164: The New Approach to Mentorship That'll Change Your Life | Deborah Heiser
Release Date:
May 9, 2025
Release Date: May 8
Mentorship isn’t a box to check or a corporate initiative to roll out. It’s a deeply human exchange that only works when it’s honest, unforced, and rooted in trust.
In today's episode, Damon is joined by Award-winning Researcher, Author and Founder of The Mentor Project, Dr. Deborah Heiser, who is here to challenge everything we think we know about what it means to be a mentor.
What You’ll Learn:
The essential ingredients that make mentorship actually work
Why most formal mentorship programs fall short
Why vulnerability is the often-missing key to meaningful connection
How to reframe mentorship if you feel too busy or not “qualified” to be one
In This Episode:
00:01 – Intro to Deborah Heiser and her book The Mentorship Edge
00:17 – The story of Vinny and Fred: how a casual conversation changed a life
05:01 – Deborah’s definition of mentorship through a psychologist’s lens
06:55 – Why mentorship needs trust, intrinsic motivation, and connection
08:30 – What most companies get wrong about mentorship
09:32 – Deborah’s career pivot: From studying depression to studying joy
11:56 – How her nursing home research helped change federal policy on depression
14:33 – The difference between generativity, generosity, and reciprocity
16:11 – Everyday examples of being generative without realizing it
18:35 – Why formal workplace mentorships often backfire
22:07 – A space shuttle story: how lateral mentorship helped save an astronaut
24:39 – What is lateral mentorship, and why it matters
33:31 – The story of the “two Steves” (Jobs & Wozniak) and unsung mentorship
37:00 – How to find mentees: look to your left and your right
38:20 – Why advice only works when it’s built on trust
39:43 – Where to learn more about Deborah’s work
About Deborah:
Deborah Heiser, Ph.D., is an applied developmental psychologist, author, and thought leader in mentorship and personal growth. She is the founder and CEO of The Mentor Project, a global nonprofit connecting experts like Nobel laureates and astronauts with mentees to foster innovation and leadership. Her latest book, The Mentorship Edge, launched on November 13, explores the transformative power of mentorship in creating meaningful connections and empowering individuals to thrive at any stage of life. With her work featured in Psychology Today and other leading outlets.
