We're All in This Together
362 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 66 ratingsOn We're All In This Together, leadership, teamwork, and company culture expert Mike Robbins shares his wisdom and insight, and also interviews interesting and influential business leaders, thought leaders, and change makers. Over the past 20 years, Mike has partnered with people, leaders, and teams within top organizations like Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Schwab, the NBA, Genentech, eBay, the Oakland A's, and many others. He gets real about his own experience and with his guests, so that you can learn the truth behind his and their stories, how they've overcome challenges, and specifics tips about leadership, teamwork, culture, and life. These conversations are designed to give you practical ideas, insights, and techniques to enhance your success, impact, and the performance of your team. For more information on Mike Robbins and his work, visit www.Mike-Robbins.com
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Episodes
Making Peace with Yourself and Your Age
February 07, 2023 08:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBAs I turn 49 years old this week, I’m thinking a lot about my age and age in general. While age is just a number, it is a pretty significant one for most of us. On this episode, I talk about some of the things that can make our relationship to our age complicated and challenging, especially in our society. I also share some things we can do to make peace with ourselves and our age wherever we are in our journey of life. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins M...
Navigating Uncertainty
January 31, 2023 08:00 - 30 minutes - 29 MBThere seems to be quite a bit of uncertainty and fear in the air these days, economically and otherwise. Even though we’ve been through so much uncertainty over the past few years (and throughout our lives), whenever it gets significant, it can cause quite a bit of stress and challenge. On this episode, I talk about some of the things that make uncertainty difficult and scary. I also share some specific things we can do to more effectively navigate it ourselves and support those around us. ...
We Belong to Each Other
January 24, 2023 08:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBFor many reasons, both practical and emotional, it has been more challenging for us to connect with one another over the past few years. And while things have improved on this front in recent months, it still seems more difficult for us to engage with one another these days both professionally and personally. On this episode, I talk about some of these challenges, as well as how important it is for us to connect with each other and specific ways we can do that more effectively right now. ...
The Importance of Trust, Patience, and Letting Go of Control
January 18, 2023 15:39 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBTrust, patience, and letting go of control are all things that are important to our success and wellbeing, and that of our relationships, families, and teams. However, these things can be challenging. On this episode, I talk about some of what makes them hard and I share specific ways for us to be more trusting and patient, and less controlling - both at work and at home. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Blog Mike Ro...
The Power of Silence
January 11, 2023 08:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBI spent this past weekend at a wonderful meditation retreat. Although I have had my own meditation practice for almost three decades and have been attending workshops of all kinds for years, this was the first time I’d been at a multi-day event like this. I found being in silence as much as we were to be both challenging and enlightening. There is so much power in silence, if we’re able to slow down and embrace it. On this episode I talk about the importance of going within and how we ca...
Let’s Be Kind to Ourselves
January 05, 2023 00:16 - 29 minutes - 41.2 MBAs the New Year gets underway there is a lot of focus on resolutions, goals, and intentions, which makes sense and can be both important and impactful. However, what we’re usually wanting to experience with whatever healthy practices or desired achievements we focus on is feeling good about ourselves. And what can often get in the way of our success and fulfillment is being harsh and critical of ourselves. What if we started with self-kindness and made a commitment to be kind to ourselves...
Embracing Joy
December 13, 2022 12:16 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBJoy is something most of us want to experience in life, yet it can often be elusive. For a number of reasons, especially these days, it is challenging to be joyful. On this episode I talk about some of the specific things that make joy difficult. I also share some ways we can more authentically and effectively experience joyfulness in our lives. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Blog Mike Robbins Podcast Mike Robbin...
The Importance of Showing Up
December 07, 2022 00:17 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MBOur ability to support and empower others, as well as create success and fulfillment in our lives has to do with if and how we show up. For a number of reasons, especially these days, this isn’t always easy. On this episode I share about some recent struggles and a tragic loss and what they have taught me about the importance of showing up. I also talk about how we can show up for ourselves and others, even and especially when things are hard. Resources: We’re All in This Together (bo...
Choosing Gratitude
November 22, 2022 18:39 - 31 minutes - 43.2 MBBeing grateful doesn’t mean everything is great, it means we’re willing to look for, find, and acknowledge the gifts, lessons, and blessings in our life. Doing this in an authentic and effective way can be challenging for a number of reasons, especially these days. In the spirit of our Thanksgiving holiday this week here in the US, I talk about the importance of gratitude in this episode, and share some specific techniques for tapping into the power of it, regardless of the circumstances w...
Don’t Waste a Good Crisis
November 15, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 31.6 MBMany years ago, I heard Dr. Michael Beckwith say, “Don’t waste a good crisis.” At first, I thought this was a bit strange and even harsh, but the more I thought about it and experienced it, the more I understood the importance of this paradoxical wisdom. On this episode, I talk about how we can authentically reframe difficulty and I share some specific things we can do to navigate crises as effectively as possible. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins Mike Ro...
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Ray Arata
October 25, 2022 08:00 - 52 minutes - 72.1 MBDiversity, equity, and inclusion are essential in business and life. They can be challenging to understand, discuss, and implement for many reasons. My friend and colleague, Ray Arata, is an expert in inclusionary leadership and the founder of the Better Man Conference. He joins me again on the show today to talk about these important topics and about his upcoming event. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Blog Mike Ro...
If You’re Feeling Weird Right Now, You’re Not Alone
October 18, 2022 14:31 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MBEven though things are much “better” these days in terms of our ability to gather with others, travel, go into the office, and more…it still feels weird in so many ways, doesn’t it? As I speak to people, leaders, and teams throughout the country and world, I’m hearing a lot about exhaustion, awkwardness, and difficulty, given all that we’ve been through the past few years. On this episode, I talk about some of the messy and confusing aspects of life and work right now…and some specific thi...
The Power of Perspective with Sarah McDonald
October 11, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 86.2 MBAt 44, Sarah McDonald was newly married, newly promoted, and planning pregnancy. It felt like a time of new beginnings in her life when suddenly she was diagnosed with a rare, incurable cancer. Two months later she was diagnosed with another, unrelated cancer. Ten years later, Sarah is healthy, the mother of a beautiful daughter, and the author of a brand-new memoir called The Cancer Channel: One Year, Two Cancers, Three Miracles. In our conversation, Sarah and I talk about her remarkable ...
The Importance of Marking Occasions and Celebration
October 04, 2022 08:00 - 32 minutes - 45.3 MBThis is the 300th episode of this podcast. As a way of acknowledging this milestone, I reflect back on some of the journey over the past six years - both with the show and my work, and with all that has happened in the world. I also discuss the importance of marking occasions in our lives and our work, and the impact celebration has on us personally and collectively. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Blog Mike Robbin...
Why Bringing Our Whole Selves to Work is So Important, Yet Complicated
September 27, 2022 08:00 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBI was quoted in a recent New York Times op-ed entitled, “Do Not Bring Your ‘Whole Self’ to Work.” While I appreciated being mentioned in this piece, as you can imagine, I disagree with it on many levels. On this episode, I talk about some of the misconceptions and challenges of bringing our whole selves to work. I also discuss some of the specific reasons why it's important to do so these days. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins Mike Robbins Website Mike...
The Power of Proximity with Tyler Merritt
September 20, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 103 MBMy guest on this episode, Tyler Merritt, believes that proximity breeds empathy…and that with empathy, humanity has a fighting chance. I agree and am so inspired by him, his work, and his books. Tyler is an actor, activist, founder of the Tyler Merritt Project, and the author of the remarkable memoir, I Take My Coffee Black, as well as the brand new children’s book, A Door Made for Me. In our wide-ranging conversation, Tyler and I discuss race, religion, inclusion, authenticity, and the im...
Embracing Change with Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
September 13, 2022 08:00 - 49 minutes - 68.3 MBChange may be inevitable, but it definitely can be tricky, especially these days. Most of us seek and fear change at the same time, which is part of what makes it so complicated to navigate. On this episode, I talk to my friend and colleague, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, about her new book, The Change Guidebook. Elizabeth shares some specific things we can do to more effectively embrace change and create what we truly want in our work and our life. Resources: We’re All in This Together...
Self-Reflection vs. Self-Criticism
September 07, 2022 08:00 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MBSelf-reflection is an important and necessary part of growth. Self-criticism, while common and understandable, is almost always detrimental to us and those around us. On this episode, I talk about the important difference between self-reflection and self-criticism, why we can sometimes collapse them together, and ways we can truly create positive change. Resources: We’re All in This Together (new paperback edition), by Mike Robbins Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Blog Mike ...
Trust and Surrender
August 24, 2022 08:00 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MBTrust and surrender are two things that I’ve found challenging for much of my life. I’ve recently been reminded of both the difficulty and importance of both of these…and have been working on embracing them more deliberately. On this episode, I talk about why trust and surrender can be so hard, especially these days. I also discuss how essential they are for our own wellbeing, as well as the health and success of our relationships, families, and teams. Resources: We’re All in This...
The Difference Between Discipline and Vigilance
August 16, 2022 08:00 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBI’ve often thought of vigilance as just a more intense version of discipline. And while there is some truth to this in a practical sense, as I’ve been unpacking it more for myself recently, I’m now realizing that there’s a big difference between these two which is important for us to understand. On this episode, I talk about this essential distinction and how we can shift from fear-based vigilance to choice-based discipline. Resources: We’re All in This Together (new paperback edit...
We Are Not Alone
August 02, 2022 08:00 - 29 minutes - 40 MBFor a number of reasons, especially these days, it’s easy to feel like we’re alone. When things get hard, scary, and even painful, many of us, myself included, have a tendency to judge and isolate ourselves. However, one of the best things we can do when things are challenging (and even when they aren’t), is to remember that we’re not alone and to reach out to those around us. On this episode I talk about how easy it is for us to feel alone right now, even though that’s not usually the ca...
Dealing with Setbacks, Struggles, and the Messy Nature of Progress
July 26, 2022 08:00 - 21 minutes - 29.3 MBI’ve been dealing with some setbacks recently - both personally and professionally. I’m also aware of the collective struggles many people and groups are dealing with these days. The nature of progress is often messy, and it can be hard to navigate for a number of reasons. On this episode I talk about this phenomenon and why it can be so challenging. I also offer some specific things we can do to make our way through setbacks as effectively and compassionately as possible. Resource...
Coping with Anxiety
July 12, 2022 08:00 - 28 minutes - 39.7 MBThe level of collective anxiety seems pretty high these days. The accumulation of stress related to the pandemic, violence, political divisiveness, uncertainty, change, and more can take a real toll on us - individually and collectively. On this episode, I talk about some of the key reasons we may be feeling anxious these days and some specific techniques we can use to cope with it as best as possible right now - personally and professionally. Resources: We’re All in This Together ...
The Power of Choice
June 28, 2022 13:19 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBWith the United States Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe vs. Wade, I’ve been feeling angry, sad, and deeply concerned about the impact this decision will have. I’ve also been thinking about the importance and power of choice - both in terms of this specific decision and also in terms of how we react to challenging circumstances. Viktor Frankl famously said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growt...
The Keys to Creating a Championship Team
June 22, 2022 13:28 - 30 minutes - 42.5 MBAs a lifelong Golden State Warriors fan I am, of course, fired up that they recently won another NBA championship - their fourth in the past eight seasons. However, as impressed and excited as I’ve been about their sustained success, what I find most inspiring is the incredible culture they’ve built. On this episode I talk about some of the key elements of creating a championship team. And while these things have been and continue to be exemplified by the Warriors, they’re important thing...
Lean on Each Other
June 15, 2022 13:35 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBAn essential element of any strong team is their ability to lean on one another. This takes trust, willingness, and safety…it is foundational to individual and collective success. On this episode I talk about why this is so important, especially these days, and some specific things we can do to lean on those around us, make ourselves available for people to lean on us, and enhance the culture of our teams. Resources: We’re All in This Together (new paperback edition), by Mike Robbi...
Staying Out of the Blame Game
June 01, 2022 10:02 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBIn response to the devastating tragedy last week in Uvalde, TX, I’ve noticed my own tendency to want to blame certain people, groups, and policies (or lack thereof). I’ve also noticed how much finger pointing and blame seems to be flying around in conversations, on social media, and in society as a whole - related to this mass shooting and in general. On this episode I talk about why it is both so easy and dangerous to play the blame game. We also look at how this impacts us at work and a...
Just Do the Next Right Thing
May 24, 2022 08:11 - 19 minutes - 26.1 MBI’m someone who likes plans, goals, and visions. For us to be successful individually and collectively, both in business and life, effective planning can be essential. However, when things are challenging and uncertain (and even when they’re not), all we can really do is the next right thing. On this episode, I talk about this simple but powerful concept - why it can be challenging, and why it is so important, especially these days. Resources: We’re All in This Together (new paper...
You Deserve Rest and Relaxation
May 17, 2022 09:20 - 24 minutes - 33.6 MBResting and relaxing are two things I enjoy but find challenging to do. Living in a world that is obsessed with hard work, productivity, and results, it can be difficult for many of us to find the time and feel like we deserve to relax. On this episode, I talk about some of the specific reasons resting can be hard for us. I also share some tips for how we can embrace relaxation more effectively…and why it is so important to do so, especially right now. Resources: We’re All in This...
It’s Okay to Not Know
May 10, 2022 08:24 - 25 minutes - 35 MBThere are a lot of things I don’t understand or know how to do. However, I sometimes find not knowing to be quite frustrating, vulnerable, and uncomfortable. On this episode, I talk about why we have a hard time with not knowing, some specific things we can do to embrace this, and what the benefits are of doing so - for us and those around us. Resources: We’re All in This Together (new paperback edition), by Mike Robbins Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Blog Mike Robbins Pod...
How to Stay Grounded in the Midst of Uncertainty
May 03, 2022 09:26 - 26 minutes - 35.8 MBWith all of the stress and uncertainty that we’ve been through these past few years (and continue to experience today), it can be challenging to stay grounded. I’ve noticed my own difficulty to stay calm in the midst of challenges has increased recently. On this episode, I discuss five specific things we can do to stay grounded, even and especially when things are hard. Resources: We’re All in This Together (new paperback edition), by Mike Robbins Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins ...
Acceptance, Surrender, and Embracing Powerlessness
April 26, 2022 08:46 - 27 minutes - 38 MBIn a recent session with my counselor, Eleanor, the themes of acceptance, surrender, and embracing powerlessness came up once again. These things are both very important and incredibly challenging for me and so many of us. On this episode, I talk about why each of these are essential, especially right now, and also why they can be difficult for us to embody. I also share a specific technique for how we can more deeply and effectively make peace with anything and everything we’re facing t...
What I’ve Learned from Testing Positive
April 19, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 32.3 MBI tested positive for Covid this past week. Thankfully, my symptoms were pretty manageable, my family members have all tested negative, and I’m feeling better. Getting the positive test results, being sick, and isolating myself in my office has been interesting and challenging, particularly mentally and emotionally. On this episode, I share some of this experience and what I’ve been learning…and how it relates to both how we continue to navigate through this pandemic, and also how we can ...
You Don’t Always Have to Suck it Up
April 12, 2022 13:13 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBOur 13 year old daughter Rosie said to me recently, “Dad, you don’t always have to suck it up.” Her feedback stopped me in my tracks. It had me reflect on how and why I do this, and also how much we’re encouraged in our culture to “suck it up” at work and in life. On this episode, I talk about the paradox of sucking it up and how it can be both necessary and detrimental to our success and wellbeing. Resources: We’re All in This Together (new paperback edition), by Mike Robbins Mike ...
Trust Your Instincts
April 04, 2022 22:59 - 25 minutes - 35.2 MBTrusting our instincts is an important aspect of growth and success in life, leadership, work, and more. And, even in the best of times, it can be challenging to do this effectively. Over the past few months and years, I’ve found it more difficult than ever to trust my own instincts, given all of the stress, change, and uncertainty we’ve been facing. On this episode, we talk about both the challenge and the importance of trusting our instincts these days, and some specific things we can d...
Navigating Mixed Emotions and Strong Reactions
March 28, 2022 23:18 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MBI watched the Oscars live, like millions of people around the country and the world. I was shocked and shaken by the incident that took place between Will Smith and Chris Rock, two entertainers whom I’ve had great respect and appreciation for over the years. On this episode, I talk about what happened between them, my initial reactions, and, more broadly, how we can most effectively deal with the messy and paradoxical nature of our mixed emotions to not just this incident, but to the real ...
Create More Free Time with Jenny Blake
March 15, 2022 08:44 - 58 minutes - 79.7 MBLike most busy people, I crave more free time and find it challenging to create. However, according to my friend Jenny Blake, for us to thrive in our work and our lives, creating free time is not just a nice to have, it’s essential. On this episode, I talk to Jenny about why this can be so difficult, why it is so important, and how we can do it. Jenny’s forthcoming book, Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business, is filled with actionable ideas for how we can create more space for ...
The Power of Regret
March 08, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 34.5 MBLike most of us, I think of regret in a negative way, and that it’s something I try to avoid as much as possible. However, I recently listened to a conversation that Brene Brown had on her podcast with Daniel Pink about his new book, The Power of Regret. Listening to them underscored some things I think I’d known but didn’t specifically realize were so important about acknowledging our regrets. On this episode, I talk about the tricky but healthy balance between denial and shame where we ...
Keeping Things in Perspective
March 01, 2022 09:00 - 21 minutes - 30.7 MBGiven the level of stress, weariness, and uncertainty that many of us are experiencing these days, it can be challenging to keep things in a healthy perspective. In light of the terrifying invasion and violence happening right now in Ukraine, I’ve been thinking a lot about the millions of people impacted by this. So much of what seems hard in my own daily life pales in comparison. On this episode, I talk about the importance of perspective, how we can avoid the trap of unhealthy comparati...
The Power of Joy
February 22, 2022 13:55 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MBThere’s a powerful and important difference between joy and happiness. Happiness, like fun, is often dependent upon positive circumstances and situations. Joyfulness, on the other hand, is an intentional choice we can make at any moment. Inspired by Steph Curry’s incredible MVP performance in the NBA All-Star game and the way he plays basketball, I talk about how we all can tap into the power of joy on this week’s episode. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins ...
Healthy Discomfort
February 16, 2022 14:46 - 18 minutes - 25.2 MBBeing comfortable with being uncomfortable is an essential aspect of growth, change, and success in just about every aspect of work and life. However, there is a difference between healthy and unhealthy discomfort, although it can be challenging for many of us, myself included, to recognize this important distinction. On this episode, I delve into this dynamic and talk about some specific ways we can embrace healthy discomfort, without needlessly creating unproductive pain and struggle for...
Appreciate Yourself
February 09, 2022 14:51 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBMost of us appreciate when other people express appreciation for us. Clearly some of us are more motivated by this than others, and it can be a bit uncomfortable to receive, but it’s very rare to meet someone who feels over-appreciated or doesn’t enjoy being acknowledged at some level. However, the most important and most difficult aspect of appreciation is being able to do it for ourselves in a genuine way. On this episode, I talk about why authentic self-appreciation can be so hard, and...
The Art of Savoring
February 01, 2022 13:52 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBFor a number of understandable reasons, especially these days, it can be challenging to slow down and savor our experiences. The pace of life and work, the stressful and uncertain nature of things right now, and the tendency many of us have to plan and worry, among other things, all make savoring difficult. However, when we pause and truly take things in, it brings us into the present moment and allows us to more fully appreciate our experience of being alive. I talk about this important ...
The Importance of Habits
January 25, 2022 14:05 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBMany of us, myself included, tend to focus a lot on outcomes and goals. And while this makes sense for us in many areas of life and business, what often drives our performance (or lack thereof) is our habits. On this episode, I talk about the importance of habits. I also break down some simple things we can do to adopt new habits we want, let go of ones that don’t serve us, and stay consistent with the practices that lead to our success and wellbeing. Resources: We’re All in This Toge...
Don’t Freak Out
January 19, 2022 18:19 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MBWhen things are hard, scary, uncertain, painful, changing, or frustrating, it’s easy for us to freak out. However, when we react in a knee-jerk way to stress (i.e. we freak out), it almost never serves us, others, or the situation. In many cases, we make an already challenging situation more difficult. On this episode, I talk about this phenomenon, why it is so common (especially right now), and some specific things we can do to shift from freaking out to authentically responding, which i...
Stay in the Present Moment
January 12, 2022 14:21 - 27 minutes - 37.2 MBAs we find ourselves back in the throes of a covid surge, the increased stress and uncertainty can lead us to understandable feelings of fear, sadness, anger, and more. On this episode I talk about how we can give ourselves permission to experience all of this in a healthy way, and also about the importance of staying in the present moment, even and especially with things being so challenging and up-in-the-air right now. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins Br...
Showing Up: How Men Can Become Allies in the Workplace
January 04, 2022 14:46 - 53 minutes - 73.9 MBInclusion, belonging, and allyship are essential in business and life. These things can be challenging and complex. My friend and colleague, Ray Arata, is an expert in inclusionary leadership and the founder of the Better Man Conference. He joins me on the show today to talk about these important topics and about his powerful new book, Showing Up: How Men Can Become Allies in the Workplace. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins Bring Your Whole Self to Work (...
Wrapping Up the Year and Setting Ourselves Up for Success in the New Year
December 28, 2021 13:56 - 27 minutes - 37.3 MBI love this week between Christmas and New Years…it’s usually a time to rest, reflect, and prepare. On this episode, I talk about how we can consciously complete the year that is ending. This past year has been challenging for me and so many of us. And, if we’re intentional about it, we can bring real closure to this year, which can create the freedom and space to create something new in 2022. I also talk about how we can set ourselves up for success in the new year with how we think abo...
The Power and Freedom of Being Humbled by Life
December 23, 2021 15:12 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBI threw out my back this past weekend and was in an enormous amount of pain. This experience, coupled with the news of the omicron variant spreading rapidly, had me reflect on the humbling nature of life, especially these days. Being able to embrace authentic humility is actually something that can give us a lot of freedom and power. On this episode, I talk about being humbled by life and offer some specific ideas for how we can navigate this dynamic right now. Resources: We’re All in...
Navigating the Holidays with Authenticity and Grace
December 14, 2021 14:15 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MBI have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the holidays. I enjoy some of the rituals, food, music, gifts, and celebrations, but I’m not a huge fan of the pressure, expectation, disappointment, family dynamics, and grief that often accompanies this time of year. On this episode, I talk about some of the things that can make the holidays challenging and share some specific tips for what we can do to effectively navigate this season with authenticity and grace, especially this year. Reso...