What does it actually mean to keep growing as an adult? In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Travis Macy for a conversation that is less of an interview and more of a real, honest exploration of adulthood, grief, parenting, identity, intimacy, and mattering.

Travis and I have had many podcast conversations over the years. I’ve been on his podcast, he’s been on mine, and we became good friends through this work. In a lot of ways, we’ve lived these almost parallel lives as professional athletes, parents, podcasters, keynote speakers, authors, and people trying to figure out who we are beyond performance.

In this conversation, Travis shares about his father’s eight-year journey with Alzheimer’s and his recent passing, and how that experience became a major developmental milestone in his own life. We talk about grief, appreciation, gratitude, and the strange way hard things can deepen us when we are willing to stay present with them.

We also explore adult development: how our beliefs, identities, relationships, and sense of self change over time. We talk about moving from approval-seeking to mattering, from performance-based identity to something more flexible, and from people-pleasing to more honest communication and deeper intimacy.

This episode is for anyone navigating transition, grief, parenting, identity shifts, or the question: who am I becoming now?

Top 5 Takeaways

Adult growth is not just personal development: It changes how we understand ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us.
Grief can become a developmental milestone: Travis shares how his father’s Alzheimer’s journey and passing reshaped his sense of adulthood, gratitude, and appreciation.
Identity has to become more flexible: Many of us are learning who we are beyond performance, achievement, sponsorships, or old versions of success.
Mattering is different from approval: Feeling valued and knowing we add value can move us beyond people-pleasing and the need to prove ourselves.
Relationships help us grow: Parenting, partnership, friendship, community, and emotional honesty can all become places where adult development happens.

LINKS

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The Grow the Good Podcast is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.