The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

In this episode of The Life of Try, host Wynne Leon talks with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Barbara Nickless about her new psychological suspense novel, A Voice in the Dark. Their conversation moves from the dark corners of online gaming and internet manipulation to the real-world vulnerabilities of teenagers, families, and people searching for belonging. Barbara shares how deep research...

Are you different? Or simply finding your purpose? In this inspiring episode of The Life of Try, host Wynne Leon talks with author and educational advocate Kym Gordon Moore about her children’s book, Hennie and Her Poetry Eggs, a powerful story about courage, compassion, bullying prevention, purpose, and embracing what makes us different. Through the story of Hennie, Kym invites children, parents,...

Are you waiting for easy? Here's a formula to get you moving! In this episode of The Life of Try, Wynne Leon shares a personal story about turning a long-held dream of visiting friends in France into a real-life adventure through courage, creativity, and community support. What began as an expensive and seemingly impossible trip became an opportunity to rent out her home, ask for help, and tak...

What does it means to keep showing up when life asks more of you than seems possible? In this episode of The Life of Try, Wynne Leon talks with Kathryn M. B. Johnson, author of Invisible, Until I’m Not, a memoir-in-essays about chronic illness, caregiving, grief, and resilience. Together, they explore what it means to live with fibromyalgia and invisible illness, how caregiving reshapes identity,...

In this episode of The Life of Try , Wynne Leon talks with Liza Anderson, author of The Crossing: My Near Death Experience with Jesus , about surviving a sudden medical crisis, spendingweeks in an induced coma, and returning with a deeper sense of faith, presence, and purpose. Liza shares her near-death experience, her encounter with Jesus, and what recovery taught her about resilience, prayer, an...

What does real support actually look like—especially when someone is struggling, failing, or figuring things out? In this episode of The Life of Try, Wynne Leon explores how to support others without adding pressure, and why focusing on effort instead of outcome can make all the difference. Whether you’re a parent, coach, friend, or teammate, it’s easy to unintentionally turn encouragement into ex...

When should we celebrate progress—only at the finish line, or all along the way? In this episode of The Life of Try, Wynne Leon explores the power of small wins, tiny habits, and incremental progress. Drawing from a personal story about preparing her home for an Airbnb experiment during the World Cup in Seattle, Wynne reflects on what it means to keep going when growth is messy, nonlinear, and ful...

In this episode of Life of Try , Wynne Leon sits downwith Mike Rucker, PhD, organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and author of The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life , for a thoughtful conversation about why fun is not frivolous—it’sessential. Together, they explore the science of fun, the difference between happiness and joy, and how intentional habits...

What do you do when life falls apart? In this episode, Wynne Leon sits down with Lindsey Goldstein, author of Gap Year, for a conversation about personal growth, self-improvement, and finding the courage to try—even when the path ahead feels uncertain. From writing and running to parenting, failure, and fresh starts, they explore how confidence is built one brave step at a time. If you’ve ever won...

Expectations can inspire us to try—until they harden into a demand for a specific outcome. In this episode of The Life of Try , Wynne Leon explores how unmet expectations fuel disappointment, why that disappointment can keep us from taking healthy risks, and what it looks like to stay hopeful without clinging. From a childhood lesson about “pressing for the answer” to Alexander Fleming’s accidenta...

If you’ve been saying “someday I’ll write a book” for years,this episode is your push to begin—and your roadmap to keep going. Host Wynne Leon talks with Dr. Victoria Atkinson about the mindset, support, and creative courage it took to turn a long-held idea into a finished, soon-to-be-publishednovel. Vicki’s new novel, Slivers , is set during a single week in the summer of 1973, when a quiet subur...

How do you know when to stop trying—especially when you’re someone who prides yourself on perseverance? In this episode of The Life of Try , Wynne Leon explores the moments when quitting isn’t failure, but wisdom: when our efforts are overly controlled, when something deep inside says “it’s time,” or when passion turns obsessive and starts costing more than it gives. Along the way, she draws lesso...

What happens when you say “yes” to an adventure? Host Wynne Leon talks with tech entrepreneur and author Michael Yang about his memoir Coming Alive on the Ride and the way motorcycle travel became both a literal journey and a powerful metaphor for personal growth. Michael shares how stepping outside your familiar environment can help you hear “life’s invitation” to dream, venture, and rediscover w...

Feeling stuck? This episode of The Life of Try uses the story of Thomas Edison to reframe progress: not as one perfect breakthrough, but as a steady practice of continuing to try. Behind the famous light bulb moment is a mindset of learning from what doesn’t work, building momentum through small improvements, and staying in motion long enough for your next step to appear. You’ll hear five practica...

What if “trying” doesn’t have to mean pushing harder? In this episode, host Wynne Leon talks with author and New York Insight Meditation Center co-founder Joseph Schmidt about The Torchbearer —a collection of short stories born from an unexpectedly effortless creative process. Together they explore the mindset shift from effort to openness:how letting go of the agenda can create space for insight,...

This episode features host Wynne Leon with a brand-new segment that “reverse engineers” what world-class trying really looks like. Our case study: professional climber Alex Honnold , whose headline-making feats—from free soloing El Capitan in Yosemite to scaling Taipei 101 this January—offer a masterclass in what it takes to attempt the extraordinary. We’ll break down the real ingredients behind s...

In this episode, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon talk with Wayne Runde. Wayne is an author, physician and veteran US Navy Commander. Wayne tells us about his book, Shadow of the Deceiver , the third installment in The Genesis Trust series. We hear about why he was called to start writing even with his busy schedule and a fascinating set of hobbies. We ask about the intersection of science, morality...

In this conversation, Sam Daley-Harris talks with Wynne Leon and Vicki Atkinson and unpacks how transformational advocacy fits alongside other forms of activism like protests, litigation, and voter mobilization—and why it can succeed even when Washington seems paralyzed by shutdowns and partisan conflict. Sam shares some concrete examples from global health and environmental advocacy, offer insigh...

This episode is different – because Wynne Leonis a guest on the What Do You Know To Be True? podcast with the brilliant host and producer, Roger Kastner. What Do You Know To Be True? features conversationsat the intersection of leadership, neuroscience, belonging, and personal growth—inviting guests to explore the truths that shape how they lead and live. Roger is a master at getting his guests to...

Author and Architect Mario Cartaya sits down with Wynne Leon to share his emotional journey back to Cuba after 56 years, exploring memories, family separation, and the hope for reconciliation. Discover how revisiting childhood roots can bring peace and understanding. Key Topics Mario's traumatic departure from Cuba in 1960 The vault of childhood memories and their significance Revisiting child...

In this episode, Wynne Leon interviews Anthony Dyer, a special missions aviator and author of 'Moon Child.' They discuss Anthony's journey from a childhood in Appalachia to a 20-year career in the US Air Force, his healing process from the traumas of war through writing, and the importance of family in his life. Anthony shares valuable life lessons learned from aviation, the significan...

In this engaging conversation, Roger Kastner shares with Wynne Leon his journey of aligning heart and mind, exploring the concept of superpowers and purpose, and the importance of curiosity and empathy in personal and professional growth. Roger discusses the role of frameworks in creating thriving workplaces, the significance of connection and sharing, and the exploration of joy amidst grief. The...

In this episode, author and educator Andrea Simon talks with Wynne Leon about her novel 'Did You Live the Life You Wanted?' which explores themes of perspective, regret, and the meaning of life through the lens of female friendships and personal experiences. The conversation delves into the differences in how men and women perceive their life choices, the challenges of writing about family...

In this episode of How to Share, host Wynne Leon interviews social psychologist and writer Anne Beall about her book, The Compassionate Writer. They discuss the importance of compassion in writing, exploring the four pillars: compassion for ourselves, for others, for the reader, and throughout the writing process. Anne shares her journey from academia to founding a literary journal, and how her un...

In this episode of "How to Share," host Wynne Leon engages in a captivating conversation with author and educator Nancy Shear about her memoir, "I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms." Nancy shares her remarkable journey, beginning as a teenager who snuck into the Philadelphia Orchestra, which ultimately led to her career as an assistant librarian for the orchestra at just 17 years old. Through her stories...