The School of Greatness

4.8 (21K)
Mental Health
Updated Semiweekly

Lewis Howes is a New York Times best-selling author, 2x All-American athlete, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur. The School of Greatness shares inspiring interviews from the most successful people on the planet—world-renowned leaders in business, entertainment, sports, science, health, mental health and literature—to inspire YOU to unlock your inner greatness and live your best life.

5h ago • GREATNESS+ Only

Why Forced Positivity Is Making You Miserable | Susan David

Psychologist and emotions researcher Susan David, author of Emotional Agility and editor of The Oxford Handbook of Happiness, joins Lewis Howes to explain forced positivity, emotion granularity, self bias, and why the World Economic Forum names emotional agility a core future skill, drawing on two decades of research into grief, resilience, values, and psychological safety.
5h ago

Why Forced Positivity Is Making You Miserable | Susan David

Some feelings get labeled good. Others get labeled bad. That single belief might be running your entire life. You'll hear why chasing happiness on command wears you down instead of building you up, and why the fastest path to resilience runs straight through the emotions you've been avoiding. Susan David, the psychologist and researcher behind the book Emotional Agility, has spent over two decades studying why some people bend under pressure and others don't. She breaks down the difference between having an emotion and being owned by it, using a simple image you'll carry into your next hard day. You'll hear about the notebook she started writing in as a teenager that nobody else could read, and how her father answered the one question she couldn't stop asking him. Susan and Lewis get into why negativity isn't always the enemy, how self bias quietly convinces you that other people were right about your limits, and what it actually takes to stop reacting and start responding. You are not the feeling that showed up today. You are the whole sky it's passing through. Get a copy of Susan's book: Emotional Agility Susan on Instagram Ted Talk: The gift and power of emotional courage In this episode you will: Learn why forced positivity and "good vibes only" culture quietly increases anxiety, depression, and burnout Discover emotion granularity, the practice of naming what you actually feel instead of defaulting to broad labels like stressed or overwhelmed Recognize the difference between being hooked by an emotion and simply having one Overcome self-limiting beliefs rooted in self bias by reconnecting with your own values Build real emotional agility by treating your emotions as data, not directives For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1964 More SOG episodes we think you’ll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2d ago

How Jesse Cole Turned Baseball Into a Billion Dollar Show

He slept in his socks on a garage floor because it was too filthy to touch. That was Jesse Cole eight years ago, broke, sleeping on an air mattress, betting everything on a wooden bat baseball team nobody wanted. Jesse is the founder of Fans First Entertainment and the man behind the Savannah Bananas, the "Find Your Yellow Tux" author who turned a dying college summer league into a movement that now plays in front of millions. He explains the moment he realized baseball itself was broken and why he studies Walt Disney more than any business book. He also opens up about the night his wife got a text from a birth mother on Mother's Day that changed their family forever. You'll hear how a bat trickster became a starting first baseman and how a Broadway A-lister ended up pitching in front of 80,000 fans. Jesse still signs autographs until the very last fan leaves, every single night. This conversation will change how you think about customers versus fans, and about what it actually costs to build something the world has never seen before. Find Your Yellow Tux Jesse's Instagram Jesse's books: Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas Fans First: Change The Game, Break the Rules & Create an Unforgettable Experience Find Your Yellow Tux: How to Be Successful by Standing Out In this episode you will: Discover why "whatever's normal, do the exact opposite" became the founding rule behind Banana Ball Learn how studying Walt Disney's obsession with "plussing the show" turned a dying league into a movement Hear the Mother's Day text that changed Jesse and Emily's family forever Understand why Jesse believes fans are different from customers, and why that distinction changes everything Explore the mindset shift required to go from 4,000 fans a night to 100,000 For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1963 More SOG episodes we think you’ll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
4d ago

The Trauma That Hurts People Most (And Never Gets Named) | Patrick Teahan

A calm, healthy relationship can feel more dangerous to you than the chaos you grew up in. That's hypervigilance. It hates the absence of a threat, so it manufactures one, even when you're finally safe. Patrick Teahan, a clinical social worker and childhood trauma educator, breaks down why your body still reacts like it's protecting a nine year old. You're not overreacting. You're replaying. Teahan explains how most people experience the present entirely through the lens of childhood, filtering every text and every silence through wounds that happened decades ago. This episode gets into inner child work, re-parenting, and the murky question of when going no contact with a parent is healing versus when it's avoidance. You'll hear what real boundaries look like when love and abuse get tangled together. By the end, you'll understand why healing isn't about proving your parents wrong. It's about finally believing you were a good kid the whole time. Patrick's Website Patrick's Instagram Patrick's YouTube Patrick's TikTok In this episode you will: Discover why your nervous system treats calm, safe relationships as a threat Learn Patrick's three-part healing framework of finishing business with your family of origin, re-parenting your inner child, and doing the deeper work of intimacy Understand the ACE study and why quiet, everyday trauma often does more damage than one big event Explore when going no contact with a parent is genuine healing and when it becomes avoidance Uncover the link between childhood trauma, imposter syndrome, and your ability to manifest the life you want For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1962 More SOG episodes we think you’ll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jul 31

How to Design a Life That Runs Without You | Rob Dyrdek

A clinical hypnotist told him the problem in one sentence. You don't believe, at a subconscious level, that you were meant to be successful. That was Rob Dyrdek in his twenties, long before the professional skateboarder turned MTV star turned venture studio founder built a portfolio of brands and walked away from a run of exits. He tracks every minute of his day. He rates his life, his work, and his health on a scale of zero to ten, every single night. What the data told him is not what you would expect. The discipline is not the reward. It is the entry fee. He calls what he built the Machine Method, and he applies it to everything. Companies, relationships, health, a hundred-year plan for a family that does not exist yet. The part that will stay with you is what he says about luck. He refuses to pretend he earned all of it, and he is unnervingly clear about what makes it show up more often. You are already designing your life. The only real question is whether you are doing it on purpose. Rob on Instagram In this episode you will: Learn the Machine Method, the discovery to diligence to launch to scale process Rob uses to build and sell companies Discover why he rates his life, work, and health on a zero to ten scale every single day and what the correlation reveals Overcome the stuck stress that quietly drains your capacity long before you sit down to work Recognize the difference between failing with clarity and getting blindsided, and why one is survivable Build a life design where automation comes first, optimization never stops, and the process finally starts giving energy back For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1961 More SOG episodes we think you’ll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jul 29

The Neuroscience Behind Why You Can't Manifest What You Want | Dr. James Doty

You're manifesting every single day. You're just doing it the wrong way. That's according to Dr. James Doty, a Stanford neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who has spent decades studying what actually happens in your brain when you set an intention. His new book, Mind Magic, breaks down the neuroscience most manifestation advice leaves out completely. Here's the block nobody talks about. It's not a lack of belief. It's fear. It's shame. It's insecurity running your nervous system without your permission, and it's keeping you stuck in survival mode instead of the state where real change actually happens. Doty grew up in poverty with an alcoholic father and a mother who attempted suicide multiple times. A stranger in a magic shop taught him a technique that rewired how his brain worked, and decades later he's the one teaching it to brain surgeons and first responders. This conversation gets into the exact mental shift between wanting something and needing it, why self criticism sabotages your relationships, and the small daily ritual Doty still uses to reset his nervous system every single morning. Dr. Doty's books: Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart In this episode you will: Learn the neuroscience difference between hedonic happiness and lasting fulfillment Discover why fear and insecurity are the real blocks to manifesting anything Overcome limiting beliefs using the value tagging technique to reprogram your subconscious Recognize how compassion physically shifts your nervous system and strengthens your immune response Build a daily manifestation ritual using breathwork, awe, and a simple morning mantra For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1960 More SOG episodes we think you’ll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jul 27

The Childhood Question That's Secretly Running Your Life | Aaron Doughty

There's one childhood question that's secretly running your whole adult life. Aaron Doughty asks it straight: who did you have to be as a kid to receive Mom or Dad's love? Whoever that was became the role you're still performing, the pattern you keep mistaking for your identity. Aaron built a YouTube following of over a million people teaching exactly this kind of subconscious pattern work, and in this conversation he walks through his SHIFT framework for breaking free of people pleasing, self reliance, and the need to be liked. You'll hear why the dark side of people pleasing is buried anger, why setting a boundary can make you look like the bad guy before it makes you free, and why someone else's tension was never actually your job to manage. Aaron also opens up about losing his mom, the message she sent him two hours before she died, and what he now believes real freedom actually feels like. Aaron's Instagram Aaron's YouTube Aaron's Facebook Join The Shift Academy In this episode you will: Learn the SHIFT framework for breaking the subconscious patterns that keep you stuck Discover why people pleasing is a childhood survival strategy, not a personality trait Recognize the difference between healing someone and enabling them Overcome the fear of being disliked or misunderstood Build a new relationship to boundaries, tension, and authentic expression For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1959 More SOG episodes we think you’ll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jul 24

The Real Reason Stress Is Hurting You | Kelly McGonigal

Your body can't tell the difference between anxiety and excitement. The only difference is the story you tell yourself. Kelly McGonigal has spent her career at Stanford studying that story, and how the way you think about stress can quite literally change your biology, your relationships, and how long you live. She will show you why the fear of stress may be more dangerous than stress itself, and why one built in instinct can stop you from burning out completely once you know how to trigger it. You will learn why depression lies to you, why receiving support feels harder than giving it, why your body has a built in brake pedal for temptation, and what a rescue animal can teach you about earning real connection. There is a reason movement changes your brain chemistry more than almost anything else you could choose, and this conversation will make you rethink every hard moment you have ever tried to avoid. Kelly's Website Kelly on Instagram Kelly's books: The Joy of Movement: How exercise helps us find happiness, hope, connection, and courage The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It In this episode you will: Discover why believing stress is harmful may be more dangerous than the stress itself Learn the pause and plan response, a built in instinct that can rebuild your willpower in the moment Uncover the real reason depression takes hold and four ways to work through it Overcome the discomfort of receiving gratitude and support from others Recognize the brain chemistry behind the runner's high and why it makes you more social, not less For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1958 More SOG episodes we think you’ll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Trailer

Welcome to the School of Greatness Podcast!

Welcome to the School of Greatness podcast! This is my introductory "trailer" episode if you are new to the show. Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Trailer

Welcome to the School of Greatness

Welcome to the School of Greatness! Check out the full archive of episodes at http://lewishowes.com. Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The stories you tell yourself on a daily basis determines the person you will become.The good, the bad, the negative, the positive, the uplifting, the draining – they’re all part of the equation. But YOU are the author of your life story – so, what story are you writing? Top Podcaster & Best-selling Author Lewis Howes brings you the The Daily Motivation Show, where you’ll hear from industry-leading experts, you’ll learn proven principles, and you’ll discover life-changing ideas that will help you get motivated and STAY motivated.

4.8 (903)

Self-Improvement
Your mindset can be a shield against negativity, or it can be the door that lets it in. And with so much negativity out in the world, if we don’t actively shift our focus toward optimism, we run the risk of letting it consume us. So where and how do you start? How can you develop an abundance mindset that will help you attract the life of your dreams? What steps can you take today to begin manifesting a more fulfilled life? In Manifestation & The Law of Attraction, host Lewis Howes and top experts will show you how to do exactly that. The episodes from this curated feed can be found on The School of Greatness podcast feed or can be accessed ad-free here when you become a GREATNESS+ subscriber.

4.5 (29)

Self-Improvement
No matter how ambitious, talented or intelligent you are, you’ll only go as far as your habits will take you. And by prioritizing your happiness and emotional well-being in the habits you develop, you’ll equip yourself with the tools you need to thrive through anything. But how do we get there? With all the curveballs life throws at us, how can we create positive habits that will bring us peace in times of chaos? In Happy Habits, host Lewis Howes and top experts will show you how to do exactly that. The episodes from this curated feed can be found on The School of Greatness podcast feed or can be accessed ad-free here when you become a GREATNESS+ subscriber.

3.8 (33)

Mental Health
When you learn to master your mindset, your entire life starts to change. Your relationships, your career, your health & wellness all begin with taking control of your mind – and not letting your mind control you. But how do you get there? With all of the content and endless tips out in the world, how can you determine what works and what doesn’t? How can you continue to try new mindset strategies without getting overwhelmed? In Unlock The Power of Your Mind, host Lewis Howes and top experts will show you how to do exactly that. The episodes from this curated feed can be found on The School of Greatness podcast feed or can be accessed ad-free here when you become a GREATNESS+ subscriber.

4.1 (12)

Mental Health
When you decide to learn the language of money, you begin to unlock abundance in all the areas of your life. Most of us have been taught to approach money from a place of fear – fear of losing it, fear of making too much, fear that we won’t ever make enough. So how do we turn things around? How can we begin to shift our scarcity mindset to one of abundance? How can we stop being afraid to approach our finances head on instead of avoiding them? In Money Mindset, host Lewis Howes and top experts will show you how to do exactly that. The episodes from this curated feed can be found on The School of Greatness podcast feed or can be accessed ad-free here when you become a GREATNESS+ subscriber.

3.3 (24)

Investing
Health is the fundamental building block to any fulfilled, high-quality life. When you choose to invest in your health, you’re choosing to invest in every other area of your life as well – your relationships, your career, and making your dreams become reality. But how can we stay motivated enough to continually show up for our health & wellness? And with SO much content out there on the topic, how do we know what’s true and what isn’t? In Health, Happiness & Wellness, host Lewis Howes and top experts will show you how to do exactly that. The episodes from this curated feed can be found on The School of Greatness podcast feed or can be accessed ad-free here when you become a GREATNESS+ subscriber.

4.4 (11)

Alternative Health

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Lewis Howes

Host
Dr. Susan David

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Dr. Nicole LePera

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Patrick Teahan

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Rob Dyrdek

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Aaron Doughty

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Kelly McGonigal

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Tina Seelig

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Jamie Sea

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Matthew McConaughey

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4.8

out of 5

20,607 Ratings

Learned so much from David Bayer

Jul 18

Ren Annette

Great episode. Thank you. And great to hear someone mention Florence Scovil Shinn. Her books helped me so much.
Favorite Podast

Jun 18

Natalie H S

I LOVE Lewis’ podcast and his Daily Motivation podcast. I never miss a single episode. If you’re looking for an episode to help you learn to heal core wounds and grow on every level, these are a must-listen.
Trite garbage for simple minds

Jul 14

Graeme.darkness

The first episode has a surgeon talking about a psychological issue, the problem is that he may be an expert at surgery, but he’s not at all a psychologist. I’d give this show 0 stars if I could, and even though the episode was free, I feel like I’m owed a refund. I will not be listening to anymore more episodes.
I’m you Lewis

Apr 10

zazen420

Love it all I’m going to listen to them all i binge them constantly love you Lewis 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

Lewis Howes is a New York Times best-selling author, 2x All-American athlete, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur. The School of Greatness shares inspiring interviews from the most successful people on the planet—world-renowned leaders in business, entertainment, sports, science, health, mental health and literature—to inspire YOU to unlock your inner greatness and live your best life.