The One You Feed | Personal Growth, Emotional Resilience & Purpose

In this episode, Luke Burgis explores the question, “Are your desires really yours?” and how to recognize and reclaim what you truly want. He discusses how to tell the difference between “thin desires (fleeting, imitated wants) and “thick desires” (the deeper longings that bring lasting fulfillment), and why discerning between the two can change the direction of your life. Luke also shares practic...

In this episode, Daria Burke discusses the non-linear path to healing and how to find wholeness after trauma. She shares her experiences growing up in Detroit with parents struggling with addiction, the impact of adversity, and her path toward self-discovery and integration. Daria also explores the complexities of healing, the importance of embracing all parts of oneself, and the power of nature a...

In this episode, Pete Holmes explains his practice of saying “Yes, Thank You” and how he practices non-resistance, a way of letting life be what it is instead of fighting it. Pete is well known from his long running podcast, You Made It Weird, and his book Comedy, Sex, God. Both mix humor with deep spiritual reflection, and this conversation explores that very same space. He discusses letting go o...

In this episode, Emma Gannon explores the idea of choosing love over fear and how to find joy, confidence, and self-trust. She talks about her new novel, “Table for One” that includes themes of the inner battle between positive and negative thoughts, the healing power of love, and the importance of choosing joy. Emma shares how writing fiction is therapeutic and reflects on her personal growth, co...

In this episode, Janice Lundy discusses finding your true self in a distracted world, which is that part of you that isn’t weighed down by fear, busyness, or the endless demands of modern life. She calls this place “my deepest me” – the inner space that already knows we’re whole, even when everything around us insists otherwise. Jan explores what it means to return to that wiser, truer self, how t...

In this episode, Todd Sattersten explores the art of awareness with lessons from his new book “The 100 Best Books for Work and Life. He delves into how we can reshape the way we live, work, and become who we’re meant to be. Todd also discusses how mindfulness, Zen practice, and self-awareness can help manage emotions and navigate life’s challenges. He shares insights from his book curation process...

In this episode, Mark Groves discusses the importance of trusting yourself and the key to navigating relationships and personal growth. Mark shares insights from his own journey, including leaving a secure career, embracing sobriety, and navigating relationship endings with integrity. He also delves into the importance of choosing self-alignment over people-pleasing, distinguishing intuition from...

In this episode, Shaka Senghor discusses the power of choice, and how to break free from shame, anger, and grief, which can be the hardest prisons to escape. Shaka spent 19 years in prison and seven of those in solitary confinement. But he’ll tell you that he was imprisoned long before handcuffs, and that his freedom came long before his release. His new book, How to Be Free. A Proven Guide to Esc...

In this episode, Scott Stabile explores the idea of choosing love in a divisive world and how empathy can be our guiding light when life feels fractured. Scott shares deeply personal stories — from the tragedy of losing his parents to addiction in his family — and how forgiveness and compassion became the most difficult, yet most healing choices of his life. He talks about the role of awareness, t...

In this episode, Bobbi Brown explores the questions “What if?” and “Why not?”—her mantra for living with curiosity and courage. Renowned makeup artist, entrepreneur, and founder of Jones Road, Bobbi shares how choosing decency over drama and normalcy over fabulosity shaped both her career and her life. She talks about the power of kindness, the myth of “always-on” authenticity, and how the outside...

In this episode, Dr. Robert Waldinger explores why good relationships are the key to living a long and happy life. Drawing from more than 85 years of research, Robert shares why deep, supportive relationships are stronger predictors of health and happiness than wealth, success, or status. He also explains how relationships regulate stress, why loneliness can be as harmful as smoking, and how we ca...

In this episode, Diane Macedo unlocks the secrets to better sleep as she shares what you need to know. From her personal experiences with sleep challenges, she shares something counterintuitive: how sleep isn't something we do, it's something that happens when we stop trying so hard. Diane talks about retraining a wired brain and the systems that actually govern sleep. This episode is packed with...

In this episode, Sophia Bush discusses the complexities of human nature, spirituality, and emotional maturity. She explores the dangers of toxic positivity and the challenges of authenticity in public life. Sophia also reflects on intergenerational trauma, activism, and the importance of self-compassion. Through candid stories and practical insights, Sophia encourages listeners to embrace vulnerab...

In this episode, Cal Newport explains slow productivity and how to do less, focus more, and not burn out. Cal argues, our obsession with busyness is pseudo-productivity and while it may look like progress, it isn’t. In his new book, Slow Productivity, he shows how we can accomplish more by doing less with focus and intent We need your help! We all know ads are part of the podcast world, and we wan...

In this episode, Tara Brach explores embracing the full spectrum of emotions, providing a guide to mindfulness and self-discovery. She helps us experiment with a variety of approaches that are guided by a simple compass intention. Tara also discusses stepping out of a trance, the tight story of what’s wrong with me or what’s wrong here, and in the direct experience, where kindness and awareness ca...

In this episode, Vauhini Vara discusses the hidden costs of technology and our search for selfhood. She explains how we live in a world where technology functions as both a lifeline and a trap—offering connection, convenience, and possibility while also shaping our choices, exploiting our attention, and redefining how we see ourselves. Together, Eric and Vauhini explore the tension of relying on t...

In this episode, Elise Loehnen explains why chasing goodness keeps us stuck and how to choose wholeness instead. For so many of us, the drive to be “good” shapes how we show up – as friends, partners, coworkers, even in how we speak to ourselves on hard days. But what does it cost us to live that way? Elise invites us to see that the real challenge isn’t to feed only the good wolf, but to become a...

In this episode, Cyndie Spiegel discusses finding hope when life isn’t okay and the power of microjoys. Cyndie shares her personal journey through profound loss and illness, explaining how micro joys, the simple, everyday pleasures, helped her heal. She explores the difference between happiness and joy, the importance of presence and gratitude, and practical ways to notice and appreciate micro joy...

In this episode, Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett explains the science of emotions and how your brain predicts your feelings. She further explains that because emotions are made and not hardwired, this means we can change them by retraining our brains. Lisa also delves into the science of prediction, the body budget, and why taking care of your physical health is one of the most powerful emotional regulat...

In this episode, Ukeme Awakessien Jeter explores the importance of learning to be the change you want to see. She shares her journey as an immigrant and Black woman in a predominantly white suburb, discussing adaptability, leadership, and civic engagement. She reflects on raising her daughter, building inclusive communities, and the unique leadership strengths immigrants bring. The conversation al...

In this episode, Steven Shapiro and Nancy Shapiro discuss how to build a family culture that brings you closer and makes you stronger. They are a brother and sister duo, educators and creators of the “Our Family Culture” system. Steven and Nancy discuss the importance of intentionally shaping family culture to support children’s emotional well-being and resilience and they share practical strategi...

In this episode, Dr. Judith Joseph explains what happens when success hides suffering, and the importance of understanding high-functioning depression. She explores why many people who look fine on the outside are quietly suffering on the inside with something we rarely talk about: anhedonia, the loss of joy, or the loss of ability to feel pleasure. This is an important conversation that highlight...

In this episode, Peter Singer explains why ethics and joy belong together. He offers a moral wake-up call as he shares his now-famous “drowning child” thought experiment: if we saw a child drowning right in front of us, we’d act without hesitation. So why do we so often fail to act when suffering is farther away? Peter challenges the idea that ethics is about rigid rules or self-denial. Instead, h...

In this episode, Susan Piver discusses the path to inexplicable joy and how self-friendship can change everything. She shares this powerful statement, “I can’t defeat my enemies, but I can strengthen my friends,” which offers a different kind of hope that shifts our focus from fighting battles we can’t win, to caring for the people and communities closest to us. Susan shares what real power looks...

In this episode, Nickolas Butler explores finding meaning through caregiving, loss, and writing. At just 20 years old, Nick became his father’s legal guardian after a sudden brain aneurysm — a role he held for 23 years. What began as a family emergency became a long, complex journey that shaped his identity, his values, and his voice as a novelist. In this honest and moving conversation, Nick shar...