Evolving with Gratitude

What if the way we handle disagreement is one of the most important lessons we will ever absorb?
In episode 150, George Couros returns for a fun, honest, and deeply practical conversation about what it really takes to move forward together in contentious times. George shares the story behind his new book, Forward, Together, and why the work of building community starts with what we model, not what we say.
You will hear about:
How to disagree without damaging trust

A simple shift that helps people feel seen, valued, and willing to stay in the work

Why progress is not about avoiding conflict, but learning how to navigate it well

If you are craving a better way to lead, teach, parent, or collaborate, this one will give you both hope and next steps.

About Our Guest:
George Couros is a worldwide leader in the area of innovative teaching, learning, and leading, and has a focus on innovation as a human endeavor. Most importantly, he is a proud father and husband.
His belief that meaningful change happens when you first connect to people’s hearts, is modeled in his writing and speaking. In his 20-plus years in the field of education, he has worked at all levels of school, from K-12 as a teacher, technology facilitator, and school and district administrator, and is currently an Adjunct Instructor with the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
George is also the author of the books, ⁠The Innovator’s Mindset, Innovate Inside the Box, Because of a Teacher,  Because of a Teacher 2⁠, and his latest release, ⁠What Makes a Great Principal⁠.

Connect with and learn from George Couros:
Website: ⁠⁠georgecouros.ca⁠⁠
X/Twitter: ⁠⁠@gcouros⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@gcouros⁠

About Lainie:
Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!
Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠
Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP!

What if the way you spend money says less about your finances and more about what you actually value? NYT Bestselling author Morgan Housel reveals why smart spending is an art, not a science, and how the choices we make with money are often driven more by status than we'd like to admit. We explore the difference between chasing happiness and finding contentment, why saving is really about purchasing independence, and how asking one simple question before every purchase can change everything.
Thrive Global Article: Morgan Housel on the Art of Spending Money
About Our Guest:
Morgan Housel is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Psychology of Money, The Art of Spending Money, and Same As Ever. His books have sold over 11 million copies and have been translated into more than 60 languages. 
He is a two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and winner of the New York Times Sidney Award. MarketWatch named him one of the 50 most influential people in markets. He's a partner at The Collaborative Fund and serves on the board of directors at Markel. 
Podcast
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About Lainie:
Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!
Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠
Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP!

What does it really mean to feel loved?
In this conversation with Sonja Lyubomirsky, we explore why being loved isn’t the same as feeling loved, how changing the conversation can shift a relationship, and why loneliness is a moment, not an identity.
This one will change how you think about connection.
Thrive Global Article: Sonja Lyubomirsky on How to Feel Loved

About Our Guest:
Sonja Lyubomirsky is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and author of the best-selling The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness (published in 39 countries). Lyubomirsky and her research on the science of happiness have been the recipients of many grants and honors, including Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Basel, the Diener Award for Outstanding Midcareer Contributions in Personality Psychology, the Christopher Peterson Gold Medal, and a Positive Psychology Prize. She lives in Santa Monica, California, with her family.

About Lainie:
Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!
Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠
Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP!

What does it really take to thrive, not just achieve?
In this conversation, award-winning journalist and author Jennifer Breheny Wallace shares why mattering is a fundamental human need and how feeling valued for who we are, not just what we do, supports sustainable achievement, well-being, and connection.
We talk about the difference between belonging and mattering, the SAID framework, and small, meaningful ways to help ourselves and others feel seen and valued.
Thrive Global Article: Jennifer Breheny Wallace on Mattering
Mentioned on the show: The Surprising Way Sliding Door Moments Can Lead to Profound Gratitude (Counterfactual Thinking)
About Our Guest:
Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author who explores the power of mattering in everyday life. Through research and storytelling, Wallace examines the hidden forces shaping modern life, from the crisis of meaning in achievement culture to the essential role of mattering in personal, workplace, and societal health. 
Her first book, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — And What We Can Do About It, was a New York Times Bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of the Year, and a Next Big Idea selection. Her latest book Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, is out now.
Wallace is a maternal mental health advocate at Calm, the mental health app, a consultant at Netflix, and a BCG  BrightHouse Luminary. She has also partnered with The LEGO Group on its global "Play Unstoppable" campaign, aimed at addressing perfectionism and fostering confidence through play. 
Wallace started her journalism career at CBS's “60 Minutes” and was part of the team that won the Robert F. Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism. She is a contributor to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post and frequently appears on national television programs.  

About Lainie:
Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!
Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠
Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP!

What if change isn’t something to fear but something that can reveal who we really are? Cognitive scientist and podcast host Dr. Maya Shankar shares how to navigate uncertainty, redefine identity, and uncover growth on the other side of change. We talk about finding purpose when life takes an unexpected turn, why “possible selves” matter, and the surprising role distraction and gratitude play in resilience.
Maya's Book:
The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans
Thrive Global Article:
Maya Shankar on The Other Side of Change

About Our Guest:
Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and the creator, executive producer, and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, which Apple awarded as the Best Show of the Year 2021 and which received an Ambie award from the Podcast Academy in 2022. Maya was a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. She also served as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations under Ban Ki-moon, and as a core member of Pete Buttigieg’s debate preparation team during his 2020 presidential run.
Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford, a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, and a B.A. from Yale. She's been profiled by The New Yorker and been the featured guest on NPR's All Things Considered, Freakonomics, and Hidden Brain. She's a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program, where she was a private violin student of Itzhak Perlman.

About Lainie:
Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and TEDx speaker. She is dedicated to human flourishing, focusing on community building, emotional intelligence, and honoring what makes each of us unique and dynamic through learner-driven design. She earned her degree in psychology and went on to earn both a post-graduate credential and a master's degree in education. An international keynote speaker, Lainie has presented in 41 states as well as in dozens of countries across 4 continents. As a consultant, Lainie’s client list ranges from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts and independent schools. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/lainierowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Website - ⁠LainieRowell.com⁠
Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
LinkedIn - @LainieRowell
X/Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LainieRowell ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Evolving with Gratitude, the book is available ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And now, Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You and by You is available too!
Both Evolving with Gratitude & Bold Gratitude have generous bulk pricing for purchasing 10+ copies delivered to the same location.🙌
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/ewgbulkdiscount⁠
📚➡️ ⁠bit.ly/bgbulkdiscount⁠
Just fill out the forms linked above and someone will get back to you ASAP!