People Pleasing and Overachieving with Amy Wilson

Hotter Than Ever

"Getting things done": it's a mantra for many, but what happens when it becomes a burden? In this episode, we sit down with author, performer, and self-proclaimed overachiever Amy Wilson to untangle the messy web of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the endless pursuit of "more." Drawing from her eye-opening book, “Happy to Help: Adventures of a People Pleaser,” Amy shares her journey from being the person who could handle everything to realizing that our worth isn’t defined by what we can do for others.

Tune in as Erin and Amy explore why high-achievers—especially women—often take on more than their fair share and the power in stepping back and saying “enough”. We discuss:

• The hidden cost of being “highly capable”—why taking on too much responsibility can be a fast track to burnout.
• Why "people pleaser" and "perfectionist" are loaded (and gendered) labels that set us up for exhaustion and resentment.
• How birth order can shape self-sacrificing and accommodating tendencies (hello, eldest daughters!).
• The power of letting go—why some things simply can’t be fixed, no matter how hard you try.
• The myth that quitting equals failure and why knowing when to walk away is just as important as perseverance.
• Why being indispensable doesn’t mean being secure and how overachieving at work and in relationships can lead to being overlooked and undervalued.
• How to recognize life’s warning signs before they escalate into painful wake-up calls.

OUR GUEST: Amy Wilson is the author of the memoir When Did I Get Like This? And her latest book, Happy to Help. Since 2016 she has been the co-host of the Webby-honored podcast What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood. Amy is also an actor who appeared on Broadway and as a series regular on TV sitcoms. She lives with her family in New York City.

Want more Amy? Find her online at https://www.amywilson.com/, read her book, “Happy to Help” https://www.amywilson.com/happy-to-help-book and listen to her podcast “What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood” https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/

Follow her on social media:

• Instagram: @amywlsn
• Facebook: @amywlsn
• TikTok: @amywilsonauthor
• Threads: @amywlsn
• Blueskey: @amywlsn

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