Cracking Open with Molly Carroll

Episoder

• Afraid AI Is Replacing Human Connection? Jack Swift on Leadership, Consciousness, and the Human-Machine Era 02.07.2026 57min

  I don't know about you, but even though I use AI almost every single day, there is still a part of me that gets nervous about it. I love nothing more than sitting across from a friend with a cup of coffee, driving in the car with my kids and husband to Seattle to see a World Cup Game (yep, I went), or being out in nature with nothing but my own thoughts, no machine, no screen, just me. I am deeply passionate about human connection. So passionate that I did a TED talk on The Power of Hum...
• Why Small Talk Is Making You More Lonely (And What To Do Instead) 11.06.2026 19min

  I recorded this episode in the middle of one of the most emotional weeks of my life. My daughter Cora was three days from graduating high school, and I found myself at backyard parties where the conversation kept drifting to the same familiar places: the weather, work, the kids. And I felt that quiet ache I believe so many of us are carrying right now. The longing for something deeper. More real. More connected. So that’s what today’s episode is about: how we find the courage to have more con...
• I Want to Be Wild: Emma Tynan on Letting Go of More and Coming Home to Yourself 28.05.2026 47min

  I found Emma through Maria Shriver's newsletter, and her words stopped me cold: "I no longer want more. I want to be wild." I felt my whole body exhale. Because I knew exactly what she meant. The TED Talks, the books, the funnels, the coaching groups, I had all of it. And so did Emma. And somewhere underneath all of it, we both heard the same quiet voice saying: this isn't it. This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt that way. Meet Emma Tynan Emma Tynan is an Irish writer whose work ...
• The Leader Within: Shadow Work, Core Values & the Power of Human Connection with Thomas Droge | Ep. 104 14.05.2026 53min

  What does it mean to truly lead not just in a boardroom, but in your relationships, your family, and your own inner life? In this deeply moving episode, therapist and host Molly Carroll sits down with Thomas Droge, executive coach, Chief Mindfulness Officer, mindfulness speaker, and author of The Leader Within, to explore the practices that create real, lasting transformation. Thomas brings over three decades of integrated medicine, qigong, meditation, and contemplative work into a raw, hones...
• Molly Magic: The Power in Life's No's and Not Yet's 30.04.2026 23min

  You got a NO this week. Maybe more than one. Someone said no to you. Or your kid came home with that look on their face. Or you've been trying and trying, and the door just won't open. Here's what the research tells us: your brain processes social rejection in the same region as physical pain. Neuroscientist Naomi Eisenberger found that the anterior cingulate cortex — the part that lights up when you're physically hurt — lights up identically when you're rejected. You are not being dramatic. ...
• Shaka Senghor: How to Escape Life's Hidden Prisons and Be Free 16.04.2026 56min

  Whenever someone asks me for a word that describes how I want to live, my answer is always the same. Freedom. Not just personal freedom, but freedom in my mind, my body, and my spirit. Maybe that comes from being raised Catholic, or maybe it’s simply my wild spirit that has never wanted to be contained. So when I read Shaka Senghor's How to Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life’s Hidden Prisons, I knew I needed to have him back on the podcast. Because this message isn’t just for people who...
• Welcome to Episode 1 of Molly's Magic: Reset Your Nervous System in Minutes 02.04.2026 19min

  Welcome to Molly's Magic. I’m Molly. A mom, a therapist, an author, a podcast host, and a TED speaker. The alchemy of these roles has brought me here. Molly's Magic is simple. Short, meaningful, and doable steps to help you move closer to your goals. Who is Molly's Magic for? This is for the part of you that knows you are capable of more but cannot quite name what is getting in the way. The part of you that feels stuck. That senses something bigger is waiting. That is ready, even just a litt...
• 100th Episode Part 2: Coming Home to the People Who Know Me Best 19.03.2026 1t 6min

  Welcome back to Part 2 of our 100th episode. If you have not listened to Part 1 yet, pause here and go back. Truly. Tommy, Lisa, René, Leo, and Cora brought everything. And your responses told me just how deeply it landed. You shared that Tommy reminded you that everything you need is already inside of you. That Lisa’s story made you want to start something new at 60. That René’s story changed the way you see single moms and families of three. That after listening to Cora, you wanted to sign ...
• 100th Episode: Coming Home to the People Who Know Me Best 05.03.2026 1t 2min

  In this special two-part 100th episode, you’ll hear something a little different—the everyday, deeply human stories of the people closest to me. From navigating the loss of a husband to the tender uncertainty of leaving home for college. From launching a business to discovering a passion for a sport you never imagined trying at 50. From the journey of growing from boy to man, to finding resilience after heartbreak, to the quiet but powerful work of building strong friendships. These are not f...
• Serena & Lily Co-Founder Serena Dugan on Creativity, Courage, and What Matters Most 12.02.2026 54min

  As we approach our 100th episode, I’ve been revisiting a few conversations that have stayed with me long after the microphones were turned off. Bill Valentine’s episode was re-released because of the way he shared heart-centered, real-life wisdom while facing the end of his life. And today, I’m re-releasing my conversation with Serena Dugan for a different—but equally powerful—reason. Over the years, people have stopped me on the streets of my hometown of Bend to tell me that Serena’s words g...
• Learn How Terminal Cancer Taught Successful Wealth Manager Bill Valentine the True Meaning of Life 29.01.2026 58min

  In times of uncertainty, we need reminders of what truly matters. Today’s episode is a profound lesson in hope, love, and perspective—one that gently calls us back to presence, connection, and grace. This is a re-release of my conversation with Bill Valentine, who passed away peacefully at home on October 21, 2022. I felt deeply called to bring this episode forward again. It’s exactly what we need right now. This conversation isn’t about fear or loss—it’s about living without regret, being fu...
• Learning to Trust Your Guides with Psychic Medium MaryAnn DiMarco 15.01.2026 59min

  Throughout my life, clients and friends have often described me as a bridge—a bridge between science and spirituality, between practical cognitive tools and trusting your intuitive voice, between deep compassion and what I lovingly call “getting Nebraska on you” (a little tough love and real accountability). Maybe you’ve felt that tension too. Wanting concrete strategies you can rely on, while also sensing there’s a deeper wisdom guiding you—something you can’t always explain, but you know is...
• From Rock Star to Soul Guide: Dr. John Price on Transformation and Purpose 18.12.2025 1t 17min

  Have you ever had one of those months where you just can’t climb out of a dark hole? That was my October and November. My son had a health scare (instant compassion for every parent walking that road), I wasn’t sleeping—wide awake at 3 a.m. every night (thank God for a dear friend who meets me at Starbucks at 5 a.m.)—and I felt completely unmotivated and uninspired by my work. Not fun. I’m sharing this because maybe you’ve been there too. And here’s the gift hidden inside those seasons: wisdo...
• How to Find Hope in Unexpected Places: Lessons from CNN Hero Maggie Doyne 20.11.2025 1t

  From the moment Maggie Doyne and I joined our Zoom call, there was an instant recognition—a connection of the heart. We share a love of children, the Oregon coast, and a deep commitment to living in service. Interviewing her was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when one person follows the quiet call of compassion. At just 18 years old, Maggie took what was meant to be a simple gap year—and turned it into her life’s mission. Traveling through India and Nepal, she witnessed a young girl l...
• Stop Talking About Creativity and Start Living It with Author Nicole Meier 06.11.2025 36min

  What happens when one of your dearest friends also happens to be one of the people you admire most in your professional world? That’s exactly the conversation I get to have today—and I couldn’t be more thrilled. This week's guest on the Cracking Open podcast, Nicole Meier, isn’t just a brilliant creative—she’s family. We’ve raised our kids together, navigated the loss of our parents side by side, and cheered each other on as our careers evolved. She’s been a confidant, a mentor, and, without ...
• Look, Feel, & Stay Young Forever: #1 Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright's Proven Protocol 09.10.2025 1t 1min

  These days, we all need practices that strengthen not just our muscles, but also our spirits. I’m with you in all you’re navigating, and I want Cracking Open to continue being a place where you can land, breathe, and remember: you are not alone. The stories we share here are meant to heal the body, mind, and soul. Recently, I kept hearing about how weightlifting can help you look, feel, and stay younger longer. Not only is it good for your muscles—it’s essential for your bones, joints, and ov...
• #1 Neurosurgeon on the Power of Manifestation and Positive Mindset (In Memory of Dr. James Doty) 25.09.2025 50min

  This is one of the most memorable conversations I have had on the podcast. With a heavy heart today, I am re-releasing his episode in honor of Dr. James Doty on neuroscience, manifestation, and the power of focusing your mind and heart on what you know is possible in your life. Dr. Doty passed away on July 16, 2025, from medical complications following surgery. This episode was recorded before his death and remains one of our most beloved conversations. He was truly an incredible human being ...
• From Rock Bottom to Redemption with Lara Love Hardin 11.09.2025 1t 1min

  Have you ever hit rock bottom? I know I have—not with drugs or alcohol, but through anxiety, over-mothering my kids, or letting my mind hijack my ability to feel gratitude and joy. Today’s guest, Lara Love Hardin, is a powerful example of what it takes to rise from absolute rock bottom. Lara’s journey is extraordinary: from suburban soccer mom to opioid addict, incarcerated felon, and now bestselling author and advocate. Her memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love, is a 2024 Oprah Book Club pick ...
• Sr. Monica Clare: From Hollywood to Holy Orders - A Journey to Authentic Joy 28.08.2025 1t 4min

  This summer, I found myself slowing down—getting quieter on the trails, more present among the trees, and stepping away from my usual morning routine of “to-do” lists, three coffees, and hustling to get people into my coaching programs. I got quiet. I sat with the parts of myself that feel uncomfortable and need external validation to feel worthy. I kept hearing the Zen Buddhist phrase: “chop wood, carry water". The wisdom is simple: do everyday tasks with mindfulness and presence. For...
• The Mystic Entrepreneur: How Jeff Scult Is Weaving Fashion, Purpose and Planetary Healing 07.08.2025 1t 11min

  Have you ever had a moment where time seemed to slow, the noise of the world softened, and you felt something ancient stir inside you? That’s exactly what happened when I sat down with Jeff Scult—founder, designer, and visionary behind One Golden Thread. Jeff’s mission is nothing short of revolutionary: to create a regenerative container where humanity can come alive from the inside out. He believes that the “gold” within each of us is the thread that connects us all. And in both life and bus...