164: The New Approach to Mentorship That'll Change Your Life | Deborah Heiser

The Learn-It-All Podcast

Mentorship isn’t a box to check or a corporate initiative to roll out. It’s a deeply human exchange that only works when it’s honest, unforced, and rooted in trust.

In today's episode, Damon is joined by Award-winning Researcher, Author and Founder of The Mentor Project, Dr. Deborah Heiser, who is here to challenge everything we think we know about what it means to be a mentor.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The essential ingredients that make mentorship actually work
• Why most formal mentorship programs fall short
• Why vulnerability is the often-missing key to meaningful connection
• How to reframe mentorship if you feel too busy or not “qualified” to be one

Timestamps:

00:01 – Intro to Deborah Heiser and her book The Mentorship Edge

00:17 – The story of Vinny and Fred: how a casual conversation changed a life

05:01 – Deborah’s definition of mentorship through a psychologist’s lens

06:55 – Why mentorship needs trust, intrinsic motivation, and connection

08:30 – What most companies get wrong about mentorship

09:32 – Deborah’s career pivot: From studying depression to studying joy

11:56 – How her nursing home research helped change federal policy on depression

14:33 – The difference between generativity, generosity, and reciprocity

16:11 – Everyday examples of being generative without realizing it

18:35 – Why formal workplace mentorships often backfire

22:07 – A space shuttle story: how lateral mentorship helped save an astronaut

24:39 – What is lateral mentorship, and why it matters

33:31 – The story of the “two Steves” (Jobs & Wozniak) and unsung mentorship

37:00 – How to find mentees: look to your left and your right

38:20 – Why advice only works when it’s built on trust

39:43 – Where to learn more about Deborah’s work

About Deborah:

Deborah Heiser, Ph.D., is an applied developmental psychologist, author, and thought leader in mentorship and personal growth. She is the founder and CEO of The Mentor Project, a global nonprofit connecting experts like Nobel laureates and astronauts with mentees to foster innovation and leadership. Her latest book, The Mentorship Edge, launched on November 13, explores the transformative power of mentorship in creating meaningful connections and empowering individuals to thrive at any stage of life. With her work featured in Psychology Today and other leading outlets.

Resources Mentioned:

• Follow Deborah on LinkedIn
• Visit Deborah’s website
• The Mentorship Edge by Deborah Heiser
• Learn more about Deborah’s The Mentor Project
• Deborah’s articles on Psychology Today
• Erik Erikson’s theory of generativity
• STS-114 NASA mission

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