Too Much with Denise Love Hewett

Breaking Down the 3 Types of Burnout with Layne Baker and How to Find Your Zone of Genius

Are you burnt out but don't know why?
Licensed therapist Layne Baker reveals the 3 hidden types of burnout that people face: burnout from neglect, overburdening, and being under-challenged. Learn the difference between your "zone of excellence" (what you're good at) and your "zone of genius" (what energizes you), plus discover what "eustress" means and why it's the good kind of stress you actually want.
In this episode, Denise Love Hewett and therapist Layne Baker break down:
The 3 types of burnout most people don't recognize
Why being excellent at something can actually burn you out
How to identify if you're stuck in your zone of excellence
What eustress vs distress means for your mental health
Practical tools for managing burnout when you can't change your job
Why burnout is actually a signal for personal growth
Layne Baker is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California specializing in high-functioning anxiety and burnout recovery. With over a decade of experience, she helps ambitious high-achievers break cycles of overperformance and burnout. Her work has been featured in Women's Health, Self, Parents, BuzzFeed, Newsweek, Success, and Thrillist. Layne's approach to burnout goes beyond prevention - she views burnout as a powerful message that fundamental life changes are needed for personal evolution. Her mission is helping high achievers transition to a more centered way of living that taps into inner wisdom rather than external validation. 
You can find Layne at @laynebakertherapy and laynebaker.com
You can follow Denise and this podcast at @deniselovehewett and @toomuchwithdlh

BONUS EPISODE: The F-Word

What if your greatest failure is your greatest beginning?
In this powerful episode, Denise Love Hewett shares her raw, personal journey through business failure and heartbreak to reveal why failure might actually be love wearing a different name.
Drawing from Carol Dweck's growth mindset research and her own experience losing a company after nearly a decade, Denise explores how to navigate failure with grace, process grief without rushing to the next win, and find courage in the liminal space between who you were and who you're becoming. Perfect for entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone who's ever felt 'frozen in amber' after a major setback. Learn why the size of your failure is often proportional to the size of your dreams, and discover practical wisdom for failing better next time.

Answering Your Burning AI Questions with Dr. Nataliya Kosmyna: How ChatGPT Affects Your Brain & Critical Thinking

MIT neuroscientist Dr. Nataliya Kosmyna joins Denise Love Hewett to reveal groundbreaking research that's changing how we understand AI's impact on the human brain. Her viral study on "cognitive debt" shows exactly when AI helps expand neural capacity and when it diminishes our critical thinking abilities. What you'll discover:
The shocking truth about how ChatGPT affects memory retention 
Why timing matters: When AI enhances brain function vs. when it creates dependency
How it can homogenize thoughts and language
How to use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement
Dr. Kosmyna is a Research Scientist at MIT Media Lab's Fluid Interfaces group, Visiting Faculty Researcher at Google, and serves as an international expert for UNESCO on neurotechnology ethics. With 16+ years in brain-computer interfaces and collaborations with NASA, Boston Dynamics, and Microsoft Research, she's at the forefront of human-AI integration research.
You can follow her at https://www.braini.io/ and @Nataliyakosmyna
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for advice.

Chinese Astrological Grounding and Planning with Anita Rosenberg: Fire Years, Feng Shui Tips & Wealth Activation

Discover what Chinese astrology reveals about the volatile "fire years" ahead (2025-2027) and learn practical feng shui strategies to thrive during this transformative period. In this episode, feng shui expert and Chinese astrology specialist Anita Rosenberg breaks down:
2025 Wood Snake Year Predictions: Why this fire period brings explosive creativity, hidden revelations, and global upheaval
Wealth Activation Tips: How to use feng shui flying stars and water vase activations to trigger prosperity in your home
Period 9 Energy Shift: The 20-year cycle that started in 2024 and what it means for middle-aged women, AI industries, and spiritual growth
Success Day Planning: How to use Chinese metaphysics to time important decisions and business launches
Practical Feng Shui: Activation techniques anyone can implement
Anita explains why the next three years (2025-2027) mirror historical periods like 1906-1907 and 1966-1967, what to expect from the "Crimson Horse" and "Red Goat" years, and how to navigate uncertainty with ancient wisdom.
What began as an artist’s adventures throughout Asia became an odyssey of self-discovery and personal enrichment. A lifetime of metaphysical study has brought Anita to this spiritual place, and she wants to share it. As the go-to expert in Los Angeles, Aspen, NYC, and India for Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology, her unique blend of Western and Chinese Metaphysics transformsand illuminates each client’s homes, businesses, and lives. An international speaker, award-winning author, and television personality with over 27 years of experience, Anita’s high-profile clients, including Miranda Kerr, Ashley Tisdale, and Virginia Madsen (partial list) rave that she is fun to work with, authentic, and heartfelt. As one of the few female directors in Hollywood in the late ‘80s with cult classic films Modern Girls and Assault of the Killer Bimbos, Anita’s mission is to direct others to reach their personal and professional goals while shining in the spotlight. Anita Rosenberg is the author of the Popular Culture IPPY award-winning book How to Be The Star of Your Life: Lessons From Hollywood & Beyond (Heliotrope Publishing, 2024).
You can follow her at  @AnitaRosenbergStudio and www.AnitaRosenberg.com
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for  advice.

BONUS EPISODE: I've been a DJ for 15 years, here's what it's taught me

After 15 years behind the decks, professional DJ Denise Love Hewett shares the unexpected life lessons that nightlife taught her about human nature, personal growth, and authentic leadership. Key Insights from 15 Years of DJing:
Energy Mastery
Flow State Access
Boundary Setting
Human Connection
Authentic Leadership
Denise explores why nightclubs aren't frivolous but sacred spaces where culture begins, how dancing connects us to our primal selves, and why the club has historically been a sanctuary for marginalized communities. She breaks down the anthropological aspects of nightlife and how witnessing people in their most uninhibited state taught her about what we all crave: connection, freedom, and release. Perfect for: DJs, creatives, anyone interested in flow states, human psychology, nightlife culture, personal development through unconventional paths, energy work, and finding life lessons in unexpected places.

Stepping into Your Next Timeline with Sarah Yarkin: Acting Success, Creative Waiting vs. Doing, and Healing from Toxic Dating Patterns

School Spirits star Sarah Yarkin joins host Denise Love Hewett for an honest conversation about navigating the acting industry, overcoming unhealthy attachment patterns, and finding creative fulfillment beyond waiting for the next job. What You'll Learn:
How to redefine success as a working actor in Hollywood
The difference between "waiting" and actively creating your own opportunities
Recognizing and breaking toxic dating patterns and unhealthy attachment styles
Sarah's journey from anxious attachment to secure, healthy love
Behind-the-scenes insights from School Spirits season 2 on Paramount+
The creative process of developing the character Rhonda and discovering her own identity
Currently, Yarkin can be seen in the highly anticipated second season of Paramount+’s drama/comedy series SCHOOL SPIRITS alongside Peyton List and Milo Manheim. The series is based on the graphic novel and follows Maddie (List), a teen stuck in the afterlife investigating her own disappearance, who goes on a crime-solving mission as she adjusts to high-school purgatory. Yarkin plays Rhonda, a bohemian girl who was murdered by her guidance counselor in 1963. Season 1 premiered on Paramount+ in 2023 and was later released on Netflix, where it lived on Netflix’s Top 10 List for three consecutive months. In 2022, Yarkin led David Blue Garcia’s TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE for Netflix, the sequel of the 1974 classic horror film.
 Also in 2022, Yarkin played a standout supporting role for Searchlight’s NOT OKAY opposite Zoey Deutch and Dylan O’Brien. Additional film credits include Universal/Blumhouse’s HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U, and indie feature film EAT, BRAINS, LOVE for Gunpowder & Sky. In television, Yarkin has been seen in AMERICAN HORROR STORY, THE MIDDLE, TRANSPARENT, SINGLE PARENTS, MOTHERLAND, and THE GOOD PLACE. Yarkin resides in Brooklyn and her passion project is singing/songwriting. Her single ‘Rosy Glasses’ made a splash in SCHOOL SPIRITS S1 Ep 5. Her single ‘Rosy Glasses’ made a splash in SCHOOT SPIRITS S1 Ep 5
You can follow her @sarahyarkin
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for advice.

Building New Models with Austin Robey: Creating Sustainable Music Platforms That Benefit Artists

Austin Robey, founder of Subvert, joins Denise Love Hewett to discuss building the first collectively-owned music platform that puts artists first. Learn how platform cooperatives work, why traditional venture capital fails creators, and how Subvert raised $100K by selling zines to future co-owners. Key topics covered:
How platform cooperatives distribute ownership and decision-making power
Why Spotify's ownership structure hurts artists and how co-ops solve this
Alternative funding strategies beyond traditional venture capital
The vulnerability required for democratic leadership
Building sustainable businesses aligned with your values
How to create accountability structures that benefit all stakeholders
Perfect for entrepreneurs, musicians, creators, and anyone interested in alternative business models that prioritize community ownership over profit maximization.
 Austin Robey is an entrepreneur and advocate for collective ownership, solidarity economics, and new models for online creative economies. He co-founded Ampled, a cooperatively owned platform for musicians, and was a co-founder of Metalabel. Austin is currently developing Subvert, a collectively owned and controlled online music marketplace.
 
You can follow him at @austinrobey_ and  @subvertworld 
 
You can become a co-owner at  https://subvert.fm/
 
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
 
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for  advice.
 

The Genius of Teenage Girls with Chelsey Goodan: Radical Honesty & Healing Your Inner Teen

Join Denise Love Hewett for a powerful conversation with USA Today bestselling author Chelsey Goodan about her groundbreaking book "Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls." This episode dives deep into why society labels teenage girls as "too much" and how we can transform that narrative into empowerment. Chelsey, who has spent 16 years as a tutor and mentor to teenage girls, shares profound insights about emotional validation, authentic self-expression, and the critical importance of making young women feel seen and heard during their formative years. What You'll Learn:
Why teenage girls are called "too much," "bossy," and "opinionated" - and how to reframe these labels
The power of witnessing pain without trying to fix it immediately
How to have radical honesty conversations with teenagers (and adults)
Practical tools for "permissioning" - giving others freedom to be authentic
Why emotional repression in adolescence creates lifelong patterns
How to navigate social media conversations with teenagers constructively
The connection between perfectionism, people-pleasing, and "good girl" conditioning
Denise and Chelsey explore their own teenage experiences, from prom rejections to math tutoring revelations, showing how early experiences shape our adult relationships with authenticity and vulnerability. They discuss the importance of asking "What do you need?" - a question teenage girls rarely receive.
The conversation tackles challenging topics including feminism, family disagreements, body image, and how Gen Z is redefining women's empowerment through body positivity and "decentering men." Chelsey also shares her work with A Call to Men, addressing toxic masculinity and gender-based violence prevention.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone healing your own inner teenage girl, this episode offers transformative insights into breaking generational patterns of self-doubt and embracing the full spectrum of who we are.
Chelsey Goodan is a USA Today bestselling author, international speaker, and thought leader on women and girls' empowerment. In her work, Goodan reveals the universal truths she learned from a teenage girl’s struggle with self-doubt, authenticity, confidence, leadership, connection, and power. Goodan's bestselling book, UNDERESTIMATED: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls, was named “Best Nonfiction” by Amazon’s Editorial Director and garnered acclaim from Oprah’s Book Club, Oprah Daily, The Today Show, Hello Sunshine, NBC News, TIME Magazine, and public figures like Academy Award-winning actress Laura Dern. Goodan has emerged as a leading voice for reshaping school, home, and work environments to empower women and girls’ voices. She conducts women & girls’ empowerment workshops, and in 2024, she partnered with Reese Witherspoon's company Hello Sunshine and the brand Invisalign to create and lead their Empowerment Day for girls. As a keynote speaker, Goodan helps women heal their inner teenage girl and coaches parents on how to better understand and connect with their daughter. On worldwide stages, Goodan teaches communication strategies that create emotional and psychological safety. With a clear focus on social impact, Goodan supports nonprofits advocating for gender justice. Volunteering her time as the Mentorship Director of the nonprofit DemocraShe, Chelsey supports and guides girls from underrepresented communities into leadership positions. She also serves on the board of A Call to Men, a gender-based violence prevention nonprofit that educates men and boys on healthy masculinity. Chelsey’s passion to explore humanity’s potential for authenticity, liberation, and empowerment, permeates all of her work.
You can follow her @chelseygoodan and buy her book at www.chelseygoodan.com
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions to receive advice.

Second Chances with Andrew Glazier: The Prison Program Transforming Lives

Denise and Andrew discuss a cause near and dear to their hearts. Denise is a longtime volunteer of Defy Ventures. She brings in Andrew Glazier, CEO of Defy Ventures, to help us transform our understanding of prison reform and criminal justice. In this powerful conversation, Andrew Glazier,  discusses their groundbreaking entrepreneurship program that's achieved a remarkable 10% recidivism rate vs. the national average of 30%. What You'll Discover:
How entrepreneurship training in prison transforms lives and reduces repeat offenses
The shocking truth about who's really in prison (spoiler: it's not what you think)
Why 95% of incarcerated people will return to your community
The "Step to the Line" exercise that changes volunteers' lives forever
Real stories from maximum security facilities across 9 states
Why prison reform benefits everyone, not just the incarcerated
Perfect for: Social entrepreneurs, criminal justice advocates, potential volunteers, business leaders interested in social impact, and anyone curious about effective prison reform.
Defy Ventures has enrolled 7,000+ entrepreneurs across their programs and supported 200+ business launches. Their graduates experience transformation that goes far beyond job training, they develop resilience, confidence, and a completely new personal narrative.
Andrew Glazier is the CEO and President of Defy Ventures, a national non-profit focused on entrepreneurship, employment, and personal development for currently and formerly incarcerated men, women and young adults. Defy Ventures operates programs across 9 states and has enrolled more than 7,000 Entrepreneurs in Training in prison and community-based programs, engaged more than 7,000 volunteers, and supported the launch of more than 200 businesses. Defy’s graduates have a one-year recidivism rate of less than 10%, compared to the national one-year rate of 30%. Prior to joining Defy Ventures, Andrew served as the Senior Managing Director for City Year Los Angeles, a national, AmeriCorps affiliated non-profit that is focused on improving public education and addressing the dropout crisis through national service. As Senior Managing Director for City Year Los Angeles, he provided cross-departmental leadership around organizational growth and strategy in support of a long-term impact and growth plan. During his tenure overseeing the program, the City Year program more than doubled the number of AmeriCorps members serving in Los Angeles. Prior to joining City Year, he worked in diverse public and private sectors including real estate finance and construction, political strategy, education and government.
You can follow him @defyventures
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for advice.

BONUS EPISODE: Solo Travel, Nature and Cosmic Do-Overs

Denise tries something new, her first solo episode.She takes you on her transformative week in Italy's Dolomites, a journey that started as post-family vacation recovery and became a masterclass in the science of awe. What You'll Experience:
The raw reality of solo travel in your 30s (spoiler: it's complicated)
The difference between being alone and being lonely
A comparison to her last solo Italy trip during heartbreak
The conversation with Gilbert, a former banker turned hiking guide, that changed everything
How mountains can literally rewire your nervous system
The courage it takes to build a creative life in a money-obsessed world
Perfect for: Solo travelers, anyone seeking personal transformation, creative professionals questioning their path, and those curious about the neuroscience of awe and its healing power.
Text form can be found in her new substack : https://deniselovehewett.substack.com/