The Anxious Achiever

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.

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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.

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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