Episode 225: The Power of Saying 'No': Redefining Defiance w/ Dr. Sunita Sah

Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording

📌Make sure to check out the book ‘Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes’ https://www.amazon.com/Defy-Power-World-That-Demands/dp/0593445775 How often have you wanted to say no, but complied to keep the peace, avoid conflict, or make others happy? Cornell psychologist and trained doctor Dr. Sunita Sah explores the factors that keep us acquiescent and how they impact our health.

As a first-generation Indian immigrant, Dr. Sah understands the burden and responsibility to remain obedient. From her personal experience and extensive research, she reveals why so many of us are hardwired for compliance and teaches us how to reclaim our agency.

In her book, DEFY: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes (One World; on sale: January 14, 2025), Dr. Sah deconstructs the myth that defiance is a negative trait. Instead, defying enables us to live in accordance with our values. With full mind and body alignment, we grant ourselves emotional and physical freedom.

🖋️ Some key points

(00:00) Introduction to the Podcast

(02:42) Exploring Compliance and Defiance

(04:50) The Impact of Compliance on Health and Society

(06:03) Redefining Defiance

(09:17) Practical Steps to Embrace Defiance

(15:10) The Benefits of Defiance

(23:42) Final Thoughts and Farewell

🌎 Connect with Dr. Sunita Sah Website https://www.sunitasah.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drsunitasah/ Twitter https://twitter.com/profsunitasah?lang=en LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsunitasah

👉 Dr. Sunita Sah BIO

Author Bio: Sunita Sah, MD, MBA, PhD, is an award-winning professor at Cornell University and an expert in organizational psychology. She leads groundbreaking research on influence, authority, compliance, and defiance. A trained physician, she practiced medicine in the United Kingdom and worked as a management consultant for the pharmaceutical industry. She currently teaches executives, leaders, and students in healthcare and business. Dr. Sah is a sought-after international speaker and consultant, advisor to government agencies, and former Commissioner of the National Commission on Forensic Science. Her multidisciplinary research and analyses have been widely published in leading academic journals and media entities including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Harvard Business Review, and Scientific American. 🎤 Podcast post-production by Seamless Multimedia 📌Make sure to check out the book ‘Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes’ https://www.amazon.com/Defy-Power-World-That-Demands/dp/0593445775