The Anxious Achiever

Your emotional triggers could be affecting your team more than you realize. In this classic episode of The Anxious Achiever, I'm revisiting one of my favorite conversations with Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of Permission to Feel. Marc reveals how experiences from your past can shape the way you react to challenges, conflict, and difficult people at work, often without you even realizing it. We explore how to recognize and manage your emotional triggers, why understanding your feelings is an essential leadership skill, and how to create a workplace where people feel motivated, supported, and heard. You'll walk away with practical strategies to become a more self-aware leader, navigate difficult conversations, and make better decisions under pressure. Check out our sponsors: HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year! Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend. Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER. Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today! Vinted - Try Vinted and give your clothes a second life. Download the Vinted app for free and start selling with no seller fees. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How your emotional triggers influence the way you lead. 03:00 Using the Mood Meter to identify and understand your emotions. 06:00 Why emotional awareness is a critical leadership skill. 07:30 How your emotional intelligence affects employee motivation and performance. 10:15 Becoming an emotion scientist instead of an emotion judge. 11:00 How to create a team culture where employees feel supported and heard. 14:15 Why some executives resist emotional intelligence training. 16:00 How emotional intelligence helps emerging leaders gain influence. 17:15 The hidden costs of overlooking emotional challenges within your team. 18:45 How personal experiences can shape your reactions to difficult employees. 21:00 Recognizing the emotional triggers that influence your leadership decisions. 23:00 How to turn frustration with an employee into empathy and understanding. 24:15 Why your team's emotional well-being directly impacts performance. 25:15 Managing workplace conflict when your own emotions are running high. 27:30 Why effective leadership sometimes requires difficult decisions and firm boundaries. 30:45 How to use your emotions to improve decision-making and creativity. 34:00 The power of emotional connection to restore motivation and inspiration. Resources + Links Get a copy of Marc Brackett's Book: Permission to Feel Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence: Explore the center's research and resources Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Imagine going through life without constantly worrying about things outside your control. Sounds pretty great, right? Veteran journalist and The Gist host Mike Pesca says his unusually high levels of anandamide, sometimes called the "bliss molecule," give him exactly that experience. But what happens when the same trait that makes you fearless, curious, and outspoken also makes it harder to recognize threats to your career? Mike joins me to explore the surprising downsides of not feeling much anxiety, how his professional strengths contributed to a painful career upheaval, and what it really takes to reinvent yourself as an entrepreneur in midlife. We also get candid about the pressure to become your own brand, the changing economics of podcasting, and how to protect the work you love when the rules of your industry keep changing. Check out our sponsors: HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year! Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend. Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER. Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today! Vinted - Try Vinted and give your clothes a second life. Download the Vinted app for free and start selling with no seller fees. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet the journalist who experiences anxiety differently. 03:00 How the "bliss molecule" affects Mike's ability to worry. 06:45 When being fearless becomes a professional liability. 08:30 How workplace disagreements led to a career-altering experience. 13:30 When your greatest strength becomes your Achilles' heel. 16:00 Reinventing your career and becoming an entrepreneur at 47. 18:15 The challenges of rebuilding a business after losing institutional support. 20:45 Why being great at your work isn't enough to succeed independently. 23:00 How video and social media changed the economics of podcasting. 26:00 The growing pressure for journalists and entrepreneurs to become content creators. 29:15 Why great creative work is becoming harder to sustain financially. 32:30 Can talent and expertise still win in a world driven by personal brands? 34:15 The struggle to build an audience without sacrificing your integrity. 39:45 What it really takes to run multiple podcasts independently. 41:45 The hidden isolation of working for yourself. 43:15 How audience expectations are changing the future of journalism. 46:15 Finding hope in an increasingly divided world. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

How can you build a mentally healthy workplace while still managing the pressure, expectations, and emotional challenges of mission-driven work? In this episode, I talk with Poppy Jaman, OBE, founding CEO of Mental Health First Aid England and CEO of the City Mental Health Alliance, now known as MindForward Alliance UK, about creating workplaces where people can bring their whole selves to work while maintaining healthy boundaries. We break down how stigma prevents people from seeking support, and the mental health challenges that come with caring and mission-driven work. Poppy also opens up about her experience with postnatal depression, how meaningful work supported her mental health, and the practices she uses to protect her mental well-being. Tune in to learn how to recognize your own stress signals, check in with yourself, and build a personal toolkit for staying mentally well. Check out our sponsors: HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year! Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend. Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER. Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today! In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does a mentally healthy workplace look like? 03:45 Creating a culture where people can bring their whole selves to work. 05:15 Balancing authenticity with healthy boundaries at work. 07:45 Why compassion can be more helpful than empathy in leadership. 10:00 What happened to inspire your journey into workplace mental health? 15:45 How meaningful work can provide purpose, identity, and support during difficult times. 18:45 The stigma that makes mental health and leadership difficult to talk about. 21:00 Why mission-driven and caring professions can create unique pressures. 23:30 Protecting relationships and personal time when your work is your mission. 26:00 What’s the cost of giving your whole self to your work? 27:30 How to check in with yourself and name what you’re feeling. 29:15 Building a personal well-being toolkit around the things that make you feel good. 30:30 How to use your stress signature to recognize when you need extra support. Resources + Links Learn more about MindForward Alliance UK (formerly City Mental Health Alliance) HERE Learn more about Mental Health First Aid England HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Poppy Jaman on LinkedIn: @poppyjaman

Do you ever feel exhausted at the end of the workday without being able to point to what you actually accomplished? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Liane Davey, an organizational psychologist, about the invisible cognitive and emotional load that keeps you distracted, anxious, and stuck in the swirl. We break down the connection between thoughtload and conflict, why modern workplaces create so much mental noise, and what happens when you outsource too much of your thinking and feedback to AI. We also share the difference between useful stress and generalized anxiety, the power of “doing more nothing,” and how taking one small action can help you get unstuck. Tune in to learn how to create more space in your brain and get back to doing meaningful work. Check out our sponsors: HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year! Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend. Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER. Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today! In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What is thoughtload, and how does it affect your work? 03:45 How thoughtload affects your ability to have a good fight. 06:00 The invisible tax that drains your attention, emotions, and energy. 09:30 Why modern workplaces create so much mental noise. 13:00 What happens when feedback becomes constant and impersonal? 15:30 Can AI actually help us become better at giving and receiving feedback? 19:15 What’s the difference between using AI to think and using it to avoid thinking? 22:30 What does deeper processing have to do with better work? 25:15 Why high thought load makes creativity and presence harder. 27:15 Is all stress and anxiety actually harmful? 30:00 What your emotional reactions can reveal about what matters to you. 33:45 The first step to getting off the hamster wheel. 36:00 Could doing less actually help you access more insight and creativity? 42:45 Ways to create more space for your brain. 45:45 What is conflict debt, and what happens when you avoid difficult conversations? 48:00 How a triggered state can change the way you interpret an email. 52:15 What conflict patterns did you learn from your family? Resources + Links Get your copy of Thoughtload by Liane Davey HERE Get your copy of The Good Fight by Liane Davey HERE Learn more about Liane Davey HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Liane on LinkedIn: @lianedavey

Do you avoid difficult conversations because you don't want to make things worse? You're not alone. Many of us avoid conflict because it feels uncomfortable, but avoiding it often creates even more stress, uncertainty, and anxiety. In this episode, I sit down with workplace conflict expert Amy Gallo to talk about why healthy conflict is an essential leadership skill and how you can approach difficult conversations with more confidence. We talk about how emotional flooding affects difficult conversations, why shame often keeps us from speaking up, and Amy's 4-step framework for handling difficult conversations with more clarity and confidence. Tune in to discover a healthier way to approach difficult conversations. Check out our sponsors: HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year! Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend. Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER. Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today! In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why does avoiding conflict make you even more anxious? 03:15 How Amy Gallo became fascinated by workplace conflict. 06:00 Can healthy conflict actually strengthen your relationships? 07:30 How emotional flooding can derail difficult conversations. 10:15 Why avoiding conflict creates long-term stress and anxiety. 12:00 What's stopping you from speaking up? 14:15 Shift from winning the argument to solving the problem together. 18:15 Ways to practice conflict in everyday situations. 23:30 Amy Gallo's 4-step framework for difficult conversations. 27:15 How to identify what really matters before the conversation begins. 30:00 When should you compromise, let it go, or walk away? 33:00 What to do after a difficult conversation doesn't go as planned. Resources + Links Get a copy of Amy Gallo's book, Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Amy: on LinkedIn @amyegallo + Instagram @amyegallo

Do you feel like you're constantly choosing between your career, your children, and yourself? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Ann Welsh, a therapist and psychologist, about why women are taught to see motherhood and ambition as opposing forces. We dive into the ambition paradox and how motherhood challenges you to rethink what success really means. We also discuss the power of small changes, reconnecting with joy and hobbies, the difference between healthy and unhealthy striving, and how to separate your worth from achievement, money, and status. Tune in to learn how to pursue what you want while creating a version of ambition that feels sustainable and true to you. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 The expectations women carry into motherhood and their careers. 03:45 Rethinking ambition as motherhood changes your identity and priorities. 06:00 The motherhood advantage and how becoming a mother can strengthen your career. 11:00 What is an ambition paradox? 16:00 How perfectionism, people pleasing, and pretending fuel the ambition paradox. 20:00 Why achievement-driven habits can stop working in motherhood. 23:45 When feeling unhappy doesn't mean you need to blow up your life. 27:30 How small shifts can create sustainable change. 33:30 What are the different kinds of ambition? 38:00 Separating money, achievement, and success from your sense of worth. 42:00 What is healthy versus unhealthy striving? 46:15 What it takes to pursue ambition in a sustainable way. 52:45 An exercise for letting go of expectations that no longer fit. Resources + Links Get a copy of Ambitious Mother HERE Learn more about Dr. Anne Welsh HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Anne: on LinkedIn @drannewelsh + Instagram @drannewelsh

How can leaders create healthier, more intentional workplaces while navigating anxiety, uncertainty, and remote work? In this classic episode, I talk with Jacqui Brassey, co-leader at the McKinsey Health Institute, and Vivek Bapat of SAP on the connection between leadership, mental health, and workplace culture. We dive into how toxic behavior fuels anxiety, why emotional flexibility and psychological safety matter, and how leaders can create space for people to bring their whole selves to work. We also talk about intentional communication, building relationships in remote and hybrid teams, and why empathy, listening, and healthy boundaries are essential to leading well. Tune in to discover what it really takes to create a workplace where people can feel supported, connected, and able to do their best work. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why mental health is essential to organizational health. 06:15 The anxiety that keeps people from speaking up, taking risks, and sharing ideas. 08:45 Toxic behavior, stress, and the cycle that fuels workplace anxiety. 13:00 How workplace culture affects individual and team well-being. 16:30 Why mental health benefits alone can't fix a toxic team culture. 21:30 What is authentic confidence? 26:30 Why leaders need to embrace uncertainty and let go of control. 30:15 How leaders can create psychological safety at work. 34:00 How openness can strengthen remote teams and relationships. 37:15 Lessons from 16 years of leading remotely. 43:15 What companies risk when productivity becomes the only measure of remote work. 49:00 How deep listening can help managers show they care. 51:00 What leaders can learn when they fail to notice someone is struggling. 53:30 How can leaders use boundaries to support their team's mental health? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Jacqui on LinkedIn: @jacquibrassey Follow Vivek on LinkedIn: @vivekbapat

What if anxiety isn't something you need to eliminate, but something you can learn to work with? In this episode, I sit down with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Global Multi-Asset at T. Rowe Price, to explore how personality, stress, and anxiety shape the way we lead and perform. We share how to use anxiety as fuel, the difference between mastery and ego, why relationships matter to high performance, and what high achievers can learn from sports psychology. Tune in to discover how to pursue excellence without losing sight of your wellbeing. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does leadership mean to you? 05:30 How your personality can shape the way you lead and perform. 08:15 Why listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills. 13:00 How sports psychology helps you reframe anxiety as fuel. 15:00 Why stress led Sébastien to study the psychology of leadership. 19:00 What positive psychology teaches you about high performance. 22:30 Why the joy of work matters for high achievers. 27:30 What is the difference between mastery and ego? 29:00 How relationships and teamwork can improve performance. 32:00 How individual performance and collaboration can work together. 38:30 What will AI mean for the future of work? 40:30 How anxiety can shape the way you lead and perform. 45:00 What Simone Biles can teach us about mental health and performance. 48:45 How past experiences shape your emotional reactions. 51:15 What losing can teach us about resilience. 55:00 How thinking about death can put everyday challenges into perspective. Resources + Links Get a copy of Sébastien‘s book The Psychology of Leadership HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Sébastien: @sebastien-page

What does it take to keep leading when depression tells you that you can’t go on? In this classic episode, I talk with Paul Greenberg, CEO of Butter Works about building a successful career while living with severe, chronic depression and suicidal thoughts. Paul shares how he kept showing up for work, why connecting with other people gave him a sense of purpose, and what happened when decades of traditional treatments failed to bring relief. We also talk about ECT, ketamine treatment, mental health stigma, and how leaders can create workplaces where people feel safer asking for help. Get ready to rethink what strength and success can look like when mental illness is part of the picture. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How can someone build a successful career while living with severe depression? 03:45 What does a “slog day” with severe depression actually feel like? 06:00 Can depression make you more sensitive to what other people are feeling? 08:15 How depression created a constant and destructive inner narrative. 10:45 Why achievement and responsibility can’t make depression go away. 12:45 What happens when therapy and medication aren’t enough? 15:00 What did it feel like to experience happiness for the first time after treatment? 17:30 How ketamine treatment offered relief when severe depression returned. 21:00 Why mental illness needs to be treated like any other medical condition. 23:45 How being open about treatment shaped the culture at Paul’s company. 25:15 What should you do if your workplace doesn’t support your mental health? 28:15 How leaders can help make conversations about mental health feel more normal. Resources + Links Find more about Paul Greenberg on his website https://paulgreenberg.com If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can find support through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline suicidepreventionlifeline.org If you're concerned about a young person in your life, find support and resources through the JED Foundation jedfoundation.org You can also reach out for support through the Crisis Text Line crisistextline.org Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Paul on LinkedIn: @paulgreenberg

What if the parts of yourself you feel most ashamed of are not things you need to hide or fix, but parts you need to learn to accept? In this episode, I sit down with psychologist and author Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman to talk about self-compassion, neurodivergence, shame, and what it means to find growth and meaning in the face of adversity. Scott shares why you create so much unnecessary suffering by ruminating over how others perceive you, how trusting your intentions can help you stop beating yourself up, and why you can accept and love yourself without necessarily liking every part of who you are. Tune in to discover how to stop reducing yourself to your mistakes or your past and build a more compassionate relationship with your whole self. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why self-actualization isn't something you achieve once and for all. 05:45 What is human-centered leadership? 09:00 What Maslow meant by self-actualization. 15:00 Why no one type of mind should be considered superior. 18:30 How to think about the different parts of yourself. 23:30 Can you accept all the different parts of yourself? 26:00 Why being your authentic self can feel so difficult. 30:30 How neurodivergence can contribute to rumination and feeling different. 35:00 How self-compassion changes your relationship with yourself. 36:00 Why trusting your intentions can help you stop overthinking. 39:30 What is post-traumatic growth? 42:00 Can you really grow from trauma and adversity? 47:30 What does it mean to choose growth instead of fear? 49:30 Shame, authenticity, and the courage to ask for what you need. 53:30 What does Maslow mean by being love? 55:30 Why are you more than the worst thing that happened to you? Resources + Links Check out Dr. Scott’s books, including Choose Growth, Rise Above, and Leading for Tomorrow HERE Learn more about Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr. Scott on LinkedIn: on LinkedIn @scottbarrykaufman + Instagram @scottbarrykaufman

Can depression make success feel like something you have to keep earning? In this episode, I sit down with John Moe, host of The Hilarious World of Depression, to talk about depression, anxiety, and the ways mental health shapes how you work and see yourself. John shares how he learned to recognize “magical thinking” and the unreliable narrator of depression, why achievement can’t fill the gap between success and self-worth, and how therapy helped him challenge distorted thinking. We also talk about getting laid off, separating your identity from your work, performing normalcy, and knowing when it’s time to ask for help. Tune in to separate your worth from your achievements. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why depression and anxiety affect work in very different ways. 03:15 What humor shows about depression and mental health. 05:00 What’s the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder? 07:30 What depression can teach you about perspective, creativity, and warning signs. 10:15 Can achievement actually make you feel better? 13:00 What does the “unreliable narrator” of depression sound like? 15:00 How therapy helps identify and challenge distorted thinking. 17:15 What remains when you separate depression from your sense of self. 18:45 How getting laid off challenged John’s relationship with work and achievement. 21:15 When your identity becomes too closely tied to your work. 24:00 Do you still have to perform normalcy when you’re depressed? 27:15 How to show up at work when depression makes everything harder. 29:45 What creative professionals teach us about working with mental illness. 32:30 Why creative work can accompany mental health struggles without replacing treatment. 34:00 How does depression show up across different professions? Resources + Links Get a copy of John Moe’s book, The Hilarious World of Depression HERE! Find more resources on John’s website https://www.johnmoe.website/ Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow John on LinkedIn: @johnemoe

How do you lead at the highest level while still taking care of yourself? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. John D’Angelo, CEO of Northwell Health, to talk about what it means to lead through uncertainty, pressure, and enormous responsibility without losing sight of your own wellbeing. John shares how his emergency medicine background shaped his approach to leadership, how anxiety has fueled his drive to succeed, and why purpose, healthy boundaries, and taking care of yourself can make you a stronger leader. We also talk about burnout, psychological safety, navigating mistakes, protecting time to think, and building a trusted inner circle you can be vulnerable with. Tune in to discover how to lead through pressure and uncertainty while protecting your energy, wellbeing, and sense of self. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does leadership mean to you? 03:45 How an emergency medicine mindset helps leaders navigate uncertainty. 06:30 How do you manage worry and stay composed under pressure? 10:30 Do leaders need to make space for emotion after high-stakes moments? 16:00 How to create more effective meetings and protect time to think. 19:30 Why taking care of yourself can make you a better leader. 23:00 How to handle imposter feelings during major career transitions. 30:00 What’s putting the most pressure on healthcare today? 32:00 What does mentally healthy leadership look like? 34:15 How do you protect your energy, family time, and well-being? 38:30 How to create psychological safety in high-stakes environments. 43:45 Who do you need to surround yourself with? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow John on LinkedIn @john-dangelo-md

What if the patterns that helped you succeed are also holding you back at work? In this episode, I sit down with MIT professor Dr. Deborah Ancona to talk about how the “family ghosts” you carry from childhood can shape the way you handle authority, conflict, responsibility, perfectionism, and asking for help. We dive into how recognizing these patterns helps you understand your triggers, change behaviors that keep you stuck, and lead with greater intention. Tune in to discover how your past may be influencing the way you work, lead, and relate to others. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What are “family ghosts,” and how do they follow us into adulthood? 04:45 Can the patterns from your childhood become your greatest strengths? 09:30 Why some behaviors are easier to change than others. 14:45 How familiar family roles can shape the way you lead. 18:15 How reconnecting with forgotten parts of yourself can strengthen your leadership. 23:45 Which “good ghosts” help ambitious people succeed? 28:00 How avoiding conflict and refusing to ask for help can create anxiety. 30:30 How do you identify the ghosts you want to change? 32:45 How feedback can reveal patterns you may not see in yourself. 37:00 How role models can help you try on new ways of leading. 40:15 Are your workplace relationships repeating old family patterns? 42:00 How thinking in “triangles” can change difficult workplace dynamics. 43:30 When is it time to step away from a relationship or workplace? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Deborah on LinkedIn: @deborahancona123

Could your workplace be making it harder for you to do your best work? In this episode, I sit down with author and neurodiversity advocate Dave Thompson to talk about designing work around how people actually function best. Dave shares what he learned from helping build a successful social enterprise with a majority-autistic workforce. We dive into neuroinclusive work, masking, and how understanding your own needs helps you do better work without constantly forcing yourself to fit in. Tune in to discover how to create more room for the way you actually work, think, and thrive. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What would your ideal workplace look like? 03:15 Why owning what you're good at and bad at matters. 10:15 How designing work for everyone can improve productivity and engagement. 13:45 How early expectations can shape the way you see your abilities. 18:45 The 5 questions that change the way you design work. 23:00 What do you do differently that helps you succeed? 26:45 How the “Busy Burner” method helps manage competing priorities. 29:00 Why your ideal work environment may not look like anyone else's. 36:30 How masking can show up in everyday workplace behaviors. 43:30 What's wrong with the way most job descriptions are written? 46:15 Why employers need to think about what they're offering candidates. 47:45 What happens when workplaces aren't designed for everyone. Resources + Links Get Dave Thompson's book, Brainstorm HERE Learn more about Dave Thompson and his work HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dave: on LinkedIn @itsdavethompson

Do you ever feel like you're forcing yourself to work in ways that just don't fit how your brain works? In this episode, I sit down with Penn and Kim Holderness to talk about how understanding ADHD transforms the way you lead, create, and work together. Penn and Kim share how understanding emotional dysregulation transformed their marriage, why shame can hold people with ADHD back, and the systems they use to reduce overwhelm, unlock creativity, and work more effectively as a team. Tune in to discover how embracing the way your brain works can lead to stronger relationships, better collaboration, and more meaningful work. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why ADHD is about more than distraction. 05:00 How to recognize emotional flooding before it takes over. 08:00 How to build a work schedule that fits your brain. 09:15 Why giving your brain room to hyperfocus pays off. 11:15 How to structure your week for more creativity and focus. 14:30 How anxiety and ADHD strengthen creative thinking. 20:15 Does creativity become harder under constant pressure? 25:15 What would a workplace designed for ADHD look like? 29:15 Advice to anyone trying to build work around their strengths. 31:15 Why creating work that reflects who you are leads to greater fulfillment. Resources + Links Get a copy of ADHD Is Awesome HERE Learn more about the Holderness Family HERE Watch the Holderness Family on YouTube HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow The Holderness Family on Instagram: @theholdernessfamily

What if your biggest advantage isn't knowing what's coming next, but trusting yourself to handle whatever comes? In this episode, I sit down with author Simone Stolzoff to talk about why your need for certainty keeps you stuck and how tying your identity too closely to work leaves you vulnerable when life changes. Simone shares why uncertainty isn't something to eliminate, but a part of being human, how values and relationships provide stability when the future feels unclear, and why adapting matters more than predicting what comes next. Tune in to discover how uncertainty can become a source of growth instead of something to fear. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why your job shouldn't become your entire identity. 08:15 What it means to commit despite doubt. 13:00 How AI is changing the way we think about work and identity. 16:45 What is a diversified identity? 18:45 How to cultivate the practice of not knowing. 21:15 What keeps you trapped in the need for certainty? 26:30 What to do when you're stuck waiting for an answer. 30:30 Advice to anyone worried about being laid off. 33:15 Finding stability in your values when everything else feels uncertain. 37:45 Can preparing for the worst reduce anxiety? 40:00 Are your fears based on facts or assumptions? 44:00 Why uncertainty makes life worth living. 48:30 Why your future self is more capable than you think. Resources + Links Get a copy of How to Not Know HERE Get a copy of The Good Enough Job HERE Learn more about Simone Stolzoff HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Simone: on LinkedIn @simonestolzoff + Instagram @thepizza_bagel

Does starting over in midlife feel exciting or terrifying? In this special crossover episode, I joined Olivia F. Scott from Freedom at the Mat to talk about career pivots, identity, ambition, and what it means to rebuild in midlife. We share our own experiences with burnout, rebuilding our careers, redefining what success means, letting go of external validation, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit you don't have all the answers. Tune in to discover how to navigate midlife with more courage, purpose, and self-trust. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Midlife can be the beginning of something new. 04:00 What does it mean to rebuild your life and career? 07:45 Reinvention is possible at any stage of life. 14:15 How do you let go of your past without letting go of yourself? 16:45 What happens when you stop chasing external validation? 19:45 How slowing down changes the way you experience life. 22:30 Is your ambition serving you or driving you? 26:00 How understanding your motivations help prevent burnout. 29:15 How trusting your instincts can lead to unexpected opportunities. 35:15 What happens when you give yourself permission to rest? 38:15 What gets better about life in midlife? 39:45 What younger women need to know about midlife. 44:30 Why you should reach out to 3 people every day. Resources + Links Learn more about Olivia F. Scott HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Olivia: on LinkedIn @oliviafscottmarketing + Instagram @olivialove901fm

Have you ever wondered why the way everyone else works just doesn't seem to work for you? In this episode, I introduce my TAAM framework and share what I learned from my Neuro Strength Survey of more than 1,200 neurodistinct professionals. I talk about how time, attention, agency, and motivation shape the way you work and why understanding those patterns can help you build a career that feels more aligned. Plus, I share questions to help you identify your own TAAM profile and start designing work that fits you better. Tune in to discover how understanding the way your brain works can help you build a career that works for you. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why traditional work advice doesn't fit every brain. 04:15 Why understanding your individuality matters more than labels. 06:45 What more than 1,200 neurodistinct professionals revealed about work. 10:00 Why your brain is both a strength and a challenge. 12:15 The strengths neurodistinct professionals bring to the workplace. 15:15 Why flexibility matters more than productivity hacks. 17:15 What is the TAAM framework? 20:15 Rethink your relationship with time at work. 24:15 What helps your attention thrive instead of drain. 26:30 How agency shapes your experience at work. 30:30 What drives your motivation at work? 33:30 How to create your own TAAM profile. 38:00 Example of the TAAM framework in action. 42:15 Answering common questions about TAAM, values, and accommodations. Resources + Links Take the Neurostrength Survey HERE Download the TAAM Profile Worksheet HERE Pre-order The Atypical Achiever HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Have you ever tried to achieve your way out of anxiety or depression? What happens when reaching your biggest goals still doesn't make you feel like you're enough? In this episode, I sit down with NBA champion and mental health advocate Kevin Love to talk about the anxiety, depression, and constant sense of dread that existed alongside his extraordinary success. Kevin opens up about the panic attack that changed his relationship with mental health, the pressure to prove himself, and why achievement, fame, and money could never fill the void. We also break down perfectionism, overwork, social anxiety, vulnerability, and the complicated relationship between ambition and mental health. Tune in to learn how changing your relationship with achievement can create more room for self-acceptance, connection, and joy. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In This Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why Kevin Love decided to speak publicly about his mental health. 04:15 The panic attack that forced Kevin to confront his mental health. 05:00 What happens when you try to achieve your way out of depression? 12:45 Can understanding your mental health make you a better teammate? 14:15 The freedom that comes from separating yourself from your performance. 16:00 When the thing you love becomes your only source of identity. 18:00 What high achievers can learn from failure. 23:15 The fear of being judged after opening up about mental health. 26:15 Why overwork can't fill the emotional void. 27:30 What social anxiety looks like when you're constantly in the public eye. 30:45 Learning to give yourself permission to experience joy. 32:15 How do you redefine achievement without losing your ambition? Resources + Links Learn more about the Kevin Love Fund HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Kevin Love Fund: @kevinlovefund

Do you know how to bring yourself back to balance when stress and anxiety take over? In this episode, I sit down with HeartMath president and co-CEO Dr. Deborah Rozman to talk about how stress, anxiety, and emotions affect your heart, brain, and nervous system. Deborah breaks down what heart rate variability measures, what it means to move into a state of coherence, and why staying activated by stress for too long can drain your energy and performance. We also did the Quick Coherence Practice to reset when you're triggered or regain clarity during a stressful day. Tune in to learn how to feel calmer, clearer, and more resilient under pressure. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How nervous system regulation supports focus and performance at work. 05:30 What is the relationship between your emotions and your nervous system? 08:00 How stress and positive emotions create different heart rhythm patterns. 12:00 What’s the difference between heart rate and heart rate variability? 17:15 How frustration shifts your heart rhythm and stress response. 20:15 The Quick Coherence practice you can use when you're triggered. 26:30 Can anxiety actually help you perform better? 30:00 How staying stuck in stress drains your energy over time. 33:15 Ways to bring heart-brain coherence into your workday. 38:00 Is emotional regulation the same as suppressing your feelings? Resources + Links Learn more about HeartMath HERE! Learn the Quick Coherence Technique HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr. Deborah on LinkedIn: @deborahrozman

Does perfectionism feel like the reason you're successful and the thing that's exhausting you at the same time? In this episode, I sit down with author and workplace expert Susan Schmitt Winchester to talk about the roots of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the constant need for external validation. Susan shares how childhood experiences follow you into the workplace, why everyday triggers send you into old patterns of fear and self-doubt, and ways to regulate your response. Tune in to learn how to loosen perfectionism's grip without giving up your ability to do great work. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 When perfectionism makes you feel like nothing is ever good enough. 03:15 When the need to prove yourself becomes a pattern. 07:45 How fear of failure keeps perfectionists chasing external validation. 11:45 Can your purpose become bigger than your fear of judgment? 16:15 Turning the workplace into a laboratory for emotional healing. 18:15 What “bumper car moments” can teach you about your emotional triggers. 21:15 How to regulate your response before anxiety takes over. 26:15 Are you reacting to reality or a story you've created? 27:15 The 3 steps for changing your automatic reactions at work. 33:45 Perfectionism can move mountains, but it comes at a cost. 36:00 What makes perfectionism so brittle? 38:15 Separating your adult self from the patterns that once kept you safe. 42:15 Tools for managing perfectionism at work. 45:00 Giving yourself permission not to react immediately. Resources + Links Learn more about Susan Schmitt Winchester HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Susan: on LinkedIn @susanschmittwinchester + Instagram @susanjschmittwinchester

Do you ever wonder if you're doing enough for your parents? In this episode, I sit down with Baylor University professor Dr. Allison Alford to talk about the emotional, mental, logistical, and identity work women take on to keep their families connected. Allison shares how to recognize the daughtering you're already doing, why so many women struggle to feel like a “good enough” daughter, and how family expectations shape the way you show up in other areas of your life. We also break down the difference between daughtering and caregiving, how to set healthier boundaries, and why doing more isn't always the answer. Tune in to redefine what being a good daughter means without losing yourself in the expectations that come with it. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How being a daughter can shape the way you show up at work. 03:15 What distance daughtering looks like when you live far from your parents. 08:15 What is daughtering? 12:15 The 4 types of work daughters take on in their families. 18:45 Daughtering and caregiving aren't the same thing. 21:30 Why daughtering isn't always about doing more for your parents. 24:00 Where does the pressure to be a “good daughter” come from? 28:15 Can you define what being a good daughter means for yourself? 30:15 The 4 categories that show how much daughtering you actually do. 35:15 Why setting boundaries is part of healthy daughtering. 37:45 What your daughtering score can teach you about balance. 40:15 Can you still be a daughter when you've cut off contact with a parent? Resources + Links Get a copy of Dr. Allison’s book Good Daughtering HERE! Learn more about Dr. Allison Alford HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr. Allison: on LinkedIn @allisonalford + Instagram @daughtering101

Are you worried about what AI means for your job and the future of work? How do you stay grounded when technology is changing faster than you can keep up? In this episode, I sit down with Oxford Road CEO and founder Dan Granger to talk about AI anxiety, uncertainty, and what it takes to keep moving forward when the future feels impossible to predict. We dive into how to recognize when anxiety is useful, why focusing on the process can pull you out of the “what if” spiral, and how curiosity and adaptability can help you navigate rapid change. Tune in to learn how to work with uncertainty, focus on what you can control, and lean into the uniquely human value you bring to your work. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet Dan Granger, CEO and Founder of Oxford Road. 03:15 Can you build a healthier relationship with anxiety? 06:00 Why anxiety is a necessary part of the human experience. 09:30 When does normal anxiety become unhealthy? 13:15 How to focus on what you can control when the future feels uncertain. 16:30 Is the fear of AI taking your job actually rational? 20:15 Finding your unique value in a world increasingly shaped by AI. 27:45 What a podcast can give you beyond money and downloads. 34:45 The role trust and authenticity play in podcast advertising. 40:15 Can anxiety actually become rocket fuel for achievement? 44:45 Is video changing what it means to be a podcast? Resources + Links Learn more about Oxford Road HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dan: on LinkedIn @dangranger

Do you want to become the kind of leader people genuinely trust? Could kindness be one of the most overlooked leadership skills today? In this episode, I sit down with John MacPhee, CEO of the Jed Foundation, to talk about how compassionate leadership creates stronger teams, healthier workplaces, and a greater sense of belonging. John shares how his own struggles with anxiety, failing out of college, and an unforgettable conversation with his mother transformed his definition of success and ultimately led him to purpose-driven work. We also dive into what workplaces still get wrong about mental health and the small leadership shifts that can make a lasting difference. Tune in to discover how leading with kindness can strengthen your team, your culture, and yourself. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet John MacPhee, CEO of The Jed Foundation (JED). 05:15 What is kind leadership? 10:00 Can you make difficult decisions without losing compassion? 12:00 How to say "no" with empathy while helping people feel heard. 14:00 What the Jed Foundation has learned about protecting mental health. 20:00 Why psychological safety starts long before someone asks for help. 21:30 What most workplaces still misunderstand about mental health. 27:00 Why purpose gives people a reason to keep going. 33:30 What does it take to create a culture of belonging? 37:00 Kindness as a competitive advantage in leadership. 45:30 Can failure become the foundation of better leadership? 53:00 The leadership lesson every young person deserves. Resources + Links Learn more about the Jed Foundation HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow John on LinkedIn: @johnamacphee

Can your greatest struggles become the foundation for your best work? What if the way through anxiety isn't eliminating it, but creating something meaningful despite it? In this episode, I sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Jerry Saltz to talk about growing up with profound trauma, living with panic attacks, overcoming envy, and finding purpose through creative work. Jerry shares how years of self-doubt, social anxiety, and rejection eventually led him to reinvent himself, why meaningful work matters more than perfection, and how embracing your own voice can transform your life. Tune in to discover why showing up, creating consistently, and letting go of comparison may be the most powerful antidotes to anxiety. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why anxiety can show up as overwork, perfectionism, and the need for control. 03:15 How childhood experiences shape the way you work and cope with stress. 07:45 Why the routines you rely on may be helping you more than you realize. 11:15 How can you move forward after growing up in a chaotic environment? 16:00 What panic attacks taught Jerry about fear, identity, and purpose. 19:00 How do you stop comparing yourself to everyone else? 20:30 Is it ever too late to reinvent your career? 22:15 How meaningful work can replace resentment with purpose. 24:15 Can social anxiety become a creative strength? 29:45 The mindset shift that helps you stop waiting and start creating. 31:15 How creating consistently builds confidence and resilience. 32:30 What does "always be around" really mean for your career? Resources + Links Learn more about Jerry Saltz HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Jerry: on X @jerrysaltz + Instagram @jerrysaltz

What happens when the strategies that always worked for you suddenly stop working? How do you keep believing in yourself when success no longer feels certain? In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and author Jenny Blake to talk about financial uncertainty, career setbacks, and the emotional toll of building a business. Jenny shares what it was like to lose major clients, question long-held beliefs about success, navigate the "flop era" of entrepreneurship, and find new meaning through creativity instead of certainty. Tune in to discover how to navigate uncertainty with more self-compassion, patience, and purpose. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why everyone looks rich on the internet, even when they're not. 04:15 What if your career doesn't go according to plan? 09:15 How Jenny Blake built a successful business after leaving Google. 13:15 What happens when your biggest source of income suddenly disappears? 18:45 How do you recover after a major career setback? 20:45 How to separate your self-worth from your achievements. 24:15 Can your body tell you when you're on the wrong path? 28:45 What Bell's palsy taught Jenny about burnout and self-care. 31:00 How atypical achievers can build careers that work for them. 35:15 How permission slips can help you navigate difficult seasons. 40:45 Would you still do it if it failed? 44:00 Is it okay if your greatest success is already behind you? 47:30 Why letting go of your old identity helps you move forward. 52:00 What permission do you need to give yourself right now? Resources + Links Learn more about Jenny Blake HERE Get your copy of Jenny's book, Pivot HERE Get your copy of Jenny's book, Free Time HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Jenny: on LinkedIn @jennyblake

Which conversations have you been avoiding at work? In this classic episode, I sit down with Death, Sex & Money host Anna Sale to talk about why conversations about money, mental health, and personal struggles still feel so difficult in many workplaces. We discuss the shame that often shapes our financial decisions, how your upbringing influences the way you negotiate and advocate for yourself, and what to consider before telling your boss you're struggling. Anna also shares advice for setting boundaries, asking for what you need, and creating more honest relationships at work. Get ready to rethink the conversations that could change your work and your life. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 The value of talking about hard things. 05:30 Which conversations are still taboo at work? 08:15 The shame that shapes our relationship with money. 12:15 Anna's experience with money anxiety. 15:45 The money mindset behind anxious achievers. 18:00 How do you negotiate without losing yourself? 20:30 How to set boundaries without apologizing. 22:45 A test before saying yes. 23:45 Negotiation advice for the start of your career. 27:30 Should you tell your boss you're struggling? 31:45 Choosing your wellbeing over your paycheck. Resources + Links Learn more about Anna Sale HERE Get a copy of Anna’s book Let's Talk About Hard Things HERE Listen to Death, Sex & Money HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Anna: on LinkedIn @annasale + Instagram @annasalepics

Would you take four months away from work? Have you ever wondered who you'd be without your job for a while? In this episode, I sit down with Harvard Business School lecturer and The Sabbatical Project founder Dennis “DJ” DiDonna to talk about why many of us keep pushing until burnout forces us to stop, how intentional time away creates space to reflect on what really matters, and why rest isn't about doing nothing. DJ also shares ways to plan a sabbatical, navigate the uncertainty that comes with slowing down, and return with a stronger sense of purpose. Get ready to rethink time off as an investment in the life and career you want to build. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 A new way to think about time away from work. 05:30 How sabbaticals create space for renewal instead of escape. 07:15 What is a sabbatical? 10:00 How burnout led DJ to rethink the life he was building. 15:00 Why achievement often comes at the expense of the people who matter most. 21:45 What are the benefits of stepping away from work? 26:45 When is the perfect time for a sabbatical? 32:15 What are the 3 types of sabbatical takers? 36:00 Why reconnecting with your craft can restore creativity. 41:00 How do you give yourself permission? 46:00 Are sabbaticals always relaxing? 49:00 How stepping away from work can make you a better leader. 53:00 Why taking time off is an investment, not an escape. 57:30 DJ's advice for planning your first sabbatical. Resources + Links Learn more about DJ DiDonna HERE Pre-order a copy of DJ DiDonna’s book Big Time Off HERE Learn more about The Sabbatical Project HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow DJ DiDonna on LinkedIn: @djdidonna

Could the way you think about money have more to do with your childhood than your bank account? In this episode, I sit down with personal finance expert Shannah Game to talk about why your relationship with money is often shaped long before you earn your first paycheck. We dive deep into money trauma, the stories we attach to spending and saving, and how those patterns influence our careers, relationships, and sense of self. Shannah also shares ways to respond differently to financial triggers and build healthier habits that align with the life you want. Get ready to rethink your relationship with money. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How childhood experiences shape your money habits and beliefs. 05:00 Why money is about so much more than dollars and cents. 07:15 How your money story influences your work and relationships. 12:00 A question that helps uncover your beliefs about money. 16:15 What is money trauma? 19:15 How to recognize your financial triggers before they take over. 22:00 How to interrupt unhealthy money habits with healthier thought patterns. 24:45 An exercise for changing your emotional response to money. 26:15 How do you build systems that reduce financial anxiety? 28:30 Why creating a regular "money date" builds confidence instead of fear. 30:00 What is financial self-actualization? 33:00 The 100-day challenge that helps you rethink every financial decision. Resources + Links Learn more about Shannah Game HERE Get a copy of Shannah’s book Unraveling Your Relationship with Money HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Shannah on Instagram: @shannahgame

How do you lead when the future refuses to give you certainty? In this episode, I sit down with leadership experts Scott D. Anthony, Lisa Kay Solomon, and Chris Shipley to talk about what leadership looks like when uncertainty becomes the norm. We dive into making decisions without having all the answers, why leaders need to let go of the illusion of certainty, and how curiosity, agency, and even play can help teams adapt to change. We also share ways to navigate uncertainty, manage anxiety, and create workplaces where people feel empowered to do their best work. Tune in to discover why the future belongs to leaders who are willing to learn, adapt, and grow. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why today's leaders need clarity instead of certainty. 03:15 What effective leadership looks like in an era of constant disruption. 08:15 Why clarity matters more than having all the answers. 11:00 Why learning often requires unlearning first. 12:45 How can you become more comfortable with uncertainty? 20:00 How mindfulness helps leaders stay grounded under pressure. 22:00 Why is agency one of the most important leadership skills today? 30:00 Why anxiety often leads people to avoid the work that matters most. 32:30 How to build psychological safety when everything feels uncertain. 39:00 How to create more joy, connection, and creativity at work. 44:45 Why appreciation and gratitude are essential for a thriving team. 53:45 Who are you when you take your job title away? Resources + Links Get your copy of Leading for Tomorrow HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Scott on LinkedIn: @scottdanthony Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: @lisakaysolomon Follow Chris on LinkedIn: @cshipley9

Can loving your work make burnout more likely? In this episode, I sit down with Harvard Business School professor Jon Jachimowicz to talk about the downside of passion at work. Jon shares why passion isn't something you either have or don't have, but something that rises and falls over time. We also talk about why passionate employees often overwork, skip recovery, and become vulnerable to burnout, how organizations unintentionally exploit passion, and why leaders need a better strategy for helping people sustain meaningful work over the long term. Tune in to rethink what it really means to follow your passion without sacrificing your well-being. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why following your passion isn't always the path to sustainable success. 04:00 How Jon's own loss of passion inspired his research. 09:00 Why passion can become one of the biggest drivers of burnout. 12:15 How passionate employees unknowingly skip recovery and overextend themselves. 15:00 Why do client and societal expectations trap high achievers into overperforming? 17:00 How do workplaces systematically confuse extroversion with passion? 23:15 Why performing passion can become emotionally exhausting. 27:15 How managers should lead passionate employees differently. 31:00 Why organizations often exploit passionate workers without realizing it. 35:15 Why current promotional career paths are broken for passionate workers. 39:15 How can companies help employees sustain passion? 43:45 The 3 different types of burnout and why they need different solutions. 45:30 Ways to recover when burnout comes from a loss of self-efficacy or cynicism. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

How do you ask for what you need at work when the system still makes disability feel risky to name? In this episode, I sit down with attorney, author, and neurodiversity advocate Haley Moss to talk about the reality of being neurodivergent at work. Haley breaks down what the ADA actually protects, how reasonable accommodations work in practice, and why disclosure is still such a fraught decision for so many people. We also talk about masking, internalized ableism, the pressure to frame neurodivergence as a “superpower,” and MORE. Get ready to rethink disclosure, disability, and what real inclusion at work should actually look like. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why talking about neurodivergence at work is still so loaded. 03:00 How Haley’s career shifted after becoming known as Florida’s first openly autistic attorney. 08:00 Why telling your own story matters more than letting other people simplify it for you. 11:30 What the ADA protects for neurodivergent employees at work. 13:30 How to understand reasonable accommodations and what counts as “essential functions” of a job. 16:30 What are the myths people still believe about workplace accommodations? 22:15 Why neurodivergent workers are often expected to do the emotional labor of culture change. 25:45 What happens when an accommodation exists on paper but not in practice? 29:30 What the “double empathy problem” shows about communication between neurotypical and neurodivergent coworkers. 35:00 What to do if you’re neurodivergent but don’t identify as disabled or don’t want to disclose formally? 39:15 What do you think about disclosing to get legal protection versus advocating informally? 41:45 How framing neurodivergence as a strength can be both empowering and strategic. 49:30 How meeting other neurodivergent people can shift your sense of identity and belonging. 50:45 Why Haley is intentionally expanding beyond autism as the center of her public identity. 53:45 How to make work feel safer for different brains and bodies. Resources + Links Get a copy of Haley Moss’s book, The Young Autistic Adult's Independence Handbook HERE Learn more about Haley Moss HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Haley: on LinkedIn @haleylmoss + Instagram @haley.moss

How much of yourself should work be allowed to cost you? In this episode, I sit down with author and former Deloitte partner Deepa Purushothaman to talk about what happens when ambition, bias, and chronic overwork are carried in the body. Deepa shares how a major health crisis forced her to rethink the way she worked, the way she defined success, and the ways women of color are taught to survive in workplaces that were never built for them. We talk about masking, hypervigilance, power, and why so many women can appear successful on paper yet feel depleted, silenced, and disconnected from themselves. Get ready to challenge your assumptions about power, productivity, and the stories corporate culture has taught you to believe about yourself. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What happens when workplace stress gets carried in the body? 04:45 Why high achievers often learn to ignore their bodies. 08:45 How illness can push you to rethink your purpose and priorities. 12:00 How to recognize when your body is sending you a warning sign. 16:00 How women of color can end up in a constant state of hypervigilance. 22:15 What happens when women report racism or bias at work? 24:45 The workplace delusions many women are taught to believe in order to survive. 28:30 Why have so many women been taught to see power as something aggressive or unsafe? 31:15 What does it actually mean to “shed” the beliefs that no longer serve you? 32:30 How to identify the old messages that still drive your anxiety and self-doubt. 36:15 Why toxicity at work isn’t just a mental health issue. 37:45 How to protect yourself while still pursuing ambition and success. 39:30 How redefining success can change the way you work and live. Resources + Links Get a copy of Deepa Purushothaman’s book, The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America HERE Learn more about Deepa Purushothaman HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Deepa: on LinkedIn @deepapuru + Instagram @deepa.puru

How do you stay grounded when technology is changing work faster than any of us can keep up with? In this episode, I sit down with journalist and CNN contributor Jacob Ward to talk about the emotional and psychological impact of living and working alongside increasingly powerful technology. Jacob shares why he believes the bigger threat isn’t just automation, but the way these systems shape your behavior, attention, and relationships at work. We talk about loneliness, agency, management, the pressure to keep producing, and what happens when more of our thinking gets handed over to machines. Get ready to rethink productivity, management, and the value of human judgment. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What is AI doing to your mind and mood? 04:45 Why technology is really a story about human behavior. 09:00 How “fast thinking” makes us easier to manipulate. 13:00 What an AI co-parenting tool reveals about convenience, conflict, and control. 15:15 Can technology really support mental health without replacing human care? 17:45 Why the systems built to help us often prioritize engagement instead. 20:00 What a more “human-free” workplace could mean for all of us. 26:45 The human skills at work that are most at risk of disappearing. 30:00 How to deal with the helplessness so many people feel about the future of work. 36:00 The Pope’s warning about AI, dignity, and human value. 43:30 Why trust matters so much when institutions are under pressure. 47:45 How to decide when to use AI and when to resist it. 50:00 Why the pressure to produce more can quietly trap high achievers. 54:30 How do you stay relevant without giving up your standards? Resources + Links Visit Jacob Ward’s website HERE Get a copy of Jacob’s book, The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Jacob: on YouTube @byjacobward + Instagram @byjacobward

Can achievement become a coping mechanism? In this classic episode, I sit down with entrepreneur, investor, and former Facebook and Twitter growth leader Andy Johns to talk about the connection between childhood trauma, anxiety, achievement, and self-worth. Andy shares how growing up with instability, loss, and trauma shaped his relentless drive to succeed, why panic attacks eventually forced him to confront his mental health, and how years of healing helped him realize that achievement and self-love are not the same thing. We also dive into PTSD, entrepreneurship, intrusive thoughts, overwork, and why so many successful people struggle to slow down even after they've reached their goals. Tune in to learn why healing is the most important achievement of all. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What’s the connection between achievement and self-worth? 05:00 What "growth" really means in the startup world. 07:15 Why entrepreneurs are more likely to struggle with mental health conditions. 08:45 How anxiety can fuel exceptional performance and success. 15:00 Why speaking publicly about mental health felt so risky. 18:30 What are intrusive thoughts? 20:30 How childhood trauma can shape adult anxiety and depression. 25:15 The childhood experiences that contributed to Andy's PTSD. 30:15 When does achievement become an addiction? 34:15 How to recognize when overachievement is masking emotional pain. 35:45 Why mental health is about more than brain chemistry. 36:45 What is the biopsychosocial model of mental health? 38:15 How your experiences shape the way you think, feel, and live. Resources + Links Read Andy's writing at https://andyjohns.substack.com Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Andy: on LinkedIn @andrewjohns + Substack @cluesdotlife

How do you build a meaningful career when AI is rewriting the future of work? In this episode, I sit down with New York Times investigative reporter Jodi Kantor to talk about why so many young professionals feel discouraged about the future, and how digital shifts are reshaping our modern workplaces. Jodi shares how she survived getting fired from her college paper and dropping out of law school, and how those setbacks paved her way back to journalism. We also dive deep into the realities of AI-driven hiring, the loss of workplace autonomy, and the formula for reclaiming your agency. Get ready to rethink what it truly takes to protect your career in a rapidly changing world. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What Jodi Kantor believes is one of the most important ingredients for a meaningful career. 04:15 How do you think about hope? 05:45 The question that Columbia students wanted answered during a year of campus turmoil. 09:45 How technology has reduced worker autonomy over the last decade. 14:45 Why AI is making the hiring process feel increasingly impersonal. 17:00 How do you define craft? 19:45 What's the relationship between strengths, interests, and building expertise over time? 24:00 Why career setbacks are often essential parts of growth. 27:00 How to stay focused on the work instead of public praise or criticism. 30:00 How to identify the problems, opportunities, or needs you want your work to serve. 31:45 Why AI won't eliminate the need for fresh talent and new ideas. 33:00 What colleges can do to better prepare students for today's workforce. 35:15 How universities can better help students find their life's work. 38:00 Jodi's advice for anyone starting their career today. Resources + Links Get a copy of Jodi’s book, How to Start: Discovering Your Life’s Work HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Jodi: on LinkedIn @jodikantor + Instagram @jodikantor

What if achievement doesn't have to come from suffering? I sit down with Congressman Adam Smith to talk about the complicated relationship between anxiety, achievement, and self-worth. Adam shares his journey through panic attacks, psychotherapy, chronic pain recovery, and the difficult work of building self-worth that isn't tied to performance. We also dive into why so many high achievers believe anxiety is the price of success, how trauma and stress shape the way we lead, and what happens when you stop using fear and self-criticism as your primary source of motivation. Get ready to discover a healthier path to high achievement. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Can anxiety make you a better leader? 04:30 Why ambitious people often struggle with fear and insecurity. 06:15 How can you give your anxiety a productive job to do? 08:45 What's the difference between feeling anxious and having clinical anxiety? 10:45 How Adam navigated years of panic attacks, chronic pain, and mental health challenges. 12:15 Why a lack of self-worth can fuel anxiety and achievement. 16:30 How ambition can remain strong even after anxiety is no longer the primary motivator. 28:45 Meditation techniques that help stop the cycle of chasing anxious thoughts. 31:15 What does it mean to demystify trauma? 33:30 New approaches that help people reprocess and heal from trauma. 35:30 The leadership skills that create healthier teams and workplaces. 37:15 How mental health struggles can become a source of empathy, patience, and stronger leadership. Resources + Links Get a copy of Adam Smith's book, Lost and Broken: My Journey Back from Chronic Pain and Crippling Anxiety HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Adam on LinkedIn @adamsmith

Why does modern work feel impossible for so many families? In this episode, I talk with sociologist, former Navy pilot, and workplace researcher Dr. David Smith about why so many modern couples feel trapped in work-life conflict, how to navigate the structural stress of dual-career life, and the realities of modern caregiving. David breaks down the "Lead-Follow" relationship strategy used by highly successful couples. We also dive into the anxieties men face surrounding workplace allyship, why traditional mentorship scripts are broken, and how organizations must design work for a cross-generational workforce. Tune in to learn about the pressures modern families face and what needs to change. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why the traditional "breadwinner" corporate model is completely broken. 03:15 How repetition and exposure help build confidence under pressure. 06:15 What can military families teach us about work-life conflict? 08:45 Why women were leaving the military at much higher rates than men. 11:15 The 4 strategies dual-career couples use to navigate work and family stress. 16:45 Why constant renegotiation is essential in long-term partnerships. 22:00 What does work-life conflict mean? 25:00 How outdated workplace structures create burnout for both women and men. 27:30 Why millennial fathers are demanding flexibility and shifts in family culture. 35:00 Why many men now feel anxious about mentoring women at work. 37:15 How avoidance and fear damage workplace culture. 41:45 Can workplaces support women without men feeling left behind? 44:15 How device reliance and isolation are reshaping the incoming Gen Z workforce. 51:15 What can leaders do to better support modern families? 54:45 How organizations can better support career breaks and re-entry. Resources + Links Get a copy of David Smith’s new book, Fair Share HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr. David on LinkedIn: @davidgsmithphd

How much of your life is being driven by fear without you even realizing it? In this episode, I sit down with Harvard Business School lecturer, entrepreneur, and former executive Martin Sinozich to talk about the pressure high achievers carry to prove themselves, stay successful, and never disappoint anyone. Martin shares about divorce, identity, workplace culture, and the freedom that comes from letting go of perfection and learning to trust yourself instead. We also break down the imposter feelings in elite environments, the anxiety of always needing to be “right,” and why so many ambitious people feel like they don’t belong. Get ready to rethink achievement and self-worth. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Quince - Head to quince.com/ACHIEVER for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Martin Sinozich on achievement pressure and mental health. 03:00 What happens when high achievers lose their identity at work? 06:30 What do psychologically healthy workplaces look like? 09:30 Why asking better questions matters more than having answers. 11:45 How achievement culture affects relationships at home. 17:30 How divorce forced Martin to confront the fear driving his life. 20:00 What changed after you stopped living for other people’s approval? 24:15 Living with imposter feelings at Harvard Business School. 27:30 How fear and achievement pressure affect marriage, parenting, and identity. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Martin on LinkedIn: @sinozich

Have you started expecting therapy to do too much? In this episode, I sit down with therapist and writer Megan Cornish to talk about the pressure we place on therapy to solve problems that may actually stem from isolation, lack of community, and modern life itself. Megan shares that many of the struggles we now label as “mental health problems” were once held by friends, neighbors, faith communities, and everyday human relationships. She also breaks down ACT therapy exercises that can help you hold painful thoughts more lightly and reconnect to your values instead of chasing constant happiness. Get ready to rethink therapy, connection, and what makes a meaningful life. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How capitalism and work culture affect mental health. 04:15 Megan’s viral experiment with AI, LinkedIn, and gender bias. 10:00 Can therapy really work in the workplace? 14:30 How therapists became substitutes for friendship and community. 21:00 How therapy evolved beyond treating severe mental illness. 25:00 Did people cope better emotionally before therapy existed? 29:15 How AI relationships remove friction from connection. 33:30 The ACT therapy exercise that changed how Megan approaches friendship. 36:30 Why discomfort doesn’t always mean something is wrong. 45:30 Why non-attachment to suffering exists across many traditions. 47:45 Do we actually need life to make perfect sense? 49:00 The “80-year-old self” exercise for perspective and gratitude. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Megan Cornish on LinkedIn: @megan-cornish

This week we’re sharing a special episode from our friends at How To!, the 2026 Ambie Award-nominated “Best Personal Growth Podcast” that’s back with a new host and new topics to fuel your curiosity. Each week on How To!, award-winning journalist Mike Pesca tackles a listener’s question – on topics ranging from travel and finance to health and relationships – with help from world-class experts who actually know what they're talking about. Think of it as eavesdropping on someone else's therapy session, without the co-pay or awkward silence. And today, we’re sharing their recent episode “How To Take Psychedelics for Your Mental Health” where Mike interviews psychiatrist Will Van der Veer, a psychedelic researcher, and Myq Kaplan who has taken psychedelics for his mental health and other reasons. I love this episode because you get to hear a bunch of personal experiences of medical psychedelics and learn more about this emerging treatment for mental health conditions. And for more interviews like this, make sure to follow How To! on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And tell them we sent you.

Why do so many capable, high-performing people end up exhausted, and emotionally drained even when they’re doing everything “right”? In this episode, I sit with psychologist Dr. Thomas Greenspon to talk about perfectionism, shame, and self-worth. Thomas breaks down why perfectionism isn’t actually about excellence, then entrepreneur Eleanor Beaton shares how perfectionism shaped her leadership, ambition, and identity and what changed when she stopped chasing perfection and started embracing wholeness instead. Get ready to rethink the way you work, care for others, and define success. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Quince - Head to quince.com/ACHIEVER for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What is perfectionism? 08:30 What’s the difference between perfectionism and the pursuit of excellence? 10:00 How perfectionism becomes a coping mechanism for anxiety. 14:30 What’s the connection between perfectionism, depression, and hopelessness? 17:00 How childhood experiences shape perfectionism. 20:45 Why humans are wired for connection and belonging. 22:45 How modern culture rewards perfectionism and overachievement. 23:30 What can parents do to help perfectionistic kids? 25:45 The 4 things that help people overcome perfectionism. 32:45 Why perfectionism disconnects you from our wholeness. 35:30 How perfectionism delays growth and keeps people stuck. 41:00 Why entrepreneurship becomes personal development work. 44:00 How perfectionism shows up as avoidance and overwork. 46:30 What are the signs that perfectionism is running your life? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

What if the problem isn’t your brain, but the systems you’ve spent your life trying to fit into? In this episode, I sit down with David Flink, founder of the Neurodiversity Alliance. We talk about what it means to navigate work, leadership, and identity as a neurodivergent person. David shares how he learned to stop forcing himself into systems that didn’t fit, how metacognition changed his life, and why today’s younger workers are approaching neurodivergence differently. Get ready to build your life around your strengths instead of constantly trying to fix your weaknesses. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Quince - Head to quince.com/ACHIEVER for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How do you define leadership? 04:00 What became easier for you as you got older as a neurodivergent leader? 08:00 The strengths David has come to love about his dyslexic ADHD brain. 11:15 Why neurodivergent adults spend years unlearning shame. 17:15 Why kids need to become detectives of their own learning styles. 19:00 What metacognition means and why it matters so much. 24:00 Don't let your current environment define your potential. 27:45 Why neurodivergent people often develop extraordinary resilience. 31:15 Can workplaces change for neurodivergent employees? 37:15 How remote work transformed David’s company culture. 41:30 Why Gen Z approaches disability and neurodivergence differently. 45:15 How focusing on deficits causes companies to miss great talent. 47:30 What happens to neurodivergence in midlife. 51:45 What is inter-able relationship? 54:15 Why the best teams are built around complementary strengths. Resources + Links Pre-order your copy of David Flink’s book, 20% Smarter HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow David on LinkedIn @dflink

Why does AI feel so personal to so many professionals right now? In this episode, I talk with Nilay Patel, editor-in-chief of The Verge, about the emotional side of artificial intelligence and why so much of the fear around AI may actually be about work itself. We dive into how layoffs, shrinking trust in employers, “good enough” automation, and constant technological change are reshaping the way ambitious people think about stability, creativity, and their future careers. Nilay shares why humans naturally form emotional relationships with technology, why AI companions and chatbots can feel strangely comforting, and why today’s AI hype may be running ahead of reality. Tune in to learn how AI is reshaping work, identity, and ambition. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Quince - Head to quince.com/ACHIEVER for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why AI feels emotionally threatening at work right now. 03:15 Why humans form emotional relationships with technology. 05:15 How social media is engineered to shape emotions and behavior. 10:00 Why the media frames AI as an existential threat. 12:15 What are the jobs already being affected by generative AI? 16:30 Can AI become a better therapist, mentor, or manager than humans? 21:30 Why constructive criticism and “teeth” matter in management. 24:00 The fear that AI will devalue expertise and creativity. 27:45 Why large language models can’t actually create original ideas. 30:13 How to think about expertise and career growth in the age of AI. 32:30 Why democratizing creative tools changes entire industries. 37:30 What happens when the middle of the labor market disappears? 40:30 Is AI actually as transformative as people claim? 43:45 Why tech companies are failing to help workers emotionally adapt. 45:30 Nilay’s advice for CEOs and billionaires building AI products. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Nilay: on LinkedIn @nilaypatel + Instagram @reckless1280

What happens when a leader realizes the traits they spent years hiding are actually their greatest strengths? In this episode, I talk with Amy Streater Wilson, Chief Marketing Officer, who was diagnosed later in life with ADHD and autism. Amy shares the shame and confusion that can come with a late diagnosis, from struggling with “boring” tasks to feeling overwhelmed by sensory input and social dynamics at work. We also dive into negotiation and selling through a neurodivergent lens, why many neurodivergent people struggle with traditional power dynamics, and how understanding neurodivergence can transform the way you lead, negotiate, communicate, and work with others. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Quince - Head to quince.com/ACHIEVER for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 The shame many neurodivergent adults carry before diagnosis. 05:30 What is neurodivergence? 07:45 What does leadership mean to you? 10:45 Why neurodivergent people often struggle with dishonesty and mixed signals. 13:30 What’s the difference between internal anxiety and external performance? 19:45 How reading body language can be a negotiation superpower. 25:15 The pressure neurodivergent women feel to make everyone comfortable. 31:30 How BATNA reduces anxiety in difficult negotiations. 35:45 How to sell without pretending to be someone else. 39:30 How to spot manipulation and dishonesty quickly. 45:15 The downside of being “too direct” at work. 48:30 Why autonomy and agency matter to neurodivergent people. 55:00 What’s your advice for neurodivergent people trying to advocate for themselves? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Amy on LinkedIn: @amywilson24601