The Anxious Achiever

Latest Episodes:

Depression Can Be So Funny, With John Moe Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Can depression make success feel like something you have to keep earning? In this episode, I sit down with John Moe, host of The Hilarious World of Depression, to talk about depression, anxiety, and the ways mental health shapes how you work and see yourself. John shares how he learned to recognize “magical thinking” and the unreliable narrator of depression, why achievement can’t fill the gap between success and self-worth, and how therapy helped him challenge distorted thinking. We also talk about getting laid off, separating your identity from your work, performing normalcy, and knowing when it’s time to ask for help. Tune in to separate your worth from your achievements.

Check out our sponsors:

ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.

Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50.

Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why depression and anxiety affect work in very different ways.

03:15 What humor shows about depression and mental health.

05:00 What’s the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder?

07:30 What depression can teach you about perspective, creativity, and warning signs.

10:15 Can achievement actually make you feel better?

13:00 What does the “unreliable narrator” of depression sound like?

15:00 How therapy helps identify and challenge distorted thinking.

17:15 What remains when you separate depression from your sense of self.

18:45 How getting laid off challenged John’s relationship with work and achievement.

21:15 When your identity becomes too closely tied to your work.

24:00 Do you still have to perform normalcy when you’re depressed?

27:15 How to show up at work when depression makes everything harder.

29:45 What creative professionals teach us about working with mental illness.

32:30 Why creative work can accompany mental health struggles without replacing treatment.

34:00 How does depression show up across different professions?

Resources + Links

Get a copy of John Moe’s book, The Hilarious World of Depression HERE!

Find more resources on John’s website https://www.johnmoe.website/

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: @johnemoe

How To Lead 106,000 People Without Losing Yourself with Dr. John D'Angelo Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

How do you lead at the highest level while still taking care of yourself? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. John D’Angelo, CEO of Northwell Health, to talk about what it means to lead through uncertainty, pressure, and enormous responsibility without losing sight of your own wellbeing. John shares how his emergency medicine background shaped his approach to leadership, how anxiety has fueled his drive to succeed, and why purpose, healthy boundaries, and taking care of yourself can make you a stronger leader. We also talk about burnout, psychological safety, navigating mistakes, protecting time to think, and building a trusted inner circle you can be vulnerable with. Tune in to discover how to lead through pressure and uncertainty while protecting your energy, wellbeing, and sense of self.

Check out our sponsors:

ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.

Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50.

Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What does leadership mean to you?

03:45 How an emergency medicine mindset helps leaders navigate uncertainty.

06:30 How do you manage worry and stay composed under pressure?

10:30 Do leaders need to make space for emotion after high-stakes moments?

16:00 How to create more effective meetings and protect time to think.

19:30 Why taking care of yourself can make you a better leader.

23:00 How to handle imposter feelings during major career transitions.

30:00 What’s putting the most pressure on healthcare today?

32:00 What does mentally healthy leadership look like?

34:15 How do you protect your energy, family time, and well-being?

38:30 How to create psychological safety in high-stakes environments.

43:45 Who do you need to surround yourself with?

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 John on LinkedIn @john-dangelo-md

Understand Your Family Ghosts At Work with Deborah Ancona Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

What if the patterns that helped you succeed are also holding you back at work? In this episode, I sit down with MIT professor Dr. Deborah Ancona to talk about how the “family ghosts” you carry from childhood can shape the way you handle authority, conflict, responsibility, perfectionism, and asking for help. We dive into how recognizing these patterns helps you understand your triggers, change behaviors that keep you stuck, and lead with greater intention. Tune in to discover how your past may be influencing the way you work, lead, and relate to others.

Check out our sponsors:

ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.

Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50.

Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What are “family ghosts,” and how do they follow us into adulthood?

04:45 Can the patterns from your childhood become your greatest strengths?

09:30 Why some behaviors are easier to change than others.

14:45 How familiar family roles can shape the way you lead.

18:15 How reconnecting with forgotten parts of yourself can strengthen your leadership.

23:45 Which “good ghosts” help ambitious people succeed?

28:00 How avoiding conflict and refusing to ask for help can create anxiety.

30:30 How do you identify the ghosts you want to change?

32:45 How feedback can reveal patterns you may not see in yourself.

37:00 How role models can help you try on new ways of leading.

40:15 Are your workplace relationships repeating old family patterns?

42:00 How thinking in “triangles” can change difficult workplace dynamics.

43:30 When is it time to step away from a relationship or workplace?

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 Deborah on LinkedIn: @deborahancona123

Rebranding the Brain With Neurodiversity Expert Dave Thompson Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Could your workplace be making it harder for you to do your best work? In this episode, I sit down with author and neurodiversity advocate Dave Thompson to talk about designing work around how people actually function best. Dave shares what he learned from helping build a successful social enterprise with a majority-autistic workforce. We dive into neuroinclusive work, masking, and how understanding your own needs helps you do better work without constantly forcing yourself to fit in. Tune in to discover how to create more room for the way you actually work, think, and thrive.

Check out our sponsors:

ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.

Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50.

Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What would your ideal workplace look like?

03:15 Why owning what you're good at and bad at matters.

10:15 How designing work for everyone can improve productivity and engagement.

13:45 How early expectations can shape the way you see your abilities.

18:45 The 5 questions that change the way you design work.

23:00 What do you do differently that helps you succeed?

26:45 How the “Busy Burner” method helps manage competing priorities.

29:00 Why your ideal work environment may not look like anyone else's.

36:30 How masking can show up in everyday workplace behaviors.

43:30 What's wrong with the way most job descriptions are written?

46:15 Why employers need to think about what they're offering candidates.

47:45 What happens when workplaces aren't designed for everyone.

Resources + Links

Get Dave Thompson's book, Brainstorm HERE

Learn more about Dave Thompson and his work 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 Dave: on LinkedIn @itsdavethompson

Penn and Kim Holderness on Neurodivergence And The Creative Journey Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Do you ever feel like you're forcing yourself to work in ways that just don't fit how your brain works? In this episode, I sit down with Penn and Kim Holderness to talk about how understanding ADHD transforms the way you lead, create, and work together. Penn and Kim share how understanding emotional dysregulation transformed their marriage, why shame can hold people with ADHD back, and the systems they use to reduce overwhelm, unlock creativity, and work more effectively as a team. Tune in to discover how embracing the way your brain works can lead to stronger relationships, better collaboration, and more meaningful work.

Check out our sponsors:

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

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

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.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why ADHD is about more than distraction.

05:00 How to recognize emotional flooding before it takes over.

08:00 How to build a work schedule that fits your brain.

09:15 Why giving your brain room to hyperfocus pays off.

11:15 How to structure your week for more creativity and focus.

14:30 How anxiety and ADHD strengthen creative thinking.

20:15 Does creativity become harder under constant pressure?

25:15 What would a workplace designed for ADHD look like?

29:15 Advice to anyone trying to build work around their strengths.

31:15 Why creating work that reflects who you are leads to greater fulfillment.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of ADHD Is Awesome HERE

Learn more about the Holderness Family HERE

Watch the Holderness Family on YouTube 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 The Holderness Family on Instagram: @theholdernessfamily

Learn How To Handle Uncertainty With Simone Stolzoff Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

What if your biggest advantage isn't knowing what's coming next, but trusting yourself to handle whatever comes? In this episode, I sit down with author Simone Stolzoff to talk about why your need for certainty keeps you stuck and how tying your identity too closely to work leaves you vulnerable when life changes. Simone shares why uncertainty isn't something to eliminate, but a part of being human, how values and relationships provide stability when the future feels unclear, and why adapting matters more than predicting what comes next. Tune in to discover how uncertainty can become a source of growth instead of something to fear.

Check out our sponsors:

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

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

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.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why your job shouldn't become your entire identity.

08:15 What it means to commit despite doubt.

13:00 How AI is changing the way we think about work and identity.

16:45 What is a diversified identity?

18:45 How to cultivate the practice of not knowing.

21:15 What keeps you trapped in the need for certainty?

26:30 What to do when you're stuck waiting for an answer.

30:30 Advice to anyone worried about being laid off.

33:15 Finding stability in your values when everything else feels uncertain.

37:45 Can preparing for the worst reduce anxiety?

40:00 Are your fears based on facts or assumptions?

44:00 Why uncertainty makes life worth living.

48:30 Why your future self is more capable than you think.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of How to Not Know HERE

Get a copy of The Good Enough Job HERE

Learn more about Simone Stolzoff 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 Simone: on LinkedIn @simonestolzoff + Instagram @thepizza_bagel

How To Make Space For Your Soul In Midlife with Olivia F. Scott Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Does starting over in midlife feel exciting or terrifying? In this special crossover episode, I joined Olivia F. Scott from Freedom at the Mat to talk about career pivots, identity, ambition, and what it means to rebuild in midlife. We share our own experiences with burnout, rebuilding our careers, redefining what success means, letting go of external validation, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit you don't have all the answers. Tune in to discover how to navigate midlife with more courage, purpose, and self-trust.

Check out our sponsors:

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

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

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.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Midlife can be the beginning of something new.

04:00 What does it mean to rebuild your life and career?

07:45 Reinvention is possible at any stage of life.

14:15 How do you let go of your past without letting go of yourself?

16:45 What happens when you stop chasing external validation?

19:45 How slowing down changes the way you experience life.

22:30 Is your ambition serving you or driving you?

26:00 How understanding your motivations help prevent burnout.

29:15 How trusting your instincts can lead to unexpected opportunities.

35:15 What happens when you give yourself permission to rest?

38:15 What gets better about life in midlife?

39:45 What younger women need to know about midlife.

44:30 Why you should reach out to 3 people every day.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Olivia F. Scott 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 Olivia: on LinkedIn @oliviafscottmarketing + Instagram @olivialove901fm

The Four Factors Every Neurodistinct Leader Needs To Understand Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Have you ever wondered why the way everyone else works just doesn't seem to work for you? In this episode, I introduce my TAAM framework and share what I learned from my Neuro Strength Survey of more than 1,200 neurodistinct professionals. I talk about how time, attention, agency, and motivation shape the way you work and why understanding those patterns can help you build a career that feels more aligned. Plus, I share questions to help you identify your own TAAM profile and start designing work that fits you better. Tune in to discover how understanding the way your brain works can help you build a career that works for you.

Check out our sponsors:

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

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

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.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why traditional work advice doesn't fit every brain.

04:15 Why understanding your individuality matters more than labels.

06:45 What more than 1,200 neurodistinct professionals revealed about work.

10:00 Why your brain is both a strength and a challenge.

12:15 The strengths neurodistinct professionals bring to the workplace.

15:15 Why flexibility matters more than productivity hacks.

17:15 What is the TAAM framework?

20:15 Rethink your relationship with time at work.

24:15 What helps your attention thrive instead of drain.

26:30 How agency shapes your experience at work.

30:30 What drives your motivation at work?

33:30 How to create your own TAAM profile.

38:00 Example of the TAAM framework in action.

42:15 Answering common questions about TAAM, values, and accommodations.

Resources + Links

Take the Neurostrength Survey HERE

Download the TAAM Profile Worksheet HERE

Pre-order The Atypical Achiever 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

NBA Great Kevin Love on Trying to Achieve His Way Out of Depression Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Have you ever tried to achieve your way out of anxiety or depression? What happens when reaching your biggest goals still doesn't make you feel like you're enough? In this episode, I sit down with NBA champion and mental health advocate Kevin Love to talk about the anxiety, depression, and constant sense of dread that existed alongside his extraordinary success. Kevin opens up about the panic attack that changed his relationship with mental health, the pressure to prove himself, and why achievement, fame, and money could never fill the void. We also break down perfectionism, overwork, social anxiety, vulnerability, and the complicated relationship between ambition and mental health. Tune in to learn how changing your relationship with achievement can create more room for self-acceptance, connection, and joy.

Check out our sponsors:

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

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

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.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

In This Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why Kevin Love decided to speak publicly about his mental health.

04:15 The panic attack that forced Kevin to confront his mental health.

05:00 What happens when you try to achieve your way out of depression?

12:45 Can understanding your mental health make you a better teammate?

14:15 The freedom that comes from separating yourself from your performance.

16:00 When the thing you love becomes your only source of identity.

18:00 What high achievers can learn from failure.

23:15 The fear of being judged after opening up about mental health.

26:15 Why overwork can't fill the emotional void.

27:30 What social anxiety looks like when you're constantly in the public eye.

30:45 Learning to give yourself permission to experience joy.

32:15 How do you redefine achievement without losing your ambition?

Resources + Links

Learn more about the Kevin Love Fund 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 Kevin Love Fund: @kevinlovefund

HeartMath: The Science of HRV with Dr. Deborah Rozman Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Do you know how to bring yourself back to balance when stress and anxiety take over? In this episode, I sit down with HeartMath president and co-CEO Dr. Deborah Rozman to talk about how stress, anxiety, and emotions affect your heart, brain, and nervous system. Deborah breaks down what heart rate variability measures, what it means to move into a state of coherence, and why staying activated by stress for too long can drain your energy and performance. We also did the Quick Coherence Practice to reset when you're triggered or regain clarity during a stressful day. Tune in to learn how to feel calmer, clearer, and more resilient under pressure.

Check out our sponsors:

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

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

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.

IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order

DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER

Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription

Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 How nervous system regulation supports focus and performance at work.

05:30 What is the relationship between your emotions and your nervous system?

08:00 How stress and positive emotions create different heart rhythm patterns.

12:00 What’s the difference between heart rate and heart rate variability?

17:15 How frustration shifts your heart rhythm and stress response.

20:15 The Quick Coherence practice you can use when you're triggered.

26:30 Can anxiety actually help you perform better?

30:00 How staying stuck in stress drains your energy over time.

33:15 Ways to bring heart-brain coherence into your workday.

38:00 Is emotional regulation the same as suppressing your feelings?