The Wise Effort Show

Feeling scattered, low, or depleted? Join Dr. Diana Hill as she takes you through a step-by-step energy audit to reclaim your vitality and your life. In this episode, Dr. Hill, the author of the new book Wise Effort , shares her personal journey and practical strategies for evaluating and revitalizing your physical, psychological, relational, environmental, and spiritual energy. Discover how to al...

How can you develop deep resilience? That’s the focus of this insightful episode with Dr. Michael Kearney. Dr. Diana Hill and Dr. Kearney explore the concept of deep resilience, emphasizing the importance of community, interconnectedness, and natural metaphors to navigate life’s challenges. Dr. Kearney shares five vital lessons for building deep resilience, inspired by his experiences and the prof...

There’s a reason why Prince Harry called Jennifer Rudolph Walsh his “fairy godmother.” That’s because she has a magical way of creating community, elevating voices, and telling stories that need to be told. In this episode, Jennifer shares how she used this magic to move from scale to intimacy and build meaningful conversations at Godmothers bookshop in Summerland, CA. Diana Hill and Jennifer Wals...

This week’s episode is about stabilizing your heart and clearing your mind so you can show up more effectively in a world that’s constantly throwing stress your way. This is a solo episode—and these are my favorite to share, because they come straight from what I’m practicing in real time. I share 5 simple but powerful practices inspired by my recent time at Deer Park Monastery. In This Episode, W...

Feeling overwhelmed by your addiction or the addiction of a loved one? Discover a creative, non-shaming, and integrative way to understand and address addiction in this episode of the Wise Effort Show. Host Dr. Diana Hill and guest Dr. Carl Fisher delve into the complex nature of addiction, exploring it as a multifaceted issue that affects our energy and life direction. They share personal stories...

Can poetry be a form of medicine? Dr. Diana Hill explores this profound question with poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer on the Wise Effort Show. They discuss the role of poetry in emotional processing, grief, love, and connection. Diana shares how Rosemerry’s poetry has personally influenced her life and work. Rosemerry reads some of her poems, discusses her daily practice of writing a poem everyday,...

What do you do when the thing you love—your art, your work, your creativity—starts feeling like a product? When the metrics of success get louder than the pulse of your own heart? In this episode, I sit down with Glen Phillips —lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket and a longtime Santa Barbara creative—for a conversation that meanders, deepens, and opens up space for something honest and healing. G...

Feeling boreout? That restless, understimulated, underinvolved sense that your work—or your life—needs a refresh? Creativity might be the key. In this episode, I’m doing something different: a live episode recorded at Communal Table at Jane Restaurant. We dive into the science of creativity and try out some playful creative tasks (including a collective poem!). In a real play, I work with an audie...

In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill delves into the complexities of dating after divorce with guest Whitney Cubbison, author of 'Will There Be Wine?' and 'Will There Be Love?' Whitney shares her personal journey through divorce and dating in Paris, touching on challenges like rekindling self-confidence, managing emotional baggage, and navigating the evolving landscape of online...

In this touching episode of The Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill converses with Dr. Jennifer Gregg, a psycho-oncologist with vast experience in behavioral medicine and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Gregg, who has written notable books like ‘Stop Avoiding Stuff’ and ‘The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills Workbook,’ shares her profoundly personal journey through her husband and...

In this heart-opening episode, Dr. Diana Hill invites you to step into big love—the kind of deeply nourishing, energizing relationships that align with your values and genius without compromising your authenticity. Through personal stories, scientific insights, and actionable tools, Diana guides you to explore how you can get the friendships, partnerships, and connections you truly want—without sh...

Diana Hill shares her morning routine, which includes her personal meditation practices using Insight Timer as a tool. This episode features an in-depth conversation with Insight Timer CEO Christopher Plowman about democratizing mental health, the intersection of generosity, greed, and capitalism, the future of AI in meditation, and the challenges and principles of sustaining practice. They also t...

Join Dr. Diana Hill on The Wise Effort Show as she interviews Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson, authors of 'The Self-Driven Child' and their new book 'The Seven Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child.' They discuss foundational strategies for parenting that include establishing a strong connection, acting as a consultant rather than a manager, communicating healthy expectations, teaching an...

In this live episode of The Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill discusses how to grow wiser as we age, challenging common myths and fears about aging. Recorded at the Communal Table, the episode covers the psychology of wisdom, three major blocks to wise aging, and five actionable steps to age wisely and give back using your unique genius. Dr. Hill shares personal stories and research insights, encou...

In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill and Dr. Sharon Bergquist discuss the concept of 'good stress' and its benefits on cellular health. Dr. Bergquist, an award-winning physician with extensive research in lifestyle medicine, explains hormesis and how intentional stressors like exercise, specific foods, and hot-cold therapy can enhance cellular function and longevity. They also d...

In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill explores how to bring more excitement, connection, and playfulness into your sex life using the principles of the wise effort model. Joined by sex therapist Jenn Kennedy, they discuss practical tips for breaking out of old routines, opening up emotionally and physically, and focusing on what truly energizes you in the bedroom. The conversatio...

In this episode of the Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill and therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab explore what it means to practice wise effort in relationships. They discuss themes from Nedra’s book ‘Consider This,’ focusing on intentionality, connection, boundaries, and dealing with emotions like guilt and assumptions. The conversation also touches on bravery, adapting to change, and handling others’ op...

In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, clinical psychologist Dr. Diana Hill engages in a profound conversation with Krista Tippett, a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster and creator of the podcast 'On Being'. They discuss how to stay grounded in presence and wisdom amidst life's big questions, the importance of community and eco-grief, and the transformative power of delight and curiosity. They di...

In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, host Diana Hill is joined by her co-author and biomechanist Katy Bowman and they talk with health psychologist Dr. Kelly McGonigal. They discuss how to fall in love with movement by discussing Diana and Katy's new book, " I Know I Should Exercise, But...44 Reasons We Don't Move and How to Get Over Them ." In it, they promote a flexible, inclusive approach t...

In this special live episode of The Wise Effort Podcast, Dr. Diana Hill explores how to bring more movement into our lives and express our movement genius. Teaming up with Jane Chapman of Communal Table, they host an intimate gathering in Santa Barbara. Dr. Hill talks with Maya, a former dancer and academic who has lost touch with her movement genius. The episode walks through uncovering her barri...

In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill explores the themes of impulsivity, intimacy, and connection during uncertain times. Joined by Greg, a former Coast Guard intelligence officer turned social worker, they engage in a spontaneous and intimate conversation about acceptance, existential fear, and human connection. Listen and Learn: Saying yes to what is, even if you don't like wh...

In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill discusses how to navigate through life's crises, whether large or small. She shares 5 things to do when everything falls apart. These are practical, psychological tips on leveraging chaos as an opportunity for awakening and transformation. Key strategies include psychological first aid, embracing the process of coming undone, focusing on cont...

Dr. Diana Hill and Alex Ellison discuss the science of your hidden genius and how understanding it can help you excel in your career and life. Related Resources Get enhanced show notes for this episode Become a Wise Effort Community member Sign up for my newsletter Order my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most , and receive special bonus gifts. Diana's Events See...

What are the lessons that you got for the millionth time this year? I reflect on the recurring lessons I’ve learned throughout the year and visit a few of my favorites that I’ve learned a million times before I actually get them. In this end-of-year episode, I explore the concept of 'wise effort,' emphasizing its application across various aspects of life such as relationships, body, community, an...

"What does it mean to hold space for someone?" In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, host Dr. Diana Hill sits down with therapist and musician Tom Parkes to explore the concept of holding space for yourself and other people. Tom shares his experiences producing his new album, which reflects on the therapeutic process and personal growth. Through an intimate conversation, they discuss themes of...