Good Life Project || Inspiration | Motivation | Happiness | Meaning | Success

We all mess up. Sometimes in small ways, but other times big ones. Sometimes privately, other times publicly. We don’t mean to - or maybe we do in the momentum, but feel remorse after the fact. Either way, we all will, at some point, hurt someone. And we may also suffer repercussions. Whether personal, communal, or societal. Question is, what do we do after that? How do we repair the harm, and make amends? How do we find a way back to grace, connection, community, redemption and repair? Is that even possible in all cases? And if so, what are the steps? And what about forgiveness? Does that, and should it, be a part of the process? Turns out, there is a well-defined set of steps, a path, that very few know about. Today, we explore a practical, though not always easy, 5-step path to repair, reconciliation, and redemption based on ancient, universal wisdom, that she details in her newest book, On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World. We talk about each step, why it’s there, how to s

Traveling the world, especially for an extended period, may be a luxury you only dream about or can only do every few years. But, what if there was a way to make it happen? And, way sooner, and for less money than you ever imagined? Or, what if there's a way to evoke that sense of wonder and curiosity that travel brings out of us without leaving our immediate neighborhood? What would it look like to keep the spirit of the journey or travel alive at home, using it to engage with and learn from the community that's right in front of us in a new and meaningful way? My guest today, Rolf Potts, is a firm believer in the life-altering benefits of travel - even if that means driving heading just a few blocks outside your normal routine - and how we can use adventure as a metaphor for life itself, and I'm excited to dive deeper into his philosophies and stories about life, travel, and wonder. Rolf has shared much of his wisdom and travel stories in his books Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long

So, what’s your biggest secret? And, what’s the cost you’ve been bearing for living, or trying to live, under its weight?For many of us, it’s wrapped around our identity. There’s something about us we don’t want others to know. The idea of being your 100% authentic self, meaning no secrets, no masks, and no pretending, in front of your family, of all people, is something that sounds terrifying, if not impossible. But, what if the opposite were true? What if living behind the facade was actually the more brutalizing experience, one that sustains, possibly for years, decades, even life? In contrast to the momentary or even season of disruption incited by coming out as your true self, yet followed by a lifetime of liberation?That’s where we’re headed in today’s conversation with Jessi Hempel, whose own revelation about her sexual identity, became the first in a chain of "coming out" events that touched every member of her family. Jessi is the host of the award-winning podcast Hello Monday, and she's a senior edi

Why is it that, so often, we need to be brought to our knees in order to wake up to, and reclaim, what really matters? And, does that have to be so? These are just a few of the questions we dive into with my guest today, Diego Perez, best known for his virtual moniker, Yung Pueblo, which is both a reminder to him to stay grounded in a younger, growth mindset, and also a contained to frame this current season of work as a project that doesn’t constrain his own personal and professional growth. Diego’s new book, Clarity & Connection, shares many of his recent insights about life, meaning, love, work, self-awareness, and of course, clarity and connection.You can find Yung Pueblo at: Website | InstagramIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about wisdom and compassion.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Fireweed: After the devastation of

Did you ever wish you could be that person who captivated a room, a gathering, an audience, a date with a story that cast a spell, moved them deeply, then left you both more connected and alive? Transformed even? Yeah, you’re not alone. We all live lives filled with stories worth telling, but so often we don’t realize it. And few of us know “how” to tell those stories in a way that brings others in close, then leaves them changed. Most just think it’s a God-given ability. But, what if it wasn’t? What if it was a skill anyone - including you - could learn? Would you want that? My guest today, Catherine Burns, believes it is. And, if there’s anyone I’d believe, it’s her. Catherine is the long-time Artistic Director at The Moth, the global phenomenon dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. In our conversation today, you'll hear us dive into many of the ideas, tips, and strategies from her newest book, How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth, which she co-wrot

You’ve heard the call, “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.” What does that even mean? And, why are so many people running from organized religion, but flocking to some amorphous and ambiguous claim to spirituality that often extends not further than a sense that you yearn for something more? And, is that okay? Or, are we leaving something behind? And, if so, what? Is it a part of ourselves? A sense of wholeness and belonging? How do we reclaim a feeling of connectedness and expansiveness and ease, without also surrendering to the strictures of organized religion that, too often, integrate tribalism, separateness and disconnection from our lived, modern experience?These are the questions we dive into with my guest today, Rabbi Rami Shapiro. Rabbi Rami is an award-winning author of over three dozen books on religion and spirituality, including his latest, Judaism Without Tribalism. In our conversation today, we explore why so many people are leaving organized religion, the distinction between religion and s

Life today can feel like wall-to-wall conflict. And most of us, well, we plain hate the feeling it gives us. Thing is, some conflict is not only good, but necessary and important. While other conflict, high conflict, is pretty much a road to othering, isolation, and devastation. Question is, how do you know the difference? And once you do, how do you step into good conflict with more grace and ease, that both helps you breathe, but also leads to a genuine resolution that leaves everyone better for it?My guest today, Amanda Ripley, offers her wise counsel as a New York Times bestselling author, investigative journalist, and co-founder of Good Conflict, a conflict meditation business. Her most recent book, High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out, explores the complexities of high conflict through storytelling and interviews featuring a dozen people in three countries who escaped destructive conflicts to gather lessons for the rest of us in our polarized world. If you've grappled with high-stak

So we all have habits and routines, rituals, and behaviors that we do in the name of living our best lives. Well, sometimes we have things that are not so much in that, but that's what we're working towards. But which of those habits actually moves the needle the most? Put another way, what's the Good Life Habit 80/20? The 20% that'll fuel 80% of the difference-making. I have been asked this question so many times in so many ways by so many people over the years and in fact, I have asked it of myself many times. And after a decade of learning from more than 700 leading voices in science, health, behavior change, and beyond, running literally hundreds of my own experiments and learning from others, I have found that at least for me, there's a fairly straightforward and simple set of habits that make a huge difference in my life.So I thought that instead of our usual conversation today, I'm going to share with you what I call my Big 5 Good Life Habits. Now some may feel right and accessible for you and others m

Let’s suspend judgment, just for a minute. What if you could take a few weeks, months, maybe even an entire year off work to do exactly what you wanted, whether traveling the world, considering your next career move or just taking a moment to step back and really check in with yourself? Would you go for it? Especially after the last few years we’ve had? Safe bet, most people would jump on that opportunity. But then comes the reality check. The doubt. The details. Sure, it’d be amazing, but I could never make it happen. Right?But, what if you could? What if it was actually more doable than you ever imagined? What if there were ideas, tools, and strategies that would help you step away and reset your mind, body, and life? Ways that might not even require you to leave your job, and know you had something to come back to. Even if, by the end, you didn’t want to anymore? What if your personal, life-changing sabbatical was not only possible, but necessary for you to not only reclaim your sense of self and purpose a

When you hear the word - enneagram, you likely have one of three replies: Oh, yay, can’t get enough of the enneagram. Oh please, aNOTHer podcast about the enneagram? Or, ummmm, what’s the enneagram?!Well, no matter where you fall on that spectrum, good news. You're about to discover one of the most powerful personal insight tools ever created, AND in a way you’ve never heard it explained before. Not just as a tool for personal awakening and transformation, but also as a game-changing lever to transform your personal and professional relationships, see things you never saw, understand people with a depth you never imagined possible - and effect change in the state of culture, society, the world even. ​​This conversation, with a member of my chosen family, legendary Buddhist teacher, founder of the Open Heart Project, and New York Times bestselling author, Susan Piver, will not only rock your understanding of the Enneagram, it may well change your life. And, it’s all about her groundbreaking synthesis of the en

Imagine, being in your 20s, fresh out of washing dishes at a local restaurant, borrowing just enough money to open a tiny, local deli with a friend who shared your passion for food, community, and business? Now, imagine that, decades later, that single decision would profoundly change the lives of not just thousands of regular customers, but millions of people, around the world? What my guest today, Ari Weinzwieg, didn’t realize, when starting Zingerman’s Deli with a $20,000 loan from the bank, and a degree in Russian History from the University of Michigan, was that he was seeding a revolution. Actually, in hindsight, maybe he did. Now 17 companies later and sitting as the CEO and co-founding partner of Zingerman's Community of Businesses, Ari sees commerce as an engine of impact, expression and service that changes people’s lives. Ari and his ideas have set off a global ripple of compassion, dignity, imagination, and aliveness in the world of business, inviting people to reimagine a profoundly dif

How do you flip the switch from struggle and futility to wild, unbridled joy and success? And how does money play into that equation, if at all, as a source fuel, an outcome, or both?Today's guest, Jen Sincero, started out as a musician in a band, and really thought that that would be her future. She loved the music, the creativity, the comradery of being in a band, surrounded by community. What she didn’t like, though, was the struggle that seemed embedded in the experience. She wanted the passion, but not the suffering. In addition to music, Jen started writing on the side, eventually publishing a book about her drummer, and then to a second book. And Finally, it started leading her into a deeper and deeper career in writing. Along the way, she also realized that the life that she was living was not the life she wanted to be living. And she started doing a lot of deep, personal work that incited a personal awakening and reinvention, which then fueled her to write You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting

This has been a year that has tested our boundaries on nearly every level. Work, friendship, family, community, geography, politics, religion, social issues, love, and wellbeing. Even our own inner boundaries with technology. It’s like we’re being asked to draw lines, all day, every day. And, our ability to do just that, well, it just may mean the difference between peace and calamity.Question is, how? How do you create and uphold boundaries that are clear, healthy, and constructive, while also acknowledging the nuance, kindness, and understanding this moment demands? That’s what we’re diving into in today’s special compilation episode on boundaries, featuring key elements of conversations we’ve had with therapists, bestselling authors, and boundary experts, Nedra Glover Tawwab and Terri Cole. You’re going to want to take notes on this episode, what you learn may not only help breathe more easily and reclaim space and peace, it just might also change your life.You can find Nedra at: Website | Instagram | Disc

You may not think of your work as your religion, but for many, it’s trying to become exactly that! Without us even realizing it. Question is - is that a good thing? A bad thing? Or just a thing? Today's guest, sociologist, Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley, and Co-Director of the Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion, Carolyn Chen, has a lot to say about this silent, yet deeply impactful, phenomenon. She spent years studying workplace culture, with a focus on the near-religious cultures of Silicon Valley. As home to startups, major tech companies, and some of the world's most innovative and, arguably, faithful entrepreneurs and professionals, she noticed the lines between doing meaningful work and religion have not only been blurred, but work has, in many ways, squeezed out and even become employees’ religion. Problem is - the goal is not personal and societal betterment, but rather in service of one central purpose: working harder and smarter, and generating innovation and profit.

We’ve all been othered, felt like we didn’t belong, at some point or moment in our lives. It feels awful. But, what happens when that experience rises to a level and pervasiveness of such intensity that it’s not just about feeling unwelcome, it’s about fearing for your life? And the lives of others you care about? Whether drawn from what we look like, what or who we worship, our values, beliefs, or any other identifier, that fear of being othered because of something that defines us can cause so much suffering. And at times, anger, even rage. It’s understandable. Question is, it is the answer? The way forward? Or, is there a different, more expansive, empathy-centered path? And if so, what does that look like, and it is really a genuine option, given the world we currently live in?These are the questions and ideas today's guest, Simran Jeet Singh, has been grappling with. In today's conversation, we take a deep dive into his experiences growing up, becoming a visible advocate for not only his own cultura

What if wealth wasn’t what we thought? Sure, money is a part of it, and access, status, and at least the illusion of security it can bring. And, yes, the nice things you can buy. But, here’s the thing, I’ve known too many people who’ve earned unreal amounts of money, and they don’t feel wealthy. In fact, they feel like they’ll never have enough. What they DO feel is envy, fear of loss, perpetual craving, and security that seems “take-awayable” in a moment. On the other hand, I’ve known folks of modest means who feel wealthy beyond measure, vibrant, and alive with generosity. So, then, what’s wealth - real wealth - about? Turns out, beyond the Benjamins, it’s about something much bigger than we think, or talk about. And, simultaneously, way more accessible and valuable to us, and our ability to live good lives. And, it all starts with where the word wealth actually comes from. Today's guest, Patrice Washington, has been exploring the topic of wealth for decades, sometimes without even realizing it, d

Is happiness just in your mind, or does your body play a role? Is health just in your body, or is your mind critical? What about your environment, circumstance, and history? How do these play into the well-being puzzle? Especially now, after a few years that have been so hard on us?According to Dr. Frank Lipman, in order for us to feel better, more alive, more well, we need to focus on 6 key areas, that all interconnect. Frank is a pioneer in both integrative and functional medicine. He's the founder and director of 1111 wellness center in New York City. A New York Times bestselling author and the creator of Be Well, a lifestyle brand that helps people achieve genuine and really sustainable life changes. I have known Frank for many years. He's become a close advisor when it comes to really anything wellness related that I am exploring doing. We explored his moving personal journey from South Africa to New York in a prior episode. In this week's best of episode, drawing from his latest book, How to Be Wel

Whether you consider yourself a spiritual person, or not, your brain - yes, you - is wired for spirituality in a way you never imagined. It is activated, turned on, and greatly benefits, from spiritual experience. And, it’s not just your brain, it’s your body, your health, your relationships, your work, your life. Which begs the question, “what even IS spiritual experience?” And, beyond feeling more deeply connected to some notion of Source, God, or oneness, how does it affect us? And, is there science that explains it? That’s where we’re headed with today's guest, acclaimed researcher, and pioneer in the science of spirituality, Dr. Lisa Miller. Dr. Miller is a professor of twenty years in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the Founder and Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology, and has held over a decade of joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatr

Imagine leaving everything you know behind to start a life in a brand new country, all in hopes of providing a better life for yourself and your family. After all is said and done, and you've made sacrifice after sacrifice to feed, clothe, and care for yourself and eventually, children, in this new and unfamiliar place that doesn't even feel all that welcoming all the time, your biggest hope for your kids is that become self-sufficient, and ideally, make you proud in the process. This, like many other immigrant families, was the hope of Sabaa Tahir's parents, and as a NY Times bestselling author, it's safe to say she's fulfilled her parents' hopes and dreams despite where she came from. That's why I'm excited to dive into this chat with Sabaa today, where she tells me more about how a girl who grew up in her family's eighteen-room motel went from devouring fantasy novels to writing hit ones of her own.Sabaa was born to Muslim-Pakistani immigrants in Great Britain, and she lived there for the first year of her

Adults do this thing — and maybe you've already done it yourself since you've grown up — where they go out of their way to remind children that life will come with its difficult moments, so we should revel in the good, easy times while they last. Ease, we learn, is the state we should most aspire to.But, what about those hard things, moments, and experiences? Isn’t there value in them, even if they’re not fun in the moment? Aren’t they important in not only making us who are, in fostering confidence, competence, and resilience? In making life truly good, and equipping us with the resilience to get through the times when it’s not? And, what about that age-old notion of toughness? What’s really going on there? Can we be tough, but also gentle, vulnerable, open? Today's guest, Steve Magness, a world-renowned expert on performance, well-being, and sustainable success, joins me to dive deeper into these questions and explore the fascinating intersections of success, toughness, doing hard things, and science.&