Choosing Wholeness: Embracing the Shadow and Rewriting Your Story with Elise Loehnen

In this profoundly insightful episode, Dr. Dan welcomes back New York Times bestselling author and cultural thought leader ⁠Elise Loehnen⁠ to explore the power and necessity of shadow work. Together, they dive into Jungian psychology, the cost of cultural conditioning, and the stories we unconsciously carry that shape who we believe we must be.
Elise talks to Dr. Dan about the journey that led to her latest project, ⁠Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness⁠—a transformational guidebook co-written with coach Courtney Smith. From the drama triangle to internal family systems to working with the “eight sins,” this conversation is packed with tools and reflections to help you move from ego to soul, knowledge to wisdom, and fear to empowerment.
Key Topics on this new episode include: what lives in our shadow—and why it matters; the cultural cost of being “good” vs. becoming whole; using anger, fear, and envy as tools for healing and growth; and the shadow’s role in leadership, parenting, and cultural change.


Listeners will walk away with practical insights on identifying their unconscious stories, tools to integrate repressed parts of themselves, and a new lens through which to see themselves—and others—with compassion and clarity.
For more information ⁠eliselunen.substack.com⁠ and follow ⁠@eliselunen⁠ on Instagram. Check out Elise’s podcast⁠ Pulling the Thread ⁠and her book ⁠On Our Best Behavior⁠. Listen to Dan’s previous conversation with Elise ⁠On our Best Behavior⁠.
Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit ⁠www.drdanpeters.com⁠ and send your questions or guest pitches to ⁠[email protected]⁠.
We have this moment, this day, and this life—let’s make it a great one.
– Dr. Dan