What if the most powerful art comes not from performance, but from radical truth-telling and allowing yourself to be a vessel for something greater?

In this soul-stirring episode, host Aaron Lazar sits down with the extraordinary Sara Bareilles—Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Tony and Emmy-nominated actress, and creator of the beloved musical Waitress. Sara joins from a place of deep reflection, having recently delivered the commencement speech at her alma mater UCLA, where she spoke about embracing the "both/and" nature of life—the glorious and the awful, the joy and the fear, all existing simultaneously.

This conversation is both intimately personal and universally resonant. Sara opens up about her lifelong allergy to anything inauthentic, her belief that music is her church and that she's simply a vessel translating divine particles into song. She shares her journey with anxiety, the transformative power of meditation and therapy, and why she's no longer interested in brand-building—only in genuine connection and being of service.

Sara's impossible dream shines brightest when she talks about surrendering to life's flow, recognizing that resistance only amplifies suffering, and trusting that even our most painful experiences carry profound lessons. This episode is for anyone navigating anxiety, loss, creative blocks, or the fundamental human challenge of showing up authentically in a world that constantly asks us to perform.

Guest Bio:

Sara Bareilles is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Tony and Emmy-nominated actress, and New York Times bestselling author. Best known for her chart-topping hits including "Love Song," "Brave," and "Gravity," Sara has sold millions of albums worldwide and earned critical acclaim for her honest, emotionally resonant songwriting. She made her Broadway debut in 2016 when she composed the music and lyrics for Waitress, which became a cultural phenomenon and earned her a Tony nomination for Best Original Score. She later stepped into the lead role, showcasing her remarkable acting talents. Sara has also starred in Broadway's Into the Woods, earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as Mary Magdalene in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, and published the bestselling memoir Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song. A graduate of UCLA, Sara recently returned to deliver the 2024 commencement address. She continues to create music that serves as medicine for millions, believing deeply that art is about connection, truth-telling, and being of service.

Learn more about Sara Bareilles:

Official Website: https://www.sarabareilles.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarabareilles

Waitress the Musical: https://waitressthemusical.com

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What if, for once, a conversation about ALS didn’t begin with despair—but with hope?

This holiday season, host Aaron Lazar invites listeners into a radically different kind of dialogue: one grounded not in fear, but in possibility. The ALS community is too often met with messages of limitation and inevitability. In this special episode, we turn that narrative on its head.

Joining Aaron are three extraordinary individuals— CEO of the ALS network Sheri Strahl, head of the ALS clinic at Duke university Dr. Rick Bedlack, and chief data scientist for PCCI Albert Karam—who each bring a voice of courage, compassion, and conviction. Together, they illuminate what’s possible when advocacy, clinical wisdom, and human connection come together in service of healing.

This conversation lifts up the stories, insights, and lived experiences that inspire strength. Sheri shares how the ALS Network supports families with unwavering dedication. Dr. Bedlack reflects on decades of caring for patients with an open heart and an open mind. Albert speaks to the power of innovation and imagination when seeking answers that bring genuine hope to the community.

This episode is a reminder that while ALS is daunting, the people living with it—and those standing beside them—are even more powerful. Their stories reveal pathways to resilience, connection, and possibility. This is a conversation for anyone who needs to hear that light still breaks through, even in the hardest moments.

This holiday, we offer a gift: a space where hope leads the way.

About the Guests:

Sheri Strahl is President and CEO of the ALS Network, one of the nation's largest ALS advocacy organizations. With a background in public health and business, she leads through three mission pillars: comprehensive care coordination, groundbreaking research partnerships, and tireless policy advocacy. Under her leadership, the ALS Network doesn't just support families—they're actively working to solve ALS.

Dr. Rick Bedlack is a neurologist at Duke University who has dedicated 28 years to transforming ALS care and research. He pioneered a radical approach: partnering with patients as equals in research. Today, he leads ALS Untangled and studies ALS outliers—patients doing extraordinarily well—to identify three key factors that could transform outcomes for everyone.

Albert Karam is Chief Information Officer at the Center for Clinical Innovation, a nonprofit think tank specializing in machine learning and artificial intelligence. As a mathematician and data scientist, Albert develops AI solutions that look beyond medical records to understand the whole person—combining clinical data with social determinants of health to reveal patterns invisible to traditional research.

Connect:

ALS Network Official Website

Become an ALS Advocate

Duke ALS Clinic

ALS Untangled - Alternative Treatment Research

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The Banker Who Nearly Ended His Life—and the Buddhist Temple That Saved It

Before he became a world-record-breaking endurance athlete, Matt Dawson was a wealthy New York investment banker silently falling apart. Despite the cars, the clubs, and the money, he woke up every morning wanting his life to end. Depression took over. Success meant nothing. And one night, Matt reached a breaking point: he truly believed the world would be better without him.

Instead of ending his life, he made one desperate choice—to run toward something bigger than himself.

He flew to Nepal with no plan except survival. At the base of Mount Everest, inside a small Buddhist temple, Matt experienced the moment that shattered his old identity and pulled him back into life. That spiritual awakening became the turning point that led him from self-destruction to service.

Now, Matt holds six World Records, has rowed solo across the Atlantic, climbed Everest, skied to the South Pole, and created Dawson’s Peak Foundation—donating 100% of net proceeds to Hope for the Warriors and the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Matt’s journey is proof that the human spirit can rise from absolute darkness and become a force of unstoppable good.

Connect with Matt Dawson:

Dawson's Peak Foundation Official Website

Matt Dawson on Instagram

Hope for the Warriors - Veteran Support

Gary Sinise Foundation - Military Veterans

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Episode Navigation:

03:22 - How Matt Dawson set 6 World Records for endurance athletics

09:35 - Dawson's Peak Foundation mission: Supporting military veterans through Hope for the Warriors and Gary Sinise Foundation

16:30 - Understanding the difference between profession and purpose in life

17:07 - Breaking free from autopilot: How 95% of your identity becomes programmed by age 35

19:08 - The hidden darkness behind professional success and material wealth

20:28 - Matt's turning point: "Check in or check out" - confronting suicidal thoughts and choosing transformation

23:31 - Solo spiritual pilgrimage to Nepal and Everest Base Camp as life-saving journey

24:33 - Why this Nepal trek was Matt's last-ditch effort to save his own life

25:45 - Moving from head to heart: Transitioning from analytical thinking to embodied awareness

41:27 - Using personal transformation to help others overcome depression, pain,...

What if the voice that guided you through your darkest depression came from a grandmother you barely knew—who had been dead for nearly a decade? What if that voice opened a door to an entirely different dimension of existence, one that would transform your life and help thousands of others find peace?

In this profoundly moving episode of Impossible Dreams, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Rebecca Rosen—internationally renowned psychic medium, bestselling author, and one of the most gifted spiritual practitioners of our generation. From her skeptical beginnings as a college student in Gainesville, Florida to becoming a trusted guide for people seeking connection with loved ones who have passed, Rebecca shares a journey that began with automatic writing in a bookstore and evolved into a 25-year calling of service.

Rosen explains how her dead grandmother—a woman who took her own life when Rebecca was just ten years old—reached across the veil to help her granddaughter heal from depression, offering specific evidence that left even Rebecca's skeptical father speechless. She talks about the difference between psychics and mediums, and how she spent years demanding proof before finally accepting her extraordinary ability to communicate with discarded beings.

But this episode is about more than just Rebecca's story. It's about the universal truths she's learned from spirit—that we are all enough simply for being born, and that the only thing that transcends this physical experience is love. Rebecca offers profound insight into Aaron's journey with ALS, explaining root issues, calling energy back from the future, and the importance of healing not just for ourselves but for generations to come.

This conversation is raw and transformative. It's for anyone who has ever questioned their worth despite their success, or anyone who needs a reminder that miracles happen when we get out of our own way and align with our Higher Self.

Guest Bio:

Rebecca Rosen is an internationally renowned psychic medium, bestselling author, and spiritual teacher who has spent 25 years helping people connect with loved ones who have passed and find healing through divine guidance. Her work bridges the physical and spiritual realms, offering evidence-based readings that provide comfort, clarity, and validation to thousands of clients. Rebecca is the author of multiple books including "Spirited," where she explores root issues and universal spiritual truths. She hosts the podcast "Small Medium at Large" and is known for her compassionate, authentic approach to mediumship—one that honors both the skeptics and the believers. With her gift, Rebecca helps people understand that we are all connected to something greater and that love is the only thing that truly matters.

Learn more about Rebecca Rosen:

Official Website: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/wq0G0e

Instagram: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/9wAuPL

Small Medium at Large Podcast: https://WsBQMs.short.gy/T8a8lU

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In this deeply intimate episode of Impossible Dreams, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Josh Groban-the multi-platinum recording artist, Broadway star, and one of the most beloved voices of a generation. From standing on stage with Celine Dion at just 17 years old to selling millions of albums while battling impostor syndrome, Josh opens up about a journey that was anything but what it appeared from the outside.

This conversation reveals the real Josh Groban. He shares why he felt like a "complete fraud" for the first ten years of his career, performing by "the skin of my teeth" while terrified someone would discover he didn't belong. He talks about being plucked from obscurity at such a young age that he missed those crucial formative years of failure, friendship, and figuring it out in private-years he's now jealous of other artists for having.

But this episode is about more than just Josh's story. It's about the moment when The Impossible Dream-a song Josh had reimagined years ago-became the anthem for Aaron's album and his battle with ALS. Josh explains why he said yes immediately when asked to contribute, what it means to be of service through music, and why at 44, he's still dreaming impossible dreams: from writing for film and television to conquering his fear of creating without the security blanket of his voice.

This conversation is raw, funny, healing, and inspiring. It's for anyone who has ever felt like a fraud despite their success, anyone who's wondered if they missed their shot, or anyone who needs a reminder that it's never too late to dream something new.

Guest Bio:

Josh Groban is a multi-platinum recording artist, actor, and one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music. Since bursting onto the scene at age 17, Josh has sold millions of albums, performed on the world's biggest stages, and established himself as both a classical crossover phenomenon and a Broadway star. Beyond his musical accomplishments, Josh is known for his philanthropy, his genuine connection with fans, and his willingness to use his platform for meaningful causes. Josh founded the Find Your Light Foundation dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience quality arts education. His reimagined arrangement of The Impossible Dream has become a modern classic, inspiring countless performers-including Aaron Lazar-to bring new life to this timeless anthem of hope and perseverance.

Learn more about Josh Groban:

Official Website: joshgroban.com

Find Your Light Foundation: https://fylf.org

Instagram: @joshgroban

YouTube: @JoshGroban

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What happens when one of Broadway’s most iconic voices sits down and decides to tell the truth behind her talent, her faith, her heartbreaks, and the next chapter of her legendary career?

In this electrifying episode, Aaron Lazar welcomes one of Broadway‘s, most legendary divas Kristin Chenoweth — Tony & Emmy winner, comedic assassin, spiritual warrior, and the original Glinda — joining us straight from a New York rehearsal studio where she was building her newest Broadway musical as both star and producer.

And in a stroke of cosmic timing, this conversation is being released the very week that Queen of Versailles opens on Broadway. You’ll feel the adrenaline of a show still being sculpted, the exhaustion and joy of creation, and the pulse of someone who knows she’s standing on the brink of something monumental.

Kristin opens the vault on the five-year journey that brought this musical to life, the pressure of carrying a multi-million-dollar production on her shoulders, and the private spiritual practices that have kept her grounded through impossible highs, painful setbacks, and the beautiful chaos of showbiz.

You’ll hear about the dreams that shaped her, the faith that sustains her, the mentors who molded her, and why she’s fiercely committed to lifting up the next generation through her Broadway Bootcamp, where artists like Tatum Hopkins are being launched into their own impossible dream.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever dreamed audaciously, fallen down, gotten back up, and kept shining. It’s a story of faith, fire, reinvention, and the unstoppable force of a woman who refuses to stop believing in joy.

If you love Broadway, brilliance, or beautiful truth… you won’t stop listening.

Guest Bio:

Kristin Chenoweth is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and Broadway legend best known for originating the role of Glinda in Wicked and winning the Tony Award for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. With a career spanning Broadway, film, television, and concert stages around the world, Kristin has captivated audiences with her extraordinary voice, comedic brilliance, and radiant spirit. She holds a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl. A proud Oklahoma native and graduate of Oklahoma City University, Kristin is deeply committed to arts education through her Kristin Chenoweth Broadway Bootcamp, a competitive two-week intensive program that trains the next generation of theater artists. She is currently starring in and producing the new Broadway musical Queen of Versailles, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Lindsey Ferrentino, and direction by Michael Arden, opening November 2025 at the St. James Theatre.

Learn more about Kristin Chenoweth:

Official Website: https://www.kristinchenoweth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kchenoweth

Queen of Versailles on Broadway: https://www.queenofversaillesthemusical.com

Kristin Chenoweth Broadway Bootcamp: https://www.kristinchenowethbootcamp.com

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What if ALS-one of the most devastating neurological diseases-is closer to being treatable than ever before? What if the cure is not decades away, but within reach in our lifetime?

In this powerful episode of Impossible Dreams, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Dr. Merit Cudkowicz-one of the world's leading ALS researchers and clinicians, the Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Cudkowicz, affectionately known as the "greatest ALS doctor in the world" by countless patients, has dedicated her career to finding better treatments and ultimately a cure for ALS since witnessing the discovery of the first ALS gene in 1993.

This conversation is both deeply scientific and profoundly human. Dr. Cudkowicz walks through the challenging journey of ALS diagnosis-why it typically takes a year and 3-4 doctors before patients get answers-and explains the complexity of a disease that mimics many other conditions. She shares the groundbreaking advances happening right now, from the remarkable success of SOD1 gene therapy (which can halt or even reverse progression in certain patients) to the new wave of therapies targeting TDP-43 protein, the underlying biology present in nearly all ALS cases.

Throughout this episode, Dr. Cudkowicz's message is clear and urgent: "I don't think curing ALS is impossible. I absolutely think it's possible." She explains why staying connected to research centers, being part of the ALS community, maintaining physical and mental well-being, and never giving up hope are essential for patients navigating this disease. This episode is not just for those living with ALS, it’s for anyone who is living through the unknown of a life-changing diagnosis or has ever cared for someone who has. It's about spreading hope and community in the face of what feels impossible

Guest Bio:

Dr. Merit Cudkowicz is the Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. A chemical engineer from MIT who went on to complete her medical training at Harvard, Dr. Cudkowicz has been at the forefront of ALS research since 1993, when her mentor Dr. Robert Brown discovered the first ALS gene (SOD1). She is the founder and director of the Healey ALS Platform Trial, a revolutionary multi-drug testing system that is dramatically accelerating the pace of ALS drug development. Dr. Cudkowicz has dedicated her career to clinical trials, patient care, and translating laboratory discoveries into treatments that can help people living with ALS.

Learn more about Dr. Merit Cudkowicz:

Mass General Neurology

Healey ALS Platform Trial

Harvard Medical School Faculty Profile

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Presented by the ALS Network

Produced by EVRYBDY Studios

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What if the secret to becoming extraordinary isn't found in your achievements—but in understanding how your mind actually works?

In this transformative episode of Impossible Dreams, host Aaron Lazar sits down with Dr. Michael Gervais—legendary high-performance psychologist to elite athletes, Olympians, and world champions—for a conversation that will change how you think about success, suffering, and the human spirit. As Aaron continues his radical journey with ALS, he and Dr. Gervais explore the profound psychology of facing the impossible and what becomes accessible when you master your inner world.

Dr. Gervais reveals why mastery of self matters infinitely more than mastery of craft, the three non-negotiable practices for building awareness, and why being "unreasonable" might be the only path to extraordinary outcomes. From understanding why we're always either in a storm or heading toward one, to the truth about high performance versus the path of mastery, Dr. Gervais shares the framework that's helped the world's best performers unlock their potential.

But this conversation goes deeper. Aaron and Dr. Gervais dive into the raw reality of Aaron's ALS diagnosis—how the disease forced him to confront a profound loss of self-trust, why German New Medicine gave him a radical new lens ("the body playing dead"), and the critical shift from trying to "beat" the disease to learning to heal from it. Plus: the power of self-talk, why "your team" should actually be "the team," holding an unreasonable vision while calibrating to what someone truly believes is possible, and Dr. Gervais's simple 60-second morning mindset routine that can change everything.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to meet life's most brutal moments with dignity and eloquence—or if you're ready to stop grinding on the "high-performance treadmill" and step onto the path of true mastery—this episode is your roadmap.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Michael Gervais is a high-performance psychologist who has worked with some of the world's most elite performers, including Super Bowl champions, Olympians, and world record holders. He is the co-creator of Finding Mastery, a leading platform dedicated to helping people unlock their full potential through the psychology of high performance. Dr. Gervais is the author of "The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of You" and hosts the Finding Mastery podcast. He is known for his work with the Seattle Seahawks during their Super Bowl-winning seasons and continues to work with elite athletes, CEOs, and organizations committed to excellence.

Learn more about Dr. Michael Gervais:

Morning Mindset Routine

Finding Mastery Podcast

Finding Mastery Platform

"The First Rule of Mastery" Book

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