Brad Stulberg on the Paradox of Achievement and Sustainable Success
Release Date: 02/01/2023
Ben Mattingly, MD, on How to Live, Learn, and Explore the World
Living A Life In Full
(NOTE regarding this episode: Ben and I both live in semi-remote areas with not the best internet connectivity, and this shows here-and-there in this episode with some audio-oddities. I am very sorry about that, but nevertheless, listeners can contextually understand Ben’s points when the hiccup periodically occurs.) Dr. Ben Mattingly along with his wife, , founded and own . He is also the Founder and former Director of the Wilderness Medicine Fellowship Program at Baystate Medical Center, and former Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Department of...
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Ethics, Influence, and Intrigue in Investigative Journalism by the Emmy Award Winning Peter Klein
Living A Life In Full
a documentary film exposing a significant bribery scandal within the global oil industry, focusing on the Unaoil company and the Ahsani family. It highlights the collaborative efforts of an anonymous whistleblower, investigative reporter Nick McKenzie, prosecutor Tom Martin, and anti-corruption activist Alexandra Wrage to reveal the extent of the crimes. The film positions bribery not as a victimless offense but as a harmful practice with far-reaching consequences, emphasizing its connection to other illicit activities and its detrimental impact on democracy. This film is...
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Darryl “DMC” McDaniels on Legacy, Vulnerability, and the Transformative Power of Art and Music
Living A Life In Full
As one third of the legendary rap group Run-DMC, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels—aka Legendary MC, The Devastating Mic Controller, and the King of Rock—had it all: talent, money, fame, prestige. While hitting #1 on the Billboard charts was exhilarating, the group’s success soon became overwhelming. A creative who enjoyed being at home alone or with his family, DMC turned to alcohol to numb himself, a retreat that became an addiction. For years, he went through the motions. But when intoxication could no longer keep the pain at bay, he plunged into severe depression and became...
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David Kelly, MD, on the Adventure of a Lifetime: The Great World Race
Living A Life In Full
I know that many listeners of my podcast, , are athletes, and many of them are runners – from 5ks to ultras and everything else in between. I also know that a lot of my audience members are travelers – local, global, adventure – you name it. Imagine if those interests overlapped like a Vinn Diagram where that confluence would be running a marathon, on each continent, in 7 days. Impossible? Well, no. But how would you even manage the logistics of such a challenge? That’s where Dr. David Kelly, MD, comes in. David is the Founder and Race Director of , an event in which participants...
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A Candid Conversation with the Wildly Courageous Jenny Wood
Living A Life In Full
What if I told you that the traits you need to get ahead are the exact opposite of what you’ve been told most of your life? What if instead, I told you that in order to be successful you need to be Weird, Selfish, Shameless, Obsessed, Nosy, Manipulative, Brutal, Reckless, and Bossy? Well, that’s what former Google leader and top career coach, Jenny Wood recommends. Jenny counters conventional wisdom about achieving your goals, and she gives us permission to ditch our fear and chase after what we want - unapologetically. But to do so, takes courage – what Jenny calls, Wild...
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Bert terHart’s Knack for Knocking Off the Impossible: The Transformative Power of Doing Hard Things
Living A Life In Full
Imagine logging 50,000 miles of solo sailing adventures, including a non-stop circumnavigation of the globe, and a 7800 km paddling journey across Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Or, maybe you’re more interested in entrepreneurship and making an impact in the lives of others using technology and artificial intelligence? Or, perhaps you have a desire to be an author? If so, you’re in luck, because in this episode I’m talking with a person who has done all that, and more, the remarkable polymath, Bert terHart. Bert’s certainly living his life in full, so much so it...
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The Unforgettable Lorraine K. Lee on How to Become the CEO of Your Own Career
Living A Life In Full
Are you an ambitious industrious worker and a high achiever who always delivers, but you feel stuck or unseen, and you struggle to move up in your career? Or maybe it’s your peers who seem to get all the recognition and advance, while you're wondering why you’re being left behind. And that is where can lend a hand. Lorraine is an award-winning global keynote speaker and an instructor for Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program and LinkedIn Learning, and she is the author of the bestselling new book, it’s also one of the Through her role as a founding...
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Dean Karnazes: A Life in (Full) Motion
Living A Life In Full
Dean Karnazes is a force of nature and an inspiration. He’s raced across the globe in support of various causes and modeled unparalleled perseverance and going beyond perceived limitations that serve to unlock an inner strength in others to also attain extraordinary results. He shares real-life examples that explore the topics of dealing with adversity, overcoming obstacles, setting and reaching lofty goals, the importance of teamwork - even in solo endeavors, and excelling in a competitive and complicated world. In this episode we discuss the essential ingredients necessary for...
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Racing for Her Life: The Amazing Story of Ironman World Champion and All-American Sara Fix
Living A Life In Full
Sara Fix is a powerhouse. A mother of three, a small business owner, and a woman who’s navigated life’s highs and lows—all while completing 28 Ironman races across the globe, but her biggest challenge is being diagnosed with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer, yet, she refuses to let her diagnosis define her. She continues to train, compete, and inspire others with her resilience and positive mindset. Sara's story is one of perseverance and advocacy. She emphasizes the importance of being one's own health advocate and encourages others to listen to their bodies and seek help when needed. Her...
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Daniel Kraft, MD, on Predicting the Future of Technology and Healthcare - and Helping to Create It
Living A Life In Full
Prescription medications are fairly controversial these days – cost, insurance coverage, efficacy, and too often, medications are dosed incorrectly, cause toxic side effects or just don't work. But what if we could change how we prescribe drugs, what if there was a 3D printer that could design pills that adapt to an individual’s needs, and maybe print-on-demand the medications tailored to the patient? Or what if there was a real-world device that worked like the diagnostic Tricorder we imagined watching Star Trek? How about AI-infused antiviral discoveries and laboratory-level diagnostic...
info_outlineIn this episode, Brad Stulberg shares a healthier, more sustainable model for success. At the heart of this model is groundedness--a practice that values presence over rote productivity, accepts that progress is nonlinear, and prioritizes long-term values and fulfillment over short-term gain. To be grounded is to possess a firm and unwavering foundation, a resolute sense of self from which deep and enduring, not shallow and superficial, success can be found. Groundedness does not eliminate ambition and striving; rather, it situates these qualities and channels them in more meaningful ways.
Achievement often comes at a cost. Angst, restlessness, frayed relationships, exhaustion, burnout, and even substance abuse can be the unwanted side effects of an obsession with outward performance. While the high of occasional wins can keep you going for a while, playing into the always-on, never enough hustle culture—what he calls heroic individualism—ultimately takes a serious toll, both on individuals and communities.
In his newest book, The Practice of Groundedness, Brad offers a healthier and more sustainable model for success. Interweaving case studies, modern science, and time-honored lessons from ancient wisdom traditions such as Buddhism, Stoicism, and Taoism, Brad discusses how to cultivate the habits and practices of a more grounded life and the application of the six principles of groundedness.
We wrapped up with discovering what Brad’s learned in the year since Groundedness has been out, and I must say it was as deep and reflective as you may expect from such a unique person. Brad’s work helps us all to live our lives in full, and with authentic meaning. This is a rich conversation with an amazing guy, be sure to tune in on your favorite platform.