How to Cure Perfectionism with Oliver Burkeman

How to Cure Perfectionism with Oliver Burkeman

From Factually! with Adam Conover by Headgum

May 20, 2026 · 1h 12m

About this episode

Adam Conover and Oliver Burkeman discuss how to overcome perfectionism and embrace self-acceptance.

Like it or not, we all have our limits. But this world seems to want to make us feel guilty for not constantly trying to outdo ourselves—we’re made to feel like failures if we’re not always becoming more efficient, more optimized, more “together” versions of ourselves. To put it frankly, this sucks. Author and previous guest Oliver Burkeman has written a book on how the pursuit of optimization just drives us further away from the core of happiness: embracing ourselves as we truly are. This week, Adam and Oliver talk about how to relieve the pressures that society puts on us and how to find peace and freedom in self-acceptance. Find Oliver’s book, Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts,  at factuallypod.com/books -- SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/adamconover SEE ADAM ON TOUR: https://www.adamconover.net/tourdates/ SUBSCRIBE to and RATE Factually! on: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/factually-with-adam-conover/id1463460577 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fK8WJw4ffMc2NWydBlDyJ About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with…

People in this episode

Host: Adam Conover

Guest: Oliver Burkeman

Topics covered

  • perfectionism
  • self-acceptance
  • happiness
  • optimization
  • societal pressure

Keywords

  • perfectionism
  • self-acceptance
  • happiness
  • optimization
  • societal pressure
  • Oliver Burkeman
  • Headgum

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Headgum

Books & works: Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts

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