What is the surest path to success and contentment in life, and what are the mistakes to avoid along the way? My guest this week is Skip Prichard, who has thought a lot about these questions for many years. He's distilled his insights into his Wall Street Journal bestselling book, The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future. We explored some of the nine secrets and we discussed his book,  and the many benefits of avoiding these mistakes.

You're probably familiar with "near death experiences." My guest this week is Dr. Sharon Prentice, who describes a related journey called a "shared death experience." This was a new concept for me, as I'm sure it will be for a lot of listeners. It made for a really fascinating discussion as we explored the ways it changed Sharon's understanding of God and what it means to die, and to live. 

Psychologist and author Dr. Ross Greene encourages parents to let go of unhelpful parent-imposed solutions when kids aren't meeting our expectations, such as rewards and punishment. His approach focuses instead on solving problems collaboratively with our children, using a straightforward three-step method. 

My guest this week is therapist and OCD specialist Jon Hershfield. Jon is doing an incredible amount of work to improve the lives of those who struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder through his therapy practice, writing, and public talks. In this episode we discussed his excellent new book, Overcoming Harm OCD: Mindfulness and CBT Tools for Coping with Unwanted Violent Thoughts.

Do you ever feel like you and someone else just aren't hearing each other? My guest this week is Oren Jay Sofer, who is passionate about helping people to improve their relationships through his mindful approach to nonviolent communication. Discover how true presence can help us to listen and express ourselves more effectively. 

My guest this week is my brother Charlie Gillihan, who will graduate from medical school soon. We explored the slow evolution of medical training in the US, what it takes to become a doctor, the high rates of burnout and suicide among physicians, and what to look for in a great primary care doctor. 

My guest this week is highly acclaimed poet Mary Jo Salter, whom Dan Chiasson described as “one of America’s most accomplished formalists” in the New York Review of Books. In this conversation we explored the drive to create poetry and its unique effect on our psyches. 

My guest this week is Jonni Pollard, who specializes in teaching the art of embodying our true nature to live the most meaningful life possible. In this episode we explored his inspiring vision of our deepest nature, our true purpose, and our capacity for fulfillment. 

Dr. James Kelley and I discuss the sometimes surprising effects of adversity, or what James calls the "crucible's gift." Life's challenges may offer the opportunity to grow in strength and compassion, ultimately allowing us to become the person we were meant to be. 

My guest this week is psychologist Dr. Mark Powers, who specializes in research on anxiety and PTSD. Mark and I discuss the latest research on treatments for trauma, including EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, yoga, and exercise, as well as the general principles of effective therapy.