The Science of Better Relationships: 3 Experts Share What Really Works | Spotlight Convo

In this collection of intimate essays, we explore what happens when we prioritize genuine presence over performance, deep connection over financial success, and authentic expression over social expectations. Through personal stories and practical insights, learn how small shifts in how we show up, communicate, and measure success can transform our relationships and creative impact. Whether you're feeling behind in life, seeking more meaningful conversations, or yearning to express yourself more freely, these reflections offer both comfort and actionable wisdom for living with greater authenticity and purpose.You can find Jonathan's new writing project: Awake at the Wheel | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the written essays from this episode. You can find them at Awake at the Wheel.Check out our offerings & partners: Visit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered why some people move past hardships while others get stuck in them?In this transformative conversation, Columbia professor Scott Barry Kaufman reveals the crucial difference between experiencing hardship and adopting a victim mindset, sharing research-backed strategies from his book, Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential. Learn how shifting your perspective on boredom, lowering certain life expectations, and changing simple self-talk patterns can unlock new levels of personal power and possibility.You can find Scott at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Brené Brown about embracing Vulnerability to fuel creative growth.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if showing up as your most authentic, playful self was the key to doing truly brilliant work?Bree Groff, author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously), shares her radical rules for injecting more joy, creativity and aliveness into your professional life. An eye-opening listen for anyone who wants to finally merge work and life into one joyful expression of their fullest self.You can find Bree at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Seth Godin about turning the workplace into a wellspring of fulfillment and innovation.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former college football player turned minister Danté Stewart reveals what happens when you stop shrinking yourself to fit others' expectations and start trusting your own evolution.Drawing from his acclaimed memoir Shoutin' in the Fire, Stewart shares intimate stories about navigating faith, identity, and belonging, offering a fresh perspective on what it means to grow beyond your community's boundaries while staying true to yourself.You can find Danté at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Rabbi Steve Leder about how to live, what really matters.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wonder why some relationships thrive through challenges while others crumble? In this spotlight episode, leading relationship researchers share the exact patterns that predict relationship success, revealing why conflict isn't the problem—it's how we navigate it that matters.Learn practical tools from the Gottmans' decades of research, discover how self-awareness shapes stronger connections with Yung Pueblo, and explore science-backed strategies for deepening friendships with expert Danielle Bayard Jackson.Episode TranscriptYou can find Julie & John Gottman at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with The GottmansYou can find Yung Pueblo at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with YungYou can find Danielle at: Better Female Friendships | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with DanielleCheck out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harvard professor Alison Wood Brooks reveals why those perfectly polished conversations we see in movies and TV are actually making it harder for us to connect in real life.In her new book Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves, she shares the surprising science behind why messy, imperfect conversations often lead to deeper connections, and offers her practical TALK framework for transforming everyday interactions into meaningful moments of genuine connection. Learn why face-to-face conversations generate 30 times more laughter than digital ones, and discover simple techniques for asking better questions that create real understanding.You can find Alison at: Website | Instagram| Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Priya Parker about making impossible conversations possible.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Scott Shigeoka, a queer Asian American progressive, packed everything into his Prius and spent a year seeking out conversations with people who held opposing views, he discovered something remarkable about the relationship between fear and curiosity.In this transformative conversation, Scott shares insights from his book "Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World" and reveals how genuine curiosity can turn our deepest fears into bridges of understanding. You'll learn his practical DIVE framework for navigating difficult conversations and discover why the people who scare us most might hold the key to our own transformation.You can find Scott at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Brené Brown about how vulnerability and courage can deepen the connections and transform our lives.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if those parts of yourself you've been trying to change or silence are actually trying to protect you?In this illuminating conversation, psychotherapist Tamala Floyd reveals how understanding and building relationships with your different inner parts can transform exhaustion into wholeness, offering insights from her new book Listening When Parts Speak: A Practical Guide to Healing with Internal Family Systems Therapy and Ancestor Wisdom. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, people-pleasing, or perfectionism, this episode provides a revolutionary framework for healing that honors all parts of who you are.You can find Tamala at: Website | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about using mindfulness and compassion to free ourselves from suffering.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Until 2018, we had no medications specifically designed to prevent migraines or cluster headaches - a startling fact given that headaches affect billions worldwide. In this revealing conversation, former New York Times journalist Tom Zeller Jr., author of The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction—and a Search for Relief, weaves together cutting-edge neuroscience, cultural history, and his personal battle with cluster headaches to explore why this common condition remains so misunderstood and what emerging treatments - from AI prediction to psychedelics - might finally offer real hope.You can find Tom at: Website | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Jennifer Heisz about how movement eases the mind by reshaping your brain.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psychologist Dr Elaine Aron sits down with Jonathan Fields to unpack the traits of the Highly Sensitive Person and show how this wiring can become your greatest strength in family life. Get science-backed strategies straight from her book “The Highly Sensitive Parent: Be Brilliant in Your Role, Even When the World Overwhelms You” and start turning overwhelm into resilience.You can find Elaine at: WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan David, PhD, about emotional agility.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesCheck out our offerings & partners: Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.