Podcast · Business

Good Work with Barrett Brooks

by Barrett Brooks · English · Business

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

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 1 hr 39 min
Latest: 29 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

29 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 29 min

What Happens When You Stop Running From Yourself with Yung Pueblo

This week, I talk with Diego Perez—better known as Yung Pueblo—about healing, self-awareness, and what it takes to become lighter as you move through life. Yung shares how a period of drugs, alcohol, and numbing nearly cost him his life, and how learning to feel his emotions, tell himself the truth, and move his body helped him begin again. We explore how meditation reshaped his relationship with pain, what he’s learned from sitting silent retreats for up to 60 days, and why healing yourself may be one of the most important ways to help heal the world. We also talk about his wife Sarah’s…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

12 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 30 min
The Stories We Tell Ourselves That Keep Us Stuck with Jenny Wood
This week, I talk with Jenny Wood, who spent 18 years at Google, rising through the ranks and building global programs used by tens of thousands of employees. From the outside, Jenny had the kind of career many people aspire to—prestige, influence, and steady advancement inside one of the world’s most admired companies. But over time, she began to realize that the very habits that fueled her success—relentless drive, constant striving, and an obsession with achievement—were also taking a personal toll. In this conversation, we talk about ambition and when it becomes a trap, the pressure to…
26 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 29 min
Capturing Wonder: Jon McCormack's Journey Through Photography and Technology
This week, I talk with Jon McCormack, the leader behind the iPhone camera at Apple—the most widely used camera in human history. But Jon’s story goes far beyond technology. He grew up on a farm in rural Australia without full-time electricity, dropped out of a PhD to chase an unexpected opportunity in tech, helped build Kindle, and founded schools in Kenya that now serve thousands of children. Along the way, he developed a body of photographic work rooted not in spectacle, but in wonder. We talk about letting go of camera snobbery, building technology that empowers rather than exploits, and…
12 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 39 min
The Quiet Grief Behind the Growth with Sam Vander Wielen
This week, I talk with Sam Vander Wielen—entrepreneur, author, and founder of a multi-million-dollar legal education business. We talk about what happens when the life you built for safety no longer fits—and when success and grief collide at the same time. Sam shares how childhood survival strategies shaped her career, how a scrappy food blog became the bridge out of law, and why listening deeply to customers changed everything in her business. We also explore the parallel track of her personal life: losing both of her parents while scaling her company and signing a book deal. At its core,…
29 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 33 min
Beyond Productivity: Tiago Forte's Journey of Growth and Transformation
This week, I talk with Tiago Forte about far more than productivity systems or note-taking. This one is about what happens after success—when the systems that once fueled your growth start working against you. We talk about burnout, anger, embodiment, and how listening to the body can become a doorway to deeper clarity and determination. Tiago shares the personal journey that shaped Building a Second Brain, why he made the difficult decision to wind down a wildly successful business, and what he’s learned by redesigning his life around alignment rather than optimization. We also explore the…
15 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 46 min
Finding Your Voice: How to Outgrow the Need to Prove Yourself with Michael Gendler
This week, I talk with Michael Gendler about what it really takes to communicate at a high level without losing yourself in the process. Michael’s story is more than “learn public speaking.” It’s the journey of a shy Russian immigrant kid with a deep drive to prove himself, who eventually realized that the breakthrough isn’t technique — it’s self-acceptance. We talk about how grit can be both a gift and a cage, why striving doesn’t always lead to happiness, and what happens when you start pursuing excellence from peace instead of pressure. We also unpack Michael’s inside-out approach to…
18 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 38 min
From Burnout to Wholeness: Solitude, Nature, and Social Change with 86-Year-Old Author and Teacher Parker Palmer
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,…
4 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 43 min
Craft Over Scale: The Quiet Pursuit of Meaningful Work with Jeff Sheldon
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…
20 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
The Hidden Grief Behind High Achievement with Emily Anhalt
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…
6 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 38 min
Mark Manson: What Happens After You Get Everything You Wanted?
This week, I talk with Mark Manson—best known for The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck—about what success really costs and why it often leaves us wanting more. Mark and I go deeper than I’ve heard him go before: we explore his upbringing, the complex role faith and community have played in his life, and how he’s learned to follow his internal compass—even when it meant walking away from huge opportunities. After climbing to the top of the publishing world and getting a taste of Hollywood, Mark has returned to where he started: creating online for the joy of it. This conversation is about more…
23 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 35 min
From War Zones to Wildlife: Ami Vitale’s Journey to Hope Through Photography
This week, I talk with someone who’s been on my dream guest list since day one—Ami Vitale. Ami is a National Geographic photographer and filmmaker whose work has taken her from war zones to wildlife sanctuaries, always in pursuit of the deeper story. But this conversation goes far beyond her remarkable resume. We talk about how picking up a camera transformed her from a shy, introverted kid into one of the world’s most powerful visual storytellers. Ami opens up about what it really means to bear witness, the emotional cost of telling the truth, and why she eventually turned her lens away…
16 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 31 min
Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald Talks Servant Leadership, Trust, and Team Building
This week, I talk with Mike Macdonald, head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and the youngest head coach in the NFL. Mike opens up about his journey from coaching high-schoolers as a college student to leading elite defenses with the Ravens and Wolverines—and now, running one of the most storied franchises in football. We explore how he’s balancing tradition and innovation, what it really means to set the standard inside a world-class organization, and how the Seahawks are training their players mentally as much as physically. This conversation is a look behind the scenes at what it takes to…
9 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 49 min
The Inner Work of Outward Success: Barrett Brooks on Mastery, Fatherhood, and Emotional Growth
This episode is a special one. After a year of interviewing thoughtful, world-class guests, I wanted to share more of my own story. So I asked my dear friend, and episode 01 guest, James Clear, to turn the mic on me. We talk about the formative moments in my life— from childhood patterns and baseball memories to the inner work I’ve done to stop striving without purpose and start accepting myself more fully. I share why I believe that most successful people already know what to do—they just need help getting past their individual emotional blockers. We explore the coaching frameworks I use,…
30 Sep 2025 · 2 min
We’re Back: Good Work Season 02
We’re back for Season 02 of Good Work! I’ve always believed there’s more to success than titles, wealth, or the next business tactic. This season, I want to explore the kind of work that calls us higher, to work rooted in purpose, values, and service to others. It’s about asking bigger questions: What are we here for? How do we reach our full potential and make a meaningful impact? Join me as we go beyond the typical surface-level business strategies to uncover the inner journey that shapes authentic, fulfilling outward success. If you’re ready to dig deep, I can’t wait to share this season…
S1 · E44 · 18 Mar 2025 · 2 hr 2 min
The Lies We Tell Ourselves About Success with Matt D. Smith
This week, I talk with Matt D. Smith—better known on the internet as MDS. Matt is a world-class designer and the founder of Shift Nudge, where he’s building the Juilliard of design education. Over his 20-year career, Matt has generated millions in revenue while helping clients craft iconic visual identities. But beyond the work itself, this conversation is about the inner journey behind outward success. We dive into how Matt and his wife built a marriage that serves as the foundation of his career, the three major turning points that shaped his path, and what might have happened had he…
S1 · E43 · 11 Mar 2025 · 1 hr 38 min
From Burnout to Balance: How Tina Tower Built a $2M Business—Without Breaking Herself
This week, I talk with Tina Tower, founder of Her Empire Builder, a membership community helping women start and scale online course businesses. Tina’s journey to success has been anything but straightforward. She launched a tutoring center at 20, built a franchise that nearly broke her, and sold it in a deal that taught her some tough lessons about business and burnout. We dive into what she learned from scaling too fast, how to avoid the potential pitfalls of selling a company, and how she transitioned from a high-stress business to running a wildly profitable $2 million-a-year…
S1 · E42 · 4 Mar 2025 · 1 hr 38 min
How Tiny Experiments Lead to Big Breakthroughs with Anne-Laure Le Cunff
This week, I’m bringing back one of our most popular episodes—my conversation with neuroscientist, writer, and Ness Labs founder Anne-Laure Le Cunff. When we first spoke in 2024, she was deep in her PhD, balancing academic rigor with writing for a broad audience, all while sharing her journey in public. Now, she’s releasing her new book, Tiny Experiments, which explores how small, intentional experiments can unlock personal growth and creativity. Anne-Laure’s approach to navigating uncertainty, following curiosity, and designing an intentional life is something I deeply align with. And I…
S1 · E41 · 25 Feb 2025 · 1 hr 40 min
What is worth wanting? Bonnie Wan on Trauma, Transformation, and Courage
This week, I talk with Bonnie Wan, a trailblazing strategist who spent 30 years in advertising, eventually becoming a partner and Head of Brand Strategy at Goodby Silverstein & Partners. She earned Ad Age’s Chief Strategy Officer of the Year award, but perhaps her most impactful work is The Life Brief—a tool she developed to transform her own life, which became the foundation of her book. We explore Bonnie’s remarkable journey—from immigrating from Taiwan and overcoming bullying and abuse to rising to the top of her field. We also dive into the power of brand storytelling as a force for…
S1 · E40 · 11 Feb 2025 · 1 hr 50 min
Mom: Ann Brooks on What They Don’t Teach You in Business School
This week, I sit down with someone who’s had an enormous impact on my life—my mom, Ann Brooks. She’s built an exceptional career spanning nearly 40 years in sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship, working for Xerox, Haworth, and Allstate before becoming a financial advisor. As the primary breadwinner for our family, she’s learned what it takes to manage high-performing teams, create scalable systems, and lead with integrity. Beyond business, this conversation is personal. My mom taught me some of the most valuable lessons I use every day—how to build teams, how to sell in a way that feels…
S1 · E39 · 4 Feb 2025 · 1 hr 38 min
How Justin Moore Reinvented His Career After a Crushing Failure
This week, I talk with Justin Moore—founder and CEO of Creator Wizard, longtime YouTuber, and entrepreneur who’s spent more than 15 years navigating the creator economy. But this conversation isn’t just about business. It’s about the tension between entrepreneurship and family life, the ups and downs of building something meaningful, and the resilience required to start over after failure. Justin shares how he and his wife, April, built a thriving business on YouTube, only to face a major setback when his agency collapsed during the pandemic. We talk about the lessons he’s learned, how he’s…
S1 · E38 · 28 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 47 min
The Hardest Decision of My Career: Inside Kieran Snyder’s CEO Journey
This week, I talk with Kieran Snyder, the co-founder and former CEO of Textio, a groundbreaking company at the forefront of the AI revolution. Kieran’s journey is one of resilience, leadership, and innovation. We discuss how she transitioned from academia to leading a tech startup, raising more than $40 million in funding, and building equitable, high-performing teams along the way. Kieran opens up about the tough decision to step down as CEO after experiencing burnout and shares her path to recovery and rediscovery. We dive into her passion for building up young female leaders, from…
S1 · E37 · 21 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 52 min
Inside Pat Flynn’s World: Family, Fishing, Pokémon, and Smart Passive Income
This week, I talk with Pat Flynn, a legend in the creator economy and founder of Smart Passive Income. Pat’s journey began in 2008 when he was laid off as an architect during the recession. Since then, he’s built an online empire by experimenting with niche projects and side hustles, teaching modern, effective principles to entrepreneurs worldwide. We dive deep into his journey—from building Smart Passive Income to leading with empathy and authenticity. Pat shares how he turned his love of Pokémon cards into a million-subscriber YouTube channel, Deep Pocket Monster, and how hobbies and…
S1 · E36 · 14 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 43 min
How Ankur Nagpal Turned Adversity into a $250M Empire
This week, I talk with Ankur Nagpal, founder of Teachable, Carry, and Vibe Capital. Ankur’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. From immigrating to the U.S. for college to founding a company that grew exponentially and sold for a life-changing $250 million, Ankur has built a remarkable career. We explore how he went from creating Facebook apps in college to funding his own education at Berkeley, starting and scaling Teachable in New York, and what he learned about himself after the sale. Ankur shares how success has allowed him to focus on what truly matters—family, meaningful…
S1 · E35 · 17 Dec 2024 · 1 hr 53 min
What I’ve Learned About Excellence, Purpose, and Showing Up: AMA with Barrett Brooks
Since the very first episode, Good Work has been about exploring why our work matters and how it helps us become the people and leaders we’re meant to be. Normally, I interview world-class guests, diving deep into their unique stories and insights. But today, I’m sharing my own experiences, lessons, and reflections. I’ve gathered questions from you, my listeners, as well as past guests, covering a wide range of topics: business advice, lessons learned from podcasting, life philosophy, and how I approach my own work. This episode is a chance to connect on a different level as I reflect on the…
S1 · E34 · 10 Dec 2024 · 1 hr 59 min
The Power of Owning Your Story with Ruthie Ackerman
This week, I talk with Ruthie Ackerman—a talented author, journalist, and writing teacher who has turned her own journey into a blueprint for helping others find their voice. Ruthie’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Modern Love, and many other renowned outlets, but her true passion lies in empowering others to discover and write their own stories. Through her workshops, one-on-one coaching, and book incubators, Ruthie helps writers connect with their experiences, heal from the past, and find deeper meaning in their lives. We explore Ruthie’s journey—from traveling the world in her…
S1 · E33 · 19 Nov 2024 · 1 hr 30 min
Andy Crissinger: The Art of Asking Better Questions
This week, I talk with Andy Crissinger, a world-class coach and master facilitator who has guided leaders at some of the world’s most renowned startups and companies. Andy’s journey to coaching is remarkable, weaving through ministry, startup leadership, and eventually finding his calling as a coach. In the first half of our conversation, we explore his personal story, which is deeply relatable and filled with lessons about growth and resilience. In the second half, we dive into a coaching curriculum built around five transformative books, offering practical insights for personal and…
S1 · E32 · 12 Nov 2024 · 1 hr 32 min
How 3.7 Million Words Built a Career: Lessons from Patrick McKenzie
This week, I talk with Patrick McKenzie, better known online as “patio11.” Patrick has built an impressive career by sharing his insights publicly, with more than three million words published to date. From his years at Stripe to his current sabbatical, Patrick’s journey proves that the “traditional path” is not always the best one. We explore how his love for systems thinking and complex problem-solving has shaped his career. He shares candidly about his 20 years in Japan, navigating work-life balance, his evolving thoughts on autonomy, and how writing has opened doors to unexpected…
S1 · E31 · 5 Nov 2024 · 1 hr 46 min
Why Tim Grahl Had To Kill His Old Business to Find Real Success
This week, I talk with Tim Grahl, CEO of Story Grid and author of The Shithead, a novel that’s both thrilling and deeply personal. Tim made a name for himself as a book marketer who landed multiple titles on the New York Times Bestseller list at the same time. Tim’s work with Story Grid, alongside his partner Shawn Coyne, has guided hundreds of aspiring authors in mastering the essential elements of storytelling, helping them transform “I hope I can write a book someday” into a published reality. We cover a range of topics, from Tim’s journey as a book marketer to his insights on the power…
S1 · E30 · 29 Oct 2024 · 1 hr 43 min
Why Real Relationships Are the Secret to Growing Your Business with Mo Bunnell
This week, I talk with my friend Mo Bunnell, founder of GrowBIG and the Bunnell Idea Group, which offers one of the most in-depth, relationship-driven trainings on sales and business development. Mo is the author of Give to Grow, a book I recommend to anyone interested in learning business development with a values-centered approach. We start by diving into Mo’s personal life, his deep commitment to family, and the strength of his marriage. In the second half, Mo shares his unique business development framework, applying it to my business in ways that make it practical and actionable. Mo’s…
S1 · E29 · 22 Oct 2024 · 1 hr 59 min
The Hidden Gem of a Naturopath Who Wrote the Manual to Health and Longevity - Dr. Erika Siegel
This week, I talk with Dr. Erika Siegel, a naturopathic doctor with nearly 20 years of experience. I discovered her work through a recommendation from my doctor and was immediately drawn to her two-volume book set, The Nourish Me Kitchen, which combines essential health wisdom with practical recipes. As a coach, I see many entrepreneurs burning out due to the immense physical and mental demands of their work. In our conversation, Erika shares her journey and insights on how to maintain wellness as an entrepreneur. We explore how to sustain your health, just like a professional athlete, to…

About Good Work with Barrett Brooks

Good Work with Barrett Brooks is a English business podcast from Barrett Brooks. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Barrett Brooks
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 1 hr 39 min
Latest episode: 29 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1738711388
Rights: Copyright Unbearably Beautiful Futures LLC

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