Podcast Summary: "Your New Year Resolutions Have Never Worked. There’s a Way To Fix That. Guaranteed."

Podcast: Becoming You with Suzy Welch
Host: Professor Suzy Welch (NYU Stern)
Date: January 6, 2026
Episode Theme:
Why most New Year’s resolutions fail—and the science-backed methodology to make meaningful, lasting change by aligning resolutions with one's authentic values.

1. Overview of Episode Theme

Suzy Welch opens the new year with a frank—often humorous—exploration of why our New Year's resolutions so consistently fail, even as nearly everyone participates in the tradition. Suzy uses her signature irreverence and deeply personal anecdotes to introduce the "authenticity gap," a core concept from the Becoming You methodology, and builds a case that lastingly changing your life requires resolutions rooted in your most deeply held values—not surface-level aspirations.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. The Pain and Performance of Resolutions

• Suzy shares an intimate family tradition: annual New Year’s resolutions, initiated by her late husband Jack. While Jack thrived on these, for the rest of the family—including Suzy and the kids—these rituals descended into acts of pressure-filled performance, masking true desires and pain.
• Memorable moment: Jack’s last years, when his resolution was always “Next year, I'm going to beat this thing,” referring to his terminal illness. This made the family’s ritual feel even more hollow and emotionally taxing.
• Quote [06:50]:

  "The only person who was really, really loving it was Jack." — Suzy Welch

B. The Universal “Ache”: The Authenticity Gap

• Suzy introduces the concept of the “authenticity gap”—the disconnect between the values you hold most dear and how much you’re actually living those values.

• The root of most resolutions, Suzy argues, is the longing to close this gap—the ache of knowing you’re not living your authentic “A” life.

• Quote [10:40]:

  "That ache is universal. We call it the authenticity gap at Becoming You Labs. And I feel it, and you do too." — Suzy Welch

C. The Becoming You Methodology & The Values Bridge

• Suzy describes the Values Bridge tool, used by over 115,000 people, designed to identify your top values (out of 16) and to measure the “gap” between your aspirations and current reality.
  • Example: Value “family-centrism”—if you want family to be your center but aren't living it, that gap generates pain.
  • Example: Suzy’s “work-centrism”—her 98% gap during her caregiving years.
  • Her hairdresser Paul’s “beholderism”—his urge to buy beautiful things is authentic for him, despite New Year’s vows to curb it. (Hilarious moment when he confesses he’s buying new boots the very day he resolves to stop.)
• Quote [15:25]:

  "But an authenticity gap is, in general, a terrible thing to have, and it does cause us a lot of pain because we yearn to live in alignment with our values." — Suzy Welch

D. Data Deep Dive: Where the Biggest Gaps Are

Suzy explores which values drive the largest authenticity gaps, their prevalence, and how they show up in our resolutions:

1. Radius: The Drive to Change the World

• Prevalence: Top value for 33%.
• Average Authenticity Gap: 65%—the highest.
• Suzy says this is understandable: “Who could possibly be walking around saying, yes, this value is being met?”
• She shares her daughter Eve's story—shifting from animal rights activism to pottery, before realizing her “radius” gap and combining her artistic skills with art therapy, moving back toward purpose.
• Quote [27:48]:

  "If you have a New Year's resolution, that sounds something like 'next year I'm going to go back to school so I can help people more'... this is maybe you struggling, trying, attempting to just close that gap around this value." — Suzy Welch

2. Voice: Authentic Self-Expression

• Prevalence: Top five value for 60% of people, highly present in Gen Z.
• Average Authenticity Gap: 31%
• Many, especially young women in her class, grapple with not expressing their true selves (somewith a 99% gap).
• Suzy discusses role models like Patti Smith, Cher, and Dolly Parton—women with little to no authenticity gap on voice.
• Quote [38:01]:

  "If you've got an authenticity gap around voice, you're just being human. But I bet if you do, one of your New Year's resolutions might be reflecting it." — Suzy Welch

3. Eudaimonia: Personal Flourishing & Fun

• Prevalence: Core value for 62% (and rising; Suzy notes this is new culturally, likely post-pandemic).
• Average Authenticity Gap: 36%
• Many feel deprived of self-care and joy, hence classic “self-care” resolutions.
• Story of a friend who quit her job to jet ski and fully live her eudaimonia value, despite financial trade-offs.
• Quote [44:24]:

  "A lot of people feel as if they are not fully living their value of self care or fun or pleasure." — Suzy Welch

4. Achievement: Doing Less, Not More

• Prevalence: Not a top value for most (average rank: 9-11 out of 16).
• Average Authenticity Gap: Negative! (-9%)—meaning more people want less achievement and pressure.
• Resolutions to “work less” or “care less what people think” are valid, reflecting a desire to reduce achievement pressure.
• Quote [49:12]:

  "People want less of [achievement] in their lives... Negative authenticity gap." — Suzy Welch

3. How To Actually Keep Your Resolutions (The Fix)

• The Key Insight: Surface-level resolutions fail because they're not connected to our core values.
• Suzy’s Fix: To succeed, link your resolution to an authentic value. When it gets hard, remembering the “why” provides the fuel to persist.
  • Quote [54:09]:

    "If you want to make your New Year's resolutions actually happen, you have to acknowledge it’s a values disconnect. That might give you the conviction... to keep pushing forward when it gets hard." — Suzy Welch

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Suzy’s playful confession of a “thing” for Pitbull—she admires his optimism and sincerity.
  • [01:50]:

    "I have a thing with Pitbull. And by thing, I mean my massive crush on him. Which is sad, but it has its reasons."

  • [58:12]:

    "I found [optimism and sincerity] in Pitbull and I want to make sure that they stay in me and maybe, maybe stay in you. I hope."

• Suzy’s own resolution for 2026: To reclaim her annual Halloween party (linked to her value of “Scope”—seeking stimulation).
  • [55:44]:

    "My New Year's resolution is I want to reclaim my inner scope and I want to have my Halloween party again...I think I’m going to try the Joan of Arc costume again because it was never fully revealed."

• Beastie Boys reference to living for eudaimonia:
  • [54:56]:

    "You have to fight for your right for Eudaimonia. But you have to fight for your right to live your values. You do. The world’s set up not to let you."

5. Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:01–03:00 | Suzy’s opening tone—mocking Old Lang Syne, Pitbull anecdote | | 04:00–12:30 | Family tradition of New Year’s resolutions, emotional baggage | | 14:15–16:45 | Introduction of "authenticity gap" & Becoming You methodology | | 18:11–23:30 | Values Bridge explained; examples (Paul the hairdresser) | | 28:10–37:48 | Deep dive—Radius (change the world), Eve’s story | | 37:50–43:55 | Voice (authentic self-expression), Gen Z, role models | | 44:00–48:58 | Eudaimonia (fun & self-care), cultural change, working less | | 49:01–51:33 | Achievement—desire for less, not more | | 54:00–56:00 | “The Fix”—Tie resolutions to values; Suzy’s personal example | | 56:10–58:55 | Pitbull, optimism & sincerity, fight against nihilism |

6. Tone & Style

Suzy’s style is conversational, self-deprecating, and deeply empathetic—balancing blunt honesty with encouragement. She mixes intellectual rigor with pop culture references, personal stories, and light sarcasm (“If you can’t run to Timber, something’s wrong with you…”).

TL;DR TAKEAWAY

Your New Year’s resolutions will only stick if you identify and honor the values you’re truly aching to live. Use the ache of the authenticity gap—the distance between your real and ideal self—as your compass, not your critic. No more phony resolutions. This year, resolve to close the gap, and do it for you.

For further learning:

• Take the [Values Bridge] test at Becoming You.
• Read Patti Smith’s "Bread and Angels," Cher’s memoir, or watch Dolly Parton interviews for courage in voice.
• Listen again next week for Suzy’s blend of wisdom, warmth, and world-class optimism.

Happy New Year—from Professor Suzy Welch, “Becoming You.”