Evolving with Gratitude

What does it really take to thrive, not just achieve?

In this conversation, award-winning journalist and author Jennifer Breheny Wallace shares why mattering is a fundamental human need and how feeling valued for who we are, not just what we do, supports sustainable achievement, well-being, and connection.

We talk about the difference between belonging and mattering, the SAID framework, and small, meaningful ways to help ourselves and others feel seen and valued.

Thrive Global Article: Jennifer Breheny Wallace on Mattering

Mentioned on the show: The Surprising Way Sliding Door Moments Can Lead to Profound Gratitude (Counterfactual Thinking)

About Our Guest:

Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author who explores the power of mattering in everyday life. Through research and storytelling, Wallace examines the hidden forces shaping modern life, from the crisis of meaning in achievement culture to the essential role of mattering in personal, workplace, and societal health. 

Her first book, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — And What We Can Do About It, was a New York Times Bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of the Year, and a Next Big Idea selection. Her latest book Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, is out now.

Wallace is a maternal mental health advocate at Calm, the mental health app, a consultant at Netflix, and a BCG  BrightHouse Luminary. She has also partnered with The LEGO Group on its global "Play Unstoppable" campaign, aimed at addressing perfectionism and fostering confidence through play. 

Wallace started her journalism career at CBS's “60 Minutes” and was part of the team that won the Robert F. Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism. She is a contributor to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post and frequently appears on national television programs.  

About Lainie:

Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!

Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠

Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP! 

What if change isn’t something to fear but something that can reveal who we really are? Cognitive scientist and podcast host Dr. Maya Shankar shares how to navigate uncertainty, redefine identity, and uncover growth on the other side of change. We talk about finding purpose when life takes an unexpected turn, why “possible selves” matter, and the surprising role distraction and gratitude play in resilience.

Maya's Book:

The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans

Thrive Global Article:

Maya Shankar on The Other Side of Change

About Our Guest:

Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, which Apple awarded as the Best Show of the Year 2021 and which received an Ambie award from the Podcast Academy in 2022. Maya was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. She also served as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations under Ban Ki-moon, and as a core member of Pete Buttigieg’s debate preparation team during his 2020 presidential run.

Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford, a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, and a B.A. from Yale. She's been profiled by The New Yorker and been the featured guest on NPR's All Things Considered, Freakonomics, and Hidden Brain. She's a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program, where she was a private violin student of Itzhak Perlman.

About Lainie:

Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!

Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠

Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP! 

What if the emotions we try to avoid are actually pointing us toward something better? Bestselling author Daniel Pink reveals how regret can become a powerful teacher, helping us make wiser choices, live with more intention, and take the chances that truly matter. We also explore what fuels real motivation, how to master the timing of your day, and why your future self will thank you for acting boldly today.

Thrive Global Article:

• Dan Pink on Using Regret to Do Better

About Our Guest:

Daniel Pink is the author of seven bestselling nonfiction books on a range of topics, from human motivation to the science of timing to a graphic novel career guide.

His books include the New York Times bestsellers The Power of Regret, A Whole New Mind, and When—as well as the #1 New York Times bestsellers Drive and To Sell is Human. His deeply researched works have been translated into 46 languages and have sold more than five million copies around the world.

Over the years, he has also hosted a National Geographic television series, given one of the 20 most popular TED talks of all time, worked as a columnist at the Sunday Telegraph and the Washington Post, served as chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore, and been a clue on Jeopardy. He lives in Washington, DC, with his family.

About Lainie:

Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!

Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠

Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP! 

What helps us move through fear instead of getting stuck in it? New York Times bestselling author, animal advocate, and mother Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt shares how love, patience, and trust can turn fear into confidence. In this heartfelt conversation, we talk about her new children’s book Kat and Brandy, the healing bond between animals and kids, and the power of kindness and courage to make the world a little better.

Thrive Global Article:

Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt on “Kat & Brandy” and the Courage to Face Our Fears

About Our Guest:

Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt is aNew York Timesbest-sellingauthor, mother, and host ofthepodcast.BDA Baby.A passionate animal advocate, Katherine works as an Ambassador for BestFriends Animal Society (bestfriends.org) and the ASPCA (aspca.org). She is a Global Ambassadorfor the Special Olympics. Katherine lives with her family in Los Angeles.

About Lainie:

Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!

Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠

Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP! 

What if our view of people is darker than reality?

Dr. Jamil Zaki, Stanford psychologist and author of Hope for Cynics, shares why many of us mistake cynicism for wisdom and what it’s really costing us.

Discover how hopeful skepticism, positive gossip, and small shifts in perspective can help us see more good, build more trust, and live with greater connection.

Thrive Global Article:

What if happiness isn’t about eliminating stress but about learning how to recover and grow from it? In this episode, Tal Ben-Shahar, bestselling author and pioneer in happiness studies, reveals how small daily shifts can boost well-being, why true resilience is about more than bouncing back, and how rethinking expectations can change everything.

Thrive Global Article:

• Tal Ben-Shahar on Happiness, Stress, and the Power of MVIs

Connect with and learn more from Tal Ben-Shahar:

What if the traits you’ve been downplaying are actually your biggest advantage in love and life?

In this high-energy conversation, Case Kenny—host of New Mindset, Who Dis? and author of The Opposite of Settling—flips the script on dating, self-worth, and the kind of connection that makes you more yourself, not less. We talk about why being “cringe” can be your superpower, the surprising link between security and independence, and how to spot the kind of partner who amplifies your spark instead of dimming it.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your standards high, your heart open, and your weird fully intact, this one’s for you.

Thrive Global Article:

• Case Kenny on The Opposite of Settling

Book:

• The Opposite of Settling: How to Get Everything You Want Out of Love and Life Without Losing Your Spark

About Our Guest:

Case is on a mission to help people live more optimistic, mindful, and authentic lives. Since 2014, he has been writing, speaking, and teaching practical ways to cultivate self-awareness, build confidence, and quiet the overthinking mind. His podcast New Mindset, Who Dis? has resonated with millions of listeners, and his viral red pen writing on Instagram reaches hundreds of millions more. Through his best-selling journals, debut book That’s Bold of You, and live workshops around the world, he empowers people to challenge self-doubt through actionable mindfulness practices and trust that the best is yet to come. In addition to his work with the general public, Case also works with athletes to strengthen their mental resilience through guided mindfulness and journaling, helping them process transitions, overcome mental blocks, and build lasting confidence.

About Lainie:

Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!

Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠

Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP! 

We don't resist change because we're lazy. We resist it because it's psychologically costly.

Read the article linked below or listed to learn what we can do to overcome it!

Thrive Global Article:

What if your next brave act didn’t need to be big—just bold enough to begin?
In this heart-expanding episode, I’m joined by the incredible Peter H. Reynolds, beloved author, illustrator, and champion of creativity. Together, we talk about why starting matters more than getting it right, how to nurture creativity in kids (and ourselves), and what it really means to make your mark.
Peter shares the surprising inspiration behind The Dot, what being "ish” means to him, and the power of leaving room for imperfection and possibility.
Whether you’re an educator, creator, parent, or lifelong learner, this conversation is a reminder: your story matters, your voice matters, and it’s okay to begin before you feel ready.

Thrive Global Article:

• Peter H. Reynolds on Creativity: A Story Makes the Mission Transportable

About Our Guest:

Peter is a New York Times best-selling children's book author illustrator (Judy Moody, The Dot, Ish, Sky Color, Someday ), selling over 20 million books in over 25 languages around the globe. In 1996, he founded FableVision as a social change agency to help move the world to a better place by creating "stories that matter, stories that move." FableVision's signature blend of positive media, storytelling and interactive technologies is sought after by a host of best-in-class organizations, such as PBS KIDS, Reading Is Fundamental, the Jim Henson Company, and National Wildlife Federation. Peter also founded FableVision Learning, a K-12 educational publishing company, as well as the nonprofit Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity, and independent book and creativity shop called The Blue Bunny Bookstore in historic Dedham Square, Massachusetts. Follow Peter on Twitter and learn more about his story on his website. Explore Peter's hand behind FableVision's mission films here.  Learn more about Peter.

About Lainie:

Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!

Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠

📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠

Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP! 

Are you stuck in performance mode—and calling it growth?

In this episode, Eduardo Briceño unpacks The Performance Paradox and what’s keeping so many of us from actually getting better.

We talk about the key mindset shift high achievers need, why not all mistakes are created equal, and how to lead with both humility and ambition.

If you want to grow on purpose—not just perform—this one’s for you.

🎧 Tune in and break the cycle.

Thrive Global Article: