Worthy Podcasts #20 — The Courage Playbook We Forgot

Sometimes you stumble across a conversation that doesn’t just inform you—it recalibrates you. Brené Brown’s long-form conversation on The Diary of a CEO is one of those rare episodes: equal parts mirror and map.

First things first: you can watch the full episode here. Fair warning: it’s not comfort food—it’s courage training in public. But if you care about leading a better life (and leading better), it’s essential viewing.

Link: Brené Brown: We're In A Spiritual Crisis! The Hidden Epidemic No One Wants To Admit!

Why this episode matters

Brené Brown has spent two decades researching courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She’s not just telling stories—she’s operationalizing human behavior. In this conversation, she lays out a hard-won thesis: courage is a set of teachable skills, trust is built in tiny moments, and belonging beats “fitting in” every day of the week.

The uncomfortable truth

Most of us are armored up—perfectionism, people-pleasing, cynicism, the need to be right. That armor looks like strength but quietly suffocates creativity, intimacy, and leadership. In fear-driven systems, people stop asking questions, stop telling the truth, and start playing small.

A few ideas that hit like a brick (in the best way):

- Vulnerability isn’t oversharing—it’s uncertainty, emotional exposure, and risk in service of what matters.

- Perfectionism is a shield for shame, not a path to excellence.

- “Power over” cultures breed silence; “power with” cultures breed ownership and learning.

- Belonging requires boundaries; fitting in requires self-abandonment.

The actionable playbook (try these this week)

1) Courage reps (2 minutes/day)

- Say: “My goal is to understand, not to win,” before a tough conversation.

- Make a specific ask you’ve been avoiding. Then debrief: What did I fear? What actually happened?

2) Trust, marble by marble

- Reliability: do what you said; if you can’t, renegotiate early.

- Accountability: “I missed this. Here’s my fix.”

- The Vault: no gossip, even the flattering kind.

- Generous assumptions: before judging, ask, “What did you intend here?”

3) Anti‑perfection protocol

- Define “good enough” criteria before you start.

- Timebox a v1: “90 minutes, ship.”

- Post-mortem the work, not your worth.

4) Belonging beats fitting in

- Write your five non‑negotiable values and one boundary for each.

- Quick scan after meetings: did I feel more or less like myself?

5) Curiosity with responsibility

- Source check: What’s the evidence? What would disconfirm it? What are the stakes if I’m wrong?

6) Catastrophe interrupt (when spiraling)

- List three specific, sensory gratitudes from today. It doesn’t erase pain—it anchors reality.

The silver lining

This isn’t a “be tougher” talk. It’s an invitation to be braver and kinder—at the same time. When we practice small acts of courage and trust consistently, teams get safer, relationships get deeper, and life gets roomier. The irony: dropping the armor is how we finally feel stronger.

Final thoughts

If your days feel like performance and your nights feel like second‑guessing, this episode is a reset button. Start small. Keep score in marbles, not milestones. The compounding effect of tiny, honest acts is the most underrated force in leadership and love.

What do you think—where does armor show up most for you right now, and what’s one “marble” you can add today? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

P.S. If this resonated, you might also enjoy our recent Luminary Lounge conversations on courage, meaning, and living well.