Stigma loses its power when leaders tell the truth. In this episode, venture investor and Techstars co-founder Brad Feld shares why he went public about depression and OCD, how a 2013 crash led to a decade of deep therapy, and why aligning what you feel, say, and do is a leadership advantage. We talk about the “inappropriate anxiety spikes,” the trap of calling mental health a “superpower,” and the difference between passive and active avoidance. Brad also breaks down a simple dashboard for monitoring burnout, practical somatic cues to watch for, and clear guidance on when to hire a coach versus a therapist. Get ready to rethink performance, protect your team from collateral damage, and lead with courage, clarity, and real agency.
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In this Episode, You Will Learn
00:00 Why did you choose to speak openly about mental health?
09:00 How stigma and shame create a negative feedback loop for founders.
14:30 The irrational links between thoughts and actions that drive compulsion.
18:00 How reframing failure helps you find grace in what doesn’t work out.
20:00 The concept of “passive avoidance” and how it quietly erodes relationships.
26:00 What are the two ways anxiety shows up in leadership?
30:15 How absurdism brings comfort amid uncertainty.
33:30 Why performative passion often hides real insecurity.
37:45 The “anxiety spikes” that jump from 2 to 11 in seconds.
43:00 How ACT therapy helps you feel, accept, and act instead of suppressing emotion.
46:00 The dashboard of green–yellow–red lights to watch your energy in real time.
50:00 Advice to leaders who want to understand how their behavior impacts others.
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 Brad: @bfeld
