Today we welcome Colin Seale, the founder and CEO of thinkLaw. Colin was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where his struggles gave birth to his passion for educational equity. Using lessons from his experience as a math teacher, attorney, and keynote speaker, he helps educators teach critical thinking to all students, regardless of race or achievement through his award-winning organization thinkLaw. Colin is also the author of Thinking Like a Lawyer. His latest book is called Tangible Equity. In this episode, I talk to Colin Seale about tangible equity in education. For Colin, real equity work should help reduce the predictive power of demographics on outcomes. In order to do that, we need to teach kids how to think for themselves, so they learn to question instead of comply with unfair systems. Colin shares concrete actions that educators can take to contribute towards tangible equity. We also touch on the topics of privilege, race, bias, and gifted education. Website: thinklaw.usTwitter: @ColinESeale Topics02:55 What is tangible equity?05:28 Reforming the pathways to success09:33 Why equity has become a challenge 16:42 The pressure of success and compliance18:56 Critical race theory in schools25:01 Understanding race and privilege 30:53 Colin as a keynote speaker 35:15 Leveraging privilege for equity36:39 We all have power 41:50 Disrupting gifted education49:24 Shatter the ceiling of educationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Josh Szeps who is a television, radio and podcast host who shakes up the status quo with his fierce intellect and infectious sense of humor. Josh's interviews with prominent figures and celebrities like Jane Goodall, Ron Howard, Russel Brand, and Neil Patrick Harris have attracted billions of online views and sold out event tickets. Currently, he can be heard on ABC Radio Sydney and on his award-winning podcast Uncomfortable Conversations.In this episode, I talk to Josh Szeps about what it means to think freely. In this social media age, it's become increasingly challenging to become an independent thinker. Our tribal nature and online echo chambers tend to reinforce ideologies we already believe in. Even the way we talk sounds scripted! Josh and I discuss how to genuinely search for truth so we can broaden our worldviews. We also touch on the topics of intersectionality, wokeism, ethics, and racism.Website: linktr.ee/joshszepsTwitter: @joshzepps Topics02:35 Are we living in a simulation?10:39 The clique of provocateurs16:58 Compromise through conversation23:27 The excess of wokeism27:01 Moral foundations and disgust31:36 Racism in the gay community35:11 Reverse racism37:00 Respecting individual identity over group identity43:16 Should we be proud of intrinsic attributes? 49:08 Scripted ideologies51:40 How to overcome binary thinking 58:01 Pushing limits through radical curiositySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Hitendra Wadhwa, Professor of Practice at Columbia Business School where he teaches Columbia’s most popular leadership course, the award-winning “Personal Leadership & Success.” Hitendra is also the founder of Mentora Institute, which is at the forefront of creating a new model of leadership that is agile, authentic, and attainable. Hitendra’s research and teaching on personal leadership have been covered by Forbes, Fortune, CNN, Psychology Today, Wall Street Journal and others. He is the author of Inner Mastery, Outer Impact.In this episode, I talk to Hitendra Wadhwa about personal development. Growth is often associated with the mastery of skills. But Hitendra reminds us that inner work is also growth. The internal battles we face lead us to become more attuned to our most authentic selves. In order to unlock our full potential, Hitendra shares with us Five Core Energies and how to activate them. We also touch on the topics of leadership, service, purpose, and transcendence. Website: www.hitendra.comTwitter: @HitendraWadhwa Topics02:31 Hitendra’s background and upbringing 06:16 Personal leadership09:23 Public leadership13:44 Ashoka the Great18:01 Dominion over yourself21:30 Authenticity and our real selves27:05 Core Energy: Purpose29:33 Core Energy: Wisdom30:48 Core Energy: Growth32:04 Core Energy: Love33:33 Core Energy: Self-Realization37:34 Conceptualizing the Five Core Energies39:50 Living vs leading 43:41 The mystic in all of us48:22 From inner dominance to inner surrenderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Kristi Nelson, the executive director of A Network for Grateful Living. Her life’s work in the non-profit sector has focused on leading, inspiring, and strengthening organizations committed to progressive social and spiritual change. Being a long-time stage IV cancer survivor moves her every day to support others in living and loving with great fullness of heart. She is the author of Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted. In this episode, I talk to Kristi Nelson about gratefulness. She differentiates gratefulness from gratitude by describing the former as an orientation towards life, without being dependent on internal or external circumstances. Kristi shares with us the practice of Stop, Look, Go and her five guiding principles that can inspire you to live a life of gratefulness. We also touch on the topics of positive psychology, mindfulness, play, and self-compassion.Website: gratefulness.org Topics03:01 Kristi’s cancer diagnosis 04:17 Gratitude vs gratefulness08:50 Gratefulness during hard times12:37 Reclaim play, curiosity, courage15:58 Life is a gift18:08 Everything is a surprise20:41 The ordinary is extraordinary23:48 Appreciation is generative26:55 Say yes to your life32:46 Love is transformative34:35 Stop, Look, Go38:18 Befriending our full selves40:43 Leaving a grateful legacySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Manson. Before becoming an author, he was a blogger. His blog started in 2007 and within a few years it was being read by more than a million people each month. Today, his site is read by more than 15 million people each year. Mark’s books have sold over 14 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 65 languages. According to Amazon Charts, his book The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck was the most-read non-fiction book worldwide in 2017. For this episode, we did something a little different. Mark Manson and I had an unstructured chat about issues that we both care deeply about. We tackled all sorts of questions like: What makes social media so polarizing? Why are self-help quotes so cheesy? Are all pick-up artists narcissists? Does free will exist? We hope you enjoy the conversation about relationships, politics, self-esteem, and neurodiversity as much as we did. Website: markmanson.netTwitter: @IAmMarkManson Topics02:03 Mark and Scott as adolescents 04:30 Online discourse in a hyper-connected world   11:36 Troll behavior and non-verbal cues17:18 Extreme curiosity and criticism of politics25:00 Mark hates Tiny Buddha?29:59 The self-help industry 33:24 Neurodiversity and empathy 39:30 Are all traits double-edged swords? 46:26 Co-dependency of grandiose and vulnerable narcissists54:48 Scott’s unique value proposition57:08 The bachelor life vs the married life1:04:22 Co-writing Will Smith’s biography1:08:53 Free will, law and punishment1:12:53 Overrated or underrated: meditation1:15:49 Overrated or underrated: twin studies1:18:31 Overrated or underrated: self-esteem1:21:22 Overrated or underrated: social mediaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Michael Bungay Stanier, the Founder of Box of Crayons. He is the author of the best-selling book The Coaching Habit, with over a million copies sold. He was a Rhodes Scholar and in 2019 was named the #1 thought leader in coaching. Michael has a masters degree in Philosophy from Oxford, a law degree and a BA with highest honors from the Australian National University. His latest book is called How to Begin. In this episode, I talk to Michael Bungay Stanier about how to begin. When we set goals, the most popular framework that often comes to mind is the idea of SMART goals. Instead of starting with what’s measurable, Michael urges us to start with what’s important. He shares his criteria for identifying what a worthy goal is, as well as advice on how to stay committed to that worthy goal. We also touch on the topics of coaching, empathy, change, and community. Website: www.mbs.worksTwitter: @mbs_works Topics02:22 About Box of Crayons03:20 Michael’s interest and expertise in coaching07:15 The Coaching Habit12:20 “SMART goals are dumb”16:32 What is a worthy goal?23:19 The magic is in the drafting25:50 Before action, learn to commit30:27 Adaptive change vs technical change33:01 Calling in the directions37:51 Stick with the journey43:20 Celebrate the journeySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome back Steve Magness who is a world-renowned expert on high performance. He has been a consultant on mental skills development for professional sports teams, including some of the top teams in the NBA. Steve is the co-author of Peak Performance, The Passion Paradox, and the author of The Science of Running. Collectively, his books have sold more than a quarter-million copies in print, ebook, and audio formats. His latest book is called Do Hard Things. In this episode, I talk to Steve Magness about real toughness. The prevailing narrative around achievement extols the merits of unrelenting resolve. To show vulnerability is to show weakness. According to Steve, the hyperfocus on external bravado is detrimental to performance and mental health. He outlines his four core pillars of resilience to replace our broken model of toughness. We also touch on the topics of stoicism, self-esteem, emotions, mindfulness, and sports psychology.Website: stevemagness.comTwitter: @stevemagness Topics04:49 Why machismo is so popular 08:47 UFC vs artistic swimming 14:15 Ditch the facade, embrace reality19:31 Accept what you’re capable of24:24 Know when to grit and when to quit26:38 Listen to your body31:34 Do hard things more efficiently35:17 Steve’s 4 minute mile39:42 Personal wins43:12 Respond, instead of react47:12 Transcend discomfortSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Alexi Robichaux who is the co-founder and CEO of BetterUp, a mobile platform that brings together world-class coaching, AI technology, and behavioral science to deliver sustainable positive change. Alexi is also the Chairman of Youth Leadership America (YLA). They have collaborated with leading companies including Disney, Google, and Hilton Hotels to coach and mentor future leaders. Alexi holds a B.A. in political science and non-profit management with summa cum laude distinction from the University of Southern California.In this episode, I talk to Alexi Robichaux about the future of coaching. There are countless ways to practice coaching, but Alexi believes coaching must be rooted in science-backed techniques for reliable outcomes—which is precisely what they do at BetterUp. Coaching is not a replacement for therapy, but it can help individuals become more resilient and purposeful in their daily lives. We also touch on the topics of self-actualization, flow, languishing, imagination, and Alexi’s vision for the future of coaching.Website: www.betterup.comTwitter: @arobichaux Topics04:06 What is coaching?07:30 Better Up’s coaching model10:26 Coaching vs therapy 14:37 What good coaching looks like 19:40 Peak experiences and dichotomy transcendence25:22 Research and innovation as a for-profit business30:39 Humanistic coaching philosophy32:45 How to overcome languishing37:10 Better Up Labs41:40 Alexi’s current coaching practice44:30 The future of coachingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Christine Robinson who is an executive coach, consultant, facilitator, and strategist whose expertise lies in building pathways to policy and systems change. She has worked as a consultant to the White House, the Ford Foundation, Harvard Medical School, the Lumina Foundation and other notable organizations. Christine studied at Vassar College, Brandeis University, and the University of Pennsylvania, and is trained as a developmental and community psychologist.In this episode, I talk to Christine Robinson about community psychology. In order to nurture a culture of well-being, Christine says it’s crucial to acknowledge the multifaceted identities of individuals. Instead of seeing marginalized groups as “others”, she encourages us to view diversity as a valuable asset to society. We need to listen to everyone’s perspective before we can bring forth social change and co-create an inclusive and equitable community. Website: christinerobinsonconsulting.com Topics02:44 What is community psychology?06:59 Urie Brofenbenner’s ecological systems theory13:58 Community well-being and collective efficacy18:24 Intersectionality of social identities 24:41 Socialization and meaning making27:30 Othering - a barrier to well being34:25 Intersectional equity40:53 The paradox of differences50:20 Inclusive society psychology 55:28 Co-creation and capacity building58:41 Negative impacts of discrimination1:01:56 Cultural intelligence and competenceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we welcome Dr. Jim Tucker who is a child psychiatrist and the Bonner-Lowry Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. He is Director of the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies, where he is continuing the work of Dr. Ian Stevenson on reincarnation. He has been invited to speak about his research on Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and CBS Sunday Morning. He recently published BEFORE: Children's Memories of Previous Lives, a 2-in-1 edition of his previous books.In this episode, I talk to Dr. Jim Tucker about the science of reincarnation. We delve into his research findings and methodology on children who claim to remember their previous lives. Dr. Tucker notes that these children don’t just recall biographical details of their past, but they also retain feelings and emotions. His findings have important implications for how we understand consciousness. We also touch on the topics of mortality, trauma, quantum physics, and panpsychism. Website: www.uvadops.orgFacebook: /jimbtuckermd Topics02:15 Dr. Ian Stevenson’s research04:59 Psychophore06:39 Dr. Jim Tucker’s interest in reincarnation 10:01 Past life statements and unusual play18:34 Announcing dreams, predictions, birthmarks25:13 Fraud, self-deception, fantasy30:18 Genetic memory 34:21 Transfer of consciousness 39:07 Why are past memories so fleeting?41:10 Are we all reincarnated?42:20 Death, trauma, and growth across lifetimes48:08 Panpsychism and multiversesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.