This is one of those episodes that's close to my heart.
The topic is fame. Or more specifically, the complex, layered, push-and-pull desire for it.
Whether you've ever longed to be "big" in your industry, or found yourself chasing followers and visibility and wondering why it never quite satisfies — or maybe you've had a client who says "I want a million followers" and you weren't sure how to support them — this episode is for you.
Here's the truth: the desire for fame is not bad. But it's also not simple. And as coaches and transformational practitioners, the more we can understand what's really underneath it — for ourselves and for our clients — the more empowered we become.
I share a really personal story in this episode about a night I saw Aimee Mann perform live in a converted church theater in Charlotte, and how it completely shifted the way I thought about fame, success, and what it actually means to do meaningful work in the world.
And then I share the even deeper layer of that story — the part where I realized I had actually put my desire for visibility into Shadow… and what it took to finally face it.
Some of what we cover in this episode:
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The real psychology behind the drive for fame — and why it's more complex than "ego"
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How the coaching industry's definition of success may be quietly shaping your goals (without your permission)
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What it means to discern between cultural conditioning and true desire
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How to help clients get honest about what they actually want — versus what they've been told to want
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Why "going small" can be a form of both wisdom and avoidance — and how to tell the difference
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Shadow and fame: what happens when we make our desire for visibility "bad"
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How to find the healthiest expression of fame and visibility for you — and help your clients do the same
This episode is especially for you if:
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You've ever felt shame around wanting more visibility, a bigger audience, or a louder platform
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You've found yourself chasing metrics that don't actually feel aligned — but couldn't stop
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You have clients who are driven by fame or following and you want to support them more skillfully
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You've used "I'm not meant to be famous" as a convenient reason to play it safe
Questions to sit with after this episode:
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What do I actually want — not what the industry told me to want?
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What is the best container for the work I love to do?
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Am I chasing likes and followers for the sake of validation… or is there a deeper purpose here?
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Am I allowing myself to dream as big as I actually desire to?
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