The Anxious Achiever

• Brad Feld on OCD, Depression, and the Courage to Be Honest

  Stigma loses its power when leaders tell the truth. In this episode, venture investor and Techstars co-founder Brad Feld shares why he went public about depression and OCD, how a 2013 crash led to a decade of deep therapy, and why aligning what you feel, say, and do is a leadership advantage. We talk about the “inappropriate anxiety spikes,” the trap of calling mental health a “superpower,” and the difference between passive and active avoidance. Brad also breaks down a simple dashboard for monitoring burnout, practical somatic cues to watch for, and clear guidance on when to hire a coach versus a therapist. Get ready to rethink performance, protect your team from collateral damage, and lead with courage, clarity, and real agency. 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 In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why did you choose to speak openly about mental health? 09:00 How stigma and shame create a negative feedback loop for founders. 14:30 The irrational links between thoughts and actions that drive compulsion. 18:00 How reframing failure helps you find grace in what doesn’t work out. 20:00 The concept of “passive avoidance” and how it quietly erodes relationships. 26:00 What are the two ways anxiety shows up in leadership? 30:15 How absurdism brings comfort amid uncertainty. 33:30 Why performative passion often hides real insecurity. 37:45 The “anxiety spikes” that jump from 2 to 11 in seconds. 43:00 How ACT therapy helps you feel, accept, and act instead of suppressing emotion. 46:00 The dashboard of green–yellow–red lights to watch your energy in real time. 50:00 Advice to leaders who want to understand how their behavior impacts others. 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 Brad: @bfeld

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• The “Losing-My-Sh**” Playlist And Other Tools For High Strivers With Dr. Diana Hill

  Feeling overworked, overwhelmed, and still unsatisfied? In this episode, psychologist and author Dr. Diana Hill is back to share how to transform anxious over-effort into meaningful action. Based on her new book Wise Effort, Diana breaks down how to align your drive with your values, use your body as a source of wisdom, and stop wasting energy on fear, guilt, and proving yourself. We talk about why achievement alone won’t fulfill you, ways to work through feedback, burnout, and uncertainty. Tune in to learn how to find your genius energy and show up wisely, especially when life feels like it’s falling apart. 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 In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why did you write Wise Effort for high achievers running on empty? 02:00 How to use music as a nervous system regulator and create a “Losing My Sh*t” playlist. 07:45 What Wise Effort really means and how it helps you stop striving on autopilot. 10:15 Why the body holds deeper wisdom than your pros and cons list. 14:15 How to reframe your struggles and build psychological flexibility. 17:30 How to turn your worries into clarity around your values. 24:00 Four questions to challenge unhelpful stories. 33:12 How to prioritize your genius energy and align work with your core values. 41:30 Ways to use feedback as information. 45:45 Tips to cope with layoffs, uncertainty, and fear without toxic positivity. 52:15 Why showing up with dignity creates lasting impact. Resources + Links Grab your copy of Dr. Diana Hill’s book Wise Effort 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. Diana Hill: on LinkedIn @drdianahill + Instagram @drdianahill

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• Leading For Human Agency With SAP's V.R. Ferose

  In today’s high-pressure world, leading with love isn’t idealistic, it’s essential. In this episode, I sit down with V.R. Ferose, 26-year SAP leader and Head of SAP Academy for Engineering and founder of the Autism at Work program, to talk about why love as a leadership practice, seeing people clearly, protecting dignity, and amplifying agency, is the most powerful business strategy of all. He shares why trust compounds over time, how to lead with both strength and compassion, and why the future belongs to leaders who lead with heart intelligence, not just artificial intelligence. Get ready to rethink success, rediscover meaning, and learn how leading with love can create workplaces where everyone can thrive. 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 In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Meet V.R. Ferose, 26-year SAP leader and Head of SAP Academy for Engineering. 07:00 How history’s great social movements teach modern leadership lessons. 15:45 What “only strength respects strength” really means when facing conflict. 24:00 Why heart intelligence, not AI, is our greatest human advantage. 32:45 How real learning and growth happen through in-person connection. 37:30 How AI is eroding creativity and reflection. 42:45 The link between social comparison and anxiety. 48:45 What is the origin of Autism at Work? 55:00 Why “Autism at Work” began as a choiceless decision. 01:04:00 Why do so many high-achievers feel boxed in and powerless? 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 V.R. on LinkedIn @ferosevr

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• What Neurodistinct Professionals Really Think About Their Careers with Dr. Diane Biray Gregorio

  If you’ve ever wondered how to lead and thrive with a different brain, this conversation will help you feel less alone and better understand your neurodistinct strengths and challenges. I unpack findings from my "Neurostrength survey" taken by 1286 professionals with ADHD, Autism, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, learning differences, and other brain differences. I'm joined by sociologist, research scientist, and leadership coach Dr. Diane Biray Gregorio. We cover the real advantages (pattern recognition, creative problem-solving, empathy, hyperfocus), the common friction points (processing speed mismatches, focus, emotional regulation) of someone whose brain works differently at work. You’ll learn practical ways to self-advocate, how to job-craft for your strengths, and a simple framework to design your best workday. You’ll leave with strategies to make thrive at work, get what you need, and build psychologically safe, high-performing teams. Read the survey report here, for free: https://morraam.com/neurostrength-survey 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 In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Science behind thriving at work: breaking down the results of my NeuroStrength survey. 16:15 What we learned about the leaders who responded to our survey. 21:00 Revealing the MYTH that neurodistinct people aren’t good at managing people. 24:30 How many people that completed the survey identified themselves as neurodivergent or neurodistinct? 28:45 How many survey participants who identify as neurodivergent/neurodistinct have been diagnosed? 35:30 Ways having a different brain has impacted careers (from challenges to strengths.) 39:00 Superpowers neurodistinct people have reported that are advantages in the workplace. 43:15 How to self-advocate and set up your environment to perform at your best. 52:30 Common task-related challenges of our survey participants. 57:00 The TAAM framework to best manage your time. 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 Dr. Diane Biray Gregorio: @drdbgregorio

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• Self Compassion For Overachievers with Attorney Mark Goldstein & Dr. Kristin Neff

  Today we’re exploring the skill that ambitious, anxious brains often resist: self-compassion. You’ll hear attorney Mark Goldstein’s candid story of OCD, depression, panic attacks, and the leave of absence that helped him rebuild a career and a life with support, therapy, mindfulness, and (yes) compassion. Then, Dr. Kristin Neff, pioneer of self-compassion research, teaches practical tools you can use today. We cover how to handle rumination, reframe “perfection” into being a “compassionate mess,” and when to turn on fierce self-protection versus tender care. If you hold yourself to impossible standards, this conversation will give you language, strategies, and permission to be human and still perform. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why self-compassion is a performance skill for anxious achievers. 02:00 Learn from Mark Goldstein on perfectionism, OCD, and the billable-hour trap. 05:45 “I couldn’t stop checking”: the 2017 spiral and panic attacks. 09:30 When did you decide you needed help and where did you start? 13:00 Taking a leave of absence, the fear of perception, and the reality of support. 18:45 Reframing “weakness” and treating mental health as a disability. 21:00 Dr. Kristin Neff on why our brains default to self-criticism. 23:30 The hack to turn caregiving inward. 25:15 Tips for practical self-talk (authentic compassion, NOT empty affirmations.) 27:30 When to deploy fierce vs. tender compassion and harnessing anger for protection. 30:00 How to stop rumination. 32:15 How to create room for compassion and grow without fear. 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

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