Challenge Your Thinking with Dr. Linda Tucker

Tara Mohr, author of Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead-- is here to help us identify the ways that sabotage us in making our own unique and  positive difference in the world. Tara is here to remind us that if we want to live a life with no regrets, we have to step into the light. She dispels the myth that success will diminish self-doubt, as our fear is the hitchhiker that will be right there with us along for the ride. So instead of waiting for the exact right conditions before you start testing the waters, the best time to keep moving forward is here and now. Bestselling authors such as Elizabeth Gilbert have praised Tara's work, and for good reason. As you'll discover throughout this interview, Tara has translated her passion for empowering women into practical advice and tools that are timely especially today as we are witnessing an overdue shift in our culture towards women.as we are witnessing a shift in our culture. I'm excited to share Tara's valuable insight on how to stop playing it safe and start playing it big with our one and only life.

Bob Proctor is widely regarded as one of the living masters and teachers of The Law of Attraction and has worked in the area of mind potential for close to 50 years. He is the best-selling author of "You Were Born Rich," and has transformed the lives of millions through his books, seminars, courses and personal coaching. He is known as a direct link to the modern science of success, stretching back to Andrew Carnegie, the great financier and philanthropist. Carnegies's secrets inspired and enthused Napoleon Hill, whose book "Think and Grow Rich," in turn inspired a whole genre of success philosophy books. Napoleon Hill, in turn, passed the baton on to Early Nightingale who has since placed it in Bob Proctor's capable hands." Bob also appeared as one of the lead interviews in the blockbuster hit, "The Secret" and he is here to share his wisdom with us and help us celebrate our 100th interview.

Sudeep Balain happens to be last year's most listened to guest and the first time I have brought someone back twice. This time we spoke while he was traveling and if you have yet to meet Sudeep he is hard to forget. When I first had the opportunity to talk with him last fall he had published a book called You are Love, and our conversation was so rich and his journey so interesting that I decided to check in on him again because knowing Sudeep, he would have more insights to share with us. So if you haven't listened to our first interview please consider doubling back and listening to it for greater context and if not I'm still convinced there may be something for you. In Sudeep's book he takes us on his journey from a successful, monied career and sixteen year marriage until his world came crumbling down with the news his wife and children were leaving him. The news left him reeling and sent him searching around the world to sit at the feet of spiritual gurus he hoped could help him to find the answers he craved. Instead, Sudeep has become a master of learning the value of sitting with his feelings and the ambiguity that life often has to offer us. Whether or not you have the desire to travel to an ashram in an attempt to uncover life's meaning, I think we all can relate to Sudeep's desire to understand his place in the world and to cut through the noise of our lives with our most honest questions. 

Lindsey Jacobellis went to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy as the American snowboarding favorite. After a split second decision on her last jump she walked away as one of the "Unluckiest Olympian's" ever watched. At the age of 19 she became the target of too many naysayers and critics to count. It didn't seem to matter that she walked away having won the Silver Medal. Her critics wanted blood and there were more of them than most of us will ever have to face. At last count there were almost 30K articles written about her. It's been a long road for Lindsey since that day in 2006 and she has learned much about herself and her sport. Along the way she has become the current record holder for the most Gold medals won by any female at the Winter X Games and is once again heading towards the possibility of Olympic Gold. In our interview, Lindsey opens up about how she is facing those literal and figurative mountains again with a newfound mindset: that winning or losing she will not let either define her identity. She is here to remind us that when we learn to live through a loss, we often come out stronger and more prepared to handle a win. Set to compete in the 2018 Pyongyang Winter Olympics as "one of the athletes to watch" all eyes will once again be on Lindsey Jacobellis, however, this time she will be back with a secret weapon---a rooted self-assurance that no medal will ever be able to take away again.

Kate T. Parker has taken her skill and creativity and blended it to help reshape and expand our culture's concept of female beauty by empowering girls to believe that real beauty and strength lies in being 100% genuine. Kate's book, "Strong is the New Pretty," is a collection of 175 photographs that explore and celebrate beauty based on authenticity. As a mother of daughters herself, this topic is deeply personal for Kate, and as you'll soon discover, her passion for supporting and empowering girls is an important message... one that all too many brush aside. Alongside the launch of her book, Kate has extended her philanthropic efforts to partner with organizations like Girls on the Run and The Bully Project, investing in girls' health and education and has also collaborated with brands like Athleta, Kellogg's and Oxygen. Whether you are a parent of girls or know one this episode is for you. If we want to live in a world where our girls get to play an active role in shaping the future, then we've got to begin the work of empowering them now.  And Kate's here to tell us what we can do to join that team.

Dr. Barry Schwartz, is here to explain why more choices are making us miserable. Contrary to conventional thinking that we can make better choices when we have endless options his 2004 book "The Paradox of Choice," explains that instead of succumbing to the pressure of needing to make the best decision in every situation he is here to discuss the power of "good enough." Barry offers us both practical advice on how to navigate a world of endless choice, as well as gives us a fresh take on wisdom for the modern age. If you struggle with making decisions listening to Barry discuss his research and perspective may possibly have you walking away transformed because if "good enough" really does promise less anxiety and a more satisfied existence, then it is an option at least worth considering.

Bill Hayes will be the first to tell you that when you lose someone dear to you, you learn what it's like to live with a void. You become familiar with the emptiness of your bed, and you will likely find yourself aching to tell the one you lost something, anything about your day, about your life. No matter how long they've been gone, their memory is most often pervasive---their life is still an intimate part of yours. You will probably even find yourself hoping for a sign, even look for some sign that they're still with you. So how do you go on living when someone you love is no longer physically there to share it with and make life more meaningful? My guest, Bill Hayes, knows the sting of loss very personally. He has lost two partners throughout his life, and as a writer and photographer, he prolifically shares his experience in a way that will likely help others feel less alone in the world. He's written four books, and is a frequent contributor to the New York Times. He also happens to struggle with insomnia, which he has described in his recent memoir, Insomniac City. Bestselling author Anne Lamott praised Bill's work as "A beautifully written once-in-a-lifetime book, about love, about life, soul, and the wonderful loving genius Oliver Sacks, and New York, and laughter and all of creation."  As you'll soon come to discover in our conversation, Bill has a gift for preserving and magnifying the tender details of life in a way that will hopefully make you want to live your own to the fullest, and he possesses a wisdom I'm convinced can only be found in someone who has had to grapple with moving forward in the face of devastating loss.

Dr. Judson Brewer is someone who has dedicated his career to uncovering the benefits of paying attention, or what is typically known as mindfulness. He is the Director of Research at the Center for Mindfulness and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine.  In his new book, "The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love – Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits," he unpacks the science behind the many different kinds of addiction and how we can conquer them. He is an important voice in the relatively young field of mindfulness research because he makes it accessible to all of us, not just those who "meditate." Mindfulness isn't one more thing we have to mindful of; rather, If we can stay curious, we can stay mindful. And when we are mindful, we can then remain more present to our one and only precious life.

Rebekah Gregory has endured a hell many might not recover from.  She and her son were standing three feet away from the explosion that rocked the Boston Marathon in 2013. In a moment of sheer terror her life and her sons was changed forever. Many survivors were left to piece together their shattered and disrupted lives that day. As hard to believe as it sounds, Rebekah is one of the survivors who will remind us that the broken pieces we are sometimes dealt can be used to build something even stronger than before. In her new book, "Taking My Life Back," she describes how she has found a way to be gentle towards herself in her recovery while also pushing forward to offer others hope in the midst of their pain. She shows us that while we might all have difficult chapters in our lives, the story can move forward. And while we might not see or understand how the broken pieces in our lives could possibly fit together again when the pain is overwhelming, she reminds us that there is still hope to be found on the other side of tragedy.

Lainey Morse knows more than most that finding those peaceful moments where we can heal can be hard to come by. So if you're someone who looks for ways of finding solace, then chances are our next guest is someone you will want to listen to. Lainey had an idea that went viral.  She bought the farm so to speak but in a good decision kind of way.  And, the name of her farm "No Regrets" says it all. Lainey's Farm and idea has gotten lots of attention lately from NPR to the NY Times and word is getting around because she found a creative way to create a uniques place for others to disconnect from their stressful schedules and immerse themselves in nature. Lainey's idea is yoga with a twist or a hoof--yoga with goats that is--And you'll soon hear for yourself just how unique that twist actually is. Lainey's understands firsthand what it feels like to have your world crumble beneath you, and how to dig deep for the tenacity to keep going and she is here to share her back to nature discovery with us. I hope you enjoy this story and country air as much as I did.