Almost Flowing

Body doubling has a birthday: 1996. Linda Anderson is the ADHD coach who gave it that name. This is the first long conversation with her about it.

We talk about the client she calls David, the John Travolta movie behind the name, why your body double should not be someone close to you, and why "no judgment" is the whole point. In the second half, Linda answers real Reddit posts: "I can't be watched," "if someone's with me, it's social time," "my partner thinks I'm a substitute for treatment." Then two hot takes: is it just fear of looking lazy, and is it performance culture?

The story behind the interview and the 1996 article: ⁠https://www.flow.club/body-doubling

Full transcript: https://www.flow.club/body-doubling-transcript

Linda's original 1996 article (PDF): https://gettingclear.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Body-Double-.pdf

Linda's coaching practice: https://gettingclear.com/

ADDA, where Linda is a former president: https://add.org/

Linda Anderson, MA, MCC, coined the term body doubling in 1996. Ricky Yean is the founder of Flow Club, where people body double online in small, scheduled sessions. Try it free: https://in.flow.club/

Recorded in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 2026.

(00:00) Cold open

(00:29) Title sequence

(01:14) The conversation begins

(01:44) 1996: the client named David

(04:39) "A shiver down my spine"

(06:21) It was an intuition, not a technique

(07:43) Not someone close, and naming it

(09:17) Why the term stuck

(10:09) First reactions: belief and pushback

(13:57) Linda's definition of body doubling

(15:29) Same as a coffee shop?

(16:56) Where Flow Club fits

(18:06) How to be a good body double

(19:02) "I don't want to be watched"

(21:47) Why another person quiets the chatter

(22:41) The anchor, chi, and mirror neurons

(26:28) Choosing a format; no judgment

(29:58) Body doubling as a container

(32:38) Overwhelm, shutdown, starting smaller

(33:38) Rhythm, music, and familiarity

(35:52) Dr. Russell Barkley on accountability

(38:09) Kati Morton on the nervous system

(39:51) Is there a wrong way to do it?

(41:18) Dr. Thomas Brown's model

(44:34) Working memory and perfectionism

(45:27) Herding helium balloons

(46:38) Reddit: "I'd wither and die"

(49:34) "It's social time"

(50:21) "I should be playing hostess"

(52:10) "A substitute for treatment"

(54:24) "It's awkward, it's cringe"

(55:36) Making body doubling more inviting

(56:55) Why people are afraid to believe it

(59:26) Hot take: fear of looking lazy?

(01:01:07) Hot take: is it performance culture?

(01:01:56) Hot take: am I failing alone?

(01:04:34) Did she know what it would become?

(01:07:29) Body doubling in an age of distraction

(01:10:08) Could you body double with an AI?

(01:12:14) Other tools: come at it from an angle

(01:14:47) Change the size of it

(01:17:09) The dump list and "one thing"

(01:19:28) Five Easy Pieces

(01:20:29) 30 years on: "people still matter"

What if joy wasn’t something you chased, but something you built into your daily life?

In this episode, Meg Holloway, founder of The Joy Project, shares how she helps people rediscover joy—not as a distant goal, but as a foundation for how they live and work. We talk about overcoming perfectionism, taking messy action, and breaking free from self-sabotage.

Meg also opens up about navigating ADHD, burnout, and building a business rooted in authenticity and connection. Whether you're starting something new, battling self-doubt, or looking for more joy in your process, this episode is for you.

🔗 Try Flow Club for free: https://www.flow.club/

Connect with Meg Holloway

Website: www.thejoyprojectcoach.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoyprojectcoach | https://www.instagram.com/megg.holloway

Connect with Ricky Yean

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickyyean

X: https://twitter.com/rickyyean

#AlmostFlowing #FlowClub #MegHolloway #TheJoyProject #MessyAction #ADHD #Burnout #Mindset

In this episode, Susan Lieu shares what it took to bring The Manicurist’s Daughter to life—a memoir about family secrets, intergenerational trauma, and healing. From performing a sold-out 10-city solo theater tour to turning grief into storytelling, Susan opens up about the struggles, self-doubt, and breakthroughs that shaped her journey.

We also dive into her creative process, the power of external accountability, and how Flow Club played a crucial role in helping her finish her book. If you have a big project you’re afraid to start, this episode is for you.

🔗 Try Flow Club for free: https://flow.club

Connect with Susan Lieu

📚 The Manicurist’s Daughter

🎙️ Model Minority Moms Podcast

🌍 Website: www.susanlieu.me

📸 Instagram: @susanlieu, @modelminoritymoms

📘 Facebook: Susan Lieu Official

💼 LinkedIn: Susan Lieu

Connect with Ricky Yean

💼 LinkedIn: Ricky Yean

🐦 X: Ricky Yean

#TheManicuristsDaughter #WhenWeFeelWeHeal #FlowClub #AlmostFlowing #SusanLieu