Rebel Souls' Podcast

Cheryle Jackson is the CEO and Founder of Grit + Grace, The Movement, a women’s empowerment, coaching, and media company helping female leaders powerfully pursue their potential and align their self-care with their ambition. Before founding the company in 2018, she served as the Senior Vice President of Global Business Development and President of AAR Africa for AAR. In 2010, she was also a candidate for President Obama’s once-vacant U.S. Senate seat as well as the first female president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. Among the many executive roles throughout her career, Cheryle has also worked with several non-profit organizations as well as shared the Grace + Grit message through public speaking engagements, including on the stage of TEDx. Cheryle joins me today to share why she is rebelling for women to rediscover their grit and grace and how she is helping women to understand the need to pair grit with grace in our lives. She shares the defining moment in her life when she realized practicing grace was a crucial element of reaching her full potential and how she discovered grit and grace go hand-in-hand. She explains what it truly means to be a “free agent” - to run your career on your own terms, be pro-active instead of reactive, and take your career ‘by the horns’ to create your own path to success. She also explains her concept on the “DNA of Brilliance” and what it could look like to practice grace every day, in everything you do.   “Grit alone ensures that you survive. But we’re here to do more than just survive; we want to thrive. Grace helps us to thrive.” - Cheryle Jackson   This week on Rebel Souls: Cheryle’s journey of pivots and how the Grit + Grace movement began How Cheryle discovered and developed her grit and resiliency The price of having the grit and tenacity to keep going Why Cheryle believes losing the U.S. Senate primary election was a blessing in disguise How Cheryle battled breast cancer and dealt with divorce while starting her business and how her experiences shined a light on the importance of grit, grace, and radical self-care When Cheryle realized grit and grace go hand-in-hand How Cheryle helped women pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic How Cheryle practices grace to stay connected to her soul What the “Grace Practice” is and the three actions that create our lives Identifying the triggers that cause you to fall out of grace and alignment with your soul Using your emotions as a tool to stay in alignment with your soul Cheryle’s concept of the “DNA of Brilliance” Why waiting for new opportunities to come your way is detrimental to your success Choosing to be a ‘free agent’ and why the key to being a free agent, beyond choosing yourself, is service-driven networking Understanding what’s driving your decisions How Cheryle is rebelling for change, social justice, and civil rights   Resources Mentioned: Book: Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow by Elizabeth Lesser Book: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth   Connect with Cheryle Jackson: Cheryle Jackson Website PIVOT! Conference Grit And Grace - TEDx Talk Grit + Grace, The Movement on Instagram Grit + Grace, The Movement on Facebook Cheryle Jackson on LinkedIn Cheryle Jackson on Instagram Cheryle Jackson on Facebook Cheryle Jackson on Twitter   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Lindsay Stein is the Chief Executive Officer of Today, I’m Brave, a non-profit organization focused on unlocking bravery in every child, teen, and young adult around the world. Lindsay had a stellar career in journalism, PR, and advertising: she led the editorial team for Campaign and was a reporter for Ad Age and PRWeek. But, after being presented the opportunity to spearhead social good projects that impact people’s lives, Lindsay left the advertising and marketing world to join Today, I’m Brave and became its first CEO in July 2020. Lindsay joins me today to discuss what it means to cultivate a brave culture and how we can be brave ambassadors. She highlights the difference between a “mission” and a “movement” and explains why she pivoted her career into the not-for-profit world. She shares the initiatives and efforts of Today, I’m Brave to help young people unlock their bravery. She also shares empowering stories of bravery and underscores the reason leaders need to show their vulnerability.  “Bravery is more than a mindset: it is a force within all of us. When we unlock that force, we can take on challenges that seem insurmountable.” - Lindsay Stein This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling FOR bravery and individuals who are yet to unlock their bravery What Today, I’m Brave is and the difference between a mission and a movement What bravery means and how we can unlock it in the younger generation Braving it forward and why Lindsay chose to transition to the nonprofit world The role of leaders in cultivating the brave culture The importance of doing what lights your soul on fire The many different faces of bravery Rebel leadership and why we have to re-write the meaning of success Creating and measuring Ripples of Impact The value of doing small acts of courage and bravery every day and how to celebrate them The power and impact of leaders who show their vulnerability Exercises for self-love and acceptance Why Today, I’m Brave is organizing a Brave Camp The Brave Curriculum and why the world needs it Why Today, I’m Brave is helping students create bravery and diversity in the arts Building the Brave Library and the power of sharing stories of bravery What it means to be a Brave Ambassador Resources Mentioned: The Brave Bionic Girl: Tilly Lockey’s Brave Story Instilling Confidence with Cuts: Joshua Coombes’ Brave Story Cindy Gallop: Make love, not porn | TED Talk Related Content: Book: Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life Connect with Lindsay Stein: Today, I’m Brave Today, I'm Brave on LinkedIn Today, I'm Brave on Instagram Today, I'm Brave on Facebook Today, I'm Brave on Twitter Lindsay Stein on LinkedIn Lindsay Stein on Instagram Lindsay Stein on Facebook Lindsay Stein on Twitter Lindsay Stein on Medium Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Melody Miles is the founder of Soulcation Coaching & Retreats and author of the upcoming book, Soulcation: Design a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From. A humanitarian and scientist, Melody was Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and helped launch a global campaign to eradicate malaria. Today, Melody is an emerging millennial leader who helps professionals create the space and freedom they deserve in their lives, guiding them through her Soulcation method. Melody joins me today to share her definition of freedom and reveal what it takes to design a life where you can breathe and live in the joy of the moment. She underscores the importance of cultivating time and practice to reconnect oneself. She shares the turning point in her life that led to her mission of helping others get started on their Soulcation. She also explores how we can use fear as teachers and guides and discusses every person’s need for both belonging and individuality.    You can just follow the next yellow arrow. You don’t need it all mapped out or planned. Freedom means surrendering the plan and the checklist. - Melody Miles    This week on Rebel Souls: The human need for belonging and self-expression The importance of cultivating practices that bring us joy Uncovering the narratives and stories that we wrap around our emotions Melody’s Soulcation journey and the places it took her The meaning of freedom and the value of living in the happiness of the moment Dismantling the narrative of comparative suffering How comparative suffering prevents us from healing and moving forward The antidote to the problem of self-abandonment and how to design a life of freedom Honoring your scary truth and Melody’s 12 Steps to Soulcation Why ‘self first’ isn’t selfish and the importance of giving ourselves permission to put ourselves first The reason Melody encourages her clients write letters to their older or former selves Turning fear into fuel and a powerful guide on how vulnerability fosters profound human connection Melody’s morning routine and how she uses the Soulcation principle in her life How unconscious thought drives the decisions we make in our lives The difference between ripples of impact versus return on investment Rewriting the definition of success and rebelling for our connection with ourselves     Resources Mentioned: The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron   Connect with Melody Miles: Melody Miles Website Melody Miles on Instagram Melody Miles on LinkedIn      Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Nick Onken is a creative entrepreneur and world-renowned photographer. He has photographed many celebrities and personalities including, Justin Bieber, Jessica Alba, and Tom Hanks, as well as global campaigns for international brands such as Coca-Cola and Nike. But that’s not why I invited him to the show: I wanted to have a deeper understanding of Nick’s life as a “creative alchemist” whose mission is to help other people live their most fully expressed life. A true multi-hyphenate, Nick also hosts his own podcast, Onken Radio, and designs hats under the Onken Hat brand. And, like the alchemist that he is, Nick has transformed everything he does - whether it’s photography or hats - as means to share his life’s philosophy. Nick joins me today to share his life, work, and philosophy as a creative alchemist and what it means to live your fullest expression. He discusses what “identity alchemy” is and describes the steps we can take to purposefully curate the different containers of our lives. He explains what our white rabbits are, what it takes to follow it down their rabbit hole, and why so many people do not respond to the calling of their highest selves. He also describes his journey with plant medicines and mushrooms, the wisdom he has learned along the way, and highlights how we can design spaces to let magic flow into our lives. “Finding your truth takes deconstruction and creation. We constantly shapeshift our identities: it is an on-going process.” - Nick Onken This week on Rebel Souls: Why rebelling for a grand vision comes with rebelling against what society has taught you What ‘white rabbits’ are and what it means to follow them What prevents people from following the calling of their higher self Nick’s “creative alchemy” and how his art, mission, and vision have evolved over the years Owning alchemy for ourselves and the process of identity alchemy How we constantly shapeshift our identities and the importance of being committed to the evolution of our identities What it means to curate our containers in life How curating a space makes it easier to do the things you want to do Curating the people you’re spending time with and how much value you bring into your relationship with them How Nick helps his photography subjects tap into their highest and most authentic selves Lessons Nick learned from his life behind the camera and the relevance of vulnerability in Nick’s photography and art The relationship between emotions and disease The difference between knowledge by description and knowledge by experience The role of magic in our lives and how to cultivate it Resources Mentioned: Gene Keys Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior by David Hawkins Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender by David Hawkins How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferris Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim Ferris Connect with Nick Onken: Nick Onken Website Onken Radio Podcast Onken Hat Onket Hat on Instagram Nick Onken on LinkedIn Nick Onken on Instagram Nick Onken on Twitter Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

When you’re riding the roller coaster of life, there are inevitable twists and turns. Riding those bends can often feel stressful, anxious, and sometimes even empty. As I have been doing most mornings, I woke up today and practiced my daily routine of reading a passage from Mark Nepo’s book, The Book of Awakening. The passage landed deeply in the midst of the twists and turns life has recently thrown my way as I help to care for ill and aging parents. I’m exhausted. And I’ve come to realize I’ve slipped back into my old habits. I’m not taking my own ‘Soulbbatical medicine’ in the midst of a family crisis. It’s critical to take the time to pause and check-in with ourselves, even more so in times of anxiety, stress, and overwhelm. It’s time for us to rebel for radical self-commitment. In this episode, I discuss the importance of rebelling FOR self-commitment, what it means, and how it’s different from (and bigger than) self-care. In fact, it’s an umbrella concept that encompasses self-care and invites us to take that commitment a few steps deeper in our lives. I share an excerpt from Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening and discuss what it made me realize about how I’ve been taking care of myself (or not) amidst a recent family crisis. I underscore the essence of evaluating the things that truly matter to us and describe the art of giving the “Gracious No.” I also enumerate some simple, powerful tools for how we can practice and think about radical self-commitment and highlight how extraordinary achievements are really just a series of tiny steps. “This idea of radical self-commitment is bigger than self-care. It is an awareness of what we need in any given moment.”- Shelley Paxton This week on Rebel Souls: The importance of taking the time to be refreshed and renewed What our “surge capacity” is and how it helps us cope with stressful situations The good and the bad of working from home Rebelling FOR radical self-commitment The difference between self-care and radical self-commitment Why you need to think about the values you live for Why it’s important to commit to our boundaries Thinking about your “10s” (Mark Silverman’s concept from the book Only 10s 2.0) and why it’s essential to spend our time and energy on things that matter the most What it means to have courageous conversations and how to offer the “gracious no” Why we should check-in on ourselves more than once a day What it looks like to heighten our own awareness of how we’re feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally – and what we need in support of those feelings The next important step to take after checking-in on ourselves The three ‘P’ tool to practicing radical self-commitment The power of giving yourself permission to slow down, breathe, and check-in The impact of rebelling for radical self-commitment Resources Mentioned: Your ‘Surge Capacity’ is Depleted - It’s Why You Feel Awful by Tara Haelle on Medium The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo Related Content: Addison Brasil Rebelling FOR Mental Health Rebelling FOR The Big Rocks Book: Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life Join us every Friday at 8am PT / 10am CT for our weekly Clubhouse chat - Soul Success: Your Truth is Your Superpower - Hosted by Christina Glickman and Shelley Paxton Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Cristi Christensen is an international Master Yoga Instructor and Fitness expert. She is a FIRE ACTIVATOR on a mission to shake up the plant. As a former elite-level gymnast and platform diver, she has trained with the US Olympic diving team, but following an injury that ended her dreams of going to the Olympics, Cristi turned her focus to helping others. Recognized for her dynamic approach of blending yoga, dance, inspiration, and live music, she now travels the world to awaken and transform more lives - inside and out - by leading workshops, retreats, and teacher training programs. Cristi currently sits on the faculty as a Master Instructor for multiple festivals and conferences around the world and is the creator of Soul Fire - her own unique, signature style of yoga. She is also the co-creator of Deep Exhale and Kirana Yoga School as well as the author of the soon-to-be released book: Chakra Rituals: Awakening the Wild Woman Within, which is expected to hit the bookstores in August 2021. Cristi joins me today to share why she is rebelling for aliveness and why she believes people want to understand what it truly means to feel alive instead of the ‘meaning of life.’ We discuss the ‘five layers of your soul’ and how she helps people rekindle their inner fire and connect with their deepest essence and inner truth. She shares how recovering from a back injury that ended her athletic career led to her discovery of yoga and her mission to help others through their healing journey. She explains why she defines yoga as more than just poses, but as an embodiment and liberation practice, and how she blends yoga, dance, and music into her workout programs. We discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has aided in the compression and restriction of our energy and how it has impacted our mental and physical health. We also discuss what it means to reclaim your body temple, to celebrate your ‘jiggly bits,’ and to inhabit your body in full loving, acceptance, and appreciation, as well as what it could feel like to fully embrace and love your body the way it is. “The body is the vehicle; the body is the portal - the portal to aliveness, the portal to embodiment, the portal to it all.” - Cristi Christensen This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling FOR aliveness and what it truly means to feel alive Why healing and balance start with aliveness and being awakened to the pulsation of life The Soul Fire Yoga program and how it helps you connect with the 5 layers of your soul The challenges Cristi faced following her back injury and how it inspired her mission to help others What it really means to “shake up the planet” and how Cristi blends yoga, dance, and music in her workout programs Why Cristi defines yoga as an embodiment practice as well as a liberation practice How physically shaking your body can help relieve stress and tension and shift your energy Why Cristi believes your body is the vehicle to feeling alive How COVID-19 has put us in a place of constriction and restriction A brief introduction to Dynamic Breathing and how it can help relieve stress and anxiety What it means to reclaim your body temple and ‘celebrate the jiggly bits’ A sneak peek into Cristi’s upcoming book, Chakra Rituals, and what inspired her to write it Resources Mentioned: Justin Michael Williams Rebelling FOR Transformation Connect with Cristi Christensen: Cristi Christensen’s Website Livekick Virtual Experiences - Use promo code CDXL30321 to save 30% Book: Chakra Rituals: Awakening the Wild Woman Within Email: Cristi@cristichristensen.com to claim your FREE BONUSES with your book purchase! Cristi Christensen on YouTube Cristi Christensen on Instagram Cristi Christensen on Facebook Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Helen Appleby is a British, New York-based Executive Coach, Author, Speaker, and Leadership Trainer who has a strong track record of leadership and commercial success. Prior to becoming a full-time coach, she was a VP & Global Business Leader for GlaxoSmithKline where she led the $1bn Respiratory Health business in Consumer Healthcare. Her career at GSK and Unilever spanned 6 countries and she has lived and worked in Canada, the UK, Cyprus, Dubai, Malaysia, and the USA. She is the author of “The Unwritten Rules of Women’s Leadership” book and podcast. She is a fantastic shopper, an average yogi, and a terrible cook. Helen joins me today to discuss how women can succeed in business and how we can all support getting more women in leadership roles. We talk about the importance of having a community and how it permits you to pursue your dreams. Helen explains why being a working mom sets a good example for your daughters and sons. We also talk about our shared experiences of being compelled by our fathers to work in careers that did not make us happy and how we dealt with those feelings.  “The key thing to remember here is that psychologically and unconsciously people support what they help to build in all walks of life.” – Helen Appleby This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling FOR women succeeding and helping other women succeed Why asking for help is not a sign of weakness The benefits of having a community to support you The different criteria that men and women are judged by for promotions Why Helen’s book is meant to be a companion for women in business The moment Helen realized she wanted to be a coach The impact Helen’s dad left on her and compelled her to become a marketing director The positive effects of being a working mom have on your children The importance of self-care and setting boundaries with work What to look for in a mentor and how to approach potential mentors What women can do better to support each other at work What men can do to help support women in their workplace Materials Mentioned: The Divine Feminine Leadership Academy with Abbey Gibb Shelley’s episode on Claire’s Podcast Connect with Claire: Website Buy Helen’s Book Claire’s Podcast Connect with Helen on LinkedIn Connect with Helen on Instagram Connect with Helen on Facebook Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Claire Wasserman is an educator, author, and founder of Ladies Get Paid, a global community and educational platform that champions the professional and financial advancement of women. She is also the producer and host of John Hancock’s podcast, “Friends Who Talk About Money”. Claire has traveled the country teaching thousands of women how to negotiate millions of dollars in raises, start businesses, and advocate for themselves in the workplace. Claire was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine's 100 Most Powerful Women and is a highly-sought-after expert for Fortune 500 companies working to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within their organizations. She's spoken at places such as Facebook, Harvard, and the United Nations Foundation, as well as partnerships with Nike, Indeed, and the City of Los Angeles, among others. Claire joins me today to discuss practical steps women can take to get paid what they deserve and promote systemic change. We talk about overcoming imposter syndrome by thinking selfishly and why perfectionism is never worth all the consequences it brings. Claire gives advice on how to work through salary negotiations, and why it’s still appropriate to ask for a raise during a pandemic. Claire also talks about her relationship with a well-known congresswoman and uses her experience to justify why you should never be afraid to pursue your wildest dreams. “You can assume the best about companies- that they are trying to be fair. We'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Does that mean you accept what they offer? No!” – Claire Wasserman This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling FOR equal pay and power Claire’s experience being interviewed on Good Morning America What Ladies Get Paid is and how it supports women in the workplace How the pandemic affects women’s employment more than men’s Why Claire grew tired of working in corporations and what led her to write her book Ways to overcome imposter syndrome Getting clear on what fuels you and what drains you How to negotiate for a higher wage Understanding your value and what you bring to the company The importance of living our dreams and not someone else’s Materials Mentioned: Claire’s Interview on Good Morning America One Fair Wage Emergency Fund Connect with Claire: Website Ladies Get Paid Website Claire’s Podcast Connect with Ladies Get Paid on Instagram Connect with Ladies Get Paid on Facebook Buy Claire’s Book Connect with Claire on Instagram Connect with Claire on LinkedIn Email Claire Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Dalia is the founder of Flow Leadership Consultancy, an international keynote speaker, executive coach, and organizational consultant on a mission to humanize the workplace and driver resilience and Joy at work. Dalia is also the founder of the P&G women’s network in Moscow and Singapore and author of MOM (Managing Our Maternity) internal P&G maternity guide. Her practical 20 years of experience backed by her academic background as well as her executive coaching practice, provide her a unique edge on her mission to empower people to be the best that they can be and enable organizations to promote a more holistic, authentic, and human leadership edge that is better adapted to the future of work. Dalia joins me today to teach us what it means to “Lead Like a Girl” by using our passions and our hearts. Dalia compares her experiences working with managers that encouraged her to be passionate versus ones that only cared about the return on investment. She educates us on the feminine and masculine traits of leadership, and how feminine leadership is helping manage the spread of COVID. This mash-up of masterclasses is definitely what we need to be the light in every aspect of our lives. “Purpose is not just waiting for the one big thing and then I'll be happy. It's inserting those little magical moments into every single day. It's asking yourself: "Am I bringing my strengths to work every single day?" – Dalia Feldheim This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling FOR leaders daring to lead from their hearts Dalia’s background and what she attributes to her success at Proctor & Gamble How an experience in India, led Dalia to make a marketing campaign of social significance How your business benefits from you bringing your passions into work Understanding how every hardship has a lesson Why crying can be a sign of your passion The direct impact your direct manager can have on your work The psychological safety of being able to speak your mind What is mirror leadership and how this can be harmful What does it mean to “Lead Like a Girl”? Why women are better at crisis management than men. How Dalia started teaching in Singapore Using The 5 Peak Model to help you thrive Materials Mentioned: Harvard Business Review Dalia’s TedTalk Happiness Studies Academy Dare to Lead Connect with Dalia: Website Sign Up to get Dalia’s Book Dalia on LinkedIn Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their souls, and become lifelong rebels. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

There is a lot I have learned about race, privilege, and social justice during the past month. I had the privilege and honor to talk with Justin Michael Williams in the previous episode, and I have also been inspired by an amazing bi-racial, pioneering woman by the name of Rebekah “Bex” Borucki. I am processing what I continue to learn about myself in facing my privilege, and what I want and need to be doing to help us move toward ending racism and promoting greater diversity of leadership and thought in this country. So, I’m having that conversation and further awakening in real-time. Sharing this moment of vulnerability with you in hopes that it helps promote the change I want to be and see in the world. I know I won’t get it all right, and that’s ok. I’ve learned that it’s more important to allow you all to witness my journey. In this episode, I process my thoughts and feelings after learning and listening to very inspirational Persons of Color about race, privilege, and social justice. I take a moment to promote Bex Boruki and all the amazing work she is doing to promote equality and diversity, especially in the publishing industry. I reflect on whether I am publicly speaking out enough regarding politics and racial justice. I make my declaration to be anti-racist and acknowledge what I am willing to lose to speak the truth. I have more work to do, but I’m sharing it out loud in hopes that it might inspire you to do the same. It feels like one small way to honor the significance of Black History Month as it comes to an end – and to also recognize the importance of doing this work every month. “Be really conscious of your proximity to privilege, and ask yourself the question: Am I willing to 'stand with’? That's a decision, and you are going to have to get clear on your willingness to lose in order to make that decision.” - Shelley Paxton This week on Rebel Souls: Reflecting on my past episode with Justin Michael Williams Who is Rebekah Borucki and why you should follow her Letting your audience witness your awakening Are we doing enough to speak out on racial justice? What are you willing to lose to speak the truth? Asking yourself what is serving you and at what cost The difference between "modeling it" and "coaching it" My commitment to being an anti-racist and acknowledging my privilege The term "Manifesting" and how it relates to privilege Encouraging everyone to continue the conversation on social justice Mentioned Resources: The Divine Feminine Leadership Academy with Abbey Gibb Website: Bex Boruki Bex Boruki’s Publishing House: Wheat Penny Press Connect with Bex on Instagram Book: Dear Ljeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions TedTalk: We Should All be Feminists Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their souls, and become lifelong rebels. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Justin Michael Williams, 32, is an author, transformational speaker, and top-20 recording artist who has become a pioneering voice for diversity and inclusion in wellness. From growing up with gunshot holes outside of his bedroom window to sharing the stage with Marianne Williamson and Deepak Chopra, Justin knows well the pain of adversity and the power of healing to overcome. With his groundbreaking book “Stay Woke,” and over a decade of teaching experience, Justin’s message of hope and empowerment has spread to more than 40 countries around the globe. Justin is dedicated to using his voice to serve; to being a beacon of hope for those who are lost, and to make sure all people, of all backgrounds, have access to the information they need to change their lives. Justin joins me today to teach us how to begin making "real-ass" transformation. He talks about his Baca (or grandma), and the one question she asked him that completely changed his life. He talks about the power of meditation and why it only works when it is integrated with action. He explains why we need to shift our mindsets from fighting against racism to moving towards ending racism. He also provides resources to help learn and contribute to ending racism. This is a life-changing conversation, my friends. Justin is part practical preacher, part powerful preacher. You need to know him. “We can't just be looking at what we're fighting against. We have to also have our eye on what we're moving toward.”– Justin Michael Williams This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling FOR the real deal transformation Accepting that you cannot change anything externally until you change internally Why being a chronic overachiever made Justin feel miserable despite all his success The impact Justin’s Baca had on his life How to recognize and deal with self-sabotage, i.e., how we poison ourselves with toxic habits, people, thoughts, and beliefs Why you should ask if a habit is serving your vision or distracting from it Why meditation is useless if you don’t have a way to integrate it into action How meditation and worry are flip sides of the same coin, i.e., if you can worry, you can meditate Justin’s Manifesto on how we can end racism in this generation The difference between fighting against and moving toward something Ways you can contribute to helping end racism Materials Mentioned: Modern Elder Academy Book: Inward, by Yung Pueblo Book: A new Earth, by Eckhart Tolle The Dream Bigger Foundation Song: The Turning (Feat. Brothers Koren) Take the Pledge to End Racism Heartwood Guitar Instruction Fender Play Connect with Justin: Website Book: Stay Woke, by Justin Michael Williams Listen to Justin’s Music Connect with Justin on Instagram Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

  Darius Mirshahzadeh is a dad, husband, twin, brother, and son who was born and raised in California and now lives in Austin Texas.  He is a serial entrepreneur, author, conscious capitalist, speaker and entertainer.  Darius’s passion is to make the world a better place using his talents and engagement.  He is all about the P’s:  Passion, Pizza, Puzzles and Pink Unicorns.  If you’re more into traditionally braggy vanity metrics around success, he was ranked #40 in Inc 500 CEO’s in 2007 with 2500% plus revenue growth in three years of his business at Twin Capital Mortgage.  He was ranked #9 in Glassdoor’s Top Ranked CEOs in American for small to medium businesses.  Darius has participated in many prestigious programs including Birthing of Giants at MIT and graduated from the world-renowned Stagen Integral Leadership Program.  He was a TEDx curator for the TEDx Golden Gate Park in 2011 and 2012 at the De Young Museum in San Francisco.  The theme was The Pursuit of Passion.  Darius joins me today to talk about finding his core values and building a life around them. He shares how running a successful business and chasing money never brought him true satisfaction. Darius talks about how he developed his core passions and how they continue to shape his life and work. He shares how even businesses can benefit from having core values in terms of leadership and growth, and how companies that do create values rarely follow them. “If you treated your product the way you treated your values, how successful would your product be?” – Darius Mirshahzadeh This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling FOR everyone to live in an intentionally designed life around the fundamental beliefs for themselves or the organization they live for. The definition of core values and how rarely people follow them The Stagan Program and the teachings of conscious leadership What is the Platinum Rule and how it improves leadership Why our core values are based in our own language Darius’s 6 core values and why he recommends developing 3-6 values of your own Why Businesses develop core values, and how they are overlooked How core values relate to growth, decision making, and more for a business Creating Sensory experiences around your values Why Darius developed The Pursuit of Passion from TEDx The Fulfilment Formula The significance of the Pink Unicorn Mentioned Resources: The Money Source Book: Scaling UP by Verne Harnish Book: Built to Last, by Jim Collins Birthing of Giants Program Stagan Integral Leadership Program TEDx GoldenGatePark: The Pursuit of Passion   Connect with Darius: Website Darius on Twitter Darius on Facebook Darius on Instagram Darius on Youtube Darius on LinkedIn Book: The Core Value Equation Podcast: The Greatness Machine Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Addison is an active and committed mental health advocate attributing his ability to not only survive but thrive with PTSD and compounded grief to the value of coaching and connection. Before becoming co-founder and Head of Brand and Impact at tethr, a men’s online peer-to-peer support community, Addison founded and led his own conscious consulting company, AddiConnect, and has worked for and created a series of companies dedicated to creating meaningful content in a variety of mediums, including film and television. Addison takes every opportunity to urge men to invest in themselves, and their mental well-being, long before a life event deems it absolutely necessary. Addison joins me today to discuss mental health and ways we can better support each other every day. He shares his personal tragedies and traumas and how he was able to work through his grief with the help of his friends and family. Addison teaches about the five pillars of peer support and how we can use these tools to help express ourselves and provide effective support. While we do focus on the men’s’ mental health crisis, the peer support tools discussed in this episode are invaluable for everyone to help support those we care about. Please listen in and share this with someone you love. You could save a life. "93% of men don't identify with masculinity the way it's portrayed publicly. 93%. So that's basically all of us!"– Addison Brasil This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling FOR everyone to normalize their ability to share their true story How Addison coped with traumatic experiences in his life How Addison connected with his future business partner, Matt Zerker, over tragedy Discussing the men’s mental health crisis and what Addison is trying to do to prevent suicides Breaking down the five pillars of peer support How peer supporters help us cultivate a sense of community to help us thrive. Approaching your mental health with a sense of humor Why we need to learn to empathize with other people’s language Acknowledging when to bring in a crisis counselor and why that’s not your job Asking what does support look like for you in a crisis? How the tethr community works to help normalize emotional support for men Connect with Addison: Website Tethr Store Addison on Facebook Addison on Instagram Addison on LinkedIn Tethr on Instagram Tethr on LinkedIn Tethr on Facebook Tethr on Twitter Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

So many people are familiar with the phrase, "leaving a legacy," and that always seems like a task we need to work up to. Instead of pushing this off for the future, why don't you embrace living your legacy? By living your legacy now, you can create a filter to help you design your life in a way that helps you live your truth. In this episode, I share some personal updates in my life, like traveling along Route 66 on my way to LA. I take some time to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of my book and express my gratitude for all the support and feedback I have received on it. I describe what it means to be a "Soul-Model." I also provide some practices you can incorporate to help you live your legacy today. “What choices are you making today in terms of who you're spending time with and how you're spending your time in a way that supports living that legacy?” - Shelley Paxton This week on Rebel Souls: Sharing my experience road-tripping from Chicago to LA along route 66 Asking yourself what does it look like to rebel for your own legacy? Expressing gratitude for all the support on the 1-year anniversary of my book launch The concept of “Soul-Models” – the next generation of role models Asking what you want to be remembered for and what are you doing to achieve that? How to measure your legacy in practical terms for your life What is your personal board of directors? Who is on it and how they can help influence your decisions? How your calendar can be a reality check for achieving your dreams Using the Ideal Day exercise to help affirm the important tasks in your life Learning to say no graciously, and why you should only say yes to things you’re aligned with The importance of surrounding yourself with people who fuel your soul Mentioned Resources: Book: Anything You Want, by Derek Sivers Liberate Your Soul & Join the Repletion Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Melody Miles is the founder of Soulcation Coaching & Retreats and author of the upcoming book, Soulcation: Design a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From. A humanitarian and scientist, Melody was Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and helped launch a global campaign to eradicate malaria. Today, Melody is an emerging millennial leader who helps professionals create the space and freedom they deserve in their lives, guiding them through her Soulcation method. Melody Miles joins me today to share her definition of freedom and reveal what it takes to design a life where you can breathe and live in the joy of the moment. She underscores the importance of cultivating time and practice to reconnect oneself. She shares the turning point in her life that led to her mission of helping others get started on their Soulcation. She also explores how we can use fear as teachers and guides and discusses every person’s need for both belonging and individuality. You can just follow the next yellow arrow. You don’t need it all mapped out or planned. Freedom means surrendering the plan and the checklist. - Melody Mile This week on Rebel Souls: The human need for belonging and self-expression The importance of cultivating practices that bring us joy Uncovering the narratives and stories that we wrap around our emotions Melody’s Soulcation journey and the places it took her The meaning of freedom and the value of living in the happiness of the moment Dismantling the narrative of comparative suffering How comparative suffering prevents us from healing and moving forward The antidote to the problem of self-abandonment and how to design a life of freedom Honoring your scary truth and Melody’s 12 Steps to Soulcation Why ‘self first’ isn’t selfish and the importance of giving ourselves permission to put ourselves first The reason Melody encourages her clients write letters to their older or former selves Turning fear into fuel and a powerful guide on how vulnerability fosters profound human connection Melody’s morning routine and how she uses the Soulcation principle in her life How unconscious thought drives the decisions we make in our lives The difference between ripples of impact versus return on investment Rewriting the definition of success and rebelling for our connection with ourselves Resources Mentioned: The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron Connect with Melody Miles: Melody Miles Website Melody Miles on Instagram Melody Miles on LinkedIn Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this weeks episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Houston Kraft is a speaker, author, and kindness advocate who has spoken at over 600 schools or events internationally. In 2016, he co-founded CharacterStrong- curriculum, and training that help teach social and emotional skills. To date, they have worked with over 2500 schools globally serving over 2 million students. In 2019, his face was featured on Lays BBQ chip bags as someone who helps “spread smiles.” In 2020, his first book, Deep Kindness (Simon & Schuster, Tiller Press) was released. His mom is his hero, and her best life lesson is to “hug like you mean it.” Houston Kraft joins me today to discuss the importance of normalizing deep and vulnerable kindness in our lives. He talks about moments in his life, both significant and minor, that have helped him normalize this in his life, and how this message is spread through his organization CharacterStrong. Houston breaks down how empathy can be lost over time, and how small practices of empathy and deep kindness can have a significant shift in our perspective.        “And perhaps the most meaningful first step we can take towards practical, deep kindness is to listen first, in order for us to love better.” – Houston Kraft This week on Rebel Souls: What helped Houston focus on compassion early in life and lead him on his path The difference between social and emotional skills How Houston is teaching social and emotional skills in schools The power of changing your perspective Examples of deep kindness from Houston’s new book How kindness can be a precursor to pain, and how this affects us as we get older Distinguishing deep kindness from common kindness The difference between empathy, sympathy, and apathy How well-intentioned kindness (not informed by empathy) can be unhelpful How empathy works What gets in the way of practicing empathy How to practice deep kindness Houston’s deep kindness exercises Related Content: Website CharacterStrong Connect with Houston Kraft: Email Houston Houston Kraft Houston on Instagram Houston Kraft on Facebook Houston Kraft on YouTube Houston Kraft on LinkedIn Book: Deep Kindness Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

RS009 - Rebelling FOR Possibility   We are all currently living in unprecedented times. With the novel coronavirus sweeping the nation - and the world - it has many people scratching their heads, wondering ‘what’s next’ for their families, their careers, their livelihoods. Before the pandemic, many of us were living rather scripted lives - we knew the next thing we wanted to happen, and the next steps we should take to achieve our personal and professional goals. We had everything planned out. But those ‘shoulds’ have been thrown out the window. They’ve gone barreling down the interstate and landed in a ditch somewhere. So, what can we learn from this experience? What would it look like to live life unscripted? How can we view this pandemic as an opportunity to discover new possibilities? Today, I explain what it means to rebel FOR possibility and how this idea is grounded in how you define success. I share how improv comedy training empowered me to learn the language of possibility. I discuss what living a life unscripted means and how a few key improv principles helped me create an unscripted life of meaningful success. I discuss the value of identifying the rules you’re currently following - even when they’re no longer serving you - and the importance of creating new rules to take their place. I also explain why we need to trust in ourselves, take action before we’re ready, and stay open to opportunities for collaboration, diversity, inspiration, and varied perspectives. “The language of improv is the language of possibility.” - Shelley Paxton This week on Rebel Souls: How improv comedy training opened the door to new possibilities What it means to live life unscripted Incorporating the critical phrase, ‘Yes, and…” into your daily life and how it builds bridges to new possibilities for what comes next The value of creating your own rules for success What it means to ‘go before you’re ready’ and the importance of trusting in yourself Inviting opportunities for collaboration Why taking action is way more powerful than written and spoken words The value of trust and surrender to create an unscripted life Converting your fears into fuel to propel you forward Leaning into momentum and the language of possibility   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

  2020 will be remembered as a year of extreme hardship for everyone, however we are beginning to see the world getting brighter and feeling more optimistic as we step into 2021. With that perspective in mind, I think it's important that we all take time to focus on some of the positive things that we experienced this year and think of ways to build on it in the new year. On the last episode of 2020, I encourage you to think of your plan for 2021 and would love for you to share it with me.   In this episode, I share my experiences in a retreat without a connection to social media or the internet. I share my experiences with nature and the signs I have recently seen that tell me 2021 is going to be a big year. I talk about important activities we need to incorporate to improve our lives in 2021. I also share the questions you need to be asking yourself to figure out what you want from 2021.   “I would invite each one of you to ask yourself the question: What were your three biggest gifts or “aha’s” from this year?” - Shelley Paxton This week on Rebel Souls: Sharing my experience going off social media and being at a nature retreat Spying on the Devine, and the natural experiences and signs I interpreted for 2021 Giving yourself permission to be in awe and fuel your soul The importance of bringing more play into your life Why we should all take more breaks and time for spaciousness They ways I am on the right path for 2021 How the universe can send a swift quick in the ass to get started on a project Finding the gifts that you received from 2020 despite what a difficult year it was What is our response to this year? Asking the question, “What if 2021 is our best year yet?” My three prompts to figure out what you need from 2021. Mentioned Resources: Modern Elder Academy Deepak Chopra 21-day meditation challenge Chip Conley Just Stay Woke, by Justin Michael Williams   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

  Ayse (pronounced Eye-Shay) Birsel is one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People In Business 2017 and is on the Thinkers50 Radar List of the 30 management thinkers most likely to shape the future of organizations. She is the author of Design the Life You Love. Recognized as #1 Coach in Life Design in the world, she gives lectures on Design the Life + Work You Love to corporations, Ayse is the co-founder of Birsel + Seck, the award-winning design and innovation studio, and consults to Amazon, Colgate-Palmolive, Herman Miller, GE, IKEA, The Scan Foundation, Staples and Toyota, among others. Her design process, Deconstruction:Reconstruction™, is the red thread across all her work. Her work can be found in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Ayse joins me today to talk to discuss why she became a design rebel, and how this led her from designing products to helping people design their lives. She uses her life experience to explain the importance of accepting how life changes your outlook and the importance of developing your own opportunities. She also shares the five principles of her philosophy and how they can help everyone develop more meaning and happiness in their lives.  “You can be really good at what you do, but there are outside forces that can shape your life, and there is not much you can do about it.”- Ayse Birsel This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling FOR everyone to design an original life for themselves Product Design and its significance in our lives Ayse’s journey to becoming a product design engineer and coming to New York What success looked like for Ayse and how her career helped her meet her husband The 2008 Recession and how it forced Ayse to grow in a new direction The difficulty of being the best in your field with no ability to transition your work How Deconstruction:Reconstruction was developed out of Ayse’s previous life experiences The importance of one person believing in you The five principles of Ayse’s book: Design the Life You Love Not being afraid to ask for help and how collaboration can create inspiration Identifying your superpowers and your kryptonite to help you grow The importance to continue showing up and how it can pay off What Ayse’s new book is focused on and why its relevant in today’s world Ayse’s new endeavors with Alive Ventures Mentioned Resources: Design the Life You Love, by Ayse Birsel Know-It-All, by John Waters What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, by Marshall Goldsmith Alive Ventures Kartell Bookworm Shelf   Connect with Ayse: Sign up for Ayse’s Newsletter Ayse Birsel on Twitter Ayse Birsel on Facebook Ayse Birsel on Instagram   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

  Houston is a speaker, author, and kindness advocate who has spoken at over 600 schools or events internationally. In 2016, he co-founded CharacterStrong- curriculum and trainings that help teach social and emotional skills. To date, they have worked with over 2500 schools globally serving over 2 million students. In 2019, his face was featured on Lays BBQ chip bags as someone who helps “spread smiles.” In 2020, his first book, Deep Kindness (Simon & Schuster, Tiller Press) was released. His mom is his hero, and her best life lesson is to “hug like you mean it.” Houston joins me today to discuss the importance of normalizing deep and vulnerable kindness in our lives. He talks about moments in his life, both significant and minor, that have helped him normalize this in his life, and how this message is spread through his organization CharacterStrong. Houston breaks down how empathy can be lost over time, and how small practices of empathy and deep kindness can have a significant shift in our perspecitve.        “And perhaps the most meaningful first step we can take towards practical, deep kindness is to listen first in order for us to love better.” – Houston Kraft This week on Rebel Souls: What helped Houston focus on compassion early in life and lead him on his path The difference between social and emotional skills How Houston is teaching social and emotional skills in schools The power of changing your perspective Examples of deep kindness from Houston’s new book How kindness can be a precursor to pain, and how this affects us as we get older Distinguishing deep kindness from common kindness The difference between empathy, sympathy, and apathy How well intentioned kindness (not informed by empathy) can be unhelpful How empathy works What gets in the way of practicing empathy How to practice deep kindness Houston’s deep kindness exercises   Related Content: Website CharacterStrong Connect with Houston Kraft: Email Houston Houston Kraft Houston on Instagram Houston Kraft on Facebook Houston Kraft on YouTube Houston Kraft on LinkedIn Book: Deep Kindness     Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

    Erin Hatzikostas is a rock star and a fellow rebel soul sister. When we first started talking we realized how much we had in common and the parallels in our journeys.  Erin was a CEO at 42, but she left the corporate world to become, in her own words, a ‘Professional Pot-Stirrer'. She is on a mission to help people have the career that they deserve without compromising everything else. She breaks all of the rules, and she aims to help people find their own authenticity within the workplace.  She has given TedX Talks, has written books, and above all, is authentic, funny, and relatable.   Erin joins me today to share her journey from corporate CEO, to the rule-breaking bad-ass pot-stirrer that she is today.  She describes the defining moment when a chance meeting changed the course of her life, and allowed her to follow her ‘authenticity’ mission. She explains the power of her HUMANS framework, and how following it can lead to a more authentic approach to life.    “Authenticity is about exposing who you are when people least expect it.” - Erin Hatzikostas   This week on Rebel Souls:   What authenticity in leadership means for you Authenticity as a secret weapon, and what it can do for you The freedom to do things your way – being yourself The Six Pillars of Strategic Authenticity Taking the plunge – you have the power to change the things that matter How to stop changing for the job – instead, change the job. You don’t have to compromise for your career The power of the unexpected How adapting to your circumstances is a key component to authenticity Learning to meet people where they are, rather than trying to imitate them Connecting and inspiring others How authenticity advantages women Erin’s guide to being an AHOLE   Related Content:   Website BCause Podcast TED Talk   Connect with Erin Hatzikostas:   Email Erin Erin Hatzikostas on LinkedIn Erin Hatzikostas on Instagram Erin Hatzikostas on Facebook Erin Hatzikostas on Twitter Erin Hatzikostas on YouTube BOOK: You Do You Ish – An Executive Guide To Authentic Success (available to pre-order)     Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

    Nick Craig is the author of Leading from Purpose: Clarity and the Confidence to Act When it Matters Most. He is a leading pioneer in the field of purpose who has spent 25 years in leadership consulting and has worked with global brands such as Unilever, ING Bank, and LEGO. Guided by his purpose statement to “wake people up and welcome them home,” Nick has helped corporate leaders understand their purpose and impact their work. Nick and I are kindred spirits who speak the same language of purpose - and though we only met recently, it feels like we have been friends for a long time.   Nick joins me today to discuss why we need to understand our purpose and live into it - now, more than ever. He defines what purpose means, where it is, and how we can get there. He describes our magical childhood memories as access portals to our life’s purpose and illustrates the similarities between a purpose and a movie. He also describes purpose as an antidote to life’s uncertainties and underscores its relationship with authenticity and fulfillment.   “The gift of purpose is that you’ll never fully know it. You will always be discovering a fuller, richer version of it.” - Nick Craig   This week on Rebel Souls:   Rebelling FOR being the authority of ourselves by living from our purpose Why you need to have passion to be able to rebel Purpose as a way to let go of “shoulds” and access the deeper wisdom in our lives The heart of the word “authority” and its relationship with life’s journey What begins to happen when you start to understand, own, and live in your purpose What purpose means and the joy and terror of writing books How Nick’s purpose showed up in his life and how it changed his journey The difference between ‘acquiring’ and ‘reconnecting with’ your purpose Articulating purpose and helping people reconnect with the story in their souls What purpose statements are and how they can help you access your purpose How intellectualizing purpose makes it elusive and intimidating for so many people The correlation between purpose, success, and fulfillment How purpose evolves as we continue to change as people The importance of controlling access to your purpose The Polar Bear Mom and how looking back at the patterns in our life’s journey can help us connect with our purpose The three access points to your purpose Reconnecting with the child inside and how play sets us free The myth and dangers of the noble, earth-shattering, world-changing life purpose Strategies to fulfill your purpose Purpose as the ultimate antidote to uncertainty   Connect with Nick Craig:   Core Leadership Institute Core Leadership Institute on LinkedIn Core Leadership Institute on Facebook Core Leadership Institute on Twitter Core Leadership Institute on YouTube Nick Craig on LinkedIn Nick Craig on Twitter BOOK: Leading from Purpose: Clarity and the Confidence to Act When it Matters Most     Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

Vonetta Wade is The Journey Coach and a soul sister extraordinaire. The moment she showed up and shared her story, I immediately felt like we were part of the same tribe. Vonetta is the owner and CEO of Achieving Your Purpose, where she coaches individuals and families, guiding them into their purpose. In a chapter of her life, Vonetta felt like she was failing as a mother due to the challenges of single parenthood, non-effective communication, and conflict with her teenage daughter. This struggle led her to seek answers on what a healthy parent-child relationship should be. She soon founded MUST, a community of parents supporting each other in dealing with the same struggles she experienced. Vonetta joins me today to share her life as a single mother and the lessons she learned from the experience. She explains how she realized that she had generational trauma to heal and describes the work she put in to break its cycle. She illustrates how she decided to become a better parent, reached out to a community of parents, and later established MUST. She also shares how she became the “Journey Coach” and highlights what it means to have internal growth and success. “No one knows what you’re dealing with internally, and that’s the biggest challenge. You can be successful on the outside, but it’s the inside that matters the most.” - Vonetta Wade This week on Rebel Souls: Doing uncomfortable work for the sake of the next generation The power of affirmation and being reminded of our enoughness Vonetta’s journey in becoming aware and breaking the cycle of generational trauma Becoming a mother at 16, learning the tools of parenting, and how Vonetta realized she needed to undo generational trauma How being around other people changes your perspective and how Vonetta started reaching out to a community of parents Transforming pain into purpose Sitting still to listen deeply to what our souls are telling us What internal growth and success mean and how they informed Vonetta’s book, Proceed Through the Uncomfortable Vonetta’s path to becoming the Journey Coach Why fostering deep human connection includes sharing our most vulnerable stories Redefining success and what Vonetta does to reconnect with her soul and spirit Vonetta’s mentors and Personal Board of Directors Looking at other people for inspiration rather than comparison Our Ripples of Impact and why we all need to share our personal stories The value of acknowledging social and racial injustices Related Content: Ione Butler Rebelling FOR Uplifting Stories Connect with Vonetta Wade: Achieving Your Purpose MUST - Mothers United to Save our Teens Vonetta Wade on LinkedIn Vonetta Wade on Instagram Vonetta Wade on Facebook Vonetta Wade on Twitter BOOK: Proceed Through the Uncomfortable: 52 Mindful Journal Reminders to Inspire You On Your Journey Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Sam Ford is Director of Cultural Intelligence for Simon & Schuster’s imprint, Tiller Press, dedicated to publishing culturally relevant books. He is the co-author of Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture. In addition to his work at Tiller Press, Sam is a Knight News Innovation Fellow at Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism, where he has been leading research and consulting on news projects. Loaded with experience in storytelling, journalism, and media, Sam is definitely one of the most interesting people in the world and, with his wisdom and guidance, is instrumental in the publication of Soulbbatical. Sam joins me today to share his ideas on storytelling and its role in connecting people. He offers his advice on how we can improve the way we share stories and content and explains how stepping into our vulnerability can help people overcome challenging experiences. He defines what cultural intelligence means, his work at Tiller Press as Director of Cultural Intelligence, and how the media landscape has evolved today. He also describes how writers can get publishers to notice their stories and highlights why the world needs to hear your voice. “Don’t be so guarded over the ideas in your head that you don’t take the opportunity to share them with people.” - Sam Ford This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling for stories that the world needs to know The relationship between spreading stories and creating organizations that listen to culture The media landscape in 2020 and how it’s different from previous years Creating longevity in stories and how viral content doesn’t necessarily have a lasting impact Sam’s background and how his grandparents influenced his philosophy in storytelling Taking a transmedia storytelling strategy into a digital media age Why WWE was thriving at a time where journalism was struggling as an industry The impact of taking small steps and not waiting for the perfect idea to come Why you shouldn’t decide on exactly what you want out of life The reason Sam would rather surround himself with skeptic people rather than people who think of themselves as experts Slow innovations and continuously trying new things The $2.99 lifestyle and the illusion of stability Navigating your professional life without tying your identity to a role or job Cultural intelligence and how Tiller Press locates authors to publish The difference between fast and slow culture The power of showing up every day to get your story out into the world Why a tiny bit of impostor syndrome is healthy Meeting the universe the deeper we delve into our personal journey Resources Mentioned: Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place (A Transgender Memoir) by Jackson Bird Revisionist History Podcast Connect with Sam Ford: Sam Ford Website Sam Ford on LinkedIn Sam Ford on Facebook Sam Ford on Instagram Sam Ford on Twitter BOOK: Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

As a community of Rebel Souls, we’re here to work together in lighting up the world. While a part of our mission to do so requires us to know our zones of genius, questioning where our expertise and talents lie can be enough to send many of us (myself included) hiding under the sofa and curling up. After all, it’s easy to miss what we’re good at as we go through life, questioning what we’re here for. If you don’t know where your brilliance blooms just yet, don’t you fret; an acorn doesn’t have to think itself into becoming an oak tree: it simply becomes one. In this episode, I share the story of how I realized my zone of genius and an exercise to help you find your brilliance. I discuss what a “brilliant session is” and differentiate the state of being from doing. I illustrate my principles for showing up daily as the MoFo that I am and describe how being myself impacted my people and community. I also reveal the shadow side of embracing your brilliance and give you your 30-day Rebel Soul mission, should you accept your zone of genius. “Our genius is in embodying who we are, in letting that acorn become an oak tree.” - Shelley Paxton This week on Rebel Souls: Controlling our personal agency and how we show up to the world Understanding what my genius is and how you can understand yours, too Embodying my mission and the difference between being and doing My mission to liberate a billion souls and how I’m working towards it Modeling radical authenticity and my principles for showing up as the powerful MoFo that I am every day How unapologetically showing up as myself impacted the people around me Why we tend to take our zone of genius for granted The shadow side of embodying your genius and the importance of following and trusting the soul Becoming a living invitation to be in the zone of genius Experimenting on being as a teaching tool Remembering your power and brilliance Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

    My soul sister and friend, Danielle Macleod, is the co-founder of Remarkable Women and the author of Remarkably Easy: How to Get Out of Your Own Way and Unleash Your Brilliance. Danielle is extremely passionate about helping us all get out of our way and embrace our gifts - a strength and zone of genius she discovered when she led over 10,000 employees as the Customer Service Director for the UK’s Sky TV. Today, Danielle taps into her own humanity and remarkableness to guide women into finding their brilliance and becoming truly remarkable.   Danielle joins me today to discuss what it takes to rebel for being remarkable in a world that tells you that you aren’t special. She shares an experience as a young girl that became the catalyst for her understanding that we are all unique and remarkable. She illustrates her corporate life and career, how she transitioned from a secretary taking minutes in board meetings to serving as Customer Service Director for one of the UK’s biggest companies. She also describes the Queen archetype, how we can step into it, and shares some practical steps we can take to become remarkable.       “When you’re in Queen mode, the world unfolds in front of you; it’s a way of being remarkable. The more people understand it, the easier things get for the world.” - Danielle Macleod       This week on Rebel Souls:   Rebelling for being remarkable, flipping the finger at the status quo, and waking people up What makes Rebel Souls unique individuals and what it means to be remarkable The journey that led Danielle to stand up for being remarkable Being caught by the child catcher and having the Crazy Lady in all of us The difference between the zone of excellence and the zone of genius How the world gets screwed up when we deny our talents The “Willing to Lose” list, how non-attachment can be frightening, and why Danielle created Remarkable Women Practical steps to unleash your remarkableness What the Most Remarkable Woman in Scotland would do to play bigger every day The power of taking tiny steps towards our goals The three kinds of requests and how to make a powerful one What the Queen archetype is and why you don’t have to be a Warrior     Related Content:   Chip Conley Rebelling FOR Aspirational Aging Cheryle Jackson Rebelling FOR Grace and Justice     Resources Mentioned:   Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen Spoon-Fed: Why Almost Everything We’ve Been Told About Food is Wrong by Tim Spector Siddhartha: A Novel by Hermann Hesse     Connect with Danielle Macleod:   Remarkable Women Remarkable Women on Instagram Remarkable Women on Facebook Danielle Macleod on LinkedIn Danielle Macleod on Instagram Book: Remarkably Easy: How to Get Out of Your Own Way and Unleash Your Brilliance       Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

    The resume of my dear friend and fellow Rebel Soul, Ed Magee, is a litany of iconic brands. After 15 years of serving at the US Marine Corps - where he eventually became Lieutenant Colonel - Ed was recruited by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company and ran three of its plants. Today, Ed works as the Executive Vice President for Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. But his work with Fender goes beyond running the company’s operations - from manufacturing to supply chain and distribution. As Co-President of the Fender Play Foundation, Ed is deeply involved in the company’s mission to support the world’s musicians.   Ed joins me today to share his passion for inspiring the world’s next generation of musicians. He illustrates how music education impacts children’s physical and neurological development and helps them find their voices during challenging times. He explains how and why leaders need to empathize with employees and shares what he learned from Brene Brown about leadership. He also describes what inspired him to join the US Marines and how the experience reinforced his dedication to serving a mission greater than himself.       “Kids are in a time where they struggle to find their voices, but music guarantees that. Music comes from the soul, giving kids the chance to breathe.” - Ed Magee       This week on Rebel Souls:   Rebelling for music education for middle schoolers How music education helps children find their voices in tumultuous times The connecting power of music and how it allows us to love, heal, and protest Becoming the Chief Soul Officer of our lives and why leaders need to rebel for the physical, emotional, and mental health of their employees What Ed learned about being a leader from Brene Brown’s work The difference between fear-based leadership and daring leadership The different ways Ed creates head and heart space Being versus doing and how we can model every day how we show up to employees The values and leadership tools that make an organization more inclusive and resilient What inspired Ed to serve in the US Marines and how the experience reinforced his dedication to service How being purpose-driven can help us get through the pandemic Why leaders need to reflect on and participate in upholding racial justice Ed’s work in the Fender Play Foundation The importance of supporting arts & education in middle schools     Related Content:   Monique DeBose Rebelling FOR Authentic Expression and Racial Justice     Resources Mentioned:   Fender Play Monique DeBose - Rally Call (Official Video) Shortcut Your Startup: Speed Up Success with Unconventional Advice from the Trenches by Courtney Reum and Carter Reum     Connect with Ed Magee:   Fender Play Foundation Ed Magee on LinkedIn         Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.    

    Kara Goldin is a thought leader, disruptor, and the Founder and CEO of Hint Inc., the creator and producer of the leading unsweetened flavored water brand, Hint Water. Kara and I met and worked together for a hot minute at AOL, where she was part of the sales executive team that took the company from zero to billions of dollars in sales. After leaving the company and taking some time off for herself, Kara went on a very personal journey that she chronicles in her book, Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters.   Kara joins me today to define what it means to be undaunted and explains why she calls herself an “accidental” entrepreneur. She shares the challenges she faced and lessons she learned in starting and expanding the Hint Water brand. She explains what the “try” mindset is and illustrates how it can help you navigate life’s unknowns. She also discusses how her experiences in previous companies she’s worked for informed how she created Hint’s company culture and underscores the power of a purpose-driven mission.       “The key thing in life is figuring out what you want to get up and do. Do something you feel good about. That’s the fuel that will keep you going through hard days.” - Kara Goldin       This week on Rebel Souls:   How Kara and I met and the similarities in our journeys The power of a Soulbbatical and how connecting with Kara’s soul made her realize her purpose Rebelling for helping people make healthier choices Why Kara considers herself as an “accidental” entrepreneur How Kara came up with the Hint Water brand Rewriting the script of success and destroying the myth of an overnight success Defying the odds of succeeding in the beverage industry What it means to be undaunted and the importance of knowing when to wait things out Kara’s adventures in hiking the Grand Canyon and the lessons the experience taught her Turning setbacks into opportunities and the power of the ‘try mindset’ Getting kicked out of Starbucks’ shelves and how it led Kara to start a direct-to-consumer business model How purpose and mission open opportunities     Connect with Kara Goldin:   Kara Goldin Website Book: Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters Kara Goldin on Instagram Kara Goldin on Facebook Kara Goldin on Twitter Kara Goldin on YouTube Kara Goldin on LinkedIn         Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

Mark-Hans Richer is a long-time friend, comrade-in-arms, and the O.G. Rebel Soul. Out of all the guests who have been on the show so far, Mark-Hans has been in my life the longest. He has been a constant inspiration for me to go out, be innovative, and embrace my Rebel Soul ever since we started our careers together in the advertising world. And over his 29 years of Corporate and Agency experience, Mark-Hans has driven marketing, promotions, experiences, and customer operations in major U.S. and global brands. Today, Mark-Hans serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer for Fortune Brands Home & Security.   Mark-Hans joins me today to discuss what kind of courage it takes to drive innovation and change in a corporate environment. He discusses the challenges change-makers face when initiating ideas and illustrates how they lose their Rebel Souls in a corporation. He defines what it means to be an ‘interpreneur’ and differentiates it from an entrepreneur. He also emphasizes the value of courage in leadership and discusses how we can invite others to join in creating change.   “When you’re serving a business’s objectives through courage and creativity, get to the extreme level of your ideas and their crazy iterations.” - Mark-Hans Richer   This week on Rebel Souls: The need for liberating courage and how people lose their rebel souls in corporations The shifts needed for leaders to embrace innovation and for corporations to develop tolerance towards disruption Serving a business through courage and creativity What an ‘interpreneur’ is and its similarities and differences from an entrepreneur The source of Mark-Hans’ courage and how he got me into improv comedy Courage as a leadership trait and its relationship with creativity The power of living the truth of your values How Mark-Hans inspired my first Soulbbatical and how it began my love affair with global marketing and travel What it means to ‘transcend and include’ in your career and how we undervalue our professional experiences The tension points where innovation lives and thrives How leadership in a corporation can support innovation Rebelling for safe water for all     Related Content: Chip Conley Rebelling FOR Aspirational Aging Sally Lou Loveman Rebelling FOR Stories and Connection    Connect with Mark-Hans Richer: Mark-Hans Richer on LinkedIn      Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

    Ione Butler is a British actress, voice-over artist, and entrepreneur who recently filmed for Marvel Studios’ upcoming spy thriller, Black Widow. Stirred by her own experience with adversity and challenges, Ione created the online platform Uplifting Content to share empowering and inspirational stories that encourage us to act and create a better world for ourselves and others. She is a true rebel who reminds us that there is light at the end of the tunnel.   Her book, Uplifting Stories: True Tales to Inspire You to Action, continues this mission of uplifting people by telling stories of how remarkable individuals, such as Kyle Maynard and Doniece Sandoval, overcame adversity and created an impact in the world. There is no better time for us to consume more positive, inspirational content than today - and Ione is a powerful storyteller who meets this need.   Ione joins me today to discuss how positive, inspirational content can impact our wellbeing. She shares her struggles with mental health issues and how she coped with her depression when she was younger. She explains how what we put in our bodies in all forms - whether its food or news media - can physically affect us and our health. She also explains what post-traumatic growth is and explores how we can transform life’s tribulations into a catalyst that can help us change the world.       “Surround yourself with stories of people who have overcome and persevered. They can give you strength and hope.” - Ione Butler       This week on Rebel Souls:   Rebelling for more inspirational stories and uplifting content in the world The disproportion between positive and negative stories in the news Ione’s experience with depression and her personal journey into creating uplifting content How getting into personal development helped Ione manage and cope with mental health issues Uplifting Content’s two-fold mission Creating a life by design and figuring out what you want for your life What happens when we share our vulnerabilities through storytelling The story of Doniece Sandoval and the power of acknowledging other people The pursuit of freedom and how Kyle Maynard overcomes life’s challenges Post-traumatic growth and transforming negative experiences into strength How the growth mindset is a choice Prioritizing self-care, protecting our energy, and an invitation to a news hiatus Putting in the Big Rocks, resourcing yourself, and filling in your Soul F.U.E.L. How Ione maintains her authenticity and sustains her acts of service     Related Content:   Rebelling for the Big Rocks     Resources Mentioned:   Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck Without Limbs He Conquered the Impossible | Kyle Maynard | Goalcast     Connect with Ione Butler:   Ione Butler Website Uplifting Content You can order Uplifting Stories wherever you buy books or order a signed copy at upliftingcontent.com/upliftingstories The Uplifting Content Podcast Uplifting Content on Facebook Uplifting Content on Twitter Uplifting Content on YouTube Uplifting Content on Instagram Ione Butler on Instagram Ione Butler on Facebook Ione Butler on Twitter Ione Butler on YouTube Ione Butler on LinkedIn         Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

I’ve recently felt like there’s no daylight in my calendar: my energy is drained, leaving me with nothing left for creativity. Yet, in addition to the myriad of things I want to do—write another book, publish more articles, go out there in the world as a thought leader, to name a few—tons of everyday distractions tempt my attention and focus away. I know this is a familiar story for many of you. In an increasingly distracting world, how can we focus on the things that matter? How do we even know if the things we want to do are worth pursuing? Today, I share the Mason Jar story, explore its implications, and discuss how we can apply its lessons to our lives. I explain how most of us don’t have time management problems at all but have difficulties with being honest, focusing, and setting boundaries. I describe Mark Silverman’s “Only 10s” philosophy and highlight the importance of living with intention. I also share my “Lens for 10s,” the filters I use to identify my ‘big rocks,’ and underscore the power of taking responsibility for our lives.   “Remind yourself that this is your life and fill it with intention. When you get those ‘big rocks’ in, how much space between them do you want to fill?” - Shelley Paxton   This week on Rebel Souls:  Feeling trapped in the busyness of my own creation How Mark Silverman’s “Only 10s” philosophy came back into my life Stephen Covey’s “The Mason Jar” story and identifying the ‘big rocks’ in our lives Carving out time and space for our big rocks and filling our lives with intent What Mark Silverman learned about staying focused on things that matters to us Mastering midlife and the difficulty of choosing yourself How I use my “Lens for 10s” to identify my big rocks and the things that matter to my mission The power of intentional living   Related Content: Erin Baker Rebelling FOR The Power and Paradox of “AND”    Resources Mentioned: Mastering Midlife Podcast: Only 10s 2.0: Embracing Only the 10s in Your Life with Shelley Paxton and Erin Baker Only 10s: Using Distraction to Get the Right Things Done by Mark Silverman The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen Covey Goodpods    Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Monique DeBose is one of the most multi-talented people I know in the world. She is an award-winning leading vocal improvisationalist whose song, Rally Call, garnered more than 100,000 views on YouTube within a week from its release. Meanwhile, her one-woman play, Mulatto Math: Summing Up the Race Equation in America, has won the 2018 Encore! Producers’ Award. Monique is a passionate playwright and ‘artivist’ whose work is driven by her mission to help people see from “black” and “white” to full color.   Monique joins me today to discuss her vision and mission of standing up for racial justice. She shares her experience of growing up with mixed heritage and describes the experience that prompted her to speak her truth. She underscores the value of asking for help and support and explains why parents need to cultivate social awareness in their children. She also discusses the ideas that drove her to write Rally Call and Mulatto Math and highlights how working on one’s healing journey can help others start their own.   “Until we are willing to own all the parts of ourselves, we will never have authentic expression and freedom - both as individuals and as a society.” - Monique DeBose    This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling for all people to have a seat at the table Growing up as a mixed-race person and owning your voice in the mix of cultures The power of our bodies, the importance of speaking your truth, and how Monique became outspoken about racial justice and equality How withholding emotions and stress can impact our bodies Doing the work, educating yourself and others, and how to #JoinTheRallyCall Art and music as medicine for the soul in the time of racial injustice and quarantine Monique’s hope and vision for her song Rally Call Writing her one-woman play, Mulatto Math, and standing in community to share vulnerability The most challenging and fun characters Monique played in Mulatto Math Particular questions and themes that come up in Monique’s talkback sessions How a personal healing journey can help other people start theirs Why August 28th is an important day in American history     Resources Mentioned: Monique DeBose - Rally Call (Official Video) Mulatto Math: Summing Up the Race Equation in America #JoinTheRallyCall    Connect with Monique DeBose Monique DeBose Website Monique DeBose on YouTube Monique DeBose on Instagram Monique DeBose on Facebook     Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

    Over the past 20 years, Bronwyn Saglimbeni has dedicated herself to helping people shine while communicating with authenticity. She is a communication coach and speaker who has helped her clients prepare for their appearances in big moments - from The Oprah Winfrey Show to TEDx Talks. Whether it’s through her podcast, 20 Minutes with Bronwyn, her coaching, or public speaking, Bronwyn shares tools and techniques that allow people to shine their brightest and dazzle their audiences.   Bronwyn joins me today to discuss how we can bring our most authentic selves into communication. She shares her experience with the writing process and underscores the importance of confronting our emotions in the creative process. She defines what it means to shine and highlights the techniques you can employ to earn and hold your audience’s attention in any form of communication. She also describes the power of anchoring your message in emotion and discusses how our negative self-talk influences how we communicate with others.       “Authenticity for its own sake is just an ego trip. Authenticity in service to the audience’s needs, that’s when the electricity happens on-stage.” - Bronwyn Saglimbeni       This week on Rebel Souls:   Rebelling for authentic communication and advocating for who we are How we’ve pivoted from face-to-face to virtual communication What it means to be a communication coach and how Bronwyn found her career Why there are no boring people and Bronwyn’s framework for bringing out personality and authenticity What Bronwyn uncovered in the writing process and how she found her writing voice How to earn and hold the attention of your audience The power of underpinning a message in an emotion Bronwyn’s “Homework for Life” and using experiences as creative material Vulnerability and the dimensions of our humanity Why confronting our emotional life is the key to creativity Bullyloops and how we talk to ourselves influences how we talk to other people Doing versus being and how busyness gives us a false sense of purpose Connecting and engaging an audience in virtual meetings Bronwyn’s “Bruce Willis” moment and coming to terms with racial injustice The dangers of insisting on the centering of white experience and why being anti-racist should be part of self-improvement     Resources Mentioned:   The Only One in the Room Podcast The Mystery Box by J.J. Abrams on TEDx Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling by Matthew Dicks Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad     Connect with Bronwyn Saglimbeni:   Bronwyn Communications Website 20 Minutes with Bronwyn Podcast Bronwyn Saglimbeni on Instagram Bronwyn Saglimbeni on Twitter Bronwyn Saglimbeni on LinkedIn Email: bronwyn@bronwyncommunications.com         Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.  

    Melody Miles is the founder of Soulcation Coaching & Retreats and author of the upcoming book, Soulcation: Design a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From. A humanitarian and scientist, Melody was Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and helped launch a global campaign to eradicate malaria. Today, Melody is an emerging millennial leader who helps professionals create the space and freedom they deserve in their lives, guiding them through her Soulcation method.   Melody joins me today to share her definition of freedom and reveal what it takes to design a life where you can breathe and live in the joy of the moment. She underscores the importance of cultivating time and practice to reconnect oneself. She shares the turning point in her life that led to her mission of helping others get started on their Soulcation. She also explores how we can use fear as teachers and guides and discusses every person’s need for both belonging and individuality.       You can just follow the next yellow arrow. You don’t need it all mapped out or planned. Freedom means surrendering the plan and the checklist. - Melody Miles       This week on Rebel Souls:   The human need for belonging and self-expression The importance of cultivating practices that bring us joy Uncovering the narratives and stories that we wrap around our emotions Melody’s Soulcation journey and the places it took her The meaning of freedom and the value of living in the happiness of the moment Dismantling the narrative of comparative suffering How comparative suffering prevents us from healing and moving forward The antidote to the problem of self-abandonment and how to design a life of freedom Honoring your scary truth and Melody’s 12 Steps to Soulcation Why ‘self first’ isn’t selfish and the importance of giving ourselves permission to put ourselves first The reason Melody encourages her clients write letters to their older or former selves Turning fear into fuel and a powerful guide on how vulnerability fosters profound human connection Melody’s morning routine and how she uses the Soulcation principle in her life How unconscious thought drives the decisions we make in our lives The difference between ripples of impact versus return on investment Rewriting the definition of success and rebelling for our connection with ourselves     Resources Mentioned:   The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron     Connect with Melody Miles:   Melody Miles Website Melody Miles on Instagram Melody Miles on LinkedIn         Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

    What are some of the things about you that you don’t want the world to know? Whenever we introduce ourselves, it’s almost always tailored to answer the “What do you do?” dinner party question. We state our job title, what we do for a living, or where we work. Stating our vulnerabilities to a complete stranger at our first meeting is the last thing we’d want to do. Yet, opening up to someone from a place of rawness, authenticity, and vulnerability can be a powerful way to connect with them and let them know that they are not alone in this world.   In this episode, I share five things I don’t want you to know about me: from my fears to some of the most unhappy places in my life. I explore the importance of vulnerability and authenticity and explain why I commit to it. I discuss how divorce impacted me and my mental health. I reveal my previous relationship with alcohol and share a realization I had during the pandemic. I also discuss my mission and fears about bringing Soulbbatical to the corporate world and highlight how discomfort can lead us to growth.       “Edges are our growth. Discomfort is our growth.” - Shelley Paxton       This week on Rebel Souls:   My commitment to opening up and rebelling for vulnerability Practicing vulnerability and how we introduce ourselves in the coaching community My experience with an unhappy marriage and divorce The importance of advocating for mental health awareness My numbing habit and what I realized during the pandemic Honoring my mission and showing up to my sobriety My fear of showing and sharing my soft, romantic side What’s making me play safe and keeping me from expanding my business The “upper limit” problem and how it holds us back from reaching higher goals The value of setting up boundaries and criteria for the organizations I want to work with Bringing Soulbbatical to the corporate world and my mission to revolutionize the way we work     Resources Mentioned:   The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks         Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution   Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.      

Rochelle Webb is the CEO and Founder of Optimist Made, a business built on Rochelle’s desire to bring opportunity to designers all over the world. She is the Clinical Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Marketing at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. After working in the marketing world for brands such as Activision and Quiksilver, Rochelle has since made her journey into entrepreneurship. Through Optimist Made, Rochelle acts as an accelerator for fashion designers, giving them a platform to be seen by the world and supporting their success. Rochelle joins me today to explore what it means to be an underdog and why she’s rebelling for the underdog entrepreneur. She describes how she transitioned from her marketing career in corporate America to the entrepreneur that she is today. She illustrates the struggles of women of color in business and entrepreneurship and discusses how Optimist Made stimulates what she calls the “underdog economy.” She also shares real stories of hard work, diligence, and hustle from the designers she helps and highlights the importance of turning fear into action.   “We are all struggling on some level with something and you sometimes just need someone else to be your advocate.” - Rochelle Webb   This week on Rebel Souls: Why Rochelle is rebelling for the underdog entrepreneur What it means to be an underdog and how Rochelle woke up to her calling Rochelle’s journey from working in the marketing world to becoming an entrepreneur The importance of taking little steps and bringing your passions together What Optimist Made is and how it acts as an incubator and accelerator for fashion designers The struggles of women of color in venture funding and how Optimist Made supports the underdog economy Why Rochelle made the decision to use “real-life” models Communicating humanity and diversity through a business platform How Rochelle sources designers from all over the world to collaborate with A designer’s story of diligence and hard work Rochelle’s work as a professor at Loyola Marymount University and the importance of hands-on learning The value of making mistakes and turning fear into action How Rochelle’s Soulbbatical from Quiksilver led her to where she is today   Connect with Rochelle Webb: Optimist Made Website Optimist Made on Facebook Optimist Made on Instagram Optimist Made on Twitter Rochelle Webb on Twitter Rochelle Webb on Instagram Rochelle Webb on LinkedIn   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Dr. Erin Baker’s journey is living life in the “AND” - that three-letter word that, when embraced, brings out our most authentic and creative selves. She is a social psychologist, entrepreneur, and Transformative Leadership Coach who helps innovators and entrepreneurs make a difference in the world. She is the creator and host of Life in the And, a podcast where she engages leaders, activists, and authors in conversations about their missions to create a more authentic, inclusive, and loving world. Erin joins me today to share her life in the And, and the power that one of the shortest words in the English language can bring. She explains what And means for her and how she discovered its potential to bridge divides and embrace life’s paradoxes. She ponders on the relationship between fear and courage and highlights the importance of having the courage to make mistakes in our lives. She also discusses the potential of And to heal and underscores the value of embracing both our heart and mind. “‘By changing the word ‘but’ or ‘or’ to ‘and,’ you can see things you haven’t seen before.” - Erin Baker This week on Rebel Souls: Erin’s life in the And and what she’s rebelling for How the improv world’s “Yes, and” game is creating innovation in the tech world The language of possibility and what And means for Erin Erin’s professional and personal journey with identity, paradox, and how she discovered the power of And The value of having high intentions and low attachment to goals The Ands that guide Erin as a scientist and entrepreneur The sweet spot between fear and courage Exploring our What-If-I-Don’ts and taking the leap to a more meaningful path The value of making mistakes and how they help us grow The balancing act between our headspace and heartspace What it means to invest in our own equity The beginner’s mindset and why we never truly start over when we leave our previous jobs or roles Using Ands to heal and bridge racial divides and injustices   Connect with Erin Baker: Erin Baker Website Life in the And Podcast Erin Baker on Facebook Erin Baker on Instagram Erin Baker on LinkedIn   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Christina Glickman is an industry disruptor, entrepreneur, and author. Driven by her calling to help women find their confidence and life purpose, Christina authored the Amazon bestseller, Xtra: The Art of Being, where she shares her love of fashion and her philosophy of living in your truth and expression. Christina is a staunch advocate for health-protective laws and cleaner cosmetics. As Managing Director of Beautycounter, Christina leads a team of consultants to deliver the organization’s mission of educating consumers about the need for safer products in the beauty industry. Christina joins me today to share how she discovered and cultivated her unapologetic confidence and why she is passionate about helping women find their bold expression. She reveals the biggest hindrances to women’s success and explores the idea of being in contrast to doing. She illustrates how she imparts to her children the courage to be who they are and the power of believing in yourself. She also discusses how pain can transform our sense of self and highlights how failure is an essential part of the progress toward success. “Being yourself is one of the hardest things you can possibly do. But once you do it, it’s so much easier than to pretend.” - Christina Glickman This week on Rebel Souls: Rebelling for women, people, and unapologetic confidence What it means to be Xtra and how Christina discovered her calling in life Authenticity as the truest form of rebellion and how pretending as someone else is exhausting Christina’s journey in building her confidence and the courage to be herself How the fear of being seen, the fear of vulnerability, and the lack of confidence hinder women from finding success Christina’s advice for women on cultivating their confidence What led Christina to write her book and why everyone’s story is worth telling Trust and surrender, and how taking small steps can lead to great accomplishments Role modeling confidence in children and younger people How Christina ran a marathon without training Touchstones, tattoos, power arms, and how a painful event transformed Christina and her sense of self The ability to fail as a reminder of progress What you should do if you don’t think you have a calling in life   Resources Mentioned: Book: The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson Connect with Christina Glickman: Beautycounter Book: Xtra: The Art of Being Christina Glickman on Instagram Christina Glickman on Facebook Christina Glickman on Vimeo Christina Glickman on LinkedIn   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Sally Lou Loveman is driven by her passion to connect audiences through heart-centered storytelling and events. She is a speaker, coach, and author of Speak: Love Your Story, Your Audience is Waiting. With over 35-years of experience in the television industry as the former audience producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show, Sally Lou has entertained and engaged over half a million people before starting her journey as an entrepreneur and speaker. In addition to writing, coaching, and speaking on heart-centered event stages, Sally Lou also hosts Unexpected Speaker workshops for heart-centered professionals as well as the weekly podcast series, LOVESPEAKS. Sally Lou joins me today to share why she is rebelling for people to stand up for who they are by sharing their stories and building connections with others. She discusses the power of sharing our own stories with the world and what it means to be in your purpose. She shares tips on how to warm up your audience and how to better engage with them, whether you’re speaking on stages, speaking with your team and colleagues, or speaking with your family and community. She explains what it means to show up as if every day is a ‘show day’ and the lessons she has learned while working with Oprah. Sally Lou also shares her perspective on rejection, why she believes women should create their own platform and content when faced with repeated rejection, and what inspired her to begin her adventure in stand-up comedy. “It’s like our superpower. It’s gold. We all sit on a pot of gold - which is our story - and when we speak our story, we help others.“ - Sally Lou Loveman This week on Rebel Souls: The soul-searching experience Sally Lou embarked on while recovering from COVID-19 Why Sally Lou is rebelling for people to stand up for who they are, do what they love, and own their talent What it means to be ‘in your purpose’ and how it helps you overcome your fears How to embrace distractions as a tool to overcome crippling fears How saying ‘yes’ to new opportunities led Sally Lou to work on the stage of The Oprah Winfrey Show How working on the set of The Oprah Winfrey Show deepened Sally Lou’s passion for storytelling How stories help you connect, inspire, and engage with audiences Why she encourages everyone to write their story, even if it’s only for themselves What it was like to work with Oprah and the lessons Sally Lou has learned throughout her experience What it means to show up everyday as if it’s ‘show day’ and the key elements of showing up in this way How to find your passion and life’s purpose The ‘Unexpected Speaker’ moves and what it means to find and truly engage with your audience Sally Lou’s perspective on rejection and why she believes people - particularly women - need to create their own content when they’re not receiving the ‘yesses’ they want What inspired Sally Lou’s adventure in stand-up comedy   Resources Mentioned: Book: The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav   Connect with Sally Lou Loveman: LoveSpeaks LOVESPEAKS Series Podcast Book: Speak: Love Your Story, Your Audience is Waiting LoveSpeaks on Instagram LoveSpeaks on Facebook Sally Lou Loveman on LinkedIn Sally Lou Loveman on Twitter Sally Lou Loveman on YouTube   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

We are all currently living in unprecedented times. With the novel coronavirus sweeping the nation - and the world - it has many people scratching their heads, wondering ‘what’s next’ for their families, their careers, their livelihoods. Before the pandemic, many of us were living rather scripted lives - we knew the next thing we wanted to happen, and the next steps we should take to achieve our personal and professional goals. We had everything planned out. But those ‘shoulds’ have been thrown out the window. They’ve gone barreling down the interstate and landed in a ditch somewhere. So, what can we learn from this experience? What would it look like to live life unscripted? How can we view this pandemic as an opportunity to discover new possibilities? Today, I explain what it means to rebel FOR possibility and how this idea is grounded in how you define success. I share how an improv comedy training empowered me to learn the language of possibility. I discuss what living life unscripted means and how a few key improve principles helped me create an unscripted life of meaningful success. I discuss the value of identifying the rules you’re currently following - even when they’re no longer serving you - and the importance of creating new rules to take their place. I also explain why we need to trust in ourselves, take action before we’re ready, and stay open to opportunities for collaboration, diversity, inspiration, and varied perspectives. “The language of improv is the language of possibility.” - Shelley Paxton This week on Rebel Souls: How improv comedy training opened the door to new possibilities What it means to live life unscripted Incorporating the critical phrase, ‘Yes, and…” into your daily life and how it builds bridges to new possibilities for what comes next The value of creating your own rules for success What it means to ‘go before you’re ready’ and the importance of trusting in yourself Inviting opportunities for collaboration Why taking action is way more powerful than written and spoken words The value of trust and surrender to create an unscripted life Converting your fears into fuel to propel you forward Leaning into momentum and the language of possibility   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Chip Conley is the founder of the world’s first ‘midlife wisdom school,’ Modern Elder Academy, an organization on a mission to build a community of inspired and empowered midlifers. Chip is recognized as the iconic boutique hotelier that helped Airbnb grow from one of the fastest-growing tech start-up companies to become a global hospitality brand. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder, The Rebel Rules, and PEAK: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow. Chip is also a member of the board of Encore.org and serves on the advisory board for the Stanford Center for Longevity. Chip strongly believes that curiosity is the ‘elixir of life.’ Chip joins me today to discuss why he’s rebelling for aspirational aging. He discusses what it was like to bring his wisdom and experiences from the hospitality industry into the tech startup world. He explains what it means to be a ‘modern elder’ and the unique midlife transitions many people experience when approaching their midlife years. He describes what ‘midlife metamorphosis’ is and why he believes the first half of your life is about accumulating while the second half is about ‘editing out the fluff’ - or letting go of the things that no longer serve you. He also explains what ‘The Great Midlife Edit’ is, how it helps you determine how you want to live the rest of your life, and why he believes life isn’t a ‘one tank’ journey. “You have mastery inside of you. The question is: How do you repurpose it in new ways?”- Chip Conley This week on Rebel Souls: How Chip is rebelling for the idea of aspirational aging and the philosophy of midlife metamorphosis What ‘The Great Midlife Edit” is and the three life stages Why Chip believes life isn’t a ‘one tank journey’ and the premise of ‘lifelong learning’ Chips career journey from working in the hospitality industry to becoming the iconic boutique hotelier that helped grow the Airbnb brand The defining moment that encouraged Chip to leave the hotel hospitality industry and propelled him into the modern elder he currently is today The three relationships you can have with your work and the ‘U-curve of happiness’ What a ‘Modern Elder’ is and the difference between a modern elder and a traditional elder The difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset and the importance of adopting a growth mindset The steps for becoming a Modern Elder and the three qualities people over 50 value the most How the concept of the Modern Elder Academy began Why Chip believes the meaning of life is to find your gift, but the purpose of life is to give your gift away Resources Mentioned: Your Professional Decline Is Coming (Much) Sooner Than You Think - The Atlantic Magazine     Connect with Chip Conley: Modern Elder Academy Wisdom Well Book: Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder Book: The Rebel Rules: Daring to be Yourself in Business Modern Elder Academy on LinkedIn Modern Elder Academy on Instagram Modern Elder Academy on Facebook Chip Conley on LinkedIn Chip Conley on Facebook Chip Conley on Twitter   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

What would your life look like if you could achieve success and fulfillment? Do we really need to sacrifice our soul to increase our salary? Is it even possible to achieve success and fulfillment? For years in the corporate world, I believed success and fulfillment were mutually exclusive. I believed that the price I had to pay to make it to the top was to sacrifice my soul’s desires and ignore my longing for personal fulfillment. But, as Chief Soul Officer of my life, I’ve learned that success and fulfillment can co-exist. In today’s episode, I discuss how I’m rebelling for fulfillment. I explain why I felt success and fulfillment were mutually exclusive throughout my corporate career and how my soulbbatical helped me realize they truly can co-exist. I discuss how I realized we can have both - success and fulfillment - and how we can rewrite the script of success to allow both to co-exist in our lives. I explain my new definition of success and soul-fillment and the difference between a success-FULL career and a success-empty one. I also explain the importance of identifying your requirements for creating a life of joy, a life that’s energizing, and a life that is aligned with your values, purpose, and your soul’s truth.   “It’s really up to us to rewrite the script of success.” - Shelley Paxton   This week on Rebel Souls: Why I used to believe feeling unfulfilled was simply the price you pay to climb the corporate ladder and increase your salary Envisioning what success and fulfillment could look like in your life How success and fulfillment can co-exist The difference between ‘success-FULL’ and ‘success-empty’ The true definition of fulfillment and the importance of identifying your requirements for creating a life of joy My personal requirements for creating a life of joy, energy, and soul alignment Choosing soul over salary and why I truly believe that one leads to the other Where I believe ‘fulfillment’ actually begins Getting clear on what ‘soul-fillment’ means for you   Resources Mentioned: Nobody Told Me! Podcast - Shelley Paxton: … that you can have both success AND fulfillment Life in the And Podcast - The Secret to Liberating A Billion Souls: Trust AND Surrender with Shelley Paxton A Rebel Leaders Manifesto Book: Speak: Love Your Story, Your Audience is Waiting by Sally Lou Oaks Loveman   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Cheryle Jackson is the CEO and Founder of Grit + Grace, The Movement, a women’s empowerment, coaching, and media company helping female leaders powerfully pursue their potential and align their self-care with their ambition. Before founding the company in 2018, she served as the Senior Vice President of Global Business Development and President of AAR Africa for AAR. In 2010, she was also a candidate for President Obama’s once-vacant U.S. Senate seat as well as the first female president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. Among the many executive roles throughout her career, Cheryle has also worked with several non-profit organizations as well as shared the Grace + Grit message through public speaking engagements, including on the stage of TEDx. Cheryle joins me today to share why she is rebelling for women to rediscover their grit and grace and how she is helping women to understand the need to pair grit with grace in our lives. She shares the defining moment in her life when she realized practicing grace was a crucial element of reaching her full potential and how she discovered grit and grace goes hand-in-hand. She explains what it truly means to be a “free agent” - to run your career on your own terms, be pro-active instead of reactive, and take your career ‘by the horns’ to create your own path to success. She also explains her concept on the “DNA of Brilliance” and what it could look like to practice grace every day, in everything you do. “Grit alone ensures that you survive. But we’re here to do more than just survive; we want to thrive. Grace helps us to thrive.” - Cheryle Jackson This week on Rebel Souls: Cheryle’s journey of pivots and how the Grit + Grace movement began How Cheryle discovered and developed her grit and resiliency The price of having the grit and tenacity to keep going Why Cheryle believes losing the U.S. Senate primary election was a blessing in disguise How Cheryle battled breast cancer and dealt with divorce while starting her business and how her experiences shined a light on the importance of grit, grace, and radical self-care When Cheryle realized grit and grace goes hand-in-hand How Cheryle helped women pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic How Cheryle practices grace to stay connected to her soul What the “Grace Practice” is and the three actions that create our lives Identifying the triggers that cause you to fall out of grace and alignment with your soul Using your emotions as a tool to stay in alignment with your soul Cheryle’s concept of the “DNA of Brilliance” Why waiting for new opportunities to come your way is detrimental to your success Choosing to be a ‘free agent’ and why the key to being a free agent, beyond choosing yourself, is service-driven networking Understanding what’s driving your decisions How Cheryle is rebelling for change, social justice, and civil rights   Resources Mentioned: Book: Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow by Elizabeth Lesser Book: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth   Connect with Cheryle Jackson: Cheryle Jackson Website PIVOT! Conference Grit And Grace - TEDx Talk Grit + Grace, The Movement on Instagram Grit + Grace, The Movement on Facebook Cheryle Jackson on LinkedIn Cheryle Jackson on Instagram Cheryle Jackson on Facebook Cheryle Jackson on Twitter   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Our soul is our essence; our unadulterated, fully authentic way of being. It is our deepest truth, values, ideals, and commitments. But all too often, in the hustle and bustle of life and building our careers, we lose sight of who we truly are, what we stand for, and what matters most to us. We begin focusing on what others want us to be and their goals and aspirations for us instead of our own, personal aspirations. We get disconnected from our souls. So, how can we reconnect with our soul to become the Chief Soul Officer of our own lives? Today, I explain what it means to be the Chief Soul Officer of your life. I share my experience while taking a “Soulbbatical” and how my family, friends, and co-workers reacted when I decided to leave my corporate career and reconnect with my soul’s desires. I discuss the most important areas you should consider when beginning your journey as the Chief Soul Officer of your life. I explain why it’s critical to give yourself permission to live in your bigness and the fullness of your most authentic self to achieve the impact you want to create in the world and release yourself from the shackles of “should.” I also explain what it truly means to embrace authenticity, why I believe it is the truest form of rebellion, and why being ‘self-first’ is not the same as being ‘selfish’. “Authenticity is the truest form of rebellion.” - Shelley Paxton   This week on Rebel Souls: What it means to be the Chief Soul Officer of your life My Soulbbatical journey and why I took the bold move to leave Harley-Davidson The most important starting point of being the Chief Soul Officer of your life How to reconnect with your soul, your deepest truths, and your most authentic self The importance of nurturing and nourishing your soul The importance of giving yourself permission to live in your ‘bigness,’ your expansiveness, and the fullness of your most authentic self Releasing the shackles of “should” from your life and truly embracing authenticity The difference between ‘self-first’ and ‘selfish’   Resources Mentioned: The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Cornell Thomas is a former professional basketball player whose career abruptly ended due to an injury. Being well-versed in facing adversities, Cornell turned this experience into a positive way to transform his life by focusing on the ‘what now?’ factor instead of the ‘why me?’ Today, Cornell is an inspirational speaker, multi-book author, corporate trainer, and mindset coach on a mission to help others transform their lives and businesses by focusing on their emotional intelligence, team building, and culture. His book, Extraordinary: The Great Distance Between Good and Great has been endorsed by some of the top experts in his field, including Tony Robbins and Dr. Cornel West. He is also the host of two popular podcasts - Population Unplugged and The Storytellers Podcast. Cornell joins me today to discuss why he is rebelling for mindset and why he believes everything in life is controlled by your mindset. We discuss the power of sacrificing what you ‘like’ to achieve what you truly love and the challenges he faced throughout his childhood to fulfill his dreams. Cornell shares how a physical injury changed the trajectory of his life and career and led him on the path to help others realize the power of a positive mindset. We discuss how we can use challenges and adversity as a way to learn more about ourselves and the importance of waking up each day with a beginner’s mindset. We also discuss the “Power of Pause” and leaning into vulnerabilities as well as Cornell’s book writing process and what inspired him to host the Global Positivity Summit. “We all have gardens in our brain - whatever you plant grows. So if you plant negative stuff, the weeds are going to grow. If you plant positive things, that’s what is going to grow.” - Cornell Thomas This week on Rebel Souls: Why Cornell is rebelling for mindset and his belief that everything in life is controlled by your mindset The pivotal moment that allowed Cornell to create a mindset shift in his own life that eventually transformed his world The importance of planting positive thoughts and how the seeds of positivity can sprout positive results Cornelle’s journey from playing professional basketball to becoming the head coach of his alma mater before becoming a mindset coach The value of taking small baby steps and how they can transform your life and the impact of comparing yourself and your success to others How adversity is a tool to teach us about ourselves and the value of adopting a beginner’s mindset The power of taking a pause and leaning into vulnerability Cornell’s Global Positivity Summit and what inspired him to host the summit during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic A sneak peek into Cornell’s writing process and his goal for publishing 10 books by 2022 The importance of believing you are special and identifying your superpower What fuels Cornell’s rebel sou Connect with Cornell Thomas: Cornell Thomas’s Website Population Unplugged Podcast Storytellers Podcast Book: Extraordinary: The Great Distance Between Good and Great Book: The Book of Cornellism Book: The Power of Positivity: Controlling Where the Ball Bounces Cornell Thomas on LinkedIn Cornell Thomas on Instagram Cornell Thomas on Facebook Cornell Thomas on Twitter   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

What does ‘playing big’ mean to you? What does it look like? Feel like? Sound like? How do you go from playing small to playing a bigger game and achieving your wildest dreams? As entrepreneurs and high-performing leaders, stepping into our power and embracing our inner bigness is often one of the most challenging and scary experiences we face when advancing to our next level of greatness. But embracing and embodying our bigness is the key to unlocking our rebel souls. It’s the energetic foundation for creating the massive impact we want to create in the world. In today’s episode, I dive deeper into my career backstory and why I felt unfulfilled in my corporate career, despite achieving massive success and recognition. I discuss why taking risks, trying new things, and staying true to yourself is important for many rebel souls. I discuss the importance of identifying your personal and professional insecurities, how they manifest in your life, and how they are impacting your career trajectory. I share my struggles with being a natural rebel while also having people-pleasing tendencies and how being a perpetual people-pleaser can actually hinder your ability to play big. I also share how I realized it’s beautiful to be a force of nature, that being in touch with my feminine side is nature, and how embracing that natural beauty is how female leaders play big and get things done. “Let’s rebel together for our bigness! This is how we are going to be the ripples that become the wave.” - Shelley Paxton This week on Rebel Souls: Why I felt unfulfilled in my corporate career, despite achieving massive success Why I struggled to play a bigger game on the corporate field Identifying your insecurities and how they’re impacting your career Getting clear about your people-pleasing tendencies and how it hinders your ability to play at a bigger level Getting in touch with your “Divine Self” Embracing heart-centered leadership, compassion, and empathy The value of embracing your feminine side to play big and get things done   Resources Mentioned: The Art of Spiritual Intimacy Workshop   Bigness I was always too big for you. Yes, you. Every man in my life. Every husband, boyfriend, and potential suitor. Too intense. Too successful. Too curvy. Too fat. Too bold. Too smart. Too independent. Too charismatic. Too much. Too much like the wild swells of the ocean, like the raging winds of a monsoon, like the scorching rays of the desert sun. You told me I was a force of nature. Too big. In every way. And I believed you. I felt crushed and ashamed and misunderstood...and unlovable. Alone. Aching. Too big for love. Until now. Now I understand that big is beautiful. That the vast expansiveness of the divine feminine is powerful. The movement, the energy, the beauty, the expression, the emotion, the leadership. The force that nature intended. Now I choose to show up as “She who must be loved in her bigness and ravished in her wild feminine.” Look out world.     Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Jessica Zweig is the Founder and CEO of SimplyBe, a premier personal branding company for entrepreneurs, executives, and organizations around the world. She is an award-winning entrepreneur and personal branding expert that has helped countless industry leaders transform their personal brand from being an expert in their field to becoming thought-leaders of their industry. Jessica has been recognized and featured in dozens of media publications, including FOX News, MarketWatch, Forbes, and Business Insider. Jessica is also a highly sought-after, dynamic speaker, having spoken on national and international stages, including Google, Microsoft, Pinterest, and Kellogg School of Management as well as a workshop and mastermind facilitator for entrepreneurs and organizations looking to scale their personal brands. Jessica joins me today to discuss how she is rebelling for authenticity and what authenticity means to her.  She explains how to use your authenticity as a form of empowerment, why it’s a daily practice - not a destination - and the power of integrating all aspects of who you are to show up in your authentic truth every day. She discusses what is possible when you show up from a place of truth and profound service. She also shares her framework for revealing the essence of your brand and shares a sneak peek into her upcoming book, Be. A No Bullshit Guide to Increasing Your Self Worth and Your Net Worth by Simply Being You. “That owning of our truth and our full capacity is authenticity.” - Jessica Zweig   This week on Rebel Souls: Why Jessica believes people have lost the true sense of what authenticity means Why it’s critical to be who you say you are, to own your authentic self, and to integrate all aspects of your authentic self into your personal and professional life The four realms of consciousness and identifying the ‘shadow sides’ of yourself through this process How being clear and current with the people around you helps you stay true to your authentic self Jessica’s journey to finding her true, authentic self and how she helps clients activate and awaken their inner truths while giving them permission to live their truth through their brands How your business and brand growth is intertwined with your personal growth and personal development How being yourself helps you attract your ideal clients Why staying true to your inner truth and authenticity is a daily practice, not a destination How Jessica developed the Personal Brand Hologram™ and the four brand pillars of the Hologram™ How she reconnected with her scrappy inner entrepreneur to launch a new course during the COVID-19 pandemic A sneak peek into Jessica’s upcoming book and how it walks readers through the steps to create their authentic message and build your brand strategy and platform The four key areas that F.U.E.L Jessica’s rebel soul   Resources Mentioned: Book: So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo Code Switch Podcast East Forest on Spotify   Connect with Jessica Zweig: SimplyBe Agency SimplyBe Podcast Jessica Zweig website SimplyBe on LinkedIn SimplyBe on Instagram SimplyBe on Facebook Jessica Zweig on LinkedIn Jessica Zweig on Twitter   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Welcome to the first episode of the Rebel Souls podcast! I’m your host, Shelley Paxton, Chief Soul Officer of Soulbbatical, transformational coach, and international speaker helping corporate executives and leaders fight burnout, re-kindle their internal flame, and liberate their soul while creating a Ripple of Impact in their lives and careers. I am also the author of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life, a story about my journey from working in corporate America as the Chief Marketing Officer of Harley-Davidson to becoming the Chief Soul Officer of my own life and business. I am on a mission to inspire others to take back control of their lives and careers, unleash their full potential, and liberate a billion souls. In this episode, I share more about who I am, my journey from corporate America to becoming the Chief Soul Officer of my life and career, and what you can expect from each episode of Rebel Souls. I discuss the difference between a traditional ‘rebel’ and a Rebel Soul and how you’re secretly using your rebellious nature as a piece of armor to protect your inner insecurities and feelings of impostor syndrome. I explain the difference between rebelling against something versus rebelling for something and how rebelling for something is actually your secret weapon - your superpower - for liberating your soul’s desires. I also share how each episode of the Rebel Souls podcast will help you uncover and expose the secrets of what you are rebelling for. “Rebelling FOR isn’t quiet.” - Shelley Paxton This week on Rebel Souls: Why I decided to launch the Rebel Souls Podcast The traditional concept of being a rebel and what it means to be a Rebel Soul How you’re using your rebellious nature as a piece of armor to protect your inner insecurities The importance of celebrating your inner softness The difference between rebelling against something versus rebelling for something and how rebelling for something is actually your inner superpower Understanding what you are rebelling for Creating a Ripple of Impact and why this form of ROI is the most rewarding of all Resources Mentioned: A Rebel Leaders Manifesto   Liberate Your Soul & Join the Rebelution Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Rebel Souls with your host, Shelley Paxton, the podcast dedicated to helping leaders reject the status quo, liberate their soul, and become a lifelong rebel. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram and share your favorite episodes across social media. And for more great content and information, visit our website and grab your copy of Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Hey rebel souls, you've got me this week with a messy idea that's been heavy on my heart. I've been having so many conversations around this need to put the things that we HAVE to do over the things we WANT to do. I catch myself in this mindset all the time and I suspect you're feeling exactly like I am. We deserve pleasure, we don't earn it. There's no room for “busyness as a badge of honor” in the life of a radiant, whole, vibrant human being. So let's flip this script!What I'm talkin' about:How we block ourselves from play (and flipping that script)How to refocus pleasure as the top priorityShifting away from the “earn it” mentalityWhat is possible for our lives when we replace the to-list with the to-be listKey questions to begin asking ourselvesConnect with Shelley:Instagram: @soulbbaticalWebsite: soulbbatical.comRead Adam Grant's book Think Again and check out his Instragram @adamgrantThis show is produced by Soulfire Productions

Rebel souls, there's something on my heart this month that needs to be explored together. September is suicide prevention awareness month and I asked my friend Addison Brasil to come back and talk about it. In his first appearance on the show, he was so beautifully vulnerable about his experiences of being “just to the left” of death three separate times. His experience of loss and grief has led him to be the mental health advocate that he is today. He is the co-founder of Tethr which is a 10,000 men strong community focused on supporting the mental health crisis of men. This conversation isn't only focused on men, it's about shifting awareness to action. With the changes in the landscape of work, the incredible weight of the pandemic, and the challenges around mental health right now, Addison is diving into practical tips around emotional fitness, honoring our grief process, and moving through the negative swirl of thoughts and emotions that loss can bring.We do talk about suicide and the loss of Addison's father. If that is a trigger for you, please be warned, this might not be the right episode for you. Be gentle to yourself and protect your health. What we're talkin' about:What it means to honor the journey and acknowledge the swirlIdentifying what grief actually is and why we can't bypass itThe grief toolkit and powerful reframing toolsWhat it looks like to practice daily emotional fitness and why it mattersThe importance of silence and support when it comes to mental wellbeingFollow Addison:Instagram: @addisonbrasilWebsite: addisonbrasil.comCheck out Tethr:Instagram: @tethrformenWebsite: tethr.menConnect with Shelley:Instagram: @soulbbaticalWebsite: soulbbatical.comResources:Listen to Addison's first episode with Rebel SoulsThis show is produced by Soulfire Productions