The Hidden Why Podcast

This is The Hidden Why Podcast. It's my space to explore deep conversations with inspiring guests, share insights from my own journey, and provide practical wisdom to help you grow and exceed. Whether you're here for personal development, mindset shifts, or motivation, I hope you find something valuable that resonates with you.

The Hidden Why Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Leigh Martinuzzi, with 300 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Leigh Martinuzzi hosts The Hidden Why Podcast, a education show with 300 episodes published.

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  The Hidden Why Podcast

  Episode 1176: Jennifer Shoop - Small Wonders: Finding Joy in the Life You Already

  Sep 27, 202641 min

  In this episode of The Hidden Why Podcast , I sit down with Jennifer Shoop , writer, founder of Magpie by Jen Shoop , and author of Small Wonders: A Field Guide to Life's Quiet Joys , to explore the simple but increasingly difficult art of paying attention. Jen shares how her journey through academia, corporate life, motherhood, and writing gradually shifted her focus away from chasing a "big life" towards recognising the meaning already present in ordinary moments. We talk about attention, gratitude, creativity, motherhood, technology, ritual, and the tiny practices that can bring us back to where our feet actually are. This is a gentle reminder that fulfilment doesn't always require dramatic reinvention. Sometimes it begins by noticing the light on the floor, eating lunch away from your desk, stepping outside without your phone, or simply naming something small that you love. Jen explores why you don't need a "big life" to experience meaning, joy, and wonder, and how noticing the extraordinary in ordinary suburban life can cultivate gratitude. She shares how motherhood clarified what truly mattered and introduces the concept of plastic balls and glass balls when balancing life's competing priorities. Jen discusses how poetry, coffee, writing, and other meaningful rituals can slow our experience of time, protect our attention, and help us become more present through simple grounding practices. She also highlights the importance of sleep, movement, hydration, and time outdoors as foundations for wellbeing. Jen shares her daily practice of "shaking hands with a blank page," explaining why creativity grows through repetition rather than waiting for inspiration, how to begin writing when the blank page feels intimidating, and why releasing creative work also means letting go of control over how others receive it. Key Topics Discussed: You don't need a bigger life. Meaning can be found in the people, places, rituals, and ordinary moments already surrounding you. Attention changes experience. The more deliberately we notice small pleasures, the more available they become to us. Know what's glass and what's plastic. Not everything you're juggling deserves equal importance, and occasionally dropping something inconsequential is perfectly survivable. Ritual creates space. A phone-free lunch, thirty seconds outside, a morning coffee, or a brief body scan can interrupt the rush of the day. Creativity requires showing up. Jen's approach isn't to wait for the muse but to meet the blank page every day and keep narrowing the gap between ambition and ability. Once you create something, let it go. Your work eventually belongs to the person experiencing it. Your responsibility is to create the next thing. About Jennifer Shoop : Jennifer Shoop is a writer and founder of the daily literary lifestyle blog Magpie by Jen Shoop . Her debut book, Small Wonders: A Field Guide to Life's Quiet Joys , brings together essays, musings, meditations, and poetry exploring attention, gratitude, family, creativity, and the beauty hidden inside everyday life. Jen holds an advanced degree in literature from Georgetown University and has worked across non-profit management, technology, and product design. Today, her writing explores the intersection between the creative life and the beautifully untidy realities of family, work, and motherhood. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband, Landon, and their two children. Action from This Episode: For the next few days, practise something Jen describes beautifully: name one small thing you love each day. Nothing profound is required. The first leaves changing. A good cup of coffee. Your dog asleep beside you. Sunlight coming through a window. Someone filling your car with petrol. A conversation over lunch. Write it down or simply notice it deliberately. Then ask yourself: "How much of the life I'm searching for is already here, but I'm moving too quickly to notice it?" Perhaps a meaningful life isn't always something we have to build. Sometimes we just have to become better at seeing the one we're already living. Peace, passion, and purpose. Resources & Links: Get Jennifer Shoop's book on Amazon: Small Wonders: A Field Guide to Life's Quiet Joys Website: Magpie by Jen Shoop Connect with Jennifer Shoop: Instagram Facebook X Linkedin

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  The Hidden Why Podcast

  Episode 1175: Dr. Suzan Song - Why We Suffer and How We Heal: Narrative, Ritual & Purpose

  Sep 20, 202649 min

  In this episode of The Hidden Why Podcast , I sit down with Dr. Suzan Song , adult and child psychiatrist, medical anthropologist, humanitarian adviser, and author of Why We Suffer and How We Heal . Drawing on more than two decades of working with children, families, refugees, and communities affected by war, displacement, and adversity, Suzan offers a fascinating perspective on what helps human beings endure difficult times and continue to find meaning, connection, and even joy. At the heart of our conversation are what Suzan calls the "three friends of winter" : narrative, ritual, and purpose. Together, we explore why suffering isn't determined solely by what happens to us, how the stories we carry shape our experience, why belonging is essential to well-being, and what Western approaches to mental health may be missing. This is a powerful conversation about learning to live well without waiting for life to become easy. Suzan's experience working with child soldiers, refugees, and survivors of extreme adversity. She explains why resilience doesn't mean being unaffected by difficult experiences, but rather learning how to continue moving forward despite them. We also explore how memories and unconscious narratives can influence our relationships, work, and everyday reactions, and why insight alone is often not enough to create lasting change. The conversation also examines the role of ritual in helping us process grief, transition, uncertainty, and change. Suzan explains how small, everyday rituals can create emotional safety, connection, and a sense of stability during challenging times. We explore why high achievement doesn't necessarily lead to meaning or fulfilment, and how purpose, agency, belonging, and resilience are deeply connected. Suzan also shares insights into what Western approaches to mental health can learn from more community-oriented cultures, particularly when it comes to connection, collective support, and finding meaning through relationships with others. The Three Friends of Winter Suzan describes three powerful resources we can turn toward during life's difficult seasons: Narrative, Ritual, and Purpose . Narrative is about understanding the story by becoming aware of the stories, memories, and assumptions that shape how we interpret what is happening to us. Ritual is about embodying change through meaningful actions and transitions that help us process experiences rather than simply thinking our way through them. Purpose is about finding direction by connecting ourselves to something beyond achievement and understanding where and how we matter to others. Together, these three elements can help us continue living meaningfully, even when uncertainty remains. Key Topics Discussed: Suffering isn't only about what happens to us. The meaning and expectations we attach to an experience can profoundly shape how we We don't need to wait for life to become stable before we start living. Joy, love, contribution, and meaning can exist alongside uncertainty. Insight needs action. Understanding our patterns matters, but rituals help translate awareness into lived change. Belonging is fundamental to wellbeing. Healing isn't always an individual project; relationships and community matter enormously. Purpose doesn't have to be grand. Sometimes it begins with a much simpler question: Who do I matter to, and how? About Dr. Suzan Song : Dr. Suzan Song, MD, PhD, is an adult and child psychiatrist, medical anthropologist, author, and humanitarian adviser. For more than two decades, she has worked with children, families, and communities affected by war, forced displacement, trafficking, and adversity around the world. Her work bridges psychiatry, anthropology, global humanitarian policy, and human development, exploring how individuals and communities can cultivate agency, belonging, resilience, and flourishing even amid profound uncertainty. She is the author of Why We Suffer and How We Heal , which explores how narrative, ritual, and purpose can help us navigate life's inevitable challenges. Action from This Episode: Take a moment today and consider Suzan's question: "Who do I matter to, or who do I want to matter to, and how?" Then choose one small action that expresses that purpose. It might be calling someone, helping a colleague, spending uninterrupted time with your family, contributing to your community, or simply being more present with another person. Purpose doesn't always arrive as some magnificent calling. Sometimes it's found in remembering that we matter to one another . Peace, passion, and purpose. Resources & Links: Get Dr. Suzan Song's book on Amazon: Why We Suffer and How We Heal: Using Narrative, Ritual, and Purpose to Flourish Through Life's Challenges Website: Dr. Suzan Song Connect with Dr. Suzan Song: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook

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  The Hidden Why Podcast

  Episode 1174: Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson - Food Addiction, Dopamine & Bright Line Eating

  Sep 13, 202647 min

  In this episode of The Hidden Why Podcast , I sit down with Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson , brain and cognitive scientist, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of Bright Line Eating , to explore the science of food addiction and why our relationship with food can be far more complicated than simply having enough willpower. Susan's story is extraordinary. After struggling with severe drug and alcohol addiction as a teenager and young adult, she achieved sobriety at age 20, returned to education, earned her PhD, and built a career studying the brain, addiction, eating behaviour, and self-regulation. But after giving up drugs and alcohol, she discovered that her addictive tendencies had shifted toward food. Together, we explore dopamine, ultra-processed foods, appetite regulation, why moderation works for some people but not others, and the four boundaries at the heart of Bright Line Eating. We also discuss GLP-1 weight-loss medications and why understanding your own biology may be more useful than blaming yourself when another diet inevitably falls apart. This is ultimately a conversation about freedom: understanding how your brain works and finding an approach to food that allows you to live with greater health, peace, and self-awareness. Susan shares her remarkable journey from drug addiction and rock bottom to recovery, academia, and neuroscience. She explores how addictive patterns can sometimes shift from drugs and alcohol to food and explains what she describes as a dopamine-dominant brain . Susan discusses how genetics, environment, trauma, and personality can influence a person's susceptibility to addiction, as well as the relationship between sugar, flour, ultra-processed foods, and compulsive eating. She explains why traditional diets and the idea of "everything in moderation" may not work for everyone, how ultra-processed foods can affect appetite, hunger, and satiety, and why establishing clear boundaries can sometimes create more freedom than constant negotiation. The conversation also explores the science and philosophy behind Bright Line Eating , Susan's perspective on GLP-1 weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, and why understanding your individual relationship with food can be an important first step toward creating lasting change. Susan's Bright Line Eating framework is built around four clear boundaries: no sugar , which means removing added sugars and foods containing them; no flour , which eliminates flour-based foods that Susan identifies as particularly problematic for people susceptible to food addiction; meals, not grazing , which focuses on creating defined meals rather than continually snacking throughout the day; and bounded quantities , which uses predetermined quantities of food to create clear boundaries around portions. For Susan, these are not intended to be temporary dieting rules. Instead, they are designed to remove the exhausting daily negotiation around food that some people experience and create a sustainable way of eating based largely around whole foods. Key Topics Discussed: Food addiction isn't simply a failure of willpower. Brain chemistry, genetics, environment, conditioning, and food itself can all influence eating behaviour. Moderation doesn't work equally well for everyone. For people highly susceptible to food addiction, clear boundaries may feel easier than constantly negotiating exceptions. Ultra-processed foods can make appetite regulation more difficult. Understanding what you're eating can be as important as simply counting calories. Awareness comes before change. Understanding your own susceptibility and patterns can help you choose an approach that better suits you. There isn't necessarily one solution for everyone. Susan discusses Bright Line Eating, community support, lifestyle changes, and GLP-1 medications as different tools people may consider depending on their circumstances. About Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson: Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson is a brain and cognitive scientist, New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and founder of Bright Line Eating . After overcoming severe drug and alcohol addiction in her early twenties, Susan returned to education and earned a PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. She later became a psychology professor, studying addiction, eating behaviour, and self-regulation. Her own struggles with food and weight eventually led her to develop Bright Line Eating, an approach designed particularly for people who experience addiction-like patterns around food. Susan is the author of several books, including Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin & Free , and has built a global community around helping people better understand their relationship with food. Action from This Episode: Rather than starting another diet, begin with curiosity. Take a look at your own relationship with food and ask: "Where do I feel genuinely free around food, and where do I feel like I'm constantly negotiating with myself?" Notice the foods, situations, emotions, and habits that tend to trigger that struggle. Understanding the pattern doesn't solve everything overnight, but it gives you something far more useful than another round of self-criticism: a place to begin. Peace, passion, and purpose. Resources & Links: Get Dr. Susan Peirce's book on Amazon: Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin & Free Website: Food Addiction Susceptibility Quiz Bright Line Eating Connect with Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson: Instagram Facebook

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  The Hidden Why Podcast

  Episode 1173: Coach Chris Bennett - This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running: Living Bravely

  Sep 7, 202653 min

  In this episode of The Hidden Why Podcast , I sit down with Chris Bennett , Global Head Coach of Nike Running, better known to millions of runners around the world as Coach Bennett . Chris believes running is both about running and not about running at all. The lessons we discover while moving, including courage, honesty, resilience, patience, vulnerability, and showing up when things are difficult, have a habit of following us into the rest of our lives. Drawing from decades as a runner and coach, Chris shares the philosophy behind his new book, This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running: Essential Lessons on Living Bravely . We explore why everyone has the potential to be a runner, why your first goal should simply be wanting to run again, and why pace, distance, and performance matter far less than developing a healthy relationship with movement. This is a conversation about running, certainly. But more importantly, it's about how we approach the things that matter to us and how doing something difficult can help us become more courageous, honest, and alive. Chris believes that everyone has the potential to become a runner, regardless of speed, distance, or pace. He explains why comparison and unrealistic expectations often stop people before they even begin and why running should meet you where you are today. For those starting their first run or returning after a long break, Chris encourages starting small, even if it's only five minutes. The real goal of that first run is simply to finish wanting to do another one, showing that sometimes doing less today can help you achieve more tomorrow. Chris also encourages us to think of running as a relationship rather than simply another fitness goal. Like any worthwhile relationship, running requires honesty, commitment, flexibility, patience, forgiveness, and the willingness to keep showing up. Some days the relationship will feel fantastic, while other days it may not, but the key is learning how to keep it healthy enough to last. He also explores the importance of finding your real "why," explaining why goals based purely on pace, weight, distance, medals, or external validation often fail to sustain us. Looking beneath the goal and understanding why it truly matters can help us adapt when circumstances change and focus on who we want to become rather than simply what we want to achieve. Honesty is another important part of becoming your own coach. Chris discusses why good athletes need to recognise when to push and when to back off, while learning to speak to themselves with the same intelligence and encouragement that a great coach would provide. He explains why beating yourself up rarely leads to sustainable performance. Running and sport can also provide a safe place to fail, struggle, learn, and try again. Through difficult experiences, we can build courage, self-trust, and the ability to handle challenges beyond sport. Finally, Chris explores how running can support mental and emotional health. Movement can change more than our physical health, and even a short run can influence how we interact with others for the rest of the day. Running can provide an opportunity to process emotions, think, reset, and reconnect, with benefits that extend far beyond the kilometres completed. He also discusses what happens when our passions change shape due to competition, careers, or different seasons of life. Losing one version of something we love doesn't mean we have to abandon it completely; instead, we can allow our passions to evolve and find new ways to stay connected to the things that make us feel alive. Key Topics Discussed: Everyone can be a runner. You don't need to run fast or far to belong. Start smaller than you think. The best first run is one that makes you want another run. Lowering expectations can increase consistency. Sustainable progress beats heroic bursts followed by burnout. Know your why. The deeper reason behind the goal matters more than the number attached to it. Be your own coach. Honesty and encouragement will take you further than constant self-criticism. Failure is training. Sport gives us a relatively safe environment to practise courage, vulnerability, and resilience. Let your passions evolve. You don't have to abandon something simply because your relationship with it changes. About Coach Chris Bennett : Chris Bennett is the Global Head Coach of Nike Running and is known around the world as Coach Bennett . Through guided runs on the Nike Run Club app, training programs, podcasts, newsletters, events, and live coaching, Chris has helped tens of millions of athletes discover a more positive and sustainable relationship with running. His philosophy is refreshingly simple: everyone is a runner . Rather than focusing solely on splits, statistics, and finish times, Chris encourages athletes to understand the experience of the run itself, celebrate where they are, and continue moving forward one run at a time. Before joining Nike, Chris was a high school history teacher and coach of one of the most successful running programs in the United States. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he captained the Tar Heels' Cross Country and Track teams. After college, he competed for five years with the Olympic Developmental Nike Farm Team at Stanford University. Chris lives in Oregon with his wife, Tammie, and their three children, Jack, Maggie, and Emma. Action from This Episode: Don't worry about becoming a runner. Just go for one run . Forget pace. Forget distance. Forget whether it deserves to be uploaded somewhere so strangers on the internet can inspect your kilometre splits. Start comfortably. Stay present. Finish feeling like you could have done a little more. Then ask yourself: "Do I want to do that again?" That's a pretty good starting line, not only for running, but for almost anything worth doing. Resources & Links: Get Chris Bennett's book on Amazon: This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running: Essential Lessons on Living Bravely Website: Two Coach Bennetts Connect with Coach Chris Bennett: Instagram Facebook

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  The Hidden Why Podcast

  Episode 1172: Jennifer Shahade - Thinking Sideways: Chess, Poker & Better Decision-Making

  Aug 30, 202639 min

  In this episode of The Hidden Why , I sit down with Jennifer Shahade, two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion, poker pro, author, commentator, and speaker to explore how the mental frameworks behind chess and poker can help us make better decisions and live more intentionally. Drawing on her new book, Thinking Sideways: How to Think Like a Chess Player and Win at Life , Jennifer shares why great decision-making is less about predicting 10 moves and more about seeing options clearly, adapting quickly, and knowing when to act. We explore flow, focus, memory, visualization, planning, and why the best thinkers learn to look beyond the obvious move. Jennifer shares her journey into chess and why she sees it as both a game and an art form. She explains why elite chess players don't simply think "10 moves ahead," but instead focus on seeing the "empty squares" and hidden possibilities. The conversation explores how to balance planning with flexibility and alternative scenarios, as well as why overthinking small decisions can create anxiety and decision fatigue. Jennifer also discusses the role of poker in understanding risk, probability, and uncertainty, and how visualization can support performance under pressure. She highlights the importance of sleep and deep focus, and shares insights on creating your own lane by combining different strengths. Jennifer also defines success as living on your own terms while creating value. Finally, she introduces the SOFA memory framework: Sleep, Organization, Focus, and Active Learning . Key Topics Discussed: Better decisions come from evaluating what matters now, not obsessing over every possible future. Flexibility is a strength. Strong plans leave room for change. The best opportunities are often found in the "empty squares" others overlook. Low-stakes decisions should be made quickly to preserve mental energy for what matters. Memory, focus, and learning remain valuable even in an age of AI and instant information. About Jennifer Shahade: Jennifer Shahade is a two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion , professional poker player, author, commentator, and internationally recognised speaker. Her work sits at the intersection of chess, poker, art, culture, and decision-making. She has spoken at organisations and institutions including MIT, Yale, Harvard, NYU, TEDx Baltimore, Boston Consulting Group, and Merrill Lynch. Jennifer is the author of several books, including Chess Queens and her latest, Thinking Sideways: How to Think Like a Chess Player and Win at Life . Action from This Episode: The next time you're stuck on a decision, ask yourself: "What am I not seeing?" Look beyond the obvious move. Consider the space around the problem, not just the problem itself. Sometimes the best path forward is sideways. Peace, passion, and purpose. Resources & Links: Get Jennifer Shahade's book on Amazon: Thinking Sideways: How to Think Like a Chess Player and Win at Life Website: Jennifer Shahade Connect with Jennifer Shahade: Facebook Instagram X

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