The Lion King & Emotional Intelligence

Before we knew what trauma was The Lion King handed it to us wrapped in a Disney soundtrack and a cloud shaped ghost ad with one of the most iconic voices of all time. What if one of the greatest emotional intelligence journeys ever told came in the form of a cartoon lion who ran away from his problems and found his purpose? Welcome back to the Shadows Podcast. I'm your host, Tripp Bodenheimer, where we step into the darker corners of our emotional world to reclaim our power, purpose and perspective. If you've been with us in the beginning, you know that shadows is built on the idea of embracing the parts of ourselves that we tend to hide, such as the pain, the failures, the fear. It's all about embracing our shadows, making them part of who we are, and now we've evolved, refusing the original mission with the new direction of emotional intelligence, because understanding emotions isn't just a soft skill, it's a survival skill. But before we get started, I want to thank everyone for checking out our latest content. Here at the shadows podcast, Miguel and I are having an absolute incredible time doing this. We've got some really good episodes coming your way. But today we're kicking off something a little bit different than what we've typically done here, because let's be real. Movies can trigger us. Movies can wreck us. One minute you're singing along with Elton John. Side note, best Disney soundtrack ever. Challenge me. I dare you in the next you're emotionally spiraling because a cartoon Lion's dad just got trampled

1:30  
the Lion King hit theaters in 1994 now that was a year after I lost my own father, and even as a kid, I felt a deep connection to Simba, the guilt, the confusion, the pressure of being something more. It all hit home for me, still does to this day, to an extent. So this episode means a lot to me personally. This isn't just a movie breakdown. It's a chance to revisit something that helped shape how I've processed loss identity and purpose. And just to be clear, we're covering the OG 94 Lion King, not the National Geographic remake. So the Lion King didn't just define 90s childhoods. It introduced us to betrayal, grief, shame and redemption before we even knew what any of those words meant. And guess what? It all ties directly to emotional intelligence. So today we're breaking it down and maybe help you remember who you are. So today, we explore the story that captures both sides of the journey, a story of shame, self discovery, of running from our past and finally returning to who we are. This is The Lion King, and this is what Simba journey can teach us about emotional intelligence and embracing our shadows. But beyond the songs, the stunning animation, lies a powerful emotional arc. We're going to break down Simba's journey through the lens of emotional intelligence, and we're going to take some pages out of Daniel Goldman's book. We're going to talk about shame, avoidance to self awareness, sympathy and purpose. Now, through key scenes and character moments, we explore how the Lion King mirrors our own struggles with identity, grief, emotional suppression and the courage it takes to confront our shadows and return to who we truly are. So whether you're a lifelong fan or watching with a fresh set of eyes, by the way, it is on Disney, plus, this episode uncovers the emotional intelligence lessons hidden in the Pride Lands. So before we dive into Simba's journey, let's talk emotional intelligence for a second. Psychologist Daniel Goleman, the OG of emotional intelligence, one of the leading voices in this space, he outlines five key areas that make up emotional intelligence, and I discuss this whenever I do my emotional intelligence teachings, and those are self awareness, which is being able to recognize your own emotions, self regulation, which is managing those emotions so you've you've recognized them, you can also manage them. But then empathy is a very big one, understanding other people's emotions, not controlling or dictating, but understanding. And then we have social skills, building strong relationships. And finally, motivation, which is staying driven by purpose, not ego. And believe it or not, The Lion King hits every single one of these that Daniel Goleman discussed. So in true shadows fashion, we're gonna break these down. This is not just a movie, but a master class in emotional intelligence, as told by Disney, so grab your bug snacks, cue circle of life, and let's get started.

4:26  
So we're gonna kick things off with self awareness. Daniel Goldman defines self awareness as knowing one's internal states, preferences, resources and intuitions. So in simpler terms, it's the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions as they're happening when Lion King this plays out beautifully as Simba arc as he begins to recognize how guilt and fear has shaped his behavior and ultimately reclaims his identity after Mufasa's death, Simba runs not just from danger, but from who he is.

5:00  
And we say on the shadows podcast, he doesn't embrace his shadows, he internalizes guilt and shame, blames himself. And what do we do when we're carrying emotional weight? We shrink, we hide. We're less than we don't reach our true potential. However, there are two moments I want to point out as emotional turning points in this movie, as it relates to self awareness.

5:23  
Rafikis Mirror moment is powerful because it's not just spiritual, it's psychological. Rafiki doesn't show Semba something new. He shows him what's always been there, which is his true self beneath the shadow of shame. We all have a Rafiki in our lives, who can show us the darkest moments and who we truly are. For all of our listeners out there, ask yourself, How often do you let guilt or past failures cloud your identity? You may have even had a failure today. What would it take for you to look past that mirror and confront what we see also the scene where the ghost of Mufasa as the second emotional turning point where it directly impacts Simba self awareness. Let's talk about that scene, because Mufasa appears in the sky with the iconic James Earl Jones voice. He doesn't sugarcoat it either, right? You have forgotten who you are, so you have forgotten me. Translation, son, you ghosted your destiny. Then he comes, you know, emotional gut punch. Remember who you are, and just like that, Simba gets hit with one of the most epic fatherly guilt trips from the afterlife. It's not about shame, it's about self awareness. Well, Fauci isn't telling Simba who to be. He's reminding him who he already is that moment snaps Simba out of an emotional autopilot and forces him to stop running and start reflecting, and let's be real. We all need a Mufasa from the cloud sometimes yawn at us to get our stuff together.

6:55  
So hopefully that helps with the self awareness piece. Now we're going to pivot over to self regulation. And Daniel Goldman defines self regulation as managing one's internal states, impulses and resources. So in the context of emotional intelligence, self regulation is the ability to control disruptive behaviors. And trust me, there are plenty of those in this movie, think before acting, being able to adapt and then stay clear, stay calm, clear headed and accountable. And I mean, Scar tests him with that one at the very end. But let's talk about one of the most underrated master classes in self regulation. And no, it's not Simba, it's bufa. Picture. This your kid just disobeyed you snuck off to a literal death trap, almost got himself and his friends killed by a pack of hyenas, and you had to physically fight them off. Now most of us would be a full parent meltdown at this point. You'd be yelling, grounding, possibly revoking Disney plus subscriptions and all sorts of electronic devices from your children. But what Mufasa does, he doesn't roar, he doesn't shame. He simply takes Simba for a quiet walk under the stars and says, I'm only brave when I have to be Simba. Being brave doesn't mean go looking for trouble. And that's one of those. You don't have to yell. You can just say you're disappointed. Type things, and it really, really hits hard. That's leadership, that's parenting right there. That's elite level self regulation that Mufasa just displayed. So a lesson from this is sometimes emotional intelligence is biting your tongue, taking a breath and just remembering your job isn't to react, it's to raise it's to build others up. A man with enough power can speak softly and those will listen, and let's be real. If Mufasa can stay calm after chasing off hyenas, you can probably handle your kids spilling juice on the carpet again. So now let's shift our focus to Simba after the loss of Mufasa. So it's not about suppressing emotions. It's about managing them consciously and constructively. But even after scar tries to blame him for Mufasa's death, Sima does not lose control. He's angry, but he doesn't let rage consume him. He waits until the truth is revealed and then responds with clarity and courage, not vengeance. But I

9:22  
want to talk about Hakuna Matata no worries. Becomes his way of pretending the pain isn't there. And Hakuna Matata perhaps the most memorable scene, one of the most memorable scenes from The Lion King. It's catchy. People live by it. They got it tattooed on them. It's catchy. It's fun. It slaps harder than any song about emotional suppression ever should, but let's be honest, for Simba, it wasn't a lifestyle. It was an emotional escape room. It enabled Simba to pretend the pain wasn't there. And I have been in that same position before, everything's okay. Everything's gonna be fine. But instead of dealing with the whole my uncle murdered my dad and I ran away from responsibility.

10:00  
Ability thing. He basically retires early to eat bugs and vibe in the jungle with two emotionally avoidant life coaches. It's our social domain. It's an outlet, which isn't a bad thing. But here's the thing, though, motions don't disappear just because you sing them away. Eventually our shadows will catch up with us. They show up eventually, usually at the worst possible times. So you got to ask yourself, are you Hakuna Matata ing, I guess that's a word. Your way through unresolved stuff. What happens when the past catches up? When it pulls up receipts, we tend to push stuff under the rug. Ah, everything's gonna be okay, but are you meeting it head on?

10:45  
So we've tackled self awareness, we've tackled self reflection. Now let's talk about empathy, something I historically have struggled with Daniel Goldman calls the ability to sense other people's emotions and to take a real interest in what they're going through is empathy. In the Lion King, the biggest display of empathy doesn't come from big speech. It comes from someone seeing past the mask. Enter Nala

11:12  
when Simba is out there living his no worries. Hakuna makata lifestyle, munching bugs, dodging responsibility and pretending everything's cool. Nala shows up and immediately calls out his BS, he tries to brush her off with a little Hakuna Matata swagger, you know, he says, ah, you know, carefree, I'm living life. But Nala sees through it. She doesn't see an adult lion in front of her. She still sees that hurt, Jonathan Taylor, Thomas, Cub hiding underneath it all. That's empathy, and when she presses him on, it Simba explodes. You don't understand. You can't change the past that line right there. That's what a lot of us do when we're trying to defend our emotional escape routes. We pull the you don't get it card instead of admitting we're scared, stuck or ashamed. So how often do we Hakuna Matata our way through life, hoping no one will see the pain behind the punchlines. But more importantly, are we Nala for someone else? Do we have the courage to see past other people's defense mechanisms and remind them who they truly are underneath all the excuses? That's not the only example I have from empathy in this movie, there's actually a lot. So now I plants the seeds, but Simba stuck with their emotional swamp of guilt, fear, bug protein, and that's when Rafiki shows up. Now I'm gonna be real with you if you were to meet him in real life. He's a little sketchy. He talks in riddles, hits people with sticks, hangs out with Ghost lines, but emotionally, dude, stop notch Rafiki. He doesn't lecture Simba. He plays along with his avoidance. Then he drops the spiritual hammer on him. He literally leads him to a reflection classic EQ symbolism, and then whacks him with a stick. Ouch. That hurt. Yes, the past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it, or you can learn from it. Rafiki got him with that one. That is empathy in action. Rafiki doesn't just feel some of us pain. He helps him grow through it. So a lesson through all this is empathy isn't just holding someone's hand and saying, Man, it sucks. Sometimes it's lovingly smacking them with a metaphorical stick, as if you're Rafiki to get them unstuck. And let's be honest, we all need a Rafiki in our lives, that slightly unhinged friend that sees your excuses, laughs at him and can throw a life lesson in your face wrapped in a proverb.

13:39  
All right, so we've covered a lot so far. Let's pause for a second and see where we're at on Simba, emotional jungle gym. So far we covered self awareness. Simba got ghosted by his dad in the clouds. Finally realized, Oh snap, maybe on more than a bug eating dropout. Then we have self regulation. We expose takuna Matata for what it really is a musical version of sweeping your trauma under the rug with a Warthog and a meerkat,

14:08  
and we got empathy. Now I saw through symbols jungle charade and hit him with the emotional X ray vision. Then Rafiki showed up, like a cross between Yoda and a weird uncle that somehow always gives you the best advice. So up next is social skills. Daniel Goldman defines social skills as the ability to influence, inspire, communicate clearly and build meaningful relationships. Translation. It's not just about being likable. It's about being trusted, especially when stuff hits the fan.

14:40  
They may be comic relief, but Timon and Pumba exhibit this skill. They show impressive interpersonal skills. They befriend Simba instantly make him feel safe, and even though they're terrified, they show up for him when it matters the most. So social skills aren't about saying or doing the right.

15:00  
Thing they're about, being present, something a lot of us struggle with, which is just being present, even with those we love the most, and even when you're scared out of your mind. So our real life tie in here is, you ever have a friend who can't give deep advice but will still fight your emotional scar just to stand by you. That's social skill and loyalty. We all have that really, really loyal friend.

15:27  
Our second example is Simba when he finally decides it's time to return to Pride Rock. Now listen, this isn't just a dramatic hero entrance, it's a full on EQ glow up. Simba does not come back strutting like the Nature Boy. Ric Flair. He returns with humility, with purpose, and more importantly, allies, Timon Pumba, Nala, everyone who stuck around long enough to see the comeback. He's not just roaring to look tough. He's rallying others around because the cause is bigger than himself. That's social intelligence, that's leadership. And let's be honest, if we've ever had to walk back into a room where you previously messed up, whether it be work, family, group chat, you know what it takes more than just a strong roar when you're going into those situations.

16:26  
So what does healthy leadership look like when it's rooted in humility and healing, not ego and volume? Because

16:35  
showing up with vision and vulnerability, that's how you reclaim your Pride Rock and your people.

16:41  
Former basketball coach Matt Doherty said it best. We all carry scars, whether it's from parenting, teaching or coaching, it's how we respond.

16:51  
We've talked self awareness, self regulation, empathy, social skills, which means we've officially we've talked self awareness, self regulation, empathy and social skills, which means we've officially reached the final stop of our emotional Safari, which is motivation. According to Daniel Goleman, motivation is about being driven by purpose, not by rewards, titles or external pressures. It's what keeps us moving forward, not because we have to, but because we believe in what we're doing. And listen, motivation isn't always some loud, dramatic moment. Sometimes it's a ghost Ed whispering from the clouds. Remember who you are. That's not revenge talk. That's not get your crown flex on them, energy, that's pure purpose.

17:42  
Mufasa wasn't telling Simba to fight scar for clout. He was reminding him to live up to his values. So when Simba starts climbing Pride Rock at the end, that's not just a lion scaling a hill, it's every one of us trying to get back on track after spiraling in our own Hakuna Matata phase, the rain's fallen, the scars, literally and emotionally, are showing but Simba is like, Nah, I'm built for this self reflection. Those scars, they don't disqualify us from leaving. They make us real. They make us relatable. It's a sign of vulnerability, which is what leaders need to exhibit more. And if we've learned from them, they can make us ready. It's embracing our shadows. So when purpose calls we are answering from emotional growth or from ego.

18:38  
Think about it. Are we chasing the promotion because we actually care or because we want others to respect us and think more highly of us and it looks better on social media?

18:49  
Are we showing up for our family, our team, our goals because it aligns with our values, or because we don't want to feel like a failure?

18:57  
Motivation doesn't have to be loud and flashy. Sometimes it's a quiet moment when you realize I can't keep living in the jungle, eating bugs and dodging real life. Sometimes it shows up like a whispering Mufasa, deep voice, low cloud coverage, lots of wisdom. But the question is, are you listening during those moments?

19:17  
So Simba story isn't just about reclaiming a throne, or about reclaiming self awareness, self regulation, seeing through empathy, rebuilding trust or rediscovering purpose. It's emotional intelligence told through lions, warthogs and the most traumatic scene ever animated in the 90s. It still is an internal scar that I had to this day. And here's the thing, we all have a little Simba in us. We run, we hide, we numb until we're ready to remember who we are and what we're here to do. So whether you're in a jungle of distractions, facing your scar, or you're climbing your own version of pride route, just know you're not alone in growth. It's not always easy, but, it's worth the return. And now we want to hear from all you. Did you enjoy this lion king meets the shadows podcast breakdown? Was it helpful, hilarious, or did it just bring back childhood trauma? Please let us know. And if you've got another movie you would like for us to break down through the lens of emotional intelligence, just drop us a message, tag us, or, you know, yell it through the skylight. Mufasa, don't forget to check out past episodes on all podcast platforms and at the shadowspodcast.com and also follow us on Instagram. We have a lot of stuff. We're posting audio clips throughout the weeks. We got some really good stuff we're pumping out over there. So until next time, I'm gonna end it with a quote from The Lion King that encompasses everything the shadows podcast is, and it comes from Rafiki. The past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it or you can learn from it. Folks, we'll see you next week here on the shadows podcast. You.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai