The Why Me Podcast

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon explores a Reddit thread where hundreds of people answered one simple question: what’s one change that made the biggest difference in their life? What starts as a list of familiar answers—small habits like drinking more water, exercising, and improving sleep—quickly unfolds into something much deeper. As Brianna reads through the respons...

Losing a job can feel like losing your footing overnight. In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon shares the deeply personal story of being unexpectedly laid off while nearly eight months pregnant with her first child. Faced with uncertainty about health insurance, motherhood, her career, and what came next, Brianna found herself navigating one of the most stressful seasons of...

On this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon explores why five-year plans so often fail in real life—and what it means when the future you carefully mapped out no longer matches the life you’re actually living. We’re taught to build long-term plans as if life is predictable: set goals, define milestones, and follow the roadmap. But in reality, life rarely cooperates with the versio...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, Brianna Spurgeon steps back from the question people often ask in difficult seasons—“Why me?”—and explores a different perspective: “Why them?” Why do some individuals seem to build extraordinary lives, businesses, and opportunities while others remain stuck searching for what’s missing? Brianna shares a story of Greg LaVecchia, an entrepreneur she has follow...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon explores the powerful concept of creating a “time capsule” as a metaphor for legacy, purpose, and intentional living. Brianna Spurgeon reflects on personal experiences that led her to consider mortality, motherhood, and what it means to leave something meaningful behind for her children and future generations. Through storytelling and re...

In this powerful MG Awareness Month episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon shares her real-life experience living with Myasthenia Gravis — a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that affects communication between the nerves and muscles. Brianna breaks down what Myasthenia Gravis actually is in simple, understandable terms while also opening up about her personal diagnosis journey...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon explores the often-overlooked reality of everyday overwhelm and specifically end-of-school-year burnout, along with the emotional weight of daily mental load that builds during busy seasons of life. As schedules pile up, responsibilities increase, and capacity feels stretched thin, many people find themselves wondering why life suddenly...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, Brianna explores one of the most surprising parts of sharing her health journey: just how many people quietly resonate with the experience of feeling “off” in their body without clear answers. From chronic fatigue and brain fog to feeling dismissed or brushed off in healthcare settings, this conversation reflects the emotional reality of navigating unexplaine...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon explores the psychology of navigating unexpected change and the emotional and mental phases people move through when life shifts in ways they didn’t choose. Drawing on her background in strategy and transformation within large organizations—as well as her personal experience facing a long-term health diagnosis—Brianna breaks down how hum...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon explores a deeply personal reflection on burnout, disruption, and the search for meaning in everyday life through the lens of David Brooks’ book The Second Mountain. After reading one line—“What is life asking of me?”—Brianna begins to re-examine her own journey through corporate success, motherhood, identity shifts, and unexpected healt...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon explores why major life events—loss, success, illness, or unexpected change—often make life feel like it splits into a “before” and an “after.” We tend to describe these moments as identity shifts, where the future we were imagining no longer matches the life we are living inside of. Why does this happen, and what are we actually experie...

In March 2012, high school softball player Emily Stuckwisch (Bobb) was struck by lightning under mostly clear skies during practice—an event that stopped her heart on the field. What followed was nothing short of miraculous: bystanders in the right place at the right time, resuscitation, and a second chance at life. In this episode of  The Why Me Podcast , Emily shares the full story of that day f...

Feeling out of balance? In this episode of the Why Me Podcast, Brianna Spurgeon shares her personal journey navigating chronic illness, motherhood, and life’s unexpected disruptions. She explores the power of holistic health, functional medicine, and going back to the basics—sleep, nutrition, movement, grounding, and mindfulness—to regain energy, clarity, and well-being. Whether you’re facing a he...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon shares a powerful and honest update after stepping away from social media for 40 days. What started as a simple break quickly became a life-changing reset. Brianna opens up about how much time she was spending scrolling, the habit loops she didn’t even realize she was stuck in, and why so many people struggle to admit just how consuming...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, Brianna Spurgeon dives into the often-overlooked space between struggle and success—the middle ground where most of life actually happens. Drawing from her experience navigating seven months with Myasthenia Gravis, Brianna shares the challenges and small victories of rebuilding strength, energy, and confidence while living with uncertainty. She explores how e...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, Brianna Spurgeon explores the powerful idea that motivation doesn’t come before action — it follows it. She breaks down why waiting to feel ready often keeps people stuck, and how small, seemingly meaningless actions can create the momentum needed to move forward. Drawing on psychological research like Behavioral Activation, Brianna explains how taking action...

What if the small moments that make you uneasy could actually train your brain for life? In this episode, Brianna Spurgeon shows how choosing discomfort in everyday situations can build resilience, strengthen mental toughness, and prepare you for unexpected life disruptions. From the universal “stomach-drop” moment in meetings to tiny, practical challenges, Brianna explains how elective discomfort...

In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon explores how ChatGPT and generative AI can become your ultimate “coach in your pocket” for navigating personal and professional change. Drawing on her experience as a transformation lead at a major biotech company, Brianna breaks down how AI can help you process uncertainty, manage resistance, and make rational decisions when life or wor...

On this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon shares a deeply personal realization that challenged how she was spending her time — and what she was actually leaving behind. During a season of uncertainty, Brianna began reflecting on legacy, impact, and the mark she wanted to leave on the world. What she discovered was uncomfortable: despite years of learning, reading, scrolling, and...

This week on The Why Me Podcast, Brianna Spurgeon shares a quick experiment that shifted her energy and perspective in just days. Feeling emotionally heavy, she noticed something surprising at a coffee shop — a barista’s infectious joy completely changed the way she showed up in the world. Inspired, Brianna decided to test two simple habits: adding a little extra warmth to everyday interactions (“...

We’re often taught that if we work hard enough and make the right choices, we’ll eventually reach a finish line — a clear ending where the struggle is behind us and the victory is secure. But not every journey works that way. In this episode, Brianna explores the idea that some of life’s most meaningful experiences aren’t races to be completed, but rhythms to be understood. From the heaviness of w...

What if giving up isn’t quitting — but the most faithful, freeing decision you can make? In this hallmark episode of The Why Me Podcast, Brianna Spurgeon introduces The Art of Giving Up — a powerful framework for discerning what to hold onto and what to lay down when life feels exhausting, misaligned, or out of your control. If you’ve ever felt stuck on a hamster wheel… Burned out by responsibilit...

Rest feels lazy. Unproductive. Even shameful — especially for high achievers, working parents, and anyone who’s been conditioned to equate worth with output. In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, Brianna Spurgeon shares how a myasthenia gravis diagnosis forced her to confront overworking, control, and self-imposed productivity — and why learning to rest didn’t make her weaker, but mentally strong...

Self-limiting beliefs don’t show up as fear — they show up as logic. In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, Brianna walks listeners through a powerful personal story of loss, disruption, and decision-making after being laid off eight months pregnant — and the coaching tools that helped her separate fact from assumption. You’ll hear how the brain creates limits to protect us, why even high-achievin...

What do you do when the life you imagined no longer fits the reality you’re living? In this episode of The Why Me Podcast, host Brianna Spurgeon explores what it really means to let go of future expectations — without losing hope, identity, or forward momentum. After a life-altering diagnosis, Brianna found herself facing the quiet loss of an imagined future: a timeline for having another baby, a...