The Rich Roll Podcast
Episode: Best of 2025 (Part Two): The Year’s Most Enduring Insights
Host: Rich Roll
Release Date: December 29, 2025
Episode Overview
This special "Best Of" compilation revisits Rich Roll’s most insightful interviews of 2025, delivering a nuanced master-class in personal and professional growth. With appearances from world-renowned authors, psychologists, athletes, public health experts, and creators, the episode distills a year’s worth of wisdom into transformative lessons on wellbeing, creativity, relationships, self-mastery, and societal health. Rich’s tone is genuine, grateful, and contemplative, weaving together the year’s most powerful moments to leave listeners both inspired and equipped for change.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Understanding and Healing Addiction
Featuring: Elizabeth Gilbert (00:11:20)
- Sex and Love Addiction: Gilbert demystifies these addictions, noting their underrecognition due to cultural taboos. She recounts her own lifelong struggle, illustrating how seeking validation (what she dubs "LAVA": love, attention, validation, acceptance) drove manipulative behaviors.
- Quote: "I have always used people the way other people use substances. So, there are people who I have used as sedatives, and there are people who I’ve used as stimulants." (Elizabeth Gilbert, 00:14:20)
- Shame and Secret Lives: Gilbert reflects on addicts’ compartmentalized lives, quoting Marquez: "Everybody has three lives. A public life, a private life, and a secret life."
- Cost of Addiction: "There’s a ruthlessness that any addict has, which is: what I have to do to get this—I will do, no matter what it costs me or anybody else." (Elizabeth Gilbert, 00:17:25)
2. Embracing Change Through Discomfort and Uncertainty
Featuring: Jim Murphy (Inner Excellence Author & High-Performance Coach, 00:25:15)
- The Pain Lever: Major life and mindset shifts often stem from situations where "the pain of your circumstances exceeds the fear of doing something different."
- Facing Feelings: Progress depends on willingness to encounter any feeling, not just take on physical challenges.
- Quote: "If you’re willing to face any feeling, now you’ve got some control and some power." (Jim Murphy, 00:27:30)
- Growth Edge: Real growth occurs "where you come to the edge of your feelings—where you’re most uncomfortable."
3. Rethinking Hard Work and Productivity
Featuring: Oliver Burkeman (00:35:45)
- Challenging the Suffering Myth: Both host and guest challenge the ingrained belief that creative work must be grueling.
- Quote: "There is this indelible equation in my mind that my best work is inextricably tied to my capacity for suffering…What if it were easy?" (Rich Roll, 00:36:05)
- Ease in Action: Allowing for the possibility of ease does not mean challenges disappear but opens the door to more productive, fulfilling work.
4. The Malleability of Personality
Featuring: Olga Kazan (00:48:00)
- Interplay of Genes and Environment: Around half our personality is inherited, but environment and choices matter profoundly.
- Action Over Inertia: True change arises through discomfort—pushing outside your comfort zone.
- Quote: "Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life." (Olga Kazan quoting Susan David, 00:53:15)
- Authenticity: Feeling unnatural doesn’t mean something isn’t authentically you.
5. Emotional Intelligence and Regulation
Featuring: Mark Brackett (01:04:30)
- Control What You Can: We can’t control the world, only our behavior and our attitude toward it.
- Meta-Moment Tool: Pause, breathe, and ask how your best self would respond—this allows for non-reactive, thoughtful decisions.
- Quote: "No one should worry alone." (Mark Brackett, 01:08:13)
- Power of Social Support: Sharing problems with trusted allies is crucial; don’t navigate emotional storms solo.
6. The Joys and Toll of Creation
Featuring: James Frey (01:19:15)
- Creativity’s Price: Frey discusses the cost artists pay for work and the Daoist concept of "wu wei" (effortless action).
- Quote: “If you want to undertake the act of creation, there will always be a price you pay, that your soul pays, your heart pays, your consciousness pays, your bank account with the dao pays.” (James Frey, 01:21:20)
- Acceptance: Frey highlights the importance of accepting criticism and relinquishing what you can't control.
7. Finding Fulfillment and Transitioning Careers
Featuring: Joanne Molinaro (The Korean Vegan, 01:28:10)
- Cultivating Hobbies: Creative fulfillment starts by honoring curiosity and making time for hobbies, not expecting instant mastery or pressuring yourself to "chase a dream."
- Low-Stakes Exploration: Approach hobbies without the pressure of outcome—they may evolve into greater missions or life changes.
8. Relationships: Knowing When to Stay or Leave
Featuring: Jillian Teki (Relationship Expert, 01:38:12)
- Assessing Relationships: Before leaving a partnership, evaluate how well you understand and meet your partner's needs—and vice versa.
- Quote: "Unspoken expectations are premeditated resentments." (Jillian Teki, 01:40:25)
- Values Alignment: In new relationships, shared core values are crucial for long-term compatibility.
9. The Crisis in Medical Research
Featuring: Katie Couric (Broadcast Journalist, 01:50:17)
- Impact of Funding Cuts: Drastic reductions in NIH funding undermine vital research and cause brain drain.
- Quote: “To pull the rug out from under these scientists and patients…It is such a disservice to our country.” (Katie Couric, 01:51:10)
- The Urgency for Patients: Delays in trials mean lost hope for those in immediate need.
10. Friendship, Authenticity, and Creative Legacy
Featuring: Rhett & Link (Internet Creators, 02:05:20)
- Sustaining Connection: Lifelong friendship anchors their creative partnership; “the heart of it is this friendship.”
- Quote: "When we sit down behind that desk, it's two friends who have known each other for over 40 years. And it’s real.” (Rhett & Link, 02:06:10)
- Making Creativity Intimate: Staying connected to audience and collaborators is key.
11. Public Health Misdirections
Featuring: Jessica Nurek (Public Health Expert, 02:21:35)
- Wellness Narratives: Movements like "Maha" correctly diagnose societal health problems but misattribute their causes, leading to ineffective or even harmful solutions.
- Quote: "If you get the causes wrong, you’re gonna get the solutions wrong." (Jessica Nurek, 02:22:16)
- Policy Focus: Real change requires reform at the social and policy level, not just on ingredients.
12. Clean Beauty Demystified
Featuring: Gregg Renfrew (Entrepreneur, 02:31:50)
- Industry Realities: Marketing claims about “beauty secrets” are largely false; safety testing is extremely limited.
- Quote: “Wrinkles aren’t a problem. They’re just a thing that the beauty industry is telling you is a problem so they can sell you product.” (Gregg Renfrew, 02:33:30)
- Consumer Awareness: Advocates for caution and doing your own research.
13. Sustainable Performance
Featuring: Andy Galpin (Performance Scientist, 02:43:09)
- Technical Breakdown as Failure: Endurance or strength failure should be defined by loss of form, not sheer exhaustion.
- Consistency Over Intensity: Long-term progress is built on steady, quality effort rather than sporadic intensity.
- Quote: “Less is always more because you’re not just training for the day, you’re training for the week and the month…” (Andy Galpin, 02:46:10)
14. Self-Mastery and Redefining Success
Featuring: John John Florence (World Champion Surfer, 02:57:11)
- Mastery as a Lifelong Process: Mastery is found in self-mastery, not just technical skill.
- Quote: "Mastering the self is the key to mastering anything else." (John John Florence, 02:58:04)
- Beyond Trophies: The thrill of achievement fades; enduring fulfillment comes from personal discovery and growth.
15. Navigating Trauma and Letting Go
Featuring: John W. Price (Jungian Psychotherapist, 03:10:45)
- Sacred Refusal: True trauma recovery involves honoring the adaptations that once protected you, then intentionally moving beyond them.
- Quote: “Sacred refusal is an opportunity for us to ritualize that process where we can honor the adaptation…it served a great and holy purpose…but now we need to…kill it off and surrender it…” (John W. Price, 03:13:22)
- Liminality: Change requires time in a discomforting “in-between” phase, akin to a hermit crab adjusting to a new shell.
16. The Mental Health Journey
Featuring: Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Laureate, 03:23:00)
- Owning PTSD: Malala shares her struggles with trauma, panic attacks, and seeking therapy—breaking taboos for others.
- Quote: "I redefine bravery now. I think it is when you still stand up despite the anxiety, the panic attacks, the doubts, the trauma." (Malala Yousafzai, 03:27:45)
- Seeking Help: Therapy isn’t about instant fixes; it’s a journey of understanding and acceptance.
17. Liberty and Responsibility in Society
Featuring: Rutger Bregman (Historian/Author, 03:35:08)
- Competing Liberties: U.S. history is a tug-of-war between “freedom from” and “freedom to”—true liberty involves responsibility and collective action.
- Learning from History: Past periods of decadence were followed by waves of responsible reform; hope comes from renewed engagement and integrity.
- Quote: “What we now need is…people who don’t just whine and moan, but who actually practice what they preach.” (Rutger Bregman, 03:41:56)
18. Mental Health and Comedy
Featuring: Tig Notaro (Comedian, 03:49:42)
- Debunking the Tortured Artist Myth: You don’t have to be miserable to be funny; comedians just have the microphone.
- Quote: "Everybody’s got cuckoo parents or anxiety or depression. We’re the ones with the microphone." (Tig Notaro, 03:50:35)
- Creative Process: Notaro’s comedy arises from lived experience and “an extra sense,” not forced or regimented writing.
Notable Quotes and Timestamps
- Elizabeth Gilbert: "I have always used people the way other people use substances." (00:14:20)
- Jim Murphy: "If you're willing to face any feeling, now you’ve got some control and some power." (00:27:30)
- Rich Roll: "There is this indelible equation in my mind that my best work is inextricably tied to my capacity for suffering…What if it were easy?" (00:36:05)
- Mark Brackett: "No one should worry alone." (01:08:13)
- Jillian Teki: "Unspoken expectations are premeditated resentments." (01:40:25)
- Katie Couric: “To pull the rug out from under these scientists and patients…It is such a disservice to our country.” (01:51:10)
- Gregg Renfrew: “Wrinkles aren’t a problem. They’re just a thing that the beauty industry is telling you is a problem so they can sell you product.” (02:33:30)
- Andy Galpin: “Less is always more because you’re not just training for the day, you’re training for the week and the month…” (02:46:10)
- John John Florence: "Mastering the self is the key to mastering anything else." (02:58:04)
- John W. Price: “Sacred refusal is an opportunity for us to ritualize that process…” (03:13:22)
- Malala Yousafzai: "I redefine bravery now. I think it is when you still stand up despite the anxiety, the panic attacks, the doubts, the trauma." (03:27:45)
- Rutger Bregman: “What we now need is…people who don’t just whine and moan, but who actually practice what they preach.” (03:41:56)
- Tig Notaro: "Everybody’s got cuckoo parents or anxiety or depression. We’re the ones with the microphone." (03:50:35)
Segment Timestamps
- Elizabeth Gilbert: Sex/Love Addiction – 00:11:20 to 00:22:51
- Jim Murphy: Facing Fear & Growth – 00:25:15 to 00:32:43
- Oliver Burkeman: Productivity/Ease – 00:35:45 to 00:45:32
- Olga Kazan: Personality/Change – 00:48:00 to 01:01:45
- Mark Brackett: Emotional Regulation – 01:04:30 to 01:15:00
- James Frey: Creativity’s Toll – 01:19:15 to 01:27:18
- Joanne Molinaro: Creative Hobbies – 01:28:10 to 01:36:12
- Jillian Teki: Relationships – 01:38:12 to 01:48:00
- Katie Couric: Medical Funding – 01:50:17 to 02:03:57
- Rhett & Link: Friendship – 02:05:20 to 02:18:50
- Jessica Nurek: Public Health – 02:21:35 to 02:30:41
- Gregg Renfrew: Clean Beauty – 02:31:50 to 02:41:13
- Andy Galpin: Sustainable Performance – 02:43:09 to 02:55:44
- John John Florence: Mastery/Success – 02:57:11 to 03:07:24
- John W. Price: Trauma & Adaptation – 03:10:45 to 03:20:30
- Malala Yousafzai: Trauma/Therapy – 03:23:00 to 03:32:45
- Rutger Bregman: Liberty & Responsibility – 03:35:08 to 03:47:40
- Tig Notaro: Mental Health & Comedy – 03:49:42 to End
Final Notes
- The episode’s tone is thoughtful, honest, and empowering, encouraging listeners to embrace discomfort, foster self-awareness, nurture relationships, honor curiosity, and act on responsibility—both individually and collectively.
- Rich’s closing remarks express gratitude and a commitment to collective growth in 2026.
For direct links to full interviews and further resources, visit the episode page at richroll.com.