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Trevor and Eugene sit down with professor, author, and The Curiosity Shop co-host Brené Brown for a conversation about connection in an age of constant connectivity. From parasocial relationships and modern media to friendship, community, and the universal desire to feel like we belong, Brené brings her trademark mix of insight, honesty, and humor. Together, the three explore why genuine human connection can feel harder to find than ever — and why it remains one of the most important things we have. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Meghan Hickman has spent over three years as our EOS implementer at Poe Group Advisors, and this conversation is one we have been looking forward to sharing. Meghan works with entrepreneurial leadership teams to help them build structure, create accountability, and scale with intention. She has helped over 40 organizations do exactly that, including ours.The conversation covers:How a career in politics taught Meghan to recognize when your work is bringing out the worst in youWhy the "right person, right seat" framework gives leaders language for decisions they already sense but can't articulateHow the Accountability Chart reveals the structure a firm actually needs vs. the one it has outgrownWhy the Vision Traction Organizer works where traditional strategic plans fail, because it evolves every 90 daysHow to distinguish between head signals and heart signals when deciding whether to restructure or exitWhy the companies that scale fastest are the ones willing to run toward hard problems and simplify relentlesslyHow vulnerability-based trust separates teams that break through from teams that stay stuckTimestamps:00:36 - Meghan's background: from US Senate press secretary to entrepreneur 01:26 - How a copy of "Traction" in 2014 changed the direction of Meghan's career 01:52 - Growing an EOS company by 62% in five years and launching her own practice 03:12 - Starting in the least entrepreneurial environment possible: bureaucracy vs. the private sector 04:43 - The moment Meghan knew it was time to leave: the night Osama bin Laden was captured 06:09 - Sending out resumes at 1:00 in the morning and the one that changed everything 07:48 - Effective self vs. destructive self activity: the exercise that explained everything 09:28 - What working in the private sector revealed about her unique abilities 11:14 - Core value alignment: using values to attract the right people like a magnet 13:04 - Why the press secretary seat was the wrong one and what EOS language helped her understand 15:21 - Burnout vs. readiness to sell: how to tell the difference 17:04 - Head signals: the business is running you, things feel harder than they should 19:14 - The prescription for heart signals: a leap, whether that is a transition, a sale, or a new chapter 22:02 - Meghan's own red flags: road rage, everyone seems difficult, an unmade bed 25:37 - What the Accountability Chart actually does and why it matters past five or ten employees 28:08 - The value of an outside perspective: seeing the game when you cannot see it from the field 30:22 - The Vision Traction Organizer: a two-page strategic plan that actually gets used 33:17 - How your ideal clients evolve as your firm evolves, and why revisiting matters every 90 days 37:20 - Why firms that obsess over simplification and say no more than yes scale the fastest 40:05 - Meghan's memorable career story: getting her senator to the Today show in the nick of time 45:06 - There is no learning in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the learning zone 45:48 - Book recommendations: "Traction," The Five Minute Journal, and "The Gifts of Imperfection."
What if your imperfections are not your greatest problem?In this teaching on Psalm 138, John Ortberg explores the difference between perfection and perfectionism, the beauty of human weakness, and why God has so much compassion for imperfect people.Drawing from Psalm 138, Psalm 103, the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, and the image of cracked pottery repaired with gold, John shows how God often creates beauty through what we would rather hide.This episode explores:- The difference between perfection and perfectionism- Why God remembers we are dust- Fear, anxiety, and self-worth- Wabi-sabi and the beauty of imperfection- Jesus retaining His scars after resurrection- Learning to accept imperfect peopleFeaturing reflections on:- Brené Brown- Gordon Flett- Psalm 138- Psalm 103Scriptures:- Psalm 138- Psalm 103:13–14- Isaiah 53#Psalm138 #JohnOrtberg #Perfectionism #Grace #WabiSabi #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Prayer #BibleStudy #Psalms
Amy Schwartz, Chief People Officer at Wiz, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about why HR alone can't create a high-performance culture, why relationships and influence matter more than HR systems, and why "picking up the trash" - a leadership philosophy she picked up working in casinos - has stuck with her ever since.---- Sponsor Links:
Grace & Grit Podcast: Helping Women Everywhere Live Happier, Healthier and More Fit Lives
Every woman I have ever worked with carries a story about why she can't — can't change, can't sustain it, can't trust herself, can't start over at this point. Those stories feel like facts. They are not facts. Our brains construct narratives around painful experiences and encode them as truth — running quietly in the background, limiting what we attempt and what we believe is possible. Drawing on Brené Brown's Rising Strong, Courtney teaches a three-step framework to name the story, examine how old it actually is, and replace it with one that's more accurate than it is positive. Get your free chapter of The Consistency Code at https://theconsistencycode.com/freechapter #limitingbeliefsmidlifewomen #brenebrownrisingstrong #storyitellmyself #thoughtmanagementwomenover40 #selflimitingbeliefshealth #identityandchangemidlife #thoughtpatternswomen #howtochangeyourmindset #beliefsystemsmidlife #innernarrativewomen #growthmindsetover40 #rewritingyourstorymidlife
Send us Fan MailThat title too much for you spacemen? Well, don't worry--we're just as nonsensical in this episode as we are in every episode, with just a touch of meaningful thoughts. Listen in and be more vulnerable. Keywordsmen's emotional health, vulnerability, emotional hiding, mental health, communication, relationships, self-awareness, coping mechanisms Key TopicsWhy men hide their feelingsPatterns of emotional hiding in menPractical strategies to stop hiding and foster vulnerability sound bites"Trust and safety are key to opening up.""Expressing feelings reduces the need to hide.""Practice makes vulnerability easier."Chapters00:00 Understanding Men's Hiding Behaviors05:41 The Spectrum of Hiding and Coping Mechanisms11:24 Understanding Emotional Hiding14:25 The Complexity of Asking for Help18:31 Patterns of Hiding and Coping Mechanisms22:16 The Importance of Emotional Expression29:18 Reframing Reactions and Building Confidence35:15 Steps to Overcome Hiding and Embrace Vulnerability44:49 IntroSHORT.mp4 resourcesTerry Real's Work on Emotional Connection - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Terry+RealThe Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Brene+Brown+The+Power+of+VulnerabilityEmotion Processing Techniques - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-moment-youth/201911/how-process-emotions-effectivelyMen's Emotional Health Resources - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/men-and-mental-healthEffective Communication Strategies for Men - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/men-and-emotions/202001/men-need-know-how-ask-for-helpSpread the word! The Manspace is Rad!!
We all have gaps in our leadership skills and capabilities that can be tough to spot on our own. But once seen, we cannot unsee these gaps, and we know we must take responsibility for our own growth and development. In this episode, I'm digging into Brené Brown's framework of Armored Leadership versus Daring Leadership from her book Strong Ground, with the hope that you will be able to spot some of your gaps in your leadership habits. I break down the 11 aspects of armored leadership, those self-protective behaviors that feel like safety but actually keep us stuck, and explore what shifts when you choose daring leadership instead: vulnerability, authenticity, and real growth. We talk about what drives armored leadership in the first place, from scarcity mindset and social conditioning to past trauma, and how those patterns show up in organizational culture without us even realizing it. Then we flip the lens to daring leadership, where leading proactively and strategically rather than reactively becomes possible. We talk about values in leadership, the role of failure, and how building a belonging culture starts with the willingness to be vulnerable as a leader. This is leadership development that meets you where you actually are, for better or worse. This is an invitation to take an honest look at where armor and your need for self-protection are costing you. As I share in the episode, leadership is an act of service, and daring leadership asks you to show up fully, armor down, and lead from a place ot humility, curiosity, and authenticity. Links Mentioned: Hire Sara to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with Sara: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Laura Tomaino, Chief People Officer at Glooko, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about why “People-First” leadership feels harder in 2026 and what it actually looks like to live up to that today.---- Sponsor Links:
In this episode of The Builder's Bookshelf, we break down Brené Brown's Dare to Lead and translate courageous leadership into the real world of construction, where avoided conversations, weak trust, and vague values can quietly create major project risk. You'll learn how to rumble with vulnerability, live values visibly, build trust through specific behaviors, and lead teams that can tell the truth, recover from mistakes, and do hard things together.Enjoy Episode 21 and #BeNEXT
Every system we move through runs on norms: rules and agreements that are both explicit and implicit. And nowhere are they more powerful–or more invisible–than in how we lead and how we build our businesses. In fact, sociologists have consistently found that norms don't announce themselves. They travel through families, schools, workplaces, and entire cultures through repetition and imitation, often persisting long after the conditions that created them have changed. We absorb them before we can name them. And once they are inside us, they feel like “just the way things are.”In leadership development the norms run so deep we have mistaken them for truth. As a result, the model leader–despite decades of language to the contrary–still looks and sounds like a very particular kind of person.My guest today offers that leadership development has been trying to make better leaders for a broken system, rather than questioning whether the system itself needs to change. Nilofer Merchant has spent her career making the invisible visible–naming the norms, the systems, the daily routines that keep us collectively stuck. In this conversation, we go deep on the difference between caring and caretaking, what it means to trust yourself when the ground keeps disappearing, and what it actually takes to stop trying to fix what is not working and become someone who builds what is needed, right where you are.Nilofer Merchant is the co-founder of Intangible Labs. She spent over 25 years leading technology companies (Apple, Autodesk, GoLive/Adobe) and personally launched over 100 products and services, netting $18 billion in revenues. She is ranked among the top 50 influential management thinkers in the world (one of her TED Talks has been referenced 300 million times). Our Best Work is her 4th book.Listen to the full episode to hear:Why accepting our current norms won't get leaders where they want to goHow what we call personal agency is in reality socially constructed and drivenWhy we need more real care and less caretaking in our relationships at work and in lifeHow teams can shift towards situational leadership and recentering how we think about the unique value and capabilities individuals bringHow ownership, shared purpose, and co-creation help us build new systems, unstuck from the status quoNilofer's lessons about self-trust, taking risks, and approaching the future of work with hopeLearn more about Nilofer Merchant:WebsiteThe Intangible LabsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nilofer/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nilofer.merchantConnect on LinkedInOur Best Work: Break Free from the 24 Invisible Norms That Limit UsLearn more about Rebecca:rebeccaching.comWork With RebeccaThe Unburdened Leader on SubstackSign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader EmailResources:The Power of Onlyness: Make Your Wild Ideas Mighty Enough to Dent the WorldMary Parker FollettMother Mary Comes to Me, Arundhati RoyThe God of Small Things, Arundhati RoyPrizefighter - Mumford & SonsLaw & OrderDire Straits - Money For NothingDuran Duran - Hungry like the WolfThe Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam GrantChapters:(00:07) - Introduction (12:12) - Why Norms Persist (15:17) - Making the Hard Changes (16:42) - Personal Agency is Not Persona (19:31) - Servant to Situational Leadership (23:44) - Care vs Caretaking (32:37) - Making it Practical: Power of Onlines (39:38) - Uncertainty and Control (43:20) - AI, Layoffs, and Control (46:33) - Build The New Village (48:29) - Ownership Over Accountability (53:03) - Trusting Your Instinct (57:29) - Walking Toward Yourself (01:01:06) - Hope As Liberation (01:04:06) - Quickfire Questions (01:10:44) - How To Connect (01:11:33) - Closing Thoughts
Jevan Lenox, Chief People Officer at Writer, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about why AI adoption alone is not enough, how companies can use “directed innovation” to drive real business outcomes with AI, and what high performance looks like in the AI era.---- Sponsor Links:
Brené Brown and Adam Grant have devoted much of their work to helping people better understand conflict, communication, and human behavior. Nevertheless, the two spent years estranged after a 2016 article Grant wrote led to a falling out between them. Now, they've reunited for a new podcast, The Curiosity Shop, where they explore complicated and often polarizing questions with humility, nuance, and a willingness to challenge each other in real time. Katie talks with them about repairing their relationship, why so many people struggle to have honest conversations, the impact of social media and outrage culture, and what it takes to stay open-minded in an increasingly divided world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to walk into a room full of strangers and walk out with real connections? In this episode of Navigating the Customer Experience, host Yanique Grant sits down with Alexandra Silva Labarr, internationally recognized speaker, author, and founder of Xandra Marketing and PR. Known as the Networking Queen, Alexandra brings over 25 years of experience in marketing, business development, and sales to a conversation that is practical, personal, and deeply inspiring.Alexandra's journey is one of remarkable resilience. After decades in corporate America, she bet on herself and launched her own marketing firm just before COVID hit, shutting down the in person networking she had built her reputation on. Instead of retreating, she pivoted, went digital, gave back to her community, and emerged stronger. Today, Xandra Marketing and PR helps businesses take full ownership of their marketing, from social media and branding to digital presence and messaging strategy.Her story starts at 13 years old, when she lost her mother. That experience taught her that finding the right people and leaning on them is not weakness, it is strategy. That understanding became the foundation for everything she has built since, including her Power of Networking Community, now with 15 chapters across South Florida. She is also the author of three books: The Power of Networking, Show Up Scared, and Show Up Scared: Teen Edition, which became an Amazon bestseller and has taken her into schools and universities across the country.In this episode Alexandra walks us through her Seven Essential C's of Networking and highlights the two people struggle with most: Courage and Common Ground. She explains why most people have courage and confidence backwards, and why showing up scared is the only real path to confidence. She also gets practical, giving you a step by step approach for exactly what to say at a networking event, how to approach a group already in conversation, how to introduce yourself without leading with a pitch, and how to craft a 30 second commercial built around the pain you solve.Alexandra also shares her thoughts on follow up, encouraging listeners to pick up the phone and let people hear their voice, because authenticity lives in your voice and people do business with people they can feel.Topics covered include the Seven C's of Networking, courage vs confidence, building common ground, crafting your 30 second commercial, follow up strategy, AI tools for entrepreneurs, and details on the Show Up Scared teen event at the Mayfair Hotel in Coconut Grove on June 23rd.Featured Resources:The Power of Networking by Alexandra Silva Labarr available on AmazonShow Up Scared by Alexandra Silva Labarr available on AmazonShow Up Scared: Teen Edition by Alexandra Silva Labarr available on AmazonHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie available on AmazonIt's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You available on AmazonBooks by John C. Maxwell available on AmazonBooks by Brené Brown available on AmazonClaude AI: claude.aiShow Up Scared Teen Event: June 23rd at the Mayfair Hotel, Coconut Grove, FL. Visit alexandrasilvabar.com for full event details and tickets.Connect with Alexandra Silva Labarr:Google her name and everything will appear including her website, social media profiles, upcoming events, and speaking opportunities. She is especially active on LinkedIn and responds to every message personally.Website: alexandrasilvalabarr.comConnect with Navigating the Customer Experience:Follow us on X @NavigatingCX and join our private Facebook group, Navigating the Customer Experience Community. You can also find us on LinkedIn and at yaniquegrant.com.If this episode added value to you, please share it with a fellow business owner, leave us a review, and subscribe so you never miss a new episode. Thank you for listening and until next time, keep navigating forward.
Welcome to Country Proud Living "Where Nurturing Spaces Empower Your Life and Everyday Feels a Little More Like Home." In a world filled with surface-level interaction, many women are quietly longing for something deeper—true connection + friendship.In this heartfelt episode of Country Proud Living, LoriLynn shares why meaningful friendships and honest conversations matter so much in midlife. From coffee around the kitchen table to encouraging friendships, this episode explores how women can create more connection, belonging, and support in everyday life.Because sometimes the life-changing invitation is as simple as: “Would you like to come over for coffee?”
Send me a text! I'd LOVE to hear your feedback on this episode!If women are wired for connection, why do some of our worst social pains come from other women? This episode unpacks the biology, psychology, and social conditioning behind female competition and what to do about it.I explore the tend-and-befriend stress response, oxytocin, cortisol, and nervous system safety, and then connect the quality of female friendship directly to midlife health, cognitive protection, and healthy aging. High-strain relationships aren't just emotionally exhausting — they carry a measurable physical health toll.I name what rarely gets named: scarcity conditioning, the patriarchal bargain, tall poppy syndrome, social media's strategic withholding, and how shame — as Brené Brown's research shows — spills outward as blame, silencing, and social coalitions. Attachment theory and the norm of reciprocity round out the picture.You'll leave knowing the clear signs of an unsafe friendship and three grounded ways to protect your energy without compromising your integrity.Topics covered:The "tend and befriend" response and female bonding hormonesHow friendship quality drives midlife wellness and brain healthShame resilience and why women sometimes wound the people closest to themTall poppy syndrome, exclusion, and reputation managementPractical boundaries for navigating toxic female dynamicsJoin here: Sandy K Inner Circle Join me here: Sandy K Inner CircleSupport the showJoin The Sandy K Inner Circle -- my private women-only subscription community where we go deeper than the podcast ever could.Every month you get:A live Q&A with Sandy on ZoomAn exclusive podcast episode nobody else hearsA practical curated downloadAccess to our private women-only Facebook community for wide open discussions on all topicsNo agendas. No noise. No bias. No trendy health advice from those who pay for their platforms. No medical advice. Real conversations you will not find anywhere else.Founding member spots are limited at $47 CAD/month.Join us here: sandykruse.substack.comFor women only. By invitation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandyknutrition/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/sandyknutritionTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sandyknutritionYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIh48ov-SgbSUXsVeLL2qAgRumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-5461001Linkedin: ...
When a client's motivation dips, nothing else survives the fall. Compliance drops. Consistency disappears. Effort fades. And without those three things, results become impossible — which circles right back to episode one's core fear: the client who isn't getting results.But here's what doesn't work: yelling louder. Making the program harder. Wondering why a fully employed adult with a family, a mortgage, and a calendar full of obligations isn't matching the energy you bring to the gym floor every day. We can't force motivation. What we can do is get curious, get empathetic, and get strategic.Big THANK YOU to our sponsors:- CoachRX - Hands down, the best platform for coaches. From building your intake & assessment processes to individual program design, invoicing and education, CoachRX has you covered. Get your first 30 days FREE - Try CoachRX- Performance Supplements - go to www.performance-supp.com & use the code smarterstrength at checkout to save 15% on your entire order (I'm a big fan of their Krea-Grow - everything you need to support high quality training sessions!)- AbMat - go to www.abmat.com & use the code drdavid at checkout to save 10% of your entire order (get a Zercher Pad - your elbows will thank you!)THE SOLUTION: THE THREE C'SDr. David Skolnik introduces a practical three-part framework for coaches dealing with unmotivated clients.Capacity — Before you adjust the program, adjust your lens. What does this client's life actually allow right now? Work stress, family obligations, sleep quality, caregiving responsibilities — all of it affects how much a person can bring to their training. Their capacity this month may look nothing like it did six months ago, and that's not failure. That's life. Your job is to meet them where they are.Clarity — Are you and your client still on the same page about what they're working toward — and does the current plan reflect that? Goals shift. Life changes fast. A well-designed 12-week block can become completely misaligned with a client's reality by week six. Rebuild the communication. Reclarify the target. Make sure the plan still makes sense for the person standing in front of you today.Core Values — Motivation comes and goes. Discipline fluctuates. But core values — the one or two fundamental qualities a person anchors their identity to — do not change. David draws on Brené Brown's Dare to Lead and the OPEX coaching method to make the case: when training is connected to a client's core values (health, accountability, integrity, service, freedom), it stops being optional. It becomes part of who they are.THE QUESTION THAT CHANGES EVERYTHINGEvery coach has been there: a client who says they want results but isn't doing the work. The instinct is to push. To confront. To ask "why aren't you trying harder?" David challenges coaches to reframe entirely — and ask instead: what is making this feel hard? That one shift lowers defensiveness, opens conversation, and gets directly to the root of the capacity, clarity, or values disconnect driving the motivation problem.RESOURCES Core Values List — Use it yourself first, then share it with clients.Dare to Lead by Brené Brown — Referenced for its framework on identifying and living by core values.CoachRx — The coaching platform David uses and recommends. Listeners get a 30-day free trial using the link in the show notes. Manage client programs, billing, goal setting, habit tracking, and communication all in one place.NEXT WEEK — EPISODE 3Clients who don't value coaching as much as they should — and what coaches are supposed to do about it.Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3399: Mark Fisher reflects on how his fiercely independent approach to fitness ultimately slowed his progress, and why community, coaching, and vulnerability are often the missing ingredients for lasting success. Through humor, honesty, and plenty of unicorn references, he shows how support systems can transform not just your workouts, but your entire mindset around growth and accountability. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://markfisherfitness.com/getting-by-with-a-little-help-from-your-friends/ Quotes to ponder: "As Brené Brown says, your vulnerability is the most accurate measurement of courage." "None of us are ever as good as all of us." "The journey to health and hotness is far faster if you have someone guiding you through the inevitable moments of frustration and confusion." Episode references: Brené Brown: https://brenebrown.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3399: Mark Fisher reflects on how his fiercely independent approach to fitness ultimately slowed his progress, and why community, coaching, and vulnerability are often the missing ingredients for lasting success. Through humor, honesty, and plenty of unicorn references, he shows how support systems can transform not just your workouts, but your entire mindset around growth and accountability. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://markfisherfitness.com/getting-by-with-a-little-help-from-your-friends/ Quotes to ponder: "As Brené Brown says, your vulnerability is the most accurate measurement of courage." "None of us are ever as good as all of us." "The journey to health and hotness is far faster if you have someone guiding you through the inevitable moments of frustration and confusion." Episode references: Brené Brown: https://brenebrown.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kirsten Moorefield, Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder at Cloverleaf, Sarika Lamont, CPO at Vidyard, and Sarah Royer, Sr. Manager of People Ops at Nirvana Insurance, joined us on The Modern People Leader for a live discussion on AI coaching. We talked about what AI coaching actually means today, building these tools in-house versus buying, and why career growth will never be a perfect checklist.---- Sponsor Links:
This episode explores how people with invisible learning challenges use “masking” and perfectionism to hide struggles rooted in shame—a concept defined by Brené Brown as feeling unworthy of belonging. It explains how repeated experiences of misunderstanding turn mistakes into identity, leading to exhaustion and disconnection. The podcast encourages embracing vulnerability, normalizing needs, and making small, intentional “reveals” to replace shame with empathy and authentic connection.Use this link to find my other podcasts, Etsy Shop, and Tailored Tech Services: https://linktr.ee/JenniferPTTS?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
Most adults can only name three core emotions. This book summary reveals the surprising truth about emotional literacy and connection.
What do you do when your relationship is hard but you can't tell if it's worth saving, or when your trauma history makes your instincts feel unreliable? This week on Ask Kati Anything, licensed therapist Kati Morton, LMFT, answers seven listener questions about the moments when everything feels overwhelming and you can't tell what's the relationship, what's the depression, and what's the trauma talking. Topics in this episode include: when to stay in a relationship versus when to leave, BPD and people pleasing, complex PTSD and attachment wounds, fear of abandonment, codependency, starting therapy when you have bulimia, non-suicidal self-injury, and dissociation, grounding techniques for flashbacks, what healthy love actually looks like, why depression breakthrough symptoms make you feel empty after good experiences, shame spirals and how vulnerability snuffs shame out (Brené Brown's research), rumination, behavioral activation, recovering motivation after emotional burnout, finding yourself again after trauma, inner child work and writing letters to your younger self, and how to respond to unsolicited advice without building resentment. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:56 When to stay vs leave a relationship, attachment, BPD, complex PTSD 12:00 Starting therapy with bulimia, BPD, self-harm, and dissociation 19:00 What healthy love really looks like 25:11 Feeling empty after going out, depression breakthrough symptoms 28:39 Shame spirals, rumination, and Brené Brown on vulnerability 34:25 Lack of motivation after burnout, becoming yourself after trauma 40:56 Inner child work, writing letters to your younger self 45:21 Unsolicited advice and how to respond Submit your question: https://www.youtube.com/@Katimorton/community Follow Kati on Instagram: @katimorton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In February 2019 I introduced myself to the internet with this: I don't want to post my highlight reel. I'd rather journey through life sharing life as it is. Comparison is the thief of joy. And then I wrote the first line of the first real post: I acted many years without a why of my own. And I was not my own. This episode is about why women lose themselves — what the research actually says, why we abandon ourselves and call it love, and what the conversation with yourself actually needs to sound like when you decide to start telling the truth. We talk about the I will be more me when list we keep making — and why the permission we are waiting for is never going to come from outside. We talk about Deborah Tannen on socialized silence, Brené Brown on performing for belonging, Kristin Neff on the inner critic we mistake for our own voice. And we replace the five false internal conversations with accurate ones. Not affirmations. Corrections. This episode closes the who am I arc and opens the door to the conversations we have been avoiding.
One of the joys of my creative life is knowing other creative women, and growing alongside them. I'd followed Lydia Pang's work for years before we finally met in person in 2019—back when she was creative director at Refinery29, about to move to Portland to become creative director at Nike. Our first friend-date was at a restaurant in New York, in the middle of our younger hustle years—bold, ambitious, HUNGRY and painting on our lipstick every morning with a smile. I was in New York to record a Skillshare workshop, meet with my new PR team and record a live episode of Ctrl Alt Delete podcast at WNYC Studios. Life was different, then.It was so fun reconnecting for this conversation. Lydia dialing in from her home in rural Wales with her husband and young baby; me from my quiet leafy corner of London. I have always loved Lydia's confidence, one of those women who stands up tall, feet on the ground, rooted in herself. I had no doubt that her first book, Eat Bitter, would be excellent. She's a creative powerhouse: I could go on about her academic background studying at The Courtauld Institute of Art, or being a judge at various big industry awards like Cannes Lions, or running her own successful creative studio MØRNING—but basically, Lydia Pang doesn't do things by halves. The Eat Bitter project began as a self-published zine, and was available as a one-time pre-order back in 2020. It wasn't just recipes; it also embodied the “struggles of her Hakka ancestors… whose ingenuity produced a distinct food culture based on fermenting and foraging.” It gained traction, and people wanted more. Then, the publisher Chatto & Windus won a ‘competitive eight-way auction' to publish Eat Bitter as her debut memoir. It launches this week. Structurally, it has eight recipes from the ‘most painful and formative moments' of Pang's life—and there is a generosity of spirit, as though she's welcoming you into her home and laying it all out on a glorious platter to be shared and consumed. ‘Eat Bitter' is a Chinese proverb that means ‘to endure pain before tasting sweetness'—aka: we can do hard things and things take time. The idea of slowing down, enduring, surrendering. It is a book for our times. It's about burnout, grief and the aftermath of ambition. It's not just about food; rather, food serves as a metaphor for life stories, consumerism, and nutrition—or the lack thereof. Pang argues that we live in a culture of speed and convenience, and that the system perpetuates this insatiable modern appetite:“We live in a world that venerates optics and quick fixes over slowing down. Time is our enemy; it is stolen from us and yet it's our fault for letting it slip away. [..] The system doesn't want us sober and awake, thoughtful and reciprocal. No, it wants us to soothe ourselves with sugar that rots our teeth, so we're ready to be sold a dental package, distracted from the horrors that ensue and circle us.” - Eat BitterThe book is about finding nourishment again. Not in quick fixes, but rediscovering the things that stretch us, slow us down, encourage us to use our hands. We are so worried about ‘wasting our time' in our quest for validation that we forget to invest in things that don't show immediate results:“Eating bitter is not a ‘fix' you can throw money at; you will be challenged to pause and reflect. Simmer. Eating bitter is not something you can flash-fry and check off your list. You cannot excel at this.”Surely, Pang says, we shouldn't be afraid to do things that are ‘pointless'. We should waste more time trying stuff out. We don't always need to be productive. It's exhausting, really, how much of modern work-culture is all about gaming the system. Life ‘hacks'. AI. Shortcuts. Wanting everything to be a success immediately. She discusses how we are all missing out by trying to always cheat the system. Instead of networking, why not write a handwritten letter to someone you love? Instead of ‘happiness hacks', why not let ourselves feel our disgusting feelings?“Let me fester, for f**k's sake. Manifestation, goals, journaling, projecting (all things I've done with varying degrees of success) can be suffocating. [..] But eating bitter is not about training our minds to be and do and think better, day by day. I don't want to be a sunny person who always sees the opportunity, rather I want to be a feeling and fearless person.”Whether it's finding way her way back home after burnout, or finding ways to reconnect with her husband, or grieving a painful miscarriage, or overcoming health issues or heartbreak—eating bitter acts as the rudder, steering the ship back to sanity. Pang slowly heals by putting the productivity mindset down—and instead spends hours and hours making wontons with her father, spends time in the forest, puts the perfectionism down, lets herself unravel:“I had spent my entire existence achieving (and performing) the ultimate version of a best life, and I'd been addicted to the cortisol of it all. But now I was numb, burned out, sad that I was sad — my master plan had not served, and there was something shameful about that. [..] Looking back, it makes me smile that I thought I hid it. Of course my parents knew. But they simply accepted me and Roo, and they fed us.”Feeding each other is an act of love. The book is an ode to her family and their Hakka heritage. It's about family and food, yes—but more than that, it's about having the guts to be imperfect, messy and unapologetically yourself. It is about finding resilience in letting your ugly sides be finally seen. It's about how we care for each other when the chips are down.It is a gift to the reader when a fellow ambitious creative woman lets the mask purposefully slip, letting you in, showing the messy and vulnerable sides of coming out the other side of the girlboss era. I felt seen in her words. The ambition hasn't gone away, but it's definitely morphed into something else—something more solid and matured. Brené Brown really was onto something when she spoke about the ‘power of vulnerability', wasn't she?Pang said in our interview: “I wanted to be so perfect, and glossy and powerful, I wanted a vessel to put all of my ugly bits.” That's exactly what Eat Bitter is. In its raw ‘ugliness', it is a thing of beauty. I found the book emotional, brave, and eye-opening, and I highly recommend it.Thank you Lydia! Get your copy of Eat Bitter here.In this episode (available to listen to at the top of this post
Cara Brennan Allamano (Founder of PeopleTech Partners and former Chief People Officer at Lattice) and Jevan Lenox (Chief People Officer at Writer) joined Stephen at Fix Healthcare Live. They talked about the growing pressure on HR leaders and why modern people leaders need to rethink how they operate in a rapidly changing world.---- Sponsor Links:
Welcome to the The Achievers Podcast. I'm your host, Amber Deibert, Performance Coach. I help enterprise sellers unlock their full potential by aligning their work with how they workout and cleaning up mindset trash, so they can sell more, stress less, and take back control of their time and success. You spend hours polishing a deliverable nobody notices. You build a beautiful AI-powered strategy and never implement a single piece of it. You refuse to start because you can't do it "right." In this episode, I break down how perfectionism quietly steals your time, masks deeper fears, and keeps your best work trapped in draft mode, plus the exact tools I use to release the pressure and start shipping work that actually moves deals forward.
Send us Fan MailIn this episode I'm getting a little personal — sharing what it felt like when my marriage ended unexpectedly in 2014 and how the messy, nonlinear years of rebuilding that followed shaped everything, including why I became a coach and why this podcast exists.This isn't a tidy glow-up story. It's an honest look at what rebuilding actually looks like, and five of the most important lessons it taught me:Emotions are survivable — they build, they peak, and they always passThe difference between regret and guilt, and a simple 3-question framework for moving through the hard stuffYou don't need to see the whole staircase — just the next stepRebuilding has no finish line, and why that's actually okayAuthenticity is where real connection lives — with others and with yourselfWhether you're navigating a divorce, an empty nest, a career shift, or any season where life has asked you to rebuild something, this one will meet you where you are.Mentioned in this episode: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — a skills-based approach to emotional regulation worth looking into Daring Greatly by Brené Brown — on vulnerability and connection Wellness Wake Up intro program — $99 [LEARN MORE HERE] Support the showWant more?For more information about the podcast, visit www.realbraveunstoppable.com. To learn more about your host, Kortney Rivard, visit www.kortneyrivard.comFollow Kortney on Social media:InstagramFacebook
In this episode, Ben introduces the idea of secret leadership. This is when leaders try to implement leadership techniques with their team without explaining what they are doing or why. This often happens after leaders attend training, read a leadership book, or learn a new approach they want to try. Instead of openly discussing it with their team, they quietly introduce changes. Ben suggests this can happen because leaders feel a sense of embarrassment or vulnerability about admitting they are trying something new or changing their leadership approach. However, implementing leadership ideas "by stealth" can backfire. Team members may notice the changes anyway and react sceptically or roll their eyes because they don't understand the purpose behind them. Ben argues that a better approach is to be open about what you're trying to do. By explaining what you've noticed, what you've learned and what you're hoping to improve, you involve your team in the process rather than quietly applying techniques without explanation Resources mentioned in this episode: Brené Brown – work on vulnerability and trust Work with Ben.
Jennie Nash hosts a Write Big session of the #amwriting podcast introducing an “arena” metaphor for writers, inspired by Brené Brown's Daring Greatly (and Teddy Roosevelt's “man in the arena” quote), Priya Parker's The Art of Gathering, and Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. Jennie argues that writers, like performers, intentionally gather an audience and should be clear about who they want in the “seats,” what experience they want readers to have, and what energy and feedback they want in return. Using Swift's deliberate creation of emotionally meaningful, immersive moments and audience delight, Nash urges writers to stop playing safe, claim full creative power, and step into the spotlight with purpose. She emphasizes that internal satisfaction comes from making what matters first, and that external rewards follow from writing big, not the other way around.Books* Daring Greatly by Brené Brown* The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker#AmWriting is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.TranscriptHi, I'm Jennie Nash, and you're listening to the #amwriting podcast, the place where we help writers of all kinds play big in your writing life, love the process, and stick with it long enough to finish what matters most. This is a Write Big session, where I'm bringing you short episodes about the mindset shifts that help you stop playing small and write like it matters.Today I'm talking about a concept that I haven't spoken much about before, and it's a big one for me, and it might take a bit of explaining. The concept is a metaphor, and it has to do with an arena, with being a writer in an arena. And if the image that just came to your mind involves gladiators and bloody battles, that's not what I'm talking about.What I'm talking about is Taylor Swift. So think of someone who gathers the people to them, who owns the spotlight and captivates the heart and soul of their fans with [00:01:00] intentional content that they make, and who's so fearless about their work that they're not gonna let anyone or anything stop them from doing it.Writing doesn't happen on big stages or in big stadiums obviously, but we're gonna borrow this image because it's the vibe I want writers to cultivate, and it's the heart of writing big. My arena metaphor has a lot of origins. The most obvious one is the quote at the beginning of Brené Brown's book Daring Greatly, where she's referencing the Teddy Roosevelt quote about the man in the arena.That Roosevelt quote had to do with politics and not standing on the side and criticizing others, but stepping into the fray and being part of the mix. And what Brené Brown said was this: “If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion, I am not interested in or open to your feedback.There are a million cheap seats in the world today filled with people who will never be brave with their own lives, [00:02:00] but will spend every ounce of energy they have hurling advice and judgment at those of us trying to dare greatly. Their only contributions are criticism, cynicism, and fear-mongering. If you're criticizing from a place where you're not also putting yourself on the line, I'm not interested in your feedback.”These are obviously powerful words, especially coming from a woman, because I think it's true that women who dare greatly get more criticism than men who do. So that's one of the influences for this metaphor. But another is the book The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it.It's about this whole idea of gathering people, and she's talking about physically gathering them in meeting rooms and at weddings and at Thanksgiving and things like that. And her main point is that you have to be intentional about the purpose of your gathering. If you don't know why you're bringing people together and what experience you want them to have- They're [00:03:00] not gonna have an experience that's memorable or transformative.And when I read that book, I thought, “This is true for writers, too.” This is what my blueprint books are all about, being intentional about what you're doing with your writing, no matter what you're writing. You have to know why you want people to gather around your words and ideas. You have to know what you're bringing them together for.And as I began to think about Brené Brown's Daring Greatly and Priya Parker's idea of gathering, I began to think about this idea that writers are gathering people, too, and I began to think about an arena. What if you could picture your readers in an arena? And these thoughts were all going down in my mind around the time of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.We were seeing these images of 50,000, 60,000 people in these stadiums just packed in with no seat empty, and the lights are low, and they're holding up their phones. And it [00:04:00] was obviously so moving for all the people in that audience who showed up there and experienced that and took the time and effort and energy to be there in that room or in that space.So Taylor Swift became the other thread of this idea that writers, too, are gathering people, and so you have to think about who you want to be in those seats of your arena. Who do you want to play to? Who do you want to speak to? Who do you want to create this experience for, and what do you want for them?But also, what do you want from them? I didn't go to one of the Eras Tour concerts, but I watched the six-part documentary about it and the last concert that she filmed as part of that whole endeavor, and there was such a through line about intention to what she was doing on that tour. She talks all the time about creating emotionally meaningful and immersive experiences for her audience, so she's not just [00:05:00] entertaining them.She wants them to feel something, and she's so deliberate about that. Her whole thing about secrets and surprises feeds into that, and I loved these parts of the documentary where, where she shows the behind-the-scenes work with the different guests that she would bring onto the show and how they tried to craft some sort of surprise for the audience and tried to keep it a secret, and there was just so much delight in the way that they were approaching this.Taylor Swift would always say things like, “People are gonna lose their minds.” That seems to be a catchphrase of hers, and it's what she wants. She's like, “They're gonna lose their minds, and it's gonna be so great.” And this joy in creating the experience for those people who have come and this dedication that...I think she did 149 shows on the Eras Tour, that every single one of them was going to be impactful to the people who came. Not just like, we're [00:06:00] gonna get out there and do a good show and give it our all and put our energy out there, but I wanna blow their minds. I want to make these moments of delight, and that intention is clearly what feeds Taylor Swift.She talks about that very specifically, that she loves the energy and feedback that she gets from that audience. So in the arena, you're performing or creating for the people you've gathered there, but you're also getting something back from them. You're getting this communication or this energy that reflects back to you or comes back to you, and that's obviously why performers do what they do.You would not get up on a stage 149 times in front of 60,000 people and put yourself out in that way if you didn't love that. And I think writers need to think about this, too. What are we putting out there for our fans or our readers? What do we want to get from them, and what do we want them to get from us, [00:07:00] and what is that energy exchange like?So I want you to think about the arena of your writing life. It's a place where you're gonna show up with your whole self with intention, and you're gonna do the best work that you're capable of. It's where you're gonna stop playing it safe and claim your full creative power. When someone writes with that kind of authority, they feel the satisfaction deep in their bones, the sweet reward in and of itself.It has actually nothing to do with the external rewards of the marketplace. It has to do with what you wanted to make and the fact that you went out there and made it and you called people, you gathered the people around to be part of it with you. And the paradox of this whole thing is that when you decide to step into the arena and play big, it comes across in the writing, and that leads to the exact external rewards that most writers crave.It doesn't work the [00:08:00] other way around. You can't go after those external things and feel the internal satisfaction. You have to do the work that's gonna feed that internal desire that you have and that thing that you want to make and that you want to create for yourself in order to get the things that you want from your writing.So this metaphor of creating the arena for your writing life and stepping into it in your fullest power and learning how to be the person in the spotlight is something that I want you to really think about. All of the 14 questions in my blueprint for a book process are really about this. Why are you writing a book is really why do you want to gather people to you?Why do you want to be heard and seen? And who are you writing for is who do you want to invite into that arena and put in those seats and play for? Your arena is going to be different from every other writer's arena on the planet because [00:09:00] no one is going to answer these questions the way that you are.Nobody's going to write what you are. So take this idea of daring greatly and being brave with your own life and putting yourself out there and marry it with this idea of gathering people around you with intention and designing the experience that you want them to have. And no matter what you think of Taylor Swift as a musician or a performer or a human, take from her this incredible delight in showing up and delivering something meaningful to your fans.And those things together are going to transform your writing life. There's going to be no way that you can't write big. And if you do that, there's going to be no way that you can't derive deep satisfaction from doing this work. Until next time, stop playing small and write like it matters.[00:10:00]The hashtag amwriting podcast is produced by Andrew Perilla. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe
Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, Co-Founder and CEO of Wellthy, and Stephan Dolling, AVP of Global Benefits & Well-being at Merck, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about the rising pressures facing working families and what companies can do to support their employees that are caregivers.---- Sponsor Links:
What are emotions actually trying to tell us?In this episode of the Soul Sense Podcast, Mark explores the idea of the 5 Soul Senses — mad, sad, bad, glad, and scared — and how our emotions are designed to inform us, not control us.You'll learn:• Why emotions are gifts from God• The “high road” and “low road” of each emotion• How bitterness, shame, fear, and self-pity can become spiritual strongholds• Why many people say they're “fine” when they aren't• Practical ways to better understand your emotions and connect relationallyWhether you struggle naming emotions, navigating grief, anger, guilt, fear, or joy, this episode offers a simple biblical framework for emotional and spiritual health.00:00 — Introduction to Soul Sense01:30 — Why “Fine” Often Isn't Fine02:35 — The 5 Soul Senses Explained03:12 — Mad: Anger and Perceived Injustice05:00 — The Danger of Bitterness05:10 — The High Road vs Low Road of Anger06:10 — Sad: Grief, Loss, and Self-Pity07:35 — Bad: Guilt, Shame, and Condemnation09:10 — Conviction, Grace, and Repentance10:45 — Glad: Joy, Gratitude, and Blessing12:30 — Fleeting Pleasure vs Lasting Joy14:10 — Scared: Fear and Perceived Danger14:30 — The “Spirit of Fear” Explained16:20 — Derek Prince and the Spirit of Heaviness20:40 — The Purpose of Emotions22:20 — Brené Brown's Core Emotions23:40 — Practical Exercise for Couples (“Talk Time”)27:05 — Final Encouragement and Closing ThoughtsSubscribe for more conversations on emotional healing, relationships, faith, and spiritual growth.#SoulSense #ChristianCounseling #EmotionalHealth #MentalHealth #BiblicalWisdom
What if loneliness isn't just an emotion… but one of the most dangerous biological threats to your health? In this deeply personal and scientifically explosive solo episode, Darin opens up about something he recently realized in his own life: despite being surrounded by people, he was lonely. But what began as an emotional realization quickly became a deep dive into some of the most shocking research he's ever uncovered, showing that chronic loneliness may increase the risk of heart disease, dementia, cancer, autoimmune dysfunction, accelerated aging, and early death. From inflammatory gene expression and cortisol dysregulation to oxytocin, vulnerability, and the collapse of real human connection in the digital age, this episode reveals why loneliness may be the most overlooked "fatal convenience" of modern life, and how vulnerability may be the medicine. What You'll Learn Why loneliness is a biological crisis, not just an emotional feeling The shocking link between loneliness and heart disease, dementia, and early death Why the quality of your relationships is the #1 predictor of long-term health How loneliness activates inflammatory genes inside your body The role of cortisol, sleep disruption, and chronic stress in social isolation Why social media and "surface-level connection" are replacing real intimacy The connection between loneliness and Alzheimer's disease How oxytocin and genuine connection reduce inflammation Why vulnerability is the gateway to meaningful relationships Practical ways to create deeper connection starting today Chapters 00:00:33 – Sponsor: the truth about the exploding NAD supplement market 00:01:04 – Why supplement verification and transparency matter 00:02:17 – Opening: Darin admits something deeply personal 00:02:30 – "I realized recently… I'm lonely" 00:02:37 – The difference between being surrounded by people vs being truly known 00:03:06 – Loneliness as a biological experience, not just an emotional one 00:03:27 – The hidden risks: heart disease, dementia, cancer, early death 00:03:45 – Why this is not fringe science 00:04:13 – The most important predictor of long-term health 00:04:34 – Why relationship QUALITY matters more than quantity 00:05:06 – The global loneliness epidemic 00:05:11 – U.S. Surgeon General advisory on loneliness 00:05:39 – Loneliness declared a public health crisis 00:06:02 – 50% of Americans report measurable loneliness 00:06:22 – "A generational collapse of connection" 00:06:30 – 29% of adults have no close friends 00:06:40 – Face-to-face interactions dramatically declining 00:07:01 – The UK, Japan, and Australia loneliness crisis initiatives 00:07:32 – The paradox: hyperconnected but deeply isolated 00:08:04 – Loneliness as a biological alarm signal 00:08:31 – What loneliness actually looks like in modern life 00:08:42 – The lonely CEO, the unseen mother, the isolated social media addict 00:09:31 – "Perceived social isolation" and why the brain can't tell the difference 00:10:21 – Meta-analysis of 3.4 million people 00:10:55 – Loneliness vs obesity and smoking risk comparisons 00:11:18 – The biology of loneliness begins 00:11:50 – NF-kB: inflammatory gene activation explained 00:12:33 – How loneliness changes gene expression 00:13:02 – Chronic inflammation and disease pathways 00:13:21 – Cortisol, sleep disruption, and immune dysfunction 00:14:00 – How loneliness affects brain repair and amyloid plaque clearing 00:14:21 – Sponsor: Fatty15 and cellular health 00:18:02 – The Alzheimer's and dementia connection 00:18:25 – Loneliness as a major modifiable dementia risk factor 00:18:57 – Cortisol, neuroinflammation, and brain degeneration 00:19:16 – The hippocampus physically shrinking in lonely people 00:19:27 – Social media as a "fatal convenience" 00:19:57 – The oxytocin economy: connection as medicine 00:20:15 – Oxytocin as one of the body's strongest anti-inflammatory molecules 00:20:30 – HeartMath research: emotional synchronization between people 00:20:48 – "You regulate each other's biology" 00:21:07 – The real barrier: vulnerability 00:21:32 – Darin's recent experiences with radical vulnerability 00:21:54 – Conversations with family, ex-partners, and loved ones 00:22:35 – Brené Brown's research on connection and worthiness 00:23:14 – The "depth audit" exercise 00:23:42 – Reaching out, expressing appreciation, and owning your emotions 00:24:01 – Sacred hours: spending time without phones 00:24:13 – Questions that create real intimacy 00:24:30 – Darin's emotional conversation with his brother 00:25:03 – Protecting yourself from social media disconnection 00:25:20 – Becoming a source of joy and connection in everyday life 00:25:25 – Darin reflects on seven years of subtle loneliness 00:25:48 – The shift from surface conversations to meaningful connection 00:26:01 – "If you want love, give love" 00:26:19 – Final message: generate the connection you want to receive 00:26:22 – Closing thoughts and outro Thank You to Our Sponsors Truniagen: Go to www.truniagen.com and use code DARIN20 at checkout for 20% off Fatty15: Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/DARIN and using code DARIN at checkout. Join the SuperLife Community Get Darin's deeper wellness breakdowns — beyond social media restrictions: Weekly voice notes Ingredient deep dives Wellness challenges Energy + consciousness tools Community accountability Extended episodes Join for $7.49/month → https://patreon.com/darinolien Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Platform & Products: superlife.com New Show: Roadmap to Happiness Key Takeaway "Loneliness isn't weakness. It isn't failure. It's a biological signal telling you that something essential is missing. And in a world addicted to surface-level connection, the real medicine may simply be this: vulnerability, presence, eye contact, honesty, and the courage to let yourself truly be seen." Bibliography/Sources The Loneliness Epidemic & Public Health Data Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). American time use survey. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/tus/ Cigna. (2023). Cigna U.S. loneliness index. Evernorth Health Services. https://newsroom.cigna.com/loneliness-epidemic-continues-to-rise-cigna-study Murthy, V. H. (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf Survey Center on American Life. (2021). The state of American friendship: Change, challenges, and loss. American Enterprise Institute. https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/ Mortality & Systemic Health Risk Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Skoner, D. P., Rabin, B. S., & Gwaltney, J. M. (1997). Social ties and susceptibility to the common cold. JAMA, 277(24), 1940–1944. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9200634/ Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218–227. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20396846/ Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352 Valtorta, N. K., Kanaan, M., Gilbody, S., Ronzi, S., & Hanratty, B. (2016). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke. Heart, 102(13), 1009–1016. https://heart.bmj.com/content/102/13/1009 Genetics, Inflammation & The Immune System Cole, S. W. (2013). Social regulation of human gene expression: Mechanisms and implications for public health. American Journal of Public Health, 103(S1), S84–S92. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3786756/ Cole, S. W., Hawkley, L. C., Arevalo, J. M. G., Sung, C. Y., Rose, R. M., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2007). Social regulation of gene expression in human leukocytes. Genome Biology, 8(9), Article R189. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2375027/ Sleep & Cognitive Decline Cacioppo, J. T., Hawkley, L. C., Berntson, G. G., Ernst, J. M., Gibbs, A. C., Stickgold, R., & Hobson, J. A. (2002). Do lonely days invade the nights? Potential social modulation of sleep efficiency. Psychological Science, 13(4), 384–387. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12137144/ Holwerda, T. J., Deeg, D. J. H., Beekman, A. T. F., et al. (2014). Feelings of loneliness, but not social isolation, predict dementia onset. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 85(2), 135–142. https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/85/2/135 Oxytocin & The Biology of Connection Szeto, A., Sun-Suslow, N., Mendez, A. J., Hernandez, R. I., Wagner, K. V., & McCabe, P. M. (2017). Regulation of the macrophage oxytocin receptor in response to inflammation. American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism, 312(2), E183–E189. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpendo.00424.2016 Uvnas-Moberg, K. (2003). The oxytocin factor: Tapping the hormone of calm, love, and healing. Da Capo Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=b-aKjQoB_nQC Psychology, Vulnerability & Relationship Science Aron, A., Melinat, E., Aron, E. N., Vallone, R. D., & Bator, R. J. (1997). The experimental generation of interpersonal closeness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23(4), 363–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167297234003 Brown, B. (2010). The gifts of imperfection: Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are. Hazelden Publishing. https://brenebrown.com/book/the-gifts-of-imperfection/ Cacioppo, J. T., & Patrick, W. (2008). Loneliness: Human nature and the need for social connection. W. W. Norton & Company. https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393335286 Dunbar, R. I. M. (2012). Bridging evolutionary approaches to the social brain and social bonding. In F. B. M. de Waal & P. F. Ferrari (Eds.), The primate mind. Harvard University Press. https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674063104 Dunbar, R. I. M. (2021). Friends: Understanding the power of our most important relationships. Little, Brown and Company. https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/robin-dunbar/friends/9781408711736/ Waldinger, R., & Schulz, M. (2023). The good life: Lessons from the world's longest scientific study on happiness. Simon & Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Good-Life/Robert-Waldinger/9781982166694
What if the biggest thing holding you back is waiting for someone else to say yes? In this powerful solo episode, Lesley Logan continues her permission series and unpacks why so many people second-guess their desires, choices, and next moves. She shares how childhood conditioning, perfectionism, and the need for approval keep people stuck far longer than they realize. From Brené Brown permission slips to boundaries, intuition, and radical responsibility, Lesley offers practical ways to trust in your own intuition. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:Why asking permission becomes a hidden habit.Lesley's Pilates journey challenged needing approval.How Brené Brown uses written permission slips.Difference between seeking feedback versus validation.Recognize that personal growth involves change.Episode References/Links:The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - https://a.co/d/02rkqdgrDare to Lead By Brené Brown - https://a.co/d/04SQU1mLEp. 15 with Erika Quest - https://beitpod.com/ep15Ep. 319 with Nikole Mitchell - https://beitpod.com/ep319Ep. 400 Gay Hendricks - https://beitpod.com/ep400Habit Series - https://lesleylogan.co/?s=habitReal Brave & Unstoppable - https://beitpod.com/source1The Art of Giving Yourself Permission - https://beitpod.com/source26 Ways to Give Yourself Permission - https://beitpod.com/source3Submit your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questions If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! 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DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:00 According to wonder within the path to permission is not an easy one. It's rocky, complicated and cold, and can even be confusing because we have to unlearn and untangle. Lesley Logan 0:10 Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:52 Hello, be it, babe. Well, welcome back to our series on permission. On our Tuesday episode. If you missed it, we were talking about like, what is asking for permission? Look like, where does it come from? Why do we do this? I shared some stories. Some of you had sent me some great stories of your own. I love that you're loving that I'm doing this solo episode on this. And please keep sending your questions in your topic requests in, be it pod.com/questions you can also send your wins in there as well. Maybe you have a win that you stopped asking for permission. I'd love to know that. But be it pod.com/questions, is where you can send in all those things. I'm hopeful to have some more different topics. We could do a couple episodes on, just to kind of go deeper on some of these things. I'm hearing our amazing guests give us, BE IT action items on they're like, don't ask permission. Just do it. It's like, well, what the fuck did like you mean, just do it easy. Easy for them to say they weren't raised to put other people's needs before their own. They weren't raised to go, like, to not seek approval from others. They weren't raised to not like, look crazy, right? So they aren't constantly hearing just different things, where people go, oh, you believe she did that? She's so greedy. I mean, they gave, they've they gave the team a locker room on Tuesdays and Thursdays now, they went on Saturdays too? Like, those are things we pick up when we're children and teenagers and young adults. We pick up on these things where people are saying things mostly about women, about when they step outside those traditional roles when they do something against the grain. And I'm not saying you have to go be against the grain. What I am saying is you can't be it till you see it. If you're waiting for someone else's permission to start being it, you have to give it to yourself. But how do we do that? So let me go to my notes, and in my research, I have sources, so we put those in the show notes as well. There's some really great reading in Psychology Today and all these different things, so it's pretty great. Lesley Logan 2:44 Okay, so now we know we are often conditioned to ask for permission, and in the last episode, I do want to highlight, we did talk about the permission gap. We also talked about the signs to close it. So the gap is basically the gap between, like, what we want and what we think people's needs are, and then putting their needs in front of our own. And so we're kind of all and so we're kind of always in the negative for what we need, and then we're asking for permission to give ourselves what those needs are. So, according to Wonder Within, the path to permission is not an easy one. It's rocky, complicated and cold, and can even be confusing because we have to unlearn and untangle. So on Tuesday, I challenged you, I gave you a bunch of different signs, feelings, examples of like, what like, what permission looks like, asking permission looks like. And so hopefully able to explore that and now means we have to unlearn and untangle. If you listen to the series that came out starting in December of 2025 we did a whole habit series we talked about in one of the episodes, all about unraveling a bad habit, and that is in air quotes, and it's really, truly unraveling. It's not breaking it. I was very specific on that, because we do have to unravel. We have to understand, like, what's the prompt? And I will say this unraveling, untangling the habit of asking for permission is advanced habit making, because you have to be aware of yourself asking for permission. It's not the same as I want to build a habit of running around the block in the morning that is very tangible. It's easier for your brain to go, oh, I went around the block this morning, versus catching yourself asking for permission or filling the need to ask for permission, because that's a psychological habit, and you'll have to have that self awareness. So I just want to say it might take longer than you think, okay, but definitely check out that episode. So permission to become to be till you see, it might be the biggest work that we have to do. That's what I believe. After doing all this research, I'm like, oh my God, I feel like I need a permission slip expert. It may include working with a trauma informed therapist, a somatic worker. So even with all the suggestions that I'm about to give you, I want you to understand that if you need extra support, that is okay, okay. It is really, really okay. And I need you to know that it's okay and you're not asking for permission when you hire an expert in trauma or like somatic work or therapy or any kind because. That's actually saying, hi, I need help. That's not you asking for permission, right? Lesley Logan 5:04 Hey, so I told you in the last episode about when I wanted to I thought about becoming a Pilates instructor. Like, I was like, I had this thing, this thought, and I recognize now that I was kind of asking for permission to belong, for permission to fit into the Pilates role. Because, to be honest, at the time, there was not Pilates instructors who did not discover Pilates from dancing. So that felt so weird. Also, I knew I couldn't afford the comprehensive training, so I was gonna start the mat training then save up my money for comprehensive training, which I did a year later. And I remember thinking like, Oh, my God, maybe I can't do it because, like, I can't do the whole thing at the same time. And so I do recall asking for permission, right? I remember being in vintage and basically just saying, Well, tell me what to do. I'll just do whatever you want me to do, which is just me asking for permission so that I can do be the thing that belongs. Because we all want to belong. Sometimes we're just like, hey, just how do I be perfect so I can not get kicked out of this group because we just want to belong. But really, and what they challenged me with is like, Oh no, we're not going to tell you what to do. You're going to figure you've got to feel what you need to do. It's got to be intuitive. It's got to be something that you understand for your body. And oh, my god, that is permission from them to be in my body, which is not something any teacher had given me. All the teachers before had been like, do it like this. You do it like this. And just telling me what to do, and that was kind of my whole life, right, covering perfectious over achiever, lots of people telling me the right thing to do, and just following the checklist and following the path. And so I had a whole adult life. Thank God for Pilates and the curiosity that gave me start going, oh, look at me. Like not checking a box here with a smile on my face. So think about one thing that you have been wanting could be as small as a food craving for today's lunch, or as big as an idea you want to take action on. So you're thinking about it. Got it in your head, what is keeping you from taking the next step?Lesley Logan 6:57 How much permission do you feel you have or don't have. Who decides how much permission you do or don't have? Is it possible that they are irrelevant? In my case, the people that I thought I needed permission from was the world of Pilates, they didn't even know me. They're so irrelevant. They didn't even know me, right? I was giving so much power to a bunch of people I didn't even know existed. So can you give yourself permission? Take a deep breath, right? A deep breath, if you've listened to episode 400 about upper limiting sometimes we get outside of our comfort zone, and then wild things come through worry. Do you feel some worry right now? Worry is a sign of upper limiting to pull you back into your comfort zone, right? Self-deprecating can be so I'll just want to, like go through those questions one more time. So what's something you want to be taking action on or wanting or desiring, no matter how small it is. Okay? So what's keeping you from taking that step or trying that thing or ordering that thing? How much permission do you feel you need you have or don't have for that who decides how much permission you do or don't have, and is it possible that they are relevant. Can you give yourself permission? So Brené Brown gives herself permission slips. It's actually in her book, dare to lead. She said, I give myself permission slips. And they say, I give myself permission to blank. So to make mistakes, to rest. I love this. I think this is a really great way to close that gap and to get rid of the habit of asking for permission is just to give, like literally write yourself permission slips. So if you remember my dear friend Nikole, whose last name is escaping me, sorry, team, she said two episodes, oh my god. Why is it not coming up anyway? So she talked about, in the first episode about all the different post it notes that she put around her house affirmations, and then she'd take them down because people are coming over, because she didn't want any single person to be able to give her any nagging thing that would remove the permission she'd given herself. So maybe you need to put little permission slips everywhere. I give myself permission to try a new outfit today. I give myself permission to make a mistake. I give myself permission to go a different route. I would give myself permission to ask that person for that thing. I give myself permission to rest. I give myself permission to turn off my phone. I give myself permission to not respond. Lesley Logan 9:31 So use clear and powerful language to empower yourself. That's really, really important. Affirmations are really helpful. So this one will start kind of the same way. I give myself permission to be successful. I give myself permission to be authentic. I give myself permission to pursue my dreams, right? So affirmations can also be helpful in also going with what Brené Brown's mission slips are. You can do a meditation. So this meditation is really easy one. You can take your hands, put them on your heart, close your eyes and say, I've got this or you've got this beautiful right, hands on the heart, eyes closed, you've got this beautiful. It's one of Fridays. The episodes I give you as an affirmation, I say it three times. I'm hoping you're saying it out loud with me. I'm giving you a second to do that. I want you to give yourself permission to have that affirmation to be it till you see it. And of course, journaling. Journaling is always a great thing. Look like you'd be surprised what comes out of your head when you journal. I like free writing. If you haven't done the book The Artist's Way, it's 12 weeks of journaling prompts and really will help you peel back the onion of why you're asking for permission in the first place, especially if you go into the book with that in mind, you're going to start to like, answer those questions with those thoughts, and it's going to give you a whole host of information. It's such a great thing to do. You can do it annually. You can do it more often than once, but it's really, really great. I highly recommend it. Lesley Logan 10:59 Okay, so tips for cultivating self-permission. So here's some other tips and tools you can use. So accept 100% responsibility. This is very difficult for some people, because that means responsibility for your own mistakes as well, but acknowledge that you are responsible for your own life, actions and responses. This shifts you from a victim mindset to one of empowerment, removing the blame, shame and guilt game. So what happens when you accept responsibility? It means you cannot you're not asking for cannot. You're not asking permission for people. It also means you can't say, oh, my kids wouldn't let me do Pilates today. Gotta accept 100 responsibility, right, radical responsibility,Lesley Logan 11:31 Another thing. Let go of the need for external approval. Recognize that relying on others for validation can prevent you from trusting your own judgment. I think that's really, really true. I got a medical diagnosis that isn't bad, don't freak out, but it's, it's not great either. And I'm a verbal processor, so I I like to talk about it to kind of, like, understand how I'm feeling, and it's interesting. Like, what I talked about with, like, some people my wife, are like, well, whatever you need, you can recover here. You could do this thing. Brad's like, so you're thinking about doing this. Like, it wasn't, I wasn't asking for permission. I was just, like, talking about it, right? And then I had another friend I was sharing it with, and they were almost talking me out of the thing. I remember going, what the fuck, right? So it made me go, ugh, because I was a little annoyed that she wasn't like, like everybody else. But then I was like, Wait, why do I care what she thinks, right? So it's interesting thing. There's like, just start to recognize when you're relying on the validations of other people and that, and then their lack of validation that causes you to think differently. Now, by the way, it's okay that she has me think differently. It really made me go back and kind of research what she was saying and making sure that, like, I almost got more secure in my decision because of it. So it's also fine to talk things out, but just notice, or maybe what she said could have got me to go, oh, maybe I don't need to do that. Those are all fine things, but just it's a very different thing from getting feedback versus validation. There are two different things. Lesley Logan 12:51 Embrace imperfection and mistakes, so give yourself permission to be human, to be wrong and to learn from what doesn't work. Viewing failures as lessons, not torture, is crucial for growth, and I think this is really, really important. Really important in my journey of just like become a recovering perfectionist and overachiever, it's really helped me to not need permission, because I'm not trying to be perfect to the thing, and I'm allowing myself to learn and ask questions and be a human being who doesn't fail, but actually learns and then makes adjustments along the way. It's kind of like a route right when you're driving, and the map is like, go here. And then it's like, oh, we found a faster route. You didn't go, ugh, MapQuest. You're an asshole. You fucked up the last one. No, you just go, wow, thanks for getting better at what you do. You're just like, look at this app. So great. Like, we don't go, oh, my God, they got it wrong. No, we go, oh, they're like improving every time. Lesley Logan 13:44 Set boundaries. Is vital to give yourself permission to say no to things that don't serve you, even if it makes others uncomfortable, this protects your time and energy for what truly matters to you. Erika Quest, she's been on the pod, we were talking the other day about, like, when people invite us to different things, like, we ask ourselves, is this more, or is it better? But more? Is it better? And if it's just more, then it's probably no, it's better. Gonna make my impact better? Gonna make me a better person? Then, yeah, I'll look into it. Lesley Logan 14:10 Okay, listen to your own intuition. So reconnect with your inner voice and trust your gut feelings. The more you exercise permission muscle, the louder and clearer becomes. I am going to have a whole series on how to listen to your inner voice, so I'm not going to go deeper on that that will be coming up in a few weeks. Hey, be curious, not judgmental. So approach your feelings and experiences with curiosity rather than fear or judgment. Label your emotions to understand them better, which is a gateway to healing and growth. Lesley Logan 14:41 Prioritize self-care and rest. Oh, hi, hello. Give yourself permission to rest, to recharge and enjoy life without guilt. Integrating self-care rituals into your daily routine helps make it a habit. Listen to the habit series so you have even better chance of doing that. But my goodness, you've got to prioritize your self-care so you get rid of that permission gap. And it's not that I'm like, You're not going to help other people or you're not going to care about them. It's just that, like, you can't care about them before your own air mask is on first. Hello. Lesley Logan 15:07 Allow yourself to pivot. Recognize that personal growth involves change. Give yourself permission to change your mind, career or life direction if an old path no longer aligns with your evolving self. I mean, heck, you might have asked for permission to do something and someone talked you out of it, the thing you want to do, and now you're doing the thing that they gave you permission to do. So you're probably going to have to evolve, pivot, change things. And I would say, be nice to yourself. Have grace and space for recognizing that because, my goodness, everything you learn on that path is what's going to make you even better on the path that you're on now. So please be kind. Lesley Logan 15:38 Another way to give yourself permission is, what's the cost of your inaction? What is the cost of doing nothing? What is the cost of not doing the thing you want to do? I want to dive deeper into that, into next week's episode with Dr. Corey. So, definitely be watching out for that interview, because I promise you, it's going to be so good. But I was like, oh my God. Yes, and I'm so glad that we talked about that in her episode. And keep in mind, after years of second guessing, after years of asking permission, for permission, it can be hard to trust yourself and believe you've got this. Lesley Logan 16:10 So consider this permission to be you to be it till you see it. No one but you defines the scope of what's possible, and no one but you can dare to believe that you can be it till you see it. No one but you can define the scope of what's possible, and no one but you can dare to believe that you can be it till you see it. I promise you that you are amazing. You don't need my permission to be it till you see it, but you might need my reminder that you can. And I hope each and every week, you say that to yourself as well. All right, babe, until next time, be it till you see it. Lesley Logan 16:41 That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 17:24 It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 17:28 It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co. Brad Crowell 17:33 Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi. Lesley Logan 17:40 Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals. Brad Crowell 17:45 Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Social media will happily turn your nervous system into a tiny squirrel hunting for dopamine, my friends. This week, I coach a listener who keeps checking likes and engagement on posts for her business. Instead of treating likes, commissions, creative desire, and income as one tangled emotional knot, I show you how to separate the questions so your brain can stop making Instagram engagement mean everything about your art, your business, or your worth.Then, I answer a deeper question about emotional vulnerability and thought work, especially in relation to Brené Brown's work. This episode will show you how to untangle social media validation, business confusion, self judgment, and authenticity so you can see what is actually happening in your brain.Submit your own question here and it might get answered on a future episode: unfuckyourbrain.com/coachinghotlineGet full show notes, transcript, and more information here: schoolofnewfeministthought.com/489Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/Mentioned in this episode:FREE GUIDE: The Top Three Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming A CoachThe world needs coaches. The world needs our work. The world needs your specific perspective, your experiences, your special sauce. Even if you don't know that yet, I do. And I want to help you get there. Download this guide at https://the-school-of-new-feminist-thought.captivate.fm/threethingsClick here to download: 3 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Becoming a Life Coach
Jessica Zwaan, VP People Strategy & Operations at Leapsome and author of Built For People, joined us for another MPL Build AMA. This time we talked about how to redesign your People team if you're running your team like a product team, why metrics like internal promotion retention matter more than traditional HR KPIs, and more.---- Sponsor Links:
Work has always been demanding, but lately, it feels like the ground is constantly shifting. Business is moving faster, projects disappear overnight, expectations change without warning. Under pressure, teams see more tension and uncomfortable moments. So how do you stay steady through these times and even use workplace tensions to grow and improve? This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel talks with Aiko Bethea, leadership coach and author of Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives. Aiko's book comes with a forward from Brené Brown, and offers a road-tested framework for navigating modern work with more clarity and intention. Instead of looking outward for stability, she argues that the real work starts within: understanding your values, recognizing your impact, and reclaiming your sense of agency. In this conversation, Jessi and Aiko discuss: Why work feels more chaotic than ever What it really means to be “anchored” in your values—and why most of us get this wrong How to align your decisions and behavior with what actually matters to you A more generous, effective way to think about accountability (hint: it's not about blame) The many forms of power operating inside organizations Why curiosity is the key to better leadership and stronger relationships How to stop waiting for external conditions to improve and start creating your own stability This episode is for anyone looking for a way to regain clarity, ownership, and direction in the middle of constant change. Follow Aiko Bethea and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.
Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukTwo words I have said roughly 25,000 times. Most of them on autopilot.DescriptionTwo words. Probably the most common two words spoken in the English language. Two words I say almost every single morning, and you probably do too. I'm fine. In this episode I work out that I have said it about 25,000 times to my carers over the last 35 years, and almost none of those times did I actually stop and think about it. I want to look at why we say it, what it costs us, and what happens when we don't. There is a Brené Brown quote, an old Zen master story I have always loved, a Thursday afternoon last week where I cried for 20 minutes and then bought a book on Amazon, and a small image about letting go before your hand hurts. You don't have to stop saying I'm fine. You just have to notice when you do.Key Topics25,000 mornings, two carers, and the most automatic answer in my lifeWhy "I'm fine" is armour, and why armour is not always the wrong thing to wearThe three reasons we wear it (and why "just think positive" is the worst advice in self help)The cost of saying it on autopilot, especially to the people who actually want to hear youAn old Zen story about a master on his deathbed who said the most enlightened thing he could have saidBrené Brown on numbing emotions, and why you cannot block only the bad weatherA real Thursday afternoon I sat here and cried for 20 minutes, then immediately bought a bookThe hand metaphor: I let go a little earlier than I used to, before my hand hurtsCompanion MeditationWhen Anxiety Visits (IPM101). Five minutes. You sit down, you say hello to whatever is actually here, and you ask it why it came. It is the practical opposite of saying "I'm fine." Available on Insight Timer, Aura, and the Inner Peace Meditations podcast.If this episode meant something to you, please share it, leave a review, or treat me to a coffee at stevenwebb.uk.SupportersAlex, Nina, Zoe, A Ma, Kevin, Katarzyna, Deborah, Christopher, and Ariel for recent coffees and PayPal donations.Special thanks: MumMik's Cleaning Services for buying a course this week.You keep this podcast advert free.
Jason P. Carroll, founder of Aptive Index — a behavioral intelligence platform powered by psychometric science and AI that helps leaders hire better, lead smarter, and build thriving teams. A TEDx speaker and certified Dare to Lead facilitator trained by Dr. Brené Brown, Jason brings together the science of human behavior and the art of courageous leadership. He says that while AI and technology will change jobs, organizations must leverage, focus on and train their people, because it will be how people use the technology that will make all the difference to the future of business.
Amin Palizban, Co-Founder & CEO of TopicFlow, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about why managers are at a breaking point, how AI is transforming performance management, and what it takes to build AI-native people products that actually support managers in real time.---- Get the AI for Performance Management Toolkit: https://modernpeopleleader.kit.com/aiforperformanceSponsor Links:
Leadership can look polished on the outside while feeling incredibly heavy on the inside. In this episode, I'm unpacking the hidden cost of thin trust — and why burnout is not always about doing too much, but about carrying too much because the people, systems, or conversations around you cannot fully hold their part. In this episode, you'll learn: How to spot when leadership feels heavy because trust is thin, not because you lack capacity Why your body may be carrying the weight of unspoken tension, unclear expectations, and avoided conversations A simple way to begin repairing trust without overriding your discernment Resources mentioned: Brené Brown's BRAVING framework Amy Edmondson on psychological safety Paul Zak on the neuroscience of trust “If leadership feels heavier than it should, the issue may not be your capacity. It may be the places where trust has become too thin to hold the weight with you.” Before your next hard conversation, ask yourself: 1. What am I assuming? 2. What do I know for sure? 3. What needs to be communicated so my body does not have to keep carrying it? Share the pod love Enjoying Heart Glow CEO®? A quick review is the simplest way to support the show and help the right people find it. About Kc Kc Rossi, PCC, is an Integrative Leadership Coach helping mission-driven founders and executives lead with clarity, regulate stress, and grow in flow—not force. Connect with Kc on LinkedIn
Brene Brown - Leadership Tools to Teach Your Children and SELF “Stand firmly enough to lead, loosely enough to listen.” Strong Ground by Brené Brown published in 2025 Breaking down this new book by the excellent Brene Brown, we find that strong leaders don't eliminate tension or risk. They hold it. And this is key! What does the hold look like? How does it show up to the team? The theme in my mind is "toughness with tenderness" Clarity is kindness. Vagueness is avoidance dressed as politeness. You can be both confident and uncertain. That's not weakness, it's reality. Values are not what you believe. They're what you do under pressure. Most leadership failures are emotional avoidance, not strategic failure. Accountability without empathy is cruelty. Empathy without accountability is chaos. People don't disengage because work is hard, they disengage because trust erodes. The goal is not control. The goal is grounded presence in uncertainty. You can't build brave cultures with armored leaders. Paradox is not a problem to solve, it's a condition to manage. If you're always comfortable, you're not leading. You're maintaining. I especially, like the last one. Discomfort is the path to growth in all things. Think euthermia for temperature, not a recipe for human cellular health or plants for that matter. Temperature through environmental swings are keys to protein elaboration for handling the cold and the heat. The lack of swing equates to a lack of adaptability.... and a piece on the Stakeholder. Dr. M
We celebrate female empowerment while simultaneously destroying women who actually achieve it. This episode unpacks why we pile on female leaders—from Brené Brown to Mel Robbins to Gwyneth Paltrow—in ways we never do for men. Not to defend these women although some deserve critique. It's about understanding the line between legitimate critique and character assassination, and asking what happens when we redirect that energy toward systemic change instead of moral policing. Where is the line where you go from beloved to canceled? Timestamps: 0:00 Intro: The White Women Villain Pattern 2:18 We're at an Inflection Point 4:42 The Brené Brown Takedown (Threads, Reddit, Appropriation Claims) 7:04 Appropriating Black Feminist Theory 9:23 The Mendoza Line: Where Does Deserving Cancellation Begin? 12:45 Why Thought Leaders Stay Silent (Fear of Judgment) 15:20 The Grifter Accusation (Mel Robbins, Gwyneth, Reese) 18:00 Cult Leaders, Wellness Culture & False Profits 21:30 The Poet Cassie & Mel Robbins' Poem 25:15 Accountability vs. Character Assassination 28:40 The Over-Optimization Backlash 31:00 We're All Learning (Both/And Complexity) 34:20 Toxicity & Beloved-by-Millions Syndrome 37:15 It's Envy and Gender, Not Ethics 40:30 I Want to See People Win 43:00 Don't Die with Your Song Unsung 45:15 Systemic Change Happens in Community 48:30 These Women Are Mirrors, Not Heroes or Villains 51:32 We Can't Dismantle Patriarchy by Policing Women 53:55 Little Drops of Water Matter 56:14 Your Message Needs to Be Heard Be sure to share this one. Subscribe/follow/leave a review. Do all the things. It means the world to me. Prefer to watch on YouTube? Voila! https://youtu.be/9qKRgKekea4 Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com
What does it look like to truly radiate love and respect from the inside out? Lesley Logan and Brad Crowell break down the powerful conversation with Angie Hawkins, an "Inner Glow Coach" and author of Running in Slippers. A former high-achieving corporate professional who survived a suicide attempt, Angie's story is a profound roadmap for anyone chasing external validation at the expense of their soul. Lesley and Brad explore the political nature of beauty standards, the necessity of nervous system regulation, and why your self-love actually raises the world's vibration. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:Understand the link between beauty standards and the loss of rights.Discover why inner glow starts with internal love and respect.Learn how radiant self-love combats global negativity and low vibrations.Explore the importance of enforcing boundaries to protect your energy.Master Angie's three-step process for a total personal life transformation.Episode References/Links:OPC Spring Training (Virtual Event) - opc.me/eventseLevate Mentorship Program - lesleylogan.co/elevatePilates Summer Tour - opc.me/tourThe Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor - https://a.co/d/0jjAUZbzRunning in Slippers Book - https://www.runninginslippers.com/shopFree 60-Minute Find Your Glow Session - https://www.runninginslippers.com/coachingAngie Hawkin's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/angiehawkins808Mindi's Closet - https://www.mindiscloset.comMason Pearson - https://masonpearson.comHigherDOSE Dry Brush - https://beitpod.com/higherdoseaffiliateSubmit your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questions If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! 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DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Brad Crowell 0:00 What she discovered was it was actually going internal that allowed her to see who she is and understand, you know, the value that she has, and began to change things, you know. So she said, it's about coming back home to who you actually are. Instead of trying to change all these things that are you're doing, or in your life, or all these external things, it's internal.Lesley Logan 0:24 Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:06 Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the liberating convo I have with Angie Hawkins in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that interview, feel free to pause, because she's pretty cool. I think she's.Brad Crowell 1:19 She's cool. Also like really powerful story.Lesley Logan 1:21 Powerful story, and thoughtful and, like, talk about it, be it till you see it story, and she's helping people. And so, I mean, you got to listen to it. You definitely should listen to it.Brad Crowell 1:30 Yeah, it's, it's, if you're sensitive to talking about suicide, she didn't go into gory details. But, like, yeah, that was, that's part of her story. Lesley Logan 1:38 You can skip that part. Yeah. We talk about, I mean, you can skip that part. Brad Crowell 1:42 I think it also made it even that much more powerful, because it wasn't like she was a angst, angsty teenager. You know, she was in, she was, she had a corporate career, and, like, even moved, you know, to a beautiful place to live. And still, you know, was, was unfulfilled and unhappy, and now today, she seems like she has come a long way. In a much different place.Lesley Logan 2:05 Yeah, I agree. And I, you know, it's hard when it's hard when people kind of bring up that part of their story, because I am like, oh gosh, I have, like, inserted a hey, skip ahead 30 seconds. And also they're on the other side of it. So I do kind of feel like hearing the whole journey is important too. Like, I don't want to take that away from people, and so it's, it's hard to make the decision. But also I, and I want people to speak really about their life. And I just really like her, I like what she's doing. I like her book. Everything's good. So today is April 23rd 2026 and it's Love Your Thighs Day. Brad Crowell 2:37 That's right. Lesley Logan 2:38 Love thyself.Brad Crowell 2:39 Love thy thighs.Lesley Logan 2:40 Yeah, no. Love thigh thigh self. Love thigh self. Brad Crowell 2:43 Love thigh self. Lesley Logan 2:44 Yes. This day is celebrated on the fourth, yeah, this day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of a of April every year, and this year, it falls on April 23rd. Women all over the world have a love hate relationship with their bodies. They're constantly encouraged to love their bodies in a society where beauty standards have been predefined and sometimes are unreachable. In fact, most fucking time, Love Your Thighs Day seeks to mitigate this and tell all women around the world that no matter what their bodies look like, they should love them because it's theirs to cherish. You know, it's really interesting this last year's award season, the women are getting a little too, like, on the too skinny side. And I hate saying that because I don't want to judge.Brad Crowell 3:28 The 90s, the 90s thing. Lesley Logan 3:29 Yeah. And it's just really hard because, like, we grew up with that, so that was just, like, the norm, and like, whatever ones are trying to be. And then we had this like, moment where we're like, oh my god, that's, like, so unhealthy. And like, there, here's all the information, and like you can't, like you can't, bigger doesn't mean unhealthy, and all these different things. And now we're seeing that again, and it's it's hard for me to watch because I've also been too skinny. And, you know, I get people who say shitty things to me because I they my old YouTube videos are up, and we don't take them down. And you know, I'm in a different body that I'm learning to love and the and I like, I think it's interesting, because people like, oh, you used to be skinnier, and it's like, yeah, I used to be younger, too. I used to, used to have a different metabolism. I used to live in LA, like, I used to, I used to not teach Pilates. Like, there's a lot of used to's. So it's just really kind of interesting. I think the other thing that's really interesting is whenever they're trying to take your rights away. We talked about this before in the podcast, whenever they're trying to take women's rights away. If you look at the trends of what women what beauty in women is, it's always the skinny body, because they want you starving so you're not fueled in your brain to realize they're taking your rights away. The trad wife situation and being super thin, all of that coincides with every time they try to take women's rights away. And so I would just say, like, there's a great book. It's called the body is not an apology. The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor, excellent listen-to on tape if you are not a reader. Beautiful book to read. She had a great interview with Brené Brown many, many years ago because somebody attributed Sonia's quotes to Brené Brown, and Brené Brown's like, that's not my quote. Who said that? Let's make sure we give it to that person. And then Brené Brown interviewed her, and the whole patriarchy would fall down if we all, as women, stopped buying into that there's a certain standard of beauty. All of it is all the smoke and mirrors that has us busy spending money and making sure we look a certain way so we appeal to people who supposedly have the keys of the kingdom that we're looking for. And so you can start by just loving your own thighs. Show them off. Brad Crowell 5:34 I dig it. Lesley Logan 5:34 You know, we first moved to Vegas, I had to start filming in shorts, and I hated it because I could see my cellulite. And I was like, oh, I really hate that. And then one of our members was like, thanks for showing what real legs look like. And I was like, oh, that's a compliment. Okay, but, but, but also then I was like, fuck it. That made her feel good. And so now I'm going to wear shorts. It was a be it till I see it into loving myself in shorts. And now I just wear these short shorts, and my thighs are bigger than you think. And you know what it actually, I don't care. And I love (inaudible). I really do. They're great legs. So I think you have to kind of be it till you see it in some of these things, and you give permission for other people too, as well. So. Brad Crowell 6:12 You got this. Lesley Logan 6:13 Go, love your thighs. Thick thighs save lives. I don't know what business sells that shirt, but there's a business that sells a shirt that says, thick thighs save lives. And I highly recommend supporting that.Brad Crowell 6:23 It's like a whole meme.Lesley Logan 6:24 Yeah, yeah. I don't know. I got a sweatshirt from them, and I got tshirt from them, and it's, it's got the love thigh self and thick thighs save lives, yeah, yeah. So you can find one, I'm sure. Someone will make you one. You know what? Mindi on OPC will probably make you one with Mindi's Closet. So there you go. Lesley Logan 6:41 All right, spring training is around the corner, literally around the corner. We're gonna get those big thighs up over that head of yours. Believe it or not, it is possible. It is true and or we're gonna help you find out what exercises you are going to work on to get there. If you go to opc.me/events you can grab your ticket. If you're an OPC member, check your email. We send you instructions on how to sign up for free. If you're not OPC member, it's a nominal fee. Show up. It's fun. It's good time. eLevate, my mentorship program for comprehensively trained teachers, is almost full, if it's not already filled, but there might be a spot left. You just go to lesleylogan.co/elevate, and see if it's what you're looking for, and get on a call with Brad chat about what it is I just I had the best let me, can I? I'm gonna read a win from today's eLevate. I'm gonna keep their names private. But let me just tell you, this was so freaking sweet. Hold on.Brad Crowell 7:32 While you're while you're pulling that up. Summer tour is coming soon, so in August, we're gonna be hitting the road, and you can get information about that also when you're on the opc.me/events waitlist. But if you go to opc.me/tour tickets may be open really soon, like in the next week or three, so stay tuned for that, opc.me/tour. So tell me about eLevate.Lesley Logan 7:57 So one of the members this year said, I'd like to thank Lesley for pairing me with her partner, we just get each other. And while I feel like we're the odd couple, she's really neat in her practice, while I'm really messy and still trying to find my longest spine shapes, she's so patient with me. I also feel that her classical background complements my contemporary we definitely have our sessions feeling so much more accomplished, and the props are serious game changer. How fun is that? How sweet. Brad Crowell 8:21 I love it. I think it's amazing. Lesley Logan 8:22 I know. So you know you that could be you. You could be, like, having fun with another person this industry, like learning together. And it's just, it's beautiful. Brad Crowell 8:29 We have had many a an un-sought-out best friend matching. Yeah, we are connecting people who are going to work together for nine months, and then a lot of them stay connected afterwards. And we're we love that. We think that's amazing.Lesley Logan 8:42 They still work out together. And also in the alumni group, they're. Brad Crowell 8:46 I just talked to someone in from group one, who still talks to her partner often, yeah, like all the time.Lesley Logan 8:52 In three times a week now, there are eLevate grads from all the different rounds that work out together. There are three different ongoing weekly sessions that happen. Brad Crowell 9:01 I love that. Lesley Logan 9:02 Oh yeah. Every Wednesday, at 8am there are people in the UK, Florida, Colorado and California who work out together. Brad Crowell 9:07 Come on. Lesley Logan 9:08 On Sunday mornings, there's another group of people, oh yeah. And then then there's one. I don't know what the time the third group is I haven't really seen it yet, but I say that it's consistent. It's so much fun. It's great. Brad Crowell 9:17 That's awesome. Lesley Logan 9:18 Yeah. And also, the one of the groups has decided to watch their replays along the same weekend time as the current group is going through it. So. Brad Crowell 9:28 Wow. That's a commitment. Lesley Logan 9:29 They're watching their, they're watching their mat replays during the mat now that we'll just wrap the reformer there on the reformer section right now. It's hilarious. Brad Crowell 9:37 I think it's great. Lesley Logan 9:37 I love it.Brad Crowell 9:38 Amazing. Good for them. Lesley Logan 9:40 Like you never stop learning. So, anyways.Brad Crowell 9:42 All right, well, before we get into this amazing interview, we had a question, Ebbflowpilates on Instagram asks, hi, can you tell me more about the brush that you're using? Do you have a link?Lesley Logan 9:54 Oh, the brush for my mat to clean it?Brad Crowell 9:57 Oh, that's for your mat? Lesley Logan 9:59 Yeah. Brad Crowell 9:59 I thought it was like a face, face brush, which is why I included it here when we're loving our thighs.Lesley Logan 10:03 Oh, okay, well, I will give you all the brushes that I use, okay, so, but I remember seeing this question on the mat cleaning video that we have a YouTube video on, like how to clean your equipment. We have a live and a long form. So honestly, I use a baby's toothbrush. One that's very soft, bristle baby's toothbrush. That's the type of brush that I use for cleaning my equipment. For brushing my eyebrows, I use a spoolie, that's what they're called, and I use that spoolie to dye them. That's what I do. That's how they look this good. I dye them myself, because who has the time for another appointment? For my hair. I love the Mason Pearson, but, Heather, one of our Be It babes, bought me a another kind of brush that I can use in the shower. And it's a little. Brad Crowell 10:54 It's like a detangler. Lesley Logan 10:55 The detangler, and I'm it's the one with the handle. Apparently, it's very famous for not having a handle, but I have too thick of hair for that. Brad Crowell 11:02 Oh, right. Lesley Logan 11:02 So I like that one that she got me for in the shower, and also, I'll take it on travel, because I'm not worried about losing a very expensive British brush.Brad Crowell 11:11 Yeah. What's the British brush called? Lesley Logan 11:15 Mason Pearson? Mason Pearson. And that's what I think. It's beautiful. It's like, oh my god, it's like a mid century blue.Brad Crowell 11:23 Yeah, Mason Pearson hairbrush.Lesley Logan 11:25 Okay, let me tell you how the best way to get that brush in the States, my friends. Go to the U.K. and buy or, if you know a Brit who's flying in, have them pack it, because it was, it's so affordable, until you put the shipping on it, and then you immediately makes you order from the U.S., it's double the price. Brad Crowell 11:44 Is it affordable though? It's not a cheap brush. Lesley Logan 11:46 No, but it works. My hair looks amazing. I mean, if you're watching the YouTube video right now, you're like, Lesley, is it? We're three days out from a hair dye, so leave it alone. But yes, my hair is growing. I have very little breakage. I didn't even have a haircut for a year because, like, I've had no breakage. So those are the brushes I use. I'm trying to think, if there's another kind of brush, oh, I like a dry brush. HigherDOSE has a great dry brush. It's got copper in it.Brad Crowell 12:06 You got the pure boar or the boar and nylon? You have the mix. Lesley Logan 12:11 I have the mix because my, for the Mason Pearson, yeah, I have boar bristle which is really great for getting the oil, because I don't like to wash my hair every day. So it pulls the oil out of the roots and into the tips. It makes my hair nice and shiny and healthy and all that kind of stuff. But it depends. They'll have a little information on their site for Mason Pearson, like, what type of brush you get, because there's a full boar, there's a full like, silicone or whatever, and then there's mix. But I have, I have hair that needs mix.Brad Crowell 12:34 Yeah, there's, there's boar, nylon or.Lesley Logan 12:37 Here's why I really like it. It's doesn't have little balls at the end. So when you're taking the tangles out, it's not ripping them or pulling the tangle into a tighter not. I, you know, I have Type 2A hair. So if you have Type 2A wave hair, you know what that means?Brad Crowell 12:55 There's a there's a there's a rating system for hair?Lesley Logan 12:57 Yes, yes, Type 2A wave means your hair tangles. That's what it means. It means that the waves don't make any sense, and so when my hair is down, it just becomes a rat's nest within two hours. Don't even give me a scarf with my hair down or coat. That is a disaster. I try to do like a I like a low bun. Why do I like a low bun? Because a low pony is just a recipe for a tangle that is just in a ponytail. So I have to, even if I like my make my hair wavy and do the wave into it. Great. Now it's just gonna be a dread, like just dreads of wave knots. So. Brad Crowell 13:33 Party on. Well, anyway. Baby toothbrushes for the mat. Lesley Logan 13:38 Yes, for your Pilates equipment use that. All right. Brad Crowell 13:43 All right. Well, if you have a question, text us at 310-905-5534, or send it in to beitpod.com/questions.Lesley Logan 13:51 I'm clearly a wealth of knowledge. I can give you the names of every brush.Brad Crowell 13:57 beitpod.com/questions leave us a win or a question. Stick around. We'll be right back. We're going to talk about Angie Hawkins. Brad Crowell 14:04 Welcome back. Let's talk about Angie Hawkins. Angie is an "Inner Glow Coach" and the author of the raw memoir Running in Slippers, which I thought was a great title. She explains that on the episode. So if you're interested in understanding that, go back and listen to the interview.Lesley Logan 14:21 Because they're not the slippers you think.Brad Crowell 14:23 They certainly are not. She's a former corporate professional with over 20 years of experience. Angie spent decades as a high achieving people-pleaser who chased external validation until a move from Chicago to Hawaii revealed that she could not outrun her internal struggles after surviving a suicide attempt and navigating a profound rock bottom during the pandemic, she left the corporate world to help other women stop seeking approval outside of themselves and instead cultivate a deep sense of love, safety and confidence from within. Incredibly powerful story. Lesley Logan 14:55 Really, enjoy her. I really, really did I, when we were doing the conversation was like, oh my gosh, how many other places can I help you be heard? Because, like, you're just doing great work. One of the things I love that she said, Is your inner glow is radiating in your own love and respect so much that it's actually radiating to people outside of you. So like, when you really get that inner glow on, like, it's kind of like, it's like when people talk about you and you're not in the room, but it's all good. You know what I mean? Like, they like, they think about you, and they just start, oh, have you heard of this person? Like, because, like, your inner glow is so out there. People can't help but, like, pick up on it and, like, radiate it out as well. Brad Crowell 15:32 Well, she's also talking about, like, the people around her saying, oh, you're glowing. And she said she didn't think like that it was anything particularly external that they were seeing, they were attracting. She was, you know, because her, her mindset was shifting so much it, you know, everyone was picking up on it, and that's when they were saying, you're glowing.Lesley Logan 15:58 I know it's weird. This is how Angie and I are very different. She was glowing from the inside out and radiating out people are like you're glowing oh my skincare line is so good. But like, but she you when, if you watch her, you'll see like, she's just got such joy around her, and she's so connected to the work that she does and how it helped her so that she's helping others. And she emphasized that energy doesn't just stop at the individual. Energy extends outward, inspiring others and potentially raising the vibration of the entire universe. And you know, I'm into that, because I believe that if you do Pilates, you connect yourself. You're more connected to yourself. You're not an asshole, if you're not an asshole, then other people aren't gonna be met with an asshole. Brad Crowell 16:36 It's one less asshole in the world. Do Pilates. Lesley Logan 16:38 And that's gonna change the vibration. Yeah. I'm in, I'm in.Brad Crowell 16:41 More Pilates, less assholes.Lesley Logan 16:42 Yeah. So she argued that you're either contributing to the world's negative vibration or you're raising it. And I agree. You're, I don't think that there's like a middle ground. You're either contributing or you're raising it. And I do, she also said that radiant self-love is a way to combat the chaos and negativity happening in the world right now. You guys while we're recording this, there's a fucking ton of shit going on, impossible to describe. It's like, when people ask, How am I doing? I have to go.Brad Crowell 17:09 Compartmentalize first, then answer. Lesley Logan 17:12 Yeah. Like, well, if we take what's going on in the world out, I'm doing great. I'm doing amazing. If you're gonna add that back in? I don't even know how to answer that question, but, like, but I do think that, like, it is something we can do with that bubble of influence that we can have, you know? Brad Crowell 17:30 Yeah, absolutely. All right. So when she was talking about that, there's a light inside of us that, you know, I found that really interesting, like resonating to me. And I think, like, part of it is, also, I have a couple thoughts, it's kind of like charisma, right? We don't realize, realize the risk, yeah, it's risk. We don't realize how impactful it is or or can be, and when we are, when we are not putting ourselves first, or we are seeking perfectionism, like even if it's subconsciously or people pleasing, we're dimming our own light. And for her, she said she told us the story about when she almost died, she was with her friend, and she said to her friend, I can't believe I'm not dead. And her friend's response was, it's not your time to go, right? And she said there was something in that moment that, like, really snapped her out of everything that she'd been doing for decades. And she, shortly thereafter, you know, started making dramatic life changes and leaving her job and things like that. And she, she she said that, you know, I think when people started to see the shift in her, the glow, they were talking about, you know, because she said, we are born with the light inside of us, but we just, we let it get dimmed.Lesley Logan 18:53 It does. It gets dimmed because of, like, things her parents say, they're, they're, they mean well, but like, you know, you talk too much, or you're just, you take too much attention, like your you know, like you be quiet, and then, like, those are, like, all appropriate things, but like, you start to internalize them, depending on who you are. And then a teacher tells you, like, oh, that was so stupid, but you took it as I'm stupid. And then, like, a boss is all of a sudden, it's like layers upon layers of these things that you internalize, and your light just gets dimmer and dimmer. Because some unless you have people around you to turn it back up, you know, or you do, you got to turn it back up. So I agree, and it just gets hard.Brad Crowell 19:30 Yeah, I think ultimately, her argument was that a lot of the self-help stuff, she really said she did a lot of it, like trying to, yeah, like, figure things out. This is, like, before the move. She's, you know, she said she did a lot of that stuff in her 30s, and basically, she said it's almost always an external change that they're recommending. And she, what she discovered was it was actually going internal that allowed her to see who she is and understand, you know, the value that she has, and began to change things, you know? So she said, it's about coming back home to who you actually are. Instead of trying to change all these things that are you're doing, or in your life, or all these external things, it's internal, you know?Lesley Logan 20:16 Yeah, no, it is. I mean, like, going back to, like, love thigh self, right? Like, your external body is going to change. And yes, there's arguments of, like, I just want to be attracted to the person when I'm younger. That's a different story, but you're the actual outside of you is going to change. So if all you're ever working on is the outside stuff, you're missing out, like the inside is, like, ideally, just gets brighter and more profound and more knowledgeable and more connected and more in tuned. You know, we have a series coming up about listening to your inner voice, your intuition, and one of the things you can't have intuition is if you don't have experience. So that's why, when you're younger, you don't have the intuition that you have when you're older, because you don't have life experiences around certain things. And I think that like as we get older, like, that's one thing we have that we didn't have we were younger. It's like this sense of experience of what's real. I like that she emphasizes, like, going inward and getting to know that.Brad Crowell 21:10 Yeah, it's just fascinating to listen to her, and also a little bit shocking, because I didn't see that part of her story in who she is today, you know? And so it was really interesting, because it kind of took me by surprise, but also, wow, how much has she learned from that experience? So stick around. We'll be right back. We're going to talk about those really powerful Be It Action Items that we had with Angie Hawkins. Brad Crowell 21:38 All right, y'all welcome back. We're going to dig into these Be It Action Items we have with Angie. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from that convo? And she said strong boundaries is like one of the most important things. It's huge. And she said the hard part is not setting the boundaries. The hard part is enforcing the boundaries right so you can make all the boundaries you want up in your head. If you blow past them, it doesn't matter, right? And she said, there's also people who will intentionally try to walk over the boundaries that you're setting, and, you know, and, and they'll just try to, like, there's something weird about it. Like people like to break the rules and press, you know, they like to press their luck, all those kinds of things. And for her today, her boundaries are usually mostly, well, what you discussed was mostly around her work. She's like, yeah, I just don't coach people on the weekends. And she said that when people will ask, she'll just tell them, oh, sorry, yeah, I don't coach on the weekends. And she said, if they really press me on that, they're probably not the person that I actually want as a client, because they're not just gonna push that boundary. They're gonna break everything, or do none of the work that I'm working on them with, like, all those kinds of things. And she's like, yeah, so. Lesley Logan 22:52 We're just talking about this with our friend Michael, who like, also, like coaches people and, like, some of the things that people, like, expect of things and like, they just push and push. And you're like, okay, I'll do this. Okay, I'll make this what's just what this one time? And it's like, actually, it's not like, I remember when I first started teaching Pilates, people thought I was crazy because I wouldn't offer a discount to people who pay in cash. And I'm like, so what happens when one time, they're like, oh, I don't have cash. Can I just pay for a check today? And then they're like, oh, it's the same price, right? Because this is one time, yeah, it's like, it's never, just one fucking time, never, never. It's like, let me just see what I can get away with. And, you know, I'm not saying they're all trying to be nefarious. I don't think it's a conscious thing. I think it's like, sometimes subconscious. Brad Crowell 23:32 Yeah, you know, you just have to be able to say, no, sorry.Lesley Logan 23:36 Also, if you don't know if that person's pressing you, you can also say, can I get back to you? And then that way you can take a moment to see, is this some, is this a boundary that they're crossing?Brad Crowell 23:46 Honestly, that was one of the best ways to get out of a tough situation is like, can I, can I think about that and get back to you? And to just say that, because it gives you space where you don't feel pressured to make a decision in the moment that you will you know might regret later, and it allows you the space to, you know, actually, like, like, mull it over and decide, what do I actually want to do? And then obviously, you still have to go back to him and respond, but it takes away that in the moment pressure, you know, yeah. What about you?Lesley Logan 24:17 Okay. This is great. Get ready. Write this down. Three-step process for personal transformation. This is Angie Hawkins, three-step process for personal transformation.Brad Crowell 24:25 I love this, by the way.Lesley Logan 24:26 Decide any meaningful change in your life comes from a decision.Brad Crowell 24:30 Yeah, decide you have to do it. Have to decide.Lesley Logan 24:33 Without total commitment, the wishy washy energy leads to quitting the second it gets hard. 100%. Decide, you can't make a wrong decision. It's gonna get you to where you're gonna go. You're gonna learn something. Take action. It's all about feeling the fear and doing it anyway, which is also in conjunction with part three. But hello, if you listen to this podcast, you know that action brings clarity, it's the same. And then part three, nervous system regulation. Before you take action, prime your nervous system. You can do that by sitting up straight. Breathing. And she also suggested the goddess walk is walking into a space with ownership, regardless of internal anxiety. Brad Crowell 25:07 I have arrived. Lesley Logan 25:08 Exactly, exactly. I really, I think that if I think that it's.Brad Crowell 25:12 They're very practical. You know, it's great. Lesley Logan 25:14 Anyone could do this. Decide, take action, regulate your nervous system. Yeah, walk like the goddess that you fucking are. Brad Crowell 25:22 Yeah, today I had to get up really early for a doctor's appointment, and last night, I decided I will wake up at, you know, this time so that I can make it on time to the thing. And you know, my alarm was accidentally soft. Don't know why it was soft, but somehow I heard it and I woke up. Lesley Logan 25:42 Well, it's good you made that decision. Oh, thank god because you didn't text me. And so when you came into the yoga you're like, bye, and I'm like, he got himself up, okay. Brad Crowell 25:50 Up and out. Lesley Logan 25:51 All right. He's, he's on it. He's doing it.Brad Crowell 25:54 Something amazing about making a decision.Lesley Logan 25:56 Well, I couldn't agree more. Go check out Angie Hawkins, I think she's wonderful. I'm Lesley Logan. Brad Crowell 26:01 And I'm Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 26:02 Thank you so much for listening to us today. We're really grateful for you. We're so excited for what you're being it till you see it. We hope these guests have been helping you, and we want you to send in your questions, your wins, all that kind of stuff to beitpod.com/questions. Send this to a friend who needs to hear it, like truly, I think Angie's story can resonate with so many different women right now, and I think it's really important, so please, please spread the word about her and until next time, Be It Till You See It. Brad Crowell 26:25 Bye for now. Lesley Logan 26:26 That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 27:09 It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 27:14 It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 27:18 Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 27:25 Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 27:28 Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Brad Crowell 27:44 Okay, welcome back. This is episode 671, Angie Hawkins recap. Take it away.Lesley Logan 27:52 I feel like a blowfish, feel like a blowfish.Brad Crowell 28:05 Welcome back. Just kidding, we're not doing that. All right, y'all welcome back. Okay, all right, so what I really loved was what she's talking about, being. Lesley Logan 28:22 Sorry.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
James Seechurn, Author of ‘What Pay Costs' and ‘Nothing Left to Take Away', joined us on The Modern People Leader.We talked about why traditional “pay for performance” systems often fail—both because individual performance is hard to measure in knowledge work and because incentives don't actually drive better outcomes. We also explored a new definition of performance centered on innovation, and how companies can unlock it by creating the conditions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness instead of relying on compensation levers.---Sponsor Links:
Courtney Smith is an enneagram coach, author, and consultant who works with individuals as well as Fortune 500 companies. After receiving a degree in mathematical economics, she graduated from Yale Law School with her JD and intended to start her career in law. She then decided to change course to consulting, where she worked at McKinsey & Company before transitioning to Condé Nast, briefly working for a real estate start-up, and even considering a career as a doctor. She soon joined the board of Planned Parenthood and received her masters in public health, but was forced to pivot due to the start of the pandemic. After this career shift, Smith, who had used the Enneagram personality system herself, began using the tool to help others. This led to where she is today: coaching and consulting high-profile clients such as Brené Brown and co-authoring the book Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness: A Process for Reclaiming Your Full Self.
Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about why workplace dread is increasing in today's environment, what Claude has learned from Gen Z employees, and how leaders can leave their “heart print” on the people they work with.---- Sponsor Links:
Download: Vulnerability Transforms Recovery Worksheet.Ever wonder why showing your true self feels so terrifying, yet could be the very key to your healing? In this powerful episode, hosts Duane and Eric Osterlind explore how embracing vulnerability, despite its discomfort, can become your greatest strength in recovery. Drawing from both research and real-world experience, they break down why many of us hide behind masks and how this actually hinders our healing journey. The hosts share practical strategies for safely opening up to others and building authentic connections, backed by insights from Dr. Brené Brown's groundbreaking research on shame and vulnerability. Whether you're struggling with addiction, trauma, or mental health challenges, this episode offers a roadmap for transforming vulnerability from a perceived weakness into a powerful tool for recovery and personal growth.Download: Vulnerability Transforms Recovery Worksheet.Key TopicsThe connection between vulnerability and authentic healingWhy we resist being vulnerable and its impact on recoveryResearch evidence supporting vulnerability in recoveryThe myth of "fixing yourself" before seeking helpFive practical steps to practice healthy vulnerabilityFinding safe spaces and people for sharingManaging intimacy backlash and self-compassionTimestamps[00:01:16] Understanding masks and hiding in recovery[00:03:45] The role of shame in avoiding vulnerability[00:07:09] Research insights on vulnerability as strength [00:11:42] Five practical steps to develop vulnerability[00:13:43] The importance of self-compassion[00:15:18] Managing intimacy backlash[00:16:31] Resources and community supportSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We don't heal alone – we heal in connection. Prentis Hemphill, alongside co-host Sue Marriott, traces their path from social organizing to somatic therapy, revealing how personal healing and collective transformation are deeply intertwined. Together, they explore how inherited myths, power dynamics, and collective trauma shape both our inner worlds and our social systems. This episode invites therapists and change makers alike to consider healing as more than an individual process—it's relational, embodied, and political in impact. Prentis offers grounded reflections and practical tools for working with the body, navigating power, and engaging in healing that extends beyond the self. “When we are courageous, we can do the unexpected and start to mold the world around a vision bigger than one produced by fear. Every inch of progress, every ounce of love, every truly meaningful action from here on out will happen through courage, not comfort.” – Prentis Hemphill Time Stamps for Where Personal Healing Meets Collective Change (295) 06:15 The interplay of interpersonal and systemic dynamics 09:31 The challenge of updating therapeutic practices 16:49 Impact of myths on human behavior 20:32 Reflections on current political climate and collective trauma 24:10 The myth of “American Exceptionalism” 36:50 Self-care and community engagement 40:07 Resources for healing and transformation About our Guest – Prentis Hemphill Prentis Hemphill is the bestselling author of What It Takes to Heal, a groundbreaking exploration of healing, justice, and transformation. A therapist, somatics teacher, facilitator, political organizer, and writer, Prentis is also the founder of The Embodiment Institute and a leading voice in embodied leadership and collective healing. For over a decade, Prentis has worked with individuals and organizations through their most challenging moments of change—navigating leadership transitions, conflict, and the alignment of practice with values. Grounded in an embodied approach, their work ensures that our intentions aren’t just ideas, but are fully lived, felt, and practiced. Before founding The Embodiment Institute, Prentis served as the Healing Justice Director at Black Lives Matter Global Network and was a lead somatics teacher with generative somatics and Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD). They hold an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and have provided therapeutic services in low-cost mental health clinics, centering marginalized communities. Prentis has contributed to Atlas of the Heart (Brené Brown), The Politics of Trauma (Staci K. Haines), You Are Your Best Thing (edited by Brené Brown & Tarana Burke), and Holding Change (adrienne maree brown). They are also the creator and host of the acclaimed podcasts Finding Our Way and Becoming the People, which have surpassed over a million downloads. At its core, Prentis' work challenges the complacency of mainstream therapeutic models, infusing healing with the rigor of justice, repair, and accountability. They believe that reclaiming feeling and relationship creates space for true transformation—in ourselves, our movements, and the world. Prentis lives on a small farm in Durham, NC, with their partner, Kasha, their child, and two dogs. !!NEW OPPORTUNITY!! READING POD STARTING MAY 1ST! Looking to deep dive into Prentis’s book? Co-host Sue Marriott is hosting a weekly Zoom reading pod – with a potential author Q&A at the conclusion. First session starts May 1st. $10/session and $5/session for our Supercast and Neuronerds. Learn more and reserve your spot – HERE! Resources for Where Personal Healing Meets Collective Change with Prentis Hemphill (295) The Embodiment Institute – Training institute, research entity, and culture change engine that strategically develops people and organizations to be agents of transformation in families, social movements and the environment. Prentis’s Website – Resources and information “Becoming the People” – Prentis’s podcast What It Takes to Heal; Published 2024 by Penguin Random House -Prentis’s book, get your copy today! Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW! Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s – next one April 13, 2026! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount. Get your copy of Secure Relating here!! You are invited! Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!!
Welcome to The Curiosity Shop! In the inaugural episode, Brené and Adam discuss how a public disagreement about authenticity almost ended their relationship before it began. For the first time, they discuss where they went wrong, why they changed their minds about each other, and what they learned about repair and trust. They also explore what healthy authenticity looks like, and dive into the many things they may still never fully see eye to eye on – from email vs. texting to remote work to faith.For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcriptsLearn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.