Good Life Project || Inspiration | Motivation | Happiness | Meaning | Success

Growing up in Queens, NY, at the age of 13, David Krumholtz, stumbled into the world of acting when he followed friends to an open audition on a lark, landed the role, then found himself on a Broadway stage alongside Judd Hirsh and Tony Shaloub. That launched a decades-long career in acting and eventually writing in TV and film, with credits that include a five-year run on the TV show Numbers, The Good Wife, Law & Order, HBO’s The Deuce and movies like Addams Family Values, The Santa Clause series, Slums of Beverly Hills, and now in his newest role, he plays a police officer in the deeply-provocative movie, Crown Vic.In today’s conversation, we dive into his journey as an actor, but also quickly zoom the lens out to explore his love of music, culture, family, feelings about the acting life and the role of work in his bigger mix, what makes him come alive, the importance of humility and kindness, his experience with depression and cancer, and then we dive into the gritty and provocative story behind h

What if social media and tech could be a powerful ally in the process of recovering from trauma? That's exactly what today's guest, Samira Rajabi (@srajabi), discovered. A scholar of digital and social media, trauma and international relations, Rajabi teaches at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her work on personal and mass-scale societal trauma, and how social media and technology can actually be powerful tools for recovering, meaning-making and finding belonging and safety in the aftermath, is truly groundbreaking.Rajabi's own experience of being othered early in life left her in search of a clear sense of identity and belonging. But it was a diagnosis of a brain tumor, followed by 10 surgeries, that led her to reexamine nearly every part of her life, values, relationships, choices, how she chooses to experience each moment, and reclaim a sense of grace and acceptance with whatever her life brings.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. I

For Thomas Sadoski, acting has been in his DNA for as long as he can remember. With a decades-long love of the stage, he's landed award-winning performances on and off Broadway, features in movies like John Wick, The Last Word, and Wild, and TV shows including The Newsroom, Law & Order, Ugly Betty, and Life in Pieces. And, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming CBS series “Tommy” where he’ll be featured alongside Edie Falco.What stood out more than anything in this conversation, though, was Sadoski's big, open heart, honestly, commitment to family, as well as his powerful embrace of service. He currently sits on the board of directors of INARA, an organization that provides life-saving and life-changing medical care to refugee children wounded in war, and serves as an ambassador for War Child USA, which works to provide educational, legal and economic aid to children and communities devastated by conflict all over the world. We dive into all of this in today's moving conversation.-------------H

Nadya Okamoto is a 21-year-old activist (https://www.instagram.com/nadyaokamoto), Harvard student, Founder and Executive Director of PERIOD (https://www.period.org/), the largest youth-run NGO in women’s health and one of the fastest growing organizations of its kind in the US. She is also co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of Gen-Z marketing agency, JUV Consulting. Her debut book, Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement (https://amzn.to/2mGr1h0), is a call to end period poverty and stigma through service, education, and advocacy. Okamoto was named to InStyle Magazine’s “The Badass 50: Meet the Women Who Are Changing the World." Astonishingly accomplished at a young age, Nadya's driven to make a difference, fueled in no small part by her own deep trauma, as she describes living through homelessness, abuse, sexual assault, racism and exclusion. But, it was her experience, befriending and hearing stories of homeless women in Portland that would lead her to found PERIOD, devote herself to giving voi

Olympic figure skater, Adam Rippon, won the world over not only with a medal-winning performance at the 2018 games, but also with his disarmingly honest, unfiltered and funny on-camera presence. Rippon is an artist, athlete, and activist who's known for his passionate support for LGBTQ+ rights and the freedom to be oneself. He's been named to the 2018 TIME 100 List of Most Influential People, honored by the Human Rights Campaign, appeared on Ellen, Colbert, and Kimmel, and recently released his memoir Beautiful on the Outside (https://amzn.to/35KuJZ5). Adam's journey, however, has been anything but easy. In today's conversation, we talk about his rough start in skating, what turned it into a passion, and the yearslong struggles that come with trying to be the best in the world. We also explore how he stepped into and decided to share his sexual identity, grappled with perfection, family, expectations and eventually reclaimed control of his life and, in no small part, his happiness.-------------Have you discov

Born into a family of conservationists and trackers in South Africa, Boyd Varty (https://boydvarty.com/) began learning the art of tracking lions at a young age. Not for hunting, but rather as a devotion. And, eventually, as a scout for guides to bring guests into the wilderness in search of seeing animals, most often lions, in a protected environment. Through the process, learning to connect deeply with the land and natural environment, he discovered how to see and follow threads that often took hours, if not days, to lead to a majestic and wild end. But, when it came to his own life, he found himself shut down after trauma, operating on autopilot until a chance encounter with Martha Beck changed everything and opened his eyes to the possibility of using his skills as a tracker to find his way back into a life of meaning, joy and connection. Now, a storyteller, coach, tracker, activist, founder of the Good Work Foundation and the author of The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life (https://amzn.to/2Ov4jnJ), he's on a

Liz Phair took the music world by storm (https://www.lizphairofficial.com/) in the early 90s with the release of her iconic album Exile in Guyville. That, along with her self-produced Girly Sound tapes, landed her on the cover of Rolling Stone and launched a decades-long career in music. Now, a multi-Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist, and composer, mom and mentor to so many, Phair’s new memoir, Horror Stories (https://amzn.to/2MY7ulD), gives a glimpse into so many of the hidden moments that shaped her journey. In today's conversation, we touch down on these, and also explore how Liz's lens on life, meaning, music, creativity, quitting, complexity and spirituality has evolved over time.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum, it’ll open your eyes in a big way. It also just might change your life.If you enjoyed the show, please share it with a

James S. Gordon, MD is a Harvard-educated psychiatrist internationally recognized for using self-awareness, self-care, and group support to heal population-wide trauma. He is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Center for Mind-Body Medicine, (https://jamesgordonmd.com/), a clinical professor at Georgetown Medical School, and was chairman of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. His latest book, The Transformation (https://amzn.to/31Xi5nl), helps us understand that trauma will come sooner or later to all of us, and how to navigate it.Gordon has been on the ground during moments of profound upheaval, from Haight-Ashbury during the Summer of Love to Mozambique in the wake of a civil war fought largely by child soldiers, and war in the Balkans, the Middle East, Africa and more. In today’s conversation, he talks about what it’s like to lead teams in hands-on trauma prevention and integration work in these extremely challenging environments, as well as his hope

Augusten Burroughs knows how to keep a secret. An autodidact with no formal education (https://www.augusten.com/) beyond elementary school, he began working as a copywriter in his late teens and spent 18 years creating global ad campaigns. Behind the scenes, though, he was falling apart, an alcoholic, harboring the effects of what he describes as a wildly-chaotic, abusive and destructive childhood that he'd eventually detail in the massive New York Times bestseller-turned major motion picture, Running With Scissors (https://amzn.to/2qkxRus).He's since written numerous follow-on memoirs and novels, and crafted a life as a successful writer. But, there was one area Augusten never told anyone about, even his husband. Until one day, it literally came bursting onto the page. It was time to "come clean" with this one final, and deeply-provocative part of himself, detailed in his new memoir, Toil & Trouble (https://amzn.to/32mSkNk). In today's conversation, we unwrap the layers that led Augusten from a traumatic

Reshma Saujani is the Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code (https://girlswhocode.com/), the nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a computer programmer looks like and does. She is the author of three books (http://reshmasaujani.com/), including Brave, Not Perfect (https://amzn.to/33hlNbH), New York Times bestseller Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World (https://amzn.to/33f9JaT), and Women Who Don't Wait In Line. Her TED talk, "Teach girls, bravery not perfection," has more than four million views and has sparked a worldwide conversation about how we're raising our girls.Reshma's earned broad recognition for her work as an attorney, activist, and advocate for young women, including Fortune World's Greatest Leaders; Fortune 40 Under 40; WSJ Magazine Innovator of the Year; Forbes Most Powerful Women Changing the World; Fast Company 100 Most Creative People; and Crain's New York 40 Under 40, among others.Join us today to hear how a young, outsi

Cyndie Spiegel was a rising star in the fashion industry. Fifteen years in, living the life so many dream of, she made a bold decision. To walk-away from her career and, in no small part, her life, in order to create the space to step into a powerful new season of contribution and connection. Now flourishing and more fully-alive than ever, she's a keynote speaker and author with a focus on empowerment, culture and inclusion (http://www.cyndiespiegel.com/), community-organizer, and founder Dear Grown Ass Women™ (http://www.deargrownasswomen.com/), a movement to redefine and elevate the diversity of Xennial & GenX women. Speigel is also regularly featured in publications like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Glamour Magazine, Teen Vogue and The Huffington Post, and is the author of A Year of Positive Thinking: Daily Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage (https://amzn.to/2lKiLfO).-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/)

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business (https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/jonathan-haidt) who researches the intuitive foundations of morality, and how morality varies across cultures –– including the cultures of progressive, conservatives, and libertarians. His goal is to help people understand each other, live and work near each other, and even learn from each other despite their moral differences. He’s written several books, including The Happiness Hypothesis (https://amzn.to/2VnpXvM), The Righteous Mind (https://amzn.to/2MfbfTe) and The Coddling the American Mind (https://amzn.to/33f6e4i), and co-founded a variety of organizations and collaborations that apply moral and social psychology to help foster connection among disparate groups. In today’s conversation, we talk about everything from deconstructing happiness to changing attitudes towards adversity to what it means to truly flourish — and the critical importance of connection, comm

Madison McFerrin is an independent singer-songwriter (http://madisonmcferrin.com/) based in Brooklyn, NY, who's lit up the world with her distinctively soulful voice and arrangements. Raised in music by her father, legendary vocalist Bobby McFerrin, Madison knew she was going to be a singer from the age of 5 and was on her path, learning, performing, finding her own unique voice and building her career.But after a very public national anthem performance went sideways, she found herself facing an onslaught of viral, online hate from thousands of anonymous critics as well as some of the biggest names in music. She had to decide exactly how she wanted to keep sharing her gift with the world. Rather than hiding, she took the critics on by releasing powerful new a capella tracks that wowed listeners, turned the tide, and set her off on a new musical direction. She is currently building on her momentum, pairing her timeless voice with modern production on her new project, You + I, which quickly had its lead single

Danny Clinch has played with, photographed, and filmed some of the most iconic musicians in modern history, including Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Tupac Shakur, and Johnny Cash. Acclaimed as one of the top photographers in the music scene (http://www.dannyclinch.com/) for decades and the recipient of 3 Grammy Award nominations himself, Danny’s work has appeared everywhere in Vanity Fair, Spin, Rolling Stone, and GQ, as well as numerous galleries. He recently founded the Transparent Gallery (https://www.facebook.com/dannyclinchtransparent/) at the Asbury Hotel to showcase music and culture in the area, along with his annual Sea.Hear.Now music and art festival (https://www.seahearnowfestival.com/).In addition to his camera, the other thing Danny Clinch never leaves home without is his harmonica. He doesn't just love photographing musicians, he's also a long-time lover and creator of music, playing with his own band and sitting in with many of the amazing people he photographs. In today’s conversation, we talk abou

Bridgett M. Davis (http://bridgettdavis.com/)grew up in the high-stakes mix of Motown, motor-city unions, and racial tension that was Detroit in the 1960s and 70s, watching her mother, Fannie, run a neighborhood numbers game that provided for the family and the community. After leaving Detroit for New York City, she honed her craft as a journalist, novelist, and screenwriter, with her most recent work, The World According To Fannie Davis: My Mother’s Life In The Detroit Numbers (https://amzn.to/2ZMJ430), paying tribute to her mother’s ingenuity and care under world-shifting circumstances. Join us to hear Davis share her journey from the troubled city of her upbringing to award-winning author and professor, and the incredible through-line of compassion, generosity, and tangible acts of love that saw her through it.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype Assessment™ now. IT’S FREE (https://sparketype.com/) and takes about 7-minutes to complete. At a minimum,

Tania Katan (https://taniakatan.com/)is a speaker, bestselling author, and co-creator of globally viral empowerment campaign #ItWasNeverADress. Her inventive way of formulating ideas led to the groundbreaking bestseller, Creative Trespassing: How to Put the Spark and Joy Back into Your Work and Life (https://amzn.to/31fZC4U). While she’s now known for her unique ability to make unseen connections, generate imaginative innovations, and foster creative breakthroughs across a wide range of industries, the way she got there was anything but a straight line. From finding the right blend of “pay the bills work" to creative work as a young playwright to subverting the status quo of the art world with arm wrestling events, she’s explored what it means to harness creativity in all kinds of arenas. In today’s conversation, Katan shares the story of how she came to embrace creative trespassing, and what she’s learned about finding opportunities for new ways of working and being, even in the most mundane circumstances.--

Productivity - not a fun word for most people. Well, what if there was a way to quickly figure out what matters most, focus in on that, let go of everything else, then go from idea to done? To become a productivity Jedi. That is what we're talking about in today's powerful conversation with Start Finishing (https://amzn.to/2MRYpgA) author, and founder of Productive Flourishing (https://www.productiveflourishing.com/), Charlie Gilkey. We dive into Charlie's specific ideas around why so much of our effort to be productive fails, and how to rewire our brains and schedules and actions for finishing and finally feel good about what we're accomplishing. Along the way, we explore how Gilkey's highly-unique background as a philosopher, military logistics officer, productivity strategist and consultant to creative professionals, founders and fast-growth entrepreneurial teams has shaped his powerful lens of going from idea to done.-------------Have you discovered your Sparketype yet? Take the Sparketype

Growing up in northern California, Kyle Bryant (https://kyleabryant.com/) loved being outside and being active. But, his late teens would change everything. He began experiencing a loss in balance, coordination and strength. A battery of doctors and tests eventually led to a diagnosis of Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA), a rare, progressive neuromuscular disease that currently has no treatment or cure. While grappling with this diagnosis and all it meant, Kyle discovered cycling, and, along with it, a new lease on freedom. He's now completed numerous ultra-distance rides including "The World's Toughest Bike Race", Race Across America in 2010, as part of 4-man Team FARA which is the subject of the documentary The Ataxian. He is the co-host of the Two Disabled Dudes Podcast and the author of a moving new memoir, Shifting Into High Gear (https://amzn.to/31R1QaR). Bryant is also the founder and director of the bicycle ride fundraiser, rideATAXIA for the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). rideATAXIA is currentl

Chase Jarvis wants you to know...YOU ARE CREATIVE! An award-winning artist, entrepreneur, and one of the most influential photographers of the past decade, Chase (https://www.chasejarvis.com/) has created campaigns for Apple, Nike, Red Bull and others. He was a contributor to the Pulitzer-winning New York Times story Snowfall, and earned an Emmy nomination for his documentary Portrait of a City. Jarvis is also the founder of CreativeLive (https://www.creativelive.com/), where more than 10 million students learn photography, video, design, music, and business from the world’s top creators and entrepreneurs. And, he's got a new book out, Creative Calling: Establish a daily practice, infuse your world with meaning, and succeed in work + life (https://amzn.to/2Lp6XIF) that is one part memoir, one part roadmap to discovering your creative calling. And, we dive into all of it.In addition to this week's podcast, we recorded a conversation with Chase as a few years back, which you can check out here (https://www.goo

Lisa Genova (https://www.lisagenova.com/) graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology, before pursuing her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard with a focus on the brain and addiction. Genova's TED talk—What You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer’s—was one of the most popular TED talks of 2017 and has been viewed over 4 million times. So, how did she end becoming a novelist, penning the mega-New York Times bestseller, Still Alice (which was made into an Oscar-winning movie)? And, what led Lisa to not just investigate dementia, Alzheimer's and numerous other neurological conditions, but also write a series of deeply-moving novels that shine a powerful, relatable light on these conditions, including Left Neglected, Love Anthony, Inside the O’Briens and her most recent, Every Note Played (https://amzn.to/2ZepfRJ)? That's what we explore in today's conversation, along with some powerful awakenings, truths and insights about brain health and Alzheimer's.-------------Have you d