Shine A Light

What if the most powerful thing a leader could do is stop talking and start listening? In this episode of Shine the Light, host Christine Miles sits down with Olga Yakimakho, a global leader in organizational effectiveness, talent development, and leadership strategy, to explore how curiosity, empathy, and human connection can transform the way we lead. From growing up in the former Soviet Union t...

What if the life you're looking for begins when you stop trying to control it? What if the biggest thing holding you back as a leader isn't your ability—it's the authority you're unintentionally giving away? What if one simple act—reaching out—could change the course of a life? In this heartfelt conversation, educator and wellbeing advocate John Doran shares the lessons that have shaped his three...

What happens when being great at your job is no longer enough to be great at leading others? Ashley Rudolph went from individual contributor to VP in just five years, leading multimillion-dollar deals and teams of more than 250 people. But her fastest growth came with some of her hardest lessons, including learning how to lead someone who once outranked her, stop micromanaging, and shift from an e...

What if the life you're looking for begins when you stop trying to control it? What if the biggest thing holding you back as a leader isn't your ability—it's the authority you're unintentionally giving away? In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Leigh Toomey, founder and CEO of Lead Her Ship Educational Solutions, to unpack the subtle ways women can undermine their own a...

What if the best way to help your teenager is to stop solving their problems for them? In this episode of Shine a Light , Christine talks with educator, teen coach, and author Ashley Radzat about the often misunderstood "third stage" of parenting, when kids move from childhood toward independence and everything that worked before suddenly stops working. Ashley explains why the teen years are a cri...

What if the life you're looking for begins when you stop trying to control it? In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with writer, storyteller, and intentional-creation advocate Tim Shields for a fascinating conversation about consciousness, energy, and the stories we tell ourselves. Tim shares how a lifetime of curiosity, meditation, travel, and unexpected experiences led him...

What if becoming a better leader had less to do with having all the answers—and more to do with embracing the adventure? In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Jen Recla, leadership coach, trainer, and founder of Recla Coaching and Consulting, to explore what it really takes to lead through uncertainty, change, and growth. With more than 15 years of experience in leadersh...

What if our obsession with getting faster answers is actually costing us our best ideas? In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with Leslie Grandy, author of Creative Velocity: Propelling Breakthrough Ideas in the Age of Generative AI, for a thought-provoking conversation about creativity, innovation, and the role AI should—and shouldn't—play in our thinking. Leslie challenges...

What if the patterns you rely on every day are quietly shaping your relationships, leadership, and results? In this episode, host Christine Miles sits down with Chuck Wisner, author of The Art of Conscious Conversations, to explore how the behaviors we develop early in life can follow us into the workplace—and how awareness can be the first step toward changing them. Chuck shares how recognizing o...

What if asking for help isn't a weakness—but one of the smartest things you can do? In this episode, host Christine Miles sits down with entrepreneur and innovator Elizabeth Lawler to explore the power of letting go, building better support networks, and recognizing when doing everything yourself is holding you back. After years of building successful technology companies—including ventures acquir...

In this eye-opening episode, host Christine Miles sits down with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to unpack the truth about human capital, leadership, and why so many high-achievers feel unfulfilled. Drawing from decades of experience in behavioral science and leadership development, Dr. Cynthia explains how our unique talents—shaped by life experiences, not just learned skills—hold the key to meaningfu...

In this episode, host Christine Miles sits down with Dr. Suzanne Simpson to explore the profound impact of secure attachment on how we show up in life, work, and relationships. Drawing from her experience as an educator and mental health professional, Dr. Simpson shares how early connection shapes behavior—and how awareness, empathy, and accountability can help us rewrite those patterns. From navi...

What if you're not being overlooked because you're bad—but because you're forgettable? In this episode of Shine a Light, host Christine Miles sits down with Jake Stahl, CEO, author, and communication strategist, to unpack the hidden psychology behind influence and first impressions. With over 30 years of experience training thousands of professionals, Jake shares why most people fail to truly conn...

What if the life you're living today is being shaped by the words you speak every day? In this episode of Shine a Light, host Christine Miles welcomes transformational leader, two-time New York Times bestselling author, and energy expert Christy Whitman for an inspiring conversation about the connection between our thoughts, emotions, and the reality we create. From the heartbreaking loss of her s...

What if happiness isn't waiting at the finish line—but hidden in the small moments along the way? In this inspiring episode of Shine a Light, host Christine Miles sits down with Dr. Victoria Mensch, Founder and CEO of the Silicon Valley Executive Academy, to explore why the world's most innovative leaders aren't just building better technology—they're building better lives. Drawing from her unique...

What if the most powerful leadership strategy isn't having the right answers—but helping people feel seen? In this episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with talent and learning executive Eileen MacDonald Cooke to explore how empathy, curiosity, and honest conversations transform workplaces. Drawing from her experience leading learning and development initiatives for organizations li...

One split-second decision changed Ryan Brady's life forever—and led him to discover a purpose far bigger than himself. In this powerful episode of Shine a Light, Christine Miles sits down with international speaker, TEDx mentor, and podcast host Ryan Brady to explore how surviving a traumatic brain injury at 17 reshaped his view of life, purpose, and possibility. Ryan shares the devastating car ac...

One ordinary morning, Erika Rothenberger walked into work and came face to face with a life-changing act of violence that forced her to rethink everything. In this powerful conversation, Erika shares how surviving a brutal random assault became the catalyst for a deeper transformation. From overcoming trauma and rebuilding confidence to becoming an advocate, author, speaker, and leader in a male-p...

What if the most powerful leadership skill isn't speaking—but truly listening? In this episode, host Christine Miles sits down with educator and leadership expert Julia Bialeski to explore the unseen weight of leadership, from the classroom to the principal's office and beyond. Drawing on over 20 years in education, Julia shares how coaching over telling, leading with grace, and creating meaningfu...

What if the way we respond to someone's hardest moment could change how they heal, trust, and show up at work? In this powerful conversation, Christine sits down with Katharine Manning, President of Blackbird, trauma-informed leadership expert, author, and former Senior Attorney Advisor at the U.S. Department of Justice, to explore how we can communicate with more compassion, calm, and confidence...

What if the secret to thriving in the age of AI has nothing to do with technology at all? In this episode, Christine sits down with tech executive and SCW Co-CEO Michael O'Donnell for a powerful conversation about leadership, human connection, and what it really takes to build trust in high-pressure environments. From growing up around hair salon conversations and early computers to leading massiv...

What if the life you truly want is waiting on the other side of permission? In this powerful conversation, Christine sits down with author, speaker, and emotional intelligence expert Tara Renze to unpack the idea that changed her life: "Be who you came to be." From leaving a successful corporate career to chasing childhood dreams and helping others uncover their "butterfly goals," Tara shares how...

What if the key to protecting your family was hiding in plain sight? In this episode, Christine Miles sits down with Cathy Pedrayes, a former environmental scientist turned trusted safety advocate with millions of followers. Cathy shares how her career evolved from inspecting physical environments for hidden dangers to helping families navigate modern-day safety risks—especially in the digital wor...

On this episode of Shine a Light, host Christine Miles sits down with Nolan Hout, SVP of Growth at InfoPro Learning, to unpack how curiosity, calm decision-making, and deep listening shape exceptional leaders. From his early experiences navigating education gaps and confronting bias, to building scalable learning strategies for global organizations, Nolan shares how understanding people—not just p...

What if your biggest money decisions aren't about money at all? In this episode of Shine A Light, Christine Miles sits down with financial behavioral specialist Kate Duffy to uncover the hidden psychology shaping how we earn, spend, and think about money. From childhood beliefs to subconscious patterns, Kate reveals why so many of us feel stuck financially—even when we "know what to do." Together,...