Gifted & Grown Up

Reflecting on Eric Maisel

Chad Peevy reflects on his interview with Dr. Eric Maisel, diving deeper into themes of meaning-making, resistance, and what it means to live as a gifted adult. He challenges traditional ideas about intelligence, questions whether being "smart" is a cause or a consequence, and explores how trauma, curiosity, and drive shape our identity.
Chad also opens up about the emotional tension between wanting to do meaningful work and the perfectionism that holds so many gifted adults back. He shares his own struggles with clicking “publish,” the fear of not being excellent, and how Dr. Maisel’s concept of a “body of work” has helped reframe the creative process.
This episode is an invitation to give yourself permission—permission to fight your fight, to do imperfect work, and to show up for the life you're meant to live.
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00:00 Introduction to Dr. Mazel and His Impact00:29 Exploring Giftedness in Adults01:32 The Three Personalities Concept02:24 Nature vs. Nurture Debate02:49 Living with Giftedness04:44 Resistance and Moral Justice09:28 Creating a Body of Work12:53 Reflections on Giftedness Terminology15:41 Conclusion and Invitation for Feedback
 
💬 Submit your questions, comments and reflections to Chad and Paula here. 
 
Find Chad on Instagram
Chad's Website
 

Why Smart People Hurt with Eric Maisel

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:39 Welcoming Dr. Eric Mazel01:03 Discussing 'Why Smart People Hurt'02:17 The Concept of Resistance02:40 Autobiographical Insights03:18 Existential Beliefs and Early Influences04:27 Military Service and Resistance06:21 The Challenge of Meaning07:56 Paradigm Shifts in Understanding Life09:11 The Nature of Meaning and Purpose10:36 Smart People and the Burden of Clarity20:55 Dealing with Meaning Leaks25:16 Embracing Multiple Life Purposes32:51 Creative Process and Allowing Messiness35:02 Letting Go of Perfectionism35:34 Identifying Good Ideas38:13 The Importance of Daily Practice40:03 Harnessing Sleep Thinking41:36 Balancing Input and Output43:35 Evolving Creative Work58:14 Fighting Against Psychiatry01:06:46 A New Mental Model: Serene Readiness
 
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📄 In this episode of Gifted & Grown Up, I’m joined by Dr. Eric Maisel, existential psychologist and author of more than 50 books, including Why Smart People Hurt and Redesign Your Mind.
We explore the inner lives of gifted adults—their sensitivity, creativity, intensity, and the unique challenges they face trying to make meaning in a chaotic world. Dr. Maisel offers no-nonsense advice and practical frameworks for managing the mental chatter, perfectionism, and existential dread that often come with a gifted mind.
This is a powerful conversation about taking responsibility for your inner world and choosing to become the author of your own experience.
 
🔑 What We Talk About:
The myth of the tortured genius
Existential depression and meaning-making
Why gifted adults often feel like outsiders
How to “redesign your mind” and quiet mental chatter
Dr. Maisel’s definition of meaning and how to create it
The role of creativity in the life of the gifted adult
How smart people get stuck—and how to get unstuck
The difference between coaching and therapy for gifted folks
 
📚 Resources Mentioned:
Why Smart People Hurt on Amazon
Redesign Your Mind on Amazon
Eric’s Website
Find Eric on LinkedIn
 
Find Eric on Facebook
 
✨ Want more?
Listen to the companion reflection episode where I unpack my reactions to this conversation and how Dr. Maisel’s work is influencing my thinking.
🔗 Reflection Episode – Eric Maisel
 
💬 Submit your questions, comments and reflections to Chad and Eric here. 
 

Reflecting on Paula Prober

In this reflection episode, I unpack my emotional response to my interview with Paula Prober, author of Your Rainforest Mind.
We talk about what it feels like to finally be seen as a gifted adult, why giftedness isn’t just about intellect, and how deep feelers like Paula help us make sense of our inner world. I share why this conversation stirred up so much in me—including the moment I teared up—and why Paula’s metaphor is more than just language… it’s healing.
Whether you’re a gifted adult or love someone who is, this episode is for you.
 
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00:00 – Why Paula’s work matters02:00 – The moment of tears03:50 – The pain of gifted adulthood06:00 – Hope and the power of being seen08:20 – Gifted loneliness is real09:00 – Coming out—again10:15 – Paula’s advice for thriving as a gifted adult12:20 – The world needs your gifted mind12:55 – Why more people need to know Paula Prober13:30 – The role of gifted feelers13:50 – Join the next conversation with Paula
 
💬 Submit your questions, comments and reflections to Chad and Paula here. 
Find Chad on Instagram
Chad's Website
 

Your Rainforest Mind, with Paula Prober

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:42 Paula Prober's Journey into Gifted Education02:29 Transition to Therapy and Blogging05:53 Understanding the Rainforest Mind08:19 Challenges and Traits of the Gifted13:03 Self-Acceptance and Overcoming Myths19:30 Therapeutic Approaches and Self-Care26:26 The Role of Physical Activities and Tango33:21 Therapy for the Rainforest Mind36:21 Navigating Loneliness and Relationships43:39 Spirituality and the Rainforest Mind49:45 Career Challenges for Gifted Individuals55:38 Coping with the Current Climate59:58 Finding Your Purpose and Joy01:02:36 Understanding Giftedness01:04:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 
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📄 In this episode, I talk with Paula Prober, psychotherapist and author of Your Rainforest Mind, one of the first books that helped me truly understand what it means to be a gifted adult.
We explore what it means to have a rainforest mind, how giftedness shows up in adulthood, and why so many gifted people feel like they’re too much—or never enough. We talk about relationships, grief, intuition, and the difference between intellectual understanding and emotional validation. This conversation hit me on a deep level. It wasn’t just informative—it was personal.
 
🔑 What We Talk About:
What a “rainforest mind” actually is
The emotional needs of gifted adults
Grieving the past when you discover you're gifted later in life
Giftedness and trauma: where they intersect
Navigating relationships when you’re “a lot”
Why gifted adults often seek depth, meaning, and solitude
How to recognize that you’re not broken—you’re just complex
The power of naming your experience
 
📚 Resources Mentioned:
A Short Guide to Love and Relationships When You Are Sensitive And Smart — Part One
A Short Guide to Love and Relationships When You Are Sensitive and Smart — Part Two
A Short Guide to Love and Relationships When You are Sensitive and Smart — Part Three
Your Rainforest Mind by Paula Prober on Amazon
Journey Into Your Rainforest Mind - Audiobook
Paula’s Blog
Find Paula on Instagram
Find Paula on Facebook
 
✨ Want more?
Listen to the companion reflection episode where I unpack my emotional reactions to this conversation—why it moved me, and why I think we need more gifted feelers in the world.
🔗 Reflection Episode – Paula Prober
 
💬 Submit your questions, comments and reflections to Chad and Paula here.