I'm Maura Aronsmeli and this is The Anxious Achiever.

We look at stories from business leaders who have dealt with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges,

how they fell down, how they pick themselves up and how they hope workplaces can change in the future.

A lot of the conversations I have in my own life and the conversations I have on the show aren't easy.

Because talking about mental health involves diving into a whole lot of stigma, guilt, shame, frustration, vulnerability.

It comes from the person experiencing the issue and those around them, whether they're family, friends, or colleagues.

Well, today's guest is someone who loves these kinds of conversations,

and I was excited to grill her a bit as well, to learn about her sources of shame, vulnerability,

and taboo. Anna Sale is the host of the podcast, Death, Sex, and money, a role she's had for years

after being a political reporter

in public radio.

Throughout the life of the show,

she's also had children,

moved across the country,

gone through many ups and downs,

and written a recent book.

Here's my conversation

with the wonderful Anna Sale

about life, work, and taboo.

The first thing I just wanted to ask is, have you always liked talking about things that other people don't?

Like, where does this come from?

You know, people have asked me that, and I'm like, it's, it's made me feel like I'm an alien.

...