The Courageous Life

When Sean Brosnan arrived at Newbury Park High School in 2016, their cross country team hadn’t so much as qualified for a California state championship in twenty-five years. Brosnan himself had never coached high schoolers, though he was no stranger to the sport. A collegiate All-American, he had spent years trying to chase his ambitions of becoming a professional runner, along the way learning from some of the most successful coaches in the country.From day one at Newbury Park, Sean made a promise: "Give me your total commitment and I’ll give you a state championship in four years."Brosnan’s runners ended up:Taking an unprecedented three consecutive national championships,smashing records,winning Division I scholarships, and ultimately representing their country in the Olympics.Today Sean is on the show to share more of his incredible story,And some of the key insights he’s gained about unlocking human potential,None of which may be more important than his steadfast belief that:The only limits that matter are the ones you set for yourself.For more on Sean you can follow him on IG and X @realseanbrosnanand for the full story of his high school cross country team that went from obscurity to becoming the fastest squad the country, and perhaps the world, has ever seen check out his inspiring new book: Beyond Fast: How a Renegade Coach and His Unlikely High School Team Revolutionized Distance Running.Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Finding Peace and Confidence Under Pressure | Jim MurphyLimitless Mind: Learn, Live, & Lead Without Barriers | Jo BoalerEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thanks for listening!Support the show

How do you define “growing up”? Does it mean achieving certain cultural benchmarks—a steady income, paying taxes, marriage, and children? Or does it mean leaving behind the expectations of others and growing into the person you were meant to be? When we find ourselves in a career, place, relationship, or crisis we never foresaw, or that seems at odds with our beliefs about who we are, it often means our soul is calling on us to reexamine our path.Today, with Jungian Psychoanalyst, therapist, and bestselling author James HollisWe’ll explore the practice of listening to that call.The call that invites us to step into a more purposeful life. As we navigate what James calls the collision between our “False Self,” created from the expectations of others, and our instinctive “True Self.”During our conversation James draw upon his life’s work, his 20+ books, and his experiences with hundreds of clients, as he offers up: A map for traversing the frontier we call our inner life, The steps (as he sees them) that we must take on our road to true maturity, meaning, and fulfillment,And how we ultimately can find the courage to step into the depth, dignity, and dangers of this journey.For more on James Hollis, his books, and other work please visit jameshollis.netEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Honoring the Soul (pt. 1) | Parker J. PalmerOn Choosing Love | Mark NepoThanks for listening!Support the show

How are some people so much smarter than the rest of us? Where do visionary creatives and savvy decision-makers like Vincent Van Gogh, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Maya Angelou, Warren Buffet, and William Shakespeare,get their extraordinary mental abilities?In 2021, researchers at Ohio State’s Project Narrative, the world’s leading academic think-tank for the study of how stories work, and a place renowned for collaborations with NASA, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley, announced they had the answer. They named it Primal Intelligence. And they published scientific proof that Primal Intelligence was impossible for computers—but could be strengthened in humans.Intrigued, U.S. Army Special Operations developed Primal training for its most classified units. The training succeeded. The Operators saw the future faster. They healed quicker from trauma. In life-and-death situations, they chose wiser.From there the Army authorized training for civilian entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, managers, coaches, teachers, investors, and NFL players. Their leadership and innovation improved significantly. They coped better with change and uncertainty. They experienced less anger and anxiety. And when they offered the training to college and K-12 classrooms it produced substantial effects in students as young as eight.In today’s conversation with Angus Fletcher who serves as Professor of story science at Project Narrative,holds dual degrees in neuroscience and literature, a PhD in Shakespeare, and is author of the powerful new book: Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter than You know.We’ll take a deep dive into the groundbreaking research and training they’ve been developing at Project Narrative over the past 4 years. And Angus will share his often surprising and unexpected journey into this work. Including some of the most potent insights and practices he gained from collaborating with U.S. Special Operations along the way.To learn more about Primal Intelligence, including the inspiring new book, Angus’s work, and Primal trainings please visit operationhuman.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On How the Arts Transform Us | Susan Magsamen & Ivy RossUnwinding Anxiety | Dr. Jud BrewerThanks for listening!Support the show

Many of us think of the arts as entertainment or a luxury of some kind. But In their New York Times Bestselling Book: Your Brain on Art, authors Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross invite us to open our minds and consider a breathtaking expansion of this limited view of what the arts are, and the power they hold to transform our lives both individually and collectively. Ivy, who serves as Chief Design Officer for Consumer Devices at Google, and has previously held executive positions spanning from head of product design and development to CMO and presidencies with several of the world’s leading companies, including Calvin Klein, Swatch, Coach, Mattel, and Gap.And Susan who is the founder and director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where she also serves as a faculty member, Originally came together through a cold outreach email on LinkedIn.That email turned into a 3 hour conversation,Which ultimately led to a 4 year journey of discovery, writing and research.  In today’s conversation they will share the fruits of this unlikely and extraordinary collaboration -As they offer insights, research, and practices that shed light on the new science of neuroaesthetics. And the possibility we find ourselves standing in front of:A cultural shift in which the arts can deliver potent, accessible, and proven solutions for the well-being of everyone.Susan and Ivy argue that this new understanding about how the arts and aesthetics can help us Holds the potential to transform traditional medicine, build healthier communities, and mend an aching planet.And that unlocking this potential is not about seeking something outside of us, But rather, is about returning to the creative and artistic expression we freely experienced as children.Embracing art not as a luxury, or an escape,But as our evolutionary birthright.For more on Ivy, Susan, their beautiful book Your Brain on Art, please visit yourbrainonart.com. You can also check out a beautiful newly launched resource center for the Neuroarts that Susan is spearheading at neruoartsresourcecenter.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On the Science, and Magic, of Great Conversations | Alison Wood BrooksA Cardiologist's Journey to Healing, Health, and Happiness | Dr. Jonathan FisherThanks for listening!Support the show

Drawing from the science of cognitive bias, Author, and digital product designer for some of the world’s leading tech companies, Vicki Tan, has written a beautiful new book intended to help us find wisdom and confidence in the face of life’s biggest questions. In today’s conversation we’ll dive deeper into her work around the art and science of decision making, Which in Vicki’s words: Is less about unlocking secrets, And more about understanding the quiet ways we navigate uncertainty.During our time together Vicki will offer insight into how our cognitive biases -Those default (and often unconscious) lenses through which we view the world -Influence all aspects of our daily lives.From the way we perceive time, to how the people around us influence us, to our tendency to remember the bizarre over the familiar. And, That as we begin to deepen our understanding of how our minds work, And choose to view questions we’re stuck on in a different light, We just might be surprised by how clear our answers become. For more on Vicki, her design work, and her new book, titled: Ask This Book a Question: An Interactive Journey to Find Wisdom for Life’s Big and Little Decisions please visit vickitan.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts.Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Learning to Be a Better Friend to Ourselves | Megan PragerThe Missing Ingredient to 'The Good Life' | Dr. Lorraine BesserThanks for listening!Support the show

In his book Stoicism and the Art of Happiness, author, therapist, and stoic philosopher, Donald Robertson, writes:"The Sage conquers his passions by becoming stronger than them not by eliminating all traces of emotions from his life. The Stoic ideal is therefore not to be ‘passionless’ in the sense of being ‘apathetic’, ‘hard-hearted’, ‘insensitive’ or ‘like a statue’ of stone or iron. Rather, it is to experience natural affection for ourselves, our loved ones, and other human beings. And to value our lives in accord with nature."In today’s conversation Donald will dive deeper into what Stoicism is, and what it's not.  He'll shed light on how Stoicism in popular culture is often misinterpreted -Inappropriately distilled into messages that tout self-discipline and personal responsibility, yet at the same time leave out what the stoics may have valued most:Wisdom, justice, and love for humankind. We’ll also explore the possibility, and practices that might support us in living into Marcus Aurelius’s conception of the Ideal Stoic:Meeting our lives, our work, and our relationships increasingly from a place that is free of passions, and full of love. For more on Donald Robertson, his books, podcasts, and other work please visit Donaldrobertson.nameDid you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Imperfectionism and the Art of Living Well | Oliver BurkemanOn Wholeness, Service, and Enduring Happiness | Stephanie HarrisonEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thanks for listening!Support the show

As a professional baseball player, Jim Murphy’s sense of worth revolved around results. He was focused on achievement but also afraid of failure. When he started coaching professional and Olympic athletes, he often encountered the same mindset. So he became obsessed with learning how the best in the world performed with peace and confidence under pressure.After years of research, two revelatory insights emerged:First, In the moments that matter mostIt’s our heart (not our mind) that unlocks extraordinary performance. Second,The path to experiencing peace and confidence under pressureAnd The path toward a deeply fulfilling lifeAre one and the same. These realizations changed his life. Today we’ll unpack what he learned and the powerful approach to living and performing he developed as a result. It’s an approach that centers around centuries-old principles of love, wisdom, and courage - What he calls Inner Excellence. Jim will also offer some of the most potent practices he uses with his clients for training the heart, And his insight into how we can unlock our performance potential, while experiencing more love, joy, and purpose through the process. For more on Jim, his books (including NYT bestseller Inner Excellence), his trainings and performance coaching, please visit innerexcellence.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Mastering Our Emotional Life | Ethan KrossOn Unwinding Toxic Productivity | Israa NasirThanks for listening!Support the show

'What is this moment calling for?'At the heart of Dr. Jacob Ham’s approach lies this profound question. The simplicity of it can be disarming. Yet to answer it skillfully requires the capacity to be present -To notice what is arising moment by moment. Not only in you, But in those around you, As well as what is arising in the space between.That sacred ground we like to call connection or relationship.To answer the question also necessitates an ability to meet whatever is here with curiosity, and the wisdom of an open heart. Over the course of his career Dr. Ham has sat with countless clients, Exploring the landscape of trauma, healing, and growth. Honing his craft through the act of asking and answering this question. Moment by moment.In many ways Dr. Ham might be thought of as a master craftsman, A brilliant therapist,Who has cultivated a deeply loving, authentic, and wise presence over a lifetime of practice.It’s a way of showing up,A way of being,A way of meeting people exactly where they are,which can’t really be described in words. Like a good conversation, it’s something that must be experienced. Today, you’ll have that opportunity. We originally recorded over a year ago, but chose to re release it, as it is one of the most moving and unique conversations I ’ve ever had on the show. For more on Dr. Ham, his work both as a therapist, and as Director of the Center for Child Trauma and Resilience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as well as his writings and events please visit drjacobham.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts. Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Inner Healing and Embracing Our True Selves | Dick SchwartzOn Heartbreak, Healing, and Transformation | Sara Avant StoverThanks for listening!Support the show

Is there just one “you”? This evocative question lies at the heart of Dr. Richard Schwartz’s groundbreaking work as both a therapist, and a researcher.Over 40 years he’s pushed back against conventionChallenging what so many of us have been taught to believe - That we have a single identity.And to feel fear or shame when we can’t control the inner voices that don’t match the ideal of who we think we should be. Rather than accept this well adopted theory of the “mono-mind.”Dr. Schwartz developed the Internal Family Systems model (IFS) in response to clients’ descriptions of various parts within themselves, which has been transforming psychology for decades and is outlined in his profound bestselling book, No Bad PartsHe says:“All of us are born with many sub-minds - or parts,” “These parts are not imaginary or symbolic. They are individuals who exist as an internal family within us - and the key to health and happiness is to honor, understand, and love every part.”Today, we will take an experiential dive into IFS - As Dick shares more of his story, how he came to this approach, the role of curiosity and love in healing,and ultimately will offer a glimpse of what’s possible when we engage in parts work as he generously agreed to conduct an IFS therapy session with me in real time. What unfolded turned out to be an extraordinary experience. One that left me changed.The session itself increased my belief in Dick’s hopeful and inspiring sentiment:“When we learn to love all our parts, we can learn to love all people - and that will contribute to healing the world.”For more on Dick Schwartz, his books, IFS, and a directory of IFS trained therapists please visit ifs-institute.comEnjoying the show? Please rate it wherever you listen to your podcasts!Did you find this conversation inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:On Honoring the Soul (pt. 1) | Parker J. PalmerOn Heartbreak, Healing, and Transformation | Sara Avant StoverThanks for listening!Support the show

Since 2018 The Courageous Life Podcast has invited many of the world’s leading thinkers, researchers, creators, writers, poets, athletes, healers, and teachers to explore how we can find the courage to live an authentic life, to derive purpose and meaning, and to meet ourselves, others, and the world around us with an open heart - as we navigate the complexity and the beauty of what it means to be human. Like the show itself, this “trailer” is intended to be akin to good poetry. It’s an invitation to slow down, to deeply exhale, and to feel the stir of the soul.Press play to get a feel for what we are creating on The Courageous Life. Featuring originally composed music by Matthew Patrick Donner (Executive Producer)And clips from Courageous Life episodes featuring: Mark NepoAmy DongJerry ColonnaStephanie HarrisonFrank OstaseskiAnd an excerpt from Parker Palmer’s original poem: 'Everything Falls Away' (read live by Parker on the show). Support the show