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Artwork for The Difficulty: Creativity, Meaning & the Hard Work of a Life

The Difficulty: Creativity, Meaning & the Hard Work of a Life

Dr. Chad Prevost
Emotional Intelligence
Enneagram
Mental Health
Leadership
Burnout
Workplace Communication
Communication
Workplace Dynamics
Psychological Safety
Team Collaboration
Self-Awareness
Conflict Resolution
Personal Growth
Team Dynamics
Creativity
Mindfulness
Coaching
Therapy
Enneagram Type 7
Team Building

The Difficulty is a podcast about creativity, meaning, and the hard choices that shape a life. Each week, writer and publisher Chad Prevost works through the questions underneath the creative process and the examined life—how we make work that matters, sit with life's difficulties instead of rushing past them, and keep going. Expect arguments, reflections, and the occasional witness to something w... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes287Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Self-ImprovementPhilosophySociety & CultureEducation

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Artwork for The Difficulty: Creativity, Meaning & the Hard Work of a Life

Latest Episodes

Five things that actually moved in publishing this month, and what to do about each. The Authors Guild puts hard numbers on why author income keeps slipping, Audible forces a year-end decision on audiobook royalties, FSG opens a no-fee $15,000 fellow... more

How many books on your shelf were actually finished (if they were even began)? This episode is about a different kind of book: short on purpose, beautiful enough to keep, written from the far side of a hard turn for the person standing in it now. A c... more

Homer gives us a woman who weaves a shroud by day and unravels it by night, holding off a house full of suitors. We call it stalling. Homer calls it devotion. This one is for anyone whose truest work looks, from the outside, like waiting: the patient... more

I did an episode a few weeks back on Jasmine Sun’s provocations about independent writing in the AI era. One of those provocations: the value of polish is going down, and the value of personal style, charisma, and weirdness is going up. AI is very go... more

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Recent Guests

Andrew Najberg
Novelist, poet, editor at Symposium Magazine, co-owner and co-editor-in-chief of Aethon Books, college teacher
Aethon Books / Symposium Magazine / University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Episode: Andrew Najberg + The Working Publisher News Digest
Scott Bedgood
Writer, journalist, author, stand-up comedian, speaker coach, content marketer
Episode: Scott Bedgood — From Sportswriter to Stand-Up: A Writer's Through-Line
Jim Karloff
Leadership Expert and author of The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership
Episode: Building Trust and Integrity: A Leadership Journey with Jim Carlough
David Spinks
Community builder, coach, and storyteller
Episode: Finding Enoughness with David Spinks
Vanessa Druskat
Author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team and a leading researcher in team performance
Author and Researcher
Episode: The Art and Science of Emotionally Intelligent Team Building with Vanessa Druskat
Pankaj Singh
Leadership strategist and founder of Singh Leadership
Singh Leadership
Episode: Transforming Stress Into Strategic Clarity with Pankaj Singh
Jen Mueller
Longtime sports broadcaster and leadership coach, host of Talk Sporty to Me
Talk Sporty to Me
Episode: After the L: Communication Moves That Build Trust with Jen Mueller
Scott Allender
An award-winning leadership development strategist and certified emotional intelligence coach
Warner Music Group
Episode: EQ Mastery: Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit with Scott Allender
Joshua Freedman
Co-founder and CEO of Six Seconds, the world's largest emotional intelligence organization.
Six Seconds
Episode: Emotions as Data: Joshua Freedman's EQ Wisdom for the Modern Leader

Hosts

Chad Prevost
Co-founder of Big Self School and host of the show; focuses on leadership, personal development, and practical psychology.
Shelley Prevost
Co-founder of Big Self School and co-host; focuses on relationships, emotional intelligence, and personal growth.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 50 ratings
  • Great topics!

    Shelley and Chad offer great insights through approachable conversations with a wide variety of people. Great content.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HDCFO
    United Statesa year ago
  • Kindred Spirits

    I’ve always been so grateful when I’ve come across a person such as Chad, who thinks deeply, grapples with things that matter the most, and has such a gentle and curious manner. Being interviewed by him felt like sharing a cup of coffee with a close friend whom I’ve known for a long, long time.

    It’s a real honor to be invited as a guest on a podcast, with the opportunity to articulate some of your deepest observations and hopes and action steps. When the host is someone like Chad, it’s not just... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    John M. DeMarco, PCC
    United States2 years ago
  • Driving passion through dialogue

    Dialogue with Chad made it easy for me to share my story that drives my passion for relationships with purpose. This conversation made me ponder my definition of the Big Self. The journey requires increased awareness of how our relationships are mirrors to our souls. Overall, it was a timely episode today because both Chad and Dr. Shelley Prevost contributed a chapter to my new book from my interview with them on my podcast, Better Relationships, Better Life. "Relationships with Purpose" which w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    judycounselor
    United States3 years ago
  • Very insightful

    I admire your ability to create such a very insightful platform. You’re creating awareness with solutions. Thank you so much!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zia N.
    Philippines4 years ago
  • Great show! Great hosts!

    Shelley and Chad will teach you how to be the best version of yourself. A fantastic podcast with some really wonderful guests

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emma | Podcast Connection
    South Africa4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are credible and the conversations feel authentic.
Great depth on leadership and emotional intelligence.
The format balances theory with real-world application.
Insightful and practical—hosts ask thoughtful questions.
Positive, encouraging, and uplifting listener experience.

Top Self-Improvement Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Andrew Najberg + The Working Publisher News Digest
Q: What's a piece of rapid-fire advice for writers trying to navigate today's publishing landscape?
Balance prolific output with sustainable routines, maintain a disciplined schedule (writing, editing, teaching), and leverage opportunities like author reviews and community bookstores to build a resilient, long-term platform.
Andrew Najberg + The Working Publisher News Digest
Q: Where can people find you online or through the platform you're most active on?
Amazon is the easiest place; ranking and reviews there significantly influence visibility and long-term discovery, so focusing on Amazon reviews and placement is a key strategy.
Scott Bedgood — From Sportswriter to Stand-Up: A Writer's Through-Line
Q: What does your five-year plan look like for your Tuesday mornings and balance between work and family?
The goal is a morning free from constant screen time, to wake the kids, go on a hike with his wife, and preserve time for family while continuing to perform, aiming for a schedule where comedy work pays enough to replace other demanding commitments.
Scott Bedgood — From Sportswriter to Stand-Up: A Writer's Through-Line
Q: What have you learned from bombing on stage and how do you recover?
Bombing teaches you to read the room, acknowledge the situation, and adjust on the fly; even in tough rooms, acknowledging the audience can help salvage a set, and exposure to varied rooms sharpens material for better future performances.
Scott Bedgood — From Sportswriter to Stand-Up: A Writer's Through-Line
Q: How did your foray into stand-up begin and evolve into a core identity?
Stand-up started as a side venture tied to writing a newsletter; it grew from open mics to shows and building a touring schedule, eventually becoming a main focus despite it not being planned initially, driven by the immediate feedback and joy of performing live.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the intricacies of leadership and personal growth, this podcast offers a unique perspective for high-achieving leaders, founders, and mission-driven professionals. By focusing on reclaiming the authentic self, it dives into the deeper issues of burnout, ego, and personal identity, emphasizing that these challenges serve as catalysts for meaningful change. The episodes often integrate the Enneagram and depth psychology, offering insights into personal and organizational dynamics rather than defaulting to surface-level self-care tactics. Coupled with discussions around the emerging influence of AI in enhancing emotional intelligence, the content resonates with those seeking a transformational approach to leadership and self-awarenes... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Conversations For The End
2. The Courageous Life
3. Chasing Consciousness
4. Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
5. Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio

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this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 287 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Andrew Najberg
2. Scott Bedgood
3. Jim Karloff
4. David Spinks
5. Vanessa Druskat
6. Pankaj Singh
7. Jen Mueller
8. Scott Allender

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