The Anxious Achiever

Do you want to become the kind of leader people genuinely trust? Could kindness be one of the most overlooked leadership skills today? In this episode, I sit down with John MacPhee, CEO of the Jed Foundation, to talk about how compassionate leadership creates stronger teams, healthier workplaces, and a greater sense of belonging. John shares how his own struggles with anxiety, failing out of college, and an unforgettable conversation with his mother transformed his definition of success and ultimately led him to purpose-driven work. We also dive into what workplaces still get wrong about mental health and the small leadership shifts that can make a lasting difference. Tune in to discover how leading with kindness can strengthen your team, your culture, and yourself.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up

Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year

Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order

Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals

Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Meet John MacPhee, CEO of The Jed Foundation (JED).

05:15 What is kind leadership?

10:00 Can you make difficult decisions without losing compassion?

12:00 How to say "no" with empathy while helping people feel heard.

14:00 What the Jed Foundation has learned about protecting mental health.

20:00 Why psychological safety starts long before someone asks for help.

21:30 What most workplaces still misunderstand about mental health.

27:00 Why purpose gives people a reason to keep going.

33:30 What does it take to create a culture of belonging?

37:00 Kindness as a competitive advantage in leadership.

45:30 Can failure become the foundation of better leadership?

53:00 The leadership lesson every young person deserves.

Resources + Links

Learn more about the Jed Foundation 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 John on LinkedIn: @johnamacphee

Can your greatest struggles become the foundation for your best work? What if the way through anxiety isn't eliminating it, but creating something meaningful despite it? In this episode, I sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Jerry Saltz to talk about growing up with profound trauma, living with panic attacks, overcoming envy, and finding purpose through creative work. Jerry shares how years of self-doubt, social anxiety, and rejection eventually led him to reinvent himself, why meaningful work matters more than perfection, and how embracing your own voice can transform your life. Tune in to discover why showing up, creating consistently, and letting go of comparison may be the most powerful antidotes to anxiety.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up

Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year

Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order

Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals

Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why anxiety can show up as overwork, perfectionism, and the need for control.

03:15 How childhood experiences shape the way you work and cope with stress.

07:45 Why the routines you rely on may be helping you more than you realize.

11:15 How can you move forward after growing up in a chaotic environment?

16:00 What panic attacks taught Jerry about fear, identity, and purpose.

19:00 How do you stop comparing yourself to everyone else?

20:30 Is it ever too late to reinvent your career?

22:15 How meaningful work can replace resentment with purpose.

24:15 Can social anxiety become a creative strength?

29:45 The mindset shift that helps you stop waiting and start creating.

31:15 How creating consistently builds confidence and resilience.

32:30 What does "always be around" really mean for your career?

Resources + Links

Learn more about Jerry Saltz 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 Jerry: on X @jerrysaltz + Instagram @jerrysaltz

What happens when the strategies that always worked for you suddenly stop working? How do you keep believing in yourself when success no longer feels certain? In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and author Jenny Blake to talk about financial uncertainty, career setbacks, and the emotional toll of building a business. Jenny shares what it was like to lose major clients, question long-held beliefs about success, navigate the "flop era" of entrepreneurship, and find new meaning through creativity instead of certainty. Tune in to discover how to navigate uncertainty with more self-compassion, patience, and purpose.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up

Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year

Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order

Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals

Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why everyone looks rich on the internet, even when they're not.

04:15 What if your career doesn't go according to plan?

09:15 How Jenny Blake built a successful business after leaving Google.

13:15 What happens when your biggest source of income suddenly disappears?

18:45 How do you recover after a major career setback?

20:45 How to separate your self-worth from your achievements.

24:15 Can your body tell you when you're on the wrong path?

28:45 What Bell's palsy taught Jenny about burnout and self-care.

31:00 How atypical achievers can build careers that work for them.

35:15 How permission slips can help you navigate difficult seasons.

40:45 Would you still do it if it failed?

44:00 Is it okay if your greatest success is already behind you?

47:30 Why letting go of your old identity helps you move forward.

52:00 What permission do you need to give yourself right now?

Resources + Links

Learn more about Jenny Blake HERE

Get your copy of Jenny's book, Pivot HERE

Get your copy of Jenny's book, Free Time 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 Jenny: on LinkedIn @jennyblake

Which conversations have you been avoiding at work? In this classic episode, I sit down with Death, Sex & Money host Anna Sale to talk about why conversations about money, mental health, and personal struggles still feel so difficult in many workplaces. We discuss the shame that often shapes our financial decisions, how your upbringing influences the way you negotiate and advocate for yourself, and what to consider before telling your boss you're struggling. Anna also shares advice for setting boundaries, asking for what you need, and creating more honest relationships at work. Get ready to rethink the conversations that could change your work and your life.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up

Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year

Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order

Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals

Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 The value of talking about hard things.

05:30 Which conversations are still taboo at work?

08:15 The shame that shapes our relationship with money.

12:15 Anna's experience with money anxiety.

15:45 The money mindset behind anxious achievers.

18:00 How do you negotiate without losing yourself?

20:30 How to set boundaries without apologizing.

22:45 A test before saying yes.

23:45 Negotiation advice for the start of your career.

27:30 Should you tell your boss you're struggling?

31:45 Choosing your wellbeing over your paycheck.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Anna Sale HERE

Get a copy of Anna’s book Let's Talk About Hard Things HERE

Listen to Death, Sex & Money 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 Anna: on LinkedIn @annasale + Instagram @annasalepics

Would you take four months away from work? Have you ever wondered who you'd be without your job for a while? In this episode, I sit down with Harvard Business School lecturer and The Sabbatical Project founder Dennis “DJ” DiDonna to talk about why many of us keep pushing until burnout forces us to stop, how intentional time away creates space to reflect on what really matters, and why rest isn't about doing nothing. DJ also shares ways to plan a sabbatical, navigate the uncertainty that comes with slowing down, and return with a stronger sense of purpose. Get ready to rethink time off as an investment in the life and career you want to build.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up

Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year

Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order

Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals

Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 A new way to think about time away from work.

05:30 How sabbaticals create space for renewal instead of escape.

07:15 What is a sabbatical?

10:00 How burnout led DJ to rethink the life he was building.

15:00 Why achievement often comes at the expense of the people who matter most.

21:45 What are the benefits of stepping away from work?

26:45 When is the perfect time for a sabbatical?

32:15 What are the 3 types of sabbatical takers?

36:00 Why reconnecting with your craft can restore creativity.

41:00 How do you give yourself permission?

46:00 Are sabbaticals always relaxing?

49:00 How stepping away from work can make you a better leader.

53:00 Why taking time off is an investment, not an escape.

57:30 DJ's advice for planning your first sabbatical.

Resources + Links

Learn more about DJ DiDonna HERE

Pre-order a copy of DJ DiDonna’s book Big Time Off HERE

Learn more about The Sabbatical Project 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 DJ DiDonna on LinkedIn: @djdidonna