Make It a Great One with Dr. Dan: #1 Podcast for Inspiring Conversations to Live and Lead On Purpose

In this latest episode, Dr. Dan sits down with Jay Abbasi, a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, coach, and host of the podcast Unstuck. In 2014, the sudden loss of Jay's father stopped him cold. He was successful on paper, climbing the ranks at Tesla and running on autopilot, and that loss became the wake-up call that moved him toward a life built around purpose, presence, and service instead of just...

Achievement, intelligence, and success are often celebrated as the ultimate markers of a life well-lived. But what happens when reaching every milestone still leaves you feeling empty, exhausted, or disconnected from yourself? In this episode, Dr. Dan sits down with author, business executive, and former gifted child Eric Jessen to explore the hidden challenges that can accompany early success.  D...

Leadership isn’t about looking strong… it’s about becoming who you’re meant to be. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Dan sits down with executive leadership coach, speaker, and founder of My Impossible, Jeff Harmon, to explore a remarkable journey of resilience, vulnerability, and transformation.  After being diagnosed with a rare neurological condition, Jeff found himself facing challenges that...

What if the path out of anxiety isn't through your mind… but through your body? In this episode of Make It a Great One, Dr. Dan sits down with Chelsea Horton, somatic coach, educator, and founder of Healing Embodied, who shares the profound difference between living from our heads versus living from our bodies.  Together they explore why so many of us become trapped in overthinking, perfectionism,...

Together, Matt and Dr. Dan explore the relationship between identity, achievement, resilience, and personal growth. They discuss the dangers of attaching self-worth to performance, how pain can become a catalyst for transformation, and why true peak performance begins with becoming a healthy, grounded human being first. Matt shares the life-changing five-day period that altered the trajectory of h...

What if the pressure to be “good” is making women physically sick? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Dan sits down with award-winning filmmaker, entrepreneur, and author Sara Hirsh Bordo to explore the powerful connection between autoimmune disease, trauma, people-pleasing, and self-abandonment as well as to discuss Sara’s powerful new book Autoimmunity and the Good Girls: How Permission to Put Our...

In this interesting episode, Dr. Dan interviews Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, to explore purpose-driven leadership. Tom is the author of four books, Revolution in a Bottle, Outsmart Waste, Make Garbage Great and The Future of Packaging. His work has made TerraCycle an award-winning international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind p...

In this authentic conversation, Dr. Dan sits down with EJ and Tarah Kerwin, founders of Relationship Renovation and hosts of the Relationship Renovation Podcast, to explore what it truly takes to build emotional safety, trust, and lasting connection in our relationships. Drawing from both their professional expertise and personal journey as a couple, EJ and Tarah open up about the challenges, brea...

On this new episode, Dr. Dan sits down with Faith Freed, licensed psychotherapist and author of DIY Spirituality, to explore how self-awareness, mindset, and intentional living can help you create a deeper sense of purpose and connection. Faith shares her journey from high-pressure creative work to a life rooted in meaning, sparked by a profound shift into motherhood. What followed was a path towa...

In this deeply powerful conversation, Dr. Dan sits down with bestselling author Blake D. Bauer, author of You Were Not Born to Suffer: Overcome Fear, Insecurity and Depression and Love Yourself Back to Happiness, Confidence and Peace, to explore how adversity can become a source of transformation. Dr. Dan and Blake explore why pain isn’t punishment and how suffering points us toward healing, purpo...

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Dan sits down with Janine Mathó, a former Harvard and Pearson executive turned transformational leader, to explore what happens when external success no longer fulfills you. Janine tells us burnout isn’t the end—it’s often the beginning of something deeper, more aligned, and more meaningful.  On this episode, Janine shares her personal journey through corporate b...

Dr. Dan sits down with Melissa Doman, Organizational Psychologist, former mental health therapist, founder of The Workplace Mental Health Method™ and the author of Cornered Office: Why We Need To Talk About Leadership Mental Health to discuss one of the biggest blind spots in modern leadership: mental health. They explore all things leadership and apply a fresh take: we must acknowledge the truth...

Dr. Dan sits down with TEDx speaker Jinesha Jain to discuss success and what happens when our achievement outpaces our alignment. From navigating the pressures of the immigrant experience to redefining ambition through self-awareness, Jinesha shares how the single question “Are you happy?” sparked a profound shift in her life – and can do the same for us. On this episode, Dr. Dan and Jinesha unpac...

Dr. Dan sits down with Dr. Neha Sangwan, CEO and founder of Intuitive Intelligence, internal medicine physician, international speaker, author of Powered By Me From Burned Out to Fully Charged at Work and in Life, and corporate communication expert, to explore how burnout, stress, and disconnection are not failures, but invitations to reconnect with purpose, authenticity, and self-awareness. Burno...

Dr. Dan speaks to Nancy Howard Cobb about the 25th anniversary edition of her paradigm shifting book about grief and human connection In Lieu of Flowers: A Conversation for the Living. Nancy’s book was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and over the years has helped many people deal with mourning, grief, death and dying – from hospices, medical schools, bookstores, and conferences to families deal...

Today’s episode is part one of a special two-episode series on grief on Make It a Great One with Dr. Dan. Dr. Dan interviews Dr. Korie Leigh, author, speaker, and thanatologist (a specialist who studies death, dying, and bereavement) to discuss her book  When Everything Changes: Parenting Through Loss and Grief and to unpack myths about grief. Dr. Korie shares her compassionate and realistic frame...

Dr. Dan sits down with ophthalmic surgeon and internationally bestselling author Dr. Durga Larkin to explore a powerful topic that affects us all: aging. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Durga reframes aging not as a period of decline, but as a time of expansion. Together, Dr. Dan and Dr. Durga examine why some of our most meaningful and fulfilling years may still lie ahead. Drawing from her...

Dr. Dan reconnects with his very first podcast guest(!) veteran educator and special education advocate Larry Davis to explore what it truly means to teach—and lead—in today’s world. Drawing from more than four decades in education across 11 school districts, Larry shares insights from his new book, The Happy Camper Classroom, and reframes teaching as one of the most demanding leadership roles in...

Dr. Dan sits down with Cody Cook-Parrott, author of The Practice of Attention: Cultivating Presence in a Distracted World, to explore what happens when we reclaim our focus from technology, perfectionism, and fear. Drawing from nearly 15 years of sobriety, lived experience with ADHD, creative practice, and stepping away from social media, Cody shares how attention is not just about productivity —...

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Dan sits down with leadership strategist, researcher, and executive coach and author Dr. Debra Clary to explore why curiosity may be the most overlooked—and most essential—leadership skill of our time. Deb shares her remarkable journey from driving a Frito-Lay delivery truck after earning her MBA to advising Fortune 500 executives and the publication of her book...

Dr. Dan is in the virtual studio today with award-winning music educator and entrepreneur Kenneth Thompson to explore what it truly means to grow into your purpose—especially when the path is anything but linear. Ken, the founder and CEO of the Musical Arts Center of San Antonio, Inc. (MACSA), holds a Bachelor of Music/Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music (where he studied with Nelit...

In this eye-opening interview, Dr. Dan Peters talks with internationally renowned psychologist Guy Winch to explore how emotional health, rumination, and chronic stress quietly hijack our lives highlighting that burnout doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t stay at work when the workday ends. Dr. Dan and Guy also discuss his new book Mind Over Grind: How To Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Lif...

Dr. Dan interviews wellness leader and founder of DoYogaWithMe, David Procyshyn about anxiety, presence, living well and his personal story. As a leading voice in the world of wellness –David is yoga and meditation teacher, speaker, and founder – David helps people heal from chronic anxiety and live a calmer, more resilient life. During this conversation with Dr. Dan, David shares his own personal...

Today on Make It A Great One, Dr. Dan interviews Raj Sisodia, global thought leader, bestselling author, and co-founder of Conscious Capitalism, to explore the inner work required to live and lead with purpose, integrity, and humanity. Raj also introduces the seven steps outlined in his newest book Healing Leaders which teaches us that leadership begins with knowing, loving, and healing oneself. ...

In this provocative and reflective episode, Dr. Dan interviews transformational coach Thomas Blottenberger about purpose, self-awareness, and what it means to grow from the inside out. Together, they explore how culturally inherited narratives, survival-based programming, emotional numbness, and the performance trap silently shape our lives — and how to break free. Thomas shares the story of his o...