor about understanding your brain to live a better life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m fascinated by the idea of snap decisions, how some can lead to amazing outcomes, and others can destroy lives. What you so often find is that nothing actually happens in a moment, there is no real snap, but rather a series of experiences leading up to it, often years in the making, were as much authors of the moment as the instance itself. And, sometimes, when those moments lead to something you’ll regret for a lifetime, you get to the next question - what is recoverable - redeemable - how do you make that happen, and who gets to write the story of your reclamation? This is the powerful thru line of my conversation with Shaka Senghor, New York Times bestselling author of Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison. A leading voice on criminal justice reform, tech investor, head of Diversity, Equality & Inclusion at TripActions, former MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow, and member of Oprah Winfrey’s SuperSoul 100, he took another young man’s life at the age of 19, served the next two decades in prison, 7 in solitary, and through a series of awakenings, began to unwind the pieces of his life and begin the process of understanding, reassembling and eventually redemption. In the decade since his release from prison, he has started and worked with nonprofits seeking to lift people up, visited the White House, been interviewed by Trevor Noah and Oprah Winfrey, and given award-winning TED Talks, all with the goal of building a more inspired, just, fulfilling future. His latest book, Letters to the Sons of Society: A Father's Invitation to Love, Honesty, and Freedom invites men everywhere on a journey of honesty and healing through this book of moving letters to his sons.You can find Shaka at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ani DiFranco about our current system of justice and how it relates to expression, personal narratives, and human dignity.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I still remember the first time I heard Joan Osborne’s iconic song, One of Us. I was 29, a couple of years into my career as a federal enforcement attorney with the SEC, and not loving my time in the industry. Asking big questions, when I turn on the radio and hear Joan’s soulful blues voice, asking “what if God was one of us?” It stopped me in my tracks. That was 1995, and that song still has the same effect on me. It also changed the trajectory of Osborne’s career and life in ways that still affect her.Joan was a fixture in the downtown New York music scene in the 90s. But when her debut album, RELISH, came out and One of Us took off, it exploded her into music super-stardom, led to 7 Grammy nominations, and fueled what has become a decades-long career populated by world tours, many more albums, a deepening commitment to weaving together music, advocacy, and activism, and collaborations with everyone from the Funk Brothers to Stevie Wonder, The Grateful Dead, Pavoratti, Bob Dylan and so many more. And, what’s even more amazing, Joan never expected to have a career in music. In fact, it all started as a dare from a friend at an open mic night in an East Village club while studying to be a filmmaker at NYU, a story she shared in our conversation.When the pandemic made it impossible to tour, she took these last few years to do a little organizing around the house and, in the process, discovered a treasure trove of old recordings and demos, many from her years of live performances at radio stations, and curated them into her latest release, Radio Waves. And, to her great joy, she’s now back on the road, so be sure to check our her live performance dates and catch her on tour once again.You can find Joan at: Listen to Radio Waves Now | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Liz Phair about her life in music.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anxiety, even saying the word makes me a bit anxious. But, what if there was a way to unwind it and come back to calm that was counterintuitively simple. And, what if a lot of the popular thoughts around anxiety and how to deal with it today were wrong? That’s what we’re talking about today with my guest, Dr. Jud Brewer. He’s a New York Times best-selling author, neuroscientist, addiction psychiatrist, and thought leader in the field of habit change. Jud is also the director of research and innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, where he serves as an associate professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the School of Public Health. He is the executive medical director of behavioral health at Sharecare Inc. and a research affiliate at MIT. And, he’s developed and tested novel mindfulness programs for habit change, including treatments for smoking, emotional eating, and, yes, anxiety. He is the author of Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind and The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love, Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits. You can find Dr. Jud at: Website | Instagram | Unwinding Anxiety App (sign up with code UNWIND40 for 40% off, before downloading the app)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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wonder why a certain sad song or even a few bars of just the right melancholy music will stop you in your tracks and maybe even move you to tears? Turns out, you’re not alone. My guest today, Susan Cain, has spent years researching why certain experiences - ones that connect us to sadness, longing, or sorrow - move us so deeply, and actually add profoundly to our lives. Susan’s first book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can’t Stop Talking, has been translated into 40 languages, spent seven years on the New York Times bestseller list, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine, which also named Susan one of the Most Creative People in Business. Susan and I have been friends since before she launched her quiet revolution, I’ve always appreciated her deep wisdom, generosity, kindness, and a level of introspection, curiosity, and contemplative thought that’s so rare these days. And, lucky for all of us, she’s been focusing those observational and intellectual superpowers on a topic that is so universal, and yet also so misunderstood - longing. Susan’s new masterpiece, Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole, is a powerful look at why that feeling of yearning, of bittersweetness and longing, is, in fact, not just common to every sentient being, but also necessary and a critical element of a life well-lived, and source-fuel for some of the greatest works of art, science, and creation in history. And, that is exactly what we’re diving into today.You can find Susan at: Website | Instagram | Susan's TED Talk | Bittersweet Spotify PlaylistIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Gilbert about longing and loss.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever hear the phrase, “food is life?” Well, it rings true in so many ways. It’s not just about nutrition, it’s about love, it’s about your relationship with each other, with family, friends, the environment and beyond. It’s above service, joy, connection, sacrifice, salvation, and elevation. And, here at Good Life Project, over the years, we’ve had the stunning opportunity to sit down with some legendary foodies, farmers, culinary makers and thinkers and doers and chefs. People like the chef, author of New York Times bestselling book and Netflix show, Salt, Fat Acid, Heat - Samin Nosrat. People like Top Chef star, restaurateur and educator, Carla Hall who was launched into the world of not just food and restaurants, but media, and books, with her cookbook, Carla Hall’s Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration, and TV, with many appearances all over and a run co-hosting The Chew, and beyond. Or, Giada De Laurentiis, who walked away from a life with her iconic film family to study at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, then become an Emmy award-winning chef, author, and culinary celeb, whose latest book, Eat Better Feel Better, deftly navigates the sweet spot between delicious recipes and a more healthful approach to cooking and eating.We thought we’d share some of the most resonant moments from those conversations in this mouthwatering and soulful conversational montage. If you LOVED this episode:You can find Samin at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Carla at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Giada at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust. Click here to find it in your favorite podcast app.In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | WebsiteCharlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing.LISTENER:  Amy - Sparketype: Advisor/SageQUESTION: How can I focus to make choices in the space of paradox of choice? But, as we’ll also learn, there’s a whole lot more going on underneath that question, especially for Amy who is in the midst of a career reinvention, as are so many now.YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields. Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The WebsitePresented by LinkedIn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chazz Lewis’s mission in life is to enjoy the process of becoming the best version of himself and help others do the same. He goes by “Mr.Chazz” to his massive online following, and to his many students and fellow teachers, leaders, and human beings. Having stepped into the classroom in the early days, largely because he needed a job, he discovered a passion for inspiring and understanding and igniting curiosity and possibility in kids. And, he realized, he’d have to buck a lot of systems and do a metric ton of his own learning and reimagining to make it happen.Along the way, he completed a master's degree in executive leadership at American University and spent years using his own classrooms as living laboratories, developing a more conscious, informed, joyful and dignity-driven and inspired approach to learning, leading, and elevating others. His philosophy began to find relevance far beyond the classroom and has found a home everywhere from parenting to education, personal development, and organizational leadership. And he shares his ideas in a fun, playful, and accessible way, training thousands of teachers, and with his giant following on Tiktok and Instagram. He is in the process of writing a book, and he goes deeper on his podcast, “Mr. Chazz's Leadership, Parenting and Teaching Podcast”.You can find Mr. Chazz at: TicTok | Instagram | PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Renee Jain about inspiring kids to be authentic and grow.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hrishikesh Hirway has been making music for as long as he can remember and, as an adult, spent years building a career in the industry, writing, performing, producing, and touring. But, it was a moment where he took a bit of a pause to re-evaluate that led him to record an interview with a friend about the story and creative decisions behind a song that would change everything. That conversation eventually became the opening episode of the podcast, Song Exploder, which itself then exploded into a global phenomenon that I’ve been obsessed with since hearing that first episode. Now, it’s grown into not just an award-winning podcast, but also a Netflix original television series where musicians break down the creative process behind their songs, featuring many of the biggest names in music like Alicia Keys, Billie Eilish, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dua Lipa, The Killers, so many others. And, building on the success of Song Exploder, Hrishikesh has now grown a network of shows, producing and co-hosting the award-winning podcasts Home Cooking, with chef and author Samin Nosrat, and The West Wing Weekly, with actor Joshua Malina. He’s also the host and producer of the Partners podcast.All the while, he’s continued to write and perform his own music, releasing four albums under the moniker The One AM Radio, and an EP with Moors, his project with Lakeith Stanfield. As a composer, he has written music for film, television, and podcasts, including the score for the Netflix series "Everything Sucks!" and the theme to ESPN’s "30 for 30" podcast. Recently, he released two singles, “Between There and Here," which features Yo-Yo Ma, and “Home,” featuring Jay Som. These, in fact, are the first songs he’s released in 10 years, and the first under his own name. His new EP, Rooms I Used to Call My Own is out March 30.You can find Hrishikesh at: Website | Instagram | PodcastsIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Kaki King. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How’d a kid who loved movies and thought he’d be a filmmaker leave film school, and end up building a $1-billion healthy nutrition business, then exit and focus his energy back on the quest to build the next Disney, but with a focus not just on entertainment, but on impact? That’s the story behind today’s guest, Tom Bilyeu, the co-founder, along with his wife, Lisa, of Quest Nutrition, and the now rapid growth Impact Theory production studio, which is dedicated to creating media and experiences that change people’s lives. Tom was named one of Success Magazine’s Top 25 Influential People, and in today's conversation, we dive into the early influences that shaped him and his lens on creativity and possibility. We talk about how he struggled to even get out of bed for an entire season of life, and then returned to a deeper drive, underneath the yearning to make movies, and how that has been a consistent thru-line and driving motivation to build a billion-dollar nutrition company, then sell it in order to return to his original desire to make media that made meaning, but on a whole different level. You can find tom at: Website | Instagram | Impact Theory on YouTubeIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Rich Roll.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you give to have more free time, less stress & more ability to do the things you love, while knowing everything else is handled? That is the promise of a powerful new body of work from today’s guest, Jenny Blake. Jenny is an author, host of two podcasts, Free Time for Heart-Based Business Owners, and Pivot with Jenny Blake, and keynote speaker who loves helping people move from friction to flow through smarter systems. Her new book, Free Time: Lose The Busywork, Love Your Business, is, quite literally, life-changing. I actually featured Jenny in my last book, SPARKED, because she’s what I call an Essentialist, meaning she lives and breathes to create order from chaos, in the name of clarity and ease. Her mind works in ways that mine doesn’t. Jenny is world-class at creating systems that give you back your life. And, the stunning volume of ideas, tools, processes, and resources she’s developed and curated in Free Time, along with the dashboard she’s launched alongside it, made me realize how much harder I’ve been making things in all parts of work and life, and how much more automation and ease I could access, and, as a result, how much more time I could create to do the things that truly light me up. So, I was excited to invite Jenny to dive deeper into her ideas, methodology and specific tools and resources to create more free time and joy in work, life and beyond. You can find Jenny at: Website | Free Time Podcast | Buy One, Get One, Give One Preorder Bonus.If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Brené Brown.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maybe you’ve seen this week’s guest, Arian Moayed, playing the role of Stewy on HBO’s Succession. Or in the breakaway hit, Inventing Anna, as Anna Sorokin’s lawyer, Todd Spodek. Or, Agent Cleary in last year’s megahit, Spider-Man: No Way Home. And, you’d think, “wow, he’s everywhere, how lucky is he!” And, you’d be half-right. Arian is everywhere these days. But, luck? Not a chance. There is something much bigger at play. With a stunning work ethic, fueled by genuine passion.Arian's family fled Iran under threat of violence when he was a child, taking a years-long journey that split the family between different countries, and eventually landed them just outside Chicago, where they set about building a new life in a radically different world. Acting became a fast passion, a way to express his feelings, his passion, and experiences and, in short order upon becoming an adult, his career. So, while honing his craft and acclaim as an actor, he also began devoting more and more energy to writing, producing, and teaching. Co-founding the theater/film production and arts education venture, Waterwell, his heart is most boldly on display in guiding the growth of teachers and 6-12th graders in New York City’s free theater training program, and exploring not just performance, but citizenship, service, equality, advocacy, justice, and what it means to be human. We all need more of that these days. We're so excited to share this Best Of conversation with you today.You can find Arian at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with James Victore about meeting rejection and adversity and taking on a “just watch me” stance.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you found yourself in the middle years of life, taking on responsibility, building a family, a reputation, a company, a living…and then, in the blink of an eye, had to start over? Not by choice, but by circumstance. That was the experience of this week’s guest, Jordan Harbinger. One of the pioneering voices in podcasting, he’d been in the space for nearly 15 years, building a big audience and a business around it. But, a series of events he never saw coming landed him on the outside-looking-in, wondering, “what’s next?” He could’ve left the world of media, podcasting, and conversation behind, and done any number of things. He’s a former lawyer with a mind for systems and tech. But, he loved the community of podcasting. It’s all he wanted to do. So, instead, Jordan committed to rebuilding his own show, his own career, his own company and team, entirely on his terms and under his control, from the ground up. Fast forward 5 years, Jordan has not only made a comeback, but he has also built one of the most popular and successful properties in the explosive growth world of podcasting - The Jordan Harbinger Show - many times larger than he’d dreamed of or, honestly, even imagined was possible. Jordan and I have known each other for years, we’ve shared ideas, visions, hopes, dreams, and experiences as we’ve both navigated the world of audio, inspiration, and life. But, I wanted to really understand what this recent season of life has been like for him, what he’s learned, how he accomplished such a breathtaking comeback, what he’s said no to along the way and why, how passion and relationships have played into this phoenix-like experience, and how he’s changed as a person along the way. You can find Jordan at: Website | The Jordan Harbinger ShowIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Debbie Millman about designing your life as a perpetually evolving experience.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it actually mean to have a “good” death? If you’re like most people, the very question - simply by the nature of it - scares you. In fact, you may be about to tune out of this episode at this very moment. I urge you to stay with me. Because there are things we all need to think about, to feel, to know. Because, in no small way, the idea of a “good” death is an essential part of the conversation we’ve been having for the last decade about living a good life. But if we never talk about, feel into it, and have open, honest, sometimes hard, but deeply meaningful conversations around it, then we leave our final act largely to fate or the will of others. To the extent that, when the time comes, we have some level of agency, at a moment where - and this is a critical distinction - we’re of sound mind, fully-supported and well-informed, it’s important to know - what are the things to consider, what are the unknowns, and how much of any of it is really in our hands? These are the questions and the circumstances that my guest, acclaimed author, screenwriter, and teacher, Amy Bloom, were presented with when her beloved husband was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in his 60s, and quickly made a decision that, in his words, “the long goodbye” was not for him. The time that followed was marked by no small amount of suffering, not just because of the looming loss of a beloved, but because of the landscape that confronted them when seeking to “do it their way” compounded that suffering. The experience is laid bare, in an achingly beautiful and also stunningly eye-opening way, in Amy’s new book, In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss. This is not an easy conversation, but it is an incredibly important one. And I’m grateful for Amy’s openness, vulnerability, and wisdom in both sharing her story and guiding this conversation.You can find Amy at: WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Robert Thurman about how we experience our time in the most present and engaged way.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a surgical and pediatric nurse become one of the most widely acclaimed writers of our time? This was the jumping-in point for my conversation with Sue Monk Kidd. From her earliest memories, Sue wanted to write, but growing up in a small town in Georgia, she was channeled into a much narrower set of career offerings that were offered up as the “only appropriate kinds of work for a woman.” That never sat well with Sue, but not quite having found her own voice yet, she ended up following the thread into nursing school, then into a season of life where she built a career in medicine while raising a family. But, when she turned 30, that stifled yearning to make writing her devotion was reawakened. She literally announced she was going to be a writer out loud to her husband and kids at the kitchen table, who didn’t quite realize the seriousness of what had just happened. Profoundly influenced by contemplative writers, like Merton, Sue began to pen essays, meditations and stories and see them published, which led to books about her own take on life, feminism, and a more expansive and inclusive spirituality. Then, more than a decade into her writing life, she did what writers are so often cautioned away from. Sue changed lanes from nonfiction to fiction, writing short stories, and eventually, going all-in on a novel that would become the mammoth, international blockbuster, A Secret Life of Bees, the writing of which was its own 5-year odyssey. As we sat down, we explored this incredible journey, and how she navigated major shifts in both career and life. We also dive into her most recent novel, The Book of Longings, a fictional imagining of the early life of Jesus, told through the eyes of an equally strong and vibrant wife, whose presence would never “make” the pages of history. You can imagine, this book stirred a lot of conversation and served as a provocation to explore not only this story, but also the frame that is brought to the way stories of women have, and have not been told throughout history, and who holds the power of the pen.You can find Sue at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Lesser about the writing life and the role of women in historical narratives.My new book Sparked.Check out our offerings & partners: AquaTru: Receive $100 off an AquaTru plus free shipping when you go to AquaTru.com & enter code GOODLIFE at checkout.Indeed: Get a FREE $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job post at  Indeed.com/GOODLIFE. Offer valid through 3/31.Air Doctor: Go to airdoctorpro.com and use the promo code GOODLIFE and you’ll receive a 35% discount on their classic AirDoctor 3000 purifier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you create a radical change in direction in your life? My guest today, Rosie Acosta, found herself asking that question in her mid-teens, after being arrested, and the answer came in a way she never saw coming. Born and raised in East LA at a time when gang violence was the norm, Rosie pushed up against authority from a young age. But, after being arrested, a simple sentence led her to commit to a radical reimagining of her own life. She didn’t know what form or shape it would take, until one day, ditching school, she found herself in the Self Realization Fellowship in LA, listening to the words of a woman who would change her life, and lead her down a path of spirituality she never saw coming. Especially since she’d rejected religion, or anything smacking of faith, in the years before.Now, a sought-after advisor, coach, yoga and meditation teacher, she travels the world leading workshops, retreats, and trainings, boasts a private clientele that includes Olympic athletes, NFL champions, NBA All-Stars and veterans of war, and hosts the Radically Loved podcast. A first-gen Mexican-American, Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love, and she shares her philosophy on radical love in her new book, You Are Radically Loved: A Healing Journey to Self-Love.You can find Rosie at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Justin Tranter about defying convention and expectation and carving your own path in the world. Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These last few years have dealt a lot of blows to our state of mind, body, and health. On some level, it’s been hard to escape trauma. Even if you can’t point to a big capital-T thing that happened, we live in a perpetual sea of micro-moments that unsettle, upset and shake us in a way that leaves a mark. Whether we know it’s there or not, whether we realize or acknowledge it, it’s affecting us. You, me, pretty much everyone on some level. Question is, what do we do about that? This is the very question I explore with my guest this week, Bessel van der Kolk, legendary trauma researcher, psychiatrist, and author of a book that has been locked into the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list for years now, The Body Keeps the Score. In 1984, Bessel established one of the first clinical/research centers in the US dedicated to study and treatment of traumatic stress in civilian populations, while also training researchers and clinicians specializing in the study and treatment of traumatic stress. He was a member of the first neuroimaging team to investigate how trauma changes the brain. Bessel’s efforts led to the establishment of the Trauma Research Foundation, developing new treatment models that are widely taught and implemented nationwide, a research lab that studied the effects of neurofeedback and MDMA on behavior, mood, and executive functioning, and numerous trainings nationwide to a variety of mental health professional, educators, parent groups, policymakers, and law enforcement personnel.You can find Bessel at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Ellen Hendrickson about social anxiety.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you design a life of wonder and love, contribution and meaning, joy and expression? At the end of the day, that’s what we all really want. To know we’ve used our time on this big, blue marble in a way that was worthy, that was wise, that was alive. Which is why I was so excited to sit down with an old friend, Debbie Millman, who just happens to be a legendary thinker and doer in the world of design, branding, innovation and life. Named “one of the most creative people in business” by Fast Company, she’s an author, educator, curator and host of the iconic Design Matters podcast, where she’s interviewed hundreds of the most creative people in the world over the past 17 years. Debbie is also the author of seven books, and her new book, Why Design Matters: Conversations with the World’s Most Creative People, is a stunning compilation of her own take on everything from design to branding, business, entrepreneurship and life, mixed in with moments from guests that have, in no small part, collectively designed the world we live in.Debbie co-founded the world’s first graduate program in branding at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, was the President one of the world’s leading branding consultancies, Sterling Brands, where she worked on the brand identity for everyone from Burger King, Hershey’s, Haagen Dazs, Tropicana, Star Wars, Gillette, to the No More movement.Her writing and illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Print Magazine, and Fast Company. Her artwork is found in private collections, universities and museums around the world. Debbie has a deeply insightful and experienced lens on how we live our lives, how we show up in work and life, and tell the stories that bring it all alive.You can find Debbie at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Milton Glaser about building a life of meaning and impact. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you think of when you hear the word “family?” For some, it’s feelings of love, belonging, support. For others, its estrangement, friction, and angst. Especially over these last few years. Which is why the notion of chosen family has become an increasing part of the conversation about who we surround ourselves with, how they make us feel, and how, together, we can expand the idea of family to create a bigger impact ripple in society. This is one of the topics we dive into in today’s powerful Best Of conversation with Mia Birdsong. As the founding Co-Director of Family Story, Mia lifted up a new national story about what makes a good family, and as Vice President of the Family Independence Initiative, she leveraged the power of data and stories to illuminate and accelerate the initiative low-income families take to improve their lives. Mia is a Senior Fellow of the Economic Security Project, was an inaugural Ascend Fellow and faculty member with The Aspen Institute, a New American California Fellow, and Advocate-in-Residence with the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. In her book How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community, she examines community life, reimagines family and chosen family, and points us toward the promise of our collective vitality. You can find Mia Birdsong at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the earlier conversation we had with Kat Vellos about her sense of identity, creativity, and expression.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the curator of the longest-running study on human flourishing, the Grant Study, was asked if there was any one factor that most contributed to a life well-lived, his answer was clear - love, full stop. In no small way, love makes a life. And, we’re not just talking romantic love. So, today, we’re bringing you a very special episode drawing upon the deep wisdom of five past guests, each experts in the space of love, relationships, and self-discovery, to share provocative, unique, and valuable insights about how to love and be loved, how to hold relationships with curiosity and allow room for growth, how to create a society-wide container of compassion, then invite everyone in, even those you struggle to like, or be in the same room with, let alone love. You’ll hear from Julie and John Gottman, who’ve been married and also researching love and relationships, both clinically and in the lab for over 4 decades together, and writing mega-bestselling books on the topic. You’ll hear from Diego Perez, who most know from his online moniker Young Pueblo, on creating the space for growth. Rev. angel Kyodo williams will share an expansive lens on love and its connection to compassion, holding the space for difference, and liberation. And, our friend, spoken-world artist, IN-Q, shared a beautiful spoken-word piece, framed by his own experience of falling in love, wrapping with an invitation for us all to find moments to create magic.If you LOVED this episode:You can find Julie & John Gottman at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Digeo Perez (Yung Pueblo) at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Rev. angel Kyodo williams at: Full Conversation | Instagram | WebsiteYou can find IN-Q at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cole Arthur Riley grew up in a house full of personalities that she describes as loud and funny, but as a kid, as loved as she felt, she kept her voice from others. In fact, Cole barely spoke until she was 7. Still, her dad kept finding ways to, as she described, bribe her to share her voice and nurture her creative impulse, often in writing, from poems to stories and beyond. As she grew into herself, she developed a dual passion for contemplative spirituality, and also the work of writers, like Audre Lorde, Octavia Butler, James Baldwin, Thomas Merton, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou. Over time, her lens on spirituality yearned for a more expansive expression, one that embodied more of her lived experience as a Black, queer woman, who’d also find herself living with an autoimmune disease that manifested in illness, pain, and uncertainty.Cole was drawn to liturgy and began to write her own blended prayer-meets-poetry, informed by her, unique experience of life, faith, love, creativity, harm, inequity, and justice. She began sharing these modern liturgies on Instagram under the moniker, Black Liturgies, which she describes as a space for Black spiritual words of liberation, lament, rage, and rest. The project quickly grew into a global phenomenon, with deep resonance far beyond her original intended audience, and led to her debut book, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us, which explores some of the most urgent questions of life, identity, and faith: How can spirituality not silence the body, but instead allow it to come alive? How do we honor, lament, and heal from the stories we inherit? How can we find peace in a world overtaken with dislocation, noise, and unrest? In this stunning work, Cole invites us to descend into our own stories, examine our capacity to rest, wonder, joy, rage, and repair, and find that our humanity is not an enemy to faith but evidence of it.You can find Cole at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the earlier conversation we had with Ashley C. Ford about her sense of identity, creativity, and expression. Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wonder what it would be like to have a near-magical ability to find yourself at peace, to dial in a state of calm, no matter what the circumstances around you?The last few years have been tough. Perpetual groundlessness. High-stakes. Uncertainty. We tend to experience this as spin, anxiety, fear, doubt, unease, an inability to relax. Like calm packed up and left the building. Thing is, our ability to come back to a place of peace is so central to our ability to live good lives. And to also access the state of presence that allows us to notice what is good and true and nourishing, even when much around us is hard.So, how do we access a state of calm, even when the world around us seems to keep ripping it away? In today's episode, we dive into 7 powerful ideas, tools, and practices that can help guide you back to a place of calm abiding. And, at the end, I’m going to share a guided practice designed to bring you back to center. So, be sure to listen all the way, and you may want to tap the icon to save this episode so you can return to it whenever you want to drop into that peaceful place on-demand.You can find the 1-page worksheet for today's episode HERE.Find All Of The Episodes In This Series:How to Bring Purpose & Possibility Into Your Work | The 2022 PlanHow to Feel More Alive | The 2022 PlanHow to Accomplish Big Things | The 2022 PlanHow to Do the Ultimate Year-End ReviewMy new book is available!Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive today!Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED: We’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.” 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever look at someone who has made an astonishing change in career, leaving behind what seemed like a dream career, from the outside looking in, to start something new that makes them so alive and think, “wow, I’d love to do that, too?” Well, you’re not alone. And this week’s guest, Janine Kwoh, shares how and why she left behind the world of private equity and venture philanthropy to follow her heart into the world of art, creativity, and tapping a very old, very physical printing technology to share images and words that give feeling and emotion to the experiences that are often so hard to share.Janine is now the owner, artist, and entrepreneur behind Kwohtations, a creative studio that offers cards, prints and an array of gifts that reflect and celebrate a diversity of identities and life experiences, as a way to reflect on and honor the lives we actually lead, versus the ones we think we should. Topics range from navigating love and loss, (re)defining family and success, and figuring out what it means to show up honestly and openly in life. In fact, it was the loss of her partner in life at the age of 28 that both dropped her into the experience of grief and also awakened her to a sense of imperative to do what made her truly come alive. What began as a side passion led to sharing her work and eventually grew into her full-time devotion. And, Janine’s lens on grief, in particular, and the way she shares it through her art, led to a deeply meaningful body-of-work that’s seeded her new book, Welcome to the Grief Club: Because You Don't Have to Go Through It Alone, which she offers not as a how-to manual, but more of an offering to let you know, you’re not alone.You can find Janine at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the earlier conversation we had with Lisa Congdon about coming to art later in life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all been told, try to live a life without regret. But, what if regret was actually a good thing? That’s the highly provocative question today’s guest, Dan Pink ask. And then answer with a whole bunch of scientifically researched and validated ways that regret can actually be an incredibly valuable experience, and power tool for a life well-lived. In fact, a life entirely without regret, he argues, might even do more harm than good. I’ve known Dan for well over a decade now, and he’s been on the show a number of times over the years. A former White House speechwriter, he left politics and shifted focus to writing books that open our eyes to the human condition and plant seeds to do life better, including New York Times bestsellers A Whole New Mind, Drive, To Sell Is Human, and When. His books have sold millions of copies, been translated into forty-two languages, and have won multiple awards.In Dan's new book, The Power of Regret, he takes on a topic we’ve all grappled with, and gives it a surprising reframe. He draws on research in psychology, neuroscience, economics, and biology to challenge widely-held assumptions about emotions and behavior. Using the largest sampling of American attitudes about regret ever conducted as well as his own World Regret Survey—which has collected regrets from more than 16,000 people in 105 countries—he identifies the four core regrets that most people have. These four regrets, Dan argues, operate as a “photographic negative” of the good life. In it, and through our conversation today, we find out how regret, our most misunderstood emotion, can be the pathway to our best life.You can find Dan at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the earlier conversation we had with Dan about the powerful role of timing in life.My new book is available!Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive today!Check out our offerings & partners: Air Doctor: Capture contaminants and chemicals with a medical-grade UltraHEPA air purifier that’s 100X more effective than ordinary purifiers. Go to airdoctorpro.com and use the promo code GOODLIFE to receive a 35% discount off their classic AirDoctor 3000 purifier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, what might happen if you let go of what you thought your life would or should be, and created the space to let it show you what it truly yearns to be? Then, followed that thread. That’s been the experience of today’s guest, Parker Palmer. Graduating Berkley with a Ph.D. in ‘69, he thought he’d head into the world of academia, but instead found himself heading to DC to become an activist and community organizer for 5 years. But, something else began to call him, and he took what he thought would be a short sojourn to a Quaker learning community that turned into 11 years. Over time, a new sense of calling emerged as a writer, speaker and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. Parker is founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal, which offers long-term retreat programs for people in the serving professions, including teachers, physicians, non-profit leaders, and clergy. Along the way, he’s written a series of bestselling books, including A Hidden Wholeness, Let Your Life Speak, The Company of Strangers, and On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old. In this deeply-moving conversation, Parker shares this journey and many of insights, as well as how three seasons of profound depression have shaped his experience of life, and lens on people, compassion, belonging and beyond.You can find Parker at: Website | FacebookIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Jerry Colonna, who also happens to be a close friend of Parker.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you noticed how hard it’s become to focus these days, to know what really matters, get out of the stuck zone, start to build momentum and actually finish the stuff that truly is important to you? It was already hard in Before Times, and now, we might as well go ahead and 10X the challenge. If you’re feeling this, you’re not alone. The struggle is real. But, what if there was a way to quickly figure out what matters most, focus on that, dislodge the wheel-spinning inertia, get unstuck, and go from idea to done? To become a productivity Jedi. That is what we're talking about in today's powerful Best Of conversation with one of my closest advisors, regular collaborator, multi-award-winning author of the book, Start Finishing, and founder of Productive Flourishing Charlie Gilkey. We dive into Charlie's specific ideas around why so much of our effort to be productive fails, and how to rewire our brains and schedules and actions to more easily see beyond distraction, identify what really matters, choose what’s worth finishing, then take immediate action to make it happen. Along the way, we also explore how Charlie's highly-unique background as a philosopher, military officer, productivity strategist and consultant to creative professionals, founders and fast-growth entrepreneurial teams has shaped his powerful lens of going from idea to done.You can find Charlie at: Website | InstagramIf 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.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine walking through life, knowing who you are, but not feeling like you can live as that person? That was how my guest today, Imara Jones, experienced the first half of her life, before making a series of choices that would allow her to feel safe and supported stepping back into her own life, on her terms. Imara is the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning founder of TransLash Media, a cross-platform journalism, personal storytelling and narrative project, which produces content to shift the current culture of hostility towards transgender people in the US. As part of her work at TransLash, she hosts the WEBBY-nominated, TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones as well as the investigative, limited series, The Anti-Trans Hate Machine. In 2019, she chaired the first-ever UN High-Level Meeting on Gender Diversity and was featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 2020 as part of its New American Revolution special edition. She’s held economic policy posts in the White House and communications positions at Viacom. Imara’s work as a host, on-air news analyst, contributor, and writer has been featured everywhere from The Guardian, The Nation, MSNBC, CNBC, and NPR to Mic, and Colorlines, and focuses on the full range of social justice and equity issues. We explore Imara’s experiences growing up in a family and culture where revealing and living her truth felt not just uncomfortable, but unsafe, how that experience is universal to so many, and how she made choices that effectively empowered her to reclaim a sense of agency, identity, and purpose. And, we explore the power of representation in media, stories, and everyday life as a vehicle to open minds, conversation, and cultivate understanding, connection and the sense of shared humanity we all long for, especially now.You can find Imara at: Website | Instagram | TransLash PodcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Thomas Page McBee.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millions of us are re-examining the role of work in our lives, getting more honest about what it needs to give us, beyond a paycheck. And we're realizing the way we're working isn't working. So, how do you know what opportunities will truly fill you with purpose, possibility, joy and connection, and what will leave you disengaged, empty and disconnected? How do you know whether to stay where you are and reinvent the way you do your job, or look for or start something entirely new? The decisions we make now may well change the course of our lives for the better - if we make the right call - but also for the worse, if we choose wrong. That thing everyone's calling The Great Resignation also has the potential to turn into The Regret. So, how do you set yourself up to understand what jobs, teams, projects, companies, roles or opportunities to run toward, and what to run from? That's what we're diving into in today's special 2022 jumpstart episode, with a focus on understanding and tapping your source-code level driver for work that makes you come alive - your Sparketype®. And, remember, every Monday for the entire month of January, we're bringing you these special deep-dive episodes featuring a single topic that is critical to your ability to live your best live, and set up 2022 for growth and possibility.You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Find All Of The Episodes In This Series:How to Do the Ultimate Year-End ReviewHow to Accomplish Big Things | The 2022 PlanHow to Feel More Alive | The 2022 PlanCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you think about the word “prayer,” does it repel you, trigger you, or draw you in? My guest today, Agapi Stassinopoulos, offers a way into this sometimes loaded word that is both inclusive and powerful, no matter your beliefs, your background, or relationship with any kind of organized religion. The type of prayer she invites us to invoke operates on a very different level. One that anyone can get behind, and find connection and solace from. And this idea, along with many specific examples, is the focus of her newest book, Speaking with Spirit: 52 Prayers to Guide, Inspire, and Uplift You.Agapi is what I like to call a walking hug. She embodies love, which in fact is the translation of her name. A best-selling author and speaker who inspires audiences around the world, after being raised in Athens, Agapi was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, but then shifted direction, focusing her wisdom, words and presence away from the theatrical stage, getting her master’s in psychology and speaking more directly to the hearts and minds of people with intention of inspiring us all to live better lives. She’s authored numerous books, spoken to organizations around the world, from L’Oreal, Accenture, and LinkedIn to Google, Nike, Starbucks, Museum of Modern Art, and hundreds of others. In today’s conversation, we dive deep into what happens we muster the courage to speak aloud a hard truth, a deep need, open to vulnerability, and reconnect with something bigger than ourselves. If there was ever a time to embrace this idea, it’s now.You can find Agapi at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Agapi in a prior episode that shares more of her personal story, and the experiences that have shaped her.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED. Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These last few years have left so many of us feeling drained, stifled, without energy, excitement or well, happiness or joy. At least not consistently. And that’s understandable, it’s been a tough moment. But, what if access to feeling these things was more in your control, regardless of your immediate circumstance, than you thought? That feeling of being alive, of flourishing, of feeling positive and hopeful and connected, it’s so important to our ability to live a good life. And after all, that’s what GLP has been all about, for a decade now.So, today, we’re going to dive into a powerful, science-backed model that comes out of the world of positive psychology, that’ll help you understand how to reclaim those feelings of flourishing or aliveness that, for so many, seem to have gone missing over these last few years, no matter what life has delivered to your doorstep. And, along with each element, we’re including specific actions you can take to start feeling more like yourself, more alive and capable and connected than maybe you have in a long while. A quick reminder, I am not a mental health professional. While the ideas and the framework and specific exercises I’m about to share come from the world of research and clinical application, if appropriate for your unique needs and circumstances, please be sure to check in with friends, family, the many freely available mental health resources, and a qualified mental health professional. Okay, now, so excited to share today’s exploration of how to feel more alive in this new year.You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Find All Of The Episodes In This Series:How to Do the Ultimate Year-End ReviewHow to Accomplish Big Things | The 2022 PlanCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today, Yrsa Daley-Ward, is an author, actor, model, and screenwriter of mixed Jamaican and Nigerian heritage. Growing up in the northwest of England, she found herself quickly exited from her home, being raised by her grandparents at the age of 6, and struggling in many ways to understand what had just happened. Reading and writing became her salvation. A more introverted kid, raised in a strict religious family, in a tradition that no one outside the family shared, being vegetarian, and the only Black person in her school who also happened to stand nearly a foot above her peers by her early teens, she yearned to just fit in. To not stand out. She didn’t want to be different. Yet, something in the order of magic happened when her teacher noticed Yrsa’s gift for language and asked her to begin sharing her poems before the class as spoken words. She came alive. It was like she stepped outside herself and all was as it should be. And that very feeling, though stifled for a time, would come roaring back to life years later when, living in Cape Town, South Africa, she stumbled into a weekly poetry group. Following a weekly prompt, Yrsa wrote a poem entitled Mental Health, then performed it from the stage. The response took her breath away. In that moment, she knew this would be her life. And, it has become just that.Now, three books and many stages in, having cultivated a giant global community, co-written Beyoncé's musical film and visual album, Black Is King, her work has appeared in Vogue, Elle, Harpers Bazaar, and so many other outlets. Her work draws from her own experiences and larger issues affecting our behavior, culture, and life, fusing poetry with theatre, music, and storytelling, while sharing universal, often hard, but honest and real experiences in verse, in a way that draws you in and makes you feel less alone. Yrsa’s newest book ‘The How,’ was written entirely during the pandemic, and we talk about her journey to this moment, explore some of the poems and ideas, and also dive into what it was like to create work that is so close to the bone at a moment like this.You can find Yrsa at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Cleo Wade, about crafting language, performing and moving people.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there something big that you would love to accomplish in this new year? Something maybe you've been thinking about for a while, something maybe you have tried to figure out, try to succeed at tried to accomplish in the past, maybe something that was a new year's resolution in the past, though, it doesn't necessarily have to be. We live in different times and, very often that affects what we want to accomplish. And this thing that to you is big, it doesn't have to be big to anyone else. It can be something internally. It can be so as important to you as learning how to get really comfortable in social situations, it can be something external, like running a 10k it can be something like finding a new job, or something that is just really deeply personal, like writing a book or pretty using a podcast, whatever it may be.Is there something big that as you step into this new world, you would love to make happen this year, but really can't wrap your head around how to make it happen? Well, if that's you, then this entire episode is going to help you a ton. I'm going to walk you through what I call my Success Scaffolding, introducing you to the eight elements. I call them the eight Ps and each one of these is critical to succeeding at anything that is not sort of, you know, accomplished in the blink of an eye. Anything substantial, anything that will take effort that is sustained over a longer window of time, anything where the stakes are higher and really deeply meaningful to you, anything where maybe you have tried in the past and just it hasn't worked for so many different reasons. What I'm about to share with you may also explain exactly why past attempts have not gotten you to where you wanna be, and also give you a really powerful step-by-step framework to accomplish anything big in nearly any context, any part of your life. That is what I'm going to walk you through today. Success Scaffolding, the eight Ps, and how to accomplish anything really big. So excited to share this framework with you.You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKED.Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we bring this year to a close, and what a year it’s been, I’ve been reflecting on how profound so much of the past 12-months have been. So much change, uncertainty, and disconnection, inexplicably bundled with moments of profound hopefulness, connection, creation, and possibility. Along the way, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to sit down with over 100 of the wisest, most inspiring, genuine, kind, creative, and “tapped into source” human beings through the vehicle of this podcast. It has, in no small way, been an anchor, and a source of deep nourishment. So, I’ve been spending time reflecting on the people, conversations, ideas, stories and moments that’ve really moved me over this last year on the podcast, on a quest to distill them down into a handful of powerful moments that might serve as both a reflection, an honoring, and, in a weird way, a body of evidence that, yes, we still have much work to do in the world, but at the same time, there are so many beautifully big-hearted, open-minded, impact-driven humans who continue to live and give and create and offer and gather in ways that give me hope, tethered to the acknowledge that, even in hard times, there is good to be savored, and even in the face of adversity, there is reason to believe in the possibility.While it’s impossible to share every person, story, idea, and conversation, we’ve curated a handful of the conversations, ideas, and stories that’ve really stayed with me, generated amazing responses from our incredible community, and speak to the possibility of coming together to not just inhabit, but bring into existence the world in which we seek to live. So excited to share this 2021 year-in-review montage with you. If you LOVED this episode:You can find Valarie at: Full Conversation | Instagram | Understanding America: 20 Years LaterYou can find Peter Frampton at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis at: Full Conversation | Website | Instagram | Love.Period. podcastYou can find Andy at: Full Conversation | Website | Instagram | Creative Pep Talk PodcastYou can find Anthony at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Mel at: Full Conversation | Join The High 5 Challenge | InstagramYou can find Justin at: Full Conversation | Instagram | Man Enough PodcastYou can find Tara Brach at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Ocean at: Full Conversation | Website | InstagramYou can find Rev. angel Kyodo williams at: Full Conversation | Instagram | WebsiteMy new book Sparked.Check out our offerings & partners: Outschool: Inspire kids to love learning with Outschool classes. It's 100% fun, live & teacher-led. Explore over 100,000 topics and learn in small groups via Zoom. Perfect for ages 3-18. Join for free. To learn more about all Outschool has to offer and to save $15 off your child’s first class go to Outschool.com/GOODLIFE  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even as a kid, my guest, Elizabeth lesser was the rebel, the activist, the feminist in the family. Growing up with three sisters, and one very traditional father, she could never understand why the women didn't make more decisions and have more power. Hers was not a voice that could be silenced, even from the earliest age. She eventually traveled down a path of activism, social justice, graduated from Barnard, became a student of a renowned Sufi mystic, and studied with a wide range of spiritual teachers. Her fierce devotion to discovering what is real and true, teamed with a passion for advocacy and intentional community, lead Elizabeth to co-found the iconic Omega Institute, a 140-acre communal gathering and learning retreat in Rhinebeck, New York, that has hosted everyone from Eckhart Tolle, Eve Ensler, and Maya Angelou, to Pema Chödrön, Ram Dass, Allen Ginsberg, Gloria Steinem, Pete Seeger, and thousands of other luminaries from every tradition and walk of life.Elizabeth also found an outlet in writing, eventually penning a series of moving memoirs and social commentary. Her book, Marrow: A Love Story, shares her experience of profound reconnection and healing between her and the sister, who she’d donate bone marrow to in a quest to save her life. Her most recent book, Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes, reveals how humanity has outgrown its origin tales and hero myths, and empowers women to trust their instincts, find their voice, and tell new guiding stories. In today’s deep-dive Best Of conversation, we explore the moments, stories and insights that awakened her call to action, community, and creativity, and how a personal crisis, in the form of her sister’s cancer, led to unforeseen reconnection and reckoning that eventually led to reconciliation and healing. And, right now, we could all use a little more of this. You can find Elizabeth at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Glennon Doyle about honoring your deeper voice of truth and becoming untamed.My new book Sparked.Check out our offerings & partners: Outschool: Inspire kids to love learning with Outschool classes. It's 100% fun, live & teacher-led. Explore over 100,000 topics and learn in small groups via Zoom. Perfect for ages 3-18. Join for free. To learn more about all Outschool has to offer and to save $15 off your child’s first class go to Outschool.com/GOODLIFE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today, Mansi Shah, spent years building a stunning career as a lawyer in the fast-moving world of Hollywood entertainment, working with some of the most iconic storytellers in the industry. But, behind her success as an entertainment lawyer, a lifelong yearning was brewing. She felt deeply called to not just help others tell their stories, often built around narratives that didn’t resonate with her background, but to actually be the storyteller, herself. And, to focus her lens on bringing the authentic immigrant experience, her own personal and family story, to a wide audience. So, she started writing her own stories, eventually penning the book that would become the groundbreaking and beautiful new novel, The Taste of Ginger. But that journey was anything but easy or linear. Over the 10-years since she started writing, the story and the book took countless turns. The early manuscript was, in fact, rejected by the very editor who, years later, would circle back to acquire and then champion it. Along the way, Mansi’s lens on what the story could be and needed to be, and how she needed to honor her creative impulse, commitment to advocacy, and desire to speak to people who were so often left out of the popular storytelling narrative, evolved and became centered in a way that only time and reflection could have crafted. We explore all of this in today’s conversation.You can find Mansi at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Sayantani DasGupta about writing stories that expand the landscape of popular narratives.My new book Sparked.Check out our offerings & partners: Outschool: Inspire kids to love learning with Outschool classes. It's 100% fun, live & teacher-led. Explore over 100,000 topics and learn in small groups via Zoom. Perfect for ages 3-18. Join for free. To learn more about all Outschool has to offer and to save $15 off your child’s first class go to Outschool.com/GOODLIFEParachute: Premium quality sheets, towels, robes and more. Like nothing you've ever felt. Make staying in more comfortable with our modern home collections. Responsibly manufactured. Visit ParachuteHome.com/GOODLIFE for free shipping and returns on Parachute’s very comfortable home essentials.Bean Box: Give the coffee fanatic in your life an unforgettable coffee-tasting experience with Bean Box. Our coffee is expertly curated and always fresh, with fast delivery and free shipping. Order today at beanbox.com/GOODLIFE and get 15% off purchases of $40 or more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you live a good life? That’s the question we’ve been asking here for nearly a decade. My guest today, Cathy Heller, has been along a similar journey, exploring the role of intentionality, purpose, and presence in a life well-lived. Raised in a household where mental illness and conflict were the norm, she took on the role of peacemaker at the age of 5, became a deep observer of human behavior, first, out of necessity, then out of curiosity, and eventually from the lens of calling. Cathy is a seeker in many ways. After studying mysticism and religion in college, followed by 3 years deepening her study of mysticism and self-actualization in Jerusalem, she headed back west, landing in LA, and looking to make her mark in the world of music. She eventually did, but in a way Cathy never saw coming. She became so successful, in fact, Cathy felt called to share what she’d learned, which launched her into the world of teaching, writing, distance learning, and launching her wildly popular Don’t Keep Your Day Job podcast, which has over 25 million downloads. Her book of the same name, Don’t Keep Your Day Job, offers a step-by-step approach to not just building a purpose-centered living, but also a deeply intentional life. Cathy is a sort of modern mystic meets kindness crusader meets creative visionary meets business savant. More simply, she’s a walking bundle of love and wisdom, and we talk about it all in today’s conversation. You can find Cathy at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Morgan Harper Nichols about crafting a creative life and living around openness and honesty.My new book Sparked.Check out our offerings & partners: Outschool: Inspire kids to love learning with Outschool classes. It's 100% fun, live & teacher-led. Explore over 100,000 topics and learn in small groups via Zoom. Perfect for ages 3-18. Join for free. To learn more about all Outschool has to offer and to save $15 off your child’s first class go to Outschool.com/GOODLIFEBean Box: Give the coffee fanatic in your life an unforgettable coffee-tasting experience with Bean Box. Our coffee is expertly curated and always fresh, with fast delivery and free shipping. Order today at beanbox.com/GOODLIFE and get 15% off purchases of $40 or more.Theragun: A deep muscle massage treatment, unlike anything you've ever felt. Feel better, move better, and recover faster with tension and soreness relief. Try Theragun for 30-days starting at only $199. Go to Therabody.com/GOODLIFE right now and get your Gen 4 Theragun today.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may know my guest today, Jeffrey Marsh, from their spiritual and inclusive messages that have received over 1 billion views on social media. Jeffrey is a viral TikTok and Instagram sensation, the first openly nonbinary public figure to be interviewed on national television, and the first nonbinary author to be offered a book deal with any "Big 5" publisher, at Penguin Random House. Jeffrey’s bestselling Buddhist self-esteem guide How To Be You, is an innovative, category-non-conforming work that combines memoir, workbook, and spiritual advice, inviting anyone and everyone into the conversation through a lens of kindness and inclusivity. How To Be You topped Oprah's Gratitude Meter and was named Excellent Book of the Year by TED-Ed. Jeffrey has also been a student and teacher of Zen for over twenty years, and this practice has been central to both their lens on life, and capacity to do the work they do in a grounded, deeply-present, open-heart and joyful way.You can find Jeffrey at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Trystan Angel Reese about living and advocating for your truth.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We tend to take on one of 3 modes as we head into the end of the year:Rush To The Finish | Goal Striving ModeCheck Out | Vacation ModeReflect, Integrate & Assess | Review & Plan ModeThat last one is my approach. I love to use these final weeks to understand what happened over the last 12 months, in all parts of life, consider what went well and why, where I stumbled and why, and how I can learn and integrate all of it into setting up the year to come to rise higher.And, I thought I’d walk you through my process - it’s a very different take based on a model I developed a number of years ago around the key elements of living a good life I call the Good Life Buckets. Super excited to share this powerful process with you in today’s episode.You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This has been a year that has tested our boundaries on nearly every level. Work, friendship, family, community, geography, politics, religion, social issues, love, wellbeing. It’s like we’re being asked to draw lines, all day, every day. Question is, how? How do you create and uphold boundaries that are clear, healthy, and constructive, while also acknowledging the nuance, kindness, and understanding this moment demands? Well, my guest today, Nedra Glover Tawwab, can help. A licensed therapist and sought-after relationship expert, she has practiced relationship therapy for 12 years and is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Kaleidoscope Counseling. Every day she helps people create healthy relationships by teaching them how to implement boundaries. Her philosophy is that a lack of boundaries and assertiveness underlie most relationship issues, and her gift is helping people create healthy relationships with themselves and others. Nedra is also the author of New York Times Bestselling book, Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself, along with her newly-released Set Boundaries Workbook.You can find Nedra at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Terri Cole, who brings a beautifully complementary lens to the critical exploration of boundaries.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the age of 3, Micah Johnson knew what he wanted to be when he grew up - a professional baseball player. From that moment on, he lived baseball, and in 2012, his dreams came true when the Chicago White Sox drafted him. But, what Micah didn’t know was that his true calling in life was just getting started.Traded to the LA Dodgers a few years later, Micah, almost on a lark, discovered painting, something that had never been a part of his. And it called to him in a way he never saw coming. Now, while his full-time job was pro baseball, drawing, painting and creating art became a new, increasingly consuming passion. But, it was a single moment, when his young nephew came and asked him whether Black people could be astronauts, that changed everything. Micah painted this moving depiction of a young, confident, Black boy in an oversized astronaut helmet, ready for adventure, as a way to not just answer yes, but create a powerful visual depiction of courage and possibility. At the same time, Micah was feeling called to bring his baseball career to a close and go all-in on art. But, no longer a novelty as a pro-athlete painter, he found his art hard to sell. Until everything came together when the character he’d painted for his nephew met the emerging world of NFTs, crypto-art, Web3, and the power of digital aspiration movements. He turned that painting into a character named Aku, then began to build a world, a community, an enterprise and a movement around it. Micah’s work has centered around empowering young African-American kids to see the possible & dream without limitations. Micah began releasing NFTs in January of 2020 & in February of 2021, and Aku’s message became a viral sensation and the first NFT ever optioned to become a major feature film. As we air this conversation, Micah is just coming off of helming a 15,000 square-foot, immersive, multidisciplinary experience in Miami’s Art Basel called Aku’s world.We dive into all of this in today’s conversation, along with a bit of a mini-primer on these mysterious things called NFTs, which has been creating quite a stir these days and become a growing fascination of mine. You can find Micah at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Lisa Congdon about coming to art later in life.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine going to college and getting a minor in ‘you!’ Well, that’s just one of the semi-wild ideas that bubbled up during my conversation with week’s guest, Mark Groves. Mark describes himself as a Human Connection Specialist on a mission to help individuals step into their most authentic, effective, loving selves by way of a little bit of tough love and no-BS relationship guidance. Immersing himself and pursuing an education in the world of psychology after his model of life and relationships feel apart, he’s become a bridge between the academic and the human, inviting people to explore the good, bad, downright ugly, and beautiful sides of connection. And, given the state of the world these days, we could all use a bit more wisdom around how we show up and relate to others. Mark shares insights, ideas, and strategies about being a better human, living a better life, and understanding how to craft relationships that are truly nourishing with a global community of over a million people on his Create the Love Instagram account, his eponymous podcast, and through a growing library of courses, and programs. What I’ve always found so powerful about Mark and his work is that he doesn’t pull punches. He doesn’t hide who he is, what he believes, his irreverence or willingness to poke fun at himself and, really, any other paradigm or system that just doesn’t make sense. He is, in many ways, a truth-teller, and we need more of that these days. You can find Mark at: Website | Instagram| Mark Groves PodcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Diego Perez who uses the name Yung Pueblo online about finding peace and clarity in an upside-down world.My new book Sparked.Check out our offerings & partners: Bean Box: Give the coffee fanatic in your life an unforgettable coffee-tasting experience with Bean Box. Our coffee is expertly curated and always fresh, with fast delivery and free shipping. Order today at beanbox.com/GOODLIFE and get 15% off purchases of $40 or more.ZenBusiness: ZenBusiness has helped hundreds of thousands of people get their business off the ground by guiding them every step of the way and making it easier to launch a successful business. Get started today for as low as $49 at zenbusiness.com/GOODLIFE.Come From Away: Broadway’s Tony-winning, feel-good again musical is welcoming audiences back into the heart of the remarkable true story. In the middle of nowhere, one small town showed the world that the kindness of strangers could bring us closer. Come back together at Come From Away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the rigor of a world-class researcher and the intention of someone who cares deeply about the human condition and understanding how we all got to this moment in history, Dr. Keisha N. Blain is an award-winning historian of the 20th century United States with specializations in African American History, the modern African Diaspora, and Women’s and Gender Studies. She is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh and the president of the African American Intellectual History Society. She is also the author of the multi-prize-winning book Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom, and co-editor of the Charleston Syllabus: Readings on Race, Racism, and Racial Violence. Her #1 New York Times Best Seller Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019, edited with Ibram X. Kendi, drew together an incredible collection of voices with a vision to reclaim the historical narrative. And her new book, Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer's Enduring Message to America, is a powerful look not just at the role of civil and voting rights activist, Hamer and other Black women in social and political change, it’s also an invitation for us all to explore our individual roles in the path to equality and freedom, led by Hamer’s famed rallying cry, “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”You can find Keisha at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Austin Channing Brown.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re entering a time of year where gratitude is on our minds. And, honestly, it’s also been a year, even a season, where being thankful, noticing what’s wondrous or good, or even just not bad, well it's not always the easiest thing. And, yet, gratitude, attentiveness, and appreciation are such deeply-wired contributors to the human condition, ones that carry with them the capacity to transform nearly any experience - one of anger, one of loss, one of fear, one of anxiety, one of sadness, agitation, futility, or grief - into a moment of awakening, solace, connection and, in its highest forms, grace. There’s even powerful research on the psychological and physiological effect of gratitude and appreciation, both as a state and a willful intervention.So, we wanted to take the occasion of this week to explore a few different takes on gratitude, appreciation, and generosity-of-spirit, drawing upon conversations I’ve had over the years with famed author and social-observer extraordinaire, Anne Lamott, writer, producer, and big thinker, Janice Kaplan, and I’m also weaving in a few thoughts from one of my books, How to Live a Good Life. I hope you enjoy this exploration of gratitude, attentiveness, and appreciation, how it changes us, and why we might want to bring more of it into our experience of life.You can find Anne Lamott at: Website | Instagram | Dusk Night DawnYou can find Janice Kaplan at: Website | Instagram | The Gratitude DiariesYou can find the audiobook Jonathan's book at: How to Live a Good LifeIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the full-length conversations we had with Anne Lamott & Janice Kaplan.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the leading physicists of her generation, Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is a Professor of Physics and Core Faculty Member in Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of New Hampshire. She’s also one of fewer than a hundred Black American women to earn a Ph.D. from a department of physics. Born in East Los Angeles, a devout Dodgers fan, she’s a citizen of both the United States and Barbados and a descendant of Afro-Caribbean and Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants. Chanda decided to become a theoretical physicist at the age of 10, after an experience, which we dive into, lit a fire of curiosity and possibility. Her vision of the cosmos is vibrant, buoyantly non-traditional, and grounded in Black feminist traditions. A powerful voice in her field, Chanda urges us to recognize how science, like most fields, is far from an equal playing field, with racism, sexism, and other dehumanizing systems playing a role not only in who participates in the field but also in the essential nature of the work and the potential discoveries and insights it yields. She lays out a bold new approach to science and society that begins with the belief that we all have a fundamental right to know and love the night sky. In her groundbreaking new book, The Disordered Cosmos, Chanda shares her love for physics, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics and what lies beyond it, to the physics of melanin in skin, to the latest theories of dark matter — all with a new spin informed by history, politics, and the wisdom of Star Trek. We explore her personal journey and many of these ideas in today’s conversation.You can find Chanda at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor about the science of the brain.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you could work, play, and live in a state of wonder? Even now! That’s the question I explore with today’s guest, Jeffrey Davis. A poet, writer, deep-thinker, founder and CEO of the Tracking Wonder Consultancy, Jeffrey’s got an invitation for all of us. To get off the toxic productivity treadmill, which so many have been hammered by in recent times, and reclaim a sense of possibility, meaning, and wonder. To step back into a place of curiosity and lightness. And, when Jeffrey offers that invitation, it’s not just a naive suggestion to rediscover your inner child, but rather a quest to bring wonder back into your life, based on more than 15 years of research, experimentation, and application. Along the way, Jeffrey has developed a powerful, proven, step-by-step methodology to begin bringing wonder back into your work, relationships, devotions, and life. He shares this in his gorgeous new book, Tracking Wonder, and we dive into key ideas and explorations in today’s conversation.You can find Jeffrey at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with iconic author, Anne Lamott, about opening to all life brings your way.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Kamal Ravikant about reimagining life and learning to love himself.You can find Tim Ferriss at: Website | Instagram | The Tim Ferris Show podcastTim Ferriss has been a man on a mission, driven to deconstruct mastery and excellence, then share what he's learned. It began with his own relentless experimentation and documentation, which yielded #1 New York Times bestsellers The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef along with a series of other books. In more recent years, this yearning has led him to sit down with hundreds of elite performers, from a vast array of domains, on a quest to reveal what made them them. These conversations are shared weekly on Tim's award-winning podcast, The Tim Ferris Show. In today's Best Of conversation, we cover very different ground, and get very personal. Tim actually lost a number of people in the year before we sat down in the studio, turned 40 and found himself in a deeply contemplative and emotional space, thinking about who he is, how he wants to create the next 40 years of his life and what matters. When I sat down with Tim, he'd recently returned from an intensive 10-day silent meditation retreat. While gone, he lost yet another close friend. He was, in his own words, in an incredibly "porous" place, leading more from the heart than the head, which was a bit of a major turnaround for him.We spent time deconstructing Tim's 10-day silent meditation experience, his struggles and awakenings, how it compared to psychedelic experiences and how, barring one major saving grace, his retreat may have sent him spiraling into a very bad place. We also talked about his experience with death, his decision to append audio of his departed friend, Terry Laughlin, which was recorded by Terry's daughters in the hospital during his final days of life to the end of Tim's recent podcast interview with Terry. Tim also shared his decision to take the TED stage, switching last minute to talk about something deeply painful and personal, and what that meant to him, his lens on legacy work (and how it landed with his family, who didn't know what he'd be talking about). And, we explored Tim's awakening to a "softer" set of metrics to measure a life well-lived and his evolving definition of what it truly means to live a good life.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is an author, Activist, and Public Theologian, the first woman and first Black Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church, which is a multiracial, incredibly welcoming, and inclusive congregation in the Lower East Side of New York City, which dates to 1628. Growing up in church in the South Side of Chicago, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when she was nine incited what would become a lifelong devotion to activism and social justice. Graduating school, then spending a decade working in the corporate world, she felt called to redefine how she would step into her own exploration of faith, attending Princeton Theological Seminary, then devoting herself to urban ministry, with the intention of reimagining what faith, church, and community could be. Eventually becoming a leader in Middle Church, Rev. Lewis has been instrumental in bringing together what she calls a “multiethnic rainbow coalition of love, justice, and worship that rocks her soul,” and has remained a leading voice in activism, with her work have featured by the TODAY Show, MSNBC, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, among many others. She is the creator of the MSNBC online show, Just Faith and the PBS show, Faith and Justice, in which she led important conversations about culture and current events. Her podcast, Love.Period., is produced by the Center for Action and Contemplation. And her new book, Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness That Can Heal the World, is a deep exploration of faith, race, justice and transformation, bundled with exercises that invite you in a path of personal growth, activism and collective elevation.You can find Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis at: Website | Instagram | Love.Period. podcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Bishop Michael Curry about love as a path to reconciliation and healing.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine going through life with the name, Andy J. Pizza. That’s what my guest today goes by, but it wasn’t his given name, but rather his claimed name. More on that when we talk. Andy was the kid who perpetually zagged when everyone else zigged. And, at a young age, he saw this same pattern in his mother, he was so much like her. Which, in part, lit him up, but also terrified him. In his mom, these same impulses were married to mental illness that led to a life of struggle. He feared that’s where he was headed, too, until a realization dropped that would not only lead him down his own path, but also empower him to embrace life differently and trust he could make it work. And, indeed, he has. Andy has built a stunning career as an illustrator, author of kid’s books, animator, and contributor to The New York Times, Apple, Nickelodeon and countless other mega-brands. Driven to share and inspire others in the creative community, he heads up the fantastic Creative Pep Talk podcast, where, by the way, I was his guest recently. And, Andy is a master of the stage, with a style of public speaking that’s one part TED Talk, one part one-man show — with a sprinkle of stand-up comedy. His friends call his approach Laydown Tragedy ( 😆) - because it’s the opposite of stand-up comedy, in that instead of shooting for laughs, he aim for tears, but in the best of ways!You can find Andy at: Website | Instagram | Creative Pep Talk PodcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Morgan Harper Nichols about leaning into creativity and language as a form of both creative expression and emotional processing.My new book Sparked!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor about how we can understand and tap our whole brains to live fuller lives.Anthony Trucks entered the foster system, along with his two siblings, when he was three years old, then spent years enduring a series of brutal experiences. Until he found a home where, after 8 years of legal battles, he became emancipated from his mom and was adopted by his then longtime foster parents. Still, a young Black man, now part of a White family who also struggled with poverty, he struggled to belong. Not so much to his family, but to the broader culture around him. He turned to football, working to rise up in the sport and, years down the road, accomplished his dream of being drafted and playing for the NFL. But, not long into his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a career-ending injury would bring it all tumbling down, and leave him stripped not only of his career but his very identity. And, that led to deep struggle, the demise of his family, and a season where Anthony found himself having to rediscover and redefine his sense of identity, who he was as a human being, a partner, a father, a friend, and someone driven to inspire agency and change in others. That journey led him back into the world of wellness, personal growth, speaking, training, and even competing in American Ninja Warrior. As a speaker and identity shift coach, Anthony teaches people how to design and build better lives and businesses by learning how to access the power of their identity to tap into their full potential, a methodology shared in his book, Identity Shift: Upgrade How You Operate to Elevate Your Life.You can find Anthony at: Website | InstagramMy new book Sparked!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born in Guayaquil Ecuador, Deigo Perez - who is known by the pseudonym Yung Pueblo - moved with his family to Boston, where he saw his parents work relentless hours and struggle with poverty. He turned to activism and advocacy at a young age, then attended Wesleyan where his life devolved into partying and drugs that threatened to become his way of being as he moved into adulthood. But a moment of reckoning would awaken him both to his need to refocus on mental and physical wellbeing, as well as recenter meaning in his work and life.A quest was set in motion, one that would eventually lead Diego into a 10-day vipassana meditation experience that had a profound impact and would set him on a path of self-discovery, and an ever-deepening devotion to a now years-long, 2-hour-a-day meditation practice, regular extended retreats, and the pursuit of truth and wisdom. A part of that exploration also involved writing, and what began as a tool to process his own experiences eventually became a public writing practice. His words landed in a powerful way, amassing a global audience of millions of people, writing under the pseudonym, Yung Pueblo, which is both a reminder to him to stay grounded in a younger, growth mindset, and also a contained to frame this current season of work as a project that doesn’t constrain his own personal and professional growth. Diego’s new book, Clarity & Connection, shares many of his recent insights about life, meaning, love, work, self-awareness, and of course, clarity and connection.You can find Yung Pueblo at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about wisdom and compassion.My new book Sparked!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brought up in a deeply observant Jewish Orthodox household with a reverence for her family’s history, Shelly Tygielski embraced the traditions, teachings, and practices of her faith, even spending summers in Jerusalem with family. Heading to college, then grad school, she pursued her masters in international affairs, then began building a powerhouse career in business, along with a family. But, along the way, she found herself questioning the rules and assumptions by which she lived, and the more she did, the more the walls began to come tumbling down. At 27, diagnosed with a chronic disease that left her temporarily blind, she knew a different narrative needed to be set in motion. She began to embrace her then years-long exploration of Eastern traditions and practices, growing largely out of Tibetan Buddhism, and started the process of reclaiming and reimagining her life. A process that would eventually lead her away from a 20-year career at the highest levels of business and into the world of advocacy and self-care. Though, as you’ll learn, advocacy and a deep exploration of the heart and mind, have always been a part of her DNA. Shelly began teaching meditation to a few friends on the beach, and each time, more people started showing up, until her Sunday meditation on the beach grew into a community of more than 15,000 people that call themselves The Sand Tribe. Her promise - no barrier to entry, all are welcome. Her fierce devotion to elevating others led her to post a simple form online during March of 2020, connecting those in need with those who wanted to help. It went viral, becoming a global mutual aid movement called the Pandemic of Love that has now generated more than $60-million in mutual aid, matched over 2-million people, and served as a bridge to see the humanity in others at a time it’s needed more than ever. She shared much of this journey in her powerful new book, Sit Down to Rise Up: How Radical Self-Care Can Change the World.You can find Shelly at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Jennifer Pastiloff about leading with love and compassion.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surviving what he describes as a tormented childhood riddled with abuse, Alan Cumming turned to acting, before he knew it was acting, as a way to step out of the world he inhabited and into one of his own creation. One that was safe, where he made the rules. That impulse eventually led him to leave home, study drama in Glasgow, and, in his words” tumble” into a career that, from the outside-in, has appeared as an endless stream of successes. He’s performed with everyone from Jay Z to Liza Minelli; won countless theatrical awards, made back-to-back films with Stanley Kubrick and the Spice Girls; played God, the Devil, Hitler, the Pope, a teleporting superhero, Hamlet, all the parts in Macbeth, General Batista of Cuba, a goat opposite Sean Connery, and political spinmeister Eli Gold on seven seasons of The Good Wife. He’s also owned the stage and invited people to re-examine their beliefs, identity, sexuality and sense of power, propriety and openness in the role of the EmCee in Cabaret, which he took on three times over 22 years in London and on Broadway. He’s the author of five books including a #1 New York Times best-selling memoir; and played the first-ever gay leading role on a US network drama, CBS’s Instinct. And, Alan was made an Officer of the British Empire for his contributions to the arts and LBGT equality by the Queen, and has had a love affair with New York City for nearly three decades, where he lives with his husband, and just for fun, also owns a bar.What sounds like a near-magical life on stages, television and the big screen, though, has also seen its share of profound pain, loss, grief, existential struggle, and eventually a series of reckonings, and awakenings to who and what matters, and a certain reclamation of joy and life. Now in his 50s, he reflects on these moments along this journey in his new book, Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life, and we dive into all of it, along with his take on current culture, in today’s conversation. You can find Alan at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Matthew McConaughey about what really matters in life.My new book Sparked!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Najwa Zebian is a Lebanese-Canadian activist, author, speaker, and educator who developed a passion for language at a young age, immersing herself in Arabic poetry and novels. As someone who found herself repeated displaced, leaving Lebanon for Canada when she was 16, not realizing it wasn’t just a trip, but rather a permanent change, would she’d find herself searching for a home—what Najwa describes as a place where the soul and heart feel at peace, a quest that continues into her adult life.Her passion for language, quest to understand her place in the world and compassion for those who’ve been displaced and disenfranchised led her to pursue a Ph.D. in education. But it was an experience teaching young refugees that rekindled her love of writing, after having left it behind because of an association with pain. She began to heal her sixteen-year-old self by writing to heal her students. Since self-publishing her first collection of poetry and prose in 2016, Najwa has become an inspiration to millions of people worldwide, and a trailblazing voice for women everywhere.Drawing on her own experiences of displacement, discrimination, and abuse, Najwa uses her words to encourage others to build a home within themselves; to live, love, and create fearlessly. Her new book, Welcome Home, invites us to explore how to create that feeling we so yearn for within ourselves first, before looking outside.You can find Najwa at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Humble the Poet about defining your own identity in a world where you don’t seem to fit the mold.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam J. Kurtz (whose artist’s identity is Adam JK, is a designer, artist, and speaker whose work is rooted in emotional honesty, humor and even a little bit of darkness, but always with the intention of connection, honoring the reality of any given moment, and being honest. He’s been making and sharing on the internet since age creating his first fan website at twelve years old, eventually went to school for graphic design and learned to express, in his words “slightly too much." Adam’s work embraces the world with a certain "backhanded optimism" and a dark sense of humor or what he describes as "positivity adjacent." And he speaks frankly about channeling human emotion into art, and generally just trying to be more okay with whatever we've got and wherever we are in life. This comes out, often, in the form of hand-lettered aphorisms and illustrations that you’ll find all over the internet and social platforms, as well as in books, merch, prints, stationary and brand-focused gifts under his ADAMJK® brand. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages and his offbeat, fun and irreverent creative work has been featured everywhere from NYLON and Adweek to Vice, The New Yorker, and more. In his newest book, You Are Here (For Now): A Guide to Finding Your Way, Adam steps more fully into his writer side, sharing longer-form stories, insights, and ideas. We dive into all of this, how his lens and work have been shaped by an othrodox religious upbringing, what led him down the path of zagging when everyone else was zigging, how his move from New York to Hawaii has changed him and so much more.You can find Adam at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Morgan Harper Nichols about art and life.My new book Sparked-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine being so drawn to a pursuit as a kid, it consumes most of your waking hours, rapidly becomes your identity, and is the thing you believe you’ll devote your life to, and then, in the blink of an eye, it’s taken away. That’s what happened to Maya Shankar, who fell in love with the violin as a small child, studied it with love and devotion, was being mentored by the legendary Itzhak Perlman, and was sure it would be her profession for life. Until, an injury took it all away in the blink of an eye. How that moment affected her, and how she’d eventually discover a new, equally fulfilling devotion years later - human behavior and cognitive science - is a big part of today’s conversation, along with a deep dive into how we change our minds.Maya is currently the Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google and is the Creator, Host, and Executive Producer of “A Slight Change of Plans”, a podcast with Pushkin Industries. Maya previously served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House's Behavioral Science Team — a team of scientists charged with improving public policy using research insights about human behavior. She has been profiled by the New Yorker and has been featured in the New York Times, Scientific American, Forbes, and on NPR's All Things Considered, Freakonomics, and Hidden Brain. You can find Maya at: Website | A Slight Change of Plans podcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Brené Brown about how we show up in our work and life. My new book Sparked-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joanne Molinaro was deep into her career as a full-time attorney when she started blogging as The Korean Vegan, a nod to both her heritage and her curiosity about reimagining the cuisine she grew up on. She soon after launched a TikTok account that exploded and, along with her other platforms, boasts over 3.5 million fans. She’s appeared on The Food Network and Al Jazeera English, been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, and CNN, and has just released her debut cookbook + memoir, The Korean Vegan Cookbook.A Korean American woman, born in Chicago, Joanne’s parents were both born in what is now known as North Korea. Their harrowing journey to the states led them to settle in Chicago. From her earliest days, she was deeply aware of inequity and felt an empathic call to advocacy, along with the impulse to help guide people through a process of change. That led her into the law, which remained her central devotion, literally, until the day before we recorded this conversation. Her TikTok (@thekoreanvegan), was started largely as a coping mechanism for the isolation caused by the global pandemic. She began posting content related to politics and life as a lawyer during quarantine. However, after a single post of her making Korean braised potatoes for dinner (while her husband taught a piano lesson in the background) went viral, Joanne shifted her attention to producing 60-second recipe videos while telling stories about her life, family, and the state of the world. She discovered an entirely new channel for advocacy and artistry in this most unusual place, one that both allows millions of people to see themselves in the stories, cultures, and yes, food, of others, and also serves as a powerful mechanism to advocate for inclusivity and change.You can find Joanne at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with MILCK about creativity, music, carving your own path and representation.My new book Sparked-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1992, after years of teaching workshops on creative unblocking, Julia Cameron self-published The Artist's Way, which became a global phenomenon that sold millions of copies, was translated into 40 languages, and anchors companion workshops that have brought creativity into the mainstream conversation. Along the way, Julia has authored more than 40 books, plays and screenplays, written for Rolling Stone, The Washington Post and The New York Times, and collaborated with legends of television and movies, including Martin Scorsese, who would, for a time, become her partner in life as well. A few years back, I had a great opportunity to sit down with Julia in her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a beautifully honest and open, deep-dive conversation that ranged from her upbringing to her entrée into the writing life, her years-long struggle with addiction and awakening from it, her time in Hollywood, swept up in the world of movies, and her fierce commitment to her craft and to helping others find their creative voices and let them out. So excited to share this Best Of conversation with you.You can find Julia at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Chase Jarvis about the creative calling.My new book Sparked.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the age of 24, living in Ibiza, Matt Haig stepped to the ledge of a cliff with the intention of launching himself to his end. But something pulled him back. That experience led him and his girlfriend, who’d eventually become his wife, back to his childhood home where Matt would begin the process of picking up the pieces of his life. A writer, he kept that season of profound darkness, revelation, and recovery within his family, while he deepened into a career as a novelist and children’s book author. But years later, a simple blog post that he never thought anyone would see effectively outed that experience, leading to a book a year later called Reasons to Stay Alive that became a massive bestseller and also expanded Matt’s notoriety into the world of personal growth. He’s since blended fiction and nonfiction, penning more novels, something exploring big existential questions, but in honest and accessible ways. His book, The Midnight Library, just hit 2 million copies sold, and Matt’s latest book, The Comfort Book is Haig’s life raft: it’s a collection of notes, lists, and stories written over a span of several years that originally served as gentle reminders to his future self that things are not always as dark as they may seem. You can find Matt at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Kate DiCamillo about writing, creativity, telling the truth, but always leaving readers with hope.My new book is available!Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive today!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I first met Kristoffer Carer nearly a decade ago when he raised his hand to participate in the inaugural Good Life Project immersion. It was a yearlong deep dive into work and life that we ran for about 5 years. Kristoffer or KC as most people call him, was running fast. I wasn’t sure if he was running toward something as much as he was running from it. In the end, like most of us, it was probably both. A married dad of three living in Ohio and working at a Chicago ad-tech startup after exiting life as a touring musician, he stumbled upon a book that would change the direction of his life. Our lives intersected just as that existential reimagining was shifting into high gear. There was this moment during our first weekend together, 15 strangers who’d become fast family in an industrial space in downtown Manhattan. I caught him out of the corner of my eye, sitting cross-legged against a 100-year-old wall of leaded windows, the light pouring in behind him. Hands laying open over his knees as he sat in meditation. It was a moment of powerful foreshadowing. In the ensuing years, KC would become an initiate of Yogananda’s Self Realization Fellowship, a Kriyaban yogi meditating hours a day. He’d find himself exiting his career to carve his own path, bridging the worlds of spirituality and business as an executive coach, founder of This Epic Life consultancy, and someone who remains fiercely devoted to bringing all parts of himself - the deeply spiritual yogi, the bouncing-off-the-walls kid and musician, the wise mentor, husband, and dad - to everything he does. In his words, full life integration. And along the way, he developed his own philosophy he calls the four permissions, which also happens to be the focus of KC’s new book, Permission to Glow: A Spiritual Guide to Epic Leadership.You can find KC at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Daniel Goleman about meditation, which it turns out, changes you, on the level of DNA.My new book is available!Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive today!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mel Robbins is one of the leading voices in personal development and transformation and an international bestselling author. Her work includes the global phenomenon The 5 Second Rule, four #1 bestselling audiobooks, the #1 podcast on Audible, as well as signature online courses that have changed the lives of more than half a million students worldwide and now her groundbreaking new book, The High 5 Habit. As one of the most widely booked and followed public speakers in the world, Mel coaches more than 60 million people online every month and videos featuring her work have more than a billion views online, including her TEDx talk, which is one of the most popular of all time.But, I also know Mel in a different way. She’s a dear friend of mine, with a fierce intellect, a giant heart and desire to make a genuine difference in people’s lives, starting with her own. She shares, very publicly, her own inner dance with anxiety, compulsion, negativity, and judgment, in a real, relatable, non-sugar-coated way. Mel has found herself at the center of storms that left her thinking “I can’t take another thing” more than once. In fact, the last few years landed her in just such a tornado of calamity. Yet, somehow, in those moments, she seems to gain access to ideas that become tools that turn everything around. And the moment she feels their impact in her own life, she’s off on a quest to understand how and why they work, then share them with the world. This is what she did with The 5 Second Rule and, now, The High 5 Habit, which became her second global phenomenon before the book was even released. We dive into The High 5 Habit, but also explore her take on relationships, parenting, mindset, vulnerability, transparency and beyond.You can find Mel at: The High 5 Challenge | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Brené Brown about vulnerability and bravery.My new book is available!Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive today!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So question for you: When was the last time you did something where it was so immersive, so enjoyable it so captivated, the essence of who you are that you completely lost track of time? You just vanished into the experience, the activity, the moment, the conversation, the relationship, like the world around you ceased to exist. The only thing that you became aware of, if you were even aware of that, was you and the thing that you were doing, or the person or the group of people that you were engaging with or all of those things, but everything outside of that, it just vanished away. And you felt like in that one moment in time, whether it lasted a minute, whether it lasted an hour, whether it lasted a day or a week or a month for whatever window that happened, it was like, the world was, as it should be, your world was, as it should be, you are doing the thing that you were here to do with people.What if the way you work could give you that feeling? Sounds bizarre, right? It sounds like it's some sort of, you know, like utopian far-off dream. But what if that was a lie?What if there was a way to do the thing that you do and have it feel that way? Not just losing yourself in flow, but also you feel like a sense of purpose. Like you're working towards something that actually matters to you, a sense of meaning, like who you are and what you're doing is meaningful. That is what my new book's Sparked is all about. And along the way beyond the massive dataset we've gathered, that shows that you can experience this, have been story, after story, after story, after story use cases, applications, individuals showing up and sharing how they have integrated these ideas into their work and life. And today I'm going to share two of those stories with you. Amazing, powerful, moving, insightful stories, about two people who have done incredible things and continue to do incredible things and have explored how this thing called the Sparketype integrates into the way they do it. So excited to share this conversation with you.If you LOVED this episode:I have a single ask: Join me on this journey. Pick up a copy of SPARKED wherever you buy books. We’ll drop links to various booksellers. Dive into it, discover your own personal Sparketype. Then begin to bring it to the world. Because right now, we need people who’ve come alive, more than ever. Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Books-a-Million | iTunes | Audible Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode will be unlike any conversation we’ve ever aired on Good Life Project. For the first time on the podcast, I’m on the other side of the mic. And, to be honest, the thought of it kind of terrifies me. Even now, with it’s recorded and I know how it went and what’s on tape, it still kind of terrifies me. I’m pretty comfortable asking the questions, and even answering questions on other people’s shows. This, however, is different. Today, I asked my dear friend, big-hearted human, renowned keynote speaker, community builder, “personal power alchemist,”* bestselling author, and all-around truth-teller, Cyndie Spiegel, to sit in the interviewer’s seat and not let me off the hook. That’s exactly what she did, in the kindest, but also realest way possible. I trusted her to push me into places I never go, topics I never speak about. This was a conversation that made me squirm, in the best of ways.Why would I do this? Because, by the time you’re listening to this, my new book SPARKED, will be out, or literally hours away. It’s a book about being seen, reclaiming agency and control, reimagining the way we work, and the way our work makes us feel. This book, it’s been a wild adventure that is so close to my heart in ways and on levels nothing else I’ve written has approached. Penned in the throes of the pandemic, living semi-nomadically for most of it, the journey to get here has been equally hard, beautiful, heartbreaking, heart-opening, eye-opening, and transformative. I wanted to sit down with someone who knows me well enough, who I trust enough, to take me to all those places of discomfort and vulnerability that I rarely talk about on the air. Sure, we touch into the big ideas and key awakening and insights in the book, but this conversation is about so much more. The creative process, the role of vulnerability, love, devotion, revelation, and grace.I’m both freaked out, and incredibly excited to share it with you. I’m Jonathan Fields, turning the mic over to Cyndie Spiegel, and this is Good Life Project.If you LOVED this episode:I have a single ask: Join me on this journey. Pick up a copy of SPARKED wherever you buy books. We’ll drop links to various booksellers. Dive into it, discover your own personal Sparketype. Then begin to bring it to the world. Because right now, we need people who’ve come alive, more than ever. Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Books-a-Million | iTunes | AudibleCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve been a fan of Jessi Hempel’s writing and amazing podcast, Hello Monday, for years now, but it was her deeply insightful six-part series on re-opening the world of work that led us into the virtual studio space to jam. Jessi is a senior editor at large at LinkedIn and host of the award-winning podcast Hello Monday. For the past 18 years, she has been writing and editing features and cover stories about the most important people and companies in technology. Most recently, she was the head of editorial for Backchannel and a senior writer at Wired, where she profiled Dr. Fei-Fei Li and covered Uber’s attempted comeback. Earlier in her career, she was a senior writer for Fortune, where she co-chaired Fortune’s Aspen tech conference. Before that, Jessi wrote for BusinessWeek, and TIME Asia. She has appeared on CNN, PBS, MSNBC, Fox, and CNBC, addressing the culture and business of technology. But, it was her deeper impulse to get to the heart of things and her love of storytelling that really drew me to her work. In today’s conversation, we learn how those threads have woven through her life, landing her most recently in the world of audio with a focus on work and all the emotions and questions it brings.You can find Jessi at: LinkedIn | Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel podcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Dave Evans about designing your life.My new book is available for pre-order:Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive and get your book bonuses!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Valarie Kaur is an activist, documentary filmmaker, lawyer, educator, and faith leader. She rose to global acclaim in late 2016 when her Watch Night Service address asked the question, “Is this the darkness of the tomb – or the darkness of the womb?” The video went viral with 40 million views worldwide, and her question reframed the political moment and became a mantra for people fighting for change. The daughter of farmers in California’s heartland brought up in the Sikh Faith, Valarie earned degrees at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale Law School. But, it was 9-11 that launched her down the now two-decades-long path of activism and advocacy, when those in her family and community became the targets of hatred and violence.Over the last two decades, Valarie’s work has led to policy change in everything from hate crimes, racial profiling, and immigration detention, to solitary confinement, Internet freedom, and more. She founded Groundswell Movement, Faithful Internet, and the Yale Visual Law Project to inspire and equip advocates at the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and justice. More recently, she heads up the Revolutionary Love Project, which is both a movement and a powerful learning hub designed to help learn about loving others, opponents, and ourselves. Her debut book, See No Stranger, is both a memoir and a manifesto, calling us all into our better, more expansive and conscious selves. This conversation opened my eyes in so many ways. You can find Valarie at: Instagram | Understanding America: 20 Years LaterIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Rev. angel Kyodo williams about the intersection between race, love, and liberation.My new book is available for pre-order:Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive and get your book bonuses!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After years in the entertainment world, Justin Baldoni, found that classic breakout moment as an actor in the role of Rafael Solano on the hit show Jane the Virgin. But, underneath what seemed to be an extraordinary mainstream success, a certain discontent and vision of what the industry and life could be was brewing. In no small part, fueled by a deep devotion to his Baháʼí Faith, which stresses unity, universal dignity and the elimination of barriers to oneness. He began to question everything from the way stories were told to the fundamental underpinning of the entertainment machine, and even his own place in it. That led him into a deeper exploration of identity, relationships, and eventually to questioning of modern concepts of masculinity, which led him to write his first book, Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity.It also led Justin to reimagine how he would create this next season of work and life. He co-founded Wayfarer Studios, an independent financial and production engine pioneering purpose-driven, multi-platform film and television productions that elevate and speak to the human spirit. He’s on a bit of a mission to disrupt the typical studio model by producing stories that serve as true agents for social change. Justin also founded and serves as chairman of The Wayfarer Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the way communities see and respond to the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Each year, the foundation puts on one of Los Angeles’ largest volunteer events, the Skid Row Carnival of Love, which provides connection, services, and resources to people who are experiencing homelessness in LA’s Skid Row community. Over the past few years, over 6,000 volunteers have served over 15,000 guests, providing them access to over 100 service partners.You can find Justin at: Instagram | Man Enough PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Matthew McConaughey about meaning, creativity and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friends make life better. We’ve all experienced that. But, could a very specific kind of friendship - Radical Friendship - lead not only to lasting bonds, love and joy, but also to systemic social change, liberation, and equality? That’s what we’re talking about today. Weaving in Buddhism, Western spiritual culture, dance, and social justice with my guest, Kate Johnson. Kate teaches classes and retreats integrating Buddhist meditation, somatics, social justice, and creativity at leading meditation centers, universities and cultural institutions around the country. She also works as a culture change consultant, partnering with organizations to help them achieve greater diversity and sustainability. She's a graduate of Spirit Rock Meditation Center's four-year teacher training and she has also earned a BFA in Dance from The Alvin Ailey School/Fordham University and an MA in Performance Studies from NYU.Her moving new book, Radical Friendship, makes a case for friendship - grounded in Buddha’s teaching - as a radical practice of love, courage, and trust, offering seven strategies that pave the way for profound social change. She invites us to consider how wise relationships make it possible to transform the barriers created by societal injustice. Radical Friendship offers a path of depth and hope and shows us the importance of working toward collective wellbeing, one relationship at a time.You can find Kate Johnson at: Instagram | WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Ruth King about equality and social justice in the workplace and beyond.My new book is available for pre-order:Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive and get your book bonuses!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rev. angel Kyodo williams has been bridging the worlds of liberation, love, and justice her entire adult life. Her critically acclaimed book, Being Black: Zen and the Art of Living With Fearlessness and Grace was hailed as “an act of love” by Pulitzer Prize winner Alice Walker, and "a classic" by Buddhist pioneer Jack Kornfield. And, her book, Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love & Liberation, has been inviting communities to have the grounded, real, hard conversations necessary to become more awake and aware of what hinders liberation of self and society. Known for her willingness to sit with and speak uncomfortable truths with love. Rev. angel notes, "Love and Justice are not two. Without inner change, there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters.” And right now, we are in a moment where we need change, on every level, personal, interpersonal, cultural, and societal. Rev. angel was my guest on the show a number of years ago, and that led to a friendship that has been a true gift in my life. I wanted to invite her back both to explore her personal experience and evolution of thought around identity over the last few years, and also learn from her deeply wise, insightful and, for many, surprising lens on what it takes to step into this moment equipped for the quest for collective liberation.You can find Rev. angel Kyodo williams at: Instagram | Website | Rev. angel's Belonging audio programIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Bishop Michael Curry about the healing power of love, even now.My new book is available for pre-order:Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive and get your book bonuses!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today, Jameela Jamil, was a household name in the UK for years. Hosting shows on T4 and BBC Radio 1 before launching into the spotlight in the US, playing Tahani on the acclaimed TV show, The Good Place, and then hosting TBS late-night game show That Misery Index judging voguing reality competition show Legendary. And along the way, she has been incredibly intentional about leveraging her notoriety for social good launching the advocacy platform I Weigh and the podcast of the same name and she's on a quest to really bring together and amplify the voices of change-makers and promote equity and dignity. And for her, it's also personal. Growing up the daughter of Indian and Pakistani parents, she was often bullied, an experience made tougher after being diagnosed with a condition that affects her body's connective tissue and often causes chronic pain. And through her teens, she endured even more trauma. Became anorexic, and then at a car accident that caused a spinal injury that would profoundly change her relationship with her body. And finding her way eventually into the world of TV and radio in the UK, she headed to the US at first to write, but found herself in front of the camera, performing on a set with her childhood heroes on network TV. But it was her decision to speak truth to power and become an advocate for equality, inclusivity, and self-determination that has really become the center of who Jameela is and how she shows up in the world, a place she describes as being post shame. So excited to share this best of conversation with you.You can find Jameela Jamil at: Instagram | I Weigh PodcastMy new book is available for pre-order:Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive and get your book bonuses!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today, Tara Brach, has been one of my teachers for years, though she never knew it. Back in the early days of podcasting, I stumbled upon her weekly dharma talks or Buddhist teachings and meditations that she’d offer at her Insight Meditation Center in DC, record, then air as podcasts, and the blend of her gentle presence, her deep wisdom that was clearly not just studied, but also lived, her humility, real-world sensibility, and humor drew me in. Tara’s teachings blend Western psychology, she’s also a clinical psychologist, along with Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world. The result is a distinctive voice in Western Buddhism, one that offers a wise and caring approach to freeing ourselves and society from suffering.She is kindness and insight embodied, and I’ve learned so much from both her offerings and also the way she seems to move through life over the years. Which is why I was so excited to be able to spend some time going deep into not just certain pivotal moments in Tara’s path, but also the powerful tools and practices she’s developed in the name of allowing us to breathe more easily into whatever comes our way, at the core of which is something Tara shorthands with the acronym RAIN, which is transformational and we explore how it can move into our lives, especially in the context of compassion, acceptance, and what’s been going on in society these days. So excited to share this Best Of conversation with you. You can find Tara Brach at: Website | InstagramMy new book is available for pre-order:Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive and get your book bonuses!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We tend to think we’re smart, rational beings, making good choices based on clear information. In truth, we’re anything but. We are pretty much walking, talking bundles of delusion and bias, much of it utterly hidden from our consciousness, by no one other than our subconscious. How do we get past this, how do we learn to see more clearly, not just what’s going on around us, but also within us? To help answer this question, today I’m sitting down with Julia Galef, author, podcaster, and speaker with a passion for good reasoning, and host of Rationally Speaking, a biweekly podcast featuring interviews with scientists and other thinkers, about everything from “Should the United States have open borders?” to “Has scientific progress slowed down?” to “What have you changed your mind about?” She’s also the author of an eye-opening new book, The Scout Mindset, which is a deep dive into the learnable skill of looking at things honestly and objectively — why that’s so valuable, why it doesn’t come naturally to humans, and how we can get better at it.You can find Julia at: Website | Twitter | Rationally Speaking podcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan David about the role of emotions in how we think, feel and live.My new book is available for pre-order:Order Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive and get your book bonuses!-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever want to change something that really matters to you, but struggle to make it stick, let alone wonder how to ever get started? You’re not alone. There is so much misinformation in the world of behavior change, which is why I wanted to sit down with Katy Milkman to see if we could all get closer to the truth. And, find out, once and for all, what really works, and what’s just distraction. Katy is an award-winning behavioral scientist and a professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She hosts Charles Schwab’s popular behavioral economics podcast Choiceology, and is the co-founder and co-director of The Behavior Change for Good Initiative, a research center with the mission of advancing the science of lasting behavior change whose work is being chronicled by Freakonomics Radio. She has worked with or advised dozens of organizations on how to spur positive change, including Google, the U.S. Department of Defense, the American Red Cross, 24 Hour Fitness, Walmart and Morningstar. Her research is regularly featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and NPR. She is the bestselling author of How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. You can find Katy at: Website | Choiceology podcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Dan Ariely about the irrational ways we behave and how to see more clearly what’s really going on.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible.My new book, Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive is now available for order at https://sparketype.com/book/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When James Victore was told by a professor, in his design program during college, that he wasn’t cut out for the famed institution he’d been attending, instead of arguing, he left. Then, promptly launched and built his own successful design consultancy. Years later, an accomplished illustrator, designer, and provocateur of the status quo, he returned to that very school, but this team, to teach is own perpetually-packed class. James has been described as part Darth Vader, part Yoda, prolific storyteller, designer, provocateur, artist, activist and teacher. A designer and creative thought leader who people look to find clarity and purpose in their life and work. He’s widely known for his impassioned views about design and its place in the world. At the helm of his independently run design studio, James makes work that takes a strong position and often toes the line between sacred and the profane. And, the world has taken notice. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, in the permanent collections of the Louvre and the Library of Congress and his client list includes countless industry leaders. His book, “Feck Perfuction“ is sort of his manifesto on living a creative, full-contact and alive life.More recently, he’s been facilitating a Live Mentoring Program he calls ‘The Creative Warrior,' which is the culmination of decades of teaching, mentoring, sharing and, as he describes it, “just me having fun with brave souls.” So excited to share this Best Of conversation with you. You can find James at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Seth Godin about the importance of honoring your inner voice and developing a practice of personal innovation.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Work, as we know it, is broken. Has been for a long time. But this moment we're in has brought it home like never before. And, now, it's time for a reclamation! We spend the majority of our adult life working. If what you do empties you out, burns you out, or leaves you disconnected from what truly matters to you, that's a brutally hard way to live. BUT, if what you do fills you with meaning, energy and excitement, drops you into flow, and gives you a sense of purpose and joy, that's an amazing thing.Question is - how do you KNOW what kind of work will give you all the life-elevating feelings you seek? A big part of the puzzle is discovering and deepening into your Sparketype® - your unique imprint for work that makes you come alive. You can discover yours now by taking the Sparketype Assessment.Then, grab your copy of the groundbreaking new book by Jonathan Fields - SPARKED: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive - to know yourself like never before, feel seen, embraced, and finally understand how to reclaim the way you work and transform it into a source of joy, meaning, purpose and possibility.Pre-order now get some incredible bonuses.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Farming has been a huge part of our history and culture for generations. But, there’s a part of the story that’s so often left out of the popular lore: the history, stories, and contribution of Black farmers. It’s so important to understand this part of our heritage, not only to acknowledge the challenges and contribution, but also because it’s had a profound effect on our food systems to health, education, economics, and beyond. In today’s conversation with Natalie Baszile, we dive into the history and stories, not just of the past, but of present and returning farmers. Natalie holds a M.A. in Afro-American Studies from UCLA and is a graduate of Warren Wilson College’s MFA Program for Writers. She is the author of the novel Queen Sugar, which was adapted for television by writer/director Ava DuVernay and co-produced by Oprah Winfrey for OWN. Natalie’s stunning new anthology, We Are Each Other’s Harvest, is filled with essays, poems, quotes, conversations, and first-person stories that examine Black people’s connection to the American land from Emancipation to today, with a strong focus on what she calls the Returning Generation. It elevates the voices and stories of Black farmers and people of color, celebrating their perseverance and resilience, while spotlighting the challenges they continue to face. This collection helps all of us better understand the rich history and contribution of Black farmers. Plus, the book, itself, filled with imagery, is visually gorgeous as well.You can find Natalie at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Michele Harper, the author of New York Times bestseller, The Beauty of Breaking.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible.My new book, Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive is now available for order at https://sparketype.com/book/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a kid who grew up on a farm in the midwest, who struggled with mental illness on a level that led him to contemplate taking his own life, end up a rising star in industry, author, and the Head of Mindfulness and Compassion at mega tech-company LinkedIn? More than that, how does he end up deeply present, at peace, and alive with possibility and joy? That is the trajectory of today’s guest, Scott Shute.For more than two decades now, Scott has been on a quest to weave together the modern workplace and ancient wisdom traditions, blending a lifelong spiritual practice and passion with practical leadership and operations. It’s been the expression of something akin to a “download” he got early in life to change work from the inside out. His approach has been “mainstreaming mindfulness” and “operationalizing compassion.” Which has not always been an easy sell. Scott is also the author of The Full Body Yes, and one of the powerful voices and teachers behind the InnerMBA, a nine-month online immersion for entrepreneurs, executives and employees who believe business is a force for good in the world, and want to achieve success while making a difference.You can find Scott at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about finding equanimity and compassion.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible.My new book, Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive is now available for order at https://sparketype.com/book/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s something big happening that few people are really talking about in a meaningful and constructive way. A sense of loss, on so many levels, even if there’s also hope and excitement. We hate talking about this stuff, but it’s so important.Whenever I’m grappling with any kind of loss or grief, whether around a person or even just a broader sense of freedom, connection, humanity, or possibility, my go-to person is my dear friend, Megan Devine, who also happens to be today’s guest. Megan is a psychotherapist and grief advocate. She's the author of the best-selling book, It's OK that You're Not OK, and the new guided journal for grief, How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed.Megan was on the show back in 2016, but I asked her to come back after a conversation we had about how so many of us are carrying an unacknowledged sense of loss and grief right now. I wanted to explore what that does to us, what it means for us, and how to work with it in a way that owns the reality, and also allows us to be changed, and move forward from a place of greater understanding, and maybe even lightness and grace. And, that’s what we dive into in today’s conversation.You can find Megan at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Ocean Vuong about how loss and othering as a child led to creativity and insight as an adult.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible.My new book, Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive is now available for order at https://sparketype.com/book/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danielle Henderson is a TV writer, former editor for Rookie, cohost of the film podcast I Saw What You Did, and author of the achingly poignant and funny memoir, The Ugly Cry. Abandoned at ten years old by a mother who chose her drug-addicted, abusive boyfriend, she was raised by grandparents who thought their child-rearing days had ended in the 1960s. She grew up, in her words, “Black, weird, and overwhelmingly uncool in a mostly white neighborhood in upstate New York, which created its own identity crises.” Under the eye-rolling, profanity-laced, yet unconditionally loving tutelage of her uncompromising grandmother—and the horror movies she obsessively watched—Danielle found writing as a powerful outlet and form of creative expression. Along the way, she’s written for many major outlets, TV shows, and as she shares, “she drove from New York to Alaska by herself, survived a bear chase, four Alaskan winters, junior high school, working in a convent, Aquanet hairspray, acid wash jeans, and the entirety of the Mets' 1987 season.” We talk about it all in today’s conversation.You can find Danielle at: Website | Instagram | I Saw What You Did podcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Somebody’s Daughter, Ashley C. Ford.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This past year and a half has pushed many of us to the brink, in a lot of ways. Relationships. Work. Physical and mental health. It’s tested nearly every system, thought, belief, tool, practice and resource we rely on to find peace, ease, solace, hope, resilience, and grace. Over the years, we’ve had the great fortune to be able to sit down with many leading voices and innovators in the world of mental health, to learn from their lives, their stories, their experience and expertise. And, today, we’re sharing insight from four of those visionaries: Dr. Nzinga Harrison, Terri Cole, Lori Gottlieb, & Dr. Joy Harden Bradford.I hope you'll enjoy this exploration of mental health from different lenses valuable and maybe it’ll plant a seed that opens you to exploring and being more intentional and proactive in your own pursuit of wellbeing.You can find Dr. Nzinga Harrison at: Website | In Recovery PodcastYou can find Terri Cole at: Website | The Terri Cole ShowYou can find Lori Gottlieb at: Website | Dear Therapist PodcastYou can find Dr. Joy Harden Bradford at: Website | Therapy for Black Girls PodcastIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the full-length conversations we had with Dr. Nzinga Harrison, Terri Cole, Lori Gottlieb, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A member of the iconic Destiny's Child supergroup, along with Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland, on the surface, Michelle Williams lived a life people dreamed of. Yet, on the inside, things were not as they seemed. Living under the weight of depression and anxiety, Michelle hid the darkness that had been with her since her teens. The blend of pressure to perform and millions of eyes on her every move only deepened the level of suffering, and the feeling that she had to keep her experience silent. When Destiny's Child came to an end, it caught her by surprise. She questioned her identity, career, and worth, and no longer had the singular focus - the group - to distract her from addressing her mental health. After years of navigating a range of professional projects, Michelle eventually found herself in the perfect storm of depression, anxiety, and anger that led her to seek help in a residential program. But that was just the first crashing wave. A tenuous relationship with her fiance crumbled under the bright lights of a reality show that, as she shares, never should have happened. She was devastated, felt abandoned, publicly judged, and inhabiting a world that felt like it no longer fit or supported her. Michelle had what she describes as a psychotic break or complete breakdown. That moment, and the suffering that led to it, opened a window of profound reckoning, self-examination, intense therapy, and a renewed sense of faith and devotion that fueled her path slowly back to wellbeing, a journey she shared in her moving memoir, Checking In (https://amzn.to/3hScMQa). And, she's the first to share, there's still a lot of work left to do, but she also very transparent about the moments along the way, with the hope that her story might help others.We talk about it all, in a wide-ranging, vulnerable and open conversation.You can find Michelle at:Website : https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/checking-in/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/michellewilliams/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Grammy-winning singer, Lisa Fischer, about her life in music and the effect that proximity to mega-stardom has had on her, beyond her own personal taste of fame : https://pod.link/goodlifeproject/episode/148982c8b5c85a63948f03572f29be1e-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to be great at something you love? Don’t follow the age-old tropes. For decades, we’ve been told that, in order to become truly great at anything, we need to devote ourselves to thousands of hours of deliberate practice or have mad talent. Even better if you have both. But, what if that was a lie? Or, at least not the full picture? What if there was a third path that was actually the secret to greatness for many of the world’s top performers across nearly every domain? According to today’s guest, Ron Friedman, there is. Ron is an award-winning social psychologist who specializes in human motivation. In his latest book, Decoding Greatness (https://amzn.to/2UPM2a6), he breaks down the counterintuitive strategies the world’s highest performers take to achieve excellence. He was inspired to write it by research on pattern recognition, skill acquisition, and creative genius, as well as a personal fascination with creators, entrepreneurs, and athletes who accomplish things that almost no one else can.You can find Ron at:Website : https://www.ronfriedmanphd.com/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversation we had with Anders Ericcson, also known as the father of world-class performance, excellence and expertise and the person whose research is often misquoted as the basis for the famed 10,000-hour rule : https://www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast/anders-ericsson/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If I said the words, “I know this much is true,” a certain generation of humans would immediately start humming along with the lyric and the unforgettable melody from the iconic Spandau Ballet song, simply titled True. As the songwriter and guitarist for ‘80s music phenom, Gary Kemp wrote True, along with 23 hit singles, and the band’s androgynous, glam look changed the culture of music in a way that wouldn’t be truly understood for year. He later worked with everyone from Nelly to Lloyd and the Black Eyed Peas, wrote music that’s appeared on TV shows worldwide, including Spin City, the Simpsons and Ugly Betty a well as Hollywood blockbusters like the Wedding Singer, Charlie’s Angels, 50 First Dates, and Sky High.When Spandau’s opening run came to close in the early 90s, Gary then followed a parallel muse into acting, appearing in the hit British gangster movie, the Krays, and then in Hollywood movies like the Bodyguard, and Quentin Tarantino’s, Killing Zoe. He also made his theatrical debut in the London West End production of Art. Gary began touring again with Saucerful of Secrets, alongside Pink Floyd drummer, Nick Mason, and bassist, Guy Pratt, rekindling a desire to be back in the studio writing and recording an album he produced during the pandemic called INSOLO, which is a deeply reflective look at his life, love and work.You can find Gary at:Website : http://smarturl.it/INSOLOgkInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/garyjkemp/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversation we had with music icon, Ben Folds, about music, creativity and the power of nonconformity : https://pod.link/goodlifeproject/episode/e4c6ed32b87354e9fe5773e88892207d-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re ever heard the term, “highly sensitive person,” or even been called highly sensitive and maybe even recoiled a bit when that happen, you’ll be deeply moved by the work of today’s guest, Dr. Elaine Aron. She first identified high sensitivity as a distinct character trait more than 25 years ago, introducing the term “Highly Sensitive Person” to describe someone who is easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input, subtleties in environment and other people’s moods, and deeply feels pressures and overstimulation. Since its publication in 1995, her preeminent book on the subject, The Highly Sensitive Person, has gone on to become an international bestseller translated into 30 languages. She is also the author of The Highly Sensitive Parent, and many others. Credited for first recognizing high sensitivity as an innate trait and pioneering the study of HSPs since 1990, she has established the Foundation for the Study of Highly Sensitive Persons and has published numerous scientific articles on sensitivity in the leading journals in her field.Turns out, today’s conversation, was also personal, because in many ways, I am a highly sensitive person. But, I also discovered so much more about the way I move through the world, how this trait relates to introversion and extroversion - very surprising - and how you can be both highly sensitive, while also being high-sensation, which I’d never heard before. You can find Elaine at:Website : https://hsperson.com/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan Cain, the author of Quiet, about the power of introverts : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/susan-cain-introverts-power-and-the-quiet-revolution/id647826736?i=1000380458433-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A refugee at the age of two, Ocean Vuong and his mom found themselves fleeing Saigon, Vietnam, traveling across the globe, then dropped into a world that was simultaneously a source of renewal and safety, while also delivering a daily dose of profound othering. The English language came slowly to Ocean, struggling to read at the age of 11. But, over time, his deep curiosity and sense of observation led to a love of language that grabbed hold and never let go. In 2016, he released a critically acclaimed poetry collection Night Sky that dazzled the literary world. His gorgeously written and deeply stirring first novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (https://amzn.to/3htad7j), which became an instant New York Times bestseller, draws largely on his experience growing up in Hartford, Connecticut with a mom who shared a complex love in a community he seemed perpetually estranged from. A recipient of the 2019 MacArthur "Genius" Grant, Ocean is also the winner of the Whiting Award and the T.S. Eliot Prize. His writings have been featured in The Atlantic, Harper's Magazine, The Nation, The New Republic, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. You can find Ocean at:Website : https://www.oceanvuong.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ocean_vuong/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Axel Mansoor about the experience of being a third culture kid and how he found an outlet in music : https://pod.link/goodlifeproject/episode/3bd82ee46ef2d24985dfd3f9d7ffa52f-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dallas Graham never planned to help kids tell their life stories. A fiercely creative and compassionate Salt Lake City graphic designer, poet, and writer, he’s worked on a wide variety of projects over the years. But, his experience of one particular moment, family and child, would change everything. Setting him down a path to blend everything he’d learned about writing, poetry, and design with his deep love of kids and story to create an offering and an experience that would change so many lives. As the publisher and executive director of the Red Fred Project, Dallas is currently creating life legacies, in the form of books written and created by kids as a way to help them share their stories, ideas, and lens on the world at a moment of an otherwise profound challenge. After seven years of this life-altering work, his belief has strengthened in this idea: “We are producing the greatest stories ever told.” You can find Dallas at:Website : http://redfredproject.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/redfredproject/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Mitch Albom about his love of story and service : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-Mitch-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glennon Doyle is an activist and founder and president of Together Rising an all-women-led foundation that has revolutionized grassroots philanthropy – raising over $30 million for women, families, and children in crisis. She is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Untamed (https://amzn.to/3hmqKIX), a Reese’s Book Club selection, which has sold over two million copies, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Love Warrior (https://amzn.to/3gVTXvd), an Oprah’s Book Club selection, as well as the New York Times bestseller Carry On, Warrior (https://amzn.to/3jdGG2w). And she’s also launched and now co-hosts, along with her sister, the fantastic We Can Do Hard Things podcast (https://pod.link/1564530722). So excited to share this Best Of conversation at a moment in time where we’re all being called to dig deeper and step more fully into our personal and collective truths.You can find Glennon Doyle at:Website : https://momastery.com/blog/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/glennondoyleWe Can Do Hard Things : https://pod.link/1564530722If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Gilbert about love, loss, creativity and the freedom to be exactly who you need to be : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-LizG-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It seems, every time I sit down with my friend, illustrator, fine artist, and author Lisa Congdon, she’s in a moment of transformation. Truth is, it’s a bit of a perpetual state for her. Lisa is best known for her colorful, graphic drawings and hand lettering. Her work appears in private collections, merchandise, textiles, apparel, and a wide array of collaborations with clients around the world including Method, Target, Comme des Garçons, Crate and Barrel, Facebook, MoMA, REI, and Harvard University among many others. She is the author of nine books, including Art Inc: The Essential Guide to Building Your Career as an Artist; Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic; and her latest book, You Will Leave a Trail of Stars: Inspiration for Blazing Your Own Path. Lisa teaches in the Applied Craft & Design MFA program at Pacific Northwest College of Art. She lives and works in Portland, Oregon, and is also a devout cyclist, having just finished an intense ride to Crater lake and, as we talked, was getting ready to complete the Gravel Grinder race, where she would climb more than 30,000 feet in elevation on her bike, on gravel. You might wonder what, if anything, has to do with the creative life and art, and as you’ll hear, the answer is everything.You can find Lisa at:Website : https://lisacongdon.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ellen_hendriksen/The Lisa Congdon Sessions : https://pod.link/1562400129If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Mari Andrew. She is an author, illustrator, has a tremendous following across the socials and has an incredible ability to sort of get into all of our heads and through words and art express, what we're thinking and feeling in the most relatable way : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-Mari-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Glo Atamno stepped on a plane with a one-way ticket and $500 years back, she knew she wanted a life that was different from the one she was expected to live, one filled with adventure, one that broke the mold of how others had always told her life was “supposed” to be lived. What’s unfolded has been a life of not just adventure, but also profound exploration, growth, connection, and impact. A life of stories. Over a period of years, she also figured out how to build a powerful living around her quest as a creative entrepreneur and online educator. Starting as a travel blogger, venturing to over 80 countries across 6 continents and telling the stories of destinations around the world, she landed features in Forbes, Oprah Magazine, Conde Nast, Essence, BBC, collaborates with major brands, and hosted "The Glo Show" podcast. But, over time, her journey began to morph into something both bigger and deeper, especially over the last few years, as she felt called to speak honestly and openly on issues of equity, race, and community in a more intentional way. She's the founder of The Social Educators Academy, helping people leverage their social platforms to make a difference and make a living. As we spoke, Glo shared powerful reflections on the travel-centered life she’s been living, her experience both in the U.S. and on the road as a Black woman, and how she’s continuing to evolve her focus, life, and livelihood in new directions as we all emerge back into a changed world. You can find Glo at: Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/glographics/The Glo Show : https://pod.link/1537789031If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Chris Guillebeau, who spent a decade traveling to every country in the world, while building a global community fueled by impact and adventure : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-Chris-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would it surprise you to learn that the depth and quality of your relationships is the single biggest determinant of a life well-lived? Well, that’s what one of the longest-running studies on human flourishing, the Grant study, showed. But, chances are, you don’t need data to believe that. You just need to look at your life, and the lives of those around you. Having genuinely open, kind, honest, vulnerable, loving relationships make simply makes life better. And, over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to sit down with many of the leading voices, researchers, and thought-leaders on the topic. To ask them about their experience, insights, awakenings, and strategies. And, today, we’re sharing a powerful relationship roundup with you. We’ll hear about a reimagining of family as a more expansive chosen family of friends and community with Mia Birdsong. We’ll explore how Buddhism’s four noble truths can both guide and transform long-term, loving partnerships with Susan Piver. We’ll discover both the magic and the challenge of creating new true friendships as adults and explore ways to invite more of them into our lives with Kat Vellos. And, we’re kicking things off with Julie and John Gottman, married and collaborating professionally for decades as the founders of the legendary Gottman Institute, often known as the Love Lab that brings together powerful academic research with tens of thousands of hours of practical application. Their science-meets-on-the-gound reality will completely open your mind and give you powerful new ideas and tools to work with. So, let’s dive in.You can find Julie & John Gottman at:Website : https://www.gottman.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/gottmaninstitute/Small Things Often podcast : https://pod.link/1498172564You can find Susan Piver at:Website : https://susanpiver.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/You can find Kat Vellos at:Website : https://weshouldgettogether.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/katvellos_author/You can find Mia Birdsong at:Website : http://www.miabirdsong.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/miabirdsong/More Than Enough podcast : https://pod.link/1494165763If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the full-length conversations we had withJulie & John Gottman : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-GottmansSusan Piver : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-PiverKat Vellos : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-VellosMia Birdsong : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-Mia-Birdsong-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s one thing to feel uncomfortable around others, especially new people in a new environment. But, it’s another thing when those feelings fuel anxiety and, potentially, even panic and dread. And as we all emerge back into a more peopled daily life, social anxiety can be a very real issue. So, we’re sharing this Best Of conversation with clinical psychologist, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen, who helps millions calm their anxiety and be their authentic selves. She serves on the faculty at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) and is the author of How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety (https://amzn.to/3gBaW4x).During her tenure as founding host of the award-winning podcast, Savvy Psychologist, the podcast was downloaded 15 million times, rose as high as #3 on the overall iTunes charts, and was picked as a Best New Podcast on iTunes. Her scientifically-based, zero-judgment approach has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC News, New York Magazine, The Guardian, Harvard Business Review, Scientific American, O: The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Business Insider, Psychology Today, Quiet Revolution, and many other media outlets.You can find Ellen at:Website : http://ellenhendriksen.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ellen_hendriksen/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya where we dive into 20 tools to tame anxiety : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-Emiliya-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re like most people, there’s a certain amount of chatter that goes on in your head throughout the day. But, did you know that inner dialogue can have a profound effect on nearly every aspect of your life? Today’s guest, Ethan Kross, is one of the world’s leading experts on controlling the conscious mind. An award-winning professor and bestselling author in the University of Michigan’s top-ranked Psychology Department and its Ross School of Business, he studies how the conversations people have with themselves impact their health, performance, decisions and relationships.Earning his Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia University, Ethan completed a post-doctoral fellowship in social-affective neuroscience to learn about the neural systems that support self-control. He moved to the University of Michigan in 2008, where he founded the Emotion & Self Control Laboratory. Ethan’s research has been published in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, among other peer-reviewed journals. He has participated in policy discussions at the White House and has been interviewed on CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper Full Circle, and NPR’s Morning Edition. His pioneering research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Harvard Business Review, USA Today, The Economist, The Atlantic, Forbes, and Time. And, he’s the author of the National Bestseller Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why it Matters and How to Harness It (https://amzn.to/3wngqGH).You can find Ethan at:Website : https://www.ethankross.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ethankross/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Adam Grant about the value of not getting too dug in on your thinking : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-AdamGrant-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world of medicine is in a place of profound disruption, and that’s a really good thing. Because things have needed to change for a long time. That’s why I’m so glad to be able to sit down with an old friend today, Dr. Aviva Romm, who is my go-to doc for a better understanding fact from fiction, and where the world of medicine is headed, in no small part, through her efforts. Referred to as “the face of natural medicine in the 21st century” by Prevention Magazine and named one of the 100 Women to Watch in Wellness by Mind Body Green, Aviva Romm, MD has bridged the best of traditional medicine with good science for over three decades. A midwife, herbalist, and Yale-trained MD, Board Certified in Family Medicine with Obstetrics, as well as a graduate of Dr. Weil's Integrative Medicine Residency, she is an avid environmental health advocate, researching and publishing on the impact of toxins on fertility, pregnancy, women’s hormones, and chronic illness in women and children. Aviva is one of the nation’s leaders in botanical medicine and is the author of seven books on natural medicine, including the textbook Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution, and her latest book, Hormone Intelligence (https://amzn.to/3wboGt8). She is the author of the integrative medicine curriculum for the Yale Internal Medicine and Pediatric Residencies, and is on numerous scientific advisory and editorial boards, including Prevention Magazine. And, today, we’re diving into the evolving issues around medicine, equality, agency, and the role that hormones play in nearly every aspect of wellbeing, and how nearly everything we do affects this system.You can find Aviva at:Website : https://avivaromm.com/book/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/dr.avivaromm/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Frank Lipman about a fully integrated approach to healing and wellness : https://tinyurl.com/GLP-Lipman-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does the neuroscience of attention affect nearly every aspect of our capacity to live good lives? How can we harness tech as a tool to help our brains be more, rather than less present and aware? What do psychedelics and neuroscience have to do with each other, and how might both work together to profoundly improve our experience of life?These are a few of the questions today’s guest, Adam Gazzaley, has spent researching for decades, and continues to immerse himself in today. Adam is a neuroscientist, inventor, author, photographer, entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder and executive director of Neuroscape, and the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He is also the co-Founder and Chief Science Advisor of Akili Interactive, JAZZ Venture Partners, and Sensync, and has authored over 150 scientific articles and delivered over 675 talks. And, he is also a stunningly accomplished nature photographer and artist.We dive into all of this, with a special focus on his latest initiative, The Neuroscape Psychedelic Division, dedicated to advancing the field of psychedelic science and medicine through multi-level research covering basic to translational to clinical science. The level of scientific rigor Adam and his team are bringing to this area is kind of mindblowing, and we explore where it’s all headed.You can find Adam at:Website : https://gazzaley.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/adamgazz/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with fellow neuroscientist, Ryan D'Arcy, about advances in technology that are allowing us to rewire the brain in ways we never imagined : https://tinyurl.com/GLPryandarcy-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode is special, it’s a unique meditation deep dive that brings together the deep, research-driven insights from Daniel Goleman, best known for his work on Emotional Intelligence, as well as his book, Altered Traits. Daniel takes us into the science behind meditation and also asks a surprising question - what if popular wisdom and science about meditation were wrong? Goleman reveals powerful new truths about meditation, what it really is and isn't, and how only about 1% of the 6,000+ studies done on the topic are what might be considered "good science."We then turn it over to Sharon Salzberg, renowned meditation and loving-kindness teacher and founder of Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. She travels the world teaching people how to become aware and cultivate loving-kindness in their lives and has been doing so for decades. Sharon also recently partnered with Dan Harris to bring her latest venture to life, 10% Happier, an exciting new app that builds on Dan’s book, 10% Happier.And finally, I’ll take the meditation reigns for our Act 3, guiding you through a special blended mindful body scan and loving-kindness meditation.I hope you enjoy this meditation deep-dive. And if you loved this episode, be sure to share it around, and listen to the full-length conversations with Daniel and Sharon, linked belowYou can find Daniel Goleman at: Website : https://www.danielgoleman.info/First Person Plural: EI & Beyond podcast : https://pod.link/1538498597You can find Sharon Salzberg at: Website : https://www.sharonsalzberg.com/Instagram : https://instagram.com/sharonsalzberg/Metta Hour podcast : https://pod.link/923019021If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the full-length conversations we had with Daniel Goleman (https://tinyurl.com/GLPgoleman) and Sharon Salzberg (https://tinyurl.com/GLPsaltzberg).-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the thing you’ve loved since you were a kid, the thing that led you to become an 11-time NBA All-star, and two-time champion, playing alongside the best in the world, comes to a cataclysmic end at the age of 31? Leaving you to figure out what to do with the rest of your life? That is exactly what happened to this week’s guest, Chris Bosh. He fell in love with basketball at an early age and earned the prestigious “Mr. Basketball” title while still in high school in Dallas, Texas. A year into college, Chris was drafted to the Toronto Raptors, where he played for 7 years, before joining the Miami Heat and winning two championships. But, a handful of years into his time in Miami, he was having trouble breathing and found himself in the hospital with blood clots in his lungs. A year later, the clots returned in his leg, officially ending his career, and launching him into an exploration of who he was, beyond the sport that had defined much of his life and his career. Chris shared many of his awakenings in his new memoir, Letters to a Young Athlete (https://amzn.to/3wrUfi4).You can find Chris at:Website : https://www.chrisbosh.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/chrisbosh/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with rock icon, Peter Frampton about his profound passion for guitar that led to an album and career taking him to the top of the charts for year, but then leaving him to reimagine who he wanted to be in the context of an industry that pulled him to be someone else : https://tinyurl.com/GLPpeterframpton-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up in Alabama in a family of six, Light Watkins never imagined he’d find himself in his mid-forties, some 15 years into a career as a meditation teacher having led workshops and trained thousands around the world, giving up nearly all his worldly possessions to live out of a backpack and be nomadic for the last three years. Based out of Mexico City for the moment, this last year and a half created the space to reflect on his life of teaching, travel, connection and impact. And, stories and insights began to emerge that needed to be written down and shared. Ones about being a young Black kid growing up in the south, living in New York, saying yes to a gig in advertising that would become his one and only traditional job, walking into a meditation workshop with hesitance and walking out knowing it’d be his life’s work, immersing himself in study in India, starting a sober social-movement called The Shine, and reflecting on meaning, friendship, love, serendipity, surrender, and, of course, meditation and, more broadly, the role of stillness and reflection in our lives. He’s distilled these stories and awakenings into a beautiful new book, Knowing Where to Look (https://amzn.to/3wrsBC9). We dive into all of it in today’s inspiring conversation.You can find Light at:Website : https://www.lightwatkins.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lightwatkins/At The End of the Tunnel : https://pod.link/1515614913If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about a life of awareness and awakening from trance : https://tinyurl.com/GLPTaraCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book Sparked | My New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the earliest age, Brian Broome was taught that a man was, basically, everything he wasn’t. The model of masculinity handed down to him, from his father to local kids, community, and even the local barbershop made him feel like his very existence was an affront. So, he started hiding, then began to play different roles in the name of belonging. Eventually, the weight of it all led to years doing nearly everything he could to destroy himself, sinking into addiction, until his body, heart and mind just couldn’t take it anymore. Returning to writing, which he’d loved as a kid, Brian began to pour out stories. At first, for no one but him. It was his form of exorcism, of coping, and sense-making. But when he began sharing those stories and poems in the form of spoken word, everything began to change. Now, an award-winning writer, poet, and screenwriter, and K. Leroy Irvis Fellow and instructor in the Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh, and Moth storyteller, he shares his journey in the powerful new memoir, Punch Me Up to the Gods (https://amzn.to/3fFbMwG). We dive deep into it all, including a hard, yet revealing and important look at how cultural norms about masculinity, sexuality and race shape our lives.You can find Brian at:Website : https://www.brianbroome.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/bbromb/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Casey Gerald about his upbringing and how he navigated the world around similar topics : https://tinyurl.com/GLPCasey-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So, how do you turn a gathering, whether over a meal or a giant event, into an experience of collective elevation? Priya Parker is on a mission to help us take a deeper look at how anyone can create collective meaning in modern life, one gathering at a time. She is a facilitator, strategic advisor, acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters (https://amzn.to/2K95VyJ) and the host of the New York Times podcast, Together Apart (https://pod.link/1506057555). Priya has spent 15 years helping leaders and communities have complicated conversations about community and identity and vision at moments of transition. Trained in the field of conflict resolution, she has worked on race relations on American college campuses and on peace processes in the Arab world, southern Africa, and India.Parker is a founding member of the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network, a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on New Models of Leadership, and a Senior Expert at Mobius Executive Leadership. She studied organizational design at M.I.T., public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and political and social thought at the University of Virginia. Her work has been featured everywhere from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, and TED to Real Simple, Oprah.com, Glamour, the Today Show and more. In today’s Best Of conversation, we dive into the art of gathering and how to create those shared moments of understanding and transformation, which we could all use more of right now. You can find Priya at:Website : https://www.priyaparker.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/priyaparker/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Mia Birdsong about building community and really reimagining family and chosen family : https://tinyurl.com/GLPBirdsong Check out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ranked among the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, and visionary. He has been conferred three presidential awards in India, including one for his environmental work as well as the country’s highest annual civilian award for exceptional and distinguished service. He’s spoken before the United Nations, World Economic Forum, World Bank, the UK House of Lords, TED, and countless global companies, and has also been invited to present at Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Wharton, and MIT, among others.Over the years, Sadhguru has also launched large ecological initiatives that have created a blueprint for economic development that is ecologically sustainable. And three decades ago, Sadhguru founded Isha Foundation, a nonprofit human-service organization, with human well-being as its core commitment. The foundation has initiated yoga programs for human transformation and outreach projects to uplift rural communities. Isha is supported by over 11 million volunteers in more than 300 centers worldwide.We explore his extraordinary life’s journey today, then drop into the focus of his latest book, Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny, (https://bookshop.org/a/22758/9780593232019) which has also been a concept that has fascinated me for years.You can find Sadhguru at:Website : https://isha.sadhguru.org/karma/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/sadhguru/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Nepal-based French philosopher, writer, teacher, and Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard, who, after having his brain study by neuroscientists, was kind of dubbed with a smile, The World's Happiest Man: https://tinyurl.com/GLPRicard-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2008, Jill Bolte Taylor gave the first-ever TED Talk to go massively viral. A Harvard-trained neuroscientist, she told the story of her stroke that largely wiped out the entire left hemisphere of her brain, a horrifying experience and yet, the entire time, at her left hemisphere was shutting down, it was observing and analyzing the process in the way a scientist might, wondering at the moment by moment changes. She shared this deeply moving story, along with the 8-year journey it took to rebuild and bring her left half back online, enough to step back into her career and stand on maybe the most intimidating stage in the world and leave her audience both captivated and yearning, in an odd twist of circumstance, to experience even a glimpse of the profound expansive, connectedness and bliss Jill described as her right hemisphere took the reigns and all but eliminated and sense of separate self, otherness or separation. Despite the stunning success of her talk and book that followed, she still viewed them, in a way, as failures. Her ultimate goal was to invite people to explore reconnecting with that same sense of spaciousness, joy, empathy and compassion, to activate and embrace all parts of their brains, not just the head’s down, individualistic, achievement-oriented parts. People wanted to, but there was no clear roadmap, so she spent years deconstructing the process and distilling it into a powerful, insight-packed call to action in her new book, Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life (https://amzn.to/2Q9MFtc), where she reveals the 4 characters living in your brain and how to harness them to live an extraordinary, intentional and present life.You can find Dr. Jill at:Website : http://www.drjilltaylor.com/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with neuroscientists and innovator, Ryan Darcy who is doing stunning things with brain neuroplasticity : https://tinyurl.com/GLPDArcy-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does someone who despised himself for most of his life go from loving himself and his life, and creating music that makes millions smile? That’s the journey my guest, Axel Mansoor has been on. A singer/songwriter and self-described Third Culture Kid, he’s become known for leveraging technology to build community and intimacy with his music. His songs have taken him from a Daytime Emmy nomination to collaborations with the biggest brands in the world, Spotify’s Viral 50 Chart, to your television screen as he pitched a song to H.E.R. on NBC's Songland. Axel’s debut EP, I hadn’t ever Loved Myself, just dropped and is quickly climbing the charts.And, until a few days ago, his image was the icon for the massively viral Clubhouse social audio app, appearing on the screens of tens of millions of phones. He is also the creator of the app's popular Lullaby Club: a nightly musical experience where your favorite artists sing you, and the rest of the world, to sleep. But, there’s also a deceptively beautiful and creative ulterior motive, helping artists get discovered, build careers and expand their communities.In this conversation, we explore the idea of being a third culture kid, a phrase I’ve heard more and more, and how literally living with a foot in three worlds led to this seemingly contradictory ability to fit it and make people like him, while also being brutally bullied and deepening into a place of self-hatred that tore apart his sense of self, belonging, and expression. And we talk about how music, along with a powerful inciting incident, turned his world upside-down and became a source of joy, expression and, to his surprise, even self-love. You can find Axel at:Website : http://www.axelmansoor.com/Lullaby Club : https://lullaby.club/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/axelmansoor/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with extraordinary singer, Lisa Fischer who, in addition to her own breakout hits, spent years touring and recording with everyone from Luther Vandross to the Rolling Stones : https://tinyurl.com/GLPFischer-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Yarrow is one of the world’s best-selling fine art photographers. He has spent the past decade documenting the natural world from new perspectives, and his distinctive, evocative and immersive photography of life on earth has earned him an ever-growing following amongst art collectors as a relevant artist of his generation. His limited edition works regularly fetch record bids of over $100,000 at auction houses such as Sotheby’s. He is also a passionate philanthropist and conservationist, and holds multiple ambassadorships including those for WildArk, Nikon, Land Rover and UBS and has donated millions to wildlife and sustainability causes. But, here’s the thing, this almost never happened. David’s career had a bit of a false start when, on break from university, he talked his way into a world cup soccer match and captures a legendary image of iconic soccer star, Maradonna. But, instead of embracing a career in photojournalism, he went into finance where he was building a big reputation. For decades. Until a series of experiences led him to walk away from it all and step back into the world of photography but in a very different way.You can find David at:Website : https://davidyarrow.photography/In Focus Podcast : https://www.davidyarrowpodcast.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/davidyarrow/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Mark Mann: https://tinyurl.com/GLPmannYou’ll also love the conversations we had with the artist, Peter Tunney: https://tinyurl.com/GLPtunney-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iconic actress, producer, author and activist, Marlo Thomas, never wanted to marry. She saw what she believed was the way marriage “had” to be - one person giving up their dream for the other - and knew it wasn’t for her. Then, one fateful day in 1977, she appeared as an hourlong guest on the legendary daytime talk show hosted by Phil Donaghue. Both were smitten, they sensed something powerful had happened, but neither of them knew that conversation, aired before millions of viewers on daytime TV, would effectively be a first date that would lead to a marriage that’s now lasted more than 40 years.Reflecting on what makes a relationship last that long, they got curious and began to set up double dates with many celebrity couples they know, and others they didn’t. People like Viola Davis and her husband, actor Julius Tennon, filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele; award-winning journalists Bob Woodward & Elsa Walsh; Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen; Ray Romano and his wife Anna, Neil Patrick Harris and his actor/chef-husband David Burtka; the Rev. Jesse and Jacqueline Jackson, John Leguizamo and wife Justine and so many others. Those hours-long conversations went so deep, got so vulnerable, open and at times, hysterically funny, they turned interviews into the bestselling book, What Makes a Marriage Last. And now, those conversations and more are featured in their new original podcast series, Double Date (https://www.pushkin.fm/show/double-date-marlo-thomas-phil-donahue/). We had so much fun talking about those early moments in their lives and relationship, what was really going on in each of their lives, hearts and minds and what they learned sitting down for double dates with so many incredible, long-term couples. You can find Marlo & Phil's new podcast at:Double Date : https://www.pushkin.fm/show/double-date-marlo-thomas-phil-donahue/If you LOVED this episode:You will also love the conversation that we had with Julie and John Gottman (https://tinyurl.com/gottman-love-lab), who are the founders of the legendary Love Lab, and their deep-dive into what love and what long-term relationships and marriages really are all about.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up in LA, Ellen Bennett had no idea her summer spent with her grandma in a small town in Mexico would play a huge role not only his how she saw the world and related to people, but also in the career she’d eventually pursue and the company she would build. Describing herself as half Mexican, half English, born and raised in LA by a fiery mom who calls her “Mami,” and having never met a color she didn’t like, she is the founder of Hedley & Bennett, a company that crafts some of the coolest, most beautiful and kitchen tough aprons, worn by a lineage of many of the top chefs in the most iconic restaurants and kitchens in the world.But she didn’t start out that way. Coming out of high school, without a strong sense of direction, she got on a plane to Mexico City, alone, and vanished into the culture, building a career and life before feeling called back to LA to make her mark cooking, under the guidance of two legendary chefs and restaurateurs. But a single, fateful moment, when she heard her mentor ask a simple question, then made a promise that, at the time, she had no idea how to keep, led her to launch her own company. The adventures that followed are the stuff of legend, many of the learnings and tales are shared in her wonderful new book, Dream First, Details Later (https://amzn.to/3aJf9kj), and we dive into it all in today’s conversation. You can find Ellen at:Website : https://www.hedleyandbennett.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ellenmariebennett/If you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Samin Nosrat, chef, teacher, and author of one of the most beautiful and soulful cookbooks ever, Salt Fat Acid Heat, and host of the hit TV show of the same name. https://tinyurl.com/3phhve7n-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Morgan Harper Nichols is an artist and poet whose work is inspired by real-life interactions and stories. Morgan spent the first couple of years of her professional life as a college admission counselor, and then, as a full-time touring singer-songwriter and musician. It was on the road that she cultivated her curiosity and passion for writing, art, and design and slowly began to share her work online.In 2017, Morgan started a project where she invites people to submit their stories to her website. From there, she creates art as a response to their stories and sends it to them before sharing the work publicly. All stories and names are kept private. The fruit of this project is shared daily around social media, in publications, and various creative collaborations and installations.As an artist, Morgan has collaborated with a wide range of brands including Coach, Adobe, Vogue Singapore, Aerie, and more. As a designer and author, her work has been available in many stores, including Anthropologie, Barnes and Noble, and Target. Her latest book, How Far You Have Come: Musings on Beauty and Courage (https://amzn.to/3azMSgm)is a beautiful collection of illustrations, poems and essays and we dive into the verse, experiences and moments that often reveal deeply personal, yet universal awakenings, in today’s conversation.You can find Morgan at:Website : https://morganharpernichols.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/morganharpernichols/Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Ana Luisa: Sustainably-made jewelry with a conscience. If you’re looking for a gift for yourself or a loved one, check out Ana Luisa's pre-Mother’s Day sale at analuisa.com/goodlifemd to get 15% OFF.AquaTru: Countertop reverse osmosis water purifier that's certified to create bottled-quality water. Receive $100 off an AquaTru plus free shipping when you go to AquaTru.com & enter code GOODLIFE at checkout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel like life is one non-stop boundary issue? You’re not alone. And my guest, Terri Cole, can help. Before earning a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychotherapy from New York University, Terri ran a talent agency for actors and supermodels. She was your typical Type A overachiever with zero balance and no internal peace, driven by ambition, living on planes and serving as a business executive, confidante, advisor, surrogate parental figure and bounding between nearly every role, with every person imaginable. She began to realize every part of work and life was bleeding into every other part of work and life and the net effect was that everything was bleeding out. Something had to change. She wanted her life back, and she wanted to do something that felt more driven by meaning and service. Changing direction, she went back to school, started a partnership in life and family, and therapy practice at the same time, that’s now been her devotion for over two decades. What she learned in the trenches with her high-profile clients informed and continues to inspire the work she does today. She’s been on a mission. Her dharma, she shares, is teaching women how to attract and sustain healthy, vibrant, Real Love into their lives and establish and maintain effective boundaries with ease and grace. That latter part, she’s come to believe is at the heart of so much interpersonal struggle and is perpetually at the center of nearly therapeutic engagement. So, she figured it was time to share was she’s learned in her new book, Boundary Boss: The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free (https://amzn.to/3srgUZC). We dive deep into the world of boundaries in today’s conversation.Be sure to check out her 2017 conversation (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast/terri-cole-real-love/) with us for a deeper dive.You can find Terri at:Website : https://www.terricole.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/terricoleDiscover Your Secondary Gain : https://boundaryboss.me/goodlife-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine being a young photographer, working to stand out and rise up in a hyper-competitive industry, then getting a call one day from Iman and David Bowie, asking to shoot the cover of Iman’s next book, after two of the covers shot by two of the world’s top photographers had been rejected? That is exactly what happened with Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri. That moment would become an inciting incident, leading evermore opportunities to deepen into her wildly imaginative and compelling magical realism style and launch years of award-winning collaborations, image-making and storytelling with everyone from HBO, Vogue and Vanity Fair, to Pepsi and Nike to L'Oreal and icons like Beyonce, Gaga, Bowie, Kate Winslet, Pharrell Williams, Eugene Brave Rock, Jay-Z and countless others. Indrani’s work is exhibited in museums worldwide and in the permanent collections of the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian. Over time, she’s integrated her love of image-making and storytelling with her passion for service in the name of social justice and impact, and expanded from still images to film, including directing the powerful Girl Epidemic documentary about sex trafficking and slavery.Beyond directing, advocacy has taken a much more central role in her work and life, with positions as the co-Host of the Global People’s Summit at the United Nations, host of the New York Live Arts' Humanities Symposium, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Shakti Empowerment Education for women and children in India. She also lectures at her alma mater, Princeton University, on "Mobilizing Millions with Art and Film for Human Rights and Social Justice." You can find Indrani at:Website : https://www.indrani.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/indranipc/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up outside Rochester, New York, all Elizabeth Miki Brina knew was that she was different, an outsider, and she blamed her mom, a first-generation immigrant from Okinawa, for it all. Elizabeth’s mother was working as a nightclub hostess on U.S.-occupied Okinawa when she met the American soldier who was deployed during the Vietnam war who would become her husband. Leaving her home, family, friends and culture, to move to the U.S, the language barrier and power imbalance that defined their early relationship followed them to the predominantly white, upstate New York suburb where they moved to raise Elizabeth, who felt perpetually othered among her peers, turning that feeling into a cocktail of anger and rebellion.Decades later, Elizabeth came to recognize the shame and self-loathing that haunted both her and her mother, and began a process of reconciliation, not only to come to terms with the embattled dynamics of her family but also to reckon with the injustices that reverberate throughout the history of Okinawa and its people. She came to see the profound courage and strength and saw her parents enduring marriage in a profoundly different light. We dive deep into this journey, which is beautifully detailed in Elizabeth’s haunting memoir, Speak, Okinawa (https://bookshop.org/a/22758/9780525657347), which is a heartfelt exploration of identity, inheritance, forgiveness, and what it means to be at peace with who you are.You can find Elizabeth at:Website : https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/611688/speak-okinawa-by-elizabeth-miki-brina/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Tranter is one of the top songwriters and collaborators in the music industry, writing with everyone from Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, and Selena Gomez to Demi Lovato, Bebe Rexha, Brandy Clark, Shea Diamond and countless others. With their astonishing success and abundant self-love, you’d never imagine Justin was bullied mercilessly as a kid growing up in Chicago. Every day was torture until the Chicago Academy For The Arts high school provided a place of refuge and emergence and ultimately saved their life. Starting out in the business, Justin began their career on stage as the figurehead of the glam-punk band Semi Precious Weapons, but eventually discovered something surprising. They didn’t actually need to be on stage to do the part of the work they loved; collaborating, writing and helping other leading artists create works of art that told their stories in a powerful way and moved millions. Justin has since become a pioneer in the music industry, working tirelessly to elevate the voices of everyone around them — whether marginalized people, emerging artists or global pop icons. Along the way, Justin’s also remained a committed philanthropist & GLAAD Board member, using their platform to rally for change across a number of causes, including representation/inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people, women & women of color. And, in 2018, coming full-circle, Justin made a donation to fund a state-of-the-art recording studio and part-time music teacher at that very same place that was their salvation as a kid, the Chicago Academy For The Arts.You can find Justin at:Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/tranterjustin-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My first exposure to Anne Lamott’s work was her iconic book, Bird By Bird, which as a writer, was transformative. Not just because it helped me better understand how and why to write, but also because her wonderfully wise and irreverent voice inspired me to be more real, more honest in both my work and my life. I’ve remained captivated by her writing ever since. The author of too many The New York Times bestsellers, including Almost Everything; Hallelujah Anyway; Small Victories; Stitches; Help, Thanks, Wow; and her most recent Dusk Night Dawn (https://amzn.to/3rYhHB5), Anne goes places other fear to tread with such humility, humor and craft, it’s like you’ve been invited into her mind, her life and her ability to draw belly laughs, deep wisdom and hits of awakening from those often tiny moments that touch down in our lives that so many of us miss. She reminds you, it may not be fun while it’s happening, but it’s all part of the beautiful souffle of life and every ingredient matters.You can find Anne at:Website : https://sites.prh.com/dusknightdawntourInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/annelamott/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophia Chang is a force to be reckoned with. A soft-spoken French-lit major in college and the child of Korean immigrants raised in Vancouver, when she first heard "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five everything changed. Taken by the mix of urgency, anger, and pride that was hip-hop in the 80s and 90s, Sophia rerouted her life to New York, quickly becoming a fixture in the music industry and hip-hop scene, and finding fast-family with the legendary Wu-Tang Clan.Over the years, Chang would end up not just a member of the Wu-Tang family, but also manage a number of the group's individual members, as well as other legends including A Tribe Called Quest, Raphael Saadiq, and D'Angelo. In 1995, she left the music business to train kung fu and manage a 34th Generation Shaolin monk, who would later become her partner and father of her two children, before returning to music. Now, after decades of being the force behind other amazing artists' stories, she's finally telling her own story in her breakout audiobook, The Baddest Bitch in the Room (https://amzn.to/3sQbE2S). We're so excited to share this Best Of conversation with you today.You can find Sophia at:Website : https://www.sophchang.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/sophchangnyc/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, John Rzeznik is the founding-member, frontman and guitarist for iconic band, the Goo Goo Dolls. He's a legend in the world of music, with 19 top-ten singles, including mega-hits like Iris (which spent 12-months on the Billboard charts), Name, Black Balloon and countless others. And, like so many who turned to music at a young age as both a way to cope with discord and a form of expression, he’s lived a life of extraordinary artistry and contribution, and along with that, a certain amount of darkness and struggle that for many years found him turning to alcohol as a way to get through each day. Until it all fell apart, and he had to make a decision. One he keeps making every day. Now, sober, a devoted dad and husband, he's telling a new story with his life and music, and taking the giant, global community of Goo Goo Doll fans along for the journey. And, as you’ll hear, he’s headed into the studio to create something that is truly representative not just of this moment in time, but also of how his lens on life, music, and creativity have evolved.You can find John at:Website : https://www.googoodolls.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/johnrzeznikggd/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With culinary training from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and a relatability that seems to light up the screen, many people know Giada De Laurentiis as the Emmy award-winning television personality of shows like Food Network’s Everyday Italian, Giada at Home, Giada’s Weekend Getaways, as a judge on Food Network Star and Winner Cake All, an NBC Today Show contributor, and a successful restaurateur with restaurants GIADA and Pronto by Giada in Las Vegas, as well as GDL Italian in Baltimore. Or, maybe you know her as the author of nine New York Times bestselling cookbooks, including her most recent, Eat Better Feel Better (https://amzn.to/2NQEJfi), which deftly navigates the sweet spot between delicious recipes and a more healthful approach to cooking and eating. But, what you may not know, and what Giada shares in the pages of this new book and our deep-dive conversation, is how her upbringing in a dynastic family of film, both in Italy and Hollywood, shaped everything from her love of food and cooking for others, to her early disdain for being in front of the camera. Her decision to step into the world of cooking on television, in fact, caused quite a dustup in the family. And the career that, in front of the camera, seemed so beautiful and glamorous, would eventually take a serious toll on her physical and mental health. There was a slowly-building dark side that would take years to acknowledge, then eventually step out of and do the work to reimagine both her mental and physical health, as well as the way she brought herself to her work, life and devotion to food and creativity.You can find Giada at:Website : https://www.giadadelaurentiis.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/giadadelaurentiis/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connie Lim, whose artist name is MILCK, rose to widespread attention after a video of an a capella performance of her song "Quiet" on the street at the 2017 Women's March exploded into the public’s consciousness going viral and becoming embraced as an anthem for the movement. That moment and the impact and reach of the song led to a major record deal and collaborations as a songwriter that launched the career she’s been working to build for years. But that career almost never happened. MILCK grew up in an enclave of LA, the child of immigrants from China, and was drawn to music from her earliest days. She wrote her first song at 7 years old and studied classical piano and opera. Yet the pressure of intense perfectionism and the expectation she’d eventually leave music behind to follow the family tradition into medicine led her into years of profound emotional struggle. Eventually, she hit a point in college where she decided it was time to choose herself over the expectations of others, as well as the burden of perfectionism that had caused so many years of suffering and harm. MILCK left college and went all-in on music, performing as an independent artist for years, slowly building her name, before that fateful day in 2017 that changed everything. She’s now deep into writing, producing and performing her own work, while also writing with and for other artists and focusing on not just sharing her own creative voice, but also gathering community and shining the light on truth and inequity along the way.You can find MILCK at:Website : https://www.somebodysbeloved.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/milckmusic/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Hatmaker grew up in the church, surrounded by family and community, eventually rising up to become a central figure. But, over the years, she became increasingly uncomfortable with not so much the core tenets and teachings, but rather the trapping and limitations of the institution. She struggled with what she saw as a stifling of power, expression and contribution in the context of women, the exclusion of LGBTQ+ and gender-fluid or nonconforming people and more. So, she did something she knew would leave her labeled a pariah and outcast by many. Still, it was the thing she couldn’t not do.Jen had no idea what was next, or even if faith, or any approach to organized religion would play a role in her life, let alone her vocation. But, over time, she came back to those same core tenets, but in a way that felt far more expansive, equitable and inclusive, and build a new community that welcomed all into more of what she described as a “wild faith.” She’s since written numerous books, including NY Times bestsellers For the Love and Of Mess and Moxie. She hosts the For the Love Podcast, speaks and created the Jen Hatmaker Book Club where, in her words, she “nerds out every month with thousands of women who believe good books are everything and stories still matter.” And she leaders an online community of millions of women. Her latest book, Simple and Free: 7 Experiments Against Excess (https://amzn.to/2PdDFSL), is a fascinating take on excess, bundled with a series of experiments that invite us to explore what happens when we strip down key parts of life to their essentials.You can find Jen Hatmaker at:Website : https://jenhatmaker.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jenhatmaker/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melissa Bernstein, along with her husband Doug, is the Co-Founder of the legendary toy company Melissa & Doug, which has created over 5,000 children’s products and sold billions of dollars of toys since its inception. Melissa and Doug started the business in their garage in 1988, and they’ve been on a mission ever since to provide open-ended, inventive, non-technologically driven playthings for young children. Sounds like a dream life, but throughout Melissa’s remarkable career, she kept secret her lifelong battle with severe, existential depression and anxiety. She spoke about it publicly for the first time on Good Life Project a few years back and that moment became a bit of an inciting incident to come more fully out of the shadows, share her story in a bigger way and begin to devote herself to building community, experiences, and solutions to help others moving through struggle and darkness feel less alone. Among those offerings is her moving new book, LifeLines: An Inspirational Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light (https://amzn.to/3czkKKm), that takes you deep into her story and then takes you along the journey of discovery and creation that would eventually become LifeLines.com, an online ecosystem she and Doug are underwriting to support those seeking support, guidance, and community on their mental health journeys. Want more of Melissa? You can listen here to our 2018 conversation (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast/melissa-bernstein/)You can find Melissa Bernstein at:Website : https://www.lifelines.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/seeklifelines/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Glasgow born photographer, Mark Mann, who has built a stunning career, photographing many of the most iconic celebrities in the world, from Robert Redford, Michael Douglas, Iggy Pop, and the Black Eyed Peas to Seinfeld, Rihanna, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Bradley Cooper, Willie Nelson, and hundreds of others. Funny thing is, Mark pretty much stumbled into photography in the most unexpected way in his late teens, then ended up on a plane to NYC where, with little experience, he found himself dropped into the world of hip hop and music, focusing some of the early icons in the space. He fell in love with the stories people’s faces told and started spending more and more time developing his signature approach to hyper-vivid, close-up, black and white portraits that, in some way, capture a moment, a mood, a vibe or story. But behind the scenes, it hasn’t been a straight line or an easy path. The reality of the photographic life is not an easy one, but, for him, it’s been the source of profound connection and a life of stories that will live in his mind long after the images themselves fade. You can find Mark Mann at:Website : https://www.markmannphoto.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/markmannphoto/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christa Couture is an award-winning performing and recording artist, filmmaker, writer and broadcaster. She is also proudly Indigenous (mixed Cree and Scandinavian), queer, disabled, and a mom. Her seventh album Safe Harbour was released on Coax Records in 2020. As a writer and storyteller, Christa has been published in Room, Shameless, and Augur magazines, she’s gone viral on CBC with an article and photos on disability and pregnancy. Christa’s also a frequent contributor to CBC Radio and is currently the weekday afternoon host on 106.5 ELMNT FM in Toronto. Her life has been both extraordinary and fiercely engaged. She is utterly and awake, connected, and alive, which is a powerful state, given the stunning amount of loss that’s touched down in her life, from the loss of her leg as a child to the loss of children, a sense of identity, community, and the need to find a way to reimagine life, to not just exist, but also live in the face of deeply challenging circumstance. In her debut memoir How to Lose Everything (https://bookshop.org/a/22758/9781771622622), she shares many stories and we dive into her extraordinary path, revelations and lens of life, possibility, hope and grace.You can find Christa Couture at:Website : http://christacouture.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/christacouture/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lama Rod Owens is a Buddhist minister, author, activist, yoga instructor and authorized Lama, or Buddhist teacher, in the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism and is considered one of the leaders of his generation of Buddhist teachers. He holds a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School and is a co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation, along with my friend and past GLP guest, Rev. angel Kyodo williams. Lama Rod is the co-founder of Bhumisparsha, a Buddhist tantric practice and study community. Has been published in Buddhadharma, Lion’s Roar, Tricycle and The Harvard Divinity Bulletin, and offers talks, retreats and workshops in more than seven countries. He’s also someone who has spent a lifetime exploring and working with the often blurred lines between love and rage, which also happens to be the title of his latest book, Love & Rage: The Path to Liberation Through Anger (https://bookshop.org/a/22758/9781623174095). Its prophetic truth, timing and honesty and wisdom, in dealing with the multiplicity of challenges this generation is waking up to is both an invitation to a deeper set of truths and a set of practices to help navigate the experience of life in this moment in time.You can find Lama Rod Owens at:Website: https://www.lamarod.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lamarodowens/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mari Andrew is what I’d call a flaneur, she navigates the world in search of moments of discovery, wonder, serendipity and connection. That novelty often drops her into those flickering moments of aliveness - that is her muse. It’s found an expression in the form of beloved illustrations and words on her Instagram account with a community of more than 1M people and her first book. But these last 4 or 5 years have led Mari into entire seasons of deep struggle, reflection, and, ultimately, revelation that’s taken her from park benches in New York’s East Village to hospital wards in Spain and random alleys in Rio. In her new book, My Inner Sky: On Embracing Day, Night, and All the Times in Between (https://amzn.to/3bi0NIJ), Mari shares some of these moments, from an illness that temporarily paralyzed her in a foreign country to finding home within herself again and seeing the world anew. It's a call to spend more time finding grace in the truth of whatever life brings you, rather than wishing and waiting for things to change. You can find Mari Andrew at:Website : https://bymariandrew.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/bymariandrew/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today, Chicago-born and raised, Roy Kinsey, is a bit of an anomaly. A black, queer-identified, rapper, and librarian or as he puts it, Rapbrarian. Roy’s escape from trauma and creative outlet as a kid was writing and music and also a love of books and learning. He began sharing his words and beats, rapping at a young age, but really began to elevate his pursuit of music-making in college, performing and refining his craft. Graduating, he began making a name for himself, performing, recording and releasing albums, while simultaneously earning degrees that would find him working as a librarian by day and an artist by night.A few albums in, Roy began to feel like an essential part of him was being kept from his music and also his community, so he made the decision to come out as queer on an album at a time very few others in the space of rap and hip-hop were out. It was a moment that would transform him and his music. Roy has since released a series of powerful albums, including his latest powerful reflection, KINSEY: A Memoir (http://www.roykinsey.com/shop). He’s been featured on the cover of major local publications like Chicago Reader and the Chicago Tribune, in and on major national, and international publications like Billboard, LA Times, NPR, WBEZ’s Vocalo. And Roy has even found a way to bring his love of music and books together, running workshops as a librarian in the Teen Services/Youmedia department for Chicago Public Libraries.You can find Roy Kinsey at:Website : http://www.roykinsey.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/roy_kinsey/---------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Kern Lima thought she’d spend her life in the world of broadcast TV, where after graduating, she began working her way up as a journalist, then eventually news anchor where a bright career was laid out in front of her. Then, the camera started picking up a genetic skin condition that she struggled to hide and threatened to derail what she’d worked for. That experience set in motion a quest that eventually led her out of broadcast journalism and into the world of entrepreneurship where she’d eventually found IT Cosmetics, a company she started in her living room and would eventually sell to L’Oreal for $1.2 Billion, becoming the first female CEO in L’Oreal’s 100+ year history. Her journey, though, was anything but smooth, with years of 100+ hour weeks, living hand-to-mouth, miles of no’s and countless dark nights of the soul and even a single moment that would either shut the company down or launch them into the stratosphere, which by the way, it did. Jamie is passionate about inspiring and mentoring entrepreneurs, building businesses, making a difference in the lives of women and girls and giving back in a big way. Her book, Believe IT: How to Go from Underestimated to Unstoppable (https://amzn.to/3uqLXak), shares her story and many of the big insights she’s now sharing with aspiring creators and founders.You can find Jamie Kern Lima at:Website : https://www.believeit.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jamiekernlima/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Marine sniper Jake Wood arrived home in the States after two brutal tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, he wasn't leaving war behind him. Ten years after returning home, Jake's unit lost more men to suicide than to enemy hands overseas. He watched in horror as his best friend and fellow Marine, Clay Hunt, plunged into depression upon returning, stripped of his purpose, community, and sense of identity. Despite Jake's attempts to intervene, Clay died by suicide, alone.Reeling, Jake remembered how only one thing had given Clay a measure of hope: joining him in Haiti on a ragtag mission to save lives immediately following the 2010 earthquake. His military training had rendered him unusually effective in high-stakes situations. He wondered if there was a way to help communities in crisis, often in the wake of natural disasters, while providing a new mission to veterans? With that, he built on the early missions to co-found the now-iconic Team Rubicon, a disaster relief organization with over 140,000 volunteers that drop into locations around the world to battle hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, pandemics, and civil wars, while reconnecting with a sense of purpose along the way. In this inspiring memoir, Once a Warrior: How One Veteran Found a New Mission Closer to Home (https://amzn.to/3dt5qkt), Jake recounts this extraordinary journey.You can find Jake Wood & Team Rubicon at:Website : https://teamrubiconusa.org/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/teamrubicon/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 73, Denise Kaufman is the ultimate renaissance woman, an active member of the ‘60s Bay Area psychedelic rock scene who’s seen and done it all - and continues to do it all. The longtime singer and bassist is a member of Ace of Cups, the pioneering all-female psychedelic rock band that opened for Jimi Hendrix, The Band, Janis Joplin, and more, and that shared the stage with the likes of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. She continues to play and record new music with the recently reunited group, which has been praised by Rolling Stone, Billboard, CBS This Morning, NPR All Things Considered, The Guardian, and has recorded new songs with Bob Weir, Jackson Browne, David Freiberg, and more. A deeply spiritual person who has been exploring energy flow and community connectedness for over half a century, Denise also is a trained yoga teacher who has taught Madonna, Quincy Jones, and more. She splits her time between Venice Beach where she practices and records with the Ace of Cups (https://amzn.to/2OOUqUj) and teaches Yin Yoga - and Kaua, Hawaii, where she founded the Island School in 1977, and lives on an organic farm, and surfs in her free time.You can find Denise Kaufman at:Website : https://www.denisekaufman.com/ace-of-cupsInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/marymicrogram/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Miles Chamley-Watson is on a mission to take fencing mainstream. A British-born, 6-foot-four Black man, covered in tattoos with bleached blond hair, he breaks pretty much every generations-old assumption and mold about what the staid, traditionally-conservative and often elitist sport is about. Miles actually struggled a lot as a young kid, especially with focus, attention and school, until one day a teacher introduced him to fencing. That moment changed everything. He was obsessed and it gave him a physicalized way to learn and develop intense focus that soon became the driving force in his life. Miles wanted to be the best in the world and win the Olympics. And indeed, already a world champion and an Olympic medalist, he’s well on his way. Miles also decided to redefine the public perception of the sport, to make it more modern, alive, high-profile and appealing to a younger generation, especially those often excluded from the pursuit. And he’s on a mission to reimagine the financial side of this sport, introducing a level of popular appeal, relevance and excitement that’s landed him a huge social media following and big endorsement deals with brands like Coach and Red Bull.You can find Miles Chamley-Watson at:Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/fencer/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born in New York City to a Tunisian father and a Swiss mother, Suleika Jaouad attended The Juilliard School's pre-college program for the double bass, and earned her BA with highest honors from Princeton University and an MFA in writing and literature from Bennington College. Leaving music behind, she thought she’d a war correspondent, but her plans were cut short when, at age 22, she was diagnosed with leukemia that led to a brutal 4-year stint in and out of the hospital, with multiple rounds of chemo, and a bone marrow transplant. She began writing her New York Times column and Emmy-award winning video-series “Life, Interrupted” from her hospital room at Sloan-Kettering, and has written reported features, essays and commentary for New York Times Magazine, Vogue and NPR, among other publications. Suleika served on Barack Obama's Presidential Cancer Panel, the national advisory board of the Bone Marrow and Cancer Foundation, and the Brooklyn Public Library’s Arts & Letters Committee. She is also the creator of the Isolation Journals, a community creativity project founded during the Covid-19 pandemic to help others convert isolation into artistic solitude; over 100,000 people from around the world have joined. Her debut memoir, Between Two Kingdoms (https://amzn.to/3qaugcf), is a gorgeously written exploration of so many moments, people and stories that have led to her this moment in life.You can find Suleika Jaouad at:Website : https://www.suleikajaouad.com/bookInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/suleikajaouad/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born in the short-lived West African country of Biafra, Louis Chude-Sokei and his mom fled the country during the war that would take the life of his father, a figure of such great reverence in the country that it would create a set of expectations about who Louis was and should be that would follow him well into his adult life. Landing first in Jamaica, where his mother was from, then eventually making their way through DC, to LA, he spent his life, as the line from the Bowie song, Space Oddity, goes, “floating in a most peculiar way.” That song, in fact, has been a bit of a lifelong obsession for Louis, along with Bowie and his music and, in fact, it’s the name of his moving new memoir, Floating in a Most Peculiar Way (https://amzn.to/36NqRZh), his evolving exploration of everything from identity and race to science fiction and music. Louis is now Professor of English at Boston University where he directs the African American Studies Program. He is also the author of influential and award-winning scholarly work and his writing appears in national and international venues, and he is the Editor in Chief of The Black Scholar, the premier journal of Black Studies in America.You can find Louis Chude-Sokei at:Website : https://www.bu.edu/afam/profile/louis-chude-sokei/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest, today, Renee Jain, started into her career as a tech entrepreneur who secretly suffered with her own sometimes dizzying and even paralyzing anxiety. One day, a panic attack led her to step back and re-examine her life, seek help and begin to acquire the skills and understanding to live with more ease. It was transformative. But, along the way, something she never expected began to happen, she began wondering why every child doesn’t learn those same skills early in life, so they can live with more ease and joy. Solving that problem became her driving cause. Renee earned her Master’s degree in Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and founded her own ed-tech company, GoZen!, to help a new generation of kids, parents and therapists. She is recognized as a pioneer in marrying technology and child psychology in a unique approach that nurtures the hearts and minds of kids. Through her writing, product invention, masterclasses, and children’s advocacy, she works to build the emotional intelligence of kids by creating media and experiences that speak to them in a way they not only understand, but love. Renee is also the co-author of New York Times bestselling book, Superpowered (https://amzn.to/3cDOJT1), a groundbreaking book that every parent needs, not just for their kids, but for themselves, too.You can find Renee Jain at:Website : https://gozen.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/gozenlove/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would it take to make you rethink a deeply held point of view or belief? That’s one of Adam Grant’s recent fascinations. Adam is an organizational psychologist and TED speaker who helps people find meaning and motivation at work. He has been Wharton’s top-rated professor for 7 straight years. As an organizational psychologist, he is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, and live more generous and creative lives. He has been recognized as one of the world’s 10 most influential management thinkers and Fortune’s 40 under 40.Adam is also one of TED's most popular speakers, his books have sold millions of copies, his talks have been viewed more than 25 million times, and his podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant has topped the charts. His pioneering research has inspired people to rethink fundamental assumptions about motivation, generosity, and creativity. And he is a former Junior Olympic springboard diver. Adam’s new book, Think Again, is a fascinating deep dive into how to come to form a point of view, why it’s so important to hold even our staunchest beliefs more lightly than we think, and what happens when stay doggedly attached to opinions and beliefs even as the world starts to reveal how wrong they were.You can find Adam Grant at:Website : https://www.adamgrant.net/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/adamgrant/Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ellen Harper has been around the folk music scene her whole life. Her mother, Dorothy Chase performed and taught banjo and guitar at Hecht House in the 1950s in Boston with Bess Lomax Hawes and her dad, Charles Chase repaired any and all instruments that came his way. Ellen learned to play, perform and teach guitar and other folk instruments at her mother’s knee and eventually, the family moved west to Claremont, California where they create the iconic Folk Music Center that became a hub for all the biggest names in folk, from Dylan to Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and so many other lesser-known, yet equally important players. Ellen’s kids grew up in that same place, surrounded by those same people and, in fact, one son Ben Harper, caught the music bug and has since become an acclaimed singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in his own right. In 2000 Ellen participated in Ben’s documentary Pleasure and Pain filmed by iconic rock photographer, Danny Clinch, whose also been a guest on the podcast. That led to them to collaborate on an album. Childhood Home. Ellen’s latest project, Light has a Life of its Own is a collection of her original songs reflecting the unusual musical heritage that has defined and shaped several generations of Chase/Harpers. Ellen currently runs the Folk Music Center, the Claremont Folk Festival and teaches music classes, and her new memoir, Always a Song (https://amzn.to/3pBZQzi), is a wonderful journey not only through so many of the stories of her life, but also the history and world of folk music.You can find Ellen Harper at:Website : https://www.ellenharper.net/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today, Tara Brach, has been one of my teachers for years, though she never knew it. Back in the early days of podcasting, I stumbled upon her weekly dharma talks or Buddhist teachings and meditations that she’d offer at her Insight Meditation Center in DC, record, then air as podcasts, and the blend of her gentle presence, her deep wisdom that was clearly not just studied, but also lived, her humility, real-world sensibility, and humor drew me in. Tara’s teachings blend Western psychology, she’s also a clinical psychologist, along wtih Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world. The result is a distinctive voice in Western Buddhism, one that offers a wise and caring approach to freeing ourselves and society from suffering.She is kindness and insight embodied, and I’ve learned so much from both her offerings and also the way she seems to move through life over the years. Which is why I was so excited to be able to spend some time going deep into not just certain pivotal moments in Tara’s path, but also the powerful tools and practices she’s developed in the name of allowing us to breathe more easily into whatever comes our way, at the core of which is something Tara shorthands with the acronym RAIN, which is transformational and we explore how it can move into our lives, especially in the context of compassion, acceptance, and what’s been going on in society these days. You can find Tara Brach at:Website : https://www.tarabrach.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/tarabrach/Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I first learned about today’s guest, Jason Naylor, through his art, which at that point, started appearing on walls and buildings all over New York City, and now is featured all over the world and on products, shows, in fashion and beyond. Jason is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, where he grew up in a Mormon community and eventually felt called to step away and define his own path. After getting his BFA in graphic design from Brigham Young, he moved to New York City where he began his career in MAC Cosmetics’ Creative Department as a designer, but the whole time, he was creating his own work and starting to paint these hyper-vivid murals on walls around the city, often featuring inspirational words and quotes on the side. His style just kind of exploded with energy and kindness and playfulness. As his work caught on, leading to more and bigger commissions and collaborations with companies like Coach, Sephora, and Pepsi, he left his full-time gig and went all-in on his own art, now running his own brand, Jason Naylor Studio, where he continues to share his positivity through murals, graphic pieces, and collaborations with New York City communities, as well as popular brands. Much of his work and his philosophy of life and creativity appears in his new book, Live Life Colorfully (https://tinyurl.com/yy4mopvp).You can find Jason Naylor at:Website : https://jasonnaylor.nyc/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jasonnaylor/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For generations, when it came to your brain, we pretty much assumed that once you reach adulthood, it pretty much is what it is. That meant you couldn’t get smarter or faster or wittier or optimize it to perform at a higher level and, on the other side, if you suffered an injury, there was very little you could do to help your brain recover or even rewire itself to function at a higher level again. Turns out, much of that was wrong, and my guest today, Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, is an acclaimed neuroscientist and entrepreneur who is at the leading edge of this awakening. The co-founder, President, and Chief Scientific Officer of HealthTech Connex a brain health technology company, he also holds Professorship appointments at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, where he serves as a BC Leadership Chair in neuroimaging and neurotechnology. He has published more than 260 academic works, and led major scientific advances include the discovery of white matter activation in functional MRI, the world's first VR simulator for neurosurgical training and planning, the development and deployment of the world's first brain vital sign framework, and the utilization of neuroplasticity in brain injury to drive recovery well beyond conventional limits.Today, we’re talking about some of the incredible innovations in brain science across the four domains of performance optimization, mental health, neurological diseases, and brain injury recovery and you are going to be amazed at the work he and others are doing and where things are heading.You can find Dr. Ryan D'Arcy at:Website: https://healthtechconnex.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurocatch/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Question, when was the last time you made a really good new friend, as a grown-up? Like the kind that actually knows you, not just online, but the real you? Turns out, it’s not actually so easy to create those kinds of friendships. But it is critically important to our ability to live good lives, especially during challenging times.My guest today, Kat Vellos, is here to help, She earns her living as a UX designer, which means Kat figures out how to make experiences as easy and organic as humanly possible to step into. She’s applied her unique genius to everything from giant apps, platforms and technology like Slack and Pandora on a mass-scale, to local, face-to-face gatherings, community-building, and most recently to examining and tackling the quest to form deep friendships as a design problem. She goes deep into her journey of discovery in her wonderful book, We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships, which I loved and learned so much from.Kat has been featured in Forbes and FastCompany for her work as the founder of Bay Area Black Designers which is a professional development community for Black designers and UX researchers. And over the last twenty years she’s created, run, and mentored a variety of communities focused on everything from spoken word poetry to photography to digital design to authentic connection and friendship. Her most recent are Better than Small Talk and Connection Club, which helps her readers build community with each other as they also foster stronger friendships through the art of letter writing. I wanted to go deeper into Kat’s lens, ideas, and processes and also explore them both in the context of making real, deep friendships as adults, and also cultivating relationships, community, maybe even rising to that level of chosen family both with people who see and move through the world in similar ways, but also with people who are not like us and to embrace how important that is in this day and age. You can find Kat Vellos at:Website: https://weshouldgettogether.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katvellos_author/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your work could make you come alive? What if it could fill you with meaning, purpose, and excitement like you're fully accessing and expressing all parts of yourself and stepping into your fullest potential? Like you're doing the thing you're here to do. We call this state being "sparked." The first step isn't about big, painful or disruptive change. It's about knowing yourself better, discovering your unique imprint for work that makes you come alive - your Sparketype®In today's episode, we're taking you deep into the world of the Sparketypes and exploring how to discover yours, then tap it to reimagine and redesign the way you contribute to the world, whether it's the thing you get paid for, the thing you do because you're called to it, the thing you do on the side or some blend, on a quest to get as close as you can, or at least a lot closer than you are now, to this feeling of aliveness.Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I think about Peter Frampton, I’m immediately transported back to my teens when Peter’s musical juggernaut of a live-album, Frampton Comes Alive, took the world and my life by storm with anthemic songs like Do You Feel Like We Do, Show Me the Way, Lines On My Face and Baby, I Love Your Way. I cannot think about those songs without also hearing what became his signature voice-box sound vibrating through my body.Known in his earlier years for his fierce talent as a guitarist and musician, co-founder one of the first rock-supergroups, Humble Pie, and a collaborator with everyone from George Harrison, David Bowie, and Jerry Lee Lewis, to then Stones bassist, Bill Wyman, and Ringo Starr, that album changed everything. Frampton Comes Alive became a global phenomenon and bestselling live album for decades. Following on the heels of the album came an equally iconic, shirtless cover of Rolling Stone, shot by Francesco Scavulo and accompanied by a feature story written by a then-young Cameron Crowe, Peters ascendency, powerful as it was, also came with a very dark side. It recast him as a pop-star, an idol or sex-symbol, and icon in an industry that was built to take advantage of just such a phenomenon. The years that followed took Peter, his life, mental health and career into some very scary and lonely places, before his childhood friend, David Bowie, would step in with an invitation that set in motion a certain reclamation, a renewed sense of self, and passion, and direction that fueled Peter to step back into music in a way that nourished, rather than emptied him. Much of Peter’s story is beautifully shared in his memoir, Do You Feel Like I Do, (https://amzn.to/33lAflE) which I devoured, actually in audio, hearing him tell it in his own voice. In our conversation, we explore many of the pivotal and wonderful moments and stories along the way, as well as some new revelations. As we spoke, Frampton, now 70, also shared his experience living with an incurable degenerative muscular disease - Inclusion Body Myositis - and how, as he described it, he’s got 3 clocks running that are essentially ticking away as he’s unable to travel, hoping to be able to make it to the final few stops of a farewell concert he’d planned to play, back where he grew up, while he’s still able. You can find Peter Frampton at:Website : https://www.frampton.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrpeterframpton/Check out our offerings & partners: Freshly: freshly.com/GOODLIFE - Get $40 off your first two ordersTalkspace: Talkspace.com - code GOODLIFE - $100 off your first monthBeachbody: To get a special FREE trial, no-obligation membership, text GOODLIFE to 303030. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Success is not just about knowing what to do. It's about doing it. Information, plans and goals, alone, will not get you where you want to go. Nor will willpower. Success at anything truly meaningful is about something bigger. Today’s show is going to be very different. Instead of deep-dive conversations with guests, it’s just going to be Jonathan, going deep into how to find success accomplishing big, meaningful things. There’ll be a ton of myth-busting and you'll learn something called Success Scaffolding™, a unique approach to making big things happen, especially things you’ve tried and failed at many times before. We’ve shared Success Scaffolding before, but over the years, we keep refining it and making it better and better. So, you’ll want to give this episode a listen with fresh ears even if you've listened to past episodes about it, because there are a bunch of new insights, changes and additions. You may also want to open your "notes" app to take notes. Or, if you'd like a detailed, one-page PDF mind-map of the entire updated 2020 version of the Success Scaffolding framework, be sure to sign up for our Weekly Insider Updates (http://www.goodlifeproject.com/radio/). We'll include a link to a free downloadable PDF in our next dispatch.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the history of this show, we’ve been incredibly blessed to not only have hundreds of guests in the physical and now virtual studio for conversation but also live performances from a wide variety of acclaimed artists, many of whom are icons in their chosen form of creation and expression. The performances have ranged from unaccompanied to fully sound-designed spoken word, to a capella or instrument-accompanied live music. Many of these performances represented moments of emotion and awakening, connection. It’s been a kind of magical ingredient for me, as a lover of spoken word and music, to be able to share these with you over the years. So we decided to do something a little different as a sort of offering to you as we bring this year to a close. We culled through years of tape and pulled together today’s live performance super-cut for you, sharing a lineup of 11 artists, spread out over nearly 7 years of performances in the studio. Some, short and sweet, others longer-form and profound. All will make you feel, smile and, even just for a moment, transcend time and space and just be present in feelings. So excited to share these performances with you.You can find the full episodes of each guest included in this montage:Andrea Gibson: https://tinyurl.com/y9nds2ycAmanda Palmer: https://tinyurl.com/ybl7wfgzSekou Andrews: https://tinyurl.com/yco27duwHumble the Poet: https://tinyurl.com/y89pzjohKaki King: https://tinyurl.com/ycsldtc5Cleo Wade: https://tinyurl.com/yc8we3luMark Nepo: https://tinyurl.com/ybqu2crcJimmie Vaughan: https://tinyurl.com/ya4svdu4Morgan Harper Nichols: https://tinyurl.com/y9m35fp9Ali Handal: https://tinyurl.com/yall7ltbIN-Q: https://tinyurl.com/ybpwqy6jCheck out our offerings & partners: You Need a Budget: youneedabudget.com/GOODLIFE - free for 34-days (no credit card required) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s something about the sound of Mark Nepo’s voice that just puts me at ease. He’s been immersed in a path of spiritual inquiry for more than forty years, taught all over the world, authored more than twenty books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller The Book of Awakening, More Together Than Alone and others. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages and in 2014, Mark traveled the country with Oprah Winfrey on her sold-out The Life You Want Tour and has appeared several times on her Super Soul Sunday program.The last time I sat down with Mark, we caught up on life, then dove into his decades-long inquiry around how we are wired to live in community, what happens when the bonds that connect us fail and how to rediscover community at a time when we seem more divided than ever. This conversation was actually recorded before the year we’ve all just been through, but it is more relevant and more needed than ever before. You can find Mark Nepo at:Website : https://marknepo.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mark_nepo/Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re on a quest to help you live a more meaningful, connected and vital life. Every week we share inspirational, intimate and disarmingly-unfiltered conversations about living a fully-engaged, fiercely-connected and purpose-drenched life. We’ve been on a quest to find “embodied teachers,” then co-create in-depth, unscripted, often deeply-moving and fiercely wise conversations. From world-shakers like Brené Brown, Matthew McConaughey, Austin Channing Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert, Bishop Michael Curry, Secretary Julián Castro, Dr. Yusef Salaam, Seth Godin and Gretchen Rubin to everyday guests, every story matters. We also love to create practical and powerful tools, programs, and trainings designed to help people live more engaged, connected, and vital lives. Listen to the podcast, then visit Goodlifeproject.com to learn more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christen Brandt and Tammy Tibbetts are on a mission to unlock the potential of girls and women, especially in parts of the world where they’re often excluded from education and, in turn, much of life and the opportunity to help shape their communities and lives in a meaningful way.Both Christen and Tammy grew up in households where they were loved and supported, taught to believe in themselves and the power of education and become strong advocates. They were the first in their families to go to college, and both landed in the fashion magazine world in New York after graduating, where they started building careers and rising up in the industry. But an increasing awakening to inequity led them into a collaboration that would start as a viral video to raise awareness and eventually lead them out of the world of magazines and to co-found a foundation to help women and girls globally become educated, called She’s the First. Along the way, they’ve reimagined the foundation model, becoming leading voices in a new approach to philanthropy that has revolutionized outdated models by shifting power to the most vulnerable. So many people starting coming to them to learn more about how to step into the world of giving in a different way, they decided to distill their philosophy and strategies into a powerful new book, Impact: A Step-by-Step Plan to Create the World You Want to Live In. (https://www.planyourimpact.com/)You can find Christen Brandt & Tammy Tibbetts at: She's the First (https://shesthefirst.org/)-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’ve been fascinated with alternative approaches to healing and medicine for my entire adult life. Especially when so many millions of us are walking around with pain and inflammation that doesn’t seem to fair well with a more Western approach. But, at the same time, I’ll also admit, I’m equally skeptical of a lot of solutions, practices, and claims. Which is why I’ve been deeply curious, for many years, about Ayurveda - a healing methodology that has been practiced, refined and sustained for some 5,000 years, and I was so excited to sit down with my friend, Avanti Kumar Singh, a traditionally-trained physician who experienced firsthand the limitations of Western medicine and decided to leave behind a career in emergency medicine to begin a 20-year journey to study, research and experience traditional healing systems from a wide range of cultures that landed her back in Ayurveda and reconnected her with a sense of calling. A central tenet of Ayurveda is the notion that each of us has the innate ability to attain and maintain our own optimal health, and that when done correctly, the practice of Ayurveda is as simple and as natural as being in tune with your body as it moves through the seasons of your life. I love this idea, and I also struggle with it. Which is why I am so excited to share this conversation with you, to unpack some of the key concepts, including ones that, at first, didn’t necessarily land true to me, with someone who is deeply studied and accomplished in both worlds. Avanti is also the author of a wonderful new guidebook, The Health Catalyst: How To Harness the Power of Ayurveda To Self-Heal and Achieve Optimal Wellness.(https://tinyurl.com/ycadj3dz)You can find Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD at:Website : https://www.avantikumarsingh.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/avantikumarsingh/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Tunney is a legitimate force of nature with boundless creative energy, who loves spreading positive messages in unconventional ways. After a career in finance, biotech and then nearly a decade defined by wild adventures, photo-curating and documenting travels through Africa with photographer and society fixture, Peter Beard, Tunney returned to New York in 1987 and declared himself an artist. He quickly became a central player, artist and gallerist in the legendary downtown art scene of the 80s and 90s, working with nearly every medium imaginable to create these large-scale mantras that have appeared everywhere from billboards to private collections and his own galleries in Tribeca as well as Miami’s famed Wynwood Walls. Tunney, it turns out, is not just a world-class liver of life, creator and raconteur, he believes in humankind and the good that results in endless small acts of kindness. Over the years Peter has donated countless works to deserving organizations, with his main philanthropic efforts now being criminal justice reform, supporting wrongfully convicted individuals, and ending the stigma of mental illness. In today’s free-ranging and story-driven conversation, you’ll get a powerful sense of the fierce, kinetic and creative energy that drives Peter, and also discover how an accident that nearly ended his life at the age of 13 set in motion certain events that would shape who he’d become and what he’d awaken to decades down the road.You can find Peter Tunney at:Website : https://petertunneyart.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/petertunney/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kulap’s parents fled violence in Laos, finding themselves in a refugee camp in Thailand, before moving to DC, where Kulap would be born, and then Minnesota, where she’d grow up. Her world was blown apart when, at the age of 14, in the heat of a fight, Kulap’s mom revealed that her father was not, in fact, her biological dad. The trauma of that moment shook her, but would then get largely buried, as she left home, built a career and got married. Now, decades later, a successful writer/director, actor, comedian, former co-host of the longrunning Who Charted podcast where she sat behind the mic for 8 years, and creator, show-runner and sometimes director of the TV series Bajillions Dollar Properties, Kulap started considering having her own kids, and she felt like she had to discover her true original story in order to move forward. So she decided to do something radical to take control of her own narrative.She mounted a quest to uncover the truth, one that led her to travel back to Laos in search biological father she never knew, let alone knew existed, and find out the events and awakenings that would forever change her, her life, and her understanding of her parents, extended family and the choices they all made. The story is laid bare in Kulap’s original documentary Origin Story (https://amzn.to/2GqIrIi) and we dive into this decades-long experience in today’s conversation.You can find Kulap Vilaysack at:Website : http://www.originstorydoc.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/iamkulap/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ione is a British film, television and voiceover actress based in LA with many different credits including Marvel’s Black Widow, a leading role in a motion picture which premiered on the Syfy network, as well as guest-starring in hit TV shows on CBS, Spike TV, TLC, BBC and many others. Growing up biracial in West London’s Southall neighborhood, which has been known to many as little Punjab or Little India since the 60s, she was surrounded by different cultures, developed an early curiosity for people and community, and a passion for acting that led her to the iconic Brit School of Performing Arts. Eventually heading to LA to build her career in the business, she became increasingly called to both create her own roles, focus on producing positive media, and take control of her career, founding Uplifting Content, a social media platform followed by over 1.4 million people, hosting the Uplifting Content Podcast and most recently writing the book, Uplifting Stories (https://tinyurl.com/y39e7ju6). We also explore what it’s like to navigate the world of entertainment and act on the impulse to put positive, optimistic ideas, media and offerings into the world at a time it needs it more than ever, but also when we, personally, may be carrying a lot of weight. You can find Ione Butler at:Website : https://ionebutler.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ionebutler/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past few decades, Seth Godin has made quite a ruckus in nearly every domain he's explored, from business to marketing to education, innovation and beyond, in no small part by encouraging us all to join him in purposeful ruckus-making, too. He's launched a number of successful companies, taught millions of people and left his mark on our creative culture. And, he’s written, just a bit. In fact he writes daily at Seths.blog, which is one of the most popular blogs in the world. He's the founder of the altMBA and The Akimbo Workshops, online seminars that have transformed the work of thousands of people. Seth is the author of 19 international bestsellers translated into more than 35 languages, including Purple Cow, Linchpin, The Dip, and This Is Marketing, and now his latest New York Times bestseller, The Practice, an insightful and provocative look at how to get more out of the work we do by giving more to it, to the world and to ourselves. Or, as he describes it, you’ll learn to dance with your fear, take the risks worth taking, and embrace the empathy required to make work that contributes with authenticity and joy. And that’s what we explore in today’s conversation.You can find Seth Godin at:Website : https://www.sethgodin.com/Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/sethgodinCheck out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Sincero wants you to be a badass in all parts of life. And, as we head into the end of the year and start thinking about what we want to make happen, she’s doubling down on building badass habits. A past guest, Jen is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller You Are a Badass, which has sold over three million copies, is available in over 35 languages, and has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 4 years. Her follow-ups, You Are a Badass at Making Money - also a New York Times bestseller - and You Are a Badass Every Day are written with the same signature in-your-face kindness, down-to-earth humor and blunt practicality that made You Are a Badass a mega-bestseller and Jen a celebrated voice in the world of self-development. And, now she’s sharing that same irreverent, revealing and deeply-useful lens on the world of habits. I’ve studied a lot on habits and read pretty much everything written on them, from popular books to research. I confess I kinda thought I knew what there was to know, but Jen introduced opened my eyes to ideas that I’d never thought about before, especially in the way she offers them up. We go deep into all of this in today’s conversation, along with what it’s like to write books that tap into the zeitgeist and explode you into the hearts and minds of millions, and how that can both be a giant blessing and also a bit challenging.You can find Jen Sincero at:Website : https://jensincero.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jensincero/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I first heard about my guest today, Michele Harper, when stumbled upon an essay she published earlier this year, entitled When This War is Over, May of Us Will Leave Medicine. It was about the reality of her day-to-day life as an ER doc during the early days of the pandemic. It was a devastating, powerful, deeply human read. That led me to her beautiful and, at times, heartbreaking, yet hopeful New York Times bestselling memoir, The Beauty in Breaking. (https://bookshop.org/books/the-beauty-in-breaking-a-memoir/9780525537380)Graduating from Harvard and the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, for her entire career, Michele has sought emergency medicine positions in hospitals that serve under-resourced communities, often communities of color. She is not just a devout physician and healer, but also an advocate for dignity, equality and change. The seeds for this path were planted very early in life, though a blend of family trauma and deep personal conviction that has compelled her to not just take care of those in need, but also champion their humanity along the way. You can find Michele Harper at:Website : https://micheleharper.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/micheleharpermd/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five days into filming his first movie - Dazed & Confused - some 28 years ago, Matthew McConaughey’s dad, a towering force in his life, suddenly died. Matthew had to figure out a way to keep showing up, to keep going. His mantra became “just keep livin,” which has become a guiding ethos, a sort of lens through which he lives his life.Now, nearly three decades later, an Academy Award-winning actor, icon in the industry, married father of three, a master raconteur, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and endless creator of moments and adventures, Matthew lives life as an eternal amateur. Fiercely himself in all parts of life, ever-curious and open, he seeks experiences, wisdom, and insights, always learning, always asking, always seeking, that give him some semblance of understanding what makes life worth living. Much of his journey, his take on life, fatherhood, acting, love, family and contribution is offered up in his beautiful and moving new memoir, Greenlights (https://greenlights.com/). It’s a philosophical and poetic window into the experiences and moments that shaped him and continue to awaken him to what matters most, drawn from 50 years of living, and some 36 years of diaries.That quest - to figure what a life well-lived looks like - is one we both have in common, and it’s probably why in today’s conversation we jump into the deep end of the pool fast, exploring everything from nature and solitude to family, love, struggle, character, uncertainty, creation, the sacred nature of being in the spaces in between devastation and wild success, how the moment we’re all in has shifted his thinking and what the future we all being called to co-create might look like, and so much more.That’s what you’ll hear. But here’s what was happening that you couldn’t see. As we spoke, Matthew sat at his desk, reading glasses on, and pen and paper in hand. Minutes into the conversation, he began writing, taking notes, regularly jotting down ideas, phrases, and insights, piecing together puzzles in real-time. Ever the seeker, a perpetual student of life, present in the moment, and open to whatever it might bring.You can find Matthew McConaughey at: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/officiallymcconaughey/)-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ozan Varol is a rocket scientist turned award-winning professor and bestselling author.A native of Istanbul, Turkey, Ozan Varol grew up in a family of no English speakers. He learned English as a second language and moved to the United States by himself at 17 to attend Cornell University and major in astrophysics. While there, he served on the operations team for the 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers project that sent two rovers–Spirit and Opportunity–to Mars. He built stuff that went to the red planet and wrote code that snaps photos of the Martian surface. He was on track to built a powerhouse career as a literal rocket scientist.Leaving Cornell, though, Ozan pivoted and went to law school, graduating first in his class, earning the highest grade point average in his law school’s history, then became a law professor, teaching at Lewis & Clark Law School in his twenties, becoming the youngest tenured professor. While teaching law, there was always a deeper driver, the rocket scientist in him was on a mission to share the scientific process and mindset to influence others to make giant leaps on Earth. He shares philosophy in the wonderful book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life (https://tinyurl.com/yyr3g6kf)You can find Ozan Varol at: Website (http://weeklycontrarian.com/)-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara Hendren was drawn to painting as a kid, studied it in college, then began to build her body of work and career as a fine artist, focusing on painting. Then, a series of experiences sent her in what, from the outside looking in, may have seemed like a very different direction, but from the inside looking out, what a completely organic and aligned expression of her blended passion to see, to create, to design and to be of service.Now an artist, design researcher, writer, and professor at Olin College of Engineering, Sara describes herself as a humanist in tech, focusing on the intersection between disability - or the perception of it - and what she calls the built world, or how the world is designed to either support or dismantle freedom and autonomy based on our bodies and their capabilities. And if you’re thinking “well, this isn’t about me,” you’ll quickly discover how well-intended, yet misguided that assumption is likely to be. It’s about all of us.Sara’s work over the last decade includes collaborative public art and social design that engages the human body, technology, and the politics of disability: things like a lectern for short stature or a ramp for wheelchair dancing. She also co-founded the Accessible Icon Project, co-created a digital archive of low-tech prosthetics, and her work has been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, The Vitra Design Museum, the Seoul Museum of Art and other venues and is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper Hewitt Museum. Her new book is What Can A Body Do? How We Meet the Built World. (https://tinyurl.com/yy8r8wwc)You can find Sara Hendren at: Website (http://sarahendren.com/)-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up in Israel, Tal Ben-Shahar wanted to be the best squash player in the world. He turned pro at a young age and quickly rose up the ranks. Then a strange thing happened, he achieved his dream, but crashed hard, realizing it didn’t make him feel how he thought it would. That experience set in motion a lifelong journey into the science of happiness that led him to study at Harvard, then eventually teach what became the most popular course at Harvard on happiness. Tal is now a bestselling author and lecturer, working with executives in multinational corporations, everyday humans, and at-risk populations exploring leadership, happiness, education, innovation, ethics, self-esteem, resilience, goal setting, and mindfulness. His books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages and have appeared on best-sellers lists around the world. Tal is a serial entrepreneur and is most recently the co-founder and chief learning officer of Happiness Studies Academy, bringing together the thinking of the world's leading scholars and the latest scientific research on happiness, then educating leaders who are themselves dedicated to personal, interpersonal, and communal flourishing.You can find Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar at:Website: https://www.happinessstudies.academy/cihs/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happiness.studies.academy/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up in Nashville, Top Chef star, Carla Hall, was surrounded by soul food, especially dishes cooked by her beloved grandma. She loved eating it, but she had no interest in cooking it. In fact, she headed into the world of business, building a career in accounting when, in a moment of awakening, she took a hard left turn that took her through runway modeling in Europe, cooking and catering, and eventually onto Bravo’s Top Chef where he amazing, joyful energy and sense of possibility captures the hearts of viewers. That launched her into the world of not just food and restaurants, but media, books, with her latest cookbook, Carla Hall’s Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration, and TV, with many appearances all over and a run co-hosting The Chew, and now podcasting with her hit show, Say Yes! with Carla Hall : https://pod.link/1530065734Carla is also very active with a number of foundations that reflect her passion for causes close to her heart, Like Helen Keller International, and she’s the Culinary Ambassador for Sweet Home Cafe at the Smithsonian National Museum for African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. where she brings attention to the history of the food that has inspired the café.You can find Carla Hall at:Website : https://www.carlahall.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/carlaphall/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re sharing part 2 of our special series, The Hug. Last week, we aired part 1 of the Hug, with six beautiful stories. Today is part 2 next, think of it as the other arm in our audio hug, wrapping us all in the arms of stories that remind us of our shared humanity at a time we need it most. So, sit back and enjoy these stories in part 2 of The Hug. If you haven’t yet listened to Part 1 of The Hug (https://tinyurl.com/y2f5y2eh), be sure to download it and listen now. And if these stories have warmed you up, or reconnected you with a sense of shared humanity and possibility, even just a bit, maybe you know someone else who might need to hear them, too. Right now. Especially now. If there were ever episodes we’d love you to share with friends and family, it’s these Hug episodes. We all need stories that remind us of the good side of human beings, more than ever. And, if the stories have moved you and you’d love us to do more episodes like this, let us know on instagram, email or in a review on your fave listening app. Thanks for listening.You can find our storytellers at:Marsha Shandur: https://www.instagram.com/yesyesmarsha/Megan Devine: https://www.instagram.com/refugeingrief/Yvonne Ator: yvonneator.comIN-Q: https://www.instagram.com/inqlife/Jennifer Pastiloff: https://www.instagram.com/jenpastiloff/Dan Stones: https://twitter.com/monobisco/status/1320530648977866755Erin Moon: https://www.instagram.com/mooneybooks-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earning his living in a past life as a fashion model, Light Watkins, began yoga and meditation in-between casting calls in New York City during the late nineties. Something he never saw coming happened. It opened him to a different worldview and set of practices that would change not only the trajectory of his career, but also his path in life. Deepening his practice, traveling and spending time in India and then apprenticing with his Vedic Meditation teacher, Light became, well, Light. He actually changed his name to better reflect his emerging identity. He then became a full-time Vedic Meditation teacher in 2007. Light now travels the world, albeit virtually these days, speaking on happiness, mindfulness, inspiration, and meditation. His most recent book, Bliss More: How to Succeed in Meditation Without Really Trying (https://amzn.to/2qvpXvj) invites people into meditation in a very accessible way. In Before Times, he also produced a global pop-up inspirational variety show called The Shine, with a mission to inspire that actually started as a local dinner gathering. We figured, right about now, we all need a little Light, so I’m excited to share this moving Best Of conversation with you this week.And, be sure you’re subscribed because part 2 of our special guest-storytelling series, The Hug, about moments that remind you of the goodness in people will be dropping next week. I’ve heard the stories and trust me, you do NOT want to miss this. You can find Light Watkins at:Website : https://www.lightwatkins.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lightwatkins/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Gilbert is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Magic and Eat, Pray, Love, City of Girls and other awesome books. She’s also just a straight-up genuine, wise, deeply-feeling human with a lens on life that is incredibly kind and real. Since her last appearance on the podcast, Liz’s life has been turned upside-down and back again. She has navigated profound awakening, unbelievable love, loss, transition, reclamation and, along the way, continues the practice of finding her way back into the light. That’s a skillset and a lens we could all use right now. We explore all of this, in detail, in today’s deeply honest and powerful conversation. So excited to share this Best Of conversation.You can find Elizabeth Gilbert at:Website : https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth_gilbert_writer/Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re doing something we’ve never done before. We’re about to head into a week like never before in the US and, well, around the world. And we kinda wanted to wrap it, and you, with one big, beautiful, audio hug that reminds us all, people are good, they can be kind, even to total strangers, in ways we never imagined.So, we’ve created a two-part series for you we’re calling The Hug, where we’re sharing a bunch of heartwarming stories, told by friends of the pod and some past guests who, now that I think about it, are friends now, too. Each story shares a moment or experience where a little bit of kindness, a little bit of sweetness and, just maybe, a little bit of lightness and laughter, touched their lives, and reminded them how good people can be. I feel like we all need a little of that right now. So, today is part one of The Hug, the first 6 stories for you. We’ll air part 2 next week, right after the election with the intention of wrapping us all in the arms of stories that remind us of our shared humanity at a time we need it most. So, sit back and enjoy these stories in part one of The Hug. You can find our storytellers at:Gabra Zackman: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/audiobookgoddess/)Rick Charlie: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rick.charlie)Rebekah Taussig: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sitting_pretty/)Neil Pasricha: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/neilpasricha/)Jeff Harry: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jeffharryplays/)Susan Piver: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/)-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebekah Taussig is a Kansas City writer and teacher with her doctorate in Creative Nonfiction and Disability Studies. For the last five years, she’s grown a global community on Instagram, where she crafts these “mini-memoirs” that take you into her world, experiences and identity, a part of which includes her near lifelong relationship with physical disability and the wheelchair that has given her freedom and mobility and much more. Rebekah’s memoir in essays, Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body (https://amzn.to/3mgFNEw) takes you into her life, creating an eye-opening, funny, and insightful portrait of a body that looks and moves differently than most. In today’s conversation, we dive into all of this. I learned so much not just about Rebekah, her family, life and mindset, but also her passion for writing and creativity and people. You can find Rebekah Taussig at:Website : https://rebekahtaussig.com/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is former, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, mayor of San Antonio, Texas and presidential candidate, Julián Castro. Today’s conversation is personal. Growing up in San Antonio, his love of the city, example of his grandmother’s devotion to family and hard work and his mom’s commitment to social justice and activism instilled a deep reverence for public service. He’d eventually head to college and then law school with his twin brother, Joaquin, before returning to San Antonio to immerse himself in the pursuit of making the city he loved the best, most equitable and inclusive place possible. He eventually became the youngest mayor of a Top 50 American city at the time, before rising up in the world of politics, But, for him, it wasn’t about politics, it was about service, about honoring the examples of his mom and nana to help others. Much if this story is shared in Secretary Castro’s memoir, An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream. He currently hosts Lemonada Media's hit podcast, Our America with Julián Castro. We dive into all of this in today’s moving, wise and open conversation about the role of family, service and connection.You can find Julián Castro at:Our America podcast : https://smarturl.it/ouramericapodcastInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/juliancastrotx/Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on today’s Best Of conversation, Cleo Wade, is a community builder, artist, activist, and the author of the books, Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life (https://amzn.to/2Ltivce) and Where to Begin: A small about book your power to create big change in our crazy world. She has been called the poet of her generation by Time Magazine and one of the 100 most creative people in business by Fast Company. Cleo sits on the board of The Lower East Side Girls Club, the National Black Theatre in Harlem, the Women’s Prison Association. Her art ranges from short, hand-written posts to collaborations with major brands and large-scale public art installations, including a 25-foot love poem in the skyline of the New Orleans French Quarter titled “Respect.”In today’s conversation, we explore her younger years, growing up as a biracial kid in the famed New Orleans French Quarter with two fiercely-creative parents influenced, how Hurricane Katrina changed everything, what led her to New York for many years, how she walked away from a career as a rising star in fashion to rediscover and cultivate a deeper, artistic voice as a writer and artist, sharing her work online and in public spaces and leveraging her influence for social justice. Be sure to listen to the end, where Cleo reads a moving poem from Heart Talk.You can find Cleo Wade at:Website : https://www.cleowade.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/cleowade/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2010, folk-singer and songwriter Zoe Boekbinder (http://zoeboekbinder.com/) visited New Folsom Prison for the first time. What they thought would be one interesting day turned into a decade-long collaborative project. Boekbinder visited the prison often over the next five years; performing and teaching music workshops quickly turned into the beginnings of collaborations with writers and musicians who were incarcerated within New Folsom's walls. Boekbinder collaborated on the first of these songs with Alex Batriz, and following that, was approached by many more writers about collaborations. This was the seed for the Prison Music Project and the culminating album, Long Time Gone, produced by Ani DiFranco. Out now on Righteous Babe Records, the album features work by nine incarcerated (and formerly incarcerated) writers.The profits of Long Time Gone (https://amzn.to/31Y5phb) sales will benefit communities impacted by mass incarceration and the funds will be administered by the Southern Center for Human Rights. The contributing writers will decide, collectively, what projects will be funded. The writers own their work and will profit from royalties.You can find Prison Music Project at:Prison Music Project Website : https://www.righteousbabe.com/pages/prisonmusicproject-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Question - how do you talk to friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances about things that matter - hard things - in a way that leads to each person being seen, heard, acknowledged, and treated with dignity? How do you get to a resolution, and sidestep the hurt, the wounding, the rage, and reactivity? How do you have conversations, in work and life, that lead to genuine understanding and change, and leave you feeling respected and at-peace, even when you still disagree? That's where we're going in today's conversation with Alexandra Jamieson & Bob Gower, partners in business and life and co-authors of Radical Alignment: How to Have Game-Changing Conversations That Will Transform Your Business and Your Life (https://getradicalalignment.com/book). Alexandra Jamieson is the bestselling author of five books, and co-creator / co-star of the Oscar-nominated documentary Super Size Me. She is a highly-sought-after success mentor and motivational guide for thousands and has made it her mission to empower women to create epic lives. Bob Gower is a New York-based consultant, writer, and speaker. He contributes to Inc. magazine, has lectured at Columbia University, NYU’s Stern School of Management, the Berlin School, and worked with leaders at Chanel, Ericsson, Ford, and GE to non-profits like New York Public Radio, the Studio Museum, and the Wikimedia Foundation.Learn more at: Radical Alignment website : https://getradicalalignment.com/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrea Gibson is one of the most stirring and influential spoken word artists of our time. Best known for their live performances, in which they regularly sell out large capacity rock clubs and concert halls, Gibson has changed the landscape of what it means to attend a “poetry show” altogether. Gibson’s poems center around LGBTQ issues, gender, feminism, and mental health, as well as gun reform and the dismantling of oppressive social systems. Their live shows, in which they are often accompanied by musicians, have become these loving and supportive ecosystems for audiences to feel seen, heard, and held through Gibson’s art.Gibson is the author of six books, including Lord of the Butterflies (https://amzn.to/33CzaGc), which won the Independent Publisher’s Award in 2019 as well as a Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist. Take Me With You, an illustrated collection of Gibson’s most memorable quotes, was also a Goodreads Finalist. In 2019, they co-authored their first-ever non-fiction book, How Poetry Can Change Your Heart.In addition to their publishing accolades, Andrea has released seven full-length albums, combining their socially active spoken word with musical collaborations. They are the winner of the first-ever Women’s World Poetry Slam Championship (2008) and frequent World Poetry Slam Finalist. You can find Andrea Gibson at:Website : http://andreagibson.org/Instagram : http://instagram.com/andrewgibbyCheck out our offerings & partners: 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 Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In many circles, Angela Duckworth’s name has become synonymous with the word grit, this elusive trait that fuels the sustained action-taking in the face of relentless adversity that leads to big achievements. Her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance was a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, and Duckworth is founder and C.E.O. of Character Lab, a nonprofit that uses psychological science to help children thrive. She is also the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, faculty co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative, and faculty co-director of Wharton People Analytics. A 2013 MacArthur Fellow, Angela has advised the White House, the World Bank, NBA and NFL teams, and Fortune 500 C.E.O.’s, and her TED talk is among the most-viewed of all time. And, she now also co-hosts the new podcast 'No Stupid Questions' with Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics.You can find Angela Duckworth at:Website : https://angeladuckworth.com/No Stupid Questions Podcast : https://freakonomics.com/nsq/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ashley C. Ford lives in Brooklyn by way of Indiana, and she has a lot of jobs. She’s currently writing her memoir, Somebody's Daughter (https://amzn.to/36dFO7M), hosts The Chronicles of Now podcast, and is the former host of seasons one & three of Mastercard’s Fortune Favors The Bold, as well as PROFILE by BuzzFeed News, and Brooklyn-based news & culture TV show, 112BK. Ford has written or guest-edited for The Guardian, ELLE, BuzzFeed, OUT, Slate, New York Magazine, Allure, Marie Claire, The New York Times and tons of other places. She's taught creative nonfiction writing at The New School and Catapult.Co, and had her work listed among Longform & Longread's Best of. While working as an executive for Matter Studios, Ashley developed a web series and documentaries. She was also the host of the first season of Audible.Com's literary interview series, Authorized. was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Media, Brooklyn Magazine's Brooklyn 100, and Variety’s New Power of New York (2019). Simply put, she is a force. But, she is also just a straight-up joyful, real, fiercely creative, purpose-led, alive, and deeply kind human being. That’s why we wanted to share this deeply honest and inspiring Best Of conversation with you today.You can find Ashley C. Ford at:Website : http://www.ashleycford.net/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/smashfizzle/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Most Reverend Michael Curry is the first African American individual to serve as Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, Chief Pastor, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chair of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church.Born in Chicago, in the 50s, with a father who was an Episcopal priest, his mom died at a young age and he, along with his sister, was raised by his father and his grandmother. Early in life, he was introduced to social activism through his father’s leadership and his own dedication to righting a broken world. Eventually ordained himself in 1978, Bishop Curry grew increasingly active on issues of social justice, reconciliation, immigration, and marriage equality, often taking positions that were counter to broader tradition, and never shying away from opportunities to invite people to challenge convention in the name of creating a more inclusive community that welcomed all with love and dignity.In May of 2018, Bishop Curry delivered a moving sermon on the redemptive power of love at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding, then just months after, served as the officiant for the state funerals of Senator John McCain and President George H.W. Bush in the Washington National Cathedral. Bishop Curry has also written 5 books, his newest is Love is the Way: Holding Onto Hope in Troubling Times (https://amzn.to/3h5JPO5), which expands upon his focus on love as the centerpiece for a new way to live and find meaning and peace, even at time where they can seem so hard to access. We explore all of this in today’s conversation.You can find Bishop Michael Curry at:Website : https://episcopalchurch.org/presiding-bishop-michael-curryInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/pb_curry/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a kid, all David Fajgenbaum could think about was football. It consumed his life, being the quarterback on a top college team was his singular mission. And, he accomplished that, landing a spot on Georgetown’s team. But, fate would soon step in, when the loss of his mom to aggressive brain cancer would change his focus and inspire a new devotion, to help find a cure and support families moving through loss. But his dance with illness was just beginning. In the blink of an eye, Fajgenbaum went from being a beast-like college quarterback to receiving his last rites while in medical school and nearly dying four more times battling a rare disease, with no known cure, that ravaged his body with a cytokine storm that essentially set his immune system up to attack every other system in his body. To try to save his own life, and realizing nobody was coming to save him but him, David spearheaded an innovative approach to researching his own cure, launching the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN) and discovering a treatment that has put him into his longest remission ever. This alone, is an incredible story. But, that thing I mentioned was killing him - a cytokine storm - well, you’ve likely heard that phrase many times this year. Because it is at the heart of the immune system meltdown that makes the Covid-19 pandemic so lethal. David is now focusing this same approach to other diseases ('His method could save millions,' CNN) like COVID-19, turning his lab and collaborative global network loose on identifying drugs that might be lifesavers when used “off-label” to treat the disease. His powerful story is beautifully documented in his book, Chasing My Cure (https://amzn.to/39XgMtq), which has been translated into five languages and named one of the “Best Non-Fiction Books of 2019” by Next Big Ideas Club.You can find Dr. David Fajgenbaum at:Website : http://www.chasingmycure.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/dfajgenbaum/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Lesser wants to set the record straight. The one that started all the way back with Adam and Eve. The origin story that positioned man as firstborn and favored and women as second-born and scorned. The mythology that seems to exist in nearly every faith, tradition, culture and history about the “place” of women in relationships, family, society, business, power and the world. Lesser decided it was time to do some myth-busting, some reconciliation and some reimagining about what this world, on every level, might look like if truth found its way into the narrative and power were more evenly distributed.As the co-founder of the iconic Omega Institute, recognized internationally for its workshops and conferences in wellness, spirituality, creativity, social change and women’s leadership, Elizabeth has been gathering people from all walks of life to explore the intersection between gender, power, equity and impact for more than 40 years. She has presented at TED, was named to Oprah’s Super Soul 100, and is the author of several bestselling books, including Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow, and Marrow: Love, Loss & What Matters Most, which first brought her onto the podcast a few years back and also led to the gift of her friendship since. Her newest book Cassandra Speaks: When Women are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes (https://amzn.to/3hXAyrg) is a powerful and compelling dive into the stories society has told about women and power, along with a rally cry and a reclamation to tell a different story and build a different world.You can find Elizabeth Lesser at:Website : https://www.elizabethlesser.org/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/elizlesser/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bryan and Shannon Miles fell in love when they were young, got married, started a family and each started building their own successful careers. But a series of unexpected experiences led them to re-evaluate what they wanted out of their lives, and the way they wanted to contribute. So they pretty much blew everything up and went out on their own, starting a new venture together with the goal of creating freedom, by building a company that helped others create freedom. Not a bad vision, right?Their passion is all about empowering small business owners and entrepreneurs to be more efficient as they achieve success in business (and in life). Having now generated more than $100M in revenue as the Co-CEO's of BELAY SOLUTIONS, a virtual staffing company, they graduated to Co-Chairs where they are stepping into a more educational role, sharing the Own Not Run philosophy that led them to build their own company. I was fascinated by their approach, since it’s always been a large part of my aspiration, too. To build something that truly mattered, while also doing it in a way that put family and flourishing at the center. Quick note, too, this conversion, like a few others we’ve recently released, was recorded in our studio in what we’ve now come to know as Before Times. We’d been holding it until it felt like a more accessible conversation, and with so many people now reflecting on how to create their own endeavors or build existing companies in a way that built freedom into the DNA, it felt like the right time to share it.You can find Bryan and Shannon Miles at:Website : https://ownnotrun.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/belay_solutions/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Feiler is the author of six consecutive New York Times bestsellers, including Walking the Bible and Council of Dads, the presenter of two primetime series on PBS, and the inspiration for the COUNCIL OF DADS series on NBC. He describes himself as an experiencer and explainer. Growing up in Savannah, Georgia, for as long as he can remember, he’s loved going out into the world, creating powerful experiences, then sharing what he’s discovered, first in letters home, then eventually in books, talks, and TV. But his latest set of experiences were ones he neither sought out nor saw coming. Collectively, they dropped him to his knees, and nearly took his life. Still, fueled by a relentless curiosity, Bruce became fascinated with moments of profound transition, "lifequakes" as he calls them, where life after looks very different than life before. So he spent years traveling the country investigating this phenomenon, gathering and coding stories, and that’s led to the groundbreaking new book, Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age (https://amzn.to/2Xk1NV6). Bruce’s experiences and ideas really helped me reframe and better understand how to navigate the disruptions and bigger lifequakes, which for many of us, is something we’re in the middle of now.You can find Bruce Feiler at:Website : https://www.brucefeiler.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/brucefeiler/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is a special conversation, featuring two guests. Dr. Yusef Salaam was just fifteen years old when his life was upended after being wrongly convicted with four other boys in the “Central Park jogger” case. In 2002, after the young men spent years of their lives behind bars, their sentences were overturned. Now known as the Exonerated Five, their story has been documented in the award-winning film The Central Park Five by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon and in Ava DuVernay’s acclaimed series When They See Us. Yusef is now a poet, activist, and inspirational speaker. He is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama, among other honors. Ibi Zoboi is a novelist and editor, born in Haiti, and raised in Brooklyn, she found a love of writing, and poetry and eventually pursued an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, before launching a career in journalism and then fiction. Her novel American Street was a National Book Award finalist and a New York Times Notable Book. She is also the author of Pride and My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich, a New York Times bestseller, and it the editor of the anthology Black Enough. The two met briefly some 21 years ago, for a walk and talk that would eventually bring them back together to collaborate on a YA novel called Punching the Air (https://amzn.to/2PkcRND) that integrates Yusef’s story, poetry and illustrations with Ibi’s powerful storytelling to create a novel in verse that speak powerfully to issues of equity, dignity, art as a form of therapeutic depression and restoration. We drop into so many points along each of their journeys, how they first met and the context for that meeting that would change both their lives and nearly 20 years later, they came back together to co-create this rich novel in verse.You can find Ibi Zoboi at:Website : http://www.ibizoboi.net/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ibizoboi/You can find Dr. Yusef Salaam at:Website : http://www.yusefspeaks.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/dr.yusefsalaam/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate DiCamillo writes books for kids and young adults that also just happen to break open grownup’s hearts. Moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire her to write Because of Winn-Dixie(https://amzn.to/39I3Vee), her first published novel, which became a runaway bestseller and earned her a Newbery Honor. Since then, Kate’s written for a wide range of ages, earning a devoted audience and heaps of accolades.Her #1 New York Times bestseller The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was a deeply moving reflection o life, meaning and legacy, through the eyes of a toy china rabbit. The Tale of Despereaux, her Newbery Medal-winning novel, later inspired an animated adventure from Universal Pictures and Kate was named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2014–2015.She’s fiercely honest, always tells the truth, but also always leads you to a place of awakening and hope, especially in circumstances that seem destined for the opposite. And right now, we could all use a bit more of that. The theme of hope and belief amid tough circumstances is a common thread in much of Kate’s writing, in no small part because that was her story, too.You can find Kate DiCamillo at:Website : http://www.katedicamillostoriesconnectus.com/Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CandlewickPressBooks/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maybe you’ve seen today’s guest, Arian Moayed, on HBO’s Emmy-Award winning show, Succession, where he played Stewy. Or, in movies where h worked with legends like Bill Murray, Spike Lee. Or, on stage, where he was nominated for a TONY. Or, you might’ve caught his groundbreaking thriller, The Accidental Wolf (http://theaccidentalwolf.com/), which he wrote and directed, starring Kelli O’Hara, Laurie Metcalf, Denis O’Hare, and a cast of 36 Tony nominations. Stumbling into a love of acting, Moayed began to pursue it as a career early in life. He was met, as most actors are, with an unending parade of "you can't do that's." But, to him that just meant, make it happen on your own. "Do" your way through it. And, so he did. Which has been an enduring theme in his life.Arian's family fled Iran when he was just a little kid, taking a years-long journey that split the family between different countries, and eventually landed them just outside Chicago, where they set about building a new life in a radically different world. Acting became a fast passion and he began to develop a genuine love for theater and set about crafting a career. But along the way, he also realized that acting, for him, was also a pathway to writing, advocacy, and education. He became an award-winning writer/director and co-founded the theater/film production and arts education venture, Waterwell (http://www.waterwell.org/), where his heart is most boldly on display in the guiding the growth of teachers and 6-12th graders in New York City’s free theater training program, and exploring not just performance, but citizenship, service, equality, advocacy, justice, and what it means to be human. We all need more of that these days.We're so excited to share this Best Of conversation with you today.You can find Arian Moayed at:Website : http://waterwell.org/personnel/arian-moayed/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/arianmoayed/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February 2006, Sir Ken Robinson (http://sirkenrobinson.com/) stepped onto the TED stage and delivered the most viewed talk in the history of TED, entitled Do Schools Kill Creativity. Viewed by than 66 million people, Sir Ken called on us to re-examine how we learn, and to encourage every kid, every person to seek out the myriad unique ways intelligence shows up in every one of our lives, then honor and build around it. To reimagine and even revolutionize the way we see each person’s gift, their brilliance, and create opportunities that nurture it, even if that means blowing up the rigid systems that serve some, but also utterly demoralize and sometimes even demonize others. He reminds us to ask not "how intelligent are you?" but rather, "how are you intelligent?"He devoted his adult life to creating and stoking the fires of a global creativity and education revolution. I had the amazing gift of sitting down with him in the studio a number of years back to not only explore his ideas, but also his personal story. Growing up in post World War II Liverpool, a fiercely-active kid who loved soccer and hope to one day play professionally (though, of course, he called it football), his dreams were cut short when he got polio at the age of four, forever changing the course of his life, leaving him with physical disabilities, and exposing him to the profound injustice that awaits so many kids labeled as “different.” His experience as a kid, in no small part, became the source fuel for his unrelenting devotion to recognizing, celebrating and supporting how each child, each person needs to come into themselves in their own unique way. I was profoundly moved not only by his work, but by his lens on life, family, creativity and service, and the story he told in the way he lived his life.You may notice I’ve been speaking about him in the past tense. Sir Ken Robinson passed away on Friday, August 21st at the age of 70 after a short battle with cancer. So, we wanted to share this “Best Of” conversation from our 2015 archives in honor of his life and his extraordinary will to make a difference, both a tribute and a provocation to explore how we all show up in the world, and commit to making meaning.You can find more about Sir Ken Robinson at:Website : http://sirkenrobinson.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/sirkenrobinson/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donna Carpenter met Burton founder, Jake Burton Carpenter in a Southern Vermont bar on New Year’s Eve 1981. Within a year they married and became partners in business and life, working side-by-side dipping snowboards in polyurethane and answering the customer service line that rang in the bedroom. Donna quickly became a driving force, working with Jake to build Burton into the world’s leading snowboard company and also making Burton a brand of choice and employer of choice for women. In 2010, Donna stepped up to the role of President and eventually became Burton’s first female CEO.Over the last decade, Jake began to experience a series of health challenges, and in November 2019, he lost his life to a recurrence of cancer. His last words to Donna, as she shares later in our conversation, speaks so much to the way they live their lives, the relationship they had, the community they built, and the lives they created together. Earlier this year, Donna stepped out of the role of CEO to become Chair of the Burton Board of Directors, focus on advocating for the sport of snowboarding, being a strong climate activist, speaking up on behalf of sustainability efforts as well as advocating for more diversity on the mountain, in business, and in boardrooms.You can find Donna Carpenter at:Website : https://www.burton.com/us/en/homeInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/donnacarpenter/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave Evans is a Lecturer in the Product Design Program at Stanford, Management Consultant, and co-founder of iconic gaming company, Electronic Arts. Having participated in forming the corporate cultures at Apple and EA, Dave decided his best work was in helping organizations build creative environments where people could do great work and love doing it. And, maybe, along the way, answer the question, "what should I do with my life?" Helping people get traction on that question finally took Dave to Cal and Stanford and continues to be his life’s work. Bill Burnett is Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford. He got his BS and MS in Product Design at Stanford and has worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from award-winning Apple PowerBooks to the original Hasbro Star Wars action figures. Together, they wrote New York Times bestselling book, Designing Your Life, and the follow-up, Designing Your Work Life (https://amzn.to/3hflUvz), train coaches and run workshops for individuals and organizations.You can find Bill Burnett & Dave Evans at:Website : https://designingyour.life/Twitter : https://twitter.com/DYourLife-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a kid, Arlan Hamilton loved music and eventually found her way into the world of live concerts, working as a tour manager. Along the way, she also published a magazine and wrote the popular Your Daily Lesbian Moment blog, that drew a large, devoted community, before pivoting into the world of venture capital where, with no connections, degree or experience, she built a fund from the ground up, while homeless.Hamilton is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a venture capital fund dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are People of Color, women, and/or LGBT. Started from scratch in 2015, Backstage has now raised more than $10 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by underestimated founders. In 2018 Arlan co-founded Backstage Studio which launched four accelerator programs for underestimated founders in Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and London. Arlan was featured on the cover of Fast Company magazine in October 2018 as the first Black woman non-celebrity to do so, and her new book "It's About Damn Time" shares powerful moments and insights from her incredible story. Her book, It’s About Damn Time (https://amzn.to/2WmeXk3), takes you behind the scenes of the many moments along her journey.You can find Arlan Hamilton at:Website : https://www.itsaboutdamntime.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/arlanwashere/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The incoming Academic Director and core faculty member at the Spirituality Mind Body Institute (SMBI), Teachers College, Columbia University, Dan Tomasulo holds a Ph.D. in psychology, MFA in writing, and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He authors the daily column, Ask the Therapist, as well as the Learned Hopefulness blog for PsychCentral.com, and developed the Dare to be Happy experiential workshops for Kripalu. His award-winning memoir, American Snake Pit tells of the first experimental group home releasing inmates from America’s most notorious asylum, Willowbrook. His most recent book, Learned Hopefulness, The Power of Positivity To Overcome Depression (https://amzn.to/2WuXKFc), is needed now more than ever. Even more amazing, before heading into the world of psychology and writing, Dan started his career in comedy and was hailed by the legendary Improv as one of four top comics alongside people like Robin Williams and Andy Kaufman.You can find Dr. Dan Tomasulo at:Website : https://www.dantomasulo.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/drdantomasulo/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marta Zaraska is a Polish-Canadian science journalist who has written everywhere from the Washington Post, and Scientific American to New Scientist, the Atlantic, Discover, and more. Her articles and books have been turned into TV programs in the US, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Bulgaria, Germany and Poland, and reprinted around the globe from Oman and Dubai to Australia and Singapore. She’s visited over 80 countries around the world and lived in six of them, reported from Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nicaragua, India, Togo, Cameroon, and many other places and currently lives in a tiny French village with her husband and daughter. Marta’s new book, Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100 (https://amzn.to/2WkQdZs) is a research-driven case for why optimism, kindness, and strong social networks will keep us living longer than any fitness tracker or superfood. This is a conversation we need now more than ever.You can find Marta Zaraska at:Website : https://www.zaraska.com/Twitter : https://twitter.com/mzaraska-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al Roker is a co-anchor of NBC’s Today, an Emmy-award winning journalist, and a New York Times bestselling author. He has been at NBC for 40 years and he's the celebrated host of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He is also a host on SiriusXM's Off the Rails and the owner of production company Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. He recently starred in Broadway's Waitress.What many people don’t know, though, is that Al is also an award-winning television producer and CEO of Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. For the past 26 years, his company has produced TV programs and digital content for network, cable, digital, and streaming channels including The Weather Channel, Science Channel, Nat Geo, Food Network, Discovery, TLC, NBC, CBS, among others, as well as commercials, and branded entertainment for a wide array of sponsors and non-profits. The recent ARE production, Side by Side, celebrated the frontline workers in NYC. Al Roker Entertainment helps brands forge deeper connections by producing social good content through traditional storytelling, docu-dramas, first-person narratives, and reality TV-inspired feel-good themes. And, Al is also a writer, his latest book, You Look So Much Better in Person, (https://amzn.to/3jcF9HI) is part memoir and advice-guide for crafting a rewarding career.You can find Al Roker at:Website : https://alrokerentertainment.com/al-roker/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/alroker/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a physician with specialties in addiction medicine and psychiatry who has spent her career focusing on stigma reduction and health equity, Nzinga Harrison is uniquely positioned to help people navigate the stress of current events including from opioid crisis and COVID to racial violence and systemic injustice and move from thinking to action with the goal of improving health and society. Dr. Harrison is the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Eleanor Health, an innovative company who provides comprehensive outpatient care for individuals experiencing opioid and other substance use disorders. She also holds adjunct faculty appointments at the Morehouse School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, is Co-Founder of Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform, Inc. and Campaign Psychiatrist for Let’s Get Mentally Fit, a public education and stigma-reduction campaign. As host of the In Recovery weekly podcast by Lemonada Media, she engages a large audience on all things addiction including drug addiction, but also other addictions, for example food, sex, gambling.You can find Dr. Harrison at:Website : https://www.eleanorhealth.com/In Recovery Podcast : https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/in-recovery/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This conversation is different, it’s actually two conversations recorded four-months apart. Be sure to keep listening after our guest, Nicholas Palmquist, answers what is usually my final question. The dialogue after is powerful.Palmquist is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer who has toured the world, performed and choreographed for stage, TV, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, The Tonys, and feature films. Finding his way to NYC, Nicholas focused more on choreography and began teaching packed classes at the iconic Steps on Broadway studios. There, he'd eventually bring cameras into the studio to share the experience with a global community on Instagram, and introduce a sponsorship/patronage model that allowed people from all over the world to sponsor dancers who struggled to afford his class.Then, the pandemic hit. Everything shut down, including Nicholas' work. A few weeks in, he found himself, like so many others, awakening to the realities of racial injustice, violence, privilege, and protests. This led to a profoundly personal period of re-examination, along with a commitment to bring himself, his heart, mind, teaching, and sense of service and equality to the world in a very different way. I asked him to convene for a follow-up conversation, which we taped just last week and edited into this episode, so we could tell the fuller story of his evolution. You can find Nicholas Palmquist at: Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/napalmquist/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gay Hendricks exploded onto the human potential scene in 2009 with his mega New York Times bestselling book, The Big Leap, where he introduced the concept of the upper limit problems and the zone of genius, which he’s now re-envisioned as a spiral of genius. These ideas, along with tools to help work with them, were based on decades of clinical application and explained so much about why, even when we succeed, we tend to revert back. And it gave us a structure for understanding, then devoting ourselves to the type of work that accesses our fullest potential. Along with his wife, Katie, he’s continued to write, lead workshops around the world, often focused on mind-body practices, cultivating potential and deepening relationships, and he realized something. Without intending it, he’d figured out a methodology to cultivate what he calls conscious luck. Hendricks began codifying this idea years back but got busy with other projects until as luck would have it, just the right person would land in his world to help him turn the idea into a book, fittingly called Conscious Luck (https://amzn.to/2MGmzbL). We explore all of these ideas, along with so many of Gay’s unlikely, yet profoundly rewarding twists and turns along the way in today’s conversation.You can find Gay Hendricks at:Website : https://www.consciousluck.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/hendricks.gay/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting as an unpaid intern at The Moth when it was still a local storytelling group in New York City, Lea Thau rose up to become the Executive & Creative Director, where she remained for a decade. During her time there, she co-created The Moth Podcast and The Moth Radio Hour, helping to launch the "brand" into a global phenomenon. Thau has since become a Peabody Award-winning producer and director, now hosting her own popular podcast Strangers, which won the 2015 Public Radio March Madness Contest. She is also a storytelling teacher and coach who's worked one-on-one with people like Ethan Hawke, Marc Maron, Gabriel Byrne, Darryll “DMC” McDaniels, Margaret Cho, Suzanne Vega, as well as post-graduate fellows at Harvard, inner-city kids in New York and Los Angeles. Thau also teaches storytelling for businesses like Google, Nike, Intel, and many other companies.You can find Lea Thau at:Website : http://www.storycentral.org/Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/strangerspodcast/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joél Leon is a storyteller, performer, poet, musician, and author. Born and raised in the Bronx, from the earliest age, art, performing and music became both a refuge and a source of creative expression. He’d eventually land a spot at the famed New York High School for Performing Arts, where Joél continued to hone his theatrical chops. But driving it was always a fierce devotion to language and writing that led him to deepen into the craft and become a powerful voice and public storyteller exploring everything from parenting, joy, mental health, creativity, and performance to race, activism, and justice. Leon's work and devotion to revelation, truthtelling, and elevation have led to appearances at the legendary Apollo Theater, TED, TODAY Show, Joe's Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, Columbia University, NYU, Webster Hall, among others. You can find Joél Leon at:Website : http://mydaughtermayhave.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/joelakamag/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

T Kira Madden is a writer, photographer, amateur magician, and a powerful voice and editor, earning fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, Hedgebrook, Tin House, the MacDowell Colony, and Yaddo. She is the founding Editor-in-chief of No Tokens, a journal celebrating work that is "felt in the spine, run entirely by women and non-binary individuals, dedicated to featuring the words and artwork of all voices of the past, present, and future, here to keep stories alive and to make a physical object to hold in your hands." Madden's 2019 memoir, Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, dropping you into a wildly colorful and character-filled childhood. She also teaches at Sarah Lawrence College and we explore all of this in today’s conversation.You can find T Kira Madden at:Website: http://www.tkiramadden.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tkiramadden/-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.