178 episodes

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

The Anxious Achiever LinkedIn

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 514 Ratings

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

    Accent Bias: How It Impacts You and Your Work

    Accent Bias: How It Impacts You and Your Work

    Heather Hansen challenges the notion of "good" and "bad" English. Good communication is about getting the message across. She’s based in Singapore and helps executives with their linguistic and communication skills. Hansen is helping us tackle a real problem in our increasingly globalized work world: accent bias. Hansen is on a mission to help increase awareness about our assumptions of what “perfect” English sounds like-- and what we think a good leader sounds like. She explains the negative impacts that accent bias can have, and how we can fight it. 

    To learn more about Heather, check out her TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/heather_hansen_2_billion_voices_how_to_speak_bad_english_perfectly

    • 42 min
    Are You Good at Embracing Uncertainty?

    Are You Good at Embracing Uncertainty?

    Uncertainty and anxiety are highly linked in our brains: when we aren’t sure what will happen, we often go into planning, defensive mode, trying to come up with every possible scenario and ensure a good outcome. Author Maggie Jackson looks at the ways that better managing uncertainty - like anxiety - is an essential skill. Reframing uncertainty helps us perform in challenging times. Jackson shares the latest brain science and shows being more comfortable in the unknown can help our careers and our success. 

    More about her book: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/uncertain

    • 46 min
    Dan Harris: 10 Percent Happier, 10 Years Later

    Dan Harris: 10 Percent Happier, 10 Years Later

    We all have big moments that shift the course of our life - and our relationship with those moments also change over time. Dan Harris was a long time TV journalist when he had a panic attack on air in 2004. That set in motion a different course in his life - where he began meditating, finding healthier ways to manage his anxiety, and hosting the podcast 10 Percent Happier. On the tenth anniversary of his book 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Really Works – a True Story he speaks with Morra Aarons-Mele about how work and public discussions of mental health has changed, how he views his life changing moment now, and what he wants next. 

    Check out his book here: https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-10th-Anniversary-Works-dp-0063356473/dp/0063356473/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

    And listen to his podcast: https://pod.link/1087147821

    • 49 min
    Toxic Bosses, Mean Girls, and Trusting Yourself

    Toxic Bosses, Mean Girls, and Trusting Yourself

    You know the feeling when you know that something is off with a relationship at work, but feel like you can’t speak up? Many of us have felt this feeling but haven’t known how to describe it or work through it in a healthy way. Toxic bosses and coworkers are super common, and can send negative ripple effects throughout the organization, far beyond a one on one relationship. 

    Benish Shah was a trusted colleague of mine and she wrote the column “Is it Toxic?” to help workers navigate tricky situations in their jobs. In this episode, we get her expertise on how to deal with toxic bosses and coworkers in helpful and strategic ways.

    We lost Benish suddenly in December, but I’m honored to share some of the work that was so important to her and to help continue her impact. 

    Read Benish’s column here: https://www.themuse.com/advice/is-it-toxic-column-supportive-manager-180-grilling-nitpicking-micromanaging

    • 45 min
    The Toll of Selling Your Business: Two Entrepreneurs Share Their Stories

    The Toll of Selling Your Business: Two Entrepreneurs Share Their Stories

    We put so much of ourselves and our identity into our work; that’s especially true for entrepreneurs. It can be hard to deal with the emotions of selling the business you started, even when it’s the outcome you dreamed of.

    In this episode, we speak with two very different entrepreneurs about how their lives and mental health have changed over time, as they’ve created and sold businesses and changed career paths. 

    Bob Glazer is the founder of Acceleration Partners as well as the author of several books. Michael Kaplan is former CEO of Fashion to Figure, and part of the family that started the company Lane Bryant. Both share the ups and downs of their entrepreneurial journeys. 

    Learn more about Bob: https://robertglazer.com/

    Learn more about Michael: https://www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=2490
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-kaplan-7679828/

    • 51 min
    Is Your Anxiety a Habit You Need to Break?

    Is Your Anxiety a Habit You Need to Break?

    For many of us, anxiety is a partner on our journey of life: it is always there. But a helpful reframe could also be the idea that anxiety is a habit. And the good news is: habits are something we can break. We’ll learn about how to recognize these habits and change them, especially at work. 

    In this episode Morra speaks with Dr. Judson Brewer, author of “Unwinding Anxiety” and journalist Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit” as well as the new book “Supercommunicators.” 

    Check out Jud’s book here: 

    https://www.amazon.com/Unwinding-Anxiety-Science-Shows-Cycles/dp/0593330447

    You can find Charles’ books here: 

    https://www.amazon.com/Supercommunicators-Unlock-Secret-Language-Connection/dp/0593243919

    https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

    • 57 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
514 Ratings

514 Ratings

Wags Pet Club - Violet ,

Thank you!

The episode with Farnoosh Torabi hit me so hard, in all the good ways. Thank you to both for this topic.

ADAlbers ,

“wokism” will lose listeners

As a Gen X Latin female who has navigated decades of varied corporate cultures, you offer good advice that for some people gets lost in being “women of color”, and being a younger generation that lacks experience in prior decades. Everyone struggles in a corporate environment including white men, especially today.
To speak as an authority, one should be inclusive with their advice.

NurseCM ,

Trauma

Thank you so much for saying that bullying at work can be a source of trauma. While I’ve experienced many forms of trauma, being bullied at work for almost 3 years nearly broke me. I was struggling to keep going and found myself drinking to cope. I’m now 18 months sober and have moved to a different state where I had more support. Working through my trauma in therapy has been tough and my trauma still shows up from time to time. Luckily I have an incredibly supportive team at work and my boss has helped me regain some of the confidence I lost after experiencing years of bullying. I don’t think people realize how insidious bullying can be and I really appreciate the validation!

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