The Underlayer
Ever feel like you’re doing “fine” on the outside, but stuck or disconnected on the inside?
You’re not broken, you’re just living above the surface.
The Underlayer is a podcast for mid-life professionals navigating fear, identity, and personal growth, especially when success no longer feels fulfilling.
Hosted by keynote speaker and podcast host David Young, each episode goes beneath surface-level advice to explore the deeper stories shaping how we show up at work, in relationships, and in our own lives.
Through honest storytelling, psychology-informed insight, and the occasional uncomfortable truth, we unpack:
- Fear and anxiety that follow us from childhood into adulthood
- Why clarity and alignment feel harder in mid-life
- How personal growth actually happens (without self-help clichés)
- What it means to find your voice and stop avoiding what matters
You’ll hear solo reflections and conversations with personal growth experts, coaches, and deep thinkers — all focused on one thing:
Understanding what’s really driving your patterns so you can move forward with clarity.
🎧 New episodes every Thursday.
Start with: The Fear That Formed Me — the episode that explains why the thing that scared you most might be what you’re meant to heal.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2551407/episodes/18358211
Recent Episodes
What if the Universe Rewards Your Next Brave Step?
In this episode of The Underlayer , David Young sits down with business & leadership mentor Jodi Wilding to unpack the quiet ways high achievers play small: staying in safe roles, pleasing identities, and waiting for certaint...
High Achiever Burnout: Why Your Goals Feel Empty & How to Reset
Why do so many high achievers burn out? And even set goals they don't even want? In this episode of The Underlayer, David Young and Katarina Kiseli break down the psychology of high achievers, burnout, and goal-setting mistakes that lead to exhaustion rather than fulfillment. If you’ve ever felt: -…
Impressive on Paper, Misaligned in Life: Finding Your Zone of Genius
Maira has spent two decades translating complex ideas into clear frameworks for senior leaders and experts, but her real gift isn’t just strategy. It’s helping high achievers identify the red thread running through their live...
The Quiet Pull for Something More (And Why High Performers Ignore It)
In this episode of The Underlayer , host David Young sits down with LinkedIn strategist and writer Allison Ditmer to explore the quiet pull for something more, and what happens when successful careers stop matching who we’re ...
Why Suppressed Anger Shows Up in Midlife (and What It’s Telling You)
Ever feel anger rise up and wonder, “Where did that come from?” Explore why anger isn’t the problem, and what it’s been trying to protect all along. In this episode of The Underlayer, host David Young is joined by Carolyn Warsham for a deep, honest conversation about anger, emotional health, and pe…
Scared to Speak Up? How Childhood Fear Shapes Your Voice in Midlife
In this solo episode of The Underlayer , host David Young explores how childhood fear, especially around visibility and public speaking, quietly shapes our lives well into midlife. David shares personal stories from growing u...
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