Today we’re exploring the skill that ambitious, anxious brains often resist: self-compassion. You’ll hear attorney Mark Goldstein’s candid story of OCD, depression, panic attacks, and the leave of absence that helped him rebuild a career and a life with support, therapy, mindfulness, and (yes) compassion. Then, Dr. Kristin Neff, pioneer of self-compassion research, teaches practical tools you can use today. We cover how to handle rumination, reframe “perfection” into being a “compassionate mess,” and when to turn on fierce self-protection versus tender care. If you hold yourself to impossible standards, this conversation will give you language, strategies, and permission to be human and still perform. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why self-compassion is a performance skill for anxious achievers. 02:00 Learn from Mark Goldstein on perfectionism, OCD, and the billable-hour trap. 05:45 “I couldn’t stop checking”: the 2017 spiral and panic attacks. 09:30 When did you decide you needed help and where did you start? 13:00 Taking a leave of absence, the fear of perception, and the reality of support. 18:45 Reframing “weakness” and treating mental health as a disability. 21:00 Dr. Kristin Neff on why our brains default to self-criticism. 23:30 The hack to turn caregiving inward. 25:15 Tips for practical self-talk (authentic compassion, NOT empty affirmations.) 27:30 When to deploy fierce vs. tender compassion and harnessing anger for protection. 30:00 How to stop rumination. 32:15 How to create room for compassion and grow without fear. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Ever feel like the very habits that made you successful are now holding you back? In this episode, I sit down with executive coach Muriel Wilkins, author of Leadership Unblocked: Break Through The Beliefs That Limit Your Potential, to talk about the hidden beliefs that drive overachievers to perfectionism, micromanagement, and control. She breaks down how deeply rooted beliefs about worth, control, and safety shape your behavior at work. Tune in to learn how to rewire your thinking so you can lead with more ease, clarity, and confidence. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet Muriel Wilkins, Executive Coach and Founder & CEO of Paravis Partners. 07:00 How performance-based beliefs shape your sense of worth and leadership identity. 10:30 Ways to “break out of the matrix” and rewrite beliefs that keep you stuck in perfectionism. 13:30 The three most common “blockers” that high-achieving leaders face. 18:15 The belief that traps high-performing leaders in frustration and conflict. 21:15 Coaching exercise that helps leaders see their blind spots. 26:45 How over-caring and over-consensus quietly become leadership paralysis. 30:30 Ways to set limits and “contracts” that help reel in perfectionism. 35:45 How “I need to be involved” thinking keeps leaders stuck in the weeds and blocks growth. Resources + Links Read Muriel's book, Leadership Unblocked Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Muriel: on LinkedIn @murielwilkins + Instagram @coachmurielwilkins

What does it take to tell the truth when the world punishes you for it? In this conversation, Gabrielle Union talks about living with PTSD and social anxiety, the experiences in toxic workplaces, and what it means to keep speaking out even when fear follows close behind. She shares how activism triggers anxiety, the coping tools to keep you grounded from therapy to mindfulness, and how to redefine success through truth, purpose, and self-acceptance. Get ready to see how courage and healing can coexist and how learning to be alone doesn’t mean being lonely. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does a toxic workplace look like, then vs. now? 06:30 The emotional cost of telling the truth in an industry built on silence. 11:00 How trauma survivors navigate social anxiety, boundaries, and life in the public eye. 16:00 Tools to calm anxiety and regain control. 21:45 How intentional alone time restores peace, clarity, and self-trust. 24:30 The powerful distinction between being alone and being lonely. 28:15 How Gabrielle’s 2012 Essence speech became a turning point toward truth and self-acceptance. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Gabrielle: on LinkedIn @gabrielleunion + Instagram @gabunion

What happens when one of America’s most admired CEOs admits that fear of failure never left him, even after building a multi-billion-dollar brand? In this episode, I sit down with Lewis Frankfort, the former CEO who transformed Coach from a small leather goods company into a global powerhouse and coined the term “accessible luxury”. Lew shares about the lifelong anxiety that drove him to excel, the depressive episodes that followed high-pressure seasons, and the methods to stay grounded, from meditation and exercise to cognitive coaching and “magic and logic” leadership. Get ready to see how even the most accomplished leaders are powered by the same fears and how facing them with purpose, curiosity, and compassion unlocks greatness. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet Lew Frankfort, former CEO of Coach, Inc. 02:00 How was the term “accessible luxury” born? 06:15 How do high-performing leaders manage depression? 10:00 Ways to turn fear of failure into fuel for growth. 14:00 The discipline that turned Coach into a best-in-class business. 19:30 What happens when success leads to disconnection and burnout. 23:30 Daily practices that restore energy and emotional balance. 26:00 Lew’s first mental health toolkit. 30:00 Interviewing method to uncover self-awareness and potential blind spots. 36:15 Why great leaders hire for complementarity, not similarity. 40:30 Lew’s “Three-Bucket Framework” for CEOs. 43:00 Why therapy and mental health care should be normalized for every leader. Resources + Links Get your copy of Lew’s book, “Bag Man: The Story Behind the Improbable Rise of Coach” HERE  Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Lew Frankfort on LinkedIn @lewfrankfort

What happens when the adrenaline fades and achievement alone stops feeling fulfilling? Robert Glazer is back to talk about what it really means to live and lead by your values. After selling his company and spending years in overdrive, Bob shares his journey of slowing down, rebuilding identity, and rediscovering purpose through self-awareness and core values. We talk about how to shift from fixing weaknesses to playing to your strengths, how values guide better leadership and relationships, and why authenticity, not automation, will define the future of content creation in the AI era. Get ready to learn how your core values can become your compass for work, purpose, and well-being. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How stress hormones and constant adrenaline shape your health and identity. 08:15 Ways to identify and leverage your strengths instead of fixing weaknesses. 14:30 What are the dangers of overusing your strengths? 18:00 How core values become your ultimate decision-making framework. 23:15 Aligning personal values with relationships, work, and community. 28:00 How childhood experiences shape your leadership and money values. 36:45 The future of content, authenticity, and paying creators in the AI era. 41:45 Why human connection and imperfection will be the new premium in a digital world. 44:45 How to re-train your audience to pay for content they value. Resources + Links Grab your copy of Robert’s The Compass Within HERE! Explore The Six Core Values Questions Page to help identify your personal and professional core values Subscribe to Robert’s newsletter HERE! Listen to Robert’s The Elevate Podcast HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Robert on LinkedIn @glazer + Instagram @robertglazer_

ADHD isn’t just about distraction, it’s about emotion, motivation, and the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. J. Russell Ramsay, co-founder of the University of Pennsylvania’s Adult ADHD Treatment and Research Program, to break down how anxiety and ADHD often overlap. We talk about how ADHD is an uncertainty generator that triggers anxiety, what “self-mistrust” really looks like, and why so many high achievers feel brilliant but inconsistent. Dr. Ramsay shares cognitive behavioral tools to boost focus, follow-through, and confidence, and the S.A.P. Action Plan to rebuild motivation when procrastination or self-doubt take over. Get ready to turn self-mistrust into self-mastery and use your anxious energy as fuel for focus and growth. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why are ADHD and anxiety so commonly co-occurring? 05:45 How a lifetime of ADHD moments leads to self-mistrust. 12:30 Why losing external structure during the pandemic made ADHD worse. 18:00 The three-part time management system that helps ADHD brains stay focused and calm. 25:15 How to channel last minute anxiety into productive momentum. 28:00 Why does ADHD exist on a spectrum of executive function? 32:00 How ADHD insights translate into workplace efficiency and emotional management. 35:00 S.A.P. Action Plan that bridges the gap between knowing and doing. 43:00 How cognitive behavioral tools can help you manage both anxiety and ADHD. 50:45 How to manage meetings, rebuild trust, and avoid burning social capital. Resources + Links Grab your copy of Dr. J. Russell Ramsay's The Adult ADHD Tool Kit HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow J Russel on LinkedIn: @russellramsay

We’ve been taught that confidence means the absence of anxiety, but what if that’s completely wrong? In this special crossover episode, I joined Anne and Frances from Fixable to talk about the hidden link between anxiety and confidence. They answer listener questions about feeling awkward at work, leading with trust, and staying confident during rejection. We also delve into why anxiety is not a flaw but a sign of growth, how to handle “awkward office moments” with grace, and how to turn setbacks into superpowers. Get ready to see your anxiety as proof that you care, not proof that you can’t. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why anxiety and confidence are deeply connected. 04:00 How do you rebuild in-person confidence after remote work? 06:30 Why awkwardness at the office is completely normal. 09:00 The “Snack Week” experiment to practice connection and confidence. 13:00 Leadership lessons for helping your team build confidence. 15:00 Why weekend praise texts might backfire. 18:00 The right way to give feedback and celebrate failure. 21:00 How to stay confident through job rejection. 25:00 Why you already have confidence inside you. 30:00 How do you turn perfectionism into progress? 32:00 One Post-it exercise to stay grounded and confident every day. Resources + Links Listen to Anne & Frances’ Fixable Podcast HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Anne Morriss: @annemorriss Follow Frances Frei: @francesxfrei

So many high achievers feel like their anxiety or depression will hold them back, but what if those challenges are actually your edge? In this episode, I sit down with Josh Kilmer-Purcell, co-founder of Beekman 1802 and Amazing Race winner, to talk about how living with anxiety and depression can shape your leadership, your creativity, and your approach to risk. Josh shares the mindset shifts, practical tools, and partnership strategies that helped him build a $150M brand without ignoring mental health. We also dive into empathy as a business strength, using “nightmare boards” to manage risk, and why kindness is a measurable business advantage. Get ready to use your anxiety as your superpower! In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet Josh Kilmer-Purcell, co-founder of Beekman 1802. 05:00 Risk and mental health in entrepreneurship and leadership. 08:30 Anxiety as a superpower and depression as a source of empathy. 16:30 How to use anxiety as a strategic advantage in your business. 20:30 The 51% rule for making tough business and relationship decisions. 26:45 Tools to manage depression and build resilience. 32:30 What is a nightmare board? 34:45 How to reframe envy into growth and perspective. 40:00 What chickens and “crone hens” teach us about aging, purpose, and enoughness. 47:15 Why sticking to your success goalpost builds lasting contentment. 54:00 How to know if you belong among people or in nature. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Josh on LinkedIn: @joshkilmerpurcell

Anxiety isn’t a flaw you have to hide or a weakness you need to fix, it’s information you can use. In this special cross-post from The Next Big Idea podcast, I sit down with host Rufus Griscom to talk about what 17 years of research, leadership interviews, and lived experience have taught me about navigating anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence. I share how reframing anxiety as data can help you show up with courage, why over-functioning often comes from childhood systems, and the surprising science linking mental health challenges with leadership excellence. Plus, I also share tools to work with self-criticism, break free from procrastination, and even “bank joy” so you have reserves to call on when life feels heavy. Get ready to turn your anxious brain into an ally instead of an enemy. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why anxiety is a data not an excuse. 05:30 How common anxiety and depression really are in leaders. 09:15 Family systems theory and the roots of over-functioning. 16:45 What is the Yerkes-Dodson curve? 20:45 Ways to manage anxiety. 22:30 How to stop cruel self-talk with tools like self-compassion. 27:45 How do you sustain focus when a project is no longer exciting? 34:00 What can companies do to better support neurodiverse employees? 36:15 Grounding techniques to reset anxiety at work. 41:00 Visualization practices to comfort your inner child. 46:00 The ‘banana trick’ from ACT therapy to stop catastrophic thoughts. Resources + Links Listen to The Next Big Idea Podcast HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Rufus on LinkedIn: @rufusgriscom

What can an Astrophysics Lab teach us about managing for inclusive excellence- and how can it make your own meetings better? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Keivan Stassun, MacArthur Genius Fellow, Vanderbilt astrophysicist, and founder of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. We talk about clear communication norms, leading better meetings and other practices that support neurodiverse talent, and the mindset shift managers need to unlock hidden genius at work. Get ready to create workplaces where every brain can thrive. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does “inclusive excellence” really mean? 05:15 How clear communication norms unlock focus and fairness. 08:30 Why agendas, structure, and precision help neurodivergent employees. 12:00 Ways to build new team habits that stick over time. 16:00 Supporting hyperfocus and respecting “hardwired” traits. 20:30 What Dr. Stassun discovered about his own brain through managing diverse teams. 23:00 Why Dr. Stassun normalized virtual participation years before COVID. 27:30 The science of visual thinking and strengths-based neurodiversity. 30:15 Why creativity and genius show up in many different forms. 33:30 The #1 mindset shift managers need to unlock talent. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr.Keivan Stassun on LinkedIn: @keivanstassun

Most of us hate conflict. It feels uncomfortable, anxiety-inducing, and often easier to avoid. In this episode, I talk with conflict expert Amy Gallo about why avoiding conflict fuels more anxiety in the long run, and how to reframe difficult conversations as opportunities for connection and progress. Amy shares her four-step framework for handling conflict, what to do when shame or fear hijack your emotions, and why practicing in small, everyday interactions can build confidence for higher stakes moments. Tune in to learn tools and mindset shifts you need to navigate disagreements with more calm, clarity, and confidence. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why most of us avoid conflict. 06:00 Tips to manage conflict in a healthy way. 09:45 How avoiding conflict builds “conflict debt” that comes back stronger. 12:30 Ways to rebuild trust and strengthen relationships after conflict. 17:30 The gender angle of negotiating and conflict at work. 22:45 Amy’s 4-step framework for handling conflict effectively. 30:15 Why “agree to disagree” isn’t always a real solution. 32:00 How do you recover from conflict when shame or rumination takes over? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Amy: on LinkedIn @amyegallo + Instagram @amyegallo

What if the key to better leadership wasn’t just strategy, but self-awareness? In this episode, I am joined by Adam Nemer, Founder of Simple Mental Health. We talk about why self-awareness is the ultimate leadership tool, how daily practices shift anxiety into focus, and why normalizing conversations about mental health makes teams more engaged and more productive. Adam shares how years of hidden depression and anxiety nearly broke him, what changed when you finally get a diagnosis, and how embracing self-care makes you a stronger executive. Tune in to learn about tools that help you rise stronger, lead better, and live with more purpose every single day. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Adam’s daily self-care list. 05:45 Advice when work doesn’t feel joyful or fulfilling. 12:00 How do depression and anxiety show up in your leadership? 19:00 What therapy really looks like when healing deep loss and trauma. 23:00 Techniques for meetings and high-stress moments. 31:00 The training every company should adopt so employees can respond to panic attacks. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Adam: on LinkedIn @adam-nemer

We’re often taught to push away grief, sadness, anxiety, or anger, but what if those emotions aren’t the enemy, but the key to resilience? In this episode, Harvard psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Susan David explains why emotions aren’t good or bad, positive or negative. She breaks down the groundbreaking concept of emotional agility, the skill set that allows us to face our thoughts and feelings with curiosity, compassion, and courage, and then move forward guided by our values. We also talk about why toxic positivity is so damaging, how difficult emotions signpost what matters most, and why learning to “hold anxiety in one hand and courage in the other” changes the way we work, lead, and live. Tune in to learn how to stop letting your emotions dictate your actions and start using them as valuable data. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why emotions are not good or bad. 05:00 How toxic positivity and “forced optimism” hurt leaders and organizations. 09:45 Why suppressing emotions leads to burnout, conflict, and emotional leakage. 13:00 How emotional agility differs from rigidity. 17:00 How anxiety and fear can actually point you to your values. 19:45 Why connecting to your values protects against burnout. 23:00 The cost of sidelining emotions in schools, workplaces, and culture. 27:00 How uncertainty and discomfort are the price of admission to a meaningful life. 31:00 Why grief is “love looking for its home” and how to honor it. 34:00 Listener story about grief, caregiving, and professional identity after loss. 42:00 What organizations can do to support employees navigating caregiving and grief. Resources + Links Learn more about Dr. Susan David’s work HERE! Grab your copy of Dr. Susan David “Emotional Agility” HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr. Susan David: on LinkedIn @susanadavidphd

What if the traits that trip you up at work are the same ones that make you exceptional? In this episode, psychiatrist, researcher, and entrepreneur Dr. Michael Freeman is back to share the strengths and risks of neurodivergent leaders. We talk about his latest research on founder mental health, why ADHD, bipolar spectrum, and dyslexia show up so often in high performers, and how to design work so your superpowers lead and your vulnerabilities don’t derail you. Tune in to learn how to spot when a strength becomes “too much” and why AI may give divergent thinkers an unexpected edge. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why entrepreneurs are more likely to be neurodiverse. 06:00 Are you a craftsperson or a scaler entrepreneur? 10:00 The ADHD subtype most tied to entrepreneurial success. 14:15 When do strengths become liabilities? 18:00 The personality traits that shape both your strengths and vulnerabilities. 22:45 Why conditions like dyslexia & ADHD carry less stigma than others. 26:30 How Dr. Freeman discovered his own dyslexia later in life. 30:00 Why AI could favor divergent thinkers. Resources + Links Learn more about Dr. Michael Freeman HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Behind every bold move is often a quiet fear. In this episode, I sit down with Shopify President Harley Finkelstein to talk about how anxiety has shaped his path from navigating family financial loss as a teenager to leading one of the world’s most influential platforms for entrepreneurs. Harley explains how to view anxiety not as a flaw, but as a tool that sharpens foresight, fuels ambition, and prepares you for what others can’t see. He also shares how to build your team that balances your energy and why vulnerability in leadership is your strength. Get ready to turn anxiety into your advantage! In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify. 05:45 How Harley turned survival-driven anxiety at 17 into his first business. 11:45 Tools Harley uses to manage anxiety. 16:15 How to use anxiety as a checklist for risk and anticipation. 21:00 How do you handle anxiety when it affects your leadership? 24:30 Why extroverts and introverts recharge differently. 27:00 The #1 skill every anxious achiever needs. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Harley: on LinkedIn @harleyf + Instagram @harley

Did you know your childhood story can shape your health, work, and relationships? In this episode, Dr. Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, shares the science behind ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and why nearly two-thirds of adults carry them. We talk about how trauma shows up in adulthood, why high achievers often live with hypervigilance, and the protective factors that can tip the scales toward healing. Tune in to learn why your past doesn’t define you and how to build a stronger, healthier future starting today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet Dr. Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America. 01:45 What are ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and why do they matter? 05:45 How childhood adversity increases risk for physical and mental health issues. 07:00 The #1 protective factor proven to fuel adult healing and growth. 09:45 The link between ACEs, hypervigilance, and high-achieving adults. 13:15 Why a high ACE score can shorten life expectancy by nearly 20 years. 15:00 The weight of carrying family trauma across generations. 19:30 Examples of leaders creating safer and more supportive work environments. 23:45 Daily habits that retrain your biology to handle stress better. 25:45 Dr. Merrick’s go-to resources for stress and pressure relief. Resources + Links Learn more about ACEs HERE Learn more about Prevent Child Abuse America HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr. Merrick on LinkedIn

Anxiety doesn’t have to be the thing that holds you back, it can actually be the spark that pushes you forward. In this episode, I sit down with Whitney Johnson, one of the world’s leading experts on personal disruption, to talk about what it really means to disrupt yourself and why growth often comes with discomfort, fear, and uncertainty. Whitney opens up about her leap from Wall Street, building a new identity, the lessons she’s learned as a mother and entrepreneur, and the daily practices that help her stay grounded. She also shares the question to ask yourself when anxiety kicks in, why you sometimes quit or avoid opportunities out of fear, and the exact strategies she uses to handle anxiety instead of running from it. Get ready to grow, no matter where you’re starting from. Highlights 00:00 Meet Whitney Johnson, CEO of Disruption Advisors. 03:30 The privilege of dreaming and why so many people hold back. 05:00 Leaving Wall Street, parenting, and finding a new work-life fit. 07:45 What is disrupting yourself? 12:45 Is anxiety fueling your work ethic or running your life? 17:30 Whitney’s way of breaking the avoidance loop. 19:30 How anxiety shows up in your career and inbox. 23:30 How do you handle the anxiety of leaving a steady job to go out on your own? 27:30 Ways to find strength when anxiety holds you back. 31:00 Why growth is your default setting (and proof change is always possible). 32:45 Whitney’s hack for stopping the anxious cycle. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Learn more about Whitney Johnson and Disruption Advisors HERE Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Whitney: @johnsonwhitney

Over 40 million Americans have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and many more go undiagnosed. This episode takes a deep dive into what we know (and don’t know) about bipolar I and II, why science has lagged behind, and what a groundbreaking new initiative—BD²: Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder—is doing to change that. Host Morra Aarons-Mele speaks with Dr. Mark Frye, psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Dr. Kate Burdick, Distinguished Chair in Psychiatry and the Vice Chair for Research in Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, and neuroscientist and BD² initiative lead Dr. Cara Altimus about the genetics, biology, and lived experience of bipolar disorder, and what it means to truly thrive with a complex mental illness. We discuss promising research directions, including GLP-1s, cognitive trajectories, and precision psychiatry. Key Quote: " It’s not enough to reduce the bad. We’re aiming to increase the good—to help people with bipolar disorder live the full lives they want to live." — Dr. Cara Altimus Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²) is a collaborative initiative building the scientific foundation for better treatments and better lives for people with bipolar disorder. Learn more and get involved at https://www.bipolardiscoveries.org/. Listeners who live with bipolar disorder can learn more about BD2' and their ongoing study described in this episode by visiting bipolardiscoveries.org or sending an email to info@bipolardiscoveries.org.    The study is taking place in partnership with 11 medical institutions across 44 locations in the U.S. and Canada. The medical institutions are: Mass General Brigham (Massachusetts) McLean Hospital (Massachusetts) Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) Mayo Clinic (Minnesota and Arizona) University of California Los Angeles (California) University of California San Diego (California) University of Michigan (Michigan) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Texas) The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research (New York) The University of Texas at Austin (Texas) University of Cincinnati/Lindner Center of HOPE (Ohio) Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (Canada)   Listeners can also sign up for the BD2’ newsletter, Thrive Updates, at bipolardiscoveries.org and learn more by following on LinkedIn, BlueSky, and X at BD2Discoveries.  Timestamps: 05:31 Understanding Bipolar Disorder: Definitions and Types 14:48 The Role of Genetics in Bipolar Disorder 20:57 Research Funding and Its Impact on Bipolar Disorder 26:51 Stigma Surrounding Bipolar Disorder and Its Effects 32:07 Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness 36:51 Thriving with Bipolar Disorder 42:12 The Integrated Network: A New Approach to Bipolar Research 47:39 Shifting Perspective From Symptom Reduction to Thriving 53:46 Understanding the Complexities of Bipolar Disorder

Managing your energy is key to regulating anxiety, stress, and overwhelm. In this episode, Morra sits down with energy healing practitioner Ellen Donaldson to explore how energy dysregulation shows up in high-achieving, anxious professionals, and what you can do about it. Ellen breaks down key concepts in mind-body energy medicine, including the chakra system, and offers practical tools to help you feel more grounded, present, and powerful. Morra shares her own experience learning from Ellen, including how a simple shift in energetic awareness helped her cope with caregiving demands and daily overwhelm. You’ll also hear a short guided meditation to help you regulate your energy, even on the busiest days. Takeaways from the episode: Your energy body (composed of chakras and an aura) affects your emotional and physical well-being. Dysregulated energy (like overly open or closed chakras) can manifest as anxiety, emotional flooding, or exhaustion. The second chakra is particularly relevant to people-pleasers and caregivers. Learning to “close” it slightly can reduce overwhelm. Grounding through the first chakra helps regulate the nervous system and bring you back to the present moment. Simple practices—like visualizing veggie steamers as chakra regulators!—can be done in seconds, tied to everyday routines. Ellen guides listeners through a quick grounding and chakra-regulation meditation you can repeat anytime—before a tough meeting, while caregiving, or simply when you're feeling frazzled. Resources & Links 🌿 Download a free guided meditation from Ellen at: starleafwellness.com/morra-interview 🌿 Learn more about Ellen’s practice: starleafwellness.com Timestamps: 03:40 Understanding Energy and Its Importance 06:21 Exploring Chakras and Their Functions 09:28 Grounding Techniques and Practices 12:22 Guided Meditation for Energy Regulation 17:25 Practical Applications of Energy Regulation 20:45 Resources

How does growing up in foster care shape you as a leader? Chéla Gage is the former Vice President Global Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, workforce mental health advocate, inclusion expert, and host of the 1 Million Fosters podcast. Gage joins Morra to share how her childhood in foster care shaped her strengths as a leader, her reflections on anxiety and hypervigilance as an asset, and how she’s transforming trauma into purpose. Chéla’s journey from foster homes and group homes to senior leadership roles at Nissan, Raytheon, and Starbucks is a testament to the power of claiming your story. She shares how her upbringing honed her ability to read a room, anticipate challenges, and build belonging, skills that have made her invaluable in corporate spaces. Learn more about Chéla Gage: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelagage/ Key Themes: ✅ Hypervigilance as Leadership Strength: Growing up navigating new homes and caregivers taught Chéla to read the room quickly, identify influencers, and trust her intuition—skills she now uses to drive business impact. ✅ Reframing Trauma into Purpose: Chéla discusses how she once felt shame about her foster care past but now sees it as her superpower, providing her with empathy and perspective leaders need. ✅ Parenting as Reparenting: Motherhood allowed Chéla to give the love she didn’t receive as a child back to herself. ✅ The Role of Anxiety: Anxiety kept Chéla alert and prepared, but she learned to manage in therapy, to reduce constant threat scanning and burnout while embracing her “hypervigilance” as a leadership tool. ✅ Creating Belonging in Corporate Spaces: Through her career in recruiting and DEIB leadership, Chéla discovered the importance of recognizing and honoring people’s whole stories, not just their resumes, to create true inclusion. Timestamps: 07:09 Hypervigilance as a Superpower 12:59 Transforming Pain into Purpose 18:40 The Role of Anxiety: A Double-Edged Sword 24:14 Inclusion and Belonging 29:51 The Impact of Personal Stories 34:50 Empowering the Foster Community