Advertise on podcast: I Dare You Podcast

You’ve thought about everything that could go wrong. Have you given the other possibility the same attention? Maybe you want to ask for a bigger opportunity, go back to school, reconnect with someone, or finally start something that matters to you. But before you’ve tried, you’ve already decided how it will turn out. What if you’re treating a prediction like a decision? In this solo episode of I Dare You, I’m challenging you to look at what you expect—and how that expectation might be affecting what you do next. In this episode, we’ll explore: How expecting rejection can change the way you ask—or keep you from asking at all. The difference between picturing success and preparing for it. How to reverse engineer something you want into a step you can take today. Why thinking about who your dream could help can give you another reason to begin. What to do when the answer is no, your schedule gets crowded, or you miss the appointment you made with yourself. You don’t have to wait until you feel fearless. Give yourself a chance to find out. If someone came to mind while you were reading this, send them the episode. And follow I Dare You wherever you listen. As a special gift for I Dare You listeners, gain access to the  FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch.  Connect with Darrin: Instagram: @idareyoupod www.idareyoupod.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod

You have BIG IDEAS worth saying. Let’s make sure people hear it. I am SO excited to share this conversation with you—because if you’ve ever frozen when someone asks for your opinion, rambled through a presentation, or thought, “I’m just not a good communicator,” this episode is for you. My guest, Salvatore Manzi, is a leadership communications coach and the author of Clear and Compelling, a proven guide that gives analytical, technical, and introverted professionals the practical communication tools they were never taught. He’s spent more than twenty years helping brilliant, analytical people communicate with confidence.  So if you think confidence is something other people are born with, I want you to hear this conversation. Salvatore gives us practical tools you can try TODAY—in your next meeting, your next presentation, or your next conversation at home.  In this episode, you’ll learn:   “You then me”: The simple shift that helps people connect with your message. “Metaphors move minds”: How to stop overwhelming people with information and start making your ideas memorable. The coffee-mug test: How to get clear on what you actually want to say. Presence without performance: Why you don’t need a big personality to make a meaningful impact. The power of the pause: How saying less can help people listen more.   A special gift for you: Send Salvatore Manzi a direct message on LinkedIn with “DARE” and he’ll send you his HIP framework for impromptu speaking  I can’t wait for you to hear this one. Your voice matters. I dare you to use it. Connect with Salvatore www.SalvatoreManzi.com  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/salvatorejmanzi [email protected]

Andrea Chalupa is a Brooklyn-based journalist, author, and filmmaker who believes deeply in the power of unreasonable women. She is the author of A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire.(Out November 10, 2026 - preorder!) As the host and producer of the acclaimed podcast Gaslit Nation - a Webby Award Honoree - Andrea is a powerful advocate for civic action, confronting authoritarianism, corruption, and injustice head-on. Andrea also wrote and produced the award-winning journalistic thriller Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland and starring James Norton, Peter Sarsgaard, and Vanessa Kirby. The film tells the story of the courageous journalist who exposed Stalin’s genocidal famine in Ukraine. She is a frequent speaker on resisting extremism and safeguarding democracy, and her books, films, podcasts, and insights have been featured on MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and elsewhere. Connect with Andrea: Podcast: Gaslit Nation Website: AndreaChalupa.com Instagram: @gaslitnation

You’re not stuck because you don’t know what to do. You’re stuck because you’re terrified of getting it wrong. You keep waiting for certainty. A sign. A crystal-clear answer from God. But what if clarity comes after you move? Today, my special guest is Doug Wekenman, author of What Does God Have Planned for Me Next?: Experience All of It. Miss None of It. Doug is the Teaching Pastor at Red Rocks Church and leads the Austin location alongside his wife and best friends. Passionate about making faith come alive for people, Doug writes and teaches about trusting God and taking the next step in life with confidence, including What Does God Have Planned for Me Next?  After 15 years of helping people navigate career changes, relationships, spiritual uncertainty, and major life decisions, Doug knows what keeps us frozen—and what helps us finally move forward. This conversation will challenge how you think about God’s plan, the pressure to make the “perfect” choice, and the fear that one wrong move could ruin your future. If you’re overthinking a decision or waiting for permission to act, you need this episode. As a special gift for I Dare You listeners, gain access to the  FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch.  Connect with Doug: Website: dougwekenman.com;  redrocksaustin.com  Instagram: instagram.com/dougwekenman  Facebook: facebook.com/wekenman YouTube: Youtube.com/@RedRocksAustin  Podcast: The Afterthoughts Podcast

Happy New Year! Yes — right now. January is so overrated. In this solo episode of I Dare You, I’m challenging you to stop waiting for January 1 to start building the life you say you want. Because January doesn’t create your results. January reveals them. In this episode, I share why fall is better than the new year to reset, refocus, and get moving. While everyone else is waiting for a clean calendar, a fresh planner, or a burst of New Year motivation, you can use the final stretch of the year as your head start. This is delayed gratification in action: doing the work now so the results show up later. I’ll walk you through my simple 100-Day Head Start Framework so you can enter January with momentum, confidence, and proof. You’ll learn how to:   Use the fresh start effect without waiting for the new year Pick your proof so you know exactly what you’re building Plan your reps so your goal becomes a system, not a wish Prove it to yourself through small promises kept over time Stay consistent when life interrupts — because it will   This episode isn’t about making another resolution. It’s about becoming the kind of person who keeps promises to yourself when no one is watching. So here’s the dare: start now, stack the reps, and walk into January with proof. Happy New Year. Hit play, and let’s go. As a special gift for I Dare You listeners, gain access to the  FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch.  Connect with Darrin Johnson: www.idareyoupod.com Instagram: @idareyoupod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod

If your calendar is packed, your inbox is overflowing, and you still end every day feeling behind, you need this episode. I’m thrilled to welcome Roy Schwartz, co-founder of Axios and Axios HQ, former Chief Revenue Officer at Politico, executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning Axios on HBO, and co-author of the bestseller Smart Brevity. His new book, Simplify: Do 50 Percent More with 50 Percent Less, offers a practical framework for overcoming “toxic complexity” and focusing on what matters most.  AI promised to make work easier. Instead, it has created more meetings, content, decisions, and noise competing for our attention.The problem isn’t that we can’t do enough. It’s that we’re trying to do too much. The people who thrive in the AI era won’t be those who adopt the most tools. They’ll know what to eliminate—and what truly deserves their attention. You’ll learn: Why complexity keeps you overwhelmed How to eliminate unnecessary meetings and commitments Why Roy recommends “meeting bankruptcy” How ego keeps your calendar full How to use AI as your “chief simplicity officer” Why your strengths matter more than ever Press play—then choose one thing to confront, one thing to delete, and one thing to amplify. As a special gift for I Dare You listeners, gain access to the  FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch. Connect with Roy: Instagram:@axios  LinknedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royschwartz/

What if your 5:00 p.m. food spiral isn’t a discipline problem? What if you’re simply asking the most exhausted version of yourself to make one more decision? In this episode of I Dare You, my special guest is Cassy Joy Garcia, New York Times bestselling author of The Protein Meal Prep Plan, Cook Once Dinner Fix, Cook Once Eat All Week, and Fed & Fit—and the creative force behind the popular wellness platform Fed & Fit. Since launching Fed & Fit in 2011, Cassy has become a holistic nutrition consultant and built a trusted online resource supported by a team of writers, researchers, and editors. Her practical approach was born from a deeply personal realization: despite her expertise, she was struggling to get healthy, homemade dinners on the table—just like her readers. What helped her move forward wasn’t perfection, restriction, or another punishing plan. It was learning to play offense with her health through small, sustainable decisions. Now, her newest book, The Protein Meal Prep Plan, brings that philosophy to life with 30 weekly plans and 180 family-friendly recipes, each designed to deliver at least 35 grams of protein per serving. It’s a realistic system for preparing nutritious food before exhaustion and decision fatigue take over. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why you may need more protein than you think How to avoid the end-of-day takeout spiral Why protein and fiber work better together How one prep session can create three completely different dinners Why strength training isn’t reserved for “gym people” How to make healthy choices easier before life gets chaotic The small morning habit that can become the first domino in transforming your health But this episode is about far more than food. It’s about your energy. Your future. And deciding that your family, your leadership, your dreams, and your life deserve a well-fueled version of you. If you’ve been telling yourself, “I’ll take care of myself when life calms down,” press play. As a special gift for I Dare You listeners, gain access to the  FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch. Connect with Cassy Joy Garcia: www.fedandfit.com Instagram: @fedandfit Youtube: @fedandFit TikTok: @fedandfit

Stop living your life on a dimmer switch. In this episode of I Dare You, I’m calling out the trap that catches so many of us in midlife: having a full calendar, but feeling completely flat inside.  While the wellness world obsesses over lifespan (how long you live) and healthspan (how long your body works), I share why the missing metric we’re all starving for is SOULSPAN—the years you refuse to disappear. You didn’t come this far to become the CEO of Maintenance. In this episode, we get into:   The Dimmer Switch Trap: Why midlife numbness is a slow dial-down, not a blown fuse The Waiting Room Syndrome: Breaking the lie of waiting for life to "slow down" The 4 Markers of Soulspan: Vitality, Courage, Belonging, and Anticipation The 12-Word Text: The exact zero-friction script to revive a drifting friendship today The 30-Second Calendar Dare: Putting proof of aliveness back on your schedule   And as a special gift for I Dare You listeners, get access to the  FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch.  Connect with Darrin Johnson: www.idareyoupod.com Instagram: @idareyoupod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod

Stop letting broken workplace rules hijack your day. In this episode of I Dare You, I’m joined by award-winning psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Ron Friedman to tear down the myths keeping you and your team stuck in survival mode.  Backed by the largest study of high-performing teams ever conducted in his new bestselling book, Superteams: The Science and Secrets of High-Performing Teams, Dr. Friedman breaks down the exact, research-backed moves you need right now to take back control of your time, build fierce peer accountability, and unlock your real potential. In this episode, we get into:   The Anatomy of a Superteam The Toxic Meeting Trap (and Attention Residue) The Uncomfortable Question Every Real Leader Asks Why 97% of Traditional Feedback Fails The Secret Cognitive Power of Movement Ron’s Simple, High-Impact I Dare You Experiment Challenge   About Dr. Ron Friedman:Ron Friedman, PhD, is an award-winning psychologist, founder of Superteams, Inc., and bestselling author of The Best Place to Work, Decoding Greatness, and Superteams: The Science and Secrets of High-Performing Teams. An expert on human motivation and peak performance, Dr. Friedman has served on the faculties of the University of Rochester, Nazareth College, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He contributes regularly to Harvard Business Review—where his article “How to Build a Superteam That Keeps Getting Better” was a recent cover story—and his work has also been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, Fast Company, and The Wall Street Journal. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Ron Friedman & Get the Book: Website: ronfriedmanphd.com Workshops & Keynotes: superteamsinc.com Book: Superteams: The Science and Secrets of High-Performing Teams (includes free masterclass and discussion guide) Follow Ron: LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and YouTube (@ronfriedmanphd) | X (@ronfriedman)

Why growth feels lonely — and why you can’t keep shrinking to belong. What if the people closest to you love you deeply… but still struggle when you start to change? In this episode of I Dare You, Darrin Johnson explores one of the most uncomfortable truths about growth: becoming a better version of yourself can disrupt the relationships, routines, and rooms that were built around the old you. Whether you’re stepping into a new school year, building a business, changing your habits, chasing a bigger goal, or simply realizing you don’t fit where you used to, this episode will help you understand why growth can feel lonely — and why that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Darrin breaks down the “thermostat” effect in relationships, the fear of outgrowing your circle, and the belonging gap that often shows up between who you were and who you’re becoming. If you’ve ever downplayed your dreams, hidden your wins, or felt guilty for wanting more, this episode is your reminder: You are allowed to grow. You are allowed to change. And you are allowed to stop shrinking so other people can stay comfortable. This week’s dare will challenge you to share one win at full volume — and pay attention to who opens the windows. And as a special gift for I Dare You listeners, get access to the  FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit, beautifully designed by Dani Saveker, to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch.  Connect with Darrin Johnson: www.idareyoupod.com Instagram: @idareyoupod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod

What if the secret to being unforgettable isn’t being more impressive — but making other people feel more seen? In this episode of I Dare You, I’m sharing a simple, practical framework I call The Connection Code — five habits that will help you build stronger connection in every conversation: at home, at work, with your team, with your friends, and even with people you just met. Because connection is not charisma. It’s a skill. And you can practice it in the very next conversation you have. In this episode, I’ll show you how to ask better questions, listen with full attention, follow up in a way that builds trust, and use small moments to make people feel seen, valued, and remembered. You’ll learn: Why every conversation is an opportunity to build trust How to stop trying to be interesting and start becoming more interested The simple “second question” that opens the door to deeper connection Why full attention is one of the clearest ways to communicate value How better questions move conversations from facts to feelings to meaning The 10-second habit I use to help people feel remembered Why using someone’s name is one of the simplest ways to make them feel seen A 7-day challenge to practice connection in real life If you’ve been craving deeper connection — at home, at work, with your team, or with the people you love — hit play. I’m going to show you how small shifts in the way you listen, ask, remember, and respond can change the way people experience you. And as a special gift for I Dare You listeners, get access to the  FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit, beautifully designed by Dani Saveker, to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch.  Connect with Darrin Johnson: www.idareyoupod.com Instagram: @idareyoupod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod

In this solo episode of I Dare You, I’m breaking down one of the most powerful paradoxes for building the life you say you want: The disciplined life is an easier life. And the right sacrifices create more freedom. This episode is not about suffering for the sake of suffering. It’s about choosing what matters most over what feels good right now. If you feel like you’re working hard but not moving forward — or you keep telling yourself, “I’ll start when life slows down” — this episode is for you. Because life isn’t slowing down. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the three powerful forces that pull you off track: comfort, ego, and cravings. You’ll learn how to stop negotiating with yourself, do the hard thing early, protect your time and attention, and build momentum through small disciplined actions that compound over time. This is a practical, energizing episode designed to help you stop waiting, stop delaying, and start living with more discipline, confidence, joy, and purpose. And as a special gift for I Dare You listeners, get access to the FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit, beautifully designed by Dani Saveker, to help you put the principles in the episode into practice. Go to idareyoupod.com to grab your FREE toolkit. No catch. Connect with Darrin Johnson: www.idareyoupod.com Instagram: @idareyoupod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IDareYouPod TikTok: @idareyoupod

What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan? In this deeply personal episode of I Dare You, I sit down with my daughter, Hannah Johnson — the first-ever third-time guest on the podcast — for an honest conversation about starting over after painful change. Recorded outside on the shore of a Minnesota lake during a family vacation, this unscripted conversation explores divorce, grief, relocation, career change, comparison, financial independence, faith, and the courage it takes to rebuild a life on your terms. Hannah’s previous episodes are among the most listened-to conversations we’ve released, but this one is different. It’s raw, real, and full of hard-earned wisdom for anyone navigating a reset they didn’t ask for. If you’re walking through change — or know someone who is — this episode is a reminder that your story is not over, and starting over may be one of the bravest things you ever do. Plus, I Dare You listeners get free access to the Atomic Habits-inspired Toolkit, created to help you reset, refocus, and build habits that move you toward the life you actually want. Get your free Atomic Habits Toolkit at idareyoupod.com. Connect with Hannah: Instagram: @hannahrenaejohnson Instagram: @bakingwithhannahrenae

If you’ve been running hard, holding everything together, and quietly wondering, Is this really the life I want? — this episode is for you. Today, I sit down with DJ DiDonna, Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer, founder of The Sabbatical Project, and author of Big Time Off: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals and How to Take One. DJ has spent more than a decade studying what happens when people step away from work — not to escape their lives, but to finally pay attention to them. And what he has found will change the way you think about burnout, ambition, productivity, and your calendar. This conversation is about the power of a real reset: why vacations often aren’t enough, why high achievers wait too long to pause, and how extended time away can help you reconnect with your identity, purpose, relationships, and direction. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why burnout is not a personal failure — it’s a signal The difference between a vacation and a real sabbatical How time away can reset your identity, purpose, and priorities Why your biggest breakthroughs rarely happen when you’re grinding harder How to make extended time off feel practical, not impossible This episode is your permission slip to stop treating exhaustion like a badge of honor. Hit play — and learn why stepping away may be the most strategic move you ever make. Plus, I Dare You listeners get free access to the Atomic Habits-inspired Toolkit, created to help you reset, refocus, and build habits that move you toward the life you actually want. Get your free Atomic Habits Toolkit at idareyoupod.com. Follow DJ: https://djdidonna.com/ www.thesabbaticalproject.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djdidonna/

What if the reason you’re not following through has nothing to do with being lazy? What if you’re not broken, unmotivated, or undisciplined? What if you just need a better way to get yourself started? In this must-listen episode of I Dare You, I sit down with Dr. Russell Ramsay, one of the world’s leading experts on adult ADHD. Dr. Ramsay is a psychologist specializing in the assessment and psychosocial treatment of adult ADHD, an internationally recognized speaker, a CHADD Hall of Fame inductee, and the author of six books — including his brand-new book, Once I Get Started: The Adult ADHD Program for Turning Your Intentions Into Actions. And this conversation is not just for people with ADHD. It’s for you if you’ve ever said, “I know what I need to do… so why am I not doing it?” Dr. Ramsay breaks down why procrastination is not always a willpower problem, why ADHD is so misunderstood, and why the gap between your intentions and your actions can be changed with small, practical strategies. This episode will help you understand your brain, stop beating yourself up, and take the next small step from stuck to started. Plus — this is a big deal — I Dare You listeners get FREE access to the Atomic Habits-inspired Toolkit, created to help you reset, refocus, and build the habits that move you toward the life you actually want. Get your FREE Atomic Habits Toolkit at idareyoupod.com. Listen now. Take the smallest next step. I dare you. Follow Dr. Russell Ramsay: www.cbt4adhd.com Instagram: @cbt4adhd