A Life of Greatness

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Esther Perel: The Truth About Why Passion Fades (and How to Bring It Back) Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Why do so many loving relationships lose their passion? Has technology changed the way we connect forever? And what does it really take to build a love that stays alive?

In one of the most anticipated conversations on A Life of Greatness, world-renowned psychotherapist, bestselling author and relationship expert Esther Perel returns to the podcast for a profound discussion about love, intimacy, desire and the changing landscape of modern relationships.

Twenty years after her groundbreaking book Mating in Captivity, Esther reflects on why her work feels more relevant than ever. She and Sarah explore why certainty has become one of the greatest threats to romance, why love and desire aren't always driven by the same forces, and why so many of us are unknowingly starving our relationships of the very things that keep them alive.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why the person who feels like home can be the last person you desire
The quiet habit that kills attraction in long-term relationships
Why great sex has less to do with compatibility than you think
What desire actually wants, and why it isn't more closeness
How dating apps and AI are quietly rewiring the way we love

Whether you're single, dating, married or simply curious about what makes relationships flourish, this is timeless wisdom from one of the world's leading voices on human connection.

Follow Esther Perel:

🎟️ Esther Perel's Australian Tour: Esther Perel tickets | Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre | Ticketek Australia

Instagram: @estherperelofficial

Website: estherperel.com

This episode of A Life of Greatness is proudly brought to you by Chemist Warehouse.

At A Life of Greatness, we believe living well begins with the choices we make every day. That's why we're proud to partner with Chemist Warehouse, helping Australians access trusted health and wellness products to support a healthier, fuller life.

This episode also features Revlon's Lipstick Gives Back campaign. For every Revlon Super Lustrous lip product purchased at Chemist Warehouse, Revlon will donate $2 to Look Good Feel Better—a wonderful program supporting people undergoing cancer treatment to feel more confident through practical workshops and support.

Choose a lipstick that gives back. Lipstick Gives Back is available now, exclusively at Chemist Warehouse, until August 19. Shop here

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow A Life of Greatness, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who would benefit from hearing it.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.

To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.

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Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.

Instagram: @sarahgrynberg

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Sarah's Thoughts: Why Some Friends Don't Clap for You Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Have you ever walked away from a conversation with a friend feeling smaller than when you arrived?

In this episode of Sarah's Thoughts, Sarah Grynberg explores one of the most difficult and often unspoken dynamics in adult friendships: jealousy.

Why do some people celebrate our struggles but seem distant when we succeed? Why can good news sometimes change the energy in the room? And how do we know when a friendship is genuinely supportive, or quietly holding us back?

Drawing on neuroscience, Sarah explains how feelings of scarcity and low self-worth can shape the way people respond to someone else's success. More importantly, she shares how to recognise the difference between isolated moments and unhealthy patterns, trust your intuition, and protect your emotional wellbeing without guilt.

This episode is a reminder that the people closest to you should never make you feel smaller. They should celebrate your growth, champion your dreams, and make you feel more like yourself, not less.

If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that true friendship celebrates your light.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.

To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.

Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.

Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.

Instagram: @sarahgrynberg

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John Edward: Everything You Think You Know About Mediums Is Wrong Jul 27, 2026

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Can mediumship be explained? Can grief ever truly heal? And what happens when science meets spirituality?

Sarah Grynberg sits down with internationally renowned psychic medium John Edward for the third time to explore questions that have fascinated humanity for centuries. With over four decades of experience, John shares what it's really like to communicate with those who have passed, the difference between being a psychic and a medium, and why he believes mediumship should be grounded in evidence and integrity, not blind faith. They also unpack the double-blind studies he took part in with researchers from Harvard, Yale and the University of Arizona, and move into grief, healing, intuition and how to better support someone navigating loss.

Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, or simply curious, this is a compassionate, fascinating look at the mysteries that connect us all. In this episode, Sarah's friend Ange even receives a reading of her own.

You'll learn:

The real difference between a psychic and a medium
How John receives messages from loved ones who have passed
What decades of scientific testing revealed about mediumship
How to support someone grieving, and what not to say
Why saying the name of someone who has passed can be healing

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.

To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.

Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.

Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.

Instagram: @sarahgrynberg

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Sarah's Thoughts: The Testaments Is Reality Jul 23, 2026

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What if The Testaments isn't a dystopian fantasy... but a warning?

In this episode of Sarah's Thoughts, Sarah Grynberg reflects on Margaret Atwood's The Testaments and the uncomfortable parallels between fiction and the reality millions of women are facing today.

From Afghanistan, where girls are denied education and women are stripped of basic freedoms, to Iran, where women continue to risk their lives for acts of resistance, Sarah explores how oppression rarely arrives all at once. Instead, it happens gradually—through small compromises, quiet acceptance, and the slow normalisation of what once seemed unimaginable.

Drawing on neuroscience and psychology, Sarah explains why our brains are wired to adapt, even when our freedoms are being eroded, and why that makes vigilance more important than ever.

This isn't just a conversation about a television series. It's an invitation to pay attention, to question what we accept, and to recognise that freedom is never guaranteed—it must be protected by every generation.

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.

To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.

Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.

Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.

Instagram: @sarahgrynberg

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Christian O'Connell: How to Manage Anxiety and Feel Confident in Any Room Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

What if confidence wasn't about becoming someone else, but finally allowing yourself to be who you've always been?

In this honest and often hilarious conversation, Sarah Grynberg welcomes back beloved broadcaster, comedian and bestselling author Christian O'Connell to explore his new book, The Radical Act of Being Yourself. Together they unpack why so many of us silence ourselves, perform versions of who we think we should be, and lose confidence in the moments that matter most.

Drawing on more than 30 years behind the microphone, Christian reveals why real confidence has almost nothing to do with saying the perfect thing, and everything to do with self-worth, vulnerability and connection.

He opens up about anxiety and panic attacks, the practices that changed his relationship with fear, storytelling, grief, comedy and why laughter is one of the most powerful ways we connect.

If you have ever second-guessed yourself, worried what others think, or felt like you're living by someone else's script, this episode is a reminder that everything shifts the moment you stop performing and start being yourself.

You'll learn:

Why true confidence comes from authenticity, not perfection
How to quiet your inner critic and self-doubt before high-pressure moments
Practical tools to manage anxiety, panic attacks and nervousness
Why vulnerability builds deeper relationships and trust than perfection ever could
How storytelling, humour and honesty create real human connection

Whether you are navigating work, relationships, parenting, a hard conversation or your own self-talk, this is a conversation about confidence, courage and self-acceptance that will stay with you long after it ends.

Follow A Life of Greatness for weekly conversations on mindset, confidence, personal growth, psychology and living with purpose.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

01:43 – Christian O'Connell returns to A Life of Greatness

04:28 – Why he finally wrote The Radical Act of Being Yourself

05:30 – Confidence, communication and self-worth

06:30 – Why authentic conversations change everything

08:03 – The terrifying speech that changed his life

11:18 – How to speak in public when you have no confidence

14:28 – Why memorising your words never works

17:26 – The Toy Story lesson that says everything about life

19:47 – Should you apply for jobs you're not qualified for?

22:40 – The conversations that quietly shape your life

24:14 – How to become more authentic

27:04 – Escaping the persona you built to survive

30:08 – Living with panic attacks before going live on air

34:25 – Why vulnerability is the key to real connection

36:43 – Breathwork, EFT and tools to overcome anxiety

42:38 – Spirituality, David Whyte and finding the sacred

45:37 – Why laughter is one of life's greatest gifts

51:12 – Can humour actually be learned?

54:52 – Finding extraordinary stories in an ordinary life

56:00 – Lessons on comedy from Ricky Gervais

Purchase Christian's new book: The Radical Act of Being Yourself

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.

To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.

Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.

Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.

Instagram: @sarahgrynberg

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Sarah's Thoughts: I Will Judge Nothing That Occurs Today Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

What if one of the biggest drains on your energy isn't what happens to you, but the judgments you make about it?

In this episode of Sarah's Thoughts, Sarah explores a simple but powerful idea from A Course in Miracles: "I will judge nothing that occurs today." She reflects on how quickly we form opinions about people, situations and ourselves, often without even realising it, and how those judgments can quietly shape our experience of the world.

You'll learn:

• Why judgment is often an automatic habit rather than a conscious choice

• How to create space between an event and the story you attach to it

• Why curiosity can be more powerful than certainty

This episode is a gentle invitation to notice your assumptions, question your conclusions, and move through life with a little more openness and a little less certainty.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.

To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.

Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.

Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.

Instagram: @sarahgrynberg

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Dita Von Teese: The Art of Becoming Exactly Who You Want to Be Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

What if confidence isn’t something you’re born with, but something you create?

In this captivating conversation, Sarah Grynberg sits down with the incomparable Dita Von Teese, the undisputed Queen of Burlesque, to explore the mindset, discipline and self-belief behind one of the world's most recognisable personal brands. From growing up in a small town in Michigan to becoming an international icon of glamour, Dita shares how curiosity, creativity and authenticity shaped a career that didn't exist until she created it herself.

Together, they discuss the misconceptions surrounding confidence, beauty and femininity, why reinvention has been at the heart of Dita's success, and the importance of embracing your individuality in a world that constantly encourages comparison. Dita also opens up about working with Taylor Swift, maintaining confidence as she ages, navigating criticism in the public eye, and the daily habits that help her stay physically and mentally strong.

Whether you're searching for greater confidence, hoping to redefine yourself, or looking for inspiration to build a life that feels authentically yours, this conversation is a reminder that greatness begins when you stop trying to fit in and start honouring who you truly are.

You'll learn:

Why confidence is built through action, not something you're simply born with.
How embracing your uniqueness can become your greatest strength.
The mindset behind creating an iconic personal brand that stands the test of time.
Why discipline creates freedom in both your personal and professional life.
How to navigate criticism without losing yourself.
The beauty, wellness and mental health practices that have sustained Dita's career for decades.
The story behind collaborating with Taylor Swift and what she learned from watching one of the world's biggest stars work.
Why gratitude and self-expression are the foundations of a meaningful life.

If this episode resonated with you, remember to follow A Life of Greatness, leave a review, and share this conversation with someone who could use the reminder that confidence starts from within.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.

To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.

Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.

Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.

Instagram: @sarahgrynberg

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Sarah's Thoughts: How To Raise Kids Who Can Handle Life Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

Are we protecting our children, or are we protecting them from the very experiences they need to grow?

In this episode of Sarah's Thoughts, Sarah explores the rise of helicopter parenting and why resilience is built through small moments of discomfort, disappointment and failure. From scraped knees to friendship fallouts, she reflects on the lessons children learn when they're given the space to navigate challenges for themselves.

You'll learn:

• Why coping with discomfort is a skill that must be developed

• The difference between a safe childhood and a sanitized one

• How allowing children to struggle can help them become more resilient adults

This episode is a gentle reminder that our job isn't to clear every obstacle from our children's path. It's to help them become capable of finding their way through it.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.

To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.

Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.

Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.

Instagram: @sarahgrynberg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Verne Harnish: From Riches to Rock Bottom and Back Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

What does it really take to build a business that thrives - not just financially, but sustainably?

In this episode of A Life of Greatness, Sarah Grynberg sits down with Verne Harnish, founder of Entrepreneurs' Organization and bestselling author of Scaling Up. After decades spent advising some of the world's fastest-growing companies, Verne shares the principles that separate businesses that simply survive from those that truly flourish.

But this conversation goes far beyond business strategy. Verne reflects on growing up in a family that went from wealth to hardship, the lessons he learned watching his father's entrepreneurial journey unravel, and how those experiences shaped his life's work. Together, Sarah and Verne explore leadership, resilience, curiosity, personal growth, and why success is built just as much from who you become as what you achieve.

Whether you're leading a business, building a career, or simply trying to create a more meaningful life, this conversation offers practical wisdom that extends far beyond the boardroom.

You'll learn:

Why every great business starts with a bold vision and relentless clarity.
The leadership habits that create high-performing, connected teams.
How curiosity, resilience and lifelong learning become your greatest competitive advantage.
Why relationships and mentorship can change the entire trajectory of your life.
The difference between growing a business and truly scaling one.
How to navigate setbacks, uncertainty and failure without losing sight of your purpose.
Why peace, love and meaningful connection may be the greatest measures of success.

Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that greatness isn't built overnight. It's created through thousands of small decisions, a willingness to keep learning, and the courage to pursue something bigger than yourself. Because the businesses that endure, and the lives that matter most, are built with purpose, curiosity and heart.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.

To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.

Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.

Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.

Instagram: @sarahgrynberg