Hi, I’m Elise.

I’m a long-time podcast host, magazine editor (Condé Nast Traveler, Lucky), media exec (former chief content officer of goop), and the author of the New York Times bestseller On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good (Dial Press/PRH).

I focus primarily on culture, and the way it lands in our bodies: Why do we do what we do? What’s us versus the stories we’re told about who we’re supposed to be? I’m interested in pulling apart this tapestry so we can re-weave a truer version. I’m also a seeker: While I’m not affiliated with any religion, I turn to all of them for wisdom and larger context. I call this applied spirituality: How do we take the vertical—its ineffable, magical nature—and spill it into the horizontal. How do we live this deeper meaning in our ordinary existence? I write about this a lot.

I’m married to a lovely guy named Rob and we have two sons, Max and Sam. We live in Los Angeles though I was born and raised in Montana and consider that home.

So what’s happening over here?

I write a free weekly newsletter where I share thoughts about the wider world. I also do etymology videos (do you know the root of matter?), origin stories (i.e., why 13 is codified as unlucky number, or why the horseshoe is sacred?), and breakdowns of therapy modalities (I.F.S., A.C.T., EMDR, and every other acronym). Here are a few recent notes that give you a sense of what I explore:

So what’s happening behind the paywall?

In addition to weekly newsletters, I write occasional deeper dives into concepts that require more research and collation: I’m working on a series about energy healing, entities, negative energy, guru energy, archetypal power sources, spiritual power, etc.

I also make videos about books I’m reading—I read…a lot. As a podcast host, I take copious notes on everything I read, which I share here in key takeaway form (here’s Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, Healing Collective Trauma by Thomas Hübl, The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté, M.D., Lady Justice by Dahlia Lithwick, Entitled by Kate Manne). I’ll also be doing Q&A’s with fascinating healers, doctors, therapists, and thought leaders at work today.

I’m also contemplating a book club and other opportunities to gather community—it’s clear we’re all lonely! While I’m hoping to keep this as accessible as possible (please email me if you need access to the pay wall and can’t swing it, no questions asked), I’d love your support.

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I read a lot and share what I learn. Spiritual seeker. Pulling apart the stories we tell about who we are so we can re-write a truer version. Podcast host and author of the New York Times bestseller ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR.

People

Author of ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to be Good (out now!) and host of Pulling the Thread Podcast.