Weight feels like one of those topics everyone has an opinion on, yet it’s deeply personal for each of us. So, for this episode, Emily and Jill take the opportunity to dig into what it’s like to navigate body changes in a world full of strong opinions, from the rise of GLP-1 medications to the stigma that can come with medical or surgical interventions.

Jill opens up about her own journey with weight, body image, and ultimately deciding to have gastric bypass surgery, including what’s shifted for her since, physically, emotionally, and socially. 

They also talk about the judgment people can face, how conversations about health often get reduced to discipline or willpower, and also zoom out to explore the bigger cultural messages about bodies and how therapists can support clients in talking about weight in ways that move beyond shame or “fixing.” 

Listen and Learn: 

• Why shame, Yo-yo dieting, and a surprising therapy session insight led Jill to discover a life-changing path that transformed her health, mindset, and relationship with exercise
• Why the idea that weight loss tools are “cheating” reveals deeper cultural biases about bodies, health, and who gets judged for the choices they make
• How constant pressure on women’s bodies may actually distract from power, health, and autonomy in ways most people never question
• Focusing on values instead of weight loss goals to help you stop postponing the life you want to live
• How changing your relationship with cravings and “food noise” through psychological flexibility can make long-term weight loss maintenance more possible

Resources: 

• Jill’s Website: https://jillstoddard.com
• Connect with Jill on Social Media 
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNDJ6pR5PVGZSSzRFc556QA
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillstoddardphd/ 

About Jill Stoddard 

Jill Stoddard is passionate about sharing science-backed ideas from psychology to help people thrive. She is a psychologist, writer, TEDx speaker, award-winning teacher, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, bariatric coach, and co-host of the popular Psychologists Off the Clock podcast. Dr. Stoddard is the founder and director of The Center for Stress and Anxiety Management, an outpatient practice specializing in evidence-based therapies for anxiety and related issues. She is the author of three books: The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner’s Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Be Mighty: A Woman’s Guide to Liberation from Anxiety, Worry, and Stress Using Mindfulness and Acceptance; and Imposter No More: Overcome Self-doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career. Her writing has also appeared in The Washington Post, Psychology Today, Scary Mommy, Thrive Global, The Good Men Project, and Mindful Return. She regularly appears on podcasts and as an expert source for various media outlets. She lives in Newburyport, MA with her husband, two kids, and disobedient French Bulldog.  

Related Episodes:

• 348. Sustainable Exercise with Michelle Segar
• 326. Weight Stigma and Body Image with Sarah Pegrum
• 264. Raising Intuitive Eaters with Sumner Brooks and Amee Severson
• 231. Eating Skills and Emotional Eating with Josh Hillis
• 151. Intuitive Eating with Evelyn Tribole
• 93. Effective Weight Loss with Evan Forman
• 77. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Jill Stoddard
• 36. Weight Loss Strategies From Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Jason Lillis

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feeling loved sounds simple, but it is not something that just happens because someone cares about you. 

In this episode of Psychologists Off the Clock, Yael talks with Sonja Lyubomirsky and Harry Reis about their book, How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most, and why it is possible to be loved but not actually feel loved.

They explore what really helps people feel cared for and understood in any kind of relationship, why stress or attachment patterns can get in the way, and how small mindset shifts like listening to learn or being willing to go first can make a big difference in how connected you feel.

It is less about following relationship rules and more about how you show up. Your curiosity, your openness, and your willingness to understand someone else and let yourself be understood too. If connection sometimes feels harder than it should, this episode is for you.

Listen and Learn: 

• How the happiness habits you already know, like gratitude or kindness, may actually work by strengthening a hidden relationship dynamic that makes people feel deeply understood and loved in everyday interactions
• What are the key ingredients that quietly combine to make us feel truly loved and understood by others?
• How feeling loved often depends less on what’s done for us and more on whether we truly feel seen, understood, and connected in the moment
• How shifting your mindset in love can transform simple behaviors into deeper, more genuine connections that naturally grow intimacy
• How showing up first in relationships can feel risky, but it often unlocks deeper connections in ways you might not expect
• Why feeling loved isn’t just about what you receive, it’s about how you understand and respond to the love others are trying to give
• Embracing the messy, multifaceted parts of yourself to completely change how you experience love and connection

Resources: 

• How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780063426665 
• Sonja’s Website: https://sonjalyubomirsky.com 
• Card deck from Sojna’s recommendation: The And
• https://howtofeelloved.com/ 
• Connect with Sonja on Social Media: 
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonja-lyubomirsky-21283bb/
• https://www.instagram.com/sonjalyubomirsky/
• https://www.facebook.com/sonja.lyubomirsky 

About Sonja Lyubomirsky and Harry Reis: 

Sonja Lyubomirsky is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UC Riverside and the author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness. She's also a returning guest on Psychologists Off the Clock — you can catch her first appearance in episode 227.

Harry Reis is a Dean's Professor of Psychology at the University of Rochester and one of the most influential relationship scientists working today, known for foundational research on intimacy, responsiveness, and what makes people feel truly connected.

Together, they've written How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets that Get You More of What Matters Most — a book that reframes the question most of us have been asking wrong.

Related Episodes:

• 172. Performing Under Pressure with Sian Beilock
• 227. The Science of Happy with Sonja Lyubomirsky
• 413. Validate with Caroline Fleck
• 422. Mindwise with Nicholas Epley

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oversharing has a bad reputation. But what if revealing more about yourself is actually the fastest way to build trust? 

To give us insight into the psychology behind oversharing — when it builds connection and when it backfires — we’re joined by behavioral scientist and author of Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing, Leslie John.

Leslie guides us through the surprising benefits of self-disclosure, exploring how revealing personal information can strengthen social bonds and increase trust. 

She also shares research on how disclosure impacts relationships, workplace dynamics, and even physiological stress, and explains how to find the “Goldilocks zone” where sharing is just right, without overburdening others.

Listen and Learn: 

• How sharing something a little uncomfortable can instantly build trust and make people like and choose you even more than someone who keeps everything private
• Why the instant regret after saying something vulnerable makes us play it safe, while the real price of not opening up shows up later in missed connection we never even realize we lost
• How sharing just a little more than usual in conversations can create connection and prompt others to open up with you
• Asking deeper, slightly risky questions to turn awkward small talk into real connection and reveal surprising ways people bond
• Recognizing when sharing with a friend is helping or hurting your relationship and the surprising way your closest friendships reveal your emotional limits
• How sharing small vulnerabilities at work can actually boost trust and credibility without crossing professional boundaries
• How encouraging young kids to show their feelings now could help them handle stress later and navigate tricky social pressures as they grow
• Sharing personal stories to light up your brain’s pleasure centers, and why that might be more rewarding than you think

Resources: 

• Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780593545386 
• Leslie’s Website: https://www.lesliekjohn.com
• Connect with Leslie on Social Media:
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-john-75928721 
• https://www.instagram.com/proflesliejohn/ 
• https://x.com/lesliekjohn?lang=en 

About Leslie John

Leslie John is the James E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. Her award-winning research appears in top academic journals and media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. A Canadian-born, internationally trained ballet dancer, she now calls Boston home

Related Episodes:

• 422. Mindwise with Nicholas Epley
• 360. The Laws of Connection with David Robson
• 374. Developing and Deepening Connections with Adam ... 
• 393. Supercommunicators with Charles Duhigg 
• 408. Connecting Like a Hostage Negotiator with Gary ... 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you struggle with people-pleasing and losing yourself in relationships, this episode with Ingrid Clayton, a licensed clinical psychologist and expert in relational trauma, about her book Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find Our Way Back, is a conversation that can help you understand and transform patterns holding you back. 

Exploring fawning, which is a lesser-known trauma response shaped by caretaking, appeasement, and self-abandonment, you’ll learn how it often shows up as anxiety and hypervigilance. 

And, through personal and client stories, you’ll gain insights on reclaiming authenticity, navigating backlash, and starting the process of “unfawning.”

Listen and Learn:

• Why do some people cope with relational trauma by becoming overly accommodating or pleasing?
• How people-pleasing might actually be your nervous system choosing safety in ways that once protected you, but could now be quietly shaping your identity and relationships without you realizing it, and what it actually takes to reconnect with who you are
• How chronic fawning can look like emotional strength on the outside while quietly disconnecting you from your own anxiety and body
• How what looks like dishonesty can actually be a survival response that once kept you safe, and what it takes to notice when it starts keeping you stuck
• How tuning into what you notice in your body can be the first uncomfortable but powerful step to breaking people-pleasing patterns and building more authentic relationships
• Why red flags can feel like home after emotional abuse and how learning to trust your own resentment might be the first step toward building a truly safe relationship

Resources:

• Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find Our Way Back https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9798217045327 
• Ingrid’s Website: https://www.ingridclayton.com/ 
• Connect with Ingrid on Social Media:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ingridclaytonphd 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IngridClaytonPhD 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingridclaytonphd/ 
• Substack: https://substack.com/@ingridclaytonphd 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3PvWTgJMirURfgHWj3h28g 

About Ingrid Clayton

Dr. Ingrid Clayton is a licensed clinical psychologist with a master’s in transpersonal psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.  She’s had a thriving private practice for more than sixteen years and is a regular contributor to Psychology Today, where her blog “Emotional Sobriety” has had more than a million views.  She lives in Los Angeles, California. 

Book: Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves--and How to Find Our Way Back: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9798217045327

Related Episodes:

• 305. The Power of Saying No with Vanessa Patrick
• 186. Set Boundaries Find Peace with Nedra Tawwab 
• 276. Assertive Communication Skills with Randy Paterson  
• 308. Identifying and Surviving Gaslighting with Robin Stern 
• 263. Relationships with Emotionally Immature People with Lindsay Gibson 
• 383. What My Bones Know: C-PTSD with Stephanie Foo
• 417. Busting Trauma Treatment Myths with Emi Nietfeld
• 416. Trauma and PTSD Treatment with Robyn Walser

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Behind the scenes of everyday family life is a mental workload many of us carry without even realizing it, and that’s exactly what Debbie Sorensen explores in her interview with sociologist Allison Daminger about her book, What's on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life. 

Allison defines cognitive labor as the invisible work of managing family needs and obligations, and walks us through its importance for individual well-being and relationship satisfaction. 

The discussion also touches on how these tasks are often unrecognized in statistics, the gender dynamics in cognitive labor, and the implications for families and workplaces. 

You’ll also get a look at insights from her research involving both different-sex and same-sex couples, and she suggests ways to address gender imbalances through individual, cultural, and systemic changes.

Listen and Learn: 

• How cognitive household labor silently shapes family life
• How mental load secretly drains energy in daily life and why the invisible tasks of keeping a household running can be more exhausting than anyone realizes
• Why the small, everyday decisions parents make reveal hidden patterns in family life that most people never notice
• Why women often carry the mental load at home even when they out-earn or out-work their partners
• How couples explain unequal household labor reveals that what seems like personality differences is actually shaped by deeply ingrained social and cultural expectations around gender
• The surprising ways “superhuman” and “bumbler” roles shape relationships and what small changes can help partners share the load more freely
• Insights from same-sex couples on sharing mental load and the lessons they offer for balancing household responsibilities

Resources: 

• What's on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780691245386
• Allison’s Website: https://www.allisondaminger.com/
• Allison’s Substack: https://allisondaminger.substack.com/
• Connect with Allison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisondaminger/ 

About Allison Daminger

Allison Daminger is an assistant professor of sociology at UW-Madison and the author of the new book What's on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life. Daminger's research is focused on how and why gender shapes family dynamics, particularly the division of work and power in couples. Her award-winning scholarship has been published in top academic journals and featured in outlets including The Atlantic, The New York Times, and Psychology Today. Daminger holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Policy from Harvard University and lives with her family in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Related Episodes:

• 176. Fair Play with Eve Rodsky 
• 206. Fair Play Part 2 with Eve Rodsky
• 275. Work, Parent, Thrive with Yael Schonbrun
• 386. Parents Are Stressed: What Do We Do About It? with Emily, Debbie, and our dear friend Yael Schonbrun
• 306. Screaming on the Inside: The Challenges of American Motherhood with Jessica Grose
• 146. Parental Burnout with Lisa Coyne
• 441. Having It All with Corinne Low
• 137. The Complexities of Motherhood with Daphne de Marneffe
• 104. You’re Doing It Wrong with Bethany Johnson and Margaret Quinlan
• 33. Couples with Young Children: Relationship Challenges and Strategies with Yael Schonbrun         

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Caregiving is often framed as a burden, but what if it’s also one of the most meaningful ways we come to know ourselves?

Emily sits down with acclaimed journalist and cultural critic Elissa Strauss for this episode to discuss her extensive work on the politics and culture of parenting and caregiving, which has appeared in publications like The Atlantic and The New York Times. 

Centering on her new book, When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others, they challenge feminist notions that have undervalued caregiving and explore how caregiving can enrich one's sense of self. 

You’ll hear about the philosophical foundations of care ethics and how caregiving for various dependents, not just children, brings profound personal growth, scientific research on caregiver well-being, the importance of male caregivers, and also the need for systemic support for caregivers.

Listen and Learn: 

• How redefining caregiving, not as a burden, but as a powerful source of meaning and self-expansion, might change what we think feminism, motherhood, and what a “full” life actually look like
• How caregiving across parenting, disability, and aging becomes an intense, surprising mirror that reshapes identity and meaning in ways most of us never expect
• The research that shows why caregiving doesn’t have to wear you down, and under certain conditions, it can actually make you healthier and even help you live longer
• How one husband turned the challenges of caregiving into moments of quiet activism, love, and connection
• How does caring for others bring meaning, even when day-to-day life feels messy?
• What if the real barrier for working caregivers isn’t just the glass ceiling but the glass door separating home and work, and how breaking it could change everything we value about care?
• Why men’s brains change when they care for others, how caregiving reshapes masculinity, and what it really means for dads today
• Why caring for those closest to us isn’t just personal—it’s a radical philosophical lens that could change how we think about society itself

Resources: 

• When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781982169282
• Elisa’s Website: https://www.elissastrauss.com/
• Elisa’s Substack: https://elissa.substack.com/
• Connect with Elisa on Social Media: 
• https://www.facebook.com/elissa.strauss.7/
• https://www.instagram.com/elissaavery/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/elissa-strauss-742720112 

About Elissa Strauss

Elissa Strauss is a journalist, essayist, and cultural critic who has been writing about the politics and culture of parenting and caregiving for more than fifteen years. Her work appears in publications like the Atlantic, the New York Times, Glamour, ELLE, and elsewhere, and she was a former contributing writer at CNN.com and Slate. Her book, "When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others," is out now from Gallery Books, and she writes a Substack called "MADE WITH CARE."

Related episodes: 

• 444. Mattering with Jennifer Wallace
• 441. Having It All with Corinne Low
• 386. Parents Are Stressed: What Do We Do About It? With Emily, Debbie, and Yael
• 356. Navigating the Challenges of Caregiving with Alison Applebaum
• 354. A Family Guide to Dementia with Brent Forester
• 275. Work, Parent, Thrive with Yael Schonbrun

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a world that’s more connected than ever yet feels increasingly lonely, award-winning journalist Jennifer B. Wallace explores why the simple human need to matter may be the most powerful force shaping our well-being. 

Joining Yael to discuss her new book, Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, Jennifer underscores the crucial role of mattering in fostering resilience and well-being, emphasizing its importance in both personal and professional contexts. You’ll gain practical ways to cultivate a sense of mattering, learn about the importance of attunement in relationships, and understand the significance of social contexts in mental health. 

She also reflects on the impact of technology on our social connections and the valuable lessons learned from her research on creating ecosystems that support mattering.

Listen and Learn: 

• The discovery that shifted Jennifer’s entire research focus and why the real key to kids’ resilience may actually lie in how adults experience purpose, value, and “mattering” in their own lives
• Why “mattering” goes beyond belonging or purpose and how feeling both valued and impactful may be the hidden factor that determines whether people truly engage or quietly burn out
• How a simple moment of everyday rudeness can quietly undermine our sense of mattering, and why understanding that reaction can completely change how you interpret (and respond to) those interactions
• How a lesson learned from Jennifer’s father about making people feel like they matter shaped their entire life
• Why feeling like you “matter” isn’t something you can fix alone, and how small, often uncomfortable moments of connection, dependence, and even friction are actually where real healing and meaning are built
• Why do some people never seem to feel that they matter, even when the evidence is right in front of them, and what actually helps (and doesn’t) when you’re trying to show someone they do?
• How attunement can transform everyday interactions and make people feel deeply seen, valued, and connected

Resources:

• Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose by Jennifer B. Wallace: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780593850596 
• Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It by Jennifer B. Wallace: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780593191866 
• Jennifer’s Website: https://www.jenniferbwallace.com/
• Connect with Jennifer on Social Media: 
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-b-wallace/
• https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbrehenywallace 
• Yael’s newsletter on “phubbing” with Jaqueline Nesi: https://relationalriffs.substack.com/p/are-you-phubbing-your-partner 
• Empathy Diaries by Sherry Turkle: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780525560111 
• Power of Discord by Ed Tronick and Claudia Goldstein: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-of-discord-why-the-ups-and-downs-of-relationships-are-the-secret-to-building-intimacy-resilience-and-trust-claudia-m-gold-md/f91287b2b45f7311?ean=9780316488877&next=t

About Jennifer B Wallace

Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times bestselling book Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—And What We Can Do About It, which was named an Amazon Best Book of the Year, and for which she joined us on POTC episode 324. She's also the founder of The Mattering Institute, whose mission is to create cultures of mattering in workplaces and communities, and co-founder of The Mattering Movement, a nonprofit dedicated to creating cultures of mattering in schools. Jennifer started her journalism career at CBS's 60 Minutes. She's contributed to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, and she's here today to talk about her forthcoming book Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose.

Related Episodes:

• 168. Everyday Conversations: How Conversational Style Impacts Relationships with Deborah Tannen
• 179. How to be an Adult in Relationships with Dave Richo
• 263. Relationships with Emotionally Immature People with Lindsay Gibson
• 324. Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Wallace

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We all feel emotions every day, but how often do we stop to understand what they really are and how they work? 

Joining Michael for this episode is Ethan Kross, a renowned authority on emotion regulation and author of Shift: Managing Your Emotions—So They Don’t Manage You, for a conversation about the science behind how our internal dialogue affects health, performance, and relationships. 

Ethan explains what emotions are, how they function, and the importance of teaching emotional regulation skills from a young age. 

He also covers various tools and strategies that can help you manage your emotions more effectively, shares examples from his books, and highlights significant studies.

Listen and Learn: 

• Why we have emotions and how they quietly shape our thoughts, bodies, and actions in ways most of us don’t fully notice
• Why meaningful moments almost always come with emotional friction, and what that reveals about living a purposeful life
• The 50-year study that shows how early emotion skills shape health, money, and relationships
• What happens when logic is pushed too far, and emotions are removed, and how science suggests a more balanced approach that quietly shapes better outcomes in work, relationships, and life
• Why managing emotions isn’t about suppressing them, but learning how you can use the right tools at the right time to keep them working for you instead of against you
• Simple mental shifts that help you move through discomfort and emotional blocks faster

Resources: 

• Shift: Managing Your Emotions--So They Don't Manage You https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780593444412 
• Ethan’s Website: https://www.ethankross.com/
• Emotion & Self Control Laboratory: http://selfcontrol.psych.lsa.umich.edu/
• Connect with Ethan on Social Media: 
• https://www.instagram.com/ethankross/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekross/

About Ethan Kross

Ethan Kross is one of the world’s leading experts on emotion regulation. An award-winning professor and bestselling author in the University of Michigan’s top- ranked Psychology Department and its Ross School of Business, he studies how the conversations people have with themselves impact their health, performance, decisions, and relationships.

Ethan was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude. After earning his PhD in Psychology from Columbia University, Ethan completed a post-doctoral fellowship in social-affective neuroscience to learn about the neural systems that support self-control. He moved to the University of Michigan in 2008, where he founded the Emotion & Self Control Laboratory.

Ethan’s research has been published in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, among other peer-reviewed journals. He has participated in policy discussion at the White House and has been interviewed on CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper Full Circle, and NPR’s Morning Edition. His pioneering research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Harvard Business Review, USA Today, The Economist, The Atlantic, Forbes, and Time.

Ethan is the two-time National Bestselling author of SHIFT: Managing Your Emotions—So They Don’t Manage You and  CHATTER: The Voice in Our Head, Why it Matters and How to Harness It. His books are routinely featured in the worlds’ top media (e.g., New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC, The New Yorker), have garnered multiple accolades and been translated into over 40 languages. 

Related Episodes:

• 309. The Language of Emotions with Karla McLaren
• 265. The Power of Emotions at Work with Karla McLaren
• 183. Permission to Feel: Emotional Intelligence with Marc Brackett

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if grief isn’t something to “get over” but something that can lead us toward meaning, connection, and healing? 

Jill interviews David Kessler, a leading expert on loss and healing. They discuss Kessler's background, his books, especially Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, and his journey through personal grief, including the loss of his son. 

David shares insights on the stages of grief, differentiates between practical and emotional grief, and stresses the importance of finding meaning and community in the healing process. 

He also touches on the role of children at funerals and the concept of continuing bonds with deceased loved ones. Tune in for invaluable perspectives on enduring and transforming through profound loss.

Listen and Learn: 

• How David's life was transformed by severe personal trauma and loss into a path devoted to assisting others in overcoming grief
• Why grief is a natural consequence of choosing love and connection rather than a defect or failure
• David’s more expansive definition of grief 
• Challenging the idea that grief has a timeline and how healing isn’t about “ending” grief, but learning how to carry it differently
• The non-linear and deeply personal journey of loss and what it takes to show up for yourself in the hardest moments
• How facing grief head-on can transform pain into growth and reveal unexpected meaning in life’s hardest moments
• Why some people seem to sail through grief while others struggle silently
• How meaning often hides in the small, unexpected moments of life and loss

Resources: 

• Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781501192746 
• David’s Website: http://Grief.com 
• Grief Educator Certification with David Kessler: https://www.davidkesslertraining.com/certification
• Tender Hearts Online Grief Group: https://www.davidkesslertraining.com/tender-hearts-fb21 
• Connect with David on Social Media:
• https://www.youtube.com/@iamdavidkessler
• http://instagram.com/iamdavidkessler
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-kessler/
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Kessler

About David Kessler 

David Kessler is one of the world’s foremost experts on loss and healing. His decades of experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies. He is the author of seven books including his latest bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, as well as a new Finding Meaning Companion Workbook. He co-authored two books with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Life Lessons and On Grief and Grieving. He co-wrote You Can Heal Your Heart with Louise Hay and also wrote Visions, Trips and Crowded Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die. His first book, The Needs of The Dying received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.

His article in the Harvard Business Review, titled, The Discomfort You Are Feeling is Grief went viral and was named one of “The Most Influential and Innovative Articles from Harvard Business Review’s First Century. His talk with Brené Brown was the #1 podcast in the world. He also hosted his own Spotify Podcast called Healing with David Kessler.

He has a unique place in pop culture as one of his books being the premise for the season premiere of The Walking Dead and he was a question on Alex Trebek’s Jeopardy.   His new online model of grief support, Tender Hearts, offers over twenty-five groups. Additionally, David leads one of the most respected Grief Educator Certification programs. He is the founder of Grief.com.

Related Episodes:

52. Palliative Care and Healing with Michael Kearney

116. Building a Meaningful, Values-based Life with Jenna LeJeune

117. Bearing Unbearable Loss: A conversation About Grief with Joanne Cacciatore

157. The Art of Dying Well with Katy Butler

351. You Only Die Once with Jodi Wellman

384. Understanding Grief and Loss with Meghan Riordan Jarvis

419. Break Up on Purpose with John Kim

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So many women grow up hearing that we should be able to have it all, yet very few of us are ever shown what that actually looks like in real life.

In this episode, Emily welcomes Corinne Lowe, an associate professor of Business Economics and Public Policy. 

Corinne shares insights from her book, Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours, which examines gender wage gaps, structural discrimination, and the pressures women face when balancing career, family, and personal life.

This conversation focuses on redefining success in a way that truly fits your values, being more intentional with your time, and finding fulfillment on your own terms. You’ll also come away with practical strategies for workplace negotiations, rethinking productivity, and creating a more sustainable balance between work and life.

Listen and Learn: 

• How structural barriers limit women’s career and wage growth, and encourage redefining success by focusing on personal fulfillment and leveling up within those realities
• How women face systemic workplace barriers that collectively limit their opportunities and earnings, and why addressing these issues benefits everyone
• Debunking myths about women’s performance, showing that traits like negotiation skill and competitiveness are not inferior, and that focusing on evidence-based skill-building is what truly drives success
• Understanding and prioritizing your own “utility function” to help women focus on what matters to them, rather than constantly comparing themselves to others
• How to rethink your career as a tool for turning time into meaningful fulfillment, balance life’s chapters intentionally, and confidently understand your market value to make work serve you
• Reclaiming your time, setting boundaries, and making intentional choices to focus on what truly brings joy and meaning to your family and life, instead of being trapped by guilt, obligation, or unrealistic expectations
• Reframing parenting and self-care as “human capital” investment, showing how the time and care you give to your children and to yourself is meaningful, economically valuable, and essential for long-term wellbeing

Resources: 

• Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781250369512
• Corrine’s Website: https://www.corinnelow.com 
• Connect with Corrine on Social Media: 
• https://www.instagram.com/corinnelowphd/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinne-low
• https://www.facebook.com/people/Corinne-Low 
• Read More About Corrine’s Work on Substack: https://corinnelow.substack.com/ 

About Corinne Low

Corinne Low is an Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she teaches an award-winning class (and was named one of Poets and Quants 40 MBA Professors under 40 in 2024). Her research on the economics of gender has been published in top journals such as the American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, and Journal of Political Economy. Corinne and her work have been featured in major media outlets, such as The New York Times, CBS Mornings, Forbes, New York Magazine, and The Guardian. Corinne regularly speaks to and advises firms in addition to teaching in Wharton’s Executive Education programs. She is the author of Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women's Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours. She received her Ph.D. in Economics from Columbia University, her B.S. in Economics and Public Policy from Duke University and formerly worked for McKinsey and Company.

Related Episodes:

• 398. Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money with Elizabeth Husserl
• 357. Is Your Work Worth It? How to Think About Meaningful Work with Jennifer Tosti-Kharas and Christopher Wong Michaelson
• 275. Work, Parent, Thrive with Yael Schonbrun
• 245. Family Firm with Emily Oster
• 206. Fair Play Part 2 with Eve Rodsky
• 176. Fair Play with Eve Rodsky
• 174. How to Work and Parent Mindfully with Lori Mihalich-Levin

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