What if loving something (your country, your work, your own self-image) actually requires being brutally honest about its flaws?
In this encore episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Dr. Dolly Chugh, social psychologist, behavioral scientist, and bestselling author, to unpack why our brains are wired for consistency instead of objectivity, and how guilt and shame can become engines for real growth. They get into the "psychology of good people," the trap of the flawless narrative, and what it takes to keep getting better instead of defending a story that no longer fits. It's a conversation about replacing brittle perfection with something far more durable.
Here's what you'll learn:
Why a "good person" is a fragile identity, and what to build instead
How to give a real apology that actually resets the relationship
What the "long time ago illusion" is, and how it distorts your judgment
The version of yourself you're defending might be the thing holding you back. This one will make you rethink it.
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:48) Becoming a psychologist
(00:05:29) The psychology of good people
(00:07:29) No one is good all the time
(00:09:02) Canceling and growth
(00:14:52) Home team bias
(00:17:09) The gritty patriot
(00:20:40) Guilt vs. shame
(00:29:52) The "long time ago" illusion
(00:35:32) What makes an apology work
(00:36:53) George Takei's story
(00:41:13) Being a game changer
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Links & Resources:
A More Just Future by Dr. Dolly Chugh
Dr. Dolly Chugh
Grit by Angela Duckworth
The Power of Us by Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
George Takei
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley
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Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.
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Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.
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If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:
330. Jay Van Bavel - Bias, Belonging, and the Battle for Truth
275. Kim Scott - The Power of Radical Respect
121. Ben Crump - Speaking Truth to Power: The Fight for Social Justice in America
