The Anxious Achiever

What if burnout isn’t something you fix with better habits, but something built into the way we work? In this episode, I’m bringing back one of my favorite conversations because it gets at something I think we still don’t talk about enough. I talk with Rita McGrath, Poornima Luthra & Andrew Barnes about what actually makes work feel sustainable and human, why getting people back into the office doesn’t fix anything, how lack of control and fairness quietly drive stress, and why so many well-intentioned solutions miss the mark. Get ready to rethink burnout and see what actually needs to change at work.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up

Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What’s the problem with scaling workplaces and losing humanity?

04:45 Ways to build a stronger team connection.

07:15 What actually defines a “good job”?

09:15 Why perks don’t fix mental health at work.

13:00 What the 4-day workweek reveals about productivity.

17:45 Why time matters more than money for employees

22:30 How bias and inequity increase stress at work.

25:15 Why inclusion improves mental health and performance.

32:00 How better listening improves team culture.

37:30 How leaders can reduce uncertainty for their teams.

42:30 Why inclusive cultures create more resilient organizations.

44:15 Leadership habits that improve team wellbeing.

48:03 The leadership shift that changes how work feels.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

What if the difference between reacting and responding was just a few seconds? In this episode, I sit down with executive coach Dina Denham Smith to talk about what really happens when you get triggered at work and how to handle it. Dina breaks down a framework to help you understand what emotions actually are, how they show up in your body, and how to interrupt the automatic reaction cycle. Tune in to learn how to pause in the moment, regulate your nervous system, and respond with clarity instead of stress, anxiety, or overwhelm.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up

Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why mastering your emotional reactions is the ultimate leadership skill.

03:45 The cost of masking emotions on your performance and energy.

06:30 The 3 parts of every emotion and why this changes how you manage them.

10:45 How to reframe stress into something useful.

13:30 Why do emotions feel unsafe for some people?

18:45 What’s the impact of emotions on team performance?

22:00 What to do when someone gets emotional in a meeting.

23:45 The grounding technique every leader should know.

28:15 The “Notice, Name, Need” framework for emotional regulation.

33:00 A breathing technique to calm your nervous system fast.

39:00 What’s the difference between coaching and therapy?

48:15 Why is leadership today emotionally exhausting?

54:00 How to disconnect from work and reset your brain.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Dina on LinkedIn @dinadenhamsmith

What if the habits you rely on to cope with anxiety are keeping you stuck? In this episode, we explore what it really means to be “mentally healthy” and why most of us were never given the language or tools to get there. Kent Coules shares his story of high-functioning alcoholism and what happened when he stopped drinking after decades of using it to manage anxiety. We talk about why so many high achievers rely on coping mechanisms like alcohol, overwork, or constant problem-solving, and more. I also speak with educator Donna Volpitta about mental health literacy and why understanding your brain is one of the most important skills you can build. Get ready to start responding to challenges in a healthier, more intentional way.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What does it mean to “speak” mental health?

05:00 How coping habits can mask anxiety.

08:30 Why addiction and anxiety are often connected.

12:30 How habit loops keep you stuck in the same patterns.

15:00 Why success doesn’t eliminate underlying anxiety.

18:00 What it feels like to face anxiety without a coping crutch.

20:00 Why recovery and regulation both happen one moment at a time.

24:00 Why are challenges essential for building resilience?

27:30 The difference between pressure and true support at work.

30:30 What mental health literacy actually includes.

33:00 Why most people misunderstand mental health and how that increases stigma.

36:00 How your brain reacts to perceived threats in the workplace.

39:00 Why fear-based environments lead to poor decisions.

42:00 How achievement culture can increase anxiety in young people.

48:00 How to start replacing unhealthy coping strategies.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

What if better performance at work didn’t come from pushing harder, but from being more honest? In this episode, Dan Simons shares how he built a $100M+ restaurant group by doing something most leaders still resist. Dan explains how honesty at work actually helps people show up more present, make better decisions, and perform at a higher level. We also talk about how you can get better results, stronger retention, and more focused teams by creating a workplace where people don’t have to hide what’s going on with them. Tune in to discover how to turn radical honesty into a competitive advantage.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up

Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why honesty matters more than “vulnerability” in leadership.

02:20 How did you build a $100M business?

06:00 Why leaders must learn to lead themselves before leading others.

12:00 Why every team member is operating below their full capacity.

17:00 How to introduce psychological safety without forcing people to open up.

20:00 What does a trauma-informed workplace actually look like?

23:00 Why mental health conversations require skill and training.

26:00 How Dan operationalizes mental health through training and systems.

34:00 What's the difference between intention and reality inside companies?

42:00 How honesty reduces defensiveness and improves performance.

47:00 How investing in people improves profit and reduces turnover.

51:00 The #1 metric that convinces CEOs this approach works.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Dan Simons HERE!

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

Follow Dan on Instagram: @dansimonssays

Is your overthinking actually helping you or draining your energy? In this episode, I talk with Meredith Arthur, Chief of Staff of the Pinterest Innovation Lab, about what it means to live with anxiety you don’t even recognize. Meredith shares how anxiety shows up in unexpected ways, from physical symptoms like migraines to subtle patterns like overworking and lack of boundaries. We talk about what happens when you push through without understanding your internal signals, how overthinking can disguise itself as productivity, and MORE. Tune in to learn how to step out of overthinking loops and build a healthier relationship with your mind.

Check out our sponsors:

Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Notion - Notion is an AI powered, connected workspace for teams. Try custom agents now at notion.com/achiever

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What does a “recovering overthinker” mean?

03:30 The gap between anxiety that signals something vs. anxiety that doesn’t.

06:40 How communicating about anxiety builds a deeper connection.

10:30 Why saying what people want to hear can pull you away from who you are.

12:30 What rapid career feedback can teach you about your strengths.

16:00 How medication and environment can shape your sense of identity.

20:00 How anxiety showed up as “problem solving” instead of worry.

22:30 What does “energy debt” look like in high achievers?

24:45 Why language around anxiety can make it harder to recognize.

29:00 What would it look like to design better systems for mental health?

30:30 Why your body often knows before your mind does.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Meredith Arthur HERE!

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam