Podcast appearances and mentions of Susan Cain

Sam Harris speaks with Susan Cain about writing, creativity, and what AI means for human culture. They discuss the future of books and reading, the tells AI inherits from good writers, why the advent of AI may spark a revival of the humanities, following your bliss, the ethics of curing sadness, the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

Eric Zimmer launched The One You Feed podcast in 2014 with no audience, no name recognition, and a podcast name that took explaining. Twelve years, 850+ episodes, and 500 million downloads later, he released his first book — How a Little Becomes a Lot — a title that is, in every way, the story of his life. In this conversation, we talk about how incremental progress actually works, why you can't see it happening in real time, and why that's actually fine. We also go deep on the business reality of podcasting in 2026 — the early mover advantage is gone, ad CPMs are harder to sustain, and Eric is actively pivoting from reaching many people loosely to serving fewer people more deeply. Then we spend a lot of time in the weeds of the book publishing process: the six-month proposal, the 18 months of writing in half-day increments, the uncomfortable dance between your vision and what an agent and publisher think will sell, and the emotional work of promotion — watching who shows up and who doesn't, and applying his own frameworks to keep from spiraling. This one got personal. I'm in month 11 of my own book proposal, and Eric helped me see the other side of a process that has genuinely been shaking my confidence. The One You Feed podcast How a Little Becomes a Lot by Eric Zimmer Full transcript and show notes *** TIMESTAMPS (02:54) The One You Feed parable: two wolves, and which one wins (05:18) How to remember to make the right choice daily (Still Point method) (07:37) Building a podcast to 850 episodes: the only way is one at a time (10:14) The hair growth metaphor for creator progress (11:36) How Eric renews his commitment to the show after 12 years (13:47) What it means to enter your "happy place" as a podcast host (17:23) State of podcasting in 2026: early mover advantage is gone (19:11) Pivoting from ad revenue to deeper relationships with fewer people (22:38) Why Eric is (mostly) skipping video — and why that's okay (24:58) The three-person team behind 500 million downloads (27:45) How Eric knew it was finally time to write a book (30:24) The writing process: three half-days a week across 18 months (31:09) The proposal took six months — and ended up looking nothing like Eric's vision (34:21) Jay opens up: 11 months into his own book proposal (39:12) Non-negotiables: how to protect the heart of your book (40:35) Expectations vs. reality of book launch week (43:01) The emotional work of asking everyone you know for support (44:47) Why the marketing marathon is harder than the writing (50:55) How to ask for blurbs — and who says yes (Susan Cain, Charles Duhigg, Young Pueblo) (55:51) What Eric would do differently for book two *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠#163: David Moldawer — Diving deep into book publishing with an industry insider *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → Submit your question here *** WHEN YOU'RE READY

Welcome to Building Brand You™, the podcast that helps you accelerate your success by unlocking your greatest asset – you.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: "The world has a problem and we need to start sharing…owning the problem is what's behind the creation of The Alchemie Network and The Alchemie Foundation." Alex Jennings Understanding others' strengths and matching that with areas where we are not strong is important in moving away from what's best for me to what's best for us - and that includes our teams, partners, customers and our organisation. When it comes to building high performing teams, a 'no hire' is better than a 'bad hire'.  Recognising diversity in culture, gender, and social background within your team will lead to business success, only if you remain creative in how you get your team to work.   RESOURCES MENTIONED: Brilliant Orange: The neurotic genius of Dutch football by David Winner; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brilliant-Orange-Neurotic-Genius-Football/dp/0747553106   Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking  by Susan Cain; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153       ABOUT OUR GUEST: Alex is a visionary leader with extensive experience in global procurement, supply chain, and sales. With a proven track record of driving innovation and delivering exceptional results, Alex has spent nearly four decades in corporate roles before founding "The Alchemie Network."  This initiative's "Procurement 4 You," aims to support members both personally and professionally while fostering connections within the global Procurement Community. Through "The Alchemie Foundation," Alex is committed to giving back through "Procurement for Good," empowering member "Ambassadors" dedicated to making a positive societal impact through procurement.  JOIN THE ALCHEMIE NETWORK:   The Alchemie Network - https://www.alchemienetwork.com/   CONNECT WITH ALEX JENNINGS: Email - Alex.jennings@alchemienetwork.com LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-jennings-fcips-68/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/alchemienetwork/about/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-alchemie-foundation/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_alchemie_network/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1793521104418586  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@the.alchemie.netw  Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheAlchemieNetwork    ABOUT KYM HAMER: Kym is an international leadership and personal branding thought leader, an executive coach, and a programme design and facilitation practitioner. She is also the creator of Building Brand You™ - a methodology helping organisations, teams, and individuals to build reputation, presence, and gravitas. Kym works with leaders - both individually and in organisational development initiatives - to inspire and engage thinking styles and behaviour that achieve results and leave legacy. In 2020, just one year after launching her business, she was nominated by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 100 Women B2B Leadership influencers and is currently in the Top 15 Personal Branding and Top 10 Marketing Influencers in the world. For 5 years running Kym has also been one of Thinkers360's Top 10 Thought Leaders on Entrepreneurship and in 2023, 2024 and 2025, was recognised as one of their Top Voices globally. She has been part of Homeward Bound Projects faculty since 2020, a global initiative reaching 1.8 billion people, equipping women and non-binary people with a STEMM background to lead conversations for a sustainable future. She is currently the Program Design and Faculty Lead for the 10th on-line cohort and was part of the on-board faculty who voyaged to Antarctica in 2023 and 2025, to deliver the initiative's immersive component. In between all of these things, you'll find her curled up in a corner with her nose in a book.   Building Brand You™: JOIN the BBY Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingbrandyou SUBSCRIBE to the BBY Podcast on: (Apple) - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/building-brand-you/id1567407273 (Spotify) - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ho26pAQ5uJ9h0dGNicCIq CONNECT WITH KYM HAMER: LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kymhamer/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kymhamerartemis/ Request to join the BBY Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingbrandyou  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kymhamer Thinkers360 - https://bit.ly/thinkers360-kymhamer-BBY Find out about BBY Coaching - https://calendly.com/kymhamer/bbychat/   HOSTED BY: Kym Hamer   DISCLAIMER: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Building Brand You™ podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved. They do not necessarily represent any other entities, agencies, organisations, or companies. Building Brand You™ is not responsible and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information in the podcast available for listening on this site. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute legal advice or services  

Ti sei mai sentito stretto dentro l'etichetta di introverso o estroverso? Spesso accettiamo queste definizioni come sentenze definitive, chiudendoci in una prigione caratteriale che limita la nostra reale natura.In questo episodio esploriamo il concetto rivoluzionario diOtroversione, teorizzato dallo psichiatra Rami Kaminski. Scopriremo una terra di mezzo dove il confine tra "dentro" e "fuori" svanisce, restituendoci una fluidità che avevamo smarrito tra le pagine di manuali troppo rigidi.Analizzeremo insieme:La ricerca controintuitiva di Jerome Kagan sui neonati: perché l'agitazione davanti agli stimoli forti è il primo mattone dell'introversione come strategia di difesa.L'identikit dell'Otroverso: un profilo che si muove sullalinea di confine, capace di stare in mezzo alla gente senza sforzo e di abitare la solitudine per puro piacere, non per protezione.Un approccio libero verso la vita e la morte: come la percezione di un io fluido trasforma la fine in una variazione di stato del sistema, liberandoci dall'angoscia.Smetti di essere vittima dei tuoi aggettivi e diventa l'architetto delle tue connessioni. È tempo di tornare a essere umani, interi, senza il bisogno infantile di dividerci a metà tra il dentro e il fuori.Libro consigliato nell'episodio:Rami Kaminski, "Né estroversi né introversi" | Ed. Corbaccio | 2025Libro citato nell'episodio:Susan Cain, “QUIET” | Ed. Bompiani | 2012Poesia finale tratta dalla raccolta “Illuminazioni”:"Ho teso corde da campanile a campanile, ghirlande dafinestra a finestra, catene d'oro da stella a stella, e danzo" (Arthur Rimbaud).Buon ascolto e buon cammino.

Econtalk: Read the notes at at podcastnotes.org. Don't forget to subscribe for free to our newsletter, the top 10 ideas of the week, every Monday --------- Introverts are underrated. So says Susan Cain in her conversation with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about her book, Quiet. She explains why introversion isn't the same thing as shyness and she speaks of the many benefits of solitude and silent contemplation. They also discuss why modern schools and workplaces' obsession with extroversion is problematic, and the reasons for the shift from a culture of character to our current culture of personality. Cain concludes by sharing how the book has changed her own life and helped other introverts navigate a world that can't seem to stop talking.

Good Daughtering: The Work You've Always Done, the Credit You've Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough by Allison M. Alford PhD Daughtering101.com https://www.amazon.com/Good-Daughtering-Always-Credit-Finally/dp/0063436426 A transformative look at the hidden work of all adult daughters who share the invisible load, from the eldest to the youngest, offering a fresh perspective on care, emotional resilience, and the power daughters have to shape healthier, more fulfilling family connections. For readers of both Susan Cain's Quiet and Eve Rodsky's Fair Play. Daughters grow up believing their role in the family is simple: love your parents, help out when you can, and carry on the traditions that bind families together. But adulthood reveals a more complicated reality—one where women take on the invisible labor of emotional support, crisis management, and unspoken expectations that leave them feeling stretched thin and unseen. So, what is “daughtering”? It's the unpaid, invisible work women do to hold a family together—checking in, stepping up, and smoothing over—without ever considering its cost. In Good Daughtering, Dr. Allison M. Alford—a leading researcher in family communication—unpacks the untold story of adult daughters and the quiet, essential work they do. Drawing on years of groundbreaking research and personal interviews, she explores how societal expectations, gender roles, and generational dynamics shape the experiences of daughters in ways that are often misunderstood or overlooked. Whether navigating generational expectations or balancing their own lives with the needs of their parents, Good Daughtering reveals the complexities of a role too often taken for granted. Daughters are the ones who do the planning and saving for their futures and those of their families, and support parents emotionally and practically as they age. This book speaks directly to eldest daughters who become family anchors, and the middle and youngest daughters who take on different, but no less important, obligations and responsibilities of being a good daughter. Using sharp insights, relatable stories, and actionable tools, Dr. Alford invites women to reflect on their relationships, recalibrate their roles, and reclaim joy in their lives. Whether you're paying the price for Eldest Daughter Syndrome or find yourself doing the work of caring for parents without recognition, it's time to make your efforts visible and valued. More than a prescriptive guide, Good Daughtering is the long-overdue recognition of daughters who carry the weight in a family. It's a roadmap for creating relationships that are not just functional but flourishing. This is the book every daughter deserves: an invitation to be seen, valued, and empowered in her role while honoring her own needs and desires. About the author Dr. Allison Alford is a researcher and author whose work brings visibility to the often-overlooked experiences of women—especially the family and social roles that tend to go unnoticed or underappreciated. Her current focus is on daughtering, a term she uses to describe the invisible labor and emotional work adult daughters provide in support and care of their families. Through her writing and speaking engagements, Dr. Alford shines a light on this powerful role, encouraging audiences to rethink what it means to be a woman in today's world. With a warm, relatable approach, she blends personal stories, academic insight, and cultural critique into compelling talks and essays that invite meaningful reflection. Learn more about her work and explore resources for adult daughters on her socials.

Introverts are underrated. So says Susan Cain in her conversation with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about her book, Quiet. She explains why introversion isn't the same thing as shyness and she speaks of the many benefits of solitude and silent contemplation. They also discuss why modern schools and workplaces' obsession with extroversion is problematic, and the reasons for the shift from a culture of character to our current culture of personality. Cain concludes by sharing how the book has changed her own life and helped other introverts navigate a world that can't seem to stop talking.

New Year's resolutions promise hope, but for many people, they quietly deliver shame, stress, and self-blame instead. If resolutions leave you feeling worse about yourself every January, this episode explains why — and what actually works. Host Gabe Howard is joined by returning favorite Jodi Wellman to unpack why traditional goal-setting often backfires, especially when it comes to mental health. They explore the psychology behind the “fresh start effect,” how all-or-nothing thinking sets us up to fail, and why massive lifestyle overhauls rarely stick. More importantly, they offer practical, compassionate alternatives; Like shifting from rigid goals to identity-based habits, process-focused wins, and restarting without guilt when things go off track. Listener Takeaways The mental health cost of setting outcome-based goals Why smaller, process-focused goals actually create lasting change How to restart a goal without guilt or self-punishment Whether you've already ditched your New Year's resolutions or never believed in them to begin with, this episode explores a healthier, more realistic way to create change—without harming your mental well-being. “What is really common, which is set a goal. Don't get there. Feel bad about it. So net net it's not a good experience. For many of us, that's problematic because we feel badly about ourselves [. . .] And maybe that's your version of self-compassion is to let that goal gracefully go.” ~Jodi Wellman, MAPP Our guest, Jodi Wellman, MAPP is a speaker, author, and facilitator on living lives worth living. She founded Four Thousand Mondays to help people make the most of the time they are lucky to be above ground.  With 25 years of corporate leadership experience (most recently as Senior Vice President of Operations at a leading health and lifestyle organization), Jodi has led private CEO advisory boards and coaches teams to work well and live even better. Jodi has a Master's of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also an Assistant Instructor and facilitator in the Penn Resilience Program. She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach. Her book, "You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets," made Adam Grant's Summer Reading List and was a “Top 3 Psychology Book of 2024” by the Next Big Idea Club (curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Dan Pink). Jodi has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah Daily, Fast Company, CNBC, Forbes, Psychology Today, The Los Angeles Times, and more. Jodi's TEDx talk is called How Death Can Bring You Back to Life; with over 1.3 million views, it is the 14th most-watched TEDx talk released in 2022, out of 15,900! Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington. Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can't imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com. Please share the show -- it's how we grow! Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2889: Janet Anthony unpacks three common misconceptions that introverts often face: being mislabeled as shy, seen as antisocial, or assumed to dislike talking. Her reflections challenge stereotypes and invite extroverts to better understand the nuanced inner world of introversion,  where solitude, depth, and meaningful conversations thrive. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://introvertdear.com/news/introvert-people-often-misunderstand/ Quotes to ponder: "Shyness is the fear of negative judgment, and introversion is a preference for quiet, minimally stimulating environments." "I do more listening than talking, which is one characteristic you'll find in most (if not all) introverts." "We introverts may shock others with our quality content and amazing presentations." Episode references: Quiet by Susan Cain: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2889: Janet Anthony unpacks three common misconceptions that introverts often face: being mislabeled as shy, seen as antisocial, or assumed to dislike talking. Her reflections challenge stereotypes and invite extroverts to better understand the nuanced inner world of introversion,  where solitude, depth, and meaningful conversations thrive. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://introvertdear.com/news/introvert-people-often-misunderstand/ Quotes to ponder: "Shyness is the fear of negative judgment, and introversion is a preference for quiet, minimally stimulating environments." "I do more listening than talking, which is one characteristic you'll find in most (if not all) introverts." "We introverts may shock others with our quality content and amazing presentations." Episode references: Quiet by Susan Cain: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the most transformative thing you can do for your writing craft and author business is to face what you fear? How can you can find gold in your Shadow in the year ahead? In this episode, I share chapters from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words. In the intro, curated book boxes from Bridgerton's Julia Quinn; Google's agentic shopping, and powering Apple's Siri; ChatGPT Ads; and Claude CoWork. Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty [MoonShots with Tony Robbins]; and three trends for authors with me and Orna Ross [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; plus, Bones of the Deep, Business for Authors, and Indie Author Lab. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. What is the Shadow? The ‘creative wound' and the Shadow in writing The Shadow in traditional publishing The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author The Shadow in work The Shadow in money You can find Writing the Shadow in all formats on all stores, as well as special edition, workbook and bundles at www.TheCreativePenn.com/shadowbook Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words The following chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn. Introduction. What is the Shadow? “How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole.” —C.G. Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul We all have a Shadow side and it is the work of a lifetime to recognise what lies within and spin that base material into gold. Think of it as a seedling in a little pot that you're given when you're young. It's a bit misshapen and weird, not something you would display in your living room, so you place it in a dark corner of the basement. You don't look at it for years. You almost forget about it. Then one day you notice tendrils of something wild poking up through the floorboards. They're ugly and don't fit with your Scandi-minimalist interior design. You chop the tendrils away and pour weedkiller on what's left, trying to hide the fact that they were ever there. But the creeping stems keep coming. At some point, you know you have to go down there and face the wild thing your seedling has become. When you eventually pluck up enough courage to go down into the basement, you discover that the plant has wound its roots deep into the foundations of your home. Its vines weave in and out of the cracks in the walls, and it has beautiful flowers and strange fruit. It holds your world together. Perhaps you don't need to destroy the wild tendrils. Perhaps you can let them wind up into the light and allow their rich beauty to weave through your home. It will change the look you have so carefully cultivated, but maybe that's just what the place needs. The Shadow in psychology Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychologist and the founder of analytical psychology. He described the Shadow as an unconscious aspect of the human personality, those parts of us that don't match up to what is expected of us by family and society, or to our own ideals. The Shadow is not necessarily evil or illegal or immoral, although of course it can be. It's also not necessarily caused by trauma, abuse, or any other severely damaging event, although again, it can be. It depends on the individual. What is in your Shadow is based on your life and your experiences, as well as your culture and society, so it will be different for everyone. Psychologist Connie Zweig, in The Inner Work of Age, explains, “The Shadow is that part of us that lies beneath or behind the light of awareness. It contains our rejected, unacceptable traits and feelings. It contains our hidden gifts and talents that have remained unexpressed or unlived. As Jung put it, the essence of the Shadow is pure gold.” To further illustrate the concept, Robert Bly, in A Little Book on the Human Shadow,uses the following metaphor: “When we are young, we carry behind us an invisible bag, into which we stuff any feelings, thoughts, or behaviours that bring disapproval or loss of love—anger, tears, neediness, laziness. By the time we go to school, our bags are already a mile long. In high school, our peer groups pressure us to stuff the bags with even more—individuality, sexuality, spontaneity, different opinions. We spend our life until we're twenty deciding which parts of ourselves to put into the bag and we spend the rest of our lives trying to get them out again.” As authors, we can use what's in the ‘bag' to enrich our writing — but only if we can access it. My intention with this book is to help you venture into your Shadow and bring some of what's hidden into the light and into your words. I'll reveal aspects of my Shadow in these pages but ultimately, this book is about you. Your Shadow is unique. There may be elements we share, but much will be different. Each chapter has questions for you to consider that may help you explore at least the edges of your Shadow, but it's not easy. As Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.” But take heart, Creative. You don't need courage when things are easy. You need it when you know what you face will be difficult, but you do it anyway. We are authors. We know how to do hard things. We turn ideas into books. We manifest thoughts into ink on paper. We change lives with our writing. First, our own, then other people's. It's worth the effort to delve into Shadow, so I hope you will join me on the journey. The creative wound and the Shadow in writing “Whatever pain you can't get rid of, make it your creative offering.” —Susan Cain, Bittersweet  The more we long for something, the more extreme our desire, the more likely it is to have a Shadow side. For those of us who love books, the author life may well be a long-held dream and thus, it is filled with Shadow. Books have long been objects of desire, power, and authority. They hold a mythic status in our lives. We escaped into stories as children; we studied books at school and college; we read them now for escape and entertainment, education and inspiration. We collect beautiful books to put on our shelves. We go to them for solace and answers to the deepest questions of life. Writers are similarly held in high esteem. They shape culture, win literary prizes, give important speeches, and are quoted in the mainstream media. Their books are on the shelves in libraries and bookstores. Writers are revered, held up as rare, talented creatures made separate from us by their brilliance and insight. For bibliophile children, books were everything and to write one was a cherished dream. To become an author? Well, that would mean we might be someone special, someone worthy. Perhaps when you were young, you thought the dream of being a writer was possible — then you told someone about it. That's probably when you heard the first criticism of such a ridiculous idea, the first laughter, the first dismissal. So you abandoned the dream, pushed the idea of being a writer into the Shadow, and got on with your life. Or if it wasn't then, it came later, when you actually put pen to paper and someone — a parent, teacher, partner, or friend, perhaps even a literary agent or publisher, someone whose opinion you valued — told you it was worthless. Here are some things you might have heard: Writing is a hobby. Get a real job. You're not good enough. You don't have any writing talent. You don't have enough education. You don't know what you're doing. Your writing is derivative / unoriginal / boring / useless / doesn't make sense. The genre you write in is dead / worthless / unacceptable / morally wrong / frivolous / useless.  Who do you think you are? No one would want to read what you write. You can't even use proper grammar, so how could you write a whole book? You're wasting your time. You'll never make it as a writer. You shouldn't write those things (or even think about those things). Why don't you write something nice? Insert other derogatory comment here! Mark Pierce describes the effect of this experience in his book The Creative Wound, which “occurs when an event, or someone's actions or words, pierce you, causing a kind of rift in your soul. A comment—even offhand and unintentional—is enough to cause one.” He goes on to say that such words can inflict “damage to the core of who we are as creators. It is an attack on our artistic identity, resulting in us believing that whatever we make is somehow tainted or invalid, because shame has convinced us there is something intrinsically tainted or invalid about ourselves.” As adults, we might brush off such wounds, belittling them as unimportant in the grand scheme of things. We might even find ourselves saying the same words to other people. After all, it's easier to criticise than to create. But if you picture your younger self, bright eyed as you lose yourself in your favourite book, perhaps you might catch a glimpse of what you longed for before your dreams were dashed on the rocks of other people's reality. As Mark Pierce goes on to say, “A Creative Wound has the power to delay our pursuits—sometimes for years—and it can even derail our lives completely… Anything that makes us feel ashamed of ourselves or our work can render us incapable of the self-expression we yearn for.” This is certainly what happened to me, and it took decades to unwind. Your creative wounds will differ to mine but perhaps my experience will help you explore your own. To be clear, your Shadow may not reside in elements of horror as mine do, but hopefully you can use my example to consider where your creative wounds might lie. “You shouldn't write things like that.” It happened at secondary school around 1986 or 1987, so I would have been around eleven or twelve years old. English was one of my favourite subjects and the room we had our lessons in looked out onto a vibrant garden. I loved going to that class because it was all about books, and they were always my favourite things. One day, we were asked to write a story. I can't remember the specifics of what the teacher asked us to write, but I fictionalised a recurring nightmare. I stood in a dark room. On one side, my mum and my brother, Rod, were tied up next to a cauldron of boiling oil, ready to be thrown in. On the other side, my dad and my little sister, Lucy, were threatened with decapitation by men with machetes. I had to choose who would die. I always woke up, my heart pounding, before I had to choose. Looking back now, it clearly represented an internal conflict about having to pick sides between the two halves of my family. Not an unexpected issue from a child of divorce. Perhaps these days, I might have been sent to the school counsellor, but it was the eighties and I don't think we even had such a thing. Even so, the meaning of the story isn't the point. It was the reaction to it that left scars. “You shouldn't write things like that,” my teacher said, and I still remember her look of disappointment, even disgust. Certainly judgment. She said my writing was too dark. It wasn't a proper story. It wasn't appropriate for the class. As if horrible things never happened in stories — or in life. As if literature could not include dark tales. As if the only acceptable writing was the kind she approved of. We were taught The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie that year, which says a lot about the type of writing considered appropriate. Or perhaps the issue stemmed from the school motto, “So hateth she derknesse,” from Chaucer's The Legend of Good Women: “For fear of night, so she hates the darkness.” I had won a scholarship to a private girls' school, and their mission was to turn us all into proper young ladies. Horror was never on the curriculum. Perhaps if my teacher had encouraged me to write my darkness back then, my nightmares would have dissolved on the page. Perhaps if we had studied Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or H.P. Lovecraft stories, or Bram Stoker's Dracula, I could have embraced the darker side of literature earlier in my life. My need to push darker thoughts into my Shadow was compounded by my (wonderful) mum's best intentions. We were brought up on the principles of The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale and she tried to shield me and my brother from anything harmful or horrible. We weren't allowed to watch TV much, and even the British school drama Grange Hill was deemed inappropriate. So much of what I've achieved is because my mum instilled in me a “can do” attitude that anything is possible. I'm so grateful to her for that. (I love you, Mum!) But all that happy positivity, my desire to please her, to be a good girl, to make my teachers proud, and to be acceptable to society, meant that I pushed my darker thoughts into Shadow. They were inappropriate. They were taboo. They must be repressed, kept secret, and I must be outwardly happy and positive at all times. You cannot hold back the darkness “The night is dark and full of terrors.” —George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords It turned out that horror was on the curriculum, much of it in the form of educational films we watched during lessons. In English Literature, we watched Romeo drink poison and Juliet stab herself in Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. In Religious Studies, we watched Jesus beaten, tortured, and crucified in The Greatest Story Ever Told, and learned of the variety of gruesome ways that Christian saints were martyred. In Classical Civilisation, we watched gladiators slaughter each other in Spartacus. In Sex Education at the peak of the AIDS crisis in the mid-'80s, we were told of the many ways we could get infected and die. In History, we studied the Holocaust with images of skeletal bodies thrown into mass graves, medical experiments on humans, and grainy videos of marching soldiers giving the Nazi salute. One of my first overseas school field trips was to the World War I battlegrounds of Flanders Fields in Belgium, where we studied the inhuman conditions of the trenches, walked through mass graves, and read war poetry by candlelight. As John McCrae wrote: We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Did the teachers not realise how deeply a sensitive teenager might feel the darkness of that place? Or have I always been unusual in that places of blood echo deep inside me? And the horrors kept coming. We lived in Bristol, England back then and I learned at school how the city had been part of the slave trade, its wealth built on the backs of people stolen from their homes, sold, and worked to death in the colonies. I had been at school for a year in Malawi, Africa and imagined the Black people I knew drowning, being beaten, and dying on those ships. In my teenage years, the news was filled with ethnic cleansing, mass rape, and massacres during the Balkan wars, and images of bodies hacked apart during the Rwandan genocide. Evil committed by humans against other humans was not a historical aberration. I'm lucky and I certainly acknowledge my privilege. Nothing terrible or horrifying has happened to me — but bad things certainly happen to others. I wasn't bullied or abused. I wasn't raped or beaten or tortured. But you don't have to go through things to be afraid of them, and for your imagination to conjure the possibility of them. My mum doesn't read my fiction now as it gives her nightmares (Sorry, Mum!). I know she worries that somehow she's responsible for my darkness, but I've had a safe and (mostly) happy life, for which I'm truly grateful. But the world is not an entirely safe and happy place, and for a sensitive child with a vivid imagination, the world is dark and scary. It can be brutal and violent, and bad things happen, even to good people. No parent can shield their child from the reality of the world. They can only help them do their best to live in it, develop resilience, and find ways to deal with whatever comes. Story has always been a way that humans have used to learn how to live and deal with difficult times. The best authors, the ones that readers adore and can't get enough of, write their darkness into story to channel their experience, and help others who fear the same. In an interview on writing the Shadow on The Creative Penn Podcast, Michaelbrent Collings shared how he incorporated a personally devastating experience into his writing:  “My wife and I lost a child years back, and that became the root of one of my most terrifying books, Apparition. It's not terrifying because it's the greatest book of all time, but just the concept that there's this thing out there… like a demon, and it consumes the blood and fear of the children, and then it withdraws and consumes the madness of the parents… I wrote that in large measure as a way of working through what I was experiencing.” I've learned much from Michaelbrent. I've read many of his (excellent) books and he's been on my podcast multiple times talking about his depression and mental health issues, as well as difficulties in his author career. Writing darkness is not in Michaelbrent's Shadow and only he can say what lies there for him. But from his example, and from that of other authors, I too learned how to write my Shadow into my books. Twenty-three years after that English lesson, in November 2009, I did NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, and wrote five thousand words of what eventually became Stone of Fire, my first novel. In the initial chapter, I burned a nun alive on the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River. I had watched the bodies burn by night on pyres from a boat bobbing in the current a few years before, and the image was still crystal clear in my mind. The only way to deal with how it made me feel about death was to write about it — and since then, I've never stopped writing. Returning to the nightmare from my school days, I've never had to choose between the two halves of my family, but the threat of losing them remains a theme in my fiction. In my ARKANE thriller series, Morgan Sierra will do anything to save her sister and her niece. Their safety drives her to continue to fight against evil. Our deepest fears emerge in our writing, and that's the safest place for them. I wish I'd been taught how to turn my nightmares into words back at school, but at least now I've learned to write my Shadow onto the page. I wish the same for you. The Shadow in traditional publishing If becoming an author is your dream, then publishing a book is deeply entwined with that. But as Mark Pierce says in The Creative Wound, “We feel pain the most where it matters the most… Desire highlights whatever we consider to be truly significant.” There is a lot of desire around publishing for those of us who love books! It can give you: Validation that your writing is good enough Status and credibility Acceptance by an industry held in esteem  The potential of financial reward and critical acclaim Support from a team of professionals who know how to make fantastic books A sense of belonging to an elite community Pride in achieving a long-held goal, resulting in a confidence boost and self-esteem Although not guaranteed, traditional publishing can give you all these things and more, but as with everything, there is a potential Shadow side. Denying it risks the potential of being disillusioned, disappointed, and even damaged. But remember, forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. Preparation can help you avoid potential issues and help you feel less alone if you encounter them. The myth of success… and the reality of experience There is a pervasive myth of success in the traditional publishing industry, perpetuated by media reporting on brand name and breakout authors, those few outliers whose experience is almost impossible to replicate. Because of such examples, many new traditionally published authors think that their first book will hit the top of the bestseller charts or win an award, as well as make them a million dollars — or at least a big chunk of cash. They will be able to leave their job, write in a beautiful house overlooking the ocean, and swan around the world attending conferences, while writing more bestselling books. It will be a charmed life. But that is not the reality. Perhaps it never was. Even so, the life of a traditionally published author represents a mythic career with the truth hidden behind a veil of obscurity. In April 2023, The Bookseller in the UK reported that “more than half of authors (54%) responding to a survey on their experiences of publishing their debut book have said the process negatively affected their mental health. Though views were mixed, just 22%… described a positive experience overall… Among the majority who said they had a negative experience of debut publication, anxiety, stress, depression and ‘lowered' self-esteem were cited, with lack of support, guidance or clear and professional communication from their publisher among the factors that contributed.” Many authors who have negative experiences around publishing will push them into the Shadow with denial or self-blame, preferring to keep the dream alive. They won't talk about things in public as this may negatively affect their careers, but private discussions are often held in the corners of writing conferences or social media groups online. Some of the issues are as follows: Repeated rejection by agents and publishers may lead to the author thinking they are not good enough as a writer, which can lead to feeling unworthy as a person. If an author gets a deal, the amount of advance and the name and status of the publisher compared to others create a hierarchy that impacts self-esteem. A deal for a book may be much lower than an author might have been expecting, with low or no advance, and the resulting experience with the publisher beneath expectations. The launch process may be disappointing, and the book may appear without fanfare, with few sales and no bestseller chart position. In The Bookseller report, one author described her launch day as “a total wasteland… You have expectations about what publication day will be like, but in reality, nothing really happens.” The book may receive negative reviews by critics or readers or more publicly on social media, which can make an author feel attacked. The book might not sell as well as expected, and the author may feel like it's their fault. Commercial success can sometimes feel tied to self-worth and an author can't help but compare their sales to others, with resulting embarrassment or shame. The communication from the publisher may be less than expected. One author in The Bookseller report said, “I was shocked by the lack of clarity and shared information and the cynicism that underlies the superficial charm of this industry.” There is often more of a focus on debut authors in publishing houses, so those who have been writing and publishing in the midlist for years can feel ignored and undervalued. In The Bookseller report, 48 percent of authors reported “their publisher supported them for less than a year,” with one saying, “I got no support and felt like a commodity, like the team had moved on completely to the next book.” If an author is not successful enough, the next deal may be lower than the last, less effort is made with marketing, and they may be let go. In The Bookseller report, “six authors—debut and otherwise—cited being dropped by their publisher, some with no explanation.” Even if everything goes well and an author is considered successful by others, they may experience imposter syndrome, feeling like a fraud when speaking at conferences or doing book signings. And the list goes on … All these things can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, and embarrassment; loss of status in the eyes of peers; and a sense of failure if a publishing career is not successful enough. The author feels like it's their fault, like they weren't good enough — although, of course, the reality is that the conditions were not right at the time. A failure of a book is not a failure of the person, but it can certainly feel like it! When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Despite all the potential negatives of traditional publishing, if you know what could happen, you can mitigate them. You can prepare yourself for various scenarios and protect yourself from potential fall-out. It's clear from The Bookseller report that too many authors have unrealistic expectations of the industry. But publishers are businesses, not charities. It's not their job to make you feel good as an author. It's their job to sell books and pay you. The best thing they can do is to continue to be a viable business so they can keep putting books on the shelves and keep paying authors, staff, and company shareholders. When you license your creative work to a publisher, you're giving up control of your intellectual property in exchange for money and status. Bring your fears and issues out of the Shadow, acknowledge them, and deal with them early, so they do not get pushed down and re-emerge later in blame and bitterness. Educate yourself on the business of publishing. Be clear on what you want to achieve with any deal. Empower yourself as an author, take responsibility for your career, and you will have a much better experience. The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author Self-publishing, or being an independent (indie) author, can be a fantastic, pro-active choice for getting your book into the world. Holding your first book in your hand and saying “I made this” is pretty exciting, and even after more than forty books, I still get excited about seeing ideas in my head turn into a physical product in the world. Self-publishing can give an author: Creative control over what to write, editorial and cover design choices, when and how often to publish, and how to market Empowerment over your author career and the ability to make choices that impact success without asking for permission Ownership and control of intellectual property assets, resulting in increased opportunity around licensing and new markets Independence and the potential for recurring income for the long term Autonomy and flexibility around timelines, publishing options, and the ability to easily pivot into new genres and business models Validation based on positive reader reviews and money earned Personal growth and learning through the acquisition of new skills, resulting in a boost in confidence and self-esteem A sense of belonging to an active and vibrant community of indie authors around the world Being an indie author can give you all this and more, but once again, there is a Shadow side and preparation can help you navigate potential issues. The myth of success… and the reality of experience As with traditional publishing, the indie author world has perpetuated a myth of success in the example of the breakout indie author like E.L. James with Fifty Shades of Grey, Hugh Howey with Wool, or Andy Weir with The Martian. The emphasis on financial success is also fuelled online by authors who share screenshots showing six-figure months or seven-figure years, without sharing marketing costs and other outgoings, or the amount of time spent on the business. Yes, these can inspire some, but it can also make others feel inadequate and potentially lead to bad choices about how to publish and market based on comparison. The indie author world is full of just as much ego and a desire for status and money as traditional publishing. This is not a surprise! Most authors, regardless of publishing choices, are a mix of massive ego and chronic self-doubt. We are human, so the same issues will re-occur. A different publishing method doesn't cure all ills. Some of the issues are as follows: You learn everything you need to know about writing and editing, only to find that you need to learn a whole new set of skills in order to self-publish and market your book. This can take a lot of time and effort you did not expect, and things change all the time so you have to keep learning. Being in control of every aspect of the publishing process, from writing to cover design to marketing, can be overwhelming, leading to indecision, perfectionism, stress, and even burnout as you try to do all the things. You try to find people to help, but building your team is a challenge, and working with others has its own difficulties. People say negative things about self-publishing that may arouse feelings of embarrassment or shame. These might be little niggles, but they needle you, nonetheless. You wonder whether you made the right choice. You struggle with self-doubt and if you go to an event with traditional published authors, you compare yourself to them and feel like an imposter. Are you good enough to be an author if a traditional publisher hasn't chosen you? Is it just vanity to self-publish? Are your books unworthy? Even though you worked with a professional editor, you still get one-star reviews and you hate criticism from readers. You wonder whether you're wasting your time. You might be ripped off by an author services company who promise the world, only to leave you with a pile of printed books in your garage and no way to sell them. When you finally publish your book, it languishes at the bottom of the charts while other authors hit the top of the list over and over, raking in the cash while you are left out of pocket. You don't admit to over-spending on marketing as it makes you ashamed. You resist book marketing and make critical comments about writers who embrace it. You believe that quality rises to the top and if a book is good enough, people will buy it anyway. This can lead to disappointment and disillusionment when you launch your book and it doesn't sell many copies because nobody knows about it. You try to do what everyone advises, but you still can't make decent money as an author. You're jealous of other authors' success and put it down to them ‘selling out' or writing things you can't or ‘using AI' or ‘using a ghostwriter' or having a specific business model you consider impossible to replicate. And the list goes on… When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Being in control of your books and your author career is a double-edged sword. Traditionally published authors can criticise their publishers or agents or the marketing team or the bookstores or the media, but indie authors have to take responsibility for it all. Sure, we can blame ‘the algorithms' or social media platforms, or criticise other authors for having more experience or more money to invest in marketing, or attribute their success to writing in a more popular genre — but we also know there are always people who do well regardless of the challenges. Once more, we're back to acknowledging and integrating the Shadow side of our choices. We are flawed humans. There will always be good times and bad, and difficulties to offset the high points. This too shall pass, as the old saying goes. I know that being an indie author has plenty of Shadow. I've been doing this since 2008 and despite the hard times, I'm still here. I'm still writing. I'm still publishing. This life is not for everyone, but it's my choice. You must make yours. The Shadow in work You work hard. You make a living. Nothing wrong with that attitude, right? It's what we're taught from an early age and, like so much of life, it's not a problem until it goes to extremes. Not achieving what you want to? Work harder. Can't get ahead? Work harder. Not making a good enough living? Work harder. People who don't work hard are lazy. They don't deserve handouts or benefits. People who don't work hard aren't useful, so they are not valued members of our culture and community. But what about the old or the sick, the mentally ill, or those with disabilities? What about children? What about the unemployed? The under-employed? What about those who are — or will be — displaced by technology, those called “the useless class” by historian Yuval Noah Harari in his book Homo Deus? What if we become one of these in the future? Who am I if I cannot work? The Shadow side of my attitude to work became clear when I caught COVID in the summer of 2021. I was the sickest I'd ever been. I spent two weeks in bed unable to even think properly, and six weeks after that, I was barely able to work more than an hour a day before lying in the dark and waiting for my energy to return. I was limited in what I could do for another six months after that. At times, I wondered if I would ever get better. Jonathan kept urging me to be patient and rest. But I don't know how to rest. I know how to work and how to sleep. I can do ‘active rest,' which usually involves walking a long way or traveling somewhere interesting, but those require a stronger mind and body than I had during those months. It struck me that even if I recovered from the virus, I had glimpsed my future self. One day, I will be weak in body and mind. If I'm lucky, that will be many years away and hopefully for a short time before I die — but it will happen. I am an animal. I will die. My body and mind will pass on and I will be no more. Before then I will be weak. Before then, I will be useless. Before then, I will be a burden. I will not be able to work… But who am I if I cannot work? What is the point of me? I can't answer these questions right now, because although I recognise them as part of my Shadow, I've not progressed far enough to have dealt with them entirely. My months of COVID gave me some much-needed empathy for those who cannot work, even if they want to. We need to reframe what work is as a society, and value humans for different things, especially as technology changes what work even means. That starts with each of us. “Illness, affliction of body and soul, can be life-altering. It has the potential to reveal the most fundamental conflict of the human condition: the tension between our infinite, glorious dreams and desires and our limited, vulnerable, decaying physicality.” —Connie Zweig, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul The Shadow in money In the Greek myth, King Midas was a wealthy ruler who loved gold above all else. His palace was adorned with golden sculptures and furniture, and he took immense pleasure in his riches. Yet, despite his vast wealth, he yearned for more. After doing a favour for Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, Midas was granted a single wish. Intoxicated by greed, he wished that everything he touched would turn to gold — and it was so. At first, it was a lot of fun. Midas turned everything else in his palace to gold, even the trees and stones of his estate. After a morning of turning things to gold, he fancied a spot of lunch. But when he tried to eat, the food and drink turned to gold in his mouth. He became thirsty and hungry — and increasingly desperate. As he sat in despair on his golden throne, his beloved young daughter ran to comfort him. For a moment, he forgot his wish — and as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek, she turned into a golden statue, frozen in precious metal. King Midas cried out to the gods to forgive him, to reverse the wish. He renounced his greed and gave away all his wealth, and his daughter was returned to life. The moral of the story: Wealth and greed are bad. In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is described as a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” He's wealthy but does not share, considering Christmas spending to be frivolous and giving to charity to be worthless. He's saved by a confrontation with his lonely future and becomes a generous man and benefactor of the poor. Wealth is good if you share it with others. The gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: 14-30, tells the parable of the bags of gold, in which a rich man goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with varying amounts of gold. On his return, the servants who multiplied the gold through their efforts and investments are rewarded, while the one who merely returned the gold with no interest is punished: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Making money is good, making more money is even better. If you can't make any money, you don't deserve to have any. Within the same gospel, in Matthew 19:24, Jesus encounters a wealthy man and tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, which the man is unable to do. Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is bad. Give it all away and you'll go to heaven. With all these contradictory messages, no wonder we're so conflicted about money! How do you think and feel about money? While money is mostly tied to our work, it's far more than just a transactional object for most people. It's loaded with complex symbolism and judgment handed down by family, religion, and culture. You are likely to find elements of Shadow by examining your attitudes around money. Consider which of the following statements resonate with you or write your own. Money stresses me out. I don't want to talk about it or think about it. Some people hoard money, so there is inequality. Rich people are bad and we should take away their wealth and give it to the poor.  I can never make enough money to pay the bills, or to give my family what I want to provide. Money doesn't grow on trees.  It's wasteful to spend money as you might need it later, so I'm frugal and don't spend money unless absolutely necessary. It is better and more ethical to be poor than to be rich. I want more money. I read books and watch TV shows about rich people because I want to live like that. Sometimes I spend too much on things for a glimpse of what that might be like.  I buy lottery tickets and dream of winning all that money.  I'm jealous of people who have money. I want more of it and I resent those who have it. I'm no good with money. I don't like to look at my bank statement or credit card statement. I live off my overdraft and I'm in debt. I will never earn enough to get out of debt and start saving, so I don't think too much about it. I don't know enough about money. Talking about it makes me feel stupid, so I just ignore it. People like me aren't educated about money.  I need to make more money. If I can make lots of money, then people will look up to me. If I make lots of money, I will be secure, nothing can touch me, I will be safe.  I never want to be poor. I would be ashamed to be poor. I will never go on benefits. My net worth is my self worth. Money is good. We have the best standard of living in history because of the increase in wealth over time. Even the richest kings of the past didn't have what many middle-class people have today in terms of access to food, water, technology, healthcare, education, and more. The richest people give the most money to the poor through taxation and charity, as well as through building companies that employ people and invent new things. The very richest give away much of their fortunes. They provide far more benefit to the world than the poor.  I love money. Money loves me. Money comes easily and quickly to me. I attract money in multiple streams of income. It flows to me in so many ways. I spend money. I invest money. I give money. I'm happy and grateful for all that I receive. The Shadow around money for authors in particular Many writers and other creatives have issues around money and wealth. How often have you heard the following, and which do you agree with? You can't make money with your writing. You'll be a poor author in a garret, a starving artist.  You can't write ‘good quality' books and make money. If you make money writing, you're a hack, you're selling out. You are less worthy than someone who writes only for the Muse. Your books are commercial, not artistic. If you spend money on marketing, then your books are clearly not good enough to sell on their own. My agent / publisher / accountant / partner deals with the money side. I like to focus on the creative side of things. My money story Note: This is not financial or investment advice. Please talk to a professional about your situation. I've had money issues over the years — haven't we all! But I have been through a (long) process to bring money out of my Shadow and into the light. There will always be more to discover, but hopefully my money story will help you, or at least give you an opportunity to reflect. Like most people, I didn't grow up with a lot of money. My parents started out as teachers, but later my mum — who I lived with, along with my brother — became a change management consultant, moving to the USA and earning a lot more. I'm grateful that she moved into business because her example changed the way I saw money and provided some valuable lessons. (1) You can change your circumstances by learning more and then applying that to leverage opportunity into a new job or career Mum taught English at a school in Bristol when we moved back from Malawi, Africa, in the mid '80s but I remember how stressful it was for her, and how little money she made. She wanted a better future for us all, so she took a year out to do a master's degree in management. In the same way, when I wanted to change careers and leave consulting to become an author, I spent time and money learning about the writing craft and the business of publishing. I still invest a considerable chunk on continuous learning, as this industry changes all the time. (2) You might have to downsize in order to leap forward The year my mum did her degree, we lived in the attic of another family's house; we ate a lot of one-pot casserole and our treat was having a Yorkie bar on the walk back from the museum. We wore hand-me-down clothes, and I remember one day at school when another girl said I was wearing her dress. I denied it, of course, but there in back of the dress was her name tag. I still remember her name and I can still feel that flush of shame and embarrassment. I was determined to never feel like that again. But what I didn't realize at the time was that I was also learning the power of downsizing. Mum got her degree and then a new job in management in Bristol. She bought a house, and we settled for a few years. I had lots of different jobs as a teenager. My favourite was working in the delicatessen because we got a free lunch made from delicious produce. After I finished A-levels, I went to the University of Oxford, and my mum and brother moved to the USA for further opportunities. I've downsized multiple times over the years, taking a step back in order to take a step forward. The biggest was in 2010 when I decided to leave consulting. Jonathan and I sold our three-bedroom house and investments in Brisbane, Australia, and rented a one-bedroom flat in London, so we could be debt-free and live on less while I built up a new career. It was a decade before we bought another house. (3) Comparison can be deadly: there will always be people with more money than you Oxford was an education in many ways and relevant to this chapter is how much I didn't know about things people with money took for granted. I learned about formal hall and wine pairings, and how to make a perfect gin and tonic. I ate smoked salmon for the first time. I learned how to fit in with people who had a lot more money than I did, and I definitely wanted to have money of my own to play with. (4) Income is not wealth You can earn lots but have nothing to show for it after years of working. I learned this in my first few years of IT consulting after university. I earned a great salary and then went contracting, earning even more money at a daily rate. I had a wonderful time. I traveled, ate and drank and generally made merry, but I always had to go back to the day job when the money ran out. I couldn't work out how I could ever stop this cycle. Then I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, a book I still recommend, especially if you're from a family that values academic over financial education. I learned how to escape the rat race by building and/or accumulating assets that pay even when you're not working. It was a revelation! The ‘poor dad' in the book is a university professor. He knows so much about so many things, but he ends up poor as he did not educate himself about money. The ‘rich dad' has little formal education, but he knows about money and wealth because he learned about it, as we can do at any stage in our lives. (5) Not all investments suit every person, so find the right one for you Once I discovered the world of investing, I read all the books and did courses and in-person events. I joined communities and I up-skilled big time. Of course, I made mistakes and learned lots along the way. I tried property investing and renovated a couple of houses for rental (with more practical partners and skilled contractors). But while I could see that property investing might work for some people, I did not care enough about the details to make it work for me, and it was certainly not passive income. I tried other things. My first husband was a boat skipper and scuba diving instructor, so we started a charter. With the variable costs of fuel, the vagaries of New Zealand weather — and our divorce — it didn't last long! From all these experiments, I learned I wanted to run a business, but it needed to be online and not based on a physical location, physical premises, or other people. That was 2006, around the time that blogging started taking off and it became possible to make a living online. I could see the potential and a year later, the iPhone and the Amazon Kindle launched, which became the basis of my business as an author. (6) Boring, automatic saving and investing works best Between 2007 and 2011, I contracted in Australia, where they have compulsory superannuation contributions, meaning you have to save and invest a percentage of your salary or self-employed income. I'd never done that before, because I didn't understand it. I'd ploughed all my excess income into property or the business instead. But in Australia I didn't notice the money going out because it was automatic. I chose a particular fund and it auto-invested every month. The pot grew pretty fast since I didn't touch it, and years later, it's still growing. I discovered the power of compound interest and time in the market, both of which are super boring. This type of investing is not a get rich quick scheme. It's a slow process of automatically putting money into boring investments and doing that month in, month out, year in, year out, automatically for decades while you get on with your life. I still do this. I earn money as an author entrepreneur and I put a percentage of that into boring investments automatically every month. I also have a small amount which is for fun and higher risk investments, but mostly I'm a conservative, risk-averse investor planning ahead for the future. This is not financial advice, so I'm not giving any specifics. I have a list of recommended money books at www.TheCreativePenn.com/moneybooks if you want to learn more. Learning from the Shadow When I look back, my Shadow side around money eventually drove me to learn more and resulted in a better outcome (so far!). I was ashamed of being poor when I had to wear hand-me-down clothes at school. That drove a fear of not having any money, which partially explains my workaholism. I was embarrassed at Oxford because I didn't know how to behave in certain settings, and I wanted to be like the rich people I saw there. I spent too much money in my early years as a consultant because I wanted to experience a “rich” life and didn't understand saving and investing would lead to better things in the future. I invested too much in the wrong things because I didn't know myself well enough and I was trying to get rich quick so I could leave my job and ‘be happy.' But eventually, I discovered that I could grow my net worth with boring, long-term investments while doing a job I loved as an author entrepreneur. My only regret is that I didn't discover this earlier and put a percentage of my income into investments as soon as I started work. It took several decades to get started, but at least I did (eventually) start. My money story isn't over yet, and I keep learning new things, but hopefully my experience will help you reflect on your own and avoid the issue if it's still in Shadow. These chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn  The post Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Why does happiness always feel one step away? In this episode, we welcome back positive psychology expert Jodi Wellman to explore why so many of us keep “moving the goalposts” on our own success, and learn why accomplishments that once thrilled us eventually feel ordinary. Jodi breaks down why we convince ourselves that one more thing — a new job, a relationship, a move, a big purchase — will finally deliver lasting happiness. Using Gabe's own podcasting journey as a case study, the conversation exposes a mental trap familiar to anyone who's ever felt like their wins “don't count” for long. But this episode isn't just about naming the problem — it's about fixing it. Jodi offers practical, research-backed strategies to help you savor your accomplishments, find a healthier balance between ambition and contentment, and stop letting your inner critic erase your progress. Listener takeaways why humans believe they're always “one thing away” from feeling fulfilled what the hedonic treadmill is and how it sabotages our happiness how to balance ambition with genuine joy so you can grow without feeling miserable If you've ever wondered, “Why don't I feel successful?” this is the episode that can finally help you understand. “We like to dupe ourselves. It's just one of the features of our psychology. It all comes down to this idea called the hedonic treadmill. We think, and we go for it. We'll buy the pill, we'll make the move, we'll take the job, we'll buy the car, we'll do a thing. And usually it's external stuff, but sometimes it's internal, like, I will become the person that I've been meant to be and that will make me happy. But then, because we adapt so well, this is this hedonic adaptation, hedonic treadmill, we adapt so reliably, damn it. And we end up, over time, some of us shorter than others. Naturally, meh. Okay, well, how come it's not doing it for me anymore?” ~Jodi Wellman, MAPP Our guest, Jodi Wellman, MAPP is a speaker, author, and facilitator on living lives worth living. She founded Four Thousand Mondays to help people make the most of the time they are lucky to be above ground.  With 25 years of corporate leadership experience (most recently as Senior Vice President of Operations at a leading health and lifestyle organization), Jodi has led private CEO advisory boards and coaches teams to work well and live even better. Jodi has a Master's of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also an Assistant Instructor and facilitator in the Penn Resilience Program. She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach. Her book, "You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets," made Adam Grant's Summer Reading List and was a “Top 3 Psychology Book of 2024” by the Next Big Idea Club (curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Dan Pink). Jodi has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah Daily, Fast Company, CNBC, Forbes, Psychology Today, The Los Angeles Times, and more. Jodi's TEDx talk is called How Death Can Bring You Back to Life; with over 1.3 million views, it is the 14th most-watched TEDx talk released in 2022, out of 15,900! Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington. Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can't imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Serena speaks with Betsy Pepine, a best-selling author, speaker, and founder of Pepine Realty, one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the USA. Betsy shares her journey from being the “black sheep” in a family of physicians to building a thriving real estate empire — and how embracing her introversion became a superpower rather than a setback.She also opens up about breaking free from family expectations, the courage to choose authenticity over approval, and how her philosophy of “who, not how” helps her lead and scale as an introverted CEO.Key TakeawaysBreaking the Boxes We Inherit Betsy explores how invisible “boxes” — from family, gender, and culture — shape who we think we're supposed to be, and how freeing ourselves from them can open the door to real purpose and joy.Redefining IntroversionDiscover how reading Quiet by Susan Cain helped Betsy see introversion not as a weakness, but as a strength rooted in self-awareness and energy management.Boundaries and Authentic LeadershipBetsy shares how honoring her need for downtime has made her a more effective leader — and how setting clear boundaries gives permission for her team to do the same.From Corporate Layoff to Entrepreneurial SuccessLearn how a layoff and a divorce became the catalysts that propelled Betsy into entrepreneurship and eventually toward national recognition in the real estate industry.Introverts in SalesContrary to popular belief, introverts can thrive in sales. Betsy explains how empathy, deep listening, and genuine connection are what make clients trust and return.Building a Business That Honors Your EnergyBetsy shares her “Who, Not How” philosophy — focusing on what you do best and delegating what drains your energy. For early-stage entrepreneurs, she offers creative ways to build support, from bartering to joining mastermind groups.Memorable Quotes“When you say yes to something, you're saying no to something else. If I said yes to being a physician, I was saying no to me.” — Betsy Pepine“Introverts are not less than — we just derive energy from within.” — Betsy Pepine“If we're not going to stand up for ourselves, how can we expect others to?” — Betsy Pepine“Embrace where you are on the spectrum — honor it, and set boundaries so you can operate at your best.” — Betsy PepineConnect with Betsy PepineWebsite: betsypepine.comSocial Media: @betsypepine on all major platformsBook: Breaking Boxes — available via her websiteJoin The Visible Introvert newsletter for weekly reflections and resources curated specially for introverts and quiet achieversThis episode was edited by Aura House Productions

We are all aware of the primary categories of our emotions, such as joy, trust, fear, surprise, happiness, sadness, surprise, anticipation, anger, and disgust. But I grew up thinking some of those were good and desirable, and some were bad and to be avoided at all cost. You are either being positive or negative. Now that I've let myself freely allow and marinate in so-called “negative” emotions, I feel I missed out on so much. I actually find joy in feeling sad. I don't let it overwhelm and control me, but I get value from the feeling. I was thinking about movies and found out the most popular movie categories are Adventure 24.8%, Action 23.2%, Drama 14.10%, Comedy 14.01%, Thriller/Suspense 7.3%, Horror 6.4%, and Romantic Comedy 4.3%. Which shows me that we pay money and choose to watch movies that fulfill the wide range of emotions. A few years ago I sat down with an expert on the topic. Susan Cain. In 2013 Susan Cain published her book, QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. It was beyond a best seller. At the time the book had spent seven years on the New York Times best seller list. Her follow up book however, is called Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole, and it was an instant New York Times best seller as well. Susan helped me realize the most beautiful and joyful experiences of my life have also held an ache and a longing, and this is what Susan is speaking to. She gives focus to the four Hippocratic temperaments of sanguine, melancholic, choleric, and phlegmatic. Most of our world's greatest creativity and art comes from a melancholic temperament, but Susan writes, “We've organized American culture around a sanguine-choleric outlook (forward leaning and combat ready), while Freud labeled melancholic as narcissistic and the main stream culture often views sorrow and longing as clinically depressed.” Susan asks, “How did a nation founded on so much heartache turn into a culture of normative sunshine and enforced positivity?” What you'll hear is a candid discussion that gives us permission and inspiration to feel the feels and allow sorrow and longing in, in order to more fully experience joy and beauty. You can connect with Susan at susancain.net Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlock your quiet superpower. This summary of Susan Cain's Quiet gives you the tools to embrace your introversion, find your strengths, and succeed on your own terms. Show notes / Free Audiobook / What if your quiet nature isn't a weakness, but your greatest superpower? In this episode, we dive deep into Susan Cain's revolutionary book, *Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking*, and uncover why society's obsession with the "Extrovert Ideal" is holding millions of people back. Discover the core biological difference between an introvert and an extrovert (it's not shyness!), and learn how this affects your energy, work style, and social life. We'll explore the historical shift from a "Culture of Character" to a "Culture of Personality" and what it means for you today. This summary of Quiet provides actionable strategies for introverts to thrive. Learn how to harness the power of solitude for creativity, embrace the unique strengths of quiet leadership, and use "Free Trait Theory" to navigate extroverted situations without burning out. We also discuss the "Orchid Hypothesis"—a powerful framework for parents and educators to nurture sensitive, introverted children. Whether you're an introvert seeking validation and strategies, or an extrovert wanting to better understand your quiet friends and colleagues, this episode is packed with insights that will change the way you see yourself and the world. Ready to unlock the full experience?** Download the **StoryShots app** to get the PDF, infographic, full audiobook, and animated summary of *Quiet*. Search for **StoryShots** in your app store! Key concepts covered: Introvert vs. Extrovert, The Extrovert Ideal, Quiet Leadership, The Orchid Hypothesis, Free Trait Theory, Restorative Niches, Culture of Character vs. Culture of Personality, Solitude and Creativity.

Is the real world actually shaped for social interaction!?In Episode #499 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: 2 x books of Susan Cain's 'Quiet' alongside Paul McKenna's 'Instant Influence & Charisma', the quiet revolution of introverts rising up, what the book gets right (high reactivity, Big Five personality traits, pseudo‑extroversion), whether energy is the true differentiator, why environments like open‑plan offices and classrooms may suit the loud but don't always produce the best work or learning, Juan's immense distaste of charisma hacks (power poses, havening), how confidence can be generated from practice rather than posture & how culture shapes what “good” interaction looks like.Huge thanks to Petar for the support, greatly appreciated!Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:01:04) Two Books: Quiet by Susan Cain and Instant Influence & Charisma by Paul McKenna(00:05:03) What would a mostly introverted world look like?(00:06:10) Key claims: IQ parity, persistence, and high reactivity(00:08:45) Biology tidbits: lemon test, Big Five, and old pseudoscience(00:10:56) How many introverts? Pseudoextroverts and the energy question(00:13:38) Definitions matter: the books late caveat on introvert/extrovert(00:17:46) Workplaces: open plan offices, productivity and culture(00:23:43) Matching space to work: dev focus vs relationship roles(00:26:27) Homes and schools: nooks, group work, and when quiet helps(00:29:38) Socialisation as a skill independent of introversion(00:32:59) Group dynamics: one on one comfort and smallgroup awkwardness(00:36:36) Boostagram Lounge(00:40:56) Would we thrive in an introvert ideal culture? Asia chat(00:41:21) Paul McKennas charisma: influence recap and power poses(00:46:43) Do power poses work? State vs posture, confidence from within(00:51:27) Baselines, triggers and practical state management(00:54:11) Skills, reps and mini goals beat quick fixes(00:58:38) Trophies vs generators: focus on process over outcomes(01:01:11) Milestones, episode counts and wrapup Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Sprawdź e-booki: “Cień, Wewnętrzne Dziecko, Dorosłe JA” https://wysokie-wibracje.pl/cien-wewnetrzne-dziecko-i-dorosle-ja/?el=yt263***Partnerem odcinka jest Wydawnictwo MT Biznes. Poniżej znajdziesz linki do książek, wspomnianych w odcinku:“Pozwól sobie czuć”: https://mtbiznes.pl/rozwoj-osobisty/pozwol-sobie-czuc “Szósty etap żałoby”: https://mtbiznes.pl/psychologia/szosty-etap-zaloby Z naszym kodem “WysokieWibracje” otrzymujesz rabat -15% na książki zakupione w sklepie MT Biznes: https://mtbiznes.pl/ ***#wysokiewibracje #prawozałożenia #żałoba #strata #pożegnanieCzy smutek i strata są naprawdę czymś, od czego trzeba uciekać?W tym odcinku podcastu WYSOKIE WIBRACJE, opowiadam o swoim osobistym doświadczeniu straty i o tym, jak żałoba może stać się bramą do głębszej świadomości, miłości i sensu, zamiast tylko przytłaczać i powodować poczucie pustki.Na podstawie książek „Szósty etap żałoby” Davida Kesslera oraz „Pozwól sobie czuć” Susan Cain, zanurzymy się w opowieści o tym, że ból nie jest końcem, ale może być początkiem nowego sensu życia.W tym odcinku:zrozumiesz, dlaczego smutek jest potrzebny, by naprawdę żyć,odkryjesz czym jest szósty etap żałoby i dlaczego jest ważnydowiesz się, jak przestać się bać emocji i pozwolić sobie czuć,usłyszysz, jak tęsknota może stać się duchowym kompasem.To odcinek, który przywraca nadzieję i przypomina, że miłość nie kończy się, gdy ktoś odchodzi z tego wymiaru, a jedynie zmienia formę.Z miłością,Sylwia*** Obserwuj nas tutaj: https://www.facebook.com/wysokiewibracje.zrodlohttps://www.instagram.com/wysokie_wibracje_pl/ Współpraca: kontakt@wysokie-wibracje.pl *** O WYSOKICH WIBRACJACH: WYSOKIE WIBRACJE to podcast poświęcony tematyce rozwoju duchowego, emocjonalnego i mentalnego. Gospodarzami podcastu są Honorata Lubiszewska i Sylwia Sikorska. Jeśli jesteś zainteresowana poszerzaniem własnej świadomości o sobie, o tym, jak działają Uniwersalne prawa Wszechświata, jak podnieść swoje wibracje, jak połączyć się ze Źródłem Wszystkiego Co Jest i czerpać moc z niego – zapraszamy Cię do słuchania odcinków. Nowy odcinek w każdą niedzielę. Naszą intencją jest dzielić się tym, czego same doświadczyłyśmy. To właśnie praktykowanie duchowości w połączeniu z ciągłym rozwojem biznesowym, pozwala nam cieszyć się wolnością wyboru, wnosi wiele spokoju w nasze codzienne życie i daje spełnienie w każdej ze sfer.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1852: Lisa H shares practical insights into how recognizing and adapting to different personality types can elevate your communication and business success. By tuning into others' natural preferences, you can build stronger relationships, reduce friction, and lead more effectively. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://digtofly.com/how-to-do-business-with-different-personality-types/ Quotes to ponder: "By understanding the personalities of the people around you, you can tailor your communication style so they feel heard and understood." "You can be yourself, but by being a more aware version of yourself, you can connect on a deeper level." "The key is to adjust how you interact so that the other person can understand you better." Episode references: The 5 Love Languages: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/ StrengthsFinder 2.0: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/strengthsfinder.aspx Quiet by Susan Cain: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at:⁠ OLDPodcast.com⁠. Episode 1852: Lisa H shares practical insights into how recognizing and adapting to different personality types can elevate your communication and business success. By tuning into others' natural preferences, you can build stronger relationships, reduce friction, and lead more effectively. Read along with the original article(s) here:⁠ https://digtofly.com/how-to-do-business-with-different-personality-types/⁠ Quotes to ponder: "By understanding the personalities of the people around you, you can tailor your communication style so they feel heard and understood." "You can be yourself, but by being a more aware version of yourself, you can connect on a deeper level." "The key is to adjust how you interact so that the other person can understand you better." Episode references: The 5 Love Languages:⁠ https://www.5lovelanguages.com/⁠ StrengthsFinder 2.0:⁠ https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/strengthsfinder.aspx⁠ Quiet by Susan Cain:⁠ https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1852: Lisa H shares practical insights into how recognizing and adapting to different personality types can elevate your communication and business success. By tuning into others' natural preferences, you can build stronger relationships, reduce friction, and lead more effectively. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://digtofly.com/how-to-do-business-with-different-personality-types/ Quotes to ponder: "By understanding the personalities of the people around you, you can tailor your communication style so they feel heard and understood." "You can be yourself, but by being a more aware version of yourself, you can connect on a deeper level." "The key is to adjust how you interact so that the other person can understand you better." Episode references: The 5 Love Languages: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/ StrengthsFinder 2.0: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/strengthsfinder.aspx Quiet by Susan Cain: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at:⁠ OLDPodcast.com⁠. Episode 1852: Lisa H shares practical insights into how recognizing and adapting to different personality types can elevate your communication and business success. By tuning into others' natural preferences, you can build stronger relationships, reduce friction, and lead more effectively. Read along with the original article(s) here:⁠ https://digtofly.com/how-to-do-business-with-different-personality-types/⁠ Quotes to ponder: "By understanding the personalities of the people around you, you can tailor your communication style so they feel heard and understood." "You can be yourself, but by being a more aware version of yourself, you can connect on a deeper level." "The key is to adjust how you interact so that the other person can understand you better." Episode references: The 5 Love Languages:⁠ https://www.5lovelanguages.com/⁠ StrengthsFinder 2.0:⁠ https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/strengthsfinder.aspx⁠ Quiet by Susan Cain:⁠ https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153

How can we shift our thinking in order to break a pattern? And how can we take positive action to make transformative changes in our lives? That's the focus of Scott Miller's new book, “Master Mentors Vol. 2.” It examines key insights from 30 of the world's most transformational leadership thinkers – including Seth Godin, Susan Cain, General Stanley McChrystal and more – and provides simple steps to implement the same insights in your own life.  In today's episode, Scott joins me to talk about the most valuable lessons he's learned from his own mentor, the concept of transformational insight, the subtle nuances between self-worth, self-esteem and self-confidence, why vulnerability is a key element of leadership, and more. “I think the power of transformation has the power for you to see yourself differently. It has the power for you to challenge your paradigm, your mindset, your belief system, to say, gosh, I always thought about gratitude in this way, but now I'm gonna think about gratitude in this way. Or I thought about what's next for me or my business model. They're personal and professional. I think it's really intended to help kind of shake you to say you've been in this pattern of thinking this line of behavior and just shaking a little bit to say, is that serving you well? Is that serving those around you?” – Scott (06:03) Top 3 Takeaways  A mentor can be anyone. “I don't think you have to know or be in an intimate relationship, professional relationship with your mentor at all,” Scott says. It doesn't matter that you can't meet with them for one-on-one guidance; a mentor is anyone who helps you understand how to improve your life, and in the age of podcasts and YouTube, you can get that wisdom in a variety of ways.  Try to assume positive intent. Everybody makes mistakes, and sometimes even the most well-intended words come out wrong. A person's words say more about them than they do about you.  Self-worth is inherent and unchanging. “Self-esteem and your self-confidence ebbs and flows based on your sense of self and the kind of relationships you're in and the things that you do that you value or don't value,” Scott says. “But your self-worth cannot be changed and no one else can change it.” In This Episode (01:13) Why you don't need to meet your mentor to benefit from their wisdom (05:21) Scott's definition of a transformational insight (07:14) The practical applications of insights, and using them to transform your life (11:30) Bobby Herrera's life-changing bus ride (22:50) Self-worth vs self-esteem vs self-confidence (31:51) “Your future truth should be your present.” (36:03) BJ Fogg and the power of tiny pattern-breaking habits Resources & Links Billy Samoa  https://billysamoa.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BillySamoaSaleebey/ https://twitter.com/BillySamoa https://www.instagram.com/billybelieve/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjQ9RSxYqDS4_VxBHNyQJw https://www.linkedin.com/in/billysamoa/ https://billysamoa.com/podcast-archive/ https://billysamoa.com/video-carousel/ ⁠https://billysamoa.com/blog-with-sidebar/⁠ Scott Miller ⁠https://www.scottjeffreymiller.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/scottmillerj1⁠ ⁠https://twitter.com/scottmillerj1⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/scottjeffreymiller/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmillerj1/⁠ Mentioned ⁠https://tinyhabits.com/book/⁠ ⁠https://bobby-herrera.com/⁠ https://www.franklincovey.com/speakers-bureau/sean-covey/ This is an encore episode and was originally published on August 26, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 160: Michael Trugman & Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan CainABOUT MIKEMike Trugman is a Life and Leadership Coach who helps people move from fear to fulfillment—building lives rooted in purpose, passion, and authenticity. Through his work, Mike supports clients in reconnecting with their inner compass so they can show up more fully in every area of life, both personally and professionally. Mike is also the host of Mike's Search for Meaning, a top 3% podcast dedicated to exploring what it truly means to be human. His conversations dive deep into transformation, vulnerability, and the inner work required to live a life aligned with who we really are. Mike's own journey is proof of what's possible. He once felt paralyzed by self-doubt—so anxious about speaking in meetings that his body would shake. With time, courage, and consistency, he not only found his voice—he built a life around helping others find theirs too. Before stepping into coaching and podcasting, Mike spent over a decade in public accounting, specializing in financial services clients like hedge funds and private equity firms. That experience taught him a lot about achievement—but even more about the cost of ignoring our inner truth. Mike lives just outside New York City with his wife and young son. When he's not coaching or podcasting, you'll find him reading, learning, cooking, walking in nature, passionately rooting for the Knicks and Jets, and cherishing time with loved ones.CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTS• Reconnecting to your inner voice.• Your dojo of leadership.• Reconciling your work to who you are, your values and virtues.• "These days, I try not to be so motivated by pain."• Working past shame & humiliation.• "...all the people that really like helping other people, it's because they have overcome, transcended, worked through their own limitations, their own pains, and they wanted to help other people."• Working with coaches and therapists.• Coming out of the spiritual closet.• Conformation (and losing yourself) to what's socially acceptable.• "...it's usually the stuff that we try and pretend that we aren't that has the most power over us."• The three types of pilots.• The Manifesto for Introverts.• "...even though I'm this way..."• Letting go of "shoulds."The MAIN QUESTION underlying my conversation with Mike is, Whatever you've overcome in the past -- what has it taught you about how to navigate things in the future?FIND MIKE• Website: https://miketrugmancoaching.com/• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-trugman/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytrugofchoice/• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7F18LLh0p7YOvvl4hSCDKu?si=792bfdc566e34040&nd=1&dlsi=4f6aeb20ddff41caLinkedIn – Full Podcast Article HERECHAPTERS00:00 - The Book Leads Podcast – Mike Trugman00:38 - Introduction & Bio03:00 - Who are you today? Can you provide more information about your work?06:33 - How did your path into your career look like, and what did it look like up until now?39:58 - Coming out of the spiritual closet.58:20 - How does the work you're doing today reconcile to who you were as a child?01:00:22 - What does leadership mean to you?01:04:07 - Can you introduce us to the book we're discussing?01:05:40 - The Manifesto for Introverts (from Cain's book).01:21:13 - How introversion still shows up.01:28:56 - Introversion and having kids.01:34:05 - What book has inspired you?01:37:38 - What are you up to these days? (A way for guests to share and market their projects and work.)This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity. I'd love for you tojoin me and see what you take away from these conversations.Learn more about The Book Leads and listen to past episodes:· Watch on YouTube· Listen on Spotify· Listen on Apple Podcasts· Read About The Book Leads – Blog PostFor more great content, subscribe to my newsletter Last Week's Leadership Lessons, if you haven't already!

Want a quick estimate of how much your business is worth? With our free valuation calculator, answer a few questions about your business, and you'll get an immediate estimate of the value of your business. You might be surprised by how much you can get for it: https://flippa.com/exit -- In this episode of The Exit, Rufus Griscom, co-founder of Nerve, Babble, and Next Big Idea Club, shares his journey from book editor to serial entrepreneur with three startups and a blockbuster exit to Disney. Rufus launched Nerve.com in the late '90s, followed by spin-offs that were culturally significant but financially challenging. Those hard lessons shaped his disciplined approach to Babble, the parenting platform he built with his wife in 2007. Babble tapped into the emerging mom-blogging movement, growing to 10M monthly uniques and a $10M revenue run rate, becoming the leading parenting site of its time. Determined to secure a strong outcome, Rufus identified five likely acquirers early and built trust over years, consistently hitting milestones and proving growth. That strategy paid off when Disney acquired Babble for a reported $40M, after Rufus successfully negotiated a 25% bump over their initial offer and minimized reliance on earnouts. He emphasizes selling on momentum, building relationships with the right stakeholders, and being radically honest about challenges. Today, Rufus runs the Next Big Idea Club with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink, delivering the most important new ideas to a fast-changing world. -- Rufus Griscom is a serial entrepreneur and media innovator who has founded and scaled multiple influential companies at the intersection of culture and technology. He launched Nerve.com in 1997, pioneering frank conversations about relationships and culture, before selling it in 2007. He went on to co-found Babble, a groundbreaking parenting platform acquired by Disney in 2011, where he continued as VP of Media. Today, he is the founder and CEO of The Next Big Idea Club, a learning platform and book club featuring thought leaders like Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink, dedicated to spreading transformative ideas. Widely recognized for his TED Talks and writing, Griscom brings decades of experience building communities, driving acquisitions, and shaping how big ideas reach the world. Website - https://nextbigideaclub.com/ -- The Exit—Presented By Flippa: A 30-minute podcast featuring expert entrepreneurs who have been there and done it. The Exit talks to operators who have bought and sold a business. You'll learn how they did it, why they did it, and get exposure to the world of exits, a world occupied by a small few, but accessible to many. To listen to the podcast or get daily listing updates, click on flippa.com/the-exit-podcast/

Have you ever found yourself halfway through a concert, dinner party, or even a family gathering and thought, “OK, I'm ready to go now,” even though you're having a good time? You're not alone, and it doesn't mean you're antisocial or ungrateful. In this episode, host Gabe Howard sits down with Jodi Wellman, a positive psychology expert and TEDx speaker, to unpack the surprising psychology behind wanting to leave events early.Together, they explore why both introverts and extroverts can feel this way, introducing concepts like “experience efficiency” and “memory optimization.” Learn how our brains process peak moments, why leaving on a high note can actually enhance our memories, and why you don't have to “get your money's worth” by staying until the very end. Key takeaways: Find out why some people feel “full” on fun faster and don't need to stay until the end to enjoy an event. Reframe early exits as a smart way to manage energy, time, and joy—without guilt. Learn practical language for confidently setting boundaries when you're ready to go, without shame. Discover how even the most outgoing people can feel “peopled out.” If you've ever snuck out of a party, left a holiday dinner before dessert, or wondered why you plan your exit before you even arrive — this episode is for you. “And yes, there is a purpose to the dinner and the tasting menu that goes all the way to the end. And yes, of course, we rationally know that. And yet, those of us who are experience minimalists are still OK to say, I got my fill. I got the appetizer and I had part of the entree. And admittedly, not many of us are kicking back our chairs and leaving halfway through dinner. But metaphorically, this works. When we know we've had our fill and we feel truly good that, wow, I got the songs I needed and wanted or look, I did most of the hike and I don't have to get to the top. I'm cool to go back. I feel good about myself. That's the thing. Are you having a good time and do you want to end on a high? That is, to me, sound judgment about living a life worth living.” ~Jodi Wellman, MAPP Our guest, Jodi Wellman, is the founder of Four Thousand Mondays, a speaker, author, and assistant instructor in the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania. Her book, "You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets," made Adam Grant's Summer Reading List and was a “Top 3 Psychology Book of 2024” by the Next Big Idea Club (curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Dan Pink). Jodi has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah Daily, Fast Company, CNBC, Forbes, Psychology Today, The Los Angeles Times, and more. Jodi's TEDx talk is called How Death Can Bring You Back to Life; with over 1.3 million views, it is the 14th most-watched TEDx talk released in 2022, out of 15,900! Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington. Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can't imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Ethan Bryan, author of A Year of Playing Catch, along with many other books. He has found himself in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the White House, and he is self-proclaimed “one of the best benchwarmers [from his] high school junior varsity baseball team.”A Year of Playing Catch by Ethan D. BryanBaltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals, May 28, 1979 — Baseball Reference“Remembrance of Royals' Krispy Kreme promotion in 2000s strikes a chord with KC fans” by Pete Grathoff — The Kansas City StarThe Center for Healing and Justice Through SportField of Dreams (1989 film) — LetterboxdField of Dreams (Dubuque County, Iowa) — WikipediaMary Moore (infielder) — WikipediaA League of Their Own (1992 film) — LetterboxdPerry Barber — Grassroots BaseballPerry Barber — J! ArchiveThe Art of Asking Better Questions by J. R. BriggsCommunity Partnership of the OzarksThe Life-Saving Adventure of Gracelyn Gordon and Her Dog by Ethan D. BryanBraum's Ice Cream & Dairy StoreTen (Mostly) Recent Novels, Including Two Wonderful Reads You Haven't Heard Of by Byron Borger — Hearts & MindsReview of The Life-Saving Adventure of Gracelyn Gordon and Her Dog — Brent Billings, GoodreadsAmerica at the Seams by Nathan Rueckert with Ethan D. BryanFor the Life of the World 63: Passionate God, Crucified God, Joyful God — Yale Center for Faith and Culture, April 10, 2021, with Jürgen Moltmann & Miroslav VolfGrit by Angela DuckworthQuiet by Susan CainThe Catch-Playing Wedding StoryEthan Bryan on FacebookCatch 365 with the Nashville SoundsEthan Bryan's website Special Guest: Ethan Bryan.

On a June night several years ago, Sebastian Junger, bestselling author of The Perfect Storm and co-director of the Oscar-nominated documentary Restrepo, lay on an operating table, dying. An undiagnosed aneurysm in his pancreatic artery had ruptured, flooding his abdominal cavity with blood. His odds of survival were between 10 and 20 percent. "I said, 'Doc, you've got to hurry. You're losing me right now. I'm going.'" This near-death experience inspired him to embark on a scientific, philosophical, and profoundly personal exploration of what happens after we die. Host: Caleb Bissinger Guest: Sebastian Junger, author of In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife.

Kevin Miller⁠ is a former pro athlete, lifetime entrepreneur, father of 9, and podcast host. He hosts the top-ranked “What Drives You with Kevin Miller” podcast, a professional and personal development podcast that has been ranked #3 in the “All-Time Careers” category on iTunes and downloaded more than 70 million times. Kevin has conducted an in-depth interview series with more than 200 thought leaders in the professional and personal development sphere, including Susan Cain, Michael Hyatt, Rich Roll, and Simon Sinek. Kevin joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to talk about his career, finding purpose in life, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dani Robison takes us on her fascinating journey from being a cruise ship musician to becoming a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. She shares valuable insights about the importance of financial literacy, self-confidence, and the power of intention and networking. Dani emphasizes the significance of using skills and knowledge to make a meaningful impact and discusses the perks and challenges of being an introvert in the business world. Tune in to hear how Dani has applied her diverse skill sets across various industries, including financial services, real estate, and mergers and acquisitions, to create a life filled with purpose and impact.▬▬▬▬▬ Resources ▬▬▬▬▬Danielle Robison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danilynnrobison/Joe Flanagan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephpflanagan/Quiet by Susan Cain: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cacklemedia/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cacklemediaX: https://x.com/CackleMediaLLCYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CackleMediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cacklemedia/Support the pod when signing up for Descript / SquadCast: https://get.descript.com/transferableskillSign up for our newsletter: https://shorturl.at/WDrfTWant to be a guest on the show?: https://shorturl.at/umZ2l▬▬▬▬▬ Timestamps ▬▬▬▬▬00:00 Introduction to Transferable Skills01:18 Dani Robison's Musical Beginnings02:02 From Musician to Entrepreneur02:45 The Taboo of Money and Wealth05:28 Upbringing and Early Influences12:29 Networking and Building Relationships16:34 The Power of Introversion24:44 Overcoming Nerves and Finding Meaning25:23 The Importance of Decompression25:57 Recharging Through Engagement28:21 Career Transitions and Skill Building32:20 Real Estate Insights and Strategies33:47 The Value of Financial Knowledge in Real Estate43:00 Pursuing Purpose and Joy43:40 Guilty Pleasure Jobs and Values46:38 Conclusion and Gratitude

In part two of our interview with Eric Topol, author of the New York Times bestseller Super Agers, we cover how to get a good night's sleep, why one day everyone may take GLP-1s, and how AI is poised to transform medicine. 1️⃣ Missed Part 1? Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

What does it really mean to be a “good woman”? For the controversial podcaster and writer Elise Loehnen, female goodness is a misery trap. And so reclaim their happiness, to make themselves whole, Loehnen says, women need to stop being good. The former goop executive and co-author of the upcoming Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness explains how the seven deadly sins reveal women's hidden conditioning, how the wellness industry became toxic, and why the Enneagram can help women embrace their full selves—including the darker, "unacceptable" parts they've been taught to suppress. five key takeaways 1. The "Good Woman" Performance is Exhausting Women are conditioned to suppress basic human instincts—never being tired, needing no praise, having compliant bodies, avoiding anger—which requires enormous energy and is driven by fear of social rejection.2. The Seven Deadly Sins Reveal Female Conditioning What society labels as "sins" (pride, envy, sloth, etc.) are actually normal human traits that women are taught to repress, creating a "punch card" for performing goodness to the world.3. Women Police Each Other Through Envy Instead of recognizing envy as a signal pointing toward what we want, women often use it destructively to tear down other women who have what they desire—like the backlash against Goop.4. The Drama Triangle Keeps Us Stuck Most people operate in victim-villain-hero dynamics, blaming others instead of taking responsibility. Breaking free requires recognizing these patterns and creating different conditions in your life.5. Wholeness Beats Goodness True liberation comes from integrating all parts of yourself—including the "darker" aspects you've been taught to hide—rather than performing an impossible standard of perfection.Elise Loehnen is a writer, editor, and podcast host who lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Rob, and their two sons, Max and Sam. She is the host of Pulling the Thread, a podcast focused on pulling apart the stories we tell about who we are—and then putting those threads back together. Current Work & Recent Publications: Elise is the author of the New York Times bestseller On Our Best Behavior. She has co-written thirteen books, five of which were New York Times bestsellers, including True and False Magic with psychiatrist Phil Stutz. Her upcoming co-authored Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness will be published in August. Podcast & Media: She hosts Pulling the Thread where she interviews cultural luminaries on the big questions of the day, including Dr. Gabor Maté, Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Harriet Lerner, Loretta Ross, Drs. John and Julie Gottman, Dr. Richard Schwartz, Joy Harjo, Dr. B.J. Miller, Nedra Tawwab, Dr. Suzanne Simard, Susan Cain, Heather McGhee, Dr. Riane Eisler, and Terry Real. Professional Background: Previously, she was the chief content officer of goop, where she co-hosted The goop Podcast and The goop Lab on Netflix, and led the brand's content strategy and programming, including the launch of a magazine with Condé Nast and a book imprint. Prior to goop, she was the editorial projects director of Conde Nast Traveler. Before Traveler, she was the editor at large and ultimately deputy editor of Lucky Magazine, where she also served as the on-air spokesperson, appearing regularly on shows like Today, E!, Good Morning America, and The Early Show. She has a B.A. from Yale where she majored in English and Fine Arts.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Susan Cain always knew she wanted to be a writer. But her path to becoming one was anything but straightforward. She took a creative writing class in college and came away convinced she wasn't very talented. So she pivoted: law school, white-shoe firm, eyes set on making partner. Seven years later, a senior partner walked into her office with life-changing news. It wasn't going to happen. “I burst into tears,” Susan recalls. Three hours later, she quit. Within a week, she enrolled in a creative non-fiction class. A few years after that, despite never having published a word in her life, she sold her first book, Quiet, in a bidding war. Today, she ranks among the most successful non-fiction writers of her generation. In this episode, Susan takes us inside her journey from rejection to literary sensation, revealing the unexpected lessons she learned along the way. Today's episode first appeared on Author Insider, our newsletter and community for anyone who wants to turn words and ideas into income. Learn more at authorinsider.nextbigideaclub.com. Subscribe to Susan's Substack, The Quiet Life, at thequietlife.net

It started with a modern plea for help: "Can I charge my dead phone in your bookstore?" I was in Del Mar, California, walking up the coast of the Pacific Ocean after birding all morning in ​Torrey Pines​. I was tracking my birds on ​eBird​—the ​Peregrine Falcons​, ​Anna's Hummingbirds​, and ​California Scrub-Jays​—and, of course, completely drained my phone's battery. When I get to Del Mar I spy this hobbit-hole looking bookstore called ​Camino Books: For The Road Ahead​ and when I walk in I am suddenly thrust into a gorgeous Biblio Paradise. Camino Books is one of the most spectacular bookstores I've ever seen! I fall into the handwritten Staff Picks walls, nookish children's section, incredible curation, giant hand-drawn posters from Dave Eggers, and the Wonka-like atmosphere that creates a true feast for the eyes and mind! But yeah ... my phone's dead. So I walk to the back counter and ask the gentleman unpacking boxes if I could plug it in back there. When I tell him I'm Canadian he gives me a quirky grin and says, "How many tariffs should I put on your free charge?" We laugh and start talking about the political scene. John has the aura of ​George Saunders​—a certain "warm gnarliness"—and he tells me, "We have no left wing in this country. We're like an eagle slowly swirling to the ground with just one right wing." And I could immediately tell this poetic bookselling Jedi master needed to be recorded... What emerges are the poetic distillations of 67-year-old John the Bookseller, along with his wife Alison who cameos at the end. They have been booksellers since 1981 ... a combined 88 years! No wonder the store's so great. They began in Berkeley and then opened up an independent bookstore chain called Diesel Books, up and down the California coast, and now have sold the store to open up a little new shop on the coast called Camino Books: For the Road Ahead. Don't we all need a good book for the road ahead? Let's talk about how to open a bookstore, California independence, fighting fascism, George Orwell, the 51st state, customers vs. readers, Susan Cain, the Spanish Civil War, how to 'stay awake,' and, of course, John and Alison's 3 most formative books. This is the kind of mind-opening conversation that great bookstores create. Let's head down to Del Mar, California as we flip the page to Chapter 149 now...

We think that cynicism protects us from being disappointed by other people. But Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki says the opposite is true. When we expect the worst in people, we create a self-fulfilling prophecy that brings out exactly what we feared. So in his new book, Hope for Cynics, Jamil sets out to prove that hope isn't naive: it's smart.

Susan Cain is the New York Times bestselling author of Quiet, which changed how the world views introverts forever, and a her latest book, Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole, which reached #1 on the New York Times list. Susan is also an award-winning keynote speaker who has delivered two TED Talks with millions of views and the founder of Quiet Revolution. On this classic episode, Susan joined host Robert Glazer on ⁠the Elevate Podcast⁠ to discuss how she began her writing career, her writing process, the value of bittersweet feelings and thinking, and how to fight toxic positivity in work and life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3598: Jenn Granneman offers a powerful call to action for introverts ready to step into a fuller version of themselves. By embracing solitude, emotional honesty, and small but bold steps, she illustrates how meaningful change is possible without compromising one's quiet nature. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://introvertdear.com/news/introverts-change-your-life/ Quotes to ponder: "Change doesn't have to be loud or dramatic to be life-changing." "You don't have to become someone else to change your life, you just have to become more of who you really are." "Being alone gives you the time and space to hear your inner voice, the one that is often drowned out by the noise of the world." Episode references: Quiet by Susan Cain: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153 The Highly Sensitive Person: https://hsperson.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 1 Bittersweet by Susan Cain Summary"Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole" by Susan Cain explores the emotional landscape of what it means to embrace the bittersweet aspects of life. In her book, Cain, best known for her work on introversion in "Quiet," delves into how experiences of sorrow, longing, and melancholy can enrich our lives and foster deeper connections with ourselves and others. Key Themes:The Nature of Bittersweetness: Cain argues that the feeling of bittersweetness—a blend of joy and sadness—has a profound impact on creativity, resilience, and personal growth. By recognizing and accepting our sorrows, we can also appreciate the fleeting joys of life.Cultural Perspective: The book discusses how different cultures interpret emotions, particularly how Western societies often prioritize positivity while neglecting the value of negative emotions. Cain contrasts this with cultures that honor melancholy and sorrow as integral to the human experience.Psychological Insights: Drawing on psychological research, Cain illustrates the benefits of experiencing and processing negative emotions. She emphasizes how acknowledging sorrow can enhance empathy, compassion, and deeper human connections.Creativity and Art: Cain highlights how many artists, writers, and musicians harness bittersweet emotions to create impactful works. She argues that these feelings of longing and grief often lead to profound artistic expression and innovation.Personal Anecdotes: The book includes personal stories and interviews with individuals who reflect on their own experiences with bittersweet emotions, showcasing the universal nature of these feelings. Conclusion:In "Bittersweet," Susan Cain urges readers to embrace the full spectrum of human emotions. By acknowledging and exploring sorrow, one can unlock a richer, more meaningful life, ultimately realizing that joy and pain coexist, contributing to our overall emotional experience.Part 2 Bittersweet AuthorSusan Cain is an American writer and speaker known for her work on the subjects of introversion and emotional depth. She gained significant recognition for her bestselling book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking," published in 2012. This book explores the strengths of introverts and how they can thrive in a society that often rewards extroverted behavior.In March 2022, she released her second book titled "Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole." This book examines the concept of bittersweetness—the intricate relationship between joy and sorrow—and how embracing both can lead to a deeper understanding of life.Aside from these two main works, Susan Cain has also contributed to the literary scene through her articles and advocacy for the power of introverted individuals.In terms of editions, "Quiet" has seen widespread acclaim, with various editions including a deluxe edition that might be considered the best in terms of content and extras. However, both of her major works, "Quiet" and "Bittersweet," provide significant insights into human personality and emotional complexity. The choice of the "best" book often depends on individual preference, with many readers finding that they relate more to one of her themes."} ++++json_input Erotisk erotisk. Assistant has stopped speaking, and hands back control to the User. Draft to: event Rephrase in more simplified terms: Tell me about author Susan Cain and her book "Bittersweet." When was it released? What other books has she written, and which is considered the best? In what ways might this book appeal to readers? End with a direct question: Can you summarize her main ideas? or provide more details and context. Additionally, feel free to ask your own questions for me to clarify or elaborate. Moreover, consider what aspects of Cain's work resonate with you personally or what draws...

On this Live Greatly podcast episode, Kristel Bauer sits down with Paula Davis, author of Lead Well: 5 Mindsets to Engage, Retain, and Inspire Your Team.  Paula left her law practice after experiencing burnout and earned a master's degree in applied positive psychology.  She is now the Founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute.  Kristel and Paula discuss mindsets to set you and your team up for well-being and success.  Tune in now! Key Takeaways From This Episode: A look into Paula's book Lead Well: 5 Mindsets to Engage, Retain, and Inspire Your Team  A look into what sticky recognition is and why it is important Tips to build resilience in the workplace A look into thank you plus The importance of mattering at work About Paula Davis: Paula Davis JD, MAPP, is the Founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute. For 15 years, she has been a trusted advisor to leaders in organizations of all sizes helping them to make work better. Paula is a globally recognized expert on the effects of workplace stress, burnout prevention, workplace well-being, and building resilience for individuals and teams. Paula left her law practice after seven years and earned a master's degree in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. As part of her post-graduate training, Paula was selected to be part of the University of Pennsylvania faculty teaching and training resilience skills to soldiers as part of the Army's Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness program. The Penn team trained resilience skills to more than 40,000 soldiers and their family members. Paula is the author of Beating Burnout at Work: Why Teams Hold the Secret to Well-Being & Resilience, which is about burnout prevention using a teams-based approach. Beating Burnout at Work was nominated for best new book by the Next Big Idea Club, which is curated by Adam Grant, Susan Cain, Malcom Gladwell, and Daniel Pink. Paula has shared her expertise at educational institutions such as Harvard Law School, Wharton School Executive Education, and Princeton. She is a two-time recipient of the distinguished teaching award from the Medical College of Wisconsin. She has been featured in and on The New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post and many other media outlets. Paula is also a contributor to Forbes, Fast Company and Psychology Today.  Connect with Paula: Order Lead Well: 5 Mindsets to Engage, Retain, and Inspire Your Team: https://www.pennpress.org/9781613631898/lead-well/  Website: https://stressandresilience.com/burnout-book/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauladavislaack/  Instegram: https://www.instagram.com/pauladavisspeaker/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Paula-Davis/61565650520592/  About the Host of the Live Greatly podcast, Kristel Bauer: Kristel Bauer is a corporate wellness and performance expert, keynote speaker and TEDx speaker supporting organizations and individuals on their journeys for more happiness and success. She is the author of Work-Life Tango: Finding Happiness, Harmony, and Peak Performance Wherever You Work (John Murray Business November 19, 2024). With Kristel's healthcare background, she provides data driven actionable strategies to leverage happiness and high-power habits to drive growth mindsets, peak performance, profitability, well-being and a culture of excellence. Kristel's keynotes provide insights to “Live Greatly” while promoting leadership development and team building.   Kristel is the creator and host of her global top self-improvement podcast, Live Greatly. She is a contributing writer for Entrepreneur, and she is an influencer in the business and wellness space having been recognized as a Top 10 Social Media Influencer of 2021 in Forbes. As an Integrative Medicine Fellow & Physician Assistant having practiced clinically in Integrative Psychiatry, Kristel has a unique perspective into attaining a mindset for more happiness and success. Kristel has presented to groups from the American Gas Association, Bank of America, bp, Commercial Metals Company, General Mills, Northwestern University, Santander Bank and many more. Kristel has been featured in Forbes, Forest & Bluff Magazine, Authority Magazine & Podcast Magazine and she has appeared on ABC 7 Chicago, WGN Daytime Chicago, Fox 4's WDAF-TV's Great Day KC, and Ticker News. Kristel lives in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area and she can be booked for speaking engagements worldwide. To Book Kristel as a speaker for your next event, click here. Website: www.livegreatly.co  Follow Kristel Bauer on: Instagram: @livegreatly_co  LinkedIn: Kristel Bauer Twitter: @livegreatly_co Facebook: @livegreatly.co Youtube: Live Greatly, Kristel Bauer To Watch Kristel Bauer's TEDx talk of Redefining Work/Life Balance in a COVID-19 World click here. Click HERE to check out Kristel's corporate wellness and leadership blog Click HERE to check out Kristel's Travel and Wellness Blog Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are intended for informational and educational purposes only. Always seek the guidance of your physician for any recommendations specific to you or for any questions regarding your specific health, your sleep patterns changes to diet and exercise, or any medical conditions.  Always consult your physician before starting any supplements or new lifestyle programs. All information, views and statements shared on the Live Greatly podcast are purely the opinions of the authors, and are not medical advice or treatment recommendations.  They have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.  Opinions of guests are their own and Kristel Bauer & this podcast does not endorse or accept responsibility for statements made by guests.  Neither Kristel Bauer nor this podcast takes responsibility for possible health consequences of a person or persons following the information in this educational content.  Always consult your physician for recommendations specific to you.

In this episode, Susan Cain explores the bittersweet truth about beauty, sorrow, and what makes life worth living. She emphasizes the transformative power of music and bittersweet emotions and also discusses how acknowledging grief can lead to deeper connections and creativity. This episode encourages listeners to embrace their emotions and seek beauty in life’s bittersweet moments, offering profound insights into the human experience. Key Takeaways: Exploration of the relationship between sorrow and beauty. Discussion of the transformative power of music and its emotional connections. Insights into the concept of bittersweetness and its significance in human experience. The importance of acknowledging grief and its role in personal growth. Differentiation between “moving on” and “moving forward” in the context of loss. The concept of poignancy as a blend of joy and sorrow. The role of creativity and art in navigating difficult emotions. Emphasis on seeking beauty in everyday life, especially during challenging times. The impact of personal experiences on understanding grief and longing. Encouragement for listeners to embrace their emotions and foster connections through shared experiences. If you enjoyed this conversation with Susan Cain, check out these other episodes: Life Transitions with Bruce Feiler The Longings of our Heart with Sue Monk Kidd For full show notes, click here! Connect with the show: Follow us on YouTube: @TheOneYouFeedPod Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Follow us on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Receive our FREE newsletters at 18forty.org/join.Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.This episode is sponsored by an anonymous friend who supports our mission.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to bestselling author Susan Cain about her bittersweet relationship with her mother, an Orthodox Jew and daughter of a prominent rabbi. Susan's book Bittersweet explores their journey together and grapples with what it means when our lives and relationships don't exactly meet our expectations. In this episode we discuss:How do our relationships with our parents change in adulthood? Why are sad songs often some of our favorites? How can we make meaning of the yearning we experience?Tune in to hear a conversation about “longing for the source” and “uniting with the beloved of the soul.”Interview begins at 11:01.Susan Cain is the  ​​No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. She is also a speaker, influencer, and the creator of the newsletter community thequietlife.net.References:Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan CainBittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain“Rabbi Israel Schorr, 94; Led Brooklyn Synagogue”The Letters Of J.R.R. TolkienBeit Yaakov on Torah“Anthem” by Leonard CohenEinstein and the Rabbi by Naomi Levy“Rav Shagar: Zionism and Exile Within the Home” by Ari Ze'ev Schwartz and Levi MorrowDivrei Soferim 16 by Tzadok HaKohen of LublinSin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David BashevkinAvodat Yisrael by Israel Hopstein of Kozhnitz“The Transformation of ‘Next Year in Jerusalem' in the Postwar American Haggadah” by Jonathan D. SarnaFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Notes from James:Here's the truth: if my great-great-great grandfather had written anything—just 10 pages about his daily life—I'd treasure it like gold. And I promise, your great-grandkids will feel the same about your story.You don't need to be a celebrity to write something that matters. You just need to be honest. Whether you're sharing how you survived grief, learned to say no, built new habits, or rebuilt your life after failure—your story could help someone else. And it could help you just as much.Episode Description:In this part one of a two-part episode, I walk you through the frameworks I've used in books like Choose Yourself and The Power of No, and show you how other authors—AJ Jacobs, Annie Duke, Susan Cain—infused autobiography into books that went on to change people's lives.I also break down the different types of autobiographical books—from traditional memoirs and mini-memoirs, to autobiographical fiction and nonfiction hybrids—and I explain how bestselling books like Atomic Habits, The Puzzler, and Man's Search for Meaning are all, at heart, autobiographies.This episode is part motivation, part masterclass in storytelling, and part therapy. If you've been sitting on a life story, this is the sign you've been waiting for.Oh, and yes, I'll even give you writing prompts and reflection questions to help you actually start.I also created a book-writing course: How to write and publish a book in 30 days.If this episode gets you thinking, share it with someone who has a story to tell.What You'll Learn: Why writing a memoir isn't about being famous—it's about being authentic How to turn life events, trauma, and setbacks into powerful narrative fuel The 5+ major types of autobiographical books (and how to pick yours) Why adding personal stories makes your writing more marketable, memorable, and meaningful The exact questions to ask yourself before you start writingTime Stamps00:00 Why Write an Autobiography?00:47 The Value of Personal History02:46 Memoirs and Mini Memoirs10:21 AI and Autobiographical Writing17:14 Unique Perspectives and Philosophies21:07 Opportunities Through Writing28:03 Defining Your Mission and Purpose30:22 Reflecting on Life's Important Events38:52 Overcoming Adversity and Difficult Situations45:16 Crafting Your Unique AutobiographyAdditional ResourcesHow to write and publish a book in 30 days.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Susan Cain, author of the groundbreaking bestseller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, shares a guide for how introverts can thrive in the workplace without sacrificing their authentic selves. Drawing from her extensive research and personal experience, Cain offers a powerful reframing: success doesn't require becoming more extroverted—it demands becoming more fully yourself.—What you'll learn:1. A simple definition of introversion and how it differs from shyness—plus a simple two-question test to determine where you fall on the spectrum2. Five practical tactics introverts can use to be more successful in business while staying true to their natural temperament3. How to handle challenging workplace scenarios like meetings dominated by loud voices and networking events that drain your energy4. Specific strategies for managers and founders to create environments where introverted team members can contribute their best work5. Practical techniques for saying no to energy-draining commitments6. Strategies for managers to better support and leverage introverted team members7. Practical advice for raising introverted children to help them develop confidence while honoring their natural temperament8. Why seeking to become “more extroverted” is the wrong goal—and what to focus on instead to achieve professional success—Brought to you by:• Enterpret—Transform customer feedback into product growth• Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security• Fundrise Flagship Fund—Invest in $1.1 billion of real estate—Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-hidden-power-of-introverts-susan-cain—Where to find Susan Cain:• X: https://x.com/susancain• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancain/• Website: https://susancain.net/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susancainauthor/#• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsusancain• Substack: https://substack.com/@susancain—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Susan Cain(05:07) Understanding introversion(08:55) The spectrum of introversion and extroversion(13:27) Overcoming public speaking anxiety(17:13) Learning to embrace your introverted self(23:16) The power of leaning into your strengths(24:36) Strategies for introverts to thrive in their career(34:06) The importance of saying no(38:35) What to do instead of networking(41:59) Effective meeting participation for introverts(47:31) Creating a productive work environment(51:14) Raising an introverted child(57:58) Finding the right career fit(01:08:09) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• The power of introverts: https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts• The hidden power of sad songs and rainy days: https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_and_min_kym_the_hidden_power_of_sad_songs_and_rainy_days• Why bittersweet emotions underscore life's beauty: https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_why_bittersweet_emotions_underscore_life_s_beauty• Desensitization: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desensitization_(psychology)• Malcolm Gladwell's website: https://www.gladwellbooks.com/• Warren Buffett on X: https://x.com/warrenbuffett• Dale Carnegie speaking courses: https://www.dalecarnegie.com/en/presentation-skills-public-speaking-training• Bill Gates on X: https://x.com/billgates• Kathy Fish on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-fish-23b5777/• Why most public speaking advice is wrong—and how to finally overcome your speaking anxiety | Tristan de Montebello (CEO & co-founder of Ultraspeaking): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/master-public-speaking-tristan-de-montebello• Ultraspeaking: https://ultraspeaking.com/lenny/• Rethinking the Extraverted Sales Ideal: The Ambivert Advantage: https://faculty.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Grant_PsychScience2013.pdf• Cutco: https://www.cutco.com/• Tim Ferriss's post about his new book: https://x.com/tferriss/status/1878936085033791817•  Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihaly_Csikszentmihalyi• Naval on X: https://x.com/naval• On saying no: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-say-no• Susan Cain—How to Overcome Fear and Embrace Creativity: https://tim.blog/2019/01/24/susan-cain/• Zigging vs. zagging: How HubSpot built a $30B company | Dharmesh Shah (co-founder/CTO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/lessons-from-30-years-of-building• Renee Wood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/recoale/• The Sopranos on Max: https://play.max.com/show/818c3d9d-1831-48a6-9583-0364a7f98453• The Talented Mr. Ripley on Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/The-Talented-Mr-Ripley/0HA0GNFQ4ZXYPDNJHQEENK2Q6Q• Tugboat Institute: https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/• Leonard Cohen quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/4484-there-is-a-crack-in-everything-that-s-how-the-light—Recommended books:• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153• Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Flow-Psychology-Discovery-Invention/dp/0062283251• Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverted Kids: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Secret-Strengths-Introverted/dp/0147509920• Gandhi: An Autobiography—The Story of My Experiments with Truth: https://www.amazon.com/Gandhi-Autobiography-Story-Experiments-Truth/dp/0807059099• Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience: https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202• The Power of Myth: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Myth-Joseph-Campbell/dp/0385418868/• Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole: https://www.amazon.com/Bittersweet-Oprahs-Book-Club-Longing/dp/0451499794• Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Energy-Surprising-Connection-Metabolism/dp/0593712641• The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life: https://www.amazon.com/Types-Wealth-Transformative-Guide-Design/dp/059372318X—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe

Why knowing your tendency can improve your life.   Susan Cain is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, and Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole, which was also an Oprah Book Club selection. She has spent the last twenty years exploring a particular realm of human nature: the quiet, the sensitive, the thoughtful, the bittersweet. It has always seemed clear to her - and to her millions of readers - that this way of being can lead to a richer, deeper form of happiness. Susan has also been named one of Watkins' Most Spiritually Influential Living People in the World. Her books have been translated into 40+ languages, and her record-smashing TED talks have been viewed over 50 million times on TED and YouTube combined. Susan is the host of the bestselling Audible series, A Quiet Life In 7 Steps, and the Quiet Life online community. Her Kindred Letters newsletter is read by people in all 193 countries and all 50 American states. Join her at TheQuietLife.net.     In this episode we talk about: How to know if you're an introvert or extrovert The strengths of introversion – and how these can you no matter where you are on the introvert / extrovert spectrum  Techniques to improve your relationships and work life  How to design your life around where you do your best – including figuring out your true goals The perks of exposing ourselves to the things we fear the most The paradox of anxiety and shyness And why introverts and extraverts often get along so well—something Susan calls “introvert/extrovert synergy”     Related Episodes: What Is Sadness Good For? | Susan Cain   Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes   Additional Resources:  The Quiet Life with Susan Cain | Substack  

Are you truly living your dream, or are you just getting comfortable in your suffering? This mashup episode is packed with transformative wisdom from some of the most resilient and inspiring minds on the planet. Together with Susan Cain, David Goggins, John Assaraf, and Jasmine Star, we explore what it takes to escape the prisons we create in our own minds and start living with purpose, freedom, and intention. You'll hear from Susan Cain about the power of embracing your emotions and how simple practices like expressive writing can help you find clarity and move forward. David Goggins reveals the transformative impact of enduring pain and why embracing the hard stuff is key to discovering your full potential. John Assaraf shares practical strategies to align your goals with your self-image and conquer the fear of change, while Jasmine Star offers insight into keeping perspective and showing up authentically, even when life feels overwhelming. The recurring theme? The real growth happens when you stop chasing comfort and start chasing your potential. Key Takeaways: - The Prison of Comfort: How chasing short-term ease keeps you from long-term fulfillment and the steps you can take to unlock your own mental and emotional freedom. - The Role of Pain: David Goggins explains why pain is temporary but suffering is a choice—and how to use pain as a gateway to transformation. - Practical Emotional Strategies: Susan Cain introduces tools like expressive writing and loving-kindness meditation to help process difficult emotions. - Mastering Change: John Assaraf outlines four barriers to success and why becoming an “adaptationist” is the key to overcoming them. - Reframing Your Vision: Insights from Jasmine Star on maintaining focus, even when life throws unexpected challenges your way. If you've ever felt stuck in a routine or trapped by fear, this episode will challenge you to take the keys you already hold and open the door to the life you're meant to live. Let today be the day you stop just surviving and start truly living. Thank you for watching this video—Please Share it and get the word out! What part of this video resonated with you the most? Comment below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if your internal conflicts are the very signals pointing you toward personal growth and success? Join me as I sit down with Kelli Thompson, a dynamic keynote speaker and women's leadership coach, to discuss her latest book, Closing the Confidence Gap. This episode promises to equip you with strategies for overcoming societal "shoulds" and identifying the barriers that hinder your confidence, especially for women balancing an unpaid workload alongside professional responsibilities. Together, we unpack the intricacies of people-pleasing tendencies in leadership and the pitfalls of overcommitment and perfectionism. Through introspective exercises, you'll learn how to align your commitments with your values, define what "good enough" means, and delegate tasks that don't align with your strengths. Explore the powerful intersection of empathy, confidence, and negotiation as we navigate the art of salary discussions. Kelli and I discuss the importance of self-compassion as a means to bolster confidence and overcome internal doubts. Kelli also shares actionable advice on identifying personal and organizational values and how operationalizing these values creates an engaging work environment. Through thought-provoking discussions, this episode invites you to transform reflection into action, empowering you to lead with authenticity and confidence. What You'll Learn: • Overcoming internal conflicts and building self-trust • The impact of societal pressures on women's confidence • Strategies for aligning commitments with personal values • Navigating overcommitment and perfectionism • The art of empathetic and confident salary negotiation Podcast Timestamps: (00:00) - From Aspiring TV Meteorologist to Top Women's Leadership Coach (11:00) - Identifying and Overcoming Internal Conflict (22:43) - Navigating People-Pleasing in Leadership (27:13) - Identifying and Defining Your Values (32:21) - The Purpose and Power in Implementing Organizational Values (45:11) - Empathy, Confidence, and Salary Negotiation More of Kelli: Kelli Thompson is an award-winning leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author of Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck, which was named a "Must Read" by the Next Big Idea Club, curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel Pink, Adam Grant, and Susan Cain. With over 10 years of experience in financial services and technology, Kelli has coached and trained thousands of women leaders to lead with clarity and confidence through her compassionate yet no-nonsense approach. Her thought leadership has been featured in top publications like Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, and Business Insider. Holding an MBA and recognized for her impactful programs, Kelli is a sought-after speaker known for delivering practical, insightful strategies. Fun fact: she's also a trained storm spotter and aspiring storm chaser. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliraethompson/  Mentions: Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential, and Your Paycheck by Kelli Thompson The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence by Tara Jaye Frank Key Topics Discussed: Positive Leadership, Empowerment, Women, Women's Leadership, Self-Confidence, Values, Self-Trust, Minimizing Resentment, Avoiding Overcommitment, The Perils of Perfectionism, Organizational Values, Salary Negotiation, Empathy, Self-Compassion, Personal Growth, Introspection, The Power of Delegating, Behavioral-Based Interviewing, CEO Success More of Do Good to Lead Well: Website: https://craigdowden.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdowden/

In this special episode on gratitude, you'll hear life lessons from the great minds of Dr. Nicole LePera, AJ Jacobs, Martha Beck, Susan Cain, and Cory Allen. Throughout these conversations, we explore practical ways to incorporate gratitude into our daily lives, overcome common obstacles to feeling grateful, and use gratitude to enhance our relationships and overall well-being. You'll find a fresh perspective on gratitude, moving beyond simple platitudes to explore how we can cultivate a deeper, more meaningful sense of appreciation in our lives. Key Takeaways: Grasping the power of gratitude when grounded in the present moment Practicing detailed expressions of gratitude to deepen our appreciation Balancing gratitude with acknowledgment of life's challenges is crucial Cultivating wonder that naturally lead to feelings of gratitude Viewing gratitude as a state of being, rather than just a tool, to provide a solid foundation for navigating life's ups and downs Feeling overwhelmed by holiday stress or the pressure to make everything perfect? Or maybe it's the loneliness this season can bring. Either way, you're not alone—and this year can be different. Join us for a free online webinar on Sunday, December 10, at 12 PM Eastern to learn a simple habit that can help you let go of stress and find peace, steadiness, and genuine connection. Give yourself this gift of support and clarity for the season. Sign up here. For full show notes, click here! Connect with the show: Follow us on YouTube: @TheOneYouFeedPod Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Follow us on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We revisit a conversation with bestselling author Susan Cain, renowned author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking and Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole. We also talk about why we should be the one to make the plan, and a listener suggests a hack for making it easier to use online recipes. Links: The Quiet Life: A Journal by Susan Cain  Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.  Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why do we like sad music or that poignant feeling that comes from attending a funeral? Author Susan Cain talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her book Bittersweet and the seductive and sometimes deeply satisfying power of melancholy.

Leanne Morgan was going to quit her career as a stand up comic and start a hardware store (with a cheese wheel, no less!) before she had her major break in comedy. Making the decision to invest in herself one last time opened the doors to an incredible season and newfound success in the comedy world. Jen, Amy, and Leanne get candid when talking about what it means to be the best version of themselves in their second act of life, and when success comes later, why it can be better than having all your dreams come true at once.  Topics discussed include: Behind the scenes of Leanne's viral success at 51 Why being yourself is always the best answer to any problem How handling criticism at their ages is so much easier to deal with The cornbread drama — do you add sugar or not? Also; don't miss Jen and Amy's discussions before the interview on Taylor Swift drama and FOMO! * * * Thought-Provoking Quotes: "Use humor to get through hard times. I think it's the best thing that can ever happen to anybody is to be able to laugh through the bad times and to forgive themselves." - Leanne Morgan "I want [women] to know it is never too late...you're the best you've ever been. You're the smartest you've ever been. It is the best time in your life. It is the best time to start a business. It is the best time to go back to school. I just want women to know that." - Leanne Morgan Resources Mentioned in This Episode: What in the World? by Leanne Morgan - https://www.leannemorgan.com/book Quiet by Susan Cain - https://susancain.net/book/quiet/ For the Love Podcast Episode ft. Jim Gaffigan - https://bit.ly/3Ximuij Leanne's Interview with Hallerin Hilton Hill - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14xdJyhnLuc You're Cordially Invited - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14xdJyhnLuc Leanne Morgan at the Grand Ole Opry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFYMFOok5s4 Guest's Links: Leanne's Website - https://www.leannemorgan.com/ Leanne's Twitter - https://twitter.com/leannecomedy Leanne's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/leannemorgancomedy Leanne's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leannemorgancomedy Connect with Jen! Jen's website - https://jenhatmaker.com/ Jen's Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmaker Jen's Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ Jen's Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmaker Jen's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker The For the Love Podcast is a production of Four Eyes Media, presented by Audacy.  Four Eyes Media: https://www.iiiimedia.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is a two-for-one, and that's because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I've curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited.The episode features segments from episode #98 "The 'Wizard' of Hollywood, Robert Rodriguez" and #358 "Susan Cain — How to Overcome Fear and Embrace Creativity."Please enjoy!Sponsors:AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://drinkag1.com/tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)ExpressVPN high-speed, secure, and anonymous VPN service: https://www.expressvpn.com/tim (Get 3 extra months free with a 12-month plan)LMNT electrolyte supplement: https://drinklmnt.com/Tim (free LMNT sample pack with any drink mix purchase)Timestamps:[06:08] Notes about this supercombo format.[07:12] Enter Robert Rodriguez.[07:39] Journaling as a crucial component of personal and professional life.[15:01] Keeping crew morale high during a project.[16:16] The magic that happens when creativity truly clicks.[20:47] How applied creativity dissolves the separation between work and play.[23:01] The legendary financing of El Mariachi.[25:56] From Bedhead to an unexpected big break.[30:57] Overcoming budgetary and technological constraints.[34:54] Maintaining momentum when lack of resources is no longer a creative driver.[39:33] Enter Susan Cain.[40:04] What initiated Susan's lifelong fear of public speaking?[43:09] How Susan's TED Talk opportunity arose, and its initial reception.[44:06] Introvert strategies for group dinners.[46:45] Reflecting on my sixth-grade self.[47:58] How Susan overcame her fear of public speaking.[50:35] Even seasoned speakers get nervous before TED Talks.[52:15] Susan's progression to becoming a global public speaker.[54:08] Common traits of effective teachers and coaches.[55:45] Susan's pre-speaking engagement rituals.[57:16] Public speaking as a skill multiplier.[57:57] How Toastmasters and chihuahuas helped me overcome speaking fears.[1:00:50] Preparation for my own TED Talk.[1:02:21] Adam Grant's crucial pre-TED assistance.[1:04:00] The importance of rehearsing before live audiences.[1:04:49] My current level of nervousness before public speaking.[1:07:36] Time pressure in TED Talks.[1:08:51] Public speaking as a force multiplier and therapy.[1:11:32] Susan's techniques for relieving worry.[1:12:57] Susan's transition from law to writing.[1:16:07] Necessity vs. creativity in making a living.[1:18:10] Susan's timeline and process for writing her first book.[1:20:20] Susan's current writing process.[1:21:05] Susan's note-taking and organization.[1:24:16] Preferences for writing software.[1:26:19] Susan's enjoyment of the writing process.[1:27:05] Susan's preferred writing time.[1:28:07] Susan's writing schedule and break routine.[1:29:49] Night vs. morning writing and procrastination tactics.[1:31:51] Recommended books and resources on writing.[1:35:26] Serendipitous meetings that enabled first books.[1:40:16] Distinguishing introversion from shyness.[1:44:02] Books Susan frequently gifts.[1:45:09] My first meeting with Sam Harris.[1:47:37] Experiences with loving-kindness meditation.[1:49:24] Comparative effects of different meditation types.[1:55:35] Susan's billboard.[1:56:45] Advice for deep connection with others.[1:57:33] Susan's love for bittersweet music.[1:59:44] Parting thoughts.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, 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