The Anxious Achiever

Morra Aarons-Mele

From LinkedIn Presents

  • 37 minutes 28 seconds
    Hiding In The Bathroom: Social Anxiety And You with Dr. Ellen Hendriksen & Arvind Rajan

    What if the anxiety you feel walking into a meeting, networking event, or conference isn’t a personal flaw, but social anxiety? In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen talks about the psychology behind social anxiety and why avoidance keeps it alive. She breaks down the belief at the core of social anxiety and tools to challenge anxious thoughts, manage shame, and build confidence even when anxiety is still present. Then, entrepreneur and former LinkedIn executive Arvind Rajan shares what it’s like to build a successful career while living with social anxiety. Tune in to learn how to manage social anxiety, build confidence, and show up fully.


    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://genius.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 social anxiety is the most common type of anxiety.

    02:00 The 2 types of avoidance that keep social anxiety alive.

    05:00 What’s the difference between generalized anxiety and social anxiety?

    07:45 How social anxiety shows up in the workplace.

    09:45 The strengths that often come with social anxiety.

    14:00 How shame and fear of judgment affect leadership.

    18:00 A framework for managing social anxiety.

    22:45 When did you realize that you have social anxiety?

    24:30 Why forcing yourself through anxiety doesn’t always work.

    28:30 Why authenticity makes leaders more effective.

    31:45 How leaders can build teams that support different personalities.


    Resources + Links

    Get Dr. Ellen Hendriksen’s book How to Be Yourself 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 Ellen on LinkedIn @ellenhendriksen

    Follow Arvind on LinkedIn @arvindrajan

    12 March 2026, 9:30 am
  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    Greg Lukianoff: Why Free Speech Makes Us Mentally Stronger

    What if the skill that makes you a stronger leader is the same skill that protects free speech? In this episode, I’m joined by Greg Lukianoff, First Amendment attorney, to talk about emotional reasoning, why discomfort isn’t the same as danger, and what happens when we start treating speech as violence. Greg shares how his own battle with depression and suicidal thoughts led him to CBT and how learning to question his thoughts transformed both his mental health and his leadership. Get ready to rethink what makes us mentally strong and why protecting speech may also mean protecting our resilience.


    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://genius.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 How cognitive distortions shape modern mental health.

    07:30 Why Gen X values free speech differently.

    13:15 Why words can hurt and still must be protected.

    17:45 When does harmful speech cross the line?

    21:00 What we lose when speech is treated as violence.

    27:00 What does the First Amendment actually protect?

    32:00 The emotional cost of defending unpopular speech.

    37:00 How depression reshaped Greg’s life and leadership.

    41:30 Why CBT works for anxious achievers.

    44:30 What is the connection between CBT and the mental health crisis among young people?

    48:30 The 3 “great untruths” shaping modern anxiety.

    51:45 Why great leaders stay intellectually humble.

    55:00 Why meaningful work can stabilize mental health.

    59:00 How to protect yourself from social media manipulation.

    01:01:30 A CBT technique to challenge negative thoughts.


    Resources + Links

    Learn more about the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) HERE

    Get your copy of The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt

    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 Greg: on LinkedIn @greglukianoff + Instagram @glukianoff

    10 March 2026, 9:30 am
  • 40 minutes 33 seconds
    Your Attachment Style At Work with Jack Hinman

    What if the stress you feel at work isn’t just about deadlines or difficult bosses, but about your attachment style? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jack Hinman, founder and executive director of Engage Young Adult Transitions, to talk about how the patterns you develop in early childhood show up in your leadership, ambition, anxiety, and burnout. We break down secure, preoccupied, and avoidant attachment styles, how they influence the way you handle feedback and uncertainty, and why your “relationship operating system” doesn’t stop at home. Tune in to understand your patterns and learn how to lead from connection instead of fear.


    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://genius.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 The heartbreaking monkey experiment that shaped attachment theory.

    06:30 What's the difference among secure, preoccupied, avoidant, and disorganized styles?

    10:00 What happens when a preoccupied employee has an avoidant boss.

    11:15 How does avoidant attachment show up in leadership?

    15:45 What “secure” actually looks like at work.

    18:45 How to “own the dynamic” in difficult workplace relationships.

    20:30 Self-awareness is the foundation of good leadership.

    23:00 Why uncertainty and change activate attachment patterns.

    25:15 Why connection is both the outcome and the intervention.

    28:45 What happens when two anxious leaders feed each other’s stress.

    31:15 Why “anchors” are essential for healing attachment patterns.

    34:45 Tools to regulate attachment triggers.


    Resources + Links

    Learn more about Dr. Jack Hinman and Engage Young Adult Transitions HERE!

    Learn more about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills and resources 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

    5 March 2026, 9:30 am
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    Jedi Mindsets for the Anxious Achiever with Shirzad Chamine

    What if the biggest obstacle to your performance isn’t your workload or your leadership challenges, but your own mind? In this episode, I sit down with Shirzad Chamine, founder and CEO of Positive Intelligence, to talk about the habits many anxious achievers rely on to succeed (i.e. hypervigilance, perfectionism, control, and constant striving), but that can drain energy, clarity, and confidence over time. Shirzad breaks down how overused strengths turn into self-sabotage, and the 10-second practice that helps you shift from stress and reactivity into calm, focused leadership. Get ready to learn how to work with your mind instead of against it.


    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://genius.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 your mind can feel like your greatest ally and your biggest obstacle.

    06:15 The 3 ways you judge yourself, others, and circumstances.

    12:00 What's the difference between helpful emotions and self-sabotage?

    14:15 Can anger and stress ever be productive?

    18:00 The biological reason stress creates tunnel vision in high-stakes decisions.

    20:00 What’s the real cost of overusing your strengths as a leader?

    26:15 The shift that turns a leader’s vigilance from a strength into a liability.

    31:15 The 5 Sage powers that improve wellbeing and results.

    38:30 A 10-second PQ rep to calm anxiety fast.

    41:00 Active grounding practices for restless or anxious minds.

    48:00 How the Sage perspective turns any circumstance into a gift or opportunity.

    56:45 Why hyper-achievement disconnects self-worth from success.

    1:00:30 The shift from conditional to unconditional self-acceptance.


    Resources + Links

    Take the FREE Positive Intelligence assessment HERE

    Get your copy of Shirzad Chamine’s book Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential and How You Can Achieve Yours HERE

    Learn more about Positive Intelligence programs 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 Shirzad on LinkedIn @shirzadchamine

    3 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 40 minutes 39 seconds
    Do Conflict Better With Amy Gallo

    Do difficult conversations keep you up at night, or do they make you want to avoid conflict altogether? In this episode, I sit down with workplace conflict expert Amy Gallo, author of Getting Along, to talk about how healthy conflict actually strengthens trust, decision-making, and leadership confidence. We dive into how our brains get emotionally hijacked during difficult conversations, how avoidance creates “conflict debt,” and why learning to stay grounded in discomfort may be one of the most important leadership skills we can build. Tune in to learn how to face conflict calmly to reduce anxiety and make you a more confident leader.


    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://genius.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 conflict feels especially hard for anxious achievers.

    04:30 How avoiding conflict increases anxiety.

    06:15 What happens during an emotional “amygdala hijack”?

    08:00 The cost of conflict avoidance and conflict debt.

    10:30 How difficult conversations build confidence over time.

    12:30 What is the role of shame and fear in workplace conflict?

    17:00 How to practice conflict safely in low-stakes situations.

    22:30 The 4-step framework for handling conflict better.

    27:30 Finding shared goals during disagreement.

    32:15 What to do when conflict keeps you up at night.

    34:15 How to repair conversations that went badly.


    Resources + Links

    Get your copy of Amy’s book Getting Along HERE

    Learn more about Amy Gallo 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

    26 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 54 minutes 23 seconds
    The Gift of Introverted Leadership with Jennifer Kahnweiler

    For years, leadership has been associated with charisma, confidence, and speaking the loudest in the room. But what if some of the most powerful leadership traits are actually quiet ones? In this episode, I’m joined by leadership expert and author Jennifer Kahnweiler to talk about the strengths of introverted leaders. We break down the misconceptions around introversion, why many successful leaders are secretly introverted, and how preparation, listening, and thoughtful presence can become leadership superpowers. Tune in to rethink what effective leadership looks like and learn how quiet strengths can create lasting influence.


    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://genius.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 introverted leadership is often misunderstood.

    03:45 What is an introverted leader?

    06:00 What has changed and what hasn’t for introverts at work.

    10:30 Are you adapting or just exhausted?

    14:45 The 4 P’s of introverted leadership.

    18:30 Why telling your team you’re an introvert is a leadership hack.

    21:30 Why quiet men face unique workplace bias.

    27:15 The connection between introversion, anxiety, and performance.

    33:00 How introverted leaders prepare for high-stakes meetings.

    35:15 Techniques to make meetings more introvert-friendly.

    39:15 How giving teammates a heads-up increases participation.

    44:30 How to show presence in meetings without talking more.

    47:45 The introvert's guide to not burning out in a hybrid world.


    Resources + Links

    Learn more about Jennifer Kahnweiler HERE

    Listen to Jennifer’s podcast: The Introvert Ally Podcast

    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 Jennifer: on LinkedIn @jenniferkahnweiler + Instagram @jenniferkahnweiler

    24 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    How To Negotiate When Negotiating Makes You Nervous with Chris Voss & Moshe Cohen

    Negotiation isn’t just about boardrooms and big deals. It’s every time you ask for what you need that brings up fear, self-doubt, and a rush of emotion that can derail the whole conversation. In this episode, I talk with former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss and negotiation expert Moshe Cohen about why so many of us dread conflict, how curiosity can quiet anxiety, and how to use tactical empathy as a strategic tool. We also share the tools to slow down emotional hijack and manage rejection. Tune in to learn how to regulate your emotions and negotiate with clarity instead of fear.


    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://genius.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 negotiation is happening in almost every interaction.

    04:45 What are the 3 types of handling conflict?

    09:15 How curiosity shuts down fear in your brain.

    12:15 Is asking questions in general a good technique in a negotiation?

    16:30 What empathy really means in negotiation.

    23:15 How bonding and trust influence negotiation outcomes.

    26:15 Why you should talk less and listen more in negotiation.

    32:00 How naming your emotions reduces their intensity.

    38:00 How often does that anxiety show up during a negotiation exercise?

    41:00 Tips to slow down time when you feel emotionally hijacked.

    46:15 What is the listening triangle?

    50:30 How much advice is too much in a negotiation?

    57:00 How to build your rejection muscle.

    01:00:00 The stories you tell yourself before and during a negotiation

    01:02:00 How knowing your BATNA lowers the stakes and raises confidence.


    Resources + Links

    Get the Anxious Achiever Healthy High Achieving App - studio.com/morra

    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 @christophervoss + Instagram @thefbinegotiator

    Follow Moshe: on LinkedIn @moshecohen

    19 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    Inside the Role of Chief Wellbeing Officer with Jen Fisher

    Work is making people sick, and quick fixes are not enough. In this episode, I’m joined by Jen Fisher, former Chief Wellbeing Officer at Deloitte, to talk about why wellbeing isn’t a perk but a business imperative. We break down why burnout is often rooted in systemic issues and hopelessness, how middle managers shape our daily mental health, and why hope and an understanding of the human nervous system may be the most underrated leadership skills of all. Tune in to rethink what wellbeing means and what it takes to lead with hope right now.


    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://genius.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 wellbeing is more than mental health benefits.

    06:00 How burnout led Jen to pioneer the Chief Wellbeing Officer role.

    13:00 What does “wellbeing at work” mean?

    19:30 The ROI of fixing workplace culture.

    23:00 Why does AI make us so anxious? 

    26:00 Why wellbeing must be part of organizational strategy.

    30:00 How constant disruption dysregulates employees.

    33:15 What is the definition of a successful leader?

    37:15 What workplace data misses about human outcomes.

    40:30 The #1 thing employees want from leaders.

    46:00 Why middle management is the make-or-break layer.

    51:00 Incentives drive culture more than values.

    58:15 How to build a wellbeing role inside your organization.


    Resources + Links

    Get your copy of Jen’s book - Hope Is The Strategy

    Read Jen’s article: “The Wellbeing Imperative: What I Learned Pioneering the Chief Wellbeing Officer Role

    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 Jen: on LinkedIn @jenfisher + Instagram @jenfish23

    17 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 38 minutes 3 seconds
    Why Do We Micromanage People? With Prof. Julia Milner

    You’re not trying to control people. You’re trying to help. But what if your “help” is quietly draining your team’s confidence, creativity, and trust? In this episode, I sit down with Professor Julia Milner of EDHEC Business School to talk about the psychology of micromanagement, especially the kind that comes from anxiety, care, and good intentions. We dive into the difference between constructive feedback and control disguised as questions, the “advice trap” that keeps leaders stuck, and why micromanaging often feels safer in the moment but costs you long-term trust, dialogue, and time. Tune in to learn how to replace fixing with serving, advice with curiosity, and control with empowerment.


    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://genius.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 micromanagers often act from anxiety.

    04:15 How to spot motivational micromanagement.

    06:30 Why do you hate being micromanaged?

    12:00 How micromanagement increases anxiety on both sides.

    14:15 The subtle way “questions” can shut down dialogue.

    18:00 How to give upward feedback without triggering defensiveness.

    20:45 What it means to adopt a coaching mindset.

    22:00 Phrases you can use to reset a micromanaging dynamic.

    28:45 What’s the difference between feedback and feed forward?

    30:30 How do you treat yourself with grace?

    33:00 What the best empowering leaders all have in common.


    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 Prof. Julia on LinkedIn @drjuliamilner

    12 February 2026, 9:30 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    The Best Leadership Advice You'll Ever Get with Margaret Andrews

    Self-understanding is the foundation of great leadership. In this episode, I sit down with Margaret Andrews, leadership educator, former executive director of the MBA program at MIT Sloan, and author, to talk about why leadership begins as an inside job. Margaret shares the 6 self-understanding questions, the best boss exercise that shows what people value in leadership, and why interpersonal skills aren’t about being affable. Tune in to rethink what it really means to manage yourself to lead others effectively.


    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

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

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

    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://genius.com


    In this Episode, You Will Learn

    00:00 What to do when you’re triggered before you have to show up.

    05:00 What is the best way to lead?

    10:00 The “best boss” exercise and what 20 years of data reveal.

    14:15 The 3 traits that separate good bosses from great ones.

    18:15 What is managing yourself to lead others?

    22:30 How moments of “hot shame” shape your leadership patterns.

    25:00 Why you can’t manage what you don’t understand.

    29:00 Should you improve weaknesses or maximize strengths?

    33:30 The most common reasons leaders derail.

    38:00 How to grow without losing credibility.

    42:00 Why telling people what you’re working on can build trust.

    45:00 Ways to practice self-management without losing status.

    49:00 How do you get unscared of heart emotions?


    Resources + Links

    Learn more about Margaret Andrews HERE

    Get your copy of Margaret’s book, Manage Yourself to Lead Others 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 Margaret on LinkedIn @margaretcandrews

    10 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 55 minutes 35 seconds
    Should You Be Yourself At Work? With Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

    We’re told to “bring our whole selves to work.” But what if that advice is burning you out, especially if you’re anxious, neurodivergent, or wired differently? In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and author Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic to talk about why radical authenticity can actually harm your career, your relationships, and your energy. We dive into the difference between feeling authentic and being perceived as authentic, why emotional intelligence is really impression management in disguise, and how leaders who seem “real” are often the most curated of all. Tune in to rethink what authenticity really means and discover how to show up at work in a way that’s true to you and sustainable.


    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

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

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

    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://genius.com


    In this Episode, You Will Learn

    00:00 Should you ever be your whole self at work?

    04:00 Why “just be yourself” is bad career advice.

    07:15 What’s the difference between feeling authentic and being seen as authentic?

    09:45 How over-identifying with work fuels burnout.

    12:15 Why the leaders we trust most are often the most curated.

    14:15 What impression management really means.

    16:45 Why every role calls for a different version of you.

    19:00 The cost of “bring your whole self” for neurodivergent people.

    22:00 Where does the authenticity movement come from?

    25:15 How modern work became a soft cult.

    29:00 Can you belong without over-sharing?

    33:45 Why engagement and performance aren’t the same thing.

    36:15 The generational shift toward radical honesty.

    39:00 When does being “real” harm your team?

    42:15 The rules that actually create psychological safety.

    44:30 Why reputation matters more than intention.

    47:00 How to learn how you’re really seen.

    50:00 The truest definition of self-awareness.


    Resources + Links

    Get Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic’s book Don’t Be Yourself

    Learn more about Tomas’s work on leadership, personality, and potential 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 Tomas on LinkedIn @drtomaschamorro

    5 February 2026, 8:00 am
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