The Anxious Achiever

YAP Media
YAP Media
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Management
  • Every two weeks

Host Morra Aarons-Mele is on a mission to reframe how we think about anxiety and mental health in the workplace. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. We desperately need better models for leadership and a more holistic view of mental health. Our culture tells those of us who suffer from anxiety and depression that we can’t succeed, but we tell a different story — without sugarcoating the tough stuff. We feature stories from people who’ve been there and experts who can help you thrive. Listen in your favorite podcast app: https://pod.link/1480904163 For ad inquiries, please reach out to: Network+TAA@yapmedia.com

  1. 1 day ago

    Toxic Bosses, Perfectionism, And Healing At Work with Susan Schmitt Winchester

    Does perfectionism feel like the reason you're successful and the thing that's exhausting you at the same time? In this episode, I sit down with author and workplace expert Susan Schmitt Winchester to talk about the roots of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the constant need for external validation. Susan shares how childhood experiences follow you into the workplace, why everyday triggers send you into old patterns of fear and self-doubt, and ways to regulate your response. Tune in to learn how to loosen perfectionism's grip without giving up your ability to do great 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 When perfectionism makes you feel like nothing is ever good enough. 03:15 When the need to prove yourself becomes a pattern. 07:45 How fear of failure keeps perfectionists chasing external validation. 11:45 Can your purpose become bigger than your fear of judgment? 16:15 Turning the workplace into a laboratory for emotional healing. 18:15 What “bumper car moments” can teach you about your emotional triggers. 21:15 How to regulate your response before anxiety takes over. 26:15 Are you reacting to reality or a story you've created? 27:15 The 3 steps for changing your automatic reactions at work. 33:45 Perfectionism can move mountains, but it comes at a cost. 36:00 What makes perfectionism so brittle? 38:15 Separating your adult self from the patterns that once kept you safe. 42:15 Tools for managing perfectionism at work. 45:00 Giving yourself permission not to react immediately. Resources + Links Learn more about Susan Schmitt Winchester 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 Susan: on LinkedIn @susanschmittwinchester + Instagram @susanjschmittwinchester

  2. 3 days ago

    The Hard Work of "Daughtering" With Dr. Allison Alford

    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. 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 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

  3. 30 Jul

    Anxiety and Trust In The New Media Economy With CEO Dan Granger

    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

  4. 23 Jul

    "My Anxiety" With Legendary Art Critic Jerry Saltz

    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

  5. 9 Jul

    Unpacking Money Trauma with Shannah Game

    Could the way you think about money have more to do with your childhood than your bank account? In this episode, I sit down with personal finance expert Shannah Game to talk about why your relationship with money is often shaped long before you earn your first paycheck. We dive deep into money trauma, the stories we attach to spending and saving, and how those patterns influence our careers, relationships, and sense of self. Shannah also shares ways to respond differently to financial triggers and build healthier habits that align with the life you want. Get ready to rethink your relationship with money. 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 How childhood experiences shape your money habits and beliefs. 05:00 Why money is about so much more than dollars and cents. 07:15 How your money story influences your work and relationships. 12:00 A question that helps uncover your beliefs about money. 16:15 What is money trauma? 19:15 How to recognize your financial triggers before they take over. 22:00 How to interrupt unhealthy money habits with healthier thought patterns. 24:45 An exercise for changing your emotional response to money. 26:15 How do you build systems that reduce financial anxiety? 28:30 Why creating a regular "money date" builds confidence instead of fear. 30:00 What is financial self-actualization? 33:00 The 100-day challenge that helps you rethink every financial decision. Resources + Links Learn more about Shannah Game HERE Get a copy of Shannah’s book Unraveling Your Relationship with Money 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 Shannah on Instagram: @shannahgame

  6. 2 Jul

    Can Passion For Your Work Drive Burnout? With Jon Jachimowicz

    Can loving your work make burnout more likely? In this episode, I sit down with Harvard Business School professor Jon Jachimowicz to talk about the downside of passion at work. Jon shares why passion isn't something you either have or don't have, but something that rises and falls over time. We also talk about why passionate employees often overwork, skip recovery, and become vulnerable to burnout, how organizations unintentionally exploit passion, and why leaders need a better strategy for helping people sustain meaningful work over the long term. Tune in to rethink what it really means to follow your passion without sacrificing your well-being. 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 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 following your passion isn't always the path to sustainable success. 04:00 How Jon's own loss of passion inspired his research. 09:00 Why passion can become one of the biggest drivers of burnout. 12:15 How passionate employees unknowingly skip recovery and overextend themselves. 15:00 Why do client and societal expectations trap high achievers into overperforming? 17:00 How do workplaces systematically confuse extroversion with passion? 23:15 Why performing passion can become emotionally exhausting. 27:15 How managers should lead passionate employees differently. 31:00 Why organizations often exploit passionate workers without realizing it. 35:15 Why current promotional career paths are broken for passionate workers. 39:15 How can companies help employees sustain passion? 43:45 The 3 different types of burnout and why they need different solutions. 45:30 Ways to recover when burnout comes from a loss of self-efficacy or cynicism. 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

  7. 18 Jun

    A Unicorn Tech Exec's Complicated Legacy of Childhood Trauma with Andy Johns

    Can achievement become a coping mechanism? In this classic episode, I sit down with entrepreneur, investor, and former Facebook and Twitter growth leader Andy Johns to talk about the connection between childhood trauma, anxiety, achievement, and self-worth. Andy shares how growing up with instability, loss, and trauma shaped his relentless drive to succeed, why panic attacks eventually forced him to confront his mental health, and how years of healing helped him realize that achievement and self-love are not the same thing. We also dive into PTSD, entrepreneurship, intrusive thoughts, overwork, and why so many successful people struggle to slow down even after they've reached their goals. Tune in to learn why healing is the most important achievement of all. 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 What’s the connection between achievement and self-worth? 05:00 What "growth" really means in the startup world. 07:15 Why entrepreneurs are more likely to struggle with mental health conditions. 08:45 How anxiety can fuel exceptional performance and success. 15:00 Why speaking publicly about mental health felt so risky. 18:30 What are intrusive thoughts? 20:30 How childhood trauma can shape adult anxiety and depression. 25:15 The childhood experiences that contributed to Andy's PTSD. 30:15 When does achievement become an addiction? 34:15 How to recognize when overachievement is masking emotional pain. 35:45 Why mental health is about more than brain chemistry. 36:45 What is the biopsychosocial model of mental health? 38:15 How your experiences shape the way you think, feel, and live. Resources + Links Read Andy's writing at https://andyjohns.substack.com 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 Andy: on LinkedIn @andrewjohns + Substack @cluesdotlife

  8. 16 Jun

    "It's Just So Enjoyable." Jodi Kantor On The Power Of Craft In A Digitized World

    How do you build a meaningful career when AI is rewriting the future of work? In this episode, I sit down with New York Times investigative reporter Jodi Kantor to talk about why so many young professionals feel discouraged about the future, and how digital shifts are reshaping our modern workplaces. Jodi shares how she survived getting fired from her college paper and dropping out of law school, and how those setbacks paved her way back to journalism. We also dive deep into the realities of AI-driven hiring, the loss of workplace autonomy, and the formula for reclaiming your agency. Get ready to rethink what it truly takes to protect your career in a rapidly changing world. 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 What Jodi Kantor believes is one of the most important ingredients for a meaningful career. 04:15 How do you think about hope? 05:45 The question that Columbia students wanted answered during a year of campus turmoil. 09:45 How technology has reduced worker autonomy over the last decade. 14:45 Why AI is making the hiring process feel increasingly impersonal. 17:00 How do you define craft? 19:45 What's the relationship between strengths, interests, and building expertise over time? 24:00 Why career setbacks are often essential parts of growth. 27:00 How to stay focused on the work instead of public praise or criticism. 30:00 How to identify the problems, opportunities, or needs you want your work to serve. 31:45 Why AI won't eliminate the need for fresh talent and new ideas. 33:00 What colleges can do to better prepare students for today's workforce. 35:15 How universities can better help students find their life's work. 38:00 Jodi's advice for anyone starting their career today. Resources + Links Get a copy of Jodi’s book, How to Start: Discovering Your Life’s 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 Jodi: on LinkedIn @jodikantor + Instagram @jodikantor

See All (345)

Trailers

Hosts & Guests

About

Host Morra Aarons-Mele is on a mission to reframe how we think about anxiety and mental health in the workplace. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. We desperately need better models for leadership and a more holistic view of mental health. Our culture tells those of us who suffer from anxiety and depression that we can’t succeed, but we tell a different story — without sugarcoating the tough stuff. We feature stories from people who’ve been there and experts who can help you thrive. Listen in your favorite podcast app: https://pod.link/1480904163 For ad inquiries, please reach out to: Network+TAA@yapmedia.com

Information

  • Channel
    YAP Media
  • Creator
    Morra Aarons-Mele
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    345
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 Morra Aarons-Mele
  • Show Website
    The Anxious Achiever

More From YAP Media

You Might Also Like