Behind the Brilliance

Dr. Erin C. Westgate holds a Ph. D. in social psychology and uses it as a researcher and assistant professor. Her work explores boredom, inner lives, and thoughts. In this conversation, we turn boring research studies into insight with interesting stories and useful advice.  Plus, we explore productive procrastination, the profound thing Erin's changed her mind about recently, and why we should al...

Sam Jennings is an accomplished artist and creative director whose credits include megastars like Prince and Pearl Jam. But he's so much more than his collaborations. His thoughtful approach to his work and his artistic integrity is what's led him on creative adventures that pushed boundaries and made waves. In this conversation, he connects the dots and shares the secrets of working with teams of...

Katrina Adams has gone from the west side of Chicago to the pinnacles of the tennis world as an athlete, executive, and commentator. Alongside her long list of accomplishments is a long list of lessons learned including how to recover from setbacks, how to perform under pressure, and why it's essential to be self-directed. In this conversation, she shares the gems that have allowed her to go from...

Katy Milkman turns dense research into usable tactics for daily life. From saving more money to losing weight, Katy's findings and summaries in her bestselling book, How to Change, are woven into this conversation. We explore what to do when motivation wanes, when to create fresh starts for greatest effect, the best approach to building new habits, and more.  Behind Her Brilliance: Luck  Say hi to...

Lisa welcomes listeners to Season 12 of the show and offers a peek at what's to come. 

Lisa recaps the episodes of Season 11 and shares key takeaways. 

Mike Maser found himself way up the corporate ladder that was leaning against the wrong wall. He knew he couldn't keep coasting so he took the leap into entrepreneurship. The journey wasn't a smooth one, but it led him to running Big Sky Health, a company using technology to build thoughtful wellness apps. During this conversation, we talked about the good, bad, and harrowing of Mike's journey. He...

THE SHOW Dr. Emily Anhalt is a clinical psychologist, emotional fitness expert, author, and the co-founder of Coa, a a "gym for the mind." On this episode, she talks with Lisa about the strategies and tactics for creating and sustaining mental wellness, how to find a great therapist, the importance of developing sound habits, and much more.  Behind Her Brilliance: A supportive community, hard work...

THE SHOW New York Times bestselling author, cartoonist, and entrepreneur Nick Seluk shares how he turned a creative passion into a thriving enterprise. From time management and personal discipline to leadership and creative choices, Nick opens up about how he built an international audience of adoring fans (including Lisa!).  Behind His Brilliance: A willingness to work to have his definition of f...

Kirk Moore is back to discuss his journey as a writer, his reflections on diversity in entertainment, what he's learned and how he's applied it, the importance of community for writers, why self-care is not negotiable for artists, and much more.  Say hi to Kirk on Twitter and Instagram @KirkWrites79

The author and multihyphenate sits down to recount her professional journey, what she's learned, and how mutlihyphenates can tell better stories about their work. If you've ever struggled with answering, "Tell me about yourself," you'll love this episode. Holley's candor and clarity provide a useful framework for designing a fulfilling career and telling the right story about it.  Behind Her Brill...

Financial advisor and real estate investor Ayesha Selden joins Lisa to unpack her journey from humble beginnings in Philadelphia to financial independence. Ayesha brings candor and humor to this conversation that's filled with timeless wisdom and hard won insight.  Behind Her Brilliance: Persistence and discipline  Say hi to Ayesha on Twitter and Instagram: @AyeshaSelden

Lisa shares why internal scorecards are important and how to design them. This is a short, inspiring blueprint on keeping yourself accountable and consistently leveling up.

This episode is a deep dive into mental health and how we can find greater peace and purpose, even as we face a complicated new normal during and after the global pandemic. The founder and CEO of Mental Happy, Tamar Blue, drops in to share her journey as a founder and offer perspective on cultivating mental well-being in every season.  Behind Her Brilliance: Her intuitive nature  Say hi to Tamar o...

This episode blends the theory of wellness with the practical application to provide inspiring perspective on enhancing your physical health. Nutrition specialist and behavior coach Esosa Edosomwan (aka The Raw Girl) deep dives into the design of modern wellness and health habits that work. Behind Her Brilliance: A commitment to using all of her talents Say hi to Esosa on Instagram and Twitter: @T...

Lisa discusses thoughts and questions on life design for 2021 amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the pandemic.

Mac Conwell is an entrepreneur turned venture capitalist investing in early stage startups. After a roller coaster journey through entrepreneurship, he is an accidental venture capitalist. During this conversation, he shares what he's learned about hustle, networking, confidence, and much more.  Behind His Brilliance: His Parents Say hi to Mac on Twitter: @macconwell

Founder and President of multimillion dollar functional beverage company LIFEAID opens up about his journey, hard won lessons, and the keys to sustaining an 8 figure business during a pandemic. Aaron was remarkably candid about his dark days, the lessons he learned, and how he is finding ways to thrive, even during uncertain times. Behind His Brilliance: Knowing His Blind Spots  Say hi to Aaron on...

GG is a thoughtful and prolific writer, author, and guide for truth seekers. Her work centers on self-care and self-discovery as pathways to self-actualization and personal success. During our conversation, she pulls back the curtain on her own journey and shares rich insight on creating more meaning and purpose in our lives and work.  Behind Her Brilliance: Her Spirituality  Say hi to GG on Insta...

Season 11 is here! This season we're going back to basics to talk about health, money, meaning, lifestyle design, and charting the path forward. With so much adversity and change around us in 2020, this season is an inspiring beacon for thriving in the next chapter of our lives. 

Lisa recaps the episodes of Season 10. 

Lisa answers a frequently asked guest and listener question: what's behind her brilliance?   

Sam Sokolow is the Emmy nominated producer of 'Genius', an anthology drama series on National Geographic. His work in film and television has led to a body of work that reflects his passion and curiosity. In this conversation, Sam unpacks the keys to his success, his reflections on the unexpected twists in his journey, and his advice to the dreamer who's wondering whether it's too late to win (spo...

J Michael Straczynski is probably best known as the creator of the sci fi TV series, Babylon 5, in addition to the Marvel Comics, The Amazing Spider-Man, Thor, and Fantastic Four. He's also the pen behind DC Comics' Superman and Wonder Woman. Before becoming a successful screenwriter, Joe battled unfavorable personal circumstances that shaped his grit and tenacity. In this winding conversation, we...

Sam Parr is the founder and CEO of The Hustle, a rapidly growing 8 figure media company that's taken no venture capital. Besides being ambitious and smart, Sam is self-aware and thoughtful about both his professional and personal lives. In this conversation, we talk about his take on building companies, leadership, lifestyle design, mental health, and much more.  Say hi to Sam on Twitter and Insta...