Episode 437: Design Your To-Die-For Life and Start Living With Purpose w/ Karen Salmansohn

Jul 30, 2025

Karen Salmansohn, a bestselling author and behavioral change expert, shares insights from her work, "Your To-Die-For Life." She discusses how embracing mortality awareness can motivate us to live more intentionally and connect with our core values. The conversation highlights the difference between fleeting pleasure and deep fulfillment, advocating for meaningful experiences over materialism. Karen introduces strategies to discover one's purpose, emphasizing growth, curiosity, and authenticity as vital components of a regret-free life.

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INSIGHT

Mortality Awareness Motivates Action

Mortality awareness motivates us by creating urgency and action.
Wrong life goals like wealth or fame lead to deathbed regrets.

INSIGHT

Near Life Experience Explained

Many people live 'life adjacent,' not fully present due to autopilot or distractions.
Realizing death's reality helps snap out of autopilot and value present life.

ADVICE

Use Mortality to Live Bravely

Recognize the low-level feeling of "meh" as a sign of not fully living.
Use death's ultimate deadline to fuel braver, authentic living and reduce regret.

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This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I’m joined by Karen Salmansohn, bestselling author, behavioral change expert, and creator of “Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret Before Your Time Runs Out.” With over 2 million books sold, Karen brings a bold mix of research-based psychology and humor to help us snap out of autopilot and live with more intention.

We dive into the powerful idea that mortality awareness isn't morbid, it's motivating. Karen introduces the concept of a "near-life experience" and how many of us are living life adjacent, not fully present. We also explore the connection between core values, money, happiness, and how to design your life with fewer regrets.

In this episode we discuss:

Core values that prevent future regret and help guide daily decisions
How identity shapes habits and long-term financial wellness
The difference between fleeting pleasure and deep fulfillment
Why growth, curiosity, and authenticity matter more than productivity
Strategies to discover your high-level purpose—even if you don’t know it yet

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

Check out Karen's book: Your To-Die-For Life
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