The Courageous Life

In their powerful new book, Born to Flourish,Renowned neuroscientists and contemplative teachers Dr. Richard J. Davidson and Dr. Cortland Dahl offer a radical and hopeful idea:All of us come into the world with an innate capacity for kindness, compassion, and human flourishing. Through a powerful blend of storytelling, pioneering research, and ancient Buddhist wisdom, they reveal how reconnecting with our true nature can transform not only ourselves but also our divided world.In today’s conversation we’ll explore the landscape of human potential, and the possibility of flourishing in the face of life’s challenges. In many ways this exploration is rooted in one of the most important and hopeful scientific findings of our time. The fact that our brains are far more malleable than most of us assume, And that when we engage in practices which Richie and Cort have discovered take only minutes a day, we can profoundly reshape how we respond to stress, connect with others,understand ourselves, and ultimately infuse our lives with greater meaning and purpose. Named one of the most influential people in the world by Time, Richie has been a pioneer in contemplative science, and the domain of human flourishing for decades.Much of his work coming out of The Center for Healthy Minds. A center that he founded and where he serves as Director. It was at the Center where Richie and Cort first met - A chance encounter that in many ways felt more like it was destined to be. Since then they have collaborated closely together, and become good friends in the process. Today they’ll share more about this beautiful collaboration, and what’s come from it, including the four key skills of flourishing that they’ve identified through their research.What is so refreshing about their work is that it is (in many ways) a departure from the popular paradigms of quick fixes, and self improvement projects. Instead they argue that flourishing is about rediscovering something we already have.It’s about returning to our innate capacities for kindness, compassion, and basic goodness. And perhaps most importantly They remind us that these capacities can be strengthened by anyone — regardless of background, experience, or circumstance.For more on Richie and Cort, their new book Born to Flourish, the award winning Healthy Minds App which Richie and Cort created together, as well as other offerings including their podcast, and substack, Dharmlab please visit humin.org, or check out centerhealthyminds.orgEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Unwinding Anxiety and Finding Inner Peace | Dr. Jud BrewerMeditation, Awakening, and Original Love | Henry ShukmanOn the Transformative Power of Equanimity | Margaret CullenThanks for listening!Support the show

Over the course of his more than 40 year career,Renowned psychotherapist Francis Weller developed a unique style of practice. What he calls soul-centered psychotherapy. Francis writes:“When we listen to soul, to what is latent in the symptoms of depression, anxiety or addiction, we hear a more subtle voice calling out for attention. Only then do we come to understand the wisdom hidden in the suffering. Only then do we see what our soul has been asking of us all along.Once granted, the symptoms often abate, leaving us deepened by the encounter with soul.”In his moving and timely new book: In the Absence of the Ordinary Soul Work for Times of UncertaintyFrancis generously offers many of the powerful insights gained from a lifetime spent navigating the territory of the soul. In doing so, he invites us back into alignment with the wider world of belonging. In today’s conversation we’ll dive deep into Francis’s beautiful approach. Together we'll explore: The possibility of approaching our experiences with reverence, Working skillfully with grief, Practicing self-compassion, And learning to slow down and move at the speed of the soul.Throughout our time together Francis will also offer a crucial reminder. We cannot engage this work alone. It is together that we can carry the anxieties, navigate the difficulties, and honor the sacred transitions of 21st-century life. Community is our way through.Like thousands of people around the world, I have found Francis to be a lantern in challenging times. His work, a shining source of guidance, clarity and wisdom.And perhaps you’ll leave this conversation feeling as I did,and as so many do after being in Francis’s company, More connected, present, And changed for the better. For more on Francis, his books including The Wild Edge of Sorrow, events, and other offerings please visit Francisweller.netEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Listening and Attending to the Soul | James HollisOn Achieving the Transformation We Truly Seek | Ross Ellenhorn On Ordinary Mysticism, Wonder, and Love | Mirabai StarrThanks for listening!Support the show

In his book Letters to a Young PoetCelebrated author and poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote:“Be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”In 2025, with the publication of her beautiful book:How to Fall in Love with Questions: A New Way to Thrive in Times of UncertaintyJournalist and applied behavioral scientist, Elizabeth Weingarten carries Rilke’s work forward. Through contemporary research, powerful storytelling, and her beautifully written prose,Elizabeth charts a new path for personal growth—a way to embrace the questions of our lives instead of seeking fast, easy answers.She writes:“What do you do when faced with a big, important question that keeps you up at night? Many people, understandably, seize answers dispensed by "experts," influencers, gurus, and more. But these fast, easy, one-size-fits-all solutions often fail to satisfy, and can even cause more pain.What if our questions—the ones we ask about relationships, work, meaning, identity, and purpose—are not our tormentors, but our teachers?”In today’s conversation we’ll explore the fascinating possibility of living the questions. Elizabeth will share stories from her journey of discovering a fresh, evidence-based approach for navigating uncertainty. One inspired by Rilke’s 150-year-old advice, and the moving stories of many others, whose lives have transformed through a different, and better, relationship with uncertainty.Elizabeth’s work offers a powerful reminder:When we find the courage to love the questions of our livesIt opens the door the kind of self-discovery that’s only possible when we feel most alive -That is, in the moments where don’t know what will happen next.For more on Elizabeth, her book, and other offerings please visit elizabethweingarten.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On the Science of Mastering Your Intuition | Laura HuangOn the Power of Wonder | Monica ParkerOn Work, Friendship, and Embracing Impermanence | Parker Palmer & Jerry ColonnaThanks for listening!Support the show

Dr. David Treleaven is a a writer, educator, and trauma professional whose work lies at the intersection of mindfulness and trauma. At the heart of David’s work is the notion that mindfulness is more powerful when combined with an understanding of trauma.Part of what’s behind this is the growing realization over the years that mindfulness meditation isn’t all good. There are a number of potential pitfalls that have been increasingly documented over time. One of which is that mindfulness can exacerbate symptoms of traumatic stress. As a result David has focused on offering mindfulness providers the knowledge and tools they require to meet the needs of those struggling with trauma.In this conversation (which was originally recorded during COVID and we are re releasing again) David and I will explore a few big questions:What is the relationship between increasing our capacity to be with discomfort and a meaningful and fulfilling life?How can we increase our capacity to tolerate distress and discomfort while staying regulated, and responsive in the process?When we are working at the edge of our comfort zone, or are working with the more difficult aspects of our experience how do we know when to keep going, and when to back off?This is one of my favorite conversations on the show over the years and Partly because David is such a skilled teacher, and partly because the framework we'll discuss together (called the window of tolerance) is one of the most practical I have come across for answering these big and nuanced questions about how to meet life from a more responsive and regulated place. For more on David, his book, courses and events please visit: davidtreleaven.comNote on re-releasing this episode:Every so often we will choose to re release an episode from earlier years. These conversations are often some of the best we've had on the show and you'll see [Best of] in the title. This conversation was originally recorded in 2021 during COVID, yet the themes, and what David offers feel just as timely and useful today as they did years ago. I hope you enjoy!Interested in taking David's flagship Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness Course? As a listener of The Courageous Life you can get $400 off. To receive the discount: 1. Head to: https://davidtreleaven.com/trauma-sensitive-mindfulness-complete/2. Upon checkout enter the coupon code: courage400Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are more conversations we think you'll love:On Why We Suffer and How We Heal | Dr. Suzan SongOn the Transformative Power of Equanimity | Margaret CullenOn the Power of Wonder | Monica ParkerEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Thanks for listening! Support the show

We all know the feeling:That gut-wrenching post-conversation replay, cringing at how much we just revealed. Many of us live in fear of saying too much, so we keep our mouths shut, guard our emotions, and lock away our most personal thoughts. But what if we’ve been worrying about the wrong thing?A growing body of research shows we vastly underestimate the value of sharing more than we think we should, with our spouses, friends, colleagues, and even strangers. In her new book, Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing, Behavioral Scientist and Harvard Business School Professor, Leslie JohnDraws on over a decade of research and real-life stories, as she explores: why we hesitate to open up, when sharing really does backfire, and how to strike a balance between too much and too little.In today’s conversation we’ll dive into this practice of wise disclosure, And how when we pair vulnerability and openness with the practice of skillful discernment,We can unlock some of life’s richest rewards. For more on Leslie, her book and other offerings please visit proflesliejohn.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Becoming the Best Version of Yourself | Marc BrackettOn the Science, and Magic, of Great Conversations | Alison Wood BrooksA Cardiologist's Journey to Healing, Health, and Happiness | Dr. Jonathan FisherThanks for listening!Support the show

In times of great division, disruption, and uncertainty, how can we find the ability to stay grounded? While each of us may find we have different answers, Here are a few that have been emerging for me recently:The first - remembering, in the words of one of today’s guests: you don’t have to do it alone. Remembering the power (and necessity) of seeking out supportive community, and friends. The second -turning to history. Gaining perspective and insight by revisiting times in the past where humans have collectively endured, and persevered in the face of tremendous adversity.The third - turning to the wisdom of elders.Seeking out the wise and caring teachers, mentors, and leaders in our communities who are further along the path and can offer guidance from where they stand. Two of these modern elders in many ways are Mark Nepo and Elizabeth Lesser.Chosen as one of OWN's SuperSoul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity, Mark Nepo is one of the great poets and spiritual guides of our time. And bestselling author, and Co-Founder of Omega Institute, one of the world’s leading conference and retreat centers, Elizabeth Lesser has had the opportunity to learn from, and collaborate with many of the greatest spiritual teachers and leaders around the world. Something she’s done since Omega was first founded in 1977. I asked Elizabeth and Mark if they’d be willing to come together to engage in a rich conversation - sharing some of their own insights, practices, and ultimately what they’ve learned from some of their teachers about navigating troubling times. In this conversation (originally released in March 2025) we'll explore:The possibility of meeting whatever is here, including the grand challenges we are facing, with greater wisdom, balance, and love.For more on Mark please visit marknepo.comFor more on Elizabeth check out elizabethlesser.org, and for more on Omega Institute please visit: eomega.orgI was reminded in this conversation that perhaps the most potent way we might find our way through these times, And back to each other,Is by remembering that at some level we are all made of the same stuff. Each one of us, a human being - part of a larger whole.A reminder which in Mark’s words took this form:“When we come back into direct connection with life,There’s a reverence for life. And when we have a reverence for life we can’t do harm.”Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On the Transformative Power of Equanimity | Margaret CullenOn Saving the World and Ourselves | john a. powellRediscovering the Art of Constructive Dialogue | Dr. Mylien DuongEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thanks for listening!Support the show

You may know people who are seemingly unflappable. Steadfast. As if they’ve somehow been inoculated with antibodies to render them able to survive, strive, and even thrive through major life stressors and transitions. What’s different about these people? Are they born with resilient genes, or does culture play a role? Do they have certain outlooks or behaviors that make them able to manage life with grace and confidence?If so, are these skills that everyone can learn?Today’s guest, Stanford and Harvard trained psychiatrist, medical anthropologist, and humanitarian adviser, Dr. Suzan Song,has been exploring these questions for decades. Working with people facing everything from everyday instability to profound human rights violations,She’s witnessed first-hand the limits of routine Western approaches to adversity. And now, in her highly anticipated debut book, Why We Suffer and How We Heal, Suzan shows us that resilience isn’t inherited or taught in isolation—it emerges from the stories we tell, the rituals we keep, and the connections we depend on. In today’s conversation we’ll unpack some of Dr. Song’s hard-earned wisdom, Her insights about what helps most to weather life’s storms, And the groundbreaking path she’s uncovered that can lead to deep healing, thriving in spite of challenges, and feeling fully alive again. Perhaps most importantly though, she reminds us that this path Is open to us all.For more on Dr. Song’s extraordinary work, speaking, and her new book (which if you enjoy this conversation I can’t recommend highly enough) please visit Suzansong.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Curiosity, Presence, and Love | Dr. Jacob HamOn Choosing Love | Mark NepoOn Unlocking Our Primal Intelligence | Angus FletcherThanks for listening!Support the show

What if the mental health symptoms we face aren’t the actual problem? What if they’re signals that can help us see and solve the real problem? Psychiatrist, award winning professor of medicine, journalist, and leading mental health expert, Dr. Joanna Cheek invites us to lean into these questionsArguing In her timely new book: It’s Not You, It’s the World, A Mental Health Survival Guide for Us All, that we’re not broken or doing it wrong when we’re stressed or struggling.She writes:“As our world clashes and collapses around us, it’s no surprise that one in two of us will be diagnosed with a mental health condition by the age of forty. It’s hard to view all our mental health symptoms as disordered if so many of us are experiencing them. Perhaps it’s not that something’s gone wrong in our bodies and minds, but that something’s gone right: These symptoms are brilliant alarms and adaptations to help us survive in a disordered world. Having sensitive protective functions that sound alarms or short-circuit when we’re threatened isn’t a design flaw. It’s a design success.”Her words, and the deeply compassionate, expansive set of insights, tools, and practices she offers in her book, and through the powerful work she does in the world,Invite us into a space of empowerment, connection, and hope.It’s the type of action-oriented hope that stems from grounded possibility.The possibility that when we care for both ourselves and our collectives, And learn to understand and befriend our alarms we can come together to solve the shared problems they’re signaling,we can heal the systems that are making us all sick, And we can build a healthier future together. For more on Joanna, her new book, events, and other work please visit joannacheek.caEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts. Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On the Transformative Power of Equanimity | Margaret CullenOn Saving Ourselves and the World | john a. powellOn Wisdom and Love in Troubling Times | Mark Nepo and Elizabeth LesserThanks for listening!Support the show

In his new book Flourish, bestselling author, scientific journalist, and leading culture expert Daniel Coyle trains his eye on the groups and people who demonstrate exceptional connectivity, presence, and dynamism. His focus driven by a deep curiosity to better understand some of life’s biggest questions:What is a meaningful life, and how do we make one? AndHow do certain communities foster closeness, fulfillment, happiness, and energy?To uncover the answers, Daniel spent 5 years visiting with, and studying these diverse groups who he writes: "Have, accidentally or on purpose, demonstrated an extraordinary ability to cultivate joyful, meaningful growth." Some of them include: An unlikely brotherhood of thirty-three men who were trapped in a Chilean mine, A tiny Michigan deli that blossomed into a $90 million ecosystem of businesses, while still keeping its soul.A children’s television show host whose quiet presence captured the hearts of parents and kids across generations.And a nonprofit in an impoverished Nairobi settlement that has improved quality of life for thousands of people.Through his trademark original reporting,Daniel found that these flourishing groups do two things: They make meaningThey build communityBut how this unfolds is where things get really interesting: Daniel shares:“The curious thing was, The source of aliveness seemed to be located in moments in which the group did absolutely nothing. That is, they often stopped their activities and came together in ritual-like stillness, and in those quiet moments meaningful connections would arise.These moments were mostly defined by what they lacked. There was no deciding, no information sharing, no reaching for outcomes. Instead the were about deliberately stopping, zooming out to take in the bigger picture, noticing and savoring connection."His beautiful new book, and today’s conversation, offer a powerful reminder - To slow down, To practice presence, And through the process, To connect more deeply with ourselves, each other, and the world around us. If we do, it may just be the doorway to the meaning, joy, and fulfillment so many of us yearn for. For more on Daniel, his books, and other work please visit danielcoyle.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On the Science of Mastering Your Intuition | Laura HuangOn the Power of Wonder | Monica ParkerOn Unlocking Our Primal Intelligence | Angus FletcherThanks for listening!Support the show

There is an internal strength of mind and heart that is characterized by non-reactivity and clear seeing. It is a strength that holds the power to help us navigate the biggest challenges in our lives —not by ignoring them,not by reacting to them in destructive ways, But rather by being present with, and open to, all the very real struggles of being human without being hijacked by them. In her new book, Quiet Strength: Find Peace, Feel Alive, and Love Boundlessly Through the Power of Equanimity, Revered meditation teacher and licensed psychotherapist Margaret Cullen, Speaks to how how we can grow our capacity for equanimity. For 3 years Margaret took a deep dive into Equanimity. Meeting with leading neuroscientists, psychologists, faith leaders, meditation teachers, and even a politician,All to explore equanimity’s promise. Which she writes:"Is expansiveness. An ability to love life in all it’s poignancy; To fearlessly let go of self-limiting definitions; and to see in sadness, fear and anger some of the same signs of being ferociously alive we feel in delight connection and awe. Equanimity is our capacity to be tender-hearted without sentimentality, vulnerable without weakness, wise without detachment, humble without diffidence, and to surrender without passivity."Today we’ll explore this promise.The very real possibility of meeting life’s challenges from a place of grounded wisdom, And growing the quiet strength needed to create a better world. For more on Margaret, her books, teaching, live events, and other offerings please visit margaretcullen.comAnd to preorder your copy of Quiet Strength (coming in March 2026) please visit: https://margaretcullen.com/publications/book/quiet-strengthEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Ordinary Mysticism, Wonder, and Love | Mirabai StarrOn Choosing Love | Mark NepoOn Work, Friendship, and Embracing Impermanence | Parker Palmer & Jerry ColonnaThanks for listening!Support the show

There is a primal drive that in our species alone has been transformed into one of our most persistent and universal motivations: The longing to matter.In her revelatory new book: The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us, MacArthur Fellow, National Humanities Medalist, and bestselling author, Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, Weaves powerful insights from biology, psychology, and philosophy,To persuasively argue that our need to matter―and the various “mattering projects” it inspires,from parenting, to scientific discovery, to transcendence, art, creative work, or the pursuit of mastery―is simultaneously the source of our greatest progress and our deepest conflicts: the very crux of the human experience.Leveraging her gifts as a storyteller,Rebecca elevates the stories of people pursuing their unique mattering projects: From the pioneering psychologist William James, who rose above the depression of his young adulthood to become perhaps the first great theorist of mattering; To an impoverished Chinese woman who rescued abandoned newborns from the trash; To a neo-Nazi skinhead who as a young man dealt racial violence to feel he mattered but ultimately renounced that hateful past after realizing that mattering isn’t a zero-sum game.In offering these portraits Rebecca illuminates how our shared instinct for significance shapes identity, relationships, culture, and conflict - But, perhaps most importantly, They point the way to a future where we all might see that there is, fundamentally, enough mattering to go around.Through her work, and today’s conversation, Rebecca invites us to considerhow our universal longing to matter - The primal instinct that so often drives us apart -may actually be the key to finally understanding each other. For more on Rebecca, the Mattering Instinct, her other books and writing, please visit rebeccagoldstein.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On the Healing Power of Love | Stephen G. PostOn How the Arts Transform Us | Susan Magsamen & Ivy RossOn Wisdom and Love in Troubling Times | Mark Nepo & Elizabeth LesserThanks for listening!Support the show

Joseph Campbell, the visionary author behind The Hero's Journey, once wrote:"People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive."Today’s guest, leadership coach, organizational consultant, and wellbeing expert, Vivien Tai in many ways has picked up where Joseph Campbell left off. Her pioneering research for her Master’s Thesis in Positive Psychology Explored a provocative question:What if the real measure of a good life — or a great workplace — isn’t how much we achieve, but how 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 we feel?Today, we’ll dive deep into the the topic of Aliveness as Vivien shares:More about her journey into this work which she describes largely was fueled by the pain of not feeling alive.Insights she’s gained about what helps us come more fully alive in life, work, and relationshipsHer reflections on the future of work, the importance of human-centered leadership, and the potential for organizational thriving when people come more fully alive.Vivien writes:"I have experienced what it’s like to grind in my career and achieve material success on paper, only to feel empty and hollow inside. I have experienced what it’s like to live life on autopilot, following the expectations of society and others, and end up disconnecting from my authentic truth. I have experienced what it’s like to be disconnected from others, putting on masks in order to be accepted, but yearning to be accepted and loved for who I really am.I believe we yearn for a fuller sense of aliveness in the way we live, work, and relate with one another. One that honors the fullness of our human experience and nurtures connection to self, others and life."Her work offers us all a beautiful possibility to consider. That the answer to the one of the timeless existential questions: What makes life worth living?May just be, Aliveness.More about Vivien:Vivien’s work is about helping people and organizations come more fully alive — whether through coaching mid-career professionals navigating career transitions, building communities of purpose-driven leaders, or partnering with organizations to cultivate cultures that support both performance and flourishing.She integrates insights from positive psychology, humanistic psychology, and Eastern spiritual wisdom in her work. Vivien holds a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from UPenn, and has trained in mindfulness and self-compassion practices.Before moving into coaching and consulting, Vivien spent over a decade in the Singapore Government, where she led organizational culture and well-being strategies for 150,000 public officers. Links:CoachingSubstackLinkedInMediumEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Living a Life That Brings Us Truly Alive | Lee JohnsonThe Missing Ingredient to 'The Good Life' | Elaine BesserSupport the show

We all have something we want to change about ourselves. But whether it's quitting smoking, losing weight, or breaking some common bad habit, we feel a sense of failure when we don’t succeed. This can often set off a cascade of negative feelings and discouragement, making it even harder to change. The voice in our head telling us: Why bother?In his profound book, How We Change: And Ten Reasons Why We Don’t Sociologist, pioneering psychotherapist, and author Dr. Ross Ellenhorn Takes a deep dive into this all too familiar experience as he unpacks the psychology and science of changing our lives for the better. Which he argues depends far more on understanding why we don’t change.His research sheds an important light on how we are wired to double down on the familiar. A phenomenon he calls - 'The Fear of Hope' -That very human and compassionate act of protecting ourselves from further disappointment. In today’s conversation we’ll dive deep into the topic of change as we,Challenge the popular paradigm(s) of quick fixes, and 5 and 7 step lists. And examine what actually works. Some of which includes:The power of a caring relationship, Contemplation,And learning to become a better friend to ourselves. Ross’s pioneering work offers us all an invitation to consider a fundamentally different approach.One that may forever alter our perspective—and finally help us achieve the transformation we truly seekFor more on Ross, his events, books, and research please visit ellenhorn.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Listening and Attending to the Soul | James HollisOn Curiosity, Presence, and Love | Dr. Jacob HamOn Learning to Be a Better Friend to Ourselves | Megan PragerJoin Joshua on a NEW 6-month journey in uncovering how we can open our hearts and minds to live a more expansive life. A life that brings us alive. A life that is driven primarily by curiosity, wonder, and love (vs. certainty, control, and fear).Learn more about and register for "From Fear to Love: A 6 Month Journey" here. Thanks for listening!Support the show

10 years ago Chelsea Pottenger found herself in a psychiatric hospital. Deep in the throes of severe PostNatal Depression following the birth of her daughter,Chelsea in many ways was fighting for her life and at the beginning of a long road toward healing, and ultimately post traumatic growth. Along the way she found herself in a monastery learning and practicing meditation,Arriving at new insights about how she wanted to live, And eventually choosing to leave a very successful corporate career to found EQ Minds - a company on a mission to reset the corporate agenda. Chelsea and her team work with some of the world’s most iconic businesses to prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of their employees first. In addition to founding and directing EQ Minds, Chelsea is now a highly sought-after keynote speaker, author of the Mindful High Performer, and was just nominated for Australian of the Year. Today she will share some of this journey.Her heart wrenching, and inspiring story of transforming pain into purpose. A story that in many ways offers us a beautiful reminder:There is a deeper and richer experience of life available to us.An experience that often begins with coming home to who we truly are. For more on Chelsea, her book, speaking and the incredible work they are doing at EQ Minds, please visit: https://www.eqminds.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Listening and Attending to the Soul | James HollisOn Heartbreak, Healing, and Transformation | Sara Avant StoverOn Learning to Be a Better Friend to Ourselves | Megan PragerJoin Joshua on a NEW 6-month journey in uncovering how we can open our hearts and minds to live a more expansive life. A life that brings us alive. A life that is driven primarily by curiosity, wonder, and love (vs. certainty, control, and fear).Learn more about and register for "From Fear to Love: A 6 Month Journey" here. Thanks for listening!Support the show

What sets the most successful people apart? You may think that the answer is hard work (and it’s certainly part of it), but in her interviews of the most accomplished individuals—from entrepreneurs and investors to Olympic athletes and Pulitzer Prize winners—Distinguished Professor of Management, Dr. Laura Huang discovered that what they called their gut feel, the product of their intuition, played the most important role.Laura, who has held faculty positions at Harvard Business School and the Wharton School has in many ways dedicated her research career to quantifying the ‘unquantifiable’. Her work shows that we all have intuition - a combination of our brain's intelligent synthesis of external data and the entirety of our personal experiences. Our intuition draws from what we already know and what we didn’t even realize we knew. This process culminates in a gut feel which can manifest as: A eureka moment, A Spidey sense, Or a jolt that changes how we see things and compels us to act.If you’re like most people, these flashes of clarity arise passively. Random occurrences that come out of the blue.And yet in her powerful new book: You Already Know: The Science of Mastering Your Intuition, Laura shares: "What makes our gut feel a superpower is our ability to go from the passive to the active.” That move, from passive to active, lies at the center of our conversation today. Together we’ll explore:How we can strengthen our ability to hear the quiet whisper of our intuition,And be truer to ourselves and those moments of clarity when our head and our heart converge. Laura’s words offer us all a timely reminder:"As the external world gets ever noisier, often, the smartest thing we can do is listen to our gut to guide us in the right direction. Trust Yourself. You already know."For more on Laura, her books, speaking, events, and research please visit proflaurahuang.comDid you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Unlocking Our Primal Intelligence | Angus FletcherOn Honoring the Soul (Part 1) | Parker J. PalmerOn the Power of Wonder | Monica ParkerEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Join Joshua on a NEW 6-month journey in uncovering how we can open our hearts and minds to live a more expansive life. A life that brings us alive. A life that is driven primarily by curiosity, wonder, and love (vs. certainty, control, and fear).Learn more about and register for "From Fear to Love: A 6 Month Journey" here. Thanks for listening!Support the show

Professor Stephen G. Post, one of the world’s leading scholars on altruism, love, compassion, and the science of giving, has a beautiful new book out: Pure Unlimited Love: Science and the 7 Paths to Inner Peace.In it, he writes:When the happiness, security, and well-being of another feels as meaningful and real to us as our own, or perhaps more so, we love that person.This love, which Stephen has made a central focus across in his life’s work across 4 decadesAs a researcher, a writer, a professor of preventive medicine and founder of the Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love.Is the type of love that includes, but extends beyond, our nearest and dearest to all humanity. It’s love that is based on our shared dignity and interdependence with one another and with nature.Today we’ll dive deep into the topic of love as we kick off the third installment in this trilogy. A trilogy that began with a focus on embracing impermanence, Then in part two explored the power of mystery and wonder, and is now ending with (in Stephen’s words): A scientific and spiritual exploration of how the healing power of love can transform mind, body, and spirit in individuals and communities, even in times of chaos.This conversation serving as a hopeful reminder -When we choose love, it isn’t just a path to inner peace,It opens up the possibility of creating a better world. For more on Stephen, his books, research, and other resources please visit stephengpost.com and for more on the Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love check out: unlimitedloveinstitute.orgEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Other conversations in the trilogy:Impermanence, Letting Go, and Finding Freedom | Sharon Salzberg & Sunita PuriOn Work, Friendship, and Embracing Impermanence | Parker Palmer & Jerry ColonnaOn Love, Death, and Embracing Our Humanity | Roshi Joan Halifax & Frank OstaseskiOn the Power of Wonder | Monica Parker On Ordinary Mysticism, Wonder, and Love | MIrabai StarrOn Living a Life That Brings us Truly Alive | Lee JohnsonJoin Joshua on a NEW 6-month journey in uncovering how we can open our hearts and minds to live a more expansive life. A life that brings us alive. A life that is driven primarily by curiosity, wonder, and love (vs. certainty, control, and fear).Learn more about and register for "From Fear to Love: A 6 Month Journey" here. Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Thanks for listening!Support the show

Between the relentless uncertainty—political, environmental, societal—in the world and our own personal challenges, We are living through one of the most anxious periods any of us can remember.Many of us are feeling overwhelmed, and out of control.As a result we may find ourselves falling into unhealthy patterns that we struggle to change—worrying, stress-eating, constantly scrolling on social media, procrastinating, and more. The good news is that there’s a way out.In today’s episode, which we originally released in 2023, but chose to re release now given it feels more timely than ever,Addiction psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and NYT Bestselling Author Dr. Jud Brewer is back on the show. And together we’ll explore the possibility of changing our relationship to anxiety for good.Leveraging the power of mindfulness, curiosity, and a 3-step process for habit change developed in his neuroscience lab,Jud and his team have shown it’s not only possible to unwind anxiety, rediscover peace and calm (in our constantly changing world),But that the simple brain-based practices for doing soare accessible to us all.For more on Jud, his NYT Bestselling Unwinding Anxiety, the Unwinding Anxiety workbook, and app, please visit drjud.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Unlocking our Primal Intelligence | Angus FletcherOn Wholeness, Service, and Enduring Happiness | Stephanie HarrisonOn Unwinding Toxic Productivity | Israa NasirJoin Joshua on a NEW 6-month journey in uncovering how we can open our hearts and minds to live a more expansive life. A life that brings us alive. A life that is driven primarily by curiosity, wonder, and love (vs. certainty, control, and fear).Learn more about and register for "From Fear to Love: A 6 Month Journey" here. Thanks for listening!Support the show

Dr. Jud Brewer is an addiction psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and Director of Research and Innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center. Jud is passionate about understanding how our brains work, and how to use that knowledge to help people make deep, permanent change in their lives — With the goal of reducing suffering in the world at large.This conversation, which we originally recorded and released during the Pandemic in 2021,Looked at the deepening division in our society, the patterns of 'othering', judgment, and blame, Through the lens of habit formation. The hypothesis that Jud and I exploredWhich was informed by his novel approaches to using mindfulness for habit change, was: If othering, us and them thinking, and judgment are in fact habitsThan it's not only possible to break them,It’s also possible to develop habits that counteract division and nurture connection and community. The key question though, which just happens to be at the heart of Jud’s work,Is How? In this episode we’ll explore some ideas for answering that question including:Insights about how our brains learnAnd Practices developed in Jud’s lab that leverage mindfulness and the power of curiosityPractices that offer hope, and a potential path for both individual and collective healing.We chose to re-release this episode now,not only because it’s a unique lens to look at these challenges, But because recognizing our common humanity, and nurturing connection with each other is needed perhaps now more than ever. For more on Jud, his NYT bestselling books, trainings, and groundbreaking work using novel mindfulness programs for habit change, please visit: drjud.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Awe, Wonder, and Everyday Miracles | Jonah PaquetteOn Wisdom and Love in Troubling Times | Mark Nepo & Elizabeth LesserJoin Joshua on a NEW 6-month journey in uncovering how we can open our hearts and minds to live a more expansive life. A life that brings us alive. A life that is driven primarily by curiosity, wonder, and love (vs. certainty, control, and fear).Learn more about and register for "From Fear to Love: A 6 Month Journey" here. Thanks for listening!Support the show

Americans today are leaving religion in record numbers. For many, the faith, practices, and institutions that once provided comfort and guidance no longer fit their beliefs and values. Today’s guest, Dr. Daryl Van Tongeren, a psychologist scientist who engages big existential questions to promote human flourishing, And author of the powerful book: Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religioncalls this departure ‘The Great Disillusionment.’ His research and writing brings attention to several important, but often difficult questions that arise when people are no longer served by traditional religion: How do they find new meaning and purpose? How do they process the grief that often accompanies religious or spiritual change? And how can they navigate challenging relationships with people who do not support or understand? Today we’ll explore this complex terrain as we discuss: The changing landscape of religion in the US and beyond, Why leaving religion can be so hard, which Darryl will reflect on through the lens of his research, but also through sharing the tragic story of losing his brother. A loss that left him questioning, and wrestling with his own relationship to the religion he was brought up in and had built his life around for many years. And finally, the possibility that Daryl writes about so beautifully.In his words:If you are rethinking your religious beliefs, have experienced religious loss or struggle, or have undergone a significant religious change, you are not alone. By understanding how people before us have left or transformed their religion, And using their wisdom as a guide,we can discover new ways of finding peace, engaging with the transcendent, And ultimately crafting a flourishing and meaningful life.For more on Daryl, his books, research, and other offerings please visit darylvantongeren.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Awe, Wonder, and Everyday Miracles | Jonah PaquetteOn Listening and Attending to the Soul | James HollisThe Transformative Power of Humility | Dr. Daryl Van TongerenJoin Joshua on a NEW 6-month journey in uncovering how we can open our hearts and minds to live a more expansive life. A life that brings us alive. A life that is driven primarily by curiosity, wonder, and love (vs. certainty, control, and fear).Learn more about and register for "From Fear to Love: A 6 Month Journey" here. Thanks for listening!Support the show

Lee Johnson likes to say that he’s as ordinary as dirt but as complex as soil. A former Course Director for the Colorado Outward Bound School and Certified Holistic Management Teacher, Lee has also managed ranches in Nebraska, Tennessee, and New Mexico. I first met him on a retreat at the Modern Elder Academy in Santa Fe.The Academy, which has been called "The World’s First Midlife Wisdom School"Sits on the beautiful Rising Circle Ranch where Lee serves as steward, and facilitates various experiences for guests. Much of his work is to translate nature’s teachings into insights that encourage us to tune into our inner landscapes as much as the outer landscape.And while I was deeply moved by Lee’s presence, wisdom, and artful storytelling, What struck me most was that he was someone who has spent most of his life following his heart.Today, we’ll talk in depth about his journey, The courage to walk the unconventional path, And what he describes as the quiet inner knowing that can arise when we learn to listen deeply to our lives.Lee will also share more about what may support us to act on that knowing. Particularly in the face of fear, and the often strong pull of other’s expectations for our lives.This was one of the most beautiful conversations I’ve ever hadAnd feels like an appropriate close to this 4 part mini series on the power of mystery and wonder. Lee’s holistic approach to life and spirituality serving as an invitation to step into a deeper relationship with ourselves, nature, and each other.An invitation to embrace the mystery of being human, And to discover the wonder of living a life that brings us truly alive.For more on Lee please check out MEAwisdom.comDid you enjoy this episode? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Ordinary Mysticism, Wonder, and Love | Mirabai StarrOn Work, Friendship, and Embracing Impermanence | Parker Palmer and Jerry ColonnaJoin Joshua on a NEW 6-month journey in uncovering how we can open our hearts and minds to live a more expansive life. A life that brings us alive. A life that is driven primarily by curiosity, wonder, and love (vs. certainty, control, and fear).Learn more about and register for "From Fear to Love: A 6 Month Journey" here. Enjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Thanks for listening!Support the show