Smart People Podcast

What if you’re not burned out, not clinically depressed, and nothing in your life is falling apart—but you still feel numb, empty, or like you’re just going through the motions? In this episode, sociologist and mental health researcher Dr. Corey Keyes explains the science behind that feeling, and why he calls it “languishing.” We dig into how our culture massively underestimates mental health by defining it as “not sick,” and why that quiet definition keeps so many of us stuck. Corey shares how watching his own father’s life slowly unravel pushed him to rethink success, work, and what it really means to flourish. You’ll learn the key differences between languishing and flourishing, the hidden ways modern life pulls us toward numbness, and why feeling “dead inside” might actually be an existential alarm clock trying to wake you up. We don’t just stay in theory—we talk about what real flourishing looks like for regular people with jobs, kids, stress, and messy lives. Corey's book, Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down, is available now wherever books are sold! Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if there really was an owner’s manual for being human? In this episode, Chris sits down with one of the top executive coaches in the country Shaun Dyke, to reveal the models that billion-dollar leaders use to understand people, motivate change, and create results. They unpack the hidden psychology behind your reactions, relationships, and results—and why most of us are still flying blind without our “human operating manual.” You’ll never look at behavior the same way again. Shaun is the Managing Partner of the leadership development and executive coaching firm called, DoorTwo. Learn more at doortwo.com and subscribe to their brand new podcast, In The Arena with DoorTwo. Stay up to date by signing up! Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever felt guilty for resenting your job—even one you worked hard to get—you’re not alone. In this episode, psychologist and author Dr. Malissa Clark breaks down why burnout and dissatisfaction aren’t always about hours worked, and why our relationship with work is more complicated than we think. We explore the hidden forces that keep us “always on,” why rest doesn’t always feel restful, and how modern work culture is quietly draining us. Whether you're stuck in a toxic job or just feeling off, this conversation will shift the way you think about work—and yourself. Malissa's book, Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business--and How to Fix It, is available now wherever books are sold! Learn more about Malissa at malissaclark.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think you’re a creative person? Think again. In this episode, psychologist and author Dr. Zorana Pringle explains why most of us are far less creative than we believe—and what to do about it. We explore why great ideas often die before they ever get started, how fear disguises itself as perfectionism, and why creativity has more to do with action than inspiration. If you’ve ever felt stuck, distracted, or frustrated that your ideas never quite become reality, this conversation will hit home. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how creativity really works—and how to finally unlock it. Zorana's book, The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action, is available now wherever books are sold! Learn more about Zorana Pringle at zorana-ivcevic-pringle.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the biggest challenge with AI isn’t the technology, but what it’s revealing about us? Jeff Burningham has built companies, invested in hundreds of startups, and even run for governor — but his most urgent message comes in his new book The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI. He believes AI is a mirror, reflecting our values, flaws, and potential, and the real question is whether we’ll grow wise enough to handle it. In this conversation, Jeff draws on his experiences in business, politics, and personal transformation to explore the choice between the “old game” of power and greed and the “new game” of connection and compassion — and why the next decade could determine our future. Jeff's book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI, is available now wherever books are sold! Learn more about Jeff Burningham at jeffburningham.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices