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Elizabeth Svoboda shares expert tactics for finding the right pace to sustain your energy for the long haul.— YOU'LL LEARN — 1) The subtle warning signs you're overpacing 2) How to structure your day for maximum energy 3) How to streamline your day with selective mediocrity Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1164 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT ELIZABETH — Elizabeth Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and contributor to Scientific American, Discover, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and other publications. Elizabeth is a winner of the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and young sons.• Book: The Art of Pacing: A Guide to Balancing Short-Term Demands with Long-Term Thriving• Instagram: svobodster• Website: ElizabethSvoboda.com• Newsletter: “The Art of Pacing”— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Technique: Resonance frequency breathing• App: Elite HRV• Study: “Long-term follow-up of residual symptoms in patients treated for stress-related exhaustion” by Kristina Glise, Lilian Wiegner, and Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir • Instagram: Dr. Whitney Casares• Book: Etty Hillesum: An Interrupted Life the Diaries, 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork by Etty Hillesum• Past episode: 014: Emotional Mastery with Dr. Marcia Reynolds• Past episode: 1005: How to Feel Energized Every Day with Dr. Michael Breus— THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/awesomepodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.We spend a lot of time talking about how to do more. What we talk about far less — and what might matter far more — is the question of how to pace yourself while you do it. Not as a wellness concept or a vague self-care suggestion, but as a genuine strategy for sustaining quality, avoiding collapse, and staying aligned with what actually matters to you over time.Elizabeth Svoboda is the author of The Art of Pacing: A Guide to Balancing Shorter-Term Demands with Long-Term Thriving, and this conversation covers a lot of ground in the best possible way. Elizabeth is a science journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Psychology Today, and many other publications. Her book grew out of a thirty-year reckoning with her own pacing failures — a culture of maximum output with no equivalent emphasis on what you leave to the side. What she built from that is something both research-grounded and deeply practical.Six Discussion PointsPacing without purpose is just slowing down — knowing where you're headed is what makes a deliberate pace possible at all, and this is where most productivity advice quietly falls apartThe difference between racing and pacing is a single letter, but the difference in outcomes compounds over years — top athletes understand this through tapering, and the rest of us are still catching upBurnout is not an event, it's a trajectory — heart rate variability (HRV) tracking and tools like the Maslach Burnout Inventory can help you see the train coming before it hits, shifting you from reactive to proactiveRigid, hyper-granular scheduling is brittle by design — adaptability and flexibility aren't the enemies of structure, they're the only way a structure survives contact with real life"Restorying" — the hero's journey applied inward — is a surprisingly useful alignment tool: when what you say you want doesn't match how you're spending your time, the story reveals itBrief candles, those short moments of focused, selfless attention toward others, can change the entire arc of someone's life and cost almost nothing in terms of time or energyThree Connection PointsElizabeth Svoboda's website: elizabethsvoboda.com — find her book The Art of Pacing and her broader journalism workTimeCrafting: The connection between pacing and intentional time use is at the heart of my own framework — if this episode resonated, you might find this useful: Stop Managing Your Time. Start Crafting It.The Lantern: My weekly newsletter is where I continue these kinds of conversations outside the podcast — join here at mikevardy.comPacing is not the opposite of progress. If this conversation shifted anything for you — even a small recognition that you might be racing when you could be pacing — I'd encourage you to sit with that for a bit before doing anything about it. That's the point. And if you want to go deeper, Elizabeth's book is worth the time.If this episode resonated, I'm exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.
We've been taught that success means pushing harder, doing more, and staying productive at all costs. But what if the real secret to sustainable success isn't grinding harder — it's learning how to pace yourself? In this episode, Nicole sits down with award-winning journalist and author Elizabeth Svoboda to unpack the science, psychology, and strategy behind pacing. From elite athletes to ambitious women juggling careers, relationships, and impossible expectations, this conversation explores why burnout isn't proof of dedication — it's often proof that something needs to change. Elizabeth shares how elite performers actually use rest, recovery, flexibility, and energy management to stay at the top of their game for the long haul. Together, Nicole and Elizabeth challenge hustle culture, perfectionism, and the toxic belief that women should operate at 110% all the time. They discuss: Why ambitious women tend to swing between overworking and complete exhaustion The surprising pacing lessons we can learn from Olympic athletes How burnout impacts confidence, relationships, health, and creativity The concept of “rigid flexibility” and why structure alone doesn't work Why rest should match effort — not just be treated as a reward How to recognize your personal energy rhythms and work with them instead of against them The connection between pacing, longevity, and sustainable success Why slowing down can actually make you more effective, focused, and fulfilled Because constantly running yourself into the ground isn't strength — it's just a socially rewarded form of self-destruction. Thank you to our sponsors! Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/WOMAN - and make sure to tell them we sent you! Elevate your summer wardrobe: Go to Quince.com/tiww for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they're working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW. Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Connect with Elizabeth: Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Art-of-Pacing/Elizabeth-Svoboda/9781668022412 Website: https://www.elizabethsvoboda.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/svobodster/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethsvoboda/ Newsletter: https://elizabeth-svoboda.beehiiv.com Related Podcast Episodes: Burnout 2.0: BurnBOLD with Cait Donovan | 331 How To Take A Sabbatical with Katrina McGhee | 336 How Our Dysregulated Nervous Systems Are Impacting Us with Victoria Albina | 244 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!
In this episode of Read the Damn Book, host Michelle : sits down with author and journalist Elizabeth Svoboda to discuss her new book, The Art of Pacing. They explore the power of pacing in everyday life and how managing energy, embracing rest, and creating intentional pauses can improve well-being, support activism, and help prevent burnout. Elizabeth shares practical strategies, including breath work and sustainable productivity techniques, that empower individuals to make meaningful contributions without sacrificing their mental and physical health. Tune in for an insightful conversation about balance, resilience, and the art of thriving in a fast-paced world.What We're Talking About...The importance of pacing for sustainable activism, personal growth, and long-term well-beingBreath work techniques and heart rate variability strategies for stress management and resilienceThe power of meaningful connections and the "brief candles" philosophy for creating lasting impactWhy pauses, retreats, and intentional rest are essential tools for self-care and burnout preventionHow delegation, community support, and strong networks help activists avoid burnout and sustain changeChapters00:00 Introduction and Background04:14 The Science of Giving and Activism07:03 Pacing in Activism and Personal Well-being10:23 Breath Work and Mindfulness Practices13:08 The Power of “Brief Candle Moments”25:21 The Journey of Scientific Writing and Future Perspectives35:31 Pacing and Burnout36:01 The Importance of Breathing TechniquesLinks MentionedElizabeth Svoboda's website: www.Elizabethsvoboda.comElizabeth Svoboda's newsletter: elizabeth-svoboda.beehiiv.comOrder your copy of The Art of Pacing: https://bookshop.org/a/99223/9781668022412
What if the real secret to thriving isn't pushing harder—it's learning when to push, when to ease off, and when to recover? Today, science writer Elizabeth Svoboda shares big ideas from The Art of Pacing: A Guide to Balancing Short-Term Demands with Long-Term Thriving, a practical antidote to the “all gas, no brakes” culture of modern work and life. Then we hear some big ideas from Dorie Clark's The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World, a reminder that the best moves often look unimpressive in the moment—until they quietly compound.
Elizabeth Svoboda, award-winning science writer and author of The Art of Pacing, examines a question that sits at the center of many successful careers: how to sustain high performance without exhausting the very resources that make meaningful work possible. Drawing on research, conversations with elite athletes, and her own experience, Svoboda argues that pacing is not about doing less. It is about managing energy with the same discipline and intentionality that top performers bring to training and competition. The discussion explores why many professionals develop an unhealthy relationship with work early in life, often equating constant effort with virtue and personal worth. Svoboda explains how this mindset can lead to burnout, diminished judgment, and a narrowing of long-term possibilities. Several practical lessons emerge from the conversation: Elite performers treat recovery as a strategic requirement, not a reward. Olympic athletes deliberately build rest, recovery, and tapering periods into their schedules to ensure they can perform when it matters most. Self-knowledge is a critical leadership skill. The ability to recognize personal limits, monitor energy reserves, and adjust effort accordingly often determines long-term effectiveness more than raw ambition. Mentors, coaches, and managers play an important role in helping people pace themselves. A trusted third-party perspective can identify patterns and risks that are difficult to see from within. Burnout rarely appears without warning. Changes in sleep, sustained physiological stress, declining motivation, and persistent exhaustion often signal the need to reduce commitments before deeper problems emerge. Recovery requires more than rest. Extended breaks can create the space needed to reconsider priorities, reassess career direction, and reconnect work with personal meaning. The conversation also examines the relationship between identity and achievement. Svoboda challenges the tendency to define self-worth through productivity, status, or professional success alone. She argues that identities rooted in character, contribution, and relationships are more resilient when careers encounter setbacks or unexpected change. A particularly practical section focuses on helping professionals reconnect with their own priorities. Svoboda discusses a reflective exercise designed to clarify purpose, identify meaningful goals, and distinguish personal aspirations from expectations inherited from employers, mentors, or social norms. The episode concludes with a thoughtful discussion about artificial intelligence. While acknowledging its practical uses, Svoboda argues that human relevance will increasingly depend on qualities machines cannot replicate: lived experience, judgment shaped by struggle, authentic perspective, and the ability to connect deeply with others. She also raises important questions about consent, compensation, and fairness in the development of AI systems. For senior professionals navigating demanding careers, this conversation offers a disciplined framework for thinking about performance, recovery, identity, and the conditions required to sustain meaningful work over the long term. Get Elizabeth's book, The Art of Pacing, here: https://tinyurl.com/u8tfy5c8 Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift
Runners have pacers to help them manage their energy throughout a race. They couple that with a training program that balances extreme and moderate effort with rest. Research shows that this balanced approach ensures a stronger performance. Like professional athletes, we, too, seek high performance. But we may not realize that, like runners, we need to manage the pace of our lives. That's where science journalist Elizabeth Svoboda comes in. Curious about the way athletes build rest into their workouts, she wondered if their recovery plans could help the rest of us. This research informs her book, The Art of Pacing: A Guide to Balancing Short-Term Demands with Long-Term Thriving. In it, she shares a range of effective tips that include personal storytelling, modulation, and much more. Related Links How to Find Inner Resolve in Times of Upheaval An Athletic Coach for the Mind? Interview with Malissa Clark The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you subscribe, and tell a friend or family member about the show. Subscribe Click here and then scroll down to see a sample of sites where you can subscribe.
Anyone feeling rundown or overburdened owes it to herself to listen to this episode about a brand-new book called The Art of Pacing: A Guide to Balancing Short-Term Demands with Long-Term Thriving by Elizabeth Svoboda. A big fan of this 188-page book, Coach Liz Waterstraat details lessons learned from it, including the importance of choosing to rest (couched in the term, “principled dissent”) and why a “struggle phase” when starting a run or kicking off a work project is natural and normal. Discover what it means to “re-story”—and why it can provide clarity and energy.Feisty Fest: Join us from September 18-20, 2026 - https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themotherrunner/Momentous: Use code AMR for up to 35% off your first order at https://www.livemomentous.com/Currex: Use code AMR15 for 15% off at https://currex.com/Tifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/
Elizabeth Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and author of The Art of Pacing — out June 16th. Her biohacking routine involves monitoring for red flags and warning signs in the middle of the night. Follow Elizabeth Svoboda on Instagram.
Elizabeth Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and author of The Art of Pacing — out June 16th. We get into why high achievers burn out, the neuroscience of slowing down, and the surprisingly simple shift that separates sustainable performance from total collapse. If you've ever worn your busyness as a badge of honour, this one's for you.
It's 1700s England and all Mary Blandy wants is to find a husband and start a family. But no man is good enough for Mary's father, who's desperate to move up in the world. So when he discovers that his prospective pick for his daughter may be already married, his well-laid plans start to unravel. Grab a warm cup and try to follow along with this disastrous engagement. Tea of the Day: Cozy Cottage Tea Theme Music by Brad FrankSources:“The First Forensic Hanging” by Summer Strevens, published by Pen & Sword History, copyright 2018.Julia Bracewell, “Cruel or Stupid? The Tale of Mary Blandy.” August 14th, 2021, https://juliabracewell.com/cruel-or-stupid-the-tale-of-mary-blandy/Smethurst, Bill, “The tragic tale of Mary Blandy.” Reading Evening Post Fri, Nov 10, 1967 ·Page 8, https://www.newspapers.com/image/808675684/The Evening News, (Queensland, Australia) Tue, Jan 20, 1925 ·Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1018864578/Chronicle, Thu, Jan 19, 1939 ·Page 59, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1033385891/Sunday Dispatch, Sun, Nov 02, 1924 ·Page 6, https://www.newspapers.com/image/917428501/The Barnes Chief, Thu, Jan 04, 1917 ·Page 7, https://www.newspapers.com/image/483204323/THE GHOSTS OF OXFORD: MARY BLANDY, 13th Jun, 2022, https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/about/news/ghosts-of-oxford-mary-blandy/The Gloucester Journal, Fri, Nov 19, 1751 ·Page 4, https://www.newspapers.com/image/971487701/Elizabeth Svoboda, “The Early Days of Toxicology: Poisonous Powder.” The New York Times, May 11th, 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/science/12file-arsenic.htmlThe Derby Mercury, Mon, Dec 06, 1751 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/394241577/The Derby Mercury, Mon, Mar 06, 1752 ·Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/394414937/The Western Flying Post; or, Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury, Thu, Mar 09, 1752 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/979345395/The Gloucester Journal, Fri, Mar 10, 1752 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/971488683/The Newcastle Weekly Courant, Tue, Mar 14, 1752 ·Page 3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/404045279/The Gloucester Journal, Fri, Mar 17, 1752 ·Page 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/971488735/
Listen to Passengers Journal Volume 3 Issue 2 in its entirety. This issue features work from George Witte, Hilesh Patel, Lorrie Ness, Molly Giles, Elizabeth Svoboda, Robbie Gamble, and many more. Also included is an interview with the first poet laureate of Los Angeles Eloise Klein Healy.Many thanks to our Audio team, our contributors, and our editors and readers for making this listening experience possible. This Audio Issue represents the hard work and dedication of more than fifty volunteers. Mastered by John E. Brady and Joe Cusimano. Compiled by Charles Fleming. Passengers Literary Press, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All staff donate their time and effort. If you'd like to support our mission to publish art that is necessary rather than desired, please consider donating at the link below.Support the show
Overnight, the world has become a place of chaos and uncertainty. We are all struggling in one way or another. Some of us have lost loved ones, opportunities, and even our home countries while a lot of us are reeling with anxiety and fear. During such tumultuous periods, It is important that we take care of ourselves and be a support system for others as well which is what we discuss in this episode. To be a part of someone's pain and absorb some of its impact is not an easy thing to do, it requires a lot of compassion and empathy but both those elements seem to be in short supply considering the way we have all been behaving. As much as we believe (and hope) that we are all naturally compassionate beings, I think for it to seep into our interactions, we have to nurture that instinct and learn to treat our own selves with kindness and generosity before we can learn to be a safe space for others. I discuss all that and more with Elizabeth Svoboda in this episode. We discuss- How compassion differs from empathy Why it's such an essential part of our emotional toolkit How kindness and generosity impact our brain health How to cultivate self-compassion How to create a place of safety and love within ourselves How we can show compassion to others without letting go our own peace or sense of safety Talking about it and teaching others to be compassionate Elizabeth Svoboda is the author of What Makes A Hero: The Surprising Science of Selflessness. She is also a science journalist and she has written for publications like the New York Times, Psychology Today, the Washington Post, and Scholastic Choices, and she has even received the Evert Clark/ Seth Payne Award for Young Science Journalists. Her stories have covered a myriad of topics, from the biology of resilience to the psychology of thoroughly modern breakups. Her second book, The Life Heroic: How to Unleash Your Most Amazing Self is meant especially for young heroes-in-training who want to transform their communities. Resources mentioned during the episode- Elizabeth Svoboda's Website: https://elizabethsvoboda.com/ Power Of Kindness, Effective Empathy, And Benefits Of Volunteering With Brad Aronson: https://www.kratimehra.com/kindness-effective-empathy-benefits-volunteering/ What Makes a Hero?: https://www.amazon.com/What-Makes-Hero-Surprising-Selflessness-ebook/dp/B00C5R75AY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= The Life Heroic (for kids): https://www.amazon.com/Life-Heroic-Elizabeth-Svoboda/dp/1942186258/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1646077164&sr=1-2 Greater Good Magazine: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mehra_krati To know more, visit: https://www.kratimehra.com
Today on Spot On!, we’re talking to author Elizabeth Svoboda about how helping others, even in small ways, can boost your mood and help you cope. Check out Elizabeth’s article: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/helping_others_can_help_you_cope_with_lockdown Check out her books: https://elizabethsvoboda.com/books/ Thank you for listening! Find us on Social: www.facebook.com/SpotOnDrJSB/ www.instagram.com/spot_on_podcast/ twitter.com/joansalgeblake youtube.com/channel/UCdMO-hmXqo0A-FXW-3t5nyw
The Apollo 11 mission was the first of its kind not only in the science field, but also for the media's ability to live broadcast history around the world. Brian speaks with CNN Space Correspondent Rachel Crane and historian Doug Brinkley about the unique media moment that was Apollo 11. Then, Brian discusses the birth of conspiracy theories following the moon-landing with writer Elizabeth Svoboda.
The Watching America team had planned to air this episode in a few weeks, but after the tragedy in Virginia Beach, we wanted to share these conversations as soon as possible. We hope this discussion of being a hero from two very different angles--psychology and criminal justice--will inspire you as much as it did us.
Science writer, Elizabeth Svboda shares insights from her book about the science behind altruism and selflessness, and how we can make that into a practice.How do you keep skepticism from turning into cynicism?Turning difficult points into redemptionGetting buy in on your missionThe future of journalismResourcesElizabeth's websiteBook: What Makes a Hero? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Kathryn interviews award-winning science writer Elizabeth Svoboda, author of “What Makes a Hero? The Surprising Science of Selflessness”. Are those who take it upon themselves to tackle a mad gunman, or stare down a bully by acting selflessly, different from the rest of us? Svoboda travelled the country consulting with top biologists and neuroscientists, to find the answers to “what makes a hero?” She has written for The New York Times, Psychology Today, Popular Science and Wired. Kathryn also interviews educator and mother Liza Long, author of “The Price of Silence: A Mom's Perspective on Mental Illness”. Long is the mother of a child who has bipolar disorder. When she heard about the Newtown shooting, her first thought was, “What if my son does that someday?” In “The Price of Silence” Long takes a devastating look at how we address mental illness through a system of education, mental healthcare, and juvenile detention that leads far too often to prison.
Kathryn interviews award-winning science writer Elizabeth Svoboda, author of “What Makes a Hero? The Surprising Science of Selflessness”. Are those who take it upon themselves to tackle a mad gunman, or stare down a bully by acting selflessly, different from the rest of us? Svoboda travelled the country consulting with top biologists and neuroscientists, to find the answers to “what makes a hero?” She has written for The New York Times, Psychology Today, Popular Science and Wired. Kathryn also interviews educator and mother Liza Long, author of “The Price of Silence: A Mom's Perspective on Mental Illness”. Long is the mother of a child who has bipolar disorder. When she heard about the Newtown shooting, her first thought was, “What if my son does that someday?” In “The Price of Silence” Long takes a devastating look at how we address mental illness through a system of education, mental healthcare, and juvenile detention that leads far too often to prison.
Audiences flock to see them. What’s the appeal? When we hear about real life heroes like Sully Sullenberger, or Wesley Autrey, who who jumped onto NY subway tracks to save man from an oncoming train, we are captivated.Perhaps our fascination is because we can’t ever imagine ourselves exercising such a degree of selflessness. We might fantasize about being hero, but don't think we have the right stuff.Today science, genetics, and social psychology tells us we all, under the right circumstances and with the right experience, have what it takes. Elizabeth Svoboda, in What Makes a Hero?: The Surprising Science of Selflessness, examines how biology, upbringing and external influences all converge to produce altruistic and heroic behavior.My conversation with Elizabeth Svoboda:
Join us as we’ll discuss: What makes us altruistic/ heroic.How to lead a heroic life.How being selfless benefits us. Elizabeth Svoboda loves to learn and write about the science behind what motivates people in a variety of situations. She has contributed to publications like Discover, Popular Science, Psychology Today, and the New York Times. She grew up in the suburbs of Western New York and lives in San Jose, CA with her husband, Eric, and baby boy, Nate. To learn more about Elizabeth go to www.elizabethsvoboda.com.