About the Guest:

Jodi Wellman is the author of You Only Die Once, a book that approaches the topic of living a meaningful life with a darkly humorous twist. With a career spanning 25 years, Jodi is a seasoned positive psychologist, executive coach, and founder who has delivered keynotes, workshops, and coaching programs. She collaborates with some of the world's leading researchers on happiness and well-being, and is dedicated to helping people enhance their life's quality and vitality.

Episode Summary:

Greg celebrates the ten-year anniversary of his seminal work, "Essentialism," and welcomes Jodi Wellman, author of "You Only Die Once." The conversation revolves around the critical idea of death awareness as a tool for making life more meaningful and joyful. They explore the discomfort and avoidance many people have toward the topic of death and the consequent deferral of their dreams.

Jodi shares practical exercises and thought-provoking insights to help people confront their mortality and use that awareness to live more vibrant lives. The episode touches on how societal norms often prioritize careers over personal lives and relationships

Key Takeaways:

Death Awareness as a Tool: The awareness of our own mortality can be a powerful motivator to live more fully and meaningfully.
Overcoming Fear: People often defer their dreams not out of busy schedules, but due to fear and self-doubt.
The Double Obituary Exercise: Writing an obituary can help pinpoint what truly matters, allowing us to align our lives with our ultimate goals and values.
Importance of Relationships: The biggest contributors to enduring happiness are often our social and familial relationships.
Living Fully Now: Rather than postponing joys and aspirations to an uncertain future, find ways to integrate meaningful experiences into the present.

Notable Quotes:

"Death awareness, death acceptance, it's a spectrum." – Jodi Wellman
"What about the life you're living now? Doesn't that deserve to get lived the crap out of?" – Jodi Wellman
"Sometimes it's the simple, sweet things that deliver the essence of life." – Jodi Wellman
"Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance." – Greg McKeown
"It's about paying attention to what brings you joy now and making sure your current life is fulfilling." – Greg McKeown

Resources:

Buy Jodi's book: You Only Die Once.

Visit Jodi's website.

Join my weekly newsletter.

Learn more about my books and courses.

Join The Essentialism Academy.

Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

Ladelle McWhorter, "Unbecoming Persons: The Rise and Demise of the Modern Moral Self" (U Chicago Press, 2025)

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