Episode 710: Narcolepsy, Productivity, and Self-Trust with Michelle Weger

I’m joined by Michelle Weger, the first guest I’ve ever had on the show who lives with narcolepsy, for a powerful conversation about invisible illness, fear, productivity, rest, and what it really takes to keep moving forward when your energy is limited and misunderstood.

Michelle is a productivity expert, bestselling author, and international keynote speaker. Throughout our conversation you’ll hear her share what daily life with narcolepsy actually looks like, how receiving her diagnosis upended the identity she thought she had, and how she rebuilt confidence and purpose one practical step at a time. 

We talk honestly about fear, perfectionism, procrastination, vulnerability, and why rest is not optional, especially for women in leadership. This is a conversation about doing what you can with the energy you have, letting go of shame, and redefining success on your own terms.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What living with narcolepsy is really like, including chronic exhaustion, disrupted sleep cycles, and why “sleepy” is very different from “tired” (3:36)

• How Michelle’s diagnosis changed her life overnight, including losing her driver’s license and the identity she thought she was building (10:08)

• Why fear doesn’t disappear as you grow, and how learning to move through it is more important than trying to eliminate it

• Practical ways to work through procrastination and perfectionism (15:09)

• What Michelle has learned from working alongside her Great Dane service dog, Quinn, including lessons about asking for and receiving help (33:54)

• How to balance ambition, productivity, and energy limits, especially for women in leadership (37:32)

• Common misconceptions about invisible conditions like narcolepsy and why there is no one-size-fits-all experience or solution (39:35)

Resources from this episode:

Write Your Way Through It starts on January 21st!

Come join us at Rythmia in January!

Michelle’s websiteMichelle’s book, Don’t Snooze Your Dreams

Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I’ve compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!  

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http://andreaowen.com/podcast/710

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