Good Life Project
Jonathan Fields / Acast
Good Life Project is a podcast and video series for people navigating midlife with intention. Hosted by Jonathan Fields, each episode is a deep, honest conversation about what it actually takes to build a life that feels like yours, through the reinventions, reckonings, and reclamations that define your 40s, 50s, and beyond. Grounded in science, fueled by genuine curiosity, and always in service of the real work of living well. Often top-ranked, it’s been listened to and viewed more than 100 million times. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 19, 2026 • 57min
Menopause Mythbusting | Why Midlife Changes Your Brain and What Helps | Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Lisa Mosconi, neuroscientist and author focused on women’s brain health, explains why midlife is a neurological transition. She talks about how estrogen shapes brain function, why Alzheimer’s risk begins in midlife, and how the brain rewires during menopause. Short, clear science on hormone therapy, metabolic shifts, and normalizing this life change.
Feb 16, 2026 • 54min
Why Love Gets Uncomfortable & How That’s Not a Failure | Susan Piver [Best Of]
Susan Piver, writer and meditation teacher who applies Buddhist wisdom to relationships, shares why deep love often becomes uncomfortable. She reframes discomfort as a natural truth, explains how self-unkindness shows up in closeness, and offers a path of meeting difficulty together. Practical mindfulness qualities—precision, openness, letting go—are mapped onto real relationship practices.
15 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 50min
A Different Take on Excellent That Changes Everything | Brad Stulberg
Brad Stulberg, bestselling author and researcher on performance and wellbeing, offers a humane reframe of excellence as becoming, not perfection. He discusses reclaiming focus amid distraction. He highlights mastery and mattering, the role of joy and rest in growth, and practical trade-offs and routines to sustain meaningful effort.
11 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 51min
When Life Meets Reality | Finding Grace When the Future Falls Apart | Lucy Kalanithi
Lucy Kalanithi, physician, storyteller, and Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford, speaks about grief, medicine, and meaning. She recounts writing Paul Kalanithi’s epilogue, how loss reshaped values, and decisions about parenting and career after tragedy. Conversations cover how time and hope change under illness, humane medical care, and living intentionally when the future is uncertain.
Feb 5, 2026 • 56min
Why You Feel Unloved | 5 Research-backed Shifts That Change How Love Feels | Harry Reis
Harry Reis, psychologist and longtime researcher of close relationships, explains why love can be present yet not felt. He explores the seesaw of reciprocity, how early experiences shape connection strategies, the power of curious listening, and why being fully known matters more than being widely liked. Practical mindsets for making love feel genuine are highlighted.
Feb 2, 2026 • 54min
How to Unlearn Pain: Groundbreaking Research Offers Hope | Yoni K. Ashar
Yoni K. Ashar, a neuroscientist and clinical psychologist who studies brain mechanisms of chronic pain, explains why pain can persist after injury. He discusses how pain can be brain-driven, signs of neuroplastic pain, Pain Reprocessing Therapy basics, graded exposure to retrain safety, and how meaning and purpose influence recovery.
25 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 1h 13min
Better Sex at Any Age? The Science of Pleasure & What Really Matters | Dr. Nicole McNichols
Dr. Nicole McNichols, a human sexuality professor and author, offers research-backed, practical takes on desire, pleasure, and intimacy. She explains why sex is a learnable skill, why novelty beats pressure, and how communication, masturbation, toys, and easing shame can revive long-term desire. Conversations include anatomy, consent practices from queer/kink communities, and pleasure’s role in mental health.
22 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 55min
The Meaning Trap | Why fulfillment and impact fall short
Dave Evans, coauthor of Designing Your Life and Stanford Life Design Lab cofounder, is an educator and author focused on practical life design. He reframes meaning as aliveness, explains why chase for fulfillment and impact often backfires, contrasts transactional doing with present flow, and shares simple practices to notice wonder, coherence, and connection in everyday moments.
11 snips
Jan 22, 2026 • 50min
How to Lessen Suffering: A Powerful New Take
Dr. Suzan Song, a Harvard- and Stanford-trained psychiatrist, dives deep into the nature of suffering and resilience drawn from her humanitarian work. She discusses how pain is a part of life, but our narratives can amplify suffering. Embracing instability rather than chasing certainty is vital. Suzan introduces a model of healing through narratives, rituals, and purpose, explaining that genuine healing occurs in relationships. She emphasizes daily rituals and the importance of recognizing inherited scripts to rewrite personal narratives and foster resilience.
19 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 1h 3min
How to Build Habits That Stick
James Clear, a renowned author and expert in habits, shares insightful strategies for building lasting habits. He emphasizes that true transformation stems from aligning habits with our identity rather than sheer willpower. Clear illustrates how small, consistent actions shape our beliefs and identity over time. He also discusses the critical role of environment in habit formation and contrasts enduring habits with addiction. With relatable anecdotes and practical advice, he teaches listeners how to create sustainable change through incremental improvements.
