Personal Growth

Improving ourselves improves the world around us. Looking for inspiration? From curated TED Talks to stories of thought leaders providing actionable advice, there’s no better place to start your personal growth journey than right here.

71 min listen

How to Have the Difficult Conversations with Dr. Marcia Reynolds (Episode #95)

If some of the chaos in your life comes from others, then our guest today, Dr. Marcia Reynolds, will give you no end to ah-ha moments. She is a master of making hard conversations easy. Marcia is a sought-after transformational coach known for her ability to change people’s minds in positive ways that serve everyone. Dr. Reynolds drops by to break down the truth behind hard conversations, and it only takes a few simple shifts to do it.

Image: A girl bursting a big bubble, indicative of growth

Busting Bubbles: Why Risk Free Environments Stifle Growth

We are naturally predisposed to protect ourselves and those we care about from physical or emotional harm. But it’s important that we factor in the short- and long-term effects of that protection—we gain temporary peace of mind but sacrifice resilience and problem-solving skills in the process. Accepting reality and choosing to focus on what we control are powerful tools for life and important lessons to teach, especially at a young age.

43 min listen

Choosing Happiness Ahead of Time: Kindness in Karate with Jeff Wall Jr. (Episode #94)

On today's episode of the Conspiracy of Goodness Podcast, we're revisiting Episode #33 with Jeff Wall Jr. At the age of 15, Jeff became the founder of Golden Age Karate, a non-profit organization that travels to nursing homes to teach the elderly the art of karate.

Image: A woman standing in front of a large aquarium tank, looking up in wonder.

The Wonder is in Your Eyes, Not in the Scene!

Could the stories we tell ourselves about our experiences matter more than the experiences themselves? It seems all we need is a little perspective and mindset shift to make the most of life. Here's an incredible story of how one man did exactly that.

Image: Man with arms spread and thumbs up in sunrise

Getting What You Need More Often

Rejection is something we have all had to face, but fear not! What if there was a better way to look at rejection and what it really costs us?

66 min listen

How Do-Over Days Give Us Another Chance at Our Best with Jacob Green (Episode #93)

If life seems to be serving you one complexity after another these days, then this conversation will feel like a gift. Jacob Green's experiences, insights and stories transformed my way of thinking about “setbacks” and the opportunities hidden there.

Image: A gratitude jar filled with lights, and a person reaching for it.

Want to Practice Gratitude? There’s a Jar for That

Write it down. Speak it out loud. Express it through song. Convey it through gifts. Say a little prayer. There’s every which way to cultivate the attitude of gratitude. And for those on the artsy side, there’s a jar for that.

41 min listen

Why Shared Struggle is Awesome: Secrets of the Spartan Races with Marion Abrams (Episode #92)

Marion Abrams sees people turn enormous struggle into personal leaps forward, in almost every aspect of her work with the famous Spartan Races. Turns out, we don’t even have to be going for “super athlete” status to be transformed. In this interview she completely upends what we may think about the Spartan movement and her insights point to how any of us can find the awesomeness in friends, family, co-workers and even strangers by finding a role in a Spartan event.

Image: Seven candles and assorted greenery on a table, with a person lighting the candle in the middle.

Today is Enough and You are Enough. Use Your Special Things!

Do you have anything in your home that you're waiting for the perfect moment to use? A bottle of wine, dress, or candle, perhaps? Gillian Dunn has a special trick for how we can stop letting our candles melt in the closet, and instead decide that any moment can be special.