In this week's episode, I am joined by Dr. Emily Falk! Emily Falk is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania with appointments in Communication, Psychology, Marketing, and Operations, Informatics & Decisions.

She serves as Vice Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication, Director of the Communication Neuroscience Lab, and Director of the Climate Communication Division at the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

An expert in the science of behavior change, Dr. Falk integrates psychology, neuroscience, and communication to investigate what makes messages persuasive, why ideas spread, and how people can become more effective communicators.

Her new book, What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change, uncovers the hidden brain processes behind every decision we make—and shows how understanding those processes can help us make more intentional choices in our work, relationships, and lives. Dr. Falk's research has earned numerous honors, including early career awards from the International Communication Association, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the Social and Affective Neuroscience Society, and the NIH Director's New Innovator Award.

She is also a Fulbright grant recipient, a DARPA Young Faculty Award winner, and was named a "Rising Star" by the Association for Psychological Science.

She earned her B.A. in Neuroscience from Brown University and her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California.

Key Points

• Insights on choice-making

• The brain's social influence

• Creating impactful habits

• The neuroscience of purpose

• Parenting using brain science

Best Quotes

02:59 - 03:08

• "you know, I know that you think that when I come to your house, we're really spending quality time together, but actually we're not."

03:26 - 03:30

• "I wanna spend time with my kids, I wanna be a good boss. There are so many different things."

03:52 - 03:56

• "I wasn't sticking that landing of actually getting over there and spending the time with my grandmother."

10:44 - 10:51

• "People who are feeling more purposeful get a lot of benefits, both in terms of mental health and physical health."

19:24 - 19:33

• "Our brain figures out the things that we're choosing between, it then assigns a subjective value to each one, and then it keeps track of how things went."

In this week's episode, I am joined by Dr. Bob Rosen! Dr. Bob Rosen is a world-renowned thought leader on healthy people and healthy organizations. A psychologist, New York Times best-selling author, researcher, and preeminent business advisor, his pioneering work on personal and organizational change has earned global recognition. Each year, Bob speaks to thousands of people around the world and appears frequently in international media.

A sought-after media commentator, Bob has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Bloomberg Businessweek, Financial Times, Time, Chief Executive Magazine, and many others. His books include Detach, the New York Times bestseller Grounded®, the Washington Post bestseller Conscious, Just Enough Anxiety, Global Literacies, The Catalyst, The Healthy Company, and Leading People. As a global keynote speaker, Bob is especially known for his insights into the psychology of self-improvement and leadership in a rapidly changing world.

Bob holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of the University of Virginia. He teaches in executive education programs and has long served on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University's School of Medicine. His body of work—including books, programs, and resources—is available at bobrosen.com. Key Points

• The peril of past & future attachments

• Agile living beats stability illusion

• Embrace imperfection, discard perfection

• Success: balancing aspiration & contentment

• Self-awareness: key to high performance

Best Quotes

05:56 - 06:09

• "And so I wanted to identify the common attachments that got in the way. At the same time, Western psychology teaches us about dreams and aspirations and problem solving."

09:50 - 10:00

• "So by not facing the truth inside of us, us and practicing forgiveness of what happened, we risk becoming too attached to the past."

18:02 - 18:06

• "But the present state is where peace lies, and it's the hardest place to be."

32:43 - 32:58

• "We have a choice. So detached, although it might be scary for people who are high performing, it really helps them in the long run with their success and high performance."

In this week's episode, I am joined by Jeanne Sparrow! Jeanne Sparrow is an author, trusted leadership and communication consultant, and graduate faculty instructor at Northwestern University. A 7-time Emmy-winning television host, award-winning radio personality, and podcast host, Jeanne brings more than 30 years of experience in broadcasting and media to her work.

Driven by a lifelong passion for amplifying people's stories with clarity and hope, Jeanne's mission is to create connection and community—and to help others do the same. She empowers individuals and organizations to become more adaptable, confident, and successful by teaching them how to deliver authentic value through visionary leadership and inspiring communication.

You can connect with Jeanne and join her online community at www.fearlessauthenticity.com, listen to her podcast Fearless Authenticity with Jeanne Sparrow on YouTube or your preferred streaming platform, and find her book Fearless Authenticity: Lead Better, Sell More, and Speak Sensationally at your favorite bookseller.

Key Points

• Impact of being true to oneself

• Legacy tied to authentic living

• Midlife: a time for self-realignment

• The magnetic vibe of authenticity

• Action as an antidote to fear

Best Quotes 4:23 - 04:34

• "What do you actually do every day? Like that's the stuff I'm interested in because those, because the way in which we fulfill these roles is actually the thing that shows people who we are."

08:37 - 08:44

• "The saddest thing in the world is for somebody to leave this earth and with music still in their heart, right?"

08:47 - 08:55

• "And sometimes it's in tune with other people and sometimes it's not. But when you find the place where you are reaching that right harmony with other people, it's beautiful."

15:44 - 15:47

• "My mama told me, you always leave people better than you found them. That's right." 27:47 - 27:59

• "I am so passionate about, you know, people taking their authenticity to heart and understanding that they are a gift."

My guest today is Eddie Pinero — speaker, creator, and founder of Your World Within.

Eddie has built one of the most recognizable storytelling platforms in the self-development world.

His spoken-word films and reflections on purpose, discipline, and growth have reached hundreds of millions of people online, reminding us that we're always one decision away from a completely different life.

But behind all the creative success is something deeper — a philosophy about what it means to live a meaningful life. In this conversation, we talk about the process of becoming, why hardship is essential for growth, and how the pursuit of excellence doesn't have to come at the cost of peace.

Eddie's perspective bridges the gap between art and action — between thought and motion. It's a reminder that the life you want isn't waiting for permission; it's waiting for you to begin.

Key Points

• The power of one decision — how small choices can completely shift the direction of your life.
• Why doing hard things is the fastest way to build confidence and resilience.
• How to create from a place of meaning rather than validation.
• The balance between chasing excellence and maintaining inner peace.
• Why progress isn't about perfection — it's about evolution, one step at a time.

In this week's episode, I am joined by Shira Miller! Shira is passionate about helping people live and lead with purpose, optimism, and sustained energy. A two-time TEDx speaker, Certified Executive Coach, and author of Free and Clear: Get Unstuck and Live the Life You Want, Shira currently serves as Chief Communications Officer for National DCP, the $3 billion supply chain company serving Dunkin' franchisees.

Cultivating optimism is her superpower. Having overcome financial hardship, chronic health challenges, and career misalignment, Shira transformed her own life into one fueled by meaning, connection, and impact. Today, she helps thousands of leaders and organizations do the same—activating the remarkable within themselves, their teams, and their cultures.

Shira's speaking engagements include events for the Society for Human Resource Management, Women's Foodservice Forum, Emory University, Canyon Ranch, the Women's Leadership Conference–Wisconsin, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and the Public Relations Society of America, among others. Her insights have been featured in Thrive Global, Shape, Health, First for Women, Authority Magazine, Quick & Simple, and the Atlanta Journal–Constitution.

Key Points

• Optimism: Your Life's Superpower

• The Positive Impact of Daily Acts

• Relationships Shape Your Path

• Reverse Bucket List Confidence Booster

• Embrace the "Remarkable" Inside You

Best Quotes

10:32

• "You know, the statistic is unfortunately quite high. If I think of the book, positive Intelligence, are you familiar? I've heard It, yes. Okay. It's terrific by, shes, I'm not going to say his name, exact shed shamine, his estimate is that 80% of us are holding ourselves back because of our negative relationship with ourself, and it's with our inner saboteur."

16:05 - 16:18

• "I call it the five things that I did for myself. You can do this in the morning or you can do it in the night. So let's say you're doing it at night and I try to list five things that I did for myself that day."

19:21 - 19:31

• "And people are uncomfortable with that. So when you can really, you know, I talk in the book about taking a pause, it could be for 10 minutes, it could be for 10 days."

31:36 - 31:50

• "The first point I wanna make is that we all already have the remarkable inside of us. And when I'm talking about remarkable, it's the ability to do something extraordinary or to make a big impact."

34:19

• "I call it a reverse bucket list. Would you like to hear about it? Okay. So, you know, the concept of a bucket list, you know, things we wanna do before we kick the bucket, before we, you know, die. So in this case, it's about acknowledging everything that we've already done."

Tamara Myles is a speaker, author, and professor specializing in the science of human flourishing at work. She helps leaders and organizations—including Microsoft, KPMG, and MassMutual—unlock the power of meaningful work to drive peak performance, innovation, and resilience.

A faculty member at Boston College and a researcher and instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Tamara's work challenges traditional assumptions about work, showing that when leaders cultivate meaning, they create thriving teams and lasting impact.

Through her latest book, Meaningful Work (co-authored with Wes Adams), Tamara is redefining what it means to truly thrive at work.

The book and its accompanying Make Work Meaningful framework demonstrate how purpose, connection, and contribution can elevate not only organizational success but also individual fulfillment.

Her insights offer leaders and teams practical ways to align high performance with genuine well-being, making her a leading voice in conversations about how to live and lead at the highest level.

Key Points

• "The 3 Cs: Community, Contribution, Challenge"

• "Positive emotions coexist with struggle"

• "AI's rise altering the work dynamic"

• "Youth demanding meaningful work"

• "Mutual mentorship and generational bridging"

Best Quotes

02:08 - 02:31

• "And, and so it really, it was transformative in my personal life. And then in my work life I think was a com was an evolution and, and a way of, of like naming sometimes, you know, it's about having language to describe what you already believe in or what things you already do."

02:14 - 02:31

• "And then in my work life I think was an evolution and, and a way of, of like naming sometimes, you know, it's about having language to describe what you already believe in or what things you already do."

13:00

• "My leader cares about what's happening in my life outside of work. And one of the practices that we teach is exactly what, what you said, like at the weekly standup meeting at a weekly one-on-one, just ask, like let people talk about don't, don't be so transactional and go right into like, here are the things that are going on this week who has a question, right?"

34:14

• "So Marty Seligman, who founded the field of positive psychology has told us, you know, everybody who, who is a scholar and, and kind of researcher or works in the field that his moonshot vision, his big goal with the field is to have 51% of the population in the world flourishing by 2051."

In this conversation, I am joined by Jim Murphy! Jim is the man behind the viral book "Inner Excellence"! Today, we explore the themes of personal growth, the impact of literature, and the journey of young athletes. We discuss the importance of surrendering control, the role of belief, focus, and freedom in achieving excellence, and the influence of parents in shaping children's beliefs. The conversation also touches on the significance of competition, relationships, and creating a positive impact through service, while navigating challenges and learning from failures. Jim shares insights on the future of Inter Excellence and the need to fill the gap in society with a message of love and connection. takeaways

• The journey of a young athlete can be transformative.
• Literature can significantly impact personal growth.
• Survival mentality often hinders true potential.
• Surrendering control can lead to greater freedom.
• Belief, focus, and freedom are essential for excellence.
• Parents play a crucial role in shaping beliefs.

Sherri Coale is a native Oklahoman who grew up in a small rural town just north of the Red River, where she developed a lifelong love for reading, writing, and basketball—not necessarily in that order.

After a standout collegiate career at Oklahoma Christian, she traded her high tops for the sidelines in 1987, beginning what would become a Hall of Fame coaching career.

For 25 years, Sherri served as the head women's basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma, where she became the winningest coach in program history.

Under her leadership, the Sooners appeared in 19 consecutive NCAA tournaments and reached three Final Fours, cementing her legacy as one of the most successful coaches in the sport.

Sherri's contributions extend far beyond OU. She has coached on the international stage with USA Basketball, helping lead teams to a bronze medal in 2001 and a gold medal at the 2013 World University Games, where her squad defeated Russia on their home court.

Throughout her career, she has been recognized not only for competitive excellence but also for championing academics and community service, always striving to maximize her players' potential both on and off the court.

Her impact has been honored with inductions into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame, and numerous others—including the "Home of" signs proudly displayed in her hometown of Healdton.

Beyond coaching, Sherri is an author, master motivator, engaging speaker, gifted writer, and thoughtful observer of everyday life.

She shares her reflections in her weekly blog, A Weigh of Life (sherricoale.com), and is the author of Rooted to Rise, an Amazon bestseller, and The Compost File.

She and her husband, Dane, have been married for 38 years and are the proud parents of two children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and two beloved granddaughters who now fill their world with joy.

Key Points

• The importance of coaching beyond the game

• Cultural impact of shows like Ted Lasso

• Growth in collegiate athletics and its consequences

• The allure of writing and life after coaching

• The evolution of women's basketball and its icons

Best Quotes

03:23 - 03:28

• "The more curiosity we have, the, the less judgmental we're gonna be and the better off it is."

05:12 - 05:17

• "It's a proven philosophy that if you can connect with someone, you can help shape and change their behavior."

06:59 - 07:03

• "I need that. I need more of that in my life and I'd watch more stuff." 08:16 - 08:20

• "I fell in love with basketball in the third grade. Nobody in my family played."

09:04 - 09:11

• "So I went to college and said, I wanna be a teacher and a coach because I could not imagine a day without a basketball in my hand."

30:44 - 30:53

• "What I wanted them to most leave Oklahoma with what I wanted my children, I have two children. What I wanted them to leave our home with was confidence."

46:38 - 46:46

• "When I first started writing the stories in Rooted to Rise, I had about 15 stories and I thought I didn't, I wasn't writing a book, I was just writing."

In this week's episode, I am joined by Suzanne Warye! Suzanne Warye is a sobriety influencer and the host of the popular podcast The Sober Mom Life.

She is also the founder of The Sober Mom Life Cafe, a supportive digital community where women can explore their relationship with alcohol and discover freedom in sobriety.

Her work and personal journey have been featured in Scary Mommy and the Huffington Post.

Based on the North Shore of Chicago, Suzanne lives with her husband and three kids.

When she's not creating content or connecting with her community, she's likely reheating her coffee and embracing her self-proclaimed "whole heart, half ass" approach to parenting. Suzanne is the author of "The Sober Shift", out September 30th!

Key Points

• Sobriety shifts life's trajectory

• Navigating feelings post-alcohol

• Sharing the generational drink culture

• The lifelong impact of personal habits

• Connection beyond numbing substances

Best Quotes

03:50 - 03:56

• "But I too was drinking very heavily early on in my life, like super early."

07:35 - 07:43

• "I, I mean, it's interesting because I grew up in a family where my grandfather was an alcoholic."

11:54 - 12:03

• "I think being bored is like the pathway to creativity. We don't, we don't create anything when we're just like, you know, constantly consuming."

12:04 - 12:17

• "We have a rule in our house, like, you can use, you can be on the screen as long as you want, as long as you're creating and not consuming, because something happens to our mental health when we create."

12:21 - 12:30

• "And so I think just, but first allowing ourselves to feel the feelings of boredom, because generally adults aren't good at being bored either."

In this week's episode, I am joined by Alex Hutchinson! Alex is a science journalist, author, and former long-distance runner for the Canadian national team whose work explores the limits of human performance and humanity's innate drive to explore. He writes the long-running Sweat Science column for Outside magazine and has contributed to The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Globe and Mail.

A Columbia-trained journalist with a Ph.D. in physics from Cambridge, Alex completed post-doctoral research with the National Security Agency before shifting full-time to writing. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance and, most recently, The Explorer's Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map (2025), a groundbreaking look at the science behind why humans are wired to push boundaries.

Key Points

• How challenges enhance meaning in life

• Daily routines can unlock high performance

• AI's impact on critical thinking and exploration

• The fine balance of parenting and risk

• The paradox of effort

Best Quotes

01:29 - 01:40

• "High performance, you know, you can, you can use different words for it, but I think that the concept is, I, I've always liked to, to push as hard as I can, push my limits, see what I'm capable of." 03:50 - 04:03

• "So it's always this, this, it's a delicate dance of trying to, trying to cr create that feeling in other people to try and, you know, have them challenged enough without feeling like, no, you, you, you always have to push harder."

05:21 - 05:28

• "I always wanted them to focus on the effort. I always wanted them to have fun doing what they were doing, not just worried about the end, but actually enjoying the journey."

06:22 - 06:28

• "There's a joy in the, there's a joy in seeing what I, what I'm capable of today. That, and it's, it's fun."

07:58 - 08:14

• "The one strain of res research that I found, you know, really validating to be frank, is on this idea called the effort paradox, which is what psychologists, that's their, their term for this idea that sometimes we do things not in spite of the fact that they're hard, but because they're hard."

10:49 - 11:01

• "Yeah, for sure. I mean, you know, and I'm a morning runner. Like I, when I, you know, when I was competing, going, you know, in, in high school and university practices were after school, after, after classes, and I was used."

12:37 - 13:01

• "So I, like, I really encourage people to figure out what's gonna get them going. And, and don't make it too daunting at the beginning. Don't, don't start with like a 18 step process to get ready for the day, but figure out what's gonna be good for you, do it, and then do it long enough that it eventually, it's no longer optional because then you don't have to waste your time or waste your mental energy to convincing yourself. It's just what you do."