Why So Many People Struggle to Make Big Life Decisions | Stephanie Peirolo

What If You've Been Measuring Success All Wrong? | Roberta Ravella

What if we've been measuring success all wrong? So many of us spend our lives chasing the things we've been told should make us happy... more money, more achievement, more recognition. But what if the real goal isn't success itself? What if it's building a life you actually enjoy living? In this conversation, Giuliano sits down with Roberta Ravella, speaker, strategist, and founder of The Joy Experiment™, to explore what it really means to pursue joy instead of simply checking society's boxes. Together they unpack why so many people postpone happiness until some future milestone, how expectations shape our experience of life, and why treating life like an experiment can open the door to far more freedom, curiosity, and fulfillment. They discuss the difference between pleasure and joy, why success doesn't have to come at the expense of peace, and how changing a single word ("and" instead of "but") can completely change the way we approach work, relationships, money, and personal growth. The conversation also explores nervous system regulation, why emotionally grounded decisions are often our best decisions, and how many of the beliefs we inherit about work, identity, and happiness deserve to be questioned. Along the way, Giuliano shares why he sees himself as a "scientist of life," why experimenting with different paths has shaped who he is today, and why he believes every person has something that comes naturally to them if they're willing to keep exploring. Roberta explains why curiosity is often conditioned out of us, how many people mistake external achievements for internal fulfillment, and why joy isn't something to earn after decades of hard work. It's something we can begin cultivating today. The conversation also ventures into parenting, expectations, religion, self-acceptance, and the surprising connection between believing people are fundamentally good and creating a more compassionate world. Rather than offering a rigid formula for happiness, this episode invites listeners to question long-held assumptions and consider a different possibility: that a meaningful life isn't built by getting everything "right," but by paying attention to what genuinely brings you alive. And if you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe to drop in on more of these conversations. https://thejoyexperiment.live/ [https://thejoyexperiment.live/] How to Be a Person: ⁠https://howtobeaperson.co [https://howtobeaperson.co] Support the show: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno [https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno] Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Person-Gems-Living/dp/B0H155R7JL/ [https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Person-Gems-Living/dp/B0H155R7JL/] Business funding: https://funding.howtobeaperson.co [https://funding.howtobeaperson.co] Want to be a guest on How to Be a Person? Send Giuliano Grimaudo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b] Please note: Links may be affiliated and may pay the creator a commission.

Why So Many People Struggle to Make Big Life Decisions | Stephanie Peirolo

Why do some decisions feel impossible to make, even when the answer seems obvious on paper? In this conversation, executive coach, consultant, and author Stephanie Peirolo joins Giuliano for an exploration of why so many people struggle with life's biggest decisions and what it actually means to trust yourself when the stakes are high. Drawing from her book, The Saint and the Drunk: A Guide to Making the Big Decisions In Your Life, Stephanie shares a decision-making framework inspired by centuries-old practices of discernment and adapted for modern life. The conversation explores the tension between logic and intuition, why many people feel disconnected from their own inner knowing, and how cultural expectations, family narratives, and social pressures can make it difficult to hear what they truly want. Along the way, Stephanie reflects on her journey from journalism to business development, executive coaching, and authorship. She also opens up about getting sober at a young age, the role addiction played in helping her avoid difficult emotions, and how those experiences shaped the way she understands personal growth, self-awareness, and decision-making today. Giuliano and Stephanie discuss concepts like the "genius of the body," attraction and aversion, honoring resistance, and the often-overlooked social cost of changing your mind. They explore why so many people stay on paths that no longer fit them, how to distinguish between fear and genuine resistance, and why making a decision doesn't guarantee a particular outcome. This is a conversation about listening more closely to yourself, questioning the stories you've inherited, and recognizing that the decisions that shape your life are rarely as simple as a pros-and-cons list. Whether you're facing a career change, a relationship decision, a major life transition, or simply trying to figure out what comes next, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on how to navigate uncertainty with greater clarity and intention. Stephanie Peirolo is the author of The Saint and the Drunk, host of The Bad Boss Brief, and writer of the Fierce Grace Substack. Her writing and storytelling have appeared on The Moth, NPR, and The Guardian. And if you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe to drop in on more of these conversations. https://www.speirolo.com/ [https://www.speirolo.com/] How to Be a Person: ⁠https://howtobeaperson.co [https://howtobeaperson.co] Support the show: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno [https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno] Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Person-Gems-Living/dp/B0H155R7JL/ [https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Person-Gems-Living/dp/B0H155R7JL/] Peaceful Profits: https://author.howtobeaperson.co [https://author.howtobeaperson.co] Want to be a guest on How to Be a Person? Send Giuliano Grimaudo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b] Please note: Links may be affiliated and may pay the creator a commission.

What 24 Years in the FBI Taught Me About Human Nature | Eric Robinson

What can 24 years in the FBI teach someone about human nature? More than most people would expect. After spending nearly a quarter century investigating everything from drug cartels and gangs to public corruption, crimes against children, and counterterrorism, former FBI Special Agent Eric Robinson came away with a perspective that challenges many of the assumptions people have about good, evil, crime, and what drives human behavior. In this conversation, Eric shares his unlikely journey from Baptist pastor to FBI agent, why that transition happened in the first place, and how years of sitting across from victims, informants, criminals, and extremists fundamentally changed the way he sees people. What emerged isn't a worldview built on judgment, but one rooted in curiosity, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the forces that shape human behavior. The discussion explores why people often gravitate toward certainty, identity, and belonging, how environment influences the choices people make, and why some of the most harmful actions can only be understood by looking at the story that came before them. Eric offers a rare glimpse into the reality of FBI work beyond what most people see in movies and television, sharing stories from his career that reveal both the extraordinary and surprisingly human side of law enforcement. The conversation also takes an unexpected turn into faith, belief, and personal transformation. Eric reflects on how his views evolved over time, what prompted him to reexamine long-held assumptions, and why he ultimately moved away from certainty and toward a more open and compassionate way of understanding both people and the world around him. This is a conversation about crime, religion, identity, belonging, personal growth, and what happens when life challenges the stories you've been telling yourself for decades. More than anything, it's an exploration of what it means to see people as people, even when it's difficult. Eric Robinson recently retired from the FBI after 24 years as a Special Agent, serving as a SWAT operator, firearms instructor, and tactics instructor while working a wide range of investigations. He is also the author of Irreverend: From Saving Souls to Chasing Sinners in the FBI, a memoir inspired by his unique path from Christian ministry to federal law enforcement. And if you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe to drop in on more of these conversations. https://www.preachertobreacher.com/ [https://www.preachertobreacher.com/] How to Be a Person: ⁠https://howtobeaperson.co [https://howtobeaperson.co] Support the show: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno [https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno] Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Person-Gems-Living/dp/B0H155R7JL/ [https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Person-Gems-Living/dp/B0H155R7JL/] Want to be a guest on How to Be a Person? Send Giuliano Grimaudo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b] Please note: Links may be affiliated and may pay the creator a commission.

What If Happiness Is a Skill? | Dr. Wendy O'Connor

Why do so many successful people still feel unfulfilled? And what if happiness isn't something you find... but something you practice? In this conversation, Stanford-trained positive psychologist Dr. Wendy O'Connor joins Giuliano to explore the difference between achievement and fulfillment, why so many high achievers end up burned out despite getting everything they thought they wanted, and how happiness may have far less to do with circumstances than most people believe. Drawing from her own experience as a clinical psychologist who built a thriving practice before realizing she wasn't actually enjoying the life she had created, Wendy shares the lessons that led her toward positive psychology and her work helping women design more intentional, meaningful lives. The conversation explores the hidden costs of constantly saying yes, the stories we tell ourselves about success, and why so many people feel trapped by decisions they made years ago. Along the way, Giuliano and Wendy discuss the role that mortality plays in shaping perspective, why people struggle to change direction even when they know they're unhappy, and the surprising amount of control we have over our experience of life. They dive into responsibility, self-trust, resilience, the importance of knowing your values, and why fulfillment often comes from aligning your life with what actually matters to you rather than what looks good from the outside. This is also a conversation about presence. About the tendency to live in the past or worry about the future while missing the moment directly in front of us. Whether discussing gratitude, personal loss, happiness research, or the challenge of creating boundaries around our time and energy, the discussion continually returns to one central question: If happiness isn't waiting somewhere in the future, how do we create more of it right now? If you've ever felt successful on paper but disconnected from your own life, struggled to balance ambition with fulfillment, or wondered why achieving your goals didn't create the feeling you expected, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on what it actually means to live well. And if you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe to drop in on more of these conversations. https://www.drwendyoconnor.com/free-life-planner [https://www.drwendyoconnor.com/free-life-planner] How to Be a Person: ⁠https://howtobeaperson.co [https://howtobeaperson.co] Support the show: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno [https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno] Life insurance: ⁠https://life.howtobeaperson.co [https://life.howtobeaperson.co] Want to be a guest on How to Be a Person? Send Giuliano Grimaudo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b] Please note: Links may be affiliated and may pay the creator a commission.

The Psychology Behind Mass Violence | Robert Mahoney

What causes someone to go down the path of violence? Are acts of mass violence truly random, or are there warning signs most of us simply don't know how to recognize? In this conversation, Giuliano sits down with Robert Mahoney, leading expert in Behavioral Threat Assessment and Founder of TVTP Solutions, to explore the psychology behind mass violence and what communities can do to prevent it before tragedy occurs. Rather than focusing on security cameras, metal detectors, or active shooter response plans, Robert explains why true prevention starts much earlier. He shares how many acts of violence are preceded by years of emotional distress, behavioral changes, isolation, loss of purpose, and missed opportunities for intervention. The discussion challenges the common idea of a "random act of violence" and examines why seemingly disconnected life events can sometimes contribute to a much larger story unfolding beneath the surface. The conversation explores the role of identity, purpose, and community in human behavior, why people become vulnerable to destructive paths, and how feelings often drive behavior long before logic enters the picture. Robert also explains how schools, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community organizations can work together more effectively to identify people who may be struggling before a crisis develops. Along the way, Giuliano and Robert discuss empathy, human nature, why many people who commit terrible acts were often showing signs of distress long beforehand, and how a culture of genuine care may be one of the most powerful tools we have for creating safer communities. They also explore the difference between protection and prevention, why many modern systems are designed to respond rather than intervene early, and how small moments of attention and human connection can sometimes alter the trajectory of a person's life. This is a thought-provoking conversation about violence prevention, mental health, human behavior, community responsibility, and what it means to look beyond the headlines to understand the deeper causes behind some of society's most troubling problems. And if you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe to drop in on more of these conversations. https://tvtpsolutions.com/ [https://tvtpsolutions.com/] How to Be a Person: ⁠https://howtobeaperson.co [https://howtobeaperson.co] Support the show: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno⁠ [https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno⁠] Life insurance: ⁠https://life.howtobeaperson.co [https://life.howtobeaperson.co] Want to be a guest on How to Be a Person? Send Giuliano Grimaudo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b] Please note: Links may be affiliated and may pay the creator a commission.