Ever fantasized about sending a scorched-earth resignation email or confronting that “complicated” colleague head-on? In this episode, we explore the messy realities and hidden costs of revenge in the workplace—and uncover healthier, more powerful strategies for navigating conflict and difficult people.

We kick off with a viral real-life resignation email—an employee’s “digital declaration of war”—and ask: Is revenge ever the right answer, or just a tempting fantasy? To help us dig deeper, we welcome leadership expert and executive coach Ryan Leak, who shares research and tactics from his new book How to Work with Complicated People. Ryan challenges us to recognize that “complicated” is in the eye of the beholder, and often, the growth opportunity in conflict lies with us.

Then, conflict resolution specialist James Kimmel takes us into the neuroscience of revenge. We learn just how a grudge can hijack our brain like a drug—triggering temporary pleasure but lasting destruction. James shares practical, evidence-based steps for breaking the cycle and explains why forgiveness isn’t just a virtue but a neurological “wonder drug” for our own well-being.

Whether you’re dreaming of a Jerry Maguire exit or just tired of that one messy team dynamic, this episode will help you turn revenge fantasies into opportunities for learning, integrity, and genuine professional growth.

1. “Complicated” Is Subjective: What you find difficult in a colleague, someone else might find easy—meaning anyone (including ourselves) can be “complicated” to work with.
2. People Over Job Description: Job satisfaction is far more influenced by the people you work with than by the actual work you do.
3. Honest Conversation Heals: Growth and resolution often require stepping into vulnerable, authentic dialogue with colleagues—even if it’s uncomfortable.
4. Revenge Is Addictive—And Costly: Neuroscience shows that seeking revenge lights up our reward centers like an addiction, but leaves us feeling worse and traps us in a cycle of pain.
5. Forgiveness as Self-Healing: Quiet, internal forgiveness—without any big announcements—switches off our brain’s pain and reward loops, empowering us to make clearer, healthier decisions.

Get full interviews and bonus content FREE by subscribing at DailyCreative.app.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get FREE bonus content, full interviews, and more!

To listen to the full interviews from today's episode, as well as receive bonus content and deep dive insights from the episode, visit podcast.toddhenry.com and join Daily Creative+.

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold. Learn more

In this episode, we dive deep into what it really means to choose creativity, rather than simply waiting for inspiration to strike. We open with the fascinating origin story of Photoshop—how a grad student’s simple problem-solving evolved, through deliberate choices and refinement, into a revolutionary creative tool. This story sets the stage for this episode’s exploration of how intentional actions, not just spontaneous bursts, drive meaningful creative outcomes.

We’re joined by Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, senior research scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of the new book, The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action. Zorana shares insights from her 25 years of creativity research, focusing especially on the overlooked emotional aspects of creative work. We discuss why creativity is about continuous, intentional choices—both big and small—that help us make progress, manage our energy, and use our emotions as information.

Together, we unpack actionable strategies to deliberately foster creativity in high-pressure environments, the science behind emotional rhythms and productivity, and how tools like generative AI fit into the evolving landscape of creative work. Zorana also offers a unique perspective on matching your creative tasks to your emotional state and daily energy rhythms.

Five Key Learnings from the Episode:

1. Intentional Creativity Over Inspiration: Waiting for flashes of inspiration is risky—real creative progress comes from deliberate, systematic practices and choices.
2. Emotions as Informational Tools: Emotions aren’t just happening to us—they’re signals we can decode and use to drive creative action and problem solving.
3. Creative Rhythm Is Personal: Everyone’s daily emotional and energy cycles are different. Understanding and aligning your creative tasks to these rhythms leads to better results.
4. Build Your Creative Infrastructure: Sustainable creativity requires supportive systems—idea capture, regular review, and collaborative feedback structures are essential.
5. AI Is a Tool, Not a Replacement: Generative AI can assist with certain creative tasks, but the essential human skill of “problem finding”—asking the right questions—remains at the heart of true creativity.

Get weekly articles to your inbox at BraveFocusedBrilliant.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold. Learn more

In this episode, we dive deep into why optimism is far more than just wishful thinking—it's a practical, essential quality for doing brave, creative work and leading others with clarity. We explore how maintaining optimistic vision, especially in uncertain times, can drive teams forward and inspire decisive action.

We also welcome special guest Peter Wilken, branding expert and author of Dim Sum Strategy and The Ten Commandments to Build a Strong Brand and Steer Your Ship By. Peter shares stories from his storied career at the forefront of global advertising and brand consulting, shedding light on the origins and importance of “brand DNA.” Together, we discuss the key components that make great brands resilient, relevant, and unique, and how nurturing breakthrough ideas means protecting them as they grow.

Five Key Learnings from the Episode:

1. Optimism Demands Agency and Vision: Real optimism is about having perceived agency and a clear, forward-looking vision, not blind faith. Leaders must provide clarity (not certainty) and communicate how their team fits into the bigger picture.
2. The True Nature of Passion: Passion, at its root, means being willing to endure or suffer for a meaningful outcome. It’s about committing to a vision deeply enough to overcome discomfort or setbacks along the way.
3. Spotting and Nurturing Great Ideas: Breakthrough creative ideas often begin as small, vulnerable seedlings that need protection and nurturing. Organizations need the courage, craftsmanship, and willingness to let ideas grow—even if they’re polarizing at first.
4. Brand DNA Explained: Great brands have a unique “DNA”—a strategic, memorable template outlining their reason for being, core beliefs, promise, customer benefit, and culture. This blueprint ensures long-lasting differentiation and guides consistent brand experiences.
5. Common Pitfalls to Avoid: Brands erode when they try to please everyone, over-invest in superficial touchpoints, or jump to execution before strategy. Strong brands actively exclude those who don’t share their values and build on a foundation of unwavering beliefs.

Get articles to your inbox each week at BraveFocusedBrilliant.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold. Learn more