Share
Good Life Project
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor | Whole Brain Living
In 2008, Jill Bolte Taylor gave the first-ever TED Talk to go massively viral. A Harvard-trained neuroscientist, she told the story of her stroke that largely wiped out the entire left hemisphere of her brain, a horrifying experience and yet, the entire time, at her left hemisphere was shutting down, it was observing and analyzing the process in the way a scientist might, wondering at the moment by moment changes.
She shared this deeply moving story, along with the 8-year journey it took to rebuild and bring her left half back online, enough to step back into her career and stand on maybe the most intimidating stage in the world and leave her audience both captivated and yearning, in an odd twist of circumstance, to experience even a glimpse of the profound expansive, connectedness and bliss Jill described as her right hemisphere took the reigns and all but eliminated and sense of separate self, otherness or separation.
Despite the stunning success of her talk and book that followed, she still viewed them, in a way, as failures. Her ultimate goal was to invite people to explore reconnecting with that same sense of spaciousness, joy, empathy and compassion, to activate and embrace all parts of their brains, not just the head’s down, individualistic, achievement-oriented parts. People wanted to, but there was no clear roadmap, so she spent years deconstructing the process and distilling it into a powerful, insight-packed call to action in her new book, Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life (https://amzn.to/2Q9MFtc), where she reveals the 4 characters living in your brain and how to harness them to live an extraordinary, intentional and present life.
You can find Dr. Jill at:
Website : http://www.drjilltaylor.com/
If you LOVED this episode:
You’ll also love the conversations we had with neuroscientists and innovator, Ryan Darcy who is doing stunning things with brain neuroplasticity : https://tinyurl.com/GLPDArcy
-------------
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 friend. Thank you to our super cool brand partners. If you like the show, please support them - they help make the podcast possible.
Check out our offerings & partners:
- Beam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off.
More episodes
View all episodes
The Science of Better Relationships: 3 Experts Share What Really Works | Spotlight Convo
01:14:53|Ever wonder why some relationships thrive through challenges while others crumble? In this spotlight episode, leading relationship researchers share the exact patterns that predict relationship success, revealing why conflict isn't the problem—it's how we navigate it that matters.Learn practical tools from the Gottmans' decades of research, discover how self-awareness shapes stronger connections with Yung Pueblo, and explore science-backed strategies for deepening friendships with expert Danielle Bayard Jackson.Episode TranscriptYou can find Julie & John Gottman at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with The GottmansYou can find Yung Pueblo at: Website | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with YungYou can find Danielle at: Better Female Friendships | Instagram | Listen to Our Full-Length Convo with DanielleCheck out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesThe 4 Keys to Better Conversations (Even When They're Messy) | Alison Wood Brooks
59:03|Harvard professor Alison Wood Brooks reveals why those perfectly polished conversations we see in movies and TV are actually making it harder for us to connect in real life.In her new book Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves, she shares the surprising science behind why messy, imperfect conversations often lead to deeper connections, and offers her practical TALK framework for transforming everyday interactions into meaningful moments of genuine connection. Learn why face-to-face conversations generate 30 times more laughter than digital ones, and discover simple techniques for asking better questions that create real understanding.You can find Alison at: Website | Instagram| Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Priya Parker about making impossible conversations possible.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesTired of Fighting With “opponents,” What if There Was a Better Way? | Scott Shigeoka
57:32|When Scott Shigeoka, a queer Asian American progressive, packed everything into his Prius and spent a year seeking out conversations with people who held opposing views, he discovered something remarkable about the relationship between fear and curiosity.In this transformative conversation, Scott shares insights from his book "Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World" and reveals how genuine curiosity can turn our deepest fears into bridges of understanding. You'll learn his practical DIVE framework for navigating difficult conversations and discover why the people who scare us most might hold the key to our own transformation.You can find Scott at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode:You’ll also love the conversations we had with Brené Brown about how vulnerability and courage can deepen the connections and transform our lives.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesHow IFS is Healing Trauma & Changing Lives (Maybe Yours?) | Tamala Floyd, LCSW
01:08:16|What if those parts of yourself you've been trying to change or silence are actually trying to protect you?In this illuminating conversation, psychotherapist Tamala Floyd reveals how understanding and building relationships with your different inner parts can transform exhaustion into wholeness, offering insights from her new book Listening When Parts Speak: A Practical Guide to Healing with Internal Family Systems Therapy and Ancestor Wisdom. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, people-pleasing, or perfectionism, this episode provides a revolutionary framework for healing that honors all parts of who you are.You can find Tamala at: Website | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about using mindfulness and compassion to free ourselves from suffering.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesThe Truth About Headaches: Surprising Science & Groundbreaking Treatments | Tom Zeller Jr.
58:53|Until 2018, we had no medications specifically designed to prevent migraines or cluster headaches - a startling fact given that headaches affect billions worldwide. In this revealing conversation, former New York Times journalist Tom Zeller Jr., author of The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction—and a Search for Relief, weaves together cutting-edge neuroscience, cultural history, and his personal battle with cluster headaches to explore why this common condition remains so misunderstood and what emerging treatments - from AI prediction to psychedelics - might finally offer real hope.You can find Tom at: Website | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Dr. Jennifer Heisz about how movement eases the mind by reshaping your brain.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesHow Being Highly Sensitive Can Be Your Superpower | Elaine Aron, PhD [Best of]
01:08:01|Psychologist Dr Elaine Aron sits down with Jonathan Fields to unpack the traits of the Highly Sensitive Person and show how this wiring can become your greatest strength in family life. Get science-backed strategies straight from her book “The Highly Sensitive Parent: Be Brilliant in Your Role, Even When the World Overwhelms You” and start turning overwhelm into resilience.You can find Elaine at: WebsiteIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Susan David, PhD, about emotional agility.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesIt’s Never Too Late to Let the Real You Shine. A Love Story. | Sherri Dindal
52:56|What happens when a former investigator who spent 26 years keeping her true self hidden decides at age 50 to let it all out on social media? Meet Sherri Dindal, who transformed from living life behind a mask to becoming The Real Slim Sherri, amassing 5.7 million followers by showing up with raw authenticity, humor and hard-won wisdom that's inspiring a generation of GenXers to reclaim their right to take up space. Her story reveals how two brushes with death led to an extraordinary reinvention, proving it's never too late to become who you truly are.You can find Sherri at: Connect with Sherri | Wholesome Hippy | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversations we had with Karen Walrond about rewriting the mid-life narrative to one of joy, grace and possibility.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesThe Agility Architect: Your Life as an Evolving Design | Summer Series
01:03:09|What if your life isn’t a fixed plan, but a living, evolving blueprint?In the final episode of our 4-part Inner Architect summer series, you’ll discover five practical, science-backed strategies to adapt with clarity, turn setbacks into growth, and build a life that keeps pace with who you're becoming. If you're craving more meaning, momentum, and flexibility, this one's for you.Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode:You can find the 1-page worksheet HERE.Find all of the Summer Series 2025 episodes.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesBeam Dream Powder: Visit https://shopbeam.com/GOODLIFE and use code GOODLIFE to get our exclusive discount of up to 40% off.The Surprising Upside of Regret | Dan Pink
01:07:54|What if regret isn’t something to avoid, but a powerful tool for living a better life?In this conversation, Daniel Pink shares surprising insights from his book The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward, revealing how our regrets can help us make wiser decisions, build deeper connections, and live more intentionally. If you've ever thought if only…, this episode will change how you see the past—and your future.You can find Daniel at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the earlier conversation we had with Dan about the powerful role of timing in life.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes