The Anxious Achiever

• Great Leaders Have Anxiety– And They Know How To Manage It

  Anxiety isn’t a flaw you have to hide or a weakness you need to fix, it’s information you can use. In this special cross-post from The Next Big Idea podcast, I sit down with host Rufus Griscom to talk about what 17 years of research, leadership interviews, and lived experience have taught me about navigating anxiety, depression, and neurodivergence. I share how reframing anxiety as data can help you show up with courage, why over-functioning often comes from childhood systems, and the surprising science linking mental health challenges with leadership excellence. Plus, I also share tools to work with self-criticism, break free from procrastination, and even “bank joy” so you have reserves to call on when life feels heavy. Get ready to turn your anxious brain into an ally instead of an enemy. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why anxiety is a data not an excuse. 05:30 How common anxiety and depression really are in leaders. 09:15 Family systems theory and the roots of over-functioning. 16:45 What is the Yerkes-Dodson curve? 20:45 Ways to manage anxiety. 22:30 How to stop cruel self-talk with tools like self-compassion. 27:45 How do you sustain focus when a project is no longer exciting? 34:00 What can companies do to better support neurodiverse employees? 36:15 Grounding techniques to reset anxiety at work. 41:00 Visualization practices to comfort your inner child. 46:00 The ‘banana trick’ from ACT therapy to stop catastrophic thoughts. Resources + Links Listen to The Next Big Idea Podcast HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Rufus on LinkedIn: @rufusgriscom

  --------  

  55:27

  --------

  55:27
• Leading for Inclusive Excellence with Dr. Keivan Stassun

  What can an Astrophysics Lab teach us about managing for inclusive excellence- and how can it make your own meetings better? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Keivan Stassun, MacArthur Genius Fellow, Vanderbilt astrophysicist, and founder of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. We talk about clear communication norms, leading better meetings and other practices that support neurodiverse talent, and the mindset shift managers need to unlock hidden genius at work. Get ready to create workplaces where every brain can thrive. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does “inclusive excellence” really mean? 05:15 How clear communication norms unlock focus and fairness. 08:30 Why agendas, structure, and precision help neurodivergent employees. 12:00 Ways to build new team habits that stick over time. 16:00 Supporting hyperfocus and respecting “hardwired” traits. 20:30 What Dr. Stassun discovered about his own brain through managing diverse teams. 23:00 Why Dr. Stassun normalized virtual participation years before COVID. 27:30 The science of visual thinking and strengths-based neurodiversity. 30:15 Why creativity and genius show up in many different forms. 33:30 The #1 mindset shift managers need to unlock talent. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr.Keivan Stassun on LinkedIn: @keivanstassun

  --------  

  38:11

  --------

  38:11
• Conflict Is Necessary At Work... Really with Amy Gallo

  Most of us hate conflict. It feels uncomfortable, anxiety-inducing, and often easier to avoid. In this episode, I talk with conflict expert Amy Gallo about why avoiding conflict fuels more anxiety in the long run, and how to reframe difficult conversations as opportunities for connection and progress. Amy shares her four-step framework for handling conflict, what to do when shame or fear hijack your emotions, and why practicing in small, everyday interactions can build confidence for higher stakes moments. Tune in to learn tools and mindset shifts you need to navigate disagreements with more calm, clarity, and confidence. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why most of us avoid conflict. 06:00 Tips to manage conflict in a healthy way. 09:45 How avoiding conflict builds “conflict debt” that comes back stronger. 12:30 Ways to rebuild trust and strengthen relationships after conflict. 17:30 The gender angle of negotiating and conflict at work. 22:45 Amy’s 4-step framework for handling conflict effectively. 30:15 Why “agree to disagree” isn’t always a real solution. 32:00 How do you recover from conflict when shame or rumination takes over? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Amy: on LinkedIn @amyegallo + Instagram @amyegallo

  --------  

  40:07

  --------

  40:07
• "For 20 years I just pretended like there was nothing wrong with me." How this CFO Stopped Hiding His Anxiety and Depression with Adam Nemer

  What if the key to better leadership wasn’t just strategy, but self-awareness? In this episode, I am joined by Adam Nemer, Founder of Simple Mental Health. We talk about why self-awareness is the ultimate leadership tool, how daily practices shift anxiety into focus, and why normalizing conversations about mental health makes teams more engaged and more productive. Adam shares how years of hidden depression and anxiety nearly broke him, what changed when you finally get a diagnosis, and how embracing self-care makes you a stronger executive. Tune in to learn about tools that help you rise stronger, lead better, and live with more purpose every single day. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Adam’s daily self-care list. 05:45 Advice when work doesn’t feel joyful or fulfilling. 12:00 How do depression and anxiety show up in your leadership? 19:00 What therapy really looks like when healing deep loss and trauma. 23:00 Techniques for meetings and high-stress moments. 31:00 The training every company should adopt so employees can respond to panic attacks. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Adam: on LinkedIn @adam-nemer

  --------  

  41:39

  --------

  41:39
• Why You Should Stop Labeling Emotions Good or Bad with Dr. Susan David

  We’re often taught to push away grief, sadness, anxiety, or anger, but what if those emotions aren’t the enemy, but the key to resilience? In this episode, Harvard psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Susan David explains why emotions aren’t good or bad, positive or negative. She breaks down the groundbreaking concept of emotional agility, the skill set that allows us to face our thoughts and feelings with curiosity, compassion, and courage, and then move forward guided by our values. We also talk about why toxic positivity is so damaging, how difficult emotions signpost what matters most, and why learning to “hold anxiety in one hand and courage in the other” changes the way we work, lead, and live. Tune in to learn how to stop letting your emotions dictate your actions and start using them as valuable data. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why emotions are not good or bad. 05:00 How toxic positivity and “forced optimism” hurt leaders and organizations. 09:45 Why suppressing emotions leads to burnout, conflict, and emotional leakage. 13:00 How emotional agility differs from rigidity. 17:00 How anxiety and fear can actually point you to your values. 19:45 Why connecting to your values protects against burnout. 23:00 The cost of sidelining emotions in schools, workplaces, and culture. 27:00 How uncertainty and discomfort are the price of admission to a meaningful life. 31:00 Why grief is “love looking for its home” and how to honor it. 34:00 Listener story about grief, caregiving, and professional identity after loss. 42:00 What organizations can do to support employees navigating caregiving and grief. Resources + Links Learn more about Dr. Susan David’s work HERE! Grab your copy of Dr. Susan David “Emotional Agility” HERE! Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr. Susan David: on LinkedIn @susanadavidphd

  --------  

  55:31

  --------

  55:31

Mais podcasts de Negócios

Podcasts em tendência em Negócios

Sobre The Anxious Achiever

The Anxious Achiever: Podcast do grupo