If you’ve ever wondered how to lead and thrive with a different brain, this conversation will help you feel less alone and better understand your neurodistinct strengths and challenges. I unpack findings from my " Neurostrength survey " taken by 1286 professionals with ADHD, Autism, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, learning differences, and other brain differences. I'm joined by sociologist, research scientist, and leadership coach Dr. Diane Biray Gregorio. We cover the real advantage...
Nov 04, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 267
Today we’re exploring the skill that ambitious, anxious brains often resist: self-compassion. You’ll hear attorney Mark Goldstein’s candid story of OCD, depression, panic attacks, and the leave of absence that helped him rebuild a career and a life with support, therapy, mindfulness, and (yes) compassion. Then, Dr. Kristin Neff, pioneer of self-compassion research, teaches practical tools you can use today. We cover how to handle rumination, reframe “perfection” into being a “compassionate mess,...
Oct 30, 2025•40 min•Ep. 266
Ever feel like the very habits that made you successful are now holding you back? In this episode, I sit down with executive coach Muriel Wilkins, author of Leadership Unblocked: Break Through The Beliefs That Limit Your Potential, to talk about the hidden beliefs that drive overachievers to perfectionism, micromanagement, and control. She breaks down how deeply rooted beliefs about worth, control, and safety shape your behavior at work. Tune in to learn how to rewire your thinking so you can le...
Oct 28, 2025•45 min•Ep. 265
What does it take to tell the truth when the world punishes you for it? In this conversation we're bringing back from 2021, Gabrielle Union talks about living with PTSD and social anxiety, the experiences in toxic workplaces, and what it means to keep speaking out even when fear follows close behind. She shares how activism triggers anxiety, the coping tools to keep you grounded from therapy to mindfulness, and how to redefine success through truth, purpose, and self-acceptance. Get ready to see...
Oct 23, 2025•37 min•Ep. 264
What happens when one of America’s most admired CEOs admits that fear of failure never left him, even after building a multi-billion-dollar brand? In this episode, I sit down with Lewis Frankfort, the former CEO who transformed Coach from a small leather goods company into a global powerhouse and coined the term “accessible luxury”. Lew shares about the lifelong anxiety that drove him to excel, the depressive episodes that followed high-pressure seasons, and the methods to stay grounded, from me...
Oct 21, 2025•46 min•Ep. 263
What happens when the adrenaline fades and achievement alone stops feeling fulfilling? Robert Glazer is back to talk about what it really means to live and lead by your values. After selling his company and spending years in overdrive, Bob shares his journey of slowing down, rebuilding identity, and rediscovering purpose through self-awareness and core values. We talk about how to shift from fixing weaknesses to playing to your strengths, how values guide better leadership and relationships, and...
Oct 16, 2025•51 min•Ep. 262
ADHD isn’t just about distraction, it’s about emotion, motivation, and the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. J. Russell Ramsay, co-founder of the University of Pennsylvania’s Adult ADHD Treatment and Research Program, to break down how anxiety and ADHD often overlap. We talk about how ADHD is an uncertainty generator that triggers anxiety, what “self-mistrust” really looks like, and why so many high achievers feel brilliant but inconsisten...
Oct 14, 2025•57 min•Ep. 261
We’ve been taught that confidence means the absence of anxiety, but what if that’s completely wrong? In this special crossover episode, I joined Anne and Frances from Fixable to talk about the hidden link between anxiety and confidence. They answer listener questions about feeling awkward at work, leading with trust, and staying confident during rejection. We also delve into why anxiety is not a flaw but a sign of growth, how to handle “awkward office moments” with grace, and how to turn setback...
Oct 09, 2025•36 min•Ep. 260
So many high achievers feel like their anxiety or depression will hold them back, but what if those challenges are actually your edge? In this episode, I sit down with Josh Kilmer-Purcell, co-founder of Beekman 1802 and Amazing Race winner, to talk about how living with anxiety and depression can shape your leadership, your creativity, and your approach to risk. Josh shares the mindset shifts, practical tools, and partnership strategies that helped him build a $150M brand without ignoring mental...
Oct 07, 2025•59 min
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...
Oct 02, 2025•56 min•Ep. 258
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 wor...
Sep 30, 2025•39 min•Ep. 257
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 stak...
Sep 25, 2025•41 min•Ep. 256
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 embr...
Sep 23, 2025•42 min•Ep. 255
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...
Sep 18, 2025•56 min•Ep. 254
What if the traits that trip you up at work are the same ones that make you exceptional? In this episode, psychiatrist, researcher, and entrepreneur Dr. Michael Freeman is back to share the strengths and risks of neurodivergent leaders. We talk about his latest research on founder mental health, why ADHD, bipolar spectrum, and dyslexia show up so often in high performers, and how to design work so your superpowers lead and your vulnerabilities don’t derail you. Tune in to learn how to spot when ...
Sep 16, 2025•43 min•Ep. 253
Behind every bold move is often a quiet fear. In this episode, I sit down with Shopify President Harley Finkelstein to talk about how anxiety has shaped his path from navigating family financial loss as a teenager to leading one of the world’s most influential platforms for entrepreneurs. Harley explains how to view anxiety not as a flaw, but as a tool that sharpens foresight, fuels ambition, and prepares you for what others can’t see. He also shares how to build your team that balances your ene...
Sep 11, 2025•35 min•Ep. 252
Did you know your childhood story can shape your health, work, and relationships? In this episode, Dr. Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, shares the science behind ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and why nearly two-thirds of adults carry them. We talk about how trauma shows up in adulthood, why high achievers often live with hypervigilance, and the protective factors that can tip the scales toward healing. Tune in to learn why your past doesn’t define you and...
Sep 09, 2025•34 min•Ep. 251
Anxiety doesn’t have to be the thing that holds you back, it can actually be the spark that pushes you forward. In this episode, I sit down with Whitney Johnson, one of the world’s leading experts on personal disruption, to talk about what it really means to disrupt yourself and why growth often comes with discomfort, fear, and uncertainty. Whitney opens up about her leap from Wall Street, building a new identity, the lessons she’s learned as a mother and entrepreneur, and the daily practices th...
Sep 04, 2025•40 min•Ep. 250
Over 40 million Americans have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and many more go undiagnosed. This episode takes a deep dive into what we know (and don’t know) about bipolar I and II, why science has lagged behind, and what a groundbreaking new initiative—BD²: Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder—is doing to change that. Host Morra Aarons-Mele speaks with Dr. Mark Frye, psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Dr. Kate Burdick, ...
Aug 13, 2025•57 min
Managing your energy is key to regulating anxiety, stress, and overwhelm. In this episode, Morra sits down with energy healing practitioner Ellen Donaldson to explore how energy dysregulation shows up in high-achieving, anxious professionals, and what you can do about it. Ellen breaks down key concepts in mind-body energy medicine, including the chakra system, and offers practical tools to help you feel more grounded, present, and powerful. Morra shares her own experience learning from Ellen, in...
Jul 30, 2025•28 min
How does growing up in foster care shape you as a leader? Chéla Gage is the former Vice President Global Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, workforce mental health advocate, inclusion expert, and host of the 1 Million Fosters podcast. Gage joins Morra to share how her childhood in foster care shaped her strengths as a leader, her reflections on anxiety and hypervigilance as an asset, and how she’s transforming trauma into purpose. Chéla’s journey from foster homes and group homes to senior...
Jul 23, 2025•42 min
What happens when a late ADHD diagnosis meets the powerful potential of AI? Writer, strategist, and sleep coach Lindsay Scola joins Morra to share how she uses AI as a personal productivity partner to manage ADHD challenges, perfectionism, and executive dysfunction—while preserving creativity and rest. Diagnosed with ADHD at 41, Lindsay discovered that AI could act as an accountability buddy, thought partner, and creativity booster. From using AI to overcome the dread of the blank page to automa...
Jul 16, 2025•41 min
Everyday Better with Leah Smart is a show that helps listeners level up - in their careers and their lives. In this episode, Leah speaks with Anxious Achiever host Morra Aarons-Mele about her research and work around having a understanding your own unique brain and embracing a big career, from introversion, mental health, and neurodivergence. Morra explains what she’s learned about leadership and organizations through the lens of studying these topics. Check out Everyday Better: On Apple Podcast...
Jun 25, 2025•44 min
It might not be that easy to talk to your boss about mental health. But having close friends at work - on your team or elsewhere - where you can have open, honest dialogues can go a long way. In this episode, host Morra Aarons-Mele speaks with three work friends about how they started talking mental health, how it helped them in their jobs, and what they hope managers can better understand in the future.
Jun 18, 2025•52 min
We all have hang ups when it comes to money - but do you know where yours come from? In a time when many people feel economically insecure, Morra speaks with personal finance expert Shannah Game about the root of money issues and how we can recognize and grow from our trauma around money. Your money history doesn’t have to be your financial future! Shannah is the author of the book Unraveling Your Relationship with Money: Ditch Your Money Trauma So You Can Live an Abundant Life. Check out her bo...
Jun 11, 2025•37 min
Do you really live by your core values - or do you even need help defining what they are? Many of us might have a vague notion of what is important to us in life, but our daily decisions and actions don’t always align with those values. The more precision with which we define our values, the more resilience we have to thrive in tough times, and lead through anxiety. Suzy Welch is the author of a number of books including most recently Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic L...
Jun 04, 2025•45 min
Perfectionism can help us succeed, but it can also be a detriment to our mental health and our lives. Understanding it is the first step to better management. In this episode, psychologist Thomas Greenspon shares research about perfectionism, where it comes from, how it can impact us - and how we can try to cope with it to move forward.
May 28, 2025•30 min
Do you feel like a rubber band about to snap- low on capacity, time, and space to think? Are you constantly stuck in a mode of “doing” - trapped by your own productivity? Researcher and author Megan Reitz says that shifting into “spacious mode” could do wonders for your mental health, your relationships, and your work. She speaks with Morra about how our obsession with productivity might be crowding out creativity, insight, and connection. Plus, she’ll share practical ways to slow down, get pres...
May 21, 2025•44 min
What does it really mean to be emotionally strong—and why is emotional intelligence the leadership skill of the future? Emily Anhalt, author of the new book Flex Your Feelings: Train Your Brain to Develop the 7 Traits of Emotional Fitness, explains why mental health is an ongoing practice, and how we can get more fit. She breaks down why emotional resilience, self-awareness, and adaptability are essential not just for personal well-being but for building sustainable, high-performing teams. Plus,...
May 14, 2025•46 min
Five years ago, Dr. Maggie Chery tragically lost both of her parents to the Covid 19 pandemic, just weeks apart. It was a trauma that still affects her today, but it shifted the course of her life’s work as well. Today Maggie is a program manager at Google, and Chief Operating Officer at Not Just a Black Body. Her personal loss has drastically shifted how she works - both in terms of her leadership philosophy, and in terms of how she approaches creating better health equity outcomes around the g...
May 07, 2025•44 min
