We are all born with the full spectrum of emotions — but most of us quickly learn that only some are “allowed.” Happiness is always safe. Men are often permitted anger. Women are allowed sadness. But confusion, fear, disappointment, or rage? Those are pushed aside, minimized, or punished.

In this week’s episode of One Question, I explore how families, culture, and systems like patriarchy and capitalism narrow the range of emotions we feel safe expressing. I share my own story of growing up as the youngest of five — where crying, fear, and hopefulness were labeled as crybaby, scaredy-cat, or Pollyanna — and how that shaped the way I learned to flatten my emotions.

Together, we’ll reflect on why emotions are not weaknesses but signals, how suppression only makes them stronger, and why finding safe people — whether loved ones, coaches, or therapists — is essential.

This week’s question is simple, but it may open a door: Which emotions do you allow yourself to feel?

What’s something you’re still beating yourself up for—even though the moment has long passed? In this episode, Leah explores the neuroscience of regret, the gendered expectations around self-forgiveness, and the cultural stories that keep us stuck in shame.

This isn’t about making excuses or avoiding accountability. It’s about naming the places where you’ve taken responsibility, learned the lesson, and still carry the weight.

What if it’s time to put that story down?

This week’s question:

What are you ready to forgive yourself for?

We spend so much of life trying to arrive — to be the expert, the one who knows. But what if there’s something essential we lose when we leave our beginner self behind? This episode explores what it means to hold both confidence and curiosity, especially in times of change. Whether you’re shifting careers, moving countries, raising kids, or learning to let go of ego, this is an invitation to reconnect with the aliveness of not knowing — and to ask yourself:

When did I stop being a beginner — and do I want that back?