Make It a Great One with Dr. Dan: #1 Podcast for Inspiring Conversations to Live and Lead On Purpose

Dr. Dan welcomes Dr. Lauren Speeth—award-winning author, educator, storyteller, and global changemaker—for a powerful conversation about purpose, resilience, and the courage to live an authentic, hope-filled life. Drawing from her new book Taking the Stairs and Liking It, Lauren shares the seven transformative principles that shaped her remarkable journey, including wisdom passed on directly from President Jimmy Carter. In this inspiring and deeply human episode, Lauren opens up about shaping her identity beyond titles, navigating loss and reinvention, and discovering her unique path to service and leadership. Dr. Speeth and Dr. Dan explore what it means to show up with compassion, to cultivate self-awareness, and to take purposeful steps toward the person you want to become—especially when life feels overwhelming. Listeners will hear stories about music, creativity, Lauren’s formative childhood experiences, the profound power of small acts of kindness, and how each of us has the ability to uplift others through our presence. This conversation is a reminder that we all have a ripple effect—and that the world needs the unique strengths only you can bring. This episode will inspire you to pause, reflect, reconnect, and remember – your presence matters more than you know. For more information, visit https://bgu.edu/dr-lauren-speeth and follow @elfenworksproductions on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Dan interviews coach, Enneagram teacher, and author Courtney Smith to explore how we grow, evolve, and reclaim our most authentic selves. Courtney shares the transformational journey that took her from a high-achieving, analytical career to helping leaders and individuals uncover the stories, fears, and inner patterns that shape their lives. Together, they dive into themes of self-awareness, purpose, empowerment, courage, compassion, and authentic leadership, revealing how we can all step out of our “zone of greatness” and into our true zone of genius. Drawing from Courtney’s work with the Enneagram, Conscious Leadership tools, and her new workbook Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness: A Process for Reclaiming Your Full Self By Elise Loehnen and Courtney Smith, this episode breaks down how old stories and inherited beliefs keep us stuck — and how understanding fear, rewriting narratives, and naming our “parts” can create profound personal growth. This episode is an invitation to slow down, tune inward, and step courageously into a more authentic and connected version of yourself. It’s for leaders, caregivers, creators, and anyone committed to personal evolution and meaningful impact. For more information, visit CourtneySmithConsulting.com and follow Courtney Smith on Substack. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Artist and writer John Guillemette joins Dr. Dan for a moving conversation about paradox, purpose, and the transformative power of creativity. From being misdiagnosed and over-medicated to rediscovering balance and meaning as a hospital janitor during the pandemic, John’s story reveals how struggle can become the source of wisdom. Together, John and Dr. Dan explore the courage it takes to live authentically, the importance of self-discovery through art, and the beauty of collaboration that honors our shared humanity. They discuss John’s acclaimed illustration work with repeat MIAGO guest Dr. Gina Barreca on Gina School: It’s Not What They Teach You, It’s What They Learn, and his upcoming illustrated memoir Relapse of a Recovering Ego Addict. This episode is a meditation on growth, resilience, and what it means to “make it a great one” — even when life feels messy, strange, or contradictory. For more information, visit musingjohn.com and follow @musing_john on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan #MakeItAGreatOne #DrDanPeters #JohnGuillemette #Creativity #Resilience #Authenticity #Mindset #Growth #SelfAwareness #ArtAndHealing #Leadership #Connection #Courage #Inspiration #Humanity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this powerful and honest conversation, Dr. Dan Peters talks with Erin Gallagher–CEO, author, and founder of the Hype Women movement—about what it truly means to remember who you are and break free from systems, expectations, and internalized beliefs that keep us small. Erin shares her journey of trauma, transformation, triumph, and how she turned a viral moment into a global movement with Dr. Dan, highlighting as her journey from pain into purpose and self-doubt into empowerment. Together, she and Dr. Dan explore how women (and everyone) can challenge patriarchal conditioning, set boundaries without guilt, embrace duality, and step into their full, authentic selves. This episode is about courage, self-awareness, and the radical act of hyping others up as we rise together. Erin reminds us that empowerment starts with asking, “Is it still working?”—and having the bravery to make a different choice when it’s not. For more information, visit www.hypewomen.com and follow on Instagram @erin.gallag.her on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Dan sits down with Dr. Jessica Kriegel, Chief Strategy Officer at Culture Partners, keynote speaker, researcher, and author of Surrender to Lead. Jessica’s powerful story—from self-driven executive to spiritually grounded leader—reveals how surrendering control, embracing faith, and leading with love can transform both personal and professional life. Jessica shares the profound spiritual awakening that reshaped her life following her father’s death, her journey as a death doula, and the lessons she’s learned about presence, compassion, and purpose. Together, Dr. Dan and Jessica explore how the principles of surrender, love, and faith create healthier workplaces, stronger leaders, and more humane organizations. Through inspiring stories and real-world examples, Jessica explains her SHIFT framework (Stop fighting reality, Have faith, Identify what’s yours, Free yourself from fear, and Take the next right action) and how this model drives results while honoring humanity. From leading corporate change to parenting with intention, this conversation reminds us that surrender isn’t giving up—it’s opening up. For more information, visit www.jessicakriegel.com and follow @jess_kriegel on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Dan welcomes Dr. David Lesch, acclaimed scholar and former Los Angeles Dodgers draft pick, and Catherine Nixon Cooke, award-winning author and explorer, to discuss Dodgers to Damascus: David Lesch's Journey from Baseball to the Middle East a powerful biography that traces David’s extraordinary path from the baseball diamond to international diplomacy. Dr. Dan, David, and Catherine discuss how resilience, humility, and integrity shape a meaningful life—and how lessons from the pitcher’s mound can translate into peacemaking in the Middle East. Catherine shares insights from her deep research and collaboration with David, revealing universal truths about leadership, empathy, and service. This inspiring conversation reminds us that connection and courtesy can heal divides, that listening is an act of courage, and that being a “possibilist”—someone who sees what can be—is how we move forward as individuals and as a global community. For more information, visit www.catherinenixoncooke.com and follow @drdavidlesch and @catherinenixoncooke on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Dan interviews evidential psychic medium, speaker, spiritual teacher, and author Travis Holp for a powerful and deeply human conversation about healing, purpose, and the unseen energy that connects us all. Known as the "Unicorn Warrior", Travis helps people all over the world through his blend of evidential mediumship, intuitive guidance, and energy work to share messages of love, hope, healing, and joy to help us live the life our soul came here to live. Dr. Dan interviews Travis about his remarkable personal journey—from childhood intuition and early creative dreams to sobriety, spiritual awakening, and his new book Are You There Spirit? It’s Me, Travis. Together, Dr. Dan and Travis explore the courage it takes to surrender, the power of forgiveness, and how self-awareness leads to authentic connection and transformation. On this episode, Dr. Dan and Travis discuss intuition, possibility, purpose, and growth, as well as creating spiritual practices that work for you. This episode will inspire listeners to rediscover connection, trust their intuition, and embrace the magic of the moment. Travis encourages us to live each day with intention, curiosity, and compassion. And Dr. Dan reminds us that healing and growth are lifelong processes—and that we’re never truly alone on our journey. For more information, visit www.travisholp.com and follow @traviswarriorunicorn on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this compelling episode, Dr. Dan Peters sits down with Amber Hollingsworth, master addiction counselor, founder of Hope for Families Recovery Center, and creator of the wildly popular YouTube channel Put The Shovel Down. Amber tells Dr. Dan how she has been dealing with addiction her whole life! - she grew up in an addicted family and later became a Master Addiction Counselor. She understands addiction from both perspectives With over two decades of experience, Amber has helped thousands of families navigate the difficult journey of addiction recovery. Known for her relatable, practical, and compassionate approach, she shares how recovery is built not on coercion or “rock bottom,” but on trust, boundaries, and hope. Amber reminds us that you don’t have to hit bottom to choose recovery and that recovery isn’t linear. She shuns shame and tell us that you can decide to put the shovel down at any time. This conversation is full of practical strategies, deep wisdom, and hope for anyone touched by addiction, whether personally or through a loved one. For more information, visit www.familyrecoveryacademy.online, follow on Instagram @Puttheshoveldown, and watch on YouTube Put The Shovel Down. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Dan Peters sits down with Dr. Jaime Goff, founder of The Empathic Leader and author of The Secure Leader: Discover the Hidden Forces That Shape Your Leadership Story and How to Change Them. Together they explore how attachment styles—formed early in life—shape the way we lead, connect, and grow both at work and at home. Jaime shares her own leadership journey, from uncovering her avoidant attachment tendencies to transforming them into opportunities for trust and empowerment, to her current work. Dr. Dan and Jaime discuss why self-awareness is the cornerstone of resilience and how compassion and curiosity can shift entire teams, families, and communities. Today’s discussion dives into what makes a truly effective leader and how it’s not only strategy but also self-awareness, security, and connection. This energizing episode with Dr. Dan and Dr. Goff blends psychology, leadership, and practical wisdom to offer a roadmap for anyone seeking to lead with authenticity, compassion, and courage. For more information, visit www.drjaimegoff.com and follow @dr_jaimegoff on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oprah Winfrey’s recent Oprah Book Club pick Culpability continues to fuel important conversations around the question: What happens when morality, technology, and family collide? In this provocative new episode, Dr. Dan welcomes Bruce Holsinger, the author of Culpability to discuss and explore many of our deepest fears around AI, family, resilience, responsibility, and the future of humanity. A phenomenon, Bruce shares the impact of Oprah Winfrey elevating Culpability, the conversations the novel sparks, and why this gripping fictional story about a family in crisis after a technology fail raises urgent questions we all must face. Today’s conversation is a call to action for every listener. Leaders, parents, and everyone concerned with the future will feel enlightened and empowered after listening to this timely conversation. For more information, visit www.bruceholsinger.com and follow @bruceholsingerauthor on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this energizing new episode, Dr. Dan sits down with physician, author, and podcaster Dr. Jordan Grumet (Doc G) to explore the difference between meaning and purpose—and how understanding this distinction can transform how we live, work, and love. During their insightful conversation, Dr. Dan and Doc G explore defining questions including: What does it truly mean to live a life of purpose? And why chasing big, audacious goals often leaves us feeling empty instead of fulfilled? Dr. Grumet shares his powerful and personal story from childhood loss and finding community in a small baseball card shop, to his career in medicine and his profound experiences as a hospice doctor. His insights reveal why most of us suffer from “purpose anxiety” and how embracing “little p purpose”—the small, process-oriented actions that light us up—can create joy, resilience, and authentic connection. Dr. Grumet’s wisdom, work, and books (Taking Stock and The Purpose Code) remind us that purpose is not about proving our worth or chasing achievement—it’s about choosing daily actions that energize us and connect us to others. If you’ve ever felt stuck, anxious about finding your purpose, or overwhelmed by life’s expectations, this episode will inspire you to slow down, reflect, and embrace the small steps that lead to big change. For more information visit jordangrumet.com and LinkedIn. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Dr. Dan explores what it means to answer the call to climb with James Robbins—leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of The Call to Climb: A Story to Find Your Path, Conquer Your Fears, and Fulfill Your Destiny. On this must-listen-to episode, Dr. Dan and James explore the intersection of purpose, courage, authenticity, and resilience, offering listeners a roadmap to living a more aligned and meaningful life. James shares personal stories with Dr. Dan of facing both real and metaphorical mountains, the struggles of ignoring the “summons of the soul,” and the transformative power of choosing authenticity over programming. From battling inner “dragons” of fear and self-doubt to recognizing patterns that hold us back, this episode is filled with wisdom for leaders and anyone on a journey of self-awareness and growth. Dan and James cover it all – ego, soul, authenticity, courage, truth, fear, clarity, empowerment – and reveal how the law of a thousand steps (small, consistent actions) fuels resilience. Whether you’re a leader, a seeker, or simply someone navigating life’s challenges, this episode will inspire you to embrace your authentic self and keep climbing toward your fullest potential. For more information jamesrobbins.com and follow @james.r.robbins on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Dan interviews seven-time world champion drummer, leadership strategist, and author James Laughlin about his book Habits of High Performance and the key to achieving world-class performance without sacrificing well-being, relationships, and purpose. James has works with elite athletes, prime ministers, and business leaders, and on this episode he shares the secrets to unlocking the essential principles to thrive in life and work. James shares his personal and inspiring journey from Northern Ireland to the global stage. He tells Dr. Dan about becoming a “possibilitarian”—someone who sees opportunities instead of limitations—and shares practical tools to help listeners align their own values, habits, and purpose. Dr. Dan and James also explore imposter syndrome, habits (vs. hustle), purpose and longevity as well as how facing fears—whether in sports, leadership, or life—opens the door to growth. Today’s episode will help you grow as a leader by elevating your mindset and giving you strategies to help you thrive. For more information and follow @JamesLaughlin on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Dan Peters sits down with longtime family friend and trailblazing orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Michael Chapman for an inspiring conversation. A pioneer in his field, Dr. Chapman helped establish modern trauma surgery in the U.S., co-founded the Orthopedic Trauma Association, and led UC Davis’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery for over two decades. Dr. Chapman’s life is a testament to serendipity—recognizing unexpected opportunities and having the courage to take them. From his early days on the ski patrol rescuing injured skiers to shaping national trauma care systems, his career has been guided by openness, purpose, and service. Dr. Chapman also shares heartfelt insights on leadership, why commitment is the cornerstone of long-term relationships, and how his 64-year marriage to his wife Betty has been his greatest joy and motivation. Facing a nine-year battle with lymphoma, Dr. Chapman’s philosophy is simple yet profound: Every day is a good day. Today’s episode is more than an interview—it’s a masterclass in living well, leading with integrity, and loving deeply. For more information @ucdavisorthopaedics on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a candid and inspiring conversation, Dr. Dan talks to author and educator Renee Zukin to explore her transformative journey through anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, and agoraphobia—and the powerful mindset shifts that helped her reclaim her life. Today’s episode is about courage, compassion, and connection—a reminder that we are never alone, and that bravery can be found in the smallest, most personal victories. Dr. Dan and Renee discuss what it means to be “beyond brave” on this deeply inspiring episode. Renee shares the origin of her mantra Every Day I’m Brave and how redefining bravery freed her from the trap of comparison. She opens up about her path toward self-compassion, the lessons learned from both Western therapy and Eastern mindfulness practices, and the role of courage in facing fear without letting it dictate her life. Together, Dr. Dan and Renee explore the duality of fear and love, the significance of curiosity in self-reflection, and how to embrace the aspects of ourselves that carry shame and guilt. This episode is a guide to showing up authentically, asking for help, and believing another path is possible—even when you can’t yet see it. For more information, visit everydayimbrave.com and follow Renee on Instagram @reneezukin. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Dan is joined by Elise Carter, an award-winning educator, advocate, Executive Director of NICE (Northern Kentucky Inclusive Students in Education), and DEI trailblazer. Elise shares her transformative journey from being the first Black teacher at her high school to co-founding a nonprofit dedicated to inclusion and equity. During the moving interview, Elise opens up about the pivotal moment when her proposed elective on diversity was shut down after a leaked syllabus triggered community outrage—and how that moment of heartbreak became the spark for something even greater. Through resilience, creativity, and community, Elise helped build NICE, a student-centered nonprofit that empowers marginalized voices and fosters inclusive leadership. On this episode, Dr. Dan and Elise explore how resilience, curiosity, and authentic leadership can transform trauma into meaningful change. From growing up in a military family to teaching kids how to advocate for themselves, Elise’s story is a masterclass in living with courage, compassion, and purpose. For more information, visit www.nisenky.org and on Instagram: @nice_nky. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trigger warning: discussion of suicide In this emotionally powerful conversation, Dr. Dan speaks with Danielle Elliott Smith — author, advocate, coach, and host of the Hope Comes to Visit podcast. Danielle opens up about her raw and personal journey through addiction, sobriety, loss, and transformation. With unflinching honesty and grace, she shares the story behind her sobriety, the grief of losing a partner to relapse, and how choosing to ask for help saved her life. This is a story of what happens when we stop hiding, embrace vulnerability, and choose to live fully — even when life feels impossible. Dr. Dan and Danielle talk about the thin line between “I don’t want to live” and “I don’t want to live like this” as well as how grief rearranges every relationship in your life and what it means to be an empath.Today’s episode is for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or on the verge of giving up. Danielle’s story reminds us that no matter how lost we feel, hope is never out of reach. For more information visit DanielleElliottSmith.com and Hope Comes To Visit. Please follow @danielleelliottsmith on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this powerful and heart-opening episode, Dr. Dan interviews author, speaker, and life coach Shari Leid, founder of An Imperfectly Perfect Life and author of Table for 51: Lessons Learned from Sharing Meals Across America. Together, they explore the transformative journey from living someone else’s story to fully stepping into your authentic self. Shari shares her personal “flip the box” origin story—being found in a cardboard box in South Korea and how that symbolic box followed her for years, representing disconnection and lack of belonging. But through a courageous project to have meals with 50 women across all 50 states, she turned that box into a table of connection, compassion, purpose, and the book Table for 51. In this episode listeners will learn: how to move from a “good life” to a great life, how small acts of connection—like smiling or sharing a meal—can shift lives, and how adversity can unlock deep inner wisdom. Dr. Dan and Shari also discuss disconnection, connection, self-reflection, and more. Whether you're feeling stuck, searching for meaning, or you need a reminder that you matter, this episode will meet you where you are—and invite you to take the next bold step toward your version of great. For more information visit animperfectlyperfectlife.com and follow @an_imperfectly_perfect_life on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this powerful episode, Dr. Dan sits down with horseman and author Tik Maynard to answer the question “What does it mean to truly live with purpose?” and to explore what starting a colt, facing fear, and leaning into the unknown can teach us about self-awareness, resilience, and the courage to live authentically. On today’s episode and in his memoir Starting in the Middle: How Horses, Those Who Study Them, and 265 Minutes with One Colt Helped Me Find Myself at Midlife, Tik shares his journey from elite equestrian competitor to beginner again—accepting the call to enter one of the most intense horse competitions in the world at midlife. What followed was not only a test of horsemanship but a deep personal transformation. Highlights of Dr. Dan and Tik’s riveting conversation include: why the scariest decisions are often the most necessary, how "high involvement, low attachment" is the secret to performance and peace, why authenticity and self-reflection are the foundation of effective leadership, and what horses can teach us about presence, trust, and how to truly listen Tik's story is a powerful metaphor for every human seeking to live more intentionally, lead more compassionately, and grow through discomfort. Whether you're a horse person or not, this conversation offers rich insight into the human experience. Tik Maynard is a two-time winner of the Road to the Horse World Championship, author of In the Middle Are the Horsemen and Starting in the Middle, and an international clinician. Alongside his wife, top-level eventer Sinead Halpin, he runs Copperline Farm in Florida and teaches horsemanship with compassion and authenticity at the core. For more information about Tik go to: Copperline Equestrian. On Instagram follow @copperline_equestrian and @tikmaynardcompany Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this profoundly insightful episode, Dr. Dan welcomes back New York Times bestselling author and cultural thought leader Elise Loehnen to explore the power and necessity of shadow work. Together, they dive into Jungian psychology, the cost of cultural conditioning, and the stories we unconsciously carry that shape who we believe we must be. Elise talks to Dr. Dan about the journey that led to her latest project, Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness—a transformational guidebook co-written with coach Courtney Smith. From the drama triangle to internal family systems to working with the “eight sins,” this conversation is packed with tools and reflections to help you move from ego to soul, knowledge to wisdom, and fear to empowerment. Key Topics on this new episode include: what lives in our shadow—and why it matters; the cultural cost of being “good” vs. becoming whole; using anger, fear, and envy as tools for healing and growth; and the shadow’s role in leadership, parenting, and cultural change. Listeners will walk away with practical insights on identifying their unconscious stories, tools to integrate repressed parts of themselves, and a new lens through which to see themselves—and others—with compassion and clarity. For more information eliselunen.substack.com and follow @eliselunen on Instagram. Check out Elise’s podcast Pulling the Thread and her book On Our Best Behavior. Listen to Dan’s previous conversation with Elise On our Best Behavior. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices