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Elena Brower spent two decades as one of the most visible yoga and meditation teachers in the world, stages of thousands, a growing platform, the whole forward-facing life. Then she started doing the opposite. She got quieter. She trained as a chaplain. She began sitting with people in hospice, in silence, holding nothing but presence. Her new book, Hold Nothing, draws on that journey and on an ancient Chinese sutra that became her compass: Welcome nothing. Refuse nothing. Reflect everything. Hold nothing. This is a conversation about what happens when the drive to impact as many people as possible gives way to the desire to impact as few as possible, as quietly as possible. We explore what Elena's time in hospice has revealed about presence as the ultimate offering, the hidden cost of living a double life while teaching wholeness, how the practice of letting go transforms the closest relationships in your life, why silence is the thing most of us are allergic to and also the thing we most need, and what it actually means to prepare, through every small daily choice, to die a good death, and why that might be the clearest definition of a good life. A deeply honest, quietly powerful conversation for anyone in midlife who is beginning to sense that the most important work ahead isn't about building more, it's about becoming less. You can find Elena at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing our conversation with Dave DeSteno about the 'spiritual technology' that can lower your stress and mortality risk, even if you don't consider yourself a person of faith. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s getting late, you know you “should” go to bed. But you just can't…or won’t. You tell yourself, just one more episode, or a few more minutes of scrolling, or a little more work to sneak in. It seems innocuous, but what if it was actually causing a world of harm? To your health, relationships, state of mind, performance at work, and more? Our guest is Vanessa Hill, PhD, a leading sleep scientist and Research Fellow at CQ University, who specializes in the science of bedtime procrastination. She is a Science Communication Fellow at the Museum of Science and an expert in how our digital habits shape our rest. And today, we’re talking about: The near-addictive quality of sleep procrastination, and the hidden reason for itThe surprising research showing why blue light might not be the sleep villain we’ve been told it isWhy your "night brain" finds it nearly impossible to “do the right thing, and get to bed”The one habit that often matters more than the total minutes spent on your phoneWhy common sleep advice often fails, and what to do instead If you find yourself stuck in a cycle of late nights and tired mornings, you are not alone. Listen to this episode to discover a more compassionate, science-backed way to reclaim your rest and feel like yourself again. You can find Vanessa at: Vanessa's Substack | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a conversation with Elena Brower about the wisdom of emptiness and the art of showing up to your life completely. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel like you are just a reaction to other people's needs? Not just for days, or months, but years, maybe even…decades? It is easy to slip into a life where others take the wheel and leave you breathless, trying not to crumble. And you find yourself, in the middle years of life, wondering where you, the real you, went. The cycle of autopilot busyness can feel like an invisible cage that keeps you from the life you once dreamed of living. Today, we explore how to break free and move from a state of constant frenzy to a place of grounded intention and ease. Host Jonathan Fields is the founder of Good Life Project and creator of the Sparketypes. After a health crisis forced him to leave a high-pressure law career, he has spent decades researching what it actually takes to flourish. How Reactive Life Syndrome ends up controlling so much of our waking hoursHow other people’s agendas end up defining our daily existence.How to break out of the cycle of reactivity and reclaim a sense of agency and intentionHow to build practices and skills designed to bring peace and purpose back into your life If you are tired of being dragged through your days and want to start choosing your life again, this episode is for you. Play the episode now to discover the 6 practical ways to get unbusy and feel alive again. Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing our conversation with sleep scientist Vanessa Hill, about the science of bedtime procrastination and why your 'night brain' craves that extra hour of scrolling even when you know you should be sleeping. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tiny moments you ignore may hold the key to it all. New research in neuroscience and attachment science reveals that your brain is constantly monitoring your relationships through small, everyday interactions, and the signals it picks up quietly shape everything from your self-esteem to your sense that life has meaning. Most of us pour energy into the big relationship gestures, the long conversations, the grand repairs. But the seemingly insignificant exchanges, a returned text, a warm nod, a moment of simply being seen, may matter far more to your brain and your sense of security than you ever realized. Amir Levine, M.D. is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University who trained in molecular neuroscience under Nobel Laureate Eric Kandel. He is the coauthor of the international bestseller Attached, which has sold over two million copies in more than 30 languages, and his newest book is Secure, The Revolutionary Guide to Creating a Secure Life. In this episode, you'll discover: The brain science behind why even brief moments of exclusion can erode your self-esteem, sense of control, and feeling that life is meaningfulA 5-part framework (with a memorable acronym) for building the foundation of every secure connection, one you can start practicing todayWhy your attachment style isn't something to "fix," and the hidden superpower built into your specific wiring that you may be overlookingTwo simple rules for navigating conflict that keep even heated moments from damaging the bondAn overlooked relationship practice that works like two-factor authentication for trust and deeper connection If you've ever wondered why certain relationships feel effortless while others leave you anxious, guarded, or drained, this conversation will change how you see every interaction in your day. Hit play and discover how small, consistent shifts can help you build the kind of secure, connected life your brain has been searching for. You can find Amir at: Website | Take the Attachment Quiz | Episode Transcript Next week, be sure to tune in for an episode with me about the 'Unbusy Manifesto' and the six daily practices that will help you reclaim your time and your sanity. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stop the cycle of chronic pain by fixing the signals in your brain. We’ve been told for decades that pain is purely a physical problem, born of bones and body parts. But the latest neuroscience proves that’s only one piece of the puzzle. Dr. Rachel Zoffness is a pain scientist, assistant clinical professor at UCSF, and author of the new book Tell Me Where It Hurts. She lectures at Stanford and is revolutionizing how we treat chronic suffering by moving beyond the outdated biomedical model. The 65-year-old neuroscience secret that proves how pain is generated by your brain.A specific biological "recipe" that allows you to lower the volume of your pain signals in real-time.Why 96% of medical schools are missing the most critical tool for treating chronic conditions.The surprising link between your social life and the actual physical inflammation in your joints.A simple pacing strategy to return to the activities you love without triggering a flare-up. If you’ve been told you just have to "live with it," this conversation provides the roadmap to take your power back. Play the episode now to discover the whole-person solution you’ve been searching for. You can find Rachel at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Dr. Amir Levine about the tiny moments in your relationships that are secretly shaping your confidence, your sense of meaning, and how safe you feel in the world. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  If you feel like the world is crashing down, you are not alone in that darkness. This moment of global contraction isn't necessarily the end of the story, but perhaps the beginning of a difficult birth. Today we sit down with Valarie Kaur, a renowned social justice leader, lawyer, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. A graduate of Harvard and Yale, she is the author of the book, Sage Warrior: Wake to Oneness, Practice Pleasure, Choose Courage, Become Victory. Together, we explore: The "Womb vs. Tomb" Frame: A simple mental shift that changes how you view global and personal crises.The Power of "Breathing and Pushing": Why pacing your effort is the only way to sustain long-term change without burning out.A New Definition of Victory: How to feel invincible and successful based on your faithfulness to values rather than immediate outcomes.Why Pleasure is Essential: The ancestral secret to using joy and sensory experiences as a shield against despair.How to figure out how to stand in your conviction in a way that honors your truth and circumstance In a time when many feel breathless and afraid, this conversation offers a practical way to reclaim your power. Play this episode to discover how to move from paralyzed fear to courageous action. You can find Valarie at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Rachel Zoffness about why pain isn't just physical, and how we can literally retrain our brains to find relief. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of us think oversharing is the problem. It's not. New research from Harvard reveals that the bigger threat to your relationships, your health, and your sense of belonging may be all the things you're choosing not to say. How many times today did something cross your mind that you chose to keep to yourself, a feeling you swallowed, a compliment you almost gave, a truth you pulled away from? That habit of holding back is doing far more damage than you realize, to your closest relationships, your wellbeing, and even your body. Leslie John is the James E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, whose award-winning research on self-disclosure has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. In her new book, Revealing, she makes a compelling, science-backed case that most of us are dramatically undersharing, and it's costing us the very connection, trust, and intimacy we crave. In this conversation, you'll discover... A simple daily audit that reveals how much you're silently holding back, and why becoming aware of it alone can transform your closest relationshipsThe surprising research behind why revealing uncomfortable truths makes people trust and respect you more than staying silentA critical distinction between two types of openness that determines whether sharing at work builds your influence or puts you at riskOne easy, low-risk form of sharing that almost always deepens connection and takes just a few secondsWhy feeling confident that you truly "know" your partner might be the very thing keeping you from real intimacy If you've been sensing a quiet distance in your relationships, or wondering why your closest bonds don't feel as deep as you'd like, this conversation will reshape how you think about everything you've been holding back. Hit play now. You can find Leslie at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Valarie Kaur about why the darkness we feel in the world today might not be the darkness of a tomb, but actually the darkness of a womb. It’s a powerful new way to look at fear and find your breath again. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humor won't cure depression. But it might save your life. That's not a metaphor for Jenny Lawson. It's the hard-won truth of more than two decades of living with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and the kind of dark seasons that make getting out of bed feel impossible. Most of us hide when we're struggling. We perform wellness for the world and suffer in silence behind closed doors. Jenny took the opposite approach, writing about her darkest moments with such radical honesty and unexpected humor that thousands of people have written back to say those words kept them alive. This conversation explores how she does it, and what the rest of us can learn about finding light and meaning in the hardest places. Jenny Lawson, known to millions as The Bloggess, is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, humorist, and the owner of Nowhere Bookshop, a beloved indie bookstore and bar in San Antonio, Texas. Her books include Let's Pretend This Never Happened, Furiously Happy, You Are Here, and Broken. Her upcoming book, How To Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay (Tips and Tricks that Kept Me Alive, Happy and Creative In Spite of Myself), arrives March 31, 2026. You'll discover... The single phrase Jenny returns to during every depressive episode that stops her from believing the darkest lies her brain tells herA simple "easy mode" approach to work and daily life that gives you full permission to do less without guilt, and why it often leads to better results for everyoneWhy sharing your struggle honestly can create an unexpected ripple effect of connection and healing for people you've never metA powerful reframe of what success actually means that has nothing to do with money, status, or bestseller listsHow to find "your people" and build real friendship even when you're deeply introverted, anxious, or terrible at texting back If you're navigating a hard season right now, or you love someone who is, this conversation is full of practical warmth, unexpected humor, and real tools for getting through it. Hit play and let Jenny remind you that you're not alone, and that finding joy in the middle of the mess isn't just possible, it might be the very thing that keeps you going. You can find Jenny at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Harvard Business School professor Leslie John. We’re diving into the science of disclosure—specifically, why that cringey feeling of 'oversharing' might actually be holding you back from your best relationships. We’ll discuss how to find the sweet spot between being a closed book and TMI. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve reached a point in life where you thought you’d feel different. You’ve checked a lot of the boxes of achievement, happiness, even success. And, still, something is missing. It is a quiet restlessness that age or achievement cannot seem to quiet. What you’re missing is meaning. Our guest today is Arthur Brooks. He is a Harvard professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness. In this conversation, we explore: The myths we tell about how to find meaning, and how they delude us. The neurological reason why your phone is blocking purposeThe 3 real keys to meaning and mattering, and finally feeling aliveThe arrival fallacy that explains why winning is not the same the meaningHow to use a specific morning protocol to program your brain for mystery and wonderThe counterintuitive reason you actually want suffering in your life If you are tired of the hustle and still feeling empty, it is time to look at the science of the soul, and learn how to bring more meaning into your life, starting with practical tools today. You can find Arthur at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Jenny Lawson. She's a #1 New York Times bestselling author who has made millions of people laugh with her writing, and she also lives with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. This conversation is one of the most honest, funny, and unexpectedly hopeful we've ever had on the show. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stop blaming willpower and start building the skill of making change stick for good. Pretty much every person wants to change something, about themselves, their lives, or situation. But, so few ever succeed at creating change, let alone sustaining it. In this conversation, we explore why real transformation is a learnable process rather than a test of grit. We look at the emotional hurdles that stop us and how to navigate the "alphabet" of success. Our guest today is Eric Zimmer, the host of the award-winning podcast The One You Feed and author of the new book, How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life. Eric has spent decades studying behavior change, transforming his own life from addiction to becoming a leading voice in personal growth. Together, we explore: The Three-Part Direction Rule: A specific strategy that ensures your small efforts actually accumulate into big results over time.The Still Point Method: A practical tool to interrupt negative thought patterns before they ruin your day.The Truth About Value Clashes: Why your inner conflict between security and freedom is the secret culprit behind your procrastination.Neutral Thinking: A critical mindset shift that allows you to bypass the emotional drama that usually makes you quit.The 90 Percent Rule: Why most of the change process happens before you ever take a single action. If you are tired of the cycle of starting and stopping, it is time to change your approach. Play this episode to learn the practical, science-backed steps to finally becoming the person you want to be. You can find Eric at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing our conversation with Arthur Brooks about The Meaning of Your Life and practical, science-backed ways to find purpose and discover your deepest calling. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turns out, "good vibes only" might be making you feel worse. Today, we’re exploring why the "good vibes only, stay positive, look on the bright side," movement is often more harmful than helpful and how to build a deeper, more resilient form of optimism and hope that is truly capable of making your life better. Our guest, Dr. Deepika Chopra, is a clinical health psychologist known as The Optimism Doctor® and author of The Power of Real Optimism. With postdoctoral fellowships at UCLA and Cedars-Sinai, she specializes in the science of hope, resiliency, and visual imagery. We talk about: The 7/10 rule for affirmations - why the traditional approach to affirmations is broken, and a different way that ensures your brain actually believes what you’re telling it instead of rejecting it as bunk.How to schedule "worry time" to contain anxiety so it doesn't leak into and paralyze your entire day.A specific 12-second practice to "clock" joy and physically rewire your brain’s neural pathways for better problem-solving.The distinction between hope and false hope, and how to find the "crack of light" when you’re in your darkest hour. If you've ever felt the pressure to "just be happy" while struggling through a difficult season, this conversation offers a grounded, science-backed alternative. Click play to learn how to build the muscle of real optimism and navigate life's challenges with more curiosity and ease.  You can find Deepika at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Eric Zimmer about the 'Little by Little' method for making meaningful life changes that actually stick. Be sure to follow the GLP wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss it! Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want a deeper, more secure, fiercely connected relationship? Then, you’ll want to check out the power of relationship agreements.  In this episode, we sit down with Krista and Dr. Will Van Derveer. Will is a psychiatrist and author of the book Psychedelic Therapy, and Krista is a Relational Leadership Educator who helps partnerships move from the "I Operating System" to a "We Operating System." We explore: How to craft your own sacred relationship agreements that keep bringing you back to love, no matter how much friction your find yourself in.The wildly surprising "Couch Time" technique that uses mammal-to-mammal co-regulation to stop a heated argument in 60 seconds.A simple shift in perspective that allows you to stop seeing your partner as a "fixed object" and start seeing them with fresh eyes.The "Abundant Repair" protocol for ensuring you never go to bed with tension still lingering in your body.Why most "implicit" agreements fail and how to write down the 24 sacred guardrails that protect your connection. If you are tired of the same old arguments and want a relationship that actually empowers your individual potential, this conversation is for you. Click play to learn how to transform your partnership into a powerhouse of growth. You can find Krista & Will at: The Art of We | Get the Top 10 Relationship Agreements | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Dr. Deepika Chopra about toxic positivity and how to be optimistic without tipping into delusion, distraction, or even harm. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a super-communicator isn’t a gift, it’s a skill anyone can learn. Ever wish you were the person who could talk to anyone with ease? Like anyone you came in contact with became instant friends, confidantes, or trusted allies and collaborators. Turns out, this superpower is not something you’re born with, it's something you can learn.  This episode shows you how. Our guest is Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times and the best-selling author of The Power of Habit and his book, Supercommunicators. In this conversation, you’ll learn: The "Matching Principle" that determines if a conversation succeeds or fails3 distinct types of conversations and how to identify which one you’re actually inThe "Heard, Hugged, or Helped" framework for navigating emotional conflict with easeA secret CIA recruitment strategy for building instant trust with complete strangersThe power of "deep questions" to bypass small talk and reach the heart of any matter If you've ever walked away from a conversation feeling disconnected, it's time to learn the rules of the game. Listen to this episode to transform your relationships and become a supercommunicator today. You can find Charles at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a conversation with Krista and Will Vanderveer. We’ll be talking about how to make the 'invisible' rules in your relationship visible so you can stop walking on eggshells and start leading together. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you know when to leave a job or relationship? Look for the jolts. Ready to quit your job but unsure if it’s right? A single comment, missed opportunity, or subtle slight can suddenly make everything feel different. But is it really time to leave, or is something deeper happening? We’ve all had that moment when work or even a relationship feels off. Maybe it’s a meeting that hits differently, a colleague who leaves, or a new role that doesn’t match what was promised. In this conversation, you’ll learn why these moments feel so powerful, and how to respond with clarity instead of impulse. Anthony Klotz is a professor of organizational behavior at the UCL School of Management and the researcher who predicted the Great Resignation. An award-winning scholar on the psychology of work and author of Jolted: Why We Quit, When to Stay, and Why It Matters, he studies why we leave jobs, why we stay, and how major career decisions shape our lives. In this episode, you’ll discover: The hidden psychological trigger that explains why a small workplace moment can suddenly feel career-alteringA simple diagnostic process to determine whether it’s truly time to quit, or time to recalibrateThe surprising reason the first year in a new job is the most likely time to leaveHow “quiet quitting” can be reframed as a strategic reset instead of disengagementThe overlooked cost of leaving, including the social capital and goodwill you may not realize you’re giving up If you’re questioning your job, wrestling with burnout, or navigating uncertainty about your career path, this conversation will help you slow down, think clearly, and make a wiser next move. You can find Anthony at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Charles Duhigg about the hidden science of why our best advice often backfires, and how to finally feel truly understood by the people you love. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your mind is under siege. Every day, technology and noise fight to hijack your attention, leaving you feeling less present and more distracted than ever. In a word, unconscious. It’s time to stop the scroll and reclaim the most precious thing you own: your consciousness. Learn how to build "consciousness hygiene" and protect the privacy of your own mind.  Today we are joined by legendary author Michael Pollan. Michael is a ten-time New York Times bestseller and one of Time’s 100 most influential people, known for his deep dives into food and psychedelics. He joins us to discuss his latest journey into the mystery of awareness, featured in his new book, A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness. We explore: The "Four-Second Gap": A startling discovery about how your thoughts actually enter your awareness before you even "think" them. Lantern vs. Spotlight: Why your childhood way of seeing the world is the key to unlocking creativity in adulthood. The Chemical Genius of Plants: The surprising way roots and leaves make "intelligent" decisions without a single neuron. Bioelectric Body Maps: Why trauma and memory might be stored in your cells rather than just your brain. The "Thief in the House" Exercise: A simple mental framework to instantly quiet the critical voice of the ego.  We spend so much of our lives distracted, but you don't have to stay that way. Play this episode to learn how to be fully present for the life you’re actually living. You can find Michael at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript Next week, we're sharing a conversation with Anthony Klotz about why we quit, when to stay, and how to make wiser decisions when work just suddenly feels off, or relationships, or really just life. Check out our offerings & partners:  Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.