The Anxious Achiever

By Morra Aarons-Mele

Host Morra Aarons-Mele is on a mission to reframe how we think about anxiety and mental health in the workplace. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. We desperately need be... more

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How many episodes does The Anxious Achiever have?

The podcast currently has 360 episodes available.

Best of The Anxious Achiever

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Rebranding the Brain With Neurodiversity Expert Dave Thompson
Could your workplace be making it harder for you to do your best work? In this episode, I sit down with author and neurodiversity advocate Dave Thompson to talk about designing work around how people actually function best. Dave shares what he learned from helping build a successful social enterprise with a majority-autistic workforce. We dive into neuroinclusive work, masking, and how understanding your own needs helps you do better work without constantly forcing yourself to fit in. Tune in to discover how to create more room for the way you actually work, think, and thrive. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What would your ideal workplace look like? 03:15 Why owning what you're good at and bad at matters. 10:15 How designing work for everyone can improve productivity and engagement. 13:45 How early expectations can shape the way you see your abilities. 18:45 The 5 questions that change the way you design work. 23:00 What do you do differently that helps you succeed? 26:45 How the “Busy Burner” method helps manage competing priorities. 29:00 Why your ideal work environment may not look like anyone else's. 36:30 How masking can show up in everyday workplace behaviors. 43:30 What's wrong with the way most job descriptions are written? 46:15 Why employers need to think about what they're offering candidates. 47:45 What happens when workplaces aren't designed for everyone. Resources + Links Get Dave Thompson's book, Brainstorm HERE Learn more about Dave Thompson and his work 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 Dave: on LinkedIn @itsdavethompson
September 01, 202654min
Number 2: Penn and Kim Holderness on Neurodivergence And The Creative Journey
Do you ever feel like you're forcing yourself to work in ways that just don't fit how your brain works? In this episode, I sit down with Penn and Kim Holderness to talk about how understanding ADHD transforms the way you lead, create, and work together. Penn and Kim share how understanding emotional dysregulation transformed their marriage, why shame can hold people with ADHD back, and the systems they use to reduce overwhelm, unlock creativity, and work more effectively as a team. Tune in to discover how embracing the way your brain works can lead to stronger relationships, better collaboration, and more meaningful work. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why ADHD is about more than distraction. 05:00 How to recognize emotional flooding before it takes over. 08:00 How to build a work schedule that fits your brain. 09:15 Why giving your brain room to hyperfocus pays off. 11:15 How to structure your week for more creativity and focus. 14:30 How anxiety and ADHD strengthen creative thinking. 20:15 Does creativity become harder under constant pressure? 25:15 What would a workplace designed for ADHD look like? 29:15 Advice to anyone trying to build work around their strengths. 31:15 Why creating work that reflects who you are leads to greater fulfillment. Resources + Links Get a copy of ADHD Is Awesome HERE Learn more about the Holderness Family HERE Watch the Holderness Family on YouTube 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 The Holderness Family on Instagram: @theholdernessfamily
August 27, 202639min
Number 3: Learn How To Handle Uncertainty With Simone Stolzoff
What if your biggest advantage isn't knowing what's coming next, but trusting yourself to handle whatever comes? In this episode, I sit down with author Simone Stolzoff to talk about why your need for certainty keeps you stuck and how tying your identity too closely to work leaves you vulnerable when life changes. Simone shares why uncertainty isn't something to eliminate, but a part of being human, how values and relationships provide stability when the future feels unclear, and why adapting matters more than predicting what comes next. Tune in to discover how uncertainty can become a source of growth instead of something to fear. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why your job shouldn't become your entire identity. 08:15 What it means to commit despite doubt. 13:00 How AI is changing the way we think about work and identity. 16:45 What is a diversified identity? 18:45 How to cultivate the practice of not knowing. 21:15 What keeps you trapped in the need for certainty? 26:30 What to do when you're stuck waiting for an answer. 30:30 Advice to anyone worried about being laid off. 33:15 Finding stability in your values when everything else feels uncertain. 37:45 Can preparing for the worst reduce anxiety? 40:00 Are your fears based on facts or assumptions? 44:00 Why uncertainty makes life worth living. 48:30 Why your future self is more capable than you think. Resources + Links Get a copy of How to Not Know HERE Get a copy of The Good Enough Job HERE Learn more about Simone Stolzoff 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 Simone: on LinkedIn @simonestolzoff + Instagram @thepizza_bagel
August 25, 202656min
Number 4: Do Conflict Better With Amy Gallo
Do difficult conversations keep you up at night, or do they make you want to avoid conflict altogether? In this episode, I sit down with workplace conflict expert Amy Gallo, author of Getting Along, to talk about how healthy conflict actually strengthens trust, decision-making, and leadership confidence. We dive into how our brains get emotionally hijacked during difficult conversations, how avoidance creates “conflict debt,” and why learning to stay grounded in discomfort may be one of the most important leadership skills we can build. Tune in to learn how to face conflict calmly to reduce anxiety and make you a more confident leader. Check out our sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Protect your privacy, build your brand, and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/achieverfree Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to http://shopify.com/anxiousachiever Talkiatry - Head to http://talkiaitry.com/achiever and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Working Genius - Take the working genius assessment today and get 20% off with code ACHIEVER at working http://genius.com Brevo - Meet brevo, the all in one marketing and CRM platform built to help you connect with customers, boost engagement and grow your business smarter. Go to brevo.com/achiever and use code ACHIEVER50 for 50% off. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why conflict feels especially hard for anxious achievers. 04:30 How avoiding conflict increases anxiety. 06:15 What happens during an emotional “amygdala hijack”? 08:00 The cost of conflict avoidance and conflict debt. 10:30 How difficult conversations build confidence over time. 12:30 What is the role of shame and fear in workplace conflict? 17:00 How to practice conflict safely in low-stakes situations. 22:30 The 4-step framework for handling conflict better. 27:30 Finding shared goals during disagreement. 32:15 What to do when conflict keeps you up at night. 34:15 How to repair conversations that went badly. Resources + Links Get your copy of Amy’s book Getting Along HERE Learn more about Amy Gallo 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 Amy: on LinkedIn @amyegallo + Instagram @amyegallo
February 26, 202641min
Number 5: What Is Post Traumatic Growth? with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman
What if the parts of yourself you feel most ashamed of are not things you need to hide or fix, but parts you need to learn to accept? In this episode, I sit down with psychologist and author Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman to talk about self-compassion, neurodivergence, shame, and what it means to find growth and meaning in the face of adversity. Scott shares why you create so much unnecessary suffering by ruminating over how others perceive you, how trusting your intentions can help you stop beating yourself up, and why you can accept and love yourself without necessarily liking every part of who you are. Tune in to discover how to stop reducing yourself to your mistakes or your past and build a more compassionate relationship with your whole self. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever. Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today. Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why self-actualization isn't something you achieve once and for all. 05:45 What is human-centered leadership? 09:00 What Maslow meant by self-actualization. 15:00 Why no one type of mind should be considered superior. 18:30 How to think about the different parts of yourself. 23:30 Can you accept all the different parts of yourself? 26:00 Why being your authentic self can feel so difficult. 30:30 How neurodivergence can contribute to rumination and feeling different. 35:00 How self-compassion changes your relationship with yourself. 36:00 Why trusting your intentions can help you stop overthinking. 39:30 What is post-traumatic growth? 42:00 Can you really grow from trauma and adversity? 47:30 What does it mean to choose growth instead of fear? 49:30 Shame, authenticity, and the courage to ask for what you need. 53:30 What does Maslow mean by being love? 55:30 Why are you more than the worst thing that happened to you? Resources + Links Check out Dr. Scott’s books, including Choose Growth, Rise Above, and Leading for Tomorrow HERE Learn more about Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman 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. Scott on LinkedIn: on LinkedIn @scottbarrykaufman + Instagram @scottbarrykaufman
September 15, 20261h 4min