The Anxious Achiever

What if the very differences you’ve been trying to smooth out are actually your greatest leadership strengths? In this episode, I’m joined by renowned leadership coaches and Fixable hosts Frances Frei and Anne Morriss for a conversation about anxiety, being a neurodivergent leader, and what it really takes to lead well. We talk about how partnership at work and in life has taught them to communicate clearly, embrace conflict, and build teams that thrive because of difference. I ask Frances and Anne some listener questions, from micromanaging bosses to burnout, imposter syndrome, and the fear of being “known for DEI.” Tune in to discover how setting boundaries and rewriting your inner narrative transform the way you lead and feel in life and at work.

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Working Genius - Take the working genius assessment today and get 20% off with code ACHIEVER at working http://genius.com

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Meet Frances Frei & Anne Morriss.

06:00 What partners with different wiring teach each other.

12:45 How conflict actually drives high performance.

16:45 How being neurodivergent has shaped Frances’s leadership at Harvard.

20:00 The power of devotion and high standards.

23:45 What are the three elements of trust?

27:45 How listening can change a broken dynamic.

31:30 Why inconsistent boundaries are the same as no boundaries.

39:15 Is it risky to be known for DEI right now?

42:15 How to make inclusion feel expansive, not exclusive.

50:15 Why you’re not the best judge of your own excellence.

51:00 Protecting your life force as a leader.

Resources + Links

Download the Anxious Achiever App HERE

Listen to Fixable with Frances Frei & Anne Morriss HERE

Learn more about Frances Frei & Anne Morriss HERE

Get your copy of Unleashed by Frances Frei & Anne Morriss

Get your copy of Move Fast & Fix Things by Frances Frei & Anne Morriss

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 Frances: on LinkedIn @francesfrei + Instagram @francesxfrei

Follow Anne: on LinkedIn @annemorriss + Instagram @annemorriss

Most of us are unknowingly over-breathing all day long, and it’s quietly keeping our nervous systems stuck in fight or flight. In this episode, I sit down with breathwork coach Zsombor Szabo to talk about how breathing can radically change your energy, focus, and emotional state anywhere you are. Zsombor guides us through live breathing exercises designed to calm your body, find your optimal energy zone, and even intentionally activate your system to build resilience. We also dive into why modern work keeps us in constant survival mode, why most of us unknowingly hyperventilate all day, and how long-term stress impacts health and leadership. Get ready to regain control in high pressure moments.

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 shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Cozy Earth - Give your home the luxury it deserves. Head to cozyearth.com and use code ACHIEVER for up to 20% off.

Express VPN - Secure your online data today. Visit expressvpn.com/achiever and find out how you can get up to four extra months.

Talkiatry - Head to 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 genius.com

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 How your breathing affects your workday.

03:00 A guided physiological sigh to calm your nervous system.

07:30 What does tightness in your chest and belly reveal about stress?

10:15 Why stress hormones stay elevated at work.

12:15 The gas pedal vs. brake pedal of your nervous system.

14:30 How breath hacks your autonomic nervous system.

16:00 Ways to do box breathing for focus and steady energy.

22:15 Why music + breathwork helps neurodivergent brains.

27:45 How breathwork improves listening and leadership.

30:30 How do you co-regulate and breathe anxious kids?

32:30 Tips to turn breathwork into a habit.

36:45 How to breathe better while working on your computer.

42:00 How to train your nervous system for stress.

44:00 Live intense circular breathing exercise.

50:45 What breath holds do for calm and presence.

57:30 Why do most adults over-breathe?

59:30 Advice on using breathwork to manage panic attacks.

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 Zsombor on LinkedIn

What if peak performance isn’t about grinding harder but mastering your inner world? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Michael Gervais, high-performance psychologist and expert to elite athletes and leaders, to talk about what truly drives motivation, focus, and sustainable success. We dive into the science behind activation and anxiety, how to find your intrinsic drivers, and why self-discovery is the foundation of mastery. Michael shares how learning to regulate your nervous system, train your attention, and build mental skills can transform the way you perform under pressure. Get ready to rethink motivation, focus, and what it means to truly master your mind.

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 shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Cozy Earth - Give your home the luxury it deserves. Head to cozyearth.com and use code ACHIEVER for up to 20% off.

Express VPN - Secure your online data today. Visit expressvpn.com/achiever and find out how you can get up to four extra months.

Talkiatry - Head to 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 genius.com

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why mastering your inner world matters more than external success.

03:15 How anxiety can be trained instead of feared.

06:30 The science behind activation and peak performance.

09:00 Why elite performers don’t wait to “feel motivated”.

11:00 How to stop letting the external world control your internal state.

14:30 Why unmanaged stress drains your energy fast.

16:15 The difference between drive and motivation.

18:45 Why do you need both intrinsic vs. extrinsic rewards?

21:00 What truly motivates high performers.

23:30 Why ADHD isn’t a lack of attention but equal attention.

27:15 How to train focus and avoid mental burnout.

34:00 Why meditation strengthens attention like a muscle.

37:15 How mindfulness creates insight and wisdom.

39:00 What elite coaches teach about staying coachable.

42:15 Why fear of people’s opinions blocks growth.

45:45 What’s the difference between performance-based identity vs. purpose-based identity?

49:15 How to build a daily purpose mindset.

52:45 Why purpose doesn’t need to be grand to be powerful.

54:30 Tools to regulate anxiety and emotional activation.

56:00 Leadership lessons from Bill Russell on teamwork.

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 Michael: on LinkedIn @drmichaelgervais + Instagram @michaelgervais

Perfectionism often looks like ambition, discipline, and excellence until it quietly turns into anxiety, burnout, and relentless self-criticism. In this episode, I’m joined by Jordana Confino, former Yale-trained lawyer turned coach, to talk about the cost of maladaptive perfectionism and why so many high-achieving professionals mistake self-criticism for motivation. We dive into the difference between sustainable excellence and fear-driven overachievement, the neuroscience behind why beating yourself up actually hurts performance, and what it really takes to move from being your own worst enemy to becoming your most effective ally. Tune in if you’re ready to achieve more with less self-punishment.

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 shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Cozy Earth - Give your home the luxury it deserves. Head to cozyearth.com and use code ACHIEVER for up to 20% off.

Express VPN - Secure your online data today. Visit expressvpn.com/achiever and find out how you can get up to four extra months.

Talkiatry - Head to 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 genius.com

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What does maladaptive perfectionism look like in anxious achievers?

04:30 How perfectionism becomes a strategy for proving worth.

11:00 What’s the difference between maladaptive perfectionism and sustainable excellence?

15:15 How self-criticism harms performance at a neurological level.

17:00 Why perfectionist lawyers report lower ambition.

21:00 What psychological safety teaches us about mistakes and growth.

27:00 How law school culture amplifies perfectionism and anxiety.

31:00 Why billable hours reward inefficiency and burnout.

36:45 Why perfectionists often struggle with productivity and time management.

40:00 The most powerful tool for anxious achievers.

46:00 How neuroplasticity makes lasting change possible.

50:00 Can self-criticism ever be useful motivation?

55:45 Why the best leaders tolerate short-term discomfort to prevent burnout.

59:30 The invisible cage anxious achievers build for themselves.

Resources + Links

Jordana Confino's study "The Perfectionist Paradox."

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 Jordana on LinkedIn: @jordanaconfino

Asking for what you need at work wasn’t an accommodation, but a leadership skill. In this episode, I sit down with Stew Friedman, the pioneer of Total Leadership and founding director of Wharton’s Work-Life Integration Project, to rethink how we approach work, life, and leadership. We talk about why so many high performers feel guilty asking for flexibility, time, or support and why leaders who understand their whole lives are actually better, more sustainable performers. Stew also breaks down the Total Leadership model, which centers on being real, being whole, and being innovative to create what he calls “four-way wins” across work, home, community, and self. Get ready to stop asking for permission and start leading your life with intention.

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 shopify.com/anxiousachiever

Cozy Earth - Give your home the luxury it deserves. Head to cozyearth.com and use code ACHIEVER for up to 20% off.

Express VPN - Secure your online data today. Visit expressvpn.com/achiever and find out how you can get up to four extra months.

Talkiatry - Head to 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 genius.com

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why asking for what you need at work feels like an accommodation.

06:00 How work, home, community, and self must work together.

10:00 Why self-knowledge is the foundation of sustainable leadership.

17:45 What “four-way win” experiments look like in life.

22:15 Why flexibility works best when framed as mutual value.

27:30 How leaders unintentionally block agency on their teams.

32:30 What is the biggest mistake people make when asking for support?

38:30 What mental health and leadership have in common. 

43:30 Why different minds require different leadership models.

49:00 What makes us whole?

Resources + Links

Learn more about Total Leadership Org 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 Stew Friedman on LinkedIn