The Pausecast

🎧 In Episode 227, you’ll discover... This one’s a gift to your future self. If you’ve been sprinting through Q4 feeling stretched, scattered, or secretly wondering, “Is it just me?” — this episode is your pause, your reset, and your reminder that your brain is far more trainable than your stress would have you believe. And you’re learning from the best. Dr. Richard Davidson — world-renowned neuro...

If you're a high-achieving leader who’s already mentally drafting Q1 OKRs between bites of pumpkin pie… this episode is your invitation to pause - in service to all your doing! Because here’s the truth: you are more productive, more grounded, and way more inspiring when you unplug from work and plug into gratitude. Yep. Gratitude isn’t fluffy. It’s a performance enhancer. Research shows that pract...

"We can’t see the forest from inside it. Strategic pauses create the distance required for clarity." — Rachael O’Meara I just released a new episode of the podcast, and it’s a personal one. I’m sharing a few unexpected leadership lessons from my recent trip to Thailand—especially from the Lantern Festival, where thousands of glowing lanterns lifted into the night sky. It reminded me how much leade...

What if curiosity was your greatest leadership skill? In this inspiring episode, Rachael sits down with Aidan Booth , Director at one of the big techs, to explore how curiosity, reflection, and joy shape powerful, authentic leadership. 💡 Aidan opens up about his career journey — from the lessons learned through failure to the boundaries he’s set to protect his energy and well-being. He shares how...

High-achieving leaders know how to perform. But do they know how to pause ? In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Ariane de Bonvoisin — former management consultant, Tony Robbins coach, TED speaker, and now author of the Giggles and Joy children’s book trilogy — to explore what it really means to bring mindfulness into leadership (and life). Ariane and I go waayy back to when I hosted he...

Landing a new role can feel like a win...and a test of your values. In this energizing convo, Alex Phillips shares what it’s really like to take a bold leap—moving his family across the world for a leadership role in big tech —and how he learned to redefine success from the inside out. We talk about boundaries, burnout prevention, and the art of staying human in a world that emphasizes “always on....

Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things but still not quite in your flow? In Ep. 221 of The Pausecast , Rachael sits down with her former and inspiring teammate tech leader + mentor Rich Berta to explore what it really takes to get into your groove — and stay there — especially when the ground is constantly shifting. Rich shares how he’s navigated bold career moves, built teams across con...

In this episode of The Pausecast ... 💡 Discover how conscious breath creates heart coherence —a science-backed state that enhances focus, intuition, and emotional regulation under pressure. 🧘‍♀️ Practice an integrative breathwork session to find your own rhythm of coherence. 💬 Learn how to tune into your “heart brain” and unlock intuitive decision-making with two powerful reflection questions....

Here’s what you’ll discover in Ep. 219👇 🌱 Why humans are “meaning-making machines” (and how that can help or hurt you) 🎡 The SmartTribe  ⁠⁠Emotional Wheel⁠⁠ —a game-changer for navigating feelings (graphic linked!) 📊 The surprising % of people who actually know what they’re feeling in the moment ❓ The 3 transformative questions to ask yourself if you want a new outcome 🐾 What a “critter stat...

Feeling pulled in a million directions while working remote, hybrid, or even in-office ? Boundaries can get flimsy , leaving you drained, stressed, and stretched too thin. In Ep. 218 of the Pausecast , I share a 3-step process to firm up your boundaries — so you can reclaim your time, energy, and focus. The 3 steps to stronger boundaries we'll walk through: 1️⃣ Be aware — notice where your boundar...

In Ep. 217 of the Pausecast... 🔹 The #1 thing to do the moment frustration hits 🔹 How to move the relationship forward even when things feel stuck 🔹 Why passive-aggressive behavior costs you credibility (and what to do instead) 🔹 Practical steps to stay calm, approach your manager with clarity, and set better boundaries 🔹 The leadership skills you must lean on — intention, truth, and vulnerab...

What Stress? :X Stress usually comes from holding onto fear, anger, sadness, or hurt — and not letting ourselves fully experience or process it. Instead, we often turn to our devices , numb out, and avoid what’s really going on. The result? Feeling tense, drained, and disconnected from ourselves. Does this sound familiar? In Ep. 216 we cover... 💡 What really causes stress (hint: it’s not just dea...

Are you leading your team (or yourself for that matter)… or just managing ? 🤔 In this episode, we dive into the real differences between managing tasks and leading people —and why learning to lead with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence is what sets the most effective tech leaders apart. Inside, we’ll cover: The key traits that distinguish great leaders from great managers How to spo...

Why Emotional Intelligence Isn’t Just Personal—It’s Team-Based. 👥🔥 You don’t need another personality assessment or trust fall. You need the right team norms that foster collective emotional intelligence. In this 🔥 conversation with Dr. Vanessa Druskat —renowned researcher and author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team —we explore what makes teams thrive beyond individual EQ. If you're lead...

In this episode of The Pausecast , we’re continuing the conversation from Ep. 212 and taking it a step further. You’ll learn practical tools to untangle your identity from your job, reclaim your energy, and redefine success on your terms. Here’s what we cover: 🔹 Why over-identification leads to stress, burnout, and identity confusion 🔹 Powerful language shifts to separate who you are from what y...

You know you’re more than your job… but why does it feel so hard to actually believe it? 🤯 In this first of a 2-part series, we get into the messy truth of why our self-worth gets so tangled up with career success—and why even the most capable leaders can feel “less than” without the title or achievement to back it up. I share personally about my two big identity crises (one happening right now...

Here’s what you’ll get when you hit play: 💡 Why “being” will supercharge your “doing” (and your results) 🤯 The zillion-dollar Q: If you had all the money in the world … would you still be hustling this hard? 🔥 How to ditch outdated success habits that are quietly burning you out 🛑 The price you pay for living in constant “go mode” 💨 A guided breathwork session to re-train your body to ALLOW m...

What if your to-do list is actually holding you back from the life you really want? 📝💀 In this powerful and playful episode, bestselling author + behavioral change expert and VIP Karen Salmansohn joins Rachael to explore how mortality awareness can help high-achieving leaders pause, realign, and make bold, values-driven moves — before life forces the pivot. Here’s what’s inside: ✨ A guided "Sto...

You’ve crushed goals, led teams, and made an impact—but fulfillment? That still feels… mushy —or like a luxury you don’t have time for. Especially when: ✅ Deadlines are looming ✅ Team dynamics are draining ✅ You’re juggling high-stakes leadership and home life Here’s the truth: What got you here (working harder, proving yourself, pushing through)…won’t take you to your next level of leadership....

What if getting unstuck didn’t mean pushing harder — but letting go? When you hit a wall in your leadership or career, your instinct might be to fix it fast, get productive, or double down on strategy. But what if the real breakthrough comes from surrender? 💭 You’ve tried white-knuckling your way through uncertainty… 📉 You’ve judged yourself for not having it all figured out… 🧩 You’ve sidelined...

Do you ever feel like you’re in at the table —yet you still don’t belong? 🤔 In this Ep. 207 of The Pausecast , we dive into a powerful leadership truth most people avoid: belonging isn’t something you earn—it’s something you choose. Based on insights from Dr. Tracy Brower’s book The Secrets to Happiness at Work 📘, we’ll explore why so many high-achieving leaders feel like outsiders—and what to d...

In this powerful episode 206 (Formerly Ep 37) of The Pausecast , Emily Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation and one of my mentors, invites you into a manifesting pause that reconnects you to what truly matters—and what’s possible when you shift your attention with intention. ...and then sign up to join us July 22nd for her live free workshop (see below). BONUS: ⁠ Attend Emily's upcoming 2 hour...

Ever feel like your brain works differently —faster, deeper, or just... more? You’re not alone. Over 30% of us are neurodivergent—and in this powerful episode of The Pausecast , guest Rachel Radway shares how discovering her neurodivergence, ADHD and unique wiring helped her lead, live, and create differently . ✨ Join me and Rachel R. for a thought-provoking, compassionate, and practical convo on...

If you're constantly on—leading teams, hitting deadlines, and juggling priorities—this episode is for you. Because high demands in tech doesn’t have to mean running on empty. I’ll show you 5 science-backed micro shifts that take less than 2 minutes a day and can radically improve your clarity, leadership, and resilience. These are the same tools I use with execs at Google, Meta, and startups alike...

Recently I had the honor of leadingfour workshops — two in-person, two virtual — for innovative companies across fintech, wealth management, adtech, and Google. Each team was unique, but the challenges weren’t. The workshops were titled: • Push Pause: Managing Stress in High-Pressure Jobs • Five Keys to Pause and Reset in Challenging Times • Three Keys to Finding Your Inner Calm • Resilience Lab:...