Do You Speak Mental Health? Exploring Mental Health Literacy with Kent Coules & Donna Volpitta

What if the habits you rely on to cope with anxiety are keeping you stuck? In this episode, we explore what it really means to be “mentally healthy” and why most of us were never given the language or tools to get there. Kent Coules shares his story of high-functioning alcoholism and what happened when he stopped drinking after decades of using it to manage anxiety. We talk about why so many high achievers rely on coping mechanisms like alcohol, overwork, or constant problem-solving, and more. I also speak with educator Donna Volpitta about mental health literacy and why understanding your brain is one of the most important skills you can build. Get ready to start responding to challenges in a healthier, more intentional way. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does it mean to “speak” mental health? 05:00 How coping habits can mask anxiety. 08:30 Why addiction and anxiety are often connected. 12:30 How habit loops keep you stuck in the same patterns. 15:00 Why success doesn’t eliminate underlying anxiety. 18:00 What it feels like to face anxiety without a coping crutch. 20:00 Why recovery and regulation both happen one moment at a time. 24:00 Why are challenges essential for building resilience? 27:30 The difference between pressure and true support at work. 30:30 What mental health literacy actually includes. 33:00 Why most people misunderstand mental health and how that increases stigma. 36:00 How your brain reacts to perceived threats in the workplace. 39:00 Why fear-based environments lead to poor decisions. 42:00 How achievement culture can increase anxiety in young people. 48:00 How to start replacing unhealthy coping strategies. 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

What if better performance at work didn’t come from pushing harder, but from being more honest? In this episode, Dan Simons shares how he built a $100M+ restaurant group by doing something most leaders still resist. Dan explains how honesty at work actually helps people show up more present, make better decisions, and perform at a higher level. We also talk about how you can get better results, stronger retention, and more focused teams by creating a workplace where people don’t have to hide what’s going on with them. Tune in to discover how to turn radical honesty into a competitive advantage. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why honesty matters more than “vulnerability” in leadership. 02:20 How did you build a $100M business? 06:00 Why leaders must learn to lead themselves before leading others. 12:00 Why every team member is operating below their full capacity. 17:00 How to introduce psychological safety without forcing people to open up. 20:00 What does a trauma-informed workplace actually look like? 23:00 Why mental health conversations require skill and training. 26:00 How Dan operationalizes mental health through training and systems. 34:00 What's the difference between intention and reality inside companies? 42:00 How honesty reduces defensiveness and improves performance. 47:00 How investing in people improves profit and reduces turnover. 51:00 The #1 metric that convinces CEOs this approach works. Resources + Links Learn more about Dan Simons 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 Dan on Instagram: @dansimonssays

Is your overthinking actually helping you or draining your energy? In this episode, I talk with Meredith Arthur, Chief of Staff of the Pinterest Innovation Lab, about what it means to live with anxiety you don’t even recognize. Meredith shares how anxiety shows up in unexpected ways, from physical symptoms like migraines to subtle patterns like overworking and lack of boundaries. We talk about what happens when you push through without understanding your internal signals, how overthinking can disguise itself as productivity, and MORE. Tune in to learn how to step out of overthinking loops and build a healthier relationship with your mind. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Notion - Notion is an AI powered, connected workspace for teams. Try custom agents now at notion.com/achiever In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does a “recovering overthinker” mean? 03:30 The gap between anxiety that signals something vs. anxiety that doesn’t. 06:40 How communicating about anxiety builds a deeper connection. 10:30 Why saying what people want to hear can pull you away from who you are. 12:30 What rapid career feedback can teach you about your strengths. 16:00 How medication and environment can shape your sense of identity. 20:00 How anxiety showed up as “problem solving” instead of worry. 22:30 What does “energy debt” look like in high achievers? 24:45 Why language around anxiety can make it harder to recognize. 29:00 What would it look like to design better systems for mental health? 30:30 Why your body often knows before your mind does. Resources + Links Learn more about Meredith Arthur 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

What if the qualities that make you successful are the ones keeping you from getting the help you need? In this episode, I talk with General Gregg Martin, a retired U.S. Army two-star general, about what it’s like to lead at the highest levels while living with bipolar disorder. Greg shares how the same energy, drive, and creativity that propelled his career were also symptoms of a condition that went undiagnosed for decades. We also dive into the cost of high performance, why success can mask serious mental health struggles, and how bipolar disorder often shows up in ways people don’t recognize. Tune in to better understand the complexity of mental health in high performance, work, and leadership. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Notion - Notion is an AI powered, connected workspace for teams. Try custom agents now at notion.com/achiever In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What does leadership mean to you? 06:30 How gratitude shifts your mindset in high-stress environments. 09:00 Why bipolar traits can be rewarded in leadership roles. 12:30 How the bipolar spectrum shows up over time. 16:30 How structure and routine can stabilize mental health. 19:30 How pressure and responsibility can intensify mental health struggles. 23:00 Why high achievers often go undiagnosed. 26:00 What it feels like to experience rapid emotional shifts in a single day. 30:00 Why success can hide serious internal struggle. 34:00 How performance can stay high even during mental health decline. 41:30 Why mental health diagnoses are often missed. 43:30 How loved ones can help identify what you can’t see in yourself. 46:30 Why do leaders struggle to speak up about mental health? 50:30 Why your mental health challenges don’t define your potential. Resources + Links Learn more about Gregg Martin 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

What if your anxiety isn’t just something you feel, but something you’ve been practicing? In this episode, I talk with psychiatrist Dr. Jud Brewer and Charles Duhigg about the science behind why anxiety sticks, how your brain confuses worrying with problem-solving, and why willpower alone isn’t enough to change your patterns. We break down how anxiety can become a habit loop and why so many high achievers unknowingly reinforce it through overwork, worry, and constant mental effort. Tune in to learn how to replace unhelpful patterns with ones that actually support your focus, energy, and mental health.  Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever  Notion - Notion is an AI powered, connected workspace for teams. Try custom agents now at notion.com/achiever In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Is anxiety something you experience or something you practice? 02:00 Why overworking can become your default response to anxiety. 04:00 How the habit loop explains worry, distraction, and anxiety patterns. 08:00 What’s the difference between planning and worrying? 10:00 How perfectionism and overpreparing become reinforcing habits. 13:30 3-step method to interrupt anxious habit loops. 18:00 How to give your brain a more rewarding alternative to anxiety. 22:00 Why rumination keeps you stuck and how it mirrors worry. 25:00 Why meditation makes some people anxious. 29:30 How habits shape productivity, focus, and mental health at work. 33:30 Why your brain prioritizes short-term relief over long-term goals. 36:30 How anxiety, burnout, and distraction all come from the same loop. 40:00 Why you can’t eliminate habits but you can replace them. 46:30 What to do when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, and unable to focus. 51:00 How tracking what you’ve done builds motivation and momentum. 53:00 How to design your day to reduce decision fatigue and overwhelm. Resources + Links Get a copy of Dr. Jud Brewer’s book Unwinding Anxiety HERE! Get a copy of Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit 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 Charles Duhigg on LinkedIn @​​charlesduhigg + Instagram @charlesduhigg Follow Dr. Jud Brewer on Instagram @​​dr.jud

What if success isn’t about fitting in, but about creating something that fits you? In this episode, I talk with astrophysicist Dr. Jessica Schonhut Stasik about what it takes to succeed when your brain doesn’t match the systems around you. Jessica shares her experience of being late-diagnosed with autism and ADHD, the burnout and rejection that nearly ended her path in science, and the moment someone recognized her potential when she couldn’t see it herself. We also talk about what it looks like to design your work around how you think, not how you’re expected to think, and why many high achievers feel like they are constantly managing different versions of themselves. Tune in to understand your brain more deeply, and start building a path that actually works for you. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Notion - Notion is an AI powered, connected workspace for teams. Try custom agents now at notion.com/achiever In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why you don’t have to fit into a box to succeed. 05:30 Why neurodivergent people often feel pulled between multiple identities. 12:30 How Jessica combined science, communication, and service into one role. 16:30 The stress of feeling forced to choose between different paths. 21:00 Why being seen by the right people changes everything. 24:45 How a diagnosis can change how you see yourself. 28:30 What masking looks like and how it affects your energy. 33:00 The hidden cost of constantly trying to “fit in”. 40:00 Why are support systems essential? 45:30 Advice for building a life that works with your brain. 50:00 How to advocate for your needs more effectively. 55:00 Why a holistic approach to mental health matters. Resources + Links Learn more about the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation HERE! Learn more about The Neuroverse Initiative HERE! Learn more about Jessica Schonhut Stasik 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 Jessica on LinkedIn @jessica-schonhut-stasik

Are you actually more productive when you work longer hours or just more exhausted? In this episode, I talk with Christopher Barnes, Professor of Management and the Michael G. Foster Endowed Professor at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, about the ingrained belief that sacrificing sleep is the price of success and why that belief is costing you more than you think. Chris shares how leaders create “sleep-deprived cultures” through their behavior, from late-night emails to rewarding constant responsiveness. We break down what really happens to your brain when you’re sleep-deprived, the vicious cycle between anxiety and insomnia, and why being tired makes everything feel bigger, harder, and more urgent than it actually is. Tune in to learn how better sleep can make you sharper, calmer, and more effective. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to ⁠http://shopify.com/anxiousachiever⁠ Notion - Notion is an AI powered, connected workspace for teams. Try custom agents now at ⁠https://notion.com/achiever In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why working more hours doesn’t mean better performance. 02:15 Are leaders unintentionally rewarding sleep deprivation? 08:00 The tradeoff between working more hours vs. doing better work. 11:00 Why anxiety and insomnia reinforce each other. 12:30 Why everything feels more stressful when you’re sleep-deprived. 14:00 The cycle that keeps high achievers stuck in poor sleep habits. 17:00 What can you do when your boss expects you to overwork? 22:00 Ways leaders can encourage healthier sleep habits. 25:30 The long-term performance cost of sleep deprivation. 26:30 How circadian rhythms affect when you do your best work. 27:30 How flexible schedules improve performance. 28:30 The bias against people who don’t start early. 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

What if the problem isn’t your focus, your discipline, or your productivity, but the way you’ve been taught to work? In this episode, I talk with Ennis Olson, Global Innovation Lead at Google, about what changes when you truly understand how your brain operates. Ennis shares how his late diagnosis of ADHD and autism helped him make sense of a career built on creativity, curiosity, and constant reinvention and why those same traits can create friction in traditional work environments. We break down how to navigate days when your brain won’t cooperate, how to design your work around your energy, and why self-awareness is one of the most powerful tools you can build. Tune in to learn how to reduce anxiety, work more effectively, and lead in a way that honors how you’re wired. Check out our sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/achieverfree Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to http://shopify.com/anxiousachiever Talkiatry - Head to http://talkiatry.com/achiever and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Working Genius - Take the working genius assessment today and get 20% off with code ACHIEVER at working http://workinggenius.com Brevo - Meet brevo, the all in one marketing and CRM platform built to help you connect with  customers, boost engagement and grow your business smarter. Go to brevo.com/achiever and use code ACHIEVER50 for 50% off.  Notion - Notion is an AI powered, connected workspace for teams. Try custom agents now at https://notion.com/achiever In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why understanding your brain changes how you work. 05:15 How “seeing what others don’t” can drive success and anxiety. 12:00 Why great ideas aren’t enough without follow-through. 17:15 Tools for shifting focus when your brain won’t cooperate. 20:00 Why does your brain just not work some days? 28:45 How to advocate for what you need without overexplaining. 31:30 Tips to manage your energy when your schedule isn’t flexible. 34:15 How self-awareness and feedback build emotional flexibility. 37:30 Ways anxiety can become a tool for reflection. 45:45 The impact of a late diagnosis on self-understanding. 52:00 What does “neuroconvergence” mean? 58:45 What happens when you let go of what you’re bad at. 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 Ennis on LinkedIn: @ennisolson

Is entrepreneurship making your anxiety worse, or is it actually revealing something deeper about how you work and cope? In this episode, I talk with entrepreneur Chris Brogan and writer Ada Calhoun about the complicated relationship between freelancing, mental health, and the illusion of stability. Chris shares what it’s really like to build a career while living with depression, why success and struggle can coexist, and how he’s learned to “negotiate” with his mental health instead of letting it define him. Ada also breaks down the emotional and financial realities of freelance life, and the fears many of us carry about money and security. Tune in to rethink stability, understand your patterns, and build a way of working that supports your life. Check out our sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/achieverfree Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to http://shopify.com/anxiousachiever Talkiatry - Head to http://talkiatry.com/achiever and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Working Genius - Take the working genius assessment today and get 20% off with code ACHIEVER at working http://workinggenius.com Brevo - Meet brevo, the all in one marketing and CRM platform built to help you connect with customers, boost engagement and grow your business smarter. Go to brevo.com/achiever and use code ACHIEVER50 for 50% off.  In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Can you be successful while living with depression? 05:00 What it really feels like to work through depression day-to-day. 08:00 Why performance can feel easier than personal connection. 12:00 How to “negotiate” with your inner critic instead of fighting it. 16:45 How depression shows up in everyday work tasks. 18:45 What radical transparency about mental health looks like at work. 23:45 Is freelancing really riskier than having one employer? 26:15 What to do when your income drops or disappears. 30:15 Why freelance success doesn’t eliminate financial anxiety. 34:00 How freelancers manage mental health care. 38:00 How childhood experiences shape your fear around money. 42:45 Why does “enough” never feel like enough? Resources + Links Get a copy of Ada Calhoun’s book, Why We Can’t Sleep HERE! Learn more about Chris Brogan’s work HERE! Learn more about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) 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 Chris on LinkedIn: @cbrogan Follow Ada on Instagram: @adacalhoun

What if happiness isn’t something you feel, but something you learn? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Arthur Brooks about why anxious achievers often struggle with happiness, and how emotions are data we can use to build better lives. Arthur shares how our emotional “profiles” shape leadership, why anxiety is really unfocused fear, and how to turn late-night spirals into something actionable. We also dive into what’s broken about how we live today and why that’s making it harder to find meaning. Get ready to rethink happiness, understand your anxiety, and learn how to build a life that actually feels meaningful. Check out our sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/achieverfree Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to http://shopify.com/anxiousachiever Talkiatry - Head to http://talkiaitry.com/achiever and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Working Genius - Take the working genius assessment today and get 20% off with code ACHIEVER at working http://workinggenius.com Brevo - Meet brevo, the all in one marketing and CRM platform built to help you connect with customers, boost engagement and grow your business smarter. Go to brevo.com/achiever and use code ACHIEVER50 for 50% off.  In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why happiness doesn’t come naturally. 03:15 Why high achievers often choose “being special” over being happy. 06:00 How smartphones quietly drain your attention and fulfillment. 08:00 How the science of happiness supports therapy. 13:30 Why people who feel more negative emotions often have creative advantages. 18:00 The “mad scientist” profile and why many leaders fall into it. 24:00 How different emotional styles shape leadership strengths and blind spots. 28:00 Why struggle is required for satisfaction and confidence. 32:00 What’s the difference between joy and happiness? 34:30 Why most self-help advice doesn’t work. 41:00 What is anxiety? 44:45 A step-by-step tool to calm anxiety and think clearly. 49:15 How to talk about emotions at work without losing credibility. 52:30 The 3-part framework for building a meaningful life. 55:45 Why boredom is essential for meaning and creativity. 58:30 How constant distraction is blocking your ability to find meaning. Resources + Links Pre-order a copy of Arthur Brooks’ book, The Meaning of Your Life 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 Arthur on Instagram: @arthurcbrooks