The Anxious Achiever

Do you ever wonder if you're doing enough for your parents? In this episode, I sit down with Baylor University professor Dr. Allison Alford to talk about the emotional, mental, logistical, and identity work women take on to keep their families connected. Allison shares how to recognize the daughtering you're already doing, why so many women struggle to feel like a “good enough” daughter, and how family expectations shape the way you show up in other areas of your life. We also break down the difference between daughtering and caregiving, how to set healthier boundaries, and why doing more isn't always the answer. Tune in to redefine what being a good daughter means without losing yourself in the expectations that come with it.

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In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 How being a daughter can shape the way you show up at work.

03:15 What distance daughtering looks like when you live far from your parents.

08:15 What is daughtering?

12:15 The 4 types of work daughters take on in their families.

18:45 Daughtering and caregiving aren't the same thing.

21:30 Why daughtering isn't always about doing more for your parents.

24:00 Where does the pressure to be a “good daughter” come from?

28:15 Can you define what being a good daughter means for yourself?

30:15 The 4 categories that show how much daughtering you actually do.

35:15 Why setting boundaries is part of healthy daughtering.

37:45 What your daughtering score can teach you about balance.

40:15 Can you still be a daughter when you've cut off contact with a parent?

Resources + Links

Get a copy of Dr. Allison’s book Good Daughtering HERE!

Learn more about Dr. Allison Alford 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 Dr. Allison: on LinkedIn @allisonalford + Instagram @daughtering101

Are you worried about what AI means for your job and the future of work? How do you stay grounded when technology is changing faster than you can keep up? In this episode, I sit down with Oxford Road CEO and founder Dan Granger to talk about AI anxiety, uncertainty, and what it takes to keep moving forward when the future feels impossible to predict. We dive into how to recognize when anxiety is useful, why focusing on the process can pull you out of the “what if” spiral, and how curiosity and adaptability can help you navigate rapid change. Tune in to learn how to work with uncertainty, focus on what you can control, and lean into the uniquely human value you bring to your 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

Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order

Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals

Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Meet Dan Granger, CEO and Founder of Oxford Road.

03:15 Can you build a healthier relationship with anxiety?

06:00 Why anxiety is a necessary part of the human experience.

09:30 When does normal anxiety become unhealthy?

13:15 How to focus on what you can control when the future feels uncertain.

16:30 Is the fear of AI taking your job actually rational?

20:15 Finding your unique value in a world increasingly shaped by AI.

27:45 What a podcast can give you beyond money and downloads.

34:45 The role trust and authenticity play in podcast advertising.

40:15 Can anxiety actually become rocket fuel for achievement?

44:45 Is video changing what it means to be a podcast?

Resources + Links

Learn more about Oxford Road 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 LinkedIn @dangranger

Do you want to become the kind of leader people genuinely trust? Could kindness be one of the most overlooked leadership skills today? In this episode, I sit down with John MacPhee, CEO of the Jed Foundation, to talk about how compassionate leadership creates stronger teams, healthier workplaces, and a greater sense of belonging. John shares how his own struggles with anxiety, failing out of college, and an unforgettable conversation with his mother transformed his definition of success and ultimately led him to purpose-driven work. We also dive into what workplaces still get wrong about mental health and the small leadership shifts that can make a lasting difference. Tune in to discover how leading with kindness can strengthen your team, your culture, and yourself.

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

Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order

Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals

Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Meet John MacPhee, CEO of The Jed Foundation (JED).

05:15 What is kind leadership?

10:00 Can you make difficult decisions without losing compassion?

12:00 How to say "no" with empathy while helping people feel heard.

14:00 What the Jed Foundation has learned about protecting mental health.

20:00 Why psychological safety starts long before someone asks for help.

21:30 What most workplaces still misunderstand about mental health.

27:00 Why purpose gives people a reason to keep going.

33:30 What does it take to create a culture of belonging?

37:00 Kindness as a competitive advantage in leadership.

45:30 Can failure become the foundation of better leadership?

53:00 The leadership lesson every young person deserves.

Resources + Links

Learn more about the Jed Foundation 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 John on LinkedIn: @johnamacphee

Can your greatest struggles become the foundation for your best work? What if the way through anxiety isn't eliminating it, but creating something meaningful despite it? In this episode, I sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Jerry Saltz to talk about growing up with profound trauma, living with panic attacks, overcoming envy, and finding purpose through creative work. Jerry shares how years of self-doubt, social anxiety, and rejection eventually led him to reinvent himself, why meaningful work matters more than perfection, and how embracing your own voice can transform your life. Tune in to discover why showing up, creating consistently, and letting go of comparison may be the most powerful antidotes to anxiety.

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

Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order

Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals

Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why anxiety can show up as overwork, perfectionism, and the need for control.

03:15 How childhood experiences shape the way you work and cope with stress.

07:45 Why the routines you rely on may be helping you more than you realize.

11:15 How can you move forward after growing up in a chaotic environment?

16:00 What panic attacks taught Jerry about fear, identity, and purpose.

19:00 How do you stop comparing yourself to everyone else?

20:30 Is it ever too late to reinvent your career?

22:15 How meaningful work can replace resentment with purpose.

24:15 Can social anxiety become a creative strength?

29:45 The mindset shift that helps you stop waiting and start creating.

31:15 How creating consistently builds confidence and resilience.

32:30 What does "always be around" really mean for your career?

Resources + Links

Learn more about Jerry Saltz 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 Jerry: on X @jerrysaltz + Instagram @jerrysaltz

What happens when the strategies that always worked for you suddenly stop working? How do you keep believing in yourself when success no longer feels certain? In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and author Jenny Blake to talk about financial uncertainty, career setbacks, and the emotional toll of building a business. Jenny shares what it was like to lose major clients, question long-held beliefs about success, navigate the "flop era" of entrepreneurship, and find new meaning through creativity instead of certainty. Tune in to discover how to navigate uncertainty with more self-compassion, patience, and purpose.

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

Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order

Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals

Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why everyone looks rich on the internet, even when they're not.

04:15 What if your career doesn't go according to plan?

09:15 How Jenny Blake built a successful business after leaving Google.

13:15 What happens when your biggest source of income suddenly disappears?

18:45 How do you recover after a major career setback?

20:45 How to separate your self-worth from your achievements.

24:15 Can your body tell you when you're on the wrong path?

28:45 What Bell's palsy taught Jenny about burnout and self-care.

31:00 How atypical achievers can build careers that work for them.

35:15 How permission slips can help you navigate difficult seasons.

40:45 Would you still do it if it failed?

44:00 Is it okay if your greatest success is already behind you?

47:30 Why letting go of your old identity helps you move forward.

52:00 What permission do you need to give yourself right now?

Resources + Links

Learn more about Jenny Blake HERE

Get your copy of Jenny's book, Pivot HERE

Get your copy of Jenny's book, Free Time 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 Jenny: on LinkedIn @jennyblake