Podcast
Lessons from a Quitter
Hosted by Goli Kalkhoran · EN
It is never too late to start over. No matter how much time or money you've spent chasing degrees and jobs to get to your current position, if ultimately you're unhappy, then it is time to quit. Each week, Goli Kalkhoran, a fellow quitter, will interview inspiring guests who have quit lucrative careers to forge their own path and create a life they love. Get insight, inspiration, tools, and resources to help you quit what you hate and figure out what it is that you love.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Produtivity Addiction
1w ago00:30:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Lessons from a Quitter, we explore our cultural obsession with productivity and why so many of us struggle to truly rest. I share personal reflections from a recent trip abroad that challenged my deeply ingrained beliefs about busyness, urgency, and worth. We dive into how capitalism and hustle culture have programmed us to equate rest with laziness—and how to begin unlearning that. If you're feeling burnt out, this episode will help you reframe rest not as something to earn, but as something essential. Plus, I share practical steps to help you reclaim rest without guilt.
Transcribe →Why High Achievers Keep Burning Out
2w ago00:30:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Lessons from a Quitter, we dive into the root causes of burnout and why so many of us struggle to rest. Drawing from years of coaching, I break down how capitalism, schooling, religion, and cultural expectations tie our self-worth to constant productivity. We explore why slowing down feels uncomfortable, why rest is often judged as laziness, and how these beliefs keep us stuck in cycles of exhaustion. This episode challenges you to rethink worthiness, confront the discomfort of rest, and begin building a life defined by joy and ease—not endless busyness.
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The Myth of Work/Life Balance
3w ago00:38:47Tap to summarizeHere's what everyone gets wrong about work/life balance. You run around trying to change everything outside of you in order to try to gain a little "balance". If I worked less hours… If I had more time at home with my kids…. If I could spend some time resting...then I'd feel balanced. But what happens as soon as you try to do those things? Your brain ruins it. You're at home with the kids and you're constantly anxious about how much work you still have to finish. You're laying down to rest and you're berating yourself for not getting up to run all of your errands. You're trying to focus on your work deadline and you're feeling guilty about missing your son's soccer practice. It's no wonder you're exhausted all of the time. You cannot have balance until you learn that your worth is not attached to your productivity. You cannot have balance until you learn that you deserve rest even when you have a full to-do list. You cannot have balance until you learn that you'll never be perfect and it's ok to stop trying. Until you can manage your brain to drop all the guilt and shame, there is no magic formula that will create balance for you because you'll constantly be telling yourself you're doing it wrong. This week on the podcast, I dive into how you can finally start working towards having some real balance in your life.
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Building Confidence Through Self-Validation Cycles
May 2600:31:14Tap to summarizeThe root cause of all of your problems is a lack of self-validation. Let me explain… This isn't some self-love, woo-woo kind of thing. I want you to think about every one of your maladaptive behaviors: People-pleasing - needing other people to be happy with you so that you can feel good about yourself Perfectionism- needing everything to be perfect so that you can believe you're good enough High-achiever- needing to keep achieving milestones to feel like you're worthy Obsessing over what other people think of you - needing other people's approval so you can believe you're good. Imposter syndrome- insisting on believing you're not good enough when all of your achievements prove otherwise And on and on. Every. Single. One comes from your inability to validate yourself.
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Leaning Into Uncertainty And Doubt
May 1900:33:22Tap to summarizeOn this week's podcast, I'm taking you behind the scenes of all of my UNCERTAINTY and DOUBT around my new membership launch. You might be wondering: "Why are you doing this, Goli?" Because I want you to stop thinking that other people have it figured out.Because I want you to see that the entire process is filled with fear and doubt. Because I don't want to just show you results; I want to show you the messy middle.
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The Fear of Failure
May 1200:24:33Tap to summarizeNo description available
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Getting Good At Feeling Discomfort
May 500:25:54Tap to summarizeThis week we talk all about discomfort. And I don't mean the dictionary definition of discomfort. I mean the feeling that you have when you are pushing towards your goals and you feel like you might throw up...or die. Yeah, that's discomfort. And if you're going to live the biggest life possible, you have to learn to get better at feeling it and not making it mean anything about you. In this episode, I dive into how you can get better at dealing with the inevitable discomfort and keep going!
Transcribe →Your quit plan
Apr 2800:29:48Tap to summarizeIn the latest episode of "Lessons from a Quitter," we dive deep into crafting a well-rounded Quit Plan. It all starts with an honest self-assessment—unearthing why you're itching to leave that job of yours. You know, those reasons you might not even want to admit to yourself. We begin by understanding the underlying motives for leaving our current situation. Next, I guide you to explore your dreams and paint a picture of the life you desire. This way, you can dissect your strengths and skills and start to explore various career options that align best with your true desires. I also help you break down your finances so you can calculate your financial runway once you do quit. Once we crunch the numbers, you can explore whether it's truly the cash or your thoughts about it that are keeping you stuck at your job. And all those doubts you've been harboring about quitting? I have you list your worries, confront them, and come up with a game plan for every single one. Trust me, it's empowering. Listen and work through the six steps for your personalized quit plan, one that's going to guide you to the life you've been craving.
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Handling Difficult Conversations Around Quitting
Apr 2100:27:44Tap to summarizeThis week we're diving deep into having difficult conversations around quitting. We're going to look at the people in your life—the ones who have lots of opinions on what you should or shouldn't be doing. You know the type: spouses, friends, family, and even coworkers who always seem to have something to say. The first and most crucial step is understanding whether these people should even have a say in your decisions. Now, here's the thing. Different people play different roles in your life. If it's your spouse, for example, their opinion matters because it directly affects both of you. But for others, like your parents or that super opinionated friend, it's important to figure out if they're just giving their two cents or if you genuinely need their support or permission. In this episode, we'll also dive into how to clearly communicate what you need from these conversations.
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Handling Guilt Around Quitting
Apr 1400:28:06Tap to summarizeOn today's episode of Lessons from a Quitter, we're diving deep into handling the guilt around quitting. It's a topic that resonates with so many of us, especially those of us who have been raised to prioritize making others happy. We often find ourselves ready to move on, with a clear vision of what we want to do, yet held back by the overwhelming guilt of leaving behind our bosses, coworkers, or even clients we've developed deep connections with. In this episode I want offer you a new perspective, recognizing your own needs and priorities while acknowledging the reciprocal nature of relationships. By learning to sit with discomfort and overcoming the fear of others' negative emotions, we can make choices that align with our true desires.
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