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Good Work with Barrett Brooks

Good Work with Barrett Brooks

By: Barrett Brooks
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 Good Work is a curated exploration of the inner journey of outward success. Through deeply researched, long-form conversations with founders, authors, artists, and adventurers, host Barrett Brooks goes beyond surface-level stories to uncover the psychology of meaningful work. Each episode gives you rare access to the courage, identity shifts, and lessons that shape remarkable lives—insights you can use to navigate your own path with greater clarity and purpose.Copyright Unbearably Beautiful Futures LLC Career Success Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • From Burnout to Wholeness: Solitude, Nature, and Social Change with 86-Year-Old Author and Teacher Parker Palmer

    From Burnout to Wholeness: Solitude, Nature, and Social Change with 86-Year-Old Author and Teacher Parker Palmer
    Dec 18 2025
    This week, I talk with Parker Palmer in one of the most intimate and expansive conversations I’ve had on Good Work. Parker is an author, activist, and teacher whose ideas have shaped generations. But what moves me most is his honesty. We talk about the winding path that led him from academic life to community organizing to a Quaker learning community where he rebuilt his inner world. We explore discernment, solitude, “Circles of Trust”, and what it means to listen to the voice of your soul—especially in seasons of burnout or heartbreak. At 86, Parker reflects on aging, democracy, vocation, and his belief that the heart can break in two ways: it can shatter, or it can break open into greater capacity. If you’ve ever felt pulled toward a path you “can’t not do,” or if your inner life is asking more of you right now, this conversation is for you. Let’s get to it! In this episode: (00:00) – Intro (00:42) – “Deep in the oatmeal” and the role of humor in a serious life (02:11) – How Parker’s spiritual life slowly took shape (13:08) – Choosing to stay at Pendle Hill—and what that meant for Parker’s family (23:45) – How to tell the difference between a passing idea and a true calling (31:40) – A radically different way of being in community (40:45) – Why presence matters more than fixing (52:35) – The unlikely beginnings of the Center for Courage & Renewal (01:05:17) – What 30 years of building an organization has taught Parker (01:15:06) – Solitude, nature, and marriage as sustaining practices (01:22:31) – Aging, loss, and staying open to what’s next (01:30:39) – The two ways a heart can break Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • Craft Over Scale: The Quiet Pursuit of Meaningful Work with Jeff Sheldon

    Craft Over Scale: The Quiet Pursuit of Meaningful Work with Jeff Sheldon
    Dec 4 2025
    This week, I talk with Jeff Sheldon, designer and founder of Ugmonk. Jeff’s story is about more than building a successful brand—it’s about choosing craft over scale and staying true to what you love. We talk about why he turned down Shark Tank at the peak of a viral Kickstarter, how his childhood love of drawing grew into a career in design, and what he’s learned about perfectionism, entrepreneurship, and the emotional cost of mastery. We also explore the quieter parts of his journey: the role his marriage has played, his philosophy of work and life, and how he continues to create intentionally 16 years in. If you’re trying to make meaningful things without losing yourself in the process, this conversation is for you. Let’s get to it. Partner Deals Proper: Save $500 off onboarding when you mention Good Work at https://workwithproper.com. In this episode: (00:00) – Intro (01:55) – Why Jeff turned down Shark Tank (04:35) – The foresight behind saying no (06:59) – Jeff’s philosophy of work and life (10:04) – First steps into design (13:08) – Nurturing creativity (19:13) – Why Jeff doesn’t call himself an entrepreneur (25:49) – A relentless standard of excellence (34:46) – The emotional cost of mastery (42:48) – Doing vs. learning on the internet (46:43) – Partnership and support (54:15) – Keys to a lasting relationship (01:01:00) – Winning his first t-shirt contest (01:04:31) – From $18k goal to $430k raised (01:08:06) – Gather vs. Analog (01:16:08) – Success without wealth (01:22:30) – The tradeoffs of a bespoke business (01:25:03) – Lessons from early struggles (01:32:36) – Holding to an ethos in a bigger culture (01:35:56) – Becoming world-class (01:39:34) – Jeff's most beautiful future (01:40:35) – Who Jeff is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
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    1 hr and 43 mins
  • The Hidden Grief Behind High Achievement with Emily Anhalt

    The Hidden Grief Behind High Achievement with Emily Anhalt
    Nov 20 2025
    This week, I talk with Dr. Emily Anhalt—a clinical psychologist, founder, and writer who’s spent the past 15 years exploring what it really means to be emotionally healthy. You might know her from her TED Talk or her work at Coa, but in this conversation, we go deeper. We talk about growing up in Silicon Valley, the pressure of being a high-achieving kid, and why so many successful people still carry unresolved grief. Emily shares how ADHD shaped her early life, what led her to leave pre-med for psychology, and how emotional patterns from childhood often resurface in our work and relationships. We also dive into what actually makes therapy effective and why hitting your goals doesn’t always bring peace. If you’ve ever built something meaningful but still felt unsettled, or questioned what’s really driving your ambition, I think this episode will speak to you. Let’s get to it. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (02:52) - How a beanbag chair and snacks helped Emily unlock her best work (08:01) - Growing up inside the Silicon Valley success machine (09:45) - Why high performers need a different kind of therapy (11:53) - The story of Emily’s parents and how they ended up in the Valley (13:54) - Reframing ADHD as a strength, not a stigma (16:33) - The early experiences that shaped Emily’s emotional lens (23:40) - How Emily chose psychology—and what kept her going (28:40) - The moment therapy stopped being about symptoms (33:06) - Why grief is a necessary companion to growth (38:21) - The origin story of a company built around emotional fitness (42:30) - What changes when you go from therapist to founder (45:27) - The qualities of high-integrity therapy (51:26) - How Emily knew it was time to write a book (58:20) - What really keeps entrepreneurs stuck—and how to get unstuck (01:02:09) - What it feels like when success leaves you empty (01:05:32) - How to rebuild when your goals stop making sense (01:07:44) - Why achieving meaning isn’t the same as feeling it (01:11:06) - Why therapy often gets harder before it gets better (01:12:47) - Abandoning hard feelings before healing happens (01:13:40) - The isolation of success—and how to find support (01:21:17) - How overachievers get trapped in burnout (01:29:26) - Healthy ways to process anger (01:33:46) - What makes Emily world-class? (01:34:09) - Emily's most beautiful future (01:34:49) - Who Emily is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
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    1 hr and 36 mins
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