How to Handle Anxiety About Difficult Conversations with Amy Gallo

Do you avoid difficult conversations because you don't want to make things worse? You're not alone. Many of us avoid conflict because it feels uncomfortable, but avoiding it often creates even more stress, uncertainty, and anxiety. In this episode, I sit down with workplace conflict expert Amy Gallo to talk about why healthy conflict is an essential leadership skill and how you can approach difficult conversations with more confidence. We talk about how emotional flooding affects difficult conversations, why shame often keeps us from speaking up, and Amy's 4-step framework for handling difficult conversations with more clarity and confidence. Tune in to discover a healthier way to approach difficult conversations. Check out our sponsors: HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year! Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend. Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER. Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today! In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why does avoiding conflict make you even more anxious? 03:15 How Amy Gallo became fascinated by workplace conflict. 06:00 Can healthy conflict actually strengthen your relationships? 07:30 How emotional flooding can derail difficult conversations. 10:15 Why avoiding conflict creates long-term stress and anxiety. 12:00 What's stopping you from speaking up? 14:15 Shift from winning the argument to solving the problem together. 18:15 Ways to practice conflict in everyday situations. 23:30 Amy Gallo's 4-step framework for difficult conversations. 27:15 How to identify what really matters before the conversation begins. 30:00 When should you compromise, let it go, or walk away? 33:00 What to do after a difficult conversation doesn't go as planned. Resources + Links Get a copy of Amy Gallo's book, Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Amy: on LinkedIn @amyegallo + Instagram @amyegallo

Do you feel like you're constantly choosing between your career, your children, and yourself? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Ann Welsh, a therapist and psychologist, about why women are taught to see motherhood and ambition as opposing forces. We dive into the ambition paradox and how motherhood challenges you to rethink what success really means. We also discuss the power of small changes, reconnecting with joy and hobbies, the difference between healthy and unhealthy striving, and how to separate your worth from achievement, money, and status. Tune in to learn how to pursue what you want while creating a version of ambition that feels sustainable and true to you. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.  Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.  IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.  Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 The expectations women carry into motherhood and their careers. 03:45 Rethinking ambition as motherhood changes your identity and priorities. 06:00 The motherhood advantage and how becoming a mother can strengthen your career. 11:00 What is an ambition paradox? 16:00 How perfectionism, people pleasing, and pretending fuel the ambition paradox. 20:00 Why achievement-driven habits can stop working in motherhood. 23:45 When feeling unhappy doesn't mean you need to blow up your life. 27:30 How small shifts can create sustainable change. 33:30 What are the different kinds of ambition? 38:00 Separating money, achievement, and success from your sense of worth. 42:00 What is healthy versus unhealthy striving? 46:15 What it takes to pursue ambition in a sustainable way. 52:45 An exercise for letting go of expectations that no longer fit. Resources + Links Get a copy of Ambitious Mother HERE Learn more about Dr. Anne Welsh HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Anne: on LinkedIn @drannewelsh + Instagram @drannewelsh

How can leaders create healthier, more intentional workplaces while navigating anxiety, uncertainty, and remote work? In this classic episode, I talk with Jacqui Brassey, co-leader at the McKinsey Health Institute, and Vivek Bapat of SAP on the connection between leadership, mental health, and workplace culture. We dive into how toxic behavior fuels anxiety, why emotional flexibility and psychological safety matter, and how leaders can create space for people to bring their whole selves to work. We also talk about intentional communication, building relationships in remote and hybrid teams, and why empathy, listening, and healthy boundaries are essential to leading well. Tune in to discover what it really takes to create a workplace where people can feel supported, connected, and able to do their best work. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.  Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.  IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.  Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why mental health is essential to organizational health. 06:15 The anxiety that keeps people from speaking up, taking risks, and sharing ideas. 08:45 Toxic behavior, stress, and the cycle that fuels workplace anxiety. 13:00 How workplace culture affects individual and team well-being. 16:30 Why mental health benefits alone can't fix a toxic team culture. 21:30 What is authentic confidence? 26:30 Why leaders need to embrace uncertainty and let go of control. 30:15 How leaders can create psychological safety at work. 34:00 How openness can strengthen remote teams and relationships. 37:15 Lessons from 16 years of leading remotely. 43:15 What companies risk when productivity becomes the only measure of remote work. 49:00 How deep listening can help managers show they care. 51:00 What leaders can learn when they fail to notice someone is struggling. 53:30 How can leaders use boundaries to support their team's mental health? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Jacqui on LinkedIn: @jacquibrassey Follow Vivek on LinkedIn: @vivekbapat

What if anxiety isn't something you need to eliminate, but something you can learn to work with? In this episode, I sit down with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Global Multi-Asset at T. Rowe Price, to explore how personality, stress, and anxiety shape the way we lead and perform. We share how to use anxiety as fuel, the difference between mastery and ego, why relationships matter to high performance, and what high achievers can learn from sports psychology. Tune in to discover how to pursue excellence without losing sight of your wellbeing. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.  Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.  IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.  Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does leadership mean to you? 05:30 How your personality can shape the way you lead and perform. 08:15 Why listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills. 13:00 How sports psychology helps you reframe anxiety as fuel.  15:00 Why stress led Sébastien to study the psychology of leadership. 19:00 What positive psychology teaches you about high performance. 22:30 Why the joy of work matters for high achievers. 27:30 What is the difference between mastery and ego? 29:00 How relationships and teamwork can improve performance. 32:00 How individual performance and collaboration can work together. 38:30 What will AI mean for the future of work? 40:30 How anxiety can shape the way you lead and perform. 45:00 What Simone Biles can teach us about mental health and performance. 48:45 How past experiences shape your emotional reactions. 51:15 What losing can teach us about resilience. 55:00 How thinking about death can put everyday challenges into perspective.  Resources + Links Get a copy of Sébastien‘s book The Psychology of Leadership HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Sébastien: @sebastien-page

What does it take to keep leading when depression tells you that you can’t go on? In this classic episode, I talk with Paul Greenberg, CEO of Butter Works about building a successful career while living with severe, chronic depression and suicidal thoughts. Paul shares how he kept showing up for work, why connecting with other people gave him a sense of purpose, and what happened when decades of traditional treatments failed to bring relief. We also talk about ECT, ketamine treatment, mental health stigma, and how leaders can create workplaces where people feel safer asking for help. Get ready to rethink what strength and success can look like when mental illness is part of the picture. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.  Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.  IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.  Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 How can someone build a successful career while living with severe depression? 03:45 What does a “slog day” with severe depression actually feel like? 06:00 Can depression make you more sensitive to what other people are feeling? 08:15 How depression created a constant and destructive inner narrative. 10:45 Why achievement and responsibility can’t make depression go away. 12:45 What happens when therapy and medication aren’t enough? 15:00 What did it feel like to experience happiness for the first time after treatment? 17:30 How ketamine treatment offered relief when severe depression returned. 21:00 Why mental illness needs to be treated like any other medical condition. 23:45 How being open about treatment shaped the culture at Paul’s company. 25:15 What should you do if your workplace doesn’t support your mental health? 28:15 How leaders can help make conversations about mental health feel more normal. Resources + Links Find more about Paul Greenberg on his website https://paulgreenberg.com If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can find support through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline suicidepreventionlifeline.org If you're concerned about a young person in your life, find support and resources through the JED Foundation jedfoundation.org You can also reach out for support through the Crisis Text Line crisistextline.org Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Paul on LinkedIn: @paulgreenberg

What if the parts of yourself you feel most ashamed of are not things you need to hide or fix, but parts you need to learn to accept? In this episode, I sit down with psychologist and author Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman to talk about self-compassion, neurodivergence, shame, and what it means to find growth and meaning in the face of adversity. Scott shares why you create so much unnecessary suffering by ruminating over how others perceive you, how trusting your intentions can help you stop beating yourself up, and why you can accept and love yourself without necessarily liking every part of who you are. Tune in to discover how to stop reducing yourself to your mistakes or your past and build a more compassionate relationship with your whole self. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.  Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.  IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.  Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why self-actualization isn't something you achieve once and for all. 05:45 What is human-centered leadership? 09:00 What Maslow meant by self-actualization. 15:00 Why no one type of mind should be considered superior. 18:30 How to think about the different parts of yourself. 23:30 Can you accept all the different parts of yourself? 26:00 Why being your authentic self can feel so difficult. 30:30 How neurodivergence can contribute to rumination and feeling different. 35:00 How self-compassion changes your relationship with yourself. 36:00 Why trusting your intentions can help you stop overthinking. 39:30 What is post-traumatic growth? 42:00 Can you really grow from trauma and adversity? 47:30 What does it mean to choose growth instead of fear? 49:30 Shame, authenticity, and the courage to ask for what you need. 53:30 What does Maslow mean by being love? 55:30 Why are you more than the worst thing that happened to you? Resources + Links Check out Dr. Scott’s books, including Choose Growth, Rise Above, and Leading for Tomorrow HERE Learn more about Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dr. Scott on LinkedIn: on LinkedIn @scottbarrykaufman + Instagram @scottbarrykaufman

Can depression make success feel like something you have to keep earning? In this episode, I sit down with John Moe, host of The Hilarious World of Depression, to talk about depression, anxiety, and the ways mental health shapes how you work and see yourself. John shares how he learned to recognize “magical thinking” and the unreliable narrator of depression, why achievement can’t fill the gap between success and self-worth, and how therapy helped him challenge distorted thinking. We also talk about getting laid off, separating your identity from your work, performing normalcy, and knowing when it’s time to ask for help. Tune in to separate your worth from your achievements. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.  Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.  IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.  Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why depression and anxiety affect work in very different ways. 03:15 What humor shows about depression and mental health. 05:00 What’s the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder? 07:30 What depression can teach you about perspective, creativity, and warning signs. 10:15 Can achievement actually make you feel better? 13:00 What does the “unreliable narrator” of depression sound like? 15:00 How therapy helps identify and challenge distorted thinking. 17:15 What remains when you separate depression from your sense of self. 18:45 How getting laid off challenged John’s relationship with work and achievement. 21:15 When your identity becomes too closely tied to your work. 24:00 Do you still have to perform normalcy when you’re depressed? 27:15 How to show up at work when depression makes everything harder. 29:45 What creative professionals teach us about working with mental illness. 32:30 Why creative work can accompany mental health struggles without replacing treatment. 34:00 How does depression show up across different professions? Resources + Links Get a copy of John Moe’s book, The Hilarious World of Depression HERE! Find more resources on John’s website https://www.johnmoe.website/ Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow John on LinkedIn: @johnemoe

How do you lead at the highest level while still taking care of yourself? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. John D’Angelo, CEO of Northwell Health, to talk about what it means to lead through uncertainty, pressure, and enormous responsibility without losing sight of your own wellbeing. John shares how his emergency medicine background shaped his approach to leadership, how anxiety has fueled his drive to succeed, and why purpose, healthy boundaries, and taking care of yourself can make you a stronger leader. We also talk about burnout, psychological safety, navigating mistakes, protecting time to think, and building a trusted inner circle you can be vulnerable with. Tune in to discover how to lead through pressure and uncertainty while protecting your energy, wellbeing, and sense of self. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.  Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.  IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.  Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does leadership mean to you? 03:45 How an emergency medicine mindset helps leaders navigate uncertainty. 06:30 How do you manage worry and stay composed under pressure? 10:30 Do leaders need to make space for emotion after high-stakes moments? 16:00 How to create more effective meetings and protect time to think. 19:30 Why taking care of yourself can make you a better leader. 23:00 How to handle imposter feelings during major career transitions. 30:00 What’s putting the most pressure on healthcare today? 32:00 What does mentally healthy leadership look like? 34:15 How do you protect your energy, family time, and well-being? 38:30 How to create psychological safety in high-stakes environments. 43:45 Who do you need to surround yourself with? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow John on LinkedIn @john-dangelo-md

What if the patterns that helped you succeed are also holding you back at work? In this episode, I sit down with MIT professor Dr. Deborah Ancona to talk about how the “family ghosts” you carry from childhood can shape the way you handle authority, conflict, responsibility, perfectionism, and asking for help. We dive into how recognizing these patterns helps you understand your triggers, change behaviors that keep you stuck, and lead with greater intention. Tune in to discover how your past may be influencing the way you work, lead, and relate to others. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.  Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.  IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.  Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What are “family ghosts,” and how do they follow us into adulthood? 04:45 Can the patterns from your childhood become your greatest strengths? 09:30 Why some behaviors are easier to change than others. 14:45 How familiar family roles can shape the way you lead. 18:15 How reconnecting with forgotten parts of yourself can strengthen your leadership. 23:45 Which “good ghosts” help ambitious people succeed? 28:00 How avoiding conflict and refusing to ask for help can create anxiety. 30:30 How do you identify the ghosts you want to change? 32:45 How feedback can reveal patterns you may not see in yourself. 37:00 How role models can help you try on new ways of leading. 40:15 Are your workplace relationships repeating old family patterns? 42:00 How thinking in “triangles” can change difficult workplace dynamics. 43:30 When is it time to step away from a relationship or workplace? Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Deborah on LinkedIn: @deborahancona123

Could your workplace be making it harder for you to do your best work? In this episode, I sit down with author and neurodiversity advocate Dave Thompson to talk about designing work around how people actually function best. Dave shares what he learned from helping build a successful social enterprise with a majority-autistic workforce. We dive into neuroinclusive work, masking, and how understanding your own needs helps you do better work without constantly forcing yourself to fit in. Tune in to discover how to create more room for the way you actually work, think, and thrive. Check out our sponsors: ElevenLabs - If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, you can start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/achiever.  Granola - If meetings are eating up your day, Granola is a no-brainer. You can try it totally free - just head to granola.ai/ACHIEVER.  IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code ACHIEVER at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. Shopify - Head over to SHOPIFY.COM/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today.  Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What would your ideal workplace look like? 03:15 Why owning what you're good at and bad at matters. 10:15 How designing work for everyone can improve productivity and engagement. 13:45 How early expectations can shape the way you see your abilities. 18:45 The 5 questions that change the way you design work. 23:00 What do you do differently that helps you succeed? 26:45 How the “Busy Burner” method helps manage competing priorities. 29:00 Why your ideal work environment may not look like anyone else's. 36:30 How masking can show up in everyday workplace behaviors. 43:30 What's wrong with the way most job descriptions are written? 46:15 Why employers need to think about what they're offering candidates. 47:45 What happens when workplaces aren't designed for everyone. Resources + Links Get Dave Thompson's book, Brainstorm HERE Learn more about Dave Thompson and his work HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Dave: on LinkedIn @itsdavethompson