Let's Get Real

Nina Simonds is an internationally-recognized Executive Coach and Team Facilitator.  In this Season Opener, Nina shares four ways to cultivate better listening. She also makes a key distinction between managing and leading and why it matters to listen well.  How to Lead from the Dancefloor and the BalconyA Few Powerful Questions ninasimondscoaching.com InstagramLinked In

Nina reflects on the three leadership lessons from Season 4.  The meta questions we asked this season included: how does a leader cultivate a culture of belonging and inclusion?  What's the most effective ways to navigate a difficult conversation?  And what role does creativity play in self-awareness and leadership development?   While the answers are more complex than one conversation or even the full season,  Nina had fun summarizing some of her personal take-aways from talking to leaders, coaches and authors.     InstagramLinked Inninasimondscoaching.com

Maria Gerea is the founder and owner of Coevolution.  As an experienced executive coach and team development facilitator, she supports leaders and teams to connect the dots between collaboration and innovation to elevate their impact and results. In this conversation, we explored what it is like working with social impact leaders and visionaries.   As a Romanian-born founder, Maria also shared early challenges in establishing herself in the United States.  We also talked about our new program for mission-driven leaders and what we are discovering about our own working relationship including how to view conflict as an opportunity.   Leadership for Real Impact Course CRR GlobalMarshall McLuhan Quote  InstagramLinked Inninasimondscoaching.com

Dr. Nancy Dome is the Founder/CEO of Epoch Education who's primary charge is to provide  accessible and transforming professional development for educators and business leaders in diversity, inclusion and belonging, and equity.   She is also the author of Let's Talk about Race (and Other Hard Things.)  In this conversation,  Dr. Dome outlined a process that is both an effective and compassionate way to talk about hard things and in the process create stronger relationships.     I opened up about one of my own triggers when it comes to addressing microaggressions.   Dome also shared the origins of the  Compassionate Dialogue model and the RIR (Recognize-Interrupt-Repair) protocol that has helped hundreds of educators and leaders navigate difficult but essential conversations.  The two of us also talked about the importance of intentions in any attempt to initiate a high-stakes conversation.Dr. Nancy Dome Leadership and Self Deception Center for Non-violent Communication InstagramLinked Inninasimondscoaching.com

In this quick take,  I share three ways leaders can hold change, whether it's a job loss or an organizational initiative.    These three approaches may seem paradoxical but can accelerate growth and help you tap into what's trying to happen. Holding Change by Adrienne Maree Brown Wu Wei: The Powerful Path of Non-Action InstagramLinked Inninasimondscoaching.com

Andy Simonds is the co-producer and sound engineer for the show but his new day job is as the Chief Product Officer of Talent.com.   Since Andy has been  leading product and organizational transformation in tech for 20+ years including leadership roles at Microsoft and Blizzard Entertainment, we  thought it would be relevant and fun to have Andy on as a guest to talk about leading change.  We explored how his creative outlets help him manage the stresses of leadership.  Andy shared candidly about when his strengths have worked against him and how he has learned to stay true to himself.  We covered some great ground including the power of a diverse team, the bro culture in tech and the increasing lack of trust for corporations today.  Talent.com OC Simonds (Andy's great grandfather) Meg Wheatley's Work Atomic Habits InstagramLinked Inninasimondscoaching.com

The Anatomy of Trust Unleash your Complexity Genius The Ministry for the Future Let's Talk about Race InstagramLinked Inninasimondscoaching.com

Clients often come to me focused on learning tactics or strategies for being a better leader.   What I have learned over time is that effective leadership is as much about who you are being, your presence, as what you are doing and what you produce or accomplish.  Still there are a few misconception of what presence is and how to develop it. In this quick take,  I share the three critical access points for an effective and compelling leadership presence.  One-Moment Meditation InstagramLinked Inninasimondscoaching.com

Sharmin Banu is an executive coach and the former president of the Washington State Chapter of International Coach Federation.   She is also the Pacific Regional Lead for Braver Angels, a grassroots organizations that seeks to depolarize American politics.   Sharmin shared candidly about a time when she moved from self doubt to self confidence.   We also explored how my cultural bias affected our collegial relationship.  Sharmin walked through an approach to being more empathetic with those who have different beliefs than our own.  Braver Angels Greenleaf Coaching Nina Simonds Coaching 

Nina shares four ways of being that cultivate empathy.  It's easy to focus on techniques and skills for building empathy. Your mindset and way of approaching others is equally important in being able to step into someone else's shoes.  In this bite-sized episode Nina defines empathy and walks through the four mindsets that matter most for truly understanding and caring about others.   Satya Nadella on The Power of Empathy Microsoft's Cultural TransformationDesign Thinking 

Abigail Morgan Prout is a professional leadership coach and a midwife for emerging patterns toward a more feminine-forward leadership.  She is the author of a new collection of poetry - Walk Deep. In this conversation Abigail and I explored how writing fuels reflection and self awareness.  Abigail shared her passion for the written word, her accidental discovery of her own inner poet, and poets who inspire her  We also talked about how poetry gives us new language for not only our own experience but the times we live in. Walk Deep by Abigail Morgan ProutAmanda GormanDavid WhyteAda LimonMary OliverTa-Nahisi CoatesPoetry Unbound 

Jenny Leman is the President at CareerPlug, a software and service company that makes hiring easier for small and mid-size businesses.  Native to Texas, Jenny graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 and joined CareerPlug in 2017.   She works to build healthy and scalable internal systems to equip and empower the CareerPlug teams to bring the best for their clients.   In this conversation,  Jenny and I explored the trending topic of Quiet Quitting and what is most foundational in creating a workplace culture where people will thrive. Jenny also shared what identities matter most to her and what makes inner work so crucial to healthy and effective leadership.  The two of us also riffed about the power of tools such as The Hoffman Process and non-violent communication for creating personal and relational  transformation.  CareerPlugChiefQuiet Quitting The Hoffman ProcessNon-violent Communication 

I share one of the essential tools for self-mastery - understanding the difference between your inner critic and your true nature.  This is the first of several conversations I will be having directly with our listeners.   Soul without Shame Mindfulness and the Ego 

In this Season 4 Opener I spoke with Akasha of Cultivating Leadership, a professional coaching and training firm that supports organizations in developing the workforce of the future.  Akasha's deep interests in spirituality, adult development, and intercultural consciousness give him a unique and powerful perspective on leadership development.   We talked about how to help coaches find cultural common ground in developmental conversations.  I was also inspired by Akasha using an early traumatic experience as a catalyst for working with leaders to create more inclusive spaces.  Akasha also shared an acronym that gives us a pathway for repair when we have done harm. Leading Inclusively Lab Cultivating Leadership Susanne Cook-Greuter IDI 

Matt Scott is the Manager of Storytelling & Engagement with Project Drawdown, a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”—the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. Since the 2017 publication of the New York Times bestseller Drawdown, the organization has emerged as a leading resource for information and insight about climate solutions.  Matt Scott focuses on passing the mic to those who often go unheard in the climate space.  In this conversation Nina and Matt explored how storytelling and data work together to shift thinking and behavior.  Matt also shared the five barriers to climate action.  Nina was happily surprised to learn Matt is a fan of co-active coaching!  Project Drawdown The 5 D's of Climate Drawdown's Neighborhoods

Executive Coaches Neil Edwards and Jeff Jacobson, guests from Season One, joined Nina again to have a conversation about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at this year's Academy Awards and the subsequent fallout from it.  Neil shared his perspectives on the overreaction of many white folks in his circle and the complexity of the situation for the black family.   Rules that were broken (or not) and patterns that remain in our collective response.  

Camille Lee is the founder of WearEmOutTees, a circular t-shirt brand focused on getting pre-loved tees back into the economy to help divert them away from landfills, which extends their lifecycle. She hand-selects each shirt and creates the vision for the images screen-printed on every piece.  Camille explains circular fashion and what inspired her to create a business that diverts textiles from landfills.  Nina and Camille also explored the ups and downs of running a social impact business.  WearEmOutTeesFast FashionWearEmOutTee on IGLet's Get Real on IGNina Simonds Coaching 

Kristy Drutman, otherwise known as “Brown Girl Green” is passionate about working at the intersections between media, diversity, and environmentalism.  As a youth climate activist, Kristy has worked with youth from around the world to create collaborative, intersectional online media with the goal of creating conscious, culturally relevant content.  Kristy talked about her experiences at the UN Climate Talks and the harm that happens regularly to BIPOC activists.  Nina and Kristy shared their inspirations and the importance of well being and mental health for activists.  Kristy also talked about why DEI is not just nice to have, but an essential safety net for BIPOC leaders in the green movement. Brown Girl Green Brown Girl Green on Instagram Octavia Butler Morgan Harper Nichols on IG

Carlos Deal is an entrepreneur, a chef and owner of Alternativeats, a restaurant with a focus on Navajo and Japanese food.  Carlos shared his vision for opening up a commissary kitchen and developing the next generation of chefs in his community.  Nina and Carlos talked about the importance of local foods in addressing our carbon footprint.  Nina also learned what a hoop house is.  Alternativeats Facebook pageChange Labs Uranium Poisoning on Navajo NationPeabody Mine Shutdown

Dr. Irina Feygina is a social psychologist who applies behavioral science and facilitation approaches to climate change policy and program development.  She served as the Director of Behavioral Science and Assessment at Climate Central, and as a fellow on the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team.  Irina joins Let's Get Real to talk about how our need for belonging affects our belief in climate change,  how some of our core assumptions endanger us, and what actually influences people to take positive action.  Nina and Irina also talk about what it really takes to have productive conversations with people who have different beliefs than our own.  Irina shared openly about her own struggle to integrate the scientific method with more intuitive ways of knowing and how her own inner work mirrors what needs to happen in society.   Process WorkPolarity Management The Master and his Emissary  

Andy and Nina talk about the impetus behind a season about climate activism.  Nina busts some climate change myths and the two of them riff about how sustainability is influencing their plans to buy or build their next home.   Andy shares a bit about his recording methodology. Nina also gives a sneak peak into some future episodes of Season Three.Drawdown Project The Last Glacier

Melanie Larkins is an ESG expert with 20 years  partnering with clients,  senior executives and governments to implement sustainable strategies.   She is also a wellness and peak performance coach integrating yoga, meditation, and various healing modalities into her work with high performers.  Nina and Melanie explored the connection between self care and care for the planet.  They also talked about how to address burnout at the individual level as well as systemically.  Melanie also shared what makes sustainability so compelling for business.  Melanie's Website All We Can Save Doughnut Economics 

David O'Leary is a wealth management expert, impact investment professional, public speaker, and writer.  David spends his time as Founder & Principal of Kind Wealth, a holistic wealth management practice helping early to mid-career Canadians manage their money in a way that matches their values.  Nina spoke with David O'Leary about how to put our money where are values are and make investing a form of activism.  David and Nina also shared stories about how our attitudes about money influence our choices.   David explained what Environment Social Governance (ESG) criteria are,  the bottleneck to more social impact investing, and the power of newer forms of financing such as microlending.  Dave's Impact Investing Podcast  Kind Wealth Dave's Resources for Impact Investing James Baldwin QuoteSoul of Money  Muhammad Yunus  

For the Season 3 Opener, Nina interviews Lilly Tong, climate creative and activist and host of Make Peas Not Beef.  Lilly is passionate about building smart cities that leverage sustainable practices and technological innovation to combat climate change.  In this conversation Lilly and Nina talked about the importance of optimism to being a climate activist.  They also riffed on veganism, reducing use of plastic and the privilege of clean drinking water.  Finally, Lilly shared the three things that all of us can do to be climate activists.   Food for Thought Podcast Make Peas Not Beef Game Changers Documentary Betsy Rosenberg The Drawdown Project Blueland Dropps

Robin Lacambra is a social justice advocate and movement educator and the founder of GOODBODYFEEL, a studio that offers accessible, inclusive and decolonized movement classes that build self-awareness, strength and community.  Robin shared how inclusivity informs both her parenting and her leadership.  Nina and Robin talked about how essential embodiment is to our collective liberation.  Robin spoke eloquently about the difference between true joy and what she calls "toxic positivity."  They also riffed about the power in deconstructing binary thinking in our personal lives and in our activism.   GOODBODYFEEL

Nina and Andy chat about how to protect and improve voter rights here in the United States and why it matters now more than ever to get involved.  They also talked about how they choose guests for the pod and whether the format is more interview or conversation.   They also shared some BIG personal news before announcing the theme for Season Three. Contact your U.S. Senator

Rebecca Scott is a leadership coach and catalyst with Cultivating Leadership.  She also brings humor, vulnerability and grace to her daily struggles with Multiple Sclerosis through her blog Stumblr.  In this episode Rebecca shared the mindsets and habits she uses to deal with MS and how she applies what she is learning to her work with leaders.  Nina and Rebecca also geeked out about adult development theory and how it has helped both of them grow.  They also came up with a new definition for moderation.  

Richard Hurt was elected to Aliso Viejo City Council in 2020, the first black person to be elected to local office in South Orange County, California.  Nina and Richard talked about their hopes for racial equity in the United States and the importance of staying in the conversation.   Richard about his early experiences getting things done for Aliso Viejo and what gives him hope for the future. Kathryn FinneyLeadership and Self DeceptionClint Smith 

Seena Hodges is the founder of The Woke Coach, an organization that helps clients have a deeper understanding of how the legacy of racism and injustice affect us all.  Ms. Hodges and her team engage with clients to facilitate conversations that live at the intersection of equity, diversity, inclusion, antiracism, and empowerment.   She shared the specific distinctions between being an ally and an accomplice.  Nina and Seena also got real about what it will take for friendships between white women and black women to be more common.    The Woke CoachLeading through Complexity Peer Group The Autobiography of Malcolm XFinding your Roots 

In this episode Nina shares more about Season 2 and interviews a very special guest, her daughter Layne Bower.  Layne is a Senior at the University of Minnesota and is the president of the College of Liberal Arts Student Board.   Layne asked her mom the five questions that Nina has been asking each guest this season. Nina and Layne also talked about what makes their relationship unique and how Nina came up with the title for the show.  

Eric Kohner is an internationally recognized executive coach and keynote speaker. He founded EKCOsystem, a global corporate training company dedicated to bringing the human being into business. He brings heart skills to high-level executives in global organizations such as the US Navy, Capgemini, and ING and is a pioneer of the coaching profession.  Eric shared candidly about how he is learning to work with his own privilege in his work with emerging talent.   Nina and Eric explored some of the taboo topics in leadership development.  They also discussed why it's more important than ever for leaders to be BADASS.  Eric's WebsiteSeven SecondsBryan StevensonLeading through Complexity White Fragility

California activist Celeste Pewter is an upcoming journalist with bylines in Teen Vogue  and Thrillist.  Most recently she has been speaking out about the increased profiling of people of Asian American descent.    In this conversation, Celeste shared candidly about recent harassment she experienced near her home as a Taiwanese American.  Nina and Celeste also explored the power of witnessing for one another and how the term microaggression may minimize the toxicity of racist comments.  Finally, Celeste and Nina discussed three specific ways we can support the AAPI community.   Teen Vogue Article Vincent Chin NY Times article Asian American Journalists Association Nina's Next Peer Group Celeste's Twitter Let's Get Real IG Grace Meng's Website Bystander Training 

Toronto-based executive coaches Joanna Cotton and Grace Churchill are the founders of the Do Good Collective, a community for women who want to create meaningful connections and change the world.  Grace and Joanna shared their insights about what professional women need most right now.  Nina also found out what helps them thrive as a partnership, and they got real about their reactive patterns.  Grace and Joanna were also candid about what it's like to face another lockdown just as the United States seems to be emerging out of the pandemic.  Women Rising (Do Good Collective's May Session) About NinaLet's Get Real on InstagramDo Good Collective Facebook Page ORSCFor All Mankind (on Apple+)

Kvon Tucker heads up leadership development for Google's Staffing organization.   He is also the founder of Consciously, a purpose-driven Executive and Leadership Coaching firm.  Kvon and Nina dove into the topic of leadership presence and what it means to balance the masculine and the feminine.  Kvon shared specific practices he uses with clients to help them develop presence.  The two of them also explored the connection between personal transformation and working for the greater good, and the healing that happens when men support women.  Kvon's IGConsciously Coaching for Everyone ACTO Conference Tim Ferriss interview of Elizabeth Lesser

Tina Meyers is a former environmental and social justice attorney turned coach and spiritual warrior.  She coaches high-performing women advocates and leaders, designs and leads feminine leadership programs for nonprofits, and is the founder of Women Advocates Rising and Warrior School. Tina and Nina explored what feminism means to each of them.  They also spoke candidly about what it would be like to live in a world where women were fully empowered to bring their full selves and where leadership was more balanced between the masculine and the feminine.  Nina even learned a new term, spiritual bypassing! Leading through Complexity Peer GroupWarrior School Tina's IGLet's Get Real on Instagram 

Join internationally recognized facilitator and leadership coach Nina Simonds for the second season of Let's Get Real, an exploration of what it means to be a leader and activist in a world of increasing complexity and ambiguity.   This season Nina continues to have REAL (relevant, engaging, authentic, leadership) conversations that illuminate how our experiences shape who we are and what matters to us.   She also speaks with colleagues about the practice and evolution of leadership and personal development.  

Nina and Andy chat about surprising moments and highlights of Season One. Nina also gives a sneak preview of Season Two.  They had a surprise guest in the studio.  Season Two launches on April 12, 2021. Zoey's InstagramNina's InstagramAndy's Instagram 

José Trinidad Castaneda  (he/they) is a rising star in fighting for climate change and clean energy in Orange County.  He is the Orange County Policy Manager with Climate Action Campaign and currently serves on the City of Fullerton Planning Commission. He is also the  Communications Director for the Lavender Democrats of Orange County.  José opened up about early experiences that shaped his passion for climate action and social justice.  Nina and José also talked about the intersection between public policy issues such as housing and climate and the importance of approaching social change holistically.  He also shared where he feels the greatest sense of belonging and what inspires him to keep in the fight for a sustainable planet and a more equitable world. Nina Simonds Coaching Peer Groups Climate Action Campaign José Trinidad CastanedaJosé on Twitter Lavender Democrats jose4fullerton@gmail.comnina@ninasimondscoaching.com 

Veronica King is a master facilitator, executive coach and social justice advocate based in Johannesburg. She is the founder and CEO of Emuthini Consulting which she established in 2002.   She draws on her extensive organizational experience at the senior executive level to work primarily with issues of inclusion and diversity with both private and public sector clients.  She shared what it was like to begin her career under Apartheid and how she found her authentic self by letting go of needing to make whites comfortable.  Nina and Veronica got real about how rank showed up in their conversation and where Nina's white lens limits her understanding of Veronica's experience.  It was obvious in this conversation that her work is driven by a deeply held commitment to social justice and transformation.Resources Emuthini Consulting White Fragility by Robin Diangelo How to be Anti-Racist by Ibram X Kendi Octavia Butler Caste by Isabel Wilkerson Nina Simonds Coaching Peer Groups My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem 

Eldra Jackson III is the co-director of Inside Circle, an organization that empowers people who have been affected by the criminal justice system to lead change from within.  They provide opportunities for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people to heal and serve both themselves and others.  Eldra shared how his choices as a teen led to the gangster life and eventually a life sentence in New Folsom state prison.  He talked about what it took to survive in these subcultures and his transformation from toxic masculinity and criminal behavior to personal responsibility and spirit.   Nina and Eldra talked about the need for both individual choice and community support to truly create lasting social change.  Eldra's passion for helping young people with both the practical and inner work of having a good life was apparent in this conversation.  Inside Circle https://insidecircle.org/ Eldra's Ted TalkHow I unlearned dangerous lessons about masculinityThe New Jim CrowNina Simonds Coaching https://ninasimondscoaching.com  

Melanie Ramil is Executive Director of Emerge California,  a non-profit organization that identifies and helps women and minorities in California be elected to public office. Emerge America was praised by Hillary Clinton as a group that has impressed her since the 2016 election at helping get Democrats elected to officeRamil is a superstar in her field and has dedicated her career to ensuring that institutions embrace and reflect the diversity of the constituencies they serve.  Melanie has led and won multiple statewide campaigns, including the one for United States Senator Kamala Harris.In this conversation Melanie opened up about her journey to embrace her Filipina identity.  Nina and Melanie also riffed on what kind of VP Harris will be and how her leadership will transform the role.  We also made some distinctions between identity politics and discussed why it really matters to have more women in office.  ResourcesAnd She Could Be Next: A Documentary Emerge California Nina Simonds CoachingMelanie's Story on NPR's Race Card Project  

Andy Simonds, the audio engineer and co-producer of Let's Get Real (Nina and Andy also happen to be married,) is the guest for this episode.  We have a quick chat and get real about the origins of the show and what it's like to work together in a more professional context.  Nina also shares a bit what's coming in the second half of Season One.  

Neil Edwards is a soulful leader and perceptive coach who works at the intersection of leadership, relationships, wellbeing, and inclusion.  As an executive coach, he supports leaders and teams, centering values and purpose, and sees mature leadership as an outgrowth of identity work.  In this conversation Neil shared early experiences of racism from his move from the Bahamas to the U.S.  Nina and Neil also explored how belonging is connected to ownership and ways black people are excluded in the United States.  Finally we discussed our hopes for the future of coaching now that coaching schools are focused on becoming more inclusive.  

Matt Lydon is a former Microsoft executive who led the team that successfully launched Bing search. He is the recipient of the elite Founders Award given by Bill Gates for superior leadership and innovation.  Matt joined Let's Get Real to talk about what it's like to navigate a disability that is invisible to others especially in the early stages.  Matt and Nina also talked about what it was like for him to be a leader at Microsoft during it's cultural transformation under Satya Nadella.  They also discussed the power of transparency and asking for help. 

Monica Chi is a Managing Partner with The Trium Group, a consulting and leadership development firm committed to the practice of unlocking potential in people and organizations.   Monica joins Let's Get Real to talk about growing up second-generation Korean American in multi-cultural Los Angeles and how the model minority myth influenced her own sense of self.  Monica also shared what she learned about leading change at the FBI as a Special Assistant to Robert Mueller post 9/11.   Monica and Nina also geeked out about leadership development and the relationship between cultural and personal transformation. 

Molly Watson is the Senior Development Manager for Courage California, a graduate of Emerge California, and a Board member for the Black Women's Democratic Club of California.   The daughter of a Haitian immigrant and a hippie from down south,  she came back to Southern California after 7 years in Brooklyn, NY.  In this episode Molly and I talked about her experiences growing up bi-racial in Huntington Beach .   We also talked about her work holding our elected officials accountable and how to stay involved post election.  

Jeff Jacobson is a professional coach, facilitator and author of a Young Adult Urban Fantasy series, the latest of which is called The Boy who Chased his Shadow.  Jeff has been on faculty at the Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) since 1999, where he has taught thousands of students the inner workings of the coach approach to work and life.  Jeff joins Let's Get Real to talk about the art and craft of writing, and  the two of us get real about what helps and hinders the creative process.  We also talk more personally about how our identities- him as a cis-gendered queer white man and me as a straight white woman, have influenced our friendship.