The Anxious Achiever

Does the fear of being judged keep you from showing up as your full self? Social anxiety can affect your relationships, career, and confidence, but it doesn't have to hold you back. In this classic episode, I sit down with Stefan Hofmann, a clinical psychologist and expert in social anxiety, to talk about the difference between shyness and social anxiety, how avoidance keeps anxiety going, and why cognitive behavioral therapy can help you face uncomfortable situations. Stefan also shares why you don't need everyone to like you and how building deeper connections can help you create a more meaningful social life. Tune in to better understand your social anxiety and find a healthier way to connect with others.

Check out our sponsors:

Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend.

Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER.

In This Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why do you experience social anxiety around other people?

02:00 What social anxiety is and how fear of negative evaluation drives it.

04:00 What’s the difference between shyness and social anxiety disorder?

06:45 The human need for social connection and belonging.

09:45 How social hierarchies influence our fear of being judged.

12:30 How social influence can turn into power, status, and money.

14:45 What is the role of genetics and life experiences in social anxiety?

18:30 Why shyness and introversion aren't necessarily weaknesses.

21:15 How cognitive behavioral therapy can help treat social anxiety disorder.

25:45 Breaking the habit of people-pleasing and accepting that not everyone will like you.

28:00 Why deeper relationships matter more than the number of people in your social circle.

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 Stefan on LinkedIn: @stefanhofmann

What happens when you start trusting AI more than your own judgment? In this episode, I sit down with Enrique Rubio, founder of Hacking HR, to talk about what you risk losing when you hand your thinking over to machines. Enrique shares why critical thinking, creativity, and human connection matter more than ever, and how relying too heavily on AI can weaken your ability to solve problems, work through conflict, and trust your own instincts. We also dive into the responsibility leaders have when adopting AI, the growing risk of workplace loneliness, and why individuals and organizations still have the power to shape how this technology is used. Tune in to discover how to protect your agency, make more intentional decisions, and hold on to the uniquely human skills that matter in the age of AI.

Check out our sponsors:

HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year!

Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend.

Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER.

Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever

Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today!

Vinted - Try Vinted and give your clothes a second life. Download the Vinted app for free and start selling with no seller fees.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Meet Enrique Rubio, founder and CEO of Hacking HR.

04:00 What we risk losing when AI removes the friction from thinking and writing.

05:15 How social media and AI may affect critical thinking, creativity, and social skills.

08:00 Enrique’s 90/10 rule for keeping human thinking at the center of AI-assisted work.

11:15 Why leaders, not AI, are responsible for the consequences of AI-driven decisions.

14:00 How to decide what work AI should support and what should remain human.

16:30 Could relying on AI make human relationships and workplace collaboration harder?

18:30 How might AI sycophancy deepen loneliness and weaken human connection?

22:45 How leaders can create opportunities for teams to collaborate without AI.

24:30 What individual and organizational agency look like in the age of AI.

28:30 Reclaiming our agency and recognizing what makes us uniquely human.

30:00 How to question AI when its answers don't pass the smell test.

35:00 Lessons from past technological revolutions.

41:30 Rethinking old systems, leadership, and regulation in the age of AI.

46:00 Jobs, disruption, and the support people need through technological change.

49:30 Who owns the value of our personal data in an AI-driven economy?

52:00 Voting, democracy, and the role of civic participation in shaping AI's future.

Resources + Links

Get your copy of Enrique Rubio’s books HERE

Learn more about Hacking HR 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 Enrique on LinkedIn: @rubioenrique

How can you turn anxiety into an opportunity to understand yourself and become a better leader? In this classic episode, I talk with Dr. Vikas Shah, entrepreneur, investor, and MBE recipient, about the connection between mental health, emotional awareness, and leadership. Vikas shares how his early anxiety fueled his ambition, why mental health management is an ongoing journey rather than a final destination, and why learning to manage your mental health can make you stronger in business and in life. We also dive into how leaders can recognize the emotional impact of their actions, build resilience, and create healthier workplace cultures. Tune in to learn how understanding your own patterns and taking the next step can help you navigate challenges at work and in life.

Check out our sponsors:

HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year!

Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend.

Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER.

Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever

Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today!

Vinted - Try Vinted and give your clothes a second life. Download the Vinted app for free and start selling with no seller fees.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 How can emotional awareness make you a stronger leader?

05:30 How anxiety can influence curiosity, ambition, and achievement.

08:00 The turning point that led Vikas to seek help for his mental health.

12:00 Why building mental resilience is essential for long-term well-being.

14:45 How to make peace with anxiety and learn to manage it over time.

17:30 How your communication style can affect your team’s emotional well-being.

18:15 What can leaders do to protect employees’ mental health outside working hours?

20:15 How financial incentives and reporting standards influence workplace culture.

24:45 How therapy helps uncover the experiences behind your behavior.

26:15 How can you make career choices that fit your goals and personality?

29:15 Why intentional rest and recovery are essential during demanding periods.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Dr. Vikas Shah 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 Dr. Vikas Shah: @vikasshahlinkedin

What makes a workplace somewhere people genuinely want to be? In this episode, I sit down with Sebastian Buck, CEO and co-founder of Enso, to talk about what makes work meaningful and why belonging matters so much to your well-being. Sebastian shares how letting go of the pressure to be the perfect leader helped him reduce his anxiety, reshape his role, and focus on the work that energizes him. We also dive into the research behind workplace well-being, the importance of trust and psychological safety, and what leaders can do to build healthier workplace cultures. Tune in to discover how stronger human connections and a different approach to leadership help create healthier workplaces.

Check out our sponsors:

HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year!

Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend.

Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER.

Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever

Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today!

Vinted - Try Vinted and give your clothes a second life. Download the Vinted app for free and start selling with no seller fees.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 What really drives well-being and belonging at work?

05:00 How changing your leadership style can reduce anxiety.

06:45 Making more room for the work that energizes you.

09:45 What future design means and how organizations can use it.

12:15 Why meaningful work is a major challenge for business leaders.

17:30 What does belonging at work really mean?

20:00 Why social connection can matter more than compensation for workplace well-being.

21:15 Why companies struggle to turn well-being research into action.

25:00 How trust and social connection shape workplace belonging.

28:15 The questions leaders need to ask about success.

32:45 How rewriting the stories you tell yourself can change the way you lead.

35:45 How vulnerability and psychological safety help teams connect.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Enso's work on workplace strategy and future design 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 Sebastian on LinkedIn: @sebastianbuck

How can you make meaningful career and financial decisions without letting money anxiety hold you back? In this classic episode, I talk with Amanda Clayman, a financial therapist, about how your emotions, childhood experiences, and beliefs about money shape the way you work, earn, spend, and negotiate. We break down why financial anxiety leaves you feeling stuck, how shame and self-worth affect your ability to ask for what you deserve, and what it takes to pursue meaningful work while meeting your financial needs. Amanda also shares ways to prepare for uncertainty, recognize unhelpful money patterns, and navigate difficult conversations about finances. Tune in to learn how to better understand your money emotions and make decisions that align with your values.

Check out our sponsors:

HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/achiever or use code ACHIEVER and get 40% off your first year!

Life at the Speed of Play - Go to getmarksbook.com/anxious to get two copies for the price of one - one for you and one for a friend.

Monarch - Write your own money story with Monarch and save 50% off your first year at monarch.com with code ACHIEVER.

Notion - Learn more about how Notion can support your business, at notion.com/achiever

Shopify - Ready to start your business before Black Friday? Go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever to start your free trial today!

Vinted - Try Vinted and give your clothes a second life. Download the Vinted app for free and start selling with no seller fees.

In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why having more money may not resolve your anxiety.

04:15 How your money beliefs influence your professional decisions.

07:45 What to do when money anxiety keeps you from making a change.

11:15 Are you born anxious about money?

14:15 Recognizing your default response to money stress.

17:45 What salary negotiations can reveal about your self-worth.

20:15 What is the connection between money, shame, and asking for what you deserve?

24:30 Who can benefit from working with a financial therapist.

26:30 How family and financial background shape your money beliefs.

30:30 How to talk about money without making others feel pressured.

Resources + Links

Learn more about Amanda Clayman HERE

Learn more about financial therapy and financial wellness 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 Amanda: on LinkedIn @amandaclayman + Instagram @amandaclayman