What if you’re not burned out, not clinically depressed, and nothing in your life is falling apart—but you still feel numb, empty, or like you’re just going through the motions? In this episode, sociologist and mental health researcher Dr. Corey Keyes explains the science behind that feeling, and why he calls it “languishing.” We dig into how our culture massively underestimates mental health by defining it as “not sick,” and why that quiet definition keeps so many of us stuck. Corey shares how watching his own father’s life slowly unravel pushed him to rethink success, work, and what it really means to flourish. You’ll learn the key differences between languishing and flourishing, the hidden ways modern life pulls us toward numbness, and why feeling “dead inside” might actually be an existential alarm clock trying to wake you up. We don’t just stay in theory—we talk about what real flourishing looks like for regular people with jobs, kids, stress, and messy lives.

Corey's book, Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down, is available now wherever books are sold!

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What if there really was an owner’s manual for being human? In this episode, Chris sits down with one of the top executive coaches in the country Shaun Dyke, to reveal the models that billion-dollar leaders use to understand people, motivate change, and create results. They unpack the hidden psychology behind your reactions, relationships, and results—and why most of us are still flying blind without our “human operating manual.” You’ll never look at behavior the same way again. Shaun is the Managing Partner of the leadership development and executive coaching firm called, DoorTwo.

Learn more at doortwo.com and subscribe to their brand new podcast, In The Arena with DoorTwo. Stay up to date by signing up!

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If you’ve ever felt guilty for resenting your job—even one you worked hard to get—you’re not alone. In this episode, psychologist and author Dr. Malissa Clark breaks down why burnout and dissatisfaction aren’t always about hours worked, and why our relationship with work is more complicated than we think. We explore the hidden forces that keep us “always on,” why rest doesn’t always feel restful, and how modern work culture is quietly draining us. Whether you're stuck in a toxic job or just feeling off, this conversation will shift the way you think about work—and yourself.

Malissa's book, Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business--and How to Fix It, is available now wherever books are sold!

Learn more about Malissa at malissaclark.com.

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Think you’re a creative person? Think again. In this episode, psychologist and author Dr. Zorana Pringle explains why most of us are far less creative than we believe—and what to do about it. We explore why great ideas often die before they ever get started, how fear disguises itself as perfectionism, and why creativity has more to do with action than inspiration. If you’ve ever felt stuck, distracted, or frustrated that your ideas never quite become reality, this conversation will hit home. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how creativity really works—and how to finally unlock it.

Zorana's book, The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action, is available now wherever books are sold!

Learn more about Zorana Pringle at zorana-ivcevic-pringle.com.

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What if the biggest challenge with AI isn’t the technology, but what it’s revealing about us?

Jeff Burningham has built companies, invested in hundreds of startups, and even run for governor — but his most urgent message comes in his new book The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI. He believes AI is a mirror, reflecting our values, flaws, and potential, and the real question is whether we’ll grow wise enough to handle it.

In this conversation, Jeff draws on his experiences in business, politics, and personal transformation to explore the choice between the “old game” of power and greed and the “new game” of connection and compassion — and why the next decade could determine our future.

Jeff's book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI, is available now wherever books are sold!

Learn more about Jeff Burningham at jeffburningham.com.

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What if the most powerful psychedelic on Earth isn’t just a hallucination—but a message? Neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Gallimore joins us to explore the mind-bending world of DMT, a molecule found in both nature and the human body that seems to reliably transport users to an alien-like realm filled with intelligent beings. In this episode, we dive into the science behind DMT, the mysterious commonalities in user experiences, and why Dr. Gallimore believes it is so important to try to understand. Is this a glimpse of the afterlife, a forgotten technology, or even contact with a creator? Strap in—this conversation will challenge everything you think you know about consciousness.

Dr. Gallimore's book, Death by Astonishment: Confronting the Mystery of the World's Strangest Drug, is available wherever books are sold.

Learn more about Dr. Andrew Gallimore at noonautics.org/personnel/dr-andrew-gallimore-dmt.

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What if the desire for revenge wasn’t just emotional—but biological? In this gripping conversation, Yale-trained lawyer and researcher James Kimmel Jr. explains how the brain processes revenge, why it feels so satisfying in the moment, and why it rarely brings the peace we expect. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and his own powerful personal story, James unpacks how revenge fuels everything from schoolyard fights to mass shootings—and how it’s often disguised as “justice.” We explore the real reasons people commit violent acts, how our justice system may be reinforcing cycles of harm, and what it actually takes to break free.

You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the human drive to get even—and how to shift that impulse toward healing. If you've ever held a grudge, fantasized about payback, or wondered why letting go is so hard, this episode will change the way you see yourself—and others.

Dr. Kimmel's book, The Science of Revenge, is available wherever books are sold.

Learn more about Dr. Kimmel at jameskimmeljr.com.

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If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—the workouts, the healthy food, the meditation app, the supplements—but your body still isn’t responding the way it should… this episode is for you.

Because here’s the truth: You can’t heal until your body feels safe. Not calm. Not relaxed. Safe. And that’s not just a mindset—it’s a biological state.

Today’s guest, Dr. David Rabin, is a board-certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and co-founder of Apollo Neuro. He’s spent decades researching how chronic stress, trauma, and even subconscious fear can hijack your nervous system and silently block your body’s ability to recover. What he’s uncovered is game-changing: the body doesn’t heal because we tell it to—it heals when it knows it can.

In this conversation, we break down exactly how that works—starting with the vagus nerve, the body’s command center for switching between stress and recovery. Dr. Rabin explains why your nervous system might still be operating in fight-or-flight mode, even if your life feels perfectly fine. You’ll learn how stress re-routes resources away from the parts of your body responsible for sleep, digestion, immunity, and long-term healing—and why most of us have no idea it’s happening.

We also explore how trauma can be stored in the body for years, why it doesn’t always show up in your memories, and how new tools—from psychedelics to vibration-based therapies—are helping people access deep healing without spending a decade in talk therapy.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a whole new framework for understanding stress—not just as a feeling, but as a physiological state you can learn to shift. And more importantly, you’ll leave with actionable ways to start teaching your body what safety actually feels like.

So if you’ve ever wondered why you still feel stuck—even when life looks good on paper—don’t miss this one.

Let’s get into it.

Learn more about Dr. Rabin at drdave.io.

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We’ve been taught to fear stress, avoid it, and manage it like a toxin. But what if that belief is actually making us weaker? Dr. Sharon Bergquist has spent decades studying the relationship between stress, cellular health, and chronic disease—and what she’s discovered turns the conventional wisdom upside down. We dig into what that means at the biological level: how stress impacts our cells, how it influences everything from aging to energy to immune function, and what we can do—starting today—to tap into this incredible internal capability. You’ll learn why some of the most powerful health interventions aren’t expensive treatments or medications, but simple, often uncomfortable, actions that challenge your body and mind in the right way.

So—what if the answer to health isn’t less stress, but better stress?

Dr. Bergquist's book, The Stress Paradox: Why You Need Stress to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier―An Essential Stress Management Companion with a Mind-Body-Soul Approach, is available now.

Learn more about Dr. Bergquist at drsharonbergquist.com.

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What if the federal government walked away from public education? That’s not a hypothetical—it’s part of a real plan gaining traction right now. In this episode, we break down what it actually means to defund and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, and why it could upend the future for millions of students. Former Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. joins us to cut through the noise and explain, in human terms, what’s at risk—from student aid to civil rights protections to the very idea of equal opportunity.

We also talk about King’s new book, Teacher by Teacher, and the everyday educators who shape lives in ways most people never see. You’ll hear stories that might remind you of your favorite teacher—and see just how fragile the systems are that allow those stories to happen. If you think this issue doesn’t affect you, think again. Because the decisions being made right now might change everything.

Learn more about Dr. King at johnbkingjr.com.

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