We live in a culture that worships speed. Faster output, faster growth, faster everything…as if slowing down were a personal failing rather than a skill. This week’s guest thinks we’ve got it backwards.

Elizabeth Svoboda is a science journalist and the author of The Art of Pacing, a book that digs into why sustainable effort is what actually gets us where we’re trying to go, not constant intensity.

In our conversation, we talk about where our obsession with speed comes from, why “pacing” gets dismissed as code for slacking off, and what it actually looks like to build a rhythm of work and rest that holds up over the long haul.

This one hit close to home for me. A lot of what we talk about on this show comes back to the tension between doing more and staying well — and pacing might be the most practical answer to that tension I’ve come across yet. We get into the research behind it, but we also get into the harder, more personal question: why do so many of us know this intellectually and still can’t seem to practice it?

If you’ve ever burned out chasing a deadline, or felt guilty for taking a break you clearly needed, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I sit down with Dayna Gowan — founder of Improvly Speaking, Distinguished Toastmaster, workshop facilitator, and host of the Improvly Speaking podcast. Dayna's story starts in a bathroom, crying after a disastrous presentation, and ends with her building an entire career around the very thing that terrified her most.

We talk about how improv — yes, the kind you see on a comedy stage — is one of the most underrated tools for communication, confidence, and mental health. Dayna breaks down what "Yes, and…" really means beyond the stage, how improv helped her through the pandemic, and why letting go of perfection might be the most productive thing you can do.

We also get into the messy middle: imposter syndrome, analysis paralysis, the "more than zero" mindset, and what it actually takes to sustain a creative project when self-doubt is loud. Plus, Dayna shares what new motherhood taught her about uncertainty — and why she now calls it her friend.

If you've ever held back because you didn't feel ready, qualified, or confident enough, this one's for you.

Connect with Dayna: Website: improvlyspeaking.com Podcast: Improvly Speaking Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/

What happens when the life you built no longer fits?

Pete Cataldo spent years reinventing himself — sports anchor, PR, voiceover artist, fitness coach — and still hit a wall. In this episode, we talk about what burnout actually feels like from the inside, why energy management matters more than time management, and what it really means to bet on yourself when the safe options are gone.

If you're in your 40s questioning everything, quietly wondering if you made the wrong call, or just tired of grinding without a clear direction — this one's for you.