TheCompassion Lab

Perfectionism can never lead you to a life of satisfaction and enjoyment. If you find yourself in the perfection trap, your performance, perspectives, and relationships will suffer. Dr. Thomas Curran , the world’s leading expert on perfectionism, joins Katherine Twells to discuss how you can escape this personality that could take over your entire life. He breaks down the different types of perfec...

The mind is one extraordinary organ. The power of perception is not only limited to our ability to think and comprehend. At its deepest level, it also shapes our very own reality. Katherine Twells takes a deep dive into this topic with magician and mentalist David Gerard . He discusses how magic and mentalism intersect to unleash the power of the human spirit, which leads to deeper human connectio...

If we want to move forward in life in the most meaningful ways possible, we must tap into our intuitive self and go beyond the tangible possibilities. Katherine Twells explores how to dive into your secret mind and the world of dreaming with creative dreamwork expert Bonnie Buckner . She explains how dreaming and imagery can lead to intense transformational experiences in your personal and profess...

Discover a powerful path to human flourishing in a rapidly changing world. Speaker and author Heather E. McGowan , known for her expertise in the future of work, dives into why optimism is essential. She explains how to combat the loneliness epidemic by transforming transactions into interactions. Heather also discusses vital shifts in leadership. These shifts prioritize collective intelligence an...

Alec Kassin ’s cycling career was cut short by his ruptured spinal disc. Despite his struggle with chronic pain, he did not let his diagnosis define his life. He joins Katherine Twells to share how he reframed his thinking around pain through his powerful mind-body connection. Now a chronic pain coach, he explains how mindfulness, visualizations, and trauma-informed care can help you achieve your...

For a leader to become truly effective, they must learn how to quiet the external noise and do the inner work. Katherine Twells talks all about conscious leadership with Ron Hill , co-founder of the Conscious Leaders Quest . He shares how they guide leaders in a journey within themselves to fully understand their purpose, unlock collective wisdom, and achieve inner peace. Ron also explains why lea...

Grief transforms into art, and pain finds its voice: Join Katherine Twells as she explores the depths of emotional resilience with therapist, musician, and composer John Tsilimparis . Discover "inspiration exposure" and how it empowers us to rewrite our stories of loss, as John reveals his own journey from tragedy to transformation in his book, "The Magic in the Tragic." Dive into a conversation t...

Being blind in itself is already a challenging impediment – how much more if you are a visually impaired person living in a low-resource community? Ophthalmologist Dr. Hunter Cherwek is on a journey of global vision restoration, eliminating avoidable blindness in underserved areas around the world. Joining Katherine Twells, this visionary leader shares how he changes lives through cutting-edge tel...

A beautiful business is more than just a profitable venture. It's a harmonious blend of passion, purpose, and positive impact. In this episode, Katherine Twells is joined by Steven Morris , a creative visionary who explores how to foster a beautiful business by cultivating self-awareness, clarity in leadership, and meaningful connections within the workplace. Drawing from his diverse background in...

Celebrating every note of your life is about finding the music in everyday moments, savoring the harmonies of joy, the rhythms of challenge, and the melodies of love. In this episode, singer-songwriter Peter Katz shares with Katherine Twells his journey from childhood happiness to the upheaval of his parents' separation. Peter reflects on how shifting from a path in engineering to music saved his...

To become who you truly are, you must first find stillness. In this episode, Katherine Twells sits down with  Henry Shukman —award-winning writer, poet, and Zen teacher—who shares his profound journey from suffering to peace. Henry opens up about his early life marked by challenges, the transformative power of meditation, and how finding moments of stillness can reconnect us to our essential...

Being inspired propels us to a life of purpose and fulfillment, but what exactly is inspiration? How do we cultivate it in our daily lives? ADDO co-founder and Inspired Every Day author Kevin Paul Scott joins us in this episode to break down the elements of living an inspired life. He discusses the essence of inspiration, its impact on productivity at work, and the transformative power of being in...

In a world forever changed by the pandemic, finding joy and fostering human connection are more important than ever. Lisa W. Miller , author of the insightful book " The Business of Joy ," explores these themes and more in a series of thought-provoking discussions. She emphasizes the importance of fostering social connections, even in seemingly small ways like eye contact and casual conversation,...

Life is a journey filled with questions that help us uncover who we are. We are spiritual beings walking to find the deeper meaning of life. Embark on a transformative journey with our guest,  Tom Rapsas , writer, author, and blogger known for his column at Patheos, Inc. In this episode, Tom shares his origin story, highlighting a pivotal realization that sparked his transition from ego-drive...

In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, it has unfortunately become rare to find people who love their work. That is because we have made the workplace very difficult to be in. Our guest believes that when it comes to the world of work, we can create something better. In this insightful episode, Scott Shute and Nicholas Whitaker , founders of Changing Work Collective , share their personal jo...

Life's journey isn't always a smooth, sunlit path; at times, it leads us through the densest jungles or across stormy oceans. Embracing life's adversities is an integral part of our growth, demanding courage and gratitude. In this episode, Dr. Ken Druck , the author of How We Go On and The Self-Care Handbook , generously shares his inspiring journey, navigating challenges with courage. He imparts...

Leadership is not just about steering a ship; it's about creating a culture by design, not by default. In the world of business, be a '911 person'—always ready to serve, lead with heart, and make a difference in the lives of others. In this episode, we hear golden leadership lessons from Red Robin CEO G.J. Hart. He explores the core principles of leadership and shares how to design a thriving cult...

Our guest in this episode once famously said, “We live our lives in the Outer world, and we understand them through the Inner.” It is this inner knowing that shows us the power of perspective, of viewing the world from our own vantages and making do of what we can to change lives—our own and others. Katherine Twells is with no other than renowned essayist and novelist, Pico Iyer . With everything...

Similar to the changing seasons, human emotions can also have their seasons. There are highs during certain periods and lows during others. However, this ebb and flow can become problematic, especially when it leads to what is now recognized as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This episode’s guest is a foremost authority on the subject and he is here to help you defeat it so you can thrive in al...

Anxiety isn't always the enemy; it's a guide, urging us to embrace discomfort and discover our greatest strengths within its grasp. In this episode, we have Dr. David Rosmarin —associate professor at Harvard Medical School, program director at McLean Hospital, and founder of Center for Anxiety—discuss how anxiety, often seen as a roadblock, can actually be a catalyst for personal growth and resili...

“We're being called to integrate the heart and the head because neither one is sufficient on its own to solve these challenges.” This is what today’s guest, Annie Perrin , says as she highlights the value of cultivating both wisdom and compassion in this day and age. Annie is the Founder of the Annie Perrin Consulting, where she leverages all of her education and experience to help leaders tap int...

In a world where we are taught that there are certain metrics to success, it can be so easy to lose sight of our gifts and authentic selves trying to fit in. This episode’s guest has learned that life is often not that linear, and our paths to success are winding and can never be the same as everyone else. All we need is to flow. Author and singer-songwriter Alex Woodard is back on the show to tal...

By mastering the mind's inner symphony, we compose our reality, finding success and joy in every note. Today’s guest is Larry Olsen , author of Get A Vision and Live It , who dives into neuroscience and how it can be the guiding force towards both success and lasting joy. Larry explores the impact of our subconscious on our actions, reactions, and the choices we make. He emphasizes the importance...

In this episode, we discuss the art of living a life of purpose, passion, and fearlessness with the remarkable  Ben Nemtin,  the #1 New York Times bestselling author of  What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?  and  The Bucket List Journal . Today, Ben shares how to track our true and original course in life, unlocking boundless potential and fulfillment. He discusses how t...

Past traumas and adversities, coupled with societal expectations, have the power to hold us back from developing our true potential. It is time we reclaim that power and elevate these experiences, transforming them from chains to catalysts that propel us toward our life’s purpose. Just like our guest today, her childhood trauma and, later on, mental collapse from overwhelming stress and anxiety le...