The Stressed Out Leader

What happens when the way we’ve been taught to lead no longer fits the world we’re leading in? In this episode of The Stressed Out Leader , I’m joined by Amy Schons, founder of Modwellship , for a conversation about leadership, stress, discernment, and what it means to lead yourself well before trying to lead anyone else. Amy shares how her own leadership journey changed through organizational gro...

Lately, I’ve been noticing how often urgency shows up in ordinary life. We hurry to get somewhere. Rush to finish the next thing. Answer the email because it feels like it shouldn’t wait. Try to squeeze more into the day because somehow there’s always something else we could be doing. And even when no one is actually asking us to hurry, there can still be that quiet voice in the background telling...

What if leadership is less about leading the way and more about knowing when to guide, listen, or step aside? In this episode, I’m joined by Rosario Thomas for a conversation about service, quiet strength, and the experiences that have shaped the way he shows up for others. Rosario shares his journey from military service into a season of rediscovering who he was outside of that identity. We talk...

What happens when the life you’ve worked hard to build no longer aligns with who you are becoming? In this episode of The Stressed Out Leader Podcast , I sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist and entrepreneur Emily Sasser to talk about burnout, boundaries, purpose, and the courage it takes to create a life that reflects what matters most. After nearly a decade in a traditional healthcare s...

Technology continues to make many aspects of our work faster. Tasks that once took hours can now be completed in minutes. Expectations are shifting. Speed is becoming the norm. But faster doesn’t always mean more effective. In this episode, I explore why I believe the leaders who thrive in the years ahead won’t simply be the ones who embrace AI the fastest. They’ll be the ones who cultivate the on...

What does confidence actually look like? In this episode of The Stressed Out Leader , I sit down with women’s life coach Charli McConnell for a conversation about self-trust, perfectionism, boundaries, and the quiet work of becoming more confident over time. We explore why confidence isn’t about having all the answers, why there is no finish line for personal growth, and how learning to sit with s...

The patterns shaping our lives often become invisible because we’ve lived with them for so long. In this episode, I explore blind spots, self-awareness, and why clarity sometimes comes not from more information, but from a different perspective. Read the full companion essay on The Quietly Powerful Leader. If you’re looking for a thoughtful space to explore what’s keeping you stuck, gain clarity a...

I’ve spent much of my life noticing things other people seemed to miss—the tension in a room, the strengths someone couldn’t see in themselves, the gap between who people are and who they might become. In this reflection, I explore the gift and burden of seeing potential, the limits of what we can change for others, and the wisdom of learning what is ours to carry. Read the full companion essay ov...

In this episode, I’m joined by Wyatt Castle, founder of NowHere Coaching, for a conversation about staying grounded in stressful seasons. Wyatt shares how his military background, global upbringing, faith, and personal growth have shaped the way he leads himself and supports others. We talk about community, boundaries, grounding practices, self-awareness, and what it looks like to respond with cla...

When everything feels urgent, clarity can feel just out of reach. In this episode, we explore what’s actually happening in your brain when you’re under pressure—and why moving faster or pushing harder rarely leads to clearer thinking. Instead, you’ll see why clarity tends to return when the nervous system settles and space is created to think again—and how that shift changes the way we lead oursel...

In this conversation, I’m joined by Ali Rauch, President & CEO of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. We talk about what it actually looks like to lead yourself well—especially in stressful seasons. From building routines and setting boundaries to learning how you’re wired through tools like the Enneagram, CliftonStrengths, and Working Genius, Ali shares an honest look at leadership, vulnerability, a...

A simple moment at work sparked a deeper reflection: what happens when we stop engaging our own thinking? In this episode, we explore how small, everyday decisions shape our discernment, presence, and leadership—and why staying mentally engaged matters more than we realize. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the...

In this conversation, I’m joined by branding consultant and business owner Eloise Stewart, someone I deeply respect not just for how she leads her business, but how intentionally she leads herself. Eloise shares the moment she realized something had to change, not through one big breakdown, but through the quiet accumulation of stress that finally caught up with her. We talk about: * how stress of...

In This Episode * Why many leadership conversations stay at the surface level * The hidden pressure many leaders quietly carry * How outdated leadership models normalize burnout * What happens when leaders are forced to lead against how they are wired * Why true leadership is stewardship of both people and personal well-being * A different way to think about sustainable leadership If this conversa...

In this episode, I sit down with my coach, Danielle Smith of Vocaré Coaching , to talk about something we don’t discuss enough: the stress that comes from growth. Why do good opportunities still make us anxious? What if our emotions aren’t flaws but guides? And how does understanding your identity change the way you lead yourself? We explore imposter syndrome, boundaries, rhythms, journaling pract...

In this episode, I explore the quiet disconnect many capable leaders experience — the gap between looking steady on the outside and feeling depleted on the inside. We talk about the kind of fatigue that hides behind competence, why adaptation to pressure has a cost, and how sustainable leadership begins with honesty about what your pace is actually costing you. If you’ve been meeting expectations...

In this first episode of The Stressed Out Leader , I sit down with Sophie Hudson to talk about leadership, capacity, and what it really means to show up without living in constant pressure. We explore how urgency often masquerades as strength and why sustainable leadership looks steadier, slower, and more grounded than culture tells us. If you’ve ever felt like you should be able to handle more, m...

Introducing The Stressed Out Leader podcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thequietlypowerfulleader.substack.com