Perfectionism can help us succeed, but it can also be a detriment to our mental health and our lives. Understanding it is the first step to better management. In this episode, psychologist Thomas Greenspon shares research about perfectionism, where it comes from, how it can impact us - and how we can try to cope with it to move forward.
Today
How to Build a Culture Where It's Safe to Not Be Okay: Jed Foundation CEO John MacPhee
Do you want to become the kind of leader people genuinely trust? Could kindness be one of the most overlooked leadership skills today? In this episode, I sit down with John MacPhee, CEO of the Jed Foundation, to talk about how compassionate leadership creates stronger teams, heal ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 21
"On The Internet, Everyone Looks Rich" with Jenny Blake
What happens when the strategies that always worked for you suddenly stop working? How do you keep believing in yourself when success no longer feels certain? In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and author Jenny Blake to talk about financial uncertainty, career setbacks ... Show More
1 h
Dec 2024
Why do we push ourselves to be perfect? With Thomas Curran, PhD
In job interviews and in life, perfectionism is often seen as a selling point – an asset disguised as a flaw. But as psychologists have found rising rates of perfectionism in the United States and around the world in recent decades, they’ve begun to recognize the toll that the dr ... Show More
34m 37s
Sep 2023
Ep.54 Perfectionism Is Holding You Back: How To Achieve AND Be Highly Productive [SOLO EP]
“You have this false perception that perfectionism is good for your work, but realistically it’s actually harming your work in the long term” 💅🏼
In this week's solo ep, we're talking all about perfectionism - in work, relationships and life in general, with the aim to reframe o ... Show More
22m 8s
May 2023
86. Perfectionism and academic anxiety
Perfectionism is on the rise amongst young people, and in this episode we break down exactly what it means to have perfectionist tendencies. We examine the theories of personality, our upbringing, links to OCD and ADHD and what it means for academic performance and anxiety. We al ... Show More
42m 20s
Jul 2022
Perfectionism: When good is never good enough, with Gordon Flett, PhD, and Bonnie Zucker, PsyD
Perfectionism might seem like a minor hurdle to overcome – or even a welcome personality trait. But perfectionism is different from simply striving for excellence and perfectionistic people are at higher risk for anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders. Perfectionis ... Show More
33m 30s
Oct 2025
Episode 42 Learning to Manage Perfectionism
<p>Today, we are confronting a trait often disguised as a virtue, a relentless driver that can fuel both great success and profound suffering: perfectionism.</p><p>In a culture that celebrates flawlessness and high achievement, perfectionism is often worn as a badge of honor. "I' ... Show More
13m 18s
Nov 2025
353. The psychology of perfectionism
We’ve all heard someone say, “I’m such a perfectionist”, like it’s a badge of honour. But what does perfectionism really mean - and what’s hiding beneath it? In today’s bonus episode, we unpack the psychology of perfectionism: the fear, the origins, and how to finally let go of “ ... Show More
27m 19s