Chad Peevy reflects on his interview with Dr. Eric Maisel, diving deeper into themes of meaning-making, resistance, and what it means to live as a gifted adult. He challenges traditional ideas about intelligence, questions whether being "smart" is a cause or a consequence, and explores how trauma, curiosity, and drive shape our identity.

Chad also opens up about the emotional tension between wanting to do meaningful work and the perfectionism that holds so many gifted adults back. He shares his own struggles with clicking “publish,” the fear of not being excellent, and how Dr. Maisel’s concept of a “body of work” has helped reframe the creative process.

This episode is an invitation to give yourself permission—permission to fight your fight, to do imperfect work, and to show up for the life you're meant to live.

📩 Subscribe to the Gifted & Grown Up newsletter for tools, insights, and support—for gifted adults and the people who love them. 👉 Join the newsletter

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Mazel and His Impact 00:29 Exploring Giftedness in Adults 01:32 The Three Personalities Concept 02:24 Nature vs. Nurture Debate 02:49 Living with Giftedness 04:44 Resistance and Moral Justice 09:28 Creating a Body of Work 12:53 Reflections on Giftedness Terminology 15:41 Conclusion and Invitation for Feedback

💬 Submit your questions, comments and reflections to Chad and Paula here.

Find Chad on Instagram

Chad's Website

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:39 Welcoming Dr. Eric Mazel 01:03 Discussing 'Why Smart People Hurt' 02:17 The Concept of Resistance 02:40 Autobiographical Insights 03:18 Existential Beliefs and Early Influences 04:27 Military Service and Resistance 06:21 The Challenge of Meaning 07:56 Paradigm Shifts in Understanding Life 09:11 The Nature of Meaning and Purpose 10:36 Smart People and the Burden of Clarity 20:55 Dealing with Meaning Leaks 25:16 Embracing Multiple Life Purposes 32:51 Creative Process and Allowing Messiness 35:02 Letting Go of Perfectionism 35:34 Identifying Good Ideas 38:13 The Importance of Daily Practice 40:03 Harnessing Sleep Thinking 41:36 Balancing Input and Output 43:35 Evolving Creative Work 58:14 Fighting Against Psychiatry 01:06:46 A New Mental Model: Serene Readiness

📩 Subscribe to the Gifted & Grown Up newsletter for tools, insights, and support—for gifted adults and the people who love them. 👉 Join the newsletter

📄 In this episode of Gifted & Grown Up, I’m joined by Dr. Eric Maisel, existential psychologist and author of more than 50 books, including Why Smart People Hurt and Redesign Your Mind.

We explore the inner lives of gifted adults—their sensitivity, creativity, intensity, and the unique challenges they face trying to make meaning in a chaotic world. Dr. Maisel offers no-nonsense advice and practical frameworks for managing the mental chatter, perfectionism, and existential dread that often come with a gifted mind.

This is a powerful conversation about taking responsibility for your inner world and choosing to become the author of your own experience.

🔑 What We Talk About:

• The myth of the tortured genius
• Existential depression and meaning-making
• Why gifted adults often feel like outsiders
• How to “redesign your mind” and quiet mental chatter
• Dr. Maisel’s definition of meaning and how to create it
• The role of creativity in the life of the gifted adult
• How smart people get stuck—and how to get unstuck
• The difference between coaching and therapy for gifted folks

📚 Resources Mentioned:

Why Smart People Hurt on Amazon

Redesign Your Mind on Amazon

Eric’s Website

Find Eric on LinkedIn

Find Eric on Facebook

✨ Want more?

Listen to the companion reflection episode where I unpack my reactions to this conversation and how Dr. Maisel’s work is influencing my thinking.

🔗 Reflection Episode – Eric Maisel

💬 Submit your questions, comments and reflections to Chad and Eric here.

In this reflection episode, I unpack my emotional response to my interview with Paula Prober, author of Your Rainforest Mind.

We talk about what it feels like to finally be seen as a gifted adult, why giftedness isn’t just about intellect, and how deep feelers like Paula help us make sense of our inner world. I share why this conversation stirred up so much in me—including the moment I teared up—and why Paula’s metaphor is more than just language… it’s healing.

Whether you’re a gifted adult or love someone who is, this episode is for you.

📩 Subscribe to the Gifted & Grown Up newsletter for tools, insights, and support—for gifted adults and the people who love them. 👉 Join the newsletter

00:00 – Why Paula’s work matters 02:00 – The moment of tears 03:50 – The pain of gifted adulthood 06:00 – Hope and the power of being seen 08:20 – Gifted loneliness is real 09:00 – Coming out—again 10:15 – Paula’s advice for thriving as a gifted adult 12:20 – The world needs your gifted mind 12:55 – Why more people need to know Paula Prober 13:30 – The role of gifted feelers 13:50 – Join the next conversation with Paula

💬 Submit your questions, comments and reflections to Chad and Paula here.

Find Chad on Instagram

Chad's Website

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:42 Paula Prober's Journey into Gifted Education 02:29 Transition to Therapy and Blogging 05:53 Understanding the Rainforest Mind 08:19 Challenges and Traits of the Gifted 13:03 Self-Acceptance and Overcoming Myths 19:30 Therapeutic Approaches and Self-Care 26:26 The Role of Physical Activities and Tango 33:21 Therapy for the Rainforest Mind 36:21 Navigating Loneliness and Relationships 43:39 Spirituality and the Rainforest Mind 49:45 Career Challenges for Gifted Individuals 55:38 Coping with the Current Climate 59:58 Finding Your Purpose and Joy 01:02:36 Understanding Giftedness 01:04:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

📩 Subscribe to the Gifted & Grown Up newsletter for tools, insights, and support—for gifted adults and the people who love them. 👉 Join the newsletter

📄 In this episode, I talk with Paula Prober, psychotherapist and author of Your Rainforest Mind, one of the first books that helped me truly understand what it means to be a gifted adult.

We explore what it means to have a rainforest mind, how giftedness shows up in adulthood, and why so many gifted people feel like they’re too much—or never enough. We talk about relationships, grief, intuition, and the difference between intellectual understanding and emotional validation. This conversation hit me on a deep level. It wasn’t just informative—it was personal.

🔑 What We Talk About:

• What a “rainforest mind” actually is
• The emotional needs of gifted adults
• Grieving the past when you discover you're gifted later in life
• Giftedness and trauma: where they intersect
• Navigating relationships when you’re “a lot”
• Why gifted adults often seek depth, meaning, and solitude
• How to recognize that you’re not broken—you’re just complex
• The power of naming your experience

📚 Resources Mentioned:

A Short Guide to Love and Relationships When You Are Sensitive And Smart — Part One

A Short Guide to Love and Relationships When You Are Sensitive and Smart — Part Two

A Short Guide to Love and Relationships When You are Sensitive and Smart — Part Three

Your Rainforest Mind by Paula Prober on Amazon

Journey Into Your Rainforest Mind - Audiobook

Paula’s Blog

Find Paula on Instagram

Find Paula on Facebook

✨ Want more?

Listen to the companion reflection episode where I unpack my emotional reactions to this conversation—why it moved me, and why I think we need more gifted feelers in the world.

🔗 Reflection Episode – Paula Prober

💬 Submit your questions, comments and reflections to Chad and Paula here.