Plucking Up with Liz Bohannon

Latest Episodes:

Stop Chasing Happiness: Baseline, Momentum, and What Success Actually Feels Like with Jason Feifer Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Jason Feifer is the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine, a keynote speaker, startup advisor, and host of the podcast Problem Solvers.

But the throughline of his career is not a title or a resume. It's a single skill: taking complicated ideas and making them simple.

In this conversation, Liz and Jason explore what it means to build a career that isn't anchored to a job, how entrepreneurs think differently than everyone else, and why the goal might not be happiness at all but something closer to momentum.

This one went deep fast, and it never slowed down.

Key Takeaways

Self-conceptions are powerfully limiting.
The thing that does not change in times of change.
Horizontal thinkers vs. vertical thinkers.
Opportunity Set A vs. Opportunity Set B.
You can be entrepreneurial whether or not you work for yourself.
$1 is not inherently better than $0.
Success is a state of being, not a specific outcome.
Baseline is clarity.

Timestamps

[0:00:25] Book Deal and Podcast Rebrand
[0:04:09] Nonlinear Career and Pattern Recognition
[0:08:40] Defining the Thing That Doesn’t Change
[0:10:50] Work Your Next Job Philosophy
[0:13:57] Horizontal vs Vertical Career Thinking
[0:21:39] Balancing Creativity and Strategy
[0:27:22] Personal Metrics of Success Spreadsheet
[0:31:23] State of Being vs Outcome Goals
[0:37:30] Negative Emotions in a Well-Lived Life
[0:39:39] Saying No to Misaligned Funding
[0:46:39] Emotional Baseline and Sustainable

Links & Resources Mentioned

Jason Feifer

Newsletter — One Thing Better: https://onethingbetter.email
Podcast: Problem Solvers
Jason on Instagram/X: @heyfeifer
Entrepreneur Magazine: https://www.entrepreneur.com

Book Mentioned

Mr. Nice Guy — Jason Feifer and Jen Miller (novel)

Connect with Liz

Website: lizbohannon.co
Instagram: @lizbohannon
The Plucking Up Podcast: pluckingup.com
The Boho Beat: lizboho.substack.com

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share it with a friend who needs this conversation. It's the best way to help more people find the show.

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

The Twists, The Turns & The Training Years: Jon Acuff on Building a Career Worth Having Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

This is a throwback to the classic Plucking Up format: real stories, real twists, real embarrassments. And there's no better guest for that than Jon Acuff. Jon is a New York Times bestselling author of 10+ books, including Soundtracks, Finish, and his newest, Procrastination Proof.

In this conversation, Jon takes us all the way back to tap dancing, a graveyard of GoDaddy URLs, laser hair removal jingles, and traces the slow, deliberate path that led to the career he has today. He's honest, funny, and remarkably generous with what it actually took. This one is a gem.

Key Takeaways

Your day job isn't the enemy of your dream.
The gift of invisibility.
Never attach all your bills to your dream right away.
Season-specific advice actually matters.
Starting over after success is its own kind of hard.
Know when to quit and Jon's three-question test.
If you don't define success for yourself, the world will do it for you.
"The growing is in the going."

Timestamps

[00:00] Cold open: overstimulated and under-challenged
[00:16] Liz introduces Jon and the episode
[03:37] Jon's origin story: Ipswich, MA, third-grade poems, and tap dancing
[06:35] Falling in love with advertising and learning to write to move people
[07:55] Six jobs in eight years — and why pouring into your day job matters
[08:35] The first blog, the second blog, and Stuff Christians Like
[10:41] The GoDaddy graveyard -Liz and Jon both have one
[12:27] How to know if you've found the right thing: what can't you not do?
[15:13] The Reverse Superman: vacation days, speaking gigs, and the slow build
[17:02] The gift of invisibility and writing laser hair removal jingles
[19:46] Never attach all your bills to your dream, the Elizabeth Gilbert connection
[23:30] 'I wouldn't bet against Liz': season-specific advice and the hustle conversation
[26:02] Don't use the phrase 'work-life balance' in your 20s — and why
[28:22] Leaving Dave Ramsey: the decision framework and the ego hits that followed
[30:02] Starting over after success, the thing we don't give enough credit
[31:34] Liz on loving the new thing, not the thing itself
[32:32] The peace of trying and failing vs. the weight of wondering
[39:11] Jon's three-question test for when to quit YouTube as a case study
[41:50] Liz's viral reel moment and why she doesn't care about the algorithm
[44:04] High performers and negative self-talk, who are you actually running for?
[45:04] Liz's 17-column success spreadsheet and defining success on your own terms
[49:46] Jon tells Liz she's sitting on 10 books, closing thoughts
[50:40] Jon on who he writes for and why he gives it all away

Links & Resources Mentioned

Jon Acuff

Jon's website: https://www.jonacuff.com
Procrastination Proof: https://www.jonacuff.com/procrastinationproof
All It Takes Is a Goal: https://www.jonacuff.com/allittakesisagoal
Jon on Instagram: @jonacuff

Connect with Liz

Website: lizbohannon.co
Instagram: @lizbohannon
The Plucking Up Podcast: pluckingup.com
The Boho Beat: lizboho.substack.com

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share it with a friend who needs this conversation. It's the best way to help more people find the show.

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

How to Process a Friendship Breakup with Laura Tremaine Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

We always talk about the romantic heartbreak of a breakup with a lover. But what about friendship breakups?

My guest today is Laura Tremaine, the author of two books on friendships and a podcaster herself. We talk about the real pain that comes with a breakup or loss of a friend. And how do we deal with it? Why does it hurt so much? And how can we cope and come up from them.

Check out the full episode!

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

How to Love People Through Trauma with Leslie Harter-Berg Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

How do you react to unimaginable trauma? And how do you keep yourself up despite the ups and downs of the community around you during this trauma?

My guest today, Leslie Harter-Berg is the author of the upcoming book, "You're So Strong." Leslie speaks about the sudden death of her husband during a family vacation and what she learned from that grief.

She speaks about the importance of showing up and NOT doing the exact-right thing. Leslie dissects how purpose and pain can coexist and why we REALLY need to get rid of the phrase "Welll, atleast..."

Check out this hilarious and insightful conversation!

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Genuine Community is NOT a Content Strategy But Creates REAL Value with Emily Hickey Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

How do brands create trust and community with their consumers?

My guest is the founder of Chief Detective, and a master marketing strategist - Emily Hickey. She is renowned for her work with Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop brand.

She speaks to me about the best branding strategy lies in creating trust, and real economic value through community and relation-building.

Let's learn more together this episode!

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Why We Need Containers to Hold Our Relationships with Christie Tate Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

My guest today, Christie Tate, is the author of the New York Times bestseller, 'Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life.' This books sparked so many people to reflect on how to become TRULY known!

As you all know, I am ALL about vulnerability and radical honesty - but Christie is this conversation had me out of my comfort zone.

This episode is such a compelling case study in to how a commitment to relational health can yield. We dive into why we need containers to hold everything we TRULY are!

Check out this very vulnerable conversation on how we can lead our relationships, families or companies in the most beautiful way.

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

Why Affection Isn’t Enough: The Real Rules of Modern Friendship with Anna Goldfarb Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

What happens when two friendship geeks get together? Well that's basically today's episode!

My guest today is one of the most trusted voices when it comes to connection and friendships. Anna Goldfarb is the author of "Modern Friendship,' a renowned book exploring how friendships have evolved and how to sustain meaningful friendships in today's world. She writes regularly for outlets like the New York Times, becoming an expert in friendship in America today.

She brings sociology, her own experiences, data and the psychology in a palatable way to the public. We discuss about how we can make our friendships the sources of a fun-filled, joyful life in today's times.

Check out this insightful and fun episode!

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Do you need a therapist…or friends? With Dr. Jaqueline Olds Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Long before loneliness became a headline, epidemic and policy issue, our guest today was talking about it and its effects! Jacqueline Olds is a longtime faculty member at Harvard Medical School as a psychiatrist.

Decades before we were talking about the social effects of loneliness, Olds was studying how disconnection affects our relationships, physical fitness and mental health. With bestsellers like the Lonely American, Olds is truly the trailblazer providing us with the insights and wisdom with regards to social isolation.

We talk about the difficult question - do we just simply need each other and genuine, vulnerable relationships instead of outsourcing our inner struggles?

Check out this deeply insightful conversation with Dr. Olds!

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How to Live Near Your Friends Part 2 with Phil Levin Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

This conversation REALLY needed a part 2! Phil Levin is a community strategist, urban planner and founder Live Near Friends, a social real estate platform. Phil just doesn't talk the talk - he is walking the walk, living in a proximate community with friends!

We continue our reflective and fun-filled conversation on building thriving communities. Check out Part 1 if you haven't!

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How To Live Near Your Friends in a Modern, Urban Community with Phil Levin Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

The Holiday spirit of living and spending time with our loved ones and communities, certainly makes us ask the question - How do we build a thriving, modern urban community in the modern times? Phil Levin is a community strategist, urban planner and founder Live Near Friends, a social real estate platform. Phil just doesn't talk the talk - he is walking the walk, living in a proximate community with friends!

In our conversation, we compare our real-life experiences, building and sustaining these communities. We spoke on things we agreed on and also didn't!

This conversation is split into two parts - we really had a great time relating and chatting! Check out Part 1 now!

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

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Plucking Up with Liz Bohannon

Key Takeaways