How can we more effectively navigate conversations with people who have different values, and beliefs than we do? Neighbors, community members, co-workers, and family members who care deeply about the same issues, but who have widely different views about them. What are the conditions that would be needed in order to have productive conversations? …

Always do your best. When I was growing up I heard that a lot. "Just do your best." "Leave it all on the field." Or some similar version of that message. It seemed like a generally positive and empowering message. An invitation to show up fully and give it my all. I was on board. But what I didn’t realize was that this message was incomplete. It wa…

One of the most extraordinary manifestations of human potential is: Our ability to grow and strengthen ourselves in the face of pain, trauma, and those moments where life falls apart. Today’s guest, Dr. Amrita Sen Mukherjee, has not only studied what contributes to this deeply human capacity for post-traumatic growth but has experienced it first-ha…

In yesterday’s Courageous Life episode with psychologist and author, Dr. Jill Stoddard, we took a deep dive into overcoming self doubt and imposterism. Part of which reminded me of a powerful practice for transforming stress. A practice I first learned from Dr. Alia Crum and her team at Stanford’s Mind and Body Lab. I originally created this practi…

Today’s guest identifies as a recovered imposter. For years, she was convinced that the only reason she was accepted into a competitive grad school program was because her father knew the program director. One thing research shows is that Dr. Jill Stoddard, psychologist, and author of Imposter No More, isn't alone in this. Deep down, a majority of …

In the hero's journey, the hero or heroine is called to adventure. Often in the form of a quest, a challenge, or an adversity. And often in unexpected ways. One of the things that’s interesting about the heroes journey is that shortly after the call a helper enters the picture. A mentor, sage, guide, or a coach who helps the hero to navigate the ad…

"It’s very important work to be calm in a storm. To be a center for the people in your life." -Elizabeth Lesser (Courageous Life Episode 112) So often when storms arise in our life they unleash a variety of feelings: Uncertainty Fear Groundlessness When these experiences arise the mind will often will enter into a cycle of trying to find ground, of…

In the more than forty years since she co-founded Omega Institute—now the world’s largest center for spiritual retreat and personal growth—Elizabeth Lesser has been an intimate witness to the ways in which people weather change and transition. In our conversation I shared the question we have been exploring on the show for years. A question that ca…

In the hero's journey, the hero or heroine is called to adventure. Often in the form of a quest, a challenge, or an adversity, And often in unexpected ways. One of the things that’s interesting about the hero's journey is that shortly after the call a helper enters the picture. A mentor, sage, guide, or a coach of some sort. They help the hero: Nav…

After work one evening I met a friend who has been navigating big questions about their career and what’s next. We sat outside and they shared some of their story. A close friend of theirs, whom they care about and deeply respect Had called them up And offered advice about what to do. While well intended it completely missed the mark. My friend lef…

When veteran executive coach, professor, and ultra-endurance champion Urs Koenig signed up to be a NATO peacekeeping commander and United Nations peacekeeper in his fifties, he thought he knew a thing or two about leadership. In his new book Radical Humility he openly shares that what he discovered as he embarked on this journey was a new leadershi…

The blank canvas. The blank page. The big questions: What’s next in my life? What do I want to do for work? How do I want to live? These are familiar moments and seasons of life marked by the unknown. Often filled with feelings of uncertainty, what’s beautiful about these moments, and these seasons is that They are an invitation into creativity. Bu…

Kaira Jewel Lingo is a mindfulness and meditation teacher with a lifelong interest in blending spirituality and meditation with social justice. She spent her formative years growing up in an ecumenical Christian community where families practiced a new kind of monasticism and worked with the poor. When she turned 25 she entered a Buddhist monastery…

There is a beautiful teaching metaphor that comes out of buddhist psychology about 2 darts. As we move through life we inevitably experience pain. From minor bumps and scrapes, To major injury, loss, heartbreak, and catastrophe. This is the 1st dart. What’s interesting about pain though is that it can often be accompanied by thoughts about the pain…

When I first started coaching I was introduced to the idea of: Meeting the client where they are. This idea being both a cornerstone of coaching, And a practice that involves attuning to the person in front of you in such a way that opens up a possibility of working with them wherever they are in their development or growth journey. While it may so…

In the hero's journey, the hero or heroine is called to adventure. Often in the form of a quest, a challenge, or an adversity, And often in unexpected ways. One of the things that’s interesting about the hero's journey is that shortly after the call a helper enters the picture. A mentor, sage, guide, or a coach of some sort. They help the hero: Nav…

Why can it be so difficult to receive? Whether it’s something small like a compliment, Or something bigger, like receiving help when we are in some form of pain or distress. While the response can vary of course, For many of us the instinct can often be: To brush off the compliment To minimize the recognition To turn down the help Essentially to cl…

When you hear the word provoke what do you think of? What about the word provocative? For many (including myself) This idea, of provocation, often holds a negative connotation. Look it up in the dictionary and you’ll even see one definition that reads: Purposefully stirring up a fight. But as you can imagine there’s a very different form of provoca…

Dr. Jessica Tracy is the Director of the Emotion and Self Lab at the University of British Columbia, and someone I have been looking forward to interviewing for a long time. Back in 2016 she published a book titled: Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success. The title grabbed my attention. Largely because the form of pride…

At the end of each day we do a mental scan, reviewing our experiences from that day. When people do this, they often find: The moments where they moved outside of their comfort zone The moments where they pushed themselves And the moments where they were courageous Are often the moments that they end up being most proud of. Additionally, leading co…

Today we are re-releasing one of our most popular episodes ever on the show, a powerful conversation with Dr. Marc Brackett. In this episode, we'll explore themes from his book Permission to Feel as well as his broader work as a leader in the field of emotional intelligence. Marc, is on a mission to educate the world about the value of emotions and…

In the hero's journey, the hero or heroine is called to adventure. Often in the form of a quest, a challenge, or an adversity. And often that adventure arrives unexpectedly. One of the things that’s interesting about the hero's journey is that shortly after the call a helper enters the picture. A mentor, a sage, a guide, or a coach of some sort. Th…

As part of a 4-part series on the Power of Compassion on The Courageous Life, yesterday we released a beautiful conversation with Roshi Joan Halifax and Rhonda Magee. Together they explored a variety of themes related to meeting the most pressing challenges of our time with backbone and heart. To complement the conversations in this series I have b…

This is the finale in our 4-part series on the power of compassion, which has featured leading researchers and practitioners in illuminating conversations about how to live with a more kind, and open hearted stance toward the world. Today's conversation could not be a more fitting end as Roshi Joan Halifax and Rhonda V. Magee, two extraordinary pio…

In the hero's journey, the hero or heroine is called to adventure. Often in the form of a quest, a challenge, or adversity. And often that adventure arrives unexpectedly. One of the things that’s interesting about the hero's journey is that shortly after the call a helper enters the picture. A mentor, a sage, a guide, or a coach of some sort. They …

As part of a 4-part series on the Power of Compassion yesterday we released a moving conversation with Jerry Colonna and Leah Weiss. Together they explored the future of work: Love, Safety, and Belonging. To complement these conversations on compassion I am sharing some of the most potent practices I’ve come across for opening the heart, and access…

There is a metaphor that comes out of ancient wisdom traditions of a bird. One wing of the bird represents wisdom and the other represents compassion. In order to fly the bird needs both wings. Like the bird, as people and leaders, cultivating wisdom and compassion in our lives, and in our organizations may help us to realize our potential. This me…

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Everyday Heroes and Helpers. A new series on the Courageous Life Podcast that has been a dream since we first launched back in 2018. Part of the mission of the show has always been to share inspiring stories of everyday heroes. Ordinary people like our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and members of our communitie…

As part of a 4-part series on the Power of Compassion which we are re-releasing on The Courageous Life, yesterday we released a beautiful conversation with Dr. James Doty and Dr. Jacinta Jiménez. Together they explored a variety of themes related to cultivating greater compassion and empathy, including the possibility of fostering cultures of care …

Today we're continuing our four-part series on the power of compassion with a deep, insightful, and moving conversation between Dr. Jacinta Jiménez and Dr. James Doty. Each episode in this series showcases a powerful duo made up of a leading researcher and practitioner who will explore themes related to compassion, courage, and living with a more o…

Over the next four weeks on the Courageous Life podcast we will be re releasing a 4-part series on the Power of Compassion. Yesterday we began with Part One, a powerful and moving conversation with Positive Psychology Pioneer Dr. Barbara Fredrickson and world renowned meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg. To complement these conversations over the co…

Today we’re relaunching a 4-part series on the power of compassion. We originally released this series of conversations last season as we brought together some of the world's leading researchers and practitioners to take a deep dive into compassion, courage, and living with a more open and loving stance toward the world. Throughout this series you'…

Whether it’s presenting, facilitating, sharing in a large meeting, hosting, or some other form of being in the spotlight, Speaking in public is one of people's greatest fears which may show up in various forms: Doubt Feeling anxious or nervous Over-focusing on oneself The list goes on. So today, we are re-releasing one of the most popular practices…

How do we find the courage to create? The courage to listen to, and follow our heart? Particularly when that means living a life that may not follow the beaten path? And how might we expand our capacity to hold more than one emotion at a time, accepting and embracing the messy experience of being human, and the inevitable ups and downs of the creat…

Yesterday we released a Courageous Life conversation with Dr. James Doty. Together we explored themes from his new book: Mind Magic The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How it Changes Everything. In both the book and our conversation Dr. Doty challenges the popular narrative around manifestation, A narrative that has narrowly emphasized outward su…

For decades the practice of manifestation has been widely dismissed as self-involved, materialistic pseudoscience. Today, neuroscientist and founder of the Center for Compassion at Stanford, Dr. James Doty is back on the podcast for the 3rd time. This time to discuss what he calls an antithesis to this popular narrative around manifestation, which …

Yesterday we released a moving Courageous Life conversation with Juliana Tafur. Juliana is a journalist, award winning documentary filmmaker, and bridge builder. She serves as the Program Director for the Greater Good Science Center’s Bridging Differences initiative. During our time together she shared shared some of her story, and insights from he…

How does it feel to be seen? What is it like to be listened to in a way that you feel deeply understood? How often have you listened to others in this way? And, how often have you been listened to like this? In his book, Caring Enough to Confront, David Augsberger writes: "Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are …

In yesterday’s Courageous Life episode with Dr. Todd Kashdan, the author ofThe Art of Insubordination, we unpacked the recipe for what he calls, principled rebellion: A courageous practice of going against the stream, Challenging conformity and questioning conventional ideas. But doing so from a place of heart. Rebelling in ways that are generative…

For ideas to evolve and societies to progress, Dr. Todd Kashdan argues it's vital to cultivate principled rebels. Those who who are willing to go against the stream, to challenge conformity and question conventional ideas, But to do so from a place of heart - to practice rebellion in ways that are generative (vs. destructive). This type of authenti…

When I was first learning to be a coach we had a saying before stepping into a coaching conversation: Leave your assumptions at the door and embrace curiosity. In reality we often know SO little about someone’s experience, and about their story. And when we recognize that, what seems to make the most sense is to get curious. To ask questions, And t…

What do you feel when you gaze up at the Milky Way, take in a beautiful sunset, stand before a mountain that seems impossibly high, or witness an extraordinary act of courage, kindness, or love? Often, it's a profound sense of awe - the overwhelming feeling we experience when we encounter something vast that transcends our understanding. In his boo…

On the heels of a powerful conversation with Dr. Emma Seppala we are re-releasing this Practicing Courage episode (originally #4) as it aligns intimately with the themes Emma and I explored together. Perhaps none more important than Sovereignty, which is the topic of Emma's beautiful new book: Sovereign. She defines Sovereignty as: Our innate human…

There is an internal freedom and a relationship with yourself so profoundly life-supportive and energizing that you access your fullest potential. This is sovereignty. Our innate human capacity for being resilient regardless of the chaos that life brings and for staying true to oneself and intentional regardless of outside influences. In her beauti…

To fail is human. It’s built into our experience from childhood. We begin to walk and we fall. We begin a project, we work toward a goal, or we start a business and we may fail. We experience these moments - When we are engaged in learning, When we are moving toward something we care about And we come up short. And in these moments there is an oppo…

Failure is an experience that is deeply embedded into our lives. As we learn to walk we fall. As we learn to ride a bike we (usually) fall again. And yet even though it is so familiar, so intertwined with our journey through life, not all failure is created equal. Which brings up important questions: How do we fail well? What are the crucial distin…

In my most recent interview with Dr. Nate Klemp, who is author of the new book Open: Living With an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World, we got the opportunity to talk deeply about opening more to life. Are you familiar with this feeling of openness? Perhaps for you it’s a sense of curiosity? Or a feeling of expansion in the mind, or in the body? …

With the avalanche of information we get every day, closing down our minds and hearts seems to be the only way to survive. We close to ourselves by compulsively checking our devices. We close to each other by getting caught in echo chambers of outrage. But what if there’s another way? In this climate of distraction and division, what if there’s a p…

Yesterday I released a conversation with Dr. Vanessa Patrick. Vanessa is a professor of marketing and the associate dean for research at the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. Among other things, Vanessa researches what she calls the empowered refusal - A way of saying no that stems from your identity. This empowered form of sa…

Have you ever said yes when you really wanted to say no? Has saying no ever been a challenge for you? These are such common experiences that today’s guest, Dr. Vanessa Patrick has written a powerful new book that addresses them head on: The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No that Puts You in Charge of Your Life. Dr. Patrick resear…