Share
Good Life Project
Nilofer Merchant: Big Questions, Deep Faith and Real Power
•
Today's episode is sponsored by Camp GLP, the ultimate summer-camp for entrepreneurs, makers and world-shakers, recently featured in USA Today!
+++
"Brand is the exhaust fume of the engine of your life."
A show of defiance at the age of 18, Nilofer Merchant packed a box, declared she was leaving home and walked out the front door. She though her departure would last an hour, it turned into a lifetime.
Since then, her fierce intellect, bundled with a relentless curiosity and drive to learn, uplift and serve has fueled an astonishing career and life. Working in some of the largest companies in technology, she became known as the "Jane Bond of innovation," finding ways to not only generate more than $18 billion in revenue for those businesses, but also rebuild teams and ventures deemed unsave-able.
She's written numerous books, spoken all over the world, taught at Stanford and even inspired millions to trade sitting for walking in her famed TED talk. In fact, this entire podcast was recorded standing up in our Manhattan studios.
Maybe more impressive than the depth of her curiosity and the quality of her ideas, though, is the size of her heart and her willingness to be real. To walk the walk of someone who is committed to inciting profound change in the world and to sharing her vulnerability and humanity along the way.
This is a conversation you will likely want to listen to a few times over and share with friends and colleagues.
Links we mention:
More episodes
View all episodes
Productivity for Mortals With Real Lives | Laura Mae Martin
59:02|Ever feel like you're thriving one minute, then scrambling the next? Laura Mae Martin, author of Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing, shares a fresh, holistic approach centered on syncing your priorities, patterns and boundaries. You'll learn counterintuitive strategies to align your intention with your action, optimizing when, where and how you tackle different tasks. You'll discover how small tweaks to your routines and environments can create distraction-free zones for deep, focused work while prioritizing self-care. You can find Laura at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Charlie Gilkey about finishing the right things.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesHow to Feel Confident, No Matter What Comes Your Way | Ethan Nichtern
01:08:17|Ever feel like life's ups and downs are knocking you off balance? Discover how to cultivate unshakable self-trust with Buddhist teacher Ethan Nichtern, author of Confidence: Holding Your Seat through Life's Eight Worldly Winds.Ethan shares ancient practices for navigating the emotional hurricanes of pleasure/pain, praise/criticism, fame/insignificance and success/failure we all face. Whether you're battling imposter syndrome, recovering from a breakup or redefining your career path, learn to access the four powers of true confidence - compassion, lineage, awareness and "wind horse" - so you can stay centered amid the storm.You can find Ethan at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Henry Shukman about the way to original love.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesHow to Expand Time & Increase Happiness | Cassie Holmes
01:01:36|Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed, with too many things to do and never enough time? Discover research-backed strategies to overcome the chronic state of "time poverty" from award-winning professor Cassie Holmes. Her fascinating work at the intersection of time and happiness, explored in her new book Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most, gives you a blueprint to reframe your relationship with time. Learn practical ways to savor life's joyful moments, nurture your closest relationships, and align your limited hours with what's genuinely meaningful - paving the path to maximum fulfillment.You can find Cassie at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Tim Ferriss about being present and intentional in life.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesHow to Bridge the Generational Gap and Inspire Young Adults: Unlocking the Mentor Mindset
01:06:02|In this thought-provoking discussion, developmental psychologist David Yeager shares insights from his groundbreaking book 10 to 25: A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation—And Making Your Own Life Easier. Discover the powerful "mentor mindset" that exceptional teachers, managers, and parents use to inspire and empower young people ages 10 to 25. By balancing high expectations with exceptional support and transparency, you can navigate this critical stage while nurturing agency, respect, and lifelong motivation. Whether you're a parent, educator, or leader, this episode provides a roadmap for leaving a profound legacy by positively impacting the next generation.You can find Henry at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ashton Applewhite about ageism.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesHow to Captivate People With Your Story | ViKA Viktoria
01:05:14|Unlock the primal power of storytelling with ViKA Viktoria, master storyteller and communications expert.ViKA shares how cultivating self-awareness through practices like journaling and dance allowed her to break free from inherited narratives and redefine her own brave story - going from unfulfilled ad executive to trailblazing entrepreneur. Discover why "storytelling is as critical to our survival as breathing" and how to wield this ancient technology to find awe, purpose and connection in our modern lives.You can find ViKA at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Catherine Burns about the craft of storytelling.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesHow to Feel Like You Belong in This World | Henry Shukman
01:05:43|In this thought-provoking episode, award-winning author Henry Shukman reveals the radical proposition of "Original Love" laid out in his book Original Love: The Four Inns on the Path of Awakening. Discover how committed meditation practice can help dissolve your constructed sense of self, unveiling a profound interconnectedness where you feel inherently whole, loved and at peace with all of existence. Shukman provides an intriguing roadmap for directly experiencing your deepest nature of cosmic unity and lovingness.You can find Henry at: Website | Instagram | Henry's meditation app | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Ellen Langer about mindfulness.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount CodesA Radically-Simple Approach to Getting Well | Julia Hotz
01:01:56|Did you know doctors are now prescribing activities like art classes, nature walks, and community gardening to treat loneliness, lack of purpose, and other modern ills? In this fascinating episode, Julia Hotz discusses the power of "social prescribing" outlined in her book The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging. Learn how reconnecting with these ancient wellsprings of human health and happiness can provide an antidote to the soul-draining effects of our frenetic, disconnected lives. If you've been yearning for more meaning, joy, and community, this conversation may be just what the doctor ordered.You can find Julia at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Robert Waldinger about the role of relationships in our ability to live good lives.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes
What It’s Like to Be
35:58|Sharing an episode of “What It’s Like to Be…” from author Dan Heath. On the podcast, Dan explores the world of work, one profession at a time, and interviews people who love what they do. He finds out: What does a couples therapist think when a friend asks for relationship advice? How does a stand-up comedian come up with new material? What are the clues that suggest fraud to a forensic accountant? If you’ve ever met someone whose work you were curious about, and you had 100 nosy questions but were too polite to ask… this is the show for you. In this preview, Dan talks to an ocean lifeguard about performing CPR on a dolphin, learning to read the ocean, and leading daring (and sometimes foolish) rescues. You can find more episodes of What It’s Like to Be at https://link.chtbl.com/danheathsummer?sid=goodlifeprojectA Breakthrough Treatment for Depression | David Carreon, MD
01:00:22|Does depression feel like a prison keeping you disconnected from your true self? In this powerful episode, a pioneering psychiatrist shares groundbreaking brain treatments and profound spiritual insights that can help reignite your vital spark. David Carreon, MD, author of The Opposite of Depression, reveals how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and simple lifestyle habits like exercise, diet, and spiritual community provide an inspirational roadmap for reclaiming joy, meaning and your authentic self - whether struggling with hopelessness or wanting to truly flourish.You can find David at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Bessel Van de Kolk about integrating trauma.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes