Nobody Told Me!

Do your co-workers make life tough for you on the job? Our guest on this episode is social psychologist Tessa West, who's an expert on difficult workplace relationships, specializing in interpersonal interaction and communication. She's the author of "Jerks at Work: Toxic Coworkers and What to Do About Them." Her website is https://www.tessawestauthor.com.

How can you become more productive without adding more stress to your life? Our guest, Dr. Alice Boyes, joins us as we explore the techniques we can all use to be the most growth-oriented and effective version of ourselves. Dr. Boyes is a clinical psychologist turned writer whose latest book is called "Stress Free Productivity: A Personalized Toolkit to Become Your Most Efficient and Creative Self". Her website is https://www.aliceboyes.com/

Joining us on this episode is Gabrielle Bernstein, who's been labeled a new thought leader by Oprah Winfrey. Gabby was included in Oprah's Super Soul 100, a group of 100 trailblazers whose vision and life's work are bringing a higher level of consciousness to the world. Gabby is the author of eight books, the latest of which is called "Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace."

What does it mean to be a highly sensitive individual? Why does sensitivity have a negative stigma? How you can embrace your sensitivity? Joining us on this episode is Andre Solo, co-author, with Jenn Granneman, of the new book, "Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too Much World".

Our guest on this episode is international bestselling author, and renowned spiritual and thought leader Panache Desai, who has been a favorite guest on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday. He's the author of, "You Are Enough: Revealing the Soul to Discover Your Power, Potential and Possibility". His website is https://www.panachedesai.com/

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of paper you've accumulated? Have catalogs, magazines and tax records taken over more space than you'd like? Are you at a loss to decide how you'll ever conquer the paper clutter around you? If so, you'll want to hear what our guest, professional organizer Lisa Woodruff has to say. Lisa's the author of several books on organization, including the latest, "The Paper Solution: What to Shred, What to Save, and How to Stop It From Taking Over Your Life".

We're very excited to welcome back our guest on this episode, bestselling author Greg McKeown. Greg is a highly respected leadership and business strategist and author of the New York Times bestseller, "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less". That book explored how we can do less, but do better in every area of our lives by embracing the practice of "essentialism". Greg's newest book is another New York Times bestseller. It's called, "Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most". His website is https://gregmckeown.com/about/

We're delighted to welcome back bestselling poet and author Maggie Smith. Her book, "Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change", became a breakout bestseller in the midst of the pandemic. Her powerful collection of quotes and essays on facing life's challenges with creativity, courage, and resilience provided inspiration to people around the world who were experiencing one of the toughest times in their lives. Now, Maggie has developed an interactive workbook to guide readers on their own journeys toward growth during times of grief and uncertainty. It's called, "Keep Moving: The Journal". Her website is maggiesmithpoet.com.

Soak in the wisdom and observations of our guest on this episode, international best-selling author and master coach, Dan Millman. Dan is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor whose 20-year spiritual quest led him to write his first book, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives". His website is https://www.peacefulwarrior.com/

Most of us are familiar with the idea of one-on-one therapy, but have you ever considered the possibility of group therapy? On this episode, hear from New York Times bestselling author Christie Tate, author of the book, Group: How One Therapist and A Circle of Strangers Saved My Life. The book is described as "the memoir of a guarded, over-achieving, self-lacerating young lawyer who reluctantly agrees to get psychologically and emotionally naked in a room of six complete strangers—her psychotherapy group—and in turn finds human connection, and herself. Her website is https://christietate.com/group/

Few topics are more fascinating and mysterious than the history of life on earth. Our guest on this episode is paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Henry Gee, who is the author of several books, the latest of which is called, "A Very Short History of Life on Earth: 4.6 Billion Years in 12 Pithy Chapters". His website is https:/averyshorthistoryoflifeonearth.blogspot.com/

Our guest on this episode is acclaimed writer and journalist Stephanie Foo, author of the book, "What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma". The book has been described as both "harrowing and inspirational", packed with valuable insight into trauma and the healing process. Her website is stephaniefoo.me.

Have you ever thought about how your life is constantly being swayed by small, seemingly insignificant, decisions? Our guest is social scientist Brian Klaas who's done extensive research into how seemingly inconsequential actions have life-changing consequences. Brian is a professor of global politics at University College London and the author of the new book, "Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters". His website is brianpklaas.com.

If you see yourself as a perfectionist, learn how to get your perfectionism to work for you and not against you. Our guest is psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler, who is a former on-site therapist at Google and the author of the new book, "THE PERFECTIONIST'S GUIDE TO LOSING CONTROL: A Path to Peace and Power".

What does it mean to "live a good life"? And how can we do that? We explore those questions on this episode as we talk with two Notre Dame philosophy professors who've written a great guide for examining the quality and meaning of one's own life. Our guests are Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko whose book is called, "The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith and Meaning".

If you could use some help simplifying and streamlining your living environment, help is on the way! Our guest is professional organizer Jen Robin, the founder and CEO of the organizational and lifestyle company known as "Life in Jeneral". Jen is the author of the book, "LIFE IN JENERAL: A Joyful Guide to Organizing Your Home and Creating the Space for What Matters Most". Her website is https://www.lifeinjeneral.com/about

We're excited to welcome Captain Sandy Yawn to the show. Captain Sandy is a super-yacht captain with over 30 years of international maritime experience. Captain Sandy is perhaps best known as the star of the hit reality series, "Below Deck Mediterranean". She's the author of the book, "Be The Calm or Be The Storm: Leadership Lessons from a Woman at the Helm". Her website is captainsandyyawn.com. She is also the co-host of the podcast, "The Captain Sandy and Leah Rae Show".

If you've ever felt bad when someone has told you to "just be happy!", then this episode is for you. We explore the limits of positive thinking with our guest, psychotherapist Whitney Goodman. Whitney is the author of the book, "TOXIC POSITIVITY: Keeping it Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy", which is described as a powerful guide to owning our emotions—especially the difficult ones. Her website is https://sitwithwhit.com/

Do you find it tough to set healthy limits in your personal and professional relationships? On this episode, we'll find out why some of us have trouble setting boundaries and how we can change. Joining us is psychotherapist and relationship expert Terri Cole who says the most successful and satisfied people on the planet have one thing in common: the ability to create and communicate clear, healthy boundaries. Terri's latest book is called, "Boundary Boss: The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen and (Finally) Live Free". Her website is https://www.terricole.com/

Did you know that we spend around 70% of our lives sitting or lying completely still? A sedentary lifestyle is not only bad for your body, it can also result in anxiety, depression and a lower overall IQ. Our guest on this episode is science journalist Caroline Williams, who says simple movement has the power to improve every aspect of our lives. Caroline is the author of the book, "Move: How the New Science of Body Movement Can Set Your Mind Free". Her website is https://www.carolinewilliams.net/

Our guest is Dr. Shefali Tsabary, a renowned clinical psychologist and New York Times Bestselling author. She specializes in family dynamics and personal development integrating Western psychology and Eastern philosophy. On this episode, she talks about some of the concepts explained in her book, "A Radical Awakening—Turn Pain into Power, Embrace Your Truth, Live Free". Check out her website at drshefali.com

What if you could change an old habit by working on it for just 30 seconds a day? Our guest on this episode, B.J. Fogg, says that making new habits should be fast, easy, and fun -- and the steps are the same for whether you want to floss your teeth more or lose 200 pounds! He has researched human behavior for over twenty years and is the director of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University. He's also the author of the book, "Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything".

Joining us once again is Humble the Poet, a Canadian philosopher, blogger and author. His book, "UNLEARN: 101 Simple Truths for a Better Life" was originally crowd-funded and self-published…and became a bestseller. Humble's new book is called, "How to Be Love (d): Simple Truths for Going Easier on Yourself, Embracing Imperfection and Loving Your Way to a Better Life". His website is https://www.humblethepoet.com/

As we begin 2024, join us in taking a non-denominational look at how you can harness the power of prayer in your life and use it to find connection, peace and gratitude. Our guest is bestselling author and speaker Agapi Stassinopoulos, who describes prayer as "Your ongoing conversation with something larger than yourself." She's the author of, "SPEAKING WITH SPIRIT: 52 Prayers to Guide, Inspire, and Uplift You". Her website is https://community.thriveglobal.com/author/agapi-stassinopoulos/

There are times in life when unforeseen circumstances, like the death of a loved one, a sudden illness, the loss of a job or even a global pandemic, can derail our lives. So, how can we care for, and repair, ourselves when life knocks us down? Our guest on this episode, Katherine May, has written a New York Times bestselling book on that topic. It's called, "Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times". Her website is https://katherine-may.co.uk/

Your attention span is our topic as we learn about gaining control of our focus and understanding why we get so easily distracted. Joining us is renowned psychologist Dr. Gloria Mark, who has been called "the definitive expert on distraction and multi-tasking." She's the author of the book, "Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity". Her website is gloriamark.com.

Have you ever heard the term, "emotional labor"? It's that invisible, unappreciated caring you do for other people. You're about to hear a lot about it as we talk with our guest, journalist Gemma Hartley, whose viral article "Women Aren't Nags, We're Just Fed Up" was viewed more than two BILLION times! She's the author of, "Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward". Her website is http://www.gemmahartley.com/

Get an in-depth look at the latest thinking on what causes mental illness and what can be done to treat it. Our guest is Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Christopher Palmer, who's the author of a book that could change your life or that of a loved one who's struggling with mental illness. It's called, "Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health—and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More". His website is chrispalmermd.com.

Coping with pain is the topic on this episode. Joining us is Dr. Saloni Sharma, who is double board-certified in pain management and rehabilitation medicine. Her new book is called, 'The Pain Solution: 5 Steps to Relieve and Prevent Back Pain, Muscle Pain, and Joint Pain without Medication". Her website is salonisharmamd.com.

Ever since we saw the television show, Hoarders, we've wanted to talk with our guest on this episode, extreme cleaning specialist Matt Paxton. Matt has spent decades helping people sort through messes in attics, basements, garages and elsewhere. He's the host of the PBS television show, "Legacy List with Matt Paxton", which highlights families that are downsizing or settling an estate of a loved one. Matt is also the author of the book, "Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life". His website is https://iammattpaxton.com/

Do you procrastinate? Would you like to stop procrastinating? Our guest, Tim Pychyl, is the one of the world's leading experts on procrastination. He is the author of "Solving the Procrastination Puzzle" and a contributor to publications like Fortune, Psychology Today, and the Washington Post. His website is https://www.procrastination.ca/

This is holiday shopping episode is with one of our favorite guests ever, nationally known psychologist Dr. April Lane Benson, specialist in the treatment of compulsive buying disorder. On this show, Dr. Benson shares some great strategies for how to avoid shopping temptations and why 'experience' gifts make for the most memorable presents. Sadly, Dr. Benson passed away a couple of years ago. But, her wisdom about compulsive buying is her legacy, and hopefully, you can benefit from hearing what she had to say.

Our guest is Jacqueline Whitmore, one of the foremost experts on etiquette in the world today and author of "Poised for Success: Mastering the Qualities That Distinguish Outstanding Professionals". In this episode, we talk about business etiquette, how to approach uncomfortable situations, how to make small talk, how social media has impacted our in-person interactions, and much more. You can learn more about her at https://etiquetteexpert.com/.

Communications expert Carmine Gallo joins us to talk about insights from his latest book about Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The book is called, "THE BEZOS BLUEPRINT: Communication Secrets of the World's Greatest Salesman". Carmine is a bestselling author, Harvard instructor, coach and keynote speaker known for transforming some of the world's best-known CEO's into powerful storytellers and communicators. His website is https://www.carminegallo.com/

The relationship between parents and their adult children, may be difficult at times. For some insight into that, we turn to an expert on the subject, social psychologist and author Jane Adams. Jane's books include, "When Our Grown Kids Disappoint Us" and "I'm Still Your Mother—how to get along with your grown-up children for the rest of your life". Her website is https://janeadams.com.

Chris Voss is a former international hostage negotiator for the FBI whose career brought him face-to-face with bank robbers and terrorists. His résumé is extremely impressive: he became the FBI's lead international kidnapping negotiator, he's taught negotiation at leading universities, given speeches that have had millions of views, and he's now sharing with us the skills that have helped him save lives. Chris says life is a series of negotiations you should be prepared for and he explains all about that in his book, 'Never Split the Difference'. Chris is the founder and CEO of the Black Swan Group which trains businesses, individuals, law enforcement and government personnel in negotiations. You can learn more about Chris at https://blackswanltd.com.

How can you raise open-minded and morally grounded kids these days, with an approach that's rooted in science, psychology, and faith? And, how can you help your children experience a holiday season filled with spirituality and gratitude? To help answer those questions, we turn to our guests, Rev. Molly Baskette and child psychologist Ellen O'Donnell, who have co-authored a book called, "Bless this Mess: A Modern Guide to Faith and Parenting in a Chaotic World".

Could you use a new approach to your life and work? Would you like to be better able to get your point across to others? Is there a way that you could be more inspirational to others? If you answered "Yes!" to any of those questions, you'll want to hear what our guest, Jason Harris, has to say. Jason is the Co-Founder & CEO of Mekanism, an award-winning creative advertising agency. He's also the author of the bestselling book, "The Soulful Art of Persuasion: The 11 habits that will make anyone a master influencer".

Most of us would love to be great public speakers! Our guest on this episode, Michael Gelb, has thoughts about public speaking that are refreshingly different than what you may have heard before. Michael is an executive coach who's worked with companies like Nike, Microsoft, Merck and DuPont over the past 40 years giving presentations on creativity, innovation and leadership. His latest book is called "Mastering the Art of Public Speaking: 8 Secrets to Transform Fear and Supercharge Your Career". His website is https://michaelgelb.com/

If you find it uncomfortable to deal with difficult people and highly emotional problems, stay tuned! Our guest is distinguished attorney Doug Noll, who has a lot to say about how we can improve our skills in handling such situations. Doug is the co-founder of the award-winning Prison of Peace Project, which teaches long-term inmates in maximum security prisons to be peacemakers and mediators. Doug's latest book is called, "De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less". His website is https://dougnoll.com/

If you're a fan of the show "Long Island Medium", then you know the star of that show, Theresa Caputo, who's our guest on this episode. Theresa is a New York Times bestselling author, whose latest book is called "GOOD MOURNING: Moving Through Everyday Losses with Wisdom from the Other Side". Theresa has been a practicing medium for many years and helps people heal and find the closure they need to embrace life without their loved ones who've passed away.

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, but that may not be what you're experiencing if you're missing someone who's passed away. Our guest on this episode is grief crisis consultant Harold Ivan Smith, who's written many books on grief including, "A Decembered Grief: Living with Loss While Others are Celebrating". In this interview, he shares some great advice on how to enjoy this time of year while also celebrating the memory of our loved ones who have died.

If you love to cook, or just love to eat, this episode is for you! We're excited to welcome our guest, award-winning magazine editor Dorothy Kalins. She's had a long career in food media and has collaborated on the production of many cookbooks. Dorothy was the founding editor of the food and wine magazine, 'Savure', and she's the author of a great book called, "The Kitchen Whisperers: Cooking with the Wisdom of Our Friends". Her website is https:/www.dorothykalins.com.

Think about any major disaster in the world over the past 30 years and our guest, Robert Jensen, was probably on the scene and personally involved for days, months or even years afterward. Robert is the chairman of Kenyon International Emergency Services, which provides crisis management response to hundreds of businesses and governments. Robert has spent most of his adult life responding to major disasters like the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 Haitian earthquake and the 2004 South Asian tsunami. He is the author of a gripping book called, "Personal Effects: What Recovering the Dead Teaches Me about Caring for the Living".

We are a mother-daughter duo and on this episode, we're joined by a father-daughter duo, Dr. Drew Pinsky and his daughter, Paulina. Dr. Drew is a practicing internist and addiction medicine specialist in addition to being a New York Times bestselling author. You probably know him as a trusted source of relationship advice from his TV, radio and podcast appearances over the years. Dr. Drew's daughter, Paulina, is a writer and educator who is the co-author of a great book with her father. The book is called, "It Doesn't Have to Be Awkward: Dealing with Relationships, Consent, and Other Hard-to-Talk-About Stuff".

More than one billion people around the world are disabled, yet, there are a lot of misconceptions about what it means to be disabled. Many of us are fearful, confused and unsure of what to say and how to act around someone with a disability. On this episode, we'll "demystify disabilities" with our guest, well-known disability rights activist, blogger and speaker Emily Ladau, whose work has been featured by the New York Times, CNN, and U.S. News and World Report, to name just a few. She is passionate about, "Getting nondisabled people to stop treating disabled people as a weird cross between precious gems and alien creatures." She's the author of the book, "DEMYSTIFYING DISABILITY: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally". Her website is https://emilyladau.com/

If you want to shake things up in your life, listen to our guest on this episode, Michael Bungay Stanier. He is the author of the best-selling book, "The Coaching Habit" and the founder of the training and development company, Box of Crayons, which has taught coaching skills to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. His latest book is called, "How To Begin: Start Doing Something that Matters". His website is mbsworks.

Have you ever tried t to change a habit, without success? Our guest on this episode, Professor Katy Milkman, is an award-winning behavioral scientist at The Wharton School. Katy's research explores ways that insights from economics and psychology can be used to change behaviors for good. She's the author of a book on that topic called, "How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be". Her website is https://www.katymilkman.com/

Your mindset is the topic on this episode. Do you wish you had emotional skills, habits and ways of looking at the world that served you better? Our guest, Julia Galef, says you can learn new ways of looking at the world and you should! Julia is the co-founder of the Center for Applied Rationality, the host of the podcast, "Rationally Speaking", and the author of the book, "The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't". Her website is https://juliagalef.com/