The Underlayer: Fear, Clarity & Personal Growth for Mid-Life Professionals

David Young
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Ever feel like you’re doing “fine” on the outside, but stuck or disconnected on the inside? You’re not broken, you’re just living above the surface. The Underlayer is a podcast for mid-life professionals navigating fear, identity, and personal growth, especially when success no longer feels fulfilling. Hosted by keynote speaker and podcast host David Young, each episode goes beneath surface-level advice to explore the deeper stories shaping how we show up at work, in relationships, and in our own lives. Through honest storytelling, psychology-informed insight, and the occasional uncomfortable truth, we unpack: Fear and anxiety that follow us from childhood into adulthoodWhy clarity and alignment feel harder in mid-lifeHow personal growth actually happens (without self-help clichés)What it means to find your voice and stop avoiding what matters You’ll hear solo reflections and conversations with personal growth experts, coaches, and deep thinkers — all focused on one thing: Understanding what’s really driving your patterns so you can move forward with clarity. 🎧 New episodes every Thursday. Start with: The Fear That Formed Me — the episode that explains why the thing that scared you most might be what you’re meant to heal. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2551407/episodes/18358211

  1. Jul 6

    Pressure, Patterns, And The Nervous System In A Hyperconnected World with Mandy Morris

    Your nervous system is not broken. It's responding exactly the way it was trained. When email, Slack, social media, and nonstop entertainment flood your brain all day, your body reads "constant input" as "constant threat." A lot of us end up composed on the outside while feeling stuck, reactive, and exhausted on the inside, and we can't figure out why. In this episode, I sit down with Mandy Morris, a licensed professional counselor, executive psychology coach, and EMDR clinician, to unpack how pressure exposes the hidden patterns running underneath high achievers.  We go deep on why insight alone rarely creates lasting behavior change, what happens to your decision-making when stress hijacks the prefrontal cortex, and how productivity and self-worth quietly fuse into a loop that's hard to turn off. In this episode, we cover: Why the nervous system treats digital overload as a survival threatHow high achievers develop patterns under pressure that eventually work against themWhy success doesn't heal you, it amplifies what's already thereThe identity crash that can follow a big goal, and the physiology behind itHow to become an "inner scientist" who notices a thought without instantly believing itA free bilateral stimulation app that can help you downshift in under two minutesIf you've ever hit a big milestone and felt a strange emptiness afterward, or if you're running on fumes and can't explain why, this conversation will give you a framework for understanding what's actually happening and what to do about it. Listen, share it with someone who needs it, and subscribe so you don't miss what's next. Mandy's website: https://internaledge.my.canva.site/ Mandy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandymorris/ Mandy's TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQOFmRwtR4o The Underlayer YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@the_under_layer The Underlayer Podcast Website: https://www.theunderlayerpodcast.com/ David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-young-mba-indy/

    58 min

  2. Jun 30

    Reframe public speaking and make it your superpower with Amy Arbogast

    In this episode of The Underlayer, David Young sits down with public speaking coach Amy Arbogast to get underneath one of the most common fears in professional life and figure out what's actually driving it. We explore a powerful question:   What if the WAY you've been thinking about public speaking is the very thing making it harder? Amy shares why reframing the goal from performance to connection changes everything: your delivery, your structure, your nervous system, and your relationship with the room. Together, we talk about early experiences that shape how we communicate, why modern life gives us fewer chances to practice out loud, and what it actually means to build confidence that holds up under pressure. This episode is a reminder that speech anxiety isn't your enemy.  It's a signal, and you can learn to work with it instead of against it. Topics We Cover: Why public speaking feels so vulnerable (and why that's actually rational)Reframing speaking as connection, not performanceHow preparation builds confidence without becoming memorizationWhat texting culture and phone anxiety are doing to communication skillsTurning nervousness into a sign you care, not a reason to stop -- What conversation, presentation, or room have you been avoiding because you're waiting to feel ready?  Say the thing out loud this week, even imperfectly. If this episode helped, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find The Underlayer. Amy's website: https://www.sparkspeakroc.com/ Amy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyarbogast/ The Underlayer YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@the_under_layer The Underlayer Podcast Website: https://www.theunderlayerpodcast.com/ David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-young-mba-indy/

    50 min

  3. Mar 5

    12 seconds, 36 words = The Best Motivational Speech of All-Time

    The Power of Pressure: How One Coach's Ultimatum Created Incredible Urgency. A slamming locker room door. A coach's warning. Thirty-six words that turned a .500 team into a wrecking crew. This isn't a story about inspiration; it's about consequences. When a high school basketball coach threatened to cancel Christmas break and institute 6 a.m. practices unless his team showed up against their county rival, everything changed. The result? Listen to find out. In this episode, we break down: Why clarity and near-term stakes outperform motivational speechesHow immediate consequences sharpen focus and elevate effortWhat leaders can learn from a full-court press and a blowout victoryA personal radio interview that revealed performance under a different kind of pressureWhether you're leading a team, running a business, or trying to ship your next project, this story offers a field-tested truth: deadlines bite harder than inspiration. Learn how to build productive pressure without burning people out. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Then tell us: What's your most powerful motivation trigger? The Underlayer YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@the_under_layer The Underlayer Podcast Website: https://www.theunderlayerpodcast.com/ David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-young-mba-indy/

    14 min

  4. Feb 26

    What if the Universe Rewards Your Next Bold Step?

    In this episode of The Underlayer, David Young sits down with business & leadership mentor Jodi Wilding to unpack the quiet ways high achievers play small: staying in safe roles, pleasing identities, and waiting for certainty that never comes. We explore a powerful question: What if the safest life is actually the riskiest? Jodi shares the turning points that pushed her toward alignment: loss, motherhood, and realizing her bold, adventurous self had gone quiet.  Together, we talk about guilt, worthiness, fear of rejection, and why belief has to come before evidence. This episode is a reminder that confidence doesn’t come from thinking more. It comes from doing. Topics We Cover Why capable people shrink themselvesReframing rejection as neutral dataBelief before proofTiny, repeated actions that build momentumSharing your real story, not just your resume One Question to Sit With What bold move have you been postponing because you’re waiting to feel ready? Take one aligned action this week. If this episode helped, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find The Underlayer. Jodi's website: https://www.jodiwilding.com/ Jodi's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-wilding/ The Underlayer YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@the_under_layer The Underlayer Podcast Website: https://www.theunderlayerpodcast.com/ David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-young-mba-indy/

    1h 23m

  5. Feb 20

    High Achiever Burnout: Why Your Goals Feel Empty & How to Reset

    Why do so many high achievers burn out? And even set goals they don't even want? In this episode of The Underlayer, David Young and Katarina Kiseli break down the psychology of high achievers, burnout, and goal-setting mistakes that lead to exhaustion rather than fulfillment. If you’ve ever felt: - Driven but drained - Successful but unsatisfied - Productive but misaligned - This conversation will help you understand why. We unpack how social media comparison, the all-or-nothing mindset, and external validation quietly shape your goals, often without you realizing it. And more importantly, we discuss how to reset. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔ Why high achievers often set goals based on external validation ✔ The psychology behind burnout and overachievement ✔ How social media impacts self-worth and ambition ✔ The dangers of the all-or-nothing mindset ✔ How to build self-awareness through the Wheel of Life ✔ What a consumption audit is (and why it matters) ✔ How to set sustainable goals that prevent burnout ✔ Why self-trust is essential for long-term success Who This Episode Is For: - High performers experiencing burnout - Entrepreneurs and executives questioning their goals - Professionals struggling with comparison on social media - Anyone interested in personal growth and self-awareness - Ambitious individuals seeking sustainable success About Katarina: A former FBI analyst, a psychologist, and a coach who works closely with high-performing professionals navigating burnout, self-doubt, and identity shifts in midlife. If you’re serious about personal growth, sustainable goal setting, and breaking the burnout cycle, subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications. Katarina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarinakiseli/ Katarina's Website: https://projectmetherapynj.com/ The Underlayer YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@the_under_layer The Underlayer Podcast Website: https://www.theunderlayerpodcast.com/ David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-young-mba-indy/

    58 min

  6. Feb 11

    Impressive on Paper, Misaligned in Life: Finding Your Zone of Genius

    Maira has spent two decades translating complex ideas into clear frameworks for senior leaders and experts, but her real gift isn’t just strategy. It’s helping high achievers identify the red thread running through their lives and turn it into a premium, sustainable offer. In this episode, we go beneath the surface of the “zone of genius.” The real Z.O.G. We unpack why so many smart, capable professionals build businesses around competence instead of calling, and why that almost always leads to burnout. We talk energy audits, intuition vs. data, childhood clues, pruning misaligned services, and how to architect a single signature offer that actually fits who you are. If you’ve ever felt impressive on paper but misaligned in your day-to-day, this conversation will hit. Highlights: The difference between what you’re good at and what truly energizes youWhy burnout is often a signal, not a weaknessHow to identify the “red thread” across your career and seasons of lifeThe hidden cost of low-ticket offers and scattered product suitesHow to design a signature offer around your one-of-one strengthsUsing intuition alongside data to make cleaner business decisionsWhy pruning services can increase margins, clarity, and momentum This episode is for founders, coaches, and high performers who are ready to stop building around obligation and start building around alignment. If it resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review to help more curious minds find The Underlayer. Maira's website: https://humairaakhter.com/ Maira's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humairaakhter/ The Underlayer YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@the_under_layer The Underlayer Podcast Website: https://www.theunderlayerpodcast.com/ David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-young-mba-indy/

    53 min

  7. Feb 6

    The Quiet Pull for Something More (And Why High Performers Ignore It)

    In this episode of The Underlayer, host David Young sits down with LinkedIn strategist and writer Allison Ditmer to explore the quiet pull for something more, and what happens when successful careers stop matching who we’re becoming. Allison shares her journey from behind-the-scenes corporate marketer to visible creator and business owner, unpacking the emotional signals that pushed her toward reinvention. Together, David and Allison examine how identity shifts, fear, and misalignment often surface long before people make a career change, and why so many high performers ignore those signals for years. This episode explores: What to do about that persistent whisper for “more.”  If you’re a mid-career professional or solopreneur navigating uncertainty, visibility, or the discomfort of putting yourself out there, this conversation will help you rethink branding, content, and career growth, not as tactics, but as expressions of alignment. Topics covered: • The emotional signs it’s time for a career shift  • Leaving corporate and the identity shock that follows  • Building a clear, credible personal brand on LinkedIn  • Why emotional connection matters more than clever content  • Writing in public as a path to authority and trust  • Newsletters as a long-term relationship-building tool  • The realities of solopreneurship: decision fatigue, sales discomfort, and resilience  • Why many service professionals eventually move toward scalable creator models This episode is an invitation to listen more closely to what your discomfort is telling you, and to build a career, brand, and body of work that actually fits the season you’re in. Allison's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonditmer/ Allison's Website: allisonditmer.com The Underlayer YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@the_under_layer The Underlayer Podcast Website: https://www.theunderlayerpodcast.com/ David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-young-mba-indy/

    55 min

  8. 12/17/2025

    Why Suppressed Anger Shows Up in Midlife (and What It’s Telling You)

    Ever feel anger rise up and wonder, “Where did that come from?” Explore why anger isn’t the problem, and what it’s been trying to protect all along.  In this episode of The Underlayer, host David Young is joined by Carolyn Warsham for a deep, honest conversation about anger, emotional health, and personal growth, especially in midlife. Together, they unpack why anger is one of the most misunderstood emotions, how cultural and corporate conditioning teaches us to suppress it, and what happens when unexpressed feelings quietly accumulate beneath the surface. Carolyn shares personal stories and professional insight to reframe anger not as something to fix or avoid, but as a signal, often pointing to crossed boundaries, unmet needs, or unprocessed experiences. The conversation also explores: Why anger often resurfaces more intensely in midlifeHow corporate culture and social norms discourage emotional expressionThe “pressure cooker” effect of suppressed emotionsThe difference between healthy anger and toxic outburstsHow therapy, coaching, and curiosity can help us process emotions safely If you’ve ever felt surprised by your own anger or wondered why it shows up when life looks “fine” on the outside, then this episode will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface. Carolyn's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-alburger-warsham/ Meet with Carolyn, https://calendly.com/carolyn-warsham-coaching/intro-with-caro?month=2025-12 Subscribe to her Substack, Awake at Work The Underlayer YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@the_under_layer The Underlayer Podcast Website: https://www.theunderlayerpodcast.com/ David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-young-mba-indy/

    1 hr
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About

Ever feel like you’re doing “fine” on the outside, but stuck or disconnected on the inside? You’re not broken, you’re just living above the surface. The Underlayer is a podcast for mid-life professionals navigating fear, identity, and personal growth, especially when success no longer feels fulfilling. Hosted by keynote speaker and podcast host David Young, each episode goes beneath surface-level advice to explore the deeper stories shaping how we show up at work, in relationships, and in our own lives. Through honest storytelling, psychology-informed insight, and the occasional uncomfortable truth, we unpack: Fear and anxiety that follow us from childhood into adulthoodWhy clarity and alignment feel harder in mid-lifeHow personal growth actually happens (without self-help clichés)What it means to find your voice and stop avoiding what matters You’ll hear solo reflections and conversations with personal growth experts, coaches, and deep thinkers — all focused on one thing: Understanding what’s really driving your patterns so you can move forward with clarity. 🎧 New episodes every Thursday. Start with: The Fear That Formed Me — the episode that explains why the thing that scared you most might be what you’re meant to heal. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2551407/episodes/18358211

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