Showing up as your true self is terrifying, but it’s also the unlock key for so much of what makes your life good. Through powerful stories and research-backed insights, this conversation reveals why showing up as your real self unlocks extraordinary possibilities, and how embracing imperfection creates deeper connections than striving for perfection ever could. Whether you're leading a team, raising children, or pursuing creative work, you'll discover practical tools for choosing courage over comfort and building genuine connections in a world that often fears being real.

You can find Brené at: Website | Instagram | Brené's Podcasts | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Elizabeth Gilbert about bringing your whole self to your life.

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You don’t have to erase yourself to feel more alive. Nor do you have to deny your past or who you truly are. What if the secret to real transformation isn't becoming someone new, but understanding who you already are? This episode challenges the "clean slate" myth of New Year's change, revealing why treating your past as valuable data rather than baggage unlocks genuine, lasting growth.

Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode:

• You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.
• Find all of the New Year three-part mini-series episodes.

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Are you tired of never feeling good enough? In this insightful Best of conversation, psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, author of How to Be Enough: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists, shares strategies to escape the perfectionism trap. 

Learn how to pursue excellence without harsh self-criticism, shift from rigid rules to living by your core values, and make room for imperfection - allowing you to live the life you truly want.

You can find Ellen at: Website | Instagram | How to Be Good to Yourself When You're Hard on Yourself Substack | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ellen about overcoming social anxiety.

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How I made peace with the sound in my head, turned my inner tormentor into one of my greatest teachers, learned to live with uncertainty, and tamed relentless anxiety.

Through his story, Jonathan reveals how an unexpected approach became not just his salvation but a powerful tool for living well amid uncertainty, offering listeners both inspiration and practical guidance—including a special guided meditation practice to bring peace and open your heart.

Episode Transcript

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What if the shame you carry isn't just from one event, but layers of experiences that typical healing approaches can't touch?

Dr. Zoe Shaw reveals why some people remain trapped in patterns of shame despite outward success, and shares a revolutionary framework for healing what she calls "complex shame" from her book "Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shame." Learn why traditional advice about vulnerability sometimes falls short, how shame lives in your body, and practical steps to transform your relationship with yourself and others.

You can find Zoe at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Lori Gottlieb about understanding your emotional narratives and rewriting the stories you live by.

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Toy designer and RISD professor Cas Holman shows how rediscovering play can help adults build resilience, spark creativity, and forge deeper connections in an achievement-focused world.

In this revealing conversation about her book "Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity," Holman shares practical ways to embrace uncertainty through play and explains why putting down our phones might be the first step toward reclaiming our natural capacity for joy.

You can find Cas at: Website | Instagram | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Debbie Millman about designing a life through creativity and story.

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From breakthrough AI diagnostics to personalized immunotherapy treatments, cancer care is undergoing a revolution that's already saving lives.

Dr. Ross Levine, Chief Scientific Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering, shares how new technologies are helping doctors detect cancer earlier, treat it more effectively, and transform what was once untreatable into manageable conditions. Whether you're navigating cancer personally or professionally, this conversation offers crucial insights into the future of medicine and why there's unprecedented hope in cancer treatment today.

You can find Ross at: Website | Episode Transcript

If you LOVED this episode, don't miss a single conversation in our Future of Medicine series, airing every Monday through December. Follow Good Life Project wherever you listen to podcasts to catch them all.

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What if the secret to a stronger relationship is breaking the "rules" everyone says you should follow?

In this paradigm-shifting conversation, renowned therapist Stephanie Yates-Anyabwile reveals why sleeping apart, living separately, and other unconventional choices might actually deepen your connection. Learn why preventative relationship work matters more than crisis management, how to navigate family resistance to unconventional choices, and why giving your partner "the benefit of the doubt" could transform your relationship.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Julie and John Gottman about the science of lasting love and what makes relationships truly thrive.

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Imagine a tattoo that changes color to warn you of health issues, or a watch that knows you're getting sick before you do.

In this fascinating episode, we explore breakthrough biosensor technology with Imperial College's Ali Yetisen and precision medicine pioneer Michael Snyder, who reveal how real-time health monitoring is transforming from science fiction to reality. Learn how new technologies like smart tattoos, wearable devices, and advanced blood testing are revolutionizing healthcare, shifting us from treating illness to preventing it entirely through continuous, personalized health tracking.

Episode Transcript

You can find Michael at: Website

You can find Ali at: Website

If you LOVED this episode, don't miss a single conversation in our Future of Medicine series, airing every Monday through December. Follow Good Life Project wherever you listen to podcasts to catch them all.

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Three wisdom-keepers reveal how to navigate life's most devastating losses and emerge transformed.

Death doula Alua Arthur, grief therapist Claire Bidwell Smith, and community builder Cyndie Spiegel share powerful insights on finding meaning after loss, creating healing rituals, and discovering unexpected moments of joy even in darkness. Learn practical tools for processing grief, supporting others through loss, and transforming pain into deeper connection with life.

Episode Transcript

You can find Alua at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Alua

You can find Claire at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Claire

You can find Cyndie at: Website | Dear Grown Ass Women | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with Cyndie

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