Anxiety isn’t a flaw you have to hide or a weakness you need to fix, it’s information you can use. In this special cross-post from The Next Big Idea podcast, I sit down with host Rufus Griscom to talk about what 17 years of research, leadership interviews, and lived experience have taught me about navigating anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence. I share how reframing anxiety as data can help you show up with courage, why over-functioning often comes from childhood systems, and the surprising science linking mental health challenges with leadership excellence. Plus, I also share tools to work with self-criticism, break free from procrastination, and even “bank joy” so you have reserves to call on when life feels heavy. Get ready to turn your anxious brain into an ally instead of an enemy.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why anxiety is a data not an excuse.

05:30 How common anxiety and depression really are in leaders.

09:15 Family systems theory and the roots of over-functioning.

16:45 What is the Yerkes-Dodson curve?

20:45 Ways to manage anxiety.

22:30 How to stop cruel self-talk with tools like self-compassion.

27:45 How do you sustain focus when a project is no longer exciting?

34:00 What can companies do to better support neurodiverse employees?

36:15 Grounding techniques to reset anxiety at work.

41:00 Visualization practices to comfort your inner child.

46:00 The ‘banana trick’ from ACT therapy to stop catastrophic thoughts.

Resources + Links

Listen to The Next Big Idea Podcast HERE

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Rufus on LinkedIn: @rufusgriscom

What can an Astrophysics Lab teach us about managing for inclusive excellence- and how can it make your own meetings better? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Keivan Stassun, MacArthur Genius Fellow, Vanderbilt astrophysicist, and founder of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. We talk about clear communication norms, leading better meetings and other practices that support neurodiverse talent, and the mindset shift managers need to unlock hidden genius at work. Get ready to create workplaces where every brain can thrive.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What does “inclusive excellence” really mean?

05:15 How clear communication norms unlock focus and fairness.

08:30 Why agendas, structure, and precision help neurodivergent employees.

12:00 Ways to build new team habits that stick over time.

16:00 Supporting hyperfocus and respecting “hardwired” traits.

20:30 What Dr. Stassun discovered about his own brain through managing diverse teams.

23:00 Why Dr. Stassun normalized virtual participation years before COVID.

27:30 The science of visual thinking and strengths-based neurodiversity.

30:15 Why creativity and genius show up in many different forms.

33:30 The #1 mindset shift managers need to unlock talent.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Dr.Keivan Stassun on LinkedIn: @keivanstassun

Most of us hate conflict. It feels uncomfortable, anxiety-inducing, and often easier to avoid. In this episode, I talk with conflict expert Amy Gallo about why avoiding conflict fuels more anxiety in the long run, and how to reframe difficult conversations as opportunities for connection and progress. Amy shares her four-step framework for handling conflict, what to do when shame or fear hijack your emotions, and why practicing in small, everyday interactions can build confidence for higher stakes moments. Tune in to learn tools and mindset shifts you need to navigate disagreements with more calm, clarity, and confidence.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why most of us avoid conflict.

06:00 Tips to manage conflict in a healthy way.

09:45 How avoiding conflict builds “conflict debt” that comes back stronger.

12:30 Ways to rebuild trust and strengthen relationships after conflict.

17:30 The gender angle of negotiating and conflict at work.

22:45 Amy’s 4-step framework for handling conflict effectively.

30:15 Why “agree to disagree” isn’t always a real solution.

32:00 How do you recover from conflict when shame or rumination takes over?

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Amy: on LinkedIn @amyegallo + Instagram @amyegallo

What if the key to better leadership wasn’t just strategy, but self-awareness? In this episode, I am joined by Adam Nemer, Founder of Simple Mental Health. We talk about why self-awareness is the ultimate leadership tool, how daily practices shift anxiety into focus, and why normalizing conversations about mental health makes teams more engaged and more productive. Adam shares how years of hidden depression and anxiety nearly broke him, what changed when you finally get a diagnosis, and how embracing self-care makes you a stronger executive. Tune in to learn about tools that help you rise stronger, lead better, and live with more purpose every single day.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Adam’s daily self-care list.

05:45 Advice when work doesn’t feel joyful or fulfilling.

12:00 How do depression and anxiety show up in your leadership?

19:00 What therapy really looks like when healing deep loss and trauma.

23:00 Techniques for meetings and high-stress moments.

31:00 The training every company should adopt so employees can respond to panic attacks.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Adam: on LinkedIn @adam-nemer

We’re often taught to push away grief, sadness, anxiety, or anger, but what if those emotions aren’t the enemy, but the key to resilience? In this episode, Harvard psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Susan David explains why emotions aren’t good or bad, positive or negative. She breaks down the groundbreaking concept of emotional agility, the skill set that allows us to face our thoughts and feelings with curiosity, compassion, and courage, and then move forward guided by our values. We also talk about why toxic positivity is so damaging, how difficult emotions signpost what matters most, and why learning to “hold anxiety in one hand and courage in the other” changes the way we work, lead, and live. Tune in to learn how to stop letting your emotions dictate your actions and start using them as valuable data.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why emotions are not good or bad.

05:00 How toxic positivity and “forced optimism” hurt leaders and organizations.

09:45 Why suppressing emotions leads to burnout, conflict, and emotional leakage.

13:00 How emotional agility differs from rigidity.

17:00 How anxiety and fear can actually point you to your values.

19:45 Why connecting to your values protects against burnout.

23:00 The cost of sidelining emotions in schools, workplaces, and culture.

27:00 How uncertainty and discomfort are the price of admission to a meaningful life.

31:00 Why grief is “love looking for its home” and how to honor it.

34:00 Listener story about grief, caregiving, and professional identity after loss.

42:00 What organizations can do to support employees navigating caregiving and grief.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Dr. Susan David’s work HERE!

Grab your copy of Dr. Susan David “Emotional Agility” HERE!

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Dr. Susan David: on LinkedIn @susanadavidphd

What if the traits that trip you up at work are the same ones that make you exceptional? In this episode, psychiatrist, researcher, and entrepreneur Dr. Michael Freeman is back to share the strengths and risks of neurodivergent leaders. We talk about his latest research on founder mental health, why ADHD, bipolar spectrum, and dyslexia show up so often in high performers, and how to design work so your superpowers lead and your vulnerabilities don’t derail you. Tune in to learn how to spot when a strength becomes “too much” and why AI may give divergent thinkers an unexpected edge.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why entrepreneurs are more likely to be neurodiverse.

06:00 Are you a craftsperson or a scaler entrepreneur?

10:00 The ADHD subtype most tied to entrepreneurial success.

14:15 When do strengths become liabilities?

18:00 The personality traits that shape both your strengths and vulnerabilities.

22:45 Why conditions like dyslexia & ADHD carry less stigma than others.

26:30 How Dr. Freeman discovered his own dyslexia later in life.

30:00 Why AI could favor divergent thinkers.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Dr. Michael Freeman HERE

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Behind every bold move is often a quiet fear. In this episode, I sit down with Shopify President Harley Finkelstein to talk about how anxiety has shaped his path from navigating family financial loss as a teenager to leading one of the world’s most influential platforms for entrepreneurs. Harley explains how to view anxiety not as a flaw, but as a tool that sharpens foresight, fuels ambition, and prepares you for what others can’t see. He also shares how to build your team that balances your energy and why vulnerability in leadership is your strength. Get ready to turn anxiety into your advantage!

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Meet Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify.

05:45 How Harley turned survival-driven anxiety at 17 into his first business.

11:45 Tools Harley uses to manage anxiety.

16:15 How to use anxiety as a checklist for risk and anticipation.

21:00 How do you handle anxiety when it affects your leadership?

24:30 Why extroverts and introverts recharge differently.

27:00 The #1 skill every anxious achiever needs.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Harley: on LinkedIn @harleyf + Instagram @harley

Did you know your childhood story can shape your health, work, and relationships? In this episode, Dr. Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, shares the science behind ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and why nearly two-thirds of adults carry them. We talk about how trauma shows up in adulthood, why high achievers often live with hypervigilance, and the protective factors that can tip the scales toward healing. Tune in to learn why your past doesn’t define you and how to build a stronger, healthier future starting today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Meet Dr. Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America.

01:45 What are ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and why do they matter?

05:45 How childhood adversity increases risk for physical and mental health issues.

07:00 The #1 protective factor proven to fuel adult healing and growth.

09:45 The link between ACEs, hypervigilance, and high-achieving adults.

13:15 Why a high ACE score can shorten life expectancy by nearly 20 years.

15:00 The weight of carrying family trauma across generations.

19:30 Examples of leaders creating safer and more supportive work environments.

23:45 Daily habits that retrain your biology to handle stress better.

25:45 Dr. Merrick’s go-to resources for stress and pressure relief.

Resources + Links

Learn more about ACEs HERE

Learn more about Prevent Child Abuse America HERE

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Dr. Merrick on LinkedIn

Anxiety doesn’t have to be the thing that holds you back, it can actually be the spark that pushes you forward. In this episode, I sit down with Whitney Johnson, one of the world’s leading experts on personal disruption, to talk about what it really means to disrupt yourself and why growth often comes with discomfort, fear, and uncertainty. Whitney opens up about her leap from Wall Street, building a new identity, the lessons she’s learned as a mother and entrepreneur, and the daily practices that help her stay grounded. She also shares the question to ask yourself when anxiety kicks in, why you sometimes quit or avoid opportunities out of fear, and the exact strategies she uses to handle anxiety instead of running from it. Get ready to grow, no matter where you’re starting from.

Highlights

00:00 Meet Whitney Johnson, CEO of Disruption Advisors.

03:30 The privilege of dreaming and why so many people hold back.

05:00 Leaving Wall Street, parenting, and finding a new work-life fit.

07:45 What is disrupting yourself?

12:45 Is anxiety fueling your work ethic or running your life?

17:30 Whitney’s way of breaking the avoidance loop.

19:30 How anxiety shows up in your career and inbox.

23:30 How do you handle the anxiety of leaving a steady job to go out on your own?

27:30 Ways to find strength when anxiety holds you back.

31:00 Why growth is your default setting (and proof change is always possible).

32:45 Whitney’s hack for stopping the anxious cycle.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Learn more about Whitney Johnson and Disruption Advisors HERE

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Whitney: @johnsonwhitney

Over 40 million Americans have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and many more go undiagnosed. This episode takes a deep dive into what we know (and don’t know) about bipolar I and II, why science has lagged behind, and what a groundbreaking new initiative—BD²: Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder—is doing to change that.

Host Morra Aarons-Mele speaks with Dr. Mark Frye, psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Dr. Kate Burdick, Distinguished Chair in Psychiatry and the Vice Chair for Research in Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, and neuroscientist and BD² initiative lead Dr. Cara Altimus about the genetics, biology, and lived experience of bipolar disorder, and what it means to truly thrive with a complex mental illness. We discuss promising research directions, including GLP-1s, cognitive trajectories, and precision psychiatry.

Key Quote: "

It’s not enough to reduce the bad. We’re aiming to increase the good—to help people with bipolar disorder live the full lives they want to live." — Dr. Cara Altimus

Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²) is a collaborative initiative building the scientific foundation for better treatments and better lives for people with bipolar disorder. Learn more and get involved at https://www.bipolardiscoveries.org/.

Listeners who live with bipolar disorder can learn more about BD2' and their ongoing study described in this episode by visiting bipolardiscoveries.org or sending an email to [email protected]. 

The study is taking place in partnership with 11 medical institutions across 44 locations in the U.S. and Canada. The medical institutions are:

Listeners can also sign up for the BD2’ newsletter, Thrive Updates, at bipolardiscoveries.org and learn more by following on LinkedIn, BlueSky, and X at BD2Discoveries. 

Timestamps:

05:31 Understanding Bipolar Disorder: Definitions and Types