Why the Kindest People are the Most Depressed with Leah Marone | The Grateful Podcast Ep. 121

Send us Fan MailThe people everyone trustsare often the ones burning out the fastest.In episode 121 of The Grateful Podcast, Jack sits down with Leah Marone, psychotherapist, TEDx speaker, and author of The Serial Fixer, to explore why the most caring and emotionally intelligent people often feel the most drained, overwhelmed, and unseen.Leah breaks down how “helping” can quietly turn into control, why stepping back feels wrong even when it’s healthy, and how serial fixing is often driven by fear, identity, and the need for validation. Together, they unpack people-pleasing, burnout, internal vs external fixing, parenting dynamics, leadership mistakes, and the importance of learning how to support without solving.This conversation is for anyone who:•Feels responsible for other people’s emotions•Jumps in too quickly to fix problems•Struggles with burnout despite good intentions•Wants healthier, more sustainable relationshipsThis isn’t about becoming less compassionate.It’s about learning how to care without losing yourself.Timestamps:00:00 The personality everyone trusts01:06 Why high empathy leads to exhaustion02:57 What serial fixing really is05:04 Helping vs ego06:52 Compassion disguised as control08:52 People pleasing and validation10:51 Support vs solving12:18 How to hold space properly13:49 Why “tell me more” changes everything17:51 Internal serial fixing19:42 Soothing the inner critic22:25 Talking to yourself productively24:43 Why calm feels uncomfortable27:12 Gratitude vs problem scanning29:58 Productivity obsession and burnout33:22 Anxiety, presence, and burnout34:16 Leadership mistakes that exhaust teams36:44 When fixing backfires38:22 Parenting without control40:21 Awareness as the first step44:04 How serial fixers can start today45:51 Where to find Leah and her work46:55 Gratitude and closing reflectionsConnect with Leah:Website: https://www.leahmarone.com/Buy the Serial Fixer: https://www.serial-fixer.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahmaronelcsw/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahmaronelcsw/📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL7rwtc5s_KcTZMHSJng-FQSubscribe for more deep conversations with thinkers, seekers, and soulful creators. 🙏⸻🧠 More from Jack:Newsletter (Magic, Meaning & Momentum): https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/aa6b0945-43aa-43c8-b320-0fde6998f852?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7DInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack_wagoner_/1:1 Coaching & Dream-Chasing Guidance: [email protected]💬 If you found this conversation meaningful, send it to a friend and leave a review. It really helps more people find this kind of soul-nourishing content.⸻🎙️ About Jack:I’m an 18-year-old high school student with a big dream: to show the world that you can be grateful and ambitious at the same time. Through The Grateful Podcast, I explore what it means to live a meaningful life—one deep conversation at a time.Support the show☕ Magic Mind — My daily performance shot:→ https://magicmind.com/wagoner20Use code WAGONER20 for 20% off a package or 48% off a subscription.🧠 More from Jack:► Website: https://jackwagoner.co► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack_wagoner_/► 1:1 Coaching: [email protected]📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jack_Wagoner⸻🎙️ About Jack:I moved to France alone at 16, started my first business at 17, and launched this podcast because I kept meeting people who had the answers to questions I didn't even know I was asking.  My philosophy: you can set massive goals while being deeply fulfilled right now. That's the duality of gratitude and ambition.Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.Stay grateful, stay hungry.