The One You Feed | Personal Growth, Emotional Resilience & Purpose

Eric Zimmer

Build resilience. Cultivate self-compassion. Live with purpose. The One You Feed brings conversations with leading thinkers — James Clear, Susan Cain, Tara Brach, and more — to help you navigate life’s challenges and feed your good wolf. No perfection, just direction, insight, and the small, consistent actions that make a meaningful life.

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1,024 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes1024

Newest first

Jun 10, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
The Nobility of Service: Finding Magic and Connection in the Smallest Gestures with Will Guidara
What do a fine dining maitre d. A magician burying cards in a backyard and a toddler looking for Elsa have in common? They all show us that magic still exists. If we’re willing to care more, than seems reasonable. In this episode, Will Guidara, who’s a former co-owner of 11 Madison Park, which was once named the best restaurant in the world, the author of Unreasonable Hospitality and advisor on the hit series The Bear, shares how he transformed a restaurant into the best in the world not through
Jun 6, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Embrace the Chaos: Finding Clarity Through Meditation with Henry Shukman (Part 2)
Embracing the Chaos and Finding Clarity in Your Life
Jun 3, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Embrace the Chaos: Finding Clarity Through Meditation with Henry Shukman (Part 1)
In this episode, Henry Shukman discusses how to embrace the chaos and find clarity through meditation while exploring themes of self-development and self-love. Henry emphasizes the balance between effort and acceptance in spiritual practice, highlighting the interplay between sudden insights (satori) and gradual progress. He also discuss the importance of understanding one’s motivation for meditation and how a clear “why” can sustain long-term practice. The episode encourages listeners to embrac
May 30, 2025 · 58 min
Navigating Fear and Hope: the Everyday Courage That Shapes Our Lives with Ryan Holiday
In this episode, Ryan Holiday explores navigating fear and hope and the everyday courage that shapes our lives. He unpacks how to confront our fears and how we need to do so, over and over. With great stories and insights, we are reminded that we don’t have to be fearless, we just have to begin. Key Takeaways: The concept of courage and its significance in everyday life. The relationship between courage and fear, including how to confront fears. The importance of personal agency and making cho
May 27, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Failure as Fertilizer: Learning to Bloom Again with Debbie Millman
In this episode, Debbie Millman explores how we can use failure as fertilizer and learn to bloom again. Debbie's book and this conversation is about more than just gardening tips or tools, it's about what happens when we let ourselves be bad at something, especially later in life. Debbie opens up about learning to grow and why failure might be the richest soil we have. Whether you've ever felt stuck, afraid to try, or unsure if it's too late to start. Key Takeaways: Personal growth and develop
May 23, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
From Benches to Breakthroughs: A New Approach to Mental Health with Dixon Chibanda
In this episode, Dr. Dixon Chibanda explores from benches to breakthroughs: a new approach to mental health. He explains why storytelling, radical empathy, and solving daily-life problems often outperform medication-first approaches; how three simple steps—opening the mind, uplifting, strengthening—turn elders into community healers; and why hope, not symptom checklists, is the truest measure of success. Along the way, you’ll hear how ancestral wisdom blends with clinical science, how labels can
May 20, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Beyond Anxiety: How Curiosity Turns Fear Into Fuel with Martha Beck
In this episode, Martha Beck explores how to move beyond anxiety and how curiosity turns fear into fuel. Martha dives into why anxiety can’t simply be silenced. It has to be replaced with things like creativity, curiosity, and a deep kindness towards ourselves. Key Takeaways: Discussion of anxiety versus fear and their psychological implications. Exploration of societal factors contributing to increased anxiety levels. Importance of living authentically and in alignment with one’s true se
May 16, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
Move Your Body, Free Your Mind: The Science of Movement and Mental Health with Caroline Williams
In this episode, Caroline Williams shares how moving your body can free your mind as she dives into the surprising science of movement and mental health. Caroline spent years studying the brain until she realized she was ignoring half the equation. She explains how movement of all kinds, walking, stretching, dancing, and even laughter can reshape our emotional landscape. Key Takeaways: The connection between physical movement and mental health. The role of interoception in understanding bodily
May 13, 2025 · 56 min
Navigating the Messy Parts of Life: Embracing Imperfection and Growth with Josh Radnor
In this episode, Josh Radnor discusses the messy parts of life and embracing imperfection and growth. Josh Radnor explains how, even outward success, fame, acclaim, creative fulfillment isn’t enough to quiet the deeper battles within. He shares how real freedom comes not from achieving perfection, but from making peace with the messy, unfinished parts of ourselves. From navigating identity and public image to sitting in deep discomfort. Josh offers a powerful reminder that a meaningful life isn’
May 9, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Why Community and Courage Matter More Than Ever with Laura McKowen
In this episode, Laura McKowen explores why community and courage matter more than ever in making change in your life. She dives into the “messy midle” – theu ncertain space between giving up what umbs us and becoming someone new. She shares the story of the Luckiest Club, a global sobriety community. Key Takeaways: Understanding that real transformation is messy Learning how sobriety isn’t the finish line, but the starting point for deeper healing Understanding why community is so important a
May 6, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Anxiety, Beauty, and the Unknown: A Map to Emotional Resilience with David Whyte
In this episode, David Whyte explores anxiety, beauty, and the unknown as a true map to emotional resilience. David shares how anxiety can be a doorway to deeper understanding and connection. He and Eric discuss the paradox of holding both joy and struggle, the surprising wisdom hidden in everyday emotions, and how poetry and language can bring us closer to the heart of life. This is an inspiring look at how we can build resilience by embracing life’s uncertainties. Key Takeaways: Exploration
May 2, 2025 · 43 min
Unlock Your Inner Anthem: A Tribute to Mike Peters
This is a special episode from our archives with one of my favorite musicians, Mike Peters. Mike recently passed away, and this episode is more than a conversation; it’s a tribute to a beautiful soul. In our chat, we explored the idea of our lives being anthems; how defiance, hope, and inner strength were a soundtrack for his formative years, and later in life. This was an open-hearted talk about what it means to fight not just with force, but with love. We talked about instinct as a spiritual g
Apr 29, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Fluke or Fate? Embracing Uncertainty to Live a Fuller Life with Brian Klaas
In this episode, Brian Klaas explains the concept of whether things are a fluke or fate, and explores how embracing uncertainty can lead to a living a fuller life. Brian makes the case that randomness and chaos might be exactly what makes our lives matter so much, and how we tend to worship at the “Altar of Progress in the Church of Control.” We make plans, set goals, and these are good things, but we only have so much control. And Brian teaches that accepting this can be a relief, because the p
Apr 25, 2025 · 57 min
The Bittersweet Truth About Beauty, Sorrow, and What Makes Life Worth Living with Susan Cain
In this episode, Susan Cain explores the bittersweet truth about beauty, sorrow, and what makes life worth living. She emphasizes the transformative power of music and bittersweet emotions and also discusses how acknowledging grief can lead to deeper connections and creativity. This episode encourages listeners to embrace their emotions and seek beauty in life’s bittersweet moments, offering profound insights into the human experience. Key Takeaways: Exploration of the relationship between sor
Apr 22, 2025 · 56 min
Flaws as Fuel: Harness Doubt, Cynicism & Ambition for Real Growth with Claire Hoffman
In this episode, Claire Hoffman explores the idea behind how our flaws, doubt, cynicism, and even ambition aren’t signs of failure, but can be used as fuel. She tells the story of Aimee Semple McPherson, a woman who built a religious empire and faked her own kidnapping. But this episode isn’t about scandal. It’s about the tension that we all carry between our light and dark sides. Claire says sometimes the bad wolf does good work. This conversation is about embracing contradiction and finding gr
Apr 18, 2025 · 51 min
The Midlife Makeover: Redefining Success and Happiness After 40 with Chip Conley
In this episode, Chip Conley defines a midlife makeover and how to redefine success and happiness after 40. He shares how the most difficult stretches of his life ended up being the start of something completely new. Chip also explains the pull of the ego, the search for identity and how letting go of traditional success can open the door for something more meaningful. If you’re in a season of life where things feel uncertain, or if you’re wondering what this phase of life is really for, this ep
Apr 15, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
How to Nurture Creativity in a Noisy World with Maggie Smith
In this episode, Maggie Smith explores how to nurture creativity in a noisy world. A lot of people think creativity is something you do with a paintbrush or a poem but Maggie challenges us to think differently about creativity. It isn’t about what you make, but how you live. She dives into what it really means to be creative, even when you’re overwhelmed, unsure, and not feeling particularly inspired. And we tackle a bigger question: How do we keep creating when the world is so loud and we’re so
Apr 11, 2025 · 57 min
From Loneliness to Belonging: Small Steps That Change Everything with Jillian Richardson
In this episode, Jillian Richardson discusses the journey from loneliness to belonging and shares the small steps that can change everything. She delves into why friendship takes more effort than we expect and how we can actually get better at it. Jillian also explores what gets in the way of connection, why it’s not just about putting yourself out there, and how real community is less about finding perfect people, and more about staying when things feel a little uncomfortable. Key Takeaways:
Apr 8, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
What If You’re Wrong? How Uncertainty Makes Us More Human with William Egginton
In this episode, William Egginton invites you to ask the question, “What if you’re wrong?” as he explains how being uncertain makes us more human. William explores the surprising overlap between a physicist, a philosopher, and a poet—each of whom came to the same unsettling truth: that we mistake our model of reality for reality itself. But this isn’t just about subatomic particles or dusty old philosophy books. It’s about how certainty—especially in our relationships—can blind us. What if embra
Apr 4, 2025 · 58 min
The Beatles, Lennon and McCartney, and the Truth We All Share with Ian Leslie
In this episode, Ian Leslie discusses the history of the Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and the truth we all share in their story. Ian explores how two young men from Liverpool created something together than neither could have made alone, not just music, but a shared consciousness that changed culture forever. John and Paul’s story isn’t just about music. It’s about how we all navigate loss, love, and connection. Key Takeaways: [00:01:44] John and Paul’s connection [00:06:12] Lennon

The One You Feed | Personal Growth, Emotional Resilience & Purpose

The Nobility of Service: Finding Magic and Connection in the Smallest Gestures with Will Guidara

Embrace the Chaos: Finding Clarity Through Meditation with Henry Shukman (Part 2)

Embrace the Chaos: Finding Clarity Through Meditation with Henry Shukman (Part 1)

Navigating Fear and Hope: the Everyday Courage That Shapes Our Lives with Ryan Holiday

Failure as Fertilizer: Learning to Bloom Again with Debbie Millman

From Benches to Breakthroughs: A New Approach to Mental Health with Dixon Chibanda

Beyond Anxiety: How Curiosity Turns Fear Into Fuel with Martha Beck

Move Your Body, Free Your Mind: The Science of Movement and Mental Health with Caroline Williams

Navigating the Messy Parts of Life: Embracing Imperfection and Growth with Josh Radnor

Why Community and Courage Matter More Than Ever with Laura McKowen

Anxiety, Beauty, and the Unknown: A Map to Emotional Resilience with David Whyte

Unlock Your Inner Anthem: A Tribute to Mike Peters

Fluke or Fate? Embracing Uncertainty to Live a Fuller Life with Brian Klaas

The Bittersweet Truth About Beauty, Sorrow, and What Makes Life Worth Living with Susan Cain

Flaws as Fuel: Harness Doubt, Cynicism & Ambition for Real Growth with Claire Hoffman

The Midlife Makeover: Redefining Success and Happiness After 40 with Chip Conley

How to Nurture Creativity in a Noisy World with Maggie Smith

From Loneliness to Belonging: Small Steps That Change Everything with Jillian Richardson

What If You’re Wrong? How Uncertainty Makes Us More Human with William Egginton

The Beatles, Lennon and McCartney, and the Truth We All Share with Ian Leslie