(Originally published September 28, 2013)

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The road trip to Walla Walla from Denver (for my 15-year college reunion) has never been so easy or so fun. Symons and I made it here effortlessly. We mostly talked and listened to music but on the second day we started listening to Brené Brown’s The Power of Vulnerability. If you don’t already know about this woman, I’m honored to introduce her to you.

The YouTube video below describes her work as follows:

Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work, where she has spent the past ten years studying a concept she calls Wholeheartedness, posing the questions: How do we engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness? How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to embrace our imperfections and to recognize that we are enough—that we are worthy of love, belonging and joy?

Here’s the TED talk that blew her work open to the nation/world:

The Power of Vulnerability audio is completely amazing. I thought I had purchased an audiobook but it turns out to be the recording of a multi-day talk she gave. (I got it as part of a 30-day free trial to Audible.com that includes one free download.)

I think it should be required listening for every person. It’s loaded with nugget after nugget of information that can increase anyone’s emotional intelligence. I’m certain that once I get all the way through it, I’ll listen over and over again. Check her out and I know you’ll fall in love with her as I have.