Free Daily Podcast Summary
Good Life Project: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Jonathan Fields / Acast
What does it mean to live a good life? Is it about happiness, health, friendship, love, or meaning? What about work, wealth, purpose, service, or something else? Can you live a good life even when things are hard? These are the questions and topics we explore every week in conversation with leading voices from health, science, art, industry, mindset, and culture, like Brené Brown, Matthew McConaughey, Mel Robbins, Alex, Elle, Adam Grant, Elizabeth Gilbert, Yung Pueblo, Maya Shankar, Mitch Albom, Glennon Doyle & hundreds more. The New York Times says, "the show’s holistic approach to fulfillment is bound to resonate."
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 days ago39 min
The Endings You Don’t See Coming (Until They’re Gone) | Jonathan Fields
Somewhere in the past few years, you did something you love, with someone you love, for the very last time. And you had no idea when it happened. This solo episode is about why we cruise through our most meaningful endings, and why that might actually be the best possible news about how you've been living.In this deep-dive solo, Jonathan Fields unpacks an idea he calls unmarked lasts, the everyday endings that slip past without ceremony, starting with a story about fifteen years of chairlifts with his daughter and the ordinary Sunday that unceremoniously closed an era. It's a conversation built for anyone in their 40s, 50s, or beyond who has started to notice that the archive of things that ended is getting fuller, and wonders if they should have been paying better attention.In this episode, you'll explore:Why the baby book has a page for every first and not a single page for the lasts, and what that asymmetry does to usThe structural reason you cannot catch a casual last while it's happening, no matter how present or grateful you becomeWhat researcher Hal Hershfield discovered when he asked people to imagine a meaningful place for the very last time, and the surprising thing that didn't happen to their happinessThe centuries-old Portuguese word for the ache you've probably never been able to nameTwo kinds of lasts, and the completely different thing each one asks of youThe endings you can't remember may be the strongest evidence of a life you were fully inside of.Episode TranscriptNext week, guest host Cynthia Morris is sitting down with Susan Bratton to talk about why desire in midlife doesn't fade so much as it gets misread, and what actually rekindles it at any age. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss that or any upcoming episodes!Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 6 days ago1h 1m
Jodi Picoult: Why Every Villain is the Hero of Their Own Story
Every villain is the hero of their own story. That line opens part two of Jodi Picoult's thirtieth novel, and she'll tell you it's also how most of us get through any given day, or life.Picoult is the number one New York Times bestselling author of thirty novels, including My Sister's Keeper, Small Great Things, and Wish You Were Here. Her new one, Hollow Bones, arrives right around the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and centers on a woman whose entire career is built on preparing for catastrophe, who gets blindsided anyway. For three decades, Picoult has done her research by climbing all the way inside other people's lives, including people whose beliefs she can barely stand to sit across from, and a good part of this conversation is about how and why she does that, how it impacts her own life, beliefs, and approach to storytelling. We explore:What thirty years of living inside other people's heads has actually cost her, including the nightly ritual one narrator forced on her before she could face her own familyThe moment in an interview when she had to leave the room, splash water on her face, and decide which version of herself was walking back inOne finding from her research on lying that explains why a small untruth gets harder to take back the longer you hold onto itWhy one of her books landed on the most banned book in America list last year, and how she respondedWhere the line actually sits between sugarcoating your own life and bending the truth to protect someone you love, and what tends to happen to people who never find itIf you have ever told a gentler version of the truth to protect somebody you love, this conversation will sit with you for a while.You can find Jodi at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, it's just me, and I want to talk about something that's been on my mind: the moments in our lives that end without us ever knowing they were the last ones. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss that or any upcoming episodes!Midlife Design Lab: I'm opening up an intimate retreat with me and a small, curated group in Boulder, CO (Oct 24-25, 2026), followed by 3 months of virtual group coaching. A few weeks back, I shared something I'd been building for myself, and the response blew me away, so spots are limited and I expect them to fill fast. If this calls to you, apply here.Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago49 min
Single at Heart: What if You Don't Need Someone Else to “Complete” You | Bella DePaulo, PhD | Bella DePaulo, PhD
Bizarre fact, if you tell people you’re genuinely happy being single, they don’t believe you. You, in fact, may be among the doubters when it comes to your single-at-heart friends. Bella DePaulo has spent more than three decades studying what happens when someone is genuinely, unapologetically happy being single, and one thing keeps showing up in her data. People don't believe them. In studies where participants read identical biographies, differing only in one line, single or married, the single people who said they were happy were assumed to be exaggerating. The married people were taken at their word.Bella is a social psychologist (Ph.D., Harvard) and the author of Single at Heart: The Power, Freedom, and Heart-Filling Joy of Single Life. Her TEDx talk on what no one tells you about single people has been watched more than 1.8 million times, and The Atlantic has called her America's foremost thinker and writer on the single experience. She's been writing the Living Single blog at Psychology Today since 2008, and she founded the Foundation for the Empowerment of Single People. In this conversation, Jonathan and Bella dig into what her research, drawn from more than 20,000 people across over 100 countries, actually shows about who thrives alone, who doesn't, and why the cultural story about both gets it backwards.In this one, you'll hear about the single sentence Bella clipped from a newspaper column in 1992 that started her whole body of work. You'll hear why she believes solitude and loneliness are separated by exactly one thing, not personality, not introversion, but choice. You'll hear the surprising story of what actually happened to single-at-heart people during pandemic lockdown, when isolation should have driven them straight into relationships. You'll hear why married people tend to become more insular over time, and what that quietly costs them later in life. And you'll hear the real story behind a bike accident, a hospital, and forty-nine people who showed up.If you've ever loved your own company more than you're supposed to admit, or if you've ever wondered whether your relationships would survive without one person at the center of them, this conversation will change how you think about both.You can find Bella at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sitting down with bestselling novelist Jodi Picoult to talk about how she steps inside the minds of people whose lives look nothing like her own, and why that kind of empathy might be one of the most undervalued skills we have.Midlife Design Lab: I'm opening up an intimate retreat with me and a small, curated group in Boulder, CO (Oct 24-25, 2026), followed by 3 months of virtual group coaching. A few weeks back, I shared something I'd been building for myself, and the response blew me away, so spots are limited and I expect them to fill fast. If this calls to you, apply here.Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago1h 0m
The Midlife Curiosity Tour That Changed Everything | Allison Aubrey
Allison Aubrey walked into a longevity lab expecting a great story. She walked out believing she was failing at key parts of her own life. After 25 years as one of NPR's most trusted health and science reporters, Aubrey agreed to a battery of tests meant to measure her biological age, and the results rattled her enough to send her on a curiosity tour, looking for answers that had nothing to do with biology. What she found became her new book, Your Turn, a reframing of the years between 50 and 75 as a third turn, the part of life where, against every expectation, a hidden surge of energy and purpose becomes possible. In this conversation, Jonathan and Allison get into the moment a lab technician's offhand comment sent her into a spiral, the recurring dream that a professional dream analyst helped her decode, and the real reason she finally stepped away from the newsroom rhythm she'd built her 25-year identity around.You'll hear how she distinguishes passion from purpose from simply mattering, and why one of those three actually shows up in your bloodwork. You'll hear the real stories behind her "curiosity tour," including a retired police officer who found her purpose as the last person walking a community 5K, and a scientist who left a powerful research job to pull invasive vines off trees in her own neighborhood. And you'll hear the simple, repeatable patterns Allison found across dozens of women from all walks of life who made real pivots, one that starts by going inward before it ever asks you to go outward.If you've ever wondered whether the pull toward something different in your life is real or just restlessness, this conversation offers something rare: actual evidence, and actual permission.You can find Allison at: It's Your Turn Substack | Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sitting down with Bella DePaulo to talk about what it actually means to be single at heart, and why some of the deepest, most authentic lives being lived right now aren't built around a partner at all.Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 2 weeks ago1h 3m
Why Grit Alone Doesn’t Cut It: New Research From Angela Duckworth
Angela Duckworth on why grit is only half the story. Acclaimed researcher Professor Angela Duckworth returns to unpack a bigger idea behind grit: your environment matters as much, if not more, than your mindset. Jonathan and Angela Duckworth explore how situation, peers, mentors, and culture shape the thoughts you have, the effort you can sustain, and the kind of person you become.They also dig into the practical question of change: if you want a different outcome, how do you stop blaming yourself and start redesigning the conditions around you?Key topics:Angela Duckworth reframes grit as part of a larger system, arguing that the "inside game" and the "outside game" are linked.She explains why high achievers often think in more positive, productive ways, and why those thoughts are strongly influenced by the situation they are in.The conversation breaks down the three-box model: situation, thoughts, response.Angela and Jonathan discuss how emotions and behavior fit into that model, and how feedback loops can create either virtuous or vicious cycles.Angela shares how trying harder during a difficult period in her marriage and career made things worse until she changed the situation.They walk through four situational levers: personal space, peers, mentors, and culture.Angela gives concrete examples of environmental design, from keeping her phone out of reach to using visible reminders like notes, rings, and calendar prompts.The episode makes a strong case for noticing before changing, using situational awareness as the first step toward agency.Angela distinguishes agency from blame, arguing that recognizing a harmful situation does not mean it was your fault.The conversation closes with a broader definition of a good life: creating situations that bring out the best in other people.You can find Angela at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, we’re sitting down with Allison Aubrey to talk about why midlife can become a turning point for purpose, connection, and a deeper kind of self-trust. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss that or any upcoming episodes!Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 2 weeks ago1h 0m
How to Make Better Decisions | Shane Parrish [Best of]
Most of us think good decisions happen in the moment. Shane Parrish says they’re already decided before you sit down. And most of them end up being bad, because you waited too long to make them good.Shane Parrish spent years inside Canadian intelligence, making real-time decisions where the stakes were other people's lives, long before he founded Farnam Street and The Knowledge Project podcast. He's the author of Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results, and has quietly become the person elite investors, athletes, and Silicon Valley leaders turn to when a single decision carries outsized weight.In this conversation, you'll explore:Why the position you're in before a decision matters more than the decision itself, and how Warren Buffett almost never finds himself in a bad oneThe four hidden "defaults" that hijack your thinking before you noticeThe three-word phrase Shane uses with his own kids to defuse an argument before it escalatesWhy "doing your best" almost never happens in the hour it counts, and what actually determines the outcomeA simple night-before, morning-after trick for spotting the blind spots in any decision you're about to makeWhatever season of life you're in, this conversation will change how you see the ordinary moments that quietly decide everything else.You can find Shane at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sitting down with Angela Duckworth to talk about why the advice to just make the best of your situation might be exactly backwards, and how the people and things within arm's reach are quietly shaping who you become before you ever get a say. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 3 weeks ago58 min
Why Avoiding a Fight is Killing Your Relationship (and How to Fight Well) | Priya Parker
Priya Parker comes back to argue that the fights you're avoiding aren't threatening your closest relationships; they're the only thing that can save them.Priya Parker is a facilitator and strategic advisor who has spent two decades helping churches, companies, and families fight better, not less. She's the acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering and her new book, The Art of Fighting, and she's spent her career inside the rooms where groups either fall apart or find their way back to each other.What you'll explore:Why "conflict is not sin," and how a moral hangover from that idea keeps good relationships stuck in surface-level peaceThe concept of "relational longing," the pulse underneath a fight that tells you whether it's worth havingPriya's three-phase framework for a healthy fight, and the one question that unlocks the middle phaseThe "we're not a" clause: a phrase to listen for that reveals what a group is actually trying to becomeWhy giant sequoias can't reproduce without fire, and what that means for families, teams, and marriages that go decades without a real disagreementIf you've been mistaking distance for peace, this conversation is an invitation to find out what's actually still alive underneath.You can find Priya at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sitting down with Shane Parrish to talk about why the way most of us make big decisions is quietly working against us, and the small, repeatable shifts that can change that. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 3 weeks ago44 min
The Menopause Timeline Most Women Never Learn Until Midlife | Dr. Jessica Shepherd
Most women don't hear about perimenopause until they're already deep into it, sometimes a decade in. This week, guest host Karen Walrond talks with OB/GYN and Generation M author Dr. Jessica Shepherd about the actual, gradual shape of that transition, the real math behind hormone therapy decisions, and why nearly 40% of a woman's life happens after menopause even begins. It's less a symptom checklist than a new starting point for the next several decades.What you'll explore:The gas-tank way to picture where you actually are between reproductive years and menopauseWhy symptom severity has almost nothing to do with how "together" you otherwise areThe difference between the "symptom bucket" and the "longevity bucket" in deciding on hormone therapyWhy perimenopause itself splits into an early, mid, and late phase, and why the late phase is the window with the most protective upside for starting hormonesWhat the SWAN study found about how menopause symptoms differ by race, and why that matters long-termIf you've been treating menopause as a phase to survive rather than a stage to prepare for, this resets the starting point.You can find Jessica at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sitting down with Priya Parker to talk about why conflict, handled well, might be one of the things that makes your closest relationships stronger instead of weaker, and what most of us get backwards about the moment right before it happens. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get Good Life Project summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Explores purpose, resilience, and connection through science-backed conversations with experts in psychology, neuroscience, and performance.
Working Hard with Grace Beverley
Conversations with diverse achievers reveal raw insights on redefining success, balancing ambition, and learning from failure.
The Dan Buettner Podcast
Shares practical habits and insights from the world’s longest-lived populations to improve longevity and well-being.
Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+
A nurse practitioner shares science-based strategies for managing midlife hormones, menopause, and women's health.
The Balanced, Beautiful and Abundant Show - Rebecca Whitman
A coach helps high-achieving women overcome burnout using a framework centered on spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial well-being.
The Genius Life
A science-based wellness podcast exploring nutrition, longevity, and health with a focus on practical, evidence-driven insights.
Fuller Expectations
Explores living with purpose, reinvention, and personal growth in midlife and beyond.
Everything Happens with Kate Bowler
A professor explores life, suffering, and resilience through conversations with thoughtful and humorous guests.
SuperLife with Darin Olien
Conversations on nutrition, mental health, and sustainable living that explore everyday habits harming people and the planet.
Live Like a Girl with Dr. Mindy Pelz
Dr. Mindy Pelz explores women's health through hormone science and wellness conversations to help women live in rhythm with their bodies.
Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
A doctor-hosted podcast offering practical health advice on eating, sleeping, moving, and relaxing from medical experts and real-life stories.
Forever35
Two friends explore self-care, wellness, and growing older with humor and guest insights.
About Good Life Project
What does it mean to live a good life? Is it about happiness, health, friendship, love, or meaning? What about work, wealth, purpose, service, or something else? Can you live a good life even when things are hard? These are the questions and topics we explore every week in conversation with leading voices from health, science, art, industry, mindset, and culture, like Brené Brown, Matthew McConaughey, Mel Robbins, Alex, Elle, Adam Grant, Elizabeth Gilbert, Yung Pueblo, Maya Shankar, Mitch Albom, Glennon Doyle & hundreds more. The New York Times says, "the show’s holistic approach to fulfillment is bound to resonate."
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Good Life Project in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Good Life Project daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Good Life Project as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Good Life Project podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Good Life Project product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Jonathan Fields / Acast.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Good Life Project release new episodes?
Good Life Project publishes every few days. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Good Life Project cover?
Good Life Project covers topics including Education, How To, Fitness, Health & Fitness, Self-Improvement. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Good Life Project summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.