What if the thing you’ve spent years hiding… could become the thing that changes your life?

For over 10,849 days, David silently battled panic attacks and anxiety while building a successful corporate career. No one knew. Not his colleagues. Not his friends. Not even his family.

Then, in 2016, he made one decision that changed everything: he spoke up.

Today marks nearly 10 years since David first broke the silence around his mental health, a moment that transformed not only his own life, but the lives of thousands of people he has helped since.

This episode is about vulnerability, burnout, kindness, self-compassion, and the courage to stop pretending you’re okay when you’re not.

And honestly?

I think every teenager, parent, leader, and employee needs to hear this conversation.

🔥 What You’ll Learn

• Why vulnerability can become your greatest strength

• The hidden signs of burnout most people ignore

• Why “it’s okay not to be okay” matters more than ever

• How self-compassion improves performance and creativity

• The mental health framework everyone should know

• Why kindness changes careers, teams, and lives

• How David rebuilt his life after decades of silence

David Beeney is a mental health speaker, therapist, workplace wellbeing advocate, and the author of Breaking the Silence.

After spending over 36 years silently struggling with panic attacks and anxiety, David made it his mission to normalize conversations around mental health and help workplaces create cultures built on empathy, support, and openness.

Today, he speaks globally on burnout, leadership, vulnerability, and wellbeing.

In this episode:

00:00 – Why This Conversation Matters

02:10 – The Turning Point That Changed David’s Life

05:40 – Living 10,849 Days in Silence

08:20 – Why Vulnerability Makes You Stronger

12:00 – The Truth About Panic Attacks

17:10 – How Anxiety Secretly Shaped His Career

21:00 – Burnout & The “Boiling Frog” Story

27:00 – The Early Signs People Ignore

31:30 – Sleep, Exercise & Mental Wellbeing

35:10 – The Power of Kindness & Good People

39:00 – Supporting Friends Through Mental Health Struggles

41:40 – Breaking the Silence Book Story

43:00 – Advice for Teenagers Today

45:00 – The Story of Ben

48:50 – Final Message to Anyone Struggling

If this episode touched you in any way, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

And if you’re struggling silently right now:

Please remember, you are not weak for opening up.

You are human.

Subscribe to The SMARTA Podcast for more conversations that challenge, inspire, and remind us what truly matters.

If you’re deciding where to live, study, or build your future, this episode might completely change your perspective.

In today’s episode of The SMARTA Podcast, we break down one of the biggest misconceptions about success, countries, and your future: why the happiest places in the world aren’t what you think, and what that means for you.

I’m joined by Dr. Mark Henry, expert in psychology, history, and national well-being, to unpack what actually drives happiness at both a global and personal level.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• The 6 key factors that determine national happiness
• Why “life satisfaction” matters more than temporary happiness
• How your environment shapes your success (more than you think)
• The real reason young people are becoming less happy in developed countries
• A blueprint you can apply to design a happier, more successful life

We cover topics like:

• Why countries like Finland consistently rank #1 in the world as happiest country (and what they’re doing differently)
• The surprising truth about Latin America’s happiness advantage
• The hidden factors shaping your future happiness (that no one teaches you in school)
• Whether governments should be responsible for your happiness
• Why social media might be silently sabotaging your mental health
• And what Ireland’s 100-year transformation can teach you about building a successful life

ABOUT DR. MARK HENRY

Dr. Mark Henry is a leading voice on national well-being, author of In Fact: An Optimist’s Guide to Ireland at 100, and Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at Technological University Dublin.

With a background in psychology, history, and leadership, his work challenges negative narratives and replaces them with data-driven optimism.

In this episode:

00:00 - Welcome

01:54 – The 3 things you’ll learn in this episode

02:30 – Happiest countries in the world (and the least happy)

04:50 – Why Finland keeps winning

06:54 – The shocking decline in youth happiness

09:05 – Is social media making you depressed?

11:00 – How happiness is actually measured

14:00 – The 6 factors that determine a happy country

18:00 – Should governments be responsible for happiness?

21:30 – Ireland: one of the happiest countries?

25:00 – How Ireland transformed in 100 years

30:00 – Lessons YOU can apply to your life

33:30 – Intrinsic vs extrinsic happiness

36:00 – Books that will change your worldview

39:00 – Advice for your 18-year-old self

42:20 – Final message: the truth about social media

If this episode made you rethink your future, share it with one person who needs to hear this.

And if you’re serious about building a smarter, more intentional life, subscribe, because every week we bring you the people shaping the future.

What if the secret to building a remarkable life isn’t chasing a personal brand… but making the world better first?

In today’s episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Guy Kawasaki, bestselling author, entrepreneur, former chief evangelist of Apple, host of Remarkable People, and one of the most respected voices in innovation, influence, and entrepreneurship.

This conversation goes far beyond business.

We talk about what truly makes someone remarkable, why young people should focus on interests over pressure-filled passions, the truth about personal branding, the mistakes that shape success, and how to make the world better in your own way.

We also dive into privacy, digital security, creativity, books that change lives, and the brutally honest advice Guy would give his 18-year-old self.

If you’re ambitious, building something, or trying to stand out in a noisy world, this episode is a masterclass.

What You’ll Learn

• Why personal brands are a result, not a goal

• What makes a person truly remarkable

• Why mistakes may shape you more than success

• How to pursue interests instead of forced passions

• Why privacy matters more than most people realise

• The 3-word philosophy Guy believes is the secret to life

• How to make the world better starting small

Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva, host of the Remarkable People podcast, and author of nineteen books including Everybody Has Something to Hide, Think Remarkable, and Wiser Guy. He is an adjunct professor of UC Santa Cruz, and trustee of the University of Hawaii Foundation. He was the chief evangelist of Apple, trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation, and brand ambassador of Mercedes-Benz. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.

In this episode:

00:00 – What Makes Someone Remarkable?

02:30 – Meet Guy Kawasaki

05:10 – Why Personal Branding Is Backwards

09:00 – Build Accomplishments, Not Image

13:00 – Privacy Mistakes Young People Make

17:30 – Why Signal & Security Matter

22:00 – Passion vs Interests Debate

26:00 – Entrepreneurship Advice for Young People

31:40 – The Truth About Personal Brands

35:00 – “Do Good Sh*t” Philosophy

37:10 – 2 Books That Changed Guy’s Life

40:10 – Advice to His 18-Year-Old Self

41:59 – How to Make the World Better

43:00 – Final Thoughts & Surfing Exit

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If this episode challenged the way you think about success, branding, or impact, share it with someone who needs it.

And if it made you rethink how you approach your goals, share it with someone who needs the reminder to stop waiting and start creating.

And if you’re enjoying these conversations with world-class thinkers, entrepreneurs, and authors, make sure to subscribe to The SMARTA Podcast for weekly insights on leadership, mindset, and building a meaningful life.

And remember:

Don’t chase being impressive.

Chase being useful.