The Happy Stack Podcast

In this episode, Terri-Ann Richards unpacks a subtle but powerful mental habit that’s quietly driving stress, disconnection, and frustration in our relationships: the way we judge others—and ourselves—without context.

Drawing from psychology and real-life examples, she explains the fundamental attribution error and how stress pushes our brains into protection mode, making us more reactiv...

In this episode, I talk about a part of growth that doesn’t get named nearly enough—the grief that comes with outgrowing who you used to be.

When old strategies, identities, and relationships no longer fit, growth can feel less like expansion and more like subtraction.

I explore why this transition feels so uncomfortable, how the nervous system clings to familiarity even when it costs us...

In this episode, I break down one of the biggest misconceptions about confidence: it doesn’t come from success, certainty, or feeling ready. It’s built through follow-through, especially when things feel uncomfortable.

I explore why avoidance often masquerades as logic for high performers, how fear actually strengthens when we dodge discomfort, and why confidence quietly erodes when self...

In this episode, I talk about something I see constantly in high performers and leaders: burnout doesn’t always come from failure or chaos, it often shows up when things are going well. More opportunity, more responsibility, more visibility can quietly outpace our internal capacity.

I break down what psychology calls role strain, why doing more discipline or optimization won’t fix it, an...

In this episode, I explore a truth many high performers live but rarely name: ambition can coexist with healing—but only if your nervous system isn’t stuck in survival.

I unpack why staying busy often becomes a coping mechanism, how success can mask unresolved stress, and why waiting to “pause life” to heal doesn’t actually work.

This conversation is about learning how to regulate while ...

In this episode, I unpack one of the most uncomfortable truths I’ve had to learn in my own leadership and life: boundaries aren’t about keeping people out, they’re about keeping me intact.

I explore why high performers struggle to say no, how people-pleasing becomes a survival strategy, and why guilt shows up the moment we start prioritising ourselves. I also break down the science behin...

You can have a full calendar, a thriving career, a buzzing group chat—and still feel completely alone.

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I unpack what I call Connection Deficit Disorder: the silent, invisible loneliness high performers experience while looking “successful” on the outside.

I break down the neuroscience of disconnection, why high achievers default to surface-leve...

You can have the goals, the plans, the vision—but if you don’t trust yourself to follow through, none of it sticks.

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I dive into why self-trust is the real foundation of confidence, consistency, and su...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly on edge—snapping at people, running on fumes, and trying to “push through”—you’re not broken. You’re just stuck in survival mode.

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I dive deep into how your nervous system drives your reactions, your emotions, and even your ambition.

I’ll unpack why calm feels so uncomfortable for high performers, how c...

If your calendar is full, your to-do list never ends, and you’re still exhausted at the end of every day—this episode is for you.

In The Happy Stack Podcast, I break down why your issue isn’t time management, it’s energy management. You don’t need another planner, productivity hack, or 4 a.m. routine—you need better boundaries.

I’ll walk you through the real reasons you’re running on emp...

You can have all the vision boards, routines, and goals in the world—but if your nervous system doesn’t feel safe, none of it will stick.

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I unpack why your body’s need for safety will always override your brain’s drive for success.

We’ll dive into how chronic stress, perfectionism, and overachievement rewire your nervous system to equate worth ...

You know that rush you get when you hit a goal—the quick dopamine spike that makes you feel unstoppable… until it fades, and you’re already chasing the next thing?

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I dig into what I call achievement addiction—the hidden dependency high performers develop when their self-worth gets tied to results instead of identity.

I break down the neuroscien...

Have you ever caught yourself saying “I’m fine” when you’re anything but?

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I dig into the trap of toxic positivity—the pressure to plaster on a smile, power through, and dismiss your real emotions.

I’ll share how this habit shows up for h...

Ever end a busy day feeling exhausted but realize you didn’t actually accomplish anything meaningful?

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I unpack “focus fatigue”—the quiet drain on your brainpower that leaves you overwhelmed, distracte...

I know what it’s like to look “successful” on the outside while feeling completely flat on the inside—because I’ve been there.

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I’m breaking down the reality of high-functioning burnout: the kind that doesn’t leave you curled up in bed but keeps you in overdrive while your joy quietly disappears.

We’ll unpack the biological toll of pushing throu...

Leadership can look impressive on the outside—and feel incredibly isolating on the inside.

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I pull back the curtain on something most leaders feel but rarely say out loud: the loneliness that comes with carrying the weight, setting the pace, and always being “the strong one.”

From neuroscience to real coaching stories, I unpack how disconnection...

Worry feels like it should help—but it rarely does. In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I unpack the real cost of rumination and why high performers like us often confuse it with responsibility or care.

Drawing from research, client conversations, and my own inner critic, I introduce the “Check 3” framework—Control, Capacity, and Compassion—to help you break the worry loop and re...

Let’s talk about fear—the kind that quietly keeps us stuck, second-guessing, and playing small.

In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I dig into why your next breakthrough probably isn’t on the other side of more planning or more prep—it’s on the other side of that thing you’ve been avoiding.

I’ll walk you through the neuroscience of fear, what it means for leadership, and how micr...

It’s time we stop equating leadership with perfection. In this episode of The Happy Stack Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on the quiet burnout that comes from performative leadership—and offering a more sustainable, human way forward.

We explore what it truly means to lead with presence, not pressure; with curiosity, not control. I’ll walk you through the shifts I’ve made in my own...