At the Intersection of High Performance and Fulfillment: A Conversation with Alisa Cohn
Release Date: 05/01/2026
At the Intersection of High Performance and Fulfillment: A Conversation with Alisa Cohn
Living A Life In Full
In this episode I sit down with Alisa Cohn, one of the world’s most respected executive coaches to founders and CEOs navigating the high-stakes transition from early success to sustainable leadership. Drawing from decades of experience coaching startup founders, Fortune 500 executives, and public-sector leaders, Alisa explores the often invisible psychological work required to scale—not just companies, but leaders themselves. We examine why self-management precedes team management, how identity must evolve as responsibility grows, and what truly distinguishes leaders who mature alongside...
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From High Performance to Fulfillment: Lessons in Inner Mastery with Jim Murphy
Living A Life In Full
What does it mean to perform at an elite level without sacrificing your inner life? In this episode, Jim Murphy—former professional athlete, high-performance coach, and author of Inner Excellence—to explore the often-overlooked interior dimensions of sustained success. Drawing from decades of work with world-class performers, Murphy challenges the conventional obsession with outcomes, accolades, and external validation, offering a values-driven framework for excellence that endures. Together, we examine the psychological cost of achievement when identity becomes fused with performance, the...
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Paul Shapiro on Ethical Capitalism and the Business of Doing Good
Living A Life In Full
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Paul Shapiro, CEO and co-founder of The Better Meat Co. Paul is a visionary leader at the forefront of sustainable food innovation, leveraging fermentation and cellular agriculture to create protein-rich, eco-friendly meat alternatives. With a career spanning animal advocacy, bestselling authorship, and entrepreneurship, Paul’s mission is to transform our food system into one that is more humane, efficient, and sustainable. In this episode, Paul shares his journey from founding his first animal advocacy group in high school to pioneering...
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Michelle McLean’s Journey from Miss Universe to a Life of Global Impact, Philanthropy, and Visionary Leadership
Living A Life In Full
In this episode we explore the remarkable journey of Michelle McLean, whose rise from Miss Universe 1992 to Namibia’s Goodwill Ambassador has defined a life of purpose and lasting impact. Michelle’s dedication to children’s rights, women’s empowerment, and conservation has led her to become a visionary leader on the global stage, championing causes that uplift communities and inspire change worldwide. Michelle’s story is deeply rooted in the landscapes and people of Namibia, where she founded the Michelle McLean Children Trust in 1992. Over the years, her tireless advocacy has raised...
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The Unstoppable Missions of Noëlle Demole – From Battling Injustice to Setting World Records
Living A Life In Full
From Swiss Banking to Indian Orphanages—One Woman’s Relentless Pursuit of Justice. What does it take to dismantle systems of injustice while building hope—one child, one case, one project at a time? Meet Noëlle Demole, born in Geneva, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who juggles fighting white-collar crime at Julius Baer Bank, running a groundbreaking NGO for India’s most vulnerable youth, and pursuing a PhD in criminology at Cambridge. Her secret? Relentless planning, radical self-organization, and a vision that ties every facet of her life together. Noëlle’s journey began at 18, when...
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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...
info_outlineIn this episode I sit down with Alisa Cohn, one of the world’s most respected executive coaches to founders and CEOs navigating the high-stakes transition from early success to sustainable leadership.
Drawing from decades of experience coaching startup founders, Fortune 500 executives, and public-sector leaders, Alisa explores the often invisible psychological work required to scale—not just companies, but leaders themselves. We examine why self-management precedes team management, how identity must evolve as responsibility grows, and what truly distinguishes leaders who mature alongside their organizations from those who become bottlenecks to their own success.
This conversation goes beyond tactics and performance metrics to address the deeper questions of meaning, alignment, and human connection at the heart of leadership. Topics include letting go of control, metabolizing feedback, leading with presence, redefining success, and cultivating cultures that remain humane under pressure.
This episode is a candid, thoughtful exploration of what it really means to “grow up” as a leader—and how doing so is essential to living, and leading, a life in full.
#coaching #leadership #highperformance #success